Episode III: Death of a Saga

[jedibuttercup]

That is supposed to be the grand culmination of the prequel trilogy? That is what all of the critics are cheering about?

I feel ill.

Yes, it was visually amazing; yes, it had some memorable moments. But as a whole, the movie suffered from a vacuum of soul. The grand spectacle only works if the motivations behind it are believable, and on the whole they are not. Even "carried away by emotion" and "clouded by the Dark Side" only stretch so far, you know; if we are to take the events presented on-screen seriously, then the only characters I have any sympathy for are Obi-Wan and the children, and maybe the Organas and the Larses. The rest of them deserved their fates as far as I'm concerned.

OK, I'm going to stop now before I really work up a head of steam. And I haven't even begun to touch on the logical inconsistencies yet; the emotional ones have me upset enough already.

I can't believe this is what we're supposed to accept as the grand fall of the Republic and destruction of the Jedi. Pathetic. Dazzling to the eye, perhaps, but ultimately pathetic.

Comments

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain.

SWIII

[jedibuttercup]

I went back and read your review after watching the movie, and I pretty much agree with everything you had to say about it. Except that I probably will watch it again, if only to try to patch over the gaping logic holes for my own peace of mind. I've been a fan since I was 5; I'm not going to let Lucas ruin Star Wars for me now. =)

Re: SWIII

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

I've already been back. ;)

Clouded by the crappy side

[spk1121.livejournal.com]

Heh. It was better than the other two, but that's not saying much. I agree with your sentiment that none of them really match up to the original trilogy. Oh, well. At least they're finished, and we don't have to worry about Lucas messing it up further.

Re: Clouded by the crappy side

[jedibuttercup]

At least they're finished, and we don't have to worry about Lucas messing it up further.

Bite your tongue, lest you jinx the fandom. He's already talking about a live-action TV show set in the Star Wars universe, probably in the space between the Prequels and the OT, if I recall correctly. I can ignore the cartoon Clone Wars show, but actual Star Wars TV? The mere idea boggles the mind.

If you take away the expensive glitz and flash-bangs, will the dialogue stand up to scrutiny? And who would they have star in the thing? How well will wider audiences take to a show centered on minor and EU characters? Because I can't imagine them doing much with Yoda or Obi-Wan or Luke, as out of the way as they all were, and Leia will be just a kid.

Not to mention the further potential for canon-trampling. Lucasarts is completely rigid about keeping authors between comics, books, cartoons, everything from contradicting each other or from deviating from the larger universe plan; only the big G himself gets away with violating that intentionally. ("Served my father in the clone wars?" WTF? Wookies fighting on the surface of Kashyyyk? Leia remembering her real mother? And plenty more I don't have time to enumerate now). It will be really hard to keep up that level of scrutiny in a fluid medium like TV, and if they drop the ball ...