Snippitts of Illusions

FRANKS GEEKDOM SATURDAY

Well, it was inevitable; the 19th has come, and i have watched the final installment of the StarWars saga.
Yes, it was a tulmultuous affair from the very begining, some 27 odd years ago, but this geekdom isn't intended to be a history of the StarWars saga. There are folks much better equipped than I to give that background: Bruce for instance.
There will be a brief review of the film, and my overall feelings about things.
Be forwarned, there will be spoilers. I don't run a spoiler free blog.... so there.

I would have to say my initial reaction is one of what-ifs, and disapointment.
That isn't to be taken as a critique of the film, it is by far the best of the prequels, and is definitely a great begining to the original trilogy.
While i do like the first two prequels (that's right, I LIKED them both), with this third film i see the potential that fell flat with them.
I saw it before, but now... well now it's more apparent.
This movie suffers; there are moments where the dialogue feels jilted, and the pace slows.
When taken on its own merit, the movie is an average summer film in the acting and dialogue department, but over the top incredible with the special effects.
There was no real disapoint in the film.
My disapointment is at the inevitable: Mace Windu being killed, Anakin turning to the darkside, Palpatine becoming emperor.
I have no complaints about how this stuff happen, or even why, but I was sad to see it happen never the less.
You see Anakin, played by Hadyn Christian, as a somewhat selfish, boorish overzealous youth.
You see that he's desperate and this desperation led him down the path which ultimately leads to the empire, and the death of the woman he loves.
You don't see it acted very well, but there are a couple of shining moments.
Like right after Mace Windu dies.
Anakins utter disbelief, and confusion at what he had just done is beautiful.
BEAUTIFUL.
And now to the ifs.....
That moment in the movie is the turning point, it's the scene, from the moment Mace enters the office, to the point of Anakin swearing allegiance to Palpatine. Once that moment occured there was no turning back.
If Anakin had been a few minutes later walking down the corridor, or actually done what he was told to do.
If those other Jedi with Mace had been expecting a fight (as he obviously was) and had actually been ready to defend themselves.
Moments, mere moments really is all that were needed.
Moments were all it would have taken to end the first trilogy on a happy note....
and of course prevent the need for the second trilogy.
What if...
that's my mantra for this story.
What if Padme (the name I prefer to the character) hadn't gone to Mustafa?
Wouldn't have died ( I told you I was going to put spoilers in this).
What if Obi-wan hadn't stowed away? Or even better: had actually finished the job he had set out to do.
Well episodes IV, V and VI would have been a hellavalot different.

One thing i think this movie shows, and shows well is why Vader is the Emperor's lapdog.
Simple.
He has no one else to live for...
The woman he loves is dead, as are, he believes, his children. His betrayal was so damning that there is no way he can go back.
His friends he's made enemies out of.
The only one he has to lean on is... thats right, the Emperor.
Vader is still a Jedi at heart.
He still holds to many of the old ways, even if he fails at practicing them.
(Oh and how he does fail).
Darth Vader is evil, but he's evil not because he desires power- though he does- but in that he is both a failure and a traitor.
Because he believes he has no other recourse. He's Othello had othello lived.
And in Empire, when he asks Luke to join him... well as evil as he is, he's sincere.

Now if Anakin is Othello, then I suppose in a roundabout way Palpatine is Iago. Though admittedly Iago is cooler simply because he's evil for the sake of evil. Palpatine craves, desires, hungers, and lusts for power. And power he gets. Palpatine wants Anakin. Why, because he's the most powerful Jedi who lives. With Anakin on his side, he can... well do what he does.
Palpatine is awesome in his villainous.
I won't say I'm thrilled to see him become emperor, but he's so damn smart and cunning, he almost deserves the position. Especcially when you consider how stupid every one else is around them.
"So this is how democracy ends, with thunderous applause."
Yep, most of the dialogue sappy, but Lucas hit it right with that line.

Now having read the screenplay a few weeks ago, i was sad to see a few scenes fall the the floor. All of them had to do with the emperor's eventual rise to power discussed amoungst some senators.

Ah well, that's what I get for having so many spoilers.

Stay tuned for more movies... apparently I missed some and folks have been bringing it too my attention ever since... you know you are... Call me Frak and then don't even leave a name or a psuedonym...

posted by F.G. Shaw @ 3:39 AM