Ep3 review thread SPOILERS

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-05-22 09:21pm

The Delegation of Two-thousand, IIRC.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-05-22 09:35pm

Vympel wrote:Yeah, you're odd. Those action scenes can hardly be described as "overlong". Too damn short!

Even the final battle? It was a quarter of an hour! Nothing happened! The scifi equivalent of 'clang clang clang clang clang swashbuckle clang clang clang'. It started and ended so well, but all the dialogueless, repetitive, emotionless banging of swords was boring.

And it's obvious the Senate is under his control: my point is there aren't any dots to join: we know that because it is so. It's not established, it doesn't make a great deal of sense, etc. I'm just commenting on the poor storytelling.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-05-22 09:38pm

Freak.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-05-22 09:45pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Freak.

I conceed! I'm not a witch! I work to increase my orthodoxy!

I'm sure given enough reeducation I can be shown that the movie wasn't okay but a bit lifeless, and see the wonderful epic everyone else saw!

THERE ARE FIVE FINGERS.

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » 2005-05-23 12:43am

Saw the movie a second time tonight. It was a much better experience than the first time, and I felt better about it ("Nooo" and all).

One thing I have to note: the Venator supporting the Republic troops on Kashyyyk does have the open circle emblem. I guess they intended it to be a generic emblem, although I wonder if it was a ship borrowed from Obi-Wan's fleet.

Post by **Kuja** » 2005-05-23 01:18am

Stark wrote:Even the final battle? It was a quarter of an hour! Nothing happened! The scifi equivalent of 'clang clang clang clang clang swashbuckle clang clang clang'. It started and ended so well, but all the dialogueless, repetitive, emotionless banging of swords was boring.

I liked the fact that there wasn't any jibberjabber during the swordfighting. It made it more realistic. During a real fight, the participants would be too focused on the next move to spout off comments and criticisms after every exchange.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-05-23 01:32am

Yeah, one of the opponents really only has time for extended talk if he's toying with the other guy because he's so much better- Count Dooku in AotC, Darth Vader in TESB. Or during breaks when the opponent is out of range (RotJ).

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-05-23 01:44am

Rebecca finds most extended action scenes to be quite tedious (she thought the AOTC Battle of Geonosis was a total yawner until Yoda showed up to fight Dooku), but she liked the battles in this one. The tactics used in the lightsabre battle reflected their personalities.

Dangermouse · Post by **Dangermouse** » 2005-05-23 02:02am

I finally saw ROTS today and for the most part, I enjoyed it. A lot of what I felt about the movie has already been said in this thread but two things stick out in my mind:

The opening tracking shot I think is my favorite opening to a Star Wars movie. I liked how the film opened with a flyby of the Venator and the fact that it is not immediately apparent that there is space battle. The camera continues to track the two fighters as they continue to overfly the Venator, it dips down, and then you see the chaos and spectacle that is the Battle of the Coruscant, all in the same tracking shot. I loved that reveal of the battle, and how abrupt and unexpected the transition from this almost calm atmosphere to something else entirely actually is. The whole tracking shot up until the cut to Anakin really impressed me.

The ending surpised me a bit in that I half expected the last shot of the film to be the shot we see in the trailer with Vader and Palpatine standing side by side looking out of the star destroyer's window. I didn't expect the film to conclude with the scenes on Alderaan and Tatooine, and at first, I wished the shots were reversed. I think I now appreciate and prefer this order of the shots more. I like the tie-in the Tatooine ending has with the shot in ANH of Luke staring at the same two Tatooine suns. For me, it helped to reinforce the transition from Anakin's story to Luke's story.

All in all, a very well done ending. I was glad Lucas did not fall victim to the too many endings ending that plagued Return of the King. A fun and enjoyable movie.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2005-05-23 02:36am

Finally saw it, may need to see it multiple times to fully enjoy, since it wasn´t under the best of conditions.

Tidbits I noticed:

- Loved the wardrums as we follow the Venator at the beginning.
- Palpatine looking disturbed every time R2 speaks during the Invisible Hand´s descent.
- YT-1300 at the Executive Building.

- Parts of Palpatine´s transformation and subsequent dialogue as "ugly Emperor" was weird and goofy, too much voice-modification sound FX for my taste. And his appearance was strange and bloated, need to see it again to see if I truly like it or not.
- Grievous was ok with some good scenes. Loved his sabre-fight with Obi-Wan.
- Strangely enough, I felt underwhelmed by the Order 66 sequence. Only death I liked was Plo Koon´s on Cato Neimoidia.
- Loved the music. The theatre-scene in particular, very bizarre, loved it!

- Hayden was better, Natalie was better, even the romance was better, good stuff.
- Liked all the subtle references to CW-EU (the Outer Rim Sieges, Master Vos on Bos Pity etc.)
- I actually liked all the little comments and yelling from every type of battle droid. Gave them more personality, imho. (Especially the bitchy droid who gives Grievous Obi-Wan´s and Anakin´s lightsabres.)
- Alderaan came and went fast!

- Didn´t get a good view of the DS frame to see if it really was different from the one in ANH (I think the picture from the exhibition might have just been a concept art stuck in the background.)
- I´m guessing the duels earlier on were short to give more room for the final two. And they were good, especially Anakin vs. Obi-Wan. Somehow I never got into the Sidious vs. Yoda duel, and I´m not sure why. Need to see it again.

Strange as it may seem, I might have had my experience tainted by all the spoilers, which is bizarre, since being spoiled didn´t stop me from fully enjoying AOTC (in fact, quite the opposite). I dunno, the movie is very good, but some of the decisions made were, weird, to put it lightly. Stopped me from enjoying it fully. Definitly needs a repeat viewing.

Pint0 Xtreme · Post by **Pint0 Xtreme** » 2005-05-23 02:37am

I saw it a second time today (this time at a theatre with DLP projection

). I originally thought I was being lenient on the romance scenes since I didn't find them bad at all and everyone was ranting on their 'dull' performances. Sorry but I am going to call a BS on this as I cannot see anything 'dull' or 'stilted' about the romance scenes as I saw in AOTC. They were a tad on the boring side since I couldn't wait for the fight scenes but nothing there that was jarring or felt out of place due to 'wooden' acting.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-05-23 04:10am

Got dragged in to see it today.

Impressions:

The romance scenes were light years better ahead of the ones in AOTC, IMO. This time around, Hayden actually gave me the sense that Anakin really did care about Padme. I know all the justifications for the love scenes of AOTC, but they really felt to me like it was a matter of 'we know these two get together, and we'll show that no matter how bad it looks'. It didn't show to me that they really felt anything for each other. This time, it did, especially on Anakin's part. The feeling that there's a real bond trumps almost any dialogue in romance scenes.

Most disliked part? Grievous. I was really expecting him to come across as a serious bad-ass super-warrior and cold-blooded tactician. Instead, he came across somewhat clownish to me.

Opening scene? Cool enough. I would like an intense tactical cap ship slugout, but the visuals were certainly good enough to satisfy me.

A lot of context was lost in the cut scenes, especially those with the senators. But it doesn't really hurt the movie for the casual viewer.

My rather amateur impression of Palpatine's lightsaber style left me wondering... the clear difference in style (favoring thrusting over slashing) was cool, it certainly looked like he was leaving a lot of openings that could have been exploited. The overwhelming coolness of his initial attack on the council members was just incredible, though. However, there were a couple of elements I liked better in the novel- the way he staged the scene for the recording before stabbing his desk with the lightsaber, and Anakin entering to see Kit Fisto's head on the desk staring at him. Eat that, fish-boy- Aayla's now free for dating! Oh... wait.

The Obi Wan/Anakin duel was perfect, IMO. It clearly demonstrated what I felt should be the story of the fight- Anakin has the edge in sheer power and aggressiveness, but Obi Wan was the calmer head, the tactical thinker who played Anakin like a fiddle throughout the fight.

Lex · Post by **Lex** » 2005-05-23 08:33am

Tribun wrote:
Dahak wrote:
Lex wrote:ya know, I watched the movie two times already; once in german(my mother tongue), at wednesday and i was totally dissappointed, especially by the weak dialogues and stuff. nothing seemed to fit together, most of all the love scenes and everytime palpatine talks it sounded wooden and slow. and then, i watched it yesterday in english, and it was fucking great.

ignoring a few minor nitpicks, like the second romance scene or the final sequenze with the emperor, it was just amazing, everything fit together.

what i want to say: please, all germans and austrians, watch the fuckin movie in english, because the german translation sucks, sucks and well....

SUCKS
For one, I avoid watching movies in the dubbed German version like the plague.
Mostly it is better (though there are movies out there who are slightly better in the dubbed version than in the original...)
Oh God, again these "translation-suxx" people.

I have seen the film in cinema in German, and it was fine. You only look for a reason to complain (how typically german). I think I know what the problem of you people is:
You ALWAYS think translation is bad, and you would never change this position, even if a tranlation (like Ep. III) is actually good.

For information to other board members:
The people who always complain about the dubbing are the most annoying in German SW boards, many can't stand their whining anymore.

question: did you watch the film in enlgish yet? no? thought so... you'll see the difference then.

the film was not fine in german, because many word plays(best example: Lord Vader will take care of you now" turns into "Sie werden ihre Belohnung erhalten" i mean wtf?)

on another note: this has nothing to do with thread hijacking. im pointing out that the movie, ep. III is far worse in german than in english, sounds like a critique to me...

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-05-23 11:38am

Just went to see it with the family, and I was talking to my mother on the way back. The comments were thus.

"That Death Star, was actually a prototype."

*Patronised look* "You think I can't tell that? It's clearly a prototype. Who really thinks it took them twenty years to build it?"

I'm so proud.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2005-05-23 11:50am

NecronLord wrote:Just went to see it with the family, and I was talking to my mother on the way back. The comments were thus.

"That Death Star, was actually a prototype."

*Patronised look* "You think I can't tell that? It's clearly a prototype. Who really thinks it took them twenty years to build it?"

I'm so proud.

Well, given the size of the Death Star is it really that big of a stretch that says it took them twenty years to build it?

However.

I think that is THE Death Star. It probably took the Empire so long to build it because the Senate was still around, thus they couldn't have put all the resources to use.

After the senate was disolved there was no need for secrecy so all the resources that weren't available for the first one are now available for the second.

Skylon · Post by **Skylon** » 2005-05-23 12:04pm

Kamakazie Sith wrote:
Well, given the size of the Death Star is it really that big of a stretch that says it took them twenty years to build it?

However.

I think that is THE Death Star. It probably took the Empire so long to build it because the Senate was still around, thus they couldn't have put all the resources to use.

After the senate was disolved there was no need for secrecy so all the resources that weren't available for the first one are now available for the second.

Question? Do we have a confirmed start time on consturction of the Death Star II? Maybe ten of fifteen years into work on the first Death Star funding was allocated for a second and work commenced?

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-05-23 12:04pm

I believe her comment when I rasied that one was, "Don't be ridiculous. It's a dictatorship's superweapon, not something your father built."

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » 2005-05-23 12:16pm

Skylon wrote:Question? Do we have a confirmed start time on consturction of the Death Star II? Maybe ten of fifteen years into work on the first Death Star funding was allocated for a second and work commenced?

The opening crawl of RotJ implies a minimum of three years. "Little does Luke know that the Galactic Empire has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station...."

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2005-05-23 12:43pm

Skylon wrote:
Kamakazie Sith wrote:
Well, given the size of the Death Star is it really that big of a stretch that says it took them twenty years to build it?

However.

I think that is THE Death Star. It probably took the Empire so long to build it because the Senate was still around, thus they couldn't have put all the resources to use.

After the senate was disolved there was no need for secrecy so all the resources that weren't available for the first one are now available for the second.
Question? Do we have a confirmed start time on consturction of the Death Star II? Maybe ten of fifteen years into work on the first Death Star funding was allocated for a second and work commenced?

I thought it was six months from the start date to ROTJ, but I could be mistaken.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2005-05-23 12:44pm

NecronLord wrote:I believe her comment when I rasied that one was, "Don't be ridiculous. It's a dictatorship's superweapon, not something your father built."

LOL very witty.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-05-23 12:48pm

Kamakazie Sith wrote:
Skylon wrote:
Kamakazie Sith wrote:
Well, given the size of the Death Star is it really that big of a stretch that says it took them twenty years to build it?

However.

I think that is THE Death Star. It probably took the Empire so long to build it because the Senate was still around, thus they couldn't have put all the resources to use.

After the senate was disolved there was no need for secrecy so all the resources that weren't available for the first one are now available for the second.
Question? Do we have a confirmed start time on consturction of the Death Star II? Maybe ten of fifteen years into work on the first Death Star funding was allocated for a second and work commenced?
I thought it was six months from the start date to ROTJ, but I could be mistaken.

Something around that. Shadows of the Empire basically is set 6 months before Return and it's first we hear of an order for raw materials to Endor.

The Original Nex · Post by **The Original Nex** » 2005-05-23 04:56pm

Kamakazie Sith wrote:
NecronLord wrote:Just went to see it with the family, and I was talking to my mother on the way back. The comments were thus.

"That Death Star, was actually a prototype."

*Patronised look* "You think I can't tell that? It's clearly a prototype. Who really thinks it took them twenty years to build it?"

I'm so proud.
Well, given the size of the Death Star is it really that big of a stretch that says it took them twenty years to build it?

However.

I think that is THE Death Star. It probably took the Empire so long to build it because the Senate was still around, thus they couldn't have put all the resources to use.

After the senate was disolved there was no need for secrecy so all the resources that weren't available for the first one are now available for the second.

Which I would accept if the construct seen in RotS wan't completely disproportional with the ANH DS.

Question? Do we have a confirmed start time on consturction of the Death Star II? Maybe ten of fifteen years into work on the first Death Star funding was allocated for a second and work commenced?

The RotJ Opening Crawl is pretty clear that the DSII was started after the first was destroyed.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2005-05-23 05:08pm

I think that is THE Death Star.

Nope. Seen it again and obtained a means for seeing it over and over again.

The thing in ROTS ain´t the DS, no way in hell. The superlaser structure is too close to the equatorial band and too small to belong to the DS. I made a note of observing this carefully on my second viewing.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2005-05-23 05:11pm

Nope. Seen it again and obtained a means for seeing it over and over again.

Evil!

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » 2005-05-23 05:14pm

VT-16 wrote:
I think that is THE Death Star.
Nope. Seen it again and obtained a means for seeing it over and over again.

Does this means not include freeze-framing? I would hate it if that was the case, particularly when trying to examine the VenStar's landing gear.

I kid.... I think.