Post Three: Episode III

Well, here's my take on Episode III: better than Jedi, but contrary to the NY Times' review, not as good as Star Wars. This obviously makes it superior to either of the first two prequels, but still, there's something off about it that prevents me from just singing its praises too much.

It has flaws: the dialogue sucks, particularly when Anakin and Padme share the screen. Lucas could not write lovers' dialogue to save his life. How many times did I cringe at the screen, thinking, "Just let them say what they feel. Cut out the lame attempts at poetic bullshit!" Simply put, Lucas was trying to make this love something it did not need to be.

But what do we really see these movies for? For the special effects and lightsaber fights. And Episode III has plenty. Yoda goes into ass-kicking mode again, and Mace Windu finally shows his stuff. But the biggest surprise was how much of a bad-ass the Emperor is with the lightsaber. We all know he can do the lightning bolts from the fingertips, but who knew he could swing the stick? For instance, he merely plays possom against Mace Windu in order to swing Anakin over to the dark side, ultimately resulting in Windu's death (Samuel L. Jackson wanted a memorable death, and he got it). And Yoda gives up against him. How's that for what appeared to be a decrepit old man in Jedi?

Another complaint: they turned Darth Vader into a sort of Frankenstein at the end with a cry of "NOOOOOOOO," breaking of bindings, and a stiff-legged walk. Perhaps it was some kind of Lucas homage . . . I don't know. But it has been getting play around the web, and not in a very positive light. Separated out from the whole, it comes off as incredibly cheesy. I'm sure I'll never be able to watch it the same way again.

That said, I'd like to see it in the theatre again. The change from Anakin to Darth Vader is just that good of story. I just wish someone else could have written the script.