1203 replies to this topic

[Tarl_Cabot]

Comon Zencat, throw us a friggin bone and review Episode III!

[Loomis]

Just to bring some balance to the Force---- sorry, thread, here's a brilliantly-written slating of SITH (although it's one of those reviews where you strongly suspect that the critic had firmly made up his mind as to what to write before seeing the film):

http://www.newyorker...0523crci_cinema

[Jim]

Just to bring some balance to the Force---- sorry, thread, here's a brilliantly-written slating of SITH (although it's one of those reviews where you strongly suspect that the critic had firmly made up his mind as to what to write before seeing the film):

http://www.newyorker...0523crci_cinema

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Absolutely no desire to see this - neither have the children. The little lad turns into the baddie. Anything else to it?

[zencat]

Hey, zencat, didn't you say you'd seen this? Where's your review?

I would be interested in reading zencats thoughts on REVENGE OF THE SITH. I stand by my assertion that this is the best movie of the decade and better than any of the Bond movies.

Like I said Bond movies can only hope to be half this good.

Hey guys. Sorry I didn't throw in with my two cents.

I actually saw SITH back in April, but the reason I had to stay quiet was I was working on it (in a very minor way). You see, I use to work for LucasFilm THX as a quality control inspector. Essentially, I sit in a studio screening room and watch every 50th or so print the lab produces and grade the reels, making note of scratches, dirt, color shifts, etc. I did all the Star Wars movies (and many other movies). I stopped doing this when I became a professional writer, and Dolby took over this work after EP2. But I keep in touch with all the old THXers (now at Dolby) and rang them up and asked if they needed and extra hand for EP3 and they said "Sure!" I wound up only doing a few nights work, but I've seen it about 7 times total.

But now, my "review."

No much to say really. I loved it! Clearly the best of the prequels. It's funny, for all the talk of EP2 being the "love story" of the series, I though EP3 was a far better "love story" (because tragedy is key ingredient to a great love story). My only gripe is I thought the Darth Vader "Noooooo" was terrible, but aside from that, I just thought it was terrific. I think Ian McDiarmid steals the show. I don't think all the critics of Lucas' dialogue writing abilities take into account how well-written the Palpatine/Anakin seduction scenes are. Palpatine has massive chucks of expository dialogue which is VERY hard to write. Lucas has me hanging on every word. And I've always accepted the stilted formal style of the prequel dialogue is intentional. It was a more formal time.

So...really...I have no brilliant thoughts except to say this is some great Star Wars. Here's now how I rank all the films:

Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Revenge of the Sith
The Phantom Menace/Attack of the Clones (tie)
Return of the Jedi

Not 100% sure of the placement of ATOC and TPM because I'm actually staring to like TPM better (and ATOC less). Maybe it's because it was the last Star Wars film to be shot on film, it just had a more satisfying classic movie look to it, and I love that Podrace. But SITH is a very firm #3, which I think is pretty high praise.

[Loomis]

Cheers, zen. I have to say, I thought you were just kidding when you wrote: "I've seen ROTS about six times now -- but I signed a non-disclosure agreement so I can't say a peep until the 19th."

[The Dove]

Nice review Zencat! I love the film very much myself. Yeah that Vader "Nooooooo!" line was cheesy, but it in no way ruins the film. It was James Earl Jones' voice right? I'm suprised that he wasn't credited (probably cuz it was a small part). Nice to find someone else who is warming up to Phantom Menace! lol.. It grows on you after a while. I agree with you about the critics of the dialog and acting. People tend to not look at the whole picture of how Lucas is telling the story. Sure people think Haydn was whiny, but wasn't Mark Hamill whiny in A New Hope? "But I was going to Toshi station to pick up some power converters!!" Sure Natalie Portman may not be the greatest actress in the world, but then this isn't a freaking Shakespear play! Ian McDirmond just awesome (I'm so glad they got him to reprise his role for the prequels) and Ewan McGregor, an absolute perfect choice to play a younger Obi-Wan. (Granted you're never going to top the late Alec Guiness, but then Ewan wasn't trying to).

[DLibrasnow]

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Absolutely no desire to see this - neither have the children. The little lad turns into the baddie. Anything else to it?

Your loss.

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]Mister Asterix

[DLibrasnow]

Seems Episode III has already made its money back and then some...This from www.thedigitalbits.com:

"Episode III clicks in at a whopping $303 million worldwide in just four days. With an estimated budget of $115 million, the film likely paid for itself sometime late on Thursday night or early Friday. It will be interesting to see where its box office numbers go in the weeks ahead, and the DVD's just six or seven months away."

[doublenoughtspy]

I enjoyed the film, and my ranking would be similar to Zencat's. Although I might put Jedi over the Jar Jar fest.

I think that the wait and the fact that it will be the final Star Wars film (for a while anyway) are coloring people's view of it.

To me, the biggest test is the desert island movie. If you were stuck on a desert island and could only see one movie for the rest of your life - would you want it to be the original Star Wars film or Revenge of the Sith?

[DLibrasnow]

Revenge of the Sith...the original Star wars film has the same bad dialogue and wooden acting as the rest of the series, but Revenge of the Sith is just plain more interesting and entertaining.

[JackLordIsFelix]

This thread is going on too long to read it all, so I'll just throw in my two cents: I loved ROTS, and will see it many more times this summer.

[Gri007]

[quote name='General A. Ourumov' date='20 May 2005 - 14:51'][quote name='Gri007' date='16 May 2005 - 11:18'] It is interestin to note the titles

[JackLordIsFelix]

"Yeah that Vader "Nooooooo!" line was cheesy, but it in no way ruins the film.

Are you kidding? I LOVED that line -- very original Planet of the Apes/Charlton Heston;P.

[James Connery]

I'm seeing ROTS Today!!!!!

[DLibrasnow]

Also, you'll notice that "The Phantom Menace" refers to one of the characters in the film, as does "A New Hope".

"Attack of the Clones" and "The Empire Strikes Back" refer to an army, or a large group of people.

"Return of the Jedi" and "Return of the Sith" have obvious similarities.

Is Return Of The Sith Episode 7

Yeah...I have never heard of Return of the Sith either...

[007luvchild2]

well I saw the movie over the weekend with low expectations because episode 1 and 2 just ticked me off and cause me to shun star wars for a period. However now, ROTS rejuvenated my faith, and help me come to realization that James Earl Jones have the coolest voice in movie history, so cool I would use it for my answering machine. He's the only one that makes evil sound so good. Now if only this movie can beat Titantic as the top grossing moving. I can sleep now. Episode 3 save star wars for me in my book.

[Loomis]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='23 May 2005 - 18:49'][mra]Mister Asterix

[007 Agent]

"I would be interested in reading zencats thoughts on REVENGE OF THE SITH. I stand by my assertion that this is the best movie of the decade and better than any of the Bond movies.

Like I said Bond movies can only hope to be half this good."

Surely it's hard to compare a sci-fi film with a contemporary action film like Bond? Not sure the two genres are similar to say a Star Wars film is better than a Bond film. No Star Wars film has a character jump off a cliff (for real, not CGI) and no Bond film has had robots armies fighting 00 Agents. Can't see how you can compare SW with Bond.

[Atticus17F]

Probably the most embarrassing film I've seen since DAD. I thought the effects were pretty good (sometimes a bit too video-gamey), the lightsabre battles were entertaining and the Emperor had some decent moments but that's about it. Didn't anyone involved in this production notice the appalling acting and dialogue? 4/10.

[DLibrasnow]

Didn't anyone involved in this production notice the appalling acting and dialogue? 4/10.

But Atticus...that's what makes a Star Wars film a Star Wars film...some of the worst acting and dialogue ever was in 1977's STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE.

So, it didn't bother me. I would say that no Bond movie comes as close to being so downright entertaining as REVENGE OF THE SITH.

[Atticus17F]

I know, Star Wars doesn't pretend to be Chekhov but the dialogue in this film made me cringe. Honest, I'm not one for blindly maintaining that "things were better in the old days", but the dialogue in the first three films was never as bad as this. I can still watch and enjoy the first three films and they don't make me squirm and watch through my fingers as this one did. Maybe it's because this one takes itself seriously (I thought Young Darth actor bloke took himself very seriously. As Yoda might say; "Needs a good kicking, that one does"). I dunno. I tried to go along for the ride, but it didn't do anything for me.

Edited by Atticus17F, 24 May 2005 - 03:20 AM.

[Bondian]

All I can say about the 'Star Wars' franchise is that it's given us 6, or maybe 3 very clever scores by John Williams.

I suspect that ROTS is as awe inspiring as a dose of the clap. But like mugs, we're bound to want to see it sometime or another.

However, whatever people say about George Lucas, he's a damn successful businessman, and surely that's what all this crap is about.

"May the Swartz be with you!". LOL

[Qwerty]

Didn't anyone involved in this production notice the appalling acting and dialogue? 4/10.

Taking some of the lines in the past films of the series into account, I'd say most likely.

[Genrewriter]

Saw it this afternoon and came away very satisfied. Apart from one or two slow parts (the chemistry that should be there with Anakin and Padme just isn't), this film had me from the very first frame. Great opening space battle and Ian MacDiarmid is truly excellent. The lightsaber duels were outstanding as always and I really got a kick out of the first appearance of Darth Vader.

As for my rankings:

1. Empire Strikes Back A+
2. A New Hope A+
3. Revenge of the Sith A-
4. Return of the Jedi A-
5. Attack of the Clones B+
6. Phantom Menace B-

[Robinson]

Ties in nicely at the end...even Peter Cushing character from STAR WARS was there in the closing minutes. The only issue is:

/spoiler.gif

in RETURN OF THE JEDI Leia talks about remembering her mother -- how is that possible?

/gen_line.gif

I'm giving Lucas the benefit of the doubt and feel that it's not Portman Carrie Fisher's character is referring to.

[YOLT]

Star Wars, LOTR etc. they are better from most of the Bond films. However Bond has the advantage of having "moments". In Star Wars you watch "some other people". In Bond you watch "yourself".

[Blofeld's Cat]

I've yet to see the movie, but taking what happens next into account why didn't Luke go bad like his father?

Nature vs Nurture and all that.

[SnakeEyes]

Anakin was a whiney little cretin who was confused and mixed up about, well, everything.

Luke had concience, direction and decent mentors, and the convictions of standing by the rebellion/his friends to the last straw.

It seems the decades spent alone by Obi and Yoda have turned them into credible Jedi at last.

Or maybe it's just because the origional 3 were good and the prequels weren't.

[DLibrasnow]

I'm giving Lucas the benefit of the doubt and feel that it's not Portman Carrie Fisher's character is referring to.

I was thinking this too upon reflection.

I was all prepared to hate this movie. The other two prequels have been total drivel and when the head of our movie review section told me it was the best of all the STAR WARS films I scoffed at him and told him he was insane.

Well yesterday morning I had to eat a good serving of humble pie when I told him that I agreed with his assessment. REVENGE OF THE SITH is the best of all the STAR WARS movies.

Atticus....sorry, but the dialogue in A NEW HOPE is far, far worse than anything in this episode. I think if you view it without nostalgia tinted glasses you might see it that way too.
Really the 1977 film has some of the worst dialogue ever committed to film.