Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (George Lucas)
One interesting aspect of seeing the opening of a Star Wars movie is that you know you will stand in line for a very long time. Possibly you will stand for a very long time next to someone holding a plastic light saber and custom Darth Maul makeup. Now, a six year girl dragging her white cloak along the ground with Princess Leia Organa hair buns is cute, but the groups of thirty-something, wanna-be intergalactic bounty hunters are starting to scare me. Still we are all excited to see this final chapter, so I nod in their direction and try to eavesdrop on their conversation about Banthas and Wookie planets.
I saw this movie last week at a special fundraising event for Colorado Children’s Campaign. There they had full-on Imperial Storm Troopers taking tickets and a remote controlled R2D2 chillin’ with Greg Moody. Later Mayor John W. Hickenlooper was seen on his way to a photo-op with Chewbacca who was sporting worn out Timberlands. I thought: How different will this be from next week when it is officially released?
Since I don’t want to spoil the film for anyone, I have been restricted to talking to myself about the last installment of Jedi folklore. After a week of replaying it in my head, I have decided that:
a) I like it the most out of the three new episodes
b) I’m pretty sure that there are some political criticisms concerning our current government peeking from between the lines.
c) This episode will make for excellent marketing opportunities.
It should be stated that the Irvin Kershner directed “Star Wars V: Empire Strike’s Back” is my favorite. Why I enjoy that version so much is that it is dark and the characters gain more dimension. So when “Revenge of the Sith” starts to take this direction fifteen or so minutes into the film, I got excited all over again.
Lucas has to fit together the final pieces of the puzzle, and with the ultimate demise of Atikin Skywalker already figured out; he can spend more time with the other characters’ fates. As a good exercise, take out your copy of “Star Wars IV after viewing Revenge of the Sith” and see how nicely the pieces line up. Why is Obi Wan on Tatooine? Where is Yoda? Why is Darth Vader so keen on choking people? The new film is littered with foreshadowing dialogue and references to the 1977 “space cowboy” Star Wars. Every time you come across one of these nuggets of Star Wars nerd trivia you get to nudge your neighbor and whisper:
“Did you get that?”
“Yes, I got that; I am wearing a homemade Jedi Cloak!”
“Oh.”
“Now you will not nudge me any more.” (Waves his hand.)
“I will not nudge you any more.”
“You will watch the movie now.”
“I will watch the movie now.”
One thing that will shake the Jedi Mind Tricks is all the talk of the Republic and the word ‘democracy’ peppered throughout the film. At one point Darth Vader says “If you are not with us than you are our enemy.” Haven’t I heard that before? I won’t say much on this ‘cause after all, it is a space movie with laser swords and Jar Jar Binks, but see if you pick it up too.
Speaking of Jar Jar Binks, I wonder how the sales figures for action-figures of the annoying floppy-eared guy are fairing? Luckily, Lucas went crazy in the alien creation department. Every time the camera pans there is some new creature hanging about. Toy collectors have their work cut out for them.
In the end, I was sad, because for better or worse this is the end. The end of waiting, the end of wondering and the end of a thirty-plus year process. It has not been perfect but it sure has been fun–even when we make fun of it. I think I will buy myself one of those plastic light sabers and see if the neighborhood kids are down for some good old fashioned Star Wars swashbuckling.
A few tips to deal with Star Wars saga ending:
1) Cry, laugh and some times cringe at homemade film adaptations of the Star Wars universe. The most ambitious can be found at: www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/
2) Google This: Untitled Clone Wars TV Series
3) Play the Luke Skywalker drinking game. Rules are as follows: Pop in Star Wars III: A New Hope. Every time young Luke cries about anything, everyone drinks. Last time I played I was buzzed before they left the Mos Eisley spaceport.
