Clive Revill only provided the voice of the Emperor in TESB. An old woman with make up prosthetics actually played who you see. Also, Baboon eyes were matted on to give the Emperor a creepier stare.

-Kyle

On the plus side, TPM does contain the knockout pod race, which DID impress me, for concept and rhythm. Yet I had the feeling that Lucas designed the picture almost for that alone. Either that or to make an excuse for still more toys. (Ewoks, anybody?)

Qui-Gon should've been a rogue Jedi, one who uses the Dark and the Light Side of the Force, depending on what the situation is. Perhaps Jar-Jar should've been an outcast because he had killed a fellow . . . whatever species he was, not for being a clutz. (C'mon!!) Obi-Wan should've been more of a rebel type, a hot-shot, who eventually learns from his mistakes and risk-taking.

This would've made (at least the characters) much more interesting in The Phantom Menace. The only thing servicable from this film was John Williams' score ("Duel of the Fates" was the best piece), but it's far from being one of his best.

NP: Clear and Present Danger - "The Ambush" ***/*****

And it was WAY too obvious about that dual-identity thing going on with Queen Amidala and her "handmaiden" (although in fairness, I failed to recognize Sofia Coppola!) And you're right again, dantoris, Leia was an infinitely feisty and fun character who kept us interested -- too many female characters in action films are just baggage -- as I felt Leia HAD become by the time of JEDI, though of course Ms. Fisher's substance abuse problems at the time didn't contribute to her overall screen presence. Watching her mother Debbie Reynolds in MOTHER (1996) and STAR WARS close together, I was fascinated to see how many of her mom's tics Carrie Fisher was imitating in the first two ... by the time of JEDI she sounds like what she was for a little while, a strung-out Valley Girl. Well, she's gotten it back together now, and good for her.

There's a hateful but fascinating biography out about Lucas right now, called "Mythmaker," that underlines over and over again how much Lucas wishes he could just dispose with the actors entirely. I think a lot of that is true, and yet if you look at AMERICAN GRAFFITI and STAR WARS, the acting is terrific (I really mean that!) I don't exactly recommend "Mythmaker," especially since its author has such a manifest axe to grind, and yet it is a more vivid and, maybe, perceptive portrait than the earlier one (title forgotten; Lucas shrugs them both off.)

So, stuntmen and CGI can do everything. Just bring an actor/actress in for an hour, scan their face, send them on their way, and you don't even have to worry about "dialogue" or acting.

Chris,
I cry myself to sleep every night, repeating your above text in Latin. If only....indeed.

1. Jake Lloyd can't act if his life depended on it (and this kid is Orson Scott Card's personal pick to play Ender Wiggin).

2. Either the framing wasn't quite right or my tv just isn't wide enough (one of Watto's subtitles start out with the word "etter").

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.z.z.z...

p.s. 4 of us went to see this film, and the overwhelming feeling was....NOTHING!!

On the Star Wars newsgroups, there are quite a lot of people complaining that A) the quality of the transfer is terrible, and B) the movie has been edited.

Anyone noticed these things?

quote:

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Either the framing wasn't quite right or my tv just isn't wide enough (one of Watto's subtitles start out with the word "etter")

---

That is caled 'Overscan'. It is a fault of the tv set. It's common. Some TVs you can re-adjust in the menu.

Dang, am I the ONLY one getting the laserdisc? Sheesh!

Dan (UK)

PS: Edited? Rubbish. It's identical to the theatrical cut.

This reminds me--a letter in FSM about John Williams' score for Phantom Menace noted: "I was never exactly sure who the main character of The Phantom Menace was supposed to be. So maybe John Williams had the same problem." Bingo! The biggest, most shocking flaw in a story structure riddled with them: whose story is this? Anakin? Qui-Gon? It's not clear. What I DID find interesting was that Williams, at least, understood whose story it SHOULD have been--Anakin's. Anakin's theme with its insistent recollection of Vader's, coupled with the score's centerpiece, Duel of the Fates--the literal battle for Anakin's soul. If the story began with Anakin, if it unfolded from his POV--it begins to have a spine. As it is, TPM is no one's story & so lacks dramatic tension (and audience identification). If people didn't react well to TPM, this is one very big reason.

Course, they would have had to cast Osment (who auditioned for the role), because Jake could NOT have handled it.

Lucas' direction was indeed bad, but the same happened in "A New Hope". I love to see Mark Hammil and Harrison Ford looking straigh to the camera all the time. Not to mention Darth Vader shaking his menacing finger while you can't hear his voice...

The truth is just one: you guys got old...

The first "Star Wars" got the same kind of criticism you are presenting here by "critics" all around - just a little less since the Internet didn't exist at that time.

And for the teens who didn't like the movie. Well, some of them are saying "End of Days" was better... Say no more!!!

Bye, bye...

HOW RUDE!!!

quote:

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Not to mention Darth Vader shaking his
menacing finger while you can't hear his voice...

---

That's a simple editing boob they made due to problems in cutting that scene short and still having to sync up dialogue. Look at the first scene inside the Skywalker hovel in Phantom Menace for the EXACT same problem, this time with Amidala. Keep you eyes on Natalie Portman. She appears to be intoduing herself and R2 to Shimi, but wait, she makes no sound!

I think Jake Lloyd was fine myself. Yikes c'mon, he's a 9 year old kid! He played a 9 year old kid damn well too if you ask me!

All I would have damanded be removed is the Eopie on tatooine at the flag parade farting and Jar Jar going "pee-yosa" in responce. To resort to a fart gag is the lowest of the low. The fart sound effect is sound loud too it muffles the end of the 'Flag Parade' cue. Arghhh!

I think Jar Jar would have been mroe loved had a lot more of his original dialogue remaind. In one draft he asks Amidala what death is, and wow, I LOVE that scene as it is written. I mean ok, I love Jar Jar anyway, but I think that scene would have been a nice addition, maybe even won over a few more fans for the funny guy.

Lucas was odd in his dialogue editing descisions. Anakin before the council on the page is a great scene, he even goes as far as saying to Yoda "I'm not afraid!" (hey, doesn't Luke say that to Yoda in Empire?). The script is worth reading, but boy do I find myself loving this movie even more upon repeat viewings. It's great harmless fun!

Dan (UK)

NP: Galaxy Quest Promo (****/*****)

Ok, ok! I know this is no eulogy...

It's wonderful! I loved the movie (last night was the first time I had seen it).

The score in the film is sensational....it should have been fully released on CD.

I honestly didn't think it was going to be too much based on everything I've read about it on the internet....but it was damned entertaining, vibrant and satisfying.

Jar Jar is annoying, I agree. And all the hoopla about CGI-created creatures doesn't really translate to "real-looking" creatures to me.

The scale was awesome, as were the special effects.

I didn't want to wait until 2006 to see if Lucas would then release the first trilogy on DVD. Who knows what might happen between now and then?

Was A New Hope in any danger of winning an Oscar? Did it have stellar characterization & acting? Did it have depth? God no!! But did Lucas at least get the basic Writing 101 story elements right? Yes, he did. A New Hope IS told from Luke's point of view, poll the audience on who was the main character. Is Vader a stereotypical villain? You betcha! But he works, because he's THERE and participating in the action. Darth Maul, blink & you missed him. Palpatine didn't physically participate. So, no real hero, no real villain, and the goal was lemme see now, end the trade war. Oh golly, that's exciting.

Oops, there I go comparing two SW movies. Forget that, then. Pick ANY good movie. The Matrix, quick tell me who's the hero, who's the villain, what's the goal & is that goal compelling? The Unforgiven. Fargo.

The point is, you can mess with basic story elements that have been around since the Greeks, and been around because they work--but when some people don't react well, THAT'S the reason.

Now, not everyone is into story, and that's okay. But it's important to me, because without it, I'm not involved.

Also, I work in theater & with child actors and I PROMISE you, there are much better child actors out there.