Ok well I wont spoil the movie for anyone that didnt take in a midnight showing this morning but I am so disapointed in the thing that I need to write it out. I really could not believe how much of a soap opra that it was. Special Effects were just what I would expect from Lucas however after about the first 30min of the film it was completely obvious what was going to happen and who was going to do what. Maybe it was because I went to the midnight showing and I was just too tired to get into it. I still would encourage all of you Star Wars fans to go and see this as it does fill a few voids that you may not have known or assumed before hand. I plan to go and see it again on Sunday at a more decent hour. Maybe my oppinion will change then......

The problem with writing a prequel to episodes 4, 5 and 6 is you know whats going to happen before it does. Its just a question of how well Lucas was able to pull that off to tie up all the loose ends and hair brained mistakes he made with 1 and 2 into something that is enjoyable, but is predictable in the progression of the story.

after about the first 30min of the film it was completely obvious what was going to happen and who was going to do what

Well duh, this is a prequel. You already know what happens.

I am going tomorrow to see this, I'm too old to sit up past 12am on a weeknight :( Besides I did that for the 2nd Matrix movie and was pissed and said I'd never do it again.

From what I have seen of previews I am hoping it will at least be entertaining....it's going to kick to see vader born.

I probably wont get to see it. The nearest theater is 80 miles away...LOL Is anyone else pissed Lucas wont finish the series? I am not a big star wars fn but what's the point if your not going to complete a story line... He should let Peter Jackson do it. It would probably be better anywyas.

I probably wont get to see it. The nearest theater is 80 miles away...LOL Is anyone else pissed Lucas wont finish the series? I am not a big star wars fn but what's the point if your not going to complete a story line... He should let Peter Jackson do it. It would probably be better anywyas.

You could always download it...not that anyone on here does that :D

Perhaps it's because we are all jaded to startling special effects and whiz-bang graphics... the story seems to get lost or muddled in the CGI somewhere.

I'll go see it, or wait till it comes out on DVD. Somehow I just can't see paying almost $10 to go see a movie. There are some movies (Star Trek, Star Wars, etc) that I do want to see on the big screen, but I'll wait till the crowd thins out a bit.

$10?!? jesus christ.

$7 up here and I think that's robbery. of course where I work we get tickets for $5 so I feel all happy and don't mind going to movies :D

$10?!? jesus christ.

$7 up here and I think that's robbery. of course where I work we get tickets for $5 so I feel all happy and don't mind going to movies :D

I agree...$10 bucks is an arm and a leg for a ticket. Only paid $13 dollars total to see it lastnight. One adult and one child. But hey they might have better theaters than we do here...

Roger and Roeper both gave it two thumbs up which is rare cause they both didnt agree on the other movies. :(

Oh come on, I came here to see the opinions about the god f'in film and this thread is about some retard or other.

Now to the topic, I only have one gripe about SW III and that's Lucas' excuse on why Vader turned to the dark side....I mean COME ON! he totally destroyed Vader's character....imo

Now to the topic, I only have one gripe about SW III and that's Lucas' excuse on why Vader turned to the dark side....I mean COME ON! he totally destroyed Vader's character....imo

What did he say the reason was? The one thing I am looking forward to is seeing him turn all evil and become vader. If it's pussified I'm going to be pissed.

Oh come on, I came here to see the opinions about the god f'in film and this thread is about some retard or other.

Now to the topic, I only have one gripe about SW III and that's Lucas' excuse on why Vader turned to the dark side....I mean COME ON! he totally destroyed Vader's character....imo

I cant say that I disagree at all. Was a very poor reason to choose to turn again the people that had basicly taken care of him for many years. To me that was much to easy and from the way the roles are carried you would think that it would be some way more dramatic than what it was. Not that emotions dont drive people to do outlandish things but, I just really didnt see that one comin at all.

What did he say the reason was? The one thing I am looking forward to is seeing him turn all evil and become vader. If it's pussified I'm going to be pissed.

Get pissed now....pussified is prob the best term to describe it :D

Well, it was better than the first two, not that it took much to qualify. Lucas sure has gotten better at sucking the life out of actors, if you can keep Sam Jackson down you can kill anyone's performance.

I think my single biggest complaint can be summed up in one example. Since I doubt this is a spoiler, some kids die in this movie. Children dying is an easy emotional attack, going for the audience's jugular so to speak in getting your point across. So why, when you are using this time-honored cheap shot to get a reaction, would you possibly ever concieve of *muddling* the effect by using a non-word like "younglings" to describe them? That's not merely poor writing like "Oh, look, some kids died. Gee dude, that just sucks. Yeah." -- it is putting effort into something that needs none .. to make it worse!

I think that particular sort of active self-defeatism by focusing on all the wrong possible elements of a scene neatly describes everything wrong with all of the films except the best two: the original Star Wars had so much more creative input from other people besides Lucas and the Empire Strikes Back was written and directed by a different team.



On the other hand, Yoda is all that is ninja.

If im not mistaken the reason he fully turns to the dark side is cause the Chancellor makes Anakin believe that Obi Wan turned Padme against him.... I dont know about you but it doesnt suprise me that LOVE was what did him in...

If im not mistaken the reason he fully turns to the dark side is cause the Chancellor makes Anakin believe that Obi Wan turned Padme against him.... I dont know about you but it doesnt suprise me that LOVE was what did him in...

I'm not sure if he gave Anakin those visions or in he saw them on his own but you are right that in the vision on Obi Wan speaking with Padme he did become rather jelious over it. Then of course when Padme gets off the ship and Obi Wan is their behind her it sends him into a fit of rage. I took that as more of the writers trying to play a "cheating" aspect into the play. "Guy catches best friend in the house with wife alone" kinda thing.

Like I said eariler, emotions really do play havok on our real lives. However, I was hoping for some far more complicated to be his reason other than that. Maybe death of a race of people, threatning his own life, etc..etc...but for her?? She's hot and all but just like Yoda said "Death is a natural part of life"

Read the book, Anakins overpowering emotions are definately enflamed by Palpatine's control.

Fandros

Well a review said something like "the reasons for Anakin's transformation to Vader is not really believable but we forgive him, the kid is emotionally unstable alright"

That sums it up pretty well, Anakin doesn't become Vader because "he was seduced by the dark side of the force" (remember this one?) but because he is a nerve wreck. End of story...and that pretty much killed the movie for me.

EDIT: And I don't care if its part of the story line or not, it stinks.

1. If Natalie Portman was my girl, any guy who'd even talk to her would see what kind of damage love could do :D
2. Emotions get the best of us all, that shows Anakin a Jedi as more human then just this Leet Jedi who can destroy whole civilizations.
3. I havent even read the book or seen the movie yet and I knew that Love was the culprit behind him going mad why? Cause I rented the Star Wars 3 game for xbox and I remember anakin muddering many times on the final fight YOU TURNED PADME AGAINST ME! (sorry just had to add that)

If you're going to work on something for 20 fucking years you should get it right. It should be a masterpiece. Oh well.

Little homage to Star Wars in last night's Lost. While working on the raft, Michael yells at Jin, "No, no! This one goes here, that one goes there, got it?" a la Han Solo. Nicely done.

You people are insane. The movie was great, and his reasoning for turning to the dark side made complete sense to me.

agree with Discw.. i havent seen it yet but i try not to have unbelieveable expectations before I go.. that way I cant be dissapointed :)... HITCHIKERS GUIDE WAS A AWESOME MOVIE BITCHES!

"I've got a bad feeling about this"

There you go, the one continuity in the whole damn series. I did like the movie though.

So yeah, now that I'm off from work I'll give a little more detail.(SPOILERS BELOW)

The movie certainly wasn't perfect. Natalie portman was just bad, especially for her. And whenever Anakin was onscreen with her, he sucked it up too. I have no idea why, since I know they both can act. Anakin did the whole dark and brooding thing well. Though the scene where he pledged himself to the emperor was very... sudden. That didn't make much sense There were various other cheesy lines(especially from yoda..) but that's to be expected.

The fight scenes were excellent, and yoda is still a total badass. I loved what he did to the emperor's guards. Ewan Mcgregor owned the movie though. He made every scene he was in better.

Not the best movie ever, or as good as the originals, but still a very good movie.

I havent seen it yet, and I dont expect some sort of feeling of devine intervention when I do see it. I do expect the movie to live up to "MY" expectations though. I expect to be entertained. I was able to look past many of the bad things from teh first two prequils and I am sure there will be a few things I need to add to that from this last one. But I am going to watch it to be entertained. The only thing I found hard to stomach in the second one was Anakans unbelievably bad acting. I at least know ahead of time he cant dissapoint me anymore with that.


To those that analize every single detail of starwars/startrek and like situations then freak out if any I isnt dotted or T isnt crossed.. well I imagine you will hate this one as much as you hate anything else you ever watched that tried to entertain you but didnt live up to your own unreal view on the subject.

I liked it :)

Was a lot of fun, though I was VERY surprised at how dark Lucas took this movie. I guess that is what impressed me.

I was entertained and will go back for a second viewing.

I was just glad that Jar Jar Binks had a cameo..... I miss that guy....

I didn't expect to say that I was 'disappointed' in the movie, as I didn't have great expectations of it to begin with; I went mainly to complete my experience with the series, which began when I was 14, waiting in line for hours around the Sun Valley 6 in Walnut Creek, California to see the Original film. I *was* hoping that, given the story, it would at least be a somewhat exciting, as well as visually captivating film; but even viewing this extravaganza at the IMAX with friends, I found myself bored to the point of irritation and frequently checking my watch throughout the second half of the movie. All of the acting, save Yoda's (thankfully, being an animated character, Lucas couldn't ruin him) was painfully stilted (Natalie Portman could have been replaced with a doe-eyed cardboard cutout and the film would not have suffered a bit), but that I did not find nearly as annoying as the way the narrative was handled in general.

I realize that there are challenges presented when telling a story where the ending is already known to the audience, but Lucas' telling of this chapter of his 'epic' was so flat and literal as to be painful. He might as well just have had the actors stand in front of a blue screen and read a plot synopsis; come to think of it, I think that is about what he did :). There were so many opportunities to generate tension in this film, but Lucas effectively took the entire emotional narrative and levelled it with a bulldozer by explaining *everything* in explicit, literal detail - and squandering opportunities to generate it (instead of confusion in the Senate and an outcry when Palpatine declares himself Emperor, all we get is poor-little-Padme declaring pitifully: "So this is how democracy dies...")

Then there were the CGI scenes. Considering the extreme tediousness of the story, these were one of the highlights of the film, with the exception of the silly and gratuitous-feeling scenes on the volcanic planet (General Grievous was well-executed, along with the space combat scenes, imho). Granted, Darth Vader had to end up being maimed somehow, but I just wasn't able to suspend disbelief enough to buy a 15 minute lightsaber fight in a river of molten lava, Jedi superpowers notwithstanding. It didn't feel exciting, but contrived and silly.

All of these things, however, didn't ruin my experience with the film; the real buzzkill was the depiction of Anakin/Vader, and specifically his conversion to the Dark Side. How are we supposed to give a damn about Darth Vader, or his redemption, if it is revealed that he's a psychically weak twit? *This* is the fearsome Lord Vader? Does someone whose doom comes through his own patheticness deserve our sympathy, or even our interest? Wouldn't it have been much more interesting to depict a gradual descent into *conscious* evil, or was Lucas afraid to go there in a fairy tale? It doesn't even seem that plausible that Palpatine would want someone this flaky as an eventual successor. Why bet the farm, so to speak, on this guy? Again, there was so much opportunity for tension squandered here, and this was one of the few places where more, not less, detail would have been useful. The whole 'saving Padme's life' angle was weak and implausible and quite a bit more tension could have been generated if we could have seen some good old suspicion, paranoia, and ambition bubbling up in him (other than the weak, tantrum-like, "They should have made me a master!"), some *real* uncertainty about the Emperor, or perhaps some more insidious manipulation/deterioration of the relationship between Anakin and Padme and/or Anakin and Obi-Wan. Instead, he was the Emperor's de facto lap dog from the beginning, his confession to Windu notwithstanding, and the squeaky-cleanness of Anakin's intent until the moment he hands himself over to the Emperor (Need those cute little kids killed? Yes sir, right away, sir!) just rings false.

Anyway, It was hard *not* to have somewhat elevated expectations for this film, given that it was the culmination of a 28 year series, and so I was a bit more disappointed than I expected to be. The movie did have some bright spots; it was visually beautiful (and I tended to be uninterested in the visual/special effects sequences in the earlier films), the Jedi assassinations were a nice touch, and I enjoyed the General Grievous scenes more than I expected to. On the whole, however, I was somewhat astonished to see how little Lucas managed to do with so much.

Regards,
Nydia

I thought the movie was amazing. People seem to forget in all the glorious memories how horrid the acting was in the old star wars. It wasn't the acting that made the movies good. There aren't many reasons outside how horrible of an actor he is that Mark Hamil basically did nothing outside of video game roles (wing commander anyone?) after Star Wars. Carrie Fisher was much more successful as an author after the original triology than an actress. Sure Harrison Ford went on to a great acting career, but that's about it. Yeah James Earl Jones has had a great career but he didn't really have to act in star wars, he just had to read some lines and not be seen.

What made star wars great back then was there was nothing to compare it too. The effects were amazing, and the storyline was great. Watching this movie, the story was good, imo and the effects were again AMAZING. The fight scenes were great. The story tied up any questions anyone could have had if they hadn't read the books or any spoilers before now. Ewan McGregor was great, I'll have to agree and he'll be in many more movies after this. I agree that Samuel L. Jackson's Mace character wasn't full developed, and it led to his perforance being rather flat. But the MOVIE itself, for what it is, for what ALL Star Wars are, was great. Possibly the best movie of the 6 outside of the Empire Strikes Back (which to me is the best one). It's definately better than the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. I think personally it's better than A New Hope and Return of the Jedi.

There aren't many reasons outside how horrible of an actor he is that Mark Hamil basically did nothing outside of video game roles

Mark Hamill actually spent about 10 years doing well-received stage performances after Star Wars, including a few big name Broadway ones, and is now mostly a voice actor (he was the Joker in the Batman series). Not that I think he's a blonde Pacino or anything, but seriously, when you have bad acting in 6 out of 6 movies, it's not the actors.

Hamill was once quoted in some scifi mag saying some like "If they ever develop a way to make movies without actors, George Lucas will be first in line to do it."

I thought the movie was amazing. People seem to forget in all the glorious memories how horrid the acting was in the old star wars. It wasn't the acting that made the movies good. There aren't many reasons outside how horrible of an actor he is that Mark Hamil basically did nothing outside of video game roles (wing commander anyone?) after Star Wars. Carrie Fisher was much more successful as an author after the original triology than an actress. Sure Harrison Ford went on to a great acting career, but that's about it. Yeah James Earl Jones has had a great career but he didn't really have to act in star wars, he just had to read some lines and not be seen.

What made star wars great back then was there was nothing to compare it too. The effects were amazing, and the storyline was great. Watching this movie, the story was good, imo and the effects were again AMAZING. The fight scenes were great. The story tied up any questions anyone could have had if they hadn't read the books or any spoilers before now. Ewan McGregor was great, I'll have to agree and he'll be in many more movies after this. I agree that Samuel L. Jackson's Mace character wasn't full developed, and it led to his perforance being rather flat. But the MOVIE itself, for what it is, for what ALL Star Wars are, was great. Possibly the best movie of the 6 outside of the Empire Strikes Back (which to me is the best one). It's definately better than the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. I think personally it's better than A New Hope and Return of the Jedi.


I'm going to disagree here. We saw Ep III on Friday and it was great IMO. I will see it again I'm sure. It entertained me. So this weekend we watch 4-6 again and I must say that Carrie Fisher and Ford together are dynamite. Those two had chemistry, it's too bad Portman and Hayden didn't, and Hayden just plain sucks IMO :(. Macgregor was good in my opinion though. I know Portman is a better actor, anyone seen Closer?

Anyway it was good. And it's the first movie I've been to in a while where the air was full of excitement. People were clapping and cheering when the music came on and they were clapping and cheering when it was over. It could just be Pennsylvanians :D

Seeing Vader born was cool, some parts of the movie I think they hurried and others I don't think they hurried enough. But it was a good flick.

You know, I really think this was the "best of all possible worlds." Star Wars was never made to be a killer story; it was a brilliant display of technology possible at the time. The Jedi code is equivalent to the Samurai code, their costumes look like Japanese kimonos, Darth Vader's costume is like the Samurai armor, the light saber is like the Chinese katana, and the women look like Kabuki actors.

Considering that George Lucas intended to revolutionize the technology of the film industry, the third episode was pretty good for a movie whose focus was on technology, not story. So it's probably the best of the prequels by far given that he's had tough material to work on at the start.

I was in Phoenix at the time, so I saw this at the Cine Capri by the Scottsdale 101. Great theatre!

Edit: There was something on the Sci-Fi channel on Star Wars and Eastern influences. The Force is like Chinese qi ( 氣 ) or Japanese chakra/ki. Hell, Obiwan Kenobi's name sounds so Japanese. However, George Lucas admitted that he's "borrowed" Eastern elements, so at least he's honest!

It's a fitting movie for our President and Dick Cheney. Dick Cheney could be paralleled to the Emporer, and Bush to Vader.

I have to agree with Fildien--Hayden Christiansen truly is a horrible actor, almost as bad as Mark Hamil, the guy who played Luke Skywalker. He doesn't show any emotions, and it frightens me how emotionless he is when he kisses a woman like Natalie Portman. I mean, Natalie Portman even turns on girls, and he delivers his love lines so flat. So much for female inspiration.

May the C'hi or Force be with you.

http://www.patrickruffini.com/images/starwars/vader-press.jpg

Harkin's at the 101 and Bell was the place to see it in Phoenix in DLP. The new Cine Capri is nice, but it only makes you wish you had the old one back.

I loved episode 3 as a whole. There were a few parts that I didn't like, though.


Namely, this one. (http://mercury.walagata.com/w/breean/speakandspell.jpg)

I thought it rocked myself... The original episode 4 will always be the best but hey.. give some credit.. this was mainly written over 20 years ago.. give the guy a break..
Loved the fight scenes .. Yoda is what Teenage mutant ninja turtles aspire to be ...
As for why he turned evil ?? Explore the dark side and save the woman you love ?? After your mother died and you felt helpless ?? ring a bell ?? How many times have we heard characters say that once you give in to the darkside it corrupts you ??
Made total sense to me.
Only thing I felt missing, though I don't know that you could of got in in there, was Hans and Chewey meeting .. but that is years away from where the movie ends...
I will see it again I am sure and will buy it for my theatre room when it comes out.

Great movie will buy teh FULL 6 movies all over again when they come out. Yoda is still a kick ass fighter and mcgregor still makes the most convincing Jedi yet.

I loved episode 3 as a whole. There were a few parts that I didn't like, though.


Namely, this one. (http://mercury.walagata.com/w/breean/speakandspell.jpg)

Agreed, I almost laughed when he did that.

Just some comments on anakin darksiding.

Imho, it makes complete sense. The guy lost his mother. His wife is pregnant. And she's going to die. Now the Jedi side tells him "forget your bonds" and Sith side tells him "my power will save her". Of course it's all about emotions, isn't it how ends Return of the Jedi, love for his son?
Order and Chaos, follow a rightful code without changing, or follow your emotions wherever they'll bring you.
Now as why Palpatine wants Anakin, I see various good reasons.
First he's Jesus! The "force-made" man.
Second (because of 1st most probably), he has the best potential as a Jedi and Force user.
And third, he's lead by his emotions.
A soundy candidate imho.

It may not be over (http://www.cinematical.com/2005/05/25/lucas-idea-for-new-star-wars-prequel/) yet.

I didn't see Clones, didn't see Revenge, probably won't ever bother. There's just too much too wrong with the prequels. But the idea of Yoda and Jedi going sabre to sabre with a horde of Dark Lords has mega-appeal.

I thought Episode III was incredible. The action was amazing and I was on the edge of my seat most of/the entire time despite the fact I knew what was going to happen. I wanted to see this movie for the action and to see all the ends tied up and bridge laid between the newer and original movies. It's a great movie that makes up for any lacking Ep. 1 & 2 had.