May 9, 200520 yr comment_2055228 I thought I said it in this thread, but apparently I said it TO someone on AIM (prolly Josh) but Knowles says just what I said: I sat around during the first two prequels chomping at the bit, waiting for young Anakin and teenage Anakin to show signs of turning to evil or just all out turning. My biggest disappointment with Episode II was that he didn't turn fully, which I was expecting. At the film's conclusion, Anakin was still, more or less, good. I was upset that he wasn't EVIL~! yet. That's what I came to see, the infamous heel turn. I was prepared to mawrc out. Then I read the screenplay to Episode III. That cliche' 'be careful what you ask for' has never been more apropos. As you listen to how Palpatine uses all of Anakin's fears, suspicions, distrust, confusion, jealousy, pride and other inadequecies against him; the way he manipulates EVERYONE, not just Anakin, and exploits Ani's weaknesses...it's truly heartbreaking. When Anakin makes certain decisions you feel your heart literally being tugged, pulled, SNATCHED. You don't want him to listen, you don't want him to turn, you want him to see through the Emperor's ploy. Watching it all unfold, knowing the end result is all so sad. Tragedy really is the only fitting word to describe it all. There are so many layers to his character and why Anakin was able to be turned and the two previous installments were somewhat necessary to explain that. Palpatine has so many weapons to use against Anakin to bring him to the Dark Side, not just one major one. Growing up with all of this for 28 years only serves to amplify the impact this will all have. But back to my original point, I waited for years to see Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader, thinking I would LOVE it. Now I DON'T want to see it. I feel sorry for Vader now, when I think of the tragic figure under that hood in the original trilogy. I realize he isn't evil incarnate like we were led to believe for so many years 'til now. He was a victim of so many unfortunate circumstance and now it makes even more sense (because it makes none when you just see the original trilogy) when Luke says he still senses good in him and wants to save him.
May 9, 200520 yr comment_2055590 This is where I think the firs two movies in the prequel serve their purpose. They set the seeds for Anakin turning evil (leaving his mom, meeting Palpatine, his mom dying, secret love affair). There are plenty of things that seemed hokey that now seem perfectly in place. As for the rest of your sentiments, that is exactly how I feel as indicated by several previous posts in this thread.
May 9, 200520 yr comment_2055620 Me and my friends are actually planning to watch episodes I and II before we go see III, since none of us have seen them in a while. I'm hoping that they'll make a bit more sense with the third movie being out, but we'll see.
May 10, 200520 yr comment_2069555 James Berardinelli has published his spoiler free review for Episode III and has tagged it at ***1/2. Just for the sake of reference, it ties Sin City, Downfall, and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room for Berardinelli's highest rated movie of the year. According to star ratings, here's how Berardinelli has rated the entire Star Wars series: Star Wars: **** The Empire Strikes Back: **** The Phantom Menace: ***1/2 Attack of the Clones: ***1/2 Revenge of the Sith: ***1/2 Return of the Jedi: ***
May 10, 200520 yr comment_2069577 What did he rate Constantine? That's probably the best movie I've seen this year. Sin City at a close second.
May 10, 200520 yr comment_2069670 He's got Constantine at **1/2. http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/c...onstantine.html
May 10, 200520 yr comment_2069792 So, he's saying that Phantom of the Menace, complete with Jar Jar antics, is better than Constantine. Check. I don't value this dudes opinion AT ALL.
May 10, 200520 yr comment_2069924 I don;t know about this guy's star ratings but his movie review was perfectly acceptable. Like wrestling, the stars are so subjective that you find it difficult to match the words with the rating.
May 10, 200520 yr comment_2070029 His Phantom Menace review is really bizarre - he spends a lot of the review talking about how the real value behind the movie is how the special effects and presentation carry something that's mediocre. He complains about that, about Jar-Jar, and about how it's not an "actor's movie", and then he gives the movie ***1/2 stars. It's really weird. It's probably the worst review he's ever written, but it's the outlier - the rest of his reviews are usually dead-on.
May 11, 200520 yr comment_2076298 I agree, he is usually pretty good with star ratings, better than Ebert at least. But that Phantom Menace thing really throws everything off.
May 11, 200520 yr comment_2079368 So, he's saying that Phantom of the Menace, complete with Jar Jar antics, is better than Constantine. Check. I don't value this dudes opinion AT ALL. Constantine was okay, but definitely not the best movie I've seen this year. That honor, thus far, goes to Sin City.
May 11, 200520 yr comment_2079789 Dubbing something the best movie of 2005 isn't saying much, because it's been a weak year for the cinema thus far.
May 13, 200520 yr Author comment_2111284 The reviews are starting to trickle out from the sneak previews, and they all seem to be positive. Even people who seem to enjoy bashing sci-fi seem to be grudgingly admitting that this one's pretty good. About the only negative comments I've seen were about Hayden giving a better-than-episode-II-but=still-not-great performance.
May 14, 200520 yr comment_2118288 projectreaL1ty: I can't wait for episode 3 :x PR0NFAQ: i bet you can't. nerd. projectreaL1ty: I bet you can't either. projectreaL1ty: Mr. "I cried" PR0NFAQ: they had some sort of special showing here in DC last night projectreaL1ty: Fag. PR0NFAQ: you know what? I'm gettin tired of people throwing that in my face. projectreaL1ty: Shouldn't have called me a nerd then. PR0NFAQ: i didn't CRY. I said I got "choked up" projectreaL1ty: Chokedupfixio Jones PR0NFAQ: you know what, fuck you. you're well on your way to blocked-ville. projectreaL1ty: HAHA
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2141070 Box Office Mojo Review These guys are usually really hard on the movie's they review, but nonetheless, I figured I'd post it as another point of view.
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2147516 This was interesting, the pic included with the CNN.com story about the Cannes premeire: Looks like Natalie and Sam share the same barber...
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2148119 Yea, Natalie shaved her head for her role in V for Vendetta, or whatever it's called. The upcoming Wychowski brother's movie.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2150225 Anyone gonna catch a midnight viewing? I was toying with the idea, but I'm not sure. It all depends on whether a friend of mine picked up tickets for the show last night. Otherwise, I'll hold out until the weekend and see it when there's less of a chance I'll be fighting over an armrest with a Stormtrooper.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2150283 No midnight viewing for me, but I am going to reserve some tickets for a MegaScreen (think like an Imax, but maybe a little smaller) showing for the weekend. I'm fired up for this one and an article in the local newspaper warning parents about how the movie is "too dark" just makes me want to see it more.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2151236 Not going to the midnight showing like I did for Episode I and Episode II, but my uncle is taking the day off of work and I'm ditching school to see the 9:40 showing. I'm so excited. Otherwise, I'll hold out until the weekend and see it when there's less of a chance I'll be fighting over an armrest with a Stormtrooper. I'll show you how of losers we are (Star Wars fans I mean). I can't remember if it was in Ep. I or Ep. II, but during the opening (where it shows "STAR WARS" in bold) there was nearly a standing ovation. I shit you not.
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2151274 USA Today gave it *** 1/2 (out of four), calling it possibly the best Star Wars movie out of the whole bunch.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2151460 My crew and I are going to see the midnight viewing. Leaving here at 3:00pm to sit in line for like... oh... 7 or 8 hours or so, until they open the doors. PSPs and the portable DVD player will be in toe. This has been our tradition for Star Wars movies, so we're geeks and we know it.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2151523 Josh has definitely just beat me on the "Star Wars loser scale". Now I don't feel so bad.
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