It’s happened. I’ve now seen it. I’ve been to see Revenge of the Sith.
What is with George Lucas that he gets away with calling his films such dumb schmuck names? The characters too, like General Grievous? I laughed out loud. How is that remotely ok? Why did nobody say, “George, no!”
It’s not as if he doesn’t know how to get it right. Take Skywalker, for example. How cool is that? Luke Skywalker is the most fantastic sci-fi hero character name of all time. And what about Darth Vader? Wow. And then there’s the simple, beautiful “Star Wars” itself. Magical. But, Grand Moff Tarkin? What? Whu… what? George! No! Suffice to say the man is a genius – but he could do with an editor with sense.
When Star Wars Episode V came out, I went to see IV and V in a double showing at the local cinema. I was ten, and took my ten year old girlfriend with me. To tell the truth, I’m not sure it was as good for her as it was for me. Also sadly, she wasn’t prepared to play Luke and Leia with me afterwards, but in light of later events that’s probably a good thing. Soon after, we kind of drifted apart. I don’t remember seeing Return of the Jedi with her, anyway.
It’s argued that New Hope was the first blockbuster, and that its incredible success rescued the movies from a dangerous collapse. That’s an amazing thought. If those things are true, then Star Wars genuinely changed the world – or at least changed the hairdo on the face of popular culture. There’s no doubt that any work of art that creates huge public interest demands discussion and analysis. The problem with Star Wars Eps I, II and III, however, was the two huge packs of slavering hordes waiting for their arrival, one to rip them apart, the other to laud them with joyful praise, from the very instant they lit the canvas screen. The kids were still the best at just watching the films to enjoy them, like myself back when I saw IV and V with my chick.
Now complete, it is a thirty year oeuvre that stands absolutely unique in cinema history. Star Wars has been a sort of companion to me, and clearly many many others, for most of my life. Sure, I’ve had my problems with Eps I and II, and yes I know that there are flaws in the series, and like I said Lucas can sometimes stagger you with his childish ineptitudes. Of course, it’s his childish imagination that has borne this epic in the first place. Although it’s hard to forgive him for not making everything perfect, it’s also in my view ridiculous to say that Star Wars has been anything other than a helluva ride.
I don’t mind telling you that I absolutely loved every minute of Revenge of the Sith. Even the occasions where the characters looked like they were relieved it was nearly over. Even the occasional bridge-of-a -spaceship shots that looked disconcertingly like the Power Rangers’ control room. Even the ongoing rubbish impersonation of Alec Guinness by Ewan McGregor. Even the stodgy mid-section that struggled with a lamely scripted love story. What the hell. I loved it. Hugged it squeezed it loved it.
Previous to this film, my favourite opening scene of any movie ever was A New Hope (with maybe Darkman a close second). This beats it hands down. From that fantastic opening sequence, I was hooked right through to the end, and when the end came, I clapped like people used to do at the end of a movie, and dammit still should!
And then I stood and watched the credits role, and thought, wow, that’s it. There are no more. It’s done. It’s complete. I felt a bit choked (or was it Darth up to his tricks again?).
People will talk about Star Wars forever. It will be studied. It’s an epic work of cinema art, has had huge sociological impact, and it stands as a genuine work of great fiction. The one thing I wonder is, will I live to see some young gun director of the future, perhaps one who is right now a young boy, or indeed young girl, looking at the stars, dare to do the remake? Who knows…
If you haven’t been there yet, use some bandwidth at this Darth Vader mind reading site. You will laugh your Sith off. (Thanks Juno for the link on your site!) And, when you’ve done that, you’d be mad not to hear the tale told from The Darth Side.
Tags: star wars