That’s it. I know the secret. George Lucas is actually a 12 years old clone of himself. We just saw Episode II and it would have been a great movie if only all the characters, their dialogue and their story were not entirely Computer Generated and the director were at least 14. (I take it back, Jar Jar in a Blender would not have been the healthiest kind of fun.) The cities looked most “real”, straight from Blade Runner, except there were more Monsters. Some of the better scenes were actually scenes straight out of Monsters Inc., and Gladiator/Ben Hur. (Obi van Hur.) I also found it very deful that most of the spaceships made sounds as if they were manufactured around 1924. (not quite as bad as this one, but definitely no jet engines.)
Am I getting geeky here?, shall we be in any way surprised? I just saw the origin of Boba Fett. How can I remain the not quite serious self? Boba Fett man! I also saw the inside of Slave1.... Do you know what I mean? You know....
George Lucas is definitely 12. He has seen his older sister kiss, he has heard about relationships from his friends who are 13. And then he went back to his drawing board at Skywalker ranch, called up his former self and told the story in a way that followed the old superbly successful formula, which among other things requires to generate as many merchandisable characters as possible, even if the movie begins to look like a toy commercial. Does the same character appear more than once, they need to wear something different, so there can be several versions of the same toy....
I shall say no more, my vision seems clouded by the dark side.
The movie was packed with fun and I will certainly see it again....
Anni questions?, mom?
You noticed the propeller-like engine noises as well? I'm glad. At first I found it very odd, especially noticeable in the very first scene when Senator Amedala's large 4 engine transport ship lands. It literally sounds like edited B-52 engine sounds. Later though, in the combat scenes when those troop transports sound like Blackhawk helicopters, I quite like it. Actually, I was tired of those typically jet sounds from other sci-fi movies. I think I sort of like it. It gives the feeling that the engines are still mechanical, still breakable (and repairable) but grease-monkey type guys, which allows for some interesting characters.
Speaking of characters: I agree with you. Although the character, costume, and equipment design in this movie is far superior to episode one (Obi-Wan's 2-stage ship is quite the nice design), I think they seriously overdo it with costume changes, and gratuitous races. The united nations of jedi in the arena was a bit much, though I liked the closer tie to the jedi's asian origins. What's the deal with this pointy headed jedi in the whole movie? He's rediculous looking.
I quite like the battle scenes, the arena scene, and yoda's duel. I could do without 20 minutes of pre-teen love story, told with the utter lack of girlfriend experience as only Mr. Lucas could...
You know what I find odd? That engines still have a great mechanical, propeller like exhaust note, but leviation technology is so cheap that it is a viable addition to the rickshaw... Is leviatation technology so easy to come by? If so, would you build it into the large metal suitcases, so Jedi knights don't have to carry senator's luggage around. I can't see how leviation is so quiet and simple (No visible engine or exhaust) but forward propulsion still sounds like a propeller. I wish levitation where that easy. Image the designs for the levitation version of the Aeron chair by Herman Miller... Very nice indeed...
And...I still hate Jar-Jar.
Posted by: chris on May 20, 2002 10:40 AMOne thing bothers me...why Yoda did not hurl the fallen column into Count Dooku's ship. Instead he smashes it against the opposite wall. Has the dark side taken our fine Yoda?
Posted by: davidkegel on May 21, 2002 01:10 PMOk... as for the first comment on propeller like engine sounds... "edited B-52 engine sounds..." THE B-52 IS POWERED BY EIGHT PRATT & WHITTNEY 145 TURBINE ENGINES.... that is jet engines, not propellers, maybe you were thinking of the B-17, B-29, or B-35, n e way, the moviw roxs and if you've read the books you see that Lucas(ahh the everlasting genius), did an extremely good job of representing his original story in he movie. Overall great flik. The downside, i agree that the lubby dubby was a little extreeme, i mean, come on.. Leia Buns, a picnic and romping in a field... Puhlezzzee.
As for Obi-Wan's ship, yea its cool, but super impractical, if you have to dump your hyperdrive at the conclusion of each jump, that leaves you really vunerable to pirates hauling it away, or some rouge meteor bashing it in.... AHH I'M BASHING A GOOD MOVIE!! I will stop now, because of the simple fact that the movie rules, and n e 1 who thinks otherwise has no business being a member of any Star Wars community