Month: December 2020

SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: Approx. 140 Min.

Released in 2005, this prequel (written, produced,& directed by George Lucas) occurs approximately three years after Attack of the Clones.

With The Clone Wars near its end, the intergalactic Senate has imploded.  The Sith’s dark forces and the Jedi’s patience are at a fateful crossroads, as the time to execute Order 66 is now.  Palpatine, the self-appointed dictator of the galaxy’s ‘new democracy,’ has transformed the once-loyal Clone Troopers into the Jedi’s worst nightmare.  Palpatine orders the Clones to purge all Jedi in existence on the grounds of treason as a threat against the newly established Empire.  Once Jedi Master and trusted protégé, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker now represent two sides of the galaxy’s pendulum between good and evil. 

The primary cast is:   

(General) Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor

(General) Anakin Skywalker: Hayden Christensen

Queen Padmé Amidala: Natalie Portman

Mace Windu: Samuel L. Jackson

C-3PO: Anthony Daniels

R2-D2: Kenny Baker

Senator Bail Organa: Jimmy Smits

Yoda: Frank Oz

Count Dooku: Christopher Lee

Senator Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid

General Grievous: Matthew Wood

Owen Lars: Joel Edgerton

Beru Lars: Bonnie Piesse

Chewbacca: Peter Mayhew

REVIEW:              

If there’s any way to sum up Revenge of the Sith, then it’s the Star Wars equivalent of the collapse of the Roman Empire – the mythic fable of a mighty democratic republic being overthrown by corruption and tyranny. Palpatine pulls this intergalactic coup off by spreading the Jedi so thin that he can knock off their central base on Coruscant.  Hence, by continuing plot points from Attack of the Clones,  there are five lightsaber duels in this film alone. Key sub-plots, like Anakin & Padmé’s romance, are de-emphasized for long stretches.  Pivotal supporting players from Episodes I-II, like Jango Fett and Jar Jar Binks are near-forgotten, but that may be for the best.

There is more to this movie than reckless sci-fi/fantasy-action.  Anakin Skywalker’s character arc is actually handled quite well considering how putrid it was in Episode II.  This can be attributed to Hayden Christensen stepping his performance as the Force’s destined savior, who is now on the fringe of snapping.  Ian McDiarmid, as the opportunistic Emperor, also does a good job slowly shifting Anakin into his gullible pawn.  Let’s not overlook Ewan McGregor’s efforts conveying a weary Obi-Wan Kenobi, as he senses the Jedi are on the verge of sudden extinction.  Considering that he contributes to defeating three Sith Lords in a single film, Kenobi/McGregor comes off as the prequels’ undisputed MVP.

To do so, however, means blowing away the previously-known Sith (figuratively, that is).  Count Dooku, the menacing Separatist leader, is now nothing more than a B-grade, beginning-of-the-movie expendable.  Another big-time baddie, General Grievous, is somehow dispatched by a single Jedi!  Despite looking formidable in Clone Wars animated series, comics, and video games, Grievous falls far short of the Sith’s grand expectations.  No wonder Darth Vader answers their ‘help wanted’ sign. 

If Grievous and his droid army are so wimpy, why do the Jedi need three whole years between Episode II to Episode III to finally defeat them? That aside, the fight scenes are more of a Rocky montage than memorable for their own dazzling merits– this aspect is disappointing in some sense. Then again, imaging being a little kid seeing this many lightsaber duels in a single movie!

With all of this swordplay, you’d expect the team to go lazy on the SFX, right?  In a way, yes, it’s all green-screen again, but there are major upgrades from Episodes I-II.  Even so, any fan who is above the age of five, will see through Lucas’ transparent plotting. The climax of this prequel trilogy is unoriginal, plain and simple, as the outcome is such a foregone conclusion.  Luke and Leia are born — Anakin turning evil – Kenobi’s self-exile —  and Palpatine & Vader taking over the galaxy aren’t shockers for older viewers. As cool as lightsaber fights are, how much value do they really hold, if ones needs five of them in a single movie?

Episode III looks to take fans on an epic adventure through its visuals instead of actual, but grim visuals will only carry viewers so far. It’s hard to look at this movie without making anyone upset because of how polar the reception it has from the fans. Are there things that seem wildly unrealistic or in bad taste, more so than usual?  Yes – case in point: parents should be aware that even the young Jedi children are clearly implied to have been massacred. 

Is this movie hard for anyone born before the 1990’s to enjoy as a legitimate Star Wars experience? Yep!  Still, Revenge is either the best or second-best in the franchise for many young adult fans.  Blame it on nostalgia; blame it on the lightsabers; but this film is either a hit or misfire, depending on demographics. With that, it’s hard to give Revenge of the Sith a definitive rating due to its mixed reception.  Ultimately, it’s is something that you need to check out for yourself. 

BONUS FEATURES:

None.

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:             6½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                           RUNNING TIME: Approx. 142 Min.

Released in 2002, this prequel (written, produced,& directed by George Lucas) occurs approximately a decade after The Phantom Menace. 

A series of increasingly brazen attacks by Separatist forces have weakened the Republic. After a bounty is placed upon the head of Naboo’s Queen Padmé Amidala, the Jedi defenders are spread even thinner.  Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his 20-year old protégé (or padawan), Anakin Skywalker, are tasked with keeping their friend, Padmé, safe.  Yet, a related investigation pits Kenobi vs. mercenary Jango Fett (the father of the legendary Boba Fett).  Meanwhile, the evolution of Anakin & Padmé’s relationship continues.  With the Galactic Republic resorting to a clone army to help the Jedi keep peace, the nefarious Sith push closer to their own covert agenda. 

The primary cast is:      

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor

Anakin Skywalker: Hayden Christensen

Queen Padmé Amidala: Natalie Portman

Mace Windu: Samuel L. Jackson

C-3PO: Anthony Daniels

R2-D2: Kenny Baker

Senator Bail Organa: Jimmy Smits

Yoda: Frank Oz

Jango Fett: Temuera Morrison

Count Dooku: Christopher Lee

Senator Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid

Dormé: Rose Byrne

Owen Lars: Joel Edgerton

Beru Lars: Bonnie Piesse

REVIEW:              

If there was a movie that manages to jam-pack action, sci-fi, romance, drama, and stupidity all into one movie, it’s this one. As harsh as it sounds, George Lucas dropped the ball by making Episode II everything that Star Wars isn’t meant to be.

For example, the original trilogy delivered organic, relatable characters who grow as people. In this prequel saga, particularly this movie, the contrived romance of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala feels straight out of some awful romantic melodrama, not Star Wars.  ‘Romantic’ lines such as, “I don’t like sand” and “I’m haunted by the kiss you should never have given me” will torment a viewer’s ears for days to come. As for Natalie Portman, despite her resemblance to a certain future Princess, she looks disinterested and would rather be anywhere else than on the set of Star Wars.  Unsurprisingly, the on-screen chemistry between Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen comes in at a whopping 0%!

All is not lost, however, because a swashbuckling Ewan McGregor comes to the rescue! He does, by far, the best of any main character in this movie. Temuera Morrison and Christopher Lee also provide great supplementary roles and it’s a shame that they don’t have bigger roles. Even with some good performances, the movie still underperforms. Considering that there’s a fight scene involving seemingly the entire Jedi order, how come it only racks up about 10 minutes of time? When discussing the production of a Clone army, most of it goes unanswered, leaving it up to viewers to decipher. 

Getting back to the point that there is too much in the 140+ minutes of film, far too many doors are left wide open. Geonosians, Count Dooku, Jango Fett, Mace Windu, and other peripheral characters, who had not shown up in prior media, now appear without any backstory. Granted, there are far more films and comics now than in 2002, but imagine watching Attack of the Clones in 2002 and being expected to grasp what’s all going on. There are lightsabers, blasters, and droids, but that doesn’t make this movie feel like Star Wars. Instead, Episode II ends up coming off as a tone-deaf Star Wars wannabe and is arguably the worst in the franchise.

When looking at the graphics, Episode II is a step up from all of its predecessors. In fact, virtually every scene is shot in front of a blue/green screen. Keeping this in mind, it might be assumed that Attack of the Clones is a Star Wars video game instead of a mega-million dollar budget, live-action movie. With this, you’d think that would be enough cash to create either some believable sets or utilize a real outdoor location. Alas, neither happened, and it gives the film an overly-glossy, totally artificial look.

If this timeline occurs before Episode’s 4-6, why exactly does it have the most modernized look?  These glaring continuity errors are evident throughout the movie’s exhausting run time. Still, as mentioned, bright performances by McGregor and some background characters offer viewers some compensation.  In short, if Episode I relies on snooze control, then Episode II is a sped-up version.  Attack of the Clones moves at a clip too fast to allow anyone to take it all in – yet, the film somehow drags on seemingly forever.  Just imagine yourself watching someone else play a Star Wars video game for nearly 2½ hours straight. 

Considering it was released within two weeks of Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man, Attack of the Clones couldn’t even steal the thunder of the Spring of 2002 — much less be something worth watching years later. 

BONUS FEATURES:

None.

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:              4 Stars

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SUMMARY:                          RUNNING TIME: Approx. 136 Min.

Released in 1999, this prequel (written, produced, & directed by George Lucas) is set approximately 30-35 years before A New Hope. 

Amidst wide-reaching trade negotiations, intergalactic turmoil is brewing, despite the best efforts of the mystical Jedi.  Among them are Qui-Gon Jinn and his protégé, Obi-Wan Kenobi.  In protecting influential young senator and Queen of planet Naboo, Padmé Amidala, the trio encounters an extraordinary child, Anakin Skywalker, during their brief stay on Tatooine.  The Sith’s rising dark forces send its most formidable assassin, Darth Maul, to eliminate them.  Ultimately, the epic Battle of Naboo determines whether or Padmé’s peaceful world falls to hostile invasion. 

The primary cast is:

Qui-Gon Jinn: Liam Neeson

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor

Queen Padmé Amidala: Natalie Portman

Anakin Skywalker: Jake Lloyd

C-3PO: Anthony Daniels

R2-D2: Kenny Baker

Yoda: Frank Oz

Jar Binks: Ahmed Best

Senator Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid

Finis Valorum: Terence Stamp

Sabé: Keira Knightley

Darth Maul: Ray Park

Mace Windu: Samuel L. Jackson

Shmi Skywalker: Pernilla August

REVIEW:

Make no mistake: the prequel trilogy isn’t meant for the casual viewer. To put this into proper perspective, Qui-Gon Jinn [Liam Neeson], who leads the film with 35 minutes and 30 seconds of screen time, has his name first brought up around the 45-minute mark. To be fair, the movie benefited from a lot of pre-release hype re: the prequel’s general arc.  Yet, for anyone not grasping Lucas’ new approach to Star Wars in 1999, the convoluted Phantom Menace is sure to leave them in the dust.

Another aspect of the film’s poor direction is evident re: the time frame for which it is set to take place. After a fair amount of guesswork, this movie takes place thirty-plus years before the last time Star Wars fans had been sent into a galaxy far, far, away. This necessitates the plot occurring roughly a decade before Attack of the Clones, making it something of an anomaly within the Star Wars timeline.

Without any prior movies or TV shows set in this timeline, fans are now discovering Padmé Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Jar Jar Binks, and Darth Maul for the first time (per Lucas’ grand intent).  Yet, none of these main characters have any prior backstory, leaving casual fans wondering who exactly they all are. To many, they could well assume that Ewan McGregor’s athletic Obi-Wan Kenobi is more like a young Anakin Skywalker – or that maybe Jinn is Luke & Leia’s grandfather.

With that aside, other parts of the film seem rushed. Considering how many plot holes this movie creates, the phrase “What exactly is the story again?” should almost be plastered as an advisory prior to viewing.  The Jedi are supposed to protect trade talks, but what for? How exactly is a nine-year old kid constructing his own protocol droids, let alone an instant starship pilot? Many things about Menace are a stretch, but just like everything Star Wars, it becomes natural after a while. There are way too many unanswered questions to make this this film enjoyable without prior research. 

The effects aren’t spectacular-looking now, but that could be more a case of ironic timing.  Let’s keep in mind that Lucas chose to wait until modern SFX made his preferred vision of Star Wars possible – hence, his late 90’s re-release of the original (and supposedly improved) trilogy before producing Menace.     

Looking at Menace’s SFX through the lenses of 1999, they are actually phenomenal — even with some modernization by Lucas.  If judging the film purely on look, it’s state-of-the-art. While the excessive CGI may get old after a while, it’s still great to see a stellar lightsaber duel and many new alien species being introduced into the Star Wars universe. In that sense, however, Menace is too visually ambitious. Far too much attention fixates on the film’s glossy look vs. making the actual storyline compelling.

The dialogue isn’t as bad as others might complain, but Lucas doesn’t convey any sense of actual direction to his cast.  In other words, the dialogue resembles more a stilted school play than a Hollywood blockbuster.  Worse yet, there isn’t a Harrison Ford or Alec Guinness hiding the reality that Lucas deems the actors as more SFX instead of live human beings.  Evidently, no one improvised or bothered to deviate from Lucas’ muddled script.

To the more avid Star Wars audience, Phantom Menace is a stepping stone to the other two prequels, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith instead of a key piece to the franchise. For anyone opting to watch each Star Wars film in order, Episode I: The Phantom Menace shouldn’t be a priority.

BONUS FEATURES:

None.

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                  3 Stars

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