Anakin - Ep 3 Pic - Spoiler (I guess?)

Drolgin Steingrinder · September 19, 2003, 11:49 am

At this point, I really couldn't give a shit about Episode 3. Lucas killed off most good memories of Star Wars with the travesties that were Episode 1, Episode 2 and the edited 4-5-6.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 19, 2003, 12:01 pm

Does that mean you don't want additional Episode 3 updates?

Before Ep1, I was totally anti spoiler. I literally wouldn't look at anything because I wanted to be surprised etc. For Ep2 though, I looked at all the information available. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have to sit through another 2+ hours of Jar Jar and some little brat who couldn't act in a remake of Home Alone.

I hate Lucas as much as anyone. I honestly feel like he sold off a large part of my childhood to whomever was the highest bidder. That said, I'll probably still watch Ep3, if for no other reason than to have the satisfaction of pointing out plot inconsistencies from the original, unedited trilogy (Ep4-6) that show that Lucas isn't even paying attention to what he's doing.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » September 19, 2003, 12:02 pm

i'll see Ep3.

i doubt it will be that great. but i'm optimistic by nature =)

Drolgin Steingrinder · September 19, 2003, 12:02 pm

No, keep them coming. I just can't get excited about anything in the StarWars franchise anymore.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » September 19, 2003, 12:03 pm

I want to see updates

Of course just like everyone else I thought Ep 1 could have been much better, Ep 2 was but still isn't up to the originals. My hope is that Ep 3 will be even better.

Marb

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » September 19, 2003, 12:44 pm

I've watched Ep1 and Ep2 recently and Ep1 is better IMO. Yes, even with Jar Jar. They're both about even on the CG-heavy effects extravaganzas but the moppet in Ep1 is NOWEHERE NEAR as annoying as Annakin in Ep2.

Had a chat to my ILM chum this week and the word is that Ep3 is going to be the best of the new trilogy, marred only by Haydn Christiansen being unable to do any sort of delivery beyond "wooden".

And I really don't understand the complaints about the Ep4-6 Special Editions. They're the same movies as before just better.
Yeah, better. A couple of gripes about Han shooting first (who gives a shit?) and the ropiness of the Jabba scene aside, what's not to like? I put it down to rose-tinted nostalgia cos if you actually put them on side by side there's no contest.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 19, 2003, 12:54 pm

My only gripes with the Spec Editions are Greedo Shooting first, and Jabba in Ep4 being funny/cartoony instead of vile and evil.

The rest of the effects and added scenes were well done, and welcome additions in my opinion.

My main gripe with Ep1 is that horrible battle droid/gungan battle that looked more like a cartoon than an actual battle.

I prefer Ep2, but agree that Hayden cannot act at all.

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » September 19, 2003, 1:07 pm

I think the special editions are good, just a few minor beefs.

Ep 1 & 2 are so so, I wouldn't say the ruined my memories of SW or anything, but they don't live up to the hype if you ask me. Maybe EP 3 will reignite the flame so to speak.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » September 19, 2003, 1:34 pm

His hair has improved. That's about all I can say.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » September 19, 2003, 2:09 pm

i agree with Tanc for the most part that the improvements in Ep 4,5,6 were improvements.

Let's start with Empire. There were a couple spots where they could have removed the fake snow looking guy even more, but that was a HUGE improvement. Adding the windows to Bespin was very cool - and honestly impressive as hell.

As for Jedi: the band scene was shit, and that was a portent for things to come in the prequels....but anyways...

most of the changes were minor and were improvements in my opinion.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » September 19, 2003, 4:20 pm

I like most of the changes to the originals, except the Greedo thing (who doesn't?). The Jabba thing was tough, cause they filmed the scene originally with a human as Jabba, so they had Harrison Ford walk around the guy... hence the tail stepping. Personally I would have preferred they just not adressed the issue and left him just walking around, but I love the scene simply for Boba Fett.

The prequels, hello, CAN WE GET SOME FUCKING ACTING PLEASE? Not just Anakin, like, EVERYone. I know that Natalie Portman can act, so I figure it's a combination of the horrible writing, abysmal directing, and general lack of chemistry between anyone on the film. Ewan McGregor does alright, probably the best of the movies (barring Yoda.......), but still, it's coming off as very stiff.

It's just so damned frustrating. I heard that some kid took the Phantom Menace DVD, brought it into his PC, took it into an editing suite and re-cut the movie, and the critics were giving it better reviews than Lucas' cut. Does anyone have a link to this by any chance?

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 19, 2003, 8:09 pm

Well you can take comfort in knowing everyone but Yoda and Obi-Wan die in the next one!

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » September 20, 2003, 11:25 am

thats the same very fucking terrible actor they used in ep 2 isnt it?

I doubt this one will be any different then the last 2

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » September 22, 2003, 4:13 am

Actually, me recent re-watchings have improved Natalie's stock IMO. In Ep1 her "crap acting" was actually supposedly "Naboo High Speech" and was affected deliberately.
In the second film she manages to keep a straight face and not punch anakin repeatedly every time he threatens to open his gob - that's quality acting.

I hear MacGregor isn't having the best of times on these films and you've got to remember every time you see a human on screen they acted in a blue box and the rest was added in post. That can't be easy.

Lucas is really pushing the digital film-making process with these films just like he did with the remakes of 4-6. He doesn't seem aware that for all this technical wizardry he's making fucking awful films but full marks for trying new stuff. They're great adverts for ILMs facilities and prowess. I expect them to tag a "available at only $25k/second from ILM!" on the end of the trilogy

masteen · Post by **masteen** » September 22, 2003, 2:29 pm

I saw Ep. 2 in the IMAX. They cut almost all of the shitty dialogue between Natalie and Dipshit, and added a few bits in the battle scenes. It was like 20 mins shorter, and SOOOOOO much fucking better.

I'm going to hold out until they put Ep. 3 in the IMAX, just to spare myself from Hayden. Hopefully, Amydala will rip his throat out early in the movie, so that James Earl Jones can take over the voice acting quickly.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » September 22, 2003, 2:45 pm

the main problem with the acting (save Anikan) is that the scripts have been piles of shit, and the directing has been crappy as well.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » September 22, 2003, 3:10 pm

James Earl Jones can make CNN commercials sound inspiring.

Post by **Sylvus** » September 22, 2003, 3:21 pm

While I was in school at the University of Michigan, we had this HORRID phone system for registering our classes. Computer Registration Involving Student Participation, or CRISP. The worst part about it was the recorded CRISP-lady's voice, and there were always rumors going around or student council initiatives trying to get U of M to get James Earl Jones, who is a graduate of the University, to become the new voice of CRISP.

Unfortunately it never came about, I would have really looked forward to registering for my classes then. Dropping them would have even been more fun than it already was, if that's possible.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » September 22, 2003, 3:28 pm

From reading stuff on some of the links it looks like Hayden may bite it pretty early on in the movie leaving more time for Darth (JEJ's voice) but we will have to see.

What I don't understand is that the kids in the Harry Potter movies, while not giving Oscar worthy performances, can act pretty well. If they could find multiple kids for this why couldn't Lucas find ONE? Hell, the kid that plays Draco Malfoy was in Anna and the King and would have been just about the right age for Episode 1. Why didn't Lucas nab him? His portrayal of Draco is closer to my expectations of Anikin than anything I have seen from Lucas... oh well.

Cheers!
Marb

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » September 22, 2003, 3:39 pm

wouldnt matter anyway marb if the kid was an acting genious.

the script sux, and the direction is poor.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 22, 2003, 3:55 pm

Does anyone else think he looks flamingly gay in that picture?

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » September 22, 2003, 4:31 pm

Either that or he had a "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" makeover.

I have two words... LEATHER VEST!

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » September 22, 2003, 7:10 pm

Wtf, the clothes scream jedi.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » September 22, 2003, 11:16 pm

Don't get me wrong I'm not bashing the Jedi I mean I still have all my SW toys from the 70s, I LOVE Star Wars. But you know we are talking about an order made up of mostly men, with a few masculine women, who can't ever marry... hmmm... maybe he is gay and that was the REAL reason "behind" the creation of the Empire.

Just kidding of course... too stereotypical.

Cheers!
Marb

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » September 23, 2003, 6:36 am

wouldnt matter anyway marb if the kid was an acting genious.

the script sux, and the direction is poor.

While that's true it doesn't excuse the shit job done by Christiansen. Force yourself to watch it again and you'll see that everyone there has to do the same crap but at least makes a half decent go of it. Where as he just gives the same flat unconvincing delivery in every scene no matter what's going on.

Lucas is plainly more interested in his techno toys and has never been a director of actors, but he's not at fault for this one

Shashonna · Post by **Shashonna** » September 23, 2003, 12:26 pm

Zamtuk wrote:Does anyone else think he looks flamingly gay in that picture?

Thats waht I thought soon as I saw that pic. No wonder he went to a mask. Guess they had no mousse

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » September 23, 2003, 12:29 pm

He's a horrible actor and I wanted to spend most of E2 punching his face off...

I do like the setup tho, it's one gigantic Akbar cliche for the entire trilogy.

Act1: Palpatine gets the Trade Federation on his side and starts laying groundwork for his promotion to the Chairman of the Senate AND setting up the Federation to have no reason to love the Republic.

Act2: Palpatine works up a clone army that noone knows about, then deletes the system from the Jedi Records so noone will notice anything wierd going on there. He then works with Ducu to organize a split from the Republic of about 1/3rd of the systems and has said Sithlord strike alliances with the Trade Confed and a few other merchant guilds, then triggers a war between the Republic and the Seperatists (I'm not sure how well this went to schedule. I don't think that the battle that ended E2 was meant to happen right then, but.. /shrug) You also find out that the Death Star has been in design for ~20 years (Luke is about 18, 19 in E4; it's safe to assume that Amadala gets pregnant within 1 year of marriage to Anakin) before E4, and that Palpatine's plans are opperating on the decade scale. Oh yeah, and did I mention that the soon-to-be-emperor takes controll of the senate with special powers? Reminds one of ancient rome, doesn't it?

Curious to see exactly how he puts the finishing blow to the Jedi Order in E3, and sets up the Galactic Empire at the start. Don't forget, it's not until E4 that he dissolves the senate.

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » September 23, 2003, 1:53 pm

And to think they could have focussed on this interesting political backstory instead of giving us moppet-podrace and little wooden boy in the belly of love. But nooooooooo.

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » September 23, 2003, 2:02 pm

Amen, Tanc....

Post by **Xouqoa** » September 23, 2003, 8:03 pm

Sad to say, but I think Leonardo DiCaprio would have been a better Anakin Skywalker (as was initially rumored) than Hayden Christensen.

Hayden came across as a whiny baby in E2, but maybe that is what they wanted him to do, I dunno. I just would imagine Anakin/Vader as more of a dark and brooding than a 'wahhhh Obi-Wan is holding me back wahhhh!' kind of character.

I'm not anywhere near as excited about seeing E3 as I was about seeing E1 when I first heard about it 5 years ago. I'll still see it, and probably buy it on DVD just because of the eye candy, but unless it is significantly better than E2, I really don't think it will be all that great. (It has great potential to be the best of the three though. He should let Spielberg direct it.

)

Drolgin Steingrinder · September 23, 2003, 9:39 pm

Hayden Christensen does make a believable father to Luke. If there ever was a whiny little bitch in a movie, it was Luke Skywalker in A New Hope.

"But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power
converters..."

BLAM!