Yep, saw it. Me and a few million other people.

[elderberrywine]

Sigh. A few thoughts on SW III.

(and no spoilers, although I don't possibly know how there could be such a thing)



Ya know, I remember seeing the first SW when it originally came out. I was in my mid-20's, and went to see it, with the guy I married a couple of months later, down in one of those huge theaters they used to have in Westwood, pre-multiplex days. The line was huge, circling around a city block, and you really had to wait through a couple of showings to get in (no pre-ordering of tickets). This was even after it had been out for a month or so, too. And you know what? It was totally worth it.

That movie was flat-out, no-holds-barred FUN, like nothing else any of us had ever seen. From that opening screen-crawl, with that glorious music, to those amazing flights through the slot-thingies, it was one awesome E-ticket ride all the way through (another phenomenon of that time). The characters were scruffy and cranky, and tended to snark, and Leia had no problem, good feminist that she was, with joining in the fun (although you had to wonder when she had time to play with her hair the way she did). The look of it all was amazing, but it really seemed such a well lived-in universe, that it was easy to buy it all. We all staggered out of the theater a little dazed, but more than ready to get back in line and take that ride again. And this wasn't geeks, mind you, this was EVERYBODY.

And last night? Well, I got a leg cramp that was really annoying, and I personally didn't care what happened to Anakin if he'd only go be all angsty-look-at-meeeeOMG somewhere else, the Ewen was pretty, but had no one to banter with, and at least the last bit picked up the pace SOME, because I have rarely seen a slower movie that had, like, special effects and a cast of more than five people in it. But what it wasn't, was fun. Sigh.

Comments

[annwyn55.livejournal.com]

My daughter saw it today, called me, and told me not to bother. It was better than 'Clones' (which we hated) but not by much, she said.

What does Lucas care about the quality of it anyway? He's making more money than the GNPs of most of the world's countries. General family & friends consensus: thank god it's the last one - and he'd better not be making any more.

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

She has good judgement. I do admit, however, to having a sneaky fondness for little Yoda, and it was fun seeing him go all bad-ass on the Siths.

Lucas reminds me of Anne Rice, alas. Both need someone to sit them down and tell them what works and what doesn't, but unfortunately, that's not too likely to happen. Yeah, and the merchandising tie-ins seem to be a huge part of it for Lucas. (Sold out to the Man, he has.)

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. How disappointing for you! Like you, I saw the first movie when it came out in '77, and the opening moments are ones I will never forget (kind of like the scene at the beginning of FOTR when Gandalf arrives in Hobbiton!) It was totally unlike anything any of us had seen. What a pity that Lucas couldn't leave well enough alone. I've not seen any of the second trilogy, and I'm increasingly grateful for that!

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

How true. The one thing I will give him is that he does make gorgeous extra-terrestial worlds. But a travelogue does not a decent action movie make.

It is sad, but you've lost nothing, IMHO, by not seeing the prequels.

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen it yet, only trailers, but I don't expect much. I'm looking forward to the popcorn mostly and doing something while the little one is with his grandparents. LOL.

Also, I dread all those scenes which I've seen bits of that look like they used the lava throwing Mount Doom to save money. Arrrgggh.

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

Yep, I spent quite a few moments toward the end there muttering *coughripoffripoffripoffcough* under my breath, much to my husband's annoyance.

[chaos--chan.livejournal.com]

I want to see it to. But until jetzt all tikets are sold aut. well I dont expekt so much. I am not the biggest fan in the wold. But I hope its an intresinting an gigant movie.

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

You know, it could have been a whole lot better if Lucas had tightened it up, I think. The earlier movies had much better pacing, but this one just really seemed to drag.

Oh, well, I guess it's one of those things where you just have to go to satisfy that need for closure.

[sierralois.livejournal.com]

>>Yep, I spent quite a few moments toward the end there muttering *coughripoffripoffripoffcough* under my breath>>,

Oh, I was thinking the same thing, it really was a ripoff (as well as Yoda dangling for a great height, sound familiar?) Like you, I have fondness for Yoda, but when the lights came up, this film was forgotten, like that. There was no genuine feeling in this film.

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, that's it. (Heh, and I loved Amedila's barest bump of a pregnant stomach, and then she's giving birth to two whomping big twins an hour later? Uh, no.)

Now this afternoon (I guess it was a hot, movie kind of weekend) we went to see Sahara. Intriguing (if implausible) plot, much prettiness to look at, Delroy Lindo (who always rulez, IMHO, and I could have seen more of him) and crazy Steve Zahn. And it was no classic, but it sure was fun.