I thought that I would get back to my ruminations on REVENGE OF THE SITH while I still had it fresh in my mind.As I mentioned before, I don't feel like I can really offer a bona fide "critique" of this film given how much the STAR WARS saga has permeated my psyche... I will do my best, however, to try and process what I can.
First, it has become somewhat fashionable for some of my friends out there in blogland--as well as in the print media, to foolishly dismiss this film out of hand as another in a series of silly or unimportant popcorn movies. One thing that we ALL must agree on is that STAR WARS--whatever you may think of the films, is indeed culturally and socially significant. As cool as it my be to sniff and guffaw the onslaught as some kind of mass Jungian hysteria, it is IMPOSSIBLE to deny the impact the films have had. So, roll your eyes and harumph and laugh at the legion of costumed fans waiting in line... It doesn't change the simple and irrefutable fact that STAR WARS is an incredible cultural phenomenon.
Now, that isn't to say that there aren't problems with the films or film, in the case of SITH. As much as I liked the last film (it was the best of the prequel and ranks below EMPIRE in my top three) it definitely had it's weaknesses...
Acting. Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman all did the best they could with what they had to work with--that is, that is some of the most stilted dialogue ever written for the screen. Lucas has often said that these films are a throwback to the old serials of the 40's and 50's where the acting was indeed broad and the dialogue melodramatic. Indeed. --Dammit,... I have to go again... I will continue this at a later time... I have a doctor's appointment to be off to.
4 comments:
Yes James, I would agree that STAR WARS is an incredible cultural phenomenon. I remember when we were kids and you made me listen to the whole STAR WARS movie on the record player. We would get to a particularly juicy part and then would have to get up and flip the record over... Ahh, those were the days before VCRs...
Your loving sister,
Salley
I kinda liked Natalie Portman, after I closed my ears and stared at her chest real hard. Ewan, OK. Hayden? What the hell kind of name is Hayden? Gay.
Stymie:
I think that your analysis is close to right on. I grew up with Star Wars, me pa took us rugrats and it WAS cool. It was a part of our childhood, like crack for kids today. Sorta. But how can you not like the ewoks, they're like tall, mangey puppies?
bill
Haven't seen Sith, yet (my husbands been pestering me to see it). After the last STAR WARS film, I said we'll rent it, again. That way I can leave the room quietly.
Honestly, I don't know what went wrong (well, actually I do) with the film before Sith. The original 70's film's had a freshness both in ideas, story-line, set, and acting. They actually had charisma.
The last SW film I saw was stilted and all the actors looked uncomfortable. The writing was so typical I could tell you a few minutes before what was going to happen. All right, I was going to be an English major and I read a few books, but still I expect good writing esp. if you're going to dump a bunch of money into a film for posterity.
I'm hoping Sith has some better moments (though, I hear the political aspect is intriging)but I don't expect mastery compared to the SW of the 70's.
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