June 27, 2002 [jueves]

I FINALLY SAW STAR WARS: EPISODE II (on the last day of school, 26th)! It was muy excelente. I saw it in Digital Projection (DLP), which made it all the better. The graphics were SO realistic. The only problem I had in the movie was the beginning middle-ish, where it kept going back and forth to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin and Padmé. The love one moment, meeting thin-necked, slim creatures from Kamino the next. Otherwise, it was gooood.

Okay, there was a really strange guy sitting near me... he would laugh at all the wrong parts of the film... he even did so at the beginning, where Fox's music theme (the snare drums bit) was playing. And all of a sudden I just hear, "Haw, haw, haw." Seriously, this is how he laughed. I dunno if there was something wrong with him or...

Anyway, the soundtrack sounds good! All five of them sound good, but I like the newer ones. More upbeat, more... contemporary. But aw... after this one, then just one more... then that's it! But I understand; George Lucas spends 10 years of his life devoted to one trilogy. So it's twenty years. Wow.

Episode II was interesting because there were lots of... "preludes" that would lead to the second trilogy. There were also lots of foreshadowing, but sort of 'cuz you can't really foreshadow something you've already seen... For example, when the Jedi/Padawan duo enters the bar, Obi-Wan says something like Anakin would be the death of him (interjected by some haw-haw's). Hm, whatever could that mean? In case you don't know, Anakin, who turns into one of the Darths (there's Darth Maul... Darth Sidious... Darth Vader...), kills his mentor in Episode IV. But, I guess all for the better because he guides Luke metaphysically and stuff. C-3PO and R2-D2 provide the comic relief, but so far into the movie! Also, it introduces Owen Lars and his "girlfriend," Beru (upon her introduction that man hee-haws), future guardians of Luke. I don't remember how the older Beru looked like, but the younger Owen looks very much like the older one. The resemblance is uncanny. Excellent. So, the both were actually Luke's aunt and uncle, but more like step-uncle, if that exists. 'Cuz Owen is the stepson of Shmi Skywalker, Anakin's mother, who married Owen's father. Unfortunately, she was stolen by Tusken raiders, who were killed by Anakin. That part was so disturbing, but it was necessary, to show the beginnings of his descent into the dark side, along with his frustrations with Obi-Wan, calling him jealous and "holding [Anakin] back." I thought that was one of the few scenes that Hayden was good in (confessing his murders to Amidala). I mean, he's a good actor, but the way he talks sounds like his voice is irritated (I DON'T mean irritating). I dunno what it is about him... it's just weird. The look and all is good but his voice is very blah. According to an old entry: "Is it just me or does Hayden look like some kind of muppet? He's good-looking and all, but sometimes he looks like his royal shittiness and other times he looks great. Christensen, you are an enigma." Still, big kudos to the confessions.

Another beginning was the plan for THE DEATH STAR (at least, I hope it was it or I would be sounding like a fool). It's capitalized, 'cuz didn't Lucas capitalize it in that scrolly text thing in the beginning? It also showed the first robotic thing Anakin got, his arm. which was creepy, because why couldn't they just replace it with a realistic working limb like Luke's? It also showed HOW he got that thing, "bonding" father and son (Anakin and Luke). 'Cuz, you know, the dad cut off the son's hand, only to say directly afterward, "Luke, I AM your father"? But then again, Luke returned with a vengeance and cut off his father's fake hand, only reinforcing their similarities. The movie also included Boba Fett's beginnings. He was a clone of his father (so no woman wanted him, eh?), becoming a bounty hunter when he was old enough, just like him. Even the same outfit, only Jango's (the dad) was bluish, the son's greenish. And both died of a grisly death (the old man's head was lopped off, the kid was eaten by some monster, suffering a hundred years of that creature's digestion).

YODA!!!!!!!!! You truly see how powerful he is and why Obi-Wan sent Luke to the Dagobah system so Yoda could train him. Is this why he is computer-animated now...? 'Cuz a puppet can't really hold a lightsaber and fight a full-grown man? I've only HEARD about this momentous fight, but it was incredible how well the people behind his animation made him move. Count Dooku (the evil guy) had no chance, but he played dirty and put Obi-Wan and Anakin's lives in danger (they were lying close to each other, like gay lovers [no offense if the offended exist], the former bleeding from two saber wounds and the latter with his arm sliced by Dooku's weird crooked-handled lightsaber). So Dooku ran away in his ship and Yoda saves Obi and Ani. Then YODA GRABS HIS CANE!! What is up with that? He hobbles on a cane yet can do flips in the air better than the best gymnast in the universe.

Another prelude is Obi-Wan's beard and longish hair. Though he follows in his mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn's, fantastic fashion style, his hair is not as long. Is it just me, or does Ewan sometimes sport a wig in some of the scenes? In some scenes, like the fighting ones, he's gotta move and the hair's flying about. But when it's relative non-action-y scene, the thing on his head looks like a carpet or the hair on the head of Chewbacca. In Episode IV to VI, Obi's got that beard thang goin' on but the longish hair's kinda lost. Okay, this is what I don't get. Okay, Anakin kills all the Jedi, except for a very few, including Obi and Yodi (the "i" is deliberate) and whoever else I don't know about (And yeah, himself and Sidious aka Palpatine, right? 'Cuz there is no Sid in the later chapters... just Palpa). Okay, so he also dies, attempting to save his son (with success). Now Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan's presence, or "spirits" are at the celebration over the triumph of the evil dudes (a really bad celebration, by the way... who celebrates with Ewoks who are really just midgets in furry costumes?). And you see the old Ani. WTF HAPPENED? He looks those regular dads who drink beer and have the bellies of the same name, only wearing Jedi garb. That's part of my question. AND WHY IS HE SO OLD LOOKING?? If Episode IV happens 20 years after III, WOW he does not age well.

The Count Dooku's electrical hand pointy thing!! That's Palpatine's/Sidious's deal! You see that in Episode VI, where he tries to kill Luke like that. Ahh, he has learned from the master. It's kinda funny, 'cuz when Luke is in pain, it repeatedly shows shots of Vader's face. Or should I say helmet + mask? His helmask? Or melmet? It keeps doing that but there's no EMOTION... I almost bursted out laughing 'cuz it's supposed to "show" his change of heart or whatever you want to call it, but you can't SEE A DAMN THING 'cuz of his mask.

I also want to say, personally, I think the new one is better than the old ones (::shock::). The operative word is "new ONE." I think AOTC is way better thatn Episode I. Now, Phantom Menance had/has received lots of shit for it "not being about the force" or whatever. WHO COMPLAINS WITH THIS STATEMENT? Not the little ones, a main demographic. When I myself saw it, I was about... thirteen. I thought it was good... then. I got carried away with the "hype" that claimed it wasn't good... so I half-heartedly agreed. But now (since I'm older) I think it wasn't as good because that's WHAT I THINK, not because I was "forced." Anyway, I thought Attack of the Clones was tons better than TPM. In terms of the the original trilogy, they will always have that special something the new ones can't take away. But when I watch the new ones I am still in awe, much more awe than when I saw the original trilogy re-released theatrically. Note, I am in "awe" in THEATERS, not home-entertainment... unless you own some sort of theater at home, the movie "magic" cannot be recreated. Anyhoo, if what I said made sense, I want to include my ponderment. What if Episodes IV to VI weren't made when they were made? What if they were made in the future, with more money? I dunno... I also wonder the better graphics the prequels get, considering it was made AFTER the originals, but I read somewhere they have to move backwards by moving forwards. Meaning they can't have more "modern" stuff in the prequels than in the later episodes.

BACK to Episode II. Some people think this one is kinda lovey-dovey, others more dark. I agree with the latter more, it's not really lovey-dovey, it's not like they're frolicking in the meadow holding each other's hands with gigantic cheesy smiles on their faces (I can imagine that... hahaha...). I believe the intensity is supposed to show how Anakin was SEDUCED by the dark side... it had something to do with his love for Padmé, at least that's what I've been told. Haha Hayden had to wear fake bake, 'cuz his character is from the sandy desert planet of Tatooine. BUT wait till Episode III... watch all the Jedi die (unless it's not part of the movie scene, but part of the books or whatever), watch Anakin turn to Vader, watch all the deadliness and deadness. Still, II is definitely more dark than the Episode I's bubbliness with the innocent kid because of Hayden's performance (he killed the Tusken men... women... AND children omg I was actually shocked sitting there).

The coolest scene in the movie, including Yoda's fight, was the ATTACK. All of a sudden these Jedi are there, powerful beings of the Force, attacking droids (dumb skinny droids). Everyone had a blue or green saber, except for Mace Windu's, which was purple. Oh... kay... Anyway, Jedi were killed ( :O ), but the clones, supposedly ordered by a Jedi Master (who died) and created by the people of Kamino from Jango Fett's DNA, kicked ass. These were the "primitive" stormtroopers of Vader's... both have the white dealie goin on and the helmet's kinda different, but you can definitely see the clones influenced the troopers. The fight was just the attack (hence ATTACK OF THE CLONES), the war's end not in the movie. Dooku, the leader, wasn't caught, so... yeah... the fight isn't over. OUCH Anakin's arm was cut off ABOVE the elbow!! ::shudders:: I kinda thought he would lose it with his fight against Obi-Wan (when Anakin's turns to darkness), but okay. Eek, that metal thing and Padmé's holding it... not too romantic but OMG they MARRIED. I thought it was a rumor when I heard that Amidala "wears white," (that is seriously the phrase I read) but okay. I guess earth-like marriage existed in deep space a long, long time ago. Well... at least Luke and Leia weren't born out of wedlock? Unless they already did something freaky they didn't show...? Did her belly just LOOK big, or did Amidala looked preggers?? When she held his metal hand, the camera shot went up to their faces, and along the way, I caught sight of her stomach (it could've been Anakin's stomach... hm...). It looked a little big. :T Maybe... she just doesn't do that well in white.

Hah, funny moment: Anakin explains he sent Obi-Wan's message to Coruscant but decided to come to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan looks at his cuffed wrists and retorts, "Good job." (Evokes another haw)

The whole Jedi Master/Knight-Padawan learner/apprentice situation sounds like a weird soap opera. Like this person slept with that one because they both thought their lovers were dead but in fact were alive, but those so-called dead lovers were in love with each other (the dead ones), but then all four meet and they want their old flames AND new ones so the ones that ARE NOT in love with each other conspire with each other (girls conspire to get guys, guys conspire to get girls) to get them back, but one group wants their OLD counterparts back and the other group wants their NEW counterparts, however, as a result they fall in love with their co-conspirators as well, realizing they all are bisexual. Try saying that in a breath. In the end, they all are in love with each other (all four of them).

SO WHERE DO I START WITH THIS?? (Already that sounds like a soap) All right, Yoda is the master, who trained Dooku who trained Qui-Gon who trained Obi-Wan who trained Anakin. Try saying that in half a breath. Qui-Gon, who originally wanted to train Anakin, was killed by a Sith Lord. In turn, his apprentice turned Jedi was to carry out his master's dying wish. While training Anakin, they have these lovely adventures, meeting Count Dooku, who had taught Qui-Gon. The former believed if the latter was still alive, he would join forces with him; both thought that the Republic was faulty. The Sith Lord and Count Dooku both had the same higher authority, Senator Palpatine. Master (Yoda) and former apprentince (Dooku) duke it out. Anakin later betrays the Jedi Order to join Dooku's and Palpatine's ranks, thus his higher authority is ALSO Palpatine. During this "betrayal time" (not sure when), another Master (Obi-Wan) and another former apprentice (Anakin) also duke it out. Anakin becomes seriously hurt, turning into Vader (half-machine, half-human). Former Anakin now Vader dukes it with Obi-Wan AGAIN, but this time the latter dies, but not before planting the seeds of "Jedi-ism" in Luke, Anakin's SON. When Obi-Wan dies, he sends Luke off to Yoda, who "completes" Luke's training (and then dies too because he is hundreds of years old... or maybe he fulfilled his destiny... I dunno). Aaaahh ohmuhguh that was a lot with Jedis and Padawans. It's like the cutting off the hands deal between father and son, but more complex (an understatement). I'm confused myself with this whole interconnected-ness. I just realized, "Padawans" didn't even exist in the old trilogy. But then again, most of the Jedi WERE KILLED, so I guess that, to put it mildly, disrupted it.

Okay, WHY is this movie rated PG? I mean, you actually see the heads fall from its bodies in this movie, isn't THAT graphic?? Plus this movie has more of the Dark Side and evil in it. Definitely ended with uncertainty in the air: they marry in a time of turmoil with Dooku still on the loose and THE CLONE WARS (famously said in Episode IV) yet to come, the ending shows a bit of the movie's dark self (you know... instead of "bad self"). Not like the first movies of both trilogies, they both ended with happy celebrations. Hm... and the second movies of both end with uncertainty too... In Episode V, Han Solo is still frozen in carbonite or whatever it's called, Luke's hand was just lopped off by his fadda, and he and Leia watch the coldness of space in their ship. So in III, will there be a humongous celebration like in VI?? I don't think so, all this leads to the Darth Vaderness in IV through VI. So, I hear III will be the darkest, especially with the turn to the Dark Side. I wonder how Amidala dies...?

22:57 EST