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Kaffeine Buzz
reviews independent and foreign films,
in addition to reporting the latest buzz behind
Colorado's film festivals.
Star Wars: Episode III -
Revenge of the Sith (George Lucas)
One interesting aspect of seeing the opening
of a Star Wars movie is that you know you will
stand in line for a very long time. Possibly you
will stand for a very long time next to someone
holding a plastic light saber and custom Darth
Maul makeup. Now, a six year girl dragging her
white cloak along the ground with Princess Leia
Organa hair buns is cute, but the groups of thirty-something,
wanna-be intergalactic bounty hunters are starting
to scare me. Still we are all excited to see this
final chapter, so I nod in their direction and
try to eavesdrop on their conversation about Banthas
and Wookie planets.
I saw this movie last week at a special fundraising
event for Colorado Children’s Campaign.
There they had full-on Imperial Storm Troopers
taking tickets and a remote controlled R2D2 chillin’
with Greg Moody. Later Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
was seen on his way to a photo-op with Chewbacca
who was sporting worn out Timberlands. I thought:
How different will this be from next week when
it is officially released?
Since I don’t want to spoil the film for
anyone, I have been restricted to talking to myself
about the last installment of Jedi folklore. After
a week of replaying it in my head, I have decided
that:
a) I like it the most out of the three new episodes
b) I’m pretty sure that there are some political
criticisms concerning our current government peeking
from between the lines.
c) This episode will make for excellent marketing
opportunities.
It should be stated that the Irvin Kershner
directed "Star Wars V: Empire Strike’s
Back" is my favorite. Why I enjoy that version
so much is that it is dark and the characters
gain more dimension. So when "Revenge of
the Sith" starts to take this direction fifteen
or so minutes into the film, I got excited all
over again.
Lucas has to fit together the final pieces of
the puzzle, and with the ultimate demise of Atikin
Skywalker already figured out; he can spend more
time with the other characters’ fates. As
a good exercise, take out your copy of "Star
Wars IV after viewing Revenge of the Sith"
and see how nicely the pieces line up. Why is
Obi Wan on Tatooine? Where is Yoda? Why is Darth
Vader so keen on choking people? The new film
is littered with foreshadowing dialogue and references
to the 1977 “space cowboy” Star Wars.
Every time you come across one of these nuggets
of Star Wars nerd trivia you get to nudge your
neighbor and whisper:
“Did you get that?”
“Yes, I got that; I am wearing a homemade
Jedi Cloak!”
“Oh.”
“Now you will not nudge me any more.”
(Waves his hand.)
“I will not nudge you any more.”
“You will watch the movie now.”
“I will watch the movie now.”
One thing that will shake the Jedi Mind Tricks
is all the talk of the Republic and the word ‘democracy’
peppered throughout the film. At one point Darth
Vader says “If you are not with us than
you are our enemy.” Haven’t I heard
that before? I won’t say much on this ‘cause
after all, it is a space movie with laser swords
and Jar Jar Binks, but see if you pick it up too.
Speaking of Jar Jar Binks, I wonder how the
sales figures for action-figures of the annoying
floppy-eared guy are fairing? Luckily, Lucas went
crazy in the alien creation department. Every
time the camera pans there is some new creature
hanging about. Toy collectors have their work
cut out for them.
In the end, I was sad, because for better or
worse this is the end. The end of waiting, the
end of wondering and the end of a thirty-plus
year process. It has not been perfect but it sure
has been fun--even when we make fun of it. I think
I will buy myself one of those plastic light sabers
and see if the neighborhood kids are down for
some good old fashioned Star Wars swashbuckling.
-David Joaquin Soto, May 20, 2005
A few tips to deal with Star Wars saga ending:
1) Cry, laugh and some times cringe at homemade
film adaptations of the Star Wars universe. The
most ambitious can be found at: www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/
2) Google This: Untitled Clone Wars TV Series
3) Play the Luke Skywalker drinking game. Rules
are as follows: Pop in Star Wars III: A New Hope.
Every time young Luke cries about anything, everyone
drinks. Last time I played I was buzzed before
they left the Mos Eisley spaceport.
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