The Dude

Seeing as Episode III opens up in 3 days, I felt it would be nice for me to start up an official discussion thread (especially since Spidey, pp2 and myself have been discussing SW in the box office thread). But this isn't going to be your ordinary "who wants to see this I think it looks awesome lol!!!111" threads. I'm going to start this thread off proper by giving my very strong feelings on the events leading up to this film.

I remember as a kid my brother would watch the original trilogy a hell of a lot. And being a kid, I always preferred cartoons to real films and was never into science fiction to begin with. The only live action film I truly liked at the time was JAWS (I was a shark freak, what can I say). However, when I was about 8 or 9 I finally gave the films a shot (with my brother introducing them that is).

I was enthralled. There are no words to describe how much the films meant to me. I simply LOVED the story, the characters, the effects. I was blown away by the whole thing. I was, quite simply, hooked.

I continued my fan dom and once 1997 rolled around I was due for another shocker: the films would be re-released in theaters in a special edition format. There would be improved special effects, a cleaner print and hell...we could see it as it was meant to be seen.

I came out of the theaters three times (once for each film of course) delighted. The new special effects were great (for their time, and have been further improved on the DVDs to my delight) and I was just happy to see the films that I loved on the big screen!

I remember working for six or seven weeks cleaning banks (no, not stealing money sillies, actually CLEANING them) with my uncle just so I could by the Special Edition VHS. I got 7 dollars a week (working once a week) and when I got that trilogy in my hands, it was all worth it.

When I slipped the VHS tape in and began my reenjoyment of the SEs, I was very happy to see little bonus features before the films. Then Dennis Muren said it. These SEs were a testing ground for the PREQUELS.

Skip forward to May, 1999. Episode I opens. The hype has been great, the anticipation is building. I see the film....and don't know exactly what to think. I knew I liked a lot of the film, but didn't quite get what all of it was about.

It wasn't until I was able to view the film on home video that I understood why it was so great (a view which I stick by despite the negative media and many haters). The film is quite simply, amazing especially knowing what we (or many of us fans anyway) know now.

"I dreamed I was a Jedi. I came back and freed all of the slaves."

Anakin has premonitions throughout the prequels. This is one of them (as is his dream of his mother's death in AOTC). And just like all his other dreams...this comes true, over time anyway. Yes, we the viewing audience know this boy will become Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. But in Jedi, we know he is redeemed, and afterwards the galaxy itself is freed from the reign of the Galactic Empire. Anakin DOES free the slaves...the slaves of the Empire's tyrrany.

"Nobody can kill a Jedi," he says. This is one of Anakin's sadder statements. It is Darth Vader, formerly Anakin Skywalker, who assists greatly in the Jedi Purge (for those who aren't huge Star Wars fans and have probably stopped reading by now, that's the killing of all the Jedi).

And, I must add, it's incredibly fun watching Palpatine scheming his ultimate plan to rule the galaxy. ;)

The film recieves a lot of flack for Jar Jar Binks and Jake Lloyd (who I thought did as good a job as any child actor could do), but I just don't see the hate. The film has a wonderful story and is also able to stand on it's own as a fun film for everybody.

That being said, I was anxious for Episode II to be released. Zip forward to 2002, and I'm sitting there opening weekend. There wasn't one time through the film that I didn't have a shit eating grin on my face. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything just worked for me. It was exciting, funny, the story was even more complex. It was just awesome.

Of course, people had to go and bash the acting and dialogue, which made me wonder if these folks had even seen the original trilogy. Anakin whiny? And Luke WASN'T (i.e. "It just isn't fair! Biggs is right, I'm never getting out of here!") ? The acting wooden? The originals weren't? Hell, this entire series has been an homage to the Flash Gordon serials, down to the wooden acting of the thirties.

The film was great and did what it was meant to do: have me begging for more.

And now, here it is 2005. Revenge of the Sith comes out in three days and I'm thrilled. I remember my older brother who introduced me to the series, telling my that Anakin and Obi-Wan fight on a volcano planet and Anakin falls in lava and burns, losing limbs in the process.

Here it is, Star Wars geeks. The final film we have alllll been waiting for. Whatever negative feelings you have for the past two films, put them aside. Sith will blow all of us away.

When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fullfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
...At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:20-28