Bingowings said:
I can't see the point in cutting that, it sets up just how difficult it is to get through the blockade and it (thanks to Carrie and the photography) doesn't stick out like the tedious exposition scenes in TPM.
Besides I thought we were meant to believe that Leia was in charge (Carrie really pulls that off in this film).
There may not be many 21 year old generals these days (Alexander The Great had conquered the known world and died by 32 though). There are people making strategic life and death decisions of around that age even in the military and the Rebellion is a resistance movement.
Leia is more like Joan Of Arc (executed at 19) in that respect so I don't have a problem with her being a military strategist or a leader at that age. It's not like she's even doing it all on her own she has other command staff there to give experienced advice.
"It sets up how difficult..." It does do that. 5 seconds later it does the exact opposite.
There are four reveals:
1.) The rebels have transport ships.- No problem there. But what if, instead, the viewers are tipped off by a pre-battle cut to the control center. A voice on the receiver says "Transports 3 and 5 have landed. We need the loadmasters, NOW!" Then a quick shot of the ships. An opportunity to increase the tension and sense of urgency? Better than leia's simple reveal that they have transports?
2.) The fighters will be guarding the transports.- That's a little bit "Duh" once we know they have transports. What else would the fighters be doing? Sightseeing? Could save that reveal for first launch.
3.) There are only two fighters per transport.- "Oh no! it's almost hopeless!" Good idea, but does it help all that much? Doesn't everybody already think that they are vastly outmatched?
4.) They have an "Ion Cannon" powerful enough to blow star destroyers out of the way.- This is where they blew off far more tension than they had managed to build up with "Two fighters..." "Oh, it might be okay. they can beat back enormous star destroyers." Pre-battle, what if, instead, we hear a voice on the PA saying "Prepare for ion cannon test." then a quick shot of the cannon traversing and extending the gun? "Oh, they've got some kind of 'Ion Cannon'. Is it enough to help them at all? Is it going to be some kind of pea-shooter? Just a futile, vainglorious gesture?" That tension would build up all the way to the star destroyers spinning out of their path.
Actually, I liked the 'Joan of Arc 14 year old girl leading the assault on the castle.' I didn't think the acting was that important (N.P. became quite a good actress by ROTS.) That and the sabre duel were the two brighter spots in TPM. The big problem was pre-battle. Stiff mattered there, and her only military advisor was...JAR-JAR??!... WTF??! A big problem is costume. At least Padame wore something from a very different time and place. Leia looks just precisely like she's going to snap on her ski's and head for the chairlift.
But this storm I've managed to kick up (I like it. Pissed off makes better points :-) has got me thinking. Compromise? Would the 21 year old snowbunny tellin' the 55 year old General the business in "Two transports...", together with taking over the C.C. after it's hit, be enough to satisfy the 'Joan of Arc' thing?
I might be able to handle that, but the 'Hanger Briefing' is a hopeless mess for several other reasons I could mention. To that I say "NI', NI',NI'!"