Mielr said:
Mavericks said:
And one more thing: why "I love you - I know" was "a comic relief"? There wasn't any "laugh-out-loud" feeling about the whole scene.
Really???
Yeah.
I'm not saying this applies to you, but sometimes, people for whom English is not their first language have also expressed their confusion as to why the line is considered funny (and trust me, I'm not the only person who thinks it's funny...at least I don't think I am!)
Though English isn't my first language I'm knacky enough in mastering it, it being almost my 2nd native and to the degree when I'm able to understand slightest nuances of its idiomaticity (although the lack of live practice is disturbing). Don't forget that in most cases both thinking and logic are similar among many nations of Europe and America, so it's absolutely possible for any Russian, Lithuanian, German, Serbian, French, Italian, Bulgarian,Spaniard, Latino etc etc etc to figure out what sub-context the English-speaker imports . In this sense the reaction to "I love you - I know" being affective and not laughable is a matter not of nationality dimming the inner essence but of individual perception. I think this is what appears to be near the reality otherwise there wouldn't be so many fans of the line not only in US/UK but also outside. And on the other side I know that many non-English speaking people had the same type of reaction as you did.
The humor doesn't translate because it's funny not in a literal sense, but because it's not expected. The obvious reply would have been "I love you too". But when he replies "I know" he's basically saying "of course you love me! I'm totally irresistible!", showing his narcissism. It's also funny because he's possibly about to die...but his huge ego still won't allow him to admit he loves Leia
Again, this is a personal preference. Obvious reply could be that but it would be a commonplace. This classic echoing is an established tradition, cliche that doesn't always work (sometimes it's necessary though depending on the plot, development and so on). I personally don't like such "obvious" things. To have him say "I know" was smth extraordinary, not seen before. One doesn't have to mirror other's "I love you" to express his/her feelings. Han showed us enough what his feelings towards Leia were (his anger she didn't acknowledged her sympathy to him resulted in their quarrel on Hoth, the Falcon kiss scene, his awe when he saw her in Bespin just before the trap dressed in conformity with the fashion he had never seen her doing anytime earlier). For me it was obvious that Han loved Leia as well as the opposite. Han was "an old soldier", a SMUGGLER who never spoke the words of love, he perhaps felt it like exposing his "weakness" . So when Ford decided to play with it he demonstrated full understanding of his character.
As for the line itself consider the novelization by D. Gluth who obviously was given the version of the draft that reflected some stage (one of the latest ones) of its readjustment. Here Han says: "Just don't forget this when I come back". Then he became serious and gently kissed her forehead. She dashed away tears and Han without ruffle of excitement turned back and stepped into the platform. Sorry if this isn't exact quote as I'm doing translation on my own from my native language in which it was published in the place where I live )