Omni

Just to add something, I’ve been to quite a few fan gatherings around the world at this point, I’m very lucky and privileged to have lived in the United States, in Europe and in Latin America, and it was very interesting to notice how reaction around the prequels was so different in the US vs abroad (much, MUCH better received abroad). I think it’s about when you read the dialogue subtitled, even if you’re able to judge the original line on some level (and speak fluent English), it’s the sentiment that it gives off that ends up mattering more than the line itself - and the subject of most lines in the prequels is good, it’s just sometimes a bit of a rough line. And when the dialogue isn’t the most important part, when the emotion it’s supposed to give off comes across through other cinematic context and clues that supersede the dialogue, it’s apparently true that the movies tell a far more effective story.

With that said, it’s also worth noting that of all the big franchise IPs, Star Wars is much stronger in the United States than elsewhere comparatively, especially when you look at like Harry Potter or Marvel numbers (abroad vs US), you really see just how strong Star Wars is domestically, even if weaker elsewhere, which is to say, US reaction to Star Wars does have a lot of weight.

Anjohan said:

In other words, brilliant job, Disney, and keep hiring and focusing on Star Wars stories and character above anything else - and leave the real-life politics to the politicians. This is for the fans. ❤️

Hilarious comment considering that these three episodes are BY FAR the most political Disney Star Wars has ever been. It’s not very subtle, either.

Hell fucking yeah. Maybe Cassian should’ve spent more time in the main story as opposed to lost in a side quest on Yavin for a couple episodes but other than that, what is there to say? Star Wars is back.

Connor MacLeod said:

I would love to know how Lucas feels about this! 😂

He’s given mixed signs as of late - very defensive of the SEs around Cannes last year, but he also “gave his blessing” to the two screenings of the 70mm Academy print in LA, so who knows. Bizarrely, I saw some people on twitter upset that they’re “going against George’s vision” or whatever. People are so stupid, they don’t even realize they should also respect 1977 George Lucas’ vision. I’m very happy we’re getting more screenings popping up, it does seem like the air is getting clearer for some of these original prints to maybe see the light of day, and then, perhaps as a pipe dream, the potential public release.

Criteria seems to be “Filoni’s favs”, which is a problem.

These Tales miniseries being forced into focusing only on two characters, each given 3 episodes, is beginning to turn me off from them, given the characters Filoni keeps choosing to focus on.

Tales of the Jedi had 3 interesting Dooku ones, and 3 pointless Ahsoka ones. Then, Tales of the Empire had 3 pointless Morgan Elsbeth ones, and 3 Barriss Offee ones that had potential but were ultimately bad as well. Now, with Tales of the Underworld, I think the 3 Cad Bane ones are inevitably also doomed to pointlessness.

The 3 Ventress ones are the only hope but given what the last two miniseries offered, I’m just not that interested anymore. I will still check it out, the episodes are fairly short, but I’m not holding my breath. I think that if you had a more open format, maybe a couple episodes on three characters, or even just one focus character per episode, that you’d be able to tell more interesting stories from unexplored angles and perspectives, forming a more cohesive season that tells actual tales, as opposed to just telling two stories, about characters that only Filoniheads actually care about.

Val Kilmer, at 65. Rest in peace.

Totally agree the title music lacks any sort of punch in TFA or TLJ, don’t know what happened there. Apparently it was re-recorded for TLJ but to my ears it just sounds like the TFA version. Maybe they didn’t master it well, it’s just so quiet. Can’t speak to TROS however as I haven’t seen that in quite a few years and hopefully it remains that way for many more.

Incredible

I feel a pain in my chest. One of the saddest days in recent memory.

Trap was sensational!

Pablo Hidalgo mentions that the Imperial officer’s attitude towards Vader in each of the three symbolizes how well known he is - Motti in Star Wars, Ozzel in Empire and Jerjerrod in Jedi. I think it sounds reasonable, and extends to most characters in those respective films. The idea, I think, is that after the Death Star he and his Death Squadron became way more hands on in fighting the Rebels across the galaxy. Whereas before he was mostly stoned off his ass in Mustafar or doing Sith/Inquisiting stuff, I’m guessing, which is more in the shadows and less open.

Yeah but in terms of what filmmakers usually say and also in general terms I think I’m mostly on the mark. He’s not entirely wrong mind you I don’t think, but he’s definitely not right either, lol.

I think it’s hilarious and kinda charming that he saw SW at 10 and loved it, TESB at 13 and loved it, and then ROTJ at 16, hated it, and never thought to reconsider his angry teenage opinion, lol. Makes sense he pivoted to Dune, aka ‘proper adult sci-fi’. Anyway it’s such a specific opinion that only really people his age have. Those slightly younger than him love all 3, those much younger love all 3 and the prequels, the kids now love all 9, and it goes on…

A film should work within itself regardless of what Episode it is or something. ROTS is quite competent at establishing their relationship and what is it that falls apart - ditto for Anakin!s relationship to Padmé. Not a surprise it was reviewed more positively than all other Lucas SW films upon release - with the exception of the original.

Yes.

“Close the blast doors!” is a 1977 mono mix change by the way, which is in some respects the “final” mix.

Here’s a direct quote from J. W. Rinzler’s “The Making of Star Wars”:

In enlarging the treatment to what became a nearly two-hundred-page rough draft, Lucas was continually aided by the transference of his Apocalypse Now ideas to the fantasy realm. Some of his notes scribbled on yellow legal pads are: “Theme: Aquilae is a small independent country like North Vietnam threatened by a neighbor or provincial rebellion, instigated by gangsters aided by empire. Fight to get rightful planet back. Half of system has been lost to gangsters … The empire is like America ten years from now, after gangsters assassinated the Emperor and were elevated to power in a rigged election … We are at a turning point: fascism or revolution.”

This is from when he was piecing together what the movie would be about, and is pre-rough draft, so around Spring 1974. You must remember that Lucas wanted to make Apocalypse Now after THX 1138, and the only reason he dropped it was because no studio would make it. But Lucas really wanted to make it, and while I won’t say Star Wars is Apocalypse Now in space, to deny Lucas’ politics and ideas at the time and how they influenced Star Wars is just incredible. It’s definitively kept as subtext - the best part of Star Wars is how it’s so many things at the same time right, not just a western, or just sci-fi, or just fantasy, etc. - but it’s undeniable subtext I think, especially when viewed through the lens Lucas provided with his prequels.

It was always about the very technological imperial US, who at the time happened to be fighting Vietnam. Lucas talks about how the Empire is “10 years after Nixon makes a coup in America and becomes president forever” and stuff. In earlier drafts there’s even annotations like “Make Rebels more like the Viet Cong”. Leia’s hairstyle is reminiscent of Mexican revolutionaries, when it came time to pick an astronaut outfit for the Rebels Lucas decided to go for the Soviet orange versus the American white. Honestly baffling anyone would really dispute any of this, Lucas has been saying/writing/etc about all of this since forever. Not at all a contradiction or a rewrite of history.

Pretty sure Leia was 16 or 17 and Luke 20 - 22.

NFBisms said:

A perspective that can kind of make it all work for me is that Anakin does this stuff and hates himself for it.

We do see him struggle with guilt over the sand people (albeit in a badly written, painful-to-watch scene), so it’s in the text. But what’s crucial is that he wants to be a good Jedi and hero, that he knows what his responsibilities are, what’s expected of him. He isn’t overtly sociopathic - he cries about having done these monstrous things, and even in ROTS, just about his unbecoming feelings.

I think the evil he ends up doing - while contradictory to - can still inform, the colder more balanced Vader we get in the OT.

Anakin throughout the first half of ROTS defends the Jedi council and their doctrine to Palpatine; looks to it first, to Yoda, when having a crisis of faith. He performs The Hero, and his relationship with Obi-Wan is great: brothers with someone who thinks him to have grown wise, a good friend worthy yet to be a master. There is something re: his ambition for power there, but I think importantly with the context of his original sin (the Tusken massacre), a question also of absolution. And he clings to all of it. He yearns to be validated by the Order and find in himself that “hero” (to his 9 y/o self’s eyes) - up until it’s clear they would never let him in. Not because Mace doesn’t take him seriously, but because of what Anakin comes to accept about what he’s hiding.

When he chooses Palpatine, he’s making a deal with the devil to “save Padme’s life”, liberating himself from the [Jedi-informed] conscience he did have. It’s not that what he does from here “doesn’t count” but it’s not a reflection of who he is (well, idk, loaded philosophical question) or who he wants to be. Hayden crying is some of the most striking imagery in ROTS and it happens several times.

I think after burning down all that has caused him strife - good and bad - more than just an empty shell, is the motivation to meaningful affect control on his world. It is kind of a reset into the dignified agent of justice he wanted to be as a Jedi, just without the guardrails. And once again performing that role in cover and self-loathing of what more he’s done.

Absolutely excellent post.

Well if you’re taking requests hahah, I’d love to see the OUT-sync’d SE “Look sir, droids!” bit, I think what was accomplished there was really something, and I’d love to have this for a quick edit I’m putting together to watch with my girlfriend’s family.

Very interested Hal, thanks for sharing. By the way, I no longer see OT clips for editors on the Drive, do you plan to put those back up soon? Thanks.

Wishing you all the best ady! Hope you feel better soon. MTFBWY.

Loved seeing him up there and reading through all of the quotes, great stuff.