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____There's
no better way to start off reviewing
the summer movie line-up than to see
one of the most highly-anticipated movies
ever made. And with that movie being
part of the "Star Wars" saga,
one has to see it on opening night.
While I didn't get to see all the notorious
Star Wars fans donning replica movie
outfits worth more money than a decent
used car, I did get to speak to a few
who came with varying expectations.
____Who
am I to say if the movie was good or
not while sitting next to a die-hard
fan who as seen every Star Wars movie
a hundred times, played every Lucas
Arts video game and read every Star
Wars novel? (The thing to admire about
these folks is that they are not just
the series' biggest fans, but the biggest
critics.)
____Not
every one who came were fanatics; many
just wanted closure.
____"I'm
glad the saga's complete," said
Jimmy Croft, 19, who noted "these
newer ones are more my generation".
____Another
fan, Chris Christian had higher expectations.
"The last two seemed scripted for
children," he said. "I'm hoping
that this time he'll (Lucas) kick it
up a notch or two."
____The
crowd then piled in the theater and
the party ensued. The lights
went down and so did the chatter.
____"A
long time ago, in a galaxy far, far
away..." faded away and left a
screen full of stars. Then, following
cheers from the audience, the theme
music kicked in and the beloved prologue
of yellow, justified text began to scroll
vertically from the bottom. More cheesy
names and outrageous plots are thus
introduced, and like the child I was
during the first installments, I couldn't
help but enjoy every second. Bring on
the spaceships! (Don't we all know every
previous Star Wars movie began with
a shot of a ship?)
____It
took about five seconds to realize "Episode
III" would have more amazing computerized
special effects than any previous Star
Wars film (or just about any previous
film). From the first battle scene to
the last, the breathtaking scenery and
computer enhanced characters almost
completely overshadowed the typically
corny George Lucas dialogue. In fact,
the writing in "Episode III"
may be the weakest yet, littered with
20th Century American idioms and Hollywood
cliches dating back to the first talkies.
But how can I complain? I've been waiting
for my Wookie fix for twenty years.
____Wookies,
Sith Lords, babies and villains... Yes,
this one did fulfill the plot gap between
the generations, and did so with much
deliberation. The one thing that tied
it all together, the thing that separates
"Episode III" from the others,
was the use of darkness. This is perhaps
the most visually violent of any Star
Wars feature, which seemed to be a trait
the fans enjoyed, and indeed were hoping
for. Heads and limbs were flying in
just about every scene. Simultaneous
battles and parallel plots kept the
pace moving, and before I realized that
it was nearly 3 a.m. on Earth, a galaxy
far, far away was turned upside down
and ready for Mark Hamill and Harrison
Ford.
____Afterwards,
I talked to Joshua Montgomery, who perhaps
had more "knowledge of the force"
then any in attendance, and had much
to say.
____"It
summed it up," he said referring
to the series. "But left a wide
range for people to build on their imaginations."
____My
opinion: the best Star Wars film since
Empire Strikes Back. A must-see.
-K. Tanaka
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