by JamieW on Tue May 24, 2005 12:25 pm
I just read this today because I saw the movie last night. Called Ian this morning and didn't really bitch. Then I read this. He's like NostraIan. My criticisms were really minor. My top criticisms which are still minor:
1. Lucas had an opportunity to make R2s jet's disappear with the oil scene. He should have taken it to explain why R2 doesn't fly in EPs4-6.
2. Anakin saying, "From my point of view the Jedi are evil." Ok, let's not try to create moral ambiguity in a character that just killed a bunch of innocents. It doesn't work. And Vader is evil. Fortunately Lucas didn't take it very far.
3. I thought the relationship between Anakin and Padme would have been more powerful had it been more subtle instead of blatantly stated in direct dialogue.
4. General Grevious...just a Darth Maul with twice the light saber. Visually impressive character again, though.
5. Padme giving up like that. Padme had been a self-less, strong character. It was out of character for her to die that way especially with children on the way. Just a weak way to close that story.
Overall I thought he told an excellent story this time and told a great deal of story. He successfully brought the story from the end of EP2 to a point where EP3 could be picked up. The turning of Anakin was much better done than I had hoped for. It was much more thorough and well thought out, Lucas had to have had help. Very very well done and probably THE MOST critical part of the story.
As far as the prophecy, I think that Anakin has brought balance to the force by the end of EP6. The force is a matter of nature, and thus doesn't automatically subscribe to the concepts of good and evil, just the natural course of things. The Jedi Council was attempting to influence things for a "good" purpose. Anakin destroys nearly all Jedi, except a couple of Sith and a couple of Jedi Council. This is still not in balance as the Sith are more powerful. However, Anakin still had one trick up his sleeve to accomplish the prophecy. He had progeny. After the remaining Jedi Council die there was Luke, who destroyed Vader, leaving a dying Anakin who destroyed Palpatine. And in the end there was Luke. An uninfluenced student of the force. Balance.
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