The Sith Comments

I had my own points about Revenge of the Sith. But Lileks is far more entertaining that I could ever hope to be.

With that being said, here are my main questions... and don't read it if you don't want to ruin the movie.

1. At the end of Ep III, the Death Star's getting built while Luke and Leia are infants. Yet it's not complete until the time the twins are at least 16, if not older. I keep thinking the Imperials were dealing with horrific union labor problems of some sort, but I'm thinking any halfway decent management with the resources of the Emporer could have gotten the damn thing built quicker. What is this, the Big Dig?

2. I think I finally understand why the stormtrooper clones, buttkickers that they are in Eps II and III (killing off Jedi knights is pretty damn tough any time), turn into such completely inaccurate wimps by the time we're ten minutes into Ep IV. It must be that each generation of clones is less perfect than the last one. I'm surprised the storm troopers can still walk by the time we hit Episode VI, let alone get beat down by Ewoks.

3. Can we get an agreement from Lucas that if Episodes VII, VIII and IX ever appear, he'll let anyone else write dialogue?

4. Obi-Wan leaves Anakin to die, but doesn't kill him, and it actually fits with the story somewhat. He's a Jedi, and he won't kill a helpless rival, even a Sith Lord.

5. The end of the movie was fabulous beyond words -- the last 40 minutes made up for everything we suffered through in Attack of the Clones. With that being said, was it too much to ask to watch Chewie kick a little more butt?

6. The more I watch these movies, the more I appreciate the subtlety, even if it's unintended. In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine manipulates Anakin brilliantly, by playing on his fear and his ego like the Dark Lord that he is. Meanwhile, Yoda's busy telling Anakin that he needs to embrace the death of those whom he cares about as a good thing. Perhaps it's true, but it strikes you as callous and unfeeling -- a touch arrogant, even for Yoda.

By the time we reach Empire, Yoda's logical advice to Luke that he sacrifice Han and Leia to avoid the Emporer's trap echoes his long-ago statement to Anakin. Yet while it is made just as bluntly, it carries with it far more compassion than what he says to Anakin. He does not agree with Luke's decision to go to Cloud City -- but he begs the boy to be mindful of his teachings, and does not casually dismiss his feelings for his friends. Meanwhile, in Return of the Jedi, Palpatine arrogantly assumes he can turn Luke in one encounter. Luke barely suffers anything close to the temptation his father did. If he had... well, stories like this don't end that way.

7. If there's a political message here, it's beyond me. Lucas' dialogue is too stilted to convey a political message. It's like a John Kerry speech.

8. You can make an argument that R2-D2 is the greatest hero in the entire set of movies. Seriously. And I'm still trying to understand the gratuitous reference to Qui-Gonn at the end of Sith. Maybe Neeson refused to do a cameo or something. And no Boba Fett? C'mon.

9. By the way, the actual turn of Anakin was a little disappointing. I wouldn't say it was too sudden, but it was too complete too quickly.

10. The most important characters in the entire story are one who barely appears and who didn't appear in these three movies at all. First, there's Owen Lars. Anakin lacks a father figure -- Qui-Gonn's death robbed him of the closest equivalent until Palpatine filled the role. Obi-Wan is too close to him in age. But Luke is raised by his aunt and uncle, who raise him as they would their son. Having a mom and dad around is pretty important.

And the same is true of having friends. The most important character in the original trilogy is Han Solo. Screw the swashbuckling rogue stuff (which would have been nice to have around). This set of movies proves it. Anakin doesn't have a true peer who is his friend -- Obi-Won is always a mentor to him, no matter how warm their feelings for one another. There is no one whom he trusts to counsel him, save the woman he loves -- and his love for her leaves him willing to commit evil acts for her benefit.

Meanwhile, Luke has a buddy, rather than a mentor. Han is a friend who willingly risks his life to save Luke, and that sacrifice cements their friendship. That friendship is what compels Luke head to Cloud City and Tatooine, but it also provides him with self-esteem and strength Anakin never had. Anakin always had to save his own butt and those of the people he cared for. Not so for luke -- han's got his back.

According to Vader, we don't understand the power of the Dark Side. Maybe the Emporer didn't understand the power of fatherhood and friendship.

May the Force be with you.