Lucas is a Genius!!!

Rating: 5/10 (24 May 2002)

SPOILER ALERT!! Please see the movie before reading this post!!

I've just returned from my second viewing of AOTC, and all I can say is that you've got to see it again to really appreciate the movie. After only one viewing, I was kind of lost and I knew what questions that I had, so I was able to pay more attention to certain plot lines the second go round. The first time is such a blitz on the senses, I found it very difficult to focus on one thing or another.
Some things that I noticed:
Boucoup foreshadowing!!!
1. The Emperor's Royal Guards are in the room with Palpatine and the Jedi Council when Senator Amidala shows up after her assasination attempt.
2. Just before Anakin is about to go slaughter the Tusken Raiders, Padme runs out to hug him. The camera remains on their shadows cast on the house and Anakin's profile is that of Darth Vader!! No wishful thinking here. It is obvious that Lucas wants us to see that, as the camera is focused dead on the shadows of he and Padme. He is about to go on a killing spree, which will nudge him ever closer to the dark side.
3. Anakin is the only main Jedi wearing a black robe. Yoda, Windu and Kenobi all wear brown robes. I didn't take the time to look at the other freaky Jedi.
4. Do ya'll remember that the Rebels and the Empire each had their own symbols? Well, if you look closely, the Clone Army bears the symbol of the Empire. It is on some of the Clones as well as the cool transport carriers that look like the Russian Helicopters.
We've already mentioned how the ships at the end are beginning to morph into what will become Star Destroyers and the walkers in the final battle resemble the AT-ATs on Hoth. I also noticed the music more. As Anakin's rage builds after he confesses that he killed all the Sandpeople, Darth Vader's March is playing in the background, and as they are at her funeral it is playing in a softer type melody. Obviously, at the end it is playing in all it's majesty.
Other things that I've noticed is how much more decent humor is in this one. It reminds me of the original Trilogy. Obi-Wan telling Anakin "why do I have a feeling that you are going to be the death of me..." is classic. C3PO and R2D2 are great too. Threepio's got several during the last battle scene: The whole head swap thing, when he yells "Die Jedi!!" as he's shooting, when R2 is pulling his head to his body he says, "this is such a drag," and when R2 gets there Threepio says, "I'm beside myself." I think the funniest part probably wasn't meant to be funny at all. As Anakin and Padme begin to get in to that first Kiss at the Villa on the Lake the music in the back ground swells and builds until she stops the kiss. At that time the music stops almost like something out of the movie Airplane. It cracked me up the first time and the second time was even funnier because I forgot all about it.
The banter back and forth between Anakin and Padme reminds me of Han and Leia at times. Some final notes. This movie really reminds me of ROTJ, especially the battle between Dookoo and Anakin. Lots of flashes of lightsabers and it ends with......Anakin's arm getting cut off, just as Luke cuts off Vader's arm on the platform. (Well, Luke just get's Vader's hand as Vader gets Luke's in TESB, but you know what I mean.)
I really want to go back and look at the lightsaber that Obi-Wan gives to Luke. He says it's his father's and that he wanted Luke to have it. I wonder if it is the same color. I'm sure it is, but just to check for continuity. I believe Anakin's is blue. Notice how the bad guys - Vader, Maul and now Tyrannus - have all had red lightsabers?!