Pure Star Wars -- for those who don't get it

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2002)

I'll save you the trouble, this is a star wars movie, and a damn good one. However, if you're not a star wars fan, it might not be for you. Its easy to give the film bad reviews, but I think that mostly stems from the fact that critics aren't star wars fans, and they are anti-digital technology.

People call the acting "wooden." Well, that's because the jedi knights are a wooden people, they don't really have the emotions that other people have, because they are in tune with everything. That's why its such a marked point when Anakin reacts to killing the tuscans, and that's why when we se e the characters later (who aren't jedi), they have personalities. Han is dynamic because he is a person, not a jedi. You think George Lucas, just forgot how to direct actors? Or do you think the actors forgot how to act? (not to mention its hard to act in a blue screen enviroment). Even Luke isn't a jedi until late in JEDI. Alec Guiness isn't exactly captain emotional, nor is Darth Vader . . . get it?
As far as the writing goes, well, these things have never been well written, so what do you expect? All Lucas is making is these "cereal-esq" type movies, you know the ones that weren't that good in the first place. It's not his fault that people have made star wars lore their life.

The plot . . . The plot here is great and I'll tell you why. The first three movies are so big in scale, that when you see a love story that isn't new or innovative, or artsy, well, its really there to serve the series. And in the context of star wars, it works. If you buy into the fact that this a fairy tale, they you'll like it. The plot is general, and advances the series. It is important to understand where these movies fit into the CONTEXT of the Series. Once all three are completed they will make much more sense. This is meant to be a 12 hour long movie, so if you were upset at the plot, deal with it, it's a scope thing, and it's a Star wars thing. The most brilliant part of the film is that it will hold the first trilogy together really well. There are themes and undercurrents that ride along like a wave throught these movies, but you have to look for them, because they are there.
The effects were amazing, and if you found fault with them well, tough. These are the best FX ever, are they not perfect, no, but they serve the plot. If you look for things that don't seem `real' (not that any of this is real), then you're looking too hard, and nit picking. You have to let yourself believe this, have some imagination, damn it. And don't be afraid of the future. Big FX means big scale. If every movie was small in scale with a little big of graphics, when you watched them all together like you're meant to, you'd be bored. The originals are boring in places, because the scope is intentionally diminished. The first three are big is scale, that's why all the effects.
People won't like this because they don't understand star wars. If you understand what goes on in this universe, and if you are a NERD, you'll die when you see this. It's filled with foreshadowing, it has references to later/earlier films, it has great action, and accurate portrayals of THIS universe. If you accept it, if you buy into the Star Wars universe, than you will love this movie. Its beautiful and entertaining, so don't feel bad when people slam it, star wars fans, its not they're fault they just don't get it.