Don't Be Jaded

Rating: 7/10 (20 May 2005)

........I so very rarely write anything on these boards, but I do always read through them.....to at least see other opinions on a film. Look, I'm 29 years old, and have been a Star Wars fan for life. My first tattoo at 17 was a Rebel Alliance symbol. I've watched and re-watched the original trilogy no doubt hundreds of times. When I used to write film reviews for The Prodigal Sun (Buffalo, NY) I almost always tried to find a way to weave a Star Wars reference into my reviews. Even after I joined the military, and went overseas, and got stationed thousands of miles from my home, I sought out Star Wars fans to associate with, to talk with, to bring back memories with....to watch the prequels at the theaters with. I too was severely disappointed in The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. But, after seeing Revenge of the Sith, that disappointment had evolved into satisfaction, even pure enjoyment. Yes, there is cringe inducing dialogue, painful "romantic" scenes to endure, and for lack of a better word, childish occurrences and pandering. I'm not going to be your typical fan boy and point out each instance....you fans know what they are. But let's be honest: the original trilogy has its puerile moments as well. It's just that we view them through the rose colored glasses of youth and nostalgia. They transport us back to different times in our lives. They are most definitely superior, but we remember/view/regard them differently. A New Hope was a breath of fresh air to an era plagued by Vietnam, Watergate, the gasoline crisis, etc...Their sequels were highly anticipated because they were fresh and new. But folks, we have aged, and our viewpoints have changed, and we have become jaded filmgoers. I ask you to do as I did, and go see the film with fresh eyes, and marvel at the spectacle, the effects, the score, the mythos....and you will not be disappointed. Just enjoy it as true summer cinema, not a "raping of your childhood" or whatever the hardcore critics have deemed the new trilogy. These new films will never equal the original....they simply can't. Star Wars is a cultural presence by now, but even by Return of the Jedi, the critics and haters sprung up, and the myth had tarnished. If you don't believe me, just use your beloved internet to do some searching on old reviews and articles. So, for all this film's faults, go see it without being bitter and jaded, and you will enjoy it....completely. Thank you for your time----------- 1977-2005 "The End of an Era"