Space Combat

Rating: Null/10 (14 March 2004)

"This is the end."
This is your only spoiler warning...
The biggest struggle with franchises is figuring out what to do next. Horror franchises dehydrate when their creative wells run dry. The Bond series solved that problem through repetition, 40 years of the same material tweaked in minor ways. 'Star Wars' loaded too many loose ends on 'Jedi' so its inexperienced director couldn't make something tangible.
Meanwhile, Indiana Jones went from the dark and sardonic in 'Raiders' to pure pedestrian so Ford and Spielberg could fail together. The metamorphosis from selfish warrior to holy crusader too closely followed Spielberg's own change in his film philosophy.
'Lord of the Rings' tried fixing its problems by referencing itself less and 'Star Wars' more. Yet another transition: from the achievements of individuals to the actions of armies. Another noble failure.
So the third installments of the 'Star Wars', 'Alien', 'Evil Dead', and 'LotR' films are at least interestingly conceived and executed in some way. This doesn't even get that credit. Lucas had an ace in his hand for 'Jedi', the Emperor, but the Wachowskis show here that they are completely out of ideas.
The Wachowskis reuse the color-skewing technique of Mr. Fincher while mixing their characters with Jim Henson. Thus a totally artificial environment, both intentional and unintentional. They have created their own 'Matrix.' Once again, we get the emphasis on John Woo and Arnold Schwarzeneggar and the computer effects have revealed everything, showing how fake they are. 'Rings' and 'Alien' had the same trouble so once again 'Star Wars' comes out on top. Another pillar fight, more squids, more bankrupt production design. It's all banal.
What I find the most interesting is how the Wachowskis try rearranging the spacial requirements of film that they invented the first time around. This is more inventive than Michael Bay, but proves to be their undoing. Zion is the Ewok of the project, showing no imagination.
I shall compare the assault on Death Star II in 'Jedi' to this because it is seeing the same event over again, but trying to put it in a new light. Lucas' first attempt was totally bland, missing every opportunity. He got it right the second time, creating one of his two worthwhile battles (the other being Hoth). Here we don't have that luxury as what the Wachowskis got wrong originally is flaunted.
Let's hope the Brothers stop making movies now before they make total fools of themselves.
Final Analysis = = Cinematic Dud