NFBT: GazReview: “Revenge of the Sith”

Gaz · 07-01-2005, 07:18 AM

Mrs. Gaz and I finally took in the last [or third] Star Wars flick last night. Waiting was a good thing, since the theater was nearly empty. Score!

The eye candy was exceptional and the sound shook my very bones. ŰberKudos to the SFX and sound people. Truly awesome.

So how can such a visually stunning film be so flat as to suck all the fun out of two+ hours of my life?

“Revenge of the Sith” is a series of frenetic fight/chase sequences interrupted by lame and ponderous dialogue that grounds the film to a complete halt. After the actors spout some cheesy platitudes or ominous forebodings, we are off on another fight/chase. Eventually, we end up with everyone in the right place for Episode 4. The whole thing is an exercise in marking time and placing pieces on the board to fit the opening of “Star Wars.”

The entire film depends on the actor playing Skywalker. That role is critical and demands a powerful presence. Hayden Christensen does not have the acting chops to carry the role. An awful casting choice that only accents the lame dialogue and plot. To be fair, he did a passable job with “petulant.” There was zero chemistry between him and Portman. If you do not believe that Skywalker loves Padme so passionately, so fiercely that he would abandon everything he believes in for her sake, the movie flops. Well, I did not believe him and the movie flopped.

The absurd presence of Samuel Jackson did not help the film. I like Jackson as an actor, but he was another awful casting decision. I did not for a moment believe his character. He was always Samuel Jackson playing pretend and doing it in an awkward way.

THE GOOD:
• Eye candy.
• Sound.

THE BAD:
• Plot.
• Script.
• Acting.

“Revenge of the Sith” gets 2 Hoots. There was very little fun to be had.

xoxo~
Gaz
Disappointed in a BIG way.

CoMoChief · 07-01-2005, 07:22 AM

You probably could have just read some of the sith posts and saved yourself 10-15 dollars (unless you went to the movies alone).

**Predarat** · 07-01-2005, 07:27 AM

Yeah but who the hell is Sifo-Dias? And why can Leah remember her mother in Return of the Jedi but Padame dies right after she is born? Why does the all mighty Yoda just go "F*** it, I loose" at the end when he is fighting Sideous. And why cant OB1 remeber Artoo? ha ha ha.

Gaz · 07-01-2005, 07:30 AM

Naw, I HAD to go. I am a science fiction geek, after all. And the Star Wars films demand the big screen treatment, so I had to go to the theater. The setup at Rancho Gaz is nice, but cannot hold a candle to the theater experience.

xoxo~
Gaz
Held out as long as he could.

jspchief · 07-01-2005, 07:37 AM

That review is pretty spot on.

If you can enjoy a movie simply for the visuals, you'll probably like this one.

If you're looking for something deeper, not gonna find it here.

I also agree that Christensen was a bad cast. The problem is, he unlikable even when he's supposed to still be a good guy. He never actually fits his role until he becomes a bad guy.

I'd also say that at times, the action is a bit too frenetic. I'd like to actually get more of a sense of what's happening, rather than just characters, lightsabers, and various other objects flashing in front of my face at a blinding pace. The lightsaber duels are so fast that they become more of a light show than anything else. And the lightsaber fight in the dark/poor lighting became pretty played out by the end.

Gaz · 07-01-2005, 07:50 AM

I had the same problem with some of the fight scenes.

Flash, flash, flash, someone falls down. There were several times that I had no idea what was going on.

xoxo~
Gaz
Would quickly be one of the “falls down” guys.

Archie F. Swin · 07-01-2005, 07:52 AM

So in other words, it fits right in with the other 5 films? Mark one up for Lucas for continuity.

Hayden sure is good at looking at people through his eyebrows. That's probably what won him the part. Special effects were off the chart!

Eleazar · 07-01-2005, 07:54 AM

Yeah. It was ok, but... eh.

Episodes 2 and 3 get "eh" and 1 gets "blech". Had to see them though I guess.

Gravedigger · 07-01-2005, 01:33 PM

i never did get who cypher dias was in the attack of the clones was it the emporer using another jedis name to make the order of clones? Obi wan never really gives off the way that he doesnt remember artoo and artoo doesnt remember him because he has his memory wiped. It wasnt the best star wars but it was the best of the prequels and the love story in this one was far better than the attack of the clones story. You can through a bunch of fancy terms in a review for it but in the end only a few will suffice.

jynni · 07-01-2005, 01:58 PM

I still don't think the problem is the Christensen but rather with Lucas. Hayden has been good in his other movies - "Shattered Glass", "Life as House" he got really good reviews for.

Miles · 07-01-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jynni

I still don't think the problem is the Christensen but rather with Lucas. Hayden has been good in his other movies - "Shattered Glass", "Life as House" he got really good reviews for.

I agree, he was good enough in Shattered Glass. I think Lucas in general just doesn't get very good performances out of his actors. Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, and Liam Neeson are all good actors which were uncharacteristically mediocre in the star wars flicks.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 07-01-2005, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

I agree, he was good enough in Shattered Glass. I think Lucas in general just doesn't get very good performances out of his actors. Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, and Liam Neeson are all good actors which were uncharacteristically mediocre in the star wars flicks.

From everything I've read, Lucas' idea of directing an actor includes only two words: "faster" and "louder".

Consider this coming from a film director... no wonder he can make good actors seem bad.

Gaz · 07-02-2005, 08:20 AM

The impression I get from some of you is that Lucas, having established that his dialogue is stiff, his directing is wooden and his plots are lame, gets a pass on all those points. So all he needs to do in order to win your love is throw some flash on the screen?

That is an incredibly sweet deal.

xoxo~
Gaz
Understands now why everyone wants to direct.

jcroft · 07-01-2005, 02:23 PM

I still haven't seen it, but I do have one question:

How is it even possible for someone to have no chemistry with Natalie F'n Portman?

BIG_DADDY · 07-01-2005, 02:25 PM

This sucks. I am going to see it this weekend. Probably see War of the Worlds as well. Maybe we will make it a sneak it double feature.

07-01-2005, 07:18 AM	Topic Starter
Gaz Defense Homer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rancho Gaz Casino cash: $10010793	NFBT: GazReview: “Revenge of the Sith” Mrs. Gaz and I finally took in the last [or third] Star Wars flick last night. Waiting was a good thing, since the theater was nearly empty. Score! The eye candy was exceptional and the sound shook my very bones. ŰberKudos to the SFX and sound people. Truly awesome. So how can such a visually stunning film be so flat as to suck all the fun out of two+ hours of my life? “Revenge of the Sith” is a series of frenetic fight/chase sequences interrupted by lame and ponderous dialogue that grounds the film to a complete halt. After the actors spout some cheesy platitudes or ominous forebodings, we are off on another fight/chase. Eventually, we end up with everyone in the right place for Episode 4. The whole thing is an exercise in marking time and placing pieces on the board to fit the opening of “Star Wars.” The entire film depends on the actor playing Skywalker. That role is critical and demands a powerful presence. Hayden Christensen does not have the acting chops to carry the role. An awful casting choice that only accents the lame dialogue and plot. To be fair, he did a passable job with “petulant.” There was zero chemistry between him and Portman. If you do not believe that Skywalker loves Padme so passionately, so fiercely that he would abandon everything he believes in for her sake, the movie flops. Well, I did not believe him and the movie flopped. The absurd presence of Samuel Jackson did not help the film. I like Jackson as an actor, but he was another awful casting decision. I did not for a moment believe his character. He was always Samuel Jackson playing pretend and doing it in an awkward way. THE GOOD: • Eye candy. • Sound. THE BAD: • Plot. • Script. • Acting. “Revenge of the Sith” gets 2 Hoots. There was very little fun to be had. xoxo~ Gaz Disappointed in a BIG way.
Posts: 5,911

07-01-2005, 07:22 AM	#2
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $7672254	You probably could have just read some of the sith posts and saved yourself 10-15 dollars (unless you went to the movies alone). __________________
Posts: 39,245

07-01-2005, 07:27 AM	#3
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9963863	Yeah but who the hell is Sifo-Dias? And why can Leah remember her mother in Return of the Jedi but Padame dies right after she is born? Why does the all mighty Yoda just go "F*** it, I loose" at the end when he is fighting Sideous. And why cant OB1 remeber Artoo? ha ha ha.
Posts: 10,776

07-01-2005, 07:30 AM	#4
Gaz Defense Homer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rancho Gaz Casino cash: $10010793	Had to be done... Naw, I HAD to go. I am a science fiction geek, after all. And the Star Wars films demand the big screen treatment, so I had to go to the theater. The setup at Rancho Gaz is nice, but cannot hold a candle to the theater experience. xoxo~ Gaz Held out as long as he could.
Posts: 5,911

07-01-2005, 07:37 AM	#5
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	That review is pretty spot on. If you can enjoy a movie simply for the visuals, you'll probably like this one. If you're looking for something deeper, not gonna find it here. I also agree that Christensen was a bad cast. The problem is, he unlikable even when he's supposed to still be a good guy. He never actually fits his role until he becomes a bad guy. I'd also say that at times, the action is a bit too frenetic. I'd like to actually get more of a sense of what's happening, rather than just characters, lightsabers, and various other objects flashing in front of my face at a blinding pace. The lightsaber duels are so fast that they become more of a light show than anything else. And the lightsaber fight in the dark/poor lighting became pretty played out by the end. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

07-01-2005, 07:50 AM	#6
Gaz Defense Homer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rancho Gaz Casino cash: $10010793	Yah... I had the same problem with some of the fight scenes. Flash, flash, flash, someone falls down. There were several times that I had no idea what was going on. xoxo~ Gaz Would quickly be one of the “falls down” guys.
Posts: 5,911

07-01-2005, 07:52 AM	#7
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	So in other words, it fits right in with the other 5 films? Mark one up for Lucas for continuity. Hayden sure is good at looking at people through his eyebrows. That's probably what won him the part. Special effects were off the chart!
Posts: 11,800

07-01-2005, 07:54 AM	#8
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Yeah. It was ok, but... eh. Episodes 2 and 3 get "eh" and 1 gets "blech". Had to see them though I guess.
Posts: 80,659

07-01-2005, 01:33 PM	#9
Gravedigger Plays to win the game! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lees Summit Casino cash: $6473101	i never did get who cypher dias was in the attack of the clones was it the emporer using another jedis name to make the order of clones? Obi wan never really gives off the way that he doesnt remember artoo and artoo doesnt remember him because he has his memory wiped. It wasnt the best star wars but it was the best of the prequels and the love story in this one was far better than the attack of the clones story. You can through a bunch of fancy terms in a review for it but in the end only a few will suffice.
Posts: 7,826

07-01-2005, 01:58 PM	#10
jynni Starter Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $-1333669	I still don't think the problem is the Christensen but rather with Lucas. Hayden has been good in his other movies - "Shattered Glass", "Life as House" he got really good reviews for.
Posts: 884

07-02-2005, 08:20 AM	#13
Gaz Defense Homer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rancho Gaz Casino cash: $10010793	Set the bar low and coast from there, eh? The impression I get from some of you is that Lucas, having established that his dialogue is stiff, his directing is wooden and his plots are lame, gets a pass on all those points. So all he needs to do in order to win your love is throw some flash on the screen? That is an incredibly sweet deal. xoxo~ Gaz Understands now why everyone wants to direct.
Posts: 5,911

07-01-2005, 02:23 PM	#14
jcroft Thread-Stopper Extrodinaire Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Casino cash: $10004900	I still haven't seen it, but I do have one question: How is it even possible for someone to have no chemistry with Natalie F'n Portman? __________________ Jeff Croft jeffcroft.com
Posts: 2,150

07-01-2005, 02:25 PM	#15
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $2558410	This sucks. I am going to see it this weekend. Probably see War of the Worlds as well. Maybe we will make it a sneak it double feature. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,522