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[ManaByte]

This was posted on Kevin Smith's viewaskew forums, but since AICN sorta slashdotted and crashed the forums they have been set to member only views. Here's the text:

"SITH" SPOILERS

You've been warned...

- "Revenge of the Sith" is, quite simply, fucking awesome. This is the "Star Wars" prequel the haters have been bitching for since "Menace" came out, and if they don't cop to that when they finally see it, they're lying. As dark as "Empire" was, this movie goes a thousand times darker - from the triggering of Order 66 (which has all the Shock Troopers turning on the Jedi Knights they've been fighting beside throughout the Clone Wars and gunning them down), to the jaw-dropping Anakin/Obi Wan fight on Mustafar (where - after cutting his legs and arm off, Ben leaves Skywalker burning alive on the shores of a lava river, with Anakin spitting venomous sentiments at his departing mentor), this flick is so satisfyingly tragic, you'll think you're watching "Othello" or "Hamlet".

I saw a gorgeous digitally projected version of the flick, and lemme tell ya': this is a beautiful looking film. The opening space battle sequence is the best in any of the six "Star Wars" movies. Grievous and Kenobi's lightsaber duel is bad-ass, with Grievous rocking four sabers. The Clone Wars end rather early in the flick (about the halfway point), leaving the rest of the film to concentrate on Anakin's turn to the Dark Side, and the resulting slaughter of the Jedi.

Perfect example of how dark shit gets: remember the Younglings - the kid Jedis in training from "Clones"? As a result of Order 66, when Anakin invades the Jedi Temple with an army of Clone Troopers, he enters the Council room to find a gaggle of said younglings hiding behind the seats. They see Anakin and emerge, asking "What should we do, Master Anakin?" The query's met with a stone-cold Anakin firing up his lightsaber. The next time you see the kids, Yoda's sifting through their corpses on the floor.

Yes, it's just that dark - and rightfully so. This is the birth of Darth Vader we're talking about. The only comic moments in the flick are given to R2D2, and while good, they're all pretty few and far between; the order of the day is dark, dark, dark.

Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGregor steal the show, but Hayden Christensen silences any naysayers who wrote him off as too whiney in "Clones". This is the flick that feels closest to Episodes 4, 5, and 6, because - for the first time since "Return of the Jedi" - there is a clear villain. And for all the shadow-play Palpatine has been upto in the last two flicks, his treachery is about as subtle as John Williams' score in "Sith." Whether he's slowly drawing Anakin toward the Dark Side during an opera/performance art piece with his promise of the Sith's power of life over death, or he's engaged in a balls-to-the-wall lightsaber duel in the Senate with Yoda, his "Little, green friend" (his words, not mine - which I kinda dug, because, interestingly, I think it's the first time anyone's acknowledged that Yoda is green in any of the "Star Wars" flicks), this is the Emperor's movie.

The last fifteen minutes dovetail nicely into Episode 4 (or just plain "Star Wars" for you non-geeks), and the movie is full of link-up moments as well.

- At flick's end, Threepio and Artoo are given to Captain Antilles (with the caveat that the Protocol's memory be wiped).

- The twins, natch, are split up. Leia heads to Alderann with Bail Organa, and Obi Wan hands Luke over to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru (indeed, the closing shot is Owen holding Luke while looking out over the setting suns of Tatooine - mimicking the shot of the adult Luke doing the same in "Star Wars", complete with callback cue from Williams).

- After he succumbs to the Dark Side, Anakin tries to convine Padme that he can overthrow Palpatine, and together, he and Padme can rule the galaxy as husband and wife.

- Vader and the Emperor stand beside a younger Grand Moff Tarkin on the bridge of a Star Destroyer, overlooking the earliest construction stage of the Death Star.

- Yoda telling Obi Wan that, as he heads to Tatooine to hand over Luke and go into exile, that he should spend his time learning to commune with those who've crossed over to the next stage of life, as Yoda maintains he's been doing with Qui Gon (and Ben will later do with both Luke and Yoda, in "Empire" and "Jedi").

- And, hands-down, the best link-up to "Star Wars" moment that I enjoyed the most: Bail Organa and Yoda stepping into the hallway of the Rebel Blockade Runner that opened "Star Wars". Unlike all the high-tech CGI wizardry of the rest of the prequel Trilogy, this is a low-tech looking set, right out of circa '77, and for some reason, it really captured my imagination. I mean, this is the same exact hallway in which we got our first look at Vader, oh so many years ago, and I appreciated the hell out of Mr. Lucas including it - because it really felt like a nod to the hardcores.

Look, this is a movie I was genetically predisposed to love. I remember being eight years old, and reading in "Starlog" that Darth Vader became the half-man/half-machine he was following a duel with Ben Kenobi that climaxed with Vader falling into molten lava. Now, twenty six years later, I finally got to see that long-promised battled - and it lived up to any expectation I still held. I was sad to see the flick end, but happy to know it's not the end of the "Star Wars" universe entirely (I've read stuff about a TV show...).

"Sith" doesn't happen; "Sith" rules.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Dammit Mana, I just posted this in your Mallrats thread.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

 

[calder]

FUCK. Couldn't not read the first paragraph. Sound so damn sweet, I can't wait.


Ok, *now* I'll start strictly avoiding spoilers like I should have after the first trailer.

 

[ManaByte]

According to Kevin, the Dagobah scene was NOT in the digital print he saw but he said McCallum told him that George was still tinkering with the digital version.

 

[ManaByte]

The forum is going up and down, but I've posted asking if Liam's lines are still in the movie or if they were cut like Dark Horse says.

 

[evil ways]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

For real, he's a self admitted apologist. Still, it's hard for me not to get even the slightest bit excited.

 

[Crandle]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

I thought equating the movie to two of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies was by far the best example of his whole "slobbering fanboy" vibe.

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean the film will be bad (though I've never even liked the original Star Wars movies that much, at least not since I was much younger) but Jesus Christ the Emperor is not Iago you beardy fuck

 

[Drinky Crow]

gay

kevin smith got his own star wars tv show, right?

 

[MrAngryFace]

WATCH SERENITY COME SEPTEMBER!

 

[Kabuki Waq]

Kevin Smith could very well be Manabyte....

























...or his Father dun dun dun.

 

[jett]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

And that fact that Smith's movies are shit, too.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Read this this morning and couldn't help but feel excited too. Obviously Smith is a major fanboy, just look at his references to Star Wars in his movies, but still, this does a great job of pumping up the excitement for RotS.

 

[heavy liquid]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

It doesn't just sort of make it worthless.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

And that fact that Smith's movies are shit, too.

his movies have brilliant moments and really really crappy moments. Well mostly crappy moments cause he cant write a script to save his life.....atleast chasing amy was decent.

 

[aparisi2274]

WATCH SERENITY COME SEPTEMBER!

Oh... You mean that movie that is based on Firefly? That craptastic tv show that was rightly canceled after dismal ratings. Oh, ok, let me setup my calendar right now.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

Oh... You mean that movie that is based on Firefly? That craptastic tv show that was rightly canceled after dismal ratings. Oh, ok, let me setup my calendar right now.

wtf? craptastic? you obviously have not seen the firefly tv series while the ppl posting here have seen the first 2 star wars prequels.

 

[Escape Goat]

Oh... You mean that movie that is based on Firefly? That craptastic tv show that was rightly canceled after dismal ratings. Oh, ok, let me setup my calendar right now.

Lookout! Don't hate on Firefly. Whats Kabuqi doing with those nails and cross?

 

[Manics]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Kevin Smith actually LINKED to the upcoming Star Wars TV series? I mean if he's going to be involved in THAT, it's obviously in his best interest to praise the movie.

 

[shantyman]

Where's Willco?!?

 

[Tedesco!]

Oh... You mean that movie that is based on Firefly? That craptastic tv show that was rightly canceled after dismal ratings. Oh, ok, let me setup my calendar right now.

Dismal ratings only because Fox moved it around the goddamn schedule so many times. They did the same thing with The Tick, Greg The Bunny, and Family Guy. Firefly is a pretty good sci-fi show, one I think that is better than B5, Farscape, or most of the Star Treks out there.

 

[Tedesco!]

Where's Willco?!?

He's out praising the glory of Spider-man.

 

[heavy liquid]

Dismal ratings only because Fox moved it around the goddamn schedule so many times. They did the same thing with The Tick, Greg The Bunny, and Family Guy. Firefly is a pretty good sci-fi show, one I think that is better than B5, Farscape, or most of the Star Treks out there.

And Futurama.

He's out praising the glory of Spider-man.

:lol

 

[Brian Fellows]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

Yup.....

 

[mrkapawutzis]

He equates it to Shakespeare?!? :lol :lol :lol

 

[aparisi2274]

wtf? craptastic? you obviously have not seen the firefly tv series while the ppl posting here have seen the first 2 star wars prequels.

I watched a couple of ep's, it was ok.

Yes I think fox fucked it for moving it around to much.

yes I think SW EP 1 and 2 SUCKED NUTS

Yes I saw the trailer for Serenity

Do I think Serenity is going to be better than EP3. FUCK NO!!!!!!

 

[SteveMeister]

The fact that he enjoyed the first 2 starwars movies and thought the love story in AOTC was great acting and writing sort of makes his opinion worthless.

aaaand here's what Kevin Smith had to say on the ViewAskew forums in response to this attitude:

Nevermind the fact that I actually liked the first two as well. Apparently, if you're not in the Eps. 1 & 2 He-Man Lucas-Hating Club, you've got no credibility in cyberspace.

I did like the first two. I liked this one much, much more. Much more than that I can't speak to.

Except this: the charter for the Eps. 1 & 2 He-Man Lucas-Hating Club calls for all members to have sex with themselves more times than they've ever had sex with someone else. And, you have to have a great deal of free time on your hands - time enough to question someone's opinion of a movie they saw, without having seen it yourself yet.

As much as people baffle me in the real world, the cyber-dogs are a real fucking mystery.

 

[evil ways]

That sounds like Kevin Smith running damage control.

I liked the first 2 movies, but they suck, big time, for all the reasons already discussed. Why do I like them? Cause they're Star Wars, it has Jedi, and lightsabers, but there's no way I'm gonna try to cover the sun with one hand and make excuses for them.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

What strikes me about Smith is that he's a fan, but by no means a fanboy. Yeah, he said he liked EP:1 and 2, but all it amounted to was "yeah they were pretty good, I enjoyed them" and gave a little golf clap which was surely genuine, but I can't help but feel that he was being just a little bit courteous to Lucas and Co. For this one, it's the first time he's actually gushed and said "OMG, AWESOME" which I find encouraging.

 

[Drozmight]

werd.

 

[soundwave05]

Even Ewan McGregor is more to the point that Kevin Smith is, lol.

Anyways, I will say this -- "dark" doesn't neccessarily make a good movie.

Episode II is darker than Episode I and its an even worse movie IMO.

Having read the script, I'm not entirely sold on this movie yet. Particularily with how Anakin turns to the darkside. It also does not tie up some major loose ends from the OT, but that was to be expected I guess.

It sounds like the following scene has been cut out

Spoiler

Qui-Gon actually talking to Yoda

in favor of Yoda just telling Obi-Wan about

Spoiler

Qui-Gon

, which I hope is not the case because that would be such a friggin' "oh and by the way, insert huge revelation here, yada yada yada ..." moment.

 

[levious]

It also does not tie up some major loose ends from the OT, but that was to be expected I guess.

Like what? Not trying to argue, just curious.

 

[maharg]

one I think that is better than B5

If it had run long enough to, and had successfuly run a major arc for 5 seasons, you'd be justified in saying that.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Say what you like about Kevin Smith's movies but I fucking love this guys attitude!

Spoiler

I doubt Qui Gon has been cut by the way. I don't know if we'll see him or not, but I think we'll definately hear something before Yoda's called away to the operating room. The thing about the script was that they explained the living beyond death thing TWICE in a way. Both Qui Gon explaining it to Yoda, and Yoda explaining it to Obi Wan. I think the dialogue will be trimmed on one of those occasions.

 

[evil ways]

Like what? Not trying to argue, just curious.

Where does Han Solo get those cool vests and jackets? And did Vader really lower Fett's blaster rifle in ESB because he didn't want him to shoot C-3PO?

Stuff like that, which alters the very fabric of the Star Wars universe in the OT.

 

[soundwave05]

Like what? Not trying to argue, just curious.

From what's written in the script ...

Spoiler

There's no clear reason for Leia to remember her mother any more than Luke. Infact as written in the script, Padme actually touches Luke first. That line may have made sense if Leia is given birth to, but Padme dies in the process of giving birth to Luke, but for whatever reason its not written that way.


Also, why Luke says that line about Dagobah feeling "familiar" is totally pointless in ESB, because there is no scene where Obi-Wan drops off Yoda at Dagobah and thus maybe baby Luke would have been there, as most people would have expected.

If Lucas has cut the

Spoiler

Qui-Gon scene

all I gotta say is -- WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, GEORGE!!!!

Argh, I know people complained the ROTK ending was too long, but this is ridiculous. We need to see that moment, it can't be just a "oh and by the way ..." type thing. *Show* don't tell, I mean cripes, isn't that taught in like the very first screenwriting class (even at USC?).

 

[fennec fox]

Is there still farting?

 

[Willco]

Hey, why bother typing when people are already doing the work for me?

 

[radioheadrule83]

There's nothing to say Leia isn't simply remembering the Queen of Aalderan who would also have plenty of reason to be sad given the galactic climate

Perhaps the familiarity Luke senses on Dagobah is not because of the planet but because of Yoda, who he would have been in the presence of before. He just doesn't realise it until Yoda reveals himself.

and as for this scene:

Spoiler

I think you will see Yoda in meditation, talking to thin air and getting responses, but what actually gets said will depend on what needs to be cut in order to make Yoda's words to Obi Wan, and Obi Wan's "Qui Gon!?" have any resonance. I'm confident it will play out alright, although I can see why you're concerned.

I saw shots of Yoda surveying Dagobah from his landing pod and it looked awesome. I hope that isn't cut ;_;

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Is there still farting?

There never was.

 

[soundwave05]

There's nothing to say Leia isn't simply remembering the Queen of Aalderan who would also have plenty of reason to be sad given the galactic climate

Perhaps the familiarity Luke senses on Dagobah is not because of the planet but because of Yoda, who he would have been in the presence of before. He just doesn't realise it until Yoda reveals himself.

and as for this scene:

Spoiler

I think you will see Yoda in meditation, talking to thin air and getting responses, but what actually gets said will depend on what needs to be cut in order to make Yoda's words to Obi Wan, and Obi Wan's "Qui Gon!?" have any resonance. I'm confident it will play out alright, although I can see why you're concerned.

I saw shots of Yoda surveying Dagobah from his landing pod and it looked awesome. I hope that isn't cut ;_;

Oh my gawd, :lol , Leia would have to be the dumbest broad on the galaxy to not figure out that if Darth Vader is her real father then Luke is asking about her real mother.

Face it, that issue from ROTJ is most definitely not resolved in this ROTS, and its done in such a way that I almost think Lucas did it on purpose to piss off the fanboys, lol. He could have easily explained the whole thing by having

Spoiler

Leia popping out first and then Padme dying as Luke is given birth to

.

Maybe George will just cut that whole bit of dialouge out of ROTJ in a future super duper 4D special edition.

 

[maharg]

Any continuity error that can be explained or removed by removing one line of dialogue is not worth worrying about.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Oh my gawd, :lol , Leia would have to be the dumbest broad on the galaxy to not figure out that if Darth Vader is her real father then Luke is asking about her real mother.

Except that Leia doesn't know that Vader is her father; Luke asks Leia about her mother first, and then about a minute or two later tells her about Vader, and how they're related.

Not to say I necessarily disagree with you; I wish that this would've gotten a resolution (if it's as is in the movie as it is in the script.)

AFAIK,

Spoiler

Qui-Gon is still in; the major thing that's been cut is most of the Rebellion-forming scenes with Bail, Mon Mothma and Padme sitting around.

 

[soundwave05]

Except that Leia doesn't know that Vader is her father; Luke asks Leia about her mother first, and then about a minute or two later tells her about Vader, and how they're related.

Not to say I necessarily disagree with you; I wish that this would've gotten a resolution (if it's as is in the movie as it is in the script.)

AFAIK,

Spoiler

Qui-Gon is still in; the major thing that's been cut is most of the Rebellion-forming scenes with Bail, Mon Mothma and Padme sitting around.

C'mon that is a total friggin' copout on the Leia issue, you don't just throw random things into a script, even line of dialouge should have a reason.

And Luke specifies the question as your mother ... your *real* mother.

The

Spoiler

Qui-Gon

scene sounds like its been cut by the way Kevin Smith only references the other scene, but we'll see I guess.

Based on the sciprt, I'm not sold on this movie, but I think it will be more enjoyable than Ep. I or II (because you'd really have to try to make a worse Star Wars movie).

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Again, I wasn't arguing with you about the fact that it's unresolved, but just pointing out that at the time that Luke asks Leia about her mother, she does not know that Vader is her father; a fact that you used as evidence as how she should know that Luke's asking about Padme. It's the transitive theory going on in Leia's head; if Luke is asking about my mother, and my father is Darth Vader who was married to Padme, then Padme must be my real mother... but without that middle piece you can't make the connection, at least solely from that, which is what it seemed that you were suggesting.

 

[soundwave05]

Again, I wasn't arguing with you about the fact that it's unresolved, but just pointing out that at the time that Luke asks Leia about her mother, she does not know that Vader is her father; a fact that you used as evidence as how she should know that Luke's asking about Padme. It's the transitive theory going on in Leia's head; if Luke is asking about my mother, and my father is Darth Vader who was married to Padme, then Padme must be my real mother... but without that middle piece you can't make the connection.

I would agree, except Luke specifies the question (your "real" mother), so there's only two ways to play that (either Leia knows she's adopted or she doesn't ... if she doesn't know, the way that question is asked should obviously elicit a different reaction, clearly she does know that she was adopted).

 

[Kuroyume]

Is Grievous a droid?

 

[Ristamar]

Greivous is more of a cyborg. He has a human heart, IIRC.

 

[mattx5]

Damnit, I decide to pop out of the spoiler game for a week or two and now I come back to find out that

Spoiler

the Qui Gon conversation is cut!?

Is this confirmed? If so, fuck you George. That was an essential scene to the understanding of

Spoiler

the Force, the Jedi's failures, and the new way of thought that would rein in the OT

Show, don't tell damn it!

 

[soundwave05]

Matt --

Not confirmed, but its been rumored for a while, and the way Smith's review comes across, its seems like it has been cut. We'll find out soon enough anyway.