EPISODE II ROCKS!!

[*NADS Capt. Anarchy]

But, one thing I didn't understand was Count Duku... I don't want to spoil it for people that havn't seen the film, so stop reading... but how can he be the aprentice now...? ?There can only be 2 Sith... and Duku was a Jedi Master (he trained Qui Gon <sp?>). ?So I was a bit confused on how that worked.

well, he was the "good" jedi master, and then when he went to the dark side he became a dark apprentice, with Darth Sidious/Palpatine as his Master. He had much to learn in the ways of evil.

[jn.blackhand]

Ace, AOTC simply didn't suck me in like the original trilogy had.

I can no longer stand George Lucas. Actually, I like him, just not his methods. Actors, Directors, and friends of Lucas' have all voiced the same opinions on his directing abilities: he doesn't inspire, he doesn't draw out great performances. With a cast like he had, it's simply inexcusable not to utilize them to their fullest.

Adding to that is my distaste for his shunning of all outside forces (producers mainly). While that can be a good thing at times, it really has made his films not even the least bit collaborative. Collaboration is the key to ANY good movie, and Lucas simply won't let that happen, even if it is inadvertent.

Lastly, I hate his reliance on special effects. Through the movie each of the "real" characters (e.g. humans, live flesh and blood actors) had a sort of glow around them. You can easily see where the digital animation comes begins and where the actors end. It looks very cheap.

Not to mention key roles played by completely animated characters. Die, jar jar, die. Regardless of certain limitations, some things simply looked better when they were animatronics. Frank Oz is a masterful puppeteer and I sorely miss the old Yoda instead of the computer one they have now.

With all that said, AOTC was much better than The Phantom Menace. Jar jar was not in it as much and Lucas definitely delivered in certain parts. Die-hard fans will be happy, (myself included). However, I'm not judging based on TPM, I'm judging ATOC on it's merits alone.

I guess I shouldn't have said horrible, but I don't think AOTC has even half the brilliance A New Hope did. It's simply just not as good in my mind. Still, a must-see. 5.50 well spent.

And Ace, that scene. OH MY GOD. The ENTIRE theater stood up cheering and clapping. ?For a second you could hear nothing but the sound of about 500 die-hard Star Wars fans in complete jubilance.

PS - Everyone has been good about this, but just a reminder, try not to reveal too much in your posts. Some things should be seen first and discussed later. coughgriftercough

[Grifter]

Yeah, not much of a spoiler warning... I admit...

But Go Li'l Feller, GO!  that's what I was screaming.... in that scene....  

As for Lucas and special effects... that's what the man does... it's what made Star Wars what it was in the day... yes, the story was great, but the effects is what people all talked about at the time, and what really drew people in.  I was there for the first theater go around for Star Wars ( a wee tyke that saw it with my father)  But Lucas invented half the effects for that movie... they'd never been done before.. or done so well.  So he is sticking to his ILM roots with all the effects... not falling towards them.. he just hasn't grown away from them.

I'm mixed on the Yoda puppet v digital comments... only once in AOTC did Yoda look really digital to me, (ie, made me think about it and not just the character).  Other then that, I didn't find it as bad.  My bigest complaint in the effect area was some of the sound effects seemed out of place...  one of the ships sounded just like a pod racer... another like a prop driven plane..  but those are very small complaints.

[Destructo]

episode 2 and lucas can suck me large!

if i wanted to see 1 big animation, id turn on my playstation and watch final fantasy 10 movies.

big hype over nothing, half of u here don't even know what it is! let along follow it.

I wish the'd make a movie of movie scens where a bunch of guys jump in and beat the shit out of the actor/actress.

For example, everytime that ugly pig julia roberts laughs, 4 guys should come into the scene flank her with a shot to her 40 billion dollar mouth and hit her with blount objects. leaving her unconsious.

This could also be done in movies with the following ppl:
-Hugh Grant
-Martian Lawrence (i would personally do that one)
-Will smith
-that slut sally field
-drew barrymore, who really needs a good chair attack
-susan "RRSP check" serandon
-Keenan "i need a job" Waynes
-Genna "i'll take any script for money, even stuat little 2" Davis, who i could royally beat
-Steven "i can't throw a karate kick becasue my gut is to big" Segal
-all those new teenie bopper whores who spead there legs for anyone, like the chicks from American pie etc etc etce tc

[WeaSelFlinK]

Sigh... Maybe you should consider getting a job in the movie critics sector, Dest. At least that's what your good for anyway.

-Beefy.

[jn.blackhand]

Grift, story and character development should always come before special effects. In AOTC it seems the other way around at times. The special effects are amazing, but there are too many times for me when it seems like overkill, especially when using actual sets would've have not only been less expensive, but more authentic.

[jn.wrath]

*covers eyes from the evils of spoilerdom*

Evil!! ::holds up silver cross:: back!

[cookie]

I know this is total blasphemy, but AOTC didn't impress me as much as it should have. The two main characters (or ones of focus) Natalie Portman and Hayden Christenson, totally sucked. Blerg, the acting was terrible, not to mention the total discord of emotional feelings between them. Out of nowhere he starts putting it on really thick, and she smacks him down. Then suddenly, she wants him. This is about how it went:

HC: I'm a super duper Jedi, waaah, I wanna do what I want! I'm acting cool and as if I don't want you really.
NP: Uh, whatever, okay. That must suck, I guess.
HC: I love you.
NP: Yeah, sure, whatever, I'm a senator. Did you know? I'm so cool.
HC: I really wanna do you. I mean, right now. Baby gimme some ass. I'm talkin' downtown!
NP: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH OMG!!!!

<puke> their stupid love scenes totally screwed up the force.. err.. balance. While it should have been showing ?jedis kicking dark side ass, it was stupid anakin and amidala smooching. Ok, i could have taken a little, but why did anakin have to turn into freaking shakespeare?! "being near you is agony.." and then amidala, "i've been dying everyday since you've come back.. I truly love you." could they be any more LAME? and sheesh, amidala looked the same in Ep 1 yet anakin was like 9, and now they look the same age O_o damnit!! ? and is it just me, or is the illustrious Fett family totally hawaiian?

yeah, but the rest of the movie was cool. I loved the yoda scene, I didn't stop laughing for about 5 min. He was totally awesome. And Camino, the clone manufacturing planet, is my dream home! I wonder how the surfing is The FX in AOTC were just awesome, too. Overall, the movie was pretty good, it was certaintly worth the cash. Good storyline, and awesome fight scenes. I even saw Boba Fett at the theater :O i got to wear his helmet.

My star wars ranking:
Empire Strikes Back
A New Hope
Attack of the Clones
Return of the Jedi (ewoks are cool, so pffft!!!)
The Phantom Menace

ps- i totally don't know what im talking about.

[TeeEfSix Goku]

The best part was when yoda went agro on that one guy with his mini lightsaber.....like a miget on speed...that was cool

[Asterax]

Bah, I finally saw the movie, I wasn't impressed. The first five minutes into the movie I was already complaining! I mean, what the hell? The Princess uses her personal staff as lambs in a smegging mine field.  


Secondly, Yoda didn't even kill that guy, which was the only thing keeping me from now walking out. I heard there was a great fight scene with Yoda, but I never heard if the Lord (whatever his name was) died...  


Thirdly, I would like to know where all those Jedi came from when they all fought in the arena with the troops. I mean, they make it seem like the Jedi Council are the only Jedi around, then they pull out these 20 new Jedi guys.  


Finally, I would be scared as hell if I had a pissed off Jedi in my camp because we may or may not of killed his mom.

[Brain]

please, stop wit the spoilers, some of us still want to see the movie

[cookie]

don't read then  

[Brain]

but i have to
then i can respond and raise my post count

[WeaSelFlinK]

I've seen EP.II in the nearby cinema and frankly the movie was astonishing. Nothing more to say... absolutely marvelous. Superb acting, breathtaking special-effects... I'd hate to spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie yet...

In spite of the movie, it also had a rather funny part as well... The funny part was when Yoda took on Dooku. That Yoda dude is more agile than my grandma... funny... that part actually made me laugh. Not too common in George Lucas films, ey? Also, it came to my attention regardless of the other 4 episodes, this episode here uses the most computerized graphics for Yoda. Actually, they were never real-life anyways. Not that it disturbs me; on the contrary, I found it alot better this way. No need for puppets if you can have millimeter precision image focusing.

Wow, talk about a gorgeous chick... I'd do anything to get Natalie in the sack... Ewan McGreggor also played great in the movie, I must say. Great acting overall. *applause*

Coming on to my final statement, all I can say is I recommend this movie to everyone. Even if you're not a fan, or haven't followed the episodes's history (which does in fact spoil it a bit), go ahead and be amazed by this superb movie. Don't sway your way around buying tickets (because I know people want in free ), go buy some now!

May the Force be with You,
-Beefy.

[Jedi]

AotC actually uses the 1st all digital yoda Grift, you mentioned earlier on this thread.

AotC has to be one of the greatest films I've ever seen in my life. I'm still for the orginal trilogy, but this by far is on top of my new list of all time favorites.  So many mixed emotions watching this. Such a moving piece of work. As well as previously mentioned natalie portman(refer to Ace's 1st post for my conclusion on that) As well as I too noticed that tad bit chilly scene. Wanted to bitch slap anakin when they were heading into the arena, like gladiator, where she tells him she loves him. Hes like but i thought we weren't suppose to love, i was just like stfu and take her damn. Even still George is a genious playing out like he did. It was good georges part to add the infamous jar-jar and other to appeal to family orientation. Oppening up the star wars legacy to a new generation, to make them into die hard fans in the long run like many of us. I went opening day , the day after, and on my way later today.  Well for the critics who bitch about this trilogy i cant wait to see you guys on what happens after return of the jedi concerning, films 7,8, & 9. Heh till then i guess.
Well thats all i got for now. If you teased by the new film and need more, check out www.starwars.atomfilms.com for a bunch of short films made by fans, some are really good a must see.

ok, jedi over and out____

[Brain]

Well for the critics who bitch about this trilogy i cant wait to see you guys on what happens after return of the jedi concerning, films 7,8, & 9.

i hate to burst everyones bubble, but if 7, 8, and 9 are made, it wont be by lucas
he [lucas] has stated(in an interview wth tv guide, if memory serves me) that he would not be making ep 7, 8 and 9 simply because he would be too damn old

since ther WILL be a demand for 7,8 and 9(face it those geeks out side the theater with the light sabers wont be happy till they see all 9) the question will be, who if anyone, should make the last 3 episodes? i nominate speilberg any other suggestions (personally i hope lucas decides to do the last 3, but for some reason i doubt he will)
oh btw the interview took place turing the phantom menace time slot, so lucas may or may not have changed hhis mind

[SiX.cybershark]

damn star wars with dinosaurs, bahhhhhhhhh

[Colin]

somehow i don't think there will be a 7 8 and 9.  Seems like the story ended at Ep. 6.  If someone is going to make 7 8 and 9, i nominate...ME!  

[Matt]

i nominate kevin smith to direct ep 7, 8, 9 ?
and for all you clowns that don't know who that is click this

[Bondo]

Indeed, I've now seen 6 Kevin Smith films and while one kinda sucked (Drawing Flies) the 5 in the Jersey Series ranged from good to fucking awesome.  Then again his movies haven't really been in the same style as Star Wars, but I'm sure he'd do fine.