tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post3025213394172500674..comments2024-03-27T15:16:57.305-05:00Comments on F This Movie!: Heath Holland On...Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the ClonesPatrick Bromleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-8814794462939686632015-07-02T23:29:33.505-05:002015-07-02T23:29:33.505-05:00Lucas is most definitely referencing THX 1138 on K...Lucas is most definitely referencing THX 1138 on Kamino with the clones. The Kaminoan look is based on the long spindly alien in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Mike Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-51435465749610359742015-07-01T18:45:55.519-05:002015-07-01T18:45:55.519-05:00If there's any value in George presenting Boba...If there's any value in George presenting Boba Fett as a child in this film, I think it's to introduce the theme of fathers and sons that is explored in earnest in the original trilogy. I think Boba's silent moment mourning the decapitation of his father mirrors Luke's dream-like encounter with Vader in the cave on Dagobah. Just as it's Luke's intention not to end up like his father, Boba will take the opposite road, and emulate his father in order to honor his memory. Mike Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-31597300320513934392015-07-01T04:15:54.457-05:002015-07-01T04:15:54.457-05:00A little side gag: among the busts of the Lost Twe...A little side gag: among the busts of the Lost Twenty in the Jedi Temple Library, besides Dooku (whose name is derived from the Japanese word for poison, doku), are busts of Rob Coleman and John Knoll from ILM, and one of Lucas himself. An obvious in-joke, but I still wonder if Lucas's inclusion in the Lost Twenty is further indication to how he is injecting some autobiographical flourish into the prequels (how he identifies with Anakin in the prequels the way he identified with Luke back in the late '70s, early '80s; and how he feels as though he has become, as head of Lucasfilm, the very thing he was trying to avoid in the '70s). <br /><br />I mentioned in some recent comments to the Phantom Menace piece my assertion that George gave a tip of the hat to several people in the prequels -- to his friends, mentors, even some people he respects that have paid homage to him. On a commentary track for Attack of the Clones, while he explains the background of the Geonosians as the masterminds behind the Death Star design, he brings up the "Death Star contractors" monologue from Clerks. (He does make the mistake of attributing the conversation as being between Jay and Silent Bob, not Randall and Dante, but I'll give him a pass.) Because of this remark, I suspect he made another reference to a Kevin Smith, this time from Chasing Amy: When Qui-Gon shows Watto a hologram of the ship he needs parts for, he describes it as a J27 Nubian. Not a Nabooian, the planet they got the starship from, mind you; a Nubian. Watto even emphasizes this pronunciation: "Ah yes, NUBIAN! We got lotsa that!" So I guess now we have our answer to Banky's enquiry when he asks, "What's a Nubian?"<br /><br />I always took it that Padme DID always love Anakin, at least from the moment she reconnected with him in Attack of the Clones, in an old-fashioned example of the "love of first sight" trope -- she was just fighting those feelings. She mentioned something to that effect when she and Anakin were having their fireside chat, to which Anakin quickly responds, "So then you DO feel something!"<br /><br />When Anakin and Padme stumble upon the Geonosian droid factory, and they fall onto the conveyer because the bridge wasn't extended, I saw it as a nice bit of visual foreshadowing, using Luke and Leia's similar situation in A New Hope as the focal point. Luke and Leia manage to swing across the drawn plank, and later fight to victory against the Empire. Anakin and Padme fall, and their ultimate end is not so triumphant. Mike Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-11043626955078626692015-06-25T11:01:28.840-05:002015-06-25T11:01:28.840-05:00The summary of the movie makes my eyes start to gl...The summary of the movie makes my eyes start to glaze over. You could describe all three of the original movies in the time it takes to describe one of the prequels. That's one of the main problems. The plots of the prequels are too complicated, and not in a good way. Even if you get past the CG, bad acting, and contrivances, there is nothing to keep your attention or let you become connected to the characters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-72192539039753502382015-06-25T02:16:00.004-05:002015-06-25T02:16:00.004-05:00Nice article Heath, I really wish I could find mor...Nice article Heath, I really wish I could find more positives to like in the prequels but I will be honest sometimes its tough. I agree with darn near everything you said in this column- they should have just gotten rid of Boba and Jango Fett completely (Boba is really only awesome in the expanded universe) and the romance between Padme and Anakin was tough but I've seen both actors do a better job- George just isnt really great at that stuff.<br /><br />To get back on the positive side of things I agree the music in the prequels is top notch I have zero complaints "Across the Stars" gets a lot of play time when I decide to do a Star Wars music night. Also can anyone blame Anakin for hooking up with Padme- she doesnt exactly make it easy for him to say no with her hanging out in her living room wearing sexy black wear in candle lit level lighted rooms saying "you can't have this". <br /><br />Also Ewan Mcgregor and Christopher Lee (RIP) own every moment they are on screen. As for Yoda and his ass kicking even though it is a bit much at the time- in reality the whole clone wars finale at the end is a bit much for me. It was nice to see some one on one character fights rather then just dusty clone trooper vs dusty droids. <br /><br />At the end of the day I have come to replace a lot of my prequel memories with the excellent Clone Wars series that ran for 6 seasons. I'm glad your able to find stuff to like in the prequels, I wish I could wish away with issues with the prequels- I really do.TOMBARTMAN454@GMAIL.COMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14372444818664534482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-46787495668211130442015-06-24T23:15:51.218-05:002015-06-24T23:15:51.218-05:00I can never dislike the romance between Anakin and...I can never dislike the romance between Anakin and Padme because their love theme "Across the Stars" is so wonderful. Angela Hagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05631279159508861830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-32293046432759231122015-06-24T20:07:40.245-05:002015-06-24T20:07:40.245-05:00I'm sorry for the several typos, I have no ide...I'm sorry for the several typos, I have no idea what my phone was auto correcting there.Tim Smedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09824805812900026614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-82795769532583421472015-06-24T20:06:07.160-05:002015-06-24T20:06:07.160-05:00Great job on these columns Heath, all of them have...Great job on these columns Heath, all of them have been very well written and you clearly put a lot of thought into them. I don't have as much affection for Star Wars as most movie fans, but I do enjoy then for the most part. This movie I don't enjoy almost at all. I just researched it maybe 2 months ago, and what struck me more than ever about it this time was how incredibly inhuman the dialogue is. No one at any point sounds like a person, they sound like a George Lucas Programmed robot. There is one scene that I actually think resembles actual human speech, and that is between Count Dooku and Obi-Wan. I think this is in no small way because of the fact that Christopher Lee and Ewan MacGregor are the two best actors in this movie, but it also seems like this is the least directed scene in the movie. It has the feeling of two great performers actually being allowed to perform. This only condors something you said in your column Heath, that Dooku is possibly the most interesting character in the movie and it's a crime that we get almost no meaningful screen time with Dooku and Mr. Lee. But this is something that Lucas seemed to forget in the makings of the Prequels, that an intersting villain can elevate your movie to knew hieghts.Tim Smedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09824805812900026614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-25963668009537513412015-06-24T15:50:09.337-05:002015-06-24T15:50:09.337-05:00Great piece! I remember seeing this in the theater...Great piece! I remember seeing this in the theater and liking it, and also being floored by the Yoda fight at the time, just because it was such a cool shock to see it happen, but like you I've soured on the whole concept. <br /><br />One thing I really do like is right before Anakin sneaks into the Sand People's camp, there's a shot of him in silhouette, jumping down off a cliff. This is pulled directly from The Searchers, another nice nod to the Western. Jiffy Knishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780014326870078270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-17353687395711019052015-06-24T14:24:54.169-05:002015-06-24T14:24:54.169-05:00I just got it. Thank you ;)
I've never seem...I just got it. Thank you ;)<br /> I've never seem that on a MFtoothbrushDennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13900651640246375537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-47012152301395741172015-06-24T14:03:25.618-05:002015-06-24T14:03:25.618-05:00Think Pulf Fiction wallet...I don't want to sa...Think Pulf Fiction wallet...I don't want to say more as I don't know the profanity limits of fthismovie.CSShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700538697014516289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-40933625667242097672015-06-24T13:18:06.507-05:002015-06-24T13:18:06.507-05:00Awesome epic column Heath,
Firstly can I co...Awesome epic column Heath,<br /> <br /> Firstly can I congratulate you for "He’s probably way into Nickelback" That's the funniest thing I've read all week, im still giggling now, I wonder if he likes "How U remind me" of Alec Guinness<br /><br /> Second I must be slow today but I cant work out what the hell BMF on your toothbrush stands for?<br /><br /> This is the movie I watch the least from the series but I think we are pretty similar and both look for the positive of which you mentioned loads, I think the Jar Jar comment is spot on, I felt that Lucas who might not be the best filmmaker but for a world creator he is unbelievable, and in his heart he really gives it all to this world, I feel that he was a little upset with the backlash for Jar Jar and he purposefully made him matter in this chapter as a reaction, <br /> As for Yoda fighting i Ioved it originally and now "Its Fine" it doesent wind me up or make me cringe, it is what it is, Kinda Awsome and kinda lame at the same time<br /> Cheers Heath Roll on Dec 14thDennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13900651640246375537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-33801813950994886902015-06-24T12:50:16.911-05:002015-06-24T12:50:16.911-05:00Really nice piece. The one thing that sits well wi...Really nice piece. The one thing that sits well with me about this movie, besides the Django references you mentioned, is the aesthetics of Kamino and the Kaminoans. I don't know if he's intentionally referencing THX 1138, or I'm reading something that isn't there, but I like to think it's a really clever meta-commentary about how artificial these movies are.humanbeanjuice9https://www.blogger.com/profile/14529788768647926795noreply@blogger.com