Episode II - brief impressions

LuxoJr · #1 05-15-2002, 05:06 AM

Just seen it. Mostly laughable script (bad jokes), but the action is great fun. Yoda is worth the price of a ticket alone, but be warned - you'll sit through some annoying love tripe just to get to him.

It's better the The Phantom Menace, I'll give you that. It manages to maintain the excitement Episode 1 lost after its screen crawl - the same feeling you had throughout The Empire Strikes Back. Although the plot is driven by specific scenes Lucas must have had in mind (cheap plot devices to allow further events, like the autopilot at the end of Episode 1) before the film was finished, it's still worth the admission fee.

paramiteabe · #2 05-15-2002, 04:19 PM

Mann I can't wait because I heard on the news a scale of 1 to 10 that it got a nine compared to Phantom Menace by a movie reviewer. Tomarrow I am going to see it at 7:00 PM. I told my other friend that I want to get to the theater at least two hours before it starts because it will be jammed packed plus there are all kinds other things to do at this plaza I am going to see Star Wars at. So it's going to be fun for me at least.

pinkgoth2 · #3 05-15-2002, 04:28 PM

:

Originally posted by paramiteabe
Mann I can't wait because I heard on the news a scale of 1 to 10 that it got a nine compared to Phantom Menace by a movie reviewer.

Question: Compared to what? Phantom Menace, yes, I read, but the scale is taking PM as what? 5? So anything above 5 is better and everything below is worse?

Sorry if this looks like criticism, I'm really just wondering.

- TyA

Sl'askia · #4 05-15-2002, 08:19 PM

Man...we got peeps camped outside the theater here...(and I mean camped...I saw freaking tents!). Talk about impatient...
Me...I am going to wait a couple of weeks *doesn't like large crowds* it will still be there then...

Majic · #5 05-15-2002, 09:20 PM

Seriously, I hve a few campers also... Damn idiots have been there 2 days! Theres been a freaken small line of people for at least a day! Morons, but hey, I get to see it Friday with ma' band homies. Sounds good, anyway.

Joe the Intern · #6 05-15-2002, 09:52 PM

I heard of two guys that have camped out since January 1st to get to see the movie first. Morons...

BiddaMD · #7 05-15-2002, 11:29 PM

personally.....I thought the movie trailors had bad acting...hm. But, you know dudes, I'll see it anyway. As will the rest of the world. I'm actually excited for it though, it's always fun to see what Lucas can possibly dish out..

Statikk HDM · #8 05-16-2002, 12:09 AM

It is not about acting! Who goes to one of these little block busters expecting devine revelations about the condition of the human mind and soul, god, answers to incredibly fathomless questions like the meaning of life and the punyness and fragility life and mankind? Not me. It always struck me as disturbing to watch something really meaningful with a packed audience. Anyways,Yoda owns our forceless bootys, we get jango fett, les jar jar, more explosions, everything! The movie overwhelms with O MyGoodness moments that defy all known boundries of blockbuster jawdropping. This movie will break allknown records, everyone and their relatives will see it and thouroughly enjoy it. Now, if only comedies did not SUCK as much as they have recently, I would spend a little more time in the theater.

Sydney · #9 05-16-2002, 12:17 AM

Episode I was dull, so I will probably wait for Episode II to come out on video before I watch it. One of the things that made the older Star Wars films successful was that they depicted space as a dirty, unclean place. Episode II turned this around and made everything spotlessly clean. And why are all the characters so attractive? The older movies cast average looking people, but now the characters are so damned hot. It's distracting and unbelievable.

LuxoJr · #10 05-16-2002, 02:22 AM

Jar Jar is in it, but not for long. You get to see him speak to the senate in one of those boring republic meetings.

They do dirty things up a little bit this time. Since it's so hard to make CG characters look dirty enough to fit in with real actors, maybe that's why things were kept clean for Episode 1. Jar Jar is reptillian - and that's always easier (Jurassic Park?) to do than a mammal character in CG. Lucas doesn't have these restrictions now, and I doubt he'd want to go back to cutting scenes around puppets and masks like he did with the first trilogy.

You'll be impressed with Yoda - this time around he's done by computer graphics as well.

Sydney · #11 05-16-2002, 03:59 AM

But puppets and masks are oh-so more believable than super-slick computer generated trash. Resident Evil for example, used a combination of CG and puppetry for their monster, and the puppet always looked real, whereas the CG looked fake.

LuxoJr · #12 05-16-2002, 04:14 AM

Resident Evil used CG dogs, didn't they? I thought they were pretty realistic.

I agree with you to an extent, although puppets are mainly restricted to darker shots. You couldn't do any non-humans other than Jawas or droids effectively on a desert. Then again there's the problem that we'll always know when CG is used, because there's no other way of achieving the same effect.

I think puppetry is great, and because the first trilogy was structured around its use, realistic(ish) CG couldn't have done a better job even if it was available at the time.

But...you will be very, very impressed with the job ILM did on Yoda. It's a perfect transition from puppetry to its CG brethren.

abe22 · #13 05-16-2002, 04:23 AM

I'm going to wait awile before I see it, then I can have the whole picture theatre to myself

(believe me it's happened before!) I hoping that Yoda will fight with a life saver (don't tell me!) Yoda is cool.

Sydney · #14 05-16-2002, 04:26 AM

Some of the dog-shots were CG, but others were real dogs wearing meat-suits.

I'd be surprised if Yoda looked real in EpII if he's fully CG. But you've seen it, I haven't.

LuxoJr · #15 05-16-2002, 04:45 AM

It's not perfect by any means, but it's believable - and I guess that's all that matters. Maybe it's because you see Yoda in a context vastly different from the swamp in Episodes 5/6, but the CG is good enough to warrant Lucas' choice to digital for that specific scene.

And no, there is no scene in which Yoda fights with a lifesaver...although I wouldn't mind seeing one for a laugh.

moy85 · #16 05-16-2002, 09:43 AM

did i miss something! when or did resident evil come out?
its supposed to come out march didn't it ?

morphius · #17 05-16-2002, 07:00 PM

I have seen the( 15 min) beginning of the new starwars movie and it is very good........I would like to see the rest in the theater though.........

The Shrink · #18 05-17-2002, 11:48 PM

The CG was done well in Episode II. he arena battle was great and the CG on Yoda was a lot better than I ecpected. I didn't think he looked all that fake at all really.

Majic · #19 05-18-2002, 12:29 AM

Yay, I just got back from seeing it... Yoda actualy does look pretty real, and hes damn tight whenever he does anything. And jeez, the ending thing is like cooler than ROTJ, like seriously. Cool movie...

Dequibenzo · #20 05-19-2002, 01:03 AM

I have to admit, even though you will find nobody more gung ho on the issue of puppets-are-better-CGI-cannot-yet-replace-them whininess than me, I was astounded by the images in it. Saw it yesterday, going back tommorrow. Like you said, not yet perfect, but we're getting there. I think it's about another ten years, realistically, before we have CGI that's as good as actual objects. I know that sounds like a real over-estimate, but the last steps in this development are the hardest- little details like hair movement, eye focusing, light on skin and so forth. Plus, right now, Lucas has access to the absolute best graphics facilities on earth, so what we see in episode II is the very pinnacle, which is amazingly good, bust still just not quite there. Look around Yoda's mouth when he talks- still not quite natural the way the skin stretches. Another decade, me thinks, and we'll have it down pat.
Of course, when I say "we", I mean anybody. Yes, we have astounding CGI effects that now rival and will most likely replace standard puppetry soon, but remember, it's only accessible to the richest of the rich. As for the rest of us, the film-makers with little or no budget, it's still good old fabric paint, armatures, latex and imaginative directing that make the aliens walk among us. How long until even schlubs like me can make use of this incredible new technology? I don't even think we'll be alive to see it.
And, besides, good effects can't make the movie. Episode II comes close to that, but it has an okay storyline, too, and some good supporting acting. Take away everything good but the graphics and you get... well, you get that god-awfull final fantasy movie. Eew.

Sydney · #21 05-19-2002, 01:07 AM

I saw a preview for Episode II, and I have to say that from what I saw of Yoda, he looked very real. Not as real as the puppets, but I was still quite impressed.

MudokonOddball · #22 05-20-2002, 08:01 PM

Just saw it! And to everyone that's confused,

*POSSIBLE SPOILER!*

there's a fight scene where Yoda opens up a can of whoop-ass Sonic the Hedgehog style! *grins* It's very good, and I believe that that's what everyone is talking about. I won't say any more.

Yes, that's part is worth the whole movie, but there was so much to SEE! You focus on the wrong things in the chase scenes, you completely miss something important. It's just a way to get you to pay for more than one ticket so that you can see it again.

Al the Vykker · #23 05-26-2002, 01:23 AM

Well I have to say Episode Two has to be the best Star Wars movie ever made, screw the critics, it beats out my original fav. ESB. But I won't say any more for those who haven't seen it yet.

But Yoda Kicked some Count Dooku ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fazerina · #24 05-29-2002, 05:44 PM

I just saw the movie and it was awsome! A hell of a lot better than Episode I... I have read the script about a month ago, though, so I knew everything that was going to happen, but it didn't spoil the fun. And there were a few changes, because the version I have is the original script and they changed the plot a bit. Jar Jar was supposed to have been taught some manners, but Lucas dropped the idea. And so they skipped my favourite line from the movie

: "Oops! Wheresa mesa manners?!!" Though I hate Jar Jar, but that was funny...

I love Yoda! He's so cool... And he really did look real. And the ears...

heh

:

Originally posted by Al the Vykker
But Yoda Kicked some Count Dooku ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heh. Sure did!

This was my favourite part of the movie:

:

Silence. COUNT DOOKU steps away from ANAKIN to face the Jedi Grand Master. His lightsaber whirls in a formal salute.

COUNT DOOKU
Master Yoda. At last we shall
know who is the most powerful.

YODA draws a miniature lightsaber out of his cane. He salutes formally.

YODA
Count Dooku. No interest in
contests, do I have.

COUNT DOOKU charges across the space at YODA. He rains down blows upon the tiny figure. YODA doesn't budge an inch. For the first part of the contest, he parries every cut and thrust that Dooku aims. Nothing the great swordsman tries gets through. His energy drains. His strokes become feebler, slower.

YODA attacks! He flies forward. COUNT DOOKU is forced to retreat. Words are insufficient to describe the range and skill of Yoda's speed and swordplay. His lightsaber his a humming blur of light.

Count Dooku's lightsaber is sent cartwheeling from his hand. He staggers back, gasping and spent, against the control panel. YODA jumps onto DOOKU'S shoulders, and is about to drive the lightsaber into the top of the Count's head.

YODA
(continuing)
The end for you, Count, this is.

COUNT DOOKU
...Not yet...

And so on...

Nice Avatar you've got, by the way...

Danny · #25 05-29-2002, 08:47 PM

I saw the film. It was better than Ep 1, but not as good as the Empire Strikes Back (I've never seen A New Hope or Return of the Jedi). I can't be arsed to say anything, except:

I am immensely chuffed that we can now in all seriousness blame Jar Jar Binks for everything...

SeaRex · #26 05-30-2002, 12:26 AM

I loved it. The cool characters are what made it! Those graceful aliens with the long necks were very well done. What planet were they from? Camino or something. Being a big Boba Fett fan (geek), I was glad to see his humble beginnings as Jango Fett's son. Yoda was awesome, of course. It was nice to see some of the peices from the later movies fall into place. Helluvalot better than Ep 1.

Sydney · #27 05-30-2002, 02:22 AM

I saw it last week but forgot to mention it here.

I agree with those who say it's a lot better than Episode 1. The action never seems to stop and the CG was done better than I'd expected in most scenes. One of my gripes is how Yoda speaks; his sentences end with what should have been at the beginning. It doesn't make him sound wise, it makes him sound illiterate.

Fazerina · #28 05-30-2002, 01:50 PM

:

Originally posted by Sydney
One of my gripes is how Yoda speaks; his sentences end with what should have been at the beginning. It doesn't make him sound wise, it makes him sound illiterate.

No, it doesn't! It's cool...

I couldn't speek properly at all last night. We were out with my sister and my dog and I was talking like this: "To the woods run the dog has."

:

Originally posted by LuxoJr
Yoda is worth the price of a ticket alone, but be warned - you'll sit through some annoying love tripe just to get to him.

Aww, you foolish boy... You'll understand soon enough.

And that "annoying love tripe" had to be there so we could get some important twins later on...

Danny · #29 05-30-2002, 06:14 PM

:

Originally posted by SeaRex
Being a big Boba Fett fan (geek), I was glad to see his humble beginnings as Jango Fett's son.

What pissed me off was that despite being solely brought up by (not to mention a clone of) Jango Fett, who spoke with an English accent, Boba spoke with an American accent...

SeaRex · #30 05-30-2002, 06:48 PM

:

Originally posted by Danny
What pissed me off was that despite being solely brought up by (not to mention a clone of) Jango Fett, who spoke with an English accent, Boba spoke with an American accent...

And they were both hispanic! Feh... details, details. It's Star Wars! It's not supposed to make sense!