The Review
May. 19th, 2005 07:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mattlauercansuckitThird viewing, and I've finally got some coherant thoughts together.
As usual, the dialogue was less than impressive, the the delivery and the incredible performances - particularly Hayden, Ewan, and Ian - more than made up for it. Padme wasn't nearly as obnoxious as I expected her to be, and I actually empathized with her more than once.
The Fall was... set up perfectly. That's a very difficult thing for an actor - to go from one extreme to another and make it realistic, but Hayden nailed it. His performance was beautifully nuanced, and the turning point - that scene in the Council Chambers... no dialogue, not much action, but there was turmoil. There was pain, suffering, and fear. And even after pledging himself to the Emperor (who, by the way, is the most incredible villain thanks very much to Ian McDermond's creepy-perfect portrayal), there was not a complete 180. There was still regret, still pain at what was happening.
Anakin's growing paranoia, that seed of doubt planted by Palpatine... to see that grow as the movie progressed was a wonderous thing, and I can not imagine any actor being able to pull it off as Hayden did.
Ewan seemed to be channeling Alec Guinness. That's the only way I can possibly describe what I saw from that man. I liked him in the first two, and I think he's an incredible actor in general, but this movie blew everything else away. I've never seen an actor so own the role. Alec Guinness may have originated it, but Ewan McGregor perfected it. His interaction with Hayden was seamless, so natural and comfortable - the two of them truly inhabited their parts, and it really shows.
Palpatine... Palpatine... dastardly. Seductive. Perfect.
The visual effects were the best of all the movies. The battle scenes were exquisite. The opening lightsaber battle with Dooku screamed RotJ - the parallel saber battle between Vader and Luke, trying to turn Luke... trying to turn Anakin. The ships, seeing them become more and more like those so familiar from the OT, gave me a rush every time I saw them. The Tantive... well, I teared up a bit.
Anakin and Obi-Wan's final battle was, for lack of a better word, perfection. It was everything I could have possibly hoped for, and then some. Their passion, their energy... it was thrilling and wonderful.
I cried from the lowering of the mask until the end. There was such a chill through my spine to hear that breathing for the first time - to hear that voice for the first time - but a different tone than anything we'd ever heard from Vader. That Hayden was in the suit added to the thrill of the entire scene.
The very ending... looking out to the setting Tattooine suns... not an ending, but a beginning.
As usual, the dialogue was less than impressive, the the delivery and the incredible performances - particularly Hayden, Ewan, and Ian - more than made up for it. Padme wasn't nearly as obnoxious as I expected her to be, and I actually empathized with her more than once.
The Fall was... set up perfectly. That's a very difficult thing for an actor - to go from one extreme to another and make it realistic, but Hayden nailed it. His performance was beautifully nuanced, and the turning point - that scene in the Council Chambers... no dialogue, not much action, but there was turmoil. There was pain, suffering, and fear. And even after pledging himself to the Emperor (who, by the way, is the most incredible villain thanks very much to Ian McDermond's creepy-perfect portrayal), there was not a complete 180. There was still regret, still pain at what was happening.
Anakin's growing paranoia, that seed of doubt planted by Palpatine... to see that grow as the movie progressed was a wonderous thing, and I can not imagine any actor being able to pull it off as Hayden did.
Ewan seemed to be channeling Alec Guinness. That's the only way I can possibly describe what I saw from that man. I liked him in the first two, and I think he's an incredible actor in general, but this movie blew everything else away. I've never seen an actor so own the role. Alec Guinness may have originated it, but Ewan McGregor perfected it. His interaction with Hayden was seamless, so natural and comfortable - the two of them truly inhabited their parts, and it really shows.
Palpatine... Palpatine... dastardly. Seductive. Perfect.
The visual effects were the best of all the movies. The battle scenes were exquisite. The opening lightsaber battle with Dooku screamed RotJ - the parallel saber battle between Vader and Luke, trying to turn Luke... trying to turn Anakin. The ships, seeing them become more and more like those so familiar from the OT, gave me a rush every time I saw them. The Tantive... well, I teared up a bit.
Anakin and Obi-Wan's final battle was, for lack of a better word, perfection. It was everything I could have possibly hoped for, and then some. Their passion, their energy... it was thrilling and wonderful.
I cried from the lowering of the mask until the end. There was such a chill through my spine to hear that breathing for the first time - to hear that voice for the first time - but a different tone than anything we'd ever heard from Vader. That Hayden was in the suit added to the thrill of the entire scene.
The very ending... looking out to the setting Tattooine suns... not an ending, but a beginning.
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-20 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-20 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-20 04:09 am (UTC)You know, I thought that this time I didn't really see Ewan trying to be Alec Guinness like he was a bit in eps I and II, and that's exactly why - he was Alec. It's just been a progression of the Obi-Wan character to get to that point.
Already, I'm seeing the anti-Hayden whines. People are actually saying that he was wooden.
Wooden.
*slaps a random dimwit* Fools. They could never understand the powwer of the dark side. Err... They seem to want an obvious performance, like whiny!Luke, or evil!Palpy in the OT. Nuance and subtlety are beyond their comprehension.
Would go on... and on, and on... but too tired, must get sleep.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-20 10:04 pm (UTC)That's how I see it. Sure, he was good in the first two, but the character wasn't at the point where he could be the Alec Guinness version of Obi-Wan. This movie, though... it was uncanny and awesome.
*eyeroll* Unbelievable. I think this was the best performance Hayden has given (and I just watched Shattered Glass again, and he was damn good in that) simply on the merit of making such a transformation believable.
Yes... sleep is good....