Digital Fortress

This is the best Star Wars film you’ll ever see. It’s the most action-packed
film in all the Star Wars prequels…I can’t find a way on how to write this
entry so I’ll start from the point where Chris and I where about to watch thefilm. I’ll just skip some other parts because I know Chris will tell these
things in his blog soon.

This is my first THX Cinema experience…To tell the truth, the THX Cinema disappointed me. Ewan ko lang kung marami lang talagang dumi yung tenga ko, pero I wasn’t impressed on the sound system of THX. Parang…”yun na ba yung THX? ” I was expecting na super lakas ng sounds as in you can feel it right in your seats. Gusto ko halos lumilindol na. I want more rumblings. But it turned out na sa first few minutes ko lang medyo naramdaman yun. Siguro yung THX Cinema sa G4
ang bulok. Siguro sa iba hindi.

Anyway..yun na. Lumabas na yung LucasFilm logo and “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Tuwang-tuwa ako. I was nudging Chris’ arms. As in parang ngayon lang ako nakapasok sa isang sinehan. Excited na tlaga ako…

The opening sequence is awesome. The camera is swiftly moving across the space. Parang umaandar tlaga yung buong sinehan. I think George Lucas has mastered great wide shots. But stil, like the Battle of Geonosis in Attack of the Clones, the war scenes are sometimes dizzying. It’s hard to track down who’s who in the battle field. Sa AOTC kasi, talagang all-out-war, walang specific flow na sinusunod sa battle scenes….talagang rambulan. Pero okay lang yun…Masaya naman e.

And here comes my favorite character…..Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious/The Sith Lord. Ewan ko ba kung bakit my passion ako sa mga kontrabida. Siguro nakaka-identify ako sa kanila (dahil masama daw akong tao..hehe). Ian McDiarmid has done a great job in portraying this role. Ang galing nang convincing powers nya. Too bad, Christopher Lee (Count Dooku/Saruman!!!) died in the first few minutes.

As for the other actors, I think Hayden Christensen has improved his acting skills. Believable naman yung portrayal niya as he turns to the dark side. Padme’s job on screen is to cry. And she has many cheesy dialogues. I can’t remember exactly kung ano-ano yun. But still, wala pa ring kupas ang beauty niya. One cheesy dialogue I remember: “I hate you!” (Anakin to ObiWan after their final duel) There are few funny moments in the movie especially the ones involving R2-D2 and clonetroopers. Kung dati, si Yoda ang nagpakitang gilas, dito si R2 naman. Few characters are introduced here like General Grievous. Actually, he was in “Clone Wars” series in Cartoon Network which Chris
has been raving me about. I wasn’t able to see that series so I missed a lot of key plot elements. Sana i-replay…

The best part of the movie is its last?30 or 45 minutes. Ito na kasi yung
“glue” between Episode III and IV. Questions have been answered at last. One unique thing about this movie is this is where evil triumphs over good…as the dark forces build the Galactic Empire and its ultimate weapon, the Death Star. Not really does evil triumphs over good kasi in the battle between Yoda and Sidious, no one really wins. Plus, Leia and Luke are born. So, good will still prevail in the future.? Leia and Luke are the galaxy’s “New Hope”.

I have to praise the great John Williams for a wonderful musical score for
this film. Buti na lang ginamit uli yung Duel of Fates theme from Episode
I dun sa duel ni Yoda at Sidious. Galing. And now, may hint na ng Empire Theme from the original trilogy. Saya-saya. You can also here Luke Skywalker’s theme in the end. I’ll post the Duel of Fates soon
in the profile section…

Visual effects. As usual…stunning. Gen. Grievous is the best CG character, I suppose, in the series. Just looking at the realism of the clothes of Grievous and Yoda can make you appreciate the film’s visual effects. But for me, wala paring tatalo sa visual effects achievement na si Gollum. Scenes like Obi-Wan riding in a creature that’s a cross between an iguana and a hippogriff looks very fake most of the times. Also in the Mt. Doom-like scene at the end.

Speaking of the scene between Obi-Wan and Anakin…para silang nasa Mt. Doom talaga dahil they’re in the place full of lava. This is the best saber fight because it involves the Jedi Master and his apprentice. Hindi na ma-reach ni Obi-Wan si Anakin…Naaawa ako sa kanila. Bakit humantong sila sa point na yan…how tragic…

Obi-Wan: You are the chosen
one!

Anakin: No!

Obi-Wan: Destroy it! What
are you waiting for! Just let it go!

Anakin: The Ring is mine!

The unveiling of Darth Vader is the most thrilling part. Everyone is silent.
Parang tumatayo balahibo when Anakin is finally wearing the Vader mask. And then you hear his famous breathing…Astig!

Darth Sidious: Chef
Vader…

Darth Vader: Yes, master?

Darth Sidious: RICE!

*I was laughing
when I saw this in a TPTS
member’s msg. board signature..

One more minor complaint: Those cheesy transitions…..Okay lang sana yung mga wipe left/right, wipe up/down, at circle transition….trademark na kasi yung ng Star Wars e. Pero sa Episode III, nakakagulat yung mga bagong transitions na ginamit. May little squares etc….Just see the movie (if you haven’t) to get what I mean.

If I have time (and money), I will see this movie again….

RATING:

Episode I: 7/10

Episode II: 7.5/10

Episode III: 9/10