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| PALPATINE Quite simply, the best bad guy in popcorn cinema history. No one's smarter, and no one's a bigger sonofabitch. There's a moment late in this film when they offer him control of the Republic, where the Senate essentially tries to put the reigns of an army in his hands, and Palpatine demurs. We know just how much cunning and manipulation has gone into getting him to this point, but he plays it perfectly. The Senate practically has to beg him to do it. I love the fact that Lucas still hasn't been crystal clear about the whole Darth Sidious/Palpatine issue. Nor has he made it evident how such a powerful Sith master could deal face-to-face with the greatest Jedi of the day without being detected. I think there are still twists to come here, and I think cloning might be involved. After all, it's "Sido-Dyus" who ordered the creation of the clone armies in the factories of Kamino. Who's to say he didn't create a new version of himself, free of the Force, to serve as a public face while gradually moving into a position of power? I am literally aching to see EPISODE III to know how Lucas finally answers these questions. Now I remember the delicious anticipation that I felt after I first staggered out of a theater in 1980, Vader's stunning revelation still burning my ears, knowing there were three years to wait before I would have resolution. In fact, I've enjoyed the last few weeks so much, pondering various ways Lucas could answer the questions he's raised, that I have made a decision. I'm going to go into EPISODE III spoiler-free. THE FETTS The worst-kept secret in the history of the STAR WARS saga has got to be the relationship between Jango and Boba Fett. They're not father and son in a conventional sense. Instead, Boba is a clone of Jango, being raised as a son. Jango is a great bounty hunter, and his fighting skills have also earned him the dubious honor of being the source material for the genetic material being used to produce the massive clone army that is the focus of all the skullduggery in the film. Jango and Boba are written like Leone characters. Not a lot of dialogue to weigh things down. They are defined by what they do and by how they do it. Their fight with Obi-Wan and the subsequent chase are intense on the page, and the clips we've seen suggest that Lucas brought the sequences to life with flair and style. Jango's the winner of the Commemorative Darth Maul "Gone Too Soon" Award this time out, but the fact that his death at the hands of one of the most respected Jedi elders is witnessed by Boba Fett, who then manages to rocket to safety, his father's helmet securely in place over his own head, sets the stage for a revenge driven arc in the next film that should be quite chilling. And on that note, I'm going to wrap this up. I could talk about this script for days, and I'm sure I'll have a hell of a lot to say once I've actually seen the movie. I've spoken to some of the actors from the film as well as guys from inside Lucasfilm and ILM and people associated with the various licensees, and what I keep hearing from all of them is a renewed enthusiasm about the world of STAR WARS. I hear people rediscovering something. I hear hope. I look forward to May with an almost unbearable sense of anticipation. Now, more than ever, I want to see this film deliver on all of its potential. Can you imagine what it'll be like if SPIDER-MAN and MINORITY REPORT and EPISODE II and THE TWO TOWERS all work out this year? Can you imagine how great it's going to be if they all deliver? |
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