Mr Lee is the best thing in a bad film...

shubunkin101 · 18th May 2002, 08:01 PM

I admit it...I did not enjoy the film...horrendous dialogue...wasted characters...too much CGI...I found it all rather tedious - especially the monsters in the "Gladiator" rip off thing...but...the only saving grace was Mr Lee...he was sublime as usual...but I felt the dialogue in the lightsaber sequences lacked the dynamics of the lightsaber fights in the previous trilogy...the fights were too whizzbang and lacked momentum...oh well, I'm sorry...I really wanted to like it but there are just too many faults...I guess will be slaughtered for this but I had to say it...

...but Mr Lee's performance shines like a light in a sea of mediocrity...the film's IQ jumps by a hundred when he appears onscreen...

**David Vasser** · 19th May 2002, 06:21 AM

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I do not agree with you but you certainly have lots of company in your negative opinion of the film. Expectations are just so high for these films that it is impossible to meet them for everyone.

Well, welcome to the CLW. See, I didn't bite your head off did I?

I thoroughly enjoyed AOTC and all the other films in the series. Phantom Menace was not as good as the others but I spent the cash to go see them all many times and have all the tapes through Phantom Menace. I didn't like the ending to Phantom Menace at all.

I thought the IL&M CGI gave us a pretty good ride in AOTC. It looked much better than Spiderman's CGI to me. I think I got more than my money's worth at AOTC and plan to see it several more times at least before it closes and comes out on video. I guess I won't be saving you a seat! Oh well, all the more popcorn and Raisinettes for me! :)

Lamoreux · 23rd May 2002, 07:49 PM

Quote:

I admit it...I did not enjoy the film...horrendous dialogue...wasted characters...too much CGI...I found it all rather tedious ...the only saving grace was Mr Lee...he was sublime as usual...

Unfortunately, I couldn't agree with you more. I saw the original STAR WARS twenty-two times in the theater. As for ATTACK OF THE CLONES, once was probably enough. Mr. Lee, however, was wonderful as always.

Doug

noblerot · 24th May 2002, 05:51 PM

I certainly agree that CL was the best thing in the film, which overall I thought was a lot of fun. I felt like a kid again cheering out loud and all. I can't say that the dialog was noteworthy, but CL can make anything sound exquisite.

Would I have liked the film had CL not been in it? Doubtful. Would I have liked the original without James Earl Jones? I don't know. Phantom Menace is my least favorite and it has neither. If Episode III has both, it just might be nirvana. We'll see.

Brandi · 25th May 2002, 12:58 AM

While I didn't find the film as awful as some have, I still think Spider-Man was the more engaging and better-made film of the two big summer blockbusters so far.

That said, I really did enjoy Lee's performance, and I think Lucas really underutilized both him and Samuel L. Jackson.

**Frederick Bergstrom** · 25th May 2002, 09:46 PM

I think we are biased here but even a non CL fan must admit. He is the best part of this movie. I cant believe i can say this with a straight face after following this man for so long but Count Dooku is the role people will think of when they think of Christopher Lee. Kicking kenobis and Darth Vader butt and then bring on Yoda...I also hope he is in ep3 much, much more. i want to see more of Count Dooku and not and inept love story badlly acted and directed . ( although i have to say neither Natalie or hayden are bad actors in other films....but in this film....)

Imp · 26th May 2002, 01:27 PM

:1roll: I can't believe how so many of you are so negative about this marvellous film. The entire show was spellbinding with the most fabulous scenery and the love story developing between Amidala and Anakin simply overwhelming. Of course one can see something dreadful is about the happen which turns Anakin so bitter that he transforms into Darth Vader - after all look how angry he was when his mother died. Christopher Lee has great presence, he always has done and he is well cast. So was everybody else and the acting was faultless. The love story was a necessity and very moving. The "Gladiator" scene amusing and what wonderful special effects. The special effects have much improved since the original "Star Wars." It is a shame that the lovely Padme Amidala is not to be seen in the episodes after III, one can only imagine her fate. Episode III has a lot of work to tie up all loose ends and explain exactly how Leia and Luke are separated and why Anakin becomes Darth Vader. Also let's not forget that Leia is a princess so presumably Amidala must become Queen again. Too bad we have to wait until 2005 to see Episode III!

**Frederick Bergstrom** · 26th May 2002, 04:47 PM

i dont know Imp,
As far as becomig queen again wasnt Leia the princess because of who she and the audience thought her parents were. We didnt find out until what? Return of the Jedi she was adopted so im not to sure she was brought up to believe who her parents really were. Obviously im not the biggest star wars fan so i maybe wrong on that, but thats how i remember it.....As far as the acting gee i just do not agree with you on the acting of the love story and its direction . I have seen both actors in other films and they are very good actors but i dont know maybe it was the dialouge written for them but i just cant agree with you everytime it would switch between scenes and go to the love story i would just cringe..I thought the rest of the film was real good. the battle with jango Fett in the rain was real cool!! the love story was just such a large part of the movie that when it was on screen it bogged the film down.... even if I wasnt a Chris Lee fan i would still say the hanger fights at the end were the best part of the movie

Imp · 26th May 2002, 06:33 PM

Hi Fred B! The question is NOT whether Princess Leia thinks she is a princess or whether the audience thinks she is a princess but whether the rest of the characters in the film think she is a princess. It would be NO GOOD her thinking she is a princess if nobody on the rest of her planet thought she was. She is either a princess or she is not. The love story wasn't such a huge part of the film, but I think it was a necessary part of the film. There was NOTHING wrong with the dialogue and NOTHING wrong with the acting. The pair of them were excellent. You could believe in them and their predicament of a forbidden love. It made sense to see it developing this way and opens the doors to all sorts of events for the next film. The battle scenes were certainly exciting and one of my favourite battle scenes was that between Yoda and Count Drooc (very similar name to Count Dracula don't you think). Was this part written especially for him do you think?

**Dave Hutchens** · 26th May 2002, 08:30 PM

Not as similar, Imp, to Count Dracula if you spell it correctly. ;)

I think my opinion of the film must fall somewhere between yours and the starter of this thread. It's certainly NOT a bad film. It's much better than TPM, and I believe better overall than JEDI. The film is well-paced and beautifully photographed, the action sizzles and the last hour more than makes up for the film's downfalls, which it _does_ have. I'm sorry, but the love story, though necessary to the tale, is poorly handled. I think we must face the inevitable truth that George Lucas has entirely lost whatever ability he once had to work with flesh and blood. He's well-known for having little patience for actors, their needs, idiosyncrasies, etc., and I think by this point in his career he has simply spent too many years behind a desk and a computer screen. I really don't think he's capable anymore of making _great_ films--good ones, surely, but not great. I agree with many who would like to see him hand the directorial reins over to someone else for EPIII.

I'm going to see it for the second time tonight, in digital. Looking forward to seeing the difference!

Dave

Lamoreux · 26th May 2002, 10:53 PM

I'm delighted, Imp, that you and others enjoyed ATTACK OF THE CLONES; but really "superb" and "marvellous"? Where did you get your rose colored blast helmet?
I'm a huge STAR WARS fan, and left sorely disappointed by the wooden, cliche' ridden love scenes and the beautiful, but endless CGI sequences that amounted to little more than tap-dancing between scenes of import to the story.
As for the lightsaber duel between the Jedi Masters!!!! I saw one of the greatest swordsmen in film history (our beloved Mr. Lee) standing gloriously in a six-foot-four swatting a loonishly animated muppet. And the entire sequence was made to look all the sillier by Yoda's hobbling in and out of the scene on his little cane. Rather than being awed by the power of the "force", I found it rather embarassing.

Doug

**Alfonso Casal** · 27th May 2002, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imp
[BCount Drooc (very similar name to Count Dracula don't you think). Was this part written especially for him do you think?

Imp, you've got a lot of back-reading to do on these boards.;)

nvokes · 27th May 2002, 06:50 PM

the princess of her title was earned by being the adopted daughter of the rulers of alderaan,not the daughter of amidala-at least that's my understanding-
My 9 year old daughter and i both enjoyed the new SW:EP2,but, i DO agree that mr. lee is the best thing in the film.
;)

MidnightBlue · 27th May 2002, 08:00 PM

:furious: As a true romantic I can not fathom why so many of you are opposed to the love story. Come on people!!!!!!!!!!! Imp is correct :1roll: the whole film was wonderful. What were you all expecting? George Lucas has created a masterpiece, and he develops his characters well. I for one was not disappointed in what I saw. I was spell bound for sure. I can't wait to add it to my video collection. It is interesting to see how glamorous Amidala is compared to her daughter, although I am sure those heavy headdresses are a trifle uncomfortable! The beauty of the entire film will rest in my mind forever. I like a love story and this one is sure to end in a tragedy which sees our handsome hero become the infamous Darth Vader. The anticipation is killing me! The fighting scenes just get better and better as do all the special effects. Yes, this film has the thumbs up from me. :D

Imp · 27th May 2002, 08:12 PM

:o Ooops! lol! I realised my typing mistake! Of course it is Dooku! Still similar to Dracula really :1roll: I really can't get over the slating I am getting just because I disagree with your opinions. I stand by what I said previously it is a marvellous film, very memorable. I personally would have liked Christopher Lee to be in the film a bit more, but he was well worth the wait. I wonder if he will be the one to murder Amidala? And will Anakin slay Dooku in return?

With regard to novkes remark that Princess Leia's title was earned by being the adopted daughter of the rulers of alderaan let's not forget that the character of Amidala had even been created at that time. It is such a long time before the next episode! Sigh!!!!!!!! But again I am sure I shall not be disappointed. :D

And Lamoreux we are all entitled to our opinions but do you have to be so insulting with it? What are you watching a film like this for if you do not like seeing an animated muppet? Yoda is an important part to the film.