The movie that kicked off a series that many fans have grown an obsession with. The art work still holds up the same today as it does back then with lovely detailed added to the clones. It makes sense, it is the kick off for all things them!
This film is actually more or less 4-5 episodes all strung together, really serving as the intro into what the show would be like. It is fun to see Anakin, Obi-Wan, etc in a new light. And it gave us Rotta the Hutt, who doesn’t love that stinker? It was enough to get most people hooked/interested in the series and I am curious how the series would’ve done if this was an utter failure or didn’t happen at all.
Positively Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Another strong starter, there are a lot of interesting plot points floating around here. It was nice to see Kenobi as a detective and showing the Jedi doing other things besides being a cop...although a detective is a cop but that’s besides the point.
Making sure you come at this with the correct mindset can help you enjoy the film. This is the continuation of the story of a young boy who grew up with issues & didn’t get proper help (instead just got super powers) and a young woman who can’t help but make bad personal decisions. This isn’t supposed to be a story of a perfect couple. This is the story of a couple riddled with red flags they ignore cause “they’re in love” and is fueled cause they were about to die. If they didn’t get captured, I wonder if the marriage would’ve helped and we would’ve had to suffer more immature, sulking/creepy Anakin in the corner. Anakin is trying to woe someone he has idolized and put on a pedestal and Padme just keeps ignoring the red flags. And since she doesn’t have a friend to slap her straight, she is stuck in this predicament.Â
The Clone vs Droid battles are pretty cool, lightsabers flying which is what you would expect when the Jedi were supposedly at their height (I feel like that should be The High Republic?) with all their technology. A time where lightsabers weren’t some holy relic but a tool, a means for defense or pressing on, that’s why they casually keep losing them and given new ones. It is a time of gluttony for them in a way. You can see their cockiness and the beginning of their downfall.
Re-watching it, it has its moments of much enjoyment. In the end, the movie is about the romance isn’t supposed to be picturesque but about people getting into a bad relationship we see from a mile away but they are too close & caught up in it and the creation of a war. It succeeds on it.
Positively Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
This movie is pretty wizard.
I guess I should write more than that, huh? I forgot how fast-paced the movie starts off, reminiscent of Episode VII. It gets you right into the space action with the ship exploding and the Jedi escaping from droid blaster fire. Then you are on a new planet that is unique.
It was nice to almost immediately see new environments whether under the water or at the pristine capital city or at the lush green fields. New, unique alien species (sentient or not) littered all over the place without it seeming forced. There is living worlds here and you can feel that.
And then the movie slows down, not to a halt but to let the story in. It allows some characters to be fleshed out more and get their persona noticed. These people are flawed and they should be. The leads in a series shouldn’t be perfect. They make bad decisions and deal with the consequences but it is how they handle them that makes all the difference.
Back to what happens in the movie...the podracing scene was obviously a lot of fun. After playing Episode I: Racer, I look at those characters and remember playing as them. This is more unique cause it showcases the universe’s first sporting hobby. There could’ve been tournaments for Dejarik but I am sure nothing on the same level as the Boonta Eve Classic.
Let’s jump into more action with some laser swords! The lightsaber fight was just great. It was the first time we saw a double blade on the big screen and used very well. Ray Parks did a phenomenal job physically portraying Darth Maul. If only over confidence did not get in the way we could’ve got more of him, but it is on brand for a Sith.
I really like the design of the N-1 starfighter. It is bright, sleek, and a bit silly but is a lot of fun to look at. So it was a blast to see it fly around in a space battle. The Trade Federation had some neat troop transport designs as well. They are no N-1 but still did its job of transporting the clankers in a unique way.
I always enjoyed this movie (even before this idea) for various reasons. Some of them are personal and some are the pure love of Star Wars. This one sets up a lot of things and expanded the world beyond the view of the fringe or undercover in small rooms.
Hello those who forgot this was a website or those who never knew this was one!
Let’s get to it before tumblr decides to erase my attempt at this a 2nd time. I like Star Wars and want to get back to liking it despite things I may not like/agree with. Star Wars is good and so I am doing this “challenge” to remind myself of that. I am going to take a Star Wars movie each month and write something 100% positive about it. No backhanded compliments, no “yeah, buts,” and no negativity. I am only going to relish in the goodness that these movies have to offer.
You may be thinking to yourself “but Adam, there are only 9 movies.” Or you may say “there are only 11 movies.” Well you’d be wrong as you have forgotten the one that made a maybe(?) small section of the fans super happy and obsessive. So without further ado, the schedule...
January - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
February - Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
March - Star Wars: The Clone Wars
April - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
May - Solo: A Star Wars Story
June - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
July - Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
August - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
September - Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
October - Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
November - Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
December - Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Obviously I will be watching them in alphabetical order as you can see. I will post what version I am watching but it will probably be the original Bluray pressings of the first 6 episodes, 4K disc of Rogue/TFA/TLJ, and Disney+ of Clone Wars/Solo/Rise. So now you know, you can join along!
tl;dr - Get in losers, we’re watching Star Wars movies every month and saying positive things about them!
After having seen (Alien) Covenant, a friend and I mentioned what we think happened in the production phase to get this piece of garbage to where it is today.
-In 2012, Ridley Scott makes Prometheus. A movie named after the ship, that was supposed to be a prequel to Alien but still wanted to distance itself from the original as well as try to top James Cameron’s Aliens and Avatar (is he petty or just old?). It is bad and does well at the box office because people think Ridley Scott is amazing. It was pretty devoid of Alien since Scott had Damon Lindeloff come in and remove mentionings of Alien and any common sense.
-In (early) 2015, Neil Blomkamp puts out there a concept for a new Alien movie w/art and EVERYONE is excited about it. By everyone I mean Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, FOX, and fans. (This was apparently in the works for years.)
-February/March 2015, Blomkamp states that this Alien film would be his next project and he has plans for sequels. (Instagram post for this deleted.)
-September 2015, Scott states that it would takes 2-3 films to bridge the gap between Prometheus and Alien.
-October 2015, Blomkamp’s planned movies are shelved to wait to see how Scott’s sequel to Prometheus does.
-November 2015, Scott titles the movie Alien: Covenant.
-Early 2016, Alien: Covenant begins shooting.
-January 2017, Blomkamp states on Twitter that outlook of his film looks slim.
-March 2017, Scott goes full crazy and announces 6 more Alien movie sequels. Remember, he is 79.
-May 2017, Scott says there was no chance for Blomkamp’s “Alien 5.″ Also he claims there wasn’t even a script, just a 10-page pitch. Not sure why the writer & director didn’t write a script for a film that people wanted to do and FOX had green-lit.
-May 2017, Scott pulls back the crazy and says maybe he will just do one or two more. Smart move...or just give it up to people who can get the job done right.
-May 19, 2017, (Alien) Covenant comes out, a movie named after a ship and the word “Alien” slapped on the front of it to bring in more people based on name recognition.
Spoilers and thoughts after the jump!
***SPOILERish***
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Movie is named Alien but has more than one Xenomorph leading me to believe that it was originally 15 minutes shorter. An additional xeno was added with a tacked on, poorly-paced “climax” at the end just to give more xeno action since that’s what you want in an Alien flim. The previous xeno battle was great and a lot of fun but the film kept going so it didn’t feel like the climax it should’ve. The later climax was really awful and felt like a sped up version of something we already saw. All twists are too obvious.
Was the second xeno scene added because of Blomkamp’s movie getting so much love? I think so. It’s like Ridley doesn’t want to make an Alien movie but he does and FOX wants him to do too. I think FOX said he could make more movies but he had to do it in the Alien name or they were going to go forward with Blomkamp’s film (if Paradise Lost/(Alien) Covenant failed?).
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***/END SPOILERS***
So what do you think? Any merit to this? Let me know after this week, okay?
