36 posts tagged “film”
Velvet Goldmine is not a great movie. It does, however, have a great soundtrack featuring a nice mix of glam-rock era originals, covers, and pastiches. I especially like the songs written for the film by Shudder to Think - partially because they're only barely more ridiculous than "Ziggy Stardust" and partially because I've now fulfilled my Rocktober quota for bands from the District of Columbia.
Please don't tell anybody, but I don't hate Dirty Dancing. Part of it is that pre-nose job Jennifer Grey was one of my earliest celebrity crushes, but I also love the soundtrack. The opening credits were my first introduction to one of the greatest pop songs of all time.
What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?
There is, however, a gross misconception about this movie - one that people both smart and not-so-smart continue to perpetuate. To wit: Hannibal Lecter is not the villain of the piece. He's evil, no question, but within the context of the story, he is not the antagonist. And everything outside the context of the story is - as Dr. Lecter would say - incidental. What makes this film so great is that it doesn't shy away from these shades of gray. It trusts the film-going populace to get it, even though most of them clearly don't.
I think I might be the only Coen brothers über-geek on the planet who didn't care for Burn After Reading. It had a very funny trailer and an impressive cast featuring, well, everybody. I'd hoped for a return to their light comedic form after the resurgence of their black comedy with No Country for Old Men. I guess my expectations were too high.
Senator Organa has been invaluable in the mediation between the Separatists and Loyalists, but since the the assault on Kashyyyk, solidarity has been the order of the day in the Senate. A small but vocal faction of radical Loyalists insists that the attack was the handiwork of the Separatists in an effort to bring about chaos and Civil War, which, of course, is flatly denied. In order to garner good faith that they were uninvolved in the attack, the Separatists are willing to concede nearly anything. The Radicals push for the creation of a new office in the Senate - at, in fact, the head of the Senate - with more executive power that is believed will allow the Senate to respond more decisively to further attacks. The Wookiee delegation nominates Senator Palpatine, good friend to the slain Tarfful, for the position, and popular support for the martyred Wookiee carries the motion easily. Palpatine is now Chancellor of the Senate.
On Mustafar, Anakin is doing his best to maintain his ability and attitude, but after nine months in exile, the isolation is beginning to take its toll. One day, on his training regimen, Anakin comes across a squadron of clones - a highly irregular encounter as the harsh environment renders the planet nearly uninhabitable. He manages to avoid being seen and tails them to a remote industrial facility. The clones are monitoring the harvest by a host of droids of volcanic ions, invaluable as star fighter fuel. Knowing this to be a key resource for the clone army, Anakin feels as if he must act. With no native vegetation to speak of and his trusty light saber in Obi-Wan's possession, Anakin can arm himself with only the rocks he finds on the ground but he still manages to - spectacularly, of course - dismantle the operation. A routine monitor droid records the action and transmits to the Jedi Council.
Upon hearing of Anakin's feat, the newly elected Chancellor insists against the will of the Jedi Council on traveling to Mustafar to congratulate the young Jedi and award him a Republican Medal of Honor. When the Council objects, Palpatine reminds them that they serve the Republic at the request of the Senate, and that his new position as Chancellor grants him veto power over even them. After some debate, the Council defers but requests that another party and a Jedi accompany him, to which the Senator agrees. He selects Organa to join him and (at Obi-Wan's urging; he is anxious to visit his old friend) the Council selects Obi-Wan.
Princess Padme has relocated permanently with her handmaiden to Coruscant, where she can more easily conceal her very-pregnant self from those many, not least her mother the Queen of Naboo, who are unaware of her illicit marriage to a Jedi knight. Obi-Wan has given her his word that none shall learn of her condition and no matter the circumstances, he will return to Coruscant when the birth of her child is imminent.
On Mustafar, Anakin is granted an audience with Chancellor Palpatine. He commends the young, though disgraced, Jedi for his continued service to the throne, and assures him that because of his actions, talk among the Jedi Council of expelling him permanently from the Jedi Order has ceased. This gives Anakin pause, he questions the Chancellor. Palpatine assures him that those who were pushing for his expulsion of the Jedi Order because of his marriage and impending child have ceded to those who are willing to look the other way, provided Anakin faithfully serves his time in exile. Anakin, having told no one but his former Master of his relationship with the Naboo Princess, feels Obi-Wan has betrayed him. Palpatine leaves Skywalker and Obi-Wan - who has been waiting anxiously - is given permission to see his friend, but is greeted with a cold reception.
As Obi-Wan and Organa return to Coruscant, Palpatine tells them of his intention to return to Naboo for a festival honoring his selection as Chancellor.
On Geonosis, Darth Sidious and Darth Plagious are meeting. Darth Sidious informs his master of his plan to attack multiple star systems with his clones simultaneous with a smaller attack on the capital of Coruscant. Believing the Jedi will recall all of the their order to protect the capital at all cost, most of the galaxy will be ripe for the picking. Plagious agrees and commends Sidious for his devious plan. The discussion turns to Sidious' apprentice. Sidious announces his intention to turn Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force. Plagious mockingly disagrees, and strongly urges Sidious to find another candidate - one who is not so strong with the Force. Sidious is not amused.
Padme enters labor. Obi-Wan and her handmaiden rush to her side for delivery. To the surprise of all three, Padme delivers twins - a boy and a girl. Darth Sidious slips into the private chamber of his master and murders Darth Plagious as he sleeps.
The unexpected birth of twins startles Obi-Wan, who is already shaken and a little suspicious of Anakin after the frosty reception on Mustafar. He is disturbed by his sudden lack of trust in his former apprentice and without notifying the Jedi Council of his destination, he returns to the Dagobah system to seek the advice of Yoda. After explaining Anakin's strange behavior to Padme, he takes their daughter with him, just to be on the safe side.
The Clone Army attacks Coruscant. Not only does the Jedi Council recall all of their Knights to defend the capital, as expected, but Chancellor Palpatine insists that Anakin be returned from exile to assist with the defense. When the Council balks at this unprecedented stay of sentence, Palpatine assures them that the likewise unprecedented assault on the capital requires the presence of every last Jedi and that Anakin will be returned to his banishment once the attack is quelled. Ultimately, there is nothing the Council can do and Anakin is summoned to Coruscant. He is not, however permitted a light saber, and is issued a blaster.
The Jedi-led Army of the Republic fights valiantly and defeats the small contingent of clones. Wielding his executive power, Chancellor Palpatine negotiates the conditions of the clones surrender. After long hours, he emerges from the negotiations and assures the Senators that Coruscant is safe, but not necessarily their home systems. He urges them to return to their homes for the time being, where they may be more useful in the defense of the galaxy. After all, what good is a Senate that represents conquered star-systems? Most of the Senators return home to their planets under the rule of Clone army.
Mace Windu, leader of the Jedi Council, and Bail Organa are irate. They burst into Chancellor Palpatine's quarters, accusing him of the highest order of treason. Organa argues the the ability of the Senate to govern will be greatly diminished with its members spread throughout the galaxy. Palpatine shows his hand, crying "I AM the Senate!" and revealing himself as Darth Sidious for the first time. A duel ensues. Mace Windu is killed and Organa is taken prisoner. Sidious keeps Windu's light saber as a prize.
Palpatine summons Anakin and tells him that Organa has double-crossed the Republic and has been working for the Separatists all along, that he has slain Windu and the Jedi are not safe. He convinces Anakin to surrender to him a list of Jedi sanctuaries within the Galactic capital. The Chancellor's private guard travels from safe-house to safe-house, rounding up Jedi for their supposed protection. Most of the Jedi are brought to the temple against their will.
Anakin travels with Palpatine and his private guard - with a shacked Bail Organa in tow - to the Jedi Temple where the knights are assembled. He tells them the same story he told Anakin but a well-respected Jedi named C.J. Thorpe, who was once Windu's Padawan learner, catches a glimpse of his former Master's light saber on Palpatines sash beneath his robe and knows that the Chancellor is lying. He moves quickly to strike, but Anakin, reacting instinctively, intervenes and blasts the Jedi. Though momentarily stunned, the Jedi turn on Anakin. During the melee, Organa is freed and escapes. Though outnumbered, through Anakin's skill and the assistance of Palpatine's guard, all of the Jedi are killed.
Organa makes his way to Padme, and tells her what has transpired. He needs to locate Obi-Wan as soon as possible. She tells him that Obi-Wan is on Dagobah, and Organa sets out to find him.
Anakin is very upset and afraid by his unexpected rage. And he is worried about retribution when his actions become known. Palpatine convinces him that the Jedi Order is bordering on obsolescence given the executive power of the new senatorial position of Chancellor and though initial an public outcry will occur, they will soon forget as they go about the business of their daily lives. He urges Anakin to return to Mustafar for the remainder of his exile and by the time he returns the Jedi would be entirely forgotten.
On Dagobah, Yoda feels a great disturbance - a thousand souls crying out and suddenly silenced - in the Force. He tells Obi-Wan he fears something terrible has happened to the Jedi on Coruscant. Obi-Wan is concerned and is prepared to return to the capital, but Yoda tells him nothing more can be done. Obi-Wan thinks of Anakin. Believing him to still be on Mustafar, he heads out to ensure Anakin's safety. He leaves Leia on Dagobah in Yoda's care.
Anakin goes to Padme and sees his son for the first time. He tells her they must go to Mustafar to hide from Organa and the Separatists, who are hunting the Jedi. She is suspicious because she has seen Organa and their stories differ. She is beginning to doubt her husband, but accompanies him anyway.
Obi-Wan arrives at Mustafar before Anakin and is surprised to see Anakin's quarters vacant. He waits and the Skywalker family soon arrives. Anakin is by now nearly deranged with guilt and fear. He immediately besets Obi-Wan for allegedly betraying his trust and informing the Jedi Council of his wife and child. Obi-Wan refuses to fight him, which only enrages Anakin all the more. Pamde is terrified by her husbands display and now understands that in fact it had been Organa who was telling the truth.
Bail Organa arrives on Dagobah and locates Yoda. He tells him what happened on Coruscant, and Yoda tells him where Obi-Wan has gone. Yoda instructs Organa to take Leia and to go into hiding. Organa goes to Dantooine.
When Anakin's back is turned, Padme informs Obi-Wan of what happened on Coruscant. Obi-Wan becomes angry and challenges Anakin, who no longer denies his actions. Anakin uses the Force to retreive his light saber, which Obi-Wan has been carrying on his sash all this time and the duel begins. During the course of the battle, the Jedi slash through a bunch of stuff with their light sabers - most notably a couple of key structural columns. The building they are in begins to collapse. Anakin and Obi-Wan manage to escape, but Padme is not so lucky. She sacrifices herself to save Luke from the falling rubble. And Obi-Wan and Anakin continue to duel. They come closer and closer to the fiery lava and Obi-Wan finally slashes Anakin's limbs to bits. Burnination ensues. Anakin screams at Obi-Wan, who collects his old friend's light saber and child and departs.
On Coruscant, a much larger Clone Army force attacks. This time, the planet is overrun.
Writhing in pain, Anakin looks up to see Darth Sidious, who had been watching from afar.
Cue the imperial march and the black suit.
Obi-Wan arrives on Tatooine and begins the search for an appropriate foster home for Luke, finding Owen Lars staring into the sunsets.
The situation in the Senate is dire. Support is growing for the Separatists as more systems from the Outer Rim begin to feel that the Republic does not adequately represent their needs or beliefs. It is only the careful diplomacy of a small group of moderate Loyalists, led by Senator Palpatine of Naboo and Senator Tarfful of Kashyyyk that prevents the Republic from collapsing entirely.
Meanwhile in the Kessel System, a small but enterprising band of pirates and smugglers has established a blockade of the valuable spice mines, eliminating all trade until their steep ransom is met. Obi-Wan and Anakin are dispatched to deal with these bandits. They sneak into the pirates' ground base by disguising themselves as smugglers. Once inside, Obi-Wan uses his stealth to disable the sky net blocking the trade route as Anakin steals a fighter and spectacularly - single-handedly - destroys all of the embargo droids and the pirates' flagship.
This last demonstration of skill and bravery is all the Jedi Council needs to determine that Anakin's Padawan days are over and declare him a true Jedi Master. Anakin's advanced level of accomplishment leads the Council to decide that he is ready to take on a Padawan learner of his own. He is the youngest Jedi ever to be so honored, and he takes on young Qui-Gon Jinn as his apprentice. However, because he is so young, Anakin and Qui-Gon are given a fairly easy first assignment: they are to guard and protect the Loyalists - particularly Palpatine and Tarfful - from any danger that may arise as a result of the crisis in the Senate. By remaining on Coruscant, the Council is able to monitor and guide young Anakin should he need assistance. Obi-Wan requests that the Council hold off on assigning him his next apprentice, as he remains concerned about the mysterious painted man, and wishes to investigate further. The Council agrees.
Anikan and Qui-Gon visit Tarfful at his quarters and make their introductions, and then proceed to visit Palpatine. When they arrive, Palpatine seems surprised and nervous to see them. Out of the corner of his eye, Anakin spies the painted man through the curtains on the terrace outside Palpatine's flat. When Anakin questions him, the Senator hesitates for a moment and then cries foul play. Anakin instructs Qui-Gon to fetch Obi-Wan and gives chase. The painted man leaps from the balcony into the speeding Coruscant traffic. Anakin follows. A chase through the capital city byways ensues, and Obi-Wan arrives on the scene when they reach the spaceport. The painted man escapes, but Obi-Wan manages to plant a homing device on his ship and departs in pursuit.
News of Anakin's heroic thwarting of the attempt on Palpatine's life reaches Naboo, and the queen invites her Senator and his Jedi bodyguards to Naboo for a feast in Anakin's honor. Tarfful accompanies them. Upon their arrival, Padme is ecstatic. She and Anakin spend most of there time together and when the time comes for the return to Coruscant, Padme - under the guise of raising support for the Loyalists' cause - convinces the queen to allow her to return with the politicians so that she may be closer to Anakin. The next time Palpatine returns to Naboo, the Jedi of course accompany him - as does Padme - and Anakin and Padme are secretly wed.
Obi-Wan, meanwhile, tails the painted man to Geonosis and spies on him speaking to another man in a hooded cape. There he learns that the painted man calls himself Darth Maul, the other man is Darth Plagious, and they speak of a third: Darth Sidious. They are, in fact, Sith - just as Obi-Wan feared. He contacts the Jedi Council to inform them. They trust him, but insist he be absolutely sure they are Sith before raising any alarm. They suggest he visit his master, Yoda, on Dagobah for counsel and meditation.
Palpatine and Tarfful manage to sway Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan from the side of the Separatists. It is a major coup for the Loyalists, and could possibly spell the end of the Separatist movement. Suddenly, a transmission from the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk informs the Senate they are under attack by the Clone army that escaped from Naboo. Believing this to be the opening shot in a Civil War waged by the Separatists, the Senate dispatches all Jedi to Kashyyyk to defend the system. Tarfful insists upon traveling with Anakin and Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan is summoned from Dagobah to rendezvous with them on Kashyyyk. Before departing, Anakin meets with Padme and she informs him that she believes she is pregnant.
The Clone Army is under the control of Darth Maul. A horrific battle ensues. Obi-Wan is intent on capturing Darth Maul, convinced that will lead him to Darth Plagious, who he believes to be in charge. He recruits his former apprentice and companions to join him in pursuit. They become separated - Obi-Wan and the others - and Lord Maul and his guard manage to capture Anakin, Qui-Gon, and Tarfful. Anakin is well aware of Obi-Wan's desire to capture Maul alive. Obi-Wan is sneaking up on the party in the ventilation ducts, intent on staging a rescue. Anakin sees him and acknowledges his presence and silently agrees to bide his time until the moment is right for Obi-Wan. Darth Maul, however, decides to make an example of the Wookiee and electrocutes him with bolts from his hands. Upon Tarfful's death, Anakin becomes enraged, breaks his bonds with superhuman strength, regains his saber - and his opponent's - and besets Maul with all his fury. Ultimately, he has Maul nullified, with two light sabers crossed at Maul's neck. He looks back to his former master before striking. Obi-Wan, knowing what is about to transpire, screams for Anakin to stop, but to no avail. With his last act, Maul is able to use the force to send a large heavy object careening in to Anakin's young apprentice's head. He is immediately knocked cold. Darth Maul's head rolls from his body. Anakin rushes to Qui-Gon's aid, but it is no use; his Padawan is dead. The Wookiees and Jedi win the battle, but fail to vanquish their enemy. Civil War has begun.
Anakin is in serious trouble. His blatant disregard of Obi-Wan's strategy resulted in the death of his apprentice, to say nothing of the dishonor of slaying an unarmed foe. After much deliberation, Anakin is permitted to remain a part of the Jedi order, but is sentenced to two years in exile on the volcanic planet of Mustafar. He is required to relinquish to his former master all Jedi articles, most especially his weapon. As Anakin prepares for exile he confides in his old friend his secret marriage to Padme and her impending pregnancy. Obi-Wan is unhappy, but swears secrecy. As he surrenders his light saber, Anakin requests that Obi-Wan give it to the son he is certain Padme will bear in the unfortunate event he - Anakin - should fail to return.
We see Darth Sidious for the first time. He is communicating with Darth Plagious, assuring him that the loss of his apprentice Darth Maul is unfortunate, but merely temporary. He shall have a new apprentice very soon.
Anakin exits his shuttle and walks from the hangar, gazing for the first time upon the molten landscape of his new home.
Separatists in the Galactic Senate are getting restless. Preparing for Civil War, and unable to defend their valuable moisture farms while waging their long-standing war with nearby Naboo, the Hutts - and Tattooine - have at long last agreed to a peace treaty. To moderate the negotiations, the Jedi Council sends master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan learner, teenage Anakin Skywalker, to Naboo.
While on Naboo, Obi-Wan and Anakin meet young (also in their late teens) Sidme and Padme Amidala, the twin daughters of the queen. Sidme becomes infatuated with young Skywalker, but because of his Jedi training he spurns her advances. Meanwhile, the Hutts' ruthless mercenary, the dreaded Jar Jar Binks, takes a shine to Sidme and attempts to court her. When he is rebuffed, he kidnaps the princess and retires to the Hutts palace on Tattooine.
The Queen of Naboo convinces Senator Palpatine to intervene and send Obi-Wan and his Padawan to Tattooine to rescue the princess. The Jedi infiltrate the Hutts' palace and strike a deal with Gordo the Hutt: the Jedi's apprentice and the vile Jar Jar Binks will meet in a pod race. The winner will receive Sidme Amidala as a prize. The loser will be put to death. Anakin, being the finest starfighter pilot in the Galaxy, wins the race despite Jar Jar's best attempts to cheat, but during his (Jar Jar's) execution at the Great Pit of Carkoon the execution party is ambushed by a mysterious red-faced character. Believing the attacker to be a Sith, Obi-Wan abandons Anakin, who is left to defend Sidme from an unshackled Jar Jar Binks. During the melee, Sidme falls into the pit and the Sarlaac wraps a mighty tentacle around her leg. Jar Jar siezes his opportunity and attacks Anakin who allows both Sidme to slip to her death and Jar Jar Binks to escape.
Upon returning to Naboo, Anakin is inconsolable. He blames both himself for being unable to save Sidme and Obi-Wan for abandoning him to pursue the mysterious attacker. Padme, however, is impressed by his bravery and approaches him alone in his quarters to console him. In that moment, they strike a bond, and in his weakness and doubt, young Anakin drops his Jedi guard and allows himself to feel for Padme. And when she understands the depth of his grief over her dead twin sister, she also begins to feel for him. They lean into each other, as if to kiss, but at the last moment, Anakin remembers his committment to the Jedi Order, and leaves the room awkwardly and unconvincingly.
Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Coruscant and report their activities directly to Mace Windu, the leader of the Jedi Council. (Yoda is on Dagobah and not a member of the council.) A meeting between the Jedi and Senator Palpatine also occurs. Obi-Wan departs to meet with Windu, leaving Palpatine alone with young Anakin, who shares with the Senator both his misgivings over being unable to save Sidme and his dismay that Obi-Wan seemingly abandoned him in a time of great need. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan is obsessed with the identity of the painted stranger,to the point of neglecting Anakin. He - Obi-Wan - is convinced their attacker is a Sith lord. Mace Windu agrees, but sends Obi-Wan and his apprentice back to Naboo, in case the Hutts break their treaty and exact vengence upon the Naboo for the ambush of their sail barge. Padme is delighted to see Anakin again so soon.
On a routine patrol in the forest outside, um, Naboo City, a droid spies the hated Jar Jar Binks just moments before it is blasted. This, of course, calls attention to the droid's report by the Jedi who tail another guard and discover a secret clonery underwater - under the surface of the lakes of Naboo, where they find the vile Jar Jar reporting to the painted stranger. After infiltrating the factory, the Jedi learn the clones are being transported to an orbiting spaceport before being sent throughout the galaxy. Through a coordinated attack by the Jedi and the Naboo, they - and by they, I mean mostly Anakin (the best starfighter pilot in the galaxy, and all) - destroy the spaceport, but not before most of the completed clones are dispersed. The painted stranger escapes, but the wretched Jar Jar Binks perishes in the firefight. And there is much rejoicing.
A few months back, we wrote about the wonderful combination of two of the best things in the world. Well, we are here today to inform you that it gets even better. Because there's also a.... wait for it.... video game. Now, the concept of the Lego Star Wars video game series is not new to us; we have simply been (oddly) skeptical. We mean: why is it Lego? But we saw a copy of Lego Star Wars II (The Original Trilogy) marked down at Best Buy a little over a week ago so we picked up a copy. And it's about the best thing ever. We mean: what's not to like? It's Lego!
As you might expect, we have been re-watching the original trilogy in what spare time we have had lately between a busy work schedule and our video game fix. We've made it through the first two movies and are halfway through Return of the Jedi for about the thousandth time. Naturally - as we have done so many times since 2005 - we have been reflecting on what a colossal mess George Lucas made of the prequels. And - as we have also done so many times since 2005 - we've been wishing we still had access to those emails we sent out to the pre-Vox Yahoogroup so we could reflect further on how much smarter and better we are than George Lucas. Then we remembered that we can, in fact, get at those emails and that we have just been a 'tard (though still smarter than George Lucas) all this time.
So our long-winded point is this: over the rest of the week we will be re-purposing old material and posting a better treatment of the Star Wars prequels than was filmed. We may or may not update and edit them, depending on if we feel like it at the time. We'll see. That was Yoda's motto, right? "Eh, whatever. We'll see."
A year ago, we took it upon ourselves to create a top-five list for several outlets of popular culture. Our intention was to write a serious review of our number one selection in each category. We never followed through; not even once. One year later, we aren't quite so ambitious. Why post a list of five, we figure, when we could just as easily cut to the chase and post a list of one? We mean, it's not like we're going to follow through with legitimate criticism this year either. Besides, 2008 kinda sucked for pop culture anyway, so why bother wracking our brains to compose a list of an arbitrary number decided upon by Nick Hornby. Which lazy impulse is more dominant? Who's to say? Most likely, we're dealing with a little from 'Column A' and a little from 'Column B.' And so, without further ado, here is the year that was in a nutshell.
The Dark Knight
I spent Christmas Eve wrapping presents and watching Elf. Elf is my third favorite Christmas movie (after Bad Santa and The Nightmare Before Christmas) because I enjoy watching Will Ferrell act like a jackass and I enjoy watching Zooey Deschanel be Zooey Deschanel. I've long considered her my future "safety" celebrity girlfriend in case things don't work out between me and Kate Winslet or Neko Case or Sarah Silverman or Liz Phair or Tina Fey. A guy could do worse than to end up with Zooey. And let's face it - I was probably going to end up with Zooey.
But she had to go and potentially ruin everything by getting engaged. She didn't get engaged to just anybody, either, but sensitive hipster doofus Ben Gibbard. Normally, I would say I can't compete and concede defeat, but in this case I actually can compete. I'm better than Ben Gibbard in every way. I'm smarter and funnier and better looking, and I can totally kick his ass. Plus, I have it on good authority that he has bad breath. So watch your back, Ben. I've finally got a New Year's Resolution worth sharing: I'm going to steal your girlfriend.
