Let me give you a recap: Anakin walking around half naked.

Um. Eww.

Lisa

Let me give you a recap: Anakin walking around half naked. Explosions. Obi-Wan saying how he doesn't trust Anakin. Space battle. Explosions. Yoda scowling. Anakin scowling. Obi-Wan scowling. Explosions. "You were the chosen one!" Explosions. Title card.

Based on your recap, I'd say you have the lowest expectations of anyone... anywhere.

I am excited since we know that "much death will there be." Some sliced jedi and fried wookie anyone? I can practically smell the burning hair.

Based on your recap, I'd say you have the lowest expectations of anyone... anywhere.

It might be the 102-degree fever I've had for the last two days making me delirius. I did see a leprechaun dancing on my ceiling last night.

Nah... just don't trust Lucas.

And not the lowest. I know a couple people who are refusing to go because they've been let down so badly by the previous two episodes. I'm going to see it but I'm not drooling for it like so many others.

"I think I bent my wookie." -Ralph

I figure maybe the lack of expectations might help...

The opposite worked for me. When Episode I first came out, I was almost totally spoiler-free, with huge expectations. In hindsight, though, I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting. But my first viewing was slightly... disappointing. I liked it okay, but the film was not what I expected... whatever that was. I grew to love it, though, after another couple viewings or so, when I finally started to "get it."

With Episode II, I took the opposite approach. I basically knew everything that was going to happen before entering the theater. And I loved it. (Okay, I'll admit to some bias since I went to the San Francisco charity premiere and George Lucas himself was sitting something like fifteen feet to my immediate left. That was a kick in the pants.) The visuals were just about the only thing that I didn't know all about, and there's just about no way a Star Wars film won't impress there. I liken it to watching the Lord of the Rings films. I had already read the books zillions of times, so I wasn't there to be surprised. I was there to see a story I already knew I loved.

I've taken the same approach with Episode III. I already know pretty much the entire movie. I'll read the script and the novelization (I normally hate that word) when they come out on April 2 to fill in any remaining gaps. In short, I already know pretty much what to expect, so I'm highly unlikely to be disappointed. (Don't worry; I'm not going to spoil a thing here.)

This is not a suggestion that you go out and learn everything about the movie, btw! You've made it this long, so I'd stay oblivious until the theater if I were you!

Some Episode I comments:

First, the midichlorian thing. I don't have a huge problem with it, though I do think it was largely unnecessary. I think Lucas was going for two things, though: Episode I has a theme of symbiosis (note Obi-Wan's comments on the relationship between the Gungans and the Naboo), and the midichlorians provide a somewhat less "mystical" explanation for Anakin's birth while still maintaining the immaculate conception mythology. Whether that's good or bad is up to you.

Episode I does have a feeling (to me) of being a bit like a prologue to the rest of the films, so I can understand the complaint that it's a "waste of a movie." I don't agree, but I do understand it. I mainly like the film because it does so much to set up the later episodes (including III). You have Palpatine slyly maneuvering his way into the seat of power, and you have Anakin established as a person who has serious issues with his emotional attachments. That aspect of his character, of course, is expanded upon in II, and it should be pretty obvious that those seeds were planted so they could flower in III. You also have some things brought up with regard to the Jedi and their relationship with the Force that haven't been completely explored yet. After you see III, I think it'll be a lot clearer what Lucas was trying to do with I and II. (Whether you'll like it or not is still another question.)

Yoda the fighter: I absolutely loved this. I don't see why some people have a problem with it. Aside from being really entertaining, it's completely consistent with what's been established in the films since he's obviously using the Force to fight (as all Jedi do):

"Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him."
"You mean it controls your actions?"
"Partially. But it also obeys your commands."

(I am such a geek for knowing the above by heart.)

Lastly, with regard to Episode III filling in all the gaps: It pretty much does. Assuming nothing gets edited out, there's only one small detail (which I won't mention here) that I haven't heard a completely satisfactory explanation for. We'll see if I'm satisified after April 2, I suppose....

Blake

Am I the only one seriously worried about the quality of the third movie? The previews for Episode I looked amazing yet the film lacked on every level imaginable (except SFX).

When Episode II came out Lucas stated that it was going to be darker than the first one. Most people, including myself, took that to mean the story was going to be dark. The fact of the matter is that the look of the movie was dark... i.e. a lot of night scenes.

This preview, once again, makes the film look good (except for the stupid "You were the chosen one!" line) but I am very nervous about the final product. This could be the movie to redeem the previous two but I'm not holding my breath.

Things I don't want to see: any reference to "the one". Ever since "The Matrix" it seems like every big action movie has to have THE ONE in it somewhere. Granted, "The Matrix" wasn't the first movie to ever reference "the one" but it seems everyone has had the need to rip it off since.

I don't want to see Yoda jumping around with a lightsaber. I hated it in Episode II and I'll hate it in Episode III if it happens. He's old and walks around with a cane for Christsake. He'd throw his back out if he did that much jumping around. He's an all powerful Jedi master. He shouldn't be reduced to physically fighting with a lightsaber.

I know "Star Wars" is fantasy and a lot of people may think I'm reading way too much into it and that I should suspend my disbelief, but even a film like "Star Wars" has to abide by certain rules it has established for itself.

And lastly, do I really need to mention midichlorians?

GEEZ, you haven't even seen it yet. All this for a 2 minute trailer?

For me, it's about knowing the why of Anakin's change and how cool a death Mace Windu will have (no spoiler here. Sam Jackson has been teasing about this for over a year).

And getting a chance to hear James Earl Jones'voice once more, is fun indeed.

Catch your breath and like Homer Wells has said, "Wait and See"

For me, it's about knowing the why of Anakin's change and how cool a death Mace Windu will have (no spoiler here. Sam Jackson has been teasing about this for over a year).

I forgot all about Mace's death. Didn't SLJ say that was a condition of him being Mace, that he wouldn't have a wimpy death scene (like Anakin's mom.)

I forgot all about Mace's death. Didn't SLJ say that was a condition of him being Mace, that he wouldn't have a wimpy death scene (like Anakin's mom.)

As long as the death scene doesn't take as long as in the final Matrix movie. I was ready to scream "Die already!"

As long as the death scene doesn't take as long as in the final Matrix movie. I was ready to scream "Die already!"

I have a feeling that this "first" trilogy will be the opposite of the Matrix Trilogy. With Star Wars Eps 1-3, the last one is probably the only one worth watching. With the Matrix, the first one is the only one worth watching and it stands alone. Parts 2 and 3 could have been unmade.

GEEZ, you haven't even seen it yet. All this for a 2 minute trailer?

Yes... that and two previous episodes which were lackluster at best.

Some sliced jedi and fried wookie anyone? I can practically smell the burning hair.

Mmmm! I love the smell of burning hair in the morning. That and napalm. Jedi sushi anyone?