Okay, so I saw it last night. BIG improvement from the first two, but I still don't think it's on the level of the originals (but that could just be me being difficult and missing Harrison and not liking Hayden). But okay, I still have few questions, and some comments:
[spoiler]1. Why do the Jedis disappear when they die in the last three movies, but not in the first three -- does that have something to do with the new power Yoda alludes to in being able to communicate with dead Jedi masters?
2. Lea talks to Luke about how her mother was very beautiful, but very sad -- that always made sense if Lea had grown up with Padme, but why is her adoptive mother sad? I mean, sure, she can be sad too, but why make it part of the plot?
3. How does Lea become "Princess Lea"? Yes, her mother was a queen, but not for that long, and after her term ended they didn't call her queen anymore... Does her adoptive father somehow go from an exiled senator to royalty? Or is it just a title to mark that her mother was a queen? Or is it a title given her fondly by the rebels without real power behind it?
4. Does Lea even grow up knowing those are her adoptive parents, it doesn't seem so -- but then, that again would change the meaning of "Long ago you helped my father in the clone wars...", but now that I think about it, I guess that's right because she didn't know the name Skywalker when she met Luke...
5. Why in Star Wars, does ObiWan say that he does not remember C-3PO and R2D2, even though they’re a huge part of the first 3 movies? They erase C-3PO’s memory, but presumably not Ben’s.
6. Did Lucas have the overall story of all six episodes planned out when he made the first three?
7. What was with the setting of Vador and ObiWan’s last fight? What was all that fire and lava lifting droids supposed to be about? Was there an actual purpose behind any of it, or did they just figure that lava made for a more dramatic climax?
8. ObiWan keeps coming to Padmae’s house looking for Anakin – does he know they’re living together, and if he does, wouldn’t that be problematic? (is Anakin still assigned to protect her?) It just seems weird that everyone seems to think it’s normal she’s pregnant and that Anakin’s always there, but no one puts it together until the end.
9. This isn’t really a question or anything, but considering Chewbaca’s affiliations in episodes 4-6 (smuggling and what not) isn’t it a little strange to see him being a friend of Yoda’s? It’s cool that the wookies are part of the story, and that you get to see their little tree island, but that Yoda specifically says goodbye to Chewbaca? - I felt that was just a cheap thrill for fans rather than cohesive story-telling. But, whatever, I love that big walking carpet.
10. Other throw-backs to the originals: Padmae wearing her hair in side buns – it’s a little less cool for Lea to do it, if now it’s an established look in the galaxy
11. I like that we get to see how the emperor’s face got like that – cool idea of the light sabers being so hot (also, good fight scene between the emperor and Yoda)
12. Watching Anakin become Darth Vador – them clicking the mask on, etc. – was COOL, I’m glad they included that!
13. Sitting here thinking about it, I think I am actually satisfied with this episode. I’m glad they remembered to address things like the little Jedis being killed, Padmae being buried still looking pregnant, and other things of that nature, (and thank goodness that this one didn’t have any silly sequences with clown characters (JarJar etc.) or flying R2D2’s and big stomping/buckety machinery), but I still miss the wit and sarcasm of the originals. I was totally laughing at parts in episode 3 when I wasn’t supposed to – the writing is still weak (especially the love scenes), and Hayden still (in my opinion) can’t act. And I still hate that Padmae calls him "Anie" -- it just doesn't sound right.[/spoiler]
Sorry I wrote so much in the spoiler
But, in a thumbs up/thumbs down kind of situation, I'd give episodes one and two thumbs down, and this one a thumbs up (but whether that's because this one's a whole lot better, or by now my expectations are lower, I'm not sure.)