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I just saw RotS for the second time yesterday. I noticed something.
Obi-Wan grins an an awful lot in the movie. Usually when he's just done something incredibly rash, like jump down into a circle of battle droids, or crash a battleship. I'm wondering if three years of constant war hadn't made him reckless to the point of not caring if he lives or dies? Or is that Jedi serenity gone whacko?
Anakin and Padme come off much better in the second movie, though I really miss the rumoured Padme-founds-the-Rebellion scenes. They sound like two young people who are just trying to make a life for themselves in a society that is flaking apart -- and having a hard time because their cultural expectations are so different.
Anakin, who isn't as smart or as politically adept as Padme, is trying to make a go of things when he's got major baggage of Jedi philosophy. When Yoda tells him he should rejoice for those that have passed into the Force, you can almost see Anakin close down; each movie has Anakin losing a person he loves -- Qui-Gon in the first, his mother in the second -- and all he learned from those events is that people he loves leave him. The fact that he had premonitions but can't avert them just makes it more torturous, instead of helping him prepare for loss.
Frankly, I think a lot of the Jedi philosophy as presented is badly-distorted from the original intent. The idea of being happy for people who die makes sense from a purely logical "joining with the Force is bliss" viewpoint, but completely ignores the people who are left behind. If the Jedi allowed mourning as well asking for celebration, it would make more sense -- but the Jedi are stranglingly orthodox about these things.
Also, the idea I think Lucas is trying to poach is Taoist, about accepting that you will lose people and things you care for, and being able to live through that loss. He didn't do a good job of poaching it, though.
And on Saturday,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
twistedchick and I watched Star Wars, the original movie, after attending the Strawberry Festival with ellen_fremedon (I got an alpenstock at auction! How geeky cool is that?).
It was an uncut, unedited version, on videotape -- no doubt that Han shoots first, no Jabba the Hutt, all quite cool. And I'd forgotten what an adorable puppy Luke is -- the boy *is* an eighteen-year-old boy, adult one minute, playing with model starcraft the next.
But the movie really does look different once you've seen RotS. You notice all of Obi-Wan's shifty little side-glances (looking at a snarky Force-spirit, perhaps?) and how he's lying heavily by omission. There is also Obi-Wan's ability to stroll around the Death Star unnoticed, which with the prequels now in place, is a lifelong ability to not be noticed if he doesn't want to be.
The most interesting thing for me was the little smile Obi-Wan gives just before Vader kills him. He raises his saber, salutes Vader, and *smiles* -- smiles in a 'I know something you don't' way that is wholy prequel-Obi-Wan. And the music is suddenly Luke's Theme again. It's spooky.
The other point I noticed is that the Death Star officers don't actually give Vader much respect. They aren't afraid of him as people later are. It might just because Tarkin really *is* holding his leash, or because they haven't had enough contact with Vader to know how he gets lethally short-tempered when he's taunted.
In personal news, it looks like I will be moving into an apartment in July. Anyone want to help me move?
Anyone know of (or is) a potential roommate for me?
It'll be a fourth-floor walk-up apartment, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, good closet space, a balcony, and a fairly nice kitchen. You'd have to deal with my night-owl schedule, the fiber-art obsession, and the fact that it's in Germantown, and thus on the slow end of the public transportation system -- though there is a MARC train station about a mile away.
Benefits are that split rent and utilities should be under $700 a month, it's walking distance to two grocery, a deli, a public library, a cinema, a performing arts venue and the bus transfer center.
Obi-Wan grins an an awful lot in the movie. Usually when he's just done something incredibly rash, like jump down into a circle of battle droids, or crash a battleship. I'm wondering if three years of constant war hadn't made him reckless to the point of not caring if he lives or dies? Or is that Jedi serenity gone whacko?
Anakin and Padme come off much better in the second movie, though I really miss the rumoured Padme-founds-the-Rebellion scenes. They sound like two young people who are just trying to make a life for themselves in a society that is flaking apart -- and having a hard time because their cultural expectations are so different.
Anakin, who isn't as smart or as politically adept as Padme, is trying to make a go of things when he's got major baggage of Jedi philosophy. When Yoda tells him he should rejoice for those that have passed into the Force, you can almost see Anakin close down; each movie has Anakin losing a person he loves -- Qui-Gon in the first, his mother in the second -- and all he learned from those events is that people he loves leave him. The fact that he had premonitions but can't avert them just makes it more torturous, instead of helping him prepare for loss.
Frankly, I think a lot of the Jedi philosophy as presented is badly-distorted from the original intent. The idea of being happy for people who die makes sense from a purely logical "joining with the Force is bliss" viewpoint, but completely ignores the people who are left behind. If the Jedi allowed mourning as well asking for celebration, it would make more sense -- but the Jedi are stranglingly orthodox about these things.
Also, the idea I think Lucas is trying to poach is Taoist, about accepting that you will lose people and things you care for, and being able to live through that loss. He didn't do a good job of poaching it, though.
And on Saturday,
twistedchick and I watched Star Wars, the original movie, after attending the Strawberry Festival with ellen_fremedon (I got an alpenstock at auction! How geeky cool is that?). It was an uncut, unedited version, on videotape -- no doubt that Han shoots first, no Jabba the Hutt, all quite cool. And I'd forgotten what an adorable puppy Luke is -- the boy *is* an eighteen-year-old boy, adult one minute, playing with model starcraft the next.
But the movie really does look different once you've seen RotS. You notice all of Obi-Wan's shifty little side-glances (looking at a snarky Force-spirit, perhaps?) and how he's lying heavily by omission. There is also Obi-Wan's ability to stroll around the Death Star unnoticed, which with the prequels now in place, is a lifelong ability to not be noticed if he doesn't want to be.
The most interesting thing for me was the little smile Obi-Wan gives just before Vader kills him. He raises his saber, salutes Vader, and *smiles* -- smiles in a 'I know something you don't' way that is wholy prequel-Obi-Wan. And the music is suddenly Luke's Theme again. It's spooky.
The other point I noticed is that the Death Star officers don't actually give Vader much respect. They aren't afraid of him as people later are. It might just because Tarkin really *is* holding his leash, or because they haven't had enough contact with Vader to know how he gets lethally short-tempered when he's taunted.
In personal news, it looks like I will be moving into an apartment in July. Anyone want to help me move?
Anyone know of (or is) a potential roommate for me?
It'll be a fourth-floor walk-up apartment, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, good closet space, a balcony, and a fairly nice kitchen. You'd have to deal with my night-owl schedule, the fiber-art obsession, and the fact that it's in Germantown, and thus on the slow end of the public transportation system -- though there is a MARC train station about a mile away.
Benefits are that split rent and utilities should be under $700 a month, it's walking distance to two grocery, a deli, a public library, a cinema, a performing arts venue and the bus transfer center.
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From:
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That was a major shift from episode IV to V. I think the officers didn't really know Vader yet and, being Tarkin's inner circle, picked up the Grand Moff's attitude. And Tarkin liked yanking on Vader's leash. As Palpatine's favorite he believed himself untouchable.
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Of course, lawful but evil Vader is a lot easier to deal with than cackling evil and batshit Emperor Palpatine, so the officers want Vader as a buffer.
From:
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Yer dang right on that one. I'd be hiding behind Vader's cloak with the rest of the officer corps if Palpy was anywhere nearby. Lawful evil is much easier to deal with than chaotic evil.
And I think Obi-Wan is just... naturally cheerful. I'd be more worried if everyone around him started echoing his grin. :-D
The Jedi weren't really *listening* to what was coming out of their mouths in the latter years of the Republic, hence the philosophy that sounds so wrong to normal listeners.
Alas, I'm too far away to be a roomie, but it would be fun, methinks! Some of the best times I had while working thru college/grad school was sharing a condo with three other women and sharing expenses. It worked out good.
From:
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There's natural cheerful, and there is verging on bugfuck crazy. Obi-Wan was just a little *too* enthusiastic about mayhem and odds ridiculously out of his favor.
Plus, it's a little hard to tuck a horse into a two-bedroom walk-up...
From:
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Wow, I'm such a weenie. I get sick of my 2nd floor walk-up.
But then, I am in terrible shape. Maybe I wouldn't be if I had to go up three times as many stairs.
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I walk to and from work most days, unless it's actively pouring or snowing, so I get a good bit of exercise. When I go out on the weekends, it's bus, Metro and walking, for the most part.
The stairs will be hateful for the first month or so, and after that I'll be in condition for them.
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Would you mind being a personal reference?
Oh, and keep reminding me that I need to be frugal when purchasing furntiure. I own no bed, but three bookcases. There's something cock-eyed about my priorities.
From:
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Yeah, Luke really is a boy- really, a sweet puppy who is just read to go. and itis interesting, how intent and words change with Obi-Wan from the movie.
Vader=Just another Dude. with Tarkin Death, that changes significantly.
From:
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There is a scene in ANH, that I'd *totally* forgotten about, where Luke is playing with a model of an Imperial shuttle. It was just like seeing my brother at the age of 18, when he strung all sorts of model planes from his ceiling in dioramas of dogfights.
Vader is actually oddly out of place among the Imperial officers. He doesn't seem comfortable at all. He's much happier stomping around with the stormtroopers.
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Re furniture -- three bookcases and no bed is really not a bad thing. You can get a sleepable couch, for example, or a futon. Bookcases can hold everything else. It's all a matter of adaptation. :)
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If we don't click, or the distance is too far for her, I will get back to you.
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Is your friend still looking? And willing to live out pretty far in Maryland? There is shopping and entertainment within walking distance, and a MARC commuter train station in town so she can get to Union Station every weekday.
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At this point, I need one pretty imminently (I don't want to intrude on anyone's couch for an extended period and I start my job soon!), and don't actually know the metro DC area at all (I've been there maybe three times in my life), so I'm pretty open to options.
Nice to meet you!
From:
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While it is quite close to two shopping areas -- 10 minute walk to the groceries, 15 to a playhouse, 20 to the cinema -- it's a bit of trip to DC, especially if you don't have a car as I don't. On the other hand, the MARC commuter train station is about a mile away, so if your job is in DC, you'll be able to get to it easily.
For me as a roommate, I'm currently working the midnight-to-8:30am shift, and would like it quiet in the evenings. I'm not terribly neat, but I won't leave dirty dishes all over the place or strew clothes on the floor of the living room. I'll be most concerned with neatness in the kitchen.
I am fannish, but I'm also into fiber crafts -- I have two spinning wheels and a loom that will be moving with me, and at least one of those is going to take up residence in the living room. I'll probably be leaving my knitting basket by the couch (just as soon as I get one) once I move in.
If this sounds like something you can live with, we should move this to private email, and maybe try a face-to-face meetup.
From:
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I'm not the neatest person, either, though dishes strewn about bother me. As long as the common areas are reasonably clean, I'll be fine, and will do my part to keep them that way. Dirty kitchens are pretty gross, so I will definitely do my part to keep it clean.
I'm very interested in historical costuming and actually like fiber crafts a great deal -- earlier this year, someone was attempting to teach me to spin on a drop spindle (alas, the availability of one to practice on went away, which is why it is left at 'attempting'... >.<).
Anyway, so far to me, at least, we sound pretty compatible, so I look forward to hearing from you in email!