Sunday, July 25, 2004
Sixth installments
Two cultural icons have just announced sixth installments.
Star Wars posted a press release on starwars.com yesterday announcing Episode III's title will be "Revenge of the Sith". Hey, I'm a sucker for parallelism. Let's just hope they don't screw this one up. Here's the synopsis:
George Lucas is a genius, and the Episodes IV and V rank among the best movies ever made (watch any science fiction movies from before Star Wars, and you'll know what I mean). But like most creative geniuses, he needs some constraints to produce his best work. People who can tell him "no", force him to go back to the drawing board, revise dialog/devices/characters/plots that aren't working. Episodes I and II are flawed movies that show great promise; they could have been much better.
And JK Rowling recently announced the title of Harry Potter 6, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". I have no complaints for her. Anyone who can escape the shadow of Tolkien to write an original, gripping fantasy series is beyond reproach, in my book.
Star Wars posted a press release on starwars.com yesterday announcing Episode III's title will be "Revenge of the Sith". Hey, I'm a sucker for parallelism. Let's just hope they don't screw this one up. Here's the synopsis:
After three long years of relentless fighting, the Clone Wars are nearly at an end. The Jedi Council dispatches Obi-Wan Kenobi to bring General Grievous, the deadly leader of the Separatist droid army, to justice. Meanwhile, back on Coruscant, Chancellor Palpatine has grown in power. His sweeping political changes transform the war-weary Republic into the mighty Galactic Empire. To his closest ally, Anakin Skywalker, he reveals the true nature of power and the promised secrets of the Force in an attempt to lure him to the dark side.
George Lucas is a genius, and the Episodes IV and V rank among the best movies ever made (watch any science fiction movies from before Star Wars, and you'll know what I mean). But like most creative geniuses, he needs some constraints to produce his best work. People who can tell him "no", force him to go back to the drawing board, revise dialog/devices/characters/plots that aren't working. Episodes I and II are flawed movies that show great promise; they could have been much better.
And JK Rowling recently announced the title of Harry Potter 6, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". I have no complaints for her. Anyone who can escape the shadow of Tolkien to write an original, gripping fantasy series is beyond reproach, in my book.
