Is the science fiction genre dying? For the first time since 1987, there will be no "Star Trek" on television, and the final chapter in that other great saga will hit movie theaters around the world in just over two months. Sure, there are countless spin-offs in the form of novels, video games, and more merchandising than you can shake a stick at, and there is always the steadfast SciFi Network working to churn out adaptations and original programming as fast as fans can devour it. But for genre fans, the lack of any new "Star Trek" or "Star Wars," at least for the foreseeable future, is a disheartening prospect.
If sci-fi is on its last legs, however, its set to go out with quite a bang. Last night, Fox debuted the full-length theatrical trailer for Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The trailer premiered during "The OC" in a blatant ratings grab, but many fans (like myself) probably knew well enough to tune in for just the last 10 minutes of the show.
After the abysmal Phantom Menace and the disappointing Attack of the Clones, both anticipation and expectations have been drastically muted for this final chapter. The only real question is, will it be any good? From the two-minute sneak peak that we got last night, the answer appears to be a qualified "yes."
As expected, the effects look positively amazing, on par with some of the more impressive scenes from The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. The problem with digital effects so far in the new trilogy has been that they look too clean and too polished, but from the footage in the trailer, it seems that much of the grittiness many remember so fondly from the original films has been re-infused into this final installment.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great wrap-up, Scott. I missed the trailer -- I imagine it's now available to view online someplace?
I agree that Episode I was awful, and I thought II was just about so-so. What really saved II was the clear transition to darker territory in the second half of the film. If that transition continues, and the performances can keep up, I think III will be the satisfying film so many of my generation have been looking for.
As for the demise of sci fi: I call out a new Leader to step forward.
Joss Whedon.
Serenity now!
2 - Ben Wimer
just as long as the movie shows Vader whacking a few little wimpy jedi, i'll be fine
3 - steven
I have never agreed with the view that the first two movies were bad/so so. I think they were good. Fans didn't like them, I think because they compared them as 'like for like' with the originals. They expected the same basic story but the story is not about a group of individuals struggling for freedom whilst 'bonding'. The story is about the descent of the Republic into dictatorship and of Anakins descent into the dark side. I think Lucas knows exactly what he is doing and after the next and final installement the other movies will seem better too because they will begin to 'fit' more. The first three movies are about political intrigue, corruption, anger, innocence lost and manipulation. They are of course the first three parts of six movies but the second/orginal three are about heroism, courage and nobler human characteristics. This is not the case with the first three, there is a different focus altogether and this is why they are not the same.
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
I don't enjoy phantom menace very much, but i really liked Attack Of The Clones. regarding the whole story from episode 1 to episode 6, i don't think that works at all. Much better to view them 4-6 and then 1-3. going the way it wasmeant to be wrecks the suprise of empire, for one thing (although, granted, it's hardly a suprise any more).