So this is the beginning of the Clone Wars I see. Oops.
I'm digging the newsreel footage of the opening.
Say what you will about the Separatists, but I think they have it quite right. At least none of their own people are getting hurt when they're battling the Jedi and the clones, while the Republic's death count is rather high. But then of course, one can argue that the Separatists were in the right to secede from a government that was no longer supporting their interests, and the Republic, despite winning, was not the morally better party of the Clone Wars.
Anakin's initial disinterest in taking a padawan is really interesting. And, I suspect, part of the reason why Darth Vader has taken so few apprentices, even through the festering hole that is the EU. Part of me wonders if part of it is Anakin being rather uncomfortable with being called master. It's interesting they made Anakin's padawan non-human - perhaps to emphasize how Sidious is the only one in the empire with xenophobia? Also, Anakin's really fond of his troops kind of foreshadows the Imperial troops that really worship Vader here. He does seem to care about the Clonetroopers more than most.
Anakin is also, as always, a control freak. Pretty sure that twelve year old padawan isn't a threat to your command, dude. They're a good combination though, and you 100% see why Yoda sent this particular padawan Anakin's way. Ahsoka is about as violent as Anakin. She's a lot more benevolent than he is though, and the mission with stinky shows that pretty well. Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka using the Solid Snake box offense is hilarious. "You might not make it as Obi-Wan's padawan, but you might make it as mine." D'awww. Their relationship is very cute in the end. I particularly like the desert scene on Tattooine:
"Old sins cast long shadows." OH ANAKIN WHATEVER COULD THIS MEAN
"The desert is Merciless. It takes everything from you." Oh Anakin, hot elements like sand and erm, lava, are not your thing. And they will actually take everything from you. Ooops.
Anakin's knowledge of what smugglers do is very interesting. One wonders where he was hearing all this as a small child. It's also clear from this movie that Anakin haaaaaates the Hutts. And likely with good reason. The Jedi Council don't seem to appreciate him much. Oh god, yes, Jedi Council, send your only FORMER SLAVE TO THE HUTTS WHO USED TO ENSLAVE HIM to go rescue A HUTT CHILD. I'ms surprised they didn't send him to Jabba's palace instead. After all, we know he knows Huttese. Jabba's insistence on contacting the republic is kind of fucking hilarious when something goes wrong, given how disinterested he otherwise is in their affairs. A space gangster going to the space police, if you will.
That Obi-Wan does not know Huttese is surprising, given his padawan. I still don't like Obi-Wan. He comes across as rather smug as fuck.
The idea that count Dooku would sully himself by walking on Tattooine is amazing. His interest in kow-towing to people of lower rank than himself is quite interesting. Wonder if his idea for blaming Jedi comes from his own biases or Palpatine's. Dooku asking if the hutts "may consider" joining the Separatists is a lot different from Obi-Wan's version where there's a stronger expectation that the Republic will be allowed to traverse huttspace. Dooku has a very courtly presence in this movie in general, eg "I am sorry, but that cannot be permitted now." Dooku being able to read Anakin's mind on Tattooine says a lot about force abilities, or at least dark side abilities. And how much of Dooku's strong denial that Ahsoka can handle herself is based on the fact Qui-Gon died?
I normally hate the Droids talking, but the one screaming WHHHHYYYY as it goes over the cliff from Ventress is pretty hilarious. Ventress is a bad-ass and I love her. Her relationship with Dookus is pretty fervent, and I kind of ship it.
Bridge design didn't change much between Empire and Republic.
Palpatine mentioning Anakin to Padme! HE KNOWS. Padme is such a bad-ass though, going straight to the Hutts. Also, Hutts being on Coruscant who are known to be crime lords through not one, but several systems, implies some pretty damn horrible things about the state of justice on Coruscant. Basically the equivalent of the mafia being free to walk into Washington D.C. and publicly do business there.
Padme isn't in this movie but she's very enjoyable throughout her small part. Proof Leia is Padme's daughter: "Count Dooku. So the poisonous traitor rears his ugly head once again." These two could hold a galactic burn-off, and they'd probably win against any challenger. Also, passing a message along via 3PO. Heh. Seems like that trick is also genetic.
At the end of this movie, Anakin is honestly so head-over-heels over Padme's intervention that I am shocked - shocked - that Ahsoka, a 12 year old Jedi, did not immediately see through this.
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