Star Wars: Episode III is called "Revenge of the Sith." If it sucks, it'll be more like "Revenge of the Fans."

The article linked above has another interesting bit. The good news is the return of THX-1138 to theaters. The bad news -- it's a Director's Cut. George Lucas doesn't have a very good track record with returning to his movies (Greedo shot first?). Looking at the trailer, there do seem to be a few little CGI bits here and there, which, given the high-speed film used in shooting the movie, seem slightly out of place. Not to mention the shameful use of Arial in the trailer.

THX-1138 is a brilliant piece of work. It's visually stunning, showing George Lucas' clever framing and camera work, his attention to texture, its judicious use of color. And I'm just a sucker for Utopian stories. Most importantly, it's cluttered only when it needs to be, and sparse and desolate when it doesn't. Aside from the script writing abilities which he never had ("But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!"), it's this juxtaposition of vacant and dense that George Lucas lost somewhere. The original original Star Wars -- which we may never see again -- made Mos Eisley a desolate place, whereas the Special Edition filled it with droids and people and buildings and random flying things. George Lucas can't stop filling space anymore with incredible CGI and fantastic art direction, making a mediocre story seem dwarfed.

Say what you want about "The Phantom Menace," about Jar-Jar and Anakin's virgin birth and midichlorians. I'll probably agree with you. But shut your piehole about "Attack of the Clones." I like that the Sith takeover begins with a simple political struggle. I love seeing Jedi in their prime. The first clone battle is breathtaking. I think it's brilliant that the downfall of the republic is kickstarted by Jar-Jar. And I don't mind there being an epic love story -- it is a space opera -- though if Romeo & Juliet has taught us anything, concealing a passionate love affair from those who would forbid it is more interesting than the slow, methodical gestation of the love affair.

However, with the exception of the moisture farm, the true travesty of Episode II is the density of the scenery, distracting me from what's important and making banal dialogue even less interesting because I can't pay attention to it. The only scene that comes close is when Anakin admits to slaughtering an entire tribe of Tuskan Raiders, something bleeding-heart Senator Amidala would never have forgiven -- like I said, Lucas' screenwriting ability has never been lauded. Toss in a little conflict with Padme -- oh he killed all those people, oh but he's so cute, oh but he's a Jedi, oh but I bet he has a big cock, oh, but, oh... -- and that scene could have been great.

So I hope revisiting THX-1138 taught George Lucas that it's not about the toys. It's about the actors. Robert Duvall doing what Robert Duvall does best in an empty white room is always going to be more interesting than Ewan MacGregor talking to a four-armed short-order cook while drinking jawa juice -- you can't clutter up good acting (even if the lines suck) with computer-generated crap. Quit crowding your actors. Let's see Hayden Christensen (who isn't a bad actor) wrestle with becoming Darth Vader. Make it hard for him. Let's see Natalie Portman (also not a bad actor) devastated when her children are taken away from her. Place those emotional struggles alongside the epic struggle for control of the galaxy and give each their due visually and narratively. There's the makings of the best Star Wars movie ever.