Star Words: Episode V, Part 12
Mar. 12th, 2020 04:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilMaybe it's just because I've been watching how rapidly this pandemic situation has escalated from "oh, there's some sort of outbreak in China" to "whoops, it's all over the world!" but I'm getting a similar feel regarding the pacing of the battle of Hoth. After a rather quiet start -- the distant sight of Imperial Walkers, the subtle rumbling menace in the soundtrack -- the action heightens with alarming haste. Cutting relentlessly back and forth from the AT-AT assault (snowspeeders going at them like gnats against a herd of mammoths) to the increasingly ravaged interiors of the Rebel base, quick farewells between Artoo and Threepio, frantic repairs to the Falcon....whew.
Then we have Han, the secretly romantic curmudgeon, checking on Leia before he leaves because he heard the command center was hit. Indeed it was, and Leia is still giving orders amid the wreckage, refusing to abandon her post until absolutely necessary. Two stubborn nitwits. And good thing Han was too stubborn to leave, because after an avalanche blocks their passage, the Falcon is the only way out.
Leia has a few choice insults for the battered old ship -- Would it help if I got out and pushed? This bucket of bolts... But it's Han's reply that I'll examine here.
"This ship's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart."
Indeed it does, as we immediately see when a hidden compartment reveals a blaster that proceeds to fend off the advancing Imperials. The Falcon escapes Vader's grasp...for now.
However, there are a few less pleasant surprises in store, as we'll see later. Threepio's main role in this plot is to be constantly silenced and shushed and ignored -- understandable, as his quoting of the terrible odds is the opposite of helpful -- but in this case he possesses some highly pertinent information. The ship is currently missing the ability to jump into hyperspace, and its occupants are going to spend most of the film being ruthlessly pursued by Imperial forces.
Surprise!
Next, the first stage of that pursuit leads to some delightful zingers....
Then we have Han, the secretly romantic curmudgeon, checking on Leia before he leaves because he heard the command center was hit. Indeed it was, and Leia is still giving orders amid the wreckage, refusing to abandon her post until absolutely necessary. Two stubborn nitwits. And good thing Han was too stubborn to leave, because after an avalanche blocks their passage, the Falcon is the only way out.
Leia has a few choice insults for the battered old ship -- Would it help if I got out and pushed? This bucket of bolts... But it's Han's reply that I'll examine here.
"This ship's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart."
Indeed it does, as we immediately see when a hidden compartment reveals a blaster that proceeds to fend off the advancing Imperials. The Falcon escapes Vader's grasp...for now.
However, there are a few less pleasant surprises in store, as we'll see later. Threepio's main role in this plot is to be constantly silenced and shushed and ignored -- understandable, as his quoting of the terrible odds is the opposite of helpful -- but in this case he possesses some highly pertinent information. The ship is currently missing the ability to jump into hyperspace, and its occupants are going to spend most of the film being ruthlessly pursued by Imperial forces.
Surprise!
Next, the first stage of that pursuit leads to some delightful zingers....
no subject
Date: 2020-03-14 11:12 pm (UTC)Anyway, while the Millennium Falcon was considered disreputable in the previous movie, it not managing to do everything it's supposed to makes for a change in this one, even if there are times I can think it contributed to "focusing on details to the point of missing larger themes and plot progression."
no subject
Date: 2020-03-14 11:24 pm (UTC)In terms of the Falcon's dysfunctionality throughout this film, it really is just a useful plot device to provide obstacles and whatnot. Otherwise, Leia and Han would have promptly joined the rest of the rebels at the rendezvous and their whole story would have been about ten minutes long. ;P The assassination attempt on Padmé plays a similar role in Episode II, though it proves a bit more integral to overarching matters like the Separatist movement and her political role in the upcoming civil war.