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Star Words: Part XXVI
Sep. 7th, 2017 11:51 amIt's always interesting to me how people tend to underestimate Padmé Amidala as a character in much the same way that the fictitious villains of the film tend to underestimate her. Sidious claims she is young, naïve, easy to control; the Viceroy sneers at her (or her decoy) and assumes he can bully her into signing a treaty. And audience members, apparently fixated on some skewed perspective of her role, dismiss her as weak, boring or other such generalizations. I have to wonder -- have they ever really watched Episode I?
She's awesome in Episode II and III as well, but just consider what she does in a single movie. With a combination of ingenuity, determination and compassion, she takes back her planet from an enemy whose forces far outnumber her own, using every resource, every trick of diversions and quick-thinking to reclaim her throne room from the Viceroy. Why do people think that having strong women in Star Wars is a recent innovation? Good grief, even if you insist on ignoring Padmé, Leia was there in 1977. But let's never disregard Padmé.
"Now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."
I love this scene so much. She allows herself and her guards to be taken, disarmed and apparently helpless, into the custody of the Viceroy. But she always has a few more tricks up her sleeve. A decoy, drawing away some of the battle droids. A secret stash of weapons, snatched up in the confusion. A captain, always ready to think on his feet and help her secure the throne room. It's all done in a matter of seconds, giving the Viceroy no time to react before it's too late and he's the one in the queen's custody.
And what a great line; what a great delivery. Steady but carrying an edge of contempt. Taking all his threats and throwing them back in his face. I love, too, that Padmé is physically much smaller, yet somehow manages to stare down her foe. Just a fantastic moment all around. The other battles of Episode I's finale are, arguably, more fun to watch, more eye-catching and intense. But this ending might be the most satisfying. After all the Viceroy's confident taunts, he must admit defeat in the face of a fierce, tiny fourteen-year-old queen.
Next, the fateful words that will change Anakin's future, for better or worse....
She's awesome in Episode II and III as well, but just consider what she does in a single movie. With a combination of ingenuity, determination and compassion, she takes back her planet from an enemy whose forces far outnumber her own, using every resource, every trick of diversions and quick-thinking to reclaim her throne room from the Viceroy. Why do people think that having strong women in Star Wars is a recent innovation? Good grief, even if you insist on ignoring Padmé, Leia was there in 1977. But let's never disregard Padmé.
"Now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."
I love this scene so much. She allows herself and her guards to be taken, disarmed and apparently helpless, into the custody of the Viceroy. But she always has a few more tricks up her sleeve. A decoy, drawing away some of the battle droids. A secret stash of weapons, snatched up in the confusion. A captain, always ready to think on his feet and help her secure the throne room. It's all done in a matter of seconds, giving the Viceroy no time to react before it's too late and he's the one in the queen's custody.
And what a great line; what a great delivery. Steady but carrying an edge of contempt. Taking all his threats and throwing them back in his face. I love, too, that Padmé is physically much smaller, yet somehow manages to stare down her foe. Just a fantastic moment all around. The other battles of Episode I's finale are, arguably, more fun to watch, more eye-catching and intense. But this ending might be the most satisfying. After all the Viceroy's confident taunts, he must admit defeat in the face of a fierce, tiny fourteen-year-old queen.
Next, the fateful words that will change Anakin's future, for better or worse....
