One problem is that this never happens, at least it shouldn’t. Palpatine would have no reason to come to the Temple, plus we see him handing out Order 66 to the troops during the raid, so there should not be a recording of him there in the first place.
My second problem with this is that this conversation creates confusion when it comes to the Jedi knowing about the Empire and him as the Emperor and all that. They are watching that recording as he is declaring the creation of the Empire, so there automatically a continuity problem. Also, it also creates the problem of people sometimes calling him Emperor and sometimes Chancellor later on in the movie.
The last problem is that when Obi-Wan turns off the recording, you get the feeling that there’s more to it, more info to learn, because he turns it off abruptly. Then when he’s wondering where to find Anakin, the first thing that came to my mind was, “Turn the recording back on and listen to the rest!” This makes Obi-Wan’s subsequent action pretty much meaningless as he might’ve had a different and easier way of finding out where Anakin went. This could’ve even saved Padmé’s life.
Now, I can only say one thing about the hologram: it’s gotta go! The hologram of Anakin killing Jedi can stay, and if there are more of them, add them in as well, but the part with Emperor has to be cut.
Secondly, I didn’t like Yoda’s reaction to Obi-Wan telling him that he wants to see the holograms. He should be dying to see it, since it will obviously give them the answers they are seeking.
Thirdly, Obi-Wan’s reaction to seeing Anakin was a lot less dramatic than what I expected. I expected to see tears, emotion, pain. We didn’t see any of that.
Lastly, the conversation at the end is just a little whacked. First, how do they know the guy in the hood is Palpatine? Secondly, how do they know that he’s the Emperor? Third, why does Yoda call him “Darth Sidious?” As far as I remember, they thought Dooku was lying about that issue. It’s a real mess, and cleaning it up won’t be easy.
How: Here’s my idea…get ready for a surprise:
OBI-WAN: Now we need to find out who did this.
YODA: The security recordings we must check.
OBI-WAN: Of course…
OBI-WAN walks over to a console and presses a button. A security hologram appears showing Jedi walking casually through the temple. OBI-WAN fast forwards to another point in the recording that shows a group of Jedi all looking in one direction and yelling. They take out their lightsabers and engage a group of clones. OBI-WAN fast-forwards again until he sees ANAKIN fighting with two Jedi.
OBI-WAN: Master Yoda…is that? No…it can’t be…
OBI-WAN closes his eyes, holding back tears. He looks at Anakin’s hologram again.
OBI-WAN: No…
OBI-WAN switches the recording off.
YODA: Twisted by the dark side young Skywalker has become.
OBI-WAN: Master, there is another recording here in your name…from Master Windu…
YODA gives OBI-WAN a nod.
MACE (hologram): Master Yoda, since word has been received of Grievous’s destruction, I am taking three Jedi Masters to the Chancellor’s office, to urge the Chancellor to lay down his emergency powers. I don’t know what to expect, but I am recording this in case the worst happens. You will know then that our suspicions about Palpatine have been confirmed.
The hologram fades.
YODA: Fools have we been, Master Obi-Wan to not see what has been happening to young Skywalker. But bigger fools have we been to not see the real villain behind this plot.
OBI-WAN: Palpatine! Send me to kill him.
YODA: To fight this Lord Sidious strong enough you are not. His apprentice you must face…
OBI-WAN: Anakin? No…I cannot kill him, master. Not after all we’ve been through.
YODA: The boy you trained, gone he is; consumed by (greed for more power/Darth Vader).
OBI-WAN: I do not know where the Chancellor has sent him. I don’t know where to look.
YODA: Use your feelings, Obi-Wan, and find him you will.
I searched Google just to find someone who thought this security hologram recording, was as riddled with horrible storyline, and continuity issues as I did. TY! That section from Palpatine's office should NEVER have been in that scene.
ReplyDelete1) How would Palpatine craft the whole war, but forget to restrict the Jedi in the temple from having access to av recordings in his office?
2) How did they access that clip from the temple?
3) If you accept Jedi have access to all security camera's on the planet. It should have gone like this ... Obi-wan reacts honestly to Anakin slaughtering kids, with a tear or unsettling disbelief. Then Obi-Wan pleads to himself, "Where is ANAKIN?". Cut to Yoda closing his eyes in pain. Cut back to Obi-Wan asking the security system "pull up all footage of Anakin Skywalker in Corusant for the last 4 hours" or something. (name and facial recognition search is plausible). Then, in grabs the clip from earlier in Palpatine's office, and Yoda goes right into "Kill the Sith we must!".
Whew, I have said it out loud to the world now.
I'm watching it now and had to Google how Sidious got into the hologram. It's an unanswered question but a relief to know I'm not the only one who realised.
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