# And now, the other side: Things that bug you about Star Wars. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442 "2003-05-25T19:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Blibbleblabble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Blibbleblabble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blibbleblabble)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/181 "2003-05-30T05:19:22Z")
All of the stupid jokes in Ep. II bugged the heck out of me. Lines like “Oh, I’m beside myself” From 3PO. When young boba fett picked up his “Dad’s” head I expected someone to yell out “He has his fathers eyes”. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/182 "2003-05-30T06:00:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rubystreak \* > \*\*No. He definitely does NOT dissolve. We see his face as he dies. I imagine this is one of the drawbacks of being a Sith; you have to burn out because you can’t fade away. \*\* We saw his face for less than 30 seconds, that’s not enough time for total brain death. ---
**Author:** ![ceyjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@ceyjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ceyjen)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/183 "2003-05-30T22:45:29Z")
the fact that the blockade formed around Naboo would have only caught runners coming from the equator… …and then, knowing this, the heroes take off straight through the blockade ---
**Author:** ![ceyjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@ceyjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ceyjen)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/184 "2003-05-30T22:49:37Z")
When Uncle Owen says to Luke in ANH, “That wizard’s just a crazy old man.” This bugs me because I used to have a book that included the original script (complete with some of the scenes that were resurrected for the Special Edition release) and in the original script, Owen says, “That _man’s_ just a crazy old _wizard_” ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/185 "2003-05-30T23:40:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ceyjen \* > \*\*the fact that the blockade formed around Naboo would have only caught runners coming from the equator… > > …and then, knowing this, the heroes take off straight through the blockade \*\* I don’t know how worthwhile this is, because SW tends to ignore physics, but he it is anyway: Assuming Naboo is like Earth, a geosynchronous, equatorial (yeah I know, that’s redundant) orbit is the best place to put a blockade, because that’s the area most ships would have to pass through to leave. Take the earth. Kennedy Space Center is where it is because it’s just about as close to the equator as it’s possible to get in the contiguous states, and there is a lot of water to the east of it, in case of mistakes. To leave a planet and not come back involuntarily you need to reach escape velocity. Since a point on earth’s equator is moving roughy 1,000 miles an hour compared to the North pole, it makes sense to launch eastward from the equator, because you have an inherent velocity you don’t have to make up with fuel. It’s simply the most efficient launch path. Okay, I’ll shut up and go away now. ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/186 "2003-05-31T00:38:54Z")
Midichorians, Bleagh! I mean, Lucas could have done a ‘scientific’ well if he was any good. I _like_ the mystical idea of the force more, but I would be happy with a scientific explanation if they just did it good. In fact, if they did it particularly well I would prefer it simply because they surprised me with how well they did it. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/187 "2003-05-31T01:40:55Z")
Since you guys aren’t used to seeing in me in these threads, I guess I should have mentioned in my earlier post that I was a Star Trek Baby and a Star Wars Kid. I love 'em both and I enjoyed all the movies I’ve seen, including The Phantom Menace. In the interest of full disclosure, I haven’t yet seen AOTC or any of the Trek movies after The Undiscovered Country, except for part of Generations when it was on cable and I was flipping through the channels. I watched part of it and decided to find something else to watch. I agree with those of you who have storyline and continuity beefs, especially the but about the 'droids. I can’t think of any reason for Kenobi or Anakin to forget about them and vice-versa. That’s kind of annoying. I would, however, like to apologize to **ceyjen** for my previous post. It was inappropriate. Star Wars is not science-fiction. It’s space opera fantasy. It’s not technology, it’s magic. Same goes for Star Trek. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/188 "2003-06-02T05:40:34Z")
> [@](#): > > from _NoClueBoy_ > And of course, the line that someone says in every movie: > > I’ve got a bad feeling about this… I don’t mind that, and I know that’s supposed to be one of his recurring themes, but… I must say, it was quite poorly used in Ep II. That line fits in a situation where things seem normal, but somebody has a “bad feeling” that there may be something not quite right about the seemingly normal situation. For instance, Episode I – Obi Wan says it while they wait for the “negotiations” with the Trade Federation Japanese aliens. This is an appropriate place for the line, because no danger has yet been revealed in the situation. Episode II – Anakin saying it after they are tied to stakes in the arena, and monsters are released to help bring about their execution. Sheesh – I half expected Obi Wan to reply, “Duh! Ya think?!!” Apparently Lucas couldn’t find any good spot to put the line in Ep. II, so he just picked a scene at random… ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/189 "2003-06-02T05:41:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BuckleberryFerry \* > \*\*But seriously, folks, I’d like to ask if anyone knows the specifics regarding Anakin’s “birth,” so I can form an opinion on the midichlorians. Please. \*\* There aren’t many specifics. Qui-Gon asks about Anakin’s father, Shmi answers “There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can’t explain what happened”, and that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/190 "2003-06-02T07:27:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monstre \* > \*\*Apparently Lucas couldn’t find any good spot to put the line in Ep. II, so he just picked a scene at random… \*\* Actually, that would explain a lot about the prequels. ---
**Author:** ![Gumbercules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gumbercules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gumbercules)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/191 "2003-06-02T13:45:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*The disappearing bodies is going to be explained in Episode III. It’s some ancient secret, supposedly, that the Jedi of old were able to do, or something. > \*\* But how come Qui-Gon did not disappear and his student Obi-Wan did? Qui-Gon died and was burned in a funeral pyre at the end of The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan died in A New Hope and disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/192 "2003-06-02T22:12:20Z")
Patience, young padiwan **Gumbercules**. Some one is bound to have the answer for that Q. Maybe they already did and I overlooked it. I’ll check… ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/193 "2003-06-03T00:03:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*Patience, young padiwan Gumbercules. Some one is bound to have the answer for that Q. > \*\* I rather like the [Brunching Shuttlecocks’ explanation](http://www.brunching.com/lukeside.html)… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/194 "2003-06-03T00:20:29Z")
Wow. That makes a lot of things make more sense, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/195 "2003-06-03T01:55:10Z")
> [@](#): > > But how come Qui-Gon did not disappear and his student Obi-Wan did? Qui-Gon died and was burned in a funeral pyre at the end of The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan died in A New Hope and disappeared. The standard fan-boy explanation is that the force extends your lifespan well past its normal limit. Once you reach an age where it’s only the force holding your body together you vanish in apuff of logic upon death. Of course this has been kind of stuffed up in the new movies, since Obi-Wan is only about 10 years older than Vader/Annakin, and probably ends up only 20 years older than Luke. But that’s the least of the problems. Unless we have a big delay between the wedding and the first child I can’t understand how the ages work out. In TPM Annakin is 10 ish and Obi Wan in 20 something. A maximum 20 year difference. IN SW: ANH Obi Wan appears to be in 60s while Luke is a teenager, a 40 year gap. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/196 "2003-06-03T04:45:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by widdershins \* > \*\*That 50s diner Obi-Wan went to for info, and not just the cheese factor of it. Is Obi-Wan really Peter Gunn? The newsstand guy and the shoeshine boy didn’t know anything? \*\* No! Don’t you realize that it’s a homage to _Spaceballs_? (I didn’t either until I just caught that scene in _Spaceballs_. Though the _Spaceballs_ version was much better, I must admit.) ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/197 "2003-06-03T07:20:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Unless we have a big delay between the wedding and the first child I can’t understand how the ages work out. In TPM Annakin is 10 ish and Obi Wan in 20 something. A maximum 20 year difference. IN SW: ANH Obi Wan appears to be in 60s while Luke is a teenager, a 40 year gap. No, think about that again. All that’s necessary in your scenario is for Annakin to have the twins when HE’S about 20. Then by the time Luke is about 20, Obi Wan will be about 40 years older. See? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/198 "2003-06-03T07:23:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Short Guy \* > \*\*Wasn’t the whole “point” of the second death star that it _was_ finished and operational, but just _looked_ like it wasn’t? \*\* No, it wasn’t finished, but it was Operational. Maybe it couldn’t move, but it could fire the giant cannon, which was enough(or so the emprorer thought) since the imperial fleet was apparently preventing the rebel fleet from going anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Parallax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Parallax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parallax)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/199 "2003-06-03T12:04:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Katisha \* > \*\*I rather like the [Brunching Shuttlecocks’ explanation](http://www.brunching.com/lukeside.html)… \*\* My response to that article is that is has to do with whether the Force is used offensively or defensively and that there is a fine line between the two. Many of the Expanded Universe books go into this and it all seems to make sense to me at least. 🙂 For reference - here is a snippet from the article that I’m alking about: > [@](#): > > Here we have Luke “Badass” Skywalker, Jedi Extraordinaire. He’s mown down Stormtroopers like bowling pins on bumper night, sliced open Imperial Walkers, and given the Death Star a photon colonic once already, not to mention all the womp rats he must have massacred. He’s built his own lightsaber, raided Johnny Cash’s closet, and watched his Jedi master snuff it. At long last he’s brought before the Grand Imperial Old Guy himself, who’s sitting there giving off smarm rays, and Luke decides, for no apparent reason, that killing the Emperor – this one guy – would tip him over the edge into the yawning abyss of Jedi perdition. I don’t get it. > > There’s always the “defenseless” explanation, but that doesn’t cut it. He could blow up everyone in the Death Star 1.0 in one force-guided shot, but he couldn’t kill one guy in Death Star 2.0? If he had left, grabbed an X-Wing and blown up the whole damn battlestation that would have been Yoda-Kosher, but taking him one-on-one is bad juju? Not to mention the fact that when Darth offs the Emperor, that turns him into a good guy. So when he did all of the “badass” things (mowed down Stormtroopers, sliced open an Imperial Walker, blown up the first Death Star) it was all defensive - the Empire attacked first and he was just defending either himself or others. But when it comes down to the Emperor he would be acting offensively - he would be making the first strike. In my opinion it would be the same way if he had “grabbed an X-Wing and blown up the whole damn battlestation” because it hadn’t been attacking - he would have been on the offense again. Of course there can be a fine line between offense and defense - sometimes the best defense is a good offense and vice versa. Sometimes by attacking first you can prevent a greater evil then if you had waited. Tricky, tricky. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442/200 "2003-06-03T12:23:00Z")
Not sure if this can be classed as a downside but after the two most recent releases I have developed a mad little habit. You know the doors that separate the sections of a train, the ones that automatically slide open when you get close to them? Well everytime I am about to go through them I can’t help doing a little wave with my hands to suggest that I using ‘the force’ to open the door myself. Anyone else do this or something similar? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-other-side-things-that-bug-you-about-star-wars/177442.md?page=11)