# Star Wars Episode III: Birth of the Empire **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133 "2004-05-20T06:08:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/21 "2004-05-20T12:47:04Z")
Question: Has any “insider” ever actually successfully predicted the title of a Star Wars movie? Especially 5 months before the likely official release of the title (it’s always been released in September)? Answer: Not once. As for “surfing” on lava, I imagine it’s either a lie or a misinterpretation of whatever this guy supposedly saw. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/22 "2004-05-20T14:03:57Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Surfing on lava? “Rail shooter” segment of game tie-in, check. > > Any thoughts on what they’re gonna do for the jumping and maze segments? I’ll guess the maze sequence will be a chase through an extensive abandoned saarlac pit. The jumping sequence will involve Jar Jar hopping from senator balcony to senator balcony in a tragic deathmatch with E.T. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/23 "2004-05-20T14:55:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Surfing? Sounds almost as bad as that scene from Batman and Robin where they surf through the air at the beginning of the movie. I’m all for suspension of disbelief, but come on! So you can suspend dibelief in believing that Jedi can move things using the force, but when you hear they are moving platforms on lava, you can’t suspend your disbelief for that? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/24 "2004-05-20T15:13:25Z")
The first mention of Darth Vadar’s lava-bath that I remember was in the novelization of _Return of the Jedi_. It may have been mentioned in _Splinter of the Mind’s Eye_ as well. I’ll check my copy when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/25 "2004-05-20T15:14:42Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > So you can suspend dibelief in believing that Jedi can move things using the force, but when you hear they are moving platforms on lava, you can’t suspend your disbelief for that? 😕 Of course, this may not be true and I am just going by what my imagination conjures up. If done right is could be cool, if done wrong it becomes a roll eyes moment. With the last two efforts by Lucas, I must admit I think it might be the latter. I guess it’s how it is presented, if it is too over the top it can spoil it for me. If it skates to the edge and doesn’t go over then it can be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/26 "2004-05-20T18:09:44Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > it is when the climactic scene is where pointed-helmeted Storm Troopers ride in to save Amidala from being ravished by JarJar Binks > > OK- please, someone get that _G_ Ah, yes…those heroic stormtroopers. They make quite a clan. Why, they could make a Nation into an Empire. [homer]Heh heh heh…I get it…I get jokes. [/homer] 😉 ---
**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:** [May 20, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/27 "2004-05-20T18:29:51Z")
The linked story is a British tabloid. The entertainment sections of British tabloids are largely fiction. This is false. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/28 "2004-05-20T20:44:36Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > The linked story is a British tabloid. This linked story is a British tabloid > [@](#): > > The entertainment sections of British tabloids are largely fiction. The entertainment sections of British tabloids are largely fiction. > [@](#): > > This is false. This is false. Move along, move along… ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/29 "2004-05-20T20:46:38Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Errr, the surfing on lava concerns me more than the title, but I know it’s a big deal when these things get named. > > Now discuss :). Blah blah blah worst movie title ever blah blah blah Lucas sucks blah blah blah screwing the fans blah blah blah destroying his creation blah blah blah organic webshooters blah blah blah Han shot first blah blah blah the prequels suck ass blah blah Lucas is a hack blah blah blah what a shitty title blah blah blah Lucas owes me a refund for the last two blah blah blah oops, gotta run 'cause the line for opening night is forming and I want a good place. I think that’s a fair synopsis of the fanboy response. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/30 "2004-05-20T21:12:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Can’t be true - the name “Birth of the Empire” isn’t _nearly_ stupid enough for a Star Wars film. Okay, how about “Afterbirth of the Empire”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/31 "2004-05-20T22:51:04Z")
> [@](#): > > oops, gotta run 'cause the line for opening night is forming and I want a good place. > > I think that’s a fair synopsis of the fanboy response Or how about me that went to the first one and never went to the second one. I never intended to see it until someone sent me the DVD for my birthday. Really anyone who pays to see this movie is a Lucas enabler and needs to get out of this abusive relationship. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/32 "2004-05-20T23:49:37Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > The entertainment sections of British tabloids are largely fiction. Along with the rest of the tabloid. 😉 “Lava” I don’t mind, but “surfing” brings to mind some of the painfully uninspired scenes from _Treasure Planet._ ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/33 "2004-05-21T03:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > The first mention of Darth Vadar’s lava-bath that I remember was in the novelization of Return of the Jedi. It may have been mentioned in Splinter of the Mind’s Eye as well. I’m almost sure I first read Lucas talking about this in a piece in Starlog magazine right after the **first** movie came out, in like, 1977 (eek! I’m old!) Being that the whole Vader mask originally came about just so he could go thru the vacuum of space and board Princess Leia’s ship, this was just the start of Lucas’ backfilling canon habit (what an odd phrase)… ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/34 "2004-05-21T04:32:17Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > Don’t they mean fava? As in fava beans? _That_ I’d like to see. WIth liver and a nice chianti, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/35 "2004-05-21T04:53:39Z")
Listen everybody! I’ve already mentioned it before, but I have it on very good (though anonymous) authority that the title of _Episode III_ will be… _The Erotic Adventures of Chewbacca the Wookie!_ Seriously. And, based on that title, and other details I’ve been told about the film, it has a great chance of being the second best of all six _Star Wars_ films - after _The Empire Strikes Back_, of course. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/36 "2004-05-21T05:00:49Z")
I wonder if Mini Vader will yell “Cowabunga DUDE!” while he is surfing? I also wonder what the snappy one liner will be. (well other then “I have a bad feeling about this”) “Boy he’s hot under the collar!”? “Let off some steam Anakin!”? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/37 "2004-06-20T15:36:46Z")
> [@jeevmon](#): > > Blah blah blah worst movie title ever blah blah blah Lucas sucks blah blah blah screwing the fans blah blah blah destroying his creation blah blah blah organic webshooters blah blah blah Han shot first blah blah blah the prequels suck ass blah blah Lucas is a hack blah blah blah what a shitty title blah blah blah Lucas owes me a refund for the last two blah blah blah oops, gotta run 'cause the line for opening night is forming and I want a good place. > > I think that’s a fair synopsis of the fanboy response. 😃 Actually, it’s far too fair and measured. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/38 "2004-06-20T15:54:15Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > So you can suspend dibelief in believing that Jedi can move things using the force, but when you hear they are moving platforms on lava, you can’t suspend your disbelief for that? 😕 Remember how corny it was in The Two Towers when Legolas skateboarded down the stairs on a shield? I don’t know what it is with every fucking director that makes them think that any movie can be made cooler with a surf/skateboard scene. Unless you are 8 years old or live in Venice Beach, CA, surfing and skating aren’t particularly cool anyway. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/39 "2004-06-20T16:16:22Z")
> [@Monstre](#): > > Okay, how about “Afterbirth of the Empire”? 😃 Nice. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133/40 "2004-06-20T19:07:04Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > … I’ve heard that we will not see Anakin becoming Darth Vader. Apparently, Lucas wants it this way. Really? That’s the one thing I want to see. Darth Vader rising up and saying something like “What is thy bidding, my master”. Not a proto-Vader, but the 1977 costume. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-iii-birth-of-the-empire/246133.md?page=3)