Anakin and Padme's Romance in Episode II

I looked through the first 3 pages of this forum, and couldn't find any thread dealing with this particular aspect of Episode II.

This thread is for those who have an appreciation and understanding of the romance in AOTC - no bashing, "wooden" acting or "awful" dialogue kind of posters are welcome - just a discussion on the most beautiful moments in the movie.

I saw the film 21 times in the cinema, and each time I was struck by the beauty of the romance plot, especially the haunting, subtle, lyrical fireplace scene - one of my top Star Wars scenes ever.

All contributions from lovers of the lovers are welcomed

 

The love story was fantastic. I had absolutely no problems with it; in fact I think it made the movie better. Christensen and Portman have such amazing chemistry together that I think will pay off immensely in Episode III.

 

I thought it was beautifully done. Sad but with its own kind of grace. Realistic to a fault -- I can identify with Anakin's struggle to make himself understood, his failure to come across how he wants to, his frustration with the situation.

My second-favorite romance in the saga... first remains the one between Threepio and Artoo.



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

you should PM PadmeLeiaJaina and ask for her 'speech' on the anakin/padme love story, and why it was so good...

 

Read it. Awesome. She hits the nail through the board.

 

I PMed her just now.

 

Oh dear, I'm being called out. Let me wander off to see if I can find something inspiring to contribute

 

Oh I think you've contributed enough. You should just re-paste your posts in here. But I suppose something new is always welcome.

 

first remains the one between Threepio and Artoo.

Nowhere close to Luke and 2-1B. So much potential wasted there. Ah, what might have been.

 

Alright- well in the Summer of 02 I sorta became rather obsessed w/ AOTC and spent a lot of time analysing the film to death. I ran out and bought Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces and read it nearly cover to cover. That book, amazingly, helped me to truly appreciate GL's vision in the film.

Here's one of my earlier interpretations on Naboo.


Naboo is Paradise. It stands for everything that the future Empire is not. It is democratic, fertile, peaceful, organic, and luscious. Even the planet core is water based instead of Molten lava. There is nothing turmultuous about Naboo.

The sheer blissful beauty of Naboo, that seems to always be in bloom, is what brings out the love and the woman in Padme. This is her home. She is a creature of this land. It is the place Anakin saved from destruction, and a place he thinks of as Paradise as well (taken from the novel.) The buildings on the planet, seem to sprout up from the land, they do not appear to be constructed, mostly as a means to enjoy the natural settings they sit around. Even the Gungan's city floats in the waters, it does not pollute the water, or harm the ocean floor below.

When A&P arrive at the Capital, Padme is glowing, she is in her element. We've known from practically her first scenes in TPM that she passionately loves this planet "I will NOT condone a course of action that will lead us to war!"

By the time she has finished her official business, Senator Amidala has disappeared. Gone are the tightlaced, stiff backed uncomfortable gowns she wears in her everyday dealings w/ politicians. With each passing scene, she even seems to let more of her hair down. She has become one with the beauty around her. The first gown she wears is filled w/ the soft colors of the rainbow. She floats into the scene, enhancing the beautiful land around her, and amazingly manages to outshine it. It's partly why Anakin is so speechless. Her choice of backless gown fully indicates, whether she wants to admit it or not, that she wants, desires Anakin to kiss her. It's why she doesn't flinch when he timidly caresses her back, and leans in for the first kiss. However, she is still fighting with the old practical Padme which is why she pulls away.

Hayden deliver his sand line perfectly. It's not a pickup line, it's just a nice wonderful insight into Anakin, it reminds the viewers of where he came from, and how far he has travelled in 10 years. Yet for all that he's worldly, the little boy inside of him still exists, hoping for approval, looking for love. You can almost hear Anakin's voice shaking, as he realizes this may be the moment he's dreamed of his whole life. And when Padme doesn't move, he keeps watching her, afraid she will pull away before he kisses her, ever mindful that she may stop him before his dream can be fulfilled. If you listen carefully, you can even hear the 2 breathing hard as he gets in closer to her. The music fills the air, then wonderfully, abruptly ends as she pulls away, signifying the dance of love has begun.

The meadow with the rushing waterfalls behind them is the perfect place for a picnic. There isn't another human around for miles, they are totally secluded. It is as if they found their own little spot of Paradise, where there is no danger. Neither Senator nor Jedi really has to worry about work. They can just play. It is also one of the brightest, most gloriously lit scenes in the whole film, however there are storm clouds on the horizon, blanketing the far off hills.

In the scene, Padme gets to devilishly tease Anakin w/ her tale of Dreamy Paulo, and Anakin gets to torment her by admitting that he thinks dictatorship isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's quite lovely, because each person knows exactly what the hot-spots are in each other. The gentle teasing adds tension, but it shows a deepening familiarity between the 2, that maybe we were not allowed to see displayed on screen (removed Padme's family scenes.)

Padme's running in the field is the first time we see her doing ANYTHING that remotely resembl

 

I really enjoy PLJ's posts. Even if I disagree with what she says or simply think she's reading too much things, they're always a great read, well-thought-out, insightful and saying something new and interesting.

A welcome change from the typical analyses of AOTC's romance, namely "Hayden is hott" or "natalie pormtan was wooden lol" or "Who are the guys with hats and robes in the Emperor's throne room in ROTJ?"

PLJ, when you compile all your posts into one nice thread for us , you may find it interesting to know that there was apparently once a scene where Anakin used the Force to pick an apple off a tree for Padme. (Someone want to confirm that for me?) Guess GL REALLY wanted to push the Forbidden Fruit thing a bit, for a while!



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

Adam

I know, I sometimes over-analyze but 'tis the curse of having a degree in English Those darned Professors see symbolism in everything. I think that even if GL didn't initially intend for us to see everything that are sometimes discussed, he'd certainly be a lot happier seeing this kind of discussion rather than the usual "it sucks" garbage that paid "critics" spew.

Interesting about Ani and the fruit tree. That doesn't surprise me. GL loves adding Biblical references into his films. "Willow" opens w/ a nanny sticking Elora Dannon into the river to avoid detection. Even as a kid, I caught that reference.


Here's another classic

The meditation scene is another favorite scene of mine. The scene radiates. From the sun trying desperately to break through the morning clouds, to the fresh water on the balcony floor, the scene is glorious. Although a new day dawns, and promises glorious beauty, a storm brews with our young lovers.

Back on Coruscant Padme wore a very Victorian covering nightgown, showing how self conscious she was with Anakin watching her. Yet here she is after rejecting him the night before, wearing a very revealing nightgown. Again, her choice of clothing reveals what her heart wants, not what her mind wants.

Now after she has rejected him at the fireplace, she realizes her mind said completely opposite of what her heart is saying. She no longer feels the need to be bashful, or worry about Anakin looking at her. In fact she would welcome his attention. Anakin however, does not turn around and look at her throughout most of the scene. When he does, he doesn't even acknowledge her revealing nightgown, further distancing himself from her.

Anakin is also at ease in the morning, not yet ready to take on his Jedi Duty, trying to calm the conflict within. It's an interesting scene when you think of Vader standing similarly on the Executioner looking out the window. This monster man once beheld absolute beauty, and not just beheld it, but added to the beauty himself. Anakin is gorgeous in that scene. From the soft light and how it makes his face glow and soften, to the gauzy sheer fabric of his undershirt, he has never looked more human and heroic. In fact the way his undershirt falls open it reminds us of Luke's shirt in ANH. Again showing the different paths for father and son.

The scene is fascinating, if you watch Padme, about 3 or 4 times she gives Anakin a quick lookover from shoulder to toe, admiring her view. All the while she is listening to him, yet she is getting more flustered. She breathlessly tells him she will go with him. The beauty of Naboo does not captivate her nearly as much as her handsome young protector. (This is something I caught at about my 10th viewing- again major subtlty in NP's acting.)

Anakin is completely in a state of conflicted hell, which is of course at odds with the beauty around them. Padme soothes him, her rationality usually helps to calm his over emotional storm. He uses her first name once, but when he tells her he needs to go save his mother, Anakin refers to Padme as Senator. The man inside is desperately working to distance the 2 and to remind himself that he is her protector, not her lover.

Padme ignores his professional attitude and offers her support, the support of a girlfriend. She doesn't once think of herself, her safety, her duty. She is now bound only to him.

When Anakin apologizes at the end of the scene, "I'm sorry, I don't have a choice," it's really the first heartfelt apology we feel coming from him throughout the film.

Although brief, the scene leaves a lasting impressing, probably because it is so fleeting, their innocence is floating away on the wind....

 

PLJ after your posts it makes it hard to come up with something. Your posts are just so good.

 

You mean there are others besides the Defenders who appreciate the love story [face_shocked] ?

PLJ's insights are classic. I learned an awful lot from her observations, not to mention that they provided excuses to go see AOTC yet again in the theater .

The love story is the centerpiece of not only this film, it is the basis of the entire saga. I view SW now as one long love story that begins in the dusty shop on Tatooine and ends with Anakin's redemption in ROTJ.

--MissPadme

 

I'd have to agree with anidanami124...after reading PLJ's analysis there's simply not much to add! (Except that I wish I were that observant!) I feel like I have to go watch AOTC again now.

 

The love story is the centerpiece of not only this film, it is the basis of the entire saga. I view SW now as one long love story that begins in the dusty shop on Tatooine and ends with Anakin's redemption in ROTJ.

Indeed... even though I've been fighting this good fight for almost 2 years, I never thought of that myself. Bravo.

 

I can see how it could be viewed as one long love story and that's the beauty of Star Wars, it is so many different types of things.

I hadn't caught onto that but, looking back on the scene you're right.

-Jedi Master Zax Starwalker

 

after reading PLJ's analysis there's simply not much to add!

I agree!

The love story is great! Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman played very well and they have so much chemistry together.. it is fantastic

 

Nothing to add PLJ ...

You put us all to shame!

The A/P romance is my absolute favorite part of AOTC. I also wish there had been more. For example... let's say the Naboo family scenes... They should have been kept them in no doubt...
The A/P romance is special for me because it's what really drew me into Star Wars. So it's no wonder that AOTC is my favorite SW movie...

 

I love the whole old-fashioned feel of it - the knight errant wooing his lady.
The intentional Medieval tone is what a lot of the critics just don't get.

 

PLJ, your last post was so well detailed and well written. You have a dazzling intelect, and I bet you write novels too.

I was kind of hoping you would have something to say in your post about when Anakin and Padme go to Tatooine. Then later to Geonosis.

Personally if you have any particular opinons about the emotional conflict that occurs after Naboo. Myself as well as many others would love to hear what you have to say about Anakin's rage, the confession scene, and the love pledge.

Don't wanna disturb you or anything, I just like what you have to say about Star Wars

 

Novels? Actually if you look in my profile I'm a prolific SW fanfic writer- and yes a couple of my fanfics are novel length. Writing short stories just isn't in my blood.

I just rewatched TPM this afternoon and am collecting my thoughts on it.


Here's a different essay I wrote regarding the Fireplace scene for now.

And here's my take on the fireplace scene:

To me this is the best scene in the love story, because it initially accomplishes what it's supposed to do, but if you watch it more and more, you find that the scene is brilliantly acted, directed. However, it is a crucial point in determining Anakin's destiny, the scene is ....

Forget the dialogue completely.

Initial reaction from fans, critics and the general public is that the fireplace scene is uncomfortable, painful, and wretched to watch. Poor Anakin, he pours his heart out to Padme, and she dumps him! She doesn't say a word, and when she does she gives him next to no real encouragement. It's awful to watch.

The fact that people continue on and on about the scene shows the sheer majestry and perfection of it. It is MEANT to feel uncomfortable. These 2 people have no business falling in love, Anakin is completely forbidden to do so, and practical Padme should know better. First viewing you watch it from Anakin's standpoint, and he is acting the perfect knight, spilling his heart out, and Padme shuts him down. He is deflated and defeated. It's horrible.

The beauty of the scene, and why it works so well, is if you pay attention to the actors body lanuguage, and especially if you pay attention to Padme.

From when Anakin starts talking, she subtly starts moving away, she is listening intently, but conversely is highly distracted. Watch her, she looks deep into his eyes, then looks down, then looks longingly at his lips. She is dying for him to kiss her again.

She then finally snaps to attention and bolts off the couch. She then decides to take control of the situation again the only way she knows how to, which is to treat it as a political debate. She rattles off every rational reason on earth the 2 should not be together, since Anakin is past the point of seeing anything clearly "You're asking me to be rational, which I cannot do" she needs to play the devil's advocate. Yet Padme's weeping eyes should tell Anakin that her heart thinks differently than what her mouth is saying.

Anakin has no experience with courting, he doesn't see the startled expression she gives as he walks away. Her look says, "Don't give up!" But Anakin, being the perfect gentleman finally conceeds and ends the discussion defeated and in pain.

The scene is riddled with sexual tension. Maybe that's partly why people are so uncomfortable with it. It seems out of place in the SW universe. But really it fits brilliantly into the Anakin story. The firelight also seems to bring out exactly what each character is feeling in his/her heart. Their eyes are in turmoil.

Padme's dress, black and medieval in design, again signifies Lucas' favorite theme of all, black equating the Dark Side. Padme's love is the one thing that Anakin wishes to possess and have more than anything in the world. Padme is the one thing Anakin the Jedi is forbidden to have, a wife and a lover. Even her heavy rattling necklace resembles chains, she is chained to her emotions. Because Padme wears black, she herself has become a willing partner in this forbidden dance. And aftewards, she starts pursuing him. When he cannot see her signs, she has to finally confess her love to him.

The scene is also crucial because it opens the door for Anakin to pursue his nightmares and go after his mother. Padme, unlike Obi-Wan would never stop Anakin from trying to help his mother. She is compassionate and does not wish to add in any further pain Anakin must be feeling.

The scene may not be the most elegant and graceful of love scenes, but it is one of the most complex scenes I've seen on film. GL did a brilliant job w/ the actors to make them say one thing, but have their bodies, and body

 

I think it's neat how the scene where anakin falls off the Shaak and pretends to be hurt, is just like the exact same scene from "Fatal Attraction"!!! Don't you guys see... Fatal Attraction, Anakin and Padme's "attraction" (*wink wink*) will be "fatal" (*wink wink*) to Anakin's Persona and the galaxy as we know it!!! WOW!!!!!!

 

This is a serious discussion, and I asked for no bashers - just people who understand the story.

 

Are you suggesting that this scene is not in "Fatal Attraction"??? I beg to differ!