"I wish I could just wish my feelings away"--not so bad a line, really?

My first reaction to this line was that it was decent, not great or anything, but it made a good point about Anakin and being a Jedi, it's not a good idea to pretend you don't have potentially harmful feelings in the first place, it's best to admit you have them, but on the other hand, Anakin takes it to the extreme, you shouldn't just give up either, not try to fight the feelings at all, not just say I can't be rational, period.

Then I discovered tons of people hate this line, calling it the perfect example of GL not being able to write good dialogue.

IMO it's still not all that bad a line. Hayden's delivery neither impressed me nor bothered me, and the moment didn't take me out of the movie.

I also got the impression that there's been some romance happening off screen, too, that by the time we get to the fireplace scene we're supposed to assume a little bit more time has elapsed, which is why suddenly their feelings are very strong and intense and they've been forced to deal with the inevitable "forbidden" issue.

Anyway, mostly I'm just wondering if I'm totally alone on this.

YJ edit: Unlocked after author accidentally locked it.

 

it could have been smoother, but then Anakin isnt very smooth so the line work

 

it was a wishful line to say the least

 

Nothing you can say will convince me that this is anything other than a badly written line.





Rick McCallum loves you!

 

nothing he said in the movie was smooth

 

The delivery wasn't bad, and the point of what he was trying to say wasn't bad...It was the fact that he said "wish" twice in the same sentence...Maybe someone should get George a thesaurus...

 

If my initial point changes a mind or two, fine, but actually let me at least attempt to be fair here: whether you agree 100% or disagree 100%, I'd just like to hear people's input. I expect some people to disagree.

 

I think it's very intentional George has him say wish twice. Not because it's wish, but because it's poor language skill.

Everything he said before. From the moment I met you... was very rehearsed. When it didn't work out as he had planned (We know what he had planned ) he was improvising. Making mistakes in his so perfect and poetic speech.

 

I guess it was an attempt at an ackaward "real-life" line. Works for me. He's talking to this girl he's obessed with so not everything is going to be smooth. Badly written on purpose perhaps.

 

I like that line. Hell, I've said worse when trying to impress a member of the fairer sex.

 

The line reminds me of something Homer said on the Simpsons in the Halloween special when he went back in time:

"I wish I wish I hadn't killed that fish."

 

It´s very human to say something like that. Does anyone here talk perfect all the time?

 

I don't speak perfectly all the time but what I say is. Well I wish that my wish which I've wished was .

 

It didn't bother me. It's not the best line in modern literature, but it's not the worst either. I've heard people say things like that, and it's not like it's as much of an english no-no as a double negative. It fits well with Anakin's character-blunt, to the point, and straight from the heart.

Overall, I would say I'm neutral towards it. Not the best line in the film, but certainly not the worst either.

 

Maybe its written that way for a reason. Anakin IS young, ya know. So it shows his youth. DUH


Sorry it isnt up to your standards. Jeez

 

I didn't mind the line at all. It's not a GREAT line, but when I first heard it I thought, "interesting point"

because to me, it means that Anakin cannot just say to himself,

"*siiigh* I sure Love Padme. I wish I could be with her. Oh, well - but I can't"

and that his feelings for Padme will not remain a mere wish, or fantasy and that he'll actually try to realise them into reality.

and I just thought it developed his dominance. He goes out and gets what he wants, he doesn't just wish events to happen, he goes out and tries to make them a reality. He acts on his emotions, that's the main thing this line touches on. That's an important trait to be developed for Anakin because his HATE has to be brought to action, and not just left to brood and sit dormant within him throughout his life. He has HATE, so he acts on it (ie, killing the Jedi off, turning to the dark side, yadda yadda yadda). And that's a huge plot mover.

Grantit, you could counter-argue that Anakin having a strong tendency to act on his emotions is adequatley establised elsewhere in the movie, making this line needless. But I think it works.

 

It's not a great line, but no more terrible than, "As if a million voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced,". How that slipped past Alec Guinness, I don't know!

 

[edited]

YJ edit: That wasn't necessary.

 

You post on an internet message board. Therefore, you are a nerd as well.

 

What's wring with nerds?


Anyway, there's a few other lines that cast light on this one, I think.

Qui Gon: "Your focus determines your reality."
Obi Wan: "You're focussing on the negative."
Obi Wan: "Be mindful of your feelings- they betray you."

 

I never heard one Star Wars line that I thought was bad. I just don´t think that way when I watch a film.

 

That lined bothered me a little because I don't like hearing the same word twice in the same sentence. He should have said something like "I couldn't just wish my feelings away even if I wanted to."

 

>You post on an internet message board. Therefore, you are a nerd as well.<

Hmmm, then I guess there are different degrees of nerdiness. I happen to be the type of nerd who cringes at lines that sound like they were written for Dorthy in Wizard of Oz. Or lines that sound like something I'd hear on Mr. Rogers.

MR. ROGERS: Did you hear Anakin wishing his problems could be wished away? I'll bet you feel that way at times, don't you, children? Yes, yes you do, and that's OK. But we can't wish problems away, can we? No, we have to confront them, even if it's difficult, and that's what Anakin will learn one day too.

 

This line is a prime example of George Lucas being an out of touch nerd.

And you were no doubt a silver tongued devil at the tender age of 19. [rolls_eyes]

 

>And you were no doubt a silver tongued devil at the tender age of 19.<

Give up this desperate attempt to explain away every embarrassing flaw found in the PT as intentional. Other than your fellow Lucas apologists with poor taste, no one's buying it. Understand not everyone is as gullible as you. Not as desperate to love every choice Lucas makes.

BTW, the last time I was dorky enough to say "*whine* If only I could wish my feelings away, boo hoo!" I was eating graham crackers and juice in kindergarten.