ROTS Chapter 20: Arrival on Utapau DISCUSSION

Due to the success of the PT and OT CBC discussions, I would like to discuss ROTS chapter by chapter on the DVD. There are 47 chapters to discuss over the next eight months, excluding Chapter 1: Opening Logos, Chapter 2: Revenge of the Sith and Chapter 50: End Credits.

Each discussion will last 5 days. At the end of 5 days, the following chapter will be posted.

Chapter 20: Arrival on Utapau
DISCUSSION: February 15, 2006 - February 19, 2006
DVD TIME INDEX: 53:54 - 56:21

Synopsis:
Obi-Wan's starfighter comes out of hyperspace and disembarks from the ring, heading towards Utapau. Obi-Wan lands in Pau City and is welcomed by Administrator Tion Medon. Obi-Wan says he is there because of the war. Tion says there is no war. Obi-Wan would like to use Pau City as a base to search other systems for General Grievous. Tion says that he is here and that they are being held hostage. Obi-Wan advises Tion to gather his warriors and send the others into hiding. Obi-Wan goes to this ship and tells his R2 unit to go back into space. Obi-Wan hides in the midst of the structures. Moments later Obi-Wan emerges out of the wrangler's pen mounting Boga. Boga howls. END OF CHAPTER

Opinion:
At last we return to one of my favorite planets, Utapau and finally get to see the arc of hunting Grievous come to a close. Utapau is something Lucas has been putting off since day one and now it can finally be realized.

The talk with Tion Medon is interesting. Tion plays the "I don't know" type persona for the longest time until he can trust Obi-Wan and tell him the Grievous is here. Obi-Wan is at the same time playing Tion since he knows Grievous is on Utapau and yet says to look to the outlying systems. Unless I'm misinterpreting it right and Obi-Wan was assigned to the Utapau System and not Utapau itself.

The only thing I was disappointed in was that Tion was supposed to help "fugitive" Kenobi and this is way before Order 66. I wanted to see Tion expanded as an enemy of the Empire. When I heard about Bruce Spence's character helping a fugitive Obi-Wan, I pictured it so differently. But the way it is done in the film is just as good.

Then you have the Boga. I could write a whole chapter just on Boga. Boga easilly is the best creature in GFFA. I just love it so much and the moments in the pen are just so well done. Though I wish we could have seen what was in the original script: Obi-Wan using a mind trick to get Boga. From a dialogue POV, we don't know her name. Thank you EU. Excellent chapter.

 

For those who are just joining us or would like to review past discussions:

Chapter 1: Opening Logos (no discussion)
Chapter 2: Revenge of the Sith (no discussion)
Chapter 3: Battle Over Coruscant
Chapter 4: General Grievous
Chapter 5: Rescuing the Chancellor
Chapter 6: Confronting Grievous
Chapter 7: Happy Reunions
Chapter 8: Grievous on Utapau
Chapter 9: Bad Dreams
Chapter 10: Counsel with Yoda
Chapter 11: The Chancellor's Request
Chapter 12: On the Jedi Council
Chapter 13: Secret Assignment
Chapter 14: Not the Chosen One?
Chapter 15: Seeds of Distrust
Chapter 16: Tragedy of Darth Plagueis
Chapter 17: Kashyyyk
Chapter 18: Brothers' Farewell
Chapter 19: A Hero Lost
Chapter 20: Arrival on Utapau

Don't forget we are still discussing ESB and ROTJ in the CT forums as well.

 

This is a pretty good scene. I like the dynamic views of Utaupa as OB1's ship flies in. I was always intrigued by Tion's character since the trailer. I thought he was supposed to be a bad guy so it was shocking that he was actually good and not really in the movie for more than a minute.

Still Tion has awesome character design, and it's good to know there are good 'people' in the republic willing to stand up to Grevious.

I'm not a fan of Boga. Looks cartoony to me, and way too much ham. I understand GL's fascination with a dragon cowboy but something like that would work better as a cartoon. Didn't really flow well with me.

Also why does the sound Boga make also sound off during the battle of Wookies, really strange stuff.

 

I thought it was a nice sequence because we get to see Utapau, which in my mind is a very interesting planet, up close for a decent period of time. I pictured Tion Medon's role in assisting Obi-Wan differently than it came across onscreen but it was interesting and effective nonetheless and I enjoyed their exchange. Boga is one of my favorite creatures of the Star Wars Saga so I really enjoyed those scenes.

 

Nifty chapter.

I love the use of the Force Theme here. It's smooth, elegant, operatic and somewhat tragic, even. Things are winding down now. Obi Wan, along with Yoda, will be the last light of the galaxy, ready and waiting to train the "new hope" as he comes into maturity. But why use the theme here? Obi Wan has parted from his "old friend" Anakin for the last time. The Force Theme seems to give this part of the film an inevitability. It's downhill from here. Anakin, his face low as Obi Wan flew into the heavens, has abandoned all faith in the Living Force; now, of the two brothers, it's Obi Wan left carrying the torch; a torch he will ultimately pass down to Luke who will one day resolve the impending tragedy.

Tion Medon is a cool character played to perfection by Bruce Spence. If only all performers "got" the material and invested it with the same creativity and energy that Spence does! He's on screen for less than a minute and has only a handful of lines yet he manages to be distinct and memorable. The character's look seems to plug into the "monster movie" aesthetic of Revenge of the Sith, too. It's "win, win, win" from where I'm sitting.

Now some comments about the Clone War itself. There's a brilliant line in the exchange between Obi Wan and Tion Medon: "There's no war here. Unless you've brought it with you." Who says Lucas can't write dialogue? That's amusing. On a more serious note, we can see how the war has encroached on a peaceful culture and ecosystem: the metallic structures of the Trade Federation are a blight on the symbiotic relationship between the inhabitants and the land. This is a skillful continuation of a vital theme begun in TPM (and it has a close companion in that film, too: as seen when the invading Trade Federation ships, in one of TPM's earliest sequences, plow through and crush vegetation on Naboo).

Boga is another cool creation. Exotic creatures and beasts of burden are a staple of Star Wars. There's always room for one more! In this case, too, the unique combination of Obi Wan and Boga - "warrior" and "dragon" - recalls any number of Medieval tales and folklore. It's a literate idea that opens the mythology of Star Wars up that little bit more and provides some visceral energy to boot. The rendering of Boga, while by no means perfect, is up to a very high standard, too. This is digital filmmaking done right. Bravo!

 

Very interesting and complex chapter. I've always felt that we spend a little too long following Obi-Wan's adventure on Utapau, and it takes us away from Anakin rather too much, nevertheless, you can't get away from fact that Star Wars is based on Saturday Matinee Serials, and even in the darkest chapter, that subplot of fun adventure serial is evident (but to a much lesser extent than any of the other movies with the exception of ESB, perhaps) And as this kind of adventure is bread and butter Star Wars (along with the space battles) I can't help but enjoy it.

One of the best things about this chapter is Obi-Wan's actual arrival. Utapau is such a dynamic planet, and the views we see as Obi-Wan's starfighter glides across the windswept landscape and down into the sink-hole are great - As is John Williams' score - A beautiful rendition of The Force Theme (and we get several wonderful "force theme" reprise's during the later sequences, and these reprise's get more and more ominous and desperate as the sequence goes on)

Bruce Spence's character, Tion Meddon is such an unusual looking creation and congratulations have to go to Bruce Spence, the LFL art department, and of course Trisha Biggar. All these people were responsible for bringing Tion to life and even though he only has a few lines, he makes the character such an interesting person that you just can't help but want to know more about. I love it when he tells Obi-Wan; "There is no war here. Unless you brought it with you." That line is just SO full if mythological context and irony. I then love his confession to Obi-Wan that General Grevious is watching them and holding them hostage - He pulls off these lines so well. As he walks slowly away he looks so graceful, elegent and wise - Not unlike a tall version of Yoda, actually. I'm kinda sad that he couldn't have had a larger role in ROTS and couldn't have been involved in Obi-Wan's escape once the Clones turn.

Now the second half of the scene sets up Obi-Wan beginning his search for GG, and the introducution of Boga. I've got to say I've got mixed emotions about Boga. The noise she made was kinda irritating, but the way ILM pulled off the effect of Obi-Wan riding her has softened my attitude towards her. If you look back at the previous movies, ILM has had a decidely "mixed" history in bringing to life live-action actors riding CGI monsters/animals (thinking of the meadow and Arena scenes in AOTC especially) But this time ILM absolutely nailed the effect, IMO, and I almost the whole time I just can't fault the CGI here. Completely realistic. The mythology of the "dragon" (and Boga is the closest we get to a dragon in the Saga) shouldn't be underestimated and again goes to prove that in a lot of way Revenge of the Sith is the most mythologically rich move of the Saga (again perhaps with the exception of ESB)

 

For having two of my favorite minor characters in the saga--Tion Medon and BOGA--it's an automatic win for me.

 

Ahh utapau ? great dynamics on obi wan?s arrival, skimming the surface and then plunging into the correct sink hole ? love the landing platform, so skeletal, the carcass of a dead animal. And also the visuals going on the background ? nearly familiar flying reptilian creatures and the multi-levels of inhabitation.
Tion medon was so misleading in of the spoilers we saw/heard about ? due in no small part to those perpendicular teeth, which teaches a lesson: appearances are deceiving. The testing by both parties to determine allegiances ? obi wan?s parting words, if you have warriors, now is the time, a near parallel of what yoda will say on kashyyyk. And boga, the amazing boga. The ILM guys really produced stellar work here ? got it so right. Incorporating perhaps the lineage of birds/dinosaurs ?boga, when she?s riled her head feathers stand straight up (I have many friendly birds as pets and recognize that physical transformation when things aren?t normal) ? obi wan and boga work as one unit ? I love that music when they come charging into view and then she rears back ? head feathers erect ? and the camera angle rotates. And I happen to love her vocals. I know it was a necessary cut, but I loved reading how boga was chosen by obiwan ? he used the force to sense her bravery and courage.

 

This is a fantastic chapter. Obi-Wan's arrival on the planet was well done, but is more impressive on the big screen that it is at home (since the biggest TV I have is 32 inches ). Although we only see Tion Meddon in this scene, he's a character that you can't forget, because of the creature design done, in the way that that speaks & how he at first appears to oblivious as to what's going on ("There is no war here..."), but of course immediately we find out that's not true ("There are 1000's of battle droids...") & he is just doing the diplomatic thing with Obi-Wan. Boga is a great addition to the numerous creatures in the GFFA, although I don't have the same passion for her (how in hell do people know the sex of these creatures anyway, does somebody go into ILM & lift up the creatures skirts?)as Moleman does.

 

I absolutely agree that Utapau is one of the greatest worlds in SW. It also helps to create "devilish" mood of this film with its vampire-like inhabitants and infernal location. Here is something what I had found some time ago and already posted in SW Saga forum, but I enjoy this small discovery so mu7ch that please forgive me being repetitive:

On the left you have The Abyss of Hell by Sandro Botticelli, 1480s painting from Biblioteca Vaticana in Rome, representing visual interpretation of Dante's Inferno, with a comment:

Dante imagined Hell as being an abyss with nine circles, which in turn divided into various rings. Botticelli's cross-section view of the underworld is drawn so finely and precisely that it is possible to trace the individual stops made by Dante and Virgil on their descent to the centre of the earth. (underline comes from me - remember 10th level?)
On the right - sth familiar. See similarities?
[image=http://www.wga.hu/art/b/botticel/93dante/10hell.jpg] [image=http://www.starwars.jp/location/image/utapau.jpg]

 

I like the whole Dante's Inferno comparison and the fact that Utapau is the start of Order 66 is pretty chilling.

Ironically the grotto at the bottom is a place of death as Obi-Wan and Boga fall. The newly controlled troops think Kenobi and Boga are dead.

 

Man, I love Obi-Wan, I love Utapau, Tion and Boga. Soooooo good.

I wish we got more "fugitive" Obi-Wan, I too imagined this quite differently, always wish we had the deleted scenes with Boga selection and hiding from the probe droids.

There's also the scene in the Animatics Hyperspace video that shows Obi-Wan killing droids whilst riding Boga - wanted that badly!

 

Good chapter. Nice music. Tion Medon is a great character. Though during production it was assumed that his role would be slightly larger than it really was. But that's okay. He looks awesome. Great job by the design team. Also a good casting job with Bruce Spence by Christina King. The rest of the aliens look okay, though nothing special.

Boga looked better than the Reek and Nexu. It's a toss up with the Acklay though. The sound she makes was annoying at first, but I drowned it out eventually. I like the other creatures hanging about too. It kinda reminded me though of Canyon City in Dinotopia though. Just like Naboo reminds me of Waterfall city in Dinotopia and the Ewok village reminds me of tree town. At least Mustafar didn't remind me of Volcaneum.

 

Ive been thinking about it and I think the reason that real Obi-wan riding CG Boga looks so much better than other CG rideable creatures in Star Wars is because Obi-wan used a saddle. Im sure that made it much easier for the animators having a the clear edge of it to put Boga around.

 

Yes, I agree with every single word above!

I really regret that Tion wasn't given bigger part (as I had imagined earlier).
I think they might have left at least this one small additional scene from screenplay
when he talks to Magna Guard after meeting Obi. It's very small and insignificant, but is showing at least a little example that he is protecting Kenobi in a way, by pretending ignorance and cheating Separatists.

 

Great chapter.
Utapau is an amazing planet, I love the greens of the planet's surface with the multiple moons hanging over it. The sinkholes are a completely different, and fantastically designed world. I love all the little platforms sticking out of the walls, and especially the one Obi-Wan lands his fighter in: it kinda looks like a skeleton.

Tion Meddon is a great character, too bad his part is so small.
The design of his species is something really different: he kinds looks like a vampire, with his gray complection and red costume. He even speaks with a bit of a Rumanian accent, and addressed Obi-Wan as a "young" Jedi.
Tion reminds me of that guy in the cantina in ANH, and I think Utapau is a planet that actually could have been in ANH: the planet's entire colorscheme, the "simple" (use of masks) yet effective design of the Pauans, as well as all the dragon-like creatures that inhabit the planet.

I love the tension in this scene. Tion tries to keep his cool as he speaks to Obi-Wan, though his voice is trembling a little, especially when he says "there is no war here", which is a great line, indeed. Also great was how Tion bends over and whispers "he is here", and especially the freaky close up where he reveals his teeth, when he says "thousands of battle droids". That little command he gave the Utai in his native speech was great too.

Another great thing is that little exchange between Tion and one of his aides: "Is he bringing additional warriors?" "He didn't say"; for me it implicates that they have full trust in a Jedi handling the matter.
I loved the shot of Obi-Wan looking up as his fighter takes off.

Boga is a fantastiscally designed creature: the beak and feathers of a bird, the body of a lizzard, and she makes the sound that reminds me off the call of dolphins, which I didn't find annoying at all.

 

Interestingly enough, this sequence made its way into the ROTS junior novelization, with only one sentence describing it:

The trouble with droids is that they can't think, Obi-Wan told himself as he hacked his way through the battle droids that still clogged the sinkhole tunnel city on Utapau.

The sequence occurs after Commander Cody returns Obi-Wan his lightsaber. Apparently, it must have been cut out at a rather late stage in post-production for Patricia C. Wrede to include it in her book.

 

A couple of fast facts concerning what you mentioned that may be of interest:

1. The ROTS Visual Dictionary says the name of that aide of Tion Medon is Lampay Fay.
2. The krayt dragon noise Obi-Wan makes in ANH to scare off the Tusken Raiders is replaced in the Special Edition DVD's by Boga's call. I sense that in those few hours on Utapau, Obi and Boga became great allies. Of course, for Ben to do that, another question is raised: Are there varactyls in the Jundland Wastes of Tatooine?

 

For me,all the Utapau scenes are pretty much perfect,not to mention the visuals are amazing.I never doubted this place existed for a moment.Imho,the start of this chapter ends the slight lull the movie took after the opening space battle (really starting from the "hairbrush" scene on).From here,the movie hits it's second stride and it's all pretty much gravy and some of the best Star Wars has ever been from this point on (again,imho).

If I have a complaint about this chapter at all,it's that I don't understand where Obi-Wan is standing in relation to Genereral Grievous when he is looking down on him.Obi-Wan seems to be looking down away from himself,at an angle towards screen right (there's an apparent point of view shot of GG and the separatist leaders that shows he's a little ways from Obi-Wan,towards screen right as well).Grievous then tells the separatist leaders that their ship is waiting and everyone walks towards the right,which is futher away from where Obi-Wan is standing above.Obi watches for a few moments,jumps straight down,and some how ends up directly behind the General,when the angle that Obi-Wan was looking and the direction Grievous walked towards suggested that he was several yards away from that spot.Can anyone make sense of this?

 

Did anyone notice how different all of the varactyls look?

 

thanks for the reminder tatooine fireman - obiwan with his hood on looking up as his starfighter departs piloted by the R4G9 droid. a very mystic and spiritual looking obiwan there. it's one of my favorite images of him.

kind of nostalgically sad reminder of obiwan on geonosis - trying to sneak around, uncovering the plans of the separatists and dooku. AotC seems so long ago, doesn't it?

 

Great catch here darth-amedda! Yes...it's another subliminal twist on an earthbound mythological reference like so many brillantly scattered throughout the saga...

I'm in total agreement with those here who love Utapau...it is one of the more fascinating worlds in SW and this chapter takes us there in a great way. From Obi-Wan's starfighter detaching from the hyperspace ring (love the multi-engined upgrade from AOTC) to his sweeping approach across the vivid landscape to the decent into that abyss...it's perfect.

Obi-Wan's interaction with the striking Tion Mendon (brilliantly essayed by Bruce Spence with maximum effect with minimum screen time)is a great glimpse of a jedi at work. As they banter lightly to size each other up, it's done with an attitude of mutual respect. And Mendon's line..."There's no war here...unless you brought it with you." is classic Lucas wordspeak. Do real people talk like that? Of course not, but they do in that galaxy far, far away and we love it!

It's also interesting to observe the visual shorthand of the caste system existing on Utapau...the tall, regal Utapauns and the squat, bubble-eyed Uti. While the Utapauns carry themselves with a regal grace, the Uti bounce around with communal enthusiasm, servicing Obi-Wan's ship with the flair of a racing car's tech team, right down to the fun "thumbs-up-service-with-smile" gesture reminiscent of those '50s' gas stations...

Another of my favorite little details in this scene is when we cut to the balcony platform where the magnaguard approaches, he stops and strikes his staff on the floor with a sound that took this ole' boy back to Malificent's wicked entrance in the classic Disney feature "Sleeping Beauty"..right down to that distinctive "thwack" sound...another in a long line of ultra-subtle homages that float in the background and pull at our collective consciousness... It's also interesting that we get a glimpse of the hierarchy...the magnaguard is accompanied by two lowly battledroids and is obviously in command of the surveillance. It just looks cool...

And Boga! This is hands-down for me one of the best beasts in the saga...almost bumps Tauntaun out of the top spot for me. Like Tauntaun, Boga is a loyal steed...distinctive to her environment and what an entrance! With barely bridled energy she bursts forth to a terrific leaping fanfare of enthusiasm and dust. Her distinctive honking call adds to the wonder. And yes, rider and mount have never been more effectively wed as an effect as they are here...well done ILM!

This is another sequence where Williams, Wood & Burtt are in perfect sync...the music and the soundscape create the stunning epic sweep for the scene (especially the ship approach and Boga leaping into action).

It's another fully realized and terrific chapter...

 

Whoops,I didn't realize this part of the movie wasn't untill the next chapter.

 

Oh yes, very much so. Utapau is probably the most OT-ish location in the entire PT. The main reasons:

1) Its name comes from the early drafts of ANH screenplays where it is used for desert planet and only later was replaced with Tatooine.
2) Of course the earth-like colours and harsh appearence might make it more suitable for ANH, but it's also worth to remember that this world is based on the old concept arts by Ralph McQuarrie representing Alderaan (Crevice City and plains on the surface of the planet).
3) And yes, Tion reminds me even more than one, but several bald guys from Cantina.
4) The behaviour of these small alien wranglers reminds me - to some extend - the way Jawas behave.

 

I love Tion Meddan's royal guards. Esp. the design. Its like a cross between Palpatine's own red guards and Darth Revan's mask. I just noticed their masks on my last viewing. I love em. They have that ancient, royal and mysterious yet darkish look. Good Chapter. Love the inferno thing, I finnaly understand the dramatic importance of cutting straight to the camera falling down into the sinkhole from Vader marching on the Jedi temple.