[Obi-Ken Barbi]

Mace Windu gets intelligence that Palpatine is the "Sith Lord". Windu goes to Palpatine's quarters to confront/arrest him. Mace Windu brings three jedi with him. Confrontation scene dialogue ends with Palpatine Sidious saying ". . . so it is treason then." Sidious whips out a light saber and instantly slays three of the jedi, leaving Mace Windu to confront him on his own.

Ignoring the fact that the Jedi have been dumbasses all through Episodes I- III (Clone army, Sith lord right next to them, por treatment of Anikan), let's examine the death of those three "duputy" jedi (Windu can play sheriff).

Those three "deputy" jedi die nearly instantaneously. They do not block, dodge nor cross swords with Sidious. They are just struck down like little newbie jedi. Mace Windu is either unable or unwilling to protect them from Sidious's attack. What are the possible explanations for this series of events?

1. Mace Windu and the deputies are surprised when the Darth Sidious doesn't come willingly.

2. The "sheriff" deputies aren't powerful enough to defend themselves against Sidious.

3. Lucas writes for crap (ok this is the real reason we all know, but we have to ingore it in favor of discovering a possible plausible explanation.)

If someone has an alternative hypothesis, I'd be happy to hear it. Let's take a look at theories 1 & 2.

1. Somehow, despite the fact that Mace Windu has had the foresight to bring a posse to confront and arrest Palpatine, they are surprised by him springing to action and resisting. They continue in the I-III tradition of being stupid dumbasses. Are they arresting a Sith Boy Scout? No. Are they arresting a Sith Sargeant? No. They are arresting a SITH LORD FFS! If I were going to arrest a Sith Lord, I wouild anticipate a little bit of resistance, wouldn't you? The idea that they are surprised by Palpatine's attack is absurd. (I suppose one might argue that they are caught off guard by the speed and ferocity of Palpatine's attack. But this is just a variation of the stupidity argument.) Which leads us to theory two . . .

2. Mace Windu, expecting a confrontation, brings backup - three jedi to help him confront the Sith Lord. Except, the three jedi are absolutely no help at all. Did he grab the newly graduated jedi? "You there? Welcome to the temple. Come with me to help arrest a sith lord. What's that? No, I'm not expecting any trouble, just routine arresting a Sith Lord. . ." Mace Windu would have been better off going alone than to bring three jedi that could not defend themselves nor be any help to him arresting Palpatine.

So, this scene still bothers me, because I can only make sense of it by calling the Jedi stupid, which I hate to do, as I have been been imagining the glories of jedi-dom since I was 8 years old.

Shame, for shame.

Does anyone have a better explanation?

This post has been edited by Obi-Ken Barbi: 27 May 2005 - 11:20 AM

[floppydisk]

Nope, as was stated in the Mace Windu thread I made, the best (and really only) explination is number 3.

Mace Windu: Logs on as administrator
*Palpatine has been kicked from the server*
Palpatine: /\/0!11 1 4/\/\ 73h 1337 h4xx0r!11!
*Palpatine deletes Jedi gaurd 1*
*Palpatine deletes Jedi gaurd 2*
*Palpatine deletes Jedi gaurd 3*
Mace Windu: OMG! Pwn!
Palpatine: n00b5

This post has been edited by floppydisk: 27 May 2005 - 11:32 AM

[Dunedain]

First, I absolutely despised that scene. The only scene in the flick I hated. I was so pissed off that I sat there spitting curses and had to force myself not to punch the guy sitting next to me in the gut.

What are the possible explanations for this series of events?

Sure, simple. When Palpatine let out Satan's howl, it was a massive dark-side scream that stunned the Jedi, giving Palpatine the momentary advantage. Mace was the only one strong enough to be able to adequately defend himself from the effect, while still a little reeled by the dark-side "explosion". The others couldn't recover in time, giving Palpatine the chance to gig two of them, then turn and make quick work of squid-head who was just recovering.

[floppydisk]

You didn't laugh at my leet joke.

[Dunedain]

Mace Windu: Logs on as administrator
*Palpatine has been kicked from the server*
Palpatine: /\/0!11 1 4/\/\ 73h 1337 h4xx0r!11!
*Palpatine deletes Jedi gaurd 1*
*Palpatine deletes Jedi gaurd 2*
*Palpatine deletes Jedi gaurd 3*
Mace Windu: OMG! Pwn!
Palpatine: n00b5

HaHa! That is f'in GOLD!

[floppydisk]

[barend]

i was just watching that sceen with a friend...

the second guy doesn't even block...

i actually defended that one...

i put it down to shock...

like a bunch of Un inspectors over at the white house and dubya pulls out a light sabre and hacks down the romanian representative, the others would be just standing there going WTF?!?

[Chefelf]

like a bunch of Un inspectors over at the white house and dubya pulls out a light sabre and hacks down the romanian representative, the others would be just standing there going WTF?!?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is a pretty valid point. Though if GWB whipped out a lightsaber it may be more of a shock since they don't seem to exist in this universe, contrary to what some idiots may try at home.

The scene did seem rather dumb. While it wouldn't have made much sense for him to do so, I think it would have been a better scene had Windu confronted Palpatine alone. Either that or show Palpatine quickly dispatch Jedi that we've seen prove themselves powerful in the past (and not just swimming around in the Clone Wars cartoon).

[Dartholomew]

This scene is just another addition to the reality that the Jedi before the PT were thought of as mysterious, wise, and powerful warriors, but when we actually finally see them in action they are a bunch of weak, trifling, senseless idiots. Big thumbs down. I have been waiting for these films since I was a small kid and the letdown that I have received is tremendous. Kinda like the Matrix series but the anticipation of that trilogy was not as great or built up as this one. Why don't these movie makers not listen to their fans.

[Radu094]

If you look carefully you can see that Mace leaves the Jedi temple alone. He tells Anakin to wait in the Coucil room.. then files off. But when he arrives at the Emperor.. he has escorts. Where did he get them from?

The street I tell you. Jedi were all spread out at the outer-rim of the galaxy.. so he picked out two fierce looking guys from the street :"Here.. grab this lightsaber and look sharp. He'll never know the diference". Mace was pretty cunning.



And yeah.. I second that: The chancelor of the republic not only has a lightsaber.. .but is constantly left alone durring the movie just so conveniently so he can fight.

dubya pulls out a light sabre and hacks down the romanian representative

Hey, I'm from Romania !

[floppydisk]

As long as you're not the representative, you'll be okay.

The street I tell you. Jedi were all spread out at the outer-rim of the galaxy.. so he picked out two fierce looking guys from the street :"Here.. grab this lightsaber and look sharp. He'll never know the diference". Mace was pretty cunning.  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[barend]

the worse thing about this scene is when anikan walks in....

the whole palpy playing anikan like a chump was beautiful... and that climax was just all wrong...

it really lost something...

especially "What have i done!??" anikan delivers like shit...

watch it again and tell me love that delivery... he does like a bitch!!!

[Mnesymone]

Why didn't mace go in solo, and whistle for the other Jedi when he and palps were locked into the fight?

Why didn't he take Anakin, who, though not the greatest fighter out there, doesn't poop out quite as readily as most PT Jedi Knights?
Also it means Anakin wouldn't have had time to brood and decide to save palps.

Instead Mace stuffs up megabucks.

[Storm Shadow]

If you look carefully you can see that Mace leaves the Jedi temple alone. He tells Anakin to wait in the Coucil room.. then files off. But when he arrives at the Emperor.. he has escorts. Where did he get them from?

um....they were in the transport when he took off. Thanks for playing though.

[Obi-Ken Barbi]

Sure, simple. When Palpatine let out Satan's howl, it was a massive dark-side scream that stunned the Jedi, giving Palpatine the momentary advantage. Mace was the only one strong enough to be able to adequately defend himself from the effect, while still a little reeled by the dark-side "explosion". The others couldn't recover in time, giving Palpatine the chance to gig two of them, then turn and make quick work of squid-head who was just recovering.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can see you've thought this over. Your explanation is better than mine and I think I'll cling to it so the movie makes more sense for me.

I'll watch this scene closely when I watch the movie again (which will probably be when it is on DVD).