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I Have You Now!

date posted: Dec 06, 2005 11:20 AM | updated: Sep 26, 2007 10:45 AM

Obi-Wan's Pain

In between all of the big, epic moments in ROTS, sometimes there is a moment of just a few seconds that surprises me in its subtle but emotional intensity. Right after the Mustafar duel, Obi-Wan is headed toward Polis Massa. He puts his head in his hand and looks absolutely stricken and exhausted. This was such a profound moment. His closest friend has turned to the dark side, and Obi-Wan has just seen him burnt to a crisp and believes that he has killed him. He must feel the most betrayed he has ever felt. Obi-Wan is usually in control of his emotions and reactions and always recognizes that his duties have priority; he is the textbook Jedi. But when he expresses his emotions in such a manner, it reminds us how deeply he has been affected. I think that Ewan McGregor really pulled off this moment effectively. It strikes a great balance in Obi-Wan's personality, and it makes Obi-Wan seem more impressive to me, in that, despite this great pain, he still lives on in a dignified manner and does what he must.

Comments are welcome!

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	cpitman
date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 11:31 AM I absolutely agree with you ewanandhaydenfan5! Ewan McGregor does a wonderful job emoting as a stricken Obi-Wan. I did think, however, that when he was watching Anakin killing younglings in the temple hologram he could have shown a little more shock or suprise and horror.

Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal

date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 11:42 AM

Absolutely! For me, it was Obi-wan putting his hand on C3PO's shoulder as he climbed aboard ship. It was like a parent addressing a child for whom events far exceed their ability to understand, try as they might. The droids brought Padme aboard knowing she needed assistance, but 3PO lacked the faculties to understand the entirety of the damage done that day and Obi-wan knew this. Without saying a word, he let 3PO knew he appreciate his help. It was touching and meaningful for me. Cool!

	prettypadme999
date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 12:00 PM Yes, I totally agree...it does it for me when he says, "you were my brother Anikan, and i loved you." yes, I also agree with you, Kenobi-fan(when do I not? )

	Son of a Bith The Cantina Corner
date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 2:02 PM I agree with you all. And the snobby critics say these movies don't have any emotion and us funs are only there for the SFX...(annoyed snort) cpitman, it is not unusual for people who have witnessed something horrible and traumatic to just completely shut down and become numb. He seemed to be in denial until after the fight.

	Son of a Bith The Cantina Corner
date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 2:02 PM oops I mean fans not funs.

Grand Admiral Veers0

date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 2:16 PM

As always with Star Wars, there are plenty more of these moments:

The look on Obi's face when he closes the cupboard on the ship he stoys away on
Anakin glaring at the Council after being told to "take a seat, young Skywalker"
Palpatine's look of triumph as he blasts Mace out of his window
Yoda's downcast expression when Obi-Wan learns whom destroyed the Temple
Obi-Wan as he reveals himself to General Grievous and his army on Utapau
Ki-Adi-Mundi as he sees why his troops have stopped...
R2-D2's calm demeanor as he disposes of the super battle droids

And so forth

macewindu882
Don't Go All Chewie On Me!

date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 3:24 PM

macewindu882
Don't Go All Chewie On Me!

date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 3:26 PM

cestus183

date Posted: Dec 06, 2005 8:03 PM

Yeah, Obi-Wan was always criminally underrated...
he could have shown a little more shock or suprise and horror.
True, but he sorta skipped straight to the misery. He probably took the Jedi training into consideration.
Ewan McGregor does a wonderful job emoting as a stricken Obi-Wan.
He always does

It was a hard role to play (controlled emotions=less dramatics) and he did it beautifully. You should've seen him in Moulin Rouge. Gut-wrenching.
The look on Obi's face when he closes the cupboard on the ship he stoys away on
i totally agree

jkelly
There Is No Conflict

date Posted: Apr 18, 2006 8:58 PM

Hey, I'm looking through your old entries. This is a good one.

For a long time, I've been impressed by the "synergy" between McGregor and Guiness (mmm ... Guiness

). McGregor's a great actor and he was superb as the young Obi-Wan in the entire OT.

It shows he was "living in the moment" during the duel because he only took the time to regret what happened after his job was done.

ewanandhaydenfan5
I Have You Now!

date Posted: Apr 19, 2006 2:11 PM

"synergy" between McGregor and Guiness
(mmm ... McGregor

)

*ewanandhaydenfan5 shakes head vigorously and comes back to reality*

Ewan is a great younger Alec Guiness, physically and character-wise. On one of the "Making of" docs, they said that the triangular area of the face that's made up of the chin, nose, and mouth is the area that, if you look like someone else, is the area where the resemblance will be apparent. They showed that Guiness' and Ewan's faces in that area were very similar.

I really think that Ewan did a great job picking up the nuances of Guiness' voice, mannerisms, and quiet dignity.

ewanandhaydenfan5
I Have You Now!

date Posted: Apr 19, 2006 2:19 PM

"living in the moment" during the duel
Right. That's part of what impressed me about Obi-Wan...his sense of duty and his uncompromising devotoion to the Light Side. I don't know if he regretted what he'd done to Ani. He knew that Ani had definitely fallen to the Dark and tried to bring him back, only to fail at that (not Obi's fault). As Obi said to Padme, Ani was a great threat. It's not a black-and-white issue. On one hand, letting Ani die on Mustafar would end his physical torment. On the other hand, it's not easy to kill someone who was, a very short time ago, your dearest friend.

	cbern Omega Squad's 5th member
date Posted: Jun 12, 2006 4:57 PM he is great for living thru that he desreves an honorary jedi medal

brooklooineghost
Just a simple mom trying to make my way in the (expanded) universe

date Posted: Nov 11, 2006 1:03 PM

yes!! yes! a thousand times yes!

i know its retarded to be this belated in my comments, but i was just looking back on your older stuff when i saw your response to 1 of my entries, and the title for this one caught my eye ... aside from my own SW obsession, i think anyone would have to give EMcG serious props for 'becoming' the younger Obi-Wan, but this point particularly did it for me. so much action takes place in each saga (and in each character's life) that sometimes you forget that these stories are very personal for the characters involved.

	brooklooineghost Just a simple mom trying to make my way in the (expanded) universe
date Posted: Nov 11, 2006 1:04 PM Obi-Wan had lived a life where he was trained not to give any thought to his own needs, and this one moment where he takes the time to stop responding as a jedi , and seems to really absorb the loss of his best friend AND his way of life - it gets me every time. love him, love ewan, loved what you had to say!

	ewanandhaydenfan5 I Have You Now!
date Posted: Nov 12, 2006 3:26 PM Brook, no problem about responding late. I love to get comments any time! not to give any thought to his own needs Exactly. That's what makes that moment all the more poignant. Poor guy....

	Qui-Gon Reborn The Fifth Dimension
date Posted: Aug 18, 2008 11:46 PM Ewan was a phenomenal Obi-Wan! But I think we tend to see the Jedi as somehow superhuman somtimes, losing sight of their humanity as a result of their extraordinary abilities. So when their human pain and joy shows...its a moment as terrible as profound. Great work!

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