One of my favourite authors meets one of my favourite sci-fi settings! The ever-articulate Neal Stephenson with a particularly intelligent look at the entire Star Wars saga for the NY Times. No login? Try bugmenot. (via Boing Boing)

If you watch the movie without doing the prep work, General Grievous - who is
supposed to be one of the most formidable bad guys in the entire "Star Wars"
cycle - will seem like something that just fell out of a Happy Meal.

I can’t say I see this as a bad thing myself. I know some people hate having to work to see the extra stuff (such as the Animatrix or Clone Wars) but I love it when a casual film-goer can enjoy the movie as it stands, whereas someone who is more into the story can explore and enjoy it further.