1203 replies to this topic

[Brian Flagg]

Saw the EP III trailer on the FoxMovieChannel and even I, the jaded and heartbroken by EPs I and II thought it looked pretty darned good. Still don't know if I'm going to go see it, as I have no clue what any of these new movies are about. I also noticed that they tracked the trailer with Empire Strikes Back music. Smart move, if they want us oldsters back!

Just recently picked up Dark Horse Comics reprints of the old and to me, classic Star Wars comic series, which is what we first generation Star Wars fans had to tide us over for the three years between movies. They have aged rather well, and are still good reads.

Edited by Brian Flagg, 14 November 2004 - 12:40 AM.

[Harmsway]

I don't think Lucas ever really has done it right. If you look at the strengths of TESB and ROTJ, they are simply due to better script doctors/directors/etc. ANH/Star Wars had the benefit of a studio to keep GL in check. The fact Lucas had smaller involvement was a huge benefit. The prequels just back this up by showing what happens when Lucas does it all by his self and has free reign.

I second that. If you look at his original drafts of Star Wars, they were HORRIBLE. Ugh. It was by the grace of god that ANH turned out to be as cool as it did. TESP and ROTJ's success were entirely due to the influence of Lawrence Kasdan. Lucas' original intentions with both of those sequels make me shudder.

[gkgyver]

Yesterday I had the misfortune to watch the trailer in the theatre before "National Treasure" and I really have to say that this minute or so was reason enough for me to avoid the third (sixth) movie.

I'm really sorry, but it just LOOKS awful. And the story, well ... we know how the film ends, don't we?

I will probably get the soundtrack, though; the only saving grace.

[gkgyver]

Yesterday I had the misfortune to watch the trailer in the theatre before "National Treasure" and I really have to say that this minute or so was reason enough for me to avoid the third (sixth) movie.

I'm really sorry, but it just LOOKS awful. And the story, well ... we know how the film ends, don't we?

I will probably get the soundtrack, though; the only saving grace.

[blofeld123]

Besides James Bond, I am a Star Wars fanatic. I know almost every creature in every movie understand the plotlines to the fullest, and have published several fan fictions on the Mandolorian war. For those of you who don't know the Mandalorian war was the post-sith war before KOTOR took place and before the jedi. Star WArs truly is the work of genius.

[blofeld123]

very true JJ. The funny thing is the fans get most excited when the prequels show kernals of classic trilogy imagry such as stormtroopers, Empire,Fetts...kinda shows that the "new" stuff has been a failure.

No! George Lucas simply adds to the trilogy. You may think the classics were just a tiny bit better like I do, but episode 1 and 2 were box office hits and are thought of as classics so why not episode 3?

[Harmsway]

Who said they're thought of as classics? Only the die-hard fans would dare to consider them that. We'll only know if they're classics in 10-20 years. And I would say, as many do, that the Original Trilogy is lightyears ahead of the junk Lucas has put out now.

On a different note, I'm reminded of what my friend said about the Episode III trailer: "I thought the Episode III trailer looked awesome, but then I remembered that George Lucas sucks balls."

[Prav_007]

Has anyone seen on the Conan o Brien where Triumph the insult dog interviews the Stars Wars Nerds? Omigod, that was hilarious, and those dudes need a LIFE, BIG TIME!! Lucas can lose us as fans, but not those guys who live in their basement with their parents that are over 30 years old!! Sorry if I offended any of you, my apologies.

[The_Mole]

I saw a fake EpIII trailer the other day, with some dodgy voiceover...

"Anakin-Anakin!!!" Fading out. Why? What was the point?

[Genrewriter]

Has anyone seen on the Conan o Brien where Triumph the insult dog interviews the Stars Wars Nerds? Omigod, that was hilarious, and those dudes need a LIFE, BIG TIME!! Lucas can lose us as fans, but not those guys who live in their basement with their parents that are over 30 years old!! Sorry if I offended any of you, my apologies.

Yeah, that one is pretty hysterical. My favorite part is the truly ironic moment when a Star Trek fan dressed as Spock walks past fliping off the crowd. Now that's a case of the pot and the kettle!

[gkgyver]

>Star WArs truly is the work of genius.<

Then you surely didn't encounter J.R.R. Tolkien yet, did you?

[Loomis]

I used to consider A NEW HOPE the best of the bunch, but I watched it alongside ATTACK OF THE CLONES recently and now feel that AOTC may well be the finest STAR WARS flick ever. Better music than ANH, more plot, and much better effects. And Yoda opening up a can of whupass on the eternally cool Christopher Lee - what more could you want? Roll on REVENGE OF THE SITH.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Oh please...

[Tarl_Cabot]

Just being provocative Loomis? You cannot be serious!!!* think John Macanroe highlight*

[Johnboy007]

Can't see how the music of Attack of the Clones is better. The only new theme you get is Across the Stars. It's just a mixture of every previous film's music.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Better music than ANH? Not really but it's close I guess. The imperial march is a nice touch at the end.

more plot? Yes more plot holes.Absolutely...

and much better effects? If you like cartoons. I miss the SW effects that were three dimmensional...made me suspend my disbelief. Carttons don't do that(EON pay attention).

And Yoda opening up a can of whupass? Maybe the best part of the film but I miss the puppet Yoda. At least I know it was there in front of the actors and not pasted in pixels achieved in Marin County, months after the scene was shot.

[Loomis]

[quote name='Tarl_Cabot' date='8 December 2004 - 20:18']Just being provocative Loomis? You cannot be serious!!!* think John Macanroe highlight*

[Tarl_Cabot]

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is the gold standard.

I do look forward to ROTS. At least we have one childhood favorite franchise film to see in 2005 ( ).

[Loomis]

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is the gold standard.

But don't you think that A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK are (while also very good in places, obviously) a bit boring in places? I think ANH gets a bit bogged down with all the fannying about on the Death Star when Luke and co. are trying to rescue Leia. At least there always seems to be something going on in ATTACK OF THE CLONES.

The first trilogy kind of shows its age as well: the hairstyles and everything....

[Loomis]

I seem to remember reading somewhere once (on AICN, I think) that Spielberg considered ATTACK OF THE CLONES the best STAR WARS flick after THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Harry Knowles is another high profile AOTC supporter:

"This is the most intelligently plotted of the Star Wars films. The most viscerally exciting and thrilling of the Star Wars films. And frankly the most entertaining of the Star Wars films for me."

He also makes some interesting AOTC/Bond comparisons:

This chapter of the STAR WARS saga is essentially the James Bond film to end all James Bond films. James Bond is divided into two characters. Obi Wan and Anakin. M is Yoda, who sends Obi Wan to handle the mystery of the dart and Anakin to safeguard the babe. Now contrary to 90% of the James Bond movies, M (aka Yoda) doesn

[The Dove]

Okay I've said my two cents worth about the Star Wars movies many times, but I don't mind saying it again..
Nothing can top the original trilogy (Empire Strikes Back is my favorite) but I do like the prequel films as well. I tend to look at the whole picture of how the whole story is tied together throughout the five films, which is done very, very well. Granted Phantom Menace is the weakest film, (not enough Darth Maul in my opinion) but I still like it. Same goes for Attack of the Clones (a vast improvement on Phantom Menace..hell that Yoda lightsaber battle with Count Dooku was worth the price of a ticket alone! :D0. Anyways, I'm really stoked for Revenge of the Sith.. we finaly get to see the creation of Vader!

[Tarl_Cabot]

Not at all. I'll admit A NEW HOPE is slow at times but it's just a pacing issue, not a boring film; I don't need a full throddle action film to be entertained. This is the intro to Luke and the post Jedi order universe...I think it works. The hairstyles aren't a problem for me. What would be a problem is to see contemporary hairstyles in Episode III. Fortunately, they're not doing that

Empire is never dull. It's perfect(Lucas was an idiot for "Improving it").

As for Clones, I think that film was boring, even during the first viewing I was bored. The excruciating dialogue between Dorkikan and Padme...nothing "fun" happend until Obi-wan and Jango have a fight...the last 45 minutes are fun but way too cartoony.It's better than I but not by much.Dorkikan ruins every scene. I'd rather watch paint dry than endure that performance again(I don't own any prequels).

[Loomis]

Wasn't there some hardcore STAR WARS fan on the net recently who'd seen a rough cut of REVENGE OF THE SITH? He reckoned it had the potential to be the best film after THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

I agree with The Dove that ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a vast improvement on THE PHANTOM MENACE, and I have a feeling that Lucas will really knock it out of the park with ROTS.

[Loomis]

Empire is never dull. It's perfect(Lucas was an idiot for "Improving it").

Hmmm.... THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is very overrated. Excellent climax, though, and the Yoda scenes rule.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Overrated? I saw 'Empire' on a friday night(I missed the first run in 1980, don't ask why) and Raiders on a saturday, same weekend, both first viewings. I still feel that was the best double feature(weekend) I could ever hope to see in my lifetime. I similiarly expected Spiderman and AOTC(saw them the same day) to be as good but they weren't. Clones was the weaker link.

[Turn]

Empire is never dull. It's perfect(Lucas was an idiot for "Improving it").

Hmmm.... THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is very overrated. Excellent climax, though, and the Yoda scenes rule.

Nice to see somebody else appreciates AOTC. I thought it rebounded nicely from the disaster that was Phantom Menace. But Empire overrated? Never!

The thing that's missing from the modern prequels is a bad- Han Solo cowboy type character to get away from all the mystical Jedi stuff. That's one of the reasons Return of the Jedi annoys me so much, Solo is turned into a yes sir, yes man boring character and left behind any of the rebellious nature that made him appealing to begin with.

[Harmsway]

It's interesting to see this progress...

AOTC the best Star Wars film, Loomis? Certainly not. Sure, it might have better plotting than the rest, but the acting and dialogue is still terrible. And that Yoda/Dooku scene, which is played for laughs, misses a potentially serious dramatic moment.

I agree that TESB might not be as great as fanboys like to think (the whole beginning is a tad slow), but at least the cast interaction and characters are outstanding, and the emotional moments are actually moving (unlike AOTC). I'd much rather have a film with solid cast interaction than solid plotting (but I'd hope I'd never have to choose between the two).

But, IMHO, the entire Star Wars saga is SEVERELY overrated.

[Loomis]

But, IMHO, the entire Star Wars saga is SEVERELY overrated.

Agreed, although I don't think it's nearly as overrated as the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. STAR WARS (in other words, the film Lucas now wants us to call STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE) certainly deserves a place in the movie history books what with being, you know, a phenomenon and everything, but I don't think it or any of the other STAR WARS flicks actually qualifies as a great film, a masterpiece.

[Antiriad]

Im with you Turn, ESB is a great film. Been watching the DVDs lately and they were immensely enjoyable. AOTC was for me a good improvement over TPM - although thats not saying very much!

[gkgyver]

I have to say that when I watched the Star Wars films for the first time a few weeks ago on DVD, they didn't engage me nearly as much as Fellowship of the Ring on DVD two years ago (I was in awe for the rest of the day ).

Certainly the original Star Wars films deserve their place in movie history; they are a phenomenon that opened the minds of many people.
But the prequels are just downright annoying to watch. For me.
Bad effects that serve absolutely no purpose, atrocious acting and boring dialogues.
And maybe I should add that George Lucas himself admitted that he was inspired by Tolkien's LOTR books back in the 60's.
There are loads of hardcore Star Wars fans out there that don't want to accept that, but that's the truth.

Ironically, maybe, if there wasn't a Star Wars trilogy, we wouldn't have a LOTR trilogy today.