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Lucas changes around Star Wars movies yet again.
RetroACTIVE:
It's easy to like these movies when you are 7.
For the record, Yoda in TPM was a debacle. His puppet maker f-d it up, not Frank Oz. Stewart Freeborn was a big part of what made Yoda and Jabba work as puppets in ESB and RTOJ.
Like most I don't care anymore... I have copies of the versions I like.
danny_galaga:
--- Quote from: Donkbaca on September 02, 2011, 02:04:04 pm ---The books are dumb because the whole universe has this retarded notion that within 20 or so years a ruling, prominent, elite level of society would be completely forgotten.
The movies are dumb because nobody gives a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about what darth vader was like when he was a pre-teen
--- End quote ---
The books are also dumb because Lucas pretty much made the story up as he went along for the very first movie. I don't think it wasn't even considered 'episode 4'. Then he crossed his fingers and 'holy crap! We made so much money, we can make a sequel! I better write something...'. Which is no bad thing, since the second movie was even better...
jimfath:
A few things to know about Lucas. His original cut of Star Wars (ep4) in '77 was flat out shot down by the studio. Their biggest complaint with Lucas's edit was that it looked like a soap opera. Lots of stagnate scenes of people standing around talking making the action sequences suffer from lack of momentum. The studio had a team of in house editors completely redo it to the version that you all know and love.
He's also not an actors director. Many actors, notably Harrison Ford, have often said Lucas is impatient with actors on the set and often doesn't look for emotion in scenes. Hayden Christiansen certainly blew on camera but so did Oscar winner Natalie Portman (debate aside for her Oscar) the dialog and the direction didn't help either of them. It might sound stupid but basic story telling should make an audience feel things. Lucas's obsession with special effects, science fantasy, and epic battle sequences fall short when you don't care or don't even know the characters or what the f*ck is going on. So you're left essentially watching a video game. Sh*t... even those make you feel things if you're playing a well done PC game with cut scenes and a story with characters you are even slightly invested in.
The special effects are what made lucas what he is. That opening shot of a giant Star destroyer was the first of it's kind and it amazed and inspired. No one is arguing that. Unfortunately, when he's at the helm, he tends to have lots of people standing around and talking. If you watch THX-1138 (and I don't suggest you do) you'll see his style has been pretty consistent over the years. It's even present in American Graffiti though I personally enjoy the way that makes the movie feel in certain respects.
As far as updating the films, that's his prerogative. Broadway remounts old shows and updates them all the time. There are always people complaining that the original was better and they are probably right. There was no predecessor to compare it to. It's the same thing I say to people that say The Clash or the Beatles suck. You're looking at them with a line of things that came after them.
It's nice that you can watch the originals while Old George tries to reboot and change something people already like. It think it's foolish but, at this point, he's never going to do anything else. This is ALL he has.
Since we're all NERDING out I HIGHLY suggest you watch the Red Letter Media reviews of the Phantom menace. They're kinda long BUT are funny and totally On point.
Then of course there's this.
RayB:
I'm not a fanatic but I'd like to watch the original trilogy some time, without any BS additions or "enhancements". What's frustrating is not having both available. Yeah he can do whatever he wants with his movies, but let us buy the originals if we want. They are part of geek and sci-fi history.
I have to wonder though if this is just his way of extending copyright of the work.
cgrisamore:
The comment earlier in this thread that observed that Lucas has been tinkering with Star Wars all along is correct. I was 18 years old in 1977 and was a die hard Star Wars fan, seeing it 13 times in the theater during its original release. Later in the 80's when I was able to rent a VHS copy I spotted that the voice of Luke's aunt Beru had been redubbed during the kitchen conversation with Uncle Owen (although interestingly enough the original actresses voice remains in other places even now).
At that time, pre Internet, there was no easy way to verify this difference but it always bugged me as I clearly remembered the line "I think so" being said with a tired world weary delivery and the replaced line is said in a bright and cheery manner with a rising inflection. It's been subsequently confirmed that this replacement was made circa 1978. No question this is very minor tinkering compared to what's followed but it seems that Lucas is never finished with this film.