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Originally posted by: Jedikev
Special Effects are not important...the characters are.
Not to the current generation of movie goers. The 20-somethings these days haven't come up in a culture where they use their imagination. They've had bright, quickly-moving images hold their attention for them. No time to do any deep thinking, the movie will tell them what to think. The movie will tie up all the loose ends for them. Don't bother using your brain to think or contribute to the story with your imagination.
TV is the same way now. Shows and commercials both. An image-a-second, nothing on the screen for more than 3 seconds. Don't let people actually look at the product or do any real thinking about it. Just keep the image or speaker moving, making the viewer chase it around the screen. Oh yeah, and occasionally switch between black and white and color, or clear and grainy. That will make it seem artistic. Most modern-day directors don't need any real editing skills or storytelling skills.
The 3 new Star Wars films have been heavily criticized (and rightly so) for having terrible acting and no story. They don't need any of that these days. Lucas knows his audience - 12 - 25 year olds sitting in the theatre looking up at the big picture, mouth slightly open, thinking to themselves - "look at the pretty colors moving around, aah, one of them go boom".
I'm fine with that, by the way. I have no issues with it what-so-ever. I don't have to watch them. Don't have to participate in the hype or buy the official Padme Doritos or Anakin Limited Edition Lava Berry Explosion Pop Tarts. What I have an issue with is Lucas changing a 28 year old film's story line and characters so that it better fits the new generation of consumers.
You can release both versions George, really, it's not that big a deal. No one will think less of you.
Now, I just need to get my hands on a good DVD of the original 1977 version so I can watch it the way I want to see it.
With my Star Wars lunchbox sitting next to me.
Sorry for the rant.