originally posted by adywan:
The main problem with the PT was that they were badly done. Acting, directing, editing, sound design and most of all the screenplays. If those were on par with the OT then the CGI wouldn't have been such a big issue as it is now. I personally like the visuals. You have to remember that we live in a new age since the OT. Technology advances. If they had used models and had FX techniques that the OT used the movies would have been a lot worse than they are now and the casual audience would have laughed at it.
I'm going to have to disagree with you on if they used FX techniques that the OT used the movies would have been a lot worse and the casual audience would have laughed at it. Sure if they were poorly done, then yes, they would be laughable. But continuing the quality standard the OT and using advancements in technology to subtly improve the models while still staying true to the tone of the OT I would prefer physical models over CGI and I think most people here would agree with me. When I read negative reviews at imdb.com of the prequels most people said that they prefered the FX techniques of the OT over the new stuff. Yes, they said they used a lot of models for the PT, but it all looked like CGI to me. I really couldn't tell it apart. I think the digital cameras are what give the movie that slightly animated look. But most, if not, all movies are now recorded with digital cameras these days and they all certaintly don't look animated like the PT so I'm not sure.
Thirdly, about the fact that the jedi are very acrobatic then ever since ESB we saw a taster of what a jedi can do. luke jumping out of the carbon chamber at lightening speed and then in ROTJ doing a back flip up onto a balcony. And he wasn't a fully trained jedi. so having them doing the kind of stunts they do in the PT wasn't a bad thing. Although there is no way i would have had Yoda dong all the stuff he did.
Yes, I know we saw Luke do some back flip jumps in training on degobah, jumping out of the carbon chamber, and do the few big jumps and flips in ROTJ, but I don't think it should've gone beyond that. I thought they were already pushing it a bit. I guess I just wanted the movies to remain within reasonable boundries just because it gets rediculous with Yoda like you mentioned.
As for the look of the PT then i would say that i can see what Lucas was aiming for. The OT was set after the Empire has taken power. The gritty look portrayed the hardship that the Galaxy had to endure since it took over. But in the PT there was no Empire and times were better. So cleaner visuals depicted a better time in the galaxy. Having a gritty look wouldn't have worked. there wouldn't ahve been that noticeable difference in living conditions between the pre & post empire periods.
I would agree that they shouldn't both have the exact same gritty tone, but just subtly give the PT a cleaner tone. The way the PT and the OT are now, they both have very different tones and it is hard for me to connect the two together (not that I want to). I just have a hard time seeing how they go from having sleek, round, shiny, smooth, spaceships to boxy, dirty, mechanical, spaceships in a 32 year change. It seems to me like the PT is taking place later than the OT because the designs and technology of the PT seem so much more advance than the OT.