xhonzi said:
Having just sat through something* that is argualby (mostly) the Phantom Menace... and this being the first time in 6 years I've watched any of TPM... Well...
Most of you know I'm an ardent PT hater. Many of you may also know that I bear no fondness for TPM, Watto, Quigonn, film grain, or any of the other "redeeming" qualities that many see in this movie. I consider TPM to be the objective worst of PT.
But I just watched (mostly) it again. And all I can say is that it is far more terrible than I recall and I can't understand how anyone could see anything redeeming in this movie.
it is interesting to hear people say that TPM is the best or 'most star wars like' and cite the film grain as one of the reasons. I guess its kinda like how some people don't like Diamonds are Forever because it has such a plain look to it compared to the 60s Bond movies. If the reports Im hearing about TPM blu ray are correct, I wonder if this will still be the case.
I saw TPM last year for the first time in several years. while the tatooine setting is cozy and familiar and the 10 seconds of the obi-wan/darth maul duel is cool, and farts/midicolorions/virgin birth/2 headed sportscaster no longer make me gag, my view has not changed; save for the production values, this is the worst movie i have ever seen (yes, I saw Gigli and Godzilla ). Jar Jar and Jake Lloyd were the least of TPMs problems. :(
In 1999, I was startled when reports started to leak that the movie wasn't good. But it wasn't until i was flipping thru the "Making of Episode I" book and on the last page, Lucas says "Like Star Wars, for every person that likes it, 3 will hate it" that I KNEW the movie was going to suck. I mean, who the hell ends a "making of" movie book like that?! Answer: someone that knows damn well they just made the biggest POS of all time and is trying to pre-emptively defuse the fallout. And Im sure we are remember those wonderful interviews of lucas blabbing on and on about how Studio Suits have a vendetta against him, Theatre owners hate him, everyone hates him, nobody ever liked Star Wars, the Media hates him, the OT was always bad, 'I made it bad on purpose' etc etc.
whats hilarious on the DVD commentary, the VERY SECOND episode I starts, Lucas immediately says "so this is episode I and you have to remember this is just the first episode". how inspiring...
It was the same thing for IJATKOTCS. in that vanity fair article, Lucas is whining that everyone hates him and internet critics are fully ready to trash the movie no matter how it turns out. LOL, gotta hand it to lucas. His work ethic for writing and directing may be non-existent, but he is the ultimate go-getter at making excuses, and proactivley spinning. :(