General Star Wars Random Thoughts Thread — Page 148

Here is an experience from a newish Star Wars fan that started with TPM and had no idea where the story would go. Many of us older fans hate the PT and feel that we got the better experience seeing the OT first. But I think this post from another Star Wars forum shows that the PT is just as important as the OT, and can change a persons life as well.
 

I didn't know.

It was heartbreaking.

A lot of people rag on the Chosen One prophecy, but for people who start with the PT, it's a great misdirection technique because it makes you believe that no matter what, Anakin will save the day and defeat the Sith. So when everything goes to hell, it messes with all your expectations. I thought everything that had come before Anakin's turn -- like the Tusken slaughter or Anakin killing Dooku, was just Lucas "misdirecting" us so to speak. Trying to make us believe that there was the possibility that Anakin would turn so that when he finally did the right thing and saved the day, there would be loads of dramatic effect. NOPE.

I still remember how I felt when Anakin chopped Mace's hand off. I was as shocked as he was. And then…when he knelt before Palpatine. The children…christ, the children. I was just stupefied for that entire sequence. People will make fun, for instance, of the "younglings" line, but I was just watching everything unfold in total disbelief.

But even then, somehow, I thought things would turn out alright. When Padmé went after him, I thought she would get through to him. I figured, having done something so terrible like killing the children, that Anakin was likely going to die by that point. But I thought he would team up with Obi-Wan and sacrifice himself to do the right thing, in the end. NOPE. He chokes her instead and he and Obi-Wan fight to the death. And then Anakin burns. I can't even begin to describe how shocking it is to watch him burn, even knowing how much he deserves it. It really takes your breath away -- like being punched in the gut. Granted, I was a lot younger when I watched it and it's just a movie, but still. I just didn't expect something like that. AT ALL.

I mean, I went into this series seeing sweet, little nine-year-old Anakin…and by the end, I'm watching him burn alive, screaming in pain, after murdering children and choking his pregnant wife. It just unsettles you terribly. To have your expectations so completely overturned. Padmé dies. Obi-Wan goes into exile. Palpatine wins. And Anakin…well, Anakin would be better off dead.

Now, granted, I was a bit older than most when I watched Star Wars for the first time (young teenager) but it still hit really, really hard. To this day, it's still among one of the most unexpected narratives I've ever watched, especially because Star Wars is generally such a fun, family friendly series.

I still remember that it was the first film I ever watched the special features for -- my family had rented the film and usually we didn't bother with the extras. But that night, after everyone else went to bed, I snuck down and watched the "Chosen One" documentary by myself because I was upset and I wanted answers.

It's why I always advocate watching the prequels first, because I don't think any twist in Star Wars, not even "I am your father," can come close to matching that.

Wow, I must say, I never even thought to look at it that way - but it's still a bad idea to start with the prequels, because they are such bad films, so I still think the best way to watch Star Wars for the first time is to start with Star Wars, because it simply works best as an introduction to the universe, then watch ESB and ROTJ and then stop watching. But this is definitely an interesting point of view.

http://news.moviefone.com/2014/04/25/william-friedkin-exorcist-curse-interview/

So this guy talks about 35mm that is idealised by so many fans around here. I completely agree with him.

imperialscum said:

http://news.moviefone.com/2014/04/25/william-friedkin-exorcist-curse-interview/

So this guy talks about 35mm that is idealised by so many fans around here. I completely agree with him.

 Friedkin is last person to quote on film vs digital. In that respect he's almost worse than Lucas... except of course that Friedkin is still making fantastic movies unlike Lucas.

DuracellEnergizer said:

How to tell when a Star Wars fan isn't really a Star Wars fan:

1. When they consider the PT better than the OT.
2. When they consider the "I-II-III-IV-V-VI" viewing order the "right" order.
3. When they defend Lucas' refusal to properly restore the OOT.
4. When they spit venom on anyone who dares to question Lucas in even the smallest way possible.

 I'll give you number three. All versions of a film should be there for those who want them. Denying one version while pushing another is a shitty thing to do, and basically says fans of that version don't matter. The rest of your points are nonsense. You sound kind of silly when you complain about fans spitting venom on those that question Lucas when you're spitting venom on those that like the PT. I personally say a true fan is anyone that likes Star Wars. What parts they like or don't like is irrelevant. The fans on both sides of the isle that spit venom at each other do a disservice to the Star Wars fan community as a whole.

DuracellEnergizer said:

Wasn't the whole "R2 sabotaging R5" from the radio drama?

I have a new theory about the folks at Lucasfilm that colortimed the 2004/2011 master. They were trying to save the originals by making the SE so bad that people would rise up and demand justice. Think about it. It's actually quite difficult to accidentally crush blacks and blow out whites on professional color correction systems (especially correcting with scopes), so they had to know what they were doing. Having gotten away with it on Star Wars, they went crazy with Empire.  "Surely people won't stand for this and demand refunds" they said. "Surely they will demand a proper restoration after this" they said.

Nope.

^ I'd like to believe that, like Harrison doing a deliberately bad job on the 'Blade Runner' voiceover so the studio wouldn't use it.... doh!

bttfbrasilfan said:

NeverarGreat said:

I have a new theory about the folks at Lucasfilm that colortimed the 2004/2011 master. They were trying to save the originals by making the SE so bad that people would rise up and demand justice. Think about it. It's actually quite difficult to accidentally crush blacks and blow out whites on professional color correction systems (especially correcting with scopes), so they had to know what they were doing. Having gotten away with it on Star Wars, they went crazy with Empire.  "Surely people won't stand for this and demand refunds" they said. "Surely they will demand a proper restoration after this" they said.

Nope.

 The colorist of the 2004 master talks about it in this podcast...

http://www.fxguide.com/thevfxshow/the-vfx-show-133-star-wars-blu-ray-release/

...and he doesn't seem to think he did a bad job at all. In fact, most of the time, they discuss about how great this BD release is.

Although, I think your theory might be right in some aspects. We have countless examples, but what stands out the most for me is the fact that all of the 2011 changes are so bad and lazily made that I can't believe they were done by professionals.  

Ah, I remember this podcast! He distances himself from the Blu-ray at the beginning of the podcast by saying that he doesn't remember making the Tantive corridors that inconsistent. Hmm.