Darth Chaltab said:You know the 21st Century covers the next 90 years too, right?
Yeah - I'm hip to how the whole century thing works, man. It was a joke. Thought it might be funny since we've experienced all of the 21st that there has been so far and it just happened to fit the top ten format we've been using.
The cave scene with Luke preparing his lightsaber while 3PO & R2 look on would have been an excellent bookend to the Star Wars scene where they're all introducing themselves to each other the day the droids were purchased from the Jawas.
A cerebral passage, a reflection if you will, of all they'd been through together. A sort of once more unto the breech moment as closure to that initial meeting all those years ago.
Too bad it wasn't part of the film. Lucas had long since lost his way telling the story of Star Wars anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter. That storyboard shot looks fantastic. What a lost moment.
It's a weird deal alright, this decade. There are some films that I absolutely love as much as any of the films I have in my collection, and they moved me just as much. That said, like CO, I only own 5. It seems that I've really loved a few films this decade, but had little interest in going to see several of the "must see" films.
I also think it's weird how so few of the films I've really enjoyed this decade have had the staying power (to me as a fan) that films from the 60s, 70s, and 80s had. Each decade seemed harder for me to come up with ten that I still loved.
It would seem to me that it can't be the art of film making that's at the root because there are things being done now that are so real that we don't always know when we're seeing CGI, truly incredible things. My guess is that it has something more to do with age. Maybe we're less likely to accept new trusted companions as we grow older. Maybe we can't be moved at the same level we were when we were young, at least not where films are concerned.
EyeShotFirst said:I put all of the music and pictures I needed and just reinstalled. I am not to ashamed of doing it because I really wanted to anyway LOL.
I was a LAN\WAN admin for about 7 years. My last year in the industry I was part of a special department in the company tasked with addressing malware specifically. I don't have to tell you guys, I've seen it all.
I don't have problems with malware because I'm prepared and cautious. It really doesn't take much to stay malware-free. A few simple precautions; use a router, configure it properly, surf with Firefox - and this one I can't stress this enough - if you surf for porn, you will have to deal with malware. File sharing\torrenting, and serching for song lyrics (oddly enough) are also hotbeds for malware.
The reason I quoted ESF is because I'm a firm believer in an occasional complete reload of a machine. I do my own every year or so. Keeps things up to date and clean.
...to those of you in the States.
As is tradition for me, I'll spend the day watching Jaws, baseball, and of course - raising a glass in celebration. I'd also like to get in a few hundred miles riding, but with temps at or above 100, may have to cut that in half. Also have to tend to my bees. Time to add the honey supers for this year.
Whatever you're doing, hope you dig it.
DarkFather said:I am taking a neutral stance. ....So don't think I'm speaking from my own ass, and implying that I'm one of the fans hateful of Lucas. I'm not.
I wasn't addressing you specifically as a hateful fan. I was speaking more to the handful of fans that vomit hate all over the board because they feel Lucas owes them. I've edited my post to reflect that.
Batman Begins
Casino Royale
Solaris
Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
A Good Year
Ocean's 11
Star Trek
Doubt
3:10 To Yuma
Traitor
Honorable Mention; The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. I dug the hell out of them when they were released, but haven't watched them in years. No reason in particular.
DarkFather said:There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. A man has to live up to what people expect of him.
Lucas didn't have to do anything. You wanted him to, I wanted him to, we all wanted him to - but that's all it is - our desires to be given what we wanted, what we hoped for. There was no contract, no guarantee, no unwritten law - no have to.
Lucas didn't have to make a single film after Star Wars. His reputation at the time, followed by his contribution to Indiana Jones, Empire, etc - those things were\are set in stone and have their place in cinema history. His work in the 90s and beyond is there to either be watched or ignored - nothing more. If you dig it - watch it. If you don't - then ignore it (as I have).
But either way, fans don't have some inalienable right to spew hate. They can do it alright, and many of us do - myself included - but it's not because some sort of reputational expectations contract has been broken.
You said it yourself;
In those fans' minds, Lucas betrayed them.
Fans can expect all sorts of things - that doesn't mean a director has to deliver them. For me, he delivered six times (below). A pretty damn good record in my book. I'd certainly dig it if I could get a proper release of Star Wars77, but that doesn't mean I have a right to it.
American Graffiti
Star Wars
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Temple Of Doom
Last Crusade
Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
*edited to better convey that I was speaking in general terms, not of any one fan in particular.
Dances With Wolves
Apollo 13
The Shawshank Redemption
Unforgiven
Mrs. Doubtfire
Groundhog Day
Star Trek - Generations
The X Files
Blade Runner - Favorite film of all time.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Back To The Future
Planes, Trains, And Automobiles
The Empire Strikes Back
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Field Of Dreams
Batman
Honorable Mention - The Breakfast Club. I'm a huge fan of films that take place primarily in a single location - Rear Window, Alien, last half of Jaws, The Big Kahuna, etc. It takes a strong story and great character interaction, but when it's done well, it's a very interesting experience.
Personal favorites from the 70s;
Jaws
American Graffiti
Star Wars
The Godfather
Logan's Run
Apocalypse Now
Alien
Live And Let Die
Patton
The Conversation
Serpico
Rocky
Honorable Mention; Cabaret. Liza Minelli's legs - enough to put thoughts in the mind of a young boy. ;-)
Yes, I realize that's more than 10 films.
EyeShotFirst said:Maybe if Star Wars won 8 academy awards George Lucas might try to preserve it.
I'd make the argument that the original deserves proper respect & preservation because it did so much more than what a few gold statues can do. Star Wars permanently altered the course of film, particularly any film set in space. After Star Wars, outer space adventure had to look & feel real or it was in for some tough criticism. People wanted the stories not only to resonate with their experiences, but to resemble them as well - that used universe that Lucas presented so perfectly in Star Wars.
There have been plenty of films that won multiple awards, including best picture, and not had the effect on their genre that Star Wars had. Star Wars went a step further and cemented the (then) recent phenomenon of Summer Blockbuster that had been ushered in with Jaws. A film's effect on the world is a much more honest measure of it's importance to people than the Academy Awards. Which, by the way, are voted on by the people in the film industry - hardly an honest measure of value & importance.
I don't often share personal stuff with you guys, but in the words of Doc. Brown - "what the hell" ;-)
Over the years there have been two instances where I almost said goodbye to my 1995 Speed Triple - Baby - for something more modern. In both instances, something happened and I didn't do it. She was older technology, but she was a blast to ride - and had been for the past 11 years.
I finally said goodbye to Baby late Friday. The struggle with modern gasoline having a percentage of Ethanol had become too much. I was constantly struggling with additives & cleansers to try and keep her running. It was becoming a weekly job. Modern gasoline has 10% ethanol, which causes it to warp, deform, & swell plastic - a component of nearly all carburetors. Baby had three carbs and keeping them all smooth functioning and synced was trying, at best.
While I was on vacation in France last month, I was driving through Nimes and saw a Triumph dealer on my way out of town. On a whim, I stopped and went in to have a look around. I saw something that hadn't been at the dealers here yet. A 15th anniversary edition Speed Triple. For the unwashed, the Speed Triple was first released in 1995. This 15th anniversary edition (a 2010 model) is a limited edition being released to mark the birth of the model - the birth of Baby. It has a special metallic black, a few bits that would have to be ordered extra if you got a regular model, and of special meaning to me - the Triumph logo on the tank is in the same color orange as the color of Baby. A nod to that first year.
I thought it was interesting, and I thought it was nice that they were calling attention to the very model of Speed Triple I'd had for 11 years (I bought her very gently used from a close friend of mine). Beyond that, I gave it no more thought. It was fantastic looking, but it was a limited edition model that I had no intention of getting. Besides, I was in Provence - I had 2000-year-old Roman ruins to visit and wine to drink. ;-)
After I got back to the states, I read more about it just out of curiosity, but beyond that I put it out of my head (sort of). A few days later, I went out to ride Baby to work and, as has been the case the last year or so, she stumbled on starting up - the carbs had sat for 12 days while I was on vacation and it took a while for them to settle in on the way to work.
When I got to work, I looked up the new Triple again. I decided to seriously consider making the jump. I'd already test ridden the current model Triple about a year ago. Unbelievably agile and light feeling, with more power than I'd ever experienced. I knew what they were like alright, but I scheduled another test ride as a reminder. On the drive home from the test ride, I decided to do it.
The dealer made me a very generous offer on Baby because she was like new (I take very good care of my bikes). About a week later, they had a 15th year bike uncrated, prepped, and ready for pick up. I rode Baby to work on Friday and went to the dealer after work. They would be closed by the time I got there, but the salesman and the woman handling all the paperwork were staying for me.
It was an uneventful last ride on Baby, which was just fine because it gave me time to reflect on all that she had been for the past 11 years. When I got Baby, I'd already been a street rider for 20 years. However, I became the rider I am today on her - and because of her. She had been my sole companion on every type of ride imaginable - weekly bike nights, rallies, long distance rides, day rides, & daily commuting, and in every weather condition imaginable - year-round. I also started track riding on her. She had been everything.
When I got to the dealer it was a very strange feel turning off the engine, putting the stand down, and getting off her. I knew it would be the last time ever. It was made more surreal by the fact that the dealer was closed. There was no activity, no people, and no noise other than the sound of cars occasionally passing by. It seemed fitting that the switch happened late in the day and privately. I didn't spend any time outside for a last look and I didn't look at her as I rode away. In fact, I intentionally went around the block behind the dealer so I wouldn't have to.
The past 11 years will always be the most important of all the years I've ever ridden, or ever will ride. Baby was, by far, the grand dame of all the bikes I've ever owned. She will absolutely be the one I miss the most. I thought about keeping her, but decided against it. I didn't want her to become a "second" bike that saw little time out. This way, she'll forever remain as my go-to for those 11 years. My trusted companion.
She's also the only bike I ever named. I started calling her Baby just after I got her. She had a pressure-relief valve in the tank that, whenever the pressure increased to a certain level, would make a slow whining noise that lasted between five and ten seconds. It happened several times a week. If I happened to be passing through the garage when it happened, I'd say something back, out loud.
I'll miss that too.
As far as the new Triple goes; I had to work this past weekend, so I was only able to put 120 miles on it. We're just getting acquainted, but I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
CO said:Anchor, you know you are one of my favs here because you are an Original SW fan only, but I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.
Sure many people go on and on bitching about the PT and SE, which wont change those movies one bit. But I think the fact that OT.com exists showed Lucas that there is a fanbase for the OOT, and eventually getting the GOUT released in 2006. Now of course it was a crappy version, but the fact that Lucas relented on 'the version he deemed dead' was a small victory in itself.
I definitely agree that the internet can be a very powerful tool when used properly and this very site no doubt (I believe) had a hand in getting us a DVD version of Star Wars77. My point was more to the relentless Lucas-hate threads where he's burned in effigy on a regular basis.
I'm all for continuing the petitions, letter writing, and published articles calling for a proper release and pointing out his lies. I just can't behind the hate threads. Lucas is someone who really digs his heels in when pushed and strikes me as the kind of fellow that would hold off a proper release just out of spite.
For all his flaws - and where Star Wars is concerned, he has more than can be counted - I just can't get behind the hate. Through the years, Lucas has given me much more than he's taken from me.
skyjedi2005 said:... those people who can afford an hdtv 16:9 set. You cannot be telling me..........
That's what I have - and what I'm telling you is this;
I understand that it could be better - and one day I hope it will be. However, when I'm watching Star Wars, I'm transported again - in a vast, mysterious universe - and I'm on a lonely desolate planet - and on the Millennium Falcon with a pirate I'm not sure I can trust - and trying to rescue a beautiful princess - and trying to escape from the Death Star - and flying an X-Wing.
All the anger, discussions, alterations, sequels, board discussions, versions, formats, etc, etc - they are nothing but noise that fades away as soon as I press play.
I don't have the angst or hatred because it's a complete waste of time. It's like Tom Hanks (Jim Lovell) says to Haise & Swigert in Apollo 13 when they start arguing with each other over something they can't change;
"We're not going to start bouncing off the walls for ten minutes, because we're just going to end up right back here with the same problem"
I suppose it's because I've never seen the SEs and only one of the prequels - but I'm not fighting the war the way some fans are, nor do I have the hatred for Lucas that some fans have. There isn't anything for me to forgive because I'm not familiar with the SEs & prequels. Truth is, for me, Star Wars77 isn't ruined\destroyed\etc. I have a watchable, enjoyable copy of the only film of the six I have any interest in. If a higher quality DVD or Blu-ray is ever released, I'll get it. If not, I'll watch the one I already have.
I do, however, sometimes discuss the SEs & prequels as best I can considering my lack of familiarity, but it's not from a position of anger. It's more of a "Man...dude's jacked up" point of view. As I've said before, I find his obsession with trying to change the past and his constant lying of the fans to be fascinating behavior, in a train wreck sort of way. I can certainly see where it would be frustrating for some. For me - someone who was there in the 70s and experienced Star Wars first hand - I know the truth, so I don't lose any sleep over George trying to tell me I don't.
The only film that comes to mind right away is Taxi. It's set in Manhattan (my former home). Some of it is obviously filmed there, but some parts are most definitely filmed somewhere in California. It doesn't bother me too much because it's a silly comedy, but those California scenes stuck out like a sore thumb as soon as I saw them and are a distraction to me.
"You open the door - I don't want to get Daewoo on my hands"
captainsolo said:If the originals hadn't been locked away in the vault for all time there wouldn't be such hatred for the SE.
I can't speak for anyone else here, but where I'm concerned - I don't hate the SEs. However, I have zero interest in them. I knew as soon as I heard about them 12 years ago that I was never going to watch them. It wasn't even a remote possibility. The original movies didn't need to be altered. The Prequels needed to be written properly in the first place - or not at all. Over the past 12 years George has made 6 more versions of the original three films. All of that time, money, & energy should have gone toward making the three prequels - so that they could have been something other than weak & poorly-acted cartoons.
The story, the look, the pacing, the characters, the locations, and the vast universe that Star Wars77 takes place in have all been in my head for over 30 years. Here I am on a message board three decades later still discussing that one film - it moved me that much. I have no desire to try and force my brain to reconcile images, sounds, & a story that conflict with any of that. In fact, I find it very strange that fans of the films are willing to let Lucas gaslight them the way he does.
I'm 47 years old. I didn't grow up in a world where everything is disposable. If watching the original Star Wars on the official DVD from a couple of years ago is how I have to enjoy Star Wars the only way I've ever known it - then that's how I will watch it, forever. Watching that copy takes me on the same adventure I've always gone on - and I enjoy it every time.
skyjedi2005 said:Putting Hayden and Jar Jar into return of the jedi was a mistake.
Hayden, I'd already heard about and have seen screen caps - but please tell me you're kidding about JarJar being in Return now. Man, that's fucked up.
Lucas needs an intervention.
skyjedi2005 said:...that is the best way to watch the 97 versions.
Actually, I think the best way to watch the 97 versions is to watch them going into a trash can, where they belong.
See - and you guys thought Sky was the only one that made angry posts.
;-)
digitalfreaknyc said:So I'm taking a last minute trip to london. ...
Any suggestions...?
Mind the gap.
Oh, come on!! You guys were all thinking it, and yeah, it was lame. ;-)
Enjoy your trip, man. It's a fun city with a significant portion of the world's history to visit. Without a doubt, some of the greatest Indian food there is.
AxiaEuxine said:I wanted to do an article for my website about all the changes, no matter how small ever done to the star wars movies. I need copies of the 97 Special Editions. Can ne1 help me out with this? tia
This guy has an extensive write-up of all the changes, complete with screen caps and audio samples. Might at least get you up to speed on the changes.
http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-one.html
I've never seen the SEs, so I don't know how complete a list it really is.
generalfrevious said:You guys just assume that Indy has to be released before SW because that was what happened with the DVD releases. To me this seems like misguided logic.
Has to? - not necessarily. However, I certainly think it will, and by several years. Indiana Jones isn't constantly being reworked, rewritten, and shrunken every few years - it doesn't have the physical & emotional mess surrounding it that the Star Wars franchise has - and - it's not completely controlled by Lucas. He doesn't have final say on how the franchise is handled. (thank God).