Anchorhead

Gaffer Tape said:

As for his statement, it could be referring to either the fact that he referred to the original version as 25% complete and wholly unsatisfied with it (it also being the SE with the most changes), or it could be the fact that nearly all of its plot elements have been retconned by the future films.

That's it exactly. 

Lucas never shuts up about how wrong Star Wars77 is.  That coupled with his unwillingness to present it properly, acknowledge it's existence, or preserve it  - and I can only assume he must dislike it.

ChainsawAsh said:

IIRC, Anchorhead loved the original SW, saw ESB and didn't like it much, and hasn't seen ROTJ, TPM, AOTC, or ROTS.  Do I have that right, or is my memory failing me (again)?

I saw & loved Star Wars in 1977.  Like a great many 15-year-olds that summer, I saw it at least weekly until it left the theaters. These days, it's almost my sole reason for being here. I'm also a fan of the parts of the EU that fit within that original story or universe.

I saw Empire when it was released and felt some parts were great, but some parts ruined the story for me. That was when Lucas started to shrink the endless, mysterious universe he'd created in Star Wars. I saw it several times in the theater and then sort of drifted from it.

I also saw Return in the theaters and nearly hated it.  I've seen it only a few times over the years, the last time being about 12 years ago.

I saw Phantom and did not like it at all.

Have not seen the last two or any of the SEs of the first three.

Davnes007 said:

Anchorhead was referring to ESB. When he said 'Star Wars on Blu-Ray', he meant it in the general sense.

 

Actually, I wasn't.  I was speaking specifically of Star Wars77.

bkev said:

Anchorhead said:

As far as Star Wars on Blu-ray is concerned, since I'm only interested in one film, and it happens to be the one that Lucas dislikes - I'm not holding my breath.

Very interested in this idea that Lucas dislikes the first Star Wars... would you care to elaborate, Anchorhead?

I was speaking specifically of his feelings for the 1977 theatrical release of Star Wars, not the SEs.  He's always trying to alter history with his stories of what was really going on - even though some of us were around back then and remember the interviews.

CO said:

Anchorhead said:

 I know for a fact he's lied about all things Star Wars77, so there's no believing him ever again.

 

No Anchorhead, it is Obiwan who is the liar in the Original Star Wars, not George Lucas:)

 

;-)

Ziz said:

Considering all the "revisionist history" we've been subject to from Lucas over the years ...

I never give a second thought to anything Lucas says anymore, nor have I for many years.  I automatically assume it's bullshit belched out to fit whatever the situation may be. 

When I was listening to interviews in 08 about Kingdom, or watching all the interviews on the extra DVD after I had it, I gave no credence what so ever to anything he said.  I just waited until it was Spielberg, Ford, Allen, Shia, etc.  I see him as completely untrustworthy. I know for a fact he's lied about all things Star Wars77, so there's no believing him ever again.

Docta Nick said:

Aren't the Indy movies already on Blu-Ray? Or is that just Crystal Skull?

Only Kingdom is available on Blu-ray.  In fact, it was the reason I finally made the jump and turned a spare bedroom into a proper viewing room (HD, flat panel, Blu-ray, new sound system, etc).  However, it was sort of a double-edged sword.  Now I see what all the hype was about and I want to upgrade several of the films I already have.

As far as Star Wars on Blu-ray is concerned, since I'm only interested in one film, and it happens to be the one that Lucas dislikes - I'm not holding my breath.

For reference, here are the two versions of the American Graffiti title card that Sky was talking about.

Original

1998 DVD

As you guys know, I'm about as anti-revisionist as they come.  That said, this one doesn't bother me too much.  It's only the title card and it's the only change.  I like the rest of the transfer because it's still an original grainy film from my youth. I'd prefer the original title, but this one isn't a deal-breaker.

For the record: It's the only DVD alteration that isn't a deal breaker. Other revised DVDs, I do without if I can't get one unaltered.

sean wookie said:

She is always so shy......She also had a lot more cleavage this time

Pick one.

sunday256 said:

 I'd rather be locked in a room and subjected to listening to Ahmed Best do Jar Jar imitations for 24 hours than watch another Harry Potter movie.

It's not one of their finer outings, that's for sure.  I don't dislike it, but man, it could have been so much more.  It has an interesting moment or two.  I also think the idea was very interesting - someone thinking all you needed was a really powerful ship and you could make it out to where God is.  However, it was all wasted - and a little Lucasian - by having it be a relative of the crew.

Too bad, tons of potential there for a different type of Trek adventure.  Add me to the list of people that think Shatner shouldn't be allowed to direct himself.

Oh, and Bill - no need to yank the unbuttoned shirt so wide open - we see the t-shirt with a funny message on it underneath. Got it. Really, we do.

Shatner must be the only guy who can overact even when he's not saying anything.

In the interest of fair play - I read the making of book years ago and Paramount really whittled the thing down from the original ideas.  They also shrunk the budget on the fly.  I came away with the impression that it was a wonder the thing ended up being finished at all.

The Holiday Special

My story is on the Secret History Of Star Wars site.  It starts off… _“I’m 45, for my generation…”. _ It ends just after the picture, with the statement  “…unrecognizable from 1977”

If I’m counting correctly, it’s the fourth story down.

http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/starwarsmemories.html

Edit: a working link:-

http://fd.noneinc.com/secrethistoryofstarwarscom/secrethistoryofstarwars.com/starwarsmemories.html

Gaffer Tape said:

 It's the same way that Star Wars operates.  Remember?  When Han and Lando become generals for... reasons?

;-)

AxiaEuxine said:

As I am constantly having to defend my position on my Star Wars fandom.....

I don't defend my position on my fandom to anyone - and around here, I'm not asked to. 

Since 1977, I've followed & been a fan of the part of the franchise that moves me (the original film). The members here don't fault me for that.  They've also gone so far as to recommend things to me that fit in that original universe, story, & timeline.  Like I said before, there are some class acts around here.

So if you or anyone else found my post offensive I would like to apologise.

Not a problem.

Ripplin said:...w

here Worf just said it's not something they discuss with outsiders. Leaves a lot to the imagination, just like Boba Fett should've been.

 

Exactly!

I had long since stopped closely following Star Wars post-77 because of the shrunken universe, children story that it started to become in Empire, and which was fully realized in Return.  I had also seen screen grabs from the SEs.  I'm against revisionism to start with, so I was put off by them.  Add in the fact that the added scenes looked terribly out of place, and I didn't have a great deal of hope that Phantom would be a film for me.  It wasn't.

FanFiltration said:

 

 Captain Pike was a great character, and the actor had a strong respect factor. 

 

+1

skyjedi2005 said:

I'm also glad that JJ kept things on the lighter side, and still trek has a hopeful future even in a time of crisis and great evil mankind rises to the Challenge with that pioneer spirit so nobly evoked in the opening credits for Enterprise. 

 

...they paid tribute to the great bird of the galaxy's hopefull future.

 

Some fans won't get on board this new Trek.  But  Rod Gene's son has.  Shatner has, as well as nimoy, takei, and the doohan family.  They embraced the new film as a worthy sucessor.  As did Gene's wife before she died.

 

Excellent points, Sky.  The film definitely has that hopeful future vibe.  In the Reel Time interview on XM Radio, Orci & Kurtzman said they made a point of keeping that as a central part of the film.

Also, as you pointed out, there are some very heavy hitters in the Trek world that have given this film their blessing.  That's not something to be taken lightly.  Those people have spent decades of their lives delivering us the Trek world.  They're as aware of it's message as anyone.

Ripplin said:

Even though they are years away, would you consider watching Adywan's versions of the prequels? He plans to make radical changes on par with his disappointment. ;)

 

No.  It's not just the execution of the Phantom that I disliked, it's the story itself that doesn't interest me.  It's just bad. Poorly written, poorly filmed, & poorly acted.

Akwat Kbrana said:

Wow, I envy you two! The ability to repress the memory of the PT is one for which I have long sought, and which continues to elude me...

It's not really repression.  I saw only one of the three prequels - and it was ten years ago.  For me, there just isn't much to remember.  If you only saw a movie ten years ago, you'd probably forget a lot of it by now also.  I would imagine there are films I saw around the same time that I don't even remember seeing now.  Forgettable is forgettable, whether it's Star Wars or something else.

Phantom is the only one of the prequels I've seen, so I guess I should weigh in.  The opening few moments in space seemed promising, but it went downhill very quickly. Even with a few known stars who could act (Neeson, McGregor), I just couldn't get on board. The droids & the technology seemed out of place in the Star Wars universe. They were late 90s styles being presented as a continuation of a series of films born in the 70s.  They didn't fit at all with the universe we'd been introduced to previously.

When Jar Jar made his appearance, I was shocked at how stupid the character was, both in idea & in execution. Once it was apparent he was a central character, I knew Phantom wasn't for me. Add to that the laughably bad acting of Lloyd & Portman, a terribly weak story, and the sudden change to a universe & planets teeming with millions of people (as opposed the lonely & secluded universe of Star wars) - and it was something else that didn't fit at all with the originals.

When I left the theater I didn't know what to think. I was shocked at how far removed it felt from the originals. To me, it came across as formula without passion.  After a few weeks I realized I wasn't going to follow Star Wars any further.  It started to fade from my thoughts.  After a while, I decided I wanted to secure more permanent copies of the original three. I only had VHS at that point. It took me a while, but it eventually led me to the laserdisc copies I have now, which in turn led me to this site as I tried to find a way to make DVD copies.   These days, I sometimes read comments on here about Phantom and I have to struggle to remember the scene being discussed or some of the character names mentioned.

10 years later, I never give it any thought.

skyjedi2005 said:

I think Kate Capshaw ......

 

Though she was annoying in the Temple of Doom.

She was indeed.  However - silk pajamas, barefoot, and hair down sure do take the sting out.

skyjedi2005 said:

Should he and Spielberg make them?

Whether you loved Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, or thought it left a lot to be desired.

I like all four films and would certainly be open to a fifth.  That said, I can't imagine it will happen.  It took forever for all three guys to get on the same page for Kingdom - and it does take all three.  Which, by the way, I think is a very positive thing.

They keep each other in check. With George, Kingdom was a sci-fi film.  With Spielberg, it was a comedy.  Together, with Ford thrown in as the voice of reason, it became the fourth Indiana Jones film, with the same balance of heavy & light that the previous three had - particularly the second two films.

Now, if the fifth is a Mutt-centric film, I'm not as interested.  I'd go see it, but it's the character & adventures of Indiana Jones that interest me.  With the hat-grab scene at the end of Kingdom, I get the impression their thinking is a fifth Indiana Jones film as opposed to a Mutt Jones film.

vbangle said:

I could'nt agree more Gaffer Tape. In fact I was bummed that they didn't make the movie more about Nero...Eric Bana I thought was very good and either the script or the editing didn't give him his due...he deserved a lot more screen time. IMO.

According to Orci & Kurtzman, there was more with him, but it was eventually dropped from the final edit because the screening audiences kept struggling to understand it.  They said it would be released with the DVD.  Something about his time in prison.