Anchorhead

Johnny Ringo said:

throughout the movie a group of friends are making a super 8 film to enter into a contest. stick around during the end credits to see this film - i'm sure it had a name but i can't recall.

The Case.    ;-) 

And yes, stay for it because it's a riot. Just got back a little while ago.

Most fun I've had at the movies in a long time.  Really enjoyed it.  I'll not get near any spoilers, so feel free to read on. 

Great story and great atmosphere.  No two ways about it, the film has Spielberg's fingerprints all over it. Absolutely fantastic acting from the young cast.  The female lead steals the show.

Side note;  The story takes place in 1979. For you twenty-somethings on the board, it is an exact capture of what 1979 was like, the year I was a senior in high school.  This takes place during that year and it feels like it.  To the point of transporting you there without mocking and embellishing untruthfully.  Those were our cars, our clothes, our hair styles, our language, and our music. 

Speaking of which - love the use of ELO, one of my favorite bands, particularly back then.  I even had an ELO belt buckle throughout my high school years.  But I digress.

I'll go see it one more time.  Definite DVD purchase.

My only criticism:  The lens flares.

Fuuuuck!!!, JJ, give it a damn rest.  We get it. It's your thing. Your calling card.  You think it creates excitement.  Enough already.  They seem like such a weird thing for a director to be so hung up on.

They weren't nearly as distracting as Star Trek, but to me they were unnecessary.  Some scenes would have had even more emotion if they had been naturally lit, particularly some of the night scenes when the power was out.

I give it 5\5 cassettes.

doubleKO said:

Have you seen the CG versions of Jabba that were added to Star Wars Anchorhead?

Only a few screengrabs. 

I accept your opinion of the puppet and the character, but aren't the CGI versions much worse?

Yes, which is exactly why I posted this...

"CGI characters, objects, and entire scenes - Gollum, Jar Jar, droids, & nearly every scene I've viewed a screengrab of from the prequels - do not look more real."

Mrebo said:

Weird that you would feel a "huge" let down after seeing the creatures in the cantina.

The puppet characters in the cantina look equally fake.  The let down for me was when the fake puppets went from background characters in a scene - to main characters in the story.

Jabba looked great.

I disagree.  He looked like a giant puppet being used to portray a character that was so immobile that he would have been easily killed by his own people.  The way Leia did.

But if you think CGI looks more real...I guess we just have different perceptions of reality.

As much as I appreciate you trying to speak for me, let me clarify.  As I've said a few times before, I think CGI looks as good as, or better, than Matte paintings - when used as a background enhancement, the way matte paintings were in decades past.

However, CGI characters, objects, and entire scenes - Gollum, Jar Jar, droids, & nearly every scene I've viewed a screengrab of from the prequels - do not look more real.

timdiggerm said:

No. The Gammorean Guards do not look real. They look like real rubber, yes, but they do not look like real living creatures. Looking like a physical object is not enough - Creatures need to look like creatures, not rubber.

I agree 100%.  The moment that guard showed up on the screen, I felt a huge let down.  It was comical.  At least I assumed it was meant to be.  That rubber suit is so fake & silly looking that you know immediately our heroes are in no danger what so ever.  Same with Jabba.  Both looked like Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.  I half expected 3PO to say "Hey, big daddy". 

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

canofhumdingers said:

Gaffer Tape said:

Forgive me for my ignorance (as I've never seen 2001)

 Holy crap.  Stop everything & go get the bluray NOW (last time i was in Target they had it for $10, IIRC).  No self respecting geek can really call themselves self respecting & not see 2001.  It's fantastic.  & the bluray is spectacular.  Seriously.  Go get it!

Agreed!

Make that three.  It's one of my top ten.  Be aware, it's a long film and it's probably as cerebral a film as there has ever been.  Watch it when you have the time to really get into it.  Oh, and don't be surprised if you feel a bit of deja vu now and again...

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do. I'm half crazy, all for the love of you.

If you're familiar with Google's homepage, you know they often stylize their logo to reflect events of the day.  Often times, they're fairly clever.  Today is Les Paul's birthday.  For that, they've created a guitar-shaped logo. Here's an article about it. It's interactive, plus you can record and send the file you make

http://techland.time.com/2011/06/09/search-and-strum-play-a-tune-on-googles-les-paul-doodle/?hpt=te_bn1

the Star Wars connection?, you may be wondering.  About midway down the page, there is a link to two files people have made on the thing.  I found the second one to be interesting.  ;-)

skyjedi2005 said:

This is a terrible illness which can result in blindness, loss of limbs due to necessary amputations in the worst cases and yes death.

Indeed and well put, sir.  A good friend of mine lost one of his legs just below the knee a couple of years ago due to diabetes.  He is only in his 30s.

Regarding Lucas' appearance;  As much as I dislike his constant lying and selfishness, I have to give credit where credit is due - dude looks great for a guy crowding 70.

Review 6

Be Still My Heart: The Bartender's Tale, by David Bischoff

This one was one of the shorter stories, as well as being darker than the others so far.  In fact, it has a touch of macabre.  It was ok, just a little weird. It's so short that any discussion of plot would be a potential spoiler.

SilverWook said:

I was listening to the commentary on the ROTS DVD last night, and just sighing when he launches into that "Tragedy" spiel.

Do current printings of the SW novelization and Splinter of the Mind's Eye still have the "From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker" subtitle?

Splinter does not.   Star Wars says "Formerly Titled Star Wars: From The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker"

George - The original film was basically subtitled The Tragedy of Darth Vader

At this point, his delusion is just plain disturbing.  He seems to have absolutely zero understanding of how easy it is to prove that statement is complete bullshit.

???

zombie84 said:

Personally, I love TOD. Not only is it one of my favourite films, I think it's the best of the Indy series. There's a great story in there, it's just not quite as complex as Raiders'...

Even though it's my least favorite, I agree that there is a very interesting story in there (great way to put it, by the way).  If it had been made more seriously, the way Raiders was, it could have been a very nice second outing for the character we met in the first film. 

There are some moments that really shine.  I really dig the scene when Indy he first arrives in the village and talks to the residents - very Raiders feeling.  I also like the portion of the film where they're riding the elephants up to the palace - "don't come up here".  Again, a good, Raiders-esque portion.  Unfortunately,  they're quickly countered with comedy and silliness.

Bingowings said:

India has possibly the best cuisine on the planet 

Dammit - now I'm hungry for Navratan korma and naan.

It would turn a rather racist joke into a Lynchian nightmare.

Plus it would bookend nicely with Indy when he's Barney Rubbling later in the film.  ;-)

Bingowings said:

It's a roller coaster but it's not a story.

The rather wonky view of Hinduism and the bizarre politics of a white American with a little help from a screaming woman, a mini-Oriental stereotype....

I agree.  Temple is my least favorite of the four.  It's just too much of a stretch at times.  Not in a "man, get out of here, that can't happen" sort of way, but in more of an "alright- enough already with the screaming, the comic relief, and the cringe-worthy Chinese stereotype" sort of way.

Compare Sallah and Brody in Raiders to their counterparts in TLC and it's hard to imagine they are meant to be the same characters.

The dumbing down and comic turn of those two characters has always been my biggest problem with Crusade.  Fortunately they aren't like that in the novels, which I'm a huge fan of. In fact, I read those much more often than I watch the films.

The sequels and prequels to Raiders aren't mucked up by CGI, they are mucked up by inconsistent craftsmanship.

I'm a big fan of all four films, but no doubt there are some areas in each that I would have done differently.  None are deal-breakers though.  My Indiana Jones marathons last a lot longer than My Star Wars marathons.    ;-)

Still though, the portions I would have done differently in all four and the bits I don't care for are all because of writing, none are because of dodgy matte or CGI.  I'm along for the story.

Mielr said:

it's still refreshing to hear him say there won't be any future digital alterations to his films. :-)

Agreed.  Considering Jaws is one of my top ten films and that the Indiana Jones franchise is a collective top ten entry as well, , it's nice to know they won't be jacked with.

Personally, the great use of CGI I was referencing was the CGI used in Cast Away.  It added to the film and was for the most part unrecognizable as CGI.

Review 5

The Sand Tender: The Hammerhead's Tale,  by Dave Wolverton

This was a weird one.  Nice job of paralleling the events surrounding the cantina, Han, and the droids, but man it's out there lead character-wise. Interesting enough and like Play It Again, it picks up speed as it goes.  In fact, it also intersects that story, which I though gave it an interesting depth. Nadon knows several of the regulars at the cantina, so it fleshes out Mos Eisley a little more than some of the others.

Review 4

Play It Again, Figrin D'an: The Tale of Muftak and Kabe,  by A. C. Crispin

Less interesting at first, especially following Hammertong, but it picked up as it went.  I was much more interested toward the end and really did want to find out what happened to them.  This is another one that intersects the day in the cantina and then goes beyond it.  In fact, it's that after the cantina part of the story that I found most interesting. 

zombie84 said:

 

Anchorhead, if you want to check out EU you have to start with the Thrawn trilogy. It created and defined the EU for a decade, and there's a reason why many people wished Lucas filmed these as the sequel trilogy. 

Yeah, I have another short story collection listed as my next EU, but I'll probably go right to Heir Of The Empire.  Might as well jump in where you guys recommend.  I've heard great things about the Thrawn trilogy, so I'm looking forward to it.

*edit*

Just saw DoubleO's post.  Another good reason to go straight to Heir.

Warbler said:

Anchorhead said:

Good points on the CGI pre-hate by some folks, which I just can't understand.  CGI is the matte painting of the 21st century and can be a very effective resource in the right hands.

as for CGI hate,  take a look at the CGI Yoda and compare it to puppet Yoda,...

Lucas doesn't seem to know how to use it.  For whatever reason, the prequels, particularly the two I haven't seen (screencaps only), look completely fake.  They are truly cartoons.

The pre-hate I was referencing is how some people dismiss any use of CGI as a ruination of a film.  I don't agree with that.  I've seen plenty of CGI that added to a film and some instances where I probably didn't even realize there actually was CGI.

But then again, I was never distracted by matte work in Star Wars or Indiana Jones, so I'm not really the right guy to even comment on it.  I'm in the theater for the story, not the method.

Very well put, Bingo.  It's your clarity and groundedness that serves our corner of the fandom well.  Respected critics, directors, & authors have all said the same thing, ad nauseum, yet it continues to fall on deaf ears.   It's not the SEs - it's the lack of originals.  A very simple solution that will never be addressed because of an insanely self-involved man.

Good points on the CGI pre-hate by some folks, which I just can't understand.  CGI is the matte painting of the 21st century and can be a very effective resource in the right hands.

LexX said:

captainsolo said:

the third takes place after the Daley trilogy and Han wins the Falcon.

Huh? Han had the Falcon in the Daley trilogy.

Yes

xhonzi said:

Reynolds was born/raised in El Paso, TX,

Since we're all over the map topic-wise in this thread, I'd like to add my own useless contribution.

I was also born in El Paso, TX - and - Singing In The Rain is one of my favorite films.

That is all.

For now, I'll probably go this route after I finish Mos Eisley;

Tales From the New Republic
Heir to the Empire
Dark Force Rising
The Last Command
Specter of the Past
Vision of the Future
Survivor's Quest
Allegiance
Death Star
The Paradise Snare
The Hutt Gambit
Rebel Dawn

The order is certainly subject to change once I get going. I may not dig some of them.

*edit*

In fact, I start an A.C. Crispin story tonight.  I'll get a feel for her style.

Bingowings said:

Looks like a Steampunk Homer Simpson.

TV's Frink said:

Leia really let herself go.

I am afraid I'll have to disagree....

;-)

All kidding aside, she has it all over Carrie Fisher. Even when Fisher was in her prime. No, I'm not kidding.