Gaffer Tape

User Group: Members
Join date: 2-Jun-2005
Last activity: 13-Nov-2019
Posts: 7,996

Post History

Post: #116645
Topic: You Know, It's Funny...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116645/action/topic#116645
Time: 19-Jun-2005 2:44 PM

Well, I, for one, don't want things like matte lines to be cleaned up. The DVD release, though, did make things that weren't visible before, like the "black box" around TIE fighters, be visible when they weren't before, and I'm not sure about that. What gets me are people who don't want the original films changed, but they want George to add back all these deleted scenes from the prequels back in, etc., which seems kind of hypocritical to me. I think the prequels aren't that great, but I still don't want all these changes to appear when I buy them on DVD, which is what's already happening.

Post: #116642
Topic: Why Direct?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116642/action/topic#116642
Time: 19-Jun-2005 2:35 PM

I was wondering if anyone had any documented reasons (i.e. interviews) that explains why George Lucas decided to direct all three prequels. This is something that's always interested me. In the Leonard Maltin interviews on the Faces release, he asks George what would get him back in the director's chair, and George said that if he directed any of them, it would be the first one, so he could set the stage for the other directors to follow him. Now, this isn't a pro-Lucas directing thread or an anti-Lucas directing thread. I'm just curious to know if there is any documented evidence as to why he changed his mind.

Post: #116636
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116636/action/topic#116636
Time: 19-Jun-2005 2:26 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: HotRod
Fuck me Gaffer man. I've just read your post from page one, and man you can fucking talk!

Took me fucking ages to read that shit, man.
I'll read the rest of this thread in a minute, but I just wanted to say now, that Fuck me man, you really don't like TPM.

Man!

How come nobody notices that I was just quoting Seiji?! That wasn't me who wrote that! And even Seiji says that that was just a compilation of ideas from other fans that he just agrees with!

Post: #116565
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116565/action/topic#116565
Time: 19-Jun-2005 6:21 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: Seiji
Quote
Originally posted by: Tony
Quote
The first 40 min. to me could have used more music (mainly the droid sequences) But that is just me being a Film Director of the future, not a fan. As a Fan I will take STAR WARS For whatever way George Lucas gives it to me, it is his films and I will accept that.

Well, it's a tricky matter, you add too much music to a scene and it can take away, or vice versa. Take away the Jaws theme music, then you're left with an empty scene, use it too much and it looses its effectiveness.

Or for example, I'm a big fan of the Japanese version of DBZ, but the American dub has taken away some of the drama by playing music NONSTOP. Tense stare downs, where you hear only the russle of wind in the background, are now replaced and dimnished by nonstop synthesizers playing in the background, loosing the intense build up before a battle.

You have to find a happy balance.

I think the Star Wars music is just fine. John Williams in a friggin' genious.

I agree with you totally Seiji. I'm a DBZ fan, and one of the reasons I hate the US version (and I don't have to enjoy all version of DBZ to consider myself a fan; I just enjoy the original) is the constant use of music. And I hope you don't mind that I posted your list of reasons. I made sure to give you credit beforehand.

Post: #116431
Topic: MagnoliaFan Edits: Ep I "Balance Of The Force", and Ep II "The Clone War" (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116431/action/topic#116431
Time: 18-Jun-2005 10:34 PM

I generally thought that Wayne Manor was pretty far removed from the rest of Gotham City. It gave Bruce some much-needed privacy. I haven't seen this particular movie yet, though, so if Wayne Manor is now supposed to be right next to the urban areas, forgive me.

Post: #116497
Topic: So I Went and Saw Episode III for the 2nd Time Tonight.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116497/action/topic#116497
Time: 18-Jun-2005 10:00 PM

prequel-A literary, dramatic, or cinematic work whose narrative takes place before that of a preexisting work or a sequel

So, I guess Prequel Trilogy can still fit, too, huh?

Post: #116488
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116488/action/topic#116488
Time: 18-Jun-2005 9:12 PM

I say it's eye candy except for the very end. That's a nice explanation of the lightsaber twirl, but that wasn't my main problem with it. For me, it just seemed like the lava overshadowed the characters. The first time I saw it, that duel was the only part where I just blanked out and couldn't help not paying attention. It was hard for me to pay attention the second time as well. Yes, I knew it had been planned as a lava/volcano duel for years (one of the few details that has a long-standing precedent attached to it), but there was simply too much. I couldn't concentrate on the characters there was so much of it, and this was a duel that I felt really should have been more character-driven rather than effects-driven. That is why the duel in Empire is my favorite. It is a huge step-up from the Ben/Vader fight. It is much more rugged and intense, and the focus stays on the characters. And the part where they are on the hover-droids inches from the lava is just ridiculous in my opinion. There is no way they could be that close to the lava and not get burnt by at least some of the particles flying by, especially when Vader gets burnt up by it just a few minutes later. That was where I was convinced it had gone too far. But once they stopped fighting and started talking, that's when it brought me back, and I began to appreciate it.

Post: #116485
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116485/action/topic#116485
Time: 18-Jun-2005 9:00 PM

I'll have to watch out for that Cloud City theme next time I watch The Phantom Menace because I never noticed it before. I wouldn't be surprised, since a lot of material in Episodes I-III is previously tracked music. But I only have the single-disc soundtrack for Phantom Menace, so it's most likely not on it.

Post: #116482
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116482/action/topic#116482
Time: 18-Jun-2005 8:54 PM

Hey, no problem with that. I do happen to own the soundtrack to the original Star Wars, and I enjoy it immensely (not as much as The Empire Strikes Back, as that is my favorite soundtrack), but I can't say that it had very little music, nor that it was bland. Heh, listening to Star Wars music gives me such a rush while I'm driving. And the orchestral version of Princess Leia's theme, which isn't in the movie, is on the soundtrack, and it has become one of my favorite pieces!

Post: #116478
Topic: emperor slugs
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116478/action/topic#116478
Time: 18-Jun-2005 8:40 PM

Watch carefully in the close-up scenes of the Emperor in Return of the Jedi. If you look at the left side of his hood (his right, your left), you can see a little patch of black that doesn't match up with the rest of the black. That was colored in to hide the effects used to make Palpatine's eyes yellow. I think it was George Lucas who originally passed it off a Sith slug that feeds the Emperor's power to him or something like that.

Post: #116477
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116477/action/topic#116477
Time: 18-Jun-2005 8:38 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: Tony
I will be honest with you all. My favorite Star Wars films go in this order.

1. Revenge Of The Sith
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. The Phantom Menace
4. Attack of The Clones
5. Return Of The Jedi
6. A New Hope

But in a sense, I like each movie equally. I have the same amount of Pros (give or take a few for certain films) as I do Cons. To bash 1 film in the STAR WARS Universe is pretty low, you either love STAR WARS, or you hate it. None of this inbetween "omg I can only watch Episodes 4 - 6" or "OMG I Can only watch Episodes 1 - 3" but as the above poster said, he likes episodes 3 - 5.

If I had to pick 3 to show somebody first, I would pick Episodes 1 - 3.

I don't agree that you have to love every single thing (or every single movie) in a series to be a fan of the series. In fact, it takes some maturity to be honest with what you like and what you don't like about something rather than simply saying, "I love it just because I love the series." You admit it yourself by ranking them. If you prefer one movie over another then that means that the ones that are not on the top of your list must be missing something that your top choice contains. There is nothing wrong with not loving everything. It is possible to be perfectly happy with everything and much more possible to be perfectly content with your fandom. But, in response to "you either love STAR WARS, or you hate it," think about what Obi-Wan said in your favorite Star Wars movie: "Only the Sith think in absolutes!" ^_^

Post: #116459
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116459/action/topic#116459
Time: 18-Jun-2005 7:15 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: Nanner Split
I just came to a realization, and this kind of amused me. The reaction that Lucas got for changing the OT is ALMOST EXACTLY the same reaction Metallica got when they sued Napster. It made the fans feel alienated by their heroes; it also made them think they only did it for the money, which in turn only made them MORE angry because it wasn't like the band didn't have enough money already. Does anyone else seem to think this an odd coincidence?

Well, it's probably the only way you can relate George Lucas to Metallica... ^_~ But, yeh, I see the connection. Damnit, George! You stole our music!!!

Post: #116434
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116434/action/topic#116434
Time: 18-Jun-2005 4:54 PM

Whoa, some slightly inflammatory words there, Tony. Why are people "immature", "stubborn", and in need of psychiatric evaluation simply because they hold a viewpoint that doesn't mesh with yours? I truly believe in the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I am by no means a first generations Star Wars fan. I was only first initiated into the Star Wars fandom ten years ago. But even then, I saw nothing in the original releases that kept me from enjoying the film. So as far as your argument about keeping it enjoyable for future generations, I don't think anyone complained before the Special Editions that they couldn't enjoy it as much unless Lucas went in and added state of the art effects and other retooling. I don't agree with all this Special Edition and Director's Cuts mayhem that's been around in the past several years, but it seems pretty low to not let those who enjoy the originals have them, which is what Lucas is trying to do. You're happy with the 2004 movies. Fine. You have what you want. For those of us who don't, we're forced to take more underground methods. Is that fair?

Post: #116410
Topic: So why Define STAR WARS as OT OR PT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116410/action/topic#116410
Time: 18-Jun-2005 2:55 PM

Welcome, Tony. I hope you enjoy your stay here. I can't say I agree with what you said, but you said it in a much more mature way than most people state Star Wars opinions (on any side of the fence or in the middle), so don't expect any flaming from me, just (I hope) more intelligent conversation. I really doubt there are any people here who dislike The Phantom Menace because of the lack of Vader, Luke, and Solo. Rather, they are disgruntled people who expected much more out of the prequels and feel that Mr. Lucas didn't handle them as well as he could have. It's an opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. And there are many arguments that I feel express legitimate concern and constructive criticism. There is a post from Seiji that I've enjoyed reading a few times, and, well, this is it:

"1.) As far as Hayden and Jake go, if you realize that they are going to struggle with many lines, you should cut out all unnecessary lines from these two. The less said by Anakin the better. I think a more minimalist style to Anakin's dialogue would allow the character to blend in better with Darth Vader, who was always a calculating and efficient with his word choice (examples: "I find your lack of faith disturbing" to Motti, "Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly?" to Lando, and "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" to Jerjerrod). Anakin definitey has way too much dialogue in the prequels. If Anakin were more of a minor character in the Phantom Menace and a man of fewer words, he could have been much more effective. I think Obi-Wan should be the hero of all three prequel trilogies, and the scripts should have been written to reflect this. First scene on the chopping block (one of many): "It's working, it's working!" No kid actor could have delivered this line well.

2.) Instead of putting Anakin in the cockpit of the Naboo starfighter in Phantom Menace, Anakin should have stayed with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to watch them fight Darth Maul. This change would have removed the utter lack of seriousness for the space portions of the battle and would have furthered Anakin's character development, by having him witness a traumatic event and be exposed to both sides of the Force. I actually expected this to happen in the movie. Lines like "No one can kill a Jedi ... I wish that were so" and "It's a hard life" from Qui-Gon hint that Anakin will be exposed to these challenges within the movie. The scene would not have required any dialogue from Anakin, but merely a few telling glances from Qui-Gon and Maul. Instead he goes off and destroys the Federation battleships and delivers the line "This is podracing". Horrible stuff. Luke's attack on the Death Star was heroic and required maturity, but Anakin's attack on the Federation ships is idiotic and impossibly lucky, not heroic.

3.) Remove the Midi-Chlorians. Qui-Gon's senses should be proof enough that Anakin is powerful, we don't need a blood test. I don't mind the Prophecy, but it would have been much better without the Midi-chlorian explanation. This change to the lore also contradicts the view of the Force shown by Obi-Wan in ANH and Yoda in Empire.

We would much rather have Qui-Gon's explanation of the Force be consistent with the explanations given by Obi-Wan in A New Hope and Yoda in Empire, but with his character's own personal touches. Here are their explanations of the Force (which is not unexplainable magic, as you seem to understand it).

Obi-Wan : "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."

Obi-Wan's explanation seems to imply that the Force is universal. Midi-chlorians do not create the ability to use the Force, but other living things create it. Any being can use the Force with enough training, focus, and patience. Specifically, your ability to use the Force stems from your mind, not from the number of symbiotic organisms within your body.

Yoda: "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter."

Notice how Yoda specifically made the contrast between matter and humanity. Yoda says that humans are more than just the sum of their cells. Explaining one's ability to use the Force through the results of a blood test means that the Force does boil down to 'crude matter'. He also repeats Obi-Wan's assertion that all life creates the Force.

The Midi-Chlorian explanation in Episode I specifically refutes the explanations of the Force given in the original two Star Wars films. In the OT, we could say that Yoda is the wisest and most powerful Jedi because of his faith, dedication, focus, patience, intelligence, etc. In the PT, we say that Yoda and Anakin are the two most powerful Jedi because they were born with the highest number of Midi-chlorians in their body. This is almost a Social Darwinist theory of the Force.

Qui-Gon says that without Midi-chlorians, life would not be possible and we would have no knowledge of the Force. Therefore, all living things possess midi-chlorians, and all living things should have access to the Force

The film would have been superior if the midi-chlorians were never mentioned, though. The Force definitely has changed since Obi-Wan described it in Episode IV (Lucas was trying to make a positive change, but hurt the films instead). In Episode IV, Obi-Wan comments: "When I first met your father, I was amazed at how strongly the Force was with him." In Episode I, this comment seems to have changed to "I was amazed at how high his midi-chlorian count was." The descriptions of the from the original trilogy imply that your ability to use the Force is limited only by the strength of your mind and will. Yoda makes it abundantly clear that NO PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS can be placed on the Force, including a Midi-chlorian count. In the PT, this is no longer the case.

Lucas has treated his audience like complete idiots throughout the prequels. The audience understands exactly what Lucas is TRYING to do with the Midi-chlorians (all too well), but it does not have the desired effect. This is a clear-cut example of one of the main problems with the PT: Lucas explaining the story through expository dialogue instead of demonstrating things through action. (ie- Lucas tells us Anakin is strong with the Force through prolonged dialogue, while Luke demonstrates his strength through actions; Anakin and Padme tell us their feelings in words, while Han and Leia demonstrate their feelings through actions and expressions; etc.) These examples disrespect the intelligence of the audience rather than overestimate it.

To put things this way: which explanation of the Force do you prefer? A New Hope, Empire, or Phantom Menace?

To put things another way: no one would ever complain about Yoda's sublime description of the Force in Empire, but very many people complain about Qui-Gon's explanation to Anakin. There is a definite reason why.

Of course, that's forgetting that Darth Vader redeemed himself, killed the Emperor and returned to Anakin Skywalker when Luke lifted his helmet. This naturally led to the poignant scene at the end of ROTJ where the newly-redeemed Anakin takes his rightful place with the other Jedi.

This recent change is illogical, lame, and obviously done so that the crappy Lucas Prequels can insert even more control over the superior OT. Lucas continually tries to get the Prequel scenes and story into the OT, like some ugly guy hanging out with a pretty b

Post: #116236
Topic: ROTS: The Droids...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116236/action/topic#116236
Time: 17-Jun-2005 1:14 PM

I'm aware of that, Kev... It was a joke.

Post: #116197
Topic: ROTS: The Droids...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116197/action/topic#116197
Time: 17-Jun-2005 10:41 AM

Or he might go the really intelligent route and have R2 fire his rockets while they're falling out of the Ewok net. Everybody else dies, and the Rebels are destroyed (some Ewoks probably get burnt too), but at least George has managed to save his continuity for his vision!!!

Post: #116193
Topic: Rampant Rationalisation
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116193/action/topic#116193
Time: 17-Jun-2005 10:37 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: Stinky-Dinkins
Quote
Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
There is no lingerie in space...

You've never been to Venus.

Well, next time you're there, you should take some pics if those Venusians are hot. But, according to George Lucas and Carrie Fisher, there is no lingerie in space.

Post: #116192
Topic: Rampant Rationalisation
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116192/action/topic#116192
Time: 17-Jun-2005 10:36 AM

Whoa, whoops, sorry, I read that wrong. Actually, at first I (not until around Episode II, actually) didn't realize that Sidious and Palpatine were the same person because it just seemed too obvious. Like I said, I knew Palpatine would become the Emperor, but it just seemed like anybody could wear a black shawl. I was hoping it would be a little more creative than that.

Post: #116190
Topic: Rampant Rationalisation
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116190/action/topic#116190
Time: 17-Jun-2005 10:33 AM

Hmm, I figured it out because the guy in the originals was Emperor Palpatine and the guy in the prequels was Senator/Chancellor Palpatine, but maybe that's just me. ^_^

But, anyway, it really wasn't a huge shock even if I didn't know. One of the few good things George did with the prequels was some vague foreshadowing of Palpatine being evil. Too bad it was something almost everybody already knew...

Post: #115756
Topic: ROTS: The Droids...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115756/action/topic#115756
Time: 16-Jun-2005 1:52 PM

Oh, come on. Be nice. Just because he thinks the prequels suck (which isn't that bizarre of an idea around here...) doesn't mean he has to be bashed.

Post: #115753
Topic: Now here's something you don't see every day...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115753/action/topic#115753
Time: 16-Jun-2005 1:38 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: Klingon_Jedi
Man, I wouldn't have guessed that that was Carrie Fisher if you hadn't said it. Wow.....

Still, I agree that it's great to see Luke, Leia and Han all together again.

That shot of George is Priceless. It's like everyone else knew they were taking the picture, and he found out at the last second. "That's a camera?!"

To me, it looks more like, "Oh, my gosh! A woman hasn't been this close to me in 20 years!!! What do I do?!"

Post: #115577
Topic: Reasons why the O-OT is better than the SE
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115577/action/topic#115577
Time: 15-Jun-2005 8:26 PM

Yeah, Jedikev, it would seem so. Think of all the summer blockbusters nowadays that depend on special effects or giant explosions. Eye candy, in other words. It's really rather ironic. Back when George Lucas first made Star Wars, pretty much all special effects had been done away with. He revived them, but now it's grown into a monster that he no longer has any control over. It's like in the Gary Kurtz interview, where he said that around Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucas came to the conclusion that movie-goers were more interested in the "roller coaster ride" than the actual story, so his movies began to focus more on special effects with the story used simply as a means to propel the viewer from one special effects scene to the next. It's rather sad to think that he took us from one side of the spectrum to the other...

Post: #115492
Topic: You came this close to Qui Gon being in the end of ROTJ...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115492/action/topic#115492
Time: 15-Jun-2005 2:33 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
" After Star Wars became a huge hit he began to hate it. "

Not for the reason you imply. He disliked that his newfound popularity was due mainly to this sci-fi cult film, rather than his earlier, and rather spectacular, body of work.

Yeah, I'm sure that today, most people remember him for his work on Star Wars, and it could get rather frustrating to be typecast as Obi-Wan Kenobi for the rest of your life.

Post: #115491
Topic: CGI Yoda for TPM
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115491/action/topic#115491
Time: 15-Jun-2005 2:30 PM

There are a lot of interviews in the past where George said he had enough ideas to make both a trilogy before and a trilogy after IV, V, and VI, but as far as those ideas actually being scripts that he just shelved in favor of those three original movies, that's just not true as far as I can see. I'm not one to usually promote the DVD set, but you really should take a gander at the Empire of Dreams documentary. It does a very good job of explaining the origins of the story and the different changes it went through before it became film.

For example, if George's original story was I-VI or even I-IX, why would only IV-VI be so close to trying to mirror the ancient archetypes of mythology, which is one of the main things that motivated him to come up with the story in the first place?

Post: #115485
Topic: CGI Yoda for TPM
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115485/action/topic#115485
Time: 15-Jun-2005 2:14 PM

Yeah, I seriously doubt it, too. It would be far too much trouble for something that would only be released to a home format. And I know George is too smart to do something that would probably turn half of his fanbase against him. Most people don't notice most of the changes he's made to the movies, it's true, but there is no way they wouldn't notice a digital Yoda and not be pissed about it.