logo Sign In

Obi-wonton

User Group
Members
Join date
16-Jul-2004
Last activity
14-Jan-2006
Posts
453

Post History

Post
#117199
Topic
Anyone willing to share the Making/Behind the Scenes of the Star Wars Radio Dramas?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/117199/action/topic#117199
Time
This was a complete review from amazon.com mentioning the limited edition set specifically at the bottom...

How did Luke come to know Biggs? How did Leia get the Death Star plans? What happened to her in her cell after Darth Vader came in with the interrogation droid? How did Luke become a Commander? These questions, which have been asked by many fans, are answered in the original radio dramatizations of the Star Wars Trilogy. Since some readers may be considering the purchase of one of the dramas or possibly the whole set, I will endeavor to give details of all the dramas. Please note that this is an in-depth review of all three dramas and is therefore somewhat more lengthy than many reviews you will encounter. If you would prefer a shorter review please feel free to scroll to the next review. I will start with the original Star Wars drama from 1981...

In 1981, the Star Wars radio drama was released. Many people were skeptical about the success of a completely sound-based Star Wars universe because Star Wars is a highly visual world that is based largely on visual special effects. They wondered how Star Wars could be experienced without the stunning special effects of the movies. Though the drama does lack visual effects, the sound effects from Ben Burtt and the wonderful score from John Williams provide a fabulous listening experience. Many of the characters from the movies have been replaced with substitutes. Mark Hamill takes on the role of Luke Skywalker and Anthony Daniels provides the voice of C-3PO. Although the substitutes take some getting used to, over all they make better representations of the characters than the movie actors do. Perry King provides a humorous Han Solo. Although his voice is gravelly, he seems to be the kind of guy who could be Han Solo. His wise mouth and humor enhance his image. Ann Sachs takes on the role of Princess Leia. Although she lacks the cold voice of Carrie Fisher, she displays more emotion. To illustrate my point, Carrie Fisher showed little audible horror when her planet and people were destroyed. Ann Sachs provides a more realistic outpouring of sorrow and grief as she screams and cries out as her planet is savagely blown into space dust. She also displays a great deal of emotion in the scene where Darth Vader is interrogating her in her cell. This scene was not in the movies. Though the scene is not for the squeamish, it does illustrate Vader's cruelty and utter lack of caring. His heartless mental attack and Leia's screams of anguish and pain serve to drive home the sheer evil of Darth Vader and the Empire. Brock Peters plays Darth Vader. Although he can not replace James Earl Jones, he has a deep booming voice that can turn from calm to anger in an instant. He also displays emotion more effectively than James Earl Jones. For example, in the freezing pit of Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back, he expresses glee, anger, pleading, and pain. It is obvious from his increasing tone, pitch and volume that he is becoming angry with Luke. Mark Hamill is irreplaceable as Luke Skywalker. He is the perfect Luke. No one can be Luke, not even a substitute. His cockiness at the beginning of the play when he races Fixer turns to fear and anger as he meets Ben and finds that the Imperial troupes have slaughtered his aunt and uncle. He eventually gives way to despair as Ben is killed, but he soon is filled with elation as he destroys TIE Fighters as the Millennium Falcon attempts to escape from the Death Star. He and he only could be Luke. Bernard Behrens plays Ben Kenobi. He does a wonderful job, especially in the scene where he and Vader fight. Anthony Daniels and Anthony Daniels only could play C-3PO. He does a stupendous job of enhancing the personality of C-3PO in this drama. We find out how he and R2-D2 met and how their relationship came into being. Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and the electronic R2-D2 have a deeper friendship than is apparent in the movies. Their quarrels are often humorous. The special effects in the drama are absolutely staggering. Many of the sounds from the movies, and many more not found in the movies have been included. Despite the early time of its release, the original drama is in full surround sound. Unlike in the movies, the characters are also in full stereo. In the movies, the characters occupy the center channel while sounds occupy the side channels. However, in the radio dramas the characters, music and sound all are stereo. You can hear them moving in different directions. In the movies, it is apparent what they are doing by looking at them. With radio there is no visual. Therefore, there must be some way of letting the audience know what is going on. Since there is no narration besides that found in the beginning and end, the characters must let the audience know what is happening. In many radio plays, this can be quite annoying. However, Brian Daley has cunningly written the script to make the descriptions realistic. Here is an example. "Han, Storm trooper to your left!" Blast! "Aaargh!" Storm trooper falls. "Got em!" Although the drama is not perfect, I would highly recommend it due to its staggeringly advanced nature. I would expect something of this magnitude and nature to have been made nowadays. I can hardly imagine how such a monumental task was under taken without most of the computer and digitalized technology of today. Over all, it is a stupendous performance. It spans thirteen episodes, each approximately a half hour for an overall running time of six and a half hours.

The Empire Strikes Back radio drama is another delight. The cast remains the same. Billy Dee Williams plays Lando just as he does in the movies. Paul Hecht plays the Emperor. He does a passable imitation of the emperor's voice, though it could be more sibilant. John Lithgow does a great job as Yoda. Although Frank Ozz is still the only true Yoda, John Lithgow's imitation is pretty good. This production features a huge number of sound effects not found in any of the movies. Those that are found in the movies have been used to their fullest extent. This drama, like the first, is also in full surround sound. The music, just like in the first, is absolutely stunning. Mark Hamill puts on another phenomenal performance of Luke Skywalker. When he is attacked, he screams in fright and pain. He coolly kills the wampa and escapes. He attempts to walk through a blizzard back to base. His performance there is wonderful as he strives to overcome hypothermia and the desire to lie down. He actually seems to be freezing and shaking with cold. His greatest achievement comes when he acts with Brock Peters in the scene on Cloud City. He meets Vader with cocky confidence. Vader overcomes him and eventually he lets out an agonized scream of pain as his hand is cut from his body. He seems to be in terrible pain as he learns that Vader is his father. He eventually falls onto a weather vane. His desperate cries for Ben and Leia are heart-wrenching. As always, the other members of the cast have made this play a distinct pleasure. There are a wide variety of new characters and actors. They all have done a wonderful job. Over all, I would highly recommend this dramatization as well, especially if it is combined with the first radio play. The show has ten episodes, each running for about a half hour for an overall running time of about five hours. It's a superb listening experience.

The period after the Empire Strikes Back radio drama was a dark time for Public Radio. Due to circumstances not related to the plays mentioned here, funding of Public Radio was greatly lowered. No more dramas were produced for many years. Finally funds were increased in the nineties. HighBridge Audio released the first two dramas on tape and CD in 1993. Their great success led to the decision to finally make Return of the Jedi. The production team for the original dramas was brought together again and the actors who had sta
Post
#117198
Topic
Anyone willing to share the Making/Behind the Scenes of the Star Wars Radio Dramas?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/117198/action/topic#117198
Time
I just bought the Limited Edition Set (only 7500 printed)...sick. There's making of stuff, deleted scenes (it already has so, so, so much more than the movies). I was shocked that the audio quality was better than almost anything out there...John Williams score, Ben Burtt's sounds all here. Including Mark Hamill and many others in the cast. wow. Oh by the way, I got it off of Amazon, new, for $95, and not $195 retail (and that was in 1996 - this thing should be worth more than that). I think they misprinted it, but you can still buy 3 more copies from this guy.

Click this link and go to the "used and new link"...$95 for the whole limited edition set!!! NEW!!

Any fan should not, and can not pass this up.

Post
#117084
Topic
Most Powerful Quote in all the Star Wars films.
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/117084/action/topic#117084
Time
"Peeeeeyoooosaaaaaa" - Jar-Jar Binks deliberating after pensive/contemplative thoughts about gaseous exceretions. It strikes me on so many levels. After that I would say "yipppeee", by Anakin. Oh, Oh...best lines...wait, uh

I think the beginning of a New Hope after Vader makes his ominous entrance and says to Leia, "You Are Part of the Rebel Alliance and a Traitor! Take her Away!!" James Earl Jones voice, the breathing, that bad ass entrance. Too cool.

"You have failed me for the last time" --- Vader lines are cool, what can I say.

"I will never join you!!" Luke screams back while holding on with one arm out on the platform. His finest acting moment in the OT. Disturbed when he found out Darth is his father, his hand is gone and his life may soon be too if he doesn't decide to join the dark side.

Post
#116796
Topic
One question to ask George?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116796/action/topic#116796
Time

If you could speak to George Lucas in person, alone in a room (a la Saving Star Wars). What question would you ask him? I guess my number one thing is why have Jar-Jar, a whole race of jar-jar’s even take up the whole movie, but kill off the coolest character in all six movies…Darth Maul. Why? But, basically, I would not hate. He has given us so much to enjoy, to talk about and to share with future generations (in the movie the guy thanks him to saying that him and his son come together over the movies and it gives them something to enjoy and connect with - but he also does say Episode I really sucked!). I am just curious what question would be the one question for you guys. And we don’t need to hate here. I am truly thankful to GL for such a wonderful saga.

Post
#116787
Topic
Info: Who Would Buy this ... THING for $129!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116787/action/topic#116787
Time
That would be awesome mounted on a wall next to some deer, bass, and other kills. I remember back in 1983, I bagged me a wookie with a 30 odd 6 from 100 yards, not bad. Yup.

Or you could do some awesome "authentic" bigfoot movies. Or freak the hell out of your dog with it.

Or cover its mouth fur and teeth in blood for the R-rated cut of star wars where chewie doesn't just pull your arms out of the socket, he eats them!
Post
#116784
Topic
Discussion: Post your Star Wars Collection Pictures here - 56k warning tons of pics
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/116784/action/topic#116784
Time
No, its not mine (sorry Rik!). I do wish though. It's Rebelscum's (Phillip Wise), believe it not, that's not even half of it. He is the guy for the collecting section of the TheForce.net and has his own sites. Pretty sick. Actually, it takes sick to a whole new level. Clearly he's a wealthy guy. B/c I am betting that collection is worth Millions and it is housed in something worth 100's of thousands. Like Smithsonian couldn't even come up with something like that. I would pay to walk thorugh it though. I do have a Star Wars PC on the way from alienware and a star wars Ipod! I do have a ton of the toys from 1977-1983 sealed up from my childhood. Many of the figures, ships, etc. (of course played with back in the day and out of the box - who knew they'd be such a big deal). Oh and tons of the cards from the original movies. Actually the coolest thing I got is a projector toy, that has real film tapes (no sound) and you can watch the film (I had about 4 tapes). Whats cool is this was before VHS and beta in like 1978 and some of the scenes never even made the final cut. Hmm. Anyway, maybe I should dig that out.
Post
#115637
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115637/action/topic#115637
Time
I think that's a nice cover. Great work! Trooperman I think I sent you this in an email at one point, can't remember if you addressed it or not (I've been a little overwhelmed myself lately). I know you're redubbing Anakin lines for Ep. II. What do you think of redubbing Anakin entirely for Ep. I, so he's less "yippee" doofy. I hate when he even is supposed to be angry arguing with Sebulba in Hutteese and he sounds so dorky. What's sad in the documentary on the TPM where they pick Jake Lloyd, one of the other three finalists sounds far better and is a better dramtic actor, like the kid from AI/The Sixth Sense. I would think as a slave and having a british accented mother his demanor and sound would be different. Sadly, the other kid was perfect. I've though about getting a voice actor to do all the lines. Clearly that would be a huge undertaking, although in my edit Anakin talks less, and is more pensive.
Post
#115664
Topic
Anakin & Obi-Wan: The Friendship We Never Really Saw
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115664/action/topic#115664
Time
It is funny there relationship always seems tense. He discourages qui-gonn from taking him, then when he takes him (as a favor to the late qui-gonn and a promise) he is weary as was the jedi council of he was. They always present there relationship as tense and scolding or at best it feels indifferent. Original screenplays had more interaction with obi-wan and padme and padme having a deep admiration for obi-wan, thrusting the jealousy of Anakin hate for Obi deeper by the end of ROTS. Obi-wan probably would feel some jealousy in that his master saw much more promise in this boy than him, that Anakin admired Palpatine more than him, and was in love with (forbidden) another politician, Padme. Sadly, so many of the character developments you find in the novelizations and full screenplays are gone. But there are full slapstick moments, poo-doo references, yippees, plenty O' useless CGI for its own sake.
Post
#115635
Topic
CGI Yoda for TPM
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115635/action/topic#115635
Time
There's boatload's of irony now when you watch the documentary, "The Beginning" on the Phantom Menace. Frank Oz is underneath the stage working Yoda, but amazed at all the Green Screen (Chroma-Key) stuff they are doing and he says, "Pretty soon you won't need me, George!" Well, not only from that point on was yoda CG (ATOC, ROTS), but with them going back and CG'ing TPM (which sadly I am in favor of...TPM yoda is creepy and bizarre for unintentional reasons), well its got to make you chuckle. Poor Frank.
Post
#115413
Topic
ROTS: The Droids...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115413/action/topic#115413
Time
Darth Simon, I hear ya. I wasn't sure about the introduction maybe it all runs together for me (they are in all six films after all). I am just not sure I like them being in all six films period. Like the wookie thing in ROTS, it feels so forced and again, my point is it pulls me out a bit. That's the "stretch" I don't like. I have read innumerous posts on disliking the droids roll in the PT and how there is some incompatability. Like the Padme death thread...there's things that feel forced and therefore is a stretch in that it doesn't add to the story it takes away from it. Further, that is time that could be spent developing the central characters, instead introducing more and more peripheral ones. Every scene that got deleted on the ATOC GL and Rick introduce saying how much this scenes adds to the plot or enriches the character. My question is why? Why add chewbacca? I know I am not alone on some of the culpability of the PT to OT bridge.
Post
#115333
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115333/action/topic#115333
Time
Zebonka, why post that. Why? Trooperman is trying to do something creative, that will receive criticism, paise, adoration and hate...like Lucas, but a difference here is we all love Star Wars and he's doing it for free. Actually he's probably losing a lot of money and time, to do something creative, with passion to try and salvage something with much promise that fell short. Why not? Why hate? Just don't watch it. That's not even constructive criticism. I've read a number of your posts and they are just negative and thoughtless. Would you speak to someone face to face this way? Regardless of what you think, this takes a lot of work, thought and endless frustration to do an edit on the level he's attempting. He's at least giving something of value to this board. You should consider doing the same. I am tired of all the hating. Sorry Trooperman I had to post this, it just gets old.
Post
#115373
Topic
ROTS: The Droids...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115373/action/topic#115373
Time
Uncle owen lived with 3po for years, I was listening to the ATOC novelization and Shmi and the droid are there since not long after anakin left, I think they said 10 years. And it was after they got married Shmi finished putting the metal on him herself, covering him as he is seen with her funeral in ATOC. So he isn't going to recognize the look, the voice, none of it? I can't remember exactly, but doesn't 3po actually introduce himself when he's picking out droids in ANH..."saying my name is c3po, human cyborg relations"? Thanks for pointing out my misspelling! I may have been examing and examining your statement too closely , but there is some irony to saying I am stretching by saying when speaking of fanboy justification as those that blindly follow will make everything fit. It is a story after all and it takes on religious following, zealousness, and justification for things that aren't there. It is not real. It is a story. There always will be holes. It is a question of how many and the level of acceptability. My point is just that. Does this reach a point of frustration to anyone or pull you out of some level of culpability? I think certainly anakin/vader did see c3po in ANH and Empire at cloud city and again the voice is unmistakable. The rockets on r2? Umm, I kind of like it, but then again it makes you watch the OT differently...so you ask yourself how much more of the OT has to be altered to fit the mythology/storyline of the PT. Technology alone can not be justification.

I may be wrong, I am not trying to win a war. I was simply asking a question of does this pull anyone else out of the mythos of the star wars saga?
Post
#115330
Topic
ROTS: The Droids...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115330/action/topic#115330
Time

So I know GL says the droids are an overarching theme through all six and its reallllllly all about them (no, wait Luke, no wait Anakin…no). How many plot holes do they create that memory wipes can not account for. How do you feel about rocket booster for r2d2…its cool, but why is it never present in the OT? Why is it Anakin does not remember c3po which he built and r2d2 who he flew with? Why does “uncle owen” not remember c3po if Shmi his step mother and the droid lived with them for years? Obi-wan in a new hope, not discussing both of them? It makes no sense without proposterous fanboy justification.

Post
#114954
Topic
Hayden aka anakin
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/114954/action/topic#114954
Time
I wish we could get this kind of thread activity on real, thought provoking posts and not crap like this. This is like chat room BS, you're either talking to a prepubescent taiwanese 7 year old that digs yoda types or a 52 year old homosexual pedophile that has a youngling fetish. Either way, I sense something disturbing here. Something...sad. Like a million losers crying out. Oh that's just a daily occurence on the internet. Move along. Move along.
Post
#114953
Topic
Why Kill Padme?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/114953/action/topic#114953
Time
And that's exactly how I'll edit the film. No mother would give up her kids like that. Anakin kills her accidentally, she dies in birth, they grab the babies post-mortem (the "we'll have to operate quickly line"), and Leia assumes her mom always was her adopted one and that Luke as a brother, must somehow be from her not padme.