TheBoost

My abusive relationship with EU novels continues, and I finished the newest novel set a billion years before "Star Wars" where everything is still more or less exactly the same as in "Star Wars."

Originallity check... what do we have:

• Sith lord with a breath mask? Check.
• Smuggler with a heart of gold? Check.
• Young Jedi tempted to the dark side? Check.
• Evil Empire/Noble Republic? Check.

But ultimately I liked the tale. It was a very SMALL story compared to your average EU novel. It followed four characters, and primarily involved their personal confilct against the backdrop of galactic struggle. No super weapons, no huge battles. Just characters with realistic goals (revenge, money).

One beef with it was that it was largely based on the bad-ass trailer video to the "Old Republic" MMORPG. There's a lengthy chapter that describes the trailer in minute detail, and I'm fine with that, but it includes a lot about the girl-Boba Fett from the video, who then does not appear in the novel.

Worse, later in the book it has a character WATCH the video recording of the trailer frame-by-frame, so it's all described in minute detail a second time.

Still, one of the more enjoyable EU novels I've read in a while. One I'd actually reccomend.

Although not a great film, "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" seemed to work as

• The girl was possessed.
• The girl was mentally ill and being tortured by superstitious priests.

depending on how you want to view it.

• The Prestige
• Clue
• Starship Troopers
• The Fellowship of the Ring
• Labyrinth

Excluding the Star Wars pictures, I think these are the movies I simply love the most.

Watching ESB with my 2 year old.

He sees the tauntaun and, thinking it's a horse, identifies it as "neeeeeeigh."

I'm so embarrassed. I tried to explain that tauntaun's aren't horses, but he never listens. Arg.

One of the things I love about the movie "Labyrinth" is that it works perfectly on two levels.

1. It's a child adventure film with magic and goblins.
2. It's a coming of age story about a girl using her imagination to deal with the loss of her mother, and her own fears of growing up.

Either way is equally valid based on the content of the film, and IMHO equally enjoyable.

What other films work perfectly on two (or more) totally different levels of interpretation?

adywan said:

Thanks guys. I've just got back from visiting Dad in the hospital and have just been told that the operation was a success and they have managed to get rid of all the cancer :) so i'm going to be getting pretty drunk tonight to celebrate

 Much love to you and your father man. That's great news.

Everytime I hear "It's Lucas's movie he can do what he wants" I wonder how the poster would feel if, as normal, the STUDIO owned these movies. What if misc. executives at Fox got to decide how to change the OT? It would just as much be their right to do whatever they want, right?

Mielr said:

In spite of this, I received the following comment on my profile page, someone who went out of their way to say the following:

"You know you just look like a stupid bitch for disabling comments on your Han Shot First video. How about you grow up you little faggot and learn how to handle words like a man. You had no legit reason to ban people from commenting on your video, you were just being an annoying bitch. Grow up kid."

 I just wonder WHAT exactly this dude had to say about an old video featuring years old news that, when denied that chance, made him so filled with rage and hatred.

I am in AWE at how bad the writing on "Smallville" has gotten. I'm counting down the weeks until I never have to watch this show again (nine plus years is too long to give up before the finale).

I first saw "Blade Runner" as the directors cut. Ive sense seen the theatrical cut, and prefer the director's cut.

All those other movies, I've only seen the 'normal' editions. I just don't see a big need to bother seeing a different version... same for the 18 new versions of "Blade Runner" that seem to be available.

Sluggo said:

^recording or it didn't happen

It's about 2:30 into the song.

walkingdork said:

Alexrd said:

walkingdork said:

Sure the mainstream loves the PT and the new Indiana Jones movie, but that's because the mainstream thinks whatever they told to think.

Really? Any source for that?

You don't think that if they made a 5th Indiana Jones it would be an instant hit because of all the hype and advertising that would go into it? You don't think people ever come to conclusions and form their opinions based purely on reviews, advertisement or hype?

 How do we explain hugely marketed and hyped films like "Speed Racer" "Treasure Plantet" "Sahara" or the recent "Mars Needs Moms" all totally bombed?

xytan4 said:

One thing that has always nagged me about Star Wars is why the laser guns fire bolts. Lasers travel at the speed of light, you would see a continuous beam and not a bolt. Lucas should've known that.

 So we have a weapon that doesn't behave like a laser, doesn't look like a laser, and isn't called a laser, but we expect it to look like a laser.

This doesn't strike you as odd?

Alexrd said:

walkingdork said:

Sure the mainstream loves the PT and the new Indiana Jones movie, but that's because the mainstream thinks whatever they told to think.

Really? Any source for that?

Someone was playing "Do They Know It's Christmas" loudly in their car when I went to lunch.

I'd never noticed how much the middle of that song sounds like the Doctor Who theme. Weird.

"Gladiator"

A big part of this movie bothered me that I'd never thought of before.

Emperor Marcus Aurelies says "I've been tyrant my whole life, and after enjoying a life of absolute power, I've decided that having absolute power is wrong. I'm not going to do anything about it, but after I die, I'd like someone else to change the system back to a Republic."

What a jerk!

And who does he pick to do it? General Maximus! A guy with no politics, experience, or apparently even political awareness is supposed to somehow reform centuries of corruption? AT BEST he could lead his loyal armies into Rome and stage a military coup. I don't see that ending well for Rome or the Republic.

DuracellEnergizer said:

twooffour said:

Why does Qui-Gon say "no thought of self" right after talking about the possibility of "avoiding oblivion" while retaining consciousness, and DEMONSTRATING THAT HIMSELF WHILE HE'S SPEAKING? 

I think this one at least can slide. Quiggy's talk about "no thought of self" is probably about the absence of desires for material pleasures, possessions, rewards, things like that. 

Of course, the whole retain-your-personality-and-obtain-immortality thing smacks of "thought of self" so ... 

Selflessness and continuing to exist are in now way at odds with eachother.

"Hey Dalai Lama! If you're so selfless how come you're eating that sandwich!?  And give me your shoes!"

There's only a contradiction if we, the fans, chose to intentionally interpret it in a way that is stupid.

We also don't have any systematic rules on how the afterlife works, so this is another example of fans making up rules that don't match the story, and then being angry that they aren't followed.

TV's Frink said:

TheBoost said:

Can we think of any artist in any media that had a long and prolific career that didn't have some ventures into mediocrity?

U2?

I'm not a big fan, but it seems like even long-time fans still like them.

Walkingdork said: 

U2 is easily one of my favorite bands IF they die in a plane crash in the early 90s and don't get the opportunity to put on dumb sunglasses and create horrible music.

walkingdork said:

I look at George Lucas the way I look at some bands/musicians. If George Lucas died in a plan crash in 1990 (or around then) he would be one of the most loved filming figures of his time, but instead he had to live and ruin everything. It's the same with so many bands as well. U2 is easily one of my favorite bands IF they die in a plane crash in the early 90s and don't get the opportunity to put on dumb sunglasses and create horrible music.

If Lucas dies in 1990 we would talk about him the way people talk about Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, etc. What if George Lucas didn't die in that horrible crash? Just think of all of the great movies he could have come out with. He might have even come out with another trilogy!

I hear ya.

People who die young tend to be idealized because they never had a chance to not be great. Curt Cobain is held up because we never got to see him as an aging somewhat embarrasing reminder of a past time. Marilyn Monroe never got old and fat. We can imagine how great they might have been, even if we know in our heart of hearts that no one stays a groundbreaking genius forever.

But I think most filmmakers only have a few truly great films in them. A band can only record so many genre defining albums before either the genre is defined and they repeat themselves, or they grow in new and perhaps less satisfying directions.

Can we think of any artist in any media that had a long and prolific career that didn't have some ventures into mediocrity?

hezekiaah said:

I feel like a lot of things that I've read make that fat dancer Jabba had seem like she was a victim of circumstance, and really quite a "good" person.  However, in the films she is portrayed as anything BUT a victim.  She's shown flirting with various members of the court, and she smiles and points while that green dancer begs for her life...Then she is the first one mocking and laughing from above when that slave finally gets dumped for trying to get away.  Seems like she was quite the opposite of a victim.  Seemed like she fit right in with Jabba's lot. 

 I dont recall any EU writing about fat dancer, but it's possible she fits into my interpretation of just about everyone in Jabba's court... she's STONED OUT OF HER MIND!

Why do you think they're all passed out on the floor when Leia comes in? It's a vice den.

You're all hippocrytes!

TV's Frink said:

Dear lord, these hippos are RUTHLESS MURDERERS

 Again you don't understand. That zebra wants our women! The hippo is protecting us!

TV's Frink said:

TheBoost said:

 

 Why kill it with fire!?!? What hippo is SAVING YOU from the crocodile! You ingrate!

Any hippo that can eat a CROCODILE and travels in a PACK is a hippo that I want to stay as far away from as possible.

Seconds earlier that croc jumped out of nowhere and totally started the fight. He even had the high ground!

TV's Frink said:

TheBoost said:

KIWF!!! KTAWF!!!!

 Why kill it with fire!?!? What hippo is SAVING YOU from the crocodile! You ingrate!

doubleofive said:

Ripplin said:

Nice screenshot up there and yes, it is very reminiscent of the McQuarrie painting. :) They even got Hamill to thrash around a bit, like in the painting. Anyone know why? Was it the sting of the bacta on his wounds or something like that?

I think he's supposed to still be mumbling about Dagobah and Yoda, at least he is in the comic.

 I always took it as he was jerking awake, because moments later he swims up and out.