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TheCassidy

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16-May-2005
Last activity
22-Sep-2011
Posts
1,111

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Post
#124915
Topic
George's directorial style
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124915/action/topic#124915
Time
Actually, the Star Wars Episodes I-III move a lot slower than many contemporary 'FX' films. The cuts last a little longer, more in style with the originals.

Television pretty much ruined the public's attention span. In a 30 second commercial, there's usually a cut every second. We have become accustomed to processing visual information at an alarming rate, and this has carried over into movies. Take a look at a chase scene in a contemporary film, then look at some of the 'fly-by's' in any one of the Star Wars prequels. You'll notice a huge difference.

I agree that the FX master shot has become overdone. I remember fans on the 'net heaping tons of praise on Peter Jackson for his reservations at using the sweeping FX shot and how better he was than Lucas for not showing off digital FX. Well, I go to see 'Fellowship' and there it is - the 'camera' flies in from a high overhead shot, sweeps down through Orthanc as Sauron's army constructs the tower...I mean, it was pretty but not necessary and make no mistake - it was WETA showing off.

I think people really need to be careful not to hang Lucas out to dry. He's given a lot of fillmakers the tools to do what they envision, but it's up to them eventually. Yeah, Lucas's ILM technology created The Hulk, but I don't see anyone criticizing that monstrosity of a film.

I'd like to ask many of you a simple question - Why is it, exactly, that you feel the need to question Lucas more than any other contemporary filmmaker, especially with such venom and spite?
Post
#124744
Topic
George's directorial style
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124744/action/topic#124744
Time
LOL. Here's another.

Each film features a scene of severance, both physical and thematically. Someone loses a limb in each film and in most of them there is a separation of sorts, a severance from one's life or loved ones. Luke 'severs' his ties with Tatooine, Han is 'severed/separated' from his friends, Luke & Leia are separated from their friends in 'Jedi' and so on.

Physically the choices are obvious - Walrus Man's arm, Luke's hand, Vader's hand, Darth Maul's torso, Jango's head, Anakin's arms and legs. The list goes on and on.

I think that the severances in the Star Wars Universe are really thematically interesting and symbolic of many, many things taking place in the context of the films.
Post
#124664
Topic
Was Lucas Just Lucky?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124664/action/topic#124664
Time
With the prequels, he has everything he wants right there in his lap and can do anything he wants with the snap of his fingers. Just film it on blue screen and fix it in post. It's the solution to every problem. See the difference?

Well, that idea is more attributed to McCallum - but Lucas is guilty of that sentiment.

Look, Lucas is a hell of a good director. Is he Spielberg, Scorcese, Hitchcock etc. good? No way. But, like I said, rewatch THX or AG and tell me the man isn't talented as a director. By the same token, look at 'Sky Captain' which was shot entirely in front of blue/green screen and look at the Prequels. Lucas gets decent performances out of his actors. Are they great? Nope, but the performances work thematically which is something many, many people overlook. Look at LXG - that movie was horrible, as was Sky Captain, and I don't see people still beating THAT dead horse.

Ease on the Lucas bashing and I'll ease up on the Lucas defending!
Post
#124508
Topic
Was Lucas Just Lucky?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/124508/action/topic#124508
Time
Welcome to the board. I read your post, but honestly it sounds a lot like fanboy rhetoric, although it was nice to read a post on the internet with proper sentence structure and grammar.

The majority in the world don't have 1/10 of the talent that George Lucas has in his little toe. To deny the impact that Lucas, not his films, has had on culture much left cinema, is a shortsighted and wrong.

Give the man his due respect. I don't really understand how anyone can come on a Star Wars board just to bash Lucas. None of us would be here without him and yet here we are, nearly 30 years later still talking about it.

Put on THX-1138 or American Graffiti and tell me you aren't looking forward to a non-Star Wars George Lucas movie.

Seriously, get over it.
Post
#123990
Topic
When does ROTS leave cinemas?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/123990/action/topic#123990
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
Quote
Originally posted by: TheCassidy
Quote
Originally posted by: fans own the trilogy
Quote
Originally posted by: Jedikev
When does ROTS actually end it's run on the cinemas everywhere??


Not soon enough!


Hater. C'mon - it's a frigging Star Wars movie, and more than likely the last time we will ever get to see a new Star Wars movie in cinemas.


Well, I'm not too sad that it's the last new Star Wars movie in cinemas because, in the interest of good taste, I see no reason to milk this cash cow any further, which is why I'm not too happy with the TV show. I am sad, however, that it will probably be the last time to see a Star Wars movie in a widely-released theatrical experience, because nothing beats that excitement.


Agreed.
Post
#123988
Topic
Of the six Star Wars movie which is your LEAST favorite?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/123988/action/topic#123988
Time
Oh man...Okay.

I like being a positive person as much as possible, so here goes...if I were stranded on a desert island with only two Star Wars movies to watch until I was either eaten by a ravenous monkey or starved to death I would pick - Star Wars and Revenge of the Sith

I love the other films though, just not as much. Star Wars is my all time 2nd favourite movie next to 'Raiders' and 'Revenge' is just the new hotness right now.

I know I should saw 'Empire' is the best...but...well...holy shite, why didn't I say 'Empire?'
Post
#123970
Topic
Howard Kazanjian
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/123970/action/topic#123970
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: InfoDroid
I guess nobody really gives a crap about Howard Kazanjian's contributions to the Star Wars Saga.

It's sad when a thread is titled "Howard Kazanjian" and you have two posts regarding him, and twenty others pertaining to Gary Kurtz, Rick McCallum, and their respective working relationships with Lucas.


It's not sad at all. Any discussion of Kazanjian would be replete without the point being made that Lucas has seemingly become more insular since the 1980's and gravitated more toward the producing style of McCallum which is decidely less artistically hands on.

My guess is that Kazanjian had moved on to other things since 'Jedi' like producing television and more features. His schedule was probably busy and McCallum was hired to produce Young Indiana Jones. A working relationship formed between him and Lucas, and there you go.

I think the reason that a thread about Kazanjian moved into other areas is that his story isn't as lurid and entertaining as Kurtz's. Honestly, his contribution to the Star Wars universe is a little boring apart from the interesting point that it was he who originally contributed the 'Revenge' title.

For what it's worth, you could probably credit him with the title for 'Revenge of the Sith' which without the original 'Jedi' title would have been called something else. The danger though is creating a legend out of Kazanjian where there may not really be one...

Just my opinion though (and the beers as well, I guess)
Post
#122827
Topic
Howard Kazanjian
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/122827/action/topic#122827
Time
Yep. I know that a lot of the "fan base" has been allowed themselves to become alienated by the way George Lucas has seemingly handled their beloved franchise, and since the 1970's we've become the most cynical, sarcastic and cranky bastards on the planet, but enough is enough.

People seem to think that the way to fit in is to come up with the latest and greatest metaphors for blaming Lucas for wrecking their childhood. I got new for you - most of it is flat out incorrect and hurtful.

Who would ever dare to go to a dinner party, wolf down every morsel and then tell your host, 'Thanks for dinner, but it was shit.' Come on. Get over it already.
Post
#122825
Topic
Quotes from Gary Kurtz
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/122825/action/topic#122825
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: SilverWook
That "laundry list" is pretty damn impressive for the most part. Whether any of those films won oscars isn't really the point. (How many people can even name what actually won best picture of 1977?) And when the heck is 5-25-77 coming out?


Annie Hall. Pretty famous story about the '77 Oscars and George getting snubbed. You should look into it.
Post
#122824
Topic
Howard Kazanjian
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/122824/action/topic#122824
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: skyjedi2005
jedi would have been better is kurtz and kersh were not pushed away by a megalomaniac who shall be unamed, aka the man reponsible for everything.

kurtz left to do dark crystal by henson.


Wrong. Kershner was a member of the DGA, and when the shit storm erupted because Lucas refused to put the credits before the opening titles of 'Empire' or 'Jedi' he quit the DGA and the WGA. Basically Lucas was forced to hire a Bristish director who wasn't a member of the DGA to maintain the artistic integrity of the saga.

His original choice to direct 'Jedi' was Spielberg. Also, the Lucas bashing bandwagon is getting a little crowded.
Post
#122650
Topic
Quotes from Gary Kurtz
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/122650/action/topic#122650
Time
Quote
Originally posted by: jawaewokgungan
Yeah but look at Rick McCallum...

And he produced those awful special edition versions of the original trilogy in '97. The way I see it, his only critical success has been "Revenge of the Sith," "The Clone Wars" TV show and some of the Young Indy Chronicles.
"Radioland Murders," "Episodes I and II" and 'Young Indy" were all disappointments. At least Kurtz & Lucas made fan pleasing films together.


I guess it depends who you ask