Tobar

DominicCobb said:

The Last Starfighter (1984) - Pretty fun Star Wars knock-off. Special effects aren't very good at all, but they're an interesting novelty. B

 The special effects were revolutionary. It was the first time a film attempted realism with CG (TRON doesn't really count). Doesn't hold up in the least but its place in cinematic history should be acknowledged.

I'm still waiting for my own toy Gunstar.

AntcuFaalb said:

Ghostbusters: I enjoy 2 as much as 1. I hope a 3rd is made with Rick Moranis (partially) filling the hole left by Harold Ramis.

 Alternatively, you could watch THIS! ;)

New Trailers:

Young Ones

Space Station 76

Harmy said:

A) They say that the Rebels may be introducing characters, whom we will meet in the new film episodes and it will be a whole intertwined universe - I don't like this idea much, because I'm beginning to have quite high hopes for the new movies but so far, I like Rebels less and less with every clip I see from it - it reminds me of those Saturday morning cartoons, which I used to like as a little kid (who also loved the Phantom Menace) but when I see them today, they are super cheesy and lame. I wasn't a huge fan of TCW but I never got that feeling of a cheap 80s or 90s cartoon from it.

 They don't say that. The interviewer asked if we'd be seeing characters from the show pop-up later in the live action films. To which they just said that they want each of the different mediums to push the Star Wars story forward.

B) They make a big deal about not wanting to shrink the universe, yet, just in the few clips released so far, we've already seen cameos of Obi-Wan, 3P0 and R2.

Obi-wan appears as a hologram recording and running into 3PO and Artoo in a starport is pretty tame. The focus isn't placed on these cameo characters, it stays centered on the show's main cast. If they start running into everyone from the OT then it becomes a problem.

C) "I love origins stories of characters that you think you know everything about and then you learn the real story..." Does he mean like Obi-Wan, Darth Vader or Boba Fett? Urgh...

He was referencing exploring the origins of the Rebel Alliance. You're just reading far too much into it.

D) It seems to indicate them being seriously misguided, if they think that the show has the look of McQuarrie paintings

This I kind of agree with you on. I don't think they've done a particularly great job of capturing the look of McQuarrie's art but I do think the influence of it is there. Especially in the designs of the environments and ships.

As to the custom brushes they mentioned. I think it was in the Look Ahead video where you get a really close up look at one of the characters and their face has a distinct airbrushed look to it. We'll need to see more of the show to really see the extent of that.

As for the designs of the characters themselves I think it's just a more naturalistic take on the Clone Wars style. Removing the hard edges.

E) Apparently the favorite SW movie of the current generation of Lucasfilm employees is TPM, because "that's the one they had as kids..." Really? Really? :-(

That sadly is just the reality we live in. As has been said before we lost a generation to the prequels. Thankfully those kids are mostly still interns and not the ones making creative decisions.

F) The lightsabers - this could technically fall under D but I think it's worth mentioning separately - they say lightsabers are designed to look like in the original SW. Well, from what I've seen, they really don't.

I think this comes down to their trying to recreate the look of the sabers only using footage from the SE. They are hand animating the blades and trying to recreate the technique used on the films but the source they're comparing it to is of course compromised.

Shucks, too bad it looks like this isn't going to happen:

The Palmer House - Twin Peaks Museum and Tourist Destination

This is just silly.

And why is that, pray tell?

Here's a fantastic interview with two of the executive producers on Rebels, Dave Filoni and Simon Kinberg.

Highly recommend it to anyone who still has reservations about the show.

So Screen Rant just put out an article with quotes from the people involved with maintaining the new canon and the future of Legends. All level headed sensible stuff.

The comments section is just depressing.

Oh I'm a fan of BTTF3 but I've run across very few others.

Bingowings said:

Back to the Future Part 2 tends to get bitched about for being dark and confusing when if anything it could do with being more convoluted and the usually loved part 3 is a bit of a let down from my perspective.

 What bizarro universe are you from? I have come across very few who liked Part 3 let alone loved it.

canofhumdingers said:

Not sure why people are so critical of the sail barge style ship? Yes it has thrusters pointing down but it also has the same engine/exhaust pipe looking thing sticking out of the back as Jabba's original sail barge which looks like it would provide some sort of forward thrust.

 Even if it does have tiny thrusters at the back why would you place your most powerful ones in a position where they're useless during normal operation.

Second, the proportion of the thing is ridiculous. It's no larger than a Star Tours shuttle and has to fit two guards, a prisoner, an astromech, a protocol droid and presumably Chewie was dropped off somewhere beforehand. With that many passengers aboard there wouldn't even be room for a bathroom. Yet it's shown entering the atmosphere which suggests the thing is supposed to be hyperspace capable.

It doesn't even have room for a cockpit! The only practical viewports on the thing turn out to be tiny windows above the only door which is placed at the very front of the ship. So where are the pilots supposed to be situated and who would design a ship with no functional windows?

The thing is an absolute disaster.

darklordoftech said:

unamochilla2 said:

Abrams wanted them have to larger roles, so their roles were expanded

In that case, thank you Abrams! Star Wars is Luke and Vader, not these random "new" characters who episodes 7-9 plan to introduce.

 This isn't the early 90's anymore. They've gotten too old to carry the franchise on their shoulders. Trying to force them to do so will only end in ruin.

Having them be the support for the next generation is the only way to go.

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

Hercules (2014)

A surprisingly decent take on the legend. The story is good, the dialog is decent and the action is excellent. I saw this in a full sized IMAX and the 3D was fantastic. Especially considering that it wasn't natively shot that way.

There were a number of occasions where the people around me jumped as something or another would fly at your face but it never felt gimmicky. I was pretty impressed with the effort as a whole.

Gideon's Army (2013)

Documentary follows three public defenders in the South. It's ridiculous the things these people have to contend with everyday and how close to poverty they find themselves to do work they believe in.

Here's a preview for the new Marvel Star Wars ongoing.

Gotta say, pretty disappointed with the recycling of things that have been done before. One even being a PT thing. Let's try and be more original, eh?

And then there's the design of that ship. How is that supposed to work, where is the cockpit supposed to fit in? And why are the ships only thrusters fixed in a downward position? The shape of it would surely prevent them being able to rotate. And that's not even bringing into account the lazy recycled aesthetic of the thing as a whole.

I find that barbarian king fascinating.

How much input did George have on Shadows of the Empire I wonder...

Well the writers certainly have me intrigued:

Marvel.com: Jason, of all your past and current Marvel work, what do you feel will most inform your writing of STAR WARS? 

Jason Aaron: This is clearly different than anything I’ve done for Marvel. And what most informs it is of course the films. I want this to feel very much like a direct sequel to the original Star Wars film; in terms of tone and voice and scope and everything. 

Marvel.com: What sorts of themes do you see yourself exploring in the series? Is Star Wars about the characters or much larger things to you? 

Jason Aaron: Every story is about the characters, and we’ll focus on all the old favorites. There will be big moments for everyone, from Han Solo to R2-D2. But a major part of the narrative will be driven by Luke Skywalker and his journey of discovery, a journey that will decide the fate of the entire galaxy.

Marvel.com: Okay, Jason; let’s bring it on home: If you had your druthers, what one element from Marvel’s past Star Wars stories would you bring back? 

Jason Aaron: The giant bunny rabbit, of course.

Marvel.com: Okay, then what’s your philosophy in writing a series that follows a fairly heinous villain? How do you engage the readers?  

Kieron Gillen: Put it like this: who doesn’t love “The Godfather”? 

My model for the series is “House of Cards.” A man in a position of power who is slighted and turns to tactics that he wouldn't have really considered before. In terms of engagement with the readers, it really helps that we're set in the period between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back.” That’s an emotionally interesting place for Vader, and I suspect many people will empathize—if somewhat darkly—with his position.

Marvel.com: What else can you say about Vader at this point in the saga, just after “A New Hope”? Where’s his head and heart? 

Kieron Gillen: Vader’s the sole survivor of the greatest military disaster in history—and a disaster that he definitely had a hand in by letting the rebels escape with the plans for the Death Star. This is not a thing which leaves you in anybody’s good books, let alone the Emperor’s. But along with that, there’s these nagging sensations. Why did Obi Wan return from hiding after all these years? What about that nagging sensation about that fighter pilot who was suspiciously strong in the Force? What else is going on? 

The great thing about this period is what we don’t see on the screen. Vader learns who Luke Skywalker is at some point between the two movies, to choose but one example. There is a lot of genuine emotional meat on the bone. 

Marvel.com: What will be his greatest personal challenge after the rebel’s victory? His boss? His subordinates? His enemies? 

Kieron Gillen: Recovering his status. At the end of “A New Hope,” we see the aforementioned disaster. At the start of “Empire,” he's acting as if he’s more in control than he ever was in the first film. The journey between the two—what happened? That’s the challenge. And that challenge involves everything you listed, and a whole lot more.

Marvel.com: Your story tackles the aftermath of Alderaan’s destruction for one; in what ways does this impact Leia the most? She seems to compartmentalize it in the first film; how will it manifest in your series?

Mark Waid: She very much compartmentalizes it in “A New Hope,” but that's our springboard: how does she really cope with losing her entire world once the events around that loss have calmed down somewhat? Does she choose to be the princess of nothing—or does she set out to rebuild her heritage and her civilization? You can probably guess the answer.

Except the Joker wasn't dead(just the actor who depicted him).

How in the world did you get that from that?

He never said anything about Tony trying to corral his fellow heroes. Tony is an innovator, if he can save himself and his friends from having to do all the work to keep the world safe why not? (We know why not, but what does Tony know? =P)

I don't where you're getting all this infighting stuff from.

DuracellEnergizer said:

Tobar said:

Heck, the idea of an Imperial Inquisitor first originated in the WEG RPG source books. The books that provided the backbone of the EU itself.

Of course, the Inquisitors of the EU are far more interesting -- not to mention better designed -- than this boring corduroy-faced, third-rate Count Orlok-knockoff.

But I digress ... 

 Well that's a textbook case of judging a book by its cover if I've ever seen one.

He's a Pau'an as introduced in ROTS. They all look like that and that look was undoubtedly the reason why they chose that species for the character.

BUT, that doesn't say anything about how the character will actually be depicted. You nor I or anyone else not involved with the production really know anything about the character yet.

He just might actually end up being like the Inquisitors as depicted in the EU. That's entirely a possibility. Heck, in the video where they talk about the character it's mentioned that he's not a Sith but that he does tap into the Darkside.

Tyrphanax said:

Yeah, unfortunately looks like they're going to go with another mindless army of enemies thing rather than one big baddie. From the looks of things, Tony (and possibly Bruce) creates Ultron by accident while attempting to further automate his suits (perhaps he's trying to give Iron Man up without letting The Avengers down or something), and Ultron replicates himself into an army.

Vision is indeed Bettany. Not sure how they'll introduce him (Ultron created him in the comics).

 From what I've been able to glean from the scant info that's out there. I think it's a case where since SHIELD is now defunct Tony decides to step in and create an automated force to pick up the slack. With Ultron being a new AI he creates with the specific task of overseeing the project. Not sure how JARVIS ends up becoming Vision but I'm sure there'll be lots of tension between the two AI throughout the film.

They originally started out with Star Trek reviews, Mike Stoklasa is a big Star Trek nerd.

Edit: Don't worry Ryan, we'll always have Short Circuit 2. ;P

I prefer this deconstruction of Insurrection. It's taken apart from a real Star Trek fan's perspective and does an excellent job of contrasting the show and the films. The humor is probably more childish than that other video but he definitely doesn't come off as such a jerk like that other guy.

Ryan McAvoy said:

Short Circuit 2

I probably go on about this one but wow it's a near perfect romantic comedy for me. Joy on celluloid.

 YES! I didn't think anyone else would list this one! It's one of my favorite films of all time. =D