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auraloffalwaffle

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23-Jun-2006
Last activity
6-May-2011
Posts
766

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Post
#251809
Topic
For me...it all came out in the end...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251809/action/topic#251809
Time
The acting, despite what you say, is of a much poorer standard in the PT than in the OOT.

Hayden Christensen is not a good actor. I'm sorry, but he just isn't. He consummately fails to portray any depth whatsoever in his performance. It's all unsupported mugging, pretending to be feeling emotions that he has no thought of the reasons for. And his performance in the Darth Vader suit is ridiculous. There is no better word to describe his failure.

And Jake Lloyd comes across as what he is. A stage school brat.

Natalie Portman manages to come up with one of the worst performances she's ever given, lacking any hint of thought behind her vacant girl-who's-in-a-boy's-film pouting.

Ian McDiarmid is at his hammiest, lacking any of the creepiness or hint of the horrible threat that distinguished his performance in ROTJ.

Samuel L Jackson actually manages to be boring. He never seems at all connected to what's going on around him.

Ewan McGregor does his best, but is clearly struggling to maintain his focus at times.

Liam Neeson and Christopher Lee trot out their standard routines.
Post
#251800
Topic
For me...it all came out in the end...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251800/action/topic#251800
Time
I was referring to the wider implications of your remarks. I actually said something about it in the 'What do u think of the PT' thread, but it got lost and you never responded.

I've heard these arguments you put forward so many times. That the films are for children or for "open-minded" people and that, because I "fell in love" with the OOT when a child, I couldn't see the flaws in it. Not only that, but that I still can't see the flaws in it and that that means that my expectations were so high for the PT that they could never live up to them.

Bollocks.

I can distinguish between what is good or bad in what I used to watch as a child. Some things I appreciate as good children's entertainment, some things I recognise as crap and some things I enjoy as an adult, with no qualification of what that means. The OOT, for me, fall into that last category. I do not claim that they are perfect. I wouldn't include them in a top-ten of the best films ever made. But they definitely occupy a priveliged place in my favourite films I've seen and probably always will do.

Why should the OOT be treated as such a special case?

As I asked in the other thread (and I'm still waiting for an answer), I still watch Labyrinth and The Princess Bride now. Is that because I can't see the flaws in them? And I enjoyed Superman and Superman II as a child. Does that mean that I won't be able to watch Superman Returns with my adult mind? Do I have to regress to the level of a child to enjoy films, Go-Mer-Tonic?
Post
#251785
Topic
For me...it all came out in the end...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251785/action/topic#251785
Time
Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic
Obvioulsy this all comes down to a matter of opinion. So what?!! So we don't discuss it??!!???!!!!!!Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic
You guys say you are merely maintinging the high standard of quality set forth by the classic trilogy, I say you guys are kidding yourselves to think they were any better.
That's not what I said, so who are you talking to?
Post
#251772
Topic
For me...it all came out in the end...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251772/action/topic#251772
Time
Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic
Wide eyed imaginative, youthful people would have had a much more open mind for the prequels. They would have been able to imagine their way around the plot holes like they did the classic trilogy, and they would be able to roll along with the less than perfect acting writing or directing. It's a lot of us who have grown cynical, jaded, and unreasonable.
That is utter codswallop, Go-Mer-Tonic! What you're talking about is having low standards for the quality of a film. I am proud that I will not call bad acting good or just ignore poor writing or direction. If you can honestly say that you will take any old crap just because you want to be able to enjoy it, then I feel sorry for you. I have high standards when it comes to cinema and, for me, the most enjoyment I get is from seeing films made well.
Post
#251769
Topic
The Return of Six Degrees of Star Wars
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251769/action/topic#251769
Time
All Six Degrees:

Lorna Gray (as Adrian Booth) (The Sea Hornet, 1951) Chill Wills (Rio Grande, 1950) Ben Johnson (One-Eyed Jacks, 1961) Karl Malden (The Cincinnati Kid, 1965) Tuesday Weld (Once Upon A Time In America, 1984) Robert De Niro (GoodFellas, 1990) Samuel L Jackson - Mace Windu

I couldn't find anything faster than Three Degrees:

Lorna Gray (as Adrian Booth) (The Gallant Legion, 1948) Bruce Cabot (Cat Ballou, 1965) Lee Marvin (The Big Red One, 1980) Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker

Happy Birthday, Montgomery Clift (RIP)!
Post
#251753
Topic
What did the Prequel Trilogy need?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251753/action/topic#251753
Time
It would take Luke a long time to track down all the scattered Jedi in the galaxy and bring them together to start a new temple. It would take a long time to find new apprentices. It would take a long time to track down his sister, as I intend for no-one but Padme to know her destination when she leaves. These reasons alone make a 20 year gap justified, I think.

Comments welcome, guys!
Post
#251721
Topic
What Special Edition changes (if any) did people like?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251721/action/topic#251721
Time
Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
I prefer the new song in the end of ROTJ to "Yub Nub;" it was much more dramatic ... Dramatic? It's syrupy and schmaltzy, I think. At least "Yub Nub" sounded like music that could be made by a primitive tribe of Ewoks. It also blended very satisfyingly with the music for the credits.Originally posted by: Darth_Evil
Another change I like is the added stormtroopers in ANH when Han is chasing them down the corridor. He sees just a few in the original and runs, not making sense, and then sees a shitload of them in the special edition and it makes sense why he flees. That was the best addition by far.
The Stormtroopers stopped because they reached a dead end! That was why Solo turned and ran. There was just the one of him and several Stormtroopers and nowhere to go except back. How does that not make sense?
Post
#251607
Topic
What did the Prequel Trilogy need?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251607/action/topic#251607
Time
Originally posted by: Commander Courage
... don't you think another 20 year gap is a bit long? I mean, between 3 and 4 it makes sense due to the Jedi having to go into hiding, waiting for the twins to come of age, but what would happen in that second 20 year hiatus?
I've been considering this from an overall saga point of view. As usual, all comments are welcome!

I'm thinking that the point of the saga is to tell the story of the darkest hour of the galaxy's history and the story of those who fought to liberate it.

Therefore, Episode IX is when the Empire finally falls. Episode I will be when Palpatine declares himself Emperor and the Republic becomes the Empire. The Senate is not dissolved until Episode IV, as we know.

The events of ROTJ, I feel, are not really enough to put an end to the Galactic Empire. For a start, the Emperor will not be defeated until Episode IX now. But the destruction of the Death Star and the defeat of the fleet of Imperial ships present is not sufficient to bring down the whole thing.

I see the 20 years as being the time required for Luke to grow into an experienced Jedi and to start rebuilding the order. I see it as the length of time required to find his sister. I see it as the length of time required by the Rebel Alliance to muster the force needed to defeat the Empire once and for all. I see it as the length of time required to turn the tide of popular opinion, as the ordinary people of the galaxy will have been force-fed Imperial propaganda for more than 50 years by the time Episode VII begins.

It also opens out the saga. The focus is on the overall journey of the galaxy and the characters we meet are incidental to that story. This brings back the epic scale of the saga.

What do we think, people?
Post
#251590
Topic
The Return of Six Degrees of Star Wars
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251590/action/topic#251590
Time
Well, she's only been in one film, according to IMDb, but here goes...

All Six Degrees:

Natalie Garza (The List, 2006) Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Restaurant, 1998) Adrien Brody (The Pianist, 2002) Maureen Lipman (Educating Rita, 1983) Michael Williams (Marat / Sade, 1967) Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange, 1971) David Prowse - Darth Vader (body)

... and the quickest I could find:

Natalie Garza (The List, 2006) Brad Dourif (Grim Prairie Tales, 1990) James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (voice)

... making up the whole of Darth Vader!!

Happy Birthday, Tim Robbins!
Post
#251587
Topic
Calling all HALLOWEEN fans...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251587/action/topic#251587
Time
Personally, I enjoy movies like Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre because they are like nightmares. The way Michael Myers and Leatherface chase people but don't quite catch them is like in a nightmare where you feel and/or see the thing chasing you but can't get away and yet it never quite catches you.It's about the fear of being caught, rather than showing you the actual catching.

My favourite bit of TCM is where the girl has escaped from the house and is fleeing from Leatherface and runs into tangled branches. It feels like she is fighting her way through the branches for ages and all the time Leatherface is coming after her but never quite catches her. Another dream-like sequence is when the girl wakes up in the house to find herself tied to the chair at the dining table with the whole family around her and she screams and screams and screams for what feels like a quarter of an hour. The montage is excellent in both scenes.

I've had the same nightmare a couple of times with different things chasing me. Once it was Cybermen from Doctor Who and another time it was Freddy Krueger(s). No matter which way I ran I always ran into them but I always had another way to run, so they never actually caught me. But the chase went on and on and on.

I feel that the best of these films with creatures like Michael Myers, Leatherface, etc. are the ones that successfully create that nightmarish feeling that you are trapped in a chase that can never end but that you can't let the thing catch you either. Laurie is trapped in that chase in the last section of Halloween. Most of TCM is taken up with Sally trapped in some situation or other.
Post
#251384
Topic
What do you think of the <strong>Prequel Trilogy</strong>? a general discussion thread
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251384/action/topic#251384
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
See, I've always found Mann a bit too stylish. Lacks some substance to my mind. Still, no denying his skill. I have to disagree with you there, Mike! Manhunter, Heat and The Insider have substance in spades!Originally posted by: Mike O
Ah, the clyncher? Just what is style over substance? Good questions, and I don't have an answer.
I'm not quite sure what prompted that, Mike, could you explain what made you think of that?

Jumpman, I saw a showing of The Passion Of Joan Of Arc a couple of years ago with live piano accompaniment - a very moving experience. Also just saw He Who Gets Slapped, a film from 1924 starring Lon Chaney, last week, also with live accompaniment - absolutely brilliant! If you get a chance to see a silent with live music, I heartily recommend you take it!