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bkev

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10-Mar-2007
Last activity
21-Sep-2024
Posts
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Post
#722065
Topic
Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Discussion * <strong>SPOILER THREAD</strong> *
Time

So, uhm, a more reputable source than Latino Review has posted what appears to be a look at this Inquisitor. He's holding Vader's mask, and looks like a Terminator himself. I'm not happy about it, but we'll see how the execution goes -- if this is even true. I hate to pull the "it's Disney" card, but this makes total sense to me. Cross-promotional material between Rebels and Episode VII is going to be a cinch if the villains are in the same sort of league with one another. This is the company that gave nearly every successful movie they had in the 90s a cartoon spin-off, after all. I'd bet Lucasfilm would have taken this approach on their own, too, to be honest. Good marketing towards kids and establishing lifelong fans without necessarily alienating everyone else, provided the film turns out good.

I tend to trust moviepilot, but I have bias as an acquaintance of mine is an employee of theirs. Take that as you will.

edit: noticed that the latinoreview has since updated their post with the same image found here. They're citing indierevolver as source, same as moviepilot. Guess we'll see.

Post
#721680
Topic
Dear OT Elitist Bigots...
Time


darklordoftech said:


DuracellEnergizer said:

Lucas-worshipping zealots


Examples of this include:

- thinking that it would be wrong for Disney to release the OOT because it isn't what Lucas wants

- thinking that the way things are in the prequels is the way things always were

Why? Why be so specific with your distaste right now and, to a certain extent, prove his point?

Post
#720900
Topic
Dark Horse to adapt &quot;The Star Wars.&quot;
Time

I just read this and rather enjoyed it. I only hope that the teased sequel on the last page is something Disney would be interested in publishing. My guess is that it was done merely in the spirit of pulp fiction rather than a genuine plan, but who knows? With Dark Horse no longer holding the license for comic publishing I doubt we'll see it. Still, I can hope.

Post
#717397
Topic
<strong>STAR WARS: REBELS</strong> (animated tv series) - a general discussion thread
Time


Heero Yuy said:
 The problem there is that making Vader the main adversary in SWR, they run the risk of making Vader look like a chump if he keeps losing to these guys. Original villains won't have the same sort of expectations that the fans would have for Vader.
Well said. Plus, even adult fans don't really want that either, do we? Maybe if the Inquisitor fails enough times he'll serve to heighten Vader's effectiveness via contrast. Though I'd expect that more from a comic than serious character, it's not something I wouldn't mind. I'd love to see the character punished for his failures, too -- here's hoping.

Post
#717392
Topic
Star Wars: Episode VII to be directed by J.J. Abrams **NON SPOILER THREAD**
Time


Tobar said:

And I think Abrams lack of respect for storytelling is most telling in the people he has writing for him. Orci, Kurtzman and Lindelof are some of the worst screenwriters working today. They don't give a damn about telling a good story, they just want to create a framework to film something "exciting." They don't care if it doesn't make sense as long as it'll look great on the screen.

Hijacking Tobar's JJ post from the Trek thread over in off-topic because I feel it's relevant here.  Allow me to direct you to the original theatrical trailer for Star Wars.  Pay close attention to a particular quote from the narrator: "The story of a boy, a girl, and a universe."  Sounds pretty simplistic, right?  There's not much depth to the trailer... and, ultimately, I feel the same way about the film itself.  At its core, Star Wars 77 really is a movie of style over substance.  It's the movie George Lucas made because he couldn't get the rights to Flash Gordon.  It gives you everything you want from a blockbuster film - easy to follow plot, endearing characters played by actors with chemistry, etc. - but goes above and beyond due to (well, I personally attribute much of the success to these factors) the editing and iconic musical themes throughout.  I must admit, in my time here, Anchorhead's love of '77 rubbed off on me.

While I said it gives its audience what it wants, that doesn't necessarily mean it entirely lacks what they need.  Star Wars manages to balance the two well enough that the movie never feels like it's missing something.  The two main protagonists*, Han and Luke, have character arcs.  They develop.  Han has a change of heart, and Luke is suddenly thrust into adulthood and responsibility following the death of Ben Kenobi.  In that sense, it satisfies both needs and wants - you feel like there was a greater purpose to the story than the action, even if that's what your attention focuses on.</span>

I personally believe Empire has the stronger story given that everyone, including Leia, develops in that film.  But Star Wars '77 has more style.  To me, it's a pretty damn good standalone film - I don't know if I could say that about Empire.  By the time I saw Empire I had already grown attached to Luke & Company.  Without that bond, I don't know if I would have cared about the characters as much.  Because I knew where they started, the development felt more organic. Also, I'm not sure if it balances needs vs wants as well as Star Wars itself.

What does this have to do with JJ?  I return to my point on style.  The man certainly has some, even if you don't care for the other aesthetics of his films/media projects that come with his role as an auteur.  I trust him to make a simple, fun movie that satisfies both my needs and wants as a filmgoer.  So far, he's managed to (particularly with Super 8) -- although note that I haven't seen Into Darkness, and that I never had much fondness for the original Trek (I started on TNG.)

To close this mouthful of a post, I'll talk about what happens when substance takes over style: the prequels. Trade disputes? False flag terrorism? On their own, fine - even interesting, particularly the latter - concepts. Just not in the Star Wars universe. It bogs down the moments where style succeeds in the prequels, like the establishing shots of Theed. Ultimately, there needs to be a balance between the two that can't just center around having both as in-your-face as possible. That's what the prequels did, and failed. I think Abrams can manage balancing these two factors, at the very least, better than Lucas... and that's me downplaying my affinity for him as an auteur.

Post
#717367
Topic
All Things Star Trek
Time

DuracellEnergizer said:

I read that list a few months back, and it was more than enough to convince me that Abramstrek was an abortion not worth bothering with.

Hopefully they reboot the franchise again and get it right this time around.

 Do you ever think before you make these posts?  You've begun to sound like generalfrevious.  Am I just missing that hyperbole is your schtick or something?  Because this has started to bug me, a lot.

Post
#716686
Topic
All Things Star Trek
Time

Given your dislike of the Doctor I wonder if it's the hologram factor that has to do with your similar distaste for Vic.  He serves as a camp foil for the terribleness that is war with the Dominion surrounding the station.  I love his episodes for the same reason I love the baseball episode... these guys have to unwind somehow, and Quark's just won't do it when all anyone is interested in is discussing the war.

Plus, if not for Vic, how would Nog have dealt with his PTSD?  I thought that was a fun way to handle it.

Post
#712304
Topic
Random Thoughts
Time

I don't know where the jokes begin here...

Also, I don't really care for the Nostalgia Critic. I  have fun enough of my own yelling at movies, I don't need someone to do it for me.  However, I can enjoy Doug's other out-of-character reviews.  It's clear he loves the medium and has a real passion for what he does, but I find his character unfunny.  Plus, when was the last time he did any real analysis anyway?

Post
#711323
Topic
Video Games - a general discussion thread
Time

I rather liked the look of Skyward Sword and wish they'd stuck with that.  It was, I think, cel-shaded, but there was something about the color pallet that looked like a painting that I really appreciated.  And, run in Dolphin at 1080p, it's jaw-droppingly gorgeous.  I'll have to wait for a better video to get a feel for these graphics, but I think I like them.

Post
#709434
Topic
Star Wars: Rise of Lord Vader WORKPRINT NOW AVAILABLE
Time

Octorox said:

TV's Frink said:

Octorox said:

New clip:

https://vimeo.com/97185098

 Not bad.  But what font is that "3 Years Later"?  It's...ugly.

 It's an English Aurabesh font. I could try something different, but I want it to be distinct from the other fonts like the "long time ago" font, subtitle font and crawl font. I'm open to suggestions.

 I really like the transition, particularly the audio work, but I have to agree that the font is funny.  In fact, I'm not sure I like having text on-screen like that at all - I'd prefer a placard akin to "a long time ago", but that would probably ruin the video editing as is.