canofhumdingers

There are so many, it's really hard to pick just one.  The Binary Sunset, the Asteroid Chase, Vader totally owning Luke as he drives Luke out onto the catwalk after knocking him out the window in the ESB duel.  These movies are FILLED with iconic scenes/sequences that resonate very strongly with my sense for adventure, longing to explore, and desire to "take the difficult path" to achieve self-improvement.  But ultimately, I had to go the scene depicted above.  The music is just incredible.  The sense of wonder as Yoda effectively demonstrates just how much the Force can do....  I love it!  And I can totally relate to Luke training under an expert who pushes you so hard that you reach your ends and feel that it just cannot be done, only to watch the master do the very thing so effortlessly when you've failed in order to prove that it can.  (I think anyone who's ever seriously trained in a traditional martial art has at least one story like that.)

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

Timstuff said:

As much as some of us would like to believe that there's that much demand for the OOT, it ain't so. It's something that fans and film enthusiasts really want, but the casual viewer doesn't really care about which version they're watching.

I don't believe that.  Even if it is true, it is only because Lucas has successful made it so, at least in the short term.  All he'd have to do is hype the "original theatrical restoration" the same way that he did the SEs, and he'd make even more of a mint. I just cannot believe that SW is the only movie in the world for which most people don't want the original version.

I agree with Puggo.  I was the resident Star Wars nerd in my circle at college & I can't tell you how many people I talked to who were (at best) very casual fans of Star Wars who bemoaned all the changes that'd been made.  I had a roommate once tell me how he watched ESB recently with some friends.  He remembered it being his favorite but hadn't watched it since he was a kid.  Even he had several complaints about the changes & added cgi that didn't fit in at all.  He even said that, while he did still enjoy the movie over all, he wished he could just buy the original version that he liked better.  He didn't own any Star Wars merchandise, but would've liked to buy the original cuts he grew up with (I showed him how he could get them if he wanted... this was before the GOUT).

Come to think of it, I knew a lot of people who didn't own any copy of Star Wars, but said they would if they could buy the originals.  Another roommate I had was a big nerd (not a star wars nerd specifically, but he did really like them) who had totally given up on Lucas & hadn't bought Star Wars since the Faces VHS set b/c he didn't want to watch anything but the originals. 

I guess all that's to say that I think there are a lot of people who don't currently own ANY verion of Star Wars, but would be prompted to buy it if they saw a big ad campaign for the fully restored originals on bluray.

Every time something like this comes out (despite my HUGE reservations), I always find myslef even more disappointed.  I know it's coming, it's just... when it gets here.... it sucks that much more....

George Lucas, you really have become one giant d-bag. 

I used to try to be level headed & not hate the man, just hate his actions in recent history.  But you know what?  I can only put up with it for so long...

George Lucas, I hate you.

I haven't read this entire thread word for word but this news is ridiculous.  Anyone who wishes to censor Huck Finn clearly hasn't the slightest grasp of what the book is about.  The whole POINT was to show how horrid and fallible racism is... 

ray_afraid said:

ChainsawAsh said:

 

I hate that the prequels made no distinction between a Jedi Knight and a Jedi Master - they were merely ranks in the prequels.  Before the prequels, I'd always assumed that Knights were the warriors with lightsabers, and the Masters never used weapons of any kind, and were the wise old ones in tune with the Force who guided the Jedi Knights without fighting themselves.  Obi-Wan was a Knight, Yoda was a Master.

Yet another missed opportunity for the prequels.

YES! I always thought that too!

Also, why did the Jedi live on a planet covered with cities and busy air traffic and loud noises? I figured they would live on a planet full of nature and clean air where they could live and meditate in peace without distraction. Guess I just don't understand... no, wait, guess it's just stupid.

 Totally agree with both of you.  I always (& still prefer to) envisioned the Jedi living something like the the Shaolin Monks who invented Kung-Fu: in a remote, difficult to reach temple.  Part of the training would be just the journey to get there (kinda like in Batman Begins)...  Actually, I envisioned several such temples spread throughout remote regions of the galaxy.

Here's another really good video (I think I might like this one  better) of the same man doing some standing techniqes.  He's so fast, but SO subtle!  The way he resheathes the sword is just insane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqFaM7xgGLE&feature=related

Because this thread is continually pulled down into ridiculousness, I have no apologies for derailing it further with more interesting talk about real sword technique...

Just to show that no one sport or martial art fully encompasses all aspects of using a sword, I present you with a great video of Iaido (pronouced ee-EYE-doh).  Iaido is the Japanese art of drawing a sword, striking down one or more imaginary opponents, and resheathing the sword (usually after a motion to shake or fling the blood from the blade).  The basic premise for each individual kata, or technique, is that the practitioner is in a peaceful, non combative state, but is then threatened.  He cuts down his attacker(s) before they can do the same to him.  In some kata you see him moving the handle of his sword around oddly before drawing the sword.  This is b/c in those kata, he sees his attacker beginning to draw his (the attacker's) own sword.  The practitioner then uses the handle of his own sword to interupt & stop his opponent's attack before drawing his own sword to end the fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2CUlKCrzWQ&feature=related

ChainsawAsh said:

Thanks for that video, it was pretty sweet.

It also demonstrates exactly why we never see realistic swordfighting in movies.  It all happens in the span of about two seconds, then one person has a sword in his brain.  Not very cinematic.

 Precisely.  Real one on one duels with swords were over very quickly once someone made the first move.  Also, historically, the vast majority of duels ended with BOTH people either permanently maimed/crippled or dead.  Not very cinematic at all.

There were exceptions though.  The most famous is probably Miyamoto Musashi.  He was a samurai in fuedal Japan who fought over 60 duels and never lost (there was one draw).  He also fought in several major military battles.  At one point he was ambushed by an entire sword training school after defeating both of the school's sensei in duels and he was able to fight his way out by luring them into muddy rice fields.  The school was one of the most famous in all Japan and some estimates put the ambushing force at as many as 80 students.  The school's reputation was utterly destroyed and it ceased to be after its encounter with Musashi.  The man has become absolute legend over the years.  Here's his wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyamoto_Musashi

Oh man.  I tried to stay out of this thread but I just can't stand it anymore... 

NONE of the movies mentioned in this thread are good examples of fencing or kendo or any other REAL sport derived from sword fighting.  I've NEVER seen a movie that was totally accurate to "real" sword fighting & I've watched a lot of movies that have sword fights.  Even in movies that try to be accurate, you inevitably see at least a little bit of artistic license taken to add flourishes that, while they would never work in real life, look good on screen.  And Gladiator?  Please!  That movie features Russell Crowe swinging a gladius around like a cavalry saber.  The Roman gladius was designed to do ONE thing: stab at enemies from behind the protection of a huge frickin roman shield. It doesn't have the length or mass to develop the power needed to do something like...say... behead somebody.

And I'm sorry but "training in sword play"?  I took olympic fencing lessons for 3 years in college and I've practiced traditional Japanese kendo for about 4 years.  I can't imagine hearing anyone I've trained with call it "sword play".  They are sports.  They are derived from fighting techniques that were originally designed for military combat.  In the case of kendo, it's been a steady unbroken evolution over hundreds of years from military training and practice that become obsolete into a sport, which is really cool; but today it is still nothing but a sport.

As for the swordfights in Star Wars, the short answer is this.  In the OT, the fighting techniques were derived from European fencing AND Japanese kendo.  Nothing seen onscreen actually looks like real fencing or kendo, but it is clearly derived from it.  Both of these fencing styles use attack techniques that focus on and follow straight lines, meaning you move directly towards your opponent and strike directly. 

In the prequels, there was a shift to more chinese styled techniques.  Many chinese martial arts focus on circular motion, resulting in all the spinning and such.  It looks VERY  different (obviously). 

As for the twirling the lightsabers?  That's just cheap baton twirling to look fancy for ignorant people who don't realize that all it does is make a HUGE frickin opening for your oppenent to attack and kill you....  (I'd LOVE to see someone to try that in kendo!  even a beginner would mop the floor with them.)

EDIT:

For anyone interested, here's a pretty good video showing about as close as you can get to a "real" sword fight these days.  It's highlights from the 2007 All Japan Kendo Championship.  These guys are REALLY good.  & the video shows lots of cool slow-mo stuff so you can actually see what's happening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4SHWXQBVL4

I know the replica prop forum (therpf.com) has been mentioned on this site before, but I'm not sure how many people here are active members/lurkers there.  Anyway, they posted a three part piece about John Dykstra and his experience heading up the original incarnation ILM as they literally created the sfx techniques needed to make Star Wars possible.  It's a great read, and I don't think(hope) you need to be registered there to read it (they only open up registration sporadically).

Anyway, without further adeiu,

John Dystra: Intergalactic Man of Magic

captainsolo said:

Baronlando said:

Huh. In the Raiders HD version shown tonight on USA, it's back to the original shot.

That's odd. Hopefully it won't be added for the blu-ray release. Why did they redo this shot in the first place?

 Yeah, I just saw the scene on USA (unfortunately it was only the SD broadcast b/c the hotel I'm in tonight only has really old CRT tvs, but it was letterboxed) and it was definately the original version of the shot... Fingers crossed for whenever they get around to actually putting the rest of Indy on blu!

If you read the thread, someone mentions the twoface-esque paint being a test so they could shoot both the grey & maroon schemes in one go to compare them on film without having to do two seperate shoots or do some sort of composite. 

Ah, here it is (from "Nwerke" on therpf.com):

The half-and-half wasn't the intentional final scheme, just a means to get an in-camera comparison with one take.

So they were using that to decide whether to go with all maroon or all grey.

more like false advertising.  If you do any research among groups who really know their stuff (like the replica prop forum) the odds of this actually being a screen used costume (or even parts of a screen used costume as the auction claimed) are slim to none.  At best, some of the armor pieces may have been from a promotional appearance suit created from the same molds as the screen used suit.  Still cool, but not worht nearly the amount a real screen used suit would be.  And apparently some of the soft parts (cape, body suit, etc.) aren't even from a promotional suit but were basically fan made to complete the costume.

In short, this is most likely little more than a fan made costume similar to what the 501st guys wear with the exception that some of the armor MAY have actually been made by (or at least comissioned by) Lucasfilm as a promotional touring suit to promote the release of ESB.

Hey, Anchorhead, did you ever get around to reading the Brian Daley Han Solo books (looking at your avatar I'm guessing probably so)?  If so, I'd be interested in hearing what you thought.

As for SOTME, I found it interesting from a historical perspective; what with being the potential sequel and all.  But ultimately I didn't care for the story.  It felt too "late 70's/early 80's fantasy cartoon"-ish to me, if that makes any sense.  It's been a few years since I've read it, though, and I only have vague, generalized memories from it.  I do remember thinking some parts were cool though.  Maybe I should give it another go sometime...

Krakatoa said:

I was gonna refuse the 2004 set.

 But I got it as a gift anyway, so, whaddya gonna do?

 I told my family why I didn't want it & nobody ever got it for me (in fact, that's when I went out & bought a laserdisc player).  I didn't own Star Wars on DVD until the GOUT. And my family already knows I have zero interest in the blurays until the original films get restored.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/10/06/3d.starwars.bad/index.html?hpt=Mid

Editor's Note: On September 28, Lucasfilm Ltd. announced the "Star Wars" movie franchise would return to the big screen, this time in 3-D. CNN.com's search engine optimization expert Topher Kohan owns 12 different versions of "Star Wars" and has watched "Star Wars" and "Empire Strikes Back" over 500 times. As an avid "Star Wars" fan, the news that Lucasfilm was tinkering with the classic sci-fi series yet again didn't sit well with him -- to say the least. Here is his open letter to George Lucas and his fellow "Star Wars" fans.

(CNN) -- Dear Mr. Lucas,

I was sincerely disturbed when I found out you where planning on converting the "Star Wars" franchise to 3-D.

This is one of the worst ideas you've ever had about "Star Wars." And let's face it -- you've had some real stinkers: "The Star Wars Holiday Special" ring a bell?

I want to believe that you think this is a good move for the franchise but please consider what 3-D will do to the "Star Wars" legacy.

Sure, it seems like every other movie that gets released these days is 3-D -- some a lot better than others. As a wise man once said, "This is a dangerous time for you when you will be tempted by the dark side of the Force."

I am a huge fan of the "Star Wars" movies. Thank you for all the years of enjoyment you have given me.

When I sat in the theater in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1977 and saw "Star Wars" (I refuse to call it "A New Hope") I walked away with a vision of not only how good can triumph over evil but how seeing a movie could be the coolest thing to ever happen to me. I was there for "Empire" and "Jedi" and read everything I could about the movies. I had the toys and waited for the sequels you promised us.

When I heard that you where going to make prequels I was a little kid again.

I was in line to see the first one, opening night at 12:01 am and ... Why did you do that to me? To us?

There was little to love in "The Phantom Menace," and I was so ready to love it. I think this 3-D idea is doomed to be a repeat performance.

If you're going to capitalize on me -- and people like me -- at least let us get something out of it that rivals our dedication to the Jedi universe.

To be fair, I get that the legions of die-hard "Star Wars" fans are partially to blame for your latest twist of the knife. If we did not see episodes I - III in droves, you would have never thought of doing this.

And I'll confess, as mad as I am at you, I will be there at 12:01 am again to see the 3-D version of that torturous experience that is Jar Jar Binks. I know I'd regret it if I didn't. So would most, if not all, of the "Star Wars" fans I know.

iReport: The people behind "The People vs. George Lucas"

We will say how we hate it. We will say we won't go. But as it gets closer we will cave. The worst part is you know we will and that we still care about your creations.

Please, Mr. Lucas, stop changing the movies. Han shot first.

You don't need to make them better. We already think they're perfect. If you need to expand, then give us the sequel.

Give us something that is new and not just an indulgent reworking of one of the greatest movie franchises ever.

I'm asking "Star Wars" fans to try to stop spending money on your rehashes. By now it's embarrassing how we act like starving dogs, happy with whatever "Star Wars" scrap we get.

For the sake of our collective, cherished memories, this must stop.

Thank you sir for your consideration, and: May the Force be with you!

 

bigger version of this

I just found out about this (i've been a member forever, but am really inept with torrents/making my own dvds/etc. so I don't keep up with this stuff too much)

Keeping in mind that i've only successfully made one backup of a store bought dvd and failed several times at using torrents to get fan edits (& then failing to be able to make my own dvd of said fan edits), could someone help me out with getting this?  I'm willing to waste as many dvd-r's as it takes to make a copy I can actually watch on my tv....

Oh, (sorry for not reading all 22 pages...) does the transfer make for an anamorphic dvd? (i.e., no having to zoom in on 16x9 tvs)?

THANKS!

That's a good question.  I'm curious why it needs to be first edition if "collecting" isn't on your mind?  Wouldn't any early (as in, before the late 90's) edition be the same?  As far as I know, there were never any changes made to the text of the novelisations other than maye various forewords or introductions?

Yeah, there's a lot of crap coming out these days.  But there's also some really cool stuff if you're into toy collecting.  I just buy the stuff I like & don't worry about the rest.  The new Millennium Falcon from a few years ago is possibly the coolest Star Wars toy ever made.  And while this Yoda sucks, they have made some really amazing OT figures in resent years.  Here's a few really great ones either out currently or coming soon:

JediTray said:

HasBLO just keeps on loading EU and PT crap into OT toys.  The upcoming Yoda from the Vintage Collection on a ROTJ card has....

....A Lightsaber.  Lame.

 not only does it come with a lightsaber, it's a ROTS Yoda sculpt! UGH!

Hmm, in the order I got them:

P&S trilogy recorded off cable by a friend b/c we didn't have cable.

P&S Faces vhs

W/S '97 SE vhs

W/S TPM collector's edition vhs

W/S '93(?) vhs set in a blue box with the hologram on the front & a book (got this when I became tired of the SE, first time I saw the OOT in w/s)

W/S TPM dvd

W/S AOTC dvd

W/S Def. Coll. Laserdisc set (bought this along with a LD player when it was officially confirmed the dvds would not have the OOT)

W/S ROTS dvd

2006 GOUT dvds

I still have all of them too, though the vhs's are probably all at my parents house & I'd be hard pressed to find some of them probably.  But I never got rid of any of them.  (though the longer time goes on, the more I'm tempted to get rid of anything PT related I own)

The new one is significantly larger, better proportioned, & with way more awesome features.  (all pics borrowed from the rebelscum forums, sadly I don't have on yet...)

Oh, did anyone else see the huge Hoth diorama at the Hasbro booth from Comic Con?  Here's an album of it, it looks so awesome!  Too bad I didn't have this as a kid...

http://photos.sirstevesguide.com/g6020-diorama-display.html