Happy Mothers Day @TV's Frink's hot mom!
K-3a
'Tis okay. I figured you had some lame excuse for your prolonged absence ;) Nah, really those things are of course the priority. Don't worry about it.
S-6b
I have a large family too, but I am not terribly familiar with anyone beyond my most immediate family. I have not seen many cousins for years. As a result, though I hear of various good and bad happenings among them, it's hard to feel connected. So in other words, I do not believe your feelings are wrong in any way; it's hard to mourn for someone you know is related, but is in many respects a stranger. Yet at the same time, that blood relation, that knowledge and even vague familiarity, still make it hard to deal with. I am so sorry for your cousin and for the emotional turmoil this is causing for you. Four stories make for a high fall, and it's a miracle he is alive at this moment. My prayers are with you and your family, especially for your cousin. I'm not sure how you stand on things, so I'll keep it vague and simply state that I hope whatever is best for him comes to pass. I'm truly sorry.
I think a project along these lines needs to get done. I am going to repeat ideas others have said that demonstrate that this is a workable idea:
-George Lucas obviously targeted this movie at kids, which is why it didn't appeal to many long-time fans, most of whom were kids when the OT came out (or in my case, an ovum for the first two). While the OT has appeal for both age groups, much of the PT, especially TPM, appeals only to children. I witnessed this firsthand when I took a risk and allowed my children recently to watch the PT, which they in fact enjoy more than the OT :( (my hope is that they'll outgrow it as they mature). But since I enjoy the Ewok films as children's movies, I can see turning this even more child-oriented, and it could be a child's intro to the Star Wars backstory without destroying my love for Star Wars in general.
- Jar Jar is really the best main character. The others rotate and there is never focus, but this can easily be changed with a proper, Jar Jar focused fan edit.
- This is much like the R2/3PO intro to Luke Skywalker of ANH, as Jar Jar could introduce the whole PT to us, and from there we follow the less childish main characters of Anakin and Obi-wan in Episodes II and III (Anakin only being slightly less childish than Mr. Binks).
To accomplish these objectives, I agree with what princethomas has said, with the movie starting with the planet's invasion. I also think a voice intro would be good, though I don't think it means we have to do away with the opening crawl either. I would actually have the intro given by Jar Jar himself rather than the narrator, so if someone is capable of a good impersonation (and I might be that someone, not sure, need an objective listener), then perhaps it could really sell Jar Jar as the main protagonist.
To assist with the opening, the best bet would be to include some shots that were animated, but without any complete rendering available. This would be a compromise, but it would be the ideal way to open with Jar Jar, IMHO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfU3T40IVuU&t=25m49s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfU3T40IVuU&t=24m44s
Interspersed with the complete footage, I know this would look ugly, but it would be a better introduction to our clumsy hero.
Ultimately I would cut scenes that were not so important for character development or story if they did not have Jar Jar, include deleted scenes that served little purpose except for Jar Jar humor (i.e. the waterfall scene), and simply keep him as the focus. As Bingowings said, he could be dubbed to not be so idiotic (since racism is a huge charge against him, though I still believe that is not really true). The tweedy professor sort also sounds interesting, and his voice could be altered completely.
I think there is a lot of potential for an edit like this, and though I lack the talent to do it myself, I think someone should do it.
Yes, all these stills are either posed to serve as promo pics, or some of them were from alternate angles and takes, yet still served for promos, children's books, audio album covers, bubble gum cards, and a number of other media releases not straight from the movie. I love the pictures and envision them as deleted shots and angles, even if they were never intended as such.
So for those who care, I am going to great lengths to get this project better organized. I'm nearly ready to re-release it without all the extra crap, misplaced files, and so many duplicates (though there'll probably still be some, but far, far fewer). I've extracted more clips from various sources, and while some clips are still less attractive than would be ideal, I think this'll be a much better release without all the additional, unneeded weight. It will be an easier download. And since I think I know what I did wrong with the MySpleen issue, I will hopefully rectify that this time and release it there so more people can more easily get it. I will update here when this project is ready.
I'm certainly happy to see the Lapsed Legionnaire. ;)
G-5b
P*2c
TV's Frink said:
WRONG I DON'T CARE PICTURE!!!
Now stop being so silly. This is a serious project!
I personally don't find any loss in pacing from a matter of a couple of seconds. It really seems like splitting hairs to me. And while the spider may distract one from the action...wait, there was action? I saw the X-wing...I saw it was in the water...and I saw a surrounding that was dangerous and mysterious, including a frickin' cool spider thingy. In fact, I think there is nothing to distract from. Instead, it encourages the viewer to take the whole picture in! Perfect job, Ady!
TV's Frink said:
Ah. Well, I was just trying to get you to post the "I don't care" image again.
You want to dictate how I post, eh? You think you get to decide when I do and don't put up certain images, hmmm? Well, this is what I think of your intent!
Px2d
I actually meant that for Codeman. I typed it but didn't submit it till after you posted. Joke fail on my part.
You should have asked the OP when this would be done.
This thread is really no good. Come on, we all could use a few extra bucks. But no matter how badly someone pleaded and needed it, I could never offer money to some anonymous person over the Internet. There are legitimate means to obtain money for genuinely needy people. There are local, in person ways to get help. Even over the Net, there are proper ways to get help. But I'd much rather donate to starving kids in Africa, frankly, than donate to you, poet. I'm sure you're a nice guy, but your house is not my priority. I've got my own kids to feed.
K-4a
TV's Frink said:
xhonzi said:
Mrebo said:
There are many definition of matte painting that lead to a mandible jutting upward in relation to the cockpit at an angle that some would consider to be... unnatural.
I am shocked that darth_ender hasn't posted the rebuttal yet.
SHOCKED!!!
Well, I was tempted, but then I worry about what I can and can't get away with when out of Off Topic.
But....
Then I thought about this topic and whether or not I cared if the mandibles were visible and I decided...
S-3b
Yeah, I taught my bro-in-law how to play a couple of years ago. First game I whooped him. I think we played a second game too, where I still got him good, though he had obviously gained experience. But third game I handicapped myself a rook, and I thought I was going to lose. He had me on the ropes, and only through a miraculous defense, I managed to capture his rook and slowly, very slowly, turned things around.
You are a much stronger player than he was, so I'm truthfully a bit scared.
You know, you are a great player, and I think maybe you're a bit rusty, but you've come pretty close. Let me just recommend you play aggressively. You have a big advantage now, so don't be as defensive as you usually are. Take the initiative, put me on the defensive, and you'll probably win.
Oh, I also forgot that the player who is a piece down usually goes first, but let's forgo that this time and get going.
G-4b
Actually, and I should have remembered this earlier, but perhaps we could play with a handicap. A game is funner when there is greater competition and equality between parties. If I remember correctly, we tried it once before, but I think I still won. Let's try a handicap that will really be a challenge for me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogi#Player_rank_and_handicaps
Let's perhaps take away my rook and see how it goes? What say you? And if you want, you can make a different first move along with that.
Sounds good. You may start us off again, if you like.
Anyway, I can play you from here.
K-2h
S*3i check
K-1h
G*2h mate
And a good game to you my friend. What do you want to do now? Analyze the game, play another, choose a different game, take a break?
Nx4h+ (check)
Oops, I just realized I'm probably confusing you. In chess, the + sign is check. Here it's a promotion, yet the past couple moves I used it like a check. Sorry. I don't even remember the symbol for check in shogi.
