I had one star wars cake and one scooby doo and one superfriends cake.....I must say that my all time favorite Bday cake was A transformers one back in 1985.. Was optimus Prime. Did anyone here ever have a Bday party at chuck E Cheese...or Putt-Putt pr Aladins Castle?
None of you older guys remembered this intro and voice for the movie of the week?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2khYg5BbOpc
this guy was the voice of the 80s
What is everyones favorite memories that stick out in their head from growing up with the original trilogy? For me it was every time we would go to K-mart we would get to pick out (usually anyways) an action figure or book or shirt ...The excitment of seeing the action figure in the cart and waiting to get home or the audio books that came with a record or tape to open them.
The excitment of seeing a star wars toy commercial on tv. WHen we were kids we had a big table in our room and we would lay our toys out on it and make scenes. Sort of like a Domino rally table but star wars toys instead. I use to look forward to going to bed at night just to get under the star wars sheets.
Getting older sucks but I wouldnt trade growing up in the 80s or growing up with star wars back when star wars was great for nothing. it was a truly special time. Here is something else when I see and hear this takes me right back to the early 80s. It is depressing in way but who else hears this guys voice and is taken back to a better day and time?
WhatsMyName said:
Maul was a true, in my opinion, representation of what a sith should be. Merciless, powerful and amazing force powers. I know the OT is the OT and Luke wasn't a full fledged Jedi Knight, but no other Light Saber battle can beat Dual of the Fates in TPM
duel pf the fates was exciting and flashy but it lacked the pure emotion intensity of the empire strikes back duel. The episode 5 duel was realistic and it was breath taking. when luke is walking down the hall nad vader jumps out of no where just taking it to luke it made you grasp the seat at the theater. It was as if the viewer could read vaders mind and he knew this kid was not to be taken lightly anymore and he has to be disabled or taken out or vader himself might be taken out by this yound jedi apprentice.
empire strikes back is just a perfect film in my opinion. the duel of the fates was good but it was just more of the prequel circus performance stuff. too many cheroographed spins and leaps. especially at the end after qui-gon is struck down and obi-wan rushes maul. It was just too staged and flashy for it's own good. to me the PT duels were just power ranger type scenes. Where with the OT the duels looked just like sword fighting scenes in gladiator or braveheart or troy or lord of the rings.
actually durcell that is pretty bad ass too. I could take that one as well. Darth Maul was suich a good character I have a hard time believing lucas came up with him.
WhatsMyName said:
The only "style" i found in the OT is Han Solo and Lando Calrissian busting out there dumb jokes. They always made me laugh.
And don't diss Darth Maul. You tell me one amazing force flip or a Jedi he offed, not as Anaking Skywalker, and prove it makes him better.
Darth Maul was indeed a very cool character. He didn't talk much, his costume was cool and kick ass, he looked evil as hell, and he fought well.
Episode 1 in my opinion was the only one of the PT films that felt "SOME WHAT" like the OT films. qui-gon and maul were the only two good things to come out of all 3 of the PT films. Lucas in some brilliant move decided to kill them off though. Dooku and grivious were NOT needed. Maul and palpatine could have and would have filled the space for villians in the 3 films.
I still am amazed at how poorly these three films were written. It is almost unbelivable. How someone could put so little thought and so little care into the most awaited and looked forward too films of all time. It really makes you scratch your head.
By lies I refer to him saying he never said he was making anymore than 6 films when in time magazine in 1980 I believe it was he said he was making 9 films. Then in an earlier interview at USC I believe he said he was making 12. Now he says He never claimed to make anymore than 6.
He claims he always intended for greedo to shoot first. When gary lurtz says that is a lie and that it was shot the way it was originally because that is how the script was written and that if lucas wanted to shoot it with greedo shooting first he could have very easily done so even back in 77. When asked why lucas would lie abput that kurtz said he had no idea.
What hasent this pos lied about?
As far as what we were promised but never got. Lucas always said anakin was a fall from grace story about a great hero/jedi knight who reeches gret heights and then falls from grace and is seducded by the dark side. I can't speak for anyone else but I hardly see a hero/great jedi when I look at the anakin of the pt films. there is no reaching great heights there for there is no fall from grace. this punk is a disrespectful azzz hole from the moment you lay eyes on him in episode 2. there is nothing tragic about his seduction. 30 mins into getting to know his character you are saying to yourself "this guys an azz hole" if you did not know the backstory of him turning to vader you would expect this prick to turn evil just based on his attitude and his actions. some great jedi and some great hero we were given.
When I went to see episode 3 opening night people in the audience were laughing at grivious. I think half the audience just was there to see how bad of a film it would be compared to the other two turds.
I personally enjoy conversations and debates with like minded individuals. Even those who have a different point of view.
Like many people my age who grew up in the 80s and invested their emotions and time and bday gifts and xmas gifts into star wars and waited loyaly and patiently for lucas to give us the prequel films he had talked about all those years I felt cheated and insulted. It is as if I am still waiting for a xmas present that I was promised and I know deep down I will never get that gift. I was given a wraped present with nothing inside of it. A present I did not pay for with money but with emotion and time.
it adds insult to injury how lucas just dismisses all the wrong doings and the lies he has told and hearing people defend it. People have a right to like the PT films but to deny lucas hads lied and done wrong is just a flat out denial of the truth and not based in reality.
Maybe those of us here and even those of us who do not get along all share one unique bond together...something was taken from us. Something we never had but something we were promised and something we payed for dearly throughout our childhood and throughout our young adult years. I can't speak for anyone else but for me it is an emptiness that will not go away and that is why my bitterness will not go away.
As the kids who grew up with the PT films grow into young adults/adults their love and preference for the PT films over the OT film will change and they will start leaning towards the OT films. The luster of special effects and CGI will wear off as they become older and most will appreciate a real story and screenplay over the circus performing B-movie screenplays of the PT films.
I still feel insulted when PT fans my age still claim we only prefer the OT films because that is what we grew up with and we have fond memories of them.
I grew up with and have fond memories of the made for TV spider-man films but that does not mean I think they are better films than the Sam Rami films. NO...PT fans there is really such a thing as liking something better simply because it is better in every way a film should be.
Also I love how natalie portman at the oscars the other night gave thanks to like three different directors she has worked for and teaching her things and inspiring her through out her career and she failed to mention george lucas even though he directed her in 3 films.
I agree with you for sure. Any extra money spent should have been on another director and a screen writer. The designs and most of the characters in the PT were just fine and in many cases great. It was like you say the screenplay and acting that is the problem.
Darth maul was awesome. Qui-gon was awesome. The best of actors and characters can only do so much when they have garbage to work with.
Lucas wanting to sell as many toys as possible reminds me of how the 1986 transformers movie was ruined for the same reason. That movie was used as a 2 hr long commercial to sell the new toy line and they killed off or changed all the characters people loved and had an emotional attachment to so they could make room for new toys to sell. People went to see that movie to see the transformers they grew to love and ended up getting cheated. for a good laugh though any transformers fans should watch this. its the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Optimus is brought back to life and he starts cussing cause iron hide is dead and ratchet and calls rodimus a bitch "who the fuck is this autobot" lol. this guy made a masterful skit.
Bocce_Linguist said:
Bingowings said:
In terms of space battles the one at the end of TPM looks WWI to ANH's WWII (colourful simple fighter craft
/less colouful gritty fighter craft
).
The problem isn't so much in the design but it the writing.
Maybe it's not so much the specific look* of the fighter crafts but rather the execution of the battles that makes it hard for me to believe/accept that TPM is supposed to be 'before' SW/ANH.
*even taking into consideration your color analogy, there's still a problem, though: we should have at least seen Y-Wings in the PT, since during the OT days the film makers involved were saying that they looked so 'beat-up' because they were in fact older craft than the X-wings....
according to lucas in a 1987 starlog interview i have x-wings in the OT were old ships because the rebels were a small outfit fighting a gorilla war and they could not afford the newer state of the art ships like the twin ion engine ships used by the empires and he said in the PT films x-wings would be state of the art and the ships used by the republic.
Of course someone reminded george that all the collectors already had x-wings and they had been released multiple times already and that if they made a new ship thats another 30 million in sells from the toy side of things. he also went on to say in the sequel episodes in the 3rd trilogy that tie fighters would be the old ships used and there would be a newer state of the art craft
it looks like darth maul is back as well as qui-gon
When I gripe about Lucas not spending enough money I do not refer to him spending money on sets and other things of that Nature. While I would have preferred live sets and props compared to CGI my main complaint is money not being spent in behind the scenes talent. Such as is mentioned in that Entertainment weekly article. Lucas not spending money on some great screenwriters, hiring directors for episodes 2 and 3.
The core problem of the PT films has been and always will be the screenplays and the directing.
Alexrd said:
haljordan28 said:
unless I am at a forum for 5th graders I would expect some maturity and mutual respect for one another. That clearly is above some peoples heads.
^Indeed.
why because I misspell at times? Lord knows that is so much worse than grown men making fun of others and trying to start arguments on a forum on the internet right?
take your place in line with your friend.
Jonno said:
Or maybe he's just pointing out that you (and indeed posters in general) ought to put a bit of care into what you post if you expect it to be taken seriously.
Come on man. Are you serious? Typos is a reason to try and start arguments and derail threads?
I do not care if I am taken serious. This is a forum. For any and all to post their thoughts and opinions. If someone takes it serious or not is up to the individual reader. I, like everyone else on any forum expresses my opinion and thoughts if it is taken serious or not is no concern of mine.
unless I am at a forum for 5th graders I would expect some maturity and mutual respect for one another. That clearly is above some peoples heads.
Of course I meant highest PAID.
As usual he must showcase his immature self and strive to derail a thread or start an argument. He also knew I meant PINCHING PENNIES.
some people no matter their age can't help but be childish and look for trouble. Usually such people have sad lives. Oh well, let him play his little games. He does not bother me.All he is doing is showing his mentality to everyone on the board.
Read every post I have made and he comes in right behind it with this type of behavior. And why? Because I misspell some words and make typos and fail to proof read to correct said errors.
Sad little man!
ray_afraid said:
skyjedi2005 said:
Qui Gon cannot manifest himself as an image and only as a voice, he never was able to merge his whole self with the force. His body did not disappear and was burned.
This is seriously bullshit, and not in continuity with revenge of the sith, the saga or the novelization.
But Anikin didn't disappear and he still came back as a ghost.
I really couldn't care any less about any of this though.
I can't help but agree. Lucas has messed it all up so bad already nothing that happens now can help or hurt it anymore than it already is. It is damaged beyond repair.
skyjedi2005 said:
I always thought the lack of much location shooting or over reliance on cgi was because Lucas was funding the whole prequel trilogy himself.
the overuse of CGI to me was very simple to understand. This all boils down to greed on lucas behalf. All about profit. Lucas owns all of the new state of the art cgi technology. He used the three PT films to showcase what his company was capable of doing. No telling how much he has made just on other companies wanting to use his tech. Not to mention it saves money not needing props and certain locations. Why fly personal and equipment around the world at a heavy cost when you can use CGI to create a background or location for nearly a fraction of the cost.
It makes sense business wise but why choose the most loved and awaited films in history to pull your business tricks on. In all honesty Star Wars went from being the Gone With The Wind and Casablanca of sci-fi/fantasy films to being what is used as the butt of jokes and is made fun of and laughed at
I would just like to say to Lucas that you can't take money with you when you die. The only true thing you can take with you is that which you leave behind. A legacy, a body of work and he went from being hailed as a genius and master film maker to being ridiculed and laughed at it. He ruined his legacy and his reputation all for what? A few extra bucks.
I dont think more money in general would have made the film better because the script and a 9 yr old anakin is the problem. Nothing more nothing less.
This is the part about inching pennises that I believe hurt the film "WE DON'T HAVE THE HIGHEST PAIN BEHIND THE SCENES TALENT. wE HAVE EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON YOUNG INDIANA JONES. THIS IS THEIR SHOT TO MAKE THEIR NAMES AND THEN GO OFF AND MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY WANT TO. BUT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR THAT, NOT US."
cause maybe if Lucas had surrounded himself with talented people like he did with the OT maybe some of them could have talked george out of that ridicules script/screenplay. when you have nothing but YES men around you and that wont challenge you then you have no way to improve.
These films were guaranteed to make a fortune. There was no way Lucas could have gotten burned and lost money. He tripled his profits no matter the cost of filming just on toy sales alone.
This is from the june 13 1997 issue of entertainment weekly
About the cost of filming
'Saving money is one of Georges most obsessive goals admits MCcallum. How can we drive the cost down? We dont want to go through the sort of risk that everybodys taking this summer, which is going to be a bloodbath.Right now many films are completly out of control. People are actually proud of it. Theres a hundred-day club now that a lot of filmmakers brag about. seeing who can shoot longer.A prime example of bloat in MCcallums opinion is Titantic."
"Actually thinking of cutting cost is a scary concept for a lot of studios, Mccallum contiunues and especially a lot of stars.But we are not inhabiting that mental landscape at all. WE DON'T HAVE THE HIGHEST PAIN BEHIND THE SCENES TALENT. wE HAVE EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON YOUNG INDIANA JONES. THIS IS THEIR SHOT TO MAKE THEIR NAMES AND THEN GO OFF AND MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY WANT TO. BUT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR THAT, NOT US."
That guys is almost amazing to hear. The most anticipated film of all time and lucas waned to pinch pennies.Well we all see the results dont we?This very thing shows just how pathetic rick Mccallum is and how he is partly to blame for this crap. I remeber gary kurtz saying in an interview that Lucas said that they could have finished the film and not spent so much money even if it was not as good and Kurtz said "yes we could have but the finished product was well worth it."(refering to episode 5) that is coming from someone who wants a great film, a masterpiece and is prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure the film is great.
Finally something to look forward too. Qui-gon is my 3rd best character of all 6 films right behind Luke and vader.
About this causing yet another plot hole. I am sure it will. Lucas and clearly shown he does not care if something causes a plot hole. One more in his mind won't hurt anything.
As much as I hate the PT films I suggest anyone who has yet to watch the clone wars show to do so. Especially the last two seasons. They are everything the PT films should have been in regards to the anakin skywalker character. He is likable and he behaves like a respectable jedi knight.
LexX said:
In my opinion Yoda and the emperor do know about each other and that's also mentioned in the novelization of ROTJ.
Also I never liked Yoda when I was a kid but after they made him even worse for the prequels which I'm now trying to forget forever, I've grown to like him more.
when watching ROTJ you also get the impression yoda knows the emperor. Yoda tells luke to not underestimate the powers of the emperor or suffer his fathers fate he would. That tells you that they knew or know of one another.
TheBoost said:
haljordan28 said:
the only pieces outside of the OT films I have enjoyed are Rebel Mission to ord mantel
Which one? I think there are three.
I didn'tknow there were three of them. I only have listened to the first one. Where han goes up against a bounty hunter called CIFER.
Filthy Pierre said:
haljordan28 said:
Other impressions I always had was that Luke was taken to dagobah when he was a kid before going to uncle owen. I remember reading in starlog that kurtz said luke was taken there immediately after him and lukes mom and leia were split up. This is why luke says the comment "there is something familiar about this place" Also that dagobah was the home planet of the sith. The scene where luke cuts off vaders head is inside what most call a cave and even some books call it a cave but it is really a temple. when luke looks inside the room where he sees vader you can see the outline of a concrete door. it is not a cave or tree. This is why it is strong with the dark side of the force. Also this is why yoda chose that planet to hide on. No one would think to look for a jedi oin the home world of the sith.
Yeah I've always wondered why the den of evil had a bulkhead in it.
You make very good points.
It would of been good if Yoda and Ben took Luke to Dagobah before Ben left with him for Tattoine. Yoda could perform some Jedi mark on him to hide him from Vader and the Emperor while he was growing up.
Dagobah could of been a once beautiful planet turned to the way it was when we saw it through the Sith leaching life from the planet to make themselves powerful.
My impression of Yoda was a old Jedi who didn't need a lightsaber because he had completely mastered the force. The Emperor was hiding away like Yoda getting Vader to do all the work. The Emperor didn't need a lightsaber either due to his power.
I agree that I never thought palpatine was a lightsaber user. Mostly in part to his comment to luke "a jedis weapon, much like your fathers"