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zombie84

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21-Nov-2005
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12-Jan-2024
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Post
#190349
Topic
Lucas: Big pics are doomed
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/190349/action/topic#190349
Time
Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
"In the future, almost everything that gets shown in theaters will be indie movies," Lucas declared. "I predict that by 2025 the average movie will cost only $15 million."

Computer-based video editing will certainly contribute to that. Let's not forget that the SW films, especially the PT, are the biggiest "indie" films in history.


This has actually created a new problem. Before, if you wanted to make a movie you had to gather a couple hundred thousand dollars, hire a trained crew and do real post-production just to get the thing made. So there were only so many low-budget films. But now that digital filmmaking has allowed pretty much any dummy to pick a camera, get a cheap editing program and make himself a movie, the marketplace is suddenly flooded with millions (no exageration) of no/low-budget films, even though the marketplace has only expanded slightly since ten-fifteen years ago. Whereas before if you made a low-budget indie you had only limited competition, now the marketplace is completely oversaturated. Do you have any idea how many struggling filmmakers there are now whose films will never be seen by anyone? Too many to count. And its because of digital technology. So it has in effect created a downside. But i guess the rule holds true that if there is a good film out there it will get picked up, and this is generally true.

$15 million is not that expensive and even your average drama only costs $20-30 million nowadays but theres a point we are approaching where digital technology meets its limit. The non-linear editing revolution has already happened. It saved money and theres very little development to do so we wont see cost benefit in the future from this. Equipment, transportation, cast, crew, none of these things will be effected so what is left? Film itself. Digital video will not replace film for a very long time, and by 2025 hopefully it will have advanced to the point where it has at least matched it in terms of quality. So there will be tons of cost savings there, if that happens. Digital projection will also cut down on cost a lot, so maybe, in a best-case scenario, your low-moderately budgeted films will be costing $15 million. But this is not exactly industry-revolutionizing. We aren't going to see some penniless genius make the worlds next Citizen Kane, he'll still need millions of dollars, so that barrier will always be in place. And similarly, the huge effects films will still cost about $60-100 million. So all it will do is save the huge already-rich studios money. The indie filmmakers and no-budget straglers will of course have even bigger benefits and allow them to compete closer to the studios but i dont know if the revolution will be a huge jump from whats already in store now. Hopefully it will though.
Post
#190334
Topic
Violence in Video games a fad?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/190334/action/topic#190334
Time
Violent entertainment in general is of poor quality and mass appeal. Young guys like stuff that is unneccesarily violent, be it music, movies or games, and the majority of entries in any of these categories is usually of poor quality since its mostly made for demographic appeal and with little intellectual substance. Music and movies have been around for a while so the many crappy, poor-quality songs and flicks dont really draw attention but video games are relatively new so we notice this more. I mean, i know gory games have been popular since the early 90's but the sophistication of the latest generation of gaming has allowed for more realistic violence that can now emulate its feature-film counterparts so there is an upsurge.

So its a trend, and it may temper down a little bit, but it'll always be around. Thats my take, anyway.
Post
#190209
Topic
Lucas: Big pics are doomed
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/190209/action/topic#190209
Time
Originally posted by: Han Solo VS Indiana Jones
What we need is balance, a healthy dose of both character driven films and larger than life spectacles. They must walk hand in hand, because one can never do without the other. It would be like having day without night or Superman without Lex Luthor.



Exactly. I mean, i love art-house stuff, its my bread and butter, but i definitly wouldnt want stuff like Star Wars or even "lesser" works like Starship Troopers to dissappear--and neither does the rest of the world. True, blockbusters are on the downward slide of their pinnacle circa 2003, and they will likely return to where they were around the mid-late 90's, right before the CGI craze went into full-gear, but they will never go away. And the truth is that the general public would rather see Lord of the Rings than Crash. Thats not necessarily bad, but smaller films definitly should get a bigger piece of the cinema pie. The problem is that the expensive blockbusters have the biggest budgets, and therefore the biggest distribution as well as the muscle of a major studio that basically takes up all the spaces at megaplexes while smaller films are forced to be shown at art-house and independent or smaller theaters. You have 7 out of 14 screens taken up by King Kong while Crash has maybe one--and Crash was a pretty widely released film for an independent flick. Most dont even make it to the chain theatres at all. Thats where the problem lies. As the world gets more screens we seem to be having less selection--because preportionally, the blockbusters still make up for 90% of the theater space, and to make things worse, people no longer venture to "alternative" or idependent theatres, they just expect that whatever is playing at the multiplex is all that is out so they only get exposed to the half dozen studio films that are out at any given time. Its an obscene domination. Fortunately studios and major distributors are embracing smaller productions and thats where the change we are seeing is coming from. The small distributions and independent films are just as obscure as they ever were but a select few are benefitting from being picked up by the indie-faction of major studios (like Focus pictures, for example) and are seeing the light of day in megaplexes.
Post
#190121
Topic
Lucas: Big pics are doomed
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/190121/action/topic#190121
Time
This is also the man that predicted in 1995 that Episode I would cost $35 million.

Blockbusters will never die. The general public hates small character-driven indie films; big 'splosions, titties, and great sepcial effects make the world go round. By 2025 they will be much cheaper but to say that films will all cost 15 million and be non-blockbusters is retardedly naive. The public is too dumb to allow this to happen.
Post
#188791
Topic
An old question bothering me... :)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/188791/action/topic#188791
Time
Its a goof--his hands are clearly cuffed when he descends into the pit. Kershner instruted the sculpter of the carbonite block that he wanted Han to look like he was in agaony and struggling to break free of the mold--i think he even may have had them redo the original design. So this is why there is the discontiuity. Theres various fan explanations but the truth is that its a simple continuity error. Because its a movie.
Post
#186685
Topic
Why I hate "The Incredibles"
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/186685/action/topic#186685
Time
This has got to be the most stupidest thread ever. You don't like a movie because it brought up bad childhood memories? Then don't watch the movie, moron! Writing to the makers to complain? Posting a whole topic about how its stupid because it brought back some bad memories? Jesus! At least realise that it is no fault of the film and a specific, subjective emotional reaction based totally off your experiences and not because of the content of the film itself. I mean, I'm sorry that you were made uncomfortable by certain parts of a movie, but that inevitably happens to anyone who has lived an experinced life. Why you would continue to dwell on it any longer than that is beyond me.

sheesh.
Post
#185722
Topic
I thought this was interesting - sound differences in OT releases
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/185722/action/topic#185722
Time
Theres TONS of sound differences in the releases.

The original 77 stereo mix had a different voice for Beru. It was redubed for the mono mix which was released a month or so later. The mono mix also had the "close the blastdoors" line, plus i believe 3p0 tractor beam voice over. The mono mix added a bunch of sound effects and such, and i think it also included all the "video game" type noises on the screens when Luke and Han are shooting TIES in the falcon. Mark Hamill also relooped some of his lines in ADR so that they are cleaner.

The first Home Video releases swapped between the two versions but the original Beru voice has never been heard since 77 i believe (although there is a recording of it via the 1977 bootleg). The stereo version was quickly settled on as stereo replaced mono in the early 80's--but the new Beru voice of course was included. I'm not sure what exactly the situation is here--it seems Hamill's additional ADR and Beru's new voice were included but none of the other SFX additons were. I'm sure someone out there knows more than me what exactly was in what version.

Then in 1989 Ben Burtt completely remixed the trilogy for the Laserdisk release, now accounting for home video sound setup rather than theatrical. I'm not sure the details of this mix and if it contained any new additions--it may have.

Then of course in 1995 the films were remastered yet again for the THX release, but I don't think there was any additions or subtractions since the 1989 remix.

Then in 1997 there was the SE which remixed the films yet again, this time in 5.1 surround, and combined all the sound elements from the various mixes, in effect giving a mix which contained more sound effects than ever before, such as the "close the blastdoors" line and 3p0 tractor beam voice over, which hadn't been heard since the early 80's.

The 2004 mix is slightly different again, but contains a large number of infamous errors due to poor authoring of the disks, such as the music score being drowned out. This mix will likely be corrected for the next release.

Did i miss any? I think there is a website out there that has kept track of all the different mixes--there are quite a few! Add to the whole "Episode" insertion and the fact that most had never seen the films in widescreen before 1997, its interesting when fans demand the want the SW films "they remember"--the question is, which version do they remember??
Post
#185717
Topic
Now I Know Why There Was Such A Big Age Gap Between Ep. I and II
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/185717/action/topic#185717
Time
mark hamill 1972

73

Well, he doesn't look exactly like him, and Mark is about 19 or so in those photos but even if their facial structure is not the same they are strangely reminiscent of each other.


If you want to REALLY talk about a child actor who dissapeared because of their adolescance look no further than Maculy Caulkin--that kid was freakin weird as a teen. Lloyd looks comparitably normal.
Post
#184149
Topic
Star Wars Encyclopedia.
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/184149/action/topic#184149
Time
The "Archival" edition of 2007 is a fanboy dream, but it remains one with a good possibility of becoming true. 2007 is of course the 30th anniversary of SW, and fresh off the heals of completing the SW saga its a perfect opportunity to do something with the films, as i think McCallum has said. Theatrical relases have been totted around by Lucasfilm reps, and i think a I-VI boxset is inevitable, so likely what will happen is a limited release of all six films in theatres, followed by a complete boxset.

The whole "Archival" thing is a reference to what may turn out to be fanboy dreaming, as the films are supposedly going to be spruced up yet again with more enhancements and ties to bring the six films together, while also giving us plentiful new DVD extras. Nodoubt Lucas has hinted he will return to touch up the films at least one more time (and indeed, the films do need it, if only for technical things that have for some reason STILL slipped by the radar, such as Kenobi's "shorting out" saber in ANH that has only been partially corrected), but if and when he does i don't think they will substantial fixes--the latest DVD versions have likely given us the last of the major enhancements, and after all the hubbub about the 2004 extras i can't see any substantial improvements other than those damn deleted scenes that have for some reason been left out of both the Indy set AND the SW set.
Post
#183542
Topic
Has anyone ever seen the film Soldier?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/183542/action/topic#183542
Time
I hope you guys arent talking about the Kurt Russel sci fi film. Because that is one of the worst films i have seen. I can't believe people are spending millions of dollars to make trash like this when there are thousands of brilliant filmmakers struggling to get films off the ground. This is predicatble, talentless Hollywood crap at its worst. Even as a brainless action flick it is completely worthless.
Post
#183303
Topic
Understanding the saga - A perspective from T.F.N
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/183303/action/topic#183303
Time
k guys, firstly this is not an editorial by TFN, it was posted by someone in a discussion thread on their message boards. Secondly, whomever made the comment that we should not consider Adamwankenobi's opinion, regardless of content, because he is 17 is very immature and i would suggest someone with such an immature mind should not be taken seriously either.

As for the saga being a whole, i think most will agree that it works in some ways and doesnt work in other ways. Because of this there will always be some people that see it as one saga and some that see it as two seperate trilogies. The initial post should be nothing new to anyone, im actually surprised that some people are only just now starting to view the series this way but i guess better late than never.
Post
#183296
Topic
"Future Theatrical and DVD Releases" What do we think they will be?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/183296/action/topic#183296
Time
For DVD's I think a I-VI boxset is inevitable, as are the complete Clone War series collected in a single double-disk special edition. Maybe Droids and Ewok series, as was mentioned. Personally, i find it kinda surprising that there is going to be more Lucasfilm DVD's, since pretty much everything is already available and Blu-Ray remains an untapped format. Maybe Graffiti is going to finally be given a remastered re-release, as the current dvd is well over 5 years old and pretty rough looking.

The theatrical release comment is pretty exciting--obviously in reference to the SW saga being released in its entirety, but we knew this was coming one day soon. Personally my feeling is that they will release a new episode every week, just like the serial films of the 30's, so you can follow the series week by week from I-VI.
Post
#182792
Topic
Update on the TV show, an now Lucas is getting involved!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/182792/action/topic#182792
Time
well i dont think it states anywhere Lucas is writing the SCRIPTS--if i recall it is said he is writing the STORY, as in sketching out an overall plot and then letting writers pen the actual material. I believe this is the way Young Indy worked as well. Basically they are shooting it the same way--all the episodes will be filmed at once over a two year period, in effect producing a 50 hour feature film. Thus, the general storyline will be written out beforehand, by Lucas, and then the writers will come in and basically expand it into a couple seasons worth of actual scripts.
If this is the case, and i believe it is, then it can only be a good thing. My only trepidation on the series is the concept itself--maybe the low-bdugetness will make it look cheesy, or we'll know too much info about the GFFA or something. I dont know. Like i said, it has the potential to be very good so we'll just have to see. Would be cool if Vader made cameo appearances sporadically through the series, just for a few scenes, which I'm sure will happen.
Post
#182410
Topic
Is it just me, or is Leonardi DiCaprio not half bad?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/182410/action/topic#182410
Time
yes, DiCaprio is a very good actor.

Why all the hate? Backlash from Titanic, which of course is very overrated. Its actually a pretty decent flick, mostly the second half, but because it was upheld as this amazing piece of work at the time, it was all blown way out of preportion and so of course everyone backlashed, and in retrospect it was very unfair. Its not unlike what happened to TPM.

DiCaprio hasnt done SO much considering that Titanic is nearly a decade old now (gasp! where did the time go?) but he has still appeared in some movies and has proven himself to be a very gifted actor--both before and after that silly boat movie. I mean Basketball Diaries, What Eating Gilbert Grape, Marvin's Room, The Quick and the Dead, Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator. He's had a lot of really good movies, and even his worst ones, Titanic and The Beach, are actually quite good films with pretty decent performances.

People who hate him dont hate his acting ability, they hate his reputation as a heartthrob, and really its only because of Romeo and Juliet (a pretty interesting flick) and that one movie from 1997, which is actually not that bad. He hasnt had any other "boyish" roles since then because all the teenage girls went nuts. He's very underrated.
Post
#182408
Topic
Update on the TV show, an now Lucas is getting involved!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/182408/action/topic#182408
Time
Well Lucasfilm's track record for TV is good--Young Indy is considered one of the most advanced television series ever, and the Clone Wars cartoons were surprisingly good. The CG clone war cartoon i am not concerned about in the least--likely it will be like a mix of the previous cartoon and that Starship Troopers Roughnecks cartoon from years ago, which was also pretty good. I dont expect much, and since it basically deals with tangical sidestories its of little consequence.

The live action series is a huge deal though. Not only the fact that it is live action, but the fact that it will likely be chronicling more central events. I'm glad they are not afraid to take their time and get it right. Its either going to be a great success or a huge failure. ROTS was good and like i said Lucasfilm's TV history is also pretty good so i think we'll all just have to hold our breath and hope for the best.