zombie84

User Group: Members
Join date: 21-Nov-2005
Last activity: 12-Jan-2024
Posts: 3,557

Post History

Post: #179705
Topic: Star Wars Holiday Special on Conan
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/179705/action/topic#179705
Time: 10-Feb-2006 11:23 PM

Yeah, If i recall there was a really hilarious question where a fan asked if Lucas thought that when he died his body would dissapear like the jedi's.

Post: #179331
Topic: Star Wars Holiday Special on Conan
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/179331/action/topic#179331
Time: 9-Feb-2006 7:52 PM

Originally posted by: greencapt
It was a very funny clip but I tend to believe that the reactions were pre-arranged. I don't know, Ford's reactions just seemed a little *too* over-the-top- like Conan had told him that he'd be showing it and asked him to be all distraught. Maybe he really was- I just can't see why at this point in his career he'd care about it much one way or another and I certainly don't believe Lucas has any power over him to make him deny the existence of the special. Heck, maybe Ford *brought* the clip to Conan.

Yes, i agree as well. Ford is OBVIOUSLY playing it up, and i think thats kind of what makes it so funny. Its obviously more of a skit--very rarely on these types of shows are the "surprises" really unknown by the guests.

Good reaction by Ford though.

conan: do you remember this show?
Ford: [quickly shaking his head]
conan: you dont remember it?
Ford: [quickly shaking his head]
conan: no memory?
Ford: no, no...
conan: so it doesnt exist then?
Ford: No-- it doesnt exist! No.
conan: well what if i were to tell you i had a piece of tape right now...
Ford: [lunges at conan and begins to choke him]

Post: #178981
Topic: T2 HDWMV isn't the full print
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178981/action/topic#178981
Time: 8-Feb-2006 9:11 PM

Occasionally IMDB lists matted transfers but i think mots info on open or hard matting comes from simply reading about the shooting of a film, likely from American Cinematographer magazine.

what was this mgm dvd lawsuit about?

Post: #178880
Topic: Star Wars Holiday Special on Conan
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178880/action/topic#178880
Time: 8-Feb-2006 3:32 PM

sometimes conan posts snippets of interviews on his website.

we can only hope...

Post: #178522
Topic: Conan: Red Nails
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178522/action/topic#178522
Time: 7-Feb-2006 11:17 AM

Wow, this really is incredible. I had no idea Conan was coming back with such force. I am weary of any live-action film starring Tripple H though--i mean Arnold and Milius did a damn fine job so you never know, and the fact that they are sourcing the original REH novels is certainly good. I just dont want to get my hopes too high.

(personally, at this point, unless the live action film has a huge ass budget, which i severely doubt, i predict the animated film will probably be the stronger).

Post: #178520
Topic: My letter to Entertainment Weekly, what do you guys think?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178520/action/topic#178520
Time: 7-Feb-2006 11:11 AM

To be honest they will likely ignore it but i hope that we beat the odds.

THANKS FOR MAKING THE EFFORT! Thats more than most ppl here, myself included, have ever done.

Post: #178473
Topic: Conan: Red Nails
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178473/action/topic#178473
Time: 7-Feb-2006 9:11 AM

AWESOME!!!

I love Conan! The new Dark Horse comic series is bloody fantastic and its great to see my favourite cimmerian back in the spotlight again, first with the comic, then the mcfarlane toys and now this. I only hope it lives up to the high standards re-established--but with the likes of Ron Perlman, how can you go wrong??

My only hope is that its not kiddie--Conan was a dark, bloody and violent series and i pray to crom that this is geared towards an R rating. I dont know how likely this is. But i suppose we can live with a PG-13 conan if we have to (though the last time they tried that in 1984 the results were not good).

Post: #178472
Topic: Does GL ever explain why...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178472/action/topic#178472
Time: 7-Feb-2006 9:08 AM

I dont think Lucas feels the need to have to justify every change he made.

I dont think you guys even realise how much is changed since the first release. Hell, as early as opening day on May 25th, 1977, Lucas was in the studio with Mark Hamill tweaking the film! If he pointed out every change in teh commentary thats all teh commentary would be. Personally i dont really care--some changes i like, some i dont, and regardless no one can do anything about it so we might as hear about more interesting matters (such as the use of subtitles in Greedos scene, which was far more eventful in its day than changing greedo to fire first--or simultaneously or whatever it is now).

And for the record i am all for a CGI OT Yoda as well--as long as the OOT is available.

Post: #178471
Topic: ep 2 and 3 speculations
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/178471/action/topic#178471
Time: 7-Feb-2006 9:03 AM

Haha i remember the whole "freeing the slaves" concept was a big one, as everybody seemed to think it was a big deal since Anakin always talked about it being his dream. But i guess the fact that it never happens is a point unto itself--Anakin never achieve his dream.

I remember the biggest question i had was whether or not him and Padme had kept in regular contact or if they hadnt seen each other in the ten years. I also thought that Episode II would be somewhat lighter--TPM surprised me with its light tone (in a good way) and then AOTC with its dark tone, as the two films are pretty contrasting.

For ROTS i thought Dooku would play a bigger role, and it seems as if he was initially poised to, but the script was infamously restructured early in the writing stage.

Post: #177987
Topic: Does GL ever explain why...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/177987/action/topic#177987
Time: 6-Feb-2006 12:15 PM

I love the OT commentaries, you should give them a listen some time. Much more interesting than the CGItech-heavy PT commentaries.

Post: #177985
Topic: New tactic for petitioning for the OOT?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/177985/action/topic#177985
Time: 6-Feb-2006 12:11 PM

The media/newspaper/magazine tactic is the only one that will work, IMO. Harassing employees is completely useless. But do you know how much damage would be made if Entertainment Weekly ran an article on the matter, even if just a small blurb?? Aside from the fact that it would inform thousands of ppl oblivious to the issue, it would also serve as a source of legitimacy--no longer just disgruntled fanboys and middle-aged grumbling nerds, the issue has become a mainstream concern from general fans of cinema. If three of four major movie magazines, like Empire, ET, or something less significant like Filmmaker, ran articles you can bet that LFL would begin to take the issue much much more seriously.

Post: #177982
Topic: Does GL ever explain why...
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/177982/action/topic#177982
Time: 6-Feb-2006 12:05 PM

Sometimes he did. Its usually "this is what i wanted it to be like but couldnt afford to do it", which is pretty much true the majority of the time. I dont remember him saying anything about Greedo, though the above statement could apply since i have heard him justify it thusly. Also the new Prequel tie-ins such as the Emperor and Hayden he says that he wanted to redo them to accomodate the prequel changes so the saga seems more consistent.

Post: #177237
Topic: Alan Smithee Cut of Superman 2? or not at all?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/177237/action/topic#177237
Time: 4-Feb-2006 12:58 PM

Warner is FINALLY smartening up in their dvd department after many years of being not-so-good (at least they are not as bad as mgm). Cant wait to see their new Kurbrick SE's this year as well.

As for this cut, i am sad that Donner isnt involved, but really like he said, he CANT be involved--the Richard Donner that shot that footage no longer exists. He is a different person now and to have Richard Donner cut the film would be impossible. So i hope his assistant does a good job. My feeling is that it will be similar to the Fincher workrpint of Alien 3--good overall, better than the theatrical even, but still missing just that extra bit of quality that would have been obtained had the director been directly involved.

What I'm REALLY dissapointed is that theres no extended Superman IV!! That was a more significant cut than the Donner SII cut! Argh! I know a lot of ppl dont like SIV but it was my favourite when i was a kid and i still think it is stronger in parts than SII and has that great comic book feel to it. I guess we should all be thankful that we finally have something to replace the barebones dvd set with (which is currently on sale now, i guess to get rid of all the stock since no one will buy it after next year--i pity the bastards who are picking it up now).

Post: #177236
Topic: TV Recordings of Star Wars Films
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/177236/action/topic#177236
Time: 4-Feb-2006 12:49 PM

I think mine might have been from ABC around 1987 or so. Sadly i taped over them all years ago, especially my beloved ESB, but a re-recording of ANH from 1993 or so on FOX Saturday Afternoon Movie (remember those?) still survives. My ROTJ was from TMN from around 1989 or so and that has survived intact to this day, albeit with the first half of Jabbas Palace taped over (with superdave osborne!), but i never really cared for that movie too much. All i remember is cool 80's Gilette commericals on ESB and really cheesy polka infomercial on ANH. Man, i would KILL for that ESB broadcast, that was the first SW i taped and the one i watched the most (guess i had good taste).

Post: #175158
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/175158/action/topic#175158
Time: 31-Jan-2006 5:10 PM

Yes, Kurtz allowed Kershner more time to make the film, and for that we should all be greatful, and thats the main reason anyone has any ounce of respect for him. But the fact is that ESB was not conceived, scheduled or budgeted to accomodate that! And Kurtz was the one scheduling and budgeting the film! There simply wasnt the money to make the film that way, at least on that short notice. If they wanted to make the film that way, fine, no problem, but they had a limited amount of time and money set aside for ESB, and once they comitted to that, it couldnt be drastically changed. That is why Lucas had to go to Bank of America to get another loan to complete the production--and we're talking a couple MILLION dollars here. You'd think that'd be a wakeup call to Kurtz. But even THAT loan went overbudget! The film was saved when Fox stepped in and fronted the remaining sum (giving them an even sweeter distribution deal that Lucas loathed).

Its not Kershner's fault the film went overschedule and overbudget. The director doesnt concern himself with those issues, that is the producers job. Yes, it is easy to see WHY Kurtz let the production decompose so much, because he wanted the material to be good--but it was a luxury they literally couldnt afford, and Kurtz was EXTREMELY irresponsible in doing this, especially when you consider it was Lucas' personal funds and he wanted the show to move and be finished. Lucas is lucky that he had more star wars fans than he realised.

In any case, this has nothing to do with Lucas praising or bashing, its simply Kurtz getting creative credit on one of the greatest films ever made when he is one of the worst professional producers i have ever heard of.

And BTW, what the hell are you talking about? Lucas' smug smirk? He seemed very grateful to get the award and i think this vitrolic Lucas bashing gets out of control sometimes like this, being labelled a "smug jerk" and that he makes you sick. What the hell is up with that?

Anyway, you dont have to interpret Kurtz-bashing as Lucas praising. Kurtz at least can objectively be bashed.

Post: #175122
Topic: 9 Years Ago Today....
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/175122/action/topic#175122
Time: 31-Jan-2006 3:32 PM

It was the trilogy one last time. Including ANH. That bit of advertising you remember i guess emphasised ANH since it was the very first and most memorable film but the other advertising specifically said "the Trilogy" one last time.

I remember thinking I better get me these if they wont be available again. Lucas wasnt lying either! Can you believe its been nearly ELEVEN YEARS since the OOT was last released!?! Wow.

But i still say Lucas will release the OOT on a next-gen video system within the next five years so that he will never have to release it again (since the resolution will be close to having a 4k scan of the negative). This, i believe, is the reason why it isnt on DVD--if he did that now he would just have to do it again in a couple years since DVD resolution is already outdated.

Post: #175119
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/175119/action/topic#175119
Time: 31-Jan-2006 3:27 PM

sure thing. there is a really really good Rolling Stone interview from summer 1977 when Star Wars was at its earliest stage in development post-release and Lucas makes some really interesting comments. It has even been posted online again!

A very good read!

ROLLING STONE 1977

And no Lucas wont be returning to this, as after ESB, SW ceased to be a serialesque james bond type thing and became a book-like Dune-esque "Saga", especially seeing at the films are, you know, over and done with. Though i suppose the new tv shows will be serial-like since they are a series.

Post: #175041
Topic: 9 Years Ago Today....
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/175041/action/topic#175041
Time: 31-Jan-2006 1:29 PM

unless upcoming formats are on film, video includes Beta, VHS, DVD, Blu-ray and any other electronic or digital format.

Post: #175011
Topic: 9 Years Ago Today....
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/175011/action/topic#175011
Time: 31-Jan-2006 12:22 PM

Ah, i remember the SE. I too remember being puzzled when greedo fired and missed, but i quickly forgot about it and was entranced by all the new changes like Jabba and Mos Eisley. Seeing it on the big screen was a momentous event in my life, after watching it endlessly on television since i was 2.

And you know i saw lots of parents taking their children to see the film and both of them loved it. Parents were taking their kids to see a movie in theatres that they themselves had seen in their youth, and not only that, said movie was number one at the box office for weeks, dethroning jerry Maguire! I think this is the only instance in history that a film has linked generations together and endured as mainstream entertainment for so long. Despite what minor changes Lucas makes to it, its still the same basic movie, and its legacy truely astounds me sometimes.

Post: #174334
Topic: Yoda talking in OT vs PT, way different
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/174334/action/topic#174334
Time: 30-Jan-2006 2:05 AM

Also in that case the progression works--we see in the PT the jedi become militants and it destroys them and brings evil upon the galaxy. The post-clonewars Yoda of the OT is a pacifist because he learned his leason the hard way. One of the few changes that actually works.

Post: #174333
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/174333/action/topic#174333
Time: 30-Jan-2006 2:00 AM

ESB is Kerhsners film and every once of greatness is due to him and him alone, in my opinion.

CO hit a major point--this was the only time when Lucas took a chance, when he stepped back and let someone else play in his world. For sure, ESB is the only SW film that is different, that FEELS different, that has a distincly personal artistic stamp on it--that is the stamp of Irvin Kershner.

If you read all of Lucas' interviews from 77 and 78 he basically wanted to have a james bond series, where every year a new director would have a go at the continuing stories in the star wars universe. ESB, more or less, was the only time this happened. But because the production was so immensly troubled, nearly a complete failure, and the film so unlike the way Lucas would have directed it, Lucas basically canned this plan and got himself a puppet for ROTJ, which was Richard Marquand. Okay, puppet is too harsh, but he wanted someone who wouldnt oppose his ideas and style the way Kirshner did, and as CO put it, "play it safe".

If you read the interviews, everything is about this massive serial saga that is at least 12 films long--then ESB goes into production and is met with problems every step of the way, nearly destroying Lucas but ultimately being a success. Suddenly the tune changes--ROTJ will end the saga and then "Somewhere down the line, maybe, possibly, one day" there will be a sequel trilogy. ESB was so heartbreaking for Lucas to make that he basically quit. And even then his personal life was in such shambles from making the films that his marriage didnt even last to ROTJ (he may have actually been divorced the month it opened).

Anyway, what i was starting with was that Kershner is definitly NOT to blame, and everything good about the film, everything that sets it apart from the rest, comes from him. The problems on the set all go back to Kurtz, if any one individual is to blame.

Post: #174125
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/174125/action/topic#174125
Time: 29-Jan-2006 10:07 AM

Whats interesting is that Kurtz claims he "parted" with Lucas because Lucas changed the story to ROTJ--but the reason that Lucas nixed the Sequel Trilogy was because ESB was such a fiasco that he lost all motivation to make four more films. And ESB was a fiasco because of Kurtz. So Kurtz killed the Sequel Trilogy! He's so thick-skulled that he cant even realise it--"oh yeah, George was changing his story so i left". Yeah, maybe if he had done his job Lucas wouldnt be so worn out that the story needed changing!

So really, either way you look at it, the fault still trickles back to Kurtz. If ROTJ feels contrived its because it was an unnatural conclusion to the saga, and the main fault for this points back to Kurtz. Rick McCallum at least had a career before Star Wars, and should he finally venture outside of Lucasfilm im sure he will have just as successful a career. Kurtz' career began and ended with Lucas, and he stumbled every step of the way of his tag-along. I just think its so wrong that Kurtz is so upheld and Lucas and McCallum so dispised. Oh, but ANH and ESB are good movies--yeah, they are good movies, IN SPITE of the gross production mishandling.

Post: #173491
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/173491/action/topic#173491
Time: 27-Jan-2006 4:42 AM

I think you guys are misunderstanding the role of a producer, especially when it comes to independant filmmaking where the director is the money-fronter. Kurtz coincidentally worked with Lucas when the content was good, and McCallum when the content was not as good.

Kurtz' claim of a "mutual parting" is a way of putting it--after he goofed up on Star Wars Lucas gave him a second chance and it almost destroyed him! Lucas is either just too diplomatic to say "i fired his ass" or Kutz actually doesnt realise what he did wrong (which was obviously since he continued the same screw ups he made on the SW films in his post-SW career).

Post: #173386
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/173386/action/topic#173386
Time: 26-Jan-2006 9:40 PM

I wasnt debating the quality of the movies. Titanic went overbudget--whether or not it is a good movie is debatable and irrelevant.

My point was that Kurtz never once did his job right, and Lucas' parting with him is more than justified.

As for the PT being overbudget--not so in the least. At one point, yes, it was surmised that perhaps each episode could be made for 60-70 million, this was around 1993 or 1994, after the success of Young Indy. By the time they actually got to production in 1997, that naive projection was no longer relevant--the budget alloted for TPM was 120 million and it was brought in for 115 million. McCallum really is a great producer, its just a shame that he is responsible for the best-made dissapointment of the decade, while a good-for-nothing hack like Kurtz gets kudos up his ass for tagging along while Lucas was at his peak.

Post: #173369
Topic: New Gary Kurtz interview!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/173369/action/topic#173369
Time: 26-Jan-2006 7:26 PM

Actually, I think Kurtz' influence on the films is highly, highly overrated. He was terrible at his job and ruined his career through his inability to do it right, which is why he hardly ever worked after the mid-80's. On the Star Wars films he nearly ruined Lucas financially and physically, and although its obvious the films were stronger with Kurtz around, Lucas had every right to let him go.

American Graffitti was mostly produced by Coppola and was such a small film that it would be hard to have any kind of catastrophe. Star Wars' budget ballooned quickly, and was fortunate that the American Dollar was worth more than the pound at the time it was filmed, otherwise it would have been a fiasco, and the film was so badly scheduled that Lucas was shooting up to three scenes at once at the very end; the stress made Lucas admit himself into the hospital! I know some elements are out of any producers hands but when the director nearly has a heart attack from filming a low-key medium-budget film, something is seriously wrong.
Flash forward to Empire--Lucas finances the film himself, and puts all of his personal fortunes into the film. The budget is set at 15 million. The show quickly gets behind schedule and the budget increases week by week. Kirshner takes way too long to film scenes and Kurtz, the producer and the man responsible for moving the show along efficently and smoothly, lets the budget DOUBLE to 32 million, all the while getting more behind schedule. A bank loan has to be taken out by Lucas to cover the film, which also goes over budget. All of Lucas' personal funds are invested in this disaster of a production, and the finger is pointed squarely at Kurtz. The film was a success, luckily, and Lucas made his money back and thensome, but for all the grief and incompetance Kutz caused, it is no wonder they never worked together again.

THEN, Kurtz goes on to direct The Dark Crystal, another flop. He returns to producing, and makes Lucas' friend Walter Murch's directorial debut Return to Oz--which, surprise, surprise ALSO goes overbudget! Lucas has to bail out Murch himself, thanks to Kurtz' incompetance. It would be one of the last time Kurtz ever worked.

So was he a good producer? Abosolutely not. Although he obviously cared about the content more than, say, McCallum, he was negligent and incompetant in his role, and despite the fact that he lached on to Lucas when Lucas was still young and creative, Kurtz' status as "Savior of the OT" is a complete fabrication by the meer coincidence that ANH and ESB are better than ROTJ. McCallum is a million times the producer Kurtz was, though unfortunately associated with poor material, the opposite of Kurtz--but the fact is that the man did his job. There were no scheduling or budgetary issues on any of the PT, even when the script for AOTC was completed until the week before filming. Despite the fact that Lucas may have lost his touch, if i were making a film i would definitly want McCallum and not Kurtz with me!