Domain: instantcool.com
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Comments · 7
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It just didn't feel like Star Wars
This is my review from: http://www.instantcool.com/reviews/scifi/star_war
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So I just got back for seeing Star War Episode II: Attack of the Clones. So, what did I think of it? I guess it's hard to sum up. Let me at least say this, it does make up for some of Episode I's deficiencies. But what is it about these new Star Wars movies that feels so foreign? Both sets of movies had great special effects. Both sets had questionable acting. Setting the film critic in me aside, there was just no joy in this movie. As with Episode I, Attack of the Clones "sounds good on paper," but something is missing.
Story wise, the original Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope if I must) had it locked up. The tale is classic and had all the underpinnings of an epic. It's Greek mythology style story of young normal lad that would ascend to greatness had a charm and innocence all it's own. Add a colorful cast of characters, some great special effects (even now if you ask me), a plot that isn't overly complicated and you have a movie that's interesting, original, and just plain fun. Not to mention epic making and the one of the most influential films of all time. The Empire Strikes Back just plain kicked ass. It was a proper continuation of the Star Wars story and left you wanting more. Return of the Jedi should've been our first hint at where the saga would take us. Jedi started to tell us that Star Wars was for kids. Ewoks saving the galaxy is just not a good way to end an epic, you know. Although I always felt Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker's final showdown made up for a lot of Jedi's problems. Still, it did make Star Wars feel like a kids movie and thus it sorta tarnished the series as a whole.
I know a lot of us hard-core fans were kids when we saw the original trilogy, but does that really make it a kid's movie? I think not. Kids are smarter than we think. They know when you are talking down to them. I'm sure George Lucas he was giving his audience (children) what he thought they wanted. But I think what he missed is that kids wanted an adult world. As a kid, when I saw Star Wars, I didn't feel like I was watching a kid's movie. If anything, I felt like I was invited to see an adult movie with my parents. That made it more special. Kids want to see an adult world that isn't boring like their teacher's or parent's. They want an adult world that's fun and exciting. Something that makes them feel like they can do whatever they want when they grow up. This why most of us in the so-called "Generation X" (I prefer Generation X-Wing) really live our lives differently from our parents. We are not Ward Cleaver. We still play video games. We still eat pizza for breakfast. We still have our imagination. We still have fun because we saw that we could do whatever we wanted when we got older. We could still have fun and excitement when we got older. Do we owe that to Star Wars? I think so. At least, that's what Star Wars has meant to me. I wonder if these new Star Wars movies will mean that much to the new generation? Or will they sit it next to the Power Rangers as their youthful entertainment.
Although Episode II had much less of the kiddy feel to it that Episode I had, it still felt like they were holding back punches. Don't want to upset the parents who brought their children. But is that the problem? Is it too much of a kiddy feel with Star Wars losing it's core audience? Is it just bad storytelling? Is it bad directing? Not completely. These things certainly didn't help, but I noticed something when watching a few scenes of R2-D2 and C3PO. Watching them made me feel like I was watching Star Wars again. It felt right. So is it the characters that make Episode I and II seem so foreign? Definitely. Even Ewoks couldn't kill the Star Wars feel of Return of the Jedi. So what's Episode I and II missing? I'll tell you.
Han Solo
That's right. Han Fucking Solo. There is just no character like him in the current movies cast. Han Solo's character added some color to the drab boring Jedi. Sarcasm to the whimsical droids. The smack down to whiney little upstarts that ask him what that flashing is. Han Solo represents the fun that is missing from the current Star Wars line up. Without him (or a character like him) to bring the rest of the cast alive, it just doesn't feel like Star Wars.
Conclusions
So did I hate this film? No. It was a much better film than Episode I. It does show that Lucas has at least tried to listen to the fans. Maybe Episode III will be more like the Star Wars I remember. It does make me want to look at the series as a whole when they are all completed. There were things I didn't like, but things I did. I did like seeing Yoda lay down some serious force powers, but I don't know if I care for a Muppet flying around fighting a light-saber battle. If he can do that, why does he need a cane? My girlfriend said, "why doesn't he just sit still and use the force to move his light saber?" Now that would've been cool! How come my girlfriend can think of that, but not George Lucas? The whole Jango Fett and Boba Fett dealy was just carrying the whole family thing too far. It just felt like the story was shoe horned between Episode I and the original trilogy. The story was very disjointed. But does that mean you shouldn't go see it? No. For one, the effects are incredible. The only way you'll see them in full glory is in a movie theater. And secondly, The Matrix Reloaded teaser trailer is worth the price of admission alone. -
Dance Monkey Boy!
You will never seen a Microsoft or AOL exec talking about how cool the their companies or products are...
Yeah, sure.
http://www.instantcool.com/video/dancemonkeyboy.mp eg -
Re:What am I missing here?
I have only one thing to say...
"MAME"
The idea of running MAME on the PS2 and playing Crazy Kong from the comfort of couch just puts me in a spin.
Sure you'll need the HD and Network adapters, which'll cost you. But system price is supposed to drop to $200 sometime in the fall, so it's not that bad. And I challenge you to find a PC for $500 that has similar graphics performance.
Besides, DOA2 still rocks the house!
:)
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Re:Pardon my ignorance
LAN. Local Area Network. A LAN party involves a whole bunch of fools carrying over their vast and expensive computer equipment to a single location. All machines are then networked together to perform the some of the most advanced computations used today. Being that you play a few 'bouts of Quake or something.
Here's my account of LAN party gone bad.
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Sounds like FUD to me
I think your being a bit too paranoid. This software sounds like it's just supposed to check if you have a valid copy. It's not their to alert Sony of copyright infringements. It's there to prevent the use of copyrighted material. Therefore, I don't think you'll be required to put Name, Address, Email account, etc.
If there poking around for any kind of data, I'm assuming it would game data. Sony doesn't care if your sex offender. They want to know how make more money off you. Perhaps they just want to make better games. Well if my DOA2 UPS file can be of assistance, I'm willing to give it up for the cause of better gaming...
... as long as they ask first.
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Regardless of OS...
... DOA2 kicks serious butt. Star Wars Starfighter is also a blast. When Metal Gear Solid 2 comes out, the video game world will belong to Sony. Sorry Xbox, you never had a chance.
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Another Mirror
http://www.instantcool.com/PSX2
Here's another place to get the full large version.
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