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Attack of the Clones Leaked
dgris writes "ain't it cool is running a purported review of Epidsode II. Harry Knowles is claiming to have gotten a secret screening of the film while at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX. Short story: he loves it." Like the department sez: I'll believe it when I see it. After Phantom, I'm willing to wait a bit to see it.
What? You say this guy saw the new Star Wars movie well before it was supposed to be displayed publically? And he has proof of this?
Wait, you mean he has no proof? You mean he gives no sources for his information? You mean everything he says is peripheral information about the film that could have been gleaned from the trailers? You mean that there's no reason to believe that this is real?
I'll also wager that tomorrow, we'll see a Slashdot story detailing how the review was "forcably removed" from the site by Lucasarts (who will deny any involvement, because they're not involved) and "pirated" copies of the text will circulate around the 'net, hyping up an already overhyped movie.
This is not the review you are looking for. You can go about your business. Move along.
A lot of weird shit happens at SXSW. While at first I'd be quick to dismiss something like this, stranger stuff has happened at SXSW (i.e. big name bands like REM and Green Day playing cameo shows in no-name bars) and pretty much all the big movie execs are in town to check out some of the new talent. I've lived in Austin for 3 years, and SXSW is when all the really strange "I can't believe that happened" stuff happens. Now, this guy could just be talking out his ass, but I wouldn't dismiss him totally. Lots of under-the-table stuff happens at SXSW, so even if someone said Jesus Christ had come to earth to play a show at Emo's, I wouldn't flat out dismiss it. Anyway, I'm curious to see how Ep 2 turns out, so I guess the only way we can know if he's telling the truth is to wait for the damn movie. ;)
Ain't It Cool News *ALL* looks like its done by a stoned 15 year-old script kiddie. For a site this consistently awful it sure does get a lot of attention.
perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
"Leaked copy" my cowardly yellow anonymous ass. "Planted copy" is more like it. Lucas is obviously scared by the success of the LOTR and Matrix franchises, and is desperate to drive up those opening weekend grosses (since that's all the big-budget movies really care about anymore), so he's pandering to the fans he drove away with "Phantom Menace" by having Knowles rave about "Clones" on the internet. Don't forget that Knowles is the same guy that raved over Phantom Menace, raved over the Emmerich/Devlin debacle Godzilla, raved over Armageddon and even admitted liking Battlefield Earth before later retracting the positive review. He's the go-to guy for studios that want to target the geek demographic, because he's the Mikey of the cinematic world.
(He'll also print anything on his tabloid website without bothering to fact-check in any capacity. I tested this once by making up the most outrageous thing possible and sending it to him in a drunken fit - do a search on aintitcool.com for "mammoth".)
There are many simple reasons why, if Ocaam's Razor were applied (and without any lubrication whatsoever) to this.
While I suspect that Harry has read of things from the movie (of that, things are leaked like crazy: visit http://theforce.net for lots of stuff), it is HIGHLY unlikely that he's seen the movie in its final form. Why?
Because, according to LFL, the movie still has a lot of post-production work (the CGI) to be done. In fact, the latest preview is missing a few key pieces...watch the last scene where 14 Jedi are on their last stand, surrounded by a lot of aliens and battle droids. Funny that the Jedi are reflecting blaster shots which come from nowhere.
The movie isn't complete. I checked my ass--it seems that someone has been trying to blow smoke up it.
Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
Well, I know why I sometimes make an extra effort to see a showing on the first day.
Watching a movie on your tv and in a theater are obviously different experiences. But there is one really key difference. Seeing it in a theater is a community experience. When you know a movie is really good and will just rock you, it is a very different experience seeing it last show of the first night and a week or so later. Out in seattle there's a bunch of cinemas, maybe not the most by land area or population, but there are a lot. Most of them are near good, and occasionally cheap restaraunts and even near by. Some, like the most excellent Cinerama are not. The better the movie, especially on a friday night the parking can be brutal. And standing outside in the crisp night air, possibly getting rained on, for hours on end looses its charm just as quickly as one might imagine. But it's worth it. The people who are there understand that it is an event and they are invested in it. A setting like that is almost enough to make you cry during Pearl Harbor. No, not for that reason, stop being so cynical.
Basically, it's the same reason people put chocolate sauce on ice cream.
--Jimmy has fancy plans; and pants to match.
He said in the movie that a drug dealer approached Obi Wan and tried to sell him some Death sticks... I find it difficult to belive that George Lucas couldn't come up with a better name for a drug than DEATH STICKS! What did those annoying people at truth.com or whatever that play those anti smoking ads sponser this movie? Come on. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read.
"Da ist ein Technölüst in mein Unterpanten!"
Possibly different people. Believe it or not, slashdot users are allowed to have different opinions from one another, even if it's rare to see them expressed.
The language used in this review is reminiscent of the anarchy t-philes that kids used to write back in the heyday of the BBS scene. For me at least, that in itself is enough to cast doubt upon the review. It comes across as juvenile and written to whet the appetites of fans, and not much else. If it were written in a more erudite manner, I might give it a bit more creedence.
I also wonder exactly how far along Lucarfilm is in the post-production process. Would it be in a sufficiently complete state to watch easily (like the Buckaroo Banzai workprint that's made its rounds for almost twenty years now)? I don't know for certain, it's complete enough to have a trailer. How much more I don't know.
I don't know.. this seems a bit too pat. It's at the right time to cause a fervor, the timing's too neat.
Proteus' Child
Doko ni datte; hito wa, tsunagette iru.
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Slashdot visitors forget their animosity towards the MPAA.
And it never ceases to amaze me how a reader of slashdot can assume there is no plurality here, amongst at least half a million others. We don't all harbor a blinding hate of the MPAA.
I wish the MPAA would drop their stance on a lot of issues. They wish I would stop using DeCSS to view DVD's on alternate OS's. They wish I would stop using Morpheus to view certain things.
But that doesn't mean I won't go and entertain myself for $8.
I have not seen a movie (aside from free TV movies) in the past year and a half. And I won't. I have scruples.
You are free to protest it, just don't expect EVERYONE on slashdot to do the same. And because one part of slashdot is like you and complains loudly, don't expect another part of slashdot not to like and discuss upcoming movies.
"And like that
Listen to yourselves. You really think Lucasfilm aren't aware that the majority of the fan community has decided this film will suck? That Lucasfilm doesn't care what the mass of fans thinks about this upcoming film? That Lucasfilm isn't terrified that they won't break box office records opening weekend?
The ONLY way they can make the impact they want is to do everything in their power to make people see that the film isn't going to be crap. To that end - the latest trailer is an action packed monster that gives away the entire plot; they dragged Harry Knowles into a room and showed him a copy of the rough cut; they are willing to leak the entire plot if it will persuade the average Star Wars punter that he will see Star Wars regain its status as quality entertainment.
And you know what - I bet it'll have some effect. I'm more inclined to go see the film after the last trailer than I was after 'Forbidden Love'. I'm even more inclined to go see it after reading Harry's review. I'm probably not alone.
Why assume that Harry hasn't seen the film when it makes perfect sense for Lucasfilm to want him to see it? They just upped their box office receipts...
After being flown to New York City to see a sneak extravaganza premiere of "Godzilla," Knowles ranted and raved about how it was the greatest thing he'd ever seen.
A week later, he saw it again, on his own dime, and proceeded to trash the hell out of it.
AICN has ZERO integrity. Always had, always will.
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
Not to say that it's going to be bad, but let's put it all in perspective. True, Harry Knowles says that Episode II is great. But keep in mind that He said the same thing about Episode I.
What's worse, he likes Jar-Jar too. In quoting from his review of Episode I, "Meesa luvs him!".
So you can put me in the "I'll believe it when I see it" camp as well.
I don't remember ever saying that I was going to boycott the RIAA or MPAA. Heck, I don't even remember a general consensus on Slashdot so far that said that the however many hundred thousand readers of Slashdot was going to boycott the MPAA.
Heck, I don't see a general consensus on /. about ANYTHING! That's why it's such a great place for discussion - otherwise CmdrTaco would post an article, we'd all agree with it, and move on. No discussion would be had. Instead we have tons of people with diverse beliefs and ideas exchanging them. Sometimes it's meaningful, sometimes it's just a flamewar.
Me personally, I go to the movies every weekend. I don't boycott the MPAA, because I know they will just use it for an example of how the "Evil Internet and P2P File Sharing Applications Are Killing The Industry". I spend effort instead with making sure people know what's going on, and contacting my Congresscritters (the people who make the laws that protect the MPAA), and encouraging others to do the same.
I somewhat boycott the RIAA, but, if I download an MP3, like it an enjoy it, I buy the CD. No need to FURTHER fuck the artist. Bad enough they don't make much money from the CD I purchase. Again, I spend my efforts differntly, trying to change the system with what little noise I can make.
I use both Open Source (OpenBSD and Linux) and Close Source (Windows 2000 and Amiga OS) Operating Systems. I write Closed Source applications, but, prefer Open Source tools (I'm a game developer by night, Industrial Automation programmer by day) I'm working towards the idea of decaying my games into GPL'ed code after a certain timeperiod so that others can continue to enjoy my games long after they have been released - but one of the important issues is making enough money to continue to make games, so up front Closed Source is an important issue. Long term, Open Source is also very important.
Ok, why the rambing additional information that has nothing to do with the MPAA Boycott? To illustrate something - people on /. are different from each other. Not all of us represent the same thing. Not all of us post our opinions on every article, agreeing or disagreeing with what's said (in fact, if we did, no one would bother to get any work done since there would be something like 200,000 reponses PER ARTICLE. Ouch. And the /. servers could hardly handle it!)
So don't stand up and make a blanket statment that all /. readers (or even editors. Yeah, it's rare that I stand up for them ;-) agreed to the idea of boycotting the MPAA. Or the RIAA. Or Microsoft Products. Or... anything. Because we are all individuals, with different ideas, and damned well don't agree on ANYTHING! ;-)
Davis Ray Sickmon, Jr - looking for something to read? Check out my three free novels at MidnightRyder.org
I disagree with some things the US Government does and yet I still pay my taxes and vote, and at this point have no plans to emigrate. If I disagree enough, I'll write letters or email. The same with the MPAA. I see about 2 movies a year at the theaters and I rent about a dozen (aside from all the ones we get for the 3-year-old.) If they do something I don't like, I let them know. That doesn't mean I should stop giving my money to Ridley Scott or John Waters.
Support the movies/actors/directors that you like. Let your elected representatives hear about your disapproval of them trying to hijack our culture's intellectual property. I watch independent flicks (on Bravo, IFC, Videos, etc.) and I support small-time independent music-makers, especially foreign ones like Wes and Saliif Keita. I don't buy 'produced' bands like N'Sync and such. Support the bands that spent years playing bars before they were discovered. Those are the 'real' musicians.
That's really about all you can do. Boycotting can be an effective strategy, but I don't believe you're even on the radar screens yet. Perhaps if their control measures become more draconian there will be enough of a groundswell of support. Until then, I'll continue to consume in small, carefully regulated dabs of consumerism and let any displeasure be heard by my senators and congresspersons (who, really, actually, do listen, BTW.)
A lot of people are complaining like you are, but yours was the first message I read so I'll reply to it.
You people seem to have the same mentality about movies as you do software. If it comes from a big company with a big budget it must suck. I don't understand that, but I don't have to.
The thing I find interesting about your comments on harry is that you don't compare a good review from harry to whether the movie turned out good. You compare it to whether he had special access.... Who cares if he had special access to the film. What is important about a reviewer is if his/her reviews are accurate. Or, more to the point, accurate to the way you see things.
It is great to find a reviewer that seems to reflect your tastes, and if the one you are reading doesn't then don't read them.
I don't understand people who hate something and keep subjecting themselves to it just to complain.
I'm not so sure that it's a matter of people acting like fanboys of the movie, but most of us at Slashdot probably have something riding on Star Wars success. I'm willing to bet most of the people frequenting here have some interest in Sci-Fi. Star Wars has a way of expanding Sci-Fi to a greater audience, provided it doesn't suck. A greater appeal for sci-fi would certainly make a lot of our lives easier. If Star Wars ep 4 hadn't opened the doors to sci-fi, we'd all have to hide in shadows just to watch Doctor Who ;). If Episode II stinks, we won't be able to take our significant others to see the next one, or possibly any other sci-fi movie.
As for the computer industry, Ep2 could give it a serious boost. Digital artists would be more in demand and we may start to see more movies done entirely digital. If this happens, we could see a serious upgrade to theaters aka digital projectors. My hope is that one day movie theaters upgrade to the new projectors, it might mean an increase of frame rate (smoother motion...) is possible, and for viewing on a big screen that'd really be nice. Ep2 could help usher that in, but not if it sucks.
You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to feel the benefit of a good Star Wars movie. I have virtually no interest in seeing this movie, but I do hope for its succees anyway. It could mean a rather lucrative career for me.
"Derp de derp."
This discussion reminds me of David Brin's theory that Anakin "bringing balance to the force" is a means of defeating the two great evils terrorizing the Galaxy: The Sith and The Jedi Order. Essentially, the Jedi are elitist fascists that disrespect the inferior populace as much as the Sith - it's just that they have an attitude of nobliese oblige rather and aspirations of exploitation.
I hope this is developed, because in this context, Darth Vader is a hero - defeating both the Palpatine and Yoda and replacing the corrupt Jedi Order (I wonder if these celibates have as much problems as the Catholic Priesthood?) with something that's a bit more humanistic.
Perhaps in this context the Jedi Science of mitocholorians (sp?) is just another example of their internal corruption - they should be training everyone in the use of the force who show potential, and not attempting to exclude people like young Anakin who was considered too old to begin training.
144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!
My guess is that this was orchestrated by the studios to get those 'opinion leaders' disappointed by Ep 1 excited about Ep 2. Most of the nutjobs that talk about movies all day long probably flock to his site and participate in the forums, so they figure a positive review by Harry is good enough to get the word of mouth hype machine moving. Any entry level PR class teaches this tactic to get people talking about a particular issue, starting with the opinion leaders.
There is also a distinct possibility that Harry is in fact on the payroll of the movie makers. We've heard about the studios creating a number of 'fan sites' to build up momentum for various flicks, so we should at least entertain the idea that Harry is a more permanent shadow marketing tactic. In the end a bulk of the ads on his site are from the studios, so they are paying him one way or the other :).
If there was a legititmate 'leaked' version of the film (i.e. not an orchestrated leak), there'd be a VCD traveling throughout the vast expanse of cyberspace this morning. This sort of stuff doesn't happen 'by accident.' George Lucas had to approve this or it wouldn't have happened.
www.lonseidman.com
Actually, the initial preview copy for investors and market tests has been 'in the can' for over a month. It's not the final cut, but all the effects and scenes are completed, music and voice overs done, and final rough cut made.
As to the review... well, who knows. I don't like the guy much, though he certainly has done me no wrong. I hate it when people bash someone they don't know personally, as alot of you have done today. His review is to kneejerk and possibly full of spoilers if to be believed.
If he saw it, it was probably a cut out for the Lucas company(s) trying to build some hype, which they have done judging from the two or three other early leak reviews on the web today.
Oh, well; if an anonymous, untraceable internet person says that he knows someone who says it's true, then it MUST be true!