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Another Star Wars Prequel?

boarder8925 writes "George Lucas said he was finished with the Star Wars movies, but it seems George Lucas has an idea for another add-on to the Star Wars movie series: a prequel to The Phantom Menace. The story would follow the Jedi regaining control of the universe from the many Dark Lords some 88 years before Anakin Skywalker ever graced the universe. Yoda, who, according to Lucas, was instrumental in the effort, would apparently have a headlining role. However, Lucas, now age 60, says he won't be captaining such a ship if it ever happens."

107 of 661 comments (clear)

  1. Well, /. has one thing right... by achurch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Nothing for you to see here. Please move along."

    1. Re:Well, /. has one thing right... by richie2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      This is not the story you are looking for.

      --
      Money for nothing, pix for free
    2. Re:Well, /. has one thing right... by Radres · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Do we really need to point out this bug every time it happens? These posts are about as pointless as the overlords/1,?,3 profit/soviet russia posts.

    3. Re:Well, /. has one thing right... by Anti+Frozt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Having played and finished SW: KotOR, they mention in the game that the Sith as a race died out long ago, but that Korriban (the Sith home planet) was populated by outcast Jedi who took on the Sith name as a faction.

      More information here

      --
      In C++, friends can touch each others private parts.
  2. Hmm... by shirai · · Score: 5, Funny

    "However, Lucas, now age 60, says he won't be captaining such a ship if it ever happens."

    Wow, the movie after Revenge of the Sith really is a new hope.

    badah-ching!

    --
    Sunny

    Be my Friend

    1. Re:Hmm... by metricmusic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Unfortunately, after that it's 'The George Strikes Back' quickly followed by "Return of the Jardi".

      --
      http://www.livejournal.com/users/metricmusic
    2. Re:Hmm... by DenDave · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yah.. and the guy REALLY came up with it all is dead, his name was Frank Herbert....

      Star Wars was rejected by moviemakers on first draft because of the plagiarism, only after a significant re-write did they want to go forward...

      The real prequel is called Dune.

      --
      -if at first you don't succeed, stay the heck away from paragliding.
    3. Re:Hmm... by LynXmaN · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe in this prequel we could see Jar Jar being born and turning irrevocably to the dumb side of the force
      That could be interesting!

      --
      May the source be with you!
    4. Re:Hmm... by nokilli · · Score: 5, Funny

      This is exactly what I warned about!

      And what did I get for my efforts? Useless +1 Funny mods!?!

      You should all mod me up +1 Insightful. I deserve it.

      No really, I do. And you know I'm right.

      Just do it.

    5. Re:Hmm... by SamBeckett · · Score: 5, Funny

      Use the spice, Luke. The spice is with you.

    6. Re:Hmm... by meringuoid · · Score: 2, Funny

      They'll send us to the spice mines of Kessel for sure...

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    7. Re:Hmm... by thecardinal · · Score: 5, Funny

      Surprising that no-one has mentioned the 3rd side of the force before now. I'm working in tech support, and a large percentage of our user base have this part of the force running through them with such strength.

    8. Re:Hmm... by bbzzdd · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Never having read Dune I was amazed how much of Star Wars was influenced by it, as outlined here

      To his credit, Lucas also robbed Flash Gordon, Kurosawa, Joseph Campbell, and Tolkien :)

    9. Re:Hmm... by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 3, Funny

      That should be 'return of the Jarjar' I'd think..

      Unrelated and off-topic, it seems Slashdot banned itself from fetching its own headlines?

      The ask slashdot and bsd box are saying:

      Your Headline Reader Has Been Banned
      You May Only Load Headlines Every 30 Minutes
      In 72 Hours, Your Ban Will Be Lifted
      Do Not Bother Contacting Us For 72 Hours

      *lol*

    10. Re:Hmm... by Bloke+down+the+pub · · Score: 3, Funny

      How long will that take (in parsecs)?

      --
      It's true I tell you, feller at work's next door neighbour read it in the paper.
    11. Re:Hmm... by Golias · · Score: 2, Insightful

      and the guy REALLY came up with it all is dead, his name was Frank Herbert

      You spelled Jack Kirby's name wrong.

      (Google for the comic "New Gods" sometime. The Hero was on the verge of turning evil, and did not know he was the villain's son... they relied on a cosmic power called "the source"... The list goes on.)

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    12. Re:Hmm... by nokilli · · Score: 5, Funny

      You fuckers.

    13. Re:Hmm... by AdmiralWeirdbeard · · Score: 2

      I'm sure I cant be the only one who's intrigued at this...

      He's EXPLICITLY saying that he wont be at the reins for it if it happens. how money is that?

      If he stayed and produced the special effects and wrote the storyline (you know, the parts he's good at) and left directing and screenwriting up to someone who was actually good at it, hell, it could be a pretty sweet movie.

      Young-er yoda leading the charge to eradicate as-yet un specified dark jedi-type people? sounds like it could be really fun, possibly a good film, even.

      now, feel free to flame away because I broke /. policy of disliking on principle all lucas projects, real or hypothetical, post Empire.

      --
      Come read my stupid blagablog. Rants and Giggles
    14. Re:Hmm... by IpalindromeI · · Score: 2, Informative

      The explanation I've heard is that the Kessel run involved flying around or near a blackhole. Because of the way gravity works, the closer you are to the blackhole, the more power you need to get away from it. So Han is stating that the Millenium Falcon has a lot of power to be able to fly so close to the blackhole (and minimize the distance of the flight).

      On a side note, the spelling of that word is r_i_diculous.

      --

      --
      Promoting critical thinking since 1994.
    15. Re:Hmm... by ColaMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Build your karma, my son.

      From the CmdrTaco unabridged SlashDot preachings (second edition, p476):

      "Those with karma of 'excellent' status can post without the use of the captcha - for yea, they have proved their faith, and suffered many hardships, and trials, and aggravations, and duplicate articles, bearing them all with good humour, and insightful postings. For this, they have been rewarded, and may they forever bask in the glory of the New Slashdot. And lo! Such is their wisdom that the Karma Bonus, that most hallowed of rewards, is bestowed upon them, so they can continue to enrich and inspire even the lowliest Coward.

      For certainly, it is a New Slashdot - The crapflooding hath lowered a significant amount, and for this event, there was much rejoicing. And much was the wailing and the gnashing of teeth of the crapflooders, for they were forced to take their childlike pursuits elsewhere, leaving the hallowed moderators free to perform their duty without the incessant selection of the -1, troll."


      See? It's all in there, in black and white.

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
    16. Re:Hmm... by GreyyGuy · · Score: 2, Informative

      There was a hand-waving explaination of that in one of the books, though I don't remember which one off the top of my head. The explaination given was that the Kessel spice mines were in the middle of a collection of black holes and there were only a few very narrow safe corridors to get in and out. But since the ship was so fast it was able to use an unsafe shorter route to get in and out, which would be a requirement for smugglers since the safe routes were strictly patrolled.

      If you buy the idea of a black hole cluster, that almost is reasonable ;)

    17. Re:Hmm... by Gleng · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And several lines of dialog at the end of A New Hope, in the battle of Yavin, are lifted almost exactly from The Dam Busters.

      Actually, now I think about it, that whole battle was pretty much lifted from the The Dam Busters. Especially if you compare the trench run with the flight down the river lined with guns on the way towards the dam.

      --
      "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
    18. Re:Hmm... by daeley · · Score: 2, Funny

      now, feel free to flame away because I broke /. policy of disliking on principle all lucas projects, real or hypothetical, post Empire.

      Well, that and you used "money" as an adjective. ;D

      --
      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
    19. Re:Hmm... by snorklewacker · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I prefer the better explanation, that he was throwing out a bit of bafflegab to dazzle the kid. That would also explain the eye-rolling on Kenobi's part when he says it. And hell, the line in the script itself was probably as worse bafflegab than the average Treknobabble, just that Harrison Ford did a good job at making it sound like it.

      I mean really, do you think they actually researched that sort of thing? Like Harrison Ford said to Mark Hamill, "this ain't that kind of movie, kid"

      --
      I am no longer wasting my time with slashdot
    20. Re:Hmm... by bigpat · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Jarjar eh... I think "Revenge of the Sith" shows us just how much Jarjar screwed up the movies. Not just being annoying, he played a crucial role dimwittingly supporting the rise of the Sith while he was filling in for Amadala in the Senate... showing everyone that we really had good cause hating Jarjar all along.

  3. Reverse! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Backwards, this Jedi works.

    1. Re:Reverse! by isorox · · Score: 2, Funny

      In soviet russia, this jedi works backwards!

    2. Re:Reverse! by Infinityis · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clouded, the future is.

      If with George Lucas you speak, clouded, the past is too.

    3. Re:Reverse! by LordEd · · Score: 3, Funny

      This is not the joke you're looking for, my young insensitive clod.

  4. Sounds like good news... by Pao|o · · Score: 3, Funny
    However, Lucas, now age 60, says he won't be captaining such a ship if it ever happens.

    Yipeeeeeee!

  5. No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No more SW prequels please! Would be interested however in seeing some subordinate stories like where do Han Solo and Chewbacca meetup between Episode III and IV and perhaps a story following Boba Fett's bounty hunter quests. THere are lots of good stories that could work within the characters Lucas has already presented but please, George, stop going back in time.

    One would have thought that the Star Trek franchise was proof of how difficult that is to pull off.

    1. Re:No! by Olix · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm not so anti SW prequels. Lucas has made a really impressive universe for his StarWars films, and it would be stupid to waste it.

      What about if they made another trilogy of films following the example liad down by the game Knights of the Old Republic - set a triliogy in that same StarWars universe, with the already developed locations, mythlogy and nice Good versus Evil plot, but set it 1000 years in the past. You could have a whole new load of characters and focus the story in some Sith uprising or another. Oh, either avoid love scenes or get a director who can do them.

    2. Re:No! by Yorrike · · Score: 4, Funny

      I want a movie showing the exploits of Han, Luke et al as they strive to return Chewie to his home, to his wife and kid, in time for christmas.

      --

      Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?

    3. Re:No! by camusflage · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now you're thinking.. Imagine the possibilities.

      Han: Oh crap. We left Chewie at home before leaving for our Kessel run!
      [cut to CU on Chewbacca]
      Chewbacca: Warrrrrrrrrggggggggggh!

      --
      The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
  6. This can only lead to good by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The Star Wars franchise can only be rescued by Lucas' continued meddling in the storyline.

    After Return of the Jedi, I didn't think there was a hope for the Trilogy, but now, with the latest three movies delivered, I realize that my feelings back then about the original movies were truly happy and optimistic.

    Because Lucas was able to show me how far down the toilet he was willing to let the franchise go, I appreciate the original trilogy all the more. Even his remasters of the original three make me wax nostalgic for my childhood.

    1. Re:This can only lead to good by Timesprout · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And this is the main problem around here with Star Wars, you watched it as a child and now moan you are an adult (ok thats debatable in a lot of cases) you dont view movies with the same child like wonder and amazement. How so many slashdotters manage to blame Lucas for the ageing process and their overactive childhood imagination has always escaped me.

      Face it, the ground breaking special effect aside star was was nothing special. Its an old tried and trusted story of young boy with destiny meets mystical mentor yada yada yada. Replace excalibur with light sabres, the black knight with vader and off you go. The story is a rehash of a couple of old concepts, the acting was dire, the dialog chronic. The only redeeming feature is the effects, you no longer needed an imagination because it looked to a child like the fucking things were real. And this is why we loved it as kids, now we just see the crap acting and dialog.

      Just because you dont like the current trilogy does not mean Lucas is somehow trying to destroy your childhood memories or abuse you in some way. Also since its his rehashed idea Lucas can do whatever he wants with the story and clearly from the amount the current trilogy has grossed people are quit happy to part with their cash to see the results.

      --
      Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
      What truth?
      There is no dupe
    2. Re:This can only lead to good by stlhawkeye · · Score: 5, Insightful
      The acting was fine in V and acceptable in VI. Coincidentally, Lucas didn't direct either film. The screenplay for V is the best of all the films by any reasonably standard. Written by Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett. Kasdan also did Indiana Jones with Lucas. Lucas didn't direct Jones either. In fact, every film George Lucas has ever directed has been a pile of festering crap. Two of his films, Howard the Duck and Ishtar, have become synonymous with bad films in pop culture. "This is the worst film since Howard the Duck!"

      I think it's fair to say that Lucas struck gold once and then wisely let other people handle the aspect of filmmaking that he sucks at. Namely, directing and authoring. Lucas is a talented and imaginative story creator (plagiariser, depending on your perspective), but he cannot tell a story to save his life. Star Wars was a western in space, I'm tired of this "space opera" bullshit. It's a western. The good guys wear white. The bad guy wears black. The stormtroopers are only white so the audience wouldn't confuse them with Vader. They swing over chasms, escape from a room where the walls are closing in. I'm surprised Lucas didn't have Leia tied down over some railroad tracks while Tarken twirled his moustache.

      And there's no question that the acting was superior in the original films. Compare Harrison Ford saying, "You're trembling" in V with Christianson saying it in III. Ford's acting carries emotional weight and significant. Christianson is reciting something he read in the script.

      --
      "I have never won a debate with an ignorant person." -Ali ibn Abi Talib
    3. Re:This can only lead to good by brianerst · · Score: 3, Funny
      Its an old tried and trusted story of young boy with destiny meets mystical mentor yada yada yada
      Like, dude, you misspelled "Yoda".
    4. Re:This can only lead to good by AK+Marc · · Score: 3, Interesting

      How so many slashdotters manage to blame Lucas for the ageing process and their overactive childhood imagination has always escaped me.

      The new movies lack elements present (even central) in the original 3. There was always the slapstick. C3PO was the butt of many jokes. However, the sarcastic intelligent wit of Han was completely gone. The part for the adults was simply left out, with nothing similar to fill the void. And relationships. We have brother-sister that don't know, with Han and Luke both fighting for the same plucky girl. In the new 3, there is no mystery who she will end up with, no double-entendre, and the scenes are painful, uninteresting story development, rather than fun and interesting scenes by themselves. Leah is directly quoted for some of her good lines related to Han, Luke (though possibly as badly delivered as in the new 3) is quoted as well.

      So, what filled the void? Much better flight/fight scenes. The movies can't be aimed at the same audience, because many key elements are significantly different. That is the complaint. He builds a fan base, then ignores them for what (presumed by the fans) is the search for more money. Maybe he would have done better if he were gretly restricted on the money he could spend. Then he would have spend more time coming up with a story and lines, rather than impressive fight/flight scenes.

  7. Well, duh! by samael · · Score: 2, Insightful

    He's already got books, comics and computer games spread throughout his history, written by other people and controlled by him (so that they pretty much all fit together, with a few exceptions). There's no reason not to have films too.

    But him not writing/directing them is a good thing - so long as they get someone in who _can_.

    1. Re:Well, duh! by Mycroft_VIII · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Cannon means what the original author/creator himself has done/written.
      Thus (like it or not) the prequals being more directly from Lucas are more directly cannon.
      Unless a different definition specific to SW has been established (with Lucas's endorsement). It's my understanding that Lucas considers the Zahn books second ONLY to what he's put (most recently in the case of things like Queedo/Solo shooting) on the screen/vhs/dvd.

      Also I seem to remember reading in one of the books that the Death Star series was THREE deathstars. The original devlopement prototype that never had an outer shell and was mainly a proof of concept/testbed for several years. The final working version destroyed in ANH (built over a few years itself) and the enlarged (almost double IIRC) sequal blown up in ROTJ.
      This parts a bit sketchy in my memory but I seem to recall that the prototype DS was started in secret by Palpatine before he was powerfull enough to do as he pleased after the higher ups in the military rejected the proposal for it durring the clone wars. I believe it was built in a black-hole cluster near Kessal(sp?).
      That black hole cluster was used to patch Solo's "in under 12 parsecs" statment of how fast the Falcon was by claiming that the trick to the Kessle run was how short a path through/around the mess of black holes you could plot that your ship had the speed and toughness to handle.

      Mycroft

      --
      https://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4c3ed6600b6ea
    2. Re:Well, duh! by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The Death Star plans were handed to SIdious by somtone from the trade federation, pre episode III. This means that they do predate the Empire.

  8. keep them coming by Ham_belony · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn't mind a star wars with a lot less of the original characters, lets say none of them.

  9. No need by 91degrees · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just shoehorn The Dark Crystal into Star Wars mythology. We've already got muppets, and a young hero on a quest. We just need a special edition with a couple of lightsaber fights.

    1. Re:No need by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 4, Funny

      I nominate Billie Piper to play the Gelfling heroine. She doesn't even need makeup.

      --
      When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  10. MMMMOOoooooooo!! by DigiShaman · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's the sound of this cashcow being milked dry!

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  11. What else to say than... by ArcticCelt · · Score: 4, Funny
    What else to say than...

    "Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!"

    --

    Yahh, hiii haaaaa! -Major Kong, from Dr. Strangelove
    1. Re:What else to say than... by BlueGecko · · Score: 5, Funny

      The theater where I watched ROTS last week was wonderfully raucous, as it was filled with college kids. Things had already taken a turn for the worse when the audience laughed hysterically at Jar Jar's two-second cameo at Padme's funeral (not exactly the tone you want, after all), but things really went downhill during Darth Vader's screamfest. As soon as Vader's cry of "NOOOOOO!!" died out, someone in the back of the theater yelled out, at the top of his lungs,

      "YES, BITCH!!"

      He was quickly escorted out of the theater, but he also got a solid round of applause from the audience. I personally thought that it added a wonderful dimension to the movie, and it was at that point that I became very sorry that Mystery Science Theater 3000 is no longer on the air.

    2. Re:What else to say than... by uigrad_2000 · · Score: 2, Funny
      It's funny you'd mention MST3k in relation to SW.

      Mike Nelson and one of the bots (Kevin Murphy) have recently set up their new website, where they present:

      "FILM CREW'S REMAKES III, Summer of the Clones"
      They announce such new movies as "Batman, the pregnency", and "King KoRn". It's definately worth a look.
      --
      Free unix account: freeshell.org
    3. Re:What else to say than... by featherbottom · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Vader's scream at the end was the greatest bit of unintentional comedy I've seen in quite some time. It's just another example Lucas's prediliction towards nauseating schlock despite stunning achievements in technical filmmaking. Sparkle Like The Stars Just Ask Leslie

  12. Another Trilogy? by teh+moges · · Score: 5, Funny

    So will the next move to come out be Episode -II?

    1. Re:Another Trilogy? by jjares · · Score: 3, Funny

      Actually, a new hope is the true number 7, the phantom menace is number 4... you can see it clearly in the scrolling text in the new 3d versions.

  13. No matter how hard I try by weavermatic · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just can't squeeze any blood from this stone!

    1. Re:No matter how hard I try by SnprBoB86 · · Score: 2, Informative

      I just love beating this dead horse!

      Great comic strip:
      http://penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2002-12-13& res=l

      --
      http://brandonbloom.name
  14. misread? by adagioforstrings · · Score: 5, Funny

    he won't be captaining such a ship if it ever happens

    I misread that as captaining such shit at first. And then I thought, maybe I'm not misreading it.

  15. The one I'd like to see by GomezAdams · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'd like to see how they discover midi-chlorians and the origins of the Jedi. Just thinking. If not, I've seen all the Star Wars I need for one life time.

    --
    Too lazy to create a sig...
    1. Re:The one I'd like to see by drb_chimaera · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Personally the thing I'd like to see is the development of the Rebellion against the Empire - I'd love it if the supposed TV series set between Eps III and IV looked into this - I think it could be fascinating if done right...

    2. Re:The one I'd like to see by OverflowingBitBucket · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd like to see how they discover midi-chlorians

      Holy crap! Lucas actually posts on Slashdot!

  16. Finally by CleverNickedName · · Score: 5, Funny

    We'll see what the hell Yoda is. My money's on "bald Ewok".

    --


    Unfortunately, I am not Wil Wheaton
    1. Re:Finally by (trb001) · · Score: 5, Informative

      He's a Whill, though it's never been announced in the movies. He's also over 800 years old in Episode III, so I wouldn't look for a significant change only 100 years earlier.

      --trb

    2. Re:Finally by Darth · · Score: 4, Informative

      actually, yoda is not a whill. That was speculation that the community created due to the fact that the text scroll had a byline saying it was from the journal of the whills in some of the original scripts. (i think it says that in the original novel too).

      Rick McCallum answered that at a convention once and said yoda's race has never been identified, nor had his homeworld; but he was definitely not a whill.

      (the whills were an idea that lucas abandoned before releasing the original star wars film, which is why the scrolling text on the film doesnt include the by line)

      --
      Darth --
      Nil Mortifi, Sine Lucre
  17. Could be interesting. by TiggsPanther · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Could also stand a good chance of being done right. Personally I enjoyed Episodes I & II (not seen RoTS yet), but I can see the main problem with them - which wouldn't be so pronounced in a much earlier prequel.

    Episodes I through III were dealing in the too recent past directly dealing with known characters who many older fans have had 20 years to come up with their own theories about.

    Now a pre-Phantom-Menace film wouldn't have quite so much "known" events to deal with. It would be somewhat harder to really jar with people's own perceptions of what could have happened. Plus if Lucas did step back and leave such a prequel to someone else it might well end up better than the current prequels. Not many people can create good stories in on their own - and even those who do don't (usually) do films on their own.
    Editors, screenwriters, directors. As long as they're not all at odds then they stand a better chance of coming up with a great finished product.

    --
    Tiggs
    "120 chars should be enough for everyone..."
    1. Re:Could be interesting. by theefer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Episodes I through III were dealing in the too recent past directly dealing with known characters who many older fans have had 20 years to come up with their own theories about.


      No.

      I just saw Episode III last night and it was just as I thought: plain, without any originality or feelings. Bad.

      The reason why Episodes I-III are so bad has nothing to do with the fans. Nothing to do with them growing up, their imagination, or whatever. It has to do with George Lucas' (in)ability to screenplay and direct a movie. The dialogues are pathetic from beginning to end (not to mention the love scenes), the actors (though all capable of excellent performances) look bored as hell as they walk through the ridiculous evolution of their character. The complexity of the storyline is as astounding as you would expect from a 13 year-old boy, without any surprise or depth. Most of it is an excuse to visit dozens of various environments, rendered by gorgeous yet overused FX.

      There is not a single tiny bit of emotion in these three movies, although that 3rd movie was supposed to be the emotional apotheosis of the saga, with the beloved Anakin turning to the Dark Side, Padme dying, etc. But instead, the spectator is too busy bitching at how Lucas screw up those parts by putting them together in the most primitive, easy way one could think of.

      There is no talent in here. George Lucas was simply not good enough a director to make these prequels worth watching, let alone enjoyable. The same thing happened with the Matrix Trilogy, brilliant at first but then spoiled by the greed of the Wachowsky Brothers who couldn't handle the breadth of what they had started. Many praise to Peter Jackson built his trilogy with true genius.

      Maybe a Star Wars pre-prequel could be interesting as long as Lucas stays away from it.
      --
      theefer
    2. Re:Could be interesting. by keymygrip · · Score: 3, Interesting

      A tear jerker is what Lucas called this blasphemy. How on earth can you possibly cry when every line delivered from Ian McDiarmid (Palpy) was vocally awkward. I know I couldn't. I was drawn out of the movie by every performance. I was drawn out of the movie by Ewan's good performance because it was so out of place. I sat there thinking "that's actually a good performance" instead of what was going on in the scene.

      The security hologram scene was stupid looking. There was no time spent developing emotion. I wanted to feel for the characters and physically couldn't. You must have wanted it more than me.

      The story had to be blatant (aka. Anakin had to verbally say why he was turning dark) or else you would never be able to infer what was going on. The real symptom of this movie (and the two before it) is that without blatantly being told what was happening, we would never know. The problem is that Lucas has no grasp of sublety.

      Lucas is an incredibly bad director and writer. I will banket the statement by saying all bad acting performances were Lucas' fault. A New Hope was good because he was under enormous pressure to finish it. ESB and RoTJ were good because he had other people do the important work. These movies (and his bastardized remakes) are his vision. His vision sucks. He got lucky making Star Wars and got lucky with his timing to let the fan base create create an incredible universe. The story has not been his for a long time now and I don't think he has any right to go in and ruin it.

      All that said, Episode III is by far the best of the prequels. But I also believe that all the "good reviews" of this movie have everything to with how pitiful the other two were.

    3. Re:Could be interesting. by Kombat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I just saw Episode III last night and it was just as I thought: plain, without any originality or feelings. Bad.

      Wow. You were so sure you'd hate it, that you rushed out during its first week in theatres and couldn't wait to stand in line and pay full price to see it, eh?

      People like you really annoy me. You try so hard to come off as sarcastic and cynical (yes, I'm well aware of the irony in my own post, get over it), so you can feel accepted by the "we hate everything that's popular" crowd.

      You've lost all credibility with me.

      --
      Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.
    4. Re:Could be interesting. by Lisandro · · Score: 3, Insightful

      As you pointed, cheesy dialogues, love scenes, character development, etc... the only thing that saves the day (or night if u didnt go to matinee) is that after the movie ends, you think "it was cool how Anakin die and how he become DV, and how he become to the Dark Side, and how Yoda fought Darth Sith...", this is, just the "things" that happened... I think I can not explain myslef here, but for it it was like to see how things happened was the cool thing, but if I had not seen the other movies it would be an ok SciFi movie with terrible effects/dialogue/etc...

      I have to disagree, the way the story unraveled was EXTREMELY poor, IMHO. So, basically, Anakin turned to the Dark Side because he was a whiny brat?

      (Spoilers below, sort of)

      Palpatine: "Kill him".
      Anakin: "No, it's not the Jedi way."
      Palpatine: "Come on, just do it."
      Anakin: "Ah.. well, ok"

      Or my favorite ...

      Sidious: "Join the dark side!"
      Anakin: "NO! I'm a Jedi!"
      Sidious: "Come on.. do it!"
      Anakin: "No.."
      Sidious: "Come on now, you fool. Don't be a meanie."
      Anakin: "Oh, OK. You're my master now and i'll do what you say!"

      Come on, Lucas had 3 MOVIES to get it right, and not only we find Anakin turning into Darth Vader in 5 minutes of plot, it's also because of the most retarded reasons posible. Not to mention the terrible dialogs, the way all Jedis are killed (weren't they Jedi *MASTERS*?! Sheeze...), and the cherry on top: Vader screaming "Nooooo!" with fists up, like it was a teen soap opera. Darth Vader, one of the meanest bad guys in movies ever.

      I could go all day with things that were wrong in that film. Just like Matrix Reloaded & Revolutions, i kept my expectations low to avoid dissapointment and got something much worse than i imagined possible.

    5. Re:Could be interesting. by Kombat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And when Anakin cuts Mace Windu arm and Darth Sith kills him, and "suddenly" Anakin says "ok, I am on your knees, at your service" WTF! it didnt took to much time for him.

      I had this discussion with a friend of mine after the movie, and I concluded that I don't think there's any problem at all with the speed with which Anakin turns to the dark side. The explanation is simple, and you've heard it before: "You underestimate the power of the dark side." Once Anakin started to turn, the dark side drew him in faster than anyone could have expected (except Yoda, he's the one who was always warning us about it in the first place). Also, don't forget that Palpatine wasn't just a smooth-talking politician. He was the surpreme overlord of the Sith. The ultimate manifestation of the dark side. It's not inconceivable that he was exercising mind control to help push Anakin over to the dark side.

      --
      Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.
    6. Re:Could be interesting. by Sir+dies+alot · · Score: 2, Insightful

      OK, I don't know what movie you saw, but the Episode III that I saw was IMHO rather well done. The purpose of the movie (being a prequel and all) was to explain how ANH came to be. This involves developing and progressing the universe and characters within it to a point that makes ANH the next step. This movie did just that. This is a rather difficult task in that it covers so many bases, first the characters have to be developed further than before, especially with these characters who have been so well developed in the original trilogy.

      This movie showed the fall of the entire jedi order, and yes I am aware that a great many of the jedi were killed very rapidly, but that added to the development of the universe. If they had not been killed rapidly and simultaneously, a war would ensue that would delay if not prevent the success of the Empire. Someone please explain how that would have made sense in respect to the original trilogy?

      Another commonly disliked point is how quickly Anakin fell to the dark side. This is just an outright lack of vision on YOUR part. Anakin's fall to the dark side was well developed, in fact, it started back in episode II. His fall began when he slaughtered the camp of sandpeople that killed his mother. His emotions of love for his family are what caused him to fall to the dark side. He started down that path on his own, Palpatine simply prodded him to continue in that direction. His fall did remain rather subtle throughout the beginning of ep III, but if you look he was falling the entire time. His loyalty wavered and he questioned the council's judgement. Not to mention the whole lying about the marriage thing. The moment he crossed blades with Windu was the proverbial straw on the camel's back, so his fall was complete at that point, why not swear loyalty to the sith master at that point?

      One final thing I noticed during the movie that seems to have been overlooked by everyone that was looking for faults as opposed to just enjoying the movie was the CG issue so many of those same people complained about throughout the prequels. If you watch carefully, the CG starts out with the full effects from ep I and II, but at the end of ep III its almost back to the level of graphics of ANH. This was one of the things I thought Lucas did very well as I hardly noticed until right at the end, during the much hated "NOOOO" scene.

      Oh and on a side note, I loved the droid remarks and the antics of R2D2 in ep III. One of the things I didn't like about ep I was that the majority of the fight scenes were with expressionless droids, it was a one-sided fight and not all that particularly entertaining. You can only see a droid get sliced in half so many times before you start to yawn. By adding the remarks of the droids, it added a tiny amount of depth to the driods and made it far more entertaining to me to see them in action.

      To be honest the majority of you who didn't like the films probably knew you wouldn't before you ever went to the theater, and went to the movie looking for reasons to hate it. I loved it, and at least liked ep I and II.

      --
      The stupidity of your average American is just about the same as the average European, we simply show it off better.
    7. Re:Could be interesting. by Lisandro · · Score: 2, Insightful

      To be honest the majority of you who didn't like the films probably knew you wouldn't before you ever went to the theater, and went to the movie looking for reasons to hate it. I loved it, and at least liked ep I and II.

      Come on. I wanted to like it, but it became evident the emperor had (again) no clothes 30 minutes into the movie. And i wasn't alone, pretty much all of my friends thought the same. It was mindless fun, great to watch (CG galore!)... but boring. Filled with plot holes and poor dialogues. And, the storyline was awful. It seemed to me that since Episodes I & II didn't really add much to the story, Lucas had to fit everything in the two hours of Ep III. It didn't came out good.

      Not only that, i actually felt insulted in a couple of scenes. Darth Vader, lord of all evil, yelling "Noooooo!" like a girl? Anakin turning to the Dark Side in 5 minutes? He loves Padme so much... that he slays a group of infants? Darth Vader needs a respirator because he got 3rd degree burns - in a world where they can replace a limb with zero issues? Obi Wan winning a fight because he has the "high ground"? Padme dies because she "lost her will to live"? I could go on for an hour.

      I read a lot of reviews online, and was looking forward to this movie - with low expectatives after I & II, but looking forward to it, nevertheless. I felt like i saw a whole different film.

  18. Re:How about going even further back in time by Timberwolf0122 · · Score: 2, Funny

    That would be in the (star wars) future as even in the first film (at time of release voyager had not realy go that far) it was set a long time ago;

    --
    In the not too distant future, next Sunday A.D.
  19. Re:How about going even further back in time by Jamu · · Score: 2, Funny

    A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

    Which is unusual in that usually Sci-Fi is set in the future. But, anyway, you'd have to go forward in time to find voyager I.
    --
    Who ordered that?
  20. Episode -2 : It's not easy being green by Timberwolf0122 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Good title/Bad title, either way better than attack of the cloans.

    I think the choice of director is clear. Quentin Tarentino, come on it would be great!

    "Get the wookie"
    "the wookie's sleeping"
    "well wake him up then!"

    --
    In the not too distant future, next Sunday A.D.
  21. Sequels by FidelCatsro · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Now i know there has been alot of prequal hype of late and sequels are very unhip.
    for the love of god though there are some real gems in the books/comics set after the origional trillogy , Dark empire for example , the reformation of the jedis and so on ... Perhaps a movie where you don't know whats going to hapen(unless you read the books) would be a little more exciting than another bleeding prequal , though yoda doing some cool jedi tricks would be cool

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  22. Re:Ideas by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Vader seems to be subordinate of Tarkin

    According to the backstory, Tarkin was challenging Palpatine for Emperor at one point, so this could be correct.

    What's more puzzling is why Palpatine keeps Vader on the payroll at all, when he allows the Death Star to be destroyed, lets Luke escape in ESB and is clearly treacherous ("join me, and we will rule the galaxy as father and son"). I'd have relegated him to droid-polishing duties after Ep IV.

    --
    When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  23. In a galaxy far far away by el_womble · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Starwars universe is great. A clever mix of magic, politics, religion and technology. This is what makes sci fi great. You take a few physical laws, mix them up a bit and see what happens when you introduce humans into it.

    This is George Lucas' legacy: a standardised universe, that captivates the imagination. He has woven a rich tapestry of worlds, cultures and characters but is a lousy story teller, particularly dialog.

    Please Mr. Lucas, let the universe go. Spend the remainder of you professional life as an executive producer who lets others write and direct, whilst you approve and fund.

    As a side note, I'd really like to see a script from Kevin Smith. Given a free reign (and a ban from using his friends as cast members)he could write the Starwars adventure we all think we remember.

    --
    Scared of flying, pointy things snce 1979!
    1. Re:In a galaxy far far away by argent · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A clever mix of magic, politics, religion and technology.

      A stereotyped and poorly thought out mix-up of magic and religion in a technological shell.

      My strongest memory from watching the original Star Wars, back when it first came out, was my reaction to the climactic scene. "Trust the Force? He's flying a warp-capable starship, two of his best friends are robots, he's depending on one of them for his very life, and you're telling me he's gotta reject technology to win this one? Give me one huge bleeding break, George..."

      The technology in Star Wars is "whatever looks good", and his "rich tapestry of worlds" is pretty much cribbed straight from Asimov's Foundation series, down to his capital city of Trantor.

      I don't need to explain all the flaws in the universe, really. David Brin is much better at that than me, and did a bang-up job of it.

      Midiclorians? Bah! A Jedi needs not these things.

  24. Re:Ideas by Eminence · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Vader seems to be subordinate of Tarkin

    According to the backstory, Tarkin was challenging Palpatine for Emperor at one point, so this could be correct.

    This makes no sense, since Vader knows best that a guy not familiar with the ways of the Force can't even get near being a threat for the Emperor.

    What's more puzzling is why Palpatine keeps Vader on the payroll at all, when he allows the Death Star to be destroyed, lets Luke escape in ESB and is clearly treacherous ("join me, and we will rule the galaxy as father and son"). I'd have relegated him to droid-polishing duties after Ep IV.

    This is quite clear and can be easily explained within the known canonical storyline.

    Being treacherous against your master is a behavior for a Sith apprentice, after all the only way to get promoted to a Sith Lord is by slaying your master. Any good Sith apprentice is expected to plot to kill his master at some point. So, this is part of the game and who would know it better than Sidious, who has been there?

    But this is not as simple as that, of course. Some of the things Vader/Anakin says that are apparently against the Sidious/Palpatine are just a deception aimed at a particular person - as it was shown in EP III.

    Anyway, in this situation Sidious can't get rid of Vader. He needs an apprentice. He has his own plot to get Luke as the new one, but to achieve this he needs Luke to slay Vader. For him it's a win-win situation - one of them would remain to serve him. He can't predict, of course, that Vader would turn into Anakin again and kill him.

    BTW apparently, the advancement in the Sith is only by slaying - first you have to kill a Sith apprentice to become one. Then you have to kill your Sith master to become one yourself. Nice clan, indeed.

  25. Re:The problem with this.. by TiggsPanther · · Score: 2, Interesting
    The problem with constantly writing prequels is that they're not really interesting. You know what's going to happen, and some measure of whether or not a movie is good is how easily you can anticipate the ending. Most people don't enjoy knowing the ending in advance.

    The other drawback is when you've got a character arc like Anakin's I, personally, like to know there's at least a chance of redemption. That maybe, just maybe, they don't get drawn too far into the dark. Even when they do, it's nice to know there's a chance they won't.

    Prequels (or catching earlier seasons of a show) always let me down like that, as I know that there's no other possible way. In the case of Episodes I-III the whole point is showing Anakin's path to becoming Vader. But therefore there's no chance of him not falling, as the films where he's already fallen were made first.

    --
    Tiggs
    "120 chars should be enough for everyone..."
  26. Fatal flaw in this plan by SamSim · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's no Roman numeral for zero!

  27. Knights of the old republic by najt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They should do a movie based on the Knights Of The Old Republic RPG story. That was the best Star Wars story ever.

  28. Remake IV-VI? by crull · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Am I the only one actually wanting the old movies remade with todays standards?

    I really like the universe and I espect the fact that SW-fans is fanatic and all but... it comes down to one thing: Entertainment. Right now its just silly, tried looking at IV the other day and I couldnt stand the figthts, it does just not fit in anymore.

    --
    this is not my signature.
  29. I think I speak for a lot of us when I say... by DwarfGoanna · · Score: 2, Funny
    ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!! DIE DRACULUCAS DIE!!!!!



    I USED to love Star Wars. That love has been BEATEN out of me. This franchise is an abomination... a walking shell of THE UNDEAD!!


    ahem...sorry

    --

    "You know why you do not see me styling wit my homies? Because I have no homies!!" -Mojo Jojo

  30. The slashdot prequal. by blowdart · · Score: 4, Funny

    Lucas also announced that due to the bad reception the prequels had on certain geek web sites such as slashdot he was developing a story line especially for the geek crowd, "The Adventures of Padme".

    He went on to explain the plot would not be complicated, however Ms Portman would lose her clothing, fall into in a vat of grits and eventually end up petrified (in carbonite) before being delivered by Boba Fett to Taco the Hutt. He expects to being in $60 million from slashdot readership alone.

    1. Re:The slashdot prequal. by Catbeller · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Slashdotters are like hippies, they don't have money. Lock them in a basement and give them a guitar and some joints. Just go with it."

      When, O South Park Republican white suburban boys, have any of you met a hippie? There hasn't been a hippy in thirty years, yet you keep channeling your daddies' rage against the guys who got all the chicks in the sixties.

      Hackers and goths and alty people of all stripes are the new hippies. They're all around you, man. Hate them, they're closer in chronologically.

  31. Re:Return of the originals? by robfoo · · Score: 2, Insightful
    how will he convince anybody to buy the collection of all six?

    Easy:
    • Shiny New Box!
    • Super-Extended Scenes! Never Seen Before Credits!
    • Everyone Shoots First!
    • More Commentary And Other Useless Shit Than Ever Before!
    • More Animated Menus! With Annoying Looping Sound!

    People buy this shit. Who knows why, but they do.

    Now who's cynical? :p
  32. Re:Episode 7? by argent · · Score: 4, Funny

    Agreed. It sounds to me like Lucas is afraid of the possibility of life after Darth.

  33. I liked the prequels by lheal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've seen all of the Star Wars movies in the theater as they came out, and I've liked them all.

    I just steadfastly remain intentionally shallow.

    It's supposed to be eye candy, not give you a doctorate in comparative theology or high-energy physics.

    --
    Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
    1. Re:I liked the prequels by Gulthek · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sure, but just as I get bored with a kaleidoscope easily (even though it looks pretty); I get bored with no plot pretty quickly too.

      Of the prequels, only EPIII had a plot. EPS I and II were just filler that it seems like Lucas felt obligated to make. Watching all three of them (as I recently have) it is clear that Lucas really just wanted to make EPIII.

    2. Re:I liked the prequels by badasscat · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's supposed to be eye candy, not give you a doctorate in comparative theology or high-energy physics.

      With a $10 million budget, the original Star Wars was never intended to be eye candy. It was intended to be fun, which the new trilogy is not. (I have not seen episode 3 yet, but with all the talk of how "dark" it is, I feel pretty confident in saying that while it may be decent, it probably still does not hold to the original ideals of the series.)

      I'll agree with you that Star Wars was never intended to be deep. But that's the problem with the newer films; they're trying to be deep and Lucas just doesn't have it in him. When people say they like the original trilogy better, it's because they were more character and plot driven, more like old adventure serials, vs. the heavy-duty political mumbo-jumbo that weighs down the current stuff.

      btw, I saw all the previous Star Wars films in theaters too, though I'm currently going through the first five movies in preparation for seeing episode 3. I don't know how many people have really done this vs. just relying on their memory, but eps. 4 and 5 obviously still hold up well, ep. 6 (Return of the Jedi) is surprisingly much better than most people give it credit for, and episode 1 (which we just watched last night) is even worse than it's reputed to be. It's really laughably bad; the kind of movie you'd expect to see on MST3K if not for the money put into the special effects. I do remember episode 2 being marginally better when I saw it in the theater, but I'll have to confirm when I re-watch it whether that's really true or whether I was just trying to convince myself that I wasn't wasting my time with the whole series (which is also the feeling I get when I hear some people talking about episode 3 these days).

    3. Re:I liked the prequels by Golias · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've seen all of the Star Wars movies in the theater as they came out, and I've liked them all. I just steadfastly remain intentionally shallow. It's supposed to be eye candy, not give you a doctorate in comparative theology or high-energy physics.

      Okay, fine... But "Clones" looked awful. Even on an "eye candy" popcorn movie level, there's not much to like.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

  34. Dune was much more deeper than SW by Gopal.V · · Score: 5, Interesting
    > The real prequel is called Dune.

    Dune deals with the fact that what you see into the future locks you into that - or more correctly, the self fulfilling prophecy paradox. Star Wars doesn't (maybe revenge of the sith does hint on that) . It just handles prescience as just a sense and tries to concentrate on moralizing about the Dark and Light sides of the Force. (which it did very well too). Also Dune deals with the inversion of scarcity - Melange which is rare, but common on Arakkis , Water which forms oceans in other worlds, but rare on Arakkis.

    The Force - Prescience

    "Luke, I am your Father" - Baron Harkonnen is Paul's grandfather

    Vader Helmet - Baron Harkonnen with suspendor globes

    lightsabers - crysknife

    Death star - guild frigates

    ?? - Sarduakar ?.

    Dune carries a lot of fatalism - especially ironic because Paul is prescient. Also the fact that he lets go of Chani rather than turn into a Tlelaxu puppet - which Anakin was not able to do. Also the twins - a girl and boy , the mother dies at birth.

    If you really think about it , the Matrix had some of the themes too - Neo is not The ONE , but turns out to be , Paul is not the Kwisatz Haderach , but he becomes.

    Dune has the best eyecandy - I remeber dreaming about Shields and lasguns - the sound, color and shimmering feeling. For some of us, CG effects are never enough . Also yeah, the first 3 Dune books were good - the rest of them sucked (come on !.. honored matres' ?. .. sex that blinds)... Same for Star War movies . Both Lucas and Herbert seems to have gone bad.
    1. Re:Dune was much more deeper than SW by fleck_99_99 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think Dune, SW, Matrix, etc all share a lot of themes due to use of standard heroic story forms. (The Call, Acceptance, yada yada.)

      Don't skip the sociopolitical commentary of Dune. Let's see... valuable substance, used for damn near everything, only found in a desert place, guarded by fierce people with a suspiciously Arabic language... Nope, no idea what he was talking about there.

      SW doesn't (or at least, doesn't seem to) try to pull these concepts in. (Phew -- just think, if the dialog is bad NOW....)

      --
      seven two six five
      seven four six one seven
      two six four two e
    2. Re:Dune was much more deeper than SW by cahiha · · Score: 3, Insightful

      LOL and though it was written well before any of this became relevant, the Emperor is Shaddam! On the note of plagiarism:

      Reusing themes, ideas, concepts, characters, etc. may be copyright infringement in our new corporate-copyright-overlord-dominated media culture, but it isn't plagiarism.

      If such similarities were plagiarism, most great Western literature and art would have to be considered "plagiarized".

    3. Re:Dune was much more deeper than SW by Foolomon · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Also yeah, the first 3 Dune books were good - the rest of them sucked (come on !.. honored matres' ?. .. sex that blinds)... Same for Star War movies .

      I disagree. Maybe the vehicles for getting the overall message of the books could have been better, but they were plausible. Don't even try to tell me that /.'ers haven't gone blind from too much mastur...I mean sex.

      The first 3 books dealt with the overcoming of the totalitarian influence as exerted by outside influences (most notably Corrino). The last 3 books dealt with the overcoming of the totalitarian influence as exerted by the prescience of the one that freed them from the oppression: this is an irony that should not be overlooked.

      However, I always found it funny that all 6 books could be summed up with: "Be careful what you wish for." LOL

      By the way, I've read the "House Atreides," "House Harkonnen" and "House Corrino" prequels, and while slow at first ended up being great auxilliary material to the original Dune series. I have yet to begin "The Butlerian Jihad."

  35. eternal flash-backs by SillyCON · · Score: 2, Funny

    Looking backwards in twenty-year chunks? Its not "StarWars", its "memento"

  36. I am certain this film will be made, after all.... by StressGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where there's a Whill, there's a way..

    {sorry}

    --
    A goal is a dream with a deadline
  37. Re:Ideas by Eminence · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Maybe a Sith Lord can have multiple apprentices. But if one of them finally succeeds in killing the master, what would happen to the others?

    Well, this was made very clear - neither Sith nor Jedi masters don't have more than one apprentice at a time. The difference being, of course, that Jedi masters let go of their apprentices and there is no rivalry amongst them.

    It's important to notice that Anakin's fast advancement within the Jedi Order was possible only because of the turmoil created by the Clone Wars. He skipped some tests. He probably fought more than meditated. He, so to speak, sneaked past the system designed to screen against any padawan becoming too powerful without developing enough compassion and understanding. It wasn't all that hard, because it was a system built on trust, not paranoid suspicion.

    And he managed to keep his relationship with Padme a secret from the rest of Jedi. His betrayal of the Jedi in a sense begun with that.

  38. 88 years? by fr2asbury · · Score: 2, Funny

    *sigh* that Obi Wan! Always stretching the truth so far you'd think it was taffee. He'd already won the Bill Clinton award for Stretching the Truth with the whole excuse about truth depending on your point of view when trying to cover up the "Darth Vader killed your father." line. Now we find that the Jedi hadn't actually kept peace in the galaxy for "over a thousand generations." Seems it was more like 88 years. Obi Wan's response will probably be to dig up some species with a life span only slightly greater than a fruit fly and say something about "point of view."

  39. 88 years? by enrico_suave · · Score: 2, Interesting

    88 years? Is that a typo in the article?

    I thought the Sith were in hiding mode for over a thousand years?

    Not that I've come to expect continuity from lucas or the star wars universe or anything =)

    I guess he'll have more edits in the I, II, III special edition trilogy box set re-re-re-release.

    e.

    --
    Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
  40. Simpler explanation: by autopr0n · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Lucas is just an idiot. Look at the scene at the beginning of ep III (which I swore I wouldn't see, then good reviews came out) where the ship tilts 90s. The gravity inside the ship also changes direction 90 degrees. Why? Is the ship just hovering in space, with no orbit? Then why does it start to "burn up" as it enters the atmosphere? If the ship is in orbit, using artificial gravity, why does the direction change?

    I mean, this is high school physics stuff. The most basic 'science' stuff in sci-fi and Lucas fucks it up.

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
    1. Re:Simpler explanation: by Ucklak · · Score: 5, Insightful

      A) Because it looks cool
      B) So Ma and Pa Sixpack get an idea of what's happening because
      C) If it didn't tilt, every movie mistake geek would point it out as it pertains to the Star Wars Universe Physics

      I did like the quick shutters on the glass breaking scenes.

      Star Wars is fun. Nothing more. There isn't weighty subject matter like Lord of the Rings but just a bunch of fast moving ships, blasters, light sabers, good guys, bad guys, and a plethora of creatures.
      The sound effects are cool too.

      This is our generation Western serial. They had bad dialogue, bad guys, good guys, romances that didn't make sense and quick to evolve, cliffhangers, fast moving horses and trains, gunfights, and secret hideaways.

      --
      if you steal from one source, that is plagiarism, if you steal from many, well, that's just research.
    2. Re:Simpler explanation: by swv3752 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You can accept artificial gravity and space stations the size of a moon, but the orientation of a badly damaged ship bothers you?

      I figured it was pretty easy to explain. The engines are in the back so that is where the anti gravity field that was keeping the up is the last to go. So as the antigravity field goes, the artificial gravity goes, and the planet's normal gravity asserts itself.

      But all that is besides the point. Star Wars is not science fiction. It is fantasy. In fact, Star Wars epitomizes a sub-genre of fantasy known as space opera. Instead of dragons, unicorns, and wizards; you have lasers, robots, and spaceships.

      --
      Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life
    3. Re:Simpler explanation: by cerebis · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I wouldn't call him an idiot, he simply does what he likes, and has a habit of ignoring details he considers minor or obscure. He does it both with physics and the lore of the universe. I'd personally like to see a greater attention to detail, and if he feels it's the necessary outcome of triage, then he should simply defer these details to subordinates.

      I honestly think Peter Jackson would make a better Star Wars film than Lucas, he seems to delegate much more effectively. Heck, the dialog comes out better too.

  41. No, no, and no by freeweed · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've said it before, and I'll say it every time someone posts this tripe: this is most definitely NOT the rose-coloured glasses of aging here.

    Listen, when Star Wars came out in 1977, millions of adults went to see it, loved it, and anxiously awaited the sequels. So did millions of kids. However, the children's market was nowhere near as established as it is today. Star Wars would NEVER have been as successful if it only appealed to children. My parents, who in general can't stand sci-fi or action films, and were in their late 30s at the time, loved it. THEY were almost as interested in seeing the sequels as I was.

    Flash-forward to the prequels. By and large, 6-12 year olds love them. Other than that, however, the vast majority of adults don't. Believe it or not, there are many people in their 20s and 30s now who've never seen Star Wars before. And most of them really don't think the prequels are all that good.

    Believe me, many things from my childhood I can now recognize as the crap it is. The original Star Wars movies were good back then, and are still good. The prequels are less so.

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    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  42. Exactly! by autopr0n · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I thought the exact same thing in the theater watching ep III. "This is the only movie that really needed to be made." The other three were pointless.

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    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
  43. Already Done? by Elranzer · · Score: 2, Informative

    The story would follow the Jedi regaining control of the universe from the many Dark Lords some 88 years before Anakin Skywalker ever graced the universe. Yoda, who, according to Lucas, was instrumental in the effort, would apparently have a headlining role.

    If I'm not mistaken, doesn't this already exist, in some form, as Knights of the Old Republic? I thought Georgy boy officially declared that KOTOR was permenantly the very first plotline in the Star Wars universe, the Genesis of the SW universe if you will, much like Ocarina of Time is permenantly the very first Legend of Zelda storyline no matter how many other Zelda prequels they make.

    We really don't need an Episode Zero movie, cuz if they tried to put all of the main points of KOTOR into a movie it would be at least 5 or 6 hours long...

  44. Re:By their very nature, prequels suck by Shin+Chan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait, don't tell me they cut out those scense over there? That just sucks.

    Didn't you know they [some Jedi mojo or whoever] used a stand in, Anakin died an awesome death because of an heart attack while he impregnated Padmé and Darth Vader is in fact a big badass... Liar.

    Pfft, and those were the best scenes!

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    Proud owner of BOT2K3 [ bot2k3.net ]