Let's face it. A long time ago...the Star Wars franchise was untouchable. It was the greatest piece of sci-fi cinema to come along in a generation. It helped inspire countless children (and adults) to take up careers in filmaking, science, technology, swordfighting, whatever. It has held the imaginations of millions for over twenty years. Then something happened. In 1997, Lucas released the Special Edition of The Trilogy with "new and improved" scenes and special effects! This was the first step down the dark path. Many fans were really upset by some of the subtle changes Lucas made to his orignal films. And the overuse of (admit it) cheesy CGI graphics ruined the experience of seeing SW on the big screen again. (In my opinion, the scene with Jabba in the Mos Eisley hangar and the Greedo blaster shot were terrible miscalculations and should never have been redone) My demigod-like reverence for Lucas was shattered. But I was but a boy. I could never have forseen the disaster that was to be Episode I. While TPM was visually brilliant, the film itself overall is, ahem, very lacking. It took me a second time seeing it to realize what it was that felt so wrong about a movie that I had been anticipating for so long. It wasn't the Star Wars I grew up with. It was empty. It was lifeless. Lucas had turned a classic tale of adventure and empires into a kids movie meant to sell toys and tie-in products at Taco Bell. It was a tragic moment in filmdom for me and many others as well I am sure. I hope that Episodes II and III are REALLY something, because I think that Star Wars deserves better than that. As a kid who, in great part due to Star Wars, grew up to work with science and technology, I hope that the power of this great modern myth will live long enough to inspire a new generation. I will probably buy TPM on DVD when it comes out. Why? Because it is part of a saga that I still consider great. This saga will obviously have its weak moments. But I hope that this one has a few more good jolts left in it. Maybe George will quit worrying so much about money he doesn't need and get back to making good movies. God knows we need em.
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Let's face it. A long time ago...the Star Wars franchise was untouchable. It was the greatest piece of sci-fi cinema to come along in a generation. It helped inspire countless children (and adults) to take up careers in filmaking, science, technology, swordfighting, whatever. It has held the imaginations of millions for over twenty years. Then something happened. In 1997, Lucas released the Special Edition of The Trilogy with "new and improved" scenes and special effects! This was the first step down the dark path. Many fans were really upset by some of the subtle changes Lucas made to his orignal films. And the overuse of (admit it) cheesy CGI graphics ruined the experience of seeing SW on the big screen again. (In my opinion, the scene with Jabba in the Mos Eisley hangar and the Greedo blaster shot were terrible miscalculations and should never have been redone) My demigod-like reverence for Lucas was shattered. But I was but a boy. I could never have forseen the disaster that was to be Episode I. While TPM was visually brilliant, the film itself overall is, ahem, very lacking. It took me a second time seeing it to realize what it was that felt so wrong about a movie that I had been anticipating for so long. It wasn't the Star Wars I grew up with. It was empty. It was lifeless. Lucas had turned a classic tale of adventure and empires into a kids movie meant to sell toys and tie-in products at Taco Bell. It was a tragic moment in filmdom for me and many others as well I am sure. I hope that Episodes II and III are REALLY something, because I think that Star Wars deserves better than that. As a kid who, in great part due to Star Wars, grew up to work with science and technology, I hope that the power of this great modern myth will live long enough to inspire a new generation. I will probably buy TPM on DVD when it comes out. Why? Because it is part of a saga that I still consider great. This saga will obviously have its weak moments. But I hope that this one has a few more good jolts left in it. Maybe George will quit worrying so much about money he doesn't need and get back to making good movies. God knows we need em.