Star Wars madness
Movie Review: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (DVD Version)
No need to talk about this movie much, but this is my first time watching the new DVD version. Many people are complaining about how George Lucas keeps tinkering away with his movies. While I tend to agree that once a movie is released the creator should move onto other projects I don't have too big a problem with Lucas making small changes. JRR Tolkien revised a chapter of his first novel, The Hobbit, to make it fit with his second project, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it was a great improvement. My real problem with Lucas is that he keeps making changes and says that he intends to keep doing so in the future. Sounds a bit like Microsoft and their security problems doesn't it? When will it be finally finished? This seems like a money grabbing scam because he knows all his die hard fans will buy every edition he makes so he keeps stringing them along. What most of them are clamoring for are DVD's of the original, unmodified films. Lucas refuses to release them. When the Special Edition videotapes of the trilogy were released, with new scenes, music, characters, etc, it was advertised as the 'definitive' Star Wars. Turns out not to be the case. The new DVD edition contains a few small changes. Jabba the Hutt has been re-coloured to more resemble the Phantom Menace version of himself. And the infamous 'Han Solo vs Gweedo' duel has been redone again. The ending, while exciting, still is pretty confusing though. Knowing that she is being tracked, Princess Leia still leads the Empire straight to the hidden rebel base. A great animated short about this can be seen at howitshouldhaveended.com . Still very fun though. 8/10
Movie Review: The Star Wars Holiday Special
Possibly the worst thing I've ever seen. It was a real ordeal to sit through this monstrosity. The story about this treasure is this, as a build up to the original release of Empire Strikes Back this TV special was made unleashed on the public. It was universally hated and Lucas has never allowed it to be broadcast again or distributed. The rumour is that he tried to buy every negative of the show and destroy it. There are still copies floating around the net and on Ebay though.
The story goes as such, Chewbacca is trying to get back to his home planet to celebrate Life Day. He and Han Solo are having troubles with Imperial forces though. So most of the story revolves around Chewie's family at their house. His family includes his wife Malla, father Itchy, and son Lumpy. And no, I'm not making this up. The first 10 mins of the show follows the family around their living room as they grunt, make awkward gestures, and generally do nothing. 10 mins! The original cast all make appearances, luckily brief ones. However Princess Leia has to sing a song with the wookies and it is painful to watch. There were also plenty of guest stars doing comedy, singings songs, etc... I couldn't help but feel for the members of Jefferson Starship as they appeared in a real cheesy number. You can find out more about this pile of Gungan doodo at the unofficial Star Wars Holiday Special web site. 1/10
Movie Review: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (DVD Version)
A couple of obvious changes here. First of all, in the scene where Darth Vader talks to the Emperor, Ian McDermid (Palpatine from the new trilogy) has been inserted as the Emperor. Also, the dialogue has been changed so that the Emperor informs Vader that the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star is the son of Anakin Skywalker. Still the best of the bunch. 9/10
Movie Review: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
At least Jar-Jar Brinks was a horribly conceived CG character. What was Jake Lloyd's excuse? Actually I can't blame the kid too much. That was all Lucas' doing. The DVD shows the final kids selected for the role of Anakin and there was 1 boy who seemed great. He actually had a bit of a dark side to him. His readings were great too. Unfortunately Lucas picked the worst of the bunch. The Jedi fight with Darth Maul saved the movie. I wasn't too impressed with all the droids either. Seems like Lucas is steering away from showing humans dying as he did in the original trilogy. Methinks he is getting a wee bit soft. I didn't like the whole midiclorines thing too. Makes the force more of a scientific, measurable force than a mystical one as it was in the original trilogy. 6.5/10
Movie Review: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Stupid name but pretty good movie. Less Jar-Jar and more Jedi makes me happy. Some real clunky dialogue between Anakin and Padme but seeing Yoda in action more than makes up for that. Great to see Christopher Lee in such a strong role too. Between the new Star Wars trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy he has landed some great villain roles recently. Samuel L Jackson just rocks as Mace Windu too. His purple lightsabre is super funky. 8/10
No need to talk about this movie much, but this is my first time watching the new DVD version. Many people are complaining about how George Lucas keeps tinkering away with his movies. While I tend to agree that once a movie is released the creator should move onto other projects I don't have too big a problem with Lucas making small changes. JRR Tolkien revised a chapter of his first novel, The Hobbit, to make it fit with his second project, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it was a great improvement. My real problem with Lucas is that he keeps making changes and says that he intends to keep doing so in the future. Sounds a bit like Microsoft and their security problems doesn't it? When will it be finally finished? This seems like a money grabbing scam because he knows all his die hard fans will buy every edition he makes so he keeps stringing them along. What most of them are clamoring for are DVD's of the original, unmodified films. Lucas refuses to release them. When the Special Edition videotapes of the trilogy were released, with new scenes, music, characters, etc, it was advertised as the 'definitive' Star Wars. Turns out not to be the case. The new DVD edition contains a few small changes. Jabba the Hutt has been re-coloured to more resemble the Phantom Menace version of himself. And the infamous 'Han Solo vs Gweedo' duel has been redone again. The ending, while exciting, still is pretty confusing though. Knowing that she is being tracked, Princess Leia still leads the Empire straight to the hidden rebel base. A great animated short about this can be seen at howitshouldhaveended.com . Still very fun though. 8/10Movie Review: The Star Wars Holiday Special
Possibly the worst thing I've ever seen. It was a real ordeal to sit through this monstrosity. The story about this treasure is this, as a build up to the original release of Empire Strikes Back this TV special was made unleashed on the public. It was universally hated and Lucas has never allowed it to be broadcast again or distributed. The rumour is that he tried to buy every negative of the show and destroy it. There are still copies floating around the net and on Ebay though. The story goes as such, Chewbacca is trying to get back to his home planet to celebrate Life Day. He and Han Solo are having troubles with Imperial forces though. So most of the story revolves around Chewie's family at their house. His family includes his wife Malla, father Itchy, and son Lumpy. And no, I'm not making this up. The first 10 mins of the show follows the family around their living room as they grunt, make awkward gestures, and generally do nothing. 10 mins! The original cast all make appearances, luckily brief ones. However Princess Leia has to sing a song with the wookies and it is painful to watch. There were also plenty of guest stars doing comedy, singings songs, etc... I couldn't help but feel for the members of Jefferson Starship as they appeared in a real cheesy number. You can find out more about this pile of Gungan doodo at the unofficial Star Wars Holiday Special web site. 1/10
Movie Review: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (DVD Version)
A couple of obvious changes here. First of all, in the scene where Darth Vader talks to the Emperor, Ian McDermid (Palpatine from the new trilogy) has been inserted as the Emperor. Also, the dialogue has been changed so that the Emperor informs Vader that the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star is the son of Anakin Skywalker. Still the best of the bunch. 9/10Movie Review: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
At least Jar-Jar Brinks was a horribly conceived CG character. What was Jake Lloyd's excuse? Actually I can't blame the kid too much. That was all Lucas' doing. The DVD shows the final kids selected for the role of Anakin and there was 1 boy who seemed great. He actually had a bit of a dark side to him. His readings were great too. Unfortunately Lucas picked the worst of the bunch. The Jedi fight with Darth Maul saved the movie. I wasn't too impressed with all the droids either. Seems like Lucas is steering away from showing humans dying as he did in the original trilogy. Methinks he is getting a wee bit soft. I didn't like the whole midiclorines thing too. Makes the force more of a scientific, measurable force than a mystical one as it was in the original trilogy. 6.5/10Movie Review: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Stupid name but pretty good movie. Less Jar-Jar and more Jedi makes me happy. Some real clunky dialogue between Anakin and Padme but seeing Yoda in action more than makes up for that. Great to see Christopher Lee in such a strong role too. Between the new Star Wars trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy he has landed some great villain roles recently. Samuel L Jackson just rocks as Mace Windu too. His purple lightsabre is super funky. 8/10
posted by Jason at 10:05 AM
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