cayman shen
Master Member
I thought The Secret History of Star Wars was great. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommended to SW nuts.
Phantom Menace Review...Everything you were thinking and more!
- Thread starter Trooper_trent
- Start date
Zombie_61
Master Member
This sounds like nothing more than "Lucas rewriting history 101" rubbish. The story I heard (or saw, or read) somewhere was that Lucas wanted the Ewoks to be Wookiees, but they didn't have the budget for the number of Wookiee costumes they'd need and special effects technology wasn't developed enough at the time for them to film and insert a handful of costumed actors like they did with Revenge of the Sith, so they went from seven-foot Wookiees to three-foot Ewoks--an explanation which, to me, sounds far more likely and plausible.
robn1
Master Member
The story as I heard it is that Star Wars was to end with a big land battle between the wookies and the Empire, with the wookies being a primitive race. They couldn't film the huge battle George wanted so they cut out the land battle, but he liked the wookie concept so he kept one in, Chewbacca.
The land battle with the primitives was used in ROTJ, but since wookies were shown as an advanced race George created the ewoks instead. They look like small wookies and their name is wookie changed around.
The land battle with the primitives was used in ROTJ, but since wookies were shown as an advanced race George created the ewoks instead. They look like small wookies and their name is wookie changed around.
darth_myeek
Sr Member
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
All the early pre-ANH scripts have large wookie sized primitives.
niennumb1
Master Member
I haven't been too far into this 7-part review yet, but I have to say it's VERY interesting. It really helped more obviously realize why I love the OT so much more when he started talking about the Protagonist aspect with Luke Skywalker. I know exactly why when I was little my favorite was ALWAYS Luke Skywalker. He was a regular person that was brought into extraordinary circumstances and was lead on an amazing journey finding himself going from a little farmboy to a great Jedi Knight. I LOVED Luke Skywalker because he made you think that any ordinary person could do something extraordinary if you believe in yourself and doing your best. He was always someone I looked up to as a kid. It's very easy to explain his character and you really want him to win. (Of course now it's all about if you have high medichlorians in your blood. So much for any old person being able to learn the force... Heck Yoda never said, "Sorry, kid... you don't have Medichlorians, get off my planet." But I know Yoda knew who he was, but still you know what I mean...)
I truly can't say there was any character I could identify well with in The Phantom Menace. It really was such a mix of junk looking back. I think the problem lied therein that since we already knew who some of these characters were in the older films that we knew their story and were just along for the ride of what goofy mixups and conflicts they get in, but it really wasn't until "Revenge of the Sith" came around to where any feelings came into play (for me anyway). I was able to identify Anakin's confusion and sadness for what he was doing and how clouded he really was on his journey toward the dark side. It also wasn't until the final half hour of the or so of the film where we started seeing any depth into Padme and Anakin at all. But I think those were probably the scenes Spielberg came in to help direct (uncredited). There was something about those scenes that broke away from Episode 1 and 2 that stood out (followed by the goofy "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" that brought it back down to a "Really?! With Seth Meyers" moment).
I did overall like Episode III a lot. It's just too bad that the other two didn't really have much worth saying in it. Back then when I saw the prequels n theaters I was excited, mainly because it was Star Wars back in theaters and I was just loving the experience, but after some years passing looking at them they are actually harder to watch now. It's odd, but they just don't feel Star Wars to me anymore and I still come running back to the OT.
Another thing about easily identifying with characters from the OT, I've become more a fan of Han Solo now in that I feel like I'm more like him with a sort of sarcasm and pissyness to him that I love. As I have gotten older the AMAZING doesn't feel as amazing as it did when I was little, so my reaction to things isn't what they were to where someone would go, "OH MY GOSH!! WOW!!! AWESOME!" I'd say, "Yep! Great..." hahah!
Anyway the OT is filled with characters that are very easy to tell what kind of people they are and they are easy to distinguish from one or another. You'd know how Vader would react to certain news, or how Leia would respond to being given orders, or Luke's whining, ha! They had identities and you really feel like you know them. I don't feel like I know anyone too well in Episodes 1 and 2. Does that made sense?
I truly can't say there was any character I could identify well with in The Phantom Menace. It really was such a mix of junk looking back. I think the problem lied therein that since we already knew who some of these characters were in the older films that we knew their story and were just along for the ride of what goofy mixups and conflicts they get in, but it really wasn't until "Revenge of the Sith" came around to where any feelings came into play (for me anyway). I was able to identify Anakin's confusion and sadness for what he was doing and how clouded he really was on his journey toward the dark side. It also wasn't until the final half hour of the or so of the film where we started seeing any depth into Padme and Anakin at all. But I think those were probably the scenes Spielberg came in to help direct (uncredited). There was something about those scenes that broke away from Episode 1 and 2 that stood out (followed by the goofy "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" that brought it back down to a "Really?! With Seth Meyers" moment).
I did overall like Episode III a lot. It's just too bad that the other two didn't really have much worth saying in it. Back then when I saw the prequels n theaters I was excited, mainly because it was Star Wars back in theaters and I was just loving the experience, but after some years passing looking at them they are actually harder to watch now. It's odd, but they just don't feel Star Wars to me anymore and I still come running back to the OT.
Another thing about easily identifying with characters from the OT, I've become more a fan of Han Solo now in that I feel like I'm more like him with a sort of sarcasm and pissyness to him that I love. As I have gotten older the AMAZING doesn't feel as amazing as it did when I was little, so my reaction to things isn't what they were to where someone would go, "OH MY GOSH!! WOW!!! AWESOME!" I'd say, "Yep! Great..." hahah!
Anyway the OT is filled with characters that are very easy to tell what kind of people they are and they are easy to distinguish from one or another. You'd know how Vader would react to certain news, or how Leia would respond to being given orders, or Luke's whining, ha! They had identities and you really feel like you know them. I don't feel like I know anyone too well in Episodes 1 and 2. Does that made sense?
Goonie
Sr Member
A blog with some background info about the review:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-28/making-an-enemy-of-george-lucas/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-28/making-an-enemy-of-george-lucas/
cayman shen
Master Member
I hope Lucas gets to see this review and, I dunno, makes a Special Edition to fix some of the most awful gaffes. There's no saving the film, but there certainly are some cuts/edits that could minimize the damage and make an F film into a C-.
SSgt Burton
Sr Member
Bump to an old thread...
Remember when the reviewer describes the Jedi using "force speed" at the begining of the film... and poses the question as to why Obi-Wan didn't use force speed to run past the force fields and help Qui-Gon defeat Darth Maul at the end?
This vid explains why...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3dI-ghYimg&NR=1
Kevin
Remember when the reviewer describes the Jedi using "force speed" at the begining of the film... and poses the question as to why Obi-Wan didn't use force speed to run past the force fields and help Qui-Gon defeat Darth Maul at the end?
This vid explains why...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3dI-ghYimg&NR=1
Kevin
Dude, it's barely been a month. It's not old! :lol
that was a funny vid though. I chuckled.
that was a funny vid though. I chuckled.
SSgt Burton
Sr Member
Yeah but it was on page 15 or 16! I'm used to slower boards where a month old thread is on page 3! :lol
Kevin
I would love to see the other two movies reviewed by this guy:lol
wuher da brewer
Sr Member
That's exactly why I clicked here, to see if it was out yet.
Jamanticus
Well-Known Member
*cough* Ack! *splutter*
You've made me spit diet root beer out of my nose for the first time since I saw "Fletch Lives". A hilarious, but painful sensation :wacko
But this thread must be kept bumped! Such hilarity that I've not seen in a reviewer ever since I started watching The Spoony One back a few years ago.
The AOTC review is now the most anticipated review in history. :sleep
That's a lot to live up to! I hope he is up to it. Otherwise soul crushing disappointment may ensue. :lol
That's a lot to live up to! I hope he is up to it. Otherwise soul crushing disappointment may ensue. :lol
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