TV/Movies Megathread

[Liep]

98% fresh on RT 

Must temper my hype.

GIVE IN TO YOUR HYPE.

[KRonn]

Disney-enforced movie review black-out is over for the new Star Wars. Less than 30 minutes before the first screening, a real matinée, at 09.30. 
The marketing storm will now recede a bit.

Yeah, I noticed. Unfortunately, some news outlets don't put up spoiler warnings, so it'll be a no internet news day for me till midnight.

I read a Star Wars story that I figured didn't have any plot info, but was wrong. Good thing though that it didn't tell a lot or anything that'll tarnish the story for me.

[KRonn]

98% fresh on RT 

Must temper my hype.

Embrace the Force!

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

[katmai]

Think I might catch a 2nd screening in non IMAX 3D over weekend. Oh and local theater has marathon of all six films starting at 4:00am thursday morning.

[Duque de Bragança]

Surprised there was not a marathon in these parts. Though Ep. 1,2 & 3 do not seem compulsory ahem. The others, despite the "special" edits I could rewatch, specially Empire Strikes Back.

[Syt]

I played a bit of Star Wars: Empire at War after quite some time, and realized the Imperial interface voice and stormtroopers are voiced by Steve Blum - who voices non-named Imperial officers and Stormtroopers on Star Wars Rebels.

(And Zeb for who he breaks out the Oghren voice, quite fittingly.)

[viper37]

Surprised there was not a marathon in these parts. Though Ep. 1,2 & 3 do not seem compulsory ahem. The others, despite the "special" edits I could rewatch, specially Empire Strikes Back.

I like the redone special effects, but some of these edits were totally moronic, like Jabba the Hutt in #1 and "Nooo" for Darth Vader in 6.

[Syt]

I've been thinking about the differences between Originals and Prequels the other day. Lucas was influenced by watching Kurosawa movies, and was impressed by how well the story could be followed, even though the culture was alien to him. And he intended to be the original Star Wars to be a similar experience - limited exposition about the how and why something was the way it was, and focusing on audio-visual cues. I seem to recall that he wanted to make a movie that could ideally be understood without knowing English. The result was an intriguing world with a simple but engaging story that drew people in and left them wanting for more.

Move on to Ep. 1 - 3: they are so ridiculously exposition heavy, with political machinations, trade disputes, legislation, midi-chlorians ... where the original trilogy had its magic moments - dead Ben guiding Luke, Vader choking Motti, the use of the Force by Luke on Hoth and Yoda's demonstration on Dagobah, Vader chocking Ozzel, their duel, Dagobah in RotJ, the Emperor's lightning attacks ... the prequels are very much devoid of those.

The quiet scenes in the original trilogy are integral part of the movies. I still like watching the prequels - but it's almost exclusively to get a glimpse at the worlds, and for the action scenes, not for the quiet moments which are often completely cringeworthy.

[Malthus]

I've been thinking about the differences between Originals and Prequels the other day. Lucas was influenced by watching Kurosawa movies, and was impressed by how well the story could be followed, even though the culture was alien to him. And he intended to be the original Star Wars to be a similar experience - limited exposition about the how and why something was the way it was, and focusing on audio-visual cues. I seem to recall that he wanted to make a movie that could ideally be understood without knowing English. The result was an intriguing world with a simple but engaging story that drew people in and left them wanting for more.

Move on to Ep. 1 - 3: they are so ridiculously exposition heavy, with political machinations, trade disputes, legislation, midi-chlorians ... where the original trilogy had its magic moments - dead Ben guiding Luke, Vader choking Motti, the use of the Force by Luke on Hoth and Yoda's demonstration on Dagobah, Vader chocking Ozzel, their duel, Dagobah in RotJ, the Emperor's lightning attacks ... the prequels are very much devoid of those.

The quiet scenes in the original trilogy are integral part of the movies. I still like watching the prequels - but it's almost exclusively to get a glimpse at the worlds, and for the action scenes, not for the quiet moments which are often completely cringeworthy.

The sand - it gets everywhere. 

[celedhring]

I always like to compare the horrible, ridiculous and laughable "love scenes" between Padmé and Anakin with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU3vYa_mBDQ

So simple, yet it works so well.

[Valmy]

Yeah it is a fantastic scene.

The sand - it gets everywhere.

Such a groaner.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Surprised there was not a marathon in these parts. Though Ep. 1,2 & 3 do not seem compulsory ahem. The others, despite the "special" edits I could rewatch, specially Empire Strikes Back.

I recently bought a box set of the original VHS tapes to get the real originals.

[Duque de Bragança]

Well, I am not that desperate since I know someone who has the DVDs with some old laserdisc masters recycled and badly transferred on DVD (not anamorphically enhanced), offered by Lucas as a bonus.
These DVDs are expensive now on the second hand market. The best laserdisc editions are still expensive as well.

Enjoy watching VHS tapes on a huge flat-screen.

[Syt]

I would be surprised if Disney wasn't working on a bluray release of the original theatrical versions (yeah, I know, Lucas supposedly destroyed the originals). They must know there's a lot of money in it for them.