George Lucas to give up film-making because of Star Wars critics

[crazy canuck]

How many 70s space/fantasy movies had special effects that were as good as Star Wars (non-rhetorical)?

I am sorry I thought we were talking about their cultural importance now.  I was not around in the 70s (well I was but I was too young to pay any attention) so I cannot really judge the extent that the special effects alone played a role.

I am convinced that the cultural importance of Star Wars today is firmly based on what happened when it was released.

I was talking about the cultural imporance it had when it was released...

[Eddie Teach]

Duck Tales was awesome. 

Dark Wing Duck was better.

Wrong.

[Ideologue]

I don't get the apparent cultural importance of Star Wars films amongst some languishites.

I just recall them as some sci-fi films, I can't think of any of my friends, current or childhood, who made a big thing of them.

That's because when you take nostalgia out of the picture they were all at about the same mediocre level.

I'd say the first one was a fun adventure movie, something that was increasingly rare during the 1970's.  This was during the "New Hollywood era", which produced some dull and dreadful films.  Star Wars was a bit of throwback, with simple morality and swashbuckling fun.  I think this is why is was so popular and why it resonated with audiences.  The second film was a bit darker and more complex, but still had many of those simple themes that audiences craved.  The third one kinda went off the rails after the first act.

If I had to pick only two films from the OT to survive, Star Wars wouldn't make it.  I like it, but Jedi is awesome; it is, unfortunately, misunderstood.

[Ideologue]

GI Joe and Transformers both were bad TV shows designed to sell toys.

There weren't many 80s cartoons better than Transformers.

Transformers: The Movie redeems any crappiness inherent in the series.  By God, it may be the finest animated film ever made.  It is also amongst the ballsiest films ever made.  It would be like if Star Trek: The Motion Picture had killed Kirk ten minutes in and the movie was actually about Decker.  Also, it had an outstanding voice cast; tremendous imagination went into the various settings; it looked fucking awesome; the ending is suitably epic; and it had a most excellent soundtrack.  It's very close to a perfect film.

The only criticism I can see landing is that they don't pay much attention to physical scale, but fuck it, it's a kid's movie.

Yes, it was the first movie I ever saw in the theater.  What of it?

[katmai]

Tell me Ide, how is it to be so full of fail?

[Valmy]

Transformers: The Movie redeems any crappiness inherent in the series.  By God, it may be the finest animated film ever made.

It is terrible.  Granted I do like the 80s stadium rock.

[The Brain]

I don't get the apparent cultural importance of Star Wars films amongst some languishites.

I just recall them as some sci-fi films, I can't think of any of my friends, current or childhood, who made a big thing of them.

That's because when you take nostalgia out of the picture they were all at about the same mediocre level.

I'd say the first one was a fun adventure movie, something that was increasingly rare during the 1970's.  This was during the "New Hollywood era", which produced some dull and dreadful films.  Star Wars was a bit of throwback, with simple morality and swashbuckling fun.  I think this is why is was so popular and why it resonated with audiences.  The second film was a bit darker and more complex, but still had many of those simple themes that audiences craved.  The third one kinda went off the rails after the first act.

If I had to pick only two films from the OT to survive, Star Wars wouldn't make it.  I like it, but Jedi is awesome; it is, unfortunately, misunderstood.

Yeah. Awesomely STUPID.

[Ideologue]

Tell me Ide, how is it to be so full of fail?

In regards to Jedi or Transformers?  I need to know just how aesthetically retarded you are before I respond.

[Valmy]

Yeah. Awesomely STUPID.

Finally The Brain and I agree.

Though as a kid seeing Jedi I just remember being baffled by it.  'Wait WTF just happened here?'

[katmai]

On both counts.

[crazy canuck]

Yeah. Awesomely STUPID.

Finally The Brain and I agree.

Though as a kid seeing Jedi I just remember being baffled by it.  'Wait WTF just happened here?'

The Force is weak in this one.

[Ideologue]

I don't get the apparent cultural importance of Star Wars films amongst some languishites.

I just recall them as some sci-fi films, I can't think of any of my friends, current or childhood, who made a big thing of them.

That's because when you take nostalgia out of the picture they were all at about the same mediocre level.

I'd say the first one was a fun adventure movie, something that was increasingly rare during the 1970's.  This was during the "New Hollywood era", which produced some dull and dreadful films.  Star Wars was a bit of throwback, with simple morality and swashbuckling fun.  I think this is why is was so popular and why it resonated with audiences.  The second film was a bit darker and more complex, but still had many of those simple themes that audiences craved.  The third one kinda went off the rails after the first act.

If I had to pick only two films from the OT to survive, Star Wars wouldn't make it.  I like it, but Jedi is awesome; it is, unfortunately, misunderstood.

Yeah. Awesomely STUPID.

That applies to pretty much the entire Star Wars trilogy.

[The Brain]

I don't get the apparent cultural importance of Star Wars films amongst some languishites.

I just recall them as some sci-fi films, I can't think of any of my friends, current or childhood, who made a big thing of them.

That's because when you take nostalgia out of the picture they were all at about the same mediocre level.

I'd say the first one was a fun adventure movie, something that was increasingly rare during the 1970's.  This was during the "New Hollywood era", which produced some dull and dreadful films.  Star Wars was a bit of throwback, with simple morality and swashbuckling fun.  I think this is why is was so popular and why it resonated with audiences.  The second film was a bit darker and more complex, but still had many of those simple themes that audiences craved.  The third one kinda went off the rails after the first act.

If I had to pick only two films from the OT to survive, Star Wars wouldn't make it.  I like it, but Jedi is awesome; it is, unfortunately, misunderstood.

Yeah. Awesomely STUPID.

That applies to pretty much the entire Star Wars trilogy.

Ewoks were even more stupider.

[Ideologue]

On both counts.

So "exceptionally."

Like, I sort of see being annoyed by Jedi.  A lot of people hate on the Ewoks, focusing particularly the implausibility of their victory (yeah, because the Empire had previously been depicted as being competent?), and the division of the film into basically two parts (Tatooine and Endor) has some structural problems if you take it by itself and not with Empire as an indivisible set.  I think they overlook the really great parts--namely the exceptional effects work involved in the space battle, the excellence of the final lightsaber duel--that whole scene really--and the close of Luke's character arc.  Also, "Yub Nub" is a really fun song.

(Even more annoying is that the really major problem with Jedi tends to be ignored or celebrated, that is, its problematic depiction of a sexual assault--although granted this is more of a problem with people who were 14 when they saw it for the first time and don't understand that a giant talking penis stripping a woman down, making her wear fetish gear and trying to murder her is not hot.  I mean, what's up, proto-Lettow?)

I've explained why Transformers is great.  It's undeniable.  Yet you deny it.  Why do you hate art, and perhaps life itself?

[Barrister]

I've never gotten the Jedi hate.  So it has cute furry ewoks - when did Star Wars ever pretend to not play to the kids?  Perhaps it's because I like a good ending, and Jedi is a quite satisfactor ending to all the lose storylines - empire is defeated, Han rescued, anakin redeemed, Luke finds his family and Han finds his love.  The end.

But since I'm uncomfortable geing anywhere near Ideo in thei conversation, I will say he's smoking crack if he thinks Jedi is better than Star Wars (Ep IV).