|
Is George Lucas stoned?
Any of you folks caught the title for the next Star Wars movie yet?
Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones I'm not kidding. Attack of the Clones... I feel like I've fallen through a timewarp into the back seat of a chevy parked at a 1954 drive-in. http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/n...s20010806.html It boggles the mind. :confused: Just when I was thinking, "Gee, it can't possibly be as bad as the Phantom Menace". |
keg
For 2 days now you have brought some reference about someone smoking something...I'm just curious....Would you be jealous if they were?
|
No words can explain to you all the extreme feeling of sorrow that I have for George Lucas' lack of taste. I liked "A Phantom Menace" for the most part. But, there were several problems with it. Also, I feel that most of the extra footage put into the first three movies (in the special edition) was lackluster and ruined the "mood" of the trilogy. It was great that they cleaned up the old prints and released it on widescreen, but Jabba looks terrible in "Star Wars" and the dance number in "Return" takes me out of the movie and puts me on cyber-Sesame Street. Phantom Menace was fun, and a real trip to watch on the big screen, but reminded me too much of this cyber-SS. Now, I can count on episode II and III to give me more of the same, and it's a damn shame.
So no, George isn't on crack. He's just rich now, and doesn't make movies that mean anything. Also, he can't seem to write for shit. |
Damn, I just read something the other day/week that it was going to be called Star Wars II: Rise of the Empire.
Lucas IS on drugs. |
Send in the clones ...
Lucas needs to lay off of the bong hits and remember what made the first three so good ... it wasn't the acting (some of it is horrible) or even the special effects ...
Like Stephen King once wrote: Its the story, stupid. The story was lacking in Episode One ... that and the ridiculous Jar-Jar Binks. I kept hoping that little thing would get squished. http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/contrib/anym/pyth.gif Of course, I'll still go see Episode Two when it comes out ... kinda like a moth to a flame. MM ~~Still has his Star Wars stuff from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ... |
Yet another reason to avoid it altogether...
The Phantom Menace was so bad, sterile, pointless and boring that I don't know if I will see Episode 2 at all. After all, if I wanted to see a two-hour commercial for toys, I could tape Saturday morning 'toons and fast-forward through the features… I have come to the conclusion that Star Wars was a fluke, The Empire Stikes Back was a miracle and that the rest of the movies will be as bad as Return and Phantom. I must confess that some of this angst might be residual disgust from the latest mega-disappointment science fiction film to defile the screen. xoxo~ Gaz Lowering his expectations to match Lucas' recent offerings. |
Man - I liked TPM! (must be one of the <i>very</i> few here)
TPM was all about setting the stage for the future conflict. The political intrigue was subtle and fairly well developed IMO. There were weaknesses to be sure: JarJar is an aberation that MUST be destroyed! The entire Gungan race was poorly developed and offensive. The kid who played Anakin was annoying - especially when he's in the middle of a space battle spouting 'cool!' The race was rather pointless and merely acted as a 'filler' - it was false tension. The announcer was <i>annoying</i>! I liked Palpatine - soon-to-be emperor... thought his character was as malevolent as it was sneaky and deceitful. The Jedi were made out to be much more badass than they were in the original films(as it should be - it was a lost art by Ep IV). Darth Maul was wicked... of course, he was played by Ray Park - a great martial artist(FYI: Park choreographed all of the sabre battles in TPM. He also did the swordplay choreography for The Princess Bride - I movie I love). The ship designs were fantastic and the fx were outstanding. I would wager if they were to release TPM WITHOUT JarJar, most of those who said they disliked it would say otherwise. |
I did not know that ANYONE liked TPM!
HC_Chief- I hated TPM. It had no heart or soul. Eye candy with no substance whatsoever. Lucas spent decades on a film to "set the stage" and failed to deliver any entertainment with all that time and money. Star Wars managed to deliver and exciting, moving film with nothing but a quick crawl before the opening sequence. I did not care one whit what happened to any of the characters. The biggest set piece of the film [the race] was pointless. I did not feel a thing when one of the main characters was killed. I was subjected to a two-hour commercial for figurines, lunch boxes, book and other tie-in merchandise. Jar-jar was insult on top of injury, but TPW would have been just as empty without him. I see no difference between Planet of the Apes and The Phantom Menace. They both failed to make any connection to the characters. Both were vapid, empty, pretty sequels to charming, innovative films. Both were stunning disappointments foisted upon an unsuspecting public by Directors I used to enjoy. Both were clear warnings to avoid these directors in the future. xoxo~ Gaz Having troubled thoughts about Lord of the Rings. |
Wow.
Tell us how you <i>really</i> feel about TPM, Gaz ;) Is Lucas directing Ep II? I thought he was only producing the next two films... as he did with TESB and ROTJ I disagree re: as bad as POTA. TPM actually had scale and scope - it ranged over several planets and environments. POTA looked as though the whole thing was filmed on a backlot. :rolleyes: |
Planet of the Apes was a "sequel"?:p
|
|
I don't know Kyle...
It really doesn't bother me as much. I mean, if you think about it, there are several references to the Clone Wars in the other movies. From the looks of things, the clones are where the Stormtroopers come from. It just sounds like this movie explains how the Empire got started.... Ok, I just proved I'm a geek. |
What I really think about TPM:
HC_Chief- Polish it as you will, a turd ranging over several planets and environments is still just a turd. xoxo~ Gaz Insulting turds by comparison. |
Actually I see both your points (Gaz, HC_Chief). Yes it was disapointing and yes it did lay the foundation for where the characters were going/their origin (Palpatine, etc).
I also can see that the cloning is in regard to the Storm Troopers. Actually, there is a manufacturing for "Dark" Troopers I believe that are supposed to be the elite badasses. Yes, Gaz is right about the "Marketing" of TPM to produce/re-create the figurines that were SO popular years ago after Star Wars (these things are worth an absolute fortune today!). The centering of the movie around the Pod Race was rediculous. The scene with the war with Gungan I thought was cool but did not hold a candle to the attack on Hoth in ESB. That is the type of stuff I was hoping to see but only better with TODAYS modern technology. I wanted to be blown away. After the show I felt screwed and only hoped that the second movie would somehow "tie" it altogether and make TPM worthwhile. ~this is just my .02 |
Lucas hasn't made a decent movie since "TESB". "ROTD" was an ominous clue of kiddie-crap to come. I can only hope he gets his head together for the next one and gets back to making serious sci-fi.
|
Quote:
Actually the "Clone Wars" were a issue of cloning Jedi Knights to fight for the Darkside |
One of Georges' buds? ???
http://www.marijuana.org/GraphixFold...hix3/bud10.gif |
What Priority said...
The Clone Wars resulted in a great amount of unrest, due to the Empire's quest to "clone" Jedi's to fight for their side. See, the problem with the Sith was that, in addition to Emperor Palpatine, only one Sith could exist at a time. One Darth Maul or Darth Vader obviously wasn't enough to stop all of those Jedi's. Of course, the Clone Wars were indirectly quite successful. The cloning was largely unsuccessful, but the end result was a handful of living Jedi's and the ability for the Empire to maneuver unopposed... |
Gaz - One of the reasons that Lucas didn't make Episode 1 first is one the technology and two the fact that it was a setup for the rest of the movies and not a great story on its own.
JarJar was useless like no other charecter in any star wars movie before, and it was his charecter that really made it feel like an add for toys, without him I think it would have been a much easier movie. May he be stepped on by an AT-AT. I didn't mind the movie and thought the light saber fights rocked, of course the sword fights in the Princess Bride was well done (thanks for the info on the HC), but the movie could have told the story a little better then that. |
Ray Park also did the swordplay for Sleepy Hollow
|
ChiefPriority:
Thank you for clearing the "cloning" issue up. I was not really sure but remember something about it in one of the Star Wars games. My brother is a Star Wars fanatic and has read 98% of the books that take place (written by several authors) after Episode VI. |
Big Daddy--
That sure is pretty. http://www.mpz.co.uk/cwm/contrib/dvv/cwmstone2.gif Some of that would've at least made Episode I tolerable. I'm with Gaz on this one ... Episode one was a total disappointment and an insult to the "older" fans of the series. MM ~~Wants to have "buds" like Lucas' ... ;) |
Did not get to finish...
My brother said that the next 2 movies should be DARK and that the title of "Attack of the Clones" makes perfect sense and should be awesome. Based on what Htismaqe and ChiefPriority have said, perhaps I should not have judged a movie by it's title:( We shall see. |
Attack of the overrated Director.
If it is not a great story on its own, it should not be foisted upon the public. Certainly, the public should not be asked to pay for the privilege of seeing Lucas fumble around, trying feebly to get his **** together before delivering the real deal. How many great films needed a boring "set-up" film before the real thing? There are very few films that I actively hated. The Phantom Menace is one of them. Along with The Thin Red Line, Lost in Space and Planet of the Apes, they make up the worst, most over-hyped, most disappointing films of the last decade. xoxo~ Gaz Cheated by Lucas and wants his money back. |
I really came on just to say that I really enjoyed The Return of the Jedi, true it was weaker than the Empire Strikes Back but it was in my opinion more cohesive and better told than the first movie. The first movie had the advantage of being so far out ahead of its time for special effects that it carried and disguised some very real weakness. Watch it today and I think you will see what I mean.
Meanwhile the Phantom Menace was just plain weak, yes the light saber battles were well done but it just could not make up for the overall weakness. Finally, after over 15 years you would have thought that special effects could have exceeded the level of the original three movies but in reality they were bland. I hope the next one is better but truthfully have very low expectations. |
I know there are differences in expectations, but C'mon Gaz, to give fluff [enjoyable, eye-catching fluff, but fluff nevertheless] like "Charlie's Angels" a pass and then to rail so mightily against TPM. . . While I had occasion to roll my eyes at some performances, and while it did not capture the spirit of the original Star Wars [what has?], I enjoyed the visuals, the sounds, and the spectacle a great deal. The Underwater World was beautifully realized. The Pod Race was exciting.
Was it the best movie ever, no. Was it a turd, no. In fact does it beat 80% of the action films to come out since [Driven, Pearl Harbor, Gone in 60 Seconds, etc.] IMO yes. That being said, we are about to be graced with the return of moviemaking the way it should be. Apocalypse Now Redux, with its brilliant visuals [sans CGI, hallelujah] and non-conventional storyline, is a welcome palette cleanser in the season of focus-grouped, CGI nothingness. |
The thing I can't stand is how Lucas is casting Anakin Skywalker A.K.A. Darth Vader. The kid in this one looks like a pretty boy wuss.
|
CP - Being a Jedi has nothing to do with outward body strength, you should know that. Yoda is a badass and he is a muppet... The idea is to start off with someone who is somewhat innocent and show the progression to the darkside.
Stryker - They should be pretty dark, I just hope they are, otherwise it will be a complete failure. |
The first title I'd heard through the grapevine was actually "The Clone Wars" which I also thought was weak, but that's immeasurably better than "Attack of the Clones". I mean, geez, "Attack of the 50 foot woman," "Radar Men from the Moon". I know the guy loves early "b" movie sci-fi and serials, but come on, "Attack of the Clones". Not a good name for a movie in 2002...
I know all the clone history (I'm a geek too, I guess) and that still doesn't excuse this title. I hope it changes prior to release, but since this name comes from "official" channels... I'd heard they're dark as well, btw, so I'm holding out some small measure of hope that the movie won't be as campy as the title. |
Priority,
And that breaks from casting Mark Hammil as Luke how? |
George's bong??? http://www.jamesglass.com/tube.jpg
Just kidding guys. I have enjoyed all of the movies but then again I have not read the books. I think after reading the series you have a built in expectation and it is much easier to become disappointed. I have to admit that PM tended to wander at times and was a bit dilluted. My expectations were definately higher for that movie. BIG DADDY NOW WHERE DID THAT BUD GO? |
Quote:
Which person comes to mind when aperson thinks about Darth Vader, and the obvious answer is James Earl Jones. Anakin SkyWalker is supposedly the messiah of the force , and seeing this kid as Anakin disappoints me. When I see Anakin in my mind I see an athlete ,or who person who can do it all. My Anakin looks like he could be turned. I would have casted in the Brittish Circuit , and obtain the services of Heath Ledger to play the part. |
Charlie's Angels kicked TPM butt!
JC_Johnny- Charlie’s Angels delivered exactly what it promised. Yes, it was fluff, but it was perfect fluff. Light, frothy, with lots of cute girls, butt-kicking, cleavage, shaken booty and several winking nods to the original. The Phantom Menace on the other hand, was to be Star Wars done with state of the art technology. It had a modicum of eye candy, but nothing more spectacular than what has gone before. It did not even come close to being worth two decades of preparation. Charlie’s Angels delivered. The Phantom Menace did not. You have only to look at the opinions that liked TPM. Did anyone enjoy it for itself? I have seen no opinions stating that. The apologists for this blatant bit of product placement point out that it is a “set up” for future films and they anticipate that Lucas will trot out the good stuff later on. That is, IMO, weak. If Lucas cannot make THREE entertaining, engaging and watchable films, then he should get out of the trilogy business immediately. Hey George! Check this out: http://www.theforce.net/theater/shortfilms/duality/ A couple of guys got it right on a fraction of your budget and in a fraction of the time. xoxo~ Gaz Wiping his dirty bits with TPM and Lucas. |
|
I will admit that I am one who believes that it (PM) is a “set up” for future films and I anticipate that Lucas will trot out the good stuff later on. BUT, I went into the theater with that in mind the whole time. I did not expect to see part 1 (fourth), with the knowledge of 4, 5 and 6 and expect to leave the theater saying "Damn that was GREAT". I left the theater putting the pieces together and anxious for the next move to help me make sense of it all. I think it is very difficult to pull this off and will give Lucas the benefit of the doubt and TRY to make sense of it all after part II.
IF "Attack of the Clones" does not piece together the 1st (PM) and the KNOWN end (4, 5 and 6) in a HIGHLY EXPECTED fashion (my own), and leave me saying GOD I CAN NOT WAIT...I MUST SEE PART III. THEN I will agree with Gaz and gratiously EAT CROW (possibly wishing I would have seen his point now). I also think that Star Wars is a "FAMILY" movie. I expect stupid creatures like Yoda and Jar Jar for the "KIDS" sake. Children enjoy these things and Star Wars is a fantasy tale for all ages. Quite simply, it has something for everyone. Personally, if it was an "R" rated story with lots of action and violence then it would have been awesome to probably 95% of us no matter what the story was. :D Just my opinion. |
The original Star Wars was NOT a movie I would have taken a 5 year old to see, nor was TESB. The decline began when those frickin' furballs from ROTD reared there ever-so-cute mugs. That movie and its successor have suffered because Lucas now wants to market to children as young as 3-5. What a bummer. Star Wars belongs in the PG-13 rating category.
|
ALL of the Star Wars movie titles are rather dumb, if you think about it.
"The Empire Strikes Back"? |
What would you prefer, "Star Wars 2"?
|
Looks like Obi Wan hates the title as much as I do (from www.Chud.com)
"This is hardly a news story, but what the heck. Popcorn caught up with Ewan McGregor at the Hollywood Film Festival and asked him what he thought of the title of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Ewan, who you must know plays Obi Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy, echoed the sentiments of many fans online, calling Attack of the Clones "a terrible, terrible title." Ewan had no idea what the title was until he was told by journalists, and said "nobody tells me anything relating to the Star Wars films."" |
I wonder if the clones in the movie will be the people that listen to the Jim Rome show or if it will be those cloned sheep over in Europe somewhere? :)
|
Brock:
With out trying to be rude, how can you say that Star Wars deserves a PG-13 rating? There is no sex or brief nudity, and not one single curse word. The worst things I can see is a kiss between Han and Princess Leia, the loss of Lukes hand (which gets replaced), Jabba the Hut eating a frog, and an Ewok dies (which is no different than Old Yeller or Sounder). I do not believe that a 3-5 year old could really grasp the concepts anyway. Perhaps my use of the word children should have been more refind. |
Gaz - I totally agree with your list... minus TPM ;)
You STILL have that link to Duality? Man - I posted that on here many moons ago... :) THAT is a kickass short film! Three guys, a green screen, and a couple of Macintosh computers. Eat your heart out ILM |
HC, there was a great 18 minute short on I-film a few weeks ago, complete with two double-bladed lightsabers in a duel, but it's not on there any more. It was cooler than duality IMHO.
I like the one I linked to a few posts ago... Mentos! |
Quote:
|
<a href="http://homepage.mac.com/dalvarado/.Movies/clones.mov">Click here to see Ewan MacGregor & Nicole Kidman's reaction to "Attack of The Clones"</a>
NOTE: Kidman's reaction says it all... :D |
Brock:
I concur. |
While the title is not the best, it is accurate.
Obi Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia discussed the fall of good and the Jedi Knights during the Clone Wars. Remember this was a film made in 1976 and 'clone' was a new word on the shelf. Letting his Star Wars nerd side show and displaying it proudly. Personally, I liked the Phantom Menace. I think that Lucas drew a much more narrow story line and added crap like Jar Jar and the underwater city after he thought he would not capture a younger audience with a quarter of a century old story about a Senator who will one day be emporer and steal a young boy from innocence. Pull out Jar Jar, the Gungan, and Samuel Jackson and you actually have a good story line. |
Quote:
Not Mace Windo, he's one bad Mutha ****er :D |
And more importantly, the title is not yet set in stone.
The original title for Return of the Jedi was Revenge of the Jedi Maybe Lucas did watch too many Triffid movies as a kid, but he still puts out a decent product. Gaz - Not to attack you, but it is obvious that we look for different things in movies. I went to see MI2 after your rave reviews and thought it was one of the worst pieces of trash with some of the best special effects..... turning a motorcycle at 120 mph on its front wheel while the back wheel is airborne.... the bad guy talking forever before striking at Cruise giving him the chance to kill him.... Dougray Scott was miserable and predictable with his acting.... Thandie Newton will never have a serious role in a movie due to her bad acting... Hopkins was hyped as a lead character and only played a little more than a cameo role... bad accents... the dropping of the original MI series - the team concept... and really really bad lines like "You know what was the hardest part about playing you Hunt? Grinning like an idiot every 15 minutes!" and "Hunt! You should have killed me!" and "Now this is what's known as getting your gun off!" Robert Towne and John Woo are the kings of action scripts and directing. How dare the men of Chinatown and Faceoff attempt to deliver me this sewage passed as a movie. I expected at least an adequate believable job. Instead I left the theatre wondering how my twenty bucks could have been spent more wisely. While I believe that the Phantom Menace was an adequate piece that could have used a good bit of editing, MI2 was beyond salvage. One man's treasure..... |
Wolfman, that's very true. I think there is a chance the title might be changed, and maybe the response that he's gotten since releasing it will be the impetus to get it changed...
(Revenge of the Jedi was a cool name, but didn't fit the movie. Revenge is the dark side, and as we all know, the "good" guys won). |
This Star Wars crap has really got you guys going. Too much to respond too, so some random thoughts:
1. The first two were obviously the best. The last two are screaming to be released on DVD - so you can automatically skip the little kiddie BS scenes and get to the good stuff. My favorite PARTS of Star Wars are in Return of the Jedi - the scenes between Luke, Vader and the Emperor (one of the greatest villians EVER). Think back to opening night in June of '83 when Vader chucked the Emperor down the shaft - have you ever heard a louder cheer in a theater? It was like Arrowhead during a crushing victory over Denver! Unfortunately, these great, stirring scenes are intermixed with those mother-fucking TEDDY BEARS :mad: GOD I HATE THE EWOKS :mad: TEDDY BEARS CAN'T KILL STORMTROOPERS :mad: ARRRGGGHHHHH :mad: 2. Of course, the Ewoks :mad: are nothing compared to JAR JAR :mad: I HATE THAT DAMNED THING EVEN WORSE! :mad: Him and all the rest of those fucking gungun things. My only hope is that in the last movie, as soon as Anikan goes over to the dark side he puts his lightsaber right through Jar Jar's friggin head! 3. Could Lucas have found a worse actor to play Anikan? I pretty much despised him, too. Where the fuck was the little kid from Sixth Sense? Thank God he WON'T be in the next one. 4. These specific points aside, I loved all the movies (well, loved the first three and liked the last one). While "Attack of the Clones" sounds silly as hell when you first hear it, it won't look so bad fading into the distance during the opening credits. Besides, they still might change the title at the last minute. And of course, the STAR WARS part is what matters. 5. I hope they get a new villian as cool as Darth Maul. He was almost as vile as the emperor. 6. I'll see the next one and the one after that, on opening day as always. Lucas has me hooked. I do hope he stops this pandering to five-year-olds shit, but even if he doesn't, I'll deal with it. 7. Natalie Portman is a couple of D-cups away from being a total babe. Perhaps she'll grow some for the next movie :D 8. Kind of funny that this title was announced right in the middle of all this real life cloning shit. How about some extra irony? 9. I sure hope they put the original movies out on DVD soon, so I can buy the damned things all over again. Me and 100 million other chumps out there. Thanks, George. :mad: 10. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU! |
And also with you.
|
It also occurs to me that "Spaceballs" is in my DVD-drive. So may the SCHWARTZ be with you, as well! :D
You have the ring... and I see your Schwartz is as big as mine... |
Man, been a long time since I last saw Spaceballs. Always got a kick out of that flick. ;)
|
Me too. I picked it up on DVD a couple of months ago. I know I'm in the minority on this one, but it's my favorite Mel Brooks movie. I guess its sci-fi freak in me.
Some great lines: "Now you see why Evil will always win, because Good is dumb." "What's the matter, Colonel Sanders? CHICKEN?" "Just what we need... a Druish princess." And of course... "What's your name?" "Barf." "NO. Your full name." "Barfalemew." :D John Candy was awesome! |
Lucas also writes some pretty reeruned scripts.
Anakin: Mom, I'm leaving. Come with us. Anakin's Mom: No son, my place is here. AS A SLAVE????? Utterly stupid. |
Yeah, that was pretty dumb. I guess she was afraid the Jedi Knights couldn't protect her from the flying bug guy.
|
Ok, Ok, Ok, enough about the flick. Can we just get back to what he was smoking now?
|
No idea.....
but whatever it is, it isn't leading to the creativity the drugs he took back in the 70's gave 'em...:D |
Woo Rules! Lucas Sucks!
Wolfman- Sorry I led you astray on MI2. I thought I made it clear that MI2 was Woo Fluff. If you go to a Woo film expecting good acting and a tight plot, you will be disappointed. Woo is high octane butt-kicking. Don't expect anything else from him. The Star Wars films were throwbacks to the good old fun action science fiction films. Likeable characters, dazzling special effects, heroic daring and a bit of romance. The Phantom Menace had special effects, although they were no more dazzling than other dud science fiction epics like Lost in Space or Event Horizon. TPM bore only the slightest resemblance to the earlier films. It had none of the fun or adventure and was simply filler Lucas used to pry money out of me and advertise his toys. As you said, one man's treasure… xoxo~ Gaz Throwing TPM out with the trash. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:23 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.