Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Even if they're as mediocre as the Prequels were, even if they're worse, it won't get anywhere near the amount of hate the Prequels did... by virtue of the quality of the films that preceded the Prequels compared to the quality of the Prequels themselves. The Prequels were coming off of 3 movies that were considered absolute classics, pop culture phenomena, so people were shocked when the Prequels weren't very good. The new films are coming off the Prequels, I think the general feeling is "It can't get any worse."
When an NFL team suddenly goes from 14-2 to 3-13 people get really upset.

It's rare that a property that takes an extended period of time off and then comes back will get celebrated as the equal of it's predecessor, though as I write this I also think of Aliens, Bride of Frankestein, or Terminator 2. The Prequels, Indiana Jones, The Hobbit, the Universal Monsters sequels of the 40's are all generally less well-regarded (though that's not to say totally without merit.) To say nothing of the folks who had nothing to do with the original property that decide a sequel to a standalone work is necessary like that Scarlet book that was all the rage in the 90's(?) or Psycho II.

I don't begrudge the original creators for trying if they actually have something new and interesting to say, but it really only proves the adage 'You can't go home again.' I'm cup-half-full about it even if I think the properties are better off being left alone.

I'm optimistic the new films will be good, but I also have misgivings they're being made by committee and won't necessarily have anything new or interesting to say. Plus, like so many who were hurt by Darth Vader starting out as whiny brat, there's a part of me that says to these filmmakers 'whatever happens in this movie, you don't get to change the fact that Luke saved his father and Han and Leia lived happily ever after.'

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by happydood

It's rare that a property that takes an extended period of time off and then comes back will get celebrated as the equal of it's predecessor, though as I write this I also think of Aliens, Bride of Frankestein, or Terminator 2. The Prequels, Indiana Jones, The Hobbit, the Universal Monsters sequels of the 40's are all generally less well-regarded (though that's not to say totally without merit.) To say nothing of the folks who had nothing to do with the original property that decide a sequel to a standalone work is necessary like that Scarlet book that was all the rage in the 90's(?) or Psycho II.

I don't begrudge the original creators for trying if they actually have something new and interesting to say, but it really only proves the adage 'You can't go home again.' I'm cup-half-full about it even if I think the properties are better off being left alone.

I'm optimistic the new films will be good, but I also have misgivings they're being made by committee and won't necessarily have anything new or interesting to say. Plus, like so many who were hurt by Darth Vader starting out as whiny brat, there's a part of me that says to these filmmakers 'whatever happens in this movie, you don't get to change the fact that Luke saved his father and Han and Leia lived happily ever after.'

Yeah, I'm not optimistic that the new film will be truly great... but on the other hand at this point I couldn't care less if it flat-out sucks. To me all of Abrams' films are good (but disposable) popcorn flicks. Fun, entertaining for sure... but pretty generic and not terribly memorable. That's what I expect from this new entry.

After watching the Prequels, in particular Phantom Menace, I felt hugely disappointed. I almost couldn't believe that Lucas, the driving force behind the originals, could manage to blow it so completely (and I didn't think Jedi was all that fantastic compared to the first two either. I thought it was pretty good, I expected the Prequels to be at the worst "pretty good" like Jedi.) Instead of a John Williams soundtrack, one long prolonged sound effect of a balloon deflating would've been more fitting for the Prequels. Abrams doesn't have that sort of history in my book, and what could he possibly mess up? The Prequels were already bad, he can't ruin an already-ruined franchise.

If the new film is a "classic" I'll be completely shocked - I don't think Abrams has that level of quality in him. If it's good (and I expect it to be) I'll be like "Well, that was fun" in the same way I was after seeing his Trek movies (then I'll forget about it 10 seconds later). If it sucks I'll see it as no more than a continuation of the streak started by the Prequels (so with that mindset, it won't bother me if it has nothing new or interesting to say).

There's really nothing that can be done at this point to generate the amount of backlash that the Prequels generated.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Yeah, I'm not optimistic that the new film will be truly great... but on the other hand at this point I couldn't care less if it flat-out sucks. To me all of Abrams' films are good (but disposable) popcorn flicks. Fun, entertaining for sure... but pretty generic and not terribly memorable. That's what I expect from this new entry.

After watching the Prequels, in particular Phantom Menace, I felt hugely disappointed. I almost couldn't believe that Lucas, the driving force behind the originals, could manage to blow it so completely (and I didn't think Jedi was all that fantastic compared to the first two either. I thought it was pretty good, I expected the Prequels to be at the worst "pretty good" like Jedi.) Instead of a John Williams soundtrack, one long prolonged sound effect of a balloon deflating would've been more fitting for the Prequels. Abrams doesn't have that sort of history in my book, and what could he possibly mess up? The Prequels were already bad, he can't ruin an already-ruined franchise.

If the new film is a "classic" I'll be completely shocked - I don't think Abrams has that level of quality in him. If it's good (and I expect it to be) I'll be like "Well, that was fun" in the same way I was after seeing his Trek movies (then I'll forget about it 10 seconds later). If it sucks I'll see it as no more than a continuation of the streak started by the Prequels (so with that mindset, it won't bother me if it has nothing new or interesting to say).

There's really nothing that can be done at this point to generate the amount of backlash that the Prequels generated.

My take exactly on the Trek movies and my chief worry here. At this point, of course no amount of hemming and hawing about what went wrong with the Prequels could change them, though like The Hobbit, I believe there's one really good movie's worth of ideas buried under a lot of pretty visuals and some some really good music. Say what you will about Lucas, he had something to say. He just took too long and too roundabout and too clumsy a way of saying it.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

After watching the Prequels, in particular Phantom Menace, I felt hugely disappointed. I almost couldn't believe that Lucas, the driving force behind the originals, could manage to blow it so completely (and I didn't think Jedi was all that fantastic compared to the first two either. I thought it was pretty good, I expected the Prequels to be at the worst "pretty good" like Jedi.) Instead of a John Williams soundtrack, one long prolonged sound effect of a balloon deflating would've been more fitting for the Prequels.

By the time ROTJ was in production, most of the people around Lucas for the first two films that would've reality-checked some of his bad ideas (which any creative person can have, mind you) and gotten him to reconsider them were no longer part of Lucasfilm.

By the time the prequels were in production, all Lucas had were yes-men who never questioned Lucas' worst impulses (as manifestly shown by the PT films' bonus features). His basic creativity was still there, but without anyone to rein him in and/or sharpen his material the finished product suffered greatly.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Even if they're as mediocre as the Prequels were, even if they're worse, it won't get anywhere near the amount of hate the Prequels did... by virtue of the quality of the films that preceded the Prequels compared to the quality of the Prequels themselves. The Prequels were coming off of 3 movies that were considered absolute classics, pop culture phenomena, so people were shocked when the Prequels weren't very good. The new films are coming off the Prequels, I think the general feeling is "It can't get any worse."
When an NFL team suddenly goes from 14-2 to 3-13 people get really upset.

That would seem like the logical explanation...but logic has a way of going right out the window on SW message boards.
Clock is ticking and I can't wait to see the next, exciting, chapter in the SW message board saga.

[DarkDune]

Films 7, 8, and 9 have the "benefit" of how poorly received 1, 2, and 3 were in spite of the greatness of 4, 5, and 6. So 7, 8, and 9 should most certainly be better than 1, 2, and 3.

[balthazar_bee]

I quite like 3, so if 7 is as good as that one, I'll be quite satisfied.

[Geoff D]

I agree with Stinky's assessment of JJ, he makes popcorn fayre par excellence (think Michael Bay with a slightly higher IQ) but nothing truly great, and I'm expecting the same from Ep VII: a rip-roaring ride that will fly in one side of my head and exit the other side just as quickly.

[imsounoriginal]

Buddy of mine and I were talking about how Episode VII looks so similar to the original, I really hope it's not another STiD in terms of Abrams just re-purposing an already-used story for a new cast.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Abrams doesn't have that sort of history in my book, and what could he possibly mess up?

...I can't think of a single thing.

[reneeatworld]

Has anybody owned the 2011 and the 2015 version of the complete saga? Are there any differences in the two sets besides the packaging? I did notice they have the same barcode.

Are the special features worth making a purchase? I currently own all six films, but in the trilogy sets, so they're bare bones except for some commentary. I didn't love the movies, but I did enjoy them, and I'm a special feature fan when it comes to movies.

I'm considering purchasing the complete sage for the special features and reselling my two trilogy sets, but I don't know if the special features are worth it. I'm also unsure of which packaging includes better features, etc. Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

[Thomas Guycott]

Both complete saga sets are identical in content save for packaging.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by Arawn

...I can't think of a single thing.

Still far less disappointing than any of the Prequels.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Wow, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor premiered 30 years ago tonight on ABC. Anybody else watch them when they first aired? Caravan of Courage is ok for a TV movie, but I always really enjoyed The Battle for Endor. Far superior to Caravan to me. Teek is awesome. What are the chances that Disney releases the two ewok TV movies on blu?

[JackKnightStarman]

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi

Wow, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor premiered 30 years ago tonight on ABC. Anybody else watch them when they first aired? Caravan of Courage is ok for a TV movie, but I always really enjoyed The Battle for Endor. Far superior to Caravan to me. Teek is awesome. What are the chances that Disney releases the two ewok TV movies on blu?

No I didn't watch. I hated everything ewok that there is after seeing Jedi. So no, I wouldn't even care if they were released. As far as I am concerned, people who ***** about the prequel Trilogy, and like Jedi and the ewok movies lose all credibility when complaining about anything Star Wars related. Those were the true start of the decline.

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi

What are the chances that Disney releases the two ewok TV movies on blu?

Hopefully by next year, since it seems too late to tie it in with The Force Awakens. Best case scenario; if not next year, then by 2017.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by rickah88

I'm actually curious to see what the hate will be for the next three films.
I suspect if none can be found it will be grandfathered back to Lucas.

Abrams gets plenty of hate already, no one's gonna shy away from blaming him if the next film disappoints as well.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Originally Posted by JackKnightStarman

No I didn't watch. I hated everything ewok that there is after seeing Jedi. So no, I wouldn't even care if they were released. As far as I am concerned, people who ***** about the prequel Trilogy, and like Jedi and the ewok movies lose all credibility when complaining about anything Star Wars related. Those were the true start of the decline.

Ah, come on, Noa's heartfelt goodbye to Teek at the end gets me every time. Not sure why Teek couldn't just leave with Noa though.

[Jakdonark]

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi

Wow, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor premiered 30 years ago tonight on ABC. Anybody else watch them when they first aired? Caravan of Courage is ok for a TV movie, but I always really enjoyed The Battle for Endor. Far superior to Caravan to me. Teek is awesome. What are the chances that Disney releases the two ewok TV movies on blu?

I saw both ewok movies on their first broadcasts, I was and still am a Star Wars super freak. I watched the cartoons and I remember being so excited to see The Great Heep. I never saw the movie for years and in the early 90s when I started getting back into SW I rented them from a local video store. Really brought me back. In the late 90s I got both on Laserdisc. I then transferred them to a DVD and sold the lasers for a good price, but later wished I hadn't sold them. Then they came out on DVD, bought those but never got around to eat bin them again. The set remained sealed and I finally decided to sell it last year for a very good price, but again later regretted it. Then one day I was checking out a blowout store that had bins full of ex rental DVDs, some in original cases, but most in jewel cases. And I found one! And the Droids and ewoks animated DVDs, and clone wars animated vol 2 (the original series). All were $1 each. That was a happy day.

I was going to watch them all before the new one, but I'm now going to hold off until January. Just to keep the movies fresh as they are. But I definitely have some nostalgia for all of the 80s Star Wars stuff.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by svenge

Still far less disappointing than any of the Prequels.

Absolutely untrue. Once again, you don't get to take one of the most iconic moments of Sci-Fi film history and repurpose it to really manipulative and mercenary ends to try and link a weak movie to something greater. Though I know the same could be said about much of the prequels. But STID felt like any number of fast food restaurants trying to be hip or health-conscious. They're neither and they fool nobody.

And again, I think at least Episode III has something original to say even if it should have been said in one movie alone.