Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[toddly6666]

Do I have to be from a younger generation to even consider that the prequels are similar (in tone or whatever else) to the classic OT? I just cant see anything connected between the two trilogies.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Do I have to be from a younger generation to even consider that the prequels are similar (in tone or whatever else) to the classic OT? I just cant see anything connected between the two trilogies.

Possibly. I recently watched the whole series in chronoligical order with my 10 year old niece for her first time. She did get into it, probably more than I would have expected. I feel it was easier for her to watch the prequels versus the originals. She probably connected better with the modernized look and feel of the prequels. I dont think she ever got bored - and honestly she was asking more questions during the prequels since the "plot" of those is rather convoluted and confusing! Overall, by the time we got to ROTJ - she was hooked!

But, being only 10 years old she probably isnt the best test case for your question.

[Kryptonic]

I like all of the Star Wars movies.

[spanky87]

Howard Stern: I dont know where you would even begin writing a new Star Wars, cause I feel like they f'ed up the last 3.

JJ Abrams: Well keep in mind the last 3 were prequels.

Howard Stern: So where are you picking this thing up?

JJ: Ours will take place after the original 3.

Howard Stern: So you don't have to deal with all that garbage, well I dont want to say garbage, but all the "baggage" from the prequels.

JJ: Right. Yeah, that's history. Which is good.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

I like all of the Star Wars movies.

Exactly!
Lucas has given me so much more than he has taken away.

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by Elbie

Episode 3 is great....F the haters!

Originally Posted by TheWildWhelk

I'm jokingly considered a heretic by my friends for thinking that Revenge Of The Sith is infact the second-best Star Wars film out of the entire sequence after The Empire Strikes Back. Yes. The film is superior to both Return Of The Jedi and even the original Star Wars.

I would say Revenge of the Sith holds up better than A New Hope, but I don't necessarily think that it is better, considering the time the original was made, how fresh and innovative it was, and the impact it had since it was released.

Return of the Jedi is half-great and half-awful. As everyone knows, all the overdone Ewok crap ruins the movie. I'm tempted to even think Attack of the Clones may even be better, or at least a tie with Jedi, but I would really need to watch just both those movies back to back for a fair comparison.

As of now, I rank them:

1) Empire Strikes Back
2) A New Hope
3) Revenge of the Sith
4) Return of the Jedi
5) Attack of the Clones
6) The Phantom Menace

Originally Posted by rickah88

Lucas has given me so much more than he has taken away.

I feel the same way. George Lucas hasn't always made the best decisions when steering the franchise, but none of it, with all the greatness and success it has, would have ever have existed without him. I just hope Disney, Kennedy, and Abrams can improve on its minor failings and add to what makes Star Wars so great and enduring.

[Ben_UK]

Originally Posted by Forever Knight

I do hope the Lightsaber fights in this new movie are as badass as the ones in the prequels.

I would take spontaneous looking, natural sabre fights over the overly rehearsed and obviously scripted OTT fights of the prequels.

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by Ben_UK

I would take spontaneous looking, natural sabre fights over the overly rehearsed and obviously scripted OTT fights of the prequels.

Martial arts are alway rehearsed, whether in movies or real life. By being spontaneous, it needs to look real and reactionary, but not sloppy and unskillful. The techniques need to be executed as if by trained masters, but not so much like a step-by-step dance number.

[Ernest Rister]

I think the original Star Wars is a masterpiece. It's a little jolting to hear it described as boring by younger folk. That film is a fantastic narrative machine, and sets up the entire mythos beautifully. Granted, it was saved in the editing room -- in Empire of Dreams, we see before and after versions of scenes, and the "before" versions play a whole lot like Lucas' work in the Prequels.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

I think the original Star Wars is a masterpiece. It's a little jolting to hear it described as boring by younger folk. That film is a fantastic narrative machine, and sets up the entire mythos beautifully. Granted, it was saved in the editing room -- in Empire of Dreams, we see before and after versions of scenes, and the "before" versions play a whole lot like Lucas' work in the Prequels.

I'm not a big Star Wars fan, I like the films it's just I don't feel all that attached to them, mainly because everyone else is so attached I just sort of feel a bit indifferent towards the film. I even like parts of Episode 1 and 2 (I think 3 is really good despite it's set backs).

But I'd never call Episode 4 boring, or deny it's status as a "masterpiece". There's a reason why so many films try to emulate the success of the series, and even the series itself.

Anyway, slightly off topic question, but do you guys think we'll get to a certain point where a trilogy of Star Wars films will become a regular thing, like once every decade, we'll have directors tackle Star Wars: Episode 19, 20 and 21. or do we think Star Wars will one day run out of it's momentum.

[beadelf]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm not a big Star Wars fan, I like the films it's just I don't feel all that attached to them, mainly because everyone else is so attached I just sort of feel a bit indifferent towards the film. I even like parts of Episode 1 and 2 (I think 3 is really good despite it's set backs).

But I'd never call Episode 4 boring, or deny it's status as a "masterpiece". There's a reason why so many films try to emulate the success of the series, and even the series itself.

Anyway, slightly off topic question, but do you guys think we'll get to a certain point where a trilogy of Star Wars films will become a regular thing, like once every decade, we'll have directors tackle Star Wars: Episode 19, 20 and 21. or do we think Star Wars will one day run out of it's momentum.

i think it already run out of momentum, the first 3 were enough! the prequels are ok here and there (im glad we got clone was series) but enough is enough. I think abrams should have focused on star trek or something else.

[Darkstream]

It's funny how everyone always refers to the original Star Wars movie as "the original Star Wars" movie.

I was doing that all my life, but then after having a son, who has become a big fan as he got older (he's 7 now), I had a hard time referring to that film, without him getting confused about which one I was talking about, because to him they are all "Star Wars" and he doesn't quite get what "original" means. For awhile I kept referring to it as "the first one" and then he'd correct me and say: "The Phantom Menace is the first one, Dad." I eventually gave in and call it "A New Hope" now, even though it wasn't originally released with that name.

It probably would have been a lot easier if we had just used the Episode numbers instead of titles, but where's the fun in that?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

It's funny how everyone always refers to the original Star Wars movie as "the original Star Wars" movie.

I was doing that all my life, but then after having a son, who has become a big fan as he got older (he's 7 now), I had a hard time referring to that film, without him getting confused about which one I was talking about, because to him they are all "Star Wars" and he doesn't quite get what "original" means. For awhile I kept referring to it as "the first one" and then he'd correct me and say: "The Phantom Menace is the first one, Dad." I eventually gave in and call it "A New Hope" now, even though it wasn't originally released with that name.

It probably would have been a lot easier if we had just used the Episode numbers instead of titles, but where's the fun in that?

If I have a kid and he says one day, "Dad, it's called Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, not Raiders of the Lost Ark", I think I'd go huddle in the corner and cry.

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

If I have a kid and he says one day, "Dad, it's called Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, not Raiders of the Lost Ark", I think I'd go huddle in the corner and cry.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

If I have a kid and he says one day, "Dad, it's called Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, not Raiders of the Lost Ark", I think I'd go huddle in the corner and cry.

You and me both.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

If I have a kid and he says one day, "Dad, it's called Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, not Raiders of the Lost Ark", I think I'd go huddle in the corner and cry.

I won't. When my boy is old enough to see this film, I would use that opportunity to explain the history of the name and why it changed. Ditto Star Wars, and even the changes made to E.T.
Now I'd cry if he didn't understand, but I wouldn't expect that.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

I think the original Star Wars is a masterpiece. It's a little jolting to hear it described as boring by younger folk. That film is a fantastic narrative machine, and sets up the entire mythos beautifully. Granted, it was saved in the editing room -- in Empire of Dreams, we see before and after versions of scenes, and the "before" versions play a whole lot like Lucas' work in the Prequels.

We are in complete agreement here. Star Wars is the perfect film in my opinion. Of course, nostalgia plays a large part in my affection for the movie. It was the first film I remember seeing in theater. I love that it can be view as a stand alone movie, and I'm so happy to have at least a facsimile of it in Harmy's Star Wars Despecialized so that I can do just that sometimes.

That said, if I were to rank the Star Wars films as they exist today in order from most to least favorite, I would rank them this way:

1. The Empire Strikes Back
2. A New Hope
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Revenge of the Sith
5. The Phantom Menace
6. Attack of the Clones

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

We are in complete agreement here. Star Wars is the perfect film in my opinion. Of course, nostalgia plays a large part in my affection for the movie. It was the first film I remember seeing in theater. I love that it can be view as a stand alone movie, and I'm so happy to have at least a facsimile of it in Harmy's Star Wars Despecialized so that I can do just that sometimes.

That said, if I were to rank the Star Wars films as they exist today in order from most to least favorite, I would rank them this way:

1. The Empire Strikes Back
2. A New Hope
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Revenge of the Sith
5. The Phantom Menace
6. Attack of the Clones

Oops, I spot a typo. You put The Phantom Menace above Attack of the Clones.

[tigertron]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

Oops, I spot a typo. You put The Phantom Menace above Attack of the Clones.

Most people would probably put TPM above AOTC.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

We are in complete agreement here. Star Wars is the perfect film in my opinion.

Hell yea it is. A New Hope IMO, Is the best combination of pacing, editing, story arc, action, human drama, and cool technology of all the films. Its the only one that can easily stand alone and did for many years.

I also love how it was done without overpaid or trendy performers. Just regular everyday actors and actresses. Just goes to show you that having a $20 million a film "star" doesnt always pay off.