Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by GrouchoFan

It's not just a question of order, but rather, how many times should you watch each film before moving on to the next one?

Episode IV: watch about 75-100 times before moving on to--
Episdode V: again, watch about 75-100 times before moving on to--
Episode VI: really, 25-50 times is probably enough.

Then wait several years (you may listen to the soundtrack albums about a thousand times while waiting) before seeing--

Episode I: 2 or 3 times
Episode II: 3 or 4 times
Episode III: maybe 10 times

Haha, your OT numbers are off for me (I have to say, I go to Jedi first when I go to the shelf as I just love Jabba's so much), but your PT #'s are spot on - that's probably exactly how many times I have watched them. I just did a run of the OT since I've been reading the Making Of books, but I realized the other day I really need to watch Episode I.

It's been so long, and the last time I'm pretty sure it was the commentary I listened to. I don't even think I've run the Blu for anything but that, to be honest. It's just...some parts are so long and boring I forget there are some really nice sequences.

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

He's the one that tells Luke Leia is his sister. He wasn't aware that she was force sensitive. I think that's what Yoda was referring to.

Now that one I don't buy - to paraphrase something said in the link that RandyK posted above - when you start looking at things this way, it's like everyone got a lot dumber in the future once the Empire took over. Obi-wan knows that, according to the PT, that the Force is really not more than a medical condition - so there is every reason to believe that Leia would have it as much as Luke.

It's another one of those things that I was talking about above - I'm really surprised he didn't alter some of Obi-wan's dialogue in the SE's, it really makes no sense in several areas what is said. It's also odd that he didn't think it important enough to address in the prequels - Yoda could have been there and separated the twins and not told Obi-wan/blocked him from sensing it. It's those things that I find disappointing, because he COULD have explained them with just a little change here or there.

But like we've also been discussing, even the OT is full of holes like this. And these aren't "little fan nitpicks", either. I actually heard a kid, who was probably 7 or 8, once ask "How did Darth Vader not know Luke was living with his family on Tatooine?" And, it's not a bad question at all LOL. The best theory I have heard was that Obi-wan "shielded" him with the Force (which is supported by Vader's dialogue), but - Luke went to school. He bought things. He was not a hidden person. His last WAS Skywalker, LOL. He lived...with his Aunt and Uncle who had a DIFFERENT last name. They didn't even pretend they were his parents. Even though there is obviously major undisputed evidence of it anyway, that right there proves that he wasn't his father to begin with.

I've heard some postulate that Vader did know of his existence, but I have a feeling if that had been true Vader would have swopped into that little unprotected farm and snatched him in the middle of the night.

Incidentally, presumably Leia and Luke are fully aware of the details of all of this now by the time of the new sequels, and while I have few specific expectations (Leia better wield a saber at least once, LOL), I do hope that we get some discussion referencing their mother particularly, since they should now know who she was.

Originally Posted by RandyK

Not a problem.

There's no guarantee that Disney does a remaster of the films correct? And if they did it wouldn't be for awhile? (and it would probably be expensive because hey, it's Disney).

Just want to make sure this is the set to get. Not overly picky about AV quality and this set got a 4 on this site and that's good enough for me.

Oh, yes, don't let all our nitpicking and predictions stop you - this set is a great price right now and it's the one you want to get. The picture and sound are both stellar. You can't go wrong with it.

With Star Wars, we just know there will be releases every few years, and the good money is on a new set in Fall 2015 Holiday Season to go with Episode VII. So that's two years away almost, plus, it will be much more expensive presumably than this set is now (as this set has been discounted a bit already). It will likely have new features, and probably even new transfers, but it's doubtful it's going to be anything that woule make you regret picking it up now.

I read that article you linked to - was very interesting reading. Thanks again. I disagree with the author about ending it on a "downer" being a bad thing, really - since intellectually you know it still turns out "OK", but there were some other interesting points. As a fan I am going to try the alternating version I then IV then II then V, so on - I think that would be very interesting as he is correct that one can draw many parallels in them that may not be as obvious watching the trilogies separately.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

I think that a lot of the original fans considered Lucas to be of a demi-god status back when we were younger because he'd brought Star Wars to us wide-eyed kids and we were forever changed. We got older and discovered that - surprise, surprise - he's only human like the rest of us and, to quote Dickens, "liable to fall". It's clearly a revelation that a lot of us have found hard to take

Not me. I've always maintained that George Lucas has always given me so much more than he's taken away, and for that I'll always be thankful.

[ChainsawJedi]

Billie Cassin, in the interest of not creating a humongous post I've not quoted your post here but when you say that asking how Vader didn't know he had a son was a good question, that presumes the person asking hadn't seen episode three - once you've seen that film the question is rendered moot.

As for Obi-wan saying Vader destroyed and murdered his father being some kind of proof positive that Vader isn't Luke's father then you've taken the comment far too literally. That may have been how it was written at the time - indeed, I'm prepared to accept that it was Lucas's intention at the time for Obi-wan's statement to be taken literally - but to deny the artist the right to revise their own work is a pretty churlish attitude. Lucas digs himself out of that particular hole perfectly well with Obi-wan's dialogue in episode six. As far as the Jedi are concerned, once you become a Sith you are, to every intent, a completely different person. Luke is the only one who believes that a bad person can be redeemed, unlike his mentors who cling to ancient doctrines.

[ChainsawJedi]

Originally Posted by Deathbymonkeys

Speak for yourself. I still think he's the greatest thing to ever happen to the world of movies.

So do I. There's a reason why a film I saw as a six year old still resonates with me in my forties.

Time and again, though, I come across people my age who put George Lucas on a pedestal when they were younger and are now quite happy to tear him to pieces. A lot of them labour under the curious impression that their favourite Star Wars film is the one that Lucas had the least involvement with - episode five - and this somehow seems to prove to them that all George Lucas is is a canny expert at merchandising who simply got lucky with the first Star Wars film.

I should have been clearer in my initial post. I am not one of those fans for whom the scales have slipped from their eyes. I still consider George Lucas to be a visionary - I'm glad you do, too

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

So do I. There's a reason why a film I saw as a six year old still resonates with me in my forties.

Time and again, though, I come across people my age who put George Lucas on a pedestal when they were younger and are now quite happy to tear him to pieces. A lot of them labour under the curious impression that their favourite Star Wars film is the one that Lucas had the least involvement with - episode five - and this somehow seems to prove to them that all George Lucas is is a canny expert at merchandising who simply got lucky with the first Star Wars film.

I should have been clearer in my initial post. I am not one of those fans for whom the scales have slipped from their eyes. I still consider George Lucas to be a visionary - I'm glad you do, too

I'm with you two.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

I think that a lot of the original fans considered Lucas to be of a demi-god status back when we were younger because he'd brought Star Wars to us wide-eyed kids and we were forever changed. We got older and discovered that - surprise, surprise - he's only human like the rest of us and, to quote Dickens, "liable to fall". It's clearly a revelation that a lot of us have found hard to take

I still find it amazing how he went from hero to zero in some people's eyes. Up until 1997 he was George Lucas, the visionary genius beloved the world over who changed popular cinema forever, and after that he was George Lucas, violator of childhoods and evil peddler of digital wares.

Me, I was late to the Star Wars party (only really got into them in '97 ) so I like to think that I've got a more objective view of Lucas and his accomplishments. He's not God, but he sure ain't the Devil either. He's simply a man, with all of the contradictions therein.

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

So do I. There's a reason why a film I saw as a six year old still resonates with me in my forties.

Time and again, though, I come across people my age who put George Lucas on a pedestal when they were younger and are now quite happy to tear him to pieces. A lot of them labour under the curious impression that their favourite Star Wars film is the one that Lucas had the least involvement with - episode five - and this somehow seems to prove to them that all George Lucas is is a canny expert at merchandising who simply got lucky with the first Star Wars film.

I should have been clearer in my initial post. I am not one of those fans for whom the scales have slipped from their eyes. I still consider George Lucas to be a visionary - I'm glad you do, too

Sorry I misunderstood!


I think between ILM the Star Wars Movies (Which have been the biggest part of my life of anything since I was 4) and Indiana Jones. Red Tails and many more things. His advancements in technology and pushing forward. I still think we'd maybe just be getting bluray at this time if he hadn't pushed digital cinema so hard. I already miss him at the helm.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Deathbymonkeys

Sorry I misunderstood!


I think between ILM the Star Wars Movies (Which have been the biggest part of my life of anything since I was 4) and Indiana Jones. Red Tails and many more things. His advancements in technology and pushing forward. I still think we'd maybe just be getting bluray at this time if he hadn't pushed digital cinema so hard. I already miss him at the helm.

It doesn't quite feel like Star Wars without that Lucas trademark style. I'm looking forward to the new films, but also kind of leery as well. I'm more interested in the Rebels show and possible spin-offs.

[ChainsawJedi]

What encourages me most about Rebels is that Dave Filoni is on board as well as other members of the team who brought us The Clone Wars - which was magnificent in my opinion. Filoni is clued into George Lucas's approach to the Star Wars universe, having worked so closely with him through all five seasons, so he's guaranteed to deliver something that feels like Star Wars.

As for the new films, well Abrams may be an unknown commodity in terms of the franchise but the fact that Lawrence Kasdan is on board does give me some hope.

Geoff D, I don't know why there was a sea-change of opinion amongst the fans either. I first became aware of it in the late nineties when a friend of mine who's the same age as me said that he'd simply "grown out" of Star Wars. I find that sad; we should foster the inner child in all of us!

[PrestigeWorldwide]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

I still consider George Lucas to be a visionary - I'm glad you do, too

A visionary, yes. But he's awful at writing dialog and directing actors. This was evident in Episode 4, but fortunately he had a lot of help and was willing to accept help at the time. Even his wife at the time made a few contributions to the movie. Then he decided not to preserve his original versions, which borders on criminal given the impact that the original trilogy had, and made prequels with either very little help with writing and directing or worked with "yes" people that let him do anything, no matter how bad.

I'm really looking forward to Episode 7. I don't think JJ can do any worse than the prequels. Heck, the story from "Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed", which showed the rebel alliance being formed, was more interesting than the prequels.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by PrestigeWorldwide

A visionary, yes. But he's awful at writing dialog and directing actors. This was evident in Episode 4, but fortunately he had a lot of help and was willing to accept help at the time. Even his wife at the time made a few contributions to the movie. Then he decided not to preserve his original versions, which borders on criminal given the impact that the original trilogy had, and made prequels with either very little help with writing and directing or worked with "yes" people that let him do anything, no matter how bad.

I'm really looking forward to Episode 7. I don't think JJ can do any worse than the prequels. Heck, the story from "Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed", which showed the rebel alliance being formed, was more interesting than the prequels.

[ChainsawJedi]

Originally Posted by PrestigeWorldwide

A visionary, yes. But he's awful at writing dialog and directing actors. This was evident in Episode 4, but fortunately he had a lot of help and was willing to accept help at the time. Even his wife at the time made a few contributions to the movie. Then he decided not to preserve his original versions, which borders on criminal given the impact that the original trilogy had, and made prequels with either very little help with writing and directing or worked with "yes" people that let him do anything, no matter how bad.

I'm really looking forward to Episode 7. I don't think JJ can do any worse than the prequels. Heck, the story from "Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed", which showed the rebel alliance being formed, was more interesting than the prequels.

That's alright. Tolkien was a visionary but he couldn't write engaging prose for toffee.

Hmm, this claim about all the help Lucas had to realise his vision...I've not been convinced by it before and I fail to be convinced now.

Lucas has proven himself (the millions who flocked to see the prequels can't all have been wrong - no more wrong than the millions who flocked to see the original films all those years ago anyway). Abrams, however, has yet to show what he can do with Star Wars.

But, hey, you fail to appreciate the prequels (citing the storyline from some videogame as being its superior) so I'm probably wasting my breath!

[ChainsawJedi]

Originally Posted by kryptonic

lol

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

That's alright. Tolkien was a visionary but he couldn't write engaging prose for toffee.

Hmm, this claim about all the help Lucas had to realise his vision...I've not been convinced by it before and I fail to be convinced now.

Lucas has proven himself (the millions who flocked to see the prequels can't all have been wrong - no more wrong than the millions who flocked to see the original films all those years ago anyway). Abrams, however, has yet to show what he can do with Star Wars.

But, hey, you fail to appreciate the prequels (citing the storyline from some videogame as being its superior) so I'm probably wasting my breath!

Im with ya here - George aint always right and the prequels had some things handled quite poorly but its still the best thing ever.

[Deathbymonkeys]

I think it's funny everyone I work with is under 25 and they all love the prequels. Every last one like Jar Jar Binks too.

Lucas made some mistakes here and there but so did Jackson.

You want to find a director that makes mistakes go look at Cameron or Nolan.

[ChainsawJedi]

This is what I meant with an earlier post. An unrealistic expectation has been placed on George Lucas to be something more than the creative genius that he quite clearly is. So, if he does falter or misstep, then a rather noisy and frighteningly obsessive bunch waste no time in jumping all over him, pronouncing him to be something akin to the anti-Christ.

Funnily enough, a lot of these people are either critics or cellar dwellers who, in comparison to achievers like George Lucas, have really accomplished very little in their lives (ergo, spending hours re-editing someone else's film just because you don't like one of the characters is not considered a worthy achievement).

[ChainsawJedi]

Originally Posted by Deathbymonkeys

I think it's funny everyone I work with is under 25 and they all love the prequels. Every last one like Jar Jar Binks too.

Lucas made some mistakes here and there but so did Jackson.

You want to find a director that makes mistakes go look at Cameron or Nolan.

Oh, you can't criticise Nolan because he makes "dark" films!

Yeah, I'm forty-one and I find Jar Jar hilarious, even when he steps in bantha poo-doo

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

Oh, you can't criticise Nolan because he makes "dark" films!

Yeah, I'm forty-one and I find Jar Jar hilarious, even when he steps in bantha poo-doo

Lol same.

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by ChainsawJedi

Funnily enough, a lot of these people are either critics or cellar dwellers who, in comparison to achievers like George Lucas, have really accomplished very little in their lives (ergo, spending hours re-editing someone else's film just because you don't like one of the characters is not considered a worthy achievement).

Yeah, I've never understood these people who re-edit other people's films (especially those they didn't even like). Go out and make your own creation. That's actually doing something valuable and creative.

[ChainsawJedi]

Kevin Smith is spot on with this. The internet is a fine, fine thing, but the downside is that it's given a voice to far too many people who, if you saw them in a bar, you'd finish your drink and leave just to avoid spending half a second in their dreary company. I know that's quite a fascist thing to say but, really, there's a reason why folk like RedLetterMedia are so popular on the internet, and it's because they're the kind of people who flourish in an arena where they don't have to socially interract with the rest of humanity - because every time they've opened their mouths before the internet gave them a voice, someone put a fist in it.