Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Giant Machine]

Love the Complete Saga box from 2011. It still looks fantastic on the shelf. I really love Episode 3. If I had to rank my favorites, it'd be Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 3. Episode 7 is phenomenal, but I wouldn't put it above 3.

I enjoy the Star Wars Holiday Special more than Episode 2.

Looking forward to all the future Star Wars movies.

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

All this talk of THX-1138 has made me want to watch the film again. Oh wait, I can't because he ruined that film too with CGI and the theatrical isn't available.

Thank God for Spielberg, who didn't let him vomit his CGI over the Indiana Jones films, too.

[Arawn]

As someone who's only ever seen the "ruined" version of THX-1138, I'm fine with it.

Originally Posted by Giant Machine

I enjoy the Star Wars Holiday Special more than Episode 2.

You may have PDS.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Bickle76

I don't see Lucas having significant involvement in Indy V.

David Koepp is currently listed at IMDb as the writer (at one point it was going to be Phil Kaufman and Larry Kasdan), but the most recent comment I remember hearing from Spielberg on the subject was that Lucas was writer for the screen story, and hadn't finalised anything yet.

I suppose one could argue that the last time Lucas was wittingly risky was the creation of Binks.

Haha! I don't think Lucas thought of Jar-Jar as any kind of risk; he seemed to believe he would become a "beloved" humorous character for the kiddies.

Originally Posted by happydood

I don't know, everyone's mileage will vary in terms of being able to appreciate it, but I think the prequels were one big risk. Tonally different and talky and political/philosophical/operatic (in the most stylized sense of the word) rather than fast-paced and fun. Unfortunately he just didn't succeed for half of his fanbase.

Fair enough. By "risk", I didn't mean commercial risk, of whether the launching of a new trilogy would be embraced and successful by the new generation of audience, but rather the "risk" of writing bravely, as all the screenwriting books tell you to -- making unexpected choices, flying close to the sun. I think the only thing surprising in the writing of the PT (not trolling, just trying to be pragmatic) was how ill-judged and tedious most of the characters were.

I'm sure the success of Force Awakens stings some, but it succeeds for an entirely different reason. They gave the people what they wanted and there was absolutely nothing risky about it. It's good at what it's trying to do, but I don't think anybody could argue that it broke new ground.

Quite the opposite, in fact: my impression was it quite intentionally reset the series to the style and tone of the OT, and I thought that aspect of it was very skilfully handled.

[Bickle76]

I'm too lazy to use quote button on my mobile

Last I knew Steven said it would be crazy to make an Indiana jones movie without him and that he was being brought on project as an exec producer, who don't really have a definitive job description, which is why I question it and think he's doing it as a courtesy to his stung friend.

I believe Binks is the first cgi character with a significant role in a live action. I define that as risky in the same vein as puupet master yoda

My take is that Arndt couldn't deliver a fresh story and the clock was winding. It was safe, but also smart. People haven't or for many hadn't experienced that tone in 40 yrs., which is a big factor in awakening an old style. I'll get heavy corny and say that Luke was a macguffin that represented our heart that this franchise was trying to find its way to again. It's all subjective of coarse but I thought having solo become some poor schmuck who knocked up a princess and went back to smuggling only to get killed by his own son was risky. I think jj and kas new they had to inject some edge, but then again maybe they were jut following kenobi formula, however we had Han for three movies; Ben got killed after 80 mins

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Bickle76

I'm too lazy to use quote button on my mobile

Last I knew Steven said it would be crazy to make an Indiana jones movie without him and that he was being brought on project as an exec producer, who don't really have a definitive job description, which is why I question it and think he's doing it as a courtesy to his stung friend.

I believe Binks is the first cgi character with a significant role in a live action. I define that as risky in the same vein as puupet master yoda.

Animated characters standing alongside live action actors goes all the way back to the 20's. Hell, Roger Rabbit was 1988.

[Geoff D]

He did say "cgi character" though, not "animated"

[Alan_Grant]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

All this talk of THX-1138 has made me want to watch the film again. Oh wait, I can't because he ruined that film too with CGI and the theatrical isn't available.

duh butthurt be stroooong with yousa, poor baby

[Bickle76]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Animated characters standing alongside live action actors goes all the way back to the 20's. Hell, Roger Rabbit was 1988.

If you you can name another cgi character with that much dialogue and screen time pre '99 I'm all ears

[WhySoBlu?]

Originally Posted by Bickle76

If you you can name another cgi character with that much dialogue and screen time pre '99 I'm all ears

Master Control Program - Tron (1982)

[Show spoiler]

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by WhySoBlu?

Master Control Program - Tron (1982)

Probably joking but just in case that wasn't CG. It was hand animation.

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Quite the opposite, in fact: my impression was it quite intentionally reset the series to the style and tone of the OT, and I thought that aspect of it was very skilfully handled.

Your response above is to someone who said there was nothing risky about TFA and that it didn't break new ground. So you're agreeing that it was a retread of the original trilogy, which is fine if that's what you want, but it certainly didn't do anything very much new.

Originally Posted by Bickle76

It's all subjective of coarse but I thought having solo become some poor schmuck who knocked up a princess and went back to smuggling only to get killed by his own son was risky. I think jj and kas new they had to inject some edge, but then again maybe they were jut following kenobi formula, however we had Han for three movies; Ben got killed after 80 mins

I think Harrison agreed to come back as long as he was killed off in this film. They knew he had to die, so it was probably a matter of how can we do it with the most dramatic resonance for the story. I think the story was ultimately created around the realisation that they've got Harrison back for 1 film, he has to die, all the old cast has aged 30 years, the prequels suck, so let's make this film an original trilogy homage. It's not best way way to organically create the next chapter in an ongoing story.

[Geoff D]

Good point about Han, I also think that Ford agreed to come back on the express provision that he be killed off, so they had to work backwards from that.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Bickle76

If you you can name another cgi character with that much dialogue and screen time pre '99 I'm all ears

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonheart

[Martoto]

The idea of one of the main characters buying it had been Kasdan's intent for the climax of Empire Strikes Back but Lucas plumped for the carbonite solution instead. When Kasdan brought it up again for a Return Of The Jedi Lucas argued that they had missed their window. This was the triumphant third act. No more downers.

It's oversimplifying it to say they begged Ford to come back and he agreed to only in the condition he was killed off, considering Kasdan's long held attitude towards it and continued involvement in the sequels.

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Originally Posted by Martoto

The idea of one of the main characters buying it had been Kasdan's intent for the climax of Empire Strikes Back but Lucas plumped for the carbonite solution instead. When Kasdan brought it up again for a Return Of The Jedi Lucas argued that they had missed their window. This was the triumphant third act. No more downers.

It's oversimplifying it to say they begged Ford to come back and he agreed to only in the condition he was killed off, considering Kasdan's long held attitude towards it and continued involvement in the sequels.

But if they hadn't killed him off, at best he would have just been a supporting character again. Do you REALLY think Harrison would've been excited to return for that and then have to do another 1 or 2 films after that, considering his experience on Return of the Jedi and his less than enthusiastic opinion of Han as a character? I'm fairly positive he wanted to be killed off to give his character the dramatic weight and closure he felt was missing in Jedi. Of course, throwing in $25 million helps too.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Good point about Han, I also think that Ford agreed to come back on the express provision that he be killed off, so they had to work backwards from that.

Isn't the rumor also that he came back if they'd let him do another Indy?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonheart

Yup...and also nowhere near as grating. Casper also. Roger Rabbit still beats 'em all, hand-drawn animation just makes that film even more awesome.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Isn't the rumor also that he came back if they'd let him do another Indy?

I heard that too, yeah.

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jonezzz...

But if they hadn't killed him off, at best he would have just been a supporting character again. Do you REALLY think Harrison would've been excited to return for that and then have to do another 1 or 2 films after that, considering his experience on Return of the Jedi and his less than enthusiastic opinion of Han as a character? I'm fairly positive he wanted to be killed off to give his character the dramatic weight and closure he felt was missing in Jedi. Of course, throwing in $25 million helps too.

I'm saying it's an oversimplification. I do not think he would have done more films. I do know that he was sceptical of them being able to pull off anything as meaningful as what they came up with in the end. I've never even heard that there was serious consideration of Solo staying on as a recurring character (subject to Ford's cooperation).