Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Blu-man08]

Despite my aversion to the prequels, I will admit to my having been swept up in the insanity of the summer of '99. I must have seen Episode I about 7 times over four months. It was magical to see Star Wars on the big screen. I remember thinking with each viewing that several elements seemed tedious and unnecessary, but I held out hope for the next two prequels. With both Episodes II and III, I patronized the cinema twice. The tedium morphed into insipidness with Episode II, particularly with the "romance" between Anakin and Padme. I mean seriously, she lets him kiss her, smacks him down, and then they're rolling around in a field, then she dons a dominatrix getup whilst Anakin recites the stalker manifesto, cuddles him after he confesses to wiping out a whole village of Tuskin Raiders, then on the way to her death decides that she really does love him, escapes said death, and marries him in secret. Pretty typical romance stuff there... Then in Episode III, the insipid gave way to the ridiculous. Padme, who previously had been Queen of her people, who when in the Galactic Senate was a key player in some major legislation, is reduced to a whiny baby machine who at the birth of her twin children - a lot of responsibility and perfect reason to fight on - dies of a broken heart...? WHAT??? That's just my gripe with the handling of Padme's character. I'm not even going to talk about everything else that drives me around the bend. Truthfully, George could have told the story of Anakin's fall to the dark side in one film. But he kind of painted himself into a corner with the Episode numbers.

Now before I get suspended, I just want to say that when the blu-ray set is in my possession, I will watch the prequels for a Saga Marathon, and will most likely bring them out every once in a while. But I'm most looking forward to Episodes IV - VI. While these SE versions of the moment certainly fall short of the UOT, they keep the essential story that I love. I can skip Jabba and have a barf bag ready for Greedo.

[Deromax]

The prequel VS the OT, it's a generational thing! Just like with rock N roll music! Your father liked The Beatles and thought your Iron Maiden s*cked. Now, your kids like Avenged Sevenfold and you think they s*cks.

This is simple, really!

[Blu-man08]

Originally Posted by Deromax

The prequel VS the OT, it's a generational thing! Just like with rock N roll music! Your father liked The Beatles and thought your Iron Maiden s*cked. Now, your kids like Avenged Sevenfold and you think they s*cks.

This is simple, really!

Actually, I liked CCR and my kids like Justin Bieber. A much more appropot analogy, in my never-humble opinion. Taking it a step further, George Lucas decided in '97 to do a 3 album set of CCR covers... YIKES!

[aiman04]

People just have to say the same thing over and over again. Somebody should compile all the posts about why they hate or love anything Star Wars and make it a sticky.

Anyway, I'm gonna find a way to put the fourth disc from the OT DVD boxset into this, and sell the others indivudually. That way I can still have Empire of Dreams.

[Blu-man08]

Han shoots Greedo = Proud Mary
Jar-Jar Binks = Never Say Never

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

i take the prequel trilogy for what it is.....a series of movies that aren't in the same class as the originals....save MAYBE sith.....but are entertaining in their own right and give me more of the universe that i love!!!

the prequel trilogy was set to be doomed from the beginning, everyone was going to compare them to the originals and trash them if they weren't what they were expecting.

I call this the 'Chinese Democracy theory' and I think it holds. Ten plus years in the making and it finally gets released and does not live up to unreal expectations set by fans. While a good record (it is actually very good), Chinese Democracy was no Appetite for Destruction (hailed as a masterpiece). Same rule applies to Star Wars and even Duke Nukem. Doomed to fail because they took too long and the brand name was neglected over a gap of 14 years or so (there was NOTHING new released for Star Wars until 1997). Expectations just built into the unreasonable and doomed the PT before it even began.

The PT is enjoyable, but will always been seen as a disappointment by most. The PT sits notably lower on the preorder charts at 138, where the OT is 53, and the saga is at 6. That is basically all the evidence one needs to see to know its not held in the same league.

Anyway, I liked the PT because it gave me more of a universe I loved. But filmmaking techniques and such have come such a long way it doesn't mesh very well with the previous series. But whatever, I am still buying the whole Saga.

[shelldweller]

Originally Posted by Jay444

The PT is enjoyable, but will always been seen as a disappointment by most. The PT sits notably lower on the preorder charts at 138, where the OT is 53, and the saga is at 6. That is basically all the evidence one needs to see to know its not held in the same league.

First of all, the mass of people who enjoy something doesn´t say anything about it´s quality. If Lucas intended to satisfy the typical fans who are now complaining he would have made a rip-off of the original Trilogy (aka Sequels).

The Amazon preorder ranking is explained very easily. The people who like the Prequels mostly like Star Wars in general and therefore order the complete box instead of just ordering the Prequels. There are also many people who out of nostalgia (I guess) aren´t open to the Prequels and therefore only like the Sequels and just order the IV-VI box.

But again, I´m not trying to convince anyone to like the movies. If you don´t like them don´t buy them, don´t watch them but please stop whining about it. And most of all don´t tell Lucas what to do just because you don´t share the same taste and interests as he does.

[The Apocalypse]

Originally Posted by shelldweller

First of all, the mass of people who enjoy something doesn´t say anything about it´s quality. If Lucas intended to satisfy the typical fans who are now complaining he would have made a rip-off of the original Trilogy (aka Sequels).

The Amazon preorder ranking is explained very easily. The people who like the Prequels mostly like Star Wars in general and therefore order the complete box instead of just ordering the Prequels. There are also many people who out of nostalgia (I guess) aren´t open to the Prequels and therefore only like the Sequels and just order the IV-VI box.

But again, I´m not trying to convince anyone to like the movies. If you don´t like them don´t buy them, don´t watch them but please stop whining about it. And most of all don´t tell Lucas what to do just because you don´t share the same taste and interests as he does.

That was very well put. In the end it is up to us, as individuals, to choose whether or not to get them. Make whatever choice you feel is right.

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by shelldweller

If you don´t even get the analogy how can you possibly get Star Wars and what it is all about? ;-)

What are you talking about? I get what it's about and I refuse to recognize those sorry prequels (IHMO). I love and enjoy the first three because they do not need the PT at all. In fact STAR WARS (Not A NEW HOPE) needs none of the other films to be great or to even tell a complete story. We have a begining, an ending and everything in between. If they never made another one after the first one it would still be considered one of the AFI's top 20 films of all time.

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by shelldweller

First of all, the mass of people who enjoy something doesn´t say anything about it´s quality. If Lucas intended to satisfy the typical fans who are now complaining he would have made a rip-off of the original Trilogy (aka Sequels).

The Amazon preorder ranking is explained very easily. The people who like the Prequels mostly like Star Wars in general and therefore order the complete box instead of just ordering the Prequels. There are also many people who out of nostalgia (I guess) aren´t open to the Prequels and therefore only like the Sequels and just order the IV-VI box.

But again, I´m not trying to convince anyone to like the movies. If you don´t like them don´t buy them, don´t watch them but please stop whining about it. And most of all don´t tell Lucas what to do just because you don´t share the same taste and interests as he does.

Please stop. There are some posters that constantly take up for Lucas. Please stop now as it is our right to complain (just look at the LOTR Thread) Like I have always said If you are getting the product you want from Lucas then thats great! There is no nead to even respond to us venting our frustration. Lucas does not need you to defend him and you will never change the original fans mind on this so why try?

But back on to the BD releases, I will buy the OT what else can I do? I will just have to cringe when I see the Han scene and listening to that stupid KIWI voice he gave Boba Fett. And I will just have to skip the very end or look away when Hayden's ghost materializes; and the LOTR fans think they have problems,shesh!

[Mike1981]

I am glad these were on TV over the weekend.

The 10 minutes I caught of Episode 2 was enough to convince me I only need to own Episodes 4-6.

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

...and the LOTR fans think they have problems,shesh!

.

[whaleman]

Ok I need some advice. I read about a month ago this forum discussing preferred order of viewing of the movies. A lot of people were saying 4-5-1-2-3-6; which I think is a great idea. Now I have a somewhat rare opportunity here. My sister has not seen any of the movies; but she would like to see them; so I think a great opportunity is to have a blu ray marathon with her and some friends. So I hope people don't get all upset since I know there's a high level of frustration among some about repeating topics of discussion, but I don't think viewing order to benefit a first time viewer was discussed. Anyone care to share their suggestions?

[Blu-man08]

Order of release: OT, then PT.

[whaleman]

Originally Posted by Blu-man08

Order of release: OT, then PT.

I am definitely leaning that way. The only other thing I would consider is 4-5-1-2-3-6 since that way you end with a resolution at RotJ. I wouldn't consider PT before OT.

[Uxi]

First viewing on BD will be 1-2-3-4-5-6

[The Apocalypse]

I'd also go with internal chronological order 1-6, that's just be, but since you said you wouldn't do PT, then OT, that's not gonna happen.

[Blu-man08]

Originally Posted by Uxi

First viewing on BD will be 1-2-3-4-5-6

Mine too, Uxi. I just think that for someone who has never seen the Star Wars films, original theatrical release order is more satisfying.

[FrodoBagginz]

Originally Posted by whaleman

Ok I need some advice. I read about a month ago this forum discussing preferred order of viewing of the movies. A lot of people were saying 4-5-1-2-3-6; which I think is a great idea. Now I have a somewhat rare opportunity here. My sister has not seen any of the movies; but she would like to see them; so I think a great opportunity is to have a blu ray marathon with her and some friends. So I hope people don't get all upset since I know there's a high level of frustration among some about repeating topics of discussion, but I don't think viewing order to benefit a first time viewer was discussed. Anyone care to share their suggestions?

This would be an easy answer if it were the unaltered trilogy being on the set.....the best would be 4,5,6,1,2,3. But given the changes Lucas did, the choice of what to watch first is more difficult....mainly because of the addition to Hayden at the end of ROTJ. And the new Emperor scene in ESB where he tells Vader that Luke is his son really destroys the twist at the end.

For the Special Editions, I think people who haven't seen the movies are forced to watch the movies in order (1,2,3,4,5,6) because of the changes to the original trilogy.

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by Jay444

I call this the 'Chinese Democracy theory' and I think it holds. Ten plus years in the making and it finally gets released and does not live up to unreal expectations set by fans. While a good record (it is actually very good), Chinese Democracy was no Appetite for Destruction (hailed as a masterpiece). Same rule applies to Star Wars and even Duke Nukem. Doomed to fail because they took too long and the brand name was neglected over a gap of 14 years or so (there was NOTHING new released for Star Wars until 1997). Expectations just built into the unreasonable and doomed the PT before it even began.

The PT is enjoyable, but will always been seen as a disappointment by most. The PT sits notably lower on the preorder charts at 138, where the OT is 53, and the saga is at 6. That is basically all the evidence one needs to see to know its not held in the same league.

Anyway, I liked the PT because it gave me more of a universe I loved. But filmmaking techniques and such have come such a long way it doesn't mesh very well with the previous series. But whatever, I am still buying the whole Saga.

That's a solid analogy and I generally agree with your entire post.