Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Kryptonic]

I remember how stoked I was seeing this trailer back in 1996.

"Star Wars Trilogy (1997)" Special Edition Trailer - YouTube

And how freaking awesome it was seeing a Star Wars movie (for the first time in theaters for me) every couple of weeks in theaters. It's one of the coolest things ever done at movie theaters and probably will never be equaled for me. The simple joy of seeing these movies on the big screen is something I'll never forget.

And there was this amazing weekend when all three Star Wars films were in the top ten at the box office and theoretically you could see the entire Trilogy in one day on the big screen if your theater was showing all three.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend...wknd=11&p=.htm

[Geoff D]

Man, I got the chills big time when watching that, I've always loved that trailer. It's the promise of it more than anything, i.e. to be able to see Star Wars on the big screen once again. It was almost a more innocent time too, when Lucas wasn't yet the childhood-wrecking demon of many a fanboy's nightmares.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Man, I got the chills big time when watching that, I've always loved that trailer. It's the promise of it more than anything, i.e. to be able to see Star Wars on the big screen once again. It was almost a more innocent time too, when Lucas wasn't yet the childhood-wrecking demon of many a fanboy's nightmares.

Yeah, it was a few years before I got online and started reading message boards and seeing just how pathetic a lot of people are.

I miss those days. For me, from 1995, when the THX tapes and the Power of the Force action figures were released, to 1999-2000 was a golden time for Star Wars for me.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

I remember how stoked I was seeing this trailer back in 1996.

"Star Wars Trilogy (1997)" Special Edition Trailer - YouTube

And how freaking awesome it was seeing a Star Wars movie (for the first time in theaters for me) every couple of weeks in theaters. It's one of the coolest things ever done at movie theaters and probably will never be equaled for me. The simple joy of seeing these movies on the big screen is something I'll never forget.

And there was this amazing weekend when all three Star Wars films were in the top ten at the box office and theoretically you could see the entire Trilogy in one day on the big screen if your theater was showing all three.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend...wknd=11&p=.htm

I remember how stoked i was in April and May of 77 seeing the original trailer for the first time. The only sci fi we had to compare it to was Logan's Run that came out the year before and things like Apes and 2001. My cousin and i were both 12 years old in 77 and we walked out of that theater with our jaws wide open..just what had we seen? We didn't have other special effects laden films to compare it too...unless you count a shark in the water!

All Original star wars trailers (1977-1983) - YouTube

[Thomas Guycott]

I'll give the Special Editions that: being only a year old when Return of the Jedi was released, it was fun to finally see the OT in a theatrical setting, alterations or not.

[Himmel]

We'll all be stoked when they announce the OT on blu ray which is due next year.

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by Elvis

I remember how stoked i was in April and May of 77 seeing the original trailer for the first time. The only sci fi we had to compare it to was Logan's Run that came out the year before and things like Apes and 2001.

You didnt watch Space 1999

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by Thomas Guycott

Even today Gone with the Wind and Star Wars are, respectively, the two most attended films of all time.

True true. But then again, there are so many other factors which is why inflation is kind of pointless to bring up. They didn't have home video, films could play months and even years in theatres. When you went to see a movie that might be the last time you ever see it. People didn't know they would one day be able to own it. There were also not as many distractions at home such as computers, video games, etc. They didn't have HD television, or video on demand. There wasn't film piracy like today. Life was very different.

That's why I like to look how a film did respective to the year it was released and other films released that year. Tickets sold brings up too many variables which is why it's unfair to compare tickets sold to one film from 2014 to a film released in 1975.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

True true. But then again, there are so many other factors which is why inflation is kind of pointless to bring up. They didn't have home video, films could play months and even years in theatres.

In the 30's, average films played only a matter of days. That's why the Golden Age of Hollywood produced so, so many movies. The theaters needed a constant stream of fresh content. It was extremely rare for a film to play for multiple months, let alone a year (although that happened in the case of Fantasia and Gone With the Wind).

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

In the 30's, average films played only a matter of days. That's why the Golden Age of Hollywood produced so, so many movies. The theaters needed a constant stream of fresh content. It was extremely rare for a film to play for multiple months, let alone a year (although that happened in the case of Fantasia and Gone With the Wind).

Films traveled back then, though. A film might be booked at one venue for a week and then another venue in another city the next week. It was much different from today, but film's still played for extended runs.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by thegoat

Unfortunately, TPM did inspire a wave of relentless, vitriolic, over dramatic internet bashing that continues to this day (though it's not as widespread as it used to be).

Not as widespread as it used to be? If you're referring to general bashing on the internet (and not just Star Wars/Lucas bashing) I think that unfortunately, internet bashing of just about anything is so widespread as to be considered "breathing". Posters still largely make nasty, cruel, racist, misogynist, uninformed comments, usually on the level of an immature junior high school boy (apologies to other junior high school boys) and a New York Post headline, all to satisfy their own warped egos and sense of self.

I forget whether it's Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon, but one of them does a bit where they have actors and other celebrities appear and read actual internet comments written about themselves, mostly incredibly nasty ones. I love the routine, but it clearly demonstrates how the internet has brought out just how cruel and warped we really are. And my bet is that most of these are written by people who haven't accomplished a single significant accomplishment in their lives. Yet the Lucas bashing is nothing compared to how some schoolkids have tortured either other online to the point of suicide.

There's been thousands, if not tens of thousands of terrible movies. Why do we continually pay so much attention to Lucas's films, only to bash him? No one denies the impact of these films and the amazing worlds and characters created and yet we bash all the details about them. Why do people who seem to hate everything he's done (except in their heads, perhaps the original theatrical version of the first film, which I doubt was ever seen by the majority of people who complain) continually come to threads like this one. It seems to me the most logical thing to do would be to ignore films/directors that one doesn't like. I have absolutely no interest in the Transformers films. You'll never see me on a thread about Transformers.

That's not to say that there's not lots wrong with these films. Even the OT and the behavior of the Jedi makes little to no sense and much of the plot of the PT is incomprehensible. But having said that, I think that we've become so obsessed about each tiny deformed egg corn, we no longer see the beauty of the forest, even though we still worship it.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

You didnt watch Space 1999

Yeah ummm I wad not counting TV shows.

Going to shoot myself if this thread circles back into the box office receipt argument....again. I will say this...in 1978 I took my then 68 year old grandmother who had no interest in the genre....so it wad a pretty big deal with regards to cinematic history.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

In the 30's, average films played only a matter of days. That's why the Golden Age of Hollywood produced so, so many movies. The theaters needed a constant stream of fresh content. It was extremely rare for a film to play for multiple months, let alone a year (although that happened in the case of Fantasia and Gone With the Wind).

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

Films traveled back then, though. A film might be booked at one venue for a week and then another venue in another city the next week. It was much different from today, but film's still played for extended runs.

While it's true that films in the 1930s generally played for just one week, you also have to take into consideration that theaters were far larger than they are today and that there were many more theaters, so a greater number of people saw movies at one time. In addition, people went to the movies far more often because there was no TV, home video, internet, etc. And records and even radio was not as widespread as most people now perceive, because those devices were still incredibly expensive in the 1930s and we were still in the middle of a depression.

There were 139 U.S. theaters with more than 2800 seats with the median at 3218 (and most built in the 20s and early 30s). Even small theaters in small towns would mostly have 700 seats or more. In 1933, the average theatre had 4800 admissions per week and that was far down from its peak of a few years earlier. In the late 20's, there were about 22,000 theaters in the U.S. But due to the depression, that had dropped to about 12,500 by 1936 (although still a large number). In 1932, there were 60 million admissions per week when the U.S. population was only 125 million so almost half the population went to the movies every single week. In 2013, there were fewer than 26 million admissions per week in the U.S. with a much larger population of about 315 million, so only about 8% of the population goes to the movies per week (and I question whether that stat is really correct - seems high to me).

But in any case, it's the reason why movies generally didn't play long until the roadshow era came along in the 1950s. Films like the Cinerama films and the 70mm roadshow films like "My Fair Lady", "Oklahoma", "West Side Story", "Lawrence of Arabia", etc., would play in large cities for up to a year.

And even before that, films would open in large cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco and then roll-out from the first run to second run to third run theaters, etc. This pattern didn't disappear until home video began to dominate and the second run theaters largely disappeared.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Going to shoot myself if this thread circles back into the box office receipt argument....again. I will say this...in 1978 I took my then 68 year old grandmother who had no interest in the genre....so it wad a pretty big deal with regards to cinematic history.

That's what's so interesting, and what Disney is going for with this new trilogy.

I have older relatives in that age bracket who didn't even watch the Prequels (some tried, but couldn't even make it through the first one because of different factors) who ask me every time I see them what's going on with the new trilogy and who expect to go and see them opening week.

Disney is going after the entire market, not focusing on kids/collectors like the PT did.

[deltatauhobbit]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

While it's true that films in the 1930s generally played for just one week, you also have to take into consideration that theaters were far larger than they are today and that there were many more theaters, so a greater number of people saw movies at one time. In addition, people went to the movies far more often because there was no TV, home video, internet, etc. And records and even radio was not as widespread as most people now perceive, because those devices were still incredibly expensive in the 1930s and we were still in the middle of a depression.

There were 139 U.S. theaters with more than 2800 seats with the median at 3218 (and most built in the 20s and early 30s). Even small theaters in small towns would mostly have 700 seats or more. In 1933, the average theatre had 4800 admissions per week and that was far down from its peak of a few years earlier. In the late 20's, there were about 22,000 theaters in the U.S. But due to the depression, that had dropped to about 12,500 by 1936 (although still a large number). In 1932, there were 60 million admissions per week when the U.S. population was only 125 million so almost half the population went to the movies every single week. In 2013, there were fewer than 26 million admissions per week in the U.S. with a much larger population of about 315 million, so only about 8% of the population goes to the movies per week (and I question whether that stat is really correct - seems high to me).

But in any case, it's the reason why movies generally didn't play long until the roadshow era came along in the 1950s. Films like the Cinerama films and the 70mm roadshow films like "My Fair Lady", "Oklahoma", "West Side Story", "Lawrence of Arabia", etc., would play in large cities for up to a year.

And even before that, films would open in large cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco and then roll-out from the first run to second run to third run theaters, etc. This pattern didn't disappear until home video began to dominate and the second run theaters largely disappeared.

Maybe if ticket prices weren't rising so steadily, more people would go. I used to go every week when it only cost $4-5 a ticket (Tuesdays would be $2), sometimes twice. Now, maybe once a month, if that, and it's not for small independent films anymore either. It's usually big blockbusters so I get more "bang" for my buck. It makes no sense to spend so much to see indie films or dramas or even most comedies. A great performance is still a great performance on any screen, but if I have to spend $12-15, it's going to be a screen full of Optimus Prime riding Grimlock, not someone's face talking.

Maybe part of it has to do with how quickly films come to the home market, why see something in theaters when it will be available to own, rent or stream in 3-4 months. It used to take a year or longer.

If studios and theaters were wise, they would lower prices for tickets and extend the window of how long it will take to reach the home market, it would encourage box office growth and maybe even repeat business that otherwise wouldn't be there. But we're such a "must have now" society that if something doesn't work in theaters it has to be rushed out to DVD/BR to try and keep its name recognizable before it fades away. We're always onto the next next thing before the next thing is even released.

[Geoff D]

Some very good points, exemplified by the pre-orders for Hercules which have already appeared on the BRDC home page and the movie only came out today.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by deltatauhobbit

Maybe if ticket prices weren't rising so steadily, more people would go. I used to go every week when it only cost $4-5 a ticket (Tuesdays would be $2), sometimes twice. Now, maybe once a month, if that, and it's not for small independent films anymore either. It's usually big blockbusters so I get more "bang" for my buck. It makes no sense to spend so much to see indie films or dramas or even most comedies. A great performance is still a great performance on any screen, but if I have to spend $12-15, it's going to be a screen full of Optimus Prime riding Grimlock, not someone's face talking.

Maybe part of it has to do with how quickly films come to the home market, why see something in theaters when it will be available to own, rent or stream in 3-4 months. It used to take a year or longer.

If studios and theaters were wise, they would lower prices for tickets and extend the window of how long it will take to reach the home market, it would encourage box office growth and maybe even repeat business that otherwise wouldn't be there. But we're such a "must have now" society that if something doesn't work in theaters it has to be rushed out to DVD/BR to try and keep its name recognizable before it fades away. We're always onto the next next thing before the next thing is even released.

I do not think theaters need to lower prices, but I do think they need to do things differently. One big component is some theaters do nothing about the disruptive patron. Texting, cell phones, and crying babies are what keep many people away. If the theaters could get rid of those people and offer a premium experience, more people would go. Two chains that exemplify this are Arclight and Alamo Drafthouse, and they are, sadly, not in my town. If there were an Arclight in my town, I would go to the theater once a week. Best motion picture experience I have ever had, and there used to be a 70mm theater where I live.

[Kryptonic]

A couple of really well edited videos on the Saga. Gotta say, I kind of got choked up at a couple of parts.

Star Wars: Prelogy - Epic Retrospective - YouTube

Star Wars: Original Trilogy - Epic Retrospective - YouTube

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by BaronVH

I do not think theaters need to lower prices, but I do think they need to do things differently. One big component is some theaters do nothing about the disruptive patron. Texting, cell phones, and crying babies are what keep many people away. If the theaters could get rid of those people and offer a premium experience, more people would go. Two chains that exemplify this are Arclight and Alamo Drafthouse, and they are, sadly, not in my town. If there were an Arclight in my town, I would go to the theater once a week. Best motion picture experience I have ever had, and there used to be a 70mm theater where I live.

Unless you create small private theatres, youll continue to have non-unioned teenagers running movie theatres, for more loud teens and immature patrons, that show mediocre films with the shelf life of a celery stick.
Youd also have to pay real ushers/security that have the job of kicking people out........

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

A couple of really well edited videos on the Saga. Gotta say, I kind of got choked up at a couple of parts.

Star Wars: Prelogy - Epic Retrospective - YouTube

Star Wars: Original Trilogy - Epic Retrospective - YouTube

As much of a prequel fanboy that that dude undoubtedly is, even he had to replace Anakin's Force ghost at the end with something a bit better!