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[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

Another thing i sometimes wonder about is that when he started lucasfilm games he said that at some point in the future he would be making new star wars movies with scenes in them directly designed for conversion into videogames, im guessing thats what the droid factory level in AOTC was all about.

It's been a running gag with me and my brother for years that when ever you see something like that to shout "For the game."
That all could have started with that factory scene but it was too long ago to remember.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Dogshit makeup on maul. Ahahaha the only redeeming thing in the prequels and they still fucked it up.

 

[Retro]

As I heard it, he didn't give up the idea of endless sequels willingly. Right after Jedi was complete, Lucas divorced his wife (who incidentally, helped Lucas with his writing during the period in his life when people thought he didn't suck). He never had a pre-nup, so she was going to get 50% of everything he had, but Lucas absolutely refused to let her have a percentage share of anything. He paid her off with cash. He used up all of his accumulated wealth and even went into debt to make sure that nobody ever gets a fraction of his precious toy rights.

He sold part of ILM off to Steve Jobs, who turned it into Pixar and gave us such awesome as Wall-E and Finding Nemo. So, you know... silver lining.

 

[BattleMonkey]

....................................... The man is filthy rich and you stick with "lowest acceptable quality" for your lasting legacy.

I'm surprised at how low of a budget they kept the prequels at. I mean the budgets were decent, but for Star Wars, you would have imagined they would go all out on them.

 

[richiek]

I'm surprised at how low of a budget they kept the prequels at. I mean the budgets were decent, but for Star Wars, you would have imagined they would go all out on them.

If I recall correctly, Lucas was trying to be fiscally responsible when making the PT. This was all his own money he was investing, and he didn't want to fall into the same situation in ESB, which went over budget and had to beg Fox for more money.

 

[Maklershed]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18877092/pic5bh.jpg[img]

oh god

The prequels already look so dated.[/QUOTE]
Wow, that looks like something straight out of a SyFy original. The arm on the left is particularly bad.

 

[BattleMonkey]

If I recall correctly, Lucas was trying to be fiscally responsible when making the PT. This was all his own money he was investing, and he didn't want to fall into the same situation in ESB, which went over budget and had to beg Fox for more money.

Yea, but he could have afforded alot more too really and you see in the making of videos for the prequels he often is so concerned with budget issues. I could see the concerns doing TPM as he hadn't done a movie in a long time and it was a new Star Wars, but after the huge success of that you would figure he would have eased up on the next two episodes.

 

[scarybore]

What a damn mess.

That's all I have to say. Cancelled my pre-order on Amazon. Just going to stick with my OG VHS's and that shitty DVD.

Yeah, just cancelled my Amazon order too. Makes me feel sad for some reason, but these blu-rays seem really half assed (even by Lucas' standards) and I just can't justify the expense.

 

[Lombaszko]

I went to nine stores this weekend looking for the DVD copies with the Laser Disc versions with no luck. I'm kicking myself for not buying them sooner when I saw them. I wonder if the prices on Amazon will go down once the blu-rays come out?

 

[matrix-cat]

I'm really looking forward to watching those Despecialized Editions. I haven't bought a copy of the trilogy since the 1995 VHS boxset and I've watched those poor tapes so much they don't work anymore, so I've been living off a ripped version of the theatrical cuts from the DVD special features. A decent-looking version of the original original movies is all I really want, and Harmy's Despecialized Edition seems perfect. Now if I could just get the download to stop cutting out...

 

[Guzim]

I went to nine stores this weekend looking for the DVD copies with the Laser Disc versions with no luck. I'm kicking myself for not buying them sooner when I saw them. I wonder if the prices on Amazon will go down once the blu-rays come out?

I imagine they'll only go up.

 

[Zabka]

Maybe. The prequel trilogy makes a convincing argument that having had a supportive spouse is worth half of your accomplishments.

And Lucas didn't have to spend himself into bankruptcy to make sure his ex-wife owned 0% of Star Wars. He could've done a 75/25 split and kicked in enough cash to keep her happy, at which point he'd probably have enough money and control to keep on making millions as usual.

She was a lot more than just a supportive spouse.

She was the editor on all three original trilogy movies. If you want to know why the Prequels are lifeless and completely lacking any tension her absence is a good place to start.

I highly recommend people read this: http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/marcialucas.html

 

[XNarte]

I went to nine stores this weekend looking for the DVD copies with the Laser Disc versions with no luck. I'm kicking myself for not buying them sooner when I saw them. I wonder if the prices on Amazon will go down once the blu-rays come out?

Aw man that sucks. I was lucky and managed to snag all three this weekend. A local record store had Star Wars and Empire and an F.Y.E. in my local mall had Jedi, so I now own the theatricals. Good luck in your hunt!

 

[richiek]

Yea, but he could have afforded alot more too really and you see in the making of videos for the prequels he often is so concerned with budget issues. I could see the concerns doing TPM as he hadn't done a movie in a long time and it was a new Star Wars, but after the huge success of that you would figure he would have eased up on the next two episodes.

You have to keep in mind that Lucasfilm does not have nearly the same resources as the big films studios. Lucas was footing the bill and getting no funding from Fox, except for distribution.

I also find it interesting that Lord of the Rings actually had a smaller budget than the PT, so I wouldn't blame lack of funds for the CG quality although some of the effects in LOTR have not aged well either.

 

[Chuckie]

She was a lot more than just a supportive spouse.

She was the editor on all three original trilogy movies. If you want to know why the Prequels are lifeless and completely lacking any tension her absence is a good place to start.

I highly recommend people read this: http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/marcialucas.html

Nice site!

 

[mattp]

shit

 

[richiek]

FYI, Marcia Lucas was NOT credited in editing ESB.

 

[neorej]

You have to keep in mind that Lucasfilm does not have nearly the same resources as the big films studios. Lucas was footing the bill and getting no funding from Fox, except for distribution.

I also find it interesting that Lord of the Rings actually had a smaller budget than the PT, so I wouldn't blame lack of funds for the CG quality although some of the effects in LOTR have not aged well either.

Yeah, especially the Ent-CG is too obvious, but other than that, WETA did a class-job.

 

[Lombaszko]

Aw man that sucks. I was lucky and managed to snag all three this weekend. A local record store had Star Wars and Empire and an F.Y.E. in my local mall had Jedi, so I now own the theatricals. Good luck in your hunt!

Nice! Thanks, I'm thinking the used store market is my best bet.

 

[Aku-Audi]

So after reading about the project it seems interesting, but can someone who actually watched the Star Wars Despecialized fan edits comment on them being quality or not? Should I track them down if I wanna relive my childhood viewings?

 

[Lucky Forward]

The original Star Wars (aka: A New Hope) being numbered "4" was just something Lucas pulled out of his butt because he liked the sound of it.

It wasn't called Episode IV when it was released in 1977:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_IV:_A_New_Hope

The film was originally released as Star Wars, without Episode IV or the subtitle A New Hope. The 1980 sequel, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, featured an episode number and subtitle in the opening crawl. When the original film was re-released in 1981, Episode IV: A New Hope was added above the original opening crawl.

 

[clip]

So, was there confusion when people first saw ESB in the theater? That kind of thing would distract me throughout the whole movie.

 

[tuffy]

I also find it interesting that Lord of the Rings actually had a smaller budget than the PT, so I wouldn't blame lack of funds for the CG quality although some of the effects in LOTR have not aged well either.

All CG is eventually going to age like something out of a Ray Harryhousen film. But because LOTR used lots of practical effects, miniatures and actors on actual sets, it's always going to look better than the Prequel Trilogy on the whole.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

So, was there confusion when people first saw ESB in the theater? That kind of thing would distract me throughout the whole movie.

I remember being a kid and going to see Star Wars on re-release before Empire came out and catching the "Episode IV: A New Hope" and going "What?!?"

It all made sense once Empire dropped with Episode V in front of it, and by then Lucas had explained things.

 

[IpsoFacto]

Some of the changes just seem so bizarre and out of place.

OK, ewoks actually having real eyes is aceptable, but Gredo and Solo, again? In the limited theatrical release of the first 3 films before '99, Gredo shooting first was already an unnecessary edit.

 

[BattleMonkey]

All CG is eventually going to age like something out of a Ray Harryhousen film. But because LOTR used lots of practical effects, miniatures and actors on actual sets, it's always going to look better than the Prequel Trilogy on the whole.

I dunno, it's actually a good trilogy, but the effects are looking pretty bad too me, and many were even pretty shoddy CG when it was released. Last time I saw it a few weeks ago in HD alot of it really looked pretty ugly now. The prequels though also used tons of miniatures and sets as well, they actually used more miniatures and models in the making of the prequels than they did in the OT, but still lot of pure CG scenes and full CG characters really take a person out. Episode 2 especially had lot of awful full CG backdrops that looked awful at release

 

[JGS]

So, was there confusion when people first saw ESB in the theater? That kind of thing would distract me throughout the whole movie.

There was so much hype building for Empire that the Episode V was explained way ahead although I was too young to rember if there was ever a promise we would actually get prequels.

 

[Fry]

Aren't those minor changes? I don't think it will ruin the experience like some are suggesting.

 

[The Lamonster]

The Darth Maul horns and their glue look like shit, but it still looks way better than CGI.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

The Darth Maul horns and their glue look like shit, but it still looks way better than CGI.

Real always looks better than fake.

Unless it's Jurassic Park.

 

[Talladega Knight]

Real always looks better than fake.

Unless it's Jurassic Park.

or davey jones

 

[FairyD]

Real always looks better than fake.

Unless it's Jurassic Park.

I don't know, the cgi in JP has aged pretty badly.

 

[Nappuccino]

I don't know, the cgi in JP has aged pretty badly.

Only bits of it. A lot of it continues to look amazing because they spliced the CG with practical effects.

 

[Talladega Knight]

i didn't even know that the overturned car during the t-rex escape was cg until earlier this year. amazing!

 

[Mr. Sam]

i didn't even know that the overturned car during the t-rex escape was cg until earlier this year. amazing!

It's what?

 

[apana]

She was a lot more than just a supportive spouse.

She was the editor on all three original trilogy movies. If you want to know why the Prequels are lifeless and completely lacking any tension her absence is a good place to start.

I highly recommend people read this: http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/marcialucas.html

Wow I didn't even know that. Must have been a real blow to Lucas, this may explain a lot. He sounds a bit arrogant from this article and Maria's description of him. Does anyone know where Maria is now? How could she just disappear?

 

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

Wow I didn't even know that. Must have been a real blow to Lucas, this may explain a lot. He sounds a bit arrogant from this article and Maria's description of him. Does anyone know where Maria is now? How could she just disappear?

Probably living on a island make out of 100 dollar bills.

 

[shantyman]

hmm... very clearly see the edges of the prosthetic horns... but otherwise, badass. He really shouldn't have gotten killed in the first one, such a badass.

You could see these horn edges in 1999 as well.

 

[ReBurn]

10 more days!

Is that when the complaining stops?



Or when it starts?

 

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

You could see these horn edges in 1999 as well.

Wonder why they didn't have the whole of the back areas be prosthetics

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Is that when the complaining stops?



Or when it starts?

When the complaining kicks into hyperdrive.

 

[megashock5]

Wow I didn't even know that. Must have been a real blow to Lucas, this may explain a lot. He sounds a bit arrogant from this article and Maria's description of him. Does anyone know where Maria is now? How could she just disappear?

If that article is all true, it could certainly explain why the OT reaches the audience on an emotional level that the PT doesn't.

 

[Zen]

Forgive me if this was posted already, but here's CG Yoda in action in TPM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mctr5dPIz8

Yoda looks pretty good, but those CG Gungans in the parade have not aged well.

Yoda looks good in the shaded scene, but he looks fairly fake in the celebration scene and outright bad in the scene where the Jedi council is appraising Anakin. He seems more jarring in Episode I, probably because there's so much practical sets and cosmectics in the scenes where he appears. I think where Yoda and Obi Wan are talkign is the only scene where I prefer to CG model, with everything else it just looks... bad. Granted CG Yoda didn't even look that great in Episode II and III.

 

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

Couldn't they use a take where the kid doesn't look into the damn camera?

 

[richiek]

Wow I didn't even know that. Must have been a real blow to Lucas, this may explain a lot. He sounds a bit arrogant from this article and Maria's description of him. Does anyone know where Maria is now? How could she just disappear?

Her name is Marcia, not Maria. Their separation and divorce was pretty contentious (she was having an affair), which is supposedly why Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was so dark. Some have also speculated that this is why George went ahead and altered the SW films with the Special Editions in the first place, so that she wouldn't see one penny of profits from SW.

 

[richiek]

OK, word is that in Attack of the Clones BR, there is now a voice over of Anakin's mother during the nightmare sequence.

This is probably due to the comical ambiguity of the scene (Anakin's hands under the sheets, "Mom, no") LOL.

 

[apana]

Her name is Marcia, not Maria. Their separation and divorce was pretty contentious (she was having an affair), which is supposedly why Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was so dark. Some have also speculated that this is why George went ahead and altered the SW films with the Special Editions in the first place, so that she wouldn't see one penny of profits from SW.

Sorry about that. Apparently she says the marriage was already in finishing stages even before the affair, and it never got physical until she left George permanently. It sounds like just a case of two people too different to be able to live with one another.

 

[richiek]

Scan from a Target flyer advertising a free lithograph set with purchase of the Blu rays.

 

[The Lamonster]

I never understood the appeal of lithographs...

 

[Talladega Knight]

It's what?

it starts at 1:09 into the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz5Asn03qF4