Star Wars from a non-fan perspective.
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
Your first observation should be a no brainer, the tech got better over time. Whether the story got better is debatable. Watching all of them end to end must have been painful for a not fan! I love my scifi, the harder the better, and am sorely disappointed that there have been so few really big movies in this genre lately.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:
I find "The Empire" to be the best episode
Yech, bleah! X| There's no action, nothing happens, it's like a peaceful interlude between battles. Episode 4 is the only one worth watching. I was twelve when Star Wars came out and it pulled me right in. After waiting two years (or was it longer?) for the sequel, I was left wondering "what the heck was that?" -- it was a huge let-down.
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Your first observation should be a no brainer, the tech got better over time. Whether the story got better is debatable. Watching all of them end to end must have been painful for a not fan! I love my scifi, the harder the better, and am sorely disappointed that there have been so few really big movies in this genre lately.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Mycroft Holmes wrote:
I love my scifi, the harder the better,
Would you classify Star Wars as science fiction? I'd call it more fantasy.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
I love my scifi, the harder the better,
Would you classify Star Wars as science fiction? I'd call it more fantasy.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
Richard Andrew x64 wrote:
I'd call it more fantasy
Not a dragon in sight, sure there is the odd sword, updated to a light saber and the obligatory Princess but the setting is in a future rather than an alternative history. I think of fantasy as having "fantasy" creatures, goblins and unicorns. Also witches and spells and all that sort of crap. I know you can make a case for Jedi being a warlock and mind games being spells but I like my interpretation.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
I love my scifi, the harder the better,
Would you classify Star Wars as science fiction? I'd call it more fantasy.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
Star Wars is Fantasy / Adventure.
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
I should do a "Godfather" marathon, just to have another point of view as I've never watch them.
Watched code never compiles.
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Richard Andrew x64 wrote:
I'd call it more fantasy
Not a dragon in sight, sure there is the odd sword, updated to a light saber and the obligatory Princess but the setting is in a future rather than an alternative history. I think of fantasy as having "fantasy" creatures, goblins and unicorns. Also witches and spells and all that sort of crap. I know you can make a case for Jedi being a warlock and mind games being spells but I like my interpretation.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Mycroft Holmes wrote:
but the setting is in a future
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" I know, I'm a total pedant ;-). Andy B
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Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:
I find "The Empire" to be the best episode
Yech, bleah! X| There's no action, nothing happens, it's like a peaceful interlude between battles. Episode 4 is the only one worth watching. I was twelve when Star Wars came out and it pulled me right in. After waiting two years (or was it longer?) for the sequel, I was left wondering "what the heck was that?" -- it was a huge let-down.
PIEBALDconsult wrote:
There's no action
Actually, in all of the series there is too much action that contributes nothing to the story. Episode V is somewhat better than others in this regard.
PIEBALDconsult wrote:
Episode 4 is the only one worth watching.
Well, it is if:
PIEBALDconsult wrote:
I was twelve
:)
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
but the setting is in a future
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" I know, I'm a total pedant ;-). Andy B
LabVIEWstuff wrote:
I know, I'm a total pedant
Will you bugger off with that, next you are going to tell me you RTFM as well.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I should do a "Godfather" marathon, just to have another point of view as I've never watch them.
Watched code never compiles.
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:
Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return"
Yes I agree, I have always believed that they should have bought back Count Duckula[^] to play the role ;)
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:
- Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga.
"The Empire Strikes Back" is regarded by most to be the strongest of the episodes. One of the reasons you may have liked this would be that it was written by Leigh_Brackett[^].
m.bergman
For Bruce Schneier, quanta only have one state : afraid.
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered. -- Voltaire
Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. -- Steve Landesberg
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
I love my scifi, the harder the better,
Would you classify Star Wars as science fiction? I'd call it more fantasy.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
To my mind, Star Wars is space opera[^], a sub-genre of science fiction. With science fiction, there is always some attempt to base the story elements on an extrapolation of reality, of the universe's rules as we understand them. You can 'suspend your disbelief' and imagine those events actually happening. Fantasy on the other hand sets aside the rules we understand and puts another set in their place. This is why so much fantasy reads as myth. Myths were created in an attempt to explain the world we live in. As our understanding grows, the stories change. Fantasy retells a lot of the old myths, which gives it its appeal. There's a lot of overlap between the genres, and authors routinely borrow elements from each. I prefer science fiction (especially the 'hard' variety). A lot of contemporary fantasy just seems to be derivative; everyone reworks Tolkein, over and over again. Science fiction can be just as repetitive, but I seem to tolerate it better.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
To my mind, Star Wars is space opera[^], a sub-genre of science fiction. With science fiction, there is always some attempt to base the story elements on an extrapolation of reality, of the universe's rules as we understand them. You can 'suspend your disbelief' and imagine those events actually happening. Fantasy on the other hand sets aside the rules we understand and puts another set in their place. This is why so much fantasy reads as myth. Myths were created in an attempt to explain the world we live in. As our understanding grows, the stories change. Fantasy retells a lot of the old myths, which gives it its appeal. There's a lot of overlap between the genres, and authors routinely borrow elements from each. I prefer science fiction (especially the 'hard' variety). A lot of contemporary fantasy just seems to be derivative; everyone reworks Tolkein, over and over again. Science fiction can be just as repetitive, but I seem to tolerate it better.
Software Zen:
delete this;That's the best explanation I've heard about the difference between the two. :thumbsup:
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
I love my scifi, the harder the better,
Would you classify Star Wars as science fiction? I'd call it more fantasy.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
Or Western. The Duke would have made a great Solo.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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I should do a "Godfather" marathon, just to have another point of view as I've never watch them.
Watched code never compiles.
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I admit it - I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies. Sure, I watched the original trilogy, mostly because everybody else did, but never really felt any need to watch it again. Fast forward a few decades - my daughter became a fan, and I saw all 6 movies one after another. Some impressions: 1) In general, I like the prequels better - better story, better acting, better special effects. 2) Having said that, I find "The Empire" to be the best episode: the duel between the father and the son is the strongest moment of the saga. 3) "Return of the Jedi" is the weakest part: making Leia Luke's sister was a poor way to make both Han and Luke winners; I think Solo should have died in episode V instead. Darth Wader looks pretty much pathetic in "The Return" - even his last heroic act is really caused by weakness rather than heroism. 4) "Revenge of the Sith" is very interesting; it almost looks like it was inspired by the history of Roman Republic which transformed to Empire. I would have gone even farther in this direction and made the Emperor resemble Octavian August - that way Anakin would have joined him because of his convictions, not just to save his wife's life (which he failed to do anyway). Anyway, just my 2c. I still prefer watching "The Godfather" :)
Believe it or not, I was never able to watch a full episode to date. Every time I tried I fell asleep, even with remakes. All I know from star wars are what people talk about and by references to it on other shows (like "family guy" cartoon and many others). I still intend to watch the whole series, but I keep finding more interesting things to do.
"To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems" - Homer Simpson
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Star Wars is Fantasy / Adventure.
Indeed it is fantasy. Swords and sorcery, damsels-in-distress fantasy, with swords made of light and sorcerers called Jedi Knights. Vader is a stand-in for any number of undead, vampiric bad guys from previous eras. Watch the TIE fighters chasing the Falcon through the asteroid field in "Empire" and tell me you don't see a flight of vampire bats chasing a carriage over rocky terrain, a la "Dracula." George Lucas self-consciously created characters based on mythic heroes, under the tutelage of Joseph Campbell.
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Godfather double-feature, you mean. III not worth watching. The first two, however, great films. Two of the instances where the Academy got it right come Oscar time. (No, Forrest Gump is not a better movie than Pulp Fiction.)
I don't understand the Godfather III hate. The plot was implausible compared to the others, but it was quite watchable. The much-derided onscreen appearance of Sophia Coppola was, in my opinion, pure win; she has a naturalistic acting style that worked very well with that of Andy Garcia. Of course the movie wasn't as good as the first, but it was still a better 2+ hours than most other movies made before or since.
