Cool News
Info on 5-25-77 (formerly known as 1977)
Alrighty folkerinos, Harry here with a script report on a movie about a day long remembered by GEEKS the world over.... 5-25-77.... It's not just a date, but the title of the film. Back during the FANBOYS talkback, we had multiple reports about this film, and I have to warn you that this report may be a PLANT.... But if it is a plant, just disregard the opinion of the piece, and use it to find out more on the project. Basically, all you have to do is look past phrases like "Greatest" and "Coolest" and those sorts of words. But.... here ya go...WARNING!!!! SPOILERS ARE CONTAINED!!!! WARNING!!!
First of all... They've changed the title to "5-25-77" The cover page says
it is by Patrick Read Johnson and that it is the FIRST DRAFT, dated April 4,
1999. We were told that Gary Kurtz is indeed producing this film! Since
Gary also produced STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and AMERICAN GRAFFITI,
his attachment bodes well for this project!
I can't copy the script and send it or I would. We've been warned that the
producers will know who did it by some kind of code contained in each script.
Maybe they're lying. Maybe not. But I can't take the chance. Forgive me.
So instead, let me share with you the story. (What follows is essentially
my script coverage, heavily reworked to avoid detection. I would have sent
it sooner but I had to wait till I knew that the script was making the rounds
around town.) Here's what we've got to look forward to!
"5-25-77", as most of your readers will know, is the day that STAR WARS was
first released. For a lot of us, this is a day that took place before we
were even born.
For the director and writer of this script it was a turning point in his own
teenage life. The script he has written is a kind of cross between American
Graffiti and Cinema Paradiso. With wonderous, moving, and often hysterical
homages to Star Wars, Close Encounters, 2001, and other sci-fi classics
thrown in.
In fact, the opening scene is a dream sequence that re-creates the Dawn of
Man section of 2001, but with a very funny twist. It starts with Moonwatcher
and the other apes sitting around the monolith, fat and happy, when suddenly
a strange new sound echoes across the land-- The sound of evil MECHANICAL
BREATHING. I won't tell you what happens next, except to say that mixing
2001 and Star Wars in a dream-state competition for the honor of being the
dominant Sci-Fi film in history makes for an opening that will leave you in
hysterics.
After this opening dream, the movie then seques into the life of the
dreamer-- 17 year old Pat Johnson, a student at a little high school in a
tiny down "on the edge of the edge of nowhere" in semi-rural Illinois.
Pat's the ultimate sci-fi and film geek in town. In fact he's the ONLY one
in town. Ever since seeing 2001 when he was a little kid, he's dreamed of
directing movies. Every available space in his home has been converted to
some kind of Super-8 movie production space. There's a spacecraft cockpit
set in the basement, complete with a cobbled-together front projection
system! There's a swimming pool full of blood-red water left over from the
shark attack he filmed in it weeks ago. There's a garage with a starfield on
the ceiling made of tiny white Christmas lights and a wire and harness rig to
hang his little brother in a space suit for shooting zero-g shots just like
in 2001. But Pat makes his films alone. There's just not much of a film
industry in Wadsworth, Illinois.
Soon, through a series of truly amazing (and apparently ALL TRUE) flashbacks
we find out that a few months before the events in this film, Pat's mom,
frustrated over not being able to help her son get any closer to Hollywood,
had snatched up one of his American Cinematographer magazines and called up
the editor of the magazine, out of the blue, to ask for his help! She
basically sweet-talked the guy into letting her send Pat out on a plane so he
could tag along while the editor went around to the various effects stages of
certain films that were in production that summer. In the first flashback,
we see Pat and the editor of the magazine watching some visual effects guys
shooting clouds in a water tank.
As Pat sits there in amazement, a young guy in jeans, sneakers and a baseball
cap comes over and plops down next to him, offering him a Coke. Pat thinks
the guy is just another crewmember until he calls CUT when something in the
tank goes wrong. The lights come up and it turns out the guy next to Pat is
STEVEN SPIELBERG! They're on the set of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS! Mr. Spielberg
proceeds to give them both a tour of the entire FX facility and goes out of
his way to make Pat feel like there's hope for him, if he can just get his
butt out to L.A.
As if that wasn't enough to inspire him, the next day-- The editor of the
magazine takes him out to a little-known warehouse in the San Fernando Valley
where a bunch of long-haired FX Geeks are working on some little unknown
movie called-- get this-- STAR WARS? Remember-- At that time NOBODY knew
what Star Wars was! John Dykstra (Visual Effects Supervisor of Star Wars)
plays the tour guide this time and not only lets Pat see all the models,
(even enouraging him to BREAK one of the explodable X-WING models just for
fun!) he even shows him the ENTIRE ROUGH CUT of the MOVIE! And even though
it still has uncomposited blue-screen shots and WW2 footage cut in to the
space battles, it's more than enough to convince young Pat that he MUST
somehow become a director of REAL movies. (REMEMBER. These events ACTUALLY
HAPPENED to Johnson. If you read that Steven Spielberg biography book that
came out a couple years ago, it actually mentions these events!)
Now, on May 25th, 1977, as he reaches the end of his high school life and as
the film that he's been blabbing about to his entire utterly disinterested
town for months is finally coming out, Johnson is faced with a tough
decision. Does he stay in the little town of 750 people he's known his
whole life? Does he stay with the girl he thinks he's going to marry? Does
he stay to help his mother raise the younger brothers and sister abandoned by
his violent alcoholic father... In short, does he give up his dream to deal
with what he's starting to believe is his pre-determined fate of never
getting out of his hometown? OR Does he pack up his Ford Pinto and drive
out to L.A. and try to bust into Hollywood like many of us wanted to do?
It's an emotional trap that he will only be able to sort out by going through
events of the next 24 hours. As he tries to juggle his desperate attempt to
get EVERYONE in his town to go see Star Wars-- the needs his mom and younger
siblings-- and the sudden decision by his girlfriend that THIS of ALL NIGHTS
is the one when they should finally "do it", Pat is strapped onto a
roller-coaster ride of often funny, but just as often deeply moving events
that culminate in one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a LONG,
LONG time. I can't give it away, but I can promise you that if you EVER
hoped and dreamed of "making it" in the movie biz, this movie will make you
laugh out loud, cheer, and unless you have no heart left in you at all, cry
your eyes out.
I've been told by those who've spoken to him about the film, that Johnson is
making this as a kind of homage to George, Steven, and Stanley Kubrick, the
holy trinity of Johnson's particular film religion. But also as a kind of
revenge for ANGUS, the film he directed a few years ago, that was taken from
him in the editing room and cut to shreds. Johnson was apparently so
unhappy with the final version of Angus, with all its sloppy editing and the
wall to wall Green Day montage crap that he nearly took his name off it.
If the powers that be let Kurtz and Johnson make the movie that's written on
these pages, he'll get his wish. He'll also have made something that no
person who loves Star Wars, or movies in general, will be able to resist.
All I can say is... This film proves there is hope for all of us who hope to
make it in Hollywood. Especially if we originally come from somewhere else.
(like me!)
I have HIGHLY recommended this script to my superiors and I hope our client
decides to do the show. If you can get ahold of this script-- DO IT. You
won't be disappointed.
More to come as I get it!
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I think this has a shitload of potential if done correctly. I've always had this movie in my head, except that I'm the main character. Mebbe that's why it really strikes a chord deep within me. I'm sure many, many of us have had this dream, and to see it on the screen is almost equivalent to each and everyone one of us achieving this lofty goal. I've decided that if anything bad happens to me soon, I'm gonna pack up my shit and get the hell outta South Hell-olina and head to Hollywoodland to see if I can hold someone hostage or bomb threat someplace until I get my very own directing gig. This film may be an unfortunate catalyst to an already crazy ass idea. Oh well. We can all dream...
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Apr 23, 1999 1:28:28 AM CDT
alec guiness was in manchester yesterday and he was fucking top!
by reni
just a quick note to say that I went to a reading by Sir Alec Guiness yesterday, he wouldn't accept any questions on star wars but he did say 'may the force be with you,' he hadn't aged a day since 1977, he was lovely and I wanted to take him home because he reminded me of my granddad... for those who care yes he could still play Obi Wan if he wanted...he may be old but the voice and the charm and the wisdom are all very much intact... god bless - p.s Happy Mondays are playing tonight, anyone going???
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What??? This is the stupidest idea for a fake rumor I have ever read on the www for the past 5 years!!! The guy is telling that he would send the script earlier but waited for the script to get around blablablah... But this way, HE IS GIVING AWAY THAT HE IS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO GOT THE SCRIPT (YEAH, RIGHT!). If it were true, would he mention that for a whole fucking paragraph??? Harry, you are disappointing me for posting such loser-produced "news". Apparently, whoever sent this thing is in desparate need for one thing: A LIFE!!!
And as for the guy, reni, I guess, who "saw" Alec Guinness... Sir Guinness is 85 YEARS OLD, you loser, and HE DOES NOT GIVE PUBLIC INTERVIEWS OR TALKS. Guys, if you want to bullshit on this site, at least bullshit appropriately so that you don't look stupid. Jesus!!! -
Khan you are a twat: Alec Guinness has a new book out and he is promoting it with readings. OK? He is 85, he is not dead and is quite capable of reading a book in public.
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Apr 23, 1999 4:04:16 AM CDT
kahn I'll mail you a scan of the ticket if you like (network agg
by reni
cheers Andy the Troll for backing me up - about 900 people saw Sir Alec yesterday at the Royal Exchange Theatre making good on 3 year old promise- don't mean to piss you off Kahn, I just thought people might like to know... maybe not you though 'cos you sound like a fucking bell end !
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Anyone else think "1977" is a snappier title? It just flows off the tongue better and makes the film seem a little more...well, "epic" to me.
And as for you jerkoffs who always yell at Harry for posting stuff that may be a rumor, get a friggin' life, you dweebs... if he just printed cold, hard facts, what fun would that be? Rumors (true or fake) are often just as interesting as real news... -
Does anybody know if SS or GL will be portraying themselves? Or are we going to be treated to some amazing look-a-likes a la Orson Wells in ED WOOD? If we did have to cast big names, I'd toss out Ben Affleck for George. When I was watching my AMERICAN GRAFFITI DVD, I just knew the young George looked like someone. I showed it to my dad, and he said "looks like that guy from CHASING AMY"- and by gum, if there isn't some resemblance! Ok, let the flaming begin.
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...as far as I know(nod to Khan), Orson Welles was digitally inserted into the scenes where he appeared head on, and a double was used when his back was to the camera. Watch his lips when he talks. They must have had the voice of 'The Brain' do the dialogue. Beautiful movie, though. Bill Murray stole the show.
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Through Hell's Heart, I stab at thee... For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.
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I must say, in all fairness, that a first draft means nothing at all. It's foreplay; could lead to passion or oblivion depending on the mood of the moment. Boy oh boy, this movie sounds awful though. This coming from a longtime SW fan. I first saw it in a drive-in, space sequences played out before a real starry night, but I'm not planning on writing a movie about it. This sounds like the kind of project that means much more to the writer than it could to any reader. Add on top of it that it's subject is pure poison, beyond the fact that Lucasfilm could sue Johnson for all sorts of things involved (Hey, it isn't like it would be unprecedented)... Remember that the subject matter would brand any moviegoer with, not the moniker of nostalgiac, but the fanboy's mark of the beast. No points with the girlfriend for going to the movie about going to the movie. I could be wrong, but I think the cards are against this project ever moving beyond the page.
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OK. I apologize by the people who called me a network aggro, a twat, a fucking bell end, and a jerkoff. I DO apologize, dear reni, and you needn't send any ticket slips to me. The main reason of my posting was probably my being almost qualified for the GUINNESS Book of Records for overstudying.
Now, on to the issues:
1. Is the book in question here:"My Name Escapes Me:The Diary of a Retiring Actor by Alec Guinness"? This book was published in the US August 1997, and was the only book I could find from Sir Alec. One he wrote in 1987, "Blessing in Disguise", is out of print, I guess.
2. Uncle Cracky is right about Orson in Ed Wood, I remember having read about Orson Wells' insertion into the movie. Didn't catch anything in the lips, though.
3. I am a big fan of Harry (come Sunday, if you know what I mean), and admire him for being one of the greatest Hollywood insiders. And believe it, rumors DO turn out to be true. I am horny on one particular rumor right now: That there WILL be a T3 movie, with shooting to commence as soon as next year. If that turns out to be true, there even may be life after Y2K!!! -
For misspelling the great Orson Welles' name above, I'll have to put one of my creatures into my own ear-the same one I put into Capt. Terrell's and Cmdr. Chekov's ears. Don't YOU dare misspell my name again reni and cuthbert51 so I won't have to share my cold dish with you...
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Ohhh, I've done far worse than kill you. I've hurt you...and I wish to go on hurting you. To leave you as you left me...as you left her... at the center of a dead planet... buried alive.. buried alive... Khhhhaaaannnnn! Khannnnnnnnnnnnn!
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It must do the creative hearts of Gary Kurtz and George Lucas good to see that more than 20 years after the first STAR WARS, they're still making... STAR WARS movies.
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Dang you guys are doof-heads. In the movie Ed Wood, Orson Welles was played by Vincent D'Onofrio. You can look up the cast on the IMD.
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0109707
Sheesh! -
I remember reading articles where Patrick Read Johnson talks about his experiences in 1977, and he does say that he toured the Close Encounters set. Neeto.
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Fuck me The Angry Local is right, Vincent D'Onofrio (yes, sp) played him. I never used the word "digital" though, although I disagree with the statement that it was never used believably in any movie before (Tom Hanks, anyone???). What I probably remembered was rather his dubbing by Brain. After this kind of humiliation, I am going back to S. S. Botany Bay. You'll NEVER hear from Khan again-unless in another genesis.
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Boring. Unless Lucas and Spielberg will make cameos.
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That's the title folks - a new couple of volumes to My Name Escapes Me - (1996/1998) - he read a few passages from them, mentioning Star Wars and the fact that he really liked the De Caprio
version of Romeo and Juliet ( he saw it 3 times at the cinema.)
sorry for getting defensive earlier on - have good weekend peep's... -
Here's a heads up for anyone interested in 'Blair Witch Project'. Ed Sanchez of Haxan Films has let those on the Haxan mailing list know of screenings of 'Blair Witch' that'll be taking place next Tuesday (4/27). I managed to score a couple passes for the Boston screening, as luck would have it. Check out www.haxan.com for other info. As for the wide release of the film, I'm getting the impression that July is the month. Ed left a cryptic "3 more months..." message at the end of his last update. Just in case you were interested...
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This script sounds promising, however I think what is most exiting about it are the scences of George Lucas and John Dykstra working at the old ILM when Star Wars was being created. It would be great if someone were to film the George Lucas biography "Skywalking, The life and films of George Lucas" by Dale Polock. It could be done as a T.V mini-series that would take us through his misspent youth, the car wreck, his years at USC where he met John Milius, Francis Coppola(via an internship), the making of THX 1138, American Graffiti, Star Wars and Raiders etc right up to the release of Episode 1. One can only imagine who would be cast for the many roles that would have to be filled.
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Anger is a negative emotion. You can spell people's names any way you wish, just don't have a go at other people for getting their facts wrong. People in glass houses should not throw stones... none of us are perfect. I was NOT having a go at your spelling. I haven't even seen Ed Wood but I do remember Zelig, I think around 1982, using technology to combine Woody Allen with figures from history. Orson Welles has not been digitally inserted into any films but if he had then Ed Wood would have been the best film he had appeared in for 25 years, so its not disrespectful to suggest he was in it. Remember he was appearing in Moonighting and alcohol adverts in his last few years. By the way, the above is just an opinion, F for Fake could be argued as a better film. Especially I've already admitted I haven't even seen Ed Wood! Chill everyone, its the weekend. Even Khan admitted he was wrong and he looked like an ornery fella in that movie! Reni: I hope the Mondays are bitchin'!
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Andy, no one could've said it better. You're great.
Come on Angry, just go read my first message, and look at me now! We are all civilized people who are trying to enjoy life. So, come on, it is your turn to say something beautiful here. Looking forward to it...
Take care folks. By the way, Nick, I sent you 3 e-mails, all of them bounced back. What may possibly be going on? -
Wow, it's getting warm in here. I believe it was GG Allin who once asked the musical question, "Can YOU feel the love tonight?" Or it was Elton John.
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People of the world, unite, and join me in demanding that the original director's cut of ANGUS be released to the public. We will not stand by and watch as the evil studio system destroys works of genius such as ANGUS! At least this doesn't seem as shitty as that Harry-cameo having "Fanboys" movie that was supposed to be on the way.
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Well, well it looks like Star Wars is being misrepresented as Sci-Fi... AGAIN! Comparing Star Wars to Sci-fi masterpieces like 2001, is like comparing Hill Street Blues to Perfect Strangers. What's next comparisons between Willow and a Clockwork Orange? *sigh* The fight for *REAL* sci-fi, is a losing battle, at best...
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Ok first before you all rip me to shreds, I STILL havent seen "Ed Wood" ok? So realize that I'm kinda talking about a subject that I've never seen. The first guy to mention that Orson Welles was digitally inserted into "Ed Wood" DID say that an actor was used when his back was turned away from the camera, and that actor could have been Vincent De`Nofrio(sp?). and to the guy who said that it had never been done before that movie:"Forrest Gump" (ok I'd like to forget Forrest Gump myself) Please dont forget that they used digital insertion effects to finish "The Crow" on an actor stand in after Brandon Lee was killed, also HBO used actor digital insertion technology in the final episode of Tales From the Crypt where a character had his face surgically altered to look like the face of Humpfrey Bogart. so dont tell me that they couldnt stick Orson Welles into "Ed Wood". I'll have to rent it some time to settle my own curiosity. -McK
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George Lucas himself said "Skywalking is about as accurate as the National Enquirer.It's terrible. Terrible" That book would eat it as a movie! Not that this "5-25-77" won't eat it either. I love "Star Wars", but COME ON. You know what this is? It's a movie about a guy GOING TO THE MOVIES! Even if the movie is the greatest film of all time! It's still watching a movie about people watching a movie. ! B-O-R-I-N-G! Dale Pollock is a queerbait, but at least he's writing about Lucas and not that cornholer Joel Schumacher. 8MM was a piece of shit!!!!
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If you want to make an awesome movie about the seventies film scene, do EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS by Peter Biskind. Even if the book isnt entirely accurate, it would be incredibly entertaining. The making of Easy Rider, The Godfather, The Exorcist, Jaws, Star Wars, Taxi Driver, so on.
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I love how these Talkbacks deviate from their original subjects. It makes them so much more interesting. Vincent D'Onofrio did indeed play Orson Welles in ED WOOD. He did the acting AND the voice (it wasn't dubbed). That scene never happened in real life, anyway. Welles never gave Wood advice. In fact, Welles WANTED Charlton Heston to star as a Mexican cop in TOUCH OF EVIL. In ED WOOD, Welles claims Universal forced Heston into the project, where in reality, it was the other way around. Still, its an effective and funny scene, doncha think?
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I hate being talked about behind my back. Right. I did say "As far as I know," and now I know farther(futher?). One thing I have NEVER claimed to be is infallible. As far as my thought being stupid, that's not for the Angry Local or anyone else to judge. How does that line go: "...but I'd rather light a candle than curse your darkness." And what about "I'd rather be happy and stupid than smart and depressed." Or was it "Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven"?
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What a great film! Any movie where Charleton Heston wears facepaint is worth watching. Not as good as 'Lady From Shanghai,' though.
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5-25-77 may be a sensible title in the US, but in Europe it means the 5th Day of the 25th Month of 1977. Will they amend the format for European Release?
Stick with 1977. -
Dolfanar, I'm happy for you, you've found something to be indignant about. While I agree that 2001 fits into a catagoy of "hard science fiction" I also think that if Star Wars isn't science fiction then neither are Day the Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds, or Forbidden Planet. I mean Albert Collins was most certainly "the blues" but that doesn't mean that Blues Travelers aren't.
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I, for one, cannot believe how many bullshit people that are out there that have the nuts enough to say that THEY were at the opening day of Star Wars on May 25, 1977. Most people waited until the following weekend or two AFTER its release. I was 13 at the time and remember seeing the ads on television (there were only three channels to choose from then) and thinking about how stupid the film looked. It wasn't until a couple of friends of mine raved about it that I finally convinced my dad into taking me to see it in about the second week of June of 1977.................................I'm kinda new around here, so I don't really understand the whole political/bullshit/clic situation, but let me say this..........LaneMyers sure inded has a potty mouth!!!
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geez. another script about another seminal pop-culture moment. first, a kiss concert movie; then a flick about trekkies hunting down bill shatner; now a star wars fanboy movie. what's next? a movie about the day 'terminator 2' came out? maybe an intricate narrative about the first people in line to see 'mallrats.' zemeckis did make a wonderful li'l movie called 'i want to hold your hand' about beatles fans, but it tied into larger social issues. the only social issue most of you 'star wars' fans seem to care about is how much your special collector's edition jar jar taco bell cup will be worth next year. don't get me wrong, the day i saw 'star wars' is etched into my brain. it changed my life. but this blanket deification has got to stop...
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I find your ignorance astounding. Science Fiction (fromerly known as speculative fiction) is an exploration of where *we* (as in *us* humans on Earth) are going. Star Wars is a fairy Tale. Period. It is a story of an imaginary world, where a farmer an old wizard, a thief, a sasquatch a tin man and a princess, storm a fortress where an Evil black Knight/necromancer live. It is fantasy 101. Just because a movie is set in Space DOES NOT make it Sci-fi. Or Else Apollo 13 would be sci-fi... The fact that you can not distinguish the difference only reinforces my assertion of the damage that Star Wars has visited upon *both* genres (Sci-fi AND fantasy)...
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more deification of pop-culture. i can't wait for the movie abut the week 'terminator 2' opened; or a complex narrative about the first people in line to see 'mallrats'. zemeckis made a sweet 1978 film about beatles fans, but he tied it in to larger social issues. based on these posts, the only social issue most of you seem to care about is how much your special collector's edition jar jar taco bell cups will be worth next year. a movie about the day 'star wars' opened and no movie about the day martin luther king died? who cares about real empire destroyers...bring on the droids....
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This information has been on my website for the past week. This is old news. I will have a script in my hands soon.
http://home1.gte.net/filter1/starwars
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Ouch! Dolfanar, your insults hurt so much! Please stop! I'm more convinced than ever that your main purpose in coming to this site is to inflate your own ego. You (and many like you) pontificate to the other readers like they were dim children and when they fail to recognize your superior judgement you stoop to the "well you're just stupid" tactic. I'm well aware that Lucas intended the Star Wars story to be more of a fantasy adventure than complete sci-fi. But the fact remains that it IS set in a science fiction idiom. By your definition it would seem that "true" sci-fi must be DEVOID of fantasy. But I put it to you that ALL sci-fi is fantasy. Look at the works of Azimov or Ellison. They often blur the line between "sci-fi" and "fantasy" I've read collections of stories from such early publications as Astounding and I'm well aware of the history of the genre and I have noticed that there are many sci-fi stories which do not fit your definition. What, might I ask, makes you such an authority anyway. I feel that my "ignorance" pales in the light of your arrogance.
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You aren't ignorant... you're just stupid (Or more likely, Naively trusting of the Marketing Bullshit(TM) put out by lucasflm). Star Wars is Fantasy, an escapist journey into a world which has nothing to do with our own. Space 2001, is Science Fiction, it speculates on our future, it depicts the potential tedium of space. Bladerunner deals with the pitfalls of genetic engineering, 1984 deals with propoganda, Starship Troopers (The novel) deals with a future under a totalitarian regime, Brave New World deals with a world where "pleasure" has become a religion. All these have something to say about *where we are* and where we are going. Star Wars (as entertaining as it is), is Fantasy, IT *CAN NOT* say anything about where we are going because it's very premise is that it takes place "In a galaxy, far far away". Part of the problem is that as of late many so called "sci-fi" movies (ID4, 5th element) have taken a Star Wars mentality to heart. This has made for ridiculous futuristic romps, and continues to confuse people as to the essence of Sci-fi. At it's best Sci-fi stories serve as cautionary tales, warnings, or indictments of our current behavior, whether they be about social behavior, political, or technological. Frankenstein is Sci-fi, Gullivers travels is Sci-fi. Sci-fi RARELY (Read almost NEVER) deal with "epic" battles, Red Lazer beams, or ships which can be heard exploding in Space... If YOU see our future in Star Wars then I all I can suggest is a good shrink.
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"Frankenstein is Sci-fi, Gullivers travels is Sci-fi." WOW...ok let me set you straight, Frankenstein is horror and Gullivers Travels is pure fantasy. Any way you slice the pie, you will never be able to convince the masses that these movies are anything but Horror and Fantasy. STAR WARS really IS fantasy (well actually its a mix of fantasy-sci/fi) Yes its true that it doesnt show us where we are going (or does it?) what if, in ten thousand years(or less), we develop lightsabers, landspeeders and service droids? Why just the other day, I was watching a good friend play with his micro cell phone...he flipped it open imitating Captain Kirk from STAR TREK...is Star Trek Fantasy? Is it Sci/fi? Is it both? Anyway Dolfanar, I'm not here to argue but if you ever open the "Dolfanar's Dollar Video and DVD rental store", you would confuse your customers greatly with your classifications of movies!!!! -McK
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The more you resort to name calling the weaker your position becomes. Your temperament indicates a lack of control and quite possibly a lack of self confidence. I suspect that your rigid definition of sci-fi is something that you pulled out of your ass. But even if you read it somewhere so what? Then it's something that some academic pulled out of his ass. And speaking of asses, if you'd pull your head out of your own you might realize that the definition of stupid isn't "disagreeing with Dolfanar". Fairy tales are the very origin of sci-fi my sanctimonious friend. During the age of enlightenment people turned from the supernatural to science as a means of explaining the universe. The same stories that used to be told with monsters and magic were now told with biology and physics. The only difference is that sci-fi has evolved to tell a more plausible story since it is based on the laws (or speculations) of science. The Enterprise doesn't have warp drive. Warp drive is a FANTASY. It's just based on scientific rather than supernatural ideas. And as much as it pains me to "hear" in space, the Enterprise makes noise. So you'd better save all those Trekkies from themselves too. And the Force doesn't negate the Star Wars stories either. There were "psychic powers" in A Boy And His Dog, Star Trek and Babylon 5 as well. Just because Star Wars isn't set in the Earth's frame of reference does not negate it either. I've read some great sci-fi stories that had nothing to do with Earth or humans. And sci-fi needn't be about where humanity is going on a grand scale either. I've got a wonderful story written by Fitz-James O'Brien in 1859 (yes 1859, it's not a typo) about invisibility. It's a short story that has nothing to do with "where we are going" as the human race in any way. It only deals with the unknown. And I never said that Star Wars is "where we are going". You fabricated that in your own head based on the "Dolfanar treatise on what should and should not be refered to as science fiction". Since you seem determined to act like an angry child rather than debating people respectfully might I suggest that YOU see a shrink. You're like someone standing in the Air and Space museum waiting to pounce on everyone who calls the autogyro a helicopter because you can barely tolerate their profound ignorance. I think I'll go to the gorillas at the zoo and wait for some kid to call them monkeys. Then I'll shout "You ignorant fool! That's an ape! How could you be so stupid?" And you know what that kid is gonna think? Not "Wow that guy really put me in my place" but rather "What an asshole".
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I just thought you guys might want to check out our new Star Wars Parody entitled: "STAR WARS Episode One: Beowulf In Space."
http://www.siscom.net/~dshaffer/starwars.htm
Hope you enjoy it!
Mike K.
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You're right. If this movie is done right it could be a lot of fun. It's made by fans so they won't portray us as nuts. Unless they ARE nuts, then we'll all look bad. =) And the coolest part of the That Seventies Show episode was when the Vista Cruiser moved over camera like the Star Destroyer. Did you see that last Simpsons with Mark Hamil? Funny!
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If Eegah thinks that 5-25-77 is a movie about a guy watching a movie, then he is about as intelligent as his namesake. (Sorry, guy. When you picked the name, you set yourself up.) Angel is also way off the mark if she thinks the story is about the deification of Lucas, Spielberg, and the rest and about making Star Wars' release date the biggest event of the century. I have read the script for 5-25-77, and it is none of those things. It is an unsually good coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of Star Wars' release. It's a terrific story regardless of the SW angle, and it should be a very good movie. Johnson moves way past his earlier work with this one.
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As I suspected, Foster and those like him, breath in every bit of farted air put out by Hollywood... Sorry bub, but there aint no way no how that Star Wars is Sci-fi even by your twisted definition. If so, then EVERYTHING is Sci-fi. Ghostbusters, Silence of The Lambs, Braveheart, titanic, you name it... You are confused (An obvious statement I admit) by the inclusion of the word *fiction*, in the general classification *science fiction*. Fiction meaning "made up" or "imaginary". Science fiction (while imaginary) are the projections of what is to come. By it's very definition Star Wars is a fairy tale (ie. Once upon a time, or A long time ago...). I understand that some of you believe that George Lucas can create Legends, Myths, alter time, speed up the harvest etc... but the facts are that George lucas wrote a little fairy tale, wrapped it up in the Trappings of a Space epic and sold a bunch of action figures and comemorative plates. I like Fantasy, I like Star Wars, I know Sci Fi, and Star Wars *aint it* (To his credit even your God (or as he OCCASIONALLY allows people to address him, George Lucas) has clearly stated that his movies are *NOT* scifi. Now since you have asserted that literacy is a skill you possess, goto http://writer.lronhubbard.org/page92.htm and read a serious and objective view on What is Sci-fi? Oh and as for insults, I *COULD* say that if you were ever to meet George Lucas that someone should warn him not to stop short for fear of getting your head lodged up his ass, and I *could* say that if the world was a drawer and it's people knives that judging by your cutting wit you would be a spoon, but I *wont*, because I *never* beat on an unarmed man, EVEN in a battle of wit...
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Look at the words, guys. Science Fiction. Anything that combines science, and fiction. In other words, something scientific that is true, elaborated on and stretched into fiction. I don't know where you find the idea that sci-fi has to deal only with our future, that makes no sense whatsoever. And neither does resorting to namecalling and cursing, for that matter. (Hey, I'm new, don't be too hard on me here ;)
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Science (Blacksmithing), Fiction (Any Story). Congratulations, Robin Hood has just been declared Science Fiction...
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okay, okay, *modern* science
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Science (robots) fiction (story)
Sounds like Star Wars to me.
Do you see where rigid definitions get you in life? No where. Life is that big grey pile in the middle. Hee Hee. -
Well Dolfanar, you certainly have an active fantasy life. I defy you to produce in your next post some statement I have made that warrants your description of me as "regarding Lucas as a god". Didn't our little debate start out as an arguement about whether or not Star Wars could be called "sci-fi"? What strikes me about the many confrontational people like you at Harry's site is the way you try to convince others of your superiority. It follows a distinct pattern. Someone disagrees with some statement you present as infalible fact. Someone disagreeing with you is apparently unacceptable. Your first response is invariably to explain how you could not possibly be wrong. When they continue to argue their point (i.e. NOT acknowledge your superiority) you then try to belittle that person into some caricature. Can't you deal with someone expressing an idea contradictory to your own? If your position is so authoritative and impenetrable why do you resort to childish insults? Do you really think that what you type sounds clever and cerebral? It's just a slightly more advanced version of what junior high students use to support their arguements. Falling back on "Well, your just another one of those Lucas worshipers" shows that you've run out of real ideas. (Actually I've seen much less obsession in the Star Wars fans than in the people who rant about "the Star Wars obsessed") Instead of trying to act like a pompous ass try saying something like "I think such and such and here's why..." instead of your usual "You mortals are stupid, I am the arbiter of truth. Thus spake Dolfanar". And you might find then that people will disagree with you. Try to keep in mind that this is not an attack on Dolfanar personally. People are not beneath you because they don't share your views. So you have a definition of what sci-fi is. Good for you. Other people have their own definitions too. And before you again claim that my definition depends solely on "spaceships and lasers" keep in mind that that is another assertion that you attribute to me that I never in fact said. For you to act as if you have some greater authority than everyone else is just sad. In short, grow up and learn to debate like an adult. Oh, and that spoon thing: Priceless. It's the most original and obtuse humor I've encountered since Weekend at Bernies.
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Okay whatever blather is going on about leaks or no leaks, I was lucky enough to read this script and it's excellent and everything that the review up there describes. It made me laugh a lot but also was very touching. I'm not normally moved by movies, let alone scripts but this one is great. I hope it gets made quickly so I can see it on the screen. And I hope the script gets released as a book because it's great. As you can tell i'm not a writer but there's my 2cents.
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