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Alrighty Folks.... Here come the STAR WARS EPISODE ONE Reviews.... Ready or Not...
Tonight... In Toronto, Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles and New York (that I know of so far) we have geeks and members of the press seeing that... Which we have been waiting an entire generation to hear about. Since the dawn of your film memory you've wanted to see this movie. Have your hopes been ill placed? Or.... Has the $400 dollars you've spent in the last 48 hours been the best $400 you've ever spent? Well, here in does not lie the answers. These are merely the feelings of THESE fans. These people. Ready? Set? Here we go...
These will be NON-SPOILER Reviews. If I have Spoiler Reviews, I'll post them on a different page. The newest reviews will be posted at the top of the screen....
Here's Sam I Am's look at the film...
Dearest Harry,
100% SPOILER FREE!!
After years and years of fevered anticipation, I had the honor of being
one of the first audiences in the world to see "The Phantom Menace"!!
The movie was all that I expected, but not what I hoped for.
Everything technical was astounding: the sets, costumes, music, sound
design-it all immersed you in the world of Star Wars. Many of the
digital characters worked well, particularly Watto and Sebulba. The
lightsaber duels with Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Darth Maul were fantastic.
And the podracing scene was a true highlight: the kind of hair-raising
action sequences that only Lucas and Co. can do.
The performances, by and large, were excellent too. Liam Neeson was
regal. Ewan McGregor was the perfect young Obi-Wan. Natalie Portman had
more than enough Leia-ness; I was impressed how she pulled off the role
of Queen. Darth Maul was a seriously enigmatic crowd-pleaser. He is
definitely the Boba Fett of Episode 1.
My one gripe about the movie was that it seemed overly kid-friendly.
There was a very ROTJ-vibe about this film, which I guess is okay, but
not the movie I personally wanted to see. Most of Jar Jar's scenes made
me cringe (he is all the Ewoks rolled into one!). And I was somewhat
disappointed that the interpersonal conflicts between the characters
were not fully developed. I anticipate that young Jake Lloyd may bear
the brunt of criticism for this movie, though I think my issues with the
character of Anakin had less to do with Mr. Lloyd's performance, and
more with how it was written.
Supposedly, this trilogy gets darker and richer in Episodes 2 & 3, in
which case this film may seem better in retrospect. My suggestion to
George for the next two episodes: channel the ghost of Leigh Brackett,
and call in Lawrence Kasden for some screenplay advice.
--Sam.
From long time AICN spy, Booster Gold comes this review that includes only 'slight' spoilers...
Straight from the exhibitor screening at the Mann National in Westwood, here
are my thoughts...
TPM is not as good a film as NEW HOPE, EMPIRE, or JEDI. Let's get that
straight.
It's not a bad film, it's not a disaster, and it won't be a flop, but it also
has no chance of overtaking Titanic's ticket sales or critical adulation.
That much is certain, since I think many adults will be turned-off by the
very young-themed story and events.
This will probably go down as the greatest movie every 10-year-old on Earth
has ever seen, but will only marginally please SW diehards. It will win no
new converts over the age of 13.
The plot caroms from the incredibly simple (Qui-Gonn's need to save Anikin
from slavery and bring him to Coruscant to become a Jedi) to the complex (the
political wrangling in the Senate brought on by the Trade Federation
sanctions). Overall, as an adult, I was hungry for more Jedi pathos and
political intrigue, but alas the story of the boy must also be told.
The FX: when they're good, they're the best you'll ever see. When they're
not good, they are really not good. Jar Jar Binks and the Gungan race
(filling the Ewok slot here as the simple society forced to confront evil
technology) are rarely as believable on screen as Lucas no doubt intended.
The use of CGI to create these creatures totally in the computer might have
been worthwhile if they had some physical or dramatic action that would have
been impossible with humans in costume...but that is not so. They could very
easily (and more believably) been extras in latex. As far as Jar Jar himself
is concerned...well, a little Jar Jar goes a long way. In TPM, we get a lot
of Jar Jar. Easily 5 times the screen time as Darth Maul, surprisingly.
Among the human actors, the big surprise is...Jake Lloyd ain't so bad. He's
given corny dialogue, sure, but he delivers it with gee-whiz aplomb that is
welcome. The weak link, surprisingly, is Natalie Portman. She's as flat as
a pancake in almost every scene she's in.
There is an immense amount of screen time spent watching wacky CGI aliens
doing Tex Avery physical comedy, and I felt the crowd I was with shifting in
their seats. It remains to be seen if SW fans will respond more positively
to these passages on the 19th.
The Namoudians (aliens that control the Trade Federation and are the pawns of
the vile Darth Sidious) are largely uninteresting to look at and don't do
much to thrust the plot. When watching them, I was reminded of how, in the
classic trilogy, most of the major speaking roles (and most of the plot
thrust) was in the hands of human actors. Here, Lucas uses aliens in a
variety of large and supposedly pivotal roles, and it has the odd effect of
distancing the audience from the drama. It's just hard to take some things
seriously when paragraphs of dialogue are delivered by whimsical, cartoonish
characters (many of whom, especially Boss Nass and Jar Jar, are given alien
"voices" that are mostly unintelligible).
On the human drama side, let's face it- except for some high points in
EMPIRE, high drama is not was SW is all about. Still, when watching
Anakin's farewell to Shmi, I couldn't help but think that I should be sad.
Maybe I should be shedding a tear(?). I suspect Spielberg would have pulled
that tear from my eye quite easily. Lucas, as it happens, does not.
The finale of the movie, based on the tri-level editing of JEDI, is not as
effective for a variety of reasons.
1) We have the duel between Qui, Ben and Maul: it is cool, and god damn Ewan
is FAST with that saber, but Maul is so under-developed a character that it
is hard to root against him. Alas, we do not have three films invested in
Luke's mission to protect his goodness and save his father's soul. The duel
here plays somewhat obligatory, as if a SW movie cannot end without a duel of
some kind.
2) The battle in space: in JEDI, we had a clearly-defined objective in the
destruction of the second Death Star, and also clearly defined obstacles
blocking our heroes from accomplishing their mission. The sequence was a
ticking clock of suspense and thrills. Here, the space battle begins, a few
things happen, a few things blow up, and then it ends.
3) The battle between the Gungans and the Battle Droids on Naboo: Battle
Droids rock visually, Gungans run around yelping like Roger Rabbit. Nuff
said.
All in all, as I said at the top, a terrific movie for young people. Jar Jar
is there for the 6-year-olds, Anakin is there for the 10-year-olds, Amidala
is there for the girls. The action in the movie is overstated in the use of
dialogue, as each event is discussed immediately afterwards by the characters
as if trying to make sure that kids in the audience understand what they just
saw.
On the plus side (and there are more plusses here than in a barrel full of
other summer movies): R2-D2's introduction ROCKS! C-3PO ROCKS! Ben Kenobi
ROCKS! And we are definitely left at the end of the movie HUNGRY for the
tragic events we KNOW must come next.
For 10 and under kids: A+
For 10 and over SW fans: B
For 10 and over non-SW fans: D
I am Booster Gold.
Here's what Patrick in NY had to say....
I promise I will not provide any spoilers.) I just saw the NY screening of
TPM and let me say that it is superb as a story and as a film. Though, you
have to pretend that you didn't grow up on the old trilogy and haven't read
every new magazine on TPM, because what mortal can meet the
expectations set up in your mind for this. Unlike the crowd of cell phone
toting, industry people who were there for the screening in Times Square and
who are now putting their negative/mixed reviews online, I ticket scalped my
way into the showing. (I was in the right place at the right time.) Though, not
a fanatic nerd, I follow SW very closely. I loved it and can't stop thinking
about the TPM. It opens a big can of worms! TPM story is very complex,
though it has a simple plot structure. This movie can fool you the first time
around, if you don't pay close attention to dialogue and events. It looks like a
simplier film than it really is to the untrained eye. This film is opening up story
arches left and right, defining the Jedi/Sith myth, foreshadowing prophecies,
showing us worlds in the SW galaxies, showing us how the SW universe
operates, teaching us SW logic. Evil is present. There are a couple of points
when I could feel the pure evil that "The Phantom Menace" wanted me to
feel. This movie will make you understand where Darth Vader was coming
from. Some of the other reviewers commented about the Dark Lords of Stith
not being well developed, but aren't they are supposed to be mysterious. The
lightsabers really, really make the movie-wait til you see them use 'em. Jake
Loyd is excellent-I really loved the way he portrayed Anakin. I got a really
warm feeling from his character. It wasn't over done. Take my word for it,
this is a well done movie. TPM is generally an upbeat movie with the same
feel as New Hope, but you get the feeling in the back of your mind that in the
next one shit is going hit the fan. As a side note, your next SW movie is just a
couple weeks away, but mine is 2 years. -Patrick NY, NY
Here's a look from the DARKMAN...
Getting a ticket for tonight's exhibitor screening was like a cinematic
dream come true. As a child of the early `80s, preparing to see"Return of
the Jedi" was pure adrenaline. And, though "Jedi" doesn't hold up as well
as the other two, I loved seeing that movie as a kid in 1983.
Now, here I am 16 years on, and in the enviable position of seeing a movie
that far more hardcore fans than I have been lining up for over a month to
see. So, naturally, I felt guilty sitting in the cinema waiting for the
film to begin. The Fox rep didn't tell not to record the film (that would
be patronizing), but to warn the ushers IF the person beside us was taping
it. There was laughter after that remark, the most I would hear for the
rest of the evening.
Exhibitors are somewhat mad at Lucas for the raw deal they feel they are
getting from Fox, but I don't think that's why their response was so
lukewarm. They applauded exactly twice: when the lights dimmed and when
the end credits rolled.
As for the movie itself? It was good. As a science fiction film it was
excellent. But as a "Star Wars" film? No.
The special effects were great, of course. The CGI effects were
wonderful, but part of the magic of the first trilogy was the inventive use
of models and camera tricks. I'm sure that the making of "Menace" was
difficult, but there was a certain art involved in the making of the others
that is lost in this one. The problem is, the film is mostly really cool
computer effects, and it never lets you forget that.
That's because the story is so weak. It relies on the audience's
expectation of two more prequels, but that is a cop-out. The movie should
work on its own terms, but this story is too convoluted for that. The
brilliance of the first trilogy was its simplicity. And settling a trade
dispute `ain't exactly the same as destroying the Death Star.
Some beefs:
The lack of singular bad guy a la Darth Vader (yes, I know) didn't really
give us anybody to root against. Darth Maul is about as developed a
character as Boba Fett, but speaks less. I think the audience's reluctance
to cheer indicates this lack of a strong antagonist. Yoda and Samuel L.
Jackson are underused (but I suspect they'll be back), Jar Jar Binks is more
annoying than funny. He sounds like an unitelligable cross between
Sebastian the crab and Roger Rabbit. And the absence of a Han Solo-type
character the audience can identify with is unfortunate.
On the other hand, John Williams's score is top rate, I haven't heard a
movie that sounded that good in years. As well, Ewen McGregor does a great
Alec Guinness impression. And the pod race, excerpted on "60 Minutes" is
exciting, but the fast-paced finale left me cold. Still, it's a lot of fun.
Not worth waiting in line for a longer than three hours for, but worth
seeing.
The movie itself: Good, but not great. In other words, a disappointment.
Nonetheless, I can't wait to see it again. I mean, it's "Star Wars"!
Here's a word from the SithMeister....
The SithMeister Reporting...
I, too, was fortunate enough to attend one of the Exhibitor Screenings
of "TPM" tonight and was all ready to give you and your loyal readers my
spoiler-free comments! Then I read The Juice's comments and,
well....the guy read my mind! Just about *every* one of his comments
echoed mine! The first thing I said to my friends after seeing this
movie was, "I'm not seven years old anymore." This indeed is a "family
movie." A lot of it is tailored to the kids (but then again, where would
merchandising be today without the influence of the "Star Wars" saga?).
Unlike Juice, though, I felt Jar Jar was quite annoying. I still can't
figure out what the character is supposed to emulate. Some kind of bad
rapper dude with a dash of Roger Rabbit?
Indeed, this film is on par with "Jedi," only better because the visuals
were easily more impressive. Although I must admit some of the matte
paintings still look like matte paintings. I was hoping that *all* of
the effects would be perfect, but never-the-less, we aren't completely
"there" yet folks.
John Williams score went well with the film, but at this point there
still seems to be a lack of new "themes" that one can whistle, hum in
the shower, etc. Only "Duel of the Fates" stands out in my mind. But
that could be just because it's all new now. New characters, new
themes. Makes sense.
But most importantly, Darth Maul! MORE MORE MORE!!! Is this like Judi
Dench's last screen role? He's one bad ass MF, and he would have been
my favourite character in the film if we had seen and heard more from
him! I'd like to say more here, but spoiler-free reviewers unite!
Anyway, overall I am pleased with the film, but I was really hoping to
like it more. But damn, this film has SUCH high expectations to live up
to....could Mr. Lucas *really* have lived up to what people are
expecting??? I'd like to tell those who have been waiting in line
outside movie theatres for so long to have a good time, enjoy the hype,
but don't get *too* excited.
But of course, this is all just my humble opinion.
The SithMeister
P.S. How did Leonard Maltin get in to this?!?!?!? Did he get a job on
the side with General Cinema or somethin'?
Here's a review from Alfred E Newman:
I have never been one to stand in long lines for movies, I'm more prone to
wait a few days/weeks for the lines to die down and get in to an odd time
showing. I've certainly never been to an advanced screening, so it was
quite a stroke of luck when my friend invited me down to New York for an
advance screening of Star Wars.
This was a screening for industry people, distributors, etc. I'm lucky
enough to be a friend of an industry person who had more than one ticket
(how many I won't say). No rowdy lines. Most of the movie goers were in
suits and filtered in over the nearly two hours between the doors opening
and the film starting.
This was a huge theater, at least I thought so. I'm told it sat 1400 and a
full sized screen. Security was tight, and everyone was asked to not record
anything and to turn in any wouldbe pirates, but no mention was made to not
talk about the film.
A Fox rep introduced the film, telling us it was an incomplete print. It
still needed to be color adjusted and the sound wasn't done. It was
noticable in a few places as blurry or the CGI sticking out from the
background, but otherwise I thought it was ready, but hey, I liked Godzilla
so who am I to judge.
I won't go into the plot at all, the book is out for those who HAVE to know.
It was GREAT and well worth the two and a half hour train ride. Was it
perfect, well no. In some places the film slowed down to a crawl, but this
was important exposition. Without it, we'd be wondering what was going on.
In some places, I felt that the dialog and voices were mismatched with the
characters, especially the aliens. But where the film was moving, it
rocked!!
I don't have much to say about the soundtrack. It was unobtrusinve. I
didn't notice it, so I think that's good. I wasn't overbaring the rest of
the film. The only place I really caught it was when the piece from the
video came up, and that's mostly because I'd heard it before.
For the uninitiated who haven't been following every snippet of news, the
film will be full of surprises. Even for those who have kept close tabs, it
take several unexpected twists.
I eagerly await the official release. I expect to see this film two or
three more times, and I rarely see a film more than once in the theater. My
friend who provided the tickets is already trying to find a way into a
showing for Wednesday.
Without trailers, the film ran just over two hours. It started a little
late, 7:10 maybe, and the credits rolled at about 9:20.
Here's a review from Richard Epstein Click here to read it!. This review is basically saying that the movie is good, Kids will love it, Critics will love it, but fans may (and will) be disappointed. He feels it is on par with Jedi, though a bit better. Interesting non-spoiler review...
Here's a review that was posted in TALKBACK below.... By Juan99
A fair review, but what was not said is that the VISUALS ARE 10
TIMES BETTER THAN ANY THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE.
That's right, nothing comes close to the way this movie looks. Every shot is
filled with so much activity that it would take several viewings to really
appreciate the picture. Sure, some parts are tailored to kids' tastes -- its a
family movie. Many of us were kids when we saw the first three. The whole
franchise is about good defeating evil. A phenomenal if simple message.
Overall, the movie was FANTASTIC.
If you go HERE you'll find a mostly spoiler free (though not completely review) that's major complaint is that the film isn't LONGER. He wanted MORE... And he'll get it in Episodes 2 & 3.
This one comes from Mr Coathanger...
I saw the first screening of The PhantoM Menace tonight in Toronto. The effects and sound effects were absolutely breathtaking.
Mr Coathanger
This is the first review that I was sent. Congrats to The Juice! Here's what the JUICE thought....
I arrive in the theater 30 minutes early...get a great seat...admire
the awesome looking screening ticket that will most likely become a
collectable...listen to the fox representative say some stuff about not
filming the movie and posting it on the internet...cry tears of joy when
rebel fanfare blares around me....
Well my wait is over, yup. Seems like its been a whole lifetime, and
yes i did enjoy it. Everyone will enjoy it, it is a very good movie. All of
you will go see it, and it will break records (well maybe not The record).
But its not a perfect movie. Not the best in the trilogy (tied for third with
Jedi on my list). I wont give you any spoilers for the film, although many of
you reading have already read the script and if you have you already know
this is not a traditional Star Wars movie. This is something different, and
you really cant compare it to any of the others. This movie is more like Land
Wars than Star Wars. Most action takes place on planets underwater, on the
ground stuff like that. There are a few things that were very disapointing,
For example I think Darth Maul maybe said three lines in the entire movie
(suprised me for such a popular character), this bothered me because i
believed Maul could have taken over the role of ultimate villain (from Vader)
if he was given the right dialogue.
Now Im about to make an honest statement, and some of you wont like
it. Star Wars is for the kids, and this movie shows it more than ever. Now i
know all of us saw the originals as kids and it has stuck with us but havent
you wondered how a new age of adventures made for the young kids now adays
will gel with us? TPM has some outlandishly kiddy stuff in it, for example
there is a two-headed CGI anouncer during the Pod-Races who is incredibly
goofy/ridiculous and flat out dumb (sorry for being harsh but he just doesnt
seem to fit in). And im not just talking about Jar Jar, I love saying this to
all you nay sayers JAR JAR IS NOT THAT BAD! Ha ha in your face get over it.
He has several well crafted scenes, hes not as annoying as everyone has made
him out to be, and he even caused me to laugh out loud several scenes. Watto
is well crafted as well.
Performances, Ewan Mcgregor's performance was excellent, he is
perfect for the role, the voice the look the actions i loved him, but this is
not Ewan's movie, this is Liam's. Qui-Gonn Jinn is without a doubt the main
character and Neeson is very assuring as a Jedi Master, I bought in to him
very well and i liked both Jedi Characters. Maybe it was just me but i didnt
think all of the characters were well developed, it was almost like we are
already supposed to know. Oh yes we now come to the droids, R2D2 and C3P0,
they seemed very forced into the script and almost out of place like a few
other characters that i wont spoil for you, they were no doubt put there to
give us older star wars fans something to relate too. I loved Natalie
Portman, her voice was not at all a distraction, and she is also a very cute
and enjoyable actress. Jake Lloyd was questionable at times, he put in a
couple of good scenes but sometimes he was monotone.
The first time in the movie i finally got the feeling that this was
the old Star Wars i know in love was probably in the last half hour. You will
see what im talking about, it brings us back to the swashbuckling fun and
excitement were used to. But up until that point something just feels
awkward, that may have been jitters though, who knows....
In all fairness I will have to see the film again to review it better
i was in some shock and my EXPECTATIONS WERE HUGE, much like all of yours are
now. I ask you to lower your expectations just a tad, this is a very good
movie but it is not the greatest movie of all time like i and you are
expecting. I came out feeling a bit dissapointed but now that i think about
it was really a good movie and it deserves a second viewing...then most
likely a third...hey why not a forth......This is an awesome movie believe
me, you just cant go in expecting the greatest story ever told, cause its
not...
Later all, may the force be with
you...
THEJuice
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+ Expand All
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Not Me.
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And I still think it will kick ass
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Oh yeah? I saw this movie last week. It was the longest toy commercial I have ever seen. Hopefully the special edition will be better...
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I find it unusual, although not unbelievable that the studio (or Lucas) bothered to pre-screen this movie. They're not going to re-shoot. They know how to advertise the thing. What are they accomplishing by screening it in all these cities? What positive could they posibly find in this strategy?
Follow the money...
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Im with you bud, but that's gonna be a very unpopular opinion for a long time. I think the Matrix really is a complete shift in ideals about moviemaking. In five years we will be able to look back and say THAT is where things changed in moviemaking.
TPM is important to us because of our generation, but what about the fourteen year olds out there? What will they think?
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and so does Armageddon. I think the marketing plot for Armageddon was much better than the one given for TPM.
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Over all, I dont see the people who saw it terribly excited...fuck it..everyone has there own opinion...As for me, I still cant wait.... -
I've heard that each of the three films will deliberately be given a different "feel". Episode I will be candy: an adventure story with lots of humor and joyfully used cliches. Episode II will be more dramatic, with an 'epic romance' as one main plotline. Episode III will be a tragedy, with the dark omens of I being fulfilled and everything everybody's worked for in the past two stories going straight to hell.
This movie is a "warmer-upper", to set the stage, establish the plot, and (sigh) get us attached to the characters. If we don't LIKE Anakin, his fall will not move us.
Just a thought.
- Dawn -
A fair review, but what was not said is that the VISUALS ARE 10 TIMES BETTER THAN ANY THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE. That's right, nothing comes close to the way this movie looks. Every shot is filled with so much activity that it would take several viewings to really appreciate the picture. Sure, some parts are tailored to kids' tastes -- its a family movie. Many of us were kids when we saw the first three. The whole franchise is about good defeating evil. A phenomenal if simple message. Overall, the movie was FANTASTIC.
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How can anyone honestly think the Matrix is going to be the better movie?
Don't get me wrong, I really liked the Matrix, but it had its fair share of problems with it (like a very contrived resolution, IMHO the best movie so far this year has been Go, but TPM will be better than that, I'm sure)
The Matrix has some very neat ideas and action sequences, but lacked the emotional depth of the Star Wars films, soemthing I expect TPM to do is well.
TPM is going to be the best movie of the year. People are putting so much hype and pressure on this movie, some are being let down. Granted, I liken some of my movie-going experiences next to spiritual experiences, but you will coem out of this movie the same way you went in (except with the desire to see it again.)
Long live Lucas, the true king of the world! -
God, I'm only typing because I needed to do something to restrain my laughter. 'The Matrix' will be looked at as a "shift" in filmmaking? 'Armageddon' has a better plot than 'Star Wars'? God, at least have enough fucking brains to find a GOOD movie to compare Episode 1 to, not the same Hollwood formula bullshit that so many of you mistake for great filmmaking. I'd hardly call any of these reviews a quality analysis of 'The Phantom Menace.' This is the same site that posted advance reviews of 'The Matrix' with people saying "less story, more action." God forbid if any of these dipshits would let a script get in the way of watching a movie.
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Needless to say, I CAN'T wait for May 19th, wait, I should say the 19th. OH YEAH! Star Wars has and will always be for the whole family. Of course, everyone will view the movie differently, it's a given. But rest assured everyone will enjoy the movie and see it again and again.
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i saw a guy jump right to the end of the novel today at walmart and i wanted to bitchslap him. control , control , he didnt learn control. and as for this madness happening at your local stores, its making me feel 6 years old again. my father spent thirty dollars on rotj figs back in '83, but sunday i spent $265 and i'd do it again and again to feel like i did in '83. 6 years old with chills and knocking at the knees to find something you can fully enjoy without worrying when you have to pay bills, rent, etc. to be a kid again.................
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God help us if THE MATRIX is a better movie than THE PHANTOM MENACE. MATRIX is not the worst thing to be committed to celluloid, but good Lord, is it getting way too much undeserved praise. It's the among the most derivative sci-fi movies I've ever seen. Granted, movies it lifts from (like T2 and TOTAL RECALL) are not the most original in the world and don't deserve to be considered such, but don't try to convince me that MATRIX had a really great story to go along with the great effects. As for the other eventual contender for best sci-fi of '99, if THE PHANTOM MENACE has even just one character the audience can care about with a half-way good actor to play it, that film has already bested THE MATRIX. Since rich and well-played characters are one of the principle reasons the STAR WARS films have held up the way they have over the years, I'd say it has a pretty good chance.
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NOOOO...ITS NOT TRUE....THATS IMPOSSIBLE!!!
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God, you'd think you people have NOTHING going on in your lives that you're so caught up in the opening of a movie. That's right, a MOVIE. I know, the last 3 Star Wars movies were the biggest things in your whole pointless lives, so why don't you savoy the expectation. Wait a few days until after it opens. You'll still have time to see it 20 or 30 times before it closes (and you start counting down until the next movie).
And don't even get me started about the panic over the Star Wars dolls... er... toys. -
You know if I waited in line 24/7 for a movie and didn't like it, I'd really be pissed!
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Please, we've got a couple of different lines going on in my city. How screwed up is that? And the funniest thing is that when these guys get interviewed on TV, they don't realize that they are the freaks.
Just because there is a whole line of them guys doesn't make it any less shameful. Waiting 30 days in line for a movie???? -
The idea that The Matrix is a paradigm-shift in film is laughable. The Matrix is a fine action movie with a couple of nice, though wholly derivative (see every GOOD science fiction movie, book or graphic novel ever made), twists. However, it's a pretty stupid movie--not Armageddon stupid, mind you, but definitely no 2001 or Empire Strikes Back. The Matrix is a movie that tries to be intellectual but whose creators clearly are not the brighest bulbs on the string. Kubrick had a great analytical mind, as did Kurosawa and Hitchcock; nowadays, of those working in the science fiction field, Cronenberg is the most intelligent. But even Cameron brings thoughful rigor to his stories (though not to the truly awful dialogue he is prone to write). The Brothers W are terrific visual stylists, but geniuses they are not--to be a great, truly great, movie, The Matrix needed a more nuanced and analytical mind to realize its potential and avoid its banalities and outright dumb-ass qualities. Instead, it got a couple of guys who probably can't spell "philosophy" but who sure know how to move a camera.
Star Wars is a different animal; it is a brilliant children's movie (and I say that as a huge fan whose clearest memory before the age of 7 is sitting in a theater in New York City with my mother as the words EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE scroll above me) that has proven timeless because it is not hip or cool or complicated. In other words, it is not a product of its time; instead, like Tolkien's books, it is a pure artistic vision that is meant for kids. Sorry to say, but most of us whom this film touched are no longer children, so we will inevitably be disappointed by the movie to some extent because we can't quite recapture the magic of twenty-two years ago. But that's not Lucas's fault--it's not Star Wars that has changed, it's us.
I just hope that children today will discover Star Wars like we did years ago. The Phantom Menace is their movie; we're just spectators. -
No one who stands in line for thirty days to see a movie is going to admit that they didn't like it. That would just be too humilating. I wish I had so little of a life that I could drop it all for a month because of a movie...Oh wait, no I don't, THAT'S A HORRIBLE THOUGHT!
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That's funny, comparing "2001" and "Empire Strikes Back"
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May 04, 1999 11:43:53 PM CDT
The Suprising Number Of Motion Picture Illiterates, or Why The M
by henry chinaski
I cannot believe how many of you are so desperate to have seen a groundbreaking sci-fi film in the theater upon initial release that you have forced yourselves to believe that "The Matrix" was such a film. "The Matrix" is another in an endless stream of derivative special effects extravaganza wanna-be's that has been pouring forth from Hollywood since "2001." First of all, even though I didn't think it was anything worth repeated viewings, "Dark City" expressed the same themes and was a much stronger flick. Both "The Fifth Element" and "12 Monkeys" fit into this assessment, as well. Slightly memorable, interesting special effects, and an engaging storyline. Even that ham-handed commercial for Patriotism, "Armageddon," was stronger than fucking "The Matrix." Keanu Reeves? Crap. The storyline? Ripped off. The special effects? Weak. The fucking Gap is using the same technology and gimmicks for their commercials. The supposed sonic waves trailing the bullets? Come on! Use your fucking heads as intelligent movie-goers who are deserve to be entertained, as well as made to think. I knew when I was heading off the theater to see "The Matrix" that I was probably going to be disappointed when I filed out of the theater like the rest of the sheep. I was. But I forgot about it; I only paid $3.75 to see it. But to see the continued flow of praise for this weak flick on forums like this disturbs me. Makes me wonder about how the level of film literacy among most of the Talkbackers never matured pass the blissful ignorance of bright colors and loud noises. Please, before you commit your opinion to paper, educate yourself with the great sci-fi films of the past; educate yourself with all the great films of the past. Take some time and learn the basics of filmmaking (the basics is all you need) and film theory (even though, technically, it's all just bullshit). History of Narrative Film by David A. Cook is a great primer. Don't limit yourself to certain films because they are suddenly available on DVD or because the Dolby Digital sound is kickass. As far as groundbreaking films this year, watch out for "The Blair Witch Project." The Matrix? I fear for future generations of filmmakers and film audiences.
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Ha, ha! Made you look!
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Was Lucas able to get a can of Pepsi in Darth Maul's hand? Did Jar Jar eat a burrito from Taco Bell? These are the important issues!! ;)
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Amen to everything Harry Chinaski wrote; as for Traffic, you truly are a complete moron--no offense.
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I really think that I may end up regretting saying this, especially in my first talk back post, but here it goes. Fans do not give the best reviews. They have an emotional attachment to what they are viewing. They are not only familiar with what has come before but they have made what has come before an important part of their life. I will relate this to music. Go on to any established artists web site that offers chat on the day after a new album is released and read the posts. You will be amazed at the similarities of what is said there and what has been said and will be said about TPM. Some will call it the greatest album ever. Others will offer some of the high points but will say that they think that as a whole it is below their expectations. And then there are the people who lump it in with whatever is considered the artists greatest failure up to that point. Go back to the same site in a month and read the posts. Most of the people who on first listening had a complaint, now say that they enjoy it as a whole. Those who hated it will offer up positive criticism. And those who loved it will start finding holes that they originally missed. All fans go into listening to a recording with a preconceived notion of what it should be for it to be perfect. If it doesn't meet the fans standards on first viewing or listening, we are almost always let down. And in other cases, if it meets are standards, we hail it as a masterpiece, when really it was just great, not life changing. I know for a fact that I am one of those fans who will call TMP a masterpiece after I see it for the first time. I know for a fact that as a fan who can see no wrong at first viewing, that I will not be able to give a good review of the movie until I have seen it a good 6 to 10 times. So, to get to my point, don't get discouraged by what one fan might say, and don't let your hopes get too high by what another fan might have to offer. Because you don't know what they will be saying about this movie on June 19th and the experience has sunk in. After saying that, I will say that there is no way that I will be disappointed. So try not to listen to me. I probably don't know what I'm talking about. I hope that I made sense. If not, sorry to waste Harry's space.
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Now you see what you get when you peek at all your presents before Christmas...
As one who is still smugly resisting all spoilers, plot details, etc, I think I can safely say that I'll probably get a lot more out of this film than these reviewers.
If you don't want a movie for kids, you guys haven't been paying nearly enough attention to the franchise thus far.
Ya' see, you drag together a plot outline, some neat pictures, and an incredibly hazy memory of the original three films, along with an incredibly hyperactive imagination, and you create a movie that cannot be made by man, woman or child. It's a two hour film, and in those two hours you have to have chase scenes, fights, AND plot exposition (which almost all the reviewers found "slow.") I have to say that the problems with the film are you fault, not Mr. Lucas's. -
I've no problem with the Matrix, nor the concept of the film. But to suggest that it's revolutionary in terms of the sci-fi genre is a bit grandiose. In order to have a great movie...no matter what genre it's in, you need three crucial elements: A new and interesting story (Star Wars yes...Matrix hardly), good cinematography (Star Wars and Matrix, both get a yes), and great actors (Star Wars yes, Matrix....see what I filled in the subject box).
Now, granted...Star Wars wasn't filled to the brim with exceptional actors...but they were able to convey a story with believability. The Matrix felt like a homily at mass with some kick-boxing thrown in to keep people's attention. -
He who expects nothing will never be disappointed... I enjoyed the first STAR WARS movie because I discovered it in the theater, not because I had waited all my life to see it. There's nothing like watching a fantastic world unfold before your unprepared eyes. THE MATRIX took me to a place I had never seen before, like STAR WARS, ABYSS, 2001, JURASSIC PARK. More than I can say for Toy Commercial- er, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and The Muppet Sh- I mean, JEDI. I reiterate. Expect nothing.
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(I promise I will not provide any spoilers.) I just saw the NY screening of TPM and let me say that it is superb as a story and as a film. Though, you have to pretend that you didn't grow up on the old trilogy and haven't read every new magazine on TPM, because what mortal can meet the expectations set up in your mind for this.
Unlike the crowd of cell phone toting, industry people who were there for the screening in Times Square and who are now putting their negative/mixed reviews online, I ticket scalped my way into the showing. (I was in the right place at the right time.) Though, not a fanatic nerd, I follow SW very closely. I loved it and can't stop thinking about the TPM. It opens a big can of worms!
TPM story is very complex, though it has a simple plot structure. This movie can fool you the first time around, if you don't pay close attention to dialogue and events. It looks like a simplier film than it really is to the untrained eye. This film is opening up story arches left and right, defining the Jedi/Sith myth, foreshadowing prophecies, showing us worlds in the SW galaxies, showing us how the SW universe operates, teaching us SW logic.
Evil is present. There are a couple of points when I could feel the pure evil that "The Phantom Menace" wanted me to feel. This movie will make you understand where Darth Vader was coming from. Some of the other reviewers commented about the Dark Lords of Stith not being well developed, but aren't they are supposed to be mysterious.
The lightsabers really, really make the movie-wait til you see them use 'em. Jake Loyd is excellent-I really loved the way he portrayed Anakin. I got a really warm feeling from his character. It wasn't over done.
Take my word for it, this is a well done movie. TPM is generally an upbeat movie with the same feel as New Hope, but you get the feeling in the back of your mind that in the next one shit is going hit the fan.
As a side note, your next SW movie is just a couple weeks away, but mine is 2 years.
-Patrick
NY, NY
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It seems his comments were misunderstood. The plot HAS been done many times before... but it's the visuals where this film excells above anything before it. The concept behind the Matrix was to bring what was cool about comic books and japanimation to film, and it succeeded spectacularly. From what I've seen of The Phantom Menace, it simply offers more amazing computer graphics and none of the cool framing and wirework seen in the Matrix.
If you don't believe me now... wait a year or two when all of the Matrix clones start popping up in cinemas, then we'll see which film signalled a "shift" in action filmaking. -
Now you're talking. I mistook you for an idiot, but I was wrong--you just play one on Talkback. Your comment about the artistry and technical skill not going together is interesting and perhaps correct in most circumstances. But I think the greatest artists, no matter what the art form (Shakespeare, Mozart, Kurosawa/Kubrick/Hitchcock, Nabokov, Dostoyeksky) combine pure artistry with masterful "technical" skill. So you may be right in general, but if you stick with just the "artists" who are sloppy with their craft, you're missing out.
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Firstly, what's all the fuss? These reviews were not bad! They didn't say the movie sucked, they merely confirmed what we already know! Jar Jar isn't annoying, Maul looks awesome but is no Vader and this is a Star Wars movie! Cool! Not the greatest movie ever made, but if you expected that, you are quite frankly an idiot. My take is this: in '77 Star Wars itself got very tepid reviews (and by the way, Vercingetorix, it wasn't subtitled 'Episode IV: A New Hope' then, so your memory is playing tricks on you) Kael lambasted it. Most critics said it was shallow and had no character development. Well guess what, it was a fantastic movie that still has impact today. Do not judge TPM by these reviews: they are subjective. Judge it for yourselves after the third showing! Ok, now let's tackle the Matrix. thx1140 is a sad fucker, even if he is a fellow Aussie, for saying Matrix rules because it was shot in Sydney. Although it was cool to see Westpac bank tower in there, they shot it over here cos we're cheap. Pretty sad to crow over that. Sure, we have great technicians and locations, but it's basically because we're cheap, so if you're boasting about that, you really are a tool, particularly since the whole thing was a Yank production with a largely Yank cast (aside from the kid from Home & Away). Now, The Matrix was a cool movie, but to say it was earthshattering or will change the movie industry is probably a sign that you need a lobotomy. The plot was a Phillip K Dick rehash. The effects, while cool, were not anything I've never seen before. The slo-mo tracking around actors has been done to death in advertising, and the silly blurred 'Agents' avoidance of bullets was frankly laughable. Sam Peckinpah was doing the slo-mo orgies of bullets like 30 years ago! Slo motion shoot outs are not fresh! The thing that made the film cool were the Hong Kong choreographed wire-fights and the killer bass-heavy music played under them! That is all! The Matrix had STYLE, to be sure, but it was not the most brilliant sci-fi movie ever made: It was the best synthesis of the most brilliant sci-fi movies ever made, photographed particularly well. As a story, it really wasn't that great. I mean, plot holes-a-plenty. How the feck did Morpheus survive in the room Neo strafed with the mini-gun when everything else in it was annihilated? And how, exactly, did Neo come back from the dead? By the kiss of the heroine? Excuse me, but that was UTTERLY LAME! And him flying off at the end? That was crap. Good movie, but I wouldn't see it more than twice at the theatre, quite frankly. TPM, however, by all accounts is a much, much, much better film, and even if it has half the impact of ESB or even ROTJ then it will live in the memory for years. Anyone who expects these movies to be some kind of adult gore-fest is a fool. Star Wars is and always was a family-oriented saga "for the kid in all of us" as Lucas said back in '77 (and they tried to stop him saying that then, too). If you are so cynical and world weary that you cannot re-experience your child-self watching these movies, then I have nothing but pity for you, since you must live a very sad, hopeless and empty life. These films are about hope, joy, and overcoming evil. That's what they are all about, and always were. Nothing in these reviews gives me cause for doubt or makes me think this movie will be crap, because they're all positive reviews! If you wanted the movie to last longer, that's sure as hell better than wanting it to end! If you thought it moved fast, that means it works as a roller coaster ride! If it wasn't enough for you THAT MEANS YOU WANT MORE!! THAT'S GOOD, PEOPLE!! This is EPISODE 1, for Christ's sake!! Everyone be happy! Sheesh!
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God, some of you people really are that fucking stupid. I thought it was just a few lost souls. The Matrix is entirely devoid of a third act and has gaping plot holes out the ass throughout the rest of the movie. It's a sad day when so many people are incapable of recognizing a weak screenplay just because the fight scenes kick ass. To look at this movie as anything other than a shallow ride means that you're forever incapable of all that cinema has to offer. I'm sorry, IT'S A FUCKING GAP AD, FOLKS -- that's not groundbreaking nor is it the "shift" the so many of you wish to believe. Once again, style over substance, nothing more.
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Maybe it's time to put things a bit in perspective. This deification of Star Wars is completely overblown. Even the original series wasn't that good. I mean, basically the acting has always sucked big time. The only character I really enjoyed was Han Solo and surprise surprise, Mr. Ford turned out to be the only actor of the lot that got any sort of career afterwards and justifiably so. I thought Luke Skywalker was a completely 2-dimensional character, hell, I thought the bots had more personality and Darth Vader just needed his oxygen mask adjusted. Leila was just an irritating character of whom I couldn't care less whether she would be saved or not. The one thing that made the Star Wars trilogy a joy to watch were the special effects (for you young readers, thats what we used to call cgi) and the fast paced action, period. That's it!! Now to pretend that Star Wars is on par with a timeless masterpiece like 2001 is a joke at best and a pretty bad one at that. The story of Star Wars is just your basic good guy/bad guy routine, nothing even remotely original, as written by an adult who never developed his brain after his 14th. There have been MANY Sci-Fi movies that were 10 times better than better and if it's true that ep. 1 is just slightly better that the worst of the original trilogy, I'm not very anxious to see it. Where I live, The Matrix isn't shown yet, so I can't say whether it's the best sf-movie of the year, but the way people talk about it, it's just a very average story with above average cgi, SO WHAT! Cgi are getting better with every movie that's coming out, that's not an achievement in itself. SF movies have almost suffered because of idiots who still think that if you just put in enough fx, than you make a great movie, WRONG!!!! Eyecandy is nice, makes for ooohs and aaahs first time around, but that won't make for a classic. The best sf-movie I saw this year was Cube, though it had some plotholes in it, but basically the director tried to think of something new and created a story that captivates right until the end and has great psychological suspense.... ah yes, and it had good fx too. Star Wars indeed is for kids and I honestly hope they have a great time watching it and for all these people who wish to relive their childhood in watching this movie, good luck to you, assume phoetal position!
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Thank for the early reviews. One thing I remember vividly from watching the first trilogy was the goosebumps/chills/brain buzzes that some of the great effects generated. For anyone who saw the early screenings, did the film have any of those moments? I've talked will a lot of compadres and they remember experiencing the same sensations from the first trilogy.
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I was afraid this would happen. Now these reviews have confirmed my greatest fears. A new Star Wars movie and no Klingons. Not a Captain Kirk or a Bones riding the skies in the enterprise. Nary a tribble. Who do those Hollywood movie guy bastards think they are anyway? Oh, who am I kidding? Spock is dead. SPOCK IS DEAD!!!!
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According to "Theforce.net" the prints that these reviewers saw will be destroyed. This is not
the final edit of the movie!
What can be done then?
Well they can't do much about the supposed annoying CGI character but the certainly can re-edit it to make it more fast paced. They also may have more footage of Darth Maul and if the message gets to George he may put in more scenes with old red horny head.
I didn't expect this movie to be like "Empire.." but hey have you watched Star Wars episode IV lately? Its really quite shallow with some good action scenes (DON*T GET ME WRONG I AM A STAR WARS FAN). What did have though was a certain charm not to mention gorund breaking effects. If this new movie has at least those two qualities, I think we are half way there. I
Don't go in with too high expectations. I went into Star Trek:First Contact with very high expectations due to all the positve reviews. I was a little dissapointed by it. Why? No reason as upon a return viewing I loved it. It was due to my own expectations. When I went to see "Broken Arrow" I didn't have any expectations and I was very pleasantly surprised by how good it was. We are a strange bunch of people we human beings so the best thing to do is go in with a neutral attitude. If that is possible.
I think we should go to this movie and watch it for what it is. An introduction to a different story and probably a very entertaining movie. I'm looking forward to seeing The Pod race and the light sabre duels!!
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Have you seen any of his movies?
Paths of Glory was a heart wrenching anti-war movie; Dr Stangelove was one of the best satirical comedies ever made and had me rfol-ing all the way through. 2001 was a cultural shock and moved millions to the core of their being. Clockwork Orange still is one of the most shocking emotional confrontations ever caused by celluloid. The entertainment quality of a movie is indeed a valid quality which can be enjoyed as much as being intellectually stimulated by a story. Hey, I loved Close Encounters as much as the next guy, hell, at the time, when my friends and I came out of the cinema we looked up at the sky expecting to see a ufo making a fly by any minute. If you can do that to an audience, you are a great director. In that sense of being able to move an audience, some of Spielberg's stuff to me is equally good as a movie by Tarkowsky (still the greatest director of all time. I can already hear those Talkback minds going 'Who the hell is ...') -
While geeks of all ages argue whether TPM is the best movie of the year I think will take the safe route. I will be out of the USA when IT comes out. And escape the hordes of so called fans at the theaters. Now all I need to do is hide my light saber from my 9, 8 and 3 years old nephews...
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The reviews make it sound as if Lucas has once again underused the most striking, just-plain-cool
character in the movie--Maul. Also sounds as though he's doing some overt kiddie-pandering again.
For me he could make up for this in Ep. 2 with a huge battle featuring jedi, lightsabers, and Fett-like Mandalorians.
As for The Matrix, I loved it for what it was and was meant to be, regardless of it's story's non-uniqueness and faulty logic (here's one for you--why even generate an artificial reality for the otherwise obliviously-comatose masses; why not just keep 'em narcotized?). -
ISNT it funny how almost if not all of these reveiws have said that the movie is not bad in fact it is pretty good but the fact that the own inner "FANBOY" wasnt totally stroked up and down and in every way makes the movie DISSAPOINTING!!!!WELL make up your mind was it a good film overall of was it crap!!!Ive seen some movies that i thought had some good scenes or some good action but that in no way did that make the movie good.If this movie was pretty good(not great)and most of the reveiwers said they would see it again THEN FUCKING GIVE IT ITS CREDIT AND SAY ITS GOOD!!!
Sure you want it to be perfect(i do too) but i live in the real world and i know all movies no matter how graet have their many flaws,but if it can overcome these flaws and still turn out to be a "GOOD MOVIE" then at least hang your hat on that.
And beleive me when you see TPM(for a second time)
with an electric crowd of SW freaks hootin and holerin at every little thing and you have had time to get over the things that bothered you the first time around and just relax and loose yourself in the movie you will appretiate alot movie and the good will out shine the bad.
And all the 'HARDCORE" SW fans who want SW to be BLADERUNNER and ALIENS(DARK and CYNICAL)WILL be pissed off to no end at TPM!But you know what serves them right for being too involved with instead of taking a chill pill and realize its a kids film(HOW old were you when you first saw them 5-10)and instead of complain what you dont have accept what you do have,you dont have to but you will be alot less stressed and and mentally healthy.
If the movie is truly horrible(totally subjective)then FUCK LUCAS!!!But if you read the reveiws and wade through all the FANBOY BRAIN-FARTS(ie.whining and bitching)you will see that almost all the reveiws even some of the more negative ones say that it is a pretty good(not great)movie and it is enjoyable,entertaing adventure with some good SPFX!!!
SO I ASK YOU WHATS WRONG WITH THAT. -
now really i have nothing much to say about the reviewers. They say that it is par with Return of the Jedi. Note though... ROTJ was the most popular in the series. It is for kids?.. well grown people watching ewoks and cantina bands and still enjoying them shows them.
the point of SW was to take us back to being kids again. None of this analysing stuff. Since when does watching a movie mean looking at each and every point of it. If this movie was released in 1977 it would have the same impact as ANH.
Fine don't like it, but judge the movie like you did the 1st one. No expectations, no clue and no analysis. Comparison destroys enjoyment, star wars is here to show us that movies can still be fun to watch.
May The Force Be With You. -
Interesting to see so many people getting worked up over differing opinions over the Matrix. Utterly boring however to read through what is nothing more that sputtered outburts. The reason myself, and most others like the film is because it's good to see filmakers putting an effort into composition these days. So many action directors just shoot the film from neutral angles, and it's fine for telling a story but if you want to tell your story with style, pay attention to the stuff Fincher did with 'Seven' and Jeunet with 'City of Lost Children'.. and now the Wachowski's with the Matrix. I'm not interested in the film just because the effects are "cool" or "kick-ass". The first time I saw the film it was for the story as a whole, the second time I was studying at at purely a technical level and must say I enjoyed it a lot more that time.
In a comic, you have the time and freedom to make every single panel exactly how you want it, to view action from any angle, and you can exagerate reality without being questioned on it... after all, it's a comic! The reason people like the Matrix is because it is one of the first Hollywood films to fully explore that concept. Notice I say HOLLYWOOD... Hong Kong cinema has been doing it for years.
And on behalf of all Australians... I apologize for that crazy muppet who posted that thing about Sydney taking over Hollywood. Obviously, he's full of it. -
Interesting to see so many people getting worked up over differing opinions over the Matrix. Utterly boring however to read through what is nothing more that sputtered outburts. The reason myself, and most others like the film is because it's good to see filmakers putting an effort into composition these days. So many action directors just shoot the film from neutral angles, and it's fine for telling a story but if you want to tell your story with style, pay attention to the stuff Fincher did with 'Seven' and Jeunet with 'City of Lost Children'.. and now the Wachowski's with the Matrix. I'm not interested in the film just because the effects are "cool" or "kick-ass". The first time I saw the film it was for the story as a whole, the second time I was studying at at purely a technical level and must say I enjoyed it a lot more that time.
In a comic, you have the time and freedom to make every single panel exactly how you want it, to view action from any angle, and you can exagerate reality without being questioned on it... after all, it's a comic! The reason people like the Matrix is because it is one of the first Hollywood films to fully explore that concept. Notice I say HOLLYWOOD... Hong Kong cinema has been doing it for years.
And on behalf of all Australians... I apologize for that crazy muppet who posted that thing about Sydney taking over Hollywood. Obviously, he's full of it. -
You know, I think some of the reviewers are making expectations that do not necessarily have anything to do with what Lucas wants to accomplish with these films. Some of the reviews seem to imply that there wasn't enough fanboy action in the movie. Sorry to break it to you, fellas, but he ain't making it exclusively for the people who are looking for visions of the messiah in Qui-Gon's beard. Lucas has said on numerous occasions that he wants these films to be thought-provoking, and to try to get people (especially kids) to think about issues larger than Star Wars. The recent Time interview is a great example of George articulating these views. I think it would be great if he was shooting for the kiddie audience; maybe they'll learn a thing or two. While I haven't seen the flick yet, I'm sure there's a good mix of stuff that'll please the fans, and a whole lot that will create a bunch of new little Star Wars fans.
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BWAAAA, HA, HA, HA, HAH, HAH, HA!!
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If you want plot in your movies, read a book.
All these ppl criticize matrix for its lack of plot but fail to give examples of other sci fi movies which do have original plots. Matrix had about as much plot as SW does. Sw doesnt get much more derivative (Lensman, The Fortress, etc). Face it, SW is so loved due to its technical achievements. It projected the fancies of childrens play time onto the screen, but its no citizen cane of science fiction. I liked SW when i was a kid, but have kept my expectations very low for this new movie.
Great plot or philosophical issues does not translate well to the screen for those looking for eye candy. Hence why you'll never see a Foundation movie and why Dune was a box office failure. People want fireworks in their box office. Want plot, go watch Solaris or the Seventh Seal. But im sure most people thought that there were just boring, pompous, slow, drivel eh?
Cant have your cake and eat it to.
I love movies, but dont expect so much from them, the industry is all about making a buck and i doubt ill ever see an absolutely jaw dropping science fiction film.
Nothing can really compare to the images your own imagination comes up with when reading a good book.
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Here in South Africa we are in the fortunate postion that we will be on of the fist countries to see TPM after the US. This is due to the school's which break up on the last weekend of June (movie releases 25 June).
Anyways, despite my best efforts to not spoil the movie for myself I believe that I finally crossed the line by reading fan reviews. As one of the webmasters at theforce.net put it other peoples opinions do tend to color your own whether you like it or not.
I have been waiting for this movie since the credits rolled on Jedi, and despite what everyone says, I have always felt that Jedi was still a worhty addition to the saga.
The last time I felt this way about a movie was T2 - from the day I first read that the movie was being made I followed all related news religously for about 14 months. And when the novel came out I read it without a moments hesitation, however, all of this did not spoil the movie for me at all and I have since seen it at least nine times.
My point is this - that even though i'm sure for a lot of people the hype is overdone and there is no way the movie can live up to their expectations - for me - there is no way I can be dissapointed. I have put too much time effort and love into this movie to be dissapointed by a little too much cgi or slightly underveloped characters. I consider myself fairly intelligent but to be brutally honest I have been consumed by the Lucas magic (and yes their marketing machine too) and i have succumbed to the dark side - I am now, was and always will be a smitten fan -
It would be both premature and irresponsible to ring the death knell for The Phantom Menace, but I'm going to do it anyway. This initial smattering of reviews has utterly chilled my blood, moving with inexorable and merciless savagery down a checklist of my very worst fears. The CGI overkill, the stiff acting, the uninspired music, the cloying sidekicks -- it's all there.
Now, I'm not a raving maniacal live-and-die-for-it, eat-drink-and-breathe-it Star Wars buff, this much is true, but seeing Empire Strikes Back when I was five was, for me no less than everyone else, as close to an out-of-body experience as I've ever had in this life. But I'm not an idiot, and I never deluded myself -- I knew instinctually that lightning wouldn't strike twice, that no modern day sci-fi frippery could possibly overwhelm and transport me the way that Empire did way back when. But I still had hope; giddy, unreasonable, pie-eyed hope. I was sure I'd AT LEAST get a summer entertainment vastly superior to anything the Emmerichs and Bays of this world could shit out in between making down payments on their latest Ferraris. And now it seems I may not even get that much.
When I saw the first teaser trailer, I knew what I was in for. That one shot of Jake Lloyd crossing his eyes, mouth agape with wonderment as he flew his X-Wing out of danger: can you say "Full House in Space"? Lucas' tendency to cater to some nonexistent audience of pre-teen naifs -- doesn't he know kids today like ultraviolent videogames and futuristic ass-kicking a la The Matrix, NOT babbling Jim Henson Creature Shop rejects? -- is all too well-known. He's been secluded in his glitterwork monastery for so long he has lost touch. Completely. For God's sake, has everyone forgotten that this is the man who conceived of Howard the Duck, not to mention an entire movie populated by quarrelsome midgets, MUCH more recently than he conceived of Star Wars? Success does change people, like it or not.
And here's where we come back to Irvin Kershner. He could use some success. And if you think I'm just being glib, that I know damn well he's a lousy director who would torpedo the next installment ( should he land it by some freak of fate )... well, I can't really argue with you, but think of it this way -- he was a lousy director when he made Empire Strikes Back. His most famous movie up to that point was a soggy Love Story wannabe. But who cares? The man's a frickin' lucky charm! I say bring him back.
*R-R-R-R-RING*
-
May 05, 1999 3:09:05 AM CDT
The Phantom Menace screenplay has been available for how long?
by jim fin
Doing a bit of shopping (UK).
Saw TPM glossy printed screenplay with illustrations.
Was quite suprised.
Checked on net for info on the aforementioned item.
Zip.
What gives and just how long has this been available.
JIM FIN
(Not that any of this matters since you've all seen the bloody film already and I might as well have noticed that stormtrooper banging his head in A New Hope. Ha Ha.) -
I went with a friend to see the Special editions...and she fell asleep during Ep IV....So.....Cock'a'doodle'doo!
I shelled out $180 clams for SW gear...and I don't give a rats ass if Darth Maul is only in the film for a few seconds...He's the action figure that kicks ALL OTHER ACTION FIGURES MOTHER FUCKING ASSES!!!!!!!!!
God Bless.
CIRCUSFREAK -
theforce.net was right. What we all have to realize is the context of which this film was seen. It wasn't seen with fans - three-piece suits ruled the crowd!
I would much rather go to see it with the various charity events on the 16th - at least the children there will appreciate it.
Look, this is the first of a trilogy, folks. We all know how this ends. There's no way to sugarcoat it. Queen Amidala DIES. Jar Jar Binks DIES. Mace Windu DIES. All the Jedi (with the exception of Obi-Wan and Yoda) DIE. Obi-Wan, in some way or another, fails in his training of Anakin, and the repercussions of that shake the Galaxy to its very core. Obviously something bad happens to the planet Naboo because Episodes IV-VI don't deal with it at all. Hell, Anakin may wind up murdering his own wife! For the fall from grace to be chilling and disturbing, you have to show just how far the fall was. So, make Ep. I a so-called "children's movie." Your 7-year old kid will be 13 by the time the third film rolls around. Believe me, folks, this is going to get dark, very fast. I am more excited about Episode I than ever. Naysayers get behind me. -
May 05, 1999 4:11:30 AM CDT
Is Irvin Kirschner still alive? Well, he directed Robocop 2...
by martin q blank
...so not really.
-
What on earth. Would some people here please do some self-examination now and then, because you're pretty scary. To the guy who thinks this is some unfinished version and they still have time to re-edit it "to make it faster" and get in more svenes with Darth Maul (heck, just delay the movie 6 months and get everyone back to Leavesden while you're at it) -- get a life. Lucas recently confirmed the movie is 100% FINISHED. That's IT, it's OVER. This is version going out to 2,500 cinemas, the version everyone will see now and for years to come. Get over it. Secondly, this whole "well in the next one lets hope they have more kickass battles etc" is just embarassing. Stop stroking your underused 14 year old hardons and start to appreciate that this is George Lucas' movie, and as he has stated time and again it's not about keeping geeks happy with "lots of action and battles" or even this famed darkness that the geeks seem to keep whining for (why does a movie has to be dark? is this reflecting something in your own soul? how odd). Star Wars is about MYTHOLOGY and incorporating timeless, mythic themes into a modern narrative structure. I'll take these "boring scenes" over action and battles anyday. As if we didn't have enough action-centric, mythos-devoid crappy blockbusters out there already. Some of you just don't Star Wars. Go back to seeing The Matrix again with all the 'darkness' and style-over substance battles your empty little minds can fathom. Personally, so far all the so-called 'criticisms' I've read in these reviews have read to me like the best indication that this new Star Wars is exactly the film I wanted to see. One that takes its mytholigical roots respectfully and seriously, rather than with cheesy camp (like the old series). --"Mel"
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Dear Kvack, speaking of comparing 2001 and Empire Strikes Back if you think that's ridiculous you
should read film critic
Tom Colson's article in
Esquire Magazine where he compares the films and careers of George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick. He believes that Lucas is the better filmmaker who made better films and that Lucas's may have made popcorn films but Colson finds them superior to the artistic and
boring films of Kubrick. That's Colson's words and not my own.
Personally, I think both Kubrick
and Lucas are great filmmakers.
Neither is better or worser.
They are both equally great.
As for Phantom Menace, I've read
parts of the script and come
May 19, 1999 I'll make up my
own mind on whether or not
The Phantom Menace is a better
movie than The Matrix or is on
the par with Return of the Jedi
or is worthy of the name,
Star Wars. -
Dear Kvack, speaking of comparing 2001 and Empire Strikes Back if you think that's ridiculous you
should read film critic
Tom Colson's article in
Esquire Magazine where he compares the films and careers of George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick. He believes that Lucas is the better filmmaker who made better films and that Lucas's may have made popcorn films but Colson finds them superior to the artistic and
boring films of Kubrick. That's Colson's words and not my own.
Personally, I think both Kubrick
and Lucas are great filmmakers.
Neither is better or worser.
They are both equally great.
As for Phantom Menace, I've read
parts of the script and come
May 19, 1999 I'll make up my
own mind on whether or not
The Phantom Menace is a better
movie than The Matrix or is on
the par with Return of the Jedi
or is worthy of the name,
Star Wars. All I can say is
no matter what the new Star Wars movie can't be any worser than
last year's miserable over-hyped
what-a-total-waste-of-time Seinfeld final episode.
-
have to agree with everything Mel says - right on... On another subject entirely, will someone please explain what the "i" in cgi stands for - I am so sick of people littering their posts with this acronym, I would at least like to know what it really stands for...
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OF course this film won't be as good. At least not for me. I am not a kid anymore and my imagination and patience has died a little bit. Maybe even a lot. But, I will shell out whatever it costs to see it in the theater.
-
The fact that some film critic thinks Lucas is better than Kubrick, doesn't make it more true only because some dumb ass hole gets his opinions published and is even payed for it. Lucas isn't even in the same universe as Kubrick. Defending Kubrick is a superfluous exercise, since as they say "if you don't get it, you just don't get it".
Please stop this comparison, it's absolutely pointless and ridiculous. Personally I can wait for TPM, to me the big films of this year are "The Fight Club" (Fincher), "The Straight Story" (Lynch, I'm not sure if it comes out this year or the next), "eXistenZ" (Cronenberg) and last but certainly not least "Eyes Wide Shut" (Kubrick). Who cares about Lucas in view of these movies. -
CGI :
Computer
Generated
Images
Your welcome.
-
Everything changes when you grow up. Reading comics isn't the same now as when we were young, is it? Seeing Star Wars again isn't going to be the same either. Now you'll finally find out what YOUR parents felt like when they took you to see A New Hope. Star Wars is about capturing that part of us that we so often ignore, the child. No one can possibly think it's the great storyline, the great acting or anything else that makes Star Wars so incredible. Cause it isn't any of that. Star Wars is different because it's child-like and fantastic and wonderful and innocent and dreamy and simple and...so many things that cannot be captured. You simply cannot measure Star Wars with the same stick you measure The Matrix, or Armaggedon or any of the other movies with. It simply doesn't compare.
I for one will take my child's eyes with me when I go to see TPM and leave my adult, calloused, critical heart at the front door. What purpose would it serve me? To tear apart a dream? To rip a fantasy to shreds? I will enjoy the shared dream of a great vision and come away with a GREAT BIG FUCKING SMILE ON MY FACE!!
And then, in a moment of shear destiny, I will place my hand upon the shoulder of my six year old son and pass that sense of wonder to the next generation.
In this mad, crazy world of wars, shootings and madness, the chances and opportunities for such perfect moments is fleeting. I for one intend to enjoy the moment to the fullest. -
I'm pretty sure that CGI stands for Computer Graphics Imagery. It's just that in the past few years people have often dropped the "Imagery" and just started saying things are "CG".
-
I was 8 years old, and loved "Star
Wars". Now I'm 30 and am probably going to find I'll have enjoyed recent stuff by the Coen brothers or Quentin T more than I'll enjoy
TPM. But I'll still go and see it with an open mind.... and perhaps, just maybe, I'll be a kid again for a few hours. -
So there's a couple of reviews that aren't exactly orgasmic, but really is that all too bad?
The fact is, is that with that much hype, some people were gonna be let down. However that being said, that's not to say I won't be let down. I know what I'm expecting. I'm expecting a two hours of pure fantasy and to have a great time. I think the new film was never going to have the same magic as the original films, I mean what film these days does? But that's not to say it's gonna be arse biscuits. It'll still probably blow every other blockbuster this year out of the water anyway, and most people are gonna love it anyways. And any film that stands any chance of toppling that fucking goddamn boat as the most successful film of all time is getting my cash. Also to digress, I saw Existenz last night, I want one of them bone guns!!!!!! and if any woman gave me lip, I'd say.."Hey woman!! Get your bitchass back in the kitchen and make me some pie!!!!!"
That'd be sweeeet. -
I'm going to see this because it's going to be fun. That's it. I never let my expectations get unrealistic. And honestly, the only thing about ROTJ that made me wince was the final scene with that stupid ewok song. So if this is on par with, or a slightly better than ROTJ I can't complain. I can't wait to hear the crackling electric sound of the two lightsaber beams clashing. I'd pay 7 bucks just for that. I read the Dark Horse graphic novel of TPM and I loved it. Anyone else read it?
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This should not be construed as a defense for Mr. Lucas, merely an analysis of sorts. Let's propose two schools of thought: 1) the director has complete control over everything from production design to catering. 2) the director depends on the input of his department heads before making any final decisions.
Star Wars (Ep. 4) was groundbreaking for it's use of visual and special effects, sound effects, etc ad infinitum. On top of that, some transition moments in the film were weak and slightly flawed (such as the early Tatoonie sequences). You can chalk that up to either lack of technology (forcing you to hack your way through) or lack of an established frame of reference to lean back on (no one had ever done it before). I say it's a combination of both.
On the other hand, I thought the editing was very good on some spots and so were the camera angles chosen, giving the film a dramatic edge (like when Vader reports to Tarkin in the beginning).
And to further the analysis, it basically is a kid movie due to the lighthearted nature of the film. It's quite possible Lucas is just following his own frame of reference, in which we can anticipate the following Star Wars features will be more adult in nature as the character of Annikin grows up. -
Arg, one of the review's mentions the Queen's voice not being a distraction. I take it that means her voice is the same as it is in the music video?? Damn George Lucas to hell if it is! Where's my shotgun...
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For me, "The Matrix" is the most recent example of a string of big-budget films that have come out over the past few years, in which the dominant design principle seems to be to achieve the same effect as a motion-simulator ride: give the audience a visceral, roller-coaster-like experience, entrance them with slick visuals, fill in the gap with snappy hip/comedic dialogue spoken by stock characters, and don't worry about having a plot that makes sense.
Now, I realize that such traits have been observed and criticized in films for decades, but I feel that the form reached a new peak (or a new low) with the release of "Independence Day", a film that was hugely successful despite having a plot so astonishingly moronic as to induce seizures. The success of that film induced a Pavlovian response in Hollywood, and the result has been films like "The Lost World", "Godzilla", "Lost in Space", "Star Trek: First Contact", "Star Trek: Insurrection", the "Batman" movies, the recent "Bond" movies, "Armageddon", and now "The Matrix".
Don't get me wrong; I *liked* The Matrix, just as I like any good thrill ride. But it is like candy; sweet and briefly entertaining, but no substance to really digest. It's not that I require a lot of substance from an action movie. But even "Aliens" and "Terminator 2" had something these films lack: stronger characters and a more coherent plot.
Of course they can't all be masterpieces like "The Empire Strikes Back", "2001", or "12 Monkeys".... but as long as TPM is not a "Dumb & Fun Movie", which I suspect it is not, then it will be a welcome relief. I'll let you know after I see the benefit showing on May 16. :-) -
I know this has nowt to do with
star wars and the like, but has anyone seen the trailer to the South Park movie? It's sweeet!
-
When Star Wars first came out, I was 18. While I was old enough to see the flaws-weak character development, derivative(yes!) story, etc.-I came out of the theater with a sense of joy I don't think I have felt before or since. Folks, I had been ENTERTAINED! For two hours, I didn't think about acne, girlfriends(or lack thereof), graduation or my totally unplanned future.
I now have daughters of 8 and 10, and they are looking forward to TPM as much or more than I am. (I don't even have to spend $200 at Toys-R-US, at least until after they see it...) My Trilogy box sets are viewed more than any of the quarterly drivel we are forced to consume from Disney. Lucas is a master at providing the kind of film that can cut across generations and give us all something to share. I guess my point is, whether you're 6, 16 or 66, relax, sit back, and ENJOY the damn thing!! Save the dissection for later. -
I don't understand how anyone can possibly equate the genius of Tolkien witht the marketing and mediocrity of Star Wars. The difference is: Tolkien isn't for kids and Star Wars is. That's it plain and simple. Sure Tolkien's stories have elements within them that would appeal to children, but beyond that they are as thought provoking, intelligent, and well written as any novels could ever hope for. Star Wars, on the other hand, lacks any sort of emotional depth, character development, has bad writing, etc. so it really is "just for kids" because any adult with half a brain can point to I can't count how many plot holes in the first three movies alone. Kids don't really notice those type of things, they like the eye candy, and the black and white good-guy-bad-guy, suits them perfectly. We as adults should be bothered by the lack of any other features that we would normally require in what is generally considered a "good film". Such as story, theme, script, characters, etc. All of which Tolkien novels possess to a very high degree, and all of which Lucas has shown time and time again [Howard the Duck, Willow] he lacks the talent to bring to the screen. As for comparing Kubrick and Lucas, are we forgetting that Lucas ripped the whole series off of Kubrick? I know that isn't a popular theory, but look at it this way. Lucas claimed that he was trying to take all the elements of classical mythology and combine them in a science fiction setting to produce new stories that this generation will love. All well and good, but the last time I checked "2001" came out 11 years earlier, was titled "2001: The SPACE ODYSSEY" and invented most of the same special effects techniques Lucas used in the episode IV -- I believe he even shot it at the same studio in England. So I guess that means the visionary director George Lucas was what 11 years behind Kubrick? As we all know, that is an eternity in the age of cinema...
-
I'm not sure why there is so much talk about "The Matrix" on a Star Wars talk back. This should be discussions of Star Wars.
I saw it last night in New York. I was engrossed in it. The crowd cheered, the heroes were heroic. The story was epic. I thought it was a wonderful movie. All that said, I largely agree with the reviews.
I would have liked to see more Darth Maul. I was annoided by Jar Jar, when I wasn't laughing at his antics.
The slow pacing? It was as fast as the old Star Wars, but movies have gotten faster and faster in the 20 years (I was 8 when I saw the first film in '77).
I count myself as a fan. I've followed this movie closely for months, I play the RPG, I watch the movies on video regularly. Was I disappointed, definitely not! Were there things I like to have seen diferent? Probably, but I wasn't the one making the film. -
May 05, 1999 7:24:12 AM CDT
This was not supposed to be a Empire...it was ment to be a New H
by lupine
Picture this: The galaxy is mostly at peace. The Jedi are a powerful and noble force. Everyone is free. There is no empire. THIS is the setting for TPM. In New Hope, there was still this same shread of optimism. You had a young farm boy, going on the adventure of his life, meeting new people. The rebel alliance is strong, it has a homeworld, and it is succeding in the fight against the empire.
During the movie, we run into the Death Star, and we find out that the empire has decided to destroy the rebelion once and for all, and we find out a number of other bad omens. However, the story is still your basic knight in shining armor saves the princess and then destroys the bad guy. The movie is all ABOUT optimism. Sure, old ben dies, but A) he is old and B) you know his spirit lives on, so there is nothing sad about it. Everything is peachy keen, and no one really gets hurt. There is a LOT of comic relief (IE the part where Han runs into the room of stormtroopers, guns blazing...then the next shot is of him booking it out of there. "When you lose to a droid, he doesnt rip off your arm. Wookies are known to do that", etc). R2-D2 and C3-PO are basically nothing BUT comic relief.
THEN we get Empire. Things look bad. The Rebels dont have a secure homeworld yet, the Empire is on their trail, and pissed. All those bad omens that started in the first film, come to surface by the end. Luke has abandoned his training to save his friends, finds out what really happens to his father, Han is frozen, Luke loses his arm, etc. How good would have Empire been without New Hope? How good could it have been without the excitment of the first film, along with the optimism. It makes the scattering of the Rebel Fleet by the empire much more dramatic. It makes Luke finding that Vader is his father MUCH more tramatic. It makes you feel for Han much more when he gets frozen, because he is such a loveable charecter.
Now someone earlier pointed out somthing VERY important: By the end of these movies, almost everone will die. The slaugher of the Jedis will MUCH more dramatic since instead of seeing them as a past event as in New Hope, we see them in their most powerful moments, as great and noble warriors and leaders. We see this loveable little slave boy, go from a life of bordem (like Luke) to a life of adventure as a Jedi. we wonder "How can a boy this innocent ever go to the dark side"...well, that makes his fall all the more dramatic.
Most of the complaints about this movie is that it is no Empire...well, it wasnt ment to be an empire. If people go in with the same mindset as a New Hope (IE none, just absorb the rich atmosphere of the movie, and have fun), then they will enjoy it. If they go in looking for the best movie of all time, you will no doubt be disapointed.
P.S. People are complaining that the coolest charecter in the movie, Maul, is only in it for a few minutes. Well, Boba Fett was probibly in empire less than Maul is in this, and he is never even named in the movie. Look what became of HIM, one of the most popular charecters in the star wars universe, and he has what, 2 or 3 lines in Empire? -
I knew that everyone would (and I have to admit to doing it some myself) feed into the hype and hype this up as the ultimate of all ultimate things. As Lucas said, IT'S A MOVIE!!! The hype has and probably will ruin the film for alot of people, especially the hardcores who nitpick every nuance of the film. Instead of saying I wish there was more Darth Maul and Jar-Jar sucks, just admit that I had a good time watching a good FILM and leave it at that. Unfortunately far too many people will go in expecting some sort of religious experience and be upset a seeing a good movie.
-
May 05, 1999 7:25:51 AM CDT
DWD: Hello? Did the MPAA Rate TPM as PG or PG-13? I'd really lik
by dwdunphy
And as far as The Matrix goes, if the W's didn't shoot half the thing in slo-mo, it'd only be about an hour and a half long instead of the running two. I say DOWN WITH SLO-MO. IT'S OVERUSED!!!
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...it's for kids! What the fuck did all you geeks think it would be for, you guys? Grow the hell up and realize the sci-fantasy world of Star Wars was created with young people in mind and Lucas managed to keep it that way, and I for one applaud him for it. You can complain about Jar Jar oe any other character you want but they were not created for you, they were created for ten year old future geeks. Christ, you guys have to get over yourselves in a hurry!
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To all those people who bait Star Wars fans with comments like I told you it would suck, grow the hell up, if someone likes a movie let them like it, if you don't like it, don't watch the fucking thing and forget about it. I try not to bringup how much I thought Matrix sucked, so why do you do the same with Star Wars! Get a serious life people!
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Think of things this way: we all know that George Lucas (read: God) is going to be making 2 more movies. People look back and say that this movie has no closure the way ANH did. Of course not! When Lucas made ANH, he was *shooting* to break even on the costs. Nobody on the crew or production staff expected there to be another movie, much less 3 more.
Lucas KNOWS that we're going to be venturing to the theater at least two more times...he had the luxary of "setting the stage" with this film.
-Matt -
STAR WARS? whut in tarnations is star wars???/ please explain.
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Why do people (many of whom are too young to even remember) insist that STAR WARS got terrible reviews back in 1977? At the time, l read more than a few reviews, and while I don't have Kael's review in front of me, I believe for the most part even many of the "highbrow" critics liked the film in a condescending sort of way. Indeed, the mainstream media loved it! (again somewhat condescendingly). Newsweek gave it a glowing 3 or 4 page review, and Time declared it "the best movie of the year" (it was to have been the cover story, but was bumped off due to the Israeli election results). Where I live (NY City) all three daily papers (including the Times) loved it. Can anyone bring more than two or three non-positive 1977 reviews?
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I love SW as much as the next person, but to slam Matrix for being derivative and then praise SW for be original is just plain stupid.
SW is maybe the most derivative movie ever made (in terms of story). That's why we all love it so much, it takes all of the best parts from all of the best stories (ie mythology) throughout history and combines them into one story. Hell, the recent Smithsonian exhibit went out of its way to show how SW drew on everything and the kitchen sink as influnces.
How is this any different from the Matrix, which I really liked? Matrix doesn't have the emotional ressonance that SW has, but it was aimed at a different audience (and at a different time). SW was supposed to make you feel good, to believe in yourself. Matrix was supposed to look unlike any movie ever has, it was supposed to be more style than substance (although I think there was a lot more substance than the critics on here are giving the movie credit for). They both accomplished their goals. -
So did anyone see TPM in the new surround format? I'm curious whether it will be all that much of an improvement. I'm sure Austin Powers2 will sound soooo much better because of it! :) But the question of the moment is how does TPM sound? BTW, I know the score is great. Heck, it was recorded by Shawn Murphy. It doesn't get much better!
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What the frig is going on?
Lets review.
The Matrix was a very cool looking film that happened to be the first movie to take the real world/vr plot seen in The Twilight Zone, the Outer Limits, hundreds of sci-fi short stories, etc and pair it with cool visual tricks developed for tv commercials and set it to a cool soundtrack. Thats it. It was entertaining yet derived. A movie for the sick 15 year old in all of us. And the acting bit. Its the kind of movie that you like the first time, then go back and start wondering why all the problems didn -
Y'know, the reason A New Hope was so successful was because it was an entirely new thing. It was the first time anyone had seen sci-fi subject portrayed so adventurously and creatively. Now, everyone is looking for that same impact with TPM. Well, here's news for you, it's still Star Wars, so it ain't gonna blow you away like the original did first. Sure, the special effects will be amazing, but don't expect a revolution.
Another thing bothering me is the fact that everyone is dissapointed with the lack of character development and the lack of darth maul in the film. Think for a sec. Was Darth Vader really in Episode 4 much? He was much more developed in the later episode. Was Luke interesting in Episode 4? No, he was kind of a child. The reason that The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite of the original trilogy is because of the development that went on there. I am expecting the same from Episode 2. So enjoy Episode 1 for it's adventure, fun, and effects. Trust me, it will kick ass once we see the rest.
Finally, we all love Episode 4 for its familiarity, the lines we all know, the characters we grew up with. But honestly, how much happens in it? You can describe the film's events in about 3 sentences. It was really simple. But it was also really complicated for those who just entered the Star Wars universe. Go see TPM 2 or 3 times. Then write your reviews. This is a different kind of movie.
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Round 1: Neo does his trademark Gap Advertisement kick knocking Jar Jar on his alien ass. Jar Jar misses with a left jab. Neo counters with a a hail of double fisted uzi fury. Jar Jar is hit and is severely bleeding from snout. Round 1 to Neo.
Round 2: Jar Jar whips out double-bladed lightsabre stolen from Darth Maul's "backup" stash. Unfortunately while whirling the weapon around, Jar Jar manages to sever one of his own legs and one ear. Neo positions himself in Kung Fu stance. Audience laughs. Neo does his rapid fire fist pummeling move on Jar Jar. Jar Jar is smashed back into his corner by a powerful kick from Neo as the round ends. Round 2 to Neo.
Round 3: Jar Jar comes out like a Gungan on a mission with his blaster firing. Neo simply evades the bullets "agent-style". Jar Jar, now really getting frustrated by crowd taunts of "You're not real! You're in the matrix!", once again assaults Neo with Darth Maul's staff. Neo incredibly blocks Jar Jar's strikes with one arm as he finishes reading the Episode One book he is holding in the other hand. Neo finishes off Jar Jar by jumping "into" his body and blowing him apart. Neo, of course, is left in Jar Jar's place in his trademark bad-ass stance. Round and Match: Neo. -
keep your pretentious asses at home so that I can get a good seat when I see the movie.
-
Of course not. Neither were any of the first three. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Star Wars fan, hae been since I was 5, and there's no doubt they played a major role in my decision to make movies for a living, BUT the first three SW movies, as fun, exciting, and entertaing as they were/are, will never be considered some of the best movies ever made. And there's nothing wrong with that. Lucas never wanted them to be. ALL of them were flawed in their own way, AS IS TPM. When I walked out of the screening I felt like a child again, though. I couldn't wait to see it again. But just like the first three, as fun as it is, it's still just a movie. It has it's moments that rank up there with the best of the previous SW's. And it also has it's flaws. It is a GREAT movie and I stress the word - MOVIE. As for certain peoples' complaints about the acting/ characters not being up to par, well....the performances by the actors were fine. I had no complaints. Put it this way, no one in TPM is ANYWHERE NEAR as bad an actor as Mark Hammil was.
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May 05, 1999 8:59:25 AM CDT
So, does this mean Cameron's gonna keep the record...
by palmer eldritch
It looks as if The Matrix could claim Titanic's treasured position as the movie Star Wars Fans Love To Hate, Why, because it seems in danger of usurping Starwars in some way. Loads of people here have been desparate for TPM to be the best thing that's happened since they lost their virginity (or not as the case may be) I know I had pretty high expectations of it, but the first trailer started pissing on them. Now we go from the Second Coming (possibly literally, by some reports I heard about teenagers at original star wars screenings) to "You Know, for kids?". Contrast this to Matrix. a garanteed disaster it seemed . Keanu, Warner brothers, out of their league indy filmmakers working for joel silver... how could it not stink?. well, I haven't seen it, but it seemed to go down pretty well on this site (much as another movie did on it's first release). Then some fool suggest maybe The Matrix is cooler than TPM... Just like Cameron's movie dared to make more money than Star Wars - but of course that didn't count, because all the tickets were bought by smelly gerls so it was like it made real money (as opposed to money from grown men who boast about aspiring to the emotional maturity of a seven year old. Some people have got there whole mental well being riding on this movie it seems. It will be interesting to see whether peopel still want to be seven year olds when next years "coolest" award comes out.
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Jesus what a bunch of gutless, cold reviews. I expected either unbridled excitement or abject disgust. But these guys are just ladda-dee-da boy it was good, or boy it was ok. I think it was the environment in which they saw it. Image seeing Citizen Kane when if first came out with executives that have given Welles a power they hate to give. I can just hear them after the movie "oh well that Orson, won't amount to much after all." Not that TPM is Citizen Kane or anything, but you get the idea. and if it is a let down, we always have Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley can't let us down. Can he?
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YOU CALL THOSE SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS???? JEEEEZ! I'm sorry when I think "spoiler-free" I think all I'm going to hear is "good" or "bad" and a vague reason why. Now I know all sorts of crap - and just to put my two cents in, (I'm sure I'm echoing others' opinions) did anyone think this was going to be that great? I know I'll love it for the experience of seeing it with a bunch of geeks like me on opening day (God willing!) but I'm not expecting my life to change (again) because of it.
-peteski@spinninghead.com -
Come on people, most of you haven't seen this thing yet and already you're writing it off as childish shit. At least give it a chance before spewing your bile. That being said, Goddamn does grover, er, I mean yoda, look and sound like shit. For some reason, I remember Frank Oz's voice having this really dark, bass-ey undertone in EPSB and ROTJ. It at least sounded like grover possessed by a demon. Remember "you will be... you wiiiiill be." That was a cool sounding voice. What I've seen in the trailers sounds horrible. And the way he looks, the phoney way his mouth moves, I know it's been debated to death in these talkbacks, but damn, it's just a thorn that's stuck in my craw.
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...I'm sorry George didn't personally phone you up and ask for your opinion on every aspect of TPM but he doesn't fucking care! Grow the hell up and stop your whining that it wasn't made for you, it was made for you as a seven year old or ten or whatever but it wasn't made for those who have since seen Res Dogs or Nat. Born Killers. Fucking bunch of whiners all of you!
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Ragnar wanted to know why the movie was being screened in the first place. Answer: most states have "anti-blind-bidding" laws that require studios to show their movies to exhibitors before they open. These were passed in the late '70s after theatres got burned on a lot of high-profile turkeys like EXORCIST II. And a guy whose name I've forgotten wanted to know why Leonard Maltin was there. In fact, I was sitting with him and his wife, Alice, and asked if this were a media screening as well. He explained that no, it wasn't, but Lucas is only granting a handful of TV interviews, and this was Leonard's only chance to see the movie beforehand, so he was granted an invitation. Nothing sinister at all. As for my opinion on the film...well, does anyone REALLY care at this point? I didn't think so.
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Every other review I read says that you have to be more understanding and realize George Lucas made SW for kids. This is a really poor excuse IMHO. Look at New Hope and Empire, I honestly can't recall any sequences that were really made for kids. I've watched those movies many times as adults and none of the scenes stick out in my mind as being for kids. This whole kid thing started with Return of the Jedi. The Ewoks, the happiness, kindness, it's a feel good movie. Even in the Special Editions you can see where he's going, the CG puppets added in the Jabba scenes look very much made for kids. I think Lucas's family thing changed his way of making films unfortunately. I know to some extent he can't help it, I mean they live with him. I think he should go to a cave somewhere away from his kids for another 5 years while making the other films and bring back the mature theme in his first two movies. I have yet to see TPM, but as everyone is comparing it to ROTJ, it's kinda scary. As a kid watching the first movies, even at 8 I could see past stupid "kiddie" humor and real humor. I think Lucas underestimates kid's intelligence. Maybe for a 5 year old Jar-Jar might be funny, but even 8 year olds can say "that character is dumb, it's for kids". I know as a kid I constantly wanted to grow up, same with my brothers. We like the first two movies, and hated the Ewoks in the third. I think George is really changing the movie for a VERY small demographic group. I think it's his family and not the love of money from merchandising (what can you do with another billion after you have a billion). Also, what's up with Darth Maul!!! He looked as if he was going to steal the movie. The main Villian, Darth Vadar, made Star Wars, Star Wars. That's why I still watch them today. I don't see Bobba Fett on any video jackets. I can't believe they shortchanged him in TPM. The trailers would say otherwise. That's taking the movie down a grade for me by itself :( I'm still going to see it, but I don't think it will beat Titanic.
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If you think The Lord of the Rings is great literature and not just a great children's series, you are fooling yourself. Sure, Star Wars is derivative, but guess what, so is LOTR. And they're all based on the same sources: Judeo-Christian themes, Zoroastrianism, Milton, Beowulf. LOTR is no less "black and white" than Star Wars--ever heard of Sauron? Not much good about him, last time I read the book--admittedly many years ago. LOTR is also arch, simplistic and sometimes plain silly--like Star Wars. My point is that no grown-up should be pinning his psyche on kids' stuff, regardless of whether it's Star Wars or LOTR.
As for Kubrick versus Lucas, obviously Kubrick is the superior filmmaker--far superior. But, I honestly believe that Empire was a truly great movie, largely because it was the only movie in the original trilogy that took its mythologizing seriously and that went beyond the simple black/white themes of the other movies (DV's conversion in JEDI does not count because it was hokey and totally predictable); it's a very different movie than anything Kubrick made, so I'm not really comparing them on some objective scale. But in terms of my overall feelings about these movies, I put Empire below 2001, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove and Paths of Glory; above Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon, Lolita, Spartacus and K's earliest movies; and on par with The Shining. Not that anyone cares . . . -
In addition to the pleasure of meeting Shaq and Casper Van Dien, I was blessed to be able to see the Phantom Menace last night in LA. I have to say that I was very please with the film and I look forward to seeing it again once all the lines go down at the end of May. I thought it really stayed true to itself and I like the episodic feel it had. I only have two small complaints. Jar Jar Binks was annoying. And the final scene between Obi Wan and Darth Maul was anticlimactic. Other than that I would have to say it was really welll done. I am sure that for die-hard fans it will be a little bit of a let down, because of the tone and derivative story line, buit it is Start Wars and you have to give it that.
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ermmm...Star Wars is a movie...
i dunno, but its funny watching all you assholes fighting it out over whether TPM is gonna be great or not..I mean for God's sake, it is after all a movie!
Granted you guys grew up with it, but didn't u do anything else but watch star wars? or were your lives so dull and pointless that you could think of nothing else? The Star Wars trilogy is great and one of the defining points of Motion picture history, but its not anything to worship or stand in line for a month for. George Lucas ain't God..and who the hell cares a shit whther Jar Jar Binks looks fake, or whether Dark maul gets a lotta lines, its not the end of the world!
Just watch the flick, eat some popcorn, enjoy it..go back home to your lives (if you have any)
Just my 2 cents. -
Hate to sound cliche, but "Star Wars" has ALWAYS been "for the kid in all of us" following in the best Disney (WALT, that is) tradition. That doesn't mean it's BAD!! I believe "Empire Strikes Back" is the second best kids film ever made, after "Pinocchio."
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if you don't want to know what happens in episode one DO NOT look at the soundtrack. it's a giveaway.
spread the word and MTFBWY. -
May 05, 1999 11:28:54 AM CDT
Of course Titanic and The Lost World will keep their records!
by el pollo
As much as I am a Star Wars fan, there's a reality side. Those other movies didn't have any restrictions on the quality of the theater. TLW had a 4 day opening weekend to work with versus SW's 3 days. The original SW is only 4th on the all-time list, and it had 2 major theatrical runs. There are just too many factors against SW:TMP getting to the top of the sales list.
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My God. I don't post much to Talk Back, and this is exactly the reason why. You people are anxiously awaiting something for months on end, and then bash it to pieces because "it isn't quite what you expected." I have a suggestion to you: DEAL WITH IT! The Phantom Menace might not be the greatest story ever told, but it is Star Wars. Plain and simple. It may not be the Star Wars you remember. It's a prelude to it. Like someone had said earlier, Star Wars is the story of the fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker. This story is Anakin as a little kid. The beginning of a journey, something that yes, could very well be childish. Well, of course it will be-- Anakin is 9. But, it will be fun. Stop thinking of yourselves as film buffs, and think of yourself at the age when you saw the original. You may actually enjoy it. And, agreeing with another, yes, it will get really dark, really quickly. Lucas said himself that TPM was a small personal story, not of an epic scale. It's going to be a simple story. But, it will get darker in Episode II. So why don't you naysayers shut your damn mouths, wait until the 19th, go see the movie (which I know you all will be anyway) and enjoy it FOR WHAT IT IS-- A new Star Wars movie. Who cares if Darth Maul is the only badass in the film, and is only onscreen for a short while? Boba Fett was the same way. It's not about either one of them. And who cares if the CGI isn't perfect yet. It is still a relatively new technology. Ya know, some of you bitch when shows like Star Trek have aliens who look all alike except for some different ridges on their faces, or if some muppets don't look exactly perfect, or if the CGI on characters isn't perfect. What the hell do you want? We haven't met real aliens. We kind of have to invent them ourselves. From what I've seen, the CGI looks wonderful. It's a lot better than some older stuff. Don't overanalyze the damn movie. Go see it like a child would see it, for the fun of it. That is what Star Wars is all about. It's what it's always been about. And, who cares if they try to create some new toys for the damn movie? Of course they're going to do that. It's a marketing wonder. So, just go see the movie, deal with it, and shut the hell up, because you're really all starting to annoy me, and I'm betting I'm not the only one. Let the flames begin.
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I run a Star Wars fansite, a small one albeit, at www.theed.net. I've been waiting for TPM for over 3 years. I have read the reviews, and they don't phase me. It's not because I'm a hardcore Star Wars addict who considers trashing anything with Lucas' name on it sacrilege. I don't. But I know that the movie can never live up to one's expectations, especially if they expect it to be something equivalent to an out of body experience. Lucas has said that some people will not like the film, especially die-hard fans. The people who saw the movie last night and rushed to let the internet community know what they thought, are probably die hard fans. Remember: THESE ARE NOT THE SAME FILMS. They are completely different entiities and should not even be compared to ROTJ or ESB. This is a different era in Star Wars, and a different era in the real world, let's not forget that. As for the film, remember that George Lucas is a master. When he writes a screenplay, it's going to be good. He did not write Howard the Duck, he only executive produced, that was not his work. Willow, however, was, and it was a great movie, few will disagree. For those of you that are die-hard fans, we don't care about the Matrix, we don't care about 2001, we care about Star Wars. Don't pay attention to these reviewers, any of them, whether they give the film rave reviews or say it was sub-par. Form your own opinions, because Star Wars is an individual experience that can be shared with others, but at it's root, belongs to you. Finally, remember that any of these people that reviewed the film JUST got out of the movie, and really didn't have enough time to mull over it. It seems like many of them are expecting the first trilogy feel to be repeated with a different format. This won't be the same, but I personally have a love for the unknown. -- A.D Boyd-Bjorklund
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Jumpin' Jesus on a Pogo Stick!!! Go see it if you want, don't see it if you hate it, but SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT!!!! All this bullshit amounts to is "My movie's better than yours.." All this technology, and all you people can do with it amounts to schoolyard bickering. I liked The Matrix, but it didn't exactly change my life. I have been a Star Wars fan from day one (5-25-77, that is), and I am eagerly anticipating TPM. Remember, the reviews you read are ONLY that persons' opinion. Go see it and make up your own mind. Unless of course you don't want to see it....maybe you can go see The Matrix again. As for the Aussie who said that America would never embrace a film that was not made here as a classic, all I can say is: 2001! (made in England you twit)
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...points well made, but just because a movie isn't juvenile (as we have come to term a movie made for kids a la the latest Disney efforts) doesn't mean it wasn't meant for kids. (Time Bandits being a classic example of a movie for kids that didn't treat them like idiots, Star Wars is another)Lucas was quoted in Rolling Stone when the first one came out that he hopes when the first manned flight to Mars occurs that one of the astronauts says he did it because ever since he was a kid he wanted to see if there was Wookies. He also said that it is for kids but as well for the kid in all of us who like a good story. As far as the arguement about originality of movies, it has been argued (by Scott Peck and Marshall McLuhan among others) that there are only seven real stories in the world, and that every thing else is derivative of those, so in that sense it is useless to argue the point of originality in any movie or book but rather we should argue about the way the tale is told. And in the case of the Star Wars movies I think they are very well told, if a little flawed (my God, George Lucas is human and a filmmaker, how shocking!!!). My arguement against The Matrix is not that it didn't rock my world technically, it did, and then some. I loved it's look and the sound, and yes, the editing was stunted and shocking, and I loved that, great work, technically. But the story was really jilted and never stayed true to it's original arc. The characters were inconsistent (not that the acting helped, Keanu is plan bad, and Laurence F. walked through his role) and the ending was not satisfying in any real emotional way. I can turn off my brain and enjoy but when people start stuffing it down my throat that it was the best movie this year I have to fire back that it was far from perfect and even farther from being revoltionary!
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I've seen comments about average acting and stupid things for the younger audience.
Was the acting more genuine than what we saw in ROTJ? It seemed to me that most of the cast in ROTJ were doing it just to get it over with. I don't think Ford could have put less into a character than he did in that movie (dumb things like looking straight at Lando when he's supposed to be blind). Even if the acting is average, but the actors attempt to take their roles seriously then I'll be happy.
I've seen people say that there are multiple elements in there put in for the kids (I don't remember anything like that being required to catch my attention in 1977, btw). Are there stupid things like the burping frog and sarlac? Or are they just "silly" looking, muppet type characters (like the singer in the ROTJ Jabba scene (either version))?
I figured that this movie would be more of an introduction to the time period and the main characters, and am looking forward to the second and third movies more (sound more like ESB's mood), but as long as the two items I mentioned above are different than ROTJ, I will be EXTREMELY pleased. -
Dark Side. How about this for a comment when we consider the quality and storyline of TPM, I don't care! When the John William's score cues up, and the text "Episode One:..." begins to scroll up the screen, I will be crying tears of a five year old, remembering a time that has since passed, when being ENTERTAINED was all that mattered! The past arc of films molded childhood's playtime hours, increased the anticipation of every wrapped gift, and forged an emotional bond that I pray my younger siblings and future children can find in these three films. So raise the bar as high as you like to test the abilities of Lucas or to measure your own anticipation levels. Even if Lucas didn't listen to the words of a departed wiseman and we realize there is NO TRY, to me ANY TRY, even if only in the calibre of JEDI, is far better than Bill and Ted's Excellent Higher Learning Jimmy Jump Gap Khaki Matrix. So as long as the loyal Bothan spies continue to risk their lives to spread the secrets of TPM, remember these hushed tones of a shimmering ghostly figure, "...the force will be with you, Always!"
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Why do some people ( and there are many ) insist on calling ROTJ childish? Is it because of the ewoks?
What is the real story of ROTJ? Luke forgave his father for the sins of Darth Vader, and in turn the love of his son saved him. Forgiveness - what a unique concept! If it's childish, consider me a child. -
What's up with some of you people? Did anyone actually think that ep1 would be a masterpiece? Come on, I love Star Wars as much as anyone, but I love it for what it is: it's not Citizen Kane, but in it's own lovable way, I like it more than the "best" movie ever made.
This is where I'm coming from: I am a true fan, but not an obsessed one. I saw Star Wars when I was 8 years old... I loved it, and loved the sequels. Life went on when they were over with, and Star Wars became a wonderful memory.
I watched the trilogy on tape many, many years later.. And you know what? My reaction to them came as a surprise...
To begin with, I thought that ANH was still a whole lot of fun, but much more HOKEY than I'd remembered, a mixture of the wonderful and really cheesy. The dialog and acting were just awful in places. Take the beginning of the scene where Luke and Leia swing over the chasm after she kisses him for luck... I mean, you've got storm troopers shooting and missing wildly (come on, these are supposed to be bad-ass, scary soldiers), then Leia does a bit of really bad acting and she's kind of waving her arms at her side yelling "hurry!"... that part was cringingly bad. But when they swung over to safety, well, that part was wonderful. With the exception of a few, most characters were under-developed. The effects were outstanding. My reaction was a mixed bag... if I'd have seen ANH as an adult, I'd have still really enjoyed it, but not as much. It was magic seeing it as a child.
I found Empire to be better then I remembered (and it was always my favorite). Great character development. Flowing story. More insight into the mythology. More depth. Beautiful visuals. I enjoyed it even more as an adult than when I was 11.
And finally, re-watching Jedi, I was surprised yet again. It wasn't as bad as I remembered. Really, an above poster said it best... with the exception of the horrid ewok-singing finale, it wasn't that bad. Sure, the ewoks were a bit much. But, as I was watching it, I got a feeling that the actors were having fun... like good friends getting together for one last party.
Anyway, my point is, after re-watching the movies and seeing them through adult eyes I still liked them a lot. I just saw them... differently.
All that I ask of the new movies is that they are fun... that as the trilogy progresses we get character development... that I enjoy them. You see, it's impossible for the new movies to make me feel like I did back in '77. The movie was magical for me then not because it was a masterpiece or because Lucas is a genius... I loved it because it was fun and exciting and because I was 8 years old.
And those of you who HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT YET and have made up your minds -
Guess what JMS. I'm not going to flame you. There was a time when it was fun, but to do it now would just make me feel guilty. You see, you've revealed so much of what motivates you here that I just see you as sad now. You said something in the talkback about the high school shooting that led me to my final conclusion. Believe it or not, I actually fully agreed with what you said about love and affection being what was missing from those kids lives. So you must have some insight. But you also remarked that you got a thrill from beating kids you hated at video games. That's why you post here isn't it? You're looking for that same feeling, right? All that anger is just going to rot your spirit in the end man. High school is in the past, (I'm guessing) get over it.
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Every time I hear about ewoks and how cute they were and how they ruined ROTJ all I can help but think is....the EWOKS EAT HUMAN FLESH! Think about that again. In ROTJ the Ewoks were about 30 seconds away from EATING THE PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS! Han, Luke, even Chewie (he may not be human, but would YOU want to eat him?) would have been skewered up and served hot and crispy to the entire Ewok village. I'm sorry, but there isn't anything really cute about that.
oh...and the Matrix was just OK...all you people creamin' in your pants about it are just plain wrong. -
Go into a different fliipin' forum!! This is about TPM, okay? I listened to most of the new soundtrack today and I have to say I wasn't too impressed. No one theme jumped out at me. There were obvious, lightened-up elements of The Imperial March theme throughout but nothing that really stood out. Even Duel of the Fates. I thought it sounded like Night on Devil's Mountain or whatever that song from Fantasia was. Overall, from the 10 tracks I heard this morning, this soundtrack sounds like a typical John Williams score from any mediocre film in Spielberg's latter 1980s canon. It also seems to belong more in an Indiana Jones film more than a Star Wars film. Wonder if JW didn't just kind of throw this score together in late winter. But let's see how it plays in the cinema.
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Keep in mind that this is a TRILOGY. Don't expect it to be perfect. ANH wasn't perfect, but its great! All SW fans, don't lose hope. I know that we all will love it.
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For one thing all of the star wars movies were family movies. The first movie was great, but it was corny and childish, but again it was great, and the two movies after that just got darker and darker. And they are all great movies. I have not seen TPM yet, but I am possitive that with the special effects now a days, and with George Lucas back at the Helm, that this will be the best star wars movie yet. Hopefully, it will be the best movie of 1999.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ah, do I really NEED to say anything? No, I don't think I do. All I can say is that the rest of you BELIEVING NON-BELIEVERS can now eat your words! Yes, all along, the likes of me, L'Auter, and JMS Forever were right. WE WERE RIGHT!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE US???? THE JOKE IS ON YOU! By the way, The Matrix rocked.
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Exactly how old are you, son?
Thirteen? Fourteen? If you're twenty or older you should be aware of one thing: ranting is not the same as giving a rational, measured critique. One of the very few downsides of hitting this wonderful site is having to wade through rants written by hormonal teenagers who actually believe they are impressive if they use the
F-word six times in one sentence.
Believe me, all it emphasizes is your immaturity. I'm sorry not everyone likes The Phantom Menace,
but we'll be able to make that judgement for ourselves come the 19th. Just as an aside, Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is not only the greatest science fiction film ever made, but perhaps the greatest film ever. It's one of the few SF films that treat aliens as if they were truly alien and not like sweet, Reeses Pieces eating
naifs (a la ET) or humanoids with yet another different nosepiece or forehead piece (a la the Star Trek Franchise). The movie was exquisitely metaphorical because Kubrick's ETs were utterly beyond the comprehension of mammalian brains. Yours included Lanemeyers. Sorry you didn't get it.
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It makes me want to puke that THESE reviews are among the few to see the film two weeks early. Except for Patrick and Mr Coathanger these guys have thier heads so far up thier asses they should crawl in after them and disapeer. This is SUPPOSE to be a kid's movie at it's heart and you have to expect the film to be light and fun since the next two films are going to be very, very dark. Well I know when I go to see the film on May 19th I'm not going to let these pud kockers and thier negitvity ruin it for me!
MTFBWY all!
-Rob Kowal AKA JMYoda
Webmaster of JediMasterYoda.com -
I agree with everyone who is complaining that Darth Maul doesn't get that much screen time. After the Phantom Menace comes out we'll never see this guy again because he dies in TPM! We'll never get to see him develop as a character unless he's resurrected in the novels or comic books. I mean geez, why did they have to kill him off in TPM? He could have been the next Darth Vader, oh well, I guess that honor is reserved for Darth Sideous, I guess.
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May 05, 1999 8:55:51 PM CDT
Kvack needs a F*&^ing life or at least a job beside serving me m
by jmyoda
Well at least us Star Wars fans are enjoying something we love in a positive way. YOU have little else to do with your time then to run down and insult people who are just having fun in a woodstockish way (ya know being together and having FUN). Are you jellous because you don't have ANYTHING in that pathetic exsistence you call a life that brings you any joy the way SW does for us?
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I agree with lots of the folks here. I can't believe that they are killing Darth Maul in the first film. I think that is retarded. I mean, they cut the guy in hald and that's it? I bet Lucas was a afraid that people would like him better then Darth Vader. Oh Well. I hope this gets posted. Harry has kicked me out of here more times then I can count. that's OK. I keep coming back at ya, motherfuckers..PEACE...C YA
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In response to the request for a goosebumps review? I haven't seen TPM yet, of course, but I can say that during the trailer (especially the first time I saw it) and those words..."A long time ago in a galaxy far far away" came up on screen, I had the weirdest orgasm sensation ever. This could be because of the hard work I did trying to see the trailer in the theater in Sept. (3 different showings of Enemy of the State, anyone?) or just because I have been anticipating this for so long... I've had the same sensation watching the second trailer, the tv commercials on the Lucasfilm website, and seeing the "Duel of Fates" video. Oh, and having sex too, but I get much less pleasure out of that. (Yes, I have a life, but it's one I enjoy.)
And as for the cynics? These movies have NEVER EVER been Citizen Kane, they have always been epics for the little kid in all of us whose feet can't reach the theater floor when the lights go down...May the Force be with you...always.
samauri7 -
You and the others in your sycophantic reference remind me of the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "BUT I'M INVINCABLE!!!" Well, you're a loony.
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I am so fucking ANGRY at the assholes above who posted a certain plot point I did NOT want to know about. Okay I'm not angry, at first I was afraid, but fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering as master Yoda tells us in the first trailer. If you have'nt read those above DON'T, but I'm sure it's not true. They didn't see the film, they were reposting other rumors they saw elswhere... so now my anger doesn't have to lead to hate. Excellent. Sorry about that.
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First off, I have to say that I'm astounded by the diversity of opinions in the reviews. Some people hate Jar Jar, some love him; others think Lloyd sucks, others think he's great, etc. It seems like everyone's playing their reaction pretty close to the belt, but whatever their reasons for calling TPM a good or all right kids' film seem to differ wildly.
Secondly, my personal thoughts on virtually no sleep and halfway through the novelization, I think that out of the four films, this'll probably be the third best (My fave's ANH, second fave is ESB, third ROTJ). The thing is, it's really such a different beast from the other films. And I'm not just talking in terms of the goodies being the Republic rather than the Rebllion and the baddies being the Sith rather than the Empire or what have you. There's a whole different tone to TPM, in that it seems much more "20th century" than the original trilogy. I mean, pallies makes me think "friends", the Fanta alien (probably unnamed on screen) makes me think "soft drink", the Opee sea killer makes me think "Ron Howard" or "Really need to go to the bathroom", etc. All the aliens seem to just be speaking English too, rather than different languages (the alien languages being something else that made the original series so different and striking). It just seems to me that Lucas has put absolutely no thought into making this as "timeless" as the original series was. Then again, I've also got to remember that when I was a wee tyke I didn't think "Huge bird of prey at the end of a thousand years" or "Ha ha, he's a *greedy* bounty hunter named *Greedo* I get it." or whatever. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But anyhow, this is much more a product of its' times than the original trilogy was. It's not my place to say that's good or bad, but once I got used to it, I was able to enjoy the story much more. And I really like this story. Granted, I most likely wouldn't if I didn't know what would happen down the line, but reading about Anakin's hopes and dreams really tears me up inside, knowing what he'll become.
Thirdly, Lucas is a different man now than he was 22 years ago. Yes, he (or Lucasfilm) have done or approved a lot of stuff I've not been happy with (Kenner's blatant scamming of the fans and the forced cancellation of The DEN's ticket giveaway contest comes to mind), but regardless of wether he's in it for love or money, he's not the same person he was, and we need to accept that. A family man with almost 30 years of experience in "the biz" is a lot different than a hotshot young director coming off his first hit. All of you who are saying we need to think of this as a children's story are exactly right: ANH was George Lucas's cool story he was telling to his young buddies (I'm sure all aspiring young film students have some kickass jazzy action-adventure epic they want to make. Lucas just happened to make his and it just happened to be outrageously popular), and TPM is his bedtime story to his kids. Again, it's not my place to say if that's good or bad, but personally, I accept it and think it's kind of sweet.
Anyhow, don't go into the movie with lowered expectations, just go into it with different ones. You may be kinda weirded out for the first half-hour or so, just as I was like "I don't know about this..." early on reading the novel, but I'm sure that given a couple of scenes, you'll be as immersed in it as I am in the novel. It's not perfect, it's kinda silly in places, but Qui-Gon is amazing, Anakin is likable, it moves quick, and it's fun. Even Jar Jar makes me laugh ten times for every one time he annoys me. A lot of it will depend on how the material is bought to life, no doubt, but I think the simple plot is enjoyable and fun, and that's all I ask.
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Why I would choose to renounce lurker status to post at the end of a thread this long is beyond me at this time, but here goes.
The posted reviews are probably the best thing going for TPM. The hardcore (and I saw the original on opening day - got to take off from school! - and saw TESB and ROTJ ant midnight showings on each opening day) need realistic expectations; there's no element of surprise here. As for SW being formulaic - of course it is. So were the old Flash Gordon serials. Plus, Lucas is re-telling a classic myth, which requires formula. As for dislike of ROTJ - it IS the Ewoks cutesyness; the movie (and its underlying theme of redemption)would be more effective if the movie had been less saccharine. Hell, the original appealed to kids without the excess cute factor.
These sorts of things will inevitably color every fan's perception of TPM. If Jar Jar reminds me of the Ewoks, it will bug me. If Darth Maul or Darth Sideous doesn't give me the chill Vader did when I first saw him emerge from the smoking doorway 22 years ago, it will probably bug me. My hope is to try my best to clear my mind of these sorts of things before I walk into the theatre. I'll probably take my 8 year old nephew/godson, because at age 34, my best shot may be to get some additional vicarious enjoyment by watching a kid who lacks the nolstalgic investment enjoy TPM for what it is.
So that's my suggestion: if you don't have a kid you can take, at least look around a little during the movie to check out the kids digging it (as the reviews suggest they will). I'm not the same. I hope everyone reading this is not the same person they were when they saw their first SW. So try to enjoy TPM as TPM and enjoy the kids who may be getting their first blast of original SW. -
Is it just me, or has our culture taken on an increasingly "bite the hand that feeds you" mentality when it comes to blockbusters? I mean, I loved Armageddon and Titanic, and I'm not afraid to say it. Armageddon I went into expecting laughs (just as Con Air made me giggle like mad), but came out surprisingly touched. It made me want to be an astronaut all over again, just the way I wanted to be when I was a kid. Titanic looked like another teenybooper DiCaprio love-in that would suck hard (thus living into my theory that when Cameron's good, he's good, but when he sucks, he sucks REAL HARD), but damn if I didn't spend the last hour bawling on my girlfriend's shoulder. The point is that while I'm sure there's many people who've seen big blockbusters and have walked away honestly disappointed (my feeling after Godzilla), these movies wouldn't be as big as they were if everyone who dissed them didn't like them (or at least like them the first time or two they saw them). I just think that after a certain point it's only cool to like "the big new thing", so people either say or convince themselves that they didn't like "the last big thing" just so that they can join the crowd in having heavy expectations for the next big movie (and, in turn, start dissing that a month or two after it breaks a couple of box office records). With TPM, we're just seeing the next step in the evolution of this trend- dissing its' large scale and widespread appeal before it even comes out.
Just my thoughts, whatever they're worth... -
Because either it didn't suck, or I am just fucked up. Right now, my vote is with the second. I think the sequence between Luke, Vadar, and the Emporer is worth more than the entire show of Empire strikes back!
JMS Forever, you never answered my final post in the session about lucases interview.
And while I am on a rage (what the hey, when going, go all the way,) will somebody please tell me what was so great about the starchild sequence at the end? I haven't ever gotten that film. And the monkey thing at the begining is a strech.
Oh, and I tend to agree with Lupine about this one being all happy, and the two much darker -
I meant to say that I think ROTJ is the best of the three, and I am not fucked up! Sorry for any confusion!
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First off, I have to agree that the Emperor/Luke/Vader scenes ROCKED. In fact, although ROTJ is my least favourite SW flick, it contains my favourite SW scene- when Vader says "...then perhaps she will.", Luke shouts "NO!!!", and snaps. Willaims delivers bar-none his best piece of music in the trilogy, the way that scene is shot is great, and it's just chilling to see Luke give in that way. Most of the space battle is great too, even if it is just a large scale rehash of the end of ANH. The Special Edition ending is amazing too (without "Lugnuts", plus the new music and new sequences of the planetary celebrations), and seeing Yoda, Ben, and Anakin all together is touching.
Now onto the bad: the Jabba's palace sequence is horribly slow and banal, and with the exception of freeing Han, pointless. Han is misused (why wasn't he flying the Falcon?) and subdued, and Carrie Fisher is just horrible. I know this sounds like an old, unoriginal reason, but yes, the Ewoks drag the movie down. Not only are they blatantly merchandise pieces being advertised, they also completely force the Rebellion out of the ground battle on Endor! Really, look at it...the Rebel troops are fairly numerous when rounded up by the Imperials, but when the Ewoks attack, they're nowhere to be seen!
Anyhow, ROTJ is still probably better than a lot of the other movies out there, but still lags far behind ANH and ESB. Pretty much the only thing that really, really saves it is the redemption of Anakin. Get rid of that and all you've got is a lot of crap and a nice space battle.
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I have never posted before so let me begin by saying that many of you are very sad. Go outside.. there is a whole world beyond movies where real people live and work and play and suffer and die. I cannot believe the debates you are actually having. Now since I realize that this is a movie talk back I will say that I have been a huge fan of star wars since before since I was 4. I have waited to see a new movie since Jedi blew me away and since I was as old as Annakin when I saw it it makes a lot of sense. Yet I still get chills when I watch it. I waited two movies to see who this Jabba guy was and how bad was this emperor guy anyway. Why the hell are so many of you analyzing this thing to death. Is there going to be a quiz? Really.. enjoy movies for what they are...entertainment. Oh and this *IS* from the POV of Annie. It's his story from being a slave to saving his son. If this movie wasn't so happy happy joy joy and comedy ridden it would be pretty hard to develop how tragic the man's fall from grace will be.Think about that a bit.
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Also, will Annie have a strange looking pet with weird eyes and will Big Daddy Darth Maul lure Annie into the dark side of the force by saying, "Don't worry kid. You don't have to be nice to anyone on the way up, if you don't plan on coming down!" Inquiring minds want to know!
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I think that my only true worry about this Star Wars movie is ...that it is the only "summer" movie that seems to have me really excited this year. And if it doesnt deliver, what will. Lots of interesting stuff, but nothing that is exciting like years past. I love most kinds of movies, but I am the only one I know who does. Ussually the only time I can get all my friends to go with me is to see a big fun rollercoaster summer movie.(going with all my friends always makes the movies more fun to me cause' for me half the fun is watching them have fun, and appreciate my favorite hobby) But this year... the pickings seems thin. The stuff out there seems to either be done by directors who have really disappointed us in their last movie(s) or the trailers are done stupid9with the exception of Tarzan and even possibly Inspector Gadget which will both be movies that I will love for how much my little brother and sister will love them, and me for taking them) Now, maybe that means that my expectations will be sooo low for those movies that I will love them, and even have more fun than I do at TPM.(probably not) I dont know, just thinking that TPM carries not only my high expectations for a good movie, but it all has the weight of seeming like it may be the only great movie experience this summer for me. Im sure that I will love it though. I will see it a bunch of times, and like most movies I see a number of times in the theater, if my expectations are not met at first, i will probably start to follow and appreciate what the filmaker was really trying to show me, which I ussually miss if I am looking and waiting for my expectations to be met. So I know I will like it. I even liked the Cable Guy after I started to catch the feel of it, and then I realized how cool it really was. Anyway, Peter Jackson is making the Lord of the Rings next year, John Woo is making MI2, and Spiderman is on the way... so at worst case there is still a light at the end of this summer. And there i the MysteryMen.
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Top Ten Things to Remember As You Read This Talkback
1. How many books have you read where the first chapter was the most memorable and riveting in the book? "The Phantom Menace" is the first chapter of one of our favorite books.
2. As has been said before, this is about the galaxy before the Empire. Without the awesome power of the Empire cruelly dominating the galaxy, the film will not have the exhilaration we felt when the Empire was defeated. Instead, it's about beginnings, about the events that set our beloved trilogy in motion.
3. As has been said, all three films have flaws, but enough good stuff to make them memorable.
4. What separates Star Wars from most sci-fi and fantasy films is the fact that it is not about the good guys outshooting the bad guys so much as it is about people learning to make wise decisions and to not give in to hate, selfishness, and temptation. This is a much more valuable story than one about who's the best gunslinger.
5. People who use profanity in talkback to make a point are like playground bullies who use their fists because they can't win arguments with their brains. So cuss me out as creatively as possible. Go on. Make an idiot of yourself.
6. Star Wars had Jawas and the Cantina Band who played Benny Goodman. Empire had ugnaughts who played Keep Away with 3PO's head. Jedi had Ewoks. Lucas likes to put ridiculous stuff in the movies because even HE doesn't take it all too seriously.
7. NO ONE PROMISED US A LOT OF DARTH MAUL FOOTAGE. It's our own fault for reading so much on the Web about TPM that made us expect something. Surrender your expectations. Be thankful. Star Wars is back, and there's two more movies to come. If you like 'em darker, trust me, they'll get darker.
8. George Lucas is telling the stories he loves to tell. He's not out to please you. He's out to make movies the way he wants to. If you spew hatred at him because you're not happy, he'll brush you off just like he brushed off the studios that tried to tell him what to do back in the good ol' days. Shut up and make your own movie. Oh, you can't? Well, you're really somethin' aren't you?
9. The lighter and more comic the tone of the first film, the more sinister and terrible the tone of two and three as everything falls apart.
and finally, 10...
We wanted more Star Wars. We have been devouring all the information we can in eager anticipation. George Lucas obliged the world and has given them more. So far, the critics say it's worth seeing. Shouldn't we thank him, even if it's not his masterpiece? If you knew ahead of time that he would never make another "Empire Strikes Back", would you tell him never to make "The Phantom Menace"? Quit griping and be thankful. He's given you another one to think about and watch for the rest of your life, if you want to. If not, don't waste our time with your griping. Go watch something you like.
Jeffrey Overstreet -
May 05, 1999 10:35:54 PM CDT
Of course it didn't live up to you're expectations, it never cou
by ottney
Some say it didn't live up to their expectations. Of course not. We've had over a decade to ponder what the nest film would be like. And since the news of TPM, people have been talking like God himself would be in it. It's just a movie, but people make it out to be MONSTEROUS and the greatest thing ever made. I think people would benefit by realizing it's just a movie and it will be great, but don't expect this to be the best movie ever made, with no hope of any movie ever overshadowing it.
I think it will be the best movie I've ever seen, and I think it will overtake TITANIC (in half the time). But you'll appreciate it better if you calm down first.
As for the "simple plot", look at Episode 4...The whole plot was that Obi-wan and Luke were trying to save the Princess while the Empire wanted the droids. How simple is that? Also, if you think about it, the plot is very similar. A young Skywalker on Tatooine dreams of being a Jedi. He's embraced by Obi-Wan and taught the ways, while helping a princess. He even owns 2 droids, R2 & C3PO. Instead of Chewie, it has the Jar-Jar (can't think if it's name). It's basically the SAME movie. So son't get too bent out of shape over it, and calm down and you will enjoy it much more! -
Why is everyone here treating the "Star Wars" saga as if they're in high school English class? "What is the theme in this book as distinct from the mood?" "How does the author use this scene to facilitate character development?" yadda yadda yadda. I don't know about YOU, but I'm not going to TPM to write a doctoral thesis on it. I'm going to go into the Cineplex Odeon, sit back, watch those letters scroll down the screen... and cry tears of joy. I'm going to be ten years old again, and have it all in front of me. I'm going to do what you're SUPPOSED to do with a good movie. I'm going to be entertained. A wonderful and enduring story does not have to be cerebral. In the world of literature, "The Three Musketeers" is not the artistic equal of "Les Miserables." And yet, Dumas' story endures, not because it is a Great Work of Literature, but because it is a good yarn. We love a well-told story (or rather, the "kid in us" does) even if it is not the greatest classic ever. As so many previous posts have said, "Star Wars" was written for the child in all of us. Haven't all the reviewers whined about how this movie was written for kids? Get smart, guys, when you saw ANH, you were kids yourselves! The joy you got from seeing the movies again as adults was the joy of being able to be a kid again for a little while. One thing you need to face most of all, so I'll say it loud and clear: SCI-FI BELONGS TO YOUNG PEOPLE!!! The stories may be written and told by adults, but the ones who listen to those stories and believe, truly believe, are us kids. Bob Justman might have said in jest that the Enterprise "is" really up there, but WE know that it is. All of you who are going to see The Phantom Menace will have to do something special, or else you'll never be able to enjoy it. In the words of a greater authority than I, you must "turn and become like children." Learn to love Star Wars, not compare it as a work of film art to other movies. Just go in there, buy a Jumbo-Size bucket of popcorn, and enjoy Lucas' yarn-spinning. LET YOURSELF BE ENTERTAINED!Please? - Dawn
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I keep reading comments about how the movie is too kid oriented. I can't wait to see the movie with my 7 year old son and know that he will totally grock on it. I admit that when I watch ROTJ now, I find the ewoks sort of annoying, but they are part my memories of seeing the movie for the first time. We just have to make sure Mr. Lucas doesn't make a Jar Jar Binks Christmas Special. (Remember, Chewbacca's?)
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Before I start, let me say hi to JMS Forever and LaneMejyers (if he is here) Remember, play nice, or I will ruin the board JK.
Also, I will admit to not being any sort of authority on film, but I will call it like I see it. First, I honestly thoaght Mark Hamell and Carrie Fisher were good actors. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -On to the Jabba sequence! First, the sequence in the Palace was slow because it was a setup. You say the it is pointless with the exception of freeing Han. I agree. what else is it suppose to be about. THe palace sequence is the setup sequence, much like some of the season 5 episodes of Babylon 5 that got such bad reviews. As for why wasn't han flying the falcon, I don't understand your point there. I mean, the guy was supposed to be delusion and out of commision until Sarlacc
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - Ewoks time. Okay, yes they were marketing, but if you ignore that fact, which I do, I think they are kinda cool. As for where the rebel troops are, we don't really see wha tis happening around the front of the door. I suspect that a bunch of them were there, and many were maimed out right. Admittly this is speculation, but it doesn't ruin the movie. I really think this Ewoks thing has been blown out of proportion, due to the Animated series and the two ewok movies, which shouldn't be considered a part of it.
Also to Justice313, many important things are being done inside, rather than outside. Why does everyone think it is better to be outside? -
Great reading everyone's comments who were privy to the trade screenings of SWE1PM. I concur with both the dissenting and positive AND indeed the overwhelming consensus I could glean today from those in the industry in LA from all the major studio sales and marketing staffers was one of "gee I wish I would have like it more!"
Dead on Harry in that we (the fans) are not the same as the wide-eyed in wonder, viewers we were 20 years past.
The sheer exhilaration of effects, music, appealing stars, a user friendly religion, and lets be honest, a Western for our time was as unique of experience as those who savored 2001 years before. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS proved joyous opera, a true signature film also at the time... but STAR WARS changed the perception of American film, impacted a generation of movie goers (as evidenced by the unprecedented mania building to 5/19)and most dramaticaly, propelled the imaginations of the men and women behind the camera.
And is it not a bit unrealistic to expect that DEGREE of thunderous cinematic impact to strike once again? I truly think that is the delimma, that halting reservation of praise by many on the net because now the individual moviegoer confronts his/her unrealistic expectations....and it's disappointing. I mean, I'll catch JACK THE GIANT KILLER on TV and think oh god what was I thinking? Perception...........reality..
The movie is there, its so visually staggering that indeed it almost overwhelms a surprisingly effecient and compelling storyline that is accessible to fans of all ages. But it stays it's course with a muscular finale (that I have yet to read anyone reference) jump cutting from (NO SPOILING) three seperate situations, one funny, one a takeover and the third and best, suffice to say involves the Jedi Knights and a stupendous (albeit brief.... think Judy Densch!) presence by Darth Maul.
EVERYBODY GO AND HAVE A GREAT TIME
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Did your nurse forget to come down to your room and give you your pills?
I've criticized George Lucas and the merchandising of the films on several occasions. Still, Episode One looks cool and the novel's reading pretty good so far, so hey, I'm there. What can I say? Just 'cause I want to see a damn movie opening day (something I usually do if I'm excited about a movie) doesn't mean that I'll jump off a cliff for GL.
Oh yeah, and the Matrix? I liked it better when it was called "The Invisibles"... -
May 05, 1999 11:35:28 PM CDT
"Episode I" is more than a movie... it's an eagerly anticipated
by jay sherman
I saw "TPM" Tuesday night and am a university student/"Star Wars" fan, and not a 'suit'.
I am also entitled to be dissapointed by "Episode I" because it was not up to the level of the previous three. For crying out loud, it's a "Star Wars" movie! What else am I going to compare it to? "The Mod Squad"? No matter what anybody calls it, it's a SEQUEL. There wouldn't be any hype or interest without the earlier films, and most people who will be seeing it will be doing so because they liked the earlier ones. People are damn well entitled to compare Episode I to the earlier movies and think "TPM" not as good as any of them (as I felt) or even to think it the best of the four.
Look, some people really have to get a reality check about all of this. You haven't the foggiest idea whether you are going to like this movie or not until you actually see it. Go in with an open mind. I came in expecting to have my mind blown. But after the opening theme (even non-fans will get goosebumps), I kinda just waited for something truly spectacular to happen. Nothing took.
Believe it or not, by the time I had gotten home this fan had forgotten he had seen it. It left a minimal impression on me. I thought about it some more today, and was even more dissapointed with it. It could have been so much more fun, IN MY OPINION.
Now, there are people out there who will find this opinion blasphemous, because even though they haven't seen it and I have, I disparaged something they (and I) have waited ages to see. I hope those people who know for a fact that they will love this movie actually do love it.
But cut the horsepucky about those reviewers who didn't really understand it, weren't real fans, or didn't understand the proper context. That's bull. There were 800 people in the theater with me, all of them wanted to love "Episode I" and for all I know, most did (although the applause at the end was lukewarm). Everybody is entitled to their opinion, and you can't have a wrong one, remember?
In the end, "Episode I" will fail or succeed based on how people's expectations are met. If most people, as I suspect, find it to be not as good as the other movies, than so be it. It's a "Star Wars" movie. The comparisons to the others are justified.
But a person who has never seen the other films has as much of a right to comment on it as those people standing outside of the Zigfield.
By the way, I bet the critics love this movie. -
I don't know of anyone who would take sleeping pills and alcohol in order to ride off to a galaxy far far away. But it seems obvious that you'd like people to follow you. (Here's a tip kids: The guy who says "You're a fool to do what you want. You need to follow me if you want to be smart" is usually full of crap. See Pat Robertson etc.) As much as I value civility I must invite you to go fuck a walrus! This web site is full of guys like you. For some unknown reason you are bothered to no end that anyone could be enthused about a movie. So you decide to label everyone who is looking forward to this film as some sort of misfit looser to whom you are greatly superior as an excuse to write a post showing just how far your head is up your own ass. Your ability to feign cultural insight (an amalgam of things you read in this or that book) might fool the average idiot, but your bullshit is as transparent as air. So since you feel compelled to refer to us as "Pawns, puppets, sheep, lemmings, devoid of free thought." allow me to refer to you as an arrogant ass. And sure, Matrix was entertaining, but that whole "humans as a battery" theme was just plain stupid. We consume most of the energy we produce ourselves. The machines can create and maintain the matrix but can't make a nine volt dry cell? Come on! And the slow motion gun fight, now that's original.
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First of all, a nice big fuck you goes that guy that posted that plot point above. Hope you get kicked and your balls fall off.
ok, I like the Matrix, I tought it was cool, Interesting and entertaining. I dont know about you, but when I go to the movies I want to have a good time, if I do, then the movie is a success for me, afterwards I may destroy it scene by scene with my friends (like was the case for Independence day, a movie I enjoyed watching but that was realy full of plot holes and BS...)its when we walk out of the theater and we DONT talk about the movie cuz it simply *sucks* for me that I feel I wasted my $9 (like when we saw Thin red line and As dreams might come).
Alot of people didnt like the ending and holes left in the matriX but I guess very few people know that the Matrix is only the first of a trilogy, YES! there wil be 2 more movies where everything from the Oracle to the begining of the machines wi be explained... I'm personally looing very much forward to that.
I found 2001 boring for the most part, the book was better in my opinion, I might 'just not get it'. Finally, no matter what anyone says, I will watch not watch TPM with too high expectations, I'm a StarWars fan (I'm actually paying someone to stand in line and buy tickets for me the 11, the day beforetickets go on sale here in NYC) I just want to be entertained for two hours. The 'act' of watching the movie opening day will itself be fun and part of the experience. I dont expect the movie to be the best ever. (to me the best movies I seen so far are Brave Heart, Flesh + blood, T2, Aliens, Close Encounters, Predator, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, a few other Blood and guts action films and of course the original SW Trilogy.) I do beleive what some have said here before that this is just the first of a trilogy thats destined to get darker and darker, I wouldnt be surprised if by the last film is not rated pg13 or even R. I will just enjoy the show as it comes and hope you do the same. -
Or are we still talking about Matrix? First of all, I have not seen this film yet, but have gained about as much spoiler info as possible for myself. Frankly, I'm glad these first few reviews have been sort of lukewarm; our excitement probably has made us all expect the impossble. And we should also consider the fact that our opinions on the classic trilogy are not really thoughts on those movies, but our idealized images of those films which we've seen dozens of times in the fast twenty or so years. I honestly think that, after this initial backlash, once people see The Phantom Menace a few more times, let it sink in, the opinions will go up. After all, I haven't heard any complaints about the title "The Phantom Menace" in a while, and we ALL remember the immediate hatred of that when it was first announced. And finally, if any of you can see me smiling right now, it's just because I'm a huge Sam Jackson fan, and if you watched "Rosie" today, you know exactly why I am smiling :)
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There is TOO MUCH CRAP on this board and on TV about this movie.
I am going to the premiere on the Sunday before it opens here in Los Angeles. I am going on Saturday to a friend who is a hypnotist. That's right. I am NOT KIDDING.
What I am going to do is have her erase EVERYTHING that I have heard about EP1. (Not permanently.)
What I want to know--should I have her suppress everything about EP4, EP5 and EP6 as well? When I go back to her Sunday night I will have her "bring it all back."
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Hey, its a world...
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i cant take all these fake ass fans. go watch titanic you idiots. i would watch and love ep1 if it was made out of old action figures and cardboard sets. lucas is a god. go watch the matrix and free up a seat for some real fans
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is that if you go into anything expecting it to be the greatest thing ever, it will no doubt let you down. it always almost seems to work that way. some people have built this movie up to a point that is not obtainable. and for that reason they have already guaranteed disappointment. like many of you i grew up with these movies. "star wars" is one of the things i remember most about my childhood. a lot of people have commented that tpm is clearly geered towards the kids..and personally i think thats sorta rad. while it may not live up to the standards of some of the diehard fans, it will undoubtedly appeal to children. its their turn now. just as we got to experience it when we were that age, they are going to get to do it now with this set of movies. and to me thats okay. don't seek perfection. you'll never find it..
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I feel I must address this ongoing issue with the Ewoks.
Since 83' there's been this unfortunate belief that Return of the Jedi is by far the worst of the original trilogy because of the Ewoks. Essentially, it is common knowledge that they are too cheesy, too goofy, too kiddy
and so on. They are believed to be nothing more than a marketing tool, a cheap idea to appeal to the kiddies and make some extra cash. They are believed to have no relevance to the underlying theme and storyline of the Star Wars saga and thus, saturate the close of it all in too cheesy a fashion. I could not disagree with these ideas more. There's a genius behind the Ewoks that's been overlooked by most of these hard-ass, not-dark-enough, Ewoks- ruined-Star-Wars fanboy types. Allow me to explain. If it wasn't for the Ewoks, or a similar species of innocent looking, harmless creatures, Luke and his crew would have never beaten the Empire. A lot of people have always wished that the Ewoks should have been Wookies. Well, don't you think the all knowing, wise Emperor would have accounted for the technologically advanced, ferocious Wookie species and not built his masterpiece, the Death Star II, next to their fucking planet? Exactly, they were not Wookies, they were fuzzy, teddy-bear looking, primitive Ewoks. The Emperor surely knew of their existence and considered them threatless, an underdeveloped group of savage, if not darn cute looking, cheese balls. How could such a species have an impact on such an advanced creation as the Death Star? That, my friends, was the Emperor -
To the guy a few messages above me. Yeah genocide, suicide, and all the rest of that shit is bad. But Star Wars isn't a meaningless movie. It keeps us going. Gives us something to enjoy, and for a moment let us forget all our problems in this insane world. If we can't have things like Star Wars. Things that make us smile, then we might just be better off dead.
ps go watch titanic u fake ass fans
pss i hate the internet -
OK, first off, the Matrix was FAR from some magnificant work of art, just another cyberpunk rip off, a damn entertaining flick all the same :) And as for TPM, i personally can't wait to see it, there's one thing missing from every lackluster or phenomenal review iv'e seen so far... OBJECTIVITY! We've either had people damning the film because it's too this or that (without really giving what i would consider valid explenations) or we've had Star Wars gurus with the "lucas can do no wrong attitude" chanting "best picture! pest director! best original Screenplay!" over and over... Blah to all of it i say... My advice, see the film for yourself, and don't jump on the goddamn bandwagon, which seems to be the big trend here... formulate your own opinion, and if you wanna hop on the net and condemn or praise, back your thoughts up with some intelligent critiques, when i see the damn flick i'll be sure too, but i would have to say the screenplay impressed me, and the production value is about the best iv'e seen in a hollywood film... period...
As for Traffic... you must be an american... there IS a world outside the USA you know... it just so happens war/killing/school shootings aren't a part of my life, or about 60 percent of this planet's population... there's noting wrong with a little escapism, so if you catch a little flack for being a jack ass don't expect us to idly sit by while you rant and rave about the real world in a forum discussing hollywood! HA! take a pill.. sit back and watch Street Fighter: the movie or the Crow: city of angels and laugh your ass off for a while... :) -
i just wanted to know how many people are going to open up their toys and PLAY WITH THEM! That was the magic of the toys... using your imagination to create a world that paralleled the star wars universe. My roomates have different opinions I'd like to note: one is blown away with the "talking chips" or something like that... i just want to know if Lucas is encouraging the end of imagination... my other roommate had an interesting theory - 20 years from now when there's thousands of unopened toys that people bought to put on their dresser shelves, will people pay big bucks when they go to sell the unopened pieces of plastic? the toys have sentimental value because of the memories they bring back... how many memories are in a perfect "mint condition" toy... i mean, it's not a freaking baseball card, it's a TOY!!!! His theory then is that the toys that will bring in the big bucks are the ones that have been opened and played with because then people will have a copy of the toy they don't feel guilty about walking around and interacting with the toys that are suffocating inside a big overwhelming package. Just my two cents... oh yeah, and dono't everyone get too worried, it'll be good... maybe it won't be history, but you're in luck - "DOGMA" will! :-)
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May 06, 1999 1:38:39 AM CDT
Matrix, TPM, the fucking usual just my opinion, if you can rant
by llamaboy
I don't know if this was said cuz i didn't feel like reading thru everything but i'm going to say it anyway. The first time thru the matrix i was wow, damn this is uberfucking kewl! then the death seen...kiss NO why? it was remeniscent of the distracting end scene of the 5th element and i was like "i'll over look that" then i heard an interesting interpritation that made me regain respect for that scene. I'm sure we all heard about teh bible parallels in the story. Morpheous being either the Father, or humanity, trinity being the holy spirit, the one there for comfort, the bald guy being judas who betrays them, Zion(nother word for heaven) is "where the party would be after the war," saving humanity from one plane to bring them to a higher plain of existence after winning "the war" making Neo Jesus, when he was killed he fell in a cross possition and the kiss didn't bring him back he realized the bullits weren't real but it was a recreation of the death and ressurection of christ, making it...well Less cheesy but i still LOVED the fucking movie it was bad ass and i'll love TPM cuz i like CGI dammit! I'm a computer nerd i FUCKING LOVE CGI i want more of it i want MORE MORE MORE i want to see a rendered model of Harry Knowles! I want a 3-D game starin a 3-D harry! that would kick ass and he could have sun glasses and big ass guns and he could represent jesus and save us all from as bobby bouche's momma says "the devil!"
Andy -
I think we've all read the reviews that were first posted on Ain't It Cool News and some of the other movie sites. Needless to say, they weren't EXTREMELY happy about the film. ALL of the reviews WERE postive, and that's a good thing, definitely. But the majority said that the movie was just GOOD, not GREAT. They all rated it at least above Return of the Jedi (which is a wonderful movie in my opinion!), but they emphasized it wasn't GREAT.
Yet there were three or four reviews on Ain't It Cool News that said the movie was absolutely fantastic, better than they ever imagined. Let me further emphasive that these people are in the minority of the reviews currently on the net. But what's this? One of these fans proclaims himself as a 'true' Star Wars fan, not like all the 'suits' that were there. He bought his ticket from a scalper. Two of the others also said they were huge Star Wars fans, and said they came by their tickets through 'un-official' means. Meaning three of the four 'fantastic' reviewers were definitely real fans, and they were NOT suits/executives.
Then I watched ET, Rosie O'Donnell, and Access Hollywood today. Of the six people interviewed who had actually seen it, they ALL said they were BLOWN AWAY. They are REAL movie fans, just like the four 'fantastic' reviewers. One of the people that saw it from Access Hollywood says he is a "huge fan, and has seen Star Wars 30 times".
So what's my point here? The 'good' reviews are ALLLLLLLL coming from 'suits' and executive types. All the 'fantastic/BLOWN AWAY' reviews are from REAL Star Wars fans (haha, do you count Rosie as a 'real' fan? =P ). Don't take all these 'good' reviews to heart. WAIT till you see it to judge for yourself. Or wait till the REAL film people get to see it in a few days. These 'suits' have ALWAYS been a bunch of jerks. I, for one, would not take their reviews to heart in the LEAST.
In conclusion, these 'good' reviews are pretty much ALL from suits and execs. The 'fantastic/BLOWN AWAY' reviews are from REAL fans. Just analyze the reviews on all the sites, it's all right there. This film WILL be great, don't worry about these stupid asses. The Force is with us, and ALWAYS will be!!!
P.S. If any of the 'good' reviewers read this, and disagree with my comments, please let me know. I might be wrong about YOU, but the majority of the reviewers here are self-proclaimed 'suits' and executives. -
People seem to forget that the original Star Wars is actually episode 4 and that Phantom Menace is the first story that supposed to start the whole damn thing and yet few folks say or believe that the story for Phantom Menace is pivotal. REMEMBER, THE FIRST CHAPTER SHOULD BE EPIC, GUARGANTUAN, GALACTIC IN NATURE FOR IT TO BE WORTH AND NEED 6 FREAKIN' MOVIES TO EXPLAIN FULLY!!!! AND YET I'VE HEARD FEW FOLKS YELPING IN ECSTACY ABOUT HOW STAGGERING THE STORY IS. Some have even said, 'Well this is the first of three movies, give the other two films a chance to explore other things...' EH? The story for the first episode should be 100 times more mind boggling and fun and whatever because it sets up the whole series, but from the sounds of the negative AND positive reviews, few have NOTICED the story. In the end, does Lucas really need SIX FREAKIN' FILMS TO TELL THE FULL STAR WARS PICTURE?
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Look, I understand that everyone is entitled to there opinion, but lets just put it this way. I think that since this movie is so hyped, there are people out there that have seen this movie that are afraid of liking it. Are you afraid that if you say that it is awesome, everyone is gonna look at you funny because they didn't like it? What is wrong with you? Now I understand that this happens with every movie, but it is different for Star Wars. What are you people expecting? You are comparing one movie of a trilogy, to a whole trilogy...a trilogy that you grew up with. Episodes IV-VI are so engraved in your minds that there is no way that this movie can compare to saga that Lucas gave us 20 years ago. This movie is not meant to be the rise and fall of Anakin all in one, its just the BEGINNING. This is A NEW HOPE. An introduction to the new and old characters. If this movie was geared towards the hard core SW fans that are in there late twenties, then it wouldn't be a Star Wars movie. Star Wars is meant to capture our hearts, the heart of a children. You cannot compare this to the other movies. It is imparitive that it stands on its own. It is meant to start over, a new beginning, a new story. Try to understand that.
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I think this first film is SUPPOSED to be a little too "upbeat" and "kid-friendly." That way, when things get darker later on, they will seem very dark, particularly when compared with what happened in the beginning. People get too caught up in the "it's a SW movie, so it's supposed to be...blah, blah blah" mentality that they forget that TPM is merely the FIRST of SIX (or NINE) episodes that make up the story arc. Of course, that's just my opinion, I may be wrong.
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Please do not see this move with retarded expectations of any kind! You will be disappointed, because what you have pictured for the past 16 years will bastardize the film for you, and you will not appreciate it for what it is. For example, an above post said something to the effect that, 'at least we will have giant battles between jedis and mandalorians.' If you go in expecting these battles and they are not there then you will be disappointed. What I want to know is what exactly is everyone expecting? You must have some specific vision in your head if you are disappointed with what was on screen. If the actual depictions in the movie do not coincide, then why don't you go out and put what's in your head on film if THAT'S the way it's supposed to be. My point is, do not expect to see something, because you will never see it. BTW, The Matrix is nothing more than a biblical allegory cleverly disguised by bullets and leather.
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You've got to be kidding. Those are two very poor examples of decent cinema. I've seen both of those and can honestly say that the trailers for STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 alone are better. ARMAGEDDON was a horrid film. It made last year's GODZILLA look like CITIZEN KANE! Was I supposed to care about the plight of those characters? ARMAGEDDON's plot and dialogue were insulting. I could've eaten a bowl of Alpha-Bits and crapped a better screenplay. The whole thing was edited like an MTV video. Even the Special FX were second-rate. On the other hand, I enjoyed THE MATRIX, and the ultra-violent action sequences were top-notch, but it failed to keep my interest when people weren't beating the crap out of each other. THE MATRIX has no chance of being the film that "changed anything" about moviemaking. It borrowed story and character elements from too many other recent movies (DARK CITY and BLADE, to name just two). THE MATRIX has already been forgotten. It starred Keanu Reeves, for Christ's sake! He's worse than any fully CGI character. Long live THE PHANTOM MENACE.
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It's kind of hard to take your critique of orchestral music seriously when you don't even know what Modeste Moussorgski's Night on Bald Mountain is. And yet you try to speculate on what was going on in William's head while he was writing it. Give it a rest. **** And as to what Lane Said: FUCKIN'A! All these "true Star Wars fans" act like Star Wars is their own personal property, and that Lucas is corrupting their vision of what Star Wars is supposed to be. I saw this coming a mile away. I knew people were going to build up their expectations of this film to the boiling point. Keep in mind that this is a movie, a VERY COOL movie, not the second coming of Christ! (And fortunatly we don't have to wait THAT long) And if it's as good as Jedi I'll be very pleased. Even though Jedi is my least favorite of the three I still love it. Once a year my friends and I have a Star Wars party. We put on the laser discs, turn down the lights, crank up the five channel surround sound, fire up a fatty and enjoy. And Jedi is STILL a great finale.
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Wow, you really are an arrogant ass! How the hell did you get from someone responding to an insult to geopolitical events? It's just another excuse to pontificate, to act superior, isn't it? Well I for one am an historian and I probably know more about the political origins of the Balkans broblem going back to the 1300s than you could ever imagine. And as for your "joke", why is it that so many people think that the height of mirth is to post something inflamatory and then wait for the "people who just don't get it" to respond? Like EVERYONE who's ever said something insulting here was really just a cutting edge wit. That kind of humor only plays out with friends who understand you, not complete strangers who are only reading something that you typed, devoid of inflection or non verbal ques. And you're so self involved and determined to stroke your own ego that you don't even pay attention to what others have written. For example: I never stated that I was flaming you because you were disparaging Star Wars. I DON'T CARE if someone thinks Star Wars sucks. I made it perfectly clear that I was flameing you because you had issued personal insults. If you piss in my pool then I'm gonna shit on your carpet.
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I'd like to think Star Wars fans do care about the larger issues (most of us, at any rate). I've sent more money to the Red Cross and an Albanian friend's charity organization in the past few weeks than I spent on TPM toys on early Monday. And how many tributes did Star Wars fans pay the poor souls who lost their lives at Columbine? I count at least two, possibly three: the autographcentral.com Curnow petition, a group of fans saying they'd buy an extra ticket for TPM and give it to somebody who needed it in honour of Curnow, and SW artist Drew Struzan painting a memorial to the victims. Also consider TFN's message advocating that Star Wars fans leave their Darth Maul robes and Boba Fett guns at home for the Denver celebration, and the response from a Columbine HS student saying that they were proud of TFN's message and looking forward to the con providing a distraction from the tragedy. Considering how f*cked up the world is, can't we be forgiven for wanting desperately to get away from it for a little over two hours?
For what it's worth, I consider myself a fairly caring, average guy who's somewhat up-to-speed (probably not as much as I'd like to be since I've been working non-stop recently) with current events. I was just born under the SW sign: May 14 (Lucas's B-day), 1977 (ANH's release date), and have loved the series since I was a kid. Hell, even my boss (who's the assistant director of my college's English department) has a large display of SW toys on his shelf. Yes, there are some die-hard braindead zombies who will follow Lucas to the grave, but they're a lunatic fringe. I think most of us are much more grounded in reality, but our method of escaping it when we have free time and want to get away from the stresses of the world is to enjoy Star Wars. Certainly much better than firing guns or doing drugs, don't you think? -
Just a short trivia note, in response to an earlier poster who reminisced about seeing "Episode IV: A New Hope" first scroll up the screen in the movie theatre. I saw "Star Wars" when it first came out, and I am positive that there was no "Episode IV" or "A New Hope" anywhere in evidence. That subtitle was added later, but originally "Star Wars" was a stand-alone film, not an episode of anything.
All records of this may now be lost, but I am certain of it. Just as I am certain that the original release of Windows 95 did NOT include Internet Explorer, despite Microsoft's revisionist claims to the contrary. It included Microsoft Network, but no web browser.
I stand firm against the revisionists! I insist that either both these things are true, or else I'm really living in the Matrix and my memories are just cyberdreams. -
Star Wars was retroactively changed into Episode IV: A New Hope for a (1979, if my memory serves me correctly) theatrical re-release. It was indeed originally concieved as a stand-alone movie with possible sequels (Alan Dean Foster's "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" idea, later novelized; "The Princess of Ondos", mentioned at the end of Lucas's second draft of the first Star Wars movie) and not an Episode in a grandly planned saga. There are at least a couple of "official" or "liscensed" books that do back this line of thinking up- check out the "Star Wars Episode II: The Empire Strikes Back" notations on the drawings in "The Art of The Empire Strikes Back" book, for example...
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The most important thing to remember about The Phantom Menace, is that it's STARWARS. Its NOT Armageddon. Its NOT the Matrix. One post mentioned that the movie lacked a huge battle featuring jedi, lightsabers, and Fett-like Mandalorians. I'm sorry, but if this is what you are expecting, you don't understand Star Wars. Star Wars isn't about non-stop explosive action or even mind boggling Special Effects. Star Wars is a story about individuals, about the good and evil in us all, and the conflict between them. If you want action watch Armageddon. If you want Special Effects, watch the Matrix. Personally, I will stick with Star Wars.
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Darth Maul/CLONE-Wars, Nuff said.
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Talk about revisionist, you're still "correcting the mistakes of history". You called me defensive and yet that last post of yours was one of the biggest evasive actions I've seen (aside from a certain fellows post "lap-dance" attempts to extricate himself from his own shit). You jumped to a conclusion about my level of knowledge (in what I might add was a completely irrelevant taunt) and I bounced your six. Big deal. If you fling your own dung then expect to dodge some. You're forgetting your own earlier point that this is'nt Kosovo it's a talkback about a movie.
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There was always a hard truth that may have had to face, and now we have to face it--this movie could very well be the disappointment of the millenium.
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Traffic, you just like to hear yourself talk don't you? This is a movie talkback. It has nothing to do with Kosovo. Kosovo is just something you used (rather ineptly) to try to change the subject and come out on top. I KNOW about Kosovo, and Croatia, and Bosnia yadda yadda yadda. I also know about Pol Pot, The firebombing of Dresden, Col. Shivington and the Southern Cheyanne, United Fruit Company, yadda yadda yadda. You don't sound clever or superior for mentioning what you've heard on the evening news, and by continually trying to make it an issue you just make yourself look silly.
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Wittman you piece of shit!!!! Don't go around dropping major plot points!!!! You goddamn cocksucking son of a bitch!!! Go fuck your mother with a very large and durable screwdriver!!! If you were here i'd wring your pencil thin acne covered neck!!!! Most of us haven't seen the movie so KEEP ALL YOUR GODDAMN COMMENTS SPOILER FREE!!!!!!! -
Something interesting that noone has mentioned (I don't think. . . I only read the first 2/3 of the posts) is that Lucas has only directed four movies in the last thirty years. The guy isn't as much a great FILMMAKER as an astounding MONEY MACHINE. I mean, isn't money what this is all about for him? Someone who really loves his craft would have made more films, no? I mean, how many of the years since 1970, has Lucas even been involved with MAKING films? (not producing - that doesn't count.) IMHO, to compare Lucas to a great director like Kubrick is simply ludicrous. I can just see Lucas sitting in his disgustingly huge ranch salivating over the cool $1.2 billion that he is expected to make from this film (with merchandising, etc.)
Not that I won't see the film as soon as I can. ;)
As an afterthought: If the CGI in TPM looks anything like the added CRAPOLA in the special editions, I will be severely disappointed. -
Jesus christ you people. Of course the Matrix was not 2001, but it was sure as hell better than fucking Armageddon. And I laughed my ass off when someone compared it to the 5th Element. The 5th Element was garbage, Armageddon was garbage, but the Matrix was at least half decent and worth the money, despite its 3 or 4 blatently corny moments. In fact, it was one of the best movies so far this year, though probably not one of the best this decade as some other fucks seem to think.
Btw, the first 3 SW movies werent that good anyway, so why all the fuss about TPM? They too were full of the panzy garbage that people have been saying inundates TPM. Go see the Matrix instead, its at least as good as any SW movie, old or new.
Armageddon and the 5th Element, mhahahaha. Bruce Willis can suck my ass. -
It's remarkable how easily you're led about by your own ego. True, I didn't realize that the post I initially responded to was facetious, my bad for not memorizing the pseudonyms and subjects of every post in a long thread. And true, you never actually SAID Kosovo, but everyone damn well knows that's what you meant. But let's see, you assumed that I was flaming you because you dissed Star Wars. Wrong. You assumed that I was a teacher. I merely stated that I was an historian. This tendency to jump to conclusions and your convictions of your own superiority is what makes you so fun to play with. Don't you get it? I'm not really pissed, I just find guys like you amuseing.
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The Matrix: Clever patchwork, but
way too derivative to become a true classic. Maybe a smallish cult following a la Spawn, but not more. Anybody who think it's a revolutionary movie should go back, make their homework, and give a second opinion.
Fifth Element: The closest thing to opening a Moebius comic strip.
A very good film, not great, but a pure joy to watch. If TPM is at least as good as this one, I'll be content. Anobody who says it's pure garbage obviously don't get it.
Malcontent: you forgot "Un chien andalou" and "Baudu sauv -
Sorry about that.
Anyway, why do these post lists always turn into flame contests between like two or three people.
That's what chatrooms are for guys. I thought we were here to talk about Star Wars and related topics. I don't mind if the conversation strays from SW, but please. . . -
Well you can't fault me for trying. . . I guess intelligent discourse is just too much to ask. Fat hairy wife indeed.
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Good Christ no! The longest I ever saw was the 60 Minutes/high school shooting thing.
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I may be the only person to think this, but after about three hours of reading reviews I am more excited about seeing the film than when I started. My inner child is bubbling up inside me bursting with excitement at the prospect of laughing at cornball charaters, wacky aliens and cheesy dialoge. I can't wait, I'm so excited!
STARS WARS... YEAH! -
I just felt it necessary to address those people dissing on the entire Star Wars series, saying that it wasn't original.
It was THE movie that made the Sci-Fi genre mainstream. It had an outlandish setting, fantastic special effects (for the time), but completely familiar, characters and a simple plot. The whole point was that it wasn't original.
Before Star Wars, Sci-Fi was mostly low budget weird ass films made by and for nerds. The average American who saw 2001 left saying "...what?" Sure it was groundbreaking and whatever, but how many people understood it? Because of that, nobody would spend any money on Sci-Fi films.
Ok, when you see Star Wars now (that you 20 or 30 something) you say "Damn, that Mark Hammil can't act" and "Ho hum, bad guys in black, good guys in white". That's because you've seen a lot of other movies that would not have been made if it hadn't been for Star Wars.
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Ya know this is kinda funny, everyone has or had such high expectations of TPM andnow everyone feels let down. WAKE UP!! what the hell did you expect? Everyone needs to remember that this is the FIRST of THREE, and I would be willing to bet the next 2 will fulfill everyones expectations 3-fold! I talked to a friend who saw the L.A screening and he said it was a great movie and then he laughed because he could not believe how people were slammin the film as a kid or family film. Is that not what Star Wars is? I was a kid and loved the original 3 and I am sure I will love these. As for it not being the greatest ever, I never heard Lucas say it would be, did you? I am glad I wasnt the one that had to try to make this film. My recomendation is to wait with the passing of judgement, go see TPM for what it is, A GOOD FUN Movie, save the judgment till after the whole series of 3 are out and then compare it to the First 3. I would bet when someone finally see's the new episodes and compares these 3 to the first 3, these new ones will Blow the old out of the water!
Till then just enjoy them for what they are! -
One thing that leaves me with a really Big cold feeling about TPM is the amount of merchanding and advirtising that going on. I mean, I walk into a Mall and see shelf upon shelf of posters, toys, and useless stuff. I guess somepeople weren't informed that the jedi code involves: "Getting your hands on as Much Cash as possible so you can buy more stuff". I loved the first 3 films when I was little, and I'll probably love TPM, but this merchandising things is really out of control. Why do we need a music video? (Sigh..)
Matrix on the other hand has been
relatively inobtrusive and although, I suspect that they will probably rake in the endorsements when the second film comes out, it has the feel of an early Star Wars . I care about the characters in Matrix about as much as I would have if there were only A New Hope for Star Wars.
Admittedly, the plot of NH and Matr. are very thin. They have deeper themes developing, but didn't reach fruition by the time the credits rolled. It took 3 for the first SWs to develop the themes, maybe Matrix will take that many... or maybe the 2nd will bomb. -
As far as Matrix ripping off alot of movies. It's true. I admit it.
But for those of you that think that Star Wars is really "original" (at least the first movie) I really suggest you go to your video store and pick-up John Ford's The Searchers. Even Lucas admits that this was the motivation for the first film.
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OK. 2001 vs Matrix
Kubrick was a Genius, but unfortunately for him 2001, I don't think was his best work. And although my film-school education allows me to sit through one of his films and say "He's awesome" They all drag-ass about mid-way through the film. Matrix has some of the same flaws in parts, but the pace is mostly steady or frantic. Stylistically both movies are good for what they accomplish.
5th Element vs.SW's vs. Matrix
5th element was a fun movie. Nothing more. If you watch it as a spoof -- It's damn good. Definetely no match if compared to either of these two or 2001.
Now -- Honestly, if you want to see one of the better Sci-fi type movies I've seen in a while that never gets mentioned. Try Dark City. I know the Critics canned it (and with good reason, some of the special effects stunk). But the story and theme are grade A.
OK. Flame away. -
You know, after reading all these reviews, it makes me wonder how many people are truly Star Wars fans. If you really were, you'd take TPM for what it is.. not what you expect it to be. It's meant to be the precursor to the next 2 movies. To let you get aquainted with the characters, and get attached to them. Of course it's a family movie. That's what Star Wars is all about. It's not the foul-nouthed, sex filled movie that The Matrix is. Star Wars has always been a movie that family can go see together.
As for the movie.. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!! Yes, i'm a Star Wars freak.. and I gladly admit that!
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There are just too many bitter people in this world.... relax...smile...enjoy!
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get a grip people.....
a ten year old pushed me out of the way to get at a Darth Maul toy in Target the other day. If his 6'11 father hadnt been there the kid would'nt have lived to see Episode II. Point #1 if you even remotely suspect your a geek: your a geek. TPM, and The Matrix will gross worldwide what Titanic made in the U.S. Face it.... Think not? Email me at
snyde1@lucent.com with 5 reasons why either is the better movie...
Remember geeks; its a movie...
My friends and I cant wait for the 19th!! First wiz I see in any SW outfit gets set on fire....
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