Cool News
Regarding The CLONE WARS Reviews...
Hey, everyone. “Moriarty” here.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this because, frankly, it’s being blown up into something it is not. However, I do believe that there should be a clear explanation here so that you guys know what is going on.
When I went to see THE CLONE WARS in Los Angeles, I was told there was an embargo on reviews until the day of release.
Yes. I am aware there are reviews all over the place. Welcome to the world of playing by the rules. EMPIRE, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, and whoever else has reviews up... they know what they were told by the distributor, and I don’t. What I do know is that I was specifically told there is an embargo until the day of release by Warner Bros.
I am routinely embargoed on films. In this case, I liked THE CLONE WARS, so it’s not because it’s a negative review. Harry posted his review last night, and then was contacted and told about the embargo by Warner Bros. They called me today to re-emphasize... this is a Warner Bros. policy. As I understand it, Lucasfilm did not directly contact the site. Again... I was not the one who pulled Harry’s story. Only he can do that.
With the Massawyrm story, I have to assume it was Merrick who posted it this morning. I’m not sure why it was posted after the night we had last night, but the embargo certainly applies to him as well, and so it had to come back down. Merrick is the one who traditionally posts all Massawyrm material, and unless and until Merrick explains his decision otherwise, I’m going to have to assume it was just poor communication behind the scenes.
Good explanation? Not really. Does this whole thing stink? Yep. Sorta does. They’re having public screenings of the film, like yesterday’s show at the Egyptian, and if I’d gone to one of those, no one would be able to embargo anything. But what this is NOT is a conspiracy, gang. If you’re one of those reactionary talkbackers screaming about the situation, allow me to extend a personal invitation to you to calm the fuck down.
Embargoes are a reality that any of us who do this professionally have to deal with, and the truth is that they are selectively enforced. Sometimes we’re on the winning end of the proposition, sometimes we’re not. This time, we’re going to have to play it out with the reviews posting on opening day, and not until.
As I stated in an earlier talkback, if you repost Harry’s review in the talkbacks, you will be banned. No warning. No appeal. The review is off the site until Friday. That’s an editorial decision, and frankly, Lucas’s little cartoon movie isn’t worth all this sound and fury.
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
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ugh.
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about this movie?
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It's like a review of The Hottie and The Nottie.. looks like garbage, you know it's going to be garbage, so who fuckin' cares if the review is pulled?
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Well, ya gotta start somewhere. Mine is after "Gay" and "Yeaaaaaa......" but I hope to one day work up to "Fucking Asshat".
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Seriously, you guys started this site to inform the moviegoer of cool or shitty movies. The attitude in this post is unbelievable.
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A pulled review, or a review "embargo" or whatever, is basically an admission that the movie sucks. An embargo is a worse sign than any negative review could ever be in the first place.
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... sorry you feel that way, but there's not a single place in that review where I say "fuck you" to the readership. Far from it. At this point, some of you are so worked up that nothing will satisfy you, but that's not something we can control, is it?
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And fuck the clone wars too.
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I am going back to read the Tim Zahn books.
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"It looks really cheap."
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I read both reviews before they got cut and I´m really not surprised how Star Wars came to be a little piece of sh!$.
Yesterday I saw for the first time since 1999 The Phantom Menace, and boy I can not understand why I liked it (not loved it) back then. It´s just completely garbage.
For me Star Wars is only parts IV-VI, the Timothy Zahn novels and a few Dark Horse comics. That´s all! -
I could smell this turd from a mile away, and didn't need this site to confirm it.
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and embargo or not, that's just a cheap ass way to hide the stink of a film until the day it's out and half of your friends have already blown their money.
i hope this crap venture makes half as much as Swing Vote. -
Aug 11, 2008 5:22:11 PM CDT
AICN should announce "embargoed" movies, as a head's up.
by flim springfield
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And their "i'm entitled to everything, so give me what i want or i will whine very loudly" attitude rears its ugly head...
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What a pant load of bollox. You know, this is a cover your ass explanation that stinks to high heaven. WB put an embargo on reviews, but somehow neglected to convey that piece of information to people? Or the people at AICN totally ignored the embargo and then for some reason changed their minds? Either way it stinks to high heaven...I don't buy this lame explanation any more than I believe there are WMDs in Iraq. As Chris Rock says, LIE TO ME...if this were the actual facts of the removal, why not just post it immediately, you KNOW that people are going to wonder why such an anticipated cinematic failure suddenly had it's terrible reviews removed.
And the whole 'dimsissal' of the incident in the first line of this post from moriarity...it's called spin folks, classic spin dismissing it like it's not a big deal.
And as for WHY anyone gives a shit, it speaks to the integrity of Aint it Cool, the credibiility of Aint it cool, it no longer has any with me, I will no longer trust any of their opinions or their reports because i'll now suspect that all things are just making them tools of some production company they want to stay cool with.
This explanation is bollox, the DELAY in the explanation is more bollox, and the piss poor way it was deleted (come on GEEKS program your site so that you can remove a talkback without leaving the remnant that 366 people posted on it, that's just sloppy editing)...is just even more bollox.
If it's not a big deal, why the need to explain? Oh right, that's it, because many readers questioned it and obviously questions the integrity of AICN so they had to find a way to cover your asses.
Sure, most younger geeks won't give a rats ass either way, but it matters folks, it really does.
Jounralistic Integrity, AICN now has as much as Fox News as far as i'm concerned -
This movie/article embargo thing is so lame it didin´t even get a FIRST!! post.
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...Is the attitude that you are so 'professional' that the normal AICN user just can't understand why something like this would happen. I would quote your post, but pretty much all of it has pointless superiority all over it. Reviews got posted, Reviews got pulled... the average reader wants to know why = us blowing things out of proportion? Thx dad
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or, you know, something else that the fans ACTUALLY want to see? I waited three fucking films for some Vader action, and all I got was a girly cry at the end! I HATE YOU LUCAS! I REALLY DO!!!!!!!!!!!
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Like I said in the other two talkbacks...a statement like this is all you had to put up in the first damned place, guys. Being proactive helps diffuse accusations of having your strings pulled by studios - and giving everyone cannon fodder to sling at you. Being reactive (as is now the situation) has only made the haphazard bassackwardness of how you handled the situation a model for ineptness across many a movie blog. Seriously.
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Like the rest of us who knew exactly what was going on? lol noob
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Aug 11, 2008 5:27:11 PM CDT
I love SW, prequels and all, but wasn't seeing this anyway
by atticus finch
Star Wars is and always will be the king of the mountain as far as epic movie sagas go, even with the flawed prequels (the PT does still have the SW spirit, especially RotS -- Industrykiller! can go fuck himself in his pompous ass if he doesn't think so). But to me, this doesn't even feel like SW, without the 20th century Fox, opening scroll, or any of it. I'll check it out on DVD, though.
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although I'd like it if this was a good Star Wars tale, I don't give a shit. I'm taking my kids and I bet they'll like it fine.
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Aug 11, 2008 5:28:00 PM CDT
you fuckers really believe this is some sort of conspiracy??
by industrykiller!
In the words of Everett C. McGill "You all are dumber than a bag 'a hammers".
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Thats what its come to.
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have a screening to which reviewers are invited to go, then tell them they can't talk about it for seven days?
why not just show it the night before. you only need a night to write a review of a movie.
the answer is ass kissing and perks and freebies and gift baskets and bribery.And i'm not accusing AICN of playing along with any of that, but that's how it works.
i'm sure you all got sent a ventress doll for playing along, but hopefully you will ebay them, donate them or better yet throw them out.
i say kudos to you guys for putting them up (knowingly or not, wink wink)but if you are going to be anti establishment at least keep them up or modify them in some form.
without going into spoiler details that would breach some embargo, how about harry just post an opinion, not a REVIEW that says simply, in one sentance.'this movie is terrible'.
THAT after all, is your job here. -
"Welcome to the world of playing by the rules." "If you’re one of those reactionary talkbackers screaming about the situation, allow me to extend a personal invitation to you to calm the fuck down." "...that any of us who do this professionally have to deal with" "if you repost Harry’s review in the talkbacks, you will be banned. No warning. No appeal."
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I hope Dark Knight stays at the top of the box office until October.
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Aug 11, 2008 5:29:18 PM CDT
3rd was 6th, but thats because of a glitch in the Delorian's Flu
by wcme
Well, "frankly, Lucas’s little cartoon movie isn’t worth all this sound and fury." about says it all. After the Cataclysm that is "Episode(s) 1-3" and the Circle Jerking "Nuke The Fridge" of 2008, you too must really wonder what happened to the rather interesting film student who made "TXH 1138" and "Star Wars" (NOT the special edition.) It begins slowly ...Oh, a removal of eyebrows here, someone else shoots first there, and before you know it, You are spending all your time thinking up JAR JAR BINKS jokes and cracking yourself up at 2:30 in the morning. "Me Sir?" No sir, no more "Clone" anything for me sir. Thanks. I'll be over here with my crummy MEGO Star Wars reliving the good old days....When Jabba wouldnt leave his tail around for just any old person to go walking on....hell, when Jabba was a tailless man. Crazyness!
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I don't think you quite understand. It's a shitty situation, but when you break embargoes it isn't about not getting freebies, it's about not getting access to early screenings, meaning you won't get reviews from any of us before the movies come out. There is no censorship here. The review will be reposted in its entirety Friday morning. I'm writing my review up as well. Sometimes we can skirt embargoes, sometimes not. Look at every other website you visit, every print reviewer you read. They're under the same restrictions. I personally think WB knows they have a crappy movie and are enforcing embargoes they've never forced before, but I don't know what's going on behind the scenes at the studio. Who knows?
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This fiasco is a surefire sign that Star Wars needs to die a dignified death. ROTS was a fine way to go out, ending with baby Luke and the sunrise and all, that was beautiful. Warts and all, I was satisfied. But now Lucas with his TV shows and this POS movie is doing nothing but drive the universally accepted best genre franchise of all time into the ground, all while tainting the great memories we all have of the films (and I mean both trilogies, thank you very much). Clone Wars is the equivalent of Terminator Salvation as far as I'm concerned. I'm surprised Common wasn't cast in it.
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Not just the Zahn ones ( though they are good ) Just read Labrynth of Evil by James Luceno and it would have made a Great episdoe 2 !
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Search your feelings...you know this to be true.
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This makes no sense. Why did they invite you guys, knowing that you are reviewers, to this screening if it isn't supposed to be reviewed.
Exactly what was the purpose of this screening, then? -
Aug 11, 2008 5:31:17 PM CDT
Bannings, anger, fear…re-posted and updated.
by stereotypical evil archer
Bannings, anger, fear, aggression, and hatred.
This is a dark time for AICN. I almost re-posted Harry’s Clone Wars review because someone asked to see it. It’s weird that I even saved it, really weird. So I’m glad I didn’t re-post it, I don’t ever want to be banned, I like AICN, I’ve read it since…I don’t know, ’97 or ’98 even though I only started posting last year.
The anger displayed here is quite surprising. The whole Uncapie thing (this refers to something in the Tropic Thunder/Retard talkback). Yeah, that was one mean post, but so many others insult the writers of this site all the time and in a far worse manner. I’m not defending Uncapie, but so many others write things just as bad and demeaning. Seriously, some people just use the talkbacks to insult the writers.As a writer, I have written and posted things that I regretted later. So we should realize that some people write off the cuff and this forum is practically designed for such knee-jerk writing. I know, because I’m just as guilty as most of you. In all honesty, I love reading a talkback post that makes me smile or laugh. Though I am sick of so many people insulting the writers, but trolling is what trolls do.
Star Wars brings out the best and worst of us all. We have a passion for it, love it, hate it, sort of like it, ignore it or whatever. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds this geek universe together.
Some of us mature, some of us don’t. Some of the Star Wars films mature with us, some of them don’t. It seems that we spend so much time searching for the next film or series of films that will do to us what the original trilogy did. For many of us this is our quest, whether we’re aware of it or not. It’s sad and tragic, but we also carry that torch to find A NEW HOPE.
Of course there are many talkbackers that are mature. There are many talkbackers that don’t have the same connection to STAR WARS that many of us have or had. There are many talkbackers that understand. There are so many that don’t.
Banning destroys the freedom of this site. It also protects site. Paradoxical. Insulting the writers doesn’t protect the site. Being insulted by the writers doesn’t protect the site. Sometimes the writers themselves write the most disgusting and demeaning descriptions. I can literally go from one post that’s highly intelligent to another post that is pure trash. That’s why I like the site. There’s a range. AICN is a guilty pleasure.
I wish that AICN never had to apologize for anything, that Harry actually had the freedom to write whatever he wants, but that’s not the world we live in. There are consequences. There are laws. There are codes of honor that even a free-minded movie reviewer must succumb to. Even Harry must censor himself. But I respect what Harry wants AICN to be, the vision he has. It’s similar to what I want every STAR WARS film to be; something greater than itself that allows us to become something greater than ourselves.Update:
I just thought that I’d re-post this since there is now a proper talkback. And if you read this post before then I apologize you have to scroll past it again.
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instead of this piece of horse shit?
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The prequel trilogy with their sloppy storytelling, inorganic cartoon world, two dimensional characters, continuity breaking, etc. still FEEEEEELLLLLSSSS like Star Wars but Clone Wars is the devil because of, let me get this straight now, the fucking 20th Century Fox logo??!!! Hahahahaha, it's jackasses like you that make fighting these fights worthwhile.
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George Lucas laughs at every one of the stupid asses who purchase each "special edition" of his bullshit - let alone those who want to watch cartoons of his fucked-up, continual raping of a pretty great 2.5 movies. I read Wyrm's review before it got yanked, and I wanted to say I REALLY appreciate his honesty. Lucas is a liar, a two-bit carpetbagger who counts on the memories of his fan base while he consistently fists them. The funniest thing? The shitbag acts like Star Wars was some kind of "weight" or imposition to him - a roadblock, that he had to get out of the way so he could make "a small, independent art-house movie." Anyone have ANY idea when we're seeing that? Oh - he probably doesn't have time to make it, as he's stuffing your hard-earned cash into his polyester slacks. Truth be told, that chinless fuck used up all his goodwill when he added more effects to SW, Empire and Jedi. He shits on his fanbase, who then puts it on a plate, warms it up and eats it - and then PAY him for it. Anyone who gives this asshole more money ought to be downright ashamed.
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I dont care for the animation, if you are gonna use cgi, why not make it a bit more dynamic? Uncle George is off his rocker...I have no hope for the live action series
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So the excuse is that Warners in some way wasn't CLEAR about their embargo until after the poor reviews were already published.
And to the person who thinks those who are a bit perturbed are screaming conspiracy, it's not about conspiracy, it's about integrity.
I find it hard to believe that warner was so unclear about when reviews should be published or that the writers for AICN are that dim that they wouldn't have understood the word embargo and what it meant.
So either the embargo was established after the reviews were published or the people who published the reviews are too slow to understand forrest gump...take your pick -
Why not wait til it comes out, if you can't write about it til it comes out?
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Aug 11, 2008 5:33:04 PM CDT
Zom-Bot, YES, they did the exact same thing with The Dark Knight
by industrykiller!
Some reviewers were forced to sit on their dark knight reviews for weeks before posting them. Tons of websites wrote stories about how badly they wanted to review the film but weren't allowed. Look it up.
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Reactionary means "To revert to outmoded ways of thinking", not "To overreact" or "Easily prompted into reacting." And Mori, it's been real obvious for years that AICN has business connections to certain producers or properties. You can't really blame people for jumping to that conclusion in this case, even if your above post is the truth.
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I meant Reactionary.
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Am I right?
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Michael Bay Presents: Harry's Star Wars Review: Special Edition, with extra explosions, guitar solos, hot chicks, and rappers
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...is likely far more entertaining than this movie will be.
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Read the fucking review on Friday and quit thinking that you know what's going on behind the scenes at AICN!! What a bunch of babies!!
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I knew I was forgetting something
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What site have you been reading? I don't consider AICN contributors to be journalists, and that's not a knock on them or this site. They are more like bloggers than anything else.
People give these guys shit all the time for letting politics/friendships/money affect the reviews. Well if you consider these people real journalists, you might have a point. These people are just film-geek bloggers who share an opinion about the movies they see. Don't try to make it something it's not. -
Shows the dysfunctional childhood of the adolescent review, and how it turned it into a psychopathic monster.
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in his eyes, we aren't 'understanding' it. It's warners that are worried about about having a stinker on their hands. george is so far removed from the integrity of star wasrs, nothing we say here will phase him, so let's not bother with insulting that chinless racist impotent lumberjack fetishist.
i'm not pissed at AICN, btw, i'm pissed about how freedom of speech and opinion come second to 'the game', and wonder why they tease potential fans and torture professional reviewers with the early screening-then shut the fuck up treatment. -
A much edgier, solemn review for a new generation. Not your father's Clone Wars review!
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I'll be all over that shit
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Genuinely curious as there are many, many websites (some fairly high profile) posting reviews and ignoring this bit of High Handed Studio Petulance.
So what do AICN know that they don't ?
And will the Warners wrath be anyway ? Financial Lawyer based or simply access to Movies and info ? -
what exactly would the consequences be of ignoring the embargo? Because I think for us TBers thats the real rub of things here. Its obvious that other sites and magazines have ignored this embargo and decided to go ahead and publish what their reviewers thought (admittedly from what I've read none were quite as scathing as Harry and Massawrym's). But we've already read that no-one signed an agreement before the screening, and from what has been posted on others TBs already, it seems unlikely that without that WB or Lucasfilm could impose any legal sanctions on you guys. So then what could they do if you flouted this embargo as so many others have done? Because the suspicion is that the threat was not legal action, but that you guys would be thrown off the gravy train. That WB and/or Lucas would stop sending you goodies. Stop inviting you to set visits, to advanced screenings. The question is therefore - is that worth it for the loss of credibility you are suffering? You know the reason I have been coming to AICN for years is that I always thought that this was a site for film geeks run by film geeks. The idea I had of AICN - whether it be entirely spurious or not - was that if a studio told them about some bullshit embargo such as this they would say FUCK THE EMBARGO THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. The Star Wars geeks need to know that this cartoon is shit and they really shouldn't waste their money going to see it when it opens. I for one have certainly trusted you guys in the past to steer me through the studio press releases and the paid-for hack reviewers to tell me whats really going on with a film. And on several occassions I have not gone to see a film thats been hyped to fuck because you guys panned it. And also been to see films I wouldn't normally have because you've raved about these films. Thats why I'm interested in what you think, because in the past I have trusted it. The question is now - do you just not give a shit anymore about telling the truth? do you prefer to live inside the studios pockets or is the shit they are threatening you with so damn apocalyptic that posting those reviews just ain't worth it? In all seriousness - the entire credibility of AICN hangs on this very question.
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As in, in the early days it would all be stuff someone managed to sneak into. In those days an embargo here would mean nothing. And your following the embargo this time makes little sense to me: you do it so you can continue to get us early reviews. But wait, if every movie screening from now on is embargoed, we don't get any more early reviews!
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They know Clone Wars is a dog and are holding all reviews. There is not a studio that would try and stifle good internet buzz. Especially with a product like Star Wars. They know nerd buzz spreads like herpes on Paris Hilton's steamy beef curtains. The movie sucks and they want you to buy a case of dumb ass action figures and make a Jabba The Hutt Jr. 2009 Comic-Con costume before you figure it out.
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Aug 11, 2008 5:42:13 PM CDT
george lucas did something a little rude to my childhood...
by billyhitchcock
...it's almost impossible to watch the originals (not the SE's) now without feeling abused. damn the beard and his megalomania.
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The review that will consist only of questions, and confuse the fuck out of you. Also, maybe a few scenes of a blurry monster.
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When it' used against anyone but a governmental agency, and hence really has no bearing what so ever...i'm not disputing the right of warners to have the embargo, it's their right as much as the putzes who made MGS4 put an embargo on reviews cause they didn't want people to know about 45 minute cut scenes (or whatever, i don't care about MGS at all, but that's what happened recently)...what i find curios is that either the embargo was relayed poorly or the people at AICN misinterpreted it or the excuse is a load of horse pucky...i don't BUY the explanation given, it just doesn't ring as truth any more than Bill O'reilly does
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I wonder why Empire have been permitted to review it so early and yet Warners are having a fit over some fanboy opinions . I bought empire well over a week ago and there was the review . Load and proud and the verdict . Average at best .
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but its time that the fandom flexes its muscle and lets Luca$ know that we're not going to support shitty product anymore.
Please refrain from paying money to see this, and let Luca$ feel the fanboy wrath where it hurts; his wallet. -
who give a fuck honestly? talkerbackers baying for the blood of reviewers. christ almighty, they've explained their stancel. no reviews allowed until the date due. no ifs no buts. why so fucking serious? ethy're not going to bite the hand that feeds them. it makes not a lot of business sense to to do that. and why the fuck are you getting your panties in a thwist over a fuckign review? go on the web and check out the other reviews if you really really need to know.
talkbackers of late have become arsy about everything and anything of late, its like constant fucking pms'ing on this site wtf? who give a shit. chill out bro's! -
I don't care one way or the other. About the posting and pulling of AICN reviews, or the film. Genndy Tartakovsky already gave us the ENTIRE Clone Wars story, from soup to nuts, thus this new piece of shit is nothing but revisionist Star Wars history as well as a kiddie money grab.
Creepy, isn't it? Lucas is like a Twilight Zone apparition who hovers with his angelic bearded smile, while his demonic money-making rage enslaves the minds of everyone.
Not me, George. Go fuck yourself. -
CHILL the FUCK OUT. Really. I'm rarely compelled to sign in and post here, but I've been an avid reader for over a decade. And the kind of heat that AICN is getting is ridiculous. You've been allowed to shit and piss all over this site for years, and finally it has devolved into fucking MADNESS. I understand the anger of the Banned, but come on. This is crazy. So AICN deleted your User IDs. You motherfuckers deserved it. Get over it. Just because you're a loser that posts on AICN every fucking day for 8 years doesn't mean that you have any say in any matters on this site. No one on this staff has to explain to you FUCKS why you can't post your vitriol here, like many people in the Tropic Thunder say that they're "owed". You'd think AICN was stealing people's property with all the "we deserve an explanation" and "SERIOUSLY WTF HARRY". Just because you've spent a large portion of your life on AICN trying to create a mini-celebrity pseudonym doesn't mean that it can't be taken RIGHT THE FUCK AWAY from your ungrateful asses. Honestly, I do prefer the older days of this site, mostly before the douchery of ChocolateReign and his ilk overran the talkbacks and started acting like it's their fucking living room and generally adding very little to ANY discussion. This place needs a serious culling, in this faithful reader's eyes, to get back to the times before cynical FUCKS made their nest here.
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... no, we don't. I don't have any "business connections to certain producers or properties," and frankly, I resent the accusation.
Every reviewer has biases. Things they like more than other things. EVERY. SINGLE. REVIEWER. EVERYWHERE. EVER. But that's not the same as having a business arrangement with someone. If what you mean is "Some of your biases are blatantly obvious," I'll happily agree. Otherwise, you're wrong. -
Part of the reason that Hollywood Reporter and Empire can get away with it is that they're frakkin huge media outlets. Sure, Warner can try to impose their embargo on this - and both of them can react by not publicizing any Warner movies of any kind. That would be disastrous, espeically around awards time. Enforcing against other media giants like that only pisses off industry insiders and important people - while enforcing it on AICN only pisses off a few thousand fans/geeks. I know this because yes, I got banned by a local press agency at one point when I was still a reviewer. Fun times. ;-)
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Those days are long gone. AICN hasn't done stuff like that since the studios began catering to them around 2000 or so.
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I'll make this brief. I've relied on AICN for over 10 years. I remember some incredible news that Harry delivered.. I never once had any reason to question his or any of the writers integrity. Slowly, things changed. Godzilla was a big turning point for me. That review.. I'm a 40 year old 20 year veteran, I am completely aware of varying tastes, but I had up until that point, shared very similar opinions to Harry on film and TV. I just couldn't figure out how he could love Godzilla..
Then came the advertisements for the very films they were reviewing. Very hard to objectively opine on a film when said films studio is paying you to advertise on your web site. Conflict of interest?
Then came the party invites, set invites, guest spots in movies. I don't see Ebert doing this, or any other famous critic. As a journalist (and this is what you are) you have certain ethical standards to follow. Conflicts of interest should be made publicly aware. You have a duty to be honest and forthright to the public which you serve.
I do still continue to visit this site, I love it. I don't put much weight in everything I read, but still can find some enjoyment in what I'm reading. I'm just more selective about the type of information I visit this site for; if I want Watchmen updates I come here, that's an example. But, if I want a movie review, I don't.
I just hope that Harry and those under his employ will someday go back to the roots of the site. Gritty news with an edge on Hollywood that you couldn't get anywhere else. There was style and substance then and less toilet humor. The site definitely has devolved in recent years. -
All negative have been replaced with walkie talkies.
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All negative comments have been replaced with walkie talkies.
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Oh, and no other movie sites are repealing THEIR reviews, you fucking pussies.
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'nuff said.
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I am all in favor of a Talkback user culling. SuperBurgerBat for moderator.
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Aug 11, 2008 5:49:40 PM CDT
Basic Instinct 2 is actually a pretty effective thriller.
by megan foxx malicious sense of irony
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One scathing motherfu(gunshot) review!
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than any publication that requires a subscription, especially on like hollywood reporter, AICN is available to anyone who wants it, freely, just own a computer...which i'm assuming most of you own (Sure some of you are shut ins in the library, but you have rights too)...to imply that aint it cool must be beholden to warner brothers WHO HAS BEEN FUCKING UP GEEK PROPERTIES FOR DECADES is ridiculous...as they have more power to influence who goes to see WB movies than WB has influence to do anything really
DOes warners still own part of the cw? If so they should stick to trying to convince people that gossip girls ratings don't suck like monica lewinsky -
realistically, WHY would a major movie company threaten a site- especially a site like AICN who DEALS in the money and emotions of fanboys and repeat ticketbuyers- with a threat of 'no more advanced screenings, no more access to interviews or junkets'.the only way that would be effective is if they banished AICN for maybe a month. like grounding your kid or putting him in his room to pout without dinner.if warner (or anyone) kept AICN, CHUD or any other niche market, fan-centric review site out of the loop for very long, THE HARM WOULD BE TO THAT COMPANY, NOT THE SITE.that is the reality. bloggers would bitch up or boycott that film company or it's movie. but on the basic level, there would be less of the precious 'internet buzz' the company is used to abusing and researching. that's why any threat for breaking an embargo is bullshit.
AICN, you are like the girl in the relationship, only you don't realize YOU have the POWER. -
"I have had it with these motherfuckin' reviews on this motherfuckin' website!"
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What kind of fucking TMZ reject bottom feeder gets worked up enough about the removal of a CGI cartoon review to actually whine about it like it's an assault on their civil liberties? I know it's said all the time, but any such people are fucking losers... they don't care at all about movies, just being somehow "involved" in the insider/hypemachine/circlejerk that swirls around the production of these movies like bits of turd flotsam that seem to survive every attempt at being flushed. Give Mori a fucking break and go join the rest of your untouchable caste over at Chud where this kind of douchebaggery is accepted.
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So the writers and editors have less responsibility than the users of the site? They were allowed to post their reviews (have them pulled down later). Yet, you threaten your users with immediate banning with no appeal if they post the same damn review. This is cold and fucking sort've insane.
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I don't think any intelligent people would find argument with your post. Keep in mind that 10 years ago, Harry and these guys were doing this stuff on their free time; now, its likely the primary source of income for at least a couple of them. AICN had to lose its "renegade" status in order to make that happen. I can't begrudge them that; they get to do what they love and get paid for it.
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Dilly dally, shilly shally?
Who the fuck cares about the reviews? What I come for on this site is the "AICN crew" and their opinion on movies. If it is a movie that I am anxiously excited for, I may want that review about now. For a movie like Clone Wars, I really don't care. I'll read the review when it comes out, but it is not integral to my life at the moment. You guys can post the reviews whenever you want, we don't need them at this instant. -
No matter what review I have read or not read, no matter the general consensus, no matter how flattering, no matter how inflammatory, no matter what AICN says, no matter what WB or Lucasfilm says... I am going to see Clone Wars in a theater.It's a TV show debuting on the big screen with lots more crazy action than any TV show in history. As a fan of action, this looks to have more battles and chases than anything else ever done in the visual medium. This will be groundbreaking, but I realize that groundbreaking doesn't build a foundation. It's an experiment.So I will gladly hand over $4.50 to see this in a theater for a simple 100 minutes of entertainment. Lucas has a knack for doing things that many people dislike, he's like a punk rocker, but like any punk rocker, no matter what ideology is there, they must make product.Product.And there will be 100 episodes of this. Despite partnering with studios, Lucas does things differently and independently but uses the current studio structure to his own ends. Lucas has freedom. And many people are jealous of that power. I wish more people had that power.Will I watch all 100 episodes? I don't know, that's a lot of STAR WARS, even for a lifelong fan, but If I like the CLONE WARS in the theater then I'll tune in until they turn me off.
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and if you cunts keep buying into the shit that lucas is selling...you are all fucking marks...
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It was stupid to release the review in the first place, IF that's what really happened. Why on earth would you do that? Seriously?! One almost wants to believe that it was a conspiracy because the real story is so stupid. What, you didn't think they would notice that you broke the terms of seeing the movie early? If it was a big "fuck you" to the industry, fine. But you pulled it as soon as you were notified. Duh.
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Wait till Friday when you can feverishly hit the refresh button and maybe be first. Get a grip.
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I'd like to add that really in the end SuperBurgerBat said it best.
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Must be one of those Joey and Mary Jo Buttafuoco type relationships.
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Fuck it, why comply? It's not a legal issue is it? You just will offend the stuio. So offend them. Lose your early invite status to screenings and stuff. The site will still get early reviews from those that do go and write reviews for this site under pseudonyms. That way, AICN can still remain a cool underground site that speaks the truth and not just like any other movie site or publication that must follow the studios' rules. If this embargo shit is for real, then there is a need for a site that will spill the truth about movies when no one else will. If AICN doesn't fill that role then perhaps another site will.
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Those were the days. I used to respect his taste in movies. Then came the X-Men 3 review. That...changed things. And now we have the petulant child Moriarty that seems to lack any humility or sense of humor at his own expense whatsoever. Seriously, dude, I know that 80% of the talkbackers on this site are ignorant vile scumbags that spew very hurtful things at you guys, but you can at least have the decency to either ignore these assholes or at least refuse to show them how much they aggravate you. Your responses make you come off as an egocentric wretch with a serious chip on your shoulder.
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The AICN crew are not journalists! Nor have I ever heard them refer to themselves as such. That is a lable that some of you have put on them.
In my opinion they are more like lazy bloggers :p -
Remember when AICN posted the first .wav of Jar Jar speaking from TPM and the internet almost blew up? Now THAT was the kind of thing that defined "ain't it cool?"
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what have they got to lose??
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just sayin'
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i wasn't going to see it anyway, not even months later 'on demand', but many of you probably were, and i strongly suggest now you just don't.
simple. -
and many are considered jounralists and employed by 'respectable' news organizations like ESPN or Yahoo (ok semi respectable) AND they are hated by marc cuban...the world's evolving folks, there are bloggers who are journalists and whether they like it or not AICN writers are more than just the 'individual' bloggers whose blog is read by his father and his kids...and as such they have a responsibility to the people who come to their site and click on the ads and as such keep them employed
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see a movie, no motherfucker your NOT allowed to put your opinion of it online! YOU FUCK
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we will have to wait for Star Wars : the Force Unleashed
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We were bound to find out it was shit sooner or later.
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What would Joe Hallenbeck do?
I remember. -
when it looks that bad.
But I'd buy me some overtime to follow this TB all day if I could! Funny stuff.
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Wouldn't he just shoot everyone and then do a jig?
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of screening a movie only to tell said reviewers not to review said movie? Obviously the movie stinks to high heaven. My feelings serve me well.
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Pretend it's your aunts living room (and no one here is going to get that)
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Pondscum, ChocolateReign and other banned regulars assemble into one GIANT FUCKING ROBOT.
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Seriously...script leaks,behind the scenes photos,reviews of bootleg editing bay copies of the prequels. What happened? This site lost its balls a long time ago. As Dudeman mentioned,its a great place to come to see updates and freebies that the studio has sent you(i.e. Watchmen exclusives) but this site is dead as far as objective reviews and attacks on the industry goes. Any movie,no matter how shitty,can be justified and given a decent review if the price is right. And for what its worth,Harrys review is already all over the goddamn net. I will be curious to hear what he has to say on the 15th though.....
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I'm down for bannings for people that make thoughtless threats, or talk about rape, or blatantly spam (I read my first ScriptGirl TB and never saw so many pathetic people all in one place) but seriously, it seems that more and more (in the past few weeks) bannings have become WILDLY frequent.
Is there any way that we can get a TOS? Something that just... lays down boundaries. I mean, AICN has very few limits and I love it and that's one of the reasons I have been coming here for years but I think there'd be a lot less hate talk and pointless angry posts if people knew why they were getting banned. So... yeah... why no Terms of Service? -
shut the fuck up you fucking faggot, all your post is waaah waaah fucking waaaah. please dont post for another decade.
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screened a couple of weeks before release. Reviews were allowed to be written and posted well in advance of the release date. WB knew they had a winner on their hands. The redundant clone wars on the other hand....not so much.
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Is the Star Wars kid. Did Lucas get him pulled too?
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Makes sense.
But it simply underlines that AICN are currently uncomforably straddling the line between Big enough to ignore Warner and small enough to fall through the Gaps and still ignore them.
I had thought AICN had a fair bit of influence (not megacorporation influence obviously but enough to be a good barometer and still have a little clout) but yeah it certainly underlines how business driven some of this shit is and AICN are in a bit of a no win situation here because they are complying with the studios wishes.
Even if they hadn't posted until the embargo date the talkbacks would be screaming almost as much about the "silence" and accusing everyone of being in Lucas's pocket.
On the plus side this sort of Warner Douchebaggery wil be remembered as will the fact that Lucas seems fine with it so it will tarnish him almost as much as this crappy little animation has. -
was the alias of a former contributor to AICN, who provided lots of scoops in a very readable, entertaining fashion. Ultimately, he experienced some "Imperial entanglements", and was effectively erased from the site. Was a pretty disappointing black mark for AICN, IIRC.
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No. No it won't.
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I realize there are bloggers who are journalists, but I think many people think the reverse is automatically true.
I don't consider someone who writes their opinion about a movie they saw, and sometimes goes into a lot of detail about what was going on in his/her life at the time, to be a journalist. Describing how a film reminded you of sloppy cunnulingus does not make me think of journalism. I have never considered AICN to be a bastion of journalistic ethics and integrity. Nor have they promoted themselves as such. Thus I'm not besides myself with rage when I think a review might be biased or when a review of something Lucas shat out gets pulled to apease the Hollywood gods. -
If a reviewer for the site saw it at a screening he wasn't specifically invited to....could he or she post a review that did not break the embargo or would that inflame WB and still cause you guys trouble...just curious.
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... does this movie look like a pre-vis animation?
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AICN is a business, with a purpose to earn money, by running reviews and news that appeals to a specific audience.
The site exists to give reviews, whether you agree with them or not, and even allows a forum for everyone to jerk themeselves into a froth over flames on Optimus Prime.
The site does not exist to give the finger to the industry, or to perfectly reflect your own specific bloody opinion. How long would this site be in business if it existed outside the industry? How many versions of the website do you think they'd need to run so that everyone could read exactly their own opinion echo'd back to them?
Just how long you think it would be a active if they thumbed their noses at things like embargoes, or if they stormed around screaming like all the 12 year olds in this talkback demanding that they fuck the embargo... or simpering that they remember back when so and so was cool, before some review got posted that they disagreed with.
Man, this site exists and makes money because it manages to work inside the industry to the extent it needs to, in order to sneak news and give reviews on topics that appeal to the people who read it.. so that they can make money selling ads.
It's not brain surgery, people. Good god, you're fortunate they don't just pull the plugs on the talk backs altogether. I can't imagine putting up with this grief and you assholes on a daily basis. -
"fact is you guys aren't a legitimate news source..."
I've seen AICN reviewer quotes listed in movie print ads. If that's not a sign that the studios are legitimizing AICN, I don't know what is. -
He's really a muppet?
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Some of you guys are fucking ridiculous. Moriarty offers a solid explanation for this embargo and you guys shit on him. You sound like a bunch of spoiled 10 year-olds.
Anyone who knows anything about the film industry would understand that it would really hurt AICN to risk their relationship with Warner Bros over this embargo. As Mori himself said, if he had caught this movie at a normal showing, then the embargo wouldn't count. However, Warner Bros. provided our boys with an early screening of the film, so they have to play by Warner Bros.' rules.
Look, we all know that this film is gonna be a huge let-down for old-school Star Wars fans. The studio is clearly freaked out about negative reviews. Give Harry and Mori and Massaworm a break and focus your anger against Warner Bros/Lucasfilm.
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And it sucked. Children may love it, but I was totally let down.
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they saw the movie, were asked to hold their reviews. they thoughtfully leaked them for you, then removed them when WB called. harry's is online at another site. massa's wasn't that different. just get googling, you whippersnappers, and stow the wah-wah.
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Thanks for the clarification! Sure people will over react to something that they feel is improper, however if a commonsense explanation is produced, cooler heads will prevail. I for one could have cared less about the actual Clone Wars review, however the strange disappearance of the reviews was a bit disconcerting. I would have been very disappointed to learn that an outside influence (Lucasfilm) was editing the free flow of ideas and opinions that take place a public forum. Your explanation is both logical and appreciated. Thanks Mori!!
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...you a Micronauts fan? Toy or Comic?
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so that it gets even worse and the rest of you "Star Wars Fans" can join us bitter fucks. AH HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! (cough)
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Aug 11, 2008 6:17:26 PM CDT
Also banning reviews tarnishes the Crap Wars more than the revie
by g100
People will be hearing all about how Warner are banning bad reviews from the net, word of mouth and other places.
Most people who regularly go to the Movies aren't going to happily give up their hard earned cash for something that is creating such a stink and is so clearly frightened of all the bad reviews it's getting. -
"AICN is a business, with a purpose to earn money, by running reviews and news that appeals to a specific audience. "
I think the point some long-time readers are making is that this was not always the case.
Again, I don't think anybody is begrudging the crew for "selling out" or whatever you want to call it; we all pretty much sell out at some point in our lives, and its great that they get to make a living doing stuff that they love in a legitimate fashion.
This is just a case of some older dudes glowing nostalgic for the past, and remembering how this site came to be what it is.
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AICN lost on that game of chicken. Do you really think the WB would have blacklisted you guys forever? Not with the readership you do, or after this, you HAD. Yet another turning point for the decline of AICN as we know it. Like the others, I still come back for the hilarity of the "rabid weasels" of the talkbacks and not so much the reviews.
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most of the time i have to read a fucking life story when reading some of the reviews. dont want to say whos reviews cause i dont wanna get banned lol, but its pretty obvious. (not you harry)
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I think the adverts were/are a reaction to the massive popularity that AICN achieved in the late 90's-early 00's, and subsequently when Hollywood's marketing depts realized what a valuable resource this site is in reaching their desired demographic. I must agree with the majority of your post, and add that this site has had a status change in today's world of blogging and instant news everywhere, but to me, and for you (I'm sure) AICN has always been the original when it comes to cool movie news. I actually think it's great that the staff is "in the business" and although it may appear to be a conflict of interest sometimes, in the end I have faith that Harry and Mori know what they're doing. A blatant reach-around would blow this site up, as evidenced by the fact that everyone's blood is boiling at an assumed reach-around. So yeah, everyone a collective deep breath, and let the hating on SuperBurgerBat commence.
Stengah, I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I wasn't "waaah waaah"-ing at all. I said what I said with authority and a matter-of-factly tone. You should be culled. -
..with a site like AICN giving a rats ass what Warner wants? Wasn't this site built on the premise of Harry getting in to advance screenings as an ordinary joe and then going home and posting the straight shit about what he saw. And now companies like Warner realize that you shoot these guys an advance pass or two because being first is EVERYTHING and if they want passes in the future they post when the studio says to post. Now they own your asses because before you'd cut into the opening weekend profit by filling in the most curious ahead of time, now they'll at least squeeze the cash from those not wise enough to see a train wreck coming. Irony.
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It sounds like AICN is more afraid of not getting the freebies from the studios, the inside access, the free screenings. Oh shit, then then might actually have to start posting reviews from anonymous screeners again. Just like they used to do. Oh well.
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Why anyone would pay to see this is beyond me? Hasn't Lucas given you enough reasons to stop giving him money.
If anything, he owes us about 3 or 4 free, good films to make up for the shitstains he's been leaving for the last decade or so.
How do I know the 3 prequels sucked? I have absolutely no desire to see any of them again. There was not one single moment in those films that moved me.
Now everyone and their dog is going to see this abortion just because it's Star Wars and their geek-card requires it. Fuck anyone who sees this just because! You are a myopian and are just contributing to the river of shit that keeps flowing from "The Beard". Way to make me think the first 3 Star Wars films were complete luck. -
at least, not under my definition of journalism. Educated opinions, at best.
It doesn't mean that they have to behave like spoiled kids and break the embargo. This site is a business. Mori may be living with selling his scripts, or Massawyrm selling pot, but Harry's gotta eat. It may be cynical to say so, but it's Harry's site, if he wants to follow WB oukase it's his right. I strongly support the establishment of TOS as so many fellow TBers previously said. So the ban hammer may be justified. Think about it, Harry. -
Otherwise, kudos for actually addressing the issue. By the tone of it, it was hard to swallow your pride and do it, but you did the right thing.
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In regards to Pot Smokin's post saying AICN has ties to certain properties and producers, I have to ask -- how do you guys stand behind Harry's shameless shilling for HD-DVD?
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Waht are they seeking to accomplish anyway? Lessening the film's chance of success? I was going to go and now I'm not, and not because of any bad reviews.
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I was leaning against it, but the blocking of reviews shows the producers even think it is crap.
If you have it, send Harry's review out in emails to spread across the U.S. by Friday. The best way to get better movies is to let the crap ones tank at the box office. You can rent for a $1 at those red boxes outside the supermarkets. -
The point is, stop shitting on Harry and Moriarty just because they had to pull a review. I am not trying to be superior to anyone, but I can't stand the people who come here just to diss the guys who work their asses off to maintain this site.
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If the reviews had never gone up, they wouldn't have been pulled. Readers would think they hadn't been written yet.
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I.e. "We already know our movie is horrible (But we'll still have a positive quote from some random website for the DVD cover)"
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warner forcing the pull of bad reviews here- embargo or not- is the trigger to this movie's bombing.god knows all of america doesn't come to AICN, but this shit has a week to trickle out to friends and family and coworkers now. it's all downhill from here. let it be said, thank you guys for writing honest and disappointed reviews in the first place, but not for caving to the threat which is just a bluff tactic...
a movie this risky in an established and sinking franchise is RELIANT on fan buzz. they need you/us whether they like it or not.ironically as i finishe this a clone wars trailer is on tv) -
I agree with you. The only real complaint I have is they use too many exclaimation points! ;)
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Simple. Don't post review, but let us know if there is a review embargo for a film. Saw that above, great idea.
Saves us money for gas.
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I hope you rot in hell
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I'd say a damn better job can be done.We aren't all AICN insiders. From our point of view, two reviews were posted and taken down. Not updated with an explanation, just "poof" gone. without an explanation you're going to get speculation because that's all you leave us.You can't attack TBers for making assumptions and guesses when you haven't provided us with the whole story earlier. Try to see things from our point of view, then tell me you won't have thought something shady was going on.If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then we should wait for Mori to tell us to "calm the fuck down" before we assume it's a duck.
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I can't believe the attention this is getting - we all know it's going to be crap so who cares if we get the review now or on friday?
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we don't take kindly to childkillers. Screw you, Anny.
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Aug 11, 2008 6:38:24 PM CDT
Pick a side AICN - are you inside or outside the industry?
by dapper swindler
Let me break it down again. Here are the options as I see it.
AICN can be in the industry. This means they get invited to early screenings, get interviews, sneak peaks, all that jazz. The cost is that they gotta follow the same rules as everyone else. That means adhering to embargos and whatever other stuff the studios make sites in the industry follow. So there are advantages and disadvantages.
The other option is for AICN to work outside the industry. Post spoilers, undercover scoops, and negative early reviews. You'd piss off all the studios and be blackballed from all the interviews, prescreenings, and other goodies that you enjoy now. You'd still get those early reviews by spies writing in under pseudonyms who did get invited to those pre-screenings. But you can say goodbye to all the great 1 on 1 interviews and other priviliges. So again, advantages and disadvantages.
So did I accurately explain the situation? If so, I personally prefer the latter option. If AICN is going to be a buddy to the film industry then it will get just about the same news that I can read on 99% of all other movie sites. I think AICN and its crew of passionate, hate-filled talkbackers are better suited to be the enemies of the industry that publish the stories they don't want us to because god knows we'll rip them apart.
Even if AICN sticks with the former option, I'll probably still come here. But I will be disappointed. And surely another website will spring up that will fill the niche of the industry killer. I'd definitely visit that site. -
...bear in mind, that I liked MGS4. Just saying it reminds me...
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Why couldn't it just have been the original 3 films? It was way cooler fantasizing about the prequels and everything in-between than actually seeing what it turned out to be. Whatever Mr. Lucas, make your lame-ass movies...go ahead, ruin Indiana Jones now please. What's next, American Grafitti???
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Seriously, you should've just posted this and not turned on comments. That would've shut people up real fast ...
Unless is one of them flypaper strategies to get the discussion all in one place, not in every other talkback. In that case, good move. -
Seriously, AICN shouldn't give a fuck about an embargo. The only media outlets that give a shit about embargoes are studio fluffers like Entertainment Weekly and Entertainment Tonight.
The site would probably better without all the freebies anyway. It would at least get it's integrity back. And, frankly, does anyone really give a shit about the set visits are other blowjobs? We want the real shit. We want the guy on the production staff saying if a movie is shit or not. -
Aug 11, 2008 6:44:04 PM CDT
I'm late for the party, but did you guys ban anyone
by david cloverfield
for linking before explaining what the fuck is happening? I sure hope not, my childish world view couldn't take the injustice.
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I can't believe that some people are getting worked up over this. Like Drew said, "it’s being blown up into something it is not", and "Lucas’s little cartoon movie isn’t worth all this sound and fury". Actually, the fact this is becoming such a topic, I am sure more people are interested in seeing the movie now.
An agreement was made, and AICN lived up to that agreement and yanked the reviews.
Fin -
If there's an embargo then why do these two huge companies have thier reviews up?
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should note Clones Wars got exactly the same rating as your beloved 'Iron Man', 'Hulk' and 'Speed Racer'. 3 Stars, solid but nothing nothing special.
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That review has A BOMB IN ITS RIBCAGE!
and
That review is the sexiest tomboy beanpole on the planet. -
This talkback is more about AICN's pulling the review and its relationships with the studios than it is about the Clone Wars movie.
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I hated it and he was bored 30 minutes into it. He's 5 and even HE knows crap when he sees it.
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I'll print it on a T-shirt.
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TheFunkyEnigma: "Why is the Force Unleashed not a movie, instead of this piece of horse shit?"
Truer words were never spoken. Lucas obviously thinks we're more interested in seeing, on the big screen, a lame, tired rehash of the so-far-it-looks-superior Gennedy Tartovsky CLONE WARS cartoon - more of the same - to a conclusion we already know and understand, which leads to one of the worst trilogy conclusions in modern cinema history, to a kick-ass epic where Vader's secret Sith apprentice becomes so powerful he can bring Star Destroyers to the ground BY FORCE WILL ALONE.
Oh yeah, Darth Gizzard - we'd all rather watch an inferior cartoon continuation of an interminably boring war between clones and robots which we ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING to, rather than a movie where Vader's secret Sith apprentice throws around Starv Destroyers with a wave of his astonishingly powerful hand. YOU DUMB FUCKING RETARD!!!
Jesus. This is why I woin't be sitting my ass in a cinema for this shit - I'll watch it (if at all) on fucking Sky Movies. STAR WARS is dead to me.
About this embargo. Does it really matter whether they post the review now or Friday? I mean, the movie will still be vast suckage, won't it?!?
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or anything while i was reading that in depth article from another site about harry, see, cause now it's gone, and i'm sure AICN has an excuse for pulling richard brooks post (I'm assuming his banned now) but it was a hell of a read
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richard brroks makes some interesting accusations i haven't read anyone mention yet.however you spell it, like harvey dent said, you either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain. this is not too far from 'selling out'. in other ways, every indie director or actor makes a movie that finally connects with a wide number of people inevitably is invited to make a corporate piece of shit film soon afterwards, and does, because they get swept up. they are finally accepted, they take the first huge check offered them. and then comes the stumble. bad reviews, jilted fans... from that point, they either decide to go back to their indie roots or continue to go down the sellout path and become a joke.it really sounds like AICN reached that tipping point of being anti, honest and unique- and then cashing in on that status, thereby losing it.
just in the past year i've frequented this site i've noted the reviews playing by certain rules, favoritism to certain studios who buy ad space, 2,000 amazing reviews for one movie that turns out to be mediocre at best. (superbad, anyone? hell i still remember the ads slowing my HIGH SPEED wireless connection down to boot) i read about the trips and the freebies and the meetings and then marvel at the coincedence when said film is given glorious reviews. and i've seen this site get cluttered with so many ads- a site that often hides NSFW content rightfully is emblazoned with ads for fetish and lingerie gear that now keeps me from reading the site at work. and seriously how professional is an ad for women's deoderant or cat food under a review?.oh and did i mention how despite all these changes in the integrity of the site, the fucking outdated format and wallpaper have remained all these years? -
Aug 11, 2008 6:51:20 PM CDT
It's stuff like this that makes me hate AICN Talkback.
by mr. nice gaius
Sometimes, I just don't understand where the Geek Community gets off. The sense of entitlement and malcontentedness is really quite frightening.In a word:RICOCKULOUS.
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But, most of the talkback is centered around the fact that people believe that the reviews are being pulled because the movie is bad, and thus the reviews are bad. That's not the case. The reviews were pulled because AICN made an agreement with WB about when to post reviews. It's a business decision, but most here can't see that.
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I'm sorry to hear there was something interesting about it, as I couldn't slog through that gigantic single paragraph. I could hardly look at it.
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"The reviews were pulled because AICN made an agreement with WB about when to post reviews"
So again, they either knowingly violated that agreement and then backed off when WB threatened them or they were too stupid to understand the word embargo in the first place....I'm just curios which one it is -
so wtf.
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yeah that was a little too organized to be bullshit. whether or not it was posted in revenge, so be it.
ha, i guess they are too busy deleting posts to comment anymore.
again- I LIKE YOU GUYS- but in your own words you need to calm the fuck down so you can handle this better. -
...over stupid things, analog controls, Pegg's hairline, Japanese vs. Korean actors. But now Star Wars dorks are putting them to shame.Seriously, reread Moriarty's well-written explanation. Enough said. WB said take it down AS PER THE TERMS OF THE SCREENING, so they did. Simple. It will be back up soon. Consequences of not adhering to the embargo may not be legal, but as professional film critics, Harry, Moriarty, and others depend on studios not for dolls and dvds, but SCREENINGS and NEWS to bring to YOU. This isn't some case of free speech where AICN needs to give the finger to WB and have the door to an entire studio closed to them. It's the nature of the business. It's just one movie. Relax.
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"I'm sorry to hear there was something interesting about it, as I couldn't slog through that gigantic single paragraph. I could hardly look at it."
http://tinyurl.com/6z2z3n -
Thank you. Much appreciated.
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I'm kind of honored by all the hoopla over a missing Harry review. That the review is going up all over the internet and has garnered articles all over the place... kinda reminds me of what Obi Wan told Vader before he was struck down.
That said - I'd never be pissy at any of you. Do what you like, as far as I'm concerned. When my review hits this Friday - it will be a "Special Edition". As with all political things, the behind the scenes are complicated and never as simple as a simple explanation. Suffice to say, that's backroom shenanigans - and not necessarily the stuff of polite public conversation.
For now - be patient - Harry Hates THE CLONE WARS: Special Edition Review is coming at 12:01am (est) Friday morning / Thursday late night. Til then rant and rave all you like. It's in our nature. -
I shall read it on the subway
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i'd post the link, but I would be banned, erased and my family put in witness protection.
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Its become a business. Fuck what made them who they were, for lack of a better term, theyve "sold out" to the studios for free candy and early press screenings. What happened to the site that used to give the middle finger to embargoes? I say the readership starts a new site. Something like "aintitrealnews.com" A place where studios have no say. I mean embargoes? On AICN? This isnt fucking Variety. I'm ashamed of what its become. I'd much rather have honest reviews from honest writers who are having to go pay for the movie on day one than have some pussified excuse of a writer who puts tail between legs whenever daddy movie studio says theyve done something wrong. AICN shouldnt have to answer to anyone but AICN. Thats the way this place started, thats the way I had hoped this place would continue. Its a sad day indeed...
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http://tinyurl.com/6z2z3n
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wow.. don't upset the apple cart around here! lol
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AICN has.
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...right after you said AICN is too stupid to understand the word embargo. Yeah. Foot meet mouth. Tasty huh? Try rereading the explanation again. EMBARGOS ARE RARELY ENFORCED, and are ENFORCED SELECTIVELY...meaning that even though critics attend tons of screenings, sometimes reviews are published early, sometimes the studios let them get away with it, and sometimes they don't. Whether Harry published early on purpose or he wasn't aware of the embargo prior to publishing is irrelevant. WB made them aware and told them they were enforcing it.Are YOU too stupid to understand?
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Aug 11, 2008 7:01:23 PM CDT
EVERYONE CALM TO FUCK DOWN..THERE IS A BIGGER PROBLEMHERE
by maximus prime
Where did I get this rash from??
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Sorry if this has already been hashed or rehashed on the talkback but I just clicked on a link to a story that doesn't seem to exist anymore that I wanted to read so I'm kinda pissed about this. I assume going into this you guys know about the "embargo" yes? So basically the studio/producer/some hollywood hack says you can see their movie ahead of time but not review it until the movie has been released in which case your review is pointless/useless to your readership because we can't read it before the big day. So why agree to it? Because you get to see movies for free before anyone else? Why not just give those guys the finger and use your other connections to see it (like you said there were screenings this week) that you can get into and they can't embargo you? Seems like as a journalist you are shooting yourself in the foot.
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Warner and Lucasfilm have done themselves more harm than good in pulling ealry reviews from sites, its just got teh negative buzz going even more than a few reviews would have done..
they have shot themselves in the foot again, ps, Han shot first
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That AICN dropped the ball when it came to this. As for the Why? That's something only AICN can explain.
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Didnt check out the new comic series but I'm not a purist.. just didnt have time. Always thought the Micronauts were short changed (pun).
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then they won't be able to see movies early and not review them in a RE sense of the word review, meaning to give an opinion on something before it comes out.. if they break embargo, they will lose the ability to not speak about movies until the day the movie is out.fuck, i used to work at a movie theater, i put together the movies and we watched them a day or two early. i should have ran a website.
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Massawyrm's review of "The Clone Wars" is posted in the "Free Speech Is Under Attack!" talkback. It's near the bottom with no paragraphs. Pretty easy to find.
And holy shit did Massawyrm tear it to shreds. Probably the biggest thumbs down on a movie I've ever read. Everyone should read it. -
Hey had puter problems, can you send me Megan Fox's phone number again? Thanks big guy!
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Who thinks that crazy pixie chick with the lightsaber is like, totally hot?
This movie will rock! -
...and I saw the movie. It was not realistic at all. It looked like a cartoon. Nothing like it really was. Because I am no cartoon.
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Are friggin "full retard" for making such a big deal about this shit. Maybe a little reevaluation of your personal priorities? Perhaps throw in an anger management class or two, and possibly an extension course on business management.
If you can spare the time between comiccons and doing your chores before mom turns off your internet access again. -
i'm ready for another article or scoop about now. nothing's getting solved in here. i guess there's nothing TO solve, you just take your lumps and deal with it till friday.
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...what you guys think. He's got like a BILLION dollars. Watch, that dude is gonna buy AICN and then snazz it up with awesomely superior special effect and he's gonna put it in 3D and everything. He's gonna fire the writing staff and hire a bunch of ewoks and gungans to write up all the new reviews. Ootindi!
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i was referring to curios
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Lift embargo. There, was that so tough?
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Most press outlets are asked to hold reviews until opening day as a matter of course WITH EVERY SINGLE RELEASE.
That people going to word of mouth and promotional screenings know how to use the internet doesn't mean the press or AICN or anyone else is hatching some conspiracy over a single release of a CARTOON release only in theatres to help pump up interest in its TV incarnation, which is how this was conceived from the start.
Trade publications routinely run reviews in advance of release but by and large most mainstream outlets do not. Studios ask that reviews are held until opening day in return for the privilege of screening films in advance. This is nothing new. What is new is asking internet press to abide by the rules of longer established media.
Get a grip people. If this wasn't Lucas this would be a blip but you people are so wanting to hate, wanting to be slighted, wanting to be offended that you blither righteousness when in fact you are simply ignorant. Mori is speaking the truth here so calm the hell down. -
all the hackneyed half-assed embarassing star wars material out there, lucas would have to care, because people would stop giving him money...unfortunately too many people out there are too beholden and will swallow anything with the 'star wars' name on it whether it sucks or not...reminds me of the guys at xplay making fun of anime fans who are upset when crappy games based on crappy anime get bad reviews.
I'm not sure about the rest of the people, but i couldn't give a crap if this was a star wars movie or not whether it was a good review or not, i think the implications inherent in what has happened go beyond that (though all the AICN defenders want to make it that simple...it's easier that way than admitting the truth it seems)
The fact that 'harry' (if that is his real name, can't be sure any more) and 'moriarity' can't even agree as to the cause of the things being pulled is kind of funny as well.
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it's RETARDED how the people protesting are obviously too RETARDED to realize that the scene in question is possibly the most scathing mockery of the hollywood formula of 'special needs' + box office gold, how it's been their guilty pleasure and how no one complains about it until it's horribly bad (robin williams in 'jack' for starters) or in this case, until it shines an honest mirror on the industry. no one complained about hanks in forrest gump, did they? what a charming retard. only i've never met any mentally handicapped person like him. ever. you can't call them anything. someone will get offended by 'special'. someone else will be offended by disabled'. someone will suggest using the term differently abled and someone else will be offended by that. we are all too pc. i'm afraid to describe anyone anymore. are they black? african american? a person of color? urban? ethnic? i'm only wrong depending on what room i'm in. so it seems tropic thunder mocks TWO uncomfortable issues- blackface and mental challenges and yet there's really only a beef about the one? If black groups are cool with downey jr, then all the overweight moms who still give out down-syndrome bowlcuts need to calm the fuck down and actually watch the CONTEXT of the movie. good god, i shudder for the day when a movie comes out that everyone in the world doesn't have a problem with. what a fucking boring movie that will be.
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was quite puzzling. If only half of it is true then it's already a disgrace.
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would they have been taken down, would warners have cared?
somehow i doubt it
So either break the embargo or don't, don't be half assed pussies about it...you broke the embargo, you lambasted the movie, warners threatened to take away a toy or two and you caved like little 5 year olds on a time out...
I think people who are saying 'warners has the right' to request the embargo need to remember that AICN supposedly knew about the embargo, published the reviews, AND THEN PULLED THEM DOWN...it's not like they honored the embargo from the get go, they broke it and then suddenly decided to honor it, hence moriarty's explanation is bull shit to me because they already broke the embargo. -
Aug 11, 2008 7:23:53 PM CDT
Why not just post something like this in the first place?
by bass ackwards
All the ranting and raving and conspiracy theories ramp up when things just get mysteriously deleted and no one bothers to say why. Why not just avoided it with a quick lil, "whoops, sorry gang..."? Rather than letting people be confused and make assumptions (which is all they could do) THEN post a big ole article to talk down to everyone.
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Guess what folks? This has NOTHING to do with free speech. Reviewers and critics are invited to these advance screenings with the understanding that as a condition they must agree to the terms, namely holding reviews until a certain day. If someone sees a movie, yeah, they can say whatever they want, but if you're going to accept an advance screening invite, you play by their rules.
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The begining of WWIII started on 8/8/8 between russia and georgia. NATO is about to get involved, which equals bad news for everybody! The largest U.S. Armada of warships is currently on the way to Iran. AND ALL YOU PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT IS EMBARGOS ON A ENTERTAINMENT WEBSITE OVER A REVIEW OF A CARTOON!!!!!!! HaHAHAhahA!!!! Goodluck.
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Aug 11, 2008 7:28:20 PM CDT
If studios choose to enforce embargos on every film......
by dannyglovers_dickblood
....they would put film critics completely out of business. Wonder if that shall ever happen.
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look the review is out there on the internets, i actually laughed at the venom that harry spewed over this movie. Ironically this embargo has generated more negative news for lucas film then by having the review just put on the site. all in all it's pretty damm funny when you think about it
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i still have a chin and neck that remain separate from each other. and i didn't invent ewoks or screw up the prequels and indiana jones 4. so looks like zom-bot 4, lucas 0.
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it needs to be more brutal. something alon the lines of mass executions of people in ditch sites 'n stuff. the casual-ness of brutal liquidation. nothing sweeter in the world. usually helps me.
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who said it was about free speech? I don't know anyone with a rational argument saying it's about free speech
Add to friends - you're just like that commercial where the girl can't get her picture off the internet - that's sweet
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you have a point there. and even the news is acting like it isn't that big a deal. they're covering it, but they aren't explaining what it means to us. remember, hitler once invaded poland.
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Fuck Warner Bros. They can keep this fucking movie. I was totally not hating on this before, but what a cock-sucking move this whole embargo bullshit is. They are attempting to limit the flow of information on this film because they are obviously not confident in the product itself. They want us to all lay down our hard earned cash and find out for ourselves that it is shit. Thats the whole fucking point of reviews fuckers-- to inform us the viewer a little bit on whether or not this sounds like our cup of tea. To silence that communication is a cocksucking move and we should punish them by boycotting the fuck out of this thing.
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for the second time just to see if i could catch some semblence of what some folks seem to think captures the tone and spirit of the OT. it's just such a shitty fucking movie. absolutely zero gravitas. the mace windu death/emperor transformation scene is laughable. and the padme birthing/death scene at the end (lost the will to live???? but not before she names the kids as they pop out?) is simply imbecilic filmmaking.
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at least they did put out a new article for us to be pissed and rant in. Unlike the whole "Gone" incident which mysteriously vanished with no mention and the talkback mayhem overran the entire site.and of course... DAMN YOU MICHAEL BAY AND GEORGE LUCAS!!!!
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...has a new hooker every night in his lavish bedroom and he makes them all wear the Princess Leia bikini thing. He's got money.
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is in 2012
And WW3 didn't start when russian picked on a breakaway city from Georgia...they are currently negotiating a cease fire.
And the news acted like it's a big deal...but it's russia and georgia, it's internal strife, it's the eqvuialent of a civil war in liberia, and no one in the united states gives a rats ass about that either.
Sorry folks who have a global world view you live in the wrong county (if you live in the united states, if you live in canada it's the wrong country also but for so many different reasons, just ask south park) -
But not because of what Harry and crew have done. As a publisher, they have to abide by the laws or face the risk of getting sued, just like everyone else.
It doesn't pass the sniff test because of what Warner Brothers have done. I think it's a classic case of they were hoping "good word of mouth" would leak out early and spread across the net. But when the negative feedback started and it backfired, they began to throw their weight around.
Obviously they have to protect their investment in the film and therefore have to do damage control while they still can.
Welcome to the junction of where big business meets free speech. Big business usually calls the shots. Remember the golden rule: he who has the gold makes the rules. -
You had so many years to listen to what we want, and you deliver us a unbelievably weak prequel trilogy, and forgot along the way what made us love the project and Star Wars to begin with. Turn the reigns over, you happily stumbled upon something magical you had no skill to evolve. I too have seen this movie, and I am mad that it stinks, and most of all, I am pissed that American animation still is a distant secondary to the scope Japan has created.
In a land where Pixar has wowed us, you use this as a foray into this world, the world of animation???
...Yeah this whole thing is to save that senile old man from showing us how much he has raped his own creation.
..sad..sad times. -
That in itself should tell you how good the movie is. But we already know Lucas' penchant for making quality movies right?? So who needs reviews? Remember Crystal Skull???
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the radionland murders didn't suck
Signed - Brian BenBen -
Your type are exactly the reason the Prequel Trilogy fucking sucks. George Lucas knows that if he includes: lightsabres, droids, ships, blasters, SFX, and the oh so important 20th Century Fox/opening crawl that geeks around the world will pay to see it. Story, character, good acting, etc... are not needed to do well at the box-office. Because the masses have shit taste. And STAR WARS geeks will flock to anything with the criteria I listed above.
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...if I was him I would buy up other beloved childhood franchises just so that I could fuck them up...just to spite all who doubted me...He's got money.
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You are so right. I mean seriously... First they lose Michael Vick because of the dog fights, now Russia's attacking them. It sucks to be in Atlanta these days!
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Aug 11, 2008 7:40:42 PM CDT
Banzai... You're Right. I can't wait for "Paddington Bear: Speci
by theguyfromfresno
wherein paddington is replaced entirely by Andy Serkis in a mocap bear suit, and instead of eating orange marmalade, he eats millions of microscopic beings called midichlorinated oranges, which give the appearance of being marmalade. Oh, and natalie portman guest stars as "Madeline."
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Hitler invaded Sudetenland in 1938. He said that the land was a break off province of Germany and belonged back with it's homeland. Sounds very familiar with Putin, who has said Ossetia's residents are Russian. They are not of course, anymore than Sudetenland was German.
This is about Oil and Natural Gas pipelines to Southern Europe, Russia wants control of these and is taking them by force. But as with most wars there is a lot more going on here than just Oil and Natural Gas. I believe Russia, specifically Putin, are bringing back Communism. Remember Putin ran the KGB for many years and has instituted many reforms in Russia that cancel out Democratic reforms brought on during their Democratization. The man is still running Russia after elections! It all seems so obvious, amazing that people are so blind to the fires burning down the house around them.
So, here we are back with Chamberlin and his deal with Hitler.. The West refusing to see the writing on the wall, believing everyone thinks like we do and wants what we want. -
Aug 11, 2008 7:44:34 PM CDT
titoandtheman -- HOW DO FUCKERS LIKE YOU LAST.....
by dannyglovers_dickblood
....LONGER THAN GOOD TB'ERS?
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...from ever appearing on television.
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Since we're speaking of history here, WWI started in almost this exact same way as what we are seeing now. A small scale conflict was turned into full blown insanity very quickly, this could happen here.
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it was a fucking PIT, not audrey II in a pit. lucas pretty much admitted he changed it to the big 'clam' just to show fanboys that boba fett actually irreversibly DIED, with no question of escaping like in the dark horse comics
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I guess I hate ranting on something I held so dear, but you know the thing that always frustrates me is this. It's time to advance to story into the future.
No more, this lead to that which made this that you already know happen. George, it's time to move the force forward. Now we have seen just what the force can yield, now show us how it can evolve into a limitless FUTURE.
We have dealt with all this "pre" everything nonsense. What's next????????????????????????????????????????????????
I mean it is symbolic, you made a future, now move that creation into the future. Don't die before you play your potential ace in the hole. Right now, you my friend, are in a hole... -
Just read the fucking reviews thursday night and then decide if you want to see it! It seems like most of you have already decided it's going to suck so why the fuck do you even care! AICN is fucking boring as shit today!
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and lucas probably realizes he couldn't come close to being 1/100 as good as the zahn 'official' 7/8/9 trilogy, it would just embarass himself and star wars so he keeps milking the teet because people will keep going
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...how about Curious George using his lightsaber to cut open Clifford the Big Red Dog's stomach in order to use his innards for warmth and sustenance shortly after an icey snow fight with the Bernstein Bears...all in 3D by the way!
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in a long time.
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He's more interested in renewing Russia's influence on its former satellite states by all the nasty means he sees fit. But nothing in his past, his moves or his speech reeks of Socialist ideology.
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On the inside!!!
For what it's worth, Hollywood Reporter just posted their review online. Said the movie was bad, and gave it the wrong release date lol.
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I meant "on the outside."
/accepts 10 nerd demerits for fucking up the quote -
very little about communism reeks of socialist ideology either. corrupted and debased socialism maybe
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Even though AICN started off over 10 years ago with Harry getting in reviews for most geek films before most critics posted or printed theirs in the newspaper. Harry and most of the AICN review crew are now and have been respected critics within the movie industry. Their reviews are well respected by all of the movie companies because the reviews are by scifi, fantasy, comic and action fans. They are not the intense drama critics who trash the qualities in B Flicks. The movie companies bank on these review possibly more than your local TV critic.The embargo enforces that the reviews will be posted , televised and published no earlier than the embargo states,,, thus guarantees that weither a critic is a national critic with a large following or the critic for a small local newspaper will all have a chance to have their reviews seen by the public. If the review was posted on AICN,,, how many of you would look at the local newspaper review or watch "At the Movies" to find out what other critics have to say? (probably most of you look no where else). I would not call anyone here a "tool" for not breaking the embargo. If you were in Harry's shoes or anyone else here, you would want to keep the "peace" with the movie distributers. Who in their right mind would not want to see a movie before anyone else? The good thing for this site about an embargo gives the reviewers a chance to let the film sink in and create a better review.(positive or negative) Trust me , I have rushed my reviews in the past,,,guess what, they really suck. All I could think,,,, I'm first. I did care about giving the best info on what quality a casual viewer could expect but bannging out a review, doesn't always work for the readers best interest. Stop the bashing and wait for the reviews,,,,, you damn whiners!!!!!!!!!!!
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damn
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I don't mean to sound emotive or unnecessary hateful here, but George Lucas hasn't had a new idea since 1978 and has been wiping his ass with my childhood memories of Star Wars since TPM (fuck, I even liked the ewok cartoon... seriously). TPM was boring shit. AotC was boring wooden shit. And RotS was boring, wooden, pathetically staged shit ("high-ground" my ass). And don't even get me started on all that Han/Greedo shooting-first, Luke screaming then not screaming shit. Destroy him! Kill! Kill!
PS The Ben Kenobi line cracked me up. -
that was.
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Discuss. Also acceptable topics: religion, abortion, Dubya, Iraq, Katrina, Greedo shooting first, Tarantino being overrated, Family Guy, and flaming Batman nipple suit fridge nuking web shooters.
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try and keep up...they published the reviews, they wrote them, they published them, and then they pulled them, so they didn't respect the embargo until after fact.
Try and read that talkback over there on the right that REFERS to one of the reviews.
The reviews weren't 'rushed' any more than any other review is rushed, they were published and then pulled, it's not the same as 'pulling it cause it wasn't ready' - they felt it was ready and left it up until they cowed to Warners (which it seems almost no one else in the interwebs or print media is doing) -
guns morphing into walkie talkies and looking more ridiculous than paris hilton doing shakespeare?
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Georgian officials tonight claimed the country had been 'overrun' by Russian troops after a full-scale ground invasion.
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The reason i'm pissed, and i'm guessing the reason so many others are is... AICN posted reviews, then took them down. The curiousity about why this happened was expressed by readers. The AICN readers (described as screaming and reactionary) were told to 'calm the fuck down' and that they would have understood if they were 'professionals.' I could care less about the damn review, I read about a paragraph before i figured out his opinion and moved on. But to be bitched at by one of the heads of a site that i've supported since it's beginning days.... that hurts.
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Other sites invited to visit the WATCHMEN set have been given permission to put up "previews" of the experience. I noticed you did no such thing, but assumed that you were simply too busy to compose a special piece that only tease us with what you can't print yet. But do these set visit previews mean the embargo lifts soon on your report?
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first off it really isn't a big deal that we cannot read a review for a movie we all, in our hearts know will suck, until friday. What does bother me though is this:
Mori, whom I usually appreciate and defend, has made it a point to go on record again for his total disdain for the talkbackers. By now it's pretty much a known fact about how he feels about us. While usually I just kind of shake that off and go on because I don't know the guy personally or anything, I do respect his reviews. However the outright claim that they will use their powers of banning and seeing as how many people I know on here who have been banned in the past few months, it seems like it's as if a nun is slapping us on the hand with a ruler for getting out of line with what they deem is wrong. I find it funny that on this page the hunt is on for talkbackers left and right over the posting of an early review and then on another page calling out the people with disabillities act for saying they should boycott Tropic Thunder. I'm not PC or anything but this just seems kooky to ban people for posting a review and then saying that the People With Disabilities are stupid and wrong for being offended by a movie.
I don't come to this site as often as I used to and I don't talkback that much anymore. I've made a lot of great friends from being on this site, but the more and more I see on here the more I'm glad that I've distanced myself from getting caught up in a lot of the bullshit I've seen here in the past couple of months. But then again, what the hell do I know? -
What if Harry posted a positive review? Would they have called? No big deal. Like you said...not worth getting pissed off about anyway
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...on DVD. Seriously, I'm gonna check it out...with my Netflix.
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Honestly, people. Just get over it. Is it really so important? Is it?
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A day after a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush in Beijing who expressed 'grave concern', Mr Putin accused the U.S. of siding with Georgia by ferrying Georgian troops from Iraq to the battle zone.
'It is a shame that some of our partners are not helping us but, essentially, are hindering us,' said Mr Putin. 'The very scale of this cynicism is astonishing.'
NOT GOOD PEOPLE!
THERE'S ALSO THIS:
"U.S. military instructors directly command and coordinate actions of mercenaries without being involved in actual fighting, the source specified. According to intelligence data, there are roughly 1,000 military instructors of the United States in Georgia."
SO RUSSIA KNOWS THE U.S. IS SCREWING THEM.
ALSO TONIGHT BUSH JUST WARNED RUSSIA TO "PULL BACK" or else.
THIS IS RUSSIAN DEFENSE DOCTINE:
"Russian defense doctrine indicates if the U.S. attacks Russia with conventional weapons, Russia will respond with tactical nuclear weapons."
YAY FOR STAR WARS CARTOONS!!!!
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There was not one word mentioned about banning whoever posted the reviews to begin with... yet it's okay to threaten banning a user for reposting something they posted in the first damn place. Classy.
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Who cares about all that? I mean, did you miss the big story? John Edwards, man. THAT'S the important thing here. Well, that and Clone Wars.
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Every franchise has been sent a message one way or another when it has gotten crappy. Nobody showed up to the Matrix Revolutions, Batman & Robin is the Gigli of Comic Book films, and because of that we got Nolan and the great TDK this summer. Superman III & IV put an end to the Salkinds why shouldn't have fired Donnor as it finally caught up to them and how much the series went down. People need to rise up and not see this shit, and people need to rise up and not see Indy V either if that is made. Lucas deserves praise for giving us 2 great trilogies in SW & Indy, but if people keep coming, Lucas is going to keep on making them. Supply = Demand. No demand = No more SW & Indy.
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why are you still posting about it in a movie site? just wondering
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Is there anyone out there who had any delusions that this movie still MIGHT not suck?
Seriously ever since i saw the first trailer with the stupid padawan talking like she's from orange county and yoda not talking the way yoda talks i knew this was doomed...the cartoon network teen titans type animation just made me sad.
I hope the dark knights makes it have a sub 5 million dollar opening -
I'M GOING TO SEE THE CLONE WARS IN THEATERS. I currently don't have air conditioning in my house, therefore a nice cool theater watching a cartoon full of jedis could be fun. Especially since I view Star Wars and everything about it as JUST fun, mindless entertainment. A distraction from reality for a few hours, no more.
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...I come here because I try to avoid the "official" coverage on movies like this. Reviews on AICN are often angry, unpolished, over the top - but proudly so. For a more balanced view on film, I might as well visit nyt.com. What I'm saying is: You guys COULD be the ones to break the rules. But with some of you becoming more and more involved in major projects, I'm sure this hasn't become any easier. Just keep in mind what makes this site so unique.
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Obama will personally re-shoot and re-edit the prequel trilogy into The Greatest Movies Ever Made before seizing Skeletor's half of the Power Sword and unlocking the jaw bridge of Castle Grayskull, ushering in a Golden Age and resurrecting Bernie Mac, Issac Hayes, and Lou Rawls.
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Yeah, it's actually pretty amusing when you get over how amazingly stupid it is
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Almost 2 days of "discussion" and NOTHING has changed. No matter how fired up the reactionaries get and no matter how diplomatically frustrated Moriarty gets, we are still where we were when Harry's review was first pulled: "Lucas is responsible" (countless times it has been said that Warners enforced the embargo) and "Aintitcool has sold out" (Moriarty responds to that very clearly in this article). But the same people are still angry and the same people are just as defensive (I count myself in that category).Oh, and anyone questioning Moriartys' love of his readers (including negative TBers), take a reality check. Look how personally offended he gets whenever he or the site is accused of selling out or compromising. No matter how obviously provocative a TB post is, he'll probably respond. The guy, and by extension the site, is legit.That's my 2 cents. Not based on 11 years of loyalty (I've only been coming here for about 8ish years), it's based on common sense.But this is all a GREAT time killer!
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Aug 11, 2008 8:11:53 PM CDT
jemagee -- yeah me. I don't think it looks bad...
by dannyglovers_dickblood
Even after the reviews. I don't believe a fucking thing anyone tells me until I see it for myself. That being said-- I still say fuck Warner Bros for their embargo. I might pay for Mummy 3 and sneak into this one..
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What an idiot... Why not just ban advance scrrenings for public and press. If you're going to enforce the review embargo, why not just ban screenings altogether? What an idiot. On another note, I take Harry's review more seriously than any other because, frankly, I don't think there is anyone in the world who is a bigger fan of Star Wars than him... It just means more coming from him. And the decision to take it down must have been a tough one. I know that AICN has to play the game a little, it's understandable.. This website is the biggest and best movie website in the world. If they need to get fucked over for 4 days, than so be it. When stuff like this happens, I just remember how they broke the T4 story, forcing the ending to be changed. We take the good witht the bad. You guys are in a tough spot and making tough decisions. Keep up the good work.
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AICN is the type of site that breaks embargos. If I wanted to be on a movie website that follows in line, I would go to YAHOO! Movies or Entertainment Weekly.
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Imagine if you will, the news media putting an embargo on say like what happened on 9/11/2001 & told all the news shows not to report about until 2 weeks later, just cuz it was bad news.......
Also, imagine being told not to go to the bathroom for 2 weeks.... -
most of those aren't reviews, but just articles... usually there would be alot more on there by now, so looks like it might've been held from most publications until the last minute
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Fair enough. My bad!
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Because I also like STAR WARS. I Believe in multi-tasking. AND let's face it, you still gotta live life.
Oh, and to GUS VAN RANT. I'm glad you like living in Canada. Uh, but if russia decides to invade the U.S., well buddy, they're going to go right through canada to get to us. :) -
I mean seriously, what's the big deal? Why would something like this piss so many people off?
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seriously, i'd rather live in soviet georgia right now than canada
It's CANADA -
Thanks to this site, I don't have to spend $200+/yr on shitty horror and sci-fi rags. Keep up the great work, guys!
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Check it. http://tinyurl.com/5uyzrl
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Just walk away. Do yourself and your sense of well-being a favor and just walk away. Or you could do like the fox in the Uncle Remus tales and keep pounding your fists into the tar baby. Take the high road and just walk away from it. Don't watch it, don't talk about it, don't even acknowledge it. Just walk away.
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Speaking of Doctor Zoidberg, the new FUTURAMA dvds have been lackluster. :(
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Yes, I thought it would be good. Star Wars is STILL a brand I trust - I enjoyed all 3 prequels ranging from like to love. The 2D cartoon was bliss. And so is ignorance. Looking back I based that on nothing. Pretty colours, familiar faces, I guess.I saw the movie Sunday. It blew HARD. Ahsoka is an abomination of galactic proportions.
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there'll be no more celine dion
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Two things. One, you're right that it was strange that the entire review was taken down. Isn't it usually just UPDATED with red lettering saying "WB told us to take it down, blah blah blah". Second, the reaction in the talkbacks WAS reactionary and over-the-top. "You're a sell-out!" "FUCK YOU HARRY" etc. etc.
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If it makes that much, then Lucas' head will get even bigger!
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You've read them. You know it sucks. Get over it.
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TO DISTRACT US FROM THE IMPENDING POLICE STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!
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As summer draws to a close, Talkbackers were just bored out of their fucking minds and ranted and raved and carried on and made jokes when, really, nobody actually gave that much of a shit. Pretty funny stuff, though.
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Maybe you confused me with someone else, but never said either of those things you quoted me as saying. I embargo your comment.
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I'm so glad you people are spending all your time on this superfluous matter and not bothering those of us in the real world. It's good to know that the simple-minded can still be distracted by shiny objects.
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...should just BUY Russia and then we won't have this problem any longer. Seriously dudes...the guy has money. I know it!
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I'm so glad you people are spending all your time on this superfluous matter and not bothering those of us in the real world. It's good to know that the simple-minded can still be distracted by shiny objects.
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I wasn't quoting you. I was quoting some of the reactions of the people in the TBs to prove that they were being reactionary. Which I believe you did say.
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...What are you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be in the real world? Go...skadoosh!
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That's exactly why I posted brother. I've got your back.
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Sure they'll sneakily post spy photos, concept art, bootleg trailers, unauthorised script reviews et al, but the second that a studio officially tells them that they are not authorised to publish said articles, they remove them. Studios can not possibly enforce every single piece of info from their films and everybody in the film news community knows this and take as many liberties as they can get away with.
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Lift embargo.
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Where did Moriarty work again?
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Both Harry & Massawyrm hated it.
Just so you know Warner Bros., once something hits the net IT NEVER GOES AWAY.
Fucking retards. -
The issue, at its most disappointing, is reading the headline, "...Free Speech Is Under Attack!" and within 24 hours having reviews pulled. Insulting as a reader of AICN--whether you you were aware or the embargo or not--and, if, the defense is no future Lucas-related movies then MY response to that would be: "Blow me, you're movies suck anyway, Lucas. If it wasn't for nagging criticism amongst the fanboys nobody would give a fat one about you or your movies. Your no del Toro. Peter Jackson shits better than your films. Your fanbase, now thinks you worhtless, at best."
After the failure of INDY 4 (embarrassment) and now The Clone Wars (yeesh!), we'll all assume from now on, that everything George Lucas touches will have the embargo stamp. -
Wow. Congratulations, you douches. You managed to get yourselves riled up over a review on a website that you're not required to visit and that does everything they do for free. God, sometimes I forget just how easily Internet anonymity can turn sad little people into such amazing, misguided assholes.
It's so, so funny that you've chosen to care this much about one man's opinion of an animated film that you have exactly no stake in. -
Its awesome. I can't wait to see where this whole thing goes, and the US with its pants around its ankles humbly begging them to cease their aggressions. Awesome!
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Look a new car in the Transformers movie!
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...were you in Ghostbusters?
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I agree with you: more zoidberg.
I disagree with you: down here in Alabama, most of my fellow Birminghamians picked up their shotguns as soon as they heard the commies raided the great state of Atlanta. -
Success or failure in hollywood is based on box office...Indy 4 made quite a bit of money didn't it?
Hollywood DOES NOT CARE if movies are good or bad, they only care if they make money, and since the american public is primarily made up of a large majority of people with crappy ass taste, bad movies will continue to make money... -
But think if they hadn't...you wouldn't have been provided so much entertainment
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I could use an influx of cash
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...don't you know that George Bush is going to hit the battlefield with lightning shooting out of his ass and killer bees spewing from his mouth as destructive laser beams blast from his eyes!? He's gonna take care of all of us baby! He's gonna put those little Ruskies in line.
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is that in any giving situation, there are more stupid people than smart people. Thank you, sir.
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one of my primary planks will be 'sterilize the stupid'
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From the site editors' points of view, I'm pretty sure that they're well pissed off about not being able to post their own opinions on their own publication when they see fit. The bigger issue here is how much control studios have about what goes online. Maybe a different format to an opinion that doesn't comes under the studio definition of what a review is? The politics of information is warped and is not healthy in a supposedly free media like online journalism. Maybe the ainitcool approach needs a rethink? There has to be a better solution in the long-run, other than a complete embargo on opinion.
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... and the rest of mosquito population. What a crack-up!
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TerryMalloy: PLEASE don't mistake my post for complaining. It's just...sometimes you have to step back from events and think to yourself, "Is this REALLY something that's happening?" My tiny brain was simply, for a few minutes, unable to process the idiocy. But now that it has...it's pretty glorious.
Eats_sandwich: Your "great state of Atlanta" line is the hardest laugh I've had this month. It reminds me of the time I was in Atlanta and an Indian guy at a Starbucks heard me giving my order, proceeded to step angrily on my foot, call me an Yankee, and remind me that we, "actually lost the war." God bless that place. -
if so let me repeat the wisdom I placed there: There are no Star Wars movies beyond ROTJ (original, not the special edition). Anything after that should be treated as movie-length extras for the DVDs. Being a Star Wars fan is much more pleasant that way.
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Its about a bunch of obsessive weirdos yelling at each other about stuff no normal well-adjusted person gives a flying fuck about. The movie "reviews" are just incidental to the social phenomenon of the pre-apocalypse man-ape's rapidly escalating de-evolution and atavistic need to discuss that process through a series of insults, rage, and mental masturbation. AICN is group therapy for people who already gave up on sanity years ago and just don't care anymore. Also, its about talking about how much we wanna cum on the upturned moaning faces of every newfound starlet, on their knees, begging for more.
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I for one have been slapped with them several times...and WB has even threatened to sue in regards to simple POSTS I've made in the past. But this is the name of the game people, your favorite movie magazines and big websites are all shown cool content specifically because they have been proven to respect embargo's.
If you think AICN is specifically bending over and spreading ass cheeks...they aren't. This is a very common thing. If you think they are saying 'fuck you' to the TBers and casual readers, also no, they are simply doing what is expected of them...to 'scratch their backs' in return.
If AICN were to completely ignore all studio requests, the well of resources will completely dry up and they'd have nothing truly cool to show you...ever.
Michael Regina
Editor in Chief - TheOneRing.net
xoanon@theonering.net -
That won't happen. The White House supposedly is guarded by an army of CGI monkeys and a "Shia". Whatever that may be.
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As Mori said (as I understand it), there's nothing directly legally binding about the embargo but it just means that AICN will be given the cold shoulder in future Warners advanced screenings, exclusives, interviews, scoops etc. The online film news site rely very heavily on such exclusives and this would be a major blow for them.
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Aug 11, 2008 8:50:22 PM CDT
Breaking New: Estelle Getty Launches Coup in Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by crackerfarmboy
This is all starting to add up now. First Estelle Getty dies, then there's war between Russia and Georgia, now Lucasfilm is being controlled by her demonic powers. This must end now! Stop Estelle Getty and her army of demonic wraiths before it's too late.
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Thank you. Jesus, thank you.
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Sorry to rehash your point - I was typing as you were posting. I also had tears in my eyes over Davettt - Somebody get this guy a black box!!
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everything should be lead lined from now on, that way when a nuke goes off it will be just a nice fireworks show all the time!
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then you won't get into early screenings that you can't talk about until the movie is released anyway because of these embargos. Mcweeny, the post was really condescending. I'm just saying.
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A lot of the older readers are nostalgic for what this site used to be. In the old days when Harry was lead into a seedy motel and shown an advanced bootleg copy of Episode 2 and came back here to gush about it. Embargos seemed more rare in the old days, because to see an advanced screening meant it was from a test screening or some crazy method, not simply going to a critics screening. There used to be a grass-roots sort of magic to this site that has eroded over the years.
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Can't say that WB is smart for their actions... And I guess Lucasfilm is at fault too. If Harry gave Clone Wars a good review, I doubt AICN would have heard a peep from WB. But, it is a shame that AICN has decided to play it this way; I work in the media industry and while I understand the concern the editorial staff at AICN has about the situation, I do feel that they have dropped the ball on this. So much for edgy-gonzo-geek journalism. Further to ban people for what they post on the talkbacks is ridiculous! Especially considering the level many talkbacks have devolved to in recent years. The unnecessary use of bad language and disrespect shown to others is rampant... to ban for posting something that is already making its way around the web is pathetic. If you are going to ban people, ban them for being online bullies, don't shut them down for distributing information. That is just sad.
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How is explaining the obvious condescending? Jeez, grow a pair, dude.
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Master Blaster runs Bartertown!
Lift embargo. -
AICN is supposed to be a DIVERSION from the really important shit that happens in life. You know, like when you're in a fight with your wife, or you sit through some bullshit political ad, or you can't handle any more bad news, or you barely survived a car-jacking, you turn to AICN to spend some time chilling out and reading about genre. Save your vitriol for shit that matters, and whether or not a review has been embargoed by the studio hardly qualifies as "important shit". You are some chaotically prioritized freaks... And TORN- thanks for your simple and lucid description of the situation. Apparently it's difficult for some of these clowns to think straight when they haven't been laid EVER because they're so desperately caught up in the illusions of geekom. You will NEVER bone Carrie Fisher or Natalie Portman, so take off your 3PO costume, get the picture of Joss Whedon off your bedroom ceiling, and get some friggin' perspective. Jesus...
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Or the shit you gave them for just about everthing except LA Confidential up until the Matrix--and then you blasted the sequels (correctly). WB hates Aint It Cool News, and in true show business style, they make embargoes rather than better movies. Not that this was their baby, just an instance where the policy is transparent.
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You make a GREAT point.
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Aug 11, 2008 9:01:20 PM CDT
LARGEST U.S. ARMADA OF WARSHIPS SINCE WWII NOW HEADED TOWARD IRA
by earthquake westcoast
http://europebusines.blogspot.com/2008/08/massive-us-naval-armada-heads-for-iran.html
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...when it's going to be on TV for free is a complete moron.
Especially since there's been nothing good to come out of Star Wars since Episode 6.
Embargo or not, we all know Harry hated it, Messawyrm hated it, and I'm sure Moriarity wasn't too fond of it, but we'll see that Friday.
The only reason the WB is quashing reviews is because they ALL are bad. It should tell you something.
Save your cash. Watch it for free on TV. -
I completely agree with what you've said. Nothing really to add to it, since you said things so well yourself. I just wanted to second your opinion. lol
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i said the same thing way up there...embargos get you cut off from the advanced screenings you can't even talk about? big loss. there's more to it.
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...Russia fighting a Clone War? What?
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Just a few months ago the U.S. wanted Georgia to be a member of NATO. But it didn't go through. Imagine if it did! NATO members are sworn to defend each other! IF GEORGIA WAS IN NATO like what Bush wanted, we would be in war with RUSSIA RIGHT NOW.
BTW......I don't care for the way padme looks in the new clone wars cartoon. The face is too rigid. -
He has repeatedly said that over the last few years since TPM came out and got dumped on. "I don't care what the critics or fans think" seems to be his mantra. If he's so stuck on that, then he should spend the 100 mil or so on these flicks and then watch them in the privacy of his own home. He doesn't care, yet he has triple or quad-dipped all of us. How many of you own three or four versions of the original trilogy? Lucas is a cunt, plain and simple. As soon as he "reworks" Raiders, I'm going to find him and pluck out all of his pubey, goiter-covering beard. Fail, George. Epic fail. You're not getting a penny more of my Goddamned money.
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I BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR!!
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Studios don't embargo EVERYTHING! To break THIS embargo (instituted in anticipation of really negative reviews) could keep AICN from ALL future advanced screenings, even the ones you'd like to hear about. What is with all these paranoid conspiracy theories?!
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russia has captured a u.s. mercenary along with georgia troops, and reports of at least one more killed. we have been secretly over there either helping or getting this shit stirred.
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LAMEST FAKE TITLE EVAR. I'M TIRED.
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- has nothing on the homepage regarding the war in georgia. nothing to see here folks, move along
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Aug 11, 2008 9:10:27 PM CDT
We are forgetting that there are two or more types of screenings
by tron
There are screenings that are only for the "press only" which are most likely embargo enforced,,,, then there are sneek previews that are open to the general public by invitation or random selection,,, these are the reviews that are not legally binding for an embargo enforcement. Then there is a chance that Harry might sneek in a private screening at 12:00AM (at the Alamo) when the reels arrive several days before the opening of a film (probably fair game for an early review) These last two are ways they get the reviews early to us..... I think I remember a few years back there was some talk that some of the AICN reviewers were being singled out and refused entry to some films... ????? or was it just a dream?
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Aug 11, 2008 9:10:33 PM CDT
They know it sucks so of course they are suppressing the reviews
by rupee88
seems smart of them
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I realize this is all a business, I am not naive, but if you run the review, then you stated that you will not be able to get advanced screenings. Advanced screenings to moves that you can not report on...the ay I see it, the only people who are being hurt are those who get the freebies. At least be honest about that and not make it seem like we will all suffer if the review is posted. If all fo the sites have to wait to post, how are we going to be hurt?
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they might get a wrist slap and be grounded and miss out on reviewing some other shit movie and junket, but the movie biz NEEDS AICN and internet buzz in general these days. perhaps Harry and co don't realize what power they do have. you would have geeks nationwide boycotting said company if they enforced embargo and then punished a site publicly. they would never really ban a popular review site from early access because they would lose too much essentially free publicity and coverage.
that's why i say warner bluffed and AICN took it because they don't realize their position of power. -
...Putin is just gonna batter them a little bit more and then he's gonna back the Clones off...mark my words...he's just sending a message to the Georgians, letting them know not to mess with Russia. At least that's what I'm getting from Commander Cody.
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Aug 11, 2008 9:14:58 PM CDT
Jesus Christ. How in the Fuck is that Davettt tool not banned y
by catvutt
Fucking ENOUGH already.
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and the invasion of Iraq makes WWIV. Just how many countries do you need to make it a WW anyway? Does it have to be a hot war? Who puts the definitions to this stupidity?
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At the top right is a quasi-perma link 'Crisis in Georgia' and at the bottom it reads '# CNN Wire: Russia hits U.N. cease-fire draft '...juuuuust at the bottom of the fold.
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I agree with ya. Just watch out for order 66, because after that Cody's fucked.
"something, something, Dark Side...something, something...complete..." -
I'm really shocked at those of you burning down this site's management for doing what it needs to do. And for fuck's sake, you already know what the review says, so take it like a man.
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they took the capitol. they are winning. there is a percentage of georgia that wants to get back with russia. why would they back down? they've won. now it's just a matter of how many more old nation states they want to take back.
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the great thing is that once you click the "russia hits" link, sandwiched in between the stories is "Democrats unveil nightly themes" for the DNC. Awesome. That's what I was really worried about.
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CHECK OUT THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO. IT'S FROM THE VIDEO GAME "GHOST RECON 1" WHICH CAME OUT IN THE YEAR 2001. THE VIDEO GAME ITSELF TAKES PLACE IN THE YEAR 2008 THOUGH, AND IT'S ABOUT RUSSIA INVADING IT'S NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND HOW U.S. FORCES ARE IN GEORGIA ON A MISSION TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS SECRETLY! WHAT A COINCIDENCE HUH? :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvVZRwlwebo -
that blocked russia from selling arms to other areas, like iran, easily.
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U.S. recon planes have intercepted communications between Moscow leadership and Russian commanders on the ground in Georgia. A partial message was translated and released Monday evening by AP News Wire Staff, read as follows :
"Execute Order 66."
It is believed that the voice on this transmission was that of Vladmir Putin himself issuing orders to his commanders in the field. One insider with the U.S. State Dept, who asked not to be identified due to their closeness to the issue stated, "If indeed this is Mr. Putin issuing such an order, than we are fucked." Investigations into the leaked transmission and what it's meaning are, are ongoing. -
That studios will allow only certain sites like Empire or IGN run a review of the film while everyone else is embargoed..and yes, those sites MAY sign something like a 'affirmation of positive review' or some shit like that. Basically saying they will do their very best to say something positive about the film.
This also happens on TV, shows like ET or Access Hollywood will get a 'sneak peek' of a trailer, while websites can only post about it later. Big TV studios and Magazines and websites pay $$$ to get these exclusives, and I don't think sites like Harry's does.
So, while the reviews for this film may be shitastically bad in this case, they may have even asked for it to be pulled if it wasn't, but I doubt it...studios can also break their own rules when it suits them.
And zom, sorry to say AICN doesn't yield as much power as it used to, thousands of sites have sprung up since 1999, they are faster, better funded, prettier, have a wider reach and are more powerful than AICN...no offence guys..been with you since the old OLD days..but it is the truth.
Michael Regina
Editor in Chief - TheOneRing.net
xoanon@theonering.net -
Lucas loves us! He KNEW WWIII was coming this year and nukes were going to be involved! THAT'S WHY HE MADE INDY GET INTO THE FRIDGE!!! It was a public service announcement on "what to do incase of nuclear war" demostrated by Indiana Jones himself! WOO HOOOO!!!!!!!
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nice link regarding the Georgia situation from '06:
http://www.time.com/time/world/ article/0,8599,1542107,00.html -
Should check out Michael Mann's The Insider. CBS looked like a bunch dumb asses when they folded to big tobacco. While not nearly on the scale, AICN, how does it feel to fold to big media?
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Love you guys, you all have been a part of my day since 98 or so. I have a question that morphs into a comment that kinda gets lost for a while then wanders around dazed. Wasn't this site kinda made to tear into the Hollywood bullshit? What happened to the days of spies in every film department basically ignoring their confidentiality agreements, risking fines, unemployment, blacklisting and even prison time? This was the great Indiana Jones 007 spy site for geek related movies. Quick, rebellious, anti-establishment and all the better for it. We wanted to feed this machine. I wanted to get menial jobs on sets just to be honored to steal some info and pass it on to Harry and the gang. It was fascinating. CIA for movies shit. Journalism nudged a little to the gonzo side. Still rational enough to know it's just entertainment, but naive enough to believe our opinions mattered to men who's cocaine budgets are more than we make in three years. I realize this is your job. Your families depend on the success of this site. It's probably great fun from time to time. But guys, hippies are driving SUV's Iggy Pop's heroin songs sell cruises and Johnny Rotten is on a reality TV show. You have a great chance to be legends with this site. Please don't become employees. If you were to run afoul of the industry by returning to your roots, it wouldn't be the end. If you were still pushing videos or selling posters (or writing scripts), you would have your family. Life would be harder, money would be tighter, and ComiCon would be something you had to budget to attend. You'd still have your love for film, and you'd have each other's friendships. With the revenues of the site you could budget what would be needed, and the creators that want you for set visits would open their own pockets to have you come. Why would Hollywood still reach out to a maverick AICN? Because AICN would be legendary. It could topple giants, stop bad productions, get nipples off Batman and cry bullshit to American Teen. Why would it be legendary? Because AICN cannot be controlled. Street cred is marketing, yo. If word is someone's gone soft, then the street move on. (Sorry, in the second season of a Wire marathon) And if some studio wants to pay you off? Well, exposing that level of corruption is the stuff movies themselves are made of. You guys are great, sorry for meandering. You all make my day so much happier. I just don't want to see you go down this road. You're heroes to every talkbacker. Even the trolls. Make us proud. Don't get sued over this. But one day, when someone has a VHS copy of Avatar a month before release and asks you to come to this hotel, this room number, you better fucking follow them. You did that for Star Wars once, I recall...
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People need to relax. If you break embargos than no more advance screenings and no more cool news. Pick a different machine to rage against. By the way, Star Trek is now officially cooler than Star Wars.
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Aug 11, 2008 9:32:37 PM CDT
so XoanonTORN, which sites have a wider reach and are more power
by amy chasing
I'm just curious because I think I'd like to read them too.
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the rest was "ful than AICN" but you probably got that
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Next year when I download it for free on Limewire
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instead of getting rid of everything, couldn't they have just did what they do when a studio tells them to take down a video or pic from a movie, and say "taken down because of so and so,etc"? They could of just done that and ALSO LEAVE ALL THE COMMENTS that people made. Why did they get rid of EVERYTHING????
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So if everyone is T.O'd about AICN selling out, why don't the TBers revolt and move en masse to another site? Hit em where it hurts...the webclicks. I've tried to find another geeky movie-tv-comics site but never found one I liked or updated as much. I'm open to suggestions.
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Oh I've no idea the specific ones, and that's not to say AICN isn't still awesome..but sites like MTV.com, IGN, Empire, Entertainment Weekly, THR etc..etc. Those are big companies..big business...big time $$$ to get stuff. AICN hasn't, and won't go that way..no matter how much some TBers think they've 'sold out' over the years.
There is also the issue of 'synergy' (my mouth stings just saying that word)...we all know the same mega companies that own TV networks also own studios (ABC/Disney, NBC/Universal etc..). So when a movie studio wants to promote a movie, they give these exclusives to the 'sister' TV stations and Magazines...bloody Mega-Companies...
Michael Regina
Editor in Chief - TheOneRing.net
xoanon@theonering.net -
I've been critical of you in the past, big man. But I'll give you props for telling the geeks to have at it. As a former print guy who did movie reviews, I understand the embargo issue. It is a shame that this is what Star Wars has become. Well at least we have the Dark Knight. The king is dead; long live the king.
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Aug 11, 2008 9:43:03 PM CDT
Michael regina, I think your name should be Michael Vagina
by leafy mcplantsalot
OOOHHHH BBBBUUUUURRRRRRRNNNNNNN
Leafy Mcplantsalot
Editor in Cheif -theonehole.net -
Dude...weak..I've been hearing that one since the second grade. Usually I say 'you are what you eat' in return..but in your case you may not understand what I mean...
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Weren't they all about Embargoes? Isn't that what post Return of the Jeidi star wars is all about? I thought you people took this to heart. Not sure if anyone else caught that this talk back was long and I missed it.
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You've always been a class act. Please don't pull a "Joel."
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All the reviews from those early screenings where studios make people promise not to talk about them or reveal anything, what about those?. . .you guys should have just posted under psuedonyms, it would have been a polite, scott-free way of saying FUCK YOU to Warner Bros.
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Studios don't care WHO posted..they'll still rip you a new one. All this fluff over a craptastic movie..sad. And did someone finally ban Davettt?
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This seems to be happening more and more often lately: you make an editorial decision on the site based on business needs, then act shocked/angered/betrayed/annoyed when your readers push back, hard. What you all seem to forget is long ago, you started this site and made it what it was on one basis alone: you broke the rules, you sent 'spies' into the studio system for early reports, basically doing the -exact opposite- of what you do now. Your readers still kind of expect that from you, even though you haven't been that site for many years. I'm not saying that expectation is reasonable at this point, but it's there. And yeah, part of me wishes someone else would take up the banner of the 'fuck you, Hollywood, we're going to talk about your shit' gonzo journalists you once were. Now, Mori's a successful screenwriter, Harry's dabbling in moviemaking, and the site in general depends on the very system that it once used and abused to supply them with their lifeblood of access and exclusives. I'm not personally saying better or worse. I'm affiliated (with a much newer pseudonym) with a site that also plays by the rules. The problem is, they -always- played by the rules. You didn't. Imagine if Drudge started relying only on the wires for his content? It'd be a ghost town. You guys are -blessed- to have survived the transition from outlaws to lawmen. But you will never, ever outlive your own reputation, so I have no idea why you bother with these protestations of surprise when you get negative feedback for enforcing the law you once flagrantly broke.
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So many people nowadays lack a sense of humor or fun about movies. That's what people don't realize about the prequels. They're not supposed to be Oscar material.
Here's a little hint: if you find the stuff on screen to be too inane, and you love movies, then think of it as a career. Learn how to make movies better. Take the work Lucas started, and take it to the next level.
Why? Because otherwise you're dwelling on this crap for nothing. If you've got nothing better to do than hang around a film site and be cynical, then I really pity you. It's like the story of that monk who helped a lady across a river. The monk he was travelling with fumed about it, since they were not supposed to deal with women like that. When the monk who carried the woman finally asked what was ticking him off, the other monk told him. The first monk replied "I carried the woman, yes, but I put her down on the other side. You have carried her all the way here."
Put the lady down. If Lucas so offended you about it, fine. But it's nothing worth losing a screw over. Find a better science fiction work, or make one yourself. Stop whining. -
they warned me that your movie is shit and im now telling all my friends so they dont spend money on your movie, and yes i know you are crying now
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It will go down in the anals of AICN history!
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...on their site, you are aware, aren't you, that you're violating Harry's copyright? He could go after you for that.
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yeah sure. That's not occupational suicide or anything.
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Harry told the flamers to "have at it" because he's a pacifist. I could be wrong, but I suspect Mori is not, and I'm with him. I'm a pass-the-fist! Seriously, there are a lot of regular posters here who are no better than the people who talk loud or use cell phones during a movie. They contribute nothing of value to the experience and seem determined to provoke a fight. It's a pathetic ploy for attention. I say ban 'em and can 'em.
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It's absolutely pointless for the writers of this site to accept invitations from studios for embargoed early screenings when they can't write about them until everyone else has seen them. You should have waited for the public screening at the Egyptian. Now you can't even write about it, which is thoroughly stupid, seeing as how...wait for it....that's your fucking job! Seriously, next time the studios invite you to see a movie two days earlier than everyone else in return for your bought silence, JUST SAY NO.
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Studios love good buzz leaking early. This embargo says it all. You won't get my $10.
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It's funny how you cut and paste parts of quotes to try to cobble together some sort of argument. The PT wasn't sloppy, inorganic, or two-dimensional. It captured the spirit and fun of the originals for the most part. And yes, the little nuances that are part of the live saga do detract from the feel/spirit/excitement of seeing a true SW film. I guess you don't understand subtlety. Probably part of the reason you'll never break into the business.
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Embargoes usually end the day of the release of the movie/game/whatever..so AICN can post it at 12:01am on Friday morning..for everyone to read and ponder before going out that night...or whatever..
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Actually I'll wager a guess and say Harry said "have at it" because he believes in the 1st Amendment and actually is encouraging open discussion where as Mori is not. Harry walks a very fine line in his business, he is after all the "Rebel" who started this site, so a part of that is still in him, but there is also the business side that needs to placate the studios from time to time. I'm not in agreement with his decision to yank the reviews myself, but it's not my decision to make.
I just think all this banning talk and suppression of people's fundamental right to Free Speech is disappointing. Harry does not seem to be one of these Speech Suppressors, at least as it pertains to the TalkBack, but some of the posters and Mori sure are.
The 1st Amendment wasn't passed to protect nice speech. Nice speech doesn't need protecting. It was implemented to protect offensive and controversial speech, ideas that people don't want heard. -
You posted too soon!
Hey, it happens. -
There was a reason test screening exit poll papers added a clause stating viewers wouldn't put up reviews or spoilers about what they saw. In fact, there was a reason studio execs jokingly referred to it as "The Harry Knowles Clause." My, how far we've fallen and sold out. This brings into suspect EVERY review and comment ever on this site.
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And I got invited to a screening of this and didn't get any shitty embargo. Why hold a screening if you're gonna slap the attendants with a "shush" thingy is beyond me. Anyway, I fell asleep during this movie. Next time, embargo my eyelids, WB! So there.
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I agree. When the framers conceived the 1st Ammendment they were thinking about a person's inalienable right to call someone an "asshat."
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I don't know, I think most people work all day Friday. Political campaigns and administrations have been known to release bad or at least unfavorable news on Friday afternoons, knowing that it's the one time of the week people are least likely to be prowling the internet or haunting the news networks, and by the time they do tune in or sign on at the end of the weekend, it's all largely blown-over. It's a journalistic dead-zone, and I strongly recommend Harry, Mori, et al refuse their ruse next time. It's just bad news-sense.
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Personally, I do not see why a reviewer would see a film if they are not allowed to release their review until the day of the movie. Give me a break. It's the oldest trick in the book. If they can't badmouth the movie prior to its release for being horrible, ticket sales should be good the first weekend. If it is widely known to be a bad movie, ticket sales could potentially be bad opening weekend. I hope Harry and the gang show a little more integrity next time and tell the studio to piss off if they are invited to a screening with an embargo. If the big sites are posting their reviews, there is no reason to be scared to post yours or feel like you have betrayed a shitty studio.
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Lucas... Use the enForce, Lucas.
Ever get the feeling the word "Jawa" was a racial slur? They would never call themselves Jawas, until many years later when they discovered hip-hop as a means of self expression. -
BUT IF YOU FUCKING POST IT WE WILL FUCKING BAN YOUR ASS!!!!!
Doesn't seem to mesh. -
Seriously some of you guys are crazy, I mean crazy in that you need to seek some professional help.
Getting angry over something like this is pretty mad. I mean really, does it matter? No, it really doesn't.
Want to get worked up about something? , try looking at whats happening in Georgia at the moment, where people are dying. Or just something, anything, real, that actually matters.
If AICN are giving attitude I think its a natural reaction to a bunch of kids who really should get over themselves.
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...and the rest of you guys were too. Admit it, you'll feel better.
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I love it!!!!!
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as Mori said, "Lucas’s little cartoon movie isn’t worth all this sound and fury."personally I think it's obvious that WB and Lucasfilm know that a few days of hardcore fan backlash will hurt this, they're not stupid. and Harry's review was gonna get reprinted everywhere, it was so harsh. and so they're enforcing the embargo a little more stringently here than elsewhere, because of the type of people that read this site, and the influence they have on the web. ultimately, they underestimated the hoopla that was going to come of it because of talkbacker ire and entitlement, and if that backfires on them, so be it. but that's their problem. why take it out on Mori and AICN?AICN eschewing an embargo, getting a couple calls, and ultimately complying, isn't the goddamn Kennedy assassination. so a couple of the guys weren't on the same page and a few wires were crossed. relax! I understand being indignant about mistreatment. but you oughtn't make the mistaken assumption that everything that AICN does is about YOU. sometimes, it's about THE SITE. I'd like to take a quick poll to see how many of you that are up in arms about this still believe in the Loch Ness Monster...and if so, I have some land on Mars to sell you, real cheap!I haven't seen this many dingbats come out of the AICN woodwork since the Lost spoiler debacle last year. jesus christ. chill out people.
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who the fuck cares?
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really? looks awful.
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A cartoon. Let it go.
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This place makes me sick. Lucas doesn't owe any of you assholes a damn thing. Their HIS films, NOT YOURS.
Did he fuck your childhood in the ass? Did he rape the 10 year old who played with his toys? Did he jam that Luke Figure in your ass while giving you a reach around.
I love it when the dumb fucks of this site come out of the woodwork to bitch and complain about Lucas. The guy has done more for the film industry then ANYONE. ILM, Skywalker Sound are involved in 80% of the films released every year. He was the first person to back PIXAR.
While the Prequels are far from perfect, the story was always there. Read the Prologue to the 1976 Novelization of Star Wars. It's ALL THERE, the whole fucking thing.
I know 4 NON-Lucasfilm people who have seen this film and LOVED it. Basically all Prequel haters as well. They're made these stories weren't waht was used for the Prequels.
The film wasn't made by Lucas, it was made by Star Wars fans. Dave Filoni, the director, is more Kasdan then Lucas.
I also love how SW fans bitch and complain at any given moment about buying this and buying that... BUT YOU STILL FUCKING BUY IT! YOU STILL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SAY IN THE BOARDS, STILL FUCKING RUSH OUT TO SEE THIS STUFF!!!
Just shut the fuck up. WB put an embargo on The Dark Knight and the last 2 Potter films.
Go on believing Lucas screwed you over. I really wish he would knock down your door and fuck you with a 1/4 scale Sideshow Vader because then at least it would be true.
Anytime you fucks bitch about Star Wars it's like Peter crying wolf, it's fucking old... older then dirt. Get over it, you fucks... Stop Buying the toys and DVDS, stop going to the movies and don't weatch the TV shows when they're on and make a stand...
..but you dumb ass won't and you'll either bitch on and on or, just maybe, this film and the TV series will shut you morons up. -
Silly, silly people. Maybe it comes from being old enough to remember what it was like to wait for things and not feel ownership of someone else's work (good or bad) as a born privilege, but I think the posturing is a lot of misplaced chi.
Let's talk about the important things. Moriarty, what is your favorite breakfast cereal? I had some plain Cheerios with a bit of honey this morning and enjoyed my ridunculous "chopping" Batman toy.
"Mom! Billy took my Heath Ledger action figure! You know, the one from the film I'm too young to see but is being marketed to me anyway." -
http://tinyurl.com/6ez8ny
Please...... don't ban me bro!
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Now that BadMrWonka mentioned it, where are you people when the talkbacks really count for something, like war and Constitutional rights? Y'all need to leave that galaxy far far away and plot a course back home.
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Isn't that usually when summer movies that are guarenteed to suck are released? Honest, what is the big deal? For those of us pleading ignorance to the whole "embargo" thing, I have a couple of questions for the esteemed black-backgrounders.Break an embargo, what happens? Cease and Desist? Lawsuit? People in black suits knock on your door at a late hour and flash neurolyzers?I thought newspapers and other media couldn't officially print reviews until at least the evening before opening, does an embargo such as this prevent even that from taking place?Good or bad, what the hell is everyone getting their panites in a bunch over? Everyone who complained of their childhood being gang-raped by George and Jar Jar, how much worse could this be? Are we talking worse that The Holiday Special?
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He owes you nothing. Really, he doesn't. He owes none of us anything. You'd all be bitching and complaining had he never made the Prequels. You'll bitch and complain through anything and everything the man does. I love how everyone bitched about Indy 4 and through the blame on him, but he was 1/3 to blame on that mess... But no one will throw blame on Spielberg and Ford... even though they were all in on it as well. The intelligence level of the people who comment here is below legally retarded. You all should have your handles start with "MagnoliaFan" and end numerically according to when you signed up.
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which I guess makes him true to his nickname
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or bilderburg. I honestly don't care, it all seems pretty stupid, but really, this started as a site made by a guy who went and saw movies like everyone else. I don't even read the massively ahead of time reviews because i don't really want to know everything about a movie before i go in, i come out and talk about the movie after i have seen it. Point is you do seem very afraid of pissing these guys off (not that i really care) when really the advantage of a fan boy site this is not caring about pissing them off. what if there was an embargo on Godzilla images? would you post the image?
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Lift the embargo and lift your buns! Its time to penetrate the femme Persian overtranny to a pounding disco beat!
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Where is our promised live action television program?
I'll go see clone wars in theaters, without my girlfriend. She's smarter than that. (sigh) Lucas owns children of the 70's and 80's souls.
www.myspace.com/jerryhorror -
I wouldn't trust a review from Harry if my life depended on it. The guy has been bought by Hollywood, plain and simple. He's been corrupted by the wining and dining, set and editing room visits. What? No one at Lucas Animation sent a Cargo plane down to get you and park you infront of the Presidio Buffet? A bad review from Harry doesn't mean what it use to, folks. There's few people I would trust on this site for a review anymore.
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i watched that documentary you suggested. I took notes on the factual errors. I don't wanna piss you off but many of them can be easily shown to be wrong. Half the documentary was a guy yelling 'im not your slave' at passing cars. My queiries with are too long to post here but i'll post them in the twitch thread if you are interested (and if it won't degenerate into name calling) anyway it was still interesting.
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You should be prayin', yeah!
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No name-calling from me, my man. It may have some errors but how accurate could one be when investigating secret societies? By nature, their activities are closely guarded, and such Satanic conspiracists would not have attained world dominion by letting guys like Alex Jones so easily discover them ... but at least you got a glimpse at the truth and looked with an open mind - that's more than I could say for most sheeple in this world ...
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This cut rate, soulless, 5th rate, toy commercial is gonna get beat worse than Amanda Lucas on her New Zealand adventure. The prequels were bad enough, but from what I'm seeing this thing looks like like some kind of Direct to Video release.
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Thx for the support dude.
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At least for me, it's less about Lucas' little film and more about AICN and the way they have dealt with people look to this site for information... AICN dealt with the sitation poorly. The only Star Wars film I like it the ESB... the rest I thought were enjoyable, but only OK on the scale of pop entertainment. I'd probably rent Clone Wars if I don't catch it on TV first. But that's just one man's opinion.
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at least they care enough about our opinions to fear that we might make them lose money...interesting how often bad films try to defend themselves so feebly.
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I just read both of the embargoed reviews and all I can say is WOW! Even though I hate these pussified studio hacks, I can't blame them for getting those reviews pulled! Doh...we got something called the internet now bitches! Too late, the word is out!
I'm going to review the embargoed reviews like one well known reviewer on this site might...It was like Zed threw a handfull of sand into a jar of vaseline, pulled out the gimp, and went to town on "The Beards" cornhole. And no...Mark Hamill did not come back to save him with a katana.I don't think they'll have to worry about the WB, but I think they can kiss their Ranch visit's goodbye. At least "The Big Guy" already got to see it.
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my god you lot are a bunch of whinging fuckers.
'wah wah wah, lucas stole my childhood' 'wah wah wah, star wars is dead'.
do fuck off you pretentious cunts, not one of you has any right to get this worked up over a series of fucking movies. That goes for what i loosely call 'reviewers' too.
All of you talking like the world is over because of the PT or the animated film, of you don't like it piss off back to your basements so you can wank about leia in her gold bikini. The truth is, star wars aint dead, it will go on a long time after you've all died from terminal stupidity and cheese overdoses. Star Wars, the original film, is a bit shitty, it always way, hokey story, hokey acting, hokey everything, it wasn't that good, it's not The Godfather, it may seem that way to you lunatics but it's seriously not, it's just a fun 'B' movie.
Harry, and all the other pretentious wankers that are claiming it to be some raping of childhood need to seriously get fucked, they are the worst sort of fans, the fucking hard core losers that felt sorry for the Star Wars Kid. Yes the PT was a bit shit, but none so bad as the opening hour of Jim Henson's Return of the Muppet Jedi, I skip straight to degobah EVERY time.
Quite why the fuck you losers are so angry over this, only your mothers know, I'll probably see Clone Wars, I'll probably watch the series, and the liver series, whenever it happens. I WON'T get overly worked up about it, because I'm not a stupid fanboy cunt like 99% of you fuckers.
Owned. -
That I find it funny that we should all "calm the fuck down" when AintItCool tucks its tail between its legs and removes content when Warners asks them too, but its totally wrong for Paramount to do the same when a advocacy group for the mentally handicapped asks them too. Harry did it out of greed and so did Paramount, but at least Paramount can say that they also did it because maybe the clips from the movie, taken out of the context of the scene, can be seen as offensive or something. So yeah, these guys can suck it.On a related note; I don't think I've ever seen a post by Moriarty that didn't come off as douche-baggery of the highest order.Vern is awesome though!
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compliments of Lucas and Luca Brasi. That's what REALLY happened.
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...or maybe sell-outs. So much for edgy, outsider reviews. I guess you need a note from Lucas' mom now before you can review his shite.
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...when AVATAR IS FUCKING OUR EYEBALLS in 2009!
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There's a delicious irony in the fact that this notice was posted directly above Harry's "Free Speech is Under Attack" rant.
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Studios give advance press screenings as a courtesy to the reviewers so they have time to formulate their thoughts, do some research, or whatever else they need to do so they can write a coherent review with ample time before going to press or air.
It's a courtesy to the reviewers so they don't have to rush and scribble out a half-assed review the day before a movie hits theaters (although it may end up being half-assed anyway).
When you go to these screenings you agree to the studio's rules. That's the agreement for the privilege and advantage of seeing it early - it provides more time to write a thorough and thoughtful review but you have to hold off publishing or airing it until the agreed upon time.
It's as simple as that. There is no grand conspiracy at play here. AICN is agreeing to play by the rules that were agreed upon. You simpletons who can't understand this need to fling yourselves under a speeding bus as soon as possible. -
Cuz he needed to lighten the mood. Harry, what woudl this play out to like a 4 year old?
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Check it I'm thru with love I'm thru with all you mothafuckas Feelin' mad shitty Gonna burn down the city Takin' it over for the brothers Burn it up Come on! Tear it up Yeah!
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...and the directions to Lucas' ranch and let me go full retard on his ass. Oops, I take that back. Please don't ban me.
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I am so over Star Wars. It was ruined when the prequels came out and Lucas just continues to ruin it more until all he will be left with is one fat chest bumping douche. Really truly, fuck Star Wars.
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Aug 12, 2008 1:07:34 AM CDT
clone wars predicted to hit 80 million! just a small mini-rant
by hey...jonboy
why is everyone attacking this site? did you really think this site with the amount of traffic it gets daily was completely immune from movie studio influence? stop being so damn naive. this is the nature of the business. if you want a site that hasnt so-called sold out, then go read some idiot's my-space blog. every bit of movie news is not the result of some late night sleuthing. of course much of the info is provided. its a symbiotic relationship. i personally disagree with just about everyone of harry's reviews. you know what? i read other sites reviews to get a sense of whether i will likely enjoy a movie. harry provides a unique perspective on movies and reviews. where else are you going to read gushing and often overly vulgar reviews about movies. certainly not from the nyt or entertainment weekly. also, everyone has faults. maybe harry recieved perks for his godzilla review maybe not. i honestly couldnt care less. this whole thing reeks of jealousy. the way that each fanboy/nerd seems entitled to rip this site apart at the slightest perceived mistake really grinds my gears. (i apologize for the reference). and lastly, what the hell do you expect when you post idiotic things on the scriptgirl talkbacks. dont turn this into the 4chan message boards. although i disagree with what harry and the others did, i believe it is the nature of the game. whatever, i hate star wars anyways. this movie particularly looked like a piece of shit.
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Some men just want to watch the world uh...singe.
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Fetch!
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Everything sucks.
Got it.
Good thing I checked the talkback. Thanks! -
...Harry's review for 'Hungry Bitches'? I know you all have heard about it, due to the infamous trailer for the film. The trailer goes by the title "2 Girls 1 Cup." But I want an AICN review of the whole thing.
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Simmer down.
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Bedways is rightways now, so best you go homeways and get a bit of spatchka. Right, right?
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Duke, I knew you were nothing but a lousy gimcrack whore.
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No, we shall go to the woods and shoot little sparrows with me ol' rifle, eh? Come on. I gots some red in a box.
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But, its being reposted elsewhere on the internet. Obviously you cant enforce that, but also obviously wouldn't warner brothers see a repost in the forum as not an editorial decision by staff, but simply people in a public forum sharing shit? I mean, what, are they gonna enforce an embargo on imdb, where Harrys review was floating around? I don't even get the big deal. Its not like you guys haven't done reviews of Star Wars before where the viewing was under the table. If they didn't go after you for that, why go after you now? Or is simply that Warner Brothers are just dicks? I mean shit, thats why we READ REVIEWS, to get EARLY news on the flicks. Aside from the niche market like Vern, or the occasional essay like in depth analysis, its not like anyone gives a shit about a critics opinion. Just look at box office receits for proof of that.
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That seems to be causing a great deal of fuss over the internets.
Hell if it was a Warner company drone then you may not agree with it but it avoids Lawsuits presumably.
Though if it was an empty threat with no specific sanction then why cave ?
If it was Lucasfilm though... that DOES reek and reek quite a bit.
I don't care how cool a visit to ILM and Skywalker Ranch is TBH. LucasWorship and doing his every bidding is not what I come to this site for. -
move along dweebs, we had fun razzin' on the guys for putting stuff on and deleting it, but its over.
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Now AICN has been online for many years, and my memory may be fuzzy on this so correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Harry pissing off the studios left, right, and center long before he was invited to these early screenings?
I mean the WHOLE REASON AICN was so notorious was because Harry dared to take on the wrath of the Hollywood Suits and post many things which angered these same suits. Now, all Hollywood has to do is click its fingers and Harry complies.
In the words of the Joker: "I mean, what happened? Did your - did your balls drop off?"
Its the studios own damn fault for not making Harry sign a confidentiality agreement. What are they going to do if Harry keeps the review up? Not invite him to any screenings? Harry didn't give a rat's arse back then, why care now? It doesn't make any sense.
NOTE: I posted this on the "Free Speech" talkback, so I thought I'd post this on here too. Seemed relevant.
Embargoes? Really? Are you fucking kidding me? That's the best you could come up with? Are you telling me there were no EMBARGOES when Harry posted negative reviews of the Batman and Robin prescreening back in '97? Are you telling me Warner Bros didn't have an embargo policy back then?
You're right on one thing Mori. This isn't a conspiracy thing. Its fucking BULLSHIT. -
dark angel with dolph!
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Talkbackers,move along...these are not the reviews you are looking for.
chill, calm down, take a xanax or two or whatever the hell you Gen Y's do to stop from whinging like firefly lovers about getting cancelled and realise that there are huge companies with powerful lawyers out there. You want there to be no AICN? Gotta pick your battles wisely. -
...Of course you do Moriarty. You write for a television show and now a production company turning one of your script into a feature film. Of course, I've never seen you bend any review towards any of the people involved in those shows or films. I don't think I ever recall you even reviewing anything by them. Although, its safe to assume you know Mick Garris, and are apparently friends with Frank Darabont, two guys who are uber fanboys turned film makers, which seems similar to your situation. I have to ask, since you worked on the same show as John Landis, has your opinion of him mellowed somewhat? To the dude claiming Ebert and Co. Don't do cameos in films or do set visits, your a retard. They do, and most reviewers would if offered. As far as AICN being neutered? Its true. They have lost their balls, and they have lost what made them popular in the first place. However, thats what happens when you transition from something that was a hobby, to something that puts food on your table. Its an ugly stage at the moment for the site, because they haven't quite made that transformation from outsider, ramshackle, uninhibited free press to a professional "onion av club" like pop culture media site. Part of the incessant whingeing in the talkbacks is also related to necessary sanitising of the talkbacks. Once you start to carry advertisers and get big, like a television network, you have to be mindful of what your sponsors do or don't want to see. Unfortunately that takes away from what makes AICN's talkbacks the best in the game. It will be interesting to see if they staff persevre until they make the transition to a more generic website, or if they decide its not capable of that, and go their own ways and use the place more as a blog. With old school big time contributors like Moriarty and Quint heading off more and more into the real world to actually make films, and Harry showing no signs of cleaning himself up, I can kind of see that happening.
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..Wife! You guys seriously need to calm the fuck down. You act like you sent in reviews that got taken down. If everyone is so sick of the site, and it's "shenanigans", then fuck off and go to Joblo or Chud. We need to cull the douchebag population of this site anyhow. Asshats.
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...No lawyer can close AICN for them posting a review. Especially in these circumstances. However, Warner Brothers could cut AICN out of the promotional circuit for say, the third batman film. That sucks for AICN because they miss out on high traffic generating material, and for their readers it means they miss out on early exclusives that they could discuss about in AICN's talkbacks. Obviously, it sucks harder for AICN, since its their business getting fucked with, but I understand the ire some talkbackers feel out the selling out. Sort of like Clash fans hearing one of their songs on a coke commercial. Strummer gotta eat.
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If you guys ARE making money on this site, how about throwing a little bit of that towards fixing the search engine? That thing is useless. Let google handle it if your boy isn't up to the job.
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...With the lead singer of Modest Mouse. About how members of their audience reacted negatively to them selling their songs to companies for commercials. His response was that half their fans didn't feel so bad about getting their content free via downloads, and until they were putting bread on his table, he had to make a living so he could continute to put music out for them. Same deal. Thats why you'll notice I'm a whiny asshole personally, not professionally. I'll slam on the reviewers for having shit taste, not for making sound business decisions.
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if you guys signed an agreement not to post a review until a specific date, then that's on you. Your fault, and you have nothing to complain about. But the whole "things aren't always as they seem" vibe that Harry gave off makes that sound unlikely. Unfortunately, the only scenerio that would make Ain't it Cool News look good is the above- and even that borders on incompetence. If there are more twists and turns to the story, then the only thing it could be is coersion and that is NOT cool. Especially if it came in the form of bribes, blackmail, or extortion. ESPECIALLY if they said you couldn't visit the ranch or have toys anymore. That just aint cool.
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Readers drive the site. We are the traffic that generates the revenue that comes in the form of ad sales and any other way they make money. If Harry does something that somehow violates the integrity of this site and makes us question his motives, then he will lose readers. Traffic will go down, and then what happens? Less ad sales, the site becomes less relevant, and then none of it will matter. The point is, Harry has as much of an obligation to the readers as he does to the goons in the suits. Won't have access to Lucas projects anymore? Fine, go back to getting emails from insiders. REAL, unbiased reports. Moriarty is being threatened with not getting another job in the industry? Fine, quit aintitcool and keep your hands clean. That's his choice. Not that I think they would do that, of course. The point is, the website can generate money without whatever Lucas is putting in their pockets. It's just a question of whether or not they want to work that hard and give up the perks. Clearly, they don't.
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Count the number of hits this site gets and then work out as a percentage the amount of outspoken “you betrayed us” posters. What’s the percentage? Less than one I’m guessing.
No point in trying to appease the braying idiot masses, no point at all. The problem with writing a vitriolic op-ed piece aimed at a small fraction of people makes it (no doubt mistakenly) sound like you hold your readership in contempt. If you feel the need to explain decisions made on the site, talk like an adult to the adults that read here and let the screeching idiots rage themselves hoarse. They only make you look bad if you rise to the bait.
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KCMOSHer already summed up my opinion better than I probably could (read the talkback before posting, what a novel idea), but I wanted to say a little something about why people are making such a big deal out of a review of a crappy movie that was only temporarily pulled.
Not to get too dramatic, but in my mind, this is a little like the Howard Dean scream or Britney Spears shaving her head. It's a small incident that suddenly crystallizes all of the vague impressions you have about something into a single image, and that image becomes a symbol of the larger truth. In this case, it's not about the review, it's the fact that readers here have, over the years, seen AICN change from a website of outsiders looking in to a website of insiders looking out, and this incident (hell, this post of Mori's) is entirely emblematic of that.
I don't fault the staff for it. Honestly, if I had the choice between running an outlaw geek movie website and being a semi-successful screenwriter or movie producer, I know which one I would choose, and I think most of us would choose the same. I can't fault Harry and Mori for wanting a chance to express their own creative vision, or even just for wanting the chance to meet and talk to some of the filmmakers and actors who have made such a big impact on all our lives. But it does come at a price, and that price is, as many people have noted, giving up the one thing that really made this site worth visiting, at least for me. I don't come here for early reviews of movies, I come here to read things that make me think, "ain't it cool." I've been here for a while (as I type this, I can't believe I've been visiting this site off and on for almost 10 years), and it seems to me like the supply of those cool things has been trailing off slowly but surely. It just took this incident to crystallize all of that data into a "why" that made sense.
I'm not mad; after all, this is the way the world works. I'm just a little sad because I loved that old outlaw movie geek website, and I only kinda like this new website that's into advanced reviews and celebrity interviews. -
... GOLDENAGE: if you aren't one of the hysterics, then the op-ed was definitely not aimed at you, and no offense was meant. That was for that narrow percentage of the audience, and I'm sorry if you felt talked down to.
Elohim, well-said and most likely inarguable. People change. There's no way I'd try to say that what I write now is what I wrote 12 years ago. -
...Thats what I said. They are transitioning and as a result, the essential appeal of the site is being lost. Thats why it will be interesting to see if they can or even want to, maintain it as a legitimate professional site.
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I know what you're saying, but others have been saying similar things for years. And look! The site's STILL going strong. Unfortunately, there will always be people who'll start freaking out at the slightest little thing, and blow it all out of proportion. That's seriously what happened in this scenario in my opinon.
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...Abandoning the site isn't the worst thing they could do. Imagine if Truffaut decided to "keep it real" instead of giving film making a shot. Thats right, I somehow compared the writer of Cigarette Burns with Truffaut.
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slightly off-topic referring to the Russia/Georgia conflict, the tragic part is the locals of Georgia are crying out at the international community to step in against Russia as Georgia offered great support when the Iraq conflict kicked off.
They can't understand why the world won't kick off against Russia as they did with Iraq. I hate oversimplifying, but it really is a school playground situation. You tend not to pick fights with guys you don't think you can easily beat into submission, or if theres nothing in it for you at the end.
Ditto with Mugabe. He's on par with Hussein in terms of attrocity and all the U.N can do is tut with disapproval.
Back to Clone Wars, I agree that the whole 'oops two reviews posted then pulled, we teh forgot or weren't told about an embargo' is questionable, but to launch into tirades about the writers in wrong. Their site, their creative input = their call.
The world and his wife knows this will be disappointing and lacking at best. If people want to attack anything, attack Warners' (and other studios) fantastically cynical 'embargo the duds, turn to AICN to pimp the good' policy. -
...press embargo or not. Harry thinks Clone Wars stinks. I know he thinks it stinks. I won't be rushing out to see it. So who gives a fuck whether the review is down again until Friday?
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...But its been circling the mainstream drain faster and faster in the last couple of years. I'd be sad to see it go, but its sort inevitable. Nothing can keep going forever. Otherwise I'd still be buying Fangoria from the newstand. Just compare Harrys review of Episode 2 with this incident Boot.
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When I first heard about this site there were rumours that AICN could make or break a film BEFORE release.....
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...Are you a fucking retard? Kick off just like Iraq? THEY HAVE KICKED OFF JUST LIKE IRAQ. Bush and Blair told the U.N. to suck their dick as they raped and pillaged some backwards shit hole, and Russia is doing exactly the same. I can't believe Bush even had the nerve to open his mouth in public to condemn a superpower using terrorism as an excuse to steal resources from a small country and attempt to increase their influence in a part of the world they aren't liked much in. Now thats some fucking hypocrisy that talkbackers can agree upon.
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It's all about the money. Keeping the studios sweet, being corporate whores. Not biting the dick that feeds you.All of which is fine from a business perspective. It also shows AICN for what it really is.Oh and for those that don't understand why they would show it a week early, please engage your brains - obviously not everyone in the screening was under the same embargo. Do you think they are going to hold individual screenings for each organisation, or screen it en masse to a wide range of people but give them different restrictions on when they can review?
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What if George Lucas had all of these story lines, concepts, bad ideas, great ideas, lovable characters and Jar Jar all in mind, when he was smoking pot in college? If when he says he had the story in his head all along, and now he has the freedom to do whatever the hell it is he's doing, well good for him. I mean the man has children that aren't gonna pay for college themselves, and honestly who here wouldn't want a kick ass ranch with no freakin' neighbors and all the highest geeky toys at their disposal?
And a Darth Vader bodyguard to boot!
As far as the reviews go, if the movie is really as bad as it's sounds like it's going to be, the guys at AICN news can tell us in detail on friday how shitty it is. Hell that's what we thrive for.
I've been reading this site since the first rumors of the LotR movie, and the site has grown to have one of the best online community of readers, so if we have to wait til friday for the guys to tell us how much the movie sucks, I guess we wait.
Keep doin what you do guys. but keep in mind, that yeah the studios give you those perks to see things early, that the reason you guys are getting those perks is because you run a site where there are so many passionate fans..
we're all big boys and girls, but every once in a while a lesson in patience does us good..
Thanks -
...For anyone who saw any of the promotional art work or witnessed the incredibly shitty trailers. I was dumbfounded that some tards were even looking forward to two hours of video game cut scenes in the first place.
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Aug 12, 2008 3:51:12 AM CDT
Quote: "Lucas’s little cartoon movie isn’t worth all this sound
by sheathledger
a review in itself no?
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Anybody remember convicted felon Joe Hallenbeck aka Michael Gerhard when AICN was posting reviews by convicted felon? Just so we're clear here.
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Making mistakes is horrible, but pretending nothing happened is much worse, guys. When, if ever, will this simple truth get to you? Now would be a good time.
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Agreed, but I think it's more a case of Lucas himself isn't worth all this sound.
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america seems to be going around invading other sovereign nations.. it seems if any country needs "liberating" its the us.
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...Got some good early reviews. Pirated copy reviews used to be semi common around here, even Harry indulged. I personally don't have an issue with them stopping that though, cause Piracy is a dick thing to do. I believe in supporting film makers, to a certain extent (cinema owners and distributors less so).
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It seems hard to believe this is the same site that tried to crash the Oscar winners. All the "cookies" and "pwesents" and wanna-be producing credits are gutting it of the rebellious nature it once had - or at least tried very hard to have.
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That's a nicer way of saying what I did. I concur, sir. And don't mean to be too pissy to the staff here. Just, maybe a new underground outlaw site is needed.....
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an opinion towards whether a movie is good or bad?.... oh yeah that's right because when you become a felon, you lose your opinion card... wait, no I'm pretty sure you just can't vote anymore, or buy handguns.
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It looks terrible. I have to think though, that if AICN had obeyed an embargo back in the day would we have go the legendary BATMAN & ROBIN review? Stick it to the man. Fuck Warners and their lousy movie.
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don't forget. Kids, mortgages, loans. It happens
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don't forget. Kids, mortgages, loans. It happens
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I sat through the holiday special and two Ewok movies. How bad can this be? With my Cinemapass it will only cost me my time, and a small part of my soul.
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due to its success. don't get me wrong, it's still a great read.
and i think it's still sticking to its convictions, eg. the site certainly showed how much lucas messed up by rejecting the darabont script.
i think this whole thing reflects in part how much fan's estimation of Lucas has fallen. Even during the time of the prequels you could entertain an apologist's point of view. I even remember seeing people coming out of the phantom menace convincing themselves they liked it. But now, any apologist now comes off as just some weirdo loon bag.
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Aug 12, 2008 4:38:01 AM CDT
Mori, you are becoming a really pissy guy
by the gospel according to bastardface
You're constant disdain for your readership is amazing. You may paint me as another asshole who wants to be ugly and nasty, but I'm not. I just find your constant vitriol towards the whole AICN Talkback community to be baffling. You have forgotten your roots. The best thing about AICN are the Talkbacks. I have been entertained to the hilt by some of the most hilarious and insightful commentary by lowly T'Bers. You shouldn't tar everyone with the same brush.
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Why did Lucas have a premiere for this movie (I saw an interview where he claims it's the first of his movies ever to have one) but them WB embargoes? I mean, embargoe is ALWAYS the sign of a studio knowing that advance word of mouth will be bad, right? (Someone please put me right here - has there EVER been a case of a movie being embargoed because it was GOOD?) So if you are keeping schtum, why the premiere?
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I am one of the few that really liked the prequels - well, 2 and 3 anyway, although I saw each of them twice in the cinema, and own each on DVD. So that makes me a pretty solid fan. I would book seats to the opening weekend weeks in advance. But with this movie, I can't explain why, I'm not up for it. Can't get excited about it. Anyone else feel like that? It's sad. I truly think that the sex Star Wars movies are one of the greatest things in the history of cinema. I mean it. I have a couple of friends who watch loads of Bergman, French films etc and never saw Star Wars, and when they watch the Star Wars movies (especially, IV and V, obviously) it's blown their minds. I'm not saying that Lucas is better than Tarkovsky or anything, but what he's done in creating a word (that's not an adaptation of a book) is incredible.
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Just making up for a lack of a First poster. Only time will tell if this is an accurate post...
So what are we talking here? Has Harry sold out? No, he hasnt. Neither has the AICN team. But things have inevitably changed since the exciting days when Harry was shown a top secret video of SW:ATOC months before release, or since the days when WB would literally blame Harry's site for the poor performance of a Batman film, or the days when spies risked their lives to get a review in before release, or the days when there were no shitty embargoes. AICN was radical in the past. Now it is simply different because other film sites have emerged and peoples's lives move on. What AICN is now is a hardcore film geek community where opinions are no holds barred and absolutely noone is banned from TBs. Not even TalkbackDeath...until now! Wow, now we can be banned for posting up a AICN review! AICN is still ours, no one is selling out. Its just no one at AICN is daring to break rules anymore. Harry has to progress in life, so he has become a TV personality and movie producer and now a husband. That changes a person but thats life, and it aint for the bad. Everyone just has to move on and cherish the good 'ol days. That said AICN still fucking rocks, we still get exclusives, we still get wacky reviews from the team including Harry's unique chocolate covered pussy style, we still bitch like we never bitch before and we are still talking/bitching/crying/praising about fucking STAR WARS as we did for over a fucking decade. We maybe dissapointed about AICN giving in to the embargoe shit but one thing hasnt changed whilst our indivuals lives has aged and moved on, the TALKBACKERS. We still come here and to bitch, defend, attack and man, its bliss. Long live AICN.
Can I have a freebie now, please for my pro AICN site review? A Harry Doll? Quint signed shark? a Moriary signed cap? No? Fuck.
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they DO have early screenings, quite a few of them too. Do they honestly thing negative reviews a few days before a screening is going to make a difference? If that's the case then stop all screenings, trick your fans into seeing another stupid jedi story and thats the end of that.
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Aug 12, 2008 5:11:43 AM CDT
Harry hates the movie and slaps it down harder than I have seen
by suddenlyhats
No wonder they embargoed the review. Feel free to rearrange the following words cribbed from Harry's review until they make sense to you. "The film hated I. IT HATED. IT REALLY HATED!" - Would someone who was worried about offending WB or Lucas write with such vitriol? The shadow of the banhammer falls upon me...but I'm sticking up for Harry.
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Aug 12, 2008 5:18:15 AM CDT
Harry's Bad Review & The Embargo Which Is Attracting Attention T
by media messiah
I understand Harry's position fully, something I have been calculating and wondering about for sometime now. This industry is ruthless and he has a family to take care of. The reason why I understand, is I'm trying to create a family of my own, and sometimes you have to alter your maverick ways to make a way for those whom you love, which means having to stay silent in unfair situations, and for Harry, this may be one of those very instances. As for Lucas, he is well aware of what is going on here. I guarantee you, someone close to him most certainly would have advised him of the matter by now, if only a nephew or assistant, etc. These people do not live in a vacuum. Hell, I even know people who know Lucas. One phone call and the embargo would stop, so trust me, Warner isn't acting on its own here...this is coming from Lucas Film in concert with Warner. The problem is, however, by their actions, they are only attracting more unwanted attention to Harry's bad review. Until I heard of this embargo, I never even knew of Harry's posting, but now I do...and so does everyone else who wants, or doesn't want, to know.This movie will bomb, and clearly, this is the reason why Lucas Film fears early negative reviews, which are hitting the press via internet sites, but trying to hide them only draws people's attention to those very bad reviews...generating bad word of mouth in advance.Note To Lucas: Hire Joss Whedon to write and direct for you and stop locking out new talent from emerging. I recall, Francis Ford Coppola spotted you on one of his sets admiring him, but too shy to ask for a job. He walked over to you and gave you a job, how about paying it forward by reaching out to new talent outside of your sphere of influence for once, Mr. Lucas??? The "Yes Men" surrounding you are destroying the something wonderful that was Star Wars and you are just standing-by allowing it to happen, like a modern Howard Hughs, prisoner to your fortune, fame, and those in your employ. What a tragic shame ,because those aren't the people who have loved you through the years, nor do they now...it is all of us kids who grew-up loving your creations. We lash-out at you because we want you to listen and see the cliff which you are being led toward, that is why we often attack you with loud and mean words, as no other way of speaking to you seems to be working. Perhaps it is time that we remain silent, and just watch you fall from the cliff that you are so determined to topple from, as it appears the only way that you will learn that, just like the Jedi, you have been betrayed, from within.
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Respect the embargo - though it appears you're legally and morally in the clear to write what you want, when you want - and then draw a line in the sand. Refuse any more jollies from WB or Lucasfilm, starve their mediocre projects of oxygen and write what you want when you want. AICN has always been - for me - about what's coming up, the cool stuff that is round the corner; reviews of films that are out there? I can take or leave.
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but I can't be bothered to google it: - by 'embargo', it covers the site right? The writers and/or readers? Specifically theres been a tonne of previews that people even in this TB have attended - if they submitted reviews to AICN, presumably they wouldn't be able to publish them due to this situation.
If that is the case, then thats something else entirely which I would take issue with (as mentioned I respect the staff for respecting WB due to their position but thats their perogative. By locking out an audience by dictating what views can and cannot be discussed thats something else). If it isn't the case why haven't why seen a tonne of official reader reviews by now?
This looks dire. The Force Unleashed however looks like it may have good potential. Agree with the above comments about making a flick about that. -
Everyone should read what these two have written, both articulate and accurate and most sane people would agree with everything they have said...yeah you know make some jokes about the site and maybe have little digs at Harry etc but come on its a Fanboy site written by Fanboys..they are us and I doubt we would react any different if we where in the same positions as them.
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but I can't be bothered to google it: - by 'embargo', it covers the site right? The writers and/or readers? Specifically theres been a tonne of previews that people even in this TB have attended - if they submitted reviews to AICN, presumably they wouldn't be able to publish them due to this situation.
If that is the case, then thats something else entirely which I would take issue with (as mentioned I respect the staff for respecting WB due to their position but thats their perogative. By locking out an audience by dictating what views can and cannot be discussed thats something else). If it isn't the case why haven't why seen a tonne of official reader reviews by now?
This looks dire. The Force Unleashed however looks like it may have good potential. Agree with the above comments about making a flick about that. -
Like the Corners of my mind
Misty water-coloured memories, of the way we were.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hdlPhoqnicc
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U lot at AICN are just like Jasper Carrot and Ben Elton. Once upon a time u were relevant, funny, and people respected you, but as time has gone by you sold out. Be it for kids, the mortgage, whatever, but now I am sad to say you are just The Corporate Motherfuckers' Bitches. You've lost track of why you started this page in the first place, and now people see you for what you were, and what you have become.
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...in every review medium on Earth. I've seen it pretty often with video games. Yes, it happens frequently when the publisher/studio etc expect lackluster reviews. But it can also happen when a certain publication has exclusive "first review" rights.
But it doesn't matter WHY there was an embargo. AICN had two choices: pull the reviews and stay on WB's good side, or keep the reviews up and be barred from WB press screenings for the next decade. Not to mention the other studios who might not invite AICN to an embargoed screening out of fear that they'd ignore said embargo.
Grow up kids, fight a cause that matters. -
Aug 12, 2008 6:20:23 AM CDT
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH GOING ON ...
by bringingsexyback
over a cartoon.
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Why can't AICN take a stand and refuse to acknowledge such embargoes? Rather, refuse to review movies that have such an embargo. You might miss out on some early screenings, but am sure you will win over some Die Hard fans you been losing in recent times. You can always review such movies on release day when you see them in a public screening. And trust me, even if you're late, your word will carry more weight than of the ones who saw it in a press screening but decided to silence themselves. YEAH, embargoes are part of industry and rules of the game... but as someone mentioned, you guys were the MAVERICKS... Be Han Solo or Luke... not one of the faceless nameless Storm Troopers to fill the screen.
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Ha ha ha ha that was brilliant...used to love a bit of Jasper Carrot...and Ben Elton especially that period from The Young Ones to Black Adder Goes. Some of the stuff they come up with during that period has only ever been bettered by Faulty Towers.
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I want to see the sex Star Wars movies. Fuck Lucas and his cartoons, that is definitely the way to go. Where do I get tickets?
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He was a politically correct smarmy twat right from the get go and possible the smuggest person I have ever had grace my tv screen.
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Empire have already printed a review so why stop people posting them on the internet?
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The sex Star Wars movies are great! You should see them. Mos Eisley turns out to be the proverbial 'dirty port town', and while Solo is shooting Greedo, you get to see Chewbacca rut some whore round the back of the cantina Meanwhile Jabba, as you probably guessed, is a card-carrying Burlesque fan, and there's a lot more of that funny dancing.
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ben elton was relevant. check out what he did in the 80s' onwards. my point though, is people will look back on AICN, and think what a pile of annoying amateur cack ? Did we really read that sheeit ? Just like Mike Myers at the moment. Was he ever funny ? Or was he always piling out bollox like The Love Guru ?
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..what a sad, sorry end to Star Wars and quite possibly AICN as it used to be.
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You numpty he wrote The young Ones and all The Black Addders so your opinion makes you irrelevant as it is clear you know not of what you speak of. I wonder why AICN are quick to take the reviews down because of corporate pressure and ban members for trying to reprint their reviews but when some asshole comes on and says some of the most Racist, homophobic, sexist, disgusting crap that has become the common norm on this site that these comments are not removed or these members banned...is it something to do with freedom of speech? Then if so I am afraid to say that maybe AICN are a bunch of Hypocrits
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Granted Mr Lucas has slapped a Star Wars (TM) on anything and everything (bubblegum to tampons) whilst raping my childhood dreams - right in front of me while I cry in the corner of my dark room...sorry, but you won't catch me paying my 10 quid to get in line with a bunch of crying 12-year old brats to see this film (unless 12-year old's are your bag).
Sure I'll give the torrent a glance, or may even buy the 12th release of the film when it comes out in 3D-Blue-HD-Media-Chip-Disc in a couple of years time - just so I can have the full set. Boo'urns for blocking the review, but fudge it, it's a kids film. I'm just holding out (Bonnie Tyler stylee) for the 'live action' TV series which Mr Lucas is stepping away from, and then we can all flame...nay napalm the reviews of this. -
In my view he was a smug middle class opportunist who built a career on Thatcher bashing - hardly the hardest thing to do.
Right from the start his fake "ordinary bloke" accent and his cosying up to wimmin should have been a dead give away of how fake his act really was.
Maybe he made some valid points and was sometimes funny, but this guy was establishment from the get go. -
had to be said.
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...Um, this isn't a rare case. Why do you think we were offered opinions of Where The Wild Things Are or Pineapple Express, rather than straight up reviews? Most big film press screenings have stipulations as to when the review is allowed to go to press. The reviewers on this very site have mentioned them time and again. This just seems to be somewhat selectively enforced, and I can imagine a film that has bad word of mouth spreading wanting to enforce it, as opposed to one thats getting great early reviews, like Dark Knight.
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when did AICN talkbackers get to be such whiney bitches? Oh... wait... yeah. Look, when AICN started up, yes, Harry & Co could afford to say 'SCREW THE WORLD!' but now it is a completely different story. Back then, AICN was little more than a pet project, a labor of love by movie lovers. today it is a business, it is the livelihood of the fine people that report here. Today, they need their connections to support the site and continue to use this as a job... otherwise, it may just wind up being Harry KNowles-Target employee who occasionally blogs about movies... and that doesn't sound fun at all. I wouldn't say the movie ads here on the site are a 'conflict of interest' rather than the business side of things. To keep this going as a source of income and allowing the staff to dedicate more time to this, they need those ads to support themselves. Granted, perhaps they should hire a 'business manager' or someone else who controls the ads so that a reviewer isn't selling the space... but, for all we know that may just be the case. .........
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Look at the reviews here and tell me they have changed dramatically from the first days of the site. You can't. They are still heartfelt, emotionally driven reviews. We get stories of how it made the reviewer feel, connecting it to something else in their life, or, should it be a remake or a sequal or pop culture iconography such as Star Wars, parallels to our own childhood if we are in the same age range as the reviewers. Most of the reviewers aren't afraid to let curse words flow and to be non-PC in the way the react and describe things. Funny me, I always thought that set AICN apart in the first place. most reviewers, be it newspaper,(professional) blogger, website, etc take a very clinical approach to their reviews, critical of the acting, the performance, the writing, the directorship, etc in a very "I graduated film school and know how this SHOULD be" way. We don't get that from AICN... never have and never will. Yes, they do look at acting, and directorship and all that stuff... but they look at it from a movie fans perspective.. and that's why it works. So, Harry liked Indiana Jones. So what? People call him a schill. I know people who liked it and they don't write reviews for a living. So Harry liked the Broderick Godzilla flick... so what? I liked it. It was mindless fun. .... All I know is the talkbackers here do nothing but exacerbate the negative stereotypes talkbackers have.
There was an embargoe on reviews. Yes, other sites/sources have run their reviews. So what.. tehy may face punishment for doing so. Remember Episode I? All the embargoes etc for that flick? If a store sold any toys before 12:01 the day they were scheduled, Lucas was going to pull any and all toys, both present and future (and especailly SW related) from that entire chain. Wal*Mart, notorious for breaking street dates, had some pretty high security making sure no one even SAW the toys, as I recall. This is how business is done. If you don't like it, start your own site, ignore embargoes and see how long your website lasts... and how popular it gets. -
I just want you guys to post the clip of Master Blaster saying "Embargo lifted!" when you post your reviews.
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Actually I enjoyed the prequals, but all of you out there still crying, "SW ended with Jedi." "I've been crying in my room since 1999." Really need a life, maybe if you had a life for 20 years and didnt sit around getting stoned thinking about how you would've made the prequals you've wouldn't have been let down. Like the man said, if I remeber the quote, "It's as if I painted a car green and someone is upset because he wanted it red, it's my car." That it is. I have major issues with the prequals, but there are major issues with Jedi, and though not as good as IV or V I-III are as good as VI. Flame on.
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EMBARGO! Coming to theatres everywhere this summer! EMBARGO!
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AWESOME!!
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Aug 12, 2008 7:32:05 AM CDT
Jumped The Shark / Nuked The Fridge / Embargoed The Review
by laserpants
All of these phrases are fine ways to express a marked decline in quality.
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...in Empire and on the BBC News website. Did WB specifically embargo an online review from AICN? If so that is shocking.
Embargo or no embargo of said review, this will be not do well at the box office. It looks cheap and non Star Wars fans will be scratching their heads going "he turned into Darth Vader already, what is this?" I hope it tanks just to humble George Luca$, although not sure anything would... -
Aug 12, 2008 7:41:57 AM CDT
I think it's come down to regardless if it's good or not...
by drafthouse_slave
... if it has "Star Wars" in it's title, the Talkbacks will be 99% negative. I, like everyone else, had issues with the Prequels, BUT we still got the Prequels that Lucas always said they would be. We still got the greatest Lightsaber duel on Screen (Anakin v. Obi-Wan on a Volcanic Planet!) we got our Clones, we saw Palpatine come to Power and we saw The Twins be born and sent to their hiding places. Sorry but those were the plot points that needed to be met by myself and a great number of fans. The ticket sales, the DVD sales and the Cable ratings speak for themselves. for the small minority here who get pissed at Lucas in these talkbacks, there's Millions of people outside of here that LOVE what he's done and are waiting with baited breath for the Clone Wars. Lucas said from the get go that the Prequels were not the second coming and to expect as much is setting yourself up for a disappointment. I went into each film with LOW expectations and I was not disappointed. Sure Jake Lloyd sucked, Sure Jar Jar was off putting (I actually didn't mind him. It was likely the early word he was horrible). Sure Hayden was stiff in AOTC, but he loosened up in SITH. The duels were great. The effects were seemless (and anyone who says different is an idiot with ZERO experience with such things. The Mummy Movies and Van Helsing are CRAP effect, done by ILM... shows their effects budgets were LOW). Just stop for a second, realize that everytime you say "Lucas destroyed my Childhood" that you sound like a fucking moron.
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You can't keep regurgitating this fucking story!!! Get some new fuckin' ideas George!!! Nobody wants to hear a story that's been told over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over... Oh yeah, xmas special... and over again.
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'Note To Lucas: Hire Joss Whedon to write and direct for you' - WTF are you talking about? When Whedon makes anything in the least bit comparable to THX 1138, American Graffiti or Star Wars give us a call.
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...I agree for the most part. However, it was BETTER when it was Harry Knowles, Target employee. Better for the fans, but obviously minimum wage don't pay for lap band surgery. Mourn the once great site, and sit back and wait for the successor. Meanwhile, see how far you can push things before Jack Nance gets you banned. How have the reviews changed? Their reviews of major release upcoming movies. There used to be a bucketload more rough cut screenings. Which is why most people came here. Maybe the studios are getting better at controlling those leaks, or perhaps people are just less interested in reading them or writing them. Also Only1, you seem to miss the point that the site BECAME popular by ignoring embargoes and such. Being banned from the ranch wasn't such a worry back then, I guess. Its time someone took an Apache Gunship to Warner Brothers and settled this embargo dispute once and for all.
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They're here already! You're NEXT! YOU'RE NEXT!!!!!
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speilberg and lucas pretty much MADE everyone's childhood, lucas is only destroying his own empire, of which we made him king.he's not destroying your childhood, your childhood is still there. he's just totally destroying his own legacy by this point.
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...I own and enjoy the original trilogy, and some of the other shit, like the ewok movies and Droids, crap like that. I've seen each of the prequals once, didn't like them at all, and having seen bits and pieces, I'd rather get cat aids then sit through either pile of shit clone wars.
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I got the chance to read both Harry and Massarym's (sp?) reviews before they were removed and frankly nothing surprised me in the least. Lucas should just leave it alone. Not only because he's run out of ideas and taken SW as far as it can possibly go, but also because whatever new SW material emerges in the future, negative reviews will automatically follow.
Star Wars is dead. -
No one cares about this ugly cartoon anyway. WB don't want reviews to appear because obviously the film is crap. End of the story. What I notice is that weeks after weeks, Moriarty becomes more and more bitter when answering talkbackers. Fencing your way out of those accusations of being a sell-out must certainly be annoying , I'll grant you that. But when you start to feel condescending and sometimes at the limit of insulting your readers (true, most of those talkbackers are silly), well obviously, it's time to move on and do something else. otherwise the bitterness really translates as a bit pathetic you know. I'm sure film criticism will survive your departure towards more creative activities. Peace.
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that posted Harry Knowles' review of the Episode II "early cut," i.e., the one he saw on a laptop in a hotel room, "convinced that agents of Lucasfilm were going to knock down the doors"?
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...isn't just the bitching from some of the pansy-assed wankers here; its the realization that there are still people in the world who actually care about another Star Wars film! Almost as though Lucas hadn't spent the last ten years taking a prolonged shit over the entire franchise. Fucking hell, people - when will you learn not to give Lucasfilm any more of your money? I piss on anyone who thinks they can defend any of Lucas's highly polished digital turds, including the normally sane AICN reviewers who failed to slam Crystal Skull.
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QUOTE "'Note To Lucas: Hire Joss Whedon to write and direct for you' - WTF are you talking about? When Whedon makes anything in the least bit comparable to THX 1138, American Graffiti or Star Wars give us a call." ---- HAHAHHA.... THX 1138 - 1971, American Graffiti - 1973, Star Wars - 1977.... maybe you can tell me the last time Lucas made anything comparable to these too... then you can start bashing Whedon.
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suspicious activity here except by WB. They obviously how much this is going to suck at screenings and just don't want anyone reporting it before it hits the screenings, thus reducing the impact it has. To be honest any new Star Wars project has to be approached with idea that it will be crap.
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Because it was a poorly written piece of shit...
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i'm gonna move a few rows back and a few seats away.
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Aug 12, 2008 9:10:30 AM CDT
This film NEEDS to BOMB...Lucas needs to get the message.
by fleshmachine
that his artistic decisions are not at all very good. how i wish they were. I can't think of any other movie/band/author/politician etc that has fallen so far as Star Wars. From 3 of the greatest films every made..to 3 of the worst.
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...But I don't want Winston Smith wielding his digital eraser on me.
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let's see if this post disappears
http://www.lukeford.net/profiles/profiles/harry_knowles.htm -
that is a good question that was asked above: What was the point of the screening? Why advance screen to journalists if they can't write about it until everyone else has had a chance too see it anyway? whats the point?
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Two cents.You don't have the right to post here. You have the privilege. And since AICN is a privately owned website, that privilege can be revoked at any time.The next time you walk into a bar, try calling the bartender a "hack" while questioning his personal/professional motives in front of the other patrons. Then try counting the number of seconds you last in that bar before you get your ass thrown out on the street.
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a group of people complaining about a review being taken away from them of all things. You guys are pretty weird. Does anyone here have plans on having the review professionally mounted and put on display in your livingroom? C'mon, hands up...
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...used to be outside the Hollywood machine. Magazines like the Hollywood Reporter and Empire are so gushing about fucking EVERYTHING in their previews/interviews and reviews is because they are part of the system what with film advertising etc. I am not talking about being positive about films, but having journalistic integrity and report on things with an object stance. It seems that online films sites seem to be going the same way. Now I am not commenting on this embargo/Yawn Wars nonsense, but the fact that years and years ago, sites like AICN used to be outside the system, reporting on scripts that leaked, using reports from those who had seen previews and having the guts to tear down films like "Batman and Robin", also seeing potential in films like "Titanic".
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Two things:
1 - How many people on this thread slagging The Clone Wars off have actually seen it and not just jumping on the easy bandwagon of attacking LFL products?
2 - Embargo. Wierd, my TCW review went up on my site and another affiliate site yesterday and WB seem more than happy with it, No mention of embargo or dates we can post, nothing at all.
Any thoughts? -
where people rise up to make these grandiose, dramatic, martyr-ish statements and lectures about something they can't possibly actually care about. For a brief moment on the internet, Harry's review of a cartoon was the tank at Tiananmen Square and you were the chinese guy bravely standing there, a lone here on a world of injustice, speaking your mind consquences be damned. "You guys used to MEAN something MAN!...sob..."
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And it truly is terrible. I mean forget about the story etc. They didn't even get the lip synching correct. The Animations are substandard. It looks less next gen than most video games out there and this thing is pre-rendered. Very disappointing. I think most people are complaining about the integrity and right write a review after viewing, if not then why show it..!! Rediculous situation.
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considering this isn't even a real movie, it's a TV pilot that they figured they could make some extra cash from because it has "Star Wars" in the title.
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And Harry's missing review is poor Tom Robinson. You are Tom Cruise, Harry is Jack Nicholson, and goddamn it, you want the TRUTH. You're Henry Fonda and Harry is Lee J Cobb. Amirite?
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"if you repost Harry’s review in the talkbacks, you will be banned. No warning. No appeal" I thought we defeated fascism last century?
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Most studios hold press screenings early and have embarbos in place for reviews. That is why movie reviews generally are printed on the day of release in news papers. It used to be, you wouldn't see any reviews of movies until that Friday when the film you've been looking forward to for months was finally released.
Embargos aren't new - it's just that with the advent of the Internet, the studios couldn't really stop every online outlet from posting them up early, so they let a lot of it slip by - especially when the reviews are good.
We all know, if Harry and Massa's reviews had been gushing positive reviews, the embargos wouldn't have been enforced. TDK was probably also embargoed, but why would WB stop those reviews for hitting? Hypocritical? Absofuckinglutlely.
It will be interesting to see if Warner Bros now takes a sronger stance against all future early reviews for AICN and other online outlets. They made an unfortunate decision to force AICN to remove these reviews, because now that this is so blown out of proportion, it will cause more damage to the film than if they had said nothing at all.
The biggest mistake AICN made was allowing Massa's review to go up right after Harry's review was yanked - and then leaving it up for half the day yesterday.
But it's a new day, and who really cares? -
...Why do you bother reading and contributing the talkbacks? Why not do something meaningful with your time?
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I mean, lets all just think about this. It's like bitching about your favorite tv shows' creators taking the show in a direction you don't agree with. You can bitch and complain about it all you want, but its not your vision. You're just a tourist. This is the same scenario. All the talkbackers on here bitching about AICN honoring the Clone Wars embargo can bitch all they want to and continue to do so louder and more harshly because its an anonymous forum, but at the end of the day all their talking is for nothing because this isn't their sandbox. They're just tourists here. We all KNOW that AICN hated The Clone Wars (mostly) so whats the real problem here? That AICN isn't living up to some sort of "rebel yell" standard that some of the readers think they should live up to? Fine. Go somewhere else then.
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which I will not be quoting. But, "sigh", if Harry hates it...at least if he had liked it there would always be the chance of a silly popcorn movie to be entertained with. I'll wait for Mori's. For those complaining, get over it. They let us see the reviews, anyway! Yes, they took them down under pressure, but they still put them up in the first place. That's worth something.
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I find it ironic that a website which achieved its huge success by reporting on movie news and reviews BEFORE the studios wanted them to now backs down when the studios say so. Would the Batman & Robin review had been taken down if the studiso asked? Not at the time no but now it seems the money, fame and opportunities AICN provides Harry and Co are too much to risk upsetting the masters they now serve. Maybe in this instance they don't want to ruin the potential of any future visits to the Skywalker ranch?
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Anakin IS Darth Vader. The End. The love affair with SW is over, as with anything Mr. Lucas revisits.
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You're a jackass for making an issue of this. They all fucking hated the movie. They said it. We've all read it. If they "served the masters," as you so tritely put it, wouldn't they back the movie?
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heh.
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Frankly, AICN doesn't NEED you. They're not privileged to have you as a reader. You're just one of the idiot mob who thinks their opinion matters.
And Mori didn't talk down to you, he talked over you and it just pisses you off that they can do what they want here and you can't. -
If they don't respect the embargo, then they won't be invited to any other screenings. Don't get all up on AICN because they're playing ball. It's called being a grown-up.
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...So they do need Hectal and Co. Just like they need the features to pull in the idiot mob, and to do that they have to play nice with the studios. Which is why you don't see Harry and Moriarty responding to the bleating of the idiot masses with words similar to yours, even though I'm sure they'd like to.
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WB and Lucasfilm will still make a small fortune on this "movie" from people that will see it no matter what Harry's review says or when it's posted.
Warner's and Lucasfilm will make enough from this shady release to pay for this entire series of toy advertisments.
I will go see Tropic Thunder and sneak into this. WB got enough cash out of me for TDK - and Lucas got my cash from the VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD releases of SW - he gets none for this - that should really hurt him, eh? -
That's fine. You can disagree but you'll be wrong.Quote: "I'm not privleged to write here..."Um, yes you are.Quote: "...AICN is priviliged to have visitors."I agree with this portion of your statement. Yes, AICN is privileged to have visitors. Just like any other business, it's the lifeblood of their income and purpose. But, that doesn't mean they can't refuse your business.Quote: "...it won't break my heart to find out cool news from non-sellouts."Somehow, I don't think that anyone will care.
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Harry and Mori could post a column devoted to calling you all the douchebags that you are and it wouldn't affect the readership on the site one bit. No one would go anywhere. Hell, they'd probably get MORE popular.
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is all hollywood is.
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Regarding Moriarty - if you're going to throw personal barbs at him (or any of the other AICN Mods) or call-out his professional integrity, then you had better be prepared for him to defend himself. That's really a no-brainer.
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I just don't see how it matters.
First of all, free speech means nothing here. Nothing. You have no 'rights' here. This is someone else's arena. You don't like it, go start your own site and that can be your arena. The internet is a public arena for sure, but don't think site owners can't censor you. . . .
Second, consider it from a business perspective. How can AICN best serve their readership? By pissing off the studios and not having access to movies in advance to review? Or to OPENLY express their disatisfaction with the film AND still honor the embargo? I just don't see how they sold out on this. If anything, they've acted to please both the (ungrateful) readership and the studios both. -
...In fact, as far as the time killing exercise that AICN goes, its at its most entertaining when the "reviewers" don't offer their opinions on films, rather do something embarassing that talkbackers can bitch and argue about for days. Shit, its the only reason to visit AICN. The news is old, the articles are embarassing, but the talkbacks, especially the angry nerd variety, are funny as fuck. Whenever something like scriptgirl or Gone or Harry being a hypocrite pops up, its worth logging in here, rather than reading real reviews and interviews over at the av club or trolling with idiots over at something awful.
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Cripes aplenty.
Well two.
First; why set it between eps 2 & 3*? People want to see Vader!
Second; soundtrack is ripoff of eps 1. So no attempt at originality here.
*The promising bit is maybe they'll be another animated movie between 3 and 4 with our man Vader in more agile sabre fights than is possible in live action pictures. -
No, you're wrong. Because Whedon has never and will never make anything as good as THX, Graffiti or Star Wars. He hasn't got it in him. THX alone has an understanding of visual composition and sound design light years beyond Whedon's TV on the big screen approach. Lucas is a gifted filmmaker. One day he'll shock us all, when he moves away from his fixation on Star Wars.
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I don't think anyone really cares that you guys took the reviews down or that it was a negative review. It's that it came so soon after Harry's immature and uninformed "freedom of speech" rant. The situations are almost identical. You can claim that WB or Lucas could sue your for posting a review earlier than they'd like but if you didn't sign anything and the invitation didn't mention the embargo then we all know that's not going to happen. The real reason the reviews were taken down is that you're worried about not being invited to any other press screenings (also something I doubt would happen). WB asking you not to post a review is pretty similar to a group of concerned citizens asking to have what they consider to be an offensive word removed from a movie. The only difference is, Harry took his review down and as far as we know, retard will still make an appearance in Tropic Thunder.
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...Make a watchable movie again. Its only been 30 fucking years.
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I hear what you're saying. But you just have to listen to Lucas talking to realise he knows his shit. Listen to the audio commentary over the lightsabre battle between Dooku and Anakin in Clones where Anakin slashes the power cables. Illuminating.
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Do you realize that two of your three comments sound like the opening paragraphs of a fascist manifesto?
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...That he cant write nor direct nor even conceive an interesting idea anymore. Hes gone. Lost it. Dude is like Paul McCartney. Not to slag on him, when he was firing he was the man, but its clear to see there is not a shred of ability left. Theres nothing in any of the prequals or creative decisions hes made since the end of Jedi thats any good. Sure, hes not going to embarass himself too horribly, but managing average, rather than terrible, isn't something to be excited about.
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...If he knows what hes doing, then how come with infinite resources, time and creative freedom, he can't muster up a single interesting scene. Let alone an entire movie?
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$25 million.
A good haul, considering that all this is is a very expensive ad for a TV series. -
Which is usually what happens when IMMENSE WEALTH clashes with craven shills desperately clinging to hollywood's teet.
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Its just a website guys. Really think some people should...ya know....shut up.
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deep breaths... ok, you're blowing things out of proportion. count to ten... you're doing great...
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and have a good laugh at all of this while they circle jerk into a bonfire of jar-jar plush dolls.
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seriously? You're calling me a fascist because I'm giving you an accurate state of affairs. I'm not really sure if I should be offended by that or not. Give me a reason - ANY REASON at all - why you think you should have an 100% uncensored voice here?
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Now here is where I disagree. It doesn't bother me at all that Moriarty uses this site as a part of his resume. He's done some excellent writing on this site, and I personally thought that Cigarette Burns was a decent script. I don't fault Moriarty for following his dreams. There is sometimes a tinge of arrogance, like y'know when they say the star of a single A ballteam acts "major league." So yeah I kind of get the "aren't you so jealous of me?" vibe from aicn sometimes. Which is a shame. Don't get me wrong, I'm no player hater. When I hear tell someone has been successful in their pursuits my automatic response is happy. I think what causes the animosity that the staff so often complains about is the suggestion that their life is somehow more full than the people who read and talkback. The losers in their parents basements stereotype. Don't get me wrong I love this site, but what I used to love most about it was that it was geeks running a site for geeks, and there was genuine feedback among equals. I don't think it's treated that way anymore, as evidenced by this article, by anytime Moriarty condescends in a talkback, and by apologists like Mayhew in here.
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nuff said
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So he changed the mythos.....good. The mythos needs to change or we just get rehash of the same old shit with Superman picking up cars and shit. Fuck that. Lets try something new. -
Okay everyone's picked the corner they are going to fight and no-one's going to back down but be lets' be totally brutally honest here. At the time when Batman & Robin came out would Harry have pulled the review if the studios asked him to delay it until the movie came out? Be honest with yourself...you know he'd have said F YOU! and kept it online.
No one comes to AICN for scoops anymore. They haven't for a while. They get scoops far quicker and written far better on other sites. They come here because it's funny. It's funny to see the badly written reviews full of Amazon links and poor attempts to sound passionate about the subject but let's face it, you can only have so many favourite movies, genres and movies which made you do a sex wee when you were growing up. It's funny to see Harry and Moriarty and co continue to sell out one tiny piece of their soul at a time and it's even funnier to see them try to justify it. It's funny to look through the talkbacks and watch the readers explode like in this one. Let's face it if this site didn't have talkback it would have died a long time ago, people love bitching about everything, especially about this site and the people who run it. Harry and his minions have been laughing all the way to the bank watching us keep this site going! Basically this site is funny, it's entertaining and worth coming back for that alone.
I've ignored it for years, the last time I joined in was when Harry posted his two Armageddon reviews...I think that was the first slippery step tbh. No what irked me this time enough to comment (even though it means nothing really, just another post to bitch over) is Harry's recent freedom of speech rant followed by this. Then there's the article telling fans to stop getting worked up and believing rumours about the next Batman movie and telling us to calm down and not believe such stuff! Cheeky gits, this site has been posting such unconfirmed rumours for years, they practically live of it these days because they can't get much in the way of legitimate stuff as studio insiders would rather go to other websites! AICN sold out years ago and they've been pwned by Lucas. You can like Harry or not, you can choose to defend him or not but it won't change these facts. -
Thanks for the laughs guys
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That was mostly hyperbole, but I think I just gave some reasons in the post I just made.
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You can't match mori's condescension level ...not even close.
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I saw the trailer for this a few weeks ago...and it stunk up the theater like a dinner full of brocolli and pinto beans. I don't need a review to tell me this is a Lucas pickpocket attempt at a few more dollars from the fans who made him rich. This is not a story that needed to be told. What's next? The wacky adventures of Yoda in college? Princess Leia, Alderaan Girl?
I hope this movie bombs hard. -
Um. Generally, I come here to read news about the industry. The reviews are more of a general curiosity, I don't give them much weight, especially considering that some contributers (*cough*Herc*cough) have absolutely TERRIBLE taste. Holding back reviews and info at the request of the people that gave it to you is a professional courtesy that is utterly commonplace and mentioned frequently here.
You may have noticed that almost every single Sopranos/Lost/Heroes/Wire preview that has appeared here in the past few years begins with 'we're only allowed to tell you a few things, highlight for invisotext...' No one was up on the soapbox about freedom of press/speech then...
Also you people may have noticed that the creators of Journeyman asked these guys to sit on info for more than 6 months and they honored it. No one was screaming 'sellout' then.
The ONLY difference about this situation, is the order in which events occurred. Let me ask you, in any AICN's Sopranos previews, if they had broken their word and posted spoilers for say the series finale, what do you think would have happened? HBO would have made a big fuss, asked them to remove it, threatened to never trust AICN again with sneak previews, and then it probably would have been removed until airdate.
The ONLY thing that went wrong here is for once Harry breached the agreement to not post his review until the movie opened. An agreement he's made hundreds of times without you whiny freaks getting sand in your vaginas. -
...not because of any of this review crap. But because they are passing off a tv show premiere as a movie. Its a total rip off. Just trying to grab more cash from Star Wars fans. Please everyone...don't see this "movie." Wait until they show it on TV.
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An affront to decency!!!!!
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Why is it that you people see no problem with the non-disclosure agreements, as long as Harry actually FOLLOWS them and doesn't disclose until he's allowed to? Doesn't that seem weird to you, that when he keeps his word and doesn't disclose, it's not a freedom of speech issue, but when he breaks his word, discloses, then goes back to honoring his initial agreement, it's suddenly an issue? Your anger is simply a failure of logic on your part. Sorry.
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If it's on a beautiful girl, you just wanna lick it.
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How else can we get our early reviews? You people are so stupid. You have no idea how the real world works do you?
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On the one hand, one side has a point. On the other hand, the other side has a point. I can't take this shit anymore.
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Some people are mad, some are just looking to move on. There's only one way to bring peace to the warzone, Harry:
Ban every last one of us.
Kick everybody off the site. It's easy enough to select a new username and rejoin. The people who want to come back *will* come back. The folks who don't want to, won't. It's a clean slate for everyone. Morning in America. -
Because my point was just put far more succinctly by a man named SkullFuck.
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no one likes it when a stranger fucks with theirs...
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You think it's gonna be fun, but then in the middle of it you realize she poops out of there.
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You're out of line Moriarty. People wouldn't have been that upset about the embargo if you're attitude hadn't been so shitty. This whole "you will be banned. No warning. No appeal" nonsense was the wrong way to go with it. Why not just ask us nicely not to link to it. When the few bad apples decide to rebel and link to it anyway, THEN you give THEM attitude... not the whole goddamn talkback community. You stink Mori. I weep for the future of AICN.
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This has nothing to do with not posting spoilers about Sopranos or Journeyman. Wrong argumenta and different planet you are on.
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they are for venting shit and rarely let anything else in.
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they all stink
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if some loser wants post his on aicn, everyone looks elsewhere.
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"I attended a screening of Clone Wars, but agreed to an embargo on any comments on that film until it is released. I agreed to this in order to see the movie sooner than anyone else instead of waiting for the non-embargoed screenings scheduled for later in the week - all out of my own selfishness and lack of any concern for you, the readers who impress our ads and pay our bills. Thank you, that is all.
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i cant seem to find a clone wars review. that must mean that it is good or perhaps even great!see you all at 1201am friday.
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who gives a shit
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Hey, RobinP here, haven't been around in a while, but there ya go. Here I am. Let's look at embargoes. In my day job, I am a website editor and I handle news (real news). Some times we have news and comments to upload before they can become public knowledge. We have to abide by this or our asses are kicked up somewhere beyond our shoulderblades. This would be exactly the same scenario. Now in my evenings, I write for a popular horror magazine and AGAIN we're hit with embargoed content. The implied threat being that if we run a story about a movie before the studios are happy...we get no more info or co-operation from them. So we have to swallow. It's short term reining in for long term good. It's a common practice that we in the communication industry have to live with. Get used to it - we've had to !
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..."full retard"!
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they review comics
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Wow. Moriarty IS a member of the industry. In fact, I believe he's posted his credentials before. The fact that you don't like his body of work is subjective. But god forbid that someone actually try to make a living doing what they love to do, right?And Richard Richard Mayhew's post is correct in his assessment of your "rights" here. You may need to familiarize yourself on owning and/or running a business and what it means to provide a public forum such as this.
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Not a review. A Preview. Which is a first impression based on clips and trailers and media bits...It looks absolute fucking garbage.
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Well it doesn't take a genius to put the puzzle pieces together to figure out if this is a good movie or not. Harry HATES this movie (which he doesn't ussually admit to unless it is completely undeniable), Massywyrm hates this movie, The movie people don't want anyone reviewing this movie until the day of release which basically is the first day that they can't stop reviewers from giving nasty reviews. Well it all adds up to a terrible movie that nobody with any sense should be going to see. We don't need to see their actual words describing how bad the movie is to figure this one out- this is three thumbs down.
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Feels best when they're tight.
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Aug 12, 2008 11:27:07 AM CDT
What The Embargo Tells Us Is That The Movie Is Really Bad
by laserpants
AICN's compliance tells us that they're basically a part of the industry and as such have to play by the rules of that industry. I don't see that as anything to be upset about, because, really, I don't care about any illusion of "journalistic integrity" this site is alleged to have had at one time in that blurry soft focus halcycon time of the late 90s. I come to AICN to vent, praise, and make with the funny. I'm actually more interested in the grand mal stupidity of it than anything else. And make no mistake, AICN has ALWAYS been about the funny and the bickering amongst obsessive socially retarded weirdos. I never took the reviews seriously. Oh. also, I like that they provide links to stuff... some of which I hadn't even seen 3 or 4 days prior!
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They are often filled with poopy.
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Dingleberries like to cling to them
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At least the header for the review is still there, so AICN didn't totally bitch out. You do keep the lube nearby though, don't you Moriarty? Journalistic integrity? Nada. Fucking ads for movies being reviewed shows a huge bias, dontcha think? One doesn't bite the hand that feeds and for you to deny that you don't enjoy the perks and freebies is a lie. This site doesn't even have entertainment industry news anymore; items are hardly news once they've been posted to 8 other sites and AICN doesn't post it for days. Take Bernie Macs death for instance...scriptgirls bullshit was posted before anything remotely newsworthy was.
And as for a review of Clone Wars, I'll tell you all about it. It's a huge piece of excrement splattered on theater screens everywhere. It's called "Lucas gotta eat". It's more of the SW Marketing Machine. It's not the saga we grew up with anymore, it's a means for keeping ILM bankrolled. It's just about $$$. There is no love for the story or SW universe.
There you have it. -
I guess I'm an absolutist when it comes to free speech. Either you believe in it or you don't.
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Oh, absolutely. We all hold to the belief that we have the freedom to say whatever we want without fear of prosecution. However, the flipside to that freedom is when someone else exercises their right to say, "Not in my joint!"Do you understand this distinction?
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Your website and your magazine may have to rely on the industry dictating when you may publish and when you may not but AICN never used to. This is the point. AICN practically invented insider movie scoops and reviews on the internet BEFORE the industry dictated it. It's obvious now AICN are so scared of losing the money and the access they have to the industry they have to bow down to their masters just like everyone else does. It's a pity as AICN used to be all about 'power to the geek' and not bowing down to the man. I think that's why some are so upset about this latest reversal in AICN policy.
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They should be a major part of any foreplay. Start out gently.
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my girlfriend doesn't let me have input in either
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Who gives a shit, who gives a fuck!
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First to the incredibly dumb shites that bring up the old "How can they fairly review xxx movie when it is advertised on this site... wah wah wah". Well open up your other critics, be it newspaper, TV, radio what ever it don't matter. But they all have the exact same ads for the same movies right next to them as well. Any ad buyer in the world would be fall off the stump stupid to not associate his product with places where people curious about said product venture to. SO GET FRIGGIN REAL ALREADY ABOUT THE ADS!
Second most of you fail to realize that by posting "We do have the clone reviews and they are bad" that mori has completely circumvented the embargo and given a big f.u. to the WB here. The reviews aren't up, but Mori has a a nice big link about the reviews, followed by an explanation of how panty-twisted WB is about them. As well as providing a TB for people to discuss how bad the reviews were. Just about anybody strolling in is going to be aware of what is going on with the movie. -
Warner Bros. has a ton of them.
heheheheeheeee!!! -
I think what AIC did by pulling the reviews was admirable, remember kids it's all fun and games until litigation! If you really feel like the review needs to be "read" then make it into a torrent and distribute it! If no one has the balls to do that and take the blame off of AICN then STFU.....
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Does you let you play with the taint at least?
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Also very important!
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is courtesy of Herc and his massive seemingly endless and probably indiscriminate Amazon link list to all those DVDs. It's appalling!
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You took one for the team. You will be remembered.
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Bringing you the kinda smelly news that happens between Twats and Assholes!
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Or should I say, John Edwards!!
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Not to imply your wife is sick or anything. Sorry, I wasn't thinking as usual.
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And it was critical reviews BEFORE it came out that destroyed it.
AICN was built on that kind of power,how pathetic it seems today.
Very sad indeed. -
Aug 12, 2008 12:05:32 PM CDT
AICN battling for its integrity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by standundermyumbrella
Aintitcool battling for its integrity
Small site takes risk - > gets big - > stops taking risks - > risks audience
Heartfelt response - but does it show the detachment from the community?
For the internet watchers out there, especially the movie buffs among you, there is a fascinating argument going on over at movie site aintitcool.com – which perhaps marks the moment when a once subversive, funny and non-conformist site finally found itself at odds with its readership for becoming too successful and therefore mainstream.
The summary of what happens revolves around a Harry Knowles review of the Star Wars animated film The Clone Wars – which was posted and then taken down, prompting talk of a conspiracy.
One of the site's best know writers Moriarty penned an abrasive and, perhaps unwise response to the community's angry reaction explaining that the review had been pulled because it was under embargo, and if they ran it they would find their access to previews of films restricted by the film industry.
Aintitcool, of course, was created by using moles and rumour to get movie news (that was often under embargo) to its readers first.
Keeping 'the man' happy
But times change and what once was a site that fed off of the scraps and flourished, is now growing fat on the movie industry itself – and the threat of the industry removing its seat from the table is now big enough that the site will risk its relationship with its very readership in order to keep 'the man' happy.
Let's get this straight – Moriarty's response is honest and heart-felt and it makes a lot of sense to a site that needs advertisers and access to movies to flourish. But will it survive if it continues to piss off its readership by being seen as more beholden to the industry than their desire for knowledge?
As commenter Cedar-room says in the comments to Moriarty's piece: "The question is now - do you just not give a shit anymore about telling the truth? Do you prefer to live inside the studios pockets or is the shit they are threatening you with so damn apocalyptic that posting those reviews just ain't worth it? In all seriousness - the entire credibility of AICN hangs on this very question. So can you please explain?"
www.techradar.com
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Ive been here since 1996 or so when you guys used do rough cuts and expose claptrap like BATMAN AND ROBIN etc - flashforward 12 years later and you guys are respecting studio instructions not to review CLONE WARS and i am stupefied and dissapointed - and the tragedy is its a piece of shit lucas high comedy star wars milking-the-cash-cow animated thingie. what the hell happened to you guys.
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He is the worst writer on this site, since he has joined quality has gone down, down, down. Please take him off as a full time contributing writer.
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I agree with you that clone wars isn't worth all the sound and fury. I've seen it, it's bad. period. But what IS worthy of a lot of sound and fury is the fact that you practically admitted, that this site has turned itself into a studio bitch. It is exactly that kind of thinking of the media that allowed AICN's success story. I'm a film reviewer myself, so I do know how the game is played and that especially Warner Bros. can be a major pain in the ass. Call me an idealistic, naive jerk, but I'd like to believe in freedom of the press. Every once in a while the studios try to push the envelope on how far they can go to shit on this freedom. And sometimes it's up to the writers to slap the studio's fingers when they go to far. How about ignoring the next movie they embargo you on? This site is successfull, so you have a certain power. Use it!
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I certainly do. But why provide the medium if all opinions including that of dissenters is not welcome? It's one thing to say "you can't stand in my store and talk about 'the jews'" and quite another to say "you can say whatever you want in this forum that i'm providing, unless i don't like it and then you're banned." Sure it's legal, but that don't make it fair. Do you see the distinction?
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Gimme a break I sure deserve it, it's time I take it to the top!
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Empire can post a lukewarm review, and you can't? Please explain.
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You forgot that one.
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Those actions were taken out of fear. Fear leads to hatred. Hatred leads to death.
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my wife is "sick", but in the good way... that's why she married me
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they have yet to post my "Pineapple Express" review (completely baked edition). it has all the nonsensical ramblings about shit not even related to the movie we AICN TBer's have come to love. of course it may be because I goof on Mori in it... he is a sensitive soul
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...because I'm probably younger than all of you. So perhaps I was never able to witness some of the extradorinary leaks and whatnott that AICN had granted back in the '90s. But i do remember still having loads of cool news and nowhere near the amount of outrage and childish flaming and whining on the talkbacks.
If there's on thing I think REALLY needs to be fixed here, it's the amount of fucking complaining that gets done. Really. This talkback is 100% pathetic. Yes, I think that Moriarty was being harsh and a little obnoxious in his post above. Yeah, I think it's a little uncool that AICN follows a Star Wars embargo though really don't give a shit that much. Yeah, there seems to be a rise in the amount of articles I really don't care one bit for rise up lately but still... all of that WILDLY pales in comparison to the amount of childish pathetic whining that most of you have contributed to - especially this year.
Will I still come to AICN? Of course. I'm not gonna leave the site because I think there's been an unfair banning or two or AICN has followed an embargo on a movie I never gave a shit about (or even if it was one I did). But it's almost not worth it to read these talkbacks anymore, which is a shame. I want intelligent movie discussions that don't evolve into flame wars, and those are few and far between these days.
Oh, and I wouldn't mind a layout clean-up, either. Harry, why have you never done one? I mean, it's easy to sharpen and clean up everything while still maintaining the classic feel. And the Talkback system is YEARS old, too. -
as it was for kids in 1977. Nothing has changed only those of that grew up with the movies and we STILL have those movies to go back to time and time again. There has been no raping of childhood, no direct intention from Lucas to destroy your memories but Lucas wanted to tell the story of Anakin and his fall. He did. It wasn't what the older generation wanted but could our expectations really ever be met? If ANH was released today as a brand new film, would we still love it? I don't think so. We'd be as critical on Lucas as we are on the name McG. Star Wars is special to us all in many ways and I have young nephews who are 6,8 and 10 and they LOVE the prequals. They want to be entertained and that is essentially what Lucas has done. He has crafted 3, admittedly, flawed movies but they still blow the minds of the younger children of today. Yes, Jar Jar was a terrible character but if we were seeing Chewie for the first time now, we'd all fucking laugh. I have ZERO interest in The Clone Wars movie and it's because I feel the prequal milking has pushed this story to the limit and I wasn't impressed by the cartoon either. I think it'a a childrens movie designed for, ahem, KIDS!. I think an awful lot of people need to grow up and stop taking what Lucas chooses to do with his creation so seriously. Just a thought.
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and there is nothing they can do about it. Get over it and move on. I would happily sacrifice reviews for this movie so I can get hundreds more in the future. Besides how many of you haters are going to see this one on opening day anyway? Most of you just want to read people tear it apart so you can complain about it and I think that could wait about three days.
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I like chocolate... a lot
that is all -
it's retarded...
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Once upon a time I worked for a magazine not nearly as big as AICN in comparison and a new Tom Cruise movie was about to be released. I asked the press rep for the date of the press screening. As it turned out, this date was way to late for me to put the planned two page review in the magazine. So the press rep suggested I just write only one page and put a lot of pictures on it, so I don't have to go into the details to much. I told the good man that in that case I will rather ignore the movie altogether. No good review, no bad review, just nothing. Again, the magazine I worked for is not that big and I thought to myself that they won't give a shit wether I write something or not. Next thing I know I was sitting in a screening the next day along with five or six other reviewers who work for very big newspapers. Maybe AICN shoul ask itsef where it stands. Clearly, some of it's readers asking that question...
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I'm really not understanding why some of the readers are blaming the site for not being able to post their reviews (which they want people to read) because of the embargo. Obviously its not their fault, its WB's...so why blame them? Maybe you think the site can work in a vacuum without press releases, press preview showings, and cooperation from the studios, but that just shows your lack of intelligence by blaming the site for the embargo. Obviously the studio wants everyone to spend their $10 to find out the movie sucks. They don't want people reading a bad review and deciding to not spent the money. As a rule of thumb, I usually avoid films that don't want it reviewed before it goes to the screens. If the studios do not have any confidence in the film, then I'm sure as hell not going to shell out any money to make them rich. So, if you kids with computers want to take your aggression out on someone, picket the film or write a nasty letter to WB. And screw Lucas...he has proved time and time again that he could care less about his fans. I for one am not going to see this in the theater....maybe I'll rent it from Netflix later on.
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Aug 12, 2008 12:42:22 PM CDT
all I want to know is, did it suck a bag of dicks or not?
by irrelevntelefant
oh wait, it did.
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I had this long manifesto to write and just decided to slam some beer cans against my head instead. NO! There go the piano lessons! SHIT! I feel much better now! Awesome possum mo'dossum! When does Transformers come out? Will it be animated using those new Cray supercomputers (like in Last Starfigher) or by hand with paint and stuff? I heard its going to be between the Autobots, the Decepticons, the USA, and the Soviet Union all taking place on the M-O-O-N? And what's this hoopla over prequels? What the hell is a prequel? I'd guess something that comes before a quel but I don't know what the hell a quel is and my dictionary isn't speaking to me at the moment.
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People giving rimjobs left right and fucking centre. OK, that's what the industry's all about, but you'd think that wouldn't reach certain quarters. Fuck. Drew is right though, all this fuss over a piece-of-shit pointless CG animation of something we've already seen over and over again. GIVE US THE FUCKING LIVE ACTION SERIES. That live action series is all I care about.
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Like... I can't even begin to describe what's wrong with it, other than it seems like in randomly generates topics that may or may not be related to your search.
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Jeez, the only movies that get embargoed until opening day are pieces of shit that the studios KNOW will tank if people hear how bad they are. Usually the teen slasher movies are embargoed, with the studios hoping they make enough money in the first weekend before everyone hears how awful they are. Is this how far Lucas has sunk, treating the latest Star Wars on the same level of Halloween XXIV ?
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The consequences be damned. No more early reviewer screenings? No more set visits? No more exclusives? Good. Get the site back to its roots as an underground info source. Rumors, secret pics, spy reviews, etc. The stuff that made this place what it was to start with.As for Clone Wars, I don't give a rat's ass. We've seen Anakin's fall to evil and his redemption. The Star Wars story is over.
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95% a diatribe on how his bowels moved during a 1978 saturday morning cartoon about an animated moose who reminded him of the of the guy in (INSERT WHATEVER HUGE MOVIE IS OUT NOW) and 5% actually review. It happens constantly!
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Does anyone remember when this site would post actual spy reports and leaked shit and would post reviews and pictures as a big "fuck you" to the studios? Yeah, well now they fancy themselves as "insiders". Oh well, it was bound to happen. Corporations own us all, so why not AICN?
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95% a diatribe on how his bowels moved during a 1978 saturday morning cartoon about an animated moose who reminded him of the of the guy in (INSERT WHATEVER HUGE MOVIE IS OUT NOW) and 5% actually review. It happens constantly!
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Actually they're the exact same situation, both the withheld spoilers and withheld reviews are an understanding between AICN staff and the people supplying them with advanced screening that they are not to divulge certain info until a certain date, agreed upon by both parties. In one case it's spoilers, in the other it's a review. Harry was shown something in advance under the agreement that he wouldn't write about it until the release date, and he broke the agreement. Also, I'm not sure if this is the case here but many of these 'agreements' made involve the people viewing the screening to sign a non-disclosure agreement. If Harry did this, then him leaving the review up would actually put him in legal trouble. So...pissing off a few whiny little children vs losing his preview privilages (which are the sites bread and butter) and possible legal trouble....yeah, sorry bud. You're just not that important, you can wait until friday to read the review.
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...make a movie as good as Clone Wars and swim in a vast pile of money as George Lucas does every single minute of his life.
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As a few people have tried to say. If the government wanted to remove AICN review, THEN it would be a free speech issue.
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Aug 12, 2008 1:08:51 PM CDT
"If you think it can be done better, start your own fucking site
by excommunicated
"If you think it can be done better, start your own fucking site"
Yeaah, lol... Same thing fanbois say when their favorite movie is getting slammed up the ass. "Let's see if YOU can make a better movie! nyuk nyuk!"
Y'know, I'm not entirely unsympathetic to AICN here. I was once part of an online organization where we were the "outsiders" sticking it to "the man". Then eventually The Man realized if they couldn't beat us, convert us. That's what happens. Every single time. -
I love AICN but I make it a point only to read MORI and QUINT as they are actual "Reviews" that focus on the movie. Harry tends to go off on a tangent and all I want to read about is the movie.
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...tell you what...if Lucas continues to try to stack the deck legit or not....his productions will end up being bland, wooden, and without soul...oh...wait...
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...it was during my presidential campaign. I don't think it is mine though...far too hairy.
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Yeah, it's trading one Warner Brothers movie for another, but what better way to show your support for quality flicks than having a Week Five DARK KNIGHT beat CLONE WARS on its opening weekend?
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...is great isn't it? Don't you just love those talkbackers who do so? We need more talkbackers like that.
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Seriously, you are mighty precious about yourself, aren't you? And astonishingly thin-skinned to let Mori's so-called "condescension" get under your skin to such a degree. The more you whine about it like a little bitch, the more convinced I am you deserve to be condescended to every minute of your life, you pathetic fucking baby.
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... a la that eFilmCritic thing or even the old Film Threat thing is they are putting rules in place that Harry never really claimed to follow, then bashing him for following them. I mean, all these ethical and journalistic transgressions they ascribe to him seem very misguided to me. I never saw this as a proper journalistic site - how could anyone? It's a place you take with a grain of salt and as long as they are up front about it - and God knows Harry has been with his public requests for gifts and whatnot - I really don't care. Actually more than that, I think Harry or whomever should do whatever they want, as long as there is no pretense that this is a formal, journalistic site. Which in general, I'd say there isn't. It's a fun, enthusiastic, sometimes informative, but most of the time community-driven place. For the most part I think AICN fills its singular role very well. Sure, there have been some iffy things, but most of them - like unexplained mass bannings *ahem* - are unfortunately a part of internet life. Doesn't excuse it but it's nothing unique to this site.
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You have relationships with certain producers. Who makes the shows "Masters of Horror?" (Viacom/CBS/Paramount.) And the show "Fear Itself?" (NBC UNIVERSAL.) You are a working writer in HOLLYWOOD! Time Warner is a serious player. Just be honest man. It's really no different than the fact some people cannot state their honest opinion about McCain or Obama because of who they work with in an office. They are having to keep their mouth shut until Nov. 5. Your initial statement was good enough. Now just let this die down.-----later-----m
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Aug 12, 2008 1:38:44 PM CDT
Black people do it better in bed because they have all that time
by for_the_love_of_god
U can't rush greatness...mediocrity needs time, too. I had a pretty popular website years ago. I was blessed with huge natural tits which was a a godsend because U geeks tend to aim at the tits first which is what most classy women like myself want and then when I know U are shooting air I safely open my mouth and look at U like U had your chance. This situation isn't all that different. Christ, Harry looks like a rose - Moriarty looks like a hose - and I sound like a second rate boxer with my third rate prose. Holla. I was an original, dammit. I discovered Vern. I was also the first person to clone a french person from a horse's ass. Moriarty is not a bastard. I am pretty sure he has a mother somewhere although granted she is probably in hiding. Your rapidly becoming the Natalie Maines of aint it cool. Don't seperate yourself from your core audience even if you don't like your core audience. They love you and RESPECT you. U are not afforded the same amount of stupidity they are.
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oh wait, that's hooters...
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I love every one of you morons on this site that can't cop to the fact that every single criticism (other than Jar Jar) of the prequels can easily be applied to the original trilogy.
Bad acting? Check.
Godawful dialogue? Check.
Plot holes big enough to drive a semi through? Check.
I'd respect all of the Lucas hate here if it had any basis in logical consistency, but of course that's too much to expect. Fucking lemmings. I guarantee at least half of you who claim to hate the prequels so much do so only to maintain your "geek cred" on a site like this. -
spanking it to manga and hating on Tarantino...
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The medium is provided to discuss the topic of film/TV/etc and the various sub-topics they touch upon. By doing so, it creates a forum for discussion and generally good-natured Geekitude. However, some Talkbackers have taken it upon themselves to do nothing but flame, bitch, incite, and vomit hatred upon the site and its hosts at every available opportunity. For some bizarre reason, they seem to think that AICN owes them something and/or choose to use the site as some sort of personal platform and playground. This is where the Mods have their limits for what is acceptable.I believe I said this in one of the review TBs: it really says something about Harry & Co. that they allow so much of what goes on in Talkback to continue unabated. These boards are some of the least moderated forums I'm aware of on the web. AICN Talkbackers are often left to police their own here. Now, I've seen both Harry and Moriarty post fairly straightforward explanations for what criteria they use when deciding to bring down the Ban Hammer (threats, racism/sexism/bigotry, multi-post spam, overt and obvious trollishness, the posting of personal information, unwarranted personal attacks, etc.). But it's also obvious that they are not watching the TBs every minute of every day like some other moderated boards. Therefore, we have these instances where racial remarks and the like are left unaddressed. However, once the Mods have been made aware, they do sweep in and take care of business. And you're kidding yourself if you don't think they are within their rights to defend themselves or remove you for abusing their boards.I'm not making any apologies for the site here. I think I'm being pretty dry about the reality here. I just think that in lieu of the recent ScriptGirl and Embargo! controversies, people have lost a little perspective about what they are (or aren't) entitled to here.Cheers.
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who is thin skinned? i didn't resort to calling people little bitches... did i offend your respect for AICN?
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That's a lot of "here"s in that last paragraph...
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Now yer talkin'
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IS there anything else to say? No?
THEN SHUT THE FUCK UP. really. What else is there? -
I pet myself, thank you.
You don't offend me, you just fill me with condescension and pity. Why? Because you're making a big fucking deal out of exactly fucking nothing. Period. And deep down inside, you know it. Call me a little bitch any time. -
is what this site has become. The first review that I ever read on AICN was the Attack of the Clones review that Harry put up several months before the movie was even released. The buzz about this site back then was huge. Flash forward to 2008, and it is obvious that Hollywood has assimilated AICN. They now play by hte same rules as everybody else, or they won't "get invited to the screenings." Boo Hoo. Evole. Move on. AICN, make yourself relevant again!
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My lazy ass hasn't even seen The Dark Knight yet. I'm ashamed, yes. So a review posted _on a date the producers wish it_ is fine by me. Totally makes sense to work within the system sometimes. Then again, in the interest of self-disclosure I've done it myownself, so maybe I'm just a biased little bee-yatch.
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I can honestly say that I've seen it 3 times and am doing my part in the war against Titanic. What about you guys?
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Aug 12, 2008 2:48:31 PM CDT
Boycott this piece of shit! See The Dark Knight again instead
by melgibsons_dickcheese
That's a movie worth supporting. Let's sink the Titanic once more, and show Lucas and his fellow cocksucking whores who can't say no to him, that we are more than just mindless drones that buy any shit thrown at us that has Star Wars written on it. Show the studios that their shameless cashing in on our beloved movies won't cut it anymore. Shameless cashing in on our beloved movies won't cut it anymore. Making a great fucking movie like The Dark Knight is the only way to go.
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and you get power and cool prizes ... press access, early screenings, even private time with folks who like you. This doesn't have to come from a concerted effort on your part. Your little site can quietly creep into the back of Hollywood's mind to the point where you are considered important, or you can whore yourself out to the people who made the films you loved in your childhood (the one they eventually will rape). Either way, being thought significant yields power and fun. If you have power and fun, do you want to lose them? Fuck, no! It takes more than nobility or purity of spirit to walk away from the bennies of the "new entertainment journalism." It takes a willingness to be shoved back to the end of the line when it comes to access. And without access you're nothing but a rumor site again. Here endeth the lesson, self-righteous fans.
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Would it be wrong to note as follows: The following review was removed because of the potential, I stress potential, for the movie being reviewd to be slammed due it sucking beyond normal expectations. Thank you for cooperation. Have a nice day!
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See, I love this website. I check it nearly everyday. While Harry is obviously no English Major I think there's a certain charm to his enthusiasm. I don't always agree with him. Sometimes I think his opinion is comically, uh, let's say, different from my own. But I love everything Vern writes. I think Quint does some of the best interviews in the entire frickin industry, and Moriarty is a damn good film critic. So I don't understand why people say they hate the reviews or the content of this site. Everything I've said in this talkback I consider a type of Patriotic Dissent. So I do want to publically distance myself from the trolls who are saying things like "oh I hate this site, why even come here the reviews suck blah blah yadda cock." Because I do not hate this site, I want this site to be as good as it can possibly be.
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lemme see if i get this straight, u retarded fan boys need someone else to tell u if a movie is good enuf to spend your hard earned allowance from mommy and daddy on, instead of the internet porn or the newest game from gamestop...wow u people really are lame..u dont need harry or moriarity or anyone else to tell u, u all know u decided the moment u saw the trailer and the endless commercials on tv whether u were going to see it...get over it...and really ...any grown man that needs another grown mans opinion on a movie to decide if its worth it should really just cut his testicles off right now....who cares if the review comes out the day the movie opens ? so u go to the movie the next day or whatever ...shows what pussified fanboys u are that u have to be there the first day the movie opens so u MUST have ur review in hand, printed out for all ur geek buddies as proof..and i bet most of u people saying the movie will suck because there is no review are probably sitting in front of ur puter right now in nothing but a jedi robe, ur fake light saber is prob the closest thing u have to a penis...crying that AICN has not reviewed ur precious movie...internet porn cannot quell ur sadness, maybe suicide can,....try it..i especially love the part about the AICN talkers that think they are celebrities because they post on every talkback because they have no lives....u should get banned just for being ignorant, cynical, and for having such meaningless lives that u have to post that much...this is harrys site, his career, etc...whats ur excuse ? anyone that takes movies, TV, and other works of fiction so seriously should kill themselves, or in fanboyspeak "self-terminate" or medicate urself(not herbally), find a fucking girlfriend...jesus....
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I'm from Boston, lifelong Sox fan. We have an ownership group that is, well, less traditional than maybe the owners of a storied franchise should be. Over the past 10 years they've added seats to Fenway, including on top of the Sacred Green Monster, added a mascot, held "dress in red days" even started a fan club in which fans can pay for the chance to purchase special offers. They call it "Red Sox Nation" perhaps you've heard of it. This "Red Sox Nation" has turned into a nationwide attempt at bandwagoning as many non-fans as possible, thereby turning a profit so that they can continue to sign good free agents to 100million dollar contracts and whatnot. So I decided I'll deal with this stuff, but to a point. The second that I see somebody waving a towel at a Red Sox game I'm out. Done. That's it. No more baseball for me. I love the Red Sox. I love them much more than this site. But I could not in good conscience root for a team that became that commercialized, unproud, and acted like a damn expansion team. It's alright, it hasn't happened yet and it probably won't happen. I have a similar mark for AICN though. The second they post gossip, I'm done. I would consider that a compromise of integrity. I think people who do thoroughly hate this site should get lost though.
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Lucas has directed 3 great movies, THX-1138, American Graffiti and Star Wars...that's it. And at the time he met Francis Ford Coppola he hadn't done any of that, hence my Pay It Forward Comments!!!!Now, if you want a quick tour of Whedon's best work, I refer you to "The Body" the greatest episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and arguably one of the best hours on television ever, one that should have been nonimated for, and won an Emmy. Buffy's sister Dawn finds her way to their mother who has died. There in the autopsy room, alone...she stares blankly, tears in her eyes. Buffy enters the room and comfort's Dawn, assuring her that their mother is gone. Dawn reaches out to their mother's lifeless face with her hand, and, voice quivering, she softly says, "Where'd she go?", fade to black...end credits. As well, another truly great demonstration of Joss' work is to be found in "Objects In Space", the last episode of Firefly. When the lead villain asks the ships female mechanic "If she has ever been raped before?", he assures her that if she doesn't help him with his agenda, he will rape her and make it the most unpleasant experience of her life. When Early, the Operative...cooly says that, you know he is telling the truth, and so does the girl. The moment is ugly and horrifying as she falls apart emotionally. Under the gun, she makes her decision, and sells-out the crew, because the other option is unthinkable. Now that is great writing!!!Time for Lucas to open his house of tricks and allow other filmmakers who are less established to come and play there so they can make their THX-1138s, or their American Graffitis, and their Star Wars', the same way Coppola opened up American Zoetrope for Lucas to come and play many years ago and personally taught him how to write!!!!
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I hope you finished your homework already or your mom's gonna be really mad at you for being on the computer.
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Someone is obviously afraid of the public hearing about how shitty a movie is to even act like that. As previously mentioned, I don't need a review to tell me that Clone Wars would suck. "Oh no, jedinamehere is in danger!! What will he do?" Who cares...he obviously lives since he's in the next fucking movie (Ep. III). Fuck WB and their shitty cable network, fuck Lucasfilm and their shitty movies, and most of all fuck you cry baby fan boys. Thanks in advance.
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Aug 12, 2008 3:26:54 PM CDT
Amended--Kwisatzhaderach: You Are Right, And You Are Wrong!!!!
by media messiah
Lucas has directed 3 great movies, THX-1138, American Graffiti and Star Wars...that's it. And at the time he met Francis Ford Coppola he hadn't done any of that, hence my Pay It Forward Comments!!!!
Now, if you want a quick tour of Whedon's best work, I refer you to "The Body" the greatest episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and arguably one of the best hours on television ever, one that should have been nonimated for, and won, an Emmy. Buffy's sister Dawn finds her way to their mother who has died. There in the autopsy room, alone...she stares blankly, tears in her eyes. Buffy enters the room and comforts Dawn, assuring her that their mother isn't there anymore (only the shell of her body remaining). Dawn reaches out to their mother's lifeless face with her hand, and, voice quivering, she softly says, "Where'd she go?", fade to black...end credits. As well, another truly great demonstration of Joss' work is to be found in "Objects In Space", the last episode of Firefly. When the episode's villain asks the ship's female mechanic "If she has ever been raped before?", he assures her that if she doesn't help him with his agenda, he will rape her and make it the most unpleasant experience of her life. When Early, the Operative...cooly says that, you know he is telling the truth, and so does the girl. The moment is ugly and horrifying as she falls apart emotionally. Under the gun, she makes her decision, and sells-out the crew, because the other option is unthinkable. Now that is great writing!!!
Time for Lucas to open his house of tricks, and allow other filmmakers who are less established, to come and play there so they can make their own THX-1138s, or their American Graffitis, and their Star Wars', the same way Coppola opened-up the doors of American Zoetrope for Lucas to come and play many years ago, and point of fact, personally taught him how to write!!!! -
obviously hit a nerve huh ? u douche
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Maybe WB just wanted everyone to decide, for themselves, what they thought. I know thats a lot to ask these days, what with everyone unable to really form their own opinions.
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my penis is the closest thing to a light saber that I have...
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lets hope they had the decency to clean out their sphincters beforehand eh bsb? yeeeeaauuuurgh.
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WOW.... how to start... as you can see by my screen name, I'm a big Star Wars fan....NOW, to also start, I'm also a movie fan and, even though I love the Star Wars universe, I can think outside the box when it comes to my take on things.
I love the orig. trilogy, love a lot of the books (Zahn's) and the comics (Dark Empire), yes I do collect most of the toys and action figures, but I can also TELL IT LIKE IT IS...... while most of Phantom Menace sucked, it had some good stuff, while Attack of the Clones started kinda slow, after Anakin found his mother, it pretty well was a decent movie after that, and while Revenge of the Sith wasn't great, it was more Star Wars than the other two combined (save for the Frankenstein part at the end)....
Now, the Clone Wars cartoon, micro series, Gendy version was pretty damn good, and felt like Star Wars. So what does all this mean, well, most of us hardcore fans were 6-14 year old kids back in '77, and at that age, Star Wars was pretty well the most unbeleivable thing we had ever seen before in our short lives....and as we grew up, Empire just cemented that into a powerful entity to us, but before Jedi came out, those of us at the ages I mentioned wen't through puberty, and/or were just old enough that our views were changing, but we still had a zest for the films, and Ewoks aside, still loved the universe...........THEN, 16 YEARS WENT BYE!!!!!! and sorry for anyone out there, but that WILL change people....... and all of a sudden, when Lucas brings the prequels out, life has kinda skewed how we view everything..... the prequels, at least Phantom Menace, were just too "kid like, or kid friendly" and we just couldn't get into it(especially with Jake Lloyd and Jar-Jar)..... Attack of the Clones comes, and, well, it starts off slow, and really, Hayden just didn't cut the mustard (except for the scene where he destroyed the Tuskens)..... now Revenge was much better, but we still had a sour taste in our mouths and the Frankenstein scene was almost too much to bare.........WHY am I going through all this, well, I still love Star Wars, I don't think Lucas hangs the moon or anything, but he's done some great stuff, some bad stuff too, I am not chomping at the bit too see this Clone Wars, but I am interested.... Mostly what this long assed post was for, was to take out a little of the neagativity that's running through here at the moment, and if you need to blast me, go ahead, I've got broad shoulders, I can handle it.......
Now, I'm not condoning what was done about the reviews, I just wanted to get some views of my own out there, and see if anyone agrees with me that, even though the prequels weren't great, maybe we were just older and our views and likes were much too adult to like some PG offered fare, not saying that's the whole of it, but I do think it has something to do with it......... -
tick tock tick tock the execution squad is about to arrive at your door pal! i suggest splitting like one of those olympic chicks does during sex.
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...I don't know whose decision it was to even post this article, but it was a bad idea. You had to know it would stir the ant bed. As far as the embargo, we all know it sux and it sux for you guys worst of all. But you have to decide if what you do is actual journalism or just reporting. Fine line, but you can't have it both ways. With great power comes...well, you know. Either way I'll continue to be a fan and look forward to the review this Friday.
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But I'm sure many more reviews are yet to flood in.
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I booked tickets to go and see this on Saturday with my three sons!
Bollocks... the wife can take them! -
Months ago I thought about how the reviews on this site are most likely tailored to please the movie making people. This is an interesting approach because the reviewers of this site should not give only glowing reviews because a reccomendation of a terrible movie would quickly destroy any credibility of the reviewers of this site. So The reviewers of this site are stuck somewhat between a rock and a hard place, they need to at least appear honest in their reviews of movies, but they can't be so honest that it pisses off their movie people- otherwise they may not get their early free screenings.
So I imagined a website much like Aint It Cool News, but this time the widely known concept of the site would be that movies would ONLY be reviewed on the day of release. The reviewers would then feel free to express their completely untainted oppinion of the movie, and the readers could know almost for sure that there is no reason for the reviewer to be embelishing. Does this sound like something people would like to see? -
... This isn't really a case of the studios beating AICN but rather a case of the studios beating us. Once upon a time this site did rely on spy reports and location photographs coming from the readership. The studios saw this so they upped their security and privacy and then leaked things themselves to the site. This meant that the site still benefitted from the early glimpses of upcoming movies but that the studios still had control over what was being glimpsed. The fact of the matter is that this site now gets a better quality of product (For lack of a better word) from the studios than any one of us could offer. Thus it benefits AICN to play ball, as well as the readership. It is perfectly within anyone's right to set up their own site and run it how AICN used to be run but given that the studios have wised up to the situation and tightened security and whatnot I can't see a site like that working too well today. By the way The Clone Wars movie looks utterly shit.
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So no one has to worry about seeing it on accident. And it can't do well, because its only in like 4 theaters in the ENTIRE STATE i live it!
When i went to get get tickets i realized, that its only an EXTREMELY limited release...glad i got my tickets already! -
So no one has to worry about seeing it on accident. And it can't do well, because its only in like 4 theaters in the ENTIRE STATE i live it!
When i went to get get tickets i realized, that its only an EXTREMELY limited release...glad i got my tickets already! -
http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20080812/121858253 100.html
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Like everyone (except my Dad) I love Star Wars 4-6. I don't need to tell you why, its obvious.
My kids love Star Wars 1-3 for the same reasons I love the originals and we often take the mickey out of each others films. I claim theirs looks like a cgi cartoon with wooden actors, they say mine are boring and the Jedi fights are rubbish.
So, Lucas has been an absolute genius because he has secured himself another 20+ years of fan base... I admire that.
He could have made 1-3 to please the 30 odd year olds but he didn't he made a 1-3 that captured the imagination of kids the same way 4-6 did for me and everyone else back in the day... that took balls.
However, just looking at the trailers for this Clone Wars and reading these reviews and WB's bully boy antics makes me think that now Lucas has betrayed my kids with this inconsistent, OTT, childish bullshit and I for one hate him for that...
and his fucking chinless head with lego hair! -
I mean its not a problem for me if people want to spend their time dissing something because they're bored, instead of using that energy to create something on their own..NEWSFLASH!
EVERYONE on this post is having their time stolen from other things...only to me its fun...because i LOVE the prequil more than the very SLOW old movies...and i'm like almost 45 years old....oh i know...
i mean have you tried to watch the originals lately...i mean they really aint all THAT good...though the music is nice....
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...the homosexuals insist on sharing them.
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Who wants to go see a movie that the parent company won't let reviews about it be posted beforehand anyways? I think everyone knew this thing was going to suck way back when they were posting the early cgi. Star Wars is only awesome nowadays playing the video games like Knights of the Old Republic. That's about the only medium that actually caters to the Star Wars fans now. As far as the movies go, ROTJ was the last great thing out of this series. This movie is going to be the nail in the coffin as far as I am concerned.
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This feedback is long.
I will be seeing this movie one way or the other, my 8 year old is foaming at the mouth for it. -
... It has seen the death of Indiana Jones and it will soon see the death of Star Wars. Way to go Lucas, you ridiculous cunt.
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are those documentaries about the making of them and the only good things about those are the bit in the Phantom Menace one where the assistant director or whatever (Roger Christian is his name I think) says 'That's a wrap' or something and then stands there in a fantastically smug fashion as if everyone is clapping for him (And I believe this prick went on to direct 'Battlefield Earth') and the bit in the AOTC one where that fat pathetic suck up idiot (Rob Coleman is it?) pretends that he is delivering that dreadful Yoda animation to Lucas on purpose whilst fake laughing and seemingly holding back the tears (I may be misremembering it a little but it was certainly cringe-inducingly pathetic). The latter is one of the best things I have ever seen. Imagine being that much of a loser.
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...is that Harry sounded so emotional, so passionate in his hate for the film...but then removed all that hate and passion, and was willing to forget about it, at the behest of the people who made it happen. I'll never trust another review from him again.
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AICN sold out a long time ago. I've come to accept that.
Personally I've found the bizarre ScriptGirl bannings more disturbing than the embargo deal. -
When you don't want critics to talk about your film until it's already out (or if you don't even bother to screen it to critics), it's usually because you know it's a shitty film.
In fact, if somebody here had just posted that info - we can't legally talk about this until the day it's released - I would have been reasonably confident that the film was shit and we'd have all been winners. -
...Way to finish your admonishment with a whiny complaint to the owners from the talkback. Jesus.
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Star Wars Sucks! Psyche! Whoo Hooo, i'm so Psyched there's a cool new movie to see!
Batman Sucks, Tron Sucks, Ice Cream suck too!
only Star Wars is still rockin in the free world!
we rule you suck! The score at halftime is one billion to ziro!
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Star Wars Sucks! Psyche! Whoo Hooo, i'm so Psyched there's a cool new movie to see!
Batman Sucks, Tron Sucks, Ice Cream suck too!
only Star Wars is still rockin in the free world!
we rule you suck! The score at halftime is one billion to ziro!
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Huh, George is it lonely at the Top?
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A fair explanation. It's also fair to speculate whether the reviews will be reposted unedited after Friday.
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Those people and you know who you are,
are the people who dont like star wars...
you guys all eat poop for Breakfast, WITH the corn in it...and you also smell bad, becuase of all the poop you've been eathing...and also i think you're cute!
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(Its the Poop)
anyone for a poop and pee martini?
i hope there are some fart jokes in THE CLONE WARS....little Stinky WORK THAT MAGICS!
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(Its the Poop)
anyone for a poop and pee martini?
i hope there are some fart jokes in THE CLONE WARS....little Stinky WORK THAT MAGICS!
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... I figured out the big problem here. You guys seem to think that we used to break embargoes. Hold on to something cause I'm gonna BLOW YOUR MINDS...
... we didn't. Ever. We've never, ever, ever broken embargo intentionally. And here's how that works...
... when someone shows you something, they get to set the rules for when you can talk about it. Period. And if they don't show it to you, but you see it anyway, then they can't set an embargo.
That's the way it always worked, and the way it still does work. Nothing's changed. We still read scripts early and discuss them. We still publish things the studios would rather we didn't. But it's a game, as it always has been, and the one thing they can control is what you say WHEN THEY SHOW IT TO YOU THEMSELVES.
That's an embargo.
That's all that happened here.
Nothing changed, but by all means, get back to freaking out about it anyway, and a little later this week, when we demonstrate the difference between something that IS embargoed and something that ISN'T embargoed, remember I said this, and then we can talk further. -
hmm....i'll have to SPECulate about that....
eeewwww...theres a spec in my poop and pee martini!
Alright who wants one? Any bottom feeders out there? Here fishy fishy fishy...
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i knew this seemed familiar...elusive....
Leggo my EMBARG...LEGGO! -
I keep thinking Mori is a condescending 20-something from his tone, but then I see pictures of him on ScriptGirl videos and he looks much older. I'm confused.
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I'M COO-COO for EMBARGO-PUFFS!
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NICE NAMES! I'm a long time listener..first time typer.
also i'm actually blind and just typing all this by luck if it doesn't make sense..OH I APOLOGIZE. NO i dont I DO i DONT....
Hey lets all get outta here and go get some low calorie nacho substitue!
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i just wanted to say that i'm sorry if i hurt anyones feelings...i had a great time today and
hope to talk to you all real soon!
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When they're overused, they can get stretched out like this one.
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seriously - most cared about movie of all time as indicated by the lengh of talk back...
....THE CLONE WARS? -
so why should you?
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Yeah like I said earlier, Moriarty has the facts on his side, but still applies a thick layer of defensiveness and condescension to his posts here. I don't get it.You'd think he's be secure enough not to get into that pissing contest vibe.
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Drew could write an explanation that treated the reader as if they might just be curious as to what is going on. Instead, he sounds like we're his naughty little kids.
Nothing against his kids. -
I can imagine that it must get irritating having fanboys nitpick at your work for the past however many years you've been with the site, but would it kill you to try to not be so condescending. Harry comes on here and treats it like a good 'ol fashioned revolt and has fun with it while you feel the need to play Daddy with the way you threaten and talk down to some of the readers. It's all very "parental" of you, which I guess makes sense considering where you are at in life, but it's not very "cool" and isn't that supposed to be the whole point of this site?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBPZkptvCFs
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Is he gone, too?
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Since we can't get html enabled (since its too expensive), can we at least get some talkback mood music going? Different ones depending on the mood of the talkback, 'Duel of a Fates' would be a great one for this talkback... Maybe for Harry's reviews we can get a comical tuba melody
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.... is not what I am being. "Explanatory." Did I insult you guys in the last post? No. But the word "embargo" is being brutally misused here, and people are jumping to the absurd and (sorry) offensive conclusion that we will never publish anything outside of approved studio materials again. That's just crazy.
Sorry if I tried to lighten it up a little. At this point, Bodet's right. There is nothing I could post that would be greeted with anything less than hostility, but here I am, trying to clarify anyway. Even after people have been abusive, hostile, and outright assholes to me for the last few days. Go back and read that last post... I'm not lambasting anyone... I'm just explaining that you've got it wrong if you think "embargo" means we can never talk about anything. It applies to one film. One screening. It's picture by picture, as it's always been.
I could take the Harry approach which is to never explain anything at all, but that doesn't work, either. And trust me... short of being prodded with a stick, Harry is loathe to explain a single choice or decision he makes. So if what you really want is for me to never address you guys directly or respond to questions, I guess I can comply. I just think it's really shitty. -
Aug 12, 2008 7:23:02 PM CDT
WHO IS THE RETARD WHO STRETCHED THIS COCKFUCKING TALKBACK?
by bringingsexyback
Fucker.
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Many of us got your back here amidst this maelstrom of geek rage. If you give me a black box I can manage this ... situation ... more effectively.
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All you dumbasses keep testing Moriarty and get yourself banned. Hopefully some of the real bums will get banned. It's been long overdue for some TB house cleaning.
I guess the AICN staff is going to be busy monitoring talk-backs until 12:01 Friday morning. BTW will the reviews be posted Eastern time or Pacific...or do you have to go by GMT :p -
1. I wasn't going to watch Clone Wars: The Animated Toy Catalog before and I sure ain't going now.
2. Lucas and Lucasfilm have killed their golden goose and now are happy to display the gizzards in hopes that love of the goose will bring us back.
3. I don't know nor care how the timeline played out. If Harry knew about the embargo, then he shouldn't have put up the review. If he didn't, it'd probably be a wise move to check before going with it. I hate to say it, but AICN is no longer that renegade little website it was in the mid-to-late 90s. -
I disagree with TomBodet. You can win, or at least not lose, by rising above the tone of the talkbackers and simply stating what is going on. Pretty much like your last post there.
Of course, there will always be people who want to stir things up.
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... slagging Harry!
Good lord... I just said he never explains his choices. WHICH HE DOESN'T. -
Aug 12, 2008 7:32:55 PM CDT
What about reviews from "sources" who saw Clone Wars ? What then
by g100
I'm presuming, going by the sheer number of reviews already out there, that the previews were hardly for one or two people.
So if someone e-mailed an anonymous bad review to AICN from those screening would it be posted or not ?
And pardon me but wasn't Harry saying that he didn't KNOW there was an Embargo ? Sort of blows a hole in Mori's "when someone shows you something, they get to set the rules for when you can talk about it. Period." So did Warner or Lucasfilm change their mind days after the screening upon seeing the terrible reviews ?
Hey, I was actually becoming pretty bored with all this as at the heart of it is a film that looks like a turdfest but this isn't going to go away if the fancy footwork and condescending posts from on high keep continuing.
The site isn't going to shut down and the world isn't going to end because one crap Movie had some terrible reviews pulled at the insistance of the makers, lets at least be honest. It's curious but not earthshattering stuff.
It's probably the fact that it involves Lucas (like the Indy 4 Fiasco) keeping it on the boards and causing so much comment.
P.S. Why is the screensize expanded in this talkback ? Has someone posted some bizzarre consecutive series of characters or something ? It's pretty annoying. -
"Putting the nice back in Moderation."If you make me a Mod, I promise you, my fellow Talkbackers, I will bust some heads.
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...but I had to throw my hat into the Black Box ring.
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First the blackbox, then he eliminates the senate, then the jedi... don't do it!!Or if you do, may I offer my humbles services to Lord BringingSexyBack. I'm good with killing jedi children...
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While I agree with TomBodet, I definitely don't think you should stop addressing us kids. In anything, I think you (and those who are willing and able) should do it more.
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Should read, "If anything...". I wish I knew what was going on with my typing skills.
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but he will sleep with all of your women. ALL of them, possibly at the same time. It's a cult thing.
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Give me black box! I promise to only ban racists and myopic fan-boys....oh...and also anyone who doesn't like The Big Lebowski.
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Worthy indeed. May the best Talkbacker win.
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"He'll get you laid in '08!"I'm MNG and I approve this message.
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I accept your offer.
We will be to these talkbacks what Russia was to Georgia in the past 5 days. We will lay waste to all enemies - guilty or innocent.
We will rape asses until the heavens cry.
Let the carnage begin. Please, Mori? -
and the 10th one is lesbian, but still greatly tempted MNG '08!
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...So about that embargo..uh...what up wit dat?
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tinyurls people GOSH!
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...you also didn't need to. In ye olden days, screenings weren't remotely as guarded as they are now. Who got frisked for cell phone cameras in 1997? Oh, wait, they didn't have them. Not even for still images. The world was a more innocent place, and you guys were the corsairs plundering the system while it was still underprotected. Well, that's changed, forever. In order to continue the kind of work you were famous for to -any- extent, you'd -have- to break embargoes. More importantly, you routinely remove content when requested by studios. No muss, no fuss, down it goes. If there's a problem with this, it's threefold:
1. You aren't performing and can never perform to the level you once did when it comes to true scoops and early news. Now, if you read through the early stuff, it appears that the vast majority is studio approved. You're visiting editing bays, sets, etc. Now, you rely on reader content (even if it's from readers who you have a relationship with beyond strangers) for the illicit stuff. Which brings us to #2.
#2: You can't afford to break any rules yourselves. There is absolutely no possible danger involved, because there can't be. Why? Because you're part of the system, as I said previously. If you refuse a removal of content request, you can forget content from them in the future. If you break an embargo, you can forget access from them in the future. In the past, this didn't matter, because your content came from outside this system. Now? It'd be an insta-kill on the site. Blacklisting -means- something to you now. And, personally, you and Harry would be potentially hosed considering your personal business in the industry. Which brings us to #3.
#3: You're different people. You're older. You have much more at stake. Do I drive as fast as I did when I was 19? Hell no...tickets = traffic school, increased insurance, and fines that need to go towards my rent. With age comes responsibility, and you guys all have that at this point. More to lose means less to risk.
You're not entirely wrong. A big chunk of this is expectations that haven't been set. The impression was that you flipped the bird to the system and plundered their stockpiles of movie goodness at will during the early days, which you do NOT seem to be doing now. That's apparently only partially correct, and in this instance you're doing what you have always done...but overall? The element of danger is gone, and we see -way- more 'whoops, gone already, studio requested it be pulled' than we do 'early footage of next epic FUCK YOU STUDIO BASTARDS AHAHAHAHAHA'. You rarely even see the word 'spies' anymore, when that used to be the point of the whole damn site. So, some expectation is unrealistic...and some is all too accurate. I think saying things like 'we NEVER broke embargoes' is an important step in righting those expectations, but you're never going to convince anyone reading AICN that you're who you used to be and keep bringing what you used to bring. Again, not a slam, not an insult, just the simple facts of life. Even Ali got to the point where he couldn't knock everyone down anymore. Doesn't mean he isn't Ali. -
I'm sending over a tranny prostitute to your house along with an undercover photog so I can discredit you and steal the election.
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I tend to shy away from criticizing AICN most of the time since I figure it’s their website and their rules, as fluid and inconsistent as the latter at times may seem to be. I’ve been coming here since 2001 which means I’ve been a talkbacker for more than half of AICN’s existence. In no way do I have any “rights” as such, nor does AICN have any obligations to me as a talkbacker. The fact that my presence here and the presence of the rest of you here generates income for AICN doesn’t change that fact.
I see loads of new usernames here which makes me think that a lot of regs have registered new ones just to voice their opinions and are afraid of getting banned, which is unfortunate, but not unreasonable.
If there’s an embargo, fine. I can live with that. What gives me pause, however, is the way this issue is being handled.
Maybe I’m dense, but something just isn’t adding up. Others have pointed it out, but it bears repeating: Either there was an embargo or there wasn’t. If there was, then AICN either knew about the embargo before the screening or did not. If they didn’t, then the retraction makes sense. If they did, then it means they decided to deliver a “fuck you” to the studio by publishing the reviews anyway. Their removal would then indicate that AICN caved in during that particular chicken race. If there wasn’t an embargo, and the studio decided to punish AICN after the fact, then it stinks to high heaven. Mori’s post makes it sound like a cut and dried embargo deal, but Harry’s post alludes to shadier and perhaps less wholesome bargains being made.
People keep mentioning short term and long term gains. Well, it seems to me that the very fact that there’s an embargo means that the studio fears the potential of AICN readership. No matter how I do the math it seems that AICN is actually holding all the winning cards here. Sure, no more set visits or other perks – but for how long? How long can studios who cater to Geek Nation afford to piss its members off? Is it so far-fetched to think that the studios are hoping that the perceived image of a sell-out website will spread? The results of such an image, true or false, would arguably undermine the site’s legitimacy and its opinion-forming weight.
Like I said earlier, it’s not my website and I have no rights as a talkbacker, but I’d like to see this particular inconsistency addressed. I don’t care how ugly the truth might turn out to be, but at least get the story straight.
At times I still enjoy the odd review, but the heyday of AICN’s articles seems to be in the rear-view mirror most of the time these days, and are generally conversation starters for the real attraction and what makes AICN unique -- Talkback. Talkback is why I keep returning. Its combination of truly wonderful people, complete fruitcakes as well as wretched scum and villainy is the lifeblood of this site, and I love it dearly. I have a wife, a kid and a decent job but my day still doesn’t feel complete until I’ve checked in on AICN at least once (one of the perks of said job). Nothing would please me more than once again feeling the rush I used to feel all the time when I saw the headers on the front page, but I’ve resigned myself to merely being pleasantly surprised once in a while. As long as talkback, with all its rewards and frustrations, remains as vital as it is, I’ll keep coming back.
This whole thing just makes me sad, to be honest. I can’t shake the image of two violent beasts, Lucasfilm and AICN, clawing and biting each other, locked in mortal combat as they both plunge into a pit of integrity-searing lava together – co-dependents to the very end.
Say it ain’t so.
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I see that you've studied the latest Baltar Poll results. Are you gunning for a cabinet position?
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yeah I thought tinyurls were the rule around here ?
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They need to be wiped out.
BSB 08! -
AICN fucking up + STAR WARS! = greatest talkback of all time
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Now, Chairman of Hot Sex Cult Oversight Committee... that is a position which I would happily fill.
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Well said, sir.
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Transformer Movie information liason.
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I'll take that under advisement.There will be a place for everyone under my administration. And everyone gets laid.Vote for MNG in '08!!!
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... vs splitting hairs, hahaha. Seriously, lambasting or insulting are not necessary for condescension. Granted, tone on the internets is sometimes tough to read but Moriarty's posts have a burdened "oh-I have-to-EXPLAIN-this-shit-to-these turds?" vibe. Maybe it's just tiredness but it definitely at least has some crankiness to it. All I'm saying is - I'd expect a bit more patience and generosity of spirit. Maybe it's healthy though; he doesn't feel so superior that he can't get pissy like a TBer AT TBers ...Damn I can't believe I'm going so in depth about such silliness, but one thing led to another.
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Well, then you're in luck, my friend. Because in my administration, I plan on creating a position for "Transformer Movie Information Liason". I know of very few Talkbackers who have served so well during the Great TRANSFORMERS Talkback Wars. And you, my friend, would be a prime (PRIME! Get it?!) candidate for such a position.I hope you won't mind the Flames On Box posting privilege though...
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You're a standup guy in my book.
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A vote for Pollkat is a vote for change...but not hope!!
My platform is simple. You will be banned for the following reasons:
Hate Speach
Hate Speach against The Big Lebowski
Myopic-Fan-Boy Speach
Unlike my liberal opponent, who wants to make banning decisions by committee, all bannings will be soley at my discretion. My bannings will be swift and decisive. Questioning of my decisions will not be tolerated!I believe in pre-emptive strikes with a large helping of shock-and-awe. If user chewbacca_is_my_hero99 starts dick riding Lucas a bit to much...BOOM...OUTTA HERE! My bannings are permanent and apply not only to AICN, but to the all the connected interwebs!Any appeals or attempts to use a different alias will result in a banning from the planet.
KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!
Ummm...I mean vote for Pollkat! -
I think there will need to be good few Moderators watching that one. ;-)
I'd also echo DocPazuzu's comments that not everyone hee thinks they have a god given right for explanations or justifications. But the fact that there are seems to be ruffled feathers behind the scenes and "miscommunications" aplenty speaks to this as quite a bit more than out of control hysteria and trolling from the usual talkback sources over a non-issue.
I also wonder about the public screenings that were mentioned.
Why none from AICN's team or indeed any AICN contact whatsoever has attended and e-mailed a review from a public screening seems a bit unusual too.
Again it's just odd not scandalous. but it's those kind of things that add fuel to the fire.
Still... there WILL be a huge amount of traffic on the site come Friday so if any staffmember has anything juicy about anything Moviewise, and he wants to get maximum exposure, my bet would be post on Friday. -
...He didn't sign shit and wasn't told about any Embargo until later. Strange that they throw up an embargo once he posts what an awful film it is. I'd tell em to get fucked, since they didn't give you anything in advance, so whatever they say is bullshit. Of course, you could all go see Dark Knight, but Warners wins either way.
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...After test screenings, but you guys publish them anyway. Why don't they get shitty about that? People pay just as much attention to some anonymous dudes opinions as they do Harrys. Its not like his taste will dictate what people actually pay and go to see.
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seems alot of successful movies these days are based on comic books. So am I the only one who thinks that there's a treasure trove of Star Wars comic books that would probably make better films/series than this Clone Wars flik?
Try the original (and even the current) Knights Of The Old Republic series, the Ostrander/Duursema Clone Wars series, the current Dark Times and Legacy series... c'mon, somebody make them! -
movie or "Bounty Hunter Wars" NOT DIRECTED BY LUCAS, WITH 0 (THAT'S ZERO IF YOU MISSED IT) INPUT.
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Ah, a vote you won't regret, my friend. I thank you. And the world of Talkback will thank you.MNG - Keeping it Nice in '08!
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when a couple assholes got the whole class in trouble and movie day or some shit was cancelled? I feel like that. Some of us have no problem with the embargo, just wanted to see some clone wars reviews before we go see the film and didn't blink an eye when it got pulled. I was like "oh well, I'll just read it on Friday". I read it though, didn't like what I felt was Harry's knee jerk reaction to the film but still appreciated his feedback. And I love that Mory addresses specific talkbackers. But I gotta admit, lately it seems Mory only responds to the 1% of elite jackasses on this sight picking a fight with him. We're not all trying to burn you guys in effigy. I don't know how I feel about you threatening to stop contributing to talkbacks Moriarty.
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Maybe done DTV like the Animatrix or Gotham Knight, bunch of short stories linked together
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ahem...LUCAS runs Bartertown...
SAY LOUDER!!!
LUCAS RUNS BARTERTOWN!!!!
embargo off.... -
This is a free fucking site. You don't Pay Harry, Moriarty, Massawyrm, Herc, Quint or fucking one else to come here. They all do this...give us the scoop, the deets, their opinions and such without a fucking DIME from any of us. They have certain rules they have to play by, That they've ALWAYS played by, IF you've read the site long enough and that's a small price to pay. They've even gone as far to say "HEY I'VE GOT SOMETHING (insert random adjective here) TO SHOW YOU BUT I CAN'T SAY SHIT TIL MONDAY". It's pretty simple: If you're a whiny elitist shitfuck that Can't handle it??????????? Get The Fuck Out. You're ruining it for those of us who enjoy the site for all that it is. Sorry Headgeek, Moriarty, Herc, Masswyrm and any others i've forgotten for the curse filled rant; But these bitches Be Pissin' a Brotha OFF. /rant off
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Now that is a movie I would pay to see! But here is the thing that kind of confuses me. CLONE WARS. Wars inplies that there was more than one Clone War, so does that mean that Lucas the Hutt will start another of these shitty "Clone Wars" movies just to explain shit no one cares about any more?!?!?! Well except for those hords of super-nerds that follow every single turd nuggle Lucas craps out. This was easy to see that it was going to suck more that the prequels. Didn't think that was going to top off Jar Jar but damn that Georgie boy! He found a way to my his only legacy and destroy it further. Way to go Lucas! Way! To! Go!
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Touche
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Don't get me wrong, it's totally crap, but in retrospect, of the prequels, it's the better one. Sure Jar Jar sucks and so does Jake Lloyd, but they aren't really the stars of the movie. In TPM, it's Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor for most of the time and they do a good job with the material given to them. They are a heckuva lot better than watching Hayden Christiansen painfully act his way through two movies. Plus, Darth Maul was a cool villian, not as oool as Vadar, but way cooler than Count Dooku and Weezy the Robot, they should have never killed off him.
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Aug 12, 2008 9:40:29 PM CDT
This just in. Gus Van Rant's running mate = Paris Hilton
by chief redcock
Anything for the cause, eh Gus? Damn the torpedoes !!!!!
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Because I must be under the delusion that whenever I choose to come to this site I must endure the graphic commercials for typically shitty movies on the top of the page and the not-fucking-clever busted tees ad on the side. I've spent now 15 years in the corporate offices of a retail chain and believe we the consumer pay for advertising. You in your naivete may think you don't but, believe me, so much around you, including adverts on this site, is designed to make you pay for shit you don't need or want. End o' rant.
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not to mention many of us in the TB have sent info, items, pics, etc. in the past... i'd like to think the site exists because of people who send in things, but others will try to convince me the contrary is true
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but this is community-driven site. The reason for it's success may be Harry (and to a lesser extent, his cohorts), but if we're not here, that success goes away. Because the advertising, and the money and the attention go away. It's a mutually beneficial system: Harry gets "pwezzies" we get bannings and embargoes ... I kid, I kid!
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Aug 12, 2008 9:52:12 PM CDT
As for folks ranting on about "paranoia" and "conspiracies"
by jackrabbitslim
Gee, maybe they have good reason to think not everything on AICN is on the up and up. Hmm, lets list off the myriad issues that have popped up over the years, fully illustrated on other sites if fellow readers choose not to believe me. 1) The falsified "scoopers" from various countries sending fake emails to this site when the site wanted to promote certain titles 2) The "gee i forgot to mention that one of my best friends wrote that screenplay I reviewed yesterday" incidents 3) The incessant namedropping and resulting tainted reviews. Anybody remember the Faculty review? The Ghosts of Mars script review? 4) Joe Hallenbeck 5)Why is it that, what, damn near half of Harry's input is the DVD releases .. that are inevitably tied in to Amazon.com I love the geekified passion of this site - but please dont preach to us on morality.
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Just as Lilith is the demonic god of Bohemian Grove, so is Baphomet (the son of Lucifer and Lilith) the demonic god of Freemasonry. Do you see how all these demonic occult organizations are linked together?
In modern Luciferianism, Lilith is considered a consort and/or an aspect of Lucifer and is identified with the figure of Babalon. She is said to come from the mud and dust, and is known as the Queen of the Sucubi. When she and Lucifer mate, they form an androgynous being called "Baphomet" or the "Goat of Mendes," also known in Luciferianism as the "God of Witches."
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What I respect about the Phantom Menace is that it's 100% the director's vision. Granted you may not like the film but I think it stands as the one true, unfiltered product of Lucas. Attack of the Clones was unsure of itself, a series of scenes he thought people wanted. Less Jar Jar. Asteroid chase. Bounty Hunters. Clone Wars. Phantom Menace is more of a complete film. Flawed but full of arrogant gusto. The other ones were just placating to an extent, a reaction to overwhelming criticism from the people that kept Star Wars alive in the late 80's early 90's.
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even though it's not anything to do with why people are so agitated in this talkback... but yes, i think Lucas actually achieved more of what he wanted in TPM than the other prequels. After the criticism, he kept swearing to make a 'hard' star wars film, which i don't think he ever wanted to personally. ROTS or AOTC might have more of the action i had in mind, but i don't think any part of the prequels beats Liam Neeson meditating while Darth Maul paces... perfect example of light and dark side. Again, this has nothing to do with the drama of this TB... just making a point.
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If they had public screenings that aren't affected by the review embargo, wouldn't it be a simple matter of getting tickets to those screenings (as proof that you saw it then) and then releasing the reviews? Or are studios really that much of tools that they'd still screw you guys over because you saw the original press screening?
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Take this psudo latin phrase to heart my man. Spazzy children aren't worth getting bent over.
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Very well written post. The way I understand it, is that Harry did not know that an embargo was in place, and that only after the studio complained was he made aware. As for Massa, apparently his review fell under the same general site embargo - but he or his editor was unaware of it. Perhaps the embargo was not communicated well by the studio or whoever it is that acts as a middle man for such things. I do think that the conspiracy theorists are working themselves up into a lather over this. But without a doubt some legitimate grievance, coming from long time members such as yourself and others, who see AICN changing for the worse, is due to recent events on this site, such as the scriptgirl bannings. The Gone TB. The perception that the Mods are out of touch because they are pursuing their own agenda's trying to break into the industry as opposed to reporting on the industry. The perception that Harry is selling out the website to generate more income. etc. etc. Mori himself said in an earlier response, that it is inarguable that he and AICN have changed in the 12 years he has been here. And that is only natural. Change is one of the immutable dynamics of the universe. So of course AICN has changed. I am fairly new here, so my perspective is nowhere near as encompassing as yours or other long time members. But, is the change in AICN really for the worse, or is it merely a natural progression as the site has matured, and as other sites have cut into the pie that was one the exclusive province of AICN? The talkbacks really do see to be the tail that is wagging the dog around here these days. But then again, we TB'ers have a very high opinion of ourselves!
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EMBARGO EMBARGO EMBARGO!!! ANGER ANGER ANGER!!! RANT! RAVE! RAVE! RANT! Sorry. I just wanted to be a part of it....
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Industrial LIGHT and Magic!
The LIGHT Bearer!
Consider yourself warned!!!! -
When you repost the reviews, please convene a mini Jedi Council and give us your collective rankings of The Clone Wars among such lows as the Holiday Special, the Ewok movies, Ewoks and Droids cartoon series, and anything else I've blocked out. Are we talking bad or unprecedented?
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I've been saying this for a long time. But the Original Clone Wars Cartoon Was 1 million times more entertaining then any single scene in the prequel trilogy. I can't tell whether or not lucas created this because his ego couldn't handle the fact that someone told a better story in 60 minutes then he did in 6 and a half hours.
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It's a theatrical release of an ANIMATED TV SHOW for chrissakes. It's maybe TECHNICALLY a Star Wars movie, but that's about it. I don't care if it stinks. Also - I like the Original CW series fine but "better story"? I don't actually remember there BEING a story.
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Aug 12, 2008 11:19:57 PM CDT
Genndy's been told his cartoon was better than the prequels
by hopewell1
At the Egyptian screening of Clone Wars. Some guy got up and said that much like the Animatrix being superior to the Matrix sequels, once again a cartoon shows the filmmaker how to make a Star Wars film. Genndy diplomatically stated it was like comparing apples to oranges...but he was smiling.
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Though unlikely
Only chance we will get anything better. -
Seriously Randy Couture - who is making this shite and more importantly are people paying to see this ?
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I hear you though...Adverts are a source of income; I simply meant that we don't actually pay to visit, get info, read scoops, reviews and previews, etc.
Personally? I only click on advertisements that i'm interested in. Frankly, on most Websites i never even touch the Flashy banner and such. It's a choice, not a requirement to involve yourself with them. -
Or do we have to wait for Lucas to die
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Unless you're sending cash into Harry's coffers, there ain't no payin'. This place is a bargain in entertainment value. But what do I know, I'm not hysterical.
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These are the facts, and they are undisputed.Well, they may be disputed by some talkbackers who have no honor. What they say is unimportant--we do not hear their words.
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"O GRAB ME" - Anyone else remember that old timey b/w political cartoon from your middle school American History textbook of a turtle biting a colonist's ass? Yes? Maybe? Ahh, forget it...
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I support your bid in principle, sir, and you know I hold you in the highest esteem.I am only troubled by the previous "campaign promise" which you failed to deliver: namely, specifically, the delivery of my very own 8. Yet, I have received nothing, not even a loaner 6 whilst awaiting the ever popular and probably backordered 8 model. This promise was made, as I recall, in late '06, or early '07."Deliver The 8 In 08, Deliver The 8 In 08"If you need a Vice Moderator, I am willing to serve if called upon, but will not campaign for the post--no sir, not me, no campaigning.No How.No Way.Never Happen. Call Me [sits by phone]
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Great words man. I guess people named Vader are not all bad.
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And what do can you possibly do about it? The site is what the site is, brother. Learn to dig, or move on. I for one don't want to see Mori leave the TBs. Everyone is being pretty damn hypercritical.
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Was directed towards the Sith Lord Himself, the esteemed D. Vader
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I have abandonment issues. Please don't leave me.
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Remember the Scene where Anakin Liberated those mole creatures and his fight against Asaaj Ventress, and when he graduated from Padawon to Jedi Knight and any scene featuring General Greavious While it might not be heavy in Dialouge it had more moments that meant something then any in the prequel
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A thousand posts on the subject of a retracted review? Really?
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I was crazy about the Clone Wars so many years ago (early eighties). I blame Alec Guiness´ very intriguing and convincing narration of the mythical wars. Now, after the prequels, I don´t give a rat ass about it. The Clone Wars of our childhood imagination will never happen, in any kind of media. Don´t need Harry telling me about how shitty the cartoon looks like. Warner, loved Dark Knight (saw 3 times at the movies), I will have an uber f***** great time with Watchmen next year, but I will pass on this one. And Warner/Lucas: blaming Harry is useless and dumb, AICN and TBs will live forever, but bad movies and bad moves...will be forgotten forever.
About AICN, it´s my daily fix since the Batman & Robin fiasco, (sometimes great) free content since day one, and I just have one thing to say: Harry & company, keep the good work.
P.S. Harry, still waiting for the new Avatar exclusives, dude. -
If the price of a sneak peek is a gag order, just wait it out until you can catch an early show that doesn't hinder your ability to report what you saw.
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Aug 13, 2008 12:26:05 AM CDT
Can a Moderator remove the annoying long URL before everybody po
by g100
Seriously guys posts with those huge ass URLs are taken down from other talkbacks all the time.
At least point out that tinyurls are the method to use and is NOT accepted practice to widen every talkback on the site with massive long urls. Please ? -
I wasn't trying to be confrontational. You stated your opinion very articulately and you had a right to it. But from my perspective though, I think you are going to have to come to some sort of understanding of the new AICN, bad or good. That's all I'm sayin'.
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And I understand your P.O.V. I think I'm just a little more fatalistic when it comes to this issue. Harry had a choice when the internet landscape changed. With the increased competition, he could have focused on being the site that got the scoop first, or got scoops that no one else could get, but he went in a different direction. I think it was a specific, thought out decision. Now I don't know what the site used to be, only started reading in '03, but I like the way it is now. Would I like it more if they reported news quicker and got more inside stuff? Yes. I think Harry, Mori, et al would too, but it's just not their primary focus. However, I can completely understand your nostalgia for how the TBs were when it was more of an insular community, and I'm glad you guys kept that going. But you have to see that the balls to the wall anarchy that is the new TB is also sort of fun in its own way.
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The argument that you guys are bowing down to those fuckers so you can have scoops is therefore bullshit. You are doing it ONLY for personal gain nowadays, since the site doesn't benefit from it at all.
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Sounds like a more appropriate name these days. This site is pretty pathetic and sells out more with each passing day.
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And I think Mori should look to your post to see that if there's a lot of complaining going on that's only because people really really CARE about this site and its community and only want to make it better. Having said that, the only thing really in our control is in what direction the TBs can go. That's sort of up to us.
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Why not simply say we have no interest in seeing the film early if there is an embargo clause? Have some fucking dignity and try to get it thru other means and report on it soon after. Also tell the studio that you'll gladly report on just the embargo and give examples of why and when they are generally used. That is, when the movie freaking sucks.
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I think the editors don't wade into the talkbacks that often or they'd be banning a bunch more people :)
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Star Wars is dead, the prequels killed it and this is just abusing the dead body of what was the greatest film franchise of all time. After witnessing the greatness of Peter jackson's treatment of the Lord of the Rings and more recently the brillance of THE DARK KNIGHT, why would I go and spend time and money on this piece of shit. We already know the story, the anamation is nothing special, what is the incentive. They will probably just replay it agin before launching the cartoon series on TNT. SO GO WATCH DARK KNIGHT AGAIN IN IMAX IF YOU CAN. And don;t give lucas anymore of your hard earned money. Lets help the Bat beat Titanic.
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I really enjoy the mythos about how this site used to be. Reminds me of how Alex Guiness described the Clone Wars. "It was a GOLDEN AGE for internet geeks"
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But go ahead and buy a ticket for me.
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Seriously, learn to proofread. How embarrassing. You're not doing a very good job of representing the legion of Dark Knight fans.
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I believe it's professional courtesy and pseudo-journalistic integrity that prevents them from breaking an embargo. And keep in mind, Harry did publish his review, if only for a little while.
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Look at all the other websites posting reviews or in the case of some (www.rottentomatoes.com) linking to reviews. It doesn't at all help the case of the site if they are the ones giving in. Guys, you are coming off looking like Hollywood lapdogs.
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Harry published his review first. Clearly, the WB isn't threatening those other web sites. Something is going on behind the scenes here. It's a bit confusing.
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http://tinyurl.com/capedcrusader
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oh, and no reviews because they [WB] know 90% will be horrid.
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Who wouldn't want to see movies earlier than everyone else? That's why they accepted the offer. They didn't know they can't post shit until right before release? So is this the first time there's such an embargo? Of course not. They went for it because it's FREAKIN' STAR WARS GODDAMIT. It turned out to be a pile of shit, so they decided to give us a taste, then removed the reviews so they wouldn't get blacklisted from Holywood, which means no C-movies with Joe Dante and no money from advertising shitty movies anymore
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The Golden Age of Lost. It was so intimate, so surprising, so fresh and so clean clean. Alas...
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I'm sendin' all the scoops, rumors, gossips, lies, and outright slander right here to AICN.
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By existing, the Clone Wars is almost automatically better than the (barf) prequel films.
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May the force be... um... peace out.
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But the show only sometimes reaches the heights of Season One.
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should be the readers. And in that case you put aside your fanboy dreams and skip on embargoed flicks. My biggest gripe is that Harry is living his dream and lost sight of what this place was designed to be. It's human nature but we have a right to call them on their numerous conflicts of interest.
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That's all folks.
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If you're a MOVIE REVIEWER, what is wrong with going to a screening of a MOVIE in order to gather your thoughts...to REVIEW...the MOVIE? And no I'm not yelling or being condescending. I just had to CAPS LOCK for EMPHASIS.
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....you would have found a backdoor way in (no chuckles please!) Hit up Dickblood or somebody who is a regular and gert them in a "free" screeening and then post their review. Or would that break ther rules also....?
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Got home from Pineapple Express not long ago. Remove the guns and thats my life up on screen. While watching the film, and listening to the audience laugh at the patheticness and embarasment suffered by the two main characters, it felt like they were laughing at me. Stupid audience.
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Aug 13, 2008 3:27:56 AM CDT
You can't win Moriarty but there are alternatives to fighting
by afraidoffans
Was there such a thing as an embargo on internet reviews when Batman & Robin came out? If so would Harry have obeyed it back then? REALLY? Or is it a case of internet reviews like Harry's B&R one created the embargo situation in the first place? We all now know if a movie is really bad the studios do the desperate embargo thing in the hopes they can get some revenue in the first few days of release before people realise how poor it is. Let's be honest here Drew, it was a 'normal' movie release no one would care but it's Star Wars and it's Lucas and the studio is WB. It just looks really bad and it looks like you are now bowing to the man when the man used to bow to AICN. Oh and to all those talkbackers who start their comments with things like, "To all you retarded fan boys.." Do you really think anyone reads any further? Lol! Likewise I’d like to address those who think we should just automatically approve of everything AICN does or leave without comment and think this site doesn’t owe us anything. If people, both in the industry and the thousands of ‘normal’ geeks like you and I, didn’t contribute scoops, reviews and comments then this site would struggle to provide content. If people en masse stopped visiting this site then they’d struggle to raise revenue from sponsors and eventually the studios really wouldn’t give a poop covered pear what Harry and co published. AICn would no longer matter. So before you lie on your back with you tackle pointed towards the Northern Star saying, “Thank you Harry, may I have another?” just remember this site does owe the visitors a hell of a lot and would be nothing without us. We made the site, we the people the normal geeks made Harry a star. We gave Moriarty the chance to work in Hollywood. We are now the ultimate power in the Universe…I suggest we use it!
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Ah, Star Wars...like a poor Uncle with nowhere to go you've overstayed your welcome. Your creator is clueless as to how ridiculously bad of a writer he really is. Guess if you have director pals with super amounts of talent you can ride on their coattails until you go to the grave. I always thought Lucas' mouth was shaped like Steven Speilberg's cock.
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When I first visited this site Morri's column was entertaining, charming and witty. I agree that there is a direct correlation between him becoming more successful and him becoming more of an arsehole (at times) on this site. But, thanks to his success he can deliver better articles and, is usually, always upfront and honest in what he writes. The people of this site have moved on. Talkbackers' comments will eventually grind away at them. Morri knows he can't please everyone - to be fair, he doesn't seem to try/care anymore. but I think evey negative Talkbacker is at least partly to blame for his slide down the popularity scale. Do you want the old Morri who was everyone's friend? Or the new improved Morri who can score bigger and better storied, and who, funnily enough, gets really pissed off at shitty comments.
P.S. I don't really care, I just want a new Ghostbusters FILM :) -
TalkBackers are rising up declaring their loyalty, bruised or not, by letting us all know how long they've been coming here. Myself, I first logged on when Kurt Cobain had his head on straight that's for sure. I didn't see the review but even if I had I probably wouldn't have even read it because I have already SEEN this movie. Genndy Tartakovsky? I read those TBs. It was like everyone was ready to kick each other's asses over who gets skullfucked with their own severed dick. Then Moriarty gives what the more sensible contingent of that arguement was asking for in the first place and people who haven't even been following this shit past this post are getting all butthurt because they think Mori is lashing out. Well forgive me for being the odd guy out but I don't want my dick cut off and shoved in my skull. I'd rather read a Culture novel or dub a banal morning talk show over nine inch nails Creative Commons Copyrighted Ghosts I-IV than see this shit down the throat of any 30ish person who remembers being a kid and growing up to be just like Han Solo...because he got to shoot first and still be the good guy. Fuck you George Lucas, fuck you with Lars Ulrich's warty dick. In conclusion Fran Drescher is about one molecule's amount MORE irritating than ScriptGirl.
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... I've come to a decision. There's only one way to break the growing tension in this talkback thread...
I am prepared to make out... with each... and every... single... one of you. -
Give my turn to another TBer who wants seconds.
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dear Harry and co.: what do you think your readers want? early reviews before the official release(which they can get from 20 other sites) OR your honest, no-holds-barred, personal, subjective, speaking-for-the-fanboy- reviews? I can't belive you've sold out like that, Harry. This thing is going to haunt you and you know it. did you need invitations and gift baskets from WB when you started this site? fuck no you didn't. No one cares if you get invited to early screenings, news about movies will leak out somehow anyways. Case in point: Have you noticed how your Clone Wars review is ALL OVER the net? But hey, turn AICN into the equivalent of McDonalds if that's what you want. I'll go elsewhere.
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If Harry had just not reviewed it yet then there wouldn't be all this nerd unrest. Instead he posted it, and you all saw it, and now you're ripping him a new asshole anyway. How can he please you?
Moriarty is bending over backwards to explain and re-explain and re-re-explain something that personally I can't figure out why anybody didn't understand in the first place. We all read movie websights, we all know about this shit. Critics go to critics screenings, and they are told they can't post their reviews until a certain date, and the rules are inconsistently enforced, and then Dave Poland complains about how he wasn't allowed to post one but so-and-so was or did anyway and it's not fair and boo hoo.
What are you even mad about? If there was a public screening I would've gone to it and/or other people would've and they would've reviewed it, but there wasn't so Harry went to the critic's screening and wasn't allowed to review it, BUT DID ANYWAY. So you got to read the review, all your dreams about having something new to blame on George Lucas have come true, Dave Poland has a chance to whine, everybody wins except for Moriarty's innocent blood pressure.
Moriarty deserves a medal for his patience in dealing with this non-issue. The Chud guys would've just told you to fuck off and called you morons and then you'd have to log into a separate forum to complain about it because they removed the comments feature after a short trial period. Moriarty and company have been taking the heat for, what, almost ten years now? About as long as this plague of whining about George Lucas has threatened to devour the earth. Show some respect, fellows. -
In a second hand way he did anywa lol! And he said Moriarty deserves a medal! We've all got it wrong! Sorry, can you forgive us? I think thou do'eth protest too much Moriarty/Vern!
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This guy is already super rich, and his bullshit is just so tired already. Since star wars and indy, what has he accomplished? He's milking star wars for all it's worth coz he's got nothing else in terms of creativity. JUST DIE LUCAS!!! fuck this cartoon movie, i hope it flops so bad that he gets depressed and kills himself. I used to love star wars but goddamnit, now i'm starting to hate it with a passion. FUCK YOU LUCAS! ok that's all.
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When the nerds get their panties this bunched there is almost nothing anybody can do about. It sucks that Mori is taking the heat on this one, but sometimes its better to let the little girls get their cry on and then try to move past it.
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I got better...
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This has been one helluva AICN week. I've posted here more this week then in the last 7 years total.
AICN - The Best in Movie, TV, DVD, Comic Book and Fan Hyperbole news on teh nets. -
Harsh headline I know. And not (entirely) true/fair. But you guys, through the success of Harry's site, now have access to a world that we will never see. I don't begrudge you from accepting "gift baskets" and "set visits" or whatever. Just at least try to remember why this site was so successful in the first place. It's evolution, the steps you have taken. But in a way it's also like the studios have won. And I believe that's why everyone is upset by this.
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Will the original as posted here reviews go back up or will there be new reviews of the movie at that time? I only saw one of them before they disappeared, so I'm just interested to read the others. Certainly I think an embargo on reviews is bullshit but if people agree to that when they walk in the door, then a deal is a deal.
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SAN DIEGO, California (AP) -- An actor who appeared in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" was charged with attempted murder Tuesday after police said he stabbed his former girlfriend more than 20 times.
Shelley Malil, 43, remained in custody on $2 million bail. He was arrested late Monday as he left a train in Oceanside, California, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.
Malil was charged late Monday with attempted murder with special circumstances of premeditation, causing great bodily injury and using a deadly weapon, said Deputy District Attorney Steven Carver.
Malil was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Vista, north of San Diego, said Paul Levikow, a spokesman for the San Diego County District Attorney's office. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all counts.
Authorities confirmed the victim's identity as Kendra Beebe. According to her Facebook page, she is a 35-year-old mother of two who works as an insurance broker in Carlsbad, California, a coastal suburb.
She was listed in critical condition Monday, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said Tuesday she had no update on Beebe's condition.
"Malil and the victim had apparently been in a dating relationship which recently ended," the Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
Malil's agent, Mark Measure of Abrams Artist Agency, declined to comment.
Malil, who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Sherman Oaks, had taken the train to the San Diego area to meet his attorney, who had joined the actor's family and friends in persuading him to turn himself in, deputies said.
Deputies found the victim Sunday night while responding to reports of screams for help and breaking glass in San Marcos, about 15 miles east of Oceanside.
Malil appeared in the Budweiser "What are you doing?" commercial that aired during the 2001 Super Bowl, a spinoff of the "Whassup?" spots from the year before. He also played a co-worker, Haziz, to comedian Steve Carell's title character in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and has appeared in dozens of TV shows including "NYPD Blue" and "Scrubs."
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...if embargoes mean a film is shit then why are they used on shit films and great films and OK films? I'm pretty sure The Dark Knight was embargoed as reviewers fucking everywhere saw it at the start of July yet no fanboy rebellion. I mean embargoes are just part of life not a big conspiracy about raped childhoods and such. Oh and the First Star Wars I saw was The Special Editions at age 7 and they were still fucking awesome.
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I'm going to bend this here spoon with my mind. Look it:
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Ta Da!!!! -
...I saw Greedo shoot first in the Special Edition that George Lucas had truly lost it.
And there's an embargo. You may not like it and you may pull Mori apart for adhering to it, but it's the way it is. As much whining, bitching and crying that there is on this TB, it ain't gonna ghange a fuckin' thing. All I can say to the fanboys is to conserve your semen till Friday. I can wait, others on this site can wait. Surprise us and wait too. -
That's a lot of times to stab somebody. Wow that movie just got retroactively less funny.
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Aug 13, 2008 7:15:47 AM CDT
Greedo shooting first may have been momentarily irksome...
by davebaxter1989
...but fucked if I gave a shit, its barely a second in a whole film of awesomeness and has EVEN been rectified since so PLEASE stop complaining.
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like nobody here has the brains to put "movie title review" in google..
we'll all join warner in it's dark closet until friday b/c nobody in the world has seen, reviewed, and posted about this movie.
2008. type the letters, hit enter. its that easy. -
perhaps you missed this when I posted it at the top of the TB so I'll ask the question again:
what exactly would the consequences be of ignoring the embargo? Because I think for us TBers thats the real rub of things here. Its obvious that other sites and magazines have ignored this embargo and decided to go ahead and publish what their reviewers thought (admittedly from what I've read none were quite as scathing as Harry and Massawrym's). But we've already read that no-one signed an agreement before the screening, and from what has been posted on others TBs already, it seems unlikely that without that WB or Lucasfilm could impose any legal sanctions on you guys. So then what could they do if you flouted this embargo as so many others have done? Because the suspicion is that the threat was not legal action, but that you guys would be thrown off the gravy train. That WB and/or Lucas would stop sending you goodies. Stop inviting you to set visits, to advanced screenings. The question is therefore - is that worth it for the loss of credibility you are suffering? You know the reason I have been coming to AICN for years is that I always thought that this was a site for film geeks run by film geeks. The idea I had of AICN - whether it be entirely spurious or not - was that if a studio told them about some bullshit embargo such as this they would say FUCK THE EMBARGO THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. The Star Wars geeks need to know that this cartoon is shit and they really shouldn't waste their money going to see it when it opens. I for one have certainly trusted you guys in the past to steer me through the studio press releases and the paid-for hack reviewers to tell me whats really going on with a film. And on several occassions I have not gone to see a film thats been hyped to fuck because you guys panned it. And also been to see films I wouldn't normally have because you've raved about these films. The question is now - do you just not give a shit anymore about telling the truth? do you prefer to live inside the studios pockets or is the shit they are threatening you with so damn apocalyptic that posting those reviews just ain't worth it? In all seriousness - the entire credibility of AICN hangs on this very question. -
It was pretty cool.
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...STEVEN SEAGAL JUST CALLED! THERE'S AN EMBARGO ON "KILL SWITCH". PULL THAT REVIEW DOWN! HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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...this whole thing's probably got AICN more hits than anything its done all year.
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I finally saw it last night. It wasn't great, but it was good enough. It had some nice gore moments, and the acting wasn't any worse than that found in the other "found" footage films. I enjoyed it a lot more than Cloverfield (also known as monsters attack the American Eagle models), and Redacted (which as much as I like De Palma, his style does not go well with the found footage genre). If Romero makes another film, I'd like to see him do something akin to Martin, which is to take a established genre (like with that one the vampire film), and put his own spin on it.
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look so bad? It looks like cut scenes from a Sega CD game circa 1993. Can't wait for Lucas to do a Sewer Shark re-imagining.
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.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Man... you bitches be worked up.
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This is an web site that offers entertainment news and opinion pieces.
As there are reviews of the movie to be found on various other web sites - as someone else suggested, google - why is it an issue that the review was pulled from this site? It's a review - opinion - about a movie. -
...because Lucas wanted it to look like a Puppetoons thing from the '60s, like Thunderbirds or Supercar. Seriously.
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Aug 13, 2008 8:42:02 AM CDT
once again it has been shown that talkbackers are retarded
by right bastard
Harry implied in his post, which anyone with a double digit IQ could figure out, that if you want to see his review so badly; EVERYONE has posted it. Jesus, have you people never heard of google? Yes, there's a studio embargo, but harry handed his review to you on a platter anyway.
I have been reading (and posting) this site since the 90's. I even had two comic-con stories published (woo-hoo). As Mori said, they have always followed the rules when they were playing on the studio's turf. I agree that there are some questionable things that go on here, but nothing surprising. All of you yell about AINC being "defenders of the geek", then you expect them to refuse a Del Toro or Peter Jackson set visit because then their review will "obviously be biased"? Make up your damn minds. Are they allowed to be geeks and fans, or not? And if their review is "obviously biased", then what's your problem? Did you never learn how to read between the lines? -
Hey, I do reviews for videogames over at playitreviewit.com, and the embargo on both MGS4 and GTA4 were pains in the asses, especially since I had favorable reviews for both. I ended up only doing one review, the one for GTA4. Meanwhile, over at IGN they had the first review of GTA4 and the clickthroughs for their site were fucking ridiculous. So yeah, embargoes are shitty. And, it seems like this site has an impact on buzz, if not the industry policies or the mainstream movie watching public.Take this embargo as a sign that aintitcool has a little influence. :)
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Seriously, you guys have long ago been wooed away by the corporate goons of the studios and now you all just their whores. They payed you a little attention, invited you to go out to their studios and made you geeks feel real special and now when they want a little favor they bring all that back up..."Gee Harry...would be a shame to not let you come out here anymore....what say you do as we ask and jump through our special hoops?" Oh, and as always, McWeeny needs to use his real name and not the fake "McWeeny" bullshit.
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Aug 13, 2008 8:49:32 AM CDT
The HORROR, the HORROR - Billy Bob Thorton as Freddy Krueger!!!
by sithdan
http://www.imdb.com/news/ns0000002/#ni0550264
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You can set up my makeout appointment at my office number: 415-662-1800. Have your girl call my girl. Better yet, just have your girl make out with my girl.
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http://tinyurl.com/6dhaxo
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A) This is a review of "Clone Wars," not a expose on the Office of Strategic Influence.
B) Is there anyone on the face of the earth who actually thought "Clone Wars" would be good?
C) Warner Bros. knows it's a bad movie, that's why they're pulling the reviews.
D) This has massively backfired.
E) Harry should not have taken down the review into the memory hole. He should have replaced it with: We did have a review on this site, which will come back on X:00, August X. Because of an embargo, which we were not aware of, Warner Brothers has threatened to cut us off entirely from future access if we did not do so. We imagine this may not have been enforced if we had written a review that was "more to their taste." Interpret that how you will.
F) This will blow over by September. -
Vader - well written, and just as protective of the past as DocP. I do understand. I sometimes get leery though when I hear about the 'good old days'. For some the old days will always be best, but for others, it was not the case. Progress and change though are constant and should be. That does not mean we forget or abandon what made us great -but should always be aware that looking backwards should be done without rose colored glasses. And I am by know means accusing you or DocP of doing that. I think you have brought up legitimate concerns. But it must be put into the context of the times. Very, very few things remain unchanged over time. But sometimes the loss of what we were used to is considered too great - hence some of the people you mentioned leaving the site.
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"So how did a character who wasn’t even supposed to speak English wind up sounding like that? Because George Lucas insisted on it, “Clone Wars” director Dave Filoni confessed.
“Zero, Jabba’s uncle, originally spoke in Hutt-ese, like Jabba and then he had a different sluggish voice just like Jabba, and then George one day was watching it and said ‘I want him to sound like Truman Capote.’ He actually said that and we were like ‘Wow!’” Filion revealed."
Truly George, your time is up. -
...to eliminate whoever it was that stretched this Talkback. Talkback Stretchers will have no place in a MNG moderated AICN!Vote nice, vote MNG!
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...Announce Poochie as the new guest reviewer? Or is Script Girl comfortably filling that role?
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Alexa web rankings suggest otherwise.
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"We still publish things the studios would rather we didn't." Unless of course when we publish them, and then take them down again because of the studios. Any moderator threatening to leave these forums will only be hurting the site by a) backing down and failing to justify their actions and b) taking away those Talkbackers who come on here with the possibility of the moderators replying. I'd like an alternative to AICN - any suggestions?
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An extract from Harry's review:
That said – the audience did have light applause. My father liked it. My sister felt too much was going on. Me nephew really liked it. That said – Yoko was complaining right along with me. She thought it was **** too. I know Moriarty liked it. Wonder what Quint and Massawyrm thought.
Mori liked it then.. -
teamxbox has some good general and film forums with some funny as feck guys hanging around there, and darkhorizons coupled with joblo fulfill my news and interview needs.
AICN for me is all about the talkbalk, warts and all. The interactivity with the contributors is great and despite the abuse that gets thrown around they stick it out which, whilst part of the job, shows their character.
The language and general lack of respect brings it down frequently. As many know, a person is entitled to disagree and still be respectful to someone. Round here you could write war and peace, make it insanely well rounded and still some cretin would reply "FOOOOKKK YOOOOOOO" to justify their side of the argument.
Some of the arguments against/for AICN in this have made interesting reading though. -
...That if you keep positing fucking garbage like script girl, and stop acting like dicks and banning talkbackers from turning it into a juvenile hall of filth, perversion and borderline stalking your Alexa rankings will go even higher. AICN is on its way to attaining freak show status.
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Just wanted to chime in on the longest thread I've ever seen here. Nothing much to add. I love Star Wars, but this toon will probably wind up a rental. But I will be purchasing the masterpiece War of the Gargantuas which is finally being released on dvd next month!! WOO-HOO!!!
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Suckers!
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William Shatner: You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME!
[ a crowd of shocked and dismayed Trekkies.... ]
I mean, how old are you people? What have you done with yourselves?
[ to "Ears" ] You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl?
[ "Ears" hangs his head ]
I didn't think so! There's a whole world out there! When I was your age, I didn't watch television! I LIVED! So... move out of your parent's basements! And get your own apartments and GROW THE HELL UP! I mean, it's just a TV show dammit, IT'S JUST A TV SHOW!
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And yes, I will make out with you. But in an entirely straight, masculine heterosexual way. To ease the tension. Sacrificially. Like Jesus did.
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Good to see you on the boards and I appreciate your support! I've little doubt that a Vice Moderator will be needed in the administration to come. And my BSG TB buddies are all top candidates.Ah yes, the promised and still missing 8 model. While it pains me to see that this "campaign promise" has yet to be fulfilled, I can assure you that I will do everything I can to see that you receive your very own number 8. Word on the street is that the backorders got put on further hold due to some sort of "Cylon Civil War" thing. It could spell trouble for all intended deliveries. But I'll look into it.MNG for MOD - So Say We All!!!
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The nuclear option.
Or free ice cream. -
by women! BSB 08!
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Vote for the young up and coming hotshot TerryMalloy for Mod! BECAUSE WE CAN!
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Somebody's about to get fired.
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....are guestimated and quite often way wrong. That's what you get for something that's free!
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anyone seen Mummy 3???? TERRIBLE, just thought i'd throw that out there
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The security of Israel is sacrosanct!
BSB 08! -
Inquiring voter minds want to know!Vote MNG - He's A Man And He's Not Old!
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Terry is aiite.
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Moriarty,
Don't you think your approach to the visitors of your site is a bit aggressive at the end there. You posted the bloody review and to get all militant with us is a little bit of a slap in the face. If you dont want us reposting your reviews don't post them in the first place. You wrote.
"As I stated in an earlier talkback, if you repost Harry’s review in the talkbacks, you will be banned. No warning. No appeal. The review is off the site until Friday. That’s an editorial decision..."
Maybe you should chill out a bit and stop threatning us like you perhaps have been threatened. Its a real shame you got all heavy, its only a cartoon why do you feel the need to be so bitchy with you readers.
Its going to take a lot to get me back now i've been threatened.
The H man -
Because he's the funniest, meanest dude on these boards and because you are too scared not to!
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A Han Solo-esque character type is completely missing from these Jedi-centric stories ... which is fine if you have the coolness that Genndy Tartakovsky brought to the plate, but it's sadly lacking in these Lucas driven pieces. If they indeed do a live-action TV show then they ought to seriously consider bringing in a character that is not Jedi that has those characteristics that made Han Solo the cool character in the first films. But they need someone that has that cool/swagger that Harrison Ford had. Someone like Paul Rudd strikes me as an early American Graffitti-era Harrison Ford-type. Perhaps they should seriously look at Paul Rudd as a star for their TV Show as a non-Jedi hero.
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http:// tinyurl.com / 6yae7w
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Aug 13, 2008 11:21:20 AM CDT
Should AICN care if it gets banned by Lucasfilm at this point?
by riskebiz
Just asking.
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A real pussy fuckin', beer guzzlin', muscle car drivin' MAN. I sometimes piss gobs of testosterone. VOTE FOR TERRY!
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if they post the review before Friday they don't get future invites to Skywalker Ranch and Moriarty never ever wants that to happen again ;-)
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http:// tinyurl.com / 5mvbwy (obviously remove the spaces)
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Imagine a motard-free talkback! Imagine the possibilities!
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http:// tinyurl.com / 6o46dh
..but seriously, getting that big takes a LOT of popcorn.
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Talking about this on Ron and Fez on 202. Saying that Aintitcool and harry in particular are making themselves Lucasfilm's bitches and about how the site is no longer the site it used to be when people would sneak into things. just reporting it...
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LibWar would probably kill himself trying to make these TB's a motard free zone - but my God, it would be the funniest thing that ever happened, if he was let loose on every motard out there! The monkey shit would fly! And the inbred, population of diseased butt-raped macaques would take a drastic decline
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You might have a bit more perspective. I'll be more blunt than I was in an earlier post. These reviews are an ass raping of Lucas. They are not just "the movie sucked donkey balls". I'm thinking Lucas's "Empire" had quite a bit to do with WB getting the reviews pulled. They probably think the early public rapage by AICN would lead to a few mill drop in box office. Even if you don't think AICN has that kind of influence over the nerd orgy that are Star Wars fans, those reviews would probably make a lot of people wait to here a friend's take on the film before throwing more money down Lucas's pie hole.
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maybe it is time to just stick to the novels...and comics...and toys ... and I'm definitely keeping my bedsheets.
and my millennium falcon that transforms into chewy and han.
but that is it. -
There's no way this site in its early days would've given a shit about instructions not to review until a given day. And there's no way that anyone here or anywhere else believes that the agreement is enforceable in any legal way. Going along with those agreements is always about being in or out of the favored circle. And in this case the favored circle is not just about studio passes and lunch on the lot; it's about being reviewers being allowed to work in the biz as producers and writers. Can't fault people for going inside and wanting to stay there, but the apology at the top makes it sound like the choice was unavoidable as a legal and ethical necessity, and that just isn't so. It's ironic that this is about Warners, because it could be argued that it was a Warners release, Batman and Robin, which put AICN on the map as an outlaw site. At the time, the studios had little if any clue about the power of the internet, let alone the power of geek culture. And their own egos wouldn't let them admit that it was not the internet buzz which killed the 4th batman film; the movie just plainly sucked and would have died after the first weekend through good old fashioned word of mouth. In fact, that is how it did die. The film opened like a blockbuster, despite the pre-release AICN excorciation. And then it died because it was a piece of shit. But the execs who were clueless enough to let the movie become a piece of shit in the first place couldn't accept the idea that they had done their jobs badly and had to find a bogey man; so it became AICN's fault. They conflated AICN into a juggernaut that could kill a film and -- most importantly -- as a juggernaut they couldn't have seen coming because it came from nowhere. That fairy tale saved a few heads from rolling at Warners and puffed up the outlaw cred of AICN. Slowly, AICN's principals have been brought into the fold and other outlaw sites try to repeat the same formula in hopes they, too, will be offered a chance to join the favored few behind the studio gates. But, contrary to popular opinion and hopes, those gates are not limitless and the gatekeepers would much prefer to destroy or minimize people. So those people posting bad reviews of Clone Wars (or anything else) will not so easily leverage web snark into a table at the Blue Room.
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..and that's some pie-hole isn't it? "TWELVE PIES FOR TABLE 1138, THE GUY IN THE LUMBERJACK SHIRT!"
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In the words of Libwarrior ... Bring it!!!
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To the face! Bozo style!
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Aug 13, 2008 11:54:25 AM CDT
These reviews are deader than Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes
by luscious.868
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...I read Harry's review of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. That film is an abomination!
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You know BSB, we may be setting ourselves up for some black rhino raping retribution if LibWar does not like us putting his name into nomination!
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Clean-up on all aisles! Extra mops!
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Aug 13, 2008 12:05:15 PM CDT
Don't forget the drooling, pus dribbling, purple-assed Mandrills
by toadkillerdog
Those are some seriously motarded monkeys.
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The Dark Knight vs. Revenge of the Sith
Why Lucas's Much-Maligned Epic is Better Than Nolan's Latest - In Every Respect
Once again on the wrong side of the consensus, I now offer a comparison of George Lucas's tragically misunderstood pop masterpiece and the absurdly overpraised muddle for which Christopher Nolan is now treated as the second coming of Alfred Hitchcock.
1. Genre Expectations
The Dark Knight is being praised for "transcending" the superhero genre and adding a "dark twist" that makes it "more real." Star Wars is technically sci-fi, although the super-powered Jedi Knights have more in common with comic books than with Arthur C. Clarke. I believe that Sith manages to satisfy as enjoyable space opera while adding tragic depth and political weight, whereas The Dark Knight fails both as comic book spectacle and the gritty, hard-boiled film noir it aspires to be. Both films stretch their genre definitions; only one of them actually kicks any ass.
2. Action, or The Fun Factor
The first thing we all want from a summer blockbuster is stuff blowing up. Chases, races, fights, ka-blooey. I grant that The Dark Knight has its share of action scenes, but on closer inspection, they all disappoint. There's an interminable setup for an excitement-free sequence in Hong Kong, a poorly edited and difficult-to-follow bike chase topped by a truck flipping over (yawn), and documentary footage of a building demolition--what is this, Koyaanisqatsi? Sith's opening shot of a raging space battle offers more kicks than all of The Dark Knight combined, and it's followed by a spectacular crash landing, epic lightsaber confrontations, and all-out intergalactic war. For his grand finale, Batman beats up some guys in a construction site.
3. Visual Appeal
Even on the surface, Sith trumps Dark Knight in terms of eye candy and visual imagination, and that goes double for the IMAX screen. Aside from a few swooping city shots, The Dark Knight wallows in the murk of its drab, modernist Gotham, which has lost its Gothic appeal. Like all Star Wars prequels, Sith is overstuffed with creatures, costumes, and effects, but here, the baroque design is subjected to an appropriate third-act treatment as it slowly descends into darkness: for most of the film, it is dusk, and after Anakin's turn, night falls on the galaxy. The illuminating use of darkness can't be matched by The Dark Knight's heedless back-and-forth between moody night shots and overlit day, serving no dramatic purpose.
4. Heroes
Let me state the obvious first: what's with Batman's tuberculosis-ravaged voice? For me, all pretense of realism went right out the window as soon as the Caped Crusader opened his mouth. Anakin Skywalker may be a petulant kid, but when he finally gets his mask on, it's the classic Vader rasp we hear. They're both broody guys, but Anakin's fighting skills don't need to be chopped into hectic ADD sequences to thrill, and his turn to the dark side doesn't just involve a symbol on a lantern being smashed -- it permanently changes the face of the galaxy. (More on that in a minute.) Also, he's not afraid of dogs. As for the white knight, is Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan vs. Aaron Eckhardt's Harvey Dent even a contest?
5. Villains
This is a harder sell -- clearly, Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is the most interesting thing about The Dark Knight, and he's got a few horrifying tricks up his sleeve. Ultimately, though, Ian McDiarmid's salacious, insinuating Palpatine is the more powerful character because his evil plans actually work out: he successfully corrupts the hero of the series and turns him into the most recognizable villain in all of cinema, while the Joker concedes that he can never kill Batman -- hell, he can't even convince hardened convicts to push a button. And he goes out like a chump too, dangling from a rope like a punchline nobody cares for. Advantage Star Wars.
6. Romance/Tragedy
The wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Rachel Dawes, the object of desire in a love triangle between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, and like Anakin's love for Natalie Portman's Padme, the romance ends in tragedy. But Rachel's demise is neither set up nor paid off properly -- the kidnapping that seals her fate is conveniently skipped, and it turns out that ultimately, a switched address is responsible for her death. Batman gets played like a fool, and then we learn that Rachel didn't love him to begin with. In sharp contrast, in a climactic scene that has been carefully prepared, Padme is killed by her lover and husband -- what could be more morbidly romantic? Her funeral is enough to make Jar-Jar Binks weep.
7. Dialogue
Fine, you say, but what about the dialogue? Surely, anybody can see that The Dark Knight is better written than Star Wars? I say, not so fast. In a cheesy-line showdown, "The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules!" is up there with "Good is a point of view, Anakin," but Star Wars never mistakes itself for anything other than a space opera, and while the dialogue isn't Mamet (it's Stoppard, actually), it fits perfectly into the world Lucas created. But "Either you die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain!" makes a poor fit with "Your balls fall off, or what?" Batman's dialogue can never seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be DC or Scorsese.
8. Plot
Next to its visual imagination and mythic resonance, its increasingly well-structured plot is Star Wars' strongest element. Revenge of the Sith perfectly ties together a cycle of six interlocking films, presenting the precisely drawn final act in its hero's downfall. As the sixth Batman film, The Dark Knight pretends four of them didn't happen at all and dispatches with the previous installment's villain in what seems like an afterthought. Lacking an overarching purpose, the story simply piles up a mess of arbitrary episodes that stop rather than end. Unresolved questions that can't be chalked up to willful ambiguity (did Dent die?) show that the writers were more concerned with leaving options for sequels than telling a satisfying story.
9. Political Themes
For megabuck entertainments, both movies show a surprising interest in our contemporary political reality, spending inordinate amounts of time in the offices of supreme chancellors and district attorneys. Over three movies, Star Wars mapped out the way democracies turn to fascism ("This is how liberty dies - to thunderous applause"), and Dark Knight references the War on Terror, interrogation methods bordering on torture, illegal wiretapping, and the power of fear. Gotham represents a barely sane allegory for post-9/11 America ("All it takes is a little push!") whose last best hope is a psychopath in a costume operating at the edges of legality. Star Wars posits the possibility of an organized resistance and return to democratic ideals.
10. Good vs. Evil
Aside from the larger political themes, both films are also concerned with personal choices that lead to "good" or "evil." The Dark Knight hints at the connection between hero and villain ("You complete me!"), but when Batman moves "beyond heroism" by fighting his vigilante war with dirty tricks, the film fails to follow through on its gloomy thesis -- as a "silent guardian" and "watchful protector," we can still admire him. Star Wars presents a much more radical (dare I say darker?) view by showing how Anakin, for well-delineated reasons of his own, becomes evil himself. Batman takes the blame for a few murders he didn't commit. Anakin slaughters the younglings and destroys peace in the galaxy for decades. Who's the real Dark Knight?
11. The End
The Dark Knight ends in a speech that is supposed to carry the burden of what we just saw and spell it out: "Why is Batman running, daddy?" Instead of giving his transformation any actual screen time and portraying its consequences, we'll have to take Gordon's word for it. (To be continued etc.) Revenge of the Sith, like all Star Wars episodes, ends in an extended silent montage of pure cinema that carries the accumulated emotional force of six movies and brings them to a magnificent close. Far from completing the alleged rape of everybody's childhood, Revenge of the Sith offers stronger characters, more popcorn excitement, tighter drama, and more. -
Aug 13, 2008 12:08:09 PM CDT
THAT COULD ONLY MEAN LIBWARRIOR WILL NEED A SHOPVAC
by bringingsexyback
as a running mate. He will give new meaning to the term "laying waste".
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... we don't understand why you would agree to them! Why in the world would AICN agree to a gag order just to get an early look? Your site's purpose is to bring scoops and early news to movie fans. It makes no sense for a movie website to get an early look at a movie that they can not discuss. You guys really need to draw the line and tell the studios that you'll pass on any advance showings that come with a gag order.
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you guys are still bitching about this! Leave Mori alone!
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Cigarette Burns is my favorite Masters of Horror!!!! I think you kick ass and I like your reviews the best! Don't let these nerds get you down!
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Aug 13, 2008 12:13:48 PM CDT
It is times like this when I - *shudder* almost miss Morbid an
by toadkillerdog
They were great whipping boys for LibWar. Flame wars. Mnnkey shit flyng. Motards in full retreat. Rampaging butt raping black rhinos. Diseased, pus dribling Mandrills. Inbred macaques. And dead armadillos everywhere.
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And Monkey shit flying
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Not a whole lot, at the end of the day. Ranting and raving. Banning. Conspiracy theories. Accusations of selling out. All missing the most important point. Moriarty's real name is Drew McWeenie? Seriously? McWeenie? I always thought that was a joke. And a juvenile joke at that. McWeenie? Hmm, I wonder if Mrs. McWeenie kept her maiden name? And if not, for God's sake why not? McWeenie? Seriously? Sigh. That is all.
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(With flames on)
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As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been a Star Wars movie since 1983
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As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been a Star Wars movie since 1983.
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Don't get mad that I'm asking this, I'm totally sincere. How long will it take you fellas to get over George Lucas? I know you loved the movies when you were a kid and now you hate his new ones, I understand it's disappointing and everything. But this is, what, at least the 4th, possibly 5th Star Wars movie you hate. It just seems like you would all be happier and healthier if you could get to the point of "I only like the old ones, too bad the new ones suck" and not have to fly into a fucking roid rage any time anyone mentions (or more often does not mention) George Lucas, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc.
I mean you know how you have a buddy who won't stop talking about his ex-wife... eventually you stop hanging out with that guy, even though you feel bad about it. He needs to move on with his life. If he can't get over it on his own I guess he should go into therapy or something. -
Not much to say to someone who can't make a point to save his life. Brane, however, was one impassioned macaque!
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This is worse than reading a World of Warcraft forum.
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Because I would love to read your seemingly odd comparison between a terrific film and a lame one.
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OK, I agree that a lot of people here are going way too far on this Lucas sucks deal, and that he raped your childhood, but really????? did he???? or is it much deeper than that...?? here's a few thoughts....He didn't rape your childhood, you grew up and so did he.....second, look where he was in the mid seventies, mostly new, and full of a desire to tell his story, he wasn't soured by hollywood YET or taken apart by a system that does what it wants to with your dreams.....now, go forward 14-16 years, and this guy has kids.....KIDS, hell, they're in the movies, just look at Phantom Menace and you can tell he made that for his kids..... end of story there, really, it couldn't be more clear right there..... now, AOTC was a little less kid-like, but you could still sense it, and then Revenge pretty well wasn't kid adjusted and was better for it.....
Now, I like a lot of Lucas's stuff....... American Graffitti, Willow, Radioland Murders...Has anyone on the TB ever seen Radioland Murders?? pretty good flik...... again, I don't think Lucas is the greatest, I didn't like THX-1138 much at all, not a big fan of Temple of Doom, even a lot of Last Crusade kinda was weak for me, but as for everyone ripping the guy a new one, get over it,.... hell, I loved the micro Clone Wars, didn't care for Phantom Menace much, but I don't hate Lucas for it all., I know that it was myself and Lucas that has changed over the years, and that's how I deal with it.......as for this Clone Wars, I'll give it a chance, and I DO hope that the LIVE series is good, at least it's supposed to get into non-major characters and side stories....... but if they aren't, I'll still be a Star Wars fan, and a Lucas fan..... but no, I don't think he's the best by any means...... neither is Speilberg to me...... -
I would, absolutely, if the first 3 were still self contained and not "special editions", especially with Prequel bullshit crowbar'd in (I can deal with the cleaned up effects). It's a travesty that those weren't preserved for archival reasons, for film history's sake. Too fucking bad they weren't his original intentions or whatever, sometimes that's for the best. Shit happens during the process and you do your best. Do you think JAWS would have turned out as good if Speilberg had unlimited funds and got the final say on everything? You only make your art worse by constantly retinkering it, you gotta let go at some point, move on, and do something else and learn from your mistakes. Then the artwork becomes part of the ether and is no longer yours, it exists on it's own.
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The fun is in the bitchin'!
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Finally, someone with some sense.
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I'm sorry folks, but STAR WARS might be a fun movie, but its NOT a GREAT movie. It's whiny and silly with plot holes galore. EMPIRE and JEDI are the same. But they were all fun and that's what redeemed them. They were easy to digest and even easier to make lots of plastic toys out of. The prequel trilogy, despite me not ENJOYING watching them, aren't any WORSE per se than the original movies. They're just as easy to digest and make toys out of. I think most AICN talkbackers are pissed about modern Lucas because he changed the way HE thought about HIS movies, but they, the audience, didn't.
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If we did that, this place would be dead. :) No more TBers.
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and can u do something about this stretched talkback? I can barely read my own nuggets of wisdom here.
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I mean, granted, you're not really facing much competition but very thoughtful and well put nonetheless. And I completely agree with you, one hundred percent.
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The Dark Knight vs. Revenge of the Sith
Why Lucas's Much-Maligned Epic is Better Than Nolan's Latest - In Every Respect
Once again on the wrong side of the consensus, I now offer a comparison of George Lucas's tragically misunderstood pop masterpiece and the absurdly overpraised muddle for which Christopher Nolan is now treated as the second coming of Alfred Hitchcock.
1. Genre Expectations The Dark Knight is being praised for "transcending" the superhero genre and adding a "dark twist" that makes it "more real." Star Wars is technically sci-fi, although the super-powered Jedi Knights have more in common with comic books than with Arthur C. Clarke. I believe that Sith manages to satisfy as enjoyable space opera while adding tragic depth and political weight, whereas The Dark Knight fails both as comic book spectacle and the gritty, hard-boiled film noir it aspires to be. Both films stretch their genre definitions; only one of them actually kicks any ass.
2. Action, or The Fun Factor The first thing we all want from a summer blockbuster is stuff blowing up. Chases, races, fights, ka-blooey. I grant that The Dark Knight has its share of action scenes, but on closer inspection, they all disappoint. There's an interminable setup for an excitement-free sequence in Hong Kong, a poorly edited and difficult-to-follow bike chase topped by a truck flipping over (yawn), and documentary footage of a building demolition--what is this, Koyaanisqatsi? Sith's opening shot of a raging space battle offers more kicks than all of The Dark Knight combined, and it's followed by a spectacular crash landing, epic lightsaber confrontations, and all-out intergalactic war. For his grand finale, Batman beats up some guys in a construction site.
3. Visual Appeal Even on the surface, Sith trumps Dark Knight in terms of eye candy and visual imagination, and that goes double for the IMAX screen. Aside from a few swooping city shots, The Dark Knight wallows in the murk of its drab, modernist Gotham, which has lost its Gothic appeal. Like all Star Wars prequels, Sith is overstuffed with creatures, costumes, and effects, but here, the baroque design is subjected to an appropriate third-act treatment as it slowly descends into darkness: for most of the film, it is dusk, and after Anakin's turn, night falls on the galaxy. The illuminating use of darkness can't be matched by The Dark Knight's heedless back-and-forth between moody night shots and overlit day, serving no dramatic purpose.
4. Heroes Let me state the obvious first: what's with Batman's tuberculosis-ravaged voice? For me, all pretense of realism went right out the window as soon as the Caped Crusader opened his mouth. Anakin Skywalker may be a petulant kid, but when he finally gets his mask on, it's the classic Vader rasp we hear. They're both broody guys, but Anakin's fighting skills don't need to be chopped into hectic ADD sequences to thrill, and his turn to the dark side doesn't just involve a symbol on a lantern being smashed -- it permanently changes the face of the galaxy. (More on that in a minute.) Also, he's not afraid of dogs. As for the white knight, is Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan vs. Aaron Eckhardt's Harvey Dent even a contest?
5. Villains This is a harder sell -- clearly, Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is the most interesting thing about The Dark Knight, and he's got a few horrifying tricks up his sleeve. Ultimately, though, Ian McDiarmid's salacious, insinuating Palpatine is the more powerful character because his evil plans actually work out: he successfully corrupts the hero of the series and turns him into the most recognizable villain in all of cinema, while the Joker concedes that he can never kill Batman -- hell, he can't even convince hardened convicts to push a button. And he goes out like a chump too, dangling from a rope like a punchline nobody cares for. Advantage Star Wars.
6. Romance/Tragedy The wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Rachel Dawes, the object of desire in a love triangle between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, and like Anakin's love for Natalie Portman's Padme, the romance ends in tragedy. But Rachel's demise is neither set up nor paid off properly -- the kidnapping that seals her fate is conveniently skipped, and it turns out that ultimately, a switched address is responsible for her death. Batman gets played like a fool, and then we learn that Rachel didn't love him to begin with. In sharp contrast, in a climactic scene that has been carefully prepared, Padme is killed by her lover and husband -- what could be more morbidly romantic? Her funeral is enough to make Jar-Jar Binks weep.
7. Dialogue Fine, you say, but what about the dialogue? Surely, anybody can see that The Dark Knight is better written than Star Wars? I say, not so fast. In a cheesy-line showdown, "The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules!" is up there with "Good is a point of view, Anakin," but Star Wars never mistakes itself for anything other than a space opera, and while the dialogue isn't Mamet (it's Stoppard, actually), it fits perfectly into the world Lucas created. But "Either you die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain!" makes a poor fit with "Your balls fall off, or what?" Batman's dialogue can never seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be DC or Scorsese.
8. Plot Next to its visual imagination and mythic resonance, its increasingly well-structured plot is Star Wars' strongest element. Revenge of the Sith perfectly ties together a cycle of six interlocking films, presenting the precisely drawn final act in its hero's downfall. As the sixth Batman film, The Dark Knight pretends four of them didn't happen at all and dispatches with the previous installment's villain in what seems like an afterthought. Lacking an overarching purpose, the story simply piles up a mess of arbitrary episodes that stop rather than end. Unresolved questions that can't be chalked up to willful ambiguity (did Dent die?) show that the writers were more concerned with leaving options for sequels than telling a satisfying story.
9. Political Themes For megabuck entertainments, both movies show a surprising interest in our contemporary political reality, spending inordinate amounts of time in the offices of supreme chancellors and district attorneys. Over three movies, Star Wars mapped out the way democracies turn to fascism ("This is how liberty dies - to thunderous applause"), and Dark Knight references the War on Terror, interrogation methods bordering on torture, illegal wiretapping, and the power of fear. Gotham represents a barely sane allegory for post-9/11 America ("All it takes is a little push!") whose last best hope is a psychopath in a costume operating at the edges of legality. Star Wars posits the possibility of an organized resistance and return to democratic ideals.
10. Good vs. Evil Aside from the larger political themes, both films are also concerned with personal choices that lead to "good" or "evil." The Dark Knight hints at the connection between hero and villain ("You complete me!"), but when Batman moves "beyond heroism" by fighting his vigilante war with dirty tricks, the film fails to follow through on its gloomy thesis -- as a "silent guardian" and "watchful protector," we can still admire him. Star Wars presents a much more radical (dare I say darker?) view by showing how Anakin, for well-delineated reasons of his own, becomes evil himself. Batman takes the blame for a few murders he didn't commit. Anakin slaughters the younglings and destroys peace in the galaxy for decades. Who's the real Dark Knight?
11. The End The Dark Knight ends in a speech that is supposed to carry the burden of what we just saw and spell it out: "Why is Batman running, daddy?" Instead of giving his transformation any actual screen time and portraying its consequences, we'll have to take Gordon's word for it. (To be continued etc.) Revenge of the Sith, like all Star Wars episodes, ends in an extended silent montage of pure cinema that carries the accumulated emotional force of six movies and brings them to a magnificent close. Far from completing the alleged rape of everybody's childhood, Revenge of the Sith offers stronger characters, more popcorn excitement, tighter drama, and more. -
i think it removes the line break automatically!
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i think it removes the line break automatically!
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Seriously? Has nothing to do with Gone, Script or Lost...its about the Embargo. Nuff said.
HEEL! -
Steven Seagal is YOUR George Lucas. Why can't you get over that ass-clown?Something stinks in AICNtowne, and Drew's contempt is a business as usual response.
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ROTS is a cartoon, TDK isn't. End of story.
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You have posting issues. Use html br tags for line breaks. Use two br's for spacing between paragraphs. No one will read it that way and you've already posted it twice...doh!
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It puts the like break in the basket...
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I'm no fan of the scriptgirl phenomenon, I thought it was goofy to run that children's book with no explanation (but who cares), and I have no idea what the Lost thing is that you're talking about because I don't watch that show. If your argument is "many talkbackers flip out over nothing all the time" then point taken. But I do suspect more people would be making sense if you didn't have such a hatred of Lucas.
I am an outsider here. I have almost no contact with Harry or Moriarty. I've met Harry briefly twice and never met Moriarty. But it is plain as day to me that there is nothing here. If you can't see that, it has been explained in about 250 different ways. I can't imagine that if Harry published a Mummy 3 review early and then pulled it that there would even be a talkback about it, let alone people acting like they just uncovered Watergate.
And really my question isn't even in regards to this bizarre case of outrage over nothing. I'm just talking in general. I like reading talkbacks but I would like them alot better if some significant percentage of talkbackers would get past this crazy Star Wars anti-fandom. There are movies out there, old and new, that you like. Nothing wrong with some hatred but I'm sure everybody would be happier if you put 1/10 as much energy into things you like as into this freaky vendetta against the guy for no longer making movies you like.
Do goths want to kill Tim Burton? -
Aug 13, 2008 2:01:06 PM CDT
HERE'S MY "WHY TDK IS BETTER THAN ROTS" ESSAY (WITH BREAKS)
by bringingsexyback
Cuz TDK rocked and ROTS sucked slimy macaque balls.
Lucas couldn't get a good performance out of Daniel Day-Lewis.
Nuff said! -
So basically Lucas shows the film to all the critics, making them feel special (and asking in return that they hold off reviews), and then after all the critics have seen it (who can resist being told that you're one of the cool people who get to see it before everyone else?), show it in public screenings. At that point, the reviewers are all bound by the embargo, and they can't say shit. Is it censorship? I don't know. If you sign a contract to work for free for the rest of your life for someone, is it still slavery? you signed the contract, didn't you?
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is the Batvoice. That shit has got to go. But. It doesn't nearly compare to the whole of inanity that is the Prequels.
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that article is supposed to be joke, right?
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The Mummy isn't an all time classic, that even after 30 years has stood the test of time, influences a shitload of people, has a huge impact on pop-culture, even after 30 long years and counting. Our response therefore is adequate, I think.
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I agree that maybe this incident does go a little overboard because it's "Star Wars", but that's not the main gripe. Being an outlaw yourself, I thought you would understand, and permit me to use Elohim's words because he put it pretty well...
"Why this matters to us.
by Elohim Aug 12th, 2008
03:22:49 AM
KCMOSHer already summed up my opinion better than I probably could (read the talkback before posting, what a novel idea), but I wanted to say a little something about why people are making such a big deal out of a review of a crappy movie that was only temporarily pulled. Not to get too dramatic, but in my mind, this is a little like the Howard Dean scream or Britney Spears shaving her head. It's a small incident that suddenly crystallizes all of the vague impressions you have about something into a single image, and that image becomes a symbol of the larger truth. In this case, it's not about the review, it's the fact that readers here have, over the years, seen AICN change from a website of outsiders looking in to a website of insiders looking out, and this incident (hell, this post of Mori's) is entirely emblematic of that. I don't fault the staff for it. Honestly, if I had the choice between running an outlaw geek movie website and being a semi-successful screenwriter or movie producer, I know which one I would choose, and I think most of us would choose the same. I can't fault Harry and Mori for wanting a chance to express their own creative vision, or even just for wanting the chance to meet and talk to some of the filmmakers and actors who have made such a big impact on all our lives. But it does come at a price, and that price is, as many people have noted, giving up the one thing that really made this site worth visiting, at least for me. I don't come here for early reviews of movies, I come here to read things that make me think, "ain't it cool." I've been here for a while (as I type this, I can't believe I've been visiting this site off and on for almost 10 years), and it seems to me like the supply of those cool things has been trailing off slowly but surely. It just took this incident to crystallize all of that data into a "why" that made sense. I'm not mad; after all, this is the way the world works. I'm just a little sad because I loved that old outlaw movie geek website, and I only kinda like this new website that's into advanced reviews and celebrity interviews."
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people's reading comprehension. Majority was very clear about Warner Bros wishes.
"What I do know is that I was specifically told there is an embargo until the day of release by Warner Bros."
Which means once the movie comes out the review will be up. What's so hard to grasp about that concept? Just because other websites decided to what people may consider to be "rogue" or "rebel" doesn't mean their actions won't hurt them down the road in getting other exclusives.
Is it shitty? Perhaps but I think it's fair and a common practice. How many movie reviews do you see for big movies that come out days before release. Some but not many. If you want Aintitcool to be one of those "cool" sites then fine go for it but then don't bitch about why they aren't allowed to get a lot of inside scoop on countless of other movies all of us are interested in.
Now if the review never sees the light of day, then that's when everyone is clear to get up in arms about it but request is clear. Stop trying to be "buck" the system every time and realize you catch with my flies with honey than vinegar. -
and this weekend, i'll be Braking for
THE CLONE WARS...then again...
i think everyone on this post has ISSUES.
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Ouch! I think Lucas just felt his skin crawl with that remark.
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If you fools spent a fraction of your bile towards Lucas on doing something productive, you fuckers would have built an elevator to space by now. Right now, as we speak, humankind is poisoning the environment beyond repair and you goofy bastards are here, arguing about a space movie with aliens and lasers that go POW! POW!
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Oh god! Take your sermon elsewhere.
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is just sucking Lucas' dick then why did he give Clone Wars such a shitty review?!!! Grow up people!! It's an EMBARGO!!!
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How about this: we're poisoning ourselves to death. Does that work better for you? Either way, Rickey's point is that there are more pressing issues than bitching about cartoon space movies.
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Lucas remakes the original trilogy and peoples heads explode
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No we don't want to kill Tim Burton. We just don't want to give him any money unless the movie is good. The Goth race is too busy salivating over everything GDT does to worry about Burton anymore. Here in Portland, Dark Horse Comics even had a Hellboy 2 release dance party at one of the local Goth clubs. In conclusion though even the Goths think the Clone Wars looks like shit.
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I enjoyed all the Star Wars movies, they were lots of fun. And Lucas has always produced off-shoots of Star Wars that were not very good. Remember the Ewok made-for TV movies?
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Was a very good question indeed. The thing about the guy and the ex-wife was very good. Very writer-ly of you, Vern.
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PARAGRAPH BREAKSPARAGRAPH BREAKSPARAGRAPH BREAKSLearn them, love them, use them. For the love of god.
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I don't hate Episode 1, 2 and 3, I actually enjoyed them to some extent. I don't hate the latest Indy movie. I think it could be better and certainly the original SW & Indy trilogies are much better but I'm not fussed about Lucas. People aren't REALLY that fussed about Lucas they just like to rant on the net in a way they can't in real life. It's purely letting off some steam and I never really read too much into it. Lucas knew making EP 1,2,3, Clone Wars, the new live action series and the new Indy would make him a target, he knew he could never beat the originals for the original fans who have grown up but he doesn't really care and I don't blame him. It's his franchise, he can do what he wants and he does. I suspect this embargo is more to do with WB than Lucas. No but that's not the point even though I salute you on your attempt to divert the issues. This TB rant is about AICN doing something they would never have done a few years ago. They've become embedded in the very industry they decided to stand up against for the common geeks all those years ago. Now they are involved in making movies, book deals, visiting sets, getting hold of scripts and watching movies before anyone else does. The fans of this site have known the integrity of Harry and Moriarty has long since become compramised and a few things that have happened recently which have confirmed this. The Clone Wars Review back-down was the last straw and the fans who help make this site the success it is are angry, especially at the condecending tone some of the staff who've decided to join in this TB have taken when telling us we are all wrong and being silly little children.
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Thank you for the most ass-backwards comparison of 2 movies I have ever read. I am 80% sure you are just joking/trolling because it just doesn't seem possible for one person to have that many dumb opinions. But you're right though, Nolan could take lessons from Lucas. Because when I was watching Dark Knight in the theatre, you know the scene where Batman is solemnly perched on the buildingtop looking down at the city? When I saw that I thought 'you know what would really improve this scene? If somewhere in the foreground or background, a critter suddenly ate a smaller critter, then belched. And when the small critter got eaten, he'd make a comical 'whooops' type of sound.
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lol, CHUD wrote about the new character in this. Said they left the film in painful laughter, it was so bad: http://tinyurl.com/5fjz3a
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Some of them may not know how. Care to enlighten them? Knowledge is power. Thx.
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lol on the critter thing. Fucking Lucas...
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Are we still outraged about this?
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I have proof! ;)
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Aug 13, 2008 3:49:32 PM CDT
Lucas keeps making star wars movies for the same reason Bush inv
by darthwaz1
...to make MONEY
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... the lasers go "Pew, Pew" not "Pow Pow." Geesh, get it right, dude.
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that was the rest of my header..
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Aug 13, 2008 3:51:48 PM CDT
The Lucas We All Loved Is Sadly No Longer With Us
by the rabbit of carrot shaped doom
The original Star Wars movies were exceptional five carrot movies which were fantastic fun.One finds it hard to garner much praise for the prequel trilogy which graced our screens recently. One would go so far as to call them two carrot movies, placing them in the same league as uninspiring flicks such as The Day After Tomorrow and the like. Between the first three Star Wars movies and the most recent, we have seen a great man perish not only in spirit but also in soul.The debacle which was Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (also a two carrot movie) further goes to prove this point. Lucas has lost whatever fire first inspired him to pick up that character.I would have been interested to see how Mr Nolan would have crafted the prequel trilogy. I'm sure it would have been a very intelligent affair and one which would have relit the fires of yesteryear in all of us who once called ourselves Star Wars fans. Alas, such a thing will remain just a dream.Star Wars should be left alone now, much like a mouldy carrot in a garden.
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The line in my post which reads "Lucas has lost whatever fire first inspired him to pick up that character" should have actually read "Lucas has lost whatever fire first inspired him to pick up that camera".How terribly embarrassing! Obviously the money my parents spent on my education was not as well directed as previously believed.
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Natalie Portman in sexy outfits. And watching that smug Yoda get his ass kicked.
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I'm incensed!!!!!
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no, not at all....... never was, but I think it's dying down a bit.........BTW, man , I loved Howard the Duck.......
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7 hours of unmitigated rage - keep it up people!
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Don't we all feel better now???
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do you think we can hang on that long......
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Brane was a seriously motarded macaque though.
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Aug 13, 2008 4:07:08 PM CDT
I hope everyone has now seen Robot Chicken's Star Wars
by the rabbit of carrot shaped doom
The scenes with Jar Jar raised many laughs in my household!
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Aug 13, 2008 4:10:48 PM CDT
Not long now until Harry's review I do believe
by the rabbit of carrot shaped doom
Judging from the timestamps on the posts in this messageboard, one can see that the Americas are around eight hours away from the designated time promised for the review.I certainly look forward to reading at, as I did not have the opportunity to do so earlier.
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Aug 13, 2008 4:10:55 PM CDT
Not long now until Harry's review I do believe
by the rabbit of carrot shaped doom
Judging from the timestamps on the posts in this messageboard, one can see that the Americas are around eight hours away from the designated time promised for the review.I certainly look forward to reading it, as I did not have the opportunity to do so earlier.
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Aug 13, 2008 4:10:59 PM CDT
Not long now until Harry's review I do believe
by the rabbit of carrot shaped doom
Judging from the timestamps on the posts in this messageboard, one can see that the Americas are around eight hours away from the designated time promised for the review.I certainly look forward to reading it, as I did not have the opportunity to do so earlier.
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I've been coming here since pre-EP 1 and I never got the idea that AICN was "standing up" for anyone against anyone. Just a bunch of movie nerds trying to get the inside scoop, by hook or by crook.
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I seem to have posted thrice in a row, due to my overeagerness with the "Post Talkback" button. This is most likely an effect of the red wine consumed earlier this evening.If one of the moderators would be so kind to remove two of my posts, I would be most grateful.
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The CLONE WARS is a CARTOON,
ROTS is not like a cartoon,
but not really like "film" either...
TDK was an an AWESOME "film" noir comic book interpretation based on the older first batmans before the family councils nuetered them because of the scare of the affect comic books would have on children...
But really i feel like some of you guys haven't seen ROTS...its gets Way harsher and Darker than TDK...its scary for real...well i guess depending on how you vote, but i bet more of the haters have to do with politics over anything to do with movies..
or some people who have seen it...
watched the whole time waiting to hate it...
but really...not EP 1 or 2 but give 3 a chance..
REALLY watch it from beginning to end..
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Don't let 'em get ya down, man. The restrictions are understandable and it sucks that you have to take the flak here for it. If anyone's to blame it's Warner Bros. As for this site's current status among the fanboys, it's one thing for a site to be maverick and it's quite another to operate with some integrity.
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unlike so many others, i like the look that was chosen for the characters - its an animated movie - makes sense to make the characters look "animated" or puppet-like - it looks like a 3d version of the cartoon network stuff - i think it will be a fun way to kill 2 hours on a summer afternoon - lots of light saber duels and epic battles in space and on the ground - cant wait
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...and it's not a sin that AICN is a victim of it's own success but it is nevertheless a fact.
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haha SMACKFU! sounds like a BAM BIFF BOPP!
from one of the old 60 batman TV show blurbs...but yes you are right..those little animals and golpers in movies really fill people with rage, because lets face it...people HATE animals...but seriously...
EP1 and EP2 would have been a lot better without so much of that corny stuff yes...BUT like i said..EP3 didn't have ONE of those did it? there was not one of those things..the only humour attempt was way up in first 15 minuites then the movie gets serious till the end.. -
What in the fuck is this shit???
(it's on yahoo news) -
i mean YOU cut your favorite students legs and arms off, catch him on fire THEN we'll talk, and see how you feel about it! by the way...i HAVE had half my Mayoral Face burned off...THAT HURTS TOO!
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may be lucas redemption in the eyes of the public because you play as vadars secret apprentice and you go around killling all the jedi...until ...until...well i wont spoil it..
but its going to be dark...
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Ugly animation and an uninspired storyline drag down the film
REVIEW
By Alonso Duralde
Film critic
MSNBC contributor
updated 10:25 a.m. PT, Tues., Aug. 12, 2008
Legend has it that, on his deathbed, Orson Welles exhorted his loved ones to make sure that Ted Turner — who, at the time, was determined to colorize every black-and-white movie in his library — kept his “goddamn crayons” off of “Citizen Kane.”
But who will stop George Lucas from destroying the legacy of George Lucas?
“Star Wars” lovers have had to deal with lots of heartbreak in the past few decades, from Jar Jar Binks to dozens of different video versions to Greedo shooting first. And now there’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” an uninspiring animated addition to the series that takes us back to a time long, long ago that many of us never wanted to revisit — namely, Episodes I-III.
If you love a “Star Wars” movie that begins with narration about trade routes, you’re in luck. As “Clone Wars” begins, the nefarious Count Dooku (voiced by Christopher Lee, one of the few actors from the live-action movies to reprise his character here) and his rebel droid army are making things difficult for the Republic. The Jedi decide that it’s a priority to form an alliance with Jabba the Hutt, so they pull Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) out of battle to go and rescue Jabba’s son, who has been kidnapped. (The kid apparently has no name; he’s referred to as “Jabba the Hutt’s son” throughout, except when he’s referred to by some characters as “Stinky.”)
Joining them on this mission is Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), a Padawan learner who has been assigned to train under Skywalker. In a blatant attempt to make the movie more kid-friendly, Ahsoka plays like a character straight out of a Disney Channel sitcom — she’s a sassy teen girl with a halter top, a mini-skirt and a sarcastic rejoinder for every situation.
Meanwhile, Senator Amidala (Catherine Taber) tries to negotiate with Jabba’s uncle, Ziro the Hutt (Corey Burton), only to discover a whole conspiracy behind the kidnapping. Ziro provides the film’s one bit of shocking unpredictability, in that he’s been voiced by Burton to sound exactly like Truman Capote circa “Murder by Death.”
The character animation is astoundingly unpleasant, with human faces that would barely pass muster in a video game. Some of the battle and dogfight sequences are stirring, but since most of the combatants are either androids or clones — talk about cannon fodder — there doesn’t seem to be much at stake. What we’re left with is a lot of pew-pew-pew laser battles with occasional interruptions for “Hangin’ with Mr. Skywalker”–style interactions between Anakin and his Padawan.
Everything about “Clone Wars” feels a little off. Yoda’s famous verb-at-the-end syntax gets so garbled by the writers that he eventually lets out a compound sentence that seems to make no sense whatsoever. Even the legendary John Williams theme has been so badly orchestrated that it sounds like it’s being performed by a third-rate middle-school marching band. Very young kids, “Star Wars” completists and Lucas apologists may find themselves compelled to attend; anyone else would have a better time going to the Toshi Station to pick up power converters. -
Good job, man.
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... problem is, that's still not true. You claim in the "old days," we wouldn't have taken anything down. Well, speaking as someone who's been here since the old days actually participating in the decision-making process, you're wrong. Even before BATMAN & ROBIN, many people found the site because of the STARSHIP TROOPERS designs. Which had to be removed almost immediately because of Sony asserting their rights over the images. We're talking 1996. And even before that, there was a SW:SE trailer that we had before it was in theaters, and we had to figure out a way to get it online so that we could not be slapped with a C&D. This has always been the same game, and simply saying over and over that we used to do things differently doesn't make it true.
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At the end of the day, good review or bad, I'll be seeing the movie. I am in the camp that says any Star Wars is better than no Star
Wars....there have always been issues-some minor, some major-with the various films- not mention the novels and comics-but for the most part the overall story has been
enjoyable and worth seeing, reading and sharing with my children -
...Don't give a shit about Star Wars or Lucas. Don't watch his product until maaaaybe on DVD. Maybe. But it's all down to what Krack said. I originally came here because of the early news, reviews and other assorted shit, but as the site became more and more gentrified and essentially turned into a promotional platform for large companies, like every other film magazine out there, I came for the talkbacks. Do you honestly think people line up to see reviews by Capone, Massawyrm, Beaks, Merrick, DuPont etc? Do you need 20 badly written, shallow reviews of whatever big movie is going into wide release on any given week? If Harry isn't posting early reviews and scoops, then the site IS essentially one big talkback. Some nerd sharinig his opinion on old news and very soon to be released to the public movies. That said, you still have the largest and most active and most freely expressed talkback in the business, and its going to keep me and plenty of others coming back day after day. Unless they get banned for making fun of some mongoloid with fat tits.
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some people just have a VENDETTA towards star wars....or lets just say that's NOT the case...JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS DIFFERENT OR HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION that you dont get - has absolutely NO AFFECT on what the thing being judged is...that doesn't mean your RIGHT...that means thats only you're perspective...we all have differernt perspectives....that what star wars is all about....UHHHH DUUUUUHHHH!
people FEAR change they always have...
especially something thats been cemented in the time between now and 1983 haha..change is scary becuase it may not mean you're right...i think Lucas made the Prequils to be uncomforable, to ERASE what the old ones created...to BRING BALANCE to the force... -
all the time! This review has an embargo! Why is this so hard to understand?
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...But a cease and desist is a legal order. Being asked to remove a review, or being told that there is an embargo after the fact doesn't really mean anything. Not saying I can't see why you would want to comply, just that its not really the same thing.
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...I don't know why the real hardcore activism over THIS review. Its a fucking toy commercial. That and its a review. Its not like its actual interesting news or scoops being withheld.
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Aug 13, 2008 5:36:52 PM CDT
"any Star Wars is better than no Star Wars...."
by the rabbit of carrot shaped doom
I'm afraid I must disagree with this sentiment.Recently I took the fiance out for dinner. An old friend of mine had recommended a certain restaurant but the experience did not live up to the expectation. The service was appalling (there was an hour wait between the starter and the main course), the waiter was incredibly rude and the food was bland and tasteless.My fiance commented that we could at least be joyful in the fact that we had dined out, to which I replied that, in all honesty, i would have rather have eaten at home.The comparison here should be obvious but I will spell it out nonetheless.If I am to be served a cold, bland Star Wars which leaves a foul taste in my mouth, i would rather not eat anything at all.
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... see, it's a fine line. You want to express your opinion of films or even the site, feel free, but when you start turning things into "mongoloid with fat tits," explain to me why I should let you continue using our bandwidth. If you can't express a differing opinion without turning into an asshole towards the people posting on the site, why should you be given continued use of this forum? You really think talkback is what drives the site? Because it's an incremental part of the overall traffic, and THAT is the truth. There are plenty of people in this thread who have expressed strong, unhappy, dissenting opinions, and they don't have to call someone a "mongoloid" to do it. Can you see the difference?
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...how the best two Star Wars movies are the two movies where George Lucas had the least control? Oh, wait. It's not. It's sad. Well, isn't it funny that Lucasfilm lives in a magical bubble where every decision George Lucas makes is gold? Oh, wait. It's not. It's sad. Well, isn't it funny that a fat man's bad review is stirring up more interest and passion than actual movie he reviewed? Kind of. Kind of.
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...I do hold back negative or overly inflammatory remarks in regards to active contributors. Her videos are taken by Harry and posted on your site. It's no different to the bile spewed at Director A, B or C whenever a bad trailer or announcement goes up. If I was to slam on you or Quint or Harry in particuarly offensive or humourless way, then yeah, a banning etc. would be fair. Like pissing on your rug.
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...A mongoloid ISN'T offensive, but I can think of plenty of offensive things you've said about people too. Renny Harlin, or O.G. Tarsem.
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The joy of this site has always been the feeling that it's a bunch of fellow nerds on the outside of the machine, revelling in the craft that tells stories as people affected by them, poking holes in the marketing spin. The subtle difference these days is that you're not outsiders ... you're players. I see it in the way you say things, the way you act and react. I'm not going to call you sellouts because that's not what it is ... just that slowly, year by year, you're becoming assimilated into the machine. Respecting the embargo (whether or not it really is a change of behaviour) is just a lightning rod for all that has been perceived to have changed.
A lot of people are going to go out to a movie this weekend full of hope and hype. For some, it will be a day of joy and nostalgia, but I fear that for many of them, a little piece of their hearts will break as they wince during the unfolding scenes. I'd hate to be silent in the face of the tidal wave of marketing propaganda carrying people out to the theaters. -
...If you were to switch the talkback functions off...Do you think you would still generate the same traffic. No, I'm not being snide, but it would be interesting to see. I know I didn't start posting until, I don't know...Maybe a year ago? But I've been coming since 96. The talkbacks were almost an intrinsical part of each article. For me.
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... you're not going to convince me it's "worse" because I don't agree with you. You can keep saying it. Over. And over. And over. And over. And over.
And if you don't want to be condescended to, stop talking to me like I fucking owe you money. Like all things, AICN evolves and changes. "Worse"? That's your opinion, and if it truly upsets you, you are under no obligation to read it. No one will ever, or COULD ever, please every single one of you. And I'm not going to be bullied into changing the way I do things by a very vocal MINORITY of our readership.
I've been civil with you guys on this thread, I've even tried to lighten the mood, but in the end, you're just determined to have your say and stomp your feet and keep filling your diapers in public. And, yes, that was me condescending to you since simple discussion has, once again, failed.
Maybe if I'm wealy, weeeeeeeally mean to you, you'll go find someplace you're happy. Or maybe you'll just get over it. Whatever the case, it's obvious that it's way past anyone being able to converse with you about it, and so I'll leave you to your BRAVEHEART moment. Enjoy. -
...I spend most of my time reading news and reviews over at the Onion A.V. club. I almost never read their talkbacks and certainly never post. You can't respond to Empire magazine, people still buy that and read it. Would be interesting. Seems the talkbacks are starting to be more troubel than they're worth.
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if I were you I wouldn't give these assholes the satisfaction of posting more talkbacks in this thread! It doesn't matter what you say.....they just WANT to bitch about something! I think the site is just as good as it was ten years ago! Keep up the good work!!!
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... there are about 300 people actively posting talkbacks to any extent, and as far as regulars, it's a lot less than that. If you think our readership is around 300 people, then I guess none of this really matters anyway, does it?
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hey fast cars REVENGE OF THE SITH is the best star wars movie...its just the one nobody saw..
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...Watching Moriarty is sort of like watching one of your friends in elmentary school about the launch a brick through some poor schmoes window. I think we should get a talkback free week. Just to see what happens. Like geek Narcan.
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Aug 13, 2008 5:59:30 PM CDT
Perhaps the next evolutionary step for AICN should be--
by a_banned_apart
-- to put up a clearly defined "terms of use" for talkbackers. Many of the so-called "professional" sites (which is not to say that AICN is or is not professional) have them to spell out what can or can not be said. Let us know the Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say With Regards To Scriptgirl, and stuff like that. We can then honestly say that we've been warned, and the site protects itself from a variety of legal issues.
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Or Mori will ban your ass!!
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You mean a legion of the banned class action lawsuit? They infringed on my right to make remarks about shitting on womens chests in their establishment.
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Ever heard of "Sticks and Stones"? I'm mean goddamn, there just WORDS!! Why would any writer for this website even take the time to ban somone for an insult written by some faceless Talkbacker? Are you guys really that sensitive? Let's all group hug and then go right back to insulting each other like on the playground in junior high.... WHY?? Cause it's fun.
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Ever heard of "Sticks and Stones"? I'm mean goddamn, there just WORDS!! Why would any writer for this website even take the time to ban somone for an insult written by some faceless Talkbacker? Are you guys really that sensitive? Let's all group hug and then go right back to insulting each other like on the playground in junior high.... WHY?? Cause it's fun.
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To create one, type what's on the following line, without spaces:
Thanks to FMB for putting me notice. For someone so allegedly community-minded, I sure was being selfish! -
Looks like we've got a little Ashoka in all of us.
even if we dont want to accept it within ourselves -
A couple of AICN writers (including Mor) are among my favorite critics. Things HAVE changed since the old days (and I was there), but not all for the bad. This TB attests, in fact, to something I love best about AICN. I'm not going to try to describe it--you're living it now. AICN TB is a horrible and wonderful thing.I do wish Harry was more involved with the site, though, just like in the old days, and I do intensely dislike at least one of the new writers here. But I have very little to complain about.AICN rules.
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ROTJ is not a five-anything-good movie. Maybe three. Some of you guys are nuts. Who was just saying the two best SW movies were the ones Lucas had least control over? Are you kidding? Irvin Kershner and Gary Kurtz were pushing Lucas around, making him get their coffee and shit? For better or worse had control over ALL of them, the original to a SLIGHTLY lesser extent. Face it, Lucas ultimately signed off on all you love and hate about Star Wars. And the decline of Star Wars started at ROTJ. If everyone would just accept that, I'd be able to sleep at night.
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- The intro was excellent, I loved the diving into the battle opening shot. After that, it was boring and tensionless, and there were weird things going on with the dialogue levels, and the 'battle banter' was incredibly stiff and awkward.
- The Dooku saber fight, again was devoid of any tension or impact, and it was over in a flash. Gone was the use of dramatic camera angles, pacing and lighting that helped give weight to the battles in Ep 4, 5 and 6. Lucas's footage might as well be 'on-set' footage from someone's blog, it's so sterile and bland. And the bizarre quick-edit shots of Palpatine for like a hundreth of a second going 'do it' and 'git'em' were really, really amateurish and out of place.
- The scenes between Anakin and Padme at home were absolutely cringe-inducing. Extremely awkward, forced dialogue delivered with equally awkward self-awareness. When I watch them I feel like I'm watching my father try to rap.
- Anakin's turn to the Darkside was botched. When I first read spoilers about Windu trying to arrest Palpatine and Anakin turning against Windu to protect Palpatine, I thought it was genius. A perfect mirror to the Luke-Vader-Palpatine dynamic in RotJ, I envisioned Anakin jumping to Palpatines defense and fighting Windu, giving in to the Emperor's egging to feed on his aggression that Luke barely resisted in RotJ. It would have been perfect that way, having the two Jedi heroes faced with the same situation, and the reprecussions of their different decisions. But no, instead we got a neutered, tensionless scene where Anakin's turn comes across as an emo tantrum to save his babys momma from maybe someday dying because this old man says that 'maybe we can find a way to cheat death together'. And even then it's not a full attack on Windu, just an assist and the Emperor finishes the job. Utterly neutered.
- Palpatine's 'transformation' into the Emperor, and his makeup, were completely botched. Most people I talked to about Star Wars around the time ep I and II came out were under the general assumption that 'friendly Palpatine' was basically just an illusion, that he was hiding his true, ancient appearance via the Force. I assumed this too, it made the most sense. When I saw that his face was 'melted' into an old man face by his lightning being reflected off Windu's lightsaber, I was appalled. What a bizarre choice for Lucas to make. It doesn't makes sense at all. Why would his lightning suddenly turn faces into old man faces? Why don't other people who get on the business end of his lightning turn old, or scar in any way? Why didn't he just *stop* the lightning the moment it started hitting him? Dumb, dumb, dumb. And his make-up was ridiculous. For one thing, Lucas is such a shitty director he didn't even bother with lighting, he just presented us with this foam mask in his trade-mark 'full floodlight' ambient lighting and it looked like something from Comic-Con. And there was a giant fucking bag where his neck should be, it looked like a toad. And, he was dressed in pretty silky robes. Kind of hard to take him seriously as a villain when he's dressed like a China Doll. AND in almost every scene where he's the Emperor, he's holding his hands in this weird, propped up limp-wristed way. He looked like a stroke victim. Again, utterly neutered.
- What could have been a fantastic action sequence, Anakin vs the entire freaking Jedi Temple, was reduced to him flicking on his lightsaber and fading out.
- Anakin's dispatching of the Seperatists, again, a lightsaber turns on and it cuts away. Lame, lame lame. It's extremely difficult to buy his character, and his turn when every dark thing that Anakin is supposed to do in this film is implied instead of being properly sold to the audience.
- Anakin's battle with Obi-wan, the highlight of the entire film, was so blindingly fast you couldn't even follow what they were doing, it was full of retarded ninja-flips, and over half of it's running time involved them playing with the environment, jumping, climbing, swinging, instead of fighting or at least carrying on some semblance of meaningful dialogue.
- and at the end, their finaly meeting, final showdown, is completely devoid of the dialogue one would be having with your pupil-turned-Sith who's trying to kill you. Instead they just randomly blurt out lines of exposition...check this shit out:
Obi-Wan: I have failed you, Anakin. I have failed you.
Anakin Skywalker: I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over.
Obi-Wan: Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil.
Anakin Skywalker: From my point of view, the Jedi are evil.
Obi-Wan: Well, then you are lost.
Anakin Skywalker: This is the end for you, my master.
Six almost random statements of fact. This is Lucas's final confrontation dialogue. Jesus. Fucking. Christ.
And do I even need to mention the 'NOOOOOOOOOOOO' fiasco?
There were 3 main things people had been waiting to see for 20+ years...Anakin's turn to the Darkside, the Jedi purge at the hands of Vader, and how Anakin lost to Obi-wan and got his scars. And Lucas royally screwed up 2 of them, and didn't even show us the third. Instead we just got to see some stock footage of Stormtroopers shooting at Jedi who for some reason suddenly are vulnerable to laserfire. -
First of all confirm if you were asked to take down the review or told to and threatened with a C&D order? You still haven't really. What would happen if you would have left it up..really? Did Harry sign a no disclosure agreement before the screening and just forget?
Second, try turning off talkback for a couple of months and compare site visits. Sure only 300 or so contribute on a regular basis to TB but how many come here to read them? Garth turned off the Dark Half several years ago and Dark Horizons is managing ok so there should be nooooo problem!
TBH Moriarity your constant contributions to this TB has only made matters worse, you switch from condecending adult telling us all we are whiny kids to joking teenager jokes about making out with us to making threats. It isn't really helping. If you want to seem sincere to the fans you need to be consistant..especially in the same TB lol!
Starship Troopers designs being taken down and a pirate trailer...that's a copywrite issue..ofc you took them down. A review of a movie that's been screened isn't and a lot of sites have the review up without worrying. It's a totally different thing. Be honest, answer the questions or just do what you all used to do in the past and ignore talkbacks. You never used to bother what we lot said so why get upset now and why no response (as usual) from Harry? -
While I'd be surprised if the class action lawsuit scenario you described actually came to pass (and would cause me to call you WhinyNostradamusBitch from then on), stranger things have happened. My point is that if Ain't It Cool is going to ban folks for breaking their rules, it is reasonable for a potential talkbacker to expect to know what those rules are in advance.
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hey my honest opinion is the ROTS is BY FAR the best of all of them....so knowing thats how i feel for SO MANY reasons..what should i do about it...should LIVE A LIE and act like i dont think its the best just to make YOU happy..
i mean who are you to me? i dont even know you...i think lucas is at pretty much the top of has game...
SO SHOULD I HANG MY HEAD IN SHAME...
OR LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD AND KNOW THAT YOU MUST BLAME!?
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and that reason is the Tremors box set; the Attack Pack. While embargoes and C+D orders may go flying, at least we can all find hope in the fact that Burt Gummer in the past and present, and most probably the future will be keeping us safe, one graboid at a time. In the words of Mr. Michael 'I am a golden god' Gross; "ya either get busy livin' or git busy dying, ya sumbitch'
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Aug 13, 2008 6:29:29 PM CDT
i mean all the people who dont wnat us to like the new stuff
by whooooooop
we do...BUT really do you guys NOT belive in FREE SPEACH..???????? .are the people who dont want us to like new SW – the same people who want AICN to have free speech? thats a contradiction, if ever heard one?
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Until the review is allowed up why not check out a short amature movie I made which won a film festival in England a few years ago. Blatent self promotion I know but it is called "I Am Peter Cushing" which in itself is a tenuous link to Star Wars. Only 10 mins long but needs sound as the story is told in a voice over. :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI-_R1C_gXw -
No disrespect but have you seen Empire.. ROTS scary are you serious the movie was bad but not Phantom Menace bad, but the only thing scary was the dialouge between padme and anakin. Assmakfu said "The scenes between Anakin and Padme at home were absolutely cringe-inducing. Extremely awkward, forced dialogue delivered with equally awkward self-awareness. When I watch them I feel like I'm watching my father try to rap." Here one reason why TDK trumps ROTS in every way. The accting in ROTS was terrible. THat all that needs to be said.
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Aug 13, 2008 6:47:05 PM CDT
AHSOKA-TEEN GIRL WITH A HALTER TOP AND MINI-SKIRT
by earthquake westcoast
"Ahsoka — she’s a sassy teen girl with a halter top, a mini-skirt and a sarcastic rejoinder for every situation."
SOUNDS GOOD! I'M THERE! LOL. Actually the Star Wars prequels needed more cute girls! Padme in white spandex was good, but not enough. haha. BTW.....AICN CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR SITE. If you don't like it, then go visit "JoBlo",IESB","Comingsoon", or "Latino Review". The only thing AICN SHOULD DO is have a "RULES" page on what you CAN or CAN NOT write in the TALKBACKS. This way once someone gets banned they'll know why. It's not cool for AICN to ban someone without a explanation though.
Other than that....let them delete reviews at will and kiss up to studios if they want. PEOPLE....IT'S ONLY A STAR WARS CARTOON! One which I'll be seeing next week. Ha! Lighten up all you talkbackers. Especially since RUSSIA JUST GAVE THE U.S. AN ULTIMATUM: "CHOOSE SIDES! RUSSIA OR GEORGIA". -
and yeah those scenes were cringe worthy becuase they're the scenes we all have with the opposite sex..they're cringeworthy...because we all see too much of ourselves....and ourselves acting like embarassing asses...well at least those of who get laid a lot... not that thats always something to be proud of...becuase sooner or later even that will catch up with you....
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I said ROTJ. That's J not S. Jedi not Sith.
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Huh???
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thats what makes them so freaking real.
thats why the long talk back, and that
were all still trying to deal with them..
Life is PAIN. Life is Painful. TDK will be forgotten more or less in 5 years...
Although is was still pretty fun and awsome,
not much soul searching there..
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Sorry i meant that for Phategod2.....
in response to what he bounced towards me...
ahhh..Life...
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I mean for gods sake surely after Indy 4 everyone has finally cottoned on to the fact that he just isn't worth the Ludicrous amount of dribbling fanboy Worship and attention some are still giving him.
Harry's Clone Wars review is proof both that he should no longer be treated as some kind of deity with preferential treatment while confusingly taking down this same review seems to be exactly what Lucas, Lucasfilm & Warner wanted AICN to do thus treating him exceptionally ?
It's confusing stuff TBH along with the public screening that weren't embargoed and the reviews both "sourced" from the embargoed screenings and those from the public sreenings which weren't that have also not appeared on AICN in line with Warner, Lucasfilm and Lucas's wishes.
Call it a storm in a teacup, call anyone who brings it up whiners (that would include Mori then since this is his thread) but I'll leave final judgement on all this till I've heard from the man who took his own review down and instructed the site to take all the others down too.
Harry may have perfectly good reasons for all of this so it's a fair bet that a good few people want to hear his side of the story.
Of course there's always the possibility that he won't explain anything which is of course his right as it IS his site.
Equally though, anyone who enjoys coming to this site then has the right to draw their own conclusions as to just how much this banning or embargo matters and whethere it will affect their view of the site and it's policies.
But if a result of this taking down of a review the site drops any obsession with all things Lucas then I for one will be happy at the outcome of all this. -
and talk about boring and tensionless...
the freak forest battle talks like 6 hours to get through...and the first 3rd of a new hope...
i mean thats SOOO slow...with R2 creeping through the desert, and like 45 minuites of walking toasters...who are we all kidding...
the were never like oscar caliber movies...
but damn if they dont make a lot of good points. -
They were poorly written and poorly acted. I don't know what this infatuation Lucas has with Shaksperian Dialoge but its disgusting. I get laid enough and I have never been reduced the any of tripe considerd dialouge between Padme and Anakin.
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I don't know if this has already been mentioned, but there are currently 12 "brave" sites that have reviews up for this film giving it a 36% Rotten rating currently. Here is the list of the 12 sites that.. sadly.. have more balls than AICN:
One Guy's Opinion
Empire Magazine
New York Press
MSNBC
EmanuelLevy.Com
About.com
Metromix.com
Associated Press
Sean the Movie Guy
Variety
Slant Magazine
Hollywood Reporter
So if "legal action" was actually a consequence of keeping the reviews up, wouldn't that mean the C and D would have taken these sites down by now? Or at least the reviews? Yet there they are, still up in all of their glory. Correct me if I'm wrong, but usually when something like a trailer gets pulled due to C and D, it is damn near impossible to find on all the major sites, yet here Variety, MSNBC, etc are getting away with breaking this "embargo". See everyone keeps crying "embargoes are bullshit!" and crying about it, but I'm wondering if what is going on here is a real embargo at all. Sounds more like a "hey AICN, take down your early reviews or else you get no more free passes on us!". Talk about a bunch of arrogant asses who don't want their toys and perks taken away. Grow some balls fellas.
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i think thats the problem...you were so into them you envisioned the way it play out before you even saw it...well if you did that how in the hell could anybody like it? you'd already seen the verson made by you...by the way when i saw it in the theathers people were cheering and screaming like i haven't heard in years...maybe you loved to much...and that kindof ruined it for you?
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who says palpatines face wasn't an illusion that took a lot of work to keep up...and that maces attack weakend that? or brought forth the monster so to say..energy cannot be destryod only it altercates, has an effect on and changes matter..
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WB is the cowardly suppressor--no confidence in their product, weaselly unwillingness to allow negative commentary where they can legally suppress it.Mori and Vern waste their virtual breath in this talkback, since people want to whine and bitch rather than listen and understand.
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but how GREAT would it be if she were allowed to moderate the SG talkback?Bannings Galore!!!
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the most powerful moment in the whole film
when you know anakin has really fallen is when he goes to kill the children jedi....
and the most powerful murders are when you dont show them...psycho anyone...
i just dont think your version would have made any of the some points...
the fight between ani and ben was like perfect...i cared more about that fight than any other i have seen, and palatine thowing the chair of senate at yoda to destroy him..
He Literally Destroyed the Senate...i found whole last part has haunted me since it came out...even more that polergeist or the grude...because it was really about something that relates to us all...
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the most powerful moment in the whole film
when you know anakin has really fallen is when he goes to kill the children jedi....
and the most powerful murders are when you dont show them...psycho anyone...
i just dont think your version would have made any of the some points...
the fight between ani and ben was like perfect...i cared more about that fight than any other i have seen, and palatine thowing the chair of senate at yoda to destroy him..
He Literally Destroyed the Senate...i found whole last part has haunted me since it came out...even more that polergeist or the grudge...because it was really about something that relates to us all...
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gotta split for the night....
same bat post same bat sandbox.
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It takes a hell of a lot of patience to try and talk sense to children that have never had to deal with business or consequences and you've shown way more than this bunch deserves. I'll be the first to admit I usually log into these talkbacks to spew some good ol' internet bile but the levels of bullshit you're wading through here takes tall boots. You wear them well.
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In a way, I admire that. If ROTS gives you that much enjoyment and food for thought, then that is truly meaningful. Good on you.
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I played the Episode III video games (Which was also better then the movie.) and There tons of Jedi Knights and about 2 Jedi Masters there.
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Some men just want to watch the world burn...
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You may say other sites have more balls for posting their reviews, but I really don't think any of those sites will have even one slight bit of influence on box office. The only positive reviews on that site are from known outlets, all of which are written about people with zero influence on box office. Most of the negative reviews are from people I've never heard of. I would be surprised if any of those sites got a call from WB. BTW the only article I've see on Chud about this movie is here: http://tinyurl.com/5fjz3aAnd it is titled "HOMO THE HUTT" and just talks about the first gay Star Wars character. I don't see any reviews there.The AICN reviews basically torch "The Beard" and piss on his ashes. The WB suites figured this would cost them a few million. Whether that would happen or or not isn't important, and many of you TBers love to debate that issue.AICN stand to lose much more than any of those other places. While not being bound legaly to pull the reviews, they were bound by Hollywood's version of a gentleman's agreement not to post those reviews. If these reviews were glowing, would WB/Lucas have requested that they be pulled?
No...then you could have just bitched about how much of a shill Harry is and every since he visited "The Ranch" he's been giving Lucas nothing but sloppy head. -
I couldn't care less about Clone Wars, but the approach you outlined should have been used. Leave the page up, but delete the review and replace it with a short message saying why it was taken down.
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Do you want MNG's Mod Cabinet.
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yea, nobody remembers them either... ;-)
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so say we all.
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are we still takling about that diahrea dumpling? most overrated movie ever. no decent plot, cleft chin asshole, bland lisping cocksucker brit playing batman, asshole shithead butler, stupid looking bum with bad lipstick job, hilarious doonbuggy he drives around, ANY cockslurper that had to do with that movie needs to be LIQUIDATED ASAP.
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Where've you been? You missed out on the greatest scandal in AICN history, the shame of which is on Mori and his children for millenia to come!
As for running for mod, no education necessary. In fact, none is recommended. Just need a bloodlust to rule over all tackbackdom and the resolve to destroy any who dare challenge your authority. -
the real problem with the Star Wars prequels and the clone wars is not what they were but what fans wanted them to be.... I mean I am still hoping to see Han Solo's Revenge and Han Solo at Stars'End on the big screen.... Fans have had so many visions of what they wanted to see NOTHING could have lived up to the expectations...me? i enjoyed the films and the final 30 min of ROTS gave me what I had been waiting for since '79 and it was first mentioned that Darth Vader fell into a lava pit battling
Ben Kenobi and thats why he wwas in that suit..... -
What's Lucas's obsession with prequels? Why can't he do something that takes place after ROTJ? At least that'd be interesting...
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I posted this to you this morning.
Vader - well written, and just as protective of the past as DocP. I do understand. I sometimes get leery though when I hear about the 'good old days'. For some the old days will always be best, but for others, it was not the case. Progress and change though are constant and should be. That does not mean we forget or abandon what made us great -but should always be aware that looking backwards should be done without rose colored glasses. And I am by know means accusing you or DocP of doing that. I think you have brought up legitimate concerns. But it must be put into the context of the times. Very, very few things remain unchanged over time. But sometimes the loss of what we were used to is considered too great - hence some of the people you mentioned leaving the site. -
Why not after ROTJ ?
My current thought is that "the kids" know prequels better and they are marketing to the kids, not those who grew up with the OT.
Really just hoping to sell more merchandise.
Would be very suprised if anyone thought this was being made for some creator interest, its all about the easy $$$.
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Aug 13, 2008 10:33:22 PM CDT
Give ScriptGirl "One Moderator Black Box To Rule Them All"
by chromedome
even if only in the weekly SG TalkbackSeriously, the most profitable regular talkback here would be extraordinarily entertaining!!"Brutal Banishment and Instantaneous Exile: Abandon All Hope Ye Talkbackers Who Enter Here"
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Can my braveheart moment be that I get to bang a virginal Catherine McCormack?
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I don't have any Lucas anger. I didn't particularly like any of the prequels. I tried to decide whether it was the movies themselves or I was just too old to feel the magic as i did watching the original trilogy as a small child.
I finally decided Lucas was making nostalgia for the current crop of kids like he was when I was a tot. the prequels were not meant for me. I suspect the release of the Special Editions for the old school fans was a concession to us and a confession the prequels were going to be for a new group of fans.
I don't begrudge him that. I guess many do. -
The original Star Wars at the very least, you could see Lucas's passion, he really cared about the story and characters.
ESB a better movie, took this interesting world and expanded on it, this time with a proper Director.
I think I really miss that passion, and interest in the characters. Am sure a lot of it was about making money, but there was also the passion which was missing a little from the prequels and definetely from this latest crap.
Something you love and cared about, has bascially become a whore. -
My main problem is the Racist here on the site. What do you determine to be EXTREME racism. Some poepl make off the cuff humorless jokes about race and think its cute its not There really is no warning systems or anything you do something that gets the unseen mods attention and Boom you and your post are gone. I wish there where more of a Mod presence at least knowing who they are.
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Passing judgment on a movie they haven't seen. Amusing. This is all the Bush administration's fault.
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...Of course they're idiots. What about the people who have seen it and hated it? What about the fact that their dislikes ehco exactly the fears people felt about it from the trailers? You'd have to be a fucking idiot to go in expecting anything but shit from the film.
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(I'm assuming that's what the D stands for)
Okay, took me a while to find the post you wanted me to read, but I read it. Parts 1 and 2.
You know, I don't know about you, but there aren't any movie websights that I love without reservation. There are ones I go to that are good for just summing up the press release kind of stuff. There are some that get good interviews sometimes. But most of the ones I'm addicted to, honestly they drive me crazy half the time or in some cases I only read them masochistically. Some that are too corporate, one that is just way too arrogant and one that makes me bang my head against the wall in frustration because some of the writers to me seem to be so wrong about everything imaginable... (jeez, I'm getting worked up just thinking about it here - I need to stop reading that shit!) Ain't It Cool drives me crazy sometimes too but it's my favorite of all of them because of the sort of charming unprofessionalism, the craziness, the occasional big time coups, the fact that Harry, Moriarty, Quint and Beaks seem to genuinely love movies instead of see it as a business (they have never covered box office on here that I can remember), and the love them and/or hate them personalities of both posters and talkbackers. I love that Ain't It Cool has not played the game of trying to keep up with trends like blogging and making fancier message boards. I love the talkbacks for their crudeness, I want to see a little square full of passion and not just some dude writing one line so he can have his quote and his url and his little animated avatar and shit.
So as a fan of Ain't It Cool myself I kind of get what you're saying, I get frustrated with things on here too, that is fair to say. I've had clashes with other writers and disagreements that I haven't even brought up at all and sometimes the talkbackers jumping on me is bad for my blood pressure, but that's life.
But I think alot of what you're talking about is not so much changes in Ain't It Cool as changes in the movie industry and the internet, some of them because of Ain't It Cool, I'm sure. First of all, the kind of scoops they used to get are rarer now because in the late '90s studios didn't worry about securing their sets, they weren't careful about scripts and art getting around. Now they act like the CIA and they keep track of the internet and will threaten you if you post something they don't want. And nobody is gonna get a spy photo of a new Batmobile or something, they closed that hole a long time ago.
But also the phenomenon of the internet movie critic and entertainment "journalist" has grown. Almost every movie websight I know of has writers trying to be professional, they have their publicist contacts and press passes and they get on lists to screenings. They all deal with situations like Harry has here, sometimes they aren't supposed to write about it until a certain date, and since they went at the studio's invitation they have to honor that. Yes, other people have posted reviews but they may not have gone to the same screening, or maybe WB just doesn't care enough to come after them like they did with Harry. But they deal with the same shit.
Somebody else wrote about Harry and Moriarty becoming insiders instead of rebel outsiders... I understand that. I am uncomfortable with that phenomenon in general (not just here) but I think for the most part both these guys have been very open about who they are buddies with and I feel like I have learned their biases and know when to take their reviews with a grain of salt, just like I have to figure out with all critics. (Pauline Kael was buddies with Peckinpah, by the way.) And they also aren't as dependent on junkets and all that shit as most everybody else seems to be.
I guess the reason why I don't understand is that you are describing this confluence of events but it seems to me like none of the events are worthy of getting too worked up about. Clone Wars review pulled - nothing there. Chapters of teen book posted - weird, kind of hilarious, but why does anybody get offended? Only mistake there was Merrick not explaining what the hell that was all about. Talkback bannings - from what little I know I don't agree with the decision, but all they have to do is come back with a slightly altered name (as they did) and say that they don't know why they were banned (as they did). Life goes on. Treating it as a free speech issue is taking this shit way too seriously. Personally I don't think there should be rules for talkback. Talkback has always been the wild west or Mad Max. You can be an ass and you can be called Danny Glover's Dickblood and that's part of the beauty of it. But just like in the west or Mad Max occasionally Moriarty or somebody is gonna decide some motherfucker crossed a line and that person will get shot. In this case they can just come back with a different name so nobody should cry about it. Maybe a slight sniffle.
For the record I have had my comments deleted from another websight when I politely defended something I wrote here! I thought that was a scumbag maneuver but I can still laugh about it.
But I guess what I object to is the people with this idea that this is a case of Ain't It Cool selling out. No, it's a case of them doing the same thing they and everyone else have always done, which is writing about movies and occasionally having to pull something to avoid getting swatted by a studio. They have hardly turned into one of those junket whore blogs. In fact, not to make some issue out of it but I personally disagreed with Moriarty's decision to post the alleged ending of the Terminator movie. Talkbackers loved that. You think that was kissing Hollywood's ass, to give away the twist ending of their big movie? I think they would disagree.
Anyway, I hope these things that you didn't like will not scare you off, and I hope you will at least give Moriarty credit for answering questions and conversing with the angry mobs about it, something I can't imagine happening on many other websights.
And no, I'm not a moderator, they just gave me the black box all the sudden after I got challenged to a wrestling match by the subject of a negative review. I figured it was like a medal or at least a sticker on my sticker chart.
And I wrote all that without once mentioning Steven Seagal. -
How about those who've seen it and liked it? (As I write this there are 5 positive reviews vs 8 negatives, 42 %, at rottentomatoes). You are ignoring the positive reviews and taking side with the negative ones even though you haven't see the damn thing. That's idiotic by default, as is judging a movie by a trailer. And before you claim that I'm doing the same thing but in the opposite way, no, I'm not. I'll decide whether or not I like The Clone Wars AFTER I see it.
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...is a community manager. All the big game companies have them. Hell, we have one over at DC. I just had a major epiphany that what I have been trying to explain for two lengthy comments breaks down to this: you guys don't know thing one about customer service. Setting expectations. Mediating disagreements. Clearing up misunderstandings. All key to customer service. And that isn't an insult, there's no reason why you'd be good at it, you have no training or experience. It's not your gig. So the talkbackers here are onto something: you need a community manager, and maybe a couple of minions. NOT to wield the banhammer, but to jump into situations like this and address them correctly. As earnestly as you've tried, Mori (and I believe you were doing your absolute best to resolve the situation), you've been putting out the fire by dousing it with gasoline. Seriously: find someone professional who you can trust to be the Talkback mouthpiece for the site. Doesn't mean you can't be involved, just means someone who knows how to do it handles the heavy lifting.
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I picture the community manager in the talkbacks as Michelle Pfeiffer in DANGEROUS MINDS.
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...I can tell you of only ONE film where my initial expectations were defied. City Slickers. Trust me, it hurt me to admit it, but I enjoyed it. I was bitter for YEARS after that. Otherwise, 99.9 per cent of the film is in the trailers and promotional material. I haven't even SEEN half the shit for Clone Wars, and Harry's review touched on stuff I already knew would be part of it. Dude, maybe I'm just a film psychic. Thats not to say I don't get a few curveballs. I thought the Orphanage would be a boring been there done that spanish ghost flick. But it was suprisingly good. Up until the last third, when it turned into a boring, been there done that spanish ghost flick. See Verns post? Thats why we fucking love you man, in a gay stoner way. You rule. Even if you unintentionally referd to me and mine as ungrateful dickheads, your language seduced me, like a trailer park whore going back to her heavy punching boyfriend. And KCMOSHer, I'd rather see them wield the ban hammer and fight in the talkbackers with their people then have some fucking community, business, fucking liason fucking thing. Fuck that shit.
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for taking the time to fully understand the particular grievance. This is my second night on this website in general so I can't say anything about the good old days, but if the moderators, or guys with badass battle scar black boxes take the time to go back and find out about what a well worded complaint is referencing, then maybe there won't be a giant cluster fuck. Moriarty, when you think you were or not, you came off as condescending, Vern didn't. As merely constructive criticism and not trying to shit a diaper, but you might want to consider why. What did he do differently? How can I incorporate that into my responses? Did I basically stick my dick in pudding and try to argue that it's still good pudding?
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going to get over George Lucas is like asking when Christians are going to get over Jesus' death. To be a movie geek is to accept Star Wars into your heart; it's a fucking prerequisite.
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So, No. I certainly don't feel obligated to pay full ticket price to have it confirmed.
The banning of reviews is a bit of a hint it's turdtacular as is the embargoed terrible review from Harry who really liked both The Phantom Menace and Indy 4.
As for Lucas I simply stopped caring very much what he did after the prequels. Indy 4 for example isn't the completly worthless pile of shit the hysterics say it is, but it's a long, LONG way from being a good film. My view of it was pretty much, meh.
Are talkbacks are wildly out of control ? Having watched them from afar for years and then deciding to jump in only fairly recently I can't see it myself.
The political and Dubya talkbacks get far more heated than most of the "normal" Movie ones. But then I have no idea what the scriptgirl kerfuffle is all about.
That talkback sadly seemed to be predictable titty comments from day 1 so I never paid it very much attention.
I don't know what Harry is going to say about his embargo on any clone wars reviews on AICN but if there really was serious Legal action pending then it would perhaps have been better to say that from day 1 as it's completely understandable for any website not to get involved a protracted and perhaps costly Lawyer clusterfuck.
IF it's just a simple choice without sanction, agreeing to let Warner,Lacusfilm and Lucas dictate when the site can review a film simply to keep them happy, then I have to say that does seem to be at least a little problematic for a site that certainly seemed to pride itself on being an untarnished unfiltered by the studios voice of interesting Movie News and reviews.
But other folks can and will disagree and I'm betting come Friday this little talkback will be looked back on fondly as the height of genteel good mannered debate.
A Dinner with Andre if you will to the forthcoming Harry Clone Wars talkback O'Reilly style foam at the mouth off. ;-) -
seriously are you fucking serious? passing judgement? buddy, there's a fucking scorched wasteland in lucasland right now, perpetrated by the one in the red plaid and the dual chin.
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And well done for not mentioning Steven Seagal at all!
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Since your are one of those people that use rottentomatoes scores to make your points, go and actually read the reviews on rottentomatoes. There is 1 review that I would consider positive. Jurgen Fauth from about.com...oh wait WHO! All the other positive reviews say they enjoyed some elements but also say things like:
Lucas is "milk"(ing) Star Wars
The movie is "generally forgettable".
"Not" the film Stars Wars fans want
And calling it a "mixed bag".
Wow. How positive. I'm sure George is counting on you to reserve your judgement until after you see it. Thanks for helping to keep this guy making shitty movies for years to come. I'm sure he appreciates your myopic, blind faith. -
KCMOSHer's got a great idea, frankly, and Vern... as always... you outclass me in every way.
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Way to go you Shaman Mediator Ninja Mutant. Mori if you follow through I'm sure you've got a professional from somebody who's been here for years and years. BSB wants to rape everyone though so I dunno...
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I'm like an endangered species here on the talkback...someone who doesn't bash Lucas or hate Lucas or hate Indy IV or the Prequels.
In fact I reviewed Indy IV and gave it an 8 out of 10...that was a damn fun movie.
And yes, I love the prequels as much as the originals. Sure they are flawed and sure, being a writer myself, I would have done some things differently. But I loved them for what they were. Fun action/adventure movies that were kinda silly...and to use the word again...fun fun fun.
The Dark Knight was a fun movie too...sure it was all dark and dreary, but I had fun watching...and that's my point.
Star Wars movies are fun. They are films that are meant to be watched and enjoyed. If people scrutinised the originals the way they do the prequels, every Star Wars movie, from Phantom Menace with the Gungans, to Empire Strikes Back with no central plot, would be the most hated movies in history.
I enjoy the movies for what they are, not for what my mind thinks they should be or could be. As I said, I may have done a few things differently, but that doesn't stop me from looking at the prequels and enjoying them.
With Indy IV, everyone blames Lucas for that film, forgetting that the "god of all writers" Frank Darabont had a script that contained a lot of the same elements and certainly wasn't any better overall than the final product.
I saw Indy IV...and sure it wasn't perfect...but Lucas didn't write it, he didn't direct it. He came up with the general story...which I for one liked. It fits with the idea of Indy, in spite of what people would have you believe. The crystal skulls were indeed religious objects...to the natives of South America...the alien/dimension travelers were gods to them. Neither Lucas or Spielberg took a shit on Indy. They just took the next logical step. Again, it wasn't perfect...but again, it was fun.
This is probably the point where people will call me a "Lucas apologist" but frankly, I don't feel the need to apologise for not hating his movies. I enjoy them, and that's all that matters.
Regarding the Clone Wars...uh it's a movie prequel to a kids cartoon...what were you guys expecting? I've read all these reviews for this film that say kids will love it but adults and "fans" won't. Well kids are fans too. I'm sure most of you were kids when you first saw a Star Wars movie.
Ok, I get it...you want an edgier more cynical Star Wars. Something aimed at an older audience and not specifically targeted towards children...I get that. But you all seem to be forgetting one thing...there's a live action TV show coming up that is set to be edgier and darker.
Let the kids have their Clone Wars cartoon...most of you seem to hate the prequel era anyway.
But you can be content with the knowledge that a darker show, with dead Jedi, rising rebellions and a certain bounty hunter is coming.
I'm looking forward to Clone Wars...it may not be Battlestar Galactica (awesome show by the way..if the new live action series is anything like that, we're in for a treat) but as long as it's a fun ride, I'll be happy.
See Vern...we're not all the same...though don't get me started on Mediocre Hulk, X-Men 3 or the abomination that was Transformers. :P -
Aug 14, 2008 4:42:13 AM CDT
Michelle Pfeifer can ban me anytime... Mmmmm
by stereotypical evil archer
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bin reading for maybe 8ish, or 9ish years now.
i get it. i understand the embargo.
i just thought id say im impressed that the black boxes are still appearing.to me that reeks of respect to the talkbacker. -
also, what grumgrinski wrote.
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...Interesting term. By the way, Vern is right about the Lucas haters. This talkback was about how AICN sold its soul, and yet we are still bitching about Jar Jar.
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i've read most of the posts. while i think both sides have valid points, let me offer a solution:
mori, swallow your pride and apologize! you DO talk and act condescendingly to TBers, no matter how much you deny it. you've been like that for many years("rabid ferrets", anyone?). try to talk more like harry a bit. respect goes both ways. next time you make mistake, dont say "calm the fuck down", and try "PLEASE calm the fuck down."
and you loyal TBers and conspicary theorists... really, PLEASE calm the fuck down. and i mean that in the nicest possible way. :) -
the dark side is strong with this talkback. in closing: fuck lucas, yay AICN, jelly beans and pokemon acceptable
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on the 'Why are you all getting you knickers in a twist about Lucas/SW' brigade, surely people are clear that it isn't about the man so much as it's about his ideology.
It doesn't matter that it's Star Wars but it just happens that that film strikes a chord with a lot of people. To see it expanded on, revised, CGI'd, amended and shit upon for 30years is depressing beyond belief so people ARE allowed to chip in with their opinions - however vitriolic.
Consider it this way: if Star Wars isn't your bag, think of your favourite movie of all time. To me The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is pretty much it in terms of experience. If the Lucas mentality stretched to that film (and indeed the Dollars trilogy) then I guarantee I'd be pretty damn crank with sand in my vagina on talkbacks too.
So to say 'it's only Star Wars, get over it' is simply not the point. -
A CGI Eastwood and Wallach running around a desert whilst a relative of Van Cleef, probably called La Beef to be an oh so witty wink reference to the actor and geek community, farting walking round like thunderbirds and doing wacky things on the hunt for buried treasure.
If someone seriously said to me 'oh well, at least you have the originals don't be so pissy find another movie' I would lead them a few days into the desert and leave them to it. -
keep churning out more Star Wars crap until all the remaining fans will be sick of it and there won't be any fans left. Please, give us a star wars movie every year. Stupid fuck. your last 3 were crap, can't you come up with anything else? Enough with the star wars already you alien-looking motherfucker.
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the constant hatred of lucas is warranted and understandble. if he'd go the McG way(read the sdcc salvation interview)and start acknowledging his mistake and shed his ego, if he'd go hide in the mountain for a whole year and comtemplate about what the fans been bitching about, THEN all this might eventually stop.
but the guy is just too greedy and too stupid to understand that. he think he can keep milking his fanbase with these shitty movie, and all is still right in the world. far as i'm concern, he deserves all this shit thrown his way. not that he would care one way or another about it. -
anyone actually watch ANY of the Star Wars movies recently? because, and bare with me here.... NONE of them are that great, not really. Dodgy dialogue, questionable acting and ridiculous plot holes. BUT they were enjoyable when we were kids as THATS WHO THEY WERE FUCKING AIMED AT! How so many get worked up over this shit i just don't understand. So the review got 'embargoed' who gives a fuck? you needed a review of this to tell you it was garbage? shame on you. I love films y'know, i mean i truly LOVE movies, but they're still JUST movies. You get actual summers in the USA so maybe, i dunno, go outside get some air. have a beer or maybe a joint and calm down for fucks sake. I mean i live in London so i have a reason to be depressed as sunshine appears to have been banned for about the last 4 years. I digress. Did i mention i saw 'Belly of the Beast' featuring Mr Steven Seagle the other day? Now THATS a movie fucknuts, Kiss my hole.
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Vern quite clearly reading (or maybe skimming) through 1300 posts and then posting one of the most fucking god damn awesome posts is what makes AICN so fucking awesome. And other fucking awesome Tbers, posting fucking awesome posts, and the fact that I am so fucking awesome too that I can make a fucking awesome post with the word fucking mentioned a fucking awesome 100 fucking times without being banned is well, you know, fucking awesome. But please, AICN, do whatever you like , go with the fucking times, if you must, obey your fucking embargoes, if you have to, but dont change the fucking awesome primitive structure of the Talkbacks and stop the fucking banning because that kills the point of the fucking awesome talkbacks. I know Vern plays it down and says you can change your name slightly but thats a big fucking deal. I am Theycallmemrglass. Not Theyc4llm3mrgl4ss. And WhinyNegativeBitch is going to be OneFuckingSuperPissedOffNegativeBitch and D Vader dont wanna be Dave Vader...Ok? And that leads me to Hercules 21 bond 24 hour sale article. WHY THE FUCK HAS THE TB BEEN DISABLED?!?!?! I want to talk BOND. Bond is one of the most GEEK fucking subjects that we can bitch and praise about (even more than SW) on AICN. SO WHY IS IT DISABLED? I come here to bitch and praise as well as 90% of other AICN readers. So why?!? Aaaaah, that felt sooo fucking good letting that out of my system...only at AICN can I be so free...well almost free...
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i'm sorry, but no one is that awesome when he loves steven seagal. just not possible.
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Share yourselves. Completely.
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i just like watching that fat fuck try to run. 'i will defeat you all by squinting and slapping you really really quite spitefully!' bung. Seagle to star as Qui-Jon in a spin-off tv series.
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for that very reason of how he squints and slaps his enemies. There's no one else like Seagill. No hero as fat as him. And that fucking ponytail, fucking awesome. No, man, Seagit fucking rocks. A perfect shrine for AICN geeks. There is no one else like Seagile. No, I wont hold Vern's love for Seagirl against him.
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I loved it, i FUCKING loved it!!!
I didn't just love it!... i FUCKING loved it..
STAR WARS happened... it HAPPENED..
I sat in a theatre full of kids dressed as Jango and clone troopers and it was as it should be!!
Sweeeeeet!!! -
Conspiracies, Harry laughing his head off as his review is all over the net as he expected. Whiners whining in supreme form. Talkbackers bitching about Moriarty. Moriarty bitching back, being offended, defending himself. Talkbackers offended by Moriarty and bitching back at him. Vern trying to diffuse the situation. Talkbackers bitching about Lucas, star wars and Seagal! Fucking classic TB.
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but the last thing I want on this site is some suckass like Lucasfilm's Stephen J. Sansweet (Director of Content Management and Head of Fan Relations). That guy can spin a line better than Donald Rumsfeld.
I remember at one comicon, after the Phantom Menace fiasco, a kid asked if people were going to have to suffer through two more films of JarJar. Sansweet's response through a shark-tooth smile was,"But marketing shows that fans LOVE Jar Jar!". (most of the audience booed at that point)
So, I'm just saying. "Public relations" can be abused, and end up being a very efficient way of blowing people off. -
Man, I love General Jar Jar, fuck all the haters.
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All you guys are giving Harry shit. Learn to love Harry, learn to love him. If you were in his position (Including the wheelchair) would you keep an article up when you would be cutting your relationship with a studio who gives you access to movie screenings?
Plus, George Lucas is hot. I love that ball of flab under his chin, I just want to rub my cheek against it.
Remember to come to scriptgirl.net. Leave a comment on my youtube page. XXOO -
that badandugly website showed a video of this girl selling dildos on some home shopping network, and she totally looks like that scriptgirl. if it isnt her, she should play her in a movie. oh and look, tomorrow's friday so people can stop moaning and read the review.
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Seagal as Qui Gonn Gin, Chuck Norris as Darth Fuckhat, Bruce Lee as Padme Donuthair, Van Damme as Endor. Make it happen Harry, warners love yo ass.
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why is it that some people get banned for the same things that the mods say. I have read some of the ways that mods describe writers, directors, actors, and movies. Is it right for them to do that and then ban those talkbackers that follow suit? Just curious why it is a one way street.
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a talkback about a talkback? about a shitty film nobody wants to see anyway? did I take the red pill or the blue pill??
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you would know that you ain't welcome round these parts and should promptly go fuck yourself with your scorpion dildo. Yeah I'm talking about that video from the Home Buttplug Network with the woman who looks like you but might not be you but sure as fuck looks like you so don't try fooling anyone. And yeah I do want to sneak a peek at your boobies but it still doesn't mean I don't think your videos are utterly, utterly Clone Wars level dogshit.
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..that was even more fun then all the tranformers tb´s we had last year. (Cloverfield anyone?) Oh and clone wars...the thing is...you could see this pile of shit coming miles away..with the first couple of concept art pictures and everything. But then the first trailers appeared with all the glorious Soundeffects...the imperial march and shit. That raised a bit of hope... Now...this movie seems to be a serious mess and people are angry. Harry and Moriaty somehow got the heat for it...pure nonsense and stupidity...but really fun. You have to admit.
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i agree 100%
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I think you are completely wrong in submitting that Mori "putting out the fire by dousing it with gasoline"... I would like to know where the fire was??? This was a simple case of procedure. Someone jumped the gun, the situation was rectified, there was an explanation given, and a small minority shit themselves. There was no fire, just a bunch of posturing and bitching. Mori's explanation was crystal clear and logical - full stop! Can you offer any reasonable suggestions for how he could have prevented what happened. No customer service rep can prevent free speech - especially when it comes from morons that love to hear themselves talk (or read what they write). Let's give the boys credit for not going postal - not many of use could handle the constant barrage of whinging and insults with the same level of patience and control.
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Even if he works for DC, heheheh
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I love them both, but TDK was a better film by far, and I say that as a raging, lifelong, saw-it-in-1977, fan of Star Wars. I also think that TDK will have staying power, and will remain at the top of the heap until something else better comes along. ROTS hovers more around the zone where its better than the other two prequels, arguably its better than ROTJ (actually, I think its way better than ROTJ), but its still not as good as ANH or ESB. I must've posted this a zillion times, my list of faves:
1. ESB
2. ANH
3. ROTS
4. ROTJ
5. AOTC
6. TPM
I don't think I'm even going to bother seeing Clone Wars as reviews have been nearly universally bad. -
The best thing I read on this talkback was whooops comparison of The Dark Night and Revenge of the Sith. That's the kind of shit I want to read in talkback.
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Now, we just need AICN to grant you a BlackBox so no one doubts it is you :-)
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I had the misfortune to see a clip of Clone Wars at Comic Con this year (while waiting for the film makers panel), and it's just shit. The manga-ish character designs are just lame and the fucking female Padawan sounded like a Valley Girl from the Santa Monica mall! The SW fanboys (like one of my friends who LOVES everything Lucas does) is gonna lap this up! After the atocious prequels, when will this nightmare end??? How much more fucking money does Jabba Lucas need??? PLEASSSEEE, someone put a bullet in George's head and let SW die a dignified death...
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yeah i also agree...100%.
I like that Star Wars has SO MANY different tones...the tone of each of the prequils was so different. EP1 was way more a kids movie. EP2 a teen melodrama. EP3 a movie about the failure of a full man. I love the EP3 got so bleak at the end and made political statements. And i love that CLONE WARS looks like a FUN kids cartoon...Star Wars is so much bigger than just one trillogy for one age group...and it creates a much deeper world becaue of it. -
Is that Talkback is one of the few forums where we can actually influence the studios. They read em, so don't waste your voice on petty arguments with the very folks nice enough to give you this influence. Props to Mori and Vern for continuing to care.
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EXACTLY!
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but i have no idea what that is.
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I told my grandma and AICN is now universally despised at the senior center!!! Spread the word people!!!!!!
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The more different things you do...
The more unpredictable you are...
The more people will complain.
People hate change...there a huge group of people that hate having to see things in a new way...its uncomfortable. Growth is Painful. Parents seeing that their children aren't who they think they are - is painful. Even when its good thing. Because everyone like to think they understand what everything is, so we can feel in control of life. But the truth is that Life works with us. It partially controls us but we work with it to...But change IS pain. -
The people who sound the MOST pissed about the prequils are the ones imagined what they were like before they even saw them...
And then when they saw them - they had to Change. Life wasn't what they had imagined it to be. It was something else. Which means work. To take it all in. To figure it all out. -
...said that asking Star Wars fans to get over George Lucas is like asking Christians to get over the death of Jesus. But see, there you go! The death of Jesus is actually THE WHOLE POINT of the Christian religion. Nobody has to get over God giving His one son to die for man's sins. What I am submitting to you is that hating the prequels is now part of your Star Wars religion. You put on your Han Solo costumes and you bond over hating Jar Jar and the part where Darth Vader says "NOOOOO!!!". You need to have some peace before the schisms and excommunications that are inevitable when the kids who love the prequels now go to college and start getting nostalgic.
I just think it would be cool if you tried to be more like the nice Christians who run food banks and less like those pricks who go to Mr. Rogers' funeral and call everybody faggots.
I know this is kind of hopeless to even bring up but seriously... this is the movie-tie in to the TV show that's the spin-off of the cartoon tie-in to the three prequels you hated to the three movies some of you love (and some of you only like two of them). If these things were people they would be distant enough to be legally married. If you're gonna let that upset you you're never gonna be happy.
I wish they had the internet in the '80s so I could quote messages of people shitting themselves over the Ewoks tv movies, the robots cartoon, the christmas special and all that shit. Just to show you the lifetime of misery you have ahead of you if you take this shit too personally.
But enough unsolicited advice. Thanks everybody, may the forces be with you. And I would like to propose "PUTCLASSED!" as the new "PWNED!" -
but that was BRILLIANT. I've often wondered why so many Star Wars fans continue to go on and on about the prequels when they have the choice of simply ignoring them. I, for one, enjoyed them as the cheesy space opera they were meant to be, but I recognize many would have liked a serious sci-fi flick with badass ninja Jedi and no kid-appeal whatsoever.
Your explanation, though, makes perfect sense. They hate Lucas and the prequels as a way of bonding with each other. It's PART OF THE CULTURE now.
Really, Vern, that post was fucking brilliant. And you're absolutely right: If AICN had existed in the 70s and 80s, we'd have seen no end to the screaming and teeth-gnashing over the Ewoks movies, the Holiday Special, the Droids cartoon (which I hated, actually), and the spin-off shit in the toy department and comic books (Have any of you ever read the Marvel Comics Star Wars series? It's mostly shit.)
Knocked it out of the park with that post, you did. -
yeah i do think you're right...putting the actors in a real atmosphere would have helped them....and i think they're figuring more of that out...LOTR did a great job of combining the two..and keeping the acting good..BUT i'm really excited for this Silly SW cartoon coming out...its supposed to be like all action...I'm looking forward to a TRUMAN CAPOTE hutt..haha...that sounds hilarious...its funny to me that its going to piss people off...hahaa...and little stinky? haha..You know? its like Warner Brothers is putting this out...So i'm expecting to see something with the tone of the old Warner Bros Buggs Bunny Cartoons...you know that kind of dialogue..I mean "little Stinky" like buggs bunny saying "You're REALLL Stinker"
And a Politcal figure spoofed...right outta Warner Bros... -
"...this is the movie-tie in to the TV show that's the spin-off of the cartoon tie-in to the three prequels you hated to the three movies some of you love (and some of you only like two of them)."
Brilliant -
Yes, but i really am so glad ALL of them came out...they're all Awsome, if sometimes awesomly horrid...but i love that too...haha..
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Stop pandering to children. My God, we're talking LIGHTSABERS here. Decapitations, and amputations aplenty. Scary Sith can be fucktastick, destroying whole worlds, lightning-ing up a joint, and ninja style combat with magic. Knights of the Republic did a terrific job. Enough with the cutesie shit.Vern, shouldn't ypu be jerking off to Glimmer Man, instead of baiting Star Wars fans?
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i mean puppets and robots?
The Force Unleashed.....you're Darth Vadars Secret Apprentice and you go around murdering the remaining Jedi...with them trying to turn you back to the Good Side...
Even GL says the Game is the next OFFICIAL piece of the CANNON....and will deal with the upcoming live action TV show... -
Nerds and geeks tend to be social misfits or whale-like monstrosities . They aren't 'cool' or sexually desirable for a reason. At
the end of the day, they're weak.
Embargo? You pussies!!
This site has no critical credibility, there's no quality control. The reviews are laughable and almost always way, way, way too generous. Is anyone out there interested in setting up a rival blog to annihilate this limp site?? The proverbial quality geek site?
These guys at AICN are being bullied just like they were in high school. But there's no library to run to now weaklings!!
Love, SG
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It's called Nukethefridge, and it's a piece of shit. No geek site beats the entertainment of AICN.
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This site hasn't even caught on to...wait for it!...VIDEO GAMES. Surely there's room for a brainy geek site on the web. Yes, mefrog, I'm calling you Shirley. You are an enabler, I'm afraid.
Love, SG
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Thanks for bothering to read these talkbacks. It's good to know one of the writers get it.
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FUCKING COOL!
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Aug 14, 2008 1:25:08 PM CDT
Also, a games website like this is just too difficult to do...
by mefrog
...at this point. There's far too many well-establshed gaming websites out there that no one really gives a shit. I myself visit IGN every day. Part of AICN's massive success is that it got a head start on most movie websites.
And they tried to bring games here, remember? AICN Games? It was a total disaster. No one gave a shit, it simply recapped all news that had already been out for the week, and I think they got, like, on exclusive on some unknown game. So to ANYONE that tries to establsih a gaming website that manages to pull off insider leaks and gain notoriety in a time where eight different gaming magazines and a few major websites already reign king, good fucking luck. -
Yeah alll the video game sites ALSO have embargos...its just a part of any journalism...
AND in 10 more hours that review willl be up..and then they can say whatever they want..if you want to review to temper if you see the CLONE WARS then just wait a day or two...i ENJOY seeing what i think on my own first and then reading everyones reviews so i dont have my perspective skeweed...
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with Christian theme here, hating the prequels is akin to self flagellation. (Whipping yourself gets you closer to God.) Enduring the prequels, spin-offs, ads gets us closer to the ideal Star Wars. Now, you say we need Reformation, well, perhaps you can be Martin Luther 'n shit; nail the Writ to talkback doors. I say Vern for community leader -- like King Ralph he is a reluctant leader and represents all of virtues and none of our vices. So, what do you say Vern?
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But infiltrating studios for information is also a lot more difficult. There's a LOT less people that work on a video game, everyone is locked up inside a studio when they're doing it, and a publisher or developer has nearly total control on who comes in or out. So unless there's a shitload of rebels within other game sites (not the case) or a shitload of rebels within the developers (unlikely) it's hard to get many leaks.
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It's like you guys are under a spell.
No one gives a shit about gaming, so true. That's why the video game industry makes more $$ than movies, because no one cares. Especially not the kind of people who enjoy genre movies. It's all the same world, friends. You know it to be true.
And here's something to consider: an argument can be made that there's more creativity, originality, and just plain fun in games these days. Jesus Christ, people, wake up! Hollywood stopped trying a long time ago.
Books and magazines should be covered as well. I'm not hating, I just care dammit! Plus I don't have a girlfriend so what the hell else am I supposed to do? My dealer's on vacation too! Grrrr! Grrrr!
Love, SG
P.S. There will always be Star Wars 1977. -
and paying $60 bucks for video game, when you only know what the studio said about it,
is a lot worse then paying $10 for a movie.
Also good question: does masturbation get you closer to God? or only a part of God? or Farther away from God? I Dont know, But I think i'll go find out ... -
Aug 14, 2008 1:52:55 PM CDT
Well, I won't aruge your poin that games can be more creative an
by mefrog
except you missed one thing: none of us brought up the counterpoint to that. I fucking love gaming. I was just saying why an "AICN" style gaming website wouldn't be able to take off today.
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I have girlfriend and she plays games too...
its CRAZY how good they're getting..
A FEW of them last year were WAY better than anything i saw in the theater... -
I just watched it again. Flawless, so tight, every shot perfect. Cruise is awesome. SS rules, despite the Indy debacle. Hey, he did Hook and fuckin' Always too, so don't worry about him coming back. He'll be back. I just hope he makes a black hole movie at some point. God, I really do.
Love, SG -
It's not worth it for AICN or for insiders.
I think people have finally figured out that "cool news" isn't worth losing your job over.
Little Toshi gotta eat. :) -
you're right about that...
you can put up a games site and have it be your secondary passion...theres way to much competition these days... -
Jerking off brings you closer to Angelina Jolie. But not much closer.
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VAdakinx, Whooooooop, Drafthouse_Slave and Vern....... most of what you've just said is what I was trying to convey yesterday (about Star Wars, Prequels and all) it's not so much Lcas "raped our childhood" as it is that most of us moved on, grew up and became adult..... well, it seems to me that Lucas stayed with making the movies kid friendly, as well as adult stuff, too..... problem comes from most of us as adults not wanting ANY of the kid factor AT ALL... and as someone else said, most of us had OUR ideas of what the prequels should and hoped to be, and when they weren't, most of the Star Wars public couldn't handle it..??..!! And as I said, I don't think Lucas is some FANTASTIC film maker, but I do like a lot of his stuff, and dislike some also..... now Vern, about those "nice christians who run food banks".... I guess they're not the same ones who condoned slavery, or the ones who killed thousands of people "in the name of God"...???? I liked what you had to say, until that little nuggett........... peace, and really, save $10 and don't waste your time with Mummy 3......
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fingers move faster than mind
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Just fuckin name the system already, bitch!
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when harry unleashes his forbidden review, from all the attention it's brewed throughout the internet, talkback will splode!
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He knows it He's been lying about it for years. He'll never admit it. That doesn't mean you have to buy into his silly spin. He didn't make Star Wars for kids. He made it for himself. No one in the 1970s refused to go see SW because it was aimed at children. He just claimed the new ones were for kids because they tend to be less vocal, less critical. It's bad art. That's all it is. His muse blasted off in 1977 and he's been looking for her ever since. She's far, far away. You know he would have written and directed the original sequels if he'd had a clue. He didn't. Now he doesn't have Kasdan to hide behind. George is spent, you could see how lazily he directed the new sequels, lounging around on set, sitting on his fat ass. Kasdan, oh Kasdan--you were our only hope.
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Seriously, these Star Wars LEGO video games have always been lame. Why wouldn't this one be exactly the same as the others?
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Aug 14, 2008 2:43:49 PM CDT
Harry, You Should Refuse To Print Your Review In Protest!!!!
by media messiah
There is now need now. Others have broken the embargo, from the main press to small web sites, so this is a sham!!! Right now, the embargo is solely aimed at Ain't It Cool News. People now know the intent of your review by reputation alone, thus you should just refuse to repost it. You made you point, and it should be a message to Lucas Film and Warner that you can chose another way. A quiet protest. Nobody at AICN should post a review of The Clone Wars, good or bad. Just state the unfair nature of the embargo as your reasoning, and how the situation was handled by Lucas Film and the studio, and "Let It Be"!!!
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haha....yeah i mean i dont see what anyones complaining about anything...it really perplexes me..THE CLONE WARS may not be a masterpiece but it really looks like something i've never seen before...compare to the MUMMY 3 i mean COME ON people how stupid does that look? haha...
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I don't want to insult you because I have so much class and all but you're being ridiculously simplistic there. I said to be like the nice Christians who run food banks and not like the asshole ones who picket funerals. I would also put the slavers and other things you named in the asshole category. Are you denying that there are Christians that run food banks? Because in my opinion you will have a hard time backing that claim.
I never thought I'd have to explain to a dude named after Darth Vader that everybody has the potential for good. I guess you didn't get to Return of the Jedi yet. (if not it's the third one they made, check out what Vader does at the end, it will blow your fuckin mind) -
Re: your question from yesterday... Rickey's pretty sure that being an AICN mod requires a series of tests similar to what they put space monkeys through.
And who's the fool who's hating on Lego Star Wars? That game is the tits! You want a fun & well written gaming site? Check out Kotaku. -
It's called the Stockholm Syndrome. You've assimilated the psychology of your abuser. By the way, CL, you seem to have a money hang up. (So American of you) Who mentioned money?I'm glad George is rich. He deserves it, in my view. Star Wars 1977 is the greatest American work of art of the 20th century. (It's about friendship and love. So pure it's heartbreaking.) Money doesn't make you a creative guy, however. And I happen to be a katrillionaire, so there. Why so serious?
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Aug 14, 2008 2:47:26 PM CDT
Amended: Harry, You Should Refuse To Print Your Review In Protes
by media messiah
There is now no need. Others have broken the embargo, from the main press to small web sites, so this is a sham!!! Right now, the embargo is solely aimed at Ain't It Cool News. People now know the intent of your review by reputation alone, thus you should just refuse to repost it. You made your point, and it should be a message to Lucas Film and Warner that you can choose another way. A quiet protest. Nobody at AICN should post a review of The Clone Wars, good or bad. Just state the unfair nature of the embargo as your reasoning, and how the situation was handled by Lucas Film and the studio, and "Let It Be"!!!
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be a masterpiece Warner Bros Cartoon..
i bet the humour will be akin to Animaniacs
which was pretty good for modern cartoons... -
in response to what you said yesterday, Rickey still remains adamant the the prequels are little more than childrens cartoons. It's simple, somewhere along the line, Lucas stopped telling stories and started saying "hey, would ya get a load of what I can do with computers! Zany, huh!!!!" Hence us getting cartoons instead of Star Wars since 1997.
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Yes EP1 had JarJar which was like an old Warner Brother cartoon..it had that...but it had just as much..grown up politcal stufff...like Trade Blockades...Embargos....Congress...Star Wars helped me get outta my head in more into politics than anything else ever could have...
that NOT something a cartoon has ever done...i'm more aware as an adult.... -
the Newer kids who are into SW have a greater sense of how Poltics affect us all...Remember how Tramatized we were as 10 year old at the end of EMPIRE...now kids are trumatized that the end of ROTS only with a sense of being able to loose Democracy while still believing what you are doing is right...the road to hell is paved with good intentions....
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I have not read the 1 million talkbacks so someone may have said this already. The embargo thing looks really bad and makes the movie seem like it is actually worse then Harry stated. No I don't always agree with reviewers especially Harry. I mean he liked King Kong and that movie was really ... really bad. So I would have read his review and probably gone and watched it anyway.. now everything has changed and it makes the movie seem even worse.
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life is just too short. People complaining and devoting so much time to shit that doesn't even matter. How much has been wasted going over and over Greedo shooting first, JJ Binks, Vader screaming NOOOOOOOOOO! and now, Homo and Stinky the Hutt to add to the mix. We don't need this. None of it matters. Theres a whole world out there to explore. I mean, it would be like someone spending 5 years of their life researching and writing a treatise on the themes and contexts in Steven Seagal movies. I mean what a total waste.....of....... ah. Er... I mean........... sorry about that dude.
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Aug 14, 2008 3:20:57 PM CDT
Hold the fucking phone, the prequels got you into politics?
by rickey henderson
Oh sweet merciful christ, that's priceless...You are aware that it's the other way around, right? That Lucas' "politics" in Star Wars is a simplified cliff notes version of historical trends? Dude, you're like the guy from "A Beautiful Mind." Your brain makes bizzare connections that normal peoples' don't.
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actually I wasn't being simplistic, what I WAS trying to do was really stir up some other shit so we could maybe get to another subject (because usually, religion has a way of opening up a shit storm) ... and of course I know about the potential for good, come on!!!!!!!! I'm 40...... seen these movies waaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy too many times........ just wanted to ruffle feathers....... trust me, there was a "wink, wink, nudge nudge" in there...... BTW, I think you're OK Vern...... Steven Seagal and all
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to see quite how shitty and sold out this site COULD become, visit Vern's blog - brought to you by Cheetoh's.
http://tinyurl.com/55en9u -
uh, you are aware that vern's blog is ironic, right? (and delightfully so if Rickey may add).
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Your 'enjoyment' of a movie can't be 'enlightened', it's subjective. Enjoy away. A lot of other sheeple enjoyed them too. Did you know The Force was always just a blood condition? Neat! And Darth Vader let people call him Annie--a little girl's name--when he was a young apprentice? Weird! And The Clone Wars were actually completely incomprehensible? Far out! Maybe you enjoyed the love story. I could feel the passion. Could you?
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To which I say, good.
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Whine whine whine!!!!
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you mean because it was posted on April the 1st? No, I had no idea. Thanks.
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but if you think we're wasting our time here..
then why are spending your time posting?
its the debating i love...and the prequils..
Also it is a big world out there...there plenty of things you can be doing...but YOU"RE here...huh? Focusing on something you hate.. telling me i'm waisting my time on something i love...or maybe you think EVERYONE in the world should have the same opinons on everything....god help us ALL if you ever get politcal power... -
Yeah but it worked...and maybe i do see the world in a DIFFERENT WAY than you do...but the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME...is that you think i need to be punished because im different and you would have the world be a prison.
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I know you Americans are not supposed to understand irony, but you lot must be taking the piss now.
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Isn't what makes these talk backs worth being in that we all have differnt opinions...i mean, if we all had the same opinion....then we couldn't have these fun debates while i'm sitting around at the office, that's having a slow summer...in part to politics...
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And by them I mean illegal aliens.
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Give it up.
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KEEP POSTING! we've almost made it to 1,500 posts!
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dude, you make the world your own prison when you say goofy stuff like that. You don't need Rickey's help.
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Why not 15,000?!
Or ?!
Aim high! No retreat no surrender! -
from the cheescake factory in Chicago... man that's good stuff...... course, you'd have to start it off with some pizza from Giordano's........ damn that's good
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how so...?
You mean i can't take part in something i feel its great..because someone else says i'm not allowed too? Isn't that really pretty close to the definition of a prison...? Or really you just want to tell everyone else what to like?
I'm curious to what your motivation really is? -
You win. I can't compete with your superior logic. I admit I have low intelligence--criminally low--and that I am an asshole. But seriously, 'Annie'? HE'S DARTH FUCKING VADER FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST!! You think they used to call Hitler Mary-Anne when he was a kid? Hey, maybe that explains everything. Admit it: You blushed when people called him Annie and so did everyone else. Blushed out of embarrassment and shame. George neutered Darth from the get-go in PM.Odd way to establish the greatest icon of evil in memory. But, hey. As long as you enjoyed it. Yoda was real good with that saber, huh? Wait. Was that in the movies or am I thinking about the cartoon? Hard to tell em apart, frankly.
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without all these haters, i wouldn't have had a fun debating about how many things the prequils got right..i'd be waxing my ears..
in prison..with a shiv.
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i think that was the whole point of calling him Ani...he was just some punk scanty kid! THEN the GEODUCKS ganged up on him then he rose taxes..THEN with the breathing....THEN...you and him and a bottle of wine..in the secret chamber...that Gentlemen is the definition of evil! Whatssa meesa SAYING!? Better here dan bombin in Da CORE!
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haha...serves them right...i dont think they were raped by Lucas..more like the Jar Jar in the Sack Sack.
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They could have called the young Darth Felicia Merriflower by your strained logic. After all, 10 thousand years ago on Tatooine Felicia Merriflower was a common masculine name, don't you know. Anakin=scary, Annie=fairy. Please don't disagree with me any more because I'm right in an existential, indisputable way. Sorry, but it's true.
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I'm declaring this talkback closed. It's getting silly.
Thanks for coming. Who's got weed? -
I know you got other ones, I'm just amazed that "he neutered Darth Vader" is the one that popped up first. That's the idea bud, he's just a goofy little boy, and through mistakes becomes "the greatest icon of evil" or whatever. Would you rather he wore a Kiss t-shirt, abused cats and got yelled at by William Forsythe?
I kind of like those stupid movies but I could list at least 250 problems with them more significant than "the main theme of the entire 6 movie series does not fit with my image of how AWESOME and EVIL Darth Vader should be!"
That said, I ain't arguing Star Wars anymore, and I know you're sick of it too. Let's go out and embargo shit! -
haha yeah that made me laugh really hard..
can you image how much fans would been pissed then? haha...But wasn't Felica MerriFlower BrandyBuckles....wastn't that one of the Hobbits...? Now that would be weird if Lucas had Made Darth Vader a Hobbit in Stilts under that Suit...with Asthsma. -
would have been awesome...
I wonder if Darth gets K-Rock Radio in his helmet? OR just picks up old gilligans island reruns...I hear the clone wars has some rock music in it...Back in Brown, i'm a clown, betcha Glad i'm back to Breathin LOUD!
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You think you're so cool because you've got an elitist and Darth-like black background. In this case, white is right. And by white, I mean me.
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is that they are not enjoyable. Either they're glum and serious, with everyone talking in stilted tones; or they're full of forced, awful humor/cuteness. SW, Empire and parts of Jedi had a fun, irreverent serial vibe, with creative characters and real laugh-out-loud moments (Han Solo: "Uh, I'm fine, how are you?) And in Empire when the tone turned dark, it felt natural, even poignant ("I love you." "I know."). The prequels are like all the the little things that were wrong with Jedi magnified and expanded upon. Maybe the pretty CGI, Darth Maul and the last thirty minutes of ROTS redeemed them for you, but it sure didn't redeem them for me.
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Darth Maul...if episode 1 had him on his own ripping the fuck out of people with Jedi's chasing him it would have been great but Jar Jar tried to be the comedy relief and we all know how that turned out..
Solo had the human comedy role in episode 4 and it was perfect, the bad boy, the renegade....the comedy relief from a floppy eared peice of crap just ruined it...shame -
I just can't wait until GL gets to those small, indie movies he's just been DYING to make all these decades. You know, the real movies he's been planning, about fighter pilots from WWI or whatever (that no one cares about). Coppola is finally living the dream, getting away from all those crass blockbusters. Youth After Youth anyone? Ahhhh. Artistic freedom means never having to say you're sorry... Come to think of it, bring on Star Wars Episode 7.
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AGHHH AGHHH AGHHHH AGHHHH!
The only thing we have creative control over is our postings...haha...GL gets to make space movies...haha... -
your argument is kind of flawed because the transformation of the little kid into Vader was basically done with a montage. Now while I love montages, and have to admire Rokcy's repeated and cunning use of them, when you're trying to emotional turmoil, they fail. I would have liked to see something like Dent's transformation in Dark Knight. Because Lucas didn't pull the transformation off, to a lot of fans it came off as emasculating Vader. The ability to appreciate the kid to Vader transition doesn't work without fleshing it out like ScriptGirls chest.
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then i'm buying everyone pizza and beer!
actually i thought the transformation worked pretty well, it was all about choice...which in the end is all we really have...and laughter...does anybody remember laugheter..and this chair, and this ashtray, i only need this asktray...and this THERMOS...i am Navin R. Johnson. -
I expect AICN has a pretty full in-box of Clone Wars reviews to let loose after it's "Embargo hour" has expired.
I think there might be some real vehemence in some of the reviews from the public screenings. Though as has been said at no point did this look anything other than fail.
Considering how few people have seen the film (or are likely too) it's already made enormous waves for what is, as has been said ad-nauseum, a crappy animation. -
I mean really, how can the people who are legitimately outraged by this shit NOT live in their parents basement?
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the plot summary of the prequels is just not interesting, who wants to watch royal guys vs. rich guys duking it out in plastic looking toys on cartoony looking shiny planets. the OT was continuing a movie trend of the time that had the lowly lovable plebes fighting their oppressive overlords, it was repeated in the post-nuke movies, the action films of the 70s/80s and that never fails. heck it makes up all the plots of the final fantasy games even.
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"The most obvious failure? Nobody quotes the new star wars to honor it. "These are not the droids you are looking for" "I am your father" "I find your lack of faith disturbing" "It is a trap".
Where are the episode 1-3 quotes?"
credited to SmallFurryCreature @ slashdot -
"With all due respect, the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately"
"Are you an angel?"
"Ooh mooey mooey I love you!"
"His cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life-form"
"Mom, you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other"
"You're Bantha poodoo!"
"Mesa day startin pretty okee-day with a brisky morning munchy"
"The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute" -
"You're a good person; don't do this!"
"Anakin, you're breaking my heart! And you're going down a path I cannot follow!"
"Where is Padme? Is she safe? Is she all right?"
"Nooooooooooooooooo!"
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes"
" Love won't save you, Padme. Only my new powers can do that"
"Hold me, like you did by the lake on Naboo" -
This may get me banned but is has to be said AICN is in the business of genereating movie reviews for us poor fanboys for free,were wasting too much energy arguing over a "Star Wars" Movie, so lets all agree George lucas is a no talent hack who caught lightning in a bottle once and used said lighning to force 40 year old men to act like idiots and dress up like ewoks at nondescript conventions, I say lets all ditch the fanboy life take a shower, grab some beers & pick up some women (you too mori)
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Never seen them in the same place at the same time... Stella job Vern! Just when this TB looks to become a gangsters paradise with everybody at each others throats you stood yourself up and boomed "there are no victims in this talkback". You are one classy flake of nipple skin, sir.
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Just you wait when Lucas puts out the Super Special Editions of the Star Wars movies. (The Han Shoots First version will cost an extra $10)
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Although I stand by my earlier (under post #100, good god) that this all could have been avoided by a quick and dirty statement on the front page when this all occurred, I truly applaud the way that you've stood your ground and waded into this talkback that has turned into a cesspool of shiat. I know it's hard to rationalize with rabid geeks - and as fellow geeks, I'm sure you all do as well. I agree with the earlier post saying that a moderator/minion to help diffuse situations like this and build up a "customer service" style to the site. However, I think the fact that the three of you (primarily Moriarty and Vern) have come in to explain the situation shows how much you actually do pay attention and give a damn about your readers and fans who continually visit the site. There's always going to be people who are inconsolable and will look at you like you're putting out a nuclear detonation with a squirt gun. But merciful Zeus guys, the fact that you were reading through 1000+ posts and still talking to people shows a nice bit of dedication and personal involvement that doesn't happen at many websites. So for that - you have my gratitude...and you've moved up a notch in my book. Grab a beer (or 12) and head home. You've done your bit trying to convince this cesspool of scum and villany. ;-)
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What does that spell?
SCANDAL!!! -
Dude, thank god there is someone out there calling it like it is. You hit the nail on the head, sir, and I applaud you. Drew McSweeny is a Hollywood sycophant and bans people arbitrarily. Talkbacks are the Wild West, as Vern said, and that's the single best thing about this site. It's the community, where someone can shout expletives about Shia LeBouf and call themselves KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL FUCK...everyone laughs and enjoys the crudeness...except for Drew, who apparently relishes the opportunity to ban people. I guess when you're life consists of cranking out C-level horror TV show scripts and feeding off the lifeforce of Harry Knowles,( who, despite his flaws, is a trailblazer on the Internet) banning people passes for a quick jolly. Nice life.
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You have the advantage of knowing Drew by name and profession. I think it only fair that he know you by the same so he could give you an adequate response to that post.
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Embargoes are like treaties; they're only good as long as everyone agrees. When the first review goes up, they should all get to go up.
As for this:
"I don't think you quite understand. It's a shitty situation, but when you break embargoes it isn't about not getting freebies, it's about not getting access to early screenings, meaning you won't get reviews from any of us before the movies come out."
I call bullshit on that right there. -
... and now that the CLONE WARS reviews are starting to go up, I'm shutting this talkback down. It's a huge one, and a bit of a drain on the server, so if you would, please move the ongoing conversation to the individual reviews as they post.
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