mcnabb

I often wondered how much Lucas really watched the OT movies as there were so many little moments he screwed up when he filmed the PT to mesh with the OT.

I remember reading at the premiere at ROTS in 2005 when Tantive IV flies onto the screen for the first time every applauded in the audience as that was the first real physical tie-in to the Original Star Wars in 1977. Lucas had no idea why people were cheering and whoever he was sitting with mentioned in an interview he had to tell George, "That's one of the first ships fans saw on screen in 1977 so that is why they're going bonkers!"

It just goes to show that Lucas never understood what appealed to fans like us about the movies, as he thought it was all about the special effects, when it was those types of little moments.

Oliver Clothesoff

The Tantive IV was probably included by someone in his art department who actually knows the history of the OT. Lucas himself couldn't car less.

Shazam

Fucker's still raping me.

Shannon Nutt

Don't worry, JJ's going to make it all feel better.

stvn1974

I had just gotten the stitches removed from Lucas raping me when JJ made his Star Trek films and tore it all up again. I don't think my body can take The Force Awakens being shit.

Rob V

Enough already... let it go. Go find Terrell and have a smoke and a shot and relax.

Solid Snake

Just do some Anus Kegels and you'll be fine.

The Valeyard

At least JJ will use lube.

dhmac

Padme died of a broken heart... symbolically representing how every Star Wars fan's heart felt after seeing the prequels.

dhmac

Chris Stuckmann is doing retro reviews of all previous Star Wars films leading up to the release of Episode VII

His first review is for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EUXx-A5khOw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(a nice shout-out in this to Mr. Plinkett's review at RedLetterMedia)

GoldenJCJ

Of all the shit moments in the PT that was possibly the worst!

Lucas: "uh oh, we're almost at the end of this movie, quick, to tie into episode 4, Padme needs to die."
Yes man Producer: "Um ok, how does it happen?"
Lucas: "well you see, her awkward love interest has maybe died...she doesn't really know. Anyway she now has nothing to live for so she just decides not to live anymore."
Yes man producer: "Mr. Lucas, you did it again, genius! We'll just pretend that giving birth to twins is meaningless and in no way would give a woman a reason to live."
Lucas: "Totally! Oh I forgot about the droids! Eh, just throw in some throwaway dialogue about erasing their memory chips or something. It's amazing how well I'm tying this shit together!"

mcnabb

I remember reading some spoilers in early 2005 that Padme was going to die in Episode 3 and I refused to believe it simply because of the conversation Luke/Leia had in ROTJ and their mom dying when Leia was 'very young.' I actually had faith in George that he would not totally disregard that conversation for the sake of a dramatic moment in Episode 3.

Then I remember reading one of the Lucas PR people speculating about the fate in Padme right before Episode 3 came out, "There is no inherent contradictions in the fate of Padme, but the Star Wars universe always leaves thing open for interpretation."

Oh boy, I knew she was dying and was mad at that. But then to die of a broken heart?

zero

mcnabb

Isn't that the defintion of being a Star Wars fan?

wishbone

JeremyM

I enjoyed this. The point on the helmet was a good one--in the originals, you had stuff like Luke being too small to be a storm trooper, or they would escape danger only to end up in a stinky garbage compactor. Everything was way too easy for the Jedi in the prequels. I know, I know, they are in their prime--we really don't care, we want to see our heroes sweat.

Take that scene at the beginning of Clones where the creepy insects are crawling on Padme. They could've stretched that out a little bit and made the Jedi have to use their brains and struggle to get rid of those things. Instead, they run in and slash them in two seconds.

Mike86

I'll have to check this out later. I enjoyed the reviews of the Prequel Trilogy by RedLetterMedia and thought that Mr. Plinkett made a lot of really good and valid points. Some of his humor didn't always work for me though.

Timber

I think he spends too much time on the podrace (I guess just like the movie does) but it is a good review.

Mabuse

Pretty good review, but his discussion about the podrace is 100% wrong. He thinks he's made a big discovery about how all the camera set ups cover the action from left to right. This is done to maintain continuity for the viewer. If there were shots going right to left your mind would immediately register that pod as going the wrong way. It's an extension of the 180 rule. He makes a fool of himself congratulating himself for "discovering" something that any good film critic should know and he labels it "bad film making".

zero

It was 10 years ago, I'm over it and ready for new Star Wars movies.

Josh-da-man

Yes, Star Wars fans beat dead horses, but George Lucas has supplied plenty of them to keep them occupied over the years.

Sean O'Hara

Two new bits of casting:

joe_b

Pegg now says he was only referencing the tabloid rumor about Craig from last year, but it's not like he'd admit to something he let slip by accident. Simon getting a cameo in the movie was all but a given -- especially since he made it well known he hung around on set. There are strong rumors he's playing an alien, possibly one that has a run-in with Chewbacca.

Wonder if the rumors about Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman and Robert Downey Jr. filming cameos will turn out to be true. Granted, we'd probably never see their faces. Some guy on the StarWars7News forum (who provided spot on details in the past) is adamant that Benedict Cumberbatch shot a cameo during the castle scene depicted in the Vanity Fair photo shoot.


EDIT: Vanity Fair posted an extended interview with co-screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan. From his quotes, it sounds like they want The Force Awakens to move at a breezy pace compared to the overstuffed tent-poles currently filling multiplexes (*cough*Age of Ultron*cough*).

And on Lando's future:

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/...-force-awakens

kgrogers1979

Today is the 16th anniversary of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

That makes me feel so old to think that movie is 16 years old. I was 20 when that movie was released. Time flies by so fast.

Anyone watching TPM today to celebrate the anniversary?

TGM

nope.