Matt Vayda wrote:

I've been meaning to post this for a while now, but I keep forgetting.

For a genuine, but humorous take on Star Wars in a courtroom scenario, check out Star Wars on Trial.

Basically a bunch of authors and essayists (many of whom have authored Star Wars related material) got together, chose topics to debate, and presented an argument for and against each, including opening and closing statements.

Thanks for the tip. Bought the book and am reading David Brin's accusation now - that Star Wars is more backward-looking medieval fantasy, rather than science fiction. He doesn't go for all this Princess, Queen, chosen one, destiny, prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the force, stuff. He likes meritocratic storylines where common people collaborate and solve their own problems without the legitimacy of birthright, aristocracies, predestination messiahs, etc.

I have mixed feelings toward this book. Many insightful arguments are made, and there are some genuinely humorous moments, but Brin and co. spew such vitriol against the films. Not just "The Prequels Suck" vitriol—that's the good kind —but hatred toward any kind of heroic fantasy archetypes whatsoever (Brin hates Luke Skywalker and The Lord of the Rings in particular). Brin and some of his witnesses come off as foaming-at-the-mouth rage beasts much of the time. As the defendant, Matthew Stover, notes at the end, all of the witnesses for the defense seem to be just enjoying themselves and having fun, whereas the prosecution seems genuinely enraged that Star Wars is successful. It's rather baffling, and rather pathetic.

He likes meritocratic storylines where common people collaborate and solve their own problems without the legitimacy of birthright, aristocracies, predestination messiahs, etc.

I've been meaning to post this for a while now, but I keep forgetting.

For a genuine, but humorous take on Star Wars in a courtroom scenario, check out Star Wars on Trial.

Basically a bunch of authors and essayists (many of whom have authored Star Wars related material) got together, chose topics to debate, and presented an argument for and against each, including opening and closing statements.

Thanks for the tip. Bought the book and am reading David Brin's accusation now - that Star Wars is more backward-looking medieval fantasy, rather than science fiction. He doesn't go for all this Princess, Queen, chosen one, destiny, prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the force, stuff. He likes meritocratic storylines where common people collaborate and solve their own problems without the legitimacy of birthright, aristocracies, predestination messiahs, etc.

For a genuine, but humorous take on Star Wars in a courtroom scenario, check out Star Wars on Trial.

Basically a bunch of authors and essayists (many of whom have authored Star Wars related material) got together, chose topics to debate, and presented an argument for and against each, including opening and closing statements.

Ridley Scott, same as George Lucas.

Killed a perfectly good (2 ep.) franchise with poor prequel.

Congrats on your imminent fatherhood.

Thanks, dude!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18314956

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop … -2012.html

> I believe Lucas has come out since this, and said this was all some weird joke.
Whatever. It's priceless. That's what this is !

And if anyone cares about my opinion on the Star Wars flicks, here goes:
I grew up with 4-6, loved them ! Was pumped for 1-3.
When I saw them in theaters, I was blindly in love with the fact that I had new Star Wars films. After the "honeymoon phase" wore off of me, I realized all of the things that I didn't like about them.
I started railing against 1-3, and against all of the "improvements" to 4-6.
It has been too many years, and I have spent too much energy hating these things, so, now I am at the point that I still don't like 1-3. I do not own them and I do not want to own them.

I considered buying the blu ray set of all 6 films(to get all of the bonus features). - but, when I found out he had made MORE changes, I cancelled my pre-order. He won't get anymore of my money.
I don't hate him. I just think that he continually makes poor decisions(for us), but, great decisions(for business).
The episodes 1-3 just simply exist now.

I just found out I am going to be a dad(!), and I've decided to share the original trilogy with my children when they are old enough to watch movies.

George Lucas, when you decide to re-release episodes 4-6 on blu ray, with bonus features(which, I know you will)..... I shall consider purchasing that. But, no more for you, until then.

It was a bizarre doco. It did strike me halfway through it that the title had nothing to do with the documentary like you say. It almost felt like an elaborate scheme for the people being interviewed to get more hits on their star wars videos on youtube.

They needed some perspective because that is the one thing (and the most important part of a doco) that is missing. There are other things missing too, but that is the big one.

Place your bets now...

Level 1. What's Star Wars?
Level 2. Oh, I've heard of Star Wars. They're cool movies.
Level 3. The OT is great, the prequels suck!
Level 4. Let's discuss endlessly how the prequels suck
Level 5. Let's discuss endlessly how the prequels can be improved
Level 6. Lucas raped my childhood and I'm going to break into Skywalker Ranch and demand reparations and a re-edit
Level 7. Whatever George. Star Wars is now ruined, from the juvenile special editions to the infantile prequels to the cartoons to the whored-out-to-anyone over-commercialization.
Level 8. Burns all Star Wars stuff in a funeral pyre and says an an anguished good bye.
Level 9. The pain is fading, the memory is dim. No longer care if Jar Jar is inserted everywhere into the OT and the next Star Wars movie was a Jar Jar origin story.
10. What's Star Wars?

From the comments on this forum over the years, some people are on various points on this continuum. Perhaps it's analogous to Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours idea. You gotta do x amount of hours of grieving before you're out the other side.