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| Thread: Star Wars And You |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 · NEXT» |
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 12:34 AM |
bonus applied. |
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Star Wars And You
My first encounter with Star Wars was in 1992 or 1993. It was winter, it was Saturday, and Norway's first and newly established private TV channel had aired "A New Hope" the night before. I hadn't been allowed to stay up and watch the film, since I was only 7 or 8 and my parents didn't give up on being protective until I was 9  , but all my friends had seen it. So, this particular Saturday, me and my friends met at the house of the friend who lived in the most remote location, and whose father, it was rumoured, had videotaped the film.
So, we benched down in front of the TV, and hit play on the VCR remote control. I was spellbound from the first moment. Of course, there was lots of things I didn't understand, like who everyone wwas and what they wanted, but the special effects were none the less impressive enough to shut me up. Also, it was the first sci.fi. I'd ever seen, so the entire concept of different worlds and solar systems were unknown and fascinating to me.
Unfortunately, just as things were getting clearer, Obi-Wan had to chop off an arm in the Mos Eisly taverna. Just as the arm slammed to the floor, my friend's mom entered the room. She shut off the TV, yelled at her son, and told us to "Get the hell out of the house!" She couldn't believe that we sat inside watching violent videos when the sun was shining and it was warm! (This was mid January - prolly 1993 then - so warm means "warmer than -30C"... )
So, we were chased outside, where we resolved to play some instead. We found our knives and ran into the forest to make ourself some neat lighsabers, or, as we called them because of the kinda lousy subtexts, laser swords.
I have no idea for how many years we continued to play games set in the Star Wars universe, but although most of my friends eventually tired of the playing, I have distinct memories of me and the friend with the yelling mom attacking the home planet of the Empire; a planet covered in asphalt. This was as late as in 1997, when we were 12, and the special editions were released.
Later, I managed to make my parents let me watch "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return Of The Jedi", which I recorded on video tape, and watched countless times later. This was before we established a proper connection with the channel that aired the films, and my dad was no magician with the cables between TV and VCR, so the tapes were of poor quality. I didn't care. I loved them anyway.
Later, I also bought lots of "Micro Machines" that were tiny models of people and space crafts from Star Wars. I remember how much I used to love making the tiny Luke Skywalker being killed by Darth Vader, only to have Chewie and Han Solo come and save the day. I just loved those two. 
So, many years passed. I still loved Star Wars, but I had moved to a new town now, where none of my new friends liked Star Wars. They said they "Didn't like things that couldn't have happened in the real world." To say it like this: I don't have much contact with those people today.
Suddenly, in, oh it must have been 1999, I learned that George Lucas was making new Star Wars films! 
I didn't know what to do with myself. In the days that followed, I often took out my old Star Wars Micro Machines, and just sat in my room watching them, occasionally repulsing an Imperial attack on the Rebel base on the ice moon of Hoth. I couldn't do anything but think about what the new films would be like. It should be noted that before this, I thought that the first three episodes were simply impossible to obtain here in Norway - they became my Holy Grail. Little did I know back then about the eccentric ways of George Lucas...
And so the day finally came. My dad took me and my sister (who is lucky enough to be my sister, so that she too is a Star Wars fan - you know, if you see films often enough, you'll come to like them some day ) to see Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
I don't think I thought that it was as good as the first ones, but I don't think I hated it either. After all, I was too young to have developed anything even remotely similar to a critical sense back then.
No matter what I thought about it, I know this for sure: It didn't make me become less of a Star Wars fan, to put it lightly.
However, as I watched it later on DVD, I came to realize that this perhaps wasn't the film with the best dialogue...
A few years later, Episode II - The Attack of the Clones was released. Finally, I thought, let this be a better film than Episode I! And in many ways, I think it was. Sure, the dialogue was even worse than it had been ever before, but the film added so much to the Star Wars universe, by filling in lots blank spaces in the information about the universe; information that up until now only had been known as outlines or vague concepts because of loose comments from the first trilogy. The day after seeing it, I wasn't surprised at all to observe how it recieved a 6/6 grade in the local paper.
In the years since that, however, I have grown to be somewhat ambiguous towards Episode II. Sure, it has a good story (from a SW perspective) and immense special effects, but the acting suffers under the yoke of bad dialogue. Especially the romantic scenes featuring Amidala and Anakin are made awkward through Lucas' incompetency. It doesn't help much that Hayden Christensen is a bad actor with a disgusting accent.
So tonight, I was in a weird mood. I was gonna see the conclusion to the films that most likely has influenced my childhood more than anything else. I noticed, when I was walking to the bus tonight, that I almost had a kind of tunnel vision, and that my mind was absent.
After what seemed like several hours of commercials, the 20th Century Fow logo and soundtrack started rolling. I almost jumped in my seat. I had cold shivers running up my spine, and I sweated. When the title screen appeared, some morons behind me started clapping and laughing. Here I was, in a quasi-religious moment, and those bastards were applauding light reflected upon a white screen (nevermind what this says about my "religious feelings" ). If I'd had a machine gun right then, I could have been typing this from prison.
I was trying to post a review of the film earlier today, at GG, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The film was so emotionally overwhelming to me, that I was unable to give it so much as an (attempted) unbiased grade. I wanted to give it a 10/10, but I'm not sure.
*Some spoliers may follow*
I haven't been this emotional about a film before. In the last hour of the film, I caught myself drying tears from the corners of my eyes several times. When Anakin entered the temple, and finally reached the council room where all the younglings were hiding; when the Jedis were betrayed by the clones; when Obi-Wan told Padmé what Anakin'd done in the Jedi Council room; when he left her, saying "I'm sorry" when he learned that Anakin was her babies' father; when Obi-Wan had finally defeated Anakin at the volcanic planet, and Anakin is lying there like some cripple, while Obi-Wan says, "I used to love you. You were my brother!" in reply to Anakin's poisonous "I hate you!". All these things made my tears flow.
*Spoilers done*
When I exited the cinema, I was unable to properly take in my surroundings; the world seemed like a fog to me. An era in my life was over. I had come full circle. The kid who used to fight his friends with pointy sticks and shoot them with blaster-formed pieces of roots, now stood in Cicignon's Square in Trondheim, a warm and humid night in May, feeling just like a little boy who has strayed and lost his parents. I just didn't know what to do now...
That sure was exhausting...
Anyone else who wants to share their relationship with Star Wars with us? Love it? Hate it? Doesn't care? Let's hear what you have to say.
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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guitarguy
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Rockoon.
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posted May 27, 2005 07:07 AM |
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Love it.
First of all, sorry Terje, I had to skip through the rest of your post as soon as you mentioned Episode II. I have had the prolonged misfortune of not being able to see it myself, so I have to block out anything about II and III until I get to see them for real and in order. But I still have a lot of stuff to share about my love for Star Wars.
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I'm a bigger Star Wars fan that I'll initially admit; it's just so cool. To be honest, I didn't get into Star Wars until 1996 or 1997. I'd never seen anywhere near the whole films before that, but I'd remember snippets of film seemingly at random. I was into computer games at the time, and I happened to find a magazine advertisement for a game called "Yoda Stories". The pictures showed scenes with cute miniature caricatures of Luke Skywalker, Yoda, and Stormtroopers. I did not know all their names at the time, but I'd find out later. I thought the game looked cute and figured it would be fun to play, so I looked for a demonstration version to try. Somehow I forgot that the game title was "Yoda Stories" and I downloaded a demo for a game called "Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II". I tried it and immediately noticed that I did not download the right game; this game was vastly different. It was my first game in "first person" mode, so I was intrigued by it. I didn't know who Kyle Katarn was, since I didn't remember him from what little I knew of the three movies. Perhaps the neatest thing about it was that I had a lightsaber in my inventory; the green blade looked so awesome in my pixelated hands! Even so, I didn't get too far into the demo because I wasn't very good at this new genre (first person felt really weird after Heroes and Warcraft).
I eventually got the full versions of "Jedi Knight" and "Yoda Stories", but I liked former quite a lot. At least the full version helped me with the storyline; the trial version left me clueless about nearly everything. To make a long story short, I had many adventures as my new alter-ego Kyle and had a blast. This was enough motivation for me to go see the movies.
Turns out I enjoyed the movies a lot, but I had to straighten some things out. I couldn't believe Kyle Katarn wasn't in any of the films, but I found out later from Dark Forces that it was he who sent the Death Star plans to Princess Leia just prior to Episode IV. I also enjoyed all the minor characters I saw in the game. I must have thought while watching the movies: "Wow, I killed Ree-Yees and Bossk a hundred times!" It was almost magical, in a sense, since I got to feel what it was like to be in the Star Wars universe. I don't think many games can give a person that same kind of feeling of awesome familiarity.
I saw Episode I when it came out, and it was good. It didn't match any of the first three movies Lucas made, but it was enjoyable. I think I like the IV-VI era better, not to mention the "Expanded Universe" of stories and characters. I've gotten into the Dark Empire series, which is excellent. If Lucas would make another set of movies, I hope he would consider something like that. For now, however, I need to get me a DVD for Episode II...
-guitarguy
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TitaniumAlloy
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Professional
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posted May 27, 2005 08:17 AM |
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Very nice Terje. I'm a fan or Star Wars, can't say I'm a big fan but I do think that some parts of the movies are genius. Except how all sentient beings stand upright.
SPOILERS BELOW FROM THE LATEST MOVIE
But...
Why would Anakin kill those young jedi? Why wouldn't they keep them and turn them evil??
And also, are Darth Sidious and Chancellor Palpatine the same person in the end? I'm not sure...
*** END OF SPOILERS
I liked it how it ties in with the New Hope film. Although, seeing the first part of the Clone Wars on foxtel yesterday, it does have terrible dialogue in some parts.
And what's with the transition effects anyway?
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John says to live above hell.
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Trogdor
Legendary Hero
Words in a custom title
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posted May 27, 2005 09:27 AM |
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Quote:
And also, are Darth Sidious and Chancellor Palpatine the same person in the end? I'm not sure...
They ARE the same person, as *says a spoiler* Palpatine trains Anakin into Vader.
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"Through the power of the dollar you can communicate with the dead." - Artu
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Lord_Woock
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Daddy Cool with a $90 smile
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posted May 27, 2005 01:31 PM |
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Hey, guess what. Some Polish official kind of people named a street after Obi Wan Kenobi.
>_>
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Conan
Responsible
Supreme Hero
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posted May 27, 2005 05:11 PM |
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Jebus, let's hear it! I'm waiting! I know you have tons to say!
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Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will service.... us. - Star Trek TNG
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Jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 27, 2005 05:28 PM |
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Jebus, let's hear it! I'm waiting! I know you have tons to say!
"patience... you must learn patience."
In time bud,
all in due time....
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 07:46 PM |
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MORE SPOILERS!!!!!
Quote:
Why would Anakin kill those young jedi? Why wouldn't they keep them and turn them evil??
And also, are Darth Sidious and Chancellor Palpatine the same person in the end? I'm not sure...
1. The way I've understood things, the Sith aren't very inclined to share power. They pretty much loath to have any kind of competition. Also, I guess the younglings wouldn't be too happy to join someone who they knew had killed the people who had raised them...
2. They're the same person alright.
Nice to see that people like the topic.
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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Jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 27, 2005 08:31 PM |
bonus applied. |
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This if for Conan, whom I didn’t want to disappoint…
A long, long time ago, in a place not so far away…
(Vertical scroll)
“Shortly after the birth of the young Jebus, Master Lucas has successfully released the second chapter to his new famed “STAR WARS a new hope” with “EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Unfortunately for Jebus, this would mean that only in another few years, at his father and older brother’s side, would he be first introduced to the growing phenomena that will encompass and conquer all of humanity for years to come until the one day that the shroud will fall and a new darkness will cover all the world with the re-release of a desecrated master piece and, of course, the new reign of a NEW trilogy. One that holds an evil so great, that all the unsuspecting loyal servants of Master Lucas will be betrayed and turned over to the dark side…”
I have 2 comparisons that I can make to explain or describe what Star Wars is for me and how I came by it. Here goes:
Star Wars to me is like the midi-chlorian’s to the Jedi. No one knows where they come from, and nobody knows who and what they are… they simply exist. And they exist in them to them strength when strength is lost. They didn’t START existing, they just always WERE. For all that is good and bad, they are simply a part of them. This is what STAR WARS is to me…
I tend to like this one better…
“Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy
field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us.
It binds the galaxy together.” (OB1)
This could not be clearer to me that this explanation of the force is in fact my explanation of Star Wars in my life… let’s move on to young Jebus’ story…
It must have been shortly after the hype of the final chapter in the trilogy “Return of the Jedi” when the local movie theatre held a one day STAR WARS marathon… My dad took my brother and I on the adventure that would alter my life forever with the 6-hour mega, crazy, exciting, ultra insane marathon. I came out of there with a new outlook on life… Everything looked different; maybe because we went from 6-hour darkness to broad day light, or was it that I was now on the quest (like Luc) to become Jedi? (I guess we’ll never know)
After that, I spent hours upon hours, watching over and over the trilogy. One day at a garage sale, my mom bought us the Death Star and Millennium Falcon and a few figurines… New welcome additions were Yoda, Darth Vader and the emperor, then a speeder and an AT-AT.
Growing up the conflict between good and evil were ever present. Whether it was in play or real life, the influences of moral and ethical duty, and loyalty grew. In moments of great anger or hate, I always tried to find a place to hide and never lash out. I couldn’t control my emotions as a child and into my teenage years, learnt to suppress feelings. This of course leads to resentment, bitterness and, my favourite, sarcasm. Insecurity and sarcasm are a scary combination. You can assume great power with those traits at your side and due to this, relationships suffered. Like the Sith, control and fear became my ally. Only until I was in my late teens did I see the error in my skill or art of sarcasm and decided to tone it down… and let the hate die. I started down a new path.
Funny how a lot of my life I can relate to Luc’s journey towards the dark and the decisions he’s had to face. When I was finally coming to terms with most things in my life there was born a new hate… Episode 1.
This was like experiencing the Skywalker path in the opposite direction. Content, happiness and pride were replaced with fear, anger and aggression… What the hell did Lucas do? What is he thinking?
Since the day that episode 1 was released, it’s like the shroud of the dark side has fallen and all I knew and loved is lost. I’ve watched huge fans become mindless following zombies, without the will to fight for what they once believed in. Good actors, script writing and screenplay were substituted with special effects, computer animation and forced performances.
My journey towards the dark side is a result in the disappointment I’ve felt in the director that I saw as a god… It’s like watching Yoda slowly and progressively turn into the Sith Lord. My faith was lost, Jar Jar Binks was aloud to live. It’s a lot like watching a cancer patient slowly wither away to frailty and weakness… This is what Lucas represents for me now… He’s the Anakin from episode 3, you feel bad for him but, in the end, he made the decision and he will live with the consequences of his actions. Problem is, Lucas made the films for himself, where as Anakin was mislead and thought he was saving the one he loved… As much as we judged Darth Vader for betraying the Jedi, at least we can understand where he was coming from... Lucas' incentives behind his betrayal of his legacy will most likely stay hidden in the darkness.
As you can see Star Wars for me lead to feelings of confusion. Hence why I felt the need to give a little background of my past. I guess I’ve always felt that the message and the morals behind the story is one that we live everyday. Even in times of great pain and suffering, sometimes you have to learn to just let go… I’m at that stage of my life. I could potentially argue all the stupidities in episodes 1-3 but, like OB1 in episode 3, I’m just going to walk away. I’ll just go on remembering a simpler time, when stories were about heroes, friendships and loyalty. About fighting for what we believe in…
It’s too bad we don’t live in a world where that holds any real meaning anymore, so I’ll just go back to quoting Yoda and Vader, and dream of a Galaxy far, far away.
Since the day of the movie marathon, I’ve had many conflicts with my Dad, but those instances will never cloud that childhood memory.
"But how am I to know the good side from the bad?"
YODA: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack."
words to live by...
J
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"You went over my helmet??"
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 08:59 PM |
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Wow. I'm bereft of words. That was a captivating story, Jebus.
However, although I can understand your hate for Episodes I and II, I think I'm gonna have to disagree on Episode III. The dialogue wasn't as bad (God! I can't understand how I could possibly forget this: KUDOS TO TOM STOPPARD FOR HELPING LUCAS WITH THE DIALOGUE!!!! That prolly saved the film); the acting was better (although the actors still suffered from Lucas' lacking talent); and the story more thrilling than anything since The Empire Strikes Back.
I'll most likely change my views on this when I've seen it a couple of more times, though... 
It's always sad when your childhood memories get f***** over, especially when it's such an integral part as Star Wars.
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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Jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 27, 2005 09:38 PM |
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Edited By: Jebus on 27 May 2005
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uh... are you being sarcastic??
actually I found the last half of epsisode 3 much better than 1,2, and the beg of 3 all together...
but there are a few things I'd do differently (of course)... I'll read the comments that I skipped over and post it later.
J
SPOILER!!
(T-A
if you've seen episode 3 and still don't know if palpatine is sidius, you must have been at the washroom during the fight scene between Samuel Jackson and the emperor.... 
END SPOILER!!
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"You went over my helmet??"
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 09:48 PM |
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Aha. We agree then. I must have misread you in some way.
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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Jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 27, 2005 09:51 PM |
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Quote:
Aha. We agree then. I must have misread you in some way.
If you hate Binks, I'd agree that we agree.
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"You went over my helmet??"
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 09:53 PM |
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Actually, I've never been bothered much about him. I just "live and let live". Sure, the guy was a little annoying at times, but hey. Who doesn't hate the stereotypical and clumsily characterised comic sidekick?
Oh damn. I just turned into a Jar-Jar hater...
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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Conan
Responsible
Supreme Hero
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posted May 27, 2005 09:59 PM |
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I just don't like Jamaicans in general... Just kidding!
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Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will service.... us. - Star Trek TNG
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Jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 27, 2005 10:12 PM |
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I just don't like Jamaicans in general... Just kidding!
ROTFLMAO!!!
man Im glad I wasn't drinking....
Terje,
funny sidekick?? I could accept that...
But, simply put, he was the direct cause of the chancelor being given emergency power over the senat, thus resulting in the transformation into the empire!!]
C'MON MAN!!!
had Qui Gon jinn mowed him down in episode 1 instead of falling ON him, none of this would have happened!!!
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"You went over my helmet??"
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 10:35 PM |
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ROFLMFAO to the both of yah! 
And yes, his giving the supreme authority to the chancellor is one of the reasons why I now hate him. Give me a pointy hat and call me a nerd, but that's just who I am. :
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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Jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 27, 2005 11:01 PM |
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ROFLMFAO to the both of yah!
And yes, his giving the supreme authority to the chancellor is one of the reasons why I now hate him. Give me a pointy hat and call me a nerd, but that's just who I am. :
I have no faith in a republic that allows mindless idiots make that kind of election... (and Im not talking about Canada or the States here folks... stay on topic)
"the hate is strong in my family...
my father has it...
I have it...
My Terje, has it...."
J
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"You went over my helmet??"
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terje_the_ma...
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Disciple of Herodotus
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posted May 27, 2005 11:19 PM |
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Man, the day I finish my last exam, I'm gonna enjoy a Star Wars Marathon - whether to celebrate (then I'll start with Episode IV) or to mourn (start with Episode I). I just came to realise that I prolly haven't seen the films in perhaps 3 or four years...
What the hell have I been up to!? 
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"Sometimes I think everyone's just pretending to be brave, and none of us really are. Maybe pretending to be brave is how you get brave, I don't know."
- Grenn, A Storm of Swords.
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jebus
Promising
Supreme Hero
TheJester akaJeebs akaJebfoo
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posted May 28, 2005 07:50 PM |
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Quote:
Man, the day I finish my last exam, I'm gonna enjoy a Star Wars Marathon - whether to celebrate (then I'll start with Episode IV) or to mourn (start with Episode I). I just came to realise that I prolly haven't seen the films in perhaps 3 or four years...
What the hell have I been up to!?
It's called neglect....
and a piece of advice.... if you do poorly on an exam, don't watch episode 1, you'll get depressed and want to force choke yourself to death!!
J
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"You went over my helmet??"
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