?

Aeryn · 10-21-2002, 09:14 PM

Do you people actually LIKE Star Wars?
Well I know that's a stupid question so I suppose that the real question is-- HOW can you like Star Wars?

***IronParrot*** · 10-21-2002, 09:21 PM

Um, give me a sec while I think about how to answer as concisely as possible. It's difficult to squeeze my answer to your question under a few pages, but I'll try...

Aeryn · 10-21-2002, 09:23 PM

You actually have THAT many answers?

***IronParrot*** · 10-21-2002, 10:17 PM

Why I like Star Wars - a capsule summary that probably misses much.

The Star Wars saga, in all its instalments, represents a landmark of filmmaking in all aspects - technical, literary and stylistic. Yet above its simple historical importance in the artistic medium of cinema lies its virtually unparalleled entertainment value, the product of an involving, intricately crafted story that possesses layer upon layer of interpretability, applicability and sheer emotional resonance.

Why do I like it?

1. One heck of a story.

The ambition of the premise is awe-inspiring. We are presented with a battle between good and evil in their pure, dualistic forms, opposing ends of a thread upon which a destabilized universe hangs - the simplest, purest mythical premise of them all. But the presentation of this battle is explored in a complex web of interrelated parallel conflicts in the material world, at a level of intricacy that can only be attributed to storytelling genius. Between the extremes of good and evil, we are told of emotions, lives, peoples, and worlds that all hang in the balance.

We see a level of political intrigue that takes every lesson learned from Caesar's Rome to Hitler's Nazi Germany and applies it to the visible rise and fall of a militaristic dictatorship.

We see the last gasp of spiritualism clinging on as it gradually dissipates from an increasingly material world.

We see nature appear to suffer the same fate at the hands of the artificial and mechanical, yet it triumphs in the end and lives to fight another day.

We see those who wield power resist its temptations, or in some cases, succumb to it completely and mark their fall to darkness.

We see the fundamental love that exists in a familial bond conquer every obstacle, and reverse fates irreversible.

We see all of this happen in a story that ensnares the heart and captivates the soul.

What more do you want?

2. There's nothing like it.

What a lot of people don't seem to realize is that Star Wars is a far, far cry away from mainstream Hollywood filmmaking. It looks different, it sounds different - heck, I'd bet it even tastes different - and it feels like a stylistic achievement on its own terms that is far removed from anything one would expect coming from an idea filtered through a studio.

Star Wars is decidedly weird. It is an avant-garde meshing of Akira Kurosawa and Buck Rogers, and sets it in a mythology of a legendary scale that hearkens back to Homer and Tolkien. Nowhere else can you find a film wherein mobsters, cowboys, politicians, terrorists, samurai, drag racers, space adventurers and teddy bears not only coexist in a coherent fashion, but also advance a comprehensible epic journey.

In terms of the visual scale of the imagination executed in Star Wars, the film begs parallel. It was the first fantasy film not based on material in any other medium that conjured a completely original world - a galaxy far, far away, if you will - and manage to present it with the necessary splendour. This is a feat that, arguably, has yet to be duplicated by any work of cinema to date.

It's a pity that the sheer originality of Star Wars, combined with its success, has led to some rather unpleasant results - among them: blatant overcommercialization, the creation of a billion-dollar industry in trash franchise literature, and the spawning of copycat films that attempt to duplicate the saga's appeal by making a lot of things blow up but completely ignore the fact that the true appeal lies in the craft of its timeless story. But these can only be blamed on the fact that the original source was so bleeding good to begin with.

***IronParrot*** · 10-21-2002, 10:17 PM

3. It's timeless fun.

Star Wars will always be relevant. It was made for all time, and will be as enjoyable twenty-five years from now as it is today - the same observation that some must have made that same amount of time ago.

Star Wars is good for all occasions. You can watch it to cool down on a sunny day. You can watch it to cheer up on a rainy day. You can delight the kids with it at a birthday party, and enthrall them with a tale that will stay with them forever. You can delight yourself with it again and again, seeing it in a new perspective every time.

Star Wars improves with every viewing. Every iteration reveals yet another hidden layer of depth, yet another observation that had passed unnoticed before. The emotional shock of its tragic moments never wanes, nor does the emotional thrill of its lighter moments. Its images dwell in the mind long afterwards.

Behind the veil of box-office grosses and bloated merchandise flying off the shelves of Toys 'R' Us, a great and unmatched work of art lies hidden to many. The trick is to see the films for what they are, and like the Force, feel them flowing through you.

And that, mon ami, is a capsule summary of why I like Star Wars.

Aeryn · 10-21-2002, 10:20 PM

Hee hee AMAZING, I'm sorry I don't think the same as you...I can't STAND the movies.

Lief Erikson · 10-23-2002, 07:44 PM

I applaud you Ironparrot

! An excellent basic overview.

Aeryn · 10-23-2002, 07:50 PM

Are those movies...like...well obviously its a guy thing...like The Godfather...right?

markedel · 10-23-2002, 10:11 PM

Nah-the Godfather is a great movie, but in a very different sense. Like comparing apples and peas.

Aeryn · 10-23-2002, 10:19 PM

okay...er...I'll just stay in the dark about that comment markadel. I mean people get killed and stuff in each one...er...n/m i wasn't going to comment

durin's bane · 10-23-2002, 10:55 PM

Why do I like Star Wars? Um...what Iron Parrot said.

Also, lightsaber duels are my thing. 'Nuff said.

markedel · 10-23-2002, 11:01 PM

Like the Transporter

***azalea*** · 10-24-2002, 01:24 PM

No, it's not a guy thing. Iron Parrot spoke for me, too, when he described why he loves Star Wars.

Beleg Strongbow · 10-24-2002, 01:37 PM

Also, I don't think its a guy thing
(although it might predominantly be)
because it redefined the role of lead female character. Eowyn was pretty good but she wasn't quite up there with Leia.

cee2lee2 · 10-27-2002, 04:51 PM

Well said, IronParrot! And it's not a guy thing.

I'll never forget the first time I saw the original Ep IV. I was awe-struck and glued to my seat throughout the entire movie. And the first time we went into hyperspace.....OH MY!!!!

Ms. Undomial · 10-31-2002, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beleg Strongbow
Eowyn was pretty good but she wasn't quite up there with Leia.

what?? That is like saying Glaladrial wasn't up there with Arwen(in the books) or Luke wasn't up there with Han Solo!! Eowyn was way up past Leia!!! I mean Leia didn't do anything! Eowyn Killed the BIg Bad Witch King!!! Leia just sat there and looked pretty.

Quote:

I'll never forget the first time I saw the original Ep IV. I was awe-struck and glued to my seat throughout the entire movie. And the first time we went into hyperspace.....OH MY!!!!

Cee2lee2- I will agree with you that eposide's 4-6 were pretty good. but eposide's 1 and 2 are like wacko!!

~*Ms. Undomial*~

Lief Erikson · 10-31-2002, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ms. Undomial
what?? That is like saying Glaladrial wasn't up there with Arwen(in the books) or Luke wasn't up there with Han Solo!! Eowyn was way up past Leia!!! I mean Leia didn't do anything! Eowyn Killed the BIg Bad Witch King!!! Leia just sat there and looked pretty.

(Clears his throat and looks over the edge of his glasses at Ms. Undomial) Ahem. I beg to differ. Eowyn was a fighter and I like her a lot. But her character wasn't nearly as fiery or exciting as Leia's. Leia was out there doing things. She was an extremely nice person, while at the same time feisty, and prepared to blast any enemy that came her way. She was a born fighter, no wonder she was one of the leaders of the Rebellion! And how could she help it, with parents like Anakin and Padmé?

cee2lee2 · 10-31-2002, 09:16 PM

Ms. Undomial - I'll admit that I've been disappointed in Eps 1 and 2. Haven't even bought them to add to my video library. On the other hand, I usually watch my videos of 4-6 several times a year.

Regarding Leia, I think she's right up there with Eowyn. I just loved the part in Ep 4 when she basically rolls her eyes at the boys and takes over her own rescue.

Aeryn · 11-01-2002, 09:39 PM

Well, I thought Leia was a freak.
And the Omadala character. (the name look at the name, need I say more?)

Eowyn beats the pants off them both!

cee2lee2 · 11-01-2002, 09:54 PM

I think the name is Padme Amidala (not that it's any better spelled that way

)

10-21-2002, 09:14 PM	#1
Aeryn Bank'ress of Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a hot-hot place, heh Posts: 913	? Do you people actually LIKE Star Wars? Well I know that's a stupid question so I suppose that the real question is-- HOW can you like Star Wars? __________________ my new account name feigndeath. This one is deactivated, I think.

10-21-2002, 09:21 PM	#2
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	Um, give me a sec while I think about how to answer as concisely as possible. It's difficult to squeeze my answer to your question under a few pages, but I'll try... __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

10-21-2002, 09:23 PM	#3
Aeryn Bank'ress of Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a hot-hot place, heh Posts: 913	lol You actually have THAT many answers? __________________ my new account name feigndeath. This one is deactivated, I think.

10-21-2002, 10:17 PM	#4
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	*Why I like Star Wars* - a capsule summary that probably misses much.** The Star Wars saga, in all its instalments, represents a landmark of filmmaking in all aspects - technical, literary and stylistic. Yet above its simple historical importance in the artistic medium of cinema lies its virtually unparalleled entertainment value, the product of an involving, intricately crafted story that possesses layer upon layer of interpretability, applicability and sheer emotional resonance. Why do I like it? 1. One heck of a story. The ambition of the premise is awe-inspiring. We are presented with a battle between good and evil in their pure, dualistic forms, opposing ends of a thread upon which a destabilized universe hangs - the simplest, purest mythical premise of them all. But the presentation of this battle is explored in a complex web of interrelated parallel conflicts in the material world, at a level of intricacy that can only be attributed to storytelling genius. Between the extremes of good and evil, we are told of emotions, lives, peoples, and worlds that all hang in the balance. We see a level of political intrigue that takes every lesson learned from Caesar's Rome to Hitler's Nazi Germany and applies it to the visible rise and fall of a militaristic dictatorship. We see the last gasp of spiritualism clinging on as it gradually dissipates from an increasingly material world. We see nature appear to suffer the same fate at the hands of the artificial and mechanical, yet it triumphs in the end and lives to fight another day. We see those who wield power resist its temptations, or in some cases, succumb to it completely and mark their fall to darkness. We see the fundamental love that exists in a familial bond conquer every obstacle, and reverse fates irreversible. We see all of this happen in a story that ensnares the heart and captivates the soul. What more do you want? 2. There's nothing like it. What a lot of people don't seem to realize is that Star Wars is a far, far cry away from mainstream Hollywood filmmaking. It looks different, it sounds different - heck, I'd bet it even tastes different - and it feels like a stylistic achievement on its own terms that is far removed from anything one would expect coming from an idea filtered through a studio. Star Wars is decidedly weird. It is an avant-garde meshing of Akira Kurosawa and Buck Rogers, and sets it in a mythology of a legendary scale that hearkens back to Homer and Tolkien. Nowhere else can you find a film wherein mobsters, cowboys, politicians, terrorists, samurai, drag racers, space adventurers and teddy bears not only coexist in a coherent fashion, but also advance a comprehensible epic journey. In terms of the visual scale of the imagination executed in Star Wars, the film begs parallel. It was the first fantasy film not based on material in any other medium that conjured a completely original world - a galaxy far, far away, if you will - and manage to present it with the necessary splendour. This is a feat that, arguably, has yet to be duplicated by any work of cinema to date. It's a pity that the sheer originality of Star Wars, combined with its success, has led to some rather unpleasant results - among them: blatant overcommercialization, the creation of a billion-dollar industry in trash franchise literature, and the spawning of copycat films that attempt to duplicate the saga's appeal by making a lot of things blow up but completely ignore the fact that the true appeal lies in the craft of its timeless story. But these can only be blamed on the fact that the original source was so bleeding good to begin with. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

10-21-2002, 10:17 PM	#5
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	3. It's timeless fun. Star Wars will always be relevant. It was made for all time, and will be as enjoyable twenty-five years from now as it is today - the same observation that some must have made that same amount of time ago. Star Wars is good for all occasions. You can watch it to cool down on a sunny day. You can watch it to cheer up on a rainy day. You can delight the kids with it at a birthday party, and enthrall them with a tale that will stay with them forever. You can delight yourself with it again and again, seeing it in a new perspective every time. Star Wars improves with every viewing. Every iteration reveals yet another hidden layer of depth, yet another observation that had passed unnoticed before. The emotional shock of its tragic moments never wanes, nor does the emotional thrill of its lighter moments. Its images dwell in the mind long afterwards. Behind the veil of box-office grosses and bloated merchandise flying off the shelves of Toys 'R' Us, a great and unmatched work of art lies hidden to many. The trick is to see the films for what they are, and like the Force, feel them flowing through you. And that, mon ami, is a capsule summary of why I like Star Wars. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

10-21-2002, 10:20 PM	#6
Aeryn Bank'ress of Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a hot-hot place, heh Posts: 913	Hee hee AMAZING, I'm sorry I don't think the same as you...I can't STAND the movies. __________________ my new account name feigndeath. This one is deactivated, I think.

10-23-2002, 07:44 PM	#7
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	I applaud you Ironparrot ! An excellent basic overview.

10-23-2002, 07:50 PM	#8
Aeryn Bank'ress of Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a hot-hot place, heh Posts: 913	Are those movies...like...well obviously its a guy thing...like The Godfather...right? __________________ my new account name feigndeath. This one is deactivated, I think.

10-23-2002, 10:11 PM	#9
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	Nah-the Godfather is a great movie, but in a very different sense. Like comparing apples and peas. __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

10-23-2002, 10:19 PM	#10
Aeryn Bank'ress of Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a hot-hot place, heh Posts: 913	okay...er...I'll just stay in the dark about that comment markadel. I mean people get killed and stuff in each one...er...n/m i wasn't going to comment __________________ my new account name feigndeath. This one is deactivated, I think.

10-23-2002, 10:55 PM	#11
durin's bane Lady of Westernesse Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Canada (Help! Our parliament building is melting!) Posts: 761	Why do I like Star Wars? Um...what Iron Parrot said. Also, lightsaber duels are my thing. 'Nuff said. __________________ Yada, yada, yada

10-23-2002, 11:01 PM	#12
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	Like the Transporter __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

10-24-2002, 01:24 PM	#13
*azalea* Long lost mooter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 3,342	No, it's not a guy thing. Iron Parrot spoke for me, too, when he described why he loves Star Wars.

10-24-2002, 01:37 PM	#14
Beleg Strongbow Truest of Friends Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pennsylvania, but I have a vacation home in the Westfarthing. Posts: 520	Also, I don't think its a guy thing (although it might predominantly be) because it redefined the role of lead female character. Eowyn was pretty good but she wasn't quite up there with Leia. __________________ "...Beleg Strongbow, truest of friends, greatest in skill of all that harboured in the woods of Beleriand in the Elder Days..." Aure Entuleva! John Kerry for President!

10-27-2002, 04:51 PM	#15
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	Well said, IronParrot! And it's not a guy thing. I'll never forget the first time I saw the original Ep IV. I was awe-struck and glued to my seat throughout the entire movie. And the first time we went into hyperspace.....OH MY!!!!

10-31-2002, 09:16 PM	#18
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	Ms. Undomial - I'll admit that I've been disappointed in Eps 1 and 2. Haven't even bought them to add to my video library. On the other hand, I usually watch my videos of 4-6 several times a year. Regarding Leia, I think she's right up there with Eowyn. I just loved the part in Ep 4 when she basically rolls her eyes at the boys and takes over her own rescue.

11-01-2002, 09:39 PM	#19
Aeryn Bank'ress of Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a hot-hot place, heh Posts: 913	Well, I thought Leia was a freak. And the Omadala character. (the name look at the name, need I say more?) Eowyn beats the pants off them both! __________________ my new account name feigndeath. This one is deactivated, I think.

11-01-2002, 09:54 PM	#20
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	I think the name is Padme Amidala (not that it's any better spelled that way )