tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post3904848093974268925..comments2024-03-27T11:18:53.456-07:00Comments on Temple of the Seven Golden Camels: Reflections on a Golden Droidmark kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953166248647413142noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-41196793161187851412008-04-17T21:30:00.000-07:002008-04-17T21:30:00.000-07:00A little too heavy on the "bruce blockhead" theori...A little too heavy on the "bruce blockhead" theorizing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-23768872756339533552008-03-10T23:44:00.000-07:002008-03-10T23:44:00.000-07:00Thanks for explaining the whole film making part i...Thanks for explaining the whole film making part in the Star Wars. It's really inspiring for a student like me who try to learn about film making process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-18741892909046817332008-02-24T12:53:00.000-08:002008-02-24T12:53:00.000-08:00Wow, Mark this is really well done. My older son (...Wow, Mark this is really well done. My older son (8) got to see all 6 movies about two years ago and became so obsessed that we had to ban them for a while (the LEGO game is ok but the movie ban is still on). I showed him EP IV first and he loved it, he said it reminded him of WIZARD OF OZ. He had to see all the rest of the saga a couple of times to get the chronology straight, but he finally did. Like you, I didn't let on what does and doesn't work for me about the series. The indiscriminate killing in EP III led to the ban, too many nightmares.Will Finnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01297122976077620877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-89367373412781893552008-02-24T06:23:00.000-08:002008-02-24T06:23:00.000-08:00Wherefore art thou, supremely helpful animation gu...Wherefore art thou, supremely helpful animation guidance guy? It's been almost a month! Where are we going to get our supremely helpful animation guidance now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-23511868300690450832008-02-20T19:43:00.000-08:002008-02-20T19:43:00.000-08:00My kids have never really gotten into the original...My kids have never really gotten into the original trilogy of Star Wars films, they know who Darth Vader is etc... but they'd never ask for those films to be put on, yet all 3 of my children were fascinated by the 3 Ray Harryhausen 'Sinbad' films,they used to watch those over again.<BR/>Star Wars is a very slow movie at times, but it was a different generation back then and it seemed fast paced to me in 1977. People often go on about what an FX extravaganza Star Wars is, sorry I refuse to call it a New Hope,but if you actually count the amount of actual FX shots in the first hour or so you'll find that there's probably more FX shots in the first 5 minutes of any of the prequels than that whole hour, yet at the time again it seemed like loads of FX.Andrew Glazebrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10561008286443964427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-89890907563082750262008-02-17T18:39:00.000-08:002008-02-17T18:39:00.000-08:00Super post. Re-watching with kids is the best way ...Super post. Re-watching with kids is the best way to do it!<BR/><BR/>It's interesting to note that episode IV originally started on the planet Tatooine with Luke. I believe the comic book version that came out shortly after the movie plays it this way. As in your observation, starting with the battle first was the best way to set up the movie. Perhaps the film makers realized this along the way as well. Then again, I could be totally making this up and it's just my head playing tricks on me. Anyone have that comic to support or deny my memory?<BR/><BR/>One more comment that could be debatable... R2D2 and C3PO are the main characters of the movies. They are the only characters that are in all 6 (9?) films. (please don't say Annikin is too...even Ben says he was dead and Darth Vader was a different person...wink)savinoboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13180950147369257375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-81967064050890358032008-02-10T15:11:00.000-08:002008-02-10T15:11:00.000-08:00It's already been said many times before me, but g...It's already been said many times before me, but great post. I really enjoyed it and would like to hear more of your thoughts on Lucas's work.D Wheezyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17110040389020865617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-57822404924006330982008-02-09T19:38:00.000-08:002008-02-09T19:38:00.000-08:00Yet another reason to absolutely love Star Wars. G...Yet another reason to absolutely love Star Wars. Great post.Kennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863423377842728755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-14423429181818758002008-02-08T09:54:00.000-08:002008-02-08T09:54:00.000-08:00Is your mashmallow popper also camouflage?Is your mashmallow popper also camouflage?Daniel Chonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06521269255109680251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-34020597865352620892008-02-06T12:14:00.000-08:002008-02-06T12:14:00.000-08:00Thanks for this post, Mark. As a wee one I saw SW...Thanks for this post, Mark. As a wee one I saw SW in the theater and it rocked my world. That first film's the one to which I continually return. I know that farmboy Luke annoys an endless number of folks, but I love him. I think he's a great audience surrogate; he's the only one reacting to the intergalactic spectacle.Jon McNallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06349882237118956838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-79207669918768144832008-02-01T12:29:00.000-08:002008-02-01T12:29:00.000-08:00Nice stuff. Tell DH I said Hi and check out my sta...Nice stuff. Tell DH I said Hi and check out my star wars painting.<BR/><BR/>http://www.ryanparr.com/2007/images07/MemorymadeinHongKong.gif<BR/><BR/>Ryan ParrAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-1843888209187680002008-01-30T10:56:00.000-08:002008-01-30T10:56:00.000-08:00Nice observations.One quick correction. The scene ...Nice observations.<BR/><BR/>One quick correction. The scene concerning Ben explaining the Force which precludes Vader choking the non-believing Imperial officer was not good writing, I'm afraid to say, but good editing.<BR/>The re-arranging of these sequences happened in the cutting room. In Lucas' shooting script, Vader chokes the officer right after Threepio and Artoo arrive on Tatooine. <BR/>I believe it is the editors, Murch, Chew and Marcia Lucas we can pat on the back for that.<BR/>To say George is a confident filmaker is stretching the praise just a little bit. All one has to consider is those awful prequels (which he wrote with little or no aid from anyone else.) <BR/><BR/>As to why are stormtroopers white? They are literally caricatures of human skeletons. Skeletons and skulls are freakishly chilling without any explanation. The black eyes, the black joints between the white bones...It's actually very simple design on Ralph Macquarrie's part. A lot bang for the buck. The moment you see them, you know what they are. Dead people who kill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-33200642179783154932008-01-30T06:43:00.000-08:002008-01-30T06:43:00.000-08:00I've just realized I've never seen the movie in it...I've just realized I've never seen the movie in its entirety. Its been so much a part of pop culture, that some events from the film have been filled in. Some how over the years I've convinced myself that I have seen the film,I've been mainly filling in the blanks with reference from popular culture. Reading your post make me want to sit down and watch the whole thing all the way through.gemini82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14229597792837772055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-56871196661778796452008-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:002008-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Michael Swofford Paintingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15834716577441258376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-19785071065437670562008-01-29T16:38:00.000-08:002008-01-29T16:38:00.000-08:00Nice analysis. I also watched the movie with my ki...Nice analysis. I also watched the movie with my kids recently (over the holidays).<BR/>They are a bit older and were quite happy to watch it all.<BR/>I had hoped for a while that we could watch it on the big screen when it looked as if the films would get re-released in 3D.<BR/>But I didn't want to wait any longer after the 30 year anniversary came and went.Holgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12137526076144900623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-43548482793743424182008-01-29T15:51:00.000-08:002008-01-29T15:51:00.000-08:00Geat post!! I dissected Empire much like what you...Geat post!! I dissected Empire much like what you did here with Episode IV. If you ever get the chance the look at the various character arcs (even the millenium falcon's) sometime, it will blow you away. I'm still learning from the darn thing. Take care and I'll continue to look forward to your posts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03038309680602251744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-69860233363324449002008-01-29T12:42:00.000-08:002008-01-29T12:42:00.000-08:00Storm Troopers being White probably has as much to...Storm Troopers being White probably has as much to do with visual ID and style as it does with metaphor. If you watch the scenes of Vadar he always pops right out because he is black. If the troopers were grey or black Vader wouldn't be as visually strong. By having the contrast he is clearly the one with the power. Also, I think you have to remember that the StormTroopers are essentially all the same and are there to do the job. When it is revealed that they are Clones in the prequels it make Leah's line in the jail cel more amusing: "Aren't you a little short for a Storm Trooper?" I think the thing about the Troopers is that they are lackies and will never be more than Troopers. If you notice, the controlling elite of the empire are theoretically from an upper class because the Troopers are clones. It also gets back to the Third Riech metaphors of everyone being more or less faceless and working toward the goal set forth by the emperor. <BR/><BR/>One of the classic symbolisms is the contrast between the machine world and the organic world. The rebels, Luke, Ben etc all exist in a very warm world with natural fabrics and colors while the Empire is comprised of plastic and steel, balck and white. This is most obvious in the fact that the Death Star is a manufactured planet designed to destroy natural ones. <BR/><BR/>I think overall the film making of the seventies is very much a "golden age" when companies like Zoetrope were able to produce stories that would have a hard time getting made today. Could you imagine Apocalypse Now getting made today or for that matter Duel?TShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005243985222801761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-89489725697426237132008-01-29T09:33:00.000-08:002008-01-29T09:33:00.000-08:00Oh yeah, the whole Han-doding-the-laser-blast is r...Oh yeah, the whole Han-doding-the-laser-blast is ridiculous. I once read that Lucas didn't want Han to be a cold hearted killer. But to me it adds to the character development and really pushes the character arc that he goes through from Ep4 to Ep6.<BR/>There are only a handful of additions from the Special Edition that I like, but most of them are useless.Jean-Denis Haas https://www.blogger.com/profile/16123475853304267584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-82109015456479719802008-01-29T09:06:00.000-08:002008-01-29T09:06:00.000-08:00maybe the storm troopers are white because they're...maybe the storm troopers are white because they're not really evil. They just want to feed their kids, it was the only available job, maybe they don't even know they're on the wrong side. Maybe to them the rebels are like commies during cold war.Gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814977074214570389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-34633728646965545072008-01-29T06:48:00.000-08:002008-01-29T06:48:00.000-08:00I read your post the day after I showed Star Wars ...I read your post the day after I showed <I>Star Wars</I> to my 6 and 5 year old sons for the first time (the 2 and 1 year old dropped out pretty early on). They had been anticipating this moment for almost a year (I had originally made the rule that they could watch it when they were able to read the words at the beginning, though I eventually gave in due to persistent pleading and puppy-dog eyes).<BR/><BR/>They were generally satisfied by the movie, though a little confused about who was who and what was going on. They had accumulated so much information from friends of more permissive (i.e. cooler) parents who had seen all the movies, that they were trying to fit it all into what they saw on screen.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, I'd been reading <I>Hero With A Thousand Faces</I> for the storytelling and storyboarding class I teach, and I was trying to fit that in to what I was seeing on screen.<BR/><BR/>All in all, a very insightful viewing, because I was forced to both analyze and explain. It's definitely a movie that pays dividends the more you invest yourself in it. In this respect, your analysis was especially helpful. It pointed me back to the film and outward to the making of my own stories.<BR/><BR/>As to how <I>Star Wars</I> stacks up to the other films, I see a pretty clear relationship between the quality of the films and how resourceful George Lucas had to be when he made it. It's almost as if the total lack of financial and technological restrictions on the later prequels made them worse rather than better.Geoff Beattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16228280211081989221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-72225674935719849282008-01-28T23:49:00.000-08:002008-01-28T23:49:00.000-08:00Mark - I'm really looking forward to the Lego Indy...Mark - I'm really looking forward to the Lego Indy game too! Unlocking him in LSW after watching the in-game trailer was a superb touch. They just have such a sense of fun that is so refreshing. The cut-scene at the end of Empire where Luke's new hand jumps off and attacks R2 was hysterical!David Cousenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343904801751102724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-21683973864917032462008-01-28T23:28:00.000-08:002008-01-28T23:28:00.000-08:00Han shot first!Han shot first!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-35508786436845704712008-01-28T21:31:00.000-08:002008-01-28T21:31:00.000-08:00Jean-Denis and Mark: I forgot earlier but I wanted...Jean-Denis and Mark: I forgot earlier but I wanted to mention a little anecdote concerning the Matrix sequels. A few years ago I was at ComicCon waiting for the QuickDraw panel to start, and soon realized the folks doing a Q&A in the same room were the Wachowski Brothers. (The room wasn't packed because the panel was apparently advertised as just a studio DVD release presentation, and they showed up unannounced to promote an upcoming Matrix edition.)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, some fan, bless his heart, got up to the mike and asked whether they perhaps had to deal with a lot of studio interference on the later movies since, you know, they seemed ... less ... good than the original movie. One of the brothers fielded the question by first disagreeing, of course, saying he felt the sequels were a naturally-flowing extension of the first film, yadda yadda yadda.<BR/><BR/>He went on, though, to explain that the opposite was in fact true: During the first movie, when they were still unknown directors, the studios had put a lot of limit on what they did. For example, they wanted to do a full reveal of the city of Zion in the first movie, but the studio pulled them back. It was only on the sequels, after they'd "proven" themselves, the studio gave them free reign with the story and production.<BR/><BR/>In essence, I felt, he proved the point: External limitations really do spark creativity by necessity, and indulgent freedom can dull it ...John Nunnemacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13165335320650908493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-63032219701432407382008-01-28T20:41:00.000-08:002008-01-28T20:41:00.000-08:00Thanks for the great comments everyone!kris- Seein...Thanks for the great comments everyone!<BR/><BR/>kris- Seeing the Star Wars movies on TV is probably not the best way to see them for the first time. I definitely like Empire the best myself - it's a truly great film, very well put together. I also have to admit not being a big fan of the "computer enhancements" they put into them in order to update them, that's probably why I haven't watched them in such a long time myself, but it doesn't really hurt the experience too much.<BR/><BR/>zoe - yes, he sure is. My daughter loved him more than anything else in the movie, and I remember feeling that way at her age too. He really is a great character, without any dialogue and very limited physical movement. <BR/>Now that you say that about C3PO being a car salesman, I remember hearing that myself. Huh! Hard to picture that working, thank goodness for Anthony Daniels.<BR/><BR/>Hey Deters - your new nickname is Captain Sarcasmo!<BR/><BR/>Hey robert - when I was a kid I read that Lucas had all nine of these films all worked out in his head and I always thought he was totally amazing for that. He still seems amazing but I agree that ep 1 2 and 3 don't feel like he really had them all figured out to the extent that he had 3 4 and 5 all worked out. I guess we'll never know what happens in 7 8 and 9. I'm okay with that now.<BR/>I was pretty surprised when I saw the original movies again in my twenties and I realized how clunky the dialogue was. It's amazing to see how good Alec Guinness is for actually being able to do such a good job of it. Harrison Ford does a fairly good job considering how clunky it all is and Carrie Fisher's energy and personality seem to carry her performance okay but Mark Hamill and a lot of the secondary characters just seem at a loss to say a lot of the awkward lines. By the third movie Harrison ford's performance is so cartoony, it's like he stopped caring and wanted to be done with it. The score sure is amazing, though, good point.<BR/><BR/>Hey Alex - ha, I'd forgotten about that joke. Patton Oswalt has a great bit on his newest CD about how bad the new SW movies are, it's very funny.<BR/><BR/>Hey David - funny story about the VCR. I'm old enough now to tell my kids about when you had to see a movie in the theatres, and then you thought you'd never see it again. I have to admit that the prequels put me off as well, and also that the SW games are my favorite part of the SW experience these days - SW Lego kicks butt and I love the Battlefront games...I hope they make a number three. Can't wait for the Indy Lego game!<BR/><BR/>floyd - yes, I agree. There is a lesson for all of us in that when you have too much power and nobody can tell you no, we can lose our perspective.<BR/><BR/>Hey jean - yes, I agree that the new ones won't stand the test of time as well. I am scared to see Indy 4...let's hope it's nothing like the last one.<BR/>I completely agree with your analysis of what went wrong, and you would know having worked on it. Most artists need boundaries and limitations to be great, everyone always points out that since the shark puppet didn't work on the "Jaws" set they had to work around it and the film ended up much better for it. I still think "Duel" is one of Spielberg's best movies and it's just a car and a truck, basically, no special effects or big name actors. <BR/> I totally agree, matrix 2 and 3 were so disappointing, and I figured it was exactly like you say. King Kong was really boring too...again, like Spielberg, jackson's best work was (in my opinion) "Dead Alive" and "Heavenly Creatures" before he got such big budgets and stars, etc. Thanks for putting it so well.<BR/><BR/>hey John S- yeah, we'll see, I'll try it again when she's older. Godfather at 8??? Wow! Your dad's cool.<BR/><BR/>hey john n- Yeah, I'm not much of a fan of the newer three, they kind of killed my love for Star Wars in general. And I totally agree that the worst thing about the new "Special Editions" is that now Greedo shoots first. It makes no sense! In his dialogue, Greedo is clearly trying to EXTORT MONEY from Han!!! He has no reason to shoot first, he has no intention of KILLING Han, and Han shoots to get out of the situation! And how could Greedo miss from three feet away!?! Godammn it, George, wtf?!?.......sigh.<BR/><BR/>Hey brian - yeah, that's a great trick, the way he wears the different colors in the three films. Okay, but why are stormtroopers white? That one I can't figure. Anyone?<BR/><BR/>Hey anon - yeah, I love the Hidden Fortress, one of my favorite movies of all time. It's great! But even though my daughter is a spectacular reader I don't think she'd read subtitles for two hours. I have to admit, though, that R2D2 and C3PO are slightly more interesting pair of characters than the two farmers in Fortress because the two humans have basically the same personalities and the droids are such a great comedy team - the way they play off each other. Not that I don't love Fortress! I just like the way George stole from Fortress but also changed it up. And although some performances in SW are pretty bad, OMG that actress in Fortress is pretty screechy. All of her lines start out low in volume and then they BUILD TO A SCREECHY FINISH! She's funny. That's a great great great movie though.mark kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11953166248647413142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-72954124332945578102008-01-28T14:11:00.000-08:002008-01-28T14:11:00.000-08:00Maybe you should try to watch The Hidden Fortress ...Maybe you should try to watch The Hidden Fortress with your daughter. It has basically the same plot but the focus is on human interests, not on pseudo metaphysical babbling and droids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com