May the force be with you! Star Wars fans

[Cloud23465]

Well I had to start this one. I've been a fan since the mid-90's and my frist movie that I watched was the Empire strikes back. I was born the same year Return of the Jedi was released so I would have to say that's my favorite of all 6 movies... though ROTS is a close second.

[canuck31003]

My favorite movie is Episode V, then IV, then VI.

Count me in as one of those fans who disliked Episode I-III. The only thing I really liked about them was the fight scenes. I just don't think they spent enough time showing Anakin's descent to the Dark side. It was so quick that I found it unbelievable. The best thing I liked about Episode III was Obi-wan dismembering Anakin. I also thought the actor who played Anakin, as well as Natalie Portman, both acted woodenly.

Oh yeah, and Han Solo shot first! :)

[jeriddian]

My favorite movie is Episode V, then IV, then VI.

Count me in as one of those fans who disliked Episode I-III. The only thing I really liked about them was the fight scenes. I just don't think they spent enough time showing Anakin's descent to the Dark side. It was so quick that I found it unbelievable. The best thing I liked about Episode III was Obi-wan dismembering Anakin. I also thought the actor who played Anakin, as well as Natalie Portman, both acted woodenly.

Oh yeah, and Han Solo shot first! :)

I agree with you that Episodes one to three had their faults. The action sequences and the sword fighting scenes were, as you say, their best qualities and wonderfully done. In agreement with your view also, the development of the characters in the lovers was atrocious. The script writing was awful and the dialogue truly stunk between the two. I disagree somewhat with you that Natalie Portmana and Hayden Christianson acting woodenly. There pereformance was wooden, I agree, but Haydenson is a fairly competent actor and and Portman is a very gifted actress. The problem was there was nothing they could do with the awful script and terrible dialgiue they were forced to work with. Episode Six remains my favorite.

[Cloud23465]

Episode I nearly put me to sleep once it hit the political side...:thumbdown: But the pod racing and light saber battles is realy what I loved. OMG I was soooo glad to see them phase out Jar-Jar.... soooo annoying he was.

Episode II wasn't bad but it wasn't all that good either. Not to much to comment on.

Episode III was my favorite of all of the prequel episodes. Lots of action all the way around, Lots of drama and lots of fighting. This episode had without a doubt had the most intense Lightsaber battles of all the episodes ever.

[TheGreenMagic]

Heh, I'm far from what you'd call a fan of the prequel fans, but I will give them credit where credit is due. Both Qui-Gon and Count Dooku are easily some of my favorite characters from the series Now if only they had gotten more screentime... Dooku could have easily been to the prequel trilogy what Darth Vader was to the original if he hadn't been left sharing time with Darth Maul and General Grievous.

Oddly enough, while I feel that Episode I was overall a pointless movie as far as plot progression went (Episode II could have easily been the first film, with a second film being about the actual Clone Wars), it's the only one of the prequel films that captures the same feel as the original films. Here you've got your ragtag band of heroes together and racing around the galaxy against unbelievable odds. Episode II and III however... Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme spend some much time apart that you never really feel like there's a group dynamic even remotely on par with Luke, Han and Leia. Oh, they tell you it, but the movies never really show it to its fullest. Again, if Episode II had been the beginning (which would sadly remove Qui-Gon from the story; though it would clear up the plothole about Yoda training Obi-Wan), another Episode II could have really shown how Obi-Wan and Anakin were the heroes of the Clone War and became such a dynamic duo.

And hey, the prequels did give a lot of screentime to Obi-Wan Kenobi, so that was a plus. Well, that and the awesome lightsaber fight that closed out Episode I. Easily one of my favorite duels in the series, even if it doesn't compare to either one of the fights between Luke and Vader.

[canuck31003]

It looks like Cartoon Network is going to be airing Star Wars: Clone Wars - a new one, not the 5-minutes bits they aired before Ep. III. I saw a commercial for a preview at 7:58pm, this Thurs.

[Cloud23465]

They showed episode 3 on sunday night on spike tv. I caught bits and pieces of it. I did really stop channel surfing to watch the whole thing through.

[lunchmeat]

It's always cool to see Spaceball 1 turn into Megamaid.

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Well, truth be told, I liked all the Star Wars movies, but other then the massive battles in Episodes II and III nothing really jumped out and grabbed me. Now, the Clone Wars on the other hand, especially the novels by Karen Traviss, was basically an orgy of awesome as far as I'm concerned. From the deep character development with Etain Tur-Muken, to fluid gameplay in Republic Commando, to the awesome fight scenes in the Tartikovsky micro-series, to the Mandalorians (I love Mandos! :biggergrin:), everything about this little era screams coolness to me. And so does the KOTOR era as well, just on a more Jedi-rich scale (This is how the movies should have been made!).

[jeriddian]

Well, truth be told, I liked all the Star Wars movies, but other then the massive battles in Episodes II and III nothing really jumped out and grabbed me. Now, the Clone Wars on the other hand, especially the novels by Karen Traviss, was basically an orgy of awesome as far as I'm concerned. From the deep character development with Etain Tur-Muken, to fluid gameplay in Republic Commando, to the awesome fight scenes in the Tartikovsky micro-series, to the Mandolorians (I love Mandos! :biggergrin:), everything about this little era screams coolness to me. And so does the KOTOR era as well, just on a more Jedi-rich scale (This is how the movies should have been made!).

I've been following the Legacy of the Force series in which Karen Traviss is involved in a three author nine book collaboration which will end with the ninth book coming out at the end of this month. I think you would like this series as well, Cody. It's been a great series. And I can certainly see you being a Mandolorian. ;) You definitely have their mind set, I think.:thumbup:

[lunchmeat]

Yogurt, I hate Yogurt, even the kind with strawberries....

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Well, truth be told, I liked all the Star Wars movies, but other then the massive battles in Episodes II and III nothing really jumped out and grabbed me. Now, the Clone Wars on the other hand, especially the novels by Karen Traviss, was basically an orgy of awesome as far as I'm concerned. From the deep character development with Etain Tur-Muken, to fluid gameplay in Republic Commando, to the awesome fight scenes in the Tartikovsky micro-series, to the Mandalorians (I love Mandos! :biggergrin:), everything about this little era screams coolness to me. And so does the KOTOR era as well, just on a more Jedi-rich scale (This is how the movies should have been made!).

I've been following the Legacy of the Force series in which Karen Traviss is involved in a three author nine book collaboration which will end with the ninth book coming out at the end of this month. I think you would like this series as well, Cody. It's been a great series. And I can certainly see you being a Mandolorian. ;) You definitely have their mind set, I think.:thumbup:
Thank you, sir! :D And I'll try and get to reading that series, but truth be told I'm still have to read Debt of Honor, 1634: The Ram Rebellion, and this Battletech novel which I haven't even started yet, The Last Charge (Which will be my first foray into the Free Worlds League, not sure how that's gonna turn out :unsure:). Not to mention True Colors (I want this book!).

In other Star Wars news: Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmuygoshohmygosh! :D I saw the preview for Clone Wars, and I am stoked! Set your clocks for August 15 troopers, this is gonna be awesome!

[canuck31003]

I was watching bonus material for Episode IV, and I saw a parody of Star Wars - Cops that I thought was extremely funny. :laugh:

I found a version on the internet and I thought I'd provide a link for anyone who hasn't seen it.

Troops (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5351101160052590481).

[TransWarpDrive]

In other Star Wars news: Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmuygoshohmygosh! :D I saw the preview for Clone Wars, and I am stoked! Set your clocks for August 15 troopers, this is gonna be awesome!
Yeah, they'll release the film - I'm assuming it'll be the pilot for the series - in theaters then, with the TV show to follow.
Also, sometime next year, they're planning on doing a live-action anthology series set in the time of the war against the Empire (i.e. the era of Luke, Leia, and Han). That should be interesting, especially if the writers are as good as the folks currently writing the "Star Wars" novels.

[jeriddian]

I was watching bonus material for Episode IV, and I saw a parody of Star Wars - Cops that I thought was extremely funny. :laugh:

I found a version on the internet and I thought I'd provide a link for anyone who hasn't seen it.

Troops (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5351101160052590481).

Now THAT!... ....was absolutely hilarious! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Darn good production too, I might add. They captured the spirit of the format extremely well.

[TheGreenMagic]

Ah, I love TROOPS. It and that one fanfilm where an Ewok starts hunting Stormtroopers (Predator style) are hilarious.

[lunchmeat]

yeah, I keep hoping the folks that did TROOPS will come up with some more. Liked Chad Vader, Night Manager, too. There was another one where someone had taken the fight sequence from one of the prequels (the red and black dude with the metal bumps all over his head) and rescored it to Yakkity Sax (the Benny Hill theme).

May the Schwartz be with you.....

[canuck31003]

So... Luke Skywalker or Han Solo?

Even though the original trilogy was about Luke's story, I never liked Luke very much. I love the lightsaber fight scenes, of course, but I was never fond of Luke per se. I much preferred Solo. Perhaps partly because Solo had humour as part of his character.

[lunchmeat]

Dark Helemt for me (though the little Alien critter that does the Michigan J. Frog routine in the diner scene is also a favorite).....

May The Schwartz Be With You........

[canuck31003]

Dark Helemt for me (though the little Alien critter that does the Michigan J. Frog routine in the diner scene is also a favorite).....

May The Schwartz Be With You........

Not a character, but my favourite from that movie is the Winnebago. What I'd pay for one of those.... :)

[kyojikasshu]

One of my favorite Star Wars spoofs is Trooper Clerks.

"You're on Dantooine? You took your drink all your way to Dantooine before you drank it? That's 45 parsecs away, of course it was watered down!"

[TransWarpDrive]

Dark Helmet for me (though the little Alien critter that does the Michigan J. Frog routine in the diner scene is also a favorite).....

May The Schwartz Be With You........

Not a character, but my favourite from that movie is the Winnebago. What I'd pay for one of those.... :)

A few years ago, Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry had a temporary exhibit on visual effects in the movies. They had models and props from various films - the mechanical shark from "Jaws"; the hydraulic lifter suit Ripley wore to fight the Alien Queen in "Aliens" (as well as a full-sized mockup of the Queen herself); scale models of the humpback whales from "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"; and some models from "Spaceballs", including one of the Winnebago, complete with rocket engines and wings. :alumnus:

[Cloud23465]

I'm working with adobe after effects to make lightsaber effects. I thinking of getting some friends together and making a lightsaber battle video. I used a unpowered up Anakin ROTS lightsaber to do a test with on my crappy web cam. (fans of star wars know that Anakins lightsaber was Blue till he became a sith) here's the video.. tell me what you think. Lightsaber Test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJ0G5_K_K8)

[jeriddian]

The effects look pretty good cloud!:D

[Fireand'chutes77]

I'm working with adobe after effects to make lightsaber effects. I thinking of getting some friends together and making a lightsaber battle video. I used a unpowered up Anakin ROTS lightsaber to do a test with on my crappy web cam. (fans of star wars know that Anakins lightsaber was Blue till he became a sith) here's the video.. tell me what you think. Lightsaber Test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJ0G5_K_K8)
I'm trying to figure out how to use After Effects in conjunction with Premiere Pro; how does AE work?

[canuck31003]

I'm working with adobe after effects to make lightsaber effects. I thinking of getting some friends together and making a lightsaber battle video. I used a unpowered up Anakin ROTS lightsaber to do a test with on my crappy web cam. (fans of star wars know that Anakins lightsaber was Blue till he became a sith) here's the video.. tell me what you think. Lightsaber Test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJ0G5_K_K8)
Looks good. Did you get the sound from the movies, or did you make it yourself?

[TransWarpDrive]

Nice job with the lightsaber test there, Cloud! :thumbup:

[Fireand'chutes77]

Are you guys planning to do something along the lines of Art of the Saber (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMXpokrfblM)? ;)

This is the third time I've seen that vid, and I'm still: :surprised::flabbergasted: :cry: :flabbergasted:

[Cloud23465]

Nah... I was planning something like this Lightsaber Accident (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtUUpkHj_Ts) :laugh:

[jeriddian]

Are you guys planning to do something along the lines of Art of the Saber (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMXpokrfblM)? ;)

This is the third time I've seen that vid, and I'm still: :surprised::flabbergasted: :cry: :flabbergasted:

The choreography of this little movie is excellent. The two Ho brothers are both well trained in Kung Fu style and Kung Fu weaponry. There were some slight weaks spots in which the prearranged choreographic nature of the fight showed through, and of course there was no blood or other evidence of injury when the 'good' guy was killed off, but nonetheless does not take away from an excellent production.

[Fireand'chutes77]

....and of course there was no blood or other evidence of injury when the 'good' guy was killed off, but nonetheless does not take away from an excellent production.
Aren't lightsabers supposed to be, like, instant-cauterizers, though? :P :rolleyes: (It's the perfect PG weapon!)

[jeriddian]

....and of course there was no blood or other evidence of injury when the 'good' guy was killed off, but nonetheless does not take away from an excellent production.
Aren't lightsabers supposed to be, like, instant-cauterizers, though? :P :rolleyes: (It's the perfect PG weapon!)

Yeah, but I would expect to at least see burns and severed clothing, though. In the real world, When Darth Maul was bisected the way he was in Epsiode 1, you would still have seen blood spurting all over the place. It wasn't shown, of course, because of the rating of the film. But even the cauterization by Obi-Juan's light-saber could not have prevented that.

[kyojikasshu]

....and of course there was no blood or other evidence of injury when the 'good' guy was killed off, but nonetheless does not take away from an excellent production.
Aren't lightsabers supposed to be, like, instant-cauterizers, though? :P :rolleyes: (It's the perfect PG weapon!)

Yeah, but I would expect to at least see burns and severed clothing, though. In the real world, When Darth Maul was bisected the way he was in Epsiode 1, you would still have seen blood spurting all over the place. It wasn't shown, of course, because of the rating of the film. But even the cauterization by Obi-Juan's light-saber could not have prevented that.

Obi-Juan? :laugh:

Still, I'm somewhat surprised that, with all the ret-conning that's been done in the Special Editions of the Original Trilogy (particularly in the DVD releases), they still left the splattered blood (and inexplicably furry hand) of Ponda Baba's severed arm in the cantina scene.

[jeriddian]

....and of course there was no blood or other evidence of injury when the 'good' guy was killed off, but nonetheless does not take away from an excellent production.
Aren't lightsabers supposed to be, like, instant-cauterizers, though? :P :rolleyes: (It's the perfect PG weapon!)

Yeah, but I would expect to at least see burns and severed clothing, though. In the real world, When Darth Maul was bisected the way he was in Epsiode 1, you would still have seen blood spurting all over the place. It wasn't shown, of course, because of the rating of the film. But even the cauterization by Obi-Juan's light-saber could not have prevented that.

Obi-Juan? :laugh:

Oh, my lord........:rolleyes:.........I did write that, didn't I? I wasn't even thinking about it. I'll explain. In my AD&D game which I played for twenty-eight years, one of main players in the game is named Juan. In the beginning of the game he always named his characters Obi-Juan (They were dwarves and he started out with Obi-Juan I, who got killed, then Obi-Juan II, then Obi-Juan III). It was somewhat humorous and after a while a little annoying, but he was so taken with using that name it took years to finally get him to start using other names for his characters. But because of that, we always called him Obi-Juan. And whenever I wrote the history fo the game where his characters were involved, I was always writing 'Obi-Juan'. I'm so used to writing it that I didn't even notice I was incorrectly using it for the actual Star Wars character from which the reference was initially taken.:laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

....and of course there was no blood or other evidence of injury when the 'good' guy was killed off, but nonetheless does not take away from an excellent production.
Aren't lightsabers supposed to be, like, instant-cauterizers, though? :P :rolleyes: (It's the perfect PG weapon!)

Yeah, but I would expect to at least see burns and severed clothing, though. In the real world, When Darth Maul was bisected the way he was in Epsiode 1, you would still have seen blood spurting all over the place. It wasn't shown, of course, because of the rating of the film. But even the cauterization by Obi-Juan's light-saber could not have prevented that.

Obi-Juan? :laugh:

Oh, my lord........:rolleyes:.........I did write that, didn't I? I wasn't even thinking about it. I'll explain. In my AD&D game which I played for twenty-eight years, one of main players in the game is named Juan. In the beginning of the game he always named his characters Obi-Juan (They were dwarves and he started out with Obi-Juan I, who got killed, then Obi-Juan II, then Obi-Juan III). It was somewhat humorous and after a while a little annoying, but he was so taken with using that name it took years to finally get him to start using other names for his characters. But because of that, we always called him Obi-Juan. And whenever I wrote the history fo the game where his characters were involved, I was always writing 'Obi-Juan'. I'm so used to writing it that I didn't even notice I was incorrectly using it for the actual Star Wars character from which the reference was initially taken.:laugh:

:laugh:
That's OK, jeriddian; in one issue of the Marvel "Star Wars" comic books that were published following the release of Episode IV in 1977, Han and Chewie team up with a crazy old man brandishing a lightsaber who calls himself Don-Wan Kehotay (I'm not making this up; I swear). That character claimed to be a Jedi Knight, although he could have simply taken the saber from a dead Jedi somewhere.
So don't feel bad about your "Obi-Juan" gaffe. Actually, I kind of like the name; it combines the "Star Wars" mythos with the Hispanic culture.
As for Darth Maul's bisection: if you go back and view that scene again, you'll notice a reddish mist that appears around Maul's midsection when Obi-Wan's saber slices through him. It's really brief, and you have to look for it, but it's there. The folks at ILM played it down, however, to avoid the MPAA giving the movie an "R" rating for graphic bloodshed. That's the same reason the Klingon blood was tinted purplish-pink in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", when Chancellor Gorkon is assassinated on board his flagship. (Of course, the pinkish hue of their blood goes a long way toward explaining the Klingons' dispositions. I'd be surly, too, if I had what looks like Pepto-Bismol coursing through my veins... :laugh:)

[canuck31003]

I'm not really looking forward to the Star Wars animated film that's opening weekend. I'm just not enthused. Episode I completely soured me on the character of Anakin, and that bled into Episodes II-III (though Christensen played a role in that, too).

If I watch this in the theaters it will only be because I've watched all the other Star Wars films at the cinema.

My only hope (:)) is that Kenobi will have a large role to compensate for Anakin's screen time.

So... I hope anyone who watches it will come here and tell us what they thought about it. :P

[lunchmeat]

The video game style graphics make me wonder, is this, as some have said, nerely episodes from an unsold TV series strung together. While I enjoy some video games (I don't play real often, I've plenty of real world projects to keep me occupied and thus tend to play them during periods of inclement weather), using that form of graphics in a movie just looks cheesy. Reminds me of the sort of animation lampooned in the Badly Animated Man cartoons.

May The Schwartz Be With You

[Fireand'chutes77]

I've seen snippets of the Flash-animated (?) 2003 series, and previews for this new movie, and I have to say, I think I like the animation better. :dubiety:

[lunchmeat]

If anyone happens to see this one, could they confirm or refute the rumor I had heard that the two armies in the film fight, in a city, employing pre-Napoleonic columnar tactics? Columnar tactics means lining the troops up in long paralelle lines, columns, then marching the columns against each other over a small front, like a city street. This was a common method using hand weapons with the early Bronze Age armies (Etruscans, Hittites and so forth). It's not a very good idea against projectile weapons (one bullet can go through several men) or indirect fire weapons (canon, mortars).

[canuck31003]

Wow. I read a few reviews for the movie. They are *not* positive. :unsure:

[jeriddian]

Wow. I read a few reviews for the movie. They are *not* positive. :unsure:

Well, it's very difficult to follow a live action movie with animation and expect to work as well, I would think.

[kyojikasshu]

If anyone happens to see this one, could they confirm or refute the rumor I had heard that the two armies in the film fight, in a city, employing pre-Napoleonic columnar tactics? Columnar tactics means lining the troops up in long paralelle lines, columns, then marching the columns against each other over a small front, like a city street. This was a common method using hand weapons with the early Bronze Age armies (Etruscans, Hittites and so forth). It's not a very good idea against projectile weapons (one bullet can go through several men) or indirect fire weapons (canon, mortars).

The Separatists do use something like that, but they also have a shield generator to protect them from the Republic's cannons. Thus, even when the clone troopers crossed the shield threshold, by then, they were already in the middle of the army, necessitating close-range combat.

Actually, in that same scene, they managed to give a little nod to the Metal Gear series... specifically, the most important tool in tactical espionage action (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_box#Cardboard_boxes_in_popular_culture)!

[TransWarpDrive]

I intend to see this movie as soon as I can. I'm going to try and keep an open mind, and not let the animation distract me from the storyline, while I watch it.
I'll let you guys know what I think after I see it.

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

I saw the movie, and it was fantastic! :thumbup: A perfect start for a new series. :)

[jeriddian]

I wish I could agree. :dubiety: The feel of the movie just wasn't right. The usual atmosphere with its blend of camp, humor, and attitude along with the serious nature just did not seem to be there. Now that doesn't mean I didn't think there weren't any good points. There definitely were. The animation was quite good, although I believe it could have been better, really. Asouka is a great character and her exchanges with Anakin as well as the exchanged between Anakin and Obi-Won were also quite characteristic and comfortable. The writing is generally quite good and the plot also was developed and complicated enough to be entertaining, a good fit for the Star Wars Universe. But.........I don't know. It just didn't have the same feel as the movies. It felt drab and colorless, without emotion. And I don't think it's because this is animated where the originals are live action. Somehow the emotion and the sense of tension really weren't there..................:ohwell:

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

I wish I could agree. :dubiety: The feel of the movie just wasn't right. The usual atmosphere with its blend of camp, humor, and attitude along with the serious nature just did not seem to be there. Now that doesn't mean I didn't think there weren't any good points. There definitely were. The animation was quite good, although I believe it could have been better, really. Asouka is a great character and her exchanges with Anakin as well as the exchanged between Anakin and Obi-Won were also quite characteristic and comfortable. The writing is generally quite good and the plot also was developed and complicated enough to be entertaining, a good fit for the Star Wars Universe. But.........I don't know. It just didn't have the same feel as the movies. It felt drab and colorless, without emotion. And I don't think it's because this is animated where the originals are live action. Somehow the emotion and the sense of tension really weren't there..................:ohwell:
Sir, it's supposed to be the pilot episode for a new series, not a full blown movie. So it's no surprise it didn't feel like the movies. Besides, I kinda liked the new feel. I just hope they get Karen Traviss to write some of the episodes. :P

[lunchmeat]

So it was a feature length ad for a TV show?

Read something the other day that was pretty interesting, seems like the Darth Vader character may have been lifted from an old Saturday afternoon serial villain called The Lightning from a series called Fighting Devil Dogs.

I had known that most of the stuff in the movies was rehashes of the old Republic and other serials, but the resemlence is spooky on this one.

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue04/infocus/fightingdevildogs.htm

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

So it was a feature length ad for a TV show?

Read something the other day that was pretty interesting, seems like the Darth Vader character may have been lifted from an old Saturday afternoon serial villain called The Lightning from a series called Fighting Devil Dogs.

I had known that most of the stuff in the movies was rehashes of the old Republic and other serials, but the resemlence is spooky on this one.

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue04/infocus/fightingdevildogs.htm
One could make that argument, yes. :rolleyes: :biggergrin:

And you're right, that is a freaky resemblance, :blink: but somehow I already knew about that. :hmm:

[TransWarpDrive]

So it was a feature length ad for a TV show?

Read something the other day that was pretty interesting, seems like the Darth Vader character may have been lifted from an old Saturday afternoon serial villain called The Lightning from a series called Fighting Devil Dogs.

I had known that most of the stuff in the movies was rehashes of the old Republic and other serials, but the resemlence is spooky on this one.

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue04/infocus/fightingdevildogs.htm
One could make that argument, yes. :rolleyes: :biggergrin:

And you're right, that is a freaky resemblance, :blink: but somehow I already knew about that. :hmm:

Ralph McQuarrie, the illustrator who did a lot of pre-production paintings for Lucas even before the first film was shot, said he got part of the inspiration for Vader's costume from pictures of the battle armor worn by samurai warriors in feudal Japan. It's just a coincidence that Vader resembles the villain shown in lunchmeat's link. :alumnus:

[jeriddian]

I wish I could agree. :dubiety: The feel of the movie just wasn't right. The usual atmosphere with its blend of camp, humor, and attitude along with the serious nature just did not seem to be there. Now that doesn't mean I didn't think there weren't any good points. There definitely were. The animation was quite good, although I believe it could have been better, really. Asouka is a great character and her exchanges with Anakin as well as the exchanged between Anakin and Obi-Won were also quite characteristic and comfortable. The writing is generally quite good and the plot also was developed and complicated enough to be entertaining, a good fit for the Star Wars Universe. But.........I don't know. It just didn't have the same feel as the movies. It felt drab and colorless, without emotion. And I don't think it's because this is animated where the originals are live action. Somehow the emotion and the sense of tension really weren't there..................:ohwell:
Sir, it's supposed to be the pilot episode for a new series, not a full blown movie. So it's no surprise it didn't feel like the movies. Besides, I kinda liked the new feel. I just hope they get Karen Traviss to write some of the episodes. :P

I understand that, Cody. But even not being a full blown movie doesn't excuse that in my mind. I guess part of it is because I lived through the entire saga as it unfolded. I was 21 years old when Star Wars came out in 1977, and I faithfully followed the entire series as it unfolded through all six episodes. That's an experience that sets you up a little differently, I think, than for someone of your age whose exposure to Star Wars would have happened differently. I'm not saying its bad, but it just wasn't the same for me as I remember it.

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

I wish I could agree. :dubiety: The feel of the movie just wasn't right. The usual atmosphere with its blend of camp, humor, and attitude along with the serious nature just did not seem to be there. Now that doesn't mean I didn't think there weren't any good points. There definitely were. The animation was quite good, although I believe it could have been better, really. Asouka is a great character and her exchanges with Anakin as well as the exchanged between Anakin and Obi-Won were also quite characteristic and comfortable. The writing is generally quite good and the plot also was developed and complicated enough to be entertaining, a good fit for the Star Wars Universe. But.........I don't know. It just didn't have the same feel as the movies. It felt drab and colorless, without emotion. And I don't think it's because this is animated where the originals are live action. Somehow the emotion and the sense of tension really weren't there..................:ohwell:
Sir, it's supposed to be the pilot episode for a new series, not a full blown movie. So it's no surprise it didn't feel like the movies. Besides, I kinda liked the new feel. I just hope they get Karen Traviss to write some of the episodes. :P

I understand that, Cody. But even not being a full blown movie doesn't excuse that in my mind. I guess part of it is because I lived through the entire saga as it unfolded. I was 21 years old when Star Wars came out in 1977, and I faithfully followed the entire series as it unfolded through all six episodes. That's an experience that sets you up a little differently, I think, than for someone of your age whose exposure to Star Wars would have happened differently. I'm not saying its bad, but it just wasn't the same for me as I remember it.
Eh, it never is the same. :ohwell: Truth be told I'm feeling the same way with a lot of things these days, most notably in fiction is the casting choice in a certain video game. :mad:

But, that's neither here nor there. So! What do you think of at least five seasons of Clone Wars being made people, and do you think that three years is nowhere near the amount of time needed for all this stuff to be taking place? I mean, seriously, do these guys ever sleep?!

[jeriddian]

I wish I could agree. :dubiety: The feel of the movie just wasn't right. The usual atmosphere with its blend of camp, humor, and attitude along with the serious nature just did not seem to be there. Now that doesn't mean I didn't think there weren't any good points. There definitely were. The animation was quite good, although I believe it could have been better, really. Asouka is a great character and her exchanges with Anakin as well as the exchanged between Anakin and Obi-Won were also quite characteristic and comfortable. The writing is generally quite good and the plot also was developed and complicated enough to be entertaining, a good fit for the Star Wars Universe. But.........I don't know. It just didn't have the same feel as the movies. It felt drab and colorless, without emotion. And I don't think it's because this is animated where the originals are live action. Somehow the emotion and the sense of tension really weren't there..................:ohwell:
Sir, it's supposed to be the pilot episode for a new series, not a full blown movie. So it's no surprise it didn't feel like the movies. Besides, I kinda liked the new feel. I just hope they get Karen Traviss to write some of the episodes. :P

I understand that, Cody. But even not being a full blown movie doesn't excuse that in my mind. I guess part of it is because I lived through the entire saga as it unfolded. I was 21 years old when Star Wars came out in 1977, and I faithfully followed the entire series as it unfolded through all six episodes. That's an experience that sets you up a little differently, I think, than for someone of your age whose exposure to Star Wars would have happened differently. I'm not saying its bad, but it just wasn't the same for me as I remember it.
Eh, it never is the same. :ohwell: Truth be told I'm feeling the same way with a lot of things these days, most notably in fiction is the casting choice in a certain video game. :mad:

But, that's neither here nor there. So! What do you think of at least five seasons of Clone Wars being made people, and do you think that three years is nowhere near the amount of time needed for all this stuff to be taking place? I mean, seriously, do these guys ever sleep?!

:laugh: :laugh: hah! Animators? Sleep? Perish the thought! :biggergrin: I do have some experience with animators so I know that the good ones are pretty much glued to their monitor screens all the time. As to five seasons of Clone Wars in three years? Yeah, it can be done. Clone Wars is being produced by the Singapore Animation House started by LucasArts themselves, and is owned by LucasArts. The reason it is being done in the Orient is the same reason Disney uses Star Burst and Rough Draft for most of its work. It costs them about 30% les than if they were doing it in the United States. Rough Draft, for example is a large organization which employs somewhere around 50 artists, I believe, and they would be responsible for turning out the animation for whole series such as Kim Possible, Buzz Lightyear, Phineas and Ferb, and ADJL, etc. in that period of time. So I'm sure they can do it.

[lunchmeat]

......
But, that's neither here nor there. So! What do you think of at least five seasons of Clone Wars being made people, and do you think that three years is nowhere near the amount of time needed for all this stuff to be taking place? I mean, seriously, do these guys ever sleep?!

Watching the first three episodes right now, they just went throught the genisis of Dark Helmet, now they're defending The Onion Ring from President Scrood and trying to take it to the Deep Fryer Of Lardor. Yogurt is, as always, in fine form.....

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

I wish I could agree. :dubiety: The feel of the movie just wasn't right. The usual atmosphere with its blend of camp, humor, and attitude along with the serious nature just did not seem to be there. Now that doesn't mean I didn't think there weren't any good points. There definitely were. The animation was quite good, although I believe it could have been better, really. Asouka is a great character and her exchanges with Anakin as well as the exchanged between Anakin and Obi-Won were also quite characteristic and comfortable. The writing is generally quite good and the plot also was developed and complicated enough to be entertaining, a good fit for the Star Wars Universe. But.........I don't know. It just didn't have the same feel as the movies. It felt drab and colorless, without emotion. And I don't think it's because this is animated where the originals are live action. Somehow the emotion and the sense of tension really weren't there..................:ohwell:
Sir, it's supposed to be the pilot episode for a new series, not a full blown movie. So it's no surprise it didn't feel like the movies. Besides, I kinda liked the new feel. I just hope they get Karen Traviss to write some of the episodes. :P

I understand that, Cody. But even not being a full blown movie doesn't excuse that in my mind. I guess part of it is because I lived through the entire saga as it unfolded. I was 21 years old when Star Wars came out in 1977, and I faithfully followed the entire series as it unfolded through all six episodes. That's an experience that sets you up a little differently, I think, than for someone of your age whose exposure to Star Wars would have happened differently. I'm not saying its bad, but it just wasn't the same for me as I remember it.
Eh, it never is the same. :ohwell: Truth be told I'm feeling the same way with a lot of things these days, most notably in fiction is the casting choice in a certain video game. :mad:

But, that's neither here nor there. So! What do you think of at least five seasons of Clone Wars being made people, and do you think that three years is nowhere near the amount of time needed for all this stuff to be taking place? I mean, seriously, do these guys ever sleep?!

:laugh: :laugh: hah! Animators? Sleep? Perish the thought! :biggergrin: I do have some experience with animators so I know that the good ones are pretty much glued to their monitor screens all the time. As to five seasons of Clone Wars in three years? Yeah, it can be done. Clone Wars is being produced by the Singapore Animation House started by LucasArts themselves, and is owned by LucasArts. The reason it is being done in the Orient is the same reason Disney uses Star Burst and Rough Draft for most of its work. It costs them about 30% les than if they were doing it in the United States. Rough Draft, for example is a large organization which employs somewhere around 50 artists, I believe, and they would be responsible for turning out the animation for whole series such as Kim Possible, Buzz Lightyear, Phineas and Ferb, and ADJL, etc. in that period of time. So I'm sure they can do it.

......
But, that's neither here nor there. So! What do you think of at least five seasons of Clone Wars being made people, and do you think that three years is nowhere near the amount of time needed for all this stuff to be taking place? I mean, seriously, do these guys ever sleep?!

Watching the first three episodes right now, they just went throught the genisis of Dark Helmet, now they're defending The Onion Ring from President Scrood and trying to take it to the Deep Fryer Of Lardor. Yogurt is, as always, in fine form.....
. . . http://www.thescifiworld.net/img/smilies/stargate/cameron/cameron_new015.gif OK, what we have here is a fundamental failure to communicate.


I was talking about the in-universe chronology, not in any way, shape, or form animation. To elaborate, I was referring to the fact that all the events of the Clone Wars (e.g. the Dark Reaper Incident, the Battle of Kamino, the assault on Teth, etc., etc, etc.) all take place over a three year span, add too that GAR only being three million men strong and you got a recipe for . . . http://www.thescifiworld.net/img/smilies/stargate/jack2/jack_new_anime12.gif To TV Tropes! Away!
OK, I've just got to ask, where in the world did you get Spaceballs from that? http://www.thescifiworld.net/img/smilies/stargate/jack2/jack_new_anime13.gif

[lunchmeat]

......
I was talking about the in-universe chronology, not in any way, shape, or form animation. To elaborate, I was referring to the fact that all the events of the Clone Wars (e.g. the Dark Reaper Incident, the Battle of Kamino, the assault on Teth, etc., etc, etc.) all take place over a three year span, add too that GAR only being three million men strong and you got a recipe for . . . http://www.thescifiworld.net/img/smilies/stargate/jack2/jack_new_anime12.gif To TV Tropes! Away!
OK, I've just got to ask, where in the world did you get Spaceballs from that? http://www.thescifiworld.net/img/smilies/stargate/jack2/jack_new_anime13.gif
[/LIST]

There's a difference?!?!??????

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Alrighty then, The Clone Wars premiered on Cartoon Network last weekend. Thoughts?

[TransWarpDrive]

Alrighty then, The Clone Wars premiered on Cartoon Network last weekend. Thoughts?
I watched an episode tonight. I finally realized what this show reminded me of - Gerry Anderson's old "Supermarionation" TV shows, esp. "Stingray." The CG characters in Clone Wars moved in a stiff, puppet-like manner, very similar to the way Anderson's puppets did. I also felt that the dialog seemed rather stilted and awkward - the only characters who had good lines were the droids - C3PO, R2D2, and the various soldier droids on General Grievous' ship. Their comments drew the most laughs out of me, and their dialog didn't seem as forced as the other characters' did. I think the show has potential, but there's lots of room for improvement, IMHO. :hmm:

[canuck31003]

Alrighty then, The Clone Wars premiered on Cartoon Network last weekend. Thoughts?
I caught an episode last week while channel surfing. It made me glad that I haven't seen the movie. My major gripes with it are that to me the pacing of the episode felt slow. Challenges were too easily/quickly resolved. Grievous (? -- the bad guy with four arms) was turned into a stereotypical comedic bad guy. The padawan character's raison d'etre (sorry, no accent) appeared to be comic(?) relief, filling the same role that Jar Jar Binks did in Episode I -- which wasn't actually funny but it was excruciating.

[TransWarpDrive]

Yeah, the writing does seem a bit oversimplified on this show. I guess they don't want any multi-part cliffhanger stories, since this is intended for kids' television where the episodes can be shown in random order later on. If you'll recall, Lucasfilm had a previous animated series, "The Ewoks/Droids Adventure Hour," Saturday mornings on ABC back in the mid-80's. Each episode of "Ewoks" and "Droids" was a self-contained story for the same reason.

[lunchmeat]

Alrighty then, The Clone Wars premiered on Cartoon Network last weekend. Thoughts?
I watched an episode tonight. I finally realized what this show reminded me of - Gerry Anderson's old "Supermarionation" TV shows, esp. "Stingray." The CG characters in Clone Wars moved in a stiff, puppet-like manner, very similar to the way Anderson's puppets did. I also felt that the dialog seemed rather stilted and awkward - the only characters who had good lines were the droids - C3PO, R2D2, and the various soldier droids on General Grievous' ship. Their comments drew the most laughs out of me, and their dialog didn't seem as forced as the other characters' did. I think the show has potential, but there's lots of room for improvement, IMHO. :hmm:

Cool, will Supercar save the day?

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Yeah, the writing does seem a bit oversimplified on this show. I guess they don't want any multi-part cliffhanger stories, since this is intended for kids' television where the episodes can be shown in random order later on. If you'll recall, Lucasfilm had a previous animated series, "The Ewoks/Droids Adventure Hour," Saturday mornings on ABC back in the mid-80's. Each episode of "Ewoks" and "Droids" was a self-contained story for the same reason.
Well, the show is modeled after old Saturday morning cartoons in just about every respect, so that's entirely possible. Which also explains why the media has been panning it so much: they need to just chill out and revert back to their childhood for awhile. After all, I find the show to be very enjoyable if taken with a light heart and hefty dose of child-like wonder. It's like playing Megaman 9 (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/10/1/), but animated. :thumbup:

Which is good, because I'm tempted to get a might testy (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/10/15/) over things like the color-coded pauldrons on the troopers getting mixed up. :thumbdown:

[Luke Danger]

Well, so far, I think the Clone Wars is doing real well. Yes, the lack of opening credits and a annoucner is a irratant, but it's something I can look over.

I think so far they're doing a good job with it. I personally liked the personal stuff with the droids. To quote the thoughts of Captain Rex in the novel for the movie, 'It was ironic, one side was making droids more like people and the other side was making people more like droids.'

Still, I look forward to some epicness, the Y-Wing attack was clever, and I really think the Clone Wars will tie the Origonal Trilogy to the Prequell, the Y-Wings show one such tie.

[TransWarpDrive]

I still think they need better scriptwriting on this show. Yes, I've only watched one episode so far, but even just that's enough for me to recognize stilted dialogue. The stuff on last Friday's episode made even the dialogue from the prequels seem good by comparison. :thumbdown:
Like I said before: The show has much potential, but it needs work.

[jeriddian]

I still think they need better scriptwriting on this show. Yes, I've only watched one episode so far, but even just that's enough for me to recognize stilted dialogue. The stuff on last Friday's episode made even the dialogue from the prequels seem good by comparison. :thumbdown:
Like I said before: The show has much potential, but it needs work.

The problem with it from my viewpoint was determined from the movie, and I have only watched the movie, which was unimpressive to me. We all know that Lucas simply is not good at scriptwriting. His dialogue in general tends to be rather atrocious IMO. Plus, I really don't think he has his heart into this project.

[lunchmeat]

Haven't seen it yet, I'm usually out doing something when it is on. Have caught several episodes of the other Star Wars cartoon, last night they ran Fishfinger.

May The Schwartz Be With You.....

[lunchmeat]

Alrighty then, The Clone Wars premiered on Cartoon Network last weekend. Thoughts?
I watched an episode tonight. I finally realized what this show reminded me of - Gerry Anderson's old "Supermarionation" TV shows, esp. "Stingray." The CG characters in Clone Wars moved in a stiff, puppet-like manner, very similar to the way Anderson's puppets did. I also felt that the dialog seemed rather stilted and awkward - the only characters who had good lines were the droids - C3PO, R2D2, and the various soldier droids on General Grievous' ship. Their comments drew the most laughs out of me, and their dialog didn't seem as forced as the other characters' did. I think the show has potential, but there's lots of room for improvement, IMHO. :hmm:

Watched a bit of it this evening. It is pretty reminiscent of Thunderbirds, Supercar and the rest of the Supermarionation shows from back in the 60s. May give it another shot later on, but I don't think I'll make a regular thing of it.

May The Schwartz Be With You

[TransWarpDrive]

Watched a bit of it this evening. It is pretty reminiscent of Thunderbirds, Supercar and the rest of the Supermarionation shows from back in the 60s.

It was the way the characters moved, right? Not to mention their appearance...
Do you suppose the "Clone Wars" animators used the Supermarionation look as their inspiration when designing these characters?

[lunchmeat]

Watched a bit of it this evening. It is pretty reminiscent of Thunderbirds, Supercar and the rest of the Supermarionation shows from back in the 60s.

It was the way the characters moved, right? Not to mention their appearance...
Do you suppose the "Clone Wars" animators used the Supermarionation look as their inspiration when designing these characters?


Especially the way the legs seemed independant of not only the terrain but the characters' rate of advance. That part really looked like the old puppet shows of the Supercar vein. Of course this could be some sort of Schwartz induced levitation, I suppose. Still, it looks pretty odd. I suspect the real source is the fact that it is CGI and the program they are using doesn't translate walking effects well. Actual hand drawn animation would probably be a lot more fluid, they appear to be trying to do this one on the cheap. It's almost as if they're using the same graphics engine as was employed in the Starship Troopers cartoons, without any upgrades. With the Starship Troopers one had the same sort of motion and facial feature effects, but it was also done close to ten years ago and some advancement would be expected, even though the old show was rather ground breaking for it's time. I'm left with the impression that this is not really aimed at general audiences but more geared towards the extreme fanboy cohort.

As far as Supermarionation as inspiration goes, I'm leaning more towards video games, it has that same feel to the animations and art work.

[TransWarpDrive]

Watched a bit of it this evening. It is pretty reminiscent of Thunderbirds, Supercar and the rest of the Supermarionation shows from back in the 60s.

It was the way the characters moved, right? Not to mention their appearance...
Do you suppose the "Clone Wars" animators used the Supermarionation look as their inspiration when designing these characters?


Especially the way the legs seemed independent of not only the terrain but the characters' rate of advance. That part really looked like the old puppet shows of the Supercar vein. Of course this could be some sort of Schwartz induced levitation, I suppose. Still, it looks pretty odd. I suspect the real source is the fact that it is CGI and the program they are using doesn't translate walking effects well. Actual hand drawn animation would probably be a lot more fluid, they appear to be trying to do this one on the cheap. It's almost as if they're using the same graphics engine as was employed in the Starship Troopers cartoons, without any upgrades. With the Starship Troopers one had the same sort of motion and facial feature effects, but it was also done close to ten years ago and some advancement would be expected, even though the old show was rather ground breaking for it's time. I'm left with the impression that this is not really aimed at general audiences but more geared towards the extreme fanboy cohort.

As far as Supermarionation as inspiration goes, I'm leaning more towards video games, it has that same feel to the animations and art work.
You're probably right - both about the quality of the graphics software they're using, and about the video-game influence on the show's style. At any rate, I wasn't too impressed with the show. I haven't seen this week's episode, and I suspect I won't lose any sleep over having missed it either.

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Well, from what I've seen of last week's episode (I'll try to catch the first half again on Wednesday) it really seems to have gotten it right this time - the episode really felt like an action-oriented Star Wars film. (Though the characters in this story [two parter] were more then a tad Genre Blind (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GenreBlindness?from=Main.GenreBlind) :rolleyes:)

However, the next episode is supposed to star Jar Jar as he tries to rescue Padme from the Trade Federation, who has somehow mistaken him for a Jedi :blink: . . . Well, to quote Mr. T, "I pity the fhools." :harhar:

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Well, I watched the newest episode of The Clone Wars - "Lair of Grievous" - tonight, and I have to say . . . That one of the darkest Star Wars stories I've ever seen. :confused: No Fridge Brilliance (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FridgeBrilliance) in this episode, everything was right out in the open. From Nadar Vhem's Dark Side tendencies, to Count Dooku's preference to betray Grievous (some of you might remember that it was the Count who ordered the "accident" that forced the General to become "a ghost" (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex)), to the emotion in Grievous' voice, to the certified ******ery of Kit Fisto (who, interestingly enough, has a Jemacan accent . . . and is voiced by Seth Green), everything was all out in the open. Heck, I saw a Clone Trooper get burned alive on screen. :scared:

Of course, watching this episode it's easy to see why Kal Skirata said that if it wasn't for the clones he'd be fighting for the Seps. The Confederates are a lot more sympathetic characters then the Republic characters - the Republic sucks, man! :thumbdown:

On another note: I noticed the animation for this episode was very good; very complex; lots of grat smoke and lighting effects. :thumbup:

[lunchmeat]

I wonder if one of the songs will be Springtime For Vader?

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article5327739.ece

[Cloud23465]

I just got one heck of a deal on a darth vader Force Fx lightsaber. I'm only going to pay $30 and the babys retail between $100-$130. I have 2 already... Lukes ROTJ Green and Anakins ROTS Blue. I still want a Obi-wan ROTS lightsaber but they were out of stock on the deal part... oh well.

[NinjaNaco]

Got "The Best of PC" game collection relatively recently. While this does have the advantage of allowing me to play KOTOR without having to deal with the issues Mac OS 10.5+ apparently has with the Mac port ;) , I discovered how great games Battlefront and Republic Commando are. (Unfortunately, I cannot get past the Geonosis mission in the Clone Wars campaign. :dubiety: )

With that in mind ... is Battlefront 2 better than the original, or worse?

[Luke Danger]

Battlefront II is definitly better than the origonal in almost every way, especially how they really diversify the factions and add heroes.


On the topic of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, you do kind of wonder what happens to Ahsoka and Captain Rex around Revenge of the Sith, don't you?

[NinjaNaco]

Having played Battlefront and Republic Commando, I can say with an amount of certainty that the Droidekas are among the most evil things the Trade Federation/CIS ever had.

[Cloud23465]

I know this isn't exactly star wars related but... Liam Neeson was Qui-Gon in Episode 1 so...
Source Yahoo.com
Natasha Richardson dies after fall on ski slope.

NEW YORK – Natasha Richardson, a gifted and precocious heiress to acting royalty whose career highlights included the film "Patty Hearst" and a Tony-winning performance in a stage revival of "Cabaret," died Wednesday at age 45 after suffering a head injury during a beginners' ski lesson.

Alan Nierob, the Los Angeles-based publicist for Richardson's husband Liam Neeson, confirmed her death in a written statement.

"Liam Neeson, his sons (Micheal, 13, and 12-year-old Daniel), and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha," the statement said. "They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."


Liam Neeson's a great actor IMO and I feel really bad for him and his kids. :(

[lunchmeat]

That was unfortunate, she seemed like a nice lady. The brain is a fragile thing and needs protecting, helmets may look dorkey, but the alternative is pretty bad.

[jeriddian]

I know this isn't exactly star wars related but... Liam Neeson was Qui-Gon in Episode 1 so...
Source Yahoo.com
Natasha Richardson dies after fall on ski slope.

NEW YORK – Natasha Richardson, a gifted and precocious heiress to acting royalty whose career highlights included the film "Patty Hearst" and a Tony-winning performance in a stage revival of "Cabaret," died Wednesday at age 45 after suffering a head injury during a beginners' ski lesson.

Alan Nierob, the Los Angeles-based publicist for Richardson's husband Liam Neeson, confirmed her death in a written statement.

"Liam Neeson, his sons (Micheal, 13, and 12-year-old Daniel), and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha," the statement said. "They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."


Liam Neeson's a great actor IMO and I feel really bad for him and his kids. :(

Yes, I had been follwiing this for the last day. As best as I can tell, the accident she suffered probably resulted in an internal laceration of an artery within her brain, which bled slowly, so that no symptoms were immediately seen. It was only a couple of hours later when she started complaining of a severe headache and then went quickly downhill from there. I believe by that time so much blood had accumulated into her head from the bleeding that it literally strangled the rest of the blood supply to the brain and thus killed it.

She was in Montreal at the time and they flew her on life support back to New York. In essence she was already brain dead before she left Montreal. The purpose of flying her back to New York was to allow the entire family to gather and be with her before they took her off life support. It is indeed a treagedy. I believe she was a very well respected actress and I feel particularly bad for Liam Neeson, whom I always considered an intelligent and thoughtful man and which can be somewhat hard to find in Hollywood actors, as well as their two sons. It appeared they had a great marriage as well, something that is also rare among Hollywood actors. Such a tragedy...:ohwell:

[TransWarpDrive]

I know this isn't exactly star wars related but... Liam Neeson was Qui-Gon in Episode 1 so...
Source Yahoo.com
Natasha Richardson dies after fall on ski slope.

NEW YORK – Natasha Richardson, a gifted and precocious heiress to acting royalty whose career highlights included the film "Patty Hearst" and a Tony-winning performance in a stage revival of "Cabaret," died Wednesday at age 45 after suffering a head injury during a beginners' ski lesson.

Alan Nierob, the Los Angeles-based publicist for Richardson's husband Liam Neeson, confirmed her death in a written statement.

"Liam Neeson, his sons (Micheal, 13, and 12-year-old Daniel), and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha," the statement said. "They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."


Liam Neeson's a great actor IMO and I feel really bad for him and his kids. :(

Yes, I had been following this for the last day. As best as I can tell, the accident she suffered probably resulted in an internal laceration of an artery within her brain, which bled slowly, so that no symptoms were immediately seen. It was only a couple of hours later when she started complaining of a severe headache and then went quickly downhill from there. I believe by that time so much blood had accumulated into her head from the bleeding that it literally strangled the rest of the blood supply to the brain and thus killed it.

She was in Montreal at the time and they flew her on life support back to New York. In essence she was already brain dead before she left Montreal. The purpose of flying her back to New York was to allow the entire family to gather and be with her before they took her off life support. It is indeed a tragedy. I believe she was a very well respected actress and I feel particularly bad for Liam Neeson, whom I always considered an intelligent and thoughtful man and which can be somewhat hard to find in Hollywood actors, as well as their two sons. It appeared they had a great marriage as well, something that is also rare among Hollywood actors. Such a tragedy...:ohwell:

Yes, it is tragic. My sympathies also go to Liam Neeson and their sons. He's lost his wife; the boys have lost their mother.
What surprises me, though, is the fact that she was skiing without a helmet. Nowadays, with safety being uppermost in everyone's mind, I see folks wearing helmets all the time - even little kids learning to ride their two-wheelers are wearing them. Heck, the Disney animators had Kim and Ron wearing helmets while skiing or snowboarding - even when they went sledding in "Day of the Snowmen," they each wore a helmet.
If I were learning a sport like skiing or snowboarding, you can bet I'd have a helmet on - especially after what happened to Ms. Richardson.

[Cloud23465]

I must say i've been skiing once... and the one time I went... I came home with some massive bruses on my outter thighs from falling. I never got close to a tree though.

[TransWarpDrive]

Getting back on-topic (and apologies for gravedigging):
There's supposed to be a new book on the making of The Empire Strikes Back due out on October 14th. I couldn't find anything about it on the Star Wars website (probably didn't look in the right place), but I recently got an e-mail that informed me about it. I'll see if I can find the note, and provide a link to the article.
EDIT: Here are two links to articles about the new book:
"Making of Empire" Book Preview Part 1 (http://www.starwars.com/vaults/books/making_esb_spread1/index.html)
"Making of Empire" Book Preview Part 2 (http://www.starwars.com/vault/books/making_of_esb_sneak2/index.html)
Enjoy!:thumbup::starwars:

[Cloud23465]

I must say I Enjoyed the Force Unleased II... I liked the first one... but the second one was IMO way to short on the story line and it made it pretty obvious that there will be a third installment to the series. I beat the game in 4 days? maybe less? I rented it from blockbuster and glad I didn't buy it... i would of been mad.

[Cloud23465]

Well It's getting closer every day... September 16th star wars comes to blu-ray! I can't wait!:biggergrin::thumbup: