I Didn't Mind the CGI-effects in the Prequel Series

[VulcanMindBlown]

I'll come out with a Yahoo article that explains that SW7 had a LOT of CGI effects.

The problem with the PT is in it's scope, or visual effects. The problem comes back to the story and the characters.

For instance, let me use an example. What is it about the Old Republic that needs to be saved? Why should I care about it? What are we shown in the films that make the Old Republic and the Jedi Order worthwhile? Because, as is constantly being pointed out, the Republic is corrupt, the Jedi Order is stagnant, so why save it. We don't see the good side of this system that we are supposed to want to see saved.

The PT has great bones, great framework of something epic, but it never sells it by showing what the good guys are fighting for. It tells me a whole lot, and there are books and novels, and TV shows and such that tell me a whole lot, but I don't get it from the films.

That all said, I don't hate the PT. Let me repeat, I don't hate the PT, I don't hate GL, I don't hate what he did. I just think there was a huge missed opportunity, largely because the PT became an experimental platform for digital film making.




Funny. I feel the same way about the PT. I think GL needed a few more limits to help make his vision more about the characters in a believable way.

Mileage can, and obviously does, vary. Also, I would like to give a really big shout out to Rebel Force Radio's film commentaries, especially Sam Witwer's insight about the PT. He has given me a much different perspective on the PT that I have had in the past. I may not like it as much as the OT or the ST (thus far-one film in), but I have a greater appreciation for what GL was trying to do.

What would you have done differently?

STAR WARS wasn't simply for 8 year-olds I don't know what Mark Hamill was talking about. If that is all what he had seen in the saga, then it is probably a good thing that he never became a writer. If he did . . . good grief.

What he meant, if I can remember, is that we shouldn't take Star Wars too seriously. Am I saying to not make it enjoyable? Not at all, and I don't think that Mark Hamill was either. SW3 & 7 were rated "PG-13." The novel Darth Plagueis had a very violent and graphic scene where he was ambushed and lost his jaw.

George Lucas regularly promoted the notion that 'Star Wars is for kids' when the prequels weren't as well received as he expected.
I think that was a disservice to himself, and to Star Wars in general. Star Wars isn't a childish story, so if a Star Wars film comes off as childish, that's a problem with the filmmaker, not a return to mean.

Well, the franchise seems to appeal to the kid in all of us, so I don't think it's too far off the mark.

^ ---That's what I am saying (First Post.)

The original concept was based upon the sci-fi serials, like Flash Gordon, that GL saw as a kid. So there is a certain element that is true, from a certain point of view.

The fact that there all deeper themes that adults can relate to does not change how the original SW was designed, conceived and marketed.

Yes, I am not saying that it should be just for kids, it should be for the whole family, or at least most of it. That doesn't mean that it can't have it's darker and adult moments, George Lucas got into trouble with parents of young children for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I thought that Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Phantom Menance had their child-ish moments (though the actual show was VERY good.)

Yep. When the CGI IS the story, and more attention is paid to how the scene LOOKS than the dialogue, acting, or anything else then the movie starts to suffer.

I thought was mostly fine, I don't know who they would have replaced for Anakin.

I don't think anyone is demanding 100% agreement with any specific person or group-certainly not the impression that I have garnered here.

I also don't think the term "for children" means "childish" in the way that it is tossed around. I personally have rediscovered an enjoyment of many films and TV shows just by watching them with my own children. If that's "childish" then I'll wear it with a badge of honor.

You're right.

It seemed that the PT was as much, or more, about the CGI than about telling a good story. I got the impression that Lucas tried to fit a story around his CGI instead of the other way around.

The story of Anakin Skywalker turning to the Dark Side was planned beforehand and established the Original Trilogy.

I think the idea of the battle droids was that alone, they could be rather fragile, while and entire group was far more formidable. I mean, even the Jedi would struggle against the formations rolled out at the Battle of Theed.

Secondly, I think that CGI was a big factor, of creating wave after wave of enemies, and that involved pushing the limits of CGI. I think their voices needed work, but there is definitely an alien/inhuman look to them that would be intimidating en masse.

The Storm Troopers were pretty stupid sometimes and missed their shots a lot, just like the Battle Droids. They were nothing like the Clone Troopers from the Prequels.

 

[MacLeod]

CGI in of its self isn't bad. It's in the application of it that determines if it's a good use or a bad use of it. The best use of CGI is when your audiance doesn't realise that the effect is CGI. Maybe not so much the case today but back when the PT was being made CGI hadn't taken over as much as it has today.

. In my opinion the space battle in ROTJ is far superior than that of ROTS, the latter to me was overblown CGI which seemed to be spectacle over substance (of course others might have a different view). The question is did the PT use CGI where there could just as easily have used practical.

 

[fireproof78]

I'll come out with a Yahoo article that explains that SW7 had a LOT of CGI effects.
And the PT had a lot of practical effects. Neither is good or bad in of itself-it's merely a tool.

What would you have done differently?

Me personally?

I think there are several ways to approach it. First and foremost, Anakin needs to be older and played by the same actor. Sorry, ten years is too big a gap to leave open for speculation and not sit there and go, "Ok, what happened so that Anakin never moved on from his mom, whom he left voluntarily?" Having the same actor progress crafts a congruence with the character that I think is needed to make him sympathetic.

Secondly, I think we need more of Anakin and Obi-Wan together. The banter in ATOC is far too barbed to be "good friends." Anakin is jealous of Obi-Wan and it strains their relationship. The problem is that they don't have a relationship for us to see the good side of it. It's like seeing videos of a married couple but all we see is the fighting.

Finally, the Jedi don't ever show off what there is to redeem about them. The way the PT shows them off is myopic selfish idiots who deserve what they got. And they're the heroes!

Yes, I am not saying that it should be just for kids, it should be for the whole family, or at least most of it. That doesn't mean that it can't have it's darker and adult moments, George Lucas got into trouble with parents of young children for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I thought that Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Phantom Menance had their child-ish moments (though the actual show was VERY good.)

I like the Clone Wars, I like that they flesh out the characters a little bit more and we see a different side of the war. There needed to be more of that in the films.

I thought was mostly fine, I don't know who they would have replaced for Anakin.

Heath Ledger.

The story of Anakin Skywalker turning to the Dark Side was planned beforehand and established the Original Trilogy.

Eventually.

The Storm Troopers were pretty stupid sometimes and missed their shots a lot, just like the Battle Droids. They were nothing like the Clone Troopers from the Prequels.

Given that the troopers had to be recruited in order to bolster the Imperial Ranks, I would not expect clone precision.

Also, there are some psychological facets that could explain their accuracy against the heroes, sometimes.