You need to see it from the POV of those of us who waited the yrs between films the first time round - all the expectation and rumours.
I am seeing it from that POV. I waited the years between the films the first time around too. I was dying with anticipation for ROTJ especially.
At the time the rumours said there would be a big battle in the 3rd film, set on the Wookiee planet. The Holiday Special *gag* was something of an appetiser. O.o So you can imagine the general disappointment when we got Ewoks.
Oh, I don't know. I remember quite a bit of enthusiasm for the Ewoks, from adults as well as kids. My Sunday school teacher adored the fuzzballs. When I went to sixth-grade camp, we were divided up into tribes and given Native American names. One tribe was called the Miwoks. They wanted to re-name themselves the Ewoks, and though they weren't allowed to officially, that's what they called themselves.
(although those singing Wookiees would have been quite devestating, I'm sure!! XD)
Imagine how you would feel if you went into Ep3 keyed up to watch the kick-ass battle between Anakin and ObiWan, and especially to watch ObiWan throw Anakin into the flaming pit (or whatever - a rumour that has been around since ANH came out), only to find out that the battle is at a different moment completely in the film and that Anakin actually falls into the pit by accident. (tripping over his robes! LOL!)
Yeah, that would suck.
On first viewing, you'd walk out, vaguely disappointed, but assure yourself that you'd enjoyed the movie nonetheless. But, after a few more viewings, the disappointment would fester... and the cuddly teddy bears would pop up everywhere as unbearably cute kiddy toys...
Lucas himself pointed out: "Why market a teddy bear? They're already around." And there's not much in any of the SW movies that isn't toy-friendly. I was watching ROTJ and I found I really enjoyed the Endor battle. Also, the SE of ROTJ should actually be pleasing to Ewok-haters -- it cuts out some Ewok footage in favor of the galactic celebration. ;-P
and, before you know it, you're 10yrs down the track and realise that you actually LOATHE the things. ;~P
Love, expectation...then disappointment. Much like Christmas really. ;~D
I suppose so. But would it be so hard to focus on the good aspects?
Myself, I am not crazy about some of the changes. However, overall I am blown away by the DVDs. The picture is beautiful (it must've cost a fortune to clean up the prints, but it was worth every penny -- and it's a nice, if ironic, benefit of the cleanup that you can see the intentional grunginess and lived-in look that Lucas insisted on giving the sets and props), the sound is great. If not for the late-70s and early-80s hairdos, I would think that these movies were made last year, not decades ago. The "Empire of Dreams" documentary is great. And it's a treat to see filmmakers ranging from John Singleton to James Cameron to Peter Jackson to Ridley Scott (who's my favorite director) give Lucas props and talk about how SW influenced them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-10-03 09:36 pm (UTC)I am seeing it from that POV. I waited the years between the films the first time around too. I was dying with anticipation for ROTJ especially.
At the time the rumours said there would be a big battle in the 3rd film, set on the Wookiee planet. The Holiday Special *gag* was something of an appetiser. O.o So you can imagine the general disappointment when we got Ewoks.
Oh, I don't know. I remember quite a bit of enthusiasm for the Ewoks, from adults as well as kids. My Sunday school teacher adored the fuzzballs. When I went to sixth-grade camp, we were divided up into tribes and given Native American names. One tribe was called the Miwoks. They wanted to re-name themselves the Ewoks, and though they weren't allowed to officially, that's what they called themselves.
(although those singing Wookiees would have been quite devestating, I'm sure!! XD)
Imagine how you would feel if you went into Ep3 keyed up to watch the kick-ass battle between Anakin and ObiWan, and especially to watch ObiWan throw Anakin into the flaming pit (or whatever - a rumour that has been around since ANH came out), only to find out that the battle is at a different moment completely in the film and that Anakin actually falls into the pit by accident. (tripping over his robes! LOL!)
Yeah, that would suck.
On first viewing, you'd walk out, vaguely disappointed, but assure yourself that you'd enjoyed the movie nonetheless. But, after a few more viewings, the disappointment would fester... and the cuddly teddy bears would pop up everywhere as unbearably cute kiddy toys...
Lucas himself pointed out: "Why market a teddy bear? They're already around." And there's not much in any of the SW movies that isn't toy-friendly. I was watching ROTJ and I found I really enjoyed the Endor battle. Also, the SE of ROTJ should actually be pleasing to Ewok-haters -- it cuts out some Ewok footage in favor of the galactic celebration. ;-P
and, before you know it, you're 10yrs down the track and realise that you actually LOATHE the things. ;~P
Love, expectation...then disappointment. Much like Christmas really. ;~D
I suppose so. But would it be so hard to focus on the good aspects?
Myself, I am not crazy about some of the changes. However, overall I am blown away by the DVDs. The picture is beautiful (it must've cost a fortune to clean up the prints, but it was worth every penny -- and it's a nice, if ironic, benefit of the cleanup that you can see the intentional grunginess and lived-in look that Lucas insisted on giving the sets and props), the sound is great. If not for the late-70s and early-80s hairdos, I would think that these movies were made last year, not decades ago. The "Empire of Dreams" documentary is great. And it's a treat to see filmmakers ranging from John Singleton to James Cameron to Peter Jackson to Ridley Scott (who's my favorite director) give Lucas props and talk about how SW influenced them.