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‘Star Wars’ Turns 35

Damon Houx — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:08:03 +0000

To badly misquote The Beatles, it was 35 years ago today that George Lucas taught the world to play. Yes, Star Wars came out on May 25, 1977, and now we’ve been living in its shadow for three and a half decades. Though too often anniversaries are mentioned as milestones, it’s worth reflecting on what has changed since the release.

As we are now in the midst of a record-breaking summer – thanks to The Avengers – it’s impossible to look at that or the current cinematic landscape and not trace it back to Lucas and his little Flash Gordon homage. Though the story was ripped off (mostly in low budget efforts), it was the launch of Industrial Light and Magic that had more impact than the film’s use of Joseph Cambell’s Hero’s Journey as the backbone of its narrative. If you don’t believe me, watch something like Logan’s Run or even the Planet of the Apes films. Pre-Star Wars, science fiction often focused its creative energy on set design and costuming over the miniature work and stop motion that changed the face of cinema.

And it was there from those classic opening images – it was unlike anything seen before, it took Stanley Kubrick’s work from 2001: A Space Odyssey and made it propulsive. Alas, computer technology has shown us that destroying worlds can be done with a click of a button, but the idea that cinema could do anything was still ripe then, and there’s no understating the impact the film had on imaginations (including mine, I think anyone who loves the films can talk about moments of childhood bliss watching or playing make-believe in the universe).

And – let’s not forget – Star Wars wasn’t a geek or nerd thing. It was a cultural phenomenon. It’s hard to imagine a film having the same lasting impact on pop culture that the first film – and the original trilogy – had. When The Avengers is on Blu-ray and DVD in a couple months it will be seen as the big thing of the summer of 2012, but it’s unlikely that people will still feel its grasp in 2047.

Of course, Star Wars isn’t just a movie, and there’s the cultural baggage that comes with its follow ups and prequels, its fans and its multiple altered versions, things that have reduced it into a geek thing. And the film – as it originally existed – is no longer available for screenings, and the only way to watch the original cut is through a non-anamorphic DVD or through laserdisc or VHS technology. But from that opening sequence of a big ship shooting and capturing a little ship, cinema was irrevocably changed (for better and for worse), and the dreams of a farm boy in space with a greater destiny still has the power to capture imaginations. If you can dump the baggage and find the original cut, it’s still a hell of a ride.

Are you going to watch Star Wars this weekend?

Blu-ray and DVD Picks For May 22 – 28

Damon Houx — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:00:15 +0000

This week brings one of the best films of last year (from the Criterion Collection, no less) some of the bigger disappointments of of 2012 so far, one of the best TV shows going today, and a collection of the Lethal Weapon films. Not a bad week for DVD and Blu-ray. Check it out…

New:

Certified Copy: I went into this movie knowing very little about it, and fell completely in love. Abbas Kiarostami’s film follows an author (William Schimell) who goes out for the afternoon with a woman (Juliette Binoche), and as their conversation continues, a mystery is created. Do these people know each other from before? Saying any more would spoil the fun, but this was my favorite film of 2011.
Red Tails: George Lucas spent twenty years talking about this film, and the results were similar to his prequel films. CGI’d to all get out and filled with corny dialogue meant to be a throwback to a different era. Perhaps the film will find its audience at home.
The Secret World of Arrietty: Hayao Miyazaki is justly revered as one of the greatest artists of animation. Though he didn’t direct the film per se, his stamp is all over the film, and it’s a charming and gentle piece of work. Maybe not one of his best, but some of those are also hitting DVD and Blu-ray this week.
Sherlock: Season Two: If you haven’t been watching this version of Sherlock, you may not understand why there’s such a nerd boner for Benedict Cumberbatch right now. If you do watch this, not only will you see four and a half hours of the best television going these days, you will get Cumberbatch completely. He makes Sherlock Holmes his own.
This Means War: McG directed this spy rom-com. It pretty much sucks. Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine do their best with material that feels like a pilot for a show that no one would like.
The Woman in Black: Daniel Radcliffe scored a surprising success with this post-Potter entry. Based on the hit play, this was a big hit for both Radcliffe and Hammer Horror studios, who are still kicking in the 21^st century.

Classics:

A Bullet for the General: Most people know the spaghetti western through Sergio Leone – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but the genre was vast and had a number of great entries that weren’t helmed by Leone. This is one of the best.
Castle in the Sky, Whisper of the Heart: Remember those great Miyazaki’s I was talking about? Castle in the Sky is one of them.
Lethal Weapon Collection: A series that got progressively worse as it went (4 might be a slight improvement over 3, but only so much), the first film was a classic of 80’s action, and the sequel was a lot of fun. And sometimes it’s good to own a couple films you don’t like for the supplements that only come in a box set.
Too Late Blues: This was an early John Cassavettes film that never got the Criterion treatment, and has not been as vaulted as some of his classics. I’ve never seen it, as it wasn’t put out on home video. So for that I can’t wait.

What are you picking up this week?

Will James Cameron Become the Next George Lucas?

Joseph Doherty — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:57:23 +0000

Love him or hate him, director James Cameron has never been one to play it safe. But Cameron just announced that he is not open to developing any projects, original or otherwise, in the near future. Instead he will focus entirely on directing sequels to his groundbreaking 3D epic Avatar. This is cause for concern. In the past, some directors opted to coast off huge successes and ended up irrevocably damaging their reputations. The most notable of these being George Lucas with his Star Wars franchise. Will James Cameron follow in his path?

In analyzing the careers of George Lucas and James Cameron, there are similarities, and it was Star Wars was the film that inspired Cameron to quit his truck driving job and go to work at Roger Corman Studios. Both are notorious gear-heads. The two men also hit tremendous creative highs after difficult first films with American Graffiti and The Terminator.

George Lucas’ second feature, American Graffiti, was and remains the director’s most personal endeavor, touching on many elements from his teenage years, including small town living, troubled relationships, and cruising. To tell his story, Lucas employed the use of several daring and innovative devices like crossing-cutting narratives, title cards, and a musical score comprised entirely of period rock songs. American Graffiti helped revive interest in the 50s era. After that, Lucas was viewed as being one of Hollywood’s brightest talents, a young artist of seemingly unlimited potential.

Like Lucas, James Cameron experienced overnight success with his second directorial effort. From its inception, everything about The Terminator screamed ‘B-movie trash’. After selling his original screenplay for $1 dollar and an agreement to direct, Cameron was able to muster a paltry $6.5.million budget and cast relative unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead. Against all expectations, Cameron came out on top. The Terminator was a taut, tense, and supremely intelligent thriller that was miles beyond most of the mindless action fare released in the mid 80s.

It was what George Lucas and James Cameron did after hitting it big where their careers diverged. For Lucas, America Graffiti was a revelation. Unfortunately, the film was swallowed up by the phenomenon of Star Wars. Many felt that Lucas reached new artistic peaks with Star Wars‘ elaborate costumes, creatures, and production design, but all those were cosmetic. In terms of storytelling, Star Wars was really a classic coming-of-age tale played against the backdrop of war. While the narrative was certainly well-structured, it lacked the originality and emotional resonance of Lucas’ earlier efforts. After Star Wars, Lucas was either unwilling or unable to recapture that ambition and creativity which led him to create American Graffiti. Instead, he milked the Star Wars brand for all it was worth, releasing an endless stream of toys, games, books, television series, inferior prequels, and a horrid holiday special. Today, the franchise has become something of a running gag even among the most loyal fans.

James Cameron took the high road after The Terminator, directing a series of epic, yet diverse, blockbusters that always managed to push the envelope in terms of visual storytelling. After a 12 year break from film-making, he returned in 2009 with Avatar, a film which was very much in the same vein as Star Wars, and there’s where they begin to interest again. Both were overly hyped sci-fi epics with young stars, groundbreaking visuals, and shopworn plots. In addition to becoming the highest-grossing films of their time, they were also wrongly praised as being their respective directors’ finest achievement.

Right out of the gate, James Cameron expressed a desire to helm an Avatar sequel. Evidently that desire has morphed into something else with Cameron’s proclamation that he will just be in the “Avatar business” from now on and is developing three more installments. But isn’t this creative wheel-spinning? Unfortunately, this may very well lead to his downfall based on George Lucas’ history with Star Wars. Currently James Cameron deserves some benefit of the doubt based on his body of work. However, the day he announces plans for an Avatar holiday special, I’m heading for the hills.

Do you think James Cameron will become the next George Lucas?

All Indiana Jones Films Headed to Blu-ray

Damon Houx — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:46:37 +0000

It’s true that with every new format, there comes a wait for some catalog favorites. Studios like to dish out their crown jewels during high sales periods so people buy them as holiday presents. For those hoping to spend some quality time with Dr. Indiana Jones in 1080p, the wait is almost over. This fall we will get a box set of all four Indiana Jones films. For Steven Spielberg fans this is a banner year for Blu-ray as it will be joining his longed-for Jaws, which also is hitting Blu later this year.

Paramount didn’t let the cat out of the bag in terms of what’s coming with the movies, though there has been a DVD box set with a long form documentary, and re-releases – done in conjunction with the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – had new feautrettes. What’s most interesting is the possibility of new material. There was a leak a while back of a blooper from Temple of Doom that had cameos from Barbara Streisand, Carrie Fisher and Irvin Kershner… here, take a look at that (the original video seems to have been removed, so this is the best of what’s still out there):
video platform video management video solutions video player

The press release doesn’t offer many clues:

The man with the hat is back – and looking better than ever! The world’s favorite globe-trotting archaeologist is, at long last, embarking on his greatest adventure – when “The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection” comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution. The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection will be excavated in the fall of 2012 and will include all four of Indy’s thrilling adventures, using the highest possible high definition picture and audio presentation – along with a “best of” collection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes and a few new surprises.

And here’s a Trailer (from Collider):

So I guess what we have to look forward to is “a few new surprises.” Unfortunately, the fourth film is already on Blu-ray so for those who already owned it, it looks like they’re going to get double dipped, and those who didn’t own it are going to be forced to if they want the trilogy. The one positive? The Crystal Skull set was a two disc affair, so it’s possible that it will be an eight disc set to match what’s been previously released. There is more stuff out there, though George Lucas is notoriously protective and the recent Star Wars set was good – but nowhere near definitive. Still, Indy.

Will you buy this when it streets?

Phantom Menace 3-D Featurette Says “We Know You’re Coming Anyway, Fanboys”

Damon Houx — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:59:11 +0000

When Star Wars was reissued in 1997, it became one of the top top ten grossing films of that year. That is the lasting cultural impact of the Star Wars franchise, but also paints a picture of how much the world and the Star Wars fan base has changed in fifteen years. On February 10, George Lucas‘s The Phantom Menace will be reissued in 3-D, and the latest marketing suggests they’re not selling it to everyone. Take a look…

Okay, this is just one piece of a puzzle, but it’s basically selling this to little, little children. On one hand Lucas has said that’s always been his intention with these films, and this film would be the most childish. On the other, fans – even those fans who hate Lucas – will probably see this anyway, so why sell it to the base?

Disney had a huge hit with The Lion King 3-D, which was about to reissued on Blu-ray when it hit theaters. It made $94 million in its run. Beauty and Beast hit a couple weeks ago, and is currently at $41 Million. The difference is that the Blu-ray of that was already out. With the Blu-ray box sets of Star Wars having come out recently, the question with this release is: will it be the theatrical experience or 3-D that brings them in? Will they come at all? Fandom feels possessive of certain things, but Star Wars was never just a nerd favorite, and The Phantom Menace made over $400 Million domestically. It’s possible that “normal” people liked this movie and want to take their kids. We shall see.

Is the force with this reissue?

George Lucas is Retiring to Focus on Art Films

Damon Houx — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:58:04 +0000

Oh, George. In his latest round of interviews for Red Tails, George Lucas told the New York Times that he’s going to retire from the big budget industry and make his art films, except to maybe make Indiana Jones 5. This is a drum Lucas has been beating for a long time, though we’ve seen no fruits of this labor. Perhaps this time he means it – Red Tails was once his passion project, and it gestated for over twenty years.

For anyone who grew up under the sway of Star Wars and loved movies, George Lucas had a number of fascinating periods in his career. The fiery upstart who financed his own sequel to Star Wars to maintain creative control, the guy who helped create Indiana Jones, the man who put his name on Akira Kurosawa’s film Kageshuma to get it made. And then came his hermit period where he only seemed to come out to produce things like Willow and The Radioland Murders. What was he doing in his Skywalker Ranch Xanadu? Then came the prequels.

Whether Lucas is serious or not, it would be great to see him actually make his art films, but like Steven Soderbergh’s retirement or any number of promises that come with buts, it’s hard to believe Lucas will actually pull that trigger. Perhaps there is nothing more terrifying than having the ability to do whatever you want.

Do you think we will ever see George Lucas’s art films?

Video: Preview Seven Minutes Of George Lucas’ ‘Red Tails’

Travis Woods — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:44:24 +0000

In one of the strangest movie moments in 2012, it appears that George Lucas may be pulling off something he hasn’t done in at least 20 or so years—releasing a movie that appears to be, well, good. That’s right, Lucas has produced and helped fund Red Tails, the upcoming film about the Tuskegee Airmen, the all-African American World War II combat pilots, and it actually looks pretty great. Don’t believe Lucas could have a hand in anything awesome? Check out seven minutes of footage from Red Tails below.

The Anthony Hamilton-directed action film stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, and Method Man, as well as featuring something Lucas actually is known for doing well—stellar special effects.

RT Clip from Tambay Obenson on Vimeo.

A lot of eyes are currently on Red Tails and the financial numbers it will generate, with many believing that spending $60 million on a primarily African American action film is “risky,” and that if the film does well, African American cinema may get a boost and be seen as more commercially viable.

It remains to be seen how well Red Tails will do in cinemas, as it’s up against the 134^th new Underworld film, as well as Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire.

What did you think of the Red Tails footage?

Source: ScreenRant

George Lucas States Steven Spielberg Is Wrong About ‘Indiana Jones 5′ Plot Details

Travis Woods — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:34:01 +0000

Just a week ago, we told you that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were once again collaborating to defile our collective childhood dreams by making yet another Indiana Jones film, after already seriously tarnishing the franchise with Indiana Jones and This One Ridiculous Crystal Skull and Some Aliens. We reported that Spielberg is just waiting for Lucas to come up with a plot to fit around their agreed upon MacGuffin (the item that drives the plot, like the Ark of the Covenent or the Holy Grail in previous films). Well, according to Lucas, Spielberg was wrong and had the news backwards.

According to Lucas, the story has been worked out, and now just needs a MacGuffin to be inserted. “I told him about the story, but I really haven’t found the MacGuffin yet,” Lucas said, as he thoughtfully mused about what other franchises he could destroy. “I mean, I know what it’s about, but I just have to find a MacGuffin that fits into the arena we’re working in.”

So there you have it: George Lucas and The Search For the MacGuffin in the Unnecessary Sequel. Sounds like a hell of a film. Spielberg can play the wise-cracking sidekick.

What do you think of the Indy 5 news?

Source: /Film

Steven Spielberg Drops ‘Indiana Jones 5′ Plot Clues

Travis Woods — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:19:38 +0000

Seeing as how Steven Spielberg and George Lucas simply did not learn their lessons with Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull-Thing That Tarnished a Beloved Franchise, Indiana Jones 5 is definitely happening, because they haven’t quite finished ruining the beloved collective dreams of our childhoods.

The first sliver of detail about the upcoming sequel slipped out when Spielberg, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, noted that the film is “up to George. We have already agreed on the genre of the fifth movie, we already have a concept in mind. I don’t know where George is with the story. There is no Indy 5 until George says there is.”

This comment created a flurry of fanboy friction on the internet, as the phrase, “agreed on the genre” seemed to imply that Indy would be entering a new genre. Did this mean that Indy 5 would be a romantic comedy? Pure sci-fi? Erotic thriller? Slasher film? Transformers tie-in?

Turns out, none of the above. Sensing that the heads of nerds worldwide were exploding with the possibility that Indy might be tampered with any more that he already has been, Spielberg clarified his statement, explaining that “it’s not a new genre at all.” Rather, instead of “genre,” he meant to say “MacGuffin”:

“It’s all the same genre. It’s just the MacGuffin that changes. The MacGuffin was the Ark of the Covenent in Raiders, the Holy Grail in The Last Crusade, and the skull in The Crystal Skull. That’s what always changes, and that’s what we always look for…

“It’s up to George. We have already agreed on the [MacGuffin] of the fifth movie, we already have a concept in mind. I don’t know where George is with the story. There is no Indy 5 until George says there is.”

So there you have it—Indy will stay the same. Hopefully he’ll even go back to normal, and our long national nightmare that began with the last film can finally end.

What do you think of the Indy 5 news?

Source: /Film

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 3-D Trailer

Damon Houx — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:59:42 +0000

For a couple generations of film goers, it’s impossible to say that they don’t care deeply about the Star Wars franchise. George Lucas‘s masterwork still provokes discussion, especially when George decides to tinker with the franchise further. Well, he’s tinkered again, and on February 10, 2012, we’ll see how well The Phantom Menace stands up to third dimensional scrutiny. Here’s the trailer, check it out…

It seems drawn from the same blueprint as the Star Wars reissues done in 1997, when Lucas included digital effects into the original trilogy, and fans turned out for the first film in such numbers that the reissue made $138 Million dollars. But where that trailer was arguing you could only watch the film’s on crappy television (with the picture expanding to the full screen), this seems slightly more disingenuous – these films look great at home on DVD and Blu-ray – and it doesn’t seem to be selling the 3-D in the same sort of way.

Of course it’s worth noting what this does not sell from The Phantom Menace: Jar-Jar or the dialogue – then again, why would you? Though at the time the film was breaking box office records (though couldn’t top Titanic, which is also due for a 3-D reissue), it has a reputation as the worst Star Wars film. But when the box set of the films breaks sales records, Lucas has shown this fanbase will often show up and spend money, even if they know they won’t like it. The Phantom Menace hits theaters February 10, and this discussion will surely continue until then.

Will you go anyway?

‘Star Wars’ Blu-Ray Set Becomes Bestselling Blu-Ray Of All Time… In Just One Week

Travis Woods — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:55:32 +0000

Wow. Despite the fact that the giant goiter with a man growing out of it (or, as you might know it, George Lucas), continued to meddle with his original vision, tossing in even more cheesy CGI additions and horrible Darth Vadar “NOOOOOOOO!” exclamations, the Star Wars complete saga Blu-Ray set has, within just one week, become the highest selling Blu-Ray of all time.

Let me say that again– the Star Wars complete saga Blu-Ray set, released on September 16^th, has, within just one week, become the highest selling Blu-Ray of all time, according to Deadline. This means that people actually paid money to see Lucas defile his classic series (ok, classic original trilogy and mind-bendingly horrible prequel trilogy) even further, as the box set sold over one million units, which equals about $84 million in sales, 515,000 of those being sold right her e in the U.S. of A.

So, there you go, America—never underestimate the need of the fanboys to see Greedo shooting first in high definition; meanwhile, somewhere in a mansion far, far away, an almost comically out of touch filmmaker sits in a pair of blue jeans and a red flannel shirt, twirling his beard and laughing, as his wallet and neck waddle continue to swell in parallel proportion to the Dark Side of the Force, which forces us all to keep watching a series of kid’s movies about glowing swords and talking robots.

What do you think of the Star Wars news?

George Lucas Has Reedited The Original Star Wars Trilogy… Again

Travis Woods — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:17:22 +0000

Wow. It seems that George Lucas, once the cinematic wizard who gave our childhood dreams shape and form through the whiz-bang popcorn entertainment of the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies, continues to morph into the flabby-necked monstrosity hell-bent on turning those once-cherished dreams into nightmare drudgery. I’m talking, of course, about how Lucas has, once again, reedited and revised his classic Star Wars trilogy, this time for the Blu-Ray premiere of the franchise.

It turns out that the new Indiana Jones film wasn’t torturous enough for movie fans, so, as he prepared his original Star Wars trilogy for its first Blu-Ray release, George, sigh, tinkered with them once again. As broken by Devin Faraci over at Badass Digest, now, for instance, the Ewoks blink and it’s really creepy. Not a big deal? Well, try on Obi Wan Kenobi’s new garbled scream from A New Hope:

That not stupid enough for you? Ok, try this on for size: remember the end of Revenge of the Sith, when the Darth Vader let out that really cheesy “NOOOOOOOOOO!”? You do? Great! Remember how insipid and stupid it was? Even better! No, guess what? Lucas has him scream in the exact same way when he kills the Emperor at the end of Return of the Jedi!

So there you go folks—he’s done it once again, taking a once cherished cinematic memory and scribbling all over it. No, George. NOOOOOOOOO!

What do you think of the Star Wars changes?

ScreenCrave.com » george lucas

‘Star Wars’ Turns 35

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