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Topic: Number of Star Wars 2012 Screenings
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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God
Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted December 29, 2012 05:29 AM
I think Graham is probably refering to the Ken versions, which
weren't the best in terms of picture rendition, the features being
better, but as John Clancy rightly stated,there are other prints
on S/8 from the Derann stable that are far and away better than
the quality of "Star Wars", for example their print of "Flash Gordon" is stunnig with deep rich colours,"Fearless Vampire
Killers", "Who Dares Wins" all have better print than "Star Wars".
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted December 29, 2012 01:09 PM
It's really hard to describe STAR WARS to those who weren't all that enamored to begin with, (Micheal, for instance).
"Landmark" really is appropriate for this film. Landmark in the sense of special effects. Yeah ... there were other successful special effects films in the past ("War of the Worlds" comes to mind), but I know that I never saw a special effects film that really made you feel that you were seeing a wholy different world or universe, brought to brilliant life.
A good comparison is "logans Run", made just the year before, but with special effects that look old and dated, and just one year later with STAR WARS. I like both films, but it's like night and day.
That, and STAR WARS came out right during a period where not only was the news on the nightly news constantly depressing,
(gas shortages, crime up and lets not forgot terrorism and hostage taking becoming everyday things), but even most films in the theaters had a dark gritty "urban" (for lack of a better term) feel.
The world was a dark place and for the first time, in a major way, Hollywood was concentrating on the dark side of things. That, and emphasizing and making look good, anything that was counter-cultural. (note: Hollywood has always always embraced the counter cultural, but in the past, on the fringes of cinema and not right up from as they did in the late 60's on up)
Lucas learned earlier on than most, what theater goers wanted to see ... feel good movies, which is why "American Graphiti"
was such a hit for him, looking back to really, what was considered (even by the audiences, obviously, by ticket sales) by that time, a last lingering piece of innocence, right before Vietnam and other debacles starting to become the norm.
Taking off from there, Goerge Lucas simply made another "feel-good" movie with no dark undercurrent of politics, counter-culturalism or any of that other rot and instead of placing it in the early 1960's placed it in outer space instead.
The theater going audience ATE it up, standing in line (yeah! I remember doing it to!) for two or three times repeatedly per day, to watch this marvelous fantasy film.
George never looked back ... nearly every film he has helmed has been a feel good film in general, and aren't we thankful that he came along with his fantasy film when he did?
I hope that this might explain a little of the "mystique" of STAR WARS.
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God
Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted December 29, 2012 02:48 PM
It could be Michael that it's just pure nostalgia for folks like Osi,
that have happy memories connected with the queues and
finally getting to see this hyped up film.After the generation that
viewed it first has died out,I can't see it being held in such high esteem, much like the "Harry Potter" craze, or the Beatles.
In Sir Alec Guinness autobiography, he recounts the tale at one
of his book signings in San Francisco,a twelve year old boy was
presented to him by his proud Mum,on being told that the boy
had seen "Star Wars" over 100 times, Sir Alec asked the boy
to do something for him, to which the child readily agreed,
and that was to promise never to watch it again.His Mother in
shock hastily tore the child away telling him "What a dreadful
thing to say to a child!" As Sir Alec said, "I hope the lad,now in
his thirties (the book was published 1999) is not living in a
fantasy world of secondhand childish banalities"
I have fond memories of the film connected with the "bootlace"
watching it with friends and enjoying a drink with them.No doubt if I suggested we do the same thing now, they would think me certifiable.
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