SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I was wondering what everyone's opinion was about the Star Wars movie coming out soon. Do you think that George Lucas should have stayed with real characters (like all the previous movies)instead of computer animation? Or do you think that the change was good?

I really love Star Wars! I have Clone Wars on DVD from cartoon network (the cartoon version for those who don't know) and they are really good. So the animation didn't bother me, I didn't really notice after a while.

I have never actually read the Star Wars novels that are out there.. so I don't know how to compare the Clone Wars movie to the books about Clone Wars. Has anyone read these books?

I'm sort of interested in seeing what it's all about. But to be frank, I don't have much enthusiasm for much of what G. Lucas has done recently. I think he's wonderful with ideas and designs, but in the last three movies, the writing and directing was terrible and completely overworked.

However, I love the idea of the Clone Wars and have read some of the novels that are out there. So, I'm somewhat interested and will give it a shot.

I think the two Clone Wars DVDs are the best storytelling done of the prequel series. So, on that basis I'm hopeful the Clone Wars animated series will be good.

That said, I'm annoyed that we have to pay to see the pilot for the series.

I'm a fan of Lucas. He's a flawed director and his dialog could use some improvement. But overall if you don't nip pick, he comes out with entertaining movies, which is why I watch movies to begin with.

That said, Lucas is probably getting back into animation. Most don't know but Lucas created Pixar and sold it to Jobs after a few years. The Clone Wars movie/series is supposed to tell of just the Clone Wars since Ep 3 is at the end of the Clone Wars and Lucas felt he should tell more the war side of the story.

I'm glad he's doing another media choice and I myself am a fan of all things animation and don't think he should have stuck with 'real actors'. Stiff dialog is easier digested when not coming from someone pretending to be an actor.

I wish Lucas would stop with Star Wars and start the many other projects locked in his head. But if not for Lucas the tools of special effects wouldn't be where it is today.

Here is some great footage! enjoy!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809991...

I'm a big fan of animation as well, but I prefer the more lush anime style of movies like 'Princess Mononoke' and 'Spirited Away'. The new Star Wars movie looks like a video game, a nicely done one, but a video game, nonetheless. I'll most likey want to see it, though, since I, too, am a fan of Star Wars since the very beginning.

I guess that I'm alone on this. I'm the type of person who likes things consistent. If things (books, movies, toys, everything) comes in a set I have to buy/read the whole set (with a few exceptions). I can't stand having an incomplete set. The same with movie and book styles, I feel lost if in a series, not every book/movie isn't consistent with the rest of the series. I probably won't watch the movie in theaters but will wait until comes out on DVD.

My husband on the other hand can't wait to see it.

Leslie, I think I'm with you on animation style, although I would describe what I'm looking for as "old-fashioned", not "anime". Anyway, I tend to lose interest in style after about 5 minutes, so it'll sink or swim based on good old storytelling.

Heather, I don't plan on watching this in the theatre either, but CG action extravaganzas (if that's what this is) tend to be best on the big screen. If I were going to watch it, I wouldn't let my husband have the fun of spoiling the video.

This is getting terrible reviews! So bad that I don't even want to spend the money in the theater and will wait for video! Too bad, I thought it had potential.

I hate to be the surly old curmudgeon, but after The Return of the Jedi, Lucas had pretty much played out whatever story-telling worth there was in Star Wars (and you could already see the rot seeping in in Return: Ewoks! Egads!). The prequels were just excuses for marketing toys.

My copy of the first Star Wars is the original VHS tape, made before they remastered it and spliced in scenes with Jabba, and in the trailers there's an excerpt from an interview with Lucas where he says that special effects and strange aliens are secondary to telling a good story. Too bad that he forgot that.

If you'd like to see how I wish he had imagined the saga you can check out my blog under "My Very Own Star Wars Saga" entry: www.spocksbro.blogspot.com

Terence, you hit on something that bugs me about the whole Star Wars thing. I can't stand that Lucas keeps going back and mucking with the original work. Why bother to splice in a different Annikin Skywalker at the end of "The Return of the Jedi"? Why CGI in more aliens in the bar scene of the first Star Wars movie? Why start calling the first one the fourth one and giving it a new name? I remember when "Star Wars" (not episode IV, not "A New Hope") came out. It was a big deal. It played in theaters for longer than any movie I can remember. It had a huge following. Yet, Lucas couldn't leave it well enough alone.

Sandi,

I think that's why I'm so hard on Lucas. I love the original Star Wars, and see so much potential in what it could have been but I think Lucas wasted all of it.

Sigh...

Aaaaack!!! Did Lucas REALLY go back and splice in a different Anakin Skywalker at the end of "The Return of the Jedi"?!! I did NOT know that!!!

Yes, he did. In the original cut of "Return of the Jedi", Sebastian Shaw played the ghost of Anakin Skywalker who was waving at Luke alongside Obi-wan and Yoda. When it was put out on DVD after the latest batch of movies, he was replaced with Hayden Christensen.

I HATE that he did that. I mean I think everyone gets that Return of the Jedi was made a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, so we would understand if there is a different actor in there for Hayden Christensen. Geeze.

Oh, yuck!! And Hayden Christensen isn't even that good of an actor! In fact, he's pretty aweful!! I don't actually own any of the Star Wars movies, but now, I see if I do decide to buy the series, I'll have to search for the original versions on eBay.

I'm pretty interested in seeing the Clone Wars based on the fact that I enjoyed the previous Clone Wars animated series and that it is directed by Dave Filoni. Filoni was the director of several episodes of Avatar:The Last Airbender. Superficially, Avatar seems like a children's show. In my opinion, it is one of the best animated series of all time. The storytelling is excellent, the characters are complex, and there is a great mix of seriousness and humor. Its really worth renting or buying on DVD.

It's the first Star Wars in a long time that I have not seen in a theater on opening weekend.

Part of me is annoyed that it's the pilot for the TV show and balks at having to pay to see it. Plus I've heard a lot of fans saying it's not that great. I did get the novelization from my library and will read it though...

John you will have to let me know if it is any good. I also enjoyed the Clone Wars animated series so I am curious about this one but I am going to wait to rent it.

I have been watching it on Cartoon Network. I think it is OK, but really for kids this time. I think the cartoon could bring in a new generation of young fans (kids).

I've been watching it and recording it to DVD for my mom to show to my nephews.

So far, I'd have to agree with you that it's much more children oriented.

This is great:


http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/a863...

and:

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSs...