What did you learn about Making of SW after listening to Commentaries & "Bonus DVD"?
09-25-04, 07:22 PM
#1
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What did you learn about Making of SW after listening to Commentaries & "Bonus DVD"?
After listening to the Commentaries and "Bonus DVD", I realized how much sacrifice GL had to go through to make not only the 1st movie, but also the 2nd and 3rd of Star Wars.
The reason SW is as great as it is, is because GL wanted every detail to be perfect.
1. Put up his own money to make "Empire" and the bank wanted payment. Which almost caused GL to give up his rights to SW.
2. Ewok's language based on a real/rare language (Chinese).
-Background song in Ewok village was some kind of Chinese folk song.
3. How all the different sounds were created.
-It was amazing to hear the great length that the sound dept would go to get the fantasic sound effects throughout the movie.
4. All the different changes that SW went through from the beginning to the end.
-The end movies are almost completely different than the GL's 1st draft.
5. Only 15% of the "Filmed" dialog made it into the movie.
-85% Post production dialog.
I am not trying to start a flaming of GL, I just want to say GL has the right to change anything he wants in his films (some I like, some I do not). He put in 100% of everything he had to make these movies, he took chances that I would not be willing to do. He gave his time, money, engery, emotions, relationships, reputation...all I can say is wow!
The reason SW is as great as it is, is because GL wanted every detail to be perfect.
1. Put up his own money to make "Empire" and the bank wanted payment. Which almost caused GL to give up his rights to SW.
2. Ewok's language based on a real/rare language (Chinese).
-Background song in Ewok village was some kind of Chinese folk song.
3. How all the different sounds were created.
-It was amazing to hear the great length that the sound dept would go to get the fantasic sound effects throughout the movie.
4. All the different changes that SW went through from the beginning to the end.
-The end movies are almost completely different than the GL's 1st draft.
5. Only 15% of the "Filmed" dialog made it into the movie.
-85% Post production dialog.
I am not trying to start a flaming of GL, I just want to say GL has the right to change anything he wants in his films (some I like, some I do not). He put in 100% of everything he had to make these movies, he took chances that I would not be willing to do. He gave his time, money, engery, emotions, relationships, reputation...all I can say is wow!
09-25-04, 09:04 PM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Originally posted by Mr. Cornell
Ewok ain't no Chinese I ever heard anyone speak. Do they speak Ewok in Beijing?
Ewok ain't no Chinese I ever heard anyone speak. Do they speak Ewok in Beijing?
09-25-04, 09:23 PM
#4
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally posted by Mr. Cornell
Ewok ain't no Chinese I ever heard anyone speak. Do they speak Ewok in Beijing?
Ewok ain't no Chinese I ever heard anyone speak. Do they speak Ewok in Beijing?
I believe Ewok language is Tagalog
09-25-04, 09:37 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Actually, I would say a good 90 to 95% of the info I was already aware of - although some of it I had forgotten over the years and the documentary and bonus material reminded me about it. Nice to have it all catalogued in one place though.
09-26-04, 12:17 AM
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I learned that Irwin Kershner whould never do another audio commentary. "Here we have Chewbaca putting C-3PO's head on backwards..." Thanks, Kersh, I never would have noticed that.
Couldn't they have edited out the parts of the commentary where he is just narrarating the film?
Couldn't they have edited out the parts of the commentary where he is just narrarating the film?
09-26-04, 12:07 PM
#9
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Admittedly, I didn't learn too many new things. Most of the information I knew from the "Skywalking" bio, while others came from printed sources at the time the movies were released. Most of Kershner's commentary were a bit verbatim from what he said in "The Annotated Screenplays" book.
Hearing Lucas's commentary on the three films makes me where this Lucas went for the prequels. He was more insightful about the characters, the story, and the tie-ins to classic mythology. I think why Episodes IV & V (and to an extent VI) succeeded so well was that Lucas had to work very hard with tight deadlines, the limited budget he was allotted, and having to deal with enormous pressures from the studios or people that financed the movie. By the time of ROTJ, he had all the money and could call the shots and work a little more leisurely, like he has done with the prequels.
Hearing Lucas's commentary on the three films makes me where this Lucas went for the prequels. He was more insightful about the characters, the story, and the tie-ins to classic mythology. I think why Episodes IV & V (and to an extent VI) succeeded so well was that Lucas had to work very hard with tight deadlines, the limited budget he was allotted, and having to deal with enormous pressures from the studios or people that financed the movie. By the time of ROTJ, he had all the money and could call the shots and work a little more leisurely, like he has done with the prequels.
09-27-04, 01:10 PM
#11
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i learned that listening to a kershner commentary is like being spoken to like a blind 6 year old.
seriously though, i learned that the reason this trilogy is superior to the prequels is because lucas was forced to concentrate on the characters more because he was limited by technology constraints.
seriously though, i learned that the reason this trilogy is superior to the prequels is because lucas was forced to concentrate on the characters more because he was limited by technology constraints.
Last edited by cygnet74; 09-27-04 at 01:13 PM.
09-27-04, 02:16 PM
#13
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Originally posted by Eplicon
By the time of ROTJ, he had all the money and could call the shots and work a little more leisurely, like he has done with the prequels.
By the time of ROTJ, he had all the money and could call the shots and work a little more leisurely, like he has done with the prequels.
IMHO, that's why episodes VI, I, and II have a distinctly different feel to them... Lucas does some GREAT stuff, but he's better if he has someone there to say "You know, George. This doesn't work. Let's do this differently."
09-27-04, 04:41 PM
#15
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally posted by Toad
Yes! And that little fat ass-kisser for episodes I and II does NOT do that. What's his name, Rick McAllum or something?
Yes! And that little fat ass-kisser for episodes I and II does NOT do that. What's his name, Rick McAllum or something?
09-27-04, 08:08 PM
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Originally posted by cygnet74
seriously though, i learned that the reason this trilogy is superior to the prequels is because lucas was forced to concentrate on the characters more because he was limited by technology constraints.
seriously though, i learned that the reason this trilogy is superior to the prequels is because lucas was forced to concentrate on the characters more because he was limited by technology constraints.
10-08-04, 01:33 AM
#17
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I didn't realize Lucas started Pixar.
I did not know Lucas almost lost control because of the bank during ESB
Did not know that almost nobody on the production staff knew that Vader was Luke's father
I did not know Lucas almost lost control because of the bank during ESB
Did not know that almost nobody on the production staff knew that Vader was Luke's father
10-14-04, 12:13 AM
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I guess I could say I learned (or perhaps understood better, and could approve) why Lucas wanted to go back and "make it better".
The fact that the studios started to really rush him etc. and essentially demanded it be done such and such a date...and that thankfully he was able to go beyond that date. Some of that footage of what the initially had was pretty horrible stuff!
Haven't done the commentaries yet...so the above was from the documentary.
The fact that the studios started to really rush him etc. and essentially demanded it be done such and such a date...and that thankfully he was able to go beyond that date. Some of that footage of what the initially had was pretty horrible stuff!
Haven't done the commentaries yet...so the above was from the documentary.
10-14-04, 10:31 AM
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I learned that I could shoot soda pop out of my nose from laughing at the awful rear projection test for the Landspeeder.
Almost as funny as the radio controlled Superman.
Almost as funny as the radio controlled Superman.
10-19-04, 08:46 AM
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Two amusing things that struck me during the Empire Strikes Back commentary: (1) Lucas repeatedly referred to Lando as Lando CLArissian, and (2) when Luke got his bionic hand, Kershner said that Luke could now "make love again" and was a whole man. 
10-19-04, 05:58 PM
#21
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I started the ANH commentary last night, and right off the bat I learned Princess Leia has a PHD. I mean it's not surprising really, but I had just never really thought about it.
11-09-04, 01:07 PM
#23
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IMHO, that's why episodes VI, I, and II have a distinctly different feel to them... Lucas does some GREAT stuff, but he's better if he has someone there to say "You know, George. This doesn't work. Let's do this differently."
11-09-04, 02:36 PM
#24
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"Let's not start"? You're responding to a post that is 6 weeks old.
For the record, I do not consider myself jaded or disgruntled. And I fully stand by my position that the lack of Kurtz is why VI, I, and II have such a different tone to them.
For the record, I do not consider myself jaded or disgruntled. And I fully stand by my position that the lack of Kurtz is why VI, I, and II have such a different tone to them.
11-10-04, 07:54 PM
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Originally posted by Terrell
Please, let's not start with this "Gary Kurtz is the reason Star Wars was great" jive that jaded and disgruntled SW fans throw out, cause it's not the case. In fact, Kurtz running ESB deliriously over budget is the reason he got fired in the first place.
Please, let's not start with this "Gary Kurtz is the reason Star Wars was great" jive that jaded and disgruntled SW fans throw out, cause it's not the case. In fact, Kurtz running ESB deliriously over budget is the reason he got fired in the first place.