h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I watched Star Wars (episode 4) just about every waking day of my pre-school existence. And I saw the whole of the initial trilogy many many times over the course of my yet-brief twenty-three year existence.

It was only when I saw Episode 1 though, that I realised how much my endless confidence and knowledge that anything is possible (if you are able to visualize it as possible) came almost wholly from Star Wars. It was hammered in at such an early age it ensures that I can handle/accomplish everything and anything I come across.

"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda.

hey vitz, we meet again lol

anyway yes the star wars films have very much influenced me as they were the first things i've ever seen on the big screen.
i spent countless sunny afternoons reenacting exciting parts with my friends using an old fallen tree as set. it could be the millenium falcon, an imperial star destroyer or any of the other cool star wars craft.
i was shocked beyond belief by what lucas did to the force in the recently released episode 1 movie
how could they dare give rational explanation to something so beautifully mystical as the force?
how could they take all the oomph out of everything Great Master Yoda ever said?

Use the force hmmm? Train you i will hmmyes A great Jedi he will be hmm But first we eat.

I feel, perhaps mistakenly, that many of the people who didn't like episode one refuse to see the amazing similarity and consistancy between the movies. I also think it's interesting that Lucas concieved to unite science and spirituality in such a complete way. When you think about it, normally, things explained through science lose their 'magic'. Lucas somehow fuses the magic and the science without losing either. The force is still some great spiritual entity guiding the course of human events, but at the same time it is (in some ways) quantifiable. We know how and where that extra-physical entity interfaces with the physical world. This makes the force something more than a matter of faith, not even scientists could deny its existence, no more than those scientists could do much but stare in awe as Yoda lifts an x-wing out of a swamp without even opening his eyes.

Also, doesn't this offer some interesting jumping off points for machines and inventions (not to mention weapons--what is the exact deal with light-sabers anyways?) that draw directly on the force? or animals who naturally and instinctively wield the force?

I think the conception of the medi-chlorians (however they may be spelled) opens a whole new creative well. Whether or not Lucas will be so creative with it (anymore than he has already been) is a thing to ponder (and eventually, wait and find out).

just my thoughts.. but then i always try and be an optimist..

I think the reason Episode 1 got so much flak was because it was setting up the beginning of a 3 part story. With Anakin so young you can hardly expect much in the way of character development beyond some information that will explain his later actions and some scene-setting. You have to look at in the context of a 6 film story of Anakin's fall and ultimate redemption (I'm of the opinion that he is the Jedi that has returned in the final film). George Lucas has always said that people will view the series differently when they see all six together, it puts a different spin on the whole thing. The rumoured 7-9 aren't expected to happen either for the same reasons - the story will be complete after six.

Just to put my marker down, I'm a big fan of Empire. It's so much darker than the rest and more fascinating.

--
Talith

I've seen them all countless times ... Empire is still my favorite ... lots of emotion in that one! And the wisdom of Yoda is priceless ...

I agree with all my heart!!!

I think there is no other film that moved my fantasy like Star Wars
I have so many memories connected to Star Wars - when I was a child and we didn't have a VCR (I was too young to see the movies on the big srceen ) I used to read the book all the time. I remember that I wept when I first read the scene when Darth Vader dies... . And of course I would watch the films whenever I had the chance. (Must have seen the original trilogy about a hundered times since then... .)
My first SW memory is how my parents came back late from the cinema and my mother told me the story about the monster under the throne. Of course then I didn't know which film it was but the memory came back the moment I watched RotJ... .

And still after so many years, watching the movies still is a sort of "out of body experience" for me. The film starts and I'm completely down there IN the movie!!! I still get shivers hearing that beautiful music!!
I would say I'm in love with these films... .

"Phantom Menace" is a bit set apart for me. I can't really connect this film to the rest of my Star Wars feelings. I liked the film well enough but it will never be the same as the original trilogy... .

My favourite quote by the way is "I have a bad feeling about this". Unfortunately most people don't make the connection when you say that... .

Aurora

I agree with all my heart!!!

I think there is no other film that moved my fantasy like Star Wars
I have so many memories connected to Star Wars - when I was a child and we didn't have a VCR (I was too young to see the movies on the big srceen ) I used to read the book all the time. I remember that I wept when I first read the scene when Darth Vader dies... . And of course I would watch the films whenever I had the chance. (Must have seen the original trilogy about a hundered times since then... .)
My first SW memory is how my parents came back late from the cinema and my mother told me the story about the monster under the throne. Of course then I didn't know which film it was but the memory came back the moment I watched RotJ... .

And still after so many years, watching the movies still is a sort of "out of body experience" for me. The film starts and I'm completely down there IN the movie!!! I still get shivers hearing that beautiful music!!
I would say I'm in love with these films... .

"Phantom Menace" is a bit set apart for me. I can't really connect this film to the rest of my Star Wars feelings. I liked the film well enough but it will never be the same as the original trilogy... .

My favourite quote by the way is "I have a bad feeling about this". Unfortunately most people don't make the connection when you say that... .

Aurora

As far as I'm concerned, Annie Hall is one of the best films ever.
Don't get me wrong - I adore Star Wars - but, has ther ever been a more truthful depiction of love on the silver screen? I'm not
a huge Woody Allen fan - but there's just something about Annie...

Lah dee dah!

OK, Great movie n all... But why, oh WHY did they put in Jar-Jar?? I mean, He's a DISNEY CHARACTER for goodness sakes! He was obviously stapled to the film in an effort to make it more appealing for the little kiddies, and as some comic relief..

I feel he was totally out of place.

What I've heard about the character (Jar-Jar) is that in the original screenplay Lucas wrote he was more a traditional sidekick type character like the droids or Chewbacca. He was "kidified" to appeal to a wider demographic (or for more comic relief) when they actually produced the movie. This is a similar thing to the Ewoks, who originally were supposed to be a species similar to Chewbacca. I agree that Jar-Jar is definetly the most annoying character I have ever seen in a movie.

>Zax<

i think Zax speaks closer to my own opinions about jar-jar..
but looking back .. is he really so different than the droids or the jawas or the ewoks? (think about c3p0 in pieces with his head on backwards. think about jabba's lil pet creature getting electrocuted by R2. think about c3p0 'i'm melting i'm melting' or 'they're dying ..curse my metal body I wasn't fast enough.' Think about yoda in luke's camp.) There is plenty of comedy that would be equally embarrassing if we didn't already let it slide because of how much we love the original series.

hey aurora.. i have the same problem with that line.. noone ever gets it.. that and "I'm endangering the mission, I shouldn't have come." so many perfect moments to quote those.. and always in the wrong company.. the kind that just looks at you as if you are speaking backwards or dressed as a clown.

Maybe it's the bright red nose ...

Hi Yitz!



My feelings exactly!!! There are so many quotes and it's so frustrating to get these blank looks. (I've never tried the "I'm endangering the mission..." one before but I will now ).

Another favourite of mine is Yoda's "size matters not"!!
And another one nobody gets: "Do or do not. There is no try"
And (not Star Wars but Star Trek...) "He's dead, Jim". I'm always surprised at how many people don't get that one... .

Any more nice SW quotes???

Aurora

Hey there,

I didn't like the new film as much as the older ones. Is it just me or do computer graphics always look like computer graphics? I think the models in the original are better somehow.

Another quote from Star Wars:
Darth Vader: "I have you now!" (spoken in that deep menacing voice)

If you liked the films, then read the books (along with Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster). They are excellent (the book "Return of the Jedi" is better than the movie).

Stephen.

I've always enjoyed the Emperor's "So be it!"

more quotes:
"curse my metal body, I wasn't fast enough." -C3P0 (guaranteed to get the most blank stares)

"Now I am the master" - Vader

"You may fire when ready." (ominous tone a necesity)

"Let the Wookiee win." - C3P0

"I'm on the leader." - Vader

"Negative it didn't go in, just impacted on the surface." - Red Leader ?? Gold Leader?

"Red five standing by." - Luke

"There's good in you, I can feel it." - Luke

"Run luke, run!" - Obiwan (auditioning for the role of 'jenny' in forest gump)

"Yato" - Leah (translation: 'It is agreed', 'this is a thermal detonator', and a few others--apparently emphasis _is_ everything, or maybe bounty hunters speak to people the way people speak to dogs?) (also a good related line: "Because he's holding a thermal detonator!")

"The rebel base will be in range in N minutes."

"Impressive." (always to be followed by)
"Most Impressive." (anyone in hearing distance would then expect to hear)
"Obiwan has taught you well."

"Han will have those shields down, we've got to give him more time!" -Lando

"I've been out of it for a few minutes and everyone is having delusions of grandeur." - Han (i dont think that was the exact quote)

"I thought they smelled bad..on the outside." - Han

"You said it Chewy." - Han (actually this quote might not have been in the movies, it could be attributed to a friend o mine)

"These aren't the droids your looking for." - Obiwan (another good one to draw blank stares)

"We don't serve their kind here." - Bar tender (more than blank stares, this one achieves angry glares.)

"He doesn't like you. I don't like either." - bar dood (This one I only use on my siblings(jokingly of course))

"You would be wise to lose your flippant ways and join the honorable foot clan." - Shredder (oh, wait that's Ninja turtles)

wow, i didn't think i'd remember so many offhand.
[[URL removed by moderator] probably has a lot of great quotes.]

I ADORE Star Wars. Heck, I spend most of my online time at TheForce.net's forums, whiling away my hours under the nickname of JediGecko.

Star Wars is oure, 100% escapism in a concentrate. Not escapism like arty crappy movies, escapism from the confines of reality on this world. Think of it: Gravity in space (you don't see the gravity generators ever being shot, and suddenly Queen Amidala's wig floats away, do you?), sound in space, creatures with rudimentary technologies, but sophisticated weapons systems, speeds able to be travled in an instant - the list is endless, and do we care? No.
Now, if this was Star Trek, which is based on humanity as it is today, set in the future, we pick at it, because it's relavent. (Not that I have anything against Trek, I love the series).

Star Wars gives us a means to escape; and I believe that's why I spend my afternoons waffling on about Chewbacca's second cousin who is a baker of Wookie breads on Kashyyyk or some such thing, instead of being tied down by reality, and discussing soapies.

My two cents,

~*Chesebeth*~

"A LONG TIME AGO, IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR, AWAY......." Has got to be the ultimate quote of the 20th Century.