Are my boys right about Star Wars?

[JenM]

I thought everyone knew this

Me too!

Another bit of trivia was that when Star Wars was first released in 1977, it did not say Episode IV. The plan was for it to be the 4th chapter, but if it was not successful they weren't going to have sequels and they didn't want to confuse the audience by giving it a chapter number

Obviously it was successful, and "Episode IV" was added when it was re-released in 1978.

 

[rt2dz]

Hey, let's not forget about some of the cartoon shorts that are fillers for between the movies. Mainly I'm talking about Attack of the Clone Wars volume 1 & 2, but I know there were some others.

Aren't you glad the Harry Potter series had a rough outline with a definite beginning and end before the first book was written?

 

[breezy1077]

George Lucas always promised 6 movies. I remember as a kid waiting and waiting for the other three to come out - little did I know that I'd be an adult by the time George finally got around to it.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

My favorite subject!

Yes, everyone is right. The first one made is the 4th in the series.

And I can't wait for the Clone Wars movie! Yay for Ahsoka!

 

[bumbershoot]

The first movie was released in 1977. At the time, that was just Star Wars. It is now referred to as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Another bit of trivia was that when Star Wars was first released in 1977, it did not say Episode IV. The plan was for it to be the 4th chapter, but if it was not successful they weren't going to have sequels and they didn't want to confuse the audience by giving it a chapter number

Obviously it was successful, and "Episode IV" was added when it was re-released in 1978.

Hmm. I thought the laser disc edition was the very first released (made from the first-released movie, I mean), and I have that, and it says episode IV between SW and the words. But maybe they did the VHS and LD from the second release...

Copyright on the sleeve says '77, but the laserdisc release was in '82. Hmm.

Just shows George was always sneaky, putting '78 stuff on a '77 copyright...

And if that's not enough for you, there are MANY "expanded universe" books out there that cover everything from the story of Darth Maul to the marriage of Han and Leia to the antics of their children.

I'm normally a mystery reader, but I coudln't make it to the library and had nothing to read, so I grabbed one of hubby's star wars books, the x-wing stories, or something like that? even though I had none of the recent backstory, it was actually pretty good! Had a twist in there that was kind of exciting, by the time I got to it.

 

[TDC Nala]

The first movie produced is actually the fourth installment of the story. They told the story backwards.

#1-3 (the last produced) tell the story of Anakin Skywalker.

#4-6 (the first produced) tell the story of Anakin's son, Luke.

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

And the focus for all the movies once George came out with the prequels was shifted from Luke to Anakin.

If you see an early printing of the novelization to A New Hope (Episode IV), it has "The Adventures of Luke Skywalker" on the cover. They were originally going to be focused on Luke during the whole trilogy. Then later came the shift to focus on Anakin instead and showing *his* rise and fall and later rise again during the 6 movies.

And not too long ago, he said it was really all about Leia. At one point he even said it was the 'droids story. People don't change their underwear as often as Lucas changes his mind about these movies.

 

[Macca1111]

And not too long ago, he said it was really all about Leia. At one point he even said it was the 'droids story. People don't change their underwear as often as Lucas changes his mind about these movies.

 

[TheGoofster]

Maybe this will help:

Star Wars (the original), The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi - Awesome movies (some of the best ever made)

The newer movies (Episodes 1, 2) - horrible
Episode 3 - Not too bad (in spite of Anakin)

Probably one of the worst actors I've ever seen in any movie (including such block-busters as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and Manos hands of fate) has to be the guy who plays Anakin. I've seen 2nd grade stage productions with more talent than he displayed in those movies. Although I will admit in the movie "Jumper" he was a little bit better. Still not great, but not nearly as awful as he was in the Star Wars movies. If they had found somebody who could actually act, I think the movies might have been quite a bit better. Every scene he was in just made me cringe.

 

[Macca1111]

Probably one of the worst actors I've ever seen in any movie (including such block-busters as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and Manos hands of fate) has to be the guy who plays Anakin. I've seen 2nd grade stage productions with more talent than he displayed in those movies. Although I will admit in the movie "Jumper" he was a little bit better. Still not great, but not nearly as awful as he was in the Star Wars movies. If they had found somebody who could actually act, I think the movies might have been quite a bit better. Every scene he was in just made me cringe.

Actually my theory is that George Lucas inspires terrible acting in his movies, particularly in his male leads. If you see Hayden Cristensen (sp?) in Life as a House, he's actually quite good. In fact, Natalie Portman and Ewan McGreggor are much better actors than you'd guess from Star Wars. It's my newest working theory on why Anakin and Luke are such whiny characters.

 

[DaaBoTownSox]

Actually my theory is that George Lucas inspires terrible acting in his movies, particularly in his male leads. If you see Hayden Cristensen (sp?) in Life as a House, he's actually quite good. In fact, Natalie Portman and Ewan McGreggor are much better actors than you'd guess from Star Wars. It's my newest working theory on why Anakin and Luke are such whiny characters.

The only person that's good out of those 3 is Natalie Portman. Also, I don't think Luke was whiny, but Anakin definitely was (one of the main reasons I hated Episodes 1-3).

 

[Macca1111]

Oh Luke is whiny, particularly in the first one, but really the whole way through. Terrible acting. Great voice-over actor tho.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I'm not the OP, but after reading this, it just doesn't seem like it would be worth the effort anymore. lol

Well for most people they can not all be your favorite. But they all have good points and lead the story along. after watching the ending in number three you just have to watch four right away.

Mikeeee

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Probably one of the worst actors I've ever seen in any movie (including such block-busters as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and Manos hands of fate) has to be the guy who plays Anakin. I've seen 2nd grade stage productions with more talent than he displayed in those movies. Although I will admit in the movie "Jumper" he was a little bit better. Still not great, but not nearly as awful as he was in the Star Wars movies. If they had found somebody who could actually act, I think the movies might have been quite a bit better. Every scene he was in just made me cringe.

I'm one of the few who disagree wholeheartedly. I LOVED Hayden and I've loved him in everything else I've seen him in. Life as a House is one of the best movies I've ever seen and he rocked the role.

 

[ZuZugal]

I want to watch the first Star Wars movie. The first one that I saw as a kid - came out in the 70s (76? 77?). I can't figure it out. The first Star Wars does not appear to BE the first Star Wars. It is some other Star Wars that I don't wish to see.

The boys say they all got moved around as they made new ones and the first one isn't really the first one. They say if I want to watch the FIRST Star Wars movie that I should get the third one.

Very confuzzled.

Is it possible that they're right and Star Wars III is really Star Wars I????

Just stick with episodes IV, V and VI and pretend the others don't exist. That's what I do anyway (and quite a few others I know.)
The original trilogy movies have just the right balance of adventure, sci-fi, humor,etc. I, II and III don't even come close. Just my opinion.

 

[Planogirl]

I liked Episode III a lot, Ewan McGreggor was good and Darth Maul was cool in his episode (if only he'd had a bigger part!) but I agree that the 4-6 trilogy is by far better. I still think of New Hope as just plain Star Wars and it's the only movie that I saw over and over and over again in the theaters. And at home too.

 

[Suzie Zoo]

I believe that a bad Star Wars movie is better than 99% of anything else you could watch...!! The prequel trilogy was awesome in its own way and it brought in a whole new generation of Star Wars fans that might not exist otherwise.

 

[JenM]

I'm one of the few who disagree wholeheartedly. I LOVED Hayden and I've loved him in everything else I've seen him in. Life as a House is one of the best movies I've ever seen and he rocked the role.

I agree that he takes too much of the blame for his role in SW. His dialogue was so god-awful that I don't think anyone could have made it work. He's practically cringing himself during that fireplace scene in Episode II. I read that he would get frustrated on the set because George would insist he be "whinier" on another take and Hayden hated that.

I don't think he's a phenomenal actor, but he's much better than those movies let him be, and it's really too bad because everyone just looks at Star Wars.

 

[JenM]

Hmm. I thought the laser disc edition was the very first released (made from the first-released movie, I mean), and I have that, and it says episode IV between SW and the words. But maybe they did the VHS and LD from the second release...

Copyright on the sleeve says '77, but the laserdisc release was in '82. Hmm.

Just shows George was always sneaky, putting '78 stuff on a '77 copyright...

Nope, the original theatrical release did not say Episode IV. That showed up on the 1978 re-release and on every version since, including all the video releases.

There are also prints from 1977 that have the original voices of Luke's aunt and uncle. They were British, but their voices were dubbed over by American actors so they would sound the same as Luke (as it wouldn't make sense if Luke had an American accent if he was raised by British foster parents). I think it's the original Betamax release of the first film that still has the track of the original voices.

Also, Luke's co-pilot Wedge is played by Denis Lawson, who is Ewan McGregor's uncle. His voice was also dubbed by an American actor. I remember seen Ewan on the Tonight Show and he said his family got a laugh out of his line "Look at the size of that thing!" because it wasn't his voice.

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Completely agree about the dialogue. Star Wars is more about the one-liners than the dialogue as a whole. And that's what makes it fun!

For those who want to see Hayden in good roles, you should also check out Shattered Glass... he does a great job. As a whole, I prefer Life as a House, but he does an awesome job in both movies.

Too funny about Wedge... I didn't know that!