any Star Wars fans out there? [poll]

[Chris]

That site is a hoax - read more here: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/SuperShadow

[Preston]

I have read that before, but why would GL keep letting it run? This is what I do not understand, ?

I have followed SS site for a while, and the GL interviews have long talked about the live action TV series and the details behind them, which are now happening? Confuses me.

It is hard for me to believe if it is a hoax or not. I wish it wasn't. Either way, you are right, the whole thing is kind of bizarre.

[Chris]

Well, George Lucas doesn't own the Internet - he can't stop someone from claiming to be his friend and having "inside information" about his work. Or at least it wouldn't be worth the trouble to do it. Supershadow has been around for a long time, and he is a well-known hoax.

[Preston]

Your words are well taken Chris. I stopped posting on the site quite sometime ago, do to all the conspiracy.

Have any of you heard of Jediism? I am not one for it, by any means, because as of now no Force exist that we, people can use and try to understand, don't know if it ever will.

[Preston]

But they do not do it well. The prequels are filled with terrible scripts, horrible acting, and ridiculous CGI. The orignals had great scripts, charming acting, and wonderful special effects that still hold up to this day, while the CGI of the prequels is already looking dated.

Chris, I take it that you have become partially blind, ?

I mean, the artists put an incredibly unimaginable amount of work into the CGI. Yes these are blurry.



In short, I thought the CGI was incredible.

[Chris]

Much of the CGI scenery looked great, but the CGI creatures did not. Even the spaceships looked questionable. And just seeing stills doesn't make it clear, but if you see it in motion and especially if you compare it to the shots in the original trilogy that used actual models, you can see what I mean. The final space battle in Return of the Jedi looks better and more realistic than anything done in the prequel movies.

[Preston]

Will get back to you soon Chis, .

[Preston]

Much of the CGI scenery looked great, but the CGI creatures did not. Even the spaceships looked questionable. And just seeing stills doesn't make it clear, but if you see it in motion and especially if you compare it to the shots in the original trilogy that used actual models, you can what I mean. The final space battle in Return of the Jedi looks better and more realistic than anything done in the prequel movies.

The Battle of Endor is spectacular Chris! Do you think that the battle at the beginning of Episode III compares?

It seems to me that a lot of people feel that the Episodes I & II were more child like, do you agree?

I thought that Grevious looked quite good for a CGI character, though. It seems that the ships looked good also, I mean the Naboo fighters seem to be done well?

For instance, what throws me off, are things like the walkers on the Battle on Hoth. They remind me of models.

I do not have the best eye for art, though. So perhaps I am wrong?

[Chris]

The Battle of Endor is spectacular Chris! Do you think that the battle at the beginning of Episode III compares?

Not even close. The beginning of Episode III looks like a spiffy video game, but the ships in no way look like real objects.

It seems to me that a lot of people feel that the Episodes I & II were more child like, do you agree?

I think all of Star Wars is child-like in the way it presents the adventures and captures imaginations. Episodes I and II I would call childish, not child-like. The fart jokes and slapstick were quite ridiculous, in my opinion, and did not fit in with what the original movies established.

I thought that Grevious looked quite good for a CGI character, though. It seems that the ships looked good also, I mean the Naboo fighters seem to be done well?

Looked good, yes, but not real. I think as computer graphics get better, we like them better, but there is a zone where it goes the other way - they get better, but we like them less. The reason for this is that they have gotten very close to reality, but there is still a slight difference, and it is jarring and something just seems not quite right about it. In any case, Grevious looked OK, bit not real. And his cape actually looked pretty bad. Flowing farbric is difficult.

For instance, what throws me off, are things like the walkers on the Battle on Hoth. They remind me of models.

The stop motion may stick out in some places today, but at least they look like real objects, and I'll take that any day.

[Preston]

Yes, I almost put childish instead of child-like. Thank you for your advice, it is well taken. It gets a little confusing, for me, comparing the trilogies. I need to think on this more clearly.

On another note- there is a new MMORPG coming out, about The Old Republic. It has quite an interesting story, unfortunately the graphics aren't to well. The story is fascinating, it shows the foundations of The Force- how it started, the planets it began on, how the Jedi came to be, etc. One of the aspects of the story I find most interesting is that, it shows, in game, the Jedi starting to study and learn about The Force. So I find the story to be a good thing. I know that a lot of people, including myself, think that George is going to far with Star Wars, but I have for quite some time wanted to learn about the history of The Force, and this seems to be a good way to do it.

Here is the link to the game site, http://www.swtor.com/ . Let me know what you think.

Although, I think another good way would be to make a very long movie, with incredible environments, about the study of The Force, Jedi, Sith, etc.. As you feel though, this would have to be done when CGI was completely realistic.

[Chris]

Yes, I know about the game, but it does not interest me. RPGs and MMORPGs are not really my thing. A lot of people love the Knights of the Old Republic games, but I just didn't care for them.

My favorite games of all time were X-Wing and TIE Fighter, two wonderful flight sims for the PC. The gameplay was incredibly deep, and the story (at least in TIE Fighter) was very compelling.

Anyway, Lucas himself has nothing to do with the games, so if it turns out to be terrible, it's not his fault. Though it does seem like an interesting idea for that type of game. If I did like those types of games, I would certainly check it out. I don't have much time for games or movies these days, sadly...

[Preston]

I think, not entirely sure though, that Lucas helped with The Force Unleashed, as far as the story. I do imagine that he will help give ideas and story concepts with The Old Republic. The only reason I will be playing TOR is because of the story, while it will not be Lucas' complete vision, it has a very interesting concept. I would like to see the natural planet of Typhon- where the Jedi Order started, and, the key thing- to read the in game stories and follow how The Force came to be.

If you do ever check it out, send me a pm, perhaps we could meet up online, .

Also, you might want to try some of the story and puzzle driven adventure games. They have excellent graphics. I do enjoy graphics, because of the atmosphere that they provide. Agon Game is a good adventure and Mozart Le Jeu will be coming soon.

[Preston]

Star Trek

I'm a Star Trek fan...

Well Michael, I watched the new Star Trek movie last night. I thought that it was great! Have you seen it? Has anyone seen it?

[Chris]

Well Michael, I watched the new Star Trek movie last night. I thought that it was great! Have you seen it? Has anyone seen it?

I've seen it. I thought it was pretty stupid. I really love the original series, but this didn't do it for me. Two things that were great about it though, were Leonard Nimoy back as Spock and the new McCoy - he captured the original perfectly and wasn't too over the top with it.

[Preston]

I've seen it. I thought it was pretty stupid. I really love the original series, but this didn't do it for me. Two things that were great about it though, were Leonard Nimoy back as Spock and the new McCoy - he captured the original perfectly and wasn't too over the top with it.

I haven't seen the originals, although I have seen one of the past Star Trek movies, but it seemed, kind of, cheaply made.

I like Spock in the new movie. I think that he is brilliant, which it seemed they focused heavily on Spock's character. Perhaps a little to much you think?

Chris, I think that you and I differ when it comes to the new things, . I think that you hold more of a purist belief? Am I right?

I love CGI, and what can be done with it. I mean some the shots in the movie were great, because of the virtual world they created, they can almost make anything possible. I know that it is not perfect, yet, but it is very interesting what you can do with it. I do not feel that it is a "jarring" difference, when done well, just a different view.

Why do you feel it is stupid? The one major thing I didn't like about it is that it seemed to have a focus on the popular culture, but I don't think that has a diminishing effect for Star Trek fans, perhaps I am wrong?