This weekend, George Lucas holds his annual digital summit at SKYWALKER RANCH where he brings in the top filmmakers in the world and begins his updating regarding the world of digital filmmaking. Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Robert Rodriguez, Francis Ford Copolla, Frank Darabont, Kerry Conran, Robert Zemeckis and many, many more will be hitting the ranch. Some of them famous for their Digital filmwork, some left doubting it's merits. The highlight this weekend is George's exhibition of STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH. So after this weekend we might be hearing the praises of REVENGE OF THE SITH from a great many fan-fave filmmakers, but for now... there's one voice shining out with pure unadulterated geek love for REVENGE OF THE SITH - and that's Kevin Smith! There's Spoilers galore in his review - but if you're a doubting Thomas - he's basically throwing down the glove saying this is "quite simply, fucking awesome." Here's a taste - you'll have to hit his site for the rest:
"SITH" SPOILERS
You've been warned...
- "Revenge of the Sith" is, quite simply, fucking awesome. This is the "Star Wars" prequel the haters have been bitching for since "Menace" came out, and if they don't cop to that when they finally see it, they're lying. As dark as "Empire" was, this movie goes a thousand times darker - from the triggering of Order 66 (which has all the Shock Troopers turning on the Jedi Knights they've been fighting beside throughout the Clone Wars and gunning them down), to the jaw-dropping Anakin/Obi Wan fight on Mustafar (where - after cutting his legs and arm off, Ben leaves Skywalker burning alive on the shores of a lava river, with Anakin spitting venomous sentiments at his departing mentor), this flick is so satisfyingly tragic, you'll think you're watching "Othello" or "Hamlet".
I saw a gorgeous digitally projected version of the flick, and lemme tell ya': this is a beautiful looking film. The opening space battle sequence is the best in any of the six "Star Wars" movies. Grievous and Kenobi's lightsaber duel is bad-ass, with Grievous rocking four sabers. The Clone Wars end rather early in the flick (about the halfway point), leaving the rest of the film to concentrate on Anakin's turn to the Dark Side, and the resulting slaughter of the Jedi....
Go to the below site and scroll down for the rest of the review...
http://viewaskew.com/news/sith/
Does anybody actually read any of this stuff I post? It's SW gold people!!!
April 28, 2005
April 25, 2005
Some tidbits from SW Celebration 3 held over the weekend
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SW Celebration 3 was held over the weekend in Indiana and Lucas and MacCallum were on hand to do interviews. I pasted some of the more interesting stuff below...
From the Lucas Q&A...
I was in the second Lucas Q&A (at least, I think it was the second - blue wrist band) and someone had the cojones to ask why the original trilogy was interesting and the prequels weren't. Lucas talked about how the first act of a play and the first chapters of a book are always boring because their exposition - they set up the rest of the story - and compared the prequels to that. Even more interesting, though, Lucas said that when he originally wrote the SW story, the prequels amounted to about 20 pages. 20% of that got used in TPM (with the rest of the movie made up - Lucas called it a "jazz rift" on the main plot), 20% in AOTC (with more "filler"), but fully 60% of the prequel plot is contained in ROTS.
From the "MacCallum Spectacular"...
I also got into the "Rick McCallum Spectacular," which I knew I wanted to see because I saw it at Celebration II, where he showed part of the seen where Yoda and Count Dooku duel from Episode II, which was before it was released in theaters. This time he showed the 6 minute montage. It had an excellent sound track that Rick said they just "threw it together from sound effects" solely for this montage. The montage and soundtrack is purely inexplainable. You just have to see this film to get it. Rick also had a Q&A, and here is what I gleamed from that:
* A script has been accepted for Indiana Jones 4, but Steven Spielberg's schedule is pretty tight.
* Someone asked if the montage was going to be included in the Episode III DVD, and Rick was like, "Uh, I don't... Uh..." which was met with every mouth in the room erupting with various deafening, but positive, noises. After which, Rick merely said, "Uh, sure. Ok. Since you feel that way, it'll be on the DVD," or something to that effect.
* Someone asked what it was like working with George Lucas, and Rick's answer was good, just that the most horrifying things he's lived through are when George shows up for work and says, "What if we did this..."
Here is some info from the 6 min. montage...
the 6-7 minutes of all new footage that was shown just blew people away. We are talking some of the best action sequences in any SW movie. Just a few high points:
- You get a really good look at Grevious several times but the one that stood out was when he is chasing Obi-Wan and Grevious is in his Wheel. This chase sequence is fast and very intense.
- The space battle is on a scale we have never seen before. Much more color and detail. When the ship explode, you actually see the droids or troopers fly out into space. Sometimes in pieces. Very cool effects.
- They showed several scenes of the clones turing against the Jedi. There is a close-up of Yoda in one of trailers where all you see is his face then you see pupils dialate. They show the rest of this scene and There are Clonetroopers behind him that are raising the guns in preparation for gunning him down. He senses this (close-up of his face), then spins around with his lightsaber and takes like three of them down with one swoop. Awesome scene.
- Another eerie scene has Anakin in a room, eyes red, and you see him using the force to shut all the doors in the room. They don't show who else is in the room but you can tell he's about to kick some ass.
- Another expander scene is the fight beteen Yoda and Palpatine in the Senate chamber. In the trailer you see palpatine use the force to throw one of the hover seats at Yoda like a frisbee. What you don't see is that Yoda uses the force to stop it within inches of his head, he then uses his own power to start spinning the thing and shoves is back at Palpatine. Looks much cooler than I can ever describe it.
- They also showed a scene of Yoda just getting his ass kicked by Palpatine. Thought it was odd that the crowd actually cheered when they saw this. I is an intense scene but Yoda really take it hard.
- Fanboys who are obsessed with clonetroopers are going to love this film. I couldn't even keep track of the different trypes of troopers there seem to be in the movie.
- There are five different lightsaber battle in this film and the footage we saw showed a bit of all of them. Seemed to show the most of the Anakin/Obi Wan lava battle. Looks awesome. I read in the latest Entertainment Weekly that Spielberg had some input on this sequence. Like I said, what I saw looks great.
Patience, we must have...14 days until campout...24 days until RotS!!
From the Lucas Q&A...
I was in the second Lucas Q&A (at least, I think it was the second - blue wrist band) and someone had the cojones to ask why the original trilogy was interesting and the prequels weren't. Lucas talked about how the first act of a play and the first chapters of a book are always boring because their exposition - they set up the rest of the story - and compared the prequels to that. Even more interesting, though, Lucas said that when he originally wrote the SW story, the prequels amounted to about 20 pages. 20% of that got used in TPM (with the rest of the movie made up - Lucas called it a "jazz rift" on the main plot), 20% in AOTC (with more "filler"), but fully 60% of the prequel plot is contained in ROTS.
From the "MacCallum Spectacular"...
I also got into the "Rick McCallum Spectacular," which I knew I wanted to see because I saw it at Celebration II, where he showed part of the seen where Yoda and Count Dooku duel from Episode II, which was before it was released in theaters. This time he showed the 6 minute montage. It had an excellent sound track that Rick said they just "threw it together from sound effects" solely for this montage. The montage and soundtrack is purely inexplainable. You just have to see this film to get it. Rick also had a Q&A, and here is what I gleamed from that:
* A script has been accepted for Indiana Jones 4, but Steven Spielberg's schedule is pretty tight.
* Someone asked if the montage was going to be included in the Episode III DVD, and Rick was like, "Uh, I don't... Uh..." which was met with every mouth in the room erupting with various deafening, but positive, noises. After which, Rick merely said, "Uh, sure. Ok. Since you feel that way, it'll be on the DVD," or something to that effect.
* Someone asked what it was like working with George Lucas, and Rick's answer was good, just that the most horrifying things he's lived through are when George shows up for work and says, "What if we did this..."
Here is some info from the 6 min. montage...
the 6-7 minutes of all new footage that was shown just blew people away. We are talking some of the best action sequences in any SW movie. Just a few high points:
- You get a really good look at Grevious several times but the one that stood out was when he is chasing Obi-Wan and Grevious is in his Wheel. This chase sequence is fast and very intense.
- The space battle is on a scale we have never seen before. Much more color and detail. When the ship explode, you actually see the droids or troopers fly out into space. Sometimes in pieces. Very cool effects.
- They showed several scenes of the clones turing against the Jedi. There is a close-up of Yoda in one of trailers where all you see is his face then you see pupils dialate. They show the rest of this scene and There are Clonetroopers behind him that are raising the guns in preparation for gunning him down. He senses this (close-up of his face), then spins around with his lightsaber and takes like three of them down with one swoop. Awesome scene.
- Another eerie scene has Anakin in a room, eyes red, and you see him using the force to shut all the doors in the room. They don't show who else is in the room but you can tell he's about to kick some ass.
- Another expander scene is the fight beteen Yoda and Palpatine in the Senate chamber. In the trailer you see palpatine use the force to throw one of the hover seats at Yoda like a frisbee. What you don't see is that Yoda uses the force to stop it within inches of his head, he then uses his own power to start spinning the thing and shoves is back at Palpatine. Looks much cooler than I can ever describe it.
- They also showed a scene of Yoda just getting his ass kicked by Palpatine. Thought it was odd that the crowd actually cheered when they saw this. I is an intense scene but Yoda really take it hard.
- Fanboys who are obsessed with clonetroopers are going to love this film. I couldn't even keep track of the different trypes of troopers there seem to be in the movie.
- There are five different lightsaber battle in this film and the footage we saw showed a bit of all of them. Seemed to show the most of the Anakin/Obi Wan lava battle. Looks awesome. I read in the latest Entertainment Weekly that Spielberg had some input on this sequence. Like I said, what I saw looks great.
Patience, we must have...14 days until campout...24 days until RotS!!
April 19, 2005
New ROTS TV spots!!
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So another wave of SW ads are out now. Check them out and post your feelings - They are at starwars.com and in glorious Quicktime format, here are the links for you lazy people -
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/unite.html
Very kid-friendly! But, "crush them"!!
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/jediaction1.html
You can catch a short glance of Grievous blocking Obi-wan with 2 lightsabers!!
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/jediaction2.html
Mace looks pissed!!
Enjoy!!!
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/unite.html
Very kid-friendly! But, "crush them"!!
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/jediaction1.html
You can catch a short glance of Grievous blocking Obi-wan with 2 lightsabers!!
http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/jediaction2.html
Mace looks pissed!!
Enjoy!!!
April 18, 2005
Um...yeah, tickets are on sale!!!!
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Sorry about the last post but it seems that no one wanted to be kind to the SW faithful and give us the heads up on ticket on sale. Friday April 15th the tiks went on sale @ Big Newport or homebase for SW Campers of the YL. We took possesion of enough tiks....I think. Anyway they are on sale so hurry and get some if there are any left.....
April 15, 2005
Ticket update
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So... a little scare with the tiks but we are OK for now. I did some research and found this link page for "ticket on sale" and theatre chains' dates for ticket release. As you can see Regal is on or after the 20th. AMC is already selling though....
Here's the current state of play with regards to tickets for 'Revenge of the Sith' at US theaters.
* Rave Motion Picture Theaters - On sale from April 15th.
* Fandango - On sale from April 20th.
* AMC - (Darthfloyd writes): The AMC chain of theaters at least will be selling tickets to the midnight showing of Episode 3 starting today, April 14th. Apparently they got the go ahead from Fox last night around 5 pm, and multiple calls to their office confirmed this.
* Regal Cinemas - (James writes): In Charlotte, NC ticket preorders for Revenge of the Sith for Regal Cinemas start on April 20th according to an manager at the theatre.
* Warren Theaters - (Darth Sprocket writes): Revenge of the Sith tickets go on sale April 19th in Wichita, Kansas at the Warren Theaters.
* Kerasotes Theatres - (thanks to Chris): We will begin selling tickets online and at most of our theatres tonight, April 14th at 8:00 pm. As you are aware the film opens on Thursday, May 19. Many of our theatres will have 12:01 am shows opening day. Schedules will be available online.
* Amstar Cinemas - (Jay writes): I went to my local Amstar Cinema today in Oxford, Alabama and they had tickets on sale for the midnight showing of Episode III, as well as tickets through May 22nd. I then went to their official website, and tickets are on sale at all Amstar Cinemas now, April 14th, and will be for sale on-line on April 19th.
* Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas - (John writes): For people living in the Austin area, you can add the Alamo Drafthouse as of right now, April 14th.
* Seattle Cinerama - (Tom writes): (As of April 14th), now an ecstatic 7-ticket holder for 12:01am at the Seattle Cinerama.
* Cinemark - (Ron writes): I just bought my Ep 3 tickets at Cinemark's offical site for my theatre, on April 14th.
* Wehrenberg Theaters - (News-Leader writes): In Springfield, Campbell 16 Cin? will start selling tickets at 9:30 a.m. today (April 15th) online — www.wehrenberg.com. Box office sales at the theater, 4005 South Ave., begin about 11:30 a.m., manager Kendra Sparrow said.
* Showcase Cinemas - (Hamilton Journal News writes): Showcase Cinema — Cincinnati Mills: Tickets are to go on sale sometime Friday, April 15th.
* Muvico Theaters - (Steve writes): This chain is also selling tickets. We lined up yesterday (April 14th) and bought the tickets at midnight. Lots of free stuff and promotions.
* Strand and Family Cinemas - (Alhon writes): Strand and Family in Manitowoc, WI is selling tickets starting on April 30.
* Clearview Ziegfeld - (Quentin writes): Tickets are available starting now (April 15th) at the Ziegfeld in New York, and at the ticket counter at 1:00 p.m. sharp. To purchase tickets for the Midnight Screening, press "showtimes", then press on "Buy Tickets" for Sahara on today's date, then press "Change Date", to May 18. Nothing comes up on that page, so you have to click "CHANGE" in the upper right corner, and then the tickets come up: click on "Buy Tickets" for the 12:01 a.m. viewing.
Congrats Admiral Akwelches on your union!!
Here's the current state of play with regards to tickets for 'Revenge of the Sith' at US theaters.
* Rave Motion Picture Theaters - On sale from April 15th.
* Fandango - On sale from April 20th.
* AMC - (Darthfloyd writes): The AMC chain of theaters at least will be selling tickets to the midnight showing of Episode 3 starting today, April 14th. Apparently they got the go ahead from Fox last night around 5 pm, and multiple calls to their office confirmed this.
* Regal Cinemas - (James writes): In Charlotte, NC ticket preorders for Revenge of the Sith for Regal Cinemas start on April 20th according to an manager at the theatre.
* Warren Theaters - (Darth Sprocket writes): Revenge of the Sith tickets go on sale April 19th in Wichita, Kansas at the Warren Theaters.
* Kerasotes Theatres - (thanks to Chris): We will begin selling tickets online and at most of our theatres tonight, April 14th at 8:00 pm. As you are aware the film opens on Thursday, May 19. Many of our theatres will have 12:01 am shows opening day. Schedules will be available online.
* Amstar Cinemas - (Jay writes): I went to my local Amstar Cinema today in Oxford, Alabama and they had tickets on sale for the midnight showing of Episode III, as well as tickets through May 22nd. I then went to their official website, and tickets are on sale at all Amstar Cinemas now, April 14th, and will be for sale on-line on April 19th.
* Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas - (John writes): For people living in the Austin area, you can add the Alamo Drafthouse as of right now, April 14th.
* Seattle Cinerama - (Tom writes): (As of April 14th), now an ecstatic 7-ticket holder for 12:01am at the Seattle Cinerama.
* Cinemark - (Ron writes): I just bought my Ep 3 tickets at Cinemark's offical site for my theatre, on April 14th.
* Wehrenberg Theaters - (News-Leader writes): In Springfield, Campbell 16 Cin? will start selling tickets at 9:30 a.m. today (April 15th) online — www.wehrenberg.com. Box office sales at the theater, 4005 South Ave., begin about 11:30 a.m., manager Kendra Sparrow said.
* Showcase Cinemas - (Hamilton Journal News writes): Showcase Cinema — Cincinnati Mills: Tickets are to go on sale sometime Friday, April 15th.
* Muvico Theaters - (Steve writes): This chain is also selling tickets. We lined up yesterday (April 14th) and bought the tickets at midnight. Lots of free stuff and promotions.
* Strand and Family Cinemas - (Alhon writes): Strand and Family in Manitowoc, WI is selling tickets starting on April 30.
* Clearview Ziegfeld - (Quentin writes): Tickets are available starting now (April 15th) at the Ziegfeld in New York, and at the ticket counter at 1:00 p.m. sharp. To purchase tickets for the Midnight Screening, press "showtimes", then press on "Buy Tickets" for Sahara on today's date, then press "Change Date", to May 18. Nothing comes up on that page, so you have to click "CHANGE" in the upper right corner, and then the tickets come up: click on "Buy Tickets" for the 12:01 a.m. viewing.
Congrats Admiral Akwelches on your union!!
April 13, 2005
Ticket info?!?
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4/11 - Ticket Info: From Fandango.com: 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith' will be available to be booked by theatres after 4/20/2005. Tickets will go on sale on Fandango as soon as theatres program show times for this movie in their system.Please check back on Fandango.com after 4/20/2005 to see when tickets go on sale.
If this is true than we may need to talk to Big Newport and find out when they plan on releasing tiks before they go on Fandango. Maybe Shea could find out.....
If this is true than we may need to talk to Big Newport and find out when they plan on releasing tiks before they go on Fandango. Maybe Shea could find out.....
April 12, 2005
ROTS - PG-13!!!
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STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH Has Its Rating!!
Published on Sunday, April 10, 2005
Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I’d like to quote a certain “FrostySkywalker” from this Jedi Council meeting held well over a year ago:
FROSTY: Right. Well, I’ve heard many times that he’s contractually obligated, and we’ve talked about this, for a PG rating.
I heard much of the same talk from people who worked for companies that had licensing deals with Lucasfilm. Everyone said the same thing. “He’s obligated to turn in a PG rated film.” Yet for almost a year now, Rick McCallum and Lucas himself have been suggesting that the film might be too dark for that rating.
Now, the official decision has been handed down: REVENGE OF THE SITH is PG-13 for “sci-fi violence and some intense images.”
I’m happy to say that all of us who speculated that he’d either try to buy the PG or cut his film to avoid a higher rating were wrong. He seems to have embraced the PG-13, and to that, I have only one thing to say:
Bring it on, George. Bring it on.
Published on Sunday, April 10, 2005
Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I’d like to quote a certain “FrostySkywalker” from this Jedi Council meeting held well over a year ago:
FROSTY: Right. Well, I’ve heard many times that he’s contractually obligated, and we’ve talked about this, for a PG rating.
I heard much of the same talk from people who worked for companies that had licensing deals with Lucasfilm. Everyone said the same thing. “He’s obligated to turn in a PG rated film.” Yet for almost a year now, Rick McCallum and Lucas himself have been suggesting that the film might be too dark for that rating.
Now, the official decision has been handed down: REVENGE OF THE SITH is PG-13 for “sci-fi violence and some intense images.”
I’m happy to say that all of us who speculated that he’d either try to buy the PG or cut his film to avoid a higher rating were wrong. He seems to have embraced the PG-13, and to that, I have only one thing to say:
Bring it on, George. Bring it on.
April 09, 2005
April 06, 2005
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