Visual Storytelling at it's finest....

Originally posted by OB1-adobe
Its cool you put this together man,

But now your reaching to make a point.

I totally feel like watching Star wars now though.

Thanks Adobe, I'll try to make some better ones.

Originally posted by Jedi Priestess
Oh comn guys. This thread beats 80% of the others in the room by far if nothing else by the beauty of the pictures and the memories they bring. Lay off him already.

Originally posted by queeq
Hey, he's doing allright. But we can also discuss whether it is indeed storytelling at its best or lack of imagination and originality.

There are some lovely parrallels indeed... but some are less so.

I'll try to be more selective.

Here's a cool one before Christmas break:

Maul - Anakin... not bad.

I'll give everyone my absolute honest opinion.

You see, I can understand that viusally these movies were done differently than the PT, as it relies on alot of CGI to help make the environments come to life. I'll have no problem admitting that these films were more kid-like than the the older ones. (Put aside the Ewoks, the little creatures in Jabba's Palace, The Sand People) Oh thats right. The OT had its child moements too. GL made these movies "fun". But some people take advantage of the that "fun" and analyze it too seriously. I think the only Star Wars movie that acutally took itself seriously was Empire Strikes Back.

But first we need to realize who George Lucas is. Get ride of all the dialogue, with just nothing but the movie and John Williams heartwarming score, and you'll find that Star Wars is a visual masterpiece. You could follow these films without any dialogue whatsoever, with the aid of John Williams music and George Lucas' visuals. Thats the kind of guy he is. Lack of imagination, you could call it that I guess. However, Lucas did say in the Phantom Menace documentary that everything was a "metaphor" in the sense that Episode 1 has a link to Episode 4 and so on.

Alot of people complain because the PT is way too different than the OT. I think however, this thread goes to prove just how clever Lucas actually was in tieing things togehter, and yet, using symbolism to refer back to the OT. In alot of ways, this goes to show that all the same elements from the OT are still in the PT, and that it's not all that bad. The PT is supposed to bring out that Kid inside of you. I don't see anything wrong with that.

If its a lack of story telling or creativity, well, I don't know really. I mean, Lucas could have turned the Saga into a Matrix thing you know and use a bunch of slow motion, camera rotating movements and such, but he kept the traditional shots from the OT to bring out the same elements. Yeah its the same, nothing new. But sometimes you don't have to fix what isn't broken.

Cool thread Saber...

I'll try one...

...or how 'bout this one...

😆

Creepy

Originally posted by EPIIIBITES
I'll try one...

Very nice. 🙂

Originally posted by Sith Master X
Get ride of all the dialogue, with just nothing but the movie and John Williams heartwarming score, and you'll find that Star Wars is a visual masterpiece.

Without any characterisation and with pretty pictures, it's not much of a movie, is it? Because that's what you're doing if you take out dialogue: you lose any characterisation and that is exactly what is at fault in the PT.

Besides, I've spoken to a number of DP's who admit that the pictures are beautiful and crispy sharp, but most feel it kinda misses a soul. It's a bit cold and dead... nice CGI, but little life. I agree with them.

I agree with both...these films are without a doubt visual masterpieces...some of the most breathtaking images to ever be put on screen have to belong to the Star Wars franchise. But it's all about the soul.

Some scenes don't have as much soul as others. Seeing the Battle of Hoth in the 80s was just completely other-wordly. Wild imagination, combined with state-of-the-art effects work, to create something that made everyone's jaw drop. You know that effect you see every know again that just makes you smile from ear to ear...that was Hoth in the 80s.

On the other side of the spectrum for me is something like the lightsaber duel in the lava rivers of Mustufar...over 20 years later!!! There was something so artificial looking about it that I couldn't get into the scene and get a feel for the size and scope of what was on screen. It just had no gravity...completely souless...20 years on, you gotta think there should be no excuse.

Exactly my point. In the 70s and early 80s Lucas et al struggled with all the technical and financial limitations and despite of that (or maybe thanks to????) they made these awesome films. Now, with no financial or technical limitations they come up with these visually stunning, but almost soulless films. You know what, I prefer the limitations...

Originally posted by EPIIIBITES
Cool thread Saber...

I'll try one...

Good one! Nice find Bites.

I'd done the Seps and Dooks around the conference table compared to Tarkin and the Govennors around the conference table, but I don't know how I missed that one!

👆

Glad that this thread is being enjoyed, that pics are being seen, and that it's causing discussions.

I'm off for extended Christmas break from work on Tue. but i'll return wed. with a few new updates.

See ya's!

Originally posted by queeq
Exactly my point. In the 70s and early 80s Lucas et al struggled with all the technical and financial limitations and despite of that (or maybe thanks to????) they made these awesome films. Now, with no financial or technical limitations they come up with these visually stunning, but almost soulless films. You know what, I prefer the limitations...

Sure. 😉

True to my word, I'm back with some more pics.

Here's a funny parralell/copy:

Hmmm....

Hmmm....

Mr. Lars, I presume?

(Interesting note, besides the obvious Luke follows Anakin parallels we see where Anakin follows Maul, and the above is just positions but Owen follows the path of Cliegg becoming the gruff farmer, even sitting in his spot.)

Hmmm....

What about Padme's earmuffs in ROTS... ? Did you show that yet?

Hmmm... not sure. I'll have to go back through the thread to check it out.

Anyways, here's an update for today:

TPM/ROTS duels

Jedi pursuing Sith v.s. Sith pursuing Jedi

Maul is the "Seperatist" being pursued by the Jedi. Obi-Wan is the "Seperatist being pursued by Vader.

Jumping towards Sith; jumping away from Sith.

Opening Door by Destroying Controls.

(It's hard to tell from these pics, but both Obi-Wan and Maul twirl their sabres as they walk through the door, away from their pursuer)

(cont. from above)

Obi-Wan backflipping out of kick.

Neat, huh?

Battle of the Heroes is even written musically to be like a tragic version of Duel of the Fates. (according to GL, anyways.) 😛

Now Ep3/Ep4 duels:

Obi-Wan sneaking around prior to duels.

The one handed ignite.

(cont. from above)

They fight.

The above pic with anakin in the hall also mirrors Vader in the hall of Cloud City with Luke, hitting the walls.

You should've put in Obi's one-handed ignite in TPM too.

Disagreements with the Staff (the next two sets)

Literally:

Figuratively:

Besides the obvious links in dialogue (apprentice apologises after disagreement involving the Council, mentor says kind words about apprentice), it's also significant that this is the last conversation Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have before facing Maul, and the last conversation Obi-Wan and Anakin have before facing each other.

For Rampant Ox:

"I sense great fear in you Skywalker. You have hate, you have anger. But you don't use them."

"Oh. You did."

Note the reversal of his facial expression, his head position, and the blade colors.

Not really a parallel, just a progression.

Dooks got pwned. 😛