Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with wars

Retcon of the Jedi

Ndwright — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:22:27 -0800

Does the continual revision of Star Wars have any artistic parallels in any medium? In having an argument the other day over the merits of the new Indiana Jones film, I made a strong case for not being too hard on it. While it was certainly the weakest of the franchise, it did none of the things that the Star Wars prequels did to not just screw up the mythology, but retroactively screw up the films that preceded it.

As I made my case, I came to realize that I couldn't think of any filmmaker that had so extensively retconned his/her work as George Lucas. Chaplin did some rescoring, and director's cuts of other films abound, but nobody in cinematic history has so marred their own work and what made it special in the way that Lucas did.

Woody Allen's later comedies may have stank, but he didn't CGI Scarlet Johansson into the final shot of Annie Hall. The Richard Donner cut of Superman 2 was done because another director took over halfway through the film. The Donnie Darko director's cut, while altering the delivery of the film, added content that had already been shot and edited. The closest parallel I can think of is Blade Runner, but the original cut of Blade Runner was messy and financially unsuccessful, about as far removed from the reception of the Star Wars Trilogy as is imaginable.

No filmmaker has so extensively revised his or her popular, successful work in such ill-conceived, extensive ways. Lucas not only despiritualized the entire saga (Midichlorians!) and corrupted our conceptions of the characters ("Noooooo!") via the prequels, but also re-edited the existing films twice.

In dwelling of this, I realized I couldn't think of ANY other artist in all of art/literary/theatrical history who has done this. Art history is filled with examples of other people editing an artist's work and artists revising their own work due to censorship or poor reception, but has there ever, ever been anyone who has produced an immensely successful, popular work and retconned it as extensively as George Lucas?

The Vatican, after Michelangelo's death, decided to paint fig leaves over all the Sistine Chapel nudity. This would only parallel Lucas if Michelangelo himself had done it after deciding twenty years after the fact that it was the way he'd intended it from the get-go. Again, the closest parallels I can think of, Leaves of Grass and Six Characters in Search of an Author, don't come close. Whitman continually revised Leaves of Grass, but IIRC his revisions were mostly additions. I've been unable to find much information about Six Characters, but from what I've gathered the 1925 revision is considered to be far superior to the original and keeps the majority of the existing content of the play intact.

IANA art/literary/theatre historian, so go nuts.

What cartoon did I see?

popcassady — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:46:16 -0800

When I was a kid, I saw a cartoon that featured robot sex and Star Wars rip-offs. What was it? I have an extremely vague memory of this cartoon. We're talking 1986-ish.

It was a feature length animation. There may have been two characters that were similar to R2-D2 and C3PO -- I'm pretty sure there was a golden robot at least.

The main character was very Han Solo-esque. He might have worn a cowboy hat, I think he stole spaceships.

The strongest, lasting memory I have of this film -- the one that made an impression on my six year old mind -- was of the Han Solo character trying to have sex with a pink android.

Does it ring any bells?

MusicFilter - Cover of Nick Winters' "Star Wars"?

camdan — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:11:13 -0800

Remember the SNL skit where Bill Murray's a lounge singer doing his own version of the Star Wars theme? I remember hearing a legit lounge act cover of this once - does anyone have any idea who it was by?

What are some good fictional Star Wars books to check out?

Senor Cardgage — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:34:32 -0800

What are some good fictional Star Wars books to check out? Im kind of turning into a Star Wars nerd.
I grew up with the movies and always enjoyed them (born 74) but for some reason as late Ive become zealous in getting the toys, playing the video games etc.

Anyhoo, now I want to start reading the books that veer from the films storyline.
Id like to start with ones featuring familiar OT characters (Han, Luke, etc) before moving onto more EU stuff.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Who became the first Internet Video Star?

randomthoughts — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:42:48 -0800

What video clip out on the net is considered to be the first "internet video star", rising to making international news or headlines? Would it be the Star Wars Kid?

Market for cartridge games with secrets unlocked?

vanoakenfold — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 09:35:01 -0800

Videogamefilter: Where can I buy cartridge video games that have the secrets unlocked and saved? I've got Advance Wars for GBA and play it at work (because there are gaps of activity where we must simply find something to do while waiting, kind of in the sense of a fireman, but just sitting at a computer) and this game really makes the time fly -- but I only have the 3 basic commanding officers. I want to buy or trade for a copy that has all the extra CO's unlocked, because I get too frustrated playing campaign missions (yes, even on the tutorials). Is there someone who can beat it that will unlock them all for me, or some specialty shop that sells unlocked games in general?

I've sold games on eBay before with these types of details in the description, like Golden Sun GBA game with characters on a savegame with level 60+ and all the major items.. But is there perhaps a marketplace for specifically this type of deliberately used product?

Star Wars Comparison Site?

frecklefaerie — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:01:35 -0800

Where is that website with the side by side screenshots comparing the original release to the digitally enhanced re-release of Star Wars?

Recommended Space Operas

Dante5Inferno — Mon, 23 May 2005 10:25:16 -0800

With the completion of the Star Wars sextology [sic], I was looking for recommendations of other science fiction/fantasy space operas. I just bought the Doc Smith's Lensman "prequel", Triplanetary, and his first Skylark book. Any other suggestions or comments on these (i.e. should I start with Galactic Patrol in the Lensman series? Read Skylark before Lensman)? Suggestions from across all media is welcome (Babylon 5, etc.).

List of theatres with digital Sith?

mojohand — Wed, 18 May 2005 12:29:06 -0800

There has to be a list somewhere of the U.S. theatres showing The Revenge of the Sith in digital projection or IMAX, but I'm d*mned if my weak-ass google-fu can turn it up. Help me.... No. Must. Resist.

Best way to make Jedi robes?

petah — Mon, 16 May 2005 19:39:30 -0800

I want to be a Jedi for the Star Wars premiere. I know of this site, http://www.degraeve.com/jedirobe, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the method they explain.

Anyone have a particular method they've tried that's good? Post links.

Where to see Episide III in SF?

robbie01 — Thu, 05 May 2005 14:41:08 -0800

Which is the best theater in San Francisco to see the midnight showing of Episode III on opening night (in terms of picture size and sound quality, and, of course, ticket availability.) No snarks from the haters, please. AMC 1000? Kabuki? Union Street? Metreon?

Question number 8432

feelinglistless — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 02:23:10 -0800

If Doctor Who fans are 'Whovians' and Star Trek fans are 'Trekkers' or 'Trekkies', what are Star Wars fans?