Episode 3

[Llava]

He was in the Micro-series they did on Cartoon Network, that gave a pretty good example of how he makes it work.

Basically, his torso and wrists can rotate.  So he's not so much a swordsman as a lightsabre-blender.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!

Not very fair, either.

[Margalis]

This may be a dumb question but how is a lightsaber better than a gun? One on one I suppose with wacky Star Wars physics you can deflect bullets, but in a 10 on 10 battle the 10 guys with guns just all aim at one guy, kill him, all aim at the next guy, etc. You can't deflect 10 bullets at once.

[Triforcer]

This may be a dumb question but how is a lightsaber better than a gun? One on one I suppose with wacky Star Wars physics you can deflect bullets, but in a 10 on 10 battle the 10 guys with guns just all aim at one guy, kill him, all aim at the next guy, etc. You can't deflect 10 bullets at once.

I think the SW explanation is that the deflection isn't done consciously, its merely a force power.  Left unexplained is the reason why everyone uses laser guns with (relatively) slow moving beams when they could use projectile weaponry where the bullets travel too fast to see. 

Also, Lucas will probably explain this in EP3 with liberal use of Matrix effects!

[AOFanboi]

how is a lightsaber better than a gun?

Did you not memorize the first movie? "Not as clumsy or random" is the answer to your question.

Plus the Star Wars universe is full of "crack elite stormtroopers" that can't hit a barn door.

I will probably end up preferring A Lost Hope to Lucas' version.

Obi-Wan: I fear Anakin has turned to the bleak blackness of the Dark Side.
Mace Windu: <sarcasm>You think?</sarcasm>
Yoda: Tried to warn you we did. Now screwed we are.

[eldaec]

Left unexplained is the reason why everyone uses laser guns with (relatively) slow moving beams when they could use projectile weaponry where the bullets travel too fast to see. 

The extended universe explanation for energy weapons instead of projectile weapons was that personal deflector shield technology exists that can block projectiles, but enegy weapons, not so much.

You never see anyone using shields for reasons relating to the 'current metagame'. Noone uses projectile weapons, so what's the point?

Also, jedi don't rely on seeing laser blasts coming, the force tells them where to hold the light sabre. Same would, I guess, apply to projectiles.

Luke: <whiny voice> "I can't see anything with the blast visor down"

[Llava]

This may be a dumb question but how is a lightsaber better than a gun? One on one I suppose with wacky Star Wars physics you can deflect bullets, but in a 10 on 10 battle the 10 guys with guns just all aim at one guy, kill him, all aim at the next guy, etc. You can't deflect 10 bullets at once.

Because they're friggin' ninjas, dude.

[HaemishM]

Considering Stormtroopers (cloned versions of "THE BEST WARRIOR IN DA UNIVERSE EVAR!!12!") and fucking computer-assisted-targeting droids in the universe CANNOT HIT SHIT, I'd imagine lightsabers are such preferred weapon because they are one-shot, one-kill weapons and everyone else in the universe is a crippled retard. I think the Jedi are really a secret society of eugenics scientists, who have controlled the breeding of the rest of the universe in order to make themselves more powerful.

It's not the Force, it's the DNA.

[Sky]

It's not the Force, it's the DNA.

At least you didn't use the 'M' word...

[HaemishM]

I'll only use the "M" word when I beat the tar out of Lucas for turning into a fucktard. It'll be written on the bat I pound him with.

[Shockeye]

Get your geek on.

[El Gallo]

Get your geek on.

REGISTERED

[schild]

Those are the ugliest computers I've ever seen.

Worse than this:



Well, maybe not.

[stray]

I want this:







"The box. You opened it. We came."

[schild]

That computer is going to kill us all.

[Der Helm]

Not trying to re-rail this thread, but I am watching Episode II on german television as I write this.

In german, it is even worse than the english original I saw when it came out.

And now, the infamous romantic sequence on Naboo is coming up.

Excuse me, but I am now going to stick some sharp objects in my sensory organs. That will be less painfull.

[Merusk]

That whole scene makes a lot better sense in the orignal Sanskrit.

The problem is it summons Cthulu if the lines are actually spoken.

[StGabe]

http://www.davidbrin.com/starwarsarticle1.html

Great Star Wars review.  I liked the movies as a kid, but as an adult I think they're all pretty much crap.  Maybe they were good "for the time" or whatever, but fuck it, they're crap now and we know better.

Gabe.

[Riggswolfe]

I think David Brin is a damn fool and is suffering from "how come my stuff doesn't sell and Lucas makes a pile of money?" syndrome. If Star Wars wasn't a fantasy film he'd be right. Vader's actions would be unforgiveable. But it is a fantasy film and the Dark Side gives Vader a nice out.

Bah. I don't mind good criticism, but I do mind when someone totally ignores the mythology to base their critiques on. I also find it interesting that he defends Star Trek so heavily, which is basically communists in space, while calling Lucas anti-democracy. Clearly the man has researched neither of the two.

[Jayce]

I think this is always a bad sign:

While I do think that plenty of evidence shows that George Lucas hates a civilization that's been very good to him...

Lately everyone is whipping out the accusation that so-and-so "hates" their culture.  There was a (not so polarized) time when it was OK to criticize your culture on one or more points and not be accused of hating it.

[Murgos]

Lately everyone is whipping out the accusation that so-and-so "hates" their culture.  There was a (not so polarized) time when it was OK to criticize your culture on one or more points and not be accused of hating it.

As usual though people overplayed the criticism and now there is a backlash against just wantonly trashing the culture without any effort to actually find something real to trash.

[AOFanboi]

I think David Brin is a damn fool and is suffering from "how come my stuff doesn't sell and Lucas makes a pile of money?" syndrome.

Maybe he dislikes that Lucas' effects-laden samurai soap operas has become synonymous with sci-fi in the general public? I mean, as opposed to his own most excellent yet unfilmed and unfilmable Uplift books?

Bring on the Babylon 5 full-length movie, JMS. Sci-fi needs you more than ever.

[Paelos]

I think this is always a bad sign:

While I do think that plenty of evidence shows that George Lucas hates a civilization that's been very good to him...

Lately everyone is whipping out the accusation that so-and-so "hates" their culture.  There was a (not so polarized) time when it was OK to criticize your culture on one or more points and not be accused of hating it.

Simply having a "culture" doesn't warrant it any merit either. Just because a culture exists does not mean that it deserves to be continued.

[StGabe]

There was a (not so polarized) time when it was OK to criticize your culture on one or more points and not be accused of hating it.

Did you even read the Brin stuff?  Because that's definitely not what he is saying and he is a rather successful fellow so I don't think this is jealousy either.  He has had his stuff reach the big screen (The Postman, although the plot of his original book got rather mangled by Costner, et al).

Bah. I don't mind good criticism, but I do mind when someone totally ignores the mythology to base their critiques on.

Did you even read the Brin stuff?  He dedicates a very lengthy rant or two to discussing the Cambellian tradition that the SW mythology comes from.  I don't know what how more directly he could address this mythology.  He also discusses the presumed features of the force and comes to the conclusion (agree or not, I happen to however) that they are just absurd.  The very anger and spunkiness that supposedly subverts Anakin is exactly what works for his son and the entire notion that anger and outrage is somehow evil is crap.  what Can a Sci-Fi author propose any absurd system they want to justify their character's redemption from Hitler to Hero in one scene?  I suppose so.  But it's still tripe.

I also find it interesting that he defends Star Trek so heavily, which is basically communists in space, while calling Lucas anti-democracy. Clearly the man has researched neither of the two.

First of all, where is the democratic process in SW?  Uhh, nowhere.  Brin criticizes Star Trek several times in the piece (for example going on about the way over-the-top political correctness, etc.) but points out that it both fosters criticism of the system and allows that the system which has gotten us where we are today, and allowed people to make billions on crappy films like Star Wars, might actually be workable (with due criticism and watchfulness of course) instead of relying on romantic, and at the same time idiotic and historically unsound notions that everything was better when Kings (read Tyrants) ruled.

Gabe.

[El Gallo]

what Can a Sci-Fi author propose any absurd system they want to justify their character's redemption from Hitler to Hero in one scene?  I suppose so.  But it's still tripe.

Luke, Chapter 13:

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Tripe?

[Merusk]

See, the whole problem I have with the analysis is that it assumes Lucas intended to create anything more than a schlocky Sci-Fi soap oprea.   Nearly 30 years of popularity, overexposure, media spin and postrationalization has allowed Lucas to buy into the hype and spew shit like that.  However, I recall in the early 80s reading about the making of Star Wars and he never mentioned anything more than wanting to make a Space Opera based off the Kurasawa(sp) films he liked so much.

Breaking-down SW as if it were attempting to be some kind of cultural influence at the beginning is asinine.  Breaking it down as it currently exsists as if it were trying to do anything more than rake in more dough and provide a story plausible enough for the fans who were begging for more the previous 20 years is equally stupid.

[StGabe]

See, the whole problem I have with the analysis is that it assumes Lucas intended to create anything more than a schlocky Sci-Fi soap oprea.

Oh, I agree he goes a bit too far.  But it's a rant, and a good one at that.  You don't have to agree with every point to appreciate it.

Breaking-down SW as if it were attempting to be some kind of cultural influence at the beginning is asinine.

The thing is this goes too far too.  You may be satisified with any sort of schlocky, bullshit story that gets passed your way as long as it is internally consistent but I daresay many of us are not.

Gabe.

[Roac]

I think David Brin is a damn fool

Seconded.

Look, we know that SW isn't Great Literature (tm), but for quite a few people, it's entertaining.  It's like trying to criticize The Great Gatzby for not being very accessible to preteens - that's just not the role it was trying to fill, so stop pretending like it is.  For most, there's enough culture, plot, etc to be fun.  You can take away some lessons out of it, or try to apply some of it to real life, but for heaven sake, it's SCIENCE FICTION played out on the big screen.  Besides, if Great Literature (tm) is what you're after, you should probably stay away from anything Hollywood.

But hey, he can do what he wants.  It's somewhat amusing to watch one author tell another author who's made order of magnitude more in sales how lousy he is.  Maybe Lucas is technically not as good a writer - but it doesn't matter one whit how technically good you are if you're not entertaining.  A lot of people, in every industry, miss that point; it's not about being the best at your job, it's about being the most efficient at what you are trying to do.  Who cares if you invent a car that's an engineering marvel if it looks like a brick on wheels?  No one will buy it.  Crying about how much GM sucks is to miss the point.  They did their job - you didn't.  If you had, you wouldn't have written a buch of 'ok' books and walked away with one very lackluster movie.

[Velorath]

I don't know, my thoughts while watching the trailer can be summed up in one sentence:

Damn that blue skinned Jedi broad has some big titties...

[Sky]

Simply having a "culture" doesn't warrant it any merit either. Just because a culture exists does not mean that it deserves to be continued.

Yo, punk bitchass, wut u mean by dat? Ima busta cap inyoazz, ho. Peace out to my bitches.

[Comstar]

presumed features of the force and comes to the conclusion (agree or not, I happen to however) that they are just absurd.  The very anger and spunkiness that supposedly subverts Anakin is exactly what works for his son and the entire notion that anger and outrage is somehow evil is crap. 

It's a master stroke by Lucus. It shows how wrong the Jedi *were* and why Palpatine beat them.

[Sky]

He certainly is a master of stroking something.

[Samwise]

http://www.davidbrin.com/starwarsarticle1.html

I never claimed to hate all Campbell-Homer-style myths! We need to outgrow them, but they will always have a place in our hearts.

What a pretentious douchebag.  And a whore to boot - the entire time he's ranting about Star Wars, there are links to the right telling you to buy the DVDs.

[Shockeye]

RAGE OF A 'STAR WARS' REJECT
BAI Ling was cut out of "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" after it was announced that she was posing nude in Playboy, the disappointed actress claims.

The sexy Chinese-born Ling, who was supposed to play Senator Bana Breemu in the final installment of the "Star Wars" series, burst into tears at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "The Beautiful Country" the other night while she was describing how her scene was snipped:

"I just found out that my part has been completely cut out of the upcoming 'Star Wars' movie. I do not know what happened," Ling said.

"I posed for Playboy and it may have been doing that which upset [director] George Lucas. I did not know when 'Star Wars' was going to be released when my manager came to me and said that Playboy wanted me to pose topless."

Ling, who appears in the June issue, continued, "I did not know that Playboy was going to come out the same time as 'Star Wars.' I saw them as separate projects. I see the human body as beautiful and not pornographic, but maybe the 'Star Wars' producers did not see what I did. I am in shock."

LucasFilm spokeswoman Lynn Hale told us that Ling's sole scene was cut more than a year ago. "It was just one scene," she said.

After Ling was finished venting about her "Star Wars" diss, the talkative actress pulled herself together and gave her intimate impressions of a list of actresses to Webster Hall curator Baird Jones.

"I can relate to women physically," she said. "Angelina Jolie is sexy. Jennifer Aniston is sweet but not sexy. I preferred Natalie Portman when she was younger. She has lost something now.

"Queen Latifah is big but passionate. I love J.Lo's curves. Naomi Campbell is sexy like a black panther. I love Kate Moss, who is like a cat. I think Paris Hilton is smart and I like her style.

"Meryl Streep is a great actress but I would just like to be her friend. Heather Graham is cut like a doll. Christina Ricci is kind of weird — sometimes she is fat, sometimes she is thin.

"The Olsen Twins are adorable and the fact that they are twins is a good omen. I'd like to hook up with both of them at the same time. Here is my shout-out: 'Let's get to know each other, Olsen Twins. Let's do a meet and greet together.' "

I guess having an actress in Playboy might screw up his Darth Tater sales. Nevermind that Anakin slaughters children...

[Paelos]

Tit's are evil, blood is cleansing, please pull forward.

[Evil Elvis]

Tit's are evil, blood is cleansing, please pull forward.

She said Aniston isn't sexy, and that Hilton is smart.  Pre-emptive karma?