Lord of the Rings Trilogy vs. Classic Star Wars Trilogy

[Flexor the Mighty!]

But if you are asking which will be the paragon of geek cinema, it's Star Wars by a mile. All you have to do is say "Use the Force, Luke" to someone and it's Instant Quote-Swapping Time. You try to pass someone on the freeway and you yell "Punch it, Chewie!" You hear a dog whine and you think of Chewbacca. The only pop-culture item that even approaches Star Wars in terms of sheer "Always lingering somewhere in the back of your mind, waiting to pop out"-ness is Simpsons.

Exactly. LotR doesn't have near the impact that Star Wars had on, hell just about everything.

To all those who vote for Peter Jackson's Story of Arwyn I can only say...I find your lack of faith disturbing.

[idiotic fanboy moment]
P.S. Darth Vader would kick Sauron's ass!
[\idiotic fanboy moment]

 

[Desdichado]

But if you are asking which will be the paragon of geek cinema, it's Star Wars by a mile. All you have to do is say "Use the Force, Luke" to someone and it's Instant Quote-Swapping Time. You try to pass someone on the freeway and you yell "Punch it, Chewie!" You hear a dog whine and you think of Chewbacca. The only pop-culture item that even approaches Star Wars in terms of sheer "Always lingering somewhere in the back of your mind, waiting to pop out"-ness is Simpsons.

The Simpsons?! Not even close! And I'm talking about long-term here. When LotR has been out for 25 years like Star Wars has, which will be the more classic trilogy, I wonder?

Obviously, it's pure speculation at this point, but I'm curious what people think will happen.

 

[Chauzu]

It's a tie for me. Maybe if they used Chewbaccas instead of Ewoks in the third SW that would have came out first, or maybe if LOTR was done closer to the books then LOTR would come out first. But as they are... tie.

 

[barsoomcore]

In the long run, quality will always out. And on the quality level -- there's just no comparision. Peter Jackson is a far better director, with a better cast, better effects, better writers and a bigger budget.

Lucas has directed one truly great film -- Star Wars. And seeing Star Wars for the first time is something those of us old enough to have done so without preconceptions will always remember. But the sequels drop off and off in quality, till it's at the point where I just want it to end. The movies feel like an excuse to sell more merchandise, the characters designed to sell more merchandise, and the plots designed to pack as much merchandisable material in as possible.

Bleh.

LotR. Easy.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Empire is a drop off in quality? Whoa! Must...control...fist...of...death...!

It's better than Star Wars, and definatly better than FotR, & TT.

Oh well, to each his own.

P.S. Bringing up effects when comparing a 1977 movie and a 2003 movie isn't very valid IMO. Unless you talk about how they compared to what else was out at the time. When you watched Star Wars for the first time it was mindblowing, especially in 1977. There are several movies with special effects on par with the LotR movies, which do look fabulous btw.

 

[barsoomcore]

Empire has a more mature handling of the characters. And funnier dialog. But the story is wobblier, Mark Hamill's acting is worse and the character arcs are far less clearly defined.

Some bits are better but overall not as good movie. Says my magic 8-ball, anyway.

I think it's perfectly valid to compare special effects. A movie like Them might have been a great film back in the fifties, but very few people are able to suspend their disbelief in order to enjoy such a film any more.

It's not FAIR, I'll grant you, but I think it's VALID.

I have not seen effects like what I saw in RotK ever before. They weren't always perfect, but holy crap were they good. I mean, The Matrix? Master and Commander? No way.

 

[Victim]

I thought that Empire was directed by someone else (although this is a guess based on faint rememberances). Maybe that's what he was refering to.

While Empire is great, Star Wars is so cheesy I have a hard time watching it.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I thought that Empire was directed by someone else (although this is a guess based on faint rememberances). Maybe that's what he was refering to.

While Empire is great, Star Wars is so cheesy I have a hard time watching it.

Cheesy!!!!!!!!!

Oh the humanity!!!



P.S. GL only directed the the Star Wars out of the first trilogy.

 

[barsoomcore]

Empire was directed by Irvin Kershner and written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan.

Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand and written by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

And for that matter, I think Campbell gets too much credit anyway.

Of course he does. His theories are interesting and happen to fit most of the facts. Of course, that's incredibly high praise in the entire humanities/social sciences field. Doesn't shock me that a lot of people took off and ran with them, including Lucas.