[OT - SW] Official Episode 2 Opening Week Boycott Thread

[reapersaurus]

I am joining in with the boycott of opening week for Episode II. Why? Because Episode I was a travesty, a peice of steaming crap with some nice fight scenes.

Please.

I am getting very tired of the over-inflated hyperbole that people throw around like a rallying banner when it comes to recent movie openings.

Episode 1 was NOT a piece of steaming crap.

Just about every major motion picture made these days is not a steaming piece of crap.
If you really think a particular recent movie is THAT bad, I suggest you expand your horizons, and see more films.
Because there have been many truly stinky films put out, most of which you never would have seen in a theater.

Guess what?
Millions of people see a film not because they are all brainwashed.
It's because, for example, Episode 1 was an eminantly watchable film.
Mistakes, to be sure, but every time someone says a particular movie is "the worst evar" it just exposes their naivete and small scope of cinema, IMO.

 

[Mark]

I will boycott the film ... um ... until one of my friends tells me it was good. Its not so much a boycott, then, really. Maybe I'll go see it opening week - if it gets some good word-of-mouth. Maybe I'll never go see it - if my friends say what they said after an early screening of TPM ("It was the most disappointing movie of my entire life.")

On a tangent: I'm not sure how many Geek Points seeing EP2 will be worth in the long run. Just last night I caught a "Newsradio" rerun where Dave Foley held up a katana and intoned, "If you strike me down..." Thats what, 20 years later and some of the lines have become so part of the Pop Culture that a network TV show can play off them. People still say, "Use the Force, Luke!" or even "Stay on target!", but does anyone reference TPM? No. (Except things like, "Meesa stupid computer generated rabbit-man!", which arent exactly complementary.) In 10 years, given the choice, will my fellow Geeks be bursting at the seams waiting for their kids to be old enough to watch TPM and share the magical experience? I think not. I'd put money on LotR though.

Just to be clear...

It's your firm position that you may or may not see EP 2 depending on the word of mouth of your friends, even though after they exclaimed EP1 as "the most disappointing movie of" their "entire life" you saw it.

Just wrapping my brain round the logic here.

PS. I'll see it. Sooner, probably than later without any consideration of a boycott in mind...other than potentially shorter lines for overpriced snacks that I'll mindlessly purchase.

 

[Ranger REG]

It's time to put up or shut up. Who's with me?

So, any more takers?

I'm not with you, so I must be against you. Why? Because we are getting to the real meaty part of the story. Anakin is all grown up and romantic sparks start flying between him and an older Amidala (despite the fact that the actor is only 20 months older than the actress).

We are also going to see more Jedi Knights in action beside the main cast, which is what lacking in the Episode I.

And finally, we are going to see why, oh why did Anakin turn away from the Jedi and the Light side of the Force and into the Dark side.

Which brings me to my next question, what is so great about being a Jedi? So far, they're not as great as the cops and firefighters (especially the Finest and the Braves in NY) so what is so great about them?

 

[Fenros]

Well Rinndalir, I'll be skipping (or boycotting) the first weekend too. So don't feel completely alone. Heh heh.

I'm not totally sure where you're coming from on your boycott, but I'm not boycotting because I'm a born again Lucas-hater. I actually like Lucas as an cinematic artist. I work in the entertainment industry and know that even the best sometimes have 'valleys' as well as 'peaks' in their list of works. I could never hate anyone that has a bad spell. Yeah, it's too bad it had to be on something a lot of us percieved as a huge pop-culture property.....but oh well.

The only thing I'm weary about is that I've yet to hear or read about Lucas admitting that he made mistakes on Ep1.

There are those who liked Ep1 and those who hated it. I tend to see the extremes of both camps. There are those who hate the Episode 1 movie and absolutely despise every frame of the film. But I don't think I belong in that camp (just to notify the other readers of this post on where I stand).

I scored "SW:TPM" a 3.5 out of possible 10. Where 5 would be a decently crafted movie. Certainly I felt that Ep1 wasn't up to the calibre of the first trilogy, but by no means did I think it was a huge stinky turd. That title goes to movies like "The Musketeer" (score: 1)and "Dungeons&Dragons" (score: 1.5).

The reason I'm not rushing out to see Episode II isn't because I'm trying to make a specific statement in the world of Star Wars. Its because a large part of how I pick my movies is dependant on the director/producer's last movie. That's why I didn't go see "Ghosts of Mars". I may like John Carpenter back in his golden years when he was doing stuff like "Big Trouble in Little China" and "The Thing", but frankly.....he's lost it. Why should I continue to blindly trust that his next movie is going to be good when his track history is poor?

Its the same thing with Lucas. Many of you ask us boycotters to treat this like any other movie....you quote, "its just a movie guys...." Then by that attitude I judge Ep2 like other movies and decided to skip seeing it until I hear word on whether or not its crappy but an actually good film. Based upon Lucas and his previous work. Just like I did with "Ghost of Mars". I let it come out, heard Carpenter was still sucking.....skipped it entirely. Didn't even rent it.

Same with Lucas, the loss of quality started in chronological order, "Return of the Jedi" (only minor mistakes, still good movie), Special Edition foolishness (bigger mistakes now, Greedo shooting, extended Jabba's lair song sequence, etc), and then SW:TPM ( most of us know the gripes here.....if you want my full review maybe I can post it later).

By that record, I don't have much faith that Ep2 is going to be the one to bring back his previous quality of filmaking. Although judging by early reviews, it sounds like I'm going to be proven wrong. But until I hear from two of my closest friends (who's reviews I absolutely trust) I will choose not to see Ep2.

I'm not being stubborn, I'm not being childish, I'm not over-reacting, and I'm not being self deluded. I'm just (like you said I should do) treating this like any other movie.

My question to those who hated Ep1 and are still going to see Ep2 right away (and making fun us boycotters too).......... are YOU treating this like "just a movie" (a regular movie release)?

What I think Rinndalir was trying to do was convince those who hated Ep1, to refrain (if only for a little bit) from seeing Ep2 because he felt that they needed a little extra encouragement to help them break from 'Star Wars' brain conditioning. Y'know what I mean.......we all love SW so much, we'll not treat it like any other movie event and go see it regardless of how terrible we thought the last one was. Posting some messages on the board may help 'reach' out to those who need just a few extra words to make them realize that they don't need to rush out and see this movie (those of which didn't like Ep1 that is).

Now if you liked Ep1, and are pretty sure Ep2 is going to be good, then that's awesome. By all means, go see it first day, second day, and so on. Heck, even if you think Ep1 did indeed suck but feel Ep2 is going to be better.......go ahead and see it.

Go out and enjoy the movie. I hope you walk away from it feeling entertained.

But if you think Ep1 sucked and have little faith that Ep2 will be any better...........then why are you rushing to go see it?

The Crimster wrote:

That said, I will be seeing it as soon as possible. Yes, I though PM was a piece of dung. Yes, I have reservations about the upcoming movie. But I'm not going to waste my energy or time with futile and pointless rebellions.

Actually, boycotting the movie requires no ENERGY or TIME. I think my friend, you'll be spending more energy and time than me.

Another thing, there are those that say the reason why people (maybe like me) didn't like SW:TPM was because we were grown up now and that SW was aimed at (and has always been aimed at) kids. Now, for a moment, let's say that's true. Its true Lucas meant for the SW movies to be for kids. Well, he still failed with Ep1. I still think that movie was poorly crafted. There's plenty of kids movies that are better crafted and more entertaining to watch than SW:TPM. Example: "Iron Giant", "Toy Story", "Toy Story2".

So I think that counter-point arguement is weak.

KDLadage wrote:

For me it is about Lucas having the right to do whatever he wants with his own toybox. And me having teh right to enjoy watching it no matter how I feel he may or may not have sold out. Its his story. He can tell it any way he wants to.

True. Lucas can tell the story anyway he wants to. But I don't see how that has anything to do with the boycott. We can do anything we want to with our $7.50. Or since I'm in Los Angeles, its more like $9.50

Anyone else buying evening tickets for that much like us in the SoCal area?

Lizard wrote:

Dude, hate to break it to you, but Lucas doesn't owe you, or anyone else, diddly.

I don't remember Rinndalir mentioning anything about debts.

 

[Tsyr]

True. Lucas can tell the story anyway he wants to. But I don't see how that has anything to do with the boycott. We can do anything we want to with our $7.50. Or since I'm in Los Angeles, its more like $9.50

Anyone else buying evening tickets for that much like us in the SoCal area?

Man, and to think I got mad when the theaters raised their rates from 4.50 to 5 this summer.

The joys of living in a small north eastern town.

 

[Some guy from Ohio]

Three months ago, when Wolfspider was stirring his pot, you couldn’t find anyone to defend this movie with maybe the exception of Wild Karrde. How the tide changes after the trailers hit. I hereby proclaim myself the king of the bandwagon and it is starting to get crowded with all the hopping on.

 

[bwgwl]

We can do anything we want to with our $7.50. Or since I'm in Los Angeles, its more like $9.50

Anyone else buying evening tickets for that much like us in the SoCal area?

dude, bay area / SF is up to $10 or more...

BTW -- when's the Revised Edition of SWRPG coming out? soon, right?

and just for the record, i liked the ewoks in RotJ.

 

[Viking Bastard]

...and just for the record, i liked the ewoks in RotJ.

YEAH!! Go man eating teddies!!

 

[KnowTheToe]

dude, bay area / SF is up to $10 or more...

BTW -- when's the Revised Edition of SWRPG coming out? soon, right?

and just for the record, i liked the ewoks in RotJ.

Movie tickets in Chicago Area are $8-9, but I have a giant theater that is suffering in attendance and they only charge $6.50. Not only that, but you can see any movie opening day without fear of it being sold out. It is usually less than half full. I woon't give out the name, so don't ask. It is my secret. MWhaaa hahahha.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Movie tickets in Chicago Area are $8-9, but I have a giant theater that is suffering in attendance and they only charge $6.50. Not only that, but you can see any movie opening day without fear of it being sold out. It is usually less than half full. I woon't give out the name, so don't ask. It is my secret. MWhaaa hahahha.

Heh... Since the AMC Cantera 30 opened up, that describes just about every other theatre in the area, Cameltoe.

Go to the Tinseltown Theatre on Hwy 31 in North Aurora... First matinees are $3.75.