My Spidey Sense

[evaproto]

We all knew Star Wars wasn't going to beat the web head in weekend totals. Who cares Episode was 10 folds better than Spiderman anyways. Plus how is it that ILM can make Yoda look more realistic light saber fighting than Sony Image Works terible CGI man climb walls. I would rather Spiderman hold the weekend totals record than the new Matrix movie. Just wait till 2003 when that stupid Keanu Reeves Matrix sequel is released and beats the Spiderman. I wouldn't even go as far as call the Walchalski brothers creators of the movie. Since it's just a compilation of other great ideas stolen and put on film with bad actors minus Dunst. I can't figure out why anybody likes that movie anyway.

[This message was edited by Guide_Manilla on 05.21.02 at 08:38.]

[jspider83]

In "Empire Strikes Back", Yoda was a puppet, and yet more realistic-looking than the CGI in the newer films...we see the CGI and KNOW it's fake, because we have something to judge it against.

I thought Episode II was good, but, after seeing it, I am VERY confident that Spidey will outlast it.

[Itaintrite]

Anthony Hopkins will be Yoda in SW3

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Whatever life holds in store for me
I'll never forget these words
With great power comes great responsiblity
This is my gift
My curse
Who am I?
I am Spider-man![/quote]

[mrdefender]

speaking of yoda...

In episode 2 he kicks ***, walks and flips on walls..
uses the force to stop boulder's and falling debris from hitting him and obi-wan and anakin.

So... eh.. Why does he walk with a cane?

Defender

[Itaintrite]

it looks good on him

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Whatever life holds in store for me
I'll never forget these words
With great power comes great responsiblity
This is my gift
My curse
Who am I?
I am Spider-man![/quote]

[UltimateSpiderX]

I don't know where you got the idea that the actors from the Spider-man movie were bad cause there great actors

The actors from Star Wars are really bad(the need lessons and I think Tobey can give them some):)

[This message was edited by Guide_Manilla on 05.23.02 at 18:05.]

[Aniviper]

to UltimateSpiderX: hahahaha, so tru and Itaintrite: anthony hopkins? hahaha

-"You can no more evade my wrath...than you could your own shadow"
-KawKaw is so funnie!!!
-Buzzly IS THE MAN

[Itaintrite]

it was a joke :P but i mean they look KIND like each other :P a bit? :P there was a poll somewhere about who should play Yoda in Sw3 and beyond.

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Whatever life holds in store for me
I'll never forget these words
With great power comes great responsiblity
This is my gift
My curse
Who am I?
I am Spider-man![/quote]

[BuzzLY]

In case you have missed it all these years, Yoda represents an old Japanese Sensei. In many movies, they are depicted as old men that pretend to be frail, walking with a cane, bent over and gnarled. But, when it came time to kick butt, they were suddenly spry and strong, and kicked everyone's ***.

Besides, Jedis like Yoda use the Force as their source of strength. Think of it as Space-Age adrenaline!

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BuzzLY
The Ultimate Spin (http://www.ultimatespin.com)

[tomjacob]

or space age steroids...;)

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Tom
www.spidermanhype.com (http://www.spidermanhype.com)

[ArachnoDroid]

I think it would have been better if they had Yoda fighting with his walking stick.

"Fear not for you have already been assimilated!"

[jlromang]

I think both movies was good (Spidey & SW[b/]). I really enjoy this films and I hope still doing it even much better.

And about the top ten box-office, SW was the first one, check http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/top10/
The Top 10:
1. Star Wars: Episode II - $86.2 million
2. Spider-Man - $46 million
3. Unfaithful - $10.3 million
5. About a Boy - $8.4 million
6. The New Guy - $6.5 million
4. Changing Lanes - $3.1 million
7. The Scorpion King - $2.7 million
8. The Rookie - $2 million
9. Murder by Numbers - $1.7 million
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding - $1.2 million

For me, both of them was my number 1. I really like [b]AOTC and Spider-Man.

[NasRock]

Quoting ArachnoDroid

"I think it would have been better if they had Yoda fighting with his walking stick."

HaHAHAAHAha yeah sure that could do the trick against a lightsaber wooAHAHAHAHAHA

thanks man u made my day, wooden stick against a lightsaber so funny ;)

See U Swinging Around!!
Gia Hara.

[Itaintrite]

it's strange to think that they based the whole series on a japanese era

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>[b]...It's as if you've reached the unreachable, and you weren't ready for it.[b][/quote]

[BuzzLY]

There are many different elements to Star Wars. There are certainly influences from ancient asian teachings (Force = chi, sabers, etc.), but there are other influences as well. How about the Nazi regime? Anyone who misses that is pretty blind. There are even traces of western movie influences in there (Cantina, anyone?).

The great thing about Star Wars is that although it's an amalgam of different styles, it is still very unique. It has a sense of mystery about it, like there is more that Lucas isn't telling us. It just seems so... real.

That is, until Episode I and II came along. Still great, fun movies, but all the mystery is gone. Instead of using the time-honored "less is more" approach (watch the original, un-"special edition"-ed version of Star Wars to see what I mean), he throws everything at us. In Star Wars, things are relatively primitive for a Space movie; dusty, dirty, and rusting.

Then, we see a movie that takes place 20 years earlier, and suddenly it's all neon lights, holograms, and cool vehicles. It's too flashy! Unfortunately, George has fallen on his face. Fortunately for him, he owns a VERY lucrative story, and it is able to succeed despite itself.

And in adding so much in to these two movies, he has lost all connection with our modern history. The Jedi order no longer seems so honorable. There is no bad guy with a black hat. It's all gray and muddy... just which side is the good side? The Republic? I no longer know who's side to be on -- it seems that the star destroyers and Storm/Clone Troopers are on the wrong side...

Ok, I'm rambling now, sorry. Anyway, yes, there is Eastern influence in Star Wars. But it's much more than that. It would be interesting to see how many different influences we could come up with. I see:

1. Eastern
2. WWII (Nazi Germany)
3. Western

Anyone see anything else?

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BuzzLY
The Ultimate Spin (http://www.ultimatespin.com)

[Guide_Manilla]

BuzzLY you bring up an interesting challenge.. I will have to get back to you on that :)

Guide_Manilla

[Aniviper]

your right buzz

-"You can no more evade my wrath...than you could your own shadow"
-KawKaw is so funnie!!!
-Buzzly IS THE MAN

[Guide_Angel]

I just saw Attack of the Clones tonight, so it’s interesting reading your commentary while things are still fresh in my mind. I find myself agreeing with many points you bring up.

On the influences brought to bear ... definitely Eastern/Western/Nazi influences. It also has strong Roman parallels too I think. Consider the swollen and corrupted senate paving the groundwork for an Emperor; a Republic that has possibly exceeded manageable boundaries; the Circus Maximus (gladiatorial fight scene), etc.

Of the two, I flat out enjoyed Spiderman more. As a long time Star Wars fan, I was pleased to see another chapter on the screen although I wish some things had been different. Maybe part of the problem is knowing beforehand what's going to happen with the story, and hindsight is always 20/20 :)

[ArachnoDroid]

Perhaps one of the obvious reasons why it appears that Lucas had based his series on a Japanese era is because the movie it was based on was SET in that Japanese era. :-]

In 1958, Akira Kurosawa made a film starring Toshiro Mifune called The Hidden Fortress. Here is how one reviewer on the net puts it.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The Hidden Fortress (1958) was the last picture Akira Kurosawa would make for Toho Films, the studio he had worked for during much of his career. It also was his first shot in widescreen, and it seems something of a celebration — perhaps even a liberation. Coming off a string of rather somber films, including Record of a Human Being (1955), Throne of Blood (1957), and The Lower Depths (1957), Fortress is an unapologetic lark, a breezy action-adventure set in feudal 16th century Japan. Toshiro Mifune plays General Rokurota Makabe, who must defend the life of Princess Yukihime (Misa Uehara) after the Akizuki territory has been defeated by the forces of Yamana. Having escaped with the princess, a few retainers, and 1,600 pounds of gold, Makabe realizes the only way to reach the safety of neutral Haykawa is to cross into the hostile land of Yamana, since — with the civil war at an end — the border will not be guarded. But he needs help carrying the gold, which soon comes in the form of two simpering, moronic ex-soldiers, Tahei (Minoru Chiaki) and Matakishi (Kamatari Fujiwara). The group soon gathers up the hidden gold (enclosed in firewood) and starts on the journey, doing their best to avoid detection — and especially the Yamana military, as the princess has been marked for immediate execution. While The Hidden Fortress was one of Kurosawa's favorite films, it has become best-known in western countries as a chief inspiration for George Lucas's Star Wars (1977), and it has gained many admirers who are looking for bits and pieces of the famous space-saga. Lucas has indicated many times that the bumbling Tahei and Matakishi were his source for the droids C-3PO and R2-D2, and he's said that he was mostly interested in the way that the lowest characters in the story acted as narrators. There also is some influence to be seen in the tale of a battle-hardened general who is charged with protecting a princess, but The Hidden Fortress in fact is just a wisp of Star Wars (there's no Luke Skywalker or Han Solo, and nothing remotely like a Wookie). What's just as interesting is how Fortress seems to have been an influence as well on Lucas's The Phantom Menace (1999) — the stoic Princess Yukihime is much more like Queen Amidala than Princess Leia, and Mifune has a wonderful bit of combat with an opposing general, using long sticks that resemble Darth Maul's twin-pronged lightsaber (and for you serious Lucas junkies, a horse-chase between Mifune and two soldiers plays almost exactly like the speeder chase in Return of the Jedi [1983] ). But cultural archeology aside, Fortress has plenty to recommend on its own merits. Mifune's turn as Gen. Makabe is completely stone-faced and intimidating, but not without generous bits of humor, and Kurosawa wraps his clever story in several pairs, multiple identities, and "hide-in-plain-sight" stratagems. Not only is it one of his best films, it's also one of his most accessible, making it an ideal spin for Kurosawa neophytes.
[/quote]
Of course, there are other things in the movies that cannot be ignored. I will not bother to reiterate any of them here as Buzzly and Guide_Angel have already done a very good job of it in their posts.

C ya! :-)

ArachnoDroid

"Fear not for you have already been assimilated!"

[Guide_Angel]

Thank-you for posting that ArachnoDroid, it's a very interesting read. Have you seen The Hidden Fortress yourself? I'm thinking I need to try and dig it up somewhere :)

[ArachnoDroid]

Hi Guide_Angel,

Yes, I have seen the movie. It is amazing how the ideas in Kurosawa's movie and in Lucas' Starwars parallel each other. I think the movie is worth seeing, especially by big fans of Starwars. :-)

Of course be advised that the movie is in black and white. It is in Japanese with English subtitles. Many of the ideas are what can be best called as "old fashioned", most definitely old fashioned Japanese. Be prepared for the cultural differences. So long as you keep that in mind, I think you will find the movie very interesting. :-]

ArachnoDroid

"Fear not for you have already been assimilated!"

[BuzzLY]

Angel, I totally see your Roman analogy. I can't believe I didn't think of that, but of course you are correct. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in Episode III.

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BuzzLY
The Ultimate Spin (http://www.ultimatespin.com)

[BuzzLY]

There is also the whole Taoism concept in the "Force." In general, there are a lot of religious references and connotations in the Star Wars universe.

For example, the Divine Trinity could be represented by Vader (the Father), Luke (Son), and the Force (the Holy Spirit). The idea of Jesus giving his life to save us is mirrored by Obi-wan Kenobi's sacrifice. Of course, there is the idea that Anakin was born through immaculate conception -- I just can't think of a religious parallel there, can you? ;-)

Christianity isn't the only representative religion in Star Wars. I leave it up to the rest of you to figure out other religious connotations.

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BuzzLY
The Ultimate Spin (http://www.ultimatespin.com)

[hejjihoggu]

all starwars is is clips from other stories and history..
chariot races.. senate... (Roman)
the empire and storm troopers (nazi)
The trade federation (japanese)
Jar jar (jamaican)
yes the sowrd fighting (easter) however ninja's and samurai werent ever so flashy
force (chi)
virgin birth to a powerful child =(Bible virgin mary/jesus)
and the biggest ripoff
yoda's sword fighting scene... (jim hensons muppets treasure island ... kermit the frog sword fighting scene)
that was such a cheap crowd pleaser.. I hear in spiderman 2 .. aunt may does the drunken monkey kung fu on venom.. and matrix 2.. pac man ..wokka's wokka's the sentinals..

Come on lucas wasnt creative.. he's adaptive. he spiced pieces from here and there to make his so called orginal story. Oh dont forget the scinece of weapons was most likely based offa watching star trek.

If star ars started as a story only like spiderman.. it would just be another run of the mil generic sci fi book. no biggie. and most likely never make it to the screen

[hejjihoggu]

just my humble opinion

[BuzzLY]

you say ripoff... I say "homage"

Most good stories have their roots in mythology or history. There is nothing wrong with that at all.

I agree with most of your parallels, except two:

1. I don't think Jar-Jar's race depicts Jamaicans. I believe it was an unfortunate choice to use a dialect that sounds Jamaican.

2. I believe the Force is more like Tao. There is a life force (or Tao) present in all living things that surrounds and joins everything. The belief is that to obtain true balance in life, you must become one with the Tao, and allow it to guide you. It is a spiritual presense. Chi is more "physical" and affects everything, not just living things. It is the driving force behind Feng Shui. I don't think the position of Obi-wan's furniture affected the Force in any way... LOL

I thought Yoda's fight scene was pretty cool. My only complaint is that not one single lightsaber duel ended with definitive results, except for Anakin's slaughter of the Tusken people. Plus, the duels were way too short. I want to see an extended fight like we got to see in ROTJ. Perhaps in Episode III we'll get it.

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BuzzLY
The Ultimate Spin (http://www.ultimatespin.com)

[This message was edited by BuzzLY on 05.30.02 at 06:27.]

[Guide_Manilla]

I haven't seen episode II and now I really want to go see it :)

Guide_Manilla