@Fable: why no Star Wars?

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 5:32 pm

personally, i don't see why everyone seems to be outraged that fable isn't going to see it. there are loads of films i haven't seen at the cinema, and many of them i know for certain are far better than star wars. i did go to see it wih some friends, and it cost me about £5, and two hours. i know for a fact i could have done many more useful things with that time and money, and i'm equally sure fable has just as many, if not more worthwile pursuits. when it is shown on the telly, it may be worth watching if you are bored, but there are FAR better films out there, so why should anyone feel obliged to see one as distinctly mediocre as star wars?

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 5:46 pm

@Robnark, here's your light saber. Get ready to stand back to back, as we bear up against Lucas' merchandising hordes of darkness.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 6:18 pm

Originally posted by Morlock
Here's a thread dedicated to understanding why Fable won't see Star Wars, and, if possible, trying to convince him to see it.

Now, I can understand not wanting to see 'Lost in space' or 'Starship troopers' if you're not a sci fi fan.
But how can someone remain so stubborn as not to dedicate a few hours to see what has been hailed by so many people as great, debatably the most popular movies of all times. Irelevent of any genre you like or dislike.
Surely it is not so bad in concept that you can't give it a single chance?

I'm sure there are a lot of movies that you don't waste your time on, just because you don't think they're the kind of thing you'll like. So why should Fable bother seeing a movie he doesn't think he'll like, especially having read reviews and heard stuff about it that just convinces him of that? Isn't that the whole point of reviews?

If someone asks me what I think of a movie, with a view to whether they should go and see it, I tell them what I think of it, but also whether IMO it's the kind of movie they would like (the obvious example being my parents). And I have to say - there's no way I would recommend Star Wars (any incarnation thereof) as something that Fable would enjoy.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Tue Jul 09, 2002 11:31 pm

Originally posted by fable
@Robnark, here's your light saber. Get ready to stand back to back, as we bear up against Lucas' merchandising hordes of darkness.

Lightsabers available from your local Toys "R" Us outlet. "Lightsaber" is a registered Trademark (TM) of Lucasarts.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 11:42 pm

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
Lightsabers available from your local Toys "R" Us outlet. "Lightsaber" is a registered Trademark (TM) of Lucasarts.

And you don't think I realized that when I wrote it?

Ode to a Grasshopper · Wed Jul 10, 2002 12:14 am

Originally posted by fable

And you don't think I realized that when I wrote it?

I'd noticed that, yes. But it struck me as too fine a joke not to be shared with everyone rather than limited to those who saw the irony, so I clarified it somewhat.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 7:34 am

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
I'd noticed that, yes. But it struck me as too fine a joke not to be shared with everyone rather than limited to those who saw the irony, so I clarified it somewhat.

Good point.

McBane · Post by **McBane** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 8:40 am

Originally posted by frogus
@Fable, have you ever 'refused' to watch any other movies? What were they?

Titanic and ET.

(Don't know what I have against ET, I never saw it as a kid, and it amuses me when people react to the fact I still haven't seen it)

To ask the opposite question, what movie would you drop everything to watch? I am assuming Fable's would be something like.....Porkys

RandomThug · Post by **RandomThug** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:19 am

drop everything?

If I had to drop everything to view a movie, it would either be "Office Space" or "Falling Down"

while not my favorites, very good movies to watch at any time.

and btw. I have never purchased anything lucas/starwars related spare the PC game Jedi Knight 2.

@fable go so "The Ladies Man" and tell me its not a bad movie, but its still hilarius. Some bad movies are ok to watch hehe.

thug

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:43 am

Titanic and ET.

I've actually never seen either of 'em. I *did* turn down an opportunity to see ET, though. I don't mind sentiment--I'm a very sentimental guy, in some ways. And emotional manipulation by the arts is time-honored, happens regularly. But I want to be manipulated towards sentiment less brutally and obviously. From the bits and pieces I've seen of ET, and the reviews, I know I would have emerged a diabetic.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 10:02 am

Dirty Dancing. Never seen it. Don't plan to. Watched about 10 minutes on TNT one day then flipped to something else.

I guess it comes down to the question: what do you want out of a movie?

Some people like movies for the cinematic achievements. Some like to see a certain actor or actress. Some get caught up in the hype. And sometimes, it's all about 100 minutes of escapist fun.

Still, there are some very bad movies out there that I enjoy and hate to admit that I spent two hours watching. Not every movie I see has to be thought-provoking or artistically intriguing. For example, Independence Day is a horrible movie; plot holes, bad acting, cheezy SFX and the whole gammut of bad movie clichés. But it's still fun to watch Will Smith fly a plane around and blow stuff up. Same thing with a movie like Don't Tell Mom, The Babysitter's Dead or The Blues Brothers that are painful to admit that you enjoyed (and may be willing to pay to rent or see agin), but are still bad movies.

It is my opinion that avoiding or boycotting a movie simply because of the hype is the wrong reason not to see something, because sometimes movies that get a lot of hype are actually pretty good (ie-Jurassic Park). I think that some critics believe that only independent, foreign studios are capable of turning out a high-quality, "non-commercial" product and that's a crock of hooey; most independent films are bad. At the same time, hopping on a movie's bandwagon simply because it carries a certain level of name recognition and media attention is the wrong reason to like it (ie-the Star Trek movies).

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 10:32 am

I think that some critics believe that only independent, foreign studios are capable of turning out a high-quality, "non-commercial" product and that's a crock of hooey; most independent films are bad.

That may have been the case twenty or more years ago, but most film critics these days aren't associated with film magazines or newspapers: they're "bought" by television programs which are in turn paid for through commercials for, guess what--motion pictures.

As a result, most critics love everything that's big screen, domestic and large. A key giveaway to their attitude is the constant mention in reviews of how much was spent making a movie (as if that somehow ensures quality).

Basically, I agree with you: good films can come from any production source, be it foreign or domestic, big studio or small independent, large budget or tiny, optimistic or cynical. So can bad. So can really, really bad, so achingly bad that it's funny. I remember once watching Jon and Bo Derek's Tarzan film when it first showed up on HBO, years ago. We sat around with popcorn, and laughed ourselves nearly into hernias. It was excruciatingly *dumb,* mindboggingly idiotic. The kind of film that makes you wonder if everybody who went to work on any given day was forced to check their braincase and critical facitilities at the door.