Attack of the Clones Leaked 309
dgris writes "ain't it cool is running a purported review of Epidsode II. Harry Knowles is claiming to have gotten a secret screening of the film while at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX. Short story: he loves it." Like the department sez: I'll believe it when I see it. After Phantom, I'm willing to wait a bit to see it.
Yeah uh-huh. (Score:3, Funny)
Wow! (Score:3, Insightful)
What? You say this guy saw the new Star Wars movie well before it was supposed to be displayed publically? And he has proof of this?
Wait, you mean he has no proof? You mean he gives no sources for his information? You mean everything he says is peripheral information about the film that could have been gleaned from the trailers? You mean that there's no reason to believe that this is real?
I'll also wager that tomorrow, we'll see a Slashdot story detailing how the review was "forcably removed" from the site by Lucasarts (who will deny any involvement, because they're not involved) and "pirated" copies of the text will circulate around the 'net, hyping up an already overhyped movie.
This is not the review you are looking for. You can go about your business. Move along.
Re:Wow! (Score:5, Funny)
This isn't the movie I'm looking for. I can go about my business. I'll move along now...
Re:Wow! (Score:5, Insightful)
I just got done reading the article, and you're way off base here.
Occasionally, some reveiwers on AICN seems liek they haven't really seen the movie. But this is Harry, the proprietor of the site. And after reading the entire review (which you clearly did NOT), it's highly probable that he has seen the movie.
The details of the fight scenes between Yoda and the Count. The insight into Anakin being a "mass murderer."
Trust me, he's seen the movie. And if you hadn't been in such a rush to get karma points, you might have read the article and posting something REALLY insightful.
Re:Wow! (Score:3, Interesting)
Anakin being a mass murderer? He never says it happens in the film. Hell, I could have told you before Episode I that Anakin is a mass murderer.
Yes, he gives (possible) details about the fight between Yoda and the Count. But who am I (or you, for that matter) to say that he's right? I've seen the picture of Yoda that he mentioned. Just off the top of my head, I though of this: "And you've seen the CD cover with Yoda holding the lightning? Well, in the movie he gets shocked by Count Dooku, but the lightning never penetrates him, it just leaps around his body. Yes, he's that powerful with the Force. The Yoda holds out his hands and the lightning gets coallesced into a ball, which he then sends out into space, since Jedi Masters never use the Force for harm."
See how easy it is to fake a review? I might write one up tonight, pulling my information from fansites (I knew about Yoda's battle months ago) and from ignorant Slashbots (I'll let you figure out who) and post it!
Oh, and I don't need Karma, I'm at the cap.
Re:Wow! (Score:3)
Fair enough, but I've been reading Harry Knowles' previews/reviews for four years, and every one that he has written has been factually correct.
From what I can tell, some of his "anonymous sources" may fabricate material, but Harry does not. Whether you agree with his rather sophomoric presentation style is irrelevant to the actual descriptions of events in the film.
When the movie comes out in 60 short days, and some of these heretofore "un-leaked" facts are revealed, we'll see.
Oh, and I don't need Karma, I'm at the cap.
Me too. It's just en vogue to accuse people of Karma Whoring.
Re:Wow! (Score:2)
So, maybe he's right, and if so, I'm looking forward to the movie. I don't think that I'll camp out, or see it on opening night for that matter, but I'm sure I'll get around to seeing it soon enough.
Me too. It's just en vogue to accuse people of Karma Whoring
Look! Your original post is at +5! Karma Whore!!!! (I always try to keep up with the latest trends) ;-)
Re:Wow! (Score:5, Funny)
What, are Henson and co. running out of muppets or something?
One! Two! Three!!! Three Jedi Hah hah hah hah!
Longtime AICN reader (Score:5, Informative)
Funny.... (Score:3, Funny)
*snort* (Score:3, Insightful)
A week later, he saw it again, on his own dime, and proceeded to trash the hell out of it.
AICN has ZERO integrity. Always had, always will.
Re:Longtime AICN reader (Score:5, Informative)
Well don't know him either and I don't care much for this review. But talking about Knowles, AICN and integrity, well that might be a bit of a stretch. Do you remember the OScar debacle from a few years ago or his apperance on Politically Incorrect. You should read the articles on Film Threat about him and some of his associates:
DECONSTRUCTING HARRY: AIN'T IT UNETHICAL? (part one) [filmthreat.com]THE GEEKS STRIKE BACK: DECONSTRUCTING HARRY (part two) [filmthreat.com]
AIN'T IT CRIMINAL: DECONSTRUCTING HARRY (part 3) [filmthreat.com]
AIN'T-HE-A-FOOL: JUDGMENT DAY FOR JOE HALLENBECK [filmthreat.com]
AIN'T IT BACKLASH: HARRY GOES ON TV, BUT TV GOES OFF ON HARRY [filmthreat.com]
HARRY & ME [filmthreat.com]
I mean if is willing to pimp a script from one of his friends without telling anyone, it's abit of a stretch to talk about integrity and his site. Maybe instead of begging for presents he should put ads like Slashdot.
Re:Longtime AICN reader (Score:5, Interesting)
The fact that the half-dozen tirades you linked to all came from FilmThreat tells me that they have an axe to grind. Probably they are just trying to siphon off users from AICN.
Quite a sad way to build an audience.
Re:Wow! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Wow! (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Wow! (Score:4, Funny)
Given that this is Slashdot, it probably will say "forcably."
HEY MODERATORS! (Score:2)
Grain of salt, but don't dismiss entirely (Score:2, Insightful)
pretty reliable... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:pretty reliable... (Score:2)
Mmm, all true, but the big issue that I have with Harry is that everybody else in the entire business has to buy for their access by writing positive reviews. Harry wants us to believe that he's different, because he started out different.
But the special access he gets now, teamed with the apparent inconsistencies of his tastes, the increasing number of rave reviews of big films (I know he likes movies, but even so...) and if nothing else the plain old fact that his site is sponsored directly by the owners of the films that he is reviewing (and AOL-Time Warner, I notice) mean that the only reliable information that you can get from Harry's reviews is an insight into Harry.
I really is a damn shame. AICN used to be a great site when Harry did things the hard way. But as soon as it started attracting enough eyeballs for Harry to start receiving legitimate invites, it effectively removed the point of its own existence. In fact, I mostly just read it now for the trolls, who tend to be a lot more amusing and vitriolic than the goober subspecies on Slashdot. ;-)
You know, (Score:5, Funny)
I read an article somewhere... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I read an article somewhere... (Score:3, Funny)
Way to stamp out those charlatans, chief.
Harry Knowles has zero credibility (Score:3, Insightful)
(He'll also print anything on his tabloid website without bothering to fact-check in any capacity. I tested this once by making up the most outrageous thing possible and sending it to him in a drunken fit - do a search on aintitcool.com for "mammoth".)
Re:Harry Knowles has zero credibility (Score:2, Flamebait)
Re:Harry Knowles has zero credibility (Score:2)
Wasn't It Cool News? (Score:2)
When it first started gaining popularity (or at least when I first noticed it) circa 1998, I found it to be juvenile, fan boy garbage and almost entirely apocryphal or at least wildly innaccurate (to quote D Adams). I'm glad to see it hasn't changed. I'll stick with hollywoodbitchslap.com, myself.
Re:Wasn't It Cool News? (Score:2)
I'm glad to see you think so highly of it. Sortof reminds of a geek gossip site in a way. Even if he has 'connections', his style is disturbing at best.
Harry is full of shit. (Score:5, Funny)
But his opinion is crap ever since he claimed that he "cried at the end of Armagedeon". What a sell out. They were his site's biggest sponsor at the time.
I shit you not.
Death Sticks? (Score:5, Insightful)
Worse name? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Death Sticks? (Score:2)
Re:Death Sticks? (Score:3, Funny)
Dealer: It's not a drug man. It's a performance enhancer. And a Gungan repellant?
Obi-wan: A what? I'll take two cases.
Sorry, but Harry lost his credibility years ago (Score:5, Interesting)
Sad to tell, anyone who's followed Harry's fortunes over the years has seen him metamorphosise from a rebel outsider into a minor celebrity, feted by both individual directors and (gasp) Big Bad Studios just like any other influential mainstream reviewer. Even now, Harry still (very occasionally) gripes about mainstream reviewers, while at the same time accepting the exact same special access to sets and screenings. The only difference is that Harry explains exactly how the whole sordid business works, with reviewers buying themselves celebrity status by giving good review-bites that guarantee that their name will go up on a poster or trailer, thereby elevating them into more expensive and high class whores. And yet despite receiving the rewards, Harry would like us to believe that he is still untainted by the influence and can be trusted. This idea seems to flow from the fact that Harry explains the context behind each viewing (whether you want to hear it or not) and writes informally. It's superfically convincing, but the style of presentation is irrelevant other than for entertainment value, it's the substance that matters for a reviewer.
I am simply unwilling to believe the spy-games circumstances that Harry claims. If he has seen this film, it is with the full sanction of Lucasarts, on the implicit or explicit understanding that he would give it a rave review, and that he would imply that it was a rogue showing. And note carefully, he leaves us to infer that by describing his feelings (which nobody can prove or disprove), but never actually makes a factual statement to support it. You have a think about that.
Don't get me wrong. Perhaps it is a good movie and an honest review. But Harry can simply no longer be trusted. There are just too many examples of him raving about movies to which he has received special access for him to be a credible independent reviewer any more. I won't claim he has sold out, because he never claimed to want to be outside the system. In fact, he has made every effort to insinuate himself into the whole sorry cycle of review-reward, and I think this may very well be his crowning glory.
Sorry Harry, you used to be someone I could trust. Now you're just a shallow parody of Comic Book Guy. The circle is complete; now you are the studios' bitch. Ain't it ironic?
Typical AICN complainer (Score:2)
Oftentimes basing this solely on the script (Scooby Doo, anyone?).
Re:Sorry, but Harry lost his credibility years ago (Score:3, Interesting)
Harry has a deep seated and pathological NEED to absolutely love every film he watches. His desire for this is so strong that within about 15 minutes of viewing a film he will find the proper mindset in which to view it. (Mindsets being in this case the point of view that one should approach a film with in order to obtain the most enjoyment from it.)
Harry has never once pretended not to want or use the "special access" and preferred treatment he gets from studios. Heck, he delights in it far more than any other reviewer I've ever seen, like a kid at christmas. That's part of the game. The one thing Harry does do is incinerate films he doesn't like, special screenings be damned. Just look at his review for Rollerball 2000 if you want a prime example. Out of 10 movies he gets "special access" for, 1 is awesome, 2 are good, 5 suck in one way or another, and the rest he never reviews since they are a waste of time.
The only real problem you get reading Harry's reviews is that sometimes it's just not possible to get into the mindset he does to enjoy a film, so you end up with Harry giving a good to glowing review for a movie that to a non-film geek is a pile of crap (Godzilla 2000 for example). He's gotten better at knowing when this is happening lately and you'll find his reviews peppered with "If you don't like x you'll hate this" or "If you like y then this is a lot like it".
And get off with this betrayal thing. I get far, far better reviews from Harry and Moriarty on AICN then I do from all other film sites combined. You're coming across as a bitter old school AICN poster who feels robbed because he went to see a movie that Harry recommended and couldn't get into it. No reviewers are right all the time. Feeling betrayed for eight bucks is a little dramatic. It's like all the punks who think they were betrayed by Green Day when they ditched the punk rock, and all the old slashdot posters whining about how much the site sucks nowadays.
Re:Sorry, but Harry lost his credibility years ago (Score:2)
Mmm, I did give that impression, but it's not at all true. I don't spend that much time on AICN, I've just been dipping into it for years, and reading the reviews casually. I only see movies based on personal recommendations from friends, never based on professional reviews. My point is that Harry's stories (I won't call them reviews) have gone from enthusiastic but informative to pure solipsism, where the entire point seems to be to get across exactly how inside Harry is. See the bizarre story of Blade 2 [aintitcoolnews.com] for a perfect example.
Sure, Harry is perfectly honest about his subjective ramblings, and he's never less than entertaining, but just because you like his style doesn't mean that you have to give credit to his substance.
It's like a politician announcing a tax rise; you'll probably get an anecdote about how badly the money is needed, and how much the polician regrets doing it, and so on. All of this is perfectly true, but perfectly irrelevant; the only salient point is taxes are going up. Similary, Harry can write five hundred words about how hyped he was, or who invited him, or what he had to eat that day, or how hot the chick in front of him was and how much she wanted to ride his 400lbs carcasse like a bucking bronco, but that's just spin. The beef is: what was the movie like. And I'm finding that increasingly Harry just doesn't say, although he's becoming better and better at covering that up.
Re:Sorry, but Harry lost his credibility years ago (Score:2, Insightful)
You people seem to have the same mentality about movies as you do software. If it comes from a big company with a big budget it must suck. I don't understand that, but I don't have to.
The thing I find interesting about your comments on harry is that you don't compare a good review from harry to whether the movie turned out good. You compare it to whether he had special access.... Who cares if he had special access to the film. What is important about a reviewer is if his/her reviews are accurate. Or, more to the point, accurate to the way you see things.
It is great to find a reviewer that seems to reflect your tastes, and if the one you are reading doesn't then don't read them.
I don't understand people who hate something and keep subjecting themselves to it just to complain.
Harry needs another spanking (Score:4, Informative)
Lets get some facts (Score:2, Interesting)
OK, people, reality check:
There is no doubt that some people have seen the movie. But this was just a rough cut. If Harry said that he was screened a rough cut, maybe I would believe him. The fact of the matter is, there is nothing is his review that hasn't been leaked in the spy reports on TheForce.Net, or in the "scriptament" that is floating on the Web.
Re:Lets get some facts (Score:2)
From the end of the review:
He says right then & there that he was not viewing a final cut of the movie. Most likely, this will be like TPM, and not be complete until just before it hits the box office.
I'm not saying the review is true or not, but he does say it's not the final cut.
I Doubt He Saw It (Score:2, Insightful)
While I suspect that Harry has read of things from the movie (of that, things are leaked like crazy: visit http://theforce.net for lots of stuff), it is HIGHLY unlikely that he's seen the movie in its final form. Why?
Because, according to LFL, the movie still has a lot of post-production work (the CGI) to be done. In fact, the latest preview is missing a few key pieces...watch the last scene where 14 Jedi are on their last stand, surrounded by a lot of aliens and battle droids. Funny that the Jedi are reflecting blaster shots which come from nowhere.
The movie isn't complete. I checked my ass--it seems that someone has been trying to blow smoke up it.
Re:I Doubt He Saw It (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah, like the script, which he reviewed.
it is HIGHLY unlikely that he's seen the movie in its final form
Except that he's never been shown to be a liar before, so why risk it now?
Because, according to LFL, the movie still has a lot of post-production work (the CGI) to be done. In fact, the latest preview is missing a few key pieces...watch the last scene where 14 Jedi are on their last stand, surrounded by a lot of aliens and battle droids.
Perhaps that is why he said this in his review:
Aside from that, if you actually applied Occam's Razor as you claim, the simplest explanation is that he DID see the movie. Not that there is this major conspiracy for him to write a fake review.
Re:I Doubt He Saw It (Score:2)
What's simpler, he decided to write a fake review based on information already available (scripts, preview, etc), or that some Lucasfilm goons dropped a secret note to him at a book signing, directing him to go to a certain hotel room at a certain time (Would YOU take such an invitation from a stranger? Sounds like a recipe for an asshole-widening you didn't ask for) to give him a super-secret viewing?
I'm not making any claims one way or the other...I've never read this guy's reviews before (or if I did, didn't really notice the author), and I'll go see the movie when it comes out. But be careful with Occam's Razor...it's really all in *how* you state the options. Just about anything can be phrased such that it sounds simplistic, and just about anything can be broken down into its basic elements (plus the occasional dash of paranoia) and sound horrendously complex.
My prediction (Score:2, Interesting)
Consider the conglomeration of 'Force' and 'Fate' that surrounds the events in these movies. Think about 'Destiny' and 'Prophecy.'
Now consider that moment in Episode 1 where Qui Gon Jinn says that he will gamble the racing pod against the freedom of Anakin and his mom. Watto will only gamble against one of their freedoms and rolls the chance cube to see which. Qui Gon uses the force to ensure that it is Anakin whose freedom is gambled (and won) in the pod race.
Now think about the results of Anakin being taken from Tatooine and going with Obi Wan. Think in the scope of all 6 movies.
You see, the whole string of events that unfolded (will unfold) in episodes 2 and 3 plus ep4-6 that we've already seen are a result of this. But was it 'Fate' or 'Destiny' that made resulted in the chance cube rolling the way it did, or was it those things that made Qui Gon use the Force to free Anakin? Did Destiny guide the Force, or did the Force guide Destiny?
I think George Lucas in brilliant in this, as sooner or later, we will all realise that only because of Destiny and the roll of a chance cube was an Empire built and defeated, the way of the Jedi preserved, and Evil defeated once more. That, my friends, is what can only be produced from the mind of a master storyteller.
George Lucas, I applaud you.
Re:My prediction (Score:2)
imo: lucas is a better special effects directory than story teller. you made a really interesting observation so you might enjoy this: watch bergman's "seventh seal" and see if you agree how little time Lucas spent developing the characters. this exercise makes me see StarWars more like a soap opera than cinema.
Your prediction (Score:2)
My only problem is your inference that if Anakin had been left behind or not become involved in later events, that the whole of the univers would be different. Do you think that Sidious would just stop and fail without Vader? Wouldn't he find another apprentice and go on about his business of conquering the galaxy?
Sure, it would be a major change for the particular people and events of this series of stories, but probably not a big shift in the overall history of the timeline.
I think of Asimov / Harry Seldon and Psychohistory. Small groups of people may affect small events, but the greater line of history has at most a minor perterbation and most likely no real change at all.
I always think of this when I here people talk about how one little thing would change the world. They usually think in terms of "all other things remaining the same, but this little change". It doesn't happen that way. If you change one thing, then everyone around it is also changed and adjusts to the new situation, and then persues it on new terms.
Re:Your prediction (Score:2)
What makes you think that Luke/Leah are the only people capable of beating Sidious?
Just like Sidious could find another apprentice besides Vader, the rebels could find another hero to defeat him. The details of how would be different when viewed closely, but the eventual outcome would be basicly the same:
Greedy monster seeks power. Greedy mosnter userps power through various devious secret power plays. Greedy monster conquers known universe. Oppressed people dislike greedy monster. Opressed people form a rebelion. Rebelion eventually beats greedy monster.
There's room for hundreds of variations, but the overall outcome (whether in a holywood movie or a corporate hostile raid or foreign government or even the US government) is likely to follow that type of pattern. Try reading some history.
Re:Your prediction (Score:2)
The Mule did change the original pattern set in motion by Harry Seldon. But he was eventually found and removed by the second foundation, sort of the "Jedi" of their universe". The Foundation continued to grow. The occurance of the Mule was an event, but it did not ultimately prevent the growth of the Foundation.
Asimov tied Psychohistory closer to detail than I would. I think more in terms of Chaos Theory. Chaotic fields may not be predictable in detail but can often be bounded and/or cyclic in long patterns. Weather is not predictable in detail beyond a few days, but it can be bounded (like tempertures are not likely to suddenly jump to 200 degrees, even if you can't predict exactly what it will be) and cyclic. History has cyclic patterns. Even if you can't predict exactly who or how or when it will happen, you see the pattern a lot. The growth of a powerful figure, the growth of empire, the corruption/weakening of that empire, eventually the fall (whether by revolution as in Russia, or by corruption like Rome, or defeat by opponents like Germany)
The Mule was taken down by a force he was attempting to invade. The Republic was taken down by corruption. Sidious was taken down by rebelion.
Sooooo, what will take the USA down? My bet, corruption.
Hypocracy (Score:3, Interesting)
We have countless stories proclaiming that the MPAA is destroying Fair Use, that they're devil spawn, that thousands of loyal Slashdot readers are boycotting the MPAA....
But then, Star Wars comes out. Lord of the Rings comes out. Resident Evil comes out. And all of the sudden, you're forking over your hard-earned money to these devils.
I have not seen a movie (aside from free TV movies) in the past year and a half. And I won't. I have scruples.
Not necessarily hypocrisy... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hypocracy (Score:2)
Idiocy (Score:5, Insightful)
And it never ceases to amaze me how a reader of slashdot can assume there is no plurality here, amongst at least half a million others. We don't all harbor a blinding hate of the MPAA.
I wish the MPAA would drop their stance on a lot of issues. They wish I would stop using DeCSS to view DVD's on alternate OS's. They wish I would stop using Morpheus to view certain things.
But that doesn't mean I won't go and entertain myself for $8.
I have not seen a movie (aside from free TV movies) in the past year and a half. And I won't. I have scruples.
You are free to protest it, just don't expect EVERYONE on slashdot to do the same. And because one part of slashdot is like you and complains loudly, don't expect another part of slashdot not to like and discuss upcoming movies.
Re:Hypocracy (Score:2)
Hey, where does it say in the review that Harry paid the MPAA for the the screening? Score one for our team!
Re:Hypocracy (Score:2)
You probably support the Napster-supported pirating of copyrighted music too, don't you?
In the immortal words of Foghorn Leghorn [tripod.com], that's a joke, son.
Re:Hypocracy (Score:2)
You probably support the Napster-supported pirating of copyrighted music too, don't you?
Dammit. This probably qualifies as an off-topic troll, but I'm more than willing to take my lumps on this one.
I'd really like to see this line of reasoning evaporate on Slashdot, for the simple reason that there does exist a difference between legality and morality. Feel free to argue the moral issue of intellectual property, its theft and fair-use, and the tit-for-tat nature of piracy as a response to overreaching corporate manipulation of intellectual property rights.
Please do not argue that "there's a law against it" is one and the same thing as "it's wrong." Ideally, anything that is wrong should be illegal, but even that doesn't make everything illegal wrong.
Re:Hypocracy (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't remember ever saying that I was going to boycott the RIAA or MPAA. Heck, I don't even remember a general consensus on Slashdot so far that said that the however many hundred thousand readers of Slashdot was going to boycott the MPAA.
Heck, I don't see a general consensus on /. about ANYTHING! That's why it's such a great place for discussion - otherwise CmdrTaco would post an article, we'd all agree with it, and move on. No discussion would be had. Instead we have tons of people with diverse beliefs and ideas exchanging them. Sometimes it's meaningful, sometimes it's just a flamewar.
Me personally, I go to the movies every weekend. I don't boycott the MPAA, because I know they will just use it for an example of how the "Evil Internet and P2P File Sharing Applications Are Killing The Industry". I spend effort instead with making sure people know what's going on, and contacting my Congresscritters (the people who make the laws that protect the MPAA), and encouraging others to do the same.
I somewhat boycott the RIAA, but, if I download an MP3, like it an enjoy it, I buy the CD. No need to FURTHER fuck the artist. Bad enough they don't make much money from the CD I purchase. Again, I spend my efforts differntly, trying to change the system with what little noise I can make.
I use both Open Source (OpenBSD and Linux) and Close Source (Windows 2000 and Amiga OS) Operating Systems. I write Closed Source applications, but, prefer Open Source tools (I'm a game developer by night, Industrial Automation programmer by day) I'm working towards the idea of decaying my games into GPL'ed code after a certain timeperiod so that others can continue to enjoy my games long after they have been released - but one of the important issues is making enough money to continue to make games, so up front Closed Source is an important issue. Long term, Open Source is also very important.
Ok, why the rambing additional information that has nothing to do with the MPAA Boycott? To illustrate something - people on /. are different from each other. Not all of us represent the same thing. Not all of us post our opinions on every article, agreeing or disagreeing with what's said (in fact, if we did, no one would bother to get any work done since there would be something like 200,000 reponses PER ARTICLE. Ouch. And the /. servers could hardly handle it!)
So don't stand up and make a blanket statment that all /. readers (or even editors. Yeah, it's rare that I stand up for them ;-) agreed to the idea of boycotting the MPAA. Or the RIAA. Or Microsoft Products. Or... anything. Because we are all individuals, with different ideas, and damned well don't agree on ANYTHING! ;-)
Re:Hypocracy (Score:3, Insightful)
I disagree with some things the US Government does and yet I still pay my taxes and vote, and at this point have no plans to emigrate. If I disagree enough, I'll write letters or email. The same with the MPAA. I see about 2 movies a year at the theaters and I rent about a dozen (aside from all the ones we get for the 3-year-old.) If they do something I don't like, I let them know. That doesn't mean I should stop giving my money to Ridley Scott or John Waters.
Support the movies/actors/directors that you like. Let your elected representatives hear about your disapproval of them trying to hijack our culture's intellectual property. I watch independent flicks (on Bravo, IFC, Videos, etc.) and I support small-time independent music-makers, especially foreign ones like Wes and Saliif Keita. I don't buy 'produced' bands like N'Sync and such. Support the bands that spent years playing bars before they were discovered. Those are the 'real' musicians.
That's really about all you can do. Boycotting can be an effective strategy, but I don't believe you're even on the radar screens yet. Perhaps if their control measures become more draconian there will be enough of a groundswell of support. Until then, I'll continue to consume in small, carefully regulated dabs of consumerism and let any displeasure be heard by my senators and congresspersons (who, really, actually, do listen, BTW.)
Re:Hypocracy (Score:2)
I do have a problem with the way they are acting with respect to digital media and fair use. So I stopped buying their digital media, and I intend not to buy any until the fair-use-limiting features have been removed. That means I may not be buying the LOTR:FOTR DVD when it is released. But if the fair-use advocates win out in the end, it will be available on unencumbered media sometime in the future. I will buy it then.
Until then, there is Morpheus, or whatever, if I really want to have the damn thing that badly. But I don't. The books are more than a fine substitute for the DVD, and they happen to be completely unencumbered by fair-use-prevention technology.
I don't think I could stay awake to read a novelization of Episode 2, so there is probably no dilemma presented there...
Re:Hypocracy (Score:2)
It never ceases to amaze me how many people assume Slashdot is a perfectly unified group of people who methodically push a particular point of view.
Believe it or not, Slashdot does not have an agenda, especially if you include the visitors. If it had an agenda, it would be a heck of a lot more coherent.
The destruction of fair use and expansion of copyright is something that interests lots of nerds, so Slashdot ("News for Nerds") covers. Star Wars is something that interests lots of nerds, so Slashdot (Still "News for Nerds") covers it. Some nerds are worried about copyright expansion and boycott the MPAA. Some don't really care and don't. Some feel that the best answer is somewhere in the middle. Berating Slashdot and Slashdot's visitors for be human, for being different, for not being perfectly uniform Slashbots is silly.
I'm glad you've found your own solution. You're boycotting the MPAA's works. Great. You probably would like to convince more people to follow your path. Equally great. Perhaps you would attract more people if you didn't insult their behavior.
Why do I not buy this? (Score:2, Insightful)
The language used in this review is reminiscent of the anarchy t-philes that kids used to write back in the heyday of the BBS scene. For me at least, that in itself is enough to cast doubt upon the review. It comes across as juvenile and written to whet the appetites of fans, and not much else. If it were written in a more erudite manner, I might give it a bit more creedence.
I also wonder exactly how far along Lucarfilm is in the post-production process. Would it be in a sufficiently complete state to watch easily (like the Buckaroo Banzai workprint that's made its rounds for almost twenty years now)? I don't know for certain, it's complete enough to have a trailer. How much more I don't know.
I don't know.. this seems a bit too pat. It's at the right time to cause a fervor, the timing's too neat.
Guys, guys, guys... (Score:4, Insightful)
The ONLY way they can make the impact they want is to do everything in their power to make people see that the film isn't going to be crap. To that end - the latest trailer is an action packed monster that gives away the entire plot; they dragged Harry Knowles into a room and showed him a copy of the rough cut; they are willing to leak the entire plot if it will persuade the average Star Wars punter that he will see Star Wars regain its status as quality entertainment.
And you know what - I bet it'll have some effect. I'm more inclined to go see the film after the last trailer than I was after 'Forbidden Love'. I'm even more inclined to go see it after reading Harry's review. I'm probably not alone.
Why assume that Harry hasn't seen the film when it makes perfect sense for Lucasfilm to want him to see it? They just upped their box office receipts...
Yeah right (Score:4, Funny)
And if by the 1,000,000th of a percent of a chance that I'm wrong, oh well. The guy still needs to learn to use a smaller font.
Re:Yeah right (Score:2)
Hollywood studios are actually scared of him, or at least of the power he seems to wield on his site... He has become something of a celebrity in the movie world... Hell, Michael DeLuca (head of production at Dreamworks - was at New Line during LOTR production) wrote the introduction to Harry's book...
I think him seeing the movie is entirely possible, but if so a well placed publicity stunt by Lucasfilm...
Of course Palpatine is evil! (Score:3, Funny)
Of course Palpatine is evil, doesn't anyone remember Return of the Jedi anymore? (whas it *that* bad?) Who's that dude zapping Luke with the magic bolts of lightening at the end of the film? Could it be.. "Emperor Palpatine"!?
Time to pop ROTJ in the VCR again (Score:2)
I'm afraid you're the one who doesn't remember Return of the Jedi anymore. The word "Palpatine" is never uttered in any of the classic trilogy movies. The Emperor is referred to only as "The Emperor."
The novelizations, comics, and RPGs are a different story, however.
starwars.com bio (Score:2)
Check out the Palpatine bio [starwars.com] on starwars.com. The relevant quote is: "In the Death Star, high above the Battle of Endor, Luke refused the Emperor's newfound dark side power, and so Palpatine used his deadly Force lightning to attack the young Jedi."
Next are you going to suggest that the Anakin Skywalker from Phantom Menace isn't the same Anakin Skywalker who became Darth Vader?!
Try reading the post next time, son (Score:2)
No, not at all. What I'm saying is that it isn't mentioned in the movie, and thus the fact that Palpatine == Emperor would not be obvious to people who don't take their Star Wars experience beyond the movies (which, granted, doesn't include many /.ers, but is quite a few people nonetheless).
The above poster was chastising people for not remembering Return of the Jedi well enough to remember that the Emperor's name was Palpatine, when in fact that's not mentioned in the trilogy.
Re:Try reading the post next time, son (Score:2)
That's only well-known among fanboys... (Score:2)
I only knew because I had picked it up through fanboy channels around the time Jedi came out.
Jon Acheson
Harry liked Episode I, too. (Score:5, Insightful)
Not to say that it's going to be bad, but let's put it all in perspective. True, Harry Knowles says that Episode II is great. But keep in mind that He said the same thing about Episode I.
What's worse, he likes Jar-Jar too. In quoting from his review of Episode I, "Meesa luvs him!".
So you can put me in the "I'll believe it when I see it" camp as well.
confirmed (Score:2, Interesting)
AICN did it before.... (Score:2, Informative)
While that doesnt exactly confirm the SW2 review to be accurate, it surely shows that their news about SW2 has been accurate so far. And Im pretty confident that they wouldnt post made up stuff concerning star wars.
You don't get a screening this early unless... (Score:2)
Don't you wonder why all of these no-name critics that you see on TV trailers get to review movies before Roger Ebert?
SW
Knowles is Odd (Score:2)
I know he's a real cheerleader for film, and that's great. But after reading his review of Blade 2, I'm sure not sure what to think of Knowles.
I mean, I'm all for enthusiasm. That's fine. And I know he's somewhat of a celebrity -- he's got a new book out, appeared a couple times with Ebert on Ebert's show -- but his reviews are repulsive in a way that sorta defies any explanation.
But not all his reviews of repulsive. Blade 2 maybe is the oddball. And I'm not sure even why the Blade 2 review bothers me so much. After all, it's sorta the power of the everyman-reviewer-on-the-internet encapsulated.
But there's something sorta off-putting about Knowles. Like he's a bit *too* enthusiastic -- and oftentimes about the weirdest things.
More power to him, I guess. No one is forcing me to read the reviews, right?
I guess they're not really reviews. That's the part that gets me. Maybe I'm taking them too seriously. I just gotta chill, read it, and roll with it. But they sorta expose stuff that sorta makes you scratch your head (or, as Harry might say, your ass) and say, "Hmmmmmm...."
*shrug*
David Brin's Theory (Score:3, Insightful)
I hope this is developed, because in this context, Darth Vader is a hero - defeating both the Palpatine and Yoda and replacing the corrupt Jedi Order (I wonder if these celibates have as much problems as the Catholic Priesthood?) with something that's a bit more humanistic.
Perhaps in this context the Jedi Science of mitocholorians (sp?) is just another example of their internal corruption - they should be training everyone in the use of the force who show potential, and not attempting to exclude people like young Anakin who was considered too old to begin training.
Re:David Brin's Theory (Score:5, Insightful)
The elitist (yet still cool!) Jedi can't read into their own prophesies. Someone else (probably from Space.com's "Phantom Heresies" series got this idea published earlier, but I'll repeat here for fun.
The Jedi prophesy that the Chosen One would "bring balance to the Force" works, but as the Jedi discover, not in their favor. The Force doesn't need the Jedi or Sith--they need it more. The Chosen One creates the balance by DESTROYING some 10,000 Jedi and apprentices, leaving only one master and one apprentice on each side (Emperor/Vader, and Yoda/Obi-Wan).
The reason that these Force users are around also has something to do with their use of foretelling through the Force. Most Jedi, like Qui-Gon, probably do the "keep your mind on the here and now" thing. That philosophy ultimately gets them killed. Yoda and Obi-Wan can SEE the end coming--and take measures for another day. They can even see their demise, more or less, as Obi-Wan predicted to Luke before sacrificing himself to keep Vader from hindering Luke's first Death Star escape.
The Emperor and Vader use the same talent, but it seems that mucking with the Dark Side doesn't give you the clarity that the Jedi had--otherwise, both Palpatine and Vader would have gotten a vague clue that they were about to part ways the Hard Way.
The Jedi have survived as stoics (like the Vulcans of Star Trek fame). They know that emotion taints the use of the Force. That's why they really should have left Anakin alone, but their curiosity got them killed.
Yep, ultimately, Anakin is a hero--he was the ONLY person capable of taking out the Emperor, who was more powerful than anyone except Vader. The Emperor knew this and subjugated Anakin to prevent what he ultimately did--kill the Emperor.
Why must Anakin become a Sith? It was the only way to get close enough to the Emperor.
Re:David Brin's Theory (Score:2)
Nice theory, but really Obi-Wan sacrificed himself to Vader because Sir Alec Guiness stoutly refused to appear in a sequel...
I will stop punishing you now.
Re:David Brin's Theory (Score:2)
OK, so who played the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi in ESB & ROTJ?
Don't get your hopes up yet... (Score:2)
I'll give you an example, long after the principal photography was done, Lucas decided to add a line for C3PO. They had an artist digitally recreate the left side of the picture so it could scroll over to the right, because 3PO wasn't originally in the shot. Then they had to composite C3PO in via bluescreen. All so he could say this very important, plot pivotal line "You'll never get me onto one of those starships."
In other words, Lucas still has time to change it. A tweak here and a tweak there could potentially damage the movie. On the other hand, though, this technique could be used to improve the movie too. Who knows... In any case, as long as the movie has time to evolve, I wouldn't back any reviews of it right now.
harry is hollywood's lapdog (Score:2)
He saw it, and I think the studio orchestrated it (Score:2, Insightful)
My guess is that this was orchestrated by the studios to get those 'opinion leaders' disappointed by Ep 1 excited about Ep 2. Most of the nutjobs that talk about movies all day long probably flock to his site and participate in the forums, so they figure a positive review by Harry is good enough to get the word of mouth hype machine moving. Any entry level PR class teaches this tactic to get people talking about a particular issue, starting with the opinion leaders.
There is also a distinct possibility that Harry is in fact on the payroll of the movie makers. We've heard about the studios creating a number of 'fan sites' to build up momentum for various flicks, so we should at least entertain the idea that Harry is a more permanent shadow marketing tactic. In the end a bulk of the ads on his site are from the studios, so they are paying him one way or the other :).
If there was a legititmate 'leaked' version of the film (i.e. not an orchestrated leak), there'd be a VCD traveling throughout the vast expanse of cyberspace this morning. This sort of stuff doesn't happen 'by accident.' George Lucas had to approve this or it wouldn't have happened.
Re:He saw it, and I think the studio orchestrated (Score:2, Interesting)
Prrff! (Score:5, Funny)
Big deal.
I've seen final cuts of episode 4, 5 and 6!
And guess what? (SPOILER ALERT:) Vador is Luke's father!!
Leaked...? (Score:2, Insightful)
As to the review... well, who knows. I don't like the guy much, though he certainly has done me no wrong. I hate it when people bash someone they don't know personally, as alot of you have done today. His review is to kneejerk and possibly full of spoilers if to be believed.
If he saw it, it was probably a cut out for the Lucas company(s) trying to build some hype, which they have done judging from the two or three other early leak reviews on the web today.
It's gonna stink. (Score:2, Funny)
"Gilligan! I mean, Anakin! How many times have I told you to stay away from the bzzzzzt! power couplings..."
What more proof do you need?
Uncle Tony (Score:2)
Re:Naaah... (Score:2, Funny)
5:15 PM - Counterfeit Film
hmmm. Maybe it's a hint, or maybe it was just
7:30 PM - Made-Up
anyway I'm real sad that I don't get to see
2:00 PM - Sean Connery Golf Project
If that's not a box-office hit, I don't know what is (and I don't).
imho - BS. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:imho - BS. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:probably not... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:doesn't _really _ say much does it.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What is the fascination..? (Score:5, Insightful)
Watching a movie on your tv and in a theater are obviously different experiences. But there is one really key difference. Seeing it in a theater is a community experience. When you know a movie is really good and will just rock you, it is a very different experience seeing it last show of the first night and a week or so later. Out in seattle there's a bunch of cinemas, maybe not the most by land area or population, but there are a lot. Most of them are near good, and occasionally cheap restaraunts and even near by. Some, like the most excellent Cinerama are not. The better the movie, especially on a friday night the parking can be brutal. And standing outside in the crisp night air, possibly getting rained on, for hours on end looses its charm just as quickly as one might imagine. But it's worth it. The people who are there understand that it is an event and they are invested in it. A setting like that is almost enough to make you cry during Pearl Harbor. No, not for that reason, stop being so cynical.
Basically, it's the same reason people put chocolate sauce on ice cream.
Re:What is the fascination..? (Score:2)
Now, I'm hoping that Syufy will close and completely remodel the Century 16 Mountain View complex is that too becomes THX-certified.
You guys in Cali might have it better.... (Score:2)
And in any case, I'm sure that Cinerama will add one of the digital projectors to their entertainment aresenal. But anything I'm desperately anticipating and expecting to be a sublime movie viewing experience I go through the extra hassel and expense to see it there, and insure it's as good as possible. As good as it could ever be.
Re:You guys in Cali might have it better.... (Score:2)
Given Paul Allen's money he should install a digital projector at the first opportunity; after all, the US$150,000 cost is pocket change for this guy.
I intentionally DON'T go the first week (Score:2)
I waited almost a month to see Star Wars Episode I, and you know what? It still sucked. I'll go see the new one because I am a fan of the series, but I'll allow probably 2 weeks and go to a matinee.
Re:What is the fascination..? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I wonder (Score:2)
Well, it's not like I don't have Karma to burn...
That's a very small world you live in, there... (Score:3, Insightful)
As for the computer industry, Ep2 could give it a serious boost. Digital artists would be more in demand and we may start to see more movies done entirely digital. If this happens, we could see a serious upgrade to theaters aka digital projectors. My hope is that one day movie theaters upgrade to the new projectors, it might mean an increase of frame rate (smoother motion...) is possible, and for viewing on a big screen that'd really be nice. Ep2 could help usher that in, but not if it sucks.
You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to feel the benefit of a good Star Wars movie. I have virtually no interest in seeing this movie, but I do hope for its succees anyway. It could mean a rather lucrative career for me.