As a kid of 6 when this movie first hit the movie palace, I was taken aback - and still am when I think of the memories that were spawned from this film and the two original sequels. Over the years, I returned to see this film time and time again -- marveling at it's ability to still captivate after so many viewings and so many years; not to mention its impact of pop culture, filmmaking and merchandising.
Star Wars became more than a movie phenomenon, it became part of the public trust. However, when George Lucas decided to return to his so-called well of imagination for the notoriously divisive and no doubt reprehensible Phantom Menance, he forever marred the earlier works - completely. One truly can no longer appreciate the original three films, because of the near butchery of the magic done by Episode I. I'll even wager that the Episode II: Attack of the Clones does more to denigrate the Star Wars trilogy.
And let's not forget the incessant tampering that Lucas has continued to do with the original trilogy when he re-released them back in 1997. I'm so glad that I have the THX laserdisc boxed-set, so I can see these films as they were first introduced to the public, not some retooled pieces of digital wizardry that they have become. Can anyone truly justify (with a straight face) the re-edit that has Greedo shoot at Han first? Or how thoroughly ananchronistic the CGI Jabba appears? There is even rumor that Episodes IV-VI will be rejiggered again when they finally appear on DVD.
If one doesn't leave a work alone can the subjective rating of that work remain constant? One could argue the continual tampering lessens the overall quality of the original.
Star Wars circa 1996 was a classic film, now... I don't know what it is, perhaps the continual workings of an obivously misdubbed, misguided and spent creative spirit.
As a kid of 6 when this movie first hit the movie palace, I was taken aback - and still am when I think of the memories that were spawned from this film and the two original sequels. Over the years, I returned to see this film time and time again -- marveling at it's ability to still captivate after so many viewings and so many years; not to mention its impact of pop culture, filmmaking and merchandising. Star Wars became more than a movie phenomenon, it became part of the public trust. However, when George Lucas decided to return to his so-called well of imagination for the notoriously divisive and no doubt reprehensible Phantom Menance, he forever marred the earlier works - completely. One truly can no longer appreciate the original three films, because of the near butchery of the magic done by Episode I. I'll even wager that the Episode II: Attack of the Clones does more to denigrate the Star Wars trilogy. And let's not forget the incessant tampering that Lucas has continued to do with the original trilogy when he re-released them back in 1997. I'm so glad that I have the THX laserdisc boxed-set, so I can see these films as they were first introduced to the public, not some retooled pieces of digital wizardry that they have become. Can anyone truly justify (with a straight face) the re-edit that has Greedo shoot at Han first? Or how thoroughly ananchronistic the CGI Jabba appears? There is even rumor that Episodes IV-VI will be rejiggered again when they finally appear on DVD. If one doesn't leave a work alone can the subjective rating of that work remain constant? One could argue the continual tampering lessens the overall quality of the original. Star Wars circa 1996 was a classic film, now... I don't know what it is, perhaps the continual workings of an obivously misdubbed, misguided and spent creative spirit.