Barry ... thanks for the interesting posts. I think you're a loony but like all the other loonies on this board, you're articulate, passionate and an asset to the discussions.

To bring us back to topic: if the rumours of a TV series based in the Star Wars universe are true, Tim's or Joss' involvement is the only thing that would make me contemplate watching.

Tom Stoppard co-wrote the script

!

This is the first news of the movie that's grabbed my attention.

Of the prequels, the only moment that made a strong (positive) impression on me was the part in the fight between Liam Neeson's character and Darth Maul when they were separated by some energy barrier. Neeson's kneeling and meditating and Maul's intense pacing told me worlds more about those characters than anything else in either movie. After that I was more interested in Maul's story than the one I was watching.

Anakin : I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth.

You know, Betsy, you picked the *one* line I always come back to when I talk about how I was scarred by Ep II. Hayden Christenson delivers this line in such a smarmy tone, and then bites his lip and stares at Amidala's boobs.

shudders

Gut reaction stated as gut reaction.

edit for quick-edit and to state that I have lots more to say, but am still recovering from a high-volume argument in a public space about Prequels vs. Original vs. LotR and shall abstain.

We rented the first Star Wars (episode 4, I guess) for the kids, this weekend. I found a site listing the changes between the 1997 release, and the 2000 release (which, given Jabba's appearance, I'd say this was). Is there any site that lists the changes between the original cinematic release, and either the '97 or 2000 version. I swear to Joss the film I showed to my kids this weekend was not my Star Wars.

Don't know about any site, but off the top of my head the changes from the original release included (not counting random special effects additions here):

• An additional/expanded scene with Veru and Lars about Luke
• The scene with the droids hiding from the Stormtroopers.
• Guido fires first in the special edition (which looked really, really dumb) and at the same time as Han in the DVD release.
• Scene with Han and Jabba (my only issue with it is Han steps on Jabba. I can understand Jabba willing to give Han a second chance, but I don't see him getting away with stepping on him. [I realize the scene was originally shot with a human actor and they had to do something about Han walking behind him, but it's still really dumb.])
• Scene with Luke and Biggs before attacking the Death Star.
• A crapload more fighters take off from the Rebel Base

There's probably more, but that's what I can remember.

Guido fires first in the special edition (which looked really, really dumb) and at the same time as Han in the DVD release.

Which is the special edition?

Did they cut some of C3PO and R2D2 wandering through the desert? Also, was the scene where Leia makes the recording always right at the beginning? Did they futz with the bar scene (other than the Guido/Han shooting bit)?

Here's the changes from the original release to the 1997 re-release:

[link]

Cindy, you can borrow my original VHS tapes anytime. And copy them 100 times and possibly make a pirate Criterion Collection digital copy, for the posterity that will ensue someday.

Someone told me I could convert my Laserdiscs to DVD. I might look into that someday.

Yes, I believed George Lucas when he said it was the last time I could buy the original trilogy.

Yes, I believed George Lucas when he said it was the last time I could buy the original trilogy.

Well, he wasn't lying, really.