For me, Star Wars is like the Celtics.

[TitleMaster]

Is it just me or do any of you get ticked off whenever a new feature film makes more money than the original Star Wars from 1977?

At first, it was E.T. in '82. I was royally ticked off that a silly kid's movie, involving Reese's Pieces and a clown-like bicycle chase (BFD, Time Bandit's battle against Dr Evil [ or just plain Evil ] was far more entertaining), could unseat the king of outer space movies.

Then, when SW made its comeback in '97 with a re-release, within a single year, the biggest chick flick in history stole its title with a bunch of rampant teenage girls watching it a hundred times each for DiCaprio. What a travesty!

And now, it's Avatar due to bloated ticket prices and the director of the aforementioned chick flick making half the showings a costly 3-D a/o IMAX experience. Albeit, it's Sci-Fi so it's not such a dishonor but still, let's be real, it doesn't have the heart and soul of the first Star Wars film.

This is why I despise the Lakers! Under no circumstances should any team have more titles than our Star Wars (a.k.a Boston Celtics)! There is only one Star Wars and likewise, there is only one Boston Celtics! Amen!

[Amonkey]

I think the big theme for your topic is that each movie was, in its own way, a special effect revolution.  Star Wars was something like it had never been seen before.  I am not a big fan of the SW, but I think the combination of the intriguing story line with enough blanks that could leave fans filling in all the holes, but more importantly, what brought people in the first people was the special effects.  The same thing with ET.  ET made people think they could have an alien as a pet due to its realism.  Titanic was a great movie for its magnitude.  Granted, a lot of chicks saw it, but the story line was amazing (who would've thought that a 3 hour movie about a ship sinking could be so intriguing) and the detail was amazing.

Now comes Avatar.  Granted, the story line is somewhat weak, but the magnitude of the special effects, which actually makes you feel like this place can be real, is intriguing to many people around the world.  It has revolutionized the way we watch movies now.

[PLamb]

I'm puzzled

Is this a thread to talk about movies or basketball

If basketball, I'm not sure I get the analogy

If movies I think Star Wars and Avatar have a lot in common

Both introduced cutting edge special effects, both were stories about the little guy overcoming the larger evil power, both story lines were kind of weak(Star Wars' story line didn't become something special until Empire), both are science fiction and both transfixed a movie audience like never before

[TitleMaster]

I am not a big fan of the SW, but I think the combination of the intriguing story line with enough blanks that could leave fans filling in all the holes, but more importantly, what brought people in the first people was the special effects.

In some ways, Star Wars blasted the special effects criteria set by Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", so it was a revolution in itself and launched Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic effects company but I think fundamentally, "Star Wars" did something else... when Luke looked out at the twin moons of the Desert Planet Tattoine, with a sense of quiet reflection and wonder, and the bitter sweet soundtrack then weaves into the scene, it set a mood which even "Lawrence of Arabia" could never attained. It was the dream of every person, young and old, to reach for the stars (or other shores if on land) and find their destiny. I don't believe any other movie, of its billing class, ever had a moment like that.

So yeah, for both ET and Titantic fans, I'm sorry but having a talking alien pet as one's best friend or a relationship with a poor boy/society girl, just doesn't reach for the soul of a person with a dream (or someone in search of one). Those themes are for the lonely hearts and/or those with co-dependency issues. I understand that everyone wants love so I'm not going to trash on it, however, I think that if a person is confident that love is out there, then what's really their mission or dream in life?

Remember the conversation between Russell and Garnett, back in the '08 season? I think I'm talking about something of that magnitude of inspiration.

[Amonkey]

I am not a big fan of the SW, but I think the combination of the intriguing story line with enough blanks that could leave fans filling in all the holes, but more importantly, what brought people in the first people was the special effects.

In some ways, Star Wars blasted the special effects criteria set by Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", so it was a revolution in itself and launched Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic effects company but I think fundamentally, "Star Wars" did something else... when Luke looked out at the twin moons of the Desert Planet Tattoine, with a sense of quiet reflection and wonder, and the bitter sweet soundtrack then weaves into the scene, it set a mood which even "Lawrence of Arabia" could never attained. It was the dream of every person, young and old, to reach for the stars (or other shores if on land) and find their destiny. I don't believe any other movie, of its billing class, ever had a moment like that.

So yeah, for both ET and Titantic fans, I'm sorry but having a talking alien pet as one's best friend or a relationship with a poor boy/society girl, just doesn't reach for the soul of a person with a dream (or someone in search of one). Those themes are for the lonely hearts and/or those with co-dependency issues. I understand that everyone wants love so I'm not going to trash on it, however, I think that if a person is confident that love is out there, then what's really their mission or dream in life?

Remember the conversation between Russell and Garnett, back in the '08 season? I think I'm talking about something of that magnitude of inspiration.

The same could be said about ET.  Maybe for an adult it may not have the same effect, but for the general audience, especially for the younger audience, having an alien character that the kids could play, touch, interact, that made it look so real and really tapped into everyone's imagination.  I know watching as a young kid and thinking how real that could be and how cool it would be to have ET as a friend.  That is the beauty of these sci-fi movies and something that Avatar has also accomplished.  It has introduced a world that looks so real that many people can envision living in this world.

Now I think if you relate to the Celtics, what I believe you are saying is how there were the Celtics of Bill Russel, then after that you have the Lakers or the Spurs of the 90's/2000's and they start calling that the best dynasty ever.  Granted, those teams were pretty amazing, but you can't forget the past.

[RAcker]

I am not a big fan of the SW, but I think the combination of the intriguing story line with enough blanks that could leave fans filling in all the holes, but more importantly, what brought people in the first people was the special effects.

In some ways, Star Wars blasted the special effects criteria set by Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", so it was a revolution in itself and launched Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic effects company but I think fundamentally, "Star Wars" did something else... when Luke looked out at the twin moons of the Desert Planet Tattoine, with a sense of quiet reflection and wonder, and the bitter sweet soundtrack then weaves into the scene, it set a mood which even "Lawrence of Arabia" could never attained. It was the dream of every person, young and old, to reach for the stars (or other shores if on land) and find their destiny. I don't believe any other movie, of its billing class, ever had a moment like that.

So yeah, for both ET and Titantic fans, I'm sorry but having a talking alien pet as one's best friend or a relationship with a poor boy/society girl, just doesn't reach for the soul of a person with a dream (or someone in search of one). Those themes are for the lonely hearts and/or those with co-dependency issues. I understand that everyone wants love so I'm not going to trash on it, however, I think that if a person is confident that love is out there, then what's really their mission or dream in life?

Remember the conversation between Russell and Garnett, back in the '08 season? I think I'm talking about something of that magnitude of inspiration.

TP for giving Stanley his props.

Now, where is DarkLord?

[TitleMaster]

I know watching as a young kid and thinking how real that could be and how cool it would be to have ET as a friend.

I was also a kid when ET had come out and I also enjoyed it but for me, "The Muppet Movie" was more inspirational.

After Star Wars, I'd started reading about NASA, elementary school level physics, geometry, etc. If I can point to a single influence, it was Star Wars which had inspired me to learn about the world, science, and technology. I wasn't one of those reading prodigies as a kid, I worked at it. In fact, I'd imagined that by 2010, I'd be working at a hanger for a spaceport, kinda like the one at the Moon at Bespin. Granted, none of that happen, however, I did eventually do well in math/sciences and did go to college for the applied sciences so it wasn't a complete wasted effort.

 

[TitleMaster]

Now I think if you relate to the Celtics, what I believe you are saying is how there were the Celtics of Bill Russel, then after that you have the Lakers or the Spurs of the 90's/2000's and they start calling that the best dynasty ever.

For me, it was the Cowens/Havlicek/Silas era which was sort of associated with "Star Wars" and then, with the subsequent Bird era ,clinching it with the "The Empire Strikes Back", thus the Celtics vis-a-vis Star Wars universes were defined.

[Amonkey]

I know watching as a young kid and thinking how real that could be and how cool it would be to have ET as a friend.

I was also a kid when ET had come out and I also enjoyed it but for me, "The Muppet Movie" was more inspirational.

After Star Wars, I'd started reading about NASA, elementary school level physics, geometry, etc. If I can point to a single influence, it was Star Wars which had inspired me to learn about the world, science, and technology. I wasn't one of those reading prodigies as a kid, I worked at it. In fact, I'd imagined that by 2010, I'd be working at a hanger for a spaceport, kinda like the one at the Moon at Bespin. Granted, none of that happen, however, I did eventually do well in math/sciences and did go to college for the applied sciences so it wasn't a complete wasted effort.

 

I think this debate becomes based on more personal opinion then.  One movie that we haven't mentioned is Jurassic Park, which got me thinking about science that planted an early seed for my curiosity of anatomy and physiology, which has translated into being involved in exercise science.  That is why I am actually excited about the new Karate Kid with Jackie Chan and Will Smith's kid.  From the trailer, I never thought I would be so pumped up about a 12 yr old pumping iron, but it looks pretty cool.

[TitleMaster]

One movie that we haven't mentioned is Jurassic Park, which got me thinking about science that planted an early seed for my curiosity of anatomy and physiology, which has translated into being involved in exercise science

I think you're getting at the crux of my theme. It's about the blockbuster which had actually changed one's life. If 'Jurassic Park' did it for you then great. For me, I was already interning at biotechs, when JP had come out, so I guess it was a tad late.

[fairweatherfan]

The newer 3, while having their moments, can't ever really measure up to the old 3?

[Witch-King]

Well, Star Wars is currently the 3rd highest grossing film series of all time, so even if James Cameron can top his older work 'Titanic' with 'Avatar' neither movie will ever be able to compete with the  Star Wars' Franchise in terms of the influence that it has had on the modern film industry.

This is especially interesting to note, as it explains some of the magnitude of success that the Boston Celtics, and the NBA enjoyed while they journeyed through the Eastern Conference en route to winning banner 17. The Western Conference has, over the course of the last decade, been the more dominant of the two in terms of championships won, overall talent of teams, heck even in TV ratings.

The trend in the NBA for the past 20+ years is that the same 7 teams always win the NBA championship (ie., the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Pistons, Rockets, and Miami Heat) so that means that the likelihood of a so called 'newbie' team breaking that mold and making it to the Finals AND winning a championship gets smaller as one of the aforementioned teams becomes a threat to win it all.

If you think back to the last Spurs Championship for a few moments, you'll remember a very young LeBron James' vain attempt to lead a team of role players who looked almost completely out of place on the highest stage getting dominated by a veteran Spurs team who showed no mercy on either side of the court.

The Cavaliers lost that series in 4 games, LeBron played terribly (this was the series after LeBron single-handedly dismantled the Detroit Pistons squad by scoring 25 straight points through the 4th quarter and then beating them by himself in double-overtime) and was taken out of the series by the Spurs' relentless defense, and worst of all the series was one of the lowest rated NBA series since the NJ Nets-Spurs series earlier in the decade.

However, the 2008 NBA playoffs is the highest rated playoff series that the NBA has had since the Chicago Bulls era. As much as people complained about all of the game 7 series that our team endured in order to get to the Championship, the Boston Celtics were still able to put butts in the seats/keep eyes glued to t.v. sets (much like the Star Wars franchise).

Though these series may have resembled the 'epic journey' that was a staple of the Lord of the Rings book/movie series, if you'll remember, the most powerful ring (the 1 ring) rightfully belonged to the evil king Sauron, so it's no wonder why many teams point to the Boston Celtics as sort of the 'bullies' of the NBA. However, the playing field seems alot more even when you realize that the NBA still has salary caps - I mean it's not like we're the New York Yankees 

[Roy Hobbs]

Well, if you go by tickets sold, Star Wars still trumps all of those movies (by far).

Gone With The Wind would be well ahead of Star Wars in those circumstances, though.

[TitleMaster]

Well, if you go by tickets sold, Star Wars still trumps all of those movies (by far).

Yes, that's the main consolation for me.

Gone With The Wind would be well ahead of Star Wars in those circumstances, though.

This was the movie of our grandparents' generations. In fact, it was the precursor to all David Lean type of megamovie epic sets. And it was a pivotal tale about a nexus of American history. So its place in the pantheon of films is secure.

[dark_lord]

I am not a big fan of the SW, but I think the combination of the intriguing story line with enough blanks that could leave fans filling in all the holes, but more importantly, what brought people in the first people was the special effects.

In some ways, Star Wars blasted the special effects criteria set by Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", so it was a revolution in itself and launched Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic effects company but I think fundamentally, "Star Wars" did something else... when Luke looked out at the twin moons of the Desert Planet Tattoine, with a sense of quiet reflection and wonder, and the bitter sweet soundtrack then weaves into the scene, it set a mood which even "Lawrence of Arabia" could never attained. It was the dream of every person, young and old, to reach for the stars (or other shores if on land) and find their destiny. I don't believe any other movie, of its billing class, ever had a moment like that.

So yeah, for both ET and Titantic fans, I'm sorry but having a talking alien pet as one's best friend or a relationship with a poor boy/society girl, just doesn't reach for the soul of a person with a dream (or someone in search of one). Those themes are for the lonely hearts and/or those with co-dependency issues. I understand that everyone wants love so I'm not going to trash on it, however, I think that if a person is confident that love is out there, then what's really their mission or dream in life?

Remember the conversation between Russell and Garnett, back in the '08 season? I think I'm talking about something of that magnitude of inspiration.

TP for giving Stanley his props.

Now, where is DarkLord?

not enough time in the day to write everything i could say on this topic