Star Wars

[Adriatic]

Just saw Episode III here in America, and I was curious as to how the Japanese were/are reacting to the Star Wars saga.

loved it; I enjoyed watching the characters evolve.. the action and fight sequences were amazing.

The acting had it's questionable moments, but I still think on the whole, it was effective. Some of the story/acting was fairly simplistic, but there are so many people Lucas is trying to reach with this film.. it's a difficult situation.

If Lucas had made the entire series more adult oriented, I think it quite possibly would own any other movie series ever made.

I grew up watching these movies and I definetly am pleased on the whole.. I only hope Lucas can keep himself from MODIFYING the series any more. - While the recent DVDs have amazing quality, their "extended" scenes border on blasphemy.

[plaid_knight]

Ep 3 was very good indeed. Eps 1 and 2 were extremely poor in
terms of plot, acting, and direction, but both the Clone Wars series and Episode 3 have given the franchise a wonderful shot in the arm.

[Caustic Saint]

Episode 3 doesn't open in Japan until July 9th.

Of the 50 or so countries listed on its release dates page on IMDB, Japan is the only one to get the film more than 2 days after the US release.

52 days later? WTFF?!?

It's opening on time in countries like Estonia, Ecuador, Slovenia and Guatemala, but Japan waits nearly two months? Anybody know the reasoning behind this?

[ketchupkatsu]

Someone told me that Star Wars always opens in July in Japan. I guess it is some kind of tradition that started with the first movie's release.

[Lupin4]

The acting was horrible, except for the characters of Kenobi and Skywalker. Even Sam Jackson's 'acting' was tough to sit through. It's like they used everyone's warm-up lines in the final cut.

The one 'good' dramatic scene was a scene with Jackson in it...but even that felt like a community theater performance. Community theater with a special effects budget.

[FG Lurker]

It's opening on time in countries like Estonia, Ecuador, Slovenia and Guatemala, but Japan waits nearly two months? Anybody know the reasoning behind this?

You mean besides, "TIJ"?

[Socratesabroad]

It's opening on time in countries like Estonia, Ecuador, Slovenia and Guatemala, but Japan waits nearly two months? Anybody know the reasoning behind this?

The answer's probably due in part to logic like 'Star Wars traditionally opens in July in Japan' ["But this one goes to eleven."] and in part to the wonderfully 'unique' Japanese movie theatre industry.

A major policy shift came late last year when Twentieth Century Fox decided to terminate an exclusive booking arrangement with Toho subsidiary Toho-Towa that dated back to 1972. The contract authorized Toho-Towa to distribute all Fox films outside of the key cities. (Fifty-three percent of Titanic's JY25.5 billion box-office revenue came from outside the key cities.) But Fox Japan, whose rentals totaled JY16.9 billion last year, must still go through Toho to book films in the key cities.

[emperor]

With the new system of sending encoded film footage to cinemas rather than reels - it should speed up release dates everywhere

In ireland a good few years ago, we used to have to wait several weeks to get the reels that had played in the UK cinemas - sometimes they wouldnt be in the best condition once we got them...

[Mels]

I will see Star Wars this Sunday. Looking forward to all the special effects. Too bad the acting wasn't great.....

[AlbertSiegel]

Finally a Star Wars that did not suck! The last two were total crap. I remember when episode 1 came out, I wanted to leave and get my money back even thogh I was there for free. I really hate going to the movies in Miami. People here are so rude. I nearly had a fight over someone taking my seat. I got up for a second and someone just sat on my bag and then moved it. The girl with him moved over one seat to avoide any trouble between me and that guy.

Anyway, it would not be Star Wars without people dressed up.

[kotatsuneko]

why anyone over the age of 10 would want to watch star wars is beyond me..

[Big Booger]

why anyone over the age of 10 would want to watch star wars is beyond me..

Spoken like a true Dark Lord.. LMAO.. May the force reach you before the darkside does.

[kotatsuneko]

heh well the timecode reached me is that dark enough?

[jim katta]

absolutely love the star wars world. and EP 3 was good. But DAMN, why was the acting so wooden?? there were times when actors were talking to each other, and you could almost feel them reading from a script. I have to second the sentiment that this was one of Samuel Jackson's least compelling performances. Hell, everybody's acting was wooden, like a high school stage play. Thus, Yoda gets my vote for best actor in this film. Yoda rules!

[Mels]

For me, I love the special effects. Industrial Light and Magic is the creme de la creme in the industry today. Lucas has done some great work over the past 25 years and that is one reason I am going to see Star Wars.

Here is some interesting read on ILM:
ILM has pioneered many groundbreaking effects and processes in the last 25 years. It would be hard to cover everything that ILM has done in any one article (or even in a single book), so in this article we will focus on the incredible and revolutionary water effects used in "The Perfect Storm" as an example of their work. "The Perfect Storm" provided ILM a unique opportunity -- integrating artificial, computer-generated water with real water. Given that foaming, blowing, churning ocean water is one of the most dynamic elements in nature, the challenge was immense!
more:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/perfect-storm.htm

[cstaylor]

why anyone over the age of 10 would want to watch star wars is beyond me..

Says the gameplayer otaku with the cartoon Avatar.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Wow. Now she looks like a true Drewish princess. May the Schwartz be with you.

[Caustic Saint]

My spoiler-free review:

Nice opening sequence.
Then a slow hour or so.
After that, strong to the finish.
3rd best movie of all 6, after Empire and Star Wars.

Given the material that had to be dealt with in this one, it had the potential to be almost as good as Empire. However, Lucas' refusal to let anyone polish his script or direct in his place ensured that wouldn't happen.

(Oh, and General Grievous was a laughable cartoon character - which just shows how screwed up Lucas is, since Grievous was a serious badass in Clone Wars - an actual cartoon!)

[kotatsuneko]

why anyone over the age of 10 would want to watch star wars is beyond me..

Says the gameplayer otaku with the cartoon Avatar.

well, the thing is, star wars is just a fat old americans take on 7 samurai/the hidden fortress in space really isnt it? except instead of 2 really good movies, its 9 movies full of shit, innit?

[Big Booger]

(Oh, and General Grievous was a laughable cartoon character - which just shows how screwed up Lucas is, since Grievous was a serious badass in Clone Wars - an actual cartoon!)

I think the battle with Obi-Wan showed how vicious Grievous was.. but he was dying. That was the point. By this time he was getting old and sick. He had that cough.

I thought the fight with Obi-Wan was pretty impressive.

I have to agree with Jim Katta, the acting was somewhat robotic... Especially Samuel Jackson. It was like he was being forced to say it a certain way and not given the creative power to introduce his uniqueness to that character.

Darth Sidious gave a hell of a performance. He freaked the shit out of me ... Anakin to Darth Vader made a nice transition, but it seemed a bit rushed... I figured it would have taken quite a bit longer...

[emperor]

jango/clonetrooper - cgi body + head - when he was taking off and putting on helmet etc - out of sync?


picked up on fark
Reel mix up leaves N.J. Star Wars fans watching Japanese version
http://9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=faada73d-0abe-421a-0033-2434599e89c7&TEMPLATEID=b010ff41-ac1f-02c5-0009-00c014346932

"Star Wars: Episode Three -- Revenge of the Sith" got lost in translation for some fans at a movie theater in New Jersey.

It seems there was a reel mix up and, at some point in the film, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi started to speak Japanese.

People at the Loews Cineplex at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown chanted, "stop the movie, stop the movie" during Wednesday's midnight premiere.

The lights came on and the manager told the audience that the movie would not continue.

Loews marketing senior vice president John McCauley tells the Asbury Park Press the audience was offered the choice of squeezing into other theaters, getting a pass for another showing or receiving a refund.

It's not known how the Japanese version was spliced in.

[Mels]

buhahahaha only in New Jersey!!

[dimwit]

why anyone over the age of 10 would want to watch star wars is beyond me..

Somehow Star Wars fans have managed to avoid the nerd stigma of Star Trek fans or the idea that it is basically a kids movie like Harry Potter.

[Naniwan Kid]

http://9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=faada73d-0abe-421a-0033-2434599e89c7&TEMPLATEID=b010ff41-ac1f-02c5-0009-00c014346932

This seems weird to me for many reasons.

1) Will they really DUB Star Wars in Japanese theaters?

2) Is it already done? Considering the movie isn't released in Japan until July...

3) Why would this copy be in America? I am sure Japanese voice actors in Japan will do the dubbing....

QUOTE---
EATONTOWN, N.J. (AP) - "Star Wars: Episode Three -- Revenge of the Sith" got lost in translation for some fans at a movie theater in New Jersey.
It seems there was a reel mix up and, at some point in the film, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi started to speak Japanese.

People at the Loews Cineplex at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown chanted, "stop the movie, stop the movie" during Wednesday's midnight premiere.

The lights came on and the manager told the audience that the movie would not continue.

Loews marketing senior vice president John McCauley tells the Asbury Park Press the audience was offered the choice of squeezing into other theaters, getting a pass for another showing or receiving a refund.

It's not known how the Japanese version was spliced in.

[FG Lurker]

This was already posted in another thread I think...

This seems weird to me for many reasons.

1) Will they really DUB Star Wars in Japanese theaters?

Yes, there will be sub'd theatres and dubbed ones. Why? Little kids can't read fast enough or enough kanji, and many families take their kids...

2) Is it already done? Considering the movie isn't released in Japan until July...

I think there is something weird in Japan about releasing Star Wars in July.

3) Why would this copy be in America? I am sure Japanese voice actors in Japan will do the dubbing....

I would imagine that the US studio has copies in all languages.

That said, it could have been *any* language -- most Americans wouldn't know Japanese from Swahili...

[Naniwan Kid]

"Star Wars: Episode Three -- Revenge of the Sith" got lost in translation for some fans at a movie theater in New Jersey.

It seems there was a reel mix up and, at some point in the film, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi started to speak Japanese.

People at the Loews Cineplex at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown chanted, "stop the movie, stop the movie" during Wednesday's midnight premiere.

The lights came on and the manager told the audience that the movie would not continue.

Loews marketing senior vice president John McCauley tells the Asbury Park Press the audience was offered the choice of squeezing into other theaters, getting a pass for another showing or receiving a refund.

It's not known how the Japanese version was spliced in.

Does this not seem weird?
1) SW Episode III doesn't come out in Japan for over another month.
2) Dubbings are usually done in Japan with Japanese "talent", if done at all. I am a little surprised Star Wars has a dubbed version coming out, as it is usually only done for children's animated movies. The dubbed is usually saved for video.
3)Why is this dubbed version any where near New Jersey?

[emperor]

Wow! They devoted a whole site to her in that bikini!
http://www.leiasmetalbikini.com/slaveleiapictures.html

[Naniwan Kid]

I did find that this was a part of the "Star Wars" thread. Sorry for any repitition.

I found another link telling the same story, but that the movie was dubbed in Chinese. You are right. In Ohio, it's all greek to the masses....

Still, this seem strange to me. Usually "geinojin" do the dubbing, so did they go to America to record it? I kinda doubt it. So why would this reel be mixed up with something else? I smell conspiricy....

[FG Lurker]

I did find that this was a part of the "Star Wars" thread. Sorry for any repitition.

No worries. If any of the mods are reading this, perhaps this could be combined with the main thread?

Still, this seem strange to me. Usually "geinojin" do the dubbing, so did they go to America to record it? I kinda doubt it. So why would this reel be mixed up with something else? I smell conspiricy....

The dubbing could be done here and a copy of it could be in the US studio the next day. Since they would only have to send the voice tracks it could be done via VPN in a couple of hours.

My guess is that movies these days work a lot like "Windows" does. The main interface (the movie and effects) are separate from the language "skin." The two are then combined to create the final product. Thus, if someone really fucked things up (accidentally or purposely) two language tracks could get mixed like that.

But yeah, the whole thing does seem weird.

[Naniwan Kid]

Group asks Burger King to halt 'Star Wars' deal
By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY
Tue May 24, 6:21 AM ET



The Force may - or may not - be with Burger King's latest Star Wars-themed Kids Meals.

One day after a record-shattering weekend for Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, an advocacy group is asking Burger King to stop the tie-in of its Kids Meals with the film because it is rated PG-13.



The same group, Dove Foundation, got McDonald's 13 years ago to apologize for "confusion" from its promotion of PG-13 Batman Returns with Happy Meals. Now, it's going after BK's latest Kids Meal promotion - targeted at kids ages 4 to 9. The meals feature characters from Sith or other Star Wars films.


"When Burger King puts that in a Kids Meal, there's an implicit endorsement of the movie," says Dick Rolfe, chairman of Dove Foundation.


This is no small matter. Product licensing and promotion is a $100 million annual business. Since the first Star Wars was released in 1977, the six films have racked up almost $9 billion in merchandise sales and product promotions.


For Burger King, the stakes are huge. The No. 2 burger chain is in the 16th month of a major rebound. The Star Wars promotion, dubbed "Choose Your Destiny," is the 50-year-old chain's first global promotion.


Burger King officials insist the promotion isn't specific to the latest film (the others are rated PG), but one that relates to the chain's long-term relationship with the Star Wars franchise. Executives point out that only four of the 31 Kids Meal toys are specific to Sith.


The toys "clearly celebrate not just one film but the entire Star Wars saga," says Edna Johnson, a Burger King spokeswoman. "The reception at our restaurants and from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive."


But Rolfe says "the tie-in is very specific to this film." Wrappers around Kids Meal toys all promote Sith, he notes.


Dove Foundation, a non-sectarian family advocacy group, sent an overnight letter to Burger King last Thursday requesting the promotion be stopped. It also conducted a national phone survey of 889 adults and says 83% felt the promotion was not appropriate for kids.


Another critic says the fault isn't that of Burger King but Star Wars creator George Lucas. "It's irresponsible of George Lucas to OK the marketing around this PG-13 movie to young children," says Susan Linn, a Harvard psychologist and author of Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood.


"Star Wars is broader than a single movie," says Lynn Fox, a LucasFilm spokeswoman. "Parents know that Star Wars has been a positive influence."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050524/bs_usatoday/groupasksburgerkingtohaltstarwarsdeal

It's good to know that the biggest problems we have in America are which toys are chosen for our kids' value meals.

http://www.bk.com/starwars/