STAR WARS 1977

[sjordan2]

There was a movie that looked very cool back then, and I had seen an interesting sci-fi film called THX-1138 (a studio remake of a USC film school thesis) by a guy named George Lucas who had done American Graffiti.  There had been very little publicity up to the film's release, so I was surprised to have to wait in line for 2 hours at the Houston Galleria. Wow, of course, for a movie buff like me. The response was so unexpected that there were zero toys or souvenirs available that Christmas. After several months, the merchandising onslaught began.

Edited December 17, 2015 by sjordan2

[blunc]

<-----  Opening day, second show, 70mm projector, the perfect seat in the theater ..still have the "May the force be with you." button they were handing out.

Initial thought was... How LONG is this ship coming in from the top of the screen?

[Jantrix]

I've been rewatching Epidodes 4,5,6 in preperation for seeing 7 on Sunday. And I've been really paying attention to the film itself. I think what helped make those films stand out back then in my opinion was the massive attention paid to detail. To realism. It's hard to use the work realism in sci-fi, but I'm serious. The ships and people, they aren't pretty, they are dirty, they are used. The Falcon is supposed to be the sci-fi equivilent of a jalopy and it looks like it. Everything in every scene was so darn detailed. A lot of effort and a lot of patience on the part of a lot of craftsman. It still impresses me to no end.

[vamach1]

Who would have thought all these years later it would still be popular?  That's me on the right.

Edited December 18, 2015 by vamach1
pic

[Harry P.]

Never have seen a Star Wars movie. Absolutely zero interest in sci-fi. Every time I hear "Star Wars" I think of Bill Murray doing his lounge lizard act on SNL. That is "Star Wars" for me... 

[Rob Hall]

Saw the original in the theater at age 7, saw parts 5 & 6 in the theater as a kid also.  Still have all my figures from childhood, well worn.   I bought a bunch of the '90s release figures, and saw 4,5,6 when reissued in the theatres in the mid 90s.  Have the movies on VHS and DVD.   Looking forward to seeing the new one tomorrow..going w/ several friends of the same age (mid 40s).

[Harry P.]

Are any of the cast of the original in this one?

[Rob Hall]

Are any of the cast of the original in this one?

Yes.

[Harry P.]

Yes.

And that would be....?

[Rob Hall]

And that would be....?

 Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill as well as the actors that played Chewbacca and C-3PO...

[hgbben]

 Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill as well as the actors that played Chewbacca and C-3PO...

You posted just as I was typing a reply. Quick fingers

Edited December 20, 2015 by hgbben

[Harry P.]

Wow! The old gang is back! Do they all play their same roles? That's pretty cool.

[hgbben]

Wow! The old gang is back! Do they all play their same roles? That's pretty cool.

Yes they do

[Ace-Garageguy]

I loved the movie from the beginning. I'd liked scary monster and space stuff as a kid, but hadn't seen anything worth watching for years. The first Star Wars film was so much of a quantum leap beyond anything done in the scifi genre ever before, it was like an entirely new kind of film-making. The special effects were absolutely groundbreaking and so beyond state-of-the-art at the time, and as Jantrix already mentioned, the details were so complete and convincing, that the movie, for me, accomplished 100% of one of film's primary goals...suspension of disbelief.

I never thought any of the later ones came close to the first film in scope or originality, but I'm looking forward to seeing Han Solo as an old geezer like me.

Edited December 20, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Harry P.]

I assume Princess Leia will not be wearing the bikini this time?

[Ace-Garageguy]

That's cold, Harry.

[gbdolfans]

I assume Princess Leia will not be wearing the bikini this time?

I hope not.

[oldnslow]

But her daughter might.

 

[Dave Van]

Saw eps. 7 Thursday night at 19:00  keeping my record of seeing every Star Wars movie at the very first showing. 

Nothing will ever match seeing the first film ib 1977,  you can't equal the 'newness' of the original. 

Saying that #7 is a good film......Mad Max Fury was better for 2015 IMHO only. 

[Repstock]

In the original, the Star Destroyer flyover scene was worth the ticket price by itself. I had never seen anything like that!  

[Jantrix]

I saw the new film last night. No spoilers. As a fan of the originals (ep4,5,6) I was very very impressed and pleased. JJ Abrams really understood what made the original films great and what the fans hated about the prequel trilogy. He nailed it in every way. It's wonderful to see the original cast back and the story is top notch. Lots of films to follow. We have two more in this trilogy and then two stand-alone films. One called Rogue Squadron that is currently filming and reportedly, one about Boba Fett. I'm sure there will be more after that as well. 

[Greg Myers]

I remember seeing the previews for the first ( part IV) and thinking " This looks awfully violent, don't think it's going to do well. What's the movie industry coming to ? " I was 30 at the time.

[Greg Myers]

Never have seen a Star Wars movie. Absolutely zero interest in sci-fi. Every time I hear "Star Wars" I think of Bill Murray doing his lounge lizard act on SNL. That is "Star Wars" for me... 

Really something to be proud of   

[Danno]

I've been rewatching Epidodes 4,5,6 in preperation for seeing 7 on Sunday. And I've been really paying attention to the film itself. I think what helped make those films stand out back then in my opinion was the massive attention paid to detail. To realism. It's hard to use the work realism in sci-fi, but I'm serious. The ships and people, they aren't pretty, they are dirty, they are used. The Falcon is supposed to be the sci-fi equivilent of a jalopy and it looks like it. Everything in every scene was so darn detailed. A lot of effort and a lot of patience on the part of a lot of craftsman. It still impresses me to no end.

WAIT until you see 7!!!!

[Danno]

 Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill as well as the actors that played Chewbacca and C-3PO...

And, R2D2 makes a BIG come-back.  No spoilers from me, but the new one does a masterful job of weaving the original cast and story in and out of the new story . . . and integrates the new cast superbly with the original story.

Great story.  One of the best movies in a long, long time (or from far, far away).  Certainly one of the best sequels/follow-ups.

 

As an aside, we had the privilege and thrill of taking our 8-year-old grandson to see it today.  He was totally enthralled and completely mesmerized.  Just like his dad was 34+- years ago when we took him to see the original Star Wars - when he was the same age.  Life is glorious!!