Ollie

This could be an error. Or perhaps Williams schedule to score Catch Me If You Can ended up conflicting with HP and I'm sure his loyalty lies more with Speilberg. Another possibility is Williams wants to give someone a chance to break into scoring films. Or the last thought and I apologize for this but after watching the first HP film I came away un-impressed and maybe Williams feels the same way after viewing a the rough cut of the sequel. 40 mins of Williams is 10 times better than the 35-45 mins of what most score albums from other composers contain these days. No need to get that upset about it.

Sadly the soundtrack sections where I live are beginning to suck the big one. I have 2 malls, 2 Circuit Cities, 1 Best Buy, a Target, 2 Super Walmarts and one CD shop to chose from. I found 1 copy of Minority Report Tuesday. One of the Circuit City's soundtrack section looks like it hasn't been touched in 3 years with the occasional new CD stuck in the front of it's letter location and those are the dumb Songtrack albums. Our Best Buy is pathetic for new soundtracks, I won't even look in Walmart or Target (AOTC was the only exception) and the malls are too expensive and the sale clerks annoying. I usually go to Austin or Waco or order scores off the internet.

CE3K is indeed a masterpiece. I saw this film when it was released at the age of 9 and I have been captivated ever since. A truly magnificent film in all phases. I've already stated my views about this film in another thread so I won't repeat myself here. If Williams hadn't been nominated for Star Wars he would have taken the Oscar for CE3K. The expanded CD is miles above the original release and gives one a whole new perspective on the score. Barry's Abduction used to scare the hell out of me when I listened to my old LP as a child. I'm glad I kept my Criterion Laser Disc, the edition that has both versions of the film, and I did buy the 2 disc DVD as well.

I think alot of it has to do with how well the film is. A great or good film can help poor CGI effects. Spiderman is a good example, a pretty good plot and good acting helped the weak visuals. Sometimes you can have too much CGI and it becomes way too obvious and hurt a good film. As with all visuals I think CGI has reached certain stages where it has become dated but then another film comes along a few years later and does something a little different and takes it to that next level. ILM has managed to do different things with CGI and improve on the effects every few years with each project they work on. ATOC has improved what TPM started but there are some glitches that I imagine Episode III will improve upon. Jurassic Park has great CGI use but with each film the Dinosaurs have gotten more realistic each time out. If I'm not mistaken ILM should be doing the next Harry Potter film, now that was poor CGI and it made an already disappointing film even worse. LOTR didn't have the best effects either but the film was well acted and overall well done so that helped out the visuals.

I gave Jaws a 10. It still holds up great after 27 years. The chemistry between the three main characters is great, plus they are supported by a well cast supporting cast. I still feel a lump in my throat when Alex Kintner's mom confronts Brody. While the shark looks dated I've always thought if you have a solid film the visuals will blend in perfectly much like the original King Kong (1933) and most of Ray Harryhausen's films. Williams score is great and thank god the shark had problems. Using the barrels was a great idea. One complaint I hear these days is that much like The Omen, Jaws isn't shocking so how could either film have been so scary and terrifying when they were released. People seem to forget that back in the 70's we hadn't really seen the violence that most film carry now. Back then seeing a shark eat people was something new. Nowadays hell it's tame to what we see on TV even. If Jaws were made today it wouldn't have nearly the impact it had back in 1975.

CE3k is one of Speilberg's best films. I agree that Dreyfuss gave one of his best perfromances, in fact the whole movie was cast perfectly. The ending of CE3K moves me to tears much like E.T. still does after all these years. Everything from Williams score to the visual effects makes this film one of the best films of all time. It's a shame that Williams had to go against himself for best score (Star Wars) because CE3K deserved an Oscar as well. How can anyone not feel for Neary and his obsession of trying to figure out the images of Devils Tower and the effect it takes on his personal life? As for A.I., while not the same level of Steven's earlier films, still manages to make me cry. Hell it made my 14 year old daughter and 12 year old son cry as well. I think A.I. does have some flawed moments but it still is a beautiful and touching film. David's obsession with his mother's love is both disturbing and touching. Jude Law gives a fine performance and Williams score is both haunting and beautiful. Sometimes you have to overlook a films flaws to see it's true meaning and that's what I did with A.I.

Actually on the "enhanced" CD-Rom material, if you can access it on your PC, it sounds like some unused music appears.

Oh man don't get me started on my mom and her collecting habits, sheesh. She's got wall to wall stuff, although she has bought me several cool Star Wars collectibles. My fiance just bought me a bunch stuff for my collection for Father's Day.

I dunno, I like Chiang's designs. Remember it's a different era so you need something a little different. I think Doug has still kept the same feel of the original trilogy in his designs.

I would suggest these titles to go along with the others: Night Crossing (Intrada expanded version) Tora Tora Tora (FSM release) Rambo II (Silva Expanded) The Blue Max (Sony/Legacy Expanded) The Mephisto Waltz (Varese) Planet of the Apes (Varese) Legend Under Fire Medicine Man Dennis the Menace First Blood Star Trek V If you can find the Mulan Academy Promo I would recommend that one as well.

:tongue2: Oh Cris is just mad cause his Spurs (Robinson is soft ROTFL) didn't have what it takes. The Lakers got screwed by the Refs in games 2 and 5 of the Kings series as well. :mad:

I have the JAWS set as well as McFarlane's KING KONG. Both are well sculpted. I used to have all of my old Star Wars toys, now I only have the figures. About 12 years ago my ex-wife talked me into getting rid of alot of my toys. We had two kids at the time and I figured Star Wars had run it's course and my kids wouldn't be interested. Well after I did that Zahn's HEIR TO THE EMPIREcame out and the STAR WARScraze took off, again. I started collecting the new figures but when the expanded universe came out that's when I fell behind because the collectors around this area started hoarding figures and I just didn't have the time to chase around town to each toy store. I've stuck to collectoing the Hallmark Christmas Ornaments for both Star Wars and Star Trek, although I'm missing the first Enterprise. I have a few of the large Star Trek Micro-Machine ship sets but missed out on that huge Star Wars one. Currently I'm working on my Bandai Godzilla collection and I was shocked to find out that Bandai, starting in August, will begin releasing their Godzilla line in the USA. Hopefully this will save me alot of cash since I have to buy them as imports now. Another Toy line I was glad to finally see started was the Ray HarryHausen collection by X-Plus, another Japanese company. They have a 12" vinyl and 8" vinyl toy line. Tower Records has a few of those at their stores. I have the two 12" Cyclops and 24" Dragon from the 7th Voyage of Sinbad and have pre-ordered the 8" line. I'm lucky my fiance collects Barbies so she understands my collecting habits and approves of them.

There are alot of studios who wish their movie would gross $232 million after 3 weeks. There is nothing wrong with AOTC gross. Sequels don't generally gross as much as the first film, although there are a few exceptions. It should hit around 300 million which is what most people predicted anyhow. Plus this is the most competative summer a Star Wars movie has faced.

According to The Force.net & Billboard AOTC has received a Gold Status. Check out these 2 links. http://www.theforce.net/episode2/index.html#16911 http://www.billboard.com/billboard/charts/bb200.jsp

I saw several Yoda figures the first day they were released in all of the toy sections around town but have not seen any more since. He must be selling fast. The same goes for Mace Windu and Count Dooku. -Mark, who is so far behind on his collecting Star Wars Figures he can't even begin to think about buying Episode II Figures. :oops:

I know it's fun to speculate but I wish people would realize the expanded universe books have nothing to do with the 6 movies. Lucas has the basic outlines of all six (nine????) stories written and already knows who, what, where and when most of the stuff will happen. -Mark, who enjoys reading some of them but knows they don't matter in the overall scene.

I would like to hear it as well. ollie68@hot.rr.com thanks in advance

Thanks.

1. Beru's Blue Milk was quite popular with everyone on the set. 2. "How do we get outta here??" 3. "OK, who stepped in the Bantha Poddo???"

Episode III will be the darkest movie out of the six. Many major characters will die and let's face it no one has a happy ending when it's all said and done.

Please don't take this the wrong way but it would be kind of silly for Mon Mothma be Luke and Leia's mom would it not? I mean wouldn't you think she would have had some sort of re-union with her kids in ROTJ??????? Plus the fact Leia said her mom died when she was very young. She had what, a 2 minute speaking role????? No Padme will die. Could it be heartbtreak? She's kinda young for that.

I think the timeline has been changed to 4 years between AOTC and Episode III and 18 years between Episode III and ANH. As for the expanded universe, forget it. The only thing Lucas will concern himself with is the charcters refered to in the previous films. You won't see any characters or plot lines from the books appear. We've already witnessed it with the DEATH STAR plans being given to Dooku instead of how it was written with the Prototype hidden in the Maw outside of Kessel or something to that effect. Lucas has given the authors guidelines to stay within and work with but the movies are seperate from them and have no bearing on what is written in the novels. If you go to the Force.net there is an interview from CNN where Lucas mentions that he has scenerios set up to introduce other characters but it will depend on whether or not the story allows him to insert them. I think we will see a young Governor Tarkin, Luke and Leia, A young Han Solo Or his parents and possibly Chewbacca.

Actually one of the reasons for Dooku's curved saber hilt is due to the fact the character was originally going to be a Female Sith, giving the handle an exotic shape. It's in the book called the Artwork of Episode II or something like that, but in the early concept art with the female you can see the curved hilt and they explain it in the text as well.

Ben-Hur Psycho Star Wars Planet of the Apes Spartacus Star Trek TMP CE3K King Kong (1933) The Magnificent Seven The Robe

After thinking for awhile I came up with some possibilities about Episode III. Please forgive if they seem out of order and don’t mesh completely but I’m writing them down as they come to mind and there are many avenues to explore. I have based it on the dialogue of all 5 movies and some speculation: As Joe had pointed out in an earlier thread I think my beloved Millenium Falcon makes an appearance in this film and plays an important role. That’s why Obi-Wan reacted the way he did in A New Hope when Han Solo introduced himself. In fact there was some speculation about that in a magazine at the time ROTJ came out that Ben had an important encounter with the Falcon before ANH and it would be included if Lucas ever decided to make the Prequels. It may have been Starlog but I can’t remember for sure. Padme is probably pregnant at the beginning and she confides in Obi-Wan that Anakin is growing darker and more difficult to deal with. She may feel Palpatine is having too great of an influence on him. Another possibility is Anakin gets expelled from the Jedi order after it is discovered he is married to Padme and that could further the strain between him and Obi-Wan. With Count Dooku and Palpatine manipulating both sides (Republic & Trade Federation) The war will continue to drag on. As it continues, Bail Organa (who should have a much larger role in III) probably starts to get concerned that Palpatine is slowly garnering more and more individual power as the Clone Wars proceed. He may start the Rebellion himself by gathering a small group of Senators who feel the same way he does. Organa‘s reaction at the end of AOTC tells his feelings on the whole matter, Yoda does not trust Palpatine, the look he gave him in AOTC may have said it all. Yoda probably knows what is in store for the Republic and realizes the son of Skywalker will bring true balance to the Force. Qui-Gon could make an appearance and together they realize that is will be Anakin’s son who is the chosen one. C3PO may have his memory erased but I think R2-D2 knows all along what is going on, although C3PO may have some knowledge, but I don’t think so. Princess Leia did not have enough time program all of that info in to Artoo. So I think he knew where Tatooine was and who to look for. I think we will see the twins born and most likely on Dagobah. Leia will be taken immediately to Alderaan but Luke will stay for awhile. Remember in TESB Luke has a feeling he has been there before. I think Yoda is the only one who knows Padme has twins. Ben may not know until Yoda utters the infamous line in TESB, “no there is another”. I think it could be Padme’s choice to separate the twins. She may not want either of them to have anything to do with becoming a Jedi. Owen and Beru more than likely will not know the fate of Anakin. Either Padme will tell them he is dead from the Clone Wars or Ben will tell both of them Luke’s parents have died during the war. Naturally Owen will feel some resentment to Obi-Wan because he and Beru will have raised Luke as their own son, not knowing (or he knows?) what Ben and Yoda have in store for Luke. Remember in AOTC Anakin tells Padme that they are good people and she will be safe with them so maybe that’s what convinces her to leave Luke with them. After 18 years Owen and Beru may not remember 3PO but I suspect that is because he is a different color, they did not "hang" around C3PO a lot, or that Owen was afraid to mention anything. That could also be the reason he didn’t choose R2 from the Jawas, because he remembered them. He also orders Luke to have it’s memory erased in ANH. That could also mean Owen and Beru know more about Luke’s past than they let on and as the years went by kept Ben away from Luke on purpose. Obi-Wan could have possibly used the force to cloud Owen and Beru’s memory about the whole matter so that could be a reason why they don’t recognize the droids. This would also explain Obi-wan living close to them instead of hiding somewhere else. The one thing that confuses me is why Luke isn’t kept on Dagobah and trained right away like younger children in the Republic. That way he will be even better prepared to take on Vader and the Emperor, which makes me believe Padme has some doubts about them becoming a Jedi. Ben and Yoda could have some serious doubts as well because of Obi-Wan’s failure to train Anakin. The fact that Yoda can remain hidden on the planet all these years makes me wonder why Luke wasn't kept there. I think Dooku will die on Dagobah by the tree that has the dark side. We have to know what happens to Padme and I think even though she dies off screen we know of her fate before the credits roll. It could be a distinct possibility Episode III spans a few years in the movie as well. I think there is a possibility she is poisoned or inflicted with something fatal by a Bounty Hunter and slowly dies. We will see Qui-Gon and why he called out to Anakin will be explained. I think we might see a young Han Solo, Lando, and Chewbacca. Mace Windu will die heroically and not by a Bounty hunter who couldn’t beat a blind man. We will see Vader in some early form. I think the finale scenes will be a dialogue free sequence of events with a majestic, emotional music piece by the maestro. The last dialogue scene will be between Vader and Palpatine looking over their new Empire, then it will cut Obi-wan dropping a young Luke off on Tatooine, cuts to an very ill Padme with a 4 year old version of Leia playing by her side as a sad Bail looks on, then cuts to Yoda watching them thru the force, then cuts to Vader possibly killing some Jedi or hunting them, then a cut to Padme’s funeral, then cut’s to Ben watching Luke from a distance and then the scene fades and we come to a scene that was filmed for ANH but not included as Luke is working on the moisture farm and he pulls out his binoculars and looks up……..then Williams end fanfare hits. Wishful thinking on my part of course.