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Tenth Anniversary of The Phantom Menace
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SSDExecutor Offline
#1 Posted : Monday, May 04, 2009 10:41:42 AM(UTC)
SSDExecutor


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Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Ten years ago, the world was waiting in prepartation of the first Star Wars movie in over a decade and a half. No matter what you think of the movie itself, it goes without saying that it re-ignited Star Wars fandom that carried though to the end of the saga in 2005 and on to the small screen in 2008. With a new generation also becoming fans thanks to the highly rated regular animated The Clone Wars series on Cartoon Network - it begs us to take a moment and think of how things were back right before the turn of the millenium - when we were waiting with baited breath for new Star Wars to take in.
 
Back in '99, I was working my first "real" job for a company making software for customers to track stock information. I worked closely with the IT support department - so it goes without saying, we were all a bunch of geeks going over every little thing we could find about the movie. I admit it - I was a spoiler junkie, addicted to Ain't It Cool News (just like the guys in FanBoys) and every post on TheForce.net & MilleniumFalcon.com boards. I'm sure I watched the teaser trailer enough times that the spot on the Hard Drive must have been more deformed than the rest of the drive.
 
One of the best stories I remember from then is I did have one friend who was trying very hard to not be spoiled about the movie before it came out. Right before the movie came out, all of the official books came out including the "scrapbook" for Episode I and he went and got the scrapbook thinking it was just like a "press kit" about who was in it, etc. not thinking that it had stuff about the entire movie - including what happened to Darth Maul and Qui-Con in the end of the movie. I still remember him flipping though pages and getting to that one and shouting out (something that can't be repeated here) and quickly shutting the book and busting out laughing - like he could erase what he'd just seen! Poor guy - lol.
 
When the figures came out, I was one of the first in line and grabbed one of everything in sight! Plus, it was great meeting other people in the area who were just as crazy as I was - it wasn't many of us, but of course we all stood around the entire time we were buying stuff and talked about what was coming and the latest rumor everyone had heard. I still remember a couple of the workers at the Wal-Mart making comments about how surprised they were about all of us being there and even though we were buying everything in sight - there was no fighting or brawling like the day-after-Thanksgiving sales - we were just there having fun!
 
When the movie came out, I was stunned again - even with everything I thought I "knew" from the spoilers on the interent - and knew I couldn't wait to see how everything ended - or lead to the beginning we all knew. Even a decade later, I am still in awe as to what Star Wars has become, the resurgance in the fandom and the new directions that comics, novels, TV series and more continue to grow and extend the Star Wars universe and all of us who are immersed in it. - I can't wait to see what the next 10 years will bring!
 
How about everyone else? What stories have you got from back in '99?
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Jonathan.Robinson Offline
#2 Posted : Friday, May 08, 2009 10:41:50 AM(UTC)
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It was the beginning of the end.  Just like when they introduced Elmo to Sesame Street or cousin Oliver to the Brady Bunch.
 
It's an effort of trying to recapture the same excitement and thrill that was released on the world back in May of 1977.  But it wasn't happening for me.  Like you, Wayne, I anticipated the release and poured over every fame of the trailer when it came out.  I was working at Blockbuster Video in my last year of college in Mobile.  I was still collecting the modern at that time, but refused to purchase anything from the Ep. I line so that my meager funds wouldn't be further depleted.
 
I saw the movie twice in the theatre and each time couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing.  The dialogue was stilted, the graphics blew away anything you saw in the previous sequels, and frankly I couldn't warm up to any of the characters like in the OT; save for Darth Maul and Obi-Wan.  Jar Jar Binks, young Anakin, and midichlorians were all contributing factors to the intial hatred of the movie. 
 
I'm currenlty working on a film for Warner Bros., "Jonah Hex".  The script supervisor is named Janeanne Tenggren.  Come to find out she was the script supervisor for all three films (Ep. I, II, III).  From her point of view it was a thrill and the chance of a lifetime opportunity.  Personally I would have given anything to work on it, even if I had known all I know now.
 
In the end it's all about perspective and how it touches you personally.  My comments are not meant to make anyone feel bad, nor am I ranting about how wrong others are for loving it.  For young children, it's a great introduction to the Star Wars universe.  But I still insist that when it comes to my child's first viewing of any Star Wars film, it'll be first and foremost Episode IV:  A New Hope.
 
Jonathan
Who knows? In a thousand years even you may be worth something. - Belloq
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Idic Offline
#3 Posted : Friday, May 08, 2009 6:27:55 PM(UTC)
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i remember vising a freind way up in northern California on the weekend it was released in that area.  It was a small theathre, only three screens so we had to wait in line for an hour or so, and as it turned out the next open slot was five hours away. So, we did the next best thing, we purchased a second set of tickets for "the Mummy" that had recently released (Wait, where did those horses come from??? who put them there???) and headed for wally world for supplies.  When the packed theatre went dark a hush settled over the crowd and when the first chorus sounded, a cheer rose up. Such high expectations, and such mixed emotions when it was over.
 
I will always be true to the OT, but like all things, Ep 1 serves its purpse for all of us, regardless of what that purpose may be.
Those things look really hungry. Nah, they're just smilin atcha!
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