The Perfect Storytelling Clarity of Star Wars
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- Star Wars is more successful than... pretty much any other movie ever made. The reason? Because people can always understand what's happening.
#StarWars #GeorgeLucas #ANewHope
Patreon: / souncivilized
But wasn't a New Hope sort of a mess originally and Marcia Lucas stepped in and saved it in editing?
My understanding is that she was an important part of aggressive revisions to the first half and climax of ANH -- along with weighing in on the movie all the way back to the script phase -- but that her contributions were mostly in a different arena: pacing.
The story still unfolded in a version of the connected style described here (Luke was originally introduced watching the space battle from afar on a pair of binoculars). It just took longer and lacked momentum. Marcia helped streamline the opening and amp up the climax, and obviously the movie is better for the work done there.
The linear instinct, though, appears to reside in George. It's reliably exemplified in the rest of the Classic Trilogy, the Prequels, and the Indiana Jones series, too.
I'm pinning this answer because people keep bringing this up. Lucas is a great collaborator, and got career-best work out of any number of people over the years; I'm not sure why that translates to him not being responsible for the things that make it into his own movies.
Also, @Soundwave3000, signal-boosting this is in no way a dig at you.
This video explains the source of those claims and why they're wrong.
ua-cam.com/video/olqVGz6mOVE/v-deo.html
I'm sick of people trying to discredit Lucas with that claim
@@procyon6370 Halfway through this. Devastating takedown so far.
Naboo being the "Italy Planet" is my new favorite thing!
I started to scroll the comment section just to find this comment 🤣🤣 Love it too
I am now calling Naboo Italy planet. Next is Coruscant which is the New York planet.
Naples. Naboo. Same difference
even though this is kinda off but, Corellia in Solo can be “Detroit Planet”
@@franpham9455 Definitely!
"He lets the strangeness of the world fade into the background and makes the story itself as familiar as possible." I wish more movies would do this.
Its impressive how normal George Lucas made this abnormal world feel.
Owen haggles with Jawas like he's been interacting with them all his life and sees them as no different than any other race. Han interacts with Jabba as if he's just another crime lord, not some kind of oversized, sentient slug. Every sentient is just another sentient. Some races have quirks, sure (Nightsisters), but they're all...people.
This is the absolute most underrated channel I’ve ever seen
I can't believe the quality of these videos compared to the likes/subscription rates
Right!!!!
When I went to subscribe and saw that it only had 1.57K, I was so surprised. The quality of these videos are on par with huge analysis channels.
I thought the exaxt same thing
I was just about to say that
"It's a story about how a knight teams up with a wizard to save a princess."
This line genuinely gave me goosebumps. Not because it was shocking or unexpected, but because it puts into words - for the first time - something I've known for decades.
The beauty of Lucas' storytelling is that he hasn't really created an original story. He's created a unique setting to tell a traditional story. That's why things intuitively make sense.
Yeah, Lucas himself will tell you that; he worked hard to learn about stories, about basic stories and story structure, and timeless themes and characters. He was a story teller first and foremost, whereas someone like James Cameron has a primary focus on special effects and the story is more of an afterthought (not BAD, just not the reason he makes movies).
a myth isn't made up stories about fictional characters, it's the attempt to understand perennial modes of being. This is who we are, what we value, and what we strive for.
Funnily enough, the "Knight" and the "wizard" didn't try to save the princess at all. Saving Leia was basically a coincidence, when they ended up locked on the Death Star when they were going for Alderan. Their main goal had always been getting R2D2's data about the Death Star to the rebels.
@@zerothefaceless4888. The force works in mysterious ways. Even if our heroes had no plans for certain actions, things still worked out better than they could've expected!
Yes, the setting(s) of Star Wars is what makes Star Wars amazing
One fun aspect of Lucas's "pass-the-baton" method is seeing where he violates it, and then figuring out why. There are two major instances of this that I can think of right now:
The first is in Return of the Jedi, where we simply wipe from Darth Vader and Moff Jerjerrod on the Death Star to R2-D2 and C-3PO on the road to Jabba's palace on Tatooine. Kind of awkward and uncharacteristic of Lucas, right? Well, lo and behold, this was not how the film was cut originally. As I'm sure many reading this already know, the opening scene originally ended with Vader retreating to his meditation chamber and telepathically calling out to Luke to join him, at which point we cut to Luke in a cave on Tatooine, hearing his father's calls as he puts the finishing touches on his new lightsaber. Only then do we cut to R2-D2 and C-3PO, who are a few feet away waiting to depart on their mission to Jabba's palace. So this break in linearity was simply an unavoidable side effect of cutting out an unnecessary scene.
The second example is in Attack of the Clones, where we simply wipe from Padme, Jar Jar, and others in Palpatine's office directly to Anakin and Obi-Wan in the elevator to Padme's apartment. Now, Anakin and Obi-Wan *have* been mentioned immediately before this, but this still feels a little unlike Lucas. And, again, we find that this is a consequence of the film being re-cut late in the game. Originally, we didn't see Anakin and Obi-Wan in the elevator at all. Instead, we cut from the scene in Palpatine's office directly to the shot of Jar Jar in Padme's apartment walking towards the elevator doors, which then open to reveal Anakin and Obi-Wan for the first time. Lucas added the scene in the elevator during re-shoots because the scene in the apartment proper made the Jedi pair's relationship come across as so hostile, and he felt that the viewer's first impression of the two should be more positive. As a result, Lucas unavoidably had to break his linearity rule, albeit in a relatively minor way.
Anyway, great video as always. Keep it up!
Fantastic comment.
So civilized
This scenes with obi wan's fake beard are unavoidable. The beard looks ugly as hell, but they were necessary
@@ramonbetzler7786 What...?
It's interesting to see how originally the beginning of ANH was going to cross cut between luke on tatooine and 3po and r2 in space, and they decided to completely cut out those initial tatooine scenes, maybe partially because they would violate that whole passing the story baton thing
The extreme linear story is why each scene transition in the trilogy is done with a unique wipe--it's the film equivalent of turning a page in a story book.
Ah yes the infamous Power Point wipes 😂
@@mishynaofficial power point didn't exist when the movies were made, dimwit
@@mishynaofficialKurosawa used them in his films long before PowerPoint existed. What do you say to that?
Powerpoint copied lucas
This Channel has great potential........ We will watch your Career with great interest.
A surprise to be sure, but a welcomed one.
but he doesnt upload alot, it's treason then
@@adelkhairaldin5586 I cannot teach him... the boy has no patience!
@@robertleftwich2811 He will learn patience.
As I was watching this, I kept thinking "Man, the sequels were not cut like this at all." And I think it's one of many reasons why the sequels may look like Star Wars (which is easy to observe), but don't feel like Star Wars (which is often harder to articulate).
I think there are rules to the original Star Wars movies, some of which I noticed after watching for many years and others that I am still learning about to this day. And one of those rules I explicitly noticed was "no flashbacks". So I was immediately perturbed by how the Last Jedi had introduced them. Now it might seem like a minor, unimportant alternation to the average viewer, but as you explain in this video, it has actual consequences in the way the story is told and understood.
There are so many little details like this that make a Star Wars movie a Star Wars movie. Details as small as a character always saying "I've got a bad feeling about this" to the movies being constructed in a way that tell a larger narratives that weave inter-connected themes rather than single, episodic themes (as most modern movies have).
And I must say that you are a visionary for putting this channel together. I just discovered it and am beyond impressed. You might be called so uncivilized but you are the exact opposite. You are so civilized and trust me, I am an expert on this subject.
OMG Obi Wan Kenobi I'm a huge fan!
Arguably The Force Awakens introduced flashbacks, with Rey seeing herself as a child once she grabs the saber. However, you could argue this is a vision in the same vein as the flash-forward visions in ROTS. TLJ's flashbacks are different in that they're visualisations of conversations between characters.
Another small rule broken by rogue one was that star wars movies never showed the name of a planet on screen during it's establishing shot. They always did a good job showing why this planet was important thru the story. I like rogue one but thats something that annoys me probably more than it should
@@collinsmovies1152 Well I think that's okay, because it was the first spinoff/ oneoff Star Wars film, and departures from the Star Wars formula like that, or like the lack of opening title crawl, I saw as deliberate attempts to give the movie a different feel from the main saga trilogies.
@@jonathanlgill true
This channel is going to blow up. No idea when, but this guy is succinct, clear, and insightful. Very interesting! Thanks for the content!
I completely agree
Hey I'm not the only one who just randomly got recommended this guy, yeah I hope he does
66th lik3
For me a New Hope doesnt work...I dont like this episoxe
I completely agree with you it's only a matter of when not if. 🙂
I tried telling this to my gf right after she watched it and she didn't really get it. Star Wars: A New Hope is maybe the most perfectly coherent story told in the last hundred years or more. Every ~ single ~ scene and line of dialog logically follows the next. It's beautiful.
I used to think there was one break in this logic as a kid - I never understood what happened with Leia and the truth-serum droid. But watching as an adult, I finally caught the line explaining how she held up to it, which perfectly explained why they were now doing the next thing. There is no fat in this script at all - it cuts cleanly to the point with everything.
These video essays are simply amazing 👍
Alderaan feels more like a loss in A New Hope than the Hosnian System's destruction in The Force Awakens because we kept hearing our primary characters referring to it, as a destination, throughout the first act of the film.
"I'm a member of the Imperial Senate on a Diplomatic mission to Alderaan."
"I regret that I'm unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed."
"I've placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 Unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this Droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
"You must learn the ways of the Force, if you're to come with me to Alderaan."
"Alderaan? I've gotta get home, I'm in for it as it is!"
"I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing for me here, now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."
Then, Luke meets Han and Chewie and books passage to Alderaan, "Two passengers, two Droids, and no questions asked." While Grand Moff Tarkin is testing the Death Star's full potential, despite Leia's pleas, and Obi-Wan suddenly feels, "A great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out, and were suddenly silenced."
When Alderaan is destroyed, that's when the Falcon reaches its destination, and comes out of Hyperspace; "Our position is correct except, there's no Alderaan." Says Han.
"What do you mean, where is it?" Asks Luke.
"That's what I'm trying to tell you, kid. It ain't there, It's been totally blown away."
"What? HOW?!"
Obi-Wan interjects, "Destroyed, by the Empire."
The location essentially becomes another character in the narrative, almost as important as any one of the main cast.
It's brilliant, and something seemingly overlooked by J.J. Abrams, and Chris Terio, in particular. (That's who I blame the MOST for the failures of the Sequel trilogy, the guy primarily responsible for Justice League lol AND Suicide Squad.)
This really is a great detail to highlight. And none of those instances have that felt "foreshadowing" vibe that you get in a lot of more self-consciously constructed screenplays.
Wow, great writeup and details here, I forgot how Alderaan was so central to everything.
I'm still finding myself coming back to watch all of your Star Wars video essays all this time later lol "@@SoUncivilized414."
Watching the individual view counter increasing steadily as I do, of course. (Knowing how much attention they deserve to generate.)
There are plenty of channels on UA-cam that make such content, in varying degrees of quality. (Naturally.)
But, I keep coming back here, (and only maybe one or two others,) because the quality is so exceptionally high.
You deserve all the positive feedback that you get, don't mistake or doubt yourself, please.
(I'm just sayin' 🤜 💥 🤛)
#IHaveSpoken
#ThisIsTheWay ✌
The first time I watched TFA I was actually rather impacted by that scene as I thought the planet that had been blown up was Coruscant, a planet made HIGHLY significant in the prequels.
Of course, when I found out it was a completely different planet, I remember thinking 'well, why the hell would you do that! I have no connection to this Hosnian Prime!'
(meanwhile, in TFA): oh my god! They destroyed the republic! You bastards!
I've always said that Episode 4 was the perfect use of time and space in the film. Not a scene is wasted, you can't take one scene away without taking away from the story.
may i recommend ua-cam.com/video/xBu4LSjr0wM/v-deo.html
You might want to see Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl. Similarly, there are no wasted scenes and every scenes establishes at least one, but multiple things.
@@thorthewolf8801 Seen it, and I completely agree with you. Just like ANH, it's a pretty basic story we've heard before but put in a setting and told in a way we've not really seen. That and Johnny Depp was pretty much born for the role of Jack Sparrow.
@@strikevipermkII Agreed. XD
@@thorthewolf8801 Yup. Also anything Edgar Wright makes. I consider Wright the undisputed master of dense scripting. Every line, prop, audio cue and edit is telling ten things stories at the same time, all linked together in a network of setups and payoffs that tell a single cohesive story.
Loved those shades at Force Awakens. Hack Abrams barely knew Star Wars.
Abrams is not entirely bereft of raw talent, but he comes at filmmaking, and Star Wars in particular, from the complete wrong direction -- more to say on that, when the time comes.
@@SoUncivilized414 Can't wait. I was... Disappointed with the Sequels.
@@SoUncivilized414 Just subscribed. Your taste in Star Wars in unmatched. I put you above even Star Wars Theory... how you do not have more subs is beyond me. Keep doing what you’re doing man. You have a real analytical talent. Love this content dude :)
@@SoUncivilized414 Especially how you say “never cuts away from the story” your organization also follows suit with each idea. It’s actually beautiful... If only Disney hired you to help them write. Oh, wait... but that would have required an actual vision and an unique story to tell. Which, even if they had the story would have been squandered by the multiple directors and conflicting writers 🙄
As you can tell, I too was very disappointed with the sequels haha. I’m not even mad... just sad at the wasted potential. Star Wars was always about doing something new and marked a zeitgeist in cinematography... The sequels achieved none of that magic... Except for porgs, blue tit milk, linear space battles, and just being uninspired all around. How do you go from breaking the box office pulling in $1B within weeks of the first film releasing - and going on to making well over $2B - to the last movies making half that? Difference between Rogue One and Solo was the exact same also. Not only that, nobody is buying the merch or going to their theme park exhibits. People said fans had “Star Wars fatigue.” BULL SHIT. Fans were tired of getting crappy movies, and you see that with the outpouring support for Clone Wars, Ahsoka series, The Mandalorian, Kenobi series, etc. You don’t see people calling fatigue for any of that content, so what’s the issue?
The problem with the sequel trilogy is that it fails in basic story telling. I am super excited to see how you break that down xD
I think the overall plot was prioritized over the characterization in the first one and was never paid off due to the writer/director change. Then Abrams went full fan service kiddy mode on the last one for cleanup. It also doesn't help that the sequel soundtrack is garbage. They just phoned in the previous movie soundtracks and overused Obi Wans theme (aka the force)
Thank god someone else knows how good of a cinematographer George Lucas is.
His original take was the opposite of the movie you see now, his wife was responsible for editing the perfect pacing
@@bukoriszeujosh6296 What the hell does cinematography have to do with pacing?
@@bukoriszeujosh6296 Editing and cinematography are two very different things
@Tim Creech He obviously helped with the cinematography, it's his film.
Love your profile pic
Me looking at the one dislike:
*You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor! Take her away!*
That is a Last Jedi fan....I betcha.
@@nikgrid Lol, very likely
This is getting out of hand... now there are twenty of them.
@@andrzejpetrenko852 😂😂😂 You won the best comment of 2020 imo
@@andrzejpetrenko852 There's plenty over on rhottoys I just got banned for saying "Fuck those movies" lol
One thing I really like about Star Wars is that the galaxy feels lived in. Thanks to this video, now I know why! There's no time wasted on exposition. You're dropped right into the story like you've been part of the galaxy all along. I love it! Any lore you need to know, you learn as the characters learn it because THEY need to know it. Great analysis!
I also like how the movie doesn't have to start with the main character you can wait and get the full context it feels like a real historical event
Man, when they blew up Hoznian Prime, I assumed it was Coruscant for YEARS. I thought "The Republic" was some fringe sector of the same republic from the prequels that was still holding on, still fighting, and was suddenly wiped out in TFA. But no, that's not the case. This was some "new republic" that we had never heard of at that point, or at any other point during that movie.
I mean... technically it *was* - the so-called "rebel Alliance" isn't so much an alliance of rebels as the Alliance to Restore the Republic established by Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa in opposition to Palpatine's emergency powers now in open, armed rebellion against his Empire. Once the Empire was defeated, the Alliance reestablished the Republic.
I'm looking at your channel and I really hope it takes off. I don't often say this but these videos are super high quality and enjoyable. I could listen to you talk for hours.
Very much appreciated -- here's hoping!
@@SoUncivilized414 Yeah, you have a calming voice ngl
George Lucas is a master of making the themes and plot clear without making the audience seem stupid. He never makes it so that a character is spouting exposition, while also giving us the necessary amount of character exposition. The proper characters have the proper knowledge, and when the story moves to heavier stuff like redemption from the dark side, he shows rather than tells. And its clear. There is no guessing whats going on there is only what's in front of you and the actions of the characters. When darth vader is redeemed he isnt like "im sorry" or anything else. He only wants to see his son, and joins his masters in the force. Its clear how Vaders path has ended.
It seems that this channel is a New Hope
star wars being so meta
Star Wars: A New Hope is a classic. It’s my favorite film of all time for many reasons, two prominent reasons being the incredible storytelling and great characters that help drive the story. Thank you for the video man.
I saw it for the first time recently, having grown up with the prequels and in fact even watching the sequels before ever seeing the OT.
Overall it was ok. My biggest complaint is the acting. It was kind of... mediocre. Alec Guinness was great, but the portrayal of Luke in particular pulled me out of the movie on multiple occasions.
One of the most egregious scenes was when he rushes home and finds his house completely destroyed, with the incinerated corpses of his Aunt and Uncle left out to rot in the dirt. Having clearly just been burned alive by the imperial troops.
He literally just looks at the charred flesh and bones of his dead family like "😐" and eventually (after a weirdly long amount of time) dramatically looks away as if he's supposed to be conveying that he can't bear the sight. Except there is 0 shock, 0 disgust, 0 devastation, 0 despair, 0 desperation, 0 denial, 0 grief, 0 rage, 0 of any emotion being shown. Not in his face, not in his body language, not in anything.
These people were basically his parents.
And then, compounding the issue, he's over it immediately. He decides to go with obi wan, but not for vengeance, nor for justice, but simply because he has nothing else to do. The explanation he gives for why he wants to tag along is "there's nothing else for me here"
...
Can I recommend this to you? ua-cam.com/video/xBu4LSjr0wM/v-deo.html
@@whirlwind872 the acting is supposed to be the way it is. It would be awkward if it wasn’t the way it is. Star Wars is a Space Opera. Space Opera has melodramatic dialogue and theatrical acting. Lucas has said you can watch Star Wars with the sound off and understand everything that’s happening by watching the characters and the setting like a silent film. When it comes to Luke seeing his dead aunt and uncle, there is shock on his face. When he sees their remains, he stops and can’t move. He looks down trying to not look at what happened, but then he does and he’s angry. He’s angry because the Empire killed his family and now knows he has nothing left on Tatooine. They were the only reason he wasn’t going to leave with Obi-Wan. He was going to stay and help his Uncle with the farm while he helped Obi-Wan get passage to Alderaan, but then he sees his family has been killed. He takes a moment to realize he has nothing left here. There’s also some time that passes from when he sees his families remains until he goes back to Obi-Wan. We don’t know how long it was, but all the emotional stuff could have happened in the time we don’t see him. We don’t have to see every emotion of Luke. Also, people handle things like this differently. Luke is shocked, turns away and then looks at his dead family so he can take in that this is it for him on Tatooine and he’s going to fight the Empire to help prevent what happened to him to happen to anyone else. I got all this the first time I was able to understand the film at a young age. Maybe you never got this. But it’s important to realize everyone handles grief and things of that nature differently.
@@Jared_Wignall in general I fully agree that the acting and dialogue is intentional, it particularly bothers me when people say star wars dialogue sucks because "real people would never talk this way." Excuse me, watch literally ANY MOVIE, any fucking movie at all, and tell me that the dialogue resembles anything close to a real conversation. It never does. It's not supposed to. But people are just so accustomed to the particular style of dialogue in 99% of modern movies that they don't even realize it's unrealistic. Star wars has unrealistic dialogue, but it's a different style. So people notice it very easily, and they don't like it because it's unfamiliar to them.
If you ever watch a black and white film from the 1950s, you'll notice immediately that they have a VERY distinct way of talking. The dialogue in old movies doesn't resemble real dialogue in the slightest.
But that style of dialogue was so common, has such historical significance, and is used in so many "classics" that people let it slide.
Star wars is exactly the same phenomenon, except people don't let it slide.
However, what I said about Luke is fundamentally different. Fully accounting for and acknowledging the stylized acting and dialogue, I still see Mark Hamill's performance in the OT as noticeably bad. His portrayal of Luke is simply inferior to the portrayals made by other cast members, like Alec Guinness.
Of course I understood the intention behind the scene with Luke finding his dead Aunt and Uncle, but that's exactly why it stood out to me. The disconnect between what the scene is supposed to be vs. what the scene actually is, is the very thing that makes it stand out as bad acting. I know what Luke was supposed to be feeling, and I see on screen some form of attempt at showing those feelings, but they are not demonstrated convincingly.
It's not that I dislike the Star Wars style, or that don't appreciate it. It's that Hamill's performance is significantly and noticably inferior to the other cast.
@@whirlwind872, the Star Wars dialogues are NOT meant to sound like a normal conversation at all. the dialogues of Lucas define the identity of what Star Wars is. A video of a channel called "So Uncivilized" (if you see who I mean) speaks about it very well.
ua-cam.com/video/S5E-eSdRjXs/v-deo.html&t
The inexperience of the actor reflects the inexperience of the character, and the evolution of Hamill is in parallel with the evolution of his character. The style of the story and the sober way in which Lucas' characters react reflects the decency of Lucas who does not want to fall into the theatrical demonstration. It is totally deliberate, it is the artistic direction chosen by Lucas.
Many people believe that Star Wars is about world building, scenery, special effects, heroes, magic and legends. The truth is that it's about people like you and me. :-)
I've tried reading books that try to completely defy this sort of rule and they always feel hard to follow and often seem full of irrelevancies. One seemed to start three entirely separate books within the first ten chapters and I had no time to get invested in any of them so I quit it. The more I watch this channel, the more I learn about storytelling principles and how well they've been used in Star Wars. Keep up the good work.
I don’t know if I’m really stupid for not realising this earlier or not, but I just realised you’re going in order and making one video based on each film in the skywalker saga
Your comment made me realise this, so thanks!
I love your Star Wars videos. I would be curious about your background and motivation. Your channel feels like it comes out of nowhere, because you consistently manage to produce such high quality videos.
Thanks for thinking so! Short version:
Been a professional editor for a decade-ish, depending on how you count it. Not in any sort of Hollywood insider way, mind, but it's the day job. Started the channel after noticing that people STILL bring the Prequels up all the time, and feeling that some were ready to take another look at Lucas after the response to the Disney movies. Plus it was an opportunity to try my hand at the video essay format, and just get some of this stuff off my chest in a more permanent way than the usual forums posts/coffee shop arguments.
@@SoUncivilized414 I love your channel man. I’m gonna start sharing it with everyone and anyone I can and hope it takes off
@@SoUncivilized414 Have you seen Rick Worley's Prequel video? it seems like you two have reached similar conclusions. Its nice that your videos are a little more bite-sized than his.
@@SoUncivilized414 What do you think about the editing in AOTC? I'm not a professional or anything but I feel the editing hurt the movie more than even the dialogue or acting, likely due to Ben Burtt's involvement.
@@scepticalbeliever I think the editing is fine, we can follow Anakin's story and Obi-Wan's story cutting in the places where they make desisions to travel to new places. I would include deleted scenes to develop Padme and Dooku's characters.
These really are some of the best video essays to be found on Star Wars. Clear, concise, tightly focused on a specific point or subject, while managing also to speak expansively about Lucas's series (which they have a robust understanding of), and beautifully edited to boot.
Marvellous work. I look forward to more....
*1 month later* (in sponge bob monologue)
This video is fantastic. So concise, charming, a few quips, and gets the point across in an excellent manner, with very clean and supporting graphics (love the text effects!). And the 21:9 ratio hasn't gone unnoticed!
It's the little things.
@@SoUncivilized414 "The little things are infinitely the most important." - Sherlock Holmes
@@adventureswithaurora. Wich one?
@@erikbihari3625 You mean which Sherlock Holmes adaptation said this quote? It's an original quote from the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the canon). It may have been repeated by other actors, but it's an original SH quote. :)
Excellent video! Superb observations very clearly communicated.
When I was a kid, I watched TESB and ROTJ over and over again as VHS recordings of the TBS Christmas Star Wars Marathon. My mom didn't record A New Hope for some reason but she did get the last few seconds of the award ceremony; those few seconds got me obsessed with the idea of seeing the first Star Wars movie and when I finally did, it instantly became my favorite. The dialogue and storytelling are among the best ever in any movie!
I've never seen this kind of quality from a channel with under 1k subscribers, this is amazing!
When you talked about how George allowed the "strangeness of the world fade into the background" and made the story as familiar as possible, that struck home. I think that's why I appreciate books like Dying Earth or Black Company, and dislike others like Mistborn. Some storytelling allows the unique and interesting setting, to not be the focus of the narrative. That's what appeals to me.
Really good video.
This channel almost instantly became my favorite Star Wars UA-cam channel.
Just discovered your channel. Why didn't I even heard of you? You are absolutely nailing Lucas's mastery. Among other reasons, this is why the sequels don't match with the rest of the saga; Star Wars as a whole. A surprise to be sure, but a wolcome one.
Nice to see some sanity out there! When I complained about the flashbacks in TLJ people thought I was nuts. This helps me pin down exactly why that stood out!
I was so bothered by those haha
It's like a cinematic roller coaster and explains why people just couldn't get enough of this movie. "Faster and more intense" really is such an underrated directing philosophy
CinemaWins described A New Hope as 'a movie made for the people living in that universe.' Which is a fantastic way to describe all the nuances of the world being glossed over in favor of the larger narrative.
I think not explaining the world they’re in but simply living in it like it’s totally normal is what immerses us in it. We don’t explain the nature of our city or homeland to people, we just live our lives and everything is normal to us.
I love these kinds of...well, not reviews, necessarily, but discussions around media. Like, really deep and specific commentary. Because there is so much that goes into making a movie (or a game, or TV show, or whatever) and some of it is so simple that it's easy (as a creator) to actually overlook it, and even forget it, and then the final product can be negatively impacted but it's difficult to put your finger on why. You CAN subvert nearly every "rule" of writing or filming, but you have to actually know those rules and be able to work them before you can even begin to properly break them for some reason. Unfortunately, there are an ever increasing number of people in charge of media that THINK they know what they are doing, by passing over so many of these kinds of little details and concepts and just focusing on some big and obvious stuff, and so we get so much media that is not...not BAD, but not really great either, as it's just OFF. There's a lack of patience to sit the fuck down and make sure everything and everyone in the movie is working together, because any asshole can just film actors speaking their lines--being a director is far more, even if they don't write the scripts.
This style is also used in a lot of old musicals as well.
I love this style of storytelling, I want to make stories like this someday 💯💯💯
Same.
Yes, but musicals and plays usually also contain a LOT of exposition said by characters.
Thank you - your video made me tear up. For the last few years I've felt that my storytelling was stiff and basic - perhaps too simple - and I didn't think I had any role models to look up to. Then, you point me to Lucas. I have never before watched a video essay and felt like someone was explaining to me how my brain works. This has been immensely helpful and encouraging. You've turned my weaknesses into strengths. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
You have a great channel. I'll be sharing your videos!
Always a good day when you release a video
This man's channel deserves to blow up.
A UA-camr who actually understands cinema,I could cry
The lack of establishing shots was the first thing that made Force Awakens feel wrong to me.
You sir have done the impossible, you’ve made me love and want to watch starwars again, when the real life politics have just about ruined it for me, i hope you channel explodes, i know I’m sharing it at every opportunity, you may be the last hope for starwars to come back to being the thing we all love
Gotta love New Hope!! Most iconic movie ever!!!
May I recommend ua-cam.com/video/xBu4LSjr0wM/v-deo.html
Thats it, you are officially my fav Video essay maker about Star Wars, If 2 dollars were not the same amount of money I need to eat for 3 days I would gladly subscribe to your Patreon, you are crazy good at editing, analysis, and best of all you have certainly done your homework studying Lucas works.
Rick Worley also has some great Star Wars stuff on his youtube channel.
Man, you need to continue your work. This is some really interesting content in your videos, I watched them all, could not stop myself from doing it. Your channel is fun to watch and it is very educational if you want to make up your own stories. Good luck, and never give up on your amazing work!
Very much appreciated. Empire project is open and in progress on the other monitor as I type this!
"Can you imagine a Star Wars with flashbacks?"
**looks at the Sequel Trilogy**
Ohhhh....
I was actually just becoming aware of this editing technique for the first time while watching Rogue One (particularly in the second half), and I concluded that it played a big part in my enjoying it more than I did The Force Awakens. Rogue One *felt* more like Star Wars to me because of the editing style that I’ve apparently been aware of on a subconscious level from watching the George Lucas SW films my whole life. Great video!
These videos are incredible. A few years ago, I had a friend who I would go out of my way to walk home with even though taking the bus would get me back almost an hour sooner and it was always Star Wars. We especially talked about the prequels and how they were missunderstood, missrepresented, underrated and how it delivered on the promises of the original trilogy despite the major differences in tone, atmosphere and asthetics. Over the years I've come to see it, with the famously wooden dialogue you've addressed, its arguable overuse of CGI and its approach to comedic relief, which in my opinion was never as present in the original trilogy, as a pantomime or theatrical version of the events that take place. And I don't mean that as an insult to the films at all, they simply give off that kind of tone to me and I accept and love them that way. I hope to see more from this channel, just please don't devolve into a Star Wars news channel like most others on the topic, keep up the outside-the-box approach to topics. If you somehow end up reading all this and you have any interest in my proposal, I'd love to talk Star Wars with you and maybe even collab on your videos. As a previous film/media student, it would be great to apply my skills to something like this.
Love how he constantly pokes fun at the inconsistency of the sequel trilogy in relation to the older movies.
“That ones garbage!”
YES. Thank the maker SOMEONE else doesn’t like TFA!
How did you get the impression that not liking TFA was unpopular? It's not an uncommon take.
@@pseudonymousbeing987 remember a lot of people actually loves TFA
@@anti-dreamstansunited3391 But how many of them actually like 'Star Wars'?
@@cm5913 err, I don't rly know, I don't like TFA, just saying, there are a decent amount of ppl who enjoys TFA.
I think garbage is a strong word for something that created thousand of jobs. The film is well made, has good direction, awesome cgi and special effects, a good score, great performances, but it doesnt mean the film is agood Star Wars movie or that it hasnt copied too much aspects from the first sw movie
Wow I just found this channel and the level of quality you put into these videos is amazing. I had a double take at your subscriber count and boy is it criminal. This is definitely the work of a professional. I love it!!
You got me at the Establishing Shot.
Everyone one of Star War's Establishing Shot would come out of a painting.
Brilliant video. It's interesting that the editing ultimately is meant to enhance the script, not fix it. It's also great to notice that all these threads are in all of the original 6 Star Wars films.. A good contrast was when studio suits wanted Lucas to introduce Luke much earlier in the script. However, while the scenes are good and a labor of love by George and Marcia, they're ultimately pointless and dont' fit the beats of the story, so reluctantly late in the process they were cut out. It's great to build Luke's character, but the link to the main action of the droids is ultimately lost. The droids link us to the ship, which links us to Vader, and R2 links us to Leia, and then Leia and Vader meet. Nobody meets Luke for another 10 minutes or so. His character as a reluctant farmboy is still established, but by tying him by his interactions with the droids rather than his reactions to the battle, it's a much stronger thread. The Phantom Menace Novel introduces Anakin much earlier, building up his background, personaly, rivalry, friends, aspirations, talks with spacers, and his podracing past with Sebulba. However, it's ultimately inorganic to the main thread- this kid isn't immediately relevant to the main storyline of Qui-Gon's mission.
I never understood the criticism than Phantom Menace is unclear- the critics never immersed themselves because of the fog of nostalgia and aesthetics that prevented the connection. It's the same essential plot of escape and rescue. But since it looks different, people's nostalgia wires were tripped and alarms went off, disconnecting them. Meanwhile the Force Awakens is one long escape, but with the scenes being disjointed and completely incoherent and unfocused. However, people got immersed because it looked the same. I feel that nostalgia googles are a big part of connecting with a film. You grow up on Godzilla, you enjoy the movies. You grow up on the Avengers comics, you enjoy the movies. It's essentially the same beats. However, Lucas' connections aren't through material but through the same method of storytelling, structure, motifs. It's deeper. It's funny that people are so superifical that they prefer shallowness over clarity. It really is a statement that appearance and clarity are two different things. People will forsake story continuity in that same story if it makes them feel like they're in a good story. It's the style without the substance. People will eat a sausage stuffed with cabbage rather than a sausage in a dinner roll, even though the latter has the flavor they crave simply because it looks different.
Glad the algorithms pointed me to this small channel with some great things to say. You earned a sub dude, keep up the good work
Great, now I have to re-watch all 6 Star Wars films with a true appreciation for how they were made.
The jabs at the ST were as perfect as your script, editing, and pacing; amazing video 👏👏
Wow.
You are a gifted in a way I never even knew was possible.
Everything about these videos is amazing, but one small detail I especially like is how the videos always manage to end with the final shot of one of the movies, enabling a smooth transition into the already-made outro. Excellent. So glad I found this channel while it only has a few videos, so I can easily catch up
These videos essays are really good
This is by far one of the best SW channels I’ve ever encountered. Keep up the good work! Can’t wait to see the channel grow!
I have to say I don't think I've ever seen such a new change be as great as your's, it is absolutely brilliant and brings up so many excellent points, and the quality of the videos is as good as or better than some major channels. Please keep making content!
So I just found your chanel by youtube recomemdations and your videos are great. I will watch your career with great interest.
“Italy Planet.” 😂 Spot on description, my friend!
4:32 - this dialog is perfect and it's only now that i get why. It not only explains the plot but ALSO shows the character of Leia and Darth Vader
i love the fact that this is as much of a roast of the sequals as it is him praisning Gorge Lucas
Just saw your Palpatine video, I subscribed immediately. How do you only have like 600 subs?
Alright I need more so very uncivilized content already.
It's like poetry, it rhymes
It’s also important to note that all of Lucas’s Star Wars films the movies start in space for not just the opening credits but also for introducing the ships which hold the characters. We all know space we see it every night so in every movie (1-6 that is) we all start with something we know and get introduced to what we don’t know. And I think many just see this as tradition. Didn’t one of the sequels start on the ground to? I don’t remember.
The sequels did at least manage to keep that consistent.
I like that this contains really measured and factual critiques of the sequels, not just “ugh franchise ruined Kathleen Kennedy killed my childhood, objectively bad” shit, like it has actually points relating to cinematography and writing where those movies miss the mark. I like the sequels, but obviously they’re not perfect.
Except he is hating on the sequels, as he should
But they *are* objectively bad
@@colorlover7605 Smoth brain.
The sequels had their moments, but watching the new trilogy feels like eating a pie and finding it has no filling
Ny opinion on the sequels:
The Force Awakens - A copy of A New Hope with changes but done worse
The Last Jedi - A good film but it isn’t a Star Wars film and doesn’t fit into the saga
The Rise of Skywalker - A bad film with a bad story and bad pacing
I've watched every single video you have and I now love Star Wars with so much more enlightened passion than ever. I'm a writer and DM. Please keep the video coming. My whole family loves watching them and then Star Wars. Thank you
I love how you explain Star wars
I think Star Wars is the only good Star Wars movie.
No other film is so clear.
Oh, wait.
You have to be into this kind of stuff, though.
When my mom saw Star Wars for the first time (February 26, 1984) - she blurted out "I can't tell the good guys from the bad guys in this damn movie!"
I insisted she just wasn't paying attention, but that's hardly the point, is it?
I recently watched Star Wars with someone who had no interest in the franchise.
Upon conclusion, she said she enjoyed the film thoroughly - AFTER the hologram scene. Until that moment she was baffled!
I felt a strange sense of vindication for SW as she told me this. It's intentional, strategic, brilliant, amazing, etc - but clear only in hindsight to many an uninitiated mind.
Am I making any sense?
@@VirtualSG Stop spaming dude, that's no good.
@@diganmelaraxd6981 ...I completely understand your response to my feeble attempts to get attention on the interwebs.
But I assure you, my intentions were genuine. I've gone ahead and edited the comment - not only because you called me out, but also because you're right.
I love Star Wars and I have a pet peeve about what I perceive to be the maligning of the most wonderful adventure movie ever made.
In my defense, consider that in the same way I am completely unaware of your actions online, you are most likely unaware of my less spammy attempts to make friends or share my thoughts.
I know I am the worst person in the world, generally speaking, but just in case anyone is curious (or likes to punish themselves by listening to assholes and their stupid opinions) - kindly click my avatar, find the video titled Star War Vs. The Empire Strikes Back, watch as much as you can stand and then leave a comment explaining:
A. How the presentation fails to convince
or
B. How the premise is sound and/or suggestions for reworking the presentation
or
C. How much you resent being baited into clicking on the video and any other negative drivel that gives you some kind of twisted pleasure.
Lastly, I'd like to thank you, @Diganme Lara xd (I don't know how to type that second letter in your account name), for helping me realize just how inappropriate it is to try and hijack/leverage someone else's comments section! (that probably reads very sarcastic, but - I'm just trying to have some fun around here).
@@VirtualSG Nono, i mean, your video is so good, but the spam sometimes can be annoying.
@@diganmelaraxd6981 ... I am the clown!
But I really do appreciate you calling me out!
I can't necessarily explain it, but it emboldened me to put myself out there rather than just wish ppl would pay attention.
Thanks again!
7:14 "italy planet" i lost my shit xD
Just like with the dialogue, it's operatic, the linearity and the obvious nature of the background changes... I'm curious as to just how into opera Lucas is, and who he likes the most from that world. He did, of course, place himself in the opera house on Coruscant.
Just finished all your current videos, and had to subscribe. Excellent content.
Your videos are always great and always make me want to go through all the (only) 6 movies all over again
Every time I sit down and start going through these movies for this channel I'm like "man, these are really good."
i think it was the director for Empire who said in its DVD commentary that star wars works because "it's a simple story with complex characters", and I agree
Oh my God, somebody finally spoke up about the problems with introducing flashbacks in the 8th movie of a series.
Italy planet is my favorite description of Naboo now
Me waiting for him to make a video trashing the sequels: 👁👄👁
Hahaha "Italy Planet" 🤣 That's brilliant.
Your work is wonderful. You really know how to distill the elements of Star Wars that make it Star Wars, not just from a fan’s perspective but from a filmmaking perspective. Please keep up the amazing content.
Just had to subscribe! Thus channel is going to be big!
Very well made looking forward to the next video
I'm so glad UA-cam brought me here ! The quality of all your videos is insanely good !
“Nowhere in Star Wars movies is there an opportunity for an audience member to get lost or lose what is happening in the story”
Try watching it with my girlfriend
"Oh look, it's the vacuum cleaner again" No mum, that is R2D2....
@@racernatorde5318 LMAO
Here before this channel blows up. So much potential, the content is of massively high quality
Antoher thing that separates George Lucas six films from Disney films (even the better ones, like Rogue One): even with the gigantic lore, you don't need to know anything outside the movies to understand, apreciate or love the movies (Hey, Clone Wars fans! Stop with nonsenses! Nobody needs to watch Clone Wars to understand, apreciate or love the prequels). The EU exist, but you go after it if you want it, not because you need it. And guess what? A lot of people looked for the EU when they were not necessary for the movies!
These videos are so incredibly well made.
I praise the algorithm for finally showing me your channel.
And I thank you for your passion and intelligence in these videos.
The Lucas bashers (I hate them) always forget one of Lucas' most amazing talent : world building.
Wow i just discovered and you are already one of the best out there.
The TV-series are very iconic, too, tbh. Dave Filoni has understood the art of making Star Wars almost as much as Lucas.
Dave should’ve handled the sequel trilogy.
These are so good, and while I don't have time to sit down and watch Episodes 1-6 at the moment, these are doing a great job reminding me why I need to sooner rather than later.
just found your stuff, you are doing amazing analysis. rly good stuff mate keep on it
Gotta appreciate that you were spot on with revealing the next videos!