Your Best Star Wars Screencap

[Tom Lowe]

Okay, the rules are, no wider than 720 pixels. One screencap per entry. Don't post three or four. One at a time.

Which Star Wars shot do you think is the most iconic?

I know Mullen has some really awesome Star Wars caps in his arsenal, so bring your A game, or me and Mullen will own you.

I'll start with this one, although, aesthetically, I have some better ones coming later.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2076/obili6.jpg

The reason I love this shot so much is Guinness' expression. "You might school me now, Darth, but that kid over there is going to be your downfall.... or salvation...."

It's just such a brilliant shot, and no one but Sir Alec could have put so much subtly in one fleeting expression.

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/337/bowdowndo6.gif http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/337/bowdowndo6.gif

[Craig Ryan]

You always seem to have fun ideas Tom. Gotta love Star Wars...question though, why limit the resolution? I have some nice looking "1080P" grabs I found on a forum a WHILE ago...they're probably deinterlaced 1080i, but hey, its Star Wars in HD...ain't complanin'. Let me know if we can bend the rules some and i'll post some. In the spirit of Obi CUs, here's my entry:

http://www.reduser.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1249&stc=1&d=1190351169

[Tom Lowe]

I limited it to small images (720 pixels) so that everyone had access to this competition.

That's wide enough, IMO.

[Craig Ryan]

wow quick reply! True true...but I'm still waiting (impatiently) for that huge HD box set Lucas hinted at a while back...

and while we're on the topic of SW...I should add that my avatar is actually a photoshop of my face covering Lucas's mug while shoointg A New Hope...:innocent: :innocent: :innocent:

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

Nice, I love this thread!

I wrote two books on Star Wars, Anticipation: The Real Life Story of Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace (AnticipationBook.com) and Revenge: The Real Life Story of Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith (Episode3Book.com), which was just published this last summer and still getting reviews coming in. I also contributed an essay to Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics. I have carved out a niche for myself in writing scholarly work on the franchise. That's my background before filmmaking -- film criticism and history.

[PaulClements]

Hi Tom,

For me the most iconic shot in any of the starwars films is the original binary sunset scene. Unfortunately I only have the retouched newer versions on DVD so I can't do a grab of the specific frame I'd like and I don't think it looks anywhere near as nice as the original, these two shots below show the difference. If you look close they actually cut the mountain out of the sun... why?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/7/72/SW_binary_sunset.png

http://kspark.kaist.ac.kr/Star%20Wars/Star%20Wars.files/binary_sunset.jpg

The reason that I loved the shot of Luke looking out that way was because it was so close to our own world but had just enough in it to truly make you believe it was another. Also the original had that gritty dirty look about it, it wasn't trying to be pretty and that's what made it all the more beautiful, because it was a world that wasn't all that great but full of character.

This large version of the final shot of Episode 3 (http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/highdefinition/millenniumfalcon_sith1080i_TheLarsBinarySunset.png ) by comparison lacks that charm and character. Like so many films these days it's made to be the perfect shot. It just lacks the charm of the very first original shot Lucas did.

Paul

[PaulClements]

Oh and also, it kind of summed up the adventure that was about to unfold for some reason. Perfect cinematography in my opinion.

[Moir]

Tom
The chromatic aberration in the cap you posted rules it out. What were they thinking?

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

I love the binary sunset. And I love the shot from Episode III, it's much better even than the one from ANH. Every shot should be as perfect as possible, and the prequels achieved that level of success technically that you can pause on almost any shot and it's gorgeous. I love it. It could be chaotic, ugly, destructive, etc. but it's gorgeous in its own way.

[PaulClements]

I love the binary sunset. And I love the shot from Episode III, it's much better even than the one from ANH. Every shot should be as perfect as possible, and the prequels achieved that level of success technically that you can pause on almost any shot and it's gorgeous. I love it. It could be chaotic, ugly, destructive, etc. but it's gorgeous in its own way.
Hi,

I guess we'll have to differ! :)

I prefer shots to be more organic.

You have to define perfect though. The original portrays so much more emotion in my mind, the latter seems far more plasticy and fake. The image i linked to doesn't necessarily show it. But when you watch the entire sequence though it certainly doesn't have the same impact in my mind as the original.

I also think the prequels have some seriously horrible cinematography going on. Too much soft, garish, green screen footage for me. By comparison I can pause on many shots in the prequels and pick faults in them.

Paul

[Yash Keough]

Hi,

I guess we'll have to differ! :)

I prefer shots to be more organic.

You have to define perfect though. The original portrays so much more emotion in my mind, the latter seems far more plasticy and fake. The image i linked to doesn't necessarily show it. But when you watch the entire sequence though it certainly doesn't have the same impact in my mind as the original.

I also think the prequels have some seriously horrible cinematography going on. Too much soft, garish, green screen footage for me. By comparison I can pause on many shots in the prequels and pick faults in them.

Paul

Ugh agreed. While at times I would watch the prequels and be like wow those effects or that shot of that world looks awesome, I could never get rid of that nagging sense of watching something I knew wasn't real. In many cases, it was glaringly obvious. Take the scene in Episode 3 when the ship crashes onto the planet. Pretty impressive in some ways, but also not particularly realistic. Even the space fight scenes while elaborate, lacked the realism found in the fight scenes of the original which used miniatures as opposed to CGI models and greenscreen. Finally, the new films also lack the "grit" that has been a staple of the original trilogy. Everything is far too perfect, round and shiny. The originals are definitely the better in terms of cinematography and general realism.

[Paul Leeming]

Why, this one of course:

http://www.visceralpsyche.com/misc/web_images/Spaced_S2_Ep6_EmpireStrikesBack_Homage.jpg

If you don't get it.... watch "Spaced". :)

Cheers,

Paul

[Desert Rune]

http://kinomarkt.ch/osCommerce/images/P525053.jpg

This is the most iconic of the star wars prequelogy.

[PaulClements]

If you don't get it.... watch "Spaced". :)

Cheers,

Paul

"Are you ready?"

"I was born ready!"

"Are you ready now?"

"Er, Yeah"

[Jay A. Kelley]

I LOVE this thread....

Jay

[Jeremy Teman]

Damn it... I wish we had more than one moon in our world

[Tom Lowe]

http://kinomarkt.ch/osCommerce/images/P525053.jpg

This is the most iconic of the star wars prequelogy.

Heh. :)

[Dan Blanchett]

Best opening scene... pretty iconic.

http://www.stormtrooperguy.com/gallery/albums/reference/hdcaptures/ANH/normal_bscap0029.png

[Craig Ryan]

I figured/hoped that one of the most impressive shots in film history would make it in the first 5 posted :)

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

I'm sure to someone who doesn't know anything about Star Wars, a comment like, "Oh everything in the prequels is too perfect, it's not gritty enough" makes sense. That being said, your lack of knowledge makes you think that, not a flaw in the films, and that is what bothers me. If you want to state opinions, fine, but do so with knowledge of what you're talking about. Otherwise it just sounds stupid. While I'm sure most people here know more about cameras than I do, nobody knows more than I do about Star Wars.

Everything was carefully and perfectly planned, and when someone spends years on pre-production for a movie and its design elements you better think real hard before you criticize them, because you're probably missing something. In this case, what you are missing is that in the prequel trilogy aesthetics were more important especially in The Phantom Menace and for the Naboo society than raw power. In the prequels, there had been a long-standing peace in the galaxy, and as such craft were not made for serious engagement or wars, they were made to be aesthetically beautiful, like the Naboo society in general (think of Padme's numerous wardrobes -- that was part of the culture, one of decadence, shown in their military and in their way of life). By the time OT rolls around, the galaxy has been plunged into the Galactic Civil War, and the rebel fleet is made up of mostly well-used vehicles scraped together by whatever funds could be mustered. They have all been in numerous battles, and are a lot more battle-worn than anything in the PT, where war doesn't break out until nearly the end of the second film. The third film, as such, has a much grittier feel and is generally considered the fan favorite (and sometimes critical favorite) of all six Star Wars films.

There's no doubt the OT is grittier than the PT, but that's not just randomly the case. That is so for a reason. The PT wasn't supposed to be just a redo of the OT, it's a completely different part of the story and has a different look and feel to it that is necessary for the overall six film story arc. You can't very well expect a book with six chapters to have every chapter be the same, that just wouldn't make sense.

And if you know anything about the technical specifications of the craft in the PT versus the OT, despite being grittier and generally more utilitarian (that was by design), the craft in the OT are technologically more powerful and sophisticated than the PT, even if the PT vehicles and craft look nicer and more pleasing to the eye. It's all part of a carefully constructed tapestry, but if you don't really care to examine it that deep then your results may vary.

[David Mullen ASC]

I've been dealing with wrapping up my feature in New Jersey yesterday and then hopping onto a plane for Los Angeles this morning, so I'm coming in late, but people have already posted my two favorite images from the movie:

http://www.davidmullenasc.com/starwars1.jpg

http://www.davidmullenasc.com/starwars2.jpg

You have to imagine what it was like for audiences in 1977 to see that star destroyer fly overhead on a big wide cinema screen, like the one at the Mann Chinese.

As for close-ups of Obi Wan Kenobi, my favorite is the sort of guilty look he gives after Luke asks him how his father died. Alec Guinness pauses, looks nervous, and looks down like he's trying to think of a good answer.

[Craig Ryan]

Well said Mr. Mullen! Exactly what I was thinking.

JonathanLB, I respect your knowlege (i myself am an admitted SW geek) and couldn't have said it any better, but I think what the previous poster meant was that they just overall loved the gritty appearance of the OT over the fresher/more ditially enhanced PT and remastered OT; which I totally understand coming from a cinematographic viewpoint. However, like you already deftly explained, its all for good reason.

I find that the flawless digital aesthetic really glorifies the Old Republic Era of Star Wars, which to me seems analogous to the way we like to romanticize our own history and depict it as a more pure, and flawless time. Its apparent to me that Lucas wanted this era of Star Wars to really look like a much DIFFERENT world than ours...the ultimate fantasy...beyond our simple suspended belief; whereas in the OT, it was a world used up, lived in, and girtty n' dirty; a world which is different and realistic, but looks livable and lived in. Thats what i get out of all of it.

Not to shoot myself in the foot, but I do agree that the digital elemets were used a bit too much for my tastes...it was almost like we were watching an Animated film at parts (not that I don't commend Lucas's efforts and innovation to the slightest, but at times I found myself wondering if it was really the best way to tell the story)...but overall I enjoyed the PT and didn't find that the digital aspects hindered my enjoyment too much...Now if we had Leo DiCaprio playing Anakin...well i won't go there :)

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

Ugh agreed. While at times I would watch the prequels and be like wow those effects or that shot of that world looks awesome, I could never get rid of that nagging sense of watching something I knew wasn't real. In many cases, it was glaringly obvious. Take the scene in Episode 3 when the ship crashes onto the planet. Pretty impressive in some ways, but also not particularly realistic. Even the space fight scenes while elaborate, lacked the realism found in the fight scenes of the original which used miniatures as opposed to CGI models and greenscreen. Finally, the new films also lack the "grit" that has been a staple of the original trilogy. Everything is far too perfect, round and shiny. The originals are definitely the better in terms of cinematography and general realism.

I don't know what your on about they probably used more miniatures in this film than the Original trilogies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTPlZDOUMaE&mode=related&search=

[Chris Gearhart]

. . . You have to imagine what it was like for audiences in 1977 to see that star destroyer fly overhead on a big wide cinema screen, like the one at the Mann Chinese.

You are spot on there. This goes down as the most memorable moment of my entertainment life--it was 1977, I was 12 years old. My Dad took me to see this movie that he said was like Flash Gordon. I had high expectations and high hopes. But when the thunderous sound and then the opening flight sequence started--An epic panorama from orbit that must have actually been filmed in space; a ship fleeing with impossibly real looking laser-like cannon fire (soooo much better than the sustained beam of light I was used to); then the Star Destroyer in pursuit that kept growing and growing, thundering in the theater to crescendo with an incredulous awe from the packed crowd . . . My life changed at that moment. NOTHING had ever been seen like that before. Movies became something more for me. It was paradigm changing--era changing. And the movie kept getting better and better as it went on.

The world was big, life was good, and evil would be vanquished.

[ericyoung]

Hi Tom,

For me the most iconic shot in any of the starwars films is the original binary sunset scene. Unfortunately I only have the retouched newer versions on DVD so I can't do a grab of the specific frame I'd like and I don't think it looks anywhere near as nice as the original, these two shots below show the difference. If you look close they actually cut the mountain out of the sun... why?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/7/72/SW_binary_sunset.png

http://kspark.kaist.ac.kr/Star%20Wars/Star%20Wars.files/binary_sunset.jpg

The reason that I loved the shot of Luke looking out that way was because it was so close to our own world but had just enough in it to truly make you believe it was another. Also the original had that gritty dirty look about it, it wasn't trying to be pretty and that's what made it all the more beautiful, because it was a world that wasn't all that great but full of character.

This large version of the final shot of Episode 3 (http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/highdefinition/millenniumfalcon_sith1080i_TheLarsBinarySunset.png ) by comparison lacks that charm and character. Like so many films these days it's made to be the perfect shot. It just lacks the charm of the very first original shot Lucas did.

Paul

Completely agree with you Paul, and couldn't have put it better! It felt more real, because it looks almost documentary like. Beautiful yet imperfect, like someone saw the amazing shot, grabbed the camera and ran with the settings they had, with no time for finesse :)

[PaulClements]

I'm sure to someone who doesn't know anything about Star Wars, a comment like, "Oh everything in the prequels is too perfect, it's not gritty enough" makes sense. That being said, your lack of knowledge makes you think that, not a flaw in the films, and that is what bothers me. If you want to state opinions, fine, but do so with knowledge of what you're talking about. Otherwise it just sounds stupid. While I'm sure most people here know more about cameras than I do, nobody knows more than I do about Star Wars.

Everything was carefully and perfectly planned, and when someone spends years on pre-production for a movie and its design elements you better think real hard before you criticize them, because you're probably missing something. In this case, what you are missing is that in the prequel trilogy aesthetics were more important especially in The Phantom Menace and for the Naboo society than raw power. In the prequels, there had been a long-standing peace in the galaxy, and as such craft were not made for serious engagement or wars, they were made to be aesthetically beautiful, like the Naboo society in general (think of Padme's numerous wardrobes -- that was part of the culture, one of decadence, shown in their military and in their way of life). By the time OT rolls around, the galaxy has been plunged into the Galactic Civil War, and the rebel fleet is made up of mostly well-used vehicles scraped together by whatever funds could be mustered. They have all been in numerous battles, and are a lot more battle-worn than anything in the PT, where war doesn't break out until nearly the end of the second film. The third film, as such, has a much grittier feel and is generally considered the fan favorite (and sometimes critical favorite) of all six Star Wars films.

There's no doubt the OT is grittier than the PT, but that's not just randomly the case. That is so for a reason. The PT wasn't supposed to be just a redo of the OT, it's a completely different part of the story and has a different look and feel to it that is necessary for the overall six film story arc. You can't very well expect a book with six chapters to have every chapter be the same, that just wouldn't make sense.

And if you know anything about the technical specifications of the craft in the PT versus the OT, despite being grittier and generally more utilitarian (that was by design), the craft in the OT are technologically more powerful and sophisticated than the PT, even if the PT vehicles and craft look nicer and more pleasing to the eye. It's all part of a carefully constructed tapestry, but if you don't really care to examine it that deep then your results may vary.

I'm not sure if this post was directed at me Jonathan but I'll address it anyhow.

I understand that the storyline means that the scenery, costumes, ships etc are all going to be different than the original because it's set at a different time. I do as a matter of fact know a great deal about the movies and would certainly not class myself as "someone who doesn't know anything about Star Wars". I grew up with the stories just as most other males my age did.

BUT, I'm talking of the simple aesthetic of the two sets of movies in comparison to each other. Not the wardrobe, props, scenarios or locations.

Many of the scenes in the prequels look just what they are; faked. Even to a layman's eyes it's visible. A good example is the battle of Naboo between the gungans and the droid armies that meet in a perfectly brightly lit field... It looks gaudy. Then the battle in the 2nd movie, all those CG storm troopers running around with their joints bending in a not quite realistic manner, the whole think screams CG because it is... good CG needs to be unnoticeable; it wasn't!

One of the problems with much of the CG used in modern movies is it looks overdone and doesn't blend with the look of actual shot footage. The prequels suffered from this greatly in my opinion. Furthermore the reliance on greenscreen means that the compositors want to make their backgrounds look great, so every sky is made up of beautiful vanillas or perfectly moody storms. It lacks the very fabric of nature's gritty rough look, and because of this it suffers the consequence of being bad cinematography in my mind.

It doesn't matter how much planning you put into anything because there are bad examples of badly conceived and implemented ideas in every walk of life.

Finally the storyline of the original three is poor and this is not helped by the fact that the audience already knows the conclusion to the series.

George Lucas should have used the prequels to push the boundaries of cinema to a new level just as he did with the originals, in hindsight I'm sure he wishes he'd made them in 3D and blown peoples minds.

Paul

[Tom Lowe]

I agree with what Paul is saying, generally. The perfect example is that last shot in Sith he mentioned.... when Obi-Wan hands Luke over to the Lars family. I think pretty much everyone agrees that the originial magic hour binary suns shot of Luke in A New Hope is one of the alltime great, classic movie shots. But the one in Sith is clearly done on some soundstage, with horrible compositing work. It looks utterly fake and pulls you out of the story.

[Dan Blanchett]

Not to stay off topic, but I agree with Paul 100%. The word "soulless" comes to mind when I think of the PT. But having grew up with the OT, I am certainly biased.

[PaulClements]

Not to stay off topic, but I agree with Paul 100%. The word "soulless" comes to mind when I think of the PT. But having grew up with the OT, I am certainly biased.

haha,

Perhaps bias plays a role. But I know history will remember the original three with greater regard. I believe cinematography wise as well as story wise.

Paul

[Tom Lowe]

To me, it's all about having actual, physical sets and locations versus digital ones.

[PaulClements]

To me, it's all about having actual, physical sets and locations versus digital ones.

I agree Tom. Greenscreen is used too extensively for my liking.

[Tom Lowe]

Like you said earlier, the whole thing can be summed up in the original binary suns shot (actually done on location) and the ending of Sith, which was obviously digital fakery.

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

They shot the plates for that shot on episode 2 with the f900
"So we don't have to fly the crew all the way back here for one shot" something like that.

[Tom Lowe]

They shot the plates for that shot on episode 2 with the f900
"So we don't have to fly the crew all the way back here for one shot" something like that.


Yeah, well, Lucas has more money than god. They should have flown back and shot it right, IMO, since it is the very final, closing shot of a 30-year saga. :angry03:

[Albert Cheng]

My earliest cinematic memory is of the Star Destroyer opening as it thundered overhead. I was around six or seven at the time and all I remember thinking is... Whoah! That ship is huge, is it ever gonna end"

I personally did not find anything appealing with the new trilogy. No matter how much thought went into the planning, effects, action or design. And yes, it is partially because it's a different era of filmmaking.

As far as visuals go, the main problem I have with the new movies is something I can sum up with one statement. Everything looks like concept art. Especially the oversaturation of colors in natural things likes the skies.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

http://www.appliedvisual.com/redimages/chefvader.jpg

OK, I've got some legit entries, but can't get to them yet... However, my favorite (overhead star destroyer) has already been submitted.

[Tom Lowe]

Meanwhile my VLC player is trippin' when I'm trying make some caps from my 720p versions. :( Anyone else have trouble FFing 720 MKVs? My system has a million times enough power and RAM to show any vid, but for some reason these MKVs are hard for me to fast forward through, on both of my computers, actually.

[Adrian T.]

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8652/swtitleyc7.jpg
:biggrin:

[Adrian T.]

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4828/swgh6.jpg

[Charles Angus]

The cinematography in the cloud city lightsabre fight scene from Episode V is amazing - so many great shots, and a lot of cool practicals, like the tunnel that lights up.

It really draws you into the world.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/thisisit2004.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/starwars2.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/shirt1980.jpg

Greatest Bad Guy Introduction Ever(tm):
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/A_NEW_HOPE-1_DVD_no_black_bars.jpg

[Desert Rune]

Thank goodness for DVDactive.

Yes thank you to them for such wonderful image. :shifty:

[David Mullen ASC]

Cinematography-wise, my favorite is "Empire Strikes Back" for its use of moody soft lighting and colors:

http://www.davidmullenasc.com/empire1.jpg

http://www.davidmullenasc.com/empire2.jpg

http://www.davidmullenasc.com/empire4.jpg

http://www.davidmullenasc.com/empire5.jpg

I like the cityscape effects in the prequels, especially the silver ship coming out of the fog over the skies of Corescant in the beginning of "Attack of the Clones".

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Well it *was* working in the preview. Fixed now. :D

A few more prequel goodies:
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/resized_sith4.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/resized_sith10.jpg

You call it CG fuzzy fakeness. I call it beautiful:

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/starwars1.jpg

[Gavin Greenwalt]

This shot practically single handedly got me interested in the moving image.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/fighters2004.jpg

Ok I'm done totally breaking the rules.

But the rules result in too many pages. :)

[Jason Murphy]

I like the cityscape effects in the prequels, especially the silver ship coming out of the fog over the skies of Corescant in the beginning of "Attack of the Clones".

"Attack of the Clones" had a some incredible cityscape establishing shots. Absolutely gorgeous, almost every single one of them. It's just such a shame that most of the scenes in between the establishing shots contain some of the worst dialogue I've heard in a long time.

Peter Suschitzky's work on Empire is excellent. Best of the six by far.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

You mean this ship and fog?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/clones0.jpg


As far as visuals go, the main problem I have with the new movies is something I can sum up with one statement. Everything looks like concept art. Especially the oversaturation of colors in natural things likes the skies.

You must be right. Because the more it looks like a concept painting the more I like it. It's my favorite visual art form and I've been really excited about quite a few movies' visuals lately. In fact the first thing I thought of David Mullen's Luke R2 Screen cap was. "Wow they were able to capture the essence of a concept painting with the strong comlimentary lighting. It's gorgeous."

http://dusso.com/
http://www.ghull.com/art/art_main.php

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

I quite liked the shots used in this memorable Empire strikes back sequence.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/river_felix/Empire002.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/river_felix/Empire003.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/river_felix/Empire005.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/river_felix/Empire007.jpg

[Andrew Benz]

You mean this ship and fog?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/clones0.jpg



You must be right. Because the more it looks like a concept painting the more I like it. It's my favorite visual art form and I've been really excited about quite a few movies' visuals lately. In fact the first thing I thought of David Mullen's Luke R2 Screen cap was. "Wow they were able to capture the essence of a concept painting with the strong comlimentary lighting. It's gorgeous."

http://dusso.com/
http://www.ghull.com/art/art_main.php

Great Links Gavin, thank you for sharing.

[Paul Leeming]

This shot practically single handedly got me interested in the moving image.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/fighters2004.jpg
I'm guessing you meant the ORIGINAL version, which was models and not CGI like the remastered Special Edition screenshot you posted?!

Ditto with your middle screenshot of the Millennium Falcon flying towards the Yavin moon:


http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/starwars2.jpg


Yeah, I'm one of those ORIGINAL "Original Trilogy" fanboys.... Han shot first!! :)

Cheers,

Paul

[PaulClements]

You mean this ship and fog?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/clones0.jpg



You must be right. Because the more it looks like a concept painting the more I like it. It's my favorite visual art form and I've been really excited about quite a few movies' visuals lately. In fact the first thing I thought of David Mullen's Luke R2 Screen cap was. "Wow they were able to capture the essence of a concept painting with the strong comlimentary lighting. It's gorgeous."

http://dusso.com/
http://www.ghull.com/art/art_main.php

For me one of the problems inherent in movies that look like concept art is that the visual drama is lessened. It strikes me that too many of the scenes look too perfect and too fake. When it comes to delivering a scene that should be dramatic and impressive the emotion is lost because we have been shown so many similar shots.

Lucas' original movies were far more balanced. The brief shot of Mos Eisley from afar was beautiful, cutting straight into it moving down the street and meeting the stormtroopers. By comparison the retouched versions with jawa's falling off bol's and hanging by their reins or the prequels with elaborate movements across the whole of Mos Eisley both look horribly fake. There is no charm to such shots.

Paul

[Kenn Christenson]

For me one of the problems inherent in movies that look like concept art is that the visual drama is lessened. It strikes me that too many of the scenes look too perfect and too fake. When it comes to delivering a scene that should be dramatic and impressive the emotion is lost because we have been shown so many similar shots.

Lucas' original movies were far more balanced. The brief shot of Mos Eisley from afar was beautiful, cutting straight into it moving down the street and meeting the stormtroopers. By comparison the retouched versions with jawa's falling off bol's and hanging by their reins or the prequels with elaborate movements across the whole of Mos Eisley both look horribly fake. There is no charm to such shots.

Paul

AGREED! Miniatures and real locations rule! Although, if you want to remove the wires with a computer, that's okay with me! :biggrin:

[Gavin Greenwalt]

I'm guessing you meant the ORIGINAL version, which was models and not CGI like the remastered Special Edition screenshot you posted?!

Ditto with your middle screenshot of the Millennium Falcon flying towards the Yavin moon:
Cheers,

Paul


Nope. I first watched the Original Trilogy when I was 6 and had seen them over and and over and over since then. And then I went to the theater when the special editions came out. "And wow! Look there are people now inside the Xwings. And they look so much more real! And look how many there are. X wings really do exist! I want to make Xwings! I want to fly in an Xwing!"

"Holy crap that bantha in the background actually moved! Why does Yoda still look like a muppet... oh well, some day." (That was an enormous dissapointment though).

"Wow the sarlacc doesn't look completely like shit anymore!" Speaking of which... it needs anohter update now. Maybe for the 3D Edition

For some of us the CGI of the special editions was as exciting and awe inspiring as the miniature work of the original. Also I think it resulted in many better shots for the space scenes.

---

Personally I would say much LOTR looks like concept art. And yet it uses extensive miniatures and very little CG. I think the thing most people are actually rebelling against is matte painting not cgi. And the matte paintings could theoretically look extremely naturalistic.

[David Mullen ASC]

At least a muppet Yoda looks like it's really in the room with the actors...

I think the CGI work on the prequels was stellar, exciting, for the most part, though the overall effect, unfortunately, has the "patina" of a video game or computer animated feature -- there is a lack of solidity sometimes.

I agree that CGI allows some things to be more realistic -- a good example is the launch of the Saturn V in "Apollo 13" where the rocket is a miniature but CGI could add true-scale falling ice, heat distortion, camera vibration, steam, atmospheric perspective, flying birds, etc. -- things near impossible with miniature work. Adding moving people into environments like futuristic cities or spaceships is another thing computers make a lot easier.

And let's not forget that there was a healthy dose of miniatures used for the prequels (though Lucas asked John Knoll to use less of them whenever possible for "Revenge of the Sith" because he preferred the freedom of changing the shot in post, easier if the landscape is computer-generated.)

[Roberto B]

http://theclayshow.typepad.com/my_weblog/images/bo_derek10.jpg

[purefilm]

Here are two I believe are iconic. Two of the biggest turns in the series.

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

Paul, Kenn and the rest of you anti cgi zelots I'm calling you out.
Pick some shots of the prequels and try and tell me what's CGI which is matte painting or live action elements or models etc. cause I'm not sure you can do it.
And the opening sequence doesn't count.

[PaulClements]

Paul, Kenn and the rest of you anti cgi zelots I'm calling you out.
Pick some shots of the prequels and try and tell me what's CGI which is matte painting or live action elements or models etc. cause I'm not sure you can do it.
And the opening sequence doesn't count.

Given there's CGI in most frames it'd take a while :)

The whole battle scene on Naboo in the phantom menace, on the grass robots vs gungans - entirely CGI.

The whole battle scene on Attack of the clones with the dust flying everywhere and big whirly machines that have zero character compared to the AT-AT's of yesteryear.

Anakin dancing about on crappy fat snails on Naboo to impress his missus!

Much of the pod race.

Jar jar feckin Binks

Yoda

C3PO and R2D2 in atoc in that horrible CGI underground factory scene thing.

The entire opening sequence of the third movie

Some of the Mustafar scenes, though models were obviously used for some parts.

... seriously we could go on all night and I've been doing it for a minute.


CGI is very obvious in many of the scenes. It's good and it's watchable but it's not great cinematography for me. Unfortunately no matter how good the CGI is, it never quite blends correctly.

I'm not disregarding it as a means to an end. It's the only way to do most of the things that are done in the movies. Problem is that 30 years ago he created a movie in A new hope that although lacking a few refined touches was both bold and subtle with it's effects. The more recent ones by contrast were very "in your face" with it.

To be fair, I couldn't do it better (Yet). I do feel that I would have made plenty of different choices in the look and feel and how it was shot though.

Paul

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Actually the attack of the clones with the dust flying everywhere used extensive miniature work for the environment + matte paintings.

And yes that battle sucked. But not because of the CGI... more to do with the fact that I discovered Lucas has no idea how to direct large scale warfare.

Large scale warfare is always more interesting when you can understand how the pieces are moving and what the strategy is.

A thousand people in a pit beating eachother's heads with clubs randomly--a great battle makes not.

For example. The Prologue to the Fellowship of the Ring. Lots of CG. And perhaps one of the greatest battles on film. Despite being short.

Also the background of the factory was mostly miniature/characters real/midground was the CG. So not exactly "all CG".

[Alex Boothby]

My fav Star Wars moment happens about 10 seconds after this pic. Great music.

[Alex Boothby]

My least fav Star Wars moment: Just unnecessary...

[Shawn Nelson]

lol, that is awesome