Jedi Council Forums - Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?

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Author	Topic: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
drg4 Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 12/15/08 8:35pm Subject: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I always hesitated placing ANH alongside Revenge of the Sith and The Empire Strikes Back on my favorite films list, and really, it's because time and again, without fail, I'm pulled from this wonderful movie's thrall the moment the Falcon leaves Mos Eisley. It's not just that I'm more of a Western fan than a science fiction/fantasy one...the movie seems to lose a certain quality, an earthy sophistication, in the second half. The characters play broader—-the endearingly dopey Luke jumps into hero mode a bit too effortlessly, while Leia, IMO, is almost insufferable in her sassy, butt-kicking role. The banter becomes excessive, and worse, not nearly as snappy as Empire's. The Death Star segments go on too long—-the trash compactor scene more extraneous with every viewing. I don't intend this to be a negative thread, but does anyone else like the first half more, when we're just following a farmboy and his pet robots through seedy terrain?
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jedimasterbac Title: CT and Fan Design Manager Registered: Jun '04	Date Posted: 12/15/08 8:44pm Subject: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I don't know if it's really a difference in preference for me rather than an acknowledgment as to how different the two halves are. The first puts a lot of focus on Luke and Obi-Wan and the brief history of the Jedi and the Force. The second is more action oriented. I mean, either way, I have a hard time watching it (and all the other movies) now because I've seen them so many times, so I could just be biased. -----signature----- Star Wars: Episode I - The Chosen One (my fan fic) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/30225011/p1/?3
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 12/15/08 10:24pm Subject: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	If anything, I feel the opposite, drg4. The second half of the original is, for me, the definition of the phrase "Star Wars". It's full of adventure staples: heroes disguising themselves in the enemies' armor, walls that move in to crush the heroes, a slimy and mysterious tentacled monster, and a dramatic swing across a bottomless pit. And that's BEFORE the pulse-pounding starfighter battles! I think Star Wars at its best is every bit as much about adventure as Indiana Jones. The two sequels got more serious but still managed to stay adventurous. The prequels lost it; either the spirit wasn't there (the overdone emphasis on politics within the Jedi AND the Republic), or it was poorly executed (bad acting and writing throughout). -----signature----- Personally if treating homosexuals with respect and dignity is the definition of 'anti-Christian' then I hope that Obama is the friggin' anti-Christ. - FIDo
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Darth Dark Helmet Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Dec '99	Date Posted: 12/15/08 10:52pm Subject: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	The Death Star trench might come as close to perfect movie making as you can get. The acting, the FX (Which, even now hold up), the score, the writing, everything is working in perfect harmony at that point. That said, when I was a kid, I used to fast forward to "The Death Star Part", because all that desert stuff was boring, but as I've grown up, I appreciate the first half more and more, without losing any love for the second half. Now, I pretty much love the whole damn movie. -----signature----- When dealing with genocide, you must ask yourself, "What would Hitler do?" And then, you know, do the opposite.
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TwiLekJedi Title: Classic Trilogy Manager Registered: Jun '01	Date Posted: 12/16/08 5:17am Subject: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	It's not a matter of preference, but I did notice from time to time that the whole Death Star part is mostly run, shoot, run, shoot, run, get crushed, yell, yell, yell, yell, run, shoot, run, shoot, Awesome Duel, run, shoot, shoot, shoot. It almost doesn't matter that these people are characters. Sure, there's the whole point of rescuing the princess, but it's almost drowned in blaster shots. Luckily it's interrupted by the cute moments - "everything's fine here, thank you... how are you wince", the post-compactor banter (including Leia adjusting her boobs), swinging across the chasm (though amidst blaster fire, but it counts), "you came in that thing, you're brave than I thought" (nice) and... umm... ah, 3PO lying his way past the stormtroopers. That's not a whole lot, is it? Fortunately, our patience is rewarded with the Battle of Yavin. -----signature----- We do what we must Because we can For the good of all of us Except the ones who are dead
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ILuvJarJar Registered: Oct '08	Date Posted: 12/16/08 2:36pm Subject: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I feel the opposite, drg4, I feel that this is ANH, the original SW. It is all we had before ESB came out. I could watch ANH 15 times a day and not get bored. The Death Star seens were perfectly timed, in my opinion. I actually thought that the first half was EXTREMELY boring. -----signature----- ROTJ < ESB < ATOC < ANH < ROTS < TPM < TCW Star Wars Battlefront Elite Squadrons: Fall 2009 Proud President of the Salacious Crumb fanclub Star Wars>>>>>>>>My Social Life It is well worth it.....
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Eternity85 Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 12/22/08 8:15am Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second? - Date Edited: 12/22/08 8:17am (1 edits total) Edited By: Eternity85
	I agree with you Drg4, i have the same feeling about it. The first half of ANH is just so magical to me, i dont know, it is the introduction to the Star Wars Universe, i cant explain why i feel this way. Maybe because the second part is to fast for me -----signature----- " Your eyes can deceive you, do not trust them." - Obi Wan Kenobi
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Merlin_Ambrosius69 Registered: Aug '08	Date Posted: 12/22/08 1:56pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	ILuvJarJar posted: I could watch ANH 15 times a day and not get bored. I actually thought that the first half was EXTREMELY boring. Well, which is it? -----signature----- "Chance makes playthings of us all." -- Seneca Shameless non-Manager Emeritus sock of Vortigern99. Fan of George RR Martin, JK Rowling and JRR Tolkien.
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ILuvJarJar Registered: Oct '08	Date Posted: 12/22/08 2:57pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	Merlin_Ambrosius69 posted: ILuvJarJar posted: I could watch ANH 15 times a day and not get bored. I actually thought that the first half was EXTREMELY boring. Well, which is it? You know what I mean I overall dont get bored, but the begining seems to drag on a bit too long. -----signature----- ROTJ < ESB < ATOC < ANH < ROTS < TPM < TCW Star Wars Battlefront Elite Squadrons: Fall 2009 Proud President of the Salacious Crumb fanclub Star Wars>>>>>>>>My Social Life It is well worth it.....
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AquaVitae Registered: Dec '08	Date Posted: 12/22/08 10:02pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	the Yavin battle is my favorite part of all 6 films. Even after 30 odd years my heart still races during that battle. -----signature----- Beneath the clothes we find the man. And beneath the man we find his....nucleus.
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HanSolo29 Title: Fan Art Manager Registered: Apr '01	Date Posted: 12/22/08 10:28pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	Put me in the camp that thinks opposite of the original post as well. I always found it a real struggle to get through the Tatooine scenes in the beginning, even as a little kid growing up. In my mind, it isn't until they reach Mos Eisley that things really begin to take off. I remember being on the edge of my seat as a kid and watching the heroes running from the stormtroopers down the corridors of the Death Star and being blown away. And of course, the Yavin battle itself encompasses everything that's great about Star Wars. -----signature----- "One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 One of Hammer's Angels Fly casual
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DRush76 Registered: Jan '08	Date Posted: 12/23/08 11:32am Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I tend to prefer the second half of ANH. To be more precise, I tend to enjoy the movie from the time when Luke and Obi-Wan first meet Han and Chewie, to the Falcon's arrival at the Rebel base on Yavin IV.
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Kyle Katarn Registered: Jul '98	Date Posted: 12/26/08 5:49pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I'll admit to liking the first half a bit more than the second half. I think it's due to the variety of the characters. You have Vader, Leia, the Tantive IV crew, Stormtroopers, Jawas, the Lars', Luke, Obi Wan, the Jawas, Han, Chewy, Mos Eisley, etc. After it gets to space you have the main characters, more troopers who can't hit anything if their lives depended on it, snooty Imperial officers, and some boring Rebel general types. The Death Star battle isn't too bad, it makes the second half worth sitting around for as the combat and the pilots is a nice splash of cold water on the face compared to what we had to endure for the last 30-40 minutes. -----signature----- The ones who love us best are the ones we'll lay to rest And visit their graves on holidays at best The ones who love us least are the ones we'll die to please If it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand them
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ezekiel22x Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 1/5 6:47pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I agree completely with drg4. I think the first half of ANH is remarkable for having an otherworldly atmosphere that simultaneously manages to feel "real" and lived-in in a manner that none of the sequels quite managed. It's not so much the theme and characterization - as certainly ESB and certain passages from the prequels hit me in a more cerebral manner than than any portion of ANH - but more a combination of these things and how they're emphasized by the more casual manner of plot progression that really gives a sense of what day to day living is like in the GFFA. Once Tatooine is left behind, though, it's mostly adventure and action. And at the risk of blasphemy, in terms pure action built around heroic chases and the like, I think I prefer something like Willow to ANH. -----signature----- Rollerball (1975) > Star Wars (1977)
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DARTH_BELO Registered: Nov '03	Date Posted: 1/5 8:32pm Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second? - Date Edited: 1/5 8:34pm (1 edits total) Edited By: DARTH_BELO
	I've always enjoyed ANH constently all the way thru... I love the change in pace and mood, after the Falcon leaves mos Eisley...It's almost an exhilarating kind of feeling that really sets a great pace for movies, kind of "flipping the script" sort of thing...throwing it all down and saying "okay...now here's where things are gonna change a bit!" Kind of like "you think all THAT was good, watch what happens NOW!" It's a very exhilarating and refreshing feeling, when things change pace like that... in fact that happens with several movies in the Star Wars Saga in general. In ROTS, it happens right after Obi-Wan says "another happy landing!" and it switches to the scenes on Coruscant right after that big battle. In ANH, the Falcon blasting into Hyperspace from Tatooine. In ROTJ, when Luke and the rest part ways while flying off Tatooine after rescuing Han and destroying Jabba the Hutt... Those are really the only ones that have a distinct point though...I think that is a very effective storytelling method, a great way to keep people interested in what happens next... -----signature----- There are NO trilogies - only ONE SAGA...
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Adali-Kiri Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 1/6 12:42am Subject: RE: Anyone else greatly prefer the first half of ANH to the second?
	I agree with the original post. Although, when I first got a copy of the film it was 1985 and someone taped it off the TV for me, missing out the first half. So for a good while I only watched the second half, and loved it. Watching it these days, I adore the Tatooine part. Something x factor-ish happened there. The characters, the actors, the locations, the way Lucas shot it... It all adds up to something that I don't think anyone involved really counted on. And lo, when Lucas goes back to Tunisia in 2000 to shoot AOTC, he and Anthony Daniels are both stunned to be back at the homestead, obviously feeling transported to that other galaxy. A soundstage can't really do that to you. -----signature----- "Don't give in to hate...that leads to the Dark Side."
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