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Watching the saga in black and white

Discussion in 'Star Wars Saga In-Depth' started by CuppaJoe, Jun 8, 2006.

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  1. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002
    Has anybody tried watching the Star Wars films in black and white?

    Sometimes it really does feel like you're watching one of the old classic black and white films of the 30's and 40's. I watched Revenge of the Sith in black and white recently and it almost feels like it's supposed to work that way. It's amazing.

    Particularly the dark scenes actually look, well...dark! Stylistically it seems to accomplish more this way and I plan on watching all 6 films like this someday.

    I wonder if each film looks different in a way, when watching in order, in black and white.

    I really recommend trying it.

     
  2. StartCenterEnd

    StartCenterEnd Jedi Grand Master star 3

    Registered:
    May 2, 2006
    Wow! Never heard of that before. Good idea. I'll defenitely have to try it some day! Thanks for the awesome concept, CuppaJoe. :)

    I have a question...how does the lava look in ROTS, when watching in black and white?


    (oh and for all who may not now, you could watch any movie in black and white. You only need to tune down your color all the way...but you probally already know that.....[face_cow])


    EDIT: One other thing...can you tell when Anakin's eyes are yellow in black and white? How do they look?

    Btw, only a Sith deals in absolutes! The truth is never so black and white! :cool:[face_clown]


    At first, I thought this thread was about, watching the saga as a simple story with black and white concepts of good and bad....[face_talk_hand]


    But yeah...I'ma try it one day, no doubt! After watching these movies so many times, its fun to watch them differently. Thanks again, dude. [face_peace]

    I have another idea...try watching SW with the HUE turned all the way red. Or tune down ALL the brightness. I did this once and it works for Sidious in ROTJ. You only see his face when the force lightning lights up his face, its pretty creepy! But yeah, guys, we should always find new ways to watch these wonderful flicks!

    MTFBWY..Always
     
  3. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002

    I have a question...how does the lava look in ROTS, when watching in black and white?

    The lava is just very white with black smodges, but you can still tell it's lava.



    EDIT: One other thing...can you tell when Anakin's eyes are yellow in black and white? How do they look?
    That shot still looks great. Rather than yellow, of course, Anakin's eyes look completely black with a slight white gilmmer in them. Very creepy.


    At first, I thought this thread was about, watching the saga as a simple story with black and white concepts of good and bad....[face_talk_hand]


    I was worried somebody would think that [face_laugh]


    I have another idea...try watching SW with the HUE turned all the way red. Or tune down ALL the brightness. I did this once and it works for Sidious in ROTJ. You only see his face when the force lightning lights up his face, its pretty creepy!


    I'm definetely going to try that! Might work for RotS as well...

    But yeah, guys, we should always find new ways to watch these wonderful flicks!

    We should!
     
  4. Tyranus_the_Hutt

    Tyranus_the_Hutt Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 14, 2004
    Sometimes it really does feel like you're watching one of the old classic black and white films of the 30's and 40's. I watched Revenge of the Sith in black and white recently and it almost feels like it's supposed to work that way. It's amazing.

    I know that some people like to adjust their television sets so that they can watch contemporary films in B&W, and although I am an admirer of black and white photography, I don?t know that the SW films are the ideal candidates for this technique. My contention is that each of the pictures uses color to such great effect, that to control that aspect of the films is to limit a rather integral part of its aesthetic fabric; it?s like turning off the color in a film shot by Jack Cardiff or Russell Metty ? so much of the visual lyricism and sensuality contained within the filmic property is dependent upon the richness and artistry with which its images are so carefully infused ? the use of hues, shades, textures, and so forth, yields a cascading tableau of wondrous visionary ornaments . The SW films are, to my mind, among the more interesting (primarily) visual epics to have emerged in the last 30 years, and so much of their cumulative impact is dependent upon the almost symmetrical nature of music, image, dialogue, color, architecture, and so on (not in that order).

    Stylistically it seems to accomplish more this way

    Great mood and rhythms can be attained using B&W photography, but that is often when a film is lit to accommodate the technique being utilized (unless the picture is shot on color film stock and then the color is removed in a digital intermediate ? nevertheless, the film has to be shot with this in mind), and thus best exploit its strengths.

    It would be hard to imagine the visual schema retaining much of its immediate visceral kick when presented in B&W - think of the permeable crimson hue of Mustafar, which becomes something of an encompassing Stygian vision; the pop-abstract ballet that ensues between Anakin and Dooku as they engage in a lightsaber duel within the Geonosian hangar near the end of "Episode II" ? the way that Lucas and his DP, David Tattersall, manipulate the lustrous beams amidst a dark environment is extraordinary; the metallic-tinge of the gas cloud formations that cushion the floating structure of Cloud City; Vader?s red saber slicing through Obi-Wan Kenobi?s (empty) Bedouin cloak in the original "Star Wars"; the saturated, romantic imagery of the lake retreat on Naboo; the green, earthy visual textures of Endor; the furious clash of Luke and Vader?s lightsabers against the bizarre structural apparatus in the recesses of the Carbon Freezing Chamber; etc.

    I wonder if each film looks different in a way, when watching in order, in black and white.

    Probably; the prequels were designed to embellish the baroque qualities of the era in which the story unfolds, so if I were to hazard a guess, I would say that those films would suffer considerably more than their predecessors (the OT) in such an experiment.

    Anyway, it should be noted that I actually tend to prefer B&W to most color cinematography ? so I can appreciate your experiment, CuppaJoe ? but in some cases, visionary films such as those which comprise the SW cycle exist more comfortably within the aesthetic parameters that were employed in their conception.
     
  5. Darth-Stryphe

    Darth-Stryphe Former Mod and City Rep star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Apr 24, 2001
    Hmmm, well, when I was much younger we did have a B&W TV, so probably, but I can't remember the impact that format had.
     
  6. zombie

    zombie Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 4, 1999
    You know, I've seen the OT in black and white quite a bit, both from black and white TV's and my own experiments. But I've never seen the PT in black and white. And sine the PT is very much more serialesque and 1930's than the OT at its cheesiest, i decided to conduct an experiment. Attack of the Clones is the closests visually to the 1930's serials.

    So i not only converted it to black and white, i took stills and altered them in photoshop. Serials and films in the 30's and 40's had a different visual look than today, the PT included--they were softer, brighter-lit and less contrasty, and closeups and beauty shots were often heavily filtered. So after spending a half hour doing this i was shocked to discover just how retro the film looks.

    Here is my results

    Episode II: Attack of the Clones!

    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/49bc0e69.jpg]

    Cecil B Demill must be rolling in his grave:
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/28dd6300.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/80bdddf8.jpg]

    John Ford, eat your heart out:
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/bc192d87.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/abb5b5b1.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/a263943f.jpg]


    More good stuff.
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/ff2a2618.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/2d634358.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/223141e5.jpg]

    Take that Orson Wells!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/a3376ab5.jpg]


    Film noir! (love those venetian blinds)
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/8b57d79e.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/d73c56ad.jpg]

    Medieval set design:
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/55550240.jpg]

    Booby trap!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/4381fa26.jpg]

    Captured!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/6df19d67.jpg]

    Look out, a giant crab!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/4fa2db24.jpg]

    Rocketmen!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/0c41abaa.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/ecc1b343.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/00a815d3.jpg]

    Evil robots! Crush, kill, destroy!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/5189e870.jpg]

    Beew!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/2c211fbc.jpg]

    The villain attacks!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/d8f99e15.jpg]

    Will the heros survive?
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/6fbf0d05.jpg]

    Find out in Episode III!


    Good stuff there. I'm thinking about completely re-colour-timing AOTC to look more like this.
     
  7. Winston_Sith

    Winston_Sith Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 8, 2004
    Someone FINALLY managed to get a thread like this going!
     
  8. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002
    Good stuff, Zombie!

    I'm also beginning to think that Star Wars would also work as a silent film. That is one of the accomplishments of each episode, how much the story is told visually, not only that, but the music helps compliment the story so much.
     
  9. StartCenterEnd

    StartCenterEnd Jedi Grand Master star 3

    Registered:
    May 2, 2006
    I hope on the next DVD release, Lucas will allow an option to watch the movie with ONLY the music...
     
  10. Winston_Sith

    Winston_Sith Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 8, 2004
    Zombie,

    you *could* post a pic of Sidious standing before the kneeling Anakin/Vader during the "knighting" scene (Palpatine IS the Phantom of the Opera... I mean Menace, Phantom *Menace*.:rolleyes:)along with a few choice shots of Anakin force grabbing Padme, choking her and looking completely insane after he lets her go (I think Vader looks a lot more twisted in the B&W).

     
  11. zombie

    zombie Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 4, 1999
    Well ROTS isn't quite as fun to do as AOTC but what the hell. Its a good monster movie.

    The Revenge of the Sith!

    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/cece984a.jpg]

    Anakin pledges himself to the forces of darkness:

    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/141da273.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/08bdb7a1.jpg]

    A servant of the Phantom Menace:

    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/2d352c9b.jpg]

    The Phantom reveals himself and enacts his fiendish scheme...
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/6f191978.jpg]

    Order 66!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/18be4bb9.jpg]

    But Obi Wan escapes!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/942d5292.jpg]

    The Phantom takes over the galaxy...
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/8d83a174.jpg]

    ...but a resistance is on the move
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/8ad3034f.jpg]

    And Anakin has become...Darth Vader!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/7c461e61.jpg]

    Padme begs Anakin to return to good
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/fb92f0b9.jpg]

    Anakin has become evil
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/1a17fb9b.jpg]

    But Obi Wan is here to save the day!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/a2e0d89b.jpg]

    There can be no stopping Darth Vader!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/8846cb1d.jpg]

    They fight...
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/0a6d9b6b.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/0ecf709e.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/f2e4a14b.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/543aa209.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/d28b768d.jpg]

    ...but Darth Vader is destroyed...
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/1efbc4fd.jpg]

    ..or is he?
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/63acf397.jpg]

    The Phantom brings Vader to his laboratory...
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/ea7eca1d.jpg]

    ...and a diabolical transformation takes place
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/12e0d624.jpg]

    Its alive!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/748b98fd.jpg]
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/c90df966.jpg]

    ITS ALIVE!
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/a3642f17.jpg]

    The end?
    [image=http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/zombie__84/f8430056.jpg]
     
  12. Winston_Sith

    Winston_Sith Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 8, 2004
    Exactly.

    Anakin is the Monster, and he has quite few good scenes/shots of him looking all forsaken and Monster-like on Mustafar.

    I'll give you the timecodes when I can. (I'm not sure what Classic Monster he resembles, but he looks like a SICK FREAK! lol)

    Also, TPM has the Flash Gordon water-ripple screen*.
    AOTC has The Searchers homage*.
    ROTS has many, many Monster Movie references*.
    ANH, TESB, and ROTJ have... well, we'll find out, won't we?

    *among others.

    P.S. Nice montage.
     
  13. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002
    The lightsabers look really great as just these...pure...white beams. Even if it is more plain, I like it.
     
  14. StartCenterEnd

    StartCenterEnd Jedi Grand Master star 3

    Registered:
    May 2, 2006
    Yeha and it clears the whole 'Luke has a green lightsaber in ANH DVD' issue.
     
  15. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002
    :p

    The CGI also looks better in black and white.

    zombie, you should post b&w pics of the OT, that's great stuff so far.
     
  16. StartCenterEnd

    StartCenterEnd Jedi Grand Master star 3

    Registered:
    May 2, 2006
    You forgot TPM!


    The original Charlie Chaplin:

    Jar Jar Binks!
     
  17. Winston_Sith

    Winston_Sith Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 8, 2004
     
  18. darthzeppo

    darthzeppo Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Aug 21, 2005
    That shot of Anakins mechanical hand reminds me of Metropolis & his Sith eyes are even creepier in B/W than in colour.

    When we had cable I use to watch the old B/W Flash Gordon series as well as Buck Rodgers. I think this is why I like AOTC when other people didn?t. It is a lot like the old serials.
    I like old fashioned Sci/fi ? where science & logic take the back seat.
     
  19. Winston_Sith

    Winston_Sith Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 8, 2004
    [image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/winston_sith/pics/choking_motif_bw.jpg]
     
  20. Dark_Faith

    Dark_Faith Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Jan 30, 2004
    That looks scary! :eek:
     
  21. DarthMatter

    DarthMatter Jedi Master star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 12, 2004
    OUTSTANDING! I'm watching ANH on DVD now and it's just stunning - each scene has so much more emotion and power, and all of the issues with colour variances between editions literally disappear - can't wait to rewatch all the others and see what they reveal :)

    How pedantic. I think CuppaJoe's point was NOT that the films should be in B&W, but that watching them in B&W is another way to enjoy them, another point of view ;)

    You're right that colour is used to great effect in Star Wars, but blah, blah, blah, we've heard it all before. Watching them on a good screen in B&W brings out things that colour will distract you from seeing - such is true of B&W photography, of course, and why it remains a strong medium for creative expression. Indeed, any good director, and their DP, will compose their cinematography with B&W in mind, so it's no surpris
     
  22. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002
    You are right, that is exactly what I meant. It certainly enhances in some ways and, like you said, allows us to see some things we may be missing.

    Thanks!
     
  23. CuppaJoe

    CuppaJoe Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 24, 2002
    [image=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/ModestPikey/89361ecd.png]
    [image=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/ModestPikey/MauldoorsB.png]
    [image=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/ModestPikey/44c4e1fc9336224e8c9cda399efca131-.jpg]
    [image=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/ModestPikey/wipethemout.png]
    [image=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/ModestPikey/esbempholo6je.jpg]
    [image=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/ModestPikey/27620205940.jpg]

     
  24. Winston_Sith

    Winston_Sith Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 8, 2004
  25. dvader234

    dvader234 Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Jul 9, 2005
    This is really cool.
     
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