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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on Mar 12, 2020 20:15:15 GMT
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Post by Cryogenic on Mar 13, 2020 1:07:50 GMT
^^ That must be why Obi-Wan survived Order 66.
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Post by Somny on Mar 30, 2020 4:05:16 GMT
Hello everyone!
I'm so happy to see this forum alive and kickin'! I tracked it down a few years ago after its existence was referenced by Cryogenic on the sadly now-defunct Star Wars Prequel Appreciation Society website. I'm overwhelmed with joy finding it in the state that it's in and seeing some folks I recognize from other forums. I used to frequent TFN's Jedi Council Forums (as arthurclavin2 and ArthurClavin) and KillerMovies.com's message boards (as garn) from early-to-late 2000s and then spent the intervening years at Millenniumfalcon.com (as The_Somnambulist).
I look forward to following the discussions and perhaps even partaking in them from here on out. Lucas' Star Wars saga, particularly the sublime prequel trilogy, are near and dear to my heart as an artist (I'm a feature filmmaker in real-life) and a human being who appreciates ambitious creative endeavors with both popular and critical resonance.
I found an oasis in the desert. Thanks to all responsible for keeping the awesomeness alive and well!
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Post by Cryogenic on Mar 30, 2020 5:17:55 GMT
Welcome to our little retreat, Somny! You've had a few handles! I'm gratified that you read some of my posts on SWPAS and remembered this board and eventually located it. Excellent. You're very kind to say you're overwhelmed with joy at finding this site in its present state. Frankly, while it is improving, it still leaves a little to be desired in terms of basic aesthetic/features, the amount of members we have, and the general level of activity. In essence, it works, we're still alive, and there's decent scope for discussion -- and, I suppose, there's a genuine excitement that might come of discovering this secret little atoll exists and now has 1000+ posts to pore over. But it would be nice if our beloved Naberrie Fields evolved into something slightly more impressive than its present form. SWPAS is essentially in stasis -- or in a state of perfect hibernation. Defunct, maybe, but at least the site is still accessible and all former content is still there, at present. It appears that Lazy Padawan, the site owner, still posts updates on Facebook. But for whatever reason, she isn't bothering with the site itself. That's quite unfortunate, and a big year for Star Wars has already been missed in its entirety. A new site that started up a few years ago has essentially supplanted SWPAS: naboonews.wordpress.com/ While it doesn't quite offer the personal touch of SWPAS, it's now the closest thing to how Lazy Padawan's blog used to be. That's great! You've come to the right place. Star Wars -- the prequels, in particular -- continues to uplift, beguile, and inspire us all. Dig right in and may the Force be with you.
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Post by Somny on Mar 30, 2020 6:26:43 GMT
Sir Cryogenic, Thanks for your warm reception, the brief on SWPAS and your thoughts on the status and aspirations of this dear forum. I'm so glad to be here! I'm also glad you, in particular, responded because I've always wanted to tell you how much of an inspiration you've been to me. You see, I used to read your posts quite religiously in the mid-2000s on the Jedi Council Forums, in the wake of the ROTS theatrical release and somewhat beyond that time period. And I was constantly heartbroken in the latter years when you'd disappear over a ban (no doubt the result of unfair and draconian forum regulation) and I could only gather scant clues about your resulting whereabouts. In your absence, I felt utterly deprived. Your deeply thoughtful, critical, insightful, elaborate, witty, lyrical and always eloquent commentary about these films and much more were (and still are) a masterclass lecture series unto themselves. If Lucas provided the almighty text, you provided the irresistible and just-as-essential subtext or reading between the lines. Your posts exposed me to a new dimension of artfulness and profundity in these films that not only morphed my view of Lucas' work but my own active conception of creativity and filmmaking. And to the filmmaker I was at the time, struggling to find his footing in film school and early short film projects, it was literally life-giving breath. So, thank you! Thank you for years of intellectual and creative stimulation that even my real-life mentors would fall far short of being able to provide! You're one of the brightest stars and if this pandemic just happens to claim this life, I'm infinitely relieved I finally got to say my piece directly to you. May the Force be with you too!
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Post by Cryogenic on Mar 30, 2020 7:44:13 GMT
Sir Cryogenic, Thanks for your warm reception, the brief on SWPAS and your thoughts on the status and aspirations of this dear forum. I'm so glad to be here! You do me an awesome amount of credit. Thank you greatly for all the compliments and for so eloquently packaging and sending them my way. This is amazing to hear. I don't know, though... I said a lot of stuff that was a bit clunky and half-cocked. I got a little ahead of myself. I wanted to say strong, interesting things, but I didn't always put the effort in, or achieve what I was going for; and I still had (and still do have) much to learn. However, if you took something from it, perhaps I had some positive effect. Your insight serves you well. I did have a few bans applied to my account in earlier years. Some may even have been deserved! Then I kept a clean score sheet for a long time, until receiving an indefinite ban three years ago. That's why I haven't posted to TFN since. I'm sorry to hear you were left pining for more when I disappeared! I used to post to the prequel film boards at IMDb, and I would occasionally slap some thoughts down at SWPAS, and also a now truly-defunct blog called A Certain Point Of View. But TFN was my home for 12 years, until I was coldly excommunicated and given no explanation in 2017. Unfair and draconian moderation has always been a problem at that place. However, in my view, a few years ago, it got worse, and an ugly intolerance mixed with (or arising from) an unseemly triumphalism toward the new regime (i.e., Disney), and its implicit superiority over the old one (i.e., Lucas), took hold. Prequel fans who were also Disney critics were given a rough ride, which resulted in a string of biased and unjust actions being taken against several of them, including me. And the mods still appear to be pulling the same tricks to this very day. Previous bans applied to my account were a different kettle of gooberfish. There was more leniency and humanity back then. It was easier to climb back in the saddle and carry on. But a shift in mod culture made the boards a more difficult and uninviting place to be after Disney took over the franchise. Suddenly, if you were against the new films, or had some strong opinions about the direction the franchise seemed to be heading, you were now looked upon as the enemy -- even if you tried to charitably engage opposing viewpoints, avoid personal attacks, and explain your personal stance in detail. The mods were indifferent to the fact you weren't violating the rules. So they made new ones to try and catch you out. TFN became a stifling and oppressive place for hardcore, outspoken Lucas fans. But it was never that way for prequel critics, of course. It died a death a few years ago and it has never been quite the same since. Anyway, that's one of my sensitive points -- but through no fault of your own! I wish I had been stronger on the prequels in earlier years. ROTS ate up a lot of my focus. I don't think I spent quite as long defending and championing TPM and AOTC as I should have. They were also still growing on me. Today, I probably prefer them to ROTS, but I also admire the entire Prequel Trilogy and the wider sextet enormously. And yes, quite recently, I have also found something to like and admire in the Disney films -- what I call "the extended saga" -- too. That's in spite of the shenanigans at TFN, and from Disney/Lucasfilm themselves. I don't have quite the same passion for the new films, as of this writing, as I do the prequels. But I don't mind arguing my case for them. I recognise, however, that it may be difficult to find many takers! It's always good to adopt a few minority positions and go from there. I loved every minute of defending the prequels, and if the nine-film saga starts clicking for me as it's starting to, I'll probably be journeying down that road again. That said, given the radically personal quality of the prequels, I felt I owed it to George Lucas to defend those movies that bit extra, and I don't quite feel the same compulsion for Disney. But we'll see. Wow! Honestly, all this credit... I'm touched you found that kind of joy and inspiration in my writings/blatherings. It's quite moving to read, and I really can't think of anything especially witty or lyrical to say back! It was always my hope that I would have this kind of effect on a few people. And a few people have said similar things to me in intervening years. So: mission accomplished? But I'm always looking to say more, go deeper, think more broadly, imagine and philosophise more dexterously. I feel Lucas really threw down the gauntlet and brought something special into global culture. I feel it is somehow my duty to squeeze more from that cosmic orange. That said, recently, I may have been running a little dry; or maybe my focus shifted to the Disney films. But you are helping me discover the spark again. So... Thank YOU!!!I'll tell you that the best life-giving breath are the movies themselves. Watch any of Lucas' movies closely enough or long enough, and you're sure to find a complete treasure trove of goodness -- endless beads of delightful esoterica -- within them. They reward repeat views and repeat meditations like few other things that exist. Perhaps all things in the universe have that quality, but it is somehow heightened in Lucas' output. His movies go beautifully together and are a sort of inspiration-engine. The world as movie-strip. A totalising artwork. One to get fully consumed by and lost within. Much more significant and penetrating than many people say. It's like the difference between feeling the Force and denying it exists. Trust your own instincts and voice. That's the single most important lesson. Ah! Heavenly compliments. What you said goes to something a few of us prequel fans have touched on before: Critics, tutors, self-styled academics, et al... They just don't get Star Wars, do they? It has fallen to fans to elucidate the series' musicality: its construction, its comportment, its themes, its nuances, its charms. Times one-hundred for the prequels. I'm touched you felt you had something to get out of your system. Your words are powerful, and yet: I feel the same tension Luke feels: I'm just a guy... Thank you so much. I hope, too, this pandemic wends its way through the human population and is beaten back sooner, rather than later. And there could well be many changes to society in its wake. Indeed, it might be just the kind of "wake up" call human civilisation has needed. I sometimes like to think of things in terms of the opening to AOTC. Every cloud has a silver lining. Or a ship that lands and goes "boom". Don't rely on silver linings too long? But they're really there and will get you places. There are many clean and fluidic metaphors at work in Star Wars, and they are a continued source of nourishment and fascination. Please stay safe and let's all try and weather this storm together. Thanks again! And may the Force be with you.
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on Mar 30, 2020 13:11:32 GMT
I too feel indebted to the Star Wars Prequel Appreciation Blog, and in particular Cryogenics's writings in the comment section. Without his impassioned defences of Lucas there, I would probably still be a lurker to this day.
It is a great pity that Lazy Padawan stopped updating her blog - it truly was a beacon of light in an era of so much anti-Lucas vitriol. I've recently contacted her in relation to this, so here's hoping that we may see a return to service.
Please feel free to contribute to any thread you so desire, or to start new ones that you think are missing. It is is always important to hear from new, fresh voices, and I'm sure you will enhance and broaden many of our perspectives.
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Post by Ingram on Mar 30, 2020 19:24:30 GMT
'Sup, Somny.
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on Mar 31, 2020 18:02:18 GMT
By the way: welcome to the forum! Are you yourself Russian?
Thank you very much! Yes, I am from Moscow. And what about you? Are you English, or American, or maybe Australian? Also, the rating of all 11 movies from Kinopoisk ("movie search") is very funny. I can tell about it.
I'm Irish. Star Wars culture not as strong here as in other countries, but a few of our actors and locations have featured in the films.
Has there been any Russian actor involved in Star Wars yet? If not, there really should!
Once again, welcome! You're more than welcome to link to any Russian articles/essays on the movies (in whatever thread), provided you include an English translation
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Post by Moonshield on Apr 1, 2020 5:39:43 GMT
Cool) Ireland is beautiful. Has there been any Russian actor involved in Star Wars yet? If not, there really should! We love George Lucas. Really, he is a true artist for us. www.elitedaily.com/life/culture/10-ways-to-tell-if-someone-is-a-true-artist/635870Lucas was influenced by Pavel Klushantsev (not very much, of course) and his movies "Road to the Stars" (1957) and "Planet of Storms" (1962). I don't think that Klushantsev "is a Godfather of Star Wars", like some people do, but his techniques were certainly used not only by Lucas, but also by Kubrick, Ridley Scott and Robert Skotak.
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on Apr 6, 2020 21:57:57 GMT
Ah, I see you've detected my ad-blocker.
You are a bold one!
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Post by peppermint on Apr 25, 2020 23:24:59 GMT
Hello! I was directed to this forum after some good discussion over on /r/BrighterThanCoruscant. I've not had much experience with dedicated forums before, but I'm happy to find another place to appreciate/discuss the prequels and Star Wars as a whole.
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on Apr 29, 2020 7:12:14 GMT
Welcome peppermint ! We hope you enjoy your stay here. Well done rayo1 on your recruitment drive.
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Post by Cryogenic on Apr 29, 2020 13:28:41 GMT
Welcome, peppermint . Enjoy the candy. Oh, wait, I see you've already brought some with you.
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Post by Ingram on Apr 29, 2020 18:58:13 GMT
Pepper, then. Hi - great and everything. Just don't touch my stuff.
And your candy cane avatar is causing me mild anxiety.
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rayo1
Ambassador
Posts: 65
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Post by rayo1 on Apr 30, 2020 3:15:25 GMT
Welcome peppermint ! We hope you enjoy your stay here. Well done rayo1 on your recruitment drive. No problemo. He had some really good takes on the schools of thought regarding the Jedi Order, stuff that Alexrd would definitely agree with. And honestly, he schooled me and my framework rightfully so (i still have opinions tho). peppermint hope you like some of the arguments here!
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 3, 2020 19:15:13 GMT
Cryogenic Your Chancellorship didn't last so long?
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Post by Cryogenic on May 3, 2020 19:22:48 GMT
Cryogenic Your Chancellorship didn't last so long? Yeah? I gained silver stars and lost them again. Such is life. Release yourself of all acquisitions. Let go.
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 4, 2020 19:11:37 GMT
Happy 4th of May May the 4th, everyone !
May the Force be with You.
Who thinks Subtext Mining should also treat himself to a more interesting avatar?
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rayo1
Ambassador
Posts: 65
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Post by rayo1 on May 4, 2020 22:46:17 GMT
With TCW at an end, you all know what this means?
The 4 Hour Cut is WITHIN OUR GRASP! Courtesy of u/Onewittyuser. Other redditors are hard at work with their own cuts, and I'll be posting their hard work on the correct threads.
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