Opus

I really enjoyd the way Anakin owned Dooku's ass in ROTS. Fast and efficient not a bunch of banging blades together Errol Flynn BS.

Lucas tried to make me pity Anakin but he created such an unlikeable character that I was dissapointed that he was Vader.

You may have not liked Anakin as a character, but the choices that he's forced to make should be something you can empathize with, right or wrong. We've already had somebody here in this thread step up to the plate and admit that the lives of billions are nothing next to the life of a loved one. I recall some posters on MW not being bothered by the prospect of killing the Tuskens, a'la AOTC, either. Anakin himself may have been a dink, but the path he chooses is one we should all be able to understand.

I never said I couldn't empathize with his situation. I merely stated that Anakin was such a poncy little git that it detracted from Vader's image. Now when he force chokes someone instead of thinking he's just an evil badass I just think he probably missed his nap or has a dirty diapy. I guess it just doesn't live up to my expectations.

i never try to force my opinions on anyone but isn't my ending to the movie much better..

I had that spider it was awesome but I never knew what it was called. Sweet.

Wait, how does Vader's less-than-evil youth somehow lessen his menace as and adult Sith Lord? Should he have been evil from birth? This is just silly. LEt me ask you this: Does the knowledge that young Hitler was a mediocre painter in Vienna make him any less of an evil tyrant and an insane genocidal monster?

That's not really the point. He could have been good and turned bad without having been such a childish suckwad. Lucas tried to make me pity Anakin but he created such an unlikeable character that I was dissapointed that he was Vader.

How did this go from A Dukes thread to an anti NASCAR thread...

Come on everyone sing with me...

Just a good ol' boys...

never meaning no harm...

But on NASCAR, I don't see how anyone can enjoy watching people driving around in the same circle. Might as well watch the grass grow.

Beats all you've ever saw, been in trouble with the law

The same could be said for F1 and horseor dog racing. Some people just like it I guess.

Judging by the popularity of NASCAR, I don't think white trash ever went out of style!

You're an idiot. Ignorant fool.

They movie will probably suck and tank but Jessica is worth looking at of course.

HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Well not sure if I should compliment on your really smart post, or on the fact that where I live in California, NASCAR isn't talked about because none of my neighbors have an engine block on their lawn... They also have all their teeth and no prison records which would disqualify them from being NASCAR fans.

Your ignorance astounds me sometimes. Have a nice day.

I bet you own a cowboy hat.

That's not the south. That's the south-west. Get your stereotypes right you tree-hugging, left wing, patchouli stinking, liberal nazi California sissy boy.

I'd have scraped all of that and had Vader utter one simple classic Vader line. "What is your bidding my master?".

seriously, how come fans can think of this stuff and Luke-ass thinks of stuff like "raa me vader, nooooeee!!"

why the HELL do these movie guys get paid so much when they can't think of stuff HALF as good as their fanbase can.

Don't worry I'm sure it'll show up in the third SE rerelease 20 years from now.

one thing you wont see is actual broken cars. dodge chargers are hard to come by and if you watch a few shows you saw a few get totaled. so with computers you probably wont see frames bend anymore.

I dunno, I see General Lee replicas all over the place. There's two of them in my Dad's neighborhood alone. Course I live in the south, ya'll.

Somethings been bugging me so I'm going to rant here for a sec.

I think I liked Vader better when I didn't know anything about him. It's kinda lame how these days it seems that every vilian has to have a tragic sob story and heros only kill as a defense. What's wrong with being evil because you're evil? I first noticed this kind of thing when I saw Coppola's butchery of Dracula. In the book he never had a reason for being bad he just was and likewise the heros felt no remorse or pitty in destroying a monster. Now Darth Vader has the same weenie "lost love made me evil" thing and Obi-Wan couldn't finish the job.

I think it'd been better if he'd at least had a personality change to go with his new suit. The whole James Earl Jones voiced whining sucked. were I the director I'd have scraped all of that and had Vader utter one simple classic Vader line. "What is your bidding my master?". Then I'd have felt like the transformation from Anakin to Vader was complete.

It feels good to get it out.

Opus, I think this is what you're trying to say:

That's pretty much it.

Customization for the budget minded?

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByBra...BR=218&ID=15823

Somethings been bugging me so I'm going to rant here for a sec.

I think I liked Vader better when I didn't know anything about him. It's kinda lame how these days it seems that every vilian has to have a tragic sob story and heros only kill as a defense. What's wrong with being evil because you're evil? I first noticed this kind of thing when I saw Coppola's butchery of Dracula. In the book he never had a reason for being bad he just was and likewise the heros felt no remorse or pitty in destroying a monster. Now Darth Vader has the same weenie "lost love made me evil" thing and Obi-Wan couldn't finish the job.

I think it'd been better if he'd at least had a personality change to go with his new suit. The whole James Earl Jones voiced whining sucked. were I the director I'd have scraped all of that and had Vader utter one simple classic Vader line. "What is your bidding my master?". Then I'd have felt like the transformation from Anakin to Vader was complete.

It feels good to get it out.

I loved this TV show as a kid...

I have an even sadder confession. I loved the saturday morning cartoon version even more than the original as a kid.

How about this one?

Finally saw Sith and loved it! I'd rank it as the second best of the series. Don't know if this has been brought up before, but can jedis use the force to "fly"? We see them use the force levitate objects many times, can they use it to levitate themselves? It's something that I've been wondering about since ESB.

I don't see any reason they couldnt levitate. They use the force to make huge leaps like Luke jumping out of the cabon-freeze chamber in ESB and Obi and Qui Gon jump all over the place in Ep1. I think flying might be a bit too much though.

Here I go dragging out the old thread once again. Got my new toy today. See picture below. I know some of you out there love the evil black rifle, so I'll let you know I am going to start customizing soon. First things I am going to get are the replacement M4 type handguards and a combat sling. I kind of have my eye on this one: http://www.quanticoarms.com/graphics/items/200ODERB.jpg. Then I'll be looking for some kind of optics system, which is why I got the A3 configuration. I can shoot just fine with the old iron sights, but I want to come into the 21st century, so I'm thinking about this one: http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=481, but at the price of these things I am considering one of the cheaper EOTech models, preferably the model 552: http://www.quanticoarms.com/asp/itemDetail...=96&CMSN=Optics. Another thing I would like to change is the flash suppressor. I just did not realize how cheezy the Bushmaster Izzy type was because I never saw one close up. I'll probably see if I can get the welded pin removed from the barrel and just use one of the aftermarket Phantom flash compensators. Any further tips and suggestions would be appreciated. I would really like to soup this baby up.

Personally I'd go with this optical setup.

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=142

Here's a nice one of a P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and an A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Yay! Lets poop on Robotech. We've never done that before.

I like Barry Manilow

Uhhh...okay. I guess you also dig Air Supply.

C'mon dude, you like Def Leppard.

I'm late to the party as usual but I'd like to salute all those who did thier duty. HOOAH!

I had 4 years US Army. 101st Air Assult Pathfinder. 3 years and 3 mos. VA ANG 116infantry /29th ID. I got booted on a medical. Funny thing is I seem to have been promoted last month even though I've been out for almost 8 years. I left as an E-6 staff sgt. When I went to get a new ID my National Guard records have me as Sgt. first class (E-7). Anyone else ever have this happen?

Its is awesome.  Custom stuff doesn't usually get me but that gunpod is amazing.  I second the notion of a recast of it.  Now that I seconded it, put me down for a recast, please.

I think it would be cheaper to go out and buy yourself a MG Gouf Custom and steal his gun. Or, I wonder if those 1/6 scale weapons would fit? I almost bought one for my Panzer Cop when I was in HK. I guess Dragon make them?

Like one of these:

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/tokyo-maniacs/468.../464199/#434048

or maybe a 1/48 Thunderbolt kit and steal his gatling?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...5978367106&rd=1

1/6 scale weapons work great on 48s and 60s.

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...opic=12971&st=0

...

But, I can think of at least one person who is long overdue for a title.  He always makes a ton of sense, usually brings something new and interesting to a conversation, never gets in fights, and seems like an all-around great guy.  But, I'd nominate him privately via PM rather than posting in a thread about it.

...

Dude, I already HAVE a title!

It's obvious he's talking about me.

Hey Gabe,

  I've got two canopies on order from HLJ.

they sell individual parts?

Check out thier FAQ: http://www.hlj.com/faq/q41.html

I don't quite understand why "canon" matters so much. I take what I like and disregard the rest. I don't really care who's idea it is, if it's good it's in.

For everyday fans, it's not really an issue. Canon only becomes an issue when a fan comes to realize some fact given in a Star Wars product contradicts another well known fact. When such a contradiction occurs, it's really nice to know just how to resolve it using the canon policy.

So what you're saying is that real fans are like sheep who need to be told what to think rather than deciding for themselves?

I think what he's saying is that an artist's intent must be taken into account. Now, in the case of meanings and artistic influences, I'm not sure the artist can have the final say because he himself may be unaware of subconscious influences. But, in the case of chronology and plot points, I do think the artist has the final say. You can tell the artist that he has been influenced by Shakespeare, and still believe it even if he says he doesn't think he was. But you can't tell George Lucas that Vader wasn't Luke's father or that a ship that he expressly stated was the Millenium Falcon in fact wasn't. He's the ultimate arbiter of what happened and what he intended to convey. But he can't be the ultimate arbiter of what it means to you.

H

I get what you're saying Hurin, but Mr March's post came across as more of a veiled attempt to insult me as though my individual beliefs somehow made me less of a fan.

The question asked was why canon matters so much and I supplied an answer. No personal attack was present.

That's cool. Sometimes it's hard to tell in print.

Hurin, stop falling for the bait  Golgo 13 is doing nothing but baiting you.

I realize that. I'm now just having fun with Duke Man-Dress.

I stand corrected, you really are that ignorant. Do you guys read any books outside of work based on movies you like?

Ok, everybody who didn't know that Tolkien heavily based the Rings trilogy on the Sagas come forth and admit their ignorance. You should not be ashamed, because you have now been educated.

And just to make sure, everybody here knows that Star Wars is basically a re-imaging of Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress", right? Ok, good, just checking.

The Duke is on to something here. There's a letter Tolkien wrote to his editor in the front of the Silmarillion that basically states where the models for the different societies of middle came from. Celts, Norsemen and the such. Things like the Dwarven Runes are just a reworking of the Elder Futhark Runes used by most of Europe at some point. There's even some JudeoChristian influence in there with the all powerful creator of the universe and his fallen lieutenant bent on evil.

I think the difference between Lucas and Tolkien is that Tolkien openly admited his influences. It's the readers that have built him up.

I don't quite understand why "canon" matters so much. I take what I like and disregard the rest. I don't really care who's idea it is, if it's good it's in.

For everyday fans, it's not really an issue. Canon only becomes an issue when a fan comes to realize some fact given in a Star Wars product contradicts another well known fact. When such a contradiction occurs, it's really nice to know just how to resolve it using the canon policy.

So what you're saying is that real fans are like sheep who need to be told what to think rather than deciding for themselves?

Look at it this way in regards to "canon."

In the Original Trilogy's beloved Galactic Civil War, the Empire vs Rebel Alliance, the story is about a hunted Rebellion trying to free the galaxy of Palpatine's Empire, which has a massive military and the resources and manpower to back it up. The Jedi for all intents and purposes, are dead. Master Yoda & Obi-Wan, the last Jedi, pin their hopes on a young moisture farmer named Luke. Emperor Palpatine rules the galaxy and Darth Vader is his apprentice.

But we all know and love the basic story of the Original Trilogy.

Let me show a series of games where creative liberties were taken but still lovingly adheres to Star Wars canon: The X-Wing series on the PC. Space combat felt like the movies: Rebel fighters were heavily armed & shielded, but few in numbers. The TIEs were fast, agile, decently armed, and were numerous. However, they were unshielded, making them unforgiving. Space battles & skirmishes showed what we would expect anything deriving from the movies: The Rebels fighting hit & run attacks, raids, ambushes against the might of the Imperial Navy, whose numerous, superior warships are constantly hunting for them. Large numbers of TIEs swarming around and desperate Alliance pilots trying to carry out their duties.

The campaigns felt like extensions of the movies... example: A Rebel mission to raid an Imperial supply depot. Your X-Wings must enter the area, quickly clear the local TIEs so the Y-Wings can use their heavy ordnance to destroy the gun platforms. That would clear the way for several transports to enter the area, steal some supplies, and leave. As the transport leaves, the remaining supplies can be destroyed. This must be done quickly since it is expected that Imperial reinforcements will quickly respond, namely a Star Destroyer with a full compliment of starfighters. The Alliance also can't afford needless losses: The player is penalized for high casualties in the raiding force.

Now, let's look at a prime example of blatant disregard to Star Wars canon: Star Wars Galaxies. An MMORPG set in the Original Trilogy's Galactic Civil War.

Here we have the Rebels actually outnumbering the Empire on most servers. AT-ATs are seen LESS often as a solar eclipse in real life, while Droidekas & Super Battle Droids from the Prequels litter the landscape. You can see more people wearing Clone Trooper armor than wearing Stormtrooper armor or other Rebel/Empire uniforms/equipment. In a setting where Jedi are practically dead with so many hopes riding on Luke Skywalker, the game is now full of player Jedi Knights and Masters. Does all this still make it Star Wars?

If that's Star Wars or not is for you to decide. I enjoyed playing X-Wing. Untill I got the strategy guide, which is written like a short novel, I just considered it a game but with the charachters and story elements added by the book it seems more like a plausable part of the continuity to me. I don't know anything about Galaxies but if the players feel like that's Star Wars to them then good for them. It doesn't change my perception of what Star Wars is to me.

I suppose that by my logic it's OK to obsess over things being canon as well if that's what you choose. I just think you shouldn't limit yourself to thinking what you're told to think.