[HCIsland]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> phantom menace really turned me off. at that point, starwars was not star wars anymore; and the story was so... shallow <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Star Wars was always shallow, but that was partially the point. Lucus was trying to emulate the feeling he had as a kid watching sci-fi serials like Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. Keep it light. Keep it fun. LoTR is a completely different animal. My problem with the new Star Wars films is that they are loosing the fun aspect of them as they get bogged down in a more complex and darker story line. I also think Lucus intentially keeps the emotions from getting too high. Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Samuel Jackson are all great actors and capable of powerful preformances but they seem stunted and wasted in these films.<P>The other problem with franchise films, I think, is that they get bogged down within the expectations of their fans. They become frightened to do anything different because they don't want to allienate their fan base and after a few films it just seems they're running around the same old territory again and again. <P>One of the best things Jackson did was film all three movies at once. That way he doesn't fall into the trap of trying to "recapture the magic" of the first film or trying to figure out the formula to please the fans. He makes the films as he sees fit and if you have complaints, too bad it's already in the can. It was certainly a risk on his part and the studies, but in the end worth it. Some of the worst films are the ones that try to appease everyone.<P>Just my opinion.<P>H.C.