Did you like the podraces?

another_trooper · 07-30-2003, 11:41 PM

I know its really late to post somethin about ep1, but anyhow.
I personnaly didnt like much the podraces, like many other things in ep1, I found that this was more of an excuse to show their amazing special effects than a credible aspect of Tatooine.
Your opinions? ? ?

Wesia Daoke · 07-30-2003, 11:44 PM

i wouldnt mind another race in the movies as long as its not on tatooine again i wanna see it at like a snow place

Jedi_Monk · 07-31-2003, 03:43 AM

It's not my favorite part of the movie, but I still like it.

It invokes the chariots of the ancient world, and thereby connects Star Wars with its mythic roots. And it's a very classic device, the fates of many decided by a race. It certainly shows off Anakin's prowess, and his superhuman abilities, sort of adds depth to a central Star Wars planet, and to the culture of the galaxy as a whole. Also, Obi-Wan did say in RotJ that "Anakin was already a great pilot", and this was the way to show it.

My main objection to the way it was executed is that I think that the score should have been running through the entire race, not just the last lap. I think Ben Burt had way too much control over how that sequence was done. He thought it was cool to have his sounds be the only track, and to let them express the mood of the events... I, personally, don't.

And don't apologize for bringing up TPM. We're still talking about ANH over 25 years later. Just like that, TPM is a part of the Star Wars mythology now.

DarthMuffin · 07-31-2003, 11:38 AM

Well, it's good, but not great.

At least it's better than the long, boring scene with Boss Nass.
And I like Jedi_Monk's interpretation; I didn't realize that it was linked to the chariots races.

rad-x · 07-31-2003, 12:07 PM

The podrace in my view was ruined by too much use of static cameras and not enough aerial views and looping views.

I have to say, I think the Coruscant Air Chase outclassed this anyday. In fact, it was my favourite part of Episode II (Apart from maybe Jango vs Obi).

*lukeiamyourdad* · 07-31-2003, 05:21 PM

It was great!

It was really original. I for one did not expect this in a Star Wars movie at all so it came as a surprise and a very good one.

Heck, it inspire Star Wars Episode 1 Racer one of the best racing game ever.

pleto4_ryan · 07-31-2003, 05:51 PM

I liked them....and it was essential...

1) showing ani's great powers over the force...(he is the only human who does this "formula one star wars")

2) Showing how brave (etc) ani is...

3) explaining how ani could have been a pilot when Obi met him

4) and showing culture etc...

edit : ups....

(and i had the ineer feeling i wrote something wrong lol ) tnxs lukedad

*lukeiamyourdad* · 07-31-2003, 06:56 PM

I don't want to offend you or anything pleto but it's ani not annie.

Annie is a girl's name...

While Ani is the contraction for Anakin

another_trooper · 07-31-2003, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pleto4_ryan
I liked them....and it was essential...

1) showing annie's great powers over the force...(he is the only human who does this "formula one star wars")

2) Showing how brave (etc) annie is...

3) explaining how annie could have been a pilot when Obi met him

4) and showing culture etc...

True, true, but anakin is 10 years old (or something like that, no need to correct me

) and hes going in these races and stuff. . .
Not very credible to me, then again he does become Darth Vader !

JediNyt · 08-01-2003, 05:28 AM

My 2 cents...the podrace RULES!

rad-x · 08-01-2003, 08:53 AM

Coruscant Air Chase was better...

Jedi_Monk · 08-01-2003, 02:52 PM

Quote:

True, true, but anakin is 10 years old (or something like that, no need to correct me ) and hes going in these races and stuff. . .

Well, the conflict there is that Lucas wanted Anakin to be old enough to have completely missed the rudimentary Jedi training (which goes from infancy to about 9 according to the SW1 audio commentary), but still young enough to have been considered as a Padawan by a Jedi Knight.
And, in RotJ, we learn from Obi-Wan that "Anakin was already a great pilot, but I was amazed at how strongly the Force was with him..." and if Anakin had not already been a great pilot by the time Obi-Wan met him in TPM, it would have screwed up continuity like nothing else.

BTW, Anakin was 9 in TPM

DarthMuffin · 08-01-2003, 06:09 PM

Yes, well, nine is still kinda young to do what he did. IMO, he should have been about 12-14. Not a big difference, but it would make his romance with padmé more credible if he had a couple more years (she's supposed to be 16, I think).

*lukeiamyourdad* · 08-01-2003, 08:46 PM

No she was 14 at that time and 24 at the time of AotC which makes Anakin 19. In some countries such a marriage is illegal

!

pleto4_ryan · 08-02-2003, 11:13 AM

i thought anakin was 8 and padme was 18 and they had 10 years difference...

boinga1 · 08-02-2003, 09:32 PM

Nah, I think the 'official' number is 9 and 14....but that maybe 10 and 14....

Personally, I think the scene is awesome, although the last lap unrealistic in some senses...

DarthMuffin · 08-04-2003, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lukeiamyourdad
No she was 14 at that time and 24 at the time of AotC which makes Anakin 19. In some countries such a marriage is illegal !

Are you sure of this?

I read somewhere she was 16 (it was in a book, I forgot the name).

Where did you get this info anyway?

*lukeiamyourdad* · 08-04-2003, 02:48 PM

I think it's in the SW databanks is it? Anyway I heard it a long time ago so I can't tell you the source. But I'm sure she was 14.

Jedi_Monk · 08-04-2003, 03:02 PM

Quote:

I think it's in the SW databanks is it? Anyway I heard it a long time ago so I can't tell you the source. But I'm sure she was 14.

"Do you see him hitting on the Queen, though he's just 9 and she's 14, oh he's probably gonna marry her someday!"
~"The Saga Begins", Weird Al, Running with Scissors

The Cheat · 08-11-2003, 01:29 PM

i thought that the podrace sequence was pretty cool, showed anakins mad skills

STTCT · 08-12-2003, 09:54 AM

podraces were awesome. It shows anakins ability to have mad skills and also that he is able to build things. As in his own tie fighter!

Admiral Vostok · 08-19-2003, 01:10 AM

Jedi Monk, you beat me - I was about to quote that to settle the dispute!

As has been already stated above the podrace fulfilled many purposes in the story and continuity of Star Wars. Also, it's likeness to chariot racing (as Jedi Monk also mentioned) is completely on purpose - the two jet engines standing in for horses if you need a blindingly obvious comparison. Lucas did this as a homage to the chariot scene in Ben Hur, as well as emphasising the mythical qualities of the saga, and I think he pulled it off well.

LiMP RABBiT · 08-26-2003, 07:58 AM

I didnt really see that much purpose in it Admiral "Lucas can do no wrong" Vostok, but it was a fun scene to watch and gave the Tatooine sequence a bit of action and suspense.

Admiral Vostok · 08-28-2003, 10:45 AM

Yeah, well fun was it's main purpose

Thanks for the nickname, by the way! I quite like it.

pleto4_ryan · 08-30-2003, 01:10 PM

...and lets not forget that this sequence helped to the creation of one of the best star wars games

*lukeiamyourdad* · 08-30-2003, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pleto4_ryan
...and lets not forget that this sequence helped to the creation of one of the best star wars games

Yeah that's totally true. It's in the top 20 best racing games of all times...or is it top 10?

vegietto · 09-15-2003, 12:21 PM

i liked the podraces it was really cool i wish it was longer or in another movie but it wasn't and that sucks

GrimDan · 09-28-2003, 09:57 PM

I agree with another_trooper

RockerD · 09-28-2003, 10:02 PM

I cant really complain about the podraces......if your a stock car racing fan or a racing fan in just general than it was pretty good....I liked it