Return of the Jedi Star Wars Nightline Discussion

An interesting Pro/Con discussion about Star Wars and Return of the Jedi on Nightline.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Return
• of
• the
• Jedi
• Star
• Wars
• Nightline

[2Majesties]

John Simon is a superb critic, literature, theatre and film. A bit stodgy, but really quite brilliant. Do yourself a favor, give him a chance and look up some of his written film criticism from the 60's and 70's. He brings a love of all art forms to his analyses of film that's really amazing and while I didn't agree with all of his judgements about this film or that director, I always respected his craft. It's a bit like the respect you might have for a really tough professor in school....

[dukeofcrydee]

@2Majesties I'm sorry, but how do you become a "superb" critic when the arts are a subjective medium? A critic may be the most pointless and pathetic job on the planet. A janitor by comparison gets something useful accomplished. You can not judge something to be good or bad when the proof of that relies on the viewer's opinion and not a real system of measurement. Critics & those who believe them are delusional snobs who enjoy blowing smoke up each others asses.

[2Majesties]

@dukeofcrydee My only point is that there is a long history of great writing by very brilliant people who bring very interesting points of view to analyzing movies. From James Agee and Dwight MacDonald to Pauline Kael and Stanley Kauffman, I learned a great deal about film history & how to enjoy films. The best critics aren't so much interested in telling you what's good or bad but what took place beyond the obvious up on the screen. I want to LEARN something about films when I read about them.

[dukeofcrydee]

@2Majesties No, your point was to promote John Simon as if he matters. Learn what you will from historians about film history. Learn what you will from the makers of film as to the meaning behind what you see, but to look at a critic's biased opinion of a subjective work to "learn something" is very sad. Your faith is misplaced. John Simon has a right to his opinion, but that doesn't change the fact that his opinion is as much "malodorous offal" as he claims The Empire Strikes Back to be.

[kreigaffenumber10]

@dukeofcrydee You know what, guy? Screw you and the high horse you rode in on. John Simon has done more than you probably will ever do, hell! He's done more than I will probably ever do! By the way, why don't you tell me what you do, so I can tell you how "pointless and pathetic" your job is? Sure Criticism is subjective, so is art, so is film, and so is watching a video. So is that "pointless and pathetic"? For f**k's sake, stop being a jerk and just stick to uploading commercials.

[dukeofcrydee]

@kreigaffenumber10 LOL I'm curious, what bearing does what I do/have accomplished have on the fact that film critics are useless? Answer, none. I'll clarify though. Those who judge art are useless. To say a piece of art is definitively good or bad? Sorry, no. To each his own. He did. So he's a dick. So are you, & thanks, I will continue to put a smile on people's faces w/ what I upload. And this will be the last I respond on this. Beating a dead horse. Let the douchebag banning begin!

[Lunatic4Bizcas]

I'm a huge Star Wars fan (especially of the original films) and I respect Mr. Simon's opinion and analysis. Having said that, in certain respects, Mr. Simon seemed to be gazing into the future and the present state of Hollywood (late 90's to today). I could only imagine what Mr. Simon would say about today's 'fantasy/sci-fi' blockbuster hits like Transformers & The Hulk movies etc. The great thing about the original Star Wars movies is that they speak to both young and old in differing ways.

[HLimmen]

Three terrible actors and gastly dialogue? Boy he should have seen the prequels, his head would turn even greener.

[LordoftheJimmy]

GENE FTW!!!

[jmich328]

@dukeofcrydee I agree, critics are paid to indulge in their own opinions. No matter how eloquently (pretentiously) they try to express those opinions, it comes down to the same thing for them as it does for anybody's subjective experience with art - did you like it, or not? There's nothing quantifiable about it. Really, in the big scheme of things their function is probably just advertising anyway, whether they like it, or not.

[MountDoomPictures]

I can't even imagine a child who would want to see "Tender Mercies". That's like making your kid's first film be something like Schindler's List or The Godfather.

[jg2904]

@anadthebarbarian A fallacy of epic proportions, considering how many artistic masters also have published criticisms...

[jg2904]

@2Majesties I totally agree. Though Simon comes off as a pompous ass, critics are an important, if not vital component in completing the artistic circle. It's because of some of Roger Ebert's reviews alone that I even know about films I've now come to love, things the masses overlook.

I don't know why some people are so offended by negative reviews. After all, how could Simon's opinion effect anybody at all, unless, of course, he actually made a valid point...

[anadthebarbarian]

Those who can't do, critique

[horsie111]

Such criticism of Star Wars is really criticism of mythic themes that are common throughout mythology and story-telling. It's no secret that Lucas was heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's writings. Well so what if similar themes run throughout mythology, and can even be distilled in the form of "simplistic" storytelling for children or "childish adults". Such intellectual snobbery is really a belittling of the audience and myth itself, not merely the storyteller.

[iKa11e]

This man is mentally ill.wtf.

[carollshelby500]

hahah this guy looks like FOOL NOW