http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Tue, 9 Sep 2003 02:54:39 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/09/08/095531.php#comment-17851 You can't really compare the new cast of SW to the old cast since the old cast was made up of a bunch of unknowns, while the new one is not. Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Christopher Lee, Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa), and Natalie Portman (my fave) were all not exactly unknowns when they played their roles. Probably the only unknown I can think of who is breaking out of the new cast would be Kiera Knightley (she played Sabe, the main Amidala fake). But yeah, I believe Harrison Ford is probably the only recognizable one to break out. 17851@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Sep 2003 02:54:39 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/09/08/095531.php#comment-17697 Frank Oz is doing pretty well and while Ewan McGregor's personal life may bot be great, he has made good films while doing Star Wars (though both of them had good careers before the force). Ford made a mistake turning down the Michael Douglas role in Traffic. He really doesn't need any more money (though at least he uses his money well - using a lot of it to save forests). He was really bad in K-19 and it wasn't just his accent. I trust that Indy 4 will be good (only the second one wasn't very good) and hopefully he'll be more adventurous in taking roles in the future. Look at Bill Murray. 17697@blogcritics.org Mon, 8 Sep 2003 14:40:02 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/09/08/095531.php#comment-17667 It is admirable that Han Solo got out of Star Wars because he was the only one, wasn't he? Quite a run for a guy who was a carpenter at the time and just filled in reading the part for that gig. Apparently young obi-wan (Ewan McGregor) is binge drinking (google it), Mark Hamil and Carrie the sniffer Fisher didn't make it out. I guess James Earl Jones voice (Vader) got out and Yoda survived, but wait, he was just a puppet, er muppet. Based on past experience, I wouldn't be psyched about signing onto Star Wars as an actor and expect to have longevity in Hollywood. 17667@blogcritics.org Mon, 8 Sep 2003 12:57:29 EDT