By George!!!

Apparently, the original theatrical versions of the first (according to release date) three Star Wars films are being released on DVD. I remember very well wondering when this would happen when George Lucas released the digitally modified 2004 versions of the trilogy stating that the original versions would never be released.

George, you really sicken me.

How many times can you make us pay for the same thing?

That being said, I know I will sheepishly buy the new, old movies. However, it will be nice to know that I can raise my kids right on the original trilogy with no dinosaurs in the desert and Han shooting first.

However, with THAT being said, I do like the new x-wing fighting scenes at the end of the remake. I wish there a version which left Tatooine as it was, had Han shoot first, did NOT have Han step on Jabba's tail, but kept the re-finished fight scenes. I am sure this will be released in about two years.

The new James Bond

I have just seen the trailer for the new James Bond movie.

Before I make any testimonial, I would like to preface it by stating that I have read every James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming. I did my research, started with Casino Royale and ended with Octopussy and the Living Daylights.

My favorite? Without hesitation, it is From Russia with Love. Not because it is also my favorite Bond movie, but, because it has a realistic plot. Bond’s orders are to obtain the Spektor decoding device (yes, it is “Spektor”, not “Lektor”) but, alas, the availability of the device is really a ploy by SMERSH (not S.P.E.C.T.R.E., and a real Soviet-era agency named “Death to Spies”) to kill Bond for his role in thwarting Le Chiffre in Casino Royale and Mr. Big in Live and Let Die. The climax of the story takes place on a train when a psychopath (who likes to kill on the full moon), who has killed his friend, now seeks to kill him.

No gizmos, no gadgets, no rocket backpacks, no laser watches or cars that spin 360 degrees on its longitudinal axis after driving off of a broken bridge.

With the new “reboot” or “reload” or whatever they are calling this new movie, I was excited to possibly see a return to the “smaller” and more realistic plotlines involving the Bond character.

Then I saw the “teaser” or “trailer” or whatever it is called.

At one point, I saw someone doing the “jump-JUMP” thing off of two walls that Jackie Chan has made famous. Hopefully, they were trying to cram all of the action into the trailer (or teaser or whatever it is called) so as to draw the “I like when Bond blows stuff up” crowd while saving the real movie for people like me.

If not, I would consider it a failure.

Not that my personal opinion counts, but, I think a lot of people have the same mind-set I do on this one. People who grew up with Bond are, now, grown up. They want the character to grow up with them.

With respect to the new actor, I think it is realistic to have a “rougher” Bond. Indeed, the “real” Bond had a scar running down the side of his face.