Month: January 2024

You know what’s fun? There’s now more time between when the Star Wars “Special Editions” came out than between them and the original films. The newfangled, CGI-graffitied versions of the original trilogy hit theaters in the spring of 1997, and they’re now the main versions people can watch. (Although the one on Disney+ is where you can see the curious “Maclunkey” addition.) Thing is, they almost didn’t happen.

/Film spoke with producer and longtime George Lucas collaborator Rick MacCallum, who shed some light on how those “Special Editions” came to be. Turns out, Lucas was reluctant to reissue that trio for the first one’s 20th anniversary. Some speculated that he did it to get cash to make the prequels. Others more cynically speculated that it was just to get more money. But according to MacCallum, it was super-fandom that pushed him over the edge.

“The driving force behind it at that particular time was a wonderful guy who ran the marketing division of Fox named Tom Sherak,” McCallum recalled. A “total Star Wars freak,” Sherak had been “bugging George for years” to re-release those films in theaters.

But one day, Sherak showed up at Lucasfilm with an actual truck filled with “literally hundreds of thousands of letters from parents saying, ‘Please can you re-release the film? I want my son and daughter to see and experience what I experienced as a young person in the cinema.’”

That, MacCallum remembered, “was just too overwhelming to say no.”

Of course, Lucas didn’t just dump the trilogy back in theaters as-is. MacCallum recalled:

“I’ll never forget, George had shown me his notebook… He used to write out of this high school notebook with a No. 2 unleaded pencil, and he had the original script of ‘Star Wars.’ And to the side were all the notes of the things that he couldn’t achieve.

There were issues and things that he didn’t like, that they didn’t have the money to do, and things he would love to do if he ever had the chance to go back and revisit the films. And that became kind of the benchmark of, “Okay, these are all the things that he saw in his mind’s eye. This is the film that he wanted it to be, but he didn’t have the money or the resources at the time or the technology to be able to do it.”

And suddenly, Fox gave us that opportunity.”

The rest is controversial history. Many, especially original Star Wars heads, have complained that the late ‘90s CGI ruined the original trio, and they really don’t like that those, with things like Han Solo awkwardly shooting second, are the ones you stream on Disney+. (Lucas has made the original versions available in some releases, though. Then there’s those “despecialized” editions.) On the other hand, Lucas has spent so much of his life, his reputation, and his own money lovingly restoring tons and tons of classic and experimental cinema. One could argue that more than atones for arguably screwing up his own work.

(Via /Film)

You know what’s fun? There’s now more time between when the Star Wars “Special Editions” came out than between them and the original films. The newfangled, CGI-graffitied versions of the original trilogy hit theaters in the spring of 1997, and they’re now the main versions people can watch. (Although the one on Disney+ is where you can see the curious “Maclunkey” addition.) Thing is, they almost didn’t happen.

/Film spoke with producer and longtime George Lucas collaborator Rick MacCallum, who shed some light on how those “Special Editions” came to be. Turns out, Lucas was reluctant to reissue that trio for the first one’s 20th anniversary. Some speculated that he did it to get cash to make the prequels. Others more cynically speculated that it was just to get more money. But according to MacCallum, it was super-fandom that pushed him over the edge.

“The driving force behind it at that particular time was a wonderful guy who ran the marketing division of Fox named Tom Sherak,” McCallum recalled. A “total Star Wars freak,” Sherak had been “bugging George for years” to re-release those films in theaters.

But one day, Sherak showed up at Lucasfilm with an actual truck filled with “literally hundreds of thousands of letters from parents saying, ‘Please can you re-release the film? I want my son and daughter to see and experience what I experienced as a young person in the cinema.’”

That, MacCallum remembered, “was just too overwhelming to say no.”

Of course, Lucas didn’t just dump the trilogy back in theaters as-is. MacCallum recalled:

“I’ll never forget, George had shown me his notebook… He used to write out of this high school notebook with a No. 2 unleaded pencil, and he had the original script of ‘Star Wars.’ And to the side were all the notes of the things that he couldn’t achieve.

There were issues and things that he didn’t like, that they didn’t have the money to do, and things he would love to do if he ever had the chance to go back and revisit the films. And that became kind of the benchmark of, “Okay, these are all the things that he saw in his mind’s eye. This is the film that he wanted it to be, but he didn’t have the money or the resources at the time or the technology to be able to do it.”

And suddenly, Fox gave us that opportunity.”

The rest is controversial history. Many, especially original Star Wars heads, have complained that the late ‘90s CGI ruined the original trio, and they really don’t like that those, with things like Han Solo awkwardly shooting second, are the ones you stream on Disney+. (Lucas has made the original versions available in some releases, though. Then there’s those “despecialized” editions.) On the other hand, Lucas has spent so much of his life, his reputation, and his own money lovingly restoring tons and tons of classic and experimental cinema. One could argue that more than atones for arguably screwing up his own work.

(Via /Film)

This week, rap fans have showered Doja Cat with praise following her guest verses on tracks “Jeezu” and “N.H.I.E.” Even Jay-Z weighed in on Doja Cat’s artistry, giving his stamp of approval regarding her lyrical abilities. Following the unexpected wave of support, Doja Cat took to her official Instagram page to hint that she has plenty more intricate bars to dish out.

On January 13, in an Instagram Story upload, Doja Cat teased that the deluxe edition of her Scarlet album could be released soon. The photograph posted on her page was of a whiteboard outlining a working playlist for the project. Fans better brace themselves if this is a taste of what’s to come.

Instead of adding one or two new songs, it seems as if the forthcoming project would feature seven new records (“Acknowledge Me,” “Head High,” “Gang,” “Masc,” “Rider,” Urrrge,” and “Hungry”).

One fan online pointed out that Doja Cat still has other leftover tracks that could easily be considered for the album. “Just please let ‘Shots’ & ‘Whip’ be added too,” they wrote.

Rather than adhering to the traditional deluxe album format, with seven new records and two older options up for grabs, Doja Cat can craft an entirely new body of work, taking a page out of SZA’s playbook. But Doja Cat supporters will want to take this teaser with a grain of salt, especially considering how many revisions Scarlet underwent before it was shared with the world.

Draymond Green has been back with the Warriors for the last week, getting back on the court after stepping away from the game to serve an indefinite suspension from the NBA after hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face a month after choking out Rudy Gobert.

In his absence, the Warriors have fallen below .500 and are in an existential crisis as an organization. In what is theoretically good news for Golden State, Green will be back in the lineup on Monday when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to Shams Charania.

The Grizzlies have their own issues at the moment, with injuries piling up, most notably Ja Morant suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, but it is a particularly interesting team for Green to return against given the tense recent history between the Warriors and Grizzlies. It will certainly be a test of whether Green has in fact taken strides over the past few weeks with regards to keeping his emotions in check on the floor, as Memphis has historically looked to get under the Warriors skin.

Golden State could certainly use Green’s defensive impact on the floor, and they’ll want to see how the team reacts with him back in the fold as they approach the trade deadline with just about everything on the table for them in terms of possible deals.

Iowa’s in the middle of a deep freeze, with temperatures expected to hit below -45 degrees including the wind chill on Monday night. That may make for low turnout for tomorrow’s big caucus, which may decide who clinches the GOP presidential nomination. But the prospective winner, as always, is saying the quiet part loud, namely that people should roll out to vote even if it kills them.

“You can’t sit home,” the former president said during a speech Sunday. “If you’re sick as a dog, you say, darling — even if you vote and then pass away, it’s worth it. Remember, if you’re sick, if you’re just so sick, you can’t…”

Trump then impersonated a wife ordering her ill husband to “get up,” adding, “Ultimately we know who calls the shots.”

Perhaps Trump realized that he was effectively telling people to risk life and limb to help him do what he’ll probably do anyway, which is win the Iowa caucus. And so he assured any unwell supporters that, if they avoid getting frostbite, then they’re home-free.

“You’re going to be safe,” Trump promised. “And again, it’s going to be all indoors.”

Trump die-hards have a habit of doing whatever the magnet understander says, including sometimes drinking bleach to treat COVID-19, which is not something anyone should do.

(Via Raw Story)

Are you the type of person who is always waiting on someone in the shower, or are you the one holding everyone up with your epic shower songs? Either way, Elisabeth Buecher has the perfect shower curtain for you. The London-based artist created an inflatable shower curtain that fills soft spikes with air if the shower is on too long. After four minutes of running water, a sensor on the tap triggers an inflator for the spikes, and the bather is immediately reminded that it’s time to get out.

Buecher created the installation to raise awareness about water conservation.

“They aim at provoking a debate around water issues and making people more aware of their consumption,” the artist said on her website.

Check out the steps from peaceful showering to an alarming wake-up call below.

This article originally appeared on 09.23.17

Eminem isn’t afraid to hit folks with a cease and desist letter to protect his intellectual property. Sadly for him, legally, there’s nothing he can do to tip the scales in favor of the Detroit Lions. As a native of the Motor City, Eminem is putting all his faith into his beloved team to bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy home.

On January 14, ahead of the Rams and Lions showdown for the NFL’s wild card round, the notorious introvert decided to step into the social media waters to share an urgent message aimed at the Los Angeles Rams quarterback, Matthew Stafford. “Stafford, what’d I say,” he said in the video clip. “You owe me this favor, bro. I was there for you when you won it. I was there for you. I was right there. I rapped for you, Stafford. Bro, I rapped for you!”

With Stafford being a former Lions player, Eminem seems to hope the video would pull at his heartstrings. Ultimately, wishing Stafford would go easy on the franchise during the January 14 game. Typically, the team and Super Bowl hopefuls are words you’d use in the same sentence. However, after the team managed to win its first division in 30 years, Lions fans like Eminem are praying for a miracle.

The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams game is set to begin at 8:15 pm Eastern. Find more information here.

Last week The Sopranos turned a quarter century old. It can’t be overstated what a game-changer it was. Apart from gifting viewers with six all-timer seasons — and one of the most divisive, maddening endings in the medium’s history — it also inspired others to think bigger. Without The Sopranos, you don’t get The Wire, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Americans, yada yada yada. But 25 years on, is TV still kicking butt? Its creator doesn’t seem to think so.

In a new chat with The Times (as caught by The Guardian), David Chase sounded downright grumpy.

“We’re going back to where I was,” Chase said, referring to the time before The Sopranos came along and changed everything. “They’re going to have commercials,” he added, referring to how streamers, once ad-free, are starting to go back to the ways of linear television.

Chase also lamented how the powers-that-be have been telling him to “dumb down” his prospective shows, to steer away from television that “requires an audience to focus.”

For instance, he’s been working on a show about a sex worker with the filmmaker Hannah Fidell. Recently they were on their third draft and fifth meeting, during which they were told the “unfortunate truth” that their show was way too complex.

“Who is this all really for?” Chase fumed. “I guess the stockholders?”

The last quarter century has been seen as a second “Golden Age,” producing shows as strong and bold as in the early days, from 1947 through 1960. Chase thinks that’s over, calling a “25-year blip.”

“And to be clear, I’m not talking only about The Sopranos, but a lot of other hugely talented people out there who I feel increasingly bad for,” Chase said. “This is the 25th anniversary, so of course it’s a celebration. But perhaps we shouldn’t look at it like that. Maybe we should look at it like a funeral.”

The Sopranos ended in 2007. Since then Chase has returned to the world he created with the underrated prequel The Many Saints of Newark. He also made the even more underrated 1960s saga Not Fade Away, from 2012.

(Via The Times and The Guardian)

Was Jo Koy’s Golden Globe joke about Taylor Swift funny? No. Not even in the slightest. But that doesn’t erase the truth behind the statement. The NFL’s fan cam on the “Shake It Off” singer is an obnoxious ploy to drum up at-home viewers. However, we would have missed out on a now-viral moment without it.

On January 13, as the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Miami Dolphins in freezing temperatures, Swift and crew kept themselves warm in the sky box by doing synchronized choreography. There are tons of group dances in a sports fan’s arsenal, like the wave, to keep the crowd’s energy up. For Swift, she ditched tradition for something with a bit more kick. With her boo, Travis Kelce’s mother Donna, by her side, Swift joined in on the massive swag surf line.

Without skipping a beat, viewers at home chimed in to call out Swift for cultural appropriation, given that the dance originated by Black folk in the South. However, since Fast Life Yungstaz’s popularized the dance in 2009, it has continued to be enjoyed by all. Others applauded Swift and cheered on her as most were shocked to see she was even hip to the dance at all.

The public should’ve been on high alert when the year opened up. First, Katt Williams aired out the comedy community during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. Although it wasn’t quite as explosive, Yasiin Bey’s (previously known as Mos Def) recent interview has reawakened a hotly debated topic in music.

During Bey’s sit-down with The Cutting Room Floor podcast, when asked if he felt Drake was “hip-hop,” Bey disagreed. Instead, Bey shared that Drake’s music should be categorized as pop. However, he didn’t stop his commentary there. He described Drake’s work as ideal for shopping in Target. This line forced users to ask whether Drake and Bey have beef.

Drake is no stranger to musical feuds, having had dust-ups with Pusha T, Meek Mill, Kanye West, and most recently, Metro Boomin. But, a beef with Yasiin Bey would seem odd to many. Based on newly surfaced screenshots, the answer could be yes. Last year, after Complex gave Drake’s poetry book a subpar review, he asked the publication for another lookover but with one stipulation.

“Can you do an article now where the baddest Instagram girls in the world review my poetry book,” he said in the message exchange. “Not the head of Mos Def fan club…thanks .”

Well, that seemingly innocent joke must’ve made its way back to Bey, thus initiating the rumored feud. But there wasn’t always friction between the two. On songs like “Away From Home,” Drake thanked Bey for his support in the beginning stages of his career. Bey has even performed covers of Drake’s song “Hotline Bling.”

Watch The Cutting Room Floor podcast clip below.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.