In the history of ridiculous things we might just have topped the lot with this one. As ever, probably it will be another unfulfilled ambition. Sometimes though, the planning is better than the actual event. Timing is everything and if myself and three friends can coordinate work and family commitments we are going to watch the six Star Wars films in the one sitting. One after the other after the other…
Originally George Lucas wanted to make nine films and it’s any one’s guess what order he would have made the other trilogy. Would the next instalments be films 7, 8 and 9 or minus 1, 2 and 3? As it stands at the moment, six it is.
None of us has a blu-ray player so the high definition experience is lost. What’s up with humble non-HD anyway? First thing we all agreed on was the playing order. It would be 1 through 6 chronologically rather than by release date. Phantom Menace first with Star Wars #1 A New Hope put in at number four. It’s been mentioned that first time viewers should start with four first. If they started at the beginning the Darth Vader/Luke twist would have no shock value.
The rules to this venture would have to be written as oral agreements can easily be dismissed with an “I didn’t say that” retort. Using the cinematic golden rule, all mobile phones and means of communication will be closed down. Nobody smokes so that rule was easy. Harder was establishing a no-eating rule. Someone proposed ringing a take-away at the halfway stage. This would defeat the purpose of the task. Breaks are unacceptable. Eventually, it was set in stone that no outsiders will be allowed to interrupt the proceedings and no nibbles of any kind will be allowed.
No Blasters was a given and got a laugh. A major sanction was that there was to be no talking throughout the films and even during the changing of the discs. The most contentious issue was deciding if alcohol was to be approved. The motion passed with a four to nothing majority.
All beers have to be brought in beforehand. No leeway will be given to anyone who runs out of stock; therefore it will be wise to bring in a surplus of refreshments.
Comfort breaks, inevitably, have to be included with the proviso that the film plays on. No pauses whatsoever. Only the play and eject buttons will be in use during this day/night extravaganza. At about film five or six I can see problems ahead as the alcohol kicks in. Whoever is the projectionist might put in the extra disc from the two-disc special edition rather than the actual film. Nobody will probably notice by that time and we’ll watch it anyway.
So we’re all set, just waiting to fix a suitable date. After we have “done” Star Wars it was suggested that we do the Die Hard films next. That’s definitely a backward step. After doing a marathon you don’t want to do a half-marathon, now do you?
Boadicea's Chariot 
I thought the original plan was for twelve Star Wars stories.
We have a Blu-ray player and the films are definitely better on them, even the earlier ones that have been remastered. Mind you, I would say that as I was one of the many who worked on the DVD and Blu-ray specifications and implementations.
Maybe the best thing to do for the beer stakes is to get a polypin in! 🙂
Great idea! I just might go and get all six films and join you from this side of the world… we do have a Blu-ray player, but I’m not sure I could go for the no-talking rule! 🙂
Howzit TR
Have you considered doing this marathon for charity?
People do it all the time and raise loads of dosh for worthy causes, here’s a suggestion;-
Approach a large regional furniture / appliance store, offer to perform your marathon in their shop window overnight once the store closes for business.
Select a large wide screen HD TV and Blu-ray player complete with surround-sound and arrange for the store to connect them up. Wander around the shop and select individual lazyboy type armchairs for best individual viewing comfort. You will also need to get them to provide a fridge and a microwave close by.
A discreetly placed screen with a bucket behind it off to one side would also be a necessity (but I wont go into detail.)
If this proves successful you could arrange to make it an annual event, perhaps reruns of The Antiques Roadshow next year! 🙂
FEEG
Just how clear a picture can a screen get? Does it really matter? If you ask me, the HD swizz is on a par with the Climate Change scam. And don’t get me started on 3D.
Boadicea
The no-talking bit does seem a step too far. I fear turning into a monk at the end of this. And after this vow of silence, what next? Celibacy? Reading Latin? Shaving the top of my head? I will need to put forth an amendment to this rule.
Nice one Soutie. You‘ve covered all the bases with that one (glad you provided a bucket). The gathering fans outside could join in the festival by dressing up as wookies or stormtroopers.
Thanks to whoever aligned the photos. As they were uploaded from my media library (well played, TR) I didn’t know how to swing them. Reading the code in the edit, I’ll know what to do next time.
Good on ya’, JW. 😀
Greetings, JW.
I have not seen or heard their adverts for a while. Would it still be possible for you to tour Weegieland performing your marathon in the shop windows of each one of the Famous Four of Glens, Hutchison, Robertson and Stepek? Their advert is the first one into the break. As a bonus, Lonely from ‘Callan’ and Una McLean feature later on in the ad break.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmACVLb22Sw]
Bugrit and sorry, Bearsy. I managed to do that link even after considering and perusing your very clear guide on youtube links. Hope this is right?
If you have ever seen the same program on a standard and a high definition TV side by side, as I often have when working in this area, you would not need to ask the question. I agree about 3D, though. It is not worth the bother.
Such fun! I disagree with the no eating bit though – my finely tuned stomach needs sustenance!
The Die Hard series of four would be good, but not quite to the same standard, admittedly. How about all 11 Star Trek films (although the rule of thumb in my experience is that one is either a “wars” fan or a “Trekkie”, rarely both) or….even better… all the 26 James Bond movies (including both Casino Royales!)
Are you Dr Kermode in disguise? I don’t get the 3D thing either – never seen any HD so can’t comment, and I don’t have Blue ray either!
Great series of adverts there, JM, GHRS was a classic. In your clip the Stepford wife Nanette Newman is on after Una. A book I’d recommend for anyone interested in filmmaking is William Goldman’s Adventures in the Screen Trade. In the book scriptwriter Goldman has harsh words to say about the not glamorous enough NN.
FEEG, I’ll stick to the basics. I like to watch my pictures with the blemishes. It makes it more human. 🙂
Cuprum, Star Wars is on a different planet to Star Trek. The Trekkies are down there with the Who’eys (Sipu and Christopher will kill me for that one). Should be Whom’eys.
James Bond would be a challenge and a half. Another marathon programme proposed was the complete CSI franchise. As I said, the planning is better than the watching.
Hmmmm. Is sleeping aloud I mean allowed? I haven’t yet seen all the way through a Star Wars film…. I always fall asleep
I is a Who’ey and a Trekkie too! Clearly Tom Baker and Patrick Stewart are worthy of deification!
I do hope you get round to the doing! I had to do 101 and 102 Dalmatians in succession recently – that was a cruel punishment.
A 3D show to remember. A good advert too