Hi, everybody, I just saw Star Wars: Episode I and I read from Ain't It Cool News that Leo might be cast as Anakin Skywalker in Episode II. He has also been reported spending a lot of time with George Lucas. I feel this would alienate Star Wars fans who are furious that Titanic crushed Star Wars at the box office. They seem to harbor their animosity at Leo, especially. I think he would be a pretty good choice. What does everybody else think?

-- Najmul M Islam (najmi@udel.edu), May 21, 1999

Answers

Sorry, I like Leo as an actor but I just can't see him as Anakin. And we should all keep in mind that Titanic crushed Star Wars at the box office only because of inflation. Don't get me wrong, Titanic is a great movie but Star Wars has certainly proved itself to be a classic. I'm not sure Titanic can do that, while it's a great movie and I love it to death...how many people are still talking about it? Sadly even this board is running out of questions. Now consider how many people talked about Star Wars even after 15 or 20 years had passed. While Titanic is a great movie, Star Wars has it beat as a Classic.

-- Miranda (Kylen1@hotmail.com), May 25, 1999.

I think in order to be a classic, you have to let a certain amount of time pass. There is no way we can tell if Titanic will be a classic or not at this point in time. (My opinion is that it will be, though.)

-- Misty (HiRver@concentric.net), May 30, 1999.

"Star Wars" was special in movie history because it was a new type of movie (in 1977), a new level of special effects, a new concept in marketing, unlike anything anyone had seen before. "Titanic", which I think is a much greater film overall, cannot claim all that. It was certainly unusual and had incredible special effects, but it was not a "new concept" in movie making and selling.

Also, remember that the Star Wars phenomenon didn't really become a cultural icon until the second movie, "The Empire Strikes Back" proved successful. Before that (1980) it was just a wildly successful single film. Now it is an industry, which can never happen with "Titanic"

I do think "Titanic" will remain a classic for many years, though. We're still here, aren't we?

-- Thomas Shoebotham (tshoe@ix.netcom.com), June 18, 1999.

For me, James Earl Jones will always be Anakin. I know it would throw a lot of people for a loop, but I'd like to see him play the post-pubescent version. If you insist on a young blonde to fit the physical description of the character, I would suggest someone with a deep voice who can act, preferably one with a martial arts background. I just can't see believing that Leo will someday grow into the man with the terrifying voice and the dazzling light sabre. One last thing--does anyone else hope (probably vainly) that the saga will once again become an adult sci-fi experience, rather than a marketing vehicle targeting 10 yr olds? I'd really like to see a film without Jar-Jar or any Ewoks.

-- gordo packard (enema@ibm.net), July 21, 1999.