[Lord Aquaman]

Legend has it that one of the asteroids in the asteroid field of "The Empire Strikes Back" is actually a shoe, thrown in by one of the FX members in brave, valiant defiance of Darth George Lucas, who allegedly ordered countless retakes of the scene.

The question is: has anyone ever actually seen the shoe? I know I've seen a potato in the asteroid field, but I don't think I've ever actually seen the alleged shoe in there.

[Just your average movie goer]

Ah, the shoe. I can help on this one too.

It's not an asteroid. It's one of the rebel cruisers in Return of the Jedi. Which one exactly, I have no idea. I've watched all the original movies over a thousand times and I never knew which ship was the shoe. But I'm guessing it's probably the largest Mon Calamari star cruiser as it's the closest in shape.

By a shoe, you have to realise that it wasn't just a shoe per se. It started as a shoe and people painted it and put things on it.

The reason why it's brought up so often is to highlight the fact that really convincing effects can be made via very simple means.

Millions of people know about the shoe but nobody can spot it. I couldn't say the same for the CGI ships, people, aliens and settings in the prequels.

[Lord Aquaman]

I was starting to think the shoe was actually one of the spinning asteroid rocks in ESB, but what do I know?

[J m HofMarN]

An old sneaker, lovingly painted and added to with a few cheep effects, blends in better than a million dollars worth of the work of enslaved cgi laborers. That's rather sad.

[barend]

and what i've been saying all along...


although my words were more like:" a sockpuppet would convince me better than one of lucases unholy CGI digital diaper fillers!"

[Mad Rabbit]

I don't know about the shoe, but here's an interesting tidbit. Put jedi into your VCR or DVD player and fast forward to the scene where they are assualting the Death Star II. Right after they destroy the super star destroyer they cut to a scene with Admiral Ackbar and a bunch of his ilk celebrating. If you listen very closely you can hear someone distinctly shouting "DIE DICKHEADS!" I am not making this up.

[Just your average movie goer]

I must check this out oneday.

[Despondent]

Race you home.

[Chefelf]

The reason why it's brought up so often is to highlight the fact that really convincing effects can be made via very simple means.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Funny how philosophies change, innit?

[Just your average movie goer]

It certainly makes you wonder.


And

I don't know about the shoe, but here's an interesting tidbit. Put jedi into your VCR or DVD player and fast forward to the scene where they are assualting the Death Star II. Right after they destroy the super star destroyer they cut to a scene with Admiral Ackbar and a bunch of his ilk celebrating. If you listen very closely you can hear someone distinctly shouting "DIE DICKHEADS!" I am not making this up.

IT'S TRUE!!!

I just verified it on the copy I kept on my computer.... oh, brilliant... I am still grinning from ear to ear as I write this. Funny, funny stuff.

Oh, thank you, Mad Rabbit.

[Lord Aquaman]

It makes me wonder what happened to the George Lucas who once said in an earlier making of Star Wars documentary "A special effect is a tool, a means of telling a story. A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing." What happened to that little bit of film-making wisdom?

[Despondent]

"That wisdom no longer has any meaning to me."

__

"Die, you..."

Ok, not much of a race on my end, Movie-goer. But I heard it too.

[Mad Rabbit]

You're welcome JYAMG! I'm glad that my useless knowledge was able to bring a smile to someone's face!

[Just your average movie goer]

Useless? Hardly. You found something to enjoy in Return of the Jedi, which is no mean feat.

[barend]

and is it just me... or does one of the ewoks say "that guy's wise" when C3P0 first talks to them...?