Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Kenny Baker canned as R2D2...

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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Pun intended...

This was posted at Slashdot. According to this article at IMDb, George Lucas has decided to convert R2D2 to a computer-generated character for episode 2, firing the actor who previously played him.

For those of us who held out hope that episode 1 was an isolated incident, I think it's time to give up and write off the modern-day SW franchise completely. Apparently, George Lucas has simply become a demented lunatic, and needn't be paid any mind any longer...

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"It's like the Star of David or something. But without the whole Judaism thing."
-Frank Gerratana, 17-Aug-2000

[This message has been edited by TSN (edited August 29, 2000).]

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

I dunno... from looking around this planet of ours, it seems to me as though the demented lunatics are the only ones getting any attention o_0

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"Ed Gruberman, you fail to grasp Ty Kwan Leap. Approach me, that you might see." -- The Master

[This message has been edited by First of Two (edited August 29, 2000).]

Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :

Erm...what's the big deal? Sure, it's a little odd, but it could work.

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Frank's Home Page
"I'd like to have a hard one, though..." - Fabrux

Posted by Vacuum robot lady from Spaceballs (Member # 239) on :

I don't see why Kenny Baker is famous, or should be considered 'THE' R2D2.

He was a guy in a can.

IN. A. CAN.

How does that bring fame? I can't imagine why anybody would want his autograph or care if he's in the new prequel, because he. was. in. a. can.

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"What happens if a big asteroid hits the Earth? Judging from realistic simulations involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we can assume it will be pretty bad."
- Dave Barry

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

Has become?

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Conservative, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
--
Ambrose Bierce
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Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! It's useless to struggle.

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

This could probably go in the Star Wars forum, but I'm not going to move it just yet, as the Lounge has only two threads with new posts today, and I don't want one of them to move away. Maybe tommorrow.

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

Nnnnnnoooooooo!!!!!!!!

Wait, who the f*ck cares? He was a guy in a can afterall.

My only disapointment is Lucas is going CGI-nuts now and before you know it, everyone will be a Jar-Jar. Ugh.

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Where's the bathroom on this ship?

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

I considered putting it in the SW Forum, but I think it's better served here. People may want to read it who don't go to the SW Forum.

Personally, I think this is just more evidence that SW is going the way of Voyager: i.e., screw quality, let's make it bring us money...

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"It's like the Star of David or something. But without the whole Judaism thing."
-Frank Gerratana, 17-Aug-2000

Posted by SCSImperium (Member # 397) on :

quote:
How does that bring fame?

No, the man is not seeking fame. That's for sure. He's probably a struggling actor looking for work and wants a pay check. And if it involves walking around in a can, so be it.

You have to remember people aren't out in this grizzled world seeking fame or prominance; but a paycheck. It's that simple. It's Freudian subconsciousness even.

You could relate this situation to the "machine replaces man" argument. People are continually being being put out of jobs because a machine can do the same work for no pay. Whether it was the shoe maker back at the beginning of the industrial revolution, or Kenny Baker, people do not like losing their jobs to technology.

quote:
screw quality, let's make it bring us money...

No matter what Voyager has done to lower itself in Trekdom, it is still furlongs ahead of Star Wars.

And Voyager is certainly not the embodiment of a profit cash cow. All of modern Star Trek combined is not the embodiment of a cash cow. Something as mindless as Survivor is the embodiment of a cash cow.

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-Small Computer Systems Interface "Scuzzy" Emperor

Operator of the Goulag Hotel, maintainer of the workhouses.

Operator of Cargill Conglomerate Publications, http://www.cargillconglomerate.com

"Woman is deprived of rights from lack of education, and the lack of education results from the absence of rights. We must not forget that the subjection of women is so complete, and dates from such distant ages, that we are often unwilling to recognize the gulf that separates them from us."

Tolstoy, on a more objective note.

[This message has been edited by SCSImperium (edited August 30, 2000).]

Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :

Now, now, let's not bash Survivor...

I really have no idea how switching R2D2 to CGI would achieve anything other than raising costs and adding a few shots to the movie where the thing will, despite ILM's best efforts, look CGIish. I looks like Lucas is trying to be all modern(tm) again to the detriment of quality filmaking and to the detriment of a poor starving actor who's being playing bit parts as a dwarf actor for thirty years on and off...

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"...I was just up in Canada, Toronto actually. You know, they really hate you guys [Americans] up there? The funny thing is, they think you hate them back, when in fact, you just couldn't be bothered to care. Now in Ireland, it's a different story. At least we had the common decency to wait until the English invaded before we started hating them. I guess the Canadians are hating you in advance..."
-Irish Comic Ed Byrne on Canada-US relations

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

There's always Time Bandits 2.

Posted by Krenim (Member # 22) on :

Found this.

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Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

So he was canned, then someone got a can opener for him, eh?

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Where's the bathroom on this ship?

Posted by SCSImperium (Member # 397) on :

quote:
Now, now, let's not bash Survivor...

Bash implies I've seen the show and disliked it. No, I've never seen one episode and I condemn it.

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-Small Computer Systems Interface "Scuzzy" Emperor

Operator of the Goulag Hotel, maintainer of the workhouses.

Operator of Cargill Conglomerate Publications, http://www.cargillconglomerate.com

Tolstoy, on a more objective note.

[This message has been edited by SCSImperium (edited September 01, 2000).]

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

If they were mixed, Survivor and the Millionare show: "Who wants to be a cannibal?"

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Where's the bathroom on this ship?

[This message has been edited by TLE (edited September 02, 2000).]