Yoda Da Man !

[Lamoreux]

All right, gang:

I realize I didn't gain any friends by going on record last year with my myopic opinion that I was embarassed seeing our dignified Mr. Lee doing battle with a muppet.

Be that as it may, I have to sound off again with the new DVD promotion presently playing on U.S. television. Our Mr. Lee figures prominently in it...still doing battle with the muppet - only this time he's accompanied by cartoon catch phrases (ala 'Batman') proclaiming "Yoda Da Man."

I realize I'm a stick in the mud, but does this bother anyone but me?

Doug

[Robert Longworth]

I don't have a problem with it at all. In fact that scene with Yoda and Count Dooku was the first time ever (in my 31 years) that I heard a crowd hoot and holler in a movie theater. The people in that theater including myself never thought once that this was a shameful thing, in fact it was the opposite Mr. Lee and the "muppet" brought great joy to us.

And as far as the ad, I have no problem with that either. It helps pump up the crowd for the new release. The Yoda/ Dooku scene was the highlight of the movie, maybe the series. I think it's an effective ad campaign. Mr.Lee speaks fondly of his work on Star Wars so obviously he's very happy with the results of the film.

[Bucky]

I have no problem with Mr. Lee battling a "muppet". It was a highlight of the movie and one of the most interesting moments of his film career.
However I think the "Yoda Da Man" promotion is at the very least obnoxious. These stupid pop culture quips have gotten way out of hand and are part of the reason for some of my annoyance with "The Phantom Menace". Anyone remember, "That's gotta hurt!" during the podrace?
How do you spell, "disgusted sound"?

[Jurious]

What was shameful about it? I think people have got to try and get passed seeing Yoda as a 'muppet' - he's a character as much as Anakin, Dooku, and all of the other cast, and despite only being pint-sized, holds his own on screen as an individual. He may only be small, but 'size matters not', and it's about time we saw this so-called 'awesome' Jedi master portray his skill!

I have to agree with Rob that I too have never heard a crowd in the cinema cheer so much as when Yoda got out his lightsabre and gave Lord Tyranus an almighty good battle! :) It all looked very impressive and quite believable to me, and I enjoyed it throughly, and came out of the cinema grinning. It even made a fan out of one of my friends, who'd never seen a 'Star Wars' film before that.

As far as the 'Yoda Da Man' thing goes, I can't really relate. That promotion hasn't been going on in the UK so we haven't got AotC on IMAX. I'm not sure if we are getting it either - someone else may know about that.

[Robert Longworth]

You can see the Yo Da Man trailer on the force.net , in the episode 2 section. It's under 2mb.

[Dave Hutchens]

Lucasfilm is attempting to connect with the young, "hip" audience of today, and there's not a damn thing we can do about it.

Thankfully, EPII was, overall, a wonderful film, and that's what counts.

BTW, I just saw "Spiderman" for the first time last night, on DVD, and although I enjoyed it, I hardly found it to be a superior film to EPII. I'm frankly astonished that it did such superior box-office. If one has seen "Superman" and "Batman," then one has pretty much seen it all. "Spiderman" does absolutely nothing new with the comic book genre, IMO.

[Patricia Smith]

"Yoda da man..." Hmmm.

Interestingly enough, I'm surprised no one finds the comment inherently a bit racist - after all, it is something that, in a way, could be interpreted to be a way of belittling the speech of some members of a minority group. I suppose by this time, nobody really cares about this aspect anyway. But I digress...

I think the real problem some people have is with people who have established themselves as practically icons in some way or another involving themselves in projects that are commercially successful. Truthfully, I find this attitude quite snobbish, and rather uncalled for.

I believe that a truly great actor interprets the role he takes out of the story of the script, and brings his own "take" to that role. That is something I sensed greatly happening with Mr. Lee and his role as Count Dooku, and it didn't stop happening in the scenes with the CGI character of Yoda. I find this ability truly remarkable, and worthy of respect, and fascination.

How does he do it? How do any of the great actors do it? I supose that is the question of the ages concerning acting!

[Lamoreux]

What was shameful about it? I think people have got to try and get passed seeing Yoda as a 'muppet' - he's a character ...and despite only being pint-sized, holds his own on screen as an individual....and it's about time we saw this so-called 'awesome' Jedi master portray his skill!

I couldn't agree with you more regarding the "character" of Yoda. For a few of us middle-aged (and perhaps feeble-minded) folk; that awesome Jedi master hasn't really existed since THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. In his original incarnation, I found him funny, mysterious, a bit menacing and altogether charming. I believed in that Yoda.

Since then, however, he's been treated much like Hammer's Dracula (in the later appearances.) He hangs around in the shadows, giving lip-service to an occasional "Yoda-ism" simply to keep his hand in. Hence the admittedly insulting (and perhaps uncalled-for) use of the term "muppet."

My complaint this time out of the box, however, is not about Yoda. As I admitted, I fought that battle last year and was soundly put in my place (and a cold, dark and lonely place it is.)
My complaint was (and is) about the ad itself. Not only does it smack of racism; but of age-ism as well. One gets the feeling that those of us who paid to see the original film (long before it was retitled A NEW HOPE) twenty or thirty times, twenty-five years ago, have been forgotten. More than that, if we the consumers are to recognize the lofty station of the Jedi master; shouldn't Lucasfilm treat him with a bit more respect?

With apologies, I now lie (in a fetal position) in fear, before my television waiting for a CG Christopher Lee to "busta' move" in the next ad.

Yoda Da Man! Not anymore. For those of you I've offended... My bad.

Doug

[Bucky]

I feel I have to respond to the person who found racism and "age-ism" as he called it, that he found in the AOTC DVD commercial.
Though I hated the "Yoda Da Man" ad I found on TV last Sunday, I have no idea where "racism" and "age-ism" play any part in it.
Lamoreux should be a little more specific before tossing heavy words like "racism" about.
If he was being funny, well, "Ha Ha?"

[Alfonso Casal]

Yoda Da Man! Not anymore. For those of you I've offended... My bad.

No at all, Doug. We all know that you jes' keepin' it real. And you be down wit' da green.

[Alfonso Casal]

Though I hated the "Yoda Da Man" ad I found on TV last Sunday, I have no idea where "racism" and "age-ism" play any part in it.

1. The use of 'hip-hop' slang might be considered thus. I don't, but I can see how it might be interpreted that way.

2. Not to speak for Lamoreux, but I suppose a certain pandering to younger viewers -- and teen culture, such as it is -- at the expense of the older fans. Again, I don't, myself, necessarily feel that way, but I see the point.

[Juan Aneiros]

Lamoreux should be a little more specific before tossing heavy words like "racism" about

Not at all, I think he has a point. Who talks like that? Maybe I am closed minded and a snob, but I see a drug dealer or gansta rap performer talking like that and not a well brought up child. "Da Man" to me means guetto, drugs, crime and bad ass motha... If anything more, it is of very bad taste. Maybe just words, but it is their association where the problem lies. I don't have children, but I would not like them using that language.

Perhaphs is the culture I come from, parents would have the TV station stoned if they were to impose that culture and vocabulary onto their children. In most European Countries that add wouldn't work.

This is just my opinion, I mean no controversy or offense.

[Lamoreux]

Tis the beauty of the Christopher Lee web site, that those of us who love the master performer can come together, share our mutual respect for the great man, toss about our opinions, attempt (however feebly) to make our points (right or wrong) concerning his films (and the ads that accompany them), and still respect each other for our various points of view to which we are all, thank God, entitled.

Alfonso, by the way, thanks for the giggle!

Doug

[Lamoreux]

Originally posted by Arlyss
[B...I think the real problem some people have is with people who have established themselves as practically icons in some way or another involving themselves in projects that are commercially successful. Truthfully, I find this attitude quite snobbish, and rather uncalled for....

Just for clarity, Arlyss, let me assure you I was in no way referring specifically to Mr. Lee or his appearance in AOTC. I was, as always, delighted by his characterization and overjoyed by his presence in the film. (Just as I have enjoyed Peter Cushing, Terence Stamp, Sir Alec, and a host of other wonderful, classical actors in the STAR WARS series.)

As an actor myself, I'd love to be a part of a huge commercial success and a piece of history. Who wouldn't?

My gripe was, and is, the manner in which Lucasfilm has chosen to market the new DVD. I, personally, find it both inane and rather insulting - on a number of levels.

Does that make me right? NOPE! But that's the best thing about this great web site, at least IMHO; all of our opinions are in fact "called for."

Doug

[Old Soul]

Well here