io9.gizmodo.com: The Last Jedi takes aim at some of the most deeply-held establishments and tenets of the Star Wars saga, laying the ground for a new generation to build something different in their place. That’s all heady stuff, but it also broke another Star Wars tradition that was a bit easier to miss: It’s the first film in the main saga not to use the infamous “Wilhelm scream.”
4 comments:
I think this is kind of funny and kind of sad. One of the things the new Star Wars movies do well is give nod to all the older movies. It makes all of the older people in the theatres, the ones that saw the prequels or even the original trilogy in theatres, smile because what they loved as a child has not been totally lost to the world of modern cinema. However, I thought, especially with Episode VII, that it made some of the plot pretty predictable. I knew, as soon as they revealed that Kylo Ren was Han's son, that Han was going to die. It was no surprise that the Resistance had a ploy to destroy a First Order weapon that can blow up planets because thats the plot from the original trilogy and the Death Star. I remember being wowed by all the new gadgets, but being underwhelmed by the actual storyline of the movie, although I know plenty of people who did not feel the same way. Anyway, I do think it is kind of sad that the team for the Last Jedi has cut the iconic Wilhelm scream, even if it has a justification. Although the scream is kind of comical, its a part of the Star Wars tradition and it is sad to see it go. Also, I don't know how this interview clip got taken or what the production of the movie was like, but this explanation for not having the scream almost seems like they just forgot about it, and then someone was like "its fine guys Kylo Ren wants to get rid of the past that's what we tell them." Just saying.
Oh, the classic scream of pain that all stems from an old western movie. To the surprise of many, it is one of the most common affects used to articulate the affect of falling to one's death. The number of sound friends that I know who would be truly heartbroken to hear that this classic effect is being phased out in so many movies because it is too recognizable is quite surprising. I like and agree with what they said "it’s a tradition that seems to be over for good: In this movie, we decided to move from the Wilhelm scream. We’re letting the past die, as Kylo Ren says." I personally think that it is about time that the industry moves away from this affect. It might be that I come from a theatre background, but I think they far to use often the affects they have only because they have them on hand not that they are the right fit for the work.
AND IT'S ABOUT GODDAMN TIME. That scream has weaseled itself into countless hollywood movies over the years, and I honestly can't fathom any reason why the practice has been continued or encouraged. I think I understand tat it's supposed to be a little joke between sound designers. An "easter egg" if you will that lies in wait inside of a movie, waiting for people to notice it. But therein lies the problem: Once you hear it, you can never UNHEAR it, and at taht point it's too late, because almost every action movie contains the wilhelm scream in it in some way, shape or form. There is no surest way of bringing me out of the painstakingly detailed and thoughtful world you have created than to throw a goddamn willhelm scream into it. I think that anyone who puts the wilhelm scream into anything with a higher production value than a college class film should have their editing license rempoved, or whatever.
I kind of disagree with Julian. I think that to most people, the Wilhelm Scream sounds pretty much like any other scream. The people that notice, i. e. the sound designers, are the ones that are going to appreciate the inside joke. I, myself, have not paid enough attention to the screams of Star Wars to be able to either understand that inside joke or be annoyed by it. But I do think, as Katie said, that one of the things the Star Wars franchise does best is create new and exciting adventures out of established worlds and characters, putting in a few good throwbacks for good measure. Do not let the world of Star Wars deter you- the plot is equivalent to a good melodrama. One thing that I noticeably missed in the last few Star Wars movies that I think made the originals stand out (and maybe a little stuck in the editing technology of the seventies) is the use of scene transitions-- the screen wipe, the spotlight effect. Yes it's a little dated, but that was, for me at least, an integral part of my Star Wars experience.
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