Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => The Vault => Topic started by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 15, 2004, 01:01:29 PM

Title: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 15, 2004, 01:01:29 PM
I heard on the radio this morning that a British website had "inside" information that George Lucas will begin pre-production on episodes 7-9 afterall.  I guess he couldn't leave bad enough alone.  Anyone have any more info on this?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: modage on January 15, 2004, 01:05:51 PM
Star Wars: Flogging Dead Wookies
Source: Dark Horizons

Well as if the first two prequels weren't torture enough, it looks like some sequels might be on the way as well if you believe the latest rumours amongst the rabid 'Wars' fanbase which emerged in the latest issue of Brit movie mag Hot Dog according to TheForce.Net.

The December 2003 issue did an article on Peter Mayhew, better known as the walking car horn called Chewbacca, where its indicated that "Not only has he been rescued from obscurity and given the chance to reprise his role as our Wookiee comrade for Episode III, but his contract also stipulates that he'd be required to appear in Episodes 7, 8, and 9".

Its believable in terms of legal sense as it would save Lucas paying extra salary to Mayhew if it went ahead, but already there's swirlings that this is as good as a green light for post-Jedi adventures despite Lucasfilm's official stance on a sequel trilogy which at present remains a resolute "No".

In any case Lucas, McCallum and all those joes are buried in post-production work on the final prequel. Around two dozen FX shots of the 2,000+ amount required are complete. The opening sequence is revealed to revolve heavily around a missile carrying an important payload and a big scale space battle.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cron on January 15, 2004, 01:07:14 PM
all hell breaks loose.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 15, 2004, 04:16:47 PM
Starwars.com is offering that opening battle scene for view online... has anyone downloaded it or at least seen it?  I'm curious about how it looks.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cine on January 15, 2004, 04:19:40 PM
Quote from: themodernage02Peter Mayhew, better known as the walking car horn called Chewbacca, where its indicated that "Not only has he been rescued from obscurity and given the chance to reprise his role as our Wookiee comrade for Episode III, but his contract also stipulates that he'd be required to appear in Episodes 7, 8, and 9".
I wonder if he's allowed to die or if he'll get sued for it.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: pete on January 15, 2004, 04:22:05 PM
yeah it's probably gonna suck but I'll go see it.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: 82 on January 15, 2004, 06:22:54 PM
BOMBS AWAY!
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frankambrose.com%2Fgraphics%2Fbombs%2520away.jpg&hash=288d2ddb3730db12a0c5655fe04f355b325d81fa)
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Alethia on January 15, 2004, 06:40:01 PM
its a lie
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Pubrick on January 15, 2004, 10:24:10 PM
seriously what are they gonna do in 7-9?

"episode VII: 7 Years at Rancho Relaxo"
"episode VIII: Han Solo & Hans Moleman: the original Odd Couple"
"episode IX: Episode VI Upside Down"
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 15, 2004, 10:36:38 PM
Quote from: P"episode IX: Episode VI Upside Down"
:yabbse-thumbup:
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Duck Sauce on January 15, 2004, 10:37:31 PM
How about wait another 10 years, let CGI and technology improve... map out the story and then let somebody else write the script and direct it.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Kal on January 15, 2004, 11:43:00 PM
how about thinking of a new concept? this was absolutely great 20 years ago and will be great forever... but after 6 movies (and considering that the last one sucked) i believe its time to work on something fresh
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Satcho9 on January 16, 2004, 02:19:08 PM
I propose this:

Lucas commissions short films set in the Star Wars universe. Not involving any of the main essential characters. But these short films are to be directed by some of the newest and up-and-coming filmmakers. Similar to what BMW did with their films. But instead of a car tying everything together...It would be the star wars universe. THe possibilities are endless. Could you imagine what someone like Chris Cunningham or David Fincher could do with that material? It would certainly pump new life into the franchise and regenerate interest.

I dunno. Its just an idea. And at the risk of sounding pompous...i think its a great idea.

What do you all think?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cron on January 16, 2004, 02:38:29 PM
Quote from: Satcho9I propose this:

Lucas commissions short films set in the Star Wars universe. Not involving any of the main essential characters. But these short films are to be directed by some of the newest and up-and-coming filmmakers. Similar to what BMW did with their films. But instead of a car tying everything together...It would be the star wars universe. THe possibilities are endless. Could you imagine what someone like Chris Cunningham or David Fincher could do with that material? It would certainly pump new life into the franchise and regenerate interest.

I dunno. Its just an idea. And at the risk of sounding pompous...i think its a great idea.

What do you all think?

I think you look like Wes Anderson.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cowboykurtis on January 16, 2004, 05:27:25 PM
i think its a pretty shitty idea that has the potential of ruining careers
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Alethia on January 16, 2004, 05:28:46 PM
i think star wars should have ended in 83
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: tpfkabi on January 21, 2004, 09:30:34 PM
did anyone read the books that were written about what happened after the original trilogy?
i read some in junior high. i remember really enjoying them. Han and Leia have twins that have the Force. i think Luke begins to train Jedi (what's the correct plural of Jedi?). i think Luke also married another Jedi named Mara Jade. there was a pretty cool bad guy that liked art a lot and his fate was pretty cool.......maybe i need to reread them sometime
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on October 22, 2009, 11:34:06 AM
Rumor control: New 3-D Star Wars film trilogy coming?
Source: SciFi Wire

Every now and then, someone tries to stir up a new rumor about a future trilogy of Star Wars films, and none of them ever turns out to be true, and we're going to go out on a limb here and say this one's also bogus.

Marketsaw is reporting that George Lucas is gearing up a 3-D trilogy:

I have been hearing rumblings ... extremely quiet at first, but now heating up significantly and from a trusted source—that George Lucas is preparing to unleash another STAR WARS trilogy upon us, this time in stereoscopic 3D. This is NOT the TV series, these are brand spankin' new 3D STAR WARS movies.

Yes, the pending 2D to 3D conversions of his six existing STAR WARS properties are still a go as 3D theaters are approaching 3000 (5000 is the number Lucas wants). No word on when this work will be completed. ...

Lucas will be producing and NOT directing these new episodes apparently! Could Steven Spielberg be tapped to direct a STAR WARS movie after all? Yes according to a trusted source of mine! Further, Francis Ford Coppola was mentioned too as a possible director for a future film!


We're going to say it flat out. This is SO not true. We don't believe it for a second. And we're willing to have egg on our faces if it does turn out to be true, but of course we're confident it's not true. Spielberg? Coppola? Really?

Here's Marketsaw's reasoning for why Lucas would trouble himself to climb off his mattress stuffed with $100 bills:

I could see Lucas getting a little jealous over a successful launch of AVATAR - jealous because it is a fully articulated universe, like his. And if he doesn't act on it - his franchise may well be relegated to a back seat as potentially the records will start falling to Pandora.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on October 30, 2012, 03:40:45 PM
BREAKING: 'Star Wars 7′ Slated For 2015 Release As Disney Buys Lucasfilm
BY THE DEADLINE TEAM

BREAKING....Disney has just confirmed that it has agreed to acquire George Lucas' Lucasfilm Ltd, and that includes rights to the Star Wars franchise. The companies have also targeted a 2015 release for Star Wars: Episode 7 and plan future movies based on the movies' most iconic franchises. The stock and cash transaction is worth an estimated $4.05 billion, and the companies have scheduled a conference call in a half-hour to discuss the deal, which was approved by the Disney board and Lucas, the sole Lucasfilm shareholder.

As for the new Star Wars installment, the companies only would say that Lucasfilm co-chairman Kathleen Kennedy would be executive producer on Episode 7 and any more Star Wars movies, and Lucas would serve as creative consultant. There was no indication about where the story would pick up, though technically in the franchise's chronology it would follow Star Wars: Episode 6 — Return Of The Jedi, the third film in the initial trilogy that came out in 1983.

As part of the deal, Kennedy will become president of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, whose feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date. And that doesn't even take into account the franchise's massive merchandising clout.

"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger in a release announcing the deal. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."

Disney is paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing based on Disney's stock price on October 26. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm chairman and founder Lucas.

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said Lucas. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

Lucasfilm's businesses include live-action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio postproduction. Disney also acquires the technologies from the San Francisco-based company, which operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light + Magic, and Skywalker Sound.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Stefen on October 30, 2012, 03:50:44 PM
It's about time Hollywood makes a movie that will appeal to the fat nerd demographic.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on October 30, 2012, 04:12:36 PM
Wow. This is huge. I know the attention is naturally going to be on the future of Star Wars, but once the dust settles it will be interesting to see what happens with Skywalker Ranch as a place for filmmakers - as well as how/if Lucas gives back to the film-making community after such a windfall. It seems only right that Disney bought up Lucasfilm though, especially with the ties to Pixar both companies have. Looking forward to devouring more information on this over the coming days and weeks.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: socketlevel on October 30, 2012, 05:52:41 PM
It's very strange, because he's transitioning from control freak to total removal of himself from what he built. I guess it's an all or nothing kind of thing. Very conflicted man. I bet it's like a huge weight off his shoulders. I respect it on one hand, after seeing a lot of fanedits of the new trilogy (something that I'm sure he's done himself) you can clearly see that the heart of star wars is a lot stronger in those people who wanted to try and rejuvenate to an earlier spirit of the cannon. George obviously lost touch with why he made those films, redletter illustrated it the best. So while it's a cash grab (4 billion) I still think it's better than anything else that could happen. I honestly wonder if George faced reality and watched ep. 1-3 and saw what millions had been saying.

Now disney owning it is another issue, if they give it to john lassetor or many of the pixar guys, i'm sure they'd kill with the material.

It'll be interesting to see what comes of it.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Pubrick on October 30, 2012, 09:29:36 PM
I had no idea he had 100% control of the company. I kinda respect the guy a lot more now.

But what is the real reason? Is he dying?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 30, 2012, 09:38:18 PM
Maybe he plans to finally follow through on his promise to make "less commercial" films. It looks like he has some startup funds to work with. Not a bad plan if it's true.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on October 30, 2012, 10:43:00 PM
He needs to commit all his time and energy to getting "Red Tails 2" made.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Reel on October 31, 2012, 12:23:22 AM
Can you imagine how cool a 20 MILLION dollar Howard The Duck would be?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Myxo on November 01, 2012, 10:53:55 PM
Nolan wrote the screenplay for the latest Superman reboot. But at least according to IMDB there's nothing else on his plate in pre/post production. Maybe it's a longshot but it could be pretty terrific if they got him attached to these new Star Wars films. That's really the only thing which would get me up for them. As kooky as these latest 3 Star Wars prequels were, they were still George Lucas movies. Hate em or love em. For someone else to step in and take it in a new direction, it needs bold direction.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on November 02, 2012, 09:11:41 AM
'Star Wars' plan in works
Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm has fans rattling lightsabers over new movies, already in talks.
Source: Los Angeles Times

Disney's plans to make a trio of "Star Wars" movies has set off a frenzy of speculation over what that series will look like. But even as fans offer their emotional reactions to the news of the movies — and their pleas for who should direct them — the die is already being cast.

In the months before Disney announced it would acquire "Star Wars" studio Lucasfilm, several different screenwriters paid visits to Lucasfilm's Northern California compound to pitch George Lucas and his co-chair Kathleen Kennedy their ideas for the new live-action installment, the series' seventh, according to a person familiar with the talks who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about them. The screenwriters were pitching ideas for a new story, not ones adapted from existing "Star Wars" books.

The person did not reveal the identities of the people who had met with Lucas and Kennedy but said they were well-known screenwriters with experience creating big-budget Hollywood films. A spokeswoman for Lucasfilm on Wednesday did not return a call seeking comment.

On Tuesday, Disney announced that it would spend $4.05 billion to acquire Lucasfilm and continue the "Star Wars" saga, which to date has yielded six live-action movies and $4.31 billion in worldwide box office. The most recent, "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith," came out in 2005 and, despite a critical mauling, became the second highest-grossing movie of the franchise (not adjusting for inflation).

That movie, along with two other prequels, created a filmgoer backlash, satisfying some fans but leaving many longing for more visionary filmmaking. That has led to a tension between fans over the direction of the series, with many reacting to Tuesday's news online by saying that the franchise needs a wholesale reinvention (or not to be touched at all), while others expressed their desire that the franchise continue in its recent directions.

The first of the new films is set to come out in 2015, with two more movies following approximately in 2017 and 2019, Disney executives said. Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo told analysts there was already a "treatment" for the movies but did not specify whether that came from Lucas or an outside writer.

The announcement prompted speculation over who might direct the movies. Perhaps the most bandied-about name among fans, Christopher Nolan, also seems like a long shot. Though he made his "Batman" films at Warner Bros. under Alan Horn, who now runs Disney, the director has a long-standing relationship with Warners that could make a jump to Disney awkward. He also has expressed his interest in not concentrating on reboots of tentpole-style projects at this stage of his career.

Whatever direction they move in, Disney and Lucasfilm will need to move fast. A 2015 release target means that significant development progress would need to happen in 2013, and many of the industry's splashiest genre names — including J.J. Abrams and Joss Whedon — have a dance card filled with new movies.

A Disney home for "Star Wars" is a shift for the franchise, which since its inception in 1977 has never fully resided at a studio. (20th Century Fox distributed the live-action films but did not have large amounts of creative input.) Still, some Hollywood insiders contacted by The Times noted that Disney has been relatively hands-off in its other recent acquisitions. It has, for instance, allowed Pixar chief John Lasseter and Marvel production head Kevin Feige wide berth in shaping their movies.

Horn also has a reputation as a filmmaker-friendly executive who creatively stayed more hands-off than some of his rivals. "I don't think Disney will be a deterrent for anyone," said a representative of several top directors who has worked both with Horn and Disney.

Disney does have a mixed record when it comes to sci-fi epics, and in recent years has stumbled badly under the regime preceding Horn's. The flops included "Mars Needs Moms" and "John Carter." "Tron: Legacy" was only a mediocre performer.

What creative direction the story takes remains to be seen. The story of lightsabers and storm troopers reached a natural conclusion in 1983's "Return of the Jedi" with the confrontation between Luke Skywalker and his father Darth Vader. The movie was the final film, chronologically, in a six-movie arc telling the story of Anakin Skywalker, who would become Darth Vader.

A host of tie-in books have also been written, with the most fundamental among them regarded as "Star Wars canon," a phrase that highlights the religious aura around the franchise. Author Timothy Zahn penned a sequel trilogy of books that are considered part of this canon; in its first installment, set five years after "Return of the Jedi," Luke Skywalker and company rebuild as a new evil emerges. But the new movies will likely not be taking their cues from those novels.

Lucas, 68, will not be directing the film, instead serving in the more nebulous role of "consultant." Historically, Lucas has kept tight reins on the "Star Wars" movies and brand, overseeing even minute production and licensing details.

But he intimated in a statement that the sale to Disney was part of a process of stepping back. "I've always believed that 'Star Wars' could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime," he said.

Lucas' recent hiring of Kennedy to run Lucasfilm could be seen as part of that transition process; Kennedy is a veteran Hollywood producer who has a history of working with decorated directors such as David Fincher and Steven Spielberg (she produced this fall's awards contender "Lincoln").

While the prospect of taking over one of Hollywood's most sacred franchises would be daunting for big-name filmmakers — particularly if Lucas sought to keep a strong hand in it — these filmmakers might be encouraged by the fact that the most recent movies were not well-received by fans, setting the bar lower.

The news of a new series of films is a reversal for Lucas, who has long expressed the belief that the saga would not continue past the six live-action films that had previously been made. At a news conference for "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" in 1999, Lucas said he did not want to continue the series. "I will not do VII, VIII and IX," he said then. He added that no one else will make the movies either. "This is it. This is all there is," he said.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on November 05, 2012, 07:38:46 PM
Is Matthew Vaughn in Talks to Direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VII?
Source: Collider

Over the past seven years, Collider's track record has been pretty good.  The reason is, before we run any "scoop," we always make sure to double source it so we know the information is accurate.  However, the story we are about to run has not been confirmed, and I want to make sure everyone knows this is not 100%.  I only decided to run this because I trust my sources and it's Star Wars.  In addition, while I spent all weekend trying to lock this story down, all my normal connections would not go on record (or they did not know), so this is going up as a "rumor" and "unconfirmed."

Now that I've warned you this is just a "rumor"....

I'm hearing that Matthew Vaughn, the director of Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake, and X-Men: First Class, is in talks with Lucasfilm to helm Star Wars: Episode VII.  My sources tell me this is the main reason he dropped out of the X-Men sequel (which Bryan Singer is now directing).

As most of you know, last week Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion dollars and they also announced a 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII.  Seconds after the deal was announced, a bunch of interviews were released featuring Disney CEO Bob Iger and George Lucas talking about the business deal, and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Lucas discussing Star Wars: Episode VII and revealing that they've already met with writers for the new film. It was clear that this deal has been in the works for awhile.

As such, it makes a lot of sense that while we only just heard this news, behind-the-scenes Lucasfilm has been working hard to land a director to helm the new installment.

Now you have to ask yourself, why would Vaughn abruptly drop out of helming the X-Men sequel when the head of 20th Century Fox (Tom Rothman) is leaving the studio?  After all, while Rothman helped make some great movies over the past few years, he's also known as a micro-manager that can rub some filmmakers the wrong way.  With Rothman out, I imagine Vaughn would have had more creative control on the sequel and it would have been an easier film to make.

But if Lucasfilm offered Vaughn the keys to Star Wars, that's something he'd likely jump ship for.

While many of you might be wondering if Vaughn can handle directing a Star Wars movie, I really think he's a great choice.  After all, he made a fantastic X-Men movie that successfully rebooted the franchise, his work with a limited budget on Kick-Ass was also great, and Stardust proved he can make one hell of an adventure film.

In addition, Vaughn is a writer.  He worked on the scripts for X-Men: First Class, The Debt, Stardust and Kick-Ass (with Jane Goldman) so if he ends up directing Star Wars, we'd also be getting someone that could solve script issues on set.  It'd be great if he could convince Goldman to come onboard as well.

So is Vaughn lining up to direct the full new trilogy or just the first film?  I have no idea.  But I'd imagine if this deal does happen, it would be similar to the one Marc Webb has on Spider-Man, which is they'll do it on a film by film basis, with the assumption that if the first film is a success and he wants to come back, he could.

Anyway, as I have already said many times, for now Vaughn directing Star Wars is just a "rumor."  I'd imagine after this posts, it'll either be confirmed or it will blow up in my face.  I'm hoping it's true.

This is the most excited I've been for Star Wars since 1998 and I honestly cannot wait to see the new movie in 2015.  What about you?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on November 08, 2012, 04:23:57 PM
Star Wars: Episode VII May Have Found Its Writer
Source: Vulture

Informed sources tell Vulture that Star Wars: Episode VII has found a leading candidate to write the film's screenplay: Michael Arndt, the Pixar favorite who was nominated for an Oscar for Toy Story 3, won an Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine, and wrote The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which is currently shooting. Insiders confirm that Arndt has written a 40- to 50-page treatment for the film and is likely to be at least one of the writers when the Disney/Lucasfilm project begins shooting in 2014.

The merger between George Lucas's brainchild and Disney, announced October 30, caught the town by surprise. And talent agents were similarly astonished to learn that Arndt had been at work on the treatment long before the deal was announced, catching them flat-footed and cutting off any chance they'd have to proffer their own many eager candidates for the coveted job. 

Sources also tell Vulture that the studio's brass want to bring back the three central characters of the original Star Wars: a much older Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. No deals are in place with any of the original actors, though our source did say it had high ambitions to sign up Mark Hamill, and EW recently reported that Harrison Ford was open to the idea of returning. We're told that Arndt's 40-something page treatment will soon be crossing the desks of top directors, including Brad Bird, Steven Spielberg (the former producing partner of Lucasfilm co-chair Kathleen Kennedy), and J.J. Abrams. Whether they'd be interested is unknown (Star Wars is a lot of baggage for an established director), but Disney wants to make sure they've at least tried the biggest names.

A representative for Arndt declined to comment, referring all calls to Kennedy, who did not return a call seeking comment at deadline. A Lucasfilm spokeswoman declined to comment, saying, "We have no news to report at this time."

The choice of Arndt to pen a treatment makes perfect sense, given both his prestige as a screenwriter and his close relationship with Disney's equally secretive Pixar — he's the screenwriter of the cheekily titled Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside the Mind for Up director Pete Docter, currently in preproduction — but there's one more reason still that Arndt would be so appealing to Disney and Lucasfilm: He's a Star Wars expert.

Since winning the Oscar for Sunshine, Arndt has lectured extensively on the art of storytelling at numerous writers' retreats, like the Hawaii Writers Conference in Maui and the Austin Film Festival, always featuring a lengthy and detailed explanation of why the original Star Wars' ending is so creatively satisfying.

At these talks, Arndt always tells attendees that Star Wars' enduring appeal has to do with resolving its protagonists goals' nearly simultaneously, at the climax of the movie. In the comments section of a discussion about a Star Wars talk Arndt gave at the Austin Film Festival in 2010, one attendee of the seminar notes, "Arndt stated that if a writer could resolve the story's arcs (internal, external, philosophical) immediately after the Moment of Despair at the climax, he or she would deliver the Insanely Great Ending and put the audience in a euphoric state. The faster it could happen, the better. By [Arndt's] reckoning, George Lucas hit those three marks at the climax of Star Wars within a space of 22 seconds."

Indeed, in the third act of Star Wars, as Arndt explained to his young screenwriting Padawans at the 2009 Hawaii Writers Conference, its central characters' main goals all are met on pages 89 through 91 of the original Lucas script: At the crescendo of Star Wars, a spectral Obi Wan urges, "Use the Force, Luke," and he does, thus reaching his inner goal (fighting self-doubt to become a hero). Han Solo reappears (meeting the philosophical goal of overcoming selfishness with altruism) to shoot down Darth Vader, which allows Luke to use the Force to mentally guide his shot and blow up the Death Star (outer goal and inner goals simultaneously met).

So while it remains to be seen whether Arndt will forge ahead with an entire script for Episode VII, clearly, as Vader might say, "The Force is strong with this one."
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on November 08, 2012, 05:23:46 PM
Fuck. I really hope this is true. I was at AFF and was lucky enough to see him give that presentation. The guy's a legitimate genius. I believe he has a similar (albeit extremely condensed) class on crafting the perfect beginning on the TS3 blu-ray.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on November 08, 2012, 05:27:33 PM
It would be nice to have a guiding force behind it who, unlike George Lucas, actually understands why people liked the original Star Wars.




EDIT: No pun intended.  "Force."  Ugh.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on November 14, 2012, 12:21:42 AM
DARTH VADER TO BE RESURRECTED
Source: The Daily Express

ICONIC space villain Darth Vader is to be brought back from the dead for a new trilogy of Star Wars films.

Following news that Disney has bought the rights to the lucrative sci-fi franchise and plans to make at least three more movies, industry insiders say the evil Vader will grace the big screen again.

"He's an integral part of the franchise. Replacing him is virtually impossible," explains a film mole.

"The plan is for him to return and play a significant role in the new films."

Former bodybuilder turned actor David Prowse donned the black body armour in the original three films but the character was voiced by James Earl Jones.

Actor Hayden Christensen, who starred in the subsequent Star Wars prequels, was the last actor to appear in the suit following his character Anakin Skywalker's descent to the Dark Side.

Writer Michael Arndt is already working on the new Star Wars scripts.

The plan is for Darth Vader to return and play a significant role in the new films.

Fellow old favourites Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia – played by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher – have already been tipped to reprise their respective roles.

While Vader seemingly met his end in the 1983 film The Return Of The Jedi it seems this will not stop his comeback.

"This is science fiction remember," we're told. "Darth Vader will rise from the ashes."
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Pubrick on November 14, 2012, 01:52:19 AM
can we get a star wars nerd to verify how this makes sense?

right now it sounds about as stupid as that joke walrus posted.

i remember reading somewhere though that in official star wars lore it's palpatine who resurrects a few times.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on November 14, 2012, 10:44:42 AM
Xixax is always much better when you read threads in the same order that P replied to them  :yabbse-grin:
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: mogwai on November 14, 2012, 01:10:25 PM
Maybe they'll do a Terminator 2 where Darth is resurrected as the good Darth. And that he takes out Luke & Leia on fishing trips and shit.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Pwaybloe on November 14, 2012, 01:34:13 PM
Quote from: Sleepless on November 14, 2012, 10:44:42 AM
Xixax is always much better when you read threads in the same order that P replied to them  :yabbse-grin:

Oh, good God.  Sleepless is gazing lovingly in P's window. 
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: pete on November 14, 2012, 01:42:14 PM
michael arndt's a great writer though. toy story 3 owned.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on January 24, 2013, 04:33:58 PM
J.J. Abrams Set to Direct Next 'Star Wars' Film (Exclusive)
Lucas Shaw 01/24/2013 1:33 PM

J.J. Abrams will direct the next "Star Wars" film for Disney, taking stewardship of one of Hollywood's most iconic and lucrative film franchises, an individual with knowledge of the production told TheWrap.

"Argo" director Ben Affleck was also in contention, another individual with knowledge of the talks told TheWrap.

Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm last year and announced it would make new "Star Wars" films, fans, members of the media and industry executives have speculated about which director would take the job. Abrams' name always came up, but he told Entertainment Weekly in November that he wasn't going to take the job.

He did say "Star Wars" was the first movie that "blew my mind" in terms of special effects.

Lucasfilm Chief Kathleen Kennedy has been courting Abrams, one of the most successful directors and producers in Hollywood -- and a man beloved by fanboys. He runs one of the industry's top production companies, Bad Robot, and created or co-created television franchises like "Lost," "Fringe" and "Alias." He has also directed film spectacles "Mission: Impossible III," "Star Trek" and "Super 8."

The lure of the Jedi was too strong, and it will no doubt complicate his relationship with Paramount, where Bad Robot is a top supplier. Abrams has been feverishly working on "Star Trek Into Darkness," his second Star Trek film since he rebooted the franchise in 2009. "Into Darkness," still in post-production, opens May 18.

Though he has several producing jobs in front of him, Abrams had been uncommitted as a director. He will have to jump right into "Star Wars," which Disney has slated for a 2015 release. "Little Miss Sunshine" screenwriter Michael Arndt is penning the script.

Reached by TheWrap, Lynne Hale, spokeswoman for Lucasfilm, declined to comment immediately. Neither CAA, which represents Abrams, nor Bad Robot immediately responded to requests for comment.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 04:36:44 PM
The Geekverse just achieved singularity.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Kellen on January 24, 2013, 07:54:14 PM
gonna have so much lens flare from those light sabers.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 24, 2013, 08:14:21 PM
Quote from: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 04:36:44 PM
The Geekverse just achieved singularity.
this killer joke with 0 asshole vibes has one like 'cause why. explain why (w/o system's fatal flaws -- listen can i just say 'rhetorical')
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Reel on January 24, 2013, 08:51:38 PM
Jesus Christ what are you high on, and can I get some?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 24, 2013, 09:04:55 PM
your life trip seems fine to me. i like you
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Stefen on January 24, 2013, 09:09:29 PM
Fat nerd director for a fat nerd franchise.

Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 09:11:01 PM
Quote from: trashculturemutantjunkie on January 24, 2013, 08:14:21 PM
Quote from: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 04:36:44 PM
The Geekverse just achieved singularity.
this killer joke with 0 asshole vibes has one like 'cause why. explain why (w/o system's fatal flaws -- listen can i just say 'rhetorical')

Yes. I mean, no. Maybe?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 24, 2013, 09:16:30 PM
you know what i related to recently
QuoteI've started to get used to people feeling like they already know me when they meet me. I've obviously only experienced it within the past year of my life, but it's really interesting to have so many people who you're not familiar with act familiar with you. So you do have to come up with a strategy for how to handle that, and mine has been to try to match that familiarity by being familiar back. I've decided that instead of feeling like it's creepy, I can feel like it's really kind for people to go out on a limb like that and be familiar with someone they've never met.
like you guys with your big post counts have to accept i know you better than you know me. that's a reality. i'm joking in a friendly way 'cause i read your shit all the time and think i can act friendly. it's your move
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 09:24:39 PM
Please don't interpret this as anything but an honest request for clarification:

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 24, 2013, 09:46:13 PM
no, very good q. i assume if you're confused, others are.

i guess what i mean is i'd like read xixax before i registered. then i registered. i posted based on my "knowledge" of you people which wasn't based on interaction. i assumed i knew what you were like 'cause i'd read things you'd said to other people. trust me, there have been surprises.

so i come in like blazing my "chill vibes," or not even those vibes at first, just like regular internet neutrality, and then i blazed myself. and everyone was like,

well you've all been around. i for some reason didn't realize its smallness right away, and i didn't expect the sheriffs.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: mogwai on January 24, 2013, 09:47:24 PM
Quote from: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 09:24:39 PM
Please don't interpret this as anything but an honest request for clarification:

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Aha, but the question is, on what earth is it? Tattooine or Alderaan?

Sorry...  :yabbse-wink:
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on January 24, 2013, 10:48:50 PM
Quote from: polkablues on January 24, 2013, 09:24:39 PM
Please don't interpret this as anything but an honest request for clarification:

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

It's an attempt at a Jedi mind trick.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Reel on January 24, 2013, 11:18:31 PM
more like Jedi mind fuck
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 25, 2013, 12:15:11 AM
i feel like i'm entering lol territory, but i'll talk about this "jedi mind trick." that's turning it around on a person, right? i hundred-percent thought polka made a way mellow joke that no on cared about. he plain made me laugh.

only barbed shit gets cared about, like in terms of upvotes. it just makes me think there are lots of assholes here. i don't know for sure that there are, but that's what the upvotes make me think.

the % that aren't ass kicking are ass licking, it seems. i'm not into it. check my votes. check all two of them. i never harshed a person while here.

don't even understand it.

i'm like so generalizing. just like with polls, it's probs the crazies who vote. sorry everyone. keep being chill. i gotta bounce.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 25, 2013, 12:43:28 AM
That makes a lot more sense now. 

I think in general, upvotes are given for two reasons: a post made somebody laugh, or it provided them with new information that they appreciate.  If mean jokes are funny, they'll get upvotes.  But I don't think anybody here is intentionally malicious or anything like that.  This is a community, and all ranges of personalities are represented, but we're all united by a common interest, and that's always going to supersede the inevitable feuds and incivilities that come with interacting with other people.

And if you need proof that the people here are definitely not irredeemable assholes, just look at the most upvoted post on the entire board (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=12237.msg322191#msg322191), which is neither a joke nor informative, but simply an opportunity for people to express their congratulations and respect for a longtime member of this community who's currently achieving success that everyone here has dreamed of.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 25, 2013, 01:26:48 AM
i want my last past to be:

i dont buy it. ya'll some dicks. and then 100 smiles. you guys are chill. just isn't my thing


:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on January 26, 2013, 12:59:01 AM
It’s Official: J.J. Abrams Will Direct & Produce STAR WARS: EPISODE VII; Lawrence Kasdan & Simon Kinberg Consulting on the Film
Source: Collider

Disney and Lucasfilm have now confirmed what we already knew: J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII.  The press release was sent out this evening, announcing that Abrams will not only helm the new sequel, but he'll also produce through Bad Robot with Bryan Burk.  The announcement includes quotes from both producer and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy and Mr. George Lucas himself, and here's what Lucas had to say about the decision:

"I've consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller.  He's an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands."

Also of note, the press release adds that screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan (Empire Strikes Back) and Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) will be consulting on the project.  We previously learned that the two would have a hand in the scripts for further sequels/spinoffs, but it appears they're also collaborating on Episode VII.  Michael Arndt is writing the screenplay.

Here's the press release:

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

"It's very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie," said Kennedy. "J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture."

George Lucas went on to say "I've consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller.  He's an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands."

"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor," J.J. Abrams said. "I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg.  Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year's Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm's preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: squints on January 26, 2013, 02:17:26 AM
Does anyone (or everyone) else think this could be awesome?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: pete on January 26, 2013, 03:18:38 AM
love the michael arndt hire. not stoked about jj abrams.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: modage on January 26, 2013, 12:56:49 PM
Quote from: squints on January 26, 2013, 02:17:26 AM
Does anyone (or everyone) else think this could be awesome?

There is no way Episode VII will be better than the original trilogy & there is no way it will be worse than the prequels. (via me (https://twitter.com/modage/status/294568174660239360).)

Yeah, I'm definitely excited.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: 72teeth on January 26, 2013, 03:36:22 PM
i am ultimatly excited about new Star Wars,
with low low expectations about Episode JJBinks Abrams,
but giddy at the idea of an Episode Faverau,
or dare i hope for an Episode Fincher.

Im content with my relationship to Stars Wars now.




..it reminds me of the relationship i have with a past girlfriend, where our time together was perfect,
but it was an ugly break up with both sides to share equal blame..
but we matured and are now able to keep in touch and remember the good times fondly, and "aw shucks" and kick the dirt about the bad times..
these new ones might be fun, like when we danced together at our friends wedding back in october.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: modage on January 26, 2013, 03:53:01 PM
Quote from: 72teeth on January 26, 2013, 03:36:22 PM
but giddy at the idea of an Episode Faverau,
Ugh, why? Besides "Made," he's directed 1 good (not great) movie and that now seems almost by accident.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: 72teeth on January 26, 2013, 04:05:51 PM
The Iron Man's, man! Theyre fun, seriously...
and ill back Favereau any day of the week, he knows his shit, and his limitation.
I dont think he's out to make great great films, just fun ones. Zathura's fun.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 26, 2013, 05:35:27 PM
excellent zathura bomb!

pretty good favreau defense. there's something sticky about abrams. he's always gotta insert some headache. he seems way more concerned about his own kooky riddles than like eternal human mysteries. if i could create a symbolic image for abrams it'd be a collared shirt with yellow sweat stains. favreau's so fuckit laid back, you gotta admit. he's a paper umbrella in a margarita.

and i just kinda feel like the world doesn't need to treat star wars more seriously than it already does.

but i'm conjecturing.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: The Ultimate Badass on January 26, 2013, 09:56:34 PM
Disney buying the rights to Star Wars, I think, is a real crapshoot.  The one certainty is that they will milk the shit out this property. On one hand, lots of new Star Wars movies featuring lots of new interpretations could be pretty fantastic. This is assuming they let their artists and directors take risks. On the other hand, Disney has such an abysmal record revisiting it's own classic properties (Bambi 2, a half-dozen shitty Cinderella videos, etc.)  that one can only be skeptical. Pixar's downward trajectory is yet more evidence that being incorporated into the Disney Borg can be ruinous.

Fortunately, Lucas already ruined Star Wars, and this is where the hope of a willingness to take risks comes from. At this point, why not?

That said, I don't like a single thing JJ Abrahms has done directorially. His movies are slick but utterly forgettable. IMO, Cloverfield was his best effort, but that movie was so obsessed with own devices that it became annoying to watch.

I'm far more interested in Snyder's take on Star Wars.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 26, 2013, 10:18:44 PM
He produced Cloverfield, but he didn't direct it.  And sadly, the Snyder rumor has been debunked.  I agree that I would have been more intrigued by that one.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: ElPandaRoyal on January 27, 2013, 06:48:28 AM
Snyder? Seriously? That dude couldn't direct his way out of a paper bag. Abrams has limitations too, but I find him far more interesting as a director. The only good thing Snyder has made was his remake of Dawn of the Dead. Then, his budgets got bigger and his visual orgasms way too irritating. The last thing Star Wars needs is a CGI freak who treats movies like bigger versions of computer games.

I had a couple of dream directors to put their hands on the franchise: Spielberg, Fincher and Aronofsky could make very interesting stuff with it, I think. But if Disney wants to infuse their brand on the Star Wars series, I don't even think I'll care enough about all of this in the first place.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: RegularKarate on January 28, 2013, 12:46:46 PM
Yeah, I think Abrams is pretty perfect for a Star Wars movie.

You don't want a really visionary director for a movie like this. I like Abrams because he can match the tone without injecting too much of his own crap and I don't really care about anything original that he would have to put aside to direct this.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 28, 2013, 01:51:28 PM
I like Abrams, but he's low-risk/low-reward.  Zack Snyder increases your odds of ending up with a disaster, but it would be a fascinating disaster.

Maybe I want to see the whole thing blow up in our faces, I don't know.  The idea of a competent, well-made Star Wars movie bores me to tears.  I don't hold enough reverence for the very concept of Star Wars to be interested in the safe version of it.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on February 05, 2013, 05:05:38 PM
Disney Confirms Standalone STAR WARS Films
Source: Collider

We've got some Star Wars news to report on today.  We recently (and finally) learned that J.J. Abrams will be helming Star Wars: Episode VII, and today Disney CEO Bob Iger took part in a television appearance where he provided some updates on the studio's Star Wars franchise.  It was previously reported that screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg had been brought into the fold not only to work on this new trilogy, but also possibly on some standalone films centered around other characters in the Star Wars universe.  Iger confirmed today that that is indeed the case, as Disney is working on Star Wars films that are not a part of the overall saga.

Speaking on CNBC, Iger offered the following confirmation:

I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few standalone films, Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both working on films derived from great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga. We still plan to make Star Wars 7, 8, and 9 roughly over a six-year period of time, starting in 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period, too.

Late last night news broke that the first standalone Star Wars film might be centered around Yoda, but obviously Iger didn't address that rumor.  It is encouraging that Kasdan—who co-wrote Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi—is involved in these other Star Wars films, but I for one am sincerely hoping that the Yoda rumor remains just a rumor.  Disney has a major opportunity to expand the Star Wars universe with new and interesting characters; we've gotten to know Yoda over five films already, so I'm eager to see something more fresh or exciting.

Iger also mentions the 2015 release date for Episode VII, even though Abrams and producer Kathleen Kennedy recently hinted that that release date might not be as firm.  Obviously the CEO of Disney wants new Star Wars movies to come out as soon as possible, but I imagine Abrams will be careful to ensure that he has enough time to make the best possible version of Episode VII.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Tortuga on February 06, 2013, 06:50:35 AM
*crosses fingers*
holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2
holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2 holiday special 2
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on March 06, 2013, 03:31:51 PM
Carrie Fisher says she's returning to Star Wars

There have been plenty of rumors about the original Star Wars cast returning for the Disney movies. And now it seems we have a confirmation straight from the Alderaan princess' mouth.

In an interview with Palm Beach Illustrated Carrie Fisher was asked point blank if she was returning to Star Wars and she answered quite frankly.

Disney is going to continue the Star Wars saga, producing movies set to hit theaters starting in 2015. Can you confirm whether you'll reprise the role of Princess Leia?

Yes.

What do you think Princess Leia is like today?

Elderly. She's in an intergalactic old folks' home [laughs]. I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle.


We all know anything can happen at this point, but that sounds a lot like a pretty solid confirmation.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on April 17, 2013, 02:23:28 PM
Disney Will Release a New STAR WARS Film Every Year Starting in 2015
Source: Collider

Get ready for a whole lot of Star Wars, folks.  Disney took the stage today for its presentation at CinemaCon—a convention for theater owners—in Las Vegas, and the studio made the bold announcement that it is planning on releasing a new Star Wars film into theaters every summer starting with 2015's Star Wars: Episode VII.  The studio will alternate every other year with an "Episode" film and a standalone film, and based on previous rumors there certainly won't be a lack of characters for them to mine.

Director J.J. Abrams is currently busy prepping Episode VII (and also preparing for the release of Star Trek Into Darkness), which will most likely see the return of original cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford.  While plot details on the new trilogy are mum, Disney confirmed that it was developing standalone Star Wars films back in February.  Though the studio has yet to reveal which characters those films would focus on, previous reports claim that films focusing on Yoda, Boba Fett, and a young Han Solo are in the works.

Screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back) and Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class) were brought into the Disney/Lucasfilm fold early on in the Episode VII development process, and while we initially thought they would be working on the scripts for Episode VIII and IX, subsequent reports claimed that the two are also developing the standalone films as well.

If Disney is really serious about releasing one Star Wars film every year (which sounds dangerously close to overkill), it makes sense that Kasdan and Kinberg have been busy drumming up outlines for subsequent films.  Like Matt, I would much rather see standalone films about new characters in the Star Wars universe rather than prequels or spinoffs of characters from the original trilogy, but I'm interested to see what kinds of filmmakers the studio will rope in to bring these things to fruition.  Will they take the Marvel approach and mine the TV world for affordable directors that can carry out the studio's singular vision, or will they allow a bit more creative freedom within the world of Star Wars?

At this point, very little is certain, but with an indefinite amount of Star Wars movies on the way starting in just two years, expect to hear much more information sooner rather than later.  What do you think, readers?  Is a new Star Wars movie every year too much or do you think Disney can keep the quality up?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on April 17, 2013, 02:48:57 PM
Well, someone wants to recoup their $4 billion as soon as possible, don't they?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Tictacbk on April 17, 2013, 03:58:09 PM
Quote from: MacGuffin on April 17, 2013, 02:23:28 PM
Disney Will Release a New STAR WARS Film Every Year Starting in 2015

hopefully this is one of them:
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Lottery on April 17, 2013, 05:26:14 PM
Oh dear, I love Star Wars but soon they'll have so much film content, it will start to feel like EU. And no decent, cultured, intelligent human being wants that.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: BB on April 17, 2013, 10:46:54 PM
Quote from: MacGuffin on April 17, 2013, 02:23:28 PM
Disney Will Release a New STAR WARS Film Every Year Starting in 2015

Ghostboy, you gotta stop 'em!!!
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Just Withnail on April 18, 2013, 07:53:47 AM
Quote from: BB on April 17, 2013, 10:46:54 PM
Quote from: MacGuffin on April 17, 2013, 02:23:28 PM
Disney Will Release a New STAR WARS Film Every Year Starting in 2015

Ghostboy, you gotta stop 'em!!!

No way, GB, join them!

Seriously.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: mogwai on April 18, 2013, 10:30:01 AM
Sounds okay but there will be too much exposure. But if Lars von Trier want to tackle a love story between Jabba and the Sarlacc pit I'd be very interested.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on June 10, 2013, 02:07:41 PM
J.J. Abrams talks Star Wars plans
"Honouring but not revering what came before"
Source: Total Film

J.J. Abrams has been determinedly coy about for Star Wars: Episode VII so far, but has given some impression of his plans for taking the sci-fi franchise forwards in a new interview.

"That thing is so massive and so important to so many people," says Abrams. "I know from seeing the first film when I was 11 what that felt like. I think the key in moving forward with something like this is in honouring but not revering what came before."

"There's that deep feeling of infinite possibilities that I think was the ultimate thing I thought when I first saw Star Wars which I would - and probably will - give my left arm to try and come close to again."

And with much of the shoot set to take place in England, Abrams will have to cope with a change in routine as well as the pressure of expectation.

"There was already a pre-arranged thing for them to be shooting in England which, really does make me insane," confesses the director. "I've never shot a movie outside the US or out of L.A."

"We are, most likely, if all goes ahead, going to be moving to London at the end of the year... There's a whole lot of stuff happening at home. It's not an easy thing."

Star Wars: Episode VII is scheduled to arrive in cinemas in May 2015 
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on July 29, 2013, 03:54:51 AM
John Williams Confirmed to Score 'Star Wars: Episode VII'
The composer, who has scored all six of the George Lucas films, will return for the latest chapter in the sci-fi universe.
Source: THR

It's official: the latest chapter of Star Wars will be scored by John Williams.

The composer, who has crafted the score for all six titles in the space opera saga, was confirmed to be joining J.J. Abrams' Episode VII by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy on Saturday at a Star Wars fan event in Essen, Germany.

In April, Abrams had indicated that he wanted the composer to return to score his film, but cautioned that it was still in the "early days." The Star Wars website posted an interview (watch below) where Williams explains how he'll score the latest film.

"Of course, I haven't seen the script," the composer says in the clip. "The story is still unknown to me, the new story. But I can't imagine that there will not be some references to the existing stories that we know that would necessitate, and make appropriate, the use of some of the earlier themes."

The Episode VII script will be penned by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) and is set to hit theaters in 2015, with Episode VIII and IX scheduled in the years after. Original trilogy stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are expected to appear in the film. 

In addition, THR reported that Lawrence Kasdan, writer of Empire Strikes Back, and Simon Kinberg, who penned X-Men: Days of Future Past, are writing separate spinoff projects set in the Star Wars universe.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on August 22, 2013, 07:57:13 PM
J.J. Abrams Hires 'Star Trek' Cinematographer to Shoot 'Star Wars: Episode VII' on 35MM Film
Source: Total Film

J.J. Abrams is beaming up Dan Mindel to a galaxy far, far away, as the "Star Trek" cinematographer revealed Thursday that he's been hired to shoot "Star Wars: Episode VII" -- on 35mm film, even -- for Disney and LucasFilm.

Kodak's Lorette Bayle asked Mindel about his involvement in the hush-hush project during an event at the ASC Club House that was attended by a writer for BobaFettFanClub.com, which first reported the news.

Mindel will shoot on 35mm film, and more specifically (since "Star Wars" fans are sticklers for details), on Kodak film stock 5219. The two most recent "Star Wars" prequels were shot on digital, which was still a fledgling technology when George Lucas chose to use it.

The cinematographer did not say whether Abrams intends to include his trademark lens flares in "Star Wars: Episode VII."

Mindel first worked with Abrams on "Mission: Impossible III" before reteaming with the director for "Star Trek" and this year's sequel "Star Trek Into Darkness." Disney has trusted him with its tentpole properties before, as Mindel also served as director of photography on "John Carter," which looked great despite losing millions of dollars for the studio.

Mindel recently shot Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" for director Marc Webb. He's repped by The Skouras Agency.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on September 20, 2013, 04:32:05 AM
J.J. Abrams wants 'Star Wars' sequel to feel real — EXCLUSIVE
Source: EW

What can Stars Wars fans expect from Episode VII?
Director J.J. Abrams says a key component will be a sense of authenticity.

We had the chance to ask Abrams a couple super quick Star Wars questions Thursday at his Bad Robot offices in Santa Monica while discussing his upcoming sci-fi action series Almost Human, which gets underway Nov. 4 on Fox. The famously secretive filmmaker has been very quiet about his plans for the legendary big screen franchise since he was announced as the film's director eight months ago. We keep hearing the stars from the original trilogy (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill) are on board for Episode VII, which is expected to hit theaters 2015. We know there's other spin-offs in the works. And not a whole lot else. Since Abrams tends to avoid spilling story details or castings, we asked the following:

Which of the previous Star Wars films best exemplifies what you're aiming to do in terms of the spirit or tone of Episode VII?

"Impossible for me to say because it's going to be an evolving thing. I would say we are working really hard to make a movie that feels as emotional and authentic and exciting as possible. Whatever your favorite Star Wars movie is and how to compare it is really sort of subjective."

Media and fans have been offering you a ton of unsolicited advice about to how to approach the film. Is there any particular thing they've said that you've taken to heart?

"It's been nice see that how important it is and to be reminded how important it is to so many people. We all know that [creator George Lucas'] dream has become almost a religion to some people. I remember reading a thing somewhere, someone wrote about just wanting [the new film] to feel real; to feel authentic. I remember I felt that way when I was 11 years old when I saw the first one. As much of a fairy tale as it was, it felt real. And to me, that is exactly right."

So that's certainly an encouraging perspective for longtime fans who felt the franchise became less grounded and more artificial-feeling in the prequels. And though Abrams declined to cite a specific film in the first question, it's hard not to think from his second answer that he's aiming more toward fan favorites A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, which (along with, to some degree, Revenge of the Sith) were probably the most real-feeling of the saga. What do you think of Abrams' plan?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Just Withnail on September 24, 2013, 05:24:31 AM
Impressive, slightly ominous effects demo from Lucasfilm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbyH3lhd17I
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on September 24, 2013, 11:39:57 AM
Wow. Ominous yes, but that is very impressive.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: socketlevel on October 09, 2013, 09:58:30 AM
this would take out a lot of the wooden staleness that the 2nd trilogy had, much more open to improve and unexpected natural movements. A very nice marriage of old and new.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on October 24, 2013, 05:06:39 PM
J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan Take Over Writing Duties on 'Star Wars: Episode VII'
Disney and Lucasfilm fill out the rest of the technical team behind the next installment of the franchise; actors still to be announced
Source: Variety

J.J. Abrams and "Star Wars" veteran Lawrence Kasdan have taken over screenwriting duties on "Star Wars: Episode VII," replacing "Toy Story 3″-scribe Michael Arndt, who was originally hired to pen the project.

"I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script," said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. "There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a 'Star Wars' story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen. J.J. of course is an incredible storyteller in his own right. Michael Arndt has done a terrific job bringing us to this point and we have an amazing filmmaking and design team in place already prepping for production."

Disney and Lucasfilm released the news on StarWars.com.

The companies announced Arndt (whose credits also include "Little Miss Sunshine") was hired on the project in November 2012, an announcement they also made on StarWars.com. To land the job, Arndt wrote a 40- to 50-page treatment for the film.

Shooting on "Episode VII" is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios for an expected 2015 release.

Kasdan had been serving as a consultant on the film, and has had a long relationship with Lucasfilm, having written the screenplays for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and co-written "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."

The screenwriter was brought on last fall by George Lucas to write and produce future installments of the "Star Wars" saga. Simon Kinberg is also developing upcoming "Star Wars" pics to produce.

Disney and Lucasfilm added that location scouting, production design, casting, and costume design are already underway on "Episode VII" with Dan Mindel ("Mission: Impossible III," "Star Trek," "Star Trek Into Darkness") serving as director of photography; and Rick Carter ("Lincoln," "Avatar") and Darren Gilford ("Oblivion," "Tron: Legacy") as production designers.

Michael Kaplan ("Star Trek Into Darkness") serves as costume designer, while Chris Corbould ("Skyfall," "The Dark Knight Rises") will serve as special effects supervisor, with Roger Guyett ("Star Trek Into Darkness" and "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith") as visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic.

"Star Wars" franchise vet Ben Burtt returns as sound designer, with Gary Rydstrom ("Jurassic Park") tapped as re-recording mixer and Skywalker Sound's Matthew Wood ("Star Trek Into Darkness") as supervising sound editor.

Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers.

John Williams is returning to the series to score the soundtrack.

Shooting is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios for an expected 2015 release.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on November 07, 2013, 04:06:48 PM
Episode 7 will be released on December 18, 2015.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on February 26, 2014, 05:24:51 PM
'Star Wars': Adam Driver to Play the Villain (EXCLUSIVE)
Adam Driver is ready to travel to a galaxy far, far, away.

Sources tell Variety that while no deal is done yet, the "Girls" actor is close to signing on to play the villain in J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII." Exact details are unknown, but the character is said to be in the vein of iconic "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader.

Driver, 30, is the first cast member to be revealed for Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm's highly-anticipated "Star Wars" installment, which will open in theaters on Dec. 18, 2015.

The big-budget tentpole, directed by J.J. Abrams, is scheduled to shoot at London's Pinewood Studios in April. Additional cast members will likely be announced in the next month.

"Star Wars: Episode VII" will continue the Jedi saga where "Return of the Jedi" left off.

Abrams is producing with Bryan Burk and Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy.

Driver's name had been rumored during the casting process, but in recent weeks, the Indiana native has become Disney and Lucasfilms' top choice to play the main villain.

The delay in making a decision was due to scheduling issues with "Star Wars" and his HBO show "Girls." Sources say it's not just Season 4 that was the hangup, but also future seasons, since future "Star Wars" installments could also coincide with upcoming seasons of the HBO Lena Dunham comedy.

Sources are now telling Variety that scheduling issues have been resolved and that a deal should be finalized in the coming days.

Abrams recently announced that the script he co-wrote with Lawrence Kasdan was finished and that they would begin zeroing in on casting decisions soon. Michael Arndt wrote the original draft, with Kasdan and Abrams taking over last fall.

Disney was also rumored to be looking at Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving for the villain role.

The studio had no comment on the cast.

While Driver has received acclaim for his role on "Girls," he has become more in demand for high-profile features lately. The actor is currently filming Warner Bros.' "Midnight Special" and is also attached to Martin Scorsese's "Silence" starring Andrew Garfield and Liam Neeson. He is repped by Gersh and can currently be seen on the third season of "Girls" airing on HBO.

Disney has been quickly ramping up the "Star Wars" universe since buying Lucasfilm for $4 billion in October, 2012. In addition to the "Star Wars" films, the studio is developing theme park attractions, TV shows and an extensive line of merchandise.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Sleepless on April 29, 2014, 11:57:04 AM
Star Wars: Episode VII Casting Announced

Empire (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=40895)

Variety (http://variety.com/2014/film/news/star-wars-5-1200596276/)
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Lottery on May 21, 2014, 07:56:12 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfNiC9iKM0Q


By the way, I totally like their casting (with no character context).
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on May 23, 2014, 12:46:34 AM
'Star Wars' Spinoff Hires 'Godzilla' Director Gareth Edwards (Exclusive)
Gary Whitta is writing the script for the movie, which is set for release on Dec. 16, 2016.
Source: THR

Fresh off the success of Godzilla, filmmaker Gareth Edwards has lined up his next project, something set in a galaxy far, far away.

Edwards is attached to direct one of the Star Wars spinoff films, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Gary Whitta (Book of Eli) is writing the script for the movie, which has a release date set for December 16, 2016, said Disney and Lucasfilm in a statement later posted on the official Star Wars website.

Due to the high level of secrecy surrounding the Star Wars development process, it is unclear which spinoff Edwards will tackle.

Speculation has focused on characters such as bounty hunter Boba Fett and Jedi master Yoda as those who might be getting their own movies. There are also rumors of a potential Han Solo origin story or at least something on the Solo clan, and untold adventures of Luke Skywalker.

"Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life - join the Rebel Alliance! I could not be more excited & honored to go on this mission with Lucasfilm," said Edwards in a statement release after THR broke the news.

Earlier in May, Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that there was a plan to make at least three spinoff movies that would be released in between the main installments.

It has been reported that Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are writing and producing the spinoffs.

The Star Wars project marks an amazing career trajectory for Edwards, who went from making a small creature feature for $500,000, 2010's Monsters, to getting the assignment to take on Godzilla, a monster in need of a 21st century rehabilitation.

The mission was a success, with the Legendary/Warner Bros. movie overperforming when it opened last weekend, grossing $93.1 million. The movie also received strong critical reviews and plenty of fanboy love.

"Gareth's filmmaking talent makes him one of his generation's most creative and visionary directors," said Legendary Entertainment's chairman and CEO Thomas Tull in a statement in response to the Star Wars hire. "The plan has always been for Gareth to direct a different film before we started on another Godzilla, but who knew it would a Star Wars installment? We have a great plan in store for Godzilla fans and I am looking forward to seeing Gareth's imprint on the Star Wars universe."

WME-repped Edwards is attached to direct Godzilla 2 and 3, but while story ideas exist, the Godzilla 2 project is still in early development and does not even have a script.

That frees up Edwards to be part of what is not only one of the biggest franchises in history, but also a project that is a dream for so many filmmakers who grew up loving and being inspired by the storied George Lucas universe.

Star Wars: Episode VII, with J.J. Abrams directing, just began production in Abu Dhabi. The film is set to hit theaters on Dec. 18, 2015.

Disney and Lucasfilm had no comment.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Lottery on June 02, 2014, 06:20:54 AM
http://imgur.com/a/aeNUU

Super secret and possibly-spoilerific (but not really) set photos.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Tortuga on June 02, 2014, 08:57:23 AM
Looks like the movie will be set in a hippie commune on Tatooine. Star Peace?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Lottery on June 02, 2014, 11:13:06 AM
Just can't let go of Tatooine. Luke will probably abduct his niece and force her to learn Jedi stuff there.


Lupita Nyong'o has also apparently joined the cast. With John Boyega, the rule of one is broken.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: 03 on June 02, 2014, 05:08:14 PM
looks like a rough day at burning man
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Drenk on June 20, 2014, 01:53:26 PM
RIAN JOHNSON TO WRITE AND DIRECT STAR WARS EPISODE 8 AND 9! (MAYBE HE WON'T DIRECT 9, THOUGH.)

SOURCE : THE INTERNET. ALL THE INTERNET.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on June 20, 2014, 05:02:02 PM
 :yabbse-thumbup:
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on June 20, 2014, 06:09:34 PM
Episode 8 is going to be the bottle episode where they're locked in a trash compactor with a persistent fly.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on June 20, 2014, 06:27:36 PM
I just hope at least one of the movies is written entirely in iambic pentameter.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Reel on June 20, 2014, 06:48:43 PM
That reference went too deep for me
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Lottery on June 20, 2014, 08:14:43 PM
Godammit, they're doing this all wrong. Star Wars should be made by Brad Bird and Pixar friends.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on July 08, 2014, 06:26:47 PM
'Star Wars Episode VII' Is Filming In 2D IMAX; Will Be Converted to 3D
Source: /Film

We thought it might be true, but Twitter and IMAX have now made it official. J.J. Abrams is shooting Star Wars Episode VII in IMAX. See the proof below.

Here's the tweet in question:

http://t.co/fs6JcTALmZ

Not convinced? We emailed an IMAX rep, who said the following: "All we can say at this point is that we can confirm that JJ Abrams is using the IMAX camera for Star Wars: Episode VII." They also confirmed it is shooting film. So while Abrams made a big deal of shooting Episode VII in 35mm, he's going even bigger too: 70mm IMAX.

Pajiba also added that Abrams is shooting the film on three, 65mm 2D IMAX cameras. (There are only four in the world and the other is being used for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice). After that, it'll be converted to 3D just like Abrams did on his last film Star Trek Into Darkness.

This isn't really a big surprise. A few months ago, IMAX announced that  Episode VII was being released in IMAX. But that didn't mean it was being shot in IMAX. These days, almost every big film gets an IMAX release, but only one or two a year are actually shot in the format. We can now confirm Episode VII will be shot and released in IMAX.

Again, Abrams shot his last movie, Star Trek into Darkness, partially in IMAX with about 50 minutes shifting aspect ratios to the larger format. He then converted it into 3D. Since IMAX wouldn't confirm more than that, we can only assume the same will be happen here. Most of the film would have a classic 2:35 to 1 aspect ratio, and bigger scenes would expand to a full, square, IMAX screen.

Could it possibly be the full movie? Who knows. All we do know is this. Come December 18, 2015 the best way to see Star Wars Episode VII will be in an IMAX theater.

Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: MacGuffin on November 07, 2014, 08:38:55 PM
'Star Wars: Episode VII' Title Revealed
Source: Variety

The title of J.J. Abrams' upcoming "Star Wars: Episode VII" has officially been given a name: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

The tweet also announced that the highly anticipated tentpole from Disney and Lucasfilm has completed principal photography.

Abrams is directing the pic that stars John Boyega, Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley with Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher also reprising their roles.

Disney chief Bob Iger has said that "The Force Awakens" will be set 30 years after 1983′s "Return of the Jedi" and will feature new and familiar faces.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is set to hit theaters Dec. 18, 2015.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on November 07, 2014, 09:05:41 PM
"The Force Awakens" sounds like the name of a meme. Not the best.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Drenk on November 25, 2014, 11:11:48 AM
You've seen it? Does it contain a lot of footage or is it just mainly blackness with loud voices announcing something that almost the whole world knows is coming?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on November 25, 2014, 12:15:18 PM
nah when i clicked the link it'd already been snatched
Title: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: Punch on November 28, 2014, 09:37:56 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erLk59H86ww
Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: AntiDumbFrogQuestion on November 28, 2014, 09:53:35 AM
Cinematography looks too dynamic.
The cross lightsaber is dumb.
for all the touting about practical effects, I sure saw a lot of CG.

Just kidding, it's cool. a minute or so of footage and a definite Spelbergian influence shows. I'm not gonna knock the movie until it comes out and is bad, or good, or whatever. Just throwing out all the things uber-nerds and trolls will be complaining about.

Funny though, the dissonant music and fade-in on hills reminded me and my friend of CMBB, although y'know, not in a serious way. Figured the Xixaxers might catch that right off the bat, too.
Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: 03 on November 28, 2014, 11:11:53 AM
what the hell is the point of the cross lightsaber??.the fuck  are two tiny horizontal lasers right above your hand going to do?
Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: AntiDumbFrogQuestion on November 28, 2014, 12:20:53 PM
Quote from: O3 on November 28, 2014, 11:11:53 AM
what the hell is the point of the cross lightsaber??.the fuck  are two tiny horizontal lasers right above your hand going to do?

Let's start a rumor that this is Abrams' take on Christianity being the true Dark Side.
Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: Drenk on November 28, 2014, 12:35:13 PM
Let's have fun.

Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on November 28, 2014, 12:44:36 PM
It's obviously supposed to look like one of these, but the actual result has the opposite practical effect. Where one expects protective/stabilizing outcroppings (what are those even called?), instead one finds deadly laser beams. If that actually makes the final cut, we must also see some self hand-capitations.
Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: max from fearless on November 28, 2014, 12:53:24 PM
Drenk love your work there.

The trailer was cool and funky. I really miss the way the first two movies were shot. The framing, the slow pans, dissolves, wide shots. That Kurosawa/Ford homage shit. Miss it badly. But this still looks like it has a little bit of funk in it, fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Post by: 03 on November 28, 2014, 01:29:10 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on November 28, 2014, 12:44:36 PMwhat are those even called?

its called a crossguard, it prevents your opponents blade from sliding down yours into your hand, and prevents your hands from sliding up the blade when thrusting. which is what makes it so conceptually stupid. unless they shoot out or do something cool we haven't seen.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: max from fearless on December 01, 2014, 08:26:29 AM
THE SPECIAL EDITION TRAILER  :yabbse-smiley:

Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on December 02, 2014, 08:26:54 PM
lol star wars chats, here we go
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 02, 2014, 09:10:04 PM
Those side beams are still utterly pointless. I bet they don't made the final cut.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 04, 2014, 12:13:52 AM
http://www.clickhole.com/article/6-easter-eggs-you-might-have-missed-star-wars-trai-1518
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Fernando on April 16, 2015, 01:42:14 PM
Teaser #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngElkyQ6Rhs
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: mogwai on April 16, 2015, 02:04:21 PM
It's a great time to be alive! :yabbse-smiley:
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: modage on April 16, 2015, 03:09:05 PM
Yeah, the first teaser did next to nothing for me but this one is great/everything I wanted that one to be.

Nostalgia activated!
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on April 16, 2015, 03:56:49 PM
Starring John Boyega as Guyhoo Breathesheavy.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on October 21, 2015, 01:20:51 PM
Star Wars absolutely destroyed ticket sales records
http://fortune.com/2015/10/21/star-wars-the-force-awakens-tickets/

QuoteImax  IMAX -1.16%  entertainment, the Canadian theater company, has so far reported $6.5 million in U.S. and Canadian advance ticket sales, Deadline reports.

The figure crushes box office numbers set by other highly anticipated hit films. The Dark Knight Rises, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and The Avengers, for example, all raked in about $1 million each in such sales, Deadline notes.

Greg Foster, CEO of Imax, said the movie's sales success is unprecedented. "The only words to describe the first day of Imax worldwide advance ticket sales for Star Wars: The Force Awakens are 'record-shattering,'" he told The Hollywood Reporter. "We're seeing sell-outs across the board – from Hollywood to London, to Sparks, Nevada, and everywhere in between."

it both delights me and makes me wonder when i'll see it
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 21, 2015, 01:33:49 PM
What made me happier than the trailer was the actors' reactions to the trailer. Scroll to the middle of this page:

http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/20/9573313/john-boyega-daisy-ridley-get-in-on-star-wars-force-awakens-trailer

I suppose I should post the trailer too:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on October 21, 2015, 02:19:52 PM
Those two seem nice. Almost makes me want to see the movie.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Drenk on December 16, 2015, 12:08:13 PM
Lovely movie. It's not entirely the nostalgic trip I feared.
Rey and Finn are a great team, I fell in love with them...
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 16, 2015, 02:00:29 PM
Garam [16|Dec 02:17 AM]:   SARS WART
Garam [16|Dec 02:17 AM]:   i mean star wars
Garam [16|Dec 02:19 AM]:   i wish they advertised films in cinemas with those detachable letterboards outside churches so i can do the rounds to pull a switcheroo
Garam [16|Dec 02:19 AM]:   could make quite an effect on their profits
Garam [16|Dec 03:05 AM]:   I'm 27 and there has never been a good Star Wars film released in my lifetime
Garam [16|Dec 03:24 AM]:   you know in 1984 where Orwell writes about there being a constant state of perpetual war? Disney are using that concept as their business model for Star Wars
Garam [16|Dec 03:26 AM]:   December - STAR WARS, February - HOME RELEASE, March - TEASER, JULY - TRAILER, SEPTEMBER - TIE IN TELEVISION SERIES/VIDEOGAME, OCTOBER - TRAILER, DECEMBER - STAR WARS
Garam [16|Dec 03:26 AM]:   repeat annually until everybody is dead
Jeremy Blackman [16|Dec 01:11 PM]:   Already has 140 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Jeremy Blackman [16|Dec 01:11 PM]:   97% btw
Drenk [16|Dec 01:14 PM]:   There is a beautiful sense of awe in the new Star Wars. It's a remake/reboot of IV, but the characters and the casting are wonderful.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Garam on December 16, 2015, 05:47:08 PM
I forgot

May - MAY THE FORTH DRESS UP LIKE STARRRRRR WAAAAAARS
November - HYYYYYYYYPE ALMOST NEW STAAAAARRRRR WAAAAAAARRRRSSS


The only way we can break the cycle is to establish a currency free society.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on December 16, 2015, 05:57:41 PM
Then we'd just be bartering, like, chickens and beads and shit for Star Wars movies.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Just Withnail on December 17, 2015, 06:09:25 AM
If all the upcoming films will be as good as this one - bring them on! It's a long time since I've been this entertained in the theater. It's funny, snappy, tragic.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Drenk on December 17, 2015, 12:53:49 PM
Quote from: Just Withnail on December 17, 2015, 06:09:25 AM
If all the upcoming films will be as good as this one - bring them on! It's a long time since I've been this entertained in the theater. It's funny, snappy, tragic.

VIII will probably be better and more its own thing! But for now, it's so good to enjoy VII as it is. Of course, it's the introduction of a new trilogy, but it's not just an eternal introduction to an introduction (Marvel, I'm watching you...). I'm seeing it again on IMAX tomorrow!
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: JG on December 18, 2015, 12:30:16 PM
it really looks like a movie shot on 35mm, too! i saw it in 3d but am kinda eager to rewatch in 2d. had a really really good time. best abrams movie, by far. john williams steal the show. i'm listening to the score right now! but i have almost no relationship to the first six, so my word means nothing to you!  i liked episode three.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on December 18, 2015, 02:06:41 PM
sorry for deleting my post JG. the post that used to be before JG's was:

QuoteIn fact, the only movie theater you can see The Force Awakens in 35mm in Los Angeles is the Vista Theatre, located in East Hollywood on the border with Los Feliz.

http://www.slashfilm.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens-in-35mm/
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Garam on December 18, 2015, 04:30:44 PM
I found out that satan spawn George Osborne gave £25 million of UK tax payers money towards this. You're all fucking welcome.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/star-wars-george-osborne-given-credit-in-the-force-awakens-a6778246.html
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on December 18, 2015, 04:35:06 PM
Not to defend George Osborne on a general level, but film subsidies are really good investments for local economies. The net benefit will almost always outweigh the initial outlay.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Garam on December 18, 2015, 05:37:21 PM
Quote from: polkablues on December 18, 2015, 04:35:06 PM
Not to defend George Osborne on a general level, but film subsidies are really good investments for local economies. The net benefit will almost always outweigh the initial outlay.

mmmmmrgmrgmmgrmmgrm grumble. Fine. I'll allow it. The fact that he is personally thanked in the credits means that i will make a point of torrenting this and deleting it immediately in protest though. Then i'll torrent it again and watch it. But I won't enjoy it.


If you see this film in the cinema and stick to the end of the credits, please do me a solid and mutter 'dick' under your breath when his name comes up.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on December 18, 2015, 05:51:02 PM
Thy will be done.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on December 18, 2015, 06:42:31 PM
a star wars spoiler alert

Quote from: Drenk on December 17, 2015, 12:53:49 PM
Quote from: Just Withnail on December 17, 2015, 06:09:25 AM
If all the upcoming films will be as good as this one - bring them on! It's a long time since I've been this entertained in the theater. It's funny, snappy, tragic.

VIII will probably be better and more its own thing! But for now, it's so good to enjoy VII as it is.

thirding that it's better to like this movie than not like it. i went in strapped to my dreams and i had a grand time, equal to all the Star Wars movies, all of which i've seen once. greatly enjoyed the Luke Skywalker/Han Solo inversion of Rey/Finn. that's fun. there was a bit of a bi-narrative involving aspects of the old, and i think they compounded four and five into seven, to ramp up for eight which i think will have a strong direction to go in. and do we all trust Johnson a bit? i think he's might gonna do something, and i'm looking forward to it.

i contributed to the global success of Star Wars, USA's biggest hit since Edward Snowden.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: AntiDumbFrogQuestion on December 19, 2015, 09:29:06 AM
**********SEMI-SPOILERS**********

Looking forward to more Poe in the next installment(s). You can't hire a talent like Oscar Isaac and NOT have him utilized to his full potential.

What I really loved were all the dings and scratches, like on Kylo Ren's mask and the BB-8. The slickness with frayed edges, while contrived, give a sense of grounding in the most simple way.

In my opinion what made this fresh was not so much the archetypes, but of their dynamics. Rey wasn't simply boyishly interested in space action like Luke, she had abandonment issues and escapist thoughts because her life wasn't boring, it was a struggle. Kylo Ren and his general had a sibling rivalry issue that I think a person could connect to even faster and more simply than whatever Anakin & Obi-wan had going that will flow thru the arc of this trilogy. There's other stuff, but I'd rather not go into it right now.

Gonna see it again today. Hope to enjoy it just as much.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: samsong on December 19, 2015, 03:38:54 PM
well, let's get this ball rolling.

i thought it was pretty bad, and it gets worse the more it tries to find its way back into my memory. 

daisy ridley is great though.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on December 19, 2015, 04:24:09 PM
but it's solid if the Star Wars crowd doesn't echo the smug dismay of the Mad Max crowd
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Lottery on December 19, 2015, 05:55:56 PM
I liked it. So-so writing in terms of the actual plot, but the general story is good and the new characters are great. The new guys were probably the main thing which kept me involved. The pacing kinda messed up the earlier sections of the film but the climax was pretty awesome.

Did anyone think the cinematography was indistinct and somewhat uninteresting? I think it only made an impact in a handful of scenes.

Anyway, good, fun movie. Could make for a really enjoyable trilogy but I have more confidence in Abrams than I do in the other two combined (if we forget about Star Trek Into Darkness).


Semi-spoiler:

Who else went 'yayyyy!' inside when they saw the dudes from The Raid?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PM
oh hi. spoilers!

the force awakens is not the redemption i was looking for.

it's a good try, but all the bad things are sprinkled throughout like bits of sand getting everywhere and it's hard to feel strictly good about any part of it.

thoughts (from big to small)

- the biggest problem is the writing. it's well reported that the script was being written as jj and co filmed, and it's riddled with first draft-y issues at every turn. lots of things are spelled out in an unnecessary manner or clumsily conveyed. examples include:

~ poe tells bb-8 "it's safer with you than it is with me" as he deposits the map. remember when leia just gave r2 the death star plans and it was clear by fact that she was giving them to a droid that this was the situation? not only do we not need to be told this, but it's been very clearly, effortlessly established by a new hope.
~ poe telling finn "you're a good man finn!" is a classic example of saying too much that is already conveyed by actions. he lets finn keep the jacket because he likes him. finn's love of poe "what a great pilot!" is sort of in the same realm of "now THIS is podracing!" (though better acted)
~ every conversation between leia and han about kylo is the definition of clunky exposition. it's so nakedly written for the benefit of the audience rather than an actual conversation between old lovers with a difficult history.
~ c-3po would NEVER say something to the effect of 'oh how i've missed you my old friend!' to r2. c-3po HATES r2. or at least he pretends to. on the surface.
~ there are a lot of big mysteries left on the table like rey's backstory, but i get the distinct feeling that these mysteries are mysterious because jj and kasdan simply don't know the answers yet, and had to establish something for ep viii and ix to unlock later. i love ambiguity and mystery in the star wars universe, but this is just faint suggestion with no sense of a substantial core.
~ the movie establishes an action-packed tempo for the first 30-40 minutes (i assume. i wasn't checking my watch) which it cannot live up to for the remaining 2 hours. i'm not sure what the solution is (maybe get rid of the tentacle monster? even though i like it in isolation), but the shift in pace is undeniably jarring. i did really enjoy a lot of those sequences though.
~ it's amazing to me that jj cites 'the idea of who luke skywalker is after 30 years' as his reason for making this, because there is virtually NONE of that in the movie. if that was jj's true motivaiton, he must feel used, barely containing his rage at disney under a contractual veneer of satisfaction.

- JJ's visual style is SO busy. it's not necessarily wrong on a shot-by-shot basis, but as a whole it's a little suffocating. not everything needs to be a perfect dolly into someone's face followed by a whip pan. and with such a massive budget you'd think he could afford to go a little wider with his framing in general rather than relying so heavily on closeups. i hate to complain about infinite perfect dollies, but i sincerely feel that his hyperactive camera work often robs the performances of their spontaneity. it's all too perfectly choreographed. when kylo ren does things, the camera is generally much less suggestive. he lets driver take the wheel. and those are the best parts of the movie. speaking of...

CHARACTERS

- kylo ren is the best part of the movie. from the day adam driver was cast, i questioned how his relatively naturalistic style would work in the star wars universe. it turns out it's completely refreshing and beautiful. he had to invent a personal history that wasn't on the page and he utterly succeeded. his face is so evocative beyond what's being said. the pain of his struggle (whatever it turns out to be) is so real. and working behind a mask and a modulated voice, it's a bit miraculous. when he destroys the command console out of frustration and the other dude has to stand there while sparks fly, it's the kind of scary aggression the series has lacked since jedi. and i LOVE the idea of a dark sider being tempted by the light. NICE.

- daisy ridley is a great find. again, she's saddled with an incomplete character and i think she does a good job building personal history that may not actually be there behind the scenes. she has that great strength/vulnerability combo. for her FIRST movie, she's remarkable.

- oscar isaac understands this material. he's a natural fit. i think poe may be a little too perfect as a pilot, but i want him to take more prominence. particularly over finn.

- finn mostly annoyed me. when han tells him 'yeah yeah i know' i was thankful. finn is NOT jar jar binks, but i think it's fair to call him a distant relative. he is obvious, overenthusiastic, clueless. i think boyega's overbearing performance is the biggest problem, but he also has to say stuff a lot of stuff like "DID YOU SEE THAT?? DID YOU SEE THAAAT??" in a hoot-and-holler, super bowlllll!! kind of way. i really really wish i loved finn. the idea of finn, the frightened stormtrooper flying by the seat of his pants, pretending to be part of the resistance, is great. i think boyega fumbled the ball (droid).

- han solo. return of the jedi han solo is my least favorite han solo. he became weirdly goofy and soft and dramatic. this han solo is not quite that one, but he definitely has that han solo in him. props to ford for coming back and doing his best, but there are so many moments that read as too cute/winky for me, both in writing and performance. ("i like that!" after using chewie's crossbow is very han-ish, but how has han never fired chewie's crossbow before, or even seen how it works???? and it never pays off beyond that moment. completely random) i LOVE the idea of an old han solo who has ACTUALLY AGED, like the before sunset or something. and there are glimmers of that. seeing an old man with the spirit of a scoundrel who never stopped scoundreling.

- han's death is so telegraphed and doesn't appear to reverberate through the other characters. when rey gets into the driver's seat at the end, chewie doesn't so much as bat an eyelash. it's just strange.

- captain phasma is a british woman. and that's IT. she delivers none of the intimidation her outfit suggests. she's sort of the biggest dud of the new characters, because she folds so easily under threat and i can't tell you anything about her.

- supreme leader snoke. he's just a very large, voldermortish guy. he's quick to frustration (the emperor would never show his hand emotionally the way snoke does, it's weak) and visually so unimaginative it hurts. if he's a big alien, at least make him less humanoid! i'm afraid for the inevitable showdown in ep ix. it's probably going to be rey jumping around a giant cgi person.

- i'm okay with maz kanata. i think the animation is good and the performance is solid. but i don't love her yet. dunno if we'll ever see her again.

- max von sydow is great example of how hard it is to make this stuff work. i'm glad he's only in the first scene because his conviction about this world isn't strong enough to come off the screen and make me believe. he's also stuck saying exposition, so i don't completely blame him.

- bb-8 is FLAWLESS.

other BITS AND BOBS

- rey's flashback/flashforward was interesting. sort of on par with the cave in empire. very game of thrones season 2 finale. i have little idea what it all means but i'm okay with that.

- flying the millennium falcon for the first time was fantastic. and trying to fix it. perfect moment when rey discounts it as a piece of junk.

- the attack on maz's palace/cantina was pretty great.

- i thought starkiller base would do something to distinguish itself from the first and second death star. other than design and magnitude, it doesn't. very puzzling. ps. did they succeed at destroying the senate with that first shot? i'm confused.

- lightsabers have never been better realized. i had a true sense of how the blades felt and worked, not to mention they actually LIGHT things. the magic of powering them up is still there. and we finally get to see what happens when you power one into a person.

- i think this is probably the best version of the falcon and x-wings ever. their maneuvers and explosions are so subtle. the wonders of technology...

- why does rey suddenly change her mind about wanting to hang onto bb-8 after decisively not wanting him to follow her around? i'm okay with a change of heart, but it seems random. i wanted one event, however small, to motivate her change.

- why is bb-8's piece of the map so important? visually, it appears r2 has so much info including the outer perimeter of where luke is, i don't understand why they didn't just COMB that area. maybe it's too massive. i'm not sure. but r2's role in this and his convenient shutting down/turning back on feels cheap and unnecessary.

- luke's weathered face is Great, but that moment is DRAGGGGGGED out so horribly. how long can someone stand there holding a lightsaber? patton oswalt and several people built this up as the best final shot ever, but i don't think it holds a candle to empire's image of the shattered family gazing hopefully into the galaxy, or even jedi's lovey dovey group photo.

- hope is not lost. i believe ep viii will be better. different writer, they've had more time to figure stuff out, and we know more about what everyone wants. it's not a bad foundation. i'm optimistic.

--------------

the more i think about it, the more disappointed i am that jj and co didn't come up with anything new on a macro level. killing the emperor seemed to have no effect. but they CAN'T do a FOURTH death star. they CANNOT. so we're good for viii in that respect.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Axolotl on December 19, 2015, 06:41:23 PM
Aah shit. Spoiler tag please.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cronopio2 on December 19, 2015, 06:45:50 PM
we're better than this movie.

Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: picolas on December 19, 2015, 07:19:25 PM
i'm an idiot. been too long. sorry Axolotl. i hope you didn't get too deep before you realized that. the biggest stuff is near the middle.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cronopio2 on December 19, 2015, 07:47:40 PM
http://www.maximumfun.org/2010/01/06/john-oliver-kicks-nostalgias-ass
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: samsong on December 19, 2015, 09:50:01 PM
Quote from: jenkins<3 on December 19, 2015, 04:24:09 PM
but it's solid if the Star Wars crowd doesn't echo the smug dismay of the Mad Max crowd

what are you talking about?  what are you ever talking about?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Gold Trumpet on December 19, 2015, 10:03:33 PM
Still haven't seen it but I wish Rian Johnson would have done the entire trilogy.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Garam on December 20, 2015, 05:40:24 AM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6xQAdXG.png&hash=0880c2d80f709837431f2bc38ceb0abdeb0a5d74)
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on December 20, 2015, 11:52:48 AM
Quote from: samsong on December 19, 2015, 09:50:01 PM
Quote from: jenkins<3 on December 19, 2015, 04:24:09 PM
but it's solid if the Star Wars crowd doesn't echo the smug dismay of the Mad Max crowd

what are you talking about?  what are you ever talking about?

that was great smug dismay and it's what i'm talking about. but what i meant is it's totally ok if you didn't like Star Wars
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Gold Trumpet on December 22, 2015, 11:46:06 PM
I'm an asshole, Star Wars still sucks.

Spoilers....


So, build up idea of greater threat than Death Star by featuring something 4 times as big and as dangerous. Instead of develop a narrative to focus on threat and huge accomplishment of possibly destroying it, convolute the plot by featuring side stories and introducing the idea of this new death star almost at the beginning of the third act. Yes, Star Wars is intentionally serial, but hell, the original trilogy featured narrative with better focus and tried to have pay offs. Even though Abrams is trying to be true to the original trilogy, the movie still suffers from abundance of unnecessary action sequences at too many corners of the film.

It's also a story that feels like a retread of the first film. Yes, new generation means new fighters but feature a lonely girl from a desolate planet like Luke Skywalker and seemingly coming from same meager background, she becomes unexpected person touched with the force. She helps leads a miraculous assault against an impossible foe. I'm guessing in next film or after, she may have an unlikely connection to other characters explained? This feels like remake territory. Nothing really surprised me about what direction the story was going, save for the first moment the girl touches Skywalker's lightsaber and feels different points of fate, history, and such, hitting all her senses.

Star Wars fans will like this. Too much about the film is endearing to the history of the series. It just doesn't do much otherwise. Going forward, in Rian Johnson, I hope. I fear he may get sucked into the dark side of predictable storytelling and an adventure chronicle that has been done a million times.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 23, 2015, 12:17:08 AM
This is my favorite Star Wars movie. I knew that the second it ended.

I've never had any special reverence for the originals. I experienced them as kids' movies on VHS — they never hooked me in a way that I might have become obsessed. I managed to see the prequels in the theater but obviously didn't have any reverence for them. (Lucas must have been so humiliated after seeing this one.) As such, I don't feel like the purity of Star Wars must be protected. I'm open to anything as long as it's good. And this was definitely good.

Never has a Star Wars movie had this kind of emotional impact on me. I cried like 4 or 5 times, seriously. And it wasn't out of nostalgia.

Spoilers begin

Rey is a better character than Luke Skywalker. Is that even controversial? I have never connected with a Star Wars character so deeply. For real though, I was frequently moved and inspired by Rey. Star Wars movies aren't supposed to do that to me.

What other character in this universe contains so many multitides? She is fierce but compassionate. Eager and ambitious but also a little freaked out. She has vulnerability and yet somehow also has all the things Luke was missing. Luke was often whiny and could be a little dumb; Rey seems to have already transcended that. She is endlessly likable and has a kind of maturity that Luke rarely demonstrated.

But now the best part. Has there ever been a better revelation of powers in these movies? The answer is no. Rey is backed into a corner and finds herself in a circumstance where the force must awaken. Her inner strength and her determination is literally what activates it.

Crucially, it's not that a magic randomly or even naturally surfaces; it is only her will and her own strength of character that causes her powers to be revealed. She chose to fight back. She chose to flip the switch.

Kylo Ren was great too. Everything between him and Rey was pure magic. And their lightsaber fight... man, I still have chills from that.

— — —

Onto my quibbles, which are minor, but which for some reason produced a lot of words:

(1) They certainly tried to cram as many "rejections of the quest" as they could into the early plot, didn't they? Finn's was clearly not going to last more than 5 minutes and did not feel especially organic. Rey's rejections were at least plausible and came from a legitimate sense of panic... and were somewhat in response to Finn's rejection. So anyway: Han, Finn, and Rey all rejected quests. Did I miss any? You could probably include R2.

(2) It was more callback-heavy than I expected. The entire plot was kind of based on A New Hope, right? I guess Han's quip callbacks were the only ones that actually bothered me, though.

(3) I think the destruction of those planets could have been treated with more gravity. Take notes from Battlestar Galactica.

I was pretty much fine with everything else. Re: Picolas - a lot of your complaints are valid (Snoke is not great), but virtually none of that annoyed me. Maybe I just went in with medium expectations. I expected silliness from Star Wars. Yes, a lot of stuff was said very loudly and clearly (and sometimes a couple times) so the kids would understand it, but Star Wars has always been like that.

I got the sense that those things were done for plot efficiency and to plug a few holes. And yeah, this movie is a little rough around the edges. But the really important stuff was done so well.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on December 23, 2015, 06:17:28 PM
I'm in line with JB, in that I have no real personal emotional or nostalgic connection to Star Wars as an entity, I just want the movies I watch to be good movies. The Force Awakens is a pretty good movie! I don't really feel like getting too into the hardcore nitty gritty of it all, because I just don't care hard enough, but briefly:

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Issac, Adam Driver, and BB-8 were all fantastic. More of them, less of the old characters. I could have watched two hours of Boyega and Ridley bickering on the Millennium Falcon and been perfectly happy.

picolas nailed it about the writing being way too opaque. It's a consistent trend in modern blockbusters, where the writing seems to be divided cleanly between exposition and gags. Every line of dialogue spoken is one or the other (Marvel movies are the absolute worst offenders at this). In this case, similarly to Guardians of the Galaxy, the gags were great, the exposition was awful. As forced and mannered and overwritten as it could possibly be. No trust in or respect for the audience whatsoever.

JJ was a good choice to kick things off, because he is above all else a competent director. He made exactly the movie that this needed to be without fucking it up, which ensures that the next batch, from filmmakers with actual distinct voices of their own, might be allowed to be unique and risky and have the fingerprints of their makers on them.

Best Supporting Actor nomination for BB-8, starting here. That robot had moxie.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 23, 2015, 08:48:08 PM
Your and picolas's critiques of the writing are completely true of course. I think I was emotionally manipulated so successfully that it mostly washed over me.

It does seem like they got that out of their system, though, doesn't it? A first chapter, getting everyone caught up, and introducing a new generation to a fresh version of A New Hope. Now that that's out of the way, the next two could be truly remarkable.

SPOILERS

I actually did feel some Han Solo overexposure. But I'm okay with that after what happened. I suppose they needed to squeeze what they could out of him now, and they needed to sufficiently immerse Rey in his world so she could take over the Millennium Falcon.

I wanted to like the Leia stuff, and it wasn't necessarily bad, but it definitely felt like Carrie Fisher playing Carrie Fisher. I could barely detect the original character. I suppose it's plausible that she's been that transformed by war, though. It's just strange, because Han Solo looks pretty much the same and carries himself the same way.

I very much hope that Rey is not Luke's daughter. That would be most boring and widely-predicted outcome. Shouldn't they upend that expectation? For example they led people to believe (with the marketing materials) that Finn was the new Jedi, showing him wielding the lightsaber and Rey with her staff, so surely they can surprise us with Rey's backstory.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Gold Trumpet on December 23, 2015, 09:03:11 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on December 23, 2015, 08:48:08 PM
[SPOILER]

I very much hope that Rey is not Luke's daughter. That would be most boring and widely-predicted outcome. Shouldn't they upend that expectation? For example they led people to believe (with the marketing materials) that Finn was the new Jedi, showing him wielding the lightsaber and Rey with her staff, so surely they can surprise us with Rey's backstory.

Spoilers...

I think it's leading to something like that. During her hallucination (of sorts) when she first touches the lightsaber, she hears Ewan Mcgregor as Obi Wan talking to her. Now in other stories, Obi Wan's daughter and Luke are an item. It could be their child. It could be Han Solo and Leia's daughter. When Ren references Solo being a disappointing father item to her, I thought that. However, these stories are variations of each other. It's both a criticism for predictability and an earnest theme of circle of life and the battle versus good and evil being a revolving door and the light or dark side can encompass anyone.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 23, 2015, 09:09:30 PM
SPOILERS

I'm much more fascinated with the idea that there are a select few people out there with whom the force is strong, and that in the right circumstances they can awaken it. We don't need yet another descendent of Anakin Skywalker.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: cronopio2 on December 23, 2015, 09:21:14 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on December 23, 2015, 09:09:30 PM
SPOILERS

I'm much more fascinated with the idea that there are a select few people out there with whom the force is strong, and that in the right circumstances they can awaken it.


(https://ronekissrichmond.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/158579624.jpg)
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on December 24, 2015, 01:03:11 AM
He's succumbed to the orange side of the force.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Garam on December 25, 2015, 10:45:11 AM
Anyone notice in the credits that Nigel Godrich cameod in this?

Anyway I enjoyed it a fair bit. I agree with picolas that the scene with Han and Leia chatting about their son was APPALLING in its exposition, but i have to remember that, fundamentally, these are kids films. And I feel like the kids now aren't as familiar with the original trilogy as they are with all the detritus inspired by it, the cartoon shows and videogames and whatnot. Most of the callbacks were inspiring mirth from 25+ year olds, but not many young uns.

I'm not crazy about JJ's style...at all but he did a pretty good job here. I hope they've got all the nostalgia out of their systems for the next ones.

edit: OH and I agree that Snoke is a really shittily designed Harry Potter-looking character. Bad. Even when Star Wars was at its worst, they were always good at making interesting looking creatures. Snoke is so dull.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 27, 2015, 08:16:01 PM
SPOILERS

Quick question. Can anyone explain to me why there is a Republic and a Rebellion? Are they interconnected? Do they share armed forces? Is it a local rebellion against the First Order, and the Republic hasn't fully intervened yet?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: idk on December 27, 2015, 10:08:58 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on December 27, 2015, 08:16:01 PM
SPOILERS

Quick question. Can anyone explain to me why there is a Republic and a Rebellion? Are they interconnected? Do they share armed forces? Is it a local rebellion against the First Order, and the Republic hasn't fully intervened yet?

http://www.vox.com/2015/12/21/10634568/star-wars-the-force-awakens-spoilers-republic-first-order
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 27, 2015, 10:44:28 PM
Perfect! Thank you. That answered all my questions and more. Excellent article.

SPOILERS

I think this information intensifies my complaint that the destruction of those planets was given far less gravity than it deserved. Leia should be absolutely freaking out if millions of lives were just extinguished. Or is she just really drugged up? JJ even dealt with this sort of thing much better in the Star Trek movie(s), didn't he?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on December 28, 2015, 12:38:19 AM
This is a problem I have with the arms race of stakes-raising taking place in Hollywood movies right now. Dramatic stakes can't just be personal, they have to be global, galactic, universal, multi-versal. The bigger they get, the more numb the audience gets to it, which leads them to believe the answer is to go EVEN BIGGER, when the fact is, the bigger the calamity, the more abstract it becomes. Humans aren't wired to have strong emotional reactions to mass deaths outside their sphere of influence; if we were, we'd never get anything done. We respond to personal tragedy. Those we know, those we identify with, those we see ourselves in. We can sympathize with the other, but we don't grieve them, which is an important difference. To a movie-watching audience, an entire solar system being blown up affects us less than seeing Chewbacca getting shot in the arm, because we KNOW Chewbacca.

So ultimately, the only way for those planets being blown up to affect us is, like JB intimates, for us to watch it affect the characters we know. And for the characters to have had a realistically proportional reaction to it, it would have required grinding the plot to a halt, which simply isn't allowed to happen in a movie that Disney is expecting half a billion dollars out of on its opening weekend.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Drenk on December 28, 2015, 07:34:41 AM
SPOILERS

Basically, they blew up the New Republic because they wanted the Old Story back...

Even if it doesn't make any sense.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 28, 2015, 11:53:36 AM
Quote from: polkablues on December 28, 2015, 12:38:19 AM
This is a problem I have with the arms race of stakes-raising taking place in Hollywood movies right now. Dramatic stakes can't just be personal, they have to be global, galactic, universal, multi-versal. The bigger they get, the more numb the audience gets to it, which leads them to believe the answer is to go EVEN BIGGER, when the fact is, the bigger the calamity, the more abstract it becomes. Humans aren't wired to have strong emotional reactions to mass deaths outside their sphere of influence; if we were, we'd never get anything done. We respond to personal tragedy. Those we know, those we identify with, those we see ourselves in. We can sympathize with the other, but we don't grieve them, which is an important difference. To a movie-watching audience, an entire solar system being blown up affects us less than seeing Chewbacca getting shot in the arm, because we KNOW Chewbacca.

So ultimately, the only way for those planets being blown up to affect us is, like JB intimates, for us to watch it affect the characters we know. And for the characters to have had a realistically proportional reaction to it, it would have required grinding the plot to a halt, which simply isn't allowed to happen in a movie that Disney is expecting half a billion dollars out of on its opening weekend.

SPOILERS

A New Hope had a serious moment of mourning that didn't seem to grind the action to a halt, but perhaps the only way to copy that would have been to outright copy it, which itself would have been totally inappropriate.

I'm trying to remember exactly how Battlestar Galactica did this so well. All of our protagonists knew someone back on the home planet who'd been vaporized and then mourned for them like real characters. There was a vivid sense of horror about loved ones being suddenly gone. There was also a sense that civilization itself was in peril. We didn't get much of that in Star Wars. The extermination not only of innocent people, but of governments, infrastructures, societies, elders, and cultural histories seemed to result in a few furrowed brows.

And a random note. I wonder if "Rey" being Spanish for "king" has any significance. Perhaps one day she will rule them all.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 29, 2015, 10:20:01 AM
SPOILETTES

Natalie Portman's first line in The Phantom Menace: "You will not be so pleased when you hear what I have to say."

The first spoken line in The Force Awakens: "This will begin to make things right."
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 30, 2015, 02:44:50 PM
Saw this again and now actually have a higher opinion of it.

I tried 3D this time, and I think 2D is superior with this movie. The novelty of 3D is not worth the emotional connection that you lose.

SPOILERS

Han and Leia have one exposition dump that's really bad. It's about 30 seconds of cringing that you just have to get through. Other than that, many of my other complaints don't hold up under scrutiny. Which is not exactly the result I was expecting.

The Republic/Rebellion relationship is actually crystal clear in the movie. It's all there in the crawl, and then it's repeated later very tactfully. They could not have done much better. We must have been too distracted by the Star Wars-ness of it all for these things to register on the first viewing. And I think the damage from The Phantom Menace is still being felt — in that you instinctively ignore those details, for fear of reading about trade route taxation disputes.

I really appreciated the way the ships interacted with the landscape. Creating a wake across the water or grazing the sand. The Millenium Falcon sliding across the snow. The way the wrecked space ship dwarfs Rey in those scenes and creates a vivid sense of scale.

I think I located the source of the overwhelming emotion that I felt on the first viewing. Unsurprisingly, it's Daisy Ridley's performance. Reminds me of the way Evan Rachel Wood was the heart and soul of Across the Universe, but intensified. Ridley carries this movie. I would not be surprised if they originally had a lot more exposition and dialogue for her, but they excised it because her performance was doing all the work. Truly remarkable.

Recall the moment when she and Finn are running through the market, with all the hand-holding antics. She finds him after they were separated and goes to help him up. Finn asks her if she's okay — she says "yeah," and the confused look she gives him is so interesting. The absolute sincerity of her confusion tells an entire story. She has literally grown up without gender norms, so this whole business of Finn being protective of her simply doesn't make sense to her.

By the way, anyone who complains that she is too flawless a character is forgetting that:

- She is fairly delusional about her parents ever coming back.
- She is naive enough that she doesn't see through Finn's obvious lie about being with the resistance.
- She opens the wrong doors in Han's freighter.
- She freaks out after the lightsaber vision, then runs through the forest, yelping as she's almost hit by lasers.
- She then gets caught and captured.

It actually feels like just the right amount of imperfection and vulnerability.

A note about Han Solo: He does reject a quest, but it's the quest to see Leia in person. And he doesn't resist it that hard. He's almost asking Maz to force him to go. Likewise, Rey's quest rejection annoyed me even less this time; it's 100% about feeling overwhelmed by the images she just saw and being afraid of her past. More than understandable.

Finn's quest rejection is the only truly annoying one, but Rey serves as an audience proxy by being extremely annoyed at him too. In this scene she's positioned above him and is literally looking down on him the whole time. It's possibly even a meta comment on the whole trope.

Thinking more about Rey's origins. It's clear in the flashback that her parents were taken away from her by force on a ship, and she was kept on the planet by a deep-voiced figure as this happened. If this was a hostile situation, why was she left alive? It's all very strange.

I've read a few extremely wrong things in reviews supporting that she's Luke's daughter. First that she awakens R2 — no, she's not in the room or even on the same planet at the time. Second, that Maz recognized Rey's eyes — also wrong. She recognized Finn's eyes. Afterwards she looked at Rey's eyes and was confounded, had no idea who she was. Maz seems to be the closest person to Luke, so I feel like this scene alone makes Luke's fatherhood far less likely.

If Luke is Rey's father, I can't wait for the flashbacks where we see him always speaking to her in a British accent.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PMc-3po would NEVER say something to the effect of 'oh how i've missed you my old friend!' to r2. c-3po HATES r2. or at least he pretends to. on the surface.

If he says something like that, it's a milder version, and he actually smacks R2 a moment later. It only takes a second of consciousness for their banter to begin.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PMthere are a lot of big mysteries left on the table like rey's backstory, but i get the distinct feeling that these mysteries are mysterious because jj and kasdan simply don't know the answers yet, and had to establish something for ep viii and ix to unlock later. i love ambiguity and mystery in the star wars universe, but this is just faint suggestion with no sense of a substantial core.

I disagree. There's so much specific imagery packed into the lightsaber vision that I don't think that can be the case.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PM- han's death is so telegraphed and doesn't appear to reverberate through the other characters. when rey gets into the driver's seat at the end, chewie doesn't so much as bat an eyelash. it's just strange.

It's certainly telegraphed — what were they going to do, convert the principal villain so he could join the already crowded group of good guys? But I think it does reverberate a lot more than you suggest. Chewie roars in anguish and goes on a killing spree. Rey and Finn cry out in horror when it happens. We even see Leia getting gut-punched by the force — Han's death certainly had more impact on her than the massacre of millions of people.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PMmax von sydow is great example of how hard it is to make this stuff work. i'm glad he's only in the first scene because his conviction about this world isn't strong enough to come off the screen and make me believe. he's also stuck saying exposition, so i don't completely blame him.

Yeah. Unfortunately, he had more gravitas in Judge Dredd.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PM- why does rey suddenly change her mind about wanting to hang onto bb-8 after decisively not wanting him to follow her around? i'm okay with a change of heart, but it seems random. i wanted one event, however small, to motivate her change.

I don't think her initial resistance to BB-8 was decisive at all. Seemed like an echo of Luke's brattiness. But moreso, a fleeting resistance to forming an attachment with anyone/anything. Thank God she didn't have to vocalize that, either. It was self-evident.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PM- luke's weathered face is Great, but that moment is DRAGGGGGGED out so horribly. how long can someone stand there holding a lightsaber?

This actually worked a lot better for me the second time. There's so much going on in Mark Hammill's performance there. He's staring at the lightsaber, flooded with memories, and Rey is letting him have his moment. The subsequent wide shot is best understood as a different POV of the same stretch of time. Then it works quite well.

I feel, by the way, that this is another mark against Luke being the father. There is nothing about the scene that reads omg my daughter. Instead it's omg my lightsaber.

Quote from: picolas on December 19, 2015, 06:33:15 PMthe more i think about it, the more disappointed i am that jj and co didn't come up with anything new on a macro level. killing the emperor seemed to have no effect.

The effect, presumably, was 30 years of peace. That's not bad. The First Order is slowly reconstituted from fragments of the Empire. I doubt they ever believed that evil had been obliterated from the universe.

But it did occur to me that the Republic should have had an IAEA equivalent patrolling the galaxy.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: jenkins on January 20, 2016, 04:39:31 PM
looking at the box office as raw data, The Force Awakens pursues Titanic as the second highest grossing movie of all time worldwide.

James Cameron is the only filmmaker to break $2bil worldwide, he did it twice. Titanic in '97, which annihilated the previous record, and maintained itself only until Avatar passed it in '09. for context, Jurassic World currently sits at number four, and the furthest back in time from there is LotR: The Return of the King from 2003, thirteen, $1.1bil worldwide, then at twenty and twenty-one the 90s appear with Jurassic Park and The Phantom Menace.

The Force Awakens made the domestic record, as an example of a local phenomenon. in '97 Titanic made $22mil in Sweden. The Force Awakens has $18mil in Sweden. Avatar also made $22mil in Sweden. Australia didn't gobble Titanic, they did gobble The Force Awakens, but not as much as they gobbled Avatar (note: i regret using gobble). in South Korea The Force Awakens is at $23mil and Avatar made $105mil. in Mexico The Force Awakens is about to pass Titanic, which'll put it $14mil away from Avatar. Canada and USA count themselves the same. the only country i spotted where The Force Awakens made more than Avatar and Titanic is the United Kingdom.

summary: James Cameron, who might feel more like a local phenomenon, he's actually the global one, twice. plus, reminder,

QuoteOn March 26, 2012, Cameron reached the bottom of the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. The maximum depth recorded during this record-setting dive was 10,908 metres (35,787 ft). It was the fourth ever dive to the Challenger Deep and the second manned dive (with a maximum recorded depth slightly less than that of Trieste's 1960 dive). It was the first solo dive and the first to spend a significant amount of time (three hours) exploring the bottom.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: tpfkabi on January 25, 2016, 07:17:05 PM
I loved it.
Definitely not perfect, but a lot of fun.
I went through the previous 6. I guess I'm weird. Ewoks don't bother me and TPM is my favorite prequel.

SPOILERS

Re: Rey's parentage - If you look up an official description of Jakku, it just so happens to have been the location of the (or one of?) Empire's research lab/facility. Given that someone got Luke's lightsaber from Cloud City, perhaps the Empire had his hand, which means also his DNA.
I have already imagined something alone these lines that probably will not become true.
The Empire was trying to create people strong with the Force. Rey was one of the experiments.
To explain that Rey is not 30 (or whatever time period since ROTJ) the base was hidden and not discovered by the Rebels until years later. When they came a'knockin' Rey hid or was left behind a la space Home Alone. When she realizes the people she knew were leaving she tried to get to them - and then you have the little bit of scene in TFA where Unkar is holding her arm as the ship flies away.

I also have some ideas that Han is not dead or at least may have lived a short time after falling.
The reports that he is in the next film could be smokescreen, or could represent a memorial of some sort - which would also be an opportunity to bring Lando back.

I have to wonder with the way that TFA ended, will they break the tradition of the previous 6 films and not start immediately with a crawl - one has to wonder if Disney will make all directors follow a certain format - and finish the cliffhanger?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: ElPandaRoyal on January 26, 2016, 07:36:17 AM
Saw this a month ago and the more I think about it, the less I think of it. After the initial excitement of the Star Wars title, crawl and music, the first scenes seemed to be good until they just weren't anymore. JJ Abrams treats this shit just like another TV Pilot, putting all the elements on screen but leave most of them open to be explored in the next episodes. Plus, I've never seen a movie sequel at the same time so respectful to its original material (to the point of copying a lot of it) and so quick to turn its logic on its head (remember when Luke needed three movies to become a good enough Jedi in order to beat the villain? The hero this time only needed to close her eyes to do it) - the whole second half of the movie just felt boring as hell, when I started to realize that the goal was to just keep all information open for the sequels and wrap up this one just like Episode IV.

Fuck this shit, the worst part being the fact that next year I'll be in the theatre again. Probably complaining. Nostalgia does this to you.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 26, 2016, 10:56:14 AM
Quote from: tpfkabi on January 25, 2016, 07:17:05 PM
SPOILERS

Re: Rey's parentage - If you look up an official description of Jakku, it just so happens to have been the location of the (or one of?) Empire's research lab/facility. Given that someone got Luke's lightsaber from Cloud City, perhaps the Empire had his hand, which means also his DNA.
I have already imagined something alone these lines that probably will not become true.
The Empire was trying to create people strong with the Force. Rey was one of the experiments.
To explain that Rey is not 30 (or whatever time period since ROTJ) the base was hidden and not discovered by the Rebels until years later. When they came a'knockin' Rey hid or was left behind a la space Home Alone. When she realizes the people she knew were leaving she tried to get to them - and then you have the little bit of scene in TFA where Unkar is holding her arm as the ship flies away.

This is probably the best theory about this plot point that I've seen.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 26, 2016, 10:59:04 AM
Interesting. Who did she believe her family was, do you think? I'm not sure I remember, did we actually see a mom and dad in the distance being taken away?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on January 26, 2016, 11:16:13 AM
Just a spaceship flying off, if I'm remembering right.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: diggler on January 26, 2016, 05:14:35 PM
Quote from: tpfkabi on January 25, 2016, 07:17:05 PM


SPOILERS

Re: Rey's parentage - If you look up an official description of Jakku, it just so happens to have been the location of the (or one of?) Empire's research lab/facility. Given that someone got Luke's lightsaber from Cloud City, perhaps the Empire had his hand, which means also his DNA.
I have already imagined something alone these lines that probably will not become true.
The Empire was trying to create people strong with the Force. Rey was one of the experiments.
To explain that Rey is not 30 (or whatever time period since ROTJ) the base was hidden and not discovered by the Rebels until years later. When they came a'knockin' Rey hid or was left behind a la space Home Alone. When she realizes the people she knew were leaving she tried to get to them - and then you have the little bit of scene in TFA where Unkar is holding her arm as the ship flies away.

Hey, that's pretty good.

The problematic thing with her being Luke's daughter is that they never set up who her mother was and this series would never miss the opportunity to set that up. This sort of explains that away in a very interesting context. It also explains why a great battle took place there. Kylo's throwaway line about clones would no longer feel like a random prequel shoutout.

Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 04, 2016, 11:11:33 AM
I very much like this theory about Rey's parentage, specifically her mother:

http://decider.com/2016/03/03/star-wars-rey-mother-felicity-jones/
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Just Withnail on March 05, 2016, 01:11:27 PM
Mark Hamill: Luke Skywalker could be gay (http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/04/mark-hamill-luke-skywalker-gay-jj-abrams-star-wars-episode-viii?CMP=share_btn_fb)

So, probably not his daughter.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 13, 2016, 12:56:57 AM
This is one of the most densely nerdy things I've seen.

Lots of good info, though. For example, Rey almost certainly named herself.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DglBQf3U5Xs
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Alexandro on April 12, 2016, 10:10:55 AM
count me in JB's camp all the way with this one.
I have never been so into Star Wars, and the first one particularly baffles me because it's kinda slow and boring. I tried to see it a few months ago and it's all so silly I can't help but tune out.
Yet I get and even enjoy Empire Strikes Back because it's darker and has more dramatic impact for me. The prequels, for all their flaws (and they are all deeply flawed) at least had Darth vader's evolution to cling to, although in retrospect they are too bad to be saved.

This one is what they all should be: fast, fun and entertaining. Likeable characters, funny interactions. Good payoffs.

Back in december I was so overwhelmed by all the fans and the incesant talk about this movie I just couldn't bring myself to watch it.

Last night at some point I had to recognize this was doing everything right. I was completely involved in these character's movements and they were all new, no nostalgia ingredients yet.

The only weak link to me was Carrie Fisher. I think the fact that her character evolved into such an important authority kind of fucks with her ability to be pissed off and have the fun bickering she used to have with Ford, who by the way, totally nailed every one liner and bit he was given to.

All in all, just like DiCaprio winning his damn oscar, I think this film gave worldwide popular culture a big sigh of relief.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 04, 2016, 08:56:07 PM
https://youtu.be/nGc8oMt2MiY
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jaliets on June 17, 2016, 09:35:02 AM
Cool was a movie.Is there anyone warcraft movie looked like the feeling?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on June 17, 2016, 10:41:27 AM
Banned for signature spam. But you make a good point, so I'll leave the post.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on June 17, 2016, 11:22:36 AM
I miss him already.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: 03 on June 18, 2016, 12:33:48 AM
was that post made with geocities translator?
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: polkablues on June 18, 2016, 09:55:24 PM
This is either the laziest spam or the weirdest cult induction.
Title: Re: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 08, 2017, 09:52:16 PM
SPECULATION SPOILERS


Welp, I think it's solved.

I was convinced before the 5 minute mark. Watch at least the first 8 minutes, though. There is some truly next-level mirroring with both the originals and the prequels.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OstlcHLRHg8