NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[TinCow]

That is a good point. I didn't think of it like that. I retract my previous statement.Although personally after seeing Pacino in "Jack and Jill" I would be happy if everyone punished him by ignoring his earlier work. My god was that a waste of my time and my sanity.

Pacino is such a sad state of affairs. He was such an incredible actor... truly one of the greatest ever. And now his appearance in a film is a reason for me to avoid it.

[Papewaio]

Admiral Thrawn?

[Yoyoma1910]

Yes.







It was inevitable.

[lars573]

Admiral Thrawn?

Unlikely, given that story treatments for 7, 8, 9 exist in some form. Lucas is fairly ambivalent toward the EU, if he even considers it at all. But he won't even give one though to how does this effect the EU when throwing out new story ideas. And has been engaged in negating huge swaths of it for the past 5 years with the Clone Wars TV series.

[caravel]

While the comic/graphic novel/extended universe stuff may appeal to the fanboys and nerds, movie producers will obviously try to go for a wider appeal or strike a balance... Even episodes I/II/II were criticised for being too political and full of references to stuff which no one but real fans would know or care about. When I first saw ep. I at the cinema, I could find no connection at all in terms of the overall atmosphere, look and feel to the that of the first three films. The whole thing came across as a horribly sterile and self indulgent marketing promo for the kids toys it was obviously designed to sell. This, obviously combined with the poor screenplay, sub par acting and over dependence on video gamey looking CGI, was what made ep. I and it's sequels poor movies.

I remember the character of Thrawn from the classic TIE fighter game and though the fictional history surrounding him may work well in this form, or indeed the extended universe fan fiction it was based on, it may not translate so well to Hollywood or appeal to movie goers.

For star wars to be a success again, they need to go back to basics - back to 1977 in fact. The first film actually had a decent plot (based on Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress) it was a sci-fi action/adventure film in it's own right, with all the right ingredients. Since then we've seen "star wars based" films of which empire was probably the best effort. By the third film it all went "ewok" and felt like the first film was simply being remade with "bigger death star, better effects, more monsters", I realised I was watching a film made by the same man who would bring us the "temple of doom" a year later... as with the latter - a fun film, but...

[TinCow]

For star wars to be a success again, they need to go back to basics - back to 1977 in fact. The first film actually had a decent plot (based on Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress) it was a sci-fi action/adventure film in it's own right, with all the right ingredients. Since then we've seen "star wars based" films of which empire was probably the best effort. By the third film it all went "ewok" and felt like the first film was simply being remade with "bigger death star, better effects, more monsters", I realised I was watching a film made by the same man who would bring us the "temple of doom" a year later... as with the latter - a fun film, but...

I think it entirely depends on the people that Disney hires to actually make the films, and the level of creative control they are given. You need look no further than Nolan's Batman or Abrams' Star Trek to see that worn and tired IPs can be revived to both critical and commercial success. In both of those cases, it was because the studios hired good directors and gave them enough leeway to remake the subject matter as they saw fit. Star Wars will be more difficult than either of these because they are going to try and continue an existing storyline, rather than do a reboot, but I think the same general issues apply. A Nolan or Whedon Episode VII would have a lot of promise. A Bay Episode VII would not.

[lars573]

Star Wars is now in the hands of Kathleen Kennedy. The woman who produced all 3 Jurassic Park movies and was involved with ET.

[TinCow]

Star Wars is now in the hands of Kathleen Kennedy. The woman who produced all 3 Jurassic Park movies and was involved with ET.

With some rare exceptions, the producer doesn't tend to have a major hand in the actual creation of the film. At best, they stay out of it. At worst, they interfere and tweak things against the Director's will. Looking at her production history, there's nothing in there that I recall ever hearing any complaints about production interference with the film. So, I'll cautiously say she's one of the better ones. I'll reserve my judgment as to the actual film until the director and writers are announced.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I think Episode 7 should be about the return of the Republic, episode 8 should be the process of how the new Republic writes its Constitution and episode 9 will end with 2.5 hours of subcommittees debating about amount of control the Constitution allows the government to regulate and tax interplanetary trade between sanctioned Jedi temples.

[lars573]

With some rare exceptions, the producer doesn't tend to have a major hand in the actual creation of the film. At best, they stay out of it. At worst, they interfere and tweak things against the Director's will. Looking at her production history, there's nothing in there that I recall ever hearing any complaints about production interference with the film. So, I'll cautiously say she's one of the better ones. I'll reserve my judgment as to the actual film until the director and writers are announced.

Your thinking of a studio executive. A producer gets the thing made in every way possible.

[Beskar]

If you think about it, you know that Disney will actually make this film good. Think about cinema recently.. Disney has been putting out some very good films.

[TinCow]

Your thinking of a studio executive. A producer gets the thing made in every way possible.

Producers are certainly in charge of getting the film made, but they don't make the film. Their job is to make sure that the actual people making the film get whatever they need, as well as keeping it within budget and making it profitable. The 'profit' aspect of the job sometimes results in producers stepping into the creative side of the film, but that usually pisses off the director big time and tends to only happen with actors/directors turned producers, such as Spielberg or Scorsese. The vast majority of Hollywood producers simply take care of the business and organizational aspects, and leave the actual filmmaking to the filmmakers.

[Gregoshi]

If you think about it, you know that Disney will actually make this film good. Think about cinema recently.. Disney has been putting out some very good films.

Like John Carter.

Sorry, that was a cheap shot - and an exception for Disney.

[Fragony]

If you think about it, you know that Disney will actually make this film good. Think about cinema recently.. Disney has been putting out some very good films.

Exactly that. People think of The Little Mermaid and the (awesome) Lion King when they hear Disney but Disney is awesome nowadays. The Starwars franchise couldn't be in better hands.

[Hax]

Like John Carter.

Sorry, that was a cheap shot - and an exception for Disney.

You mean "Rome IN SPACE!!!​" ?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Disney seems to be vying to make it worse than Lucas did...

CR

[Gregoshi]

Disney seems to be vying to make it worse than Lucas did...

CR

This could be painful. Three or four days after the announcement and they are already killing it:

[a completely inoffensive name]

Ehh, those videos were not that bad guys. The second one, (which I am assuming is just a commercial) was cute.

CR's video is just an example of how bad modern kids shows are at writing.

[Greyblades]

Eh, it was kinda funny seeing C3P0 telling someone to "step off, fool".

[Monk]

Disney seems to be vying to make it worse than Lucas did...

CR

I'm sorry, but no. The droids were always the comic relief of the movies anyway, way back to the original trilogy. Seeing them interact with kids does not harm the brand in any way...

This.. however...



The revelation that the force is little more than germs did far more damage than R2-D2 palling around with 14 year olds ever could. Do you guys even remember how bad the prequel movies were? I mean holy

[HopAlongBunny]

We can only hope it rises to this level:

[Crazed Rabbit]

I'm sorry, but no. The droids were always the comic relief of the movies anyway, way back to the original trilogy. Seeing them interact with kids does not harm the brand in any way...

This.. however...



The revelation that the force is little more than germs did far more damage than R2-D2 palling around with 14 year olds ever could. Do you guys even remember how bad the prequel movies were? I mean holy

Oh, I know. I was thinking on it, and though the video has terrible writing and general lameness, you're right, it doesn't harm what Star Wars was.

Even the Darth Vader at Disneyland isn't bad.

What Lucas did was damage to the core of what Star Wars was, and such things as the video I posted aren't the same.

Disney can make something much better than the prequels.

CR

[TinCow]

Those videos aren't remotely as bad as the Star Wars Holiday Special.

[lars573]

I'm sorry, but no. The droids were always the comic relief of the movies anyway, way back to the original trilogy. Seeing them interact with kids does not harm the brand in any way...

This.. however...



The revelation that the force is little more than germs did far more damage than R2-D2 palling around with 14 year olds ever could. Do you guys even remember how bad the prequel movies were? I mean holy

I prefer the prequels, I never really liked the OT. Even as a little kid they were always dumb old movies. A reality based reason for the force was one of those things I love about them. When I watched that in a theatre I didn't even blink. I went right along with it, still prefer it.

[Gregoshi]

I liked both the original and prequel trilogies. Unfortunately, with the gap between them, the original trilogy was placed on such a high pedestal that the prequels couldn't possibly live up to fan expectations. However, I watch all six and I see Star Wars. Each movie, though Empire less so, has annoying bits in them make me wish it wasn't there (Jar-Jar, Ewoks, midi-chlorians, Kessel run/parsecs, etc), but not so much that it ruined the movie experience for me.

As for Disney, yes, they may do well with the movies, but they can be so overbearing and in-your-face with their brand. Just a mere days after signing the deal and they have Star Wars written into (at least) one of their shows and have Vader running around Disney Land. Trying to merging them with Disney cartoon characters is just wrong - the Vader character is a mass murderer after all and Leia is no Disney Princess. It is like a little kid jumping up and down showing off his new toy. How about a little respect for the Star Wars brand? Sure, play it up because it is a big deal, but keep it separate from your kiddy stuff.

If Disney now owns the existing Star Wars movies, will they disappear into the "Disney vault" for years like they do with their other classics? If so, I'd better buy the blu-ray versions now even though I don't have a player yet or I may be screwed in a year or two.

Disney does a lot of good things, but they also do a lot that is rather infuriating. A personal story of mine regarding Disney is an illustration of how overbearing they can be. Excuse me for repeating it, I know I've shared this before:

I was shopping in Disney Village in Florida and Mickey Mouse entered the store.

Mom: "Look Johnny, it's Mickey Mouse!"
Johnny: "Again!?"

Yes little Johnny, the mouse is stalking you.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I prefer the prequels, I never really liked the OT. Even as a little kid they were always dumb old movies. A reality based reason for the force was one of those things I love about them. When I watched that in a theatre I didn't even blink. I went right along with it, still prefer it.

Please tell me you're joking.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I prefer the prequels, I never really liked the OT. Even as a little kid they were always dumb old movies. A reality based reason for the force was one of those things I love about them. When I watched that in a theatre I didn't even blink. I went right along with it, still prefer it.

You're not my friend anymore.

[lars573]

Please tell me you're joking.

My favorite Star Wars movie is Attack of the clones.

[Lemur]

My favorite Star Wars movie is Attack of the clones.

We can never be friends.

Never. Ever.

[a completely inoffensive name]

My favorite Star Wars movie is Attack of the clones.

YOU HEAR THAT LARS, YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS ANYMORE.