Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[celticmoon]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I think general reception plays a part in how the next installment did. While it still made a lot of money, there was a noticeable drop in ticket sales for Attack of the Clones. I don't even think it outdid Spider-Man in it's second week. That could be inaccurate, but from personal experience my theater continued to sell out on Spider-Man and Attack of the Clones was pretty easy to get into (there was no line at all like there was at the same theater for Phantom Menace).

I think it was party due to people's expectations pretty much getting crushed after Phantom Menace, plus the trailers looked awful. By comparison, Revenge of the Sith made more money than clones, which I think was a combination of a solid trailer and the just the simple fact that it was the last one where all the shit goes down.

Oh, yes. I definitely agree with you there.

My point was mostly just that both TPM and TFA are positioned pretty similarly in terms of popularity and hype, as they both benefited a lot from the massive hype and hysteria from being the first Star Wars film in a long time. And no matter how well-received the first or second films were/are, I don't think it was ever realistic to expect AOTC to outdo TPM, and I feel the same can probably be said for Episode VIII in relation to TFA, despite the generally positive reception amongst general movie goers and fans. These first-in-X-amount-of-year installments just have that added benefit.

[Canada]

I'm sure, I'm pointing this out for the millionth time but Domhnall Gleeson's speech he gave as General Hux to the Stormtroopers seemed extremely Nazi-esq. I wonder what his speech would sound like if they dubbed it into German which I'm sure most showings of The Force Awakens were shown in English, I know it's sad but I am sure most Germans speak better English than I do. Speaking of language I am a bad Canadian because I can't rub 30 words of French together, although I may just be a typical west coaster, I don't know?

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

All opinions aside, here you're just wrong. If you watch the DVD documentaries it is made very clear that CG was a huge focus of his, and in fact revolutionizing CG's usage in movies was one of his main goals.

Bingo, the PT was pretty much an excuse for Lucas to play around with all the CGI wizardry that he was having fun with. same with the changes in the OT when he re did them a billion times. they were just CGI effects for him to play with like a kid with a new toy

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

To be fair, you did kind of twist BluBonnet's words which clearly said that CG wasn't the focus of the prequels. I happen to agree. Of course CGI was a focus, but it was a tool he relied on (sometimes admittedly too heavily) to tell his story. His main focus was the creation of a modern myth which he diligently researched and worked on more than the CGI.

Splitting hairs. Watching that footage, hearing his comments, listening to his words, it is beyond obvious he wanted to revolutionize movie-making and change movies again, this time with CGI. Which he kind of did, so good on him I guess, even if I disagree with his goals. Either way it was obviously a/the main focus. Hell, he even waited to do the prequels until CGI could be used like it was.

They even had footage of the early concept and story-board meetings where he bluntly said Jar Jar was the key and a big reason the movie existed, to meld live action with a "photo real" CG character like that. It was, if not the reason, then one of the big reasons the movies exist.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by celticmoon

Oh, yes. I definitely agree with you there.

My point was mostly just that both TPM and TFA are positioned pretty similarly in terms of popularity and hype, as they both benefited a lot from the massive hype and hysteria from being the first Star Wars film in a long time. And no matter how well-received the first or second films were/are, I don't think it was ever realistic to expect AOTC to outdo TPM, and I feel the same can probably be said for Episode VIII in relation to TFA, despite the generally positive reception amongst general movie goers and fans. These first-in-X-amount-of-year installments just have that added benefit.

I've also thought the same thing about Ep VIII, I wouldn't be surprised if it had a big drop compared to TFA simply because it isn't coming off some long hiatus, nor will that latent anti-prequel feeling be as strong. It won't even have the privilege of being the only SW movie since TFA, as it'll come out a mere 6 months after Rogue One.

[Rodney-2187]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Truth is abstract. You're confusing it with fact. And BluBonnet's opinion was backed up with a very articulate argument which you conveniently removed from the post you quoted.

I was more dealing with the idea that an opinion can't be wrong because it is a personal opinion. That is of course true when you are talking about something subjective. I like Brussels sprouts. I can list facts regarding the nutritional value of Brussels sprouts, but in the end it's your own opinion if you like their flavor.

But you can't make statements like "Brussels sprouts are a fruit" and defend it by claiming it is an opinion. Or make something sound subjective like saying "In my opinion, Abraham Lincoln was the greatest astronaut."

[aiman04]

So generally The Force Awakens is at the top of the list of most critique's 10 best films in 2015 then. Congratulations.

[Underworld54]

I have yet to see this.

[Komandant Kumanova]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

Still, I felt Star Wars always felt like a corporate controlled entity anyway before the Disney sale-- the prequels felt like sterile special-effects pictures and the merchandising was pretty much the same. The only difference was the movies themselves were a single-vision without being collaborative (for better or worse depending on your opinion of the prequels).

Absolutely. Commercialization has always been Star Wars at the very least since Empire. Spaceballs even made fun of this and that was 1987.

[walruswarrior]

Funny how people rip on Jurassic World for essentially rehashing Jurassic Park, yet people don't rip this movie for ripping A New Hope.

For God's sake, it's been 40 years and all they could come up with was a bigger death star, one that shoots multiple beams instead of a singular one.

That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Splitting hairs. Watching that footage, hearing his comments, listening to his words, it is beyond obvious he wanted to revolutionize movie-making and change movies again, this time with CGI. Which he kind of did, so good on him I guess, even if I disagree with his goals. Either way it was obviously a/the main focus. Hell, he even waited to do the prequels until CGI could be used like it was.

They even had footage of the early concept and story-board meetings where he bluntly said Jar Jar was the key and a big reason the movie existed, to meld live action with a "photo real" CG character like that. It was, if not the reason, then one of the big reasons the movies exist.

I may be wrong here, but to my knowledge George didn't even intend Jar Jar to be a fully CGI character, but only have head replacement done by ILM. However, after some tests, John Knoll said it would be easier for them to the whole thing CG at the extra expense of $1mil..

[JamesBenjamin]

Originally Posted by walruswarrior

Funny how people rip on Jurassic World for essentially rehashing Jurassic Park, yet people don't rip this movie for ripping A New Hope.

For God's sake, it's been 40 years and all they could come up with was a bigger death star, one that shoots multiple beams instead of a singular one.

That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Are we reading the same internet? That's the one major thing people *are* ripping this movie about.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by walruswarrior

Funny how people rip on Jurassic World for essentially rehashing Jurassic Park, yet people don't rip this movie for ripping A New Hope.

For God's sake, it's been 40 years and all they could come up with was a bigger death star, one that shoots multiple beams instead of a singular one.

That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think originality isn't a necessity if it's done well, especially if the intent is to re-establish a story after a long time gap like Star Wars. The Force Awakens may not be very original in its basic plot, but it was done so well very few people really mind.

Jurassic World? In my opinion it was okay and entertaining, but it lacked the build-up and suspense the first one had, plus the dinosaurs looked more like phony cgi most of the time. That was my complaint with that film, anyway, not the callbacks to the original.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I may be wrong here, but to my knowledge George didn't even intend Jar Jar to be a fully CGI character, but only have head replacement done by ILM. However, after some tests, John Knoll said it would be easier for them to the whole thing CG at the extra expense of $1mil..

No, he was full CGI, then they brought up the idea of head replacement to save money, then head replacement ended up costing more anyway. I just watched the doc a couple months ago. There's that long early scene where Lucas colors in all the stuff that will be CGI on the storyboards and it's more than half the movie and all the ILM guys are freaking out. Lucas is talking about revolution and changing the industry constantly in that doc.

[chip75]

The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (Full Version) - YouTube

[IndyMLVC]

In case anyone hasn't read it yet, this is a MUST READ:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-a...b_8895598.html

Warning: spoilers are discussed.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by chip75

The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (Full Version) - YouTube

Why haven't I seen this before? I own the 'Complete Saga' set...why is this not on there?

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I think originality isn't a necessity if it's done well, especially if the intent is to re-establish a story after a long time gap like Star Wars. The Force Awakens may not be very original in its basic plot, but it was done so well very few people really mind.

Jurassic World? In my opinion it was okay and entertaining, but it lacked the build-up and suspense the first one had, plus the dinosaurs looked more like phony cgi most of the time. That was my complaint with that film, anyway, not the callbacks to the original.

I agree. The same people that are whining about TFA whined about the prequels. They don't want different and they don't want the same. Yet their butts are in seats ever time. I'm over it. They need to stop whining, lol.

My only criticism is Captain Phasma wasn't well developed and should have been

[Show spoiler]that shock-trooper that yelled 'Traitor,'

it would have been way better. I also wish there was a space battle. Finally, I think that

[Show spoiler]Han's death

wasn't all that well handled and should have had a bit more impact.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Why haven't I seen this before? I own the 'Complete Saga' set...why is this not on there?

Because it was on the DVD and Lucasfilm omitted most of the (excellent) DVD features from the (heh) 'Complete Saga' Blus. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

No, he was full CGI, then they brought up the idea of head replacement to save money, then head replacement ended up costing more anyway. I just watched the doc a couple months ago. There's that long early scene where Lucas colors in all the stuff that will be CGI on the storyboards and it's more than half the movie and all the ILM guys are freaking out. Lucas is talking about revolution and changing the industry constantly in that doc.

Source, please.
It sure isn't in the "The Beginning" making of documentary. Check from 17-19min and at around 40min.. The beginning bit doesn't prove anything. He never says Jar Jar will be fully CG before John Knoll's test results, does he?