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

[tigertron]

I don't think anything will be as bad as this. Easily the worst thing about Star Wars, even Jar Jar and Jedi Rocks.

Extreme Makeover is NOTHING compared to this.

Kinect Star Wars "I'm Han Solo" Dancing - YouTube

Bobba - what have they done to you?!

Kinect Star Wars Dancing YMCA (Empire Today) - YouTube

[s2mikey]

Geesh - after seeing all this dancing stuff and whatever, Im actually now more scared of Disney OVER-exposing Star Wars via products, marketing, promotions, Burger King toys, etc, etc. Please dont do that. Dont dumb it down and make it a "brand" or something.

I know that George milked the living shiat out of the toys and stuff way back when but thats different than variety shows, Christmas specials, Glee versions, appearances on The View, stuff like that.

Damnit....

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Geesh - after seeing all this dancing stuff and whatever, Im actually now more scared of Disney OVER-exposing Star Wars via products, marketing, promotions, Burger King toys, etc, etc. Please dont do that. Dont dumb it down and make it a "brand" or something.

I know that George milked the living shiat out of the toys and stuff way back when but thats different than variety shows, Christmas specials, Glee versions, appearances on The View, stuff like that.

Damnit....

But that's exactly what Lucas has been doing the last few years. We have Lego SW movies now, Robot Chicken Star Wars, Family Guy Star Wars, "SW Land" at LegoLand, theme park rides, SW weekends at Disney Studios in Orlando, there's a wretched looking CGI SW show coming with the Robot Chicken cast but aimed at tweeners (so none of the violence and the raunchy humour and profanity of Robot Chicken)...all of this long before the Disney deal. Lucas has been treating it like a brand already.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Geesh - after seeing all this dancing stuff and whatever, Im actually now more scared of Disney OVER-exposing Star Wars via products, marketing, promotions, Burger King toys, etc, etc. Please dont do that. Dont dumb it down and make it a "brand" or something.

I know that George milked the living shiat out of the toys and stuff way back when but thats different than variety shows, Christmas specials, Glee versions, appearances on The View, stuff like that.

Damnit....

Do you still enjoy the LotR movies? What about the upcoming Hobbit films, are you going to like them?
Heck I think LotR has undergone much more commercialization than Star Wars at the same point in time.
I'm a fan of the films.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

But that's exactly what Lucas has been doing the last few years. We have Lego SW movies now, Robot Chicken Star Wars, Family Guy Star Wars, "SW Land" at LegoLand, theme park rides, SW weekends at Disney Studios in Orlando, there's a wretched looking CGI SW show coming with the Robot Chicken cast but aimed at tweeners (so none of the violence and the raunchy humour and profanity of Robot Chicken)...all of this long before the Disney deal. Lucas has been treating it like a brand already.

I know - maybe Im just being harder on Disney about it. Thats because Disney is just so huge and global and imposing. I guess George has done the same thing but something like Robot Chicken(funny BTW) or Legos just doesnt seem quite the same. Maybe it is?

Originally Posted by rickah88

Do you still enjoy the LotR movies? What about the upcoming Hobbit films, are you going to like them?
Heck I think LotR has undergone much more commercialization than Star Wars at the same point in time.
I'm a fan of the films.

Huge LOTR fan. Excited about the Hobbit but also being cautiously optimistic. The nice thing about LOTR is that if I end up not enjoying the Hobbit then I simply pretend they dont exist . The LOTR film s as they stand are plenty "fleshed out" already and quite complete, IMO.

LOTR doesnt appear to have the wide spread commercialization that SW does. Just my observation.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Please dont do that. Dont dumb it down and make it a "brand" or something.

Star Wars has been a brand for years. Hell, decades.

Almost everything you list has been done already. Don't you remember the media sturation for Phantom Menace? Fast food tie-ins were the least of it.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Huge LOTR fan. Excited about the Hobbit but also being cautiously optimistic. The nice thing about LOTR is that if I end up not enjoying the Hobbit then I simply pretend they dont exist . The LOTR film s as they stand are plenty "fleshed out" already and quite complete, IMO.

LOTR doesnt appear to have the wide spread commercialization that SW does. Just my observation.

Are you kidding me? LotR has more commecialization than SW did, MUCH more...and it's only going to grow. But you still like the movie, so you've already answered your question and/or put to rest your fears. Which are quite silly IMO. Just trying to show from a different point of view.(see what I did there?)

Also going by your logic, you should hate the LotR movies, as they are commercializations of the original BOOKS!

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Are you kidding me? LotR has more commecialization than SW did, MUCH more...and it's only going to grow. But you still like the movie, so you've already answered your question and/or put to rest your fears. Which are quite silly IMO. Just trying to show from a different point of view.(see what I did there?)

I completely disagree. No offence but I find it silly that you could think LOTR has been more commercialised than Star Wars over the year. I'm not saying that LOTR (and The Hobbit) hasn't had a lot of commercialisation over the past 11 years but compared to Star Wars it's nothing. Think of all the toys, spin-offs, theme park rides, merchandise, computer games - everything - that Star Wars has had over the years. You can find almost anything with a Star Wars logo. Millions and millions of products and off-shoots. LOTR has a long way to go until it can touch that.

And I'm not slagging Star Wars off for that. Far from it. It being a "brand" is what kept it going between films and still keeps it going, and the world of pop culture and entertainment is a better place for having Star Wars so firmly embedded in it.

[Ernest Rister]

Spaceballs Merchandising Scene - YouTube

Point being, this is the reality of the film business. I concentrate on the movies, I could care less how many products Lucas and Disney make. If not for the profits from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck merchandise, Walt Disney's groundbreaking animation experiments in the 30's never would have been possible, because Walt frequently spent more on his shorts (notably the silly Symphony shorts) than they could possibly earn back.

EDIT

And I'd love to own "Spaceballs the Bath Towell"

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

I completely disagree. No offence but I find it silly that you could think LOTR has been more commercialised than Star Wars over the year. I'm not saying that LOTR (and The Hobbit) hasn't had a lot of commercialisation over the past 11 years but compared to Star Wars it's nothing. Think of all the toys, spin-offs, theme park rides, merchandise, computer games - everything - that Star Wars has had over the years. You can find almost anything with a Star Wars logo. Millions and millions of products and off-shoots. LOTR has a long way to go until it can touch that.

And I'm not slagging Star Wars off for that. Far from it. It being a "brand" is what kept it going between films and still keeps it going, and the world of pop culture and entertainment is a better place for having Star Wars so firmly embedded in it.

I'm comparing the FIRST decade of SW to the FIRST decade of LotR. LotR blows SW out of the water. Obviously they were released in different decades, but my point is just the same.
How can someone embrace LotR, yet be leery of SW? It just isn't a logical point. At best, it's weak.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by rickah88

I'm comparing the FIRST decade of SW to the FIRST decade of LotR. LotR blows SW out of the water. Obviously they were released in different decades, but my point is just the same.
How can someone embrace LotR, yet be leery of SW? It just isn't a logical point. At best, it's weak.

Fair enough, although surely you can see that it's futile to compare the two? It's a different culture now with regards to the merchandising, advertising and commercialisation of films. Star Wars practically invented the trend. Of course it's grown since then.

The logical comparison would be the prequels ('99-'05) and the Lord of the Rings trilogy ('01-'03) as they were released in the same era and culture. And Star Wars was definitely the more commercialsed out of the two, both upon release and in the time since.

And, just to be clear, although I know that last point wasn't aimed at me - I'm a LOTR fan that isn't leery of Star Wars. I love them both.

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by tigertron

Kinect Star Wars "I'm Han Solo" Dancing - YouTube

Kinect Star Wars Dancing YMCA (Empire Today) - YouTube

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Geesh - after seeing all this dancing stuff and whatever, Im actually now more scared of Disney OVER-exposing Star Wars via products, marketing, promotions...

George Lucas agreed to make that abomination. He had some input in the making of it. If anything, Disney will tone it down.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

Fair enough, although surely you can see that it's futile to compare the two? It's a different culture now with regards to the merchandising, advertising and commercialisation of films. Star Wars practically invented the trend. Of course it's grown since then.

The logical comparison would be the prequels ('99-'05) and the Lord of the Rings trilogy ('01-'03) as they were released in the same era and culture. And Star Wars was definitely the more commercialsed out of the two, both upon release and in the time since.

And, just to be clear, although I know that last point wasn't aimed at me - I'm a LOTR fan that isn't leery of Star Wars. I love them both.

All these comparison have some "apples to oranges" to them, but you get my point. And no, it was not aimed at you!

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by rickah88

All these comparison have some "apples to oranges" to them, but you get my point. And no, it was not aimed at you!

If it was me, then Id respond by saying SW and LOTR are my top two film series of all time. And, I just dont want to SW get annoying like some other Disney stuff can get if its too much.

[blonde_devil]

Star Wars has been pimped out since shortly after the first movie was released. The Holiday Special should be proof enough. and i say this as a fan. but damn, the amount of stuff they have pumped out in connection with Star Wars is staggering. I don't think anything comes close - even superheros like Batman probably don't have as much merch out there. with the new movies, new characters to make toys of and of course, new toys from the old movies. it has been how many years since the last Star Wars movie and they are still releasing new characters as toys. as long as people buy them, it isn't going to stop.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

If it was me, then Id respond by saying SW and LOTR are my top two film series of all time. And, I just dont want to SW get annoying like some other Disney stuff can get if its too much.

What "Disney stuff is too much"?
Disney market's their product just like anybody else. I'm sure you have Disney movies in your collection, and any of those movies were heavily marketed.
So I don't understand what this "fear" is you seem to have.
You're crazy if you don't think Disney isn't going to market the hell out of this franchise they paid 4billion for! That's what happens with movies like this. I don't see how it detracts from the film? Unless you happen to live right next door to a Disney theme park, and people are parking on your front lawn?
Just on the other page, people are posting videos of Star Wars characters, BAD GUY characters dancing to Micheal Jackson...I don't see what more can be done, to the Star Wars franchise, that hasn't already been done?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by rickah88

What "Disney stuff is too much"?
Disney market's their product just like anybody else. I'm sure you have Disney movies in your collection, and any of those movies were heavily marketed.
So I don't understand what this "fear" is you seem to have.
You're crazy if you don't think Disney isn't going to market the hell out of this franchise they paid 4billion for! That's what happens with movies like this. I don't see how it detracts from the film? Unless you happen to live right next door to a Disney theme park, and people are parking on your front lawn?
Just on the other page, people are posting videos of Star Wars characters, BAD GUY characters dancing to Micheal Jackson...I don't see what more can be done, to the Star Wars franchise, that hasn't already been done?

All before the acquisition, too, I might add.

[stvn1974]

Can you imagine if Gene Simmons had the money to buy Star Wars? The merchandise would have been amazing.

[AmrlKJaneway]

Back in '99, this bloke broke into a local KFC after hours.

He didn't get away with any money. He didn't even get any chicken. He didn't seem interested. All he took was the life-sized cardboard cut-out of Darth Maul they were displaying.

Nobody tampered with Red Rooster's Twilight display in '09. Just sayin'...

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

All before the acquisition, too, I might add.

And with George's blessing--He's been involved with Disney's Star Wars Weekend since the beginning, they've got a free hand in poking a little fun, as long as it's all relatively in character. (Yes, even the dancing.)

Too bad they didn't allow cameras into the old interactive "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" attraction:
Normally, guests got to sit in on a simulated Millionaire episode on the recreated set, and win their way up to a Disney Cruise--During SW Weekend,

[Show spoiler]the first show "contestant" of the day would be a Jawa, in full Disney tourist gear, "joining us all the way from Tatooine" (with another in the audience seats to cheer him on). Various fictitious SWU questions were asked, and then, for the $100 question:
"Which were the creatures that sold the stolen droids to Luke's uncle Owen?
A) Jawas B) Banthas C) Gungans D) Sandpeople"
Nervous pause, while the contestant's friend in the seats waved "(Uh-uh, don't tell him!)"

The contestant answered "Ook-ti-tii! (I'd like to use a 50-50)" narrowing the answers to A and D. After another long, nervous pause, the contestant chose D, final answer, to which the host responded, "WRONG! It was the Jawas who sold the stolen droids the Empire was searching for!--Okay, boys, take him away!" Upon which two armed Stormtroopers marched in and carried off the contestant, and the "real" daily show resumed.