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

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

I'm only interested in going to see this once in cinemas. Otherwise I'm not even a Star Wars fan anymore. Haven't been for awhile.

I haven't been to the cinema in ages. Probably not since Dredd or Skyfall (!). Am always on a fairly tight budget and I find waiting to buy a new blu-ray much cheaper than having to shell out for numerous movie tickets (play world's smallest violin here). I'll definetly make an exception for the likes of Star Wars Episode 7 - nowadays, a film has to be very highly anticipated for me to plan an excursion over to the movie theatre. Looking forward to seeing a real trailer, short 'teasers' just seem like far too much of a tease.

[octagon]

I haven't been to a theater in years either. I think Casino Royale was probably the last thing I saw on a big screen.

I've had a few 'oh, this could get me back in' moments but this might the one that actually pans out.

[SymbioticFunction]

This new film is going to generate some serious box office takings.

[Darkstream]

Since the Empire isn't totally abolished (or at least it shouldn't be) in the next movie, it would be cool to see these guys still around and maybe show us what they can really do...

[aiman04]

Or they're just handmaidens.

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Didn't work on me for Wing Commander... Won't work on me for The Hobbit.



fitprod

[camper]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Seeing as Lucas didn't write it I don't see how this relates.

To think Lucas had positively nothing to do with the holiday special is purely revisionist history purported by him. There are elements of the Holiday Special that were carried forward in his other projects, including the first appearance & design of Boba Fett who was later used in Empire.

Not to mention that a year after the holiday special Lucas said was "a mistake" Lucasfilm released a children's book returning to the characters shown in it.

You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/THE-WOOKIEE-ST.../dp/0394842561

What he did write was a lot of Empire, a fact which seems to get lost around here.

Yes, and Empire was outstanding. Many elements Lucas wrote were outstanding, even in the prequels. But there was a lot of goofy crap too.

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

Star Wars holiday special - 1978

The Empire Strikes Back - 1980

Hmmm...

That aside, if anyone in the world genuinely thinks that ROTJ, TPM, AOTC and ROTS weren't massive improvements (in terms of both writing and execution) on the infamous holiday special, they should clearly have all of their movie-watching rights automatically revoked.

Of course the new movies are better, but as I said elements used in the 1978 holiday special (that Lucas said should never have happened) have appeared in Empire in 1980...chief among them Boba Fett.

Oh yes, let us not forget the Droids and Ewoks cartoons (and live action TV movies) that predated the prequels and were fully and totally sanctioned by Lucas.

Much of the "silliness" in those are very similar to what was seen in the Holiday Special (and if you HAVEN'T seen it, see it...its VERY goofy but still has some good elements to it).

So yeah...anyone who thinks Lucas isn't due some of the criticism is either naive or a cultist

Look, I LOVE Star Wars--warts and all. I wouldn't even jettison every aspect of the modifications done to the original films. But the signs were there almost from the beginning that the series would devolve into something with more than its share of odd and goofy aspects. In that regard, Empire was an anomaly.

Check out the inserts Lucas put into the original trilogy, he ADDED slapstick goofiness into the original films where none previously appeared.

[Tronald Dump]

That Boba Fett cartoon in the Holiday Special is actually pretty awesome.

Don't watch the rest of the special, though. Just don't.

[Packerfan75]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

Since the Empire isn't totally abolished (or at least it shouldn't be) in the next movie, it would be cool to see these guys still around and maybe show us what they can really do...

That was my first thought when news broke of episode VII. The Empire was everywhere so it only makes sense that there's still plenty of them out there. Maybe the next general in line takes control and gathers what's left for one last attempt to regain control. I don't think they'd go down without a fight.
Maybe they team up with a new enemy out there. There's lots of ways to make it work.

[EvaDK]

One can be in awe of the film maker George Lucas who was responsible for the Star Wars OT, the Indiana Jones OT, American Graffiti and THX-1138 - and at the same time be disappointed in most things he has had a part of since the 90s, including the prequels. I've never been part of the 'Lucas raped our childhood' gang.

I just think he got creatively lazy over the years, something that happens when you have all options open to you and no longer need to fight everybody to get your film visions financed and made into reality. Let's remember that Lucas bet the farm on Empire by financing the film entirely by himself - a huge gamble at the time. Had the film failed, Lucasfilm would have been finished.

Lucas was a brilliant film maker who turned into a brilliant business man at the expense of the film maker.

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by octagon

Wow. Peter Jackson + Martin Freeman + Benedict Cumberbatch + an Episode VII trailer and I still don't wanna go see The Hobbit.

Wow

hmmm, strangely I feel the same. Besides, if it is there then it will be online in like an hour anyways, one way or another.

[camper]

Originally Posted by Tronald Dump

That Boba Fett cartoon in the Holiday Special is actually pretty awesome.

Don't watch the rest of the special, though. Just don't.

Agree on the Boba Fett cartoon, it was pretty good. Not my 'style' of drawing I like, but it was not bad from a story perspective.

But as to not watching the rest I disagree, if you love Star Wars its worth it just to see it first hand. Its kinda like a Robot Chicken parody that takes itself seriously.

Originally Posted by EvaDK

One can be in awe of the film maker George Lucas who was responsible for the Star Wars OT, the Indiana Jones OT, American Graffiti and THX-1138 - and at the same time be disappointed in most things he has had a part of since the 90s, including the prequels. I've never been part of the 'Lucas raped our childhood' gang.

The "lucas raped my childhood" gag is a funny South Park premise, but the problems I have with the 4th Indy (for example) aren't just story related. Ford is too old to play Indy, IMHO, and it seemed too much like him trying to relive his glory days. Plus, no Nazis??? WTF???

I just think he got creatively lazy over the years, something that happens when you have all options open to you and no longer need to fight everybody to get your film visions financed and made into reality. Let's remember that Lucas bet the farm on Empire by financing the film entirely by himself - a huge gamble at the time. Had the film failed, Lucasfilm would have been finished.

Lucas was a brilliant film maker who turned into a brilliant business man at the expense of the film maker.

I think its more that he became a victim of his own hype. NOBODY is going to take him aside and say "Teddy bears and frog-fish-kangaroo-jamaican-gungan things??? Come on man, you're better than that." He strikes me as arrogant, because he's fallen victim to the hype. He did great things. Amazing things. He's a legend for it. But stepping away was the BEST thing he could have done, because nobody would ever tell him "no" even if it was stupid. Very brave of him to divorce himself of it all, IMHO.

[mhp68]

Interesting story regarding the set security:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...ode-vii-750002

[Gaius Marius]

Originally Posted by octagon

Wow. Peter Jackson + Martin Freeman + Benedict Cumberbatch + an Episode VII trailer and I still don't wanna go see The Hobbit.

Wow

Yup. Second Hobbit movie was horrible, so I will be passing on the Third. I can see the trailer online

[Riddler The Slag]

Originally Posted by fitprod

Didn't work on me for Wing Commander... Won't work on me for The Hobbit.



fitprod

Great throwback. I remember going to see Wing Commander for that reason!

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

One can be in awe of the film maker George Lucas who was responsible for the Star Wars OT, the Indiana Jones OT, American Graffiti and THX-1138 - and at the same time be disappointed in most things he has had a part of since the 90s, including the prequels. I've never been part of the 'Lucas raped our childhood' gang.

I just think he got creatively lazy over the years, something that happens when you have all options open to you and no longer need to fight everybody to get your film visions financed and made into reality. Let's remember that Lucas bet the farm on Empire by financing the film entirely by himself - a huge gamble at the time. Had the film failed, Lucasfilm would have been finished.

Lucas was a brilliant film maker who turned into a brilliant business man at the expense of the film maker.

I don't know if it's so much about him becoming "creatively lazy" but more about him getting older and looking more at Star Wars as a thing that should primarily be aimed at kids. Not that it really needed it anymore than it already had, but I think he wanted to add more of a fun factor to it. I heard Lucas looks at The Empire Strikes Back as his least favorite, so if that's true, I can only guess it's because it's the darkest film.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

I heard Lucas looks at The Empire Strikes Back as his least favorite, so if that's true, I can only guess it's because it's the darkest film.

Hearsay don't count for much. Internet links or literature references please.

Edit: Surely ROTS showed that Lucas doesn't actually object to a 'dark' Star Wars film?

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by camper

...but as I said elements used in the 1978 holiday special (that Lucas said should never have happened) have appeared in Empire in 1980...chief among them Boba Fett.

Interesting.

Bar the short Boba Fett cartoon (and quick appearances by actors of the original film), what other elements of the holiday special appeared in Empire Strikes Back?

[Packerfan75]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

I heard Lucas looks at The Empire Strikes Back as his least favorite, so if that's true, I can only guess it's because it's the darkest film.

Maybe it's because most die hard fans love it the most and he didn't direct it.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Packerfan75

Maybe it's because most die hard fans love it the most and he didn't direct it.

Take it with a pinch of salt, without any proof whatsoever.