Andor - Rogue One prequel series (Disney+)

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Is the story not the writing then?

Uh, no, not at all. There's a reason why the WGA has different credits for story and screenplay.

I'd agree that setting out the story isn't rocket science and never should be, and it's not odd that the first film in a series goes out of its way to set the scene, but Lucas did it so succinctly and so effectively and it's something that a lot of filmmakers could learn from.

I don't know. The stuff about the Senate etc. was little more than a throwaway line in the first movie that wasn't fleshed out until much later. Lucas certainly had the basic narrative regarding the Replublic and the Empire in his head, but it's a long way from there to a screenplay, and in this particular case (the prequels) the result wasn't particularly good.

[Geoff D]

That's what I'm getting at though: exposition is one of the trickiest things to manage and for something as sprawling as Star Wars the way that so much is established in such a thrifty way is simply masterful in the 1977 film. For the prequels then Lucas got bogged down TOO much, trying to pack so much story into those three movies that it outran him, but for the original film I'm not sure there's a betterer example of world building than that - or at least laying its foundations. Not everything has to be explained in its entirety first up or there'd be no such thing as movies, people would've been bored to death, but not everything has to be broached with either infuriatingly vague hints or shunted aside to ancillary media (or just plain ignored completely). Lucas got that recipe just right on the OG film, providing just enough to fire the imagination of a generation of filmgoers but it doesn't keep grinding the movie to a halt either.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That's what I'm getting at though: exposition is one of the trickiest things to manage and for something as sprawling as Star Wars the way that so much is established in such a thrifty way is simply masterful in the 1977 film.

I think the exposition is anything but thrifty. There are many spots where characters practically explain what's happening on the screen (e.g. C3PO in the opening sequence). A lot of the "establishing" is done very inelegantly in the opening crawl (which is largely unnecessary handholding too). And do we really need Darth Vader to say clunky lines like "there’ll be no escape for the princess this time" while we see his giant Star Destroyer bearing down on her little ship?

For the prequels then Lucas got bogged down TOO much, trying to pack so much story into those three movies that it outran him

I think the real issue is that he doesn't like writing and isn't very good at it. There's a reason why he tried to convince Lawrence Kasdan to write the prequels (but Kasdan wanted to move on).

[Geoff D]

But that’s dialogue from Vader, not exposition about the state of the galaxy. Which is superbly handled in SW77.

[Zillamon51]

Rogue One is a magnificent film. This is the D+ series I've been most excited for, and the previews look great!

[steel_breeze]

I'm super excited that this is the first Star Wars live action series NOT to use the "LED volume" technology. Look, as a cinematographer I can appreciate how ground-breaking and handy that technology can be... but after a while you start to "see" it in every shot. It's like the DLP color wheel, lol; once you tune into it, you can never NOT see it. So I'm very happy about this classic, more expansive look that Andor is sportin'. Can't wait! Might even re-subscribe right for the start of this series instead of waiting 'til I can "see 'em all within one month's time", as I'd been planning.

[Kylo_Ren]

I am a little late to the party, but the trailer looks great to me! It's very reminiscent of Rogue One in style and tone.

I was not super enthused about this show when it was first announced as it seemed a little unnecessary, but the trailers have definitely gotten me on board and interested in it.

It looks promising and I would not be surprised if this actually ends up being overall better than Kenobi, which I did mainly enjoy.

[tcripe]

If Andor is very well received by critics and fans alike then Disney should throw a large amount of $$$ at Tony Gilroy to keep him working on Star Wars.

[THS]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

It's crazy how much time and money they spent nailing the production value for a show based on a character nobody cares about.

It's crazy how much time and effort you spent making a post that assumes your opinion is fact.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by THS

It's crazy how much time and effort you spent making a post that assumes your opinion is fact.

Remember all the Andor merchandise when R1 came out? And how every young kid dressed up as him for Halloween? Or how about how he wasn't even in the films tie in novel? LOL

[THS]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Remember all the Andor merchandise when R1 came out? And how every young kid dressed up as him for Halloween? Or how about how he wasn't even in the films tie in novel? LOL

Merchandise sales don't reflect a general film-going concensus. Toys and costumes are targeted towards children and collectors, and a tie-in novel, yet again, doesn't impact the way general viewers experience a film. Everyone I know who even vaguely enjoys Star Wars is stoked for Andor, and loves his character from Rogue One.

[reanimator]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

And do we really need Darth Vader to say clunky lines like "there’ll be no escape for the princess this time" while we see his giant Star Destroyer bearing down on her little ship?

I think that's a C-3PO line, and I would argue yes -- it's much needed. We're less than one minute into the movie with little context for who anyone is, yet in that one simple line we get:

1) a princess is the target of this attack
2) the villains are so powerful they cannot be escaped
3) the robot has been friends with the princess for some time
4) the princess has a history of tangling with these very powerful villains


That last part is the foundation for the gutsy heroine about to be introduced, as well as the source of Darth Vader's outburst, "You are part of the rebel alliance and a traitor!"

For a guy who doesn't think much of himself as a writer, Lucas packs quite a bit into the line, "There'll be no escape for the princess this time."

[Dunemoon]

Originally Posted by tcripe

If Andor is very well received by critics and fans alike then Disney should throw a large amount of $$$ at Tony Gilroy to keep him working on Star Wars.

Well apparently it’s an anti-Trump show according to Fiona Shaw. So, if you are tired of left wing politics infecting entertainment then it might not be well received.

https://www.empireonline.com/tv/news...haw-exclusive/


“ Tony has written a great, scurrilous [take] on the Trumpian world,” she said. “Our world is exploding in different places right now, people’s rights are disappearing, and Andor reflects that. [In the show] the Empire is taking over, and it feels like the same thing is happening in reality, too.”

[tcripe]

Originally Posted by Dunemoon

Well apparently it’s an anti-Trump show according to Fiona Shaw. So, if you are tired of left wing politics infecting entertainment then it might not be well received.

Bro, i live in Seattle. If anything this is a plus for me lmfao

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Dunemoon

Well apparently it’s an anti-Trump show according to Fiona Shaw. So, if you are tired of left wing politics infecting entertainment then it might not be well received.

https://www.empireonline.com/tv/news...haw-exclusive/


“ Tony has written a great, scurrilous [take] on the Trumpian world,” she said. “Our world is exploding in different places right now, people’s rights are disappearing, and Andor reflects that. [In the show] the Empire is taking over, and it feels like the same thing is happening in reality, too.”

The original trilogy had those same politics. Anything with Nazi-inspired villains will be analogous to what's going on today in right-wing 'murica.

[tcripe]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

The original trilogy had those same politics. Anything with Nazi-inspired villains will be analogous to what's going on today in right-wing 'murica.

lol right? An anti Trump show would be like "The Boys." This is just basic Imperial stuff.

[Dunemoon]

Originally Posted by tcripe

Bro, i live in Seattle. If anything this is a plus for me lmfao

For myself I can skip it. It’s not for me. Cool. I saw SW back in 1977. None of the prequels, sequels or D- content has ever come close.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by tcripe

Bro, i live in Seattle. If anything this is a plus for me lmfao

It's starting to sound like a better show already!

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by reanimator

I think that's a C-3PO line

You're right. Confused it with another corny line by Vader.

and I would argue yes -- it's much needed. We're less than one minute into the movie with little context for who anyone is, yet in that one simple line we get:

1) a princess is the target of this attack
2) the villains are so powerful they cannot be escaped
3) the robot has been friends with the princess for some time
4) the princess has a history of tangling with these very powerful villains

All of this is clear from what we see on screen or the dialog a minute later when Leia meets Vader. The golden rule of screenwriting is "show, don't tell".

[DrWally]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Remember all the Andor merchandise when R1 came out? And how every young kid dressed up as him for Halloween? Or how about how he wasn't even in the films tie in novel? LOL

They already tried making a Star Wars series centred around a background character known primarily for being sanctified by fanboys and selling action figures and Halloween costumes. You can gauge for yourself how well that worked out.

Now they're making a Star Wars series that's trying to do nothing more than function as - here's a concept - a piece of DRAMA. From one of the best writers in the business. You can gauge for yourself which approach is better. But I know which I'd prefer.