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

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Revolution 9

There are limitations to what can be put on three 2-hour films. The prequels are far, far more epic in scope than the original trilogy. Hell, the story of the prequels was bigger in scale than the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, which consisted of three 4-hour films. Again, this goes back to what I was saying: Lucas put waaaay too much thought into the prequels. His ideas were too big, too ambitious, and too grandiose to be crammed into three 2-hour films.

I pretty much agree with everything in your response, however, I do have to say that despite his grandiose vision for the trilogy, not only may he not have had time to cram it into three 2-hour films, but he certainly didnt have time to cram it into ONE 2-hour film.

And the reason I say that is because nothing really significant happens in the first two movies to the over-all plot, other than they mysteriously get a clone army at the end of Episode II. You could almost just watch Sith without the other two and not really miss out on much.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by thegoat

At least Mannequin Skywalker is clever. That is just pathetic.

Aww, that was my best pick after I wrote a list of 100 names. Runners up included Greasy-Hair McGee and Starey McCreepster. Oh well, everyone's a critic!

[Packerfan75]

Originally Posted by Terminated

Now if the Lightsaber fight scenes in the new trilogy are just the like the UOT fight scenes than we are in for some good times.
However if they continue with the CGI animated back flip, and phony moves crap than it will be the PT all over again.

This is how the fight scenes should be for the new trilogy.

Eh, I don't there's any going back on the quality of the saber fights after the prequel trilogy. Honestly, that's one of the best parts for me. Looking at the originals now, it looks like Luke is recklessly swinging a baseball bat. No finesse or real skill whatsoever. I like seeing the jedi skills being displayed during a good duel.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Packerfan75

Eh, I don't there's any going back on the quality of the saber fights after the prequel trilogy. Honestly, that's one of the best parts for me. Looking at the originals now, it looks like Luke is recklessly swinging a baseball bat. No finesse or real skill whatsoever. I like seeing the jedi skills being displayed during a good duel.

I'd think of going for the best of both worlds is what they should go for. The prequels had some fast and well-choreographed sabre-duels in Episode I and III, but the originals I felt had a bit more intensity to them since they were so much more character-driven. Combine those elements together and you'll have one helluva light-saber fight scene.

[Megalith]

The lightsaber fights in the prequel are garbage. Fast and fancy doesn't make it good.

The best sequence in the entire series is the first portion of the Cloud City duel, where it's a slow fence.

[Elvis]

Umm go watch Seven Samurai....then go watch Crouching Tiger and Kung Fu Hustle. I prefer real sword fights to how they really would have been. I understand why Lucas did it as he felt he had to grasp a new and younger audience. The problem is they do not match up well at all with the OT (like so many other things). It would be refreshing to see Abrams go old school now. I think it would be much more appreciated than today's forgettable standard fair now. Watch the cringe scene in Sith where Anakin and Obi Wan are just standing there facing each other spinning the light sabers. Just what was that all about?

[EddieWilson1983]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I pretty much agree with everything in your response, however, I do have to say that despite his grandiose vision for the trilogy, not only may he not have had time to cram it into three 2-hour films, but he certainly didnt have time to cram it into ONE 2-hour film.

And the reason I say that is because nothing really significant happens in the first two movies to the over-all plot, other than they mysteriously get a clone army at the end of Episode II. You could almost just watch Sith without the other two and not really miss out on much.

Lucas admitted that most of what he wrote in 1973 for the series' backstory focused on Anakin turning to the Dark Side shortly before Luke & Leia were born. So, when he started writing the prequels in 1994, he realized he had tons of room to create new material. But he also admitted to getting lost in his own sandbox, to the point that "Sith" only represents about 60% of what he originally envisioned for Anakin's fall.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I pretty much agree with everything in your response, however, I do have to say that despite his grandiose vision for the trilogy, not only may he not have had time to cram it into three 2-hour films, but he certainly didnt have time to cram it into ONE 2-hour film.

And the reason I say that is because nothing really significant happens in the first two movies to the over-all plot, other than they mysteriously get a clone army at the end of Episode II. You could almost just watch Sith without the other two and not really miss out on much.

Originally Posted by EddieWilson1983

Lucas admitted that most of what he wrote in 1973 for the series' backstory focused on Anakin turning to the Dark Side shortly before Luke & Leia were born. So, when he started writing the prequels in 1994, he realized he had tons of room to create new material. But he also admitted to getting lost in his own sandbox, to the point that "Sith" only represents about 60% of what he originally envisioned for Anakin's fall.

True, true, I think Lucas himself said that only like 10 or 15 percent of the story is in the first two prequels with the rest coming in the last one. Trouble is, he never even resolved everything anyway! Inbetween II and III he also said we would learn about what happened to Sifo-Dyas and what the mystery of Qui-Gon's voice was in Ep II and where Force Ghosts come from, but it was left to Clone Wars S6 to fill in those gaps, so much so it's pretty much become essential Star Wars viewing for myself whenever I embark on another SW viewing marathon.

If JJ has learned anything from what Lucas did with the PT, it's NOT to get too deep and layered with the story. If you wanna tell Lord of the Rings, let other folks do it. I like the PT for all its faults, but now let's have Star Wars like it used to be. Only with badass lightsaber fights.

[MechaGodzilla]

Everyone talks about lightsaber duels, but what I want out of the new trilogy more than anything, action-wise, is at least one great space battle. There still hasn't been another that comes close to the Battle of Yavin.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Everyone talks about lightsaber duels, but what I want out of the new trilogy more than anything, action-wise, is at least one great space battle. There still hasn't been another that comes close to the Battle of Yavin.

All I ask for are cool action scenes whether it be with lightsabers or not.

The best action scenes out of all these films were:

Phantom Menace: Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan and Liam Neeson
Attack of the Clones: Jango Fett vs. Obi-Wan on rainy planet
Revenge of the Sith: I don't remember any good action scenes - I did get a kick out of the Emperor vs Yoda fight but that was just for laughs.
New Hope: all the action scenes were good
Empire: all the action scenes were good
ROTJ: all the action scenes were good

[kristoffer]

I wonder when we will see a teaser for this.

[Cook]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

I wonder when we will see a teaser for this.

Sometime between December 2014 and May 2015.

[MCT]

Originally Posted by Megalith

The lightsaber fights in the prequel are garbage. Fast and fancy doesn't make it good.

The best sequence in the entire series is the first portion of the Cloud City duel, where it's a slow fence.

Yes. All the fancy schmacy shit means nothing when there is zero emotional subtext behind the fight. I have to care about the characters before I can give a damn that they're doing 720 degree flips while throwing the lightsaber like a boomerang. Prequel Yoda disgusts me.

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cook

Sometime between December 2014 and May 2015.

I'd put my bet on May with either Avengers: Age of Ultron or Tomorrowland. Would be cool if they put an IMAX prologue/preview in front of either of those films!

[SirMontyPython]

Originally Posted by Megalith

The lightsaber fights in the prequel are garbage. Fast and fancy doesn't make it good.

The best sequence in the entire series is the first portion of the Cloud City duel, where it's a slow fence.

The context behind how fast I think the Sith fought with the Jedi, among the factors of getting a younger audience engaged, is that the Sith had been gone for a long time, yet one was found to be very agile in Darth Maul. Considering how far back the prequels were, one would think a Sith being taught the ways of the Dark Side would have an influence on how things "were" for the Sith, let's say in the Old Republic. Those teachings of the Dark Side, I feel, would become lost since Vader was more machine than man, therefore not as agile as someone without all the machinery like his legs and arms. It was then, there after in the Original Trilogy, that to beat Vader was through strength and force, not agility and finesse. Take it for what one will about the context that I saw in the differences between the fight sequences in the Prequels compared to the Original Trilogy.

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Everyone talks about lightsaber duels, but what I want out of the new trilogy more than anything, action-wise, is at least one great space battle. There still hasn't been another that comes close to the Battle of Yavin.

Actually the Battle of Endor (space) has it beat by quite a long shot (well, at least imo).
The problem with the way it is presented in the movie is that constantly cutting back to the ground battle between Empire forces and Ewoks is taking away from the excitement and the maestria of the simultaneously occuring Space Battle.

Star Wars:Return of the Jedi VI - Battle of Endor (Space Only) 1080p - YouTube

Now, on a technical level, the Battle of endor is supposedly still to this day (30 years later) the most complex non-CGI SFX sequence (using mattes and models) ever filmed. Given the near constant use of CGI these days, it'll probably remain that way.



This being said I agree with you.
The space battles in the PT left me wanting... I hope we can again see something worthy of Yavin or Endor.

PS: Always have a chuckle at Ackbar saying "All crafts, prepare to go into Hyperspace on my mark" followed by Lando saying "Ok, standby!" and going into Hyperspace immediately followed by all the fighters... Classic.

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

I wonder when we will see a teaser for this.

JJ has been teasing the fans for months already. I want to know when we will get some real news on this film.

[Bluyoda]

Where is that ignore button/feature that some people have mentioned?
I'd really love to use it in the SW threads. Thanks in advance.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

PS: Always have a chuckle at Ackbar saying "All crafts, prepare to go into Hyperspace on my mark" followed by Lando saying "Ok, standby!" and going into Hyperspace immediately followed by all the fighters... Classic.

Chuckle at that?

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

PS: Always have a chuckle at Ackbar saying "All crafts, prepare to go into Hyperspace on my mark" followed by Lando saying "Ok, standby!" and going into Hyperspace immediately followed by all the fighters... Classic.

I chuckle at that scene too, because last time I heard it, it sounded more like "Ah crap, prepare to go to hyperspace..."