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Maz Kanata (Spoilers)

Gforce1971

Ensign
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I like the idea of this character but, I found it interesting that JJ and Co. didn't want Lupita Nyong to actually appear in the movie. She totally could have been believable as the bar owner, and then they could have populated the bar with various aliens. Why would they choose to this rather silly looking motion capture character over this physically beautiful actress? I'm having trouble reconciling this because, it doesn't make much sense to me. They could have shaved her head or whatever but, it seems that her beauty is what she's known for not voice work. I can understand the use of motion capture for Snook because, this character may turn out to have a certain backstory and the stature of the character is relevant to Kylo Ren's arc. Anyway, I still enjoyed the movie!
 
Why would they choose to this rather silly looking motion capture character over this physically beautiful actress?

Because beauty was irrelevant for the character and they wanted an old and wise alien?

Why did they not use Frank Oz instead of Yoda? Why did Bradley Cooper not appear in Guardians of the Galaxy instead of the raccoon?
 
Because they wanted a stand-in for Yoda in the new movies.

Which is totally good. Like the rest of the new cast, the differences between Maz and her inspiration are as significant as the similarities.

In fact, probably the most remarkably and wholly successful aspect of this movie is how solidly they've created and cast the characters who will carry the movies forward.
 
Because they wanted a stand-in for Yoda in the new movies.
Was it just me, or did she look remarkably similar to Snoke, just without the overcompensating holo projection and rotten cheeks? Not saying she is Snoke, but they seem to be the same species to me.

That aside, what I didn't understand is why she had Luke's lightsaber. I know she was a stand-in for Yoda, but why would Yoda even have it? Wasn't it the saber Luke lost when his hand was cut off at Bespin? Who the heck found it and how did it end up in the basement of a bar in a pirate's cove?
 
Why would they choose to this rather silly looking motion capture character over this physically beautiful actress?

Because beauty was irrelevant for the character and they wanted an old and wise alien?

Why did they not use Frank Oz instead of Yoda? Why did Bradley Cooper not appear in Guardians of the Galaxy instead of the raccoon?

Obviously, beauty is subjective but I think in this case the actual actress would have been more interesting. Hey maybe they have more plans for the character where it makes more sense but, it seemed like a waste of talent. As far as the age part, they could have still made her alien all that stuff with her googles could have been changed up. I was a little disappointed with the choice.
 
That aside, what I didn't understand is why she had Luke's lightsaber. I know she was a stand-in for Yoda, but why would Yoda even have it? Wasn't it the saber Luke lost when his hand was cut off at Bespin? Who the heck found it and how did it end up in the basement of a bar in a pirate's cove?

She said those were other questions for another time, as they were under attack by the First Order.
 
Because they wanted a stand-in for Yoda in the new movies.
Was it just me, or did she look remarkably similar to Snoke, just without the overcompensating holo projection and rotten cheeks? Not saying she is Snoke, but they seem to be the same species to me.

That aside, what I didn't understand is why she had Luke's lightsaber. I know she was a stand-in for Yoda, but why would Yoda even have it? Wasn't it the saber Luke lost when his hand was cut off at Bespin? Who the heck found it and how did it end up in the basement of a bar in a pirate's cove?

That's a good question too. They may address this in the next one. I was watching episode IV last weekend and it got me thinking about Obi Wans light saber too but, I guess that was probably destroyed with the Death Star.
 
They could have shaved her head or whatever but, it seems that her beauty is what she's known for not voice work.

She's not known for acting ability?

Arrrrgggh said:
I know she was a stand-in for Yoda, but why would Yoda even have it?

Yoda wouldn't have had it. Her being called a stand-in for Yoda didn't mean she was supposed to be an associate of Yoda. It meant that she stood in for Yoda's role in the narrative.

Cyke101 said:
She said those were other questions for another time, as they were under attack by the First Order.

She still could have at least name-dropped Bespin. It felt like Abrams didn't want to confuse those who wouldn't have recognized the name.
 
Arrrrgggh said:
I know she was a stand-in for Yoda, but why would Yoda even have it?

Yoda wouldn't have had it. Her being called a stand-in for Yoda didn't mean she was supposed to be an associate of Yoda. It meant that she stood in for Yoda's role in the narrative.
Uh, duh?

That's not what I mean with that statement. What I meant is why would even Yoda, let alone Maz or anyone else, have it. It fell into a gas giant when Luke had his hand severed, at least as far as the movies showed.
 
"She's not known for acting ability?"

Come on now! The woman won an Oscar 2 years ago, the Academy is paying attention to her acting it seems.
 
It fell into a gas giant when Luke had his hand severed, at least as far as the movies showed.

We didn't actually see that happen, though it seemed an obvious possibility. Based on what we saw it could have ended up in some vent or niche somewhere without being expelled all the way out of the structure.

This is one of the various plot beats TFA copied from the old SW EU. In the novel The Last Command it was revealed that Luke's lightsaber and severed hand had been somehow recovered.
 
It fell into a gas giant when Luke had his hand severed, at least as far as the movies showed.

We didn't actually see that happen, though it seemed an obvious possibility. Based on what we saw it could have ended up in some vent or niche somewhere without being expelled all the way out of the structure.

This is one of the various plot beats TFA copied from the old SW EU. In the novel The Last Command it was revealed that Luke's lightsaber and severed hand had been somehow recovered.


What we saw falling into the gas giant in TESB was not Luke's hand and saber. Recall that during his fall he gets sucked into an exhaust vent and briefly comes to rest at the bottom before another door opens beneath him. There is no sign of the hand/saber there. What we see falling is probably part of the weather vane Luke latched onto.
 
It doesn't really matter. How did it get from a gas giant/ventillation shaft/wherever else it wound up to the basement of a bar in a pirate's cove? It just magically appeared there as far as the audience is concerned, with neither rhyme nor reason for its continued existence let alone where it is.

The Millenium Falcon being on Jakku right next to Rey was bad enough.
 
It doesn't really matter. How did it get from a gas giant/ventillation shaft/wherever else it wound up to the basement of a bar in a pirate's cove?

The same way the MF got to Jakku. ( Or the same way Darth Maul got to Lotho Minor. ) Someone brought it there.
 
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"She's not known for acting ability?"

Come on now! The woman won an Oscar 2 years ago, the Academy is paying attention to her acting it seems.

Yeah, that was my point, but you acted like it was all about her looks.

It's not all about her looks but, she is quite beautiful. The motion capture character was not that inspiring IMO. The bar scene would have been more interesting (to me) with some aspect of the actual actress visible. I was just a curious choice and would have even saved money. I'd like to understand why it made more sense to utilize her in this way. That's all.
 
Why? Did we need to see more of Simon Pegg's or Daniel Craig's real features in their roles in the movie, too?
 
Why? Did we need to see more of Simon Pegg's or Daniel Craig's real features in their roles in the movie, too?

That's a reasonable point to make but, there was more publicity about Lupita's role. Now that I know who, Simon Pegg's character was it was very memorable and funny. I was underwhelmed by the Maz Kanata character design I guess. I thought the actual actress could have been better in that context. Perhaps a different motion capture design would have been cool too.
 
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