"Recapturing the 'Magic' of 'STAR WARS'"

[Mudd]

If the first film hadn't been exceptional in its time, there would be no Star Wars franchise. Doesn't really matter whether later fans think it's not as good as some of the others.

There hasn't been a movie phenomenon like the original film...since that original film. I know. I was there.

 

[LJones41]

I was there too. Ironically, I didn't warm up to "A New Hope" until several years later. I like the movie very much and it did kick start the franchise. But the last thing I wanted was another SW movie trying to recapture the film's style. I didn't want another "A New Hope". I didn't want a rehash of any of the OT films. I don't mind if Lucasfilm referenced them or use some of the characters from its movies. But "recapturing its magic"? No thanks.

One of the reasons why I enjoyed the PT and the stand alone films so much was that all of them offered something different to the franchise. I think Rian Johnson tried to do that with "The Last Jedi" and ended up botching up his efforts with sloppy writing.

 

[Mudd]

Meh, probably the last thing I wanted was another SW movie.

I liked The Force Awakens pretty well though.

I was not a huge SW fan when I was young, probably because it premiered when I was 23. There was other skiffy stuff, on screen and in print, that intrigued me a lot more in the 70s. I saw the movie several times and really enjoyed it, though. Years later, my oldest was a major SW fan at four and five years old. When we bought our first VCR I remember telling my wife "let's see how long we can keep the little one from figuring out that it's possible now to watch Star Wars any time at all."

 

[HugeLobes]

Lord of the Rings is probably closest.

If you can bring in books, Harry Potter is pretty much on par as an unexpected phenomenon. Probably more so than Star Wars.

And ... the same thing is happening. More works built up on those two. Even where it isn't crap, but it's pretty uninspired.

 

[fireproof78]

And ... the same thing is happening. More works built up on those two. Even where it isn't crap, but it's pretty uninspired.

And will always happen. That is the nature of media and escapist fantasy. Hence the push back against the Phantom Menace (too much politics-not in my Star Wars!) and against The Last Jedi (Luke would never do that! Not in my Star Wars!).

The thing is-inspiration takes risk. It takes a willingness to jump out there and actually try something new. And, right now, Hollywood is so afraid of its own shadow that risk is far from their minds.

 

[HugeLobes]

The thing is-inspiration takes risk. It takes a willingness to jump out there and actually try something new. And, right now, Hollywood is so afraid of its own shadow that risk is far from their minds.

This is what I'm saying, but I think it's more of a franchise thing, not all movies. I guess the Marvel Universe is a good example. That's a relatively recent set of movies that's become hugely influential and successful, but it was really a huge risk. Now everyone wants a franchise and they are all doing it terribly.

 

[fireproof78]

This is what I'm saying, but I think it's more of a franchise thing, not all movies. I guess the Marvel Universe is a good example. That's a relatively recent set of movies that's become hugely influential and successful, but it was really a huge risk. Now everyone wants a franchise and they are all doing it terribly.

Yes, but we live in the shadow of past huge risks being taken. Lord of the Rings was a ridiculous risk but paved the way for Harry Potter and other fantasy films. Star Wars a stupid risk, with only few people actually believing in it. Now it defines a genre.

Yes, everyone wants a franchise. Why? Because it's safe, predictable and if you lose money on one than there is always the next one. Horror movies did this for a time, action films did it and now genre films are the next to go. It's safe, predictable and carries little risk.

Welcome to the future.

 

[HugeLobes]

Yes, but we live in the shadow of past huge risks being taken. Lord of the Rings was a ridiculous risk but paved the way for Harry Potter and other fantasy films. Star Wars a stupid risk, with only few people actually believing in it. Now it defines a genre.

But does that mean we can't expect more big risks in the future?

 

[fireproof78]

But does that mean we can't expect more big risks in the future?

Potentially.

 

[HugeLobes]

Potentially.

I don't know. I see a lot of this kinda 'those days are gone' thinking a lot. I don't see why risks would stop when they haven't before. It's just that nobody wants to risk with an established property.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't know. I see a lot of this kinda 'those days are gone' thinking a lot. I don't see why risks would stop when they haven't before. It's just that nobody wants to risk with an established property.

I don't think the "days are gone." I think that the will and motivation are currently gone, that production companies are risk adverse. And the reason is simple-film companies do not produce and put out as much content as they used to. So, there is less financial wiggle room for something to bomb and still move forward as a company.

Really, it comes down to what Pike told Kirk in ST 09-Hollywood has lost that willingness to leap before they look and take a chance. They basically have an anxiety disorder, and I say that with all seriousness.

All it takes is a couple of companies willing to take a risk and try something new. Not expect a new franchise but just willing to explore and experiment.

 

[EnderAKH]

Yes, but we live in the shadow of past huge risks being taken. Lord of the Rings was a ridiculous risk but paved the way for Harry Potter and other fantasy films.

At the risk of being pedantic, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out a month before Fellowship of the Ring.

 

[fireproof78]

At the risk of being pedantic, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out a month before Fellowship of the Ring.

I knew I had my timelines mixed up.

In any case, Lord of the Rings was a stupid risky move that end up working out. It likely would not be done now is the larger point.

 

[JD]

But does that mean we can't expect more big risks in the future?

Honestly, I think the best place to look for riskier stuff is cable and streaming TV series these days. Right now with movies, they are just to focused on playing it safe as a way to get as many asses in as many seats as possible.
There's almost no chance you would see one of today's big movie studios doing something like Legion or The Handmaid's Tale.
There are some riskier indie and foreign movies out there, but those are pretty much a small niche thing.