Star Wars: Episode VII: The Nerd Rage Awakens

[davejames]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I think it's probably unlikely we'll see the Jedi Temple or any of those other Coruscant places again, after seeing so much of them in the prequels (and because Disney seems to want to distance itself as much as possible from those movies now).

As for a montage, I agree it would be kinda cool to see, but I doubt we'll get one since JJ seems to want to follow the style of the OT fairly closely.

 

[davejames]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I'll amend that slightly. After all that there's a black screen, and we hear a voice say "Master Luke?"

Then we see a man looking out a window at the stars. He says "There's a disturbance in the Force. I can feel it. An ancient evil."

He turns slightly and looks at the camera. It's Luke. Cue audience squees.

"It's coming," Luke says.

Black. Music. Trailer ends.

Nothing against Hamill, but I have a feeling if we see anybody in the teaser it'll be Ford. Not only because he's more recognizable but because seeing him in costume again as Han Solo would be guaranteed to get audiences most excited.

I know it won't happen, but for me the ideal teaser would be a simple one slowly panning up from Han's blaster to his smirking face. And as the camera continues moving around him we see he's standing in front of the Millennium Falcon.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

In regards to Star Wars, I wouldn't mind a darker movie. That's what we were promised for Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. And, we were robbed.

Part of the challenge for JJ and to a greater degree I'd imagine for Disney executives is how do you make a sequel to Star Wars that isn't too light but just enough, "dark," to be interesting to older viewers while simultaneously making a story that will attract a younger audience that parents will take their children to.

No doubt, part of the payback equation in Disney executive's eyes in this investment is to create a whole plethora of new characters for merchandizing and to create rides for their theme parks as well as characters that will tantalize younger children as well as older adults for decades.

As an example it's doubtful that Emperor Paplatine would be an acceptable character for most of Disney's merchandizing line - unless I'm missing something? And he's as dark as you got in the last films. Any darker than him and it may spell trouble for some parents.

Yeah, but I know fans (and maybe those interested in the franchise) will probably go crazy at the more 'darker' approach. Of course, if the films prove successful - not only financially, but in regards to storytelling that shows that SW has indeed returned after 33(?) years - word of mouth may bring the curious to theaters.

I was trying to brainstorm some recent Disney movies that have actually been 'dark'...but the only examples I can come up with are the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Unless, I'm mistaken.

From what I've seen of clips and the two movies I decided to sit through, those films - Pirates - have some pretty weird imagery and adult aspects in said imagery and dialogue.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Disney may not have a long track record of creepy films, but then - aside from individual, scattered moments over the course of six films, are the Star Wars movies really "creepy" sci-fi/fantasy? Do we even need them to be except in the moments where it really matters to create the right storytelling atmosphere?

Disney and Lucasfilm just need to stick to what made the first six (and in particular the original three) films so successful. If Abrams, Kasdan and the crew can do that, they'll be great new films worthy of inclusion in the franchise and Lucas canon.

 

[Set Harth]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

(and because Disney seems to want to distance itself as much as possible from those movies now).

Where is the evidence for this?

In regards to Star Wars, I wouldn't mind a darker movie. That's what we were promised for Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. And, we were robbed.

Killing little kids wasn't dark enough for you? Damn.

 

[Mudd]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

It's going to be like the original trilogy in tone and action.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Killing little kids wasn't dark enough for you? Damn.

Nah. In the new trilogy, they must visit Sith Hell or an evil only imagined in nightmares!

Or, maybe our heroes come across an evil 12 year old villain who has 'delusions of grandeur' like the one from Robocop 2.

Just kidding. I think.

It's going to be like the original trilogy in tone and action.

I'm looking forward to it.

Come 2015, I hope to start looking for SW figures from the new trilogy. Ones to keep in the packages for my tentative fanboy collection...

*crossing fingers*

 

[AgentCoop]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I think JJ is going to do a great job of making the new film(s) "feel" like the OT. He was very effective at channeling Spielberg circa 1980 in Super 8.

 

[Yoda]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Judging them by their age you are?

Did you even watch ROTJ? Yoda was smack talking Mark Hammil about how he was gonna age like shit, and right he was!

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

There's already going to be a lot more location shooting in Episode VII than there seemed to be in all three Prequels combined. The three previous films were aesthetically pretty and even gorgeous productions, but there was so much greenscreen use that images of actual physical sets were few and scattered. It'll be nice to get back to actors interacting with more physical backdrops and props.

 

[Set Harth]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Actually, there was quite a bit of location shooting for the prequels, but I guess that falls under the use of the phrase "seemed to be".

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I'd say. Italy and Tunisia were obvious. Everything else, not so much.

 

[davejames]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I think JJ is going to do a great job of making the new film(s) "feel" like the OT. He was very effective at channeling Spielberg circa 1980 in Super 8.

The only concern I have is that he tries SO hard to recreate the style of the OT that it ends up feeling more like a slavish tribute or recreation than it's own thing (which I actually thought Super 8 threatened to do at times).

Or that he tries to cram Ford, Hamill and Fisher into the exact same roles as before instead of adjusting for the fact they're a lot older now.

As much as I love the OT, I don't want these new movies to feel like they were actually made by Lucas in the 70s and 80s. That would just be... weird.

 

[sojourner]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

The only concern I have is that he tries SO hard to recreate the style of the OT that it ends up feeling more like a slavish tribute or recreation than it's own thing

Ah, the Superman Returns effect.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

If you think being scared by the trailer for Tron is bad, I can top that. I was around seven when E.T. came out, and I was scared by that trailer.

Definitely understandable.

I think JJ is going to do a great job of making the new film(s) "feel" like the OT. He was very effective at channeling Spielberg circa 1980 in Super 8.

I think JJ is going to do a great job of making the new film(s) "feel" like the OT. He was very effective at channeling Spielberg circa 1980 in Super 8.

The only concern I have is that he tries SO hard to recreate the style of the OT that it ends up feeling more like a slavish tribute or recreation than it's own thing (which I actually thought Super 8 threatened to do at times).

Or that he tries to cram Ford, Hamill and Fisher into the exact same roles as before instead of adjusting for the fact they're a lot older now.

As much as I love the OT, I don't want these new movies to feel like they were actually made by Lucas in the 70s and 80s. That would just be... weird.

The only concern I have is that he tries SO hard to recreate the style of the OT that it ends up feeling more like a slavish tribute or recreation than it's own thing

Aj, the Superman Returns effect.

I agree with these comments.

I wasn't that jazzed about Super 8 when I first saw it. I think it was the last third(?) that had some scripting issues.

Still, I do want to revisit it just to see if my opinion holds.

Speaking of Superman Returns, I've read the synopsis of Abrams' spec script for what could have been the 'return' if Bryan Singer hadn't done it. (It wasn't that great). Abrams is not really a strong writer; his strength is in his directing.

With that said, I have faith that the Abrams/Kasdan pairing will be fruitful. (At least it's not his usual partners Kurtzman, Orci, and Lindendorf). John Williams is already on board.....so potentially getting the 'magic' from the original films is present. We just have to rely on Abrams' direction and cinematography ideas...which I do admire. (Lens flares and all...)

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

If Episode VII ranks highly among the films of the Saga it'll be in large part because of Lawrence Kasdan. The pen and typewriter of that man helped give us Empire and Jedi and he knows how to write Star Wars. Even after an absence from the franchise of more than 30 years I have faith he'll co-craft a good script that makes our heroes come alive.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

^Serious question, but did you have the same faith that Lucas would deliver writing wise for TPM?

Speaking of Superman Returns, I've read the synopsis of Abrams' spec script for what could have been the 'return' if Bryan Singer hadn't done it. (It wasn't that great). Abrams is not really a strong writer; his strength is in his directing.

It was widely panned as Superman meets Star Wars when AICN leaked the details. What was amusing was how quickly Knowles backtracked the next day apparently when he got a phone call from some movie executive or director.

 

[davejames]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Thought this was an interesting read, if no one's seen it yet. About Ford's involvement in the movie and how (despite his well-known lack of interest in the character) he was apparently onboard as early as 2012 when Lucas first discussed the idea with him.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/05/...-ford-and-han-solo-bury-the-lightsaber-essay/

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

A whole lot of us did have faith in George back in 1998 and 1999, myself included. I had my doubts that Episode I would hold up to the OT or even Jedi all by itself since there'd been so many years between the two trilogies and so much had changed in George's personal life and career, but I hoped he'd deliver a great story after a wait of 16 years.

I just have a strong feeling that Kasdan knows what he's doing and will co-write good material we'll enjoy. He's done this twice before and I doubt he'd just let J.J. do anything and everything he wants with the story even if makes no sense. It's a collective effort to make the new film and Kasdan is playing a very big role.

 

[davejames]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Yeah, like most people I thought if ANYONE knew how to properly tell a story, and not let the special effects and CGI overwhelm everything as most scifi movies of the time were doing, it would be George Lucas.

Turns out, no so much. In fact he actually ended up being one of the worst offenders of them all when it came to CGI! Lol

Still though, if nothing else the prequels have set a great example for JJ and Disney of what NOT to do with future movies. So I'm not really worried about those mistakes being made again.