Star Wars: Episode VII: The Nerd Rage Awakens

[cooleddie74]

Part of me understands and sympathizes with Sir Alec because if that kind of global superstar fame were suddenly foisted upon us with little or no warning and we were used to enjoying far less public recognition I can see where he'd become annoyed with and even bitter about the constant recognition as Obi-Wan Kenobi, but at the same time he did act like kind of a dick to that kid wanting the autograph. It's not as if some irritating and socially-inept convention nerd in cosplay gear was pestering him for an autograph and wasn't taking no for an answer.

As with most celebs uncomfortable with the spotlight I can understand their attitudes to a point, but some of them go overboard and can be unpleasant to some of their fans.

 

[DarthTom]

^^^

Yea- IIRC Nimoy went through the same disdain for playing Spock and the attention it generated. He got over it though unlike Guinness.

 

[JD]

Part of me understands and sympathizes with Sir Alec because if that kind of global superstar fame were suddenly foisted upon us with little or no warning and we were used to enjoying far less public recognition I can see where he'd become annoyed with and even bitter about the constant recognition as Obi-Wan Kenobi, but at the same time he did act like kind of a dick to that kid wanting the autograph. It's not as if some irritating and socially-inept convention nerd in cosplay gear was pestering him for an autograph and wasn't taking no for an answer.

As with most celebs uncomfortable with the spotlight I can understand their attitudes to a point, but some of them go overboard and can be unpleasant to some of their fans.

I always assumed he just thought it was beneath him, and was annoyed that he got so much fame for it, and not one of his more "respectable" roles. He was already pretty famous before SW, so I doubt he was that bothered by the fame itself.

 

[cooleddie74]

There are, of course, different opinions about his motivations but whichever was the reality it's probably not a good idea to do that to a small child. But oh well. It happens.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Guinness was initially enthuasiastic about the first film. But later on he became more sour about the whole ordeal although he agreed to do the ghost in the sequels.

Ewan Mcgregor, although a fan of the OT (Although most probably know this, his uncle was Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles), has also tried to distance himself from the role of Obi-Wan but given the films he starred in, can you blame him?

 

[DWF]

Guinness was initially enthuasiastic about the first film. But later on he became more sour about the whole ordeal although he agreed to do the ghost in the sequels.

Ewan Mcgregor, although a fan of the OT (Although most probably know this, his uncle was Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles), has also tried to distance himself from the role of Obi-Wan but given the films he starred in, can you blame him?

With the possible exception of Moulin Rouge, McGregor had distanced himself from just about all of his movies. But he has recently saying something about the new Star Wars movies, I didn't read what he supposedly said but from what I understand it wasn't very positive.

 

[Dick Whitman]

He has also said he would be very happy to play Obi-Wan again if offered. He can not hate the prequels or the part that much!

 

[cooleddie74]

I don't think Ewan detests all Star Wars fans nor anything close to it, but I believe his comments were meant for the truly rabid and annoying fans who just won't leave him alone and expect him to sign action figures and other collectibles that he believes are just going to be auctioned off on eBay for insane amounts. He doesn't like those fans and how they treat the Star Wars franchise and his character like a means to profit and take advantage of actors' merchandise and autographs.

Can't say I blame him if that's the case. They'd annoy the shit out of me, too.

 

[Beagleman]

Yeah, Ewan seems pretty cool with SW and like a very laid back guy all arround. I do understand Alec Guinness on the other hand, he is from a whole other generation, he lived to be an actor and acting was his life, to be recognized for only one role and not the hard work he put into his craft all his life must be frustrating.

 

[cooleddie74]

He has also said he would be very happy to play Obi-Wan again if offered. He can not hate the prequels or the part that much!

And in a recent MTV News interview he seemed genuinely disappointed that J.J. and the producers of Episode VII hadn't reached out and asked him to take part in the new movie (unless they did and an arrangement couldn't be worked out or Ewan is actually in the film but isn't permitted to speak about it right now and thus has to pretend as if he's not in the movie).

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Let's all talk, shall we.

The new trailer will be ready for Celebration next month. Whether it will be online by then remains to be seen.. it's theatrical debut looks like AoU.

The early descriptions I've read hints that this film will have flashbacks. I guess I'm ok with that, but the other SW films all stick to a rigid structure and flashbacks aren't a part of that. Rick McCullum, who produced the prequels, was concerned about showing Anakin's dreams in Episode 3 because that wasn't adhering to the structure. I guess I don't mind overall for the new film, if it's done well.

We should hear news about the spin-off very shortly.

 

[theenglish]

I think we need to expect that the new films may be quite different in structure from the previous ones.

As for Alec Guinness, do we even know what he said to that fan and in what tone? It sounds to me like he was trying to do the kid a favor. I always thought the problem he had with SW was, after devoting his life to high quality roles in the movies and on stage, he ended up being famous for a movie that he considered less than worthy and people weren't remembering his other roles.

 

[sidious618]

Fear of breaking from structure is a great way to make a bad film.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Alec Guinness probably figured he could take the money and run. Make a quick buck on some movie everyone will soon forget only that they didn't and then he was embarrassed to be stuck with his decision.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

This is Sir Alec "Raise the Titanic" Guinness we're talking about, right?

 

[DWF]

I think we need to expect that the new films may be quite different in structure from the previous ones.

As for Alec Guinness, do we even know what he said to that fan and in what tone? It sounds to me like he was trying to do the kid a favor. I always thought the problem he had with SW was, after devoting his life to high quality roles in the movies and on stage, he ended up being famous for a movie that he considered less than worthy and people weren't remembering his other roles.

From his point of view.

This past year a refurbished Star Wars seemed to be everywhere, but I have no intention of revisiting any galaxy. I shrivel inside each time it is mentioned. Twenty years ago, when the film was first shown, it had a freshness; also a sense of moral good and fun. But then I began to be uneasy at the influence it might be having. The bad penny first dropped in San Francisco when a sweet-faced boy of twelve told me proudly that he had seen Star Wars over a hundred times. His elegant mother nodded with approval. Looking into the boy's eyes, I thought I detected little star-shells of madness beginning to form, and I guessed that one day they would explode. "I would love you to do something for me," I said. "Anything! Anything!" the boy replied rapturously. "You won't like what I'm going to ask you to do," I said. "Anything, sir, anything!" "Well," I said, "do you think you could promise never to see Star Wars again?" He burst into tears. His mother drew herself up to an immense height. "What a dreadful thing to say to a child!" she barked, and dragged the poor kid away. Maybe she was right, but I just hope the lad, now in his thirties, is not living in a fantasy world of secondhand, childish banalities.
- Sir Alec Guinness, interviewed in "The Telegraph"

 

[theenglish]

^^^^^
It has been a long time since I've seen that passage. Thanks.

 

[cooleddie74]

Thanks for posting those words from Sir Alec. I may not agree with everything he said about these movies and his role but I respect him.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Maybe the flashback could be utilized as a hologram recording, like in the other films and some of the EU. Sort of like some of the exposition in Super 8 (played on an old film) or in a way, the mind meld in Star Trek 09.

On the other hand, a flashback could allow them to sort of utilize Vader again, him being pretty much the center of the franchise. I hope they don't try to CG the old cast though, that could be kind of weird like Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy.

 

[cooleddie74]

I'm not opposed to seeing a Ewan McGregor Force ghost of Obi-Wan morph into a CGI Alec Guinness or vice versa, for example, but other than creating a new Obi-Wan Force ghost for the new films since Sir Alec passed away fifteen years ago I don't want to see long-dead cast members from the franchise revived just because it can now be done with modern technology.