Star Wars: Episode VII: The Nerd Rage Awakens

[DarthPipes]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I always thought the Empire would completely collapse without Palpatine or at the very least descend into a brutal civil war. Palpatiine was keeping that whole thing together, even if his puppets didn't realize it.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Yep, which is exactly what the Galactic Empire was. Palpatine and his underlings were all about promising power, protection, and wealth in exchange for services and labor from other worlds.

Source?

There are examples of them taking services and labor as we see with the Wookies and Mon Calamari or occupying worlds to stripe them of their resources. There is however no evidence of a larger system where worlds or large tracts of land were granted to members of the Empire in direct exchange for service.

What the fuck do you think the Trade Federation was all about?

The Trade Federation was a trade conglomerate, which no longer existed by the time of ANH.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Yeah, the Trade Federation had been dismantled by the Empire by the time of the OT or at the very least reduced to a mere shadow of its old self and no longer had any real influence in a more militarized, Imperial galaxy.

 

[Mister Fandango]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Yep, which is exactly what the Galactic Empire was. Palpatine and his underlings were all about promising power, protection, and wealth in exchange for services and labor from other worlds.

Source?

Again, the Clone Wars shows it all the time.

The Trade Federation was a trade conglomerate, which no longer existed by the time of ANH.

And that means Palpatine wasn't using it to garner worlds, trade routes, and other such things under his control... how exactly?

 

[Hound of UIster]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Again, the Clone Wars shows it all the time.

Which episodes? TCW was 121 episodes. It doesn't cover the Imperial Period that follows ROTS.

And that means Palpatine wasn't using it to garner worlds, trade routes, and other such things under his control... how exactly?

Source on this? The only information we have is an article that detailed the nationalization of the Trade Federation's resources. There is absolutely nothing I'm aware of on how these resources were then used or not used.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

The Galactic Empire didn't come into existence until Episode III, after the Clone Wars. TCW doesn't show us much at all, if anything, about the Galactic Empire.

 

[Mister Fandango]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Again, the Clone Wars shows it all the time.

Which episodes? TCW was 121 episodes. It doesn't cover the Imperial Period that follows ROTS.

And that means Palpatine wasn't using it to garner worlds, trade routes, and other such things under his control... how exactly?

Source on this? The only information we have is an article that detailed the nationalization of the Trade Federation's resources. There is absolutely nothing I'm aware of on how these resources were then used or not used.

<rubs his temples>

It showed, very clearly, his methods for gaining power and, eventually, holding it. We also know he used a generally feudal system to maintain his power once he had it, assigning trusted and loyal lords (he even used that term, mind you) to handle specific regions and worlds. Hell, he even friggin' had peons (in the form of slaves) and peasants (pretty much anyone else who wasn't an Imperial officer or higher, not counting rebel factions).

In effect, he dished out land in the form of worlds and networks to those under him, giving them the misguided belief that they were "theirs," all under the banner of the Emperor. He still had ultimate authority, but his "lords" were effectively the defacto rulers of their specific "lands." Until, of course, the Emperor overruled them.

You know, pretty much exactly like how most of Europe worked for the longest time.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

It showed, very clearly, his methods for gaining power and, eventually, holding it.

What? The creation of Emergency Powers during a time of war along with the creation of constitutional amendments to continuously expand the power of the office of Supreme Chancellor until there was no check on his power? There is nothing feudal in nature about.

We also know he used a generally feudal system to maintain his power once he had it, assigning trusted and loyal lords (he even used that term, mind you)

A large and organized bureaucracy that delegates power is not feudal in nature. Or are we going to insist the United State is a feudal system now?

loyal lords (he even used that term, mind you)

Not really evidence of anything given the assortment of royal and psuedo-royal titles that exist in Star Wars where you also have an elected Queen that serves as a planet's head of state and Chief Executive.

Hell, he even friggin' had peons (in the form of slaves) and peasants

The presence of slavery or the presence of agricultural workers who may or may not own their land isn't indicative that the system is feudal.

In effect, he dished out land in the form of worlds and networks to those under him

You may have individual examples of land grants, but for the Empire to be feudal, you have to show that it was a part of a larger system where land was directly exchanged for military service for more than just a few individuals. There is no evidence of this in the primary sources or secondary sources. Most of the military of the Empire were either clones or career military officers. There was no expected reciprocation of land for military service. They served either because they wanted to, were born to or were forced to.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

A large and organized bureaucracy that delegates power is not feudal in nature.

What bureaucracy?

Palpatine dissolved the senate, gave power to the regional governors (aka people he appointed to rule over various planets) and expected fear of the Death Star to keep the galaxy in line.

Where in that plan is a bureaucracy mentioned, because the only one I remember was the one he dissolved.

Or are we going to insist the United State is a feudal system now?

Unless the United States government consists of the president and just the state governors that's a bad example.

Alright since feudal lord is giving you conuptions how about calling them warlords then.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

What bureaucracy?...Where in that plan is a bureaucracy mentioned, because the only one I remember was the one he dissolved.

The military bureaucracy such as Imperial Intelligence continued to exist after the dissolution of the Senate. As did the office of the planetary governors.

Unless the United States government consists of the president and just the state governors that's a bad example.

No but there is a president with a cabinet of executive department heads, which is an example of the delegation of power. If the OP believes delegating is paramount to feudalism then surely American is feudalistic

 

[Reverend]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Clearly the "feudal" analogy isn't terribly precise. For one thing feudal systems tend to be dynastic in nature and serve as both a power base and (often in practice if not in theory) a way to check the supreme power of an Emperor or monarch. I can't see Palpatine crating a system that could check his power and authority.

The closest real world equivalent to the Empire I can think of is a military dictatorship. That said, the senate wasn't officially dissolved until a good 18 years or so after the Empire was instituted, so for most of it's existence it wasn't exactly that either. In a way I suppose it was a galaxy wide coup that was still in progress two decades later. Makes sense I suppose; a thousand generations of institutions spread over a million worlds isn't something you can eliminate overnight. In that light, you could go so far as to look at the Rebel Alliance as counter-revolutionaries.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Deadline Hollywood is reporting that J.J. Abrams won't direct Episodes VIII and IX, but that Disney is closing a deal with Rian Johnson to do so. Here's the story.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Huge news: Brick and Looper director Rian Johnson will takeover for J.J. Abrams and write & direct the next two Star Wars installments. Read more here.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Not a fan of looper.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Now TheWrap is saying Rian Johnson will write & direct Episode VIII and only provide a treatment for the third one which hasn't found a director yet.

 

[davejames]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Wow. I really liked Looper (even if it was a bit overrated by the critics), but Johnson also directed many of the best Breaking Bad episodes as well, so for that reason alone I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with SW.

Kind of surprised JJ ruled out directing the sequels so soon though, considering this was such a dream job of his. I would have thought he'd be looking forward to plotting out and making an entire new trilogy, and not just the first movie (unless all he really wanted to do was just direct Harrison Ford in a SW movie).

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Abrams probably felt he wouldn't be able to deliver the sequels as fast as Disney wants them, or wouldn't want to go through what would be necessary to deliver them that fast. By setting a new director in place now they can get a jump on the prep work for the sequels and ensure the films get made on the fast-track path set out.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

I'm not the biggest fan of Richard Marquand's other films but he did a great job with the material in Return of the Jedi. Whether I like the other films these directors have helmed isn't really that important so long as they do a good job directing a Star Wars film. "Meh" directors have made great films and vice versa.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

The only other Marquand film I've seen is Jagged Edge, which I remember liking.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: New Casting and Story Rumors re: EPISODE VII

Just to clarify: I don't believe Richard Marquand was a "meh" director. He seemed very competent and skilled and Lucas wouldn't have selected him for Jedi had he not seen and heard some terrific things about the guy. I just wasn't all that impressed by his other films.