The Star Wars Saga

[benteen]

JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson were both mistakes. Abrams doesn't have a shred of originality as a film director and Johnson decided to subvert tropes for the sake of subverting tropes. Everything he did was terrible, from the Looney Tunes humor, to disregarding what had happened in the previous film to treating the second film in a trilogy like it was the last film in the series.

[Anduin]

5 hours ago, benteen said:

JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson were both mistakes. Abrams doesn't have a shred of originality as a film director and Johnson decided to subvert tropes for the sake of subverting tropes. Everything he did was terrible, from the Looney Tunes humor, to disregarding what had happened in the previous film to treating the second film in a trilogy like it was the last film in the series.

I'll agree that some of the comedy in TLJ was over the top. But the whole killing Snoke thing? That was set up to give us Kylo Ren as the big bad. No more Palpatine wannabe. However, JJ had other plan And the story of the Resistance was supposed to spread, to recruit people to their cause. JJ went with some of that, though he could have been a little more clear.

Trevorrow was supposed to do IX, but Kathy Kennedy apparently thought Book of Henry was a little too far, got cold feet, and brought JJ back. Allegedly because JJ still remembered all the cut Leia footage that he could reuse.

I'm not sure how that meant Palpatine was back, rather than big bad Ren, but you don't get JJ if you want wild and interesting. Safe and boring it is.

[Kel Varnsen]

I watched a bit of Rise of Skywalker a few weekends ago with my kids and I think I cut it a bit more slack than other movies of similar quality. Most because it seems like it probably would have been a completely different movie had Carrie Fisher not died. And it's not like they ever considered moving the release date to give time to come up with a better story. 

As for the Last Jedi, I liked some of the weird stuff it did. Like it seemed like Luke came to the realization the the Jedi Order was crap, and they weren't everything when it came to having a connection with the force. I wish they had built on that more since it would have tied in nicely with the prequels and how the Jedi's dumb rules made Anakin's life worse. It also would have worked nicely with how Baby Yoda's training went. Plus the title would have made more sense if Rey had said forget being a Jedi and decided to just be herself.

[Anduin]

1 hour ago, Kel Varnsen said:

I watched a bit of Rise of Skywalker a few weekends ago with my kids and I think I cut it a bit more slack than other movies of similar quality. Most because it seems like it probably would have been a completely different movie had Carrie Fisher not died. And it's not like they ever considered moving the release date to give time to come up with a better story. 

As for the Last Jedi, I liked some of the weird stuff it did. Like it seemed like Luke came to the realization the the Jedi Order was crap, and they weren't everything when it came to having a connection with the force. I wish they had built on that more since it would have tied in nicely with the prequels and how the Jedi's dumb rules made Anakin's life worse. It also would have worked nicely with how Baby Yoda's training went. Plus the title would have made more sense if Rey had said forget being a Jedi and decided to just be herself.

Yeah. While I like TROS, it suffered from trying to do several different things at once.

Time and time again, the Jedi Order is portrayed as flawed at best. A little too narrow-sighted. They may mean well, and they're morally better than the sith, but no one ever says, how about a different way? And they keep getting blindsided and genocided. It'd be good to see them being proactive, looking for threats to shut down. But no.

[Danny Franks]

23 hours ago, benteen said:

Taika did an amazing job with Thor Ragnarok and is the right guy to do a Star Wars movie. Rian Johnson is the man who torpedoed the sequel trilogy by going rogue and that's the reason Star Wars as a movie franchise is on life support.

The Rogue Squadron movie is a case of playing it safe.

I will always maintain that Rian Johnson was setting up a really good story with Kylo Ren as the bad guy and Rey as the hero, but then Disney fucked it up because too many people were clamouring for Kylo Ren to be the hero (hunky white boy to the rescue!).

Johnson had Ren usurp Snoke, take over the First Order, fight Luke again and seem to be coming into his full power, even if he wasn't getting over his inferiority complex. Then JJ/Disney just had Ren change his personality to be a good guy again, which meant they needed to drag Palpatine back from the dead just so they had a bad guy.

I won't defend the elongated chase sequence or the casino planet, which felt like they were pulled from a Star Trek or Farscape episode, but it's not like Abrams did anything good with Finn in episode 9 either.

There was a lack of planning and far too much hedging their bets in the sequel trilogy. They should have gone full bore with Rey as the hero (not necessarily calling herself a Jedi), backed up by Poe and Finn, and Kylo Ren as the villain that had to be defeated. In the end, they irritated everyone by trying to please everyone.

Edited May 20, 2022 by Danny Franks

[andromeda331]

2 hours ago, Anduin said:

Yeah. While I like TROS, it suffered from trying to do several different things at once.

Time and time again, the Jedi Order is portrayed as flawed at best. A little too narrow-sighted. They may mean well, and they're morally better than the sith, but no one ever says, how about a different way? And they keep getting blindsided and genocided. It'd be good to see them being proactive, looking for threats to shut down. But no.

I wish they had. That would have been fun. Why did Luke go back to the old ways? He wasn't raised or trained that way. He should have gone in a different direction. It seems like Luke in Return of the Jedi would have gone in a different direction with the Jedi Order. 

[Anduin]

3 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

I wish they had. That would have been fun. Why did Luke go back to the old ways? He wasn't raised or trained that way. He should have gone in a different direction. It seems like Luke in Return of the Jedi would have gone in a different direction with the Jedi Order. 

My best guess? He had the Force ghosts of Obi-Wan, Yoda, and maybe even Anakin whispering in his ear. "No, the old ways are best. We won't get blindsided and wiped out again."

[Perfect Xero]

On 5/18/2022 at 9:49 AM, Anduin said:

We can't let Star Wars get too interesting. Let's do the most safe and boring thing instead. Taika Waititi's movie is up next. Rian Johnson? Backburner. Will this be the first Star Wars I don't see in the cinema? Possibly. The man took a bad film series, Thor, and made it even worse. His continued popularity is completely baffling. I don't believe that he can make a good Star Wars movie if he tried.

However, he has at least three other projects in the works. There's still time for him to get too busy and have to drop out.

So the guy who completely changed the direction of the Thor franchise by deconstructing and then rebuilding Thor, Loki, Odin, and Asgard is the safe and boring choice to direct the next Star Wars film?

12 hours ago, Anduin said:

I'll agree that some of the comedy in TLJ was over the top. But the whole killing Snoke thing? That was set up to give us Kylo Ren as the big bad. No more Palpatine wannabe. However, JJ had other plan And the story of the Resistance was supposed to spread, to recruit people to their cause. JJ went with some of that, though he could have been a little more clear.

Trevorrow was supposed to do IX, but Kathy Kennedy apparently thought Book of Henry was a little too far, got cold feet, and brought JJ back. Allegedly because JJ still remembered all the cut Leia footage that he could reuse.

I'm not sure how that meant Palpatine was back, rather than big bad Ren, but you don't get JJ if you want wild and interesting. Safe and boring it is.

Kylo Ren was burned as any sort of potential big bad when TLJ ended with him screaming like an idiot while Luke pulled a prank on him. The first two films in the trilogy basically end with Kylo Ren being humiliated, he's not a "big bad" that you build up to a final showdown with at the conclusion of the third.

Much in the same way that Hux was burned as any sort of actual threat when he got fooled by the dumbest prank/stall tactic ever by Poe at the start of the TLJ, then let half his fleet get destroyed near the end of the film in much the same way without Holdo even having to bother to distract him first.

At the end of TLJ The First Order led by Kylo and Hux are about as threatening as Wile E. Coyote and Elmer Fudd.

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by Perfect Xero

[tv echo]

FYI...

'Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith' exclusive excerpt: Rey's parents showcased in Luke Skywalker-centric story
Scott Gleeson  May 19, 2022
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/05/19/star-wars-shadow-sith-exclusive-excerpt-reys-parents-luke-skywalker/9820101002/ 

Quote

Now, New Zealand author Adam Christopher is filling in even more blanks with his upcoming novel, "Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith" (Del Rey, 496 pp., out June 28), set between the events of "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens." Rey's parents are revealed and readers get to learn more about Dathan and Miramir – who are always one mistake away from capture, as Palpatine's presence looms and Jedi hunter Ochi pursues Rey as the key to the Sith's return. 
*  *  *
With Jedi master Luke Skywalker and fan favorite Lando Calrissian as the novel's main characters, Christopher explores a timeline two decades after the Battle of Endor, when Skywalker senses a dark disturbance in the force (which, ahem, he's right about) and Calrissian is in pursuit of his lost daughter.

[Anduin]

1 hour ago, tv echo said:

FYI...

'Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith' exclusive excerpt: Rey's parents showcased in Luke Skywalker-centric story
Scott Gleeson  May 19, 2022
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/05/19/star-wars-shadow-sith-exclusive-excerpt-reys-parents-luke-skywalker/9820101002/ 

The book sounds interesting, and yes. It was all a little muddled in the movie, it could do with some clarification.

"Calrissian is in pursuit of his lost daughter."

I had the feeling that Jannah might have been his daughter. Yeah, it would be a big coincidence. But there are bigger coincidences in Star Wars. Besides, I find Naomi Ackie quite pretty as Jannah and want to see more of her in SW. But she doesn't even get to be on the cover. :(

[Kel Varnsen]

8 hours ago, Danny Franks said:

Then JJ/Disney just had Ren change his personality to be a good guy again, which meant they needed to drag Palpatine back from the dead just so they had a bad guy.

In my imagination it totally seems like Carrie died and then someone was given say a few months to come up with a new plotline for the movie. Then they spent that time partying and drinking. Then on the day of the deadline they showed up at their boss's office and pulled "why don't we bring back the Emperor" out of their ass while hung over and waiting in the reception area. 

Because really, Ren as the Big Villain works way better if he has to face off against his own mother.

 

[benteen]

On 5/19/2022 at 10:35 PM, andromeda331 said:

I wish they had. That would have been fun. Why did Luke go back to the old ways? He wasn't raised or trained that way. He should have gone in a different direction. It seems like Luke in Return of the Jedi would have gone in a different direction with the Jedi Order. 

A major issue I have....Luke saved his father and brought balance to the Force because he refused to believe that his father was lost despite what Obi-Wan and Yoda told him. He rolled the dice and won. His Jedi Order should reflect that. A Jedi Order that learns the lessons of the past but doesn't become tied down to them. What have we seen instead? A Luke that is as rigid and dogmatic as his teachers. Trying to start the same exact Jedi Order that went extinct with none of the lessons he learned by not clinging to the old ways. The Luke Skywalker we see at end of ROTJ is someone who isn't going to be trapped by the past. To portray him as such shows a misunderstanding of the character by all those involved, including Abrams, Johnson, Favreau, Filoni and even Lucas.

Edited May 23, 2022 by benteen

[Perfect Xero]

6 hours ago, benteen said:

A major issue I have....Luke saved his father and brought balance to the Force because he refused to believe that his father was lost despite what Obi-Wan and Yoda told him. He rolled and won big. His Jedi Order should reflect that. A Jedi Order that learns the lessons of the past but doesn't become tied down to them. What have we seen instead? A Luke that is as rigid and dogmatic as his teachers. Trying to start the same exact Jedi Order that went extinct with none of the lessons he learned by not clinging to the old ways. The Luke Skywalker we see at end of ROTJ is someone who isn't going to be trapped by the past. To portray him as such shows a misunderstanding of the character by all those involved, including Abrams, Johnson, Favreau, Filoni and even Lucas.

In TFA Kylo/Ben is attempting to sever his emotional attachments to complete his journey to the Dark Side, which is an inversion of what we see from the Jedi in the first 6 films, suggesting that Luke wasn't actually all that dogmatic in following the old Jedi way.

[Kel Varnsen]

23 hours ago, benteen said:

The Luke Skywalker we see at end of ROTJ is someone who isn't going to be trapped by the past. To portray him as such shows a misunderstanding of the character by all those involved, including Abrams, Johnson, Favreau, Filoni and even Lucas.

What I always come back to is while the Jedi's rules didn't make Anakin evil they definitely have him a big push in that direction. You can't see your mom and aren't even really supposed to think about her and your connection to a woman you love has to be kept secret. For Luke on the other hand, his super close connection to his friends (and then being able to connect to his father) is basically what saved the galaxy. Even for Rey her personal connection to her friends is super important to her. So I don't get why Luke holds the ways of the Jedi in such high regard and kind of wish they had taken that a lot further then just the hints about it in The Last Jedi. Especially since in Rogue One there was the dude who had force powers but wasn't a Jedi at all. But then by Rise of Skywalker Rey is continuing her Jedi training for some reason that they didn't really do a great job of explaining.

[Danny Franks]

Rogue One was the best Star Wars movie of the last thirty years (arguably the best Star Wars movie, full stop) and it didn't rely on the Jedi at all. One character who says some spiritual things and Vader's cameo and that's it. Everything else was about plucky rebels up against the odds and finding ways to win. That was the charm of the original Star Wars movie too.

The franchise being so overtaken by All Jedi, All the Time has been to its huge detriment, in my opinion. The prequels were just all about the Jedi and they were so staid and stuffy and made the mysterious order, that seemed pretty cool when Luke was learning bits and pieces, so fucking lame. A bunch of blinkered guys in robes, walking around and talking faux-philosophical nothings.

I don't know why Lucas decided that Jedi should be an order of emotionless warrior monks who are supposed to be above all material squabbles, but I don't see how that makes for entertaining stories. Space fantasy should be about adventure and romance and excitement, not "love is bad because it makes you turn evil... and let's just sit and think for a while before we do anything." (also, I'll never stop rolling my eyes that Lucas decided the official Jedi outfit would be the desert robes that Obi Wan - and Uncle Owen - wore on Tatooine)

I think JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson kind of understood this, but felt too beholden to the Jedi concept to really get away from it, so we were left with this muddled, unsure idea of what the Jedi should be. They couldn't reject the Jedi without enraging the fanbase, but they didn't want to embrace the concepts set up by the prequels either.

[WritinMan]

On 5/20/2022 at 9:59 PM, benteen said:

A major issue I have....Luke saved his father and brought balance to the Force because he refused to believe that his father was lost despite what Obi-Wan and Yoda told him. He rolled and won big. His Jedi Order should reflect that. A Jedi Order that learns the lessons of the past but doesn't become tied down to them. What have we seen instead? A Luke that is as rigid and dogmatic as his teachers. Trying to start the same exact Jedi Order that went extinct with none of the lessons he learned by not clinging to the old ways. The Luke Skywalker we see at end of ROTJ is someone who isn't going to be trapped by the past. To portray him as such shows a misunderstanding of the character by all those involved, including Abrams, Johnson, Favreau, Filoni and even Lucas.

I would give this 100 likes if I could, I particularly agree with the part in bold. There is such a raging misunderstanding of Luke's character in the sequels. Sad.

[benteen]

To me, Luke should have become like Caine from Kung Fu after ROTJ. He travels from planet to planet looking for Jedi artifacts and knowledge but finds himself caught up helping people in trouble. Luke is on a quest to rebuild the Jedi but realizes that helping those destroyed by the Enpire is a sacred duty. He doesn't answer to the New Republic. He is going to help people who are in need. This is how the legend of Luke Skywalker grows and the reputation of the Jedi starts to be restored. Along the way, he begins to find his first students.

Everything we've seen from Luke in the post-ROTJ media, even his awesome rescue mission in The Mandalorian, has been exclusively "Jedi business." That's fine. But Luke Skywalker is meant to be more than just a Jedi relic hunter. He should be a hero who travels from world-to-world helping those who need help. What writer or other behind-the-scenes person would want to oppose that?

This also doesn't mean he gives up attachments either.

Filoni and Favreau might say they are honoring GL's vision of Luke but Greedo shooting first is proof that Lucas long ago lost any understanding of the characters he created.

Edited May 23, 2022 by benteen

[DoctorAtomic]

That vision also fits into (iirc) initial concept that Jedi were a sort of ronin. Sure, go help people. Sometimes you're going to have to choke a bitch. It's ok. There's good drama in being balanced in the Force. 

[BetterButter]

Jude Law to Star in Jon Watts’ ‘Star Wars’ Series

[festivus]

You know, I'll watch it. I like Jude Law. But where is my "How Luke Became Mr. Crankypants after Return of the Jedi" series starring Sebastian Stan? Luke has always been and always will be my favorite character. 

[Kel Varnsen]

Skeleton Crew could be interesting. Or based on the coming of age kids thing (and what we have seen from other recent Star Wars stuff), it could end up beinv the story of a young Kylo Ren and, I don't know Chewie Junior, stealing the Falcon and getting lost on the other side of the Galaxy. Or even worse getting lost near Tatooine.

Edited May 27, 2022 by Kel Varnsen

[tv echo]

More on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew...

SWCA 2022: 20 HIGHLIGHTS FROM LUCASFILM’S STUDIO SHOWCASE
May 26, 2022
https://www.starwars.com/news/swca-2022-20-highlights-from-lucasfilms-studio-showcase?cmp=smc|7027455325

Quote

18. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew revealed. Jon Watts and Chris Ford relayed a few details around their recently announced series, confirming it will star Jude Law and debut in 2023. Called Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the series will center around a group of children lost in space, and be set in the Ahsoka/The Mandalorian time frame. “It’s the story of their journey trying to find their way home,” Watts said. But he also conveyed one important aspect of the series. “It stars four kids, but it is not a kids show.”

Skeleton Crew: Jude Law Will Headline The New Star Wars Series 
BY ANTHONY BREZNICAN     MAY 26, 2022
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/star-wars-skeleton-crew 

Quote

The show, titled Skeleton Crew, was formally announced Thursday at the Star Wars Celebration fan event in Anaheim. Vanity Fair's recent cover story, Star Wars: The Rebellion Will Be Televised, revealed that it was being executive produced by director Jon Watts and writer Chris Ford, who worked together on Spider-Man: Homecoming for Marvel.

“It’s the story about a group of kids, about 10 years old, from a tiny little planet who accidentally get lost in the Star Wars galaxy,” Watts told the crowd. “It’s the story of their journey trying to find their way home.”

“It stars four kids, but it is not a kid’s show,” Ford added. As reported earlier, inside Lucasfilm the show is being described as a galactic version of The Goonies crossed with Stranger Things.
*  *  *
They said the show will begin shooting soon, with plans to debut next year. Prior to this, the program didn't have a publicly known title, just a code name: Grammar Rodeo.
*  *  *
Skeleton Crew will takes place after the fall of the Empire in the same post-Return of the Jedi part of the chronology as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and the upcoming Ahsoka series.

Edited May 27, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Star Wars’ Upcoming Movies Will Be Set Around The Sequel Era, Says Kathleen Kennedy – Exclusive
By Ben Travis    May 27, 2022
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/star-wars-upcoming-movies-set-around-sequel-era-kathleen-kennedy-exclusive/ 

Quote

Speaking to Empire at Celebration, Kennedy confirmed that the sequel era will be explored in the upcoming movies. “We’re moving further beyond the existing sequels as we look to our movie space,” she said. “The sequel era] is what we talk a lot about in terms of where we’re going with our movies, and just how far out from that we’ll go. That’s very much the space we’re concentrating on.” The next confirmed Star Wars movie will be [Taika Waititi’s as-yet-untitled film, co-written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns, while Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie is currently undated, but still in the ether. Kennedy also reiterated that Rian Johnson’s trilogy, announced a long time ago (and very possibly in a galaxy far, far away) is not happening any time soon. “Rian had such a gigantic success with Knives Out that he’s very committed to trying to get that done. So it’ll be a while,” she said. “As you know, we have to work three, five years in advance on what we’re doing. So that’s where that sits.”

Star Wars Celebration Ignores Franchise’s Movie Future
By Adam B. Vary, Rebecca Rubin   May 26, 2022
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/star-wars-celebration-movies-absent-1235278221/

Quote

Yet in Vanity Fair’s cover story this month, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy admitted that “Rogue Squadron” would not make the December 2023 release date as Jenkins continued to work on the script. Instead, Kennedy indicated a movie that Taika Waititi directed and co-wrote with Krysty Wilson-Cairns (“1917”), would be the first feature film to follow “The Rise of Skywalker.” But in order to make a December 2023 release, Waititi would need to begin filming no later that the fall — when his upcoming movie, “Next Goal Wins,” is expected to premiere for Searchlight.

Beyond the Waititi and Jenkins feature projects, the picture has been much murkier for where “Star Wars” movies are heading. In March, Kennedy waved off speculation that Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige was actively producing a “Star Wars” movie for Lucasfilm, saying that while she’d “love to see at some point” what Feige would do, “there isn’t anything specifically on the horizon.”
*  *  *
On the red carpet at Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy remained vague about the franchise’s next steps.

“We had so much to highlight with the new television that we have coming. We’re going to have plenty of time to showcase in the same way what we’re doing in the movie space. We’re all really excited with where that’s going,” she told Variety.

SWCA 2022: 20 HIGHLIGHTS FROM LUCASFILM’S STUDIO SHOWCASE
May 26, 2022
https://www.starwars.com/news/swca-2022-20-highlights-from-lucasfilms-studio-showcase

Quote

This is where the fun begins. Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 kicked off today in memorable fashion with Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase, featuring a look at the future of the galaxy far, far away and more — including the upcoming Willow Original series, and new details around the next adventure of a certain fedora-wearing archaeologist. Hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, the panel event covered Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Willow, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, a new series from Jon Watts and Chris Ford, and the fifth Indiana Jones film. Opening the first Star Wars Celebration since 2019, the showcase held even more significance. “We may have been apart, but we felt your presence,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said. “You are going to see some pretty amazing things.” And we did! Here are 20 highlights.

Star Wars Celebration LIVE! - DAY 1
Star Wars   May 26, 2022

Edited May 27, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Star Wars Celebration 2022: Everything Announced So Far
By Adam Bankhurst     28 May 202
https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-celebration-2022-everything-announced

Quote

In 2022, Star Wars Celebration runs from May 26 through May 29, and this roundup will gather all the biggest and best stories out of the show. We will constantly be updating this page throughout the weekend, so check back often to ensure you don't miss a thing!

Kathleen Kennedy on the future of Star Wars movies: "We need to create a whole new saga"
By Jack Shepherd published 1 day ago
https://www.gamesradar.com/star-wars-movies-kathleen-kennedy-celebration-interview/ 

Quote

Total Film: Star Wars Celebration has led to some very exciting new, but I would say there was a curious lack of talk about the movies. There were reports that the next movie will now be Taika Waititi's Star Wars film. Is that correct?. 
Kathleen Kennedy: That's correct. 

Is that aiming for 2023?
Yeah. Well, not 2023, but late 2023.

The December 2023 release date? 
We haven't locked anything in.
*  *  *
Obi-Wan's coming out next, and there's been such love for the prequels. Will there be more of exploring that era ahead?
That's exactly what we're doing with John Favreau and Dave Filoni and Jon Watts, especially Dave's new show Ahsoka. We realize there's kind of been a pattern of a new generation coming along. All the kids of the kids end up loving the prequels and their parents loved the original movies, and now we have the sequels, not very long ago, there'll be a whole generation attached to that. It's always important in Star Wars because it's one story that we carry forward. That's the way we look at this. It's a persistent story that goes on and on. And sometimes we can look back and other times we can look forward. And that's the way we look at it as we talk about what those new projects might be, whether it's TV, a movie, and eventually a game. So many of the people in the audience, they're there, now they're moving from one to the next at Disneyland, in the parks, you want to have that relate to the experiences you're having on TV or in the movies or so though. It becomes a very broad subject.
*  *  *
There were some quotes before this from yourself implying that we won't see any more characters recast with younger actors. 
I never say never. It's certainly not something that we're doing with any intention right now. We're still talking about Lando with Donald Glover, for instance, but I don't think we would intentionally just look back at some of the characters like Luke and Leia and whatnot and decide arbitrarily to do a story. There would have to be a really strong reason why.

Lucasfilm Studio Showcase Recap | Star Wars Celebration 2022
Star Wars   May 27, 2022

Star Wars: The High Republic For Light and Life Panel | Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022
Star Wars   May 27, 2022

Star Wars Celebration LIVE! - DAY 2
Star Wars   May 27, 2022

Edited May 28, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Star Wars Celebration LIVE! - DAY 3
Star Wars    May 28, 2022

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary Celebration | Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022
Star Wars    May 28, 2022

[andromeda331]

It was really good. Logan and Temuera were really funny. When filming the movie they made Temuera (Jango Fett) had to fly to England from New Zealand just to say one line "Pack your things. We're leaving."

[Anduin]

57 minutes ago, andromeda331 said:

It was really good. Logan and Temuera were really funny. When filming the movie they made Temuera (Jango Fett) had to fly to England from New Zealand just to say one line "Pack your things. We're leaving."

Yeah, Temeuera felt the camera angle was wrong for that moment, but didn't want to say anything. thankfully, Lucas realised it was wrong eventually, and had the budget to fly someone across the world to fix it. I suppose that when you have a licence to print money, you can get away with that kind of thing. :)

I read the highlights on IO9. My favourite bit was "Boba answers the door and, apparently, Lucas wanted him to look suspicious of the Jedi. Take after take though, Logan couldn’t get it. Then, McGregor took the young actor aside and said to him, “When I open the door, act like I’ve done a terrible fart.” It was the perfect motivation—and seeing as how well it worked, Lucas thought so, too."

[andromeda331]

33 minutes ago, Anduin said:

Yeah, Temeuera felt the camera angle was wrong for that moment, but didn't want to say anything. thankfully, Lucas realised it was wrong eventually, and had the budget to fly someone across the world to fix it. I suppose that when you have a licence to print money, you can get away with that kind of thing. :)

I guess so. That's a long way to flight for one line. Good thing Lucas had tons of money.

Quote

I read the highlights on IO9. My favourite bit was "Boba answers the door and, apparently, Lucas wanted him to look suspicious of the Jedi. Take after take though, Logan couldn’t get it. Then, McGregor took the young actor aside and said to him, “When I open the door, act like I’ve done a terrible fart.” It was the perfect motivation—and seeing as how well it worked, Lucas thought so, too."

That was hilarious.

[paulvdb]

2 hours ago, Anduin said:

My favourite bit was "Boba answers the door and, apparently, Lucas wanted him to look suspicious of the Jedi. Take after take though, Logan couldn’t get it. Then, McGregor took the young actor aside and said to him, “When I open the door, act like I’ve done a terrible fart.”

I always thought Joey Tribbiani just made that up, but smell-the-fart acting is actually a real thing?

[Anduin]

16 minutes ago, paulvdb said:

I always thought Joey Tribbiani just made that up, but smell-the-fart acting is actually a real thing?

Apparently so!

[tv echo]

Star Wars Celebration LIVE! - DAY 4
Star Wars   May 29, 2022

Jon Favreau Expresses Gratitude for his Future Star Wars Works
Variety   May 28, 2022

Dave Filoni joins us on stage at SWCA 22 | Star Wars Celebration LIVE!
Star Wars   May 29, 2022

Kelly Marie Tran and Billie Lourd join us at SWCA 2022 | Star Wars Celebration LIVE!
Star Wars   May 29, 2022

Edited May 30, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim News and Reveals!
Star Wars   Jun 2, 2022

Anthony Daniels takes the stage at SWCA 2022 | Star Wars Celebration LIVE!
Star Wars   Jun 2, 2022

[andromeda331]

19 minutes ago, tv echo said:

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim News and Reveals!
Star Wars   Jun 2, 2022

Anthony Daniels takes the stage at SWCA 2022 | Star Wars Celebration LIVE!
Star Wars   Jun 2, 2022

Both were good. But I loved the Anthony Daniels one. I loved how the guy snarked on the costume until he had to try it on and find it was very hard to move in it. 

[tv echo]

Star Wars Talent | What's Up, Disney+
Disney Plus   Jun 4, 2022

[Spartan Girl]

[tv echo]

FYI...

Star Wars TV Status Report: The Latest on Lando, Mando, Ahsoka and 5 Others
By Matt Webb Mitovich / June 5 2022
https://tvline.com/lists/every-star-wars-tv-series-release-date-casting-news/ 

[tv echo]

‘Icons Unearthed: Star Wars’: Nacelle & Vice TV’s Series Debuts With First-Ever On Camera Interview With George Lucas’ Ex-Wife, Marcia
By Tom Tapp    June 6, 2022
https://deadline.com/2022/06/vice-tvs-icons-unearthed-star-wars-series-debuts-with-first-ever-on-camera-interview-with-george-lucas-ex-wife-marcia-1235038275/ 

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Vice TV will world premiere the Nacelle Company’s new Icons Unearthed series July 12, with the first installment of a 6-hour deep dive into the Star Wars Universe.

In Icons Unearthed: Star Wars Marcia Lucas, Oscar-winning film editor and ex-wife of George Lucas, sits down for her first-ever on-camera interview and provides unique insight into the rise of LucasFilm — including her 14-year marriage to and eventual divorce from George Lucas — the editing of the original Star Wars trilogy, the origin of the idea that Darth Vader would be Luke’s father and if there were really originally plans for nine movies.

Icons Unearthed: Star Wars also includes exclusive interviews with Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Paul Hirsch, Phil Tippett, Rick Baker, Ken Ralston, John Dykstra, Howard Kazanjian, Julian Glover, Ian McDiarmid, Gus Lopez, Tom Spina and many more. Icons Unearthed: Star Wars is narrated by Michael Pennington, who portrayed Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod in Return of the Jedi.
*  *  *
The series will world premiere with the first Star Wars installment on July 12, 2022 at 10 p.m. ET on Vice TV.

[tv echo]

FYI...

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Biggest Presentations at D23 Expo 2022
By the D23 Team   June 9, 2022 
https://d23.com/find-out-the-biggest-presentations-at-d23-expo-2022/

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Saturday, September 10
Filmmakers, celebrity talent, and surprise guests will join representatives from Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, among others, onstage in Hall D23 at 10 a.m. to showcase theatrical and Disney+ titles. Going behind the scenes of these studios’ highly anticipated films, specials, and series, attendees will see exclusive footage and be among the first to learn what else is in the works.

[Spartan Girl]

So after rewatching Phantom Menace, I’m more convinced than ever that Jake Lloyd, like Hayden Christensen, was the victim of crappy writing. And it’s worse when you consider the fact that he, a literal child, was mercilessly mocked for all the cringeworthy lines and how he delivered when when Lucas and the others were the adults and should have known and done better. Lucas needed to be more consistent with characterizing Anakin: he’s a pretty upbeat for someone that’s had a pretty tough life up til that point. I don’t mind the parts where he came off as slightly smarmy, because older Anakin had that quality in spades.

But I really wish they had let him smile naturally to Padme in the parade finale instead of giving that creepy half-smirk. Also wish the movie had kept the part in the novelization where he declares to Padme that he’s going to marry her, and like any 14-year-old dealing with a 9-year-old she laughs it off and tries to let him down gently by saying he’s just a little boy, which Anakin responds, “I won’t always be.” 

There were some bright moments in that performance: him saying goodbye to his mother and giving Padme the necklace. And I loved his exasperated response to the Council pointing out how he was thinking about his mother: “I miss her!” Seriously, I know the Younglings are taken from their parents at a young age, but why WOULDN’T he miss her?

[andromeda331]

14 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

So after rewatching Phantom Menace, I’m more convinced than ever that Jake Lloyd, like Hayden Christensen, was the victim of crappy writing. And it’s worse when you consider the fact that he, a literal child, was mercilessly mocked for all the cringeworthy lines and how he delivered when when Lucas and the others were the adults and should have known and done better. Lucas needed to be more consistent with characterizing Anakin: he’s a pretty upbeat for someone that’s had a pretty tough life up til that point. I don’t mind the parts where he came off as slightly smarmy, because older Anakin had that quality in spades.

But I really wish they had let him smile naturally to Padme in the parade finale instead of giving that creepy half-smirk. Also wish the movie had kept the part in the novelization where he declares to Padme that he’s going to marry her, and like any 14-year-old dealing with a 9-year-old she laughs it off and tries to let him down gently by saying he’s just a little boy, which Anakin responds, “I won’t always be.” 

There were some bright moments in that performance: him saying goodbye to his mother and giving Padme the necklace. And I loved his exasperated response to the Council pointing out how he was thinking about his mother: “I miss her!” Seriously, I know the Younglings are taken from their parents at a young age, but why WOULDN’T he miss her?

There's no excuse for the crap Lloyd went with through by horrible fans. 

I think Phantom Menace would have been better if we started out with Obi Wan training Anakin. They could show him missing his mother and flashbacks of him meeting Qui Gon and leaving with him and his death. 

It really showed how out of touch the Jedi are. They all were taking away from their families when they were too young to consent or what they were getting into and were never allowed to see their families. They were suppose to just let it go. When Anakin comes along they worry about his attachment to his mother but it's clear they don't understand it. No one on the council and not even Obi Wan really understands it. Obi Wan blows off Anakin's dreams of his mother as nothing. It turns out they were nothing. But it also makes sure that when Anakin starts having dreams of Padme's death he's not going to tell Obi Wan about it because he's already blown it off before. It also insures even though Anakin does go to Yoda for advice he can't say who's in the dreams because he's not allowed to love someone let alone get married. Yoda's advice was always going to be crap because Jedi aren't allowed to have attachments.  Also, since Anakin wasn't allowed to contact his mother he spent all ten years thinking his mother was still a slave. The Jedi easily could have freed Shmi and set her up in a new life. But they don't. He never even knew she was freed and married which would have been a great relief for Anakin to know his mother was safe, free and happy. 

[tv echo]

Taika Waititi Shares Update On His Star Wars Movie
BY CHRIS AGAR    JUNE 10, 2022
https://screenrant.com/star-wars-movie-taika-waititi-script-updates/ 

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Speaking with Screen Rant while promoting Pixar's Lightyear, Waititi discussed his upcoming Star Wars movie and how it might be different from previous installments. In his response, Waititi remarked how he wants to ensure it "feels like a Star Wars film" by keeping some of the franchise's familiar aspects. Check out his comments in the space below:

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That's yet to be seen. I don't know. I'm still writing. I'm still coming up with the ideas and storylining it and just wanted to make sure that it feels like a Star Wars film.

Because, I could say, "Oh yeah, we'll just write any old thing and set in space and then put Star Wars on the front." But it wouldn't be a Star Wars film without certain elements and a certain treatment, so I've just got to make sure that it stays within that wheelhouse.

*  *  *
It will be interesting to see when Lucasfilm reveals more information about Waititi's Star Wars movie. Lucasfilm is part of the D23 Expo in September, where the studio will presumably offer teases of what's to come. Kennedy could use that opportunity to provide additional clarity on the future Star Wars movie slate, after Star Wars Celebration was dedicated to outlining the upcoming TV lineup. If Waititi's movie is to premiere in 2023, things will have to come into fruition soon. At the very least, it would be good to get some story details about what the director has in mind for his Star Wars film.

Edited June 11, 2022 by tv echo

[Kel Varnsen]

18 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

So after rewatching Phantom Menace, I’m more convinced than ever that Jake Lloyd, like Hayden Christensen, was the victim of crappy writing

I think that is true. Although at the same time I watched Jingle All the Way last Christmas with my kids (and the ER episodes he was in) and Jake Lloyd was pretty limited as an actor. But at the same time he was a kid and better writing and direction in Phantom Menace a huge difference for that movie. And even if that wasn't available, he was a kid in an overall dumb movie, so people need to chill out.

4 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

It really showed how out of touch the Jedi are. They all were taking away from their families when they were too young to consent or what they were getting into and were never allowed to see their families.

It bugs me that the Jedi were never really called out for all of their bullshit rules and how the way they acted was a huge contributor to the galaxy falling apart.

[DoctorAtomic]

7 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

There's no excuse for the crap Lloyd went with through by horrible fans. 

Same for the guy who played Jar Jar. Actors act. They're contract workers. They take jobs when they're offered, or they aren't working. 

[Cobalt Stargazer]

5 hours ago, Kel Varnsen said:

It bugs me that the Jedi were never really called out for all of their bullshit rules and how the way they acted was a huge contributor to the galaxy falling apart.

A the same time, you can't really blame the Jedi for Anakin going psycho and slaughtering the younglings. I mean, you could, but it wouldn't make much sense. His instability may have been contributed to by the separation from his mother, being expected to deny his feelings for Padme, but like Kylo with Han, Anakin had the choice not to commit murder. The Jedi being crappy guardians/mentors for children were just the building blocks, not the poor quality mortar.

[Danny Franks]

I always found the whole premise of the Jedi being denied love to be dumb and not in keeping with established lore (maybe it's in some of the novels, released before the prequels, but I don't care about those). Everything Luke was told revolved around his feelings - search your feelings, use your feelings, you feel this to be true etc. There was no talk of denying anything except his anger, which is just sensible ideology for anyone, but especially anyone with great power.

But suddenly, in the prequels, the Jedi are cold and emotionless and always remain detached and disinterested in anything other than their Order and the supposed good of the Republic. Perhaps Lucas was trying to show a Jedi Order that had been atrophied and crippled by increasingly dogmatic, extreme views and ever more stringent laws, which would have been really interesting. Only, he didn't write anything to establish that or contrast the current Order with what had gone before.

It felt lazy. But so did so much of what we saw in the prequels - the official Jedi robe is apparently whatever Obi Wan was wearing in A New Hope (guess that makes Uncle Owen a jedi, because he's wearing very similar clothing. You know, practical, desert garb), the easy shortcut to 'he's the messiah!' using microscopic macguffin bacteria and a virgin birth, introducing C3P0 when there was really no need to have him in the movie, and it just makes his origin story weird (why would Anakin just build a standard protocol droid instead of something that would actually be useful?).

[Spartan Girl]

24 minutes ago, Danny Franks said:

I always found the whole premise of the Jedi being denied love to be dumb and not in keeping with established lore (maybe it's in some of the novels, released before the prequels, but I don't care about those). Everything Luke was told revolved around his feelings - search your feelings, use your feelings, you feel this to be true etc. There was no talk of denying anything except his anger, which is just sensible ideology for anyone, but especially anyone with great power.

But suddenly, in the prequels, the Jedi are cold and emotionless and always remain detached and disinterested in anything other than their Order and the supposed good of the Republic. Perhaps Lucas was trying to show a Jedi Order that had been atrophied and crippled by increasingly dogmatic, extreme views and ever more stringent laws, which would have been really interesting. Only, he didn't write anything to establish that or contrast the current Order with what had gone before.

Well in Clone awards, Obi-Wan did say that they weren’t technically forbidden to love, just encouraged to love wisely. Also not get married and remain celibate, but I still your point.

1 hour ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

A the same time, you can't really blame the Jedi for Anakin going psycho and slaughtering the younglings. I mean, you could, but it wouldn't make much sense. His instability may have been contributed to by the separation from his mother, being expected to deny his feelings for Padme, but like Kylo with Han, Anakin had the choice not to commit murder. The Jedi being crappy guardians/mentors for children were just the building blocks, not the poor quality mortar.

This. Anakin made his choice. He was willing to slaughter children as long as he could have what we wanted (Padme). True, he probably felt like he had no choice as he betrayed Mace Windu and knew the rest of the Jedi would come after him anyway, but he still had a choice. When Padme begged him away with her, he said flat-out that he wanted to rule, to remake the world the way he wanted. His trauma and issues were only half the story, he wanted power and control. And that’s on nobody except him.

[DoctorAtomic]

2 hours ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

The Jedi being crappy guardians/mentors for children were just the building blocks, not the poor quality mortar.

I'd also add Anakin being denied the title of Master because of whatever silly hoops they wanted him to jump through. Kenobi should have argued his case much more thoroughly. We have the hindsight of the Clone Wars now that show what he was actually doing in the war was far and above what a Jedi Master does. I mean, if my work isn't valuing me, I'm not happy either. Anakin also had some entitlement because he knew he was really powerful compared to the rest of them. 

1 hour ago, Danny Franks said:

Perhaps Lucas was trying to show a Jedi Order that had been atrophied and crippled by increasingly dogmatic, extreme views and ever more stringent laws, which would have been really interesting.

I think he was, but the execution of the prequels was just poor. 

[andromeda331]

15 hours ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

A the same time, you can't really blame the Jedi for Anakin going psycho and slaughtering the younglings. I mean, you could, but it wouldn't make much sense. His instability may have been contributed to by the separation from his mother, being expected to deny his feelings for Padme, but like Kylo with Han, Anakin had the choice not to commit murder. The Jedi being crappy guardians/mentors for children were just the building blocks, not the poor quality mortar.

I agree. While the Jedi very badly messed up raising him and he clearly had issues with him and Palpatine was clearly maniuplating him. Some that were explained in the Clone Wars. Him deciding to murder is on him. He could have quit or started his own Jedi Order or left to join the military. He chose murder innocent children and everyone else in the Jedi Temple who had done nothing wrong.  He knew it was wrong before he did it, during and afterwards. 

[starri]

I want more High Republic (or Old Republic) focused stuff.  Something new to play in.

[tv echo]

San Diego Comic Con Plans, Obi-Wan Kenobi Props, and More!
Star Wars    Jul 21, 2022

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 ...  This week in Star Wars, San Diego Comic-Con 2022 begins with screen-used Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi costumes and more at the Lucasfilm pavilion, the Lucasfilm Publishing panel returns, and we get excited for some of the sweet convention exclusives you can get your hands on. Plus, we visit the Lucasfilm Archives for some rebel items from the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ limited series.

Edited July 22, 2022 by tv echo