Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Pre-release)

[Krull]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I watched a crap load of Friday the 13th films before the age of 10.... doesn't make them a kids movie

You get it as I was the same,hell I saw most of the 80's horror films as a kid back then! :lol

 

[rodneyfaile]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

You can have good kid's movies, and bad kid's movies.

 

[Jaitea]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

....but the thing is.....if Star Wars was originally concieved as being a kids film, it didn't turn out that way, don't forget it blew all box office records and was seen & enjoyed by all ages, it had the perfect mix for a blockbuster,...just like loads of other family movies around that time, Jaws, Raiders, Superman etc

J

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

....but the thing is.....if Star Wars was originally concieved as being a kids film, it didn't turn out that way, don't forget it blew all box office records and was seen & enjoyed by all ages, it had the perfect mix for a blockbuster,...just like loads of other family movies around that time, Jaws, Raiders, Superman etc

J

I think GL is being a somewhat coy when he says that. He certainly had that in mind but when you consider his other film influences like Kurosawa or the writings of Conrad, he was very much making a universal, ageless, timeless story. This effort to pigeonhole films into categories was much less prevalent in the summer of '77.

 

[rodneyfaile]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Good movies are good, bad movies are bad.

 

[Darth Lars]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

"The original film was designed to allow young people to think outside the box. It was designed for 12-year-olds, adolescents, kids who were starting to think outside the box anyway, as a way of saying, "Let your fantasies run free, because this is the time to do it." That was one of the original purposes of "Star Wars."" - GL

I remember him using the word "adolescents" in another interview made in 1976 during filming of Star Wars.

 

[The Terminator]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

You get it as I was the same,hell I saw most of the 80's horror films as a kid back then! :lol

and I got screwed up for life! I can no longer watch a horror film..... and get scared. Totally sucks butt

 

[niennumb1]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

and I got screwed up for life! I can no longer watch a horror film..... and get scared. Totally sucks butt

I can watch horror films... I just have a hard time counting a horror film rated PG-13 as a horror film since those kinds are films are supposed to be geared towards an adult audience.

 

[Solo4114]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I remember him using the word "adolescents" in another interview made in 1976 during filming of Star Wars.

Eh, I'm honestly far less inclined to give George's attitudes much weight for two reasons.

1. He's changed his tune about any number of issues over the years. You could point to him saying it's for "adolescents" in 1976, or him saying it's for "kids" (nevermind the inclusion of procedural stuff that would turn a House of Cards episode into CSPAN...) in 2005, and which one is right? And then there's the whole issue of things like having Han shoot first in the theatrical release of ANH, and having Greedo shoot first in 1997, and then having them fire at the same time in 2004... The guy isn't that consistent, so I take what he says with a gram of salt.

2. His own attitudes and intentions are only a small part of the story. The audience interprets what he's doing. Consider the following. If James Cameron said "Well, obviously, I always intended that Alien society, such as it is, was actually patriarchal. I mean, look at the so-called "queen." She's stuck in a birthing chamber, surrounded by guards. I thought it was obvious that they controlled her and it was similar to the Company's attempts to control Ripley. Really, Ripley and the Queen are spiritual sisters," would it matter what he said if people didn't interpret it that way? If Don McLean had said "The Jester and Satan in American Pie are meant to represent Jerry Lewis and Arthur Brown (you know, the God of Hellfire?)," would it really matter, given how people assumed it was Dylan and Jagger, respectively? Audience interpretation (in my opinion) ultimately matters more to what art means than artistic intention.

 

[Vivek]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

ATTACK THE BLOCK'S John Boyega Up For STAR WARS VII Lead | Badass Digest

'Star Wars Episode VII': Actors Battle for Lead Role (EXCLUSIVE) | Variety

 

[joshvanrad]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Both of those articles kind of leave me with an uneasy feeling... this is the first time I've felt this "disturbance in the force" since I heard SW7 was in the works.

Anybody familiar with any of those three guys. I only know Jesse from Breaking Bad, and I'm completely unfamiliar with the other two. Something is just not sitting right with those three options though. Also, the fact that they are looking to diversify the cast for the sake of diversifying the cast is never something I'm fond of hearing. (I hope that doesn't make me sound like a racist, because that is not at all what I'm getting at lol)

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Both of those articles kind of leave me with an uneasy feeling... this is the first time I've felt this "disturbance in the force" since I heard SW7 was in the works.

Anybody familiar with any of those three guys. I only know Jesse from Breaking Bad, and I'm completely unfamiliar with the other two. Something is just not sitting right with those three options though. Also, the fact that they are looking to diversify the cast for the sake of diversifying the cast is never something I'm fond of hearing. (I hope that doesn't make me sound like a racist, because that is not at all what I'm getting at lol)

Actually, I am not clear what you mean exactly. Are you uncomfortable that these actors are relative unknowns to you (I know Jesse and the Downton Abbey guy as I watch those shows) or because you think this suggest a pandering to a racial demographic that will compromise the final product? You do realize besides Alec Guiness and Peter Cushing, SW was cast with relative unknowns?

 

[joshvanrad]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Actually, I am not clear what you mean exactly. Are you uncomfortable that these actors are relative unknowns to you (I know Jesse and the Downton Abbey guy as I watch those shows) or because you think this suggest a pandering to a racial demographic that will compromise the final product? You do realize besides Alec Guiness and Peter Cushing, SW was cast with relative unknowns?

No, I would very much prefer that the cast is relatively unknown. I even like the guy they're picking up to play the villain. He has an interesting look. But these three are just not sitting right with me.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[Solo4114]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Seriously, don't buy into the hype before there are official announcements. Prior to the announcements of the cast, there were discussions that Kenneth Branagh would play Obi-Wan in the prequels, and that the kid from The Indian In The Cupboard (whom I actually know) was a possibility for a young Anakin, while Devon Sawa (of Idle Hands and Final Destination) was being considered as Anakin when he was older.

Nothing's official until it's official.

 

[GiovanniDekkers]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I think that going with unknown actors is exactly the right thing to do here...Why? avoids predictability, also these relatively unknown actors , have to still proof themselves in the Movie-bussiness, so they'll be acting their behinds off, Ofcourse it's a gamble Abrams takes with this, but didn't George Lucas do the same back in the beginning?

No, I would very much prefer that the cast is relatively unknown. I even like the guy they're picking up to play the villain. He has an interesting look. But these three are just not sitting right with me.

I See the first more as an enforcer, maybe somekind of Jedi-Constable (Jedi-policeman or Agent ) , now that Republic has returned The Jedi-Order can be the source of Authority again, comparing it to some sort of Police-force.
The second Guy, John Boyega, a young British actor who looks promising in "Attack the Block" , he has an attitude going that could work out well as an Impulsive Young Jedi-Knight struggling with the Force....or be a close relative to Lando Calrissian as a Smuggler or Spice handler/Dealer who becomes involved in the main Story.
The Third one I picture as an experienced Jedi-Knight, he's a very withdrawn serious kind of character, which could relate to Obi-wan.In Breaking Bad, he was pretty laidback lad, who didn't hesitate to follow orders, looking a the way acts in BB , he could be a convincing Jedi-Knight or even a Master Under Luke Skywalker.

Ok they don't look like action-heroes, which lieves a lot of room for Character-development .

 

[tcsmit29]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

....but the thing is.....if Star Wars was originally concieved as being a kids film, it didn't turn out that way, don't forget it blew all box office records and was seen & enjoyed by all ages, it had the perfect mix for a blockbuster,...just like loads of other family movies around that time, Jaws, Raiders, Superman etc

J

I am not sure if it was conceived to be a kids movie in the beginning or not...I guess no one really knows. My opinion is that the merchandising took over. Who were all the action figures, model kits, lunchboxes, ect aimed at? These things were appealing to the kids. So the movies gradually were affected by this. You can see beginnings of the Jar Jar Syndrome in Return of the Jedi in characters like ewoks, sy snoodles band, the frog like creature that burps, the Sarlaac burp...basically stuff that people hate about the Phantom Menace. It was present before the PT.

 

[Solo4114]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Yeah, I think the difference is that the goofy stuff in TPM was (A) more front-and-center by virtue of Jar Jar being a main character, and (B) was more...juvenile behavior, rather than cutesyness like with the ewoks. I think people find "forced cute" to be less offensive than "forced humor" but I suppose that's a matter of taste.

 

[cboath]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Both of those articles kind of leave me with an uneasy feeling... this is the first time I've felt this "disturbance in the force" since I heard SW7 was in the works.

Anybody familiar with any of those three guys. I only know Jesse from Breaking Bad, and I'm completely unfamiliar with the other two. Something is just not sitting right with those three options though. Also, the fact that they are looking to diversify the cast for the sake of diversifying the cast is never something I'm fond of hearing. (I hope that doesn't make me sound like a racist, because that is not at all what I'm getting at lol)

I read it the same way - the diverse part. It sounded very much like they were doing diversity for the sake of diversity itself. Not because the actors were the better choices or the script called for, but moreso for the pandering to demographis aspect Bryan referenced. It could very well be a quote taken out of context, but that's the way it read to me.

As for unknowns, i think most people want that. I know I do.

As for diversity - i think you should go in colorblind. If the best guy for a starring spot is a green skinned venutian - so be it. But he should beat out a better actor because he's a green skinned venutian.

And like you, i hope it doesn't make me sound bad either

 

[JD]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I've read the article a few times now and I am not getting sense of "diversity for diversity's sake." The line in the Variety article says "Abrams has said on numerous occasions that he wants to have a diversified cast" doesn't sound like that at all to me. Sounds like Abrams is open to considering all possibilities regardless of color or creed; Sam Jackson can't be the only black Jedi, can he?

But, some folks read more into certain statements than others.

(And for the record, as a longtime Fantastic Four fan, I am still deadset against Michael B. Jordan playing Johnny Storm).

 

[joshvanrad]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I've read the article a few times now and I am not getting sense of "diversity for diversity's sake." The line in the Variety article says "Abrams has said on numerous occasions that he wants to have a diversified cast" doesn't sound like that at all to me. Sounds like Abrams is open to considering all possibilities regardless of color or creed; Sam Jackson can't be the only black Jedi, can he?

But, some folks read more into certain statements than others.

(And for the record, as a longtime Fantastic Four fan, I am still deadset against Michael B. Jordan playing Johnny Storm).

It was more of the other article that gave me the feeling that they are doing it strictly for the sake of diversity.