Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Pre-release)
- Thread starter Warpaint
- Start date
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
It really does look like that EP7 takes place in a galaxy thrown into chaos by the gradual disintegration of the Empire. I would guess that the structure of governance ,law and order has become very fragmented ,as the remaining forces vie to keep or take territory again ,thus sparking new conflicts in their efforts to reassert their power bases over the star systems once again.
I would also imagine a very high degree of lawlessness, so the Hutts , black market smugglers ,pirates and bounty hunters are having a rare old time exploiting the gaps in the planetary markets and borderlands.
Personally I welcome all of this. This could really inject some of that old energy in to the films again. It opens up a huge variety of possible storylines and such a diverse range of new characters and situations. Again I am struck by the parallels to “Game of Thrones” and I think this makes the SW universe a far more interesting place than the previous dynamics of just Empire V Rebellion, because as we have recently seen in the real world , once a dictator is deposed ,all manner of strange creatures will fight to occupy and dominate that power vacuum and some of them are frightening worse than what had previously existed.
Hence we have a big cast, with such a large number of new characters being introduced in this opening chapter. And of course a lot of the old ones are now unfortunately old enough to pull a pension.
Those still debating the CGI /practical effects? This was perhaps relevant a decade ago, but it’s a fairly done argument now. The film producers and the effects houses existing today really know what cuts the mustard with audiences and although people can still challenge the overall script, dialogue or storyline these days if its not exactly to their taste, its become relatively difficult to find any faults with the technical effects. Even my worst film this year, Transcendence, looked excellent as did the fairly low budget “Lucy” ,at barely $40 million.
And given the overall brilliant production levels achieved in this years films ,with possibly the most stunning yet to hit the screen in “Interstellar”, I’d say you don’t need to loose any sleep over it. I mean this ILM for gods sake, THE GODFATHER AND DIVINITY of all that has been holy to us effects fans for the last four decades. Plus there’s also a large number of more specialised effects shops also involved. I think most of us will be weeping in sheer gratitude for what we’ll be seeing on the screen , rather than end up wailing in despair.
It really does look like that EP7 takes place in a galaxy thrown into chaos by the gradual disintegration of the Empire. I would guess that the structure of governance ,law and order has become very fragmented ,as the remaining forces vie to keep or take territory again ,thus sparking new conflicts in their efforts to reassert their power bases over the star systems once again.
I would also imagine a very high degree of lawlessness, so the Hutts , black market smugglers ,pirates and bounty hunters are having a rare old time exploiting the gaps in the planetary markets and borderlands.
Personally I welcome all of this. This could really inject some of that old energy in to the films again. It opens up a huge variety of possible storylines and such a diverse range of new characters and situations. Again I am struck by the parallels to “Game of Thrones” and I think this makes the SW universe a far more interesting place than the previous dynamics of just Empire V Rebellion, because as we have recently seen in the real world , once a dictator is deposed ,all manner of strange creatures will fight to occupy and dominate that power vacuum and some of them are frightening worse than what had previously existed.
Hence we have a big cast, with such a large number of new characters being introduced in this opening chapter. And of course a lot of the old ones are now unfortunately old enough to pull a pension.
Those still debating the CGI /practical effects? This was perhaps relevant a decade ago, but it’s a fairly done argument now. The film producers and the effects houses existing today really know what cuts the mustard with audiences and although people can still challenge the overall script, dialogue or storyline these days if its not exactly to their taste, its become relatively difficult to find any faults with the technical effects. Even my worst film this year, Transcendence, looked excellent as did the fairly low budget “Lucy” ,at barely $40 million.
And given the overall brilliant production levels achieved in this years films ,with possibly the most stunning yet to hit the screen in “Interstellar”, I’d say you don’t need to loose any sleep over it. I mean this ILM for gods sake, THE GODFATHER AND DIVINITY of all that has been holy to us effects fans for the last four decades. Plus there’s also a large number of more specialised effects shops also involved. I think most of us will be weeping in sheer gratitude for what we’ll be seeing on the screen , rather than end up wailing in despair.
christrom
Sr Member
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
I think the lawlessness and fragmented order sound like a great way to go about things. After all it is a huge galaxy. I wonder if they will use Iraq as a basis? Things didn't turn into roses the second they removed Saddam.
As for the cast being sprawling - I wouldn't worry one iota about it. If it is the first of a Trilogy it will be a good set up for the rest of the films. Think about the key players in Star Wars:
Luke
Leia
Han
Chewie
R2D2
C3PO
Obi-wan
Vader
Tarkin
Beru
Owen
And many more. Did it feel like too many characters? Nope. Also, don't forget that a film has plenty of time to weave in all the characters meaningfully into the story. I've never been a fan of Star Trek, so when I watched the Abrams version I was coming to it from a relatively fresh standpoint, and that film has plenty of people in it. It didn't feel bloated at all to me. In fact, my overriding thought when I had finished watching it was - I wish the had done the prequels like this...
I think the lawlessness and fragmented order sound like a great way to go about things. After all it is a huge galaxy. I wonder if they will use Iraq as a basis? Things didn't turn into roses the second they removed Saddam.
As for the cast being sprawling - I wouldn't worry one iota about it. If it is the first of a Trilogy it will be a good set up for the rest of the films. Think about the key players in Star Wars:
Luke
Leia
Han
Chewie
R2D2
C3PO
Obi-wan
Vader
Tarkin
Beru
Owen
And many more. Did it feel like too many characters? Nope. Also, don't forget that a film has plenty of time to weave in all the characters meaningfully into the story. I've never been a fan of Star Trek, so when I watched the Abrams version I was coming to it from a relatively fresh standpoint, and that film has plenty of people in it. It didn't feel bloated at all to me. In fact, my overriding thought when I had finished watching it was - I wish the had done the prequels like this...
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
The only thing I see on his back is a leaf from the foreground tree. :lol
Besides that, I really can't tell much of anything from that picture. I can't wait to see a clear shot of the new troopers.
The only thing I see on his back is a leaf from the foreground tree. :lol
Besides that, I really can't tell much of anything from that picture. I can't wait to see a clear shot of the new troopers.
Riceball
Master Member
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
I doubt that since physical props are, for the most part, still something that isn't added in in post and those that are things that we don't have the tech to create in any way, shape, or form. The other thing is that if it were mean to be some sort of CG prop it wouldn't be black, you'd run into issues with chroma keying and selecting the black parts of the stormtrooper along with any particularly dark parts of the background, this why they use blue or green screens, they're a shade of blue or green that typically aren't in clothing or near the color of anything on set.
What I do see is a giant blue screen in the back which would suggest that there's going to some sort of digital set extention via matte painting and/or some sort of background action that's going to be comped in later. Oh, and for all you CG haters, this sort of post work was done all throughout the OT as well as in the Raiders trilogy, a lot of iconic shots like the hangar of the Death Star when the Emperor comes in for a visit or the final scene in Raiders where see it being wheeled into a giant warehouse were all accomplished through matte paintings, the actual sets were much, much smaller.
I doubt that since physical props are, for the most part, still something that isn't added in in post and those that are things that we don't have the tech to create in any way, shape, or form. The other thing is that if it were mean to be some sort of CG prop it wouldn't be black, you'd run into issues with chroma keying and selecting the black parts of the stormtrooper along with any particularly dark parts of the background, this why they use blue or green screens, they're a shade of blue or green that typically aren't in clothing or near the color of anything on set.
What I do see is a giant blue screen in the back which would suggest that there's going to some sort of digital set extention via matte painting and/or some sort of background action that's going to be comped in later. Oh, and for all you CG haters, this sort of post work was done all throughout the OT as well as in the Raiders trilogy, a lot of iconic shots like the hangar of the Death Star when the Emperor comes in for a visit or the final scene in Raiders where see it being wheeled into a giant warehouse were all accomplished through matte paintings, the actual sets were much, much smaller.
mkstewartesq
Sr Member
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
Here’s why I think the “sprawling cast” thing is a complete non-issue (though for a different reason than christrom):
SW (at least since 1997) has a made a big deal of announcing actors in the films early in production - even giving them vague character descriptions - which makes each one seem like another “major player” in the films and keeps the buzz up. Take them all together, and it always adds up to a “sprawling” cast - but then you see the film and the actor is only a bit player, with little (or no lines).
I remember getting really intrigued in 1997 when the first cast announcements were Hugh Quarshie (described as something like “a military leader” - turned out to be “barely there” Captain Panaka) and Ralph Brown as “a grizzled pilot who instructs Anakin” (I expected a mentor who made Anakin the “great pilot” we heard about, instead Mr. Brown was Ric Olie, who basically has 15 seconds of explaining the Naboo cruiser controls to a 9-year old kid.) Heck, Kiera Knightley was announced as “aide to the Queen” - she had a max of 3 or 4 lines, and even then we were supposed to think she was Natalie Portman when she said them, not a separate character.)
Same for AOTC - Leanna Walsman announced early on as “a fearsome bounty hunter” (so exciting! - turned out to be Zam Wessell -important to the plot, but maybe 2 lines); Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse (Owen Lars and Beru - did any of them even have any lines at all?), Rose Byrne announced as a “royal handmaiden” (onscreen for only a few seconds before being killed.)
My point being - yes, there are lots of cast members being named, but I suspect many - or most - of them will be on screen only very minimally (but it gives Disney/Lucasfim a new character whose backstory can be fodder for countless novels and comic books.)
M
Edited to add a few more names prominently announced early in production of Episodes I/II (I recall because I was following the news ravenously on AICN, verious Usenet groups, etc.)
- Bia Ling (turned out to be a background something or other - not even sure she actually made it into the film, but is in some reference books)
- Michonne Bourriague - a LOT of hay was made by LFL about the new badass Aurra Sing. I believe she was shown in one (blink-and-you-miss-it) scene in the pod-race)
Here’s why I think the “sprawling cast” thing is a complete non-issue (though for a different reason than christrom):
SW (at least since 1997) has a made a big deal of announcing actors in the films early in production - even giving them vague character descriptions - which makes each one seem like another “major player” in the films and keeps the buzz up. Take them all together, and it always adds up to a “sprawling” cast - but then you see the film and the actor is only a bit player, with little (or no lines).
I remember getting really intrigued in 1997 when the first cast announcements were Hugh Quarshie (described as something like “a military leader” - turned out to be “barely there” Captain Panaka) and Ralph Brown as “a grizzled pilot who instructs Anakin” (I expected a mentor who made Anakin the “great pilot” we heard about, instead Mr. Brown was Ric Olie, who basically has 15 seconds of explaining the Naboo cruiser controls to a 9-year old kid.) Heck, Kiera Knightley was announced as “aide to the Queen” - she had a max of 3 or 4 lines, and even then we were supposed to think she was Natalie Portman when she said them, not a separate character.)
Same for AOTC - Leanna Walsman announced early on as “a fearsome bounty hunter” (so exciting! - turned out to be Zam Wessell -important to the plot, but maybe 2 lines); Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse (Owen Lars and Beru - did any of them even have any lines at all?), Rose Byrne announced as a “royal handmaiden” (onscreen for only a few seconds before being killed.)
My point being - yes, there are lots of cast members being named, but I suspect many - or most - of them will be on screen only very minimally (but it gives Disney/Lucasfim a new character whose backstory can be fodder for countless novels and comic books.)
M
Edited to add a few more names prominently announced early in production of Episodes I/II (I recall because I was following the news ravenously on AICN, verious Usenet groups, etc.)
- Bia Ling (turned out to be a background something or other - not even sure she actually made it into the film, but is in some reference books)
- Michonne Bourriague - a LOT of hay was made by LFL about the new badass Aurra Sing. I believe she was shown in one (blink-and-you-miss-it) scene in the pod-race)
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Re: Star Wars Episode VII
Maybe it's a cape type cover like seen in the concept drawings?
Maybe it's a cape type cover like seen in the concept drawings?
Darth Lars
Master Member
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
I remember that both Bai Ling and Michonne Bourriague (how do you pronounce that name? ...) signed autographs at Celeberation III ...
Her character wasn't one who was killed, btw.. but a good actress seriously underused.
Bai Ling played a senator in a committee together with Padmé and Mon Mothma. The scenes were cut from the movie, but are among the Deleted Scenes on the DVD.
At least the character Aurra Sing was shown a lot in the prequel-era Comics and in the 3D-animated Clone Wars.
I remember that both Bai Ling and Michonne Bourriague (how do you pronounce that name? ...) signed autographs at Celeberation III ...
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
I'm assuming this is in reference to the "black band" across the back of the stormtrooper? I think it's fairly obvious that BlobVanDam got it right in post #9247 - it's a leaf from the tree in the foreground.
I'm assuming this is in reference to the "black band" across the back of the stormtrooper? I think it's fairly obvious that BlobVanDam got it right in post #9247 - it's a leaf from the tree in the foreground.
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Re: Star Wars Episode VII
duh, sorry I didn't see his reply. yup, definitely
duh, sorry I didn't see his reply. yup, definitely
astroboy
Master Member
Re: Star Wars Episode VII
I keep looking at the concept art and I'm loving it. But if I had one wish it's that this "used" universe had a bit of the prequels in it. (This goes for the new "rebels" cartoon too.) Since it's all part of the same torn up galaxy, there's no reason we can't see the odd old republic ship still in use. Or even a group of mercenaries using old clone trooper gear.
And for that matter, the prequels probably could have benefitted with some shiny new x-wings in the clone wars (since by ANH they were pretty old and probably bought second hand from a previous war)
I keep looking at the concept art and I'm loving it. But if I had one wish it's that this "used" universe had a bit of the prequels in it. (This goes for the new "rebels" cartoon too.) Since it's all part of the same torn up galaxy, there's no reason we can't see the odd old republic ship still in use. Or even a group of mercenaries using old clone trooper gear.
And for that matter, the prequels probably could have benefitted with some shiny new x-wings in the clone wars (since by ANH they were pretty old and probably bought second hand from a previous war)
Zombie_61
Master Member
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