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Star Wars: Episode VII to be directed by J.J. Abrams **NON SPOILER THREAD** — Page 4

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marcchrome said:

dude grow up... he originally said no then changed his mind....... look it up on google

That one made me laugh. Maybe thats a good thing that you don't know how to read.

 

Laserschwert said:

You do realize that the director isn't responsible for the story, right? ;)

I am fully aware that  Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman wrote Startrek 09. How Abrams could go with what they wrote is beyond me.  But on the other hand maybe Abrams is just as stupid as the writers are. I hope you can see where I'm going with this.

Venerable member of the “Red Eye” Knights

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AuggieBenDoggie said:

 

You know, if episode 7 flops or preforms lower than expected because of him, starwars could very well be ruined for us OT fans, because no OT fan is going to trust anything coming out of lucasfilm.

Wait? Has it not already been ruined for us fans of the OT? I wasn't aware there were any of us left who still did trust anything coming out of Lucasfilm.

The only thing about Disney purchasing Star Wars that excites or interests me is the potential of the original trilogy eventually making its way to Blu-ray. Beyond that, I really have a hard time caring.

I'm not sure if there is a director out there that might have been able to get me excited about this (Duncan Jones, maybe?), but J. J. Abrams isn't it.

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Fantastic! I actually saw Star Trek 09 having not being a fan of Star Trek, and I loved it.  I am so hyped for Episode VII. I know people have said this before Phantom Menace came out but.....there is no way this is going to be bad.

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Not surprising, it was very un-Star Trek like and very clearly made for and marketed at people who were not fans of Star Trek.

Most people I know who loved it don't care for Star Trek in general, and very few Trek fans I know can stand the thing. I got really tired of people saying things like, "You know, I didn't think I liked Star Trek, but that was actually pretty good!" Yeah... No, the fact is you still don't like Star Trek; you liked this because it was made to appeal to you, and it succeeded.

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CP3S said:

Not surprising, it was very un-Star Trek like and very clearly made for and marketed at people who were not fans of Star Trek.

Most people I know who loved it don't care for Star Trek in general, and very few Trek fans I know can stand the thing. I got really tired of people saying things like, "You know, I didn't think I liked Star Trek, but that was actually pretty good!" Yeah... No, the fact is you still don't like Star Trek; you liked this because it was made to appeal to you, and it succeeded.

I like Star Trek a lot, and this movie was very Star Trek, and I liked it.

I think including a really convoluted plot to justify a creative reboot somehow within the context of the original stories (and get a Nimoy cameo) is bending over backwards to appeal to Star Trek fans.

Fist fights, space battles, smug jokes, ridiculous doomsday weapons... all very Star Trek. I liked it.

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CP3S said:

Not surprising, it was very un-Star Trek like and very clearly made for and marketed at people who were not fans of Star Trek.

Most people I know who loved it don't care for Star Trek in general, and very few Trek fans I know can stand the thing. I got really tired of people saying things like, "You know, I didn't think I liked Star Trek, but that was actually pretty good!" Yeah... No, the fact is you still don't like Star Trek; you liked this because it was made to appeal to you, and it succeeded.

I overheard a woman talking on her phone in a restaurant about the movie once. (Praying I didn't hear spoilers as I hadn't had a chance to see it at the time.) She wasn't a Trekker, but she totally got the people of different creeds and backgrounds all working together. And she was equally impressed with the hopeful portrayal of the future. Isn't that a big part of what Trek has always been about?

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BmB said:

Aaand they give it to this noob.

The man has no talent. Franchise dead.

Would you rather they had given it to Mr. Bay? ;)

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marcchrome said:

doubleofive said:

 

marcchrome said:

oooookay where does it say he is abandoning star trek???????? you guys crack me up i swear.
I just don't see Paramount being happy sharing his time with Disney.

And since all of this is RUMOR, we can discuss whatever possiblity we like.

 

last time i checked he has absolutely no exclusivity to paramount nor anyone else.... and do you work for paramount pictures to actually even know if they would be salty???? and your earlier statement about him abandoning star trek holds no merit because that is exactly what you are doing. spreading a rumor. but i digress.........

You're arguing with one of the most plugged-in people you're going to run into on this forum...so, good job!

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AuggieBenDoggie said:

You're arguing with one of the most plugged-in people you're going to run into on this forum...so, good job!

 

 

 

which means nothing in the real world....... go to sleep already fan boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 


J.J. Abrams broke the Internet in half on Thursday (January 24) with the announcement that he's directing "Star Wars: Episode VII" for Walt Disney and Lucasfilm. The filmmaker already has two "Star Trek" films under his belt, and now he'll boldly go where no man has ever gone before: directing films set in both the "Trek" and "Wars" universes.

Whether or not you support the hiring of Abrams is irrelevant to our purposes right now. With the director in place, it's now time to start thinking about what Abrams' "Star Wars" will look like. Based on his history as a filmmaker and a television pioneer, here are five things we can expect to see in Abrams' first voyage to that galaxy far, far away:

Expect an incredible female lead. What do Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner and Evangeline Lilly all have in common? Each one of these strong, alluring actresses got their big breaks from Mr. Abrams. Among his many talents, Abrams has a keen eye for discovering rising stars, especially when it comes to his leading women. Whoever lands the heroine role in "Star Wars: Episode VII" is going to be someone to watch for years and years to come.

'Star Wars' And J.J. Abrams: Five Burning Questions

Expect the score to get "Lost." Before you roast us, just know that nothing would make us happier than to see John Williams' return ... nothing, short of Michael Giacchino landing the job instead. The Oscar-winning "Up" composer is also a friend and frequent collaborator of Abrams', with mutual credits including "Star Trek," "Super 8" and "Lost." Giacchino is easily one of the most talented composers working today, and his reunion with Abrams on a "Star Wars" film is only as inevitable as it is welcome.

Expect [insert obligatory lens flare joke here]. The man loves his lens flares, and you're going to see them pop up in the new "Star Wars" movie. Love the technique or hate it, it's time to make your peace with it — lens flares in "Star Wars" is a thing that's going to happen.

Expect Greg Grunberg. The "Heroes" actor is a lifelong friend of Abrams, and has appeared in every single one of the filmmaker's projects, in a cameo capacity at the very least. The same will be true for the next "Star Wars" movie: there is a part for Grunberg, minor or major, no two ways about it.

Above all else, expect code-red levels of secrecy. The new "Star Wars" movie is going to be directed by the man who wouldn't show you the "Cloverfield" and "Super 8" monsters, the same man who won't admit that Benedict Cumberbatch's "Star Trek" bad guy is actually Khan. (Because, come on, he totally is.) Now, Abrams is on board one of the most massive movie franchises of all time. In other words, you thought he was secretive before? You haven't seen anything yet.    

 

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700783/jj-abrams-star-wars-episode-vii-look.jhtml

 

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marcchrome said:

which means nothing in the real world....... go to sleep already fan boy.

Wow, dude. Really? Really?

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CP3S said:

Wait? Has it not already been ruined for us fans of the OT? I wasn't aware there were any of us left who still did trust anything coming out of Lucasfilm.

The only thing about Disney purchasing Star Wars that excites or interests me is the potential of the original trilogy eventually making its way to Blu-ray. Beyond that, I really have a hard time caring.

I'm not sure if there is a director out there that might have been able to get me excited about this (Duncan Jones, maybe?), but J. J. Abrams isn't it.

Well with Disney acquiring Lucasfilm and George out of the picture, there was a fleeting moment of hope that this might be a good thing. Now like you I'm really more looking forward to a bluray release of the original trilogy instead.

As far as directors go, I think they need to find somebody who is not really a sci-fi director. A director thats more character driven instead of action driven. A director who knows how to balance the story with FX.

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The best thing they can do, honestly, is to film it the way the OT was filmed using the best modern technology to do so. The Matrix technology was so amazing when it came out for the 360 degree angles, etc. Imagine what that can do for a model being filmed against a blue/green screen for a space battle.

Drop the CG except to compliment where there is no other alternative.

Do that, and anything Arndt has to deliver will shine in that nostalgic way that the PT never could have.

Abrams is a self-proclaimed SW fan. I expect him to do good things (though, nothing great that is going to push the envelope) because he has respect for the original source material. But I guess these days, going back to physical models for a Sci-Fi movie really is the only way to push the envelope...

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 (Edited)

Official statement.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/26/j-j-abrams-officially-named-star-wars-director/

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/60553

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

“Grow up. These are my Disney's movies, not yours.”

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Looks like ST09 is REALLY polarizing.  People either love it or hate it.  I'm a fan of Star Trek (not a super-fan, but a fan) and I loved it.  My Dad's been a super-fan since he was a kid, and he also loved it.

As for Kirk being too smug, keep in mind this isn't the same Kirk.  He's grown up without his father in this time line.  That being said, the Kobayashi Maru scene is the ONLY scene I really dislike in the film.

As for Abrams directing SW......I'm kinda' indifferent.  I was hoping they'd go for somebody less obvious.  Less of a "name" director.

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Yeah, and I thought TMP was controversial. ;)

Excellent point about Kirk not having a strong father figure early in his life. Pike seems to have become his father figure now.

I do agree the KM hack should have been less obvious. The bridge simulator should have also been more immersive ala Star Trek II. They could at least darken the control room windows during the actual test! How can anybody concentrate when you can see the instructors watching you from a brightly room on high?

Maybe some fanedit can address that...

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Jeez are people really not impressed by the LOST pilot, just purely as a director? (Made in like, 14 days) Man, tough room. 

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^ I think people more or less have confidence in Abrams as a director.

For me, it just seems weird having the two major "geek" franchises having been rebooted by the same guy. I just want to see more variety, but from this perspective the Abrams pick feels too obvious and conservative.

My understanding is that ST 09 was disappointing to many Trek fans because it didn't really have the deeper, more thoughtful aspects of ST and sci-fi in general. I think I said this already, but ST 09 in terms of execution and style was more or less what I think many of us hoped the SW prequels would be.

SW isn't really sci-fi. SW is an action-adventure-drama that takes place in outer space. Nothing really in common with ST other than the inclusion of aliens, spaceships and such.

I guess given the above, I don't feel very curious about how the Abrams SW film will turn out. I think it will be quite good. But my interest isn't piqued. I don't mean to be negative.

It's like the Ben Stiller monopoly on comedy in the mid 2000s, or the recent Judd Apatow monopoly on comedy. When one person has his/her footprint on most of the major works in a particular genre, it just starts to all mesh together and feel indistinct. Each work feels the same as the others. Same jokes, same visual tricks, same actors, etc. It's boring.

All the photoshops of SW+ST characters, or SW+Disney characters, or SW+ST+Disney characters, etc. are kind of funny at first, but then you realize that is actually what's happening. Each franchise is losing its individuality. It's all blending together.

Maybe that's a pessimistic view. I don't know.

“Grow up. These are my Disney's movies, not yours.”

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Disney just issued the final press releasing confirming that J.J. Abrams will, indeed, be directing Star Wars Episode VII. It includes quotes from Abrams, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy and confirms that Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are consulting on the film. Read it below, along with quotes from Star Wars veterans Dennis Muren, Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood.

Here’s the press release:

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

And here are some quotes from Star Wars veterans on working with Abrams from the official site:

Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Muren, ASC, whose credits include the original Star Wars trilogy as well as landmark films such as E.T. and Jurassic Park, also worked with Abrams on Super 8. “He puts everything he has into his work,” said Muren. “He totally immerses himself. He’s got such a visual eye, which is so important to the Star Wars films. It seems that a lot of the same things that were in George when he made the first Star Wars films are also in J.J. I think he’s going to fit into the other movies perfectly, with the energy that J.J. has. We’re kick-starting Star Wars again with dynamite. It will knock people out, including the people who get to work on it. I think it’s a great choice.”

Ben Burtt, responsible for such iconic Star Wars sounds as Darth Vader’s breathing, R2-D2′s beeps and the classic lightsaber, has worked with Abrams as sound designer and sound editor on Star Trek and Super 8. “J.J represents the next generation of filmmakers from those that were making Star Wars when I started,” said Ben Burtt. “When he was a teen, he was a fan of Star Wars, and a great deal of his love for movies came out of his reaction of that first Star Wars film. You feel that he’s already invested so many years in it, and he’s going to propel it forward in a new way. In other words, you’re having a fan who has grown up and developed tremendous directorial skills finding himself at the steering wheel to take the franchise into the next stage. I feel like I’m there watching history turn over from one era to another.”

Matthew Wood, who served as supervising sound editor on Super 8, similarly grew up as a Star Wars fan before working on the films through the prequels. “Working with him, it was so obvious to me that J.J. and I have the same nostalgic love of that era. Now we have someone from that generation who is going to be at the helm of the Star Wars franchise that I’ve known and worked on, so it’s a great circle. Just seeing what he did with Super 8 and capturing those moments, and knowing what was so special about that era, it’s going to speak to a new generation of audience as well.”  http://www.slashfilm.com/disney-issues-press-release-confirming-j-j-abrams-for-star-wars-episode-vii/

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georgec said:


^ I think people more or less have confidence in Abrams as a director.

For me, it just seems weird having the two major "geek" franchises having been rebooted by the same guy. I just want to see more variety, but from this perspective the Abrams pick feels too obvious and conservative.

SW isn't really sci-fi. SW is an action-adventure-drama that takes place in outer space. Nothing really in common with ST other than the inclusion of aliens, spaceships and such.

All the photoshops of SW+ST characters, or SW+Disney characters, or SW+ST+Disney characters, etc. are kind of funny at first, but then you realize that is actually what's happening. Each franchise is losing it's individuality. It's all blending together.

Maybe that's a pessimistic view. I don't know.


I think you made very good points here GeorgeC.

For the record, I was never against the idea of a reboot, and thought that the idea of this Star Trek universe taking place in a parallel universe was a smart idea to avoid messing with canon and being able to go wherever they wanted.

I also believe that after Voyager and Enterprise, the Star Trek franchise had become a little too "Trekkie" and was basically offering storylines to satisfy the hard-core fans rather than trying to make quality television that a wide spectrum of the population could enjoy (something I think that the Next Generation was able to do for a lot of its run).

I was hoping that Abrams would have breathed some fresh air into the franchise, but, as a long time Trek fan, I feel like he just missed the mark, not by a mile, but by a foot. And it's off by a foot throughout the whole film and that subtle "offness" just irritates me.

As far as Star Wars is concerned - it can't be any worse than the PT - but I can't see these new films being anything more than a mere curiosity. I love 77 Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, but the rest is just padding.

In my own humble opinion of course.

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So. "Now all restaurants are Taco Bell", then? ;)

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^ Does this mean they'll explain the three shells?

If this film is not a hit with fans, I can imagine George saying to the press something along the lines of "This crowd is never satisfied".

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OneCentSky said: .there is no way this is going to be bad.

Remember, you heard it here first kids.

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AuggieBenDoggie said:

 

I am fully aware that  Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman wrote Startrek 09. How Abrams could go with what they wrote is beyond me.  But on the other hand maybe Abrams is just as stupid as the writers are. I hope you can see where I'm going with this.

Yeah, Abrams is probably stupid, because he directed something you didn't like. But hey, I'm probably just as stupid, because I liked that movie a lot. The only one here who's not stupid is you :)

Now, regarding Ep7, can we possibly hear a Star Wars score by Michael Giacchino? I'm kinda torn on this... on the one hand, I'd love to hear another one by Williams, as that's just "how it's supposed to be". John Williams' Star Wars scores were what got me into film music in the first place, and until now Williams is the most consistence factor in the saga. On the other hand, regardless of Abrams directing (but with George taken out of the writer/director position), the new movies feel like the passing of a torch. So maybe this should be considered for the soundtrack as well?

Funnily enough discussions over at JWfan.com have already named Giacchino as a suitable composer for the new films a while back, and I agree that he is one of the few newer generation composers who might do the franchise justice. The coincidence of Abrams at the wheel now makes this even more probable to happen.

And regarding consistency: I'll never expect a new Star Wars movie to feel like the classic trilogy did in any way. It's just not possible anymore today. The prequels weren't consistent with the OT in any way, so taking the franchise in yet another direction is basically a given. And I'm fine with that, as it can only get better from the PT.