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Star Wars: Episode VII to be directed by J.J. Abrams **NON SPOILER THREAD** — Page 38

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Bingowings said:

I refuse to be optimistic.

After the PT and Prometheus I don't want to invest time anticipating something that has every chance of being a disappointment.

I hate to stir the negativity, but I'm not hearing anything that I didn't expect to be said... Just quotes that are sure to please all sides of the fan base.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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Bingowings said:

I refuse to be optimistic.

After the PT and Prometheus I don't want to invest time anticipating something that has every chance of being a disappointment.

I concur. I want to go in with a scowl, arms crossed, and then the movie win me over. I can't help but feel some budding optimism . . . but I don't want to be hurt that way again ;|

The blue elephant in the room.

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I hate to be that guy, but remember this stuff about models and actual locations was touted as a triumphant homage to the original films for Crystal Skull as well... at least I know the matte paintings were. That didn't really happen. This sounds like a good PR spin, especially given that she says they're only "looking" at these options right now. Don't be surprised if the movie is mostly CG effects; I won't complain, but I know some people will

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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bkev said:

I hate to be that guy, but remember this stuff about models and actual locations was touted as a triumphant homage for Crystal Skull as well... at least I know the matte paintings were. That didn't really happen. This sounds like a good PR spin, especially given that she says they're only "looking" at these options right now. Don't be surprised if the movie is mostly CG effects; I won't complain, but I know some people will

I'd love to get the scoop on what really happened over KOTCS. Spielberg in his intro to the DVD is flatout saying "I thought the alien idea was terrible but George insisted" and "I thought the fridge idea was terible but George insisted". He seems almost faintly depressed about the whole project in the BTS interviews.

As I recall it was Speilberg who made the pre-production statement that said it would be "mostly practical effects". So I wonder if he shot and completed his cut and only then turned it over to Lucas and ILM. And Lucas just went crazy with the CGI against or without Spielberg's wishes. Wasn't the hideously CGI enhanced Jeep chase shot practically.

Hope JJ has final cut. If Speilberg can't get final cut over Lucas nobody can lol

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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  • Yeah the chase was shot in hawaii, somehow they even managed to make a real jungle look like a cartoon. Some of the shots in SKULL are just so amazingly bad it was a little shocking that ILM did them, usually that means they were added late in the game, but who knows with that movie. 
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Baronlando said:

  • Yeah the chase was shot in hawaii, somehow they even managed to make a real jungle look like a cartoon. Some of the shots in SKULL are just so amazingly bad it was a little shocking that ILM did them, usually that means they were added late in the game, but who knows with that movie. 

But have you noticed that, when ILM do effects for anything by Lucas/ Lucasfilm, they are nowhere near as good as when they do effects for other companies? By that i mean anything since the Special Editions. Look at the Rontos in ANH. they used the same model they used in Jurassic Park, yet they looked nowhere near as realistic as the dinosaurs in that film.  All the additions just scream fake. They used the same Red 2 CG model for every CG X-wing in ANH. The CG R2 in the prequels looks like a damn cartoon, especially in ROTS. The rocks in front of R2, Jabba's new door, Jabba in docking bay 94, the monkeys in KOTCS, the jungle, etc etc all scream fake. Now compare that to their work on other films where their work is stunning. But there is one common factor in all of the bad ones though; George Lucas was in charge.

ANH:REVISITED
ESB:REVISITED

DONATIONS TOWARDS MATERIALS FOR THE REVISITED SAGA

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bkev said:

 This sounds like a good PR spin

Indeed. 

People tend to point at the PT and accuse it of looking too fake.  However, models and real locations were used fairly extensively in the first couple of movies (TPM in particular).  It was really only the third movie when GL turned lazy and filmed everything in a studio, against greenscreen.

 Spoiler free for the ST

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Yeah I think shear laziness is a factor. As Adywan said about CGI R2 in ROTS looking fake. One of the reasons is that he is noticably more matt than usual. Saves alot of time not having to do complicated reflection effects... lazy.

As Bester said the real props, ships, locations and sets on TPM are beautiful. Whatever you think about the story Theed looked great.

If you want to get pissed off at this kinda thing listen to the first 1/2 hr of the commentaries for ROTS and ROTJ:SE. You have the FX guys on ROTS proudly declaring that they didn't even create a physical Clone Trooper suit for Temuera to wear. And on ROTJ (During the new Jabba dance scene) you get Lucas laughing and saying "I don't get these people that say oh the CGI looks fake... it's all fake. It always has been" (Paraphrasing). Which is of course wrong, Models and puppets are REAL, it's the scale that is the illusion.

Let's have the ST done the Peter Jackson/Christopher Nolan way. All practical unless it is ABSOLUTELY impossible. With a nice bit of digital compositing to smooth things over. I never stop being amazed by the behind the scenes videos of those two guys movies. Amazing what they can achieve in camera with simple often silent-era tricks.

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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timdiggerm said:

Ryan McAvoy said:

Let's have the ST done the Peter Jackson/Christopher Nolan way. All practical unless it is ABSOLUTELY impossible.

Did you see The Hobbit?

 

You're right that The Hobbit had more CGI than LOTR which was disapointing but still a sh*tload of practical FX (False perspective), models (Goblin mine) and sets (Hobbiton) compared with other blockbusters. The wierd looking over-saturated TV-looking 48fps didn't help.

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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adywan said:

But have you noticed that, when ILM do effects for anything by Lucas/ Lucasfilm, they are nowhere near as good as when they do effects for other companies? By that i mean anything since the Special Editions. Look at the Rontos in ANH. they used the same model they used in Jurassic Park, yet they looked nowhere near as realistic as the dinosaurs in that film.  All the additions just scream fake. They used the same Red 2 CG model for every CG X-wing in ANH. The CG R2 in the prequels looks like a damn cartoon, especially in ROTS. The rocks in front of R2, Jabba's new door, Jabba in docking bay 94, the monkeys in KOTCS, the jungle, etc etc all scream fake. Now compare that to their work on other films where their work is stunning. But there is one common factor in all of the bad ones though; George Lucas was in charge.

I've always noticed that, its like they knew the work for the boss was guaranteed, but to keep the client work, they needed to push boundaries.

It's a real shame....but now now SW is in the hands of a different customer, I'd say they'll deliver Disney effects that'll impress

J

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Ryan McAvoy said:

(False perspective)

Not wanting to be a smartass, just a real question I asked myself when watching the Hobbit: how could they make false perspective when shooting in 3D? I remember some behind the scene footage of LOTR and I found very interesting to use that old trick of forced perspective. But this can't work when filmed in 3D because the trick is revealed. Maybe forced perspective shots were post "3Dfied" or something.

 

Anyway, good news in the Star Wars universe these days!

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Silly fantasy/hypothetical, but what if you found the script for E7 laying around someplace, would you read it? Tell anyone what's in it? I'd have to look at a few pages but doubt I'd tell anyone.

The blue elephant in the room.

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TMBTM said:

Ryan McAvoy said:

(False perspective)

Not wanting to be a smartass, just a real question I asked myself when watching the Hobbit: how could they make false perspective when shooting in 3D? I remember some behind the scene footage of LOTR and I found very interesting to use that old trick of forced perspective. But this can't work when filmed in 3D because the trick is revealed. Maybe forced perspective shots were post "3Dfied" or something.

I could be wrong, but I remember that being a problem with The Hobbit. They couldn't use false perspective, and so they had to bluescreen everything.

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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Are you guys talking about forced perspective?

 

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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timdiggerm said:

TMBTM said:

Ryan McAvoy said:

(False perspective)

Not wanting to be a smartass, just a real question I asked myself when watching the Hobbit: how could they make false perspective when shooting in 3D? I remember some behind the scene footage of LOTR and I found very interesting to use that old trick of forced perspective. But this can't work when filmed in 3D because the trick is revealed. Maybe forced perspective shots were post "3Dfied" or something.

I could be wrong, but I remember that being a problem with The Hobbit. They couldn't use false perspective, and so they had to bluescreen everything.

Good point folks! Now I'm even more excited to get The Hobbit boxset at Christmas to find out how it was all done. I hope it was false perspective and post conversion rather than just green screen. Otherwise that's just another reason to hate 3D.

btw What are everyone's thoughts on the SW ST in 3D??? (Anybody know if it will be?)

Personally I'm praying they don't because the technology restricts the filmmaking process in a number of ways whether you choose to watch in 3D or 2D. Plus these days it's becoming harder to see films in the cheaper and superior (IMO) 2D format.

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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And this shows that very technology being utilized.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYeQNH6gJhE

 

Anyhow, more related to Episode VII.  Did anyone else see Oz; The Great And Powerful?  It used a couple CGI heavy sequences, but most of the film was practical and mainly used greenscreen as set extensions and matte backgrounds.  If they can't match the lack of CGI in the originals, they could maybe atleast do something like Oz.

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DominicCobb said:

Disney only makes films in 3D.

True. Sad face

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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DominicCobb said:

Disney only makes films in 3D.

Please no.

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As every 3D flick usually has a 2D version showing at the same multiplex, it's hardly a deal breaker.

I would at least hope it's shot in 3D instead of a conversion.

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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 (Edited)

Ryan McAvoy said:

I'd love to get the scoop on what really happened over KOTCS. Spielberg in his intro to the DVD is flatout saying "I thought the alien idea was terrible but George insisted" and "I thought the fridge idea was terible but George insisted". He seems almost faintly depressed about the whole project in the BTS interviews.


I wonder if he's got anything similar to say in regards to that garbage travesty of a Tintin film.

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Mrebo said:

Silly fantasy/hypothetical, but what if you found the script for E7 laying around someplace, would you read it? Tell anyone what's in it? I'd have to look at a few pages but doubt I'd tell anyone.

What a hypothetical dilemma! 

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SilverWook said:

I would at least hope it's shot in 3D instead of a conversion.

I'd hope for the opposite, actually - that way we'll have a well shot 2D version to enjoy in the short term (assuming we can find a 2D screening) and a film that will sit happily alongside the existing films when this ludicrous 3D bubble finally bursts.