What's odd is that 2004 Jabba is the exact same model they used in TPM. The lighting just makes it look like crap:
Comparing the two, it looks like they might have shifted the hue of the textures toward green in an attempt to make him look more like ROTJ Jabba. As the TPM Jabba was more of a greyish blue. The eyes somehow becoming a casualty during the process.
That's not that big of a mistake for a non-fan to make if the handful of Trek things they'd ever seen included this episode.
He has a new wife and a new baby. He doesn't care about Star Wars anymore. The whole point of retiring and selling the company was to get away from it all.
Hmm....
I had made my peace with Orci directing, and now I'm standing here filled with so much hope. The question is whether or not the work that has been done until now will stay; my sources tell me that the script Orci was working on saw the Enterprise, the Vulcans and a new alien race competing to get a time travel device. The Vulcans want to go back and stop the destruction of their planet, and the time travel schtick is what would allow Chris Pine and William Shatner to share the screen. Is that still going to be the plot of the movie - a MacGuffin that could wipe out the previous two films?
[UPDATE: I've been in touch with some folks and it seems like the script was one of the problem factors. Paramount shut the production down last month, sending home all the design people while they battled over the direction of the screenplay. I imagine all this stuff is gone now]
You know, if Orci's plan was to fix the timeline Days of Future Past style...I wish it had happened.
Well this is exciting news:
Russos Are Directing ‘Avengers 3 & 4′; Want To Produce New ‘Spider-Man’ Movies
They did a spectacular job with The Winter Soldier and I'm thrilled to see they're now getting heavily involved with the rest of the franchise as well.
And their proposal to Sony is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for!
I'm actually surprised so many people thought the ball droid was CG.
My immediate interpretation of that shot when I first saw it was that JJ was declaring "Look see, I told you, practical effects!"
The way it jittered across the terrain was a dead giveaway to me. A CG droid would have rolled a lot more smoothly.
I imagine it was accomplished in the same way they did the Tire in Rubber. Where they just digitally erased the wires/rig that the prop was guided by.
And no, all the ship shots were definitely all digital.
Edit:
Actually, based on this quote from Mark Hamill:
Mark Hamill said:
They never cease to amaze me with what they’re able to come up with, you know? I said, “How are you ever gonna top R2-D2, the most adorable droid in movie history?” And then they have this new one. I can’t even tell you his name, but you saw it in the trailer. And when they were demonstrating how they did this thing, live on set — because it’s not CGI, that’s a live prop — I was just amazed. They let me play around with it. [Laughs] I was running it all around at the creature shop up in Pinewood. I’m telling you, it’s an absolute delight. And not having thought that I’d ever go back there, to go back into that world, is just – I get the chills. It’s just so much fun.
It sounds like the ball body is actually RC controlled.
I keep hearing "EU names" repeated over and over.
Let's not forget that part of the deal with Disney is that Lucas wrote the story outline for the next three episodes. That would include, I would imagine, naming all of the important characters as well.
That one of the character's names is a recycling from Droids is a telltale sign that this is George that we're dealing with. He collaborated heavily with the original Droids series producers back in the day and as a result a number of things from that series ended up being recycled into the Prequels.
The Boonta Eve race being a big one but there was also:
Among other things.
So they're not "EU names" if they're coming straight from the mouth of the creator.
Whether they're good names or not is an entirely different matter however.
Loved it! They're REALLY stepping up their game and the crossover connections, setting up a film three years in advance! Excited to see the rest of the season!
I'm really digging that Teen Wolf sandwich...
Well, the chance of it being a different MCU exclusive version of Spider-man. I wouldn't have much cared for Sony's Spider-man mixing it up with them but it would have been better than nothing.
I mostly want to slap Sony across the face for their current plans for Spider-man, an animated comedy? What?
Alderaan said:
But the largest segment of fandom and the population at large would probably be more interested in watching what camron and Harmy deemed a "Showcase semi-specialized edition".
You keep saying this but I have yet to see any proof of that. In fact, my personal experience when discussing it with others is the exact opposite.
Someone please slap Sony across the face!
As Threepio once said, "This is madness!"
FOUR more cover variants have been announced since I made that last post bringing the current total to THIRTY EIGHT.
Wow, that looked brilliant!
The EU is dead. That posts belong in General Thoughts if anywhere.
Alderaan said:
Most people don't want the official BR. They also don't want the OOT looking like it did in '77-83.
Considering most people I've come across who are casual fans of Star Wars still hold onto their VHS copies, I'm gonna take that statement with a grain of salt.
TV's Frink said:
Thanks?
O_o That's clearly the URL for a Facebook image. =P
Speaking of gimmicks, a bunch of their covers for the month of January are designed to interlock as a giant Welcome Back! image.
Meanwhile, their first Star Wars issue has racked up a ridiculous number of variations.
Oh and here's another preview of it.
George hasn't seen the trailer yet:
George Lucas said:
I don’t know anything about it. I haven’t seen it yet because it’s not in the movie theater. I like going to the movies and watching the whole thing there.
For those that worried he was still involved. He wrote a general story outline for the next three films and then handed it off to Kathleen. He put Kathleen Kennedy in charge so he wouldn't have to deal with Star Wars anymore.
In fact, while he said he plans to see the new film when its released; when asked if he was interested to see J.J.'s take on Star Wars his response was:
George Lucas said:
Not really.
Right now he's more concerned with securing the land for his proposed museum and has been fighting a federal lawsuit over it.
He left Kathleen Kennedy in charge because he trusts her judgement. She's the one running the show now.
I've decided to level up from figures to busts and statues. They just seem....classier to me. =P
Before we start talking about directors, can we get some competent writers first?
Roger Christian said:
Looking at the lightsaber in the trailer it has to be a found, older one as the blade is rougher, it's flame-like, so not as smooth as the newer blades. The snowy environment would hint that someone has found an ancient saber so I surmised this is an older laser sword. For sure there is a lot of debate going to be blogged now about the little blade protection side flames. They look cool, but aren't practical, and that was the original Star Wars mantra, everything had to look used and real. George wanted it that nothing ever stood out as designed, just a used universe that was real. So there has to be a reason coming for this laser sword. J J Abrams would have considered every visual in this first teaser.
The creator of the original lightsaber has spoken.