Not sure what to say really, http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2013/01/24/j-j-abrams-set-to-direct-star-wars-episode-vii/#/0
(http://latimesherocomplex.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/abrams2.jpg)
Huh.
I can't say I'm surprised.
I really wanted to see Joss Whedon direct though
Quote from: Mr. Analog on January 25, 2013, 09:23:59 AM
I really wanted to see Joss Whedon direct though
agreed. hence the "Huh." with the most appropriate JJA photo.
I don't know... as long as he doesn't over expose lightsaber and blaster colors (aka Star Trek), I think it won't be bad. Joss would probably be more wider audience acceptance because of the comedy he would add, but JJ isn't bad at that either.
Desaturating colour has been something very annoying that has been used without artistic merit for a good few years now.
It was great in Saving Private Ryan because it fit, they were trying to recreate combat film from the time (which was usually black and white), pretty much ever film that's tried it since has used it for battle / fighting scenes sometimes fitting but mostly not.
Han shoots first? (shoot the Boba Fett movie after?)
http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/174893-new-star-wars-stand-alone-films-to-follow-boba-fett-and-young-han-solo
btw the Episode VII director, a Mr. JJ something, apparently might also make a feature-length Portal film* come to life(!?)
http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/174895-could-jj-abrams-bring-half-life-and-portal-to-the-screen
*did you notice that excellent Portal short film (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4drucg1A6Xk) by Dan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870469/) "Geekdrome" Trachtenberg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Trachtenberg)? I guess Hollywood noticed too -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y:_The_Last_Man#Film_adaptation
I sense a disturbance in the post I made about possible Half-Life + Portal films in another threaaaaaaaaaad.
Also young Han Solo is ripe for all kinds of sillyness:
"I've got a good feeling about this"
*sidesteps carbonite* "Boy I'd hate to fall in there!"
"I always shoot first"
ETC
http://www.slashfilm.com/see-lucasfilms-concept-art-of-young-han-solo/
(http://bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/ZZ66E43924.jpg)
...so Calvin & Hobbes with Lightsabers?
Isn't that Christopher Robin with Winnie the Pooh?
The guy who made that Han with Chewie picture has some really good other prints: http://www.jameshance.com/prints.html
Quote from: Thorin on February 07, 2013, 09:45:59 AM
The guy who made that Han with Chewie picture has some really good other prints: http://www.jameshance.com/prints.html
I
knew I recognized the style...
(http://www.jameshance.com/images/paintings/doc.jpg)
and he does natural-life style as well:
(http://www.jameshance.com/images/limited/hello.jpg)
epic.
[topic-transitional image...]
(http://www.jameshance.com/images/paintings/firefrog.jpg)
unshocking news: Emperor Joss "had to pass because of his commitment to The Avengers 2"
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/joss-whedon-wishes-he-could-direct-star-wars-7-too-35090.html
Dang it, conflicted over another stunning Avengers film vs a potentially awesome treatment of Star Wars
*waugh*
since we gotta wait a likely 2+ years before anything hits the Big Screen, fans and haters alike are discussing/debates various nuances of the SW universe.
Wired over-thinks the whole "Kessel run in under 12 parsecs" line
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/kessel-run-12-parsecs/
I like what the COMMENTS (http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/kessel-run-12-parsecs/#comment-796588771) point out -- that Kenobi's subtle reaction says it all, that Solo was just seeing how badly he could gouge the likely marks, depending on their space-smarts.
Though it hasn't been discussed in-universe (to my knowledge) in books and other Star Wars media it has been acknowledged that the Kessel Run may actually be affected by how close a pilot could get to a series of black holes, the closer you can navigate through them the faster your run.
Of course this is a case where fan-based cognitive dissonance tries to step in and make sense of nonsense (see: Star Trek)
This is why I enjoy speculative fiction that either dodges technobabble or goes to extreme lengths to try to build workable principles within a fictional framework (Arthur C Clarke)
Meanwhile I'll be re-routing the backup power converters through the main deflector dish to create a reverse tachyon pulse wave and simultaneously transport the female crew's undergarments into subspace.
Quote from: Darren Dirt on February 19, 2013, 11:34:48 AM
Wired over-thinks the whole "Kessel run in under 12 parsecs" line
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/kessel-run-12-parsecs/
also: "HOTH -- So Much for Striking Back" http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/02/battle-of-hoth/
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 19, 2013, 11:43:22 AM
Though it hasn't been discussed in-universe (to my knowledge) in books and other Star Wars media it has been acknowledged that the Kessel Run may actually be affected by how close a pilot could get to a series of black holes, the closer you can navigate through them the faster your run.
Of course this is a case where fan-based cognitive dissonance tries to step in and make sense of nonsense (see: Star Trek)
It was 'splained, sorta, in the Atlas, apparently.
And it's so ironic when you realize what the linked comment pointed out... that there isn't even a NEED to "figure out the future-science"!
Cuz in the ORIGINAL SCRIPT penned by LUCAS, it was intended as an intentional junk-science claim by Han, not as a tricky "there's an implication of warped space in that region, we'll give you details later in non-film post-uproar 'canon', folks!" teaser.
If Lucas et al had just said "Han knew it was BS what he was claiming, it gave you a hint of his rogue-like personality -- coolness amirite!?" then no need for blackholes and whatnot.
Was it? Which version of the script exactly because there are a few floating around out there (of which I have two, and THREE novelizations of the script [ok, so one is in comic form])
Both copies are lacking stage direction notes so I'm curious. Not that it matters. I won't die if I don't know (but seriously tell me or I will use the universal kinetic power the micro-organisms my body hosts to remotely asphyxiate you)
What the need to do for the next Star Wars film is to either have dancing (like in that Kinect game) or explain what happened to Ahsoka between The Clone Wars and Episode III
If only Harvey Korman was still alive to provide talent for the next film.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 19, 2013, 11:59:29 AM
Was it? Which version of the script exactly because there are a few floating around out there (of which I have two, and THREE novelizations of the script [ok, so one is in comic form])
Both copies are lacking stage direction notes so I'm curious. Not that it matters. I won't die if I don't know (but seriously tell me or I will use the universal kinetic power the micro-organisms my body hosts to remotely asphyxiate you)
Just going based on this...
Quote from: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/kessel-run-12-parsecs/#comment-796588771
Mark Z. ? 7 days ago
Han is *supposed* to get his units wrong. This is from Lucas' own fourth draft screenplay (http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/S...
"HAN: Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?
BEN: Should I have?
HAN: It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!
Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation."
*Misinformation*. Lucas knows his units, Han Solo doesn't, and it's a little piece of character development and a wonderfully underplayed moment from Alec Guinness. As much as I admire the writer who cooked up the black hole explanation, there's no need to resort to that when the truth is right in the script.
^ the link "Mark Z" provided is not-quite-correct, it shoulda been
http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Star-Wars-A-New-Hope.htmlthe full context (i.e. PROFIT MOTIVE) is below, the line mentioned by "Mark Z" is this:
Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation.Quote
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - CANTINA
Strange creatures play exotic big band music on odd-looking
instruments as Luke, still giddy, downs a fresh drink and
follows Ben and Chewbacca to a booth where Han Solo is
sitting. Han is a tough, roguish starpilot about thirty years
old. A mercenary on a starship, he is simple, sentimental,
and cocksure.
HAN
Han Solo. I'm captain of the
Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells
me you're looking for passage to the
Alderaan system.
BEN
Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship.
HAN
Fast ship? You've never heard of the
Millennium Falcon?
BEN
Should I have?
HAN
It's the ship that made the Kessel
run in less than twelve parsecs!
Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with
obvious misinformation.
HAN
I've outrun Imperial starships, not
the local bulk-cruisers, mind you.
I'm talking about the big Corellian
ships now. She's fast enough for
you, old man. What's the cargo?
BEN
Only passengers. Myself, the boy,
two droids, and no questions asked.
HAN
What is it? Some kind of local
trouble?
BEN
Let's just say we'd like to avoid
any Imperial entanglements.
HAN
Well, that's the trick, isn't it?
And it's going to cost you something
extra. Ten thousand in advance.
It's J. J. you just know they are going to do a reboot.
;)
Great find man! Decades of wondering put to rest hah!
Quote from: Tom on February 19, 2013, 01:05:44 PM
It's J. J. you just know they are going to do a reboot.
;)
Alternate dimension where Darth Vader is good and people wear hats on their feet.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 19, 2013, 01:18:26 PM
Quote from: Tom on February 19, 2013, 01:05:44 PM
It's J. J. you just know they are going to do a reboot.
;)
Alternate dimension where Darth Vader is good and people wear hats on their feeta scorpion.
FYP. http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/02/star-wars-famicom/ http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/05/star-wars-videogames/?pid=2585
That just broke my brain
lol
and speaking of brain damage... how about these (http://www.karlsims.com/puzzles.html) for a nice feel-stupid exercise during your afternoon break?
I can't believe how I even recognized (http://www.karlsims.com/whats-next.gif) but still somehow forgot the "trick" to guessing "what's next" in the pattern.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6PtcHGxNtdY/UICfeHXciwI/AAAAAAAAAL0/goX1SzHkPIs/s1600/farley-show.jpeg)
(thanks so much, Karl Sims (http://www.genarts.com/our-company), for putting that on your website so when we are on a random Wikipedia-triggered skim-research tangent, you make us feel even dumber -- or oh wait is it more dumb?)
Quote from: http://www.contactmusic.com/in-depth/where-are-we-with-star-wars-episode-vii_3900959
Filming is due to get underway with the first of the new trilogy, and so far we don't really have much of a clue as to what's going on.
...acclaimed screenwriter Michael Arndt is in charge of the script. As it stands, Arndt is the sole name attached to the screenwriting duties, although it has also been revealed that Lucas will work as a "consultant" during the writing and filming process to ensure that his vision of the Star Wars universe isn't too heavily tampered with. Considering how well his vision was realised in the three prequels, this might not be a great thing...
...positive appointment that has been confirmed so far is the legend that is John Williams will be returning to score the next instalments of the franchise, ensuring the films have that blissful cinematic musical backing that made the first films so good (and the prequels just that little bit more bearable). Williams confirmed his role on the project this summer and he has already began working on the score for the film...
Also, Abrams is still directing (even though for a little while he and Disney weren't seeing eye-to-eye, apparently).
Quoteensure that [George Lucas'] vision of the Star Wars universe isn't too heavily tampered with
Yes... "tampered with"
couple things:
1. can't remember if in THIS thread we link to the OTHER "new Star Wars Trilogy" thread, but here is that link:
Woah... Disney Owns It All! - Eps VII in 2015 (http://forums.righteouswrath.com/index.php?topic=9198.0)
2. "Lucasfilm has made a statement regarding how the new trilogy will proceed..."
http://www.firstshowing.net/2014/lucasfilm-on-past-present-future-of-star-wars-expanded-universe/
I say give the franchise to the people that make Marvel movies (also owned by Disney)
After watching the animated series I'm ready to enjoy Star Wars again, but at the same time there is fear that they will mess up again.
Need good
writing and directing, then will be an iconic classic success even with mediocre acting able to be overlooked (sorry Mr. Hamill, gotta say it ;) )
...and whoever works on the final script (esp. the dialog) needs to make sure to not pull a Lucas on this; instead take heed of this probably-tongue-in-cheek tip from a guy who has directed more than 300* music videos (and non-music video productions too)
http://www.nigeldick.com/faqmanager/FAQsview.asp?id=95
Spoiler
I want to get a job as...Screenwriter. Any ideas?
Recommended Reading:
Adventures In The Screen Trade by William Goldman
Conversations With My Agent by Rob Long
Monster by John Gregory Dunne
The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella
Step One: Watch as many films as you can, especially Adaptation and Casablanca.
Step Two: Sit in front of your computer screen for a whole day and ensure that you achieve nothing apart from chewing some pencils and making some coffee. If you thought that was fun screenwriting is for you!
Step Three: Write a screenplay.
Step Four: Watch Casablanca and Adaptation again, ignore what Kaufman has to say in the movie, and book yourself into Robert McKee's Story Structure class which will take up a whole weekend, change your life, and explain why you needed to watch Casablanca twice.
Step Five: Start re-writing your screenplay.
Step Six: Watch Adaptation a third time and realise what a friggin genius Charlie Kaufman is.
*yikes, prolific much? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Music_videos_directed_by_Nigel_Dick
(and PS: According to Dick (http://www.nigeldick.com/faqmanager/FAQsview.asp?id=1), the term "music video" was not what they were first called, instead they were more accurately the band's "promotional video", of which Bohemian Rhapsody was the first recognizeable blockbuster success -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Rhapsody#Promotional_video )
I don't even think it needs good writing, "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" both share something really powerful; they connect to the audience directly through "movie magic", which IS simple and straightforward, shows much and explains little. The dialogue needs to be catchy enough to be entertaining, even if it is total nonsense.
Peoples brains tend to fill in the gaps, that's what keeps something interesting going in your mind, hell that's even why some crappy franchises still stick in peoples' minds, the veneer of lore will grow if the movie is fun to watch. If you start to overload people with dialogue explaining things, add too many characters or have protracted dialogue scenes in your action/adventure movie just to move the basic plot along you'll actually lose people rather than engross them.
I think the cardinal sin with Episode I was the constant explaining of things that didn't need explaining. I mean if Qui-Gon Jinn just got close to Anakin and said "dude, this kids the most powerful Force-haver ever" that would have been better than giving him a dumb gizmo and explain-at length-how Force ability is actually micro-ojsadlk;j ugh I'm bored already, who the @%&# cares? Then there were the scenes in the Senate that were supposed to characterize Amidala and Palpatine and set the purpose for the Trade Federation blocka... I'm bored already again.
I've only seen one science fiction film out of hundreds where exposition actually made it better and that was "Creation of the Humanoids" which had a non-existent budget but a really powerful story if you listened to the dialogue (also "The Twonky" which on the surface is a sci-fi comedy but has some really chilling commentary about a possible future if you pay attention).
So yeah, I guess I'm more afraid of film makers losing the look, feel and flow of an action-adventure story to try to hammer in some pointless exposition so a b-list actor can chew the scenery for a while or add a bunch of named throwaway side characters just to push more merch after the movie.
They need to go back to old 40s/50s action serials and split up the action that way, then fill in the gaps with magical robots and mystical science wizards or whatever and try not to forget that they're trying to recreate the classic Saturday Matinee not remake the "The Godfather" but with lasers and spaceships.
/rant overflow :D
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 28, 2014, 01:54:53 PM
I don't even think it needs good writing, "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" both share something really powerful; they connect to the audience directly through "movie magic"
well-written movie magic! (sometimes good writing includes
what you leave out -- instead of including unnecessary, or
unwanted* details/explanations)
*coughmidichlorians (http://techland.time.com/2010/08/10/20000-per-cell-why-midi-chlorians-suck/)cough
I agree with Mr. A. Writing isn't entirely important here. I have been known to enjoy poorly written movies. Same with poorly written books so long as there is a thread there that keeps me tied to it.
For instance, book one of harry potter is actually kinda crap writing wise. But I loved it. Compared to that I tried reading some books by Terry Brooks, and OMFG not only are they badly written, they also have nothing to keep me interested. They bore me to death. Thats hard to do. I will read history text books, and the linux kernel mailing list and find something interesting. I tried three separate novels.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 28, 2014, 01:54:53 PM
I've only seen one science fiction film out of hundreds where exposition actually made it better
Let me guess -- the 2nd/3rd Matrix movies?
/ducksProjectile ;)
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 28, 2014, 01:54:53 PM
...explains little. The dialogue needs to be catchy enough to be entertaining, even if it is total nonsense.
Peoples brains tend to fill in the gaps, that's what keeps something interesting going in your mind, hell that's even why some crappy franchises still stick in peoples' minds, the veneer of lore will grow if the movie is fun to watch.
On a related note: I was bored on the weekend and decided to watch the pilot episode of "Supernatural" -- and was pleasantly surprised for a similar reason: They jumped into events immediately and the "timeline" of the universe was well past the beginning of related events. As a viewer I got to make guesses as I went along and then a few answers were provided but a whole lot of other questions still are waiting to be addressed. Nice change to see a scifi/fantasy series NOT start with an "origin story" episode that explains everything in detail from Step One.
Aww yeah, I hate origin story pilots so much, because half the time the pilot gets changed so all the time they spend setting up a history goes right out the window almost immediately.
I @%&# you not man, ironically enough Creation of the Humanoids tells a much deeper story than The Matrix
Thinking about it now, in many ways, it would have been a worthy sequel to The Matrix if it was jazzed up
Spoiler
The human fighting against the machines taking over as the dominant life form discovers that not only his HE a machine but he also learns that the machines are keeping the few humans that despise them alive out of pity and that they've been pushing for more integration to replace humans BECAUSE the humans are already doomed and they want to continue the human spirit somehow
whoa indeed!
Creation of the Humanoids is currently NOT protected by copyright so you can legally download it at places like Archive.org:
https://archive.org/details/ClassicSciFiCreationOfTheHumanoids1962drforbinRip
It's worth watching on a rainy day anyway, it is
VERY b-movie, but interesting
Star Wars VII Cast
New Cast:
John Boyega
Daisy Ridley
Adam Driver
Oscar Isaac
Andy Serkis
Domhnall Gleeson
Max von Sydow
Returning Cast:
Harrison Ford (!)
Carrie Fisher
Mark Hamill
Anthony Daniels
Peter Mayhew
Kenny Baker
http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-7-cast-announced.html
Also throw out any "Extended Universe" stuff (post-Jedi) it is now officially non-canon and will be considered "legends of Star Wars"
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 29, 2014, 02:38:33 PM
Kenny Baker
idk y, but seeing that name immediately makes me think of a recent Rifftracks preview I watched -- http://www.rifftrax.com/vod/dr-who-and-daleks
But good to see a bunch of unknowns will be the primary cast. That worked for the prequels dinit?
PS: "The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015." You just announced the CAST and the release date is only 20 months hence? srsly WHY RUSH IT? (Sounds great, Disney. But don't get cocky!) #skeptical
Quote from: Darren Dirt on April 30, 2014, 08:50:23 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 29, 2014, 02:38:33 PM
Kenny Baker
idk y, but seeing that name immediately makes me think of a recent Rifftracks preview I watched -- http://www.rifftrax.com/vod/dr-who-and-daleks
But good to see a bunch of unknowns will be the primary cast. That worked for the prequels dinit?
PS: "The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015." srsly WHY RUSH IT? You just announced the CAST and the release date is 18 months hence? #skeptical
TBH I'm surprised that Kenny Baker is still kickin'
I dunno, I'm pretty sure most sci-fi fans were aware of Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson and of course Natalie Portman
For me the only name that sticks out in the new cast is Max von Sydow (one of my personal faves anyway)
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 30, 2014, 08:56:30 AM
But good to see a bunch of unknowns will be the primary cast. That worked for the prequels dinit?
I was being half-sarcastic. Some already-recognized-as-decent-actors were in noteable roles for sure. But the young kid who played Anakin? The actors who played Jar-Jar and Darth Maul? Ummm... nice careers post-SW, boys.
On the subject of how fast this puppy could get shot and edited:
production timeline of new film compared to previous films http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-vii-set-to-roll-cameras-may-2014.html
^ Also apparently the new one is "set about 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi".
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 28, 2014, 01:54:53 PM
I've only seen one science fiction film out of hundreds where exposition actually made it better and that was "Creation of the Humanoids" which had a non-existent budget but a really powerful story if you listened to the dialogue (also "The Twonky" which on the surface is a sci-fi comedy but has some really chilling commentary about a possible future if you pay attention).
What about this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5EBvRjh63Y) heavy-concept scifi film? Explanatory exposition is certainly necessary here (fine line between necessary and now-it's-too-talky). And also on the subject of visually fantastic films re. dreaming with plenty of make-you-think-about-things dialog, check out "Journey into the subconscious", an animated foreign short (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLpElFCsS4M). Watch this just before falling asleep... ;)
The concept of going through layers of psyche to get information was a good one, especially when it was explored two years prior to Inception with this film (http://youtu.be/jJzEW_eE1G0)
Which is less talky and more showy, which is more gooder
Quote from: Mr. Analog on May 01, 2014, 10:53:12 PM
The concept of going through layers of psyche to get information was a good one, especially when it was explored two years prior to Inception with this film (http://youtu.be/jJzEW_eE1G0)
Which is less talky and more showy, which is more gooder
Yeah.
http://2nohito.tumblr.com/post/17481362489/yerawizardharry-inception-2010-paprika (via http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851578/board )
But did you check out that foreign-language lucid-dreaming animated short (JITS) tho? Heady stuff. Style-wise for some reason (maybe how it starts subtle/slow and then builds to more frenetic and out there?) kinda hit me along the lines of Enter The Void (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL0lNGXoP8E) opening credits (also, ETV is film from first-person POV so there's that too).
I'm gonna check it out tonight it sounds good
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 29, 2014, 02:38:33 PM
Star Wars VII Cast
New Cast:
Max von Sydow
Hmm...
(http://ffn.nodwick.com/ffnstrips/2014-05-01.png)
source: http://ffn.nodwick.com/?p=1275
LOL
Rumour has it that the opening credits for the next Star Wars will use some pretty impressive new technology.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bo_7amZIIAUSMC6.jpg)
Spoiler
TBH that photo is from How the opening crawl of Star Wars was filmed (https://twitter.com/HistoryInPics/status/472872920608690176) (technically, SW:TESB)
I'm not sure about the average movie goer but I'd LOVE to see a return to more practical effects for some things
I recently re-watched the Star Wars saga, original flavour and New Coke flavour and I realized that the main downside is that the CG modelling looked very video gamey, the explosions didn't look as real (in the originals the were actually blowing models up filmed at high speed and then slowed down in editing) and also the way light played off of models (in Empire most of the large model shots used natural light and you get interesting shadows / occlusion that even a few years ago still couldn't really be replicated via CG)
Also stuff tends to dip into uncanny valley (not even talking about the aliens), it's funny when I watch the CG Clone Wars the space ships and robots all looked great, but they were in the context of a highly stylized design, which is intrinsically not real and yet felt more real. I re-watch Episode I and the ships and robots look a lot more like toys, less "real".
Despite what some people think there were still a lot of practical effects in use for the prequel trilogy, but it just never felt right.
reminder: Star Wars: The Force Awakens got its own thread once the teaser trailer was released in November 2014...
http://forums.righteouswrath.com/index.php/topic,10457.0.html
Because OH MY JARJAR there are a LOT of threads in this forum with the 2 word phrase "Star Wars"!!!