The Star Wars: Episode 7 Production In Review: A Writer’s Roundtable (Part 2 of 3)
In Part 1 of this special Episode VII Production In Review series we looked at the thrilling days of pre-production that led up to the Official start of Principal Photography. In Part 2, the StarWars7News crew takes a look back at Principal thus far as we comment on some of the highlights and key “events” that shaped production, after the jump.
DAY ONE:
MAY 16th, 2014 > Star Wars: Episode VII, code-named “AVCO,” begins Principal Photography in Abu Dhabi! It would be some days before we find out which actors are involved with this portion of the shoot. Also, a simple, yet unmistakable sign is posted at Pinewood Studios, signifying the launch of this massive enterprise!
How psyched were you when they announced the start of production on May 16th?
Pomojema: Not nearly as psyched as I am now. I pretty much live off of Star Wars rumors at this point in my life, and I’m not ashamed to admit that.
Viral Hide: Well honestly nothing can be compared to the October 30th announcement!
Echo-07: It was definitely different from the other days, but kicking-off a new Star Wars production was still a special day and a day I never really thought we’d see for the ST.
DAY SIX:
MAY 21st, 2014 > JJ Abrams releases a video introducing fans worldwide to their fund-raising initiative called “Force For Change” designed to raise money for Unicef. The surprising video is shot from one of the Abu Dhabi desert sets – “an ages old market” — that leaves little doubt that Tatooine makes, yet, another appearance in a Star Wars film. The video also reveals a practical alien character, possibly a H’drachi, in the background:
What did you guys think of JJ’s Force For Change video from the Abu Dhabi set?
Pomojema: The London one was better (X-Wing! Rebel Pilot! Mouse Droid!), but I loved seeing the Muppet move around. Jim Henson would be proud.
Viral Hide: He is really trying hard to do something very, very close to the OT feel. I hope they’re only trying to mimic the feel not the whole story structure, plot twists etc. The new Rebels show is trying too hard to mimic the OT and I think that’s not necessarily a good thing. Everything needs a soul of its own.
Echo-07: I thought that JJ’s penchant for his secretive “mystery box” strategy would mean we wouldn’t see anything like that video, so it was a HUGE surprise IMO.
DAY SEVEN:
MAY 22, 2014 > We learn at least a couple of the actors involved in the Abu Dhabi shoot include John Boyega and Daisy Ridley.
Ridley & Boyega evoke memories of the 2013 audition script, looking for “Rachel” and “Thomas”:
THOMAS (kidding) Can’t you go any faster?
RACHEL Shut up and eat your apple.
DAY SEVENTEEN:
JUNE 1st, 2014 > Bad Robot Tweets a picture from London, signifying that the two week Abu Dhabi leg of the shoot has successfully concluded! The photo features an exuberant JJ Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy as they toast to a successful first leg of a long journey.
#robotsinlondon pic.twitter.com/6JgPIxHJns
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) June 1, 2014
DAY EIGHTEEN:
JUNE 2nd, 2014 > Day 18 is a big one as TMZ, the TV tabloid, releases 45 spoiler pics from the Abu Dhabi shoot, definitely revealing more details about the presumed Tatooine sets.
What did we think of the TMZ leaked pictures, without getting spoiler-ific?
Pomojema: Well, they certainly quenched my appetite for news. Nonetheless, I’m glad that they focused mainly on the sets instead of trying to pester the stars of the show.
Viral Hide: Well they didn’t show anything actually, didn’t they? Still I loved the huge creature. But, as with the AT-AT foot, it probably will end up in the BG of some shot. It was weird though that all the people on the photos were … humanoid. Someone should expect more diversity from an alien world.
Echo-07: You bring up a good point, Viral, as IMO I don’t think they were “leaks” at all. I think JJ and co. hid all the really cool stuff they wanted to save as a surprise, including alien extras.
Dekka129: I’ve been fascinated by what we’ve seen so far, not just from TMZ, but from other sources like JJ’s Force for Change videos. Most of the pics certainly tend to look like a certain “planet furthest from the bright center to the universe”, but who knows? One thing’s for sure… they all look very “Star Wars-ey”, and the TMZ pics have created some interesting general story scenarios in this old noggin of mine (though again, they are probably very different from what we’ll actually see onscreen.)
We also reported on this day, via the Official Site, the Official Announcement that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, Twelve Years A Slave, and Game of Thrones fan-fave Gwendoline Christie are joining the production.
“I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”
What do you think of Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie? Did critics jump the gun?
Pomojema: About accusing the film of underwriting the female parts? Yes, I do think so, considering that casting was still underway at that point. But Lupita and Gwendoline are wonderful actresses, and I’m glad to see that they’re going to be a part of the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
Viral Hide: Never heard of Lupita before, love Gwendoline in GOT, though. Obviously there’s much more attention to female characters this time around.
Dekka129: When DON’T critics jump the gun? In this case, we know so little about what they’ll be doing in the movie that I’m not sure what there actually is to criticize in the first place. I think both of these actresses are fantastic choices for the Star Wars universe, and I’m very interested to see what roles they end up playing.
If by criticism you are referring to concerns over there not being enough female characters in the movie, I think that was quite overblown, yet understandable given the casting of episodes 1-6. At the same time, I think that the responses decrying the notion that “political correctness” is driving the more diverse casting of Episode VII has been just as out of proportion.
DAY NINETEEN:
JUNE 3rd, 2014 > TMZ releases even more spoiler pics this time from Pinewood Studios, revealing some interesting “sets.”
DAY TWENTY:
JUNE 4th, 2014 > In response to the TMZ leaks, Bad Robot releases a spoiler pic of their own, revealing another interesting set piece that seemingly confirms that one famous, and fastest, hunk o’ junk in the galaxy is set to make her return.
pic.twitter.com/wQYfaVtwFU — Bad Robot (@bad_robot) June 4, 2014
JJ released a “spoiler” pic of his own from aboard the Falcon. . . does the Falcon count as a female? Does it help boost the total female count?
Pomojema: I don’t want to comment on this one, because I’m having Vietnam-like flashbacks to when all those commentators posted freaky videos to the comments section.
Echo-07: (Laughs) Fair enough . . .
Viral Hide: It’s great with all the paying attention to the details. Fans appreciate it.
Echo-07: Yes, as I recall they even bought dice too from someone on eBay. What do you think, Dekka?
Dekka129: Maybe, maybe not. But the Falcon is still the sexiest flying rust bucket this side of the Corporate Sector!
DAY THIRTY:
JUNE 16th, 2014 > Harrison Ford breaks his left ankle/leg while on the set of the Millennium Falcon. According to various reports he was struck by the hydraulic gangplank entrance ramp that leads inside the ship. At first, reports are sketchy as to how serious the injury is and only in subsequent days do we learn that Ford is sidelined for up to eight weeks in order to recover. Abrams and co. are forced to shuffle the shooting schedule, which then included a two week hiatus in August to allow Ford more time to recover.
Harrison Ford broke his leg virtually one month after filming began — What did you think?
Pomojema: I was unpleasantly surprised, but I largely felt like things were going to work themselves out and that he would be back on set soon – I didn’t really entertain the idea that the movie was going to be delayed – and it seems like this was indeed the case.
Viral Hide: I really never thought that the incident was really serious. Surely it could have been, but somehow I thought that he’ll be OK in no time.
Dekka129: My initial reaction was rather unprintable. The dark irony of Harrison Ford finally agreeing to play Han Solo again after years of trying to put the character behind him, and then having his ankle broken right there on the Millennium Falcon set just had me shaking my head and uttering “colorful metaphors”. And at the same time, I was afraid that this might radically alter the story for Episode 7 if Harrison was out of commission for very long – and JJ and everyone had seemed VERY excited about the screenplay as it was. Luckily, it doesn’t seem to have been too serious a setback.
Echo-07: I agree with the unprintable, colorful metaphors, however, unlike you guys I thought it would delay the release of the film — my first reaction was May 2016 here we come! But, thankfully, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
DAY FORTY-TWO:
JUNE 28th, 2014 > Andy Serkis confirms that he is playing a motion-capture character in Star Wars: Episode VII. Serkis, and his Imaginarium, are famed for bringing CGI characters to life such as “Gollum,” “King Kong,” and “Caesar” from Planet of the Apes. The speculation begins as to just what kind of alien Serkis is playing and whether or not he is a “Good guy” or a “baddie.”
We found out that Andy Serkis, mo-cap master, is indeed playing a mo-cap character, but what kind of alien is he playing? Good guy or bad guy?
Pomojema: I’m going to guess that it will be a chaotic/true/lawful neutral character, given that that’s what most of his mo-cap characters have been as of late – specifically, Gollum (who eventually becomes a villain), King Kong, and Caesar. My guess is that it will be a character that acts neutral for a majority of the movie but ultimately sides with good when push comes to shove.
Viral Hide: I think there’s is still no official info on whether he is playing a mo-cap character or not. Of course I’m 90% sure that he is but that’s not official. I think there will be a fully CG creature with an important role in the movie. I’m just speculating on this.
Echo-07: Three words — Son of Jar-Jar . . .
DAY FORTY-SIX:
JULY 2nd, 2014 > After a trip to London where he was allowed to visit the various sets of the production, Kevin Smith returns to the states to share his excitement with the internets. Smith couldn’t talk much about the visit because of the NDA, however, was able to confirm such already confirmed items as lightsabers, blasters, the Millennium Falcon, and the appearance of Stormtroopers.
What did you think about Kevin Smith’s excitement after visiting the set?
Pomojema: I generally agree with his enthusiasm (such as for the movie Man Of Steel, which I personally consider to be one of the best superhero movies ever made in spite of being divisive), so his ecstatic response pretty much erased any doubt in my mind that Disney could screw this up.
Viral Hide: I think this was the best indication so far that the movie is in good hands. We all know Kevin and he surely was impressed.
Dekka129: I don’t have the problem with Kevin Smith and his movies that a lot of folks seem to. He’s a big ol’ dork just like me and (I suspect) just like a lot of us here, who just happens to have had the opportunity to build a career letting his id run free in fun but admittedly low-brow comedies. But one thing’s for sure – the guy LOVES Star Wars and grew up with it very much the way we all did. Had he come out of his set visit making measured, diplomatic statements about how good the movie was going to be, I’d have been concerned. But the fact that he could barely contain himself, and that he has repeatedly skirted the edges of his NDA agreement like an ovegrown kid who’s too excited to keep something big to himself… well, personally I think that’s a very good sign indeed. It proves nothing, but suggests plenty.
Echo-07: Those are great responses, one and all. I couldn’t have said it better.
That’s a wrap for Part 2 of “The Episode VII Production In Review” roundtable. Be sure to check back soon for the conclusion of this series as filming ends its two week hiatus and ramps-up again. In Part 3 we take a look at everything else that came after Day Forty-six and even sneak a peek at what’s to come after the hiatus.
Hmm I had an idea about Andy Serkis and ever since I got it, I can’t stop thinking about it. Obviously, there are some exciting force ghosts that may show up in this movie. I mean, they were with Luke all along so why wouldn’t they help him if he or the galaxy or whatever faced great danger? I thought of Yoda- full CGI would be too much, but a puppet might not show full emotion that they might be looking for. How about combining the two? A puppet with Andy’s motion captured emotions? Wouldn’t that be something? And the best way to portrait such a powerful character in 2014? He might play other characters too, but I have a strong feeling that JJ may have this in mind for him.
clearly, Star Wars fanboys (the obsessive ones) consider CG to be a bad word… unless it’s got the Andy Serkis seal of approval.
I don’t think they consider CG in general to be bad, just the notion that it be the only tool in the toolbox.
I’m wondering about that damn mystery box… by the time it’s opened will we care anymore? haha.
It’s unfortunate that only one point of view is allowed to be expressed on this blog. It diminished the vitality of the dialogue.
We’re always being told by preaching personalities that we need to have discussions about the imaginary issue of representation in Star Wars.
However, when we attempt to have that very discussion, certain opinions are unduly suppressed by the keepers of this blog. Apparently, everyone is required to think and say the same things about everything here.
Pomojema’s statements about “freaky videos” are similar in spirit to the senior cardinals who refused to look into Galileo’s telescope, because they didn’t want to acknowledge information that ran counter to their beliefs.
In the same way, Pomojema refuses to acknowledge a point of view that she would rather see suppressed because she disagrees with it. It’s an unenlightened and fascist position to take.
I’m a man, thank you very much.
The videos I was speaking of had absolutely nothing to do with the argument. It was just sexually explicit material that did not add to the discussion in any way beyond shock value, not to mention that it directly violated the site’s policy of keeping things work-safe. There was no “point of view” to express with posting these videos to this site.
While there was actual discussion of gender balance in the movies here and there, it was largely drowned out by this bunch of miscreants that were trying to rile people up with the videos in question instead of actually discussing the issue. If people are actually willing to debate this issue reasonably, then I would be welcome to allow such a discussion to take place (as would the other moderators, I’d imagine). I’d hardly call that a “fascist position”.
It’s important for you to understand that your opinion here is incorrect. Just because you failed to understand and/or acknowledge a point of view, in no way means that that point of view doesn’t exist.
The point of view that you claim doesn’t exist was simply this:
That the call for equal representation in Star Wars seems to be a call for a return to pre-Star Wars era science fiction that was largely mocked and laughed at by the general public. Films which closely resemble exploitation fare with scantily clad women engaging in what effectively amounts to big budget mud wrestling tournaments for an audience seeking to be titillated. B schlock films like Barbarella and Galaxina. The posting of the videos was meant to illustrate that larger point, which you continue to refuse exists, and to show people what they may be in store for. I’m guessing that the posting of the videos made that argument far too effective for you to be comfortable with. This has been expressly communicated here previously, but I believe those comments were suppressed through deletion as well.
Now, you may not call that a fascist position, but that’s what silencing a contrary point of view is anyway.
Additionally, there was absolutely nothing “Not Safe For Work” in any of those videos. If there were, YouTube would not be hosting them. There was no nudity and/or sex acts being shown. What could be seen in those videos, were the very same sorts of things that can be seen at any Comic-Con which are generally accessible to anyone. So the NSFW canard is merely an excuse to react any way you wish towards opinions you dislike.
I found the videos disturbing. They just seemed massively out of place. Weird to put them up and they obviously weren’t commenting on the articles. I’ve no problem with burlesque, but burlesque mixed with Star Wars is worse than Jar Jar or the Holiday Special…
Except that they were commenting on the issues presented in articles, as I’ve just explained above.
I’m not sure that those videos would qualify as disturbing in the same way as imagery of ISIS beheading children in Iraq is disturbing. I think that you’re misapplying the word “disturbing” here.
IS murders are more disturbing, granted. That’s a pretty low standard you’re setting yourself there though…
More women added to Star Wars doesn’t equal burlesque.
I’m not saying that more women added to Star Wars equals burlesque.
Rather, what I am saying instead, is that what we get will depend on the nature and context of the type of women cast.
If we get rugged Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor type of women, then no it won’t equal burlesge.
If we get a 95 pound Vogue model wearing hiphuggers and a corset while fending off 300 pound foes with a lightsaber, then yes, it will equal burlesque.
And that’s not to say that burlesque is a bad thing. It’s just that those kind of portrayals will not be conducive to a believable galaxy far, far away.
Yeah, because everything else in Star Wars up till now is believable? I think audiences can handle a skinny beautiful woman doing cool stuff without her having to be a Ripley character (though that is just fine too.) And I’m not sure what is with hardcore OT fans that are against women, as they spent half their waking lives fantasizing over slave Leia.
@anon 2:11
Does a 35 pound frail green creature lifting up a 30 ton spacecraft out of the water also count as burlesque in your book? Or is that more “realistic?”
@ ha ha ha ha ha ha ha August 18, 2014 at 03:08 AM
That’s a seemingly good point, but ultimately flawed.
You’ll note that Yoda used telekinesis to lift the X-Wing out of the swamp, rather than brute physical strength. You’ll also note, that Yoda doesn’t exactly have what I’d call a flawless Oil of Olay complexion.
However, when we look at Yoda’s lightsaber battle in the PT, it was mostly unbelievable. His portray would have been far more believable if his portrayal had been maintained as a more cerebral user of the Force.
@Greedo Fett August 18, 2014 at 03:05 AM
That might be because OT fans haven’t expressed anything against women.
The same arguments would be made here, if Mark Hamill had been cast as Han Solo rather than a naive farm boy.
I’m sure anyone can handle beautiful skinny women doing cool stuff, but that’s not really the issue.
Being involved in battle means that your training and experience will have different demands and effects on the physiology of your body, than being pampered at a Cosmopolitan photo shoot would.
It’s why Justin Beiber wouldn’t make a believable Jedi either.
Deeper thought should be given to character creation, than merely concerns over the shallow surface diversity of genitalia and skin color quotas.
I imagine any and all women on the battlefield in Star Wars will be modeled, more or less, after Leia, not some Cosmo girl.
Besides, Star Wars ain’t about muscles but strong characters fighting with blasters, lightsabers, the Force, starships, etc. = the great equalizers
Not even Han Solo was built. His biggest muscle was his mouth.
Actually Harrison Ford was in pretty good shape, having been a carpenter at the time he was cast in the role. You don’t have to be a WWE muscle man to be able to defeat a 95 pound female with a blade.
It’s entirely possible that they’ll model female roles after Leia, but with the recent clamor for schlocky pre-Star Wars female depictions I’m not so sure.
What do pt fans have against humanity? Why do they want us subjected to more garbage like the pt. speaking as a ot fan I have nothing at all against women playing a vital role in the st. If the main character is a women and women outnumber men that’s fine with me. I just want them to be great characters. Not unbearably awful like the ones in the pt.
You are not being forced to have a particular opinion. Being respectful is not an ‘opinion’..
There was nothing disrespectful about any of the opinions or videos posted. Quite the contrary.
In fact if you interview the women wearing the cosplay costumes or performing in burlesque, they themselves would describe their activities as female empowering art. They would be surprised if anyone found their material disrespectful.
Besides, enforcing one standard of respectfulness is in fact forcing people to think and say the same things.
There were PLENTY of disrespectful posts on the topic of women and minorities in Star Wars, including the intention behind those video posts.
If you think that the content of those videos and the intention behind posting them is disrespectful to women, then why would the casting of similar types of female characters in Episode VII be any less disrespectful to women?
Therein lies the crux of the point.
30 years ago, feminists struggled to shed the Barbarella type depictions of females in science fiction, and did so successfully with characters like Ellen Ripley and Sarah Conner.
However the new breed of feminist it seems seeks a regressive return to those exploitation type of female portrayals.
Ugh, it feels like we’re talking in circles. The key thing about stuff like Barbarella is that it was clearly meant to be made with titillation involved. The opening scene involves the title character stripping naked for the audience, and several other scenes involve nudity or scantily-clad individuals.
Star Wars, on the other hand, has only come close to titillation when it came to showing Leia as a slave girl (which itself subverted the “burlesque” role by virtue of the fact that she’s able to murder her captor and free herself). In fact, the only scenes actually relating to sex only show the aftermath, which basically involved seeing Anakin shirtless while Padmé was in a nightgown. I see no reason as to why this would suddenly change for Episodes VII, VIII, IX, or any other Star Wars film that comes out afterward.
Comparing one of the more modest film franchises in recent history to the roles that women played in a softcore pornographic movie is utterly grasping for straws.
Star Wars, on the other hand, has only come close to titillation when it came to showing Leia as a slave girl (which itself subverted the “burlesque” role by virtue of the fact that she’s able to murder her captor and free herself). In fact, the only scenes actually relating to sex only show the aftermath, which basically involved seeing Anakin shirtless while Padmé was in a nightgown. I see no reason as to why this would suddenly change for Episodes VII, VIII, IX, or any other Star Wars film that comes out afterward.
Comparing one of the more modest film franchises in recent history to the roles that women played in softcore pornographic movies might be grasping for straws, if that’s what I was doing. However I’m not doing that at all.
Remember, Barbarella, while sexy, is not softcore porn.
Rather, what I am doing instead, is comparing the recent female casting for Episode VII, to the casting of B-Movie schlock. The kind of bikini clad barbarian fare that is routinely made fun of on MSTK3000, and was snickered at at the Drive-In.
This is probably why it feels like we’re talking in circles to you. you don’t seem to have a fundamental understanding of basic definitions, and are responding to points that I’ve never made.
Disney now controls Star Wars, as is evident from the character of Sabine, so that’s one reason that things might suddenly change.
The other thing that might cause it to suddenly change are the activist cries for more vagina without any regard to whether or not it makes sense for the story that’s being told.
Another thing that might cause it to suddenly change are concepts like this:
http://starwars-exodus.wikia.com/wiki/Lyli_Var'nio
Some of which have been posted on this site.
Leia’s bikini was appropriate for the context, because she was forced to wear it as a slave. She didn’t choose to head into the Battle of Endor still willingly wearing the metal bikini.
As powerful as Leia’s slave bikini scenes were, especially since she herself choked the very one who had violated her, I’m saddened to see women embrace the slave outfit as a sex symbol, like if black people felt cool and empowered by wearing a black character’s slave costume.
I say this as a man.
I get that people just want to have fun and all. It just felt off to me ever since I started appreciating the deeper meaning behind it.
Actually there was a time in the 80s when African Americans did just that.
They wore massive chains of gold, which became known as bling, to represent the chains they wore as slaves. Mr. T is probably the most famous example of this.
“If you think that the content of those videos and the intention behind posting them is disrespectful to women, then why would the casting of similar types of female characters in Episode VII be any less disrespectful to women?”
Because your claims about how burlesque dancers are the ‘similar type of females’ that they have cast in epvii, is just a load of rubbish! They have cast your every-day typical males and females, they have NOT cast anyone resembling a burlesque dancer! If you really think so, then that’s simply your perverse and short-sighted mind at work. You are saying the female actors they have cast in episode vii (which are your everyday normal average females) are the same as burlesque dancers, when they are in fact just normal typical females. The fact you think even typical females are there for nothing more than just sex appeal, is sexist and derogatory behavior, hence it’s wrong behavior. This shouldn’t be so difficult for you to understand.
It’s the equivalent of you putting up videos of male strippers and claiming that the males they have cast resemble those male strippers, with no logical explanation whatsoever. Then also proceeding to say that it’s not sexist to claim that the caliber of normal typical males is the same caliber as strippers.
@ Anonymous August 18, 2014 at 15:25 PM
There’s nothing to understand. In reality, it’s not wrong behavior at all, even if you erroneously think it is.
They did not cast everyday women. Rather, what they did cast instead, was Cosmpolitan cover models. They may as well have cast Kate Upton in a leading female role. I bet that lightsaber would make some great backlighting on her.
You may not see this because you’re probably still a child yourself.
@ Anonymous August 18, 2014 at 15:36 PM
It’s not the equivalent of that at all.
Firstly, I offered many logical explanations as to the meaning of the posted videos. Some of which may have been unceremoniously deleted.
Secondly, the male characters don’t appear to be the male equivalent of a Vogue cover model. If they had cast Justin Beiber or Justin Timberlake, I’d be making the same arguments.
Furthermore, the male characters in Star Wars likely won’t be wearing G-strings, unsnappable pants, or that iconic Chippendales collar while going into battle. So their costumes won’t appear to be stripper gear. Contrast that with the female characters, who if they wear corsets and hiphuggers, will in fact resemble burlesque performers.
I’m not sure if your last sentence is complete.
Aah, once again. It’s all just claims with nothing to even back it up anyway.
“They did not cast everyday women. Rather, what they did cast instead, was Cosmopolitan cover models.”
Go ahead, just repeat it all you like. You can’t even debunk my argument either. Genius. You should become a lawyer.
“the male characters don’t appear to be the male equivalent of a Vogue cover model.”
Yes. Yes they do. The males represent vogue cover models. .. You see? I can make stupid claims too.
“So their costumes won’t appear to be stripper gear.”
Oh. So now it’s about the costumes. The costumes in which none of us know anything about. So if your examples of justin bieber and justin timblerlake, were hypothetically cast, but DIDN’T wear stripper gear, it would be ok? Or not?
“Contrast that with the female characters, who if they wear corsets and hiphuggers, will in fact resemble burlesque performers.”
So what has daisy ridley, lupita nyongo, gwendoline cristie, and carrie fisher got to do with corsets and hiphuggers apart from absolutely nothing at all? What if the females wear robes and gowns and normal clothes? Corsets have been worn by people who aren’t burlesque dancers anyway. I mean burlesque dancers also wear make-up. Are the females not aloud to wear make-up? Or does that remind you too much of burlesque dancers and is therefore somehow a terrible idea because of your own perverse mindset?
Do you like duck meat?
I still find it hard to believe we are actually getting EPISODE VII. The rumors and reports so far sound better than anything we learned during the production of Episode I, though, so I am cautiously optimistic. Yet, we still know so unbearably little about it all.
I do hope Serkis plays a new character. Let the force ghosts rest, they were always the weakest part of the plot anyway. They are brave though if they go ahead with a cgi character after the epic, epic fail called J.J….Binks
Jar Jar Binks’ failure has NOTHING to do with the character being 100% CGI. The character was a major failure because of his ridiculously childish antics and shenaningans, period.
A well-done CGI character can be a success. Just go ask LotR fans if they consider Serkis’ Gollum a failure, or Potter fans if they hated Doby the Elf.
In fact, if Jar Jar Binks had been some guy in a costume (a la Peter Mayhew’s Chewie) or a puppet (a la Frank Oz’s Yoda), the character would have been a THOUSAND THOUSAND times worse.
I agree 100% jar jar was a bad character. Like the rest of the pt. clearly GL changed a lot between the ot and pt. he took a very different approach to the pt and the result were movies that first and foremost had really bad characters. I think the best effects usually involves a mix of practical and cg effects. But I think way to much is made of the whole issue
You misunderstand. I am not saying JJB was a failure because he was CGI. I am saying that the audience, having been burned on a Star Wars CGI character before, will be apprehensive and the new character must be really good to make us forget “that other CGI character”.
I *would* argue that CGI is part of the problem though – using CGI, animators and directors exaggerate everything thus disrupting the audience’s immersion. Example: JJB taking a dive into the lake while defying gravity. His sloppy body movements that lack reality or weight.
But yes. He was terribly written and acted as well. While there are elements of the PT that are equally flawed, JJB’s destiny is to be the poster child of epic cinematic failure.
Again, I’ve seen some very good CGI or Mo-Cap characters before, so I’ve no problem with them whatsoever.
Also, let me clarify that I like the PT, and I couldn’t give a crap about Binks one way or the other.
I’m obviously not blind to the fact that the character was a MAJOR failure, but I must insist: that was because of the way that Lucas wrote the character, and not the animation itself.
Now, let us not forget that there was another 100% CGI character that played a key role in the PT: none other than Master Yoda. And unlike Binks, the little, green Jedi Master got plenty of cheers and claps from the audience, when I watched Eps. II and III.
So, no offense, but to say that SW audiences might be a little apprehensive about a new, all-CGI character (assuming that there is such a thing in the ST) is far too short-sighted for my taste.
“In fact, if Jar Jar Binks had been some guy in a costume (a la Peter Mayhew’s Chewie) or a puppet (a la Frank Oz’s Yoda), the character would have been a THOUSAND THOUSAND times worse.”
That’s nonsense. Changing Jar Jar into a costumed person or puppet would not have made him a “THOUSAND THOUSAND times worse”. What a silly thing to say.
Actually, the argument could made to the contrary because using one of those two methods AND avoiding any CGI with the character would’ve restricted Jar Jar’s ability to move around stupidly, such as when he dove into the water like he was Roger Rabbit.
Not that CGI is bad. I’m just using a specific argument.
Of course Binks could never have performed his Goofy-like antics had he been a puppet or a guy in a costume. That wasn’t my point.
My point is that a bad character will always be bad, regardless on whether he’s an actor with no disguise or make-up whatsoever, a puppet, a guy in a costume, a CGI or a cartoon.
That’s why I mentioned Gollum and Doby the Elf in my previous comment. Because neither character was considered a failure by LotR or Potter fans, and neither was PT Yoda by SW fans, for that matter.
Had Lucas written Binks more like say, Short-Round in Indy II (meaning a clever, adventurous, young type, who got himself in trouble because of his curious nature, as opposed to such an idiotic, childish “comic relief” type) then the character could’ve been much better, CGI or no.
The “Luke Arm” inspired by Star Wars
http://news.yahoo.com/katie-couric-interviews-bionic-arm-inventor-185134268.html
What we’ve learned since filming started:
1) Part of the movie will be set on Tatooine but it isn’t really Tatooine.
2) They’re using “practical effects.”
3) Luke Skywalker is living as a hermit… but he might not be.
4) They’re using “practical effects.”
5) The bad guy is half cyborg… but he isn’t.
6) They’re using “practical effects.”
But what about podracers…buggies, ya that’s it, really fast buggies and a big pig hippo!
“AVCO,” A very cool opener!
Fitting for the first movie in a new trilogy!? 😛
How the heck does this one Star Wars fan page get so side tracked from actual Star Wars discussions?
Geez these comments some times. Quick let’s debate the genders, race and most importantly the morality of eating fish!
I kid because I love… to poke fun at those fools.
I can honestly say aside from some strange plot rumors and Rebels mimicking the OT to closely… I absolutely love all the new information coming out about the NT. Love this site too save for a few oddball debates 😛
AVCO is actually the acronym of Episode VII’s title.
Star Wars: Episode VII – A Very Crunchy Onion
I thought we already had a feminist purge?
Looks line we will have to send the Inquisitors to find the rest.
I hope the new storm troopers don’t look as modernized as the police from 2012’s Total Recall. I’d like for there to still be more militant style, less modern/sheikh.