JJ Abrams and Larry Kasden writing Star Wars

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**KingCracker**

Oh cmon JJ Abrams at worst writes movies that are watchable. You cannot, with a strait face tell me the last 3 movies Lucas did were watchable!

**Breotan**

The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.

**KingCracker**

I'm expecting the new STARWARS to be fun again at least. And that's hugely important

**GrimDork**

Yeah, I don't really compare the new star trek to the old one. I know I probably should since it's the same name and characters...

All I can say is that the wife watched both of them with me and I'll take that over watching the older ones by myself any day

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Breotan wrote:
The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.

Yeah, but using multiple, stretched out action scenes to cover up plot holes and a bad story, is a time honoured film maker's trick. See the films of Michael Bay for more details!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

KingCracker wrote:
I'm expecting the new STARWARS to be fun again at least. And that's hugely important

I bet you watched Phantom Menace 10 times, with each time you hoped the previous screening was a bad dream you'd wake up from.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Guess I'm just a bad nerd, because I really liked the JJ Abrams Star Trek movies. The only Star Trek I had seen before that was a handful of episodes from each TV series, none of which I had really been able to get into.

Of course, I also have trouble enjoying much Doctor Who from before season 5(I even liked season 6!), which according to basically everybody I've ever talked to makes me valid for labeling as mentally challenged.

~Tim?

**Ensis Ferrae**

Some_Call_Me_Tim? wrote:
Guess I'm just a bad nerd, because I really liked the JJ Abrams Star Trek movies. The only Star Trek I had seen before that was a handful of episodes from each TV series, none of which I had really been able to get into.

Of course, I also have trouble enjoying much Doctor Who from before season 5(I even liked season 6!), which according to basically everybody I've ever talked makes me valid for labeling as mentally challenged.

~Tim?

Lol, minus the Dr. Who thing, I'm in the same boat as you. I am loving the ST reboot. IMO, it is closer to what a 22nd or 23rd Century Starship should look like

**LordofHats**

It does a big disservice to equate JJ to the level of badness of Michael Bay and George Lucas. Lucas is a terrible film maker when allowed to play dictator like he has the least 20 years. Michael Bay... Well at least JJ can effectively hide the plot holes with filmmakers tricks. Bay can't even get that right.

**KingCracker**

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Breotan wrote:
The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.

Yeah, but using multiple, stretched out action scenes to cover up plot holes and a bad story, is a time honoured film maker's trick. See the films of Michael Bay for more details!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

KingCracker wrote:
I'm expecting the new STARWARS to be fun again at least. And that's hugely important

I bet you watched Phantom Menace 10 times, with each time you hoped the previous screening was a bad dream you'd wake up from.

That's fairly true. The only thing I took away from that film was that Darth Maul was robbed by Lucas and his good awful writing

**H.B.M.C.**

Breotan wrote:
That was missing all they way since the original TV show.

He said whilst wearing his over-sized glasses and his fedora, as he sipped coffee at his local Starbucks whilst using his iPad.

**Ahtman**

Rifftrax makes the prequels tolerable to sit through.

More importantly a guy found long lost Return of the Jedi footage on a rare laserdisc.

Buyers of a rare LaserDisc used to demonstrate an 80s-vintage film editing system have found it full of raw footage from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, graciously posting clips to a Facebook account over the course of the past several days. Most of the clips are from Luke Skywalker's last visit to Yoda on Dagobah, but another gem features a full minute (without audio, unfortunately) of R2-D2 repairing Skywalker's damaged X-wing

The origin of the LaserDisc isn't entirely clear, but it was purchased for $699 off eBay, apparently once used to demonstrate Lucasfilm's EditDroid station — one of the first digital film editing systems sold nearly 30 years ago. Ironically, George Lucas himself never used EditDroid to make a movie; the Star Wars clips were loaded simply to show off its capabilities to prospective buyers.

Lucasfilm, of course, is no stranger to fiercely protecting Star Wars copyrights, and it's reasonable to assume the disc buyer's clips may not stay online for long — particularly considering that they'd make a great addition to a future Blu-ray bundle.

**gorgon**

Breotan wrote:
The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.

Quoted for extreme truthiness. The ST franchise had become almost impossibly dull and bland, with the exception of DS9.

I fully expect these new movies to be a significant improvement and blast of fresh air. Of course, that doesn't mean SW fans will be happy with them. From my perspective, there were many, many people very, very into those terrible prequel movies, even if they carped about them publicly.

Genre fans sometimes seem to care about keeping the status quo and checking all the boxes rather than making good films/series.

**Frazzled**

gorgon wrote:
Breotan wrote:
The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.

Quoted for extreme truthiness. The ST franchise had become almost impossibly dull and bland, with the exception of DS9.

I fully expect these new movies to be a significant improvement and blast of fresh air. Of course, that doesn't mean SW fans will be happy with them. From my perspective, there were many, many people very, very into those terrible prequel movies, even if they carped about them publicly.

Genre fans sometimes seem to care about keeping the status quo and checking all the boxes rather than making good films/series.

They could avoid a lot of that if they put it substantially in the past or the future. Aka pre or early Republic or maybe a few decades post empire. Make your own space in the SW empire.

Would be nice to see something not heavily focused on jedi though. SW was a romp and only had the one jedi fight in it. making another uber jedi for entire movie movie would be boring.

**-Shrike-**

Some_Call_Me_Tim? wrote:
Guess I'm just a bad nerd, because I really liked the JJ Abrams Star Trek movies. The only Star Trek I had seen before that was a handful of episodes from each TV series, none of which I had really been able to get into.

Of course, I also have trouble enjoying much Doctor Who from before season 5(I even liked season 6!), which according to basically everybody I've ever talked to makes me valid for labeling as mentally challenged.

~Tim?

You liked Series 6?

... you urgently need some psychiatric help.

**Andrew1975**

Frazzled wrote:
gorgon wrote:
Breotan wrote:
The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.

Quoted for extreme truthiness. The ST franchise had become almost impossibly dull and bland, with the exception of DS9.

I fully expect these new movies to be a significant improvement and blast of fresh air. Of course, that doesn't mean SW fans will be happy with them. From my perspective, there were many, many people very, very into those terrible prequel movies, even if they carped about them publicly.

Genre fans sometimes seem to care about keeping the status quo and checking all the boxes rather than making good films/series.

They could avoid a lot of that if they put it substantially in the past or the future. Aka pre or early Republic or maybe a few decades post empire. Make your own space in the SW empire.

Would be nice to see something not heavily focused on jedi though. SW was a romp and only had the one jedi fight in it. making another uber jedi for entire movie movie would be boring.

This is basically what I have hated about a lot of the non cannon star wars stuff. All the sudden there are a million Jedis everywhere?

**FirePainter**

Now years later JJ Abrams will come up with the mash-up.

A redshirt gets in a firefight with a stormtrooper. The stormtrooper misses every single shot

...

...

redshirt still dies.

**Breotan**

Frazzled wrote:
gorgon wrote:
Breotan wrote:
The one redeeming thing about JJ is that he put the adventure back into Star Trek. That was missing all they way since the original TV show. The "next gen" movies all felt like television episodes shown on the big screen, too. Can't say that about JJ's films.
Quoted for extreme truthiness. The ST franchise had become almost impossibly dull and bland, with the exception of DS9.

I fully expect these new movies to be a significant improvement and blast of fresh air. Of course, that doesn't mean SW fans will be happy with them. From my perspective, there were many, many people very, very into those terrible prequel movies, even if they carped about them publicly.

Genre fans sometimes seem to care about keeping the status quo and checking all the boxes rather than making good films/series.

They could avoid a lot of that if they put it substantially in the past or the future. Aka pre or early Republic or maybe a few decades post empire. Make your own space in the SW empire.

Would be nice to see something not heavily focused on jedi though. SW was a romp and only had the one jedi fight in it. making another uber jedi for entire movie movie would be boring.

I expect JJ will simply remake existing material like he did with Into Darkness. Imagine the central shaft of Sky City where Jar Jar Binks chops off Anakin's hand with a lightsaber and says, "Meeza yor fa-tha." then Anikan cries out, "Noooooooo!"

**Grey Templar**

I nearly choked on my cookie Breotan, thanks for that image

**Manchu**

Yep, we might be in for an alternate reality version of SW!

**AlmightyWalrus**

While we're on the subject, what's the deal with everyone hating the prequels? Can someone explain to me why they're supposedly so awful?

**Manchu**

The prequels have some good points in terms of the SW setting but as movies they have poor pacing, awkward and melodramatic dialog, wooden acting, and extremely limited character development.

**Andrew1975**

Manchu wrote:
The prequels have some good points in terms of the SW setting but as movies they have poor pacing, awkward and melodramatic dialog, wooden acting, and extremely limited character development.

That and most of the movies take place either sitting on couches or walking down hallways. Its pretty crazy.

**Grey Templar**

Basically poor writing.

George can't write a script to save his life, the originals were good despite the fact it was his idea. There were others helping write the script.

And because there is too much reliance on CG the actors had nothing to actually look at. Hard to act when its almost entirely green screen.

**Frazzled**

Manchu wrote:
The prequels have some good points in terms of the SW setting but as movies they have poor pacing, awkward and melodramatic dialog, wooden acting, and extremely limited character development.

Plus they kind of sucked...

**Ensis Ferrae**

AlmightyWalrus wrote:
While we're on the subject, what's the deal with everyone hating the prequels? Can someone explain to me why they're supposedly so awful?

http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace/

This site sums it up quite nicely actually.

**-Shrike-**

Highlights of the prequels:
Count Dooku - Sir Christopher Lee. In space. With a lightsaber.
Jango Fett - A bounty hunter who beat a Jedi in a straight fight.
Chancellor Palpatine - I can't remember who played him, but I quite liked the overall character.

Downfalls:
~~Hayden Christansen~~ Anakin Skywalker - Actually, both actors for Anakin were dreadful.
A lot of other things I'm too tired to list.

**Grey Templar**

You forgot Darth Maul. All of five scenes in the movie and half as many lines, but had 50% of the awesome.

**Frazzled**

With the exception of Liam Neeson and NOSNAKESON THEM ^&(&(**ING PLANE Jackson, the only other non cringe worthy characters were the Sith and rogue Jedi Dracula er Lee.

**Grey Templar**

The biggest trajedy for me was when Windu died and that whiny bi-, I mean, Anakin turned.

Talk about the lamest death scene ever, and a total 360 turn.

First you cut off his hand and help kill him. Then you say "what have I done?" And then you go "let's kill them Jedi fethers!"

**Andrew1975**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
AlmightyWalrus wrote:
While we're on the subject, what's the deal with everyone hating the prequels? Can someone explain to me why they're supposedly so awful?

http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace/

This site sums it up quite nicely actually.

Is it a testament to how sad the movie was, that I find the red letter review massively more entertaining than the actual movie?