Do future Star Wars filmakers know the SWU?

For some reason I don't have privileges to post in the New Films forum. I don't why. So here we go, if Force Awakens is an indication of what is to come, then I think we should take stock of the changes. GL, was a visionary filmmaker, with an ingenious imagination. His six films, really drew you into the world you were seeing. There was a lot of world building and exposition in his films. Not only were these elements missing in TFA, but it showed us the same kind of worlds, put together in very confusing ways. For example, this is not Tatooine, this is Jakku, but we will put Jawa "looking" creatures that are not Jawas, as an homage? And because this is a space movie, there will be aliens, but not any of the aliens you have seen in this universe. Probably gone are the days, of the pacing of the plot of GL's films. GL's Star Wars were dramas with action scenes to tell the story. It seems to me that future films, will be seen by producers as simply in your face, SCI-FI action movies designed to blow you away from beginning to end. The plus is we get better directing and better script writing, but not the depth of the universe you are seeing. For a film, where the plot runs at a fever pitch there is no time for world building and explaining how things work. If future filmmakers are not required to be familiar with the Universe GL created, then I think gone are the days of things like the Huttesse language, Star Wars aliens, (as any aliens will do) "after all its just another space film," or the portraying of a galaxy with a complex mythological history to draw from, or culture, languages or Aurebesh. What is lacking: imagination and creativity. Furthermore, because of the misguided judgment of the prequels, "that they employed too much CGI." Could it be that future films, will pendulum swing in the extreme opposite and not take creative risks, which CGI is needed to employ them? Cloud City, would not have looked as impressive without CGI, Mos Eisely, would not have looked as impressive without it, etc, etc. So what do you think? Do you think future producers will put much thought into this rich universe, or just slap together stories and listen to focus groups and corporate pencil pushers?

 

I agree with QuiWan's comments on TFA compared to the other six films, however, as the future films are all getting their own directors, I don't see the way that TFA was laid out, as a blueprint for future films.

JJ Abrams and Disney probably prioritised that this first film under their tenure, had to make a massive impact to bring back SW fans that had left over the intervening years, and to inspire a brand new generation of fans; whereas The Phantom Menace was ultimately more to do with the first chapter of the Star Wars Saga, than dealing with the real life sixteen year gap between films, and the amount of longing that caused amongst the fandom that lived on the memory of the OT all that time.

 

QuiWanKenJin

I moved your thread to New Films as it belongs here and not in the Star Wars Community. Anyway; carry on with your discussion.

 

QuiWanKenJin, just wanted to let you know you have to ask for permission in this thread.

In response to your question, I think that it takes a special person to actually understand the Star Wars universe. Both the nuances and the more obvious layers. It is probably going to be very hit and miss for the fans from now on out, because it's no longer going to have that genuine George Lucas feeling. I can hope they'll find the best balance they can with all the films, but I don't know if they ever will. I think it it a unique thing entirely that GL has created, and I think his methods are very unique and unmatchable by anyone, personally.

 

I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for Episode VII that they needed to meet their 2015 quota by rushing out a rehashed bore of a film.

Next time I hope they expand the universe by offering better character motivations, storyline, planets and villains to the mix.

I really don't think JJ understands Star Wars on anything more than a superficial level, this film hit the OT notes to get those crowd pleasing moments but it really felt shallow to me.

 

Well, Rian Johnson is on record saying that he enjoyed the prequels. I enjoyed Looper, and I know he is a Saga fan. I trust that what he will do will fit inside of the universe that I hold dear.

 

Just like with the book and comic authors, all movie director's will be given a free pass on their first movie. Watch or read a 2nd story to be sure about them.

 

For better or worse, TFA is E7. E8 and E9 can't go off the deep end here.

 

I totally agree with this 100%. TFA was a good movie, but it certainly wasn't a George Lucas film. Everything going forward after ROTJ will be just directors playing in his sandbox. GL created the whole thing from top to bottom, and not to many directors out there have done something like this, not to mention having a huge influence not only culturally, but he changed a lot on how movies are made. Like him or not, he made a huge impact with SW, his creation.