Discussion The Little Nuances that make a Star Wars Film

Wow you really nailed it. Hope the future director understands this.

And the mods let you post *********"??? Impressive, most impressive!

*no we didn't, and you have to star out the whole word

Speaking of posters, they have to get Drew Struzan to draw the poster.

1. An idea from the brain of George Lucas.

Yes, that is a great list, but it would be possible to have a great movie with all these elements that would not be a Star Wars movie. I'm looking for a core list of must-have iconic concepts that will identify a movie as a Star Wars film and can't be thrown out in designing a new Star Wars trilogy. The 2:35.1 anamorphic frame is probably one of those, as are the color palette, sound design, and visual effects. They're necessary, but not sufficient.

The dichotomy between good and evil and the classic storyline of the child atoning for the sins of his / her parent(s)

Whoa! This is very good, you nailed it!

Well, then, might I suggest the following:

1. As mentioned, some mechanization of war or interplanetary conflict, no matter how humble a beginning. This is, after all, a Star Wars movie.
2. A fringe protagonist of one degree or another.
3. A central, political protagonist of one degree or another.
4. Quirky sidekicks or tagalongs.
5. An ensemble cast of good guy characters overall, even when accounting for a main hero.
6. An assortment of fully animated (not necessarily digital, but lively) bit players, shady or expository, both alien and droid.
7. Monsters. Not a lot, but at least one or two per movie.
8. A vintage, celebratory, cliffhanger set-piece, i.e. trash compactor, droid factory ...that sorta thing.
9. Bargaining, threatening or an ultimatum of one kind or another.
10. A droid (preferably R2D2) accessing a computer terminal or security door.
11. Hologram messages.
12. The starfighter cockpit shot.
13. The Wilhelm scream.
14. Kurosawa screen wipes.
15. A PG rating. Yeah, Episode III got away with a PG-13, but that was a justifiable exception. For Disney's first outing, anyways, I don't think any excessive violence or disturbing imagery (beyond charred skeletons) will be needed.

I'd agree the screen wipes, starfighter cockpit shots and droids are non-negotiable.

Jar Jar. Lots of Jar Jar.

I realized watching PT this weekend on Spike TV that the "sound effects" are a very big part of all the films. I'm not talking about the obvious ones like lightsabers igniting, but subtle sound effects like doors opening, alarm klaxons, droid motors. My guess is all these sound effects will be in the new movies. I definitely think they would be missed if they were absent.

I can't believe people care about the Fox logo, seriously?

Great stories with bad dialogue.

Yup yup!! Growing up in my house as a kid, whenever you heard the Fox Fanfare you knew Star Wars was coming on. It's like pavlov's dogs, salivating at just hearing it. The worst is was when it wasn't SW, just another "20th Century Fox" movie, you felt jipped. When you've watched these films in the triple digits, it's ingrained in your head. It's hard to imagine another "theme" being played before SW. It's not a make or break for me, but it will definitely be missed.

Totally agree with you there. I will miss that when Ep VII come out in theaters.

AOTC Obi always reminds me of Noel Edmonds for some reason...

1.Stars
2.Wars

Too good. No room to really add anything. LOL

Wow. Talk abot nit-picky -- hating on the wipes. LOL Nothing about them in "unprofessional." They are iconic and get used to them because they'll be in the ST. Guaranteed! if for no other reason than continuity.

I'm just preparing myself to lose all of it, even John Williams. These films have the potential to be very different from previous Star Wars movies. I'll miss the trademark stuff if they don't use it, but I want to give these new movies a fair chance.

Losing John Williams would be a huge loss. What I'm hoping is that Disney decides to shoot all 3 movies simultaneously (as posted in another thread.) That way JW could score this trilogy. Then if Disney decides to start another series, say during the Old Republic, they could start fresh with a new composer.

I'm in total agreement with you. Just trying to plan for the worst in case they don't do that.

I can't be certain, but I know the opening theme (and ending theme) should be there. Those themes are too iconic and are part of the "brand" that Disney bought. I don't see them NOT using them. TCW music (used during the episodes) has grown on me and it's not too bad. However if you watch a OT/PT film right after you can tell that JW is much beter and more technical. My guess though is if TCW can get close (and they do a good job) a professional movie project would have to do as well. Also the video games do well too. I've never been disappointed with a Star Wars video game's music. Granted a lot of it is reused, chopped up JW music, but it's pretty good.

Related to "nuances", I just remembered another, small tidbit:

All music scores lack "English" lyrics. The Duel of the Fates, Vader vs Luke in ROTJ, even "Jedi Rocks" performed in Jabba's Palace was in Huttese. I hope that is kept intact. I know Celine Dion singing the Titanic theme was good for that film, but I definitely don't want music lyrics in English in Star Wars.

Which leads me to another nuance:

Lack of "English" writing (with the exception of numbers) in film. All text should be in aurebesh. Even Lucas re-did the word "Power" on the tractor beam control panel to be the proper aurebesh lettering in ANH.

I find it preposterous that the Wilhelm Scream has not been mentioned yet. Shame on you!
It has been used in many many films, but it is most known for being in Star Wars. It has also been in several Star Wars video games.


The main characters have always been young people being caught up and swept away in major galactic events. They are tempted and tested, but in the end they triumph because they are true of heart.
If there is no clear protagonist that you can feel for, if there is no hero's journey (even if the hero fails ...), then it is not a Star Wars movie.

Star Wars is also not a Hollywood production. It is always shot elsewhere. Four out of six movies have been shot at Elstree Studios in England, with mostly British actors and extras, with British accents. Don't think that this is not significant.