Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

ScottyMcGee · #1

That's supposedly the title. They just announced it now.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/07/star ... e-awakens/

Like? Dislike?

There are a couple things I wanted to bring up too.

Apparently, on a sidenote, Anthony Daniels has said that this plot will rival Empire Strikes Back. Dunno how true that is or if they're just making hype.

Also - how do you feel about Disney completely throwing away the Expanded Universe? They did it back in early April or May or something like that. I grew up with the Expanded Universe books and so when Episode 7 was announced I got excited if they were going to do something with Heir to the Empire or introduce Jacen or Jaina Solo or some other slight adaptation. Apparently that's now a very slim to zero chance of any reference to Exapanded Universe stuff.

Lastly, I don't know if anyone has heard of this plot rumor, but I hope it's not really true because it's literally like episode 4 all over again:

It's supposed to open up with a hand floating in space holding a lightsaber, right after the opening crawl ends. The lightsaber falls into Tatooine and a guy and girl find it. Somehow (I don't know how) they find out it's Luke Skywalker's lightsaber. They find Han Solo and Chewie to look for Luke Skywalker. In the meantime, there's another weapon of mass destruction being made.

#2

I wasn't particularly bothered when Disney tossed the EU.

Partly because I don't think it matters whether a story is official canon or not as long as it's a good story. Partly because much of the EU just wasn't very good------like, it's easy to like the Zahn books and 'Shadows of the Empire' and all, but a lot of the other stuff was really trite. Mostly because I never thought Disney would spend billions on a property and then not do whatever the hell they wanted with it.

Calamity Panfan · #3

I've never really given as **** about EU except for the like video games and the first Clone Wars cartoon. Just too much going on. So tossing it out the window really doesn't bother me.

ScottyMcGee · #4

[QUOTE="Booyakasha, post: 1496443, member: 17381"]I wasn't particularly bothered when Disney tossed the EU.

Partly because I don't think it matters whether a story is official canon or not as long as it's a good story. Partly because much of the EU just wasn't very good------like, it's easy to like the Zahn books and 'Shadows of the Empire' and all, but a lot of the other stuff was really trite.[/QUOTE]

I liked a lot of the early stuff in the timeline. For me, the end of the Vong saga should have been the end, period. The stuff after that is absolutely ridiculous (Jacen Solo turning evil and then a new new Empire again). I never read it but reading the synopsis sounds absolutely dumb. I don't know what they'll do but it always made sense to me that the next step would be having Skywalker establishing a new Jedi Academy and whatknot, just like in the EU.

Granted, I wouldn't have been bummed if they deemed the Vong saga non-canonical. But I just would have been excited to see the Solo kids or something. Mara Jade too.

#5

Well, you know, Disney might own Star Wars, now, but it isn't the boss of you. You kind of get to decide what's canon in your own head. Maybe your iteration of Mara Jade teams up with Kyle Katarn and Wedge Antilles, and, like, Conan of Cimmeria, and Dick Tracy, and Robocop, and Rowdy Roddy Piper, and they fight draculas on the moon. And then the draculas set the moon to kasplode, and just when it looks like there's no way out for our heroes, Snoopy swoops down in his Sopwith Camel and rescues the lot of them just in the nick of time. And then they all go out for gyros. Like who needs Disney's stupid seal of approval anyway when that biz is on the table.

ScottyMcGee · #6

Well yeah, but imagine that on the screen though.

I'll still enjoy the EU regardless, but it's different when it's adapted/acted out in reality.

#7

I am imagining it on the screen. Hence my half-chub.

There is no reality. There is no Word of God as regards fiction--------Disney might control what appears onscreen, but it doesn't control what happens an inch outside of frame. Fan-interpretation is valid. The author loses agency the instant he releases his product. If you can infer it, it's possible. If you can imagine the thing it becomes no less legitimate than the supposed canon (unless you think having all the money makes you inherently correct, which I and my half-chub don't). (Also, if a person prefers the sh*tty prequel trilogy to my brick-stupid idea there, there exists every chance he's a tard anyway. Just sayin.)

ScottyMcGee · #8

There is no ONE reality but an infinite numbers of realities, and being a movie lover I would love to see it in the reality of a physical-movie-format-not-in-my-head.

And sadly, I knew someone once who preferred the prequels over the originals.

Valigarmander · #9

Val didn't mind the EU cull. Yeah, the EU had some good stuff in it, but Star Wars isn't one of those franchises Val cares enough about to worry what's canon and what isn't.

So, that plot rumor... Luke's hand and lightsaber just float over to Tatooine? The hand he lost in Cloud City? How the **** did that end up in space? It's last seen tumbling down towards the core of the planet to a gravity-squishing demise. His hand would have had to fly upwards and escape the gravitational pull of Bespin (a gas giant), then float light years away through empty space to end up in another solar system and eventually Tatooine. It doesn't make any sense. It's a dumb rumor and that makes Val mad.

ScottyMcGee · #10

I would imagine it's Luke's other hand with his lightsaber from RotJ, since it was specified as HIS lightsaber (I think. Because if it's the one from the Bespin duel, which I totally forgot about, that would be the epitome of stupid plot points. I need to search for the link again.) That would mean he now needs a new robot hand. Maybe some space battle happens right above Tatooine? Which - again - just like Episode 4. And yes - they just float over. Supposedly. Somehow not burning up in the atmosphere. Which sounds ludicrous. Too ludicrous it has to be baloney.

Valigarmander · #11

But he doesn't lose a hand in RotJ.

ScottyMcGee · #12

No, no, I mean like - somewhere between RotJ and Episode 7, or mere moments before Episode 7 starts, something happens to Luke where his good hand gets cut off too with his lightsaber. That's how I interpreted it as. And then the two Tatooine rednecks have to find out what happened to him.

Valigarmander · #13

What is it with Skywalkers and losing hands?

Calamity Panfan · #14

honestly that franchise needed more dismembered hands

Morningriser · #15

The thing about Luke's hand is news to me. This is supposed to take place 30 years after Jedi which takes place some time after Empire. I doubt Luke's hand would still be clenching his lightsaber, or even still recognizable as a hand after 3 decades of being a dead body part. I really hope that is just a rumor.

As for the name, it sounds like the title of a Star Wars game to me. Regardless I am excited for this movie and hope it is worth the wait I put into it. I honestly had heard rumors about it before Episode 1 was even released and after the dog **** that was the prequels, I hope the series can redeem itself.

ScottyMcGee · #16

There was a rumor that Ford injured himself and production was set back, and lots of blogs and whatknot spread it, but it ended up being exaggerated. All he did was sprain an ankle, but nothing was held back. So hopefully the plot is either exaggerated/misinterpreted or compleetly not true.

This wasn't the exact link I found the supposed plot leak, but here is one nonetheless mentioning it: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Star-War ... 66338.html

The title is clearly more of a nod to the audience that the series is back. It's sort of like breaking the fourth wall. Or just meta. Or a double entendre - because they're probably referring to a new Jedi order.

The big reason why the title is announced is because production has finished now. They've been filming since May. In probably the only instance I ever watched TMZ, they covered several minutes of a set in Tunisia. Apparently everything in the film is a throwback to the original trilogy in terms of production - model sets, people in masks, even the film quality itself is the same as in Episode IV.

I like how Lawrence Kasdan is back as screenwriter though. He wrote the screenplays for Empire and Jedi.

Valigarmander · #17

[QUOTE="Morningriser, post: 1496578, member: 39961"]I doubt Luke's hand would still be clenching his lightsaber, or even still recognizable as a hand after 3 decades of being a dead body part..[/QUOTE]
Well, if it was floating through space, it would be safe from bacteria, fungi and other decomposers.[DOUBLEPOST=1415436391,1415436357][/DOUBLEPOST]Edit: ...Though it would probably be scorched beyond recognition by cosmic radiation.

X-3 · #18

Maybe the hand is the main villain.

Morningriser · #19

[QUOTE="X-3, post: 1496662, member: 27765"]Maybe the hand is the main villain.[/QUOTE]

ScottyMcGee · #20

Will he be hard to HANDLE?