Star Wars: Episode VII Coming In 2015 - No Spoilers Here!

[Tripe]

Thing is though, the first movie, the one you like the most, was the one made when he had the least control; the studio had a fairly hefty influence over how that movie was made compared to the prequels which, like them or hate them, cannot be argued to be more successful than the ones made when he didn't hold the reins alone.

The studio didn't have any influence on the plot or casting though, that was George and his crew.  They just pushed him on the budget and timing.

Those last two can be pretty instrumental to the creative process, as I've said before, restriction is creativity's midwife.

And much of the good in ANH came from the people around Lucas rather than Lucas himself. It's great to have creative control I suppose, but the more of that he's had, the less the returns have been, like most people he's not actually that good on his own, he needs the input or, from a certain point of view, the removal of creative control/restriction provided by having others involved, to turn in his best work.

I really don't believe in the Auteur Theory, be it Art House or Blockbuster. A movie needs to be collaborative and Lucas is a great case study in why.

[Tripe]

Oh sure, Disney can mean Crass or Twee, those seem to be the two things they tend to be held as emblematic of, at least in actual product, they also act as shorthand for grasping and underhanded when it comes to business practice, but I don't know that, in this case, they portend a worsening of a series that already seems fairly moribund.

[Edward J Grug III]

I just don't trust disney. They've demonstrated a lack of taste, restraint, and ability time and time again. A few gems here and there don't make up for the litany of their awful failures and missteps.  Just looking at the way they handled John Carter is a great example of that.

I actually quite liked John Carter.

But that aside, The Muppets and the Marvel movies have all been great. I haven't seen Brave yet, but Pixar is generally great also.

[doggans]

Just looking at the way they handled John Carter is a great example of that.

It's okay. Rich Ross is gone now. He can't hurt potential franchise marketing anymore.

[Tripe]

And there I agree, having said that, I suspect they probably will have more confidence in how the public will react to something from the Star Wars universe.

Their marketing department is quite sucky except when it comes to the really big properties, no argument there.

[Pak-Man]

Fie on you bellyachers.

Star Wars is fine when Lucas isn't directing it. Seriously, watch the Clone Wars CGI series. The stories are good. Anakin is believable, and even occasionally scary. Padme - get this, freaking Padme - is interesting and sympathetic.

This proves - the same story in different hands is just fine.

Yeah, people keep saying that, but I watched the movie-length episode and I can never un-watch it.

It gets way better. Hand-to-heart.

[Edward J Grug III]

But I'm more referring to the really horrendous and crass marketing nonsense, straight-to-dvd releases, endless tv series, and overall reduction in quality in favor of quantity.

What thing have you loved but have stopped loving due to horrendous and crass marketing nonsense, straight-to-dvd releases, endless tv series, and overall reduction in quality in favor of quantity?

[Edward J Grug III]

Fie on you bellyachers.

Star Wars is fine when Lucas isn't directing it. Seriously, watch the Clone Wars CGI series. The stories are good. Anakin is believable, and even occasionally scary. Padme - get this, freaking Padme - is interesting and sympathetic.

This proves - the same story in different hands is just fine.

Yeah, people keep saying that, but I watched the movie-length episode and I can never un-watch it.

It gets way better. Hand-to-heart.

Fool me once, shame on you...

[doggans]

Guys we're all missing the bigger picture here.

Disney owns LucasArts. They can finally replace those stupid Jack Sparrow animatronics they shoehorned into the classic Pirates of the Caribbean ride with Guybrush Threepwood!

[doggans]

I really doubt the theatrical movies will get out of hand like that. I mean, sure, Marvel's going crazy with movies, but they were doing that even before Disney acquired them. As long as Bob Iger's around, his policy of letting each company do their thing with optimal corporate resources and minimum corporate interference should continue.

Now, MAYBE Disney will go overboard on direct-to-DVD Star Wars movies, but Lucas didn't need Disney's help to release "Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace". The more things change, etc.

[Edward J Grug III]

But I'm more referring to the really horrendous and crass marketing nonsense, straight-to-dvd releases, endless tv series, and overall reduction in quality in favor of quantity.

What thing have you loved but have stopped loving due to horrendous and crass marketing nonsense, straight-to-dvd releases, endless tv series, and overall reduction in quality in favor of quantity?

Honestly? Star Trek.  And then the Star Wars EU.  I used to be kind of interested in it when it first started out. I even had some of the novels. But after awhile the quality got SO BAD, and it still kept coming.  I cut back to the movies, because they at least had some measure of QC.  Now...? A movie every 2-3 years in perpetuity?

I asked if there was something that you loved and you stopped loving that original thing?

[Pak-Man]

Disney hasn't really done the Direct-to-DVD thing with their animated movies since Eisner stepped down. There's the "Buddies" series and Tinkerbell and everything, but they're not trying to pull off Snow White 3.

[Nergol]

Fie on you bellyachers.

Star Wars is fine when Lucas isn't directing it. Seriously, watch the Clone Wars CGI series. The stories are good. Anakin is believable, and even occasionally scary. Padme - get this, freaking Padme - is interesting and sympathetic.

This proves - the same story in different hands is just fine.

Yeah, people keep saying that, but I watched the movie-length episode and I can never un-watch it.

The movie didn't grab me, either. I started watching in the middle of season 3. S03E10 to be specific. Good episode. You should watch it.

I'll be the first to admit that the series has its ups and downs, but when it's good, it's brilliant.

[BBQ Platypus]

I'll believe there are more than three movies coming when I'm in line to see Episode X.  Not a minute before.

[ScottotD]

To me Marvel shows Disney is happy to take really bold and interesting creative choices with their big ticket franchises, they seem to hire someone with a vision and let them follow that through.  Warners (usually through Legendary is the only other company who seems even close to that.