25 replies to this topic

[ShawnMR]

Full Article: http://www.boxoffice...buster-decision

Whew.

If October's news about Disney's Lucasfilm buyout wasn't exciting enough, then yesterday's did the trick. Despite initial signs pointing against it, J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII. The Internet is abuzz, fans are debating and Disney is going to break the bank.

Money aside for a few moments, this writer finds himself in a fan's dilemma. There are a lot of Star Wars fans out there. There are also a lot of Star Trek fans. But there aren't nearly as many of us who are fans of *both*--at least not at the level I was growing up (and probably still am in some ways). No two series combined had as much influence on me as a child. It took the maturing years to begin to understand why the fan bases of each despise one another--and it still baffles me. Good fiction should be praised, not become the catalyst for division...

Edited by ShawnMR, 25 January 2013 - 10:10 AM.

[stuart360]

To be honest, it wasn't until i started coming on forums that i knew there even were 'wars' between both fan bases, i have always loved both franchises.

[baumer]

I haven't read the entire article, but for me, the director is really a non issue. I know that probably isn't the right attitude to take, but unless they went with someone truly inept, like McG then I don't really think it matters all that much. There is a ton of talent in Hollywood and I trust that they will hire the right director. Abrams is a nice story, but it's not one that will have me doing backflips or biting my nails.

[Shpongle]

The skepticism over Abrams by some is just ridiculous. He's a proven director and be happy George Lucas is gone forever.

[75live]

The skepticism over Abrams by some is just ridiculous. He's a proven director and be happy George Lucas is gone forever.

It's not ridiculous. Some people don't like his movies or his directing. There's nothing ridiculous or wrong about that. It's all about what people like.

[Hiccup]

At least Abrams can give us a strong script unlike Lucas who shit all over the prequels.

[Shpongle]

At least Abrams can give us a strong script unlike Lucas who shit all over the prequels.

Exactly, hes not the best thing ever, but more than solid enough. Its now virtually impossible for this to be as bad as the prequels and that alone has me pissing myself. Most big name directors are too afraid to touch this anyways.

Edited by Shpongle, 25 January 2013 - 10:24 AM.

[filmscholar]

I learned about the whole "Wars Vs Trek" at a young age as my Dad was a very hard core Trek fan but all his sons were die hard Star Wars fans. He later would tell us he never liked Star Wars that much but because all of us watched it so many times as kids, he ended up loving them but he didn't give the prequels a chance. From what I notice Star Wars fans consider Star Trek to boring while Star Trek fans feel Star Wars is way to childish were as Trek is for more intelligent Sci-Fi fans.

I grew up watching Star Trek Re-runs as well as a ton of "Generations" and "Deep Space Nine" Episodes. I watched all the Star Trek movies up until the last few generations ones where the movies were just getting worst and worst. I think both Franchises did a lot for Science Fiction and I think if they were smart they would hold Star Trek and Star Wars conventions at the same time. Me personally even as I die hard Wars fans, I've never had a problem with Trek. It is a little more "Adult" Sci-fi and the space fights can be a little slow but it is a very intelligent series. I think JJ can be a nice Bridge that hopefully brings the fanbases together. Cause there shouldn't be a war between them, they both mean a whole lot to sci-fi fans.

[baumer]

Yep, Lucas really told bad stories. (eyes rolling)

[CHECKMATE]

Guess Shatner got his TekWar ideas from this combo???

[DAR]

I can't remember if it was here or another message board. But someone was worried that the general pubic would say Star Wars and Star Trek are the same thing because it's directed by the same person now. I don't think JJ is quite household name yet where people would think that.

[stuart360]

I think it doesn't really matter what director it is really as they will be doing exactly what Disney tell them to do, if Fincher thought he had it bad with the Fox execs on the ALIEN 3 set then the next Star Wars director won't know whats hit them, Disney spent 3 billion or whatever it was on getting Star Wras and they know their first SW film has to be great to get the whole fanbase back on board after the prequel shite., Disney aren't going to just let Abrams go off and do his own thing.

[filmscholar]

I think it doesn't really matter what director it is really as they will be doing exactly what Disney tell them to do, if Fincher thought he had it bad with the Fox execs on the ALIEN 3 set then the next Star Wars director won't know whats hit them, Disney spent 3 billion or whatever it was on getting Star Wras and they know their first SW film has to be great to get the whole fanbase back on board after the prequel shite., Disney aren't going to just let Abrams go off and do his own thing.

This is exactly the reason why I think Lucas is not out of the picture. Episode VII will not hit the Big Screen until he has seen it 1st. This film HAS to be good, there's no way around it. You don't knock Episode VII out of the park it could mess up VIII and IX.

[Shpongle]

This is exactly the reason why I think Lucas is not out of the picture. Episode VII will not hit the Big Screen until he has seen it 1st. This film HAS to be good, there's no way around it. You don't knock Episode VII out of the park it could mess up VIII and IX.

Episode 7 has an impossible bubble of hype to live up to from fanboys. It just has to be substantially better than any of the prequels(which isn't exactly saying a whole lot, but still).

[Floppit Floppeeeddd]

"At least Abrams can give us a strong script unlike Lucas who shit all over the prequels."

Star Trek had a poor script, but Abrams was able to compensate.

EDIT: Quoting is all messed up for me.

Edited by ddddeeee, 25 January 2013 - 11:04 AM.

[Telemachos]

Nice article, Shawn. Like you, I've been a fan of both series and never really considered them competitors at all. They're very very different franchises.

 

If anything, Abrams' style lends itself to SW more than ST, so I'm not worried about him at all.

[stuart360]

unless they went with someone truly inept, like McG

[Cmasterclay]

Considering that the original trilogy is my favorite form of entertainment of all time, the prequels were obviously a dissappointment, but it wasn't the story that Lucas told that made it that way. If I just read Eps I-III as a two page synopsyis, I would actually have really enjoyed it. It was the directing, the poorly written dialogue and characters, and the mostly poor acting that hurt the prequels. With JJ in tow, I feel like the great Star Wars stories will remain in tact, with all of those problems corrected.

[4815162342]

Yep, Lucas really told bad stories. (eyes rolling)

Exactly. The actual stories for the prequels were strong, you had to slog through mind-numbing dialogue and mediocre acting to get to them.

[Walt Disney]

I think it doesn't really matter what director it is really as they will be doing exactly what Disney tell them to do, if Fincher thought he had it bad with the Fox execs on the ALIEN 3 set then the next Star Wars director won't know whats hit them, Disney spent 3 billion or whatever it was on getting Star Wras and they know their first SW film has to be great to get the whole fanbase back on board after the prequel shite., Disney aren't going to just let Abrams go off and do his own thing.

 

I think Disney is going to give  JJ Abrams a lot of slack. Disney didn't just buy the rights to Star Wars....they bought the whole LucasFilm company. I think they're going to treat this the same way that they are treating the Marvel films. As long as LucasFilm gives Abrams the same freedom that Marvel gave Whedon, then I don't think Disney will be interfering too much. Disney may have some say, but I think they're going to leave a lot of the creative decisions to the creative people.