Rian Johnson Talks Star Wars: Episode 8.

rian johnson

The writer/director of the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VIII revealed few details about his upcoming project during the film podcast Filmspotting at the Music Box Theatre…

 

From suntimes:

“I’m really excited about all the things I can’t tell you,” Rian Johnson, said last night.
Johnson Skyped into the Filmspotting taping from San Fransisco, where he is already working on “Episode VIII.” The director of indie faves such as “Looper” says he took the job because “The thought of it made me so completely joyfully happy.
“I wanted to to play in this world, of literally the first movie my dad put me in the car to see,” he said.

 

As for how he scored the gig, Johnson laughed, “I can only assume it was a clerical error, like in the movie ‘Brazil.’ There’s a Brian Johnson out there who is really mad.”
Further making the prospect of working at Lucasfilm seem like a dream job to every “Star Wars” fan, Johnson described it as “kind of like summer camp.” He said he and his crew are preparing by watching movies nightly; the last two they watched were “Twelve O’Clock High” and the Russian film “Letter Never Sent.” (Update those Netflix queues now for clues!)

 

rian johnson

As if he hadn’t won over the fans enough by that point he continued by making a diplomatic statement about the prequels. “There was something really beautiful about the prequels,” he said, as film snob crowd was momentarily stunned, having just booed at the mention of the “Star Wars” prequels.

“With these films, I am trying to harken back to the original ‘Star Wars’ …. Christmas special. We do have Jefferson Starship.”

 

Finally, Filmspotting cohost Josh Larsen asked an important question. What order does Johnson recommend watching the existing filmography in? “I would do (Episodes) 4-6 then 1-3,” he said, winning the eternal love of the majority of “Star Wars” fans right there. “Storytelling-wise, 4-6 were constructed without the knowledge of the past.”

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

60 thoughts on “Rian Johnson Talks Star Wars: Episode 8.

  • July 28, 2014 at 12:49 pm
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    Hopefully Abrams will bring the spark back into Star Wars, and then Rian will give us a similiar Empire Strikes Back feeling in Ep. 8 to set it up for a great finale….

  • July 28, 2014 at 1:23 pm
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    im actually curious about this… without prejudice (eg. prequel-bashing…) does everyone agree with that order? (4-6 then 1-3…)? ive got friends that agree with george lucas and think you should watch it 1-6…

    personally, i think 4-5, ( 1-2, clone wars, 3 AS A FLASHBACK) then 6.

    because i think that the viewer is supposed to come into this world with the naivity and ignorance of luke… the information that shatters luke’s perception (“no… i am your father!”) also shocks and suprises a first time viewer. then the prequels give context to everything. then 6 is a proper and epic conclusion.

    • July 28, 2014 at 1:26 pm
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      also, rian is a badass choice by lucasfilm. i was worried by the JJ decision originally, but i agree that he is a good choice to help re-establish the franchise before passing it off to other people.

      between JJ, Rian, Josh Trank and that Godzilla dude, i’m impressed by Lucasfilm.

      Could be worse. Like, Kevin Smith or Brett Ratner worse.

    • July 28, 2014 at 3:25 pm
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      4-6 and then 1-3. I am not a Prequel Basher, but the movies are just not made to be watched 1-6. Star Wars 1977 gives so many introductions about the force, characters, etc, it sticks out like a sore thumb if you watch it as the 4th episode of 6. Plus the Prequels have so many ‘nods’ to the OT, that work ONLY if you have seen the OT first, and would be meaningless if you watched them 1-6.

      If Lucas truly wanted to make a continuous story for the viewer to watch them 1-6, then he would have contructed the Prequels differently. He would have never show Darth Vader being built, and would have never given him that name in Episode 3. That way when he is burning up on Mustafar in Episode 3, the 1-6 viewer thinks he is dead. When they get to Episode 4, they assume Darth Vader is Palpatines new apprentice just like Darth Maul and Count Dooku were introduced in Episode 1 & 2. That would keep the reveal to any new viewer in Empire when Vader tells Luke he is his father.

      As for the 9 movies, I think they should be watched 4-6, 1-3, 7-9. You watch the OT first as that gives you the meat of the story. Then you watch the Prequels, as that is a big flashback to the Originals. The reason you watch the Sequel Trilogy after the Prequels is because it is 30 years after Return of the Jedi, so when you finally get to the Sequel Trilogy, it gives that context that its been a generation since the last time we saw Luke, Leia and Han.

      • July 28, 2014 at 4:16 pm
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        But you’re talking in terms of the inside out.. Narritively, it’s still a story where each episode develops from the last, and it’s after the timeline of the last. How can you witness an arc if you just watch the end result before the setup? Why watch the beginning if you know how it’s going to end and you know which characters are going to live and which are going to die? Why dissolve all the tension of the story so you can understand the nods earlier than intended? It makes no sense from a storytelling point of view. I would never start to read a book half way through because the last half was actually written before the first. The argument about not understanding the nods doesn’t make any sense anyway as you will get the nods later on. Look at Harry Potter, there are loads of nods early on in the story as to what will happen later on, and you will understand the references once you’ve read the last few books. So that when you rewatch it or re-read them, you will understand the nods. People can do as they wish, but the films are ‘meant to be seen’ the way that they say they are .. Hence why they are named episodically 1 – 6 rather than with separate titles.

        • July 28, 2014 at 4:41 pm
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          If they were ‘meant’ to be watched 1-6, then they should have been filmed 1-6 in that order. Now of course any fan can do what they want, but the irony is each trilogy spoils the other trilogy when watched before it. If you watch the PT before the OT, then you spoil the great reveal in Empire. If you watch the OT, before the PT, then you know what characters will live. That is why if Lucas wanted to make it a linear story, he should have structed the PT different, or like I said, “Film them 1-6 originally!!!”

          • July 28, 2014 at 4:46 pm
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            You have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re probably aware that he couldn’t make 1-3 anyway because his vision was so grand and he physically couldn’t make the film he wanted to. A film and a story are two separate things. If you want to watch star wars for the story, then you watch 1-6. You do not find out the conclusion of the story before the beginning. Whether you personally want to watch films a certain way or not is another thing entirely..

          • July 28, 2014 at 5:12 pm
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            I have heard all of the Lucas quotes, even the ones that contradicted what he says. What makes me laugh is I have been hearing for 10 years the same crap of 1-6, that this was Lucas’s story all along, this is the story of Darth Vader’s arc, and there was never a ST ever planned by Lucas. Yet here we are in 2014, and the ST is being made, and all of the 1-6 arguments go out the door becuase its irrelevant anymore.

          • July 28, 2014 at 5:17 pm
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            i guess i would argue that episode 4, 5 and 6 were actually designed structurally to be seen before the prequels. otherwise, the major beats (yoda’s intro, “i am your father” and “hes my brother!”) are all known by the viewer, and kind of diminishing.

            part of the awesomeness of how i was introduced to star wars was seeing 4-6 first. all i knew about the galaxy and the force was what Ben was telling Luke. Then my perceptions were shattered in ESB.

            If you watch episode 1-3 first, then you already know that anakin is darth vader, you know that luke and leia are siblings. boo.

            Yes, there is a chronological order, but i dont think its the greatest way to see them.

          • July 28, 2014 at 8:33 pm
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            Clearly you don’t understand. Lucas’s intention on what the story is supposed to be has no impact on the fact that’s its still a story. A beginning, a middle, and an end. I don’t care what the story is, if you want a revelation from a character to be a plot twist for the audience, or whether you personally enjoy the story in you’re own made up structure, whatever. But that’s clearly not how it’s supposed to be. It doesn’t matter what the story is, it’s a story. It has a beginning, a middle and an end, regardless of what it actually is. To watch it middle, end, and then beginning, is clearly wrong narratively, whether you like that or not. This is basic knowledge. It applies to all stories, whether it’s star wars, a story told by george lucas, what the initial intention of the story is supposed to be, whatever. It’s still a story.

            “Yes, there is a chronological order, but i dont think its the greatest way to see them.”
            That’s like saying; Yes, you are supposed to put shoes on after socks, but I don’t think that’s the greatest way. Who cares? Well then watch them in whatever weird order you want to. But a story is ‘meant’ to be seen from start to finish, whether you enjoy it another way or not, or what the actual story is, has nothing to do with how a story is intended to be structured, and the intention is from 1-6, and now 1-9. Whether you enjoy ignoring the rules is up to you or not. But don’t say that your own weird way of dealing with a story is what it’s supposed to be like, when it clearly isn’t.

          • July 28, 2014 at 8:44 pm
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            If it was meant to be watched from 1-6, then there wouldn’t be an episode 7,8,9! LOL!

          • July 28, 2014 at 9:38 pm
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            Just ask Quentin Tarantino if a story must be told chronologically…

          • July 29, 2014 at 5:21 pm
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            The only way I ever watch it now is I through VI. And one day, that viewing order will be I through IX. You wouldn’t do a James Bond marathon out of order, and Star Wars should be no different.

      • July 28, 2014 at 4:30 pm
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        Like it or not, Star Wars changed the way to see movies.
        Even with 6 movies we can choose how to see all of them, and there are lots of possibilities.
        Waiting three new episodes to increase those possibilities…

        • July 28, 2014 at 4:41 pm
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          What’s your point? Star wars did not change the basic principles of storytelling.

      • July 28, 2014 at 5:03 pm
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        “I am not a Prequel Basher, but the movies are just not made to be watched 1-6. Star Wars 1977 gives so many introductions about the force, characters, etc, it sticks out like a sore thumb if you watch it as the 4th episode of 6.”

        How so? If you watch Episode 4 does it tell you what the Clone Wars were? No. Does it tell you how the Republic fell and Emperor rose to power? No. Does it tell you what the Jedi Order was like and why they fell? No. Do you learn anything about Luke’s mother? No. Do you learn anything about Darth Vader besides the scantest details? No. Do you know who the Emperor is? No. Do you know the true significance of the Imperial Senate being dissolved? No.

        You don’t even learn that Vader is a cyborg. Are all the Stormtroopers cyborgs because we always see them with masks on? Vader has an opening under his helmet, his outfit is like the flight suits that the rebel pilots wear. There are no lights on his chest unit which is also strapped on like the rebel pilots. Also in the original film his voice sounds much more like it’s coming from behind his mask. The SW SE makes the voice seem like the voice synthesizer version of ESB and ROTJ. Not very mechanical when you examine it is he?

        Why is Obi-Wan and Vader crossing paths again SO important? The duel between them is never mentioned in the entire OT just like the Sith are never mentioned, nor why there are only 2 of them.

        In the context of 1-6 the very basic re-introduction of the Jedi to Luke makes perfect sense. Luke already knows something about the Jedi exactly how much we don’t know as well as the Clone Wars but not the Force. It’s really in part an old man rambling on about the past which is not a bad thing at all.

        • July 28, 2014 at 9:22 pm
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          I agree. Only real order is 1-6.

    • July 28, 2014 at 6:20 pm
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      My ex and I showed the movies to her then-preteen daughter and a handful of her friends in episode order (1-6) over the course of a long weekend. This was shortly after the ROTS DVD was released. None of the kids had ever seen the films before. I originally opposed that order, having been raised on the OT, but as it turned out the movies work quite brilliantly in episode order. All of the kids enjoyed the films tremendously. Based on that experience I always advocate episode order, and I will show the films that way to my own child once he’s old enough (if, of course, he’s interested).
      The problem with (most) people who advocate release order (4-6, 1-3) is that they do so based on their own experience and imagination, not on the experiences of people who’ve actually watched the films in episode order. Anyway…

      • July 28, 2014 at 6:57 pm
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        Well, all my nephews were born around the early 2000’s, they were the perfect age to see SW after it was finally released 1-6. They saw them chronologically (my brother was not a big SW fan growing up so he bought the DVD’s for them and just showed them the order in their release).

        I talk to them now and their 2 favorites are Empire and A New Hope (or they still call them by episode #), then they like Episode 3 & Episode 6, then Episodes 2 & 1 are their least favorites.

        They like the ‘older ones’ more then the ‘newer ones’ and they saw them in 1-6 order.

    • July 29, 2014 at 9:52 am
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      The question of which order is best to watch them in is far from merely academic to me. I have a six year old girl who has seen none of them yet but who is in major danger of hearing spoilers from other kids at school so I need to start showing them to her soon. But in what order?

      I recently experimented with the following order and it worked brilliantly! I watched Episode 4 first because that’s the way that it was introduced to all of us and it still serves as the best introduction to the series.

      Then I watched Episode 1 because it introduces the idea of watching two parallel trilogies and it plays nicely off of the conversation between Luke and Ben about Luke’s father. Since neither Episode 4 nor Episode 1 end with a cliff hanger, it works well to kick off each trilogy at the start.

      Then I watched The Empire Strikes Back and now the reveal about Vader being Luke’s father is shocking, not only for it’s original shock value but also because we’ve SEEN Luke’s father as an innocent young boy! How could that little boy end up as Darth Vader?

      This, of course, leads perfectly into Episodes 2 and 3 and the reveal of Padme giving birth to both Luke AND Leia is a much BETTER reveal for them being siblings than the one in Jedi where Ben simply tells Luke!(Okay, Luke figures it out but you know what I mean.) The scene in Episode 3 plays better because we already know who Luke and Leia are and the scene in Jedi also plays better when we already know Leia is Luke’s sister because this is simply not as compelling a reveal as the Vader/Father one. It borderlines on being silly and works better when we’ve already seen the proof of it with our own eyes.

      Then, of course, we finish with Return of the Jedi and I have never found it to be MORE satisfying than it is when watching the movies in this order. Going straight from the tragedy of Episode 3 to the resolution in Jedi between Luke and Anakin is much more moving.

      So I actually think this may be the optimum way to view the series BUT I’m not sure I’m going to show them to my daughter in that order anyway, simply because Episode 2 and ESPECIALLY 3 are just so dark that I’m not sure my 6 year old is ready for them. So I may just show her the original trilogy now and then use this order in a few years.

      By the way, I watched the original versions of Star Wars and Empire (my wife is a purist on this issue) but the Special Edition of Jedi which offers a much more rounded conclusion to the entire Saga than the original version did. The one downside of this is getting stuck with the Hayden Christensen Anakin Force ghost at the end. I may have to re-edit that ending myself to get the old Anakin back.

      That’s my two cents worth.

    • July 29, 2014 at 11:56 am
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      I suggest the “Emperor’s Cut” of Episodes 5,3 and 6.

      I chose this title because in every episode the Emperor makes an appearance.

      It’s a slimmed down viewing order of the “Machete Cut” of Episodes 4,5,2,3 and 6.

      The 1st few lines spoken in Episode 5 tell you that there is a past between the characters, so you don’t need to sit through Episode 4.
      I choose to go straight into Episode 3 just simply for the mood. Jumping from Episode 5 to 3 keeps the dark eerie feel of Episode 5 going.
      Following up with the climactic conclusion of Episode 6.

      1st Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back
      2nd Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
      3rd Episode 6: Return of the Jedi

      So I suggest the “Emperor’s Cut”

      • July 30, 2014 at 10:43 am
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        “The 1st few lines spoken in Episode 5 tell you that there is a past between the characters, so you don’t need to sit through Episode 4.”

        SERIOUSLY?!!!!! I’ve heard of a lot of different views from a lot of different Star Wars fans but the notion that the original Star Wars, Episode 4, is something that “you don’t need to SIT THROUGH” is a new one on me! I really just don’t even know how to respond to that! The universe where you enjoy Star Wars more if you don’t have to burden yourself with the awful New Hope is a very different Star Wars universe from the one I exist in!

  • July 28, 2014 at 2:07 pm
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    My preferred order is 4-6. If you watch the prequels first, you might never get to the originals. And if you do, it will look so different, and all the great twists and surprises (and not so great twists and surprises) will be ruined. The originals are still fresh and adventurous, but one might spoil it by watching the ponderous and stilted and above all nonsensical prequels first.

  • July 28, 2014 at 3:01 pm
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    Either way, Rian’s SW movie will be eighth in order.
    It’ll be tricky for him to watch them in 4-6, 1-3, 7-9 order.

  • July 28, 2014 at 3:41 pm
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    Star Wars was meant to be seen 4-6. Then if you’re really die hard and must watch the prequels, give em a go.

    For me though I’ll just stick with the original three. That’s what is nice about choices. We’re all free to do what we want. I hope the new trilogy really shines and adds to my watching order!

    • July 28, 2014 at 4:33 pm
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      Actually it’s MEANT to be seen 1-6 because that is the way the visionary who made them wanted them to be seen. 1-6 are his story not anyone else’s.

      You don’t have to be a die hard to give the prequels a go. Quite the opposite. You have to be a certain kind of die hard to not watch them. What these people don’t understand is that there is a whole generation who not only watch them but that it is THEIR Star Wars along with The Clone Wars. The Star Wars that Disney wants kids to give em a go is the OT.

      That’s why Rebels and new comics and books are around this era. They need to introduce that to the PT generation.

      RJ points out “Storytelling-wise, 4-6 were constructed without the knowledge of the past.” but the PT was constructed with knowledge of the future and in such a way to overcome all of the inherent deficiencies of the originals. It’s not entirely true they were constructed without knowing what had gone before either. Several of the major points were but the exact details weren’t.

      • July 28, 2014 at 4:45 pm
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        But with the ST, the whole 1-6 ‘Tragedy of Darth Vader’ is irrelevant anymore. In a sense, the ST nullfies the whole point of the PT, where Anakin is the chosen one and is suppose to bring balance to the force thus ending the reign of the Sith in Episode 6. The problem is (rumors are saying) there will be more Sith in Episode 7! Lucas sold the 1-6 storyline to the fans as Darth Vader’s arc, but the problem is once he sold to Disney and is still involved in planning the outline for the ST, he contradicted himself…again…

        • July 28, 2014 at 6:17 pm
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          Not at all.

          We are never actually told the prophecy only other people’s interpretation of it.

          All that really matters is that Anakin is the Chosen One who brings balance to the Force. It’s not about him ending the Empire. Sidious is the one who took the Force out of balance and Anakin destroyed him in the end.

          That doesn’t mean that there can’t be more Jedi and Sith in the future or Empires or anything.

          Sidious was going to tip the Force to the Dark Side forever if he wasn’t stopped.

          He was and so it begins again.

          • July 28, 2014 at 8:28 pm
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            Heres the order, 4-6. And then if your intrested, 1-3. Showed my friend Star Wars for the first time, 4-6 first. She liked them so much she wanted to see the other ones. I let her borrow 1. She said she turned it off after the first 30 minutes. Said it was one of the worst things she ever watched.
            So, I’d say if they are under the age of 12, show them in any order you want. They’ll love all of them and even think Jar Jar is funny. But if they are over 12 and their brain has mutured, show them 4-6 first or the won’t ever make it to 4-6 because they won’t like 1-3.

          • July 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm
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            I was 20 when I watched them in order 1-6 AND I LIKE THEM ALL.

            Speak for yourself. I do not belive in that story about your friend.

          • July 30, 2014 at 4:17 am
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            It’s a true story, I have no way of proving it to you of course, unless you want to come to my neighborhood and meet her. And in the same way, you can’t prove to me that you’re 20. It’s so like you prequel lovers, every time somebody says they didn’t like them, you don’t believe it. You call the person a liar. Every considered that other people may logical reasons for not liking the same things you like?

        • July 28, 2014 at 6:22 pm
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          You don’t even know the ST story yet.

    • July 28, 2014 at 9:27 pm
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      It is meant to be seen in 1-6 order. Star wars is a story with beginning and end.

      You do not like prequels, that is your choice.
      But the average fans love all movies. Do not act like you are majority.

  • July 28, 2014 at 4:49 pm
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    ‘Prequels are beautiful’…eeehhhh

    • July 28, 2014 at 6:21 pm
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      Well, they are.

    • July 28, 2014 at 7:34 pm
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      Yes, they are.

      Just because PT bashers love to rip apart the films for “shattering their childhood dreams”, that doesn’t mean the prequels weren’t visually stunning.

      • July 28, 2014 at 8:00 pm
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        Actually, people talk about the Special Editions as ‘ruining their childhoods’ not the Prequels.

        As for the Prequels, I could care less about whether they are ‘visually stunning’ or not, it all comes down to the story and the characters.

        I actually like the story Lucas told for the Prequels, its just the characters is where he failed. Anakin and Padme are 2 characters I just don’t care about it, so when they both face tragic circumstances in Episode 3, it did nothing for me.

        We can talk about day about CGI vs Real Locations, or CGI effects vs Practical Effects, etc, but the bottom line is if the new generation of characters in the ST don’t click with the audience, then it will suffer the same fate as the PT.

        • July 28, 2014 at 8:48 pm
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          For crying out loud. The prequels were bad films. The fact that people have to make up excuses as to why people don’t enjoy bad films says it all. I first discovered star wars via the prequels. I’m only 19. I didn’t hate them because they ruined my childhood, or they weren’t how I imagined the story to be. This WAS my childhood and was my INTRODUCTION to it. I hated them because I just did. I didn’t understand it at the time, I just thought they were below average. Now that I look back at it from a mature standpoint, I totally understand why. They were badly written and directed films. The story was weak, and the characters had the depth of cardboard cutouts. When I discovered the OT I loved them, and now I understand why. The story was engaging and the characters were likeable people with interesting personalities and so I enjoyed to watch them. Then from technical standpoints I really appreciate the acting, production design, pacing, the tone, the structure of the scripts, the themes, the character arcs. The prequels was just beyond average in most of these basic things that make up a film that you don’t necessarily think about when you watch it, but subconsciously sinks in. I couldn’t understand why I thought the prequels were so average as a child, but now I understand it. The OT weren’t perfect like any film of course, but their faults were pretty tiny. The main problem I think is that we never saw enough of why the empire was so evil. But apart from that, there was just little tiny things. The sheer volume of things wrong with the prequels is insane. If people seriously still enjoyed watching the prequels, then great, good for you, but they were badly made films. It’s like when people defend justin biebers music “YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS” .. No, it’s badly made music. I don’t care if you still like it or not. And like I say, the fact you have to come up with excuses as to why I don’t like it says it all.

          • July 28, 2014 at 9:37 pm
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            Nope, they are maybe bad in your opinion, but they are not bad in my.

            Do not speak in the name of everyone.

            As I recall, no one has elected you as spokesman of SW fans.

            All 6 movies are great movie.

          • July 28, 2014 at 10:01 pm
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            If enough people dislike them, they are objectively bad even if a handful love the prequels. I think what we need to do is compare them to movies that are universally accepted as good films or bad. For example: 2001 space Odyssey & the shinning are universally accepted as “good films”. If there are people around who didn’t like those movies, it’s because they just don’t get it, or because they don’t have taste. Troll 2 on the other hand… there’s just no argument, it’s a terrible film. So somewhere between the best and worst are the prequels, and for objective reasons many dislike them. If they were as amazing as some think they are, then why haven’t any of the 3 booted 2001 space odyssey off the top of the “best sci fi of all time” list?

            But anyways I’m sure if you got drunk with Johnson at a party he’d probably have different things to say. Contractual obligations have a tendency to stifle one’s opinions. He’s a good director and I think we’re in for a treat 😉

          • July 28, 2014 at 11:18 pm
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            “If enough people dislike them, they are objectively bad” I don’t think you understand the meaning of the word “objective.”
            More importantly, the majority of viewers enjoyed the PT just fine. We know this because not only those are the results of every single internet measurement of popular enjoyment (e.g., IMDb ratings), but more importantly (and more *objectively*), we know this because of a Gallup poll. http://www.gallup.com/poll/3757/public-gives-latest-star-wars-installment-positive-rave-reviews.aspx

          • July 28, 2014 at 11:50 pm
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            Thing is, majority likes them.
            Do not act as majority just because you do not like them.
            Die hard fans that love bashing them are minority.

            Even their reviews are good. EP III has score of 80/100.

          • July 29, 2014 at 12:28 am
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            Rotten tomatoes/ metacritic… ’nuff said. ROTS is ok though except for the darth Vader “nooooo!”

          • July 29, 2014 at 10:16 am
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            Sorry, there is no such thing as an absolute in art. Art continues to be in the eye of the beholder. There is also no such thing as a universally loved or a universally hated film. All films have their supporters and their detractors.

            The Star Wars films are unique because of the way they were made. A trilogy, numbered Episodes 4 through 6, each film three years apart. Then a 16 year gap and then Episodes 1 through 3. I don’t think any other films in history have had as much anticipation and people with specific expectations as the Star Wars prequels had. The problem with the Prequels wasn’t that they were bad films. It was that they weren’t the films that many fans were expecting and many fans just could not forgive them for that. I found that letting go of my own expectations and going willingly for the ride George laid out for us has made all the difference. I have been infinitely blessed for embracing George’s vision instead of stubbornly clinging to my own.

        • July 29, 2014 at 8:32 pm
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          “Actually, people talk about the Special Editions as ‘ruining their childhoods’ not the Prequels.”

          Well, I’ve heard it’s the prequels that ruined many SW fans’ lives. Never heard that about the Sp. Eds., but then again I’ve never cared for that sort of stupidity one way or the other, so maybe I’m misinformed.

          IMO, anyone who claims that “this or that ruined their childhood” is being so childish that they still need to grow up, and realize that we’ll NEVER see ANYTHING through the eyes of a child once we’re fully grown.

          “As for the Prequels, I could care less about whether they are ‘visually stunning’ or not, it all comes down to the story and the characters.”

          Then refrain yourself from commenting on my post, which was clearly about the visual aspects of the PT.

          As for characters, story, dialogues, so on and so forth, I’ve discussed it all to no end with countless folk over the last 9 yrs., and I’ve had my fill of it, thank you very much.

          “I actually like the story Lucas told for the Prequels, its just the characters is where he failed. Anakin and Padme are 2 characters I just don’t care about it, so when they both face tragic circumstances in Episode 3, it did nothing for me.”

          Yeah, characters and dialogues were never Lucas’s strongest suit, and he made more than his share of mistakes with Anakin-Padme relationship, true. But again that’s got NOTHING to do with the prequels being visually attractive or not.

          That would be like saying that hottie Portman or stud Christensen are less physically attractive, only because of how flawed their characters–and/or performances–were.

          In other words: it makes no sense to diminish the visual accomplishments of ANY film, only because the overall story or characters were weak/flawed/disappointing.

          “We can talk about day about CGI vs Real Locations, or CGI effects vs Practical Effects, etc, but the bottom line is if the new generation of characters in the ST don’t click with the audience, then it will suffer the same fate as the PT.”

          That would be an entirely different animal altogether. Again, I’m not discussing character development, depth, dialogues, overall story quality, VFX or John Williams’ soundtrack, for that matter.

          The topic was whether the prequels are beautiful to look at or not. And they are. That is a fact, regardless of their many flaws in other areas. Period.

    • July 28, 2014 at 9:32 pm
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      Yes they are.

  • July 28, 2014 at 9:16 pm
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    Oh NO, prequel movies bashing again, boring.

    • July 28, 2014 at 11:12 pm
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      You mean in the comments section, or with his remarks? Because it sounds like Rian Johnson actually appreciates the Prequel Trilogy, which is especially interesting considering that J. J. Abrams has yet to make a statement on what he thinks of those movies.

  • July 28, 2014 at 9:20 pm
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    Only real order is 1-6.

    Star wars saga is a story. Watching 4-6 first, then 1-3, then 7-9 would be it would be confusing for most average viewers.

  • July 28, 2014 at 9:42 pm
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    I will watch them…4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 !!

    The first 3 I can take or leave…If I think of them as a bunch of made for TV movies they don’t seem so bad somehow. I’m just glad that GL passed on the $4bn baton before it was too late.

    • July 28, 2014 at 11:46 pm
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      I will watch them 1-8.

      And you really do not know that you will like Sequel trilogy.

      You first need to watch these movies.

      • July 29, 2014 at 12:47 am
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        No..I don’t…not yet. …but I already know I’m not that much of a fan of the prequels. With everything they are doing I cannot believe that the ST can fail to be superior and more like ‘my’ Star Wars. I think even GL realises he dropped the ball with the prequels or got sick of some of the haters. If he’d knocked the Prequels outta the park I don’t think he’d have sold to Disney and would have made them for himself.

  • July 28, 2014 at 9:57 pm
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    You guys really need some new material. Who cares what order you watch them. If you watched before the prequels were made you are probably inclined to watch 4,5,6 first, Or maybe you like watching it in a linear way. I personally believe that if technology really limited the story he really wanted to tell then he would have just waited to make any of them.

  • July 28, 2014 at 11:27 pm
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    I agree, who cares about the order? You all are missing a VERY important ‘clue’ regarding Episode VIII. Has anyone seen “12 o’clock High” or “Letter Never Sent”?? Obviously something about those stories are inspiration for Episode VIII. Talk about that!

    • July 30, 2014 at 3:29 am
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      I agree. What I want to know is is why Lucasfilm hasn’t officially announced him yet. He is all but confirmed with him openly talking about it. Don’t think it’s a negotiations issue.

  • July 29, 2014 at 12:53 am
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    As 38 yer old catching the oT at Christmases time every time it was on TV .playing and recreating moments using my starwars figures . I grew up a huge starwars fan. I don’t care for the special editions and it is them that has tainted my love for starwars. Just for the record I’d watch them 4-6 then 1-3 n I’m going to sight the grandness and epic ness the saber battles in the preqals. After watching darth maul getting his ass handed to him by a young kinobi it’s a bit sad watching him in his later days. When the prequels came out I loved them but I think that’s because I just wanted more starwars at first I saw them as great films with bad bits but now I look at them as bad films with grate bits for me they just rant standing the test of time. But I just carnt wait for the new trilogy I think it’s going to be epic

  • July 29, 2014 at 2:08 am
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    I’m an old-school fan of the OT so normally I just watch 4-6…but if I’m in the mood to see the whole epic play out, I’ll watch the entire saga in chronological order, 1-6. I never, ever watch the prequels after the OT. Its okay if others wish to do so. But I kind of like the idea of the story starting out all sprawling and epic and shiny and new, before progressing to the more intimate and gritty story of the OT. I really like that the middle story was filmed first, when young Lucas and company managed to capture lightning in a bottle that was of a certain time and place, because when you watch them all in chronological order, the OT is like the crowning jewel smack dab in the middle of an epic,9-part story. I like it that way.

    • July 29, 2014 at 10:26 am
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      I agree that sometimes I’m in the mood for my original Star Wars experience and then I tend to watch the original versions of the original Trilogy. More often, though, now I’m in the mood for the whole saga and then I watch them in episodic order, 1-6, using the Special Editions which tend to fit better with the Prequels.

      I do think however, particularly for newcomers, that the order I outlined in a post above, namely 4,1,5,2,3,and 6 works best. Of course, once you already know that Vader is Luke’s father, that order becomes less necessary and 1-6 is probably the way to go for those already familiar with all the movies.

  • July 29, 2014 at 8:55 am
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    This was the best news I’ve heard yet as far as the new films go. Johnson is the kind of director these films desperately need. Blomkamp would be another choice of mine.

  • July 30, 2014 at 4:47 am
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    Please use 35mm film and go as practical as possible. That’s all I ask.

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