David Fincher Discusses Meeting Kathleen Kennedy and Disney about Star Wars: Episode VII.

David Fincher

In the latest issue of Total Film magazine, director David Fincher revealed that he spoke with Star Wars producer Kathy Kennedy about Episode VII…

 

From TotalFilm (via CBM):

“I talked to Kathy about it, but I think that it’s a different thing from… I don’t know what Disney-Lucasfilm will be like,” he says of the studio merger that resulted in a new batch of Star Wars films being greenlit.

 

“It’s tricky,” he adds. “My favourite is The Empire Strikes Back. If I said, ‘I want to do something more like that,’ then I’m sure the people paying for it would be like, ‘No! You can’t do that! We want it like the other one with all the creatures!’

 

“I always thought of Star Wars as the story of two slaves [C-3PO and R2-D2] who go from owner to owner, witnessing their masters’ folly, the ultimate folly of man… I thought it was an interesting idea in the first two, but it’s kind of gone by Return Of The Jedi.”

 

A Star Wars movie directed by Fincher? Now that’s something I would have loved to see.

 

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

74 thoughts on “David Fincher Discusses Meeting Kathleen Kennedy and Disney about Star Wars: Episode VII.

  • September 29, 2014 at 2:44 pm
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    My concern with Fincher’s directing a SW film is the same I had for JJ. – that they would put too much of ‘their own stamp’ on it and it would feel like one of ‘their’ films and less like Star Wars.

  • September 29, 2014 at 3:25 pm
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    ‘ The first rule of Ep 7 is : you do not talk about Ep 7 ‘

  • September 29, 2014 at 3:41 pm
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    Strong with the dark side of the force he is. Interested in his movie I would have been.

    Seriously though… a Star Wars created by him would be an interesting one. Maybe give him a stand alone film. Just so long as it was made clear beforehand it’s not the kind of Star Wars you take your children to 😛

    You have to remember though… at this point I’m totally open to any take on Star Wars. Just my 2 cents.

  • September 29, 2014 at 4:12 pm
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    I’d rather see a Woody Allen Star Wars film, now that would be something.

    • September 29, 2014 at 4:25 pm
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      Or Wes Anderson, or the Coen Brothers. That would be cool.

      • September 29, 2014 at 5:48 pm
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        Wes Anderson?! Haha i’m glad they didn’t put you in charge of Star Wars.. That would have stank harder than any prequel poodoo

        • September 29, 2014 at 6:22 pm
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          I meant it only as an idea to think about and imagine the outcome. Definitely not as a reality.

          • September 29, 2014 at 8:44 pm
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            I could just picture one of those Anderson montages where they do a quick character summary with a list of unrelated objects & scenarios. Like for instance if He was doing Luke skywalker, there would be a head on shot of Luke facing forwards, followed by shots of “light saber & compass, sleeping bag & thermal detonator, knitting set & holocron”.

            The indy team I think would be interesting would be Spike Jonze & Kaufman.

  • September 29, 2014 at 4:44 pm
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    Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, Gravity, Prizoner of Azkaban)

  • September 29, 2014 at 4:50 pm
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    I was wondering how the big 3 & chewy and r2/3po will be introduced on screen. I was imagining after the crawl and lasers flashing and the millenium falcon pursued by about 15 tie interceptors, with scorch marks across its top. Cut inside and Han is shouting to chewy. “I don’t know… Just shake them off”… Luke I imagine a slow moment, dark cave, slowly pulling back his hood (no innuendo) and looking upward. Or will 3po and r2 be first up? Talking about what’s been happening? Or will it open on leia piloting a jedi star fighter, being chased by a classic tie? The least exciting way to introduce them will be in a peaceful room.

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:51 pm
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      The film could start off with Chewie, it would be totally different and still have a similar non-human introduction like A New Hope did.

  • September 29, 2014 at 4:53 pm
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    A Spielberg starwars finally would be interesting. Or a Lucas Spielberg collaboration. Just having fun with it all themselves. Any directors that could give depth and pace to the film, not shallow effects will be good.

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:07 pm
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      wasnt revenge of the sith partly directed by spielberg ? im sure some of it was.

      • September 29, 2014 at 5:31 pm
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        Spielberg directed the Grievous/Kenobi stuff. And maybe one other thing..

        • September 29, 2014 at 7:03 pm
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          No, it was the final scene.

      • September 29, 2014 at 7:22 pm
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        He did some of the Mustafar duel and some of the Yoda/Sidious duel as well.

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:19 pm
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      We got the result of that partnership in Indy 4… ugh. Plz no Lucas/Spielberg partnerships ever again. Spielberg occasionally makes great films (Minority Report was the last one I liked, great film). But man that Lincoln film was a bore.

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:52 pm
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      Good God no, did you never see Crystal Skull?! Man get outta here..

      • September 29, 2014 at 7:31 pm
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        Well they also did the first 3 Indiana Jones movies together as well. So 3 out of 4 isn’t bad.

        • September 29, 2014 at 7:37 pm
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          Not bad. Let’s not make that 3/5.

          • September 29, 2014 at 11:24 pm
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            I know this may seem blasphemous to some but I think temple of doom sucks. I liked the mine cart scene when I was a kid & the part where the lady has to stick her arm through the bug infested trigger. True, the partnership did produce great work at one time. Even if it’s terrible I’ll probably still go see Indy 5… but I’m not optimistic haha.

          • September 30, 2014 at 7:24 am
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            Totally agree. Temple of Doom is rubbish. Maybe it’s a bit like the opposite of the Star Trek curse and only odd numbered films are any good. So number five could be ok!

        • September 30, 2014 at 4:23 pm
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          Yes because that’s when they still had talent! Good God you’re a bonehead..

    • September 30, 2014 at 2:32 am
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      I forget where I read this, but wasn’t Spielberg was the first person they approached? Steven turned it down but recommended JJ, which was a major reason Kennedy kept going after him even when he initially refused.

  • September 29, 2014 at 5:13 pm
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    I’m thankful he didn’t land this gig… I’m not a fan of his films. I really didn’t like Benjamin Button. After many years a girlfriend and I watched fight club because we remember liking it back in ’99, but when we re-watched the film we could see how contrived it was/ split personalities are the ultimate trademark of that era. But House of cards definitely has a “look” to it that I enjoy.

    If you’ve seen a lot of his recent work you might notice a lot of it pokes at some deeper meaning but it never delivers on the goods. Sort of like Forest Gump @ “life is like a box of chocolates” (well ok tell us something we didn’t know) totally pointless. I can provide one clear example of this… in the introduction of the very first house of cards Kevin Spacey strangles a dog to death and tries to deliver some type of meaningful monologue that goes no where… it was just there for shock value…perhaps to compete with Breaking Bad where that shock value actually meant something.

    I would have been fine with him doing a stand alone *maybe*. If the Breaking Bad crew had been brought on to do Star Wars then I’d say we’re cookin’.

    • September 29, 2014 at 11:28 pm
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      “If the Breaking Bad crew had been brought on to do Star Wars then I’d say we’re cookin’.”
      FWIW, Ryan Johnson—who’s going to direct Ep.VIII—also directed a few episodes of “Breaking Bad,” including “Ozymandias.”

  • September 29, 2014 at 5:13 pm
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    Who else loves The Empire Strikes Back? It’s my favorite film of all time!

    – Empire Strikes Back
    – A New Hope
    – Return of the Jedi
    – Revenge of the Sith
    – The Phantom Menace
    – Attack of the Clones

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:35 pm
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      Jedi 100
      Empire 100
      Star Wars 95
      Sith 80
      Menace 75
      Clones 70

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:44 pm
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      To me:

      – Revenge of the Sith
      – Attack of the Clones
      – Empire Strikes Back
      – The Phantom Menace
      – Return of the Jedi
      – A New Hope

      • September 29, 2014 at 5:54 pm
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        Baaaaaaaaahahaha good one dude!

    • September 29, 2014 at 5:47 pm
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      – Revenge of the Sith ( the best )
      – Empire Strikes Back
      – Attack of the Clones
      – A New Hope
      – The Phantom Menace
      – Return of the Jedi ( the worst )

    • September 29, 2014 at 6:52 pm
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      1. Revenge of the Sith
      2. A New Hope
      3. Empire Strikes Back
      4. Attack of the Clones
      5. The Phantom Menace
      6. Return of the Jedi

    • September 29, 2014 at 6:56 pm
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      I prefer the prequel trilogy.

      Attack of the Clones
      Revenge of the Sith
      The Phantom Menace
      Empire Strikes Back
      Return of the Jedi
      A New Hope

    • September 29, 2014 at 7:02 pm
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      Are you kidding me?!

      ”Return of the Jedi aka The muppet show” better than ”Revenge of the Sith”?!

      Really!?!

      I can understand a lot of things, but that…..

      • September 29, 2014 at 8:21 pm
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        I agree completely! Even though the prequel trilogy obviously had major flaws as a whole, ROTS was far better than the teddy bear movie (aka ROTJ).

        Top 3:

        E5
        E4
        E3

      • September 29, 2014 at 8:29 pm
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        revange is just unlimitet craaaaaaaap

        • September 29, 2014 at 8:34 pm
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          Return of the Jedi ruined Star wars for me.

          • September 29, 2014 at 9:16 pm
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            Yet here you are posting on a Star Wars site 31 years after it was released.

          • September 30, 2014 at 3:53 pm
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            This site wasn’t here 31 years ago for him to post on

      • September 29, 2014 at 8:32 pm
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        I agree

    • September 29, 2014 at 7:36 pm
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      ok here goes
      1) EP5
      2) EP4
      3) EP6
      4)
      5) EP1
      6)EP2 & EP3

    • September 29, 2014 at 8:39 pm
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      – Empire Strikes Back
      – Revenge of the Sith
      – A New Hope
      – Attack of the Clones
      – The Phantom Menace
      – Return of the Jedi

    • September 29, 2014 at 9:23 pm
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      – ESB
      – ROTJ
      – ANH
      – ROTS
      – TPM
      – AOTC

    • September 30, 2014 at 2:36 am
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      All-Time Classics: ANH, ESB
      Fun Popcorn Movie: ROTJ
      ———————————
      Different Kinds of Trash: TPM, AOTC, ROTS

      • September 30, 2014 at 4:39 am
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        Mine will always be…

        Empire Strikes Back.
        A New Hope.
        Return of the Jedi.

        Yep that’s it.

  • September 29, 2014 at 5:27 pm
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    Damn I think I would have preferred him do episode viii instead of Rian.

  • September 29, 2014 at 5:46 pm
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    George really had something going for him when he made Star Wars and Empire and Jedi. You see back then he was the employee, in 77 he had to answer to big producers, he had to make a movie that other people besides himself would actually LIKE, he had to work within constraints. The movie was his, it was his baby, he earned that, but he still had that extra level above him that made sure he took care of that baby responsibly, and within those restraints, he created something beautiful even if very far from perfect.
    Fast Forward 90’s and the whole dynamic had changed. George was THE BOSS, there was no one around to say “no”. There wasn’t really any other voice to give input, there wasn’t that little voice of reason asking him to hone it in. Result? He understandably lost sense of what is cool and what is blah.
    With Phantom Menace he essentially set himself up for failure by making himself God of the Galaxy Far, far Away.
    High hopes for Ep VII, not because of the Names involved (though Harrison Ford + script-guy Kasdan can’t hurt), but because of the dynamic. It might not be the Star Wars were expecting, but it will definitely play at the same playground.

  • September 29, 2014 at 5:56 pm
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    Fincher worked on Return of the Jedi while at ILM so must know something about the Star Wars ‘DNA’. Would have no problem with him directing an episode. Similarly would like to see Joe Johnston given a shot based on his previous association with the franchise – although the standalone Boba Fett movie he talked about sounds like it could also work. Cuaron produced the best Harry Potter film so has great credentials, while Edgar Wright would no doubt produce some amazing fight scenes based on Scott Pilgrim. So many possibilities out there and you know most would sell their left nut to get the gig!

    • September 30, 2014 at 2:44 am
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      Joe Johnston would have been my pick based on The Rocketeer, Captain America and his OT experience.

      You don’t need or want an “auteur” to direct a great Star Wars film. Just get someone with a simple, classic, old-school approach.

      Still, the most important thing is the writer, which is why I hope Arndt comes back for Ep9 or a spinoff. Brad Bird directing and co-writing a SW movie seems perfect too.

  • September 29, 2014 at 6:30 pm
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    So why Rian Johnson? It took me 3 attempts to get through Looper! Probably because they want someone they can control.

    • September 29, 2014 at 7:13 pm
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      You didn’t like Looper? I thought it was fantastic, I was hooked when I saw that guy’s hand disappearing… very clever.

      • September 29, 2014 at 7:17 pm
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        I saw Looper and I hated it. Its so bad, I wish I did not watch it as my nephew had already warned me! I tossed the DVD into the trashcan after watching, jokes aside and no, the DVD is bootleg!

        • September 29, 2014 at 7:41 pm
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          I thought the entire story premise for Looper was weird and I didn’t like that at all, but I thought the film overall was good. I tried to watch Brick and after about 20 minutes I just had to gave up it was so unbelievably dull. I’m anxious but not worried. He’s yet to write and direct anything with a tone like star wars so it’s all very hard to judge. The thing that’s getting me by is how he keeps his films character driven, and how everyone’s saying how talented he is, so whatever. Not the best hands to put episode viii in, but Irvin Kershner was a bit of an oddball choice for Empire.

      • September 30, 2014 at 2:54 am
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        Looper was very well-directed but *horribly* written. It felt like a script written by an Asperger’s kid.

        Story was muddled. Dialogue was clunky. Nothing about the premise made sense. It was poorly paced. Characters were dull. Random shit was thrown in to spice things up (telekinesis; sex scene). As someone who usually agrees with critical consensus, I was baffled by the love for Looper.

        That said, Rian Johnson is a smart guy, a good director and working with other writers like Kasdan, Kinberg, Abrams and possibly Arndt (if the broad strokes of his ST outline remain). I’m sure the script will be fine; not great but fine.

  • September 29, 2014 at 6:34 pm
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    I would be more excited for him to direct Ep8 instead of Rian Johnson.

  • September 29, 2014 at 6:48 pm
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    Duncan Jones woulda been mine without a doubt. Although Luc besson could have produced an interesting episode!!

    • September 29, 2014 at 7:19 pm
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      Luc would be a far better choice than Rian! Looper sucks!

  • September 29, 2014 at 7:24 pm
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    If Wookies were part of Jedi instead of Ewoks, how would of everyone reacted differently?

    Also Alien 3 was panned by critics hard and was over the head of many.
    I appreciate the mans work and would like to see an instalment by him.

    However, when Directors give their version of the story of declining an offer, the studios and the producers rarely disclose their versions, even then who really knows how the decisions unfold on what truly went down.

    We don’t know what the final product will be with any director, so there is no need to speculate what any giving director could do.

    Spielberg could have two different crews pull off two different movies with the same criteria and direction.

  • September 29, 2014 at 7:40 pm
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    It’s so bad to talk EP8 at this point. For goods sake EP7 and the spinoff isn’t finish jet.

    Please let things come in the right order.

  • September 29, 2014 at 7:47 pm
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    Awwww h*** no! The guy single handedly killed the “Alien” franchise. Don’t let him anywhere near the Star Wars universe!

    • September 29, 2014 at 8:44 pm
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      Was it Fincher that fucked those films up or the studios executives who have no idea on how a film should be made.

  • September 29, 2014 at 8:33 pm
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    Fincher has made good films as well as shitty ones. His style seems best for suspense/thriller/horror but a SW film by him would probably be a bit weird. He could maybe pull off a spinoff or some shit like that but definitely keep him away from the numbered episodes.

    His Alien film really stands out in that series of movies. I don’t mean in a good or bad way, he just has a really distinct style and feel to his films. Kind of like how Kubrick movies are very different than your average movie.

  • September 29, 2014 at 8:38 pm
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    – Empire Strikes Back
    – Revenge of the Sith
    – A New Hope
    – Attack of the Clones
    – The Phantom Menace
    – Return of the Jedi

  • September 29, 2014 at 8:38 pm
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    Aside from his personal history with working on Star Wars (alongside Joe Jonston) his demeanor might be better suited for Ep 9.

  • September 29, 2014 at 9:02 pm
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    Fincher films are like Kubricks, technically good and great looking but pretentious and boring as shit.

    I thought Joe Johnston was going to direct 8 anyway.

    • September 29, 2014 at 9:19 pm
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      I wonder why they didn’t go with Joe Johnston? I like his movies so far!

  • September 29, 2014 at 9:36 pm
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    Return of the Jedi is awesome. True, the acting had become wooden and SOME of the ewok bits strained credulity but the story arc with Luke and Vader was moving and gave the trilogy a distinct and rock solid structure. Jabba’s palace was one of the most threatening and arcane feeling cinematic environments that my mind has ever walked through with those convincing languages and Jabba’s sonorous voice and the threat of being laughed at by a room full of unsympathetic revelers as you are eaten alive. I remember feeling exhausted and proud as though I had grown as a person from going through that experience, even more so than with Empire Strikes Back.

    • September 30, 2014 at 12:04 am
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      Jedi’s problem is that its style is so inconsistent. There is way too much Sesame Street and Muppet Show, but then we also have the climax of Luke’s journey, when he struggles to save his soul before the throne of the Emperor. Would that the whole thing had been as dark and serious as the scenes with the Emperor!

      • September 30, 2014 at 6:49 pm
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        Return of the Jedi is a bad movie, but were not talking about movies, we’re talking about STAR WARS movies. if you’re complaining about bad acting, you’re clearly missing the point of star wars. Star wars is totally Awesome, are they good? not really. Are they awesome? YES!!!

        Now when it comes to the Ewoks, they were a lapse of judgement, and should have been an early warning of the JarJar action to come. However, ROTJ delivered on the important part. VADER.
        I think that the Return of the Jedi hits a big Ewok-shaped low-point in the movie. But jabba’s palace as well as the bike chase and the space battle are easily the best action sequences in the entire saga (there i said it).

        The fight between Luke and Anakin is emotional (as in not much actually happens) and for me that sequence is the single best piece of Jedi spiritual warfare in the Saga. Even though the reasoning (“kill me then join me” – “why?” “BECUASE I’M SIDIOUS!”) makes absolutely no sense, the struggle of Luke and anakin is epic.
        While I’m at it, what’s so great about Revenge o’da Sith? Because in my opinion, even if you overlook the fact that the story pacing is all over the place and general grievous literally has no bearing on the plot, like, AT ALL; even then, the movie still falls short it’s own selling point, Vader. The whole fight with Anakin and Obi wan, it’s like, who’s the bad guy here? Because the more i watch the PT the more I think Obiwan and Yoda deserve to die, which is sad, cause i liked Alec Guinness’ crazy old hermit as well as Ep V muppet yoda (you know, the REAL yoda)
        All of your guys’ comments against VI are completely well founded, but if you guys are writing off the most important star wars movie over a few ewok scenes, what is your justification for “Ani”? This actually perplexes me

    • October 1, 2014 at 4:46 am
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      Amen to that, brother. Jedi was my first starwars film, in 83 as 9 years old, and will always be the best star wars movie ever. I don’t understand the Ewok hate. It has Jabba, Sarlacc, Biker Scouts, Emperor, Best space battle ever and Luke/Vader last fight…….

  • September 29, 2014 at 10:53 pm
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    Another pointless interview.

  • September 30, 2014 at 12:48 am
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    Well, he’s clearly not a big fan, so right there he’s wrong for it..

  • September 30, 2014 at 5:57 am
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    I think Fincher is a great director, but his quote about about slaves and masters is like a joke from a Wes Anderson movie. Really? That’s the heart of Star Wars for you? Lord.

  • September 30, 2014 at 10:31 am
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    He already worked on Jedi so it wouldn’t be too far of a stretch.

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