Adam Savage Let a Detail Slip About a Certain Scene from The Force Awakens

Dejarik_FalconWhile speaking with io9, Mythbusters’ Adam Savage revealed very cool detail about The Force Awakens.

 

 

io9 caught up with Adam Savage at San Diego Comic Con, who revealed that he visited the set of The Force Awakens, and saw something really, really cool.

 

 

From io9:

 

We were talking to Savage about practical visual effects, and the fact that a lot of film-makers (like J.J. Abrams) are returning to practical VFX. And Savage mentioned that he’s friends with Phil Tippett, the creature designer from the original Star Wars trilogy. According to Savage, Tippett was brought back into the new film by J.J. Abrams, to recreate one iconic sequence from the first movie, in particular. “I got to go watch him shoot it,” says Savage. “It was so cool—the old school technology. The oldest school technology: his animation. And it’s beautiful.”

 

We guessed that Savage was talking about that animated “chess” game, with the weird creatures—and apparently, we guessed right.

 

 

 

Phil Tippet is a VFX legend and bringing him back to do a sequence for the movie, the old school way is really admiring. In 1975, while still working at Cascade Pictures, Phil Tippett and Jon Berg were hired by George Lucas at Industrial Light & Magic to create a stop motion miniature chess scene for the first Star Wars film.

 

Stop motion is an animation technique that physically manipulates an object that appears to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence.

 

For those who don’t know, the “chess” game is actually called Dejarik. It was a popular holographic game that was played throughout the galaxy. When activated, the game would project holographic playing pieces that resembled dangerous-looking species from throughout the galaxy. The players can move their pieces to attack one another and said pieces will behave like living beings when in battle. (via starwars.wikia)

 
Note

 

We had already expected to see the Dejarik board back in The Force Awakens, since The Millennium Falcon has a Dejarik table in its lounge. Also during the filming of TFA, J.J. Abrams tweeted a picture with the very same board. But now we know that an actual game of Dejarik will take place in the movie. My guess is that the game will be between Chewbacca and Finn, since there are many indications for a closer relationship between these two characters. Well, we will find out in 5 months time.

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

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Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

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

133 thoughts on “Adam Savage Let a Detail Slip About a Certain Scene from The Force Awakens

  • July 22, 2015 at 5:51 pm
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    uh-oh *cue the cynical anti-practical effects bandwagon*

    • July 22, 2015 at 5:59 pm
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      Let them say what they will. At this point, nothing can dampen my excitement about this movie!

    • July 22, 2015 at 7:06 pm
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      It seems like such a silly argument/complaint from that group of fans considering we are getting another Episode of Star Wars. As much as i love the prequels I’d take practical over digital any day.

      P.S. I also know that there will be CGI in the new films as well, but what i an saying is the more effects done live on set the better.

      • July 23, 2015 at 12:12 am
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        More OT nostalgia. What else is new?

        Sigh…..

        • July 23, 2015 at 5:43 pm
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          oh cmon, the movie is obviously attempting to return star wars to its “roots” while also bringing it forward for new generations. why these comments bemoaning “nostalgia”? youre darned right nostalgia, its wonderful. not trying to be a douche, just man i think we’re gonna get a decent mixture of old school influence and fresh new stuff.

        • July 27, 2015 at 5:33 pm
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          Im sensing another butthurt PT apologist

    • July 22, 2015 at 7:16 pm
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      pretty big straw man. I think most people are loving the use of practical effects but are just tired of having “WE ARE USING PRACTICAL EFFECTS” comment being thrown in every interview, article and video clip under the sun.

      And yeah… there’s still gonna be tons of CGI special effect shots and touch ups. No dip.

      • July 22, 2015 at 7:47 pm
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        Bingo! You hit the nail right on the head!

      • July 22, 2015 at 8:12 pm
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        This is not an official lucasfilm comment or interview! This is a leak made by adam savage who has nothing to do with the project! For crying out loud will you people stop complaining for three minutes whenever anything remotely happens to do with practical effects before my brain melts. In terms of the official marketing for this film, they are not ready to share the story yet, so they will talk about other things, like the cast, the production design, and yes, the effects. People think visual effects are important to the franchise, so they will talk about that. Not interested? Heard it before? Well good for you, but 99% of people don’t visit a site dedicated to the film and watch every single press event.. Not everything is about you. Please just get a grip.

        • July 23, 2015 at 12:52 am
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          @Anon 20:12, not everything is about you either, not that you have anything to worry, as Disney is catering to your OT fan wishes every step of the way.

          • July 23, 2015 at 5:49 pm
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            please with comments like this. good god you guys! “catering to old fans” “practical vs cgi” whine whine whine. everyone CHILL!! good lord enjoy the ride, the gift of new starwars. im 43, my lil butt was in the chair in 77′ and i LOVE IT ALL, i enjoy the prequels, i enjoy jedi knights and starships and visiting distant worlds. i hope they use a nice mix of practical sets and cgi effects. its beyond exciting and wonderful – NEVER EVER thought in 2015 we’d still have star wars…

            oh wait, this is the internet…nevermind. whine and moan away about every detail of everything imaginable ….sigh… thats one thin this old fan will say, man are people more cynical about EVERYTHING then they were back in the days. its used to just be pure fun and wonder.

            all right all right, back into my rocking chair….

      • July 22, 2015 at 10:59 pm
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        How come no one was excited about practical effects in 1976 when they were making Star Wars…..think about it and you will realise just how stupid it is to be excited about said effects.

        • July 22, 2015 at 11:18 pm
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          that excitement is called nostalgia 😉 and there’s nothing stupid about it – or about wanting things to be as “real” as possible.

          and everyone back in 1977 was excited about Star Wars’ effects 😉

          • July 22, 2015 at 11:34 pm
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            You wan’t nostalgia go watch ANH it’s 2015 do you want to see a set full of cathode ray tubes when it’s supposed to be advanced technology.

          • July 23, 2015 at 12:51 am
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            There’s a reason why that film stands the test of time. The quirkiness is lovable. The fact that they used bubble wrap on the seatbelt of the falcon doesn’t stop you from watching it today, does it? I hope not otherwise why would you be reading anything on this site. The look and feel of the environment and everything in it is part of the visual esthetic of those films. It’s why a lot of people were drawn to it back in 77. It’s definitely what the film makers were drawn to otherwise it wouldn’t be such a big deal to them. They want to walk right back into that world. If you don’t want to fallow them in then by all means stay outside.

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:16 am
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            Correction: the effects in a new hope were revolutionary at the time and people were awe inspired.

            I think YOU should go stand outside.

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:34 am
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            I didn’t say anything contrary about the effects. And I’ll stay inside because I actually want to see the film. And I’m open minded with whatever tools the film makers decide to use to tell the story. Maybe appreciate the art of film making a bit more instead of complaining.

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:37 am
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            Yes, they did the best they could, state of the art effects for the time, but if you want effects that truly stand the test of time the look no further than 2001,by comparison 2010 the year we make contact looks more dated with it’s cathode ray inspired HAL.

          • July 25, 2015 at 11:26 am
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            The thing is it’s not even about nostalgia…it’s about what is best and available. And if they can “distance themselves” from the PT as much as possible without bashing what they bought, of course they will market it. Especially since they can’t say anything else yet. It’s called marketing.

            Back to my original point…talk to most ANY director, film-maker, and actor…they will all pick tangible sets and effects any day instead of having to completely imagine stuff via green screen and concept art. People whining about practical effects being out of date are simply dumb. Practical TANGIBLE effect pieces, touched up with cgi, will always ALWAYS look better than a pure base CGI effect. Just plain and simple. Watch any modern day example of this. Example….hellboy movies, especially hellboy 2, and pans labyrinth. Sure they’re selling it as nostalgia, but it’s also just better. Fact is, studios don’t feel like putting the money forward to do these things. Costs most of all time. This movie will undoubtedly look amazing. Now everything else just has to fit.

      • July 24, 2015 at 8:32 pm
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        The reason they are drilling in the practical fx so hard is because — like it or not — many people hated the prequels because of its over-use of CGI with regard to its sets and characters.

        I know this pisses off die-hard fans of the prequels (many of whom are too young to remember when CGI wasn’t a thing), but it’s true. They want to make sure that all of those people that wrote SW off give the new trilogy a chance.

        Because let’s face it, casual SW fans do NOT have their ears to the ground like most of us when it comes to paying attention to SW news. As annoying as it may be for those of us that follow the new movie closely, they still need drill this crap in for those casual fans that don’t.

    • July 22, 2015 at 7:27 pm
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      The prequel CGI people would rather see another 50s tube analog TV green-screened around the image in front of a green screen: over a Destroyer Droid base or floating on a saucer type image!? I prefer practical effects animation in that case. Besides, the projected Leia image “Help me Obi-Wan your my only hope” in ANH or Luke image “Take these two droids …” in ROJ or Emperor Palpatine image “What is thy bidding? Master” in ESB all were more powerful in OT than the CGI failure in PT LOOKING LIKE JUST A TV OVER A MOVING STAND OR BASE IMPRACTICAL EFFECTS!

      • July 22, 2015 at 7:46 pm
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        Huh? It seems you’ve got some confusion going on.

        In any case, whatever you have to tell yourself to make yourself feel better and sleep at night I guess?

      • July 23, 2015 at 12:55 am
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        PT has alot of practical effects. And EP VII will be full of CGI with combination of practical effects.

        PT has great VFX, but they are 16 years old.

        And to me OT VFX look outdated and implausible.

        • July 23, 2015 at 12:59 am
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          what?!?!? you mean that one-eyed trash monster in the death star doesn’t stand up to today’s special effects?!?!?! I’m shocked!

          • July 27, 2015 at 6:02 pm
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            The actual point that OT fans fail to make that PT fans fail to discern with all their internet rage power:

            Is that the OT dianoga look actually DOES NOT MATTER. The fact that there’s a, UNSEEN MONSTER that is going to EAT OUR HERO IN A TRASH COMPACTOR in the middle of the movie. How ‘convincing’ it is actually IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT. Its use as a plot element in a crazy sci-fi/fantasy adventure is more important.

            All this B.S. internet rage from both idiot sides of the coin misses the point of the story and filmmaking.

      • July 25, 2015 at 1:36 am
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        It’s not even the PT CGI that people are so tired of. It’s almost every damn action movie out there. From the Hobbit films to the predictable mass fight at the end of every Marvel movie to CGI armies in every single historic movie since Gladiator or Braveheart, to CGI blood in Jurassic Park and countless cheapo crapfests like Green Lantern, Jupiter Ascending etc.
        We don’t go to the movies to see effects that remind us of video games.
        That’s why people love Chris Nolan or the new Mad Max movie. That’s why people prefer the animatronic T-Rex of 1994’s Jurassic Park to the CGI Dinos in the new movie.

    • July 23, 2015 at 3:51 am
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      I’m personally not annoyed by practical effects. I’m miffed by people who mouth-off practical effects as if it’s the savior of our beloved Star Wars (like it needed any saving). The “practical effects evangelizers” who use it to probably justify their hatred of the PT. By people who act like none of the prequel films had any practical effects in them, like ALL creatures/characters, sets, props were CGs.

      I’m sure some members of these crowd are the same people that complained about seeing the black matte lines, some of the silly-looking masked Cantina aliens, from the OT films.

      TFA will use film. Yey! TFA will use practical effects. Yey! TFA will use excessive amount of CG as well and don’t you forget about that.

      And when I sit down in a theater in December (repeatedly, most likely), I’ll look forward to having a wonderful STAR WARS EXPERIENCE as I always have watching any of the first six movies.

      I will not be like you, “practical effects evangelizers” who aims to impress their friends and families, you who enjoys in the silly sport of spotting the practical effects from the CG and wetting themselves for being THE Star Wars expert that you fashion yourselves to be.

      So pseudo-Star Wars experts… sit down, enjoy the movie, and STFU!

      • July 23, 2015 at 9:00 pm
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        Well said! Totally agree with you!

  • July 22, 2015 at 5:53 pm
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    If this is true, I really hope he goes down in an awesome battle.

  • July 22, 2015 at 5:56 pm
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    If Finn appears in leaked concept art from Episode VIII with no arms…at least we know why…

  • July 22, 2015 at 5:57 pm
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    I hope he lets the wookiee win. But seriously, I’m worried they might go over-board with referencing the OT just for nostalgia.

    • July 22, 2015 at 7:07 pm
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      To an extent, yes I agree with you. But this in no way makes me nervous for that. It’s a centerpiece of the main ship of this saga. That’s the purpose for the table existing in the ship. Why wouldn’t it be used? At least once in this trilogy at least!

    • July 22, 2015 at 9:51 pm
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      Padme and Ahsoka played it in Clone Wars. It’s just a gag. I’m more worried about the story being a direct remake of A New Hope, which it sort of sounds like, sometimes…

    • July 27, 2015 at 6:04 pm
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      They played it up in ROTS, didn’t they?

      For then entire last 30 minutes.

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:01 pm
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    Stop motion is the only way to make the game seems credible. I mean: the high-resolution-holograms from “Jurassic World” are just too much complex to look like a possible evolution of actual communication systems. A popular game in a old space-ship has to be weird and basic.

    • July 22, 2015 at 10:10 pm
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      So you’re saying that a holographic game that’s CG IN-UNIVERSE should be done with practical effects to make it look credible? As in, to make it look credibly like in-universe CG?

      • July 23, 2015 at 1:00 am
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        I think the point they’re making is that if a film was made today where a child is playing an old Atari game, they’re not going to give it ps4 graphics because the quality is better. It’s been established that the game looks like that so if it doesn’t have that jittery look movement to it, it will seem far off from what we know it to be. It’s a piece of junk game in a piece of junk ship. Why would it look any better than how it did in ANH.

        • July 25, 2015 at 11:36 am
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          You couldn’t be more right. If it’s established to look like that in a new hope, why would it look smooth and flawless like cgi would make it look. Sure they could make it look jumpy and similar no doubt, but then people would whine, it’s just not quite similar enough so it doesn’t make sense canon-wise. So why not use stop-frame picture animation? The games been on the same amazing rust bucket of a badass ship for 30 years. Doubt anyone thought to upgrade a chess game on that ship when they’re fighting god knows what they’ve been fighting for 30 years.

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:01 pm
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    this movie can’t come soon enough!!

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:03 pm
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    Very cool!

    There is a new claymation movie coming out in 2 weeks… shaun the sheep, by the same guys who did wallace & grommit. There’s been other claymations here & there but no one does it like those guys!

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:05 pm
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    careful with the spoilers guys… looks like you meant to comment on the other article. I don’t wanna know anything! haha

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:11 pm
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    That’s a pretty cool throwback!

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:11 pm
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    I thought this would explain C-3PO’s red arm…

    • July 22, 2015 at 6:49 pm
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      Incorrect! C-3PO warns, “Let the Wookie win!” Still, hologram animation is only good for a small scene. I am more interested in major scene practical effects.

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:15 pm
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    maybe Rey beats Chewie at chess, and he doesn’t mind. obviously Han would have won some games over the years and survived with both arms intact.

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:23 pm
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    Stop motion is such an antiquated filmmaking method (and it feels primitive too). Mostly nobody involved in the making of big-budget films utilizes this technique anymore (and if they do, it’s seldom); it looks so fake, even worse that CGI. Hopefully now, in this day and age (2015), if someone opted to use that method, they clean it up and edit it during post-production so that it doesn’t look so fake in the final product (that’s the only way in which stop motion is rectified nowadays).

    • July 22, 2015 at 6:34 pm
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      Yeah because we we all know that it was established in 1977 that the visual effects for the chess game were used with CG anyway, right? So for continuity they would need to use CG again, right? And if they were to use stop-motion, there have been no advancments whatsoever in 35 years to make it look polished and great, right? I mean even though a few years later, when they did the stop motion for the at-at’s, with updates techniques, and those effects hold up today, and that was only a couple of years of development, there’s no way during the rest of that 35 year period Phil Tippet has perfected the craft of stop motion, right? I mean there are only entire films made with stop-motion that look great, like wallace and grommit, but so what, right? and even so, in a galaxy far far away, on an old battered ship with an old chess game, which in our terms, is the equivalent of an n64, the visual effects of those video games, like the n64 for example, would be completely fluid and realistic, right? (if you need help; no is the answer to those questions)

      • July 22, 2015 at 6:36 pm
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        Well, someone is reaching 😉

      • July 22, 2015 at 7:05 pm
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        1. The stop motion used in ESB still makes things look fake. Even in the SE and Blu-ray versions, it still looks fake (not that it makes me dislike this movie at all but nevertheless, I’d be lying if I stated that it was executed flawlessly without any way of telling that it was unreal). So no, I don’t agree that the stop motion effects in ESB still hold up today, for the reasons that I stated (unfortunately, it’s the contrary of “holding up” as it is more like “dated” but hey, filmmaking techniques for movies such as Star Wars done back in those days were great for their times).

        2. Wallace and Grommit is meant to be an animation, and a stop-motion animation at that. You can’t view it the same way a live-action product is made from a production standpoint. It’s comparing apples to oranges.

        • July 22, 2015 at 7:17 pm
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          Interestingly enough i always found the stop-motion effects better for Empire than i did for Jedi. And with Jedi there was a new technique that added motion blur to the process. Yet even with that new process and all other advances made after Jedi the AT-ATs from Empire still look more believable then most effects seen nowadays.

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:04 am
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            news flash! news flash! We are CERTAIN Star Wars VII will use practical effects!!!!!

        • July 22, 2015 at 8:54 pm
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          ESB EFFECTS LOOK FAKE?!? 1) Clearly you haven’t seen star trek. 2) what on earth does it make you see them fake-looking
          Note: i’m not the average PT hater at all, I just find it impossible to see such comments on a star wars fan site.

          • July 22, 2015 at 10:10 pm
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            Relax man! Look, I love ESB, it’s one of my favorites, but I can tell how the effects played out in those scenes with AT-AT’s (the effects are noticeable). I think they did a good job with those scense for what they had back then but I can tell where the stop motion and miniatures were used and yeah, it does kind of give off this fake vibe (at least to me). But that’s ok, I can suspense my sense of disbelief regardless, just like I can in the outdoor scenes of Cloud City (matte), and in ROTJ’s case: the scene of Han saying goodbye to Lando in the Rebel ship with the Falcon in the background (matte), the chase sequence in Endor in those speed bikes (older bluesceen technology) and in the forest battle scenes on Endor (stop motion). It’s all fantasy! [this is just my perspective of things; it may not be a popular opinion but I’m being realistic in my thoughts about it]

            P.S. You got me there on the Star Trek comment. Yes, I’ve never seen them as I’ve never been a fan of that franchise; for some reason, I just can’t seem to get into Star Trek but this goes for many other Sci-Fi franchises as I’ve mostly been into action/adventure movies (Star Wars has been mostly the only exception for me).

          • July 22, 2015 at 10:35 pm
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            Not to bring up Star Trek in a Star Wars site but as a fan of both (Star Wars being my true love) what do you mean the effects on Star Trek look fake? The Original Series made 10 years before Star Wars or the films? If you are talking about the show that is one thing, but the movies on the other hand had visual effects created by the same people who created the effect for Star Wars to begin with. Even if you ere talking about the show give some credit for making effects as good as they were for the money the had to do them with.

            No disrespect to you. I’m not trying to start a fight or flame war, but out of all of the other effects heavy shows and movies out there why call out Star Trek? Unless its Star Trek Into Darkness then all bets are off.

      • July 23, 2015 at 1:01 am
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        quit using the word “Right,” that’s all I”m going to say regarding your stupid comment.

    • July 22, 2015 at 10:12 pm
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      This is an amazingly dumb thing to say. It’s a game. If they play the same game in vii as they did in iv obviously it should look the same. If I dig up my old Nintendo and start playing it. It’s not gonna look more “real” now than it did before just because technology has improved. It will look as it always has. If the game looked like stop motion 30 years ago it’s still gonna look like stop motion now.

    • July 23, 2015 at 8:38 am
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      Did you see BoxTrolls? Fantastic stop motion. And if stop motion looks so primitive, why did the Wizards who made the Lego Movie make all the motion look like stop motion? It’s a brilliant art form that’s making a big come back (check out all the ads being done in stop motion). It’s the oldest animation form and it’s still going strong.

      • July 23, 2015 at 8:18 pm
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        Stop motion works well in animated features that are meant to be done in that way throughout the product (whether TV show/movie/etc). When it comes to live-action, with the way movies are made today, it seems a little out-of-place by today’s filmmaking standards. It’s not even about the practical vs. CGI debate, it’s about looking visually appealing in the context of the entire movie (a movie that has a mix of both practical and CGI).

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:27 pm
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    I could see a cool scene where Chewie and C3PO are trying to mentor the new guys on how to play, threepio on one side and Chewie on the other, Finn and Rey caught in the middle.

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:48 pm
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    I remember hearing this rumor a long time ago and hoping it was true while being doubtful it’d really happen. Nice to hear that it apparently is true! Would’ve been fantastic if Tippet had been involved in any other capacity.

  • July 22, 2015 at 6:50 pm
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    Jeff Spicoli said:
    “This movie is going to be totally awesome because Chewbacca is playing Dejarik on a real set, with a human being instead of a shiny protocol dude.”

    ***

    Won’t matter much at all, this chess board scene, if the story is lame. Not that it would REALLY matter in the grand scheme, anyways. Still…

  • July 22, 2015 at 7:10 pm
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    I want to see it that way again, but I’m also not going to pretend that it wouldn’t look better as a CGI effect with today’s technology. But for nostalgia’s sake, nothing will beat the stop motion animation.

    • July 22, 2015 at 8:42 pm
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      Why should it look better, really? That would be kind of inconsistent. I think it’s gonna be really cool, I would buy a ticket just to see that one scene.

      • July 22, 2015 at 9:39 pm
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        Why should it look better? Because it isn’t 1977, it is 2015. I am all for embracing what came before, but I’m not under any illusions that it is anything more than for nostalgia’s sake. I want more practical effects in Star Wars, but I can honestly say I don’t want more practical effects in most modern films including any big summer blockbuster. If that makes sense.

        • July 23, 2015 at 1:06 am
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          Have you seen Mad Max: Fury Road? Pretty much all practical effects. Looks beautiful. Nothing that could have been done better by using CGI. Visually speaking that is the best summer blockbuster I’ve seen in a few years.

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:08 am
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            ….. and Mad Max can’t turn a profit yet despite alll its holy god-given practical effects.

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:17 am
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            What does profit have to do with anything?

          • July 23, 2015 at 1:28 am
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            The discussion was on the look of practical effects not finances. But Fury Road made more than double its budget. That would by definition be making a profit. So yeah, there was no loss. What was your point again?

          • July 23, 2015 at 6:44 pm
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            Mad Max was fucking awesome. better than the originals. The sequel will be even better

          • July 23, 2015 at 2:00 am
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            Don’t you mean Mad Maxine.

        • July 23, 2015 at 4:07 am
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          I see your point, but I think that they are going to couple practical effects with CGI, and that will look great. Besides, every modern sc-fi film uses CGI for holograms, and it’s getting old. A combination will be exciting and different and nostalgic at the same time, and that seems to be what everyone is wanting from this movie. I am sure if it turns out funky, J.J will scrap the scene.

  • July 22, 2015 at 7:19 pm
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    I like the idea of Chewie and Finn playing, Finn winning and this time C3P0 is sitting between them.. Chewie yells at Finn and pulls off 3P0’s arm! That would be great!

    • July 22, 2015 at 7:35 pm
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      Finn wins. Chewie yells at Finn, yanks 3P0’s arm off and swats at Finn with it.

    • July 23, 2015 at 2:19 am
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      It’s a wonder any one has got any arms legs or hands left in Star Wars….uurghhhh!

  • July 22, 2015 at 7:21 pm
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    Maybe they use the chess pieces for something new. perhaps they move them around to explain an attack they are about to execute or something similiar. it could be a really funny scene.

  • July 22, 2015 at 7:26 pm
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    we have never seen a game of sabacc in the movies. only on rebels. we should see it

    • July 22, 2015 at 7:37 pm
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      Maybe with Lando in VIII, over some drinks.

      • July 23, 2015 at 1:11 am
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        the entire news regarding star wars since the cast was announced last year has been:

        PRACTICAL EFFECTS! PRACTICAL EFFECTS! PRACTICAL EFFECTS! PRACTICAL EFFECTS! Oh yes, Gwendoline Christie is in it too, PRACTICAL EFFECTS! PRACTICAL EFFECTS! oh yeah, han solo got hurt during filming, PRACTICAL EFFECTS! PRACTICAL EFFECTS! PRACTICAL EFFECTS!

  • July 22, 2015 at 8:19 pm
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    Let the Wookiee win.

  • July 22, 2015 at 8:27 pm
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  • July 22, 2015 at 8:34 pm
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    And that’s how Finn loses his arm.

  • July 22, 2015 at 8:46 pm
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    Cool! Coraline comes to mind as well. I actually forgot about this movie… I bought it as part of a 3D 2-pack deal with Coraline & never got around to watching it… I’m waiting till halloween time 🙂

    Coraline looks to have been done the same way or claymation perhaps… these films look pretty good to me.

  • July 22, 2015 at 8:57 pm
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    Sincerely, I’ve read the first sentence of the interview and rolled my eyes. Okay, we’ve got it: practical effects.
    But please don’t just put that. Nowadays CG is photorealistic, not as in PT-era.

  • July 22, 2015 at 9:17 pm
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    There’s no way anyone can convince me that the holo chess game can’t be made with CG and not look *exactly* the same as it would with stop-motion. No way. So then, what’s the point of using stop-motion? I mean, other than just for the sake of advertising to the weak-minded? (“Practical effects!”)

    • July 22, 2015 at 9:51 pm
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      It is CGI. Then its 3D printed into actual models frame by frame. Then recaptured with a camera. Its a great effect that utilizes both techniques.

      • July 22, 2015 at 10:17 pm
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        That’s actually interesting, thanks. But it’s missing the point. It’s CG *in-universe*. It’s holo-chess. We reasonably assume that these figures are being animated by a holo-chess computer. So again it’s CG in-universe. Why should there be practical effects involved *at all*? Yes, I realize the point is to give it exactly the same aesthetic as the scene in ANH. But I don’t believe that that can’t be achieved with simple CG animation nowadays.

        • July 23, 2015 at 1:12 am
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          You’re right. It could be done to look exactly the same in CG. But it wouldn’t be “simple” as you describe it. It would be just as time consuming, just as costly and would take just as much skill. They chose to do it this way because it’s fun! There are any paint brushes on the table and this one brought the film makers the most joy to use. It’s no more complicated than that.

        • July 23, 2015 at 2:19 am
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          Because Holo-Chess isn’t computer simulated in the Star Wars universe. A player actually controls giant creatures that are somewhere else in the galaxy then they are holographically projected onto the game table. 🙂

  • July 22, 2015 at 9:18 pm
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    Ah yes, Phil Tippett… the legendary director of Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation.”

  • July 22, 2015 at 9:54 pm
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    I just ruined a small person’s childhood…

    He ran up to me to tell all the spoilers he knew about JJ’s version of Star Wars and he failed to mention a certain smuggler’s demise. I told him he was missing something bad, but I didn’t want to ruin anything for him. Little dude followed me around the gym for an hour bugging me…. so I offered one last warning before relenting.

    I thought he might cry when I told him: “Han Solo will be dead, young man…. Accept it.” The kid tucked his ziplock bag of SW-action figures under his arm and just shuffled his way out the door with his mom. It was great.

  • July 22, 2015 at 9:55 pm
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    The both got me really excited about this article is where Viral Hide says “we will find out in 5 months”. As Yoda would say, “much excited about this filing I am”. Lol

  • July 22, 2015 at 10:26 pm
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    And everybody will buy the Blu-ray regardless…

  • July 22, 2015 at 11:11 pm
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    I understand what you’re saying and hopefully they won’t try to push that type of cultural marxist agenda down out throats.

    Atleast wait for the movie to come out before you condemn it.

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:12 am
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    Star Wars 7: The Diversity Awakens

    December 2015 diversity is coming to neighborhood near you

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:50 am
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    Seriously, this is annoying.
    Practical effects!!! Practical effects! Practical effectss.

    We get it, this movie has practical effects!!!!
    We want something new, not rehash or remake.

    • July 23, 2015 at 1:18 am
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      So practical effects are a rehash/ remake? So what does that make the mainstream use of CGI? That wouldn’t be a rehash/ remake of the prequels would it? No I didn’t think so.

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:19 am
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    Remember not to feed the trolls

    • July 23, 2015 at 1:22 am
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      what if the trolls are Disney, who gives us nothing but crap about practial effects?

      • July 23, 2015 at 2:27 am
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        They don’t have Trolls at Disney, only Dwarfs.

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:50 am
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    You know what I find funny? when the prequels came out everyone was all talking crap about CGI and how the original trilogy was way better. Now it seems like these said people are getting what they want and still complain about how they’re tired about hearing the same old story of practical effects. this leaves me to believe that at the end of the day, these said people will never be happy and will complain no matter what. who cares about their opinion anyway — lets see them make a better star wars movie. All the fan made movies out there — they suck.

  • July 23, 2015 at 2:29 am
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    You haven’t seen mine…Star Wars The Lens Flare.

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:02 am
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    Some people are complaining about old stuff, some about new stuff. For those indifferent it sounds like it may be the perfect brew.

    You guys keep arguing about nothing and let the process play out. No matter what the tech (and let’s not kid ourselves some of this practical stuff is new tech) the important thing is that it serve the narrative. And that seems to be what is driving them.

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:29 am
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    I’m personally not annoyed by practical effects. I’m miffed by people who mouth-off practical effects as if it’s the savior of our beloved Star Wars (like it needed any saving). The “practical effects evangelizers” who use it to probably justify their hatred of the PT. By people who act like none of the prequel films had any practical effects in them, like ALL creatures/characters, sets, props were CGs.

    I’m sure some members of these crowd are the same people that complained about seeing the black matte lines, some of the silly-looking masked Cantina aliens, from the OT films.

    TFA will use film. Yey! TFA will use practical effects. Yey! TFA will use excessive amount of CG as well and don’t you forget about that.

    And when I sit down in a theater in December (repeatedly, most likely), I’ll look forward to having a wonderful STAR WARS EXPERIENCE as I always have watching any of the first six movies.

    I will not be like you, “practical effects evangelizers” who aims to impress their friends and families, you who enjoys in the silly sport of spotting the practical effects from the CG and wetting themselves for being THE Star Wars expert that you fashion yourselves to be.

    So pseudo-Star Wars experts… sit down, enjoy the movie, and STFU!

    • July 23, 2015 at 8:04 pm
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      CG can be done in such a way so that you would swear you were looking at a practical effect, the same can not be true the other way round.

      • July 24, 2015 at 1:24 am
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        The big bitch with me and most fans was the OVER USE of CGI in the prequels…Yes, it has its place; explosions, lightsabers, etc., but when entire sets and all the Clone Troopers were CGI it made a big difference. And, yes, it was very obvious in the case of the troopers’ cartoonish physical movements, that they were all CGI. Would all the practical effects haters on here have a problem if Episode VII was entirely CGI? ..Because, Hey! CGI is so real now why not create the entire movie on a hard drive! …Now go lock yourselves alone in your dark bedrooms, dream about someday having girlfriends, and lose yourselves in one of those circa-1998-CGI-quality episodes of that preschool show known as Rebels.

        • July 24, 2015 at 1:33 am
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          CGI is much better now.

          But hey! those Ewoks looked so real.

    • July 23, 2015 at 9:04 pm
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      Well said! Totally agree with you!

    • July 23, 2015 at 9:04 pm
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      Well said! Totally agree with you!

    • July 23, 2015 at 9:05 pm
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      Well said! Totally agree with you!

    • July 23, 2015 at 9:06 pm
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      Well said Anonymous July 23, 2015 at 03:29 AM! I totally agree with you!

      • July 24, 2015 at 12:11 am
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        Star Wars 7 bore news.

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:50 am
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    I think this gives us a clue that the OT references will be nice and subtle.

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:57 am
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    JJ actually believes he directed Star Wars

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:59 am
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    Talk about come on the seen and take over,you would think George Lucas never existed.

  • July 23, 2015 at 7:20 am
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    Children need to be awakened to real affects and shown how true to life things can look.To much CGI and games can rot your brain..Neverending story was real,Harry potter is not,get over it!!:) The force will awaken.!!!

    • July 23, 2015 at 7:30 am
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      HARRY POT HEAD AND THE GIANT SPLIFF, NOW THATS REAL.

      By the way! what happened in the never ending story? I’am still watching it, can never quite see what the point is.

  • July 23, 2015 at 8:42 am
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    Actually, I’m far more annoyed by the people complaining about the coverage of practical effects, than i am about hearing that they will be using practical effects. I’m kinda interested in some of the specific things they will do with the practical effects practical effects practical effects. I was around in the early years and when they had behind the scenes specials on TV about the practical effects they were just called special effects. I don’t care what they call it now, I’m just as interested to know what they’re doing. So if you don’t wanna hear about practical effects practical effects practical effects, go do something else for awhile and come back when they start talking about other aspects of the filmmaking process. It’s just one if the only things they are willing to relate to us so as not to spoil the storyline. They did the same thing back in the early years if the OT. After the movie is released they will talk to the actors more, just be patient, and yes practical effects practical effects practical effects are and always have been a big part of Star Wars as movies.

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm
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    Spoiler ….C3PO has his arm ripped off by chewie In TFA { hence the red arm} Never howl at a wookie when they lose they tend to pull droids arms out of sockets.

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:19 pm
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    Spoiler alert ….C3PO has his arm ripped off by chewie In TFA chess game { hence the red arm} “Let him have it” says Han ” and we all know what happens next..The end..

    • July 23, 2015 at 10:20 pm
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      Maybe I will just wait until after December and get the movie if it’s going to have silly scenes like that in it.

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:22 pm
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    I remember seeing Phill Tippett featured on the documentary “From Star Wars to Jedi The Making of a Saga”. I think I watched that tape more than the actual trilogy back in the 80s, as it was my first experience seeing how effects were made. Later I loved learning about how he animated ED-209 and how Spielberg had him working on Jurassic Park teaching the CG animators about animal movement. He played a big part in some of the most memorable special effects of my childhood, and I’m so glad to see he is involved in some way with the Force Awakens!

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:37 pm
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    CGI isn’t bad, BAD CGI is bad. Is there anyone out there who dosent want the new Star Wars to look as good as Gravity or Avatar? Almost NOTHING was real on those sets. When used right practical effects can be mind-blowing like in lord of the rings…but I puppetry can’t match what you can do digitally. Let’s have a healthy mix of both.

  • July 23, 2015 at 5:59 pm
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    So many of you are missing the boat over the effects thing. Special effects are the beginning of imagination, not the end. Use your OWN imagination to visualize and wonder about starships and creatures and exotic landscapes.

    Heres something so many are forgetting…

    SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF – a willingness to suspend one’s critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; sacrifice of realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment.

    Ill be watching starwars with a child’s wondrous eye, and the effects im sure will be darned well good enough for ME TO IMAGINE whats being represented onscreen.

    a little bit of suspension of disbelief and a little bit of wonder go a loooong way in your enjoyment of these kinds of stories/movies. They DO NOT have to be perfect, they are to inspire YOU to dream, imagine, and wonder. The prevailing attitudes i see all over internet forums just kill the magic before it even begins to unfold.

    People in the 30’s were frigging blown away by original king kong. does it look real by any standards? no.. but its wonderful in spirit and inspired people to IMAGINE that giant frigging critter stomping around. Their imaginations did the rest of the work that the effects initially sparked.

    • July 23, 2015 at 9:03 pm
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      Well said! Totally agree with you!

  • July 23, 2015 at 6:59 pm
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    they still make you people? good gravy the universe just needs to annihilate internet message boards and forums already. every website, everywhere, its like frigging reality tv, just brings out the worst in people and the most idiotic, nitpicky comments imaginable.

    sounds like most of you are gonna sit there and just rip it apart in your heads with every scene rather than be swept away.

    • July 23, 2015 at 9:29 pm
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      Swept away….so sure are you ?
      Pass comment on how good the movie is going to be after you have watched it.

  • July 23, 2015 at 7:10 pm
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    “practical effects evangelizers”
    lol, are you kidding me with terms like this??
    get off your computers. live. enjoy the movies. chill.
    the practical effects evangelizers, lmao… sigh…
    i used to be proud to be a star wars fan. thank the gods my friends all just enjoy it. sure, we debate things and all, but the level of scrutiny and the depths to which people are attacking each other on the internet is insanity.
    “OT apologists” theres another good one.. apologists?
    thanks, ill just enjoy the movies.

    • July 24, 2015 at 11:04 am
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      A Star Wars fan who stopped being proud of being one…

      So says you who join in the attacks?
      You’re the worst of the lot.

      Get off your high horse, but be careful though. might kick you when you get down.

  • July 23, 2015 at 11:07 pm
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    Just going to say it, The OT are far better all round films in every aspect not just practical FX, better script, better acting, great characters and greater sense of adventure overall.
    the PT are watchable at best, but just for the story, the acting was very poor.

  • July 23, 2015 at 11:13 pm
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    suppose it’s subjective, the more you know about FX and film making and what your interests are, if you just want to watch it for entertainment thats cool or from another point of view, both the same, cool too

  • July 26, 2015 at 8:29 am
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    It’s human nature to want to rile against something, either way no matter what happens or what is said (even me) or done, someone will COMPLAIN! Let’s just wait and see if the movie is any good and reserve our judgements.

  • September 12, 2015 at 1:45 am
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    Since we now know C-3P0 has a red arm in TFA, I wonder if the scene involves a game where Threepio doesn’t heed his own advice – “let the wookiee win” – and Chewie tears his arm off?

    Personally, I think that would make a great scene. Threepio certainly has it coming at times.

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