UPDATE: J.J. Abrams to Write/Direct Star Wars: Episode IX. Release Date Rescheduled to December 20, 2019

The man who brought Star Wars back to life with 2015’s The Force Awakens is back! StarWars.com has just confirmed that J.J. Abrams will be coming back to finish what he started, by writing and directing Episode IX!

 

 

In an official press release tweeted out from StarWars.com, Lucasfilm has confirmed that Abrams will be back to write and direct the final film in the sequel trilogy. Co-writing with Abrams will be Chris Terrio (Argo, Batman v. Superman, Justice League).

 

 

Here is the official statement from StarWars.com:

 

J.J. Abrams, who launched a new era of Star Wars with The Force Awakens in 2015, is returning to complete the sequel trilogy as writer and director of Star Wars: Episode IX. Abrams will co-write the film with Chris Terrio. Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Abrams, Bad Robot, and Lucasfilm.

 

A quote from Kathleen Kennedy on the decision:

 

“With The Force Awakens, J.J. delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for, and I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.

 

According to Deadline, Rian Johnson turned down the offer to return for Episode IX, but that has not been confirmed by Johnson nor Lucasfilm.

 

 

J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan created a smash hit with critics and fans alike for his franchise reviving installment to kick off the new trilogy with The Force Awakens. Abrams is a proven commodity that brought Star Wars back to relevance, and also brought it back to its roots in many senses of the word.

 

 

UPDATE:

 

Star Wars Episode IX is slated to begin production early next year. The release date has been moved to December 20, 2019, which falls in line with the new tradition started with The Force Awakens.

 

 

“For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.”

 

You can find me on Twitter @JohnnyHoey and we’ll be covering this on The Resistance Broadcast this week @RBatSWNN!

 

 

+ posts

John Hoey is the Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net and the host of The Resistance Broadcast podcast

"For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."

John Hoey

John Hoey is the Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net and the host of The Resistance Broadcast podcast"For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."

788 thoughts on “UPDATE: J.J. Abrams to Write/Direct Star Wars: Episode IX. Release Date Rescheduled to December 20, 2019

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:44 pm
    Permalink

    Return of the JJ

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:45 pm
    Permalink

    Just make sure the middle of the movie works. (Loved all the Rey/Finn desert scenes. Hated the murky Han Solo – Maz Kanata scenes.)

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:46 pm
    Permalink

    Certainly a safe choice. At least we will have a consistent vision throughout the trilogy since JJ consulted on TLJ.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:14 pm
      Permalink

      JJ had zero to do with TLJ’s vision.

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:57 pm
        Permalink

        Huh?

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:46 pm
    Permalink

    I just came here to eat popcorn.

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:48 pm
    Permalink

    very happy with this. As a 44 year old star wars fan who has lived and breathed it since 1977, he made a star wars film that captured the essence of all the things that made the original trilogy a great, fun, family film. yes, it was a bit of a rip off, but so was Jedi but we still loved that when it came out in ’83. can’t wait.

    • September 12, 2017 at 5:51 pm
      Permalink

      I’m 43 and completely agree. JJ had a challenging task with TFA. He had multiple crowds to appease. The prequel crowd, the Clone Wars crowd, the OT crowd and a new audience. He had to play it safe to re-establish the universe. I’m excited he is returning.

      • September 12, 2017 at 5:55 pm
        Permalink

        I strongly disagree with playing it safe. Mad Max Fury Road is an example of an established franchise that came back and that movie didn’t play it safe.

        It honored what came before it, while charting new territory. So really, I find the play it safe, a fallacious statement. Like the movie all you want, but really; given how SWs history had always been about taking risks, I see the notion as spitting in the face of everything that the franchise stood for.

        As for Abrams, much as I do not like him; I cannot fault LF for doing this. He did help them succeed after all. I just hope that the screenwriter is competent. Because, Ardnt and Kasdan in my view certainty were not.

        • September 12, 2017 at 5:57 pm
          Permalink

          Really, have you watched Mad Max 2?

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:02 pm
            Permalink

            Yes, I have and it is one of my favorite films of all time, actually. Fury Road took what was great about the trilogy and both honored it and tried to do some new things. Namely, with Furiosa and everything else. And the proof is in the pudding as Fury Road scored ten Academy Awards, the same number as SWs ANH did. A superficial aspect, but a funny tidbit worth mentioning.

            MM Fury Road reminded me why I loved the original trilogy of MM. TFA, didn’t do that for me. If anything, RO did that for me. So overall, I find those who say it needed to play it safe, committing a special pleading fallacy. That we need to give an exception to the rule, because it is SWs. Excusing the annoying naysayers and hyper fans, why should anyone give this movie a pass?

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:44 pm
            Permalink

            It won six Oscars. Mostly for editing and makeup. It was nominated for ten.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:49 pm
            Permalink

            That’s what I meant; it was nominated for ten awards. ANH had the same number of nominations. Sorry about the flub.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:40 pm
          Permalink

          And yet TFA is the highest grossing US movie of all time. He obviously did something right as people embraced the movie. That kind of box office equates good word of mouth and repeat viewings and it equates reaching all of the audiences I mentioned. If it was spitting in the face of the saga, the viewings would have dropped rapidly. They didn’t.

          And what risks did the prequels take? What risks did Jedi take? Jedi played it safe. All the heroes survived. The most daring LFL has been since 1999 is the Clone Wars and then Rogue One. Prior to that it was Empire.

          Mad Max had two audiences to appease. Mad Max fans and new fans. They could afford to take risks at minimal cost. And I’m sorry, Beyond Thunderdome totally played it safe. The franchise went from a violent R rating to a watered down PG-13 to widen the audience. That is the goal of franchises, to widen the audience.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:25 pm
            Permalink

            “And yet TFA is the highest grossing US movie of all time. He obviously did something right as people embraced the movie. That kind of box office equates good word of mouth and repeat viewings and it equates reaching all of the audiences I mentioned. If it was spitting in the face of the saga, the viewings would have dropped rapidly. They didn’t.”

            But you ignore one big factor: nostalgia. Nostalgia sells. That is a fact. And given how we haven’t had a film at that point for ten years, is huge. And really, I argue a lot of that good word of mouth came from people hyped to see a movie which nostalgia in their minds. Now, if those individuals have gone back and genuinely enjoyed the movie, fine.

            But really it is hard to deny that TFA played it safe and got a pass in spite of copying ANH because of that. Which is wrong and in my view, special pleading.

            As for spitting in the face of the franchise, I meant story wise. ROTJ was the end of the OT and very much wrapped up all important story elements. By all accounts, it is a bookending. So for TFA to come around and basically say it was all for naught is a slap in the face.

            Now, if the movie had taken some time to give us some context about the galaxy, much like ANH did, I doubt I’d feel this way. Because, people can say history repeats itself, but history does not repeat itself without a good reason. So really, unless you have something other than an appeal to popularity, call me unconvinced.

            “And what risks did the prequels take? What risks did Jedi take? Jedi played it safe. All the heroes survived. The most daring LFL has been since 1999 is the Clone Wars and then Rogue One. Prior to it was Empire.”

            The PT took plenty of risks. Anakin Skywalker’s character, the choice to portray the Jedi as dogmatic, cultist like fools; more political intrigue, a different design aesthetic. I do not particularly care for the PT, but I can at the very least respect GL’s willingness to be different. ROTJ, I will give you some credit, as yes by all accounts, it goes back to the same template as ANH in terms of tone. Particularly, with the second Death Star over Endor.

            Though, it is justified with how ego-driven Palpatine is. But ROTJ at the very least, concluded the storyline, namely for Luke Skywalker. And given how he has always been the central character, that movie in of itself accomplished its core task of ending his story arc.

            Could it have been better? Yes, most definitely. But for what it is worth, it still remains my favorite in the trilogy.

            “Mad Max had two audiences to appease. Mad Max fans and new fans. They could afford to take risks at minimal cost. And I’m sorry, Beyond Thunderdome totally played it safe. The franchise went from a violent R rating to a watered down PG-13 to widen the audience. That is the goal of franchises, to widen the audience.”

            So did TFA? Look at the interviews, especially the more recent ones. And really, I can point to the success of Mad Max Fury Road as it got a ton of new people who didn’t even care about the franchise at that point back into the franchise. This is anecdotal, but my cousin who had never seen any of the MM films saw Fury Road and loved it. And heck, he rewatched the old films. I have not seen anyone else do that, outside of SWs fans who introduced their children to TFA.

            And while yes, children are a big demographic of SWs, most children will gobble up anything, depending on the age. Teenagers, you could argue tend to be pickier.

            And your point about widening an audience. So? Just because a franchise could widen their audience doesn’t mean it should, especially if it means reduced quality. Look, at the Terminator films? Those are clearly R-rated and take advantage of that aspect to tell a story. Yet, the subsequent movies clearly were made to widen the audience/ coast off the brand. That doesn’t make it a good strategy. As for Thunderdome, I do agree it was dumb to make the movie PG-13 as opposed to R. But I argue it is underrated and to me is a solid movie.

            But overall, my point still stands. TFA is a serviceable movie, but as a sequel to ROTJ; it does not live up to expectations and continues the story very well. MM, is a franchise that arguably had less risk, yet the fact it chose to do so should be admired. Fury Road embodied what SWs should have done: been bold yet honoring what came before it.

            SWs needs to look forward, not back. MM clearly kept rolling forward, without looking back. 🙂

          • September 12, 2017 at 11:31 pm
            Permalink

            I somewhat agree with you in that they need to spread their wings. But if this post was fuelled by your opinion of TFA, I’d wait for TLJ to be released.

            I strongly believe, and while it is unfortunate, that Kathleen and co wanted to bring back Star Wars. And all that it implies. They’ll save the surprises for the following movies when they know they’ve got a fresh audience.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:58 am
            Permalink

            Did I ever make the implication it wasn’t? Though, my logic of pointing out an appeal to popularity was on point. Things can be popular because of quality, but it more often isn’t the other way around.

            I do think that KK and LF do care about the franchise. But really, this play it safe strategy I argue is really bad. I mean even if we ignore the PT, the fact that they did not do simple things, like world building, something the OT actually did. And really logically, it was a bad decision. 30 years have passed since ROTJ. That is a ridiculously long time. Some context would have helped. ANH had that great round table sequence with Tarkin and Vader.

            Why couldn’t we have had that? I get that the NC has fleshed out this period with Bloodline, Poe Dameron, and the recent Phasma comic/ book, but why couldn’t have touched upon this during the movies. Heck, there is a good excuse to explain this, given we have new characters. Because, really if LF’s attempt was to remove Legends for the sake of ease and make everything connected, you’d think they would have been more cognizant of movie fans who just want to check out the movies.

            But oh well; I cannot gripe too much. RJ seems like he gets this and TLJ I have a hunch will have a lot of political aspects if Canto Blight and Holdo are any indicators. I just pray that this MB is worth it.

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:21 am
            Permalink

            There is money to be made. So why chuck every bit of information and storytelling in one medium?

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:28 am
            Permalink

            Yeah, because that is fair to those who are only movie fans? I get LF wants to make money and I do enjoy the NC. But really, why must information like basic world building be relegated to the exterior material? The one thing that has me hopeful was what LF did with RO. The world building that movie had and being able to do smart tie ins to Rebels via Chopper, Syndula and a ship like the Ghost appearing was fantastic.

            But really, my point is why is LF taking this route? If they truly wanted to be like the MCU, why have people depend on the exterior material? It would be like me saying you need to read an Iron Man comic to see the movie. We know that is not the case, that one can enjoy the movie without supplementary material and heck, for those CB fans there are great easter eggs that do not distract.

            Overall, I have my fingers crossed for TLJ and am hopeful for the franchise. I just never want to see another TFA ever again. It is high time this franchise moves on. Hence, why I am excited about the Obi-wan movie. An established character, but one whose story I argue has a lot more to tell.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:21 am
            Permalink

            I think a lot of your sentiments, and you seem to know this as well, can be met with the release of TLJ. It’s too early to start casting solid opinions on this trilogy as a whole. TFA was very character focused and rightfully so. Save all the goodies for the remaining two films. It’s pointless in arguing about TFA being a rehash when it was responsible for bringing Star Wars back. Why do that with financially untested themes/ideas? Because it was a financial risk given the PT trilogy’s reception.

            All will be fine. TLJ looks to be introducing a lot of new characters, and with that comes new locations.

          • September 13, 2017 at 4:00 am
            Permalink

            Oh, I am confident that TLJ will be fine. Because excusing logic, I know that Rian Johnson is a much better director and that LF wouldn’t have hired him, if they wouldn’t allow him to do some cool stuff/ extrapolate on the world.

            Because, having met him years ago, if he was anything like that guy I met; I know he wouldn’t settle for anything like what TFA did. He would want to make his own mark on SWs and allow those to judge it. But to be fair, I was more excited for episode eight than seven, because I really do not like Abrams.

            Yes, SWs was brought back. But really, I found its nostalgia vapid. MM Fury road made me fall in love with MM while also being a great film. TFA, I just didn’t feel the magic. It isn’t awful, but I’d hesitate to call it good.Rogue One to me is what I was looking for.

            As for Abrams coming back, fine. I know he won’t pull another TFA because he cannot hide under nostalgia; hence, why I am cautiously optimistic. I’d take him over Trevorrow any day, especially given what we have learned about him and how egotistical he can get.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:46 pm
          Permalink

          I have to say, i found that Mad Max movie to be so overrated. Give me the Mel Gibson originals any day of the week.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:10 pm
            Permalink

            That is a fair criticism. And really, I do argue it was a bit over-hyped. But I generally enjoyed that movie a lot. And to me, what TFA should have done for me. Heck, Creed did that more for me than TFA. And I am not the biggest Rocky fan. 🙂 I argue had a fourth movie been made sooner, Mel probably would have reprised his role.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:19 pm
            Permalink

            What was your biggest issues with TFA?

            I loved Creed as well, as all the Rocky movies (except 4 and 5).

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:47 pm
            Permalink

            I will boil TFA down to five points.

            5) ANH without getting ANH, 4) World building, 3) The map, 2) Dialogue and 1) Paper thin characters, minus Kylo.

            I can elaborate if you want on each of them, but really TFA isn’t a horrible movie. I find it as a SWs movie really bland, especially as a Sequel to ROTJ.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:22 pm
            Permalink

            It’s by no means a perfect movie, my biggest issue was the whole Star Killer base concept, but I believe the characters were one of its strongest qualities. It was a safe movie, but I really enjoyed it.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:37 pm
            Permalink

            Starkiller made no sense and really interrupted any decent stuff the movie had. The characters I felt were paper thin, aside from Kylo Ren. He’s the only good character who was developed. Really, SWs playing it safe is something I strongly disagree with.

            Mad Max didn’t play it safe during Fury Road. So why should SWs get a pass? but if you enjoyed it, cool. Nothing wrong with that. For me, it was a letdown as a sequel to ROTJ. And really, RO to me is the best disney era SWs film. Flawed, but to me had enough heart and great characters, while also honoring ANH quiet a bit.

      • September 12, 2017 at 5:58 pm
        Permalink

        I’m 43 and I would rather pull my own teeth than this.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:01 pm
          Permalink

          Awe…want to pull your teeth out.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:03 pm
            Permalink

            It’s just not fair * Luke voice

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:29 pm
          Permalink

          You have teeth left? You lucky bugger!

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:09 pm
            Permalink

            I’m British, I’m not sure you can really call them teeth.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:08 pm
      Permalink

      Do you remember when it came out? If you are 44, In 1977 you must have been around 4 years old. That is impressive. I can’t remember until I was around 7 maybe.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:32 pm
        Permalink

        Saw it at the Empire Leicester Square (London) for my older brothers birthday. remember the cinema shaking as the Star Destroyer came overhead..not many life changing moments but that cemented me a a Star Wars geek for the next 40 years for sure!. Saw Empire and Jedi there too for my 7th (?) and 10th Birthdays!

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:39 pm
          Permalink

          We’re around a year apart. Me too – first cinematic memory I have is SW, then endlessly listening to the “Story Of” LP…because we didn’t HAVE “home video”, dagnabbit you young punks!

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:04 pm
            Permalink

            had that on cassette!! Word perfect on Star wars by the age of 7! Home Video..it’ll never catch on..pesky kids

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:14 pm
      Permalink

      But can he go dark?

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:33 pm
        Permalink

        I think so – hope so – but hopefully that will be the job of Ep 8 if we are going for symmetry

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:44 pm
      Permalink

      So with you on this. I’m 45, saw Star Wars back in ’77 in Dundee, Scotland. Still remember my dad telling me he was taking the family to see Star Wars. A Pure magical experience seeing the movie for the first time on the big screen. The Force Awakens did a fine job. My 3rd favourite SW movie. Excited that J.J. is coming back.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:44 pm
      Permalink

      So with you on this. I’m 45, saw Star Wars back in ’77 in Dundee, Scotland. Still remember my dad telling me he was taking the family to see Star Wars. A Pure magical experience seeing the movie for the first time on the big screen. The Force Awakens did a fine job. My 3rd favourite SW movie. Excited that J.J. is coming back.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:06 pm
        Permalink

        He certainly brough back the excitement.. I’m literally needing to wee thinking about it.. could be my age though..It’s great that i can take my (heavily indoctrinated) daughter with me too.. almost excited as i am!! ALMOST..

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:49 pm
    Permalink

    I imagine it came down to Abrams or Johnson and I bet Johnson declined just based on his schedule. I loved The Force Awakens. I just hope that JJ can make his own film and not be taking too many notes from Return of the Jedi. It worked for TFA but I don’t know if it will for IX.

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:49 pm
    Permalink

    Safe, but great choice.

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:50 pm
    Permalink

    Oh god no!!!

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:53 pm
    Permalink

    I saw this coming. I cannot say that I am surprised. Much as I dislike Abrams, LF I can understand why they picked him. Worked well with the studio, made a 2 B dollar movie, quality aside. Yeah, business wise, good move.

    Now, that said, Abrams better get a damn good screenwriter. Don’t get me wrong; I still do not like Abrams as a director. MI3 is the only film I consider of his to be good. Ironically, enough the screenplay was made by Kurtzman and Orci. If anything, please bring a competent screenwriter.

    So really, in my eyes, this is a bittersweet announcement. And really, makes me hope that RJ can deliver on TLJ. Because, assuming he can; If he is attached to write the screenplay; I can breathe a sigh of relief.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:04 pm
      Permalink

      He’s got Chris Terrio as screenwritting partner. Harvard/USC graduate and Academy Award winner.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:07 pm
        Permalink

        Hence, why I can breathe a slight sigh of relief as he is a fantastic screenwriter. I absolutely adore Argo. BVS, I cannot blame him because Goyer was attached to that project. And given how the nostalgia burger of TFA will no longer work, in theory, it is going to force them, in theory, to really make something special. Also, with Carrie Fisher no longer with us that also is going to be an indicator as well.

        So really, much as I do not like Abrams; I see this being bittersweet. And a decision I can see why LF made. And in fact, I could see KK having remorse over not making this decision, given how she wanted SWs to be like the MCU. And so far in terms of copying Marvel’s Modus Operandi of picking indie directors, it isn’t looking good.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:10 pm
          Permalink

          It’ll all work out.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:42 pm
          Permalink

          Cross your fingers that Johnson does the hard story work on 8, and is able to get the story for this trilogy crystallized for him.

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:53 pm
    Permalink

    Good!

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:54 pm
    Permalink

    Ok, probably some people will say… and others who… ok, it doesn’t matter…
    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:56 pm
    Permalink

    Adam Driver to JJ: “Now YOU will finish what you started. LOL”
    JJ to Adam Driver: “That pun…it belongs to ME.”

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:56 pm
    Permalink

    Adam Driver to JJ: “Now YOU will finish what you started. LOL”
    JJ to Adam Driver: “That pun…it belongs to ME.”

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:56 pm
    Permalink

    They still dont have a story for ep.IX?????

    • September 12, 2017 at 5:57 pm
      Permalink

      I am quite sure it will be delayed.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:30 pm
        Permalink

        Same. It’s almost guaranteed now with Abrams on board. He refuses to be rushed and Kennedy will give him all the time he wants and needs.

        Which I think means we will see Solo pushed back from a May release. It may have been all but guaranteed with the reshoots but I think now that Ep 9 will be pushed back to a December 2019 release date if not a May 2020 release date. As a result I expect Solo to get pushed back to December 2018 or maybe even May 2019 depending on the schedule for December 2018.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:11 pm
          Permalink

          That kid of shakeup in the schedule would be disaster, and suck a billion dollars of revenue out of the company for the year. One way or another, I have to believe the film is coming out as scheduled.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:19 pm
            Permalink

            I don’t disagree but with everything going on I just don’t see how they can keep to their current release schedule. It looks like a lot more of Solo is being re-shot then originally thought. And Ep 9 is scheduled to come out in a year and nine months, but it doesn’t even have a finalized script at this point. Based on past precedent I think Abrams will push for EP 9 to get pushed back to December at the least because he will want more time as he will have only have a year and a half when and if production starts in January 2018. He did it with Star Trek ’09 and with TFA; pushing release dates back to have more time, that is.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:22 pm
      Permalink

      Nope, they make it up as they go along. There is no outline as far as the story goes. Or at least that’s what we are led to believe.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:23 pm
      Permalink

      there have been several passes, but KK wasn’t satisfied hence tevorrow getting canned.

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:57 pm
    Permalink

    Not happy at all, I’ve never enjoyed any of his films and TFA is IMO as dull as dish water. I’ve no enthusiasm at all for this. It made it’s money and has it’s fans but I’m not one of them.
    Gutted.

    • September 12, 2017 at 5:59 pm
      Permalink

      I mean, you can’t really blame Disney/Kennedy, they had to act fast.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:01 pm
        Permalink

        I understand that,and from a purely business angel I get it, but I think JJ is more a TV guy, his direction is unoriginal, a Spielberg wannabe at best.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:11 pm
          Permalink

          Similiar sentiments. The one hope I have is that Chris Tierro is attached to write the screenplay and BVS I argue was not his fault. Blame Goyer. Because, really; much as I do not like Abrams as a director, it is hard to deny that his visual sense is very strong.

          And really, you could argue that the movie TFA needed a lot more time. Hence, the rushed third act.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:13 pm
            Permalink

            Yeah with the pressure off him to make a nostalgic reintroduction, it could be a lot better this time around.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:13 pm
            Permalink

            Yeah with the pressure off him to make a nostalgic reintroduction, it could be a lot better this time around.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:22 pm
            Permalink

            I really do hope you’re right, honestly I do.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:25 pm
            Permalink

            It’s his bland action I don’t like,the Maz castle battle was woeful. But like you say with a little more time, not holding my breath though. He also need to make this feel like it’s set in space with exotic worlds and not just filming it in the woods or on a random desert planet .

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:33 pm
            Permalink

            And I agree. Why did Jakku need to exist? Why not have it be Tattooine? I mean, I doubt anybody would have griped about that. Because really; my issue is less that JJ rehashed ANH but more of missing the point.

            ANH by all accounts is a remake of Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress, a great film. A big Kurosawa fan, here. 🙂 But in the hands of a better screenwriter, TFA could have been so much better. Imagine, if Poe Dameron had survived and traveled with the group?

            The Falcon sequence would have been better as he did say he could pilot anything and having Rey co-pilot makes sense. Just because she uses a flight simulator doesn’t mean she is automatically skilled. Because, from the impression of the opening crawl, imagine if TFA had taken raiders of the lost ark style of storytelling.

            Our heroes evading the FO while trying to locate Luke. But alas, I am more confident as opposed to the nostalgia frenzy, Abrams won’t be able to weasel his way out. Especially, if TLJ proves to be excellent and not the ESB remake most people fear; I do not think so. 🙂

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
            Permalink

            If he goes in a new direction,kills off BB8 and gets new action coordinators that would go some way to alleviating my concerns.
            The RogueOne/ZeroDark30 crew with the Raid fight supervisors would be a good start to pump the action up.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:11 pm
            Permalink

            Agreed on the action. The fact he hired fight coordinators for the Raid movies and yet barely utilized them was baffling. I mean what a waste of talent. But to be fair, given how Max Von Sydow was in TFA and he too was wasted I am not shocked.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:13 pm
            Permalink

            My understanding is that the whole ‘Raid’ thing comes down to HF’s injury and needing to wrap up that plot point without a major action sequence.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:13 pm
            Permalink

            My understanding is that the whole ‘Raid’ thing comes down to HF’s injury and needing to wrap up that plot point without a major action sequence.

          • September 12, 2017 at 9:16 pm
            Permalink

            Then why hire them? I get that things change on the fly, but if you are going to get some talented stunt fighters, then try to utilize them to the best of their ability?

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:33 pm
            Permalink

            See, I would argue his visual sense. I can’t think of a single strong composition in TFA, apart from maybe the establishing shot of Rey zipping across the desert in front of the crashed destroyer. Everything else is…serviceable?

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:37 pm
            Permalink

            Fair enough. The Rey sequence is actually my favorite scene in the movie. Visual storytelling at its finest with no dialogue. RO, I argue has better visuals, but that a lot of it is due to Edwards background in CGI and special effects. But, overall; TFA I do think in terms of visuals suffers towards the end, namely with the CGI craft which looked really rubbery. Contrast, that with RO X-wings and well it is like night and day.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:38 pm
            Permalink

            The shot of her sliding down the sand dune is pretty inspired. The shot from behind Kylo on the bridge watching the red “laser” is beautiful, but makes no sense. Contrast that with the shot from behind Darth Vader in the last ten minutes of Rogue One, right before he boards the rebel cruiser. Much more powerful within the story, if not visually.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:11 pm
      Permalink

      It’s not all about you though, there are millions his last movie pleased. It got 80 to 90 percent good reviews on just about any review site you can find, audience and critics alike.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:18 pm
        Permalink

        Never said it was, I don’t have to like it though.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:26 pm
      Permalink

      TFA is dull? TFA is a fast paced, roller coaster of a film. Would you prefer people sitting around in committee meetings discussing galactic politics?

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:26 pm
      Permalink

      TFA is dull? TFA is a fast paced, roller coaster of a film. Would you prefer people sitting around in committee meetings discussing galactic politics?

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:28 pm
        Permalink

        It looked like it was filmed in the woods round the back of my house, Kylo with his temper tantrums was about as threatening as a cream cake and the whole New Hope redo angle let me underwhelmed.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:35 pm
          Permalink

          So they can’t go to a planet with trees? Kylo Ren should be cool, calm and collected when he’s murdering his father? Give me a break.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:44 pm
            Permalink

            I mean it literally looked like it as I live about 40 miles away from where it was filmed. It didn’t seem like a Galaxy far,far away. I get that someone from the other side of the world wouldn’t have that problem but it felt too familiar to me,plus I’m no fan of his films anyway.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:19 pm
          Permalink

          I know what you mean, it looked like if Star Wars came to earth.

          And there is not even a decent space battle, because battles were in Takodana, and Starkiller base both planets (earthlike planets), there was just The cruiser striking down the Tie with Poe and finn.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:21 pm
            Permalink

            Exactly this. Reminded me of Dr Who for some reason.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:31 pm
        Permalink

        It’s the absolute polar OPPOSITE of a roller coaster, and that’s what’s wrong with it. Think about how a roller coaster actually works. TFA is more like…being locked in a motion simulator that just violently shakes you nonstop for two hours.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm
          Permalink

          I don’t know what types of roller coasters you’ve been on. Most of the ones I’ve been on are fast, fun and exciting. Which is how I would describe the pace of TFA.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:25 pm
          Permalink

          I Agree with you and Crixxx, For Star Wars movie it is just like you say, but for any other movies it is like Crixxx say.

          It is like if you were playing A New Hope in Battlefront II with amazing CGI graphics and new cool sequences, but still a simulation. But if you judge it as any other non SW movie it is Fun and exiting.

          imo.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:32 pm
        Permalink

        Yes, if it explains the story.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:36 pm
          Permalink

          You can explain galactic politics in a Star Wars film without boring the crap out of people. A few quick lines of exposition in A New Hope worked fine.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
            Permalink

            So, just to be clear, in your world, the only two possibilities are making a film with the exact same mistakes Lucas committed on the PT, and making a paint-by-numbers, designed by committee film like TFA. Good to know.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
            Permalink

            So, just to be clear, in your world, the only two possibilities are making a film with the exact same mistakes Lucas committed on the PT, and making a paint-by-numbers, designed by committee film like TFA. Good to know.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:05 pm
            Permalink

            As opposed to what other alternative? Making something that doesn’t look or feel anything like Star Wars? Then you have a chorus of people bitching about how it doesn’t feel like Star Wars. The window for pleasing the majority of Star Wars fans is minuscule. They want familiarity, but they also want quality. It’s nearly impossible to create a new SW film that everyone likes, because everyone has their own personal expectations of what it should be.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:05 pm
            Permalink

            As opposed to what other alternative? Making something that doesn’t look or feel anything like Star Wars? Then you have a chorus of people bitching about how it doesn’t feel like Star Wars. The window for pleasing the majority of Star Wars fans is minuscule. They want familiarity, but they also want quality. It’s nearly impossible to create a new SW film that everyone likes, because everyone has their own personal expectations of what it should be.

          • September 12, 2017 at 9:00 pm
            Permalink

            There’s a very obvious other alternative… do what they did with Rogue One. It feels like Star Wars yet is vastly different at the same time. It told an original story that we hadn’t seen before, yet had intimately familiar feel to fans.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:25 am
            Permalink

            Not everyone loved that movie, either. They said that the characters were bland and forgettable. See, they find something wrong no matter what you try to do.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:56 pm
            Permalink

            Game of Thrones manages political intrigue with large doses of war.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
            Permalink

            Not a stand alone film though, nine film saga equates to roughly two seasons of GOT.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:07 pm
        Permalink

        over TFA….any day!

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:15 pm
          Permalink

          Right. Because the kids love watching galactic C-Span in a fun space adventure movie.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:55 pm
            Permalink

            me and my kids did.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:10 pm
        Permalink

        yes, absolutely.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:16 pm
          Permalink

          Boring AF

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:57 pm
    Permalink

    he better not do a remake of episode VI. Which means no starkiller base two and no return on jakku.

  • September 12, 2017 at 5:58 pm
    Permalink

    Sigh. It’s a safe choice, but they really didn’t have much time. The hope is that any shortcomings TFA had will be assuaged after what Rian sets up with TLJ.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:01 pm
    Permalink

    I LOVED TFA. I also liked Star Trek, Mission Impossible 3, and Super 8. I’m happy as JJ will be better than Trevorrow. I wanted either Rian, JJ, Christopher, Steven or Woody. With JJ 9 is in good hands. The only thing I hope is that JJ takes into account the criticism of TFA (ie too much fan service, another death star, not getting the big trio back together, Chewbacca walking past Leia at the end) and makes the film more unique and his own.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:09 pm
      Permalink

      Exactly, fanboys who don’t like it, just stay away.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:02 pm
    Permalink

    I’m ok with him directing. I don’t think he has the chops as a writer to do it justice. He needs some help with it. That being said, it’s time to redeem your self and make something really risky! Good luck JJ

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:02 pm
    Permalink

    Maybe he’ll actually listen to George this time.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:04 pm
      Permalink

      Yeah! Star Wars: Episode IX
      Jar Jar’s OOkie Kookie Dookie Doo

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:04 pm
      Permalink

      Yeah! Star Wars: Episode IX
      Jar Jar’s OOkie Kookie Dookie Doo

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:05 pm
        Permalink

        Yes! That’s all I ever wanted!

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:35 pm
        Permalink

        It’ll probably be better than
        Star Wars: Episode IX
        Return of the Last Jedi

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:05 pm
      Permalink

      if disney wanted him to he would have but that wasn’t the plan, nor will it be this time.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:09 pm
      Permalink

      No, thanks. That guy already ruined three films.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:04 pm
    Permalink

    wow, even though i wanted this i didn’t really expect it to happen. welcome back JJ. 🙂

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:10 pm
    Permalink

    Abrams > Trevorrow. You can be upset it wasn’t someone else, but you can’t say this isn’t an upgrade.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:12 pm
      Permalink

      Exactly this.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:13 pm
      Permalink

      Much as I hate to admit it; yeah. Abrams at least has MI3 a movie that is generally fantastic. I mean wow; having rewatched it I said, “Where was this Abrams when directing TFA?” Plus, his style works for spy films.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:58 am
      Permalink

      Well yeah if you want to break it down to the basics your right. As much as I hate JJ for what he did to TFA, he is still a better choice than Trevorrow. I mean as much as JJ blew a warm load all over star wars fans just for money and nostalgia sake with TFA, Jurrasic World was a whole nother level of fan service and soft petting that cant even be put into words. I’ll take JJ any day.

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:39 am
        Permalink

        My friend hates both TFA and Jurassic World, but he despises JJ Abrams the most because of how he ruined Star Trek (he’s a trekkie).

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:12 pm
    Permalink

    Even though I am happy JJ will direct the final episode, I have a feeling that the middle episode (TLJ) will be the best episode like the middle EPISODE in the original trilogy (ESB). Just a hunch. I could be wrong. I’m just very excited about Rian’s vision and quality as a director.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:12 pm
    Permalink

    I enjoyed TFA as well, but for me there were a few issues.
    He killed off Han solo too early in the trilogy.

    Too similar to a new hope.
    Missed the opportunity to reunite the big 3.
    Too fast paced. (Rathtar sequence was unnecessary)

    Only a brief glimpse of Luke.

    I’m just worried he might kill off Luke in IX and have too many fast paced action sequences, while exciting, yes, they don’t bring much to the story.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:13 pm
      Permalink

      Agreed on all counts

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:32 pm
        Permalink

        I hope that he makes a movie that is geared more toward the fans. I understand how TFA needed to have more mass appeal. So, I get it. But now that we have the introduction to the new characters out of the way. We need more depth. TLJ seems to be going in that direction so, hopefully JJ will continue that route.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:18 pm
      Permalink

      Yeah, will be interesting to see how JJ does without Harrison Ford to carry his movie. He’s going to wish he didn’t kill him off.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:15 pm
    Permalink

    JJ trying to wrap up pointless ‘mystery box’ questions he left dangling. What could POSSIBLY go wrong with that scenario?

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:50 pm
      Permalink

      Maybe he will finally address what the black smoke is.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:08 pm
        Permalink

        Or maybe the white Snoke… ( cricket ringing here )

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm
          Permalink

          Wouldn’t that be ‘gold Snoak’ in this case?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:01 pm
      Permalink

      If he does another its not Khan scenario in Star Wars I swear people will walk out.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:20 pm
        Permalink

        Was it Khan at the end or not??? I can´t remember they named it in the movie…

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:33 pm
          Permalink

          Yes, halfway through Bellini Cummerbund has a ridiculous “My name is…..(wait for it!) kkkKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNnnnnnnnnn…..” moment, then they have Spock ape the Shatner “KHAN!!!!” thing at the end…but, see, because it’s SPOCK, not KIRK, it’s a TWIST!!!!

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:59 pm
          Permalink

          Yeah with a dodgy twist of Kirk being killed and revived.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:28 pm
            Permalink

            there has to be a reason why I don´t remember Star Trek 2 and have no problems remembering part 1 🙂

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:17 pm
    Permalink

    Oh boy, another trench run. And Ewoks, only bigger. But who gets to throw Snoke down the elevator shaft?

    I have a renewed appreciation for George Lucas.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:18 pm
      Permalink

      You are great at judging the movie that wasn’t even written.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:26 pm
        Permalink

        The trappings of the story worry me less than Abrams’ demonstrated track record as a director. While he can cast the HELL out of a film (seriously – he has an amazing eye for putting a group together), and works really well on individual scenes with an ensemble cast, the man either has no aptitude for, or is too scared to allow his films to breath and develop a rhythm – everything has to be played at a volume level of 11. The net effect is just exhausting, numbing, and ironically, leaves his films feeling flat because there’s no variation in the energy level.

        Now, JJ as a WRITER, I’ve got some small concerns with, because there he has a track record of setting up intriguing situations that have absolutely no payoff, and no overall plan. I’m prepared to wait until I see where Johnson takes his film though, as with any luck he’ll take care of most of the heavy lifting in E8, throwing up a big cookie for JJ to knock out of the park in E9.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:22 pm
      Permalink

      Give me his lovingly-crafted homage with likable characters and fun action sequences over the 3 boring, embarrassing disasters Lucas made any day.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:22 pm
        Permalink

        Absolutely!

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:02 pm
        Permalink

        all yours…..id rather watch TPM, in French than sit through TFA again.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:13 pm
          Permalink

          What is, “exqueeze me” in French? Such awesome dialogue.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:14 pm
            Permalink

            I thought exsqueeze me was French.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:52 pm
            Permalink

            it doesn’t change in French! a bonus!

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:22 pm
      Permalink

      “jj is just going to redo jedi… i have a renewed love for lucas.”

      the irony in these statements is amazing.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:37 pm
      Permalink

      I appreciate that George Lucas hasn’t stepped in to direct Episode IX!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:25 pm
    Permalink

    Great news. TFA was excellent. Im 100% sure if you didn’t like it then you will never like a new Star Wars movie. TFA was 1,000 times better than TPM, ATC, and RTS and I would even say it was better than RTJ.

    Thank God George is gone and has no say in Star Wars anymore, he never understood why people loved what he created.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:37 pm
      Permalink

      Couldnt disagree more. TFA is the worst movie ive ever seen and was boring as hell. Give me the prequels anyday. Dont understand the love everyone has for TFA. I can only agree they got the visual oldschool look right, but ultimately that doesnt matter if you get a deathstar, trenchrun, and desert loner again. Long time star wars fan but since TFA nothing gets me excited anymore, not even TLJ or RO.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:38 pm
        Permalink

        If you liked the prequels then you are correct we will never agree haha! Thats ok though at least you like Star Wars!

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:38 pm
        Permalink

        I don’t understand how anyone looks over the innumerable problems with the prequels. Far more problematic than anything in TFA.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:59 pm
          Permalink

          problems in acting and dialogue but depth in story.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:12 pm
            Permalink

            Problems with:
            Characters
            Boring Ass Politics
            Cliched romance
            CGI overkill
            Inconsistencies
            Acting
            Dialogue
            Tone
            Pacing
            Editing
            And there is nothing special about the story of idiotic people being tricked by an obvious villain.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:51 pm
            Permalink

            my, just let all that hatred out…..and with everything you listed, the prequels are still better than TFA!

          • September 12, 2017 at 11:32 pm
            Permalink

            Please. TFA is a good movie with some flaws. the prequels are insultingly stupid movies that make no sense, are horribly written, acted and directed. They have been torn apart six ways to Sunday for how lazy and idiotic they are. Nothing in TFA approaches their level of incompetence. Not even close.

          • September 12, 2017 at 11:59 pm
            Permalink

            your argument against the prequels are insulting stupid, makes no sense and horribly put forth.

            The prequels along with the OT, TOLD A VERY DEEP arcing story. yes, stiff acting and bad lines….and people like you like to bash it. but it was a wonderful story.

            TFA…was and is ANH 2.0. I get it. Retelling a classic SW movie in order to drum up nostalgia and introduce new characters to new fans.

            however much you liked the flashing lights from TFA and the humor from the custodial stormtrooper Finn…a thin story outside of the rehashed elements that do not go along with the story told by Lucas. It was a failure in that sense. I called it a long time ago, that once the new wore off, people would see it as the worst in the series, no matter how much it made. and people have certainly been seeing exactly that.

            if you like shiny, flashy and throw away characters (minus Rey) then you have your perfect movie in TFA.

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:27 am
            Permalink

            Deep breath brother. Just let it go.

            This one of the few guys I have on block.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:21 am
            Permalink

            Don’t you have some other people on here to bitch about and call childish names like a freaking three-year-old?

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:26 am
            Permalink

            man, I miss true debate….I let myself get drawn into a dumb and dumber style of argument. thanks!

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:18 am
            Permalink

            A bunch of idiots get tricked by a evil man and behave in ways that defy all basic reason and logic. What the hell is so brilliant and compelling about that, exactly? TFA’s characters are sooooo much more likable and endearing than plank of wood Padme and her whiny jerk of a husband. Nothing about them was appealing in any way, and I didn’t care at all what happened to them.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:24 am
            Permalink

            it’s like arguing with my 4 year old….good grief! please go enjoy!

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:27 am
            Permalink

            I’m just asking you to back up your claims. Obviously you can’t do that. OK. Bye.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:29 am
            Permalink

            it’s the first time you’ve asked anything…what claim do you need me to back up?

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:31 am
            Permalink

            I asked you to explain what was so brilliant about the storyline of the prequels.

          • September 13, 2017 at 5:11 am
            Permalink

            well, since you missed SW…….a miraculous birth of a boy with special powers happens on our favorite sand planet. Where it us implied he is either the result of Plagious or the chosen one, spoke of in Jedi Lore.

            while a senator who just happens to be a sith begins making political connections as a plan put together by him and his master …to rule the republic once again and destroy the Jedi once and for all, by creating a war to spread the Jedi throughout the galaxy far to thin and trust in creations of troops they have served with. forcing Jedi to do things they’ve never done before.

            All the while, Anakin was found and grows up in a period of time where this Sith spreads his influence and begins to manipulate the creation of Plagious or the chosen one.

            During this time discover the fall of the Jedi, the friendships made and the fall of the chosen one to someone who has manipulated everything in his life, until he has no choice but to become the thing he has been sworn to protect everyone from.

            An epic tale and journey of a hero who falls from grace, while behind the scenes everyone is corrupted and manipulated by a sinister phantom menace, until it is too late and the darkness takes over everything.

            ok, that’s about as short as I can make it….EPIC! You can call it bad acting, cheesy lines but the story is epic and timeless. But, you don’t care what I have to say….you just want to point, y’all that you don’t like it….which is fine. Call down, go watch whichever SW movie makes you happy.

          • September 13, 2017 at 8:46 am
            Permalink

            Wow, what amazing turd polishing. The story of the prequels is the story of a boy who is discovered by a Jedi Knight who appears to have force powers backed up by a blood scan. The Jedi insists that he be trained despite warnings of grave danger, and is somehow allowed to be trained, throwing all the premonitions of danger completely out the window because he might be “The Chosen One,” a vague prophesy we know nothing about made by someone the movie doesn’t tell us. A power-hungry politician creates a manufactured crisis with a trade federation that gets absolutely nothing out of it which no one bothers to later investigate at all so he can get a promotion to a higher office.

            The boy grows up, turns out to be a complete jerk, incapable of making rational decisions or possessing basic logic. A senator falls in love with him for some inexplicable reason despite him being a supporter of fascism and a confessed child murderer. They get married in secret, then they get pregnant.

            The young Jedi is then tricked into betraying his order on a promise that can’t even be fulfilled in the time he needs it to save his pregnant wife from dying, who he then tries to strangle, defeating his entire purpose for turning to begin with. The Jedi Order is completely clueless, and ignores the most blatantly obvious indications that the power-hungry politician is really a Sith looking to take over the galaxy. They do nothing to stop him until it’s too late. Then the equally idiotic Senate believes the power-grabbing politician, never challenging his account of what happened in the killing of the Jedi, (including young children,) or seek out any truthful explanation of events, allowing a hideous monster to take over and rule with an iron fist.

            Sorry, this is not a brilliant story. This is a story of a bunch of idiots being easily manipulated. It’s garbage, plain and simple. The characters are completely unlikable, unrelatable, and not endearing at all. They are flat and badly written. These movies have been torn apart for their massive inconsistencies, complete lack of logic and failing in the fundamentals of basic filmmaking. They are simply indefensible.

          • September 13, 2017 at 5:27 pm
            Permalink

            well, good fortune! go read a good SW book…

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:59 pm
          Permalink

          Some people say the same about TFA. I like the prequels, but see the problems, just as I like TFA and see its problems.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:59 pm
          Permalink

          Some people say the same about TFA. I like the prequels, but see the problems, just as I like TFA and see its problems.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:21 pm
          Permalink

          Because at least the Prequels told an original story and weren’t afraid to take a chance.

          And I am SO sick of the CGI argument. It was brand new technology at the time, the use of which has always been a hallmark of Star Wars movies. Just because it doesn’t hold up in some cases doesn’t mean it sucks. Do you also complain about the letterboxing around the ships in the OT? Same deal.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
            Permalink

            What was so original about the prequel stories? I’ve only seen any of them a maximum of two times, so I’m genuinely curious.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:25 pm
            Permalink

            Pretty much midiclorians.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:36 pm
            Permalink

            Well, the political thing, for one. Many fans may bash it, but it didn’t go in the direction of a standard “good guy vs. bad guy” story like the OT had already told with the Luke vs. Vader storyline. I thought that the way they told the story of the creation of the Empire was cool – Palpatine pulling the galactic strings the whole time. And Anakin’s turn to the dark side – people may (and probably will) disagree with me, but it wasn’t just a story of “well, I’m an a-hole, now I’m kinda evil, now I’m going all the WAY evil!”, which would have been the easy way out. The emotional struggle he went through was intriguing to me.

            I know I’m very much in the minority with much of that, but that’s my humble opinion. And I’m one of the VERY few people who loved the look of them. I enjoyed seeing a completely different looking Star Wars universe from the OT.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:16 pm
            Permalink

            That’s cool. I wish I could get more out of them than I do.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:27 pm
            Permalink

            I mostly see it as “it happened long ago” so what we see is what is passing from generation to generation and now it´s slightly different, and not so accurate as it “really” happened. (the same can by applied to old trilogy saber duels – not taking it literally but someone is telling the old legend story, probably the fight was more epic but the old man is telling it this way…) So my biggest problem with the second trilogy are the continuity issues. Padme´s death – she should have been around 2-3 more years. And because I´ve never had problems with ewoks I don´t have problems with gungans. I understand that it´s ment to be for kids and now when I have my own kids I understand (and welcome) it more. You have to switch to the inner kid inside and enjoy, not analyze every fart…And I don´t understand the hate towards Lucas and the prequels. To me Rogue One is pure shit and I´m not telling it everywhere trying to convince people that they are wrong loving it…I just don´t care, I´m happy with I like and what´s my own personal canon.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:52 pm
            Permalink

            I think I come from that school of thinking… just enjoy it and don’t analyze every fart (which is odd, considering I have a podcast doing just that. LOL) I don’t know… to me, Star Wars is fun to watch, so I like all of the films for different reasons. It’s a cool universe and I enjoy seeing stories told in that environment.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:42 pm
            Permalink

            “Because at least the Prequels told an original story and weren’t afraid to take a chance.”

            The prequels took a chance and FAILED. I will not pretend that bad movies are good just because they tried to be different. Bad movies are bad movies. Period.

            “And I am SO sick of the CGI argument. It was brand new technology at the time”

            Jurassic Park came out in 1993. Lord of the Rngs came out in 2001. The Prequels look inferior to both.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:46 pm
            Permalink

            Yea but come on, both LOTR and JP barely used CGI.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:01 pm
            Permalink

            That is completely false, and even it were true, all that means is that George Lucas needed to have the good sense to pull back on the CGI and horrifically composited scale models.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:09 pm
            Permalink

            It’s not false, if you look at the behind the scenes videos, most of LOTR, was completely practical, and those scenes that did require CG were well hidden behind dark and shadowed scenery. And that’s mostly Fellowship. As the technology improved, so did their abilities to use it on film. Now as for the argument of George toning it down a bit for the PT, it allowed him to achieve the vision he wanted and you can’t really blame the guy for doing what he wanted.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:56 pm
            Permalink

            Whether or not they failed, I’d personally rather see a new story than a cashgrab. That’s just my opinion. I wanted to be blown away by TFA when it came out, just like I was with the previous 6 movies, and instead I left going “umm, I’ve already seen that movie.” So, with all their faults, I liked how different the prequels were from the OT. (Cue the “yeah, they were different – they sucked” comments LOL.)

            I would argue that JP didn’t use nearly as much CGI as the prequels and also wasn’t filmed in hi-def, and the LOTR trilogy came out after the technology had been much improved. But, to each his own. I loved JP and LOTR almost as much as the prequels. All great entertainment to me.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:09 am
            Permalink

            Lord of the Rings – 2001

            Attack of the Clones (the movie with the worst CGI out all 3 PT movies) – 2002

            George has no excuses. The Prequels were massive pieces of shit, and no amount of originality can change that. A lot of movies are original. No one tries to argue that they’re better than TFA just because they conveniently share the Star Wars name.

          • September 12, 2017 at 10:23 pm
            Permalink

            Original story? Sorry. The story borrowed any number of plot points from A New Hope. People complain about TFA, but the Phantom Menace was just as derivative. It just used different aesthetics to tell basically the same story.

          • September 12, 2017 at 11:46 pm
            Permalink

            The problem wasn’t the quality of the CG, rather, the quantity. It was complete overkill and made everything look artificial and crammed the frame with so much crap it became a giant clusterfuck of CG.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:39 pm
        Permalink

        If The Force Awakens is the worst movie you’ve ever seen then wow, congrats on seeing your first movie

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:14 pm
          Permalink

          Come on, he clearly forgot Rogue One, don´t take it too literaly, dude….

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:05 pm
        Permalink

        That’s a bit…hyperbolic. Either that or you need to see more movies. There’s nothing that’s flat out incompetent in TFA, it’s just a pile of missed opportunities, boring choices, and bears all the hallmarks of having been designed by committee.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:25 pm
          Permalink

          There are a lot of incompetencies in TFA. Here are a few off top of head:

          – people on Takadana seeing distant planets explode in real time

          – thing that is massively more involved than death star essentially serving as a one-act plot device, simplifying its place in the story to a ridiculous level

          – people on starkiller not melting being close to star energy, and actually being able to look at it without sunglasses

          – the whole starkiller concept, really, and I’m not even addressing the rehash aspect of it.

          – the handling of Phasma

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:17 pm
            Permalink

            You missed a lot of things but yeah…..to tell the truth, I don´t like to read this or think about it because I really enjoyed TFA and remembering the bad stuff degrades the movie significantly in my eyes, so better don´t think about it and keep enjoy it (of course, the Traitooooor dumb stormtrooper and the Maz Kanata stuff I´ll never had strength to rewatch so fast forward not to feel embarassed for the poor guys on screen 🙂 still the Luke scene is one of my all time favourite!!! And Jakku with Rey! 🙂

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:12 pm
        Permalink

        I hear you, but not completely agree. From all the 7 Star Wars movies so far I´m with you that in terms of originality and story the Lucas Era movies are superior. And I would love to see his Episode 7. But I enjoyed J.J.´s episode as well and if the new trilogy don´t screw some bigger things on it´s way I will introduce the package to my personal canon with no shame….

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:36 pm
        Permalink

        The prequels look pretty (for the most part) and elements of the stories are interesting, but the acting is just so poor. By the time I get into a scene I’m pulled right back out by a dull-eyed wooden performance. The Jedi are emotionless. The politicians are emotionless. Most of the droids are emotionless. The only people who seemed to care about what they were doing were the villains. Maybe Lucas was making some kind of meta point — but the movies were just so dry.

        I don’t like TPM, but at least “Little Annie” seemed to care about his surroundings. RTS could have been great, but the tone was all over the place. All the cool stuff is crammed into the third act.

        This is basically a take on the fall of Camelot. Everything is going to shit and the movie’s hero fails utterly. He kills children. His failure is so complete that it will be up to the next generation to save the galaxy. I mean, his blue lightsaber is basically Excalibur. The fact that parts of this movie were dry and/or sort of goofy-funny is just crazy. I mean, WFT?

        Anyway, I hope that future movies build TFA and even RO and never return to the the more stilted approach of the prequels.

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:53 am
        Permalink

        Well as much as I hate the Prequels it is interesting that if they are on TV im much more likely to rewatch them then I would ever be to watch TFA. Id probably channel surf right past TFA with little thought….

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm
      Permalink

      all your opinion….TFA was ANH 2.0. No cohesion with first 6. Lucas had better stories….IMO.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:47 pm
        Permalink

        This is all just opinion obviously. However, we dont know all the connections to the first 6 movies yet as we have only had 1 movie in the new trilogy.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm
          Permalink

          problem….1st movie was a soft reboot, not so much a continuation of the character built originally.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:51 pm
        Permalink

        Better stories? A whiny idiot gets tricked into betraying his entire order on a promise that can’t even be fulfilled in the time he needs it to? A bunch of idiots let a politician take over the galaxy despite it being ridiculously obvious that’s he’s evil and he’s out to take everything over? Sorry, I don’t see the brilliance in that story.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:55 pm
          Permalink

          obviously you don’t. Prequel has stiff acting, but story was on point!

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:56 pm
            Permalink

            It was pointless nonsense.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:57 pm
            Permalink

            TFA fills your comment. 1 through 6 has a lot to tell….but, whatever floats your boat.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:57 pm
            Permalink

            How old are you? I dont mean this as a slight at all but I do think that younger star wars fans have much fonder opinions of the prequel trilogy than us oldies.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:16 pm
            Permalink

            I’m 41 and I loved the Prequels.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:16 pm
            Permalink

            I’m an oldie … God that hurts to type, literally because of the arthritis. Only kidding.
            What was I going to say?
            Oh yes, as an oldie I loved me some prequels, not as much as the OT and I can see there flaws but I enjoyed them non-the-less.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:42 pm
            Permalink

            46…but I absolutely loved the story being told with the prequels. you are correct, my kids grew up with them and truly love them.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:03 pm
            Permalink

            lol, the prequels had such a bad script, plotholes the size of moon-size battlestations.

            The prequels had decent actors in them, but none of them could do anything with the stale story and script they were given.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
            Permalink

            TFA’s plotholes were the worst we’ve ever seen from a SW movie.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
            Permalink

            TFA’s plotholes were the worst we’ve ever seen from a SW movie.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:39 pm
            Permalink

            [Citation needed]

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:39 pm
            Permalink

            speaking of moon sized plotholes….did you see TFA?

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:52 am
            Permalink

            Agreed. The greatest actors and actresses in Hollywood history couldnt have done anything with those god awful, and I cant say it enough GOD AWFUL scripts.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
            Permalink

            As much as I don’t like the prequels compared to the OT, I agree that the story was on point for the most part, moreso than with TFA.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:39 pm
            Permalink

            The story made no sense and was extremely contrived and disrespectful to the characters of the original trilogy.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:02 pm
            Permalink

            disagree completely

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:16 pm
          Permalink

          Crixxxx, your opinion is somewhat invalidated by your constant Prequel bashing. You do it all the time and it’s tiresome.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:39 pm
            Permalink

            He does it all the time, and for good reason. There’s quite a bit to bash.

          • September 12, 2017 at 10:21 pm
            Permalink

            Let me know when the prequels stop existing and I will stop criticizing them for being as terrible as they are.

          • September 12, 2017 at 11:56 pm
            Permalink

            How does my criticism invalidate my opinions? Are positive opinions the only ones that “count” to you?

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:42 pm
          Permalink

          It’s not that simple.

        • September 12, 2017 at 9:56 pm
          Permalink

          I’ve nver understood how being a Prequel Hater makes one and instant TFA lover…

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:38 pm
        Permalink

        “No cohesion with first 6”

        Because it takes place 30 years later. Obviously.

        • September 12, 2017 at 8:04 pm
          Permalink

          no, because it conflicts with original story arcs.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:46 pm
      Permalink

      you are blind dude

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:48 pm
        Permalink

        Can you be more specific as to what I am bling to?

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:01 pm
          Permalink

          He can’t, he only asks why you can’t love Attack of the Clones more. It had a purple lightsaber in it!

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:34 pm
            Permalink

            hahaha! Can i hit the like button 100 times

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:41 pm
            Permalink

            Lmao. AOTC is my guilty pleasure, but that was funny.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm
      Permalink

      I preferred Rogue One and have more interest in the Solo film that the episodes. Those films have a new feel and direction compared with what we’ve seen so far in regard to the new episodes.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:37 pm
        Permalink

        Rogue one was truly a surprise. I had to actually really think on where it stands for me personally, and I can proudly say it’s on my top three.

        • September 12, 2017 at 8:49 pm
          Permalink

          I put it right behind ESB… and that took a LOT of effort to come to that conclusion. LOL

        • September 12, 2017 at 8:49 pm
          Permalink

          I put it right behind ESB… and that took a LOT of effort to come to that conclusion. LOL

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:14 pm
      Permalink

      I would disagree. TFA is my least favorite Star Wars film (I love all of them, BTW… having to rank them REALLY sucks), and I absolutely love Rogue One and the prequels also. I’m just one of those people who would have preferred that they didn’t get so close to Episode IV with the storyline for TFA.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:20 pm
      Permalink

      I have some negative feelings about TFA, and have loved Star Wars all my life. You make an awful lot of generalizations that you seem to think are something more than opinion.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:40 pm
        Permalink

        What generalizations am i making?

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:40 pm
        Permalink

        What generalizations am i making?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:32 pm
      Permalink

      Das you, I miss George everyday. Bye.

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:49 am
      Permalink

      TFA better than Return of the Jedi?! Blasphemy!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:25 pm
    Permalink

    Son of a Bitch!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:27 pm
    Permalink

    for sure an upgrade over trevorrow

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:29 pm
    Permalink

    Here comes Return Of The Jedi Redux!

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:39 pm
      Permalink

      Here comes predictable, repetitive, snarky comments.

      • September 12, 2017 at 6:41 pm
        Permalink

        Repetitive, but most likely true. That’s the sad part.

        • September 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm
          Permalink

          I think that Abrams is aware of the critique of TFA being too derivative. And Kennedy as well. It’s possible he ignores it, but it’s also possible he gets it. People made fun of his lens flares, he got it and toned it way down in TFA. So he is not a brick wall to critique and is willing to change if the chorus of criticism gets through to him.

          • September 12, 2017 at 6:54 pm
            Permalink

            we’ll see….

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:01 pm
            Permalink

            Absolutely, and I hope you’re right. I also understand he’s not completely to blame for the outcome of TFA, because that is also what the Lucasfilm story group most likely wanted. I will try and remain optimistic until the final product.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:37 pm
            Permalink

            “that is also what the Lucasfilm story group ”

            You do realize that the Story Group is just there to make sure that continuity is kept, right? You give them WAY too much credit.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:50 pm
            Permalink

            Yea but they and Kathleen are also the ones to green light a story yes?

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm
            Permalink

            No. Just Kathy. The Story Group has no actual creative control; they’re fact-checkers.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:04 pm
            Permalink

            Then I stand corrected and will blame JJ completely lol.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:03 pm
            Permalink

            I hope you are right.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:05 pm
            Permalink

            You make good points. JJ has proven that he’s aware of criticism and is willing to adapt. He’s already admitted that not having Chewbacca and Leia hug after Han’s death was a mistake. It’s a very small detail, but it’s proof that he’s willing to admit his faults. You’ve put my mind at ease. Thanks!

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:06 pm
            Permalink

            He still can’t pace a film to save his life. He still can’t figure out satisfying answers to questions he sets up. He still would rather go for ‘constant delight’ than have characters that act in consistent ways that make sense. That all goes beyond the trappings of his style, and speaks to his instincts.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:49 am
            Permalink

            Brilliant!

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:24 pm
        Permalink

        LadyFerry’s concern is legitimate. TFA, while a fine “reboot”, was a complete retread of ANH. If the fans have said anything it’s that TFA gets a pass but they don’t want anymore rehashing of the OT.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:24 pm
      Permalink

      This maybe the most appropriate GIF ever.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:32 pm
    Permalink

    Sorry it’s not going to be Rian but, jeez, the guy must be worn out now, before he even gets into the world-wide publicity shove for TLJ. I didn’t love everything J.J. did with TFA but I still think he’ll do a better job than some of the directors Lucasfilm has chosen to work with recently.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:34 pm
    Permalink

    I guess this is the safe choice.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:34 pm
    Permalink

    I guess this is the safe choice.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:35 pm
    Permalink

    At least JJ smiles more often…

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:35 pm
    Permalink

    Noooo!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:36 pm
    Permalink

    Love it!

    Remember, the STORY GROUP runs the SW universe, not any other writer/director. For all of those that hate on Abrams for making TFA a “rehash”… he played ball with Lucasfilm, made a very good movie, and excels at character moments. He has a good relationship with Rian Johnson, so he’ll likely retake the baton with ease… and he’ll almost certainly handle a Carrie Fisher tribute VERY WELL.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:03 pm
      Permalink

      The Story Group does not have supreme control according to Rian Johnson and a number of authors who have spoken on this. Writers can do pretty much anything they want that does not contradict something else in canon.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:18 pm
      Permalink

      I don’t want a Carrie Fisher tribute. I don’t want a movie written by a focus group. I want a Star Wars film with a worthwhile story, and unless Rian Johnson does some magnificent setup, I’m just not expecting that from ep 9 now 🙁

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:39 pm
      Permalink

      And yet…we’re talking about JJ Abrams replacing Trevorow because the latter couldn’t crack the story in a way that made Kennedy happy. So…no, that’s clearly not how things work.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:04 pm
        Permalink

        My opinion + an announcement for my arrival. Obviously.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
      Permalink

      my thoughts, exactly!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:40 pm
    Permalink

    Not sure how I feel tbh.

    JJ is a solid director and will deliver a good blockbuster, but is he the right man for the job in terms of writer. There’s a lot of love for TFA, essentially rebooting the Star Wars franchise, but its got some big problems as well.

    Personally I don’t think it needed a reboot model of a film. Fans, old and new, would of turned out for VII with George Lucas at the helm and the return of the Han, Luke and Leia.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
      Permalink

      Imo…we’d got a more cohesive story, and had the big 3 reunite…as they should’ve! I miss George personally!

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:07 pm
        Permalink

        All the haters would of turned out for the new films even with him at the helm. They can deny it, but its the truth, who would miss the big three returning on the screen. At that point its hooked a whole new fan base of youngsters again, just like the prequels and VIII and IX would of followed. It may of been liked or rebuked like the PT, but it would of been Lucas’s vision and that would mean a lot to me.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:35 pm
      Permalink

      “Fans, old and new, would of turned out for VII with George Lucas at the helm”

      And it would’ve been shit. I have 3 big pieces of evidence as to why. Want to guess what they are?

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:57 pm
        Permalink

        I’m not disagreeing, but people would still turn out.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:59 pm
          Permalink

          Well yeah, it’s Star Wars.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm
    Permalink

    OH WHAT THE HELL!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm
    Permalink

    God damnit

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm
    Permalink

    No!!! ANYONE BUT HIM!!!! Just another rehash of a OT movie.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:48 pm
    Permalink

    Very bombad.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
      Permalink

      Very bombad… Is that good? Is that bad? 😀

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:50 pm
    Permalink

    oh well…hoping Rian pulls off 8! I’m sure 9 will be ROTJ 2.0. it doesn’t surprise me they went this route.

    Good for Disney, Lucasfilm and the new fans….maybe I can hope they will all do something original with an exceptional story in the end.

    But for the moment, I feel like Obi-Wan did when Alderaan blew up…

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:01 pm
      Permalink

      Nub Nub!!!

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:03 pm
      Permalink

      Hey, I´m a big fan of Return of the Jedi, it´s my favourite episode, so I´m looking forward to J.J.´s vision 🙂

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:09 pm
        Permalink

        “Hey, I´m a big fan of Return of the Jedi, it´s my favourite episode, so I´m looking forward to J.J.´s VERSION :-)”

        Fixed it for you 😉

        • September 12, 2017 at 8:09 pm
          Permalink

          I should have written “vision” then 🙂

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:27 pm
      Permalink

      Dear whiners, cry babies, JJ haters. This is how you bitch and be a reasonable person that can be engaged in intelligent and thoughtful discourse.

    • September 13, 2017 at 5:05 am
      Permalink

      Millions of voices cried out in joy because they were getting another fun movie?

    • September 13, 2017 at 5:05 am
      Permalink

      Millions of voices cried out in joy because they were getting another fun movie?

      • September 13, 2017 at 5:15 am
        Permalink

        yeah, something almost like that.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:51 pm
    Permalink

    Hated the limited visual scope that he had set as a precedent for the ST with TFA. Ugly ships, boring planets and environments, etc.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:01 pm
      Permalink

      Mee too, I think our only hope is TLJ, hopefully Rian and team will kick ass.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:25 pm
      Permalink

      Drowning..in…delicious….tears.

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:42 pm
      Permalink

      Yeah, I am amazed how little this is talked about. the desperation to bring back the “feeling” of the OT is killing creativity. Lucas may have failed in the execution of the PT but at least he was trying to do something different and bigger.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
    Permalink

    I like JJ’s movies (Star Trek 2009, Cloverfield, Mi3) but I feel like there were two many retro simularities between Into Darkness and the Force Awakens. The best thing imo was he got us talking all this time about Rey and Snoke. And made TFA fun. Other than that TFA had a lot of missed opportunities. I’m a little disappointed.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:54 pm
      Permalink

      (he didn’t direct Cloverfield…and, psst, it’s AWFUL)

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:06 pm
        Permalink

        Not the Rifftrax version — that version is fantastic! “Wake up, it’s feeding time at the Maxim Zoo.”

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:45 am
        Permalink

        Your nuts. Cloverfield was awesome!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:52 pm
    Permalink

    One word: booooooooo!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:54 pm
    Permalink

    Sorry to say but this confirms suspicions that TLJ will be underwhelming, perhaps even disappointing. I’m shocked it’s JJ and that Lucasfilm announced this so soon. It seems like they are trying to offset TLJ.

    • September 12, 2017 at 6:59 pm
      Permalink

      You could only make the argument that TLJ will be bad if you think they were deciding between RJ and JJ and based it on film quality. There’s no way of knowing if RJ was asked and even if they asked him and he just said no. Knowing that Pablo wasn’t a big fan of TFA makes me think that RJ could’ve just said no or they just liked JJ better.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:07 pm
      Permalink

      How do you know Rian just didn’t want to do another one immediately after 8 and declined the offer?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:07 pm
      Permalink

      I’ve gotten the impression that Rian doesn’t want to return for another SW film. He was most likely approached but probably declined the offer. This has nothing to do with the quality of TLJ.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:17 pm
        Permalink

        he’s said previously how much fun he’s had and that he’d like to come back. likely the idea of starting filming on another film only a month after TLJ premiers was a little too daunting a prospect.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:21 pm
          Permalink

          I imagine it’s overwhelming. Especially with the likes of this franchise…and it’s fan base lol.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm
          Permalink

          I would guess it’s not the directing that’s the problem for him, it’s the writing, after all it’s the story that matters most, and 9 has to be good. It’s not even written for yet…

        • September 13, 2017 at 2:33 am
          Permalink

          I agree. To have to jump back into a world you just finished playing in after such a brief hiatus and not being able to take the time to invest in other projects you are interested in is not the same as sayyyy when Peter Jackson commited to making three Lord of the Rings flims. One is making a detour, there other is in it for the long haul.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:32 pm
      Permalink

      How the fuck do you know?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:35 pm
      Permalink

      Maybe Rian Johnson put his heart and soul into delivering The Last Jedi and he now needs a break. This is only the fourth full-feature he’s directed. I don’t believe its time to push the panic button.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:46 pm
      Permalink

      *Facepalms* Are you using you head straight in what you’re saying.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:25 pm
      Permalink

      This sounds as plausible as the US government controlling the weather to create hurricanes given what we know of the film at this pount.

      • September 12, 2017 at 10:09 pm
        Permalink

        This weather control, is that from Ancient Alien tech?

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:30 am
          Permalink

          HAARP, if I’m not mistaken, is the culprit for Harvey, Irma, and Jose.

          And now…It’s also responsible for Episode VIII being crappy and JJ being selected to direct 9!

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:36 pm
      Permalink

      ??

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm
    Permalink

    honesty what do you guys want? you weren’t getting your fantasy choice in any real world scenario and obviously rian said no to coming back immediately for another. so your choice was either the guy that launched this trilogy with a film we all loved at the time(until we nitpicked it to death) or another ron howard type. seems like a pretty easy call to me.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:03 pm
      Permalink

      I was happy of their bold choices so far. Lord and Miller, Gareth Edwards, Rian Johnson, Colin (as they decided on him before JW). It’s been well documented that KK liked their smaller films and saw something in them. After 3 and a half of them didn’t work out well I can see why they go safe with a big time director. What I want though is a director who will allow the SG a big voice. They did very well with Rouge One. JJ’s personality I feel got in the way with TFA.

      • September 12, 2017 at 10:26 pm
        Permalink

        Rogue One in its original first-cut form was quite different from the final movie. Edwards is director, but behind the scenes all the reshoots and new scenes were directed by others. He didn’t direct, for example, the last Vader scene nor any of the scenes when Jyn climbs the Citadel and fights Krennic.

        In style, there was a lot of handheld, shaky cam (to simulate the look of a war documentary, I suppose). A lot of this footage was thrown out, or stablized. Edwards played along and kept professional and quiet.

        To be honest, I gotta wonder now if Johnson is currently doing the same. They could be doing a lot of patch-up work on TLJ now, but this time Lucasfilm/Disney have a firm lid on leaks about this (unlike what happened with Rogue One).

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:59 pm
        Permalink

        KK also needs to stop treating SW as a finishing film school for up-and-coming auteurs. It seems like she’s been seeking the next George Lucas, a young writer + director visionary.

        The industry is just different nowadays compared to back then when Lucas was starting out (and I presume KK absolutely knows this). Because of its longtime heritage, there isn’t much flexibility (at the moment) when it comes to experimenting with the new Star Wars movies. Kevin Feige has managed to seek out and work in several auteur director types into the Marvel movies because, I think, he’s just better at this than KK.

        I bet Bob Iger, head honcho of Disney, finally told KK to stop this. Since TFA, the productions for all these movies have been a near-disaster. And even if that wasn’t the case for TLJ, there are rumblings that Johnson’s script for it wasn’t good. Abrams was brought back to right the course.

    • September 12, 2017 at 10:18 pm
      Permalink

      “rian said no to coming back immediately for another”

      We don’t know the details. Alternately, Lucasfilm/KK may not have wanted him back.

      • September 12, 2017 at 10:38 pm
        Permalink

        All we’ve heard for months is that they love what he’s done. I can’t imagine them not wanting him back.

        • September 12, 2017 at 11:49 pm
          Permalink

          Or, they could be playing nice, business politics. Professionally, nobody has a problem with Johnson — by all accounts, he was great to work with.

          Ultimately, it’s his writing and storytelling in TLJ that there have been unconfirmed rumors about.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:17 am
            Permalink

            One day I hope we get a behind the scenes book about these films and what actually happened.

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:59 pm
    Permalink

    Damn nice! Love it!

  • September 12, 2017 at 6:59 pm
    Permalink

    Shocked!!!

    I was so sure it would be Rian Johnson. It does make you wonder if Johnson was even considered to direct it, or he was approached and graciously declined.

    Anyways, I’m happy that J.J is coming back.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:00 pm
    Permalink

    I hoped for Spielberg, but with all the fails E7 has I´m still a big fan of it and very happy J.J. is back!

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:02 pm
      Permalink

      Would of loved Spielberg to do one. Perhaps he’ll have more interest in an anthology film.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:18 pm
        Permalink

        he’s said many times he won’t direct a sw film, especially without lucas there.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:59 pm
          Permalink

          Pity, but can understand.

        • September 12, 2017 at 8:23 pm
          Permalink

          Yeap. He needs a scape goat.

          • September 12, 2017 at 10:08 pm
            Permalink

            So true – he had no flack in regard to the last Indy.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:31 am
            Permalink

            Which is amazing considering.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:04 pm
    Permalink

    I really do hope that this works out. IMHO, Abrams is great at world building and establishing characters. His passion seems to be in the intricate set up — not necessarily the satisfying resolution. In fact, I think he prefers a bit of ambiguity. Star Trek 2009 and TFA were both fantastic genre re-awakening movies. They were fun. They had heart. They quite literally re-started the sci-fi storylines that I grew up with.

    I was in the theater in 1977. Star Wars was huge, crazy and scary. I remember that my grandmother (an art collector) literally couldn’t understand some of the things that she was seeing on the movie screen. It was such a new way to tell a sci-fi story. TFA captured some of that crazy energy. Maybe it captured a little to much of first movie’s plot — maybe not.

    I’m not a fan, but I do appreciate what Lucas tried to do with his prequels. They are almost like paintings. I prefer the character centric approach Abrams (and a younger Lucas) took. You get to know the characters as they come to understand their predicament. It’s a technique that works — even when the exact resolution to that predicament is a bit fuzzy.

    I’m a little worried that Abrams’s style might not match up so well to the third installment of a trilogy. We need a big finale. I’m sure that he can rise to the challenge — but I think that he’ll actually have to stretch a bit as an artist to do it.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:13 pm
      Permalink

      Abrams’ weakness is in storytelling. I have a bad feeling about this.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:05 pm
    Permalink

    A load off my mind!

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:06 pm
    Permalink

    I think we’re going to see everyone’s true feelings about The Force Awakens now. I liked it but I’d be more interested in seeing Trevorrow’s Episode IX. I hope they lure Lawrence Kasdan back for one more Star Wars script.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:12 pm
      Permalink

      I think they pretty much confirmed that LK isn’t coming back. 🙁

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm
        Permalink

        Devil’s advocate… LK helped JJ write TFA, so maybe him not doing another one (esp. with JJ) is a good thing. (Again, just playing devil’s advocate.)

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:09 pm
    Permalink

    Fuck this shit.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:24 pm
      Permalink

      Like HIS Star Trek reboots all over again!

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:42 pm
      Permalink

      JJ Abrams had a car accident and lost the part of his brain that allows him to make movies where I actually care even slightly about what’s going on.

      • September 12, 2017 at 8:22 pm
        Permalink

        MORE TEARS!

        • September 13, 2017 at 5:35 pm
          Permalink

          Tears?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:44 pm
      Permalink

      Well, shit is what you may only see if you keep thinking like that without giving him a chance.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:22 pm
      Permalink

      Oh…the tears…so…divine…cry more…pleeeease….

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:28 pm
      Permalink

      Bye. Nice knowing ya.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:12 pm
    Permalink

    Well, JJ DID say that he loved the TLJ script so much that it made him wanna come back…

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:13 pm
    Permalink

    Am I the only one worried that the writer of Batman vs. Superman is on this project? Wasn’t that reasonably poorly received?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:19 pm
      Permalink

      I’m worried.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
      Permalink

      No. You’re not alone. This is a BIG concern.

      He also wrote Justice League, which was apparently so unwatchable that Joss Whedon was brought in to overhaul it.

      Didn’t Lucasfilm just hire the writer of that Harry Potter play to work on this script? Is he now fired?

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:29 pm
        Permalink

        I was going to mention Justice League, but I don’t know enough about it besides rumors. Either way, this is not a good development. I like TFA, but hated the way it followed Ep. IV so closely (then actually managed to rationalize it to myself on my podcast months later – I still hate myself for that episode) as a lot of other people did.

        Honestly, I was hoping for Gareth Edwards to come back. I can’t get enough of Rogue One. It’s Star Wars, but by FAR the most different of the films, and I LOVE that. It’s why I like the prequels… say what you will about them, but at least GL tried to tell an original story and take chances. I really enjoyed that. I’d like to see that kind of thing in the ST.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:34 pm
          Permalink

          +1 for Edwards, he’s a genuine fan, I think JJ is a public fan.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:37 pm
            Permalink

            I kinda think the same thing. Very good point.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:42 pm
          Permalink

          Rogue One was pieces of a Gareth Edwards movie Frankensteined with a Tony Gilroy movie.

          Lucasfilm didn’t trust Edwards to finish his standalone. They certainly wouldn’t hire him to finish this trilogy.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:41 pm
            Permalink

            Damn what a stinging but true remark that was.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:45 pm
            Permalink

            Can’t argue with that logic.

            So, let me rephrase… I was hoping for Gareth Edwards to start Ep. 9 and and Tony Gilroy to finish it. LOL

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:33 pm
          Permalink

          Fair enough. I liked Argo.
          Although, it was based on a true story so he had something to work with I guess.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:34 pm
            Permalink

            Hey!!! Star Wars is real too… right guys?…..right?

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:23 pm
      Permalink

      So disappointed in this decision!
      This means that he will write it based on what he wanted from 7…more inconsistent stuff in story/lore

      • September 12, 2017 at 8:20 pm
        Permalink

        Tears. Yummy.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:31 pm
      Permalink

      Oh. I didn’t know. Ah, I guess you’re not the only one.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:31 pm
      Permalink

      Oh. I didn’t know. Ah, I guess you’re not the only one.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:20 pm
      Permalink

      No. The script was actually solid for the most part and the movie wasn’t nearly as bad as the hate wagon that encircled it had people believe.

      • September 12, 2017 at 9:06 pm
        Permalink

        it was bad, unwatchable bad

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:32 am
          Permalink

          It really wasn’t. The script was good, Snyder is just a crap Director. But feel free to be one of the cool kids and hate for hate’s sake.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:45 am
            Permalink

            I guess I’ll step up to the plate. Lex Luther character, terrible. His plan, nonsensical. The tension between B and S, ridiculous. Doomsday, terrible. Wasting death of superman, unforgivable. Ironically, the best parts were the action. Not sure who exactly was responsible for all this but I actively dislike that film.

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:10 am
            Permalink

            It’s a comic book movie. Lex Luthor’s plots have always been pretty nonsensical. I did not like Jesse H’s take on Lex, at all. God. Bad. Doomsday was terrible as well, but I don’t blame this on the script, but Snyder and how he portrayed him.

            But you have to keep in mind WB said they wanted Doomsday and to advance the death of Superman into the Justice League. So given what was obviously mandated; no different than LFL mandating their own shit for Star Wars films, the script really wasn’t bad.

            Choices made by the Director? Yeap.

            I loved Wonder Woman though, she was the best part of the whole film.

          • September 13, 2017 at 6:20 pm
            Permalink

            I actually am not a hater. I loved TFA, didn’t mind the prequels, etc.
            I just found BvS unwatchable I wanted to turn it off by the end. made no sense. and the action was bad.

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:41 am
          Permalink

          I disagree. I thought it was actually pretty damn good.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:52 pm
      Permalink

      He is also one of the writers of Justice League.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:58 pm
      Permalink

      That movie had bigger problems that its writing (the studio), and Chris Terrio did not some in until late in the game

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:08 pm
      Permalink

      No. I like Chris Tierrio, but BVS is something on his record. To be fair, a lot of BVS wasn’t all his fault, I argue. Yes, he deserves a share of the blame, but David Goyer is responsible for that mess. I mean look at his work: outside Nolan’s DK films, and even Blade, he has written some truly awful movies.

      If JL ends up sucking, then yes; I do agree that is a case of worry. But given how he wrote Argo and how fantastic that movie is, I am perfectly fine with him so far on this project.

      Because, I will take him over Ardnt and Kasdan ANY day of the week. Ideally, I’d want it to be RJ, but we need to see how TLJ plays out.

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:41 am
        Permalink

        Ive never understood the BvS hate. I liked the move. In fact I liked it more than TFA to be honest.

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:49 am
          Permalink

          I do. That movie even with the UC was awful and really just an utter mess. MOS was much more coherent. And really, if it is between the two, I will take TFA in a heartbeat. TFA’s plot is simple, but in this instance, I will take simplicity and being derivative of something that tries to be too deep and fails miserably in my view.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:31 pm
    Permalink

    Sounds good to me. I just hope JJ takes more narrative chances this time around. On the other hand, ending this trilogy allows him to make sure that all the questions he raised in TFA (Rey’s parents, Knights of Ren, Snoke’s origin) can be answered in a satisfying way that makes sense to him.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:06 pm
      Permalink

      He’s certainly the right man at this time and I hope your right in that he’ll tie up loose ends and take a bit of risk.

      Thing with JJ is that he’ll deliver a blockbuster without doubt, but we need a something special for Star Wars.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:39 pm
      Permalink

      Yes, because if JJ is known for 1 thing, it’s satisfactorily answering plot questions, right? #Lost

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:15 pm
        Permalink

        He didn’t direct the finale of lost, so he couldn’t have answered those questions if he tried. Episode IX is the last in a trilogy. It opens the “mystery box”.

        • September 13, 2017 at 2:04 am
          Permalink

          Yeah, but it also depends on what Rian has done with the characters.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:50 pm
      Permalink

      Hopefully he will fix all the weirdness that RJ’s script will insert in the middle.

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:15 pm
        Permalink

        I look forward to weirdness. A lot of great films are “weird”.

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:23 am
      Permalink

      let’s hope he will!

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:36 am
      Permalink

      I’m pretty sure those questions could be answered on TLJ.

      • September 13, 2017 at 3:41 am
        Permalink

        Some, but probably not all.

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:42 am
          Permalink

          Most likely Rey’s parents because of the info about TLJ’s plot twist.

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:42 am
          Permalink

          Most likely Rey’s parents because of the info about TLJ’s plot twist.

    • September 13, 2017 at 8:38 pm
      Permalink

      My humble opinion is that mr. Abrams has a problem with plot holes, like in star trek. For example in into darkness they are pushed out of warp few minutes after being on edge of the federation space and they are somehow already near the moon. And from there ship falls down to earth. Not to mention Khan’s blod quest, like they did not have 70 of those on enterprise etc…

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:33 pm
    Permalink

    Lol. Wonder if 9 will be a reboot of 7.

    At least I have my original trilogy. I can imagine whatever I want to have happened before it or after it and let this stuff go.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:43 pm
      Permalink

      Jerk.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:48 pm
        Permalink

        You sound like my ex-wife.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:49 pm
          Permalink

          For a good reason, you’re just way too stuck in the past in what you said.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:49 pm
          Permalink

          For a good reason, you’re just way too stuck in the past in what you said.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:50 pm
            Permalink

            Just because I won’t lick the behind of everything that has a Star Wars stamp on it, like you would, doesn’t mean I’m wrong.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:51 pm
            Permalink

            Well, in your views anyways. But the facts about the critical reception of the film don’t lie at all, and that’s not wrong as well. And I’m not wrong in being hyped either.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:54 pm
            Permalink

            If you enjoyed TFA and the other non-OT material, then I’m glad for you. I have no problem with that. All I was saying is that I don’t.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:34 pm
            Permalink

            I’m not a big fan of TFA either, but believe it or not, the day I saw it and the whole waiting period before the movie’s release are remembered by me now as very, very happy moments. I don’t see a reason to be skeptical of the film before its release. If it’s bad, you WILL realise it eventually. So why not do yourself a favor and have one more thing to look forward to?

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:38 pm
            Permalink

            Because of past experience. Don’t get me wrong; if TLJ ends up being great then I will be here talking about how wrong I was. But as of now, given how the movies have been since the OT, I have no reason to think it’ll be great. And that’s just it….It’s a Star Wars movie so it needs to be great, not just “enjoyable” or “ok”.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:45 pm
            Permalink

            Well, it’s just different for me then. For me, the excitement and anticipation for a Star Wars movie outweighs greatly the possible disappointment in it.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:49 pm
            Permalink

            Hey, you know what? I agree with that anticipation. I have bookmarked in my browser a bunch of “audience reaction” youtube videos of the “Chewie, we’re home” teaser. In all honesty, I think that teaser was better than TFA itself, and every time I watch those reaction videos it brings me back to that time of anticipation before the movie came out. It was awesome.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:40 am
            Permalink

            LOL I agree. The teaser audience reaction videos to the TFA teasers and trailers is WAY better than the actual movie itself! Love those videos! The hype alone was worth the wait for TFA even if the movie wasnt.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:49 pm
      Permalink

      Hey guy – the heroes that made people actually care about this franchise just spent 40 years moping around accomplishing nothing SO LOVE THE NEW CHARACTERS DAMMIT.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:51 pm
        Permalink

        Nice! Lol 😉

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:55 pm
      Permalink

      Don’t lose all hope yet, TLJ can still be good…

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:39 pm
    Permalink

    …aaaaand all hope is lost.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:43 pm
      Permalink

      For you anyways.

      • September 12, 2017 at 7:47 pm
        Permalink

        This time he will have an even bigger starkiller and will blow up 1000 planets at once and my reaction will still be “hmm” when it happens.

        • September 12, 2017 at 7:49 pm
          Permalink

          Keep thinking like that, and it won’t matter anyways.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:53 pm
            Permalink

            If JJ keeps being JJ it REALLY won’t matter.

          • September 12, 2017 at 7:54 pm
            Permalink

            For you anyways.

          • September 12, 2017 at 8:18 pm
            Permalink

            Tears…so…succulent..more…

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:28 pm
      Permalink

      I say we fight!

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:27 pm
      Permalink

      So you were hopeful with Trevorrow?

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:43 pm
    Permalink

    So, he will just copy The Return of the Jedi script.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:44 pm
      Permalink

      Oh quit with the worry, it’s only two years time.

    • September 12, 2017 at 10:15 pm
      Permalink

      Well, it will follow the copy of ESB we’re about to see. 🙂

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:46 pm
    Permalink

    This is a good thing.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:47 pm
    Permalink

    I guess they didn’t think that a wacky bantha could direct a film. That’s cool. In J.J., I trust.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:48 pm
    Permalink

    JJ will do fine. Too many ‘fans’ are crybabies who complain about TFA and yet saw it 5 times…LOL. Do yourself a favor and quit SW now. Spare us nauseating negative commentary for the next 2 years.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:16 pm
      Permalink

      Yeah, see those are called “opinions.” And guess what? Everyone is entitled to them. If people didn’t like the movie they SHOULD speak out. I have the same problem with the Doctor Who fanbase. The last few season were shit. If we just become content with whatever we’re given to us, as long as it carries the Star Wars name, then the franchise can’t improve. Constructive criticism helps. Saying people who don’t like something aren’t “fans” hurts.

      • September 12, 2017 at 8:17 pm
        Permalink

        Should What? You left us hanging.

        • September 12, 2017 at 8:29 pm
          Permalink

          I fixed it lol. Funny thing is I didn’t even hit enter, I think it hit CTRL and it just went through.

      • September 12, 2017 at 9:52 pm
        Permalink

        Chris, I’m not saying you can’t have an opinion, but most of the negative ones are practically similar. That’s why it becomes tiring. Week after week. Month after month. The same crap. We understand how you feel. Why repeat it endlessly (even after you’ve seen TFA multiple times). Here’s a suggestion….it doesn’t matter who’s directing the films. So, why not wait until you’ve seen TLJ or episode IX to pass judgment? You might even like them.

        • September 13, 2017 at 12:59 am
          Permalink

          I hear you, and I agree with you. I liked TFA, and I too get tired of seeing the same reasons for why people don’t like it. But no matter how tiring it gets seeing those opinions, they are still valid opinions, and they present a good point.

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:20 am
        Permalink

        Complain about something new. Or be constructive in it. Also this is a discussion forum. You come here an post an opinon, GUESS WHAT

        Those of us with opinions contrary to what you feel, will express them back.

        But yes, gone are the glory days of this forum where people used to talk about Star Wars and argue finer details of the films and lore and the changes coming.

        Now it’s just cry babies saying the sky has fallen and the world has ended. Day in. And day out.

        And you’re also dead wrong. Complaining on THIS forum isn’t going to get you change at LFL. Want change? Stop spending money on any Star Wars product.

        Don’t see VIII or IX or Han Solo or whatever else comes.

        That will get you change. Otherwise, you’re just screaming into the sky and no one is listening.

        P.S. This is what I did after Episode III and the prequels. I gave up on Star Wars for almost a decade. Didn’t spend money on it. Abandoned it. I was not the only one, either.

        Then I got new movies I like. Crazy.

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:08 am
          Permalink

          P.S. This is what I did after Episode III and the prequels. I gave up on Star Wars for almost a decade. Didn’t spend money on it. Abandoned it. I was not the only one, either.

          Same here. Although my breaking point was during the third season of the clone wars when George decided to let loose this ugly racist thing known as “mama” : https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9f66524dea16c5fb11f9c0adb9be3da7e7cb91a29cdc0ff35b4ddffff5299c75.png

          After that I said; screw it I’m done. the rest of you can keep this garbage.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:16 pm
      Permalink

      This is the sexiest comment I’ve seen here in weeks.

    • September 12, 2017 at 10:54 pm
      Permalink

      Right?! I guess over $2 billion in box office and all those repeat viewings at the theater were because the fans hated it so much that they wanted to go back multiple times to try to like it…

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:48 pm
    Permalink

    Opening crawl episode IX confirmed :

    Rey Skywalker has returned to

    her home planet of Jakku in

    an attempt to rescue her

    friend Finn from the

    clutches of the vile gangster

    Unkar Plutt.

    Little does Rey know that the

    FIRST ORDER has secretly

    begun construction on a new

    armored space station even

    more powerful than the first

    dreaded Starkiller Base

    When completed, this ultimate

    weapon will spell certain doom

    for the small band of resistance fighters

    struggling to restore freedom

    to the galaxy….

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:55 pm
      Permalink

      Perfect! I would upvote this more if I could. Sad thing is you’re probably right on the money.

    • September 12, 2017 at 7:56 pm
      Permalink

      Star Wars: Episode 9: Return of the Jar Jar Abrams

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:01 pm
      Permalink

      I shouldn’t up vote this, but its so funny.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:35 pm
      Permalink

      Hired!!!

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:59 pm
      Permalink

      Yawn. Such a tiresome stupid theme.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:11 pm
      Permalink

      Not unlike how you express your opinions.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:12 pm
      Permalink

      You misspelled ‘is awesome’.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:49 pm
    Permalink

    Wow they really gave something to fans to argue about, I almost forgot we still don’t have a full trailer for TLJ.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm
      Permalink

      It’s coming in October

      • September 12, 2017 at 8:03 pm
        Permalink

        I hope so

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:57 pm
    Permalink

    To everyone complaining about this: let’s not forget who was supposed to direct IX up until only a few days ago, so I’d say this is an improvement. I want to think that JJ has learned from his mistakes and IX will not be another copy-paste of ROTJ.

  • September 12, 2017 at 7:58 pm
    Permalink

    I honestly can’t see how this is “bad”… or “great”. It’s a safe choice, one that plays on consistency. And – most importantly – it IS the third act in a trilogy, and a STAR WARS trilogy at that.
    They could hire Uwe fucking Boll to do it.
    A great, ‘final’ battle will ensue. Heroes will risk all they have and will, eventually, overcome adversities. Bad guys will loose. One of the bad guys will (most likely) redeem himself with an act of sacrifice. A few questions will be answered and a few loose ends will be tied up, while other will be left in the dark or, at least, kept vague enough. And that’s pretty much all Episode IX has to do – and Abrams is a better director than Richard Marquand (and, arguably, than George Lucas).

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:04 pm
      Permalink

      yup that will pretty much be the outline.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm
    Permalink

    I am actually very happy with this decision! I would have preferred Rian Johnson, but JJ is a good choice. To everyone who is complaining – isn’t JJ better than Trevorrow?

    Also – at this stage in the franchise, I think it’s best to have a director who has already been involved in SW. I never liked the idea of Colin Trevorrow coming in as a third party to wrap things up. At this point – it would have been between JJ and Rian, and JJ is probably in a much better place mentally to pickup a film than Rian.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:06 pm
    Permalink

    I believe JJ was a little chained on TFA. I’m hoping after the Rian treatment to the trilogy, he will have more freedom this time around. I was a big proponent of Snoke being Plagueis, as this will not be the case I’m still worried about Snoke. But, my point in mentioning this is at least JJ at least thought outside the box as much as people think it is too much like A New Hope. When we see what happens in TLJ there will be more appreciation for the TFA, probably even more appreciation that JJ is at the helm of episode IX.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:15 pm
    Permalink

    I will not tell a lie gang.

    I am here to sip delightedly at the tears of the cry babies and JJ haters.

    Give them to me. I want ALL the tears. Let your butt hurt flow through you.

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:16 pm
      Permalink

      Let me share them. 😛

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:33 am
        Permalink

        MINE! MY OWN. MY LOVE. MY PRECIOUS. I WORKED HARD FOR THESE TEARS.

        MAKE IT RAIN JJ! MAKE IT MOTHA SNOKIN’ RAIN!

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:38 pm
      Permalink

      I think we’re going to need to set up extra chairs for people stopping by to watch the tears flow.

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:31 am
        Permalink

        :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:50 am
      Permalink

      If LFL had only announced this yesterday, the whiners could have correlated the date and made even bigger asses of themselves.

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:30 am
        Permalink

        Ahahahahahahahahahahaha. Rigged Director selection. There were 5 million illegal votes cast for him.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:24 pm
    Permalink

    Excellent choice ! JJ will pick up the pieces after the expected backlash against Episode VIII.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:16 pm
      Permalink

      Give me a break….

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:32 pm
      Permalink

      Maybe he’ll do a Luke and Han reunion in 9. OH WAIT…

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:21 pm
      Permalink

      Exactly, he totally botched the Big 3. I have an idea, lets kill off all the Jedi off screen and then totally write the person everyone wants to see most out of the entire movie! Honestly the only thing he did right was Daisey Ridley. Snoke is weird, Kylo is a no-talent brat and General Hux? OMG He ain’t exactly Tarkin. I WAS excited about Phasma because Gwendoline Christie is a Goddess and a total bad-ass but I’ve got an idea, lets just throw her in the trash…. literally.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:21 pm
      Permalink

      Exactly, he totally botched the Big 3. I have an idea, lets kill off all the Jedi off screen and then totally write the person everyone wants to see most out of the entire movie! Honestly the only thing he did right was Daisey Ridley. Snoke is weird, Kylo is a no-talent brat and General Hux? OMG He ain’t exactly Tarkin. I WAS excited about Phasma because Gwendoline Christie is a Goddess and a total bad-ass but I’ve got an idea, lets just throw her in the trash…. literally.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:38 pm
    Permalink

    Am I the only one who is slightly concerned about the writer? Argo is a solid movie… Batman vs Superman on the other hand…

    JJ as director is a good choice to finish the trilogy, as long as he doesn’t set up a whole new mystery box..

    • September 12, 2017 at 8:39 pm
      Permalink

      Chris Terrio won an Oscar for Argo. He is a great writer. BTW, he also co-wrote the script for Justice League, so we’ll be able to see how that went about 2 months from now.

      • September 12, 2017 at 8:42 pm
        Permalink

        I loved Argo, let’s hope he’ll be equally inspired

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:55 pm
      Permalink

      He was brought in to contribute to the BvS script, but he didn’t originally write it. Most of the movie isn’t his work.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:33 pm
      Permalink

      Yes. I am really concerned about the writer to finish this such important trilogy with Luke. If there is a book of really bad decisions, this one probably wins. Actual blockbuster writers are really really bad with structure stories, dialogs, humor equilibrium, and character development. They give nothing to viewers to think about.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:40 pm
    Permalink

    I’m okay with this, i’m very okay with this.

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:44 pm
    Permalink

    How many times do you think JJ and KK have banged?

    Wait are people still saying bang?

    safeandboringsafeandboringjustmakesurethemoviestillcomesoutinmayplease

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:47 pm
    Permalink

    Too bad…. I don’t like this choice….don’t think this is a wise
    decision…. The last one needs to be spectacular but more then anything
    else reasonable, and highly spiritual…. not sure JJ can make it
    right…. hope I am wrong

  • September 12, 2017 at 8:56 pm
    Permalink

    Bad news, I do not like JJ Abrams directing Episode IX, he lacks spiritual depth he is good for action and making money In IX Luke is supposed to die, I hope he will not die in the same insensible way like Han. I like his Star Trek movies though I know some trekkies do not like them.

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:46 pm
      Permalink

      Is Luke suppose to die? Why not a happy ending and if they continue further down the line he’s died simply of old age.

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:48 am
        Permalink

        I would be fascinated if Luke dies simply of old age, It was just a comment I do not know how Episode IX is going to end I hope a happy ending but these directors and writers love deconstructing everything!

      • September 17, 2017 at 2:49 am
        Permalink

        I hope he dies of old age that would be fantastic! But I doubt it

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:01 pm
    Permalink

    So the writer of Batman v Superman and the King of Reboots were hired to rush out a movie in 2 years with no script, whatsoever so far…

    • September 12, 2017 at 9:12 pm
      Permalink

      Was the writing really that terrible for BVS? Was it the thing that brought the movie down or was it the terrible special effects, terrible casting, and bad direction?

      • September 12, 2017 at 9:22 pm
        Permalink

        Imo the direction wasn’t bad, and most of the casting choices weren’t bad either. The script on the other hand was fundamentally wrong in every single aspect possible. Story, characters, dialogues, creative choices… all terrible beyond comprehension.

        • September 12, 2017 at 9:38 pm
          Permalink

          We will have to agree to disagree. As, yes the script wasn’t good, it wasn’t nearly as bad as Eisenbergs casting or how Snyder wanted him to be portrayed. Nor was the filmed helped by action sequences that were boring or special effects that were absolutely terrible at times. Terrio was brought on when Affleck came on rumored to be a condition for him to work on the script. As Terrio worked with Affleck on Argo. It should be noted Batman is arguably the best part of the film.

          • September 12, 2017 at 9:57 pm
            Permalink

            Well, if the script was written around Eisenberg’s casting (so the writer was forced to a certain degree) and not the way arround, than I agree with you about that particular casting choice.
            Snyder gets a lot of criticism, but I don’t think he’s a bad director at all. He has a unique style and vision that works on certain type of stories. As clearly evident by DotD, 300 or Watchmen, if he’s given a good script, he can deliver.

            BvS’s script was so bad that I could write an essay about it. How rushed and terribly structured the plot is, how they butchered Superman’s character etc. But to put it short, they got everything wrong. And if Terrio gave his name for that mess, than there is no excuse for him.

          • September 13, 2017 at 1:32 am
            Permalink

            I liked the movie. I hated Eisenberg 🙂 probably my fault – I think I don´t like his performance anywhere 🙂

      • September 12, 2017 at 9:28 pm
        Permalink

        One hundred percent the script. It was creative choices made at the scripting level that failed.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:04 pm
    Permalink

    So we basically know everything to know about Episode 9 already. JJ’s mystery box won’t allow anything until May 2019. No need for speculation guys and gals.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:08 pm
    Permalink

    This makes sense to me. Lucasfilm has had some issues working with some directors, they have fired 3 and reworked another’s film months before release. Its obvious there are some type of issues going on. So they bring in a known commodity who, in my mind, did good with Episode VII and can probably expect to not have any serious issues going forward with Episode IX.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:12 pm
    Permalink

    all the characters will be deconstructed as they love doing and finally there will be no more jedi and Snoke will rule the galaxy in his new feudal empire

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:17 pm
    Permalink

    Admittedly not my first choice, but still quite an understandable and safe one.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:36 pm
    Permalink

    *sigh* It looks like we’ll get the Star Wars edition of “Save By the Bell: The New Class” another time. Oh well; at least with JJ, the film will be entertaining if not memorable.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:37 pm
    Permalink

    I guess this is the end for the ST…
    JJ and Terrio very certainly don’t have the wit and depth necessary to finish Luke’s story as evindent by TFA and BvS.

    In the end, this new trilogy will be just another big “what it could have been”, just like the prequels.
    They should’ve postpone it and given it to someone who’s actually capable of handling a story like this, but corporate greed of course killed it.

    Well, at least we have Rogue One though, and TLJ will very likely be good as well.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:53 am
      Permalink

      Glad you’re working in Hollywood as an executive producer and you have the experience and knowledge to comment on these matters with a singular announcement about a Director who already made over two billion dollars world wide on the first installment of the franchise.

      Aw shit, you don’t, do you?

      Tears!

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:39 pm
    Permalink

    Can’t wait for the finish…an unexpected trench run on an incomplete Starkiller Base II / Deathstar IV… 😉

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:41 pm
    Permalink

    Sorry JJ Fans but sounds like bad news for me (and many others)… Anyway it will be interesting to see what Chris Terrio can do to save the script…

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:44 pm
    Permalink

    This fcking hack again? I can tell you the plot for 9 now, heroes go to a forest planet, where Poe is in charge or setting explosives while Rey confronts Snoke. Of course it will have tons of flares and the best part, will close with a mystery!
    This is sad, the message from LFL is quite clear here: It doesn’t matter that there are tons and tons of talented directors (male and female) What we need is safety, and someone that can take orders (yeah, label it team player if you like) They don’t want directors with vision, they want workers.

    • September 12, 2017 at 10:04 pm
      Permalink

      I don’t find it fair to predict everything that’ll happen just because Episode 7 was so similar to 4. TFA was ment to relaunch the love for Star Wars, and it needed to be familiar. I highly doubt this will happen again. LucasFilm is very aware of the critisisms of that episode, they won’t allow it to happen again

      • September 12, 2017 at 10:22 pm
        Permalink

        The problem here is not only J.J.’s (or Chris Terrio) potential limitations, I think if Rian Johnson sets a new bar on this (with a different vision) it would be really hard to be on K.K.’s shoes for sure(even worst than now). But the saddest thing is that all seems like an emergency calling to just keep the bussiness alive. So art is in second place, AGAIN…

      • September 12, 2017 at 10:22 pm
        Permalink

        The problem here is not only J.J.’s (or Chris Terrio) potential limitations, I think if Rian Johnson sets a new bar on this (with a different vision) it would be really hard to be on K.K.’s shoes for sure(even worst than now). But the saddest thing is that all seems like an emergency calling to just keep the bussiness alive. So art is in second place, AGAIN…

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:03 pm
        Permalink

        I reeeaaaally hope you’re right !

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:29 am
        Permalink

        walkers, white planet, cloud city 2, lando calrissian 2…people will always find something to complain…

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:52 am
          Permalink

          Talk shit after you see the movie. Seriously.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:12 pm
      Permalink

      I feel you. I liked EP 7 ok but there were a few things that just blew me away with how stupid they were. Rey saved that movie for me, I really connected with her character. JJ squandered Luke, Han & Leia’s characters leaving us with a situation where they would never be united again. The Jedi didn’t return but were wiped out by a brat that got his ass handed to him by a noob? Han dies while Luke is in exile? WTAF? Leia is relegated to committee meetings and pondering fancy projections and now Carrie Fisher is dead so we may never get to see her true potential, she was supposed to be trained as a Jedi instead we get board meetings. Supposedly Episode 9 was supposed to be her movie so now what? We may never see warrior Leia again, she should be trained in the force and an expert at “aggressive negotiations”. And I’m sorry, that super weapon was 10 kinds of stupid. They even had a flipping trench… they had a trench run for God’s sake…. A GD trench run! Christ. And Luke? Luke is on a FLIPPING ISLAND POUTING! AN ISLAND POUTING! Flipping POUTING! Luke really doesn’t know the face of evil any more? Luke can’t tell what is right and what is wrong? FREAKING LUKE? You get that saber farm boy, you fire it up, you find the big baddie and THEN YOU HAND HIM HIS ASS ON A PLATE.

      This wasn’t rocket science…. this doesn’t have to be sophisticated or complex, this is simple, it’s Star Wars. The Jedi return, Luke and Leia are both badasses, Han dies AFTER they all go on one last adventure, there’s a new threat in the galaxy that the new Jedi Order deals with. WE DON’T DO ANOTHER FLIPPING DEATH STAR! Ye Gods, I’mma go get a drink. It’s like shitting in a public bathroom, you just can’t look too close.

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:28 am
        Permalink

        my friend, lots of us have dreamed with different stories, even if we enjoyed the final product. Me? I was super surprised that they want to bring the holy trinity back. I imagined distant future with new heroes and different threats, definitely not Empire 2.0 with stormtroopers, not Rebel Alliance with different name, not the same old ships. To me the perfect end was in Jedi, with the Empire destroyed and new adventures for new heroes. I didn´t want to see the old heroes getting old. They should be dead or living on some Florida world….Bringing them back would be dangerous if not handled well and always a deception to a group of fans with different dreams. But it will never be this way. We either accept it, enjoy the time when new Star Wars movies are made…or stick with what we liked till now……I prefer the joy, it still has potential to be a great trilogy!

        • September 13, 2017 at 2:17 am
          Permalink

          And then everyone would have cried, whined, and shit their pants that the film looked and felt nothing like Star Wars.

          No win in either situation.

        • September 13, 2017 at 5:53 pm
          Permalink

          I can get behind that idea, I hope they do jump into the future or the past with what ever comes next. I know they can’t win with this group of rabid dogs. I’ve always been able to focus on what I like and play down the bad stuff (Jar Jar sucked but the Duel of the Fates ruled) but I just can’t get behind how they dealt with the big three and now Carrie Fisher is gone, trying not to think of what could have been I guess. I believe Star Wars is a simple idea and when they try to make it their own they inevitably fail, this isn’t high art it’s campy Sci-Fi. JJ did a good job making it feel like Star Wars I guess but writing Luke out and killing the Jedi… nope, that was a stupid idea. Create a new threat for the New Jedi Order to deal with, not Empire 2.0. All I know is if they sideline Leia again and it’s never revealed that she was trained in the force then I just can’t agree with the direction they have gone and Luke (when he quits pouting) had better kick some serious ass.

          • September 13, 2017 at 6:48 pm
            Permalink

            Yeah. I was thinking it would be the new Jedi against a new threath..and they are all wiped out…..again 🙂 Obi-Wan failed to train his apprentice, now Luke failed to train his apprentice. We should expect Rey goes the same way in the next trilogy… 🙂 But hey, it´s herecy here to criticize, because, you know, true fans are the every-fart-worshippers 🙂 only great, superb, ultra, mega, fantastic etc. words are allowed here. I expect local defenders tu use their usual language like shit shit shit or the other one “I´m so clever and I´m always right and I know everything and you are just dumb because you have different oppinion” 🙂 it´s pretty hilarious how those guys jerk their ego here 🙂

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:16 am
        Permalink

        Again. Let’s talk about that Trench Run.

        Time how long the “trench run” is in VII. Okay.

        Now, time how long the trench run is in IV.

        There’s a difference between a tribute to a sequence in a film and a complete mirroring of it.

        Also, from an architectural continuity stand point, it makes sense that Starkiller Base, being in the family of Death Stars, has an equatorial trench.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:45 pm
    Permalink

    Ugh. The worst part is not that he is directing. His directing is good. It’s that he is writing it and is going to have way too much say in the world building, neither of which he is any good at.

  • September 12, 2017 at 9:56 pm
    Permalink

    As soon as JJ was announced for TFA, I was super excited went out and bought all his movies. I really believed he understood and appreciated the universe. His aesthetics were right on, but his treatment of the characters was a huge missed opportunity. But I want to be hopeful that he can take it to the next level and really blow everyone away. And Batman vs Superman was a great movie, excited about Chris Terrio.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:51 am
      Permalink

      Weird because you were just accusing his film of being super SJW two days ago.

      Awesome how hypocrisy works.

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:35 am
        Permalink

        Oh shit. If I said anything that makes it seem like I don’t have the utmost disdain for SJW’s, I apologize!

        So I don’t make that mistake again, why don’t you qoute me, so I can see where I contradicted myself.

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:27 am
          Permalink

          Look up your own history.

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:09 pm
    Permalink

    Great news. Love J.J.. Maybe a safe choice, but still a good one.

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:10 pm
    Permalink

    don’t like this decision at all

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:30 pm
    Permalink

    I wanted Johnson to direct IX (I don’t need to see VIII to decide, I like his films and I like how he treats his characters), but I think Episode VII was pure Star Wars (with all its flaws, even being a film that stayed in the safe zone). JJ looks like a fair guy and I’m sure he has listen to the criticism. We will never know if he actually decided to make a “IV remake” or Disney kinda pushed that as a base for the project. In any case, all parts know it now. JJ brought exciting characters in a very hostile production and enormous pressure. He now knows his characters, and he will be able to close their stories. Hopefully, Luke is not dying in VIII. He deserves to direct Hamill and I’m looking forward to it.

    And to those who say JJ is horrible: why are you looking forward to the sequels of a film he wrote and directed?

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:47 pm
      Permalink

      Um, because I can watch 8 without watching 7? Like some do with the PT? Now I can’t watch 9 either.

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:50 am
        Permalink

        And we’re so sad for you Gerry.

        First world problems, right here.

        P.S. “Um, because I can watch 8 without watching 7? Like those people with taste in good film (that are a clear majority of fans) who will not compromise their dignity by making excuses for George Lucas by watching any of the Prequel Trilogies and skipping straight to the animated series, do?”

        Fixed it for you.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:50 am
      Permalink

      I agreed with the cat wtf.

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:39 pm
    Permalink

    Solid choice! But please, please don’t have any battle scenes in space, don’t have any large Star Destroyers of any kind, don’t have any kind of Mega Weapons, don’t have any Jedi, don’t have any droids, don’t have the dark side or the light side nor any light sabers and please, please don’t have Luke Skywalker in it! The last thing we want is a rehash of a previous Star Wars theme!! (sarcasm) In JJ I trust!

    • September 12, 2017 at 10:53 pm
      Permalink

      Hehe, awesome! I loved TFA and I would be blind if I didn’t notice the similarities between it an ANH. People are going to complain no matter what the movie contains and no matter who directs it. We see walkers in TLJ teaser and people are already going to call it a ESB remake. You watch, IX will have some trees in it and they’ll bitch that it is a ROTJ clone…you can never win.

      I for one will be there opening night with tickets purchased in advance, just like any other Star Wars movie!

      • September 12, 2017 at 10:57 pm
        Permalink

        Oh, that’s right! And no trees!!

        • September 13, 2017 at 10:21 am
          Permalink

          And what about the script? Why do ALL movies need to have a script? That’s just a lazy rehash!! What a FRAUD!!!

        • September 13, 2017 at 10:21 am
          Permalink

          And what about the script? Why do ALL movies need to have a script? That’s just a lazy rehash!! What a FRAUD!!!

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:43 pm
    Permalink

    The new release date for Star Wars Episode IX is December 20, 2019. It was announced just a few minutes ago via Star Wars instagram.

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:49 pm
    Permalink

    I’m glad about the December release. Though the new movies have broken the tradition of the Spring release, I think the December release makes more sense.

    I know for me personally it works really well. I work for a school district and have the last 2 weeks of the year off. The December releases always seem to coincide with my first days of vacation. I generally take the last 2 days that we work in December off and thus starts my wonderful vacation! 🙂

  • September 12, 2017 at 10:59 pm
    Permalink

    I think that the director of viii totally blew it to the extent that Kathleen begged JJ to come back and salvage the trilogy, and that’s bad because I didn’t think that vii was that good: the giant planet death star was awful. I stomached it because I like star wars. I think that the only episode worse than vii is episode i with jar jar. I am not a JJ fan. But he does entertain, at least.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:05 pm
      Permalink

      Deadline reported that Rian Johnson turned down the opportunity to direct IX. Abrams was apparently their second choice.

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:08 pm
        Permalink

        Hi Steve, yeah that’s in our article. However it has not been confirmed by Johnson nor Lucasfilm.

      • September 13, 2017 at 7:22 am
        Permalink

        Rian Johnson would have been unable to do the movie considering he is just now finishing post production on 8. Do you really expect him to just turn around and start pre production on 9 without some sort of break? It would be almost impossible to do. Movies suffer when a director is burnt out and overworked. Mockingjay from the Hungar Games is a good example.

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:04 pm
    Permalink

    625 comments……I think that just about sums up the controversy with this decision.

    If JJ felt pressure on doing the first one, I think there’s even more on him for IX !!

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:49 am
      Permalink

      Why? It’s over no matter what good or bad.

      I mean look at Jedi. Weakest of the original 3, Star Wars still went on.

      Third one will almost always make the least amount of money too.

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:46 am
        Permalink

        I don’t get how people don’t see that Star Wars is just a product. It’s never been high cinema or anything.

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:26 am
          Permalink

          It’s a way of life for many of us. It’s the basis of my imagination in all things and my love of science fiction in general came from my obsession with Star Wars.

          • September 13, 2017 at 10:18 am
            Permalink

            Cool. But you don’t treat it as the be all, end all of cinema. There’s people here who act like Star Wars is the highest form of cinematic art EVER and bitch about “originality and creativity” (in a franchise with 9-so-far-soon-to-be-12 entries, no less) like this is some goddamned David Lynch’s film.

        • September 13, 2017 at 7:44 pm
          Permalink

          For many like myself, it was something that I grew up with as a kid…the argument in my neighborhood was always who was acting out Han Solo, we all hated Luke as kids.

          point is, it was a huge part of my life…spent with family and friends to enjoy and discuss together. I think this is true for many on this site. It is a part of us.

      • September 13, 2017 at 8:53 am
        Permalink

        What sort of argument is that ?? You could use the same logic with “well it’s only 3 movies, doesn’t matter if they’re all crap, it’s only 3 movies”. If given the choice to have a good or bad final movie to really round out the trilogy would you pick a good or bad writer and director ? That’s what this is about, the choice before anything is done.

      • September 13, 2017 at 11:53 am
        Permalink

        Return of the Jedi made more money in its original theatrical run than The Empire Strikes Back. Just sayin’…..

        Neither earned as much as the original, which is really no surprise.

        • September 13, 2017 at 7:41 pm
          Permalink

          the original buzz of ESB was not that great when first released either.

          • September 13, 2017 at 9:47 pm
            Permalink

            Funny how perceptions change over time, isn’t it? Now everyone creams their jeans over Empire, but you’re right – at the time I think audiences were a little perplexed by Empire. It was very different from the original, and probably not what most were expecting. It was “different, but right.” Hmmm, that sounds familiar…..

      • September 13, 2017 at 7:40 pm
        Permalink

        ya know, when I was a kid…ROTJ was my favorite. It took me years to change my order. I mean like adulthood, for me to realize how much better ESB was than the others…

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:15 pm
    Permalink

    Going back to December is the right choice. They never should have left in the first place.

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:21 pm
    Permalink

    Thank you for going back to December, Lucasfilm. I think Star Wars belongs there now.

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:57 am
      Permalink

      Agreed – Star Wars at Christmastime just feels so special.

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:38 pm
      Permalink

      it is nice!

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:22 pm
    Permalink

    The Chris Terrio part is not that good. Argo is an interesting story for itself, you have to make a really bad work to destroy it. Batman v. Superman? Justice League? What bothers me from this blockbuster productions are the silly scripts, with bad and overused humor and incoherent setpieces. Now i am worried.
    J.J alone could do a better job.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:26 pm
      Permalink

      I put more of the negative into the hands of the director and Warner Bros on BvS. Same issues in Man of Steel, BvS, Suicide Squad and possibly Justice League.

      • September 12, 2017 at 11:50 pm
        Permalink

        Snyder and Ayer horrible work didn’t help on that. That’s true.

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:27 pm
    Permalink

    Interesting. It had to be JJ or Rian, and I’m glad they chose one of them. JJ is “intimately” involved with this trilogy so it’s not like he has a lot of learning to do.

    I just pray and pray that he’s got something special in mind for IX. As much as I love TFA, I don’t want to draw comparisons between IX and ROTJ.

    Chris Terrio is an interesting choice. I guess they wanted somebody on Rian’s writing level involved.

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:12 am
      Permalink

      But, ROTJ is a copy of ANH!

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:35 pm
    Permalink

    “Safety & $$ comes first” the new lucasfiilm motto… i wonder if the porgs are gonna defeat the empire in this one , the people backing up jar jar abrahms are mostly teens didnt grew up with the O.T and dont have any love for them , you cant like a movie that is a blatant copy of the original Star Wars. PERIOD

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:38 pm
      Permalink

      Porgs riding Teddy Bears riding Gungans

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:59 pm
      Permalink

      Good thing Lucasfilm hasn’t made a blatant copy of the original Star Wars yet. I’ve seen all the Star Wars movies in their original theater runs and I loved the Force Awakens. I saw it several times in the theater and liked more each time.

      The arguments for TFA being an Ep. IV clone are based on the most shallow readings of the movies, basically a series of vague elements (“a young person from a desert planet”; “a masked villain in black”) while ignoring the big differences and leaving out all of Finn’s story. It’s not flawless by any means, but TFA is a load of fun, which to me is the best part of a good Star Wars movie.

      • September 13, 2017 at 12:17 am
        Permalink

        So the ‘bigger’ Death Star, and subsequent trench run are not enough of a copy for you? I love Finn but he alone can not save TFA, especially since he was more of a comic relief than anything.

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:12 am
          Permalink

          As much as I like TFA, Boyega´s overacting is not included….

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:48 am
          Permalink

          He had the most complete arc of any character in the film.

          He was more than the comic relief.

          You’d know this, but you expect less coming from your devotion to the prequels. I understand.

          Mmmm tears.

          • September 13, 2017 at 7:33 pm
            Permalink

            was Finn’s arc…him leaving janitorial duty on the Deathstar 3 to return and put his boss in the trash???lol

          • September 14, 2017 at 4:20 am
            Permalink

            I came back from retirement for just one more post, CW. Just for you.

            Finn starts the movie an untested soldier in the First Order. He is to take part of a strike operation that turns out to be a massacre. Finn stands frozen in fear, watching his battle brothers torch a village to the ground and murder its inhabitants ruthlessly. He see’s what I can only assume is a friend, crumple to the ground after being shot. He rushes to his side, grabs him by the arm in an attempt to lift him up and is rewarded only with blood on the visor of his helmet.

            Then, Finn watches as the current scariest mother snoker in the galaxy shows up on in a tower black shuttle to interrogate an old man, cut him down, then stop a blaster bolt in mid air with the power of his MIND.

            Finn is scared out of his gord. Finn decides this shit is not for him and devises a plan to run the Snoke away from the First Order.

            Finn is a coward is out to save himself. He owes no allegiance to anyone. He has no cause but to ensure his survival alone.

            I won’t recap the rest of the movie, you know the plot and are well aware of the turning points Finn faces time and again.

            Fast forward to the end.

            Kylo Ren confronts Rey and Finn. Rey is thrown bodily into the air and slammed into a tree trunk, knocking her unconscious. Finn cries out in anger and ignites Luke’s lightsaber, taunting Kylo Ren in an effort to save his new friend whom he has deemed worthy enough to stand and fight for and represent what she believes in. The Resistance against the First Order.

            Finn literally faces down the guy who scared him so badly he deserted the First Order. And he faces him down knowing full well he is going to lose. What more, he is struck down and nearly killed.

            Yet he isn’t the FN 2187 we saw at the beginning of the film.

            See you in December.

          • September 14, 2017 at 8:32 am
            Permalink

            Cheers old friend! cya then!

        • September 13, 2017 at 4:52 am
          Permalink

          was the trench run the climax? or was it Rey vs Kylo? I think you know the answer.

          • September 13, 2017 at 7:37 pm
            Permalink

            by the time I saw deathstar 3 and the trench run, I was laughing too hard at what JJ was able to pull off. good for him…

          • September 14, 2017 at 5:51 pm
            Permalink

            then you missed some great emotional moments.

          • September 14, 2017 at 6:42 pm
            Permalink

            for you I’m sure they were…for me, I didn’t miss much. Mary Sue almost killing Ben Ren…Chewy not even embracing Leia, the planet blowing up seconds before they fired at the resistance, an uncomfortable stare down between Luke and his daughter??? lol

          • September 14, 2017 at 10:48 pm
            Permalink

            Mary Sue haha. Now I know you weren’t paying attention. Oh well.

          • September 14, 2017 at 11:38 pm
            Permalink

            never in SW history did anyone learn of the force and have her abilities that fast….maybe Rian will explain it, but until then…comical.

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:26 pm
          Permalink

          Starkiller was my least favorite part of the movie, but it didn’t ruin it for me — just like Death Star II didn’t ruin ROTJ. My point about Finn is that his story is original but totally ignored when comparisons are made to IV. Rey is only very superficially like Luke, with very different (un)motivations and history; same with Kylo, who actually *wants* to be a copy of Vader, but fails at it. The irony is a lot of the people who complain about unoriginality also complain that Kylo is not more of a badass like Vader.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:07 am
      Permalink

      I hope this comment is trolling because saying that people who like TFA don’t like the OT which TFA is aping off is just hilarious.

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:42 pm
    Permalink

    it’s so dumb

    original release date is May 2019
    but wait, we had to change directors, so let’s push it back to December

    now, they all get released in the same month

    appears to be a very long-winding route to get to the same place

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:57 pm
      Permalink

      Except Han Solo is still scheduled for May…the only one. They BETTER move it or I’ll be pissed, as will so many others.

    • September 12, 2017 at 11:57 pm
      Permalink

      Except Han Solo is still scheduled for May…the only one. They BETTER move it or I’ll be pissed, as will so many others.

      • September 13, 2017 at 12:00 am
        Permalink

        Why? OCD?

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:17 am
      Permalink

      That release date would change anyway, sooner or later

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:44 am
      Permalink

      It’s a still a year less between episodes than it used to be.

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:44 pm
    Permalink

    I would have liked Frank Darabont for Ep. 9

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:11 am
      Permalink

      I wonder if Christopher McQuarrie would have been asked if he was not busy directing Mission Impossible 6. (He is rumored to have written and directed most of the RO reshoots.)

      Doug Liman was another director rumored for IX, or has been for another SW movie.

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:59 am
      Permalink

      One trick pony

      Plus… directors that file suit against their former productions might raise a red flag for Disney.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:11 am
      Permalink

      It’s a too dark director for Star Wars. That same reason put off Nolan and Villneuve aswell, despite their quality as directors. For star wars movies, they’re looking forward to directors that:

      – are related to Spielberg

      – come from the Star Wars generation

      – have done something that indicates the film they’re doing (Rian Johnson had telekinesis in Looper for istance)

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:48 pm
        Permalink

        that undermines creative openness

        how cool and interesting would it be if Darabont, Matthew Vaughn, or even more off-beat, Tim Burton or the Coen Bros., made a SW flick ?

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:47 pm
          Permalink

          I would love a Tarantino trash/fake green blood Star Wars film aswell, but let’s be realists here. Darabont’s most well known films are dark Stephen King adaptations. Star Wars – despite what most of us see it – is a film series that can be accessible to teens and kids, so you simply cannot make an R rated Darth Bane spin off or anything darker than a PG-13. So far LFL fired 50% of its directors (really, they kept JJ, Edwards, Johnson and Howard, and fired Trank, Lord & Miller, Trevorrow), most due to “creative differences”, which means that LFL will not be open to too original ideas for a while, in which ‘too original’ stands for ‘too new’ or ‘too dark’. The only film project that might have a different tendency is the Obi Wan spin off rumors which involve Stephen Daldry. Apart from the fact that I’m not sure whether Darabont, the Coens or Burton would be interested in doing a star wars film, there’s also the “Spielberg protegé” factor: JJ, Howard, Trevorrow, and even Alden Ehrenreich are linked to Spielberg (Ron Howard is a close friend, the other three have been Spielberg’s protegés). The other two directors have stated numerous times that they went into filmmaking due to star wars (which was the motivation of Nolan aswell, reason why they asked him among others when looking for the director of episode VII), and are new and young filmmakers, both having few credits as directors. Star Wars films are definitely not about creative freedom, or about new takes on the franchise.

          • September 13, 2017 at 6:55 pm
            Permalink

            what does Spielberg have to do with Star Wars ?

          • September 13, 2017 at 7:03 pm
            Permalink

            Spielberg and Lucas were classmates and are very close friends. Together with Coppola they are a close trio of film makers. Spielberg even won a bet in 1977 against Lucas about wheter star wars would be more successful than third encounters of the third kind, making him get a share of the incomes for the first star wars film. That said, except for a deleted alterante duel scene between Grievous and Obi wan from ROTS, he refused to have anything to do with LFL and the new star wars movies. Kathleen Kennedy has also collaborated numerous times with Spielberg (she produced E.T. for example).

    • September 13, 2017 at 10:14 am
      Permalink

      Yes. At least with the script. I feel sorry for him not using his Indiana Jones script. He is a man who perfectly understands this kind of cinema in storytelling/adventure terms speaking (a good generation of writers, like Kasdan and others). He knows how to develop a story, and give good dialogs, characters and set pieces.

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:47 pm
        Permalink

        Agreed.
        Studios suck.

  • September 12, 2017 at 11:44 pm
    Permalink

    Well, good news is she’s gonna fire him a year from now, and bring Ron Howard to save the day, so we still have a chance…

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:05 am
      Permalink

      That’s highly unlikely. Abrams has already worked with Lucasfilm. He’s a known quantity. They would have never given him the job otherwise.

  • September 13, 2017 at 12:07 am
    Permalink

    I bet the cast is just over joyed about this news. From what I hear Trevorrow was a douche bag and the production might had been miserable

  • September 13, 2017 at 12:50 am
    Permalink

    I think that Lucasfilm should have one of those roundtable PR interviews with JJ in which he addresses the need for this film to be different and assure people that it won’t be a derivative film. It would go along way in building confidence with him as the director. That being said, can anyone really argue that Trevorrow staying on as director would’ve been better? Anyway you look at this it’s an improvement over what we had in place a week ago for this movie.

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:54 am
      Permalink

      The world has other problems.

      (And this forum is the equivalent of the rec room at your local mental institution.)

    • September 13, 2017 at 12:54 am
      Permalink

      The world has other problems.

      (And this forum is the equivalent of the rec room at your local mental institution.)

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:12 am
      Permalink

      That will never happen nor should it. They have creative control and we decide how well they did with our wallets. Besides, us fanboys represent only a fraction of their total audience, something I think we tend to forget.

      • September 13, 2017 at 3:01 am
        Permalink

        But they already have done this sort of thing. The PR line of the Force Awakens was, “Real sets, practical effects.” With Episode 8 it was, “Unexpected, but right.” Lines designed to ease the concerns of fans. And they do care what the fans think. And as much as I like Abrams and am satisfied with him directing IX, many fans decidedly are not. You can say F those people and move on, but business-minded Lucasfilm needs to reassure a lot of people that this is going to work.

      • September 13, 2017 at 3:01 am
        Permalink

        But they already have done this sort of thing. The PR line of the Force Awakens was, “Real sets, practical effects.” With Episode 8 it was, “Unexpected, but right.” Lines designed to ease the concerns of fans. And they do care what the fans think. And as much as I like Abrams and am satisfied with him directing IX, many fans decidedly are not. You can say F those people and move on, but business-minded Lucasfilm needs to reassure a lot of people that this is going to work.

        • September 13, 2017 at 4:40 am
          Permalink

          i see what your saying. some PR massaging probably will be forthcoming, but i doubt they’d put JJ under a bright light and make him promise us he won’t have another death star in IX. 😉

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:03 am
    Permalink

    Please please please JJ give us a decent send off – originality & depth

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:08 am
    Permalink

    OH FFS, THATS THAT F**KED.

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:17 am
    Permalink

    That sucks!!!

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:22 am
    Permalink

    I’d love it if JJ was co-writing it with Rian Johnson and not Chris Terrio. Rian wouldn’t have to direct but his dialogue and style should at lest be maintained from Ep VIII to IX. Because I think we all know that these characters are really going to be defined by Rian’s movie.

    I hope JJ can stay true to that. I agree with Kristian Harloff in that he sets things up really well. It’ll be interesting to see him finish this trilogy.

    I might be sceptical but JJ seems to really fit in well with the Lucasfilm family. I’m already looking forward to all the behind the scene features.

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:37 am
      Permalink

      Speaking of behind the scenes stuff, it’s gonna suck for the Solo film, since most of the bts material features the original directors. Not sure how they’re going to balance that with what Ron did, especially during marketing for the film/

      Either they’re going to have to swallow their bitterness and put on professional faces, or…..

      • September 13, 2017 at 1:48 am
        Permalink

        I’d be very surprised if there is a BTS as part of the marketing. With only 8 months until release, it doesn’t leave much space for it, especially if they stick with a spacing of 3 months between each promotional piece:

        Say the schedule goes something like:
        Initial teaser – December 2017
        Full trailer – March 2018

        Unless the initial teaser drops very soon (which I wouldn’t hold my breath for, as we don’t even have the movies’s title), then I doubt there be a BTS before the release, if at all.

        • September 13, 2017 at 1:56 am
          Permalink

          I wasn’t referring to behind the scenes marketing. I’m talking about the hours they’ve already shot of Lord/Miller directing. For DVD/Home release.

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:07 am
            Permalink

            If all 3 directors are credited then it won’t be so much of an issue. If it’s just Ron Howard, then I see your point. Maybe any BTS footage will be much rougher than the polished product we saw for TFA, RO, and TLJ.

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:25 am
    Permalink

    Worst news possible. TFA was fanfare and completely unoriginal. I liked the movie dont get me wrong, but it is what it is. JJ needed to stay away from any future SW’s. Sucks….

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:29 am
      Permalink

      I need some salt with those tears, Rebel. Gimme MOAR

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:44 am
      Permalink

      I don’t think he’ll go the rehash route this time. I think he utilized the call backs in order to bridge the gap between the ot and the st. No need for that now. But then again… Khan

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:43 am
    Permalink

    “Co-writing with Abrams will be the man that brought us Batman Vs Superman.”

    Well, that this franchise buggered, then. That film was a total f&@king shambles. It’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes is an embarrassing 27%. It was the most over-hyped, ridiculous, unnecessarily convoluted, plot-hole filled mess from a major movie studio I’ve ever had the misfortune to see. You want to see how bad it really was? Watch the “How It Should Have Ended” video of it on YouTube. Not exactly filling us with confidence here, Kathleen Kennedy….

    • September 13, 2017 at 1:49 am
      Permalink

      He didn’t “bring us BvS”, he wrote the screenplay based on what Snyder and goyer wanted.

    • September 13, 2017 at 4:52 am
      Permalink

      He also wrote Argo.

      • September 13, 2017 at 5:56 pm
        Permalink

        The screenplay he wrote was an adaption of a book. The only original thing he’s ever written is Batman vs. Superman.

        • September 13, 2017 at 6:32 pm
          Permalink

          BvS wasn’t original.

          It was two comic series mashed together.

          • September 13, 2017 at 7:20 pm
            Permalink

            This is true. Plus, I’m sure Snyder also meddled with the story quite a bit. Still, Terrio isn’t someone I’m optimistic about.

        • September 14, 2017 at 5:52 pm
          Permalink

          Actually, wrong. Argo is the only thing that, as a screenplay (yes, from a book), came from him.

          Batman V Superman was a REWRITE of David Goyer’s script.

          Writers write to what their directors want. Snyder wanted changes, he provided them.

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:58 pm
      Permalink

      Wrote Argo, too.

  • September 13, 2017 at 1:44 am
    Permalink

    I LOVE YOU JJ ABRAMS!

    YOU ARE MAKING IT MOTHA SNOKIN’ RAIN ON THESE FORUMS!

    MANA FROM HEAVEN!

    BRING FORTH THE TEARS!

      • September 13, 2017 at 2:41 am
        Permalink

        Interesting, of all the star trek memes, you chose one without JJ’s involvement. I think your subconscious is telling you something. Maybe you should listen.

        • September 13, 2017 at 2:43 am
          Permalink

          I think you have it the other way around bro 😉

        • September 13, 2017 at 3:29 am
          Permalink

          He’s only involved in two films out of what, 13?

          And how many series?

          Maybe your butthurt is showing. I love it!

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:03 am
    Permalink

    But can we hit 1000 comments?

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:12 am
    Permalink

    At least I’ll have a role

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:54 am
      Permalink

      PLEASE BABY!

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:19 am
    Permalink

    I was really looking forward to wearing my Jedi robes to the premier of IX without having to wear a parka over top. I guess Disney doesn’t care about us Canucks who experience minus 40 Celsius in December.

    In all seriousness, I can wait the extra 7 months. Just please give the ST a good send off JJ.

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:44 am
    Permalink

    Yes! Jeffery Jacob Abrams is back! The hype is real! The Mystery box 2.0 will save us all and break records.

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:48 am
    Permalink

    Imagine if he brought Westworld collaborator Jonathan Nolan on board?

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:48 am
    Permalink

    Guys, Star wars is just a vehicle to sell you stuff, that’s all. They literally write plot devices to make new action figures ffs. Don’t get all disappointed, it’ll be the same mediocre product it’s always been.

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:56 pm
      Permalink

      They literally don’t.

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:00 pm
      Permalink

      why are you on this forum?

    • September 13, 2017 at 6:26 pm
      Permalink

      “They literally write plot devices to make new action figures ffs.”

      You should literally show us some basis for this, rather than simply speculate on the motives of movie-makers and present it as fact.

      And if Star Wars is a “mediocre product”, then why in the world are you here talking about it?

    • September 14, 2017 at 10:35 am
      Permalink

      Star Wars (or a New Hope) begs to differ with its 10 Oscar nominations…

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:54 am
    Permalink

    Can’t say I’m surprised. Let the plagiarism of the OT commence.

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:28 am
      Permalink

      Two comments within minutes of each other with soooo much butt hurt.

      Yet you’ll still go see the movie so whooo careeesss.

      • September 13, 2017 at 3:49 am
        Permalink

        What’s great is how you can really REALLY tell that it’s a vocal minority when all of these nitwits have less than 10 comments in their feed.

        • September 13, 2017 at 5:23 am
          Permalink

          I think you’re the nitwit here bud. I could care less if any of you people agree with me or not. It’s pretty common knowledge that JJ is a hack.

          • September 13, 2017 at 7:00 am
            Permalink

            How is it “common knowledge” that JJ (I like how you only use “JJ” as though you’re on a first name basis with him) is a hack? Defend your statement.

          • September 13, 2017 at 8:47 am
            Permalink

            He’s made an entire career on equal parts aping the styles of his cinematic heroes of the 80s without understanding what they were doing, and selling a ‘mystery box’ he has YET to successfully fill with anything at all in any project. He sets up questions to hook audiences, but has never once…NOT ONCE…stuck the landing on answering those questions. He can direct a scene, he can cast a film, but as an overall filmmaker? Yeah, sorry chum, he’s a hack.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:50 pm
            Permalink

            First, I’m not your chum. You wanna debate? Fine. Leave your “chums” out of it. You don’t see me referring to you as “bitch” do you?

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:48 pm
            Permalink

            Hmm, how about actually watching Into darkness, super 8, and TFA? It’s not like that I am the only one to call Abrams a hack.

            Look, I think the man has talent as an action director. As a writer/story creator, not so much. TFA is great as long as the cortex is turned way down.

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:42 pm
            Permalink

            I have watched them, multiple times. I also own them on disc so I’m educated on the topic. Are you? I’m not saying the movies are perfect and I agree that TFA and Into Darkness borrowed elements from earlier films but I also believe that, in both cases, it was done by design. I do appreciate that, in your reply, you gave Abrams some credit as a filmmaker. I get so aggravated with people who have never made a movie to just trash talk an individual and (to quote Gunnery SGT Hartman: not have the goddamn common courtesy to give him a reach around).

          • September 13, 2017 at 3:51 pm
            Permalink

            I do NOT have to be director to have an opinion on his job. If every job requiered for people to master it before having any kind of opinion on it, nothing would ever get doen. Tell me, what do you think of the president of the country you’re from? Oh, you can’t because you haven’t been president?

          • September 13, 2017 at 6:07 pm
            Permalink

            Dude, Abrams copies extensively his movies. Of course it’s by design. Does that make the plagiarism any less egregious?
            For example, Into darkness has dialogue from Khan literally cut and pasted into it. That’s well beyond simply being influenced by it.

            At this point I hope that Abrams makes good decisions regarding 9 and that 8 goes in an interesting/new direction thus forcing him to rely less on the OT. And please, no more crowing about practical effects!

          • September 13, 2017 at 6:07 pm
            Permalink

            Dude, Abrams copies extensively his movies. Of course it’s by design. Does that make the plagiarism any less egregious?
            For example, Into darkness has dialogue from Khan literally cut and pasted into it. That’s well beyond simply being influenced by it.

            At this point I hope that Abrams makes good decisions regarding 9 and that 8 goes in an interesting/new direction thus forcing him to rely less on the OT. And please, no more crowing about practical effects!

          • September 13, 2017 at 10:11 am
            Permalink

            So you do care a little bit, then…

          • September 13, 2017 at 2:56 pm
            Permalink

            “It/s pretty common knowledge that my opinion is universally shared.”

            *eyeroll*

    • September 13, 2017 at 4:51 am
      Permalink

      This is a funny comment because, depending on where TLJ leaves the story, he can’t copy the OT.

  • September 13, 2017 at 3:02 am
    Permalink

    Like it or not, there are legitimate concerns over this choice. You can make fun of the complaining, but name anything that JJ has accomplished of note that didn’t rest of the shoulders of far more innovative directors.

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:39 am
      Permalink

      Try to innovate when you have half a year to re-write the script while the world is breathing down your neck with insane hype and Disney executives demand a guaranteed cash-cow. Every single director who was offered the job, including my man Matthew Vaughn, have bitched out! Couldn’t deal with pressure.

      • September 13, 2017 at 4:27 am
        Permalink

        Star Trek Into Darkness could have been better.

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:55 pm
      Permalink

      The Force Awakens.

      Rey, Finn, Kylo, Poe, BB-8: the best parts of TFA are the new characters.

      • September 13, 2017 at 6:22 pm
        Permalink

        Sure, right right – that super exciting new character, Poe who….uh….hmmmm….well I guess he had a jacket…or something?

        • September 13, 2017 at 7:22 pm
          Permalink

          As you wrote somewhere, it’s difficult to understand what the fans that dislike Abrams’ take on SW actually dislike about it.

        • September 16, 2017 at 6:35 pm
          Permalink

          Your forgot that Poe can “fly anything.” He’s Han Solo light. But Oscar Isaac is very likeable. That will serve him well in the new trilogy…

  • September 13, 2017 at 3:32 am
    Permalink

    Thank you forums for the best night ever. I think..no, I know. I have to retire for a while. This was just the best day ever. It can never, ever be topped.

    And it’s going to get really old seeing these same whining posts for the next two years. So I’ll see ya’ll when the movie comes out!

    Fingers crossed for the Rian fanboys who believe he walks on water. We’ll hope he knows how to swim, just in case!

    Not that you’d admit his movie was bad if it was! XD

    Ahahahahahha, the tears. Man. Phew. Shit.

  • September 13, 2017 at 3:48 am
    Permalink

    JJ seems like a better choice than Trevorrow, but I’ve gone from optimistic to somewhat wary. But I’m usually an optimist about Star Wars, and take a wait-and-see attitude.

    I wonder if RJ turned down IX (if in fact he did) because he already has another project in mind to do as a follow-up to TLJ. This would make sense: directing TLJ (which is very likely to be quite profitable) could give him just the leverage he needs to do some passion project that would otherwise be difficult to get made.

    Maybe the passion project is even another Star Wars film…

  • September 13, 2017 at 4:46 am
    Permalink

    This is good news. I don’t love every decision he made in TFA, but I love TFA.

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:53 am
      Permalink

      Now if we can only get Kasdan back too……

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:53 am
      Permalink

      Now if we can only get Kasdan back too……

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:28 pm
      Permalink

      It is important to remember that not every decision was made by Abrams. Kasdan played a huge part in writing the story as well. I’m sure some decisions also came from Kennedy and others. It isn’t like she signed off on every decision Abrams made and said whatever. There was a collective input on the direction of the movie. It isn’t exactly fair to single Abrams out for the reuse of themes.

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:28 pm
      Permalink

      It is important to remember that not every decision was made by Abrams. Kasdan played a huge part in writing the story as well. I’m sure some decisions also came from Kennedy and others. It isn’t like she signed off on every decision Abrams made and said whatever. There was a collective input on the direction of the movie. It isn’t exactly fair to single Abrams out for the reuse of themes.

      • September 14, 2017 at 5:56 pm
        Permalink

        True, but he say it was what he wanted as well and he was the director. But yes, it was a group effort. I don’t mind the reuse of themes, personally.

  • September 13, 2017 at 4:50 am
    Permalink

    I am so happy they moved the date back to December. This gives Lucasfilm a bit more time to lock down a good script. This makes me wonder though: Will the Han Solo movie also move to December as well? It’s kinda funny that we are getting everything from Lucasflim, except for a teaser 2 or trailer 1 for TLJ.

    • September 13, 2017 at 5:26 am
      Permalink

      I think the Han Solo film will be pushed back as well after this. especially since they haven’t so much as released a title for the film well under a year away.

      As for TLJ trailer, it looks like we’re going to get our one and only full trailer in October sometime. Could be wrong, but that’s what it looks like to me.

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:44 am
      Permalink

      I woke up this morning thinking “please be a trailer, please be a trailer”… then I saw this! I know what you mean about ‘everything but a trailer’.

      That said, I don’t mind not knowing. By this time in 2015, I pretty much knew the main beats of TFA, thanks to spoilers that turned out to actually be really accurate. I’m even thinking of avoiding trailers for Episode 8, now that we’re this close?

      • September 13, 2017 at 9:39 am
        Permalink

        In regards to avoiding any trailers…….Good luck……you’re gonna need it ! I could use ONE trailer just to get some sense to the movie…….and avoid the TV spots. I have been avoiding TV spots for all movies and it ain’t so bad. I think I can do the same for TLJ.

      • September 13, 2017 at 11:47 am
        Permalink

        Don’t hold your breath for a trailer. It will probably come out October 16th (maybe a day or two before or after) not much earlier.

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:54 pm
      Permalink

      No, they have said over and over that Han Solo is May.

  • September 13, 2017 at 5:31 am
    Permalink

    The release day move sucks. I get why, and its completely understandable but that doesn’t make it suck any less. Now have to wait an extra 6 months and I was excited Star Wars was moving back to the summer. I know its for the good of the film, but its still disappointing.

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:52 am
      Permalink

      I like Star Wars at Christmas. Makes for a great family tradition.

      • September 13, 2017 at 7:17 pm
        Permalink

        Ya its cool, was just excited to wait 18 months instead of 24.

        • September 13, 2017 at 7:34 pm
          Permalink

          Agreed, but it gives those working on it more time.

          • September 13, 2017 at 9:46 pm
            Permalink

            Definitely. I totally get why its happening. Still a little disappointing.

    • September 13, 2017 at 6:06 pm
      Permalink

      I think you’ll soldier through and survive what is sure to be a trying and arduous experience.

      • September 13, 2017 at 7:18 pm
        Permalink

        Now that you took the time to make this comment I can breathe easy knowing there are people that truly understand what I’m going through instead of only being sarcastic jerks.

        • September 13, 2017 at 7:49 pm
          Permalink

          Glad that I could be of service.

          • September 13, 2017 at 9:47 pm
            Permalink

            Oh, yes. Thank you very much. Without people like you I am sure the internet would be a truly despicable place.

          • September 13, 2017 at 11:37 pm
            Permalink

            Out there doin’ God’s work is all. But honestly, I’m just busting your chops a bit. I mean, you’re sort of asking for it: public proclaiming your misery in having to wait another few months for a movie release. It’s definitely not the end of the world, but if you were sitting at a table with some of my buddies and I at a pub and did this, we’d definitely razz you for it a bit.

          • September 14, 2017 at 12:38 am
            Permalink

            Hopeless. Get some guy friends.

          • September 14, 2017 at 1:19 am
            Permalink

            You were sarcastic in your reply as I was in mine. Hence sarcarsm everywhere. Its all in good fun.

          • September 14, 2017 at 11:29 am
            Permalink

            He’s right, this is the second time Disney has pulled this crap on us. This is on Disney, they tell us the dates, we get excited and then because they don’t have there house in order we have to suffer waiting. Same thing happened with harry potter and that sucked. Hey, it happens but this is the second time they have pulled this crap on us. Lastly, the date change has nothing to do with making a better film it has everything to do with making more money because in the end that’s all Disney really cares about.

          • September 14, 2017 at 2:25 pm
            Permalink

            Ugh. Stop acting like such a victim. I’m sorry that you’ll have to “suffer waiting” but it’s just a movie we’re talking about. And seriously, it’s understandable to be annoyed at the delay of a film you’ve been anticipating, but to equate it to suffering might suggest that you have bigger problems than simply lacking some adult-level patience.

            “…it has everything to do with making more money because in the end that’s all Disney really cares about.”

            Isn’t that what every business cares about? Prior to the Disney acquisition, did Lucasfilm care about turning a profit? You bet they did. These companies aren’t non-profit organizations pumping out product for altruistic reasons. They exist to make money.

          • September 16, 2017 at 7:45 pm
            Permalink

            You’re both right. Delay in the release date – not extremely important in my opinion. Disney doing it to maximize profits – absolutely, without a doubt. Disney cares about the fans and wants to keep us going to the movies, but they are also a cut-throat industry that wants to make the most money they possibly can. Disney ain’t no charity. At the same time, I believe they are trying to put the best product (movie) out that they can every time. They know that if they release crap and turn people off of Star Wars they are going to lose A LOT of money. This is the new way of Star Wars people – very different from Lucas’s initial vision but how it is now. This is a cash cow that Disney is going to milk for every drop of profit they can squeeze. There was a time when we were starved for Star Wars – that time is gone….

    • September 14, 2017 at 11:23 am
      Permalink

      I agree, it’s disappointing! Another let down, this is the 2nd time now. In this day and age they should have these films done much faster. Game of Thrones comes out with 10-13 hours a year. So a 2 hour film shouldn’t be that difficult.

  • September 13, 2017 at 5:36 am
    Permalink

    Lens flares, can I have some more please?

    So they went and hired Woody Allen to direct IX.

    • September 13, 2017 at 6:05 pm
      Permalink

      Nobody sounds like a film critic when talking about lens flares.

  • September 13, 2017 at 5:37 am
    Permalink

    This is great news. I loved The Force Awakens even though some of the plot was very similar to A New Hope, but I seriously think that was just Lucasfilm wanting to play it safe with the franchise reboot. And it’s not like the whole movie was a copy/paste, either, like so many of the bandwagon haters are saying.

    But in the end, it was the execution that made The Force Awakens great, not the story. The execution was spot on. I think Rian Johnson and now Abrams for Episode IX will have MUCH more freedom to do different things than Abrams had for The Force Awakens.

    • September 15, 2017 at 12:39 am
      Permalink

      It was mostly a copy paste of ANH with Starkiller base. The sequence of events where similiar, but to me did not bother me until that moment. And your point on bandwagoners, is nothing more than an ad homiem. There is nothing wrong with people changing their minds after a sufficient amount of time/ when presented with a strong argument.

      And playing it safe is a bad excuse, especially, considering how Mad Max, a similiar older franchise, didn’t do that with Fury Road. And really, it wasn’t like LF could go lower with the PT? GL wasn’t involved. So really, a special pleading fallacy.

      As for execution, cool. For me, it was mixed; the first half was good, the Starkiller base and third act sucked horribly. Though, the final scene was good.

  • September 13, 2017 at 7:50 am
    Permalink

    This is AMAZING. JJ can not fix everything that Rian f*cks up! Important Question — can JJ bring KASDAN back too??

    • September 13, 2017 at 9:40 am
      Permalink

      Yes…please JJ, move Kylo’s scar back to where it belongs !!!

        • September 13, 2017 at 9:42 pm
          Permalink

          Totally agree on the scar placement not being good, but for right or wrong it should of been left.

        • September 14, 2017 at 12:50 pm
          Permalink

          For my taste the scar is not gritty enough. It looks too clean. The placement however doesn’t bother me at all.

      • September 13, 2017 at 11:56 pm
        Permalink

        Hardly anyone notices EXACTLY where the scar is. Most people won’t care, or even notice. It’s space wizards, let it go….

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:54 pm
      Permalink

      This is…wow. You haven’t seen VII, Try to be rational.

    • September 15, 2017 at 12:35 am
      Permalink

      And how do you know RJ will screw things up? You are super presumptuous in your claims. Yes, Abrams is proven, much as I dislike TFA, but at the same time; you have no right to claim that RJ has screwed ANYTHING up, until you yourself have laid eyes on a movie.

      It is like someone saying the steak a five star chef is making, sucks. And yet, you did not taste that. You see how stupid that sounds? Jeez. Hold your horses. Wait until you see the movie before you make up your mind. And not stay in your echo-chambers.

  • September 13, 2017 at 9:25 am
    Permalink

    Oh great.. another Death star and a rehash of episode 6. I prefered Ryan Johnson..

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:42 pm
      Permalink

      So did Lucasfilm. He said no.

      • September 13, 2017 at 3:47 pm
        Permalink

        Wwe don’t know that, eevn the article says that it hasn’t been officialy confirmed that he was offered and rejected the job.

        • September 13, 2017 at 6:06 pm
          Permalink

          Well, that’s what Deadline is reporting.

    • September 14, 2017 at 12:48 pm
      Permalink

      Oh, so you already saw TLJ. How was it? Ordinary people like me have to wait to see how TLJ turns out to compare it to TFA but you are already one step ahead.

    • September 15, 2017 at 12:32 am
      Permalink

      How do you know RJ would even be qualified? Look, I love RJ as a director, but so far he has unproven himself. If TLJ is great and legimately blows TFA out of the water and is truly one of the best films in the franchise, then yeah; I support you.

      But at the same time, it is presumptuous to think other wise. Do I think LF should have gone with another choice? Oh, boy; yes. BUT, rationally they made the right call. Abrams has got one film under his belt and a successful one. One I argue is overblown and fed off the nostalgia of fans and really just gave a big mac. But a successful one nevertheless.

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:01 pm
    Permalink

    So will it be Starkiller base II or Death star III that blows up under Snokes feet?

    • September 13, 2017 at 4:17 pm
      Permalink

      Neither, it will be a flock of porgs that have infiltrated The First Order dressed as a stormtrooper.

      • September 13, 2017 at 8:49 pm
        Permalink

        Many Porgs died to bring us this information….

        • September 16, 2017 at 6:30 pm
          Permalink

          Great post! Jealous I didn’t think of it….

    • September 14, 2017 at 11:19 am
      Permalink

      The next one will be called the “Death Killer Star Base”.

  • September 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm
    Permalink

    Given that the Star Wars film franchise is the one that has suffered the most from lack of forward planning/outlining, starting in 78/79 when there was ‘another’ that had to become Leia, to the wholesale retconning of the prequels, I’d have thought at least the very basic outline of story arcs would have been laid down at the beginning. Now Diet Speilberg has to pick up the thread of a story he started, someone else second-acted and god knows how far removed that second act might be from JJs original vision….bearing in mind that the first installment had one of the laziest fob-offs in cinematic history…”a story for another time” anyone??

    • September 13, 2017 at 2:50 pm
      Permalink

      “suffered”.

      Breaking news: hardly ANY story like this is planned out. Tolkien didn’t plan out Lord of the Rings. Lucas didn’t plan out Star Wars. Gilligan didn’t plan out Breaking Bad.

      And actually, as for your “fob off”, that story was in the movie, but was cut. The vision Rey had was going to tell that story.

      • September 13, 2017 at 6:05 pm
        Permalink

        I don’t think this fella has the slightest clue about the film making process.

        • September 14, 2017 at 5:51 pm
          Permalink

          I don’t think most of these people do

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:41 pm
      Permalink

      So you wanted an detailed explanation of what happened to the lightsaber as the castle was under attack and in danger of collapse?

  • September 13, 2017 at 3:34 pm
    Permalink

    How many more people are going to make fun of JJ’s unoriginality by making the same ROTJ joke we’ve already read a hundred times?

    • September 13, 2017 at 3:39 pm
      Permalink

      That joke gives him too much credit. Its more likely to be a New Hope rehash like he did in Episode 7 and Star Trek.

    • September 14, 2017 at 11:17 am
      Permalink

      I’m in!!

  • September 13, 2017 at 4:17 pm
    Permalink

    Spoilers… I know what the last scene of Episode 9 in the Sequel Trilogy of the Skywalker Saga will be. Are you ready for it?… 3… 2… 1… The “Bad Robot” logo.

  • September 13, 2017 at 4:49 pm
    Permalink

    Whew! I got a hangover this morning, all those delicious man-tears I drank yesterday.

    • September 13, 2017 at 6:48 pm
      Permalink

      It’s telling (and more than a little pathetic and frankly a LOT boring) that people excited by this announcement don’t seem to be able to express what it is about Abrams that they actually like, but instead are slobbering over the idea of other, anonymous people, who like the same movies they do, on the internet not being similarly delighted with him. It’s true what they say – there is NO fandom as toxic as SW fandom.

      • September 14, 2017 at 12:39 pm
        Permalink

        The reason for this is that I am pretty happy with everything he has done except for the lack of originality (in terms of story that is), some character designs and little pieces of dialog here and there. So pointing out the flaws is a lot quicker than pointing out all the things he has done right. It’s a soft reboot that works perfectly well. I can understand if people don’t like that concept but that doesn’t change the fact that the movie itself is very well done.

        • September 15, 2017 at 12:29 am
          Permalink

          I disagree. I never liked JJ Abrams as a director. Super eight was boring in my view, his Trek films are okay. The only film of his I thought was genuinely good was MI3.

          So when he was announced as TFA’s director I was nervous. Heck, I was looking more towards TLJ as RJ one of my favorite directors was helming the project. Trevorrow; I didn’t know what to think.

          TFA is an okay film, but I find it a bad SWs film. The callbacks to ANH would have been fine, if Starkiller base was removed and the focus had been searching for Luke. Also, Abrams films I argue have horrendous pacing and lack a lot of humanity.

          Really, the acting for TFA was the only thing that kept me engaged. I will give credit to Abrams for Rey’s intro though. Very nice bit of visual storytelling and Kylo was the most developed new character.

          But to me, it was the same slock Abrams has put out. As for this announcement, much as I cannot fault LF’s decision, I know he won’t pull the same stuff as TFA.

          In fact, he will be lambasted by fans on both sides if he does(note ignoring the stupid naysayers). So yeah, SWs fandom sucks. But at the same time, playing it so dangerously safe to where even basic ideas from ANH, like world building are left out, leave a bitter taste.

          Especially, for those who like that stuff. Fortunately for me, there is always the anthology films.

    • September 13, 2017 at 9:21 pm
      Permalink

      I too am a completely malevolent person, mos.

  • September 13, 2017 at 5:01 pm
    Permalink

    The OT is the template for the ST. Lucas made Star Wars,was absent from much of the live action shoot at Elstree for Empire while he overlooked SFX at ILM in California making it essentially a Kersh/Kurtz film.He then returned (pardon the pun) to oversee every aspect of Jedi and put his stamp all over what was supposed to be a Marquand film (which then again broke all box office records) .It’s just Star Wars tradition now to have the trilogies bookended by the storyteller like all the greatest fairytales.

  • September 13, 2017 at 7:21 pm
    Permalink

    So who will don the metal bikini this time? Poe?

    • September 13, 2017 at 7:32 pm
      Permalink

      With any luck, Rey. Rawr!

    • September 13, 2017 at 11:14 pm
      Permalink

      Maz Kanata

      • September 13, 2017 at 11:52 pm
        Permalink

        Funny…..but NO…..

    • September 14, 2017 at 12:27 pm
      Permalink

      Nobody. It’s 2017, anything remotely similar to slave Leia would be shut down and censored because you are only allowed to objectify men in Blockbuster movies. So yeah if anything Finn will be wearing it, Boyega has been working out like mad 🙂

      • September 16, 2017 at 6:26 pm
        Permalink

        Especially with Kathleen Kennedy at the helm now. She’s all about empowering women, not objectifying them (see Rey). Not that I have a problem with that – it’s just a different world now than it was in 1983. But even Leia wasn’t held down for long in Return of the Jedi. She was always a strong leader in the OT, not a wilting flower that waited for a man to solve her problems. Yeah, she had to wear the metal bikini for a bit (which all us prepubescent boys loved) but she did eventually murder Jabba in a total gangster way by strangling him. But I see the humor in your post. I think Poe might have the better body for the bikini honestly….

  • September 13, 2017 at 8:23 pm
    Permalink

    I wonder when snoke falls down the shaft or maybe some coridor, who will throw him?

    • September 13, 2017 at 8:58 pm
      Permalink

      Yes, make sense, SW PART IX, you know, Like GOT chapter CXXIII

    • September 14, 2017 at 11:16 am
      Permalink

      J.J. told me that will be Vader who is transported back to the future to throw Snoke off the ledge, then Transports back to the past to throw the Emperor off the edge to save Luke. However, he over shoots on the way back and decides to stop in at Hoth to keep Luke & Leia from Making out. I’ll be relieved when that mess finally get cleared away.

  • September 13, 2017 at 8:55 pm
    Permalink

    so SW VII and now IX will be as if they were part of SW saga? but…wait…. they ARE part of SW saga . But the fans don’t want it, they want different, as if this movie WEREN’T SW PART IX, but something original, nonetheless as good as original SW… got it? original and not original at the same time, ok Disney, otherwise…whine, whine, whine

    • September 13, 2017 at 9:39 pm
      Permalink

      “Got it?” No, not at all….

      • September 14, 2017 at 1:05 am
        Permalink

        neither did I, but people keep whining about something like that: that SW VII is too much “star wary”, so may IX be, –so sad (or not), got it?

    • September 14, 2017 at 12:21 pm
      Permalink

      I like your sarcasm 🙂

  • September 13, 2017 at 11:12 pm
    Permalink

    Hopefully Rians Episode VIII is great, and influences JJ into doing something a little different and a little more original. Also, darker too please

  • September 14, 2017 at 12:24 am
    Permalink

    Funny story, was chatting with JJ at Apple’s new headquarters yesterday [he was there for the keynote] and apparently he wants to shoot a scene from lX in the main building.

  • September 14, 2017 at 1:43 am
    Permalink

    bad news…

  • September 14, 2017 at 1:43 am
    Permalink

    bad news…

  • September 14, 2017 at 4:03 am
    Permalink

    So everyone is flipping their wigs about JJ… (loved ep. 7, but yea, it was ep.4 rewound with some new stuff pasted over)
    To be perfectly frank I’m getting creepy hemorrhoidal chills over Terrio.. did we pick this guy based on his track record?

  • September 14, 2017 at 11:08 am
    Permalink

    Disappointing. J.J. lacks composure when it comes to keeping things real. Nice job on The Force Awakens but seriously, Rey Piloting the Millennium Falcon & surviving through impossible odds the first time she fly’s it? She can barely get the Falcon off the ground, 7 minutes later she’s the greatest pilot in the galaxy = Absolutely Stupid. At least J.J. could have wrote in the story that she had been flying it… At least then there’s a chance for it to be real. Even though I liked how Rey beat up Kylo Ren at the end of the Movie, the suggestion that I’m supposed to believe Kylo is going to make revengeful comeback is impossible now. Because of the insane rate in which Rey excels past Kylo Ren in the Force Awakens it, leaves absolutely ZERO chance of Ren beating Rey at anything ever again. In the Star Wars univers when “The Last Jedi” story begins, EVEN if Kylo Ren has doubled or triples his skills/abilities by then, Rey will have surpassed that x100 and probably more than that at the absurd rate she advanced in TFA. So Kylo has no chance to do anything to Rey in the Last Jedi and if he does then nothing is cannon then. J.J. needs to get real, slow down, let us enjoy watching her grow and advance, that’s where the fun is. The Story MUST be believable from within the world in which it is being told, if things don’t fit in that world then that’s where the suffering begins for most of us fans.

    • September 14, 2017 at 12:15 pm
      Permalink

      The thing is that except for Finn I have never seen a SW character say: I can’t fly that ship I don’t have the driver’s license for that kind of vehicle. They all seem to be car mechanics and IT experts so I give Rey the benefit of the doubt. Luke was a farmer and then miraculously knew how to fly an X-Wing and not only survive a space battle but also win it. All that while being chased by Vader, the only human who was good enough at piloting to win pod races. See where this is going? Don’t criticize in TFA what you immediately accepted in ANH. As far as Kylo is concerned he was wounded, mentally unstable, exhausted by Finn, bleeding and a cocky fighter. Now that his real training with Snoke starts I see no reason why he shouldn’t keep up with Rey who he knocked out 5 seconds into the fight.

      • September 16, 2017 at 5:57 pm
        Permalink

        Well, on your Luke topic I must present some counterpoints. First, as for him being an “IT expert” (not sure I fully agree with that assessment since he mostly had R2 do the heavy lifting in the movies, but whatever) we see that his family works a lot with droids in order to keep their farm going. So it’s not unbelievable that during his time working on the family farm – which was heavily dependent on droid labor – that he would pick up some technical abilities with machines. Second – to your point about Luke being an awesome pilot – there was some indication in the original movie of Luke’s piloting skills. Early in the original movie, there’s talk of Luke joining “The Academy.” I always assumed he wanted to do this to become a pilot – I guess mostly because of how he was “playing” with the model spaceship in the garage when he was cleaning the droids. Then later when he and Obi-Wan are trying to charter a flight with Han Solo, Luke gets angry when he hears Han’s asking price and responds with “I’m not such a bad pilot myself….” So there were subtle hints throughout the movie that indicated Luke’s skill. With Rey, this didn’t really happen. She was just awesome at everything and there really wasn’t much explanation. It felt hollow – unearned. But there’s 2 more movies coming in this trilogy, so we’ll see what answers the filmmakers provide.

        • September 16, 2017 at 7:37 pm
          Permalink

          The issua that I have with lot’s of the “Mary Sue” criticism is that people always assume that they know how things work in a galaxy far far away an then they continue to call it a plothole. I have no idea how much the average sentient being in Star Wars knows about ships an technology. We’ve seen Leia repair the Falcon in V and no one had a problem with that. She is a princes, how did she become a spaceship mechanic? Well maybe people in the SW universe are so used to technology that to them, evern repairing (an for that matter flying) spaceships is similar to handling a microwave. Almost everyone can do that except for the sheltered kid who never had to do it (Finn). Rey makes her living salvaging spaceships and is familiar with the modifications Unkar made to the falcon (which means she has been in the cockpit at least once). We also see her fly a hover-bike. Personally, that’s all I need to know given the fact that everybody seems to be able to fly all kinds of spaceships in the SW universe.

          There are a lot of “plotholes” that can be explained quite easily for those who understand that we don not assume to know everything about the SW universe.

          “How could Han and Chewbacca find the Falcon so quickly after it left Jakku?” Well Han mentioned they picked up it’s signal and I assume, that the Falcon needed to be “online” in order to send a signal. If your iPhone has to be switched on in order to track it down why not the Falcon? Another explanation could be that a ship’s signal is more difficult to find from space since the atmosphere jams the signal. Once it leaves the atmosphere the signal becomes stronger and thus Han and Chewbacca could pick it up.

          Another “plothole” would be this one.
          “Why is Han surprised by the power of the Wookie bowcaster. Do you really believe that Han has never used it before?” Well maybe Chewie has upgraded the bow recently or switched to a different type of ammunition. Don’t you think your friends would notice if you upgraded your Computer by adding a new CPU?

          People in 2015 somehow expect that all of these things are explained into detail no matter how unimportant for the story they are when they can easily make up the answers for themselves. We never learnt why Vader was a robot in the OT and nobody gave a f*ck despite the fact that this was a pretty big revelation. Nobody seemed to care that R2D2 in ANH was caught by scavengers (Javas) who happened to bring the droid to or main character (Luke). If BB-8 is caught by a scavenger (Teedo) and as a result ends up with a maincharacter (Rey) evreyone loses his sh*t. These are the things that bother me about many die hard SW fans. Their double standards are sometimes ridiculous.

          • September 17, 2017 at 2:02 am
            Permalink

            Whoa, Bob Ross remember you like to paint happy little trees and streams and mountains. 🙂 Don’t unload on me bro! I agree with some of what you say. I’ve grown tired of the “Mary Sue” label. At the same time, I feel that the exposition of Rey’s character was somewhat rushed and lazy – mostly relying on the charm of the actress (same can be said for Finn and Poe). For the most part, Abrams knows how to cast charming actors. I don’t think anyone debates that. But I don’t think he’s great at formulating a cohesive story that works from start to finish. Like others have said, he’s good at setting up the story – but has never been too great at satisfyingly finishing it. I like Rey and Finn and Poe. But all 3 characters were lacking a bit in their development (Finn not as much, but definitely the other two could have been fleshed out more). The next couple of movies could prove me wrong, but I only have one ST movie to go by right now. I want this Sequel Trilogy to be great, but I’m not afraid to voice issues as I see them. But I acknowledge the next couple of movies could properly address some of the issues some of us had with TFA. None of us know at this point, we have to wait and see…

          • September 17, 2017 at 3:09 pm
            Permalink

            I’m sorry I didn’t want to be mean to you. Must have been Military Bob Ross who wrote that comment not I-paint-happy-little-trees Bob Ross. Well if you ever feel uncertain about the future of Star Wars just remember. There’s nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend. I hope that helps 🙂

    • September 14, 2017 at 2:01 pm
      Permalink

      People tend to forget that in this final battle, Kylo was injured by Chewie’s crossbow. And they showed you through the whole movie how powerful that crossbow is.

      • September 14, 2017 at 5:09 pm
        Permalink

        Exactly. They show how it takes Stormtroopers and throws they around like ragdolls and how just the force of them impacting a wall alone is enough to shatter their armor. People wonder how she was able to beat him. For one, her story isn’t finished so we may have some answers to how she was able to learn so quickly. For now, we should be amazed that Kylo Ren was even able to stand after getting nailed by a bowcaster, barely stumbling when he did get hit and went on to fight 2 people after starting to bleed out.

      • September 14, 2017 at 8:24 pm
        Permalink

        And then they completely toss ALL OF THAT out the window when Chewie shoots Ben. See, that’s a problem in and of itself, not a solution to the OTHER problem of Rey.

        • September 15, 2017 at 10:58 pm
          Permalink

          Toss what out? That Ben could take the shot without flying in the air like the Stormtroopers? It only shows he is strong in the force and could absorb the energy of the hit…

          • September 16, 2017 at 5:38 pm
            Permalink

            Maybe. But I believe it was more for convenience of the story they wanted to tell. So many strange inconsistencies in that movie. But even the revered OT had some inconsistencies as well. All the Star Wars movies are perfectly imperfect – nostalgia shadows much of this for many of us….

          • September 17, 2017 at 5:38 pm
            Permalink

            Stories are not real life. It’s in their nature to have inconsistencies. It’s a trendy hobby these days to find all the “plot holes” in movies and proclaim them to the world via the keyboard. And it rarely makes one sound all that intelligent.

    • September 14, 2017 at 9:07 pm
      Permalink

      I think the biggest issue from epsiode VII was that very irregular script (What was Kasdan really doing there ?). I hope Episode VIII and IX could be safe from this problem.

    • September 15, 2017 at 12:21 am
      Permalink

      JJ Abrams to me was always a direct who relied on style over substance. Star Trek, Super eight and TFA all very much showcase this. And while pretty to look at; his films I argue do not leave much impact. Not that SWs should be some indie film, but at the same time I argue the best stories SWs, movies, comics, books etc; have always been adventure stories.

      A D&D adventure put to film, where each of our characters have a unique set of skills and learn about themselves and others. The sad part is that upon rewatching the movie, the stuff as the beginning is great. A bet I have issues with Poe Dameron and his dumb strategy, but good.

      It is the sequence of events that felt rushed. ANH, when rewatching it, I noticed just how many slow, intimate moments it had. Luke and Ben at his hut; talking to Han, training on the Falcon. Those moments helped set up the characters and their tribulations and the heavier stuff in the plot, I.E Alderaan’s destruction, Death Star. So really, Abrams only got ANH on a superficial level. Now, I argue that the acting is fantastic and really compensated, but even that went so far.

      What Abrams needs to do is really surround himself with A-class talent. He is like Snyder in that as a storyteller, he sucks, relying on his MB which is not good storytelling in my view. Ardnt and Kasdan’s screenplay wasn’t up to snuff. But bring in someone like Chris Terio and we are talking.

      My hope is that Abrams has listened to the criticisms and that upon watching TLJ and monitoring it; he has got some good ideas going forward. Nostalgia is like a veil. But like any mist, it eventually clears.

    • September 17, 2017 at 5:35 pm
      Permalink

      Good Christ. Are you kidding? Yep, Rey did pretty good with the Falcon. Who cares? Luke piloted an X-Wing through a dogfight and through the Death Star trench before dropping a torpedo down the Death Star’s gullet. It’s Star Wars. It’s fantasy. And if you’re that concerned about Ren’s doubled or tripled skill set balanced against Rey’s “x100” training…well…

      • November 5, 2017 at 2:11 pm
        Permalink

        NO I’M NOT KIDDING AND OBVIOUSLY I CARE BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS STUPID. Valid point Luke flying his X-wing but he had flown a small ship before and was already a highly regarded up and coming pilot. Regardless though it’s never bothered me but Rey, who couldn’t even get the Falcon of the ground, 5 minutes later is flying a much Larger ship through the inside’s of a Star Destroyer?? It does not work for me because it means she’s has already outdone Han Solo’s flying through the asteroid field in TESB.
        This hole in the story could have been addressed a number of Tiny ways. 1. Rey in some capacity HAD flown the Falcon before, DONE PROBLEM SOLVED!.
        Other options could have been A. Remove the scene of her flying the Falcon into the sand and buildings DONE. Another could have been B. Keep the flying into the sand/building scene and then remove flying through the star destroyer, taking less dramatic route off the planet.
        There are probably a hundred different ways this big hole in the story could have been adjusted in a small way but that’s where I feel J.J. as lacks discipline in his films.

  • September 14, 2017 at 1:04 pm
    Permalink

    This worries me. JJ is fantastic at beginnings, but has a pretty shaky track record when it comes to conclusions. I’m not so worried about it being “unrealistic” per se. They swing magic swords, and levitate shit with their mind, so I can accept a steep learning curve. Heck, I can accept Rey’s experience fighting scavengers in the desert with hand held weapons, is enough to let her hold her own against a gut shot, and badly bleeding Kylo Ren, who also has an injured sword arm. She doesn’t have the training with a lightsaber. It’s clear her own life has depended on her ability to fight.

    What I worry about is not having a satisfying ending to the saga. Everything we’ve heard about Episode 8, especially from Daisy and Mark, lead me to think they’re taking risks with the story, which is fantastic. I’m just not sure JJ is the best person to pay off those risks in a story that sits well, and makes sense. I do hope I’m wrong, as he’s done a wonderful job with many films, but he’s also dropped the ball from time to time.

    So for me, I care less about realism in department of laser swords and magic spells, and more about real, believable characters in a compelling story, especially in such an unbelievable universe.

    • September 14, 2017 at 4:34 pm
      Permalink

      One of the things he talked about was deliberately trying to not mess up with TFA, talking influences from other artists [he even mentioned Malick] and aiming for a more unorthodox approach.

      He also stepped out of his comfort zone by collaborating with different people for the movie. One thing I think he should do is work with a different dp, as Mindel still lends the same aesthetic across his movies, whether Star Trek or Wars. And another costume designer: Kaplan’s stuff tends to look a bit too cleft for my taste.

      So, if he can surround himself with the right talent, and take the right risks…alongside playing well off what Rian did, it could be a good thing.

      • September 14, 2017 at 8:22 pm
        Permalink

        Basically ‘if he can do literally everything different from every project he’s ever worked on, it might be good’
        (to be clear, I AGREE with you, but let’s be plain about what we’re talking about 🙂 )

        • September 15, 2017 at 10:38 am
          Permalink

          We have yet to see what Rian did.

      • September 15, 2017 at 10:40 am
        Permalink

        We have yet to see what Rian did. What are you talking about?

    • September 14, 2017 at 8:23 pm
      Permalink

      I could not agree more. Let’s put everything aside and look at TFA, not for a single moment until very end of the movie we got to enjoy music and MOMENT, slow pace. Those things are what makes movies epic. If it wasn’t for Jedi steps scene, one could not hear a single piece of john williams magic without blaster fire peewwing around

  • September 17, 2017 at 10:01 pm
    Permalink

    So a good new ! a co direction with Ryan johnson will be perfect !

Comments are closed.

LATEST POSTS ON MOVIE NEWS NET