J. J. Abrams: Episode IX Will “Go Elsewhere” With Franchise; Prequels Will Be Referenced

 

J. J. Abrams managed to revive the Star Wars franchise in a big way, and he’s looking to close the story arc he started with the end of the Sequel Trilogy. One of the prevailing criticisms of The Force Awakens is that it’s supposedly a remake of A New Hope (even though it’s more accurate to describe it as a spiritual revision of the entire Original Trilogy coupled with several original story arcs for the new and returning characters), so there’s been a bit of anxiety from his detractors that Episode IX will be too predictable. However, J. J. Abrams is making one thing clear from the outset as he works on the script – Episode IX will be a new, original story.

 

 

Abrams was recently interviewed by BBC alongside Michael Giacchino on a recent segment of their radio program. In said interview, Abrams voluntarily brought up how his approach for Episode IX is going to be different compared to his approach with The Force Awakens (starting at 2:22:25, ending at 2:23:32):

 

British Broadcasting Corporation: …Both of these series that you’re involved with – Star Trek and Star Wars – they change people’s lives, don’t they? Little boys, little girls end up saying “That’s what I want to do. That’s where I wanna be.”

Jeffery Jacob Abrams: Well, it’s certainly something that I’m aware of now working on Episode IX – coming back into this world after having done Episode VII. I feel like we need to approach this with the same excitement that we had when we were kids, loving what these movies were. And at the same time, we have to take them places that they haven’t gone, and that’s sort of our responsibility. It’s a strange thing – Michael’s worked on things like Planet of the Apes and Star Trek and Star Wars, and these are the things of dreams. Yet we can’t just revel in that; we have to go elsewhere.

 

So it seems like the absolute first thing that J. J. wants to establish is that no, you shouldn’t expect Episode IX to be a mishmash of content from Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi under a shiny new coat of paint. The decision to make The Force Awakens draw upon earlier movies was largely done in a way to re-familiarize movie-going audiences with what they liked about the Star Wars series after the franchise hadn’t had a new movie in a decade. So by Episode IX, audiences are used to seeing Star Wars on the big screen again – and that means taking up the tough task of coming up with a story that will wrap everything up.

 

But that’s not all. A recent Reddit thread was just started by someone who just met with Abrams and his co-writer Chris Terrio, with photographic proof:

 

I got to meet JJ Abrams and Chris Terrio tonight. I’m now 100% sure that Episode 9 will be incredible. from StarWars

 

The poster specifically went on to claim that they got to speak with Abrams and Terrio, and while they obviously couldn’t spoil anything, one thing of interest seems to be that the Prequel Trilogy will definitely be alluded to:

 

“They said that they’re going to be brave and there will be big surprises. I got the impression that JJ felt like he had to refresh previous Star Wars moments for a modern audience in TFA, and now it feels like they have free reign to do what they want. Apparently they’ve had no interference from Kathleen or Pablo or the Lucasfilm Story Group. 9 is also the film which unites all three trilogies and brings everything together. That’s all they would tell me.”

“I worry a little bit that the questions I was asking were too leading. I was speaking to Chris and he was talking about the OT. I said about how I grew up with the PT and the prequels were my entry point into Star Wars. I asked about elements of the PT coming into 9 and Chris said about how 9 unites all of it. He said 9 definitely makes it feel like they’re all happening in the same universe, and there would be PT elements in 9. They could be visual or thematic – he didn’t overtly say that there would be returning planets or characters from the PT or anything.”

 

 

Interestingly, this insistence that this movie is going to serve as both the conclusion of the Sequel Trilogy and the conclusion of the trilogy of trilogies lines up with the kind of vision that Colin Trevorrow wanted to bring to Episode IX:

 

“By the time we get to Episode IX, I look at that movie as one movie, as three movies, as six movies, and as nine movies. It’s something that needs to honor a story that has been told over a period of 40 years… I don’t want to ignore any of it, and I respect all of it. It’s something I think the fanbase is going to embrace.”

 

So it could be possible that Episode IX connecting everything together was always on the cards, or it might be that Abrams and Terrio are reworking elements of Trevorrow’s take into their version of the movie. In any case, it sounds like Star Wars Episode IX will be well up for the challenge that following up The Last Jedi is going to present.

 

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

217 thoughts on “J. J. Abrams: Episode IX Will “Go Elsewhere” With Franchise; Prequels Will Be Referenced

  • October 19, 2017 at 3:32 pm
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    I hope this is true. Ignoring the clone wars era would be like ignoring WWII. It was a very important time in history that still affects the present.

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:38 pm
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      In fairness, they already did reference the clones in TFA – when Kylo and Hux are arguing and Kylo tells him “Maybe you should consider a clone army…..”

    • October 24, 2017 at 12:52 am
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      Well we’ve already seen a whole New Republic wary of using it’s military against a clear and present danger. NR’s timidness, I presume Mon Mothma’s to be specific, to not confront the First Order because of the eventual consequence of the Clone Wars – the Empire and the destruction of the Jedi – is a pretty big effect….because now the NR is a pile of ashes.

  • October 19, 2017 at 3:53 pm
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    Please, tell me again why I should believe what this man says?

    • October 19, 2017 at 3:54 pm
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      Because you desperately want to?

      • October 19, 2017 at 3:56 pm
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        Once bitten, twice shy

        • October 19, 2017 at 3:58 pm
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          A porg in the hand, worth two in the bush.

          • October 19, 2017 at 9:01 pm
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            Wonder if “Choking the Porg” will ever be a catch phrase?

          • October 19, 2017 at 9:49 pm
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            We can all but try

          • October 19, 2017 at 10:41 pm
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            Maybe a euphemism

          • October 19, 2017 at 11:07 pm
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            Or an euphemism?

    • October 20, 2017 at 3:27 am
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      Because he makes good films and is far more talented than you.

  • October 19, 2017 at 3:56 pm
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    Ok,now I’m pretty happy J.J. does ep 9.

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:40 pm
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      Sounds like a porno

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:02 pm
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    Samuel L Jackson about to get that phone call he’s been begging for

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:40 pm
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      Hi Sam … can you recommend any up and coming actors to play your grandson?

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:05 pm
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    I hope they go back to Coruscant.

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:06 pm
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    So the true definite end to the Skywalker Saga (which started with the PT). I’m sure we’ll have force ghosts popping up to say goodbye left, right and centre.

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:11 pm
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    I’m warming to the idea of J.J.’s return. I want something new from IX but I also want them to pull in the Prequels BIG TIME and put a nice bow on the entire story. Then move away from the Skywalkers and the Empire completely for the next saga trilogy.

    • October 19, 2017 at 5:01 pm
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      They wont pull in the PT big time, but it will be relevant in some way

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:24 pm
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    I wonder if any prequel baddies, besides Vader, had any offspring.

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:32 pm
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    I loved this!! I think that sometimes Lucasfilm leaves the Prequel Trilogy in the sidelines a little too much. The Prequels have some flaws, but is a integral part of Star Wars, and is so good in so many ways… Thank you JJ, for understanding what makes Star Wars good!!

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:37 pm
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    “Apparently they’ve had no interference from Kathleen or Pablo or the Lucasfilm Story Group”

    So JJ has been given creative freedom? Oh No!

    • October 19, 2017 at 4:39 pm
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      The fact that this is mentioned as a positive thing in the article made my heart drop.

  • October 19, 2017 at 4:40 pm
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    The prequel trilogy takes place between 60 to 70 years before Episode IX. I suppose it is possible to reference elements thereof, but the focus of Episode IX should be to provide a satisfactory conclusion to Episodes VII and VIII rather than a distant past.

    • October 19, 2017 at 5:41 pm
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      “….Rather than a distant past.” Agree. Hopefully they won’t keep referencing that distant past 30 years ago as well.

    • October 19, 2017 at 6:09 pm
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      No. Does one ignore the consequences of two World Wars ? Or space travel ? Or going to the Moon ? Or the Industrial Revolution ? Or religious fanaticism ? Or complacent Colonialism ? These have all had an effect on *today*, and the influence is on-going. The ST *should* reflect its legacy. As should Episode X of the Skywalker Saga 🙂

    • October 19, 2017 at 9:48 pm
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      Time travel, calling it now that C3PO will be reprogrammed by the FO and sent back in time to kill Shmi Skywalker before Anakin is conceived. Luke will follow to save her and through the force accidentally conceive his own father.

      • October 19, 2017 at 10:32 pm
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        Snoke = Skynet confirmed!

  • October 19, 2017 at 5:17 pm
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    Cool. I believe everyone knows my stance on JJ Abrams and TFA by this point, so I won’t beat a dead horse. That said, if Abrams does hold true to what he says here, great. I always love when directors admit to their mistakes/ listen to the fans. Ignoring the extremes on both sides(fanatics and naysayers), constructive criticism is an important aspect.

    And I will admit; at times I have strayed from this path, but now I reel myself in. And really, looking at this; I like what I am hearing. Like it or not; the PT is canon and I argue shaped a lot of what the OT and even the ST have at this point.As long as Abrams doesn’t use this as a crux for blatant fan-service and manages to incorporate these ideas, while also concluding the ST: I am in.

    Especially, given that Chris Tierio is involved. I love him as a screenwriter. Even with BVS which I argue wasn’t his fault.

  • October 19, 2017 at 5:59 pm
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    Hopefully there will be no hatred of sand.

    • October 19, 2017 at 7:31 pm
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      How else will people turn to the dark side? I though hating sand was a prerequisite….

  • October 19, 2017 at 6:45 pm
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    “Apparently they’ve had no interference from Kathleen or Pablo or the Lucasfilm Story Group.”

    That is not how that any of that works. This source is bullshit. Also they made plenty of references in TFA to the prequels I have no idea what people are bitching about.

  • October 19, 2017 at 7:02 pm
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    Cool. If they do this episode IX will be one of the best I think. To conclude a trilogy and entire saga would be awesome in one movie. I really don’t know what they will do after this trilogy. Another one or just more spinoffs? I’m guessing episodes X-XII would be about the next generation

  • October 19, 2017 at 7:11 pm
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    “The decision to make The Force Awakens draw upon earlier movies was largely done in a way to re-familiarize movie-going audiences with what they liked about the Star Wars series”

    I don’t buy this statement. Star Wars is a massive franchise and each of its movies is entirely watchable now as they were when they released. Each one forms part of an overall story. If they genuinely created elements of episode 7 just to remind people what Star Wars is then we should consider it a waste of a chapter when looking at the whole saga.

    I liked episode 7 but can understand why people would take issue with some of its originality. It still served a purpose. For instance Star Killer Base served its purpose by pretty much wiping out the new republic in one shot. Once that was done it wasn’t needed. It has helped set up the next 2 chapters where the First Order has an upper hand.

    • October 19, 2017 at 8:16 pm
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      the star wars brand, in a mainstream sense, was damaged by the prequels. Whether you like them or not. That’s true.
      The prequels also, on purpose, have a different tone than the OT.

      The ST is an attempt to recapture the spirit of the OT. More adventure and dynamic.

      Remember, that’s why Lucas said he started with the middle: it was the more action-packed, interesting story.

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:45 pm
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      I think “re-familiarize” was more a poor choice of words. But TFA was definitely made to evoke the feel of the original trilogy and restore confidence.

  • October 19, 2017 at 7:17 pm
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    i love that JJ is telling us exactly what we want to hear and yet some are still unsatisfied. can’t please everyone i guess. lol

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:35 pm
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      Beware of anyone who tells you exactly what you want to hear!

      • October 20, 2017 at 12:01 am
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        JJ for president.

        • October 20, 2017 at 3:21 am
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          He promised to build a wall between Star Wars fans and Prequel-Lovers, and make the Prequel-Lovers pay for it. He’s got my vote.

    • October 20, 2017 at 6:20 am
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      What he says means little to me because I don’t think JJ Abrams can stop being JJ Abrams. TFA was the only thing he did that I remotely liked and even it had a lot of the same problems his other films have.

        • October 20, 2017 at 4:04 pm
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          I hope you are right.

  • October 19, 2017 at 7:19 pm
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    Love the fact they wish to have prequels referenced more, ties the saga nicely together.

    Slightly concerned on taking IX elsewhere though and to be honest would prefer it if they wrapped up the Skywalker saga and tried a different time period. Though that would be a huge financial risk.

  • October 19, 2017 at 7:57 pm
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    I totally get making TFA so similar to the classic trilogy. A lot of fans who grew up with the originals (like myself) felt burned by the prequels and the special editions and we desperately needed reassurance that sans Lucas, the franchise could recapture what we liked about Star Wars in the first place. I think it succeeded in that and now, with Rogue One and TLJ, we’re getting some more originality. That’s why it’s so disappointing to hear J.J. wants to tie IX back into I-III. They’ve got great momentum going–let’s not take a step backward.

  • October 19, 2017 at 7:58 pm
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    The prequels were just so awful, I honestly would applaud any announcement that they were going to be retconned and totally redone.

    I can’t watch Revenge of the Sith without being sad. That movie is a fast, sloppy, hastily produced hot mess. Even Ian McDiamid has said so. Even George Lucas laments how awful Episode I was and has admitted many mistakes on this film.

    They are awful, objectively awful and the very artists who helped make them are distancing themselves from them. Good riddance too, but now we’re going to bring it back? Oh for the love of Allah, I do not think I could endure another Darth Plagueis is the answer to everything thread.

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:43 pm
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      I’d be shocked if they didn’t remake the prequels down the line. They’ll never touch the original trilogy, I don’t think, but going back to the prequels? The Clone Wars proved that the worlds, situations and characters of the prequel era are rich with storytelling possibilities.

      My bet is that they announce in 2027 (50th anniversary of Star Wars) and release in 2029 (30th anniversary of Phantom Menace). Just in time for the kids who grew up with the prequels to take their own kids to the remakes.

      • October 20, 2017 at 1:10 am
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        Thank you for a reasoned and eloquent response!

      • October 20, 2017 at 1:37 am
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        No, doubt Prequel remakes aren’t happening at all. It’s been said time and time again that the saga is already established. They should only move forward.

      • October 20, 2017 at 1:47 am
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        Nah, Prequels are not getting remade cause some older fans were disgruntled. SW is a generational story that has been free from typical Hollywood remakes. And the generation that grew up with the PT is more and more vocal as they grow older. Lucasfilm has been clear that they only want to move forward.

  • October 19, 2017 at 8:30 pm
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    J.J. Abrams and creativity. Name a more iconic duo.

    oh wait

  • October 19, 2017 at 8:41 pm
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    Chances are, the good guys will win, the light will defeat the dark and no matter how it is presented there will be folks that are prematurely inclined to make as many comparisons as they can and the looooove to complain on the internet about it.

    • October 20, 2017 at 12:09 am
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      I can’t believe it all took play in that galaxy AGAIN. Oh let me guess… it was far far away! Pffft! 😛

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:02 pm
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    so Jar Jar is back in 9

    • October 24, 2017 at 12:39 am
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      Gotta feed something to the Porgs.

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:04 pm
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    PT flashbacks (new better footage) in 9 may repair some damage and evoke new PT memories! Doubt they will ever be remade?

    • October 20, 2017 at 3:17 am
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      I want to see Jar-Jar in some of the flashbacks.

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:24 pm
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    Good to hear! I don’t need lengthy callbacks or anything, but if you marathon 1-9 it should feel like one story. Return of the jedi is a perfect end to the OT, but it also works as a perfect end to 1-6. I hope episode 9 ends the trilogy well, but also feel like part of the whole narrative. My biggest hope is that they don’t AVOID potentially important narrative possibilities (like anakin’s force ghost or the like) just to avoid the prequels.

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:26 pm
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    Fireplace scenes, midichlorians, and pratfalling space ducks.

    Yep, gimme more a’ that ol’ prequel magic!

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:21 pm
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      The hate is swelling in you now 🙂

    • October 20, 2017 at 12:30 am
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      I like how you make it sound as if the fact that the scene was by a fireplace was the problem with it. I would have called it the “weirdly unemotional love scene with terrible dialogue where a whiny horny douchebag seduces a woman who is strangely passive despite being an interstellar political leader”.

      I guess “fireplace scene” is shorter, though…

      • October 20, 2017 at 1:34 am
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        AKA “the scene in-between the one scene, where a super-democratic-anti-militaristic senator starts harboring feelings for a prick who literally just said he’d support a fascist dictatorship, and that other scene where she actually falls in love with the same moron, who just told her he mass-murdered an entire village (women and children too)”

        Yup. “fireplace scene” is still shorter.

      • October 24, 2017 at 12:39 am
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        So many of those scenes tho….lol…..ugh.

    • October 25, 2017 at 3:48 am
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      To be honest, there are a couple things I like about the fireplace scene. : D

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:27 pm
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    Give me a live version of Ahsoka, , maybe she was a teacher at Lukes academy , Maybe a brief but pivotal scene of Luke and Mara Jade

    • October 19, 2017 at 11:37 pm
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      Or not 🙂 Not everything needs to be “tied up nicely”. Not everyone/everything needs to be connected to someone/something else.

    • November 2, 2017 at 9:50 pm
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      a shame he is dead!

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:35 pm
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    This trash has no place on a reputable website. Posting rumors as fact is such garbage.

    People generally don’t know what I do, but no one knows it less than Reddit.Pablo Hidalgo added,
    Aaron Nagler @AaronNagler
    Replying to @SteeleWars
    Favorite bit is the “They haven’t had any interference from Pablo” bit. Yes, because @pablohidalgo interfering is the big fear.

    • October 19, 2017 at 10:45 pm
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      alright then snowflake.

    • October 19, 2017 at 11:40 pm
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      alright don’t get out your pram mate

  • October 19, 2017 at 9:59 pm
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    Has anyone said that they have to end this story in 3’s? Couldnt they just do another two with luke, rey, finn, etc… after 9?

    • October 20, 2017 at 3:22 pm
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      I predict that Lucasfilm may consider a movie set within the OT. Like, how about a movie set between ANH and ESB, and it stars the new Han Solo and they recast Luke and Leia. I don’t think this is out of the question at all.

  • October 19, 2017 at 10:17 pm
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    SO in otherwords Star Wars Ep IX: There Will Be Sand

    Tatooine was in PT and OT. They’re obviously going to tell the story of how sandpeople get revenge on the Skywalker lineage.

  • October 19, 2017 at 10:46 pm
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    Full circle at last … The climax of Episode IX is that Luke returns to Tatooine to FINALLY, belatedly, get those confounded power converters from the Toshi station.

    “Hey, Skywalker, these have been gathering dust on the shelf for well over THIRTY YEARS. It was about time you deigned to come over and pick them up.”

    • October 20, 2017 at 7:09 am
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      Tatooine must have the best layaway plans…that’s for sure.

      • October 20, 2017 at 5:37 pm
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        No payments util the year 40ABY!!!

  • October 19, 2017 at 10:51 pm
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    “I felt a great disturbance in The Force – as if millions of Prequel haters suddenly cried out in terror, and will never be silenced….”

    Not a Prequel lover here, but I try not to bash them either (what’s the point – they are what they are and they’re not going anywhere). If this is indeed true, let’s all just take a deep breath and at least try to trust that the filmmakers can pull this off successfully.

    • October 19, 2017 at 11:36 pm
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      The true problems with the prequels lie mostly in the execution and not so much in their constituent elements. Sure, a few designs were outright terrible, a bunch of characters were racist caricatures and CGI wasn’t advanced enough as a technology to effectively pull off what Lucas tried to do with it.
      The real issues, however, were for the most part in direction, writing, acting and the way those ideas were executed.
      Not only I do agree with you that a competent filmmaker can pull this off, but both TFA and RO proved that already, incorporating elements from the prequel with no detriment to the movies at all.

      • October 19, 2017 at 11:46 pm
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        I agree. Such a shame that the marriage between George and Marcia fell apart in the 1980s. Maybe if they hadn’t got divorced we would have a good prequel trilogy.

      • October 20, 2017 at 3:15 am
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        So, basically the Prequels were bad?

        • October 20, 2017 at 3:20 pm
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          Many of the ideas and designs were good, but the writing (storytelling, characterizations) were bad. So yes the resulting movies are bad.

        • October 24, 2017 at 12:36 am
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          Yup.

      • October 25, 2017 at 3:56 am
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        “The true problems with the prequels lie mostly in the execution…”

        Yep. The overall outline of the story is actually quite good. I love the idea of Palpatine engineering both sides of the war in order to draw out and weaken the Jedi before dropping the axe. And I love that before he does that, he has pretty much turned the Jedi into everything they’ve always said they weren’t. If only he was willing to hand these outlines over to someone else.

        Instead we get two-headed announcers, pratfalls, poop and fart gags, elected queens, jawa juice, General Grievous, slapstick battle droids, kid Boba Fett, and hoverboards for Anakin and Obi-Wan to float on during their showdown. Ugh….

        Yeah, I know, nothing anybody hasn’t complained about before….

  • October 19, 2017 at 11:02 pm
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    Hooray for more prequel love!

  • October 19, 2017 at 11:29 pm
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    Three questions from the Prequels that could be addressed, which could tie into the sequels:

    1. Was Palpatine behind the conception of Anakin? (And, likewise, does Rey’s origin have a connection to this?)

    2. Qui-Gon and the whole “balance of the Force” thing. (Could this tie in with what’s going on with Luke in the sequels?)

    3. Did Palpatine have help behind the scenes in his rise to power? (Was this help by Snoke?)

  • October 20, 2017 at 12:07 am
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    I’m not to worried about the PT stuff. Elements from it weren’t the problem. In capable hands I’m sure they could actually make them interesting.

    Like the Obi-Wan movie… I think it’ll work out just fine with Ewan and the whole shebang. This is coming from an unyielding PT hater!

  • October 20, 2017 at 1:28 am
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    I think that what they are talking about are subtle things like in Rogue One – Mustafar, Jimmy Smits, the line in TFA about a clone army. God help us if it’s anything more than those types of references.

    • October 24, 2017 at 12:36 am
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      I just watched a fan edit of Episode III with all the Bail Organa-Mon Mothma scenes added in among very good editing, and it blows the theatrical poodoo-storm out of the water. It even improves on Anakin’s stupidity.

      Who the frak edited that damn movie and got paid for it???

  • October 20, 2017 at 1:55 am
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    I want more of the same, remakes, because the originals are great, but i have already seen them several times. I want Return of the Jedi II

    • October 20, 2017 at 2:05 am
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      “Return of the Jedi 2: Ewok Boogaloo”

      If I don’t see Finn breakdancing with Ewoks, I’m gonna be pissed…

  • October 20, 2017 at 3:15 am
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    My head hurts.

  • October 20, 2017 at 3:25 am
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    Sweet, sweet tears.

    Oh the J.J. Hater’s respond to news with his name in it like Trump supporters respond to their Orange Haired Fuhrer having his behavior accurately reported in the media.

    This is going to be a RIGHTEOUS two years on this forum.

    • October 20, 2017 at 5:26 am
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      So I’m guessing that makes you a “J.J. Hater” Hater? 🙂

      • October 20, 2017 at 11:45 pm
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        No. Because hating someone or something takes a lot of time and energy. It burns you from the inside out. It literally depletes your soul, your life force, your whatever you want to call it.

        I don’t them. I make fun of them. So much better.

    • October 20, 2017 at 8:09 am
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      Episode 7 haters are assholes. Think of all the people you know in real life who hate episode 7, they’re assholes. Don’t lie. They’re self opinionated, unf***able and lonely. Every one of them.

      • October 20, 2017 at 11:45 pm
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        Nah. They’re not assholes. But the rage that some of them put on is pretty awesome to watch unfold.

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:02 am
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      Actually the J.J. Haters are like the libtards who do NOTHING but complain about Trump every chance they get (say… in a Star Wars comment section), and if there is nothing to complain about him, they go faaar out of their way (sometimes to a galaxy far far away) to find something they can nit-pick about so they can say his name again. You got it backwards there Ignorant American.

      • October 20, 2017 at 10:58 am
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        J.J. Abrams’ isn’t a vindictive, childish scumbag prick, unlike our current president.

        • October 20, 2017 at 11:22 am
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          Oh look… another misinformed sheep.

          • October 20, 2017 at 7:00 pm
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            No, a sheep would be someone who trusts an obvious degenerate conman and fraud, i.e. you.

          • October 21, 2017 at 12:50 am
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            I’ve news for you Crixxxx, you better brace yourself but they – the Bushes, the Clintons, McCain, Mad Maxine, Chucky Schumer, Obama, Nixon, LBJ, the Kennedys, most of Hollywood, the banksters, and indeed the elites of the West in general are all degenerate, fraud, conmen and women, so Trump is in good company.

          • October 21, 2017 at 1:44 am
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            Please. If Obama engaged in even the slightest bit of reprehensible behavior as Trump, he would’ve been impeached on day one. Stop trying to normalize and rationalize this piece of trash.

        • October 21, 2017 at 12:42 am
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          Pretty vindictive and childish comment there crixxxx.

          • October 21, 2017 at 1:41 am
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            I’m not president.

      • October 20, 2017 at 9:21 pm
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        Libtards haha. What a joke.

      • October 20, 2017 at 11:44 pm
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        Hook. Line. And sinker.

        Thanks for proving my point and lowering yourself to school yard name calling to boot.

        Less than a day to catch you, too.

        • October 21, 2017 at 12:21 am
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          I’m certainly no Trump fan, but isn’t referring to him as “Orange Haired Fuhrer” also “school yard name calling?”

          • October 21, 2017 at 12:39 am
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            Course it is, all these personal, nasty, childish and petty, comments from Trump haters demonstrates their glaring hypocrisy, indeed he’s clearly purposely pushing people on the left’s buttons and they are falling into his trap, hook line and sinker. He knows full well that many of them are ignorant, pampered idiots who’ve always been praised and who can’t handle criticism of any kind.

          • October 21, 2017 at 12:45 am
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            Sigh….I know, I get it. The Left hates the Right, the Right hates the Left. Everybody pick their side and spew their venom at each other. Aren’t there other websites for that? This is a Star Wars forum – can’t we just stick to Star Wars here?

          • October 21, 2017 at 1:05 am
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            Hear, hear. Now back to Roy and Lucy and Vinn and Bo.

          • October 21, 2017 at 1:04 am
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            I didn’t directly attack anyone except a public figure who is both a politician and a former celebrity.

            This other guy attacked me directly. There’s a considerable difference.

            And he still proved my point 🙂 Which makes me warm and fuzzy.

        • November 11, 2017 at 1:47 pm
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          You’re not too bright are ya there fisherman lol. “School yard name calling” …really? And what name did I call you? All I did was make a pun out of your username and situation. Talk about a touchy delicate “snowflake” am I right? 😉

          • November 11, 2017 at 4:34 pm
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            Yes, I’m not the bright one, since you took my random comment as a direct personal attack and then fell on your face trying to come at me in the process.

            And who’s the delicate snowflake who had to respond to something that wasn’t even directed at him to begin with, then bothered to respond 22 days later? LOL!

            Oh you Trumpettes are the best. Looking forward to taking our country back from you soon. Your tears will be delicious.

  • October 20, 2017 at 3:35 am
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    Hoping IX will focus on Dexter Jettster. Or the children of.

  • October 20, 2017 at 4:31 am
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    Aww, I was lookin foreword to callin tomorrow. Mr jabrams isn’t my ketle of tee.

  • October 20, 2017 at 4:41 am
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    Episode 9: Snoke vs. the Smoke Monster. Everyone’s dead, and/or it was all a dream. The end. Bad Robot logo.

  • October 20, 2017 at 6:21 am
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    To me JJ’s films just lack soul and that makes me sad for Star Wars.

    • October 20, 2017 at 8:06 am
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      What are you talking about? The Force Awakens has soul, so does Super 8 and so does Lost.

      • October 20, 2017 at 4:02 pm
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        I can appreciate that you like some of JJ’s work. None of it works for me so its disappointing. Sorry I am just down in the dumps about the whole JJ doing episode 9.

      • October 20, 2017 at 4:41 pm
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        Yep, the soul it sucked from E IV, and while I respect your taste, Super 8 was a like a bad Spielberg movie, with mystery box, wrapped in a “homage” discourse. That’s all this guy does, “homages”.

        • October 20, 2017 at 9:21 pm
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          “mystery box” is a code word for “I don’t understand anything”

    • October 20, 2017 at 10:56 am
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      Episode 7 had more soul in one scene than 7 hours of the prequels.

      • October 20, 2017 at 4:03 pm
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        TFA had better acting but the soul of the story GL was telling was lost IMO.

        • October 20, 2017 at 6:58 pm
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          The story of the prequels was complete nonsense performed by actors with absolutely no dramatic direction whatsoever from a man who has no concept of what a quality acting performance is.

          • October 20, 2017 at 7:16 pm
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            I see the story of kid whois fate was controlled and manipulated by opposing political powers to the point it twisted him into a monster. I absolutely love the prequels and how they connect to the OT.

          • October 20, 2017 at 9:20 pm
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            Really? I see the story of a whiny teen who brought it all on himself by making the wrong choice over and over again.

          • October 20, 2017 at 9:40 pm
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            I know you do and so do a lot of other people. But that’s not what I see and those films and the OT and how the two connect together influenced my morality greatly. GL was trying to teach kids what happens when you good and bad and what leads people down the bad path. He shows us both paths through Luke and Anakin. I love it.

          • October 20, 2017 at 10:25 pm
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            That doesn’t make sense with your first comment.

            “kid whois fate was controlled and manipulated by opposing political powers to the point it twisted him into a monster”

            That thinking negates Anakin’s choices.

            your second comment is more accurate: “teach kids what happens when you good and bad and what leads people down the bad path.”

            Anakin’s selfishness led him down the bad path.

            I wasn’t critiquing the morals of the prequels in my first comment to you. I was critiquing what you pulled from them, but it appears in your second that you did learn the correct lesson.

          • October 20, 2017 at 11:00 pm
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            I’m not saying you were critiquing the morals of the prequels or anything really. I’m just explaining why I love the films despite their issues with acting and whatnot. Both things are true.

            Both statemetns are true. Anakin was born a slave had to leave his mother at a very young age. A few years later she died in his arms on their reunion after those bad dreams. Both had a huge effect on him later in life and were outside his control.

            The Jedi and Sith both used him as a weapon of war tried to influence his growth as a person and his actions. Gain not Anakin’s fault.

            Anakin also made bad decisions on his own too. Killing the sand people, joining Palpatine, arguable marrying Padme.

          • October 21, 2017 at 1:40 am
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            It’s the story of idiots easily manipulated because they are idiots. No one in them acts with the slightest bit of common sense or reason.

          • October 21, 2017 at 2:22 am
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            Yeah that’s a common talking point against them.

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:20 pm
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      You must have missed Rey’s performance then

      • October 20, 2017 at 9:37 pm
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        What? No her performance was excellent. Highlight of the film. I liked SW7 okayish but there were issues with it such as the Han Solo death scene that I feel would have been better in another directors hands. You have to understand I am as much a hard core Trekkie has I am a SW fan. Plus I don’t like any of JJ’s other works (Lost, Fringe, Trek etc). So I very much tire of seeing JJ do all my favorite space franchises.

    • October 21, 2017 at 8:08 am
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      For me, JJ’s films are entertaining but lack emotional depth. They’re a rush of flashy slickness without any of the emotional pull and character trauma and well-timed development to get you on the edge of your seat and rooting for the actors (while still unsure if they will succeed). I guess others disagree and found more in Rey (for example) than I did. To me, she was a Mary Sue or too quickly went from fragile to Mary Sue. That being said, while he never reaches the heights of a classic, J.J. never reaches the lows of a Howard the Duck. Or to sum it up in another way, JJ will never make a Godfather 1 or 2, but he’ll also never make a Godfather 3.

  • October 20, 2017 at 6:28 am
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    I know many of you were first introduced to Star Wars through the prequels, but I still hope they REBOOT the prequels with better casting and dialogue. The plots and casting were HORRIBLE.

    • October 20, 2017 at 8:08 am
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      Casting and plot was the best thing about the prequels.

      • October 20, 2017 at 9:20 pm
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        Plot? Ehhh

    • October 20, 2017 at 10:01 am
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      My counterpoints:

      The argument seems to come up often that the casting in the Prequels was horrible. Well, let’s examine it a little bit. Liam Neeson is an Academy-Award nominated actor and I thought he fit the role of Qui-Gon Jinn perfectly. I also thought Ewan McGregor was quite good and very convincing as a young Obi-Wan. Natalie Portman is an Oscar WINNING actress and has had outstanding performances in such films as “The Professional” and “Black Swan.” Samuel L. Jackson has been one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood for almost the past 25 years. Ian McDiarmid reprised his role as The Emperor/Palpatine and seemed to have a lot of fun doing so…

      My point is, I don’t really believe it was the casting or the actors that were the majority of the problem – it was the DIRECTING and some of the half-baked, cringe-worthy dialog (I agree with you on that point). With better scripts and a better director, the Prequels could have been a worthy addition to the OT. Maybe even fan least-favorites like Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen might have turned in much better performances under the eye of a better director. Yes, I agree – some of the plot elements and story decisions were dubious at best (overemphasis on boring galactic politics, making the Jedi look like a bunch of morons, the entire character of Jar Jar Binks, etc.), but it wasn’t all crap. To this day I still think Darth Maul is one of the most bad-ass villains in all of Star Wars. Maybe not as bad-ass as Vader, but certainly more menacing than Emo Ren – I mean Kylo Ren.

      Direction and dialog were the main culprits in my view. Casting was mostly solid, with maybe just a few bad choices.

      • October 20, 2017 at 5:36 pm
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        I have no problem with the performances. The actors, primarily Portman and Christiansen, were HORRIBLE fits for the roles. Portman a senator? When you see Darth Vader, do you really picture Hayden in that suit? He was skinny, and his voice did not command any authority.
        The plots were stupid, too. He turned to the Dark Side to save his wife? He turned Palpatine in, and then bowed to him 5 minutes later?

        • October 21, 2017 at 3:16 am
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          I agree with the Darth Vader part mostly. Natalie should not have had those terrible lines. But they are what they are and there’s no undoing. Perhaps the next gen of talented filmmakers can make up for that (post episode 9). I’m gonna be optimistic 🙂

      • October 20, 2017 at 8:54 pm
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        When people talk about bad casting in the prequels they don’t refer to Liam Neeson or Ian McDiarmid…

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:19 pm
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      Won’t happen. Whether you like them or not.

    • October 21, 2017 at 9:21 am
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      A Reboot won’t happen but I wish they would make standalone films to address some issues that were unexplained or poorly explained like “Why did Anakin turn to the dark side?”, “Who finally kills Jar-Jar?” and “Why did the citizens so quickly accept the demise and disappearance of the Jedi?” I think the Clone Wars episodes flesh out some of those issues better than the prequels, but I would like to see a few more liveaction films to fill in the gaps and provide better clarity (and more convincing explanations).

  • October 20, 2017 at 6:29 am
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    Thinking on it more I like The Clone Wars and Episode III far more than anything Disney has done with Star Wars.

    I never thought of myself as one of those Disney Star Wars haters but the more I think about it the more I realize that its gone down hill since the Disney purchase starting with the cancellation of the Clone Wars.

    But it is a shell of its former self and I can only attribute it to GL departure.

    • October 20, 2017 at 6:36 am
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      Yes, you’re just now realizing your intense hatred for all new Star Wars material and the fact that Disney ruined your childhood or something along those lines.

      Sure.

    • October 20, 2017 at 7:13 am
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      I’ll just add that I don’t want to offend anyone with my thoughts.

      • October 20, 2017 at 8:36 am
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        Not that it’s offending but saying it’s downhill is kinda weird. For me it’s pretty simple. No Disney == No Star Wars.

        Sure there can be good and bad SW movies and we can criticize it for all we can but in the end Star Wars was given a 2nd chance, a new life and new audience, new generation. It’s either Stars wars fading and dying into the past or spouting a new life. I will take the latter.

        • October 20, 2017 at 4:00 pm
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          IDK that I buy that argument because they were making episode 7 and Clone Wars when Disney purchased Lucasfilm.

          • October 20, 2017 at 5:30 pm
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            They weren’t making 7. Lucas had ideas for the 3rd trilogy….but by his own admission, he’d had those for a couple decades and wanted to do nothing with them.

          • October 20, 2017 at 9:19 pm
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            But he still said he only decided to make them to attract buyers.

          • October 20, 2017 at 9:15 pm
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            That’s incorrect. Lucas started development solely to make the company more attractive to buyers. He was never going to make them.

      • October 21, 2017 at 12:16 am
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        Well, too late, your despicable praise for episode III and it’s Nazism and your hate speech towards multi gendered Disney – I personally identify as a cartoon mouse – has disrupted my safe space in a galaxy far, far away. I hope you don’t project any of your hate thoughts around telepaths, they are, after all, a minority.

        • October 21, 2017 at 12:27 am
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          I repent! George Lucas killed Star Wars and Disney is the saivor!

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:15 pm
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      (it’s never been stronger)

    • October 21, 2017 at 8:25 am
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      I’ve got strong likes and strong “meh”s about Disney. I’ve really liked Star Wars Rebels (particularly the season finales), thought Rouge One was good (and with a few quick fixes, could’ve been great), and even the short films for the videogames have been pretty darn entertaining. The only “meh” for me in the Disney-era was TFA. I think Disney played it alittle too safe and JJ was alittle too rushed in the story development. However, while Disney hasn’t produced a classic, they haven’t produced a cringe-worth film yet. And except maybe for the gang fight on Han’s cargo ship in TFA (which felt more like a scene from Big Trouble in Little China than a Star Wars flick), I don’t recall a cringe worthy scene yet either.

      • October 21, 2017 at 4:22 pm
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        I cringed on Han Solo’s death. It was so on the nose, couldn’t believe it made it in the final movie like that.

        • October 22, 2017 at 6:08 am
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          I can understand that. Honestly, I hate to say it (it feels like blasphemy to me), but Harrison Ford just came off as an old man in the film to me, and he’s death was kindda like a mercy killing because I didn’t want to see old Han try to run around with a blaster like young Han anymore. Still like so much of the film, the scene was rushed.

  • October 20, 2017 at 7:12 am
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    End Episode 9 with a short clip of Jar Jar saying……MEEEESA BACK !!! This would complete the circle in my book.

    • October 21, 2017 at 1:42 am
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      Dude you just killed me with this comment. LMFAO

  • October 20, 2017 at 8:45 am
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    A modern audience had to be reintroduced?? How does that make any sense?? So 7 & 8 are just there so we get used to seeing Star Wars on the big screen and then 9 is actually a new movie?? I’m so confused… do 7 & 8 even matter then???

    • October 20, 2017 at 10:54 am
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      After the prequels drove Star Wars off a cliff, yes, we did need to be reintroduced to what made Star Wars so great to begin with. And this is true of TFA, not saying that TLJ won’t have its own uniqueness.

      • October 20, 2017 at 4:16 pm
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        I feel that you are exactly correct! As many fans including myself felt very underwhelmed by the prequels, I think we needed to be an a “safe place” and get back to basics. I enjoyed the prequels well enough, but felt very underwhelmed.

        I liked TFA quite a bit and I would be utterly blind if I didn’t notice the similarities to ANH. That being said, I think the movie was great. I know that the prequels were made to have a different feel, but in many ways it just didn’t feel like Star Wars to me. Funny that video games such as SWTOR felt more like Star Wars than the prequels did, and those took place some 3000 years before ANH.

        No offense to Lucas, but it is almost as though the fans know what make the franchise good better than the creator.

      • October 22, 2017 at 1:09 am
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        ^^^noob^^^

    • October 20, 2017 at 12:39 pm
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      What makes you think Ep8 is reintroducing the audience to SW again? That was TFA’s job.

      Ep8 is gonna be the fun part

    • October 20, 2017 at 1:52 pm
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      Thats just JJ’s excuse for being lazy and unoriginal with TFA.

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:14 pm
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      Yeah, notice how TFA made a ton more money than any of the prequels?

      Because mainstream, casual audiences were turned off. TFA was a conscious decision to call back to the OT and remind them what they loved about SW.

      And it worked.

      • October 23, 2017 at 8:44 am
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        LOL, I love this answer.

        There’s this little statistic called “adjusted for inflation”.

        With that, TFA made only slightly more than TPM.

        • October 23, 2017 at 3:42 pm
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          I love your even more because it tries to use stats to undermine what I said, but leaves off the key details that undermines what you said.

          Adjusted for inflation, a largely useless stat used by people like you to discredit things they don’t like.

          Adjusted for inflation is inaccurate due to the fact that it doesn’t account for several things, notably:

          1. United States has added two more states and more than doubled its population in the past 70 years.

          2. For example, in 1970 movie tickets cost $1.55 or about $6.68 in inflation adjusted dollars, which is HIGHER than today’s average ticket price. In 1980, movie prices adjusted for inflation are LESS than what they are today. So it’s basically useless.
          BUT…even though I just shredded that, let’s examine these numbers, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION:
          TPM made 806 million while TFA made 965 million.

          That’s still a lot higher.

          And when you examine what AOTC made (477 million) and ROTS (529 million), you start to see that my original response, which you rightfully loved, was very accurate.

          Thank you. I hope this has been enlightening.

      • October 24, 2017 at 7:55 pm
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        Just remember…the fact of how long it had been since a SW had been released and the fact that the “big 3” would return was a guarantee that this movie was going to make that kind of money no matter what.

        So, anything they would have done with those characters returning was going to bring in audiences.

        • October 25, 2017 at 3:08 pm
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          You are half right.

          The anticipation meant it would make a ton of money.

          The act that it was good and people loved is why it made THAT KIND OF MONEY. NO ONE expected that kind of thing and it will likely never be duplicated.

          For proof, see how little it dropped week to week.

          Biggest second weekend – $149.2 million. Its second weekend was also the 12th highest grossing weekend of all-time.

          Biggest third weekend – $90.2 million.

          • October 25, 2017 at 3:56 pm
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            I can’t argue with the numbers except to say there are plenty that have made a ton and still not great movies. of course we may disagree on those as well.
            I’ve been saying it for a long time though…after the shine of 7 wears off, it won’t be seen as such a great movie. You are beginning to hear that a little more already. Especially after JJ’s recent comments regarding it as a soft reboot (TFA)…I know not his exact words…but certainly what he was referring to and the fact he’s trying not to do that with episode 9.

            IMO…7 was weakest of the 7 from a story perspective. You Love it, great! I’m still gonna watch them all and call out the bad. You just seem incapable of admitting anything was wrong with 7. And just point at the numbers…thats why we still believe your a Disney PR guy. right?

          • October 25, 2017 at 8:36 pm
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            JJ has said from the start that this was an attempt to remind audiences of the reasons they loved Star Wars in the beginning. He hasn’t run from that at all.

            I have said plenty that is wrong with TFA, sorry you haven’t been paying attention.

            but as I said, the reasons people give are usually pretty inane or are things that happened in the OT or PT, but they suddenly have an issue with it now.

            For example, the film is a bit too rushed at times, it seems there was some Han/Rey backstory that was re-edited, Rey does learn force stuff rather quickly, the lack of Luke, Carrie’s acting and dialogue, Snoke, the unexplained politics and unclear which planet is being blown up, Starkiller Base, etc…

            I recognize all of those as faults. And I still think it’s a fun, great movie.

            AOTC is easily the weakest from a story perspective to me. And I can go on about that and I still like it.

            So believe what you want. I have been a Star Wars fan my entire life. I have forgotten more than most people know about this franchise. And I don’t care what you think about a movie as long as you can debate its faults in reasonable manner.

            Most can’t. I call em out. Sucks for them.

            Also, Beauty and the Beast (the remake ) is garbage and an uncreative cash-in.

            Disney PR can suck it.

          • October 25, 2017 at 9:51 pm
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            ok…now we’re talking! We do have one thing in common, no matter how much I disliked TFA,,,I love SW and will watch them all!

            now, stop speaking untruths about my beloved EU! LOL

          • October 25, 2017 at 10:15 pm
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            haha heyv, I love the EU. I own and read every single book. And it was a hot mess and I was weary at the end. A fresh start is the best thing.

          • October 25, 2017 at 10:36 pm
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            man, I loved it…you know Lucas got involved with the whole Abeloth bit, as it went along with the Morris arc on TCW series. I would loved for them to have done stories on Luke’s quest Jedi knights, searching for Morris! Hot mess…man, wth? lol

          • October 26, 2017 at 2:04 am
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            Lucas usually stayed far away from the EU and never considered it a part of his own universe so I doubt he got involved with Abeloth. More likely, it was publishing that decided to tie her to the Mortis arc.

            And for the tiebreaker we go to Pablo:

            https://twitter.com/pablohidalgo/status/923324029255036928

            I will say that Dark Empire is when my 13 year old self decided the EU was fun, but not canon. But I still read them all. Loved the X-Wing books and Thrawn and i think the Black Fleet Crisis is very underrated.

          • October 26, 2017 at 3:21 am
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            I’d rather ask Lucas….you know him too? that was a little to quick my friend…whom doesn’t work for the mouse, lol. So, you only liked the 90s stuff? Did you read the Abeloth arc and lost planet stuff? that was some amazing writing!

            Funny, my oldest son was reading all the youth books in early 00’s and I personally liked those as well.

            and that’s awful, the way you asked the question. c’mon man!

            We should do a show together…you loving SW stuff…me hating and vice versa. we’d drink beer, bring on people and slam each other’s perspective! whatcha think?

          • October 26, 2017 at 3:02 pm
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            Well, Pablo happens to follow me on twitter and he was active right then.

            And Luas has stated numerous times he didn’t care about the EU and even wrote his Episode 7 treatment disregarding it.

            You can easily find those quotes out there. They aren’t a secret. He didn’t give one damn. By his own admission. So he has been asked.

            No, I didn’t say I only liked the 90s stuff. I said above that I own and have read every book. I liked a decent chunk of the NJO and some of Legacy of the Force, but I HATED Abeloth and Fate of the Jedi. Just…ugh. No.

            Haha, I asked the question like that bc I KNEW the answer already. I’m something of a Star Wars expert haha. I’ve been following this closely since I could read, so I know how Lucas viewed things.

            Haha, sounds like fun.

  • October 20, 2017 at 2:00 pm
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    I really like what I’m hearing from Abrams here! I’ve been concerned that episode 9 would be as derivative and nostalgic as episode 7, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Feeling quite optimistic now!

  • October 20, 2017 at 5:08 pm
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    The guy is the king of the anti climax, anyone stick it out till the end of lost? I did I’m sorry to say. Star Trek reboot-the khan scream reboot was tragic. Episode 7, don’t get me started. I have genuinely high hopes for episode 8, because this guy is not involved, only to hear that he’s back for 9, big ffs from everyone(including me) who thought episode 7 was a waste of time. Been much more into rebels has kept closer to the true essence of Star Wars..

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:13 pm
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      You know he was only involved in the pilot of Lost right? The very first episode and nothing else?

      Helps if you know what he has actually done.

  • October 20, 2017 at 5:32 pm
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    Reading too much into his comments, he is never specific or gives too much (hell anything!) away. Look at VII, there are way too many holes in it, even for the first movie.

    Anyway, anyone see the new toys out? I found a new speeder from the FO, red/black with a trooper. Remember the mini AT-ST patrol walkers from I think AOTC? FO has those too, with special troopers. Theres also this crazy FO trooper who has a rocket launcher shoulder thing, its built into his suit – think the name was Gaurd or Enforcer.

    • October 20, 2017 at 9:12 pm
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      Which holes?

      • October 21, 2017 at 9:13 am
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        While I don’t agree to the fervor that Blake Neff condemns all 11 issues he raised, I think he does point out some valid issues with TFA in his article. I only wish the article appeared on a non-political website, so his points wouldn’t be quickly lost in people’s politics about the host site. In fairness, I should add that some of those issues may be resolved in TLJ and IX, and some of them aren’t serious issues but rather individual taste preferences.

        • October 21, 2017 at 3:37 pm
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          I dont think I agree with a single one of those.

          Just to hone in on the Finn thing, Finn made a choice. Should he just not fight and die because his former comrades didn’t make the same choice? He chose to break away and is fighting for his life. This is such a simple issue that misunderstanding this calls his understanding of everything into question.

          • October 22, 2017 at 6:02 am
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            You raise a valid point, but I don’t think it addresses the criticism. Supposedly Finn is conditioned from childhood to follow the First Order, and then literally in a hour he changes his mind and goes on a killing spree of his former comrades. Honestly, a slow-simmer of Finn’s conversion (kindda like with Kallus in Rebels) would have been a much better and believable experience. First, he discovers an alternative message to the First Order training, he begins to have qualms about what he does for the first order, then he reluctantly switches sides (and also makes the infiltration of Starkiller base more believable as he opens the doors, lowers the shields, etc. for the Resistance infiltration team.)

          • October 23, 2017 at 3:44 pm
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            It makes sense that a decent person wouldn’t kill unarmed innocents.

          • October 24, 2017 at 6:05 pm
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            I think your conclusion is 100% correct, but to get there, you would have to assume that a lifetime of brainwashing had no effect on Finn so that he would remain a 100% decent person AND that a 100% decent person would almost immediately (and without serious hesitation or qualms) turn his guns on his former comrades. And that last part is the main issue that Neff pointed out. If I understand the First Order’s history and rise to power (admittedly, my understanding is limited), the First Order is a zealous, surviving fragment of the Empire. In many ways, it’s like the SS. With that in mind, can you imagine a lifelong Hitler-Youth then SS soldier disobeying orders without hesitation and then turning his guns on his fellow troops without batting an eye…and all happening within a day or alittle longer? Finn’s defection would have been a great story…except TFA rushed it to the point that it felt disingenuous and superficial. Compare it to Kallus’ conversion in Rebels. Admittedly, JJ didn’t have the kind of time that Filoni had but he could have saved it to the end of TFA or (as I think Neff pointed out), he could have changed Finn’s backstory so he is only a recent recruit of the First Order.

          • October 25, 2017 at 3:12 pm
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            Brainwashing yes, but there is still a core of morality, which is why Finn is the exception to the rule here.

          • October 25, 2017 at 4:10 pm
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            I could be wrong, but I think we are arguing two different issues here. I have no problem with Finn’s eventual defection to the Resistance which I think is the point you’re trying to make (my apologies if I’m putting words into your mouth). My quibble is how terribly rushed/easy it was done. In a vacuum, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but couple it with how rushed Rey’s force powers were discovered (or rediscovered?) and her defeat of Ren, the Resistance infiltration and destruction of Starkiller base, etc. I think that rush/lack of difficulty is what is driving alot of the issues Neff mentions in his article. Imagine if the same issues appeared in the OT: what if Luke met Yoda and defeated Vader in ESB, or if the initial attempt to capture the shield generator had succeeded in RTJ, or if Gold Leader’s trench run was successful? All of those films would’ve suffered.

          • October 25, 2017 at 8:31 pm
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            Sure it was easy and quick, but these things in movies are. Look how quick Luke got over his aunt and uncle’s death or Leia over Alderaan. Just part of the style.

          • October 26, 2017 at 8:58 pm
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            That’s a very fair point. And if that was the only instance, I could agree with you 100%. However, it bugged me that the “rushed” feel of the film continued through the film with Rey and the attack on Starkiller base. Perhaps it’s JJ style of an avalance of quick, slick, and entertaining moments, but it just feels “all too easy” and superficial to me. Obviously, alot of other people disagree. Oh well.

          • October 26, 2017 at 10:24 pm
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            I can understand that. It didn’t bother me, personally, but I get it.

      • October 21, 2017 at 9:51 pm
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        What holes?? https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8850324

        You don’t have to agree with all of them, I don’t, but it’s a list. I understand he had to leave room for the story to unfold, but there is no way it will all be explained.

      • October 24, 2017 at 7:52 pm
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        Good grief Deadly…you still cashing those Disney checks!?! lol
        7 just wasn’t a great SW movie.

        • October 25, 2017 at 3:11 pm
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          What a moronic reply.

          I ask because the average internet user doesn’t know what a plot hole is. Indeed, several people have linked to me an asinine article that is filled with complaints, but not PLOT HOLES.

          So forgive me for asking for clarification.
          As for your opinion on the movie’s quality, that is literally your opinion. It doesn’t bother me that people like you don’t like the movie. I just like to hear the reasons and they are inevitably flawed and misguided.
          You know, like the old EU was.

          • October 25, 2017 at 3:47 pm
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            nice try…not biting on the EU comment. Hey, I’m just having a little fun and poking at you. But please explain to me how my feelings and opinions about a movie are flawed and misguided. I certainly don’t say your reasons for liking it are flawed. whatever…

          • October 25, 2017 at 8:36 pm
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            You have every right if I said things like “Rey is the most original character in the Saga” which would be false, same as saying she is a Mary Sue.

  • October 20, 2017 at 7:26 pm
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    I’m still looking forward to Episodes X, XI and XII. After JJ’s done with IX.
    It’ll happen, you know it will.

  • October 20, 2017 at 9:08 pm
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    Jar Jar Abrams, King of Reboots, Lordprotector of Anti-Creativity evaluates the problem completly wrong. The problem with ep VII wasn’t that it was too OT. It was that it’s a mediocre and depthless action flick we’ve seen already a thousand times. Star Wars is more than that. Or at least it used to be…

    With him on board again, there is little hope for ep IX. Our last chance of having a good Star Wars movie with the old cast rests with in ep VIII now.

    • October 20, 2017 at 11:56 pm
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      Yes, one of the Four Hackman of the aPoCalypse, alongside Kurtzman, Lindelof and Orci.

    • October 21, 2017 at 1:52 am
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      I wasn’t looking for experimental or artsy filmmaking with Episode 7. I wanted a Star Wars film that was thoroughly entertaining and made me care about Star Wars again. JJ Abrams delivered on that, and the results speak for themselves.

      • October 21, 2017 at 8:52 am
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        In many ways I agree with you. I wanted a film that felt like it was from the OT universe with grit, grime, wear and tear rather than the grand-CGI experiment of the prequels. And I wanted a straightforward story than a convoluted and overly complex plot. But as for characters (the other 50% of why I liked the OT and disliked the Prequels) I was hoping for main characters that brought new traits to the table rather than try to appeal to me by how much they remind me of the OT characters. After all, as much as I may like the new Luke-like character, I’m always going to choose the original Luke, the original Han, the original Vader, etc. Yes, the TFA newbies have some differences to the OT gang, but the similarities were too much in the foreground and drowned out everything else for me.

      • October 22, 2017 at 10:52 pm
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        I’m glad you like it. I wish I could as well… I wasn’t looking for an artsy film either. Being arsty dosen’t necessarily consitute good either (especially in recent filmmaking). I was looking for a movie that captures my imagination, like every previous SW movie did (yes, even the prequels). Ep VII to me has zero rewatch value. Every time I tried to rewatch it I found myself fast-forwarding most of the film. Outside of the “mystery boxes” and cliffhangers (aka when JJ had no idea where to go) there is nothing really to think about, which renders the whole thing to me pointless. The cinematography is dull, boring and way too small scaled for Star Wars. The editing along with the pacing is too fast and flashy, there is little to no place for the story to breathe… Just like your typical JJ action flick.

        To me the best thing to come with ep VII was the second teaser trailer. To me that trailer IS Star Wars. It perfectly reignited my imagination about Star Wars. The style, tone, music… all perfect. The final product? Disapointingly mediocre. All my hope for a truly good SW movie rests with TLJ and Rian Johnson now.

    • October 26, 2017 at 3:06 am
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      First, don’t speak for me by saying it was mediocre. Please say in your opinion it’s mediocre. To most fans and critics it was a roaring success. The prequels were mediocre to below mediocre. TFA was a well directed, good dialogue and well acted film unlike the prequels which were shockingly bad in my opinion and the opinion of majority of critics. I watched TFA 4 times in the cinema and most of the YouTube star wars channels hosts saw it more than once too. That’s why it had 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and made nearly $2 billion

      • October 27, 2017 at 1:12 am
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        I wasn’t speaking for anyone except me (although I’m not alone with this opinion). The prequels -while very badly executed- had an interesting story and greatly expanded the world and lore of Star Wars…
        TFA is just a bad copy of ANH, and deep down you know it. It added very little to Star Wars and even the few what it added was contradictory with the established lore (for instance Luke not doing anything about billions of people dying).

        As for critics… I’m not going to say they were bribed, I rather think they just fell into the sugarcoat of TFA and gave themselves to the immense hype sorrunding the movie and the return of Star Wars (exactly like after TPM, and look what happened to the reputation of that movie).
        I ask you to look up the user reviews of TFA on IMDB and reply to me how many positives have you found.

        • November 15, 2017 at 8:11 am
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          I admit I probably disliked TFA far more than it deserved. However, I wonder if alot of the positive reviews were based on what I call the prequel bump.
          In other words, alot of fans (whether rightly or wrongly) were so grateful that the film wasn’t like the prequels that they overcompensated in praise. Also, I wonder what the reviews would be if the OT never existed and so TFA wouldn’t benefit from OT nostalgia. Again, I admit being overly negative, but the film just felt like Save By the Bell: The New Class to me.

  • October 21, 2017 at 1:51 am
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    I get why some people don’t like TFA but Lucasfilm/Disney was playing safe – very safe indeed – with TFA. The prequels had enraged long-time fans (even new fans such as myself) so copycatting the OT was the safest way to make a new trilogy at least tolerable for them. Yes, they could have been more original with the plot, but considering that Disney had just bought Lucasfilm for hell of a lot of money I understand why they wanted to take as little risk as possible. And I’m sure JJ and Lawrence Kasdan didn’t have much leeway in their creative choices with Kathleen Kennedy and Disney bosses looking over their shoulders.

    • October 21, 2017 at 8:39 am
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      Your comment about KK is interesting. It is just me or has she had a much smaller presence on TLJ than for TFA, and does that mean we’ll have more original material in TLJ? It seemed like she was the main mouth piece and public image of TFA while it was being made. There were times I thought she was even alittle too anxious to be in the limelight. However, I haven’t heard as much about her in the days before TLJ. I wonder if it’s because she isn’t looking over the shoulders on TLJ or is there some fallout from all the director troubles she’s had with standalone films and Ep. IX?

      • October 21, 2017 at 1:47 pm
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        I honestly don’t buy into this whole “Kathleen is the corporate side of things” and I truly think she wants to make good movies. Gareth Edwards’ film was a little bit tone deaf to what Star Wars was, it needed those changes/reshoots.. and the other guys tried to make the Solo spinoff into a comedy. Rian and JJ are well rounded directors, who know how to make films which work for all audiences.. and that is why they had no issues with her.

  • October 21, 2017 at 2:12 pm
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    Is people here clicking vote down? Always respect all opinions, even the hate ones, but I think i will start one of this days. I don’t really know what happens when you put a vote down. It’s like some thermal bounty hunter bomb will explote if i do that.
    BTW J.J did a sublime work in 7. Can’t wait to see the visual aspect and the ark story from 9 too.
    We always see films with same stories and characters. Is the way is told and the direction part what makes a known story into an another good film (for exemple the recent Wind RIver, we have seen so many times the same story and still Wind River is a brilliant film). I know its SW but i really don’t understand the hate against J.J. No shaky camera, no stupid dialogs, no overacting characters… In my opinion of course. A classic and so effective way of filming which i loved it (comparing to silly blockbusters out there).
    I used to consider E3 a good chapter but recently i have seen 3, 7 and Rogue One all together and there are so many differences, and we can see clearly the flaws of visual and organic points and decisions (i like to think from Rick M.) of E3. Even confused interpretations like Natalie, Samuel or Ian (Hayden is not the problem i think) Still a good story but confused execution. I have mixed feelings.

  • October 24, 2017 at 12:26 am
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    We’ll see about that.

  • October 24, 2017 at 7:43 pm
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    ok…exactly as expected.

  • October 26, 2017 at 3:08 am
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    Well JJ did a wonderful job with TFA in my opinion. I love it and I am confident TLJ will be even better. JJ finishing the job is very exciting. If it’s as good as as TFA I will be very happy

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