Disney not using Lucas story treatment for Episode 7

[Huttman]

http://www.cnet.com/news/george-lucas-says-disney-ditched-his-ideas-for-star-wars-the-force-awakens/

So this just came out. It's probably the reason Michael Arndt was let go from script writing duties. In another report it says that Lucas hired Arndt to write and Lucas was going to direct Episode 7 and have someone else do the 8 and 9. It was at that time he got an offer from Disney and he decided (his new) family time was more important. Can't fault him for that. Now I know Lawrence Kasden helped write The Empire Strikes Back and he is on board for writing the new script but JJ Abrams (writing) still really worries me. For all his talent he still does things in his movies that are very...wth? Fault the prequels if you must, but the plots are very sound and I do trust George Lucas and his story ideas. I do hope they will not be sorely missed with the new films.

 

[Brian G Turner]

That's only to be expected, and is good news IMO.

I always heard stories about how the people around Lucas helped him improve his vision for the original Star Wars. Yet that never seemed to happen with the prequels because Lucas was allowed to make so many errors.

IMO the team behind the new films at Disney are going to be very aware that they need to appeal to the original fans, and the newer fans - and I think they'll do a decent job. IMO we're going to end up with a story that's good and enjoyable - though it can never have the same impact that very first film had on us at the cinema.

Worried about the new Star Wars trilogy? No. In fact, reservedly optimistic.

 

[Parson]

I agree with Brian. I also have more than a little hope because of the title: "The Force Awakens." I thought the story lost much of its punch as the roll of the force was watered down. In the three "prequels" the force was little more than a passing little explained or needed energy.

 

[Huttman]

True that is. To be fair, though, I think that might have been intentional. All the Jedi were in a comfort zone of sorts where the wool was completely pulled over their eyes. By the time the original movies happened, the surviving Jedi had much more of an appreciated feeling toward the Force. While seemingly I have enjoyed the prequels better than many have, I always thought the story was rushed a bit. The two trilogies are modeled after each other but the universe and the events he tried to show got much bigger and 6 hours+ was not enough time to do it justice the way he did it. Now if Lucas had collaborated with others while making it this might not have been an issue, but suffice for me what I got. The Clone wars animated show flushed out many things the prequels lacked, also. The most amazing story arc was Yoda on a self discovery journey that showed him many aspects of the Force. Those particular episodes were quite amazing. But as Brian had said in another thread about the reason for Padme's death, one should not have to go to other sources to have a movie explained. True. I guess I'm just embarrassed a wee bit I did not come to the real reason for her death myself.

Still, it's not the creative choices along the way that is my meaning here. The structure of both the original and prequel films is an amazing multi- generational story arc and the events that happen in the prequels is nothing short incredible story telling. I trust George Lucas enough to have written a sound plot outline for these sequels. With Kasden on it they could be stellar. JJ Abrams ideas are so bad sometimes they pull me out of the movie (Star Trek 2009). I guess I just feel about Abrams the way many feel about Lucas and his creative filler in a film. Perhaps talent like both men have needs to be proofread a bit more. No man is an island, after all.

Personally, I feel to be a bit partial on the matter. I'm OK with that, they are just movies after all.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Here is my opinion on this topic and the two guys.

Lucas was brilliant in a past age. Indy Jones and Star Wars are two of my favorite franchises. Anything he has made recently has been crap! So in that way I am happy Disney has seen the errors and blocked him out. He must be completely out of the picture since he is allowed to say what he has said.

I think JJ Abrams is one of the most over-hyped people in Hollywood sci-fi. He can't touch the Nolan Brothers! I have never really liked any of his movies and barely even remember most of them. His TV is a little better but not by much. He kind of reminds me of Asimov if he had more well thought out ideas. The only reason I liked Star Trek 2009 was for nostalgia purposes. He comes across as a monopolizer someone who just wants to make money out of millennials with his huge weird advertising campaigns . Not to say, Lucas isn't the same, he at least stayed within in his own universe that he spent years developing to profit of off.

Lucas seems proud of his work while Abrams doesn't come across that way. Too bad they couldn't get some Marvel people aboard. They know how to make movies, and are one of the only people I trust in Hollywood these days. The rest have become too politically polarizing for my taste.

I'm still anxious about the fact that he has done Star Trek and is now doing Star Wars. I mean why not get Marvel aboard since they have Abrams? Guardians was great!

 

[Narkalui]

Fault the prequels if you must, but the plots are very sound and I do trust George Lucas and his story ideas. I do hope they will not be sorely missed with the new films.

"You are so blind! You so do not understand! You weren't there at the beginning. You don't know how good it was! How important! This is it for you! This jumped-up firework display of a toy advert! People like you make me sick! What's wrong with you?! Now, I don't care if you've saved up all your 50ps, take your pocket money, and GET OUT!!"

Later at the job centre, new Job Seekers Allowance claimant is being interviewed:

"Why did you leave you last job?"

"Got fired."

"Why?"

"Uh, a difference of opinion."

"Phantom Menace?"

"......Yeah....."

"Didn't you like it?"

".....Nooooo....."

"Well, you leave this with me. I'll get you some money out in the next few days...."

Heee heee heee!

 

[jastius]

I am just glad the whole portman arc is done. i didn't mind even jar jar as much as i did her. she only has two ways to act, (which as it may be is more then keanu reeves, but still...) first.. the smiling stuff.. next.. the crazy stuff... endit.

j.j. abrams is a risk taker that seems to pay off in his big visual effects, sweeping story arcs and intense character development.
in abrams movies, no one is just along for the ride, even if his franchise history bending can give you a bit of a tummy ache at times, you can usually get by looking sideways at the odd bits until they have past without inducing too much retinal burn or brain cell death through self immoliation...
so you can get out of the theatre only partially blinded and dazed... still able to drive home. with a tidalwave of a new picture under your belt. a good thing overall.
abrams pictures remind me of the original superman movie treatment by the richard donner and alexander and ilsa salkand team-up. not what you expected but in those unexpected ways a whole heap more.