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Star Wars Prequels Movies

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Gets a Name 267

schwit1 writes If you feel a disturbance in the Force, it's millions of voices suddenly crying out the new title of Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens. The reveal comes as the movie finishes its final day of shooting (with many more months of post-production to come.) Although there were still a few days left of shooting, the cast of the J.J. Abrams film already celebrated their wrap party last weekend, following a bumpy few months of principal photography thrown into crisis when Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford, broke his leg on set in an accident involving a falling door on the Millennium Falcon.
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'Star Wars: Episode VII' Gets a Name

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  • No thank you (Score:3, Insightful)

    by TangoMargarine ( 1617195 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:11PM (#48328965) Journal

    I wasn't interested in seeing J.J. Abrams skullfuck Star Trek; if you think I'm going to watch him do it to Star Wars as well, you're sorely mistaken.

    Not even mentioning the name. After midi-chlorians...the Force is already awake...just no.

    • by jovius ( 974690 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:17PM (#48329061)

      At least Millennium Falcon seems to be in the correct shape.

    • Re:No thank you (Score:5, Insightful)

      by roc97007 ( 608802 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:30PM (#48329233) Journal

      The ST reboot really divided fans. I skipped boy scouts to see The Man Trap when it first aired, consider myself a fan of TOS, less so of the ones that came after, (when they transitioned from action-with-a-dose-of-philosophy to Endless Meetings) and I really enjoyed the reboot. Just sayin'. I even enjoyed Into Darkness.

      But regardless of what one thinks of Abrams, he wasn't responsible for the midichlorian silliness. Lucas had crapped thrice (some would say three-and-a-half times, to include certain aspects of RotJ) on Star Wars long before Abrams got his mitts on the property.

      I think Abrams has done good stuff and bad stuff and stupid stuff. (The Enterprise engine room is a great example of "stupid stuff".) But I suspect, whatever he does with Star Wars, it'll be better than The Phantom Menace. (I still think Lucas must have had a stroke while they were in planning for TPM, and everyone was too frightened of him to mention that he wasn't making sense anymore.)

      • by geekoid ( 135745 )

        what? the engine room was one of the smartest things he did.
        TOS engineering room could in no way support everything 430 people would need on a 5 year mission.

        • what? the engine room was one of the smartest things he did.
          TOS engineering room could in no way support everything 430 people would need on a 5 year mission.

          The size of the engine room, agreed. The design (in the first film) not so much. (It did improve in the second film.)

          You're absolutely right about TOS engineering room, it was a cheap, dinky set. But I watch TOS with the expectation that the sets aren't going to be any better than you'd see in a stage play. But in the reboot, I expected more high tech, less brewery.

      • The ST reboot really divided fans. I skipped boy scouts to see The Man Trap when it first aired, consider myself a fan of TOS, less so of the ones that came after, (when they transitioned from action-with-a-dose-of-philosophy to Endless Meetings) and I really enjoyed the reboot. Just sayin'. I even enjoyed Into Darkness.

        I like "classic" Trek because it is actually optimistic and tries to make you think; the plot isn't about the Federation betraying some guy who then goes back in time and starts blowing up entire planets full of civilians while Chris Pine gets to smirk around the bridge of the Enterprise which has been conveniently given to him.

        But regardless of what one thinks of Abrams, he wasn't responsible for the midichlorian silliness. Lucas had crapped thrice (some would say three-and-a-half times, to include certain aspects of RotJ) on Star Wars long before Abrams got his mitts on the property.

        Yeah, no argument there. But I know better than to say, "how could they possibly do it worse" because as soon as I say that and go see it, there's a strong chance I'll find out.

        • > But I know better than to say, "how could they possibly do it worse" because as soon as I say that and go see it, there's a strong chance I'll find out.

          Agreed. Anyone who isn't approaching this film with extreme caution hasn't been paying attention. But there are parts of the advance information that gives me hope. Not the least of which, I think they realize they can't crap out another set of films like the prequels, and that they really want to get back to the "filmed on location in space" feel of

        • by dgatwood ( 11270 )

          Yeah, no argument there. But I know better than to say, "how could they possibly do it worse" because as soon as I say that and go see it, there's a strong chance I'll find out.

          I'm expecting a death star with a big round indentation and two smaller indentations to the upper left and right of it.

          That and a shot of the Senate in which you can see Donald Duck in one of the distant seats.

        • Re:No thank you (Score:5, Insightful)

          by Artifakt ( 700173 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @11:36PM (#48331431)

          Midiclorians is a special grade of boner - it doesn't make sense, goes against the existing continuity, AND if it's true, the whole moral stance of the Jedi is a lie (as in, they don't get more power by meditating, learing to control their emotions (all that stuff Yoda was teaching Luke in the original series), and somehow becoming morally fit to serve as the galaxy's force for order and niceness, their power comes simply from being genetically prone to high Midiclorian counts). Midiclorians mean no one can become even the poorest grade Jedi by trying to follow all of Yoda's teachings, even if they practice for their entire lives. All that talk about not giving in to fear because it leads to anger is just guff to manipulate the masses. This is all something the film that introduced Midiclorians specifically announced was affected by heredity, and the whole point is reinforced by Luke being a descendent of the most powerful Midiclorian bearer known.
                    With Midiclorians, the Jedi are genetic superhumans who lie to the rest of the galaxy and only claim their authority comes from their moral code and devout worship of the Force. The Jedi and Sith become nothing but two cabals of hidden Nazi Ubermensches, and whichever one wins will continue lying to the common people, practicing cynical realpolitik, but neither group will really believe in such values as truth, democracy, or freedom - the Jedi will just use their lies to put the old Princess system back into power instead of the new Emperor. I quit watching the series after that, because I fully expected the next movie would reveal Yoda was a cannibal necrophiliac and Han's grandmother was really Heinrich Himmler. Frankly, Star Wars would have to stand on a stack of Wookies equal to the total number of Midiclorians every Jedi in history was infected with, just to be able to see the slimy underbelly of the morally bankrupt ending to Ralph Bakshi's Wizards. (Which was repugnant, if funny, but much more palatable than what Star Wars became).

      • I think Abrams has done good stuff and bad stuff and stupid stuff. (The Enterprise engine room is a great example of "stupid stuff".)

        WTF? You think the engine room is a better example of stupid stuff in Abrams-Trek than Kirk being promoted from a (fuck-up, insubordinate) cadet to captain in the space of a few days and then keeping the captaincy after the crisis has passed? Or interstellar transporters, which would render starships entirely obsolete (if they didn't just ignore that implication)? Or any numbe

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      if you think I'm going to watch him do it to Star Wars as well, you're sorely mistaken.

      That's okay then. I've never given a moment's thought to what you think.

    • The first reboot that he did was a complete skullfuk, I agree.
      However, "Into Darkness" was actually pretty good. I was hesitant at seeing Cumberbatch play Khan, but damn, he did a helluva job. It's good.
      • I'm about 85% certain this is a Poe.

        So on the off chance it isn't, because sci fi is very serious business and we can't joke about such things, you have it precisely backwards about those two films. The first one was brilliant despite the lens flare, and the second one was a hamfisted attempt at fanservice.

        It is true that Cumberbatch's portrayal of Kahn isn't what dragged Into Darkness down, hence the lingering 15% doubt.

  • by rogoshen1 ( 2922505 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:17PM (#48329047)

    "Star Wars Episode VII: Belated Cash Grab" ?

  • by stewsters ( 1406737 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:18PM (#48329071)
    Star Sars Episode VII: The Search for More Money.
  • by kruach aum ( 1934852 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:20PM (#48329087)

    I like the name; I think it's good. The most interesting part of star wars is the force (and the jedi, as the primary force users). Suggesting that the force is central to the story by naming it in the title gives me hope.

    • Suggesting that the force is central to the story by naming it in the title gives me hope.

      Would that be a new hope?

      • Suggesting that the force is central to the story by naming it in the title gives me hope.

        Would that be a new hope?

        They'll wait until the first re-release, call it "a NEW new hope" and pretend that was the name all along.

    • by naming it in the title gives me hope.

      The title also gives me a new hope ...

    • Re:Pretty cool (Score:4, Insightful)

      by ifiwereasculptor ( 1870574 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:30PM (#48329225)

      The jedi were cool and popular. So they based the whole prequel trilogy around them, and we all know how that turned out. Sometimes the best thing you can do if leave the coolest chacter in the sidelines.

      • No, the focus of the prequel trilogy was human drama, which is never enticing. If it had actually been about the force it would have been amazing, but instead it was about fucking Jar-Jar, Anakin's anxiety, and stillborn babies.

      • The Jedi were cool and popular and mysterious. Once you got to see them in council meetings... well, takes a bit of the mystique out of it.

        • by PCM2 ( 4486 )

          The Jedi were cool and popular and mysterious. Once you got to see them in council meetings... well, takes a bit of the mystique out of it.

          What kid wouldn't dream of being a Jedi once he finds out they use their incredible powers and wisdom to go around the Galaxy sorting out tax disputes?

    • The most interesting part of star wars is the force

      I thought the most interesting part was a plucky group of democracy minded rebels against a huge, oppressive dictatorship.

    • To get all nerdy on you for a second here...

      According to the prequel canon, one of the two core aspects of The Force to begin with is The Living Force (the other being Unifying). So saying "The Force Awakens" is kind of like making a movie about The Beginning of the Republican Party, only said beginning is set in 2008.

  • by Ecuador ( 740021 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:21PM (#48329109) Homepage
    Well, it was supposed to be kind of an old wreck back in Episode IV, I guess by now it is a wonder it is flying at all...
    • by PPH ( 736903 )

      It will be revealed where Han Solo has been stashing all those NHTSA recall notices.

    • I wonder if this sequel will finally explain what happened to those Imperials who were knocked out during the Death Star landing in Ep. IV and stowed away in the smuggling compartments? I always figured one of them had woken up and subsisted on the corpses of the other ones while sneaking around in the bowels of the ship causing havoc. That's why there are so many mechanical problems with the MF later in the OT.
  • Given that the Star Wars franchise is owned by Disney now, we should be thankful the title isn't:
    Star Wars Episode VII: It's a Small Universe After All
  • My predictions (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Aboroth ( 1841308 ) on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:23PM (#48329139)
    Here's what I expect, in so specific order.

    1.) Lens flares, so you can't see what's happening clearly!
    2.) Shaky cam, so you can't focus on anything happening!
    3.) Ultra-close-up action, so you don't know who is doing what in fights!
    4.) Previously known characters acting against their established personalities, for no good reason, and against all reason in general.
    5.) Teal and orange! In every scene, teal and orange will provide the color contrast.
    6.) C-3PO and R2-D2 will appear for some stupid fucking reasons and tie into the mythos in even more unlikely and retarded ways.
    • Don't forget that the "lens" flares move independent of either the camera position or light points.
    • 4.) Previously known characters acting against their established personalities, for no good reason, and against all reason in general.

      This. Is. What. Will. Happen. Again. And. Again.

    • I almost forgot:

      7.) An awkwardly shoehorned in love story, possibly satisfying prediction 4 simultaneously.
    • 6.) C-3PO and R2-D2 will appear for some stupid fucking reasons and tie into the mythos in even more unlikely and retarded ways.

      For whatever it's worth, and despite some of the story issues it creates, I actually enjoy the droids being the thread that runs through all of the tapestries.

      To each their own.

      • It's easy to make the droids thread through everything when you suck at writing. They have no character development, nor capacity for it.
      • It was a good idea, but wasn't handled well. For just one thing, wouldn't Vader recognize the droid he had built as a kid?

  • by geekoid ( 135745 ) <dadinportlandNO@SPAMyahoo.com> on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:23PM (#48329143) Homepage Journal

    this takes me back to /. during the 90's.
    Sooo who are we pouring hot grits on now?

  • I'm optimistic... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Prien715 ( 251944 ) <agnosticpope@@@gmail...com> on Thursday November 06, 2014 @06:30PM (#48329235) Journal

    After the terrible new trilogy, I'm cautiously excited by the new movie written by Lawrence Kasdan [imdb.com], who had zero involvement with the episodes 1-4, but did write such films as The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

    They'll be plenty of eye candy (to be sure -- so did the originals!), but maybe having a good writer (who made almost all the Star Wars films you love -- and none of the ones you hate) means you'll have a good story?

    • by jdavidb ( 449077 )

      but maybe having a good writer (who made almost all the Star Wars films you love -- and none of the ones you hate) means you'll have a good story?

      I don't know if today's grown Star Wars fans will ever be happy. Nowadays it's popular to blast even Return of the Jedi. I think the sophisticated fans feel that only IV and V, or even only V, were any good.

      My memory is that when TPM came out, everybody on Slashdot posted that they loved it for about a day - and then suddenly the hate came in. I never figured it out. Suddenly it wasn't cool to like TPM, so everybody hated on it.

  • We milk the cash cow...oh, and Force Force something.
    • by SeaFox ( 739806 )

      We milk the cash cow...oh, and Force Force something.

      That's the next movie's title.
      Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Force is Forced

  • It's wrong already! (Score:2, Informative)

    by mitgib ( 1156957 )
    The Force is an energy field in all living things. It separates us, penetrates us and binds us together. If energy can neither be created or destroyed but merely transferred, why would one think it can be "awakened" or gone to sleep?? C'mon JJ, don't let us down!
    • The Force is an energy field in all living things. It separates us, penetrates us and binds us together. If energy can neither be created or destroyed but merely transferred, why would one think it can be "awakened" or gone to sleep?? C'mon JJ, don't let us down!

      Well if I can put on my "nerd glasses" for a second I think I have a theory on that. I mean assuming that Clone Wars cartoon show is still "canon" and hasn't been relegated to the "legends" category (like the expanded universe books/etc. And yes, I watched the whole clone wars series. Nerd.). Clone Wars (the one with 22 minute episodes, got canceled with some open story arcs) had some episodes about the dark side taking over, but out of the this imbalance in the yin/yang relationship resulting in a new gene

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