J.J. Abrams to direct episode vii

MyBrokenKnees

Making no comment yet on how I feel about this.

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/jj-abrams-set-direct-next-star-wars-film-exclusive-74596

Goldstein

The masses will be pleased.

ziedth

Taking on Star Trek and Star wars? Seems unlikely..... I'd be happy with him though

endacl

I don't know what all the fuss is about...

I'm a legacy fan I suppose. Episode IV was my first ever visit to the cinema. Magical. The second was Annie. Don't ask. My sister's choice was overvalued by the misguided parent paying for the tickets.

I have a huge irrational loyalty to those first three movies. Got really excited when the more recent ....... efforts....... were announced. Got really dissapointed when I saw Episode I, and gave up by Episode III. This one was a DVD rental. Couldn't be bothered to go out to see it on the big screen. Since, I can't help reappraising the original trilogy. And I have to say, If I saw them today for the first time....... well, they're just not that good, are they?

That's not to say I don't pull out the old boxset from time to time, but I have to admit its the nostalgia and the memories of loving StarWars as a kid that I love. Not the movies themselves so much. The anticipation of waiting as a kid, of hoping against hope along with my pals that of of the 5 channels (yes kids. FIVE!) available might show it around xmas. Getting a Scout Walker off Santy one year. A primitive lightsaber thingy on another. Is this familiar to anybody else?

So JJ Abrams directing the new one? Don't really care. Its not my StarWars. I'm not that bothered, and probably won't see it. But I hope it lights the fuse of a few good memories for some kid and his pals. May the force be with them

Myrddin

He's done pretty good with Star Trek, so I remain quite optimistic about the new stuff.

Take your weapon, strike me down with it and your journey towards the lens flare will be complete.

FutureGuy

My first ever post in Star Wars forum. Always liked the original trilogy but never as much as Star Trek. Like many, found the prequels to be joyless.

Very bitter sweet moment as a Trek fan. This announcement effectively ends his association with Trek which is a shame as he has done what no one else could have done...resurrect the franchise.

However, resurrecting the Star Wars after the last set of films is an even bigger task and I'm actually incredibly excited to see what JJ will do. I don't think the Wars franchise could be in better hands.

MyBrokenKnees

Ok a night to think about it and I think I am fine with J.J directing.

I am just hoping his partner in crime Lindelof stays away from writing the script.

smiddyboy

MyBrokenKnees wrote: »

Ok a night to think about it and I think I am fine with J.J directing.

I am just hoping his partner in crime Lindelof stays away from writing the script.

It's been 100% confirmed as JJ Abrams on the starwars.com website

Here.

With Michael Arndt writing the script. He is responsible for Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Brave and a few more upcoming films including the promising looking Tom Cruise Sci-Fi flick 'Oblivion'. (wiki)

I am much more optimistic about this as JJ seems to be at his best when directing other folks scripts.

ziedth

Little miss Sunshine and even toy story 3 are both very well written so all we the next big thing now is the cast..... I'm very gradually starting to get excited

endacl

smiddyboy wrote: »

It's been 100% confirmed as JJ Abrams on the starwars.com website

Here.

With Michael Arndt writing the script. He is responsible for Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Brave and a few more upcoming films including the promising looking Tom Cruise Sci-Fi flick 'Oblivion'. (wiki)

I am much more optimistic about this as JJ seems to be at his best when directing other folks scripts.

Sorry...

Tom Cruise, and promising.....?

In the same post?

I don't quite follow you there, chief.

downwithpeace

I don't really care who directs it to be honest but I suspect all lightsaber battles will now be like massive acid trips.

ziedth

endacl wrote: »

Sorry...

Tom Cruise, and promising.....?

In the same post?

I don't quite follow you there, chief.

At the risk of going off topic but IMO Cruise gets a very hard time he's been in some amazing films over the years...

downwithpeace

ziedth wrote: »

At the risk of going off topic but IMO Cruise gets a very hard time he's been in some amazing films over the years...

He might play an Ewok, OK low joke...twice in a row
He's a good actor but if he was to be cast then it would be better if it was a low appearence reacurring role rather then a main character, same for all big name actors.

Myrddin

ziedth wrote: »

At the risk of going off topic but IMO Cruise gets a very hard time he's been in some amazing films over the years...

Agreed, his personal life aside I think he's damned good at what he does. I'd rather not see him in the Star Wars universe however, he's too big an actor

Matt_Trakker

I'd no idea of who Abrams so looked him up, as a prodicer he's made a mint for studios, fare nuff, Disney want to make a ton of dinero, but Abrams list of directorial outings ain't really impressive.

Super 8: yawn
Star Trek: not a trekkie, so avoided it.
MI: III: was altight, nothing special.
Lost: crap
Alias: crap

As for writer, Michael Arndt.
Yea, everybody likes Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3, (Brave was brutal) & he's doing the next Hunger Games :eek: ......but y'know this is Star Wars. Will he be able to deliver a space rock opera?
I'm pessimistic.
Let's hope they don't make a complete balls of it like the did episode I.

peteeeed

the team involved looks good, im very excited about what they can come up with

melekalikimaka

i thought he did a good job with ST but sadly IMO left the diehard fans behind over luring new fans in, it was a big direction change, for better or worse, can Star Wars cope with the same?

Myrddin

melekalikimaka wrote: »

i thought he did a good job with ST but sadly IMO left the diehard fans behind over luring new fans in, it was a big direction change, for better or worse, can Star Wars cope with the same?

I think it has to really, Lucas left the franchise on its knees & in a near laughing-stock state. Something fairly different is needed, & I'm all for it

syklops

With Abrams on board it will have some major plot device that will go unexplained / unanswered. I will leave the cinema saying "yeah but why did X happen", and internet fora the world over will be alive with theories, and the sequel will come out and the question will be ignored and some other new mystery will appear.

This is the guy who produced a monster movie and never let you see the monster.

Myrddin

syklops wrote: »

With Abrams on board it will have some major plot device that will go unexplained / unanswered. I will leave the cinema saying "yeah but why did X happen", and internet fora the world over will be alive with theories, and the sequel will come out and the question will be ignored and some other new mystery will appear.

A la Episode 1 & 2? Confusing, overly complex & drawn out rubbish...lets face it.

peteeeed

EnterNow wrote: »

I think it has to really, Lucas left the franchise on its knees & in a near laughing-stock state. Something fairly different is needed, & I'm all for it

am i the only person in the world who loved episode 3?

i think jj abrams got the job because he made star trek look a bit like star wars .

syklops

EnterNow wrote: »

A la Episode 1 & 2? Confusing, overly complex & drawn out rubbish...lets face it.

Not a million miles from it anyway.

Turmoil has engulfed the
Galactic Republic. The taxation
of trade routes to outlying star
systems is in dispute.

Hoping to resolve the matter
with a blockade of deadly
battleships, the greedy Trade
Federation has stopped all
shipping to the small planet
of Naboo.

While the congress of the
Republic endlessly debates
this alarming chain of events,
the Supreme Chancellor has
secretly dispatched two Jedi
Knights, the guardians of
peace and justice in the
galaxy, to settle the conflict

I was in the cinema and i said out loud. "What the fu^%?" Taxation, blockade, trade federation, republic, senate. Have I walked into a meeting with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland by mistake?

peteeeed

JJ's TED talk from 2007
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang///id/205

Myrddin

peteeeed wrote: »

am i the only person in the world who loved episode 3?

Nope, I really enjoyed it. It was the 'Empire' of the prequels. However, two full films were wasted setting up the events for the third, so it needed to be good...

syklops wrote: »

I was in the cinema and i said out loud. "What the fu^%?" Taxation, blockade, trade federation, republic, senate. Have I walked into a meeting with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland by mistake?

Lol, thats more or less it yeah. Was such a shock to the system, hopefully & I'm confident they will, Disney & JJ knock out a belter of a film

peteeeed

will be interesting how Abrams will film it, as he originally wanted to film the new star trek sequel in 2D but the studio told him to do it in 3D (post-converted into 3D) and now he says he's a fan .

Myrddin

I think 3D is a given these days

Matt_Trakker

EnterNow wrote: »

I think 3D is a given these days

I always go for the 2D choice, don't get this whole 3D thing at all.

endacl

Matt_Trakker wrote: »

I always go for the 2D choice, don't get this whole 3D thing at all.

Agree entirely. Still waiting for the studios to get over the excitement of the latest gimmick. Every 3D I've seen so far, has been decidedly 2D in all other respects. Don't get me started on avatar...

'Get out of the tree'
'No'
'Get out of the tree'
'No'
'Get out of the tree'
'No'
'Get out of the tree'
'No'
'Get out of the tree'
'No'
'Well, we'll just blow the tree up then!'

Cue battle scene and patronizing moral message.

Credits...

downwithpeace

peteeeed wrote: »

am i the only person in the world who loved episode 3?

Nope, I liked it very much.

syklops

peteeeed wrote: »

am i the only person in the world who loved episode 3?

i think jj abrams got the job because he made star trek look a bit like star wars .

No I liked 3. I liked the darkness of it. I also have a soft spot for 2 because it was out around the time I was studying for my leaving, and someone gave me the score for 2 on minidisc and I used to listen to it for hours while studying Maths(other subjects too, but mainly maths). I would put it on, and I knew when the Imperial March came on I had done 1 hours work. A few times I had to check the time because it hadn't felt like an hour had gone by.

I got a B.

MyBrokenKnees

Episode 3 was good but it was the last of the 3.

What we now need and what J.J needs to do is open with a very strong episode vii and build from there.

syklops

MyBrokenKnees wrote: »

Episode 3 was good but it was the last of the 3.

What we now need and what J.J needs to do is open with a very strong episode vii and build from there.

And no more nauseating kids with thick American accents, or CGI buffoons with annoying speech impediments.

ziedth

I reckon he needs to come out swinging with the teaser, I would say most of us remember seeing the double bladed light saber for the first time, From that one scene I really thought it was going tl be special..... of course I was horribly wrong but the point remains the same.

Similar story with the Avengers with the Camera spinning around them and they all loading up..... got me very excited

doubletrouble?

i was asked the other day about j.j. and my thoughts were i dont mind who directs the movies as i've been sitting on the fence even though thinking about it now i'd love cameron to do it. my only concern with the next few movies will be the cast. a bunch of unknowns it would have to be. but as with the saga over the years these will no doubt be signed up for the next 3 movies. so if they fall at the first hurdle then i can see a huge backlash.
i've never liked hayden chris aside from jar jar he has been my biggest pet hate with the last 3 movies. so once he's not brought back in some way shape or form then it should work out.
the only conflict of interest i could see would be the klingons verus the empire. if i did have a problem with abrams it would be this. so yeah the more i think about it now the more i'd have to disagree with abrams as director. what next the klingons trying to take over the republic :eek::eek::eek:.

ziedth

I would worry about Abrahms myself, I was a huge lost fan bit unfairly gets allot of credit for the show. IIRC he had very little input after season three. The film that does worry me is super 8, I thought it was awful truly terrible and I can't believe it was so well received.

MI:3 and star trek we're both very watchable with the latter being the film that caught me most by surprise in a very long time. There is no doubt he is talented and if knocks the newest star trek out of the park then I'll be happy.

Liamario

MyBrokenKnees wrote: »

Episode 3 was good but it was the last of the 3.

What we now need and what J.J needs to do is open with a very strong episode vii and build from there.

Episode 3 was garbage. The only way it was good was relative to the previous two.