Star Wars Episode VII - Where Will It Rank?

[luns101]

The Force Awakens will be out soon. My company is actually renting out a huge stadium for everyone from our site to see it for free (pretty cool little benefit). My supervisor is saying he actually wants to have a Star Wars dress-up day for our department. I thought that was pretty lame, as I was sitting there in a meeting, but then every other person in my work section said, "yeah baby, let's do it!" The hype seems to be growing beyond what I thought. How could they advance the story to be even better that what we've seen? I was pretty happy with the way things ended in RETURN OF THE JEDI, so why would they tamper with the "happy" ending to the saga?

What do you think? Is this simply a money-making venture with the beginning of the final 3 episodes (it's only going to be 3 right...not like the Rocky Balboa series which never actually ends), or will this escalate the whole STAR WARS story to even greater heights?

[thegreekdog]

As a self-proclaimed Star Wars freak (although not in the realm of dressing up at work), I'm extremely worried. To be fair, I was also extremely worried about the Disney/Marvel alliance.

[TA1LGUNN3R]

Is this simply a money-making venture

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

-TG

[waauw]

With the hype it has become, it's nigh impossible to meet the expectations. I'd already be glad if it meets the same level of the prequel-trilogy.

[jimboston]

It is a money-making venture.
(All major motion pictures are; including the original trilogy!)

Yes... it's a money grab.

It'll still be awesome!

[luns101]

It is a money-making venture.
(All major motion pictures are; including the original trilogy!)

Yes... it's a money grab.

It'll still be awesome!

Yeah, nobody intentionally funds a film to take a bath on profits (unless it's ISHTAR, maybe)

I guess what I was really wondering was opinions on whether they said to themselves, "hey, we can just about make the story go anywehere we want...they'll line up and pay whatever we want to charge". While I don't mind it being worse than the first (6) films, I really don't want it to outright suck. I'll never forget how angry I was after Phantom Menace.

[waauw]

I don't know why people dislike the Phantom menace, I like it. The again, the first time I watched that movie I was 10yo.

[Phatscotty]

Phantom Menace was bomb diggity. SW7 will not dissapoint

[KoolBak]

Completely pre sold out here....apparently faster than any other movie in history. Looking forward to seeing it once the hype dies out...

[jimboston]

It is a money-making venture.
(All major motion pictures are; including the original trilogy!)

Yes... it's a money grab.

It'll still be awesome!

Yeah, nobody intentionally funds a film to take a bath on profits (unless it's ISHTAR, maybe)

I guess what I was really wondering was opinions on whether they said to themselves, "hey, we can just about make the story go anywehere we want...they'll line up and pay whatever we want to charge". While I don't mind it being worse than the first (6) films, I really don't want it to outright suck. I'll never forget how angry I was after Phantom Menace.

The people running the creative side of things are my age... 40's. They saw the first Star Wars when they were kids, and have a connection to it just like us Fans do.

Yeah, they are planning on milking the "Star Wars Universe" for every cent it's worth... but at the same time I think it's a rich universe and there are a lot of good stories they can tell. I bet the new Trilogy will be awesome. They also have a Bobba Fett movie possibly planned; and a "Red Squadron" movie. I think these will all be good. At some point... 5-7 years from now... it might be too watered down.

Not worried about it now though.

[jimboston]

not like the Rocky Balboa series which never actually ends

Rocky V & Rocky Balboa I never saw.

The new "Rocky" movie... "Creed" has a chance to be good.

[jimboston]

I don't know why people dislike the Phantom menace, I like it. The again, the first time I watched that movie I was 10yo.

You're like my nephews... they saw that ate the right age, and liked it.

I don't think it's terrible... but it didn't "grow up" like my generation did, so we were (mostly) disappointed.

... also Midi-chlorians.

They kinda ruined the whole "mystical" aspect of The Force, when they created a way to measure it.

[muy_thaiguy]

One thing I wouldn't mind seeing from the Star Wars franchise at some point is the Jedi Apprentice series. It's basically how Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon first met up and became Master/Padawan and chronicles their adventures up to The Phantom Menace. Maybe a TV series or something like that would work. One of my favorite book series to read back in junior high.

[Phatscotty]

not like the Rocky Balboa series which never actually ends

Rocky V & Rocky Balboa I never saw.

The new "Rocky" movie... "Creed" has a chance to be good.

Rocky Balboa was actually REALLY good imo!

[Phatscotty]

It is a money-making venture.
(All major motion pictures are; including the original trilogy!)

Yes... it's a money grab.

It'll still be awesome!

Yeah, nobody intentionally funds a film to take a bath on profits (unless it's ISHTAR, maybe)

I guess what I was really wondering was opinions on whether they said to themselves, "hey, we can just about make the story go anywehere we want...they'll line up and pay whatever we want to charge". While I don't mind it being worse than the first (6) films, I really don't want it to outright suck. I'll never forget how angry I was after Phantom Menace.

The people running the creative side of things are my age... 40's. They saw the first Star Wars when they were kids, and have a connection to it just like us Fans do.

Yeah, they are planning on milking the "Star Wars Universe" for every cent it's worth... but at the same time I think it's a rich universe and there are a lot of good stories they can tell. I bet the new Trilogy will be awesome. They also have a Bobba Fett movie possibly planned; and a "Red Squadron" movie. I think these will all be good. At some point... 5-7 years from now... it might be too watered down.

Not worried about it now though.

Yup. All I'll say is Grand Admiral Thrawn n Jorus C'Boath

[jimboston]

Yup. All I'll say is Grand Admiral Thrawn n Jorus C'Boath

I read "Heir to the Empire" years ago, but I can't remember it.

I just glanced at the Wookieepedia entry for these two...
seems like a good story possibility, so long as it doesn't
conflict with the movie time lines.

[2dimes]

How can anyone compare it to Rocky?

How many Star Trek movies/series has there been? And they don't even have Jedis.

The happy ending closed that week then fictional life went on.

They even made a droid cooler than R2-D2, if you told me they were going to do that I would never have believed you.

[thegreekdog]

Yup. All I'll say is Grand Admiral Thrawn n Jorus C'Boath

I read "Heir to the Empire" years ago, but I can't remember it.

I just glanced at the Wookieepedia entry for these two...
seems like a good story possibility, so long as it doesn't
conflict with the movie time lines.

I think most of Star Wars fans know now that all the non-movie stories are out the window. So Heir to the Empire is out. That being said, I did read somewhere (see above - I'm a Star Wars freak) that Disney may bring Grand Admiral Thrawn in.

[2dimes]

I don't know why people dislike the Phantom menace, I like it. Then again, the first time I watched that movie I was 10yo.

I thought it was pretty good and my favorite Jedi is Qui-Gon Jinn. However, even though I know George wanted to make it fun and more friendly for kids.
(I appreciate that actually since I love watching the movies with mine.)

Jar jar did in fact make me angry too. I was shocked they could come up with something worse than Ewoks.

Then the attack of the clones worst love scene acting ever ruined the franchise so much for me I never bothered watching the final one he made until we bought the box set to watch with the kids. Now episode III is my current favorite bumping The Empire Strikes Back to second.

[muy_thaiguy]

I don't know why people dislike the Phantom menace, I like it. Then again, the first time I watched that movie I was 10yo.

I thought it was pretty good and my favorite Jedi is Qui-Gon Jinn. However, even though I know George wanted to make it fun and more friendly for kids.
(I appreciate that actually since I love watching the movies with mine.)

Jar jar did in fact make me angry too. I was shocked they could come up with something worse than Ewoks.

Then the attack of the clones worst love scene acting ever ruined the franchise so much for me I never bothered watching the final one he made until we bought the box set to watch with the kids. Now episode III is my current favorite bumping The Empire Strikes Back to second.

Have you seen the remastered versions of the original trilogy?

Talk about CGI overload.

[jimboston]

my favorite Jedi is Qui-Gon Jinn

Acceptable.

worst love scene acting ever

He was just a terrible actor throughout that whole movie.

Now episode III is my current favorite bumping The Empire Strikes Back to second.

Blasphemy!

[jimboston]

Have you seen the remastered versions of the original trilogy?

Talk about CGI overload.

I can deal with some of the CGI.

The little creatures in the foreground... the Storm Troopers riding those lizard things.
Those were OK.

The whole scene with Jabba the Hutt is ridiculous.

I could buy the idea of him hanging by the Falcon, and letting Han go so he could earn the money he was owed. I can't buy the idea of Jabba letting Han get away with stepping on his 'tail'. I know the scene was filmed with a human actor and they didn't even know what a Hutt looked like at that point... so Han walked behind him. Still... a Badass Alien Ganster would not have allowed some smuggler to disrespect him like that. It's not realistic! (sic)

You know what I mean!

If they couldn't have worked it in some way, they should have left it out. It wasn't needed, and it makes Jabba look weak.

[macbone]

They're going to be making Star Wars movies for a long time to come. Rogue One and the Boba Fett movie are both green-lit. Expect something akin to what Marvel's doing with their seeming never-ending slate of movies.

As for this one, I predict it won't be as good as Empire, but it might be as good as Sith.

I was surprised by Metacritic's rankings of the different Star Wars movies. I've always thought of Empire as the best of the bunch, but Metacritic's scores actually place the original Star Wars at the top:

The franchise so far:
91 Star Wars (1977) $1,130m
78 The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $625m
52 Return of the Jedi (1983) $641m
51 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $672m
53 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) $412m
68 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $470m
35 Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) $39m

The first number is the Metacritic score.

IMDB's rankings:

1. The Empire Strikes Back - 8.8 (#12 on imdb)
2. Star Wars - 8.7 (#17)
3. The Return of the Jedi - 8.4 (#70)
4. The Revenge of the Sith - 7.7
5. The Attack of the Clones - 6.7
6. The Phantom Menace - 6.5

The IMDB ranking is more in line with how I see the films.

I predict a 75 Metacritic score and a 7.9 on imdb.

[muy_thaiguy]

Have you seen the remastered versions of the original trilogy?

Talk about CGI overload.

I can deal with some of the CGI.

The little creatures in the foreground... the Storm Troopers riding those lizard things.
Those were OK.

The whole scene with Jabba the Hutt is ridiculous.

I could buy the idea of him hanging by the Falcon, and letting Han go so he could earn the money he was owed. I can't buy the idea of Jabba letting Han get away with stepping on his 'tail'. I know the scene was filmed with a human actor and they didn't even know what a Hutt looked like at that point... so Han walked behind him. Still... a Badass Alien Ganster would not have allowed some smuggler to disrespect him like that. It's not realistic! (sic)

You know what I mean!

If they couldn't have worked it in some way, they should have left it out. It wasn't needed, and it makes Jabba look weak.

How about putting Hayden Christensen in at the end of Return of the Jedi instead of Sebastian Shaw (the guy who was under the helmet of Vader in Return of the Jedi)? When I had bought the remastered versions, I had not realized they did this until I got to that scene, and almost threw the remote control at the TV because of it.

[jimboston]

How about putting Hayden Christensen in at the end of Return of the Jedi instead of Sebastian Shaw (the guy who was under the helmet of Vader in Return of the Jedi)? When I had bought the remastered versions, I had not realized they did this until I got to that scene, and almost threw the remote control at the TV because of it.

That was kinda sickening.