Thoughts on the possibility of another Star Wars Trilogy
January 16th, 2003 at 4:00 pm (Uncategorized)
On Thursday I posted a news item about a quote George Lucas gave to FOX News suggesting there might be three more Star Wars movies to come. The response to the news posting got me to thinking and made me want to elaborate on this news:
Lucas was quoted during production of the first three movies as saying Star Wars was a set of three trilogies. He was more recently quoted to say that he did not intend to make any more movies in the series. I do not have canonical sources but am sure that some web searches or a browse of news groups and discussion boards will yield a lot more information on those quotes.
Nick posted a reply suggesting another director could pull off three more movies. He is perfectly right. The last two movies to come out were ‘neat’ in every sense of that word. They were soulless, uninspired, well-polished showcases for the latest in special effects. If Lucas could hand the directing of a new trilogy to a director with a personal passion for the project great things could come of it. That seems most unlikely.
I attended a presentation at the Portland Arts College when the first three films were re-released with special effects added. The presenter was the Technical Director for the re-release of Return of the Jedi. He fielded all sort of questions, including some from annoyed fans who had seen the reconstructed first film and were unhappy with the results. One fan harassed him for the ‘Greedo shoots first’ debacle.
I first thought about this the original trilogy re-release and had the point driven home by The Phantom Menace. I considered boycotting Clone Wars (which my friend Michael amply renamed ‘Watch George Lucas Wipe His Butt With Your Money’) in a futile effort to show Lucas my dissatisfaction with his turn to the dark side of making movies that sell dolls to kids rather than movies worth making. I could not, however, become the only geek in my pack to have to leave the room when the inevitable discussion came up. After Clone Wars I can tell you there is no way I am helping the opening weekend box office returns of whatever crap he subjects us to next. Be sure I will go see it on a big screen, but if it is anything like the last two, and if rumors of a new trilogy prove true, you can be just as sure I will be banging the drums of war and demand an uprising and overthrow of this dictator who has desecrated a holy relic of geekdom.
sara koopman said,
January 16, 2003 at 8:47 pm
desecrated a wholy relic of geekdom. wow, that’s a great line. and how tragically true.
Nick said,
January 17, 2003 at 10:58 am
I give Lucas the benefit of the doubt, though. I just think he doesn’t know what’s good anymore. I’m not sure that he truly ever did. Star Wars is excellent. Empire has moments, and I realize some think it’s the best. By Return of the Jedi, the franchise was beginning to fail.
Honestly, I think there are some moments in both of the most recent Star Wars. The final saber battle in Episode I may be my favorite scene in all of the movies in many ways. You get a lot and it’s all visual. It’s a wonderful fight scene with a spectacular villain. You also have the wonderful contrast between Qui Gon (sp?) meditating as he waits for battle and the Darth Maul anxiously pacing. Things like that. Wonderful score, too. The podracing scene, minus the announcers, is pretty good, too. And Neesom provided a wonderful gravitas balanced well by MacGregor’s young Obi-Won. (I don’t think MacGregor is making the transistion to wise sage well, though; he doens’t provide adequate balance as Obi-Won to Anakin.)
I think the episode II had fewer great moments, but fewer truly annoying moments (the little Anakin in Ep I was a horrendous actor given horrendous lines, and there’s Jar Jar — ugh). And it did have some moments. Christopher Lee provided a great presence. That scene with him talking to Obi-Won is very good. The saber battle at the end is very good as well.
Every once in a while Lucas gets it right. I just don’t think he has what it takes to get it right often enough. That’s why I wish he’d give his wonderful concepts to someone who can execute better. What would a Tarantino Star Wars be like?
I think Lucas modeled Star Wars on movies he’d seen. He used them as a template and the concept was fresh in his mind and in his heart. I don’t know that he has that anymore.
Leopoldo said,
January 17, 2003 at 3:03 pm
If Tarantino were to Write/Direct a Star Wars movie:
Obi Wan to Anakin: “Did I ask you a fucking question? Did I? Well then sit your whiny pansy ass down and listen!”
Yoda to Palpatine: “Mmmmm… Bad Ass Mutherfucker does my lightsaber say. Soon, dead you wish you will be.”
Nick said,
January 17, 2003 at 3:26 pm
Obi Wan to Mace Windu: “Know what they put on their fries on Geonosis? Nexu milk. Yeah, they drown it in that shit.”
Mace Windu to Obi Wan: “I don’t dig on no banta.”
Leopoldo said,
January 17, 2003 at 4:09 pm
“You try a Jedi Mind trick on me in your sleep you better wake up and apologize!”
Princess Amidala to Anakin: “The one thing on my mind right now is not the color of my eyes ok? I know I have fucking beautiful eyes. They are my fucking eyes. What is on my mind is the cold robotic hand on my ass”
“We should have Jedi Knights for this. Not some pansy ass storm troopers, but real fucking Jedi Knights”
“What does Yoda look like?”
“He’s… g….g….green”
“Go on”
“He’s bald….”
“Does he look like a muppet?”
“What?”
[Takes hand off with lightsaber]
“Does he look like a muppet?!”
“NO, he looks like a CG Generated little spinning green death!”
“Then why you gotta talk shit about him like he is a muppet?”
[Obiwan uses a Jedi Mind trick to make someone forget what they were about to say]
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I break your concentration?”
“You kill anybody?”
“A few stormtroopers”
“No real people?”
“Just stromtroopers”
Nick said,
January 17, 2003 at 6:55 pm
Pubescent Anakin: “Why do I have a pink lightsaber?”
Council Member: “Cuz you’re an Ewok pussy.”
Ani: “Yeah, pink lightsaber is like pussy lightsaber. Tell you what, I’ll have a purple lightsaber.”
CM: “No some other padwan learner has a purple lightsaber. This ain’t a goddamn democracy, it’s a Jedi council. It’s our way or hyperspace. Which you gonna choose?”
Ani: “Forget ’bout it. This is fuckin’ beneath me.”
CM: “Your feelings betray you, young Skywalker.”
Nick said,
January 17, 2003 at 7:07 pm
Anakin upon his mother’s death at the sandpeople camp:
“I’m gonna pull out this lightsaber and get medieval on your ass.”