It's incredible to think that almost eleven months have passed since we first heard that Disney had bought Lucasfilm, and was putting an entirely new series of Star Wars films into production. For those of you who were following this blog back then, you'll remember my initial reaction was anything but positive. As the news sunk in, however, I began to accept these earth-shattering revelations - describing myself as "cautiously optimistic" about the new trilogy.
In the months since then, this optimism has grown into full-blown excitement. Why? Well, let's start with a roll-call. As executive producer, we have Kathleen Kennedy - the woman responsible for bringing us E.T., Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Hook, Jurassic Park, and almost every other childhood-defining movie of the '80s and '90s. In the writer's chair we have Michael Arndt, whose ability to write deep and heartfelt scripts is clearly evident in films such as Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, and Brave. Added to this, we have the recent announcement that John Williams - composer of the incredible soundtracks for Episodes I through VI - will be returning to score not only Episode VII, but the entire new trilogy. Finally, we have the director. This role is by far the most important for any film - but particularly for an entry in the Star Wars saga. With the original Star Wars, George Lucas created one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of the 20th-century. But, as HelloGreedo recently noted, Lucas never seemed to fully understand what it was that made Star Wars so special. The fact that the second two installments in the original trilogy were so successful is most likely due to the fact that directing duties were handed over to others. It's probably no coincidence that Episode V (directed by Irvin Kirshner) is one of the most beloved films of the franchise, while Episodes I, II, and III (directed by Lucas) are some of the least well-received.
(Image courtesy of alluremedia.com.au)
In the months since then, this optimism has grown into full-blown excitement. Why? Well, let's start with a roll-call. As executive producer, we have Kathleen Kennedy - the woman responsible for bringing us E.T., Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Hook, Jurassic Park, and almost every other childhood-defining movie of the '80s and '90s. In the writer's chair we have Michael Arndt, whose ability to write deep and heartfelt scripts is clearly evident in films such as Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, and Brave. Added to this, we have the recent announcement that John Williams - composer of the incredible soundtracks for Episodes I through VI - will be returning to score not only Episode VII, but the entire new trilogy. Finally, we have the director. This role is by far the most important for any film - but particularly for an entry in the Star Wars saga. With the original Star Wars, George Lucas created one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of the 20th-century. But, as HelloGreedo recently noted, Lucas never seemed to fully understand what it was that made Star Wars so special. The fact that the second two installments in the original trilogy were so successful is most likely due to the fact that directing duties were handed over to others. It's probably no coincidence that Episode V (directed by Irvin Kirshner) is one of the most beloved films of the franchise, while Episodes I, II, and III (directed by Lucas) are some of the least well-received.
Given this, the decision as to who would direct Episode VII was an incredibly important one. When J.J. Abrams was announced for the role, I was absolutely elated. I spent my early college years obsessed with Lost, and to this day have yet to find another series which engages me in such a deep and moving way. I could spend paragraphs providing you with all of the reasons as to why Abrams is the man for the job, but for a far more enjoyable experience, I simply suggesting watching this:
HelloGreedo hits the nail on the head here. Not only is Abrams an exceptional film maker, but he also gets what it is that makes Star Wars so special. You can see the passion and respect he has for the franchise when he discusses his own first experience of Star Wars:
There are many who will remain unconvinced - and it's true that even the best production, writing, and directing team can make a monumental disaster of a film. But, for now, there's every reason to have hope in Episode VII.
How do you feel about the upcoming films? Send me your thoughts at relicsoftheforce@gmail.com, or tweet them to @Archon_Revuge!
How do you feel about the upcoming films? Send me your thoughts at relicsoftheforce@gmail.com, or tweet them to @Archon_Revuge!
