Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

[BurtReynolds]

Why is he so serious all the time now? He used to be a carpenter for fuck's sake.

[Jorge]

Why is he so serious all the time now? He used to be a carpenter for fuck's sake.

File under: Things Probably Uttered Behind Jesus's Back

[bada]

That was funny.

[McParadigm]

This whole exchange makes me incredibly happy.

[BurtReynolds]

Its a good couple of pages.

edit: cue MindYourTanners appearance.

[harmless]

Why is he so serious all the time now? He used to be a carpenter for fuck's sake.

File under: Things Probably Uttered Behind Jesus's Back

Posting is as posting does. This post makes me glad it was and did.

[griffinxi]

I'm not sure why hating on JJ Abrams is a thing-- I feel like the guy puts out pretty sound stuff generally speaking. And I am as confident as one could get about these types of things that there is nothing he can put out that would be as bad/damaging as Episode I.

The new Star Trek movies don't "feel" like Star Trek movies...I suppose I agree to a point. There are a lot of shiny popcorn thrills in the new Star Trek movies, whereas I guess hardcore fans want an environment a little more...cozy? I don't know. I like the old ones just fine, but the new ones are fun in their own right.

[dimejinky99]

Han Solo and Indiana jones are kind of the same character. Or he plays them quite similarly.
Itd be cool if he could remember who again really was and get into that space again.

Abrams' shots are too quick from each to the next. He's not cinematic at all and Star Wars needs that to feel right.

[BurtReynolds]

I thought Into Darkness wasn't very good, but otherwise i think JJ is ok. Mission impossible III was the only good one in the series.

[Strat]

I thought Into Darkness wasn't very good, but otherwise i think JJ is ok. Mission impossible III was the only good one in the series.

??

I thought they were all trash after the first Mission Impossible.

[harmless]

I thought they were all trash

[BurtReynolds]

3rd ones got Philip Seymour Hoffman. thus it is good.

[epilogue]

I really like how they use formulas and whatnot in the third one. I'm not saying any of it is factual, but it made it more human and realistic somehow. And I really liked the action sequences. And it probably has, pound for pound, the best performances across the board. The plot's a little weak, from what I recall. But, yeah, the third one is probably my favorite.

[epilogue]

But I haven't seen Ghost Protocol, yet. So....

[E.H. Ruddock]

But I haven't seen Ghost Protocol, yet. So....

It had Jeremy Renner in it, you know it was good.

[epilogue]

But I haven't seen Ghost Protocol, yet. So....

It had Jeremy Renner in it, you know it was good.

I keep almost watching it on Netflix. Maybe tonight is the night.

[McParadigm]

Which one is the one where he can't catch a 60 year old stumbling man with a briefcase in a half mile chase? That's the one I thought was the funniest.

Oh, shit...and then he drives that car off a precipice and survives because he had his seatbelt on. Classic.

[McParadigm]

Dan Mindel cinematographering on 35mm film.

[McParadigm]

Disney chief financial officer Jay Rasulo spoke today during the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference and reassured the room full of moneymen worried about their stock portfolios that, “of all our worries, ‘Star Wars’ is not one of them.” And it's a very telling statement considering he re-confirmed "Star Wars" release plans, which will see a sequel and spinoff released in alternating years, with the latter to be an “origin story film.” Sigh. And from a totally cynical, depressing point of view, it makes complete sense.

Why was a "Cars" sequel and a "Planes" spinoff made? For the simple reason that the licensing from that franchise rakes it in more than any other Pixar title. And when it comes to Lucasfilm, which Disney bought, what will be the easiest, most boring way to cash in on that $4 billion investment? Keep printing the money that fans are already spending on all manner of products featuring the iconic characters. It's just simple math at the end of the day, and the safest course of action for Disney execs and shareholders (joke is on you if you think this is about what the fans want). And especially coming off two expensive, risky megaflops—"John Carter" and "The Lone Ranger"—Disney is not going to be taking any more chances and something that isn't a certainty or that can't predictably rack up ancillary bucks.

And if you want to know just how corporate this whole "Star Wars" re-launch is, well, here's an excerpt from Variety's article, which basically drives the point home:

Rasulo said Disney’s in-house licensing and consumer products group would devote the next year on brokering deals around the world to expand the reach of the “Star Wars” brand.

Given its much smaller size, Lucasfilm had focused primarily on U.S.-based licensing programs and then on toys and a few other categories. But Disney plans to expand broaden it into housewares and other merchandise categories the way it’s increased the vast variety of products that feature Marvel’s superheroes.

“We will lay the groundwork for that … and when the film comes out in 2015, we’ll be ready to blow it out,” Rasulo said.

The good news? You'll be able to buy that Yoda dishware set you've been dreaming of.

[dimejinky99]

Can the Star Wars brand be expanded any frothed than it already is!?

You can but everything but the starships!