Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 27

"Hundreds of Stormtroopers"

     The above picture is something of a mystery to me. It was released by Indie Revolver today, and is reported to be the new design for Stormtroopers in Episode VII. This isn't new, however; just a few weeks ago I looked at the possibility of another helmet design. But this one seems different. It doesn't really seem like a Stormtrooper helmet. It's slicker, it's metal, and there are no rubber tubes or anything on the face. It looks less like a Stormtrooper helmet than it looks like a cyborg face. But I have some problems with this "reveal". If, in fact, Indie Wire did somehow obtain a photo of the new Stormtrooper mask design (from where they don't say), why then would they splatter their watermark all over it? Wouldn't they want people to see this? Well, they could be wanting to sell the photo without the watermark, but they wouldn't have the rights to it, and... it seems a little fishy. I mean, Stormtroopers means a resurrected Empire, destroying the sacrifice of Anakin Skywalker at the end of Return of the Jedi. If this is the new Stormtrooper helmet, then the makers of Episode VII are, at best, being unoriginal, or at worst, spitting in the face of the original trilogy. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.

     For a less dramatic piece of news, it appears that Greg Grunberg will have a role in Episode VII. He is a childhood friend of J.J. Abrams, having roles in all of the directors major projects, including Felicity and Alias, as well as small cameos in Star Trek and Lost. He recently tweeted that he had a part in Episode VII and that if he said more, "J.J. will have me killed". He will most likely have a small and inconsequential role in the film, but it's role in a STAR WARS movie. It doesn't really matter what role you're in.

     With set photos leaking constantly, mostly due to drone footage, Motherboard got a hold of an order form for DroneShield, sent to Pinewood Studios. DroneShield is a device that supposedly detects nearby drones. This order was placed in May, but Pinewood Studios never received their shipment. Apparently, the application was never approved, and it still hasn't been approved. So, for now, anyone and everyone with a drone can check out whatever is at the sets without hindrance. Even if the studio had DroneShield, flying drones isn't illegal there. If a drone was detected, it isn't clear what Lucasfilm would do. So much for privacy.

     Remember what I said about Stormtroopers in the upcoming trilogy? Well, according to Oscar Isaac, one of the lead actors of Episode VII, they will be everywhere. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he spoke about the atmosphere of being on set:

     "Everyone’s having a really good time. J.J. sets that tone. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and it’s being done with a lot of heart. There’s nothing cynical about the way we’re doing this. Even in the way he’s shooting it—he’s shooting on film and actually building the sets, so you’ve got hundreds of Stormtroopers or whatever, and hundreds of extras and all the ships. You actually see it. It’s all real. Everyone can interact with the world."

     While this is encouraging news, reinforcing the fact that all the effects are practical and blah blah blah did he say hundreds of Stormtroopers? Why did he name them by name? Why did he not call them "bad guys" or "aliens" or literally ANYTHING ELSE? What were the writers thinking? Do they realized what they have done? They have killed the franchise! It's the worst thing that could happen! No one ever listens to me! To quote C3PO, "We're doomed!"

Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 26

BATMAN?!

     With about 456 days, or exactly 1 year and 3 months left until December 18, 2015 (which is a Friday, to begin 2015's Christmas--er, winter break), rumor and speculation, mixed with some actual facts, continue to dominate talk of Episode VII. To begin, Photos and videos were leaked by James Dean, who somehow got a hold of video of filming Episode VII. However, while the photos remained up, he deleted the video. It isn't much to go on, though. It only shows a handful of extras running in formation from a far away distance. It also, to quote "relevant" pop culture memes, looks like it was filmed "by a potato" (Seriously, what does that even mean?). Moving on.

     Rian Johnson, director of Episode VIII, was interviewed in The Talkhouse Film Podcast, and had some comments about the creative process of writing the new movies and also, inevitably, the secrecy involved. He obviously couldn't divulge anything, but when asked if George Lucas was "looking over his shoulder", his response was the following:

     “He sold it to Disney, so he’s kind of stepped back and Kathy Kennedy is running LucasFilm…”

     This seems like an offhand comment, but I like over analyzing things. So Lucas is no longer a huge part of the creative process. But he knows just enough to get to know the plot. Maybe he isn't under contractual obligation? Unlikely, but worth a shot. Moving on.

     Anthony Daniels, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, revealed that he has a new suit for filming. He also said that he was called by J.J. Abrams to do just the voice for C3PO.. and he promptly refused.

     "...I said, “No,” and [Abrams] said, “Right!” He knew I’d say that. There’s no way I would just do the voice." 

     Of course, he agreed to be in the suit, and it would be modified to be more comfortable, because the original suit was very painful for him to wear. He also commented on the prequel's CGI rendition of C3PO:

     "[During the prequels], the only time [Threepio has] been CG was when it was very dangerous [to act in the scene in a suit] — and it wasn’t very good. In fact, I’m going to say it was awful. One of the difficulties is with a character that you know and love so well is that, as a member of the audience, you go, “Oh no, that’s not right. No, he doesn’t move like that.” With me [in the suit], he’s always going to move the same way and have the same reactions, timing, and so on. With CG, you’re working with some brilliant person on the keyboard who is trying to pretend to be me."

     Preach, brother. That is all.

     Adam Driver was recently photographed on the set of Episode VII wearing an orange jumpsuit that looks suspiciously like a Rebel X-Wing pilot suit. 

     This challenges the whole idea of Adam Driver being considered a villain in Episode VII. I mean, he can't be a bad guy if he's an X-wing pilot, right? Well, unless he's some kind of double agent or he's a rogue pilot or maybe is a good guy who falls to the dark side Anakin-style OH PLEASE NO

     Finally, from Bad Robot Productions, comes the official unveiling of the Millennium Falcon. Full close ups, no fuzzy leaked footage, all official. It has all of the pipes, the wear and tear, it has the original John Williams music, and it's-- wait, the music's changing to a different theme. What? The camera's panning up, to a tight shot of...

BATMAN?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C7lUfVIOa4

Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 25

Death Star Confirmed?

     Star Wars seems to have an information leak problem. Sometime this summer, the leaks started coming, and just wouldn't stop. From set photos to leaked costume designs, these leaks have made for a much more exciting summer than last year. This week is no exception. But first, some legitimately obtained information. Liam Neeson, who played Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace (vomits), has spoken to HeyUGuys on the possibility of returning in Episode VII. While this possibility is sickening, there is good news here. He said that while he would jump at the opportunity to reprise his role, he has not been contacted by J.J. Abrams yet. Well, to put aside prequel bashing, a theoretical move to allow Liam Neeson to return as Qui-Gon Jinn would make no logical sense; Qui-Gon Jinn dies in The Phantom Menace, was burned, and then never mentioned again, except for a brief moment in Revenge of the Sith, where he had apparently gained the ability to appear as a Force ghost, according to CGI Yoda. Now, if Qui-Gon Jinn appears as a ghost in Episode VII, it would be a terrible mistake. This is not because Liam Neeson is a bad actor; to the contrary, he was one of the best actors in The Phantom Menace, but because it would resurrect memories of the prequels that many of us would like to forget. If Liam Neeson played another role in Episode VII (hey, I can dream, can't I?) that was awesome, then it would be a symbolic severing of the tie with the prequels. I don't know. I'm just ranting now. On to the LEAKS.

     So, it's no secret that Han Solo is returning. Also, Harrison Ford broke his leg after the hydraulic door for the Millennium Falcon fell on him, so we know that the ship is returning. However, a new photo taken by a pilot in England has really sunk in the fact that the Falcon is really coming back. Now there is tangible photographic evidence. Here's the picture:

     The picture was revealed via Twitter on the page of FlyMac, which is the flying industry that this pilot is employed at. This shot was taken not 40 miles away from Pinewood Studios, where the majority of Episode VII is being filmed. Also in the picture is a covered up X-Wing. All of this is full scale. Even though the Falcon is half finished, it will be spaceworthy in no time.

     Now, this next piece of information is intriguing. It came in picture form from Bad Robot, also via Twitter. It is of a sign on a table that reads:

WHY DO I SUDDENLY HAVE THIS

DESPERATE NEED TO OWN A

WATCH?!

DAMN YOU, APPLE!

J.J. 

     On the surface, this looks like J.J. Abrams complaining about the new Apple Watch (which is surprisingly not called the iWatch). However, if you look closely at the table, you find a reflection of a pattern that is eerily similar to the pattern of the Death Star light thingies in A New Hope. Now of course this could mean one of two things. The more popular interpretation is that the Death Star will make an appearance in Episode VII. This is based off of a previous photo posted by Bad Robot on June 4 in response to leaked set photos:

     The background is the chess board for the Millennium Falcon, which, as you can now see, is now confirmed as being in the movie. So must it be for the Death Star. However, I have a second, more logical option for the picture: Fan service. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Seriously, if the Death Star is in this movie there will be some serious problems with the Star Wars universe and it will be beyond repair. There are just too many problems with the Third(!) Death Star Being in Episode VII that I can't even count all of them. I don't know what else to say. But you never know. I mean, they're making Star Wars: Episode VII, right? That's crazy!

Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 24

Game of Thrones is Taking Over Star Wars

     This week, being an otherwise slow week news wise, did provide some interesting information. To begin, Rian Johnson, the director of Star Wars: Episode VII, partook in an podcast interview with Girls in Hoodies (What a strange name. Hipsters nowadays. Sheesh.). During the interview, he obviously couldn't give any details of what would happen in the upcoming Star Wars movies,but then he was asked about the J.J. Abrams X-Wing video, released by Star Wars during the summer, and depicting J.J. Abrams standing in front of a full-scale modified X-Wing. When asked, Johnson spoke positively about the direction Episode VII was headed in the effects department:

     “They’re doing so much practical building for this one. It’s awesome. They’re doing it all right, yeah … I think people are coming back around to [practical effects], yeah, it feels like there is sort of that gravity pulling us back towards it … I think that more and more people are hitting kind of a critical mass in terms of the CG-driven action scene lending itself to a very specific type of action scene, where physics go out the window and it becomes so big so quick. I probably sound like a grumpy old man talking about it, but the thing is, I do wonder because I think kids are growing up watching those and that’s the thing that they love now so I don’t know whether it is a generational thing, and it could be.”

     No, it's not generational. CG, when applied liberally, looks fake. Even if special effects improve, there will always be a level of simulacra in CG-live action movies. But it is good news to hear that Abrams and crew are working hard to maintain an equilibrium. However, not having a ton of CG will not make a movie good. It still has to have believable characters, a coherent plot, a good director, good actors, et cetera. The CG was only was factor in the blur of bad that was the Star Wars prequel trilogy. However, since J.J. Abrams knows what he's doing, hopefully, it is a step in the right direction. Rian Johnson's words are encouraging.

 (Side note: The podcast was hosted by ESPN. ESPN is owned by Disney. Lucasfilm, and therefore Star Wars, is owned by Disney. Just an observation. Yep.)

     According to the BBC, Syrio Forel, a master swordsman hired to train Arya Stark in Game of Thrones. He is played by Miltos Yerolemou, who is reported to have joined the cast of Episode VII. It is most likely to be a minor role, though. Since many people joined the cast in a short period of time, including Lupita Nyong'o, the major roles are probably filled. This new casting choice has shed light on a peculiar insight: There have been two Game of Thrones stars cast in Episode VII. This is more actors per franchise in Episode VII than any other franchise, besides Star Wars, of course. This could be a milestone. Could Lucasfilm be trying to get a Game of Thrones feel to the new movie? Could elements of Game of Thrones be creeping into Star Wars? Probably not. However, a smaller, less noticeable detail due to the casting has caught my attention. Miltos Yerolemou played a swordsman in Game of Thrones.What could this mean? It could mean nothing, of course, but it could also mean everything. If you mix in a little speculation with fact, you can get a possible glimpse into the plot of Episode VII. If he played a swordsman, he could wield a lightsaber, right? Not too crazy there. But the detail that he won't have a big role could shed light on something in the plot. If Yerolemou has a lightsaber, that would mean he'd have to be a Jedi (Or Sith, but unlikely because he has such a small role). But if he has such a small role, and he was a Jedi, that would mean he wouldn't be the only one, and if he wasn't the only one...

     Wait for it...

     New Jedi Order.

     Crazy, huh? But it's all just baseless speculation.

     Or is it?