Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 46

J.J. Abrams: Some Rumors Are True

     With only 295 days until The Force Awakens comes crashing down on Hollywood and outgrosses Fifty Shades of Grey (and every other movie) by about fifty times, the trickle of news of the first few years of production has given way to a steady stream. As more and more of the mainstream media picks up this topic, it will draw increasing amounts of people who are hungry for a particular thing: spoilers. They've received plenty in the past few months. But none of it has been sanctioned by any of the companies involved, making them easy to write off. But according to J.J. Abrams himself, you can't write all of them off.

     In an  interview with BBC, Abrams said, "We did the best we can to preserve the story for the audience, but it doesn't always work. "There are a ton of rumors - some true, some false. But I'm grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie. I know what it feels like, as an enormous Star Wars fan myself."

     Whoa, hold up. What happened to J.J. Abrams massive amounts of secrecy in the production of this project? He strives harder than most directors to keep almost every aspect of the film secret (perhaps that's why Disney chose him). Why would he give credence to ANY rumors regarding The Force Awakens? What is he thinking?

     Well, it could be an honest mistake. The pressure must've gotten to him. He probably deals with hundreds of questions from fans and reporters, and he let it slip out accidentally. He cracked. That must be it.

     A reason why that explanation doesn't make sense is because he didn't tell which rumor was true. He's teasing his fans. Of course, he probably expected them to draw battle lines, and let them argue about which rumors are true and which ones aren't. And his ploy worked. Some people believe that he was referring to the Han Solo death story, and others believe he was talking about the "evil Luke" scenario. Nothing has been accomplished.

     Has The Force Awakens reached a tipping point? That's the point at which the film has gained so much attention by the mainstream media as the release date approaches that major spoilers are inevitable. If this is the case for The Force Awakens, with still almost a year before its release, then J.J. Abrams must seriously be considering an earlier release.  If it's not released earlier, then possibly a massive set of leaks could ruin the entire plot before anyone steps foot inside a theater to watch it. Those seem to be the only two options, with the trickle of information turning into a flood. Will the film stay to its original release, and possibly be ruined, or will it move earlier? Which sounds more reasonable?

Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 45

Han Solo WILL Die

     When I first speculated that Han Solo would bite it in The Force Awakens, it was based purely on the fact that Harrison Ford didn't like the character of Han Solo and wanted him to be sacrificed in previous films. It didn't have any solid evidence to back it up. I myself found it difficult to believe. It still doesn't have any solid evidence to back it up. But this next bit of information may be worth looking at.

     Making Star Wars has come out with an article that deals with the death of Han Solo. Before unleashing the bombshell, the author repeatedly states the accuracy and legitimacy of the sources he received: his "friend" who apparently has led many of MSW's rumors. He then states the impact the news will have on fans. Oh yeah, spoiler alert. After a rambling about how amazing this source is, the author says this: "The facts are this was shot at Pinewood: This sequence takes place on the ramparts of The Evil Castle. Han Solo is hiding. He decides to reveal himself to Kylo Renn. Finn, Rey, Chewbacca and BB-8 stop in their tracks. They watch as Han Solo confronts Kylo Renn. Kylo Renn silences the conversation forever. Chewbacca lets out of a barrage of angry roars and laser blasts. Kylo Renn flees the scene. Explosions. Stormtroopers file in and Finn and Rey are forced to flee. More explosions. BB-8 and Chewbacca flee to the Falcon. Han Solo is never in a scene after this. Those are the facts."

     Well, time to riot.

     As someone who doesn't appreciate spoilers, I'm disappointed that they would so openly leak it. I know I leak (potential) spoilers, but only if they've garnered enough attention so that they've already blown up. I try not to give credence to unfounded rumors. At first glance, it seems like an unfounded rumor. Who is this "friend" of Making Star Wars? Why are hearing about this now, after filming has already stopped? These excerpts were not stated as from the script, but from written descriptions of what was shot at Pinewood. Also, why come out with this after the characters have been officially named? Why not also have the names revealed at an earlier date? This can be explained by the source not gaining access to the files until recently. But it still sounds fishy. But bear in mind Making Star Wars has led to some actual facts in terms of The Force Awakens news. But not all of the information has been accurate. It is convincing enough for me to pay attention to. Personally, I think that Han Solo will most likely die in The Force Awakens, just because of how Harrison Ford feels about Han Solo, how the trilogy will involve the passing of the torch to a new generation, and how Disney wants to make an impact on the audience. It might not occur in the exact way Making Star Wars says it will, but in all likelihood, it will be inevitable. But the funny part is, even armed with this in mind, I will still be shocked when it happens when I watch the film. I will still be sad.

Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 44

The Force Awakens to be Released in the Summer?

     Well, here we are again. When I started this in August of 2013, It was regarding this exact same topic. When I first heard about the possible winter release of The Force Awakens (then just called Episode VII) from BadAssDigest, I was skeptical. December 15, 2015? How crazy is that? All Star Wars movies have been released in May! I still don't know how they were able to get that information, or how they were able to pinpoint the correct date with surprising accuracy (December 18, not 15, is the official release date). But when it was confirmed by Disney in November, it surprised everyone. So December has been the official release date for over a year now, and it even appeared in the trailer for the film. However, according to iKwiz, J.J. Abrams himself wants it moved back to summer. During the 2015 Visual Effects Society Awards, Abrams reportedly vented his frustration, telling people that he wants Disney to move the release to the summer, so that, with less time, there would be fewer leaks, and therefore, the movie would not be ruined. Too many leaks makes the audience anticipate every move in a film, and, understandably, Abrams wants to cut back on the time in which spoilers and more photos can leak. But Disney won't move the date, right? I mean, they have everything planned out! They even put the release date on the trailer!

     But the weird part is, the article is suggesting that Disney is also worried about leaks and is listening to his request. But if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Disney wants to protect secrecy at all costs, attempting to purchase anti-drone equipment, disguising actors with heavy robes, making them sign confidentiality contracts, issuing subpoenas, and much more to maintain a heavy veil over the production and plot of The Force Awakens. How far will Disney go? Maybe, just maybe, they'll move the release date up (Poor post-production team!). Maybe not to May, that will probably kill the editors, but sometime in the summer. A problem is that it will be competing with so many more movies than with a December release date. But the advantage? It's freaking Star Wars. It will beat all the competition, even Age of Ultron. Just because it's Star Wars. It's going to make two billion dollars either way. But can the move be worth it?

Star Wars Episode VII News: Week 43

It's Not Just A Movie

     This week was more fruitful in terms of Star Wars news than the previous two. To begin, Nicholas Cage spoke to IGN over his role in the movie Outcast, in which he stars alongside Hayden Christensen, and said some interesting things. When asked about Christensen's performance in the prequel trilogy, he said, "And so, I watched George’s movies, and the work Hayden did with George, and I was very impressed with Hayden’s sort of edgy, dangerous, dark and still soulful performance. I thought it was superb. And so I really connected with him. Plus he has a look in his eyes that I respond to, because it almost feels like a familial, he's got that sad thing going on that I've always been accused of having in my eyes, so I thought we would be a good match together..."
     That's really creepy.
     But besides that, I'm not sure that he's completely serious. I know it's popular to be "edgy", but that's not what Christensen was during the prequels. He was dark, sure, but only in the sense of skulking around most of Attack of the Clones (and maybe occasionally slaughter a Tusken Raider village). His performance in Revenge of the Sith was better, but stilted. Fans didn't like the character of Anakin Skywalker in he way that the character of Anakin Skywalker didn't like sand. He was coarse, rough, irritating, and he got everywhere (because we weren't allowed to forget that trilogy of movies until the Lucasfilm acquisition). For Nicholas Cage to say that, and then compliment his eyes, is a joke.
     J.J. Abrams spoke to Collider, and he was asked about the new lightsaber design and the to use it, he offered, "I will say that what’s been funny is, since the lightsaber’s come out, I cannot tell you how many contradictory emails I have received from people who have both defended it with unbelievably detailed graphics…I’ve gotten things that are nuts, and I've gotten people who’ve shown how it’ll kill you and how it doesn’t make any sense. It’s been the funniest thing to see the arguments that have developed over this thing." While this may be true, I would think that J.J., as a Star Wars fan himself, would understand. As any member of a "fandom" (that word makes me shudder) knows, if part of your world is attacked, you defend it, being plot holes or lightsaber designs. But it is pretty hilarious.
     Something big happened in the world of Star Wars leaks. On the website ImageShack, a certain user "Darth-Simi" posted about three hundred photos concerning details from The Force Awakens, including officially released ones. But some were blurry shots of the set, and one in photo in particular, apparently there was a figure with the same lightsaber from the trailer, viewed from the front, wearing a metallic face mask. Now, I haven't actually seen the pictures, after what Disney did next. They ordered ImageShack to delete the photo, which they promptly did, but also began a hunt for the identity of the user "Darth-Simi", issuing a subpoena. Disney also ordered that the user account be deleted, which it was. If the identity of the person who leaked the photo is discovered, this could end in a $150,000 lawsuit. Disney isn't messing around. It's odd. By the description, it's nothing we've never seen before. A cloaked figure with a metallic mask and a crossblade lightsaber has already been leaked. This either means that Disney cracked down on leaked images all of a sudden or this picture was legitimate. I think the latter.
     Mark Hamill had some thoughts on the eagerness of fans to want more. He told the Los Angeles Times, "We had problems before with people leaking stuff, but I was saying to them, 'Is it really necessary to put on this giant robe with a hood that hangs down to your chest to go from my trailer to the soundstage?' They said, 'Drones.' I said, 'You’re kidding! Really?'… I wish people would just relax. We’re not trying to play games with people. We just want to maximize their experience at the movies where it should be seen and not have it leaked over the Internet. Believe me, it will be here before you know it. Forget about it, that’s my advice. Look forward to all the summer movies. I’m telling you, it’s just a movie. These people that build it up in their minds like it’s going to be the second coming of, I don’t know what — they’re bound to be disappointed."
     Just a movie? Just a MOVIE?! Mark Hamill, of all people calls TFA just a movie, and he misses the point. Of course it's just a movie, but it is much larger than that. It is a continuation of what ended thirty-some years ago, impacting millions of lives. Star Wars has had such a huge impact on culture and movies and people in general that to call the long awaited next installment "just a movie" is insulting. When he said that people are expecting a second coming, it's because they are. A second coming of the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, even if other characters play a larger role. It's not fine to just FORGET about the sequel to the movies that had a huge impact on how we watch movies today. And while it's true people might set expectation too high, it's not at pre-Phantom Menace levels. Slightly disillusioned, the Star Wars fan base is expecting something great to help them remember what it was like to be a child, watching Star Wars for the first time. Whatever happens December 18, it will change the face of Star Wars forever.
     Just a movie, huh?