Ah, no. Not even a little. Barely in the same genre, really. Actually, there's no barely about it. They're not in the same genre. Not from a literary perspective, or a PO culture perspective. I guess they're approximately under the same umbrella as far as Hollywood is concerned. But only because, well, JJ Abrams is directing both reboots....

I hope he fucks around with that silly little world until all the toy collectors split their hemorrhoids from all the rage and strain of writing red-faced blog rants for hours on end.

Whedon wanted to do them but couldn't!

“I’m as angry as you should be. When I heard that (he was in the running to direct the Star Wars film) I was like, ‘I wonder… no, I really can’t do that. Oh, I already have a job.’ I wouldn’t clear (be able to finish making) The Avengers. I’m having so much fun with that sequel right now, just with the script, that I couldn’t imagine not doing it.”

Another thing I'm seeing on social media sites when people throw around directors to direct the other movies is they are naming guys like Neil Blomkamp who did "District 9" and Duncan Jones who directed "Moon". Those movies are really good sci-fi, great even , but they are a different sci-fi. Sci-fi that is more mental and "Star Wars" is not that. "Star Wars" is pulpy, Buck Rogers style escapist fun.

Yes, which is why Whedon would be perfect, and Abrams is going to find himself struggling, and probably bitter about the limitations that will be placed on the film. Abrams is into identity, motivation, personality, and philosophy. For Star Trek, he was perfect, because the series is so intensely focused on characters and how they got to be the way they are (which Abrams addressed pretty goddamn well in the reboot).

For Abrams to take on the project and apply any of himself and his personal approach to character and plot, Star Wars is going to have to switch gears big time. Which will piss off all those fans, who want camp, loyalty, and fucking Boba Fett.

Though I will say this: I've read a Star Wars book or two in my day, and the "Thrawn" trilogy - can't remember the thing's actual name, but it starts with Heir to the Empire - would give Abrams a lot of good material to work with. A character driven space opera that's a degree or two removed from the original trilogy, but still takes place in a time frame that could work. I think. I don't know; I read it when I was fourteen.

Just make Blade Runner 2 for fuck's sake. Somebody. Or forget the boots and give us a new cinema space opera... Something entirely new and different.

Since Mr. Canon-Buster's at the helm, they might as well make it Splinter of the Mind's Eye...

That said, I can already feel my colon prolapsing.

Now that Disney owns the rights to the Star Wars franchise, it would be nice if they could release the old films to the odd independent cinema (or multiplex - I don't care). I'd love to see Empire on a big screen with the full digital sound experience. Lucasfilms/FOX held such a tight rein on those films for whatever reason. I can see Bladerunner or 2001 or most classic sci-fi films at least once a year at my local arty theatre - why not Star Wars?

As for who directs the new one?

There's a lot more to it than that - who writes, who produces, who writes the score (is John Williams still functional?) and who's going to er.. 'act' in it.

My expectations are somewhat subdued....

who cares
if there's money to be made
then grind that dead horse thru the meat grinder into the fucking dirt
i still dont give a flying fuck about episode 1 2 or 3

So the original cast are back together, was kind of hoping for a new film within the Universe but whatever the result will be interesting now Lucas is out the picture.

It will have lotsa explosions, and lens flare, and needless camera shaking even though there is no turbulence in space and it will have pointless characters jabbering on and on and on about midichlorians and how everyone can be a Jedi with a blood transfusion.....

Ha! and then they can show a CGI of a matrix/xfiles-type shot of a huge warehouse of jedis chained up having their blood harvested....gtreat plot line.

the new star trek sucked. it became a simple action movie obsessed with tits. the new star wars will be as bad.

The difference between Trek and Wars is that Trek was always set as Morality Plays, not Space Opera. The new Trek films try to make it more about the action than about the ideas and moral decisions.

abrams couldnt write his way out of a paper bag

calling bullshit on this movie before its even out, wise sages like tesla already agree with me. the rest of you should have learnt the true meaning of disappointment a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

From what I'm reading, I do wonder if the whole thing isn't in danger of being more like a fan-tribute to the first trilogy than anything else. Give Lucas his due, he always tried to keep things moving - even if it mostly meant moving things in the wrong direction.

abrams is the most overrated hollywood bigshot in sci fi today.

lost sucked. star trek sucked. what else has he done that hasnt sucked?

the new star wars will be fan friendly references, boredom, and endless time travel that goes nowhere and doesnt solve the open ended plot that noone can care enough to follow in the first place.

just give me 3 movies of carrie fisher getting drunk and going on twitter. thats all i want to see.

Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher 16h
Love from the forceful Leia of old & the wise, arthritic Leia of new...
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Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher May 1
A poet needs a mentor, an actor needs a momtor...........

Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 30
CHAPTER 7 is the PORN version of Episode 7 . Chapter 8 & a half is a little of both

Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 28
Sex=weird, no?14hrs after you had ur face pressed in2 sum 1's genitals, ur both walking down the street as tho that was fine, thanx, howR u?

Caleb ‏@Caelgut Apr 27
@carrieffisher take a class on Symbolic Logic and a seminar on metaphysics and you should be ok

Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 28
Where is the jig when it's not up? I want a postcard from there. Any takers?
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Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 27
Isn't "there are no absolute" an absolute? Shouldn't saying be"there are no absolutes excepting for There Are No Absolutes?" Please advise

Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 14
Sometimes I feel like I've got my nose pressed up against the window of the bakery------only I'm the bread....
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Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 14
Tho life is far from a bed of roses thru which 1 lethargically loiters/It nevertheless is more savory than bed composed of Goiters

Carrie Fisher ‏@carrieffisher Apr 7
Nancy Regan told addicts to “Just say no”. My misguided old motto was “Just say thanks”. @imeanwhat

In Episode 7 Han now owns the Mos Eisley Cantina and on the plate of the Millennium Falcon it reads Solo 4 Life.

chewbacca is his gay lover. thus bringing new meaning to the term bearback.

luke is a hippie new age douche who forms a cult that ends up killing itself with kool aid in the jungles of the dagoban system.

the empire is taken over by neo cons who destroy it in costly quagmires on desert planets against jawa jihadists.

chinese aliens clone 10 billion stormtroopers and take over the whole universe.

I see this thread has been resurrected just in time for Star Wars day - May the 4th...

As in 'May the 4th be with you'... (that's a real hoot, that is).

Anyway, whatever the new Star Wars movie turns out to be, it can't be as bad as that holiday special no-one seems to dare mention...



I was probably about 5 or 6 when they showed it here on Aussie TV one lazy Sunday afternoon. I have the vaguest memories of it - but I do remember Princess Leia actually singing..

Kill the wookie! Kill the wookie! (sung in Elmer Fudd's voice)

Anyone going today?

I was lucky enough to see it this morning.

There's a lot to recommend it. But I do think it was mean to bring back the old characters just to kill them off in a particularly heartless way during the very first scene.

thats the Disney way!

I read Carrie Fisher's breasts had to be taped down as George Lucas decided they were inappropriately too big for a family movie. After shooting a scene the male cast would race to Carrie to remove the tape from her breasts. Harrison Ford always beat the others in the race to remove the tape. Obviously if Russ Meyer directed Star Wars, he'd have had Carrie's breasts hanging out in all their glory. Lovely thought.