Yes, the truth is finally out. The veil drawn back. The secret has been revealed.
JJ stands for Jar Jar.
By now I'm sure you've all heard the announcement that Star Trek supremo JJ Abrams is jumping (star)ship to direct the latest adventures of intergalactic rabbit Binks and his merry band. So what are we to make of the news?
I'm a massive Star Wars fan. It was probably the first film that fired my imagination as a child. I remember getting up before school when I was about eight to re-watch The Empire Strikes Back for the hundredth time. Yep, I was a pretty cool eight year old.
So naturally, I'm excited at the prospect of Star Wars returning to the big screen after an absence of ten years. But then I was excited about the prequels too and we all know what disappointments they turned out to be (though I heard about those through a magazine...ahh the pre-internet days). I must confess that for a long time -- too long perhaps -- I was an apologist for the new trilogy, trying to explain away the aching gap between my hopes and the more disappointing reality. As the years have gone by, time has allowed my disappointment to register itself without the fanboy inside me censoring it. I watch the brilliant Red Letter Media reviews and nod along with almost every point (if you haven't watched them, go do it now. They're insightful and fucking hilariously twisted). Nevertheless, despite their evident shortcomings, I still believe there is more merit in the prequels than is sometimes allowed. Yes, the prequels' scripts come across as early drafts in need of a great deal of work, but there are clever and unexpected ideas in there, some brilliant imaginative flourishes. The films are disappointments, but the world is too rich and enjoyable for them to be entirely without worth.
What then of the Disney buy-out and the newly announced sequels? Despite initial surprise and scepticism about the deal (money, money, money), many of my early doubts have been assuaged by the personnel chosen to take the project forward. Most importantly, the writer selected is simply brilliant. Michael Arndt has admired, analysed and even taught Star Wars for decades, as well as writing the wonderful Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3. I cannot think of a better choice. The fact that "consultants" on the film include original trilogy writer Lawrence Kasdan, as well as George Lucas, fills me with hope that finally Star Wars will return to the big screen with a story worthy of the name.
But mystery surrounded the director's chair. Who would get the nod? A young director, like the George Lucas of 1977? Or a left-field but ultimately brilliant choice like The Empire Strikes Back's Irvin Kershner? In the end, you could say Lucasfilm has played it safe. They've gone to a big name. But that by no means makes it a bad choice. Abrams has pedigree in melding exciting sci-fi action with likeable characters and witty direction. He has shown he has the much-needed bottle to take on an established franchise and an army of often cranky fans. But most importantly of all, he makes damned enjoyable films.
I shall follow his progress with great interest. Star Wars is back.
Get in.
By now I'm sure you've all heard the announcement that Star Trek supremo JJ Abrams is jumping (star)ship to direct the latest adventures of intergalactic rabbit Binks and his merry band. So what are we to make of the news?
I'm a massive Star Wars fan. It was probably the first film that fired my imagination as a child. I remember getting up before school when I was about eight to re-watch The Empire Strikes Back for the hundredth time. Yep, I was a pretty cool eight year old.
So naturally, I'm excited at the prospect of Star Wars returning to the big screen after an absence of ten years. But then I was excited about the prequels too and we all know what disappointments they turned out to be (though I heard about those through a magazine...ahh the pre-internet days). I must confess that for a long time -- too long perhaps -- I was an apologist for the new trilogy, trying to explain away the aching gap between my hopes and the more disappointing reality. As the years have gone by, time has allowed my disappointment to register itself without the fanboy inside me censoring it. I watch the brilliant Red Letter Media reviews and nod along with almost every point (if you haven't watched them, go do it now. They're insightful and fucking hilariously twisted). Nevertheless, despite their evident shortcomings, I still believe there is more merit in the prequels than is sometimes allowed. Yes, the prequels' scripts come across as early drafts in need of a great deal of work, but there are clever and unexpected ideas in there, some brilliant imaginative flourishes. The films are disappointments, but the world is too rich and enjoyable for them to be entirely without worth.
What then of the Disney buy-out and the newly announced sequels? Despite initial surprise and scepticism about the deal (money, money, money), many of my early doubts have been assuaged by the personnel chosen to take the project forward. Most importantly, the writer selected is simply brilliant. Michael Arndt has admired, analysed and even taught Star Wars for decades, as well as writing the wonderful Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3. I cannot think of a better choice. The fact that "consultants" on the film include original trilogy writer Lawrence Kasdan, as well as George Lucas, fills me with hope that finally Star Wars will return to the big screen with a story worthy of the name.
But mystery surrounded the director's chair. Who would get the nod? A young director, like the George Lucas of 1977? Or a left-field but ultimately brilliant choice like The Empire Strikes Back's Irvin Kershner? In the end, you could say Lucasfilm has played it safe. They've gone to a big name. But that by no means makes it a bad choice. Abrams has pedigree in melding exciting sci-fi action with likeable characters and witty direction. He has shown he has the much-needed bottle to take on an established franchise and an army of often cranky fans. But most importantly of all, he makes damned enjoyable films.
I shall follow his progress with great interest. Star Wars is back.
Get in.
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