Me too, yojoe. I've always had an unhealthy appreciation for them myself. (lol) Seriously, I've always had some weird fascination with them ever since I bought my original Kenner Chief Chirpa years and years and years ago at a local K-Mart that doesn't even exist anymore. They were just so odd and unexpected at the time...little teddy-bear warriors with spears? What the heck?! (lol) Incidentally I just got my K-Mart exclusive Ewoks Scouts two-pack today in the mail, and they are quite excellent. It reminded me of getting mail-away figures back in the day. They just look so very cool in hand. They're very solid little figures with tons of details and great paint. I just wish I could get a set in a mint box. The seller I bought these from advertised them as coming straight from a shipping case, and I know that doesn't guarantee it's gonna be perfect, but there was a slash on the back of the box and some slight marks on the bottom. I briefly thought about sending them back, but then I just thought I'd keep them and open 'em. I mainly collect the Vintage line for the retro packaging, but every now and then I'll open something to remind myself the toys are awesome too in their own right...
To get back to the topic at hand...I've really been experiencing some strange mixed-emotions concerning the sequels. (I'm so used to saying prequels; it feels so odd to refer to sequels afrer all these years...) (lol) I mean, on one hand, I'm terribly excited to have actually seen the day arrive that any kind of sequel might be a reality after so many years of wishing and speculating. I mean, sure...I had thought perhaps George Lucas might theoretically consider new movies. It was slightly possible, but the way he and Lucasfilm shot down rumor after rumor after rumor over the years time and time again, paired with the fact that the principle actors weren't getting any younger...I just eventually lost hope and accepted the fact that the days of seeing new Star Wars films was over. So you can imagine my somewhat disbelief and shock concerning thsi whole thing. I know it's apparently gonna happen, but I think somewhere in the back of my mind, I still don't believe it 100%, and I'm still in that "I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it" mentality right now. But it's so incredible to be a life-long Star Wars fan and speculate as to what kind of film might we finally see with our old familiar characters in the far-off futuristic year of 2015 that just so happens to be right around the corner all of a sudden. It's so very surreal...
Then on the other hand, I worry that meddling hands from Disney will only serve to degrade and water-down the already embattled image the Star Wars legacy seems to have suffered because of fan backlash over the prequels. Disney is known for over-extending its properties, and I hope Star Wars doesn't befall the same fate.
Also, in the past...it just seemed like the Star Wars universe was this awesome, exclusive property that just existed in its own league, helmed by the very man that lent his name to the production company that produced his films. It just seemed so exclusive and creative and visionary, a very special entity controlled and fully realized by George Lucas himself. Now it almost feels like he's sold-out to the mega-huge Disney corporation, a situation he himself criticized in the past. But perhaps, in his defense, Star Wars had become so big, even bigger than Lucasfilm or even Lucas himself could contain. There was just always his singular vision that gave life to the films, although one might argue that his best work wasn't really "his" at all, but the work of the varied individuals, the different writers and directors that were involved in the original Star Wars sequels. In my opinion, as much as I love George Lucas, his strength may be in storytelling, but not as the sole controlling, deciding factor as he was in the prequels. Yes, I do love the prequel films, but they could have been somewhat better in many ways with the outside vision and input of other writers and directors like he had in TESB and ROTJ. He's a better collaborator than director I think, as he has demonstrated in the past with not only his films, but with the Clone Wars show as well.
So one might say the notion of Star Wars being handled by more than one voice and more than one vision will be a good thing with Disney taking over. I just hope it doesn't become a literal case of corporate producing, where anyone and everyone, including studio heads making key decisions in the final film, and it subsequently becomes a whole other kind of film entirely. I do hope Lucas has retained more control through Kathleen Kennedy than what it looks like on the surface. "Creative consultant" doesn't sound too powerful. (lol)
Regardless, I'm excited. It may not seem like such a big deal to the younger fans, but for us older guys that have been around since Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was simply titled Star Wars, and we lived with hope for several years after ROTJ, the hope that we someday might actually see the further adventures of Luke, Han, Leia and Co., only to accept the fact that it was only a pipe-dream, forever regulated to fan-fiction sites and the expanded universe lore of the "What-If" world, it's a pretty big deal. I still don't think it's fully sunk in for me. It's like something you always thought could happen or might happen, when every indication says it won't. Then suddenly, out-of-the-blue, yes...what you always hoped would happen and speculated about your entire life is actually going to be a reality. It boggles the mind...
I like Ewoks. Just before the Disney sale I found myself bored at work and was doing sketches of Wicket as one of Luke's first Jedi apprentices...gave him a little light saber/spear and I thought, "Yeah, this would never happen". Now, who knows!
hey, in all fairness to the Ewoks...both of their made for tv movies, especially Battle, were far superior films to the prequels.
This may have been mentioned I'm not sure, but w/Mickey at the helm, can we expect more heaping helpings of furry cuddly wacky sidekicks? JarJar, Ewoks, or even more kid friendly characters? I think most people groaned at Anakin being so young in the Phantom Menace & is there a any way to bring back Porkins? ahhhh yeahhhh I'm a big guy and as a young childlike andre the giant he gave me hope that one day I could pilot an Xwing right before being violently burned and blown up. And at that point in the future you would think they would have obesity (yes Jabba was huge but he wasn't human) all but obliterated in most parts of the galaxy. I mean they put Vader back together from pretty much a pork skin w/a brain left, why couldn't ol Porkins afford the stomach surgery? aneways I guess I'm bringing this up cause over the holiday I've gained some.....and I am sorta looking forward to the next movie but don't have high hopes. After the GI Joe movie I just learn to accept disappointment and marvel at the homeruns.....
I just want to point out to those that hate Lucas, he has his moments. For example, when Lawrence Kasdan wanted to kill off Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, Lucas refused, and rightfully so. So they saved him from Jabba only to be killed in the Battle of Endor? That would have been, as the youngers say these days, an "epic fail". (lol) It would have left a dark cloud hanging over the Alliance's victory and a gaping hole in the tight circle of friends we all know and love. And it would have taken some of the importance and impact away from Vader's own sacrifice and subsequent death. It's not that Lucas is an awful film-maker, it's that he works better as a collaborator instead of the sole decision-maker in making a given film.
Well, both Kasdan and Ford wanted Solo killed. I read that Lucas' response was something along the lines of "We can't sell kids an action figure of a dead man".
I just want to point out to those that hate Lucas, he has his moments. For example, when Lawrence Kasdan wanted to kill off Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, Lucas refused, and rightfully so. So they saved him from Jabba only to be killed in the Battle of Endor? That would have been, as the youngsters say these days, an "epic fail". (lol) It would have left a dark cloud hanging over the Alliance's victory and a gaping hole in the tight circle of friends we all know and love. And it would have taken some of the importance and impact away from Vader's own sacrifice and subsequent death. It's not that Lucas is an awful film-maker, it's that he works better as a collaborator instead of the sole decision-maker in making a given film.
Kasdan? worked the first time around, but, cmon,
Exactly. C'MON!
They're trying to recruit real talent for this movie. In this case someone who was involved in making what many consider the best SW movie, and you can STILL find an angle for complaint? C'MON!!!!
@smilepunch@
At this point, it takes a lot of blind faith to get excited by someone who has long since passed their movie making prime (Lucas, Lucas, Lucas...) Fresh names attached should be more exciting...this seems like cheap marketing, or dare I say it, fan-boy catering.
I really don't see Kasdan being involved as either a good or bad thing. Sure he get some kudo's for helpingn with the OT and Indy, but the rest of his body of work isn't something that really excites me. I think the only other thing he did that I really enjoyed was Dreamcatcher and that was a King novel, so some of the credit has to go there. Although looking at it that way, Lucas has the rough ideas for the OT and Indy, so maybe Kasdan works better when he's working with someone else's frame work.
That is correct, sir! you wont see "from the writer of Mumford and Grand Canyon" in any of the press releases...
I really don't see Kasdan being involved as either a good or bad thing. Sure he get some kudo's for helpingn with the OT and Indy, but the rest of his body of work isn't something that really excites me. I think the only other thing he did that I really enjoyed was Dreamcatcher and that was a King novel, so some of the credit has to go there. Although looking at it that way, Lucas has the rough ideas for the OT and Indy, so maybe Kasdan works better when he's working with someone else's frame work.
Just heard Lawrence Kasdan is involved with the next series. So hopefully,that will improve things.
Wow, if that's true, then the possibility of a good movie just jumped higher!! Unless, he's gone the way of Spielberg and Lucas; and gotten soft on us?? I'm hoping he still has the same type of cinematic vision he had when he was young!!!
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