What I Think about Star Wars

It's like raaaaaaaiiinnnnnn! (On an island bay!)

It's a free riiiiiddddee (over the shoulder lightsaber blade!)

 

Obi-Wan: "That's no bay, it's an inlet...."

 

What I think about Star Wars? Oh boy... Great thread!

I have come to the conclusion that I am a Legends fan more than anything else. Having said that, I really hate the word "legends" now. In my mind it will always just be the EU (Expanded Universe). I would certainly go out of my way to purchase an EU novel that doesn't have the "Legends" banner on the cover. I get why they did it, to differentiate between the old and the new, but I don't like it at all.

As far as the rest of the franchise is concerned, for me there will always be a massive disconnect between pre-disney and post-disney. I find myself not caring so much about the sequel trilogy and standalone films. This is mostly because I have already experienced different versions of most of them through the EU. It's what I grew up with and I never expected George Lucas to sell the franchise, so I never expected for there to be any other versions of the story. When the Disney acquisition occurred and new films announced, I was mildly skeptical, but I had an open mind. When they sent the EU to the guillotine, I began to see that I was no longer the target audience for the future of this franchse.

"It's Star Wars, but it's not for me." That one phrase took me a very long time (with a lot of anger and frustration) to figure out and be content with. These days, I don't go to see a Star Wars movie for the story or the characters so much; more for just the simple joy of seeing a Star Wars film in the theater, listening to the familiar music, watching the familiar ships, hearing the familiar sounds.

Someday, Disney must re-release the Original Trilogy to theaters. That would be one of those "Shut up and take my money" moments.

What do I think about Star Wars? I love it. I've always loved it. Though, it's a bit unfortunate that some of it is for an audience other than myself. However, above all that, the best part of being a Star Wars fan, the very best part, is getting to hang out with other Star Wars fans. Because Star Wars fans are awesome, some of the best people on Earth.

 

I think that if I didn't have such a strong connection to the EU, I most likely would have loved the new movies. I mean, it's Star Wars, right? How can you not like Star Wars? I'm just a crotchety old 90's kid stuck in my ways.

For the record, I completely agree. Han shot first.

 

There is so much of it in tlj...and i am not talking exlusively about sexual suggestions. Even if they are the most controversial.
There is a number of situations when the movie just shows something and then lets you figure out the story behind it...preferably in a heated debate online because some saw something completely different in it...which is one of the reasons why i like sw. Brings people together...to fight, true, but it is still a form of reaching out and socializing
For example...showing Luke's submerged ship. Why is it there? Has it rusted? Can it fly? Could he even come to it if he decided to use it considering the evil looking monsters that inhabit those monsters casually shown in a shot over Rey's shoulder?

 

Oh god...i didn't even catch that one :O
You win...now I think about it.
Rey was spat out through it. .twice! Oh my.

 

I second this. I grew up on the OT, read a few of the EU books, but never thought much of them to be honest. Yeah, I liked the Thrawn trilogy, but that was about it.

When Disney purchased LFL, I never expected they'd do anything with the EU. Maybe adopt some things from it, most likely overwrite most, if not all of it. I can imagine that I'd be kind of upset if I were an EU fan, but probably not as I can't see myself ever expecting anything but the EU getting overwritten/ignored.

Having said that, I like where the new books have gone, but I am a bit worried about the films. I like the ST, and I loved RO, but, BUT, it doesn't appear there is any rhyme or reason to the one shot films. Bounce from RO to a supposedly abandoned Boba Fett film... Han Solo and a much rumored Obi-Wan film? Feels more like the mess that was made of the X-men universe than the MCU. Personally I think they've done an amazingly good job keeping the MCU fairly consistent, considering just how much stuff they've done in the last decade (including TV shows, etc...). Sure, I'm sure there is a consistency issue here and there, which if I cared enough I'd spot. But overall, things flow and match up. Each film is like a part of a jigsaw puzzle that fits in and helps further the story. So far I'm not seeing that with Star Wars, and that is worrying, especially since they do have a story group.

What I'm getting at is that, hopefully, why we haven't seen/hears anything about any one shot films beyond Solo is that they are removing their heads from their collective anal rectum and they are going to do this right. Which means RJ and GOT guys sit down with the story group, and come up with things that make sense, expand the universe, and tell awesome stories. If they are going to do one shots, that's cool. But they ought to tie in to an over arching story (either feed into the RJ trilogy or the GOT boys story) or set something up for either episodes X-XII or set up for the things which have gone before (the way RO sets up IV is excellent).

Sorry for the long post. Just been thinking of this for a while.

 

I have a former student who absolutely loves the EU and just refuses to watch any of the Disney films. I get that, as I was quite pissed when I saw the first Lord of the Rings film. "They ruined the darn timeline!!!! How can they NOT have Tom Bombadil???" Now, however, I totally love the film for what it is. An imperfect replication of a fantastic book. So I get how people who loved the EU (and I'm NOT one of them) were somewhat upset. I just don't get how anyone thought they were going to adapt those books? And who cares if it's called legends? Disney could simply have said the films are the films and if we release anything that contradicts those films, oh well.

I think you are right, but I think they do want the films to connect. I mean, lets face it, the MCU films aren't all straight on follow ups. They are individual self-contained films that have connections to the greater story. I do think that is what LFL wants to create, but I can agree, the non-saga films are just good yarns that connect, to some extent, with the greater saga episodes.

I want to see where this goes, but I have a feeling they are aiming for MCU style, without being too close to then be accused of being MCU light, if that makes sense?

 

Exactly! Why rampage? Just go and enjoy the darn film man! I keep saying it, but it's true. I remember the dark days of 1984, 1985, 1986 when there was NOTHING Star Wars. No books being published, no chance of ANY new films EVER coming out. Nothing. Then, in 1987 when the Star Wars Role Playing Game came out I was stoked, if for no other reason, then for the chance to at least read something new. It was great.

I felt that way in 2011 when it appeared there would be no more films, and since I wasn't into the EU I was like well, I guess that's all she wrote. Now we have films coming out just about every year, new books that are, for the most part, pretty darn good. It's like, what is with the rage? I just don't get it.

 

I don't know. I had a clear answer . . . until 2015.

 

This thread topic has room for every kind of adoration for Star Wars, right?

Like I said elswhere here in Cantina, for me its often about the little things and moments.

Actually, I have just watched the last advertising spot for a car with new "Solo" pictures and I had a lot of fun with my son looking at..

.. a shot that we love where CHEWIE stands on that train at full speed with this huge gun, WEARING this INCREDIBLE AWSOME LOOKING GLACIER STYLE GLASSES.
Awsome!

 

What I think about Star Wars, well BB8 and also love most about Star Wars.