Althouse: "How Much 'Star Wars' is Too Much 'Star Wars'?"

April 19, 2013

"How Much 'Star Wars' is Too Much 'Star Wars'?"

Hmm. I don't know. I stopped after 2. Long ago, in a ... whatever.

60 comments:

Curious George said...: I have never seen any of ste Star Wars.; 4/19/13, 12:12 PM
Robert Cook said...: Yup. They should have stopped after the third of the original trio of films, RETURN OF THE JEDI. Actually, they could have stopped after the very first one, the original STAR WARS.; 4/19/13, 12:12 PM
Anonymous said...: My gf has a life size Hans Solo in carbonite. While wayyyyyyyyy over the nerd line we're holding onto it for the Disney release with all the original actoirs figuring the price will jump. As for me, I was done after one.; 4/19/13, 12:14 PM
Salamandyr said...: There is no such thing as "too much Star Wars". There is, however, a point where one can pick and choose which and what Star Wars one allows in ones personal canon.; 4/19/13, 12:19 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "There is no such thing as "too much Star Wars""

Did you see what Disney is planning to do?; 4/19/13, 12:25 PM
Paddy O said...: "Did you see what Disney is planning to do?"

"hmmmm" is not very enlightening as a link.; 4/19/13, 12:28 PM
Nonapod said...: Here's Patton Oswalt's version of Episode 7.; 4/19/13, 12:32 PM
Bob Ellison said...: You mean "I stopped after V."; 4/19/13, 12:33 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Do not fall for the sops one sometimes finds among contemporary Star Wars devotees, who too often promote a grinning, self-aggrandizing, ironclad kind of happiness that has no truth in it.; 4/19/13, 12:41 PM
Peter said...: So long as there's a market for more Star Wars merchandise, how could there be "too much" Star Wars?

The movies' focus changed from on-screen spectacle to merchandising several films ago. That apparently suits the owner of the franchise. It may not suit the moviegoer.

So?; 4/19/13, 12:46 PM
mccullough said...: The Empire Strikes Back was terrific. Could place to stop. The fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin/Darth Vader at the end of Revenge of Sith was also awesome.; 4/19/13, 12:47 PM
Salamandyr said...: "Did you see what Disney is planning to do? "

The link's broken, but I'm assuming that you mean they plan to release a Star Wars movie every other year. That's fine with me. The more they release, the more likely one of them might be worth watching.; 4/19/13, 1:00 PM
Clyde said...: "Too much Star Wars" is when you have "Jedi" as the religion on your dogtags.; 4/19/13, 1:07 PM
Hazy Dave said...: "Did you see what Disney is planning to do?"

Nope. Hmm, indeed.; 4/19/13, 1:09 PM
Shawn Levasseur said...: "The movies' focus changed from on-screen spectacle to merchandising several films ago."

Changed? Merchandising was built into the business model from day one.

If you're dreaming of Star Wars back when it wasn't sullied by merchandising, you have a rather selective memory.; 4/19/13, 1:13 PM
Tibore said...: "How Much 'Star Wars' is Too Much 'Star Wars'?"

I maintain that unless someone's taken all 6 and compared the George Lucas order (numerical order starting with Phantom Menace, ending with Return of the Jedi) to the die-hard-fan-suggestion called "The Machete Order" (too long to explain; just Google it), then they just haven't tortured themselves enough to comment. ;) :D

Bonus points for doing that in the same weekend. Wrap-around jacket and free asylum trip for those nuts enough to do it in the same day.; 4/19/13, 1:13 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Oh, I wish I had a link, and I could, but I cannot be arsed to dig it out.

Luke's wife abuses him
Luke's wife complains all the time
Luke's wife is a spendthrift
Luke's wife cuckholds him
Luke's wife is a bitch

Obi-Wan materializes to inspire: "Luke, use divorce."; 4/19/13, 1:16 PM
Shawn Levasseur said...: Okay, I've just read the plan is for one movie per year.

That seems fast, but the plan is that many of those movies will be stand-alone films that focus on characters that are secondary to the full ensemble films.

In this manner, you could compare it to the Marvel movies that come out in a greater than once per year rate. Last year having only "The Avengers" in the theaters was the exception where it was the only Marvel movie of the year.

If done well, (and that's the key no matter what the pace is) annual films would be sustainable.; 4/19/13, 1:23 PM
Scott M said...: Boba Fett was the worst bounty hunter ever.; 4/19/13, 1:28 PM
Scott M said...: They are making a new trilogy which will have one movie every two years. Other stand-alone's and spin-offs will alternate...I can feel it in the Force.; 4/19/13, 1:29 PM
Known Unknown said...: J.J. Abrams is directing episode 7.

Expect lens flares and mystery boxes.; 4/19/13, 1:52 PM
Seeing Red said...: Movies 1 & 2 & 3?; 4/19/13, 1:52 PM
Known Unknown said...: Also, the original storyline for SW when Lucas envisioned was 12 episodes.; 4/19/13, 1:55 PM
Known Unknown said...: The Clone Wars cartoon series on Cartoon Network has been pretty good. You can tell Lucas has had as little interference as possible.; 4/19/13, 1:56 PM
Scott M said...: Also, the original storyline for SW when Lucas envisioned was 12 episodes.

Thank God Lucas will have little to no input on these new movies. What they need to do is get the creative team behind the BioWare cinematic trailers for "Star Wars: The Old Republic". Those were excellent.; 4/19/13, 2:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Actually many of the homemade or indie Star Wars are muc better than the last three films by George Lucas. many of the minor part original actors repreise their roles in the short flicks and serials.; 4/19/13, 2:14 PM
test said...: You can stop after Empire or Jedi, but any further is a mistake. Jedi's not nearly as good as SW/Empire, but it's hard not to complete the original story.

There are a handful of movie sequels so bad they ruin the original films. The Phantom Menace is among them.

1. Highlander II.
2. The Phantom Menace.
3. Beastmaster II.

On the bright side George Lucas relinquished creative control, so the next set have a chance.; 4/19/13, 2:17 PM
Saint Croix said...: I am working on a Star Wars screenplay!; 4/19/13, 2:23 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: Highlander II didn't ruin the original movie, anymore than the other 4 or so sequels did. One simply pretends they never happened and moves on.

Kind of like how Stallone completely ignored the events of Rocky V when he made Rocky Balboa (which I thought was really good--and I'm one of the few who actually liked Rocky V).; 4/19/13, 2:32 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: And yes, the link is broken so one knows what "Hmmmm" is.; 4/19/13, 2:32 PM
clint said...: Should have stopped with three --- and kept the rebel tree-dwelling race on Endor as wookies. Wookies fighting stormtroopers with spears and clubs and crossbows would have had a bit more plausibility than ewoks did.; 4/19/13, 2:34 PM
edutcher said...: A new Jar Jar Binks every year.

Maybe that's what Al Qaeda's coming at us again.

Back in the old days, there was a James Bond movie every year, but we're talking the first four. Anybody wanna bet these will have that kind of quality?

CEO-MMP said...

Highlander II didn't ruin the original movie, anymore than the other 4 or so sequels did. One simply pretends they never happened and moves on.

Kind of like how Stallone completely ignored the events of Rocky V when he made Rocky Balboa (which I thought was really good--and I'm one of the few who actually liked Rocky V).

Not unlike the last of the Rambos, which has him finally coming back to his home in AZ.

Nicely done.; 4/19/13, 2:44 PM
Æthelflæd said...: Shawn Levasseur said..."Changed? Merchandising was built into the business model from day one.

If you're dreaming of Star Wars back when it wasn't sullied by merchandising, you have a rather selective memory."

Yes, one of the markers for my generation is that we all have pictures under the Christmas tree with our X-wing fighters and light sabers.; 4/19/13, 2:52 PM
Brew Master said...: Empire is an enduring classic.

I often use it as an example of a perfect Act II of a 3 act play.; 4/19/13, 2:54 PM
Known Unknown said...: A new Jar Jar Binks every year.

The problem was, with Lucas at the helm and given the success of the franchise, there was no one realistically in place to say "no –- that's a terrible idea"

You can see it all on display in the behind-the-scenes stuff for the prequels. It was the indulgence of bad ideas

Now, with new people involved, the results should improve.; 4/19/13, 2:55 PM
Scott M said...: Beastmaster II

Point of order, it was impossible to make Beastmaster worse. That movie was so bad it gave me cancer.; 4/19/13, 3:02 PM
edutcher said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/19/13, 3:03 PM
JackOfClubs said...: I have alwayse said that I love all the Star Wars movies except the ones with Yoda in them. I suspect I won't be able to say that much longer.; 4/19/13, 3:19 PM
Original Mike said...: "My gf has a life size Hans Solo in carbonite."

I saw one of those in a pawn shop-like store in St. Paul last month. Thought about buying it and releasing him, but we didn't have the truck.; 4/19/13, 3:21 PM
jr565 said...: The prequels weren't as bad as everybody says, but maybe its because I was never that big a fan of the originals to begin with. As a kid I loved the first two, but really didn't like the third.
It got way too cute and muppety. In particular I hated the ewoks and it struck me that the movies were aiming more for little kids and not teens. Plus, the merchandizing ecome ridiculous.

I actually think it will be better if Lucas isn't involved in the movies any more, since I don't think he's a particularly good director.

But in the right hands, they could do some more good stuff with the series.; 4/19/13, 3:21 PM
Unknown said...: They may turn out to be very good, or not. Either way, I don't get the smug judgement. If it's not someone's cup of tea, don't go see it. There's no shortage of overhyped crap movies produced, I don't see why this should be singled out even if it just turns out to be a franchise that gives people a chance to take the kids to a flick in the summer.; 4/19/13, 3:31 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Everyone should see Empire. No one should see any of the three newer ones.; 4/19/13, 3:42 PM
Original Mike said...: I suppose we could have tied him to the car roof and driven him back to Madison. It's not like he would have been cold or anything.; 4/19/13, 3:44 PM
test said...: Scott M said...
Beastmaster II

Point of order, it was impossible to make Beastmaster worse. That movie was so bad it gave me cancer.

That should tell you how bad II was. Maybe you had to be a kid when the first came out.

CEO-MMP said...
Highlander II didn't ruin the original movie, anymore than the other 4 or so sequels did. One simply pretends they never happened and moves on.

Some things you can't unsee.; 4/19/13, 3:50 PM
Balfegor said...: Re: jf565:

The prequels weren't as bad as everybody says, but maybe its because I was never that big a fan of the originals to begin with. As a kid I loved the first two, but really didn't like the third.

Weelll, I think the prequels actually were pretty bad. In retrospect, my overwhelming impression is that Lucas was reaching for something well beyond his capabilities, both on a narrative level, and on a simple worldbuilding level.

I mean, in the first one, the initial conflict he's trying to set up is a, ah, trade dispute of some sort, but it's never clear what the dispute is or why a pair of Jedi would be sent to investigate or mediate or whatever, as opposed to, say, a specialist on tariffs and import/export controls (maybe supported by a Jedi to tell him when people are lying). His "Trade Federation" doesn't actually seem to do any trading, all they do is blow stuff up.; 4/19/13, 4:18 PM
Original Mike said...: " His "Trade Federation" doesn't actually seem to do any trading, all they do is blow stuff up."

First you blow it up, then you sell them a new one.

It worked for us post-WW II.; 4/19/13, 4:20 PM
SeanF said...: Bob Ellison: You mean "I stopped after V."
After two movies, not after Movie Number 2. :)

jr565: As a kid I loved the first two, but really didn't like the third...it struck me that the movies were aiming more for little kids and not teens.
I was 14 when Return of the Jedi came out. I'm pretty sure I remember something in that movie that seemed aimed at me as a teenage boy...; 4/19/13, 4:24 PM
suestew said...: It's too much at Star W. It should just be Star Trek - live long and prosper baby.; 4/19/13, 4:30 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Link fixed.

Sorry.; 4/19/13, 4:55 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "They are planning to make one Star Wars movie every single year, with off-shoot films alternating with official new ‘episodes.'"; 4/19/13, 4:56 PM
Paddy O said...: I'd be happy if they remade the prequels with better directors. Same cast, except no Jar Jar Binks. Phantom Menace isn't really all that bad of a movie except for Jar Jar Binks, who makes the movie just about unwatchable.

Sort of like the soundtrack for Lady Hawk.

Also, have a restricted budget. The prequels are amazing examples of how unrestrained budgets actually undermine creativity and overall worth.; 4/19/13, 5:20 PM
rcocean said...: Why not? There are so many back-stories that need to be explored.

Take Jabba the Hut - now there's a story that needs to told.

Or who designed the "Death Star"? It was probably one man's dream. Let's hear his story.; 4/19/13, 8:27 PM
rcocean said...: In a way the Death Star's destruction is like "Titanic". A design flaw leads to the death of thousands.; 4/19/13, 8:28 PM
Synova said...: Han shot first.

:); 4/19/13, 8:30 PM
Synova said...: There are tons of books so there are lots of stories and additional characters.

I've only read one of the books, though. It was published... before episode 6... and Leia and Luke kissed. It was very romantic.

Only in retrospect does it completely creep me out.; 4/19/13, 8:42 PM
Paddy O said...: I think if Disney is real creative they'd go beyond the Blockbuster. It would be great to get a Star Wars Miramax treatment. Artsy. Explore the wide variety the Star Wars universe offers in human and alien drama.

There could even be a Lifetime movie, something related to one of Jabba's dancers, maybe.; 4/19/13, 8:59 PM
Palladian said...: Everyone should see Empire. No one should see any of the three newer ones.

Agreed. Empire was, by far, the best one and, of course, the one that George Lucas didn't direct.; 4/20/13, 1:42 AM
Rusty said...: Go to Red Letter Media and watch Plinketts reviews. They are better than the movies.

The franchise jumped the shark at the third movie.; 4/20/13, 2:49 AM
Rusty said...: www.http://redlettermedia.com/; 4/20/13, 2:51 AM
Sam L. said...: Not if done really well. And Eps 1-3 were crappy.; 4/20/13, 4:29 PM