Television Star Wars -The Acolyte
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It's got a black female lead, of course he did.
I'm not sure about that. I rewatched The Phantom Menace at the cinema a couple of weeks ago and was struck by how needlessly convoluted the plot was. There is so much fannying around on Tatooine just so there could be a pod race. Did Darth Vader really have to be the one who built C3PO? What the feck did a slave need a protocol droid for? Also, that slave had a decent house, Watto gets a bad rep - although mostly for being an offensive stereotype! The Jar Jar life debt nonsense is painful, the dreadful CGI battle which takes place on the Windows 98 background is probably a series low, and the whole queen pretending to be her handmaiden stuff was so silly and pointless. The worse thing about that film is how boring it is. Its a fecking slog.
The second one is just so piss poor that its not worth discussing, but it's been twenty years and I've still not a clue who Master Sifo Dyas was or any of that clone army nonsense.
In the end it all happened in the second half of the final film of the trilogy because Anakin had a bad dream. There is no defending The Rise of Skywalker, but Kylo Ren is a more interesting character across the first two sequels than Anakin, and his story was allegedly written 30 years earlier.
Do yourself a favor and watch Andor. It‘s imho the only really noteworthy addition so far if one is critical - rest is decent at best. Was a fan of Rogue One before, but tried rewatching it and it‘s more style over substance and had basically the huge bonus that it came to exactly the right time to appear much better than it actually was. Tried Mandalorian but the format is not for me at all.
But Andor was indeed very good.
Andor is very good, but I don't think all Star Wars should be so heavy.
It works here, but I'm happy there are things out there that others enjoy that I don't.
No idea on Acolyte, but I really like that it's doing its own thing and doesn't mess with existing content. The amount of Jedi and powerful characters that are popping up around the original trilogy timeline is very annoying. It feels silly that there are Jedi out there who had no involvement in the original trilogy and sequels.
It really undermines those stories. There's a big universe out there and infinite time to play with.
I like how JJ set his Star Trek in an alternative timeline, it's uneven in quality, but doesn't affect what happened in previous stories from the same canon. The exact opposite is true of Star Trek Discovery, where they needlessly gave Spock a sister and started dicking around with the original series stuff.
Of course it doesn‘t need to be as gritty as Andor. Personally don‘t care about canon or not - they need to be good movies that bring something new to the table, take some risks and not just pretty re-hashed stuff that‘s mostly predictable and cliche. Force Awakens and Rogue One were entertaining and I liked the casts in both but overall there is very little memorable stuff happening imho that wasn‘t seen before - that‘s a bit caused by IV and V setting the bar that high of course.
Also was just pointing out Andor because the poster said he basically only liked Rogue One and some Mandalorian and Andor trumps both significantly in my opinion.
I think we are on the same page with this. I would highly recommend Andor, it explores the most interesting themes of Rogue One and doesn't ever really lean into nostalgia. It absolutely adds to the cannon without comprising it. It's also the only Star Wars TV series that doesn't look like every frame is shot with the edges of The Volume in mind. It is great tech, but it's beginning to make Star Wars look really cheap, and considering its importance in the history of visual effects and production design, it's a shame to see what they're churning out.
Of the new movies, I think Force Awakens is the best paced and most 'fun'. It obviously, and, to be fair, intentionally leans into the original. I think people forget now, but post prequels, this approach wasn't a bad move, it just took things way too far. Wiping out The New Republic and resetting the clock to zero was more just a little on the nose! Taken in isolation, it's a fun move with the best production quality of any Star Wars film, a likeable cast, a great return to Han Solo from Harrison Ford and a brilliant John Williams soundtrack.
It was only really in retrospect you could see how much of a hospital pass it was for Rian Johnson. I still think The Last Jedi was the most interesting, and easily my favourite of the sequels or prequels, and it's towards the very top of my favourite Star Wars movies, but I can see why people do not like it.
The over-arching plot of the prequels is perfectly fine, they were just so badly written and put to film. Lucas evidently just didn't take those films seriously. A cash grab, or he was lost without the Dune books for guidance, I dunno. The only thing they had going for them were Maul and Leeson, after that there was nothing of interest, zip, nada.
For me Andor & Rogue One are the true prequels and the only Star Wars content that matters outside the original trilogy (+kotor). They actually make the original movies better, which is about as high a praise as you can hope for in a prequel. Andor S1 one is imo one of the best TV seasons ever put to screen, not just in Star Wars or the Sci-Fi genre. I'll be shocked if they can keep to the same standard in S2, but one can hope.
Rogue one has its flaws for sure, but its still great and again... improved by Andor, expectantly more so as S2 will flow directly into it. Just a shame they didn't get Gilroy from the beginning.
For me Andor & Rogue One are the true prequels and the only Star Wars content that matters outside the original trilogy (+kotor). They actually make the original movies better, which is about as high a praise as you can hope for in a prequel. Andor S1 one is imo one of the best TV seasons ever put to screen, not just in Star Wars or the Sci-Fi genre. I'll be shocked if they can keep to the same standard in S2, but one can hope.
Rogue one has its flaws for sure, but its still great and again... improved by Andor, expectantly more so as S2 will flow directly into it. Just a shame they didn't get Gilroy from the beginning.
I don't think it was quite that cynical. Lucas was more interested in how the films were made than details like plot and dialogue. He definitely cared, but was focused more on putting into practice what he'd learned on The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Ironically, he became too proud of the technological terror he'd constructed. The ability to blue screen an actor is insignificant next to the power of having a script. Hokey CGI and flat performances are no match for a good writer at your side. I wish he'd had Lawrence Kasdan's help and Gary Kurtz instead of Rick McCallum.
He’s a bit heavy on the diversity stuff, but he’s good at explaining why something is good or bad in a concise way without making a 3 hour video essay.
It‘s been quite maddening when I stumbled over the Thrawn trilogy a couple of years ago (haven’t been THAT much into SW, after Disney takeover and Force Awakens) thinking: why did they even bother with the prequels when it‘s all been there for the taking?
Whether you consider his opinion valid or not the first episode was utterly embarrassing. That fight scene with the master was ridiculous and the rest of it was child level writing.
Watched both episodes last night. The writing as expected with these shows is a bit ropey. But it looked a bit fan filmy at points, I can't put my finger on it exactly. The costumes, the make up or the sets. But it just didn't look as polished as the other SW shows they've made.
Overall it was alright, I'll keep watching but hopefully it picks up soon.
Still a bit baffling that after 14 years of Disney Lucasfilm they still haven't touched the Old Republic era.
Overall it was alright, I'll keep watching but hopefully it picks up soon.
Still a bit baffling that after 14 years of Disney Lucasfilm they still haven't touched the Old Republic era.
His manly little brain exploded.
Well yes, it's Star Wars.
Written by children, not for children. There is a difference
It's utterly incredible that they scrapped the entire EU and decided to replace it with the dross that they've put out since.
Re: Andor, it's on my list and I know I'm going to enjoy it (I've watched the first ep) it's just part of a long list of media to get to
Started the first episode, I like the wuxia inspired vibe and the lead actress seems interesting. It probably won't be as good as Andor but that's okay. It just has to be enjoyable.
For one, I think the timing made it difficult. Thrawn triology takes place too soon after the OT and by the time Lucas got around to the prequels, it probably would have been too late even in 1999 to do it with the original cast with the tech available in 99. Actually they maybe could have done it if they tweaked the books so all the actors were much older but Lucas' plan was always to do prequels before any sequels. For another, the outline of the prequels was good, its just Lucas insisted on writing it himself instead of getting better screenwriters the way he did in the OT and making it a vanity project with all the silliness like Jar Jar, a 15 minute pod race, and giving screen time to all the wrong things. I think in the right writer's hands, the mystery idea at the start of AotC could have been really cool but it was executed atrociously. So I think if Lucas tried to execute the Thrawn triology in the same way (without bringing on better screenwriters like Kasdan, focusing on his vanity obsessions, etc) then he would have run into the same problem and people would have said Lucas screwed up Thrawn.
For one, I think the timing made it difficult. Thrawn triology takes place too soon after the OT and by the time Lucas got around to the prequels, it probably would have been too late even in 1999 to do it with the original cast with the tech available in 99. Actually they maybe could have done it if they tweaked the books so all the actors were much older but Lucas' plan was always to do prequels before any sequels. For another, the outline of the prequels was good, its just Lucas insisted on writing it himself instead of getting better screenwriters the way he did in the OT and making it a vanity project with all the silliness like Jar Jar, a 15 minute pod race, and giving screen time to all the wrong things. I think in the right writer's hands, the mystery idea at the start of AotC could have been really cool but it was executed atrociously. So I think if Lucas tried to execute the Thrawn triology in the same way (without bringing on better screenwriters like Kasdan, focusing on his vanity obsessions, etc) then he would have run into the same problem and people would have said Lucas screwed up Thrawn.
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I see a lot if comments about Rogue One being the best Star Wars Movie since Disney took over the franchise.. its ironic because the creation of this movie is such a mess, according to the people involved in it that it could have been the worst of them all..Rewriting and reshooting of scenes in the last minute, disagreements between the director Garet Edwards and KK about the overall look of the film etc..
Thought the first two episodes were solid and there is room for the show to develop.
Disney really need to let Stars Wars die.
Well it certainly would put the "Arise, Lord Vader"....."Noooooo".. in more context..
They won't obviously because they spent big in acquiring the IP.
Much as Disney have been criticised for their output regarding the films, id say their productions regarding TV shows have largely been satisfactory.
I think there's been strong moments in the majority of their various TV shows. Everyone seems to like Andor for instance, which I haven't seen BTW.
But I still think the SW universe is all rather small or the ideas are too focused on the Jedi and Empire. I do think we need to break away from the Empire being the only big bad.
But that's just me.
People who don't like Star Wars just need to stop watching Star Wars. Or at least stop fecking moaning about it.
Says as much about the rest of them as it does for Rogue One.
I find it more watchable because it has a grittier tone. The 3 main line movies have that hideous Whedonesque/Marvel humour dialed up to 11, and then constant tonal shifts from comedy to slapstick to melodrama and so on, all back to back. All the controversy around The Last Jedi/Rise of Skywalker and the first one which is so forgettable I have literally forgotten its name, they are pretty much all unwatchable for me because of that tone.
Rogue One has some of the quippy stuff but it isn't as forced.
I didn't mind The Force Awakens. I think it hit the right tone for new audiences being introduced to the SW universe. Sure the story was familiar to the older generation and the ham-fisted use of homages was a little eye rolling at times but, overall, I felt it set a decent foundation to build from.
But from there on, it really was a absolute clusterfeck.
But from there on, it really was a absolute clusterfeck.
Not disagreeing. Part of me totally understands and respects the decision to step away from the franchise after VI and have a break. Then of course it's a bit "stupid" to decide a)break then b)prequels which actually rules out c)sequels (as in Thrawn) with the og cast. Featuring them in the Disneyverse didn't do it a favor for me personally.
Also I don't really care. Haven't watched the last movie entry altogether and not missing it one bit. There will always be IV and V (got the de-edited versions by Harmy) and VI although that already was a step into the wrong direction imho (still awesome but with nostalgia goggles). Quite happy that I found the Thrawn storyline / audiobook with at least some of the OG cast as speakers which is almost just as good.
People are beginning to stop as there aren't too many watching it when they constantly release poor television and start blaming fans.
Ah interesting about the audiobooks, I didn't realize they had the original cast which is really cool. I read them as books as they were released since I'm of an age group that basically grew up with Star Wars and by the 90s early was eagerly awaiting any new content so the books were great. For me they were the absolutely peak of the EU though as subsequent books never really captured the magic to me.
I think it would have been cool if they did Thrawn instead of the prequels but yeah, if it was done by Lucas, he would have messed it all up. Shame he didn't have the foresight to pass on the heavy lifting to people talented enough to make the vision work.
On a side note, I did love the original Clone Wars stuff between episode 1 and 2, the two minute animated shorts of 20 episodes which focused on the Arc trooper crew or maybe between 2 and 3. Those were really cool and better than entire prequels.
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Probably same gen here - SW was THE sh!t back then - likely the reason I still losely follow what they churn out decades after I mentally started to check out (prequel / ep.I) My cousin had lots of those figurines back in late eighties and it always appeared as a world wonder to me.
hmm..just checked and seems like they‘re read by one dude. Probably confused them with the audiobooks for IV-VI. Sorry
But see, they‘re quite well produced if I confused that.
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What I was thinking too
When does it get very good? 2 episodes in and....... Ummmm....
It kind of runs in 3 episode arcs, so maybe or two more until it latched onto my heart and eventually made me fall madly in love with it.
I could understand if people want their Star Wars more lighthearted like Mandolarian, but I think that’s the best SW stuff I’ve seen - outside of the KOTOR game (which I think would be better than anything else as a show or movie they’re doing now even if all the nerds knew the twist…wait…why am I spoilering this…?) but we’re past that point it seems.
I will check these out based on your recommendation.
Did you ever read Splinter of the Mind’s Eye?
I think one of the main problems with the SW universe is that the coolest looking character was basically a space Hitler. They then ret-conned him into being the hero’s father and revealed him to be a weak looking old man instead of what was previously a scary as feck villain. Then Lucas doubled down by making us watch Young Hitler with a bowl cut faff about with pod racers. No one fecking cares, George. Hitler doesn’t need to be rehabilitated. The guy who blew up an entire fecking planet can simply be an evil cnut and we can leave it at that.
They should reboot the SW universe by jettisoning everything beyond the first SW movie. Continue from there with Luke destined to wed the princess - who is not his sister [although it mostly worked for Cersei and Jaime] - and the evil black knight has no relationship to him. Make it about the Empire that hates humans cohabitating with aliens. Make a couple sequels, then find a different part of the universe to talk about.
Reads like a threat..
Dunno, think it clicked early on with me. It‘s not Sopranos or The Wire level or anywhere near that of course.
I‘d be down for a Dark Forces spin off movie/mini series.
It gets accused by some of being badly paced and slow to start. It's just one of those rare shows that doesn't treat you like an idiot that needs force feeding shiny objects too keep your attention. There is no filler, every scene and line of dialog tends to hold meaning.
It wasn’t very good, it was excellent. Arguably the most rounded and satisfying piece of SW live action tv and movie.
If they carry the landing in series 2 all the way to Rogue one, it will be the best piece of Star Wars stuff bar none.
Best thing about it was I had zero interest in it or rogue one when they were announced but both have far exceeded expectations and enjoyment on repeat viewings.
Acolyte had a slow start. Really does suffer from a sort of clean cut marvelish feel. Even the apparent villain seems more teenage angsty sh*t than proper devious. How can somebody killing somebody seem so sort of not really bad, just kind of like a mean girl just going OTT?
Even moss was wasted, she can act strong but felt like a female Obi Wan. She would of been better as a qui gan “kind of do my own sh*t” Jedi.
I'll keep it at it, wasn't shit..... Just not very compelling so far