MarketSaw is reporting a ridiculous rumor that there could be a new Star Wars trilogy in 3D . Sounds like wishful thinking to me, but I'm going to humor the idea. They also say that Lucas wouldn't direct that honor would be passed on to Steven Spielberg or Francais Ford Coppola. The Star Wars fan in me wants to believe this is possible but there are a lot of things restricting movement on new films. Mainly it's George Lucas himself and his stranglehold on the franchise. Unless Lucas allows people at his company to take over things this won't happen. I'm sure 20th Century Fox is doing all they can to get more films made.
First off I don't hate Steven Spielberg as a director but his last few movies haven't been up to par. War of The Worlds and Indiana Jones 4 were both rushed into production and felt like Spielberg was only there for the paychecks. That being said he's done a lot for genre film making with Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. Spielberg is just too busy to jump onto another franchise. He has plans for directing Indiana Jones 5 and possibly could attach himself to Tintin 3 and Jurassic Park 4. Not to mention the many other future dramas he wants to make.
Francais Ford Coppola is a name beyond bizarre to attach to Star Wars, which makes me think this is a false rumor. Coppola has stuck to his guns lately making his own films like Youth Without Youth. While the idea of him jumping to an epic world of science fiction is more than thrilling, it's also very unlikely.
It might not happen now but it will happen in the future. While there has been a lot venom thrown on the prequel trilogy by fans, it was a big money maker for 20th Century Fox. The studio spent $343 million on production costs for all three films and made back 2.4 billion in box office. Not to mention the millions made on DVD sales. 20th Century Fox has been trying to find ways of getting more blockbuster films made. Their slump in the market was the reason for all the new X-Men films (Wolverine 2, Deadpool, First Class, X-Men 4). It's also the reason why they've given up on the Aliens Vs Predator films and gone back to make the solo films people want to see, with Predators and Ridley Scott's Alien Prequel. They've even gone to great lengths to find new franchises with James Cameron's Avatar, which could eventually become a trilogy. I don't believe that Lucas Arts/Films can't handle the extra load of a new trilogy, since I've seen the effort they've put into their recent video games.
Phantom Menace ($924.3 Million) Attack of The Clones ($624 Million) Revenge of The Sith ($848.7 Million)
My Thoughts On PossibleStorylines
A trilogy that would focus on the Old Republic. It's my hope that they could revamp the whole franchise by focusing on a brand new set of characters using the Old Republic as it's inspiration. Having a massive war between both Jedi and Sith. Instead of having clones and drones doing the dirty work. I think the lamest part of the prequels was ILM's attempt of saving money by making identical drones and clones fight. Also the Sith needs to have a large army not hiding in the shadows, a real threat to the Jedi.
There is also a possibility of telling the story of the domination by the Empire and the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance. This could tell the stories of Vader and Starkiller, that were told in The Force Unleashed. I thought this story could be expanded into three films if done properly. It could also introduce us to the early members of the Rebel Alliance and a young Princess Leia.
There could be also a group of films that focus on the books that told the story of Luke and his resurrection of the Jedi, then his eventual move into the darkside. I wouldn't be surprised if they brought back Harrison Ford and Mark Hammel for it. Although, they'd have to work quickly they aren't getting any younger. There is also the possibility of just moving even further down that timeline and focusing on Luke and Solo's children.
There is also something that would be amazing if they could focus on the world of Bounty Hunters. A BobaFet spin-off would be loved by fans. It would also be able to manage a smaller budget and wouldn't have to adhere to the previous mold of Star Wars films. BobaFet is very popular and we've seen a lot of focus on the Jedi and Sith, Bounty Hunters are due.
In the spirit of Halloween '09, we're breaking out reviews (some new, some old) of some Fall Frights you may want to work into your monthly viewing.
Originally Published 4/18/2001:
There are three pieces of news attending the release of SESSION 9:
THE LOCATION: Director Brad Anderson, who scripted with Steve Gevedon (who also appears in an acting role) was inspired to make SESSION 9 by the real, abandoned Danvers State Mental Hospital, in which the action is set. Seeing the movie makes one wonder why no one has used the place before; not only is the overall building shaped like a bat (with long "wings" stretching out from the main structure), but it's chockablock with twisty corridors, dark, scary basements and a pretty scary history of patients abused with barbaric "treatments." Anderson and Gevedon have come up with a great starting premise: A group of men arrive at the place to clean up asbestos, toiling under time pressure from their boss, Gordon (Peter Mullan), and required to wear haz-mat suits that make them look like alien visitors. The guys are already troubled by various outside problems, and soon their mental states become additionally stressed from working in the spooky old asylum. Anderson successfully makes the hospital a character in and of itself, with strong assistance from
THE VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY: SESSION 9 is one of the first movies to be shot in a new hi-def, 24-frame video process, the same one that (obligatory mainstream cross-reference) George Lucas utilized on STAR WARS--EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE SILLY MOVIE TITLE. Previous video-to-film transfers have been of variable visual quality, but this one is a big step up. Only those who know what to look for will likely be able to tell the difference, and in any case cinematographer Uta Briesewitz's images are rich and atmospheric. Anderson does a lot with the interplay of light and darkness in SESSION 9, and blacks have always been the most difficult shades to effectively capture on video, but here they're deep and threatening. A standout chilling moment has one character walking down a gloomy hallway past a long row of plastic-bagged contamination suits; as he passes each, the gloved sleeves seem to reach out just slightly to grab him. The movie isn't just about mood, though; it's also powered by good acting, including
THE RETURN OF DAVID CARUSO: Considering that he made news by abandoning the NYPD BLUE team for a shot at solo stardom, Caruso fits effortlessly and easily into the SESSION 9 ensemble. He turns in strong work, too, as Phil, Gordon's right-hand man, who doubts the crew can get their job done in the time Gordon has allotted. (He's not alone, apparently, given all the time the characters spend sitting around talking when they're supposed to be under a breakneck deadline.) The whole ensemble (also including Josh Lucas and Brendan Sexton III, with a brief appearance by WENDIGO director Larry Fessenden) has a solid chemistry that makes it easy to believe these guys have known each other and worked together for years. This, in turn, makes it all the more unnerving when they start breaking down mentally and suffering unpleasant fates. One particular aftermath-of-violence shot is among the most cringeworthy scenes this year.
There's one more bit of news worth mentioning, and that is that SESSION 9 proves that one can shoot a viable horror movie on video without having form dictate function creatively. SESSION 9 is a genre work in the classic, composed style, working mostly with shadows and suggestion (until the end, anyway) instead of tricking things up with too much fancy cutting and shaky handheld work. Anderson has never done a horror project before (his previous features were romantic comedies), and this one is good enough to make one hope he doesn't take too much time before tackling another. [Note: In the 8 years that have passed since this review was first published, Anderson has helmed episodes of MASTERS OF HORROR and FEAR ITSELF, and is currently directing the FOX series FRINGE.]
James McTeigue, director of V for Vendetta and the upcoming Ninja Assassin, has revealed to the folks over at Slash Film that he will next helm The Raven, which is a fictionalized account of the final five mysterious days of Edgar Allan Poes life.
Hannah Shakespeare (Loverboy) and Ben Livingston penned the screenplay, which sees the famous writer join the hunt for a serial killer whose murders are inspired by his stories. Casting is currently underway.
Poe, an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement and best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, died October 7, 1849. He was found on the streets of Baltimore delirious and in great distress. He was taken to the Washington College Hospital, where he died.
Poe was never coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition, and, oddly, was wearing clothes that were not his own. Poe is said to have repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds" on the night before his death, though it is unclear to whom he was referring. All medical records, including his death certificate, have since been lost.
Before making his feature directorial debut in 2006 with Vendetta, McTeigue was an assistant director, working on such films as Street Fighter, Dark City, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and The Matrix trilogy.
STAR WARS TV Show Will Be a Family Drama
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:56 AM | From GeekTyrant
Australian actress Rose Byrne, who stars in the TV show Damages, and also had a very small role as Dorme, one of Princess Amidala’s handmaidens in Attack of the Clones, recently did an interview in which she talks about her Star Wars experiences. She is then asked about the new live-action Star Wars TV series [...]
A look at "The Clone Wars" by Eric Sloss
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 7:00 PM | From MovieJungle
George Lucas has always stated that the Star Wars movies were aimed primarily at kids. Stars Wars: The Clone Wars tests this theory to full effect. Older moviegoers might grow restless at times at the proceedings in this animated film, but the younger demographic should enjoy it at face value.
The story picks up between Star Wars: Episode II-Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith. The Clone Wars are in full effect. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are leading a clone army for the Galatic Republic against the Separatists and their droids. They are soon joined by a Torguta Padawan Jedi by the name of Ahsoka Tano. She was sent by Yoda to train under Anakin. Anakin is not pleased by this and so starts an uneasy partnership between the two. The bickering between the two is fun at times and other times a bit annoying.
Meanwhile, the nefarious Jabba the Hutts son is kidnapped. Jabba holds the key to the success of the Republic. He controls access to strategic shipping lanes. Yoda sends Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan on a mission to rescue Jabbas young son and bring me back to Jabba. That is the main thrust of the movie. It is simplistic, but thankfully clear of some of political psycho babble that plagued the prequels.
Most of the voices in the film are done by unknown actors. The only original voices are done by Samuel Jackson (Mace Windu), Christopher Lee (Count Dooku) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO). Lee is a big asset to the movie with his commanding voice. Frank Oz is however missed as the voice of Yoda. Dooku sends Asajj Ventress out to get in the way of the rescue. She has a few good light saber duels to liven things up...read the whole review!
Rex and Cody uncover a traitor in an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:58 PM | From MovieJungle
Captain Rex and Commander Cody must find the traitor in their ranks in Hidden Enemy, an all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Feb. 6, on Cartoon Network.
In the episode, the clones discover evidence that one of their brothers is leaking information to the enemy. Faced with the betrayal, Cody and Rex must uncover the spy before he is able to thwart the Republics efforts to liberate Christophsis from a Separatist siege.
Director Steward Lee and writer Drew Greenberg were both drawn to the chance to look at the first break in the ranks of the clones an ominous sign of things to come.
I thought it was interesting because the clones logic is understandable, Lee says. He no longer wants to be just a slave to the Jedi, and wants to try and break that infrastructure. He thinks hes doing the right thing for all the clones and that the sacrifice is worth it.
Its all about the brotherhood, and how far those boundaries stretch, Greenberg adds. Even the guy who turns out to be the bad guy makes the case that he was doing it for his brothers. This is about what it means to be a clone and what it means to be part of that brotherhood.
If one Clone can break from his brothers, and what he is bred for as a soldier of the Republic, and act on his own," Lee says, " how many more would do the same? This creates an interesting beginning of something to come.
TV series Update - New "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" clip!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:58 PM | From MovieJungle
LucasFilm's released a new clip as shown above from their "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" series. This clip is from "Storm Over Ryloth," an all-new episode which airs on Friday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
Here, the heroes of the Republic begin their campaign to free the planet Ryloth from the oppressive occupation of enemy forces. In an effort to break through the orbiting Separatist defenses, however, Ahsoka must learn a hard-hitting lesson after she disobeys Anakins orders and loses most of her squadron as a result.
The player above will automatically update with each clip we add from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," just embed it and check back to see if any new content has been added.
Director Brian Kalin OConnell and writer George Krstic welcomed the opportunity to explore some of the less heroic aspects of the conflict, particularly examining the responsibility of the Jedi in light of the consequences of their actions.
Its easy to make the Jedi into superheroes, but showing their vulnerability really makes them far more interesting and believable, OConnell says. You have this Padawan in the footsteps of the Chosen One. And she fails badly. Clones die, and thats horrible and we really get to feel that weight. But we also get to see how Anakin rebuilds Ahsokas confidence, and how she comes back and rises to the challenge.
Read more --->
Krstic agrees, adding that the episode offered an opportunity to infuse the Sagas classic space opera elements with a new emotional weight.
This is a very epic episode its grand and operatic ala the old days of the original Star Wars, he says. There are so many wonderful aspects to this episode because Ahsoka must deal with real lifeanddeath situations, and the result isnt good. She gets her first experience dealing with the burden of command, and finds out that it isnt all heroics. It really is a burden.
As the beginning of a three-part story arc, Storm Over Ryloth expands the scope of the Clone Wars to illustrate both the far-reaching and intimate effects of the war. Tackling ambiguities and exploring emotional motivations and consequences, this episode sets the stage for Innocents of Ryloth and Liberty of Ryloth, the continuation and conclusion of the thrilling Ryloth saga.
More TV series updates! New clip and image from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars"
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:57 PM | From MovieJungle
We have a new image and a new clip in from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." This is from the final chapter of the three-part Ryloth Saga.
This brings Jedi Master Mace Windu to the Separatist-occupied planet for the crucial final stages of the peacekeeping effort.
With Republic forces stretched thin, Mace must convince the beleaguered people of Ryloth to rise up and join him in repelling the droid army. But the Twilek freedom fighters are wary of intervention from outside of their race, and are hesitant to trust the Jedis efforts. With the liberation of the planet at stake, time is of the essence and Mace must rally the natives for their final stand against the Separatist invaders...Read more after the video:
With a story developed alongside creator George Lucas and supervising director Dave Filoni, the episode reflects some of the untold stories that necessarily unfold when the canvas is as expansive as a galactic war. Director Rob Coleman and writer Henry Gilroy were intrigued with the prospect of exploring the viewpoint of the conflicts non-military combatants particularly with regard to their dealings with the Jedi.
Jedi were never intended to be generals in an army, and this was our first chance to focus on Mace Windu so rather than show him as a fantastic warrior, we explore his exceptional skills as a negotiator, Gilroy says. We put Mace in a position to recruit the Twilek freedom fighters to join the clones in trying to free the capital city of Ryloth.
But negotiations are only the beginning. Once he has convinced the freedom fighters to stand at his side, Mace must lead them in a final fiery campaign against the occupying Separatist forces. The result is one of the most spectacular and complicated battle sequences seen thus far in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS.
This is probably my favorite episode in that its a really strong script. Mace is our hero, and there are some really cool environments, which allows us to explore some unique action, says Coleman. We open in a canyon battle with droids firing on a convoy of walkers, then theres this fortress with a plasma bridge that could turn on and turn off at any time. We did a lot of long shots, moving and staying with the characters in action. So theres a lot of fun to play with here.
Dan Fogler tells moviehole that director Kyle Newman has an idea for a Fanboys sequel that would see the characters from the first film to go on mission to crash the set of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones in Australia.
“If he could come up with the right script, and get everyone together [...]
A lot has been said about Kyle Newman's Fanboys, which just came out on DVD this week after a couple years of delays, reshoots and an extremely limited theatrical release. The general consensus seems to be that no matter how bad the movie actually may be, it could have done a lot better if The Weinstein Company hadn't tried to hack up the movie and then went ahead and completely bungled the release anyway. Still, after all the headaches, arguments and disappointments, would you believe that a Fanboys sequel might still be a possibility?
Moviehole [1] recently sat down to talk with Dan Fogler, one of the film's stars, who claims that Kyle Newman has an idea for a sequel where the characters regroup for a second mission. This time around they would be heading to Australia to "crash the set of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones". He hints that they would probably look to shoot it as an independent film this time around so they can avoid any studio interference. "If you want to do it right, do it independently... If he could come up with the right script, and get everyone together again, I would definitely do it." The concept for this potential sequel doesn't sound anymore appealing to me, but I have to admit, it would be an awesome slap to the face of the Weinsteins if they could pull it off (and make even more money in the process). What do you think, are you interested in seeing a Fanboys 2?
[1] http://www.moviehole.net/200919181-exclusive-fogler-on-upcoming-projects
In the spirit of Halloween '09, we're breaking out reviews (some new, some old) of some Fall Frights you may want to work into your monthly viewing. 
George Lucas has always stated that the Star Wars movies were aimed primarily at kids. Stars Wars: The Clone Wars tests this theory to full effect. Older moviegoers might grow restless at times at the proceedings in this animated film, but the younger demographic should enjoy it at face value.