It is, apparently, for real: George Lucas is selling Lucasfilm, including the Star Wars franchise, Skywalker Sound, ILM, the software development house, and Indiana Jones (which may not get used for new films, as Paramount owns the distribution rights).
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/30/3577656/disney-buys-lucasfilm-plans-to-release-star-wars-episode-7-in-2015?=1 (http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/30/3577656/disney-buys-lucasfilm-plans-to-release-star-wars-episode-7-in-2015?=1)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/9644392/Disney-buys-Lucasfilm-for-4bn-and-will-release-new-Star-Wars-films.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/9644392/Disney-buys-Lucasfilm-for-4bn-and-will-release-new-Star-Wars-films.html)
That's Disney for you; they buy everything. I still don't understand how they can have the copyright to Winnie the Pooh, since Pooh was created in 1926 and anything created prior to 1927 is public domain in the US.
Quote from: MrBogosity on October 31, 2012, 09:43:29 AM
That's Disney for you; they buy everything. I still don't understand how they can have the copyright to Winnie the Pooh, since Pooh was created in 1926 and anything created prior to 1927 is public domain in the US.
They don't have copyright to all possible Winnie the Poohs, only to the one they created. But try to interest a kid in anything other than the Disney version, despite the fact that the pictures make it quite clear Winnie is a black bear, just like the inspiration of the character.
Quote from: evensgrey on October 31, 2012, 10:45:00 AM
They don't have copyright to all possible Winnie the Poohs, only to the one they created. But try to interest a kid in anything other than the Disney version, despite the fact that the pictures make it quite clear Winnie is a black bear, just like the inspiration of the character.
Classic Pooh was never colored as a black bear, but I don't know when they were colorized (I'm sure it predates Disney's 1961 movie, though). Christopher Robin Milne's actual stuffed toys that were the basis of the books show Pooh as a light brown bear:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/The_original_Winnie_the_Pooh_toys.jpg/775px-The_original_Winnie_the_Pooh_toys.jpg)
I'm kinda hoping that we see different kinds of Jedi. Maybe, like heretics, who aren't Sith, but, don't wanna follow The council's rules. I mean come on, the Jedi have been around for thousands of years, but, there's no one who disagreed with them except the Sith. Only evil people reject the Jedi Council's rules.
Quote from: R.E.H.W.R. on October 31, 2012, 01:58:13 PM
I'm kinda hoping that we see different kinds of Jedi. Maybe, like heretics, who aren't Sith, but, don't wanna follow The council's rules. I mean come on, the Jedi have been around for thousands of years, but, there's no one who disagreed with them except the Sith. Only evil people reject the Jedi Council's rules.
It's nothing but Paragons and Renegades with Star Wars, isn't it?
Quote from: MrBogosity on October 31, 2012, 11:30:54 AM
Classic Pooh was never colored as a black bear, but I don't know when they were colorized (I'm sure it predates Disney's 1961 movie, though). Christopher Robin Milne's actual stuffed toys that were the basis of the books show Pooh as a light brown bear:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/The_original_Winnie_the_Pooh_toys.jpg/775px-The_original_Winnie_the_Pooh_toys.jpg)
That's not the origin promoted for him here in Canada (and he's from Winnipeg, after all). The story we're told up here is that Winnie was the mascot of one of our Regiments in WWI and was left in the London Zoo, which is where the Milnes saw him. Christopher was so taken with the bear that he wanted to take him home, while his father proposed writing a book about him instead. The original bear was definitely a black bear. I notice that the toy bear doesn't really resemble the Disney version any more than any other teddy bear of the period that I've seen, despite it being pretty obvious that the Disney version is supposed to be a stuffed bear, with seems and everything. It would be nice if the references explained whether the stuffed bear was usually called Winnie or Edward, and which name came first.
In any case, they certainly can hold the copyright on the specific derivative version they created, independently of the original being public domain. They can hold proper copyrights on the actual stories as shown in the Disney films, because they substantially altered them (by including new, original characters and situations). You don't find Rabbit in Milne's works.
Back on the original threat topic...I hope we're going to see some decent writing on these new films. Lucas seems to have lost the ability to write a movie that makes the slightest bit of sense. Disney seems to not have lost the basic thread of what film making is and what you need to do to get something watchable out of it.
Quote from: VectorM on October 31, 2012, 02:13:10 PM
It's nothing but Paragons and Renegades with Star Wars, isn't it?
It's Space Opera. Archetypes are somewhat...exaggerated.
I'd like to see them hire the guy how designed the fights in Iron Monkey. Those are the most Jedi-like fights I've ever seen. They're better than the ones in any of the Star Wars films.
Quote from: VectorM on October 31, 2012, 02:13:10 PM
It's nothing but Paragons and Renegades with Star Wars, isn't it?
well, such an attitude is potential comedic gold--at least for ME:
[yt]7Y5-QrKPDac&feature=related[/yt]
Quote from: evensgrey on October 31, 2012, 02:26:26 PM
It's Space Opera. Archetypes are somewhat...exaggerated.
I'd like to see them hire the guy how designed the fights in Iron Monkey. Those are the most Jedi-like fights I've ever seen. They're better than the ones in any of the Star Wars films.
I've seen a few Space Operas that didn't use a hammer. Off the top of my head, Gundam Seed could be pretty subtle, from what I've seen anyway.
Quote from: evensgrey on October 31, 2012, 02:24:00 PMThat's not the origin promoted for him here in Canada (and he's from Winnipeg, after all). The story we're told up here is that Winnie was the mascot of one of our Regiments in WWI and was left in the London Zoo, which is where the Milnes saw him.
Sorry, no. They were Christopher Robin's play toys.
QuoteYou don't find Rabbit in Milne's works.
Yes you bloody well will! Chapter 2 of Book 1, "In Which Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets Into a Tight Place," featured Pooh visiting Rabbit and eating so much honey he got stuck in the hole--which Disney adapted VERY closely for the movie.
QuoteBack on the original threat topic...I hope we're going to see some decent writing on these new films. Lucas seems to have lost the ability to write a movie that makes the slightest bit of sense. Disney seems to not have lost the basic thread of what film making is and what you need to do to get something watchable out of it.
I'd love to see Lasster or Andrew Stanton take a crack at it. They have a good idea of not only good moviemaking, but good science fiction as well.
Quote from: evensgrey on October 31, 2012, 02:26:26 PM
I'd like to see them hire the guy how designed the fights in Iron Monkey. Those are the most Jedi-like fights I've ever seen. They're better than the ones in any of the Star Wars films.
Maybe, a little Bob Anderson mixed in. Maybe that's just a fencing nut talking.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escape-to-the-movies/5357-The-Phantom-Menace-13-Years-Later A rather nice alternate take on Phantom Menace that I personally share as well.
Quote from: R.E.H.W.R. on October 31, 2012, 06:24:00 PM
Maybe, a little Bob Anderson mixed in. Maybe that's just a fencing nut talking.
It's always seemed to me that lightsabre combat should differ from sword fencing in one rather large way: No feints. There are basically two types of opponents when it comes to lightsabre: The kind against whom feints are not needed, and the kind against whom feints will not work.
Quote from: Lord T Hawkeye on October 31, 2012, 08:49:29 PM
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escape-to-the-movies/5357-The-Phantom-Menace-13-Years-Later A rather nice alternate take on Phantom Menace that I personally share as well.
I think he completely glossed over the core flaw of the movie: Nobody in the movie makes any choices that seem to make the slightest bit of sense. It's like everyone is holding an idiot ball all the damn time. The plot verges on an excuse plot to have lots of pretty visual effects. George Lucas used to know better than that.
Quote from: evensgrey on November 01, 2012, 10:34:43 AM
George Lucas used to know better than that.
Based on what i've read about him on sites like Cracked and other sources - no, he didn't, ever.
Quote from: VectorM on November 01, 2012, 10:51:18 AM
Based on what i've read about him on sites like Cracked and other sources - no, he didn't, ever.
I've seen the theatrical version of THX-1138, and it wasn't like that. The movies he made when he was still part of the Director's Guild weren't like that. The Indiana Jones movies aren't like that (they're largely excuses for having cool action sequences, but the characterizations hold together and people don't just do things that make no sense of any kind for an excuse to have effects shots).
Quote from: evensgrey on November 01, 2012, 10:13:20 AM
It's always seemed to me that lightsabre combat should differ from sword fencing in one rather large way: No feints. There are basically two types of opponents when it comes to lightsabre: The kind against whom feints are not needed, and the kind against whom feints will not work.
Actually, with combat fencing, (I'm talking about classic rapier, small swords, sabers and cutlasses) feints weren't used all that often. The blades were too heavy. Often, European Combat fencing turned into a big reaction contest. Who was better at counter attacking? And considering a lightsaber only needs a slight touch to do a lot of damage, fencing sounds perfect. Being able to touch someone from as far away as possible without being touched.
Quote from: R.E.H.W.R. on November 01, 2012, 01:40:57 PMActually, with combat fencing, (I'm talking about classic rapier, small swords, sabers and cutlasses) feints weren't used all that often. The blades were too heavy. Often, European Combat fencing turned into a big reaction contest. Who was better at counter attacking? And considering a lightsaber only needs a slight touch to do a lot of damage, fencing sounds perfect. Being able to touch someone from as far away as possible without being touched.
I imagine it would be closest to épée, since you want to avoid any touch (the entire body is a target area) and who the fuck cares about right-of-way? Effectively, light saber battles would be very much the "first blood" type of combat épée was designed to emulate.
Quote from: MrBogosity on November 01, 2012, 04:41:28 PM
I imagine it would be closest to épée, since you want to avoid any touch (the entire body is a target area) and who the fuck cares about right-of-way? Effectively, light saber battles would be very much the "first blood" type of combat épée was designed to emulate.
Depends. A lot of sport épée moves are useless in a real sword-fight. Of course, we are talking about movies. If someone wanted to go for the old rapier and dagger combo, that would definitely change things. So, a full length lightsaber in dominant hand, mostly used for offense and a smaller lightsaber mostly used for defense.
[yt]1e4Jf15MwJ0[/yt]
Just for reference of what I'm talking about.
Quote from: R.E.H.W.R. on November 01, 2012, 05:20:13 PMIf someone wanted to go for the old rapier and dagger combo, that would definitely change things. So, a full length lightsaber in dominant hand, mostly used for offense and a smaller lightsaber mostly used for defense.
I just flashed to that scene in Mystery Men when The Shoveler defends himself with a trowel.
Quote from: MrBogosity on November 01, 2012, 07:00:49 PM
I just flashed to that scene in Mystery Men when The Shoveler defends himself with a trowel.
Funny as that would seem. Probably work.
Quote from: MrBogosity on November 01, 2012, 07:00:49 PM
I just flashed to that scene in Mystery Men when The Shoveler defends himself with a trowel.
I actually know a guy who needed a spear to take down wild hogs, so he took a trowel, flattened the blade, sharpened it, and attached it to a wooden shaft. Amazing how inventive people can be.
Quote from: evensgrey on November 01, 2012, 10:34:43 AM
I think he completely glossed over the core flaw of the movie: Nobody in the movie makes any choices that seem to make the slightest bit of sense. It's like everyone is holding an idiot ball all the damn time. The plot verges on an excuse plot to have lots of pretty visual effects. George Lucas used to know better than that.
Covered that when he said the writing is sloppy. The point is, that's nothing new. It's no different than your typical pretty action flick that slacks off in the story and character department. Nobody's saying the movie is good, just that we're sick of the ridiculous "WORST MOVIE EVAR!!" hyperbole that gets thrown at it.
I actually had a decent time watching it because I went in with the mindset of "This is NOT going to be as good as the original trilogy. Best just accept that now."
Quote from: R.E.H.W.R. on November 01, 2012, 05:20:13 PM
Depends. A lot of sport épée moves are useless in a real sword-fight. Of course, we are talking about movies. If someone wanted to go for the old rapier and dagger combo, that would definitely change things. So, a full length lightsaber in dominant hand, mostly used for offense and a smaller lightsaber mostly used for defense.
[yt]1e4Jf15MwJ0[/yt]
Just for reference of what I'm talking about.
KoToR had that, IIRC. They also had two variants, using lightsabre and cortosis blade in off hand (which functions against a lightsabre very much like a main gauche does against lighter combat swords) and cortosis sword and cortosis blade in offhand (for the non-Force enabled character). Worked a treat.
One of the things I recall from playing both pencil and paper RPGs and computer RPGs in the Star Wars setting is that you can get much more dramatic stuff going on in an RPG than Lucas ever managed.
Quote from: evensgrey on November 01, 2012, 10:13:20 AM
It's always seemed to me that lightsabre combat should differ from sword fencing in one rather large way: No feints. There are basically two types of opponents when it comes to lightsabre: The kind against whom feints are not needed, and the kind against whom feints will not work.
Seems Bob Anderson already did fights for Star Wars. For the good ones and played Darth Vader in the fight scnces.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I have a bad feeling about this. THere has been too much established Canon over the past thirty some odd years for this to do anything but cause huge gaping holes in the canon.
Quote from: tnu on January 28, 2013, 03:01:51 AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I have a bad feeling about this. THere has been too much established Canon over the past thirty some odd years for this to do anything but cause huge gaping holes in the canon.
As if there aren't already?
Besides, he found a good way around this for the Star Trek movies.
Ugh NO! What would hte point be in a reboot?
Quote from: tnu on January 28, 2013, 07:38:11 AM
Ugh NO! What would hte point be in a reboot?
It doesn't sound like he's talking reboot. Just picking up where Episode VI left off.
Except that's already been done. the Truce at Bacura for starters.