SPACE, SHIPS & MONSTERS

"This will begin to make things right"

That is the first line spoken in "The Force Awakens " it left me thinking .......

"The whole idea of visual storytelling was at the right moment, what i wanted to do was to make films that people like, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese ...we like movies."

-George Lucas

YOU CAN PUSH PLAY TO LISTEN TO THE SOUNDTRACK

First and foremost Star Wars exists because of George Lucas imagination, and all the cast and crew that created what is now a whole UNIVERSE OF LOVED CHARACTERS. It is "easy" to stand on the shoulders of great ones AND CRITICIZE, but is it that easy to do a good, an entertaining Star Wars movie. After three prequels which i have to say i saw them  only once on the movie theatre. I left the cinema dissapointed. That wasn´t the Star Wars i wanted to see. That was almost like the fairy tale (poorly told) by the creator of the saga. Now thirty years later, George Lucas sold for 4 billion dollars LUCASFILMS and the head of this company Kathleen Kennedy wanted to restart the franchise, the saga of the STAR WARS films. He had already the old cast signed on to the project. She needed a director...............who better than JJ ABRAMS.

After several meetings, Kennedy convinced JJ to take on the BIGGEST SEQUEL ever! EPISODE VII. No easy task for even the most experienced director. JJ needed the best to work with him. He wanted Lawrence Kasdan to write the script.

On April 29 2014 , this picture was taken on Pinewood STUDIOS in London, announcing the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Several of the newcomer actors got a phone call hours before, that they were selected to be in the next chapter of the STAR WARS UNIVERSE.

With a 200 million dollar budget, filming began in April 2014 in Abu Dhabi and Iceland, with principal photography also taking place in Ireland and Pinewood Studios in England.

So far, I´ve seen 5 times "The Force Awakens"in the  movie theatre because to me is very entertaining and captures the essence of what made those stories so powerful. The darkness of the movie theatre, the smell of popcorn, the unknown story, the sounds, this movie for me was an experience. I REALLY LIKED IT.

Before "The Empire Strikes Back" was my favorite, "Return of the Jedi" had that place of honor, i saw it in a big screen being just 5 or 6 and i was amazed of the action, the monsters and all the special effects. My GENERATION was privileged. We had to wait 3 years to know what had happened to LUKE SKYWALKER and HAN SOLO.

When asked what were his thoughts on taking on such a big project he said "Who wouldn´t want to do THIS FILM?"

I think what JJ Abrams has acomplished goes further than numbers, blockbuster-breaking records or earnings. He has done what many feared. 

He made an entertaining STAR WARS movie, not just the continuation of RETURN OF THE JEDI. He did what seemed impossible. 

He made fans and NON fans go and see his movie 2, 3 or 4 times. That is the mount everest of film making. Not the Oscars or any kind of award. It is people liking what you are giving them. The best compliment for any cook is asking for seconds.

I really think there were 4 ingredients that made the difference:

1)KEY PLAYERS: UKNOWN actors, practical effects & pace

It can´t be called an original it is the seventh film in the saga, so it borrows from each and every prior Star Wars film. Wether it´s an enviroment or a plot twist. Its all star wars.

(UP) Daisy Ridley "REY", John Boyega "FINN" , Adam Driver "KYLO REN" , Oscar Isaac  "POE DAMERON" 

(DOWN) Gwendoline "CAPTAIN PHASMA "Christie and Domhnall Gleeson "GRAL. HUX"

are the new fresh faces of this generation of STAR WARS heroes and villains. 

Creature shop  HEAD designer  Neal Scanlan was the main supervisor on "the FORCE AWAKENS". All of the creatures are real, done with make up or prosthetics, on camera they  feel real. They interact with other actors and they are standing right there.

Pace is everything. An editor establishes pace through his or her selection of static and moving shots, as well as the length and placement of those shots, 

 keeping us entertained and not boared for 2 hours is no easy task. 

The more times i see "The Force Awakens" the faster it gets. Excellent storytelling, awesome editing, quick cuts, there is no fluff, the soundtrack is fast an eager to get to the next scene. The action doesn´t stop.

2)THE STORY is a MUST

JJ Abrams decided to ask Lawrence Kasdan for help on telling this story....what happened after the events on RETURN OF THE JEDI....

Kasdan co-wrote Empire Strikes Back and RETURN of the Jedi. His screen writing style is felt as the force. In the prequels, LUCAS became forced to stash everything quickly and not logically. This time around JJ and KASDAN took their time with the story they wanted to tell having one simple rule: 

" it has to delight us."

-Lawrence Kasdan

3)THE MUSIC and Sounds of a glaxy far, far away

John Williams contribution is always something to look forward. He brings life to outer space. He is the narrative key and glue of all the story. It makes you feel excited, doubtful or afraid even.

"It's all a continuation of an initial set of ideas. It's a bit like adding paragraphs to a letter that’s been going on for a number of years. Starting with a completely new film, a story that I don't know, characters that I haven't met, my whole approach to writing music is completely different—trying to find an identity, trying to find melodic identifications if that’s needed for the characters, and so on."

—John Williams 

on returning to the Star Warsuniverse

The sounds, from tie fighters to Xwings, from speed of light to the monsters growls. Every little detail is carefully prepared so that it will be a full audio - visual experience. BLASTERS, STORMTROOPERS marching, An evil voice and the power of the force.

But i have to say one of the key elements in the STAR WARS mythology is present here. THE SOUND OF THE LIGHTSABER. They brought back the importance of fighting with a lightsaber. I think it feels more natural and real if the fighting with lightsabers is  a conversation rather than choreographed quick movements.

Wow!!!!! it brings chills to my skin . 

Hearing a lightsaber being lit in a movie theater is such a pressence and a classic movie moment.

4)

Knowing how to KEEP SECRETS 

After some leaks from the production of Star Wars: Episode 7 a poster was spotted at Pinewood  STUDIOS jokingly warning workers and visitors not to let slip any of the film's many sought-after secrets.

One of the main concerns  of the production was keeping everything in TOTAL secrecy. 

Any visitor had to sign a NO DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.

In todays MODERN world with FACEBOOK, TWITTER, everything on the internet is shared in a matter of seconds, from BOSTON to BUDAPEST. My opinion , the production made an excellent job in keeping everything secret. I went to the film after watching the TEASERS, the trailers and reading spoiler posts in several websites. No one got it right. I was trully surprised watching for the first time the film. And that is an ESENTTIAL PART of the experience. NEVER SPOIL.

No pictures were taken, No  screenplays were lended or taken home. No copies could be made. Even the script was colored RED so it would be impossible to photocopy.

Even the release of books, the soundtrack, any merchandise or toys was delayed, so plot points were not discovered OR SPOILED.

I think the best thing of this film is , it made us imagine, dream and speculate AGAIN. YOU MUST 

wait for the surprises and after you´ve seen it  everyone left the cinema talking to each other, what they thought ,their theories, and almost every one wants to see it again.

I think you have to see it , even if you are not a fan. You should see it to have a reference point of view. I´ve heard many opinions. Some like it ,others don´t. A lot of people are happy Star Wars is back ,others hate the fact that Star Wars is everywhere.

I love the fact that thanks to the STAR WARS films i was able as a little kid, to imagine i was Luke Skywalker with the force and my green lightsaber i could do anything and win over any villain. 

Now 30 plus years later i am happy i can enjoy this movies, the toys and appreciate as an adult the value of the professional work that took to make this film.

"They looked at the stories, and they said, 'We want to make something for the fans'....They decided they didn't want to use those stories, they decided they were going to do their own thing....

They weren't that keen to have me involved anyway — but if I get in there, I'm just going to cause trouble, because they're not going to do what I want them to do. And I don't have the control to do that anymore, and all I would do is muck everything up. And so I said, 'Okay, I will go my way, and I'll let them go their way.'"

-George Lucas

I don´t know about you but after watching "The Force Awakens" i  wanted MORE. I was left wondering everything. WHAT A BRILLIANT ENDING. I think that is one of the reasons STAR WARS MOVIES are so loved. They keep us interested.

Director Rian Johnson confirmed in August 2014 that he would direct Episode VIII, principal photography begins in January 2016, It is scheduled for release on May 26, 2017. All we can do is wait.