Star Wars Artist Says The Force Awakens Will Be Best Star Wars "Ever"

[StewShearerOld]

Star Wars Artist Says The Force Awakens Will Be Best Star Wars "Ever"

Artist Drew Struzan has seen "half" of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and came away more than a little impressed.

Drew Struzan might not be a name that comes immediately to mind when mentioning the <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/star%20wars?os=star+wars>Star Wars films, even though it should. The artist behind the official posters for Return of the Jedi, the Star Wars Special Editions, the prequel trilogy and more, it would be no understatement to say that he's created some of the franchise's most iconic imagery.

Most recently, he illustrated a "commemorative" <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/star%20wars%20the%20force%20awakens?os=star+wars+the+force+awakens>Force Awakens poster for Disney's D23 event, a task that apparently led to him receiving a rare opportunity to view a large chunk of the new film in advance of its December release. Saying it was a positive experience, in turn, would be an understatement. "It is far and away going to be the best Star Wars you've ever seen," Struzan said, in a phone interview on Tuesday. While Struzan wouldn't elaborate on what exactly the footage he saw contained, he confirmed that he's seen about "half" of the movie and has additionally read its script. He would go on to say that The Force Awakens will be "grand" and that "it's beautifully made [and a] wonderful story."

The big question is whether or not moviegoers will agree with Struzan when the film hits theaters this later this year. Speaking personally, I'm really hoping that his take winds up being on the mark. Opinions vary, of course, but if it's even a fraction as "wonderful" as he's claimed, fans might finally have the sequel they've been wanting for decades.

Source: <a href=http://www.movie-weekly.com.au/#!Drew-Struzan-%E2%80%A2-STAR-WARS-THE-FORCE-AWAKENS/c21mw/55d3e8db0cf24f3358870389>Movie Weekly


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[Nazulu]

I see they kept that stupid looking saber in, and Han doesn't... look... well.

I'm sure Disney had the money to get a functioning story for it without deviating to something dumb, leanrt not to put anything like Jar Jar in, and get a good cross between special effects and practical effects to avoid anything appearing fake as shit, but it's still going to need more than that to beat the originals. Or am I being too optimistic?

 

[ecoho]

I see they kept that stupid looking saber in, and Han doesn't... look... well.

I'm sure Disney had the money to get a functioning story for it without deviating to something dumb, leanrt not to put anything like Jar Jar in, and get a good cross between special effects and a realistic look to avoid anything appearing fake as shit, but it's still going to need more that to beat the originals. Or am I being too optimistic?

honestly why do people have such a problem with lightsaber cross guards?

 

[Random Argument Man]

I wish that it will be. I often see trailers and promos with a negative backlash. Lately, the backlash was right. Think Fantastic 4. It's a crappy movie, but I was hoping that it would be good since it had actors and a director that I wanted to see succeed. But it didn't since of studio meddling and other problems.

However, this is Star Wars. It was THE franchise that started blockbuster movies. I liked the prequels until I was 14, but the more I saw the movies?the more I was disappointed. I really hope that J.J brings a solid movie.

 

[Nazulu]

honestly why do people have such a problem with lightsaber cross guards?

Because it looks goofy, was kinda funny when lighting up after the center saber, so can't be taken seriously, and other artists proposed better designs.

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

I hope it turns out good.

Won't be as good as KoTOR II, but few things are

 

[RJ 17]

I see they kept that stupid looking saber in, and Han doesn't... look... well.

I'm sure Disney had the money to get a functioning story for it without deviating to something dumb, leanrt not to put anything like Jar Jar in, and get a good cross between special effects and a realistic look to avoid anything appearing fake as shit, but it's still going to need more that to beat the originals. Or am I being too optimistic?

honestly why do people have such a problem with lightsaber cross guards?

As Nazulu mentions in his response: it's more about the design than the fact that it exists.

The design they're using just wouldn't work for it's intended purpose. Any lightsaber blade sliding down the blade of the lightsaber would a cross guard would just slide right through the side-beam's emitter.

A better design - that is, one that would actually function - would look something like this:

Have the side-beams curve back around, one crossing in front of the primary beam, the other crossing behind it. This way the enemy's blade is safely captured by the beams of your cross guard rather than slicing right through your cross guard's emitter.

 

[Gizmo1990]

I hope it is but I am having trouble getting excited for this. I watch the trailer and I am excited for all of 5 mins and then I realise that I know fuck all about the movie. Now I do think that trailers tend to give away too much about their movies these days but I think this has gone to far the other way.

All I know about the new characters is one is a woman with a large stick, one is a pilot who seems to have a smug look on his face alot and one is a stormtrooper who we have seen standing around out of breath, standing with a derpy look on his face and last but not least standing around out of breath while also havig a derpy look on his face.

I need a little more to go on before I get excited.

 

[Darth Rosenberg]

As Nazulu mentions in his response: it's more about the design than the fact that it exists.

The design they're using just wouldn't work for it's intended purpose. Any lightsaber blade sliding down the blade of the lightsaber would a cross guard would just slide right through the side-beam's emitter.

A better design - that is, one that would actually function - would look something like this:

Have the side-beams curve back around, one crossing in front of the primary beam, the other crossing behind it. This way the enemy's blade is safely captured by the beams of your cross guard rather than slicing right through your cross guard's emitter.

Wait, what?! You cussing a fantasy weapon design (and a lightsaber, to boot)? Hypocrisy much? ;-)

Those designs look awful. Also, as everyone should be aware by now, the emitters could be made of Mandalorian iron, ergo there'd be no problem with the film's rather nifty design.

Re the piece: eh, that sounds alarmingly like emotive hyperbole... I'm pretty positive about the new film (nothing could be worse than the nu-trilogy, especially Ep.1), but no SW is ever going to trump Empire, and no new SW film no matter how good can compete with the nostalgia of all three originals.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I'm sure he'll say that of every new movie.

 

[Nazulu]

Have the side-beams curve back around, one crossing in front of the primary beam, the other crossing behind it. This way the enemy's blade is safely captured by the beams of your cross guard rather than slicing right through your cross guard's emitter.

It's also that it's treated like a step up, when it's such a simple concept that could've been thought up by anyone creating or using these weapons from the very beginning. Why wouldn't all of the Jedi and Siths have these sabers if it's meant to be an improvement?

It's so lame. Couldn't they think of something more clever? Is it really that hard to expand on the light-saber?

 

[RJ 17]

Wait, what?! You cussing a fantasy weapon design (and a lightsaber, to boot)? Hypocrisy much? ;-)

I knew you'd be hear with that exact comment!

And there's a key difference between this and our normal conversations. Not everyone can tell at-a-glance whether or not a cross guard in a fantasy setting - medieval, that is - would be properly functional. Anyone who has seen a lightsaber should know that the cross guard as depicted in the trailer would just not work because lightsaber beam > lightsaber beam emitter.

Those designs look awful. Also, as everyone should be aware by now, the emitters could be made of Mandalorian iron, ergo there'd be no problem with the film's rather nifty design.

Purely conjecture. It could also be made of the regular materials that all other lightsabers are made out of, materials which have been proven numerous times to not exactly be lightsaber proof.

 

[Nazulu]

Those designs look awful. Also, as everyone should be aware by now, the emitters could be made of Mandalorian iron, ergo there'd be no problem with the film's rather nifty design.

No they look a fuckton better actually, like some actual thought went into it.

And everyone should be aware of what now? Oh God it's the "impenetrable armour" we kids used to wear all over again. So is this mandal-whatever really expensive?

 

[RJ 17]

It's so lame. Couldn't they think of something more clever? Is it really that hard to expand on the light-saber?

Careful what you wish for...

 

[Quazimofo]

Those designs look awful. Also, as everyone should be aware by now, the emitters could be made of Mandalorian iron, ergo there'd be no problem with the film's rather nifty design.

No they look a fuckton better actually, like some actual thought went into it.

And everyone should be aware of what now? Oh God it's the "impenetrable armour" we kids used to wear all over again. So is this mandal-whatever really expensive?

It's supposed to be lightsaber resistant and generally tougher than most other infantry armor. Expensive, but not impossible to get. So, basically but not quite.

Anyway, the crossguard as it stands works fine if the beam is emitted from further within the saber than the visible bit, which makes sense as one might cut their hand on it otherwise.

 

[Nurb]

The best one already exists, and the new ones aren't going to be subtle or meaningful in any way because Jar Jar Abrams doesn't work that way.

 

[Mahorfeus]

It's not really even worth commenting on Kylo's lightsaber until we see him fight with it, really. I'm personally of the impression that the side blades are more for offense than defense, but that's just conjecture.

As for this being the best Star Wars movie... We'll see, I guess.

 

[Darth Rosenberg]

No they look a fuckton better actually, like some actual thought went into it.

Do you realise lightsabers themselves are a completely ridiculous concept already, right?

And there's a key difference between this and our normal conversations. Not everyone can tell at-a-glance whether or not a cross guard in a fantasy setting - medieval, that is - would be properly functional. Anyone who has seen a lightsaber should know that the cross guard as depicted in the trailer would just not work because lightsaber beam > lightsaber beam emitter.

Methinks 'I don't even' or 'does not compute' suffices to explain my reaction to that rationale.

Purely conjecture. It could also be made of the regular materials that all other lightsabers are made out of, materials which have been proven numerous times to not exactly be lightsaber proof.

Quite, it is conjecture - based on a material that's been in the EU and would 'fix' the apparent flaw.

*pause for protestations about EU being wiped out*

Kinda, but that doesn't mean they won't be being 'inspired' by all kinds of stories and ideas in the EU, ergo it's entirely reasonable for that hilt's, er, quillon emitters to be Mandalorian iron.

 

[Ukomba]

As Nazulu mentions in his response: it's more about the design than the fact that it exists.

The design they're using just wouldn't work for it's intended purpose. Any lightsaber blade sliding down the blade of the lightsaber would a cross guard would just slide right through the side-beam's emitter.

A better design - that is, one that would actually function - would look something like this:

Have the side-beams curve back around, one crossing in front of the primary beam, the other crossing behind it. This way the enemy's blade is safely captured by the beams of your cross guard rather than slicing right through your cross guard's emitter.

Wait, what?! You cussing a fantasy weapon design (and a lightsaber, to boot)? Hypocrisy much? ;-)

Those designs look awful. Also, as everyone should be aware by now, the emitters could be made of Mandalorian iron, ergo there'd be no problem with the film's rather nifty design.

Re the piece: eh, that sounds alarmingly like emotive hyperbole... I'm pretty positive about the new film (nothing could be worse than the nu-trilogy, especially Ep.1), but no SW is ever going to trump Empire, and no new SW film no matter how good can compete with the nostalgia of all three originals.

Mandalorian Iron is EU, and thus for doesn't exist any more.

Of course, the way Disney is operating, they'll probably introduce introduce a new, and ENTIRELY ORIGINAL Mandalorian Steel that can resist lightsabers.

It's the kind of disrespectful pillaging of EU ideas that is growing more common. I fully expect something like a red eyed, Pantoran, Grand Admiral named Thorn, or something, to show up in Rebels at some point.

Would fit with Not Jason, joining the Not Revanites, wearing a Not Revan mask, Not following the Legacy Era Books, ending (entirely coincidentally) with a fight against Not Jaina. Makes me wonder if he'll have had a daughter with a Not Tenel Ka before hand.

 

[Darth Rosenberg]

Mandalorian Iron is EU, and thus for doesn't exist any more.

...ahem:

*pause for protestations about EU being wiped out*

Kinda, but that doesn't mean they won't be being 'inspired' by all kinds of stories and ideas in the EU, ergo it's entirely reasonable for that hilt's, er, quillon emitters to be Mandalorian iron.

Of course, the way Disney is operating, they'll probably introduce introduce a new, and ENTIRELY ORIGINAL Mandalorian Steel that can resist lightsabers.

It's the kind of disrespectful pillaging of EU ideas that is growing more common. I fully expect something like a red eyed, Pantoran, Grand Admiral named Thorn, or something, to show up in Rebels at some point.

Would fit with Not Jason, joining the Not Revanites, wearing a Not Revan mask, Not following the Legacy Era Books, ending (entirely coincidentally) with a fight against Not Jaina. Makes me wonder if he'll have had a daughter with a Not Tenel Ka before hand.

Hence why I said "that doesn't mean they won't be being 'inspired' by all kinds of stories and ideas in the EU". I've never been that familiar with the EU, so I've no issue with them plundering good ideas. Lucas tried to plunder his own ideas with the nu-trilogy, and so anything that isn't that happening again surely only bodes well. I'd love that mask to be Revan's, at least, and actually named as such.