Here's how that went down...

(07-19-2018 11:13 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Lando's Back:

Star Wars Episode IX: Billy Dee Williams to Return as Lando Calrissian

This is kinda obvious, as both Luke and Leia are effectively gone and they really need someone from the past to help the story that was, in my opinion, taken way too far off track in VIII:TLJ. Hopefully JJ Abrams can figure out how to make it work and put things somewhat back together for Episode IX. I'll even grant him a few lens-flares if he can fix this thing.

The return of Lando isn't enough to get me in to see Episode IX. I know I won't be there on opening night. I'll have to read the spoilers before I decide to see it. It will be very hard for Disney to undo the mess they made with TLJ.

(07-19-2018 12:23 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  Here's how that went down...

Well that was anticlimactic. Does actually watching the rest of the show make that duel more meaningful?

(07-19-2018 12:45 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(07-19-2018 12:23 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  Here's how that went down...

Well that was anticlimactic. Does actually watching the rest of the show make that duel more meaningful?

Depends on who you ask. We've talked about Rebels before on this thread and my take was that while I don't like animated shows it was really well done - to the point where I hope the director for Rebels gets a chance to do a film.

There is a lot of lead up to that moment, so I would say yes. Remember how Mike Tyson would get a knockout in the first 30 seconds of the fight? Reminded me of that. If you recall from the battle he and Qui Gon had with Maul, Qui was killed and they both almost lost in spite of if being two on one. In my view it was an example of how powerful Obi Wan had become by this point in his life and how much he had learned. In that first duel he also cut Maul's double saber in half, but he was also overpowered by Maul. Demonstrated Obi-Wan's elite skill over someone who once was stronger than he was.

In case y'all hadn't caught up to this. The follow up to Rebels is going to be called Resistance which takes place just before The Force Awakens.

https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-...fall-debut

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendel...3b73c79ac6

(07-19-2018 12:01 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(07-19-2018 11:55 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  I thought it was a solid palate cleanser after TLJ. I loved the Maul tease but am sad that we probably won't see anything more out of him. Maybe in Ep 9?

Maul was finally killed by Obi Wan on Tatooine during this last year's season of Rebels - which obviously predates Ep 9 by 30+ years.

We could see him; however, if there is a sequel to Solo.

As of today, I want to see the sequel to the Solo movie more than I want to see Episode 9. And I wish I wasn't feeling that way, but I am sad they screwed up the main movies so bad.

Maul was a real surprise, along the lines of "Luke, I am your father." (not equal to it, but the same kind of surprise feeling, and anticipation for wanting to see what was next. If it was done right (certainly not a given nowadays with the SW leash holders) I think it could be quite cool, and set up an Obi-Wan spin off that I'd also like to see with Ewan MacGregor reprising the role.

In contrast, I have a very queasy feeling about what might come next in Episode 9. Kylo ren is as much of a boy in need of spanking as prequel Anakin became, but I don't think he'[s an iota as cool as Darth Vader, which is where you have to go to get the Anakin "I don't like sand' taste out of your mouth. The Kylo character is a punk and a coward from all theyv'e shown. They seemed to do this on purpose so they could have Rey be the #1 strong hero, along with Leia, which I think was Kathleen kennedy's ultimate goal. But then Carrie Fischer died and many fans revolted against the eviscerating of the Luke Skywalker character, so they're in a bind to rescue the franchise. Hence, the bring Back Billy Dee Williams as Lando thing: they need a strong male character who is believable in that position. This isn't Xena the (w)arrior--you need freakin' Conan the Barbarian to take names.

And the Snoke thing was complete BS. I wasn't enamored of the character from VII, but to just whiff on him the way they did, and with no real explanation, leaving Kylo and who, Hux? as the heavies, just makes the whole thing even stupider than what they did to Luke. At least Luke did the one cool thing in VIII with his force-projection, which I did like and found more believable than the other character's force abilities, especially the Leia is space BS.

Honestly, I don't know how the heck you really fix what they did, but I do hold out hope they find a way. Meantime, yeah, I'd rather see Emilia Clarke than Daisy Ridley every time given the choice.

The Clone Wars is getting at least 12 more episodes.

(07-20-2018 03:02 AM)Doots4Dawgs Wrote:  The Clone Wars is getting at least 12 more episodes.

Kind of seems like a Mea culpa to Filone who never got to finish the Clone Wars the way he wanted to.

This interview is a little old (November, 2017) and certainly misses the problems created with TLJ and Solo's less than expected results, still, it is the first time I've seen extended discussion by Kathleen Kennedy on the franchise, and while she is still basking in the then-untarnished glow of her position, it is interesting to reflect o0n where things were then, pre-release of TLJ and where things stand now. It's an in-house, Star Wars company production video, so no balanced reporting, but a few interesting behind-scenes clips interspersed. Anyway, it felt worth posting for perusal here:




here's the link to the full story text the video was embedded in:
‘Star Wars: Episode IX’: Everything we know so far

(07-19-2018 10:22 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-19-2018 12:01 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(07-19-2018 11:55 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  I thought it was a solid palate cleanser after TLJ. I loved the Maul tease but am sad that we probably won't see anything more out of him. Maybe in Ep 9?

Maul was finally killed by Obi Wan on Tatooine during this last year's season of Rebels - which obviously predates Ep 9 by 30+ years.

We could see him; however, if there is a sequel to Solo.

As of today, I want to see the sequel to the Solo movie more than I want to see Episode 9. And I wish I wasn't feeling that way, but I am sad they screwed up the main movies so bad.

Maul was a real surprise, along the lines of "Luke, I am your father." (not equal to it, but the same kind of surprise feeling, and anticipation for wanting to see what was next. If it was done right (certainly not a given nowadays with the SW leash holders) I think it could be quite cool, and set up an Obi-Wan spin off that I'd also like to see with Ewan MacGregor reprising the role.

In contrast, I have a very queasy feeling about what might come next in Episode 9. Kylo ren is as much of a boy in need of spanking as prequel Anakin became, but I don't think he'[s an iota as cool as Darth Vader, which is where you have to go to get the Anakin "I don't like sand' taste out of your mouth. The Kylo character is a punk and a coward from all theyv'e shown. They seemed to do this on purpose so they could have Rey be the #1 strong hero, along with Leia, which I think was Kathleen kennedy's ultimate goal. But then Carrie Fischer died and many fans revolted against the eviscerating of the Luke Skywalker character, so they're in a bind to rescue the franchise. Hence, the bring Back Billy Dee Williams as Lando thing: they need a strong male character who is believable in that position. This isn't Xena the (w)arrior--you need freakin' Conan the Barbarian to take names.

And the Snoke thing was complete BS. I wasn't enamored of the character from VII, but to just whiff on him the way they did, and with no real explanation, leaving Kylo and who, Hux? as the heavies, just makes the whole thing even stupider than what they did to Luke. At least Luke did the one cool thing in VIII with his force-projection, which I did like and found more believable than the other character's force abilities, especially the Leia is space BS.

Honestly, I don't know how the heck you really fix what they did, but I do hold out hope they find a way. Meantime, yeah, I'd rather see Emilia Clarke than Daisy Ridley every time given the choice.

I really didnt mind the actual story of TLJ. The logistics of the space chase ruined it for me. And the extremely anticlimactic battle on Crait.

Qi'ra, "M", the Shadow Collective and where a Solo Sequel might fit in

Star Wars Solo ‘flop’: GOOD NEWS for troubled prequel - but there’s a catch

Basically, SOLO didn't do as bad as was reported.

Quote:STAR WARS’ Solo may have struggled at the box office - but the good news is it hasn’t been quite as much of a flop as some predicted. Solo has limped over the $200 million mark domestically (US only), to reach a new total of $210 million.

That is, despite gloomy forecasts to the contrary, more than The Empire Strikes Back ($209.4 million); the movie many would argue is the best Star Wars caper of all time.

There’s a catch, though: that ‘achievement’ doesn’t account for inflation, or for Empire’s numerous re-releases. With inflation factored in, Empire’s gross would - of course - be much higher.

But the bottom line is that, while Solo is still something of a negative anomaly among Star Wars movies, things aren’t quite as bad as they appeared.

Disney are still expected to lose tens of millions of dollars from Solo; their first experience of relative failure with the Star Wars franchise....

Also: Star Wars: LucasFilm ‘wanted to DELAY Solo release date, Disney said NO’ - report

Star Wars 9 leak: 'Anakin AND Vader Force ghost appears'

and this one may be related:

Star Wars 9 leaks: 'The Knights of Ren have been cast' for THIS new scene

The heat is on Iger and Disney:

Star Wars Last Jedi fan backlash: Kathleen Kennedy 'leaving in September'?
Star Wars Last Jedi backlash: Kathleen Kennedy's husband hits back

Personally, I'd rather they get someone besides Kathleen Kennedy to head Lucasfilm. Hopefully someone more evenly balanced.

looks like this one goes here:

Artist: S.P.O.C.K.
Album: A Piece of the Action
Song: "The Stormtrooper"
1995 Energy Rekords




"Tired of killing, tired of war, tired of being a Stormtrooper."
--Finn

Leia, Luke will be back (in some form) in SW:IX along with Lando, confirmed on July 27:
link

Might Disney split Episode IX into two movies? I don't put a potential money-grab beyond them, and they certainly could use the extra screen time to try to repair/renovate the damage caused by Episode VIII, but there's a pert of me that liked the symmetry of a trilogy of trilogies.

Still, here's something I read and the more I think about it, the more upsides it has, especially if they do use it to correct some of Rian Johnson's 'mistakes'.

link: Disney Should Split The Next 'Star Wars' Into 2 Movies

This is one theory I kinda like, considering where things are now. Make Q'ira and Han Solo Rey's real parents. That makes Kylo her bro, explains her force-sensitivity, explains why Han went off and left Leia and went back to smuggling, and sets up options for the future that were kind of kiboshed with the non-reveal reveal in Ep. 8. Plus, I'd actually like to see Solo: part 2, find out about Darth M and what-all happened with Han when he got mixed up with Jabba on Tatooine, which would be fun. Plus more Emilia Clarke, and maybe more young lando getting Cloud City set up (The Return of Lobot?)

link: Rey's Parentage Is Still Sparking Fan Theories

and: 'Star Wars: Episode 9' Theory About Rey's Parents Undoes 'The Last Jedi'

(08-12-2018 02:20 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  This is one theory I kinda like, considering where things are now. Make Q'ira and Han Solo Rey's real parents. That makes Kylo her bro, explains her force-sensitivity, explains why Han went off and left Leia and went back to smuggling, and sets up options for the future that were kind of kiboshed with the non-reveal reveal in Ep. 8. Plus, I'd actually like to see Solo: part 2, find out about Darth M and what-all happened with Han when he got mixed up with Jabba on Tatooine, which would be fun. Plus more Emilia Clarke, and maybe more young lando getting Cloud City set up (The Return of Lobot?)

link: Rey's Parentage Is Still Sparking Fan Theories

and: 'Star Wars: Episode 9' Theory About Rey's Parents Undoes 'The Last Jedi'

Not sure how that would explain her force sensitivity. And I am not a fan of that since it’d be implying Han cheated on Leia 10 years after ROTJ and Ben’s birth.

(08-12-2018 02:31 PM)Doots4Dawgs Wrote:  Not sure how that would explain her force sensitivity. And I am not a fan of that since it’d be implying Han cheated on Leia 10 years after ROTJ and Ben’s birth.

If Q'ira is working with Darth M, perhaps she is force-sensitive in some way?

As far as Han cheating on Leia:
1. He's an admitted "scoundrel"
2. he has a past that's darker than ended up in SW IV_New Hope (see below clip with deleted scenes--Han is clearly hanging out with some babes in Cantina scoring some action, as fits his character at that time. So, he can't 'relapse?"
3. Han definitely has a thing for Q'ira that is not so easy for him to just forget.
4. If not the above, then what, it's cool he leaves Leia and returns to villainy for the heck of it instead of being honored (and presumably paid) as "General Solo"? (Maybe he didn't like the benefits package?)