The horrendous endeavor of creating another “Star Wars” trilogy would be akin to adding a few brush strokes to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel yet that is exactly what Disney plans to do.
Disney’s recent acquisition of Lucasfilm, at a mere cost of $4 billion, is going to turn the “Star Wars” franchise into a cash cow that Disney is going to milk dry with their soulless, decrepit hands.
Much like fairy tale princesses and Mickey Mouse memorabilia, it seems that Disney excels at one thing: excessive marketing that inundates the populace with overpriced products and attractions.
The inevitable exploitation of the franchise was made clear once it was announced that another film is scheduled to be released in 2015. Any true fan would realize that this is a terrible idea that could potentially undermine everything that George Lucas has created.
Lucas, the creator and pioneer of the “Star Wars” universe, has been reduced to the role of executive producer instead of being at the direct forefront of the series.
Lucas might not be the best writer, but his visionary brilliance behind creating “Star Wars” was part of its success.
Furthermore, the series itself becomes more degenerative with each set of films that get released. This is evident by the release of the widely panned prequel trilogy which gave audiences famed characters such as Jar Jar Binks and a whiny twelve-year-old version of the once fearsome Darth Vader.
Should fans sit through another trilogy only to be disappointed by a film riddled with unnecessary plot additions devised to shoehorn segments into an already completed tale?
Many have false hope with the induction of one of the writers for the praised Episode V as a part of the newest film, but in actuality the success of Episode V was due mostly to Lucas’ USC film teacher Irvin Kershner who focused on character development. Much credit is somehow given to writer Lawrence Kasden, a man who also wrote the poorly received films “The Bodyguard”, “Dreamcatcher” and “Wyatt Earp”.
Some would present this as great news, but that silly notion is held by ‘fans’ only desperate for more films at whatever the cost. The storyline has been told and brought full circle.
The viewers have witnessed Lucas explain the rise and the fall of the Jedi Order. There is nothing else to see unless the studio wants to delve into the expanded universe outlined in the books.
Conversely, Disney can simply release an action film perverted of any storyline which would only further trivialize the series, especially since Disney is geared towards marketable products.
This is suitable for the current low standard of Hollywood though with its recent disgraces and rehashed abominations.
The “Star Wars” series also hold a somewhat darker tone. A few even end with the villain prevailing over the hero. Disney has rarely tackled, as the company is quite adept at making kid-friendly films with tame action and comical albeit juvenile undertones. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”,“Frankenweenie”, and “Brave” are prime examples. Even the overrated“Avengers” carried that tone with its corny humor, exaggerated CGI and laughable pacing.
Any direction that Disney decides to go will only appear to replicate the already existing films. If the films go forward, which is what the company planned to do with the latest movie, there is a possibility of featuring tales of the children of main characters.
This ridiculousness might have worked in the novels, but it will seem repetitive to the original trilogy once brought to screen.
Besides, the story of a young boy or girl who sets out on a journey is one that most have seen numerous times. It worked for the original series due to extraordinary special effects that were ahead of its time and also because the film was released in 1977.
Alternatively, perhaps fans of the franchise will be lucky enough to get a product much like the space film John Carter, another Disney creation that was not only vilified universally by critics but also led to the resignation of the Walt Disney’s Chairman Rich Ross.
Maybe the second time’s the charm.
The “Star Wars” universe was accompanied by an enriched story with memorable characters, layers of depth, impressive moments of action, occasional romances and messages that ring true in the minds of fans years after their release.
It is now a mere empty shell of its former self, but some fans desperately cling to that idea. The series once carried a widespread charm; a universal appeal that Disney will no doubt mold into numbingly mindless entertainment.
