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Chris Knight's avatar

The very sad news came in the past few days that Marcia Lucas, the incredibly talented film editor who made her mark with the original Star Wars and many other movies, has passed away at the age of 80.

 

From what I’ve heard over the years, Marcia came into the production of Star Wars after her then-husband George Lucas had shown a cut of the movie to his friends.  The near unanimous verdict (Steven Spielberg was the only one in the room who said he liked it) was that George had a disaster on his hands.  That first cut was a narrative nightmare.
And then Marcia swooped in and said that she would fix it.
And she did.
Among other things she made it so that Princess Leia was much more action-oriented than she had been first perceived to be.  That was a huge thing that made a
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Chris Knight's avatar

This is something that a LOT of us have waited almost thirty years for!  It was reported a few days ago that the original cut of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is coming back to theaters in February 2027!  This is going to be the first Star Wars movie as it existed before the “Special Editions” came out in 1997.  From an age when the special effects of the saga were done without benefit of computer-generated imagery.   This is the movie that shattered the bar for what practical effects could do and it set the platinum standard for every blockbuster since.  And now in time for the film’s fiftieth anniversary we’re going to behold it again in its original glory.

(I’m going to assume that “original 1977 Star Wars” actually means the print that was released prior to the premiere of The Empire Strikes Back
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Chris Knight's avatar

It seems that Disney and Lucasfilm did not want to go the distance with Gina Carano.  Disney could have simply let Carano go four and a half years ago after they didn’t like her conservative-leaning commentary on her own social media (why are liberal-leaning actors forgiven for their commentary, huh?).  Instead they had to disparage her personal character by making her out to be someone with hate-filled qualities.  And that’s where Disney/Lucasfilm went wrong.

So Carano sued Disney early last year, and she had Elon Musk among many others in her corner.  And today Disney/Lucasfilm capitulated and settled with Carano out of court.
Not only has Disney backed down, they have also taken a conciliatory stance toward Carano, and furthermore have said that they
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Chris Knight's avatar

STAR WARS, n.

A never-ending epic mythology loved by many, would be betrayed and killed for by everybody, and is agreed upon by none.

— from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce (1906),

    appended to by Christopher Knight (2018)




The Force Awakens.  Rogue One.  The Last Jedi.  And in six short weeks Solo…


Clearly, much has happened in the past two and a half years since this blogger – said by some to be more enthusiastic than might be healthy – has posted anything at all about Star Wars.  And that last time was about The Star Wars Holiday Special!


Little wonder that a few had written e-mails asking if I was still alive or if I had gone Amish or something.


Happily, I can sincerely report that my love for the Star Wars saga is still there.  As much as
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Chris Knight's avatar

Whoa!!  Looks like “Weird Al” Yankovic was a prophet when he wrote his song “Yoda” those many years ago…

“But I know that I’ll be coming back some day
I’ll be playing this part ’till I’m old and gray
The long-term contract I had to sign
Says I’ll be making these movies till the end of time
Oh with my Yoda
Yo-yo-yo-yo Yoda Yo-yo-yo-yo Yoda”

It was officially suggested the day the Disney/Lucasfilm deal was announced but now there’s solid confirmation.  It was announced at CinemaCon in Las Vegas today that Disney and Lucasfilm will be releasing a new Star Wars movie EVERY year, beginning in 2015.  That’s the summer we’ll get Star Wars Episode VII.  The next year will see the first Star Wars “stand-alone” film, then Episode VIII and so on alternating.  Presumably after the Skywalker saga wraps up there will continue to be Star Wars ...

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