Star Wars Episode VII: A new…new hope
Last week Disney announced its $2 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm and its plans to start a new Star Wars trilogy by 2015. While many diehard fans remain pessimistic about the new trio of films, I remain hopeful.
Before explaining why I’m keeping my hope bottled up until the premier, I need to explain how I feel about the franchise as a whole.
Star Wars is a franchise that defined my childhood as well as traumatized my journey to adulthood. The original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) is a masterpiece. Great character development, a colorful cast of characters with realistic environments and artful puppetry. This trilogy was the result of a dedicated team of people devoted to making engaging and quality films.
The second trilogy (Episodes I-III) is a mess. Starting off with Episode I (a movie with no clear protagonist or plot) one could see the potential of the franchise when left in George Lucas’s incapable hands. By being given free reign over those movies, Lucas was given power that he clearly wasn’t ready for. The second trilogy can pretty much be summed as Hayden Christensen crying in front of a green screen for hours on end, while Yoda (who walks with a cane still) jumps off of walls in high flying (boring) lightsaber fights. No bueno.
There’s an element of the upcoming trilogy that gives me hope: George Lucas won’t be directly involved. I mean, what more do I have to say? As leery as I was of the new trilogy at first, that one fact really brought me back.
Lucas introduced some of the worst ideas to ever sully a franchise. I’m hoping the studio goes a step further and gets a restraining order to keep Lucas away from the set – we don’t need any more of his ideas. No Lucas means that this trilogy truly has the chance to reinvent Star Wars as we know it, in the same way JJ Abrams reinvented Star Trek in his 2009 theatrical release.
I really just hope the new trilogy will be good because I have no choice. Episodes I-III left a horrible taste in my mouth. A taste so bad I’m willing to try whatever comes next on the off-chance that it will be good. I’m willing to wager that anything produced without the direct involvement of Lucas automatically has the chance to be marginally better.
Who knows? Maybe they’ll even ditch the green screen for…ACTUAL LOCATIONS.
nsmith@lanthorn.com
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Pictures of the Year 2012-2013


Courtesy Photo/Joe Kargula and Erik Peterson run the Marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon

GVL / Robert Mathews Quarterback Heath Parling (12) leading the offense past Notre Dame College.

GVL / Eric Coulter Senior Jake Isaacson placed eigth in the Spartan Invitational. Isaacson's time of 25:04 was the highest among Division II athletes.

GVL/Jessica Hollenbeck Student Senate President Jack Iott speaks to the assembly during Thursday's meeting.

Courtesy / gvsu.edu President Haas and Montcalm Community College President Robert C. Ferrentino sign the transfer agreement


Courtesy Photo/ GVSU Athletic Department Sophomore Chris Cunningham lines up a putt at a past match.

Courtesy Photo / GVSULakers.com Andrew Darrell prepares to return the serve earlier this season.

GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".

GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".

GVL / Archive Forward Briauna Taylor (31) chases down a lose ball in a game last season

Courtesy Photo / Dean Breest Sophomore Allyson Winchester was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after finishing first with a time of 20:48.8.

GVL / Archive GVSU's Breland Hogan rises and fires over three defenders last season.

GVL/Bo Anderson Briauna Taylor leads the fast break during a game earlier this season.

GVL / Robert Mathews Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, James Moyer, leading a walk through of the Mary Ideam Pew Library

Courtesy Photo / GVSU DII Men's Hockey Jeremy Christopher chases down a puck during a matchup last season.

GVL / Bo Anderson Students and faculty danced under the spectacular light show in the Devos Place Ballroom

GVL / Robert Mathews Martin L�wenberg, holocaust survivor, speaking at the Genocide Awareness Night presentation in the Grand River Room.

Courtesy / Dean Breest Senior Sam Lockhart finishes her indoor career with two individual national championships in weight throw and shot put at the 2013 National Championships.

Archive / Robert Mathews Giancarlo Brugnoni (40) rounding the bases during a previous game.

GVL/Bo Anderson Seniors Christ Koppenaal, Bill Madsen, and Mitch Weber measure the exterior of the Wesley House as part of an energy audit.

GVL / Robert Mathews Senior Anthony Campanella pitching against Tiffin University during the Lakers double header.

GVL / Eric Coulter Brother Jed Smock, a member of Campus Ministry USA, speaks with fervor to a student. Many students, all with differing views, came to watch the Campus Ministry members speak.

GVL / Sean Mouton A passing walker stops to admire some recently constructed pieces of Art Prize 2012.

GVL Archive Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. This weekend the team will be playing in South Haven.

GVL / Bo Anderson GVSU's Katie Martin points to her teammate after safely reaching second base.

GVL / Robert Mathews Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons under construction.

GVL / Archive The Grand Valley Rowing Team during Spring Training in Florida last spring.

GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.

GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
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