Starwars

[tp4tissue]

The post trilogy films are bad,  and yet they keep making them..

So , Me,  I must be the problem.. clearly they're good movies,  and somehow I am at fault for missing the "wherewithal" to appreciate lucas'arts genius ??

[dgneo]

*Star Wars

[clasicks]

it's a multi generational theatrical phenomenon - there is a lot more going on than just the quality of the films.

[Findecanor]

The new movies killed Star Wars. At least for me.

I used to be a huge fan. I've travelled to several Celebration conventions abroad. I have been a cosplayer in both big costuming groups at several events, including the gala premiere of The Force Awakens — but that was a turning point.
I will finish older costume/prop projects I have started but I think I'll put them in storage and not display them to visitors.

lucas'arts genius ??

BTW. Lucasarts was the subsidiary of Lucasfilm that made computer games. When Disney took over Lucasfilm, Lucasarts was one of the first things to get axed.

The sequel trilogy is not GL's story. George Lucas left a synopsis for Episode 7 when he sold Lucasfilm, but Disney-Lucasfilm scrapped those ideas and started over.

[fohat.digs]

It seems to me that almost every ongoing series, whether it be movies, TV, or whatever, eventually (often sooner rather than later) goes from being primarily plot-driven to character-driven, and suffers greatly when that happens.

[keylabskeycaps]

Of the new movies the only one I've really enjoyed is Rogue one. Say what you will about the movie, I know there is quite the variance in opinions, but to me, its the only new movie that really has that Star Wars feel. If nothing else, I feel as though it really added to the universe, keeping with the 1970's sci-fi feel that is the backbone of the lucas/mcquarrie galaxy. Theres no basketball droids driving AT-STs or cheesy casinos, it just feels like it has enough grit and weight to fit in with the original films and, if anything, I think that attention to detail deserves some props.

[emenelopee]

I think the design of the ball-droid is crappy. It's a neat engineering trick but the head stutters around really annoyingly.

[Findecanor]

I think the design of the ball-droid is crappy. It's a neat engineering trick but the head stutters around really annoyingly.

BTW. The ball droid was such a weird design that they had to fake it in TFA. They used seven different contraptions for different scenes and angles: with girders holding the head or the head added in post, with wheels covered by greenscreen etc.
After filming had completed, then the droid builders came up with a droid that could move around on its own and keep the head on, which they got ready in time for a promo event for when they showed the official trailer.

[rowdy]

*Star Wars

*Adventures of Luke Starkiller, as taken from the Journal of the Whills, Saga I: The Star Wars

[Leslieann]

BTW. The ball droid was such a weird design that they had to fake it in TFA.

This is incorrect.
They designed it and always planned on using puppets/props (7 to be precise), there were some radio operated models but none were fully functional. The fully functional one they rolled out on stage wasn't completed until after the movie was in post production, and that was only because someone realized they actually could make it fully functional. It was never used in TFA.

Besides not knowing exactly how to do so, and time constraints, there was also practical reasons for using props/puppets, BB8 doesn't roll on sand very well, if it will move at all. So even if the fully functioning model had been built early in production, it couldn't have been used for any scenes not on a solid, flat surface. The way it rolls, based on the cgi, also makes it almost impossible without lots more electronics to make sure the arm is always positioned over a port hole. It would have to stop at the precise angle and in the movie the sphere is random in how it rolls. I know some BB8 builders lock the sphere so it rolls off center, giving the illusion of it being random and I have yet to see anyone implement the arm though admittedly, I haven't looked at what builders have been doing with them lately since after seeing the movie I decided against building a BB8.

[tp4tissue]

It probably could work on sand if it had a separate counterweight system to get the ball started..

[Leslieann]

The new movies killed Star Wars. At least for me.
cut

The sequel trilogy is not GL's story. George Lucas left a synopsis for Episode 7 when he sold Lucasfilm, but Disney-Lucasfilm scrapped those ideas and started over.

Yes, because Lucas did such a great job on the prequels..
Personally, I think the only way to save Star Wars was to remove Lucas from it.

[emenelopee]

It probably could work on sand if it had a separate counterweight system to get the ball started..

Not without a decent friction plane - smooth metal on sand is not very good. Both the act of rolling, and any acceleration (including changes in direction), needs to push against the sand somehow.

[Leslieann]

It probably could work on sand if it had a separate counterweight system to get the ball started..

A hamster in a ball can roll on sand because the hamster moves it's entire body/weight up the side of the ball and it weighs very little.

BB8 can only move a small fraction of it's weight, the rest is balanced around the central axis.

Not only are you asking the hamster to move the ball by essentially leaning it's head to the side, you're asking the 1/2 pound hamster to move a 20 pound ball, by leaning it's head. While sitting in a hole.

[Findecanor]

BTW. The ball droid was such a weird design that they had to fake it in TFA.

This is incorrect.

No it isn't incorrect. You are not contradicting me in any way. Just repeating what I wrote and adding some more info.
I can add that at first, they did not know if they could pull it off even with green screen puppets.

Let's not argue. Here is the full story:

I sat in the audience BTW. I was there with the founders of the BB8 Builder's Club.