Getting Old

LucasArts has been making a name for itself since before I was born (1987). From "Star Wars" to the "Mercenaries" video game.

I remember the first time I watched "A New Hope" that I loved it. The story, the idea, the Jedi mind-trick. Everything was so spectacular. After that I watched Empire and Jedi of coarse, and everything changed after that. Suddenly A New Hope was terrible. There wasn't enough Jedi in it. Star Wars is a phenomenon that will no doubt live on forever in peoples minds. Funny enough the only two things that people remember George Lucas for is the "Indiana Jones" series and Star Wars. The people, especially his fans forget about "Howard The Duck" and rightfully so... What was Howard? It was a weird sci-fi, fantasy, something. I remember a mirror and that is about it.

Track down the road to the present time and we come to a place where the Star Wars series is over. There are now a few Novel's out, and three lackluster prequels. Sure I like the first one, pod-racing is pretty cool. That's just about it though.

2008 is going to be an important year for movies. Not just because a lot of the movies are going looking as if they are going to be huge successes, but because 2008 and the following year will prove that everything is circular with the return of the 80's action hero era. This brings up the release of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"... Can't wait for the video game to be released: Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: The Official Movie Based Video Game (or something obscure like that).

I have to tell you, I have never really been a fan of Indy though love the work of the returning, aging, superstar that is Harrison Ford. If you put this against the recently released "Live Free, or Die Hard" I think the idea alone of a new Indy movie is great. The thing is, you are putting Justin Long against Shia LaBeouf, and Ford against Bruce Willis. I myself think this is a no brainer. Justin Long however funny an actor he is was just terrible in this past Die Hard.

Also in the land of Lucas to round up some things is a live-action Star Wars television series. It is set to take place after Order 66 (Revenge of the Sith) and before the events of A New Hope. It will be based around the minor series characters, though major characters are set for occasional cameo roles. Ewan McGregor, Ian Mcdiarmid, and Frank Oz have all shown interest to appear on the show.

A Teaser trailer for the series shows a close up of Boba-Fett's helmet. It has since been speculated that the bounty hunter will be a major supporting role in the series. Plans have been confirmed for a 2009 release date. Some other plans for the series to split into spin-off show's have also been talked about.

I myself think this idea is a sham. Sure it may hold fans over, but for what? More video games where you do the same old things? No Skywalker, no Star Wars! That is the bottom line on that one. I know what they are up to at Lucas Ranch, they are trying to prolong the inevitable. The Star Wars franchise is dead, and they just do not want to admit that fact. A new television show, a movie about kids that are obsessed with Star Wars (I know this wasn't Lucas, but still) It is actually getting a little old. I think Lucas' medichlorian count is increasingly dying out, thus the force is not strong in him.

My thought's... Make a new series, maybe make a Mercenaries franchise film, keep doing some Indy flicks. Word on the street is that Ford has signed on for two more films to round a trilogy, while LaBeouf is signed on for three. Will Indy die in the last of his movies to make way for the next generation?

As for Star Wars and its future. My word is that they focus on video games. No more anything else. Sci-Fi lovers are into video games. You can make more profit with gaming than you can with a television show or even a movie if you do it right. Just look at Halo. Also if you are going to do new games, why not try to do something different. I don't know. You're the experts, and I'm just spit balling with that one.

I guess time will only tell.