With the shocking news yesterday that, yes, J.J. Abrams will be directing Star Wars Episode 7, the Internet nerd collective has been aflutter, pondering what this means for the future landscape of the series, and given its further-reaching complications, also the path that sci-fi might take from here. The move was a surprise to many given that Abrams denied his involvement with the project recently, and also because of his work on the Star Trek series.
Needless to say, many are ecstatic about the choice of Abrams, noting his experience in the genre and his general directorial prowess. You might not believe it after reading this article, but I am a fan of Abrams’ work; he’s got issues like anyone, but he usually delivers solid popcorn entertainment with a dash of intelligence, though just because I like him, that doesn’t mean I think him suited for a project of this kind. Of course, he could knock it out of the park and prove me wrong, and believe me, I would love to see that happen.
Here are 10 reasons J.J. Abrams will ruin Star Wars Episode 7.
10. Too Much Lens Flare
Yes, it’s been clogging up my Twitter feed and frankly has already gotten pretty tiresome, so it’s worth getting this point out of the way first; J.J. Abrams certainly loves his lens flare. Used to particularly disarming and eventually irritating effect in Star Trek and Super 8, it’s one of those stylistic flourishes that was neat the first time we saw it, but after your eyes have adjusted to the artifice of it and we accept that it’s just a CGI garnish, it becomes an irksome artefact that often clouds the screen.
Given how often he’s criticised for it, there’s the hope that he will be toning it down for the impending Star Trek Into Darkness, and then, of course, depending on the reception of that aesthetic – which would surely be positive compared to his previous one – he would stick with it for Episode 7.
It’s a shame as Abrams is capable of some visually stunning sequences, though he too often overcrowds them with busy and unnecessary touches like this; let the mood speak for itself.
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25 Comments
wow what an incredibly bias article
i see nothing but bias in this article prepare to be wrong what culture
In fairness to Abrahms, he had nothing to do with the ending of Lost or most of the show in general for that matter. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse were the brains behind it.
I don’t see the bias here, a lot of it is just constructive criticism. Personally I think Abrams can do a great job with Star Wars but I still wish someone else was doing it
Me, me, me, me first. I want to be the first to hammer JJ Abrams.
Jeez, waste of time. All for opinions but this is trivial crap.
The article is titled “Star Wars Episode 7: 10 Reasons J.J.Abrams Will Ruin It” and people are throwing a hissy about it being biased… Really??
If there is any bias in this article, it’s giving too much credit for what was an awful attempt at a Star Trek Movie… this, too, will end in tears…
you suck.
I’m removing your site from my bookmarks. You guys are terrible.
Time will tell I guess.
God forbid the writer actually waits for the film to be made, released and viewed before passing judgement. The good thing about this writer is he never defends himself or his opinions like the other, more respected, writers do. So you can say what you like about him and his writing. Which isn’t very good, by the way.
There’s nothing wrong with guessing what is going to happen to a film before it comes out, game/film writers do it all the time. You can then revisit the article and see what dissapointed you and what surprised you. Whilst I enjoyed the Star Trek film, Abrams’ other work hasn’t exactly put him in the spotlight. Giving him a big name like Star Wars may not actually be a good idea.
So…it boils down to two reasons? He likes mysteries and he may get the tone wrong-way to reach. As for him saying he didn’t want to do it, Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have both stated on numerous occasions their disdain for Superman, and yet, there’s the producer and writer, respectively. I agree with the above-you just want to be the first to jump on the ant-Abrams bandwagon-but coming from a guy whose favorite show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I’m not putting much stock in this.
Ill wait for the film to come out first. As long as its not human and everything else CGI then thats a plus
Clearly you guys aren’t familiar with Shaun Munro’s work. I could tell as soon as the article title appeared who had wrote this. Personally I think JJ is the best choice. He has phenomenal talent and impressive track record at giving science fiction fans what they want. I had no intention of watching the first Star Trek film until the rave reviews came out, after watching it I was by no means disappointed. His television credentials and direction are sublime and he pioneers the genre to new heights. My only criticism would be he’s not what I would call a consistent director. ‘Super 8’ was a good example of a film that didn’t really push the right buttons. ‘Cloverfield’, while being a critically acclaimed piece didn’t live up to the hype in my opinion.
Still all things considered, wether you agree with the continuation of Star Wars or not it’s going to happen anyway. So I think if there is an ideal man for the job JJ would get my vote. His connections and experience in the industry are second to none and a ‘fanboy’ like himself isn’t going to undertake the project just to see his name ascend the credits into distant space. I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Very well said, my friend.
Just a note, he never directed Cloverfield. He was the producer on that movie.
He has only directed (in films) MI:3, Star Trek, Super 8 and Star Trek Into Darkness.
Yeah, and an asteroid could hit the set while he’s filming, so let’s not forget that either. Seriously, most of the stuff you have listed here is could apply to anyone who took the helm. Sure, you’ve got a point with lens flare (I’ve no idea why he’s so in love with it) but I don’t think lens flare alone can take Star Wars down, and the rest of this list is… (searching for a nice way to say it) a bit forced.
Well written but pleased stop bashing lens flare! JJA admitted it was OTT.
I agree with all of your points.
If you’ve watched “Alias”, you know that Abrams (plus his team) are basically retelling the same story over and over again, with the same themes and the same ending . (Which is the story of “love conquers all”, “Faith in your destiny defies science” etc.)
These elements can also be traced in Fringe and Lost too. I think he starts by having these seemingly interesting-on-the-surface premises then gradually gets too confused in them and ruins the whole thing.
wow…biased much?
and that bit about the lens flare…. it’s not even as distracting as you would believe it to be.
I think articles like this are not only healthy, they’re needed right now. Personally, as a lifelong Star Wars fan, I damn near threw a party when I heard the news. I love J.J. Abrams, and I think he was as near perfect of a choice as we could hope for… but this is Star Wars. We were let down once, and we may be let down again. These are all valid concerns, and it serves as a gentle tapping of the brakes for all those ready to declare Episode 7 a success. Well done.
Ah, all this lovely optimism! Great job, man!
Prequel haters deserve this mess. They overpraised JJ Abrams and over-bashed Lucas. This is their mess. I am glad Lucas has turned the knife by giving them just what they asked for. Complete garbage. Long live the prequels, and down with JJ Abrams.
I never even considered the Uwe Boll factor. Maybe Shaun is right!