[Jmacq1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trivial Psychic

I don't normally read into media fluff pieces, especially when they spout off about the "future of the franchise" and all that nonsense, because it's really not all that different from the marketing side of the promotion beast. Most media outlets have a job to do when it comes to marketing and promotion, and it's to sell magazines and newspapers while having the next big scoop or photo shoot. How many actors and actresses have been labeled "the future of a franchise" only to be dumped unceremoniously by their studio before the next film due to negative reviews or underachieving box office? (The recent Fantastic 4 film comes to mind.)

The point I was trying to make was that that before Episode 1 (and to a lesser degree, Episode 2) debuted, certain characters were plastered all over anything they could get their hands on, only to have those characters not make it past the end credits (Qui-Gon/Maul) or to fade away from the prequel's central plot with barely a peep. (Jar Jar) Being the way these movies are marketed, Finn being plastered on posters and promotional material does not guarantee anything in the greater scheme of the story, or even that he survives the first film, but I like you will just have to wait until the film hits the theaters to find out for myself. =)

Which leads into my next thought...



I'd like to believe that artistic integrity would win the day, and that a character survives the film's plotline simply because they are supposed to, and not because it will ruffle a few people's feathers with agendas if they don't because of the character's skin color. However, with this new era of "trying to please everyone" and political correctness, it's hard to believe in anything but. Just yesterday, I was reading a story about how Captain Phasma was originally written as a male character, and was shoehorned into becoming a female character after people were nitpicking the cast of SW:TFA not having enough women roles. (For me, I really don't care if it's a man, female, or alien under the chrome armor.) I couldn't help but shake my head when I read that.

I realize we live in a different time and era than when most of the great classics were written or filmed, but agendas in this country have seriously run amok, and when it starts to interfere with an artist's vision (however broad or narrow it is...) it really starts to become borderline ridiculous. (on a tangent, the amount of flak that Joss Whedon took with Age of Ultron over the whole "damsel in distress" plot line left my jaw hanging.) Movie studios, directors, producers, and writers need to grow a pair, and stop worry about pissing off anyone off, because in the end, it's their work, and they need to realize that you cannot please everyone. There will always be some keyboard warrior who wants to air their grievances over everyone else's voice in the room.

That's enough semi-political ranting on my end...as I don't want to get away from why we are all here...toys. Back to our regularly scheduled thread...lol. Good discussion folks! =)

As I said. Movies are a business. Directors that "stop caring what the audience thinks" risk killing that business. Artistic Integrity is all well and good and a noble ideal, but a Director that doesn't take marketing and audience reaction into account when making his film can enjoy his unimpeached artistic integrity in the unemployment line. After they've made a couple blockbuster hits they can take their money and make a few films for themselves.

Of course, if you want a fine example of pure artistic integrity, look no further than the Prequels and the Special Editions: The Artist's "perfected" vision, up there for all of us to see. And he has so much integrity that he refused to release the unaltered versions.

Anyway, the lawsuit thing is hilarious and awful all at the same time. Apparently it wasn't supposed to be out until the 18th. Wonder if there are any other spoileriffic figures in the wave?