What if... It says "Not so long ago" since it's a sequel?
Spin-Off Star Wars: Should the Opening Crawl Be Reserved for Main Series?
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What if... It says "Not so long ago" since it's a sequel?
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Why didn't they do that for Empire or Jedi?
Why didn't they say "An even longer time ago" for the prequels?
Master Yoshi
Member
Basically this. Why would anyone be offended or put off by this? It's a Star Wars staple. I welcome it.
The Crawl is tied to the episodic feel that the Lucas envisioned from the very start. But it is clear that Disney wants to explore many different kinds of stories within the SW universe, and not all of them are going to have the semi-campy Flash Gordon thing going on. If they dump the crawl I'm fine with it but only if the film has a tone that justifies doing so.
Mainline films should stick to the formula because it works and people love it.
It's very far out now but I think it's safe to assume we can expect Episodes X, XI and XII within the next decade... that's a pretty exciting prospect.
And after the success Marvel and DC have had with live action shows, a live action SW show is probably being strongly considered too. Perfect for the episodic feel.
Mainline films should stick to the formula because it works and people love it.
It's very far out now but I think it's safe to assume we can expect Episodes X, XI and XII within the next decade... that's a pretty exciting prospect.
And after the success Marvel and DC have had with live action shows, a live action SW show is probably being strongly considered too. Perfect for the episodic feel.
It should be "A long, long time ago...I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile..."
Escape Goat
Member
The opening crawl is an exposition dump. Its a very boring exposition dump at that. Instead of working backstory into dialogue and visuals we get to read about it. Thats boring and lazy. I understand why lucas chose it and its a stylistic one but theres a reason why so few movies choose to use this setup. I don't think anyone cares at this point because its just Star Wars. It made famous the opening crawl so people expect it now. I doubt its going away for spinoffs or for the main series of films.
The opening of Watchmen has an opening that is entertaining and provides backstory without it being intrusive. We don't even know we're getting exposition when we're watching it. Once viewed in context with the rest of the film it highlights how terrible things have become in the world.
If you have good writers you can insert exposition without them vomiting backstory all over the screen.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
If you recognize that the choice was made almost entirely as a stylistic one, then you should also recognize that it's functionality as an exposition dump is almost secondary.
Hell, for as many times as I've seen the movies, I can't really tell you anything about ANY of the opening crawls. Their usability as an actual set-up is pretty minimal anyway, and once the movie starts in earnest, you don't even really need to remember it.
There isn't really an opening scroll to ANY of the opening movies that is really NECESSARY to the story the movie is telling. It's there as a stylistic choice more than anything. So I mean - I can take it or leave it as a stylistic choice, but I don't know that I buy it's evidence of automatically lesser filmmaking just by dint of the fact it exists.
Rhomega Beta
Member
No, the crawl is a series trademark. I'm willing to make exceptions for the TV series, since that would take up too much time.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I definitely think only mainline movies should have the crawl. Those denote the main saga of Star Wars (ie rise and fall and rise of the Skywalker family).
And it would allow spinoff films to create their own identity. Maybe they needn't even be in the 1930s serial style (though mainline ones absolutely must be). The crawl is ripped from Buck Rogers, so it also comes bundles with screenwipes, a certain dialogue style, and other 30s techniques. Spin offs being free of that would maximize their potential (ie. War movie Star Wars? Detective drama Star Wars? horror movie Star Wars?)
And it would allow spinoff films to create their own identity. Maybe they needn't even be in the 1930s serial style (though mainline ones absolutely must be). The crawl is ripped from Buck Rogers, so it also comes bundles with screenwipes, a certain dialogue style, and other 30s techniques. Spin offs being free of that would maximize their potential (ie. War movie Star Wars? Detective drama Star Wars? horror movie Star Wars?)
Gambit 1138
Banned
They should all include an opening crawl just like the games did and the new comics do
If I recall correctly Lucas has said he imagined them taking place millions of years ago. So moving up the timeline a decade here or there really doesn't change much lol.
crackhead_bob
Member
What about Saul Bass style intros, that tell a story or recap, similar to the intro used in God of War 3 or the end credits of Captain America 2? Those opening crawls, while iconic, are boring and trite. That being said, I'm of the mind that they should be reserved for the mainline films.
Gambit 1138
Banned
No. We paid 4 billion for the Star Wars license and ability to mine the characters and concepts developed by Lucasfilm in movies, games, novels, comics, etc. forever
crackhead_bob
Member
How many more trilogies do you think will be made, or will they eventually phase them out and make ongoing episodic installments, either as standalones or a continuous cycle of films?
Bobby Roberts
Banned
I bet they reboot the whole damn thing right around the 50th or 60th anniversary.
crackhead_bob
Member
Will Star Wars even have that long of a shelf life? It just seemed that between 2005-12, it was slowly sliding back into dormancy. Did that have to do with no new films on the pipeline, or had Lucas sown such bad will that no one cared?
It was generally accepted that ROTS was the last film in what was said to be a six-film saga. So Star Wars as a movie franchise, was believed to be 'over' after that film.
That's why the Disney buyout announcement was so shocking, it came out of nowhere with a ton of info all at once, and everyone's hyped about Star Wars again.
I don't care either way but i doubt it is reserved for the main films.
The crawl has been a tradition in the old expanded universe video games, and books and comics and others usually have a blurb that is styled like the craw, three paragraphs ending with ellipsis. I have no idea who the new EU handles blurbs etc. but i can't imagine it being much different...
The crawl has been a tradition in the old expanded universe video games, and books and comics and others usually have a blurb that is styled like the craw, three paragraphs ending with ellipsis. I have no idea who the new EU handles blurbs etc. but i can't imagine it being much different...
EdReedFan20
Member
Even though I didn't watch it when it aired (watched it all on Netflix), in the interim time (premiered in 2008) Star Wars: Clone Wars was huge with kids. To many kids that is Star Wars. Some of them probably are still too young to watch Revenge of the Sith, and thus have no clue who Anakin will become.
God it was that bad?
EdReedFan20
Member
Yes. The first half of the paragraph is perfectly fine. It's the "There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere." part that makes me wonder if they had a 10 year old write that bit.
Totally agree. The "heroes on both sides" line in particular tells us nothing and is arguably nonsensical. I suspect you're supposed to assume Grievous (appearing with no explanation out of nowhere) is one of these "heroes," but to whom is he a hero? We're never shown the Separatist side of things from the perspective of anyone who would be in a position to consider anyone heroic on that side. It's just such a weird, weird piece of writing, even for the prequels.
Gambit 1138
Banned
Opening crawl, no opening crawl...doesn't really matter. Just make a good movie.
My guess would be there will be opening crawls for the spinoffs. Instead of:
"Episode VII
The Force Awakens"
it will just have one line with the title ("Rogue One") sans any episode designation before the main text.
My guess would be there will be opening crawls for the spinoffs. Instead of:
"Episode VII
The Force Awakens"
it will just have one line with the title ("Rogue One") sans any episode designation before the main text.
Extra Sauce
Member
If the movie is good, it will be worthy of the iconic crawl and if it's bad, who cares?
EdReedFan20
Member
It really feels like whoever wrote the crawl (Lucas, I assume) had no idea how to end that paragraph and just put gibberish to fill out the length of the crawl to make it similar in length to the other five movies. It shouldn't have been that hard though. It could have been something along the lines of "Across the galaxy, the war has taken its toll on the Jedi Knights, as they struggle to fight back against the Separatist forces." At least that has something to do with the plot.
Gambit 1138
Banned
I genuinely believe that by the point Episode 3 came out Lucas just didn't give a fuck anymore and just wanted to quickly finish up the trilogy and get it over with. There was no passion or effort shown from him and the only redeeming qualities of the film like its soundtrack and visual style were done by people who actually wanted to do good work.
if i were in charge of "new" star wars i'd stipulate to leave the crawl out of spinoffs... or do a different kind of crawl if need be. the intro is kind of a sacrosanct thing. pinning it on a "lesser" story cheapens it, even if the respective spinoff happens to be really good.
things like that would dilute the franchise to where the main series wouldn't be an event like they used to. these spinoffs really should have their own identity, not just for preserving the "sanctity" of the main series but because being a spinoff allows for liberal creative control. they can do an adult gritty star wars, a detective noire star wars, ect
things like that would dilute the franchise to where the main series wouldn't be an event like they used to. these spinoffs really should have their own identity, not just for preserving the "sanctity" of the main series but because being a spinoff allows for liberal creative control. they can do an adult gritty star wars, a detective noire star wars, ect
EdReedFan20
Member
Eh, I think they really were pumped to make the last hour of the movie. That hour was what everyone wanted to see. It was the hour and a half of stuff before it that felt very prequelish (apart from that opening space battle up until the dialog starts). That last hour easily makes it the best of the prequels. In fact, according to Rotten Tomatoes (80%, only A New Hope (93%) and The Empire Strikes Back (96%) rank better. I honestly think Revenge of the Sith sometimes gets unjustly lumped in with Episodes I and II. On the flip side, I feel the same, but reverse with Return of the Jedi. I think it's looked more fondly on because of Episodes IV and V. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Return of the Jedi. I even like Episodes I and II, at least moment to moment. Man, Darth Maul should not have been killed. Imagine if Maul was the big baddie of the prequel (with Sidious still being the real puppet-master). Maul would've been a consistent foil for the Jedi. In the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, instead of Dooku being there to confront Anakin and Obi-Wan, it was Maul. It would've been a monumental moment.
Star Wars, even without any films, was consistently one of the top boys toy brand. Every year. It has ALWAYS been bigger than Marvel in terms of toy sales, even with the MCU blowing up.
Star Wars has a longer shelf life nearly any franchise you can think of today. The only one more dominate is Disney Princess.
In terms of "boys" franchises (I hate that definition but that is sadly how the merchandise is broken out) there is almost nothing bigger than Star Wars. Not Marvel. Not Batman.
EdReedFan20
Member
Well, Star Wars did kinda ignite the concept of merchandizing. Lucas was so forward thinking in demanding full rights. That move is probably a huge factor in getting Episodes V and VI self-funded. It's crazy to think, but Episodes I-III, V, and VI were technically produced as independent films.
I don't think the bad robot is going to be there at all.
EdReedFan20
Member
Yeah. I was thinking the same thing. They'll probably show up during the end credits, though.
GameGuru59
Banned
Err no. There has to be complete silence before the crawl. That's always been there and works wonders to build final anticipation.
Spiritreaver
Member
These threads.
Let's have them all start with monologues by Yoda or Luke. Sounds great.
But really, I don't see why they'd remove the crawl or how not having the crawl allows movies to have their own identities.
Let's have them all start with monologues by Yoda or Luke. Sounds great.
But really, I don't see why they'd remove the crawl or how not having the crawl allows movies to have their own identities.
EdReedFan20
Member
Disney did with with the first Pirates of the Caribbean. It was bizarre, but cool. In fact, you didn't see the movie's title until the end credits.
Edit- Actually, they may have had the Disney logo after all. I'm probably just remembering the fact that no movie title was shown until the end, which is weird in and of itself.
I would guess John Williams will be writing a LucasFilm fanfare with the same feel as the Fox fanfare. Or Disney could just license the thing from Fox and play it over the LucasFilm logo.
WadiumArcadium
Member
I love the opening crawls but I don't think they HAVE to use them in the spin-offs.
CloudyTuba
Member
I think they should compromise. Use a version of the crawl, but different than the main movies.
A new reorchestrated version of the theme, shorter than the normal version and rerecorded, standard to spin-offs.
Instead of using the gold for the shortened crawl, use the "A long time ago.." blue for the Star Wars logo and the text. Reserve the gold for the main series.
A new reorchestrated version of the theme, shorter than the normal version and rerecorded, standard to spin-offs.
Instead of using the gold for the shortened crawl, use the "A long time ago.." blue for the Star Wars logo and the text. Reserve the gold for the main series.
EdReedFan20
Member
I think they should compromise. Use a version of the crawl, but different than the main movies.
A new reorchestrated version of the theme, shorter than the normal version and rerecorded, standard to spin-offs.
Instead of using the gold for the shortened crawl, use the "A long time ago.." blue for the Star Wars logo and the text. Reserve the gold for the main series.
That's a pretty neat idea.
CreepingFear
Member
What does Disney give a fuck if there is the Disney logo on the Star Wars films if they reap the benefits of the millions/billions of dollars they are going to make? In the end, at board meetings whene they announce record profits, they can show their shareholders the Disney logo all they want in front of the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.
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