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Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

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Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#191

Post by a3_nm »

tptacek wrote: post #110
evolve2k wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was personally deeply shocked recently, when I sat with my children as they were watching the animated Iron Man series at their grandpas house. This was on Sunday morning TV. The episode was about other 'bad' characters stealing Iron Mans suit. I was alarmed when the dialog turned explicitly to talk of Patents and how evil it was that they were infringing Iron Mans designs. As I continued to watch it dawned on me t…

Two responses. (i) Millions of kids saw that episode and went on to pirate movies and music anyways, because kids don't really derive their ethics from cartoon series, just like you & I aren't secretly animated by "Knowing is Half The Battle" from G.I. Joe. ( http://www.joeheadquarters.com/joeendings.shtml ) (ii) The particular message you're suggesting Iron Man is "propagandizing" is so anodyne that it was the subje…

> Millions of kids saw that episode and went on to pirate movies and music anyways, because kids don't really derive their ethics from cartoon series

The point of such propaganda would not be to ensure that people don't pirate, but to plant the idea that doing so is morally bad, so that lobbying efforts in favor of IP protection laws seem morally legitimate.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#192

Post by rhizome »

jwarzech wrote: post #72
brudgers wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Star Wars has long been envisioned as three trilogies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sequel_trilogy Yes, I'm a bit of a nerd. Please don't get me started on Star Trek.

Wasn't the lore of Lucas having the entire series 'practically written/envisioned' debunked after people saw how the 'new' trilogy turned out? (ex. metachlorian)

I was a child when the original Star Wars came out, and I was never under the impression that the entire triple trilogy had already been written, though it was always supposed to be nine movies. If anything, he had an idea for its direction, but in hindsight I think that was more salesmanship on his part.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#193

Post by tptacek »

a3_nm wrote: post #191
tptacek wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two responses. (i) Millions of kids saw that episode and went on to pirate movies and music anyways, because kids don't really derive their ethics from cartoon series, just like you & I aren't secretly animated by "Knowing is Half The Battle" from G.I. Joe. ( http://www.joeheadquarters.com/joeendings.shtml ) (ii) The particular message you're suggesting Iron Man is "propagandizing" is so anodyne that it was the subje…

> Millions of kids saw that episode and went on to pirate movies and music anyways, because kids don't really derive their ethics from cartoon series The point of such propaganda would not be to ensure that people don't pirate, but to plant the idea that doing so is morally bad, so that lobbying efforts in favor of IP protection laws seem morally legitimate.

Then the evil forces of Disney are in league with PBS to deliver that message.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#194

Post by FrankBooth »

noonespecial wrote: post #54
padobson wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You need to get excited. The creative folk at Pixar and Disney have been killing it in comparison to what's come out of Lucasfilm lately. Watch The Pixar Story (streaming on Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Pixar_Story/70083532?l... ), and tell me you're not more comfortable with Star Wars in their hands then in Lucas'.

Ok. Point made. But if this ends with JJ Abrams doing a "reboot" of ANH where Han is a genuinely nice guy and Greedo was just 'misunderstood', I shall be very put out.

A reboot is more likely to be gritty given the fashion of the times. Expect to see Han Solo made into a heroin addicted jazz critic who's not a smuggler.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#195

Post by philwelch »

afterburner wrote: post #175
philwelch wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I'm not being sarcastic at all. Please share. EDIT: Despite Fox News, the Fox network broadcasts left-leaning shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad, which regularly mock Fox News. 20th Century Fox distributes a lot of films without any discernable agenda[1], even backing films like Avatar, or the Wall Street sequel. I'm convinced that News Corporation is entirely mercenary in its agenda and on…

It doesn't matter that not all the properties fall in line with Fox News' agenda. That Fox News has a huge influence is undeniable, and the rest of News Corps news and pundit properties fall in line with that. The entertainment divisions simply put money in the pot.

> It doesn't matter that not all the properties fall in line with Fox News' agenda

It matters in the sense that a media conglomerate can't consistently act in concert to effect cultural change, which was the original question. But I think you're being insufficiently cynical if you don't think the news properties are there to put money in the pot, too.

Before Fox News was launched, the overwhelming sentiment among conservative Americans (who, let's not forget, make up about half the country) was that other news sources had a liberal bias. It was an obvious opportunity to exploit.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#196

Post by MartinCron »

zachinglis wrote: post #185
MartinCron wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or Grim-Fandango HD for iOS. A man can dream, right?

Look what I just read: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/04/pixar-d%C3%AD... Grim Fandango the movie, anyone?

That is so cool. Thank you for sharing.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#197

Post by MartinCron »

zachinglis wrote: post #183
MartinCron wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or Grim-Fandango HD for iOS. A man can dream, right?

Grim was amazing. Currently replaying, but Full Throttle was where it was at.

I was thinking of replaying Grim Fandango and was sad that I couldn't find it on Steam or GOG.

Does the original version work well with Modern Windows flavors?

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#198

Post by dmix »

mariaslickflick wrote: post #174
padobson wrote: post #19

Disney paid $4B for Lucasfilm. Six years ago, they paid $7B for Pixar.[1] Pixar used to be a subsidiary of Lucasfilm. This means that John Lasseter is now going to have control of all of the assets that allowed him to get into making movies in the first place. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixar#Acquisition_by_Disney

pretty low, considering that a movie like Avatar made approx $3 billion in revenues.

$1.1 billion in profit. But it was certainly an exception to the average film.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#199

Post by whatusername »

thejteam wrote: post #164
philwelch wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have fond memories of reading some of the expanded universe books as a kid Yeah, I did too. Piece of advice: don't go back and reread them. They're awful. At least the ones by Kevin J. Anderson.

I remember thinking the Thrawn trilogy was great. A few months ago I found the trilogy at a library sale and picked then up for a couple bucks for nostalgia's sake. They are awful too. And you are right, the ones by Anderson were worse.

Read a novelization of the Original Trilogy. It would suck too.

To me, the Thrawn Trilogy is 'our only hope' of lucasarts getting this even close.

Re: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.

#200

Post by 001sky »

bduerst wrote: post #190
Steko wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I seriously doubt that Apple wants to be in the content biz any more than they already are with their first party apps. I'd guess Steve was fairly cognizant of the fact that the decline of Sony was directly related to their media acquisitions in the late 80's. When the media people get seats at the big table you develop an institutional hostility to the sorts of disruptive devices that Apple wants to build and Sony u…

Agreed. For a company the size of Apple, to get into content production it would be less expensive and quicker for them to acquire than to build it in house. And for any good partnership, there needs to be a Win-win on both sides. If Apple were to sabotage it's content agnosticism, would probably hurt it's mobile market share.

But consider the counter-example: Hulu's failed IPO. The idea that these assets are available for sale is an assumption, not a given. The uncertainty of this assumption killed any chance of a Hulu IPO. The TV/film assets are protected by ; and if they can be monetized outside of apple, they will be. That is pretty much in line with the observable data to date.
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