Anyways, the point of all this is I was just checking out some Star Wars YouTube videos and came across the intro vids for the Old Republic games. Put aside the fact I still haven't played any of these (that's because I still stubbornly refuse to "generation-up" out of my PlayStation 2-I used my PS1 for 10 years, and I'm only on four with the PS2, so good luck with that) but what I am thinking is take the exact same concept of these intros and make movies out of them. And I mean with the exact same animation, if not a tad better. Not like the Clone Wars feature film (or for that matter, the Cartoon Network's adaptation of the Clone Wars in 2005) but just like these intros. If you haven't seen them, I think you'll agree they're pretty awesome. They are in chronological order and tell the tale of the time (as the title indicates) of the Old Republic. Before Emperor Palpatine, before Darth Vader. heck, we're talking about 2000 years before Yoda. Yeah, a long time. Check em' out:
And then there's more in the still ongoing OR saga:
Cool huh? Wouldn't they make awesome flicks? If you're a stickler for live-action sci-fi actors, well then go away. You would get used to computer-generated action pretty quick, especially if it's this great. Imagine the lengths you could go to. There would literally be no limitations. And they could do this forever. I mean, there are endless Old Republic stories. Personally I would love to see prologue stories such as putting Timothy Zahn's 1990's Heir to the Empire trilogy (or Thrawn trilogy, referring to probably the best villain in a Star Wars story since Darth Vader) on the big screen. That would most definitely rock. You couldn't do it with live-action for obvious reasons such as Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil and Carrie Fisher being too old for the roles now. It could have been done in the 90's, because all of them would have supposed to have been a bit older after the events (five years after the destruction of the second Death Star according to the time-line) with Han and Leia married with kids (paternal twin toddlers plus a young infant) but not now. Too much time has passed.
If you haven't read this original book series that started it all (yeah, don't tell of the original Star Wars books adapted from the screenplays, supposedly written by George Lucas or Splinter of the Minds Eye, I know about that too-who doesn't? And although the chronological time sequence may suggest otherwise, this was the original story) I really suggest that you do. The inside flap of the first book reads,
Here is the science fiction publishing event of the year: the exciting continuation of the legendary Star Wars saga. Picking up where the movie trilogy left off, Heir to the Empire reveals the tumultuous events that take place after the most popular series in motion-picture history—masterfully told by Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn.
In spring 1977 a film called Star Wars was released—and a cultural phenomenon was born. Its epic story, about a young man named Luke Skywalker, whose destiny was to save the galaxy from conquest, caught the imaginations of millions and broke all box-office records. Today Star Wars and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, are acknowledged as the most popular series in movie history, and rank among the top ten films of all time.
The three Star Wars films form a spectacular saga of bold imaginations and high adventure. But the stories of its characters did not end there. Now for the first time, Lucasfilm Ltd., producer of the Star Wars movies, has authorized the continuation of this beloved story. In an astounding three-book cycle, Timothy Zahn continues the tale of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the other characters made world famous by Star Wars, as he brilliantly expands upon George Lucas's stunning vision, "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away."
Heir to the Empire begins five years after the end of Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet back into barely a quarter of the territory that they once controlled. Leia and Han are married and have shouldered heavy burdens in the government of the new Republic. And Luke Skywalker is the first in a hoped-for new line of Jedi Knights.
But thousands of light years away, where a few skirmishes are still taking place, the last of the Emperor's warlords has taken command of the remains of the Imperial fleet. He has made two vital discoveries that could destroy the fragile new Republic—built with such cost to the Rebel Alliance. The tale that emerges is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale—in short, a story that is worthy of the name Star Wars.
There's one testimonial on the back cover of the first book, Heir to the Empire (the other two are Dark Force Rising and The Last Command) that reads, "...moves with the speed of light tempo, you can almost hear the John Williams soundtrack." I concur. Zahn really gets the Star Wars universe. May I add you could also almost see the editor's "wipes" that separate the scenes. Zahn is obviously a Star Wars fan...or just a really, really good writer.Well, this was supposed to be an advocating of a video game-turned-movie. Instead it seemed to progress into an everything Star Wars post. Ah well. Sue me.
So while I'm at it, how about this one as well. Again, if you're a Star Wars fan, you undoubtedly know about the game The Force Unleashed, the story of the secret apprentice of Darth Vader set between Episodes III & IV. That was followed in 2009 with The Force Unleashed II.
YouTube has all of The Force Unleashed II's cinematic cut-a-ways. Hey, this isn't about spoiling, it's about the quality of animation for possible theatrical releases, so there. Embedding disabled (the cretins) so...Part 1 and Part 2 have to be viewed directly from YouTube.
Seriously. Could you imagine these as full-length feature films? Or at the very least, direct to DVD and/or Blue Ray? I predict there will be a Star Wars project released in this version. Although it wouldn't be the first (there was the feature film release of Final Fantasy) It has to happen sometime.
And just for a bonus, take a look at these "What if?" horrible scenarios. I have no idea where they came from, but they're a little disconcerting.
They do say "RisingGamer.com at the end, but I couldn't locate it online. Whatever. The bastards.
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