Call of the taun-taun

Eerily Similar, yes?

Some of my readers have inquired about the nature of my profile picture.

This was in fact taken while I was reproducing the call of a taun-taun from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

I'm told my imitation is rather authentic. I can also do some pretty convincing R2-D2 whistles and a Tusken Raider yell, but my facial expressions aren't half as amusing.

Speaking of Star Wars, it was announced yesterday that JJ Abrams will be directing the next Star Wars installment.

I have to say I am not surprised by the choice (I think it's very wise of Disney to select him on the basis of the great re-boot he did with Star Trek), and while excited by the potential prospects, I'll still be approaching this enterprise with some trepidation.

Most people I've discussed this with believe the results will be spectacular. I agree. I think whatever JJ Abrams does to the Star Wars franchise will result in a great film... but will it be Star Wars?

Let me explore this further:

I think that there is a major difference between the fans of Star Trek and Star Wars or the expectations that have been set if you're a fan of both. Star Trek fans are used to adapting to changes in the franchise. Star Wars fans have a certain bar of impossibly high expectations already set... meeting and exceeding these will be quite a tall order for any director, no matter how capable they are.

Lucas (for better or for worse) was central to the Star Wars universe for the most part. Granted the last three films were atrocious, but they still had that vague "Star Warsey" feeling despite that fact. Lucas has been the grand overseer of his universe and up to this point, diversion from his overall view of it has not been tolerated. Was it time for a change in direction? Absolutely. Will Star Wars fans accept it? That's another question entirely.

Gene Roddenberry on the other hand while initiating the Star Trek franchise, had less and less to do with the various series as they progressed. Star Trek has been directed and produced by many different people over the years... each with their own interpretation of the franchise. Abrams did a damn fine job on his reboot and the sequel looks equally brilliant (I'm looking forward to seeing Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of the villain)... but he's just another director to take a seat at the helm.

Star Trek has grown and changed through six series, and umpteen movies over a period of almost 50 years... different settings, characters, time periods and political situations are the order of the day. Star Trek fans are used to change and have come to expect it... for the better (The Wrath of Khan) or for the worse (Nemesis*). Star Trek is about change.

Star Wars has however remained in two general categories: The Awesome Original Trilogy (with the exception of the addition of the Ewoks) and The Unfortunate Crap that followed Return of the Jedi**. We know what we like and what we don't like... Star Wars fans have learned to fear change. For the last 33 years, I know every time I watch The Empire Strikes Back, that will feel like five years old again and that it will be as awesome as the first time I watched it. And I know that every time I accidentally see The Phantom Menace, I will want to gouge my eyes out and curse George Lucas.

As long as JJ Abrams keeps out the *^#%$@ Ewoks and throws in a lot of classic Stormtrooper action, it may have a chance of becoming the classic Star Wars we all miss.

*Some may argue with my point of Nemesis being the worst of the film series. While the Motion Picture is arguably a bit dull, it has a consistent story-line and holds together fairly well. The Final Frontier had a terrible premise (a laughing Vulcan searching for "God"... really?) but otherwise was well scripted and had some great Kirk-Spock-McCoy moments. Nemesis was a disjointed mess from beginning to end and ultimately would have fared better if it hadn't been cut to ribbons in the film editing stage. 

**Also includes the train wreck that was the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special.