Script for Star Wars Episode VII is Complete

While on a press tour to promote his new TV series Believe, J.J. Abrams confirmed recently that the script for Star Wars Episode VII is complete.

"We're working really hard and we've got our script and we're in deep prep...full steam ahead, y'know" he was quoted as saying.

It was also revealed that Abrams will be shooting the movie on real film and that he will not be using IMAX cameras.

The endless speculation on casting continues, but it's hardly worth mentioning since no-one really knows. Best to wait for some official announcements in that regard.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

5 Things I Don't Want To See In Star Wars: Episode VII

Anything Geared To 4-Year-Olds

Lucas has repeatedly declared, "Star Wars is for children!" But he must acknowledge that it wasn't children that made him a billionaire. It was nerds like me that emptied their wallets for all things Star Wars. I was 12 when the first movie came out. There really wasn't much cutesy-cute stuff like the Ewoks or Jar-Jar in Episode IV, but it didn't prevent us from becoming completely hooked. As a matter of fact, by far the most popular character among us kids was Darth Vader. A friend of mine has a couple of very young boys who are now Star Wars nuts themselves. Their favorite character? Darth Vader.

Scientific Explanations for Spiritual Stuff

One of the coolest moments in Episode IV is when Obi-Wan is explaining the nature of the Force to Luke (and Han Solo is cynically smirking). It kind of laid the framework for the entire series: a greater good; more than the physical; the merits of self-sacrifice. And then, as we know, that was all destroyed with a ridiculous conversation about midichlorians. No more. As Shakespeare said, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy".

Lame Humor

It's hard to pick the worst example of this from Episodes I-VI; there are so many to choose from. Jar-Jar reacting to a flatulent animal. Jar-Jar stepping in manure. Chewbacca letting out a Tarzan yell (a Tarzan yell!) A belching frog outside Jabba's palace. Jar-Jar's slapstick nonsense during the Battle of Naboo (come to think of it, a lot of these involve Mr. Binks).

Straying Too Far From The Formula

I'm sure to a certain extent JJ Abrams wants to put his own stamp on the series. At the same time, there is a reason that we're all crazy about Star Wars. I don't want Episodes VII - IX to feel like new movie versions of Firefly. Star Wars might be grittier than Star Trek, but it is definitely not as gritty as Firefly. Obviously the prequels have their flaws, but I will say this: they feel like Star Wars. They are definitely part of the canon.

Dwelling On The Past

Acknowledging what has come before will be great. Rehashing what we already know will not. I think I'm more amped about this movie than I have been since, oh, probably 1980. Because when The Empire Strikes Back was announced, you had no idea what that movie was gonna be. We generally thought, "the whole story was told in Star Wars. What else could there be to say?" And then came what is universally considered the best Star Wars film of all. I want to be genuinely surprised. I want to be excited like a 12-year-old. I want there to be endless layers of detail and mystery so that I can watch these movies dozens of times and still find new stuff. Is that too much to ask?

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a world traveler, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

5 Things I Want To See In Star Wars: Episode VII

Mystery

JJ Abrams recently said something that I've been saying for years. One of the coolest aspects of the original Star Wars trilogy is the sense of mystery. From the opening dialogue on Leia's ship we are bombarded with references to a 'Rebel Alliance', 'The Empire', a 'Death Star', and the most intriguing villain in cinematic history - Darth Vader (when the first movie came out there was quite a debate among us 12-year-olds as to whether Vader was a robot or human). The assumption that you knew who all of these characters were and what in the world they were talking about was one of the great motivators to keep watching and get up to speed. The new movies need more of that.

Great Actors

Two of the actors that have been rumored for Episode VII are Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor. This would be great, if true. One of the things that has given the other movies gravitas and credibility is the casting of great actors (Alec Guinness, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, James Earl Jones, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Ahmed Best ... oops, hands kept typing). The new movies need thespians with those kind of chops.

Quiet Moments

As with all art, contrasts heighten the experience. Whether it's the light and shadow of Rembrandt, the loud and quiet of Pixies, or the brief and eloquent of William Faulkner - variety intensifies. The quiet moments of Star Wars (especially in the original trilogy) really help to make the action scenes more vibrant. One of the most memorable shots in the whole series to me is Luke looking over the landscape at dusk. It's just so 'real movie'-ish. Almost seems like a shot from Lawrence of Arabia. Abrams is great at action, and I know he'll be in top form for these movies. I just hope he remembers to add respites of thoughtfulness.

Sophisticated Humor

Jar-Jar stepping in manure is not what I would call sophisticated humor. The romantic tension between Han and Leia is. You get the picture.

New Characters

It must be a very intimidating thing to be in JJ Abrams' shoes. You are taking the reins of something that you have adored your entire life. It's a dream come true, but you have to be scared to death of ruining it. For all the things you can say about George Lucas, this is one advantage he had. He doesn't revere the movies because they're his. He had the freedom to do whatever he wanted. In some cases this was bad (Jar-Jar), but in some cases it was awesome (Darth Maul, General Grievous). I hope that everyone involved realize that keeping the series vital by infusing new characters is crucial to the success of any Star Wars movie.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a world traveler, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Lawrence Kasdan New Writer of Star Wars: Episode VII

Michael Arndt is no longer writing the script for Star Wars: Episode VII.

Screenwriting duties are being taken over by Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark, and by J.J. Abrams, who is already on board as director.

"I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a post on StarWars.com. "There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a Star Wars story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen. J.J. of course is an incredible storyteller in his own right. Michael Arndt has done a terrific job bringing us to this point and we have an amazing filmmaking and design team in place already prepping for production."

Arndt has been working on Star Wars even before Disney announced it was buying Lucasfilm in October 2012, writing a 40- to 50-page treatment for Episode VII. The announcement also contained the news that Disney was planning new movies in the Star Wars universe, including Episode VII, with a 2015 release planned. Then in late 2012, Arndt was formally hired to write the screenplay.

While George Lucas is considered the author of the stories for the Star Wars movies, the screenplays for both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were written with collaborators.

Kasdan and Leigh Brackett collaborated on the script for Empire -- considered by many fans and most critics to be the best story of all the Star Wars movies -- and also worked with Lucas on Return.

The Episode VII script news was announced on StarWars.com, which also revealed the below-the-line crew that Abrams has assembled, which includes Dan Mindel, the director of photography behind Abrams' Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Also on board are production designers Rick Carter (Lincoln, Avatar) and Darren Gilford (Oblivion, TRON: Legacy), costume designer Michael Kaplan (Star Trek Into Darkness, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Fight Club), special effects supervisor Chris Corbould (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception), sound designer Ben Burtt (Wall-E, Star Wars: Episodes I-VI), re-recording mixer Gary Rydstrom (Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan), supervising sound editor Matthew Wood (The Master, There Will Be Blood) of Skywalker Sound, and visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett (Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith) of Industrial Light & Magic. from The Hollywood Reporter.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a world traveler, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Best In Role

Some literary and cinematic characters are so solid that they keep getting revisited time and again (with varying levels of success.)

Here is my list of what I consider to be the best portrayals of some of these iconic roles.

Sherlock Holmes Jeremy Brett This is by the far the toughest one. Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Lee Miller, Basil Rathbone, etc etc have all done masterful work as the world's greatest detective. But Brett embodies the most important element of Holmes: he's an antisocial weirdo. Brett's odd facial expressions, sudden outbursts and grouchy disposition suit the character beautifully. Side note: Martin Freeman is my favorite Watson.

Captain Bligh Charles Laughton Trevor Howard and Anthony Hopkins both did a great job with their own unique takes portraying the captain of The Bounty. But Laughton made the character unbearable. And his arrogance and defiance when set adrift in the lifeboat is perfection.

Bruce Wayne Christian Bale I don't know if Bale is the best Batman...not sure we've even seen that yet. But as Bruce Wayne, it's hard to top Bale. He really seems like a tortured, obsessed guy. And he played the vapid rich jerk part very well.

Superman Christopher Reeve No contest. Christopher Reeve was the living embodiment of Superman straight off the page.

Mr. Darcy Colin Firth Many wonderful actors have tackled this role, but no-one captured Fitzwilliam Darcy so naturally as Firth. And the 1995 miniseries is the definitive Pride and Prejudice.

Robin Hood Errol Flynn It was a tough decision between Flynn and Kevin Costner. Just kidding.

Jedi Ewan McGregor With deference to Liam Neeson, Alec Guinness and Samuel L. Jackson - McGregor embodies what I expect a Jedi to be. He's elegant, poised, daring, focused. And not a whiny teenager.

Kenneth Branagh Hamlet I don't know which role has been played by more characters...Sherlock Holmes or Hamlet (or The Doctor.) Sometimes Hamlet is portrayed in a hammy, over-the-top fashion. Sometimes it's a modern, abstract take. But Branagh's portrayal just seems real. And the movie itself is by far the best portrayal of the world's most famous play ever filmed.

Marlon Brando Fletcher Christian Being the greatest actor of all time, Brando's portrayal of (fill in the blank) is probably the best. But I especially like his take on Mr. Christian. In the beginning of the movie he's a bit of a selfish fop. But he starts to evolve as a person when he sees the mistreatment of his shipmates and fully blooms as a human being in Tahiti.

Musketeer Oliver Reed There have been numerous versions of The Three Musketeers and countless portrayals of each musketeer. But Reed's performance as Athos in the 1973 film is perfection. Oliver Reed was a force of nature - his performances in The Devils and as Bill Sikes in Oliver! are disturbing and unforgettable.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Beer of Star Wars Part III: Refill of the Jedi

The latest time-wasting installment of nerd nonsense.

Young Boba Fett Dad’s Little Helper Malt Liquor This cute little guy might seem a bit young for beer, but don't be fooled by his curly locks and sweet face - he's a chip off the old death-dealing block. His father, Jango, was heard to say, "What's worse- an 11-year-old drinking beer, or an 11-year-old learning to kill?...well, actually, I taught him both of those things..."

Tteel Kkak Middle Ages Druid Fluid Not sure if the Jawas qualify as "Druids", but they do skulk about in the wild wearing heavy hooded robes. When asked about his brew of choice, Tteel Kkak replied "Look, I live in the desert. I'll drink bantha sweat if I have to. And any beer that has 'fluid' right in the name gets my vote."

Count Dooku Baron Von Awesome "Oh, I'm aware that a 'count' and a 'baron' aren't the same thing, but it's nice to think that I'm in the company of a fellow nobleman when I quaff my ale" the evil Sith traitor remarked. "It is always important for a gentleman to maintain his decorum." Dooku next took a dainty sip from his glass and then casually beheaded an enemy.

Jar Jar Binks Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot "Meesa not know why, but meesa lovesa this beer!" observed Mr. Binks before stepping on a rake, smashing his face, and then falling into a wedding cake.

Opee Sea Killer Lilja's Hop Ness Monster "I have never had the pleasure of visiting Earth, but I would love to meet this Loch Ness Monster chap. He sounds like a wonderful fellow" explained the terror of Naboo's watery core. "It can be wearisome to maintain your dignity when everyone is portraying you as a villain or a sociopath." The mighty sea beast excused himself and promptly swallowed a ship full of kittens and school children.

C-3PO Pink Champagne Yes, pink champagne is not beer. But what else would C-3PO drink?

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Wine of Star Wars Part II: The Empire Kicks Back

Due to massive public outcry demanding more, we bring you another batch of time-wasting foolishness.

The Gungan Army Sea Smoke Botella "The enemy has this massive droid army, and we've got - what? Glowing balls and catapults? Weesa need some kind of advantage, and the morning fog is it" said Captain Tarpals. "Plus, it's pretty cool to come rolling in all 'Throne of Blood' style."

Darth Maul Gnarly Head "Yeah, joke about the head...very original" the visibly exasperated Dathomiri Nightbrother declared. "'Is your Mom a crocodile?', 'You have a little something on your face'...yep, heard 'em all." He quickly followed up, "I will take the wine, however."

Aks Moe Holy Cow Chardonnay "I'm not actually a cow, I'm a diplomat and Senator from the glorious planet of Malastare" the three-eyed cow was heard to say (or is it 'herd' to say?)

Luke Skywalker The Dead Arm Shiraz "So right after my 'Dad' cuts off my hand, Solo brings me this bottle of wine as a gag. But it's actually pretty tasty! Han can make fun of me all he wants, but I'm really strong in that arm now" Skywalker remarked. "And I think the princess was checking me out. You know, she's pretty cute...and I think we have a lot in common!"

C-3PO Pink Champagne What else would C-3PO drink?

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Vodka of Star Wars Part II: The Empire Kicks Back

More silliness for nerds, vodka lovers, and those who happen to be both.

Admiral Ackbar Deep Sea For the Mon Calamari native, this fine vodka from Mexico is his only choice. "I floundered around with different brands, but was hooked on Deep Sea!", the Admiral quipped. We're just glad he didn't attempt any "it's a trap" gags.

Teenage Anakin Skywalker Romance What other vodka would this silver-tongued lothario imbibe? "I wish that I could just wish away my feelings, but I can't." "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth." Gold.

Kendal Ozzel Empire "I drink Empire vodka because I am a company man through and through", the Admiral was heard saying. "Sure, I've made my mistakes, but I think I've failed Lord Vader for the last time. Nothing but good times ahead!"

The Exogorth Down Under "What is a space slug to do?" the Exogorth lamented. "I mean, I'm kicking back, satisfied with some mynocks I just gobbled down...and boom! Some idiots in a raggedy old ship fly down my throat! Unnerving...simply unnerving." The asteroid-dwelling beast then slithered back down into his crater and sipped on 10-million gallons of Down Under vodka.

C-3PO Pink Champagne Yes, pink champagne is not vodka. But what else would C-3PO drink?

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Beer of Star Wars Part II: The Empire Kicks Back

The latest time-wasting installment of nerd nonsense.

Princess Leia Abrasive Ale "Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding Vader’s leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board." "I don’t know where you get your delusions, laser brain." "Would it help if I got out and pushed?" 'Nuff said.

Lama Su Mother of All Storms It's not easy living on a water-covered planet that's in a constant storm state. "Can you imagine what it's like for me, living on Kamino? I mean, can you just imagine?", Mr. Su was overheard complaining to whoever would listen. "How do you plan a picnic? Why in the world do we still live here?!" He then drank his beer and calmed down.

Shmi Skywalker Lars Birth Of Tragedy "I can't explain it...ever since I had Ani I've craved this beer", the former slave used to say. Her appetite for this potent brew may be a clue to something else she couldn't explain.

Zam Wesell Assassin Imperial Stout "Man, I should really switch beers. But I can't resist the flavor!" Miss (Mr.) Wesell was referring to the fact that her (his) cover has been blown numerous times while tailing a target due to her (his) choice of brew. "I have this one last contract on Coruscant, and then it's retirement city!"

Qui-Gon Jinn Permanent Funeral "OK ... explain this to me: I 'defy' those arrogant do-nothings on the Jedi council ... that's my big crime ... and when devil-boy kills me, that's it. No more Qui-Gon. But precious Anakin - that little monster - becomes the terror of the galaxy, kills millions, biggest villain ever...he just throws the Emperor down a tube (with the selfish motive of saving his son, I might add), and suddenly he's redeemed and appears at the end of 'Jedi'. That's real fair. Whatever."

C-3PO Pink Champagne Yes, pink champagne is not beer. But what else would C-3PO drink?

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.