Cover Image: Disney's Star Wars

Disney's Star Wars

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Member Reviews

An interesting look at the period between Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise, through to the release of Episode VII: The Force Awakens. The authors take readers through fan hopes, anticipation, fears, and interpretations as Disney released a "steady stream" (some might say tsunami) of "production stories, gossip, marketing materials, merchandise" and more. As someone who followed the story, but not obsessively or particularly closely until the final months before release, I was interested in getting a broader picture of what happened and what people thought.

It's an interesting read, and one I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in the Star Wars franchise (especially if you like behind-the-scenes information), or if you are interested in the movie/Hollywood industry and marketing.

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A great read for both Star Wars fans and anyone interested in the more general entertainment/film industry. Exploring the history of the Star Wars franchise and delving into the ways it has changed (for the better and worse) since being purchased by Disney, this book provides an insider view of how the decisions get made. The chapters cover not only the storytelling aspects that Disney has changes but also reveals why certain marketing directions were followed. There were many "aha!" moments as questions I'd had about why particular plot points or marketing situations happened the way they did.

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Not only readable but this discussion includes insider debates about content and almost political/ marketing issues that reflect outside world too.. so great combination .. almost journalistic presentation of important cultural issues. Bravo!

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This is a great look at the acquisition of Lucas Films by Disney and how the fans reacted to their beloved Star Wars being a part of the deal. It was interesting to read about some of the fears that fans had, as some were out there! I enjoyed this book a lot!

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To start off I have to admit I am not involved in the Star Wars fandom. I like the Star Wars movies just fine, but it has always been a bit of a mystery to me why it is as popular as it is.

Disney's Star Wars: Forces of Production, Promotion, and Reception is a collection of essays written by scholarly fans of the franchise.
The language is academical, which contrasts sharply with Star Wars' and Disney's images as children's entertainment. Don't expect a quick, light read! This book is not for children, it delves deep into the topics it covers, using the most convoluted vocabulary possible.
It's also full of spoilers for the Star Wars movies, so beware if you haven't seen them yet!

The extensive analyses behind the fan reactions to the latest Star Wars movies were interesting, showing that for many (white male) fans the diversity of the cast was seen as problematic, while other fans liked the diversity but felt the franchise didn't make enough of an effort to include the female lead character Rey in their merchandise.
I guess with such a large fandom you just can't make everybody happy. But it also shows how very personal and intimate the experience of being a Star Wars fan is to many people.
I especially enjoyed the little peeks behind the scenes of how the (new) movies were made.

Disney's Star Wars: Forces of Production, Promotion, and Reception provides a fascinating look into the good, the bad, and the ugly of both the Star Wars franchise and fandom.

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This is a fascinating anthology of essays based upon the production and reception of Star Wars in the Disney age. This will be a perfect read for fans with open minds and students who are completing a degree in Film Studies. It's far from a rose-tinted look at the franchise and its relationship with the Mouse House, but there is a balance to the views presented.

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