J.J. Abrams Turned Down "Star Wars: Episode VII"

[Treqqor]

Where would lens flare happen other than something bright being pointed directly at the camera?
And that's the point, any and all occasion where this can happen the dude goes for it like a maniac.

To add to this, here's what JJ had to say about doing this in Star Trek but never in another movie:

I know what you're saying with the lens flares. It was one of those things... I wanted a visual system that felt unique. I know there are certain shots where even I watch and think, "Oh that's ridiculous, that was too many." But I love the idea that the future was so bright it couldn't be contained in the frame.

The flares weren't just happening from on-camera light sources, they were happening off camera, and that was really the key to it. I want [to create] the sense that, just off camera, something spectacular is happening. There was always a sense of something, and also there is a really cool organic layer thats a quality of it. They were all done live, they weren't added later. There are something about those flares, especially in a movie that can potentially be very sterile and CG and overly controlled. There is something incredibly unpredictable and gorgeous about them. It is a really fun thing. Our DP would be off camera with this incredibly powerful flashlight aiming it at the lens. It became an art because different lenses required angles, and different proximity to the lens. Sometimes, when we were outside we'd use mirrors. Certain sizes were too big... literally, it was ridiculous. It was like another actor in the scene....

We had two cameras, so sometimes we had two different spotlight operators. When there was atmosphere in the room, you had to be really careful because you could see the beams. So it was this ridiculous, added level of pain in the ass, but I love... [looking at] the final cut, [the flares] to me, were a fun additional touch that I think, while overdone, in some places, it feels like the future is that bright.

http://io9.com/5230278/jj-abrams-adm...are-ridiculous

So the future, to him, felt that bright. Something I'm sure he wouldn't have believed for the more dirty and used Star Wars universe.

[Sighphi]

You still danced around the whole part about the Super 8 trailer not having many lens flares at all in the first place.

I didnt dance around anything, i said that he puts them whenever he can and when he does it, it's TO THE MAX!
Let's look at the Super 8 trailer.

:21 mark, from the projector
:32 mark, i have idea from where but there are there.
:34 that same little flare from nowhere.
:39 again, that weird little flare from nowhere.
:41-:44 the truck lights
:45 still with that weird little flare from nowhere.
:46 the train.
:47 weird little blue flare continues.
:50 some lamp
1:03 sun flare from the flags
1:45 projector.
1:46 little blue flare appears again. This time it seems to be coming from the street lamps.
1:48 from the flashlight
1:49 the car lights
1:54 the school bus
2:06 the Jeep lights
2:09 the projector

come on!

How about we spin this around a little bit. Lets try to find examples of a light source pointing directly at a camera in non-JJ movies where a lens flare doesnt happen. Here's a trailer for the movie Sunshine. I bet you'd say its a JJ Abrams movie judging by all of the lens flares in it, and Abrams had nothing to do with it.

LOL! So the only movie you found to combat the lens flare from JJ is a movie about a space ship flying TO THE SUN!
HA! You are just proving my point! Only a movie about the sun can beat JJ's flareness.

But, seriously, guys, you know this is mostly for fun, right?

[Treqqor]

But, seriously, guys, you know this is mostly for fun, right?

Absolutely!

(He still wouldn't add lense flares to SW)

[thwhtGuardian]

You can point out how many times all you want but I still don't see how that's bad.

[Sighphi]

You can point out how many times all you want but I still don't see how that's bad.

Well, that was my reason for not really wanting him and not yours. If you are fine with it thats cool.

[Shikidum]

I hope Favreau does it, and canon will be saved.

[Surtur]

And who wants to be known as "the guy who made a worse movie than The Phantom Menace?"

To be fair any decent director would probably have to purposely try to sabotage the film for this to happen. I think a lot of people have such a hate hard on for Episode 1 that the second they saw Jake Lloyd wasn't in the movie they'd deem it superior. Though for me at least Revenge of the Sith is a great film if you subtract all the love scenes.

Anyways..it's a shame that the "popularity" of the prequels might prevent a really good director from stepping in. Were I a big name director I'd look at it as a challenge. Plus even the big name directors have made some horrible movies. At least the movie is most likely guaranteed to make money whether it is good or not simply because it has the words "Star Wars" in the title.