When Episode IX lost its director, the first thought that came to my mind, as everyone knows, is "UN-LI-MI-TED SPIELBAAAH!" It probably wouldn't have been the best choice, given how busy he is, and also considering that his cinematography, while absolutely amazing, tends to be a bit more fluid than STAR WARS'. For those who know his tricks of the trade, they know what I'm talking about, what with the lighting, his tracking shots, his master shots, and his framing techniques. They're a quintessential part of film as we know it, just as with STAR WARS, but they just don't quite mesh. Still, I found the idea fascinating as the ultimate "What if?" What if Spielberg, Williams, and STAR WARS, which had all intersected in their own ways but had never formed a complete triangle, came together? These three defined three generations of cinema, and having them join forces near the end of their careers would be like the great culmination of everything that modern cinema has been building up to. It would be more than just a sendoff to this Holy Trinity, but an event to give some resolution to three generations of our culture. The poetic satisfaction of it.

Somewhat more realistically, I also thought that Patty Jenkins would be an interesting fit. Imagine a STAR WARS film (and possibly the future highest grossing film of all time) starring a woman, directed by a woman, and produced by a woman. That would truly bring the greatest franchise of our culture to the point where it really did represent everyone, so that not only was it made for everyone, but that it was also made by everyone. That would be amazing. But of course, I'm not saying this only because Patty Jenkins is a woman. I truly thought that she's fit for the job. I genuinely liked Wonder Woman. I would not have suggested a any female director as a great candidate for a STAR WARS film if Patty Jenkins hadn't made that wonderful superhero movie earlier this year.

Alas, Disney went with J.J., and I shared my initial reaction. And because I don't want to be misinterpreted, I should really share my full thoughts on what I think of him as a director.

I actually liked Episode VII, and even attribute a lot of that to J.J. Abrams. He's one of the best directors out there when it comes to reviving dying franchises, and it's basically his calling card. Bringing Abrams back to direct Episode VII is a logical choice, and one that I probably would have made, and I actually don't have too many concerns. Clearly J.J. can direct these kind of films now. There are only three things that I'd want him to do differently as a director this time around.

First, I hope that he continues to use wide angles. George Lucas, when he made Episode IV, initially wanted Stanley Kubrick's cinematographer, because that's the look that he wanted. I would try to use the same lens length as in Episode IV (unfortunately, I've looked up a ton of technical specifications for that movie and can't tell you the lens lengths used for that film), and overall match that style of cinematography. He should also bear in mind that during the Duel of the Fates in Episode I, there were moments with extreme wide angle lenses were used, in order to capture as much of the space that Maul and the Jedi were fighting in as possible. The cinematography in a STAR WARS film is really important, and I really think that wide angles is part of its identity. It enhances the sense of its scope, makes it feel vast and spacious, and gives it a cinematic feel that specifically evokes the big screen. He captured some of this in Episode VII, but unfortunately there were moments where he pulled off quick zooms, which isn't in-tune with the orthodoxy of STAR WARS cinematography. There were also moments where he moved the camera around a bit more than is usual in a STAR WARS film, which doesn't tend to do tracking shots and generally keeps camera movement geometric instead of organic.

So basically, don't zoom in on the Millenium Falcon, and don't have flickering lights with the Storm Troopers. Do a lot more of what you did when you introduced Rey. I freaking love that Akira Kurosawa kind of stuff. If at any point you feel inspired by the opening to The Lion King, by all means get inspired by that, too.

Also, this is a pipe dream, but I would love it if you developed a special 140 mm film format just for Episode IX. No theater in 2019 will be able to do it justice, but can you imagine how awesome it will look one day in a re-release when they can?

Second, don't write the movie like it's a modern Marvel Studios film. The director isn't always in control of the larger story points, but he can still have a strong influence over the dialogue. Technically, he can write all of the dialogue and 49% of the plot, and not get a writing credit. And I definitely noticed J.J.'s style of dialogue pop up throughout Episode VII. It's witty, it's subversive, and it makes sure that it's never, ever cheesy. Basically, it's a lot like Joss Whedon's dialogue, minus some of the sitcom-ness. That's not quite right for STAR WARS. I know that Episode VII made a lot of people nostalgic, but because some of the humor was so modern sounding, it really took me out of the nostalgia cloud. The interesting thing is that the original movies were nostalgic for the campy Flash Gordon serials, and it shows. So J.J., don't be afraid to make things a little bit cheesy from time to time. Not every joke has to be clever expectation-subverters. Write in some stuff that autistic weirdos like George Lucas and I will find oddly satisfying.

Rian Johnson looks to be doing this, to an extent. I haven't watched a single trailer, but I've looked at that poster and it's clear to me that he wants to evoke the 80's and to give us an experience that's nostalgic not just because it's a STAR WARS property but because it genuinely feels like it was directed from that same time period, and paying tribute to the same nostalgic fantasy genres that the originals did.

Third, get more than just a couple of memorable themes from John Williams. I really enjoyed the full pieces of Rey's Theme and the March of the Resistance, and the leitmotifs used for Kylo Ren and the the Jedi Steps. However, I want more than that. This is John Williams, the greatest of all time, scoring for STAR WARS, his greatest project of all time. And this will, presumably, be his last time to ever compose a STAR WARS movie. Make it climactic. Give us ten memorable themes. And make sure that it's good enough that absolutely nobody is going to beat him at the Oscars in 2020.

Specifically, I want you to meet with John Williams and block out a ton of the scenes with him. And not just him. Get Williams and Lucasfilms' legendary sound department together for this. This is important because the musicians and the sound technicians rarely ever have any communication between them. John Williams himself has said that he writes his score, then finds that he has to adjust it to work around the sound effects. Williams and the sound guys should come together to form a unified vision to ensure the absolute best, and furthermore, I believe that this would make for an extremely well-paced film. it would also give Williams the freedom to compose themes that fill out a complete musical thought. The last thing I want is for a John Williams score to be reactionary. At his best, you honestly can't tell whether his music or the visuals came first.

There are some other thoughts that I've had, about what I hope to see in the film, but I don't know if you would be able to influence them. I didn't quite like how closely Episode VII mimicked Episode IV with its plot, but I understood that that was a story criticism that didn't directly relate to directing.

Do a good job, J.J., and may the Force be with you.