Just returned from the theater feeling let down and hoodwinked. Is it just me or did that movie suck worse than one of Joey's "Sparky" posts? Character development? Ever heard of it?

They got me again. This time, it was almost bigger than when Phantom Menace came out.

JJ! Why did you do this to me???

I want ALL the spoilers....

I actually liked this one quite a lot, unlike the prequels. That do have their moments in action scenes, but are otherwise failures due to poor acting, awful editing and terrible scripting: the dialogue in those movies is terrible and the dude that plays Anakin has the charisma of a plant-louse. Not to mention Jar-Jar.

This time around most of the dialogue is pretty decent - though like all the films, even Empire, it is something they could've paid a little more attention to - and the humor actually works. I like the newbies on the cast and it was good to see the old heroes again.

I think it's a good choice to make the new Sith Lord a bit of a tosser. He's obviously pretty powerful, but most of his allies and opponents don't take him too seriously. A cool trick to get away with someone who wants to be a dark lord: make him desperately want to be Vader in a way that people laugh at him.

Finn and Rey get decent introductions as well. The Star Wars formula has a few boundaries and they did a better job than I expected with it.

I think you can best compare it with A New Hope. That's stating the Obvious of course, since it's the blueprint for this film (I love the nods JJ gave with among others, Finn looking down at the scavenger village in the way Ben and Luke arrived at Mos Eisley years ago). But if you take an honest look at episode IV you'll find there's not that much more character development than in this one. That was mostly done in The Empire Strikes Back. The big difference: you were a child when you saw Luke destroy the first Death Star so you didn't care that much.

The one thing I wasn't that content with was the way the film ended. IMO they should've ended it with a big funeral for one of the Rebellions greatest heroes and make the Luke-quest the main theme of the next film. Or they should've taken another 20 minutes to make it more spectacular. But it's not something I am pissed off about (the way the map was revealed was one of those corny moments that are as big a part of the Wars as lightsabers) and I look forward to the next episode.

I didn't expect another Empire Strikes Back. Even if it would've been an equal quality-wise the experience would've been different: it was one of the first 'movies for grown-ups' I got to see with my friends. We were 8 years old. I walked in as an innocent child, I walked out marked for life as a Star Wars geek. If I would've had the same transition last night, my wife would've probably filed for a divorce.

Last night I got a part of the answer to the question I asked myself since 1983 after Return of the Jedi: what was next for Luke and his buddies? And while I did read some of those novels on the fight against Thrawn, it wasn't really the same. And there's a couple of million geeks like me who asked the same question. That's quite the weight to carry for a cast and crew to carry.

IMO they pulled it off. I thought the first part of the answer I got last night was pretty entertaining. With The Force Awakens, I think I can manage to explain to my kid that they made these films years ago and how they were a game changer for me as a lad. I wouldn't be able to pull that off with the embarrassing NOOOOOOOOO! scene that ended episode III.

this is some bullshit.

I'm waiting for Riffy to weigh in.

There after shall I form my opinion.

Or maybe I'll go see the movie first.

Starbuck wrote on Dec 21^st, 2015 at 9:18pm:



That is what Abrams was told to do by Disney...he was to recreate the first 2 films in this one...or atleast 1 1/2 of the first 2

http://venturebeat.com/2015/12/16/star-wars-spoilers-the-force-awakens-lacks-a-s...

Starbuck wrote on Dec 21^st, 2015 at 9:18pm:


Same reason we complain about the setlists and still rave about the shows we see

The way I saw it Finn realised he made a mistake. I thought that character was quite convincing. Not wanting to slaughter a village and understanding what the consequences (sp?) of that decision are, I can see how he would want to defect. Poe is his best chance of getting out alive.

Now Poe - underdeveloped but he has at least two more films to pass the 'Wedge-status - and Rey are the first to treat him like a human being. That must be confusing for a guy. I can see why he would not want to abandon his friend without being in love with her. I tend to agree with you that it would be a mistake to make a couple from him and Rey, but I'll just see how this evolves and give it a chance if they would lift this option.

As for Kylo, the more I think of it, the more I feel it is a masterstroke to turn him into a sad tosser. I look forward to seeing his next steps.

I think we'll get to see some out of the box action in the planned spin-offs. Rogue One next year will probably be a test case to check how far out of the box the Star Wars audience is willing to think. Should be interesting. Personally I would love to see a KOTOR-era film or live action series at some point. But for now, I'm quite happy with the way they have brought the Star Wars Universe back to life. How happy? I gave The Force Awakens a 9 out of 10 on IMDb and will revisit the movie at an imax theater somewhere in the next two weeks.

Teiz, I think I figured out why you like the movie so much.

Starbuck wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 12:31pm:



Finn had already helped Poe and saved Rey, well before Maz' place. He was scared, you think it's possible whatever mind control they do to babies to make them stormtroopers messed him up? That's where my point is, he's a good person and his will to help others is evident despite his past. He ran to Rey's aid on Dakku, for no reason that to help.

I can't make you vested in a character you hate. But his past is intense
In Rey's dream you see him with the knights of Ren. Unlike Vader who slaughtered padawans, Ren turned them… this is way beyond just sith stuff… we see his character way different. His struggle between good and evil and his manipulation of his family is huge.
and another difference I see, is Ren and Hux have a conflict, but it's different than the conflicts Vader had with empire commanders… it's more personal and competitive.
not like the old bureaucracy seen in 1-3 and carried into 4-6… there's a turn, and the senate and fleet are blown up now…  and the first order, I'm assuming rules by supreme leader and appointees only, so the systems they draw from are bled dry of resources… no economy or freedom. Way different than the empire, who had constant rebellion and pirating ect…
I'm so bummed you don't like it… I'm more into it than ever.

Thanks for reminding me Pdog. Those animated shows hardly got any attention over here.  I dodged Clone Wars because of my Prequel hangover. But I should check them out. First thing will be revisiting The Force Awakens in an Imax theater though..

Pdog wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2015 at 5:19pm:

I tried to go see Hateful 8 yesterday...every show sold out...

I will catch it on HBO before you know it. What happened to-
Luke
Han Solo
Princess Leah
Darth Vadar?

sweetcharmedlife wrote on Dec 27^th, 2015 at 7:26pm:


is that even possible?

gimmekeef wrote on Dec 28^th, 2015 at 1:30pm:

It's a toss up.

Some Guy wrote on Dec 27^th, 2015 at 6:32pm:


Some 25 years or so after the end of Return of the Jedi, Luke called Vader's boss in an attempt to get him fired and then disappeared. Han, meanwhile, has been pouting at the Creature Cantina across the street because Lando called his girlfriend fat.

Starbuck wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 10:10pm:

Lol! 10 points for that one. But if I see you I'll bite your legs off. Yuo're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty boy. And get rid of that Welsh tart my boy.