Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Reactions: SPOILERS

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Abrams hoped they would get explained. The answers were not committed to beforehand leaving the subsequent writer-directors to answer them however they pleased. Thus we get a nobody Snoke who is also somehow the most powerful person the Galaxy has known in the entire Saga until he is just a creation of the late big bad Emperor who was the most powerful along with Kylo Ren until they both were not in complete control.

Softball question:

Who’s fault is that?

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Abrams hoped they would get explained. The answers were not committed to beforehand leaving the subsequent writer-directors to answer them however they pleased. Thus we get a nobody Snoke who is also somehow the most powerful person the Galaxy has known in the entire Saga until he is just a creation of the late big bad Emperor who was the most powerful along with Kylo Ren until they both were not in complete control.

Leaving story seeds for others to pick up can work, but the issue with this trilogy was a lack of consistency between filmmakers. Abrams set up that Rey could be somebody or nobody. Johnson decided it didn't make sense for her to be related to anyone important, then Abrams decided actually, yes she is. There should have been a decision made so that Rey's story could be properly developed in Episode 8.

The fact that Abrams and Johnson didn't sit down and flesh out the stories together a bit was an odd choice.

Was Snoke established as being super powerful? He struck me as a largely pointless character in the grand scheme of things. We never learned enough about him to care about the character.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Was Snoke established as being super powerful? He struck me as a largely pointless character in the grand scheme of things. We never learned enough about him to care about the character.

The Last Jedi makes Snoke super powerful. The main plot is that the Resistance has no allies, even in the Outer Rim that was not part of the Republic and never controlled by the Empire. Over the course of a few days, without explanation, the First Order lead by Snoke goes from a small group of wannabes to the Super Empire. It took the Emperor two decades to dissolve the Senate, he never controlled the Outer Rim and always had to deal with seditious elements within the Empire. None of that was an issue for Snoke, the entire Galaxy except a single small convoy submitted to his rule.

 

[Joesixtoe]

Leaving story seeds for others to pick up can work, but the issue with this trilogy was a lack of consistency between filmmakers. Abrams set up that Rey could be somebody or nobody. Johnson decided it didn't make sense for her to be related to anyone important, then Abrams decided actually, yes she is. There should have been a decision made so that Rey's story could be properly developed in Episode 8.

The fact that Abrams and Johnson didn't sit down and flesh out the stories together a bit was an odd choice.

Was Snoke established as being super powerful? He struck me as a largely pointless character in the grand scheme of things. We never learned enough about him to care about the character.

The story before TFA was that Snoke was some powerful dude whose been through a lot; that's been around for a long time, essentially observing what's been going on with Palpatines rise to power.

 

[erasure fan1]

Leaving story seeds for others to pick up can work, but the issue with this trilogy was a lack of consistency between filmmakers.

Yes, the mystery box can work and realistically it did with the force awakens. Then you start the relay race and it all kinda goes astray.

Abrams set up that Rey could be somebody or nobody.

I'd push back that JJs plan wasn't Rey the nobody. JJ was very outspoken before and after force awakens that her last name was left out of everything because something important was coming. Otherwise you start this whole thing off as Rey smith and be done with it.

The fact that Abrams and Johnson didn't sit down and flesh out the stories together a bit was an odd choice.

And here lies the problem. From what has been said, they did sit down and talk about things. But it's obvious Kennedy didn't mandate any story points continue as JJ wanted. So it all goes back to that lack of vision from the start. And not having that plan is indeed an odd choice.

 

[flynnibus]

I think the stupid part all along was the idea of a mandated cadence of releases... which lead to the conflict of continuing to use JJ after TFA. They knew all along they wanted a trilogy... and let the business cadence dictate massive creative choices in how to assemble that trilogy.

Ignore Lucas' story... ok, you made that choice.. but come up with something better. Instead they flip flopped and hacked something together with a revolving door of staff.

It's interference at it's worse... and hopefully there will be change from it.

 

[jt04]

Seems like an extended version is more than rumor. Nobody disagrees the pacing of the current version is far too frenetic. Do it!

 

[erasure fan1]

I think the stupid part all along was the idea of a mandated cadence of releases... which lead to the conflict of continuing to use JJ after TFA. They knew all along they wanted a trilogy... and let the business cadence dictate massive creative choices in how to assemble that trilogy.

I think you can take it a step further and say a mandated start date was the root of the problem. Like you said, they rejected the Lucas story treatment and that's fine. JJ begged and they said 6 months extra is all you get. The answer should have been, when the trilogy treatment is done and you have the overall direction. Then you put 7 into production. Not worry about short term shareholder return. But that's the corporate way.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

The Last Jedi makes Snoke super powerful. The main plot is that the Resistance has no allies, even in the Outer Rim that was not part of the Republic and never controlled by the Empire. Over the course of a few days, without explanation, the First Order lead by Snoke goes from a small group of wannabes to the Super Empire. It took the Emperor two decades to dissolve the Senate, he never controlled the Outer Rim and always had to deal with seditious elements within the Empire. None of that was an issue for Snoke, the entire Galaxy except a single small convoy submitted to his rule.

The story before TFA was that Snoke was some powerful dude whose been through a lot; that's been around for a long time, essentially observing what's been going on with Palpatines rise to power.

I guess Snoke became all powerful because he destroyed the Republic (not that it made sense that a single planetary system represented the whole of the Republic).

If he has a backstory, it wasn't in the movie, so therefore meaningless for me. He just wasn't interesting beyond being a generic stand in for the Emperor.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I'd push back that JJs plan wasn't Rey the nobody. JJ was very outspoken before and after force awakens that her last name was left out of everything because something important was coming. Otherwise you start this whole thing off as Rey smith and be done with it.

That's fair, Johnson was left to answer the question, decided there wasn't a great answer other than she's no one (and he wasn't wrong), and then we get a different answer too late in the game to have a meaningful impact on the story. Still comes down to, if that was the plan it should have been a mandatory story element in The Last Jedi.

 

[erasure fan1]

Still comes down to, if that was the plan it should have been a mandatory story element in The Last Jedi.

Yup. That's what is so great about this whole trilogy debate. You point your finger at one thing. And that leads to having to point a finger in twelve other directions. And that tells you everything you need to know.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I guess Snoke became all powerful because he destroyed the Republic (not that it made sense that a single planetary system represented the whole of the Republic).

If he has a backstory, it wasn't in the movie, so therefore meaningless for me. He just wasn't interesting beyond being a generic stand in for the Emperor.

He destroyed the capitol of the Republic but not all of the other worlds we have seen. Naboo, Corellia and Coruscant are still out there not to mention all of those other unnamed systems that were represented in the Senate. That also doesn’t explain the mobsters, war lords and independent systems of the Outer Rim acceding to his authority. Why do the Hutts not bow to the Emperor but dare not cross Snoke? I don’t disagree that he was a generic bad guy but that works better as the leader of a small terrorist group and not as the most powerful person the Galaxy has seen in centuries.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think the stupid part all along was the idea of a mandated cadence of releases... which lead to the conflict of continuing to use JJ after TFA. They knew all along they wanted a trilogy... and let the business cadence dictate massive creative choices in how to assemble that trilogy.

Ignore Lucas' story... ok, you made that choice.. but come up with something better. Instead they flip flopped and hacked something together with a revolving door of staff.

It's interference at it's worse... and hopefully there will be change from it.

I think you can take it a step further and say a mandated start date was the root of the problem. Like you said, they rejected the Lucas story treatment and that's fine. JJ begged and they said 6 months extra is all you get. The answer should have been, when the trilogy treatment is done and you have the overall direction. Then you put 7 into production. Not worry about short term shareholder return. But that's the corporate way.

I think the mandated release schedule was a typical mistake that suit Bobby is vulnerable to...

If what they were making sucked...and a lot of it did ...rewrite it or reshoot.

Sticking to timelines was dumb...there was much money to make if you delay the release and get things right...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Box Office: ‘Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker’ Suffers Massive 81% Plunge

The third weekend showing for 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' was historically abysmal for a film that made $177 million on opening weekend.

www.google.com

 

[Indy_UK]

It will hit $1 billion this week but I think then it’s probably best for Disney to just go quiet on Star Wars for now and focus on the new films behind the scenes

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It will hit $1 billion this week but I think then it’s probably best for Disney to just go quiet on Star Wars for now and focus on the new films behind the scenes

Agree...

It was at $917 as of Sunday. If it really flatlines this week...it could struggle to get to $1 bil for a week or two more. The diminishing returns are 50-60% week over week down domestically...and international is even worse in the places where it needed to be strong (nato)...

I can’t imagine what would have Happened if they didn’t have the holiday schedule working for them...it would have been ugly.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

$2.9 domestic yesterday...probably more like 1.9 expected today.

Days 18-19 of release??

That is close to the Monday on day 30 of release on the last Johnson...to draw a parallel. That fell on January 15th.

Bobs probably lighting $100s on fire right now.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

AMP: Robots Make a Hell of a Friend (And a Pretty Good Soldier)

AMP is a pretty engaging sci-fi short written and directed by Adam Marisett for Triton Films. It's set in a world where giant robots can be your best

www.google.com

This is both a great article, deep with insight...and Filled with complete misdirections and strawman arguments that near encapsulate what a tangled mess Star Wars has become.

And doesn’t finger the real culprit: bad management by its Hollywood overlords for 25 years.

 

[LSLS]

Figure it's worth an update. We have officially crossed $1 billion. Needs about $55 million to make Rogue One, and $50 million to pass Aladdin for 8th biggest movie of the year. Still about $130 million away from cracking the top 5 movies of the year. And just a measly $1.79 billion from getting to be the biggest movie of the year (or all time).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Figure it's worth an update. We have officially crossed $1 billion. Needs about $55 million to make Rogue One, and $50 million to pass Aladdin for 8th biggest movie of the year. Still about $130 million away from cracking the top 5 movies of the year. And just a measly $1.79 billion from getting to be the biggest movie of the year (or all time).

I noticed it crossed.

A big pop of champagne to that amazing story team at LFL...

You’ve managed to deliver the 9th biggest Star Wars movie of all time.

Bread and circuses for everyone


Just to remind: this is gonna be grossing a full $400 mil less that my skeptical estimate 2 months ago.