The Force Awakens

Wendy Pleakley

Wendy Pleakley

Well-Known Member
It's a really fun movie.

I still remember how deflated everyone felt as Episode One unspooled. The opening crawl about trade disputes. An underwhelming intro. The Neimoidians. Darth Maul underutilised. Midi chlorians. Jar-Jar.

This movie is the opposite. From the moment it starts every choice makes the audience feel more involved. The opening crawl sets a great tone. We meet likeable and intriguing characters right away. The acting is actually good.

There's a bit too much of nostalgia and been-there-done-that story points. Just looking at the first few minutes:
Important information needed by the republic is hidden in a droid. The bad guys search for the droid on a desert planet. Definitely a retread

The movie does a good job of telling a self contained story enjoyable on its' own, but you will still walk out of the theater itching to see what happens next.
 
Wendy Pleakley

Wendy Pleakley

Well-Known Member
This thread, sadly, provides some examples of why I was smart not to read any discussion about the movie in the last few days, prior to seeing it. Comments like
There is so far a major surprise that has to do with the new evil character. I won't spoil it!!!!
and
You will need to be prepared, you will see it coming but I still wasn't completely prepared.
are trying to be vague, but are still spoilers.
 
ItlngrlBella

ItlngrlBella

Well-Known Member
Wow. I felt like a little kid again when I saw A New Hope on the little TV of my Aunt's kitchen in Chicago during Christmas Eve 1980.

No ugly crying and I didn't have to use my Kleenex but got close to it twice, 3 times. So many little Easter eggs from 4-6 too.

Wow. Just wow.

PS: The first line of the movie uttered by Max Von Sydow says it ALL.
 
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Mad Stitch

Mad Stitch

Well-Known Member
I'm conflicted. I liked it, but I thought it was too much like ANH to say it was great.
I'd really like to see the scene again where Rey finds the lightsaber. The material there flashed by so quick that I would like to re-watch it knowing what happens in the rest of the movie. Just my predictions here, I think Rey and Kylo Ren are twins separated at birth again. This trilogy will be about the sister redeeming the brother and continue to rehash the original trilogy.
 
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JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Mad Stitch said:
I'm conflicted. I liked it it, but I thought it was too much like ANH to say it was great.
I'd really like to see the scene again where Rey finds the lightsaber. The material there flashed by so quick that I would like to re-watch it knowing what happens in the rest of the movie. Just my predictions here, I think Rey and Kylo Ren twins separated at birth again. This trilogy will be about sister redeeming the brother and continue to rehash the original trilogy.
Click to expand...

If true, then the fact that brother and sister can't sense each other is like Vader not sensing Leia in EpIV when he has her prisoner. Or Luke hanging out with her for three movies and they're not figuring out until Ep VI. Now, I'm sure all this evolved in the storytelling between Eps IV and VI. But in hindsight, it defies everything we know about The Force.
 
erasure fan1

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
Just got back and I will say I liked it a lot. The new people do a great job and I never had to cringe at a line of dialog. It is most definitely a part 1 for sure though. I have to see it again to pick up all the things I might have missed and to watch it with out all of my crazy anticipation.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
JohnD said:
If true, then the fact that brother and sister can't sense each other is like Vader not sensing Leia in EpIV when he has her prisoner. Or Luke hanging out with her for three movies and they're not figuring out until Ep VI. Now, I'm sure all this evolved in the storytelling between Eps IV and VI. But in hindsight, it defies everything we know about The Force.
Click to expand...
The simple answer for all of that is that when Star Wars was made there were no plotted out sequels and Anakin Skywalker was not Darth Vader. When sequels did get plotted out Luke's twin was originally a new character who would have shown up in the sequel trilogy.

As for Rey, it seems crazy that a woman wouldn't remember a birth. We also saw that she was not a baby when left behind. I'm inclined to her being Luke's daughter given the trailers.
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like it's hard to judge Episode VII, without seeing how it ties into 8 and 9...or even the spin off films. Like basing an opinion on the MCU on the first Iron Man alone. I liked it in the same way I would reading the first one or two chapters of a book I enjoy.
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
My favourite thing about the movie was how it looked. I thought they did a great job modernizing the design of the original trilogy, while still retaining the overall concepts. I also appreciated the use of physical sets (and lack of CGI backgrond noise), which helped to make the worlds look more lived-in and believable.
 
fractal

fractal

Well-Known Member
So I'm generously giving it a 7 out of 10. It was fun in many ways but I also had major issues with it; some I put down in the Spoiler thread. I think it's solidly behind Empire and New Hope and maybe on par with Jedi and even Sith. If you go in with those expectations you'll be fine. After all the trailers and reviews I expected more.
 
WhatJaneSays

WhatJaneSays

Well-Known Member
prberk said:
Good Morning America this morning was broadcasting from inside the Chinese, speaking about the premiere having been in that theatre. Do you think they really used the others? If so, it sounds like maybe they were overflow, but with the stars of the film seeing it at the Chinese (which, of course, is appropriate, as all other films in the series, including the first one, premiered there as well).

I am also betting that the real premiere was not in "IMAX 3-D," even though that theatre is equipped with it. My guess is that they saw the film itself without all the 3-D gimmicks. Anyone know?
Click to expand...
All three theaters were used. As far as I can tell based on the people invited and where they ended up it seems like 'guests of Lucasfilm' were at the Chinese, 'guests of Disney' were at the Capitan, and everyone else including press invites and 'overflow' were at the Dolby. Every theater was fairly full but the official capacity of those theaters is a bit exaggerated so it was likely more around 4250-4500 people between them.

It’s common enough for bigger premiers at the Chinese, Capitan, or Dolby to use each other as “overflow” it’s just not widely publicized. Like, Avengers: Age of Ultron “premiered” at the Dolby but they used the Capitan as well.

Most movie premiers are not shown in 3D unless it's a main feature like Avatar.
 
erasure fan1

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
Animaniac93-98 said:
My favorite thing about the movie was how it looked. I thought they did a great job modernizing the design of the original trilogy, while still retaining the overall concepts. I also appreciated the use of physical sets (and lack of CGI backgrond noise), which helped to make the worlds look more lived-in and believable.
Click to expand...
I agree. So many things just felt Star Wars. The look and feel of everything was fantastic.
 
erasure fan1

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
RMichael21 said:
To be honest, I've noticed a certain trend in some reviews. Many people are saying that it's WAY to similar to A New Hope. Well, with the prequels, people complained about it not being like the original trilogy, so what do you want them to do? Make up your mind people! :p:D
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For me, the issue with the prequels was not that it wasn't like the original trilogy, but that for the most part it just didn't feel like Star Wars. JJ did an awesome job with making this movie feel like the originals. From the look of the worlds and the characters to the visual effects and the designs all felt like authentic Star Wars to me. I think people just wish they had gone out on the ledge a bit more with the story.
 

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