OT: Star Wars: The Force Awakens reaction thread WITH SPOILERS
A long time ago, in a thread very, very off-topic:
I just got back from seeing The Force Awakens. It was fantastic, absolutely wonderful. JJ Abrams is to Star Wars what Jim Harbaugh is to Michigan. It's entirely possible that Jim Hackett helped assemble the cast and crew for the film.
We're going to discuss the movie, with spoilers. If you haven't seen it, turn away immediately and go watch it so that you can get the full experience.
What did you think? How could George Lucas make such abominable prequels when someone is capable of making something as amazing as The Force Awakens?
May the force be with Blue.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:35 PM ^
I love the Kylo Ren story. At the heart of it is one of parents trying to reconnect with their son who has gone astray, disconnected from the values he was taught and giving in to temptation and vice. I mean, we've heard that story before--some of us here might have actually experienced it. Heartwrenching.
It reminds me a little of Ben Linus. Both characters got caught up in another world separate from that they were brought up in, and each killed his own father, though under different circumstances.
December 18th, 2015 at 8:11 AM ^
Universal themes. Family, betreyal, redemption, love, loss...all these things are universal themes that make for great charachters and story. What really brought it to life was the direction and acting. Hope it's explored deeper going forward as well.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:25 PM ^
Also, what's up with Kevin Spacey being Keyser Soze?
And wow I just realized they have the same initials. Well done, Bryan Singer.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:28 PM ^
December 17th, 2015 at 11:43 PM ^
Originally, Keyser Soze was supposed to have the name Keyser Sume, named after Christopher McQuarrie's old boss. He allowed his old boss to read the script, and decided he did not want to be associated with an inherently evil villain, so requested a change be made.Goddammit. It doesn't completely preclude the possibility that the names sharing initials was intentional, but it's probably a coincidence.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
December 17th, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
After School starts again for the kiddies, I'll go see it next year!
December 17th, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
I was seconds from crying like a baby with joy at the end. Thankfully I was able to maintain, and not embarrass myself like the giant fanboy that I am in front of all of the kids there.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:21 AM ^
I'm taking my kids to see it Sunday. My son told me he thinks I'm tough because he's never seen me cry before. Regardless of the outcome, I've had a feeling that Sunday will be the first time he will witness that.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:29 PM ^
December 17th, 2015 at 11:31 PM ^
Did you know who the Emperor was, and his entire back story at the end of A New Hope?
December 18th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
I kind of like not having all of the background info. I like the sense of mystery, but I also say this in a world where the prequels exist.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:10 AM ^
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December 19th, 2015 at 6:22 PM ^
So you are suggesting Episode 6 1/2?
December 17th, 2015 at 11:29 PM ^
Some amazing scenes
December 18th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
Nice gifs and upvote.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:31 PM ^
I thought it was great. THe first handful of sly references to the old movies were fun... but then it seemed like they were cribbing a little TOO much from the old plotlines and it got a little distracting. I love that it was story-focused instead of just moving from one action set-piece to the next and I'm glad for the return of humor to the franchise.
Overall, what pleased me most is that this movie FEELS more like Star Wars than the prequels. The world feels gritty and lived-in again, which was what made the suspension of disbelief so easy in the original films.
I'll be seeing it at least two more times (3D and IMAX) and will count the money well-spent.
December 18th, 2015 at 8:22 AM ^
"What should we do with her?"
"I don't know, is there a chute? Maybe with a trash compactor?"
Classic Han Solo!
December 18th, 2015 at 8:34 AM ^
Yeah, that was fantastic. I thought most of the humor was spot on and truly funny. The scene where Finn is asking BB-8 to help him lie to Rey was laugh out loud funny.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
Upvoted, for agreement with the "lived-in" comment, and to help get you back in the black before your one-year anniversary.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:31 PM ^
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December 17th, 2015 at 11:43 PM ^
He was wearing a blue T-shirt with a prominent maize M, and said he was there with his son (who was shown going up an elevator).
December 17th, 2015 at 11:55 PM ^
I'm sure JJ will be involved in some capacity. Possibly in a producing role. My best guess is that in order to pump the next two films out in the schedule they have stated having JJ direct all three would be impractical. Episode 7's post production was going nearly all the way to release, and filming for Episode 8 will begin this coming March.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:50 PM ^
One last thing for anyone who has not seen the film yet. There is no post credits scene. So don't bother sitting in the theater wating for it like three quarters of the crowd (me included) did.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:06 AM ^
Actually told us that before the showing at my theater, along with telling us that it was a sold out show and to fill in all the seats.
December 17th, 2015 at 11:55 PM ^
ps.. My friends aren't nerds and the wife was working so I went solo. After the anxiety passed it was perfect!
December 18th, 2015 at 12:04 AM ^
I don't know. I think it fit the character well. The "in over his head" feeling was quite prominent, and justified considering his only job before being promoted to stormtrooper field duty was being a jaintor at star killer base.
I did enjoy watching his journey going from deserter, to coward, and finally to a selfless hero.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:31 AM ^
His hammy lines were just a bit too much of a distraction for me at times but the dude did a great job.
Again loved the movie and I mostly agree with all of these sentiments.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^
My God, it was so well cast. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were awesome and had great chemistry. Oscar Isaac was a baller and Adam Driver was outstanding. I would have liked to see more of Gwendoline Christie.
The characters were straight up awesome and a reminder of another thing sorely lacking from the pr****ls. (I refuse to acknowledge them, and thankfully so did this movie.)
December 18th, 2015 at 12:32 AM ^
Well cast yes, but expertly directed. History has shown us that even the best actors can give lack luster performances when paired with a mediocre director. JJ has been propelled to god hood in directing status in my eye's.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:39 AM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
My friends aren't nerds and the wife was working so I went solo.
I went last night, and it was a people-listening gold mine. Rarely do you find yourself in a room packed full of straight-up nerds, talking unabashedly (and loudly) like nerds, on opening night of a hyped movie that appeals to nerds.
And I say that as one of them. It was an experience, for sure.
December 18th, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^
All I heard was "let me take another selfie", and "dude! that's going on facebook!" from the 8 ten year old boy's directly behind me..... when they weren't kicking my chair.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:06 AM ^
That Rey is a former Jedi trainee (of Luke's) who us uber strong with the force (moreso than Kylo) and was hidden when Kylo killed all of Luke's Jedi trainees (of which Kylo/Ben was one and was seduced to the Dark side by Snoke). Luke goes into hiding after. She was mind wiped and gets her memory and feeling of the force backduring this movie (maybe... an awakening of some kind)--I suspect more of her past will come out in 8 a la Luke and Vader in 5. This is Disney after all and formula is their thing.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^
By the way, if you want to watch an excellent video essay that will explains why the prequels are just bad cinema, see the Mr. Plinkett reviews by RedLetterMedia if you haven't already. They're long but they not only explain everything that is wrong with the prequels, but also why we love the originals in the first place, and you'll also learn a lot about movies in general. I can't recommend the Mr. Plinkett reviews enough.
December 18th, 2015 at 1:24 AM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 12:19 AM ^
My schwartz is bigger than yours.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:38 AM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 12:37 AM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 12:54 AM ^
on the first night out. Just selfish and stupid. sorry
December 18th, 2015 at 12:58 AM ^
The title says it has spoilers. Why click on it if you don't want to read any spoilers?
December 18th, 2015 at 1:14 AM ^
As long as it's labeled spoilers in the title then it's fair game. Threads like these in any forum with the exception of facebook, and twitter are for fan's who have seen the movie to discuss amoung themselves. If you haven't seen the film then you shouldn't be in this thread. If you have seen the film then you shouldn't discuss it in area's of the internet that have not been labeled as containing spoilers.
This is common knowledge.
December 18th, 2015 at 7:06 AM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 7:50 AM ^
I'm still seeing it and there wasn't a plot recap or anything. Don't get your knickers in a twist...
December 18th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 1:12 AM ^
He was his father ;)
ooops wrong thread
December 18th, 2015 at 2:30 AM ^
No... you are in the right thread.
December 18th, 2015 at 2:42 AM ^
December 18th, 2015 at 3:19 AM ^
So the whole Jar Jar Sith Lord was way out in left field I think. All of them guys should be thrown into a pool of ice water for making me fall for that crap.