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Star Wars VII : (No Spoilers please)
- Thread starter mac8867
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I put it close to the top, but not the top. I do think it was a great movie and JJ Abrams did a better job then I was expecting. That is, when I heard he was taking over, I was a little concerned because I didn't care for the new Star Trek Movies.
My friend and I are now looking forward to the next movie, we can't wait to see how this will play itself out
I realize this is the no spoilers thread, but I'm fed up with all the rules here at MacRumors and I simply don't care anymore!
So here is a massive Star Wars spoiler:
So here is a massive Star Wars spoiler:
To avoid spoilers is to avoid going online as much as you can and reading comments about it. Heck, avoid reading posts here. When I saw Episode I-II, we didn't have social networks like Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook yet. They would be born a year or two after AOTC. When I saw the trailers to Episode III, I streamed it from the SW official website. YouTube didn't blow up until 2006 and the early days in 2005 had mostly people uploading their personal videos at most. We didn't have trailers at our disposal to watch over and over and dissect each scene.
To click on links that mentions SW news and leaks.
That is my mistake. Curiosity killed the cat. The suspense was gone if my theories were generally right most of the time. My plan for Episode VIII and IX is never watch the trailers unless I am watching a movie that shows it and I have no choice but to watch it. The more we try to guess the mysteries with our own theories, the less fun it will become when we watch it. Only reason why I kept Google news searching for "Star Wars 7" is because how excited I got to see the old gang back and curious what the new ones were about. It was 32.5 years since seeing the old cast together and 10.5 years since the last SW. Of course I would get curious! But it was my own mistake too as it killed a little of the suspense when most of it were true. Nostalgia played a role with my curiosity towards Episode VII's story.
To watch The Force Awakens, go into it thinking it won't be the best SW film ever made. It is inferior to The Empire Strikes Back. It has some weak moments to it. Has some funny and charming moments. Has probably the most gut wrenching moment in SW history. I saw it twice and it hurt each time like I got socked in the stomach. Doesn't have the best lightsaber duel. A New Hope reboot with a recycled story. It isn't a flawless masterpiece, but what is really? Watch it in IMAX 3D first to get the best possible visual and audio experience. And if you watch Episode VIII and IX but you don't have the first showing for it, bring headphones and listen to music to avoid chatter. The Internet has pretty much killed the suspense at anything whether in SW or in The Walking Dead. Just avoid reading anything about it and avoid dissecting every trailer leading up to it.
Again, The Force Awakens is more of A New Hope reboot than a sequel to Return of the Jedi. Alot of the story will seem familiar to you if you seen the OT a gazillion times. But for my money after seeing the 2011 Blu-ray releases that ruined both ANH and ROTJ, TFA is already superior to both them. Perhaps the second best SW ever made behind only Empire and my 3rd fav SW. My #12 favorite film of all-time and perhaps my #1 fav of the year and the entire decade. Even with its flaws, TFA is far more delightful to rewatch than Nolan's Batman movies with Christian Bale's awful Batman voice! And far more replay value than Avatar or MCU films!
If Episode VII isn't exactly the strongest in story or action, it still holds well with replay value thanks to characters we loved over the years and the newer ones we will end up loving more in the future. The epic music we all can hum, and the overall ESCAPISM taking us to different planets. It doesn't have to be the best film ever made or best SW entry of the series to make it enjoyable. Just because Citizen Kane is a better film than Back To The Future doesn't mean I have to like it more. A difference between a better film vs a film I can enjoy more. Favorites vs Greatest debate. Even a 2nd or 3rd best SW can be more enjoyable than a perennial Top 10 great film. Do any of us have the urge to loop Schindler's List during Hanukkah? It is about ENJOYING overall without over analyzing it instead of picking every part of its flaws that general film snobs would do.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie. Turn off the brain. You will laugh and might even cry watching TFA. It is just a movie to entertain and bring different emotions out of us. No need to pick apart every scene. Being a film critic isn't rocket science. And analyzing SW theories isn't either. Enjoy and like the final line said in The Force Awakens, may the Force be with you...
To click on links that mentions SW news and leaks.
That is my mistake. Curiosity killed the cat. The suspense was gone if my theories were generally right most of the time. My plan for Episode VIII and IX is never watch the trailers unless I am watching a movie that shows it and I have no choice but to watch it. The more we try to guess the mysteries with our own theories, the less fun it will become when we watch it. Only reason why I kept Google news searching for "Star Wars 7" is because how excited I got to see the old gang back and curious what the new ones were about. It was 32.5 years since seeing the old cast together and 10.5 years since the last SW. Of course I would get curious! But it was my own mistake too as it killed a little of the suspense when most of it were true. Nostalgia played a role with my curiosity towards Episode VII's story.
To watch The Force Awakens, go into it thinking it won't be the best SW film ever made. It is inferior to The Empire Strikes Back. It has some weak moments to it. Has some funny and charming moments. Has probably the most gut wrenching moment in SW history. I saw it twice and it hurt each time like I got socked in the stomach. Doesn't have the best lightsaber duel. A New Hope reboot with a recycled story. It isn't a flawless masterpiece, but what is really? Watch it in IMAX 3D first to get the best possible visual and audio experience. And if you watch Episode VIII and IX but you don't have the first showing for it, bring headphones and listen to music to avoid chatter. The Internet has pretty much killed the suspense at anything whether in SW or in The Walking Dead. Just avoid reading anything about it and avoid dissecting every trailer leading up to it.
Again, The Force Awakens is more of A New Hope reboot than a sequel to Return of the Jedi. Alot of the story will seem familiar to you if you seen the OT a gazillion times. But for my money after seeing the 2011 Blu-ray releases that ruined both ANH and ROTJ, TFA is already superior to both them. Perhaps the second best SW ever made behind only Empire and my 3rd fav SW. My #12 favorite film of all-time and perhaps my #1 fav of the year and the entire decade. Even with its flaws, TFA is far more delightful to rewatch than Nolan's Batman movies with Christian Bale's awful Batman voice! And far more replay value than Avatar or MCU films!
If Episode VII isn't exactly the strongest in story or action, it still holds well with replay value thanks to characters we loved over the years and the newer ones we will end up loving more in the future. The epic music we all can hum, and the overall ESCAPISM taking us to different planets. It doesn't have to be the best film ever made or best SW entry of the series to make it enjoyable. Just because Citizen Kane is a better film than Back To The Future doesn't mean I have to like it more. A difference between a better film vs a film I can enjoy more. Favorites vs Greatest debate. Even a 2nd or 3rd best SW can be more enjoyable than a perennial Top 10 great film. Do any of us have the urge to loop Schindler's List during Hanukkah? It is about ENJOYING overall without over analyzing it instead of picking every part of its flaws that general film snobs would do.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie. Turn off the brain. You will laugh and might even cry watching TFA. It is just a movie to entertain and bring different emotions out of us. No need to pick apart every scene. Being a film critic isn't rocket science. And analyzing SW theories isn't either. Enjoy and like the final line said in The Force Awakens, may the Force be with you...
Here I agree with quite a lot of what you say. But I completely disagree with the 3D. I say see it first in 2D, then go back and watch it in 3D to marvel at the flying scenes etc.
Also, I personally hate the claim that this is ep iv recycled. I think that is too simplistic and naïve.
I accept totally that there are several recurring themes but to claim it is a rehash, I think, misses the entire story. There is an awful lot going that hopefully will be explained in the sequels.
I'll bet good money that Kylo's story arc is not the same as Vaders; that Rey's is not the same as Luke's, that Snoke's is not the same as the emperor.
Personally, I really enjoyed the film. It has its flaws but NOWHERE near as many as people claim. But at this stage I honestly believe that this was just dipping a toe in the water and there is a lot more to come (most of which is hidden in plain sight and being missed by most people).
Maybe 18 months from now I'll be singing a different tune having been let down by viii but right now I feel much more positive about Star Wars than the time between Empire and ROTJ (yes I'm old enough to remember).
I still ask: what side is Luke on???
For anyone who has not seen this, you'll either be thrilled, devistated, or somewhere in between.
For anyone who has not seen this, you'll either be thrilled, devistated, or somewhere in between.
So in a little over an hour, I guess I'll be finding myself mildly thrillvistated!
We all have different tolerances for the issues described with Episode 7. I really wanted to fall in love again., but alas, it was not meant to be. I like the characters, and the setting, and the sentimentality, and all things Star Wars, but a new trilogy, I expect a new story. Out of all the expanded SWs universe, they could not come up with a frick'n new idea- What's wrong with them? I'm repeating myself, but imagine if a book author tried to do this with an existing series, rewriting a variation of the first book, and publishing it as book 7, it would be trashed.
I'll stream it when the time comes and see if I feel kinder at that point.
Episodes 7-9 are not going to follow the expanded universe. They are going to continue the main ark of the Skywalkers.We all have different tolerances for the issues described with Episode 7. I really wanted to fall in love again., but alas, it was not meant to be. I like the characters, and the setting, and the sentimentality, and all things Star Wars, but a new trilogy, I expect a new story. Out of all the expanded SWs universe, they could not come up with a frick'n new idea- What's wrong with them? I'm repeating myself, but imagine if a book author tried to do this with an existing series, rewriting a variation of the first book, and publishing it as book 7, it would be trashed.
I'll stream it when the time comes and see if I feel kinder at that point.
The stand alone movies will expand on the deeper stories.
Arn't all the Harry Potter books basically the same story? Potter vs he who shall not be named with a bit of quidich thrown in for good measure.We all have different tolerances for the issues described with Episode 7. I really wanted to fall in love again., but alas, it was not meant to be. I like the characters, and the setting, and the sentimentality, and all things Star Wars, but a new trilogy, I expect a new story. Out of all the expanded SWs universe, they could not come up with a frick'n new idea- What's wrong with them? I'm repeating myself, but imagine if a book author tried to do this with an existing series, rewriting a variation of the first book, and publishing it as book 7, it would be trashed.
I'll stream it when the time comes and see if I feel kinder at that point.
My point was, apparently there was a desert when it came to needing water (new ideas), for propelling this franchise forward, although I know deserts can be very interesting.
For HP, there was a progression through the entire series with both of those characters growing stronger for the final showdown. And interestingly enough, starting as a child's story, each new edition got more mature, and better, the same with the movies.I freely admit this is my opinion and some/many will disagree with me.
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Don't forget we will have a back story movie for Han Solo, and the new one next xmas will be a pre-deathstar movie. I also heard talks of a Yoda movie at some point.My point was, apparently there was a desert when it came to needing water (new ideas), for propelling this franchise forward, although I know deserts can be very interesting.
For HP, there was a progression through the entire series with both of those characters growing stronger for the final showdown. And interestingly enough, starting as a child's story, each new edition got more mature, and better, the same with the movies.I freely admit this is my opinion and some/many will disagree with me.
I like how The Force Awakens is the 2nd favorite SW film of all-time and Attack of the Clones is way in the bottom in a poll. I don't consider Star Wars Holiday Special or Ewok films to be real SW films. I only care about canon-story films with maybe a mild interest in SW Anthology films. Zero interest in EU although TFA borrowed stuff from it.
I won't spill anymore spoilers which I pretty much did in the other threads with my own theories thanks to CinemaBlend or checking on anything Star Wars 7 news-related which had their own theories...
^^ The Harrison Ford twins are so much cooler to watch in film than the Skywalker twins, aren't they?
For anyone who might make a big deal with TFA's story and flaws or hasn't seen it yet, reading this article should soften the blow...
Ten Star Wars Plot Holes That STILL Drive Us Crazy
My favorite excepts are...
Nobody Ever Recognized The Droids
Yoda Went Into Exile For No Reason Whatsoever
Han's Bounty Could've Been Paid At Any Time
It Shouldn't Have Taken A Whole Year To Find Han Solo[/img]
I won't spill anymore spoilers which I pretty much did in the other threads with my own theories thanks to CinemaBlend or checking on anything Star Wars 7 news-related which had their own theories...
^^ The Harrison Ford twins are so much cooler to watch in film than the Skywalker twins, aren't they?
For anyone who might make a big deal with TFA's story and flaws or hasn't seen it yet, reading this article should soften the blow...
Ten Star Wars Plot Holes That STILL Drive Us Crazy
My favorite excepts are...
Nobody Ever Recognized The Droids
Yoda Went Into Exile For No Reason Whatsoever
Han's Bounty Could've Been Paid At Any Time
It Shouldn't Have Taken A Whole Year To Find Han Solo[/img]
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Yoda went into hiding because they were exterminating all the jedi.
The argument is still a good one, though. Yoda suddenly switches from "defeat Sidious" to "in hiding I must go" in about 2 minutes. Why fight at all, then?
He thought he could defeat Sidious. Then the force revealed to him another way. Hide and train the next generation to keep the Jedi alive.
I still think a better strategy would have been for Yoda and Obi to take on Sidious together. Then deal with Anakin.
But of course it is just a film!
They probably see that end of the year time period as a good one, perhaps given how it has been working out for the current film (and also probably so that it doesn't have to compete as much with the "Guardians of the Galaxy" sequel and vice versa).
It's actually due to a major rewrite.
Apparently they were going to focus on some new characters this time out, but the director decided he wanted to go back to the characters of Rey, Finn, and Poe.
"Rian Johnson is reportedly rewriting his script... a pair of new characters' roles will be reduced. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tatiana Maslany, Bel Powely and Gina Rodriguez have been rumored to be up for those mysterious new roles. 'I said before there were two young female roles, now I actually heard that the rewrite will make these roles smaller,' says The Wrap’s Jeff Sneider on the podcast. 'They want to get to know better the characters they already have. So the new rewrite is shrinking the new roles in order to spend more time with Rey, Poe and so on.'"
Seems a rather haphazard way to run a franchise.
I like how The Force Awakens is the 2nd favorite SW film of all-time and Attack of the Clones is way in the bottom in a poll. I don't consider Star Wars Holiday Special or Ewok films to be real SW films. I only care about canon-story films with maybe a mild interest in SW Anthology films. Zero interest in EU although TFA borrowed stuff from it.
I won't spill anymore spoilers which I pretty much did in the other threads with my own theories thanks to CinemaBlend or checking on anything Star Wars 7 news-related which had their own theories...
^^ The Harrison Ford twins are so much cooler to watch in film than the Skywalker twins, aren't they?
For anyone who might make a big deal with TFA's story and flaws or hasn't seen it yet, reading this article should soften the blow...
Ten Star Wars Plot Holes That STILL Drive Us Crazy
My favorite excepts are...
Nobody Ever Recognized The Droids
Yoda Went Into Exile For No Reason Whatsoever
Han's Bounty Could've Been Paid At Any Time
It Shouldn't Have Taken A Whole Year To Find Han Solo[/img]
Yoda Went Into Exile For No Reason Whatsoever
There was a reason. After fighting to a near death encounter with the Emperor on the Senate floor, he decided it was an excellent time to lay low.
Han's Bounty Could've Been Paid At Any Time
By whom? He did not have the money when Greedo tried to kill him.
It Shouldn't Have Taken A Whole Year To Find Han Solo
Why not? That's reaching. Why does it matter? It was the next episode.
Yoda Went Into Exile For No Reason Whatsoever
There was a reason. After fighting to a near death encounter with the Emperor on the Senate floor, he decided it was an excellent time to lay low.
Han's Bounty Could've Been Paid At Any Time
By whom? He did not have the money when Greedo tried to kill him.
The rebels gave him the money, right? He was going to leave and pay at the beginning of TESB but he couldn't get Leah to her ship and took her out on the MF.
I may not be remembering this in the right, but while Obiwan did give Han Solo some money up front, I thought or it could have been not enough, or he may have needed it for operating expenses, with the intent of paying Jabba after the big day when they arrived in Alderan. In the updated Episode 4 where Han meets Jabba in the hanger before they leave for Alderan, they discuss his debt, but honestly I don't remember what is said.