Star Wars VII Spoiler alerts.

[Limey77]

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought Rey in particular was excellent and has a lot of potential. Adam Driver was amazing and his character has a good amount of complexity. At times a serious badass and at others a petulant child. I loved the scene after Rey escaped and he backed up the room, you saw the stormtroopers walk by and quickly turn around in a "**** you don't want to get near him when he's in one of these moods" kind of way.

I think people are deliberately trying to pick holes where there may or may not be any.

Some say the first order came about too quickly after the defeat of the Empire. Well in real life it took Hitler less than 30 years after the complete distraction of Germany in WW1 to overthrow most of Europe and bring about WW2. So clearly not impossible.

I'm hoping that there is a lot more going on that we don't know yet. How old is Snoke? Is he a Sith Lord or something else? Could he have been the real power behind the emperor all along? Is he Darth Plageius who defeated death?

As far as Rey goes, there's also a lot of questions. My guess is that Kylo was Luke's star pupil until Rey came along and then she started showing him up. I suspect that Rey is Kylo's sister and that he killed all the other Jedi trainees but couldn't bring himself to kill her, so blocked her memory and hid her on Jakku, but told everyone that he killed her.

That's what tore Han and Leia apart. Kylo clearly admires his grandfather Vader and wants to "finish what he started". Well what is that? Again, my guess is that the Empire was looking for the first Jedi temple because of what it holds and had the map too it, except for the final piece.

With Kylo's rage and feeling like he let everyone down, Luke went into exile to protect the temple. So TFA wasn't really about finding Luke, it was about completing the empires mission of finding the first Jedi temple, where Luke happens to be.

Time will tell.

Hans death was also really well done and a fitting way to go. But of course they cut him for financial reasons. He's getting £23m for this film, vs Carrie Fishers £1m and daisy Ridley and John boys as £300,000.

Still a very solid movie and I can't wait to see it again and pay more attention to the flashback scene. I think that holds a lot of clues.

 

[fitshaced]

I thought it was boring. Blow up another death star, fight another dark side bloke who struggles to love/hate his family, prove that the millennium falcon is faster than it looks. Harrison Ford proved yet again that his Han Solo days were over long before this movie. He's completely lost it as an actor. Carry Fisher was boring. John Boyega tried to be too funny, he wasn't funny.

It was a bit like when you have a family reunion. It's all exciting just before everyone arrives and then they do and can't think of anything to talk about other than the journey. Episode 8 will probably have a better story. This one was just an attempt to capture the old Star Wars experience. Sadly, it was more of an expensive re-make than a decent continuation of the previous one.

 

[bobob]

I think people are deliberately trying to pick holes where there may or may not be any.

I'm not sure there is actually any original plot in The Force Awakens, it appears to be a cluster of plot holes disguised as a movie...

40 Unforgivable Plot Holes in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'​

20 More Plot Holes in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'​

FTR, I think the following is the most accurate review - - one of the few to see through the mind clouding tricks of the force... er... hype.

The Empire strikes out in J.J. Abram’s overhyped “Star Wars” reboot, “The Force Awakens.” At least somebody “awakens” in this dull, derivative money grab in which wunderkind J.J. Abrams chooses to go where George Lucas has gone before by basically repeating plot points, even lines, from the original trilogy. At least it’s not as bad as the last three episodes, I-III. And thank God, there’s no Jar Jar Binks. But where’s the originality? The innovation? Surprising, given Abrams track record with rejuvenating aging franchises like “Star Trek” and “Mission Impossible.” With “The Force Awakens,” he simply gives the people what they want, which is more of the same.

If that’s all you desire or expect, you’ll be pleased. But, silly me I was anticipating something new and different in the way of story and characters. The only thing that’s an upgrade is the quality of the special effects, which are spectacular. The rest is just rehash. It’s like Abrams and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan, who also helped pen “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” worked off a checklist of elements they thought nostalgic fans would like to see, like hearing Han Solo (Harrison Ford, looking very gray) say “I got a bad feeling about this.” Or another visit to the cantina, like in the original “Star Wars.” There’s even another father-son dynamic, a la Luke and Vader, in which one is on the right side of the universe and the other a black-masked tyrant. And what would this movie be without another intergalactic junk yard and an adorable droid running around with invaluable information stored on one of his chips?

The writing is terrible, too. It’s mostly just a lot of busy action scenes broken up by reams of expository dialogue spoken with little feeling or nuance by an underutilized cast that often seems to be going through the motions. But then they’re all so busy explaining the plot to us that there’s no time for character development. Lucky for Abrams, he has a charismatic cast to help bail him out, beginning with a handful of originals like Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and their sidekicks, Chewbacca (the best thing in the movie), C-3PO (the warm-and-welcome voice of Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2. Yet it’s the newcomers who provide the most impact, namely Daisy Ridley as junk-dealing goddess Rey and John Boyega as the stormtrooper defector Finn. They flirt with a romance, not unlike Katniss and Peeta from “The Hunger Games,” but Abrams stops short of giving us something as daring as an interracial coupling.

Also new to the universe are Oscar Isaac as ace pilot Poe Dameron, Adam Driver as the evil-doing Kylo Ren and Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Konata, the bespectacled proprietor of the aforementioned cantina. All are terrific at making the most of what little they’re given to do. As are the holdovers from “Return of the Jedi,” particularly Ford and Fisher, who make the Han-Leia reunion touching and memorable. But like everything else in “The Force Awakens,” it comes in a flash and is gone.

It’s like Abrams felt rushed, never giving his film time to breathe. And his obsession with action scenes that look like enhanced outtakes from previous “Star Wars” movies, suggests he and Kasdan drew a blank on devising a meaningful story and decided to just fill the 135 minutes with battle sequences. What story there is involves Leia’s search for her brother, Luke (Hamill), who is nowhere to be found in the galaxy. She, as well as the evil Kylo from the even more evil First Order (an offshoot of the Dark Side), are seeking a map that contains Luke’s whereabouts. Through awkward plotting, Ridley’s Rey and Boyega’s Finn end up in on the hunt, along with Rey’s new droid companion, the snowman-shaped BB-8. Those three eventually hook up with Han and Chewbacca aboard the Millennium Falcon and the alleged fun is on. But except for the Han-Leia reunion and a shocking twist, the movie just rambles along trying to squeeze in old familiar “Star Wars” bits with little or no impact.

At least this “Star Wars” is more diverse in its casting, although Nyong’o’s Maz uncomfortably borders on a racial stereotype. It also benefits from John Williams’ iconic score and special effects – by a literal team of thousands – that put the old “Star Wars” movies to shame. The rest, though, feels much too familiar: the lightsaber fights, Han’s wisecracks and the fighter jets. It’s all very been there, done that. But I guess I’m a bit naive expecting Abram to make something approaching art. With Lucas gone, having sold his soul and franchise to Disney, “Star Wars” is now all about the money, which explains why the movie plays on nostalgia more than new ideas. The Mouse wants its audience to bask in the past, unchallenged and free to relive lost youths. It’s great for the warm fuzzies; it’s terrible for a movie. I suppose I better get used to it. After all, there are at least two more of these “Star Wars” things to come, plus spinoffs like the one Han Solo is about to get. So The Force will definitely be with me, I just wish I could get with The Force.​

 

[DavoteK]

Smashing all box office records.

Best film of 2015.

Flawless.

 

[panzer06]

snip

1. The empire lost it's emporer. That's a rather major loss, no? It's basically the end of the empire. They didn't just lose a "single battle."

2. The empire lost it's second in command. Vader's dead.

3. Their most powerful weapon has been destroyed. Losing a "death star" is rather important, eh?

4. Most, if not all of their command structure is dead.

5. Their star destroyer fleet is destroyed.

In other words, the dark side is completely finished.

On the flip, Luke has just come into his powers. Leia is just beginning to discover hers. There is peace throughout the galaxy.

snip

There's absolutely no indication that the entire Imperial Fleet was massed to meet the rebels. The arrogance of the Empire would never allow its leaders to believe they would need to move assets from all over the galaxy to stop the insignificant rebellion. Certainly the loss was strategic and a significant setback, however, from a military standpoint there is no rational reason to believe the single fleet portrayed in Episode VI was all the Empire could muster.

People may have been celebrating but in no way does that mean the threat is forever removed. Please remember the Empire is/was a vast enterprise on a scale humanity here on Earth can't truly comprehend.

A scaled down comparison can be seen in the end of hostilities of Earth's wars. Defeating the primary antagonist does not necessarily bring eternal peace. Thirty years is plenty of time for those who desire power to rise of and resume the quest for domination.

Look at the break up of the Soviet Union. People thought that was end. Not so much, A resurgent Russia with Imperial ambitions casts a shadow over Europe.

The main antagonists of the Star Wars films are HUMAN. The Dark Side WILL NEVER be completely finished. There will always be people who desire to impose their will upon others.

 

[MrGimper]

So anyone else think this could have been at least some of the inspiration for Kylo Ren's cross guard lightsaber?

 

[MacNut]

People are seriously finding holes in this movie where there are none. Take it for what it is. A movie that is trying to pull in a new younger audience and get them hooked for another 20 years. And also give something to the older generation to keep them nostalgic of their childhood. Episode VIII will take the story deeper. Now that we have a new cast of characters and a new lead we can focus on the future of the series. The engine has been restarted now lets look to the future.

Also it's just a movie not real life. No need to go all Neil Degrasse-Tyson on us.

 

[bobob]

People are seriously finding holes in this movie where there are none.

It is truly unprecedented!

Imagine... Star Wars fans analyzing the finer points of a Star Wars movie?!?

I never thought I'd live to see the day.

 

[macbook_21]

I think people are deliberately trying to pick holes where there may or may not be any.

I was greatly anticipating TFA and was probably going to enjoy it no matter what, unless it was an abject, total disaster, which it clearly was not.

Having said that, this is not a sequel, it's a remake, essentially a "greatest hits of the original trilogy collage," with a full complement of emotional triggers drenched in sentimentality and familiarity.

It's incredibly derivative which makes it emotionally "compelling" but totally unfulfilling as a new chapter.

It's impossible for even the most casual star wars viewer not to notice how derivative and unoriginal the script is.

 

[MacNut]

I was greatly anticipating TFA and was probably going to enjoy it no matter what, unless it was an abject, total disaster, which it clearly was not.

Having said that, this is not a sequel, it's a remake, essentially a "greatest hits of the original trilogy collage," with a full complement of emotional triggers drenched in sentimentality and familiarity.

It's incredibly derivative which makes it emotionally "compelling" but totally unfulfilling as a new chapter.

It's impossible for even the most casual star wars viewer not to notice how derivative and unoriginal the script is.

In many ways this movies sets the foundation for the next trilogy, is it a best of of sorts, yes. But how else could they fit Han Solo and Leia in without digging into the past.

 

[Tech198]

spoil it

I haven't seen this yet... and probably never will... I prefer the 1977 Star wars. which i have all 6.

I can't imagine a star wars episode without Han and Leia.

 

[Apple fanboy]

spoil it

I haven't seen this yet... and probably never will... I prefer the 1977 Star wars. which i have all 6.

I can't imagine a star wars episode without Han and Leia.

Not seen I to III then?

 

[cmichaelb]

Smashing all box office records.

Best film of 2015.

Flawless.

I enjoyed it, but hardly flawless.

Spoiler

Snoak was joke, Driver had no menace, Hux was dull. Chewy and BB-8 stole the show. Fin, Rey were great. Harrison even though he didn't want to do it, was great. Real sky, real wind, real sunlight - very welcome change.

 

[fitshaced]

In many ways this movies sets the foundation for the next trilogy, is it a best of of sorts, yes. But how else could they fit Han Solo and Leia in without digging into the past.

They should have kept them out of it. Harrison Ford made Stars Wars in my opinion. Carrie Fisher did her part in the golden bikini. Obviously those days are behind her too.

The movie just wasn't very imaginative. They made a stupid amount of money out of it which makes it successful, but what if they had released episode 8 last week instead and had a book/game release for episode 7 at the same time? In my opinion, episode 7 would have been told better in print and would have saved Han Solo and General Leia from the very benign performances they gave.

 

[rhett7660]

It is truly unprecedented!

Imagine... Star Wars fans analyzing the finer points of a Star Wars movie?!?

I never thought I'd live to see the day.

The sarcasm is strong with this one.......!

 

[cmichaelb]

Hans death was also really well done and a fitting way to go. But of course they cut him for financial reasons. He's getting £23m for this film, vs Carrie Fishers £1m and daisy Ridley and John boys as £300,000.

No, he didn't even want to play Han Solo again, he wanted his character killed off in A New Hope. Ford didn't just phone it in, which was nice, but as soon as they announced he was coming back you knew he was going to be killed off.

 

[cmichaelb]

Having not seen the movie yet, from what I gather, the number #1 rumor for me is that Darth Plagueis isn't that Snork dude. If he was, that would have been leaked by now. I was thinking Chewy would die in this movie from what I saw in the trailer.

No way, anyone could be under the Chewy mask. He will endure.

 

[Huntn]

It seems all recycled but still fun to watch.

I picked your reply to quote based on this one sentence, other than it could have been more fun than it was. Allow me to explain. I'm sure I'll stream this and maybe the second time through it will grow on me. I really wanted to be wowed by Episode VII.

- The flying: CGI, presentation, and dynamics was super. Best Star Wars flying ever, even if most of it seemed to be revealed in the trailers.
- Rey and Fin were enjoyable if not outstanding additions to carry the torch, although her acquisition of professional force skills seemed rushed. I agree with Kylo, without any training Rey was a really dangerous girl who could kick his ass with no training. Or was it just his indecisive badness and temper tantrums that reduced his effectiveness wielding the dark side of the force?
- Enjoyable light saber dueling.
- But I sat there and waited for Kylo Ren to kill his Dad, with the setup, it was preordained, it could not be that simple- Yeah Dad, I messed up. No, the opposite was a certainty for a complete trilogy.

My primary critique: The story, the story was too much BEEN THERE DONE THAT, ARG!!! Come up with a new original story damn it! We walked out of the theater and my wife said, "we saw this movie all ready."

It was more true to Star Wars than any of the prequels, but Abrams went overboard on homage to the original movie plus needing an original story, at least in some manner, come on! Ok, so the Skywalker's have a generational issue deciding on whether to be good or bad. The hologram chess board was fun, but the total cumulative effect of nods to the original 3 movies was excessive and fun killing to some degree, depending on your tolerance for watching recycled stories. Last time a droid carried a diagram of a death star. This time a droid carries a missing peace of the map. Get that droid!!

I think the bar scene put me over the edge. Why didn't a bounty hunter get shot? Han's death, when Rey and Chewbacca yelled something like "no!" And started firing their weapons caused a flashback the scene where Darth Vader killed Obiwan and Luke reacts the same way. And then there was the big Death Star Planet, and oh there are some little spots we have to shoot, with the same General big-eyes giving the brief, even Han said it in his sarcastic manner, channeling Harrison Ford. And some obligatory duct flying. The BTDT effect was so strong that I just knew they were going to blow it up, all most anti-climatic. Did anyone feel any suspense? At least in Episode VI they were surprised that the DS was operational.

Now there is a possibility that after paying this homage, maybe the next one will delve into new territory, but wait, we have a bad father son and Emperor shadowy alien Supreme Leader they have to resolve at some point. If you look at Anakin Skywalker, he went bad because he thought they were pick'n on the Emperor. What's Kylo's excuse?

I may be revealing my ignorance about the Star Wars Universe, but that seems to be a good (@Nermal) point about why 30 years later? Remember the original Republic Senate where Yodo fights the Emperor was huge. This at times was filled with representatives from all the plants of the Republic. Are we supposed to understand that one shot from this super super weapon kills the Republic on 5 different planets all within sight of the planet where the action is taking place? How convenient for the story, but what the heck happened in the last 30 years?

I get the feeling it's just a mechanism so the original cast could kick off the next 3 episodes. Didn't the Republic revert to being good guys after Emperor Palatine got tossed over the side by Darth Vader? So why are we still talking about Rebels? Wouldn't they be allied with the new Republic? (sigh)

 

[macbook_21]

Wow, the new kids are barely pulling in 6 figures for this first installment. I hope they get a nice per diem on their promotional tour.

 

[flyinmac]

Sadly the first Star Wars episode that I kept falling asleep during.

I've never had that happen during a Star Wars movie before. And I didn't care much for the prequels.

The plot was extremely disorganized. It felt thrown together. And I tried to stay awake during the movie, but it was just impossible.

Sadly, I think they've just ruined the franchise for me.

I still like the original 3. But, I don't expect I'll bother to make time to see future releases after seeing this one. Very disappointing.

And for perspective... I am a father who manages to stay awake through the replays of children's movies that I've seen hundreds of times. So falling asleep during a Star Wars movie is a little disappointing. Worse is that I couldn't even force myself to get interested in it and remain awake. The periodic loud noise would wake me up for a few moments, and then the poor plot would put me out again.

I can appreciate the prior comments about people walking out of the theaters speechless. I'm sure many of them had just woken up again.

 

[DavoteK]

Critics choice award nomination, after the nominations were already sorted. It's that good they had to add it to the list.

Movie Perfection.

I enjoyed it, but hardly flawless.

Spoiler

Snoak was joke, Driver had no menace, Hux was dull. Chewy and BB-8 stole the show. Fin, Rey were great. Harrison even though he didn't want to do it, was great. Real sky, real wind, real sunlight - very welcome change.

In your opinion.

Say hi to Mr Ford for me when you speak to him next. Oh and give him my early congratulations for his best supporting actor Oscar.

 

[Huntn]

In your opinion.

Say hi to Mr Ford for me when you speak to him next. Oh and give him my early congratulations for his best supporting actor Oscar.

You really think that was an Oscar worthy performance or is this a critique of the Oscar process?

 

[Limey77]

I'm not sure there is actually any original plot in The Force Awakens, it appears to be a cluster of plot holes disguised as a movie...

40 Unforgivable Plot Holes in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'​

20 More Plot Holes in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'​

Having wasted a few minutes of my life reading these I'm certainly not convinced that the author is a Star Wars fans - in fact I'm not convinced he's actually seen the film himself. And I will ensure I don't waste any more of my time reading his "insights".

Most of the things he points out are not plot holes at all. Many can easily be explained, some ARE actually explained in the film.

I think there were three actual plot holes in those two lists combined.

As I said previously, some people are actively searching for plot holes and errors. Presumably in an attempt to ride off the films success and get a few clicks.

Was it perfect? No. Is it one of the best movies of the year? Yes. Is it the best SW movie ever? Possibly, only time will tell, but it's certainly in the top three.

If people don't like it, then fine. But pretentious associate professors trying to seem smarter than everyone else (and failing) is a sad state of affairs. Especially as he claims to have enjoyed the movie.

 

[fitshaced]

Having wasted a few minutes of my life reading these I'm certainly not convinced that the author is a Star Wars fans - in fact I'm not convinced he's actually seen the film himself. And I will ensure I don't waste any more of my time reading his "insights".

Most of the things he points out are not plot holes at all. Many can easily be explained, some ARE actually explained in the film.

I think there were three actual plot holes in those two lists combined.

As I said previously, some people are actively searching for plot holes and errors. Presumably in an attempt to ride off the films success and get a few clicks.

Was it perfect? No. Is it one of the best movies of the year? Yes. Is it the best SW movie ever? Possibly, only time will tell, but it's certainly in the top three.

If people don't like it, then fine. But pretentious associate professors trying to seem smarter than everyone else (and failing) is a sad state of affairs. Especially as he claims to have enjoyed the movie.

I think that sums up episode 7.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

My suspension of disbelief can only go so far...

If Kylo Ren can force push Rey really hard in the forest and knock her out cold, why doesn't he just use the force and make Finn cut himself? Easy kill.

I do not buy that the 3rd death star, after 30 years of additional R&D into these types of weapons, still has some sort of exploitable weakness that destroys the ENTIRE thing. Really?

I did not buy that part either. They land on the star killer without a plan and just happen to bump into whatsherface who they force into lowering the shields. She does even though it means the destruction of the SK and maybe her death as well. There is no back up panel anywhere in the control room to restart the shields? The controls are just in a far off room and if they go down, that's it? Too easy.