Star Wars VII Spoiler alerts.

[Savor]

Harrison Ford Will Be Back For Star Wars 8

^ Not surprising to me at all. We need a flashback to explain how Ben went dark and estranged from his parents. Snoke seduced him and probably called both his father and his uncle soft. Who wants to be like Uncle Luke when you can be like his Grandpa Vader? Or is Kylo a double agent? He is plotting with them at the end? Either way, I am not confident at a Star Wars film without Harrison Ford. You take him out in any of the OT films, and SW just isn't cool with just Luke & Leia. Not confident Mark or Carrie can carry Ep 8 & 9.

Harrison Ford has never been keen to his role but if he can bank another $35M and percentage at the box office receipts, he shouldn't be complaining! Han Solo isn't the most overrated SW character but he was never the most essential character to the story. It is also possible Han Solo ISN'T DEAD yet. He falls in the catwalk but we NEVER see if he survived the stab and what happened to him after the fall? We never see his dead body before Starkiller blew up. Han gets a Gandalf The Two Towers comeback or Glen in The Walking Dead. We think he's dead but is he?

Far and away the most overrated SW character goes to Boba Fett. I don't understand the undeserved infatuation with Boba Fett. But Harrison Ford is definitely the most overpaid actor in the SW cast for the lesser screen time. But does he deserved it? Hell yeah! Severance pay like Kobe Bryant's last two seasons. But I think during an Ep 8 flashback/back story, Han can play a critical role to how Ben went dark and disappointed him as a father. Harrison is still the real "Big Deal" in the SW cast. Remember, Michelle Rodriguez came back in Fast & Furious 6 when we all thought she was dead by Part 4.

I want the next two Star Wars films to go Game of Thrones-style among the baddies fighting for power with the uncertainty and shocking conclusions to characters ala LOST/The Walking Dead. I want to see Kylo Ren murdering Hux, betraying Snoke, and a bad*** fight showdown with the new baddie from Benicio Del Toro! I'm not sure if Daisy Ridley has what it takes to make a lightsaber duel look cool. Neither with John Boyega. SW needs to go bold and unpredictable. TFA did the former but its the story wasn't the latter.

What makes Game of Thrones so cool is the most popular character, Tyrion Lannister, is despicable but has the most hilarious lines. And you see how his personality grows in each season from coward to brave. Peter Dinklage nailed his role. Tyrion, Daenerys Targaryen, and Ayra Stark are easily three of the most popular characters in GoT. I think Rey is alot like Ayra already. Tomboy-ish. By the time she completes her Jedi training, I want Rey to be like Hitgirl (Chloe Moretz) from Kick-***! Tough female leads like in the Resident Evil and Underworld series. Black Widow tough without all the sarcasm and one-liners.

Watching all that character development during the next 4 hours for the next two SW films probably doesn't have enough time to explain all that. But considering they took SIX films to tell Anakin's story, it wouldn't shock me if it took six films to complete the stories for Rey and Ben. So up to Ep 12 with Ep 7-9 being more as the bridge between the old generation and new. Considering Marvel plans 17 movies and already has 12 films already, I don't think SW is overkill with 12 canon-story films minus the Anthology. Ep 9 doesn't need to give us a "winner." Ren can be a greater Vader and the next Sidious. Rey can be a greater Jedi than Anakin & Luke ever were without the whining of either two.

What I see with MCU and DCEU is mostly wrestling matches. Iron Man, Captain America, Superman, Thor, Hulk, they are all basically wrestling stars to me based from the comics. SW has those elements to appeal to the adolescent boys and the immaturity still in us. But the SW characters' stories seems more grounded. Between 3-6 films to flesh out characters we eventually will grow to love or nearly 30 films from MCU that are mostly good but generally forgettable stories and never were great? I will take the former and go Star Wars! MCU is going overkill and spreading itself to thin without an actual compelling story. It is like episodes of The Simpsons where everything good happens at the end.

Again, Game of Throne-style among all the SW baddies killing each other to take over the galaxy and fight for that throne. Then Rey is like Arya Stark/Hitgirl without the vulgarity and extreme violence. Not a Jennifer Lawrence always crying or ready to cry in The Hunger Games and X-Men films. And ask yourself after seeing Harrison Ford comeback for Ep 8, the obvious flashback or is Han Solo really DEAD or are we all supposed to think he is? We never see Han's dead body after he fell and there was still time to recover it before Starkiller blew up. We also have to assume Ben is alive since we never saw a scene of him being picked up.

Ben could being destroying The First Order from the inside. If some people think Elvis and Tupac are still alive, people should make shirts that says Han Solo is ALIVE! Unlike Elvis or Tupac, it's a movie character! Writers find ways to bring them back. They are playing with our emotions like those "it's just a dream" sequences but I think there is a longshot chance Han Solo is alive. And if they go the sappy ending for Ep 9, we see Han and Ben reunite as father and son. Or if Ben is the new Emperor that Vader never achieved, we see Han in some way with Leia and Luke. One last happy or bittersweet scene ending with the original three together before Rey and her future children will take over...

A little bit of Game of Thrones, a little bit of the unpredictability fates of popular characters like from LOST/The Walking Dead willing to kill off major characters. EU brought Boba Fett from the dead. The possibilities are ENDLESS with stories...

JJ Abrams CONFIRMS Han Solo is DEAD
www.australianetworknews.com/star-wars-7-biggest-spoilers-han-solo-really-dead-finale-confirmed/

JJ isn't writing the next story and left an opening. No dead body seen, not 100% confirmed Han is dead considering we never saw Kylo getting picked up by Hux and we are supposed to assume he is alive. Not that I'm in denial. I prefer Han dying a hero instead of a cop out that happened to Alec Guinness and making Ren's motives clearer. I want TFA to have one of the saddest death scenes in film history that makes Fredo getting killed in The Godfather Part II pale by comparison. Because millions of us love Han more than the weakest Corleone brother, Fredo. And this was patricide!

Let's NOT cheapen TFA's scene like Iron Man still being alive in The Avengers and Bruce Wayne still being alive in The Dark Knight Rises after a missile suicide mission. If a longshot chance Han is alive if Kylo is acting like a double agent would be a shocking moment if we see it happen. Movie magic with a "sleight of Han."

#hansolostillalive#

"I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain."

"Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating back from your death is approximately 35,003,720 to 1." ($$$$$$$$)

 

[Huntn]

Obi Wan knew he was too old and couldn't handle more adventures. He chose to die because he knew and had been training to become a force ghost. He then wouldn't have the limitations of a physical from. It's a strategic move on his part.

As for the body disappearing, I assume this is a result when one becomes so in tune with the force, Who knows? it's a movie.



That list is atrocious. TDKR was terrible. No Peter Jackson movie should be any where near a top 100 list.



Not going to happen EVER. Ledger was terrific and gave a new spin on an old character, then DIED. That was more of a lifetime achievement Oscar than for one performance. Ford played the same character he's played in 7 prior movies (SW and IJ - essentially the same character -IJ is another character with a smuggler past - accused of grave robbing by foreign govts.).

You really need to go back and watch some classic movies with strong performances that won Oscars. Ford was great, but not Oscar worthy in any way.

Although I like your post regarding Obiwan, I disagree about LOTR. It was was a tremendous, stupendous movie adaption of the 3 book series. Now, The Hobbit pissed me off as most MRs members who read the movie thread, know.

 

[macbook_21]

Competing baddies is an interesting idea. But it's "too complex" and therefore frightening and risky for the managers of a franchise like SW. A backstory involving competing factions within the dark side, ie dominant imperial force vs "first order" might have been interesting.

As I said before, a mega-corporation like disney will not want to take quirky, inventive creative risks here. Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes this would not be.

The SW universe is a creative mess right now. Disney and Abrams couldn't even decide if they wanted to reboot or create a sequel. They tried to do both and wound up birthing a frankenstein pastiche of feel good reminisces with modern CGI.

They even brought back Yoda, turned the character orange and female and made her bespectacled so she could drop an avatar-esque mind-reading bomb: "I. SEE. YOU."

Based on what we've already seen, it seems terribly unlikely that Ep 8 and 9 could suddenly turn about face taking us in some new esoteric direction we hadn't anticipated.

 

[fitshaced]

Obi Wan knew he was too old and couldn't handle more adventures. He chose to die because he knew and had been training to become a force ghost. He then wouldn't have the limitations of a physical from. It's a strategic move on his part.

As for the body disappearing, I assume this is a result when one becomes so in tune with the force, Who knows? it's a movie.



That list is atrocious. TDKR was terrible. No Peter Jackson movie should be any where near a top 100 list.



Not going to happen EVER. Ledger was terrific and gave a new spin on an old character, then DIED. That was more of a lifetime achievement Oscar than for one performance. Ford played the same character he's played in 7 prior movies (SW and IJ - essentially the same character -IJ is another character with a smuggler past - accused of grave robbing by foreign govts.).

You really need to go back and watch some classic movies with strong performances that won Oscars. Ford was great, but not Oscar worthy in any way.

What's a force ghost?

 

[Savor]

My Episode VII character disappointments -

Hux - I basically see another generic Imperial high official. A younger General Tarkin. I do like the interactions between him and Ren as they independently work under their own terms but under the same boss, Snoke.

Captain Phasma - JJ's favorite new character didn't do much for me. We also never saw her go down the trash compactor and we are supposed to assume she is alive. A female Boba Fett-type with a cool costume to me so far. Yay! I want to see 6'3 Gwendoline Christie knock heads without the costume. Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones is so much cooler than Captain Phasma. Still, Captain Phasma is alot cooler looking and far less annoying than nearly every character in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. You don't see me running out to buy an Aragorn action figure. Give me SW all day.

That's why my Han Solo is still alive theory isn't so far fetched since we are supposed to assume Phasma and Ren escaped when Starkiller blew up. JJ could also be lying. Han fell down hundreds of feet but Ren barely could walk after Rey slashes him and he escapes? Think The Dark Knight Rises ending without Alfred seeing Bruce and Selina. The audience is supposed to assume Bruce died. Perhaps TFA's quick cuts were deliberate.

Kylo Ren, Rey, and even little BB-8 are all Top 10 for me. Yes, Kylo Ren is unpolished but that's the point! Unpredictable. We can't be short-sighted with him after only one film when there could be 2-5 films more of him. The Emo Kylo Ren Twitter account is hilarious. But you can do a parody of Frodo Baggins jizzing in his pants (which there is) and it is more hilarious. TLotR, Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games.. Most people forget about those characters! LOL at calling Ren weak when he just stabbed his own father through the guts!

Rey is if Leia became a Jedi instead of Luke and isn't as whiny as him or Anakin. Finn and Poe are rock solid but I wouldn't say I adore them. I'm indifferent with Maz Kanata and Snoke. The latter is still a mystery to me but hope he isn't a recycled Sidious in CG form.

Star Wars needs -

- Unpredictability to the story and fate of the characters' lives. Betrayal and murder are usually the best ways to add to unpredictability and mystery.

- More female characters to add more sex appeal like a vixen. Leia, Padmé, and Rey have been the three major female lead roles in each trilogy. Maz Kanata probably had the most speaking lines than Shmi Skywalker for 4th place. More females in human form, please?

- More villains. Like a different group band of villians. I also want to see ideally a female villain. If men are evil, women can be more evil. I want to see a Jezebel/Delilah type. Diversify even further and keep it the good and bad at an even playing field.

- More comical sidekicks. Not just droids and Wookies. Finn is pretty cool but I want to see more preferably human we can understand. No Jar Jar. If Han Solo can outshine Luke with the most hilarious lines and he is basically a glorified chauffeur, SW needs more humor.

- Occasional flashbacks which is not common in SW. Add another way to tell the story. But don't overdo it like LOST. I hope for more background info on Han and Ben's relationship. We don't need an entire movie (prequels) just to show us that.

- No time traveling. I love Back To The Future, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Hot Tub Time Machine, and LOST's "The Constant." I even enjoyed Donnie Darko. But no finding worm holes and seeing Han Solo from an alternative time reality like Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in the Star Trek reboots. LOST overdid it in Season 5.

- PG-13 SW films from here on out. The PG-rating restrained the previous trilogies as kids' movies.

Star Wars franchise is just scratching its surface and brimming with potential. Characters and universal stories are its main sell. I did a Top 50 favorite movie characters list and SW had 10 (20%) from my list. MCU was 2nd (5) but they are more like wrestling stars to me. As much I like Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Captain America, I don't love them as much as Vader, Han, and Yoda! That's my original Top 3 SW character favs.

The Force Awakens already went *bleeping* bold by killing off a beloved character (or did they?) Considering Bad Robot were responsible for LOST killing off many major characters that The Walking Dead has emulated with uncertainty, they need to take Star Wars that direction for the next films. Adam Driver is very close to my age at 32. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are only 23. They will forever be Rey and Finn until the day we die. They can do another 50 years doing Star Wars considering Harrison is 73 now. Part of SW fam 4ever.

Kathleen Kennedy is right. We haven't even seen Star Wars reached its full potential yet. It consist of arguably the greatest collection of lovable characters that would make Nintendo jealous but it needs to go to different directions on how to tell their stories. An average SW film like a prequel have more replay value than the flukey success that Avatar had or the overkill MCU is having because of the characters and intriguing stories. I believe we still haven't seen the BEST SW film yet. Perfection can be improved. There will be enough room for improvement to surpass The Empire Strikes Back as the best SW film ever made...

 

[derbladerunner]

This article is doing some plothole nitpicking (I enjoyed the movie and didn't care too much about details, every blockbuster has many similar plotholes). I think the author saves the best criticism for last (40 / 40):

40. Is there any other film franchise in the history of cinema that would be permitted, by its fans and by critics, to recycle so many plot points?Luke destroys a Death Star; Lando destroys a bigger Death Star; Poe destroys the biggest Death Star. Anakin kills (the Jedi's) Younglings; Kylo Ren kills (Luke's) Younglings. Leia, Luke, Han, and Chewie end up in a trash compactor; Captain Phasma ends up in a trash compacter. Poe and Finn steal a ship they're not supposed to steal from a hanger; a young Anakin steals a ship he's not supposed to steal from a hanger. Luke watches Obi-Wan die; Rey watches Han Solo die. The Emperor and Snoke both appear (at first) exclusively via holograms. The Millennium Falcon negotiates tight spaces at top speeds in every film. There's a den of iniquity on Tatooine, and a visually identical one on Takodana (Maz Kanata's home). Rey climbs dangerously on the interior of a Death Star, as did Luke. Han gets shown up (as to military and technical smarts) first by Leia, then many years later by Rey. Obi-Wan disappears where no one can find him but Luke, then Luke disappears where no one can find him but Rey. Kylo Ren and Darth Vader use the Force for an interrogation. The First Order's General Hux is the same Nazi-with-a-British-accent as every Empire officer or petty official before him. Rey falls in love (we think) with a young scamp, as did Padme. The Resistance headquarters seems to be the same movie set as the Rebel headquarters from decades earlier. Poe is a crack shot, like Luke. BB-8 is the new R2D2. Kylo Ren is related to Han, just as Darth Vader was related to Luke.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-...in-star-wars-the-force-awakens_b_8850324.html
​

I think he really has a point there. Episode VII at times felt like a reassembled/recycled Episode IV.

Apparently Disney really wanted to play it safe in their first movie.

I hope the next two movies deviate a bit more from the proven formula/plotlines.

 

[DavoteK]

2nd viewing, it just gets better. Best film of 2015.

3rd viewing in a couple of days. Glorious.

 

[macbook_21]

I was totally overwhelmed emotionally with my first viewing of TFA, and I mean that in a good way. I enjoyed the gimmickry of the 3D, I must admit. I also enjoyed the comaraderie of fellow SW fans on "opening night."

The 2D version is absolutely gorgeous and probably far more involving as a cinematic experience, however. By that second showing, the novelty of TFA had worn off, and was left with the film "as it truly is."

After the first viewing, I rated TFA as 8.5/10. After the second, more like 8/10. I feel if I see it a third time at the theatre (which I most likely will), my rating may drop a little further still. With truly great films, you can relish in newly discovered nuances with each subsequent viewing. This holds true for films like Godfather 1/2 and Avatar. I didn't get that impression with TFA. The acting is wooden and hollow, and the tantrums of Kylo seem increasingly silly and overwrought with each additional viewing.

I'm looking forward to the blu ray release. I'm really looking forward to watching the action sequences at home on repeat, lol.

As critical as I've been of TFA, I'm basically a SW addict, and seemingly can't get enough. Sigh.

 

[MacNut]

The Force Awakens is the fastest movie to gross $1 billion

Talk about making the jump to lightspeed. After only two weekends in theaters, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has officially joined the $1 billion club — at a record-breaking rate. In just 12 days, The Force Awakens has raked in an estimated $1.09 billion dollars worldwide, making it the fastest movie ever to hit $1 billion globally.

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/2...wars-force-awakens-crosses-1-billion-globally

 

[Savor]

By Ep 8, we all expect only a flashback for Harrison to appear in. He is in it to explain Ben's backstory. So we assume Han is dead for good and when the Ep 9 cast list still has him, we assume another flashback. But this time, he shows up for the real time story to shock the audience and characters. We assume for 3.5 years he was dead.

If he doesn't appear in Ep 8 because he is hiding and Leia is keeping it a secret, he shows up in Ep 9 that may not be a flashback this time. Lengthen our assumptions Han is long dead. Like Osama Bin Laden. No autopsy shot. We are all supposed to think he is dead and his body was dumped into the sea.

I remember watching Once Upon A Time In America (DC) and I guessed one of the main characters halfway wasn't dead yet. I didn't see a body except a name on a burned corpse. I didn't read spoilers. He ends up showing up during the last 30 minutes while the main character assumed he was dead for over 35+ years in the story.

I would be more convinced had Han been 100% dead had he been decapitated in half like Darth Maul. Then Humpty Dumpty couldn't be put together again. With Qui-Gonn and Vader, we see their bodies burn. We see spirits of Yoda and Obi-Wan. We watch EU writers bring Boba Fett from the Tarlac Pit. We can't assume Han survived the stab, landed softly, someone found him, and he will go in hiding? Too far fetched?

Poe Dameron - Finn and Poe crash into Jakku. Poe has gone MIA only to show up later with a quick explanation to his whereabouts. It was as convenient as Artoo waking up at the end...

Captain Phasma - Gets put in a trash compactor. We have to assume she escapes if Gwendoline Christie is coming back for more in Ep 8.

Han Solo - Gets stabbed through the guts, and touches his son's face before he falls. We never the final minutes of his body but we must assume he is 100% dead because JJ comfirmed it, right? I don't mind leaving Han dead to not cheapen the scene and play with the audience's emotions.

But considering we've seen a young Anakin smile back at Luke at the end of ROTJ and we are supposed to believe Luke knows that's his father at 21 when he saw a saw different person the scene before, anything is possible. The LOST-style of telling stories. Kill off characters but they still show up in flashbacks. Han gets LOST but for good?

Kylo Ren - Shot by a blaster Han mentioned he really likes during a raid in Maz Kanata's castle borrowing it for a moment from Chewie. Bleeding from his left ribs. Then a lucky strike by Finn on the right shoulder. And Rey finishing him off before the ground split. The last scene that even mentions him is Snoke telling Hux to pick up Ren. We never see any scene of Ren getting picked up but must assume he is alive?

^ Three of those characters showed no scenes during the waning moments of Starkiller Base ready blow up. Except we can only believe one of them is 100% dead which is arguably a Top 3 fav for most fans and the other two aren't? That's my main qualms of The Force Awakens. Some bad editing which could be deliberate and the recycled story.

But that first hour or so was fantastic before the power of nostalgia started to tire out and became too much of deja vu. Still some great blast from the past stuff. A shadow of the Empire coming from my childhood memories and dreams. Some Fountain of Youth moments in TFA as Kevin Smith said.

I am a byproduct of the 1980's growing up on Jim Henson, Muppet Babies, Sesame Street, and Reading Rainbow. And the phenomenon of toys and last great decade of cartoons and pop music. Back To The Future, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars are like my holy trinity for movie franchises with The Godfather as #4.

Watching Ren freeze a laser blast in mid-air is one of the coolest things I have ever seen in a SW film. I underestimated the power of the Dark Side after watching so much Marvel superhero films. SW characters may not be as powerful as Superman, Hulk, or Thor but they can be just as cool as Iron Man.

TFA deserves every dollar it makes for making some of us feel young again. I hope it unseats both Titanic and Avatar even with its flaws. Those Cameron films are inferior, overrated with forgettable characters and stories. Star Wars 7 isn't. Blasting us back to 1977 and making a new generation feel like some of the older folks had felt during those times when they first saw this movie simply called Star Wars.

Some us could finally understand even if we weren't born in those times. Since Jimmy Fallon's Saved By The Bell reunion, I knew 2015 was all about revisiting my past. TFA has is the icing on the cake for my 2015. My Christmas present. JJ made a SW for his kids and future grandchildren can enjoy over and over. You can see the flaws of Episode VII the more you watch it. But the (first time) theater experience is the best some of us from a newer generation ever had...

 

[Tilpots]

Watched the movie yesterday. Totally enjoyed it. The plot had some holes and quite a bit of cheese factor for the hardcore fans, but the movie did exactly as we wished. It brought back the action, the plot and the excitement that made the first three the classics that we loved. I feared Abrams would do a far worse job, so my expectations were pretty low. I know when I see it again, I'll have some critiques. But overall, I was very satisfied. I left the theater relieved, and with a big smile on my face. Like this

 

[fitshaced]

Another Star Wars plot hole.

If the Millennium Falcon could travel at light speed, why didn't they just use that to the destroy the Death Star by flying up to it at light speed and then throwing a petrol bomb out the window towards that weak spot?

 

[citizenzen]

The First Order is able to seize power right under the New Republic's nose and apparently nobody questions it until 30 years have passed.

Agreed. The Republic demonstrated incredible incompetence by allowing the Empire to retool an entire planet into a weapon. Apparently everybody was back at the home planet, living the highlife, forgetting how to conduct verification, inspections or rely on intelligence gathering. Typical liberals.

What did you think of Kylo Ren?

Awkward, emo teenager. Thoroughly uninspiring. When I was reading this thread, my wife and I had the same reaction ... "Oh, his name was Kylo Ren?" Neither of us remembered it.

Nobody forgot the name, Darth Vader.

I was quite surprised how much I liked the performance of the new cast--all 4 actors I feel did an excellent job, Daisy especially, IMO.

Rey was great. Flinty, tough. I loved her character and performance.

I have never considered Anakin/Vader a true Sith. The reason why Vader originally turned to the dark side was to protect the ones he loves and cares about. I don't believe a Sith is capable of love. If Vader was truly a Sith he wouldn't have saved Luke.

No true Sith fallacy.

Not sure, if it's the kind of movie you need to see a second time to really enjoy it.

I've already seen the movie twice. The first time it was called, Star Wars Episode I.

 

[citizenzen]

Another Star Wars plot hole.

If the Millennium Falcon could travel at light speed, why didn't they just use that to the destroy the Death Star by flying up to it at light speed and then throwing a petrol bomb out the window towards that weak spot?

My wife didn't like the idea of flying up to a planet at light speed either.

But I had to remind her that they pulled the nose up quickly.

That's why they were able to stop so quickly.

 

[Huntn]

Awkward, emo teenager. Thoroughly uninspiring. When I was reading this thread, my wife and I had the same reaction ... "Oh, his name was Kylo Ren?" Neither of us remembered it.

Nobody forgot the name, Darth Vader.
----------
I've already seen the movie twice. The first time it was called, Star Wars Episode I.

Tell me about it.

What's to do when The Dark Side pins its hopes on an immature, inconsistent, maniacal, blue-belt, patricidal, somewhat inept dabbler in the force, just cause he has famous Parents, and who will take his mask off any time someone dares him to. So much for anonymity.

Quote
But wait, during the final battle Kylo Ren has trouble in a lightsaber battle with Finn. What? Finn was a janitor for the First Order who has never used a lightsaber before yesterday. How can this force user have trouble with him?

And if you want to argue Chewie injured him, that’s fair. But for a trained force user shouldn’t be a big deal. In fact, the first scene in the movie Kylo Ren stopped a shot from Poe Dameron without really looking. How did Chewie get the jump on him? I don’t know, I just want some consistency.

And then, of course, Rey gets the better of Kylo Ren in a battle after Rey just discovered she has the Force. So a force user trained by Luke Skywalker is overcome by someone who just gained her force powers? Ok, sure. But that’s a whole other issue with the movie.

 

[Savor]

Wonderful it crosses $1B the fastest but it only beat Jurassic World by one day. China isn't part of the equation. Let's wait after the China gets to see if TFA has stamina to catch Avatar. I believe it can but it isn't a guarantee for me. Avatar was re-released and was quite successful internationally. But I believe in The Force. You can't underestimate the power of the Dark Side...
_

Future of Star Wars

2017 - Episode VIII
2019 - Episode IX

2025-2029 = Episode X-XII

2030's = Episode I-III reboot?

I hope we get another trilogy after Episode IX but they should give it a 6-8 year gap. Let the kids in Daisy and John develop their careers and build anticipation for the next trilogy. Because looking at previous SW box office history and tough competition in the summers, Ep 8 and 9 won't make as much. Still $1B earners but nothing like 7's which can be the first to crack $3B. Nostalgia also played a role in TFA's box office success.

Star Wars Anthology is like a side order but not an entrée. I am NOT a SW EU fan. I only care about the canon-story films. But hey, Donnie Yen is in Rogue One. And Star Wars is the definitive franchise to watch on 3D IMAX. I thought about watching Captain America: Civil War in 3D then went nah. SW's aerial space shots don't interest me when watching it on TV. IMAX 3D is a different experience. Rogue One's anticipation is about 5/10 but it may surprise me.

Daisy and John make me feel old. By the year 2027, they would be my current age. Harrison would be 85 and could be RIP by then. Life is short. Don't hate. Appreciate. None of us will live long enough to watch the final Star Wars film. The Final Fantasy of films without ever being final. The Force will always be with us. Flaws or no flaws, enjoy what we see and experience while still here.

+ Add a SW female vixen. Leia in a slave girl outfit is not enough eye candy for future teenage boys. Opens up for cosplay women. Disney did it with Tron: Legacy. Olivia Wilde and Beau Garret were HOT in tight, sleek costumes. Feminists will complain but give SW some sex appeal. Leia is a general. Rey is tomboyish. Need a side female character that delivers SEX appeal.

+ Add more characters including baddies. Expand it to SIX films if not enough story can be told for the next 4+ hours with Ep 8 and 9. Increase the roster which adds more uncertainty with each character's fate...

+ Each SW episode should written similar to a serial like LOST. A cliffhanger ending almost everytime. Kill characters if they have to during each film. So after we finish each episode, we are anticipating to watch the next one. This draws HIGH REPLAY VALUE too. Bad Robot produced LOST. Why can't SW characters and stories be that intriguing? Create mysteries for the audience to theorize for the next few years. Star Wars should be written like most LOST episodes. Raise questions after every ending...

"Is Darth Vader really my father?"

"Yoda spoke of another?"

^ Those were questions I was curious about after finishing TESB and watching ROTJ. Each SW "episode" should create questions like that at the end. This series could reach infinite (ala iPhone) success that way...

 

[AustinIllini]

Wonderful it crosses $1B the fastest but it only beat Jurassic World by one day. China isn't part of the equation. Let's wait after the China gets to see if TFA has stamina to catch Avatar. I believe it can but it isn't a guarantee for me. Avatar was re-released and was quite successful internationally. But I believe in The Force. You can't underestimate the power of the Dark Side...
_

Future of Star Wars

2017 - Episode VIII
2019 - Episode IX

2025-2029 = Episode X-XII

2030's = Episode I-III reboot?

I hope we get another trilogy after Episode IX but they should give it a 6-8 year gap. Let the kids in Daisy and John develop their careers and build anticipation for the next trilogy. Because looking at previous SW box office history and tough competition in the summers, Ep 8 and 9 won't make as much. Still $1B earners but nothing like 7's which can be the first to crack $3B. Nostalgia also played a role in TFA's box office success.

Star Wars Anthology is like a side order but not an entrée. I am NOT a SW EU fan. I only care about the canon-story films. But hey, Donnie Yen is in Rogue One. And Star Wars is the definitive franchise to watch on 3D IMAX. I thought about watching Captain America: Civil War in 3D then went nah. SW's aerial space shots don't interest me when watching it on TV. IMAX 3D is a different experience. Rogue One's anticipation is about 5/10 but it may surprise me.

Daisy and John make me feel old. By the year 2027, they would be my current age. Harrison would be 85 and could be RIP by then. Life is short. Don't hate. Appreciate. None of us will live long enough to watch the final Star Wars film. The Final Fantasy of films without ever being final. The Force will always be with us. Flaws or no flaws, enjoy what we see and experience while still here.

+ Add a SW female vixen. Leia in a slave girl outfit is not enough eye candy for future teenage boys. Opens up for cosplay women. Disney did it with Tron: Legacy. Olivia Wilde and Beau Garret were HOT in tight, sleek costumes. Feminists will complain but give SW some sex appeal. Leia is a general. Rey is tomboyish. Need a side female character that delivers SEX appeal.

+ Add more characters including baddies. Expand it to SIX films if not enough story can be told for the next 4+ hours with Ep 8 and 9. Increase the roster which adds more uncertainty with each character's fate...

+ Each SW episode should written similar to a serial like LOST. A cliffhanger ending almost everytime. Kill characters if they have to during each film. So after we finish each episode, we are anticipating to watch the next one. This draws HIGH REPLAY VALUE too. Bad Robot produced LOST. Why can't SW characters and stories be that intriguing? Create mysteries for the audience to theorize for the next few years. Star Wars should be written like most LOST episodes. Raise questions after every ending...

"Is Darth Vader really my father?"

"Yoda spoke of another?"

^ Those were questions I was curious about after finishing TESB and watching ROTJ. Each SW "episode" should create questions like that at the end. This series could reach infinite (ala iPhone) success that way...

I wouldn't be surprised if Episode VIII makes more than VII. You can't project based on the original trilogy (too long ago) and the prequels are not the same thing. Episode I was bad, like really bad. Of course II and III were going to be bad.

Watched the movie yesterday. Totally enjoyed it. The plot had some holes and quite a bit of cheese factor for the hardcore fans, but the movie did exactly as we wished. It brought back the action, the plot and the excitement that made the first three the classics that we loved. I feared Abrams would do a far worse job, so my expectations were pretty low. I know when I see it again, I'll have some critiques. But overall, I was very satisfied. I left the theater relieved, and with a big smile on my face. Like this

This is characteristic of Episode IV as well. A great movie, but full of camp and silliness we give a pass because it's the original.

As far as Episode VII, I fully believe this is a fitting piece of the Star Wars universe, far superior to the prequel trilogy.

The SW universe is a creative mess right now. Disney and Abrams couldn't even decide if they wanted to reboot or create a sequel. They tried to do both and wound up birthing a frankenstein pastiche of feel good reminisces with modern CGI

You must have watched a different movie. If you take out the prequels, the purpose and direction of these films are 100% clear.

 

[Limey77]

Lol. I've never asked but wondered why did Obi Wan let Vader kill him? It certainly looked that way to me. It's probably better just to accept what your eyes see and not question. Was he losing? Why did his body go poof unlike Han whose body did not just disappear leaving a pile of clothes?

For Obiwan, based on what he said to Vader, he seemed to have an agenda. Pure speculation- He was old, possibly that agenda was moving over into a spiritual force that would add weight of good over evil, light over dark. Sounds good to me.

Sorry, I've been away so am working back through this thread.

To answer this question, we know that Obi Wan's teacher Qui Gonn was the first to be able to communicate from the dead. At the end of ROTS Yoda even tells Obi Wan that he has some studying for him to do as Qui Gonn has learned how
to become a force "ghost". So in ANH Obi Wan knew that he had to distract Vader (and everyone else) with this fight. Being Vader's master, he knew (as did we) that Vader would be so consumed by finally killing Obi Wan that he would "see" Luke.

So in one move, Obi Wan becomes more powerful and allows Luke and co to escape.

Regarding Kylo Ren, I thought he was portrayed perfectly by Adam Driver. A great blend of petulance, power, security, insecurity. Amazing skill BUT flawed in so many ways. A great starting point for a key player in this trilogy.

 

[Huntn]

You must have watched a different movie. If you take out the prequels, the purpose and direction of these films are 100% clear.

So it's muddled up with window dressing except the center piece of this story seems to now be someone's father son who fell down and probably is fighting his long lost cousin. Maybe if they kill off Ren, they can move forward with a clean slate.

Sorry, I've been away so am working back through this thread.

To answer this question, we know that Obi Wan's teacher Qui Gonn was the first to be able to communicate from the dead. At the end of ROTS Yoda even tells Obi Wan that he has some studying for him to do as Qui Gonn has learned how
to become a force "ghost". So in ANH Obi Wan knew that he had to distract Vader (and everyone else) with this fight. Being Vader's master, he knew (as did we) that Vader would be so consumed by finally killing Obi Wan that he would "see" Luke.

So in one move, Obi Wan becomes more powerful and allows Luke and co to escape.

Regarding Kylo Ren, I thought he was portrayed perfectly by Adam Driver. A great blend of petulance, power, security, insecurity. Amazing skill BUT flawed in so many ways. A great starting point for a key player in this trilogy.

Thanks for the info on Force Ghosts.

I don't have an issue with the actor's part in this, following director's orders like a good soldier, outstanding voice, temper tantrums were scary, except he does not seem to have mastered the force as compared to a strong novice, and he's too good looking to be bad. It would have been much better if he had kept his face hidden. I see the good in him.

Maybe in the next episode, Rey will force flick him off a high platform like a bug while walking by into a dark space, except instead of making a big light show like Palpatine, it will be just a little poof. Then we can stop making comparisons to the past and move forward. Ok I'll stop now.

 

[fitshaced]

So it's muddled up with window dressing except the center piece of this story seems to now be someone's father son who fell down and probably is fighting his long lost cousin. Maybe if they kill off Ren, the can move forward with a clean slate.



Thanks for the info on Force Ghosts.

I don't have an issue with the actor's part in this, following director's orders like a good soldier, outstanding voice, temper tantrums were scary, except he does not seem to have mastered the force as compared to a strong novice, and he's too good looking to be bad. It would have been much better if he had kept his face hidden. I see the good in him. Maybe Rey will force cast him off a cliff next episode so we stop making comparisons to the past.

Kylo Ren should have been played by Lee Pace. Or better still, that YouTube tubby kid with the light saber. That would have linked in the Jabba the Hut/Leia hostage situation.

 

[Limey77]

I didn't see that as Luke shutting down R2. I got the impression that was a vision of the future of Luke and R2 reunited. My impression of R2 turning on when he did was the same. One question I have though, is Kylo tells Rey that the FO recovered the rest of the map from the remnants of the Empire. All I can surmise is the map is pieced together from rumors and sightings of Luke as he traveled around the galaxy searching for the Jedi Temple.

Oh it's definitely Luke powering R2 down. It's just after the Knights of Ren kill the young Jedi.

Your exactly right. Ren says they recovered the map from the remains of the Empire. At the same time he admits that he wants to "finish" Vader's work. At the same time as all that, R2 has the map.

The logical answer is that Vader had the partial map, R2 downloaded it from the Death Star and Kylo wants to finish Vader's job of completing the map.

 

[cmichaelb]

Although I like your post regarding Obiwan, I disagree about LOTR. It was was a tremendous, stupendous movie adaption of the 3 book series. Now, The Hobbit pissed me off as most MRs members who read the movie thread, know.

To each his own. I hate Peter Jackson movies. His over use of CGI takes me completely out of the movie. Not to mention the story additions.

lol @ Hobbit. I tried to watch it, I couldn't get any farther than I did with LOTR.

I was totally overwhelmed emotionally with my first viewing of TFA, and I mean that in a good way. I enjoyed the gimmickry of the 3D, I must admit. I also enjoyed the comaraderie of fellow SW fans on "opening night."

The 2D version is absolutely gorgeous and probably far more involving as a cinematic experience, however. By that second showing, the novelty of TFA had worn off, and was left with the film "as it truly is."

After the first viewing, I rated TFA as 8.5/10. After the second, more like 8/10. I feel if I see it a third time at the theatre (which I most likely will), my rating may drop a little further still. With truly great films, you can relish in newly discovered nuances with each subsequent viewing. This holds true for films like Godfather 1/2 and Avatar. I didn't get that impression with TFA. The acting is wooden and hollow, and the tantrums of Kylo seem increasingly silly and overwrought with each additional viewing.

I'm looking forward to the blu ray release. I'm really looking forward to watching the action sequences at home on repeat, lol.

As critical as I've been of TFA, I'm basically a SW addict, and seemingly can't get enough. Sigh.

You know, you made a lot of sense till you brought up Dances with Smurfs...er....Avatar in the same sentence as the Godfather.

The Godfather - cinema classic

Avatar - Cameron even admitted is mostly a tech demo. Just a terrible piece of crap.

What's a force ghost?

Force ghost = ghostly apparition of dead Jedi who communicates as though he's still alive.

 

[Limey77]

The Force Awakens is the fastest movie to gross $1 billion

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/2...wars-force-awakens-crosses-1-billion-globally

Without even being released in China!!!!

It certainly is holding its own and will be the most profitable movie of all time.

 

[Huntn]

To each his own. I hate Peter Jackson movies. His over use of CGI takes me completely out of the movie. Not to mention the story additions.

lol @ Hobbit. I tried to watch it, I couldn't get any farther than I did with LOTR.

I assume you read LOTR? The movies struck me as true to the books, despite some deviations from the story. Some of the locations were real, some minatures, and some CGI. Of course you're free to disagree.

Force ghost = ghostly apparition of dead Jedi who communicates as though he's still alive.

This as distinguished from a regular ghost. I knew he was a spirit, but not that he trained to be a "force ghost" and they have more clarity to communicate with the mortal world as compared to a regular ghost... That makes sense.

 

[hiddenmarkov]

Maybe someone can explain this to me. We have the feared planet killer. It drains a sun. To blow up 1 planet. And exposes itself to attack doing this...

When it could just you know....drain the sun and go away. The loss of sun in a system kind of a big deal. Any inhabited worlds will in time feel the effects of this in big ways. Planet killer wasn't killing one planet...its hurting the entire system.


The physics of containing that I won't go into. I can suspend that fact. But the whole we are saved by its death....nope. that planet they were on is now dying. It got that sun to almost darkness. Its not coming back. So technically...we have a draw here.

Rebel base/planet saved from blow up and order down a big ass ship. But given sun almost dead and probably heading to failure real fast...that planet (hell all system planets) is doomed anyway. One deathstar mark III, several planets dead from a soon to be eternal winter lacking needed sun light levels....its ROI may have been met. As militaries kind of accept they will lose tanks and jets. If that jet killed off more in terms of cost than it cost to make...its balances out. ROI met.

Unless there was some plot device that the planet killer put all the suns energy back I missed.

Didn't hate this movie but...the hype train didn't deliver really. train stalled some distance away from the train station. Bar scene was nice. haven't seen a special item meant to be passed on to its heir, calling out to them even, since...Harry Potter? Least Disney nice enough to rehash other movie plots besides theirs and SW. Bonus points for not using the name Tatooine. Shame we got a planet that looked kind of sort of like it though. Guess most of the jedi council came from desert planets (since desert planets tend to be strong in the ways of the force). This we will never know I guess since, well, kind of killed off.