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Post by omega on Dec 23, 2015 23:12:12 GMT
max landis has some interesting points about the film i still like the movie but he makes good points and he doesn't deserve the backlash After seeing his personality is action on Screen Junkies in one of the Movie Fights, I try to avoid anything where it would re-emerge. Whatever the quality of his works, he's not a person I'd want to hang out with. The comments section on the Force Awakens review Screen Junkies did says it all.
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Post by randomjc on Dec 24, 2015 14:06:26 GMT
max landis has some interesting points about the film i still like the movie but he makes good points and he doesn't deserve the backlash After seeing his personality is action on Screen Junkies in one of the Movie Fights, I try to avoid anything where it would re-emerge. Whatever the quality of his works, he's not a person I'd want to hang out with. The comments section on the Force Awakens review Screen Junkies did says it all. From what little I read of him, and his reaction to America Ultra tanking, I'd agree. He's not worth fighting with in the end.
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Post by agentten on Dec 24, 2015 21:05:48 GMT
I was just writing up a short review of the film to post on Amazon. Here's what I wrote:
I expect new audiences who are unfamiliar with Star Wars will likely enjoy this, however those who have seen the original Star Wars films will find this film rather familiar. There is not a single surprise in this entire film because it follows the original Star Wars story line point by point for its entirety. Every plot turn and character beat, both major and minor, mirrors exactly the events of Star Wars: A New Hope. While the film is pretty to look at, it ultimately comes across as a remake rather than a sequel, retreading the same ground instead of forging ahead. It's as if an old friend of yours is telling you a story that you've heard them tell many times before. You know what they're going to say before they say it and they've told the story much better in the past when it was fresh. The magic of Star Wars isn't really here because the film, almost clinically, reproduces the original, just with a new coat of paint. A frustrating experience for many Star Wars fans, though others may be satisfied to have a new film that features original cast members.
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Post by redsharkJason on Dec 25, 2015 3:42:33 GMT
3/5 - Ultimately a very fun day at the cinema, but...
I don't feel that The Force Awakens was an improvement over Lucas' prequels. Same old, same old: Every central character with special abilities all seem to be a family relative, Luke is in a self-imposed secret exile location mirroring Ben Kenobi's scenario and the showdown concludes with a bigger Death Star (Starkiller Base) blowing up.
And even though he was injured, I don't find Kylo Ren very menacing if he can't best someone (even with the possession of the Force) that has never used a lightsaber in battle before!
At least within his latest 3 Star Wars films Lucas *tried* to give us some *new* explorations without "retreading the same ground". The CGI was much better in The Force Awakens though.
It's unlikely that there ever will be a better Star Wars movie than the original three.
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Post by christmastrenzalore on Dec 25, 2015 11:06:50 GMT
As a minor Star Wars fan, I enjoyed this movie quite a lot, though as others have said, there's no denying it's treading the same ground, just in a different pattern. But from what I've heard of the prequel trilogies, perhaps being familiar but well-made, was a good move.
In that sense, I feel similarly to it as I do the first War Doctor Box-set. Providing future instalments innovate, I'm cool with the first one playing it safe.
And it is a solid movie. Great action, incredible worlds, realized through a strong mix of practical and digital effects. There was a coincidence here and there and the plot was obviously predictable, but it was all driven by likeable characters with actual arcs.
And most importantly, it was sincere. There were no meta comments about Han wanting to get out, or how Storm Troopers can't shoot straight, or how they'd prefer to forget the prequels. Nothing more irritating when a franchise becomes too self-aware.
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Post by elkawho on Dec 26, 2015 5:16:38 GMT
I finally saw this today!
I loved it. No doubt there were definite similarities with the first, but it didn't bother me at all. I loved the new characters and cared about them in a way I never did for any of the prequel characters. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment.
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Post by Timelord007 on Dec 26, 2015 10:40:38 GMT
Seen it three times so far so i guess i liked it...a lot
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Post by randomjc on Dec 26, 2015 12:59:42 GMT
As a life long Star wars Fan, I enjoyed this film a lot. My mother, who has been a fan since 1977, enjoyed this film very much, and for her birthday on the 31st, has asked me to take her again.
While very much familiar to the original trilogy, it sprinkles new elements. It endeavors to remind you specifically of those films, to wash the memories of the prequels from older fans minds, buy does not go out of its way to disavow them for those who enjoyed them.
It's a fine first act in a new trilogy and much the way Rey, Finn, and Pow are a fine successor to Han, Luke, and Leia.
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Post by kimalysong on Dec 26, 2015 18:46:37 GMT
Finally saw it this morning at the matinee for $5.50 (I am going to early morning movies more often)
Anyways for the most part I thought it was excellent. It was a bit rushed (as most blockbusters are these days) but I enjoyed the characters both old & new.
One of the criticisms I've seen was it was too similar to New Hope but I disagree. I felt it took the tropes from New Hope & twisted them around and worked well for a first film and a reintroduction (or in some cases introduction) to the franchise. That being said I do hope the 2nd film does something completely different from Empire Strikes Back.
Also I was sadly spoiled for the major twist. I didn't know how or when it would happen but once it did it was easy to figure out what was going to happen.
I was a bit worried because I don't really think Abrams got Star Trek at all but I'm happy to say he does seem to get Star Wars if the first film is any indication.
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Post by Timelord007 on Dec 27, 2015 9:24:28 GMT
Finally saw it this morning at the matinee for $5.50 (I am going to early morning movies more often) Anyways for the most part I thought it was excellent. It was a bit rushed (as most blockbusters are these days) but I enjoyed the characters both old & new. One of the criticisms I've seen was it was too similar to New Hope but I disagree. I felt it took the tropes from New Hope & twisted them around and worked well for a first film and a reintroduction (or in some cases introduction) to the franchise. That being said I do hope the 2nd film does something completely different from Empire Strikes Back. Also I was sadly spoiled for the major twist. I didn't know how or when it would happen but once it did it was easy to figure out what was going to happen. I was a bit worried because I don't really think Abrams got Star Trek at all but I'm happy to say he does seem to get Star Wars if the first film is any indication. I cryed at the twist & shouted "b...ard" o'ops, i agree for a 136 minute film it feels rushed & possibly needed another 10 minutes as it races from one conflict to another. The final shot still gives me goosebumps.
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Post by elkawho on Dec 27, 2015 15:26:45 GMT
Finally saw it this morning at the matinee for $5.50 (I am going to early morning movies more often) Anyways for the most part I thought it was excellent. It was a bit rushed (as most blockbusters are these days) but I enjoyed the characters both old & new. One of the criticisms I've seen was it was too similar to New Hope but I disagree. I felt it took the tropes from New Hope & twisted them around and worked well for a first film and a reintroduction (or in some cases introduction) to the franchise. That being said I do hope the 2nd film does something completely different from Empire Strikes Back. Also I was sadly spoiled for the major twist. I didn't know how or when it would happen but once it did it was easy to figure out what was going to happen. I was a bit worried because I don't really think Abrams got Star Trek at all but I'm happy to say he does seem to get Star Wars if the first film is any indication. I cryed at the twist & shouted "b...ard" o'ops, i agree for a 136 minute film it feels rushed & possibly needed another 10 minutes as it races from one conflict to another. The final shot still gives me goosebumps. Probably the easiest job Mark Hammil has ever gotten second billing for.
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Post by mrfuggleboppins on Dec 28, 2015 4:15:54 GMT
Are you sure? I thought it was filmed on Skellig Michael. Or does the dingle peninsula look out on the island? Did they film the Jakku scenes in Tunisia? Tunisia wouldn't exactly be the best place to film given all that's going on politically. I have a problem with Skelling Michael. It doesn't look like an alien world, it looks like an island in Ireland. That's to say when Star Wars uses real world locations, generally it can disguise it with sci-fi technology and alien species. So maybe to American viewers it looks like an alien world. To me it looks like Earth - and gives me flashbacks to Staffa in Scotland. Generally a strong film, but personally I find Kylo Ren the least intimidating Sith ever. He is a ridiculous character that might as well have been named Jacen Solo.
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Post by omega on Dec 28, 2015 4:59:55 GMT
Generally a strong film, but personally I find Kylo Ren the least intimidating Sith ever. He is a ridiculous character that might as well have been named Jacen Solo. I think that's the point. The First Order is relatively young compared to the Empire (30 years at most). It was born out of the aftermath of the fall of the Empire while Palpatine had spent years setting up the fall of the Jedi and the Republic, operating since The Phantom Menace. He also had a strong Sith Lord ready to enforce his will, from Darth Maul to Count Dooku to Darth Vader. He also planned creating a clone army to serve as Stormtroopers. Snoke hasn't seemed to anticipate the fall of the Empire over Endor, and had to start from square one finding and corrupting a Jedi, especially when they had become so few. Kylo Ren didn't have someone like Palpatine to train him in the ways of the Dark Side of the force, and has been shown to doubt himself (in the scene with Vader's mangled helmet Ren admits being tempted from the Dark Side). He doesn't have the drive that Vader had. He also didn't have any Jedi to hone his skills against or the combat experience Vader had gained as Anakin. Ren only comes off as powerful because the Rebellion don't have any comparable individuals since Luke left. It's only when he's facing Rey that Ren has had any decent practice in a while. Keep in mind that we don't know Snoke's abilities and how powerful they are. He is Force-sensitive to some degree.
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Post by redsharkJason on Dec 28, 2015 5:10:39 GMT
Even bumbling Finn gave Kylo Ren a run for his money!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 5:51:31 GMT
Even bumbling Finn gave Kylo Ren a run for his money! To be fair, Kylo had just been shot in the gut by Chewie and was bleeding out pretty bad and though Finn wasn't a pushover, Ren had the upper hand every step of the way.
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Post by elkawho on Dec 28, 2015 12:24:54 GMT
And Finn has been combat trained his whole life. Not with a light saber, but I think he's had more actual training then Kylo.
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Post by kimalysong on Dec 28, 2015 12:26:58 GMT
Was it just me or did anyone else thing the dark side of the force guy manipulating Ren (sorry forgot his name) looked like a giant Voldemort?
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Post by christmastrenzalore on Dec 28, 2015 12:43:50 GMT
Was it just me or did anyone else thing the dark side of the force guy manipulating Ren (sorry forgot his name) looked like a giant Voldemort? Like he had a baby with a Silence.
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Post by randomjc on Dec 28, 2015 12:51:46 GMT
Was it just me or did anyone else thing the dark side of the force guy manipulating Ren (sorry forgot his name) looked like a giant Voldemort? Looked like Gollum to me.
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Post by glutamodo on Dec 29, 2015 1:40:17 GMT
I wonder how "tall" Snoke is, in person. That plus-size holo-projection seemed a bit over OTT to me.
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