The star wars spoiler thread

[Flyerjab]

Just saw it again for the 3rd time…and this time it was on a huge IMAX screen in 3D. I have to say that I was actually impressed with the 3D effects with this movie. I remember being so impressed with the 3D for Avatar as I was never a big 3D fan to begin with. But then I saw Iron Man 3 in 3D and was unimpressed, to the point where it actually bothered me during the movie. I have purposefully avoided 3D movies as a result of that particular experience.

TFA though was great. And again, after seeing it 3 times, I could have turned around and walked right back into that theater and watched it a 4th time. And I absolutely love Kylo Ren's character. It is interesting to me the difference of opinion that people have on this character. Some people hate him, others don't like the whine factor, others compare him to Vader from the 4th film, and others love him. I think that he is outstanding as a fully fleshed out character. People that don't know him going into the movie see a character similar to what Vader was...until the mask comes off. Then you truly see him as he is…he is not very old at all, but is trying to be someone he isn't (yet). I think that is why he rages so much in this movie when things go wrong. He is fighting the memory of how powerful his grandfather was. He also is struggling against General Hux, as well as trying to impress Snoke while forgetting his family heritage. He might become my favorite character of this entire canon of films before it is all over.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Agree about ren...though I have to see it again and make a better judgement.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Interestingly enough it's been announced it will be on blu-Ray in April.

Wow...that's quick.

Tough call there...on one hand you want to get people to buy it up as fast as possible to keep buzz going...

...on the other hand you don't want to discourage repeat box office

 

[TwoMisfits]

So you Think kylo ren was 11 when he went nuts, recruited or joined a cult of dark assassins, and executed a school of Jedis in training?

Or you think he was drawn into that and other people did the dirty work prior but are no
Longer around?

Those are your two options based on the flashback sequence

He was somewhere between 11-15 when he went nuts, after 5-10 years of Jedi training (since we know you're supposed to train young)...as the strongest force user (save Luke) and with a big bad Jedi helping him, he did whatever he needed to leave training and then over the next 15 years or so, he's continued to do bad stuff...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

He was somewhere between 11-15 when he went nuts, after 5-10 years of Jedi training (since we know you're supposed to train young)...as the strongest force user (save Luke) and with a big bad Jedi helping him, he did whatever he needed to leave training and then over the next 15 years or so, he's continued to do bad stuff...

SPOILER ALERT!!!

joking...I think it's safe to say he was proven NOT to be the most powerful Jedi other than Luke in the story...

You might have missed a few key sequences during a potty break or something?

 

[Lee Matthews]

The actors are 9 years apart, but they look more. I also believe Leia was pregnant with Rey when Ben went bad (you don't have to be older than Anakin movie 1 to kick the crap out of people if you're a Skywalker and they can easily say he was 13-15 when it happened). Leia probably didn't tell Han about the baby - thus, why he never recognized Rey, but Leia did at the end. I think the "able to do anything with a machine" abilities Rey had scream Han. And it also explains how Rey didn't die in the ending lightsaber fight (when, c'mon, she really should have). Ben couldn't quite kill his own sister, especially after taking down dear old dad...she never did anything to him (whereas, Han left), so she was much more "innocent" - plus, he could turn her as the older bro...

I agree but i dont think Ren knows Rey is his sister either and think it's only Leia that knows

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree but i dont think Ren knows Rey is his sister either and think it's only Leia that knows

I strongly suggest that the entire Star Wars universe is not predicated on Indiana jones and Princess Leia "Makin' babies"

If Lucas was still running the shots...maybe

But he isn't. I think Abrams did enough lip service to "EU" machinations already...if we're honest.

 

[rteetz]

Wow...that's quick.

Tough call there...on one hand you want to get people to buy it up as fast as possible to keep buzz going...

...on the other hand you don't want to discourage repeat box office

That was my thoughts exactly.

 

[Aurora0427]

Kylo ren can be at most about 30...rey is probably 20.

The whole brother/sister angle doesn't really work here.

But...if Star Wars still is to be the story of anakin skywalker and his descendants...as George Lucas has said 1,000 times over...then Rey and ren being cousins makes perfect sense.

Moreso than brother and sister if we're honest.

I read on Star Wars Underground that Ren was conceived shortly after Jedi, putting him about 30. It was an interview with one of the production crew. I hope Rey is Luke's kid.

 

[Aurora0427]

The actors are 9 years apart, but they look more. I also believe Leia was pregnant with Rey when Ben went bad (you don't have to be older than Anakin movie 1 to kick the crap out of people if you're a Skywalker and they can easily say he was 13-15 when it happened). Leia probably didn't tell Han about the baby - thus, why he never recognized Rey, but Leia did at the end. I think the "able to do anything with a machine" abilities Rey had scream Han. And it also explains how Rey didn't die in the ending lightsaber fight (when, c'mon, she really should have). Ben couldn't quite kill his own sister, especially after taking down dear old dad...she never did anything to him (whereas, Han left), so she was much more "innocent" - plus, he could turn her as the older bro...

Yes but Anakin was also great with machines and was an incredible pilot- so she could easily be Luke's kid and come by it through her grandfather. According to an interview done with a member of the crew on Star Wars Underground, Ren was conceived shortly after Jedi, putting him around 30.

 

[Aurora0427]

Just saw it again for the 3rd time…and this time it was on a huge IMAX screen in 3D. I have to say that I was actually impressed with the 3D effects with this movie. I remember being so impressed with the 3D for Avatar as I was never a big 3D fan to begin with. But then I saw Iron Man 3 in 3D and was unimpressed, to the point where it actually bothered me during the movie. I have purposefully avoided 3D movies as a result of that particular experience.

TFA though was great. And again, after seeing it 3 times, I could have turned around and walked right back into that theater and watched it a 4th time. And I absolutely love Kylo Ren's character. It is interesting to me the difference of opinion that people have on this character. Some people hate him, others don't like the whine factor, others compare him to Vader from the 4th film, and others love him. I think that he is outstanding as a fully fleshed out character. People that don't know him going into the movie see a character similar to what Vader was...until the mask comes off. Then you truly see him as he is…he is not very old at all, but is trying to be someone he isn't (yet). I think that is why he rages so much in this movie when things go wrong. He is fighting the memory of how powerful his grandfather was. He also is struggling against General Hux, as well as trying to impress Snoke while forgetting his family heritage. He might become my favorite character of this entire canon of films before it is all over.

We loved it in 3D as well.... And I'm not a fan of 3D. I like your comments on Ren.... I hate him bc he killed Solo, and I'm just not over that yet! I like his character best without the mask. I agree that he has the potential to be an incredible character when it's all said and done. Adam Driver is a great actor, and I think JJ did a good job of weaving in different aspects of the character... Little bit of Vader, little bit of whiny Anakin, lots of anger/frustration/conflict/sadness, and Ren as his own character.

 

[twebber55]

Personally because I don't think Avatar is a very good film.

I guess my question was more about the "deserves" part. No movie deserves it. Thats why its called earnings. You either earn it or you dont
Either way both films have earned it as being incredible successes from different perspectives

 

[Langelo]

I'm sure if this has come up, but in Maz Kanata's castle, did I see a robot from Alien Encounter's in the background???

 

[kbmartin]

I really like the theory someone had that when Ben Solo went bad, Leia was pregnant with Rey and had her without telling Han and hid her away for her safety. However, I just don't know how that makes sense considering there isn't THAT much of an age gap between Ben and Rey. He would have been really young when he went bad. I don't see them having more than a 10 year age difference. Do you all agree?

 

[Budshark]

Revised domestic weekend receipts are down 4 Million to $149. International up an equal amount so the overall numbers stayed the same.

Top 4 International movies this weekend were Star Wars followed by 3 Chinese only. Going to be really interesting to see what happens when it drops there on the 9th. Haven't heard how much buzz it's getting.

The interesting part of all this is its achieved the records without China and they are counting the 2 early days it was released in a couple European cities - and it still hit 1 billion faster than JW.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

http://www.latimes.com/business/hil...the-force-awakens-stinks-20151226-column.html

Just a thought here...I have a hard time disagreeing with the premise here

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Revised domestic weekend receipts are down 4 Million to $149. International up an equal amount so the overall numbers stayed the same.

Top 4 International movies this weekend were Star Wars followed by 3 Chinese only. Going to be really interesting to see what happens when it drops there on the 9th. Haven't heard how much buzz it's getting.

The interesting part of all this is its achieved the records without China and they are counting the 2 early days it was released in a couple European cities - and it still hit 1 billion faster than JW.

Disney is desperately trying to develop a Chinese market for its products that all analysts have stated simply doesn't exist.

I'm not sure Star Wars is gonna break that mold.

It Isn't a "fertile ground for western capitalism"...it's China.

They are bugging out on fears of losing their sweatshop privileges and trying to "recoup" it the only way their know how - with a medical instrument down the throat.

 

[Goofy DVC]

The following was reported by Deadline today:
" The Force has a wide berth ahead of it with no major releases in the coming frame which will propel it towards its own highly anticipated China bow on January 9. The premiere was held in Shanghai last night and signs are pointing to Disney’s having done a bang-up job of prepping the terrain."

We'll find out soon enough, but that's a good sign.

 

[Josh Hendy]

http://www.latimes.com/business/hil...the-force-awakens-stinks-20151226-column.html

Just a thought here...I have a hard time disagreeing with the premise here

Here are some bullet points extracted from the review. Some of them I agree with, others not so much. I'll throw them out there for discussion.

• "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," is not very good
• it displays an industrial level of Quality Control
• depressingly unimaginative and dull in long stretches
• reproduces George Lucas' original 1977 movie slavishly almost to the point of plagiarism
• Disney has created a formula-bound assembly line for its major properties
• Abrams seems to follow the precept that the surest way to keep from putting a foot wrong is to walk only within the footprints of one's predecessors
• obsequiously replicates the formula of the original -- its set pieces, rhythm, pacing, even dialogue -- almost without advancing the story at all
• as a "rebooting," the term ubiquitously applied to "The Force Awakens," it feels entirely market-oriented
• Blockbusters like Titanic, Avatar and Star Wars don't have a coherent thought in their heads, despite the intellectual veneer decorating some of them
• Modern blockbusters are not enjoyable the way the original "Star Wars" was, because they come at you as artifacts of high finance
• I felt as though I was being shown a trailer for the next four movies in the series
• Why be creative when that will merely interfere with merchandising, and when recycling is more dependably profitable?
• One can envision Hollywood eventually turning out only two products: "Star Wars" movies and James Bond movies, each periodically "rebooted" for a new generation of customers by casting the latest new young stars in new costumes facing the same old perils and uttering the same old quips

I wouldn't say that the movie isn't very good, and I especially disagree that it's dull in long stretches.

And the quips aren't recycled, they're in-jokes based on the things that were unintentionally funny in the previous iterations of the film. "You changed your hair." Ski-dip-boom.

 

[Budshark]

http://www.latimes.com/business/hil...the-force-awakens-stinks-20151226-column.html

Just a thought here...I have a hard time disagreeing with the premise here

Meh. Reviewer with a bone to pick.

At one point he says:
"This isn't to say that it's not an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. If you're among the millions who plainly have done so, bless your heart. The issue is whether "The Force Awakens" deserves to be considered as a movie, because it's not. It's the anchoring element of a vast commercial program, painstakingly factory-made for maximal audience appeal, which means maximal inoffensiveness. The result tells us a lot about the state of entertainment today, and about the future of Hollywood."

So... its enjoyable. But its not a movie (ummm, yes it is). Its a vast commercial program (umm, yes, and movies are part of that).

He then goes on to say:
""The Force Awakens," curiously, elicits greater respect for the first "Star Wars," which was a pastiche of old serials, Buck Rogers space operas, and military adventure stories but was at least an inspired act of cultural appropriation. Nobody thought of "Star Wars" as Art, though there was something definitely novel about Lucas' reassembly of old parts. But not until now, in Disney's hands, has it become commerce and nothing but."

Based on what? His opinion? He called it enjoyable, but now its commerce and nothing but? So, does that make it enjoyable commerce? And if so, isn't the point of all commerce to be enjoyable? Chick-fil-a exists to sell me chicken sandwiches, which are enjoyable. Mercedes exists to sell me a car, that is more enjoyable than a Hyundai. So, Star Wars TFA would only be successful if it dismissed all aspects of commerce and was an art house film production about Sci-Fi? Huh???

And finally:
"Watching "The Force Awakens," I felt as though I was being shown a trailer for the next four movies in the series. Except that trailers aren't normally two hours long and you don't have to pay $12.50 to see them. "

So... it kinda is. Not the next 4, but the next 2. Its just like Empire was a trailer for Return of the Jedi. Phantom Menace was a trailer for Clone Wars, and Clone Wars was a trailer for Revenge. Harry Potter - yep all trailers until the last one. Heck - they even made a 2 parter. Lord of the Rings? Trailers sold as trailers. Because trilogies and multi-film franchises build and sell each movie.


So, what I get from this review is:
Star Wars TFA is enjoyable as entertainment for a couple hours.
Star Wars is a huge commercial success, and they seem to be treating this as a business.
Star Wars TFA is a bad movie because it sets up the next 2 Star Wars movies that are part of the trilogy.

Star Wars TFA would have received a better review if it didn't act like Star Wars, didn't have as much marketing, and dismissed the fact it was part of a trilogy. So basically, don't be Star Wars.