Originally Posted By Mr X OCD - on that note one of the internet quips of late is "why keep putting all these secret plans into droids? doesn't anyone have email?"
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I like how it was called the "Star Killer Base" - a throwback to Luke's original screenplay name by George Lucas: "Luke Starkiller".
Originally Posted By Wendy Pleakley Where did they get the funds to build this ridiculously expensive new base? Who supplied the material, and why didn't they warn someone?
Originally Posted By dagobert So finally I have seen the The Force Awakens. Oh my god was it good. Even my wife liked it, but she only knows the prequels. So that's no surprise. It has its flaws, especially the borrowing from the OT, but I didn't care. Star Wars is back. I got this special feeling like when watching A New Hope or Empire. As soon as the Star Wars logo with the iconic music showed up on the screen I got goosebumps and I was totally into the movie. It never felt boring and I wished that it would have lasted longer. Seeing my heroes, especially Han Solo for one last time was so amazing. I'm still mad that they killed him, but I think it gives the story more depth, especially for Rian Johnson's Episode VIII. My highligh was definitely the ending with Luke. Thank You JJ Abrams. I wish he would do the next movies too, because he was the right man for bringing back the saga.
Originally Posted By familyguy Wow...you guys really think about these things. I guess the best stories are the ones you can really think through....like REALLY think through.....like OVERLY think through and everything makes sense; everything is logical and in order and you can't find any holes in. I loved the movie. I'm not a Star Wars fanatic, but I have seen them all and love them. Episode 3 is probably my favorite. (maybe that's telling) Anyway, I thought the movie was great and can't wait to see it again. Of course I'm not thinking about where they got the funds and the materials to build the base. I'm not thinking about how long it took them to build it and if that really makes sense with the time line. I just watched it and liked it. I thought it was subtly funny at times. I thought the action was good. I thought the characters were all great. And I liked the story line. My only disappointment was that the Imperial March music was not in the movie. I get why it wasn't....this wasn't the empire and blah blah blah. I've just grown to really associate that music with the Star Wars brand. Honestly, that was the only thing missing. Everything else that I would have expected from Star Wars was present.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Naturally, Movies are (mostly) about escapism. This is fantasy. So, logic often goes out the window .. and just get lost with it .. and enjoy it. (Like the fact there's no sound in space, but we still get the sound of laser canons, and Tie fighters spinning around, and Star Destroyer engine hums. ;-) However, some of these films do try to sell you a level of realism ... like in Terminator Genesis the timeline was being altered so many times, John Connor wouldn't have existed in certain points .. but the writers and producers will toy with our minds anyway .. even if they overlook some things .. and just say - Oh, no one will notice. But I notice these things. Others do too. Though, you leave the theater .. and say .. "That was an enjoyable flick .. HOWEVER!!!" You know .. we are humans who think. It's not all completely about Suspension of Disbelief ... depending on the film .. there does need to be a level of believability implanted into the script. Or some audiences will say - "What a minute, there!" I loved the movie. I'll see it again. It will be in my Bluray collection at some stage ... But there will be some things that will bug me: * How can the New Republic be so naive and unknowing what was being built for YEARS. At least in New Hope, there were on to it immediately .. which we'll see in Rogue One. (I can't wait!) * Using one too many plot pieces from 'New Hope' * The planet Takodana is ~conveniently~ placed close enough to the star system where Hosnian Prime is. (Must be one small galaxy!!) In order for Han to see bright flashes in the sky * The movie starts off with the "RESISTANCE" .. as it's referred immediately, already in place! So therefore ... they were on to an "Empire 2.0" Or were they?? And everyone is surprised when the super weapon strikes the New Republic's capitol. ANYWAYZZZZ Yeah ... I haven't forgotten .. movies are about escapism (and from tangible realities!) ... One is suppose to leave their brain outside theater doors, but for me .. my brain comes with my body!! ;-)
Originally Posted By basil fan It made me sad. I tried to brace myself for the pretty much inevitable death of The Great One, but to no avail. And seeing someone take his place on the Falcon with Chewie just threw salt into the wound. Up until that moment, I enjoyed it. The new characters are worthy. I fear that Luke will buy it by the end of the trilogy so we can see him return as a force ghost. That means Leia will lose every relative she's got, poor dear (Ben has committed too many atrocities to end with anything less than death, according to film law). Star Wars Glitches <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/glitch/swglitch.html">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...tch.html</a>
Originally Posted By basil fan Han should've gone out in a blaze of glory, and taken the Falcon with him. Or died to save Chewie. Or took a shot meant for Leia. Instead, he was conned. Death by scam. And not even an iconic, Solo-esque exit line to make it worthwhile. Just a look of utter surprise that Han Solo could be duped to death. Utterly unsatisfying. Star Wars Glitches <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/glitch/swglitch.html">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...tch.html</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Or took a shot meant for Leia*** OUCH. That's such a better idea than what happened, and could so easily have been done, too! Rather than "I gotta kill my father so I can be more evil", it could've been "My mother has force potential, so she's got to go", and just as Ren takes a swing at the princess, Solo jumps in (and it would've been easy enough to arrange for Leia to go on the mission, too, because only she knows something or other about destroying the death sta...I mean starkiller base). SO MUCH BETTER.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I hated to see Han killed, but it made sense in the context of the story.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo I think taking a shot for Leia would've been awful and hokey. Much prefer the way it played out.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance A son try to kill his mother? That would have been way more disturbing.
Originally Posted By ecdc I saw it again today because my oldest hadn't seen it. So the whole family went. I will give JJ Abrams credit: it holds up well. I still have some issues with the film but I liked it more than I thought I would the second time around and was never really bored (except one part where I think it flags). I also noticed much more of just how much they set up Rey's obvious backstory. In the bar, Maz asks Han, "So who's the girl," and it cuts to Finn. It couldn't be more clear that Han knows who she is. Rey is a marvelous character. Very clever of the marketing to make it seem as if Finn was the Jedi-to-be, then it ended up Rey. The performances from the newcomers were excellent. And it delights me that little girls get to see a girl Jedi. I also realized why I was disappointed in this movie. I was 1, 4, and 7, when Star Wars, Empire, and Return of the Jedi came out, respectively. I grew up on Star Wars on VHS my mom taped off of cable. Watched it constantly. And as great as Han Solo is and as much as everyone loves him, I grew up loving Luke Skywalker. He was always the hero of those movies to me. I thought he was so cool in Jedi when he could finally unleash the force. For my birthday, I wanted Luke figures, not Han figures. So I kept waiting and waiting in the Force Awakens for Luke to show up. To have him appear onscreen less than 30 seconds, without a line, at the very end, was a major bummer. So I hope Mark Hamill can be a big part of episode VIII.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Just saw it with wife and daughter. We all loved it. I got verklempt several times including the opening fanfare and scroll. Love Daisy Ridley. Love Finn. Love BB-8. Love that other dude Po? The humor was on point. The effects were really strong and not distracting. SOOOOO upset when Han got killed. I was as upset as Chewie. Can't wait to go see it again.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>I still have some issues with the film << I'm dying to know what your issues are? Anything similar to mine? Too many Ep.4 plot pieces used? The unrealistic part where the New Republic had no idea a New Order spent years constructing a weapon several more times deadlier than the original Death Star? Inquiring minds want to know
Originally Posted By Yookeroo I don't think these guys are capable of building a planet size weapon: https://youtu.be/mfI1S0PKJR8
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Too many Ep.4 plot pieces used?*** I think that'd be pretty much *everybody's* complaint. The whole notion of the "soft re-boot" is clearly in play here. Either people dig it, or they don't. I'm not totally happy with it, but I'm waiting for the next episode to see where it leads. IF they go "Empire Strikes Back" in a big way, I'm going to be angry. If they don't, then I might be cool with the soft reboot notion...but certainly there could've been more interesting ways to approach this. Abrams clearly took the safe route, and frankly given the horrors of the prequels I can appreciate his take, safe but genuine and without too much risk either way. Here's one thing I thought was REALLY dumb... Let's fly to a planet to meet a friend, and on that planet is a KOOKY BAR full of rogues and aliens. Not like "we're here, so let's find that place", more like "I'm flying us to this BAR PLANET" with nothing more to offer other than it's "that planet with the bar on it". LAME. "The unrealistic part where the New Republic had no idea a New Order spent years constructing a weapon several more times deadlier than the original Death Star?" This isn't so bad. They had 30 years to build the thing.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Not like "we're here, so let's find that place", more like "I'm flying us to this BAR PLANET" with nothing more to offer other than it's "that planet with the bar on it". LAME.*** In case my take wasn't clear enough, I would've rather he took them to a "safe planet" to lie low and find a "clean ship" (as Han said), and then on that planet he took them to Maz Kanata's place to find what they needed. WAIT, you say! Isn't that exactly what he did? Well, sorta. Except that the whole PLACE was "a planet of one bar". And they parked just outside it (no other ships parked, mind you), and then walked into this themed bar with NOTHING ELSE AROUND (even when the First Order attacked, nothing else was around). Missed the boat on this one, imho, and it wasn't the only missed opportunity.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Anything similar to mine?<< Oh yes, very much so. Agree completely on the recycling, derivative nature of the film. I also think that while the new characters were superbly acted, the older ones felt a little like they were going through the motions. I liked Harrison Ford better the second time, but both he and Carrie Fisher felt...I don't know. I don't want to say gimmicky because they were both better than that, but it was a bit like "Hey look! We put Han Solo in the movie!!" In fairness, maybe it would flow better if I watched the original trilogy before TFA. I think my biggest beef is the Kylo Ren is Han and Leia's son plot line. The movie does nothing to invest us in this story or make us care. We are told (Screenwriting 101: if you're telling instead of showing, you're usually in trouble) about the relationship but not shown anything. The characters meet in the climactic moment of the film and...nothing. It's a bland, empty moment that strives for emotion and meaning but can't get there because it's the first time we've seen these people interact. Finally, the ending is rushed. Whereas in Star Wars and Return of the Jedi there is tension in going through the Death Star or trying to sneak on to Endor, this feels completely empty of that. "I'll get us on the planet." "How?" "You won't like it." And...voila! Han's on the planet. Need the shields down? Voila! Captain Phasma puts the shields down. All of that was too convenient. But, and this is what is so important about this movie vs the prequels, throughout there are wonderful moments. Little moments of humor. Little moments of fun. Those moments were almost entirely absent in the prequels and they're back in this movie. Han telling Chewie, "Oh, you're cold?" Now that felt so in character and so on the money for Star Wars. I loved it. There's a lot of nice moments like that. So for all its flaws, it mostly feels like a Star Wars movie. And again, cannot get over how good Daisy Ridley was. Loved her positively to death. And John Boyega and Oscar Isaac were also excellent.
