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STAR WARS VII - "The Force Awakens" - Movie Discussion


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23 minutes ago, thoroakenfelder said:

maybe in 20 years we'll see that script played out in comic form like The Star Wars

When I first heard that they had junked Lucas' script I had a bad feeling about that. The problem with Lucas is as a director, not story development. Ironically we're now in a situation where the guy who wrote the stronger stories of the original trilogy wrote a remake of the one story from the original trilogy that he didn't write. 

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17 hours ago, jeff_14 said:

I was actually thinking of Game of Thrones by the end of it, how they set up a cliffhanger and reason to come back with the way it ended. Which of course all started with Empire Strikes Back.

I can nitpick all of the Star Wars films (with love) for various reasons but the issue I and I think most people have with the new one is a more fundamental problem and that is that we were fed a recycled version (basically a remake) of a movie we'd already seen. No surprise I suppose given that it was JJ (MIssion impossible and Star Trek Into Darkness) Abrams doing it. I did not wait 30+ years from Return of the Jedi for the next chapter only to be fed a story I'd already seen but with various plot points jumbled around and passed off as new, as technically beautiful as this new film was. Empire was not the same story as New Hope, and neither was Return of the Jedi despite the otherwise common element of the second Death Star. They were all very different stories, as were the prequels, but united around certain age old themes. A Death Star is not a theme. It reminds me of the South Park episode where the military approaches Hollywood directors for ideas about how to defeat aliens and Michael Bay keeps saying "explosions" until the general dismisses him saying "Explosions aren't ideas, they're just special effects". 

I enjoyed the prequels quite a bit and find this latest movie too small in scale and too derivative. At least with the prequels Lucas attempted to enlarge the story and show us a different point of view of the Star Wars galaxy. I didn't get that here, and that's particularly disappointing since I was really enjoying the movie due to the charisma of the new characters and the more original plot points right up until a certain planet appeared. At that moment I knew exactly what was going to happen from then on and the goodwill of the first half of the movie evaporated. I now understand why the prequels are so widely disliked. It's not because of Jar Jar, or midichlorians, or Hayden Christenssen. It's because they weren't exactly copies of the originals judging by the overdone praise many people are heaping on this recycled story as "fresh" and "original". They had better have something new up their sleeve for Episode VIII, because even the most awestruck fan of this story can only have it retold so many times before losing interest. And if their "original" idea is for Luke to say "I am your father" then I will laugh out loud in the theatre. 

 

Let's face it, ep7 is a reboot of a franchise.  Disney just learned from Star Trek and 007 how to avoid a complete/hard reboot but still get a tons of cash out of it.

For a reboot, a familiar setting / story / background is essential to hook the old fans and to capture new ones who have little to no knowledge of the franchise.  There is no way on earth Disney was not going to play safe on this movie.  Plus, this is Hollywood (and Disney) we are talking about.  How many comic adaptations, reboots and sequels have we seen in the past 5 years? 

For Disney this was a cash grab with a hard deadline of 12/18 (lol at you who thought JJ had a choice to move this date up or down).  Like it or not SW is now part of Disney merchandising machine.  Safe familiar stories are the keys to get as much money out of consumers' wallets.

Lastly, Disney knew SW fans are the most illogical bunch on earth, and Disney just love to exploit this.  How many of you who complained have seen the movie more than twice? Three times? Four times?  Seriously, people who complained about how dull and inspiring Transformers 2 movie did not come back to the theatres to watch it again and again.  They also did not come back for Transformers 3, 4,etc etc..
And Disney also know ep8 will be a success EVEN IF it contains scene where Luke says to Rey, "No, I am your father"

ETA: I am actually 85% sure, whoever Rey's dad is, he is going to say the above line to Rey in movie 8

It is all about :money::money::money:

 

(looks like someone woke up on the cynical side of the bed :P )

 

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49 minutes ago, Darth_Raichu said:

Let's face it, ep7 is a reboot of a franchise.  Disney just learned from Star Trek and 007 how to avoid a complete/hard reboot but still get a tons of cash out of it.

For a reboot, a familiar setting / story / background is essential to hook the old fans and to capture new ones who have little to no knowledge of the franchise.  There is no way on earth Disney was not going to play safe on this movie.  Plus, this is Hollywood (and Disney) we are talking about.  How many comic adaptations, reboots and sequels have we seen in the past 5 years? 

For Disney this was a cash grab with a hard deadline of 12/18 (lol at you who thought JJ had a choice to move this date up or down).  Like it or not SW is now part of Disney merchandising machine.  Safe familiar stories are the keys to get as much money out of consumers' wallets.

Lastly, Disney knew SW fans are the most illogical bunch on earth, and Disney just love to exploit this.  How many of you who complained have seen the movie more than twice? Three times? Four times?  Seriously, people who complained about how dull and inspiring Transformers 2 movie did not come back to the theatres to watch it again and again.  They also did not come back for Transformers 3, 4,etc etc..
And Disney also know ep8 will be a success EVEN IF it contains scene where Luke says to Rey, "No, I am your father"

ETA: I am actually 85% sure, whoever Rey's dad is, he is going to say the above line to Rey in movie 8

It is all about :money::money::money:

 

(looks like someone woke up on the cynical side of the bed :P )

 

Totally agree. I'm also partially disappointed because this is the same company that bought Marvel and is doing a good job telling stories I haven't seen on screen before. They're not even really adaptations of the comics but have instead taken a new approach. I was hoping for the same approach here. Instead they went full princess mode and have told the same story again. Maybe they should have given this to the Pixar crew to oversee. They have a solid reputation for carefully developing original stories.

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http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/30/star-wars-release-dates

Star Wars dates: Here's when the next five movies will be released

You just saw The Force Awakens and want more next-gen Star Wars. Well, you’re going to get more. A lot more. Regularly and steadily, for many years to come. But when, specifically, will each new title be released? Below is Disney’s not-quite-top-secret plan. Obviously, these dates are subject to change. Thankfully, no Bothans died to bring us this information …

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Director: Gareth Edwards

Written by: Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz

Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, and Alan Tudyk

Logline: Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters comes together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor’s rule.

Release: Dec. 16, 2016

(So, yes, a long full year. But given we had to wait a decade for The Force Awakens — or, depending on your feelings about the prequels, 32 years since Return of the Jedi — sitting back for just one year doesn’t seem all that bad … Plus, it’s then only about five months until …)

 

Star Wars: Episode VIII

Written and directed by Rian Johnson

Starring: Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac (reportedly)

Release: May 26, 2017

Logline: Unknown

 

Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo (working title)

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Written by: Lawrence and Jon Kasdan

Starring: Not yet announced

Logline: How young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.

Release: May 25th, 2018

Star Wars: Episode IX

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Writer: Rian Johnson

Starring: Not yet announced

Logline: Unknown

Release: 2019

 

Star Wars Anthology: Boba Fett

Director: Not yet announced

Writer: Not yet announced

Starring: Not yet announced

Logline: Unknown

Release: 2020 (reportedly)

 

So if all this goes according to plan, we’ll get five Star Wars films in four years … after getting “only” seven Star Wars films over 38 years. Not bad!

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Some of the following items are just "Lando cool"

11 Things Only Fans Of ‘Star Wars’ Will Understand

The new Star Wars movie has been released to theaters. So what does this mean? Other than a really happy fandom and record-breaking ticket sales, this means memes and jokes relating to the franchise are everywhere. If you haven’t watched all the movies, then you might be lost. Here are eleven of the many things that only fans of Star Wars will understand.

1. Why this picture is infuriating!

tumblr_nzppv18Xvb1qz86d0o1_1280.jpg
Tumblr

2. The reason why this admission of guilt wins the internet.

3c2ab3eff60251ff9bf69ae7b7d9eed7.jpg
Pinterest

3. How this moment truly deserves an award.

tumblr_nr2jlfATyW1u4tvaao1_500.gif
Tumblr

4. The sadness Vader is feeling right now.

tumblr_nzpnfc9KFo1t00wlao1_1280.jpg
Tumblr/Lucasfulm

5. Why this wins on so many levels.

tumblr_nzpssxPstV1r42lb6o1_1280.jpg
Tumblr/Lucasfilm

6. Why this baseball game is so devastating to the dark side.

tumblr_nu66d4Dl4W1suk0vmo1_400.gif
Tumblr

7. This interesting answer to this question.

tumblr_nzptqwO1yN1qfcoxqo1_500.jpg
Tumblr/Lucasfilm

8. How Star Wars can instantly make any meme better.

WANT MORE? Like us to get the daily buzz.

3ff3470053a81ce8d4eff3387db80dcd.jpg
Pinterest

9. Why everyone is falling over themselves for BB-8.

tumblr_nzrevfl7dv1v00ttgo1_400.gif
Tumblr

10. Pretty much seeing Star Wars in everything!

b086275fb3e5d775ea11c36a01404bdc.jpg
Pinterest

11. Never being able to listen to Michael Jackson the same way again.

24de30a37ccb8a831b926095da624b4d.jpg
Pinterest

 

http://www.hollywood.com/movies/things-only-fans-of-star-wars-will-understand-60507210/

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2 hours ago, jaisonline said:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/30/star-wars-release-dates

Star Wars dates: Here's when the next five movies will be released

You just saw The Force Awakens and want more next-gen Star Wars. Well, you’re going to get more. A lot more. Regularly and steadily, for many years to come. But when, specifically, will each new title be released? Below is Disney’s not-quite-top-secret plan. Obviously, these dates are subject to change. Thankfully, no Bothans died to bring us this information …

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Director: Gareth Edwards

Written by: Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz

Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, and Alan Tudyk

Logline: Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters comes together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor’s rule.

Release: Dec. 16, 2016

(So, yes, a long full year. But given we had to wait a decade for The Force Awakens — or, depending on your feelings about the prequels, 32 years since Return of the Jedi — sitting back for just one year doesn’t seem all that bad … Plus, it’s then only about five months until …)

 

Star Wars: Episode VIII

Written and directed by Rian Johnson

Starring: Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac (reportedly)

Release: May 26, 2017

Logline: Unknown

 

Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo (working title)

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Written by: Lawrence and Jon Kasdan

Starring: Not yet announced

Logline: How young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.

Release: May 25th, 2018

Star Wars: Episode IX

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Writer: Rian Johnson

Starring: Not yet announced

Logline: Unknown

Release: 2019

 

Star Wars Anthology: Boba Fett

Director: Not yet announced

Writer: Not yet announced

Starring: Not yet announced

Logline: Unknown

Release: 2020 (reportedly)

 

So if all this goes according to plan, we’ll get five Star Wars films in four years … after getting “only” seven Star Wars films over 38 years. Not bad!

Man that's amazing to think we'll get two Star Wars films within 5 months of eachother :) heck we'll prolly get a trailer for ep8 when we go see rogue 1 lol! 

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1 hour ago, California92563 said:

I got chills from those cutting edge effects ;) 

(don't hate me I love the ot as much as you, it was just a joke lol!)

Just for that, I'm going to watch it again.

I was worried that this trailer redux would give too much away. But I like the way they cut it.  And I like that they didn't show

Spoiler

Yoda

in it either.  They left some surprises for the film.  lol

Edited by Alpinemaps
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10 minutes ago, Alpinemaps said:

Just for that, I'm going to watch it again.

I was worried that this trailer redux would give too much away. But I like the way they cut it.  And I like that they didn't show

  Hide contents

Yoda

in it either.  They left some surprises for the film.  lol

I like how you hid any potential spoilers for the <1% of the world that hasn't seen the esb since its initial release in 1980  :P 

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10 minutes ago, Alpinemaps said:

Here's another theory about Snoke. What if he's a Grand Inquistor from Rebels?

Original but I can't see it. As much as I can see Disney loving to link to one of their cartoons, I don't think they'd do so for a concept that so far has ONLY been used in their cartoon and nowhere else in Star Wars. Plus it's hard to see Snoke as being a great villain if he started off as a Vader flunky.

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9 hours ago, jeff_14 said:

Original but I can't see it. As much as I can see Disney loving to link to one of their cartoons, I don't think they'd do so for a concept that so far has ONLY been used in their cartoon and nowhere else in Star Wars. Plus it's hard to see Snoke as being a great villain if he started off as a Vader flunky.

Disney will reveal that snoke is actually megamind, and episode 8 will be partially animated like roger rabbit. 

 

51272-41198.jpg

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So I finally finished reading DK's TFA visual dictionary. Honestly, it could be considered a prerequisite prior to watching TFA for true SW nerds like me. It see fills in storyline / plot gaps that some of us typed about.

E.g.

5686cda5372fd_ImageUploadedByBrickpicker

5686cdefb0a8b_ImageUploadedByBrickpicker

Note folks thought it was Luke's helmet. It wasn't

5686ce40189b8_ImageUploadedByBrickpicker

5686cea4d79c1_ImageUploadedByBrickpicker

I like R2's info..

5686cefb789a0_ImageUploadedByBrickpicker

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The average joe/jane that has seen the movie think she's a Skywalker.  So Rey being a Kenobi would be a nice twist.  In the aftermath of Return of the Jedi, I believe that Luke tried to avoid making his father's same mistakes and followed the founding principles of the Jedi Order.  Probably too closely because he failed with Ben Solo just like the Jedi Order failed with Anakin Skywalker.  Although the ultimate fall of Ben Solo probably more lies with his father Han being an absentee figure in his life.  But I honestly don't see Luke fathering a child.  Especially abandoning his child on a remote planet even if it is to ultimately protect her.   Too convenient even for Disney.  

I do wonder how they will handle the "Force Ghost" plot device.  It was an important part of the original trilogy and it would probably require bringing back some of the prequel actors.  Despite the loathing of The Phantom Menace how cool would be to see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan return alongside to assist Luke and Rey... Not sure about Hayden/Anakin returning but it could offer an intriguing scene with an aged Luke.

Edited by Mathew
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19 minutes ago, jaisonline said:

I hope we don't have a H.Christiansen force ghost. Then again, we might since he was added to the end of ROTJ. I actually liked him as an actor...he just needed better lines

There's also the possibility of re-casting Anakin's Ghost for an older actor.  Someone that more closely resembles the original casting of Sebastian Shaw.  It would make for a more poignant scene:  A sixty-year old Luke speaking with a sixty-year old Anakin.  Or possibly a sixty-year old Anakin "Force Ghost" confronting Ben Solo/Kylo Ren.  There's a lot of possibilities with the latter scenario because of Ren's idolization of Darth Vader.

Edited by Mathew
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