Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[Sith4Brains]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Regarding Kylo Ren:

[Show spoiler]
If the dude's real name is Ben Solo, is it possible that he is actually Luke's son? In the alternate sw universe, Luke and Mara Jade have a kid named Ben Skywalker. maybe Luke ran out and left the kid to Han and Leigh?

[Show spoiler]Could it be that Han and Luke had a homosexual relationship and conceived Ben through IVF, using Leia as a surrogate?? After all, Leia was addressed as General Organa which indicates either that they were never married, she didn't take the Solo name or they're divorced and he was out there smuggling to meet his alimony payments...

[MasterSandman]

It's good and fun but it's not perfect. Perfect may be impossible. I think The Force Awakens will ultimately serve as a transition film for some bigger and better things starting with Episode VIII.

Some random thoughts...

[Show spoiler]
- Poe making wise ass jokes after being captured by Kylo Ren. I really wanted Kylo to rip his head off after that. In some places it felt like I was watching a Marvel movie with all of the comedy sprinkled in. It was too much in some places.

- That being said, it really began to FEEL like Star Wars when we first saw Han. The Chewie and Han dynamic felt exactly the same. Loved it.

- Wasn't a fan of Kylo's first hissy fit.

- Finn, Rey and BB-8 are all awesome. Finn lasted a little too long with Kylo Ren and the lightsaber for my liking though. Should have been disposed of sooner.

- Kylo felt like he was more powerful than Vader at times and just 'average' other times.

- Han's death was powerful. I still feel like I got punched in the gut.

- Why is 3PO's arm red?

- How the heck did they get Luke's lightsaber? Why was his hand straight to the metal?

- Not really any memorable moments from the score. Not bad either.

- I'm hoping that Snoke isn't actually that big and it was just the hologram.

- It felt a little weird not having someone that was a teacher of the Force. Even A New Hope had Obi-Wan around for that.

- It did at times feel like it was a complete re-hash of Episode IV but now we have the nostalgia movie out of the way and it's time to get to the meat and no potatoes. Bottom line: I was left wanting more. Is it May 2017 yet?

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Blu-ray/DVD) (Digital HD Copy) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/star-war...&skuId=4769300

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Limited Edition - Digital Movie) Looks like you get 3 different posters if you pre-order this. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/star-war...&skuId=4768800

[MasterSandman]

Originally Posted by treylertrash

I'm not much of a Star Wars fan but I enjoyed it, though I thought the first 30 minutes or so were the best part. 4/5 for me

Pros:
-Rey and BB-8!!
-Practical effects
-Pacing, humor and tone


Cons:
-The CGI characters stuck out like a sore thumb
-The score didn't stick out enough
-The lack of Admiral Ackbar

[Show spoiler]Ackbar was in there, no?

[DanTheMan]

Regarding

[Show spoiler]Rey and her quick learning of using the Force, perhaps it's suggested to the audience that she has either had some past history that we don't know about......yet....until Episode VIII, OR more likely, when she began to have those "premonitions" about her fate, it was a nod to Luke getting visions in TESB while training with Yoda. And because of those visions and voices in her head, maybe just maybe Rey was subconsciously learning the way of the Jedi through current-day Luke, who was secluded on the mountaintop, yet probably channeled her spirit since she is in all likelihood, his own daughter. As we all know, Skywalkers can sense other Skywalkers' feelings and thoughts, so perhaps this is the case implied here, but nothing was ever confirmed out loud in the script until a future film.

Originally Posted by MasterSandman

[Show spoiler]Ackbar was in there, no?

Yes,

[Show spoiler]but briefly. Think he had only 2-3 lines of dialogue.

[Drookur]

I feel really bummed for all you guys here who got spoiled one way or another. I hope if that happened you were still able to enjoy the movie. It doesn't revolutionize cinema and isn't perfect, but if you're a Star Wars fan (like I think a lot of us are), this movie is something special.

[feeling22]

Hmmmmm...

My local theatre doesn't have online ticketing, so fans had to line up Monday. It made the news, people standing in line for tickets. The news lady said the theatre manager told her there would be "26 showings a day starting Friday"

but I'm looking and there's only 9 2-D showings, 4 3-D showings. On Saturday/Sunday it has 14 2-D showings, 6 3-D showings.

Mockingjay part 2 had more showings.

[Plisskenetic]

Thanks V2David
I agree with all of your Plus and Minuses!
Including the score being just so-so/ paycheck for JW.
And the mastery of Lightsabers from the new characters, particularly the 'main' one was so rushed/ expedited. We know this 'character' got a 'Force'-gasm amidst the duel... but to then able to beat an almost-fully trained [Diploma-grad] Sith was just bogus... even though this goodie character knows how to use a 'stick'.

Originally Posted by V2David

This is a fun, entertaining Star Wars movie which fans should enjoy. Take a deep breath, this is not the abomination that The Phantom Menace was. That being said, the movie is not in the same league of A New Hope or The Empire Strikes Back. Not even close. But it does set up the characters and story for a sequel. I would give it 3-1/2 stars out of 5.

The pluses:
+ Great casting of new characters. Daisey Ridley is a star.
+ Fun to see the originals
+ Lot of fanfare (but not in a bad way)
+ Practical effects - No bad over the top CGI action scenes
+ Can't wait to see the next one, despite any criticisms. It really is set up nicely for future sequels.

The minuses:
- Repeated plots (how many times do we have to see a "Death Star"?)
- New characters are not given enough time to develop
- Didn't care for well-being of characters except perhaps Rey.
- Certain characters mastery of a light saber without any training.
- Lack of suspense and tension with some key action scenes (including the "Death Star")
- The annoying, unnecessary changing of names (ex. Rebels and Empire).
- Kylo Ren is given too much screen time, and therefore is not as menacing (but I guess this was by design)
- We are told a lot of plot developments instead of seeing it (but with 30+ years passed, there probably wasn't much they could do).
- Score was horrible. Sure it is still Star Wars, but Williams phoned this one in.
- Not sure this movie will have much replay value once fans see it a few times. The movie is a nice transition between the old and the new, but once the next sequel comes out, I have a feeling this one will simply be bypassed.

The Star Wars movie you are all waiting for will be the NEXT one. This one was just the appetizer.

[Sylentwolf]

Originally Posted by Nada

It's so weird seeing a new Star Wars film and not totally loving it. It's generally what I expected - a retread or greatest hits film recounting highlights of previous films in a scattershot fashion. I had hoped beyond hope for more, but from the first frame it's clear that Lucas' knack for storytelling is nowhere to be seen. The film often feels clumsy and unsure of what it wants to do. My expectations were relatively low to begin with, so it's not a matter of my hopes being too high. It's not a bad film by any stretch and it is largely entertaining. It serves its purpose as an entry point to the series for younger viewers, but leaves something to be desired for those who already saw this film decades ago.

There are highlights to be sure. Kylo Ren was the thing I was most worried about, but he might have been my favorite part of the film. Rey was lovely and Ridley nailed the part. I thought Carrie Fisher was great again as Leia and the same goes for Ford as Han Solo. The years seem to have vanished the moment they are on-screen.

I felt like the Starkiller Base (Death Star) was just completely unnecessary and felt like a last minute addition that serves little to no purpose. The film never quite finds its own voice and tries to be too many things to too many people. The singular voice that drove this series is gone, retired, and in its place is a boardroom full of executives checking boxes. The friends I went with felt similarly.

I will say though that it does set up much for the sequels, where I feel the real meat the story will be seen, hopefully. I don't really believe in ratings, so I will refrain from voting.

I've written some lengthy reviews/opinion pieces but what Nada has mentioned above is where I draw much of my conclusion. I do agree with others about "character development" or the lack-there-of. I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression, I loved all the new and older characters right from the start. It did feel like a new Star Wars movie that wanted to "fit in," and find its place within the franchise. The structure of the film was very predictable but still entertaining. The first half of the film was more entertaining than the last half. Whether that's taken as good or bad, I believe it is a great setup to a more dominant sequel, that being Episode VIII

I believe JJ Abrams did a wonderful job in keeping filming and style of Star Wars pretty much in tacked, especially knowing how long it has been between film Episode VI and VII. Whether we're talking about the film's Score, Editing (scene-to-scene blending), use of CGI, Props, Costume Design, Set Pieces, all were used and done quite well.

My favorite scenes were those of...

[Show spoiler]Rey on Jakku, Kylo Ren (with his helmet on) Finn and Poe escaping, Rey meeting Kylo, Finn and Rey together, and any scene with BB-8 or Chewie with Han

I hope and believe that Rian Johnson will do a wonderful job in directing Episode VIII. After seeing how J.J. Abrams left the franchise open thus far, Rian has a lot to play with and work on to say the least. I only hope for more creativity from all the people involved with the developments of Episode VIII and IX. Although, being too creative may impact the chemistry of each film side by side

I was surrounded by a good audience in the theater and had a terrific experience. However, for some reason, I have to admit that my desire to see it again wasn't much of the same, as when comparing it to my Episode I experience I have a feeling that Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé, could be blamed for that But don't get me wrong, Episode VII was more entertaining than Episode I, IMHO

[dvdmike]

Soooo ready for this, in over an hour early

[tigertron]

I'm seeing this again tonight and I'm still just as excited about seeing it again.

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by MasterSandman

[Show spoiler]- How the heck did they get Luke's lightsaber?

[Show spoiler]He lost the lightsaber at the end of Empire Strikes back so eventually someone picked it up!

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Lutz

[Show spoiler]He lost the lightsaber at the end of Empire Strikes back so eventually someone picked it up!

Would have been far more entertaining

[Show spoiler]had his hand still remained attached to it in the wooden box.

[Sky_Captain]

I'm doing a 9:45am showing tomorrow.
Will do breakfast somewhere in town and then toodle on over to the cinema.

[ariakon]

I absolutely loved the movie (and most especially Rey!) but there were a few quibbles that kept it from being an Empire-like masterpiece for me.

[Show spoiler]

1. The SUPER death star mega weapon! I think blowing up 2 death stars in a New Hope and Return was enough.

2. Captain Phasma looking awesome like Boba Fett, and then getting taken out like a punk...just like Boba Fett. I hope they give her a meatier role in the sequels.

3. Blowing up the republic without explaining what it had become seemed an odd choice. I mean, was that the whole republic? If there's a republic, why does there need to be a resistance? I hope they have more than the six x-wings or so at the end of the movie. I'm sure the sequels will reveal this in greater detail, though, so it's a minor issue for me.

4. The music wasn't as memorable as the other Star Wars films. Say what you will about the prequels, but Williams still made excellent soundtracks for them. This one didn't really stick with me.

5. Ultra minor nitpicky stuff here, but Snoke is a funny name and Snoke himself wasn't that intimidating.

Still, though, I'm planning to see it again as soon as I can and I think I've fallen madly in love with Rey, ha. I don't think any movie is perfect, and overall it was as good as I hoped it would be, which really says something, as I put an awful lot of hope into this movie.

[TheWildWhelk]

Saw the film thursday, before everybody and their uncle basically cram into the cinema's before christmas and had a fantastic time with it. The simple fact that the film is so much better than thr pequels makes it hard to judge it's faults. Lucas knew how to write action but couldn't write dialogue for shit! Abrams knows how to compose an action sequence and Kasdan brought much-needed character moments to the story. Sure, a lot of it is familiar (The 'Imperial' superweapon etc) but it's still a superbly put-together piece of entertainment. 5 Stars from me.

[ariakon]

Originally Posted by TheWildWhelk

Saw the film thursday, before everybody and their uncle basically cram into the cinema's before christmas and had a fantastic time with it. The simple fact that the film is so much better than thr pequels makes it hard to judge it's faults. Lucas knew how to write action but couldn't write dialogue for shit! Abrams knows how to compose an action sequence and Kasdan brought much-needed character moments to the story. Sure, a lot of it is familiar (The 'Imperial' superweapon etc) but it's still a superbly put-together piece of entertainment. 5 Stars from me.

Ha, I saw the movie at the Air & Space Museum at 1:30 a.m. and the damn place was absolutely packed. There were as many people there as usually fill out the museum during a holiday, and the entire theater clapped and cheered every time an old character showed up. It was pretty incredible.

[X400]

There were many many phenomenal moments in the movie, but there were also some very weak points, they were outnumbered by the awesome moments though.

The movie felt very rushed to be honest, especially the second half, and more so near the ending... They really wanted to cram a lot into it, it felt like the movie could be split into two or three on its own just to flesh everything out.

Overall the movie felt like a copy of 'A New Hope' but that's not a bad thing


4/5

[Ill_Be_Back]

I saw it last night with a few friends and a full house. I left the cinema undecided whether the film was good or not and have now made up my mind. Can't say I was that impressed with the film. It was great to see Han Solo and Chewbacca back together again and a brief look at Princess Leia now general Organa.

[Show spoiler]I applauded them to have the balls to kill Han Solo and the reveal that it was his son.

The main problem is this film doesn't bring anything new to the series. There was so many scenes that were just rehashes from the original series. They played it too safe to stay on the good side of the fans after the abysmal prequels. I can see the rating definitely drop on this one and when people take off their Star Wars glasses they will see in a few years time that this film won't hold up. I still prefer it over any of the prequels but that isn't saying much to be honest.

I rounded my rating to a 3/5.

[A Sith Lord?]

I watched Fury Road like 7 times this year in theaters. 6 times each for TDK and TDKR.

This Star Wars may be a 3-4 viewing.

I don't find it as entertaining. And since it really is an obvious re-hash of a lot of old stuff, I don't see the need to have multiple viewings. I will absolutely go watch it again to answer some questions I had or stuff I might have missed.

I'm hoping Ep 8 is the Empire Strikes Back and really does TFA justice.