Star Wars: The Force Awakens Discussion (HERE THERE BE SPOILERS)

[Kor]

Meh. I think that LA Times article is a little harsh.

TFA is good entertainment. I do think the movie feels a little too "safe" and not quite challenging enough, and is mainly a setup for the sequels. But I would say that's a minor complaint. I felt exactly the same way about "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

Kor

 

[Turtletrekker]

Article about and pics from Skellig Michael, the location of the First Jedi Temple.

 

[davejames]

Very accurate article here. If I was a Star Wars nut, like I am a Trek nut - I'd be screaming from the rooftops.

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

This popped up on my Facebook News Feed yesterday. I rolled my eyes and kept on scrolling. I was a little disappointed by the friend who shared it.

Eh, I certainly had my issues with the story and agree that it could have been more daring and original, but I never got the sense I was watching just some soulless corporate product, as the writer describes it, or that Abrams and Disney were simply playing it as safe as possible to protect a valuable franchise.

Abrams injected the movie with way too much heart and emotion for me to ever believe that this wasn't something he seriously believed in, and from all the interviews I read, he and Kasdan seem to have sincerely thought this was the best approach to take with the story (whether we happen to agree or not).

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Very accurate article here. If I was a Star Wars nut, like I am a Trek nut - I'd be screaming from the rooftops.

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

This popped up on my Facebook News Feed yesterday. I rolled my eyes and kept on scrolling. I was a little disappointed by the friend who shared it.

Did you read it?

Not initially because it didn't seem to be worth my time. When it popped up here, I read first few paragraphs before agreeing with my initial impression.

 

[JD]

It sounds to me like this LA Times writer just hates blockbusters and TFA just happens to be a good the biggest target right now.
I realized I never voted in the poll. I went with the second option, I don't entirely agree with it, but I didn't feel like picking the top one.

 

[Ithekro]

I am more interested in seeing just what Rogue One does next year. That will show if Star Wars can be a powerful Force even if the story is not about the Skywalker family and friends. It will also show if Disney/Lucasfilm can just keep making movies like Disney/Marvel does after the sequel trilogy runs its course. Because at present we are expecting to see a new Star Wars movie every year for the next five or six years until Episode IX comes out (or possibly the year following that when the third Anthology film comes out).

 

[theenglish]

I am more interested in seeing just what Rogue One does next year. That will show if Star Wars can be a powerful Force even if the story is not about the Skywalker family and friends. It will also show if Disney/Lucasfilm can just keep making movies like Disney/Marvel does after the sequel trilogy runs its course. Because at present we are expecting to see a new Star Wars movie every year for the next five or six years until Episode IX comes out (or possibly the year following that when the third Anthology film comes out).

One thing that Rogue One has going for it, is that it is already part of established canon--the first major victory against the Empire--according to the opening scrawl in Episode IV.

I think that the real test will be when Disney actually starts telling stories set in universe, but unrelated to the stories we've actually seen thus far.

 

[Mr Light]

I predict Rogue One will do half the business as TFA. I think it's going to be awesome, but it doesn't star any of the main characters and that's an uphill battle. Just look at the box office of the Clone Wars movie It only did $68 million international, compared to ROTS three years earlier which did $849m.

(yes, animation is a huge step down in public awareness)

 

[USS Triumphant]

I think that the real test will be when Disney actually starts telling stories set in universe, but unrelated to the stories we've actually seen thus far.

If you're talking about box office, then yes, true. If you're talking about keeping the Star Wars feel, then I would actually point to Star Wars Rebels as having already proven they can do that.

 

[TRON JA307020]

It sounds to me like this LA Times writer just hates blockbusters and TFA just happens to be a good the biggest target right now.
I realized I never voted in the poll. I went with the second option, I don't entirely agree with it, but I didn't feel like picking the top one.

The writer of the article made several valid points. The movie is a retread and close to plagiarism. I think Lucas deserves a writing credit for the basic story foundation. I also agree with he writer is that they will keep making these with different casts. Basically a never ending story. Over time Star Wars will get tired and Disney will run it into the ground. Who really wants to see a Han Solo prequel? We all know its probably going to suck.

 

[ancient]

It sounds to me like this LA Times writer just hates blockbusters and TFA just happens to be a good the biggest target right now.
I realized I never voted in the poll. I went with the second option, I don't entirely agree with it, but I didn't feel like picking the top one.

The writer of the article made several valid points. The movie is a retread and close to plagiarism. I think Lucas deserves a writing credit for the basic story foundation.

This is the only story you can tell using the Star Wars universe. Rebels blowing up evil dark side Empire weapon. No other stories are possible.

Apparently.

I also agree with he writer is that they will keep making these with different casts. Basically a never ending story. Over time Star Wars will get tired and Disney will run it into the ground. Who really wants to see a Han Solo prequel? We all know its probably going to suck.

Star Wars Episode XII: So Very Tired

 

[cooleddie74]

Rebels started out shaky, took a little while to get going and had a very strong "Disney" feel at first, but as it's entered its second season and classic Star Wars names like James Earl Jones, Frank Oz and Billy Dee Williams have come back to reprise their legendary roles for the new series it's become a pretty entertaining and impressive chapter in the franchise.

It still has its cutesy moments and it's not nearly as good as The Clone Wars, but it's become a much better show than some fans thought it'd be when it premiered. If Rogue One can capture a spirit resembling what Rebels is generating with its most recent episodes then it'll do just fine.

 

[cooleddie74]

Who really wants to see a Han Solo prequel? We all know its probably going to suck.

Me.

And a lot of other fans.

With the right writers and actors, it won't suck.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I'm not really dying to see a Han Solo movie because I was never a Han Solo fan but like Eddie says: In competent hands it might just become a really entertaining movie so I'm not going to judge it years before it's out.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

We all know its probably going to suck.

Once more I have to thank you for informing me about my opinion.

 

[Mach5]

I'm not crazy about the Han Solo movie idea because they'll need to recast the role, and that can be hit or miss.

Then again, fans were probably saying the same thing back in the nineties when they learned there was gonna be a new Obi-Wan.

 

[marillion]

As I ponder on when I'm going to be able to see the movie again this weekend, I'm left with a nagging question that I'm surprised I haven't seen addressed anywhere...

Has Denis Lawson seen it and what did he think about TFA? There was such a big hub-bub around him turning down a role "because it would be boring," I wonder if anyone will do a follow up.

There would be room for him to play a prominent role in the next one or two sequels, perhaps as a resistance commander somewhere, but I wonder, since he snubbed them at their offer for TFA, if that boat may not have sailed.

I know there's been a lot of blah blah back and forth about relying on the original trilogy characters to set the feel and mood of this film, but I thought JJ handled it very well and didn't let them completely (if at all ) overshadow the new cast. But I would just love to see Wedge back in some form of fashion.

 

[cooleddie74]

Then again, fans were probably saying the same thing back in the nineties when they learned there was gonna be a new Obi-Wan.

I for one wasn't all that sold on the idea of Ewan McGregor as young Obi-Wan. Before the cast of Episode I was announced I think I'd seen him in just one other film (Trainspotting) and wasn't very familiar with him, so naturally the idea of this new guy stepping into the role made legendary by Sir Alec Guinness wasn't the most exciting one.

And then he quickly turned into one of the best things about the entire Prequel Trilogy and - I believe - did Sir Alec's legacy proud. If they ask him to return for an Obi-Wan Anthology film set between Episodes III and IV I'll be excited and can't wait to see Ewan back on the big screen in his Jedi robes.

 

[Kor]

I would love to see a Han Solo prequel.
I remember quite enjoying "Han Solo at Star's End" and the books that followed. That was way before the unwieldy bloat of the '90s-and-beyond Expanded Universe.

Kor

 

[The Old Mixer]

The movie is a retread and close to plagiarism. I think Lucas deserves a writing credit for the basic story foundation.

Just as soon as Akira Kurosawa gets his credit in A New Hope.