I hope you're right.
Does anyone else think bringing Palpatine back is cheap fanservice?
- Thread starter August Franklin
- Start date
On the surface I think it smacks of fan service, there's been no build up to his return, no suggestion of it happening, in the OT he was mentioned in ANH, appearance teased in ESB before his full reveal in ROTJ - which also gave him and the story a pretty conclusive ending. In the PT he had a very good arc also. I can't help but think he's being shoehorned in here as nearly all of the original cast won't be featured in this movie.
But...
He's probably my favourite character in SW and one of the best movie villains of all time so I'm excited to see the wrinkly old fuck again.
It will be all down to the execution of how he's still alive and how he is introduced into the story. We will have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to the next trailer.
But...
He's probably my favourite character in SW and one of the best movie villains of all time so I'm excited to see the wrinkly old fuck again.
It will be all down to the execution of how he's still alive and how he is introduced into the story. We will have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to the next trailer.
Source: Entertainment Weekly? Not sure, but I've transcribed this from a post/photo of the article:
"Some people think we shouldn't revisit the idea of Palpatine, and I completely understand that", Abrams concedes. "But if you're looking at these nine films as one story, I don't know many books where the last few chapters have nothing to do with those that have come before. If you look at the first eight films, all the set-ups of what we're doing in IX are there in plain view."
I think there could be a connection between Vader's mask and Palpatine. No, it wasn't really setup, but I could see the different facets of the Dark Side being explored as a temptation for Kylo, for more power.
Yes I've read about Vader's mask having some sort of dark side connection, and that the Sith can haunt objects or some other hokum, I assume it's a similar thing to the cave in ESB.
I'm still finding it difficult to see the justification for his return beyond bums on seats though (of which my arse is one of them).
It will stand and fall on its execution. Secretly though - I don't care, if we get another dastardly turn out of him like in ROTS then it's going to be entertaining at the very least.
I'm of a weird mindset. One, I don't think there is much justification for the ST in general, even though I am very entertained by it and glad we have it. I think it is a great addition to the SW lore, and perhaps that is justification enough.
However, let's be real-ROTJ tied up nice and neatly. Like, I couldn't even get in to the post-ROTJ books because it's just like "Their story's over." So, Palpatine coming back makes sense in so far as he is the Dark Side representative of the Sith, and bookends the series like no other character really can besides Yoda.
No argument there from me.
I have very mixed feelings on this, whilst I think the new characters are decent in the main I've found the stories to be lacking somewhat. Hopefully TROS will tie things up well but it all seems a bit disjointed and rudderless to me so far.
Him coming back diminishes the end of ROTJ and the OT story as a whole in my view, and gets to the heart of why this sequel trilogy hasn't properly justified it's existence, it should have been a newer, different story than just the reset button being pressed and it being the empire v rebels all over again with little to no explanation of how this situation came around. This lack of creativity is all over TFA (less so TLJ) and isn't just limited to the story beats but the locations and space vehicles too, which I think has been quite dull so far. I found the prequels to be much more visually creative in terms of locations, world building and space vehicles, which given the similar time difference between the trilogies sported an array of different looking ships - these new movies seem to have the same X-wings that have had what - a coat of paint? The TIE fighters are a bit different but I was hoping to see more crazy 'Star Warsy shit'. Despite the advances in FX the ST hasn't delivered for me visually and doesn't seem to have made any attempt to push technology like the previous two trilogies did, which is a shame.
And when it comes down to it as much as I love Palpatine, like you said, his story is over.
I can totally see this point of view. But, I would also make the argument that the ST presents itself as far more mythology rather than just straight fantasy. And, in mythology, evil is never defeated for good until an apocalyptic end, which really doesn't make for a good movie.
So, as much as I can agree that the OT was a neat wrap up, I also see the ST as, well, a logical extension of what happened. The Alliance to Restore the Republic were so fearful of repeating the mistakes of the past that they went the full opposite direction. The Dark Side was never fully defeated (and really never could be-only its avatar) and so its return is inevitable.
As for the rest with the FX, I go back and forth. I think the TIE fighters are very iconic, and their production is supposed to be super cheap, so it isn't altogether surprising. The X-Wings irritate me more, actually. But, I think I got plenty of "crazy SW shit" from all the battles and fighting and combat styles that I'm OK with it.
I'm just so conflicted with this. One one hand I'm rolling my eyes and Palps return and on the other I'm really excited for it. I guess this is just how SW rolls and I'll just roll with it.
The battles were OK I guess - but none of them were as good as the Scarif battle in RO, which was excellent, and worse, not as good as the end battle in ROTJ, which is concerning. I'm hoping TROS is going to deliver in spades here, and with that shot of all those star destroyers parked up it's looking hopeful, but there doesn't seem to have been much in terms of innovation or pushing the envelope in the technical side of things with the ST, and I expect SW (like the Matrix films) to deliver on this front. It's what sets them apart from your average summer blockbuster, I mean SW practically invented the genre single handed with a meagre budget in 1977.
I don't wish to sound pessimistic but groundbreaking isn't likely to happen, at least not currently. I thoroughly recognize that Star Wars and the PT both push the envelope with VFX but that's not the movie landscape we have right now. There is less emphasis on innovation, largely because it is far more risky from a financial perspective. So, I don't go in to the ST (or any film anymore) expecting innovation. SW was innovative. So was LOTR. But, that doesn't mean that all future films in that property will be innovative.
Now, for the ST, I personally think the ground battles have been the best part, with far more visceral and powerful shots that impact how individual soldiers might be. And, as much as I like the battle of Scarif, I prefer the combat at Starkiller, or the ground battle on Takodana. Those feel far more personal to me, far more engaging.
Obviously, mileage will vary, but I truly do not believe a space battle can surpass ROTJ. Not the opening of ROTS, not the battle of Scarif, or the like.
I agree, It feels more like a reboot/remake of the OT then a sequel
That I cannot agree with. The ST, ostensibly, exists in a post OT world. Each of the ST mains has been influenced or heard of the OT mains, either through direct contact (Poe) or by their legends (Finn with Han, Rey with Luke). What we are seeing is a sequel in the sense that it is viewed through the lens of those impacted by the actions of the OT characters. All of the ST events occur because of OT actions. Far more than the PT, the OT provides highly connective tissue to the ST that I don't think makes it a reboot/remake.
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