Spoilers Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Grading & Discussion

[Campe]

^ Unless you've seen more negative reactions than I have, I don't think you can honestly call the initial reception to this film "mixed".

Everything I've seen says that the film has been positively received on the whole, although not universally so (few things are received universally positively).

If you took the time to read the link I posted, perhaps you’d see that the reactions were mixed there. They probably lean positive but several are with a twinge of negativity. Talking about how some big moments fall flat. That there are moments of disappointment. That it was heartbreaking. That it’s convoluted. That they left the theater conflicted. Yes, reviews there are positive too. But we’re probably splitting hairs at this point so I ask that we not get into an argument about this and leave it be.

 

[DigificWriter]

If you took the time to read the link I posted, perhaps you’d see that the reactions were mixed there. They probably lean positive but several are with a twinge of negativity. Talking about how some big moments fall flat. That there are moments of disappointment. That it was heartbreaking. That it’s convoluted. That they left the theater conflicted. Yes, reviews there are positive too. But we’re probably splitting hairs at this point so I ask that we not get into an argument about this and leave it be.

I'm an active member of that site's forum community and have already read through all the reactions compiled in that article, so I stand by my comment that the reaction has thus far been more positive than negative.

You're right that it's not worth arguing about, though.

 

[Campe]

The opening crawl...

Spoiler: Crawl

EPISODE IX
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

The dead speak! The galaxy has heard a mysterious broadcast, a threat of REVENGE in the sinister voice of the late EMPEROR PALPATINE.

GENERAL LEIA ORGANA dispatches secret agents to gather intelligence, while REY, the last hope of the Jedi, trains for battle against the diabolical FIRST ORDER.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader KYLO REN rages in search of the phantom Emperor, determined to destroy any threat to his power....

 

[CorporalClegg]

I wonder if it's even possible to make an "everyone's happy" Star Wars film in the way Marvel films seem to do.

I think there's just so much history and personal attachment that people are always going to have expectations and things they need to see. But I think this kind of misses the point. And I've reached a point where I just don't care.

All I need to see is a space fairy tale with ray guns and funny-looking aliens with a splash of morality/theme/subtext and a whole lot of "I am the nexu. Pew, pew, pshew" fun and adventure.

 

[DigificWriter]

The opening crawl...

Spoiler: Crawl

EPISODE IX
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

The dead speak! The galaxy has heard a mysterious broadcast, a threat of REVENGE in the sinister voice of the late EMPEROR PALPATINE.

GENERAL LEIA ORGANA dispatches secret agents to gather intelligence, while REY, the last hope of the Jedi, trains for battle against the diabolical FIRST ORDER.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader KYLO REN rages in search of the phantom Emperor, determined to destroy any threat to his power....

I can't wait to see this in context on a big screen with the Star Wars theme as accompaniment.

 

[Campe]

I wonder if it's even possible to make an "everyone's happy" Star Wars film in the way Marvel films seem to do.

I think there's just so much history and personal attachment that people are always going to have expectations and things they need to see. But I think this kind of misses the point. And I've reached a point where I just don't care.

All I need to see is a space fairy tale with ray guns and funny-looking aliens with a splash of morality/theme/subtext and a whole lot of "I am the nexu. Pew, pew, pshew" fun and adventure.

Oh, so much this!

 

[KennyB]

With all the YouTube and Twitter "experts" that have massive followers, I don't even know if The Empire Strikes Back would get made today........after the middle aged guys picked ANH apart.

 

[KennyB]

If you took the time to read the link I posted, perhaps you’d see that the reactions were mixed there. They probably lean positive but several are with a twinge of negativity. Talking about how some big moments fall flat. That there are moments of disappointment. That it was heartbreaking. That it’s convoluted. That they left the theater conflicted. Yes, reviews there are positive too. But we’re probably splitting hairs at this point so I ask that we not get into an argument about this and leave it be.

The guy from Forbes is a little over the top.........like he was personally offended by the movie.

"I was not expecting a genuinely bad movie with video game plotting, thin characters, weak action and endless exposition of no consequence. Heartbreaking..."

Scott Mendelson needs a hug.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Describing a popcorn movie that doesn't live up to your expectations "heartbreaking" is egregiously lacking in perspective.

 

[Campe]

The guy from Forbes is a little over the top.........like he was personally offended by the movie.

"I was not expecting a genuinely bad movie with video game plotting, thin characters, weak action and endless exposition of no consequence. Heartbreaking..."

Scott Mendelson needs a hug.

Mendelson seems to have it in for Disney Star Wars. Eff him.

 

[KennyB]

Mendelson seems to have it in for Disney Star Wars. Eff him.

Yeah I went to Forbes site to see what his usual vibe is and he's been slamming it since October every time he gets a chance. From his twitter feed his followers seem to think if ANYONE likes it they are a ...........SHILL! That's what really gets me, I may see it tomorrow morning and it MAY SUCK, but I'm not going to assume it sucks or post it all over my media. I'll watch it and make my own decision. Hell, while I was amazed at the ACTING in Joker, the over all film was a little too dark for me. I can admire the performances and not like the film overall. I did not however go everywhere arguing with people who enjoyed it.

 

[Campe]

Yeah I went to Forbes site to see what his usual vibe is and he's been slamming it since October every time he gets a chance. From his twitter feed his followers seem to think if ANYONE likes it they are a ...........SHILL! That's what really gets me, I may see it tomorrow morning and it MAY SUCK, but I'm not going to assume it sucks or post it all over my media. I'll watch it and make my own decision. Hell, while I was amazed at the ACTING in Joker, the over all film was a little too dark for me. I can admire the performances and not like the film overall. I did not however go everywhere arguing with people who enjoyed it.

I’m surprised his followers don’t think we all work for Bad Robot or something. You know what I’m talking about, Kenny!

 

[fireproof78]

With all the YouTube and Twitter "experts" that have massive followers, I don't even know if The Empire Strikes Back would get made today........after the middle aged guys picked ANH apart.

No, it would not. Lucas struggled with depression and anxiety throughout ANH and if this kind of knee-jerk reactionism was available in 77 like it is today SW would be a one and done.

Perhaps that would have been for the better, who knows?

 

[Mach5]

The guy from Forbes is a little over the top.........like he was personally offended by the movie.

"I was not expecting a genuinely bad movie with video game plotting, thin characters, weak action and endless exposition of no consequence. Heartbreaking..."

Scott Mendelson needs a hug.

Scott Mendelson was a major TLJ advocate, so if this is true...

I get why he feels the way he does.

 

[DarKush]

I've read a lot of Mendelson's articles over the years and I don't think he has it out for Disney Star Wars. As Bantha Claus said, Mendelson was a TLJ supporter and he had no problem pushing the Disney/Hollywood media narrative that described many TLJ detractors as a 'vocal minority' among other things. So, I take his reservations about where Disney Star Wars has been heading,or his feelings about Rise of the Skywalker as genuinely coming from a place of trepidation or disappointment. Though I also think he's been wary of how the film will do financially and has already jumped out there to soften any potential blow by saying Disney doesn't need TROS to be a success to have a banner year.

Even his first tweet after seeing TROS blames 'fans' (which I would take to mean the vocal minority/Fandom Menace crowd) for killing Star Wars. And I'm assuming further that he's implying that TROS is a retreat from TLJ and an attempt to get back said vocal minority. That's not having it out for Disney Star Wars. If anything, it sounds like he's more on board with Disney Star Wars, when it comes to TLJ.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottm...walker-irrelevant-frozen-avengers-box-office/

 

[CorporalClegg]

I have a pretty good guess (as I'm sure most do) of what he might be upset about. Thing is, if it plays out as I expect it might, it doesn't retreat from TLJ at all.

 

[DigificWriter]

Of the first reactions we've seen, far more fall into the camp of TRoS and TLJ working "in concert" than those that paint the opposite picture, so I would be wary of drawing any conclusions one way or the other.

 

[Campe]

Best to see for ourselves for sure.

 

[DigificWriter]

Best to see for ourselves for sure.

Agreed.

Having immersed myself in spoilers for this movie, I genuinely feel like I'm most likely going to be personally satisfied with what we've been given even if others aren't, and that's ultimately the only thing that matters in the end, although there are a few people whose opinions I'm interested in hearing, such as Bryan Young and Holly Frey of the Full of Sith Podcast and Charlotte and Caitlyn of the Skytalkers Podcast (although I'm a little worried that the latter pair might not have a positive opinion of the movie based on one particular element of the spoilers I've seen).

 

[Campe]

Agreed.

Having immersed myself in spoilers for this movie, I genuinely feel like I'm most likely going to be personally satisfied with what we've been given even if others aren't, and that's ultimately the only thing that matters in the end, although there are a few people whose opinions I'm interested in hearing, such as Bryan Young and Holly Frey of the Full of Sith Podcast and Charlotte and Caitlyn of the Skytalkers Podcast (although I'm a little worried that the latter pair might not have a positive opinion of the movie based on one particular element of the spoilers I've seen).

At the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is our own. I do love Jason and Gabe on the Blast Points podcast. But they love Star Wars so much I think they'll be hard to disappoint. But ultimately if they are and I love it or reverse, I will respect their and anyone else's opinion.