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Episode VII

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 ben b 17 Dec 2015
Blimey. JJ Abrams did well! No spoilers here but happy to say it's very Episode IV and completely not Episode I - and that's a very good thing

b

 Clarence 17 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:

Hmmm, I'll have to check out Toys R Us before I see it just to make sure there isn't another Jar Jar Binks lurking in there...
OP ben b 17 Dec 2015
In reply to Clarence:

Happily, no JarJar well worth seeing if you enjoyed them first (or even second) time round according to everyone I know who has seen it so far. No doubt people will carp but pretty damn good IMO

b
Pan Ron 17 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:

You are a sick man. I saw it this morning - what a travesty. Brainless film making, it is to Star Wars what Matrix Reloaded is to the original Matrix, or 2010 was to 2001, Promethius to Alien. The only redeeming feature was it has the heritage of a film I loved as a kid. Doesn't make this any good tho. Total fantasy Disney experience where they didn't even bother to try and stitch the plot together in any credible way. It ran like a child's attempt at creative writing - "...and then the bad guys try to shoot the good guys, but the good guys get away, but then the bad guys try to destroy them with the biggest weapon in the unvierise, but suddenly a couple of good guys destroy the massive super weapon and get away, and then...".
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Pan Ron 17 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:

Its probably good, if you think Fast and Furious, Independence Day or Spectre were good. Same kind of thing. I'd like to know what you think was good about this?
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 TomBaker 17 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:

You mean its much like the original 3.... I bet you're the sort of person that enjoyed phantom menace and its trade disputes.
Pan Ron 17 Dec 2015
In reply to TomBaker:

While I'm not a Star Wars geek, what other film existed that matched Star Wars or Empire Strikes Back at the time they screened? The setting and story were novel. Space, Death Stars, X-Wings, ice planets, At-ATs, evil protagonist's respiratory ailment, etc. etc. It was unique.

Star Wars was popular for a reason - at the time it was pretty ground breaking stuff. Not the greatest film making, but they pushed the boat out and tried something very different. It was no longer Captain Kirk slapping Uhura's arse while launching photon torpedos.

From Return of the Jedi onwards, the subsequent films increasingly became both fomulaic and cliched. Here we are, for the 7th time round, with a $200 million budget, decades to put together a story-line and make something new....what do they do? Create a plot that is held together by threadbare stitches. It was like watching back to back episodes of Scooby-doo, where the evil villain unsurprisingly gets caught in the act again but "would have got away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!". Everything was so utterly predictable with non-stop just-in-time life saving event unfolding straight after the next.

I really do struggle to understand how people can sit through a film like this and be enthralled. At least Shrek or Toy Story have grown-up entertainment included.
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OP ben b 17 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:

Much like episode IV then. I don't expect gritty realism and scientific plausibility from George Lucas or JJ Abrams. I do appreciate the need to celebrat the things that made IV to VI such fun - and they often followed similar plot lines (even "couldn't have done it without the teddy bears"). I appreciate a stronger female lead who has more to do than scream and run about providing love interest. I loved going with my kids and watching them eyes wide open and slack jawed much as I was at their age in 1978. There was some warmth and humour notably confined to Han alone in IV to VI and basically absent in I to III.

I was expecting some carping about the plot - it is knowingly somewhat derivative - but the cast were good and the effects excellent; even some of the acting was good (again unlike much of the classic and all of the prequels).

Much enjoyed by us and all my acquaintances so far. So I guess I'm not the only one to have enjoyed it.

B
Removed User 17 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:
just got back and thought it was great enjoyable night out.
Post edited at 21:21
OP ben b 17 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:
I haven't seen any of those so I can't really comment. On the whole I don't particularly enjoy the Marvel whizzbang films though. I did enjoy the Toy Story and Shrek films though.

I fully agree - I to III were generally rubbish. This was IMO far better than they were.

Commentary at http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/16/star-wars-the-force-awakens-in-... pretty much sums up how I feel about it. CAUTION: Spoilers for those who haven't seen it

cheers

b
Post edited at 22:06
Pan Ron 17 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:
I expect you're right and I'm probably a minority on this. I went with a film-buff mate who analyses this from a very technical-production angle and while he had issues with the film, he was by and large positive. I've certainly been harangued for my negativity.

But, as much as I would like gritty realism, I understand this is star wars. Ships will travel at light speed, there is noise in space, and liberties will be taken. But what I can't handle is the imaginative gymnastics required to connect scenes and story events. The film is like Die Hard or similar Hollywood stock. Where good continuously triumphs over evil, where even if you are a lone "good-guy" surrounded by a thousand photon-blasters aimed at your head, a hero pilot will come screaming in from above and dispatch all your enemies, you'll then commandeer a conveniently located space ship, and go and save humanity from near destruction in the remaining 15 minutes of the film.

Star Wars did that too. But watching bits of the original this evening, it still had gravitas, subtlety and was ultimately able to pull it off. Force Awakens, for me at least, had none of that. The whole film could just as easily have been transplanted in to a Tom Cruise action film, a Bruce Willis cop show, or some kind of chick-flick where happyness prevails.

Ultimately, I can't imagine any of the quotes, any of the scenes or any of the characters being looked upon in 5 or 10 years time and considered as memorable moments in cinema. The first and second, and even the third films had that. This, to me, doesn't go near that. Hence it doesn't live up to anything like its hype.

EDIT: trying to think of ways to qualify my views, the closest I can think of is a story-book or TV show, where something hugely pivotal happens (the main character dies, the Earth blows up), something that will really require some story-telling ability to explain and move on from....and then the next chapter starts with "And then I woke up and realised it was all a dream." It's a lazyness that allows you to create dramatic effect and create a story but not have to worry about reality, lasting impacts or repercussions. Because no matter what happens, the story will reach its agreed end point regardless. That's what the last 4 star wars have felt like.
Post edited at 23:44
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 Skyfall 17 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:

It was never ever groundbreaking stuff. It was Cowboys and Indians in space with a very basic plot. I was a child and saw both it and 2001 very close together in the mid 70's. I could tell the difference and why 2001 was an amazing achievement in its own right (before we even landed on the moon) but loved Star Wars for action / adventure etc. I loved the characters., gritty film making and family themes. The second trilogy was an abomination.

I've not seen 7 yet but it sounds as though it will be in line with the first trilogy - pretty basic plot, great characters, gritty filming, little cgi and a new space opera I can grow to love. I hope!
Post edited at 23:54
 Andy Farnell 18 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin: What a load of crock. Yes, it does pay homage to episodes IV, V and VI, but the new characters introduce a freshness and vitality. Han and Chewbacca are the galaxies most unlikely (and loveable) comedy double act, Rei is outstanding. Kylo Ren has depth and there is clearly more to go with him, plus a truckload more to come from Luke, Poe and Finn. The set pieces and X-wing/TIE fighter battles are epic, the Falcon is back,, the cinematography is stunning. Okay, the story is familiar, but it pulls together the past and leaves enough mysteries for the future. BB8 has the soul of R2 and the loveableness of Wall-ee.

The minor characters will hopefully be fleshed out in later films.

I queued up to watch episodes I, II and III. I waited 32 years for a real sequel. I wasn't disappointed.

Andy F
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Pan Ron 18 Dec 2015
In reply to Skyfall:

Well, I'd be intrigued to hear your view after you see it. To me it was more like the second trilogy. Not quite as bad, but maybe a combination of the ok-to-dodgy scenes from those three films, rather than representing anything positive from the first trilogy.

I'm trying to work out why I have such an issue with this sort of cinema. All I can really think of is that it is offensive in its idealism and simplicty. As if you swapped Princess Leia for George Bush, were both are saying we need to go an attack some entity and that doing so is automatically righteous and shouldn't be questioned. The portrayal of the "dark-side" is so one sided, and when it tries to add some nuance it is always quite shallow. It just doesn't make interesting film making for me.

In the first Star Wars, it could still be simplistic, but the fact that it was something so novel still makes it good (a princess fleeing and evil ruler, "the force", a random chap on a desert planet discovering he is the chosen one, it turning out that the evil chap is his father, a massive mega-weapon threatening all life, etc). Empire Strikes back introduces the head honcho of "the force", a double cross, a hero taken captive, etc. But nothing new is being introduced now. All it has is bigger explosions, bigger death stars, more outlandish plot twists and leaps, another masked evil figure (but less scary).

It doesn't have to be 2001 or the Matrix to be challenging. A simple twist that could have been added would be JJ Adams thinking, "Right, its been 30 years since the empire was vanquished, lets turn things on their head a bit here. Lets say the Rebel alliance becomes corrupted and more like the bad guys, while the remnants of the Empire become the good guys". It wouldn't be that hard to do (they've gone near it already, in previous films and in this one). It would allow the same actions scenes (Leia, Skywalker, Chewy and Solo riding to the rescue to correct the misguided rebels or something), but would add a twist. Game of Thrones pulls this kind of thing off in a 5 sequence. Star Wars won't go near it, other than to "I'm your father/son" sequences.
 Skyfall 18 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:

> I'm trying to work out why I have such an issue with this sort of cinema. All I can really think of is that it is offensive in its idealism and simplicty.

So was the first trilogy - ridiculous simplicity. As I said, little more than cowboys and Indians in space. It was said at the time. The simplicity was what appealed to many, particularly children.

Maybe / actually you've grown up. This is a new film for children now primarily. Give in to your inner child, you know you want to ...
Post edited at 00:52
Pan Ron 18 Dec 2015
In reply to Skyfall:

> So was the first trilogy - ridiculous simplicity.

I disagree.

It starts as cowboys and Indians for sure. But by the end of the first episode its has emerged that the Indian Chief is actually the father of the hero cowboy, and who tries to convince the cowboy to abandon his cowboy friends and join the Indians - before trying to kill his own son. That's a pretty major plot twist for a spagehetti Western...and it all occurs on a Death Star!

Admittedly the plot twists get less dramatic as the first trilogy moves on. But it is at least introducing reasonably profound new story lines (it turns out that the cowboy's potential love interest is actually his sister, cowboy doesn't appear to be such a crack-shot afterall, while the cowboy who became the Indian leader renounces his treachery and kills the head honcho of the Indians while making up with cowboy son), and not rehashing old ideas.

I did want to enjoy it. And I'd love to be able to overlook the gaping plot holes. But they are like JJ Abrams has swapped my bike's round wheels for square ones. It makes the voyage hard to enjoy and hard to pretend we are out fora nice relaxing 2 hour drive through the galactic countryside.
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OP ben b 18 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:

Cobblers! You also seem to have your Star Wars timelines all wrong. "I am your father" being episode V and occurring in Bespin for starters.

There are gaping plot holes in much of IV-VI, and certainly I-III. My personal take is that there is considerable warmth in the homage to the "original and best" trilogy and the film is aimed mostly at those of us in their mid-40s wishing to recapture some of the innocence and wonder we had with the first films. Complaining that it's all a bit unbelievable when we are 37 years older is a bit like complaining that you can't believe in the magic of christmas any more because someone told you Santa doesn't exist. You can't recapture the glorious memory perfectly so don't try - that just leads to dyspepsia and ulcers. Just enjoy the ride, giggle at the interplay with Chewie, and forget the "film crit 101" - like you are 7 again.

b

PS The cinematography on Jakku (sp?) I thought was magnificent if you want to get all David Lean / L of A on me
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 dom94 18 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:

Pretty much agree with you, I had a great time in the cinema, the plot is similar to previous films, but I was enjoying it too much to care. One of its main successes is it sets up great potential for episode 8; it can pretty much go in any direction it wants, and a great set of characters to work with.
In reply to David Martin:

And you think the original had a plot, the whole franchise is the story of an inside job. The destroyed planet is where the asteroid belt is beyond Mars, the Death Star is our moon, ice planet Hoffman is Pluto. The guy who was the best Jedi ever his dad was the worst bad guy. Hidden in plain sight. How did they know where to drop the charge to destroy the whole building, not once but twice second time with teddy bears, rock on Tommy. whilst the punters just went wow, look that plots not really believable. I know disappearing alloy planes.

2 ways 2 look at it, either you wake the f*ck up, or they're going to roll the doomsday clock right upto one second to zero for a big f*ck off shot of fear porn!

May the force be with u

 Clarence 18 Dec 2015
In reply to David Martin:

> I'm trying to work out why I have such an issue with this sort of cinema. All I can really think of is that it is offensive in its idealism and simplicty. As if you swapped Princess Leia for George Bush, were both are saying we need to go an attack some entity and that doing so is automatically righteous and shouldn't be questioned. The portrayal of the "dark-side" is so one sided, and when it tries to add some nuance it is always quite shallow. It just doesn't make interesting film making for me.

To be honest you are making it sound more attractive to me. I don't like cinema in general, I have seen far too many over complicated, over emotional piles of gubbins ever to voluntarily set foot in one again. If I want stories to make me think then books are far better and you don't have to put up with ear-splitting sound levels or people rustling, coughing or heckling. However, if I have to go to the cinema I want something epic, a bit of white hat vs black hat entertainment with visuals that make me go "ooh!" and this looks like it will fit the bill. Sometimes simplistic is fun.

Just so long as that long-eared frogmuppet doesn't turn up again...
 neilh 18 Dec 2015
In reply to dom94:

Had a great time. The funniest bit was at the start. There was a techo glitch and no sound. So just as the opening titles start a group of lads at the front started singing/humming the music. Everybody burst into applause. It was v funny and captured the atmosphere perfectly.

 planetmarshall 19 Dec 2015
In reply to ben b:

It was OK, better than the prequels, and better dialogue than any of the originals. But...

Really, Empire? *Another* Planet-sized yet surprisingly vulnerable to total destruction superweapon? Surely you should have learned by now? How can you keep affording these things, and who is your insurer?
OP ben b 20 Dec 2015
In reply to planetmarshall:

Completely agree - but I think that's to pull in the Dads with a knowing wink. Otherwise why the Han Solo "there's always some way..." line? Leave the credibility at the door I think

b
 neilh 20 Dec 2015
In reply to planetmarshall:

Episode X. They build 2 death stars. 1 to act as a decoy for the rebels to attack ,and the 2nd to destroy the 1st as the 1 st one is being attacked by the resistance.

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