I work at the theater so I get to see an early screening (I won't get to discuss it of course ).

Man, I really hope the rumoered opening with doesn't take place.

So many issues with that graphic ... Damn, I'm a geek.

20th Century Fox should create a "trailer" for one of their movies that just consists of their fanfare. Then theaters can just show that right before the movie starts.

I do find myself... a bit concerned.

I'm not really sure if it is possible to make another great Star Wars film.

I re-watch the original Star Wars, and find myself marveling at what a simple story it is. There's really not a whole lot to it, it's a pretty typical hero's journey. But when it came out in 1977, nobody had ever seen anything like it. The special effects were innovative, McQuarrie's designs were absolutely brilliant. I really think that a good 90% of the success of Star Wars comes down to bringing Ralph McQuarrie's vision to life. It's exotic and alien, but it's still relatable. When you're watching it, the X-Wings seem so real that you could suit up, climb into the cockpit, and pilot one yourself. Not to mention how it fires up the imagination. There's so much in Star Wars that isn't shown... the past between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Luke's father. The Clone Wars. All of the adventures Han and Chewie have been on before. Each of the aliens in the cantina had his or her own story. That whole universe is a huge blank canvas.

And the Empire Strikes Back comes along and there's Yoda the ancient Jedi Master, Imperial Walkers, Darth Vader's revelation. Han Solo taken away by Boba Fett to an unknown fate. Goddamn, that whole movie just upped the stakes. Will they save Han? Will Luke become a Jedi? What will happen when Luke confronts Vader again?

(And then, Return of the Jedi comes along, is mostly perfunctory, gives us a number of things we've already seen before like another Death Star, another big space battle with X-Wings - and a few new ships - vs TIE fighters, more AT-ATs, a tribe of teddy bears, and mostly perfunctory resolutions that tie all of the dangling plotlines up in a neat little package and puts a bow on it. But I digress.)

Then the prequels came along, offered better special effects, new ships, new creatures, elaborate lightsaber duels, big space battles, but everything just sort of rang hollow about it.

In some ways, it's like the more we see of this universe, the less interesting it becomes.

But, man, I want to goddamned love this movie and the ones that follow it. We shall see...

But the prequels didn't have better anything. You mentioned how the X-Wings seemed so real and yet none of the ships in the prequels felt real. Everything, from the sets to the ships, looked like something out of a video game.

On top of that Lucas was obsessed with desert planets! Tattooine was featured in A New Hope, in Return of the Jedi, then in Phantom Menace, and again in Attack of the Clones. In addition to that AOTC also features the Tattooine-like planet, Geonosis.

Another reason why the prequels were less interesting was because they hit the same notes over again. Luke loses his hand in part 2, so does Anakin. Cyborg with asthma villain in Darth Vader? Check in ROTS for General Grievous. In addition to desert planets Lucas was also obsessed with symmetry and having everything mirrored from the OT appear in the prequels.

I don't know how i made it all these months and didn't realize this movie is in 3D. I really don't like 3D at all so will be going to the 2D version.


What kind of percentages of 3D to 2D showings will there be? (rough guess). I'm assuming many more in 3D. Uggh.

Star Wars was great because we were little kids and the world was an empty canvas to us... Fast forward 35 years and we've been there, done that. I'm not looking for a revolutionary way to tell a story, I'm not looking for a hidden meaning about global warming or AIDS; I want a popcorn movie where I can forget about work, responsibility and try to rekindle some of my youth with my kids sitting by my side. I have no delusions that any of the subsequent movies will recapture SW or ESB -- but maybe the new films willl be that magic for my kids going forward.

[QUOTE=Rob V;12671823I have no delusions that any of the subsequent movies will recapture SW or ESB -- .[/QUOTE]

This new one sure as hell better recapture something in the ballpark of the originals, or this will be a MAJOR disappointment.

It better be No. 3 of the franchise after Star Wars & Empire. And I really liked Return of the Jedi, so if The Force Awakens is better than the third film, I will be very, very happy.

Wish Lando would make an appearance in the new movie. Maybe that's a surprise. *crosses fingers*

I'll probably make a trip to the Indiana State Museum to see this on a flat screen in 70mm. It's a 100 mile trip, but well worth it if the film turns out great.

It dropped from his hand. I don't see much of a difference there.

I'm sure kids will enjoy these films.
But I have have my doubts these new films will ever be the cultural touchstones for these new generations the way the OT was for their parents.

SW, no matter how entertaining, still represents "their fathers Oldsmobile"
The stuff that these kids now will be using as cultural shorthand and currency 20 or 30 years from now is likely to be something that speaks directly to them, the way they are wired now, and their worldviews.

Going to see this Saturday on a large screen in 3-D. Can't wait!

See the movie first, then present your points.

For all the talk about Billy Dee's health issues, he still looks pretty darn good. Hopefully, they'll find a way to bring him back in VIII (if he's not in this one).

Well we already know who he's the dad of. I mean... Lando is the biggest cock in the universe. You know he has more than one kid.

Yeah, that graphic is pretty stupid. First of all, it's not like the relationships in Star Wars are so complicated that you need a flowchart or anything. This isn't the Wire. Second, their idea of was does and does not constitute a connection seems dubious at best. It's basically just a bunch of pictures with random lines drawn between them.

That's kind of impossible since like.... mid 2000s? 1977 was a very small media natured society. Now? We're engulfed in it.

I don't think anyone has delusions of these films having the same impact that SW did in the past. The times have changed and nobody expects VII to change the game of... well... various types of cultures. If Abrams made a solid film? I think we'll all be happy.

I'm not a SW fan at all... but I trust Abrams, Kennedy, and others working on it. If this can be the 3rd best film in the franchise... that's great. You don't want a film less than RotJ.

Even if it was like Nimoy in the last Star Trek, I would've loved to have seen Billy Dee in this. I'm assuming he's not, but I have no clue.

7pm Thursday for me and a buddy.

How early are you showing up for the Thursday viewings? I know it's going to be crazy but I don't feel like waiting at the theater for 2 hours before it starts.

A film even slightly less than RotJ wouldn't be so bad.

Get there early, buy a drink, then find the perfect seat. Do you want to see the movie the best way or not?