Azor Ahai

Jesus Christ, so much bitching from people who haven't even seen it yet. Seriously, why do people spoil this shit for themselves by reading about it instead of watching such key plot points and reveals unfold onscreen? Where the fuck is the fun in THAT? I just don't get these people.

Anyways, I've just come back from the first show. Liked it overall. Had some moments of great fun and humor and a nostalgic scene or two that are almost guaranteed to get longtime fans a bit choked up. But make no mistake, it has flaws so keep your expectations in check.The movie is LONG, jack, and there is a subplot/section that honestly started to get me a bit antsy at one point. That involving Finn and new characters Rose and Benicio Del Toro (whose name in the film I never quite caught and has a stuttering tic throughout because... well, I don't know that either.)

The strands seem to get unnecessarily unwieldy and overplotted at a point, but in the end they come together in a satisfying manner imo. About those spoilers, yes they are indeed true. How I fully feel about them I'll have to decide on with another viewing. But as one poster mentioned, yeah, they do kinda make The Force Awakens a bit meaningless to a certain extent. So if you're a Star Wars fan by all means go see it. It's a fun and worthy addition that changes the chessboard and leads into Episode 9 in an interesting way. Again, just keep your expectations in check and your butt rested beforehand.

candyrocket786

Glad I read the spoilers, definitely eased the pain of disappointment. Overall, if you're going into this for answers, go see something else. If you want to be entertained, then you'll do just fine.

I enjoyed it for it's entertainment value, but I'll wait for episode 9 when it hits Amazon video.

I think what pisses me off the most about this film.... is that it's painfully obvious now that their was no concrete plan for this sequel trilogy similar to how the MCU is mapped out. Seems like they gave Abrams the reigns and he did his thing for TFA, then Johnson came in and tried to work with it the best he could and now the ball's been passed back to JJ to either tie-up all the loose ends or create more mystery boxes.

Didn't care for:

GreenMonkey

Not doing spoiler tags, it is a spoiler thread, so, be warned.

Luke's trick was great. With Carrie Fisher gone I'm surprised they didn't make different decisions WRT Luke though. Surprised they didn't leave some more doors open there.

I wish we'd seen him do some sort of Vader-level asskicking prior to that, but then again that would have been the opposite of the tone they were setting with him.

When Kylo "turned" on Snoke people in the theater clapped and cheered. I didn't. I knew what was coming. Took him a little longer (the proceeding fight made me wonder for a minute, though).

Overall thought it was really solid. I liked how Poe's plans didn't quite work out, bust up those typical movie expectations. And Leia trying to get him to see that one battle won isn't necessarily a victory if it costs too much (the difference between being a General and a smaller unit leader).

Also liked Rey being a nobody. No Skywalker, no Kenobi, no royalty...just a downtrodden abandoned kid. In a way, just like Anakin (God I'm sorry to mention the prequels). Sorry haters. Being a nobody is better.

Wonder if we saw the last of Phasma. Agree that Gwyn Christie seemed a bit wasted.

skywalker8

I loved TFA.
I really really hated TLJ. There were elements that I loved, but as a whole I did not like it. I already have tickets to see it two more times in different formats - I’ll give it another chance, but I’m not really looking forward to it at this moment. This SW fan was very disappointed - not just by the general direction and trajectory for the next film, but also characters and locations that reminded me a lot of the prequels. I had so much anticipation. Ugh.

stingermck

im dying reading reactions here and elsewhere about Rey's parents. Man, people are pissssssssed the fuck off. I'm perfectly fine with it. I don't need everyone in the universe to be everyone's second cousin. I speculated for 2 years as much as the next fan but I'm not mad about it.

I am so glad I didnt read any spoilers. Usually I am a sucker for spoilers, but going in blind here really made the film for me.

dex14

I’m not mad because she isn’t connected to anyone. Her being a nobody is fine in the grand scheme of things. I’m mad because they hyped her up to be somebody during TFA press.

auto

The only thing I really disliked tonally was the little morality play at the casino. Lame.

Wasn’t blown away but overall was entertained.

Leila and Chewie got their hug!!!

stingermck

And Kylo could be fucking around with Rey too. Who knows. It's an easy retcon if needed.

candyrocket786

Folks like myself are pissed because of various details/clues in TFA...

What was the fucking point? So that JJ could simply fuck with the fans?

stingermck

Well that begs the question, does force sensitivity have to be passed from parent to sibling, or can it be anyone? The films have never really mentioned how it works. I mean if Anakin can just be conceived of the force, Rey can be bad ass just because.

Azor Ahai

And it was. What film did you watch tonight? Just because we didn't get a be-all, end-all lightsaber duel doesn't mean that Hamill didn't kick ass in the role here.

--

stingermck

Yes, this was absolutely a Luke movie. Han got TFA, Luke got TLJ

candyrocket786

This was a Finn/Rose/Poe and Rey/Kylo film. Luke felt like a secondary character that had one bad ass scene.

Honestly, I thought Ford had more screen time in TFA.

spsimmons

God, this movie was a disappointment. Loved seeing Luke, but the rest in my opinion was bad. I actually left the theater angry that this is what we got.

GreenMonkey

She is drawn to the saber because she has the force, and/or it is her destiny. Overthinking it here, the fans are. The movie Primer, this is not.

Luke's theme plays because she is the next Luke. Again, overthinking.

Her ability to best a guy with years of force training (or if you want to argue, lightsaber training). Queue the staff fighting scenes at the beginning of the movie which establish is is very strong in hand-to-hand combat. And the fact that Kylo is bleeding from a giant blaster hole in his side (the power of the crossbow blaster, flinging Stormtroopers, again, well established at the beginning of the movie), which the movie emphasizes more than once.

There's plenty of criticism to be made about TFA, but a strong force person winning a lightsaber fight against an injured opponent isn't really one of them IMO.

Being related to a strong force user wasn't needed for Anakin, was it? I'm not sure her being a Skywalker or a Kenobi would change anything.

BearFan

I enjoyed it ... I think some of the Casino planet morality stuff was the only part I did not care for. Beyond that, very cool.

stvn1974

I liked it but would place it behind both TFA and Rogue One. 4/5

What I missed most was Han Solo not being in it. Didn't realize how much I enjoyed him in TFA until he was absent in this.

Out of the 6 people in my group that went to see it tonight I was the only one who liked it. They all kept going on about it being a huge step down from TFA. I wouldn't say huge but it is a step down for me.

OldBoy

I don’t want to look in thread...could someone please pm me and let me know if Real 3D version on this was worth it or just eh? Thanks in advance.

Rival11

Got to go to a private screening for this (my first ever private screening) It was F'n incredible - very satisfying.

Funny, the spoiler everyone is hating on gave me goosebumps.

Very, very, entertaining movie.

Michael Corvin

Just got back. LOVED IT.

Quick beats:
- Porgs are dumb
- Rey cries...a LOT
- Laura Dern's iris' are fucking huge
- Benicio DelToro plays, well...Benicio Del Toro with a nervous tic. How unlike every role he does.

But seriously, damn good movie. It's mentioned above, but the score is pretty by-the-numbers which is disappointing. Usually Williams manages to come up with at least one new & memorable piece in each film. I always like the Royal Guards in Jedi, good to see a version of them here kicking ass. Good to have Phasma back. The "save the animals" sideplot at the casino was weird and kinda out of place. Then Chewie not eating the Porg while funny, just made me think Rian is pushing some weird vegan agenda... but then Luke literally milks a beast and drinks it. The humor was solid, especially with Poe opening up the flick taunting Hux. Not sure how a "mom" joke will age though.

The best thing about this SW revival for me has to be the space battles. They are just way more interesting and uniquely shot. They also seem to have more of an impact on the plot. You feel a loss. Lucas had just devolved to a point of just throwing as much shit on the screen as possible instead of coming up with an impressive shot sequence.

I'm torn on the ending though. I'll leave it at that for the time being.

Only thing I'm not torn on? Benicio Del Toro. Kill it with fire and never speak of him again.

He Who Lurks No More

I hated this movie. I hated, hated, hated it. As a member of the Original Trilogy generation I'm guessing this movie and the ones following it aren't for me. And that's fine. But I never though that I would need to taken the line "Let the past die. Kill it." so literally.

candyrocket786

Staff training does not establish strong hand-to-hand. It establishes strong Staff training.

If you said knife/empty hand and she used a lightsaber knife or dagger, then yes I'd give you that.

Each of the main OT characters had their own theme. Hell, even some of the prequel characters had their own. Why the hell re-purpose a well known theme (Luke's) for another character? Why not just write a new one?

stingermck

Internet: "If this movie is like the other movies I will be pissed! Do something new!"

Internet: "This movie is too different, I'm pissed! Not my Star Wars!"

Michael Corvin

Wow, people take the word of a Sith at face value? I don't buy for a second that Rey is a nobody. Kylo was clearly taunting her.

I too find it odd that they didn't kind of course correct Luke's plot once Fisher died.

Oh, and I LOVED them "showing" the force via Rey's meditation. Pretty solid work there.
Who are you talking about? Rey? She has her own theme.

ViewAskewbian

Pretty much, huh? First thing I thought of when reading some of the comments here. Damned if you do...