Anything that doesn't give away plot details shouldn't need spoiler tags, right?
I'm with Commodore, my suspension of disbelief threshold is typically pretty high (especially when childhood nostalgia comes into play), but Jesus Christ there were so many things that need really contrived justification in this movie I can't get past them. Updated ranking of movies:
V
IV
<massive jump off cliff>
VI
III
VII
II (second half)
<massive jump off even higher cliff>
II (first half)
<massive jump off highest cliff ever>
I
Not watched the film (well, it is rare that I go to cinemas anyways, just don't like them), and the only way I'll ever watch it is I'm extremely bored when it's on terrestrial free to air. But I'm not impressed at all with what I'm hearing even from those who loved it and here's why:
Abrams is essentially using the same formula he used in Shit Trek 2009 and Shit Trek:Into the Slurry Pit, essentially rehash the most loved film in the old franchise without any of made the original loved in the first place, with added conspiracy theories added from a 9-11 truther. Yes, I know Orci wasn't oficially involved in this film, but too many of the plot points scream his involvement. And I reckon all Abram's fanboy talk before the movie are him just shitting out his arse, just like he did before Shit Trek 2009. He is simply using the Star Wars name just like he used the Star Trek name, to make a big grossing movie without having to go to the effort of learning the director's or writer's craft in order to propel himself into the big leagues money wise.
It amazes me how such a no talent hack has managed to get away with it for so long
Travelling on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam.
Too much fanservice for my liking, bringing old characters back felt awkward to me and those scenes with both Han and Leia felt like they were there for the sake of it and lacked any great impact. Han dying was incredibly predictable at the end of the film and I'm already predicting that Luke is killed in the next movie and then guides Rey after his death just like Obi Wan did with him. The character I'm really interested in now is Chewie, now that Han is dead he should virtually be a one wookie army desperate for revenge. I'm kinda disappointed he wasn't killed trying to gain revenge for Han's death at the end of the film since that would've been a real tearjerker.
Rey is an alright character although a little generic nowadays. There's no way she should be fighting lightsaber duels in the first film though without any training and coming out ahead. Just think about it for a second, there's no soddin' way she could deflect blaster fire or hold people still with the force yet but she can fight someone who's done years of training and uses the force all the time? Yes he was injured but its still bullshit. Finn is an interesting guy, he's kind of a coward while also having the courage to save his friends, I haven't decided whether I like or loathe him yet. The pilot guy was totally meh and added nothing but a way to get Finn from point A to B in the story.
I think one of my problems with the film was that it didn't really do anything new it just felt like rewatching Episode 4 for the 100th time with better visuals. I also felt the scene where the X-Wings come and save the heroes from captivity was slightly off and it should've been a total surprise attack and not one where the stormtroopers see them coming.
On the plus side, Stormtroopers actually hit a named character for once.
Also what was with the distinction between the Republic and the Resistance. Surely they would be one and the same right? But the name "The Resistance" suggests the Republic has already fallen or isn't doing lickety spit to help fight the evil doers.
I don't dislike the film but I didn't like it either. I'll definitely watch the next ones though and hope they don't continue to just copy the previous storylines.
Incidentally it seems like I'm the only person in the world that didn't dislike the prequels. The first one had too many annoyances but the others were enjoyable IMO.
"We are open to all opinions as long as they are the same as ours."
Also what was with the distinction between the Republic and the Resistance. Surely they would be one and the same right? But the name "The Resistance" suggests the Republic has already fallen or isn't doing lickety spit to help fight the evil doers.
They certainly could have explained that clearer. My theory on this is that the Republic and the First Order control 2 different parts of the galaxy and are officially neutral to each other. The Resistance is a force based in First Order territory (and "secretly" funded by the Republic), which is trying to overthrow the First Order rule in that part of the galaxy.
I believe the "Resistance" is a Republic-sponsored group which fights a proxy war on their behalf against the First Order, in their own territory. Essentially the Resistance = Viet Cong, while the Republic is North Vietnam.
I thought it was one of the best of the series, but I still struggle with the Force mumbo-jumbo and the sounds and swooping ships in space, so I don't think I'm the target market.
And the planet-killer weapon (really? You couldn't think of anything else?) being visible from another planet was annoying too.
I don't need spoiler tags to say that it felt like to much felt recycled from this earlier ones.
As for the final fight, he wasn't just hurt. Just killing your dad had to screw your head up short time. Mentally and physically fried was the only reason he lost.
They also showed Rey at hand to hand combat when she fought off the guys sent after BB8 at the beginning. And even then she gets beat up by Kylo Ren until she finally uses the force. It's not that much of a stretch.
Coming into the debate late here chaps but I swing heavily on the Commodore side. Absolute Star Wars fanboy since I saw the original Trilogy and this film really didn't do it for me. I can't even blame the story - I didn't mind the essential rehash of IV. If it were done well then I would have enjoyed it.
The start was incredible. Burning the village awesome. Kylo holding the blast awesome. Bit confusing with the blaster kickback but let it slide. Finn getting cold feet in first combat a really interesting idea. Poe and him escaping great. It all went downhill with Rey...
She is just too good at everything... Like she is shown to be an orphan from about age 8. How the hell has she learnt to pilot like that?! This isn't kid anakin applying his pod racing to a jet (with a droid to help him) it is so beyond it is mental. She is struggling to get food scavenging. The force can only push you so far. The setting was amazing although god knows why there was so much fighting on a seemingly empty crappy Jaku.
Han and Chewie brought the film alive. I was starting to get restless. Great stuff.
Starkiller base to me was a more than a little silly (note that death star in VI was apparently 4 times bigger than in IV). Blowing up the new republic was a bit ridiculous as Commodore said where all the important planets could see each other in the galaxy. Note that I read somewhere that this wasn't courasant but Mon Mothmas home planet, with all the New republic fleet.
Then the actual attack on the base save the fact that one person can shut down defences and no one notice, and there be only one flux station (what if there were a technical fault?!) Nor could the incredibly large amount of First order presence stop the 50 or so X wings. Made me think of the lego star wars movies https://youtu.be/NKnR3ACfKgE?t=17m11s
(seriously good parodies, clearly written by star wars fanboys. C3PO flying into an asteroid field gets asked about the odds 'if I ever survive this I will look it up!)
We haven't even mentioned the jedi mind trick learning off the cuff, ability to sneak around the base or the mental final fight - ok Ren had been hit by Chewies shot, but he wasn't acting like he was hurt. Then Finn who has no force sensitivity and who couldn't even land a saber hit on a run of the mill stormtrooper with an energy gun gets a hit on Ren?! Who has trained under Luke and Snoke?
Ren can be discussed at another time. But being 'pulled' to the light is the exact opposite of all of the other films. The dark side is shown as the easy way, letting emotion flow and powering you. Rather than controlling your every feeling and making that the route of your power.
At the end I was left with the impression that if Luke shows Rey how to pile up some rocks she can simply look at people and they will be destroyed.
I think the issue is there wasn't Lucas in the film. He knows the world. He knows the lore. He would have reined in the use of sabers by non Jedis, the starkiller base and Rey. He would have made Ren make sense. He is what the film lacked. He also would have made it so that the starting writing would have let you know how the empire turned into the first order and linked the trilogies.
But as a standalone film it is fun and fast paced and interesting. Hux is really interesting and inspires Tarkin from IV. Han is awesome. Great battle scenes. But it doesn't have the same feel factor...
