Poll: The Force Awakens - What are you expecting?

[sky pies]

In the last week or so I've been completing the same Star Wars binge that most like minded people may be doing - the movies from Episode 1 through to six, Jedi Knight II, Rogue Squadron 2~

I find myself thinking about exactly what I'm allowing myself to expect from the upcoming movie.

We all know how hideously the ball was dropped with the reboot series, and perhaps you are all as aware as I am of the impending shift in balance that will happen in the series - currently the balance lies at "Three Good : Three Bad" - where will it lie a month or two hence?

Are you expecting more of the same drivel as the reboot trilogy? Are you holding more hope this time around?

...

Apparently the producer who had been insisting on high story values left the series after Empire Strikes Back, leading to one flukey masterpiece and a trilogy of flashy piles of mindless special effects - I wonder if story will make a repeat appearance in this latest trilogy?

 

[JoJo]

I have a feeling I may get burned at the stake for this, but I liked the prequel trilogy as much as the original. I'm hoping the new films take the best aspects of both trilogies to make something memorable. My main fear isn't that it'll be awful, but rather just safe and forgettable. Looking forward to seeing it regardless.

 

[sky pies]

I have a feeling I may get burned at the stake for this, but I liked the prequel trilogy as much as the original.

I was about 10 when Episode 1 came out, I freaking loved Pod Racer and was suitably immersed in the marketing in a way that my upbringing of regular relocation rarely allowed me to be, so in those ways I do hold respect for this movie.

Actually I'm trying to get a grip on what people hated so much about the opening movies, though I certainly think Hayden Christensen sucks and made the second and third movie crappy. I'd like to hear what you liked about the prequel trilogy, and do you recognize how it was removed from the original series?

My main fear isn't that it'll be awful, but rather just safe and forgettable.

I also fear 'safe and foregettable'.

 

[Masonicon]

The Force Awakens must sets in different universe than previous Star Wars

 

[Dizchu]

I am pretty sure it'll be closer to the original trilogy in terms of quality. Big-budget blockbusters have much higher standards these days than they had in the late 90s to mid 00s. Ignoring Michael Bay, most gigantic blockbusters these days are at least competent. The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be seen as "hit or miss", but those "misses" are nowhere near as bad as films like Daredevil, Batman and Robin and Catwoman.

I'm not really expecting another Empire Strikes Back, but another Return of the Jedi or A New Hope? Sure, sounds possible.

 

[sky pies]

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be seen as "hit or miss", but those "misses" are nowhere near as bad as films like Daredevil, Batman and Robin and Catwoman.

This is a small cause for optimism I must agree.

I think the key factor will be the screen time they devote to character development. Whether the film will be a minefield of action flashpoints a la Clone Wars or a slow-burner that really pulls us in. I think this on the other hand is cause for apprehension though, as I don't think many action movies these days have trodden those narrative lines.

 

[Zhukov]

I'm expecting "Marvel tier".

In other words, I expect to be sufficiently entertained for the duration of the film while my frontal lobes are being flooded with loud noises and flashing lights, then to almost completely forget that it exists roughly 13 hours after leaving the cinema.

So comparing it to the previous films... roughly Return of the Jedi quality.

 

[sky pies]

I'm expecting "Marvel tier".

So lame that Marvel's series of cash pinatas seem to have set some kind of reference for the... approximate genre.

 

[Zhukov]

I'm expecting "Marvel tier".

So lame that Marvel's series of cash pinatas seem to have set some kind of reference for the... approximate genre.

I was using the term to compare quality rather than genre, but sure.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

For it to be like the Prequel trilogy.

Except worse.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm cautiously optimistic, I think it will be at least as good as the average blockbuster these days. It's going to be a safe bet though, it's going to follow the original series as much as it can. That's OK if the general quality is enough to make up for a lack of originality, but it might just be a pale imitation. If Jurassic World teaches us anything, it's that you can get away with rehashing beats from childhood favourites and make a ton of money, even if the film is actually average as fuck.

Remember, this is the first in a whole new era for the franchise. Disney are not going to be taking risks, this film is almost definitely going to play it safe and we might see something a bit wilder in the sequels and spin-offs. I'm entirely OK with that. So long as it feels like Star Wars, I'm going to be happy enough.

 

[sky pies]

It's going to be a safe bet though, it's going to follow the original series as much as it can.

I find myself thinking about all the masses of lore from the post-Episdoe 4 computer games. The Jedi Knight series in particular, and I'm sure the many books also written. Will they flesh out the movie with characters like Kyle Katarn? He's an "old friend" of Skywalker in Jedi Knight 2~

A lot of precedent has been set in terms of post-Episode 4 Aesthetic, too... Very interested to see if they use anything more than the 'original series' you mentioned...

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

It's going to be a safe bet though, it's going to follow the original series as much as it can.

I find myself thinking about all the masses of lore from the post-Episdoe 4 computer games. The Jedi Knight series in particular, and I'm sure the many books also written. Will they flesh out the movie with characters like Kyle Katarn? He's an "old friend" of Skywalker in Jedi Knight 2~

A lot of precedent has been set in terms of post-Episode 4 Aesthetic, too... Very interested to see if they use anything more than the 'original series' you mentioned...

I would put a lot of money on them not doing that. They don't really need to try and get people who care about the extended universe to go see it, firstly because it's going to make gangbusters regardless and well, they'll probably see it anyway. The majority of people seeing this film have only seen the films, it doesn't make sense to things in to please a very small section of the audience. Didn't Lucas already say that everything non-films wasn't canon anyway?

 

[sky pies]

Didn't Lucas already say that everything non-films wasn't canon anyway?

I missed that one.

I would think it would be about taking advantage of a fleshed out universe, rather than pandering to the gamers, but I take your point. I suppose it will just remain aloof, it might take a few ideas like weaponary or armour, but maybe not~


.... I think I'm gonna replay JKII and Academy lol...

 

[Dizchu]

I think the key factor will be the screen time they devote to character development. Whether the film will be a minefield of action flashpoints a la Clone Wars or a slow-burner that really pulls us in. I think this on the other hand is cause for apprehension though, as I don't think many action movies these days have trodden those narrative lines.

The film is apparently just over two hours long and so far we've seen a very broad cast of around two dozen well-respected actors (Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Warwick Davis, Domhnall Gleeson and Mark Hamill are just the ones who haven't had their characters revealed).

Either they're setting up a huge cast for the next two films or this'll suffer from Hobbit Syndrome and have a bunch of characters nobody will be able to identify.

 

[sky pies]

(Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Warwick Davis

You sir have just given me nightmares. Simon Pegg in Star Wars... Okay now I just don't want to watch the movie.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Like Zhukov said: Marvel tier.

The movie's going to be loud and entertaining, it's probably going to ingratiate itself with that Millennial sense of self-referencing sarcasm (something you would never catch the other movies doing, not even the prequels), and its primary function will be to set up as many sequels and spin-offs as possible. Fun but forgettable.

 

[JoJo]

I have a feeling I may get burned at the stake for this, but I liked the prequel trilogy as much as the original.

I was about 10 when Episode 1 came out, I freaking loved Pod Racer and was suitably immersed in the marketing in a way that my upbringing of regular relocation rarely allowed me to be, so in those ways I do hold respect for this movie.

Actually I'm trying to get a grip on what people hated so much about the opening movies, though I certainly think Hayden Christensen sucks and made the second and third movie crappy. I'd like to hear what you liked about the prequel trilogy, and do you recognize how it was removed from the original series?

My main fear isn't that it'll be awful, but rather just safe and forgettable.

I also fear 'safe and foregettable'.

Same, I think I was a couple of years younger than that when the Phantom Menace came out. I liked the characters and the world depicted in the prequel trilogy especially, bar that awkward romance in Episode II. Even as a kid I thought that was just awkward. The overarching theme of Anakin's fall to the dark side wasn't a bad one either, if a little heavy-handed in places. I don't see a huge difference between the prequel and original trilogies, other than what was possible to depict at the time they were made. All six are somewhat light-hearted (though with serious moments) family space fantasy films, and that's why I love 'em