So Episode 7 apparently is pretty damn good

[MatParker116]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35109900

The first full reviews for the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens have hailed it as "a triumph" and "a classic".

UK newspapers were the first to publish reviews, with The Daily Telegraph and The Times each awarding it five stars.

The Times critic Kate Muir wrote: "Adults will be floored by tearful nostalgia because this is a classic."

The Daily Mail's Brian Viner described The Force Awakens as "a triumph of escapism and the most exhilarating film yet in this mighty franchise".

All I have to say is well done Mr Abrams and I look forward too seeing it for myself. Probably a smart move to bring Lawrence Kasdan back to the franchise as well.

 

[Summerstorm]

Abrams making a truly good movie (Even great judging from some of the reviews)? something is wrong here... Might be a trick of some kind.

But do i dare to hope? Have to look how People react to it. I am not going to watch it just yet.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Abrams making a truly good movie (Even great judging from some of the reviews)? something is wrong here... Might be a trick of some kind.

But do i dare to hope? Have to look how People react to it. I am not going to watch it just yet.

Abrams is a terrific director, but his films have often been saddled with mediocre at best scripts and writing. Bringing in an old veteran like Lawrence Kasdan as well as using Pablo Hidalgo's encyclopedic Star Wars brain definitely helps

 

[Cicada 5]

So can anyone tell me anything about Finn's role in this film?

 

[Diablo2000]

I will judge on it when I see it whoever it did calm some of my fears for the movie, if I can't get a ticket tomorrow then on monday...

 

[Silence]

The review I read said that the movie basically just references the first trilogy all the time, checking cameo to cameo, until it starts a real original plot in something like the last 10 minutes.
Seems like fans get what they wanted.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

97% on Rotten Tomatoes so far. Now that reviews are out and showings are starting I'm going to need to go full media blackout mode soon. My tickets are for Sunday.

The review I read said that the movie basically just references the first trilogy all the time, checking cameo to cameo, until it starts a real original plot in something like the last 10 minutes.
Seems like fans get what they wanted.

I suspect that's a cynical overstatement, but the film was always going to have to go ham on nostalgia and fan service. They're trying to reboot a series that vomited up three of the worst films in the modern era, and arguably hasn't had a truly laudable installment in 35 years. They're in this for the long haul, it makes sense to kick things off by re-grounding everyone's expectations and establishing strong ties to the OT.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

Now how much of this is colored by hope and hype?
It will be interesting to see what people think of the movie five months from now.

That being said, the movie does have quite a few people on the team who seem to actually give a shit about the source material so mayyyybe.

Edit:
Moviebob seems to like it [http://moviebob.blogspot.com/2015/12/review-star-wars-episode-vii-force.html#more]
YMMV based on your opinion of Moviebob and how he reviews movies.

and George Lucas didn't seem to care for it [http://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-George-Lucas-Really-Thought-Star-Wars-Force-Awakens-98887.html]

I think the fans are going to love it. It?s very much the kind of movie they?ve been looking for.

Now we'll get to find out what exactly he meant by that comment.

 

[Casual Shinji]

It's fine.

That's all I can really say about it. But take this as a statement from someone who isn't big on Star Wars.

If it tried to go for the old 70's feeling, then mission accomplished. It has that super corny sci-fi pulp blood coursing through its veins; Characters are best buddies simply by being in eachother's presence for more than 30 seconds.

It's also pushing the practical effects like nobody's business, almost to a point where it draws a bit too much attention on it. And the two major CGI characters look kinda fake.

On the positive side, the lightsaber fights are very good. The lightsabers themselves have a great heft and a - no pun intended - force behind them. They feel like dangerous weapons and not like the weightless glowsticks that they were in the prequels.

The biggest spectacle for me though was watching Carrie Fischer try and keep herself together on screen. She looked like she could keel over at any moment.

 

[Gonzolaz]

Got to watch it earlier today. It's okay. My main problem is that there are so many references in so many ways to the original 1977-film, that it becomes distracting. It's almost more of a showpiece for Star Wars nostalgia than an actual film. But it certainly is a lot better than the prequels.
The character development is also a lot weaker than the original films.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I just came from seeing it. It's basically a beat-by-beat encore of the first (i.e. fourth) movie.

Spoiler

Super important McGuffin droid is found on a desert planet by a forlorn youth, they team up with Han & Chewie on the Millennium Falcon and go looking for the rebels. There's a cantina scene, a sacrifical scene and a Death Star to blow up.

So can anyone tell me anything about Finn's role in this film?

Spoiler

He's a stormtrooper that becomes disenchanted with the bad guys after he sees them slaughter a whole village and decides to defect over to the good guys. He's also a possible love interest to Rey.

I admit that, as purely objective as I can be, the movie is good enough.
As a fan, I'm digusted.

 

[Casual Shinji]

So can anyone tell me anything about Finn's role in this film?

Spoiler

He's a stormtrooper that becomes disenchanted with the bad guys after he sees them slaughter a whole village and decides to defect over to the good guys. He's also a possible love interest to Rey.

I think I liked him the most out of anyone.

Spoiler

He's just this wimpy stormtrooper who fancies himself a hero, but is terribly ill equiped at being one.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

So can anyone tell me anything about Finn's role in this film?

Spoiler

He's a stormtrooper that becomes disenchanted with the bad guys after he sees them slaughter a whole village and decides to defect over to the good guys. He's also a possible love interest to Rey.

I think I liked him the most out of anyone.

Spoiler

He's just this wimpy stormtrooper who fancies himself a hero, but is terribly ill equiped at being one.

I rather liked him too. Poe as well. Rey, not so much.

Spoiler

Not for a second did I buy this posh, impeccably coiffed and manicured young lady as an orphaned scavenger in a desert planet. And the whole will I do this/won't I do that routine really bored me. Finn and Poe know what they want. Rey on the other hand is such a meandering character that I never got around liking her.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I rather liked him too. Poe as well. Rey, not so much.

Spoiler

Not for a second did I buy this posh, impeccably coiffed and manicured young lady as an orphaned scavenger in a desert planet. And the whole will I do this/won't I do that routine really bored me. Finn and Poe know what they want. Rey on the other hand is such a meandering character that I never got around liking her.

I didn't dislike her, but after watching it I was left thinking 'Is she really capable of taking the mantle as the Jedi hero for the following sequels?'

And I liked Poe, but there was just precious little of him. Speaking of characters of whom there was precious little...

Spoiler

For as much as Phasma was pushed as this badass female stormtrooper, played by Brianne from Game of Thrones, she barely has a minute of screen time. I'm sure she'll come into play in the sequels, but that was just minimal as fuck.

And the ending with Luke Skywalker felt like something that just had to be there, as opposed to it being a natural ending to the movie. I think it would've served the movie better had they ended it with just Rey and Chewie blasting off into space, on their way to find Luke, undercut by the Star Wars theme, roll credits. But that would've seriously pissed off fans, most likely. Now it just comes across a bit... flaccid. Like 'Yeah, here's Luke Skywalker. Bye!'

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I rather liked him too. Poe as well. Rey, not so much.

Spoiler

Not for a second did I buy this posh, impeccably coiffed and manicured young lady as an orphaned scavenger in a desert planet. And the whole will I do this/won't I do that routine really bored me. Finn and Poe know what they want. Rey on the other hand is such a meandering character that I never got around liking her.

I didn't dislike her, but after watching it I was left thinking 'Is she really capable of taking the mantle as the Jedi hero for the following sequels?'

And I liked Poe, but there was just precious little of him. Speaking of characters of whom there was precious little...

Spoiler

For as much as Phasma was pushed as this badass female stormtrooper, played by Brianne from Game of Thrones, she barely has a minute of screen time. I'm sure she'll come into play in the sequels, but that was just minimal as fuck.

And the ending with Luke Skywalker felt like something that just had to be there, as opposed to it being a natural ending to the movie. I think it would've served the movie better had they ended it with just Rey and Chewie blasting off into space, on their way to find Luke, undercut by the Star Wars theme, roll credits. But that would've seriously pissed off fans, most likely. Now it just comes across a bit... flaccid. Like 'Yeah, here's Luke Skywalker. Bye!'

I completely missed out the hype for that one character. I did hear other critics complain about his/her screentime though.
As for the ending...

Spoiler

I imagine it would have zero impact on someone who hasn't seen the original movies. For the most part the movie works on its own terms, but that final bit is one big conceit entirely aimed at the fans. And from a narrative POV, it doesn't make much sense. On any other movie, Luke would've showed up 1/2 to 3/4 of the way in, tops.
Here he's basically Silent Nick Fury, in for the hype.
Also, what was the deal between Rey and Luke? Are we supposed to think she's her child? Something to that effect seemed to be alluded once she discovered his lightsaber (the lightsaber "choosing her" after having chosen Luke, and Anakin before him), but the idea didn't fully round itself up.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I completely missed out the hype for that one character. I did hear other critics complain about his/her screentime though.
As for the ending...

Spoiler

I imagine it would have zero impact on someone who hasn't seen the original movies. For the most part the movie works on its own terms, but that final bit is one big conceit entirely aimed at the fans. And from a narrative POV, it doesn't make much sense. On any other movie, Luke would've showed up 1/2 to 3/4 of the way in, tops.
Here he's basically Silent Nick Fury, in for the hype.
Also, what was the deal between Rey and Luke? Are we supposed to think she's her child? Something to that effect seemed to be alluded once she discovered his lightsaber (the lightsaber "choosing her" after having chosen Luke, and Anakin before him), but the idea didn't fully round itself up.

Spoiler

I'm sure she's some major character's child. Luke's might be a bit too on the nose even for Star Wars, but... this is Star Wars; This franchise gets its emotional drama from someone being someone else's father/brother/mother/sister/cousin/dentist.

 

[tiamat5]

I am always cautious of people constantly going on about how good something is.Sometimes it is an indication of the many negative things people purposefully ignored or gave a pass. I will be the judge of it myself.

 

[happyninja42]

Now how much of this is colored by hope and hype?
It will be interesting to see what people think of the movie five months from now.

That being said, the movie does have quite a few people on the team who seem to actually give a shit about the source material so mayyyybe.

Edit:
Moviebob seems to like it [http://moviebob.blogspot.com/2015/12/review-star-wars-episode-vii-force.html#more]
YMMV based on your opinion of Moviebob and how he reviews movies.

and George Lucas didn't seem to care for it [http://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-George-Lucas-Really-Thought-Star-Wars-Force-Awakens-98887.html]

I think the fans are going to love it. It?s very much the kind of movie they?ve been looking for.

Now we'll get to find out what exactly he meant by that comment.

Question about the Movie Bob review of it. At the end, he mentions "a better director working on the next installment, and they've pretty much got that locked in place already." And flashes up a stillshot of some guy. Who is that guy? I don't recognize him, but I'd like to know what director he was referring to.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Now how much of this is colored by hope and hype?
It will be interesting to see what people think of the movie five months from now.

That being said, the movie does have quite a few people on the team who seem to actually give a shit about the source material so mayyyybe.

Edit:
Moviebob seems to like it [http://moviebob.blogspot.com/2015/12/review-star-wars-episode-vii-force.html#more]
YMMV based on your opinion of Moviebob and how he reviews movies.

and George Lucas didn't seem to care for it [http://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-George-Lucas-Really-Thought-Star-Wars-Force-Awakens-98887.html]

I think the fans are going to love it. It?s very much the kind of movie they?ve been looking for.

Now we'll get to find out what exactly he meant by that comment.

Question about the Movie Bob review of it. At the end, he mentions "a better director working on the next installment, and they've pretty much got that locked in place already." And flashes up a stillshot of some guy. Who is that guy? I don't recognize him, but I'd like to know what director he was referring to.

Rian Johnson, director of Brick and Looper. He's signed up to write eps. VIII and IX, and is directing the next instalment as well.

 

[happyninja42]

Rian Johnson, director of Brick and Looper. He's signed up to write eps. VIII and IX, and is directing the next instalment as well.

Ah, haven't seen either of those, though I have heard they are good. Hopefully he'll do well with the franchise then.