!!!SPOILER WARNING!!! Star Wars: The Force Awakens discussion

[onan]

http://nerdist.com/the-physics-of-starkiller-base-how-powerful-is-the-force-awakens-superweapon/

Yeah, another of my problems with TFA, why take all the energy from the sun to power a weapon? No sun, pretty much does it all.

[jazmunda]

Yeah, another of my problems with TFA, why take all the energy from the sun to power a weapon? No sun, pretty much does it all.

[georgenoorysoundboard]Good point[/gerogenoorysoundboard]

[jazmunda]

The planet that was destroyed by the Star Killer Base was: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Hosnian_Prime

When we saw the destruction of that planet it was from the vantage point of another planet called: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Takodana. It was illogical that they (Han and Co) could see that planet destroyed considering they were on a different planet in a different system in a different part of the galaxy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/3x7isx/what_did_starkiller_base_destroy/cy2621e

It’s not like they were on the earth seeing the moon being destroyed or vice versa (plausible). It’s not even like they were on earth seeing mars destroyed (which you wouldn’t be able to see and not in real time). They were on earth seeing a planet in another solar system (Alpha Centauri is closest to us) being destroyed (definitely wouldn’t be able to see). Big fail.

I sound like a nerd typing from my parents basement. I don't live in my parents basement. The rest is true.

[BellBoy]

I took my eight-year-old son to this, this morning. He LOVED it. I was completely expecting JJ Abrams to fuck this up beyond all recognition, but this movie was FUN. The look, the feel and the action were all SPOT ON.

Was it a bit of a derivative, partial retelling of the original trilogy? Yes, but it was done intelligently (enough) and with a wink and a nod to greatness. I loved it when Solo said, about the Star Killer Base, "Yeah, so it's bigger!"

My only qualm is Kylo Ren... Marilyn Manson isn't scary.

[onan]

I took my eight-year-old son to this, this morning. He LOVED it. I was completely expecting JJ Abrams to fuck this up beyond all recognition, but this movie was FUN. The look, the feel and the action were all SPOT ON.

Was it a bit of a derivative, partial retelling of the original trilogy? Yes, but it was done intelligently (enough) and with a wink and a nod to greatness. I loved it when Solo said, about the Star Killer Base, "Yeah, so it's bigger!"

My only qualm is Kylo Ren... Marilyn Manson isn't scary.

Agree with everything here.

Marilyn Manson... goddamn, you hit that spot on, and out of the park.

[BellBoy]

Agree with everything here.

Marilyn Manson... goddamn, you hit that spot on, and out of the park.

When he took off the mask, my heart sank.

(should'a kept on the mask, Kylo... should'a kept on the mask)

[jazmunda]

When he took off the mask, my heart sank.

(should'a kept on the mask Kylo... should'a kept on the mask)

I agree with this.

[bateman]

he was too emo for my taste

my main issue, and let me preface..i didnt hate the movie..it wasnt not bad..i was entertained...BUT..i felt i was watching an updated version of A New Hope...

Rey was a lil too..powerful for ...

i am sure we will get it in the next films..but there really needed a bit more..backstory on some things/people in the movie

and i realized after..it was a bit..disneyfied...Rey probably a new disney princess

That was pretty much my only issue with it. Loved how much Harrison Ford was in it - I was a little worried it was just gonna be a gimmicky cameo.

Ok, another little issue was the use of some CGI aliens - I wish they'd used some more practical/makeup effects, but it didn't ruin it for me.

[testing101]

Full of holes and jumped around. Not very original... another Death Star... really?!

[The Kraken]

I was completely expecting JJ Abrams to fuck this up beyond all recognition

After he did a good job on the new Star Treks when I expected them to suck I wasn't worried. Also I liked Lost.

[trostol]

Full of holes and jumped around. Not very original... another Death Star... really?!

+1

[Open Lines Gerry]

How lame / disappointing was Captain Phasma?  The chrome trooper uniform was awesome, but:
- the character didn't really do anything
- also shouldn't have been a woman

Like Boba Fett, a whole mythos could have risen for this character based on the costume alone - a missed opportunity, in my opinion.

[pate]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jwkYv-n494

[SredniVashtar]

It seemed like little more than a glorified retread of the original, with so many nods to previous episodes that it had no chance to develop an identity of its own. It's one thing to establish a continuity with the other parts of the series (well, the original trilogy anyway), but quite another to be preoccupied with it. The scene with Maz Kanata was only there to remind us of the Cantina; the opening scene was Tattooine and Luke all over again. They couldn't even be bothered to come up with an arresting opening scene of their own, so they just aped the Star Destroyer bit at the start of the first one. It would take too long to list all the times Abrams quoted the SW films, but also Apocalypse Now too - it looks like he doesn't have an original thought in his head. All it did was make you feel how much better they did it before.

I don't think there was a single performance that stood our for me - that must be down to Abrams, because there are some good actors there. There was nothing bad about them, but nothing all that memorable either. The original Star Wars had some fine old actors like Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing who were able to give a bit of dignity to Lucas's crappy lines, but here they all felt very lightweight. General Hux was as frightening as a Pekingese, and didn't have the heft to carry off that Nuremberg rally speech. Kylo Ren was a low-rent Vader, and Captain Phasma was a complete nonentity. When you get a terrific actor like Max von Sydow and then throw him away in the first five minutes then something is wrong somewhere. The scene with Kylo Ren and Solo also felt like it needed much more time in rehearsal. Apparently you don't need Jedi training any more either, all you have to do is concentrate really hard and it happens by itself, and the fight with Rey and Ren came across as hurried and poorly thought through.

I think the final scene was a nod to Art Bell, with Luke Skywalker gone off to sulk on his own to avoid the haters. The action climax was a bit of a joke: how many times do we have to see one of those clock-ticking scenes where everybody scurries to sort things out before a big bang comes and wipes them all out? That looks like the only idea anyone has to finish off films these days. And the bit right at the end was a total muff, as if they had given up and couldn't really be fucked any more, and were ready to hand it over to the next guy to try to come up with something. The original trilogy, for all its flaws, at least tried to create a bit of space for itself to develop character; this time it was all just a brief bit of set-up and then on to the next round of fights and running around.

It was all very efficient but empty. I don't see Abrams as much more than a gifted hack and this proved it for me.

[b_dubb]

How lame / disappointing was Captain Phasma?  The chrome trooper uniform was awesome, but:
- the character didn't really do anything
- also shouldn't have been a woman

Like Boba Fett, a whole mythos could have risen for this character based on the costume alone - a missed opportunity, in my opinion.

Anyone could have played this role. I had hoped that Gwendolyn Christie would play the role of the Sith/Dark Jedi. Instead she was wasted as a Chrome Trooper who got all of two minutes of screen time. I have to think she'll return in the next movie. I'm also thinking Max Von Sydow will somehow turn out to be Snoke because why cast someone like that in a minor role that dies in the first five minutes of the film.

I'm holding out hope that Snoke turns out to be Jar Jar's Dark Side identity. At least that will be good for a laugh.

[cweb]

It was a pretty good movie. I avoided all trailers and promos for it like the plague, so as to not come in with any expectation beyond it being a new Star Wars film.

Ask yourself- if you were completely unaware of the Star Wars universe and this was the first film you saw, how good is it? In that respect, it's an OK space story where stuff happens.

My biggest issue with the film was that none of the villains were scary or believable. Marilyn Manson (thanks BellBoy) was a bit too "emo kid," Snoke is basically Gollum suffering from Viagra withdrawal, and General Hux would have been better played by a block of cheese.

That said, there was a certain tingle you got from characters returning. Just seeing Han Solo for the first time made me tear up. I had hoped there would be a better way for him to be "retired." You saw it coming from a mile away, too.

Finn has pretty good chemistry with Poe and Rey (who I think is Luke's daughter). There was a certain "bro" vibe that Finn and Poe have which could be immensely entertaining in future films.

Overall, I don't have a beef with the new heroes- just how they were plopped into what was pretty similar to the old story.

I guess this was really a kid's movie to get them into Star Wars and on that basis, it was very successful.

[3OctaveFart]

I would have liked Captain Phasma to execute commands as a ruthless, bloodless killer.

The franchise has never had a good villainness/henchwoman and this was a missed opportunity.

[BellBoy]

It was a pretty good movie. I avoided all trailers and promos for it like the plague, so as to not come in with any expectation beyond it being a new Star Wars film.

Ask yourself- if you were completely unaware of the Star Wars universe and this was the first film you saw, how good is it? In that respect, it's an OK space story where stuff happens.

My biggest issue with the film was that none of the villains were scary or believable. Marilyn Manson (thanks BellBoy) was a bit too "emo kid," Snoke is basically Gollum suffering from Viagra withdrawal, and General Hux would have been better played by a block of cheese.

That said, there was a certain tingle you got from characters returning. Just seeing Han Solo for the first time made me tear up. I had hoped there would be a better way for him to be "retired." You saw it coming from a mile away, too.

Finn has pretty good chemistry with Poe and Rey (who I think is Luke's daughter). There was a certain "bro" vibe that Finn and Poe have which could be immensely entertaining in future films.

Overall, I don't have a beef with the new heroes- just how they were plopped into what was pretty similar to the old story.

I guess this was really a kid's movie to get them into Star Wars and on that basis, it was very successful.

I too, made a point to see as little promo crap for this, as possible. I'm also glad, that in spite of one effete, little twat's best efforts, I'd heard absolutely no spoilers.

The biggest benefit that I had in watching this film is that I was able to watch it in the company of my eight-year-old son. Even though he has seen all of the others, this was his first BIG SCREEN Star Wars film. His excitement was palpable and infectious. Sitting down next to him, I quite deliberately sank back as far as I could, into my big leather seat, jumbo popcorn in hand (sorry, no butter available for me in this god-forsaken country, so 'salted', it was) and tried to shove all of my expectations (and prior disappointments I , II , & III) as far back in my mind as possible. I gave my son a wink and a nod and simply enjoyed the visual artistry and delightful weirdness, through his eyes.

Best Star Wars ever? Naaah, but at least there was, very little, CGI... and no Jar Jar Binks.

Try watching it with as an eight-year-old, it's MAGIC.

[trostol]

I too, made a point to see as little promo crap for this, as possible. I'm also glad, that in spite of one effete, little twat's best efforts, I'd heard absolutely no spoilers.

The biggest benefit that I had in watching this film is that I was able to watch it in the company of my eight-year-old son. Even though he has seen all of the others, this was his first BIG SCREEN Star Wars film. His excitement was palpable and infectious. Sitting down next to him, I quite deliberately sank back as far as I could, into my big leather seat, jumbo popcorn in hand (sorry, no butter available for me in this god-forsaken country, so 'salted', it was) and tried to shove all of my expectations (and prior disappointments I , II , & III) as far back in my mind as possible. I gave my son a wink and a nod and simply enjoyed the visual artistry and delightful weirdness, through his eyes.

Best Star Wars ever? Naaah, but at least there was, very little, CGI... and no Jar Jar Binks.

Try watching it with as an eight-year-old, it's MAGIC.

the guy in front of me and a few chairs down was that 8 year old...and he had to be at least 40

[BellBoy]

the guy in front of me and a few chairs down was that 8 year old...and he had to be at least 40

...and then some. 

[trostol]

...and then some. 

it was embarrassing for him..he was reacting liek a kid would lol

[BellBoy]

it was embarrassing for him..he was reacting liek a kid would lol

I'm fairly sure he pee'd himself a bit, the first time he saw the twenty-foot-tall Snoke. 

[trostol]

I'm fairly sure he pee'd himself a bit, the first time he saw the twenty-foot-tall Snoke. 

he did yell "NO" when Han got taken out

and i was actually hoping Snoke was a giant..that would be awesome...a giant gollum lol

[The Kraken]

he did yell "NO" when Han got taken out

People definitely did that at the show I was at. And of course the entire theater, including myself, cheered when Han and Chewie showed up. 

[b_dubb]

https://twitter.com/kylor3n/status/679256799518814208

[cweb]

he did yell "NO" when Han got taken out

I yelled "HEY! This isn't the Chipmunks movie!"

[3OctaveFart]

There are reportedly big plans for Phasma in Episode VIII.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Star-Wars-Episode-8-Feature-Whole-Lot-More-One-Side-Character-101547.html

[SredniVashtar]

I too, made a point to see as little promo crap for this, as possible. I'm also glad, that in spite of one effete, little twat's best efforts, I'd heard absolutely no spoilers.

Really? Some bastard tried to tell you that someone got kebabed on his own son's lightsaber? What an absolute prick!

By the way, I take issue with the word 'little', although the rest is fair comment.

[BellBoy]

Really? Some bastard tried to tell you that someone got kebabed on his own son's lightsaber? What an absolute prick!

By the way, I take issue with the word 'little', although the rest is fair comment.

To be fair, you are one, humongous twat!

[Ciardelo]

To be fair, you are one, humongous twat!

Is that humongous in metric or imperial?