Star Wars VII
I think it's understood, but SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I probably got this whole thing wrong. I didn't lookup stuff and probably looked away at some opportune moment, and missed the MacGuffin. Either way I'll probably completely reverse my opinions after someone puts a new spin on it.
It's strange. Not necessarily in a good way.
It's weird how we're redoing elements from episode IV (and to a lesser extent 'Menace'), granted it's good to have an introduction. Sorry, but the whole Death Star one-ups-man-ship thing. It was cool but really we're going to do this again? Where do we go from here? Universe wide atomic bomb?
I do dig the execution though, whoa! multi-death star and starkiller to boot. But it seems like we should be making a bigger deal out of this. Like in IV, The Death Star was most of the movie. Here isn't not so much as an afterthought, but … oh and there's also a death star that kills systems instead of planets."
Also funny how we don't go back to any of the usually places. In the prequels it did get old, and it seemed strange how only one or two worlds was introduced a movie, and then we go back to Tatooine … again. but one might have been nice, or maybe we did go back to some place we'd been before? Hop we're here, Hop we're there, hard to keep track. How many of these were mentioned by name?
What's happening on Coruscant with the Republic?
Maybe I'm too old. Granted laughable, but I was hoping for something more cerebral. I didn't feel like there was much/enough character development granted all this was on the run, but I want to know these characters, and I don't? Then again, maybe that comes later. How much of IV told about the characters? It was flushed out more in the latter movies, but this bothered me.
Also in the 'maybe I'm too old' category, What's the motivation? Why is The First Order attacking? I guess they're didactically bad ☹. Why did Ren go dark? Why does he wear the helmet? Better yet why didn't he wear it when he needed it? Maybe it got knocked off? I know he took it off for Han.
Finn and Rey didn't feel completely like affirmative action being pushed. Though she knows engines and the force, whereas he knows very little. Also light sabers may not require physical strength, even so there's always the special pleading of a galaxy far away.
There is also Poe {shrugs}. I did like him. He was cool the 3 secs on screen he had.
Why are we not using clones again? I do like that Finn grabbed the saber and at least tried to hold his own, to a point did. Whereas there used to be the unofficial rule you had to be a Jedi to touch one, I never got that. It would have been more interesting if he were a clone rejecting programming still intriguing.
Obviously Rey's back story is of great interest. Is she Luke's daughter? Some random Jedi's daughter? / grandchild?
Who is the new emperor?
"I know! I'll be a Sith Lord, despite the fact they live in constant fear of their apprentice killing them.
I still don't understand the rule of two crap.
I didn't like the beasties Han was hauling, but they were okay for a moment.
I'm bummed about them killing Han Solo. Though that's good, now they won't mess up his character? or they have a whole other movie to do that. From a practical stand point, I'm not sure they could afford him for future movies? Then again he fell after he was sliced open. Logic suggests… but again there's always special pleading. That goes with the whole Alec Guinness / Joseph Campbell thing. Can he come back as a force ghost? probably not. Sad amusing in a sense as Harrison thought Han should have died in 'Empire'. That sucks though as he had most of the best stuff in this movie.
I knew when they set up the scene. I guess it had an obvious foreboding about it.
I know if it was practical effects, better digital effects, or more locations, but I do like the better visuals.
What's the deal with 3PO's arm?
Freezing blaster-fire in mid-air is awesome. Why does he have an inferiority complex compared with Vader? Vader never did that.Yoda or Palpatine might be better. Also the telepathy type business? That's new? I guess Palpatine gave Anakin dreams? maybe? and of course the Jedi mind trick.
Also 'scavenger scum' is just 'rebel scum' get a new "adjective".
What awakened? Rey? Finn? something else?
Overall not terrible, but a bit frustrating. Better to be left wanting more I suppose. This movie certainly did that. Granted my opinion still may change, but better than the prequels? not as good as the original trilogy?
I want to see it again.
I may tack more on here later, or a separate entry if that's necessary.
I probably got this whole thing wrong. I didn't lookup stuff and probably looked away at some opportune moment, and missed the MacGuffin. Either way I'll probably completely reverse my opinions after someone puts a new spin on it.
It's strange. Not necessarily in a good way.
It's weird how we're redoing elements from episode IV (and to a lesser extent 'Menace'), granted it's good to have an introduction. Sorry, but the whole Death Star one-ups-man-ship thing. It was cool but really we're going to do this again? Where do we go from here? Universe wide atomic bomb?
I do dig the execution though, whoa! multi-death star and starkiller to boot. But it seems like we should be making a bigger deal out of this. Like in IV, The Death Star was most of the movie. Here isn't not so much as an afterthought, but … oh and there's also a death star that kills systems instead of planets."
Also funny how we don't go back to any of the usually places. In the prequels it did get old, and it seemed strange how only one or two worlds was introduced a movie, and then we go back to Tatooine … again. but one might have been nice, or maybe we did go back to some place we'd been before? Hop we're here, Hop we're there, hard to keep track. How many of these were mentioned by name?
What's happening on Coruscant with the Republic?
Maybe I'm too old. Granted laughable, but I was hoping for something more cerebral. I didn't feel like there was much/enough character development granted all this was on the run, but I want to know these characters, and I don't? Then again, maybe that comes later. How much of IV told about the characters? It was flushed out more in the latter movies, but this bothered me.
Also in the 'maybe I'm too old' category, What's the motivation? Why is The First Order attacking? I guess they're didactically bad ☹. Why did Ren go dark? Why does he wear the helmet? Better yet why didn't he wear it when he needed it? Maybe it got knocked off? I know he took it off for Han.
Finn and Rey didn't feel completely like affirmative action being pushed. Though she knows engines and the force, whereas he knows very little. Also light sabers may not require physical strength, even so there's always the special pleading of a galaxy far away.
There is also Poe {shrugs}. I did like him. He was cool the 3 secs on screen he had.
Why are we not using clones again? I do like that Finn grabbed the saber and at least tried to hold his own, to a point did. Whereas there used to be the unofficial rule you had to be a Jedi to touch one, I never got that. It would have been more interesting if he were a clone rejecting programming still intriguing.
Obviously Rey's back story is of great interest. Is she Luke's daughter? Some random Jedi's daughter? / grandchild?
Who is the new emperor?
"I know! I'll be a Sith Lord, despite the fact they live in constant fear of their apprentice killing them.
I still don't understand the rule of two crap.
I didn't like the beasties Han was hauling, but they were okay for a moment.
I'm bummed about them killing Han Solo. Though that's good, now they won't mess up his character? or they have a whole other movie to do that. From a practical stand point, I'm not sure they could afford him for future movies? Then again he fell after he was sliced open. Logic suggests… but again there's always special pleading. That goes with the whole Alec Guinness / Joseph Campbell thing. Can he come back as a force ghost? probably not. Sad amusing in a sense as Harrison thought Han should have died in 'Empire'. That sucks though as he had most of the best stuff in this movie.
I knew when they set up the scene. I guess it had an obvious foreboding about it.
I know if it was practical effects, better digital effects, or more locations, but I do like the better visuals.
What's the deal with 3PO's arm?
Freezing blaster-fire in mid-air is awesome. Why does he have an inferiority complex compared with Vader? Vader never did that.Yoda or Palpatine might be better. Also the telepathy type business? That's new? I guess Palpatine gave Anakin dreams? maybe? and of course the Jedi mind trick.
Also 'scavenger scum' is just 'rebel scum' get a new "adjective".
What awakened? Rey? Finn? something else?
Overall not terrible, but a bit frustrating. Better to be left wanting more I suppose. This movie certainly did that. Granted my opinion still may change, but better than the prequels? not as good as the original trilogy?
I want to see it again.
I may tack more on here later, or a separate entry if that's necessary.