+++++++++++spoilers!!!!!!+++++++++++++ star wars ++++++++++spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[UnfilteredDregs]

We got a thread for this yet?

[David Tollefson]

Vader is Luke's FATHER!

[Mabouya]

Vader is Luke's FATHER!

It's been right there for all to see: Vader = Vater

[David Tollefson]

Seriously, though, while I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and thought it was a well-done piece to transition into the post Ep-VI world, I wasn't really surprised by anything. I'd read enough of the "official" follow-on fiction, and they stayed basically true to it. They've opened the possibilities for many more films in the SW saga.

[UnfilteredDregs]

What I don't like is the recycled plot vehicles. Secret intel being hunted down, damsel sorta in distress, wise mentor's death, fuckin' battlestation that needs to be destroyed, yada, yada, yada...

But...Patricide?

[David Tollefson]

Kylo Ren was very much struggling with his identity. It took that to solidify his path. If you've read the post-Ep-VI fiction, you see the back story on that.

[UnfilteredDregs]

Eh...the more I think about it, it is a lazy and shitty movie.

Complete rehash of "A New Hope," they killed Han poorly, not even reuniting with Skywalker. Bullshit.

Kinda like a greatest hits album by your favorite band, but all the songs are covered by artists you hate.

[Too Tall]

It was just OK. Smacked of a revenue generator for the next one which I will *hope is alot better.
Kudos for the strong female role.

[Brandon White]

I'm not a die-hard Star Wars fan, but a fan nonetheless. It brings back great child hood memories taking my own son to see it. E VII was a gateway into a much larger batch of movies to be made and kick off into the continuation of the story. It was well directed and put together - the semi-bad acting and cheesy lines will always be part of the franchise.

I like reading the "who is rey?" commentary.

[rec head]

Seen it twice and liked a lot it both times.

There is a Star Destroyer scene that in the 3D version is worth the price of admission. That thing was just floating right there in front of me.

There were some cheesy parts but I thought it was a big nod to the fans and the original Star Wars. Getting back to the original look of the movies was awesome.

I'm glad they are going to start cranking out movies in the Star Wars galaxy. As long as they are good I'll be there watching them.

[deano]

I read a review suggesting Abrams is really only capable of paying homage, and that tracked well with how I felt about it. He did a fantastic job making soemthing worthy of the Star Wars Universe - the battles, the roller-coaster flying, the intrigue, especially the aesthetic, all amazing. But too many chappeaus to the Old Ones for my taste (trash compactor, putting the Force moves on Daniel Craig the storm trooper, etc). By the time they were trying to pull the lightsaber out of the snow like Luke did on Hoth it was almost self-parody.

I probably sound awfully snooty by now, BUT: I loved it, watched it twice so far, and I think that was THE BEST lightsaber fight in all of Star Wars. The BEST.

[j44ke]

The originals were pretty high on the cheese. Part of Lucas' nostalgia for family movies, i.e. done on purpose as part of the aesthetic. Adults grimace a bit, but it is meat and potatoes for the kids.

My pal David went to see the original Star Wars 12 times when it first came out. Now he has a 4 year old and the house is full of light sabers all of a sudden. They've spent the last couple months learning all the lines from all the previous movies by heart, and so they will now both see the new movie together. His son's favorite is Darth Vader, which is a little disturbing, but hey, as long as he doesn't try to rule the world, a black shiny mask and a lot of hyperventilating is pretty harmless at that age.

[Brandon White]

The originals were pretty high on the cheese. Part of Lucas' nostalgia for family movies, i.e. done on purpose as part of the aesthetic. Adults grimace a bit, but it is meat and potatoes for the kids.

My pal David went to see the original Star Wars 12 times when it first came out. Now he has a 4 year old and the house is full of light sabers all of a sudden. They've spent the last couple months learning all the lines from all the previous movies by heart, and so they will now both see the new movie together. His son's favorite is Darth Vader, which is a little disturbing, but hey, as long as he doesn't try to rule the world, a black shiny mask and a lot of hyperventilating is pretty harmless at that age.

My 7 year old wanted to leave twice and I think he cried when Han Solo died. When he walked out of the theatre, he was begging for a Kylo Ren costume?!?! He's (my kid) not a bad guy at heart, but he can still play one w/ his friends.

Reminds me of my friend talking with me about his latest viewing of the 4,5,6 Trilogy. When Luke is being told to give in to his hate and join the Dark Side, my friend's son says "why doesn't he just join the dark side?" My friend feels he's failed as a parent.

[TTX1]

I'm not surprised to find more temperate and considered comments at the Salon...

I'll offer that all of the SW movies have the same general weaknesses and childish plot developments based on proto pulp material from Lucas' own childhood.

None of it has lived up to childhood memory, with the exception of the aerial battle choreography and majestic landscapes.

From the original cantina band to the current cantina band, the tone and treatment has been remarkably consistent.

The disappointment with the prequels was largely the result of adults confronting material with childhood perceptions and expectations. But it's really no surprise that the guy who gave us Ewoks also gave us Jar Jar.

I liked the return to dirt and dust vs the clean CGI of the prequels.

I also thought JJA delivered on some of the best action scenes in any SW film so far (although the best fight scenes for me are probably the lightsaber duel vs. Darth Maul or Yoda vs. Palpatine).

JJ isn't merely a sequel specialist - like Lucas, he pays homage - often obsessively - to a great variety of popular narratives that have come before.

But it is what it is, not really better or worse - the lastest film is on-brand, imho.

Fun movie. Great setup for the next episode.

[UnfilteredDregs]

Lens flare will only get you so far...

To be a total weenie, who's been around tactical aircraft, that nonsense where Finn was watching Poe Dameron in his X-Wing tag like 7 TIE's...Jets HURTLE by you sooooooooo fast.... that shit just looked bad....it really took away from the cinematic impact it could of had...all he needed to do was go out, watch some Raptors or some shit, and just get that flavor...

I mean...sonic BOOMS, in the theater...woulda been off the hook.

Man, hit a damn air-show.

JJ is killing two franchises simply because he can't write a cohesive story. (Star Trek...).

[Jonathan]

When I was in the moment I think the film delivered the ticket price and more. I was entertained solidly for a few hours. Now out of the theatre, the plot holes didn't make sense or were left wide open. You'd need to spend a whole movie undoing the damage.

[David Tollefson]

You'd need to spend a whole movie undoing the damage.

And that is likely the point.

[GonaSovereign]

They earned my money when the Star Destroyer poked me in the forehead. IMAX 3D is pretty neat.

[sk_tle]

I feel good knowing I rightly avoided watching the movie before reading the humoristic spoilers. I would have hated having the spoilers spoiled by the movie. Same applies to other bad movies such as the hunger games series.

[dgaddis]

I'm a Star Wars fan, but not a "super fan". We have the 6 six movies on BlueRay, but that's it, I don't have any other merchandise, haven't read any of the books, etc. I thought the new movie was great fun. The references to the original movies were fun, and I agree that it felt like a bridge from the originals to the upcoming newer ones. Hopefully they move past the nostalgia and stand alone.

And please no more Death Stars. I mean, damn. 7 movies, 3 Death Stars. At some point the bad guys have to realize it's a huge waste of resources, right? I mean they keep getting blown up. Try something new.