Star Wars: Episode VII

[molson]

Ya, I think it's fair to have a cutoff now that the movie has been out for a few days. Maybe Grover can edit the thread title (though it looks like he hasn't been around for a while).

[stevew]

I'd say Monday would be more fair. It's only been out since Thursday.

[spleen1015]

Spoiler

I don't think there is any way Rey is not Luke's daughter.

The Star Wars Saga is about the Skywalker family and I don't think Kylo/Ben is the Skywalker this is really about.

[lighthousekeeper]

Saw it today with my family. I was shocked at how empty the theater was (there were only about 15 people at our showing).

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

Saw it today with my family. I was shocked at how empty the theater was (there were only about 15 people at our showing).

Anecdotal, but I was glancing at movie times today and saw that screenings at the biggest and best theaters were completely sold out. I wanted to give the 3D screening a try and went to a smaller, less popular theater and it was sparsely attended.

Originally Posted by PilotMan

By this point, and with as few movies that I do see in the theater, it's IMAX 3D or nothing. Especially with action, especially when you know there's going to be plenty of action. 3D has gotten away from the schtick that it used to be and it flows much more naturally into the movie. It makes for one helluva impressive experience.

I wanted to try the IMAX 3D but the screening I could go to was sold out. I settled for a regular 3D screening, and again I was completely underwhelmed. I don't get why people enjoy this format. The 2D digital screening I saw Friday was lightspeed ahead of the 3D screening I saw today. The image was fuzzy, dimly lit, there was blurring of small objects and the annoying glow around almost everything.

I'd still give IMAX 3D a try, but RealD 3D is pure garbage, and it was utterly a waste on this film.

[EagleFan]

Didn't blow me away. Had some moments and was a nice big screen movie but I think that made it seem better than it was. Don't take this as me saying that I disliked it because I did enjoy the movie, but by no stretch of the imagination did I love the movie.

[Fidatelo]

Saw it with my six year-old this morning and we both had a great time. That fact alone is super cool. Definitely better than all of the prequels. I'd put it behind Empire and in similar territory to A New Hope.

(Jedi is too hard for me to rank because as a kid I absolutely loved it but as an adult so much of it doesn't hold up. And yet all the scenes with Luke, Vader, and the Emperor are still some of the best from any of the movies.)

[BillJasper]

The Force Awakens would probably rank third for me behind Empire... and A New Hope.

[sabotai]

Liked it. Felt like it could have been a lot better.

Spoiler

As far as Rey being Luke's daughter, during Rey's flashbacks there was a brief scene of a little girl yelling "come back" to a ship flying away. I'd imagine that was Rey and Luke was flying away. (Edit: Was looking at a thread on Reddit and read that someone said "Rey" to the little girl during that scene. I missed that.)

[Draft Dodger]

I'm holding out hope that she isn't, but I too kind of feel like that's what's going on.

this one I will spoil

Spoiler

you think in 20 years when Abrams redoes this one for the special edition, he'll change it so that Han slipped into the lightsaber?

[NobodyHere]

I just saw it this morning

Spoiler

Why was their lightsaber blue, shouldn't it have been green?

Also Luke must've not gotten around to giving lightsaber training to his trainee. Kylo was beaten by a complete newb.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Saw it this morning. Had heard from friends that it was good, but was too heavily borrowing from the previous story. That is an accurate and valid complaint, but I didn't care. I loved every minute of it.

[bob]

Spoiler

Need some help here. My wife said that Maz Kanata said to Rey that the lightsaber belonged to Rey's father and grandfather. I don't remember her saying that, but it could be that I missed it because of my daughter. Did that happen?

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by bob

Spoiler

Need some help here. My wife said that Maz Kanata said to Rey that the lightsaber belonged to Rey's father and grandfather. I don't remember her saying that, but it could be that I missed it because of my daughter. Did that happen?

Spoiler

According to Wookiepedia, she said the lightsaber belonged to Luke and his father before him.

Which goes back to my last comment that the lightsaber should've green. Or else it means they fished Luke's old lightsaber from wherever Cloud City orbits and fixed it.

[stevew]

It was the Nooooooooooooooo-saber. She got it out of the trash somehow

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Spoiler

According to Wookiepedia, she said the lightsaber belonged to Luke and his father before him.

Which goes back to my last comment that the lightsaber should've green. Or else it means they fished Luke's old lightsaber from wherever Cloud City orbits and fixed it.

That's exactly what happened. They just didn't tell us how it happened yet.

[kcchief19]

Exactly.

Spoiler

The green lightsaber from ROTJ was only Luke's and never belong to Anakin/Vader. The blue saber Luke lost on Bespin was the one that belonged to Anakin and now is in Rey's possession. Maz Kanata got it somewhere but said the story was for another time.

[stevew]

Ok. I think we can probably ditch the spoilers soon.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Maz Kanata got it somewhere but said the story was for another time.

yet another side movie...

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

yet another side movie...

Shh!!! The Mouse might hear you!

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

yet another side movie...

It does make we wonder how many movies Disney will make.

Will we be getting a new numbered movie every year from now on beyond 7-9? Will we be watching episode 14 in 2029?

[stevew]

I hope we get as many movies as possible

[BillJasper]

I'll be fine if they pull the curtain on the Skywalker family saga with Episode IX.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

yet another side movie...

I read that the Actress was pretty bad at the motion capture stuff and they ended up trimming Maz's role considerably. I figure Maz getting the ********* would be a good side story if they elect to go in that direction. Thus far I think the schedule is

Rogue One-next Xmas
Episode 8 May of 2017
Han Solo Movie-2017-2018
Episode 9 May of 2019

Plus there's talk of a Yoda movie, perhaps a darth vader movie, and numerous other characters that could be used(darth Maul, Boba Fett, the Wookies)

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by stevew

I hope we get as many movies as possible

Agreed. If they are like this one, bring them on! It'll be interesting how they redo some stories now that a lot of things are non-canon. Boba Fett is one I'd like to see more on. Of course, I always thought a movie about KOTOR would have been spectacular.

[Chief Rum]

Coulda sworn they already had a Boba Fett one in pre-production, too, although I am being too lazy right now to look it up.

[Kodos]

[Kodos]

This summarizes the upcoming movies:

Full Star Wars Movie Release Calendar | Den of Geek

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sequel_trilogy

[miked]

Has anyone seen this in 3D? I imagine you can't take off the glasses and watch it regularly if you get tired of it? We have a sitter tomorrow night and it's either go the dine-in movie theater (Buckhead fork and spoon) for a regular show, or hit up Phipps for a 3D show. I've never seen a movie in 3D in the theater, so I have no idea what to expect. It seems as though all the standard times are sold out, but the 3D have seats available (maybe because there are more of them). A lot of the online reviews say the fork and spoon is not the best experience, the lights have to stay partially on and it can get loud with people eating.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by miked

Has anyone seen this in 3D? I imagine you can't take off the glasses and watch it regularly if you get tired of it? We have a sitter tomorrow night and it's either go the dine-in movie theater (Buckhead fork and spoon) for a regular show, or hit up Phipps for a 3D show. I've never seen a movie in 3D in the theater, so I have no idea what to expect. It seems as though all the standard times are sold out, but the 3D have seats available (maybe because there are more of them). A lot of the online reviews say the fork and spoon is not the best experience, the lights have to stay partially on and it can get loud with people eating.

I think there are different types of 3D...IMAX 3D is one thing but then theaters have "regular" 3D showings that are more simple, for lack of a better word. I prefer normal 2D showings above those but you definitely don't want to take the glasses off for a prolonged period of time in any 3D show, I'd assume.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by miked

Has anyone seen this in 3D? I imagine you can't take off the glasses and watch it regularly if you get tired of it? We have a sitter tomorrow night and it's either go the dine-in movie theater (Buckhead fork and spoon) for a regular show, or hit up Phipps for a 3D show. I've never seen a movie in 3D in the theater, so I have no idea what to expect. It seems as though all the standard times are sold out, but the 3D have seats available (maybe because there are more of them). A lot of the online reviews say the fork and spoon is not the best experience, the lights have to stay partially on and it can get loud with people eating.

Here's the weird thing that happened to me: we supposedly saw the 3D version (paid for the 3d version, went into a room clearly marked 3d). Everyone else in the theater had the 3d glasses on throughout the movie. But I swear the movie wasn't in 3D. I took my glasses off early on during the movie because it was clearer without them and just watched the movie normally.

[molson]

Regular 3D seems to vary in quality by screen. IMAX 3D is the way to go, and just anecdotally, I've heard that version of Star Wars is well-done and not overly ridiculous with the visuals.

[Kodos]

I generally avoid 3D and Imax, as I dislike both of them. First time I saw Star Wars was 2D and from a good viewing spot. Second time, it was Imax 3D from too close and over to the side. Definitely better in 2D, although this was probably the least annoying 3D movie I've seen since Avatar.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by stevew

I hope we get as many movies as possible

Ugh, not me. I have long since had Marvel movie fatigue (I haven't seen Thor 2, Avengers 2, Ant-Man and don't care that I missed any of them), I don't want Star Wars fatigue (as I like SW far better than the Marvel movies).

[Kodos]

I agree on the Marvel fatigue, but then I've never been a comic book geek.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Ugh, not me. I have long since had Marvel movie fatigue (I haven't seen Thor 2, Avengers 2, Ant-Man and don't care that I missed any of them), I don't want Star Wars fatigue (as I like SW far better than the Marvel movies).

I feel the same way about Marvel. I hope I don't get that feeling about Star Wars.

But with that being said I hope we don't have to wait 10-15 years between trilogies (assuming they don't abandon the trilogy model).

[Easy Mac]

I have nothing useful to add, other than I went at 9 PM last night and there were maybe 15 empty seats in the theater.

I'm torn on Adam Driver. I both liked his portrayal, and didn't for pretty much the same reasons. He essentially did the whiny, Hayden Christiansen thing, but he seemed to elevate it so that it worked, but still seemed kind of annoying. Also, I'm not sure his line delivery works well for something like Star Wars. His speech pattern is a bit too rapid fire and works much better in indie movies... but I still really liked it/hated it while it was going on.

[SegRat]

I loved the movie!

[stevew]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Ugh, not me. I have long since had Marvel movie fatigue (I haven't seen Thor 2, Avengers 2, Ant-Man and don't care that I missed any of them), I don't want Star Wars fatigue (as I like SW far better than the Marvel movies).

All of the Marvel movies are basically the same. I'm excited that we'll get all kinds of movies about different places in the star wars trilogy. The casting for Rogue One looks great and it should be an exciting story.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

I have nothing useful to add, other than I went at 9 PM last night and there were maybe 15 empty seats in the theater.

I'm torn on Adam Driver. I both liked his portrayal, and didn't for pretty much the same reasons. He essentially did the whiny, Hayden Christiansen thing, but he seemed to elevate it so that it worked, but still seemed kind of annoying. Also, I'm not sure his line delivery works well for something like Star Wars. His speech pattern is a bit too rapid fire and works much better in indie movies... but I still really liked it/hated it while it was going on.

I'm with you 100% on Driver. I think the fact that he annoyed us means he's actually nailing it as a character. This is essentially the performance Anakin Skywalker deserved in the prequels (I think someone may have mentioned that up thread). Then again, based upon the thematic circumstances, Kylo has much better reason to be the angsty teen.

I really liked the description he gave of being "seduced" by the light side of the force. Interesting to coach it in those terms, and it makes me wonder if moving forward we're going to see a bit of a step back from the stark black and white nature of light side versus dark side.

[ISiddiqui]

We really need a grey side of the force .

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

We really need a grey side of the force .

Are you saying we need a... Tri-force??

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

I'm with you 100% on Driver. I think the fact that he annoyed us means he's actually nailing it as a character. This is essentially the performance Anakin Skywalker deserved in the prequels (I think someone may have mentioned that up thread). Then again, based upon the thematic circumstances, Kylo has much better reason to be the angsty teen.

I really liked the description he gave of being "seduced" by the light side of the force. Interesting to coach it in those terms, and it makes me wonder if moving forward we're going to see a bit of a step back from the stark black and white nature of light side versus dark side.

Yeah Driver was a gigantic disappointment for me and my girlfriend. Once he took the mask off I was like what is Andrew Lloyd Webers son in this. Maybe if they didn't so quickly reveal his face it might of kept him menacing. I hope he gets all Dark Force going forward.

[Racer]

Originally Posted by stevew

I'll spoiler all this-

Spoiler

OBVIOUSLY the pressing question is "Who is rey" towards the end of the movie. I guess you could argue easily that she's either Kylo's sister or cousin. I'd speculate that she's the daughter of Luke Skywalker and she got dropped off on that planet and was being watched over by the guy who dies in the beginning. I still kind of feel that all of that is perhaps too obvious.

My out of left field theory is that she's actually Boba Fett's kid, as that could make some sense. He survives the scarlac pit. I know that Temuera Morrison(jango/boba) isn't exactly white, but they could make it work. It's scifi after all.

I also feel like she was using dark side style fighting techniques already so I'm not exactly going to be shocked if she turns to the dark side at some point in this trilogy.

Spoiler

A friend of mine suggested she may be a descendant of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe Granddaughter or Great Granddaughter if that was the case? Apparently, it was Obi-Wan's voice when she first touched the light saber beneath that bar.

Emperor Palpatine descendant might also be kind of cool. Long lost daughter of Luke Skywalker seems like it might be the most likely, but it might also be to expected.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Racer

Spoiler

A friend of mine suggested she may be a descendant of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe Granddaughter or Great Granddaughter if that was the case? Apparently, it was Obi-Wan's voice when she first touched the light saber beneath that bar.

Emperor Palpatine descendant might also be kind of cool. Long lost daughter of Luke Skywalker seems like it might be the most likely, but it might also be to expected.

Are we still using spoiler tags?

Spoiler

If she is the daughter of Luke then why did he abandon her?

My own leading theory is a Palpatine descendant or other dark Jedi myself, although I dunno if they want to go to that well again.

Also, who was Max Von Sydow's character and how did he get a piece of Skywalker's map?

[stevew]

She does look a lot like Natalie Portman. At least when she was in Tatooine gear

[molson]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Are we still using spoiler tags?

Spoiler

If she is the daughter of Luke then why did he abandon her?

Spoiler

That bothered me a little. Not necessarily as a flaw with the movie, but just that I was annoyed with Luke. Daughter or no daughter, your sister and the resistance are having some trouble and might all be destroyed at any second Luke, so maybe stop staring off into the water on some Ireland-like hill for 10 minutes and come help out. Luke always was such a drama queen.

Edit: I now realize you were talking about the initial abandonment rather than Luke running off and throwing a tantrum. Kind of the same deal though. But maybe she had to grow up on a desert shithole like he did to fulfill her destiny.

[TexasT]

Saw it in 3D. Was awesome.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by molson

Spoiler

That bothered me a little. Not necessarily as a flaw with the movie, but just that I was annoyed with Luke. Daughter or no daughter, your sister and the resistance are having some trouble and might all be destroyed at any second Luke, so maybe stop staring off into the water on some Ireland-like hill for 10 minutes and come help out. Luke always was such a drama queen.

Edit: I now realize you were talking about the initial abandonment rather than Luke running off and throwing a tantrum. Kind of the same deal though. But maybe she had to grow up on a desert shithole like he did to fulfill her destiny.

Spoiler

Didn't Yoda and Obi-Wan sort of do the same thing? I mean one was chilling out in the swamps of Dagobah and the other being some hermit on Tatooine while Vader and Palpatine were kicking ass all over the galaxy. Seems like the Jedi have a history of this sort of behaviour.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by molson

Spoiler

That bothered me a little. Not necessarily as a flaw with the movie, but just that I was annoyed with Luke. Daughter or no daughter, your sister and the resistance are having some trouble and might all be destroyed at any second Luke, so maybe stop staring off into the water on some Ireland-like hill for 10 minutes and come help out. Luke always was such a drama queen.

Edit: I now realize you were talking about the initial abandonment rather than Luke running off and throwing a tantrum. Kind of the same deal though. But maybe she had to grow up on a desert shithole like he did to fulfill her destiny.

Spoiler

Does he know what's going on? If he went into hiding after Kylo turned, he probably doesn't know what's happened with the resistance and everything else. Furthermore, because of his failure with Kylo, he might see himself as more of a hindrance than a help.