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'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' smashes box office record

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So wish I could have seen it back home! This is one film I'm going to cheer when I see certain characters, and methinks people here won't understand as well. I usually never do it, but with Star Wars I will.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The movie was good, though it paralleled A New Hope a bit, which disappointed me. But overall, the movie was fun and would see it again.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Smith, I fully agree with you here!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Very good movie. I will try to watch it again.

Yes, there is a lot of plot similarities with a new hope, and people are hanging their negative opinions based solely on this criticism. It doesn't detract from the movie. The cast is outstanding, the writing is great, and the film making is top of its game. Were their plot hole, probably, but who cares when the movie just works.

It is new while incorporating a lot of what people liked about the originals. More Han Solo and Chewy, and less princess Lea & C3PO.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Fantastic movie. An absolute must see.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Loved the film, want to ditch work and go see it again.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

smithinjapan, I saw it on Friday night in a sold-out theater with only a few other foreign faces sprinkled throughout the audience. There was raucus appluase and cheering every time a familiar face appeared, and every time something amazing happened, which was frequently. Some things are universal when die-hard fans are involved. : )

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Just watched it today. Cost more than I expected too even with my Regal "discount" card was $14usd which is the most I've ever spent for a ticket for a film.

As a person born in 1977 when the first film came out, I practically grew up with the saga from the start. So seeing this new start to the series was very nostalgic and came across as nothing short of amazing for those that have seen every single Star Wars film. Not too keen on the Prequel trilogy that was made after the original, but it still forms great continuity and continues with the mythos that developed it all.

For those of you that have kids, don't let them watch this part of the trilogy until they've watched the previous films. Otherwise complete newbies to the saga will just brush it off as, "Meh, what was so great about that? Han Solo? Whose that old guy!?! And whats with that furry shag dog man?"

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Star Wars VII : A New Hope II

LOL, in more ways than one!

They used a lot of plot devices from Episode IV and for that I downgraded my review from 5 out of 5 stars to 4 out of 5 stars. Episode 7 effectively re-invigorates the Star Wars canon, though, and so interest in Episode 8 is piqued.

My non-spoiler summary to people who asked me on Friday was, "It borrows a lot of plot devices from Episode IV; there is a shocking development with regards to a beloved character, and if you liked Episodes IV, V, and VI, then you'll like Episode VII."

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If you imagine an actual military organization, this makes no sense at all.

But that's the real trick isn't it? It's not an actual military organization, it's a wonderful mythical place that is constantly surrounded by back up individuals. The new novels go into the back up characters including families of pilots who were flying in the battle of Endor. There's a comic that speaks about a mother flying away from core of the second Death Star and in the aftermath only wants to get home to her son who she hasn't seen in three years. There's a story of an Imperial officer who was afraid and hid in the forest during Han Solo's attack on the shield generator. This is how real it gets. We don't delve into this for the reality of it, that's an asinine line of thinking. We love these movies because these characters exist and are able to do things that wouldn't normally go their way. I can go watch CNN or the Pentagon channel if I wanted what you're asking for.

By the way, the resistance sent the x-wings in for back up.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Chewie... we're home!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

(Re: Episode IV) the main characters are largely spectators and other influential members of the Rebellion are presenting the plan, which was already conceived beforehand, referring to analysts and spies behind the scene coming up with information...

(Re: Episode VII) In this new movie, the strategy meeting is completely ad hoc, and only the main characters talk, as if there was no organization at all in this "Resistance" and the entire "plan" is made up on the spot.

(Speaking of cardboard cutouts) Quick, name the general who coordinated the attack on the Death Star in Episode IV. 99.9% of the people on the face of this Earth will not be able to do so, yet he did most of the talking during the planning. Now , name the general planning the attack in Episode VII. Of COURSE a main character is doing most of the talking!! As far as sending a small team to take out a strategic facility being militarily unrealistic, (cough!) small assault team attacking Endor's shield. (cough! cough!) You praise Lucas and vilify Abrams for doing essentially the exact same things. Pardon me but your bias is showing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

it's because they felt that there were more stories to tell inside that universe, with or without the main characters.

That's my point, when I talk about the other characters in the predominant battles. That's why I was so into Star Wars is because of the other stories, the movies revolve around a central core of characters where as with the other stories in that universe revolve around a different core of characters particular to each story and era. With this new beginning we can see more stories about how everything culminated into the movies, that's why Rebels is so popular and next year's Rogue One will be a big hit too.

Fadamor

Quick, name the general who coordinated the attack on the Death Star in Episode IV. 99.9% of the people on the face of this Earth will not be able to do so, yet he did most of the talking during the planning. Now , name the general planning the attack in Episode VII.

General Jan Dodanna was the General behind the first Death Star and he is mentioned by Princess Leia in the movie, as for Episode VI General Madine created the shield generator plan as he was a defected Imperial Commander, then it was Admiral Ackbar along with Mon Mothma, "Many Bothans died..." and Captain Wedge Antillies who formed the fighter attack coordination on the second death star.

Gee Wiz; General Rieken was leading the Rebels on Hoth during the evacuation in Episode V.

(drop the mic, goes back to the comics in my hole"

PS; also I recommend Aftermath for a good story outside of the main characters immediately after Episode VI.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Watch in 3D for pure escapism. Don't like the way Hans referred the the black star though.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Star Wars VII : A New Hope II

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Worst of all to me, the world of Star Wars is completely sacrificed, only the main characters matter, anything not in their vicinity might as well not exist at all.

The "world" of Star Wars? Because all of those in-depth character developments Lucas did of the patrons at the Mos Eisley Cantina (Greedo, et al) stand in such sharp contrast to the ancillary characters in this movie? I think you're looking back at the old movies with rose-tinted glasses (or watching the digital remakes).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But that's the real trick isn't it? It's not an actual military organization, it's a wonderful mythical place that is constantly surrounded by back up individuals.

We don't delve into this for the reality of it, that's an asinine line of thinking. We love these movies because these characters exist and are able to do things that wouldn't normally go their way. I can go watch CNN or the Pentagon channel if I wanted what you're asking for.

No, not at all. The reason why Star Wars got so much of a following was that there was a feeling that there was a coherent universe in which these characters evolve. If Star Wars had from the get go been what you are arguing for here, it would never have endured so long. It would have been yet another action movie or trashy swords and sorcery flick (but in space), a disposable movie that one watches once in a while then forgets as soon as it's over. If people kept wanting to go back to that universe, it's because they felt that there were more stories to tell inside that universe, with or without the main characters.

The stories don't need to be super-real, but they need to feel real, it's called suspension of disbelief. When the plot is super contrived as in the case of the recent movie, the movie is much, much weaker. The movies may make money, but in the end, the universe that kept the fans coming will weaken.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Fadamor, the character in episode IV is actually called Jan Dodonna, but I had to Google it. I'm not sure his name is ever spoken aloud. And you know what? THAT IS A VERY GOOD THING.

That is because the presence of these influential characters who are NOT main characters provide a sense of depth to the universe. When only the main characters seem to do anything, there is no feeling of depth, everything becomes super-contrived to make sure that only the main characters are active, as if the rest of the universe was on standby. And that is where Abrams fails and where Lucas succeeds. Lucas was never afraid to introduce influential characters that aren't main characters, hinting at a deeper backstory and a real, functioning universe. Abrams is of a type of screenwriters and directors who think that restricting as much as possible the script to a small cabal of named protagonists is "tight" writing rather than what it really is: dumb and contrived (ESPECIALLY for an epic like Star Wars). And in order to achieve that, he ignores all rules of distance and time, to be able to bring his protagonists on the scene where the action is, which further kills the feeling of a coherent universe for people who stop and think about what is happening rather than being dazzled by blaster shots and lightsabers.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The "world" of Star Wars? Because all of those in-depth character developments Lucas did of the patrons at the Mos Eisley Cantina (Greedo, et al) stand in such sharp contrast to the ancillary characters in this movie? I think you're looking back at the old movies with rose-tinted glasses (or watching the digital remakes).

The Star Wars movies launched the Expanded Universe, there are hints everywhere of this being a bigger world with their own factions and societies.

I will try to avoid significant spoilers, but here is one example:

In Episode IV and VI, in the strategy meetings before the Rebels attack the Death Stars, the main characters are largely spectators and other influential members of the Rebellion are presenting the plan, which was already conceived beforehand, referring to analysts and spies behind the scene coming up with information. In this new movie, the strategy meeting is completely ad hoc, and only the main characters talk, as if there was no organization at all in this "Resistance" and the entire "plan" is made up on the spot. There is no rhyme or reason to the way the meeting proceeds, and when it is done, they send Finn, Han and Chewie ALONE on a suicide mission that is crucial to their success. They don't even send commandos with them, just the main characters when their success is essential to their plan.

If you imagine an actual military organization, this makes no sense at all. And that is an example of Abrams' Star Trek not existing outside the main characters, everyone else is just a background decoration. There is no feeling that there is a coherent world in which the action occurs, unlike the original Star Wars trilogy. The lack of notion of distance or time also makes it feel claustrophobic.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Disney plans four “Star Wars” movies through 2019>

Lord help us, by then will there be any purchasable domestic goods left in the world that aren't shaped like a stormtrooper's helmet?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Saw it Saturday. Not a great movie.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Have no fears, Clippety, there will also be be purchasable goods in the likeness of that Walking Carpet Chewbacca!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I've seen it and I found it awful. It's basically a reboot of A New Hope, the plot is extremely contrived, the characters are largely cardboard and there is no sense of scale or time to the movie. It feels like everything happened in an afternoon and the characters keep finding each other again when they have no business doing so. There is no character evolution, just spontaneous transformations to fit the story.

Worst of all to me, the world of Star Wars is completely sacrificed, only the main characters matter, anything not in their vicinity might as well not exist at all. George Lucas' movies always felt like windows into a real, living and breathing, universe (hence the Expanded Universe), JJ Abrams doesn't give a damn about the world, only about the characters and his cheap, contrived, derivative plot, and so only the main characters ever do anything, everyone else is just filler, background decorations.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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