TV & Film The Force Awakens, Thread Will Contain Spoilers.

[Janus93]

[QUOTE="Bullet Tooth Tony]I want to hear opinions on General Hux, what were your guys opinions on him? I found him to be a more sinister villain than Kylo, the guy's like Grand Moff Tarkin if he got shit done.

[/QUOTE]
I thought the film itself was incredible (IMO better than any previous Star Wars film), and as for General Hux, Domhnall Gleeson utterly nailed it - that speech on Starkiller bade sent shivers down my spine, gripping stuff.

 

[Chiritask]

I really liked the movie, it's probably my favorite of this year. (But I haven't watched that many movies)


It's a sequel done right, and apart from Rey being a Mary Sue everything is great. I liked Finn more than Rey, and I really hope they won't give him less screen time in the future movies so they can focus on Rey becoming a Jedi. I also like how Kylo Ren is still a villain in-training, but I wish Snoke punished him a little for how he screwed up so many times. It would've been a good lesson for him.


Some things could've been better if they were explained, such as "Who exactly is Snoke?" and "What is the First Order?", but they're still fine if you don't question them too much. Perhaps they will be better explained in the future movies, there's still time. It's the first Star Wars movie made by Abrams, and he did a really good job for his first time.

 

[Janus93]

I see what you mean about Rey being a Mary Sue, but there's a lot of backing for it in the narrative when you consider her background. And perhaps Finn's defection was a little hasty - but apart from that, stellar film

 

[SkyGinge]

Alright, time for a more serious review:

Spoiler

Force Awakens is undoubtedly not perfect. As is obvious from my previous post, I love it to bits, but obviously it still has its problems.


Firstly, the lack of exposition. With so little background explanation, a lot of folks find rightful complaint at the lack of world-building. If you compare it to IV, there's probably similar levels of exposition, but as has been pointed out, the series has expanded significantly since then and thus it doesn't really make a proper excuse. That said, one benefit of this is that it focusses entirely on present action and characters, something I think works well for a movie clearly designed to be an introduction, and I personally had no issues with it. The open-endedness makes you hungry for answers in the good way and encourages imaginative responses.


Next, some people have criticised it for being too similar to the originals. I argue that nostalgia is only harmful when it makes you think of how much better the original was. For me, the only place where it became too much was Maz's discount cantina, which made little sense to me outside of fan service. Otherwise, I thought all nods back were fun and worked well.


Finally, Rey. On paper, she'd be a Mary Sue, and certainly I don't think she'd be accepted as written into a lot of RPs here. In the hands of a lesser actress, she would have been an obvious Mary Sue, but Daisy Ridley gives her a fantastic sense of vulnerability that fleshes her out beyond her beige heroicness. As for some of points of contention, I believe I can argue against them:

• Han's Affinity with Her: Whilst there's undeniably a bit of protagonist syndrome in this, note Han's reaction upon hearing her introduce her name. It's not strong enough to suggest she's their daughter as many have speculated, but similarly there's definitely some recognition there. Hence I read his plea for her to join him as done in knowledge of who she really is. Because she very clearly isn't just some random scavenger.
  
• Powerful with the Force: It is heavily suggested in her flashbacks through the lightsaber that she was involved with Luke's Jedi Academy before, and hence perhaps she already knows some stuff. Similarly, the title is called 'The Force Awakens', and that it has done, in Rey, and as mentioned, Rey clearly has greater significance than what has been shown; in the novelisation, Kylo says something along the lines of 'so it is you', hinting to a grander field of play. Finally, seemingly everyone forgets how injured Kylo is in the final scene. I mean, he was shot by Chewbacca's gun, and we've seen how much it reks fools earlier on - clearly he was nowhere near his best and eager to get it over as soon as possible. The only stuff she does with the force which I thought to be slightly ridiculous was the Jedi Mind trick, but then it's more of a comedy relief scene so you're able to brush over it.
  

Complains aside, I loved the film. I thought the characters were fantastic, the humour great, and it had so many good moments. It's just such a fun movie, very clearly crafted with a lot of love and attention, and is a joy to watch. Kylo Ren is, in my opinion, and having just watched Episode 4 a week ago, a better villain than Darth Vader, and I love how he's so conflicted, alongside his creative usage of the force. Finn is hilarious, Rey is charming, BB8 great, I just... arghhrhrg. I was pleasantly surprised by Hux, and did not expect him to live through the movie. And though you see it coming, Han's death is amazingly impactful.


Can't wait to see it again, though I do think Episode VIII has to do some certain stuff to wrap up certain loose ends. There's a lot left unsaid here, and it works because it's an introduction and I trust it will be explained, but if it's not the film won't end up as strong. Thankfully, with both Harrison Ford and Max Von Sydow confirmed to return, I can imagine there's going to be some flashback sequences to explain some of what was left unexplained this time. They also need to give Rey a little more weakness just to avoid her truly becoming a Mary Sue, and they need to use Phasma more because for all her hype, she basically did nothing.

 

[Muffinboi]

I watched the movie today, and it was great!


I did hear that calling Rey a Mary Sue has a probable chance to cause a flame war, though.

 

[korigon]

"I know when you see his face you're reminded of me."


Ben Solo proceeds to look nothing like Han or Leia. (@V@)

 

[i love nick check]

HEY WHOS SAD THAT HANS SOLO DIED!!!!

 

[Spieza]

Ngl, I loved it. It seemed to be very familiar to a New Hope, but it was still brilliant. J. J. really revived the series.

Spoiler

Also, RIP Han Solo.

 

[IG42]

[QUOTE="Bullet Tooth Tony]I want to hear opinions on General Hux, what were your guys opinions on him? I found him to be a more sinister villain than Kylo, the guy's like Grand Moff Tarkin if he got shit done.

[/QUOTE]
Kind of started chewing the scenery a little in that speech before firing Starkiller.


But anyway much more important villain!

TR8-T0R we hardly new thee.

 

[jamesshaford]

Kylo Ren is an Emo but I like him.

 

[Virgo]

I saw it last week and after a week of thinking it over, I enjoy it. I'm that one person that loved the originals and didn't mind the prequels, but this movie ranks up there. I think it's behind the first two original movies. Very enjoyable and kept me interested the entire time.

 

[QuixoticKitten]

[QUOTE="Bullet Tooth Tony]I want to hear opinions on General Hux, what were your guys opinions on him? I found him to be a more sinister villain than Kylo, the guy's like Grand Moff Tarkin if he got shit done.

[/QUOTE]
My friend calls him Space Hitler. Enough said right there xD


Also I've stumbled upon a lot of fanfic (internal groan) with Kylo/Hux and idk how to feel about that. Some people ship Kylo/Rey as well and I dislike that even more. I've read theories that Poe/Finn is meant to be canon, but some of these other ships are plain out bizarre. I did enjoy Poe's character though. I'd like to see more of him in future installments.

 

[SkyGinge]

My friend calls him Space Hitler. Enough said right there xD
Also I've stumbled upon a lot of fanfic (internal groan) with Kylo/Hux and idk how to feel about that. Some people ship Kylo/Rey as well and I dislike that even more. I've read theories that Poe/Finn is meant to be canon, but some of these other ships are plain out bizarre. I did enjoy Poe's character though. I'd like to see more of him in future installments.

Having seen the film twice, Poe/Finn is just not there at all, and has been overly hyped up. You can see it maybe from Poe's side, but not at all from Finn's, he's very clearly more interested in Rey.

 

[Pine]

OKAY SO UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T JOIN IN ANY OF THE IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS GOING ON HERE FOR MULTIPLE REASON BUT MAINLY BECAUSE I HAD TO PEE THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS WATCHING THAT MOVIE AND THAT WAS REALLY DISTRACTING. Also I'm either highly critical of movies when they bore me and not critical at all when I'm thoroughly entertained, and I really liked this movie. I might have found something to be upset about with it if I was more passionate about the other movies, but I'm not. Couldn't enjoy them as a wee child because I thought space was boring and I only recently binge watched the whole series. D'8

Spoiler

But anyway mainly for me when I watch a movie, I just need a character to latch onto and then I'm set to enjoy the rest of the movie aND I REALLY LIKE REN. He was such a fucking baby it gave me life. Like he just jumps at the opportunity to smash things with his fancy pants saber because HEY it's fun to swing around dangerous glowy things. Previous movies, I found it difficult to empathize with some characters but I think they did a way better job of adding depth to these guys and making them more human. I might hypothesize that that's because we're moving farther away from the age of jedi warriors but idk and frankly idc either. Either way yeah Ren I hope u feel like shit for killing Pops even tho you probably shouldn't feel too bad for the guy that you've known/met how many times in your life? Probably not too many t b h. He might have been distraught during his fight with Rey bc he's freshly aware that he's a shitty person + injuries + BABY CHILD RAGE >8'cc.


Like maybe that was a whole point of Finn? I thought it was a little strange that his storyline even exists, and my guess is that he's just a defective clone?? Free will and stuff but hell I loved his character either way hnng. Like hella give me more comedy reliefs that are actually useful. For a brief moment I thought the actor was Peele from Key & Peele tho n g l.


Can't say anything about Hux because idk who that is. orz


Didn't care too much about Rey bc her story was interesting enough and again I had to pee.


I liked that chick with goggles tho like hella she was a+++.


BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE FILM


THE


MOST IMPORTANT THING


THAT COMPLETELY MADE THIS MOVIE FOR ME


IS THAT THE YEAR IS [2016] 2015


AND THEY KEPT SOME OF THE POWERPOINT SLIDE TRANSITIONS THAT WERE SO CHEESY AND MADE SCENE TRANSITIONS PAINFUL IN THE OLD MOVIES


ten out of fucking ten that's some quality shit right there


tbh it was my favorite movie out of the entire series so no nostalgia factor for me here aside from that pls no bully

 

[QuixoticKitten]

Can't say anything about Hux because idk who that is. orz

Hux is ginger Hitler. The really angry one who have that huge monologue before they blew shit up.

 

[Pine]

Hux is ginger Hitler. The really angry one who have that huge monologue before they blew shit up.

Ahhhh, right right that guy. See, I was having trouble keeping up with any of that generals because it just kind of seemed like someone was killed and someone else was promoted like every other time a general was mentioned so I gave up on keeping track of them lOL.


I THOUGHT HE WAS P A'IGHT LIKE I WOULD GIVE HIM A STANDING OVATION FOR THAT SPEECH A+

 

[jamesshaford]

The movie was a 7/10 for me. Well shot, and good acting, but the story wasn't there. It was essentially a rip off of a New Hope, and that saddens me. I think this easily could have gotten an 8 or 9, but they decided to play it safe and go with a formula they know would work. Not a bad film, and were it an original plot 8/10.


Also, this is funny. [media]



[/media]

 

[Archie]

[QUOTE="Bullet Tooth Tony]I want to hear opinions on General Hux, what were your guys opinions on him? I found him to be a more sinister villain than Kylo, the guy's like Grand Moff Tarkin if he got shit done.

[/QUOTE]
To me they didn't flesh him out more because he was just a representation of what the First Order was - space Nazis who value order and discipline above everything else and are always ready to betray their colleagues or point fingers whenever something goes wrong. Definitely a needed plot device, but he's like a foil for Kylo who sticks out in the Order because he's just so weird lol

 

[DerUbermensch]

I have to say my thoughts on the new Star Wars. Watched it after Christmas. At least there's no Jar Jar Binks in the film. If there was, I would have either refused to see it OR storm out of the theater angrily while growling, "I want my money back!"


Let's also say that history repeats. Nothing too new about the plot. References to the older films, but geared to a new generation. Hardcore fans would scoff at that though. Hux to me was Tarkin 2.0 in my opinion. The First Order was just the Shadow of the Empire of yore. Of course they'd copy from the original.

 

[Daniel Rothschild]

Firstly, Rey appears to be a Mary Sue, just because we have two more movies to go, there's still room for explanation.


Second, I love Kylo. He has room to grow, he seems more human than Palpatine or Vader, and he has a very original saber and fighting style, and I really hope they don't take that away from him in VIII.


Third: On the note of Kylo: He took a shot center mass from what is a (and I'm quoting here) "weaponized f**k you" that we saw blast stormtroopers several yards away and keep fighting. Yet people still call him a p*ssy, despite the fact that in II, Obi-Wan gets a flesh wound in the leg and is instantly out of the fight.


Fourthly: Not as many lens flares as I was expecting. Good job, JJ


Fifth: Captain Phasma was supposed to be the new Boba Fett. So far...yeah.


Finally: TR-8R. Dude holds his own in a lightsaber fight(largely due to sick spins), becomes the new Jango Fett.