Star Wars: The Force Awakens reviews *SPOILERS*

[Phokus]

TFA drawn in Calvin and Hobbes style, these are great!

http://imgur.com/gallery/fuah1

 

[Sonikku]

But for some reason, there was only one IMAX theatre in all of Canada showing it in 70 mm 2D, and it was in my old hometown of 200000 people.

Would have loved to have seen it in that.

 

[Eug]

Would have loved to have seen it in that.

There were also a dozen IMAX theatres in the US that had it in 2D 70 mm, plus one each in London, England and Sydney, Australia.

McWane Center IMAX Dome Theatre – Birmingham, AL
IMAX, U.S. Space & Rocket Center – Huntsville, AL
Hackworth IMAX Dome, The Tech Museum – San Jose, CA
Museum of Discovery & Science AutoNation IMAX – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
IMAX Dome, Museum of Science & Industry – Tampa, FL
IMAX, Indiana State Museum – Indianapolis, IN
Blank IMAX Dome, Science Center of Iowa – Des Moines, IA
Branson’s IMAX, Entertainment Complex – Branson, MO
St. Louis Science Center OMNIMAX Theatre – St. Louis, MO
Tuttleman IMAX, The Franklin Institute– Philadelphia, PA
Kramer IMAX, Saskatchewan Science Centre &#8211; Regina, Canada <-- My old hometown, but which is now 2700 km away from me.
Lockheed Martin IMAX, National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC
Fort Worth Museum of Science & History &#8211; Fort Worth, TX

LG IMAX, Darling Harbour &#8211; Sydney, Australia
The Science Museum &#8211; London, England

 

[BoberFett]

I think one of our members called it though. He said the nerds could not, and would not, be happy with the movie, he was right. Enumerate your displeasure on the internets, you Comic book Guy nerd ragers.

I liked it; it felt like star wars meets Raiders.

You could see this coming a mile away though -- the super-nerds were always going to rip this apart. If the internet was around in the 70s/80s they would have done the same with the OT.

The movie was exactly what I was hoping/expecting it would be -- a fun, exciting action movie set in the Star Wars universe. It COMPLETELY brought back "Star Wars" to Star Wars. If you have issues with that, YOU are the one that is not a fan of the franchise.

Hell I say this as a bitter old man too!

And it's you super-duper-uber-nerds who slobber over anything with the Star Wars label no matter what.

There's plenty of reasons to be disappointed by the new movie that have nothing to do with being a nerd. Like the fact that we've seen the movie before. When it was called Star Wars.

Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb.

Gee, where have I seen that plot before...

 

[Homerboy]

And it's you super-duper-uber-nerds who slobber over anything with the Star Wars label no matter what.

There's plenty of reasons to be disappointed by the new movie that have nothing to do with being a nerd. Like the fact that we've seen the movie before. When it was called Star Wars.

Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb.

Gee, where have I seen that plot before...

Pretty sure there were lots of people from casual movie goers to super-duper-uber-nerds that loathed the prequels. I don't even like the Star Rebels cartoons and EU stuff.

Yet I loved TFA.

Go figure!

 

[Eug]

There's plenty of reasons to be disappointed by the new movie that have nothing to do with being a nerd. Like the fact that we've seen the movie before. When it was called Star Wars.

Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb.

Gee, where have I seen that plot before...

More like Return of the Jedi. But then again, Return of the Jedi was partially a copy of Star Wars.

 

[destrekor]

And it's you super-duper-uber-nerds who slobber over anything with the Star Wars label no matter what.

There's plenty of reasons to be disappointed by the new movie that have nothing to do with being a nerd. Like the fact that we've seen the movie before. When it was called Star Wars.

Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb.

Gee, where have I seen that plot before...

Which is a well-used common theme in the history of our story telling. Swap out the SW specific pieces, and it's a very simple and ancient theme. Almost all of SW contains well-worn themes, just dressed up.

 

[CZroe]

Which is a well-used common theme in the history of our story telling. Swap out the SW specific pieces, and it's a very simple and ancient theme. Almost all of SW contains well-worn themes, just dressed up.

Ugh. That doesn't excuse using the "well-worn "ancient" theme almost the exact same way again. Seriously:
"Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb..." but it's OK because "ANCIENT THEMES!"

 

[waggy]

Which is a well-used common theme in the history of our story telling. Swap out the SW specific pieces, and it's a very simple and ancient theme. Almost all of SW contains well-worn themes, just dressed up.

themes yes. a outright rewrite of the story? no.

I loved TFA. I really enjoyed it. BUT it was a reboot of ANH. They changed very little. but just enough where most are willing to ignore it.

I'm going to get it on blu-ray when it comes out and i am going to go see the 8+.

 

[isekii]

I finally saw it at the Ziegfeld Theater. It's closing tomorrow so had to watch it there for the experience.

 

[zinfamous]

And it's you super-duper-uber-nerds who slobber over anything with the Star Wars label no matter what.

There's plenty of reasons to be disappointed by the new movie that have nothing to do with being a nerd. Like the fact that we've seen the movie before. When it was called Star Wars.

Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb.

Gee, where have I seen that plot before...

recycled Star Wars plot still a superior film to the "original" stories in the shitty prequels.

In the end, I think that matters more.

 

[destrekor]

Ugh. That doesn't excuse using the "well-worn "ancient" theme almost the exact same way again. Seriously:
"Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb..." but it's OK because "ANCIENT THEMES!"

It's okay by me. It's not some grave injustice that is going to make me boycott or rant or anything. It's a goddamn movie, in a fictional movie universe. Was it enjoyable? That's enough. But you can't please everyone apparently. No matter what, people would have found something to bitch about in TFA, even if it was an award-winning masterpiece. Just because it's Star Wars, it brings attention to itself in ways that are beyond unfair.

I saw enough originality, especially when considering this is essentially a new platform from which to jump off, the reuse of the old theme with new characters is fine by me.

We get it, you hate just about everything about the movie. You've made that abundantly clear.

 

[Eug]

recycled Star Wars plot still a superior film to the "original" stories in the shitty prequels.

In the end, I think that matters more.

I don't think shitty prequels is a good excuse. Very few people are going to give the prequels a pass (aside from maybe the last one) regardless of their stance on TFA.

It's okay by me. It's not some grave injustice that is going to make me boycott or rant or anything. It's a goddamn movie, in a fictional movie universe. Was it enjoyable? That's enough. But you can't please everyone apparently. No matter what, people would have found something to bitch about in TFA, even if it was an award-winning masterpiece. Just because it's Star Wars, it brings attention to itself in ways that are beyond unfair.

I saw enough originality, especially when considering this is essentially a new platform from which to jump off, the reuse of the old theme with new characters is fine by me.

We get it, you hate just about everything about the movie. You've made that abundantly clear.

Then there are people like me who overall liked the movie but who were very disappointed by its lack of originality. However, OTOH, they seemed well aware of that. They even sort of commented on their lack of originality in the the combat planning scene.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

And it's you super-duper-uber-nerds who slobber over anything with the Star Wars label no matter what.

There's plenty of reasons to be disappointed by the new movie that have nothing to do with being a nerd. Like the fact that we've seen the movie before. When it was called Star Wars.

Droid lost on a planet found by a young soon-to-be-Jedi who teams up with Han Solo to blow up a giant planet destroying orb.

Gee, where have I seen that plot before...

I like your style. You always make whomever you are going to vent your impotent internet rage on, a 1 dimensional caricature. Rage harder, that will help.

 

[Sonikku]

More like Return of the Jedi. But then again, Return of the Jedi was partially a copy of Star Wars.

RoTJ was very different from the original. The original was ALL about taking down the death star. It was a do or die situation that would have signaled the death of the rebel alliance had it happened even an instant later than it did. It was victory through military craft and force. (and maybe having faith) that won the day. RoTJ has one, but taking down the death star is not the climax. The climax is the throne room.

Luke defeating the Emperor not through force of arms like Yoda had tried, but with love. Playing to the best in his father when everyone else had given up on him. Even himself. If Luke had abandoned his friends in favor of honing his martial prowess as Yoda insisted and hunted down the Sith like an assassin when he was "ready", Vader never would have been turned back. And it's highly questionable if even with superior lightsaber skills if Luke would have been able to take down Sidious. His is a sharp contrast to the failed ideology of the Jedi order and very much sets a different tone from episode 4.

 

[CZroe]

It's okay by me. It's not some grave injustice that is going to make me boycott or rant or anything. It's a goddamn movie, in a fictional movie universe. Was it enjoyable? That's enough. But you can't please everyone apparently. No matter what, people would have found something to bitch about in TFA, even if it was an award-winning masterpiece. Just because it's Star Wars, it brings attention to itself in ways that are beyond unfair.

I saw enough originality, especially when considering this is essentially a new platform from which to jump off, the reuse of the old theme with new characters is fine by me.

We get it, you hate just about everything about the movie. You've made that abundantly clear.

You've got that TOTALLY backwards. People aren't picking on it because it's Star Wars. People are rushing to defend it and using that thought to dismiss the same criticisms every other movie is subject to (even "award-winning" ones). Case in point: you.
Of course it's better than the prequels but that doesn't make it automatically "enjoyable." Even if it is "enjoyable," you are WRONG if you think that puts it beyond reproach.

 

[Homerboy]

You've got that TOTALLY backwards. People aren't picking on it because it's Star Wars. People are rushing to defend it and using that thought to dismiss the same criticisms every other movie is subject to (even "award-winning" ones). Case in point: you.
Of course it's better than the prequels but that doesn't make it automatically "enjoyable." Even if it is "enjoyable," you are WRONG if you think that puts it beyond reproach.

People didn't defend the prequels because they were Star Wars.

 

[CZroe]

I don't think shitty prequels is a good excuse. Very few people are going to give the prequels a pass (aside from maybe the last one) regardless of their stance on TFA.


Then there are people like me who overall liked the movie but who were very disappointed by its lack of originality. However, OTOH, they seemed well aware of that. They even sort of commented on their lack of originality in the the combat planning scene.

That makes it totally OK!

 

[CZroe]

People didn't defend the prequels because they were Star Wars.

Absolutely not true. Revisionist history. It took a while for just how bad it was to sink in and even some of its sharpest critics today didn't know what to think back then. Some actually claimed to like it.

Almost every critical analysis of the prequels I have seen has addressed this. They almost universally point out how people WANTED it to be good and convinced themselves at the time that it was good. Many admit to having been deluded about it themselves.

Around the time Episode I was coming out on home video I recall specific conversations between critics and defenders on these forums. One of the shameless defenders set out to convince others that such genius child prodigy did not require suspension of disbelief.

One of these days many of the people defending it in this thread will realize that TFA is not a very good movie even if it's better than the prequels. We just WANT it to be good.

 

[Homerboy]

Absolutely not true. Revisionist history. It took a while for just how bad it was to sink in and even some of its sharpest critics today didn't know what to think back then. Some actually claimed to like it.

Almost every critical analysis of the prequels I have seen has addressed this. They almost universally point out how people WANTED it to be good and convinced themselves at the time that it was good. Many admit to having been deluded about it themselves.

Around the time Episode I was coming out on home video I recall specific conversations between critics and defenders on these forums. One of the shameless defenders set out to convince others that such genius child prodigy did not require suspension of disbelief.

One of these days many of the people defending it in this thread will realize that TFA is not a very good movie even if it's better than the prequels. We just WANT it to be good.

A) I really do not give two shits about what "professional" critics think of a movie.

B) EVERY PERSON I knew that saw the prequels (ranging from Star Wars newbs, to die hard fans) loathed or at least took sizable issue with the prequels immediately after seeing them.

Edit: I should say every person I knew that was able to legally vote -- kids LOVED it.

I remember walking out out of the midnight showing for EP1 surrounded by people in costume (not me) and hearing and talking to people that were quite upset at what they just watched. Sure they said things like "The Pod Racing was cool" or "I liked XYZ part", but nobody was complimenting the movie as a whole.

Now, I'm not saying that everyone I talked to wanted to storm Skywalker Ranch with pitchforks and torches immediately after viewing it, but I don't recall talking to anyone that would have given it more than 3 outta 5 stars and as Ep2 and ep3 poured in, the overall reactions got worse and worse.

 

[CZroe]

A) I really do not give two shits about what "professional" critics think of a movie.

B) EVERY PERSON I knew that saw the prequels (ranging from Star Wars newbs, to die hard fans) loathed or at least took sizable issue with the prequels immediately after seeing them.

Edit: I should say every person I knew that was able to legally vote -- kids LOVED it.

I remember walking out out of the midnight showing for EP1 surrounded by people in costume (not me) and hearing and talking to people that were quite upset at what they just watched. Sure they said things like "The Pod Racing was cool" or "I liked XYZ part", but nobody was complimenting the movie as a whole.

Now, I'm not saying that everyone I talked to wanted to storm Skywalker Ranch with pitchforks and torches immediately after viewing it, but I don't recall talking to anyone that would have given it more than 3 outta 5 stars and as Ep2 and ep3 poured in, the overall reactions got worse and worse.

"Sharpest critics today" does not strictly mean "professional critics."

For example:
The good folks at RedLetterMedia stated their opinions very well. That deconstruction is practically what made them professional critics, so it's hard to consider them professionals at the time. They had day jobs for sure. Even they pointed out that it took a while to sink in because people wanted it to be good.

My point was that everyone acknowledges that the movie was better accepted then than it is now (except for you, it seems). You seem to think you can ignore that point by twisting "sharpest critics" into "professional critics" and then hand-waving the point away along with their opinion EVEN THOUGH YOU SHARE THEIR OPINION (that the prequels suck). Is this how you think debating works?

History really is repeating itself. The professional critics and most audiences were absolutely GUSHING at the time EP1 launched. Roger Ebert couldn't get enough! I got caught up in the excitement and went to see it a second time! "I really do not give two shits about what "professional" critics think of a movie." I choose to learn from history and not ignore it.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, I really disliked Episode I right off the bat. So did all of my friends, including one guy who was a complete Star Wars geek. (He spent thousands of dollars on Star Wars paraphernalia, which he displayed around his apartment.)

Little kids liked it yes, but when Phantom Menace came out, I and my friends were adults.

I think back then I would have given it 2.5 stars out of 5.

 

[Homerboy]

Yeah, I really, really disliked Episode I right off the bat. So did all of my friends, including one guy who was a complete Star Wars geek. (He spent thousands of dollars on Star Wars paraphernalia, which he displayed around his apartment.)

Little kids liked it yes, but when Phantom Menace came out, I and my friends were adults.

No. No. No. No.

CZroe is telling us otherwise.

 

[Phoenix86]

No. No. No. No.

CZroe is telling us otherwise.

He's basically trolling at this point, or rather for several pages now, but he doesn't know it and would never admit it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEWwZNUafKo

 

[CZroe]

Yeah, I really disliked Episode I right off the bat. So did all of my friends, including one guy who was a complete Star Wars geek. (He spent thousands of dollars on Star Wars paraphernalia, which he displayed around his apartment.)

Little kids liked it yes, but when Phantom Menace came out, I and my friends were adults.

I think back then I would have given it 2.5 stars out of 5.

...and I assume you would rate it more poorly today?