Star Wars Ep. VII Dec 18 2015

[doggiehowser]

He was shot by a freaking bowcaster.

Bowcaster - Wookieepedia - Wikia

The latest known bowcaster that Wookiee warrior and Rebel hero Chewbacca created was during the era of the Galactic Empire. It was an unconventional design, as Chewbacca had used the frame and power pack of a stormtrooper blaster.[1] Additionally, Chewbacca's weapon was also fitted with an automatic cocking system, which traditional models lacked.[7]
Bowcasters were much more powerful than standard blaster rifles, meaning few humans were capable of carrying one around, let alone hold it level and steady for a precise shot.[8] However, this statistic was challenged by Han Solo on numerous occasions during the First Order–Resistance conflict, in which he became fond of the weapon.[6]

When Finn used it on a stormtrooper, it blast through his armor and sent him back flying 20m

[prepress]

I saw it again, and felt more comfortable with the flow. It made a bit more sense, as the first time I was too busy watching it to really take it in. No need for a third time, unless a friend wants to go. And I think that one doesn't need to have seen the previous movies necessarily, but it would be helpful to have an idea of what went on in them (the first three, not the prequels) in order to appreciate some of the references.

Watching the trailer, I realize how beautiful the music is. When the familiar themes are slowed down as they are in the trailer, they're quite poignant. I almost get choked up.

[esteban]

I'm probably in the minority here, but as a lifelong STAR WARS enthusiast, I hated THE FORCE AWAKENS. I'm copying and pasting an informal review of sorts I originally posted on my facebook page:

*********SPOILERS

The FARCE is strong with STAR WARS - THE FORCE AWAKENS... and that is not a typo. A pseudo-reboot/re-make/re-imagining/re-hash of basically every single relevant event and narrative device from "A NEW HOPE" (a.k.a. "the" original STAR WARS), the film is unequivocally and unbelievably flawed on so many crucial, fundamental levels, that I feel as if a part of my childhood died this past weekend; and, yes, I realize that sounds terribly like hyperbole (not to mention cliched) and no, George Lucas had nothing to do with it this time. In fact (dare I say it?), I would easily rank Lucas' "REVENGE OF THE SITH" (as disappointing as that film most definitely was) above this new seventh episode, whose sole purpose seems to be the perpetuation of tried-and-true formulas so endemic in today's Hollywood (where movies are merely "set-ups" for other movies instead of self-contained stories which may or may not interconnect, all in the name of "universe-building", ie: cow-milking), at the expense of developing Lucas’ fantasy space opera and universal themes in any meaningful, exciting new way. The film basically "plays it safe" and suffers from a severe, alarming lack of imagination, with a script that feels at least 3 drafts away from finished. Pretty much every single audience demographic is offered an identifying character, and most of them deliver humorous lines in an excessive manner, and (surprise, surprise) often-times aimed at the lowest-common denominator. This is, after all, a Disney film directed by J. J. Abrams, who, as feared, was certainly not the right choice for this project, unless you consider "competent" good enough. The Force Awakens is spectacular in all the usual ways, of course, but there’s a difference between spectacular and spectacle, and (think about this for a second), there is not a SINGLE scene that stands-out when it comes to special effects and/or visually amazing set-pieces, which are a staple of all the STAR WARS films and one of the main reasons for their success. Abrams simply offers NOTHING that you have not seen before. Even the planets, which are all technically new, are identical to what came before (ie: Jakku is Tatooine, etc.) Abram's STAR WARS looks nothing like a galaxy far, far away, but like Ireland, Iceland and Africa instead. Again, this is merely a re-make and re-imagining of everything that came before. Entertaining? Yes. Good enough? Sure. Big and bombastic? I guess. But dig under the surface and you will find that "size matters not", but good story-telling does. And the story here is merely a Macguffin that concludes with YET ANOTHER Death Star exploding (and possibly the most anemic X-Wing battle sequence in the saga... did I count only about 10 X Wings in there? Oh, we even get another overweight pilot, a la Porkins in EPISODE IV)... THE FORCE AWAKENS is a distilled STAR WARS film, quicker, easier, more seductive, just like the Dark Side, but ultimately empty. And make no mistake: STAR WARS should not be content with "good enough"....

My second biggest issue with the film (after the blatant re-hashing of the plot of EPISODE IV, etc.) is the weakness of the main villain himself. You are in big trouble if your villain does not work nor pose a genuine threat, specially when you have Darth Vader as your precursor. Kylo Ren is basically a wimpy, puerile pseudo-sith, a Darth Vader emo-groupie who throws temper-tantrums at the air three times too many and would be more at home in a TWILIGHT film instead. Amazingly enough, he is so strong with the force that he can freeze a blaster shot in mid air (something that not even Yoda nor Palpatine could do before) and yet he gets his ass served by Ray (who is obviously Luke's daughter and trained in the Force, and whose memory has more than likely been erased to "protect" her) in 3 minutes flat, and almost by Finn (who has no Force training at all and, as a stormtrooper, is able to get rid of his "conditioning" all too easily)...

What else? Where do I start? You can see Han Solo's big scene coming a mile away, and since we know almost nothing about the father/son relationship, nor do we see them interacting in a previous scene, there is no emotional pay-off nor any gravitas whatsoever. One of the greatest characters in cinema history is killed off in the most pathetic of ways, probably because that was the only way Harrison Ford would accept to reprise the role instead of because it served any purpose, narrative-wise. Harrison, I hope you are happy now... Also, wouldn't it have been so much better and dramatic if we had seen Kylo Ren removing his ant-eater helmet for the first time in this scene? Come to think of it, why on Tatooine does he even need a helmet? Oh, I forgot that he's grandaddy's biggest groupie... Captain Phasma was a joke, and a waste, plain and simply. Just another toy to add to the ridiculously bloated merchandise line... Chewbacca barely reacts after Han's death, and there is no formal funeral scene, not even a brief moment where characters stop to react and reflect on what transpired (unlike what happened with Padme and Obi-Wan in the past, for example)... Carrie Fisher, bless her soul, looks terrible, but not nearly as terrible as the CGI they applied on her face in the last scene, and there is ZERO chemistry between her and Ford this time... the CGI octopus in the Falcon scene looks terrible as well, as does the falcon itself when it bounces back and forth and defies gravity time and time again (the interior, which was a real set, looks spectacular, though).... I could have done without the bounty-hunters scene altogether (another example of Abrams trying to cram as much action as possible in a story that needed more quiet moments)... The Nazi overtones in the General Hux speech sequence are so blatant, and Domhnall Gleeson's "acting" here so cartoonish and over-the-top, that one can not help but laugh at the silliness of it all... Peter Cushing, you are sorely missed... Supreme Leader Snoke is possibly the lamest CGI character this side of 1991. A huge let-down, visually, and of course they'll throw a big "Wizard Of Oz" moment at us by the time we finally get his big reveal in the next episode (plus, I get the feeling he is Darth Plagueis)... Who is who in this thing anyway? If The First Order is the new Empire, what was the point of RETURN OF THE JEDI?...

John Williams phoned in his score, I hate to admit it, and this is no exaggeration if we consider that the recording took place literally days before the actual release of the film and the CD doesn't even have a proper cover. By far the weakest soundtrack of the saga so far, with not even a new single leit-motif nor memorable melody (say what you will about the prequels, but they at least gave us jewels like "Duel Of The Fates" and "Battle Of The Heroes")... The actors all do great work, and Daisy Ridley is a revelation and, truth be told, carries most of the film....

I DID like certain moments, mind you, but overall, this was such a let-down. Simply put, I honestly have no desire to watch it again until the blu-ray release, and I suppose that says it all.

[Masterlu]

I haven't seen it yet... but so far it has raked in $1,871,953,000.00 and counting!

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I haven't seen it yet... but so far it has raked in $1,871,953.00 and counting

I think you Need to add these! ,000,

[Masterlu]

[2fastdriving]

esteban, that was a VERY thoughtful and insightful review. I actually enjoyed the movie because I knew nothing about it, and just let it ride. It wasn't until a few days later did I try to critically review it in my head and pretty much came away with the same thoughts as you. Oh well, it is a good, fun ride if you just try not to analyze it. That's what I recommend people do!

[Jack in Wilmington]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

esteban, that was a VERY thoughtful and insightful review. I actually enjoyed the movie because I knew nothing about it, and just let it ride. It wasn't until a few days later did I try to critically review it in my head and pretty much came away with the same thoughts as you. Oh well, it is a good, fun ride if you just try not to analyze it. That's what I recommend people do!

That's the best way to enjoy it. Just sit back and have fun with it. It is after all, Sci Fi

[Chad.Wagner]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I haven't seen it yet

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Chad.Wagner

Waiting for my Senior Discount