OMG OMG OMG SW

[matt3o]

unfortunately it seems we can't really talk about Star Wars yet.

I kinda liked the force awakens, but purely from a nostalgia stand point. The movie is clearly an introduction to a series of sequels, animated series, comics, ... All left to do is to watch for the millionth time the original trilogy.

[Laser]

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I saw it today. Without spoiling it (I hope), I can only say it has everything one can expect, while missing the most elusive quality of the first SW: good handling of TIME. In the old series, events unfolded in such a way that everything came at the right time. Here, everything is concentrated - it's like there is too much to be said, too much must happen, so everything takes a fix (=short) quota of time. Otherwise, good.

[ohaimark]

I had a few problems with it.

1) Time was badly managed, as Laser mentioned.
2) Character development was stunted and some characters made decisions that went against their portrayal.

Spoiler:

Finn's character was especially bad.

"I'm upset because one of my Stormtrooper buddies was killed."
"Wait... I'm going to kill a bunch of Stormtroopers without a hint of remorse."

"I'm going to run away."
"Wait... I need to totally not hesitate when going to save this woman that I just met, even though it means running into the jaws of the thing I was just running from adamantly."

Some of his actions just didn't ring true for me, even considering the love interest that will likely be played out.

3) Some of the tropes were... Well... Overused.

Spoiler:

Really? Another damn Death Star? Another trench run? Another CIS ship core?

4) The Masked Guy is REALLY dorky looking. I think he's compensating for something.

Much of that is forgivable because we know they're trying to hook new audience members that may have, somehow, not seen the original trilogy or sequels. I know some people like that. It's also, as mentioned earlier, an introduction.

Even so, I like where the story is going and strongly recommend seeing it. Hopefully the next movies will slow down and let the series shine.

[Findecanor]

There were a lot of easter-egg references... I certainly did not catch them all. I have only heard of some of them on another forum:
* "Wilhelm" Scream. (classic sound effect)
* Chewie yells at droid
* Training remote (jedi training thing)
* Holochess
* "Have you seen the new BT-17?"
* Reference to Trash Compactor
* Stormtrooper ID number

References to real world:
- Stormtrooper having worked in sanitation is apparently a reference to Kevin Smith's Clerks. (I haven't seen that movie)
- Pink droid R2-KT

[matt3o]

okay since the spoiler alerts are over...

best easter egg is Harrison Ford running in a tunnel escaping from a huge moster-ball (Indiana Jones of course)

[Muirium]

I just watched it, too.

Consider me impressed. This movie was everything the prequels weren't. A good number of compelling, credible characters set in a cohesive universe, barrelling through a story both we and they could understand. Nice job. It's right at the high end of my expectations, going in.

I'm especially fond of Rey, who is a superbly understated heroine. You can see that this will be her trilogy. What's refreshing about her, besides her gender, is that she's neither Luke nor Anakin. She's brighter than either of them, and so much more rational. I particularly liked her bone dry sense of humour. She and Finn make a great duo, counter-balancing intellect and emotion, rationality and instinct, calculation and hotheadedness. And damn it if I don't sympathise with the two of them!

The settings are delicious. The final scene, on the real life island of Skellig Michael off the coast of Ireland, is a visual treat without any effects. Like everyone, I liked the bar where a band, of course, plays in the midst of scheming bandits. Real Star Wars! Its host was an exceptionally well rendered character, visually and more importantly in how she was written and played. Quite how she got the precious artefact in her possession needs no explanation, there's already quite enough story.

There's a lot of heart in this film. I enjoyed it a lot and think the criticisms I've heard were insignificant in the end. It's a wonderful piece of work. Definitely one for the fans, by the fans, that will be long remembered for the right reasons, at last.

[Plasmodium]

I really enjoyed it as well. It had just about everything I was looking for in a new Star Wars film and barring a few annoying inconsistencies/bad decisions/plot holes was a great watch - and I fully expect those niggles to be explained in the future films. I've seen a few people absolutely slamming it in 'reviews' but I think that's because they take it far too seriously. In fact, I think some Star Wars fans take a very cynical view of anything that isn't the Original Trilogy (or sometimes specifically Ep.IV) while not applying the same cynicism to the originals!

[romevi]

I really enjoyed it as well. It had just about everything I was looking for in a new Star Wars film and barring a few annoying inconsistencies/bad decisions/plot holes was a great watch - and I fully expect those niggles to be explained in the future films. I've seen a few people absolutely slamming it in 'reviews' but I think that's because they take it far too seriously. In fact, I think some Star Wars fans take a very cynical view of anything that isn't the Original Trilogy (or sometimes specifically Ep.IV) while not applying the same cynicism to the originals!

A lot of people hold the Original Trilogy to be near flawless, but let's be real: there are plenty of loopholes and inconsistencies in the original films. I rewatched them again to prepare for the new film, and noticed a lot of glaring issues that I didn't before. The same of this film: there are plenty that could've been altered and done better, but I think it was fine overall. Definitely more of a Star Wars film than the prequels, even though I don't think the prequels were that bad. They just didn't feel like Star Wars movies; The Force Awakens, however, did.

[seebart]

A lot of people hold the Original Trilogy to be near flawless, but let's be real: there are plenty of loopholes and inconsistencies in the original films. I rewatched them again to prepare for the new film, and noticed a lot of glaring issues that I didn't before. The same of this film: there are plenty that could've been altered and done better, but I think it was fine overall. Definitely more of a Star Wars film than the prequels, even though I don't think the prequels were that bad. They just didn't feel like Star Wars movies; The Force Awakens, however, did.

Of course, it's science fiction after all. And there are always critical viewers:

http://mashable.com/2015/12/22/star-war ... qP4_.j88qF

I will add I have not seen it, and at the spoiler rate I might not have to.

Anyone who does not know the STAR WARS - HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL and wants to see the worst Star Wars ever for a good laugh (and yes it is real):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIBkRs3pPKI

[DanielT]

Just seen the film today. I was prepared for the worst, instead I had a very pleasant surprise I liked it a lot! To some extent it was like 30 years ago when I saw the first Star Wars movie, it was freezing cold in the cinema, some small cinema that played the movie in English, hard to find that here but it was nice and I loved it!

[seebart]

Seems "someone" is not so pleased:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/de ... ce-awakens

[Muirium]

That Star Wars nerd will never be pleased with any movie. George Lucas ruined his youth and spoiled him for life.

Wait a minute!

[Findecanor]

Disney being "White Slavers"... I have heard much worse things said about Disney ...

[Halvar]

Seems "someone" is not so pleased:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/de ... ce-awakens

That guy had his chance back in the 90s, and we know how that went!

I liked the new one, found it very entertaining. I had avoided any spoilers and didn't even know who from the old cast was in it, so I almost got some moist eyes when the general first appeared ... OK, it is a movie directed at the viewers of the older trilogies, but I don't see anything wrong with that, as there is enough time to develop the story in the next two parts. The ground for that has been layed out beautifully.

[seebart]

Disney being "White Slavers"... I have heard much worse things said about Disney ...

Right but even he has to watch his mouth...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/star-wa ... y-apology/

[zslane]

I put The Force Awakens somewhere between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in terms of overall entertainment value for me. There were things that I liked (Rey, Finn, the sets, the props, the sound design), and things I didn't (the original cast, rehashing so many of the plot beats from A New Hope, unmasking Kylo Ren). But there is no question that this movie is vastly superior to the prequels in every conceivable way.

[Plasmodium]

...unmasking Kylo Ren...

Yeah, that really annoyed me as well, and I couldn't figure out why it should irk me quite so much.

I suppose they were just trying to stop him being a copy-paste of Darth Vader?

[Redmaus]

I had a few problems with it.

4) The Masked Guy is REALLY dorky looking. I think he's compensating for something.

Much of that is forgivable because we know they're trying to hook new audience members that may have, somehow, not seen the original trilogy or sequels. I know some people like that. It's also, as mentioned earlier, an introduction.

Even so, I like where the story is going and strongly recommend seeing it. Hopefully the next movies will slow down and let the series shine.

I agree. To me there were just far too many problems and inconsistencies within the movie, like when Rey becomes a jedi master and defeats a sith lord in a minute while it takes Luke three movies to do so.

I did like it more than Attack of the clones and a Phantom Menace. It feels like a New Hope 2.0 with weak characters.

Plus, I really couldn't take Kylo seriously at all when he took his mask off.

[hypkx]

Plus, I really couldn't take Kylo seriously at all when he took his mask off.

I can understand you, he looks rather like some character from Big Bang Theory than a evil mastermind.

I like the movie, its not a bad movie, but it feels a bit unnecessary and slightly like I remake. I dont regret that I watched it in the cinema, but its like with the hobbits movies, the next parts I watch at home. First I wanted to drive to the Imax in Berlin to watch the movie there, but in the end I am happy that I just watched it in a smaller cinema at my hometown.

[andrewjoy]

DS9 was incredible, in my opinion. It was so gritty and dark at times, yet so undeniably Trek regardless. It's the only series that really got so dark, which is why I think it's one of my favourites. Trek was never about the wars, never glorified them. DS9 just showcased how grim and dismal it is.

Season 3 of Enterprise was pretty grim, from growing sentient clones to harvest part of there brain to the archer torturing a prisoner to get information of of him.

[scottc]

I usually try to pretend that Enterprise never happened. I watched some of Season 1 but got too frustrated and quantum leaped it off of my hard drive.

[andrewjoy]

I liked it , was not a fan of season 4.

[Muirium]

Glad I gave up on Enterprise before that torture glorification bullshit. American popular Sci-Fi got all out of whack when it tried to copy 24. And 24 was just going for the 9/11, Iraq, Guantanamo zeitgeist, which was just the creation of violent dimwits in real life. Ugh.

When you torture: you are the bad guy. Doesn't matter how vile the man is you're water boarding or chopping bits off of. You crossed the line and now you are with him too.

[hypkx]

I liked it , was not a fan of season 4.

I liked it to, it was a fresh interpretation, yeah the later season wasn't that good, but I watched them to and some of the episodes where quite enjoyable. There are a lot other series which have taken a more stranger/worse turn.

[seebart]

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[hypkx]

Interesting, someone have a other opinon than someone other I dont want to offense somebody. I must say I watched every Star Treck series that was aired, because its one of my most loved series/movie universe. Ok the words "fresh interpretation" sound a bit harsh I must suggest I like the other series more, but that dont mean I watched every episode of Enterprise full of hate.

[seebart]

What you mean me and my memes? I'm just having fun.

[webwit]

Not a fan of STTNG. I'm allergic to the Aaron Spelling type of morality play. It's Beverly Hills 90210 In Space.

[Muirium]

And what's DS9? For bonus points: provide a putdown without mentioning Babylon 5!

[webwit]

It's the same thing with a different cast and set? They usually got the captain and Spock roles spot on, but the rest of the cast usually smelled of B actors on 5 year contracts going to work.