Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[GM Niles]

Why the hell would you do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dude! Stay off this thread! Honestly, I'm trying to help you here!

[JDPhipps]

That's why it was in the spoiler tab! You fool!

[GM Niles]

I couldn't imagine watching the movie after reading that tab honestly....I would be beside myself. Ugh. I feel bad for the guy really.

[Rosgakori]

JDPhipps wrote:

I also really enjoyed Adam Driver's performance. I thought his character was well-done, honestly.

** spoiler omitted **

That was actually my second-favorite scene in the movie. It was done so well, and as said before the cinematography made it a legendary one.

My favorite?

Spoiler:

When Kylo Ren has struck Finn to the ground, and Luke's lightsaber drops in the snow. He breathes deeply, and tries to pick it up with force. But he could not. The music starts to swell (Froce Theme) and the struggle continues- and then the lightsaber flies out of snow, beyond Kylo to the hands of Rey. Rey takes the sword, and on her face we see how she accepts her destiny, and knows that she has to beat Kylo Ren, and Kylo Ren also knows this- and music reaches it's climax. I shivered all over. That whole scene was done so well and it was built up perfectly that it made me almost cry.

[Scott Betts]

GM Niles wrote:

So, am I the only one wholiked Adam Driver's role as Kylo Ren?

No. Many (most?) critic reviews called out Driver's performance as being one of the highlights of the film.

[Imbicatus]

Just a reminder to everyone, DO NOT OPEN SPOILERS if you haven't seen the movie.

I am trying to refrain from even putting too much spoilers in spoiler tags, but there are moments you should experience without foreknowledge to have the best effect.

[DM Kludde]

Meesa liked.

/ducks

[GM Niles]

Spoiler:

I'm enjoying the Snoke=Jar Jar internet stuff at the moment!

@Rosgakori Oh jeez, I kinda forgot about that one! That was a great moment also...VERY reminiscent of the Hoth scene where Luke attempts to retrieve that same Lightsaber with the Force!

[Imbicatus]

Use spoiler tags, folks.

[Matthew Morris]

reading the spoilers (because I'm honestly curious, and G_d knows when I'll see it). I'm curious

Spoiler:

Do they explain how Luke's/Anikin's Lightsaber ends up out there? Or is it not the original blue, but it's Luke's green saber, and trailers always lie?

[Imbicatus]

Matthew Morris wrote:

reading the spoilers (because I'm honestly curious, and G_d knows when I'll see it). I'm curious

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

It's the original Luke / Anakin lightsaber. It wasn't explained how Maz got it, but it must have been retrieved from the air cleaning ducts on Bespin, just like Luke was after he lost it.

[Spiral_Ninja]

Just got back from seeing it. I enjoyed it, in spite of the flaws, some of which have already been referenced.

Let's see; non-spoilery comments, but given objections, I'll go back & spoiler them:

Spoiler:

The death - called it, expected it, made sense.
The constant homages to the Original Trilogy? - unnecessary, slowed down the film.

Still, I did have a favorite homage:

Spoiler:

Rey's helmet on her home planet. Though, why, oh why, did he keep it and pass it on?

[GM Niles]

@Spiral....those are kinda spoilers dude.

Wait What@Spiral Ninja:

What helmet the yellow one? Who had that in the original??? Missed that one myself.

[Imbicatus]

GM Niles wrote:

@Spiral....those are kinda spoilers dude.

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

That was a Rebellion X-wing helmet. I'm pretty sure it was Luke's

[Spiral_Ninja]

GM Niles wrote:

@Spiral....those are kinda spoilers dude.

** spoiler omitted **

GM Niles

Spoiler:

Phantom Menace, kid Anakin in that fighter, when he destroys the mothership; kinda neat if Luke wore it too.

Oh, and I'm not a dude. ;)

[Imbicatus]

Spiral_Ninja wrote:

GM Niles wrote:

@Spiral....those are kinda spoilers dude.

** spoiler omitted **

GM Niles

** spoiler omitted **

Oh, and I'm not a dude. ;)

Spoiler:

That helmet had a rebel phoenix crest on it. Pretty sure it wasn't the one from the Phantom Menace

[Spiral_Ninja]

Imbicatus, now I have to re-watch that...I could have sworn...

[Imbicatus]

Spiral_Ninja wrote:

Imbicatus, now I have to re-watch that...I could have sworn...

Spoiler:

Anakin's Naboo helmet

Luke's X-wing helmet
Rey with the helmet on Jakku

It's Luke's

[Spiral_Ninja]

OK, thanks, Imbiacus

Spoiler:

Looks like you're right and I just misremembered where I saw it.

[drunken_nomad]

I am hoping that all the actors (and ppl behind the camera) stay healthy and out of accidents to finish this trilogy. I remember reading about Hamill's car crash after Star Wars and being sad, thinking that he wouldn't be in Empire. Kylo was just ok to me. Rey killed it, though! 3D upcharge was worth it.

[Imbicatus]

My favorite line in the movie was from Poe:

Spoiler:

So, who talks first here?

[Imbicatus]

I know people are complaining about Carrie Fisher, but she's not this bad.

[Chris Lambertz]

Folks, please be aware that we have a lot of Star Wars fans on our site. Spoiler tags are polite and kind, so put your comments behind them. I'm currently trying to peek through my fingers to correct some spoiler posts myself.

If you do not know how to spoiler tag your posts, please see here.

[Sborki]

Imbicatus wrote:

I know people are complaining about Carrie Fisher, but she's not this bad.

I loved her! It was great seeing her.

[CapeCodRPGer]

This is really bugging me:

Spoiler:

Finn's blaster just disappearing at Maz's place so He could use the lightsaber.

1. Han hands Him the blaster in the Falcon after they land near Maz's place.
2. Finn is seen walking into Maz's place wearing it on His back. Its on Him while He is walking around upstairs and talking to people.
3. He is still wearing it in the chamber down below. You see him with it when Maz hands Him the lightsaber.
4. The FO attack comes. The next time we see Finn is He and Maz are running out of the ruined castle. He no longer has His blaster and says "I need a weapon" Maz says "you got one" pointing to the lightsaber.

Where did the blaster go? It just disappeared for the plot it seems.

[Imbicatus]

CapeCodRPGer wrote:

This is really bugging me:

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

I thought he dropped it in the attack, and it got lost in the rubble. I'll have to look for that on my rewatch, but it's probably going to be a week or so.

[Scott Betts]

I feel like every forum moderator on the planet ought to receive free tickets to the earliest showing of a film like Star Wars.

[pres man]

CapeCodRPGer wrote:

This is really bugging me:

** spoiler omitted **

Actually it is worse.

Spoiler:

After they get captured and the X-Wings show up, they re-arm. He picks up the lightsaber, but he also picks up a blaster. Then when they see Rey being carried into the ship, he suddenly no longer has the blaster and only the lightsaber, so he can't shoot at the ship and try to stop it.

Whether a blaster would have done any good (given an X-Wing was disabled at the beginning of the movie by one at least makes it possible) is another issue.

[CapeCodRPGer]

Spoiler:

When Finn ran toward Ren carrying Rey to His ship, you can see him drop the blaster. So you see what happens to that one at least. Maybe seeing Ren freeze the blaster bolt mid air during opening raid Finn thought trying to shoot would be useless.

[Spiral_Ninja]

Matthew Morris wrote:

reading the spoilers (because I'm honestly curious, and G_d knows when I'll see it). I'm curious

** spoiler omitted **

No, they don't really.

Spoiler:

The person holdong it says it passed through quite a few hands before getting there, and yes, it's the Anakin/Luke saber

My question is more of a personality one:

Spoiler:

Why are all of the Skywalker males whiny little brats?

[Lord Fyre]

CapeCodRPGer wrote:

Spoiler:

When Finn ran toward Ren carrying Rey to His ship, you can see him drop the blaster. So you see what happens to that one at least. Maybe seeing Ren freeze the blaster bolt mid air during opening raid Finn thought trying to shoot would be useless.

Spoiler:

Of course, as former Stormtrooper, he would know that he would never actually hit with a blaster. :)

[Krensky]

Spoiler:

I'm not sobbing or raging about things... but I'm not ok with them yet.

Otherwise...

That... Was... AWESOME!

I heard it described on NPR as the world's most expensive Star Wars fan film of all time, and that's accurate in a GOOD way.

[pres man]

Hm, guess I missed that.

My thoughts based on a single viewing.

Spoiler:

Bad: What the hell doesn't JJ Abrams understand about stellar distances? I mean in Star Trek, Spock was close enough from an ice planet to see Vulcan get destroyed, WTF? And then in this, everyone, everywhere, can see the super blastie ray go destroy that system? And a super blastie ray, not traveling in hyperspace, can get to another system in anything short of a few years? WTF? Now I know the comment would be, "The details aren't important, it is about the story" and Star Wars is not Science Fiction, but instead Space Fantasy, but that seems a pretty big detail.

Good: The whole draining the star totally looked like a homage to the Star Forge from KotOR. I think a planet that went to a system and just sucked the star dry, using the energy to build endless supplies, would have been a much more interesting weapon.

Good: Much more diverse heroes. I am sick, as a white male, of people suggesting that I would not like to watch stories about non-white male heroes. That is ridiculous.

Bad: White males are all the big baddies. It is great to embrace diversity for the heroes, but you have to also do it on the other side of the coin. Often times in movies like this, the "coolest" characters are villains (e.g. Boba Fett), let's have some diversity in those characters as well.

Awesome: The blaster bolt scene was cool as frack.

Great: Quite a bit of Finn's lines. I realize he had a lot of comic relief, but I really enjoyed his parts. Also the scene with the two storm troopers that stop and go back the way they were coming when they see Kylo destroying a room.

Musings: I wonder if Finn is going to end up being related to Lando. I think Rey is most likely Luke's daughter. I've seen some folks wonder/complain about how Rey was able to tap into so much Force abilities without any training. I think there are at least 3 possible reasons. (1) She did receive some Force training before she was left behind (with Max Von Sydow I am guessing), (2) when she touch the light saber and had a vision some Force knowledge was given to her subconsciously, and (3) when she was Force locked with Kylo and saw into his mind she picked some Force knowledge up subconsciously as well.

[Goldmyr]

That was a great premiere.

I'm personally thinking that

Spoiler:

Rey (and not Anaking) is the chosen one, destined to bring true balance to the force, hopefully by embracing emotions and showing the virtues of open feelings. Y'know, actually balancing the serene, but aloof and almost detached mentally of the Jedi Knights with the dark, violent passion of the Sith/Knights of Ren.

[Irontruth]

pres man wrote:

Hm, guess I missed that.

My thoughts based on a single viewing.
** spoiler omitted **...

Spoiler:

Captain Phasma, the shiny storm trooper, is a woman. The actress is under contract for EP 8 and 9.

[BigNorseWolf]

pres man: the shiny one is a girl

[Krensky]

pres man wrote:

Hm, guess I missed that.

My thoughts based on a single viewing.
** spoiler omitted **...

What's a Nubian?

[BigNorseWolf]

Presman, RE, scale

Spoiler:

I think the laser death ray thingy was described as using hyperspace. If it wasn't explicit, nothing slower than light speed could go through the shields. Things going faster CAN, thats how han "landed"" the milenium falcon there.

[CapeCodRPGer]

The interstellar distances and travel times didn't bother me. I think they went with George RR Martin's saying that everything moves with speed of plot.

[pres man]

Yes the shiny one is a woman ...

Spoiler:

and she didn't do crap and she wasn't a big baddie. She was basically a grunt. It is great, that she will probably have a bigger part in future releases, but considering they pretty much put her in originally because people were complain about the number of female characters, it isn't too impressive. Basically, step up your game story writers, making the entire command structure (other than holographic alien, who is played by a white male) of the baddies white men is lazy story telling in the extreme. Sticking in a white female cameo doesn't remove that. Also going from white male to white female isn't a great leap in terms of diversity. Moving in the right direction, yes.

"What's a Nubian?"
Huh? I don't get your question, what are referring to in terms to what I posted? Are you referring to Finn or something? Maybe you could explain better for me.

Weapon going through hyperspace means that people on other systems wouldn't be able to see it. i.e. Even if that was the case, then it still was dumb as heck. I get it, "plot more important than technical details", but it just seems so ridiculous it ruins that entire part of the movie for me. I am not asking for things to be as "realistic" as possible, but just not to be dumb to the extreme. Besides the point of JJ seeming to always think that way you make a more sinister danger is to make it bigger (see USS Vengeance in Into Darkness and now this).

[baron arem heshvaun]

Aaron Bitman wrote:

1. The movie is PG-13. For Episode III, that wasn't an issue for me. I didn't feel it was too violent. However, if Episode VII has the characters, for example, discuss sex, that may be an issue for letting my youngest child watch it. Should I worry about that?

2. I personally have felt a bit leery ever since I heard that title The Force Awakens. It made me think that this movie is going to "reveal" something about the nature of the Force. You know. Like Episode I revealed the midi-chlorians. Perhaps now you understand my concern.

Thanks in advance for your help!

If you thought Episode III The Revenge of the Sith, which included the murder of several Jedi and younglings, was not "too violent" then the level of violence in Episode VII The Force Awakens will be a cake walk. No talk of sex as far as I recall.

Nothing to fear about midi-chorians (shiver), Thank The Force!

[baron arem heshvaun]

Perhaps my favorite line from this movie

Spoiler:

"That's NOT how The Force works!"

Han Solo

[baron arem heshvaun]

archmagi1 wrote:

Our dearest Imperial Advisor:

What previews accompanied your viewing?

I have seen the movie four times now so it may be a mixed bag I forget which trailers came which viewing.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer saw 4x (March 25)

Warcraft trailer saw it 4x (June 10, 2016)

Zootopia trailer saw it 4x (March 4, 2016)

Captain America: Civil War saw it 4x (May 6)

The Jungle Book trailer sax it 4x (April 15)

Kung Fu Panda trailer saw it 3x

Independence Day: Resurgence trailer saw it 3x (June 24)

X-Men: Apocalypse saw it 1x (May 27)

The 5th Wave trailer saw it 1x (January 15)

Miracles from Heaven trailer saw it 1x

and I think I may have seen saw Star Trek Beyond 1x (July 22).

[baron arem heshvaun]

I do not think you need to see The Force Awakens ins 3D or IMAX, but if you can watch the movie in Dolby Prime.

I have seen the film four times and I feel that screening was definitely the best of the viewing potential.

[baron arem heshvaun]

Scott Betts wrote:

That 97% Fresh rating with 125+ reviews in is pretty promising.

That's a little higher than I would have given it but pretty close.

If The Empire Strikes Back was a 12+ out of 10 and Star Wars A New Hope was a 10/10, I would put The Force Awakens a solid 8+ out of 10.

An 89 maybe.

[Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun]

Aaron Bitman wrote:

Imbicatus wrote:

I'm a fan of the Machete Order myself, unfortunately I don't have time for a full rewatch before 7:00 pm tomorrow.

When it comes to order, my children have - this very morning - pointed out my hypocrisy. I keep saying "Start with Episode 4. Don't even THINK about starting with Episode 1! That was the worst of the 6!"

Yet the last time I watched Star Wars I saw 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5, and finally 6.

this week, I started watching Star Wars again, starting with 1.

The only correct Imperial way to watch the films are Episode III, then Episode V, followed by another viewing of Episode V, then Episode V yet again.

In Imperial Security Bureau reeducation agent will be coming to advise you of this shortly.

[Ensirio the Longstrider]

Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun wrote:

Aaron Bitman wrote:

Imbicatus wrote:

I'm a fan of the Machete Order myself, unfortunately I don't have time for a full rewatch before 7:00 pm tomorrow.

When it comes to order, my children have - this very morning - pointed out my hypocrisy. I keep saying "Start with Episode 4. Don't even THINK about starting with Episode 1! That was the worst of the 6!"

Yet the last time I watched Star Wars I saw 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5, and finally 6.

this week, I started watching Star Wars again, starting with 1.

The only correct Imperial way to watch the films are Episode III, then Episode V, followed by another viewing of Episode V, then Episode V yet again.

In Imperial Security Bureau reeducation agent will be coming to advise you of this shortly.

*jams Episode VI on loop*

YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE COPPER!!

[pres man]

My current order is (basically machete order with a prologue):
Phantom Menace (I)
A New Hope (IV)
Empire Strikes Back (V)
Attack of the Clones (II)
Revenge of the Sith (III)
Return of the Jedi (VI)
Force Awakens (VII)

Though I have been debating with:
Phantom Menace (I)
A New Hope (IV)
Attack of the Clones (II)
Empire Strikes Back (V)
Revenge of the Sith (III)
Return of the Jedi (VI)
Force Awakens (VII)

[archmagi1]

It has begun:

Space Balls: The Search for more Money