The Force Awakens

[Tom]

Paid for the 0945 showing at the Trafford Centre, normal screen but 3D. The film wasn't shot in IMAX so I'm not paying for IMAX, fuck that. As the usual intro rolled up the screen I realised that four big emergency lights had been left on, the top of the screen was bright red and I could see my reflection in the back of the 3D glasses. As the action began I thought "fuck THIS" and walked out to complain.

To be fair, the guys there aren't responsible for the projection, so I didn't give them a hard time, but as we went back into the theatre I noticed that "shit was going down" in the film so said I couldn't watch it now as it'd been ruined. So they refunded my ticket (£16), gave me a new ticket free of charge, and I got to sit in an even emptier screen 30 minutes later

The film is really good, not a masterpiece, but deservedly up there and second only to Empire or Return (I love space muppets so stfu).

Spoiler

I liked how Han died, Obi Wan let Vader kill him so that Luke might move on. Kylo killed Han so that he might move on. I thought it was well played. I can't see Han coming back, he fell into a big pit (happens a lot in Star Wars doesn't it?) and then the whole place exploded. He ded. And I liked Luke's reveal, the sadness in his eyes was fantastic. But the standout performance for me is Adam Driver, who was a very believable damaged individual.

 

[Scouse]

Aye @Tom. Was it worth it in 3D? Was it natively filmed in 3d? I watched it in 2d but 3d would have been a waste last night as I was battered

Spoiler

Still. They didn't need to kill Han. At least they didn't give him a gay death like Captain Kirk, but they always regretted killing Kirk off and tbh Han Solo and Chewie were the stand out paring in the film again - to lose that is to lose a lot.

And WTF is it with Chewie looking so tidy? You could tell it wasn't Mayhew - they should have pulled the 71 year old out of retirement, shot him full of steroids and stuck him on for the walking and standing about parts

 

[Zarjazz]

I saw it in 2D and can't say I noticed a single shot that would have benefited from 3D. There's was none of those forced shots of stuff flying into your face you often get in 3D movies.

It definitely capture the tone of the original films and shows how misjudged, or plain bad, the prequels were. Some of the complaints that it had a few too many references and nods to the original movies are fair but they rarely got in the way of the plot as it never lingered on them. I've also see a few bad reviews how the plot is exactly the same as Ep 4 just with different characters. That's hardly a problem IMO since Ep.6 is also the same: travel around a bit, blow up deathstar, the end.

 

[Tom]

Aye @Tom. Was it worth it in 3D? Was it natively filmed in 3d? I watched it in 2d but 3d would have been a waste last night as I was battered

Spoiler

Still. They didn't need to kill Han. At least they didn't give him a gay death like Captain Kirk, but they always regretted killing Kirk off and tbh Han Solo and Chewie were the stand out paring in the film again - to lose that is to lose a lot.

And WTF is it with Chewie looking so tidy? You could tell it wasn't Mayhew - they should have pulled the 71 year old out of retirement, shot him full of steroids and stuck him on for the walking and standing about parts

Yeah I reckon 3D is worth it, the chase (as seen in the trailers) is really good, the rest of the 3D is fairly non-intrusive. There's only one 3D shot that I didn't like, a telephoto shot of a star destroyer that I thought looked a bit dodgy.

 

[Tom]

I've also see a few bad reviews how the plot is exactly the same as Ep 4 just with different characters. That's hardly a problem IMO since Ep.6 is also the same: travel around a bit, blow up deathstar, the end.

Spoiler

Quite similar yes but it does a much much better job of getting you involved with the characters. Right from the off, where Finn rescued that pilot bloke, I liked both of them. I loved their escape, was mentally cheering with them as they blew shit up. Same as when Finn and Rey took off in the Falcon, I was loving that shit. It got a bit flat in the middle but all the scenes with Kylo were fantastic, especially toward the end where we learn that he's neither good nor evil, just fucked up. Kylo Ren played a better Anakin Skywalker than Anakin Skywalker IMO.

 

[CorNokZ]

As for 3D, I think it was perfected in this movie. Previous movies in 3D have been all about testing the technology and see how much shit they could throw in your face.

TFA only uses it when needed and very subtle. The Star Destroyer coming bang at you emphasises how enormous it is. Everywhere else it just felt like they used it to add depth. Very well done imo

 

[old.user4556]

Saw it.

Need to think about it as a whole. Off the bat, hugely better than EP 1, 2 and 3. However I've walked away feeling very flat. Will sleep on it and discuss tomorrow.

 

[Talivar]

Loved it but started to see more and more of a negative reaction to it on various forums

 

[old.user4556]

*cracks knuckles*

Right:

Spoiler

It was just Episode 4 all over again, almost exactly the same formula.

Hide plans in a droid, send droid packing, naive young person finds droid (Luke in 4 / Rey in 7), completely "randomly" loop Han Solo into the action by fluke (space port in 4 / freighter in 7) , Solo / Kylo was just a modern take on Kenobi / Vader to make the audience say "whattttt! he can't die?!". There had to be that audience passion for "I hate you, you can't kill Kenobi / Han!".

I wasn't expecting it to be original - how can it be? - but I wasn't expecting it to have that much parity with Episode 4. As a result I did do a lot of seat fidgeting.

That said:

Spoiler

Far, faaaaaaaaaar better than Episode 1, 2 and 3. It wasn't a bad film, it had all the necessary ingredients for an action space flick. The characters had believable chemistry (although Rey was a bit meh) with the good tie up between Fin and the the other dude he rescued at the end. The story, although wholly unoriginal, was coherent start to finish. The acting was also good - it had the perfect balance between serious darkness and light hearted amusement. After watching Episode 5 a few days ago, Episode 6 was just far too childish with those fucking Ewoks.

Adam Driver was excellent. Stand out role for me. I've always been a fan of him (in the HBO prog 'Girls' especially) - he does "a bit unhinged" very well, and it carried into this role well. He has the potential to bring a really dark edge in 8 and 9. Kylo brought that much required darkness.

All in:

Spoiler

It was OK. It was heavily clichéd. I was entertained though and part of "the new three", it's slotted in nicely.

 

[Ormorof]

I liked it a lot

 

[chipper]

all im gonna say is i loved it and as a die hard star wars fan i would have been one of its biggest critics. you must go see it if you have even an ounce of sci fi in your blood

 

[Scouse]

all im gonna say is i loved it and as a die hard star wars fan i would have been one of its biggest critics. you must go see it if you have even an ounce of fantasy in your blood

Fixed

 

[Yoni]

Fantabulous renewed my faith in the Force

 

[Lamp]

Cba with it. Had enough ropy CGI bollocks, lousy annoying actors, ridiculous plotlines, and JarJar Binks to last a lifetime. Will catch it on torrents

 

[Zarjazz]

Cba with it. Had enough ropy CGI bollocks, lousy annoying actors, ridiculous plotlines, and JarJar Binks to last a lifetime. Will catch it on torrents

Then you're making a really big mistake IMO by not watching this in the cinema. None of those points are valid concerns in this one. They know why people hated the prequels and avoided the same mistakes. Frankly if you're any kind of fan of the originals this should be a must see. It's probably the most fun I've had watching a film in years.

 

[Job]

So they wanted Keira Knightly for the part, but found her double instead.

 

[Yoni]

I would have preferred to watch it in 2d as for some reason it took 45 mins for my eyes to adjust.... It doesn't normally so fuck knows what was up with me ;(

 

[Job]

Star Wars at the BBC, awesome70's footage of the actors on Blue Peter and other shows, Mark Hamill is so cool.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2vpbSnOWoo

 

[Ormorof]

So they wanted Keira Knightly for the part, but found her double instead.

i think she did a much better job than kiera knightly has done in any movie ive seen her in tbh!

 

[Job]

It didn't take long.

Very NSFW
http://g.e-hentai.org/g/884868/6db2c7502a

 

[Raven]

@Job, you are broken.

Been talked into seeing it during the week after Christmas, if plebs start talking I will be shouting at them.

 

[MrHorus]

yea thats arguable,, but they always "update" the sabers, went from 1, to DOUBLE LOL in 1-3, so they were going to do -something- and id rather this than curved sabres or fuckknowswhat

Come on, a lightkatana or a lightscimitar would be cool.

 

[MrHorus]

It didn't take long.

Very NSFW
http://g.e-hentai.org/g/884868/6db2c7502a

I have no words.

 

[Scouse]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w8Z0UOXVaY

 

[SilverHood]

Loved it. 11.30 AM on a Monday, IMAX 3D. Not bad for $15. Too bad about the usual muppets who turn up at 11.30 expecting to get a half decent seat, and then spend ages trying to get themselves sorted.

 

[Gwadien]

Watched it

Spoiler

As others said, the similarities between this and ep 4 are high. Bit annoyed that they use the same bad guys as the 'old' films too, I'm not asking for the trade dudes but something... Different at least. In that respect I hope that now Han is gone (I reckon he's gone because Ford didn't wanna do anymore) Leia just becomes a person who guides the Rebels, Luke guides the Jedi's and Chewie remains a silentish right hand man thus cutting links with 4/5/6 and making it into a series in their own right as opposed to piggy backing on the concept of the Empire vs Rebels again.

 

[ECA]

Saw it in imax and enjoyed it, but

Spoiler

it was pretty much Star Wars: TNG

 

[Hawkwind]

Took my son to see it this morning on 4DX or 3D available but still enjoyed the film, roll on the next one JJ, keeps the same actress, she hawt!

 

[old.user4556]

You mean the skinny bird with no tits who looks 14?

 

[Scouse]

You mean the skinny bird with no tits who looks 14?

You big scottish fatty lover. She ain't skinny.