For those who have seen the movie, do you like it or hate it?

If you hate it so much why do you care enough to log on to complain about it? I loved the film and you didn't. That's life.

 

Not trying to be negative here, but this is a forum for expressing an opinion and this is just mine.

As Rian says, the biggest conundrum he had to solve for this movie was "what's the deal with Luke? Why wasn't he around during events in the first film?

Well, in my opinion, he completely failed at addressing that effectively. I had no issue in principle with a disillusioned Luke, but the way it was executed was ridiculous tbh. I mean, just throwing the lightsaber over the cliff after the look he gave Rey at the end of TFA?? Ridiculous. And the whole grumpy attitude was nothing like a broken man, it almost made him come across as a bit of a selfish coward who just couldn't be bothered anymore. Bizarre choice for Luke Skywalker, not that clever, and I'm not surprised Mark Hammill had so much of an issue with it. Also, are we really to believe that the guy who redeemed Vader would for a split second want to chop his sister's son in two? Jesus, not getting laid must really make a Jedi go grumpy.

One potential route could have been to expand the idea that Snoke seduced Ben, maybe Snoke actually met him at the temple when he thought the time was (through vision or in person) to take him away, and by the time Luke tried to save him it was too late, and Luke lost a battle with Snoke due to some new force power from the unknown regions he couldn't deal with. He then watched something like Kylo being mentally tortured and screaming for his dad and Luke to do something but he couldn't save him. Kylo then hates Luke, resents Han for not being able to save him and believes Snoke must be followed for ultimate power, not to mention the trauma impact of severe torture (which his uncle and father didn't prevent) making him a bit messed up and twisted but respecting the power of his master. Stockholm syndrome anyone? Anyway, that could have led to Luke first going to the Jedi temple to learn more about that power so he could one day go back. maybe what he learned about it scared him, he couldn't embrace the dark side, so he ended up living in shame (a little like Yoda did after Palpatine), not quite grumpy/monster milker, but mentally scarred trying to reach to the force for help but not getting there. Then Rey arrives. there's something different about her abilities. Maybe there is hope after all. The character arc could then have been luke stepping out from the shadows, force Yoda saying he regretting not doing the same thing against Palpatine, and he goes to fight Snoke and try save Ben (in the flesh).

Anyway, I'm not a writer, the above is just from a night thinking about it. (God even a Lukes on a spell like King of Rohan/wormtongue arc would have been easier to take) So its not perfect but one example of how they could have attempted to make sense of the problem in the context of the characters and previous Star Wars.

Very disappointed with the result given how much importance RJ placed on this issue.

 

Just watch the movie yesterday and going to watch it again today.Want to understand many things better BUT the part that I enjoy most and take my breathing away was the part when Snoke with his guards,Rey and Kylo was together in that room.What happen there it was AMAZING and EPIC....OMG....

 

I loved it. It was the most fun and engaged I've been at the movies in a long time. I need to view it more than once to get an effective opinion on it, but I already put it at either 2nd or 3rd place for me. It was so weird and different, but still seemed like Star Wars to me.

 

Didn't you just love the Rey/Ren fight in the throne room? It was almost like a dance. Ugh I can't wait to watch it again! Rose and Finn on those animal/horse things? When Leia shoots Poe and tells him to stop thinking with his cockpit. BB8 shooting the coins "What's your story roundy?" And Luke....tapping his shoulder like a little tiny particle of dust after the FO unleashes every possible weapon on him? HILARIOUS! Hux telling Kylo, "you think you got him?" and Kylo force smacking him against the wall? Bahahaha! So much fun!

 

that last part is what i'm questioning because of what Snoke revealed... so he can read minds and create force bonds between two force users. and unless there's more to Rey's past than we know.. he was able to do this without even meeting her!!

i'm ok with her parents actually being nobodies who abandoned her on Jakku with Plutt... but something about the force bond and Snoke manipulating them smells off to me. The only time i've ever heard of a force bond is from the kotor storyline (obviously not canon).. and that pulled the biggest ever ropadope on us at the end. the main character that we played in that couldn't remember his past, had weird visions.. and discovered the force at an extraordinary rate.

i'll go with 'nobody' for the time being.. but i'm suspicious of what JJ may be planning.

 

I went to a late night showing last night, and I have to say that I am thankful that I saw all the leaks and spoilers beforehand or I'm not sure how I'd feel right now. I'm definitely still on the negative side after seeing it firsthand.

There were some things that I liked. I thought the space battles and visual effects were excellent. Loved Laura Dern's character and think it's a shame we won't see her again. I enjoyed Poe, who's clearly supposed to be our new Han Solo. I liked Finn, but I've always enjoyed the character. I wish they'd given him something more to do. I thought he and Rose played off each other very well, but I'm not sure if I buy the insta love. I found the Luke and Leia scene at the end very emotional and touching. Sad in so many ways.

And of the negative, ugh, where to start with this. My main issues are the plot, which didn't feel like it did anything to advance to overall story and the sheer amount of WTF moments. Leia flying through space like one of the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus, LMAO. There were sounds of stifled laughter in the theatre during that scene. Who on earth thought that was good idea? Maybe if they'd filmed it a different way it would have been better. Kylo and Rey using the wifi password SNOKE and face timing each other through the force was another odd moment. In fact, a man in the row behind me said "What the f__k is going on with this?" I'm firmly in the Reylo is dead camp after watching this movie. For the life of me, I see no romantic chemistry there and the ending would indicate that's not the direction it's heading. Then again, I thought I had an idea where things would head after TFA and was completely wrong so who knows! I like Adam Driver and think he does an excellent job with his character, but the dead eyes/personality of a door knob demeanor doesn't lend itself to creating chemistry with the girl. I still don't know what to make of the parent reveal. Two scummy drunks? Okay. And if someone could help me on this - did Kylo say they were dead and buried on Jakku? I can't remember. If so, who the hell was in the ship that little Rey was yelling for? Then there's our new big, powerful baddie, Snoke. That was a waste. So he was just an evil prick who belittled Kylo? That was his whole purpose and now he's dead? Another thing that feels like a pointless waste of time. Okay, are we supposed to think that Luke is dead? As in dead-dead? Because I get the impression that we'll see him again as some sort of a powerful force ghost. Is Mark Hamill going to be in Ep.9 or do we not know yet?

There's more, but I'm still processing what I watched. I agreed to go see it on Saturday before I knew what I was getting myself into, so maybe a second viewing will help? Overall, I thought the story was a massive cluster it was strange, full of plot holes and creates more questions. I'm glad to see some liked it, but for me, just no.

 

I honestly could not disagree more. And again, I will challenge anyone to point to an on screen example of Obi Wan and Yoda falling victim to the Dark Side as Master Jedi especially in a way that they had already faced in a challenge and conquered and especially in a way that is out of their established character. It's perfectly fine for Jedi to be challenged. It is not (in my opinion) an allowance granted to the writer (even though creative license) to pen an attribute in one film that is incongruent with established core foundation and motivation of a character across a series of movies, for the sake of a plot point. Luke's entire character and development is about believing in the goodness in people, trusting the Force, rejecting anger and fear and all things that lead to the darkside.

We are to believe/accept a character developed in that, who has reached the level of Master stopped believing in the goodness of people, mistrusted the Force, and gave in to fear and anger, merely because Rian wrote it? I don't have a problem with Rian's message (i,e, "don't worship your heroes") I have a problem with his execution and using Luke as the vehicle to communicate that message. I think it is done with little to no precedence or respect for established character profile.

I don't expect to sway your opinion here mind you, I just don't agree that this movie doesn't jump the guard rails, for me it absolutely does betray Luke and the Jedi

 

I liked it a lot. I don't think I can love it because this "trilogy" is nothing and has no story to tell. However, TLJ was the enema this series needed -- and badly. What RJ has done is extreme damage control. Of course JJA will retcon the retcon but the good news here is that he's lost. Going forward we will not have Retread SW. We will not have JJ's "vision" of remaking the OT.

I am astonished that RJ was allowed to make this movie. It burns TFA to the ground and pisses on its ashes TFA was a piece of garbage. It was an apology to butthurt fanboys who could not get over Jar Jar Binks. Lucas abandoned the project (which he initiated and was even going to direct) said it felt like a divorce and called Disney/Lucasfilm "white slavers". The entire tone of TFA was, "You dropped the ball, we're going to clean up your mess, go and sit in the corner." Profoundly misguided and disrespectful.

Well, RJ has exacted Lucas's revenge! The entire premise of this movie -- that the Jedi and Sith were just two religions, of historical importance but in no way defining the Force -- was something Lucas hammered home umpteen times in the PT and TCW. It's nothing new. But RJ used it to good effect here. It's like 75% of fandom missed the whole point of the Saga -- "truths" often depend on our POV, don't hold on to the past, don't look back, and accept change. What TFA did was codify a thumb sucking, security blanket clutching hyper-attachment to the OT -- a story GL had already told. If Disney is really going to crank out 1 SW movie a year forever, they had to be torn away from remaking the OT over and over (and over) again like those crummy Bantam books from the 90's.

RJ has broken the cycle. The message of this movie, to me, is "SW can be good, it can be meaningful, it can be artful and entertaining -- but it's not a religion and it should move forward and not be stagnant."

Things I loved about RJ's uncompromising and unapologetic approach:

Snoke -- a worthless Sidious clone who got the ending he deserved. JJA can bring him back -- but why?

Phasma -- a costume not a character -- got the ending she deserved.

Both of these "characters" were not worthy of expansion. RJ didn't waste his time making them interesting. He did the right thing -- adios!

Hux -- lame space Nazi, now comic relief. Again, RJ was right on here. Nothing intimidating about this non character, waste of time to invest energy making him anything more than the joke he always was.

Rey -- not special. She never was. No explanation of her powers -- idea was stupid and done already (twice) by GL -- RJ didn't waste time explaining. Why bother? Everyone accepted it without explanation! She's no more important than Luke was or any Jedi. TLJ codifies Lucas's actual concept -- the Force uses people not vice versa although their personal choices have repercussions.

Finn -- again not a strong character, RJ gives him a good companion and a fun adventure. I felt good for Finn, he got to go out, see some sights, have an adventure for the first time in his life, not just being thrown around by circumstances. He had agency in the TLJ. Could have been stronger but the idea is what is important here -- Finn is not a cog in the wheel of destiny and his one brush with "destiny" is destroyed by someone who actually cares about him. That was beautiful. F--- destiny and fates! Been there, done that!

Poe -- again, RJ isn't manufacturing super heroes. Poe is still likable but he's just wrong in this movie. He's wrong and he has to accept it and grow up. Big message for many SW fans there. Well written.

Kylo -- lame Anakin/Vader clone who also gets deconstructed. I liked most of what RJ did with the character.

Luke -- from the absolute garbage RJ was given to work with I think he did right by Luke. Not perfect but a good person blinkered by obsessing over the past and his family legacy but who does right in the end.

Yoda -- puppet looks like crap, sorry. But the scene was great. And Force Ghosts, originally, could interact with the physical world. In the original RoTJ treatment, Yoda and Ben fought Vader with sabers!

TLJ is filled with random weirdness, just like a GL movie. The whole film is a love letter to GL -- RJ does it his way -- but by doing it his way he actually fulfills the original mandate of Lucasfilm. Yes, Lucasfilm did SW but it also did American Graffiti, Body Heat, Kagemusha, Mishima, Tucker, Land Before Time, Labyrinth, Young Indiana Jones (straight up historical drama), Red Tails, Strange Magic, Willow -- it was all about taking chances. RJ gets that.

It's a weird movie. It deconstructs the franchise, fandom (by messing with its expectations), it's entertaining, sometimes moving, it has faults but also great strengths. But RJ took a HUGE risk here. He erased the stupidity of TFA and restored ambition and idiosyncrasy to SW (which GE also contributed to with RO). KK has made her stand here. Between RO, TLJ, and the last 3 seasons of Rebels she's clearly decided to continue GL's legacy instead of milking three of his movies forever.

I have zero interest in Episode 9. TLJ ended the story -- what there was of a story. I'm curious to see what comes after Solo and E9. I'm also interested to see if KK has the guts to produce non SW, non IJ movies under the Lucasfilm banner, like GL did.

By way of a normal reaction: loved the action, the design, the performances and music.

 

I feel like you're missing the whole point of his character. Obi Wan and Yoda were masters trained in the Jedi order. Luke canonically has a couple weeks of training and a force strong bloodline. Anyone calling him master is only doing so because he's the last Jedi. Luke clearly gives in to fear and anger first in ESB but again in RotJ. Fear and anger are part of his character throughout the story before he becomes and Jedi and certainly after as well. The fear he has within him almost leads to him slaughtering his own nephew. He doesn't mistrust the Force at all, he mistrusts himself. He doesn't stop believing in the goodness of people, he loses his faith in his own goodness. Whether you like that story point or not is your own opinion but you can't say that his characterization in this story is vastly different from the other films because it's simply not true.

 

That is very much what I felt walking out the first time. It's almost like the parts being worth more than the car. I would love to see many of these scenes as Youtube clips.. but altogether.. The Dark Knight Rises.. I had a very similar feeling to that film. I was mulling not using my second ticket.. and I'm glad I went for the second screening. I liked it a lot better the second time. I think the film was not the one sold in the trailers, scenes we were "slam-dunk" told were in tha movie were not, and we had a lot running on the imortance of things that Rian simply escewd as being important altogether.
That said, I probably won't be watching it a third time. Not until after it comes out on Digital. For the moment.. I'll put it.. somewhere.. above Jedi.

 

Upon first viewing, I am pretty disappointed. The opening was great! The last 1/3 of the movie was phenomenal. The rest was kind of a mess. It just seems like really sloppy movie making to me. Finn's whole arc was absolutely useless. It could be deleted and there would be no impact at all on the larger film. The "comedy" was cringe-worthy slapstick in many places! Worst of all, as part of a trilogy, it seems completely disjointed from TFA. There were so many threads from TFA that should have been picked up in this movie that were just left hanging - where are the KoR? How did Maz get the lightsaber, etc.

I am going to see it again tomorrow. Hopefully I will like it better the second time. I really want to like this movie. This movie is make or break for the entire ST. Thus far, I am thinking it is break, which is really sad.

 

I really liked it, but I left feeling pretty dazed. Felt like so much happened and I still need to process. I was immediately a little thrown off by Poe's comedy bit in the very beginning. But there was so much I loved about where the characters go and the way they explore the force.

 

I am good with this film, it's noisy, cluttered and over burdened and at least 15 minutes too long, but I am good with the film.

Mark Hamill is the key reason why I like it. He shines in this film.

 

I liked it but it wasn't perfect. It suffers from a few dodgy effects and being a little too long but also not developing a few story points and character arcs. It is, however, different. It takes risks. It challenges your conceptions of characters you know and love. It turns the Star Wars universe on its head and I like that quite a bit.

 

I feel the same way in the sense that I am overwhelmed and dazed by the experience. A buddy at work and I were just talking and saying that there was SO much action, we had a lot of, "wait...WHAT?!?" moments. LOL

 

The effects were good, the acting was ok, The chemistry between these weak new characters feels forced. I Feel like Disney and the writers/director did not show the proper respect for the story. It was too cheeky. My stomach hurts when I think of watching Jedi years ago and wanting to see Luke and the crew go on to fix the galaxy and then this is what we get. Poor overall.

 

Wow, I have never seen Star Wars fans so divided. I love the film and like it way more than TFA. Also, Let's be honest people, what Star Wars film doesn't have it's flaws. Personally, I can accept everything presented in the film, even Leia in space. People wanted new and different, so that's about as new and different as it gets...

And before someone questions it. YES, I am a true Star Wars fan