General Star Wars - The Rise of Skywalker News and Rumors Thread

Spoiler

MSW believes the flashback opening scene is mainly used for setting up Kylo's redemption. Furthermore JJ has to introduce Leia's lightsaber for Rey to use later in the movie.

But yeah, it's also certainly for fan service.

 

I don't get why "fan service" gets a bad rap. I mean, isn't that what this is all about? FOR the fans? It's the only reason Obi-Wan is getting a show in the first place.

 

because adding something to a story because fans like it without having a purpose for the story is cheap. Doing a show that fans want but having it a good story isn't bad. It's not 'Fan Service' at is that is bad, but doing it without fitting to the story.

 

There is a fine difference between "fan service" and "fan enhancing". Adding something just for the fans to make them say: "Wow, I know that!" (or something like that) is bad storytelling IMO. A great example would be this scene from TFA:

This was pure and bad fan service. It has no use at all for the actual movie or story. It's just "Do you remember this?".

Good "fan service" adds something to the story or it's meaningful for characters. Let's stick with TFA because there are also good examples of fan service. For example-

Kylo and Vader's mask. We didn't need to see Vader('s mask), but fans definitely wanted to. So we got what we wanted, but it's also used in a meaningful way.

 

Unless it's to address a gap in our understanding of the past... was Leia trained? Can she or should she be training Rey?

 

For me the remote scene with Finn in TFA its a good fan service moment. Its a comical scene and at the same its something that will bring some nostalgia and a direct link to the Millenium Falcon. I liked it.

 

It pulled me out of the movie. I remember watching the movie with a tunnel-type vision (because I was nervous) and then scenes like these aren't good. A movie shouldn't remind you that you're watching a movie.

I don't get why I get disliked for this post btw. I just explained the definition of fan-service and when it's used correctly...

 

JJ wil never put anything in a movie that is not needed or relevant. That's not how he operates.

 

I saw at the time the whole remote scene was foreshadowing and the first inclination that Finn was following the path of the gun rather than path of Jedi (Sabre).

Personally I didn't accept that take at the time but I can see why people took that angle and looking back now unfortunately it seems they were right.

I don't know I listen to that YouTube video and podcast with Jason. The so called beginning of the scene of TRoS don't remember him mentioning any foreshadowing. Only that it would be cool idea to mirror that shot at the end. Now the sandworm he 100% said was foreshadowing.

 

Ah, come on, the scene with the remote was so fun... Boyega was priceless in that take. It did something, it had a comedic light touch, it made us smile and feel. That shot was not necessary but I swear it was far from bad.

--- Double Post Merged, Sep 16, 2019, Original Post Date: Sep 16, 2019 ---

Oh my god, snap, snap, snap

 

No one said bad fan-service can't be fun, but did it add something to the story or was is meaningful for the character of Finn? No, it didn't add anything to the story, nor was it meaningful for Finn's character.

 

You're right, it didn't add anything to the story or the character, but it added something to the movie. It made it fun, and a SW movie needs to be fun. A film is so much more than story and character... It's atmosphere. It's mood... That's why Blade Runner is a classic. It's not because of its story, its characters or even its profound philosophical message... It is its atmosphere of rain, desolation and exuberance that Ridley Scott delivered with his unique cinematic eye.

JJ knows how to bring fun into things and I love how he just gets the comedy in SW and even makes it better

 

Yes, like I said, fan service can be fun, but that's not the point, no one said that fan service can't be fun. We were taking about different kinds of fan service and what this fan service does for the story.

 

Exactly this. It's the same with bad humor- it can still be fun.

That's definitely true. JJ can get you in a great mood. This is also the reason why I'm excited about TROS. But IMO fun moments like this are just funny the first or maybe the second time watching. After that it gets boring pretty fast.
The Finn/training ball moment probably gets you because you don't expect it. It's kinda like the jumpscare of comedy. It doesn't work a second time. At least I see it that way and that's the point: it's MY opinion.

 

I see what you mean, guys. What I was trying to say is that if a moment of fan service is doing something for the film (and by that I also mean atmosphere, tone, mood), it should be kept. I think you agree with me on this.

I would only disagree with @NinjaRen on this point: bad humour is never fun. There is nothing worse than comedy that is not funny. It’s inexcusable. If a joke doesn’t land or half lands, chop it. If a moment of goofiness jars or interferes flow and tone, chop it too... TLJ unfortunately had too many of moments like that which should have been altered or chopped.

 

except that comedy is 100% subjective.

 

Edit. Are we still talking about fan service?

 

I'm genuinely surprised that some posters can't see why a flashback/memory sequence like what Jason and others have described would be "necessary" narratively.

 

100%....ish, but ok.

The problem with comedy is that it is dangerous territory. When you don’t find it funny, you kind of hate it... that’s why, with it, it’s better to proceed with caution.

--- Double Post Merged, Sep 17, 2019, Original Post Date: Sep 17, 2019 ---

Oh excuse me... I didn’t start talking about comedy and humour though.

“It's the same with bad humor- it can still be fun.”

I was referring to this quote by @NinjaRen

--- Double Post Merged, Sep 17, 2019 ---

Nothing is necessary narratively until it is. It just depends on the story that’s been told.

 

My own 2 Galactic Credits: The TFA moment with the training remote was pure fan service devoid of any storytelling or filmic purpose. Neither, I would say, was that moment -- Finn picking up, studying, and then discarding the remote -- particularly funny. Oh, the scene was definitely funny, but that specific moment didn't, as far as I can see, add much to the scene or story. No, the remote thing was simply the film shining a lamp on a prop from ANH for the sole purpose of showing of said prop to the pleasure of that segment of the fan base who went, "all right! ANH!", at that moment.

Personally, I have zero problems with that as it makes sense for the thing to still be aboard the Millennium Falcon and I find continuity very enjoyable. Taking offence at this moment is, IMVHO, to needlessly create missery out of something done with and for love. If you (no one in particular here) experience a problem with this moment in TFA, that is squarely your issue and not the movie's.

So, coming full circle, the remote serves zero purpose in the film... except to give you, or if not you then perhaps the person next to you, some SW love.

Fan service is only bad if done badly, if it is the sole purpose why a jarring scene or segment exists, or if it breaks continuity or established character in some way. Now, come fight me on that hill!