If You Hated 8, What Would It Take for You To Go See 9?

There is one thing you have to keep in mind : for someone like me, considering quiting Star Wars is simply a terrifying prospect.

The franchise had a big place in my heart, and had a big influence on me growing up. Quitting Star Wars is simply not something i can do in just one day. This process is hard and takes times. Coming here and talking about it eases up the process (and part of me still wishes to find here a reason to believe that JJ can put everything back together somehow).

But TLJ has simply showed me ; the spirit, soul and the values of SW are gone.
When i now see Hux (!) recalling his pilots when they're in danger, while Poe is the one throwing away his mens' lives without a single care ... i can only measure how far apart the ST is from my Star Wars.

No point in watching it any longer, when it has been so thoroughly perverted.

 

"Six films there are. No more, no less!"

Keep the stuff you like and deny the existence of the stuff you dislike. Like how creationists do.

 

I partly agree with your sentiments and understand where you are coming from as someone whose stance on TLJ is more middle of the road/ mixed. It is very evident that LF took some big risks with TLJ with going with RJ's vision. And while the merits of whether or not they were good are tied to personal preference/ what a person wants out of the franchise; I do not think it is unreasonable to be critical towards LF.

The department being consistency and a lack of a plan. Which is a big problem. Especially, given how LF clearly wants to be like Marvel Studios But really, I don't see the divisiveness of TLJ being that much of an issue for LF, unless Solo really does tank. Because really; TLJ could very much be seen as Age of Ultron in terms of a "failure" in that it had a lot of hype behind it and for a split portion of the audience it didn't live up to it.

Note, Age of Ultron isn't a movie I'd call a failure as it did well and is a decent flick. Again, all subjective and I digress.


As for Rian Johnson going away, maybe that is an option. What helps is that he was very cooperative and the shoot went well. Make of that as you will. For me, personally; I'd want Johnson to remain but he shouldn't write the movie. At all.

Or if he is, he needs some major help. Because, as a Rian Johnson fan; the guy clearly overestimated his ability to make the jump to a big tentpole blockbuster. Which is fine. Not every director can do that. But if he's open to listen/ acknowledge criticism and learn, I see no problem. As for Kathleen Kennedy; I will be upfront. I have lost a lot of respect for her.

Her direction at LF I find mixed with her constant personal politics being shoved forward. Something I won't get into here. But rationally; I don't think she will be removed. TLJ has made quite a bit. Yeah, it tanked in China which for a variety of reasons/ LF's dumb attempt to pander. But to shareholders, TLJ, in the context of Disney's purchase of LF/ SWs should be happy.

Now, that said; I can see KK's position at LF being put into question if Han Solo isn't as well-received, along with the supposed dip in merchandising sales. But really; I totally understand where you are coming from.


As for JJ Abrams and Episode Nine; I do not envy him. I'm no fan of Abrams, but man talk about being given a changed sandlot. Personally, I hope he does do a more middle of the road movie where he acknowledges TLJ's consequences. Maybe, retcon a few things people weren't too thrilled with. But if it is going to be like TFA where it is a strictly safer movie; count me out.

Not like I was going to see it, but really if I had somehow power to dictate the direction, I'd try to do that. A best of both worlds.

 

For me, the question is “What would it take for me NOT to see it?”

I strongly disliked 7, but I never even considered skipping 8. Although my expectations for 9 may have lowered by now, I would still have to be physically incapacitated to not see it.

 

Nothing that could realistically happen.

This to me is the equivalent of paying to get punched in the face.

 

My problem with 9 is that the only villain of worth now is Kylo, and he doesn't strike me as the strategist type. He'd probably do well as a guerilla fighter just trying to cause havoc, but as a ruler? I don't even think he really has interest in that. For 9 to work, they really needed Hux as a brains behind Kylo's braun, and unfortunately RJ took it upon him to completely usurp Hux and change him into the FO's jester. I don't think Hux is salvageable at this point.

So I'm curious to see where 9 starts off. Probably the part I'm most interested in is seeing the opening crawl. I think JJ has to bring in another villain at this point, but introducing someone new is going to be hard to do and get people interested in the final act. The only possible solution would be bringing in someone fans are somewhat familiar with. My best guess is Thrawn or the Hutts. I mean, Kylo himself said he wanted to bring everything down, including the FO. So maybe the FO has no leadership, Kylo goes off causing havoc with the KoR, Rey is off training new Jedi and Thrawn or the Hutts come in, take over the remnants of the FO, combined with their already impressive fleet (or whatever) and then both Kylo and Rey have to team up to take down the new big bad.

I hope it isn't Thrawn because I don't have faith in this production team to treat him with the respect he deserves. I mean Thrawn deserves a trilogy of his own at least. The Hutts could work though. We never seen a Hutt fight, but we know they have some resistance to the Force. It might be interesting to see a Hutt warrior or commander.

If they brought in Thrawn or the Hutts, my curiosity would be peaked. Not saying I'd go opening weekend, but I'd be paying more attention.

 

Rey being qualified for this is quite something.

 

The PT introduced General Grievous in the final movie, and the OT introduced Jabba in the final movie (since he wasn't restored to ANH or shown in TPM until after the release of ROTJ). Maybe difficult, but not impossible.

 

You would really skip a star wars film unless you got a free movie ticket?

 

No, I'm looking forward to Solo, but for IX I'm in need of incentives after TLJ.

 

I know where you're coming from, but here's my hopes:

• Poe as a leader, having learned the responsibility to go with it
• Finn as a committed member of the Resistance/Rebellion because he’s realised that he can’t simply run; he has to fight
• Rey accepting that she needs to move on from her parents and embrace the future rather than being trapped in the past

Plus, without Carrie Fisher, I expect and hope for Luke’s ghost to have a larger role (story or screen time, possibly both).

 

I’m happy that JJ is back mainly for one reason: In TFA he seemed able to take a step back and readjust the story to serve the final feel and tone of the movie. During TLJ however I had this niggling feeling, I don’t know why, that RJ gets a bit too enamoured of his ideas, even when they don’t work, and that his desire to be original on occasion compromised the flow and tone of TLJ. I know that I’m at risk of being presumptuous here, and that Rian may have had a team helping him to quell his creativity. It just didn’t feel that way.

 

I find this incredible. I have the same opinion on that matter, but in reverse. JJ gets so enamoured with his mystery boxes and creating new ideas that he actually forgets about the fact that he's making a film that's supposed to tell a satisfying story within a context of a trilogy and all decisions Rian made in TLJ, while they may be unpopular, are done for the sake of the story. It just goes to show how differently each one of us experiences films.

 

You took the words out of my mouth.

 

Agreed. It's why I'm most nervous/excited for 9.
Can JJ avoid his mystery boxes? I think he can and I'm excited to see what he can do without them

 

Yes, although we like different things, you confirm what I said. JJ was less dictated by the story and more by striking the right feel, tone and flow. RJ is more concern with the ins and outs of his narrative and less with maintaining a balanced tone and flow. For example JJ completely changed the dynamic between Finn and Rey because it just did not work on the screen, and changed the trajectory of the character of Poe because he was open to the suggestion of doing so. Rian made the distracting story of Finn and Rose in canto Bight awkwardly fit the main story of TLJ, slowing the story tempo. He also insisted in introducing jarring and clumsy comedy which did not strike the right tone and new characters who had little or nothing to offer. But it is all subjective, I admit.

JJ mystery boxes are fun though. I’m sure he will surprise us with a thing or two in episode 9!

 

I'm also curious how people will react.

Consider the mystery boxes in Lost- a lot of people were really confused by the finale. Not only did they think that it answered nothing (in fairness, a few things went unanswered, but for the most part stuff was addressed) but the "flash sideways" thing was completely misunderstood by a lot of the people I've talked to.

I think, much like with TLJ, JJ has to realize that not only does he have to answer stuff, but he's also going to be fighting fan expectation. Maybe he knows that the island isn't purgatory (or that Rey is no one), but if fans don't want that does he stick to his original plan or bend over backwards to please everyone?

Honestly, I'm not really sure how to answer that question. I like artists with integrity, but I think feedback can also be useful for assessment. It's a fine line to walk, for sure.

 

At this point we know that you will never satisfy every Star Wars fan, so do we want the most broad appealing answer that hits the most demographics or do we want the answer that suits the story best?

 

Well, when you put it that way, it's much clearer

 

I doubt he’ll avoid them. JJ has confessed that mystery boxes dictate his creative process. Sometimes the most satisfying stories are those that are never told, but hinted at, as simple as. I myself would hate an episode 9 that spells out everything. A spirited tale about Rey’s growing up in the force and in the world will suffice.