Leia Poppins debate

for the record, no one laughed in my theater, so I gotta go with what DP said. I guess since you thought it was funny the people around you followed suit. everyone has different reactions to things so it really doesn't matter... just saying... no one laughed in all my viewings of the film.

 

lol, I'm not going to argue what I experienced to someone who wasn't there. I'm taking you at your word and didn't even think to doubt it. Take me at mine or don't, it really doesn't matter much to me either way.

 

You werent at his theater either. I didnt experience any laughing either. All this proves is you should avoid trying to speak for others. Keep the discussion to what is on screen. I will say it is really hard to discuss this with someone who only viewed TLJ one time. TLJ is far better when you view it a second time. It slows down and you can pay attention. In my first viewing I didnt even notice that the broom boy used the Force at the end to pull the broom towards him.

 

That's definitely one camp. At least that one is debatable.

I've heard, even recently, people asking how Leia could've trained with the force. I think it just goes to show that, like with Luke, some fans expected these characters to be cryogenically frozen between ROTJ and TFA, instead of being fleshed out and leading full lives.

I'd hate to be the Tamogatchi of someone with that big of a problem with object permanence.

Regarding @Sparafucile's comment about feeling "cheated"- I get that, but I also think there could be another way to look at it. While Carrie's unfortunate death has certainly created a challenge for the series, and this scene could've conveniently wrapped up that loose end, it does little to really advance anyone's arcs. Kylo already killed Han. Leia's arc doesn't really gain anything, and rather ends abruptly because of it.

The way I saw it was that seeing Leia's dead, frozen gaze in space was horrifying, especially in light of the real world events. But seeing her utilize the force to come back was an utter triumph. I think a lot of fans really needed that, to see Leia face death and defiantly survive. That's why I'm so willing to look past how it might be slightly silly looking, because the scene is so meaningful to me.

 

I really don't get the "it looks weird" thing either. Leia looks like she's floating in space and that she's pulling herself to the ship with the force. I'm not sure how it could look any different.

 

They could have gone with a Superman look with both arms out extended. Wouldnt have made it look better. They could have gone with a swimming look to it. Wouldnt have made it look better. They could really go for the real Mary Poppins look and have heard stand straight up with something in her arm extended straight up like an umbrella. Woudlnt have made it look better.

 

I don't remember anyone laughing in the theater were I watched the movie, it was silent. Leia using the force in this film should have been met with cheers, instead it seems to have generated confusion.

 

I never spoke for him or others, I related my experience. I never doubted any one elses experience or spoke for anyone elses experience. I never said I was at his theater, I never said he lied and people laughed at his theater or viewings. I spoke to my experience. So no, I did not speak for him, I spoke to my experience and the reaction of those who attended my viewing.

 

for what it's worth, i saw TLJ 7 times in two different states and three different theatres with 7 different audiences.
and no one laughed at Leia Poppins. [shrug]

far too many people laughed at Rey getting hit in the head with the lightsaber, which i still find disturbing (but that's neither here nor there). : o p

i get that Leia looks stiff and Poppins-ish, but it doesn't take me out of the movie and i never wondered how she did it or how doors work or whatever.
but then i grew up with Mary Poppins, so i don't even consider it a negative association.

 

I laughed at Leia Poppins on the inside. I'm not one for making a spectacle of myself in a theater. That's something I reserve for internet forums.

 

If I had been alone, or with someone who saw depth or seriousness in the scene, I probably wouldn't of. As it was, I looked over at my brother and my nephews (late teens, early 20s) and we all looked at each other with a look of bewilderment and confusion (wtf?) and we all started laughing. It wasn't done to insult or disrespect anyone, it was just funny to us. Trying to stop that is difficult. In retrospect, probably pretty understandable why I didn't see a second door or force field or anything when she got into the ship, we were pretty busy trying to stop laughing.

Honestly, if a group of people had cracked up at that scene behind you, don't you think you would have been more inclined to laugh then? Besides, laughing at a movie isn't making a spectacle, as many movies, including TLJ, had many scenes where they were going for that reaction. I didn't laugh at Rey getting struck with the lightsaber, but heard others who did.

 

Why would she be swimming in the vacuum of space? Why would she need to be more aerodynamic like Superman?

If anything, we'd just be reading a "Leia Kent" or "Leia Phelps" instead of this Leia Poppins thread. People are so "clever".

 

This speaks more to the strange tonal choices this movie made in general I think. I’m honestly not sure whether that was supposed to be funny or not. That thud on the noggin certainly had the marks of classic slapstick. Hux being whapped about like a rag doll seemed to be played for laughs too - complete with intentionally effeminate yelp.

Through the course of a film, a movie teaches you how you’re supposed to react to it. When you start a flick off with a Family Guy-esque self-aware style parody and then launch straight into dead serious life-and-death drama, the audience can be forgiven for not quite following what intended tone the movie is going for. They can take the serious moments as comedy and the comedic moments as serious. It gets difficult to tell the two apart if they’re seemingly given the same focus. But that’s just my impression.

 

i responded to this HERE as the general issue of tone and humor is kinda off-topic for this thread, but interesting and worth discussing. : D

 

Our beloved Leia actively uses the Force only once, 5 movies long. Right?
She is hit by the force message sent by Luke from Bespin, in Episode 6, but she's not actively using the Force. Right?

So, THAT moment in TLJ is the ONLY ONE we see her actively use the Force.
And what astoundingly bothers me, is that this only time, is a f*ing SELFISH moment. Our Princess is finally a true Force User, but the only thing we see her do with it, is something for her personal use.
That bothers me. That makes our Leia using the Force like... like a Sith . And I think it is sad.

Do you think THIS was intended? or am I just messing my head ?

 

I'd say the matter of tone with respect to audience response of this specific scene is really rather relevant to the thread's topic, but sure, I'll go over there

 

Was she "actively" using it, though?

She was basically passed out, and her body kinda took over. Not unlike Aang when he goes into the Avatar state, if that means anything to you.

I don't think it could be selfishness if was more of a reflex.

That also goes a long way to explaining why she didn't necessarily "train" for this.

 

People always seem to forget this exchange for some reason:

Han: I'm sure Luke wasn't on that thing when it blew.
Leia: He wasn't. I can *feel* it.

Vader could *feel* when Obi-Wan was near. Luke could *feel* when Vader was near. It's an established Force ability and Leia did it in the OT. That counts.

You can rationalize it as a fight-or-flight reaction - acting on instinct, but I don't see why even that's necessary. I mean, the Force is strong in her family. 'Nuff said

Well, there’s a reason airline passengers are told “secure your own mask first before helping others” in the event of cabin pressure loss. It’s because you won’t be much help to anyone if you’re passed out. Leia is the leader of this Resistance. You can’t lead anyone if you’re dead. Saving her own life very well might mean saving other’s as well.

Granted, Leia doesn’t actually do much after this point to justify this perspective, but the idea is still sound . . . if that helps.

 

Oh for sure. Leia absolutely is strong in the force.

I just think that in this particular case, it's more of a reflex, but even so she's clearly capable of what she's doing.

 

It was a bad scene. People laughed their heads off at what was supposed to be sad scene, then a surprise and a demonstration of Leia's previously unknown abilities.