List five things you would have changed from The Force Awakens

Lots of great ideas in here, props.

Also, it's nice to see people admitting TFA was far from perfect.

1. Ditch the Starkiller and make the film a straight up search for Luke. The finale could be the good guys defending the First Order's invasion of the planet with the Jedi Temple. Decent twist on a Star Wars finale.

2. The conflict between Han and Leia should have been established as Han believing Ben Solo was killed at the academy ambush, and Leia feeling (though clouded) he is alive. When Han sees him, his apology to Leia is "you were right" etc. this makes Han much less of a coward dead beat dad in the flick.

3. Han should not have gone back to smuggling, and failing at it. He could have been a Republic general (not following Leia to the resistance), obsessively looking for Luke, obsessively hunting the Knights of Ren/Snoke, or even the head of his own smuggling/shipping syndicate. Anything but a loser smuggler and dead beat dad.

4. We meet Luke a little earlier and gain at least a hint of why he has been MIA. There's plenty to cover in 8, such as Rey's origin and why Kylo turned. Having Luke basically hiding out while terrible things happen is bad of this movie- no reason to kick that can to 8 too. At least a hint and some interaction with Rey and even Han.

The " wait for 8" can't and shouldn't be used for everything. This movie should be able to stand on it's own. A big reason it doesn't hold up in its own is Luke is, until proven otherwise, a pathetic coward.

5. Slow the overall pace so major moments aren't rushed or plot holes have to be explained away through throw away lines. I think this would have also helped the rushed friendships, insane luck, etc. eliminating the Starkiller, the space animals, and extending the run time 10 minutes would have really let the characters and plot breathe and move naturally.

It was tough to do just 5. I think Leia should have been wise yet...angry. I think the rumored idea of her contemplating her own death star would have been very cool and dramatic.

I also think Jakku should not have been Tattoine light. Seems like JJ went way too much for nastalgia. I think a world based on water, jungle, more industrialized,or something would have started the movie off on a more original foot.

No R2 magic. There's a dozen better ways to do that.

I agree with others, Snoke should have been more hidden.

No "your father Han Solo" comment. Let it build a little.

A good movie, let alone a great one, should not need so much explanation via interviews, novelization, etc. that should have been addressed. It's crazy.

I think Lando should have showed up last minute leading either a Republic fleet or his own organization to help the Resistance defend the Temple.

I think there should have been a scene early on where Rey sort of defends her fascination with the Jedi myth to Plutt (or someone) who bashes them saying they have caused nothing but despair in the galaxy. Basically establish her fascination and also how many distrust them.

 

Ff it didn't come across that way, it's really because Carrie Fisher wasn't up for it. They basically had to save her from overly difficult lines and dialogue... it really limits the character.

 

Wow great ideas. I agree with everything but the Skywalker thing. I've always loved that Star Wars is about family legacy/secrets/skeletons etc.

I love every other idea tho. Props.

 

Ahhhh, I did not know that (as I said before, until a few hours ago I successfully avoided all info about this movie). If that was her choice then that is obviously fine.

All I meant was we need more strong female characters generally in movies and I get tired of seeing female as secondary roles to men. We need more "Ripley's" and "Sarah Connor's" from T2 in most universes in the modern age and the character of Leia is primed to be a strong character now.

However, thanks for explaining that to me, it's great to know that. That is was her choice makes all the difference.

 

1. Considering that Rey's intervention of Teedo I think it's fair to believe that BB8 finding his way to Niima was a little miracle in of itself.
Same with FN 2187 who did crash after all. The point stands. They should have found a way to work in down time as they did it with Obi Wan and Luke, it's not like they couldn't. It could have been a moment to show Finn's conflicted nature (should he leave BB8 or finish Poe's mission) and have Rey touch base with her home before leaving for an adventure. . .I mean did they even pack food? Luke had plenty of time to.If Rey had time to digest that she's a marked woman, her call to adventure would have been even sweeter.

Finn could have actively tracked Rey down after seeing her in the desert. Anything can work.

And did Rey and Finn even learn anything about each other?

4. You don't need to fire on a ship to commandeer it. This is Star Wars and a little imagination can go a long way. They could use Ion Cannon, tractor beams, or totally new methods. Finn and Rey can fall in a honey pot totally unrelated to Han and his debts, and Han could intervene after scanning for the ship. The point, I don't think you have to abandon a set piece moment just because the rathtars didn't work out that well. This movie kind of wanted for space combat, and I think this would have been the moment.

 

I guess it's because the first things I read on these forums after I saw the movie today was how similar in plot this movie was to the Star Wars movie. And as much as I liked it, there are far too many familiar things in this movie to counter-argue against that opinion (which honestly is a bit annoying because I wish that I could).

So, mixing up the Skywalker formula is the most obvious way to seperate it dramatically from the other movies that I could think of.
It is unexpected, it's original and there is nothing in that universe that says it can't be done. Jedi's always get "seduced by the darkside", but what if a Sith was seduced by the light? If the sins of the father don't determine the fate of the child, then why would that be different for someone from another bloodline?

And if you think about it, the Skywalker bloodline (which was born directly by the force with no earthly father) has not actually been a good thing for this galaxy at all, in fact, quite the opposite.

Anakin assisted directly in destroying the Jedi order and crippling the republic under a tyrant and committed numerous attrocities afterwards. Luke mearly removed his father from power, but otherwise as far as I can tell there was a single night of celebration of peace dancing with ewok's and then soon after that the First Order moved in and Luke's apprentices were all slaughtered and he ran into hiding, and now his nephew is an Upcoming Sith for the new empire. Not exactly a positive bloodline for the "light side" overall.

I agree that the father/son thing was an awesome thing in the original trilogy... but that is exactly my point. It's been done.

If in the next movie Kylo Ren says to Rey "I am your brother" or "I am your father" or "I am your 2nd cousin twice removed" or "I am your great grandson who travelled back in time"...
is it really going to have a significant impact on you? Of course not, it will just become a predictable "sigh" moment.
What possible family variant in the Skywalker legacy can you think of that would do otherwise?

It's better to do something entirely different, mix it up. Do the unexpected. Make the movies have their own unique mark that seperates them from the others.

And honestly, it annoys me a little that the Skywalker clan are the only ones in the universe to be blessed with "great power".
Why can't someone else be awesome as well?
And who is to say that the force has not decided to spontaneously spawn other children anyway? Why do it only once, screw up the galaxy and then call it quits?

I don't want these new movies to exist only in my comfort zone. I was to be surprised, I want to be shocked, I want to guess wrong despite my best efforts. I want to be entertained.
I want them to take risks and not take the predictable safe road.

 

I don't think it was so much her choice as it was JJ/Larry taking her ability into consideration. Carrie Fisher hasn't been acting for years, she's also had problems with drugs (cocaine and prescription) and mental health issues (depression and bipolar disorder). She has also talked about the electroconvulsive therapy (formerly known as electroshock therapy) treatments she receives every 6 weeks. She had some troubled relationships too. Billie Lourd's father for instance, left her for another man. All this stuff takes it's toll on a person.
Having her remembering lines with complicated words like "oscillator" would be asking a bit much.


QUOTE="RuccusRob, post: 216939, member: 5103"]1. Considering that Rey's intervention of Teedo I think it's fair to believe that BB8 finding his way to Niima was a little miracle in of itself.
Same with FN 2187 who did crash after all. The point stands. They should have found a way to work in down time as they did it with Obi Wan and Luke, it's not like they couldn't. It could have been a moment to show Finn's conflicted nature (should he leave BB8 or finish Poe's mission) and have Rey touch base with her home before leaving for an adventure. . .I mean did they even pack food? Luke had plenty of time to.

4. You don't need to fire on a ship to commandeer it. This is Star Wars and a little imagination can go a long way. They could use Ion Cannon, tractor beams, or totally new methods. Finn and Rey can fall in a honey pot totally unrelated to Han and his debts, and Han could intervene. The point, I don't think you have to abandon a set piece moment just because the rathtars didn't work out that well. This movie kind of wanted for space combat, and I think this would have been the moment.[/QUOTE]
1. Tuanul village, situated in Kelvin ravine, was one of the nearer settlements to Niima Outpost... a Teedo (I'm still not sure if they intendo for Teedo to be the species or just the character) trying to strip a droid for parts might head to Niima to trade. Not too farfetch'd really.

Luke and Obi-wan had "time" to prepare because the Empire didn't know exactly what droids they were looking for (one may actually consider their lacking sense of urgency as a flaw).
The First Order knew BB-8 was at Niima outpost from the moment she went in there for the day. She had no idea the First Order were looking.
I personally like the way their intro was handled in TFA. It showed how the characters react to things... because really, it's how people act under pressure that really defines them. Where they really needed more down time, was AFTER they escaped.
Really though, it's pretty minor.

4. That's why I would have Han to grab the Falcon and board it, just as he did in the movie... but then have the First Order show up. Han ditches the Freighter, and then escapes in the Falcon (not by using the hyperdrive from the hangar but by actually flying it and doing something cool). They could even use part of the scene to have Han chat with Kylo. Literally have Han run away from Kylo, before he meets Leia and gains the courage to confront him.

 

1. The Phasma storyline. Easily the biggest mistake imho.
2. More time back at the resistance base reflecting on Han's death after the fact. A few more minutes of mourning wouldn't have hurt.
3. A little bit of a more extended flashback scene w/ Rey. I loved it, and wanted more.
4. More R2 / 3PO banter. These guys are irreplaceable.
5. Keep Ren's mask on until he meets Han.

 

Make the planets more unique.
More varied, new, spacecraft.
Jazz up the outer space stuff with nebulae, etc.
No super weapon.
More original story.

However, I really enjoyed the movie regardless. Very fun and engaging movie with punched-up energy.

 

Replace the girl with someone else, preferably luke's son.





No to JJ abrams, yes to christopher nolan

 

Just one thing: the entire plot! C'mon now, I went to see a new Star Wars movie not a reboot! I mean, another Death Star, albeit it a bigger one? Seriously? Didn't these people learn anything from the last two?

 

Actually I was ok with having another Death Star but as they had a converted planet be the weapon, I was expecting some kind of conflict, like what about the planets natives? Would the Resistance be ok with destroying the planet regardless?

 

That is an excellent point! Maybe it was just populated by Ewoks and who cares about the squeaky little buggers anyway? But seriously, why wasn't the entire planet surrounded by a shield to stop the X-Wings getting to the surface in the first place? If they had the capability of building something that size I'm sure they could have managed a planet sized shield generator (or am I missing something here?)

 

But it was, wasn't it? The Falcon passed it in hyperdrive and then Han and Finn disabled the shield with Phasma...

 

Seriously, someone send this thread to JJ or something. Pick the best 20 and put it on the main site.

There are some legit great ideas in here.

What a shame TFA wasn't better.

 

Tbh you are probably right but by then I was kinda bored with that whole part of the plot so must have switched off! I need to see the whole thing again but will have to wait a while now!

 

Cool topic.

1) I'd remove Poe's too-on-the-nose line about the light fading and that as long as there's light there's hope.
2) I'd completely redesign Snoke. Really really think the actual design is completely uninteresting.
3) I would have added a scene where Leia communicates by hologram with a Republic official. The scene would make the political situation a little clearer, and give the Republic a face (for better emotional impact when it's blown away). Perhaps that official could be Mon Mothma.
4) I would cut the Kanjiklub/Deathgang/rathar-sequence and...
5) Replace it with a scene which, while entertaining, would give the viewer a credible...r explanation as to how Han Solo and Chewbacca were so close to the Falcon. "We've been tracking her to this system.."

 

So much I would have changed. Don't get me wrong, I really like the movie but the lack of skill in the writing of the plot (characters were great) is evident. I know character should always come first but for heavens sake, a movie needs some exposition. It's just as important as anything in a script it's just some writers over-use it.

I would have had a scene to reminisce on a certain characters death. I think he deserved it. It is all so rushed over. What is the hurry! There's like two more movies. The pacing was way too fast for my liking. I still enjoyed it but I'm really lookng forward to seeing a tad slower of a pace with a well thought out plot for episode VIII

 

This is exactly why Starkiller should have been saved for episode VIII or IX... add in some kind of moral dilemma to the situation.

Yes, there was a shield... that was the excuse that Han, Finn, and Chewie had for going there. That's what Phasma's ridiculous scene was all about. They got her to deactivate the shields so that the Resistance fighters could get through... but then they failed to damage the oscillator, so Han and Chewie set up the explosives to blow a hole in it, allowing Poe Dameron to get inside.

Although you could say that they should have just had another half hour or so, keeping the film around a similar length to the rest of the saga was a good move.
The real problem stems from the big studio pushing the movie too quickly into production. Michael Arndt was replaced because he wanted more time to write the script than Disney/Lucasfilm were willing to allow, and so, by the time JJ and Larry took over, they only had about 3 months to get a script together before the first sets, props, and costumes went into production. They were basically given a checklist of things to include, and had to develop a script from that. There wasn't really have enough time to trim some of the ideas that had been developed.

George Lucas literally spent years to develop his first movie, with several drafts. JJ and Larry's first draft was complete in December 2013, and the the film started shooting in May.

 

1) Earlier in the movie, Rey somehow brings up knowledge of mythical jedi's using a "jedi mind trick" just like Watto in ANH. It seemed common knowledge enough to Watto. Maybe it should have been a fun mythical nugget Rey knew about already ("wish I could simply waive my hand and jedi mind trick him into selling me that 2nd portion"), and then when the force becomes more real to her, she tries it out.
2) Change the action scene in space on Hans freighter, removing the rolling CGI tentacle aliens and making it more of a fun fight where Rey, Chewie, Han, BB8 and Finn bond moreso, similar to in Mad Max when he fights the women while handcuffed to the door. Except against those 2 thug groups, maybe instances where they accidentally are used against eachother, similar to a Jackie Chan fight.
3) Improve Snoke and Maz's CGI considerably or design them both to have practical costumes for their roles and look. Or atleast, maybe return to the blue hologram for Snoke, to give them another 1.5 years to improve the detail of his look when he is no longer in blue hologram form.
4) More Emotion. Simply. Give us a few more connections to the planets that are blown up earlier in the film. A string of images of each, some horrified characters we have seen already in the movie as their home planet was destroyed, some clear implications of the act. Maybe more of a regret when Han brings up knowing Luke, "yeah Luke, I knew him. We had an unfortunate falling out, as I was brash and blamed him for something he had no control over. Leia and I both did. I wish I could tell him we're sorry and that it's not his fault, but he left so suddenly... And no you've found a map, huh?" Let Han talk about his son earlier. Something fond. Maybe a memory of Ben he loved most. To really make the betrayal moment so much more heartbreaking. Maybe Han then reminds Ben of that moment, then when Ben sort of throws the misdirection, it seems even more crazy when he flips the script. Also, when Han eats it, to give us, fans, a little more grief or funeralish time at the end of the film, or some more somber faces... I mean Vader got MUCH more sadness, and he was an evil villain for 99% of the OT films.
5) Kylo actually ends the fight holding his own against Rey, looking more polished but maybe sloppy against the surprising challenger when she make a reckless, yet awesome, force move or two. But end with the planet interrupting things, or the Falcon blazing through and interrupting the duel, where Kylo was actually the one moreso winning at the moment, despite his wounds from Finn, Chewie and emotionally from killing father. And perhaps some anger in the woods throwing him off his game, as he is partially throwing a tantrum that he still feels the lights pull while simultaneously trying to fight Rey/Finn. "I killed him. He's gone. Why do I still FEEL IT?! Ahhhhg!!"

I loved the movie, Disclaimer.