Offical TFA media review thread

The OT is not a super complex story. its a fun action sci-fi adventure. In the last couple of years i enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy, Gravity and the Martian (although surprisingly I found Gravity to be more enjoyable then the Martian. Before i saw the Martian i thought i would enjoy it more then Gravity)
Here is what im wondering
Have you seen those three movies?
What did you think of them?
If you saw them, story-wise where would you put TFA? on par? better then some? better then all? not as good as any of those?
Thanks for your time

 

It's really hard for me to rank TFA. I watch every movie of every year and rank them. It's a hobby I've had for about 7 years now. I told myself I would not rank Star Wars. It has too much meaning to me. With that said, I do think, as a whole, it is a fantastic movie. Which will please a ton of people... but I know some fanboys will not care about that and just want certain things. I get that to an extent.

My thoughts on all:
The Martian - fantastic acting, story, script, visuals and suspense. A joy. One of my favorites of this year.
Guardians - also not a complex story (if you toss out all the Marvel homework it requires haha) but just damn fun, humorous and it made you care.
Gravity - I am not a Sandy Bullock fan... so I'm not the right person here. I enjoyed Interstellar though, despite it being a bit too dense.

I'm very bias to Star Wars and TFA filled me with so much joy that it's not fair to rank it. Especially cause Guardians, for example, is one of my favorites from the last few years, but I think it ranks up with some of the best of this year and last few years. It obviously doesn't have the complexity of a Birdman and doesn't do what a movie like Whiplash did to me, but what it has is the elements of a great movie with a ton of fun.

People who don't like this movie will be Star Wars fans who did not get what they wanted with the plot. Which to is 1) understandable but also 2) people being greedy and 3) people not looking at the big picture of Part 1 of a trilogy. I just hope people don't go in specifically looking for ways to find comparisons to ANH - it'll ruin the experience regardless of how much a "ANH with a new jacket" you think it is in the end.

 

B+, very positive review from The Detroit News' critic

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/en...long-star-wars-review-force-awakens/77395392/

Some mild to medium first act spoilers - tread lightly!


Here is the end of the review:

"Director J.J. Abrams, who wrote the script with Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt, hits the ground running and certainly delivers the most breathless “Star Wars” movie yet.

Quibbles? Sure, a few. Finn isn’t really fleshed out, and Poe is re-introduced with a sudden flimsy explanation. And with its basic premise of family dissonance, as well as so many other familiar touchstones, some may think the film too similar to the original.

But let’s face it; the original “Star Wars” was great. There are way worse role models. Simply put, “The Force Awakens” makes you feel good about “Star Wars” again."

 

A review from Detroit News. The movie got the grade B+, and the review has some spoilers.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/en...long-star-wars-review-force-awakens/77395392/

 

Beat ya!

 

thanks wookiepants.
i just want something that does not insult the viewer.. if its on par with 'fun' as guardians was that is beyond my greatest hope .. i just want watchable and doesnt insult my intelligence.. i only have ever wanted it 'not to suck'..

i mean i enjoy rebels.. at least the serious episodes when zeb and ezra arent running through halls punching each other

star wars is my #1 favorite movie of all time. Empire in my top 11-15 honorable mentions
and yes they are not complex movies. i dont know what everyone was expecting with this movie that they are so let down with the story

the early feedback had me worried that it was as bad as abrams' star trek movies or Jurassic world or Thor

 

More confirmation of the reddit leaks as the Poe situation is one of the things they mentioned almost verbatim that he disappears and returns with no real reason. Finn too as they complained he wasn't the character he was made out to be in marketing.

 

Good for you! Also, the embargo is supposed to expire 12:00 PST. I wonder if the Detroit News reviewer mistakenly thought it was 12:00 EST?

 

JJ Abrams has butchered the character of Luke Skywalker, that much is clear. and Larry K signed off on it. unbelievable.

 

Sweet!

 

I love the rip from Star Tours!!! It's less than 40 hours till i see it at Disney World (at 7:55pm EST). I have seen the new Star Tours edit and tears came to my eyes!!!! We are season pass holders for many-many years, i grew up at Disney world and i want my son to be too (We stay the weekend there at least 9 time a year). My son LOVES Star Wars... he prefers the OT, thought i love both. I am looking forward to experiencing the the new trilogy and the "anthology series" with him. +)

 

here is a question for you guys. When some critics say not enough is explained in TFA. Do you think that is a valid piece of criticism for a movie that has 3 episodes planned and locked in? IMO that kind of criticism should be held back for movies with little chance of a sequel right? Anyone disagree? I'd love to hear about it

 

It's vaild because it kills the replay value of this film all 6 star wars films work as standalone films this one seems like every other crappy blockbuster flim that's basically an ad for the upcoming films, books, video games and etc. Star wars films have always been reachable.

 

I think if its a planned trilogy as one long narrative like Lord of the Rings its ok to leave questions. However, if it skips years or doesn't directly follow events of the first then I feel like the movie does kind of need to stand on its own. Yes, questions for a sequel make sense but I think there needs to be a resolved narrative as well. Every film or series is different though. Most films aren't made with the idea of a sequel being 100% happening so I think some critics tend to approach a film as a singular experience because of that.

 

thanks everyone

 

I too fail to see the issue. People are looking for things to complain about. If Star Wars films were assessed primarily in regards to how well they work standalone, Empire surely wouldn't be the one installment so often cited as the best.

 

50 minutes until the reviews. So if I go watch Empire now, when I come back should be a few around right?

 

http://kdvr.com/2015/12/16/star-wars-the-force-awakens-exclusive-denver-reviews/

FOX31 Denver Review