TFA after multiple viewings.

It does get better, I've seen it 5 times now and boy, it's amazing how it changes your perception when you can enjoy it just as a film and not as the meta-event-of-the-century. It has it flaws, for sure, but it really delivers. And most importantly, it really sets up this universe back to life.

 

I know I enjoyed seeing it again.

 

I'm a passionate proponent of 2D but watched TFA twice in 3D and really enjoyed it. I usually find 3D movies to be comparatively blurry (this, I found out, really depends on the cinema you go to as one of my viewings was significantly sharper than the other) and lacking the physicality of objects (I don't know how else to express it; it often feels as if multiple layers of flat 2D are simply stacked behind one another rather than complete objects).

That's also the 3D scene that stayed in my memory. I had the urge to reach out and touch that ship coming out of the screen!

 

DAMN! 17 times? You, sir, should be awarded by the Cantina!

That is the perfect way of putting it. I was very paranoid the first time I saw it, 2nd guessing myself about a lot of things (like "do I really like this?"). I just saw it for the 3rd time & I must say there are scenes that I didn't like at first which I enjoy more now or that don't bother me as much. I think in the future, now that I know the quality of at least episode 8 will be top notch... I will feel less nervous about it.

Tonight I went with a group of friends, none of them were really Star Wars fans & beyond that are like the metropolitan hipster-ish types/ vegan/ etc (I live in Chicago). They said generic things like "it was good" "it was fun". They weren't amazed by it, & one mentioned that they hated it... but liked the Rey character. The person who didn't like the film is an actress & I was surprised to see her say that Adam Driver's acting was terrible. I thought his acting was really great... we didn't get into any specifics though as to why she wasn't into it. Though one thing to mention is that she is a Trek fan, not into star wars. So maybe the Fairy tale-ish drama is something she might not understand.

Some of the complaints people (on this forum) had about things like Hosnian Prime's destruction... I think one thing to keep in mind is JJ knew people would be watching these films over, & over, & over, & over again... so perhaps he was trying to avoid dragging it out for our future's sake. Some films are fantastic but are made for one viewing... or at least viewings with large spaces of time between repeat. While 2001 space odyssey is probably one of my top all time films, I couldn't imagine watching it several times in one month like I've done with TFA.

I'm going to see it next week in HDR @ the AMC Prime, which will be my 4th & potentially last theatrical viewing (unless my sister's family agrees to go).

 

saw it in 3D and IMAX 3D...........IMAX is much much more better

 

after seeing it a few times now I am more convinced Rey is Luke's daughter.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 27, 2015, Original Post Date: Dec 27, 2015 ---

LOL I think he means ten times, with 3 in one and 7 in another format...

 

4 times so far. First was in my hometown in 2D Thursday evening on the 17th. I knew it was good but was a bit overwhelmed at the pacing. After that I saw it in IMAX 3D in Pittsburgh with a wicked sound system, and that's when it became one of my favorites. The 3rd and 4th times only solidified this. My ranking places it above ROTJ for sure, lollygags at the 2/3 spot with ANH, but doesn't quite match Empire for the top spot. I know it borrows some themes from A New Hope and I don't care, as i think it's done on purpose to "awaken" new fans to the galaxy, and it is done well. The character are really well done and Rey is such a badass. I am happy my kids have these new heroes to cheer on.

Especially for the level of hype this movie had, it delivered big time for me.

 

IMAX is the best way to see any film.

 

honestly it took me out of the movie.
It could have been the fact that I seen the Marathon (all in 2D) then when I seen TFA's in IMAX I was thrown off a bit.

I'll see it again in 3D IMAX

 

In my case i had watch it 3 times.First was in 3D and the other two in 2D.First view was GOOD.Second view was AMAZING and third view is for me EPIC.This NT is GOOD and i hope SW 8 and SW 9 is going to be as GOOD as SWTFA.This movie was for me like boxing.SWTFA was like a GOOD punch.SW 8 must be a GOOD jab and SW 9 must be a Knock-Out for sure.Star Wars is a knock out that take you FAR FAR AWAY.

 

I've seen it 4.. gets better each time. Im not so much on the IMAX.. Ive seen 1 full feature film in IMAX (Tomorrowland) and it was good but the nearest IMAX to me is about 1.5 hours away so I'll probably skip that format. I would like to try it in Dolby Atmos format but that is still an hour away too.

 

The more I'm figuring out about the plot holes left in VII just by my own speculations and the obvious things like them going straight Maz's castle which houses the saber... The more I am seeing this film as a brilliant story set up and star wars truly, truly is back. the story is amazing. what felt like "movie convenience" is not convenience at all. Han Solo knew he was picking up Rey.
Falcon on Jakku - Held by The same Character that Holds Rey. yes it was convenience that the quad jumper explodes, but because Rey seems as if she was quite aware of the ship from pottering around in the Junk Yard as a kid (that thing hasn't run in years) it seemed like it would be somehow linked to her.
My original rating of this film was a low 8 out of 10, if even one or two of my speculations comes to fruition in VIII, this film will go up to a 9.5 for me.

 

Just saw it for the third time. I'm still enjoying it immensely. I see that others who are now seeing it for a second time share the opinion that the pacing was better the second time. I shared that same thought after my second viewing. I think the pent up excitement we had during our first viewings sped things up for us. Now after the third time, I can say the pacing is great. We start off right into the action with the First Order invading the village and the pace stays pretty quick until it slows down when we first meet Rey. We really get a sense of her solitude and then the pace picks back up when she meets Finn. The pace stays up through the Falcon chase seen then slows briefly for the proper introduction of Rey and Finn and the introduction of Han and Chewbacca. The pacing picks up briefly with the rathar scene but slows back down on Takodana for Han and Rey to develop some chemistry, to meet Maz and to have Rey have her flashbacks and learn of and refuse her destiny. The pace then increases exponentially as the FO attacks and the Resistance comes to the rescue. The pace slows for Han and Leia to reconnect, Kylo to interrogate Rey, and the Resistance to prepare for their attacknon Starkiller. The pacing then gradually picks back up but stays at a steady but not fast pace for the Falcon to crash on Starkiller, Rey to escape, the shields to go down and then it starts to pick back up with the assault on StarKiller. It then slows to give us Han's emotional death and then continues in a fury with the saber fights in the forest and the final trench run. Finally it slows to finish with Rey's goodbye to Finn and the introduction/reveal of Luke to Rey.

It is really is not as fast and furious as many of us initially thought or as some continue to complain about.

 

The veredict of the guy that i respect the most when came with Reviewing movies, Chris Stuckman:

 

That's enough for me, I'm worried I might be approached as a spoiler, I saw it while @Grand Admiral Juno Eclipse Marek & any day's off I had.

 

2 times for me, for now. Maybe 1 more in January. Still 8 out 10.

Off top. 2D we say it like we must. It doesn't right, we must say about 3D if we saw movie in that form, but then I write "saw it twice" without saying 2D or 3D - it's about 2D.

 

This guy sucks at reviewing movies. He's just good looking that's why he has a huge following.

 

Seen it twice now. I have been saying that Kylo Ren was trying to be like Vader for a long time and that made sense because by creating a villain who sought to emulate Vader created a character in Vader's shadow. If it was a new villain trying to make his own bones as awesome scary bad guy he would be perpetually overshadowed by Vader. But Ren lives in Vader's shadow as part of who he is in the film it one makes for a great character and does justice to Vader as not just the 1st of many similar villains.

That in mind I realized that the rest of the design choices played very similarly. The First Order were not just trying to take over the galaxy they were presenting themselves as heirs to the Empire. They are the Holy Roman Empire to the Roman Empire. The want to bring back the glory days. So why so similar designs not because the film makers lacked vision but because they created villains in the First Order who sought to be like their predecessors. This aspect is not just a motive its a design choice.

Look at things that don't harken back to the OT. Guvian Deathgang, Kanjid Club, Han's freighter, many of the creatures at Maz's castle.

 

I've seen it 4 times now, all in 2d but I plan to see it in IMAX this coming weekend. I figure I have to see it that way at least once to do it justice.
The more carefully I watch everything relating to Kylo and Rey, the more convinced I am that he knew who she was the very first time "a girl" was mentioned to him. There is a feel to them that is intimate, as if they are related somehow. I also got the distinct impression that Leah knew her as well. I guess it's just a waiting game for the answers in 8.
And I truly do hope we see more of Maz because she obviously knows more than she's saying. And I'm also looking forward to hopefully see some of Ren and Rey's training.
Overall each time I view this film, I am more impressed and entertained, even with the occasional plot holes and mistakes.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 28, 2015, Original Post Date: Dec 28, 2015 ---

Good looking?! Um, NO. He's kinda dull looking. Like the happy guy on the short bus. Lol but then again, I'm the woman who thinks Adam Driver is hot as hellfire.