The Issue of Boyega, Red-Herring and Perception

from trailer 3: *camera pointed to Finn* "...the Jedi..."
meaning he is as important as daisy ridley, they are two jedis

 

exactly, people keep downplaying the importance of FINN in the grand scheme of things.

 

Exactly as if saying that only Luke was important in the OT

 

Not sure I understand OP's point.

Finn and Rey are the central characters of this film.
For all I know, Finn may have more screentime and dialogue than Rey.

 

You know, I wasn't following TFA news closely when the cast announcement and production of the movie was happening. I recently decided to check how the news reported things when the cast was revealed back in April 2014.

Variety had this:
While descriptions of characters were left out of the release, sources confirm to Variety that Driver will play a Darth Vader-like main villain, Isaac’s character will have a Han Solo look to him and Boyega will be a Jedi.
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/star-wars-5-1200596276/

Looks like their source got Driver and Isaac's character dead right. Why wouldn't it be right for Boyega's unless they decided to do complete rewrite of this character after this reveal but forgot to tell the marketing people that.

Did new report by Variety itself or other reliable news site came out about Finn's character or did everyone and their mom just ignored this tidbit.

I agree the resistant to Finn be a main character and potential Jedi has been because of media representation of minorities of all kinds and how they tend to put them in certain boxes. This is why good representation is essential. Heck even I'm like there has to be another shoe dropping when it comes to Finn's character. I'm like did major Hollywood studio just banked on making one of their main characters black in one of the biggest franchise ever.

I guess the jury is still out but I'm even more convinced now that I found this Variety report about Finn being FS.

 

All this means is that Finn would be wielding a lightsaber in the movie, a fact which was widely reported (the concept art at celebration showed Luke's lightsaber on his jacket) and which we all now know.

Variety couldn't possibly have any idea whatsoever whether or not Finn will become a Jedi since Episode 8 hadn't even been written yet!
I'm not even sure that Rian Johnson knew Finn's fate at that time.

To find out if Finn becomes a Jedi, we have to wait for leaks from Episode 8...and even then, Finn's destiny may be unclear.
After what Finn goes through in Ep 7, having the guts to use a weapon like a lightsaber instead of a blaster, I agree that the best bet is for him to become a Jedi.


Nevertheless, all we do know is that it's Rey, not Finn, who ultimately inherits the lightsaber and brings it to Luke Skywalker at the end of the movie.

 

I think Finn is not a jedi... yet. This new episode will be about the Force awakening in both Finn and Rey, and that's it.

But yeah, I think Rey and Finn are the lead characters even though the poster and trailers are showing him more like a support character.

 

I think the general audience just uses the word Jedi and Sith to describe force users who are either on the good side or bad side whether they went through the steps to become legit Jedi or Sith or not.

 

The editing done by SW has not helped things either to be honest. Up to the TV spots this is what we've seen:

• Trailer 1

[Snoke] "There's been an awakening... have you felt it?"
[Finn pops up, clearly distressed] <--- This is probably also the first maker symbolizing his force sensitivity. ​

• Trailer 2

[~1:09 Finn & Rey running from TIE fighters on Jakku, Finn clearly appears more worried than Rey]
[~1:16 Finn clearly distressed with bloody palm print on his helmet]
[~1:23 Finn on the ground covered with sand breathing heavily after both were blown to the ground. Rey helps him up]​

• International Teaser

[Snoke] "There's been an awakening... have you felt it?"
[Finn ignites his lightsaber] <--- First non distressed look (though some try to argue he's breathing heavy perhaps because they've been conditioned one way or another to do so).​

• Trailer 3

[~0:48 Finn, more of the same... a bit distressed while looking out over the tent city]
[~1:14 Finn and Rey talking to Han] <--- 2nd non distressed look of Finn
[Han] "... a Jedi..."
[~1:29 Finn turns and looks at Poe while heading towards the MF]<--- 2nd marker symbolizing Finn's force sensitivity.
[~1:58 Finn and Kylo converge on one another, Finn looks worried]
​

Green = Finn not appearing distressed.

I think these edits have given those who don't like Finn (or don't want him in competition to Rey for significance) ammunition. I also think if there's a red herring out there this is it. Rey appears to be good at a lot of things. She rappels, scavenges, repairs, fights and pilots. She seems focused instead of worried when attacked. This seems to be almost the opposite of Finn in some ways who doesn't fly, is focused on running, and appears to be worried.

There's no question that Finn (along with Rey) is a main protagonist. JJ put serious time and expense casting these two characters, so I'm thinking we are going to see something like a reluctant hero with Finn. Maybe someone with Han Solo's sensibilities, but commands the force. I think people reading into Finn's demeanor with respect to evading the FO are so fixated with those expressions, they have a hard time accepting the fact that there has been growth between the beginning and ending of this episode.

 

The people who dismiss John Boyega's character, do so because they want to! I believe that it's mostly just envy because the male lead in Star Wars is not a white. Just look at all the bull$#@#!!! Poor John has had to put up with over this role, and it has NOTHING to do with the fact he is a storm trooper! It has to do with the fact that some fanboys see Star Wars as "their own property" and "John Boyega is not allowed in!". Do you think if Finn was played by a white actor, do you think we would be having this discussion? No we wouldn't. Fanboys would be screaming: "Finn is the hero of the trilogy!" "Of course Finn will become a Jedi, don't you see he has Luke's lightsaber!" "Look at the correct way Finn holds his lightsaber; SO HE WON'T CUT HIS OWN HEAD OFF!" No, all this stupid $#%#! has to do with the fact that Finn is black, pure and simple! There is no logical or justifiable reason for anyone to dislike a character that they know NOTHING ABOUT! Especially to the point where you're going to boycott a film? That's just stupid!

 

Honestly, if he not a JEDI or a JEDI to be then answer this question non-believers.

Why is he holding the family weapon in all the trailers, TV spots and marketing? Not to mention the poster?

Is it just because he is Han and wants to slice a Taun-Taun?

 

Finn and Rey are both the main leads of this film and are both force sensitive, this has been alluded for almost a year now, anyone who can not infer that at this point is simply blind.
By the way, there are hundreds of movies already in which the lead is a black actor playing a heroic role, I don't see why it would be hard seeing Boyega in the same light.

 

Hopefully JJ has written the character with Boyega's role in Attack The Block partly in mind, I remember first seeing the film long before talk of Ep VII, the guy was absolutely a Jedi in waiting in my mind. I wonder if Finn's arc in the films will lead to that cool, mediative ROTJ Luke vibe, I hope so, They've dropped the ball if it doesn't... At this point I'm cautiously optimistic that Lucasfilm/Bad Robot are going in a progressive direction with all this...

 

It truly is all about perception. The eyes, right? Perceiving with the eyes. This is a big thing with people in general and we all know what Kenobi said "your eyes can deceive you". The people making this movie actually have an incredible opportunity to not only make a good movie, but one with a potentially profound depth that could be the catalyst of major changes in the way we look at each other, and connect with one another through something greater than the material world. I hope JJ et. al. have the wisdom to understand this, and with what things I'm seeing, it looks like they may. If not, then I don't think it will harm the movie, but it will be a missed opportunity of staggering proportions.

I think the real issue isn't that they don't view black people as noble heroes; it's that they're viewing "black" people in the first place. They're seeing with material eyes, material things, instead of "above" the material eyes, and seeing with the abstract eyes, or the "eyes of the Force" as it were. In the Force there is no white and black, and no male or female, and no short and tall, big and small; "judge me by my size do you?"

If only we could look at Finn with abstract eyes; and see Finn the luminous being; Rey the luminous being, instead of Rey the incredibly hot white chick. My material eyes see the hot white woman, but what does that tell me about the abstract person called Rey? It tells me nothing. It's useless information, good for nothing save a visceral experience.

Looking through which eyes? You know what I mean? But, sure, materially speaking, not much in that history of black characters for Finn to follow after. But I don't think Finn is going to be "the black guy", not a chance. Finn will be a Jedi and a main character with Rey. Hopefully by the end of the trilogy Luke has taught (at least some) people to see beyond Kylo and Finn and Rey as "white" and "black" and "man" and "woman"- and just as "luminous beings"

Sorry about that.

Yeah can't argue with that. Maybe we all get out of the material box at some point.

Finn will be the same as Luke in that sense I'm sure; so will Rey. I think this series is like "find the Skywalker in everyone" at the end. Metaphorically speaking; not literally said.

 

Seriously? You need to watch more movies...

Edit: Sorry I missed the special powers part, why would this make a difference?