What was your audience like?

Yes. I loved it. I wrote a review a few days ago in the spoiler section.

 

Ah ok. Haven't seen that. Glad you liked it.

 

It was pretty reserved. A lot of young teens. My friend and I stuck out laughing at jokes most the audience didn't get, and cheering at most things mentioned in this thread. Some woman brought a crying baby and stayed the whole movie.....she had the nerve to say the last Terminator was better while walking out....I almost lost it. Great movie though.

 

My audience was pretty loud in the bad way, a lot of whispering, texting and i even had to tell a person to shut up because they were talking at a normal volume. No cheering at all at the end and my friend and i were the only people to sit through the credits.

 

It's in this thread the second post and am copying&pasting it here too.

https://thecantina.starwarsnewsnet.com/index.php?threads/member-reviews-of-the-force-awakens.7718/

This will just a scattered thoughts more than an actual review because I got back from watching it a little while ago. I've sat and pondered on what to say and all that so here it goes, but first some things before the lights went down.

1. There was a guy dressed just like Hux and looked just like him. He was the only one dressed up.

2. The trailers I seen were;Star Trek which looked terrible, Captain America(I don't care about it), X-Men looked ok, Kung Fu Panda looked funny, and Zootopia looks even funnier.

3. Everyone was so excited and was awesome to be around. It was mostly a younger crowd. Teens and early twenties with some older people mixed in. I'm in my 30's. They all liked the PT and OT.(Not that I spoke to everyone, but hearing conversations here and there)

I truly did as most people missed the 20th century fox and intro. It felt odd, but then Lucasfilm and A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away and I was smiling.

This movie was one fun hell of a ride and felt like Star Wars and the OT. It felt like home. It had humor, adventure, action and, yes it has a story and heart. It's Rey's story.

I like how it drops us in a moment of time in The Force Awakens. In the thick of the action. JJ said, screw it I'm gonna throw a slow start out the window and get this sh!t rolling.

When we first meet Poe he was not really as I expected. He was more down to earth with a little cockiness thrown in. He was a cool guy who is dedicated to the greater good. He's not a Han Solo wanna-be but more like a man who could be your greatest ally if you ever needed to call on him. He's fun just wish there was more of him but when he is on screen you know he is there and not wasted.

His face to face conversation after he was captured with Kylo at the village was funny. When Finn decides to help him escape the interaction was when the fun began.

When Poe asks Finn why he's doing this and he says because it is the right thing to do, you know at some point he will believe that because for right now he just needs a pilot. All Finn wants to do is get as far away as possible from the FO, but everyone wants to keep going to Jakku lol

Finn is a fun character. Going out of his element was all he needed to understand that in order to get help you must help someone. Just be yourself, not who they taught you to be. He has a heart unlike the cold FO.

I love when and how we meet Rey. Why? Because JJ captures the quiet moments in her life and in an instant we know who she is. He does take most of his time with her and as I said near the start of this; this is Rey's story and JJ shows it well. She is alone, she needs companionship, she is a survivor, she is tough, innocent, her life is about suffering, and the force is calling to save a galaxy that's desperately needs saving because Luke needs it to. It is no coincidence she meets BB8. I loved her character.

When we meet Han again the crowd erupted in applause. He is loved and it was funny as hell when he is introduced. He's kinda grumpy with the new kids on gthe block but soon warms up to them.

As much as I love that part of the movie it was one time it didn't feel like Star Wars and what I mean is when the two gangs and the octo-monsters show up(sorry forgot the name of them) The reason is it felt more like Firefly or something off the SyFy channel but it was still a fun moment. But as soon as they hit lightspeed to get the hell out of there it was right back where it should be again.

I will admit the cutting of scenes was a little off at times, but not too bad. Like when Poe mentions Luke in the Tie fighter and Finn starts to react and it gets cut away. You don't really get time to sense whether Finn hates Luke or what. Maybe in EP8 he will be in awe, I don't know.

With Lor San Tekka you know he is from the old times and even he mentions to Kylo about Luke and his father, but how he knows them, not sure, so small things like that makes you want a little more information, but it wasn't that distracting just little hiccups. And there some scattered throughout.

I think Kylo and Rey are my favorites. I think Kylo is one crazy lunatic who is not an imitator but more of a one who got misunderstood. Maybe he wasn't loved enough, or maybe he was but someone got to him and twisted his mind. Adam Driver was very good with a range of emotions for Kylo. Every moment on screen is conflict with him and just like Palpatine, overconfidence is his weakness.

Kylo wants so bad to make Snoke proud and you can see that is his pure desire. The dark side is kind of his security blanket. I guess he couldn't make Han proud and I believe it has to do with all that Han didn't believe in at one time. Kylo being taught by Luke was not making him proud. To be a Jedi. Han wanted something else, I assume and I know it was Leia's idea cause she basically comes out and says so. She thought he could be taught different.

Speaking of Snoke he has one ugly mug. He seems more bent on righting Kylo in the dark side than anything else. He's not gonna give up on his protogie'. I wonder where he is that he must use a hologram? He seems he knows alot but I don't know much about him.

Hux is a kiss ass and mainly all about duty. He's like a prep boy at College and wnats to get his way and try to humiiate Kylo if possible. But he is scared of Kylo though you can see it in his eyes. He was my least favorite character.

I was hoping to see more of Phasma but she seems menacing enough and hope she gets way more creeentime in EPVIII. I'd like to know more the relationship between Finn and Phasma. I will bet she tries to kill him in the next movie.

JJ's camera work is amazing. The effects were just plain as fun as the OT was. Does a tie fighter have to spin everytime it gets shot down? No. But it still looked awesome. The battles were good, especially the MF withe Rey and Finn. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

I really liked Maz but just not enough of her. But when she is there she is making use of it. It was funny when she crawled across the table to Finn and he was freaking out.

One thing about going in was even though I knew some things, I forgot about them all as if I never read anything except for one thing. Han. I kept waiting for the inevitable and as Finn, Rey and Chewie watched along with us the audience we gasped and was torn as much as they were. I remember when the runor was flying he was to die, I always thought he should go out in a blaze of glory in some way, but this death didn't feel cheated it was unexpected even though I knew it was coming. It was like a dagger in my own heart. With Kylo now there is no coming back.

While Chewie raged and Rey and Finn looked on it had to be for Kylo's sake. It was a test and conflict but the darkness won out because he wants to make Snoke proud. That is sick. I felt sick to my stomach and up until that point I had a love/hate relationship with Kylo. I thought he will turn. Han can get to him inside like Luke did Vader. Now I hate him.

The fight. Kylo vs Finn. Even though Finn held his own a little he was overmatched but he gave it his all. The duel itself was good. Close up and Kylo toying with him. Showing Finn his anger and Pride, but when he gets hurt and Rey joins the fun it told me something after all was said and done.

Rey has been training her whole life and didn't even know it. It reminds me of The Count of Monte Cristo's final duel. Edmond had to go to prison to learn to be a survivor and be better skilled. If it wasn't for Rey being abandoned she wouldn't be who she is.

Kylo in a way was also abandoned. The protagonist and the antagonist are usually in a way the same. Kylo is half cocked and never went all the way in anything it seems. Even his training. Snoke straight says near the end about finishing his training. Kylo being humiliated by green lightside force user will fuel his fire.

So at first Rey is getting messed with like Finn was. But then she flat turns it on cause Kylo ain't taking her serious. She's just a scavenger, right? Wrong.

One of my favorite scenes is when she is in the castle and follows her instincts to the lightsabre and when she touches it. It is raw emotion, it tells alot really. Rey was meant to find it. It's telling her who she is and will be. Daisy's acting really good with emotion. She is perfect for Rey in everything she does.

There are many things I could say and I will edit tomorrow when I gather more thoughts but overall, I truly thought the movie was a great start to a new trilogy. I thought the ANH nods were minimal at best and it was not a rip-off, rehash, reboot, but it stands on its own.

I'm not saying it's the greatest movie of all time, nor am I saying it is the greatest SW movie, but it is grand adventure in my book. Yes it has some flaws, but what doesn't? It was fun, funny, and had moments that could make a even a grown man cry. It had emotion and story. It has most everything you'd want out of a movie...except more Luke

P.S. Luke looked very worn, tired and just plain given up. The look on Rey's face when she meets him is epic. It's like meeting someone you've heard about your whole life, not believed and she is scared to death. Is he real? Rey has awakened him.

 

Well me & @Grand Admiral Juno Eclipse Marek were in what we call the adult P aisle, the aisles from O downwards were school kids who had mini key rings of lightsabers with them started lighting them up & holding them up high, the staff caught on about & cruely asked for them to be handed over, they took the box down to the exit then one of the guys was called away so me & her nicked the box back, we managed to get the key rings back to the kids, the staff caught me putting the box back & asked me what I was doing, I simply suggested they were more like key rings than actual lightsabers, I reminded them it was a star wars movie & they were not obstructing anyone's view, I expected to get thrown out for what I did, instead they let them keep with them, ''since it was the first screening'' & there was a big crowd coming afterwards so they didn't want to cause a scene, in truth I found out from a friend afterwards the reason was because I am 6.1 in height & have reputation for being able to defend myself they were scared to tell me to leave, cheers went up when we came back to take our seats(darth)(darth)(darth)(darth)(darth)(darth)(darth). The rest of the movie was full of laughter & excitement.

 

I went on the 17th December 3pm here in the UK. All of them must have been seeing it for the first time so i expected noise. It was a full house. There was a huge line outside the screen and didnt get into the room until 3:05

Anyway, it was very silent (beginning to end). Only during "the scene" there was a huge sigh or gasp in shock. thats it.

BUT, very well behaved. No mobiles, no talking, making noises. Very respectful
The Cinema was in a University area so most were teens and early 20's

For me it was perfect as I hate noisy people. I wanted to enjoy the movie in peace from beginning to end

I will say that its the most memorable film experience of my life because:
1. Movie I most wanted to see in my whole life
2. Never seen a movie on opening day or following day
3. Never pre-booked ticket over a month earlier
4. Never experienced such hype before
5. Enjoyed discussing this movie with fellow star wars fans for over the year. This made the experience more enjoyable
6. Enjoyed the Movie. Thank the heavens it was a good movie.

 

(opening night) First audience had a lot of kids.
I sat next to a chubby kid who took up 1.5 seats.
He was crying when Han Solo died.
They laughed and cheered at the right moments. Applause at the end.

(Friday night) Older well-to-do audience (in fancier theater in a different town).
They also laughed and cheered at the same moments.
Applause at the end.
Interestingly, myself and my friend were the only people in the entire theater to get up and leave when the credits started...

I'll be seeing it a third time some day this coming week.

 

Loudest laugh at the Media Screening was for BB-8s thumbs up. (or lighter up)
Since I was seeing it with members of the press they only really laughed at the funny parts.
They did break out into applause at the end though which was very nice to see.

 

I just got back from a second screening, and this one was much more reserved. I'm guessing it's probably because it wasn't opening night anymore. There was still laughs at the appropriate parts, but not the rampant cheering I heard with my first crowd.

 

I saw it at Esquire IMAX in Sacramento on Thursday at 7pm

The crowd wasn't too rowdy, which I liked. They cheered at the appropriate parts (i.e. Opening crawl, falcon appearing, Han Solo appearing, Leia appearing, Luke appearing, and the ending. They also laughed at all the funny bits.

 

My audience was pretty excited at the beginning....but subdued at the end.

Nobody hardly spoke a word as they exited the theater....they were just glad to get the hell out of there.

 

My theater was pretty packed. We got there with 8 min to spare so it was dark and we had to sit in the front. I couldn't really see whether it was an older or younger audience. There was cheering and clapping when the Star Wars banner appeared. They also cheered when the camera panned to the "piece of junk" Falcon. There was a lot of laughter at the jokes. It as funny, my cousin had to take her daughter too (14) and she leaned over to here when the cheering started and said "OMG we are surround by a bunch of geeks"

 

people were bored the second time i watched it they only cheered during the opening crawl. I don't know how they reacted at the ending after rey beat kylo ren. I left i couldn't take it anymore. its the first time i walked out of a movie. I even sat through transformers 4 and i was very sick when i watched it.

 

Funny isn't it, the people who liked the film had audiences with other people who liked it, and the people who hated the film had audiences with other people who were apparently not big on it either...

 

The first time i watched it the audience was hyped. they were eating this blast up.

 

My audience was amazing...Saw it in Boston the opening night.
In addition to the scenes you listed they also clapped and cheered with BB-8's thumbs up, Leia, C-3PO, R2 and Luke appeared.

 

I'm glad Boston liked it, btw welcome to the cantina.