Why did you like it? Were you disappointed?

I've seen it twice now. I enjoyed it, but I was also a bit disappointed they played it so safe with a similar story to ANH. I'm holding on to some hope they don't deliver the obvious in the next film. I hope it twists off into more of it's own story with the characters and that this one was made to bridge the old and the new.

I enjoyed the film, but that doesn't mean I don't have beef with it either. The recycled storyline, Death Star #3, character similarities, etc...but I am trying to be optimistic. I guess we will just have to see.

 

SWTFA is a GOOD movie.Is a big success because a LOT of people love it and found a very interesting story.I like it.Dissappointed??? I was not.SW is back 4 me....

 

I loved it. It met most my expectations and surpassed others. I liked the new characters.

Well as for is it a reboot no. Reboots start a series over. It does not do that. Its not even a soft reboot where they recast actors and retcon story elements to tweak things in a new direction. Its a sequel. Original actors returned. The events followed from the previous movies. It launched a new hero's journey like the PT did as well. Was this really a surprise? Are we not familiar that cyclical elements, repeating themes and "visual rhyme" is an established trope in the saga. That is even before you deal with the fact that they are following a 6 part story that involved a complicated ring theory layout. As for the design choices they had villains who literally wanted to bring back the glory of their predecessors so every similar line and ship design and even a Death Star is a statement that the Empire is returned. We will bring back the Pax Palpatinus.

 

I personally enjoyed it because I felt it told a decent introductory story for two main characters, Finn and Rey. I also felt it told a good reintroduction story for old characters, Han, Chewy, Leia and Luke. I can't speak for what other people were expecting, but I know I wouldn't go anywhere saying it was the greatest story or movie on earth, nor would I say it was the worse. I realize that it's not a story I'm telling, so I accepted it for what it was and enjoyed it.

 

I was a bit disappointed the first time I saw it, but I was also extremely overwhelmed. I saw it again today with a clear mind and no pressure and I loved it. It might be my favorite Star Wars film, if not my second favorite.

 

At no point in watching this movie was I thinking, "I'm watching another A New Hope."

That line has now been repeated by everyone and their mother as the go-to major critique of the movie to be parroted ad-nauseam.

While similarities are there and unmistakable, I simply didn't find that the overall plot to be as identical as everyone keeps making it out to be.

The reason is explained in the opening crawl. This is a movie about finding a well-known figure who has gone missing. Leia wants him located so that he may join in the fight against the First Order. Kylo and the First Order want him found and eliminated, to eradicate the Jedi once and for all. This is what the movie, in the most basic sense, was about. Good guys racing against bad guys to find Luke.

So how is that a carbon copy of A New Hope? It isn't.

A New Hope, in its most basic sense, is about delivering the stolen plans to the Death Star to the rebels so they may mount an attack to destroy it. It is not about finding any missing figures or searching for map pieces. It is not about eliminating the last Jedi Knight.

The similarities between the two films come in the details in-between. Not in the overall plot structure.

 

Characters and it feels like Star Wars. Combine that with there being just enough to look forward to, and it comes down to the promise.

 

History repeats itself. If you feel like themes are similar...wait thirty years and watch the news...you'll be banging your head.

 

Commodore was nice and considerate enough to start a thread for our (i.e. member) reviews here, in case you missed it:

https://thecantina.starwarsnewsnet....-of-the-force-awakens.7718/page-5#post-221431

 

Star Wars is all about themes repeating themselves and seeing the different choices our characters make. This is on purpose, not an accident, and was started by George a long time ago.

I loved the movie. In fact, I saw it for the fifth time today. Like @Background Character said it never occurred to me that it was similar to ANH while I watched it. Now that I know that criticism, I still forget all about it each time I see the film. There are similarities to be sure, but this story of Rey, Finn, Han, Poe and Kylo stands on its own. And boy do I love those characters.

I also really appreciate how you put your views, @Darth Marcus. Welcome to the Cantina.

 

I loved it. I wish there hadn't been quite so much rehashing (if they had kept the original junk city concepts for Jakku from The Art of SWTFA book and had come up with something not so Death Star like that would been enough), but it didn't ruin the movie for me. The main reason for me is the characters. We got three brand new fantastic characters, and now that we've got them they can go off and have brand new adventures that break new ground in VIII and IX. Rey is honestly one of my top 5 favorite Star Wars characters from the entire saga.

 

Watched it three times now - and am enjoying it more and more. I think the effects and acting are very impressive. I also really liked the characters - Kylo Ren is intense and much more interesting than just a straight forward, totally evil bad guy. I also really liked Finn and Rey - but perhaps Poe was just too perfect a good guy. I would like to see more and Poe's character to develop in the next movies.

I thought some elements were very close to ANH - desert world beginning, hiding plans in a droid, huge scary battle station, escaping from desert world in the Falcon, character caught by tentacled creature etc etc. I thought some elements could have been more original - but as a movie it rips along and is a fantastic ride. The ending lightsaber duel is executed wonderfully by all involved.

It could never be perfect - but I am mightily satisfied with what they delivered - and am seeing it for a 4th time next week

 

I was all about the first half of the film, but it was too much like ANH for me personally

 

You don't know the plot, yet. This is a trilogy. We will judge the whole plot at the end of Ep IX.