Posted on 12/17/2015 7:52:34 AM PST by BenLurkin
Critics screened the film earlier this week, and with the reviews rolling in, we've compiled a roundup of what they're saying, and in an effort to be as spoiler-free as possible, we only included parts that don't specifically talk about the plot.
"Reinvigorating the franchise with a welcome surge of energy, warmth and excitement after the misbegotten cycle of prequels released between 1999 and 2005, incoming writer-director J.J. Abrams seems to have had the original three films firmly in mind when he embarked on this monumental new undertaking, structured as a series of clever if sometimes wobbly callbacks to a trilogy that captivated a global audience and helped cement Hollywood’s blockbuster paradigm.
"Still, the reassuring familiarity of Abrams' approach has its limitations: Marvelous as it is to catch up with Han Solo, Leia and the rest of the gang, fan service takes priority here over a somewhat thin, derivative story that, despite the presence of two appealing new stars, doesn't exactly fire the imagination anew. ...
"In the end, Star Wars: The Force Awakens suggests the work of a filmmaker who faced the exciting yet unenviable task of partially reassembling one of the most beloved ensembles in movie history, furthering their characters' adventures in a meaningful fashion, and helping them pass the baton from one generation of action figures to the next - and emerged, in the end, with a compromise solution that, even when it's not firing on all cylinders, has been put across with sufficient style, momentum, love and care to prove irresistible to any who have ever considered themselves fans.
"Risking heresy, it's worth noting that Abrams actually did smarter, more inventive work on his 2009 reboot of 'Star Trek,' no doubt in part because he was working with a less heavily guarded enterprise." -Justin Chang, Variety
(Excerpt) Read more at vulture.com ...
Disney has $4MMM to recoup and a Star Wars movie that’s at least is good as Return of the Jedi to start is the safest and easiest way to do it.
If it can hit that mark (which I don’t think will be hard to do), the nerdiverse will be in out-of-their-minds ecstasy.
So far, it sounds like it has. I think a big part of that is that, for once, fans have learned to manage their own expectations.
-PJ
It should be on YouTube.
It was the only part of the movie that did not stink on ice.
As a “Lucas ruined my childhood with the prequels” Star Wars fan just let me say that if you let that go before you sit in your seat you’ll enjoy it.
Perfect? No. But an enjoyable ride IMO.
I’ll wait, if I see it at all...don’t much care for certain elements of the script.
LOL....my 5 year old and I will go see it in IMAX 3D at 10 AM tomorrow.
If we could drive to Branson, MO (an hour away) we would see it in 70mm IMAX, but its sold out until JAN.
Fair...but a large screen with great sound makes it if nothing else the type of popcorn movie that made going to the movies fun.
Saw it with the Misses last night. Loved it! Great fun. Highly recommended. Seeing it again Christmas Day.
I saw it in 3D last night and it was fun. I would have preferred my first viewing to just be standard format though (I’ll be taking the kids this weekend although I have to kick around whether or not the 4 year old may be a little too young). Enjoy!!
I had a difficult time caring about the new characters.
I liked them a bit better by the end, but I was kinda hoping that Finn would be dead so the girl could get hooked up with the pilot in the next episode.
Also, the giant Supreme Leader was a gimmick. The Emperor personified evil, and he wasn't some giant figure.
Probably should throw out spoilers in case this suddenly becomes the thread to discuss...just a thought.
NOT throw out any spoilers :)
SPOILERS!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!
Tell me what movie plot this is:
A young abandoned hero strong in the Force is stranded on a desert planet and happens upon an astro-droid carrying a very important secret. Wanting to return the droid to its owner leads the hero into conflict with the Empire and an acolyte of the Dark side. The hero manages to initially escape the clutches of the Empire with the help of a smuggler.
As the hero faces this imminent threat, they also learn the ways of the Force and are given a cherished light saber of their own. Getting the droid and it accompanying secret back in the hands of it owner leads the hero into meeting the resistance to the Empire.
Meanwhile they discover the Empire has constructed a huge doomsday weapon capable of destroying planets, and after initially destroying a peaceful planet, the Empire turns its weapon to the resistance with the intention of wiping it out. Thankfully, the resistance has managed to gather plans on the doomsday weapon and determine that it has a weakness that would lead to its destruction. A desperate attack is launched on the super weapon and it is thankfully destroyed just before it is able to fire and wipe out the resistance. Unfortunately, during the conflict on the mega weapon, the heros mentor is struck down by the evil acolyte.
The evil acolyte escapes and returns to his master, the head of the Empire. The hero jets off to find a Jedi master in the hopes of being taught the ways of the Force.
C’MON JJ, YOU COULDN’T DEVIATE FROM THE FORMULA JUST A LITTLE BIT?
Otherwise a pretty good movie overlooking the obvious plot and “sciencey” problems. The “PC” characters Rey and Finn are probably the strongest parts of the movie.
I took four kids, the two oldest, boys aged 8 and 10 loved it. My 6 year old daughter thought it was fun but she just loves going to the movies and would enjoy anything. As regards my recently turned 5 year old daughter, she seemed to get a bit bored with it after the first 90 minutes.
So if your 4 year old is into SW he/she might enjoy it, if not you could probably leave them at home and save it for them for later.
On the whole absolutely child friendly (well except for an early scene involving a bloody hand print, which worried me a bit but overall fine).
I find it odd to read how much hostility there is toward Star Wars on this forum. Posters are never done coruscating Hollywood for its deviant, anti-American propaganda.
So Hollywood produces a family friendly movie championing the resistance of freedom-loving republicans against an over-mighty state, which encourages people to stand up and fight for their liberty and celebrates the victory of good over evil.
The result? Oh I hate it before I even watch it.
Strange.
I certainly don’t see any real hostility or hate in my post #2.
I said, honestly, I am not going to see it and my 13 year old boy doesn’t care about it.
I thought that us relevant in we are both main target audiences - me a teenager during the original Star Wars and a current teen age boy.
Then I said the original wasn’t bad and better than most Hollywood stuff.
“The first three were entertaining, but I fail to see any deep allure of a cherried-out poverty row space and horse opera serial.
I assume it is probably less offensive than the bulk of the trash put out by Hollyweird.”
Why does not being an effusive fan equal hostility or hate?
My thoughts too but look, it’s a movie, a movie designed to provide entertainment to families for a couple of hours during the holidays, it’s not Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
The great movie serials of the Golden Age of Hollywood from Flash Gordon to Tarzan were pretty formulaic, as were the great TV series of later decades.
We’re just looking for a few hours of escapism. If I need intellectual stimulation combined with character development and literate flourishes I can read Marcel Proust.
I hope everybody enjoys Episode 7 “An Old Hope” this weekend. Just close your eyes. Â The Force will stay awake for you!
I think that was on purpose.
I think JJ came up with a very creative way to re-booting the series without having to remake the first three which fans would never have allowed.
So basically this movie just quickly sums up everything that happened in the first 3 movies (with a few minor changes) and now we can proceed with the story of what would have happened had Lucas made more films after Return of the Jedi.
No ore white guy heroes is what I take away from it. everything is programmed to appear that way now. nwo globalists love this myth.
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