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[crackhead_bob]

The whole movie is built around him and leads into the confrontation with Ren. It was no doubt planned to be his swan song well before filming started.

I also think that keeping Hamill out of most of the film was to give the writers creative breathing room so that they wouldn't have to worry about Luke and Han having to fight over screen time. It was probably a challenge trying to balance the introduction of the new cast while at the same time making Han Solo's role be more than a glorified cameo.

Force Awakens gave Ford his Gary Cooper moment, and now the writers can focus on Luke's character, and how he interacts with the new cast. I've got a feeling that he's going to be the Gandalf of this trilogy, and may even survive this as well, as opposed to being the slain mentor.

 

[SparkleMotion]

I think Sculli was dead on about how the Force is portrayed in this film. It's treated similarly to how lightsabers are treated in the prequels.

In what way?

 

[lastplayed]

I thought Rey cut Kylo's fucking head off for a second in that final duel. I almost shit my pants.

Yeah, I was actually worried that Kylo would be killed, it's crazy.

 

[Maintenance]

Poe surviving was the biggest wtf moment I think I've had in any Star Wars film.

He's dead. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

The other one is just a clone.

 

[Borman]

Vader is established as who he is at the beginning of the original trilogy. Here, however, we're going to be following the character growth of Kylo Ren. Him losing that fight is going to be HUUUUUUUGE for his character development going forward. The guy who likens himself to Vader geting his ass handed to him will pay off down the line in the story.

Based on the theory I posted on the previous page, I think that will be the underlying theme, at least early on. That Ben/Kylo Ren has always been a step below.

 

[Chitown B]

He did, but atleast didn't fight Luke and loes to him.

Ren didn't lose technically, the fight never finished. The freaking land opened up. Plus he was already really hurt from the gunshot wound.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

I just got back. Enjoyable movie.

They played it really safe though, and I could predict most of what was happening based on the trailers.

I really hope Finn ends up being a Jedi too. Why else would he have woken up from his conditioning as a stormtrooper if not for the force?

I'll be pissed if he doesn't become one. Rey and Finn were so good together. I'd love to see them kicking ass together.

 

[injurai]

I think Sculli was dead on about how the Force is portrayed in this film. It's treated similarly to how lightsabers are treated in the prequels.

I think the force was depicted far better in this film than even the prequels, so I can't see this analogy working.

 

[Dr Duncan Steel]

Watching ANH and yeah I see a lot of Adam Driver in young Harrison Ford. Mostly the nose.

 

[Fj0823]

So Plagueis is a force ghost like Obiwan then. Maybe Snoke isn't plagueis but is guided by him.

Impossible, only Light side users can become one with the force,retain their identity and control midichlorians at will to manifest physically, and it needs a lot of spiritual and mental training based entirely on acceptance of oneself, rejection of easy paths and detachment from the world. Siths reject all these concepts

This is all explained in the in The Clone Wars, watch it,awesome episodes featuring Liam Neeson as Qui-Gonn and Mark Hamill as

Spoiler

Darth Bane

.

 

[Jobbs]

In what way?

I think he means cheaply? In the prequels there's no sense of importance or bond to anyone's lightsaber, they're treated in an expendable way.

 

[Chitown B]

I just got back. Enjoyable movie.

They played it really safe though, and I could predict most of what was happening based on the trailers.

I really hope Finn ends up being a Jedi too. Why else would he have woken up from his conditioning as a stormtrooper if not for the force?

that's your fault. I avoided all trailers after the first one.

 

[F!ReW!Re]

Supposedly the Sith can't do the Force Ghost thing. Outside of the stuff in E3, I don't know what remains of the Legend of Plagueis (as some of the EU stuff about him was brought back in the newer, canon book Tarkin) but previously it was said that Palpatine killed him after he felt he had learned enough from Plagueis and he had his own apprentice (Darth Maul). If that aspect remains canon, which again I don't know for sure, then it would just mean that Palpatine didn't care to know how to keep others alive at the time.

Well makes sense for the Sith (rule of 2), because it would be fucking annoying if you had to listen to the force ghost of your former master. You know the one you killed.

"Dude, like wtf. YOU KILLED ME WHILE I WAS SLEEPING, I'm gonna haunt you forever"

 

[antonz]

Ok, just so I'm not confused, Palpatine likely wasn't the aforementioned apprentice, right? Because he clearly states the apprentice learned the power and then killed his master - the power which Palpatine claims he doesn't have.

Palpatine reveals he doesn't have the ability to cheat death after Anakin kills Mace Windu etc. but before Padme dies. So Anakin is still compelled to side with Palpatine because they would "solve" the problem"

It would be safe to say Palpatine was the apprentice because Plagueis is still referenced in New Canon. Palpatine simply led Anakin on. Oh yeah my master was awesome and we learned all this cool stuff. He just left out the part where he killed his master without learning that one cool trick.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

Impossible, only Light side users can become one with the force,retain their identity and control midichlorians at will to manifest physically, and it needs a lot of spiritual and mental training based entirely on acceptance of oneself, rejection of easy paths and detachment from the world. Siths reject all these concepts

This is all explained in the finale of The Clone Wars, watch it,awesome episodes featuring Liam Neeson as Qui-Gonn and Mark Hamill as Darth Bane.

Spoiler tags, please....

 

[Trago]

The part that got the biggest pop in the theater was when Kylo tried to force grab Anakin's saber, but Rey got that shit instead. Looking back, that's probably my favorite part of the film.

 

[CrichtonKicks]

[

I kinda feel like, after two days now, the closest thing I'm seeing to a prequel-esque "forcing it" is in regards to the soundtrack.

I think it's more than fair enough to say it's the weakest work Williams has done on a Star Wars movie.

Its best moment is tracked in from 1977.

I kind of agree except that I think that Attack of the Clones soundtrack is really weak with the GIANT exception of Across the Stars which is amazing. But outside of that theme I don't feel like there was much notable new music in AotC and the existing themes were used really poorly there though I seem to recall that was because Lucas butchered the score in the editing room or something.

With TFA, I love Rey's theme, really like the March of the Resistance, and for the rest I think it's well scored and uses the existing themes better than AOTC but is also a much more conventional and (for lack of a better term) modern score that serves to punctuate the action but doesn't call attention to itself. The above poster who mentioned The Asteroid Chase is a great example of music in the OT that wasn't a character theme yet created specific, iconic music that stood apart and yet accentuated the action perfectly. And TFA doesn't do that.

EDIT- Also, let's be honest. It's John Williams. No one is going to take him off a score. I can half imagine that Abrams might have automatically assumed that Williams wouldn't do it so he asks because of course you have to, thinking that when Williams turns him down he goes right to Giacchino. And then Wiliams accepts. And even if it isn't at the level of the other Star Wars films I think you just have to accept whatever he gives you.

I have strong doubts Williams will return for Episode 8.

 

[injurai]

The part that got the biggest pop in the theater was when Kylo tried to force grab Anakin's saber, but Rey got that shit instead. Looking back, that's probably my favorite part of the film.

for sure

 

[ghst]

Repressed memories/amnesia/etc are not some unknown thing in movies...

they are usually crutches deployed by hacks that scream "we didn't think about this properly in the first place".

 

[aceface]

The part that got the biggest pop in the theater was when Kylo tried to force grab Anakin's saber, but Rey got that shit instead. Looking back, that's probably my favorite part of the film.

Yeah that ranks right up there with anything else in Star Wars.

 

[Monocle]

that's your fault. I avoided all trailers after the first one.

I am so so so glad I avoided everything but the first two trailers. It immensely improved my experience to not know every major story beat, like I did for ROTS.

 

[Jarmel]

In what way?

The ridiculous way Rey abuses it, trivalizes it. It feels like a plot device moreso than anything else. That Jedi mind trick was especially blatant.

 

[injurai]

Impossible, only Light side users can become one with the force,retain their identity and control midichlorians at will to manifest physically, and it needs a lot of spiritual and mental training based entirely on acceptance of oneself, rejection of easy paths and detachment from the world. Siths reject all these concepts

This is all explained in the finale of The Clone Wars, watch it,awesome episodes featuring Liam Neeson as Qui-Gonn and Mark Hamill as Darth Bane.

Thanks. I really need to watch the clone wars.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

The part that got the biggest pop in the theater was when Kylo tried to force grab Anakin's saber, but Rey got that shit instead. Looking back, that's probably my favorite part of the film.

Same. That moment took it from good movie to fuck yeah. The Star Wars theme kicking in right then was damn near perfection.

 

[Monocle]

The part that got the biggest pop in the theater was when Kylo tried to force grab Anakin's saber, but Rey got that shit instead. Looking back, that's probably my favorite part of the film.

That and BB-8's thumbs up slayed my audience.

 

[Kai]

Am I crazy or during the flashback sequence did we hear Obi Wan's voice screaming Rey?

Also I don't think she's Luke's daughter - I think she is a Kenobi. Vader's grandson vs Obi's.

 

[Jobbs]

they are usually crutches deployed by hacks that scream "we didn't think about this properly in the first place".

You think Star Wars is above retreading things and using well worn ideas and tropes?

Have you seen any of the movies?

 

[kurahador]

I really hope Finn ends up being a Jedi too. Why else would he have woken up from his conditioning as a stormtrooper if not for the force?

Nahh...as it is now, Finn placement in the story serve more as a marketing tool to divert people to believe he's the Jedi.
There's nothing in this movie that indicate he's force sensitive. I'm not even sure where they are taking his character after this.

 

[aceface]

Am I crazy or during the flashback sequence did we hear Obi Wan's voice screaming Rey?

Also I don't think she's Luke's daughter - I think she is a Kenobi. Vader's grandson vs Obi's.

Ben's grandson vs. Ben?

 

[NervousXtian]

BTW, saw this in non-3D today.. and they played the R-rated Deadpool trailer before... pretty shocking for my 8yr old and 10yr old to have to listen to that.

Anyone else have that?

 

[injurai]

Am I crazy or during the flashback sequence did we hear Obi Wan's voice screaming Rey?

Also I don't think she's Luke's daughter - I think she is a Kenobi. Vader's grandson vs Obi's.

Alec Guinness Obi-wan? Yeah I heard that too.

 

[DrForester]

I was able to piece together some things from the trailers, but I mostly kept away from spoiler threads and the like.

I guessed that Kylo Ren was Han's son based on the actor cast when I saw his face.

I guessed that Rey would be the Jedi, not Finn.

I guessed that Han would die, but I did not think Ren would kill him. I was expecting Han to take the Falcon on a suicide run or something.

Biggest thing I thought would happen that didn't. I thought Luke would show up in the final battle. I was expecting him to show up at some point during the Rey/Ren fight.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

BTW, saw this in non-3D today.. and they played the R-rated Deadpool trailer before... pretty shocking for my 8yr old and 10yr old to have to listen to that.

Anyone else have that?

Holy shit. They really played that? That's kind of fucked up.

 

[Anth0ny]

One day later and I'm still legit shook that this movie was so great.

I've been waiting my whole life for a new, good Star Wars movie. Thank you JJ ; _ ;

 

[Borman]

Am I crazy or during the flashback sequence did we hear Obi Wan's voice screaming Rey?

Also I don't think she's Luke's daughter - I think she is a Kenobi. Vader's grandson vs Obi's.

Plus you can here Yoda and Obi Wan with lines from the previous films in that sequence.

 

[16BitNova]

Man, klyo was fucking lame as fuck, the man lost to some dam scrubs. In the star villan list he at the bottom.

The man, just killed his father. Hasn't completed his training, conflicted inside by light and dark, and bleeding out from getting shot by Chewie's bow. Not exactly in his prime. Oh and a planet was caving in on itself around them.

 

[jb1234]

Did the soundtrack end up leaking before its release?

Yeah, two or three days before.

 

[Monocle]

The ridiculous way Rey abuses it, trivalizes it. It feels like a plot device moreso than anything else. That Jedi mind trick was especially blatant.

She was testing her powers. Kylo said it himself.

P.S. The movie is called The Force Awakens. The Force and its use by one particular character is kind of a major aspect of the film.

 

[fritolay]

The more I think about it, the less I like this movie. Adam Driver is absolutely abysmal.

As soon as the mask came off, I looked at the character as a weak frail person instead of scary and strong. Was really disappointed.

 

[Skyrim]

BTW, saw this in non-3D today.. and they played the R-rated Deadpool trailer before... pretty shocking for my 8yr old and 10yr old to have to listen to that.

Anyone else have that?

nope not even X-men. only Civil War

 

[Bobby Roberts]

EDIT- Also, let's be honest. It's John Williams. No one is going to take him off a score. I can half imagine that Abrams might have automatically assumed that Williams wouldn't do it so he asks because of course you have to, thinking that when Williams turns him down he goes right to Giacchino. And then Wiliams accepts.

I think it's also a matter (and I know this was the case with me) that you think Williams, especially given all the extra time he had, would have turned in the goods. I mean, you have to ask Williams, you can't not. And then you get him, and you give him like 6 months. Granted, he has to go in for surgery in the middle of that, and he's 83, and his style has definitely changed since the 90s (it's definitely changed since 2005, even) but you probably figure "how could this disappoint? C'mon!"

 

[ghst]

You think Star Wars is above retreading things and using well worn ideas and tropes?

Have you seen any of the movies?

the OT uses some fairly elegant and classical tropes, not tacky wool-over-eyes lindelof hackery.

 

[OmegaFax]

BTW, saw this in non-3D today.. and they played the R-rated Deadpool trailer before... pretty shocking for my 8yr old and 10yr old to have to listen to that.

Anyone else have that?

Didn't have anything outside of TMNT, Civil War, that Harry Potter spin-off, and something about Egyptian warriors. That's the theater. They screwed up. I don't think they're supposed to show red band trailers in a PG-13 movie.

 

[Trago]

Same. That moment took it from good movie to fuck yeah. The Star Wars theme kicking in right then was damn near perfection.

Like, I seriously got that fuzzy feeling in my gut. I wanted to jump out of my chair. The whole audience was cheering her on and shit.

There's nothing like a killer theater experience.

 

[God Dayumm]

Alternate theory about Rey's parents.

Force powers? Check.
Great pilot? Check.

No, seriously. Yoda probably manipulated the midichlorians on some poor woman of a desert planet, just like Sidious did to create Anakin

 

[Monocle]

As soon as the mask came off, I looked at the character as a weak frail person instead of scary and strong. Was really disappointed.

That is literally the point. He's a reverse Vader in this movie. Badass to sniveling brat who doesn't measure up to his granddad. It works.

 

[gutterboy44]

Fantastic movie. So much great banter and humor. Moreover, I left theater with a huge grin after seeing a Star Wars movie. That is a first. Rey is totally Luke's daughter right? Has to be.

 

[SparkleMotion]

Nahh...as it is now, Finn placement in the story serve more as a marketing tool to divert people to believe he's the Jedi.
There's nothing in this movie that indicate he's force sensitive. I'm not even sure where they are taking his character after this.

Han Solo to Rey's Luke. He's clearly going to be the guy that cuts the tension with jokes the same way Solo did in the OT.

 

[Meowster]

Kylo is lame but that's kinda his appeal. Great character that I love to hate.

 

[Jarmel]

Also where the hell did people get that Finn was in a coma? He was clearly unconscious but that's it.