[user104658]

It is a great film... I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone, HOWEVER

- There is a LOT of fan service in there. Like... A lot. Some might argue too much? Was it just me? A few almost scene by scene recreations that didn't even make sense. Why did the new giant death star have a canyon almost identical to the original death star? Why wasn't it giant? Why was it there at all other than for an x wing nostalgia scene? Hmmm...

- Not here for whiney, teary-eyed sith?? I'll let it slide as an origin story IF he comes back much darker in VIII. He manages to make ep ii/iii AnnieQuinn look hardcore. That's impressive.

- If they don't seriously up their lightsaber game in the upcoming films I might lose my ****? The actual fight came too late and wasn't doing it for me. Again, I'll let it slide as it makes sense from a storyline perspective: untrained jedi vs (conveniently) injured sith. But as presumably she will have been trained by Luke in the next one, and poutysith has gone to "complete his training"... I want a rematch. A nice, long, proper Jedi rematch.

Oh and as a final thought...

- If Finn doesn't turn out to be force-sensitive I will also lose my ****. Normal people can't use lightsabers! At all! Let alone go toe to toe with a sith (even a hurt one) and not get cut in half, probably by themselves.

Then again I think they're hinting that he is? Stormtrooper conditioning seems to work pretty well on almost all of them, so it would make sense if his instant defection as soon as he was supposed to start killing was because he was being "called by the light side".

Still, I will be considering this a huge plot hole if he's not. Stormtrooper with a lightsaber. No.

Anyway... Disquss...

[Locke.]

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

- There is a LOT of fan service in there. Like... A lot. Some might argue too much? Was it just me? A few almost scene by scene recreations that didn't even make sense. Why did the new giant death star have a canyon almost identical to the original death star? Why wasn't it giant? Why was it there at all other than for an x wing nostalgia scene? Hmmm...

I think it was a mistake destroying this ship in it's first appearance, just like they did with the 2 death stars previously.. Surely the Empire/First Order will realize that they are just wasting their time and not bother doing another one.

- Not here for whiney, teary-eyed sith?? I'll let it slide as an origin story IF he comes back much darker in VIII. He manages to make ep ii/iii AnnieQuinn look hardcore. That's impressive.

I think the whole point of Kylo in this episode was that he's a young, hotheaded asshole who is entirely out of his depth. Kind of like Anakin, just nowhere near as talented (yet). That scene with his going crazy in the control room with the lightsaber and the two stormtroopers turning back and walking away summed this up.

- If they don't seriously up their lightsaber game in the upcoming films I might lose my ****? The actual fight came too late and wasn't doing it for me. Again, I'll let it slide as it makes sense from a storyline perspective: untrained jedi vs (conveniently) injured sith. But as presumably she will have been trained by Luke in the next one, and poutysith has gone to "complete his training"... I want a rematch. A nice, long, proper Jedi rematch.

Didn't have a problem with this, I thought the battle with Kylo and Rey was pretty good. Neither of them are on the level of Luke/Vader/Obi Wan/Darth Maul so it was never going to be as skilled a fight as those 2 from the previous trilogies, but it was still intense and exciting enough.

- If Finn doesn't turn out to be force-sensitive I will also lose my ****. Normal people can't use lightsabers! At all! Let alone go toe to toe with a sith (even a hurt one) and not get cut in half, probably by themselves.

Then again I think they're hinting that he is? Stormtrooper conditioning seems to work pretty well on almost all of them, so it would make sense if his instant defection as soon as he was supposed to start killing was because he was being "called by the light side".

Still, I will be considering this a huge plot hole if he's not. Stormtrooper with a lightsaber. No.

A few people have mentioned this but I don't really see the problem with it. Han used a lightsaber in Empire Strikes Back. And it's not like Finn used it well, he got his ass kicked by a stormtrooper with a .... whatever that weapon was. A heavily injured Kylo beat him and would have killed him too, if he wasn't interrupted by Rey. That's 0/2.

[Jamie89]

I agree there was a lot of fan service but I enjoyed all that, and I don't think it will have got in the way for non-fans watching it. The whole giant death star thing, I'm not sure, I can't remember if they fully explained the intricacies of it (I need to watch it again). They had to tread a line I suppose of not bogging things down too much with explanations.

I really loved Kylo Ren to be honest. He was outstanding to me. He seemed really disturbed and the fact that he had this emotional instability made it all the more interesting for me because with someone like that you really don't know what they're going to do next. Rather than him being straight-forward 'evil' if you know what I mean. He is evil but his intentions (and emotions) aren't fully clear which gives him an unpredictability I found really interesting. I liked that he wasn't a stereotypical sith type person. I'm not even gonna start on you comparing him to Annie haha!!!

I think there will definitely be more lightsaber fights in the next one. I hope so anyway. It would have been tricky for them to write more into this one, as you say you need force sensitive characters, and Rey was only just starting to discover hers. I kind of feel like as much as it would have been great to see more lightsaber battles, they probably would have felt out of place in this story, based on where these characters currently are. And although the Rey/Ren fight was brief and a little messy (because of her lack of training) It needed to be really. I thought that it fitted perfectly and there were small moments of greatness rather than it being a grand battle. Also, they probably don't want to throw everything into this one movie and go overboard, save some for the next ones.

It's a good point about Finn and the lightsaber. I just assumed that his storm trooper training might have helped with him fighting, along with Ren being injured. But him being force sensitive would make much more sense, along with your theory about that being the reason why he couldn't go through with the killing at the start.

I'm gonna have to think more about it all when I've watched it again lol!!

[user104658]

Like I said I know that the lightsaber fights were fitting with the story... I just like them, so I'm left craving something more. I'd have been rolling my eyes if Rey had suddenly gone full ninja and started backflipping around using her lightsaber like a Jedi Master... I know that Qui Gon / Obi Wan / Annie were all trained from childhood in an environment with generations upon generations of experience...

I... I just want my glowing sword ninjas damnit!

As for Finn I do think there are a couple of other hints at it. e.g. he takes to the TIE Fighter and Millennium Falcon guns very easily and even comments on it; being "a natural" (i.e. a possible hint that he's actually using the force without realising a lá Annie in his racer)...

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

As for Finn I do think there are a couple of other hints at it. e.g. he takes to the TIE Fighter and Millennium Falcon guns very easily and even comments on it; being "a natural" (i.e. a possible hint that he's actually using the force without realising a lá Annie in his racer)...

This is all very true
Also, with you mentioning that the lightsaber action didn't happen till late on, I forgot to mention that I think it made the moment when Rey used the force to pull the lightsaber towards her (instead of Ren) all the more special. A lot of build up to it but a great moment. Really paid off.

By the way, did everyone love BB-8? Apparently William Shatner was slagging it off on twitter saying it would be the next jar jar, but I loved it. The thumbs up thing he did

[user104658]

BB was surely more like a "little brother" of R2D2? Just like... A smaller and more mobile version... Haha.

Don't lynch me purists but I found the most annoying character in this one to be ol' Chewie... .

I also felt like Ford phoned in his performance, which I've gathered from interviews as well and his general feelings on it, but strangely it works quite well anyway because Han Solo is supposed to seem like he's sort of given up a bit? So his "weariness" plays quite well.

[Locke.]

I liked BB8 a lot more than C3P0 and R2D2

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Santa's Sakho

I liked BB8 a lot more than C3P0 and R2D2

I was never a C3P0 fan. I don't really get how people can love him in the originals but despise Binks so much. C3P0 is the Jar Jar of the original trilogy.

[Locke.]

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

I was never a C3P0 fan. I don't really get how people can love him in the originals but despise Binks so much. C3P0 is the Jar Jar of the original trilogy.

Must admit, I do think he had the funniest scene in the film though. That sad music playing over the long awaited Han/Leia reunion and then he just pops in with some useless information.

[user104658]

Admit it though: that would totally have been something Jar Jar would do!

Anyway, the funniest moment was Kylo Ren taking off his helmet for the first time and you're just like "oh lol hey there little buddy! Don't cry!"

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by Santa's Sakho

Must admit, I do think he had the funniest scene in the film though. That sad music playing over the long awaited Han/Leia reunion and then he just pops in with some useless information.

And when he said something like "you probably didn't recognise me because of my new arm"

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

I also felt like Ford phoned in his performance, which I've gathered from interviews as well and his general feelings on it, but strangely it works quite well anyway because Han Solo is supposed to seem like he's sort of given up a bit? So his "weariness" plays quite well.

I wouldn't be surprised if he phoned it in. Apparently he wanted to be killed off in the original trilogy and he only did this film on the condition they killed him because he wanted to be done with it (that's just a rumour though). I wish he hadn't of died though

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Sleighmie

I wouldn't be surprised if he phoned it in. Apparently he wanted to be killed off in the original trilogy and he only did this film on the condition they killed him because he wanted to be done with it (that's just a rumour though). I wish he hadn't of died though

Either he or Leia literally had to though for story mirroring which this film was really all about. Annie became Darth Vader when he "killed" Amidala, until then there was still "light in him", and in this one he was only linked to his parents so one of them had to go as that final step. And because of the running father / son theme of Star Wars, and it again being a mirror of a Luke / Vader scene (but almost light/dark reversed?), it really had to be old Solo.



Its a fair sacrifice if it helps Kylo to dry those eyes...

[James]

I've got the audiobook of the novelisation. It's written by Alan Dean Foster who wrote the original novelisation. I haven't seen the film yet. I don't whether to listen to all of it, though I read all the spoilers because I don't know when I will see the film.

[BBfanUSA]

I thought it was an excellent film but it relied too much a bit on the nostalgia.

I love the new cast though so I'll give it a solid 8.

Am I the only one thinking that Rey is Luke's daughter? There was a line when Rey first touched the lightsaber where the owner of the bar said that it was Luke's Lightsaber and his father's before him, now it's has found it's new owner or something, like they're saying she's Luke's daughter without really revealing it.

[Locke.]

Originally Posted by BBfanUSA

I thought it was an excellent film but it relied too much a bit on the nostalgia.

I love the new cast though so I'll give it a solid 8.

Am I the only one thinking that Rey is Luke's daughter? There was a line when Rey first touched the lightsaber where the owner of the bar said that it was Luke's Lightsaber and his father's before him, now it's has found it's new owner or something, like they're saying she's Luke's daughter without really revealing it.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure she is a Skywalker. Loads of clues there for it.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Santa's Sakho

Yeah, I'm pretty sure she is a Skywalker. Loads of clues there for it.

It seems TOO obvious, though? Like they were hinting at it so strongly that it might be a red herring. Also, her age when she was left there (old enough to remember), and what was going on immediately before Luke exiled himself (he was training Jedi...) means that it doesn't make sense that she didn't know that it wasn't all "a myth" until Han Solo confirmed that it was "all real". Like... She would surely remember that Dad was a Jedi and that Cousin Ren was at Jedi School?

And why would Luke leave her alone on a desert planet, rather than leave her with Leia?

Unless, I guess, whoever her mother is left Luke before she was born and never told him about her... And then perhaps she started showing some Force traits and mummy got scared and abandonned her?

I'd actually prefer if she wasn't from the same bloodline though. It would be sort of awesome if she turned out to somehow be a descendant (granddaughter? Great granddaughter?) of Obi Wan Kenobi, I think. Though it would mean that dirty Old Ben started getting his end away after the Jedi order fell .

[Jamie89]

I never considered that she might be a skywalker but now you mention it there were loads of clues lol. I think what toy soldier said about her possibly being a descendant of obi wan would be really cool. But I'm leaning more towards it being something completely seperate from the characters we already know. I don't base that on anything, just a gut feeling. I kind of feel a bit like they already have kylo ren as someone who is a relation to the original characters, so maybe reys backstory will be something completely new that will infold during the trilogy, involving characters we haven't heard of before.

[Glenn.]

I love BB8

[Ross.]

I seen it last night, it met all my expectations and more.

I LOVE BB-8

I thought Kylo Ren was a fascinating character, liked how he was different from the usual Sith villains

[Niamh.]

Went to see it today, I can't believe they'd killed off Han Solo easily the best character of the series but I guess he's pushing on now. Love the two new main characters Rey and Finn. Also, Ireland being featured in the final scene

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Good King Glennceslas

I love BB8

Only time you'll ever see this posted on a big brother forum but yeah me too, he's better than R2d2 and C3po imo

[user104658]

Originally Posted by ChristmasNeeve

Went to see it today, I can't believe they'd killed off Han Solo easily the best character of the series but I guess he's pushing on now. Love the two new main characters Rey and Finn. Also, Ireland being featured in the final scene

" We've found him!!! We've found the missing part of the map. We can finally get Luke back!"
"Where is he??"
"A planet called Earth... Some place called Ireland? He's been shacked up with someone called... Neem? Nyam? Something like that."

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

" We've found him!!! We've found the missing part of the map. We can finally get Luke back!"

"Where is he??"

"A planet called Earth... Some place called Ireland? He's been shacked up with someone called... Neem? Nyam? Something like that."

Ew no thanks I always thought Luke was one of the worst characters /controversial

[user104658]

Originally Posted by ChristmasNeeve

Ew no thanks I always thought Luke was one of the worst characters /controversial

That's not controversial, if you watch the first film back, luke is SERIOUSLY whiney and bratty. Like a 5 year old, but he's a grown man!

[James]

I have seen it now. It's a lot to take in - it's really fast and frenetic, but I guess that's to be expected from JJ Abrams. I would kind of have to see it again to catch the dialogue better, maybe at home. I liked the scenes with the original characters best. I got emotional a few times at those.

Originally Posted by ChristmasNeeve

Went to see it today, I can't believe they'd killed off Han Solo easily the best character of the series but I guess he's pushing on now. Love the two new main characters Rey and Finn. Also, Ireland being featured in the final scene

That was my favourite scene.

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

" We've found him!!! We've found the missing part of the map. We can finally get Luke back!"
"Where is he??"
"A planet called Earth... Some place called Ireland? He's been shacked up with someone called... Neem? Nyam? Something like that."

Minor thing but, the way the missing part slotted into the display of the map like a jigsaw piece, looked a bit cheesy.

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

That's not controversial, if you watch the first film back, luke is SERIOUSLY whiney and bratty. Like a 5 year old, but he's a grown man!

I think Mark Hamill's acting is very underrated in the originals. Edit: Actually the casting and acting of the original Star Wars is really overlooked, but it is one of the reasons why the film works so well.