Off Topic Star Wars -The Last Jedi

[josie]

Most of d4rk's notes are mine as well- we spent the better part of last night ranting all that out together. 

 

I really really wanted to like this movie. I have enjoyed all Star Wars films (dont' really remember the prequels tbh). I liked Force Awakens. I really liked Rogue One. I would not consider myself a Star Wars fangirl. Most of my dislike with this movie honestly had nothing to do with Star Wars lore- it was just a poorly executed movie. I had heard spoilers (not important ones it turns out) going into it, but had NO clue what I was getting into. 

 

 

 

I'd add one thing. He mentioned Kung Fu Hustle and miracles.... You know what this movie was missing? Danger. Yeah, a billion redshirts died, we had the first 15 minutes of a space/ww2 aerial battle and the death of Rose's sister that actually felt poignant to me. Loved that. I'll ignore the physics of "dropping" bombs in space... uhh... let's hope there was a propellant there of some sort. Admiral Laura Dern croaks, same with Phasma I guess... But no one important. Save Snoke, and that felt stupid too. At least in Kung Fu Hustle most of the great legendary warriors in that little sh!tsplat town get murdered and make you go "oh something's on the line here".

 

THis was just, oh, X hero is putting life on line? Well, we know they can't die because there's totally gonna be a "woahh cheeky sudden heroic miracle saving action ooh!".

 

 

I was with the movie until the casino b.s. GOD that was heinous. I tried so hard to get back into it. Enjoyed the Rey/Ben Swolo stuf (yeah that shirtless scene was def awkward), some of the battles, the first 15 minutes, but I was so. so. SO disappointed. 

 

Ok, probably unpopular opinion but I am curious what others think- Leia. Space Mom dies in space. It was so poignant. I was sobbing. Carrie Fisher's gone, what a sad/fitting/beautiful way to end her character.

 But noooo suddenly she's zooming across space in this weird statue of liberty pose and... lives to do what? A couple more great moments (she and luke were my fav parts of the film) and mostly being mom. So, now what? Do we get scary Carrie CGI in episode 9? I don't want that. Let Leia pass with dignity, on the bridge, at the hands of her son adding to his conflict. 

 

And way to make BB8 stupid. It's adorable. It's great. And now suddenly it's a super pilot and there to save the day on the main baddie ship at the end. Ok, if you'd edited out most of the other stuff that felt bad to me, this would not have bothered me. But just one more thing on top of the rest of the poorly executed ideas. 

 

 

Final thought, what the heck were those Jedi truck nuts Luke gives Leia at the end on salt (which, did salt enter into it? had to have a soldier lick it and tell us after like 5 different characters talk about it being a salt planet...? just leave it as "art dudes wanted to do red and white awesomeness on alien planet woo")? I missed something I guess. 

 

 

 

They had a lot of great ideas, and mashed them terrible. They took all the beautiful colors in the crayon box, reds, purples, greens, blues, and said "Surely all these fantastic colors will be better mixed together!!!" like some misguided toddler Voltron. No. You made brown. A whole lotta brown. A big ol' brown note in the center of what was a nice opening and closing. 

 

Overall I felt abotu this movie the way I feel abotu the Sabres this year. Very excited, not expecting a masterpiece, but ready to have some fun. But instead I wanted to leave after the second period. 

Edited December 29, 2017 by ABBA_älskare_69

[dudacek]

It’s becoming clear to me that I don’t love Star Wars.

I thought Jedi was fun, beautifully shot, a tad cheesy - like most of the series.

Those who didn’t like it seem to be looking for something that I never saw in the first place.

[darksabre]

It’s becoming clear to me that I don’t love Star Wars.

I thought Jedi was fun, beautifully shot, a tad cheesy - like most of the series.

Those who didn’t like it seem to be looking for something that I never saw in the first place.

All I wanted was a good movie. Instead I got a bad movie. *shrug*

[Weave]

It was a movie that wants you to know how intellectual it is so it keeps telling you it's intellectual, instead of actually just being intellectual.

I don’t believe Star Wars ever was about being intellectual. I think that os something the fans have wanted way more than it ever was, or was supposed to be. It was a frickin western for crying out loud.

[darksabre]

I don’t believe Star Wars ever was about being intellectual. I think that os something the fans have wanted way more than it ever was, or was supposed to be. It was a frickin western for crying out loud.

Right. And that's the problem. They decided to try to make it something that it isn't. It's always just been space nazis vs space samurai. Simple plot, some space battles, a little mysticism, dramatic tension, and some heroics. These aren't difficult things to get right. It's supposed to be fun.

Now, I don't have a problem with them deviating from the traditional Star Wars formula. But if you're going to do it, do it well. 

Most of d4rk's notes are mine as well- we spent the better part of last night ranting all that out together. 

 

I really really wanted to like this movie. I have enjoyed all Star Wars films (dont' really remember the prequels tbh). I liked Force Awakens. I really liked Rogue One. I would not consider myself a Star Wars fangirl. Most of my dislike with this movie honestly had nothing to do with Star Wars lore- it was just a poorly executed movie. I had heard spoilers (not important ones it turns out) going into it, but had NO clue what I was getting into. 

 

 

 

I'd add one thing. He mentioned Kung Fu Hustle and miracles.... You know what this movie was missing? Danger. Yeah, a billion redshirts died, we had the first 15 minutes of a space/ww2 aerial battle and the death of Rose's sister that actually felt poignant to me. Loved that. I'll ignore the physics of "dropping" bombs in space... uhh... let's hope there was a propellant there of some sort. Admiral Laura Dern croaks, same with Phasma I guess... But no one important. Save Snoke, and that felt stupid too. At least in Kung Fu Hustle most of the great legendary warriors in that little sh!tsplat town get murdered and make you go "oh something's on the line here".

 

THis was just, oh, X hero is putting life on line? Well, we know they can't die because there's totally gonna be a "woahh cheeky sudden heroic miracle saving action ooh!".

 

 

I was with the movie until the casino b.s. GOD that was heinous. I tried so hard to get back into it. Enjoyed the Rey/Ben Swolo stuf (yeah that shirtless scene was def awkward), some of the battles, the first 15 minutes, but I was so. so. SO disappointed. 

 

Ok, probably unpopular opinion but I am curious what others think- Leia. Space Mom dies in space. It was so poignant. I was sobbing. Carrie Fisher's gone, what a sad/fitting/beautiful way to end her character.

 But noooo suddenly she's zooming across space in this weird statue of liberty pose and... lives to do what? A couple more great moments (she and luke were my fav parts of the film) and mostly being mom. So, now what? Do we get scary Carrie CGI in episode 9? I don't want that. Let Leia pass with dignity, on the bridge, at the hands of her son adding to his conflict. 

 

And way to make BB8 stupid. It's adorable. It's great. And now suddenly it's a super pilot and there to save the day on the main baddie ship at the end. Ok, if you'd edited out most of the other stuff that felt bad to me, this would not have bothered me. But just one more thing on top of the rest of the poorly executed ideas. 

 

 

Final thought, what the heck were those Jedi truck nuts Luke gives Leia at the end on salt (which, did salt enter into it? had to have a soldier lick it and tell us after like 5 different characters talk about it being a salt planet...? just leave it as "art dudes wanted to do red and white awesomeness on alien planet woo")? I missed something I guess. 

 

 

 

They had a lot of great ideas, and mashed them terrible. They took all the beautiful colors in the crayon box, reds, purples, greens, blues, and said "Surely all these fantastic colors will be better mixed together!!!" like some misguided toddler Voltron. No. You made brown. A whole lotta brown. A big ol' brown note in the center of what was a nice opening and closing. 

 

Overall I felt abotu this movie the way I feel abotu the Sabres this year. Very excited, not expecting a masterpiece, but ready to have some fun. But instead I wanted to leave after the second period. 

Yuuupppp. 

[Weave]

Right. And that's the problem. They decided to try to make it something that it isn't. It's always just been space nazis vs space samurai. Simple plot, some space battles, a little mysticism, dramatic tension, and some heroics. These aren't difficult things to get right. It's supposed to be fun.

 

Now, I don't have a problem with them deviating from the traditional Star Wars formula. But if you're going to do it, do it well.

 

Yuuupppp.

I don’t think THEY tried to make it something it isn’t. I think the geeked out fans did. And you guys are continuously being disappointed because of it.

[darksabre]

I don’t think THEY tried to make it something it isn’t. I think the geeked out fans did. And you guys are continuously being disappointed because of it.

My bar is very low. I like Waterworld. 

As a Star Wars nerd, I don't think this movie is a crime against Star Wars. Like I said, the important parts are good. I like what they did with Luke. Nothing about this movie bothers me from a "ohhhh that's not canon!" perspective like I'm sure a lot of other Star Wars fanbois are crying about, with the exception of

Space Leia

.

 

I wanted it to be different and good.  

 

It's just a bad movie at the most basic level. It's badly made. If it wasn't Star Wars I bet more people would hate it, but there's a lot of pressure to be a Star Wars fan now that it's "cool", so of course not liking it is going to be the unpopular opinion. 

 

We'd be shitting all over it if Michael Bay made it and it was called Transformers. 

[Weave]

My bar is very low. I like Waterworld.

 

As a Star Wars nerd, I don't think this movie is a crime against Star Wars. Like I said, the important parts are good. I like what they did with Luke. Nothing about this movie bothers me from a "ohhhh that's not canon!" perspective like I'm sure a lot of other Star Wars fanbois are crying about, with the exception of

Space Leia

 

 

I wanted it to be different and good.

 

It's just a bad movie at the most basic level. It's badly made. If it wasn't Star Wars I bet more people would hate it, but there's a lot of pressure to be a Star Wars fan now that it's "cool", so of course not liking it is going to be the unpopular opinion.

 

We'd be shitting all over it if Michael Bay made it and it was called Transformers.

If you wxpectd more than Transformers I don’t know what to say. None of the previous 7 movies were anything other than campy with incedible effects.

[darksabre]

If you wxpectd more than Transformers I don’t know what to say. None of the previous 7 movies were anything other than campy with incedible effects.

This is just flat out incorrect.

[Weave]

This is just flat out incorrect.

Movie 1 was a cheap western set in space. Movie 2 was actually a good movie and story. 3 was all camp and lousy. 4-6 had horrible acting and directing and were roundly criticized as not good movies. 7 was a repeat of 1.

 

I think I am more right than wrong.

Edited December 29, 2017 by We've

[darksabre]

Movie 1 was a cheap western set in space. Movie 2 was actually a good movie and story. 3 was all camp and lousy. 4-6 had horrible acting and directing and were roundly criticized as not good movies. 7 was a repeat of 1.

 

I think I am more right than wrong.

The prequels are bad, but they could have been better with less cgi and better acting. And a little less George Lucas.

 

The original trilogy is charming in its simplicity. Those movies aren't masterpieces, but they are fun.

 

Movies have become over the top in recent years. Everything is super heroes doing super things with no limits. Star Wars should be an oasis, maintaining that character of the original trilogy. They did okay with that in Force Awakens.

 

This movie has no charm. It's just a special effects held together by some good Luke Skywalker scenes.

If Star Wars movies are going to go the way of Star Trek, Marvel, Transformers, etc., then I guess I'm out. Asking for something a little different is apparently too much.

[Weave]

Or you could just sit down with a container of popcorn and be entertained.

 

Just sayin’......

 

 

It’s like how we sit on this site and overanalyze this hockey team, who it should draft, and whether we should lose the remaining games and move all the FAs.

 

At some point it just makes sense to accept it for what it is and make the best of it.

Edited December 29, 2017 by We've

[darksabre]

Or you could just sit down with a container of popcorn and be entertained.

 

Just sayin’......

 

 

It’s like how we sit on this site and overanalyze this hockey team, who it should draft, and whether we should lose the remaining games and move all the FAs.

 

At some point it just makes sense to accept it for what it is and make the best of it.

I tried. I tried to just relax and be entertained. It just wasn't any good.

[bunomatic]

Haven't seen the movie but my thoughts on CGI are simple really. They make movie making too easy and people get lazy when it comes to good old story telling. Most of these effects are so over the top now and there are big gaps within the movies that are essentially CGI filler where no real movie making actually gets done. It reminds me of that Cher song with the voice effects. Before you know it every friggin producer is pushing that same shittty sound in every friggin song.

[darksabre]

Haven't seen the movie but my thoughts on CGI are simple really. They make movie making too easy and people get lazy when it comes to good old story telling. Most of these effects are so over the top now and there are big gaps within the movies that are essentially CGI filler where no real movie making actually gets done. It reminds me of that Cher song with the voice effects. Before you know it every friggin producer is pushing that same shittty sound in every friggin song.

That's basically it. The same trap the prequels fell in to.

 

If I had known it was just going to be a bunch of CGI window dressing I'd have waited for the Redbox.

[dudacek]

Based on the Force Awakens

I expected Leia to die.

I expected revelatory back stories about Snoke and Rey tying them into the mythology.

I expected Luke to essentially be Yoda from Empire.

I expected Poe to be a hotshot rogue hero who saves the day

 

As this movie progressed, I expected Holdo to be shown up as a weak bureaucrat and DJ to be a rogue with a heart of gold.

 

Star Wars usually delivers the expected.

Edited December 29, 2017 by Mick O’Manly

[josie]

I'll counter my rant with something positive that really blew me away.

 

 

 

Those shots/lack of sounds/sudden sound at the end when Admiral Laura Dern lightspeeds through Snoke's ship... Sweet Jebus that was gorgeous. I will remember that forever in my "top beautiful movie moments". 

 

 

And another positive. There was a lot of beauty in this movie. I just wanted more of it. The infinite Rey in the cave thing- what was that? Explanation? Idea? Let's see more- oh, no, what are wacky ol' Rose n Finn up to? 

 

But still. Lot of beauty. 

 

 

Based on the Force Awakens
I expected Leia to die.
I expected revelatory back stories about Snoke and Rey tying them into the mythology.
I expected Luke to essentially be Yoda from Empire.
I expected Poe to be a hotshot rogue hero who saves the day

As this movie progressed, I expected Holdo to be shown up as a weak bureaucrat and DJ to be a rogue with a heart of gold.

Star Wars usually delivers the expected.

They almost had me with the medallion-as-a-superconductor moment. 

Edited December 29, 2017 by ABBA_älskare_69

[dudacek]

Lots of pretty images in this one.

Loved the shot you refer to in the spoiler above, it was a thing of beauty. Luke’s green Island, the salt planet..

The red-eyed walkers, lined up silhouetted in the sun staring down Luke was stunning.

And the end shot of Luke staring off into the two suns was gorgeous.

[darksabre]

Based on the Force Awakens

I expected Leia to die.

I expected revelatory back stories about Snoke and Rey tying them into the mythology.

I expected Luke to essentially be Yoda from Empire.

I expected Poe to be a hotshot rogue hero who saves the day

 

As this movie progressed, I expected Holdo to be shown up as a weak bureaucrat and DJ to be a rogue with a heart of gold.

 

Star Wars usually delivers the expected.

They pretended they weren't being predictable, and then did predictable things, but with no finesse, which made it worse that just doing the predictable things without the pretense.

 

 

I said "For f*cks sake" out loud at the BB-8 scene with the AT-ST. It was just a ripoff of ROTJ with the Ewoks. I was all "Oh man, there's no way they'll have that be BB-8. That would be stupid. Who is the surprise hero?!" And then it was BB-8.

 

 

Lazy. They couldn't come up with anything better? 

 

That's my big thing. Every time they set up a surprise, they blew it. They could have executed some big moments in the movie and they just dropped the ball time and time again.

 

The lack of suspense was a killer. When I watch the original movies, especially Empire, I am always in suspense of moments like Luke losing his hand. It's such a big moment in that movie that you KNOW is coming every time you watch it, but the lead up is great and they execute it well. It's fun every time. 

 

The moments in this movie that could have been like that just fell flat because of how lazy the writing was. 

[Samson's Flow]

Haven't seen the movie but my thoughts on CGI are simple really. They make movie making too easy and people get lazy when it comes to good old story telling. Most of these effects are so over the top now and there are big gaps within the movies that are essentially CGI filler where no real movie making actually gets done. It reminds me of that Cher song with the voice effects. Before you know it every friggin producer is pushing that same shittty sound in every friggin song.

This is what I was getting at earlier. Because CGI can do anything now, I get the sense that a lot of scenes are designed specifically to show off the pretty CGI that is coming rather than tell the story or progress the story. I can think of a few specific examples:

 

 

The "flying Leia" scene seemed specifically created so they could show her force flying back through the space debris. 30 years ago the movie would show a big explosion on a 1:100 scale model and we would just know everyone was f***** dead. Trained Jedi/Sith have been exploded and killed for thousands of years but now suddenly Leia can survive, breathe and fly through space just cause she's Luke's sister? Give me a break.

 

The whole casino planet just seemed like a big "look at all the cool buildings and aliens we can make" scene when the whole point in the plot was to pick up a guy that spends maybe 5 minutes total in the story and then goes away.

 

Luke is the first force user ever that can project his body billions of miles away with explanation as to how this is possible. Only so they can CGI explode his holographic body with 1,000 laser shots. Way too much suspension of disbelief on that one. Same thing with the sudden ability for all remaining Jedi/Sith to have telepathic powers with each other. It wasn't enough to be able to force push/pull/choke people? JFC

 

Basically all of the force using was seemingly impossible magic tricks to twist the plot in weird ways rather than consistent use of the established powers of manipulating physical objects (moving rocks, pulling lightsabers, etc.) None of the force users have ever figured this ###### out and now the last four a$$holes with force powers suddenly have god-like powers?!

 

Edited December 29, 2017 by Rör av pojkar

[biodork]

Most of d4rk's notes are mine as well- we spent the better part of last night ranting all that out together.

 

I really really wanted to like this movie. I have enjoyed all Star Wars films (dont' really remember the prequels tbh). I liked Force Awakens. I really liked Rogue One. I would not consider myself a Star Wars fangirl. Most of my dislike with this movie honestly had nothing to do with Star Wars lore- it was just a poorly executed movie. I had heard spoilers (not important ones it turns out) going into it, but had NO clue what I was getting into.

 

 

 

I'd add one thing. He mentioned Kung Fu Hustle and miracles.... You know what this movie was missing? Danger. Yeah, a billion redshirts died, we had the first 15 minutes of a space/ww2 aerial battle and the death of Rose's sister that actually felt poignant to me. Loved that. I'll ignore the physics of "dropping" bombs in space... uhh... let's hope there was a propellant there of some sort. Admiral Laura Dern croaks, same with Phasma I guess... But no one important. Save Snoke, and that felt stupid too. At least in Kung Fu Hustle most of the great legendary warriors in that little sh!tsplat town get murdered and make you go "oh something's on the line here".

 

THis was just, oh, X hero is putting life on line? Well, we know they can't die because there's totally gonna be a "woahh cheeky sudden heroic miracle saving action ooh!".

 

 

I was with the movie until the casino b.s. GOD that was heinous. I tried so hard to get back into it. Enjoyed the Rey/Ben Swolo stuf (yeah that shirtless scene was def awkward), some of the battles, the first 15 minutes, but I was so. so. SO disappointed.

 

Ok, probably unpopular opinion but I am curious what others think- Leia. Space Mom dies in space. It was so poignant. I was sobbing. Carrie Fisher's gone, what a sad/fitting/beautiful way to end her character.

But noooo suddenly she's zooming across space in this weird statue of liberty pose and... lives to do what? A couple more great moments (she and luke were my fav parts of the film) and mostly being mom. So, now what? Do we get scary Carrie CGI in episode 9? I don't want that. Let Leia pass with dignity, on the bridge, at the hands of her son adding to his conflict.

 

And way to make BB8 stupid. It's adorable. It's great. And now suddenly it's a super pilot and there to save the day on the main baddie ship at the end. Ok, if you'd edited out most of the other stuff that felt bad to me, this would not have bothered me. But just one more thing on top of the rest of the poorly executed ideas.

 

 

Final thought, what the heck were those Jedi truck nuts Luke gives Leia at the end on salt (which, did salt enter into it? had to have a soldier lick it and tell us after like 5 different characters talk about it being a salt planet...? just leave it as "art dudes wanted to do red and white awesomeness on alien planet woo")? I missed something I guess.

 

 

 

They had a lot of great ideas, and mashed them terrible. They took all the beautiful colors in the crayon box, reds, purples, greens, blues, and said "Surely all these fantastic colors will be better mixed together!!!" like some misguided toddler Voltron. No. You made brown. A whole lotta brown. A big ol' brown note in the center of what was a nice opening and closing.

 

Overall I felt abotu this movie the way I feel abotu the Sabres this year. Very excited, not expecting a masterpiece, but ready to have some fun. But instead I wanted to leave after the second period.

 

The "Jedi truck nuts" (lol) were hanging in the Millennium Falcon when Luke went in earlier in the movie, so I assumed they were Han's.

Edited December 30, 2017 by biotönt

[sodbuster]

The "Jedi truck nuts" (lol) were hanging in the Millennium Falcon when Luke went in earlier in the movie, so I assumed they were Han's.

They're chance cubes, arent they? I though it was supposed to be kind of like fuzzy dice on the rearview mirror. I saw it as another stupid gag.

[WildCard]

Ending was awesome, same complaint as Rougue One though: might be the worst dialogue I've ever seen for a movie. 

 

"You murderous snake!"  :death:

 

There are a bunch of things I hated about it, but Hamill is a fantastic actor, and he really made the movie for me. If he's actually dead, I don't really see a reason to see the next on

[spndnchz]

Ending was awesome, same complaint as Rougue One though: might be the worst dialogue I've ever seen for a movie. 

 

"You murderous snake!"  :death:

 

There are a bunch of things I hated about it, but Hamill is a fantastic actor, and he really made the movie for me. If he's actually dead, I don't really see a reason to see the next on

I thought Hamill was terrible as a actor. But I liked the movie.

[Weave]

Other than Ren, I think the acting is much improved over the middle trilogy, so no complaints there.