J.J. Abrams on the Need to Use Familiar Themes in The Force Awakens and his Collaboration with Rian Johnson.

AbramsIn a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director J.J. Abrams speaks about The Force Awakens reception and responds to its critics. He also discusses how he and Lawrence Kasdan collaborated with Episode VIII director Rian Johnson during the filming of TFA.

 

From THR:

 

On the similarities with the Original Trilogy:

“It was obviously a wildly intentional thing that we go backwards, in some ways, to go forwards in the important ways, given that this is a genre — that Star Wars is a kind of specific gorgeous concoction of George [Lucas]’s — that combines all sorts of things. Ultimately the structure of Star Wars itself is as classic and tried and true as you can get. It was itself derivative of all of these things that George loved so much, from the most obvious, Flash Gordon and Joseph Campbell, to the [Akira] Kurosawa references, to Westerns — I mean, all of these elements were part of what made Star Wars.”

10 - Rey-and-BB-8

He continues, “I can understand that someone might say, ‘Oh, it’s a complete rip-off!’ We inherited Star Wars. The story of history repeating itself was, I believe, an obvious and intentional thing, and the structure of meeting a character who comes from a nowhere desert and discovers that she has a power within her, where the bad guys have a weapon that is destructive but that ends up being destroyed — those simple tenets are by far the least important aspects of this movie, and they provide bones that were well-proven long before they were used in Star Wars.”

“And,” he goes on, “yes, they destroy a weapon at the end of this movie, but then something else happens which is, I think, far more critical and far more important — and I think even in that moment, when that is happening, the thing I think the audience is focused on and cares more about is not, ‘Is that big planet gonna blow up?’ — ’cause we all know it’s gonna blow up. What you really care about is what’s gonna happen in the forest between these two characters who are now alone.”

 

Episode VIII

On the future of Star Wars:

Abrams will not be returning for another installment of the franchise — three years away from his family was time enough, he says — but he has helped to make sure that the hand-off of the baton to the next director is a smooth one. “Larry and I had a bunch of thoughts of where certain things could go and we shared those things with Rian Johnson, who’s directing VIII. He had things that he came up with where he asked if it was possible if we could make some adjustments with what we were doing at the end, most of which we did — there were just a couple that didn’t feel right, so he made adjustments — but it was just collaboration. We’re all fans and friends and supporters of each other, and there’s been no one cheerleading and supporting louder and more consistently than Rian on this, and I feel that I am grateful that I now get to take that position for him.”

 

Make sure to check the full interview at The Hollywood Reporter for a much more in depth comments by J.J. Abrams. Really a great interview. I definitely agree that the similarities didn’t feel wrong. They were just used to move forward the other more important and new aspects of the story.

 

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Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

178 thoughts on “J.J. Abrams on the Need to Use Familiar Themes in The Force Awakens and his Collaboration with Rian Johnson.

  • January 9, 2016 at 5:20 pm
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    I doubt my opinion is going to change. It’s not perfect… but it works. I liked it. I’m excited to see more. It’s almost exactly what I wanted.

    • January 9, 2016 at 5:39 pm
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      same here. And I can’t wait to see Luke chew scenery in Ep VIII, though considering Rian Johnson’s previous work, we may need to wait 2 hours before the first fight-scene, and then have it cut off after 5 minutes.
      This notwithstanding, I can’t wait for Ep VIII

    • January 9, 2016 at 5:44 pm
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      Thank you. It’s good to see a sensible comment amongst all the internet trolling on various websites and youtube, which are literally ablaze with people declaring TFA is “awful”, “boring”, “worse than the prequels”, which completely amazes me and is simply not true.

      For all the nitpicks I may have ( and they are few ) TFA is is NOT boring but an exciting, funny, entertaining movie with terrific characters. Almost everything I could have hoped it would be barring a few small issues which do not detract in my overall enjoyment.

      This guy Reverand Matty wrote an article rebutting all the hate, and he does so with much more eloquence than me:

      https://www.facebook.com/notes/matty-granger/at-long-lastmy-star-wars-episode-vii-review-the-force-awakens-the-rise-of-idiot-/10153163095086277

      • January 9, 2016 at 6:23 pm
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        lmao… that’s a good read.

    • January 10, 2016 at 4:19 am
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      Exactly what you wanted being…a remake?

      • January 10, 2016 at 10:21 am
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        So, is your use of Morpheus from the Matrix Trilogy as your icon supposed to be ironic?

        Because the Matrix is essentially a rehash/remake of Star Wars in its entirety.

        • January 10, 2016 at 2:12 pm
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          When you get a brain cell, please get back to me.

          The fact you have come and said Matrix is a remake of Star Wars, shows you don’t have a brain cell.

          Once you get one, I’ll be waiting to respond…

          • January 13, 2016 at 1:58 am
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            Give me your justification then. Explain how the two movies are so different, instead of just resorting to infantile name hurling without being able to back up your point.

            Which of course, you don’t have. Matrix is a hero’s journey in the same vein as Star Wars. A rehash. Only instead of space wizards, you have internet wizards.

          • January 13, 2016 at 2:10 pm
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            So the fact there is a Planetary Weapon, a force user who lives on a desert planet, a pilot who is a smuggler, an evil empire that looks….like the evil empire in a new hope, a droid who contains information vital to the plot….all that you dismiss?

            But hey, let’s also put in batman, superman, spiderman, blade, indiana jones in as well as matrix all being rehashes of the hero’s story.

            No.

            Force Awakens as I have proven factually, took specific story elements from Lucas’s film

          • January 13, 2016 at 8:00 pm
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            You didn’t answer my question. You just discussed those parallel’s again. Explain how the Matrix isn’t a Star Wars rehash. Please. I’m still waiting.

            P.S. You can’t.

          • January 13, 2016 at 9:09 pm
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            Last I checked….was Luke Skywalker living in a digital world he thought was real?

            Does Morpheus fight with a lightsaber or use the force?

            Or does Obi-Wan have a metallic plug in his neck that shows he’s been freed from the digital world?

            And I guess Trinity is a princess?

            Oh…where are the droids in Matrix?

            Did A New Hope have any bullet time?

            Is there a spaceship driven by an expert pilot in this?

            Where in A New Hope is there an explanation to Luke that the world he knows is fake?

            Does Luke die at the end of A New Hope?

            I guess the Agents and Machines kept talking about the power of the dark side.

            Are we done here?

          • January 14, 2016 at 4:16 am
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            Neo is your “farm boy with a destiny” trapped in the Matrix and sought out by a wise man ala Obi-Wan Kenobi in Morpheus. Morpheus tells Neo he has a special destiny and powers he was not aware of to combat an evil Empir- err machine overlord that has entrapped humanity and he is their…wait for it. Only hope.

            Morpheus trains Neo in the ways of the For..I mean, Matrix. Then sends him to a wise Jedi Mas…Err, computer program that bestows even more knowledge upon him, and informs him he must confront his fath- er destiny in combating the Dark Side of the Fo- damn it, excuse me, Matrix and the machines that rule it.

            In the second Matrix movie we are given a twist. When the Architect informs Neo that he is THE SON of the Matrix who has fathered him in order to keep BALANCE in their world and prevent a catastrophic system failure that would doom everyone.

            Tell me if this is sounding familiar yet. Because again, it’s a rehash. Different setting. Same story. Worse ending.

            WTFPWNED. Thanks for playing.

          • January 14, 2016 at 4:53 am
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            Thanks for that.

            You’ve proven that I can’t engage in a sensible dialogue with you.

            By your logic, any kind of tale or hero’s tale are all copies of A New Hope.

            But please…don’t respond and enjoy your film

          • January 14, 2016 at 5:03 am
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            Sore loser. That’s…predictable.

          • January 14, 2016 at 3:12 pm
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            Not really bro. Just that I have better things to do than debate with someone who brings out points out of his ass.

            I gave you SPECIFIC scenes Force Awakens stole from New Hope, but you give me broadstrokes that are in every hero’s film, which shows your stupidity and ignorance.

            That is why since it’s 2016….I say, enjoy your cheap remake made by Hack Hack Abrams

          • January 14, 2016 at 11:52 pm
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            You have better things to do than debate with someone who illustrated perfectly why the Matrix movies are a Star Wars rehash? I mean, it was perfect. I was surprised when I was typing that response to you how damn close the two movies were in their offerings. It’s kind of hilarious. But you’re in denial, so I see the humor is lost on you. Or you feel dumb because you know I’m right and you have nothing left to argue with in terms of evidence. Just your blind hatred for everything Star Wars on these forums.

            Sad, sad troll. Sad panda troll? Yes. You’re a Sad Panda Troll.

            Nothing in Force Awakens was stolen directly from a New Hope. Elements of the film, sure. The X-Wings fly through a trench. For less than a minute. There are a few other homages but that doesn’t make the movie a direct copy. They brought in parallel’s that have existed in every Star Wars movie, because it’s a Star Wars movie. I know that’s hard for you to wrap your brain around, but then again I’m sure coloring between the lines is tough for you too.

            You also seem to change what you believe it is. A copy, or a rehash. Those words do mean different things. If you had a working knowledge of an English language dictionary, you’d understand that.

            I will enjoy the film, as will millions of others. Your opinion doesn’t do much but make me smile when I imagine you sputtering and spitting all over your computer screen in anger when you see my insightful rebuttals to your lackluster trolls.

            Mmmm. That was fun. Please sir, may I have some more?

    • January 11, 2016 at 12:41 am
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      that’s the point. It just spoon-fed you, instead of challenging you

  • January 9, 2016 at 6:03 pm
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    Hmm…she is a scavenger, but she doesn’t pick up the net and save it when she rescues BB-8 🙂

    • January 9, 2016 at 6:13 pm
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      Probably wouldn’t… NET her much profit! 😛

      • January 9, 2016 at 6:18 pm
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        She could Always use it to tie me up!
        I hear Daisy Ridley has gone quite mental these last couple of months. I hope it won’t be a lasting thing. No need for more Hollywood divas. but she was perfect in this film.

        • January 9, 2016 at 6:24 pm
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          Mental how? Like spastic? Nervous? Power gone to her head? I’m fine as long as she can get it under control to do the part!

          • January 9, 2016 at 6:32 pm
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            Like impossible to work with, behaving like Mariah Carey. Fame struck perhaps. It could of course just be a bad day at the office so to speak. But hopefully it is not a recurring thing in her career. She was very good in this Movie. But as long as it works, I am fine with it.

          • January 9, 2016 at 6:35 pm
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            “Like impossible to work with, behaving like Mariah Carey.”

            Where have you got that from? Would be great to read up on it myself.

          • January 9, 2016 at 6:39 pm
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            Some gossip site. It was not much. Could be just someone who hates her, i guess. Maybe I shouldn’t have posted the above. But I Think she is great so, i am not trying to rip her to threads.

          • January 9, 2016 at 6:44 pm
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            Do you have a link to the source? Thanks.

          • January 9, 2016 at 7:13 pm
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            Thanks.
            This article sounds like it is making a mountain out of a molehill. Actors are people too with a variety of feelings and emotions, they can get upset/be sarcastic, funny, angry etc.
            The rest of this just sounds like tabloid hogwash, not really worth paying attention to.
            If it ever comes from Kathleen Kennedy, JJ, Rian Johnson or her co-stars, then we can worry.

            Until then, this gossip is just trash talk.

          • January 10, 2016 at 1:33 am
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            That sounds like a load of bollocks written by some jealous idiot. Bears no relation to ANYTHING I’ve seen her in, or going from her Instagram account etc. She (and Boyega) are both extremely grounded and just enjoying the moment. They’re lovely people and I don’t foresee anything going to their head a la Fisher. It’s different days and while they’re huge stars, so are a million other people. Back in the 70’s The Star Wars guys were about it at that stratopshere of crazy fame.

          • January 9, 2016 at 8:38 pm
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            Translation: daring to act like she has the same rights and privileges as male stars! Those pesky womens, always letting the slightest bit of fame make them think they are entitled to the full spectrum of huMAN experience!

  • January 9, 2016 at 6:26 pm
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    I just wish he shook it up just a bit. I would have loved an Unforgiven-style Great Plains world instead of just a desert one. I also think the First Order should have had a sun-powered industrial world like the Star Forge which would explain how they were able to build their fleet.

    Don’t get me wrong I still love TFA but I wish they took a couple of new directions beyond reusing Tatooine and the Death Star.

    • January 9, 2016 at 7:15 pm
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      I agree with the entirety of my Star Wars fanboi being. It would have been just as impactful, if not more, with some variations on the classic feel. Also, I kinda wish they drew the Western paralells a little further in terms of how Niima Outpost worked and looked.

  • January 9, 2016 at 6:32 pm
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    Good to finally have some explanation from the crew on that. Thanks, JJ!

  • January 9, 2016 at 7:03 pm
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    Rian has a tough job. He has to take everything they left open and run with it. He has to find a way to do something Kasdan, Abrams and Arndt decided to punt to him; work Luke into the film and have Hamil, a guy who is not the greatest actor, carry a huge portion of it or rely on a young inexperienced actress to carry those scenes. Not only that, they decided to make the first film about essentially finding Luke. Making him a very important piece of this puzzle and then end it with him standing on a cliff and never saying a word. The anticipation and expectations of what Luke will be is going to be tough to overcome.

    • January 9, 2016 at 7:25 pm
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      He has the most difficult job in the entire trilogy but he’s also clearly the most talented in terms of writing/directing too.

    • January 10, 2016 at 1:29 am
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      Never understand where this notion comes from that Hamil is some terrible actor. He was great in the OT. see how he develops and changes from A New Hope (naive farm boy) to ROTJ (confident force user with a bit of a dark side to him). He was great. If it was Hayden Christensen we were talking about I could see your point.

      • January 10, 2016 at 1:35 am
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        “But I was going to Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!!”

        – Annoying Bitch-ass Luke, Star Wars: A New Hope

        • January 10, 2016 at 7:52 pm
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          luke and anakin were both whiny.. guess it’s a skywalker thing.

      • January 10, 2016 at 8:25 am
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        This would be a minority opinion. I like Hamil, he was fine in the Original Trilogy, and was better than Christensen. I’m anxious to see how he does and rooting for him.

  • January 9, 2016 at 7:08 pm
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    The point JJ doesn’t get is that you weren’t supposed to go backwards to reset the galaxy to ANH. You were supposed to jump the story ahead 30+ years and continue the story.

    • January 9, 2016 at 7:23 pm
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      It doesn’t explain why all his other films are ripoffs too.

    • January 9, 2016 at 9:10 pm
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      the story is continuing…

    • January 9, 2016 at 9:16 pm
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      yes, let’s not all forget cloverfield (godzilla), super 8 (ET), star trek: into darkness (wrath of khan), force awakens ( a new hope). it’s evident that j.j. cannot create an original story, but he can make really great movies. i’d like to see him write a completely original sci-fi flick..

      • January 10, 2016 at 1:28 am
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        How is Cloverfield like Godzilla? just because both had giant monsters? I guess Pacific Rim/King Kong/Attack on Titan are Godzilla too.

        How is Super 8 like E.T.? because it has kids and an alien? I don’t recall the Elien being humanized, or becoming a kid’s best friend. I guess Independence Day/Attack the Block/Iron Giant/Signs are E.T. too.

        However… I will give you that wrath of Khan was a bit off… although, you know people would have eventually wanted it “If the timeline is reset, they should do Khan again!” lol.

        LEt’s not forget, however, that J.J. didn’t create this story, at least not on his own. KAsdan/Kennedy/others were apart of it. It was a collaborative effort.

        That being said.. i am going to go see it for a 7th time next friday lol

        • January 10, 2016 at 7:47 pm
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          i mean, your points are still valid.. but they still don’t negate the fact that he has never come up with a purely original idea.. even in universes that have already been created! don’t get me wrong, i really enjoyed the film! let’s see what episode VIII brings

      • January 10, 2016 at 4:18 am
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        Nope…but I wouldn’t mind him cleaning a toilet. Would love to see him do that.

    • January 9, 2016 at 9:21 pm
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      After the prequel trilogy ran Star Wars off a cliff, we needed an episode to bring us back to the greatness that Star Wars once was. Episode 7 achieved that competently and the excellent critical and popular response to it is proof that it did exactly what it needed to do.

      • January 9, 2016 at 9:41 pm
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        That’s just a lame excuse to justify this. There were many ways to bring SW back from the “disaster” that the PT was in the eyes of many fans, w/o having to “borrow” so much from ANH. TESB is the perfect example: the film managed to retain the spirit of the original movie while being totally original and going in a completely different direction.

        • January 10, 2016 at 4:17 am
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          Yep.

          But it’s Abrams. He has as much creativity as my right ear-lobe. He is not capable of coming up with something cool and creative

          • January 10, 2016 at 4:39 am
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            Exactly. As if Snoke’s “Han…SOOOLOOO…your father!” was any better than Vader’s “NOOO!” when he finds out that Padmé’s dead, lol. If you’re gonna plagiarize Lucas at least try to steal the guy’s best ideas, dammit!

          • January 10, 2016 at 2:14 pm
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            Ha. Look…if you’re going to copy…fine…..go ahead, but at least do it properly.

        • January 10, 2016 at 11:28 pm
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          Exactly. When fans (including myself) take off our rosy colored OT glasses, and look at how DIFFERENT TESB was from ANH, you see how an excellent film can be made based on the original but going in another direction.

          Four-legged mechanical giraffes that spit lasers?
          A city floating in the clouds?
          An asteroid field chase?
          An ice planet (notice it wasn’t another desert or jungle planet)
          A chamber that freezes people in blocks of metal?

          I wondered why at LEAST Rey didn’t grow up on some sort of tundra planet rather than ANOTHER desert planet.

          And whomever posted about attacking a shipyard refitting star destroyers for the First Order – good idea. Better than Abrams.

          It’s so frustrating because the dialogue, humor, and general plot outline (a search for Luke) was excellent (I didn’t even mind Kylo Ren being Luke’s Nephew). But the Starkiller base, lack of explanation of how the First Order became so powerful, and the plot hole of why Poe Dameron just leaves Jakku without looking for his damn droid (among other things) is very frustrating.

      • January 9, 2016 at 9:57 pm
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        I wholly disagree (which, in the language of fanboys is called, “complaining”). I have not met one non-fanboy who thought this film was great. Not one. It was OK entertainment, but no one is thrilled about it. The multiple viewings are fanboys ONLY (apparently, there is a lot of disposable income working at fast food jobs and Walmart… a billion dollars worth!). You are going to see it multiple times…. NOT BECAUSE IT’S GOOD… but to fill a void in yourselves.

        Search your feelings, you KNOW it to be true!

      • January 10, 2016 at 4:17 am
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        Oh yay! By remaking A New Hope! That is what has saved the star wars franchise?

        • January 10, 2016 at 10:21 am
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          Wasn’t even close to a remake. But keep on trolling.

          • January 10, 2016 at 2:12 pm
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            Hero in desert planet, a death star, a resistance who operate from some dugout, a huge empire that have the same ships and surroundings as the Emperor’s own…..yep, not a remake

          • January 13, 2016 at 1:56 am
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            The First Order isn’t huge. Familiar sets don’t make it a remake. There’s been a desert planet in 5 out of the seven movies.

            Parallel themes do not a remake, make. Stay angry. Stay ignorant.

        • January 10, 2016 at 10:29 pm
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          Actually yes. The Star wars movies are great again.

          Your welcome.

          • January 10, 2016 at 11:02 pm
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            In your warped mind.

    • January 10, 2016 at 4:16 am
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      I do not know how people don’t see that.

      Screw the fans. They don’t own star wars. They are consumers like the rest of us, and you can’t make a film just to please them.

      It’s about breaking new ground, by using the ethos and foundation of star wars. Not just doing fan service to please the so-called fans.

      HH

      • January 10, 2016 at 10:28 pm
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        These “so-called fans” are actual fans, dude. You can’t label everyone some sort of sheep just because they don’t agree with your stupid opinion.

        • January 10, 2016 at 11:03 pm
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          So-called fans. Not true fans who actually understand what makes star wars good and don’t accept anything with the label of star wars on it

  • January 9, 2016 at 7:25 pm
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    I think VIII being described as “weird” would have bothered me before seeing VII but now the number one thing I want to see in the next film is originality in any form even if it gets as surreal as that 4 episode droid arc in Clone Wars.

    • January 9, 2016 at 9:08 pm
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      that droid arc might have been the worst thing in star wars history… which is saying something.

      • January 9, 2016 at 9:14 pm
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        Yet I’ll still take it over an Empire remake even if I cringe the whole way through.

        • January 9, 2016 at 9:29 pm
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          ok, ok. you’ve been driving this train for a while now so please pitch us your dream(and wholly original) sequel.

          • January 9, 2016 at 9:50 pm
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            It doesn’t matter if he or anyone else has a good idea for the films. The fact is, none of us is ever going to get the chance to make it. Disney/Lucasfilm is a closed circuit, as is most of Hollywood. BESIDES, it’s not OUR JOB to make good SW films. It’s the jerks getting paid millions to write and direct them. So, promptly get off yourself!

          • January 9, 2016 at 9:53 pm
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            “Not just for money but a SHITLOAD of money!”

          • January 9, 2016 at 9:57 pm
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            easy dude, don’t have a poo.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:10 pm
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            I’d give you a dozen likes for this if possible.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:18 pm
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            Thank you, kindly, sir.

          • January 9, 2016 at 9:52 pm
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            If I was interested I’d be writing fan-fiction now. I think the spinoffs have far more potential though since by their very nature they need to be original.

          • January 9, 2016 at 9:59 pm
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            i thought not. troll on my brother.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:01 pm
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            I hate to burst your tiny world, son, but disagreeing with you is not trolling. So, take my advice and promptly get off yourself.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:04 pm
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            jog on, son.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:09 pm
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            I miss the days when fanboys actually had clever responses to me shoving them in a locker. I guess those people grew up and know better, now. At least you have that to look forward to. And touching a real girl, someday, too! Lol,

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:11 pm
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            “shoving me in a locker” are you admitting to cyber bullying?

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:12 pm
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            Shame on me! Lol!

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:13 pm
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            what ever gets your rocks off i guess.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:17 pm
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            Ruining your day and dispelling your weak arguments works for me. As they say, “Sith happens!” Lol.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:09 pm
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            Are you this defensive over The Godfather Part III, Staying Alive, or Shock Therapy?

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:10 pm
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            never seen any of them actually. are they good?

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:12 pm
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            Of course you haven’t. SW is your bread and butter. Unfortunately for you, it takes knowing more of the world at large to have an educated opinion about things.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:12 pm
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            the hate is strong from you today.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:13 pm
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            The hate is strong from me always, lol. You don’t know the power of the dark side (aka: understanding that there are lots of ways to make much better films than TFA).

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:15 pm
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            then share with me your ideas!! this is a star wars fan site, i want to hear how y’all can make it better(minus the same old complaints)!

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:18 pm
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            Sorry, but it’s Abrams, Kasdan and Arndt who got paid for their ideas, not me. And like them, I also charge money for my ideas. Not as much as them, certainly, but I do get paid for it too, lol.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:55 pm
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            you guys are no fun. 😉

          • January 9, 2016 at 11:10 pm
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            Hey, imagining fantasy tales is a lot of fun! It’s just much better when you get paid for it, lol.

          • January 10, 2016 at 10:24 am
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            Cop out.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:13 pm
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            Only if you think Die Another Day was the best Bond entry. Otherwise enjoy!

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:14 pm
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            nah, personally i think tomorrow never dies is criminally under rated.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:21 pm
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            It’s better than any films I mentioned on here.

    • January 10, 2016 at 1:25 am
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      Apparently Rian Johnson is doing something unique to Star Wars in this film. I don’t think it’s a time travel plot device or anything but I wonder if it might revolve around a significant “flashback”.

      I mean the one thing that TFA did do was effectively skip over material that could itself probably have been worked into an entire trilogy. Kylo, Rey, the Jedi Academy. I wonder if maybe Episode 8 will start showing us past events then catch back up wth the present. Could be interesting. So long as it works well I don’t care what they do.

      • January 10, 2016 at 10:21 am
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        If it is Star Wars: Days of Future Past, well…

        I hope they kill Jar Jar.

      • January 11, 2016 at 12:47 pm
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        All of Rian Johnson’s films have been original which is something he has over Abrams so if anyone can deliever tha he can. Even if he was a hack, It’s usually easier to make the sequel anyway just from not having to spend so much time on the exposistion.

    • January 10, 2016 at 10:19 am
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      I’m a huge fan of TFA but I am totally with you on VIII. It was necessary for VII to restore the credibility of this franchise; mission accomplished. But I don’t want to see a clone of ESB 17 months from now. If that happens I will switch jerseys.
      I don’t think that will happen anyway.

      • January 11, 2016 at 12:49 pm
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        Well, We sorta know……

        Rey will be training with Luke on a hidden planet

        Kylo will be obssessed with finding them

        The Resistance wil likely have a new base

        So there’s that it has in common with Empire but hopefully they leave it at that and it doesn’t end on a famial revelation that we all see coming.

  • January 9, 2016 at 9:20 pm
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    JJ:

    • January 9, 2016 at 10:53 pm
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      I tried clicking the “dislike” arrow, but it must have been made by a democrat… it doesn’t work.

      • January 10, 2016 at 1:31 am
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        Wow, i think that was supposed to actually be funny.

  • January 9, 2016 at 9:39 pm
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    History does tend to repeat itself, but not 30 some years later after the facts. Hitler didn’t try to invade Russia immediately after Napoleon did, for instance. This, and the idea of Luke, the Civil War, etc. being the stuff of legend less than 50 years after the Empire was defeated is BS. Sounds just like a lame excuse on Abrams’ part to justify why TFA “borrows” so much of ANH.

    • January 9, 2016 at 9:44 pm
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      germany invaded russia not 30 years after it did it in WWI, so theres that. the jedi being myth here makes more sense here then it did in ANH when it was only a twenty year gap. only Rey doesn’t know about the rebellion because she was stuck on a back water planet since she was little(finn on the other hand knows all about it).

      • January 9, 2016 at 9:58 pm
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        Yeah, Germany invaded Russia during WW I, but Hitler’s failure has always been compared to Napoleon’s more than anything else. And this happened well over 100 years earlier.

        Also, I didn’t speak of the Jedi in general. I spoke specifically about Luke. I can totally see how people could think that his deeds were an exaggeration perhaps, but not that the guy was a myth. Not when it was clear that an Empire had ruled the galaxy and that Luke had played a key role in toppling that same Empire less than 50 years ago.

        In order for something to become myth, the story has to spread over generations, with the usual changes to the same myth that come with each version of the tale. To think of something as myth, when people who lived through the whole story are still alive (and in some cases, still relatively young or in their prime) is stretching it.

        Luke Skywalker the Legend? Sure. But never the myth, which is what Rey calls him in the film.

        • January 9, 2016 at 10:08 pm
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          if such hair splitting means that much to you, then i can’t help you.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:11 pm
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            I didn’t ask for your help. And frankly, I’d suggest you help yourself first, before thinking you can help anyone else, “Abrams-bot”.

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:17 pm
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            “i didn’t ask for your help”

            is that you, leia? 😉

          • January 9, 2016 at 10:26 pm
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            Maybe it was Leia or maybe it was Arya Stark. I remember both said the same thing once…

          • January 10, 2016 at 6:45 pm
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            Thank you for this, because it goes hand in hand with what I posted above:

            “Luke Skywalker the Legend? Sure. But never the myth, which is what Rey calls him in the film.”

        • January 10, 2016 at 10:10 am
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          I really don’t think the average person in the galaxy knows of Luke Skywalker and his exploits on any detailed level. One also has to consider that both sides of that conflict would have had a great deal of propaganda flowing from their camp.
          So while ‘technically’ Luke Skywalker is more of a legend, in the eyes of the common person he is probably a modern myth, a construct of Rebel propaganda.

          • January 10, 2016 at 5:13 pm
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            IDK of Spartacus’ or Hannibal’s exploits on a detailed level. But I know these 2 were powerful warriors who brought the Galactic Empire’s equivalent of their time to its knees once. And this was centuries, not decades ago.

            Yeah, Luke might’ve become larger than life in some circles, probably described to be the size of a space slug, if you will. But this is just speculation on our part. The film doesn’t even suggest anything of the kind.

            Han Solo, on the other hand, was recognized as a “Rebel general and hero” by Finn and Rey both. They never called him a myth. This is a fact, and it’s also a contradiction as to how Luke is perceived by Rey, who is the only character in the film that calls him a myth.

          • January 11, 2016 at 12:20 pm
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            First, Rey knows of Han as a famous smuggler, NOT a war hero. It’s Finn who informs her that he is also a war hero.
            Second, it is not a contradiction. Rey is a character, and characters have their own worldviews. She’s not required to constantly state facts. If she thinks he’s just a myth perpetuated by the Rebel alliance then that’s what she thinks. She’s wrong, of course, as subsequent events prove. You’re getting too caught up in this.
            Also, lets be honest, what sounds cooler: legend or myth? Myth.

          • January 11, 2016 at 6:57 pm
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            You may be right. I’ve only watched the film twice so I don’t remember how first encounter with Han goes exactly. But pirate or war hero, my point stands: Rey doesn’t think Han is a myth, unlike what she thinks of his Jedi brother in law.

            Now, if characters have their own world views, what does that say of us, REAL persons? Obviously you have your own views and I have mine.

            This “Luke Skywalker the Myth” thing might get style points for coolness, I give you that much, but it still sounds off to me, given that the guy is still alive and the Civil War was fought less than 50 years ago. I like substance in my myths or legends (take your pick), not style.

          • January 11, 2016 at 7:30 pm
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            It’s a dance of both. You need to know when to go for style and when to go for substance. That was a style moment.

          • January 11, 2016 at 8:27 pm
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            I disagree. An author has to be mindful of context and semantics so as not to confuse the audience. Notice how Palpatine told Anakin “The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise”, for instance, not the myth or the legend of DP. Lucas wanted to make sure that the word tragedy led Anakin (and the audience) to believe that this event truly happened, even if Palpatine put a spin on the story to suit his needs or not.

            The only way to make sense of Luke’s standing as a myth in Rey’s eyes is if she actually had heard that Luke Skywalker didn’t exist and that he was just a mythical figure to symbolize the fall of the Empire. That’s when you could’ve used the word myth for style. W/o a proper explanation it just doesn’t work.

    • January 9, 2016 at 9:46 pm
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      Well the Force and the Jedi were legends a mere 30 years after the clone wars when thousands of jedi were flying around the galaxy. I think perhaps only Rey thinks they are mythological since she grew up in the ruins of a great battle and was told tall tales of Luke. I assume everyone else in the galaxy would know perfectly well about the civil war and a handful of its generals.

      • January 9, 2016 at 10:07 pm
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        The words legend and myth are not synonyms. A legend can be real (as in the legendary Michael Jordan, basketball player, for instance). A myth, as the word implies is mythological (as in Zeus, mythical father of the ancient Greek gods). Rey calls Luke a myth in the film, not a legend.

        • January 10, 2016 at 12:07 am
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          Good point. I was just saying that since we only have her perspecive, it might just be Rey’s lack of schooling that makes her place Luke as a myth (although I totally agree it’s odd to use the term “myth” for something so recent). If I grew up in a desert hearing tales of a magic-wielding general who almost single handedly destroyed the empire I would think it was just a fairy-tale, or at very least an exaggeration of real person like with Davy Crockett

          • January 10, 2016 at 12:59 am
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            She knew Han Solo as “the smuggler”.

          • January 10, 2016 at 2:57 am
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            Because of Unkar Plutt.

          • January 10, 2016 at 3:26 am
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            I hear you. Rey speaks several languages, she seems to be perfectly aware of the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance, she knows of Han’s exploits, as you’ve wisely observed, and she thinks Luke is a myth???

            If she had made clear that all she thought to be a myth was the Force and Luke’s ability to use it, that would be perfectly understandable. And maybe this is what Abrams and Kasdan meant to do. But as this came out, it’s just poor writing.

            To me, TFA’s very frustrating, because it’s a damn good film, but I’m not blind to its many shortcomings. And it’s the smaller nuances like these that prevent TFA from being great, IMO.

          • January 10, 2016 at 4:12 am
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            “… it might just be Rey’s lack of schooling that makes her place Luke as a myth…”

            If she somehow *were* able to attend a school, who runs them (and decides what’s taught…)?

          • January 11, 2016 at 8:49 pm
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            ” The odd part for me is that she somehow knows exactly who Han Solo is but dosnt believe in luke”
            .
            QFT – But get this; only insofar as his reputation as a smuggler, a career which one would think relies kinda heavily on being discreet, having an anonymous ship, and not HAVING a reputation. Rey knows all about pre-ANH Han and all about the Falcon, yet has no clue about any of his Rebellion history, even telling Finn he’s wrong when he calls Han a war hero, which would have been public knowledge. She seems to have this peculiar, dubious grasp of Han’s history solely so that they can have the exchange “You’re Han Solo?!” “I used to be.”, which is cute, but doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when Han later tells us that after Ben turned, he went back to the life he was living before his stint with the Rebellion. In other words, Han Solo went back to doing Han Solo things, and Rey has specific, detailed knowledge of his shadowy, criminal early life and no clue abut any of his very public life as a war hero because “script”.

    • January 9, 2016 at 10:40 pm
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      What you mean like WW1 and 2?

    • January 10, 2016 at 1:22 am
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      We need to remember that the world of Star Wars doesn’t seem to have much in the way of a media. No tv, no newspapers. Most places, especially places out of the way seem to carry on relatively unaffected and unaware of galactic events unless it reaches that planet. Always felt that way in the OT, and same here.

      All seems perfectly believable to me for this universe.

      • January 10, 2016 at 4:16 am
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        All seems perfectly believable to you for this universe? I’m cool with that. But since we’re all entitled to our own personal opinion, I’ll tell you know how this universe seems to me in TFA.

        The galaxy was under the heel of a tyrannical ruler during the OT era. It makes sense to think that communications were zealously guarded and regulated by the Empire. This is no longer believable 30 some years later, with a supposedly democratic Republic back in power.

        Just because TFA has the words “Star Wars” on it, this doesn’t mean that it is beyond fair critique or analysis. Much less will I give it a free pass just because it is SW. Not when I have become familiar with better stories since ANH first came out in ’77 hence I know a better film could’ve been made with a different director at the helm or more time for Abrams and Kasdan to smooth out their script.

        The universe that George Lucas created wasn’t perfect, but it was
        a hell of a lot better than Abrams’ vision of that same universe…to me.

        • January 10, 2016 at 5:32 am
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          It’s hard to find a single critique of TFA that can’t be applied to ANH or any of the previous movies. So, we are surprised that Rey on Jakku could think that Luke may be a legend (with her mind possibly wiped or memories oppressed, but Luke had never heard of the force before in ANH, only 20 years after the fall of the Jedi Order and Republic? Too many things like this.

          And so forth and so forth and so forth…

          • January 10, 2016 at 6:49 am
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            Luke knew about the Clone Wars. His information was incomplete, but he didn’t call the conflict myth or legend. Obviously, Owen Lars made sure to keep from him everything related to the Jedi and the Force. I would’ve done the same thing if I was in his shoes, given the grief that all that “hocus pocus” brought not only to his family but to the galaxy at large.

            The Resistance vs. the First Order is a conflict that, at the beginning of TFA at least, wasn’t as widespread as the Civil War that reshaped the ENTIRE galaxy where Rey has lived all of her life. She knows about both factions, even on Jakku, but she still considers Luke a myth? No, this isn’t because someone erased her memories of Luke. That’s just speculation at this point. Yet even if it was fact, this wasn’t clarified in the film, unlike ANH, where Obi-Wan makes it PERFECTLY clear that Owen Lars had concealed the truth about Anakin from Luke.

            It may be hard to find a single critique of TFA that can’t be applied to ANH or any of the previous movies. But it’s even harder to find ways to apologize and try to justify plot holes such as this one.

    • January 11, 2016 at 4:59 pm
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      No, it’s much worse than that. Hitler started a war on two fronts with Russia about TWENTY years after the Kaiser did it in WWI. We NEVER learn from history. It repeats itself over and over, and not just on a grand scale. It happens in our own personal lives, too.

      • January 11, 2016 at 7:06 pm
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        Yeah, history does repeat itself. Lucas’ idea for Death Star II in RotJ was already bad. Starkiller’s obviously far worse; probably the dumbest idea in the history of SW (whether said history repeats itself or not).

        • January 17, 2016 at 7:37 pm
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          well.. not worst than put jar jar in the senate xD

          • January 17, 2016 at 9:00 pm
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            Probably not. But I for one I’m glad we’re rid of Binks and Starkiller both. Here’s hoping for much better ideas in SW films from now on.

  • January 9, 2016 at 9:44 pm
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    WHAT?! I can’t hear you over the sound of the Disney assembly line movie making machine!

  • January 9, 2016 at 10:47 pm
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    Me: So why didn’t you like TFA?
    Them: A New Hope rehash, too unoriginal.
    Me: So basically a SW movie then?

    Me: So why didn’t you like Rogue One?
    Them: Too original, didn’t feel like a SW movie.
    Me: So why didn’t you like TFA again?

    • January 10, 2016 at 1:29 am
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      Exactly.

    • January 11, 2016 at 3:12 pm
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      I think TFA kinda combines both problems. It’s a complete rip-off but it doesn’t feel like Star Wars.

  • January 9, 2016 at 11:39 pm
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    OH PLEASE. What a blah-ze answer.

    It felt like JJ and LK said “we can’t beat the OT, it’s unattainable. So let’s just pays homage to it. The fans will love it.”

    this wasn’t it.

    I hate the fact that the worlds all looked boring, they completely ripped off tattooine but called it something different so it’s “original”. Oh, and 5 mins after the MF flies again, Han Solo happens to be close enough in the galaxy to pick her up? Even with his scanners, that’s a really big f**king coincidence. No.

    I think the film would have been much better if it was an invasion film, where the first order invades the republic from the unknown reaches and destroys everything in their paths with suped-up tech, led by a mysterious warrior known as kylo ren (still revealed as Solo Jnr, who EVERYONE thought was dead.) Rey and Finn get caught up trying to warn the Republic before the FO hits corascant, running into baddass General Han Solo and his fleet on the way. A massive land-and-space battle closes out the film with stakes and leads to the confrontation at the end of the film between solo, Finn and Rey. (Solo doesn’t make it out alive, leading to the Finn/rey/ren fight, Finn is still injured, rey manages to fight him off but doesn’t win. What’s the point of a villain if he gets his ass kicked at the end of film 1?

    Ugh, I hate that they ruined the character development of the OT characters in order to reset them to their ANH starting positions.

    Sorry, rant over.

    Having said all that, I have high hopes for Viii with RJ. Dudes a talented original filmmaker.

    • January 10, 2016 at 2:00 am
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      I disagree. The new characters would have been more difficult to connect with had they not made the structure of the film intensely familiar. But here we are, all invested in Rey, Poe, Finn, and Kylo.

      Oh and trololololollolololawl

      • January 10, 2016 at 2:19 am
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        You bring up a good point about connecting with characters. However, when discussing two of the most important aspects of a film (characters and plot) I don’t see why you have to sacrifice one aspect for another. Otherwise no film with good characters would have an original story.

        I’m not saying my story would have worked, it’s just an idea. But there is a way to make this film original and have characters that we connect with. Using the ANH structure felt like a cop out on this.

        • January 12, 2016 at 2:52 am
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          All good points, and a really interesting story idea for sure! Good to see we can have a semi-anonymous discussion on the internet without it breaking down into trololols and such.

          I think you are right about the structure emulating ANH – and when I walked out of the cinema on opening night I felt a little cold my heart thinking about it, even a little pissed off about it. But I went back for a re-watch on Christmas Eve and it actually worked really really well the second time around. Granted, between the two I’d smashed my way through the Novelisation e-book that came out on the 18th and dissected the Visual Dictionary and Cross Sections books so… I had a lot more info on the backstory.

          The novel ties a lot of the scenes that jumped strangely back together. These were all scenes that were cut, but shot, and it seems as though it was edited down to a more mass-appealing palatable length. The deleted scene will be on the dvd/blu-rey (intended) release and the novel is definitely worth the time of reading.

          At the end of the day, it’s Star Wars and I can be a lot more forgiving of failings and derivative plot with Star Wars. Firstly, because it’s Star Wars. Secondly, because it was always derivative of other stories. Research Kurosawa fillms (Hidden Fortress in particular), greek mythology, the heroes journey, Flash Gordon, and the Mysterious Stranger cowboy series with Eastwood and you will be able to identify most of the ANH plot as well as some shot for shot re-interpretations. You may already know all of that and still be underwhelmed – I dunno you or what you know, and I don’t want to sound condescending in any way! At the end of the day, nothing is truly original – ideas don’t come from a void, they come from the environment we surround ourselves in – a vast pool of knowledge and shared history. Some artists unashamedly exploit these facts (Bowie, Warhol, Tarantino) whereas some try to combat and subvert it as much as possible. Innovation and creativity can come from either side, but Star Wars has always been a rip-off, it was just one of the first/best to do it in space.

          • January 12, 2016 at 3:20 am
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            I agree with what you said about the tie in books, script and novelisation. The problem I have is that I shouldn’t have to read/see ANY OTHER MEDIA other than the film. The film shouldn’t need clarification, I should be able to watch it and understand everything in it perfectly fine.

            This conversation actually brings me back to the whole “plot holes” thing.

            For comparison, in ANH, when pulling out anakins light sabre, in the space of 30 seconds we know what the thing is, why obi wan has it, it’s history and significance to Luke.

            The equivalent scene in TFA is maz being asked how did you get this. Her reply: “a great story for another time.”

            This angers me greatly because it feels like JJ decided that finn/rey should have the lightsaber at this point, but couldn’t be bothered putting in the yards to explain it. I feel like they’re telling me to “shhh” when asking a logical question.

            The worst part is, in an interview about this, JJ likened this to GL adding in lore like “the clone wars” into ANH, saying GL trusted the audience enough to be able to infer the information. This is a completely incompatible analogy though. “The clone wars” was a completely throw away line, like “nest of gundarks” in AOTC, or that raptor massacre line in this one. It’s a lore building throw away, and has no baring on anything.

            This lightsaber HAD bearing on the plot, and it’s explanation was “shhhh, just go with it”.

            This is one such reason why the film and it’s filmmakers anger me.

            Say what you want about the prequels and GL, but I’ve never once thought that a Star Wars film was illogical, treating me like an idiot, or not adequately explained.

            Until now.

          • January 12, 2016 at 3:57 am
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            Nahhhhhh, she’s saying to Han that he can probs guess it has something to do with a mutual friend (Lando), and something to do with the business they are both in – piracy and smuggling. They used that to establish the feeling of a history between the characters more than anything, which is character and world building.

            It’s sort of a ‘say no more’ moment, that pushes the 4th wall because she is also talking to the audience as a sub textual reference – it’s a wink wink nudge nudge moment. The MYSTERY of it is the whole point. Maz is just magic, and you need to buy into that. The filmmakers are trusting the audience to buy into the fantasy, without needing everything explained – just as all the OT films did. With those seeking further explanation invited to delve into the new EU. I think it’s actually awesome. Fantasy requires that

            To each their own.

            Also, I have no beef with the prequels. They did A LOT of world building and gave us tonnes of lore. Sure, I have issues with a couple parts of the storytelling and such but – I love Star Wars and I forgive them, just like with TFA because… Star Wars!

            Make no mistake, Star Wars is a fantasy. When constructing fantasy stories, you can go down two roads – world building, or tale spinning. The talented authors in the genre are able to balance both without losing too much of either. Star Wars has always been on the tale spinning side, hooking into the Heroes Journey concept. The backstory is left for throwaway comments, Imperials shooting the shit, and random things in the background. That’s because film, as opposed to text, allows that to be possible. Oculus and VR if it catches might allow creators to take that kind of thing to an even greater level. If you have two many scenes in a film or a book, regardless of genre, that are pure exposition, it comes out dry and redundant – like crime fiction or a thriller, not like a real breathing world. It actually pulls the responder out of their suspension of disbelief (highly necessary for fantasy) because they ask ‘if this world is just humming along, being a living, breathing, real world and all – why the fuck are they explaining everything to each other? Oh, that’s right – it’s a story… damn’. Trust.

        • January 12, 2016 at 2:53 am
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          Oh, and I can forgive the repeated plot bits because it will engage more casual fans with Star Wars, re-awaken their interest, and build on a continued successful franchise. Hopefully Rian Johnsons VIII is a bit more original. He pushes things a bit further than Abrams so I think it was always going to go down like this.

  • January 10, 2016 at 3:03 am
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    Even the haters have seen this movie many times cause they hate it so much…yeah right. I seen a post on the cantina that read”I’ve seen TFA 9 times and still hate it.” hilarious. Deep down you won’t admit you actually like it. You might disappoint your few friends you have and they might not think you’re cool, so nitpicking new SW is the new trend. lol

    • January 10, 2016 at 7:38 am
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      Exactly. I literally saw someone say how they’ve seen it 12 times but couldn’t stand it after number 2. Why the heck did they see it 12 times then?

    • January 11, 2016 at 3:11 pm
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      Or. Maybe they care about Star Wars. Unlike those who deluded themselves into thinking TFA is revolutionary. You know those who think Star Wars is about cool effect and space ships and think making a movie about Han’s childhood is a good idea.

      • January 17, 2016 at 7:36 pm
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        thinking that the movie is good doesn’t mean thinking that it’s revolutionary xD
        I think no one said TFA was revolutionary, even the people who loved it, it was the opposite actually, but still a solid and good movie

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:14 pm
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      you may or may not remember that even the Phantom Menace was seen many times over by people and made a ton of money with great reviews…only for everyone to change their mind about it once the dust settled. In my opinion, this movie will be seen as a very weak entry as time moves on and the shine has worn off.

      • January 12, 2016 at 2:27 am
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        Which is not what I am even talking about. I was saying people are seeing it CLAIMING to hate it and yet seeing it multiple times.

        I didn’t like TPM when it came out, although I didn’t hate it either. It was just ok. TFA is a millions times better than TPM.

  • January 10, 2016 at 3:48 am
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    I heard this interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast yesterday.
    It’s 53 minutes long. (hosted by Scott Feinberg). I’m not sure how to link to it, but it’s on iTunes.

  • January 10, 2016 at 4:14 am
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    Is this where the Hack admitted to ripping off George Lucas’s film from 1977?

    • January 10, 2016 at 7:37 am
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      Is this where the troll admitted he was hungry for attention and had no real reason to stay on this website just to bitch and moan?

      • January 10, 2016 at 2:13 pm
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        Nope. Just spreading the truth. It is a lie that this movie was amazing or great. It is the truth that it’s a ripoff and has no creativity or imagination within it.

        • January 10, 2016 at 10:27 pm
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          93% on Rotten Tomatoes with over 300 reviews from respected, professional critics who are often very cynical and tough on blockbusters such as this.

          You may crawl back into that troll hole.

          • January 10, 2016 at 11:03 pm
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            Paid Critics.

          • January 11, 2016 at 2:45 am
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            300 of them? Really? You might as well break out your tin foil cap, because no one even takes you seriously anymore, lol.

          • January 11, 2016 at 3:03 pm
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            A non-argument really. Millions adore Britney Spears, but that doesn’t make her great. Those critics were blinded by childhood nostalgia. They probably cried as soon as the star wars crawl hit the screen.

        • January 11, 2016 at 7:19 pm
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          It’s not a lie, lol, it’s an OPINION.

          But that being said, I really enjoyed this movie, despite its flaws. It definitely has them, but I still can’t wait to own the Blue Ray and watch it over and over.

          To each his own.

  • January 10, 2016 at 8:19 am
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    The main reason episode VIII is gonna be better is its gonna have Luke in it. That’s all I care about it’s not really Star Wars without Luke and skywalkers

  • January 10, 2016 at 11:38 am
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    I’m happy with the explanation of using themes from ANH, don’t have an issue of it being a super weapon. However, did it have to be something so similar as a Death Star with a trench run attack involving a character with a vague to look to Porkins. That to me is sloppy and my respect for JJ has dropped.

    The super weapon could of easily been a shipyard converting Star Destroyers rigged to destroy planets, or even the use of the Darksaber weapon from EU. A shipyard could still be planet size, using the materials of the planet to build the ships, with starships and a ground assault a possibility. Anything but something that is a lazy copy with little to no originality.

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:09 pm
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      Yeah when the trench run happened I could literally hear a ‘groan’ go through the crowd at my theater. It certainly made my stomach drop. I was disappointed and it really ruined my first viewing of the movie.

      Subsequent viewings with the knowledge that the trench run is in the film were better because I knew it was coming.

      In fact my last viewing my 4 year old couldnt make it till through the last 20 minutes of the movie and I had to leave before the trench run. It ended up being my most favorable viewing of the movie. (Though I did regret missing the last scene, really love the shot of Luke at the end.)

  • January 10, 2016 at 2:38 pm
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    Here is a question: How many years do you think the timeskip between TFA and EVIII will be? My bet is 5 years and here are the reasons why

    1) 5 years is enough time for both Kylo and Rey to achieve their analogous potentials via training with their respective masters.

    2) Rey’s heartbreaking goodbye to Finn indicates that it will take a long time for them to see each other again. She knows she embarks on a journey that will take even years and who knows what she might end up discovering.

    3) Both the First Order and the New Republic have taken serious damage, both have lost their arsenals and their power bases. It will take time for both to recover from their losses and 5 years seems about right.

    4) Finn’s character ended up to be the most undeveloped one and we need to see him in a new role, probably as a cyberneticly enhanced resistance lieutenant. It will be an interesting shift in his character and he is bound to be more grumpy and more against lighstabers and the Force. I suspect he will have a mistrusting relationship with Rey and he will fear her, especially if they haven’t seen each other for quite a while, say 5 years?

    5) Captain Phasma was the most underused character ever created in a sci-fi film. The promotion and reception of her character though were both amazing, hence the new movie must set her up as a more high ranking officer but also diving into the battlefield for some skull-breaking. 5 years is enought time for a promotion even after a career blunder like Starkiller base blowing up, right?

    6) Snoke’s master plan and endgame are for the long run. To reach that point a minimum timeskip of 5 years is needed so the new film has actual plot in that aspect. To make his move, Snoke needs his 5 years.

    7) Not doing a timeskip means that we have Rey stuck to an island with an old man, possibly her father and while the lore lovers can have multiple orgasms at the thought of many many scenes where things like talking Force ghosts and ancient ruins and artifacts granting power are developed, remember this will be a movie, the one media which does not have time to do that stuff but in the most tiniest and subtle of portions. Seeing Rey training, while it would be something amazing, it would only bore most fans and ruin the first hour of the film. The main protagonist has to be active. So I think a timeskip will not only make plot sense but movie sense. We need a Jedi Knight.
    Same goes for Kylo Ren. A scene with him being bestowed the title of Sith Lord by Snoke at the begining of E8 is so much more amazing than having him meditate in front of a mummfied Marka Ragnos. We need a Sith.

    8) Seeing Rey as a young but still not completely refined Jedi Knight (much like Luke in ROJ) will be an amazing and awe- inspiring evolution for the character and Daisy who will have to find new ways to portray that development. Also, we get to see her wielding her own lightsaber which I think will be a yellow saberstaff or a purple saberstaff. Same goes for Kylo Ren who will now be under a new title I suppose.

    9) TFA left us with so many questions that only pile on top of one another. To answer them one by one we need 2 seperate films. We only get 2 in total. TFA’s major questions will be answered indirectly in E 8 because of the timeskip, thus saving time for more action and more important stuff to have their screentime. 5 years is an ideal development time for things from TFA to still show as answered yet close enough to make sense and satisfy burning curiosities.

    10) The Resistance in the brick of total anihilation from an emerging and empowered Kylo Ren, suddenlly calling Rey to join the fight in a “final decisive battle” (which of course will not be the case as there will be many more battles to fight) is the perfect way to start the new movie as we will get to see immediately how much both protagonists have grown and what drives them to clash so fiercely. Remember, chances are that Kylo will be ready to wreak havoc much faster than Rey who is a complete novice in the Force. Kylo will have done his damage in 2 years while Rey will need 3 more and in those 3 years Kylo will have brought the Resistance to its knees. That’s the point where Finn and Leia will ask for Luke’s and Rey’s help. It makes sense that way.

    Ok, what do you guys think?

      • January 10, 2016 at 5:45 pm
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        It’s not a comment, it’s a theory so be patient.

    • January 11, 2016 at 12:49 pm
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      That means we won’t get to see Luke training her …

  • January 11, 2016 at 3:08 pm
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    So if blowing up the planet wasn’t important and everybody knew it would happen anyway, why have it in the movie?? That means the audience won’t care about it – which is exactly what happen. I really disliked the metatreatment of this movie. It’s like what they’ve done with Bond. You can’t make a film based on a classic mythological narrative and at the same time ridicule the whole concept.

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:06 pm
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      Thank you. Thank you for an informed, intelligent post. You said it perfectly.

  • January 11, 2016 at 4:55 pm
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    JJ sums up why I have no problem with rehashing old themes in TFA. If it was a shot for shot remake I’d have a problem, but it’s not. It’s history repeating itself. It’s intentional. Everyone knows that the base is going to blow up. Star Wars has never been about that. It’s about the characters. This is why the OT succeeded and the PT failed for the most part. The OT had such great characters that you overlooked the plot holes (why didn’t the Death Star hyperspace in with a clear shot at Yavin IV, how did Ewoks take down stormtroopers, why did Ben completely lie to Luke about his father, why didn’t the Empire just blow up the Hoth shield generator from space? etc.) The PT focused more on cool battles and an intricate twisting plot than on character development. The characters in TFA are very different than anything in ANH or the rest of the OT and PT, so it just works.

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:05 pm
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      Keep telling yourself that.

      People who continue to defend the Starkiller plot device, to me, are people who cant admit that even one single mistake was made in TFA. No movie is perfect, I dont see why its such a big deal to admit the poor decision by JJ/Kasdan.

      • January 11, 2016 at 7:36 pm
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        I would have preferred a completely original story, but I have no problem with borrowing elements from an existing one. Could TFA have been done better? For sure. Is it still a good movie to me? Yes. Is it better than any of the OT? Probably not. Is it better than the PT? Yes, by miles.

        • January 11, 2016 at 7:49 pm
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          Definitely better than the PT’s. There is a ton of elements from all 6 previous movies that can and were used with no problems at all. The super weapon with a trench run did not need to be one of them. I honestly believe that JJ/Kasdan needed to get rid of the Senate to move forward with their story line and the Starkiller was simply the best way to get rid of them.

          Thing is, like you said a new story was completely open to them so they could have just simply NOT HAD a new senate. Then no need for a weapon to get rid of them.

  • January 11, 2016 at 6:02 pm
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    Its a cop out. Dont tell us how “everyone knew the planet was going to blow up..” Dont tell us that it was still ok to use that plot device in the movie. Its not. You screwed up for the sake of fan fare. Its ok. The rest of the movie is pretty darn good.

    I just watched Rian Johnsons episodes of Breaking Bad (one of the best tv series EVER) and I have to say, Rian gives this ST a real chance at still being great. His directing style could really bend this series in the right direction. If anyone can take JJ’s mass marketed dressed up and lipsticked fat pig of a movie that is TFA and turn it into a decent ‘set up’ movie for the rest of the series its Rian.

    Look for Episode VII to have a lot more in depth character development and a more mature feel.

  • January 11, 2016 at 6:07 pm
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    I’m hoping the next one is better…it was some lazy writing and milking of the cow that had given blue milk before. I had high hopes…but of course just my opinion. Between the weak new books (with the exception of a couple) and lack of a good story moving forward, Disney is doing exactly what I feared they would with the franchise. And btw…if you liked it, great! Just not for me, and I’m starting to lose interest in a life long love that is going to be over saturated and diluted.

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:12 pm
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      Unlike JJ, who I never had any illusions about (he is a big budget, story be damned director), Rian is a story teller. I thought Kasdan would save JJ from himself and I was wrong. 🙁 If Rian is allowed to direct the story in VII, not just the acting, we have a very good shot at a recovery.

      If VII plays to the same fan fare big budget bullsh*t that VI did, I have to agree with you. Disney will have turned this franchise into a cash cow so diluted that it might as well finish its run as a cartoon series.

      • January 11, 2016 at 7:59 pm
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        You need to recheck your roman numerals – this post won’t make sense if you’ve already changed it 🙂

        • January 11, 2016 at 8:02 pm
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          LOL sorry your right. thats VII and VIII. Too many damn movies to keep track of!

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:20 pm
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      Even if Rian does make a great Episode VII, which I believe he will; Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow is the twin brother (directing wise) of JJ. Big office bloated fan fare directing. One simply needs to see Jurassic World to know that. So expect IX to be more of the same as TFA….

  • January 11, 2016 at 8:13 pm
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    Star Wars was absolutely derivative, but in a way that had never been seen before. Lucas borrowed his favorite concepts from his favorite fictional works and put them all together in an amalgamation that was something completely new. JJ’s iteration though is entirely self-referential – a Star Wars movie fashioned from Star Wars itself.
    The end result was decent but wholly uninspired. It wasn’t anything close to being a bad movie IMO. It was well directed, wonderfully acted, and had spectacular visual effects, but is also severely lacking in originality. I get JJ’s defense but feel he’s missing the point of why some fans are disapproving.

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