How Would You Rate Star Wars: The Force Awakens 7 Months After Its Release?
Back in December 2015, just 5 days after Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit the big screen, we asked how you the fans would rate the movie. The results were more than positive, and we promised to do the same poll after some time to see if the fans’ opinion have changed. Now 7 months later we ask you the same question. Please vote after the jump…
You can see the old poll HERE. We had 6000 votes. 82% of the voters gave the move a rating above 8 out of 10. Only 6% of the voters gave the movie a rating lower than 5. As you can see the results were pretty impressive and it was easy to make the conclusion that the majority of Star Wars fans loved the movie.
Here’s a screenshot with the old results by the time we posted this article:
Now let’s see how things have changed after 7 months have passed and after most of us had the time to think things through and have the movie in retrospective. Please vote in the form below:
[socialpoll id=”2378892″]
Also make sure to tell us in the comments below if your opinion has changed and why.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
8/10 is a bit too generous for TFA.
It’s not. You can give it a 5 in a personal, subjective review, but deserves an 8 for what he got bringing all fans together.
It received an 8.2 in critic reviews (see: Rotten Tomatoes) and many of those people aren’t Star Wars fans, so 8 is very reasonable.
“and many of those people aren’t Star Wars fans, so 8 is very reasonable.”
I think that might be a part of the problem.
SW fans are not always right. And being a fan is not somethig that gives you objectivity. In the 90s, SW fans were hugely disappointed about TPM, and they started to watch the original trilogy as something great, even if ROTJ was not great at all. Now, the new generation of fans, who grew up with both the prequels and the originals, started considering the whole Lucas’ saga as something great, and TFA as the “monster”.
Ehhh…I’m calling foul on that. Having been there for the release of Jedi, this notion that it’s a crappy film, and a sellout, and too kiddie is something we came to AFTER TPM and AFTER people stopped holding Lucas up as a storytelling god. Seriously, he was a visionary who could do no wrong in fans’ eyes prior to ’99.
Not very sure about that. ROTJ got its bunch of negative critics from the fans since it came out.
Jedi didn’t really get any more negative reviews than Empire or SW did (the critics did not universally love them). Again, having BEEN there for Jedi, this Johnny-come-lately, hate-on fans seem to have for the film really wasn’t the reaction back in the day.
well… It had fun; good characters; beautiful soundtrack; gorgeous direction; good rythm; good dialogues; and it put the bases for a new story which is probably going to be very epic and dark. To me, 8 is the right rank for this movie. Too much? Ok, opinions, but, c’mon, you couldn’t go lower than 7.
Eh, all those are indeed subjective.
IMO the new characters were uninteresting, the soundtrack was off and not on par with the rest of the movies, sure, the directing was good, the rythm not so much, the movie was too fast paced for my liking and I didn’t really like the way the dialogue was written, it was much more modern.
The deal is not that TFA dialogues were “too modern”, but that the prequels dialogues seemed taken from a XIX century erotic novel.
Heh, I actually liked that
You’re brave, my friend š
I’m joking. The problem with the dialogues of the prequels was that they were too long, an too full of explanations. The main spot of the stories were explained by characters who were sitting in some couch talking about clones, droids, trade federation, ecc… This was anti-climatic. Even when characters travelled across the galaxy, instead of being involved in some exciting adventure, they simply travel to another room, with another couch, talking about something else. And, yes, some dialogues were horrid. Every love dialogue, for example.
I can see that
I still think it’s one of the best episodes of the saga, a perfect way to close the old trilogy and start something new. I’m still bothered for the 3rd Death Star, though. That was the real flaw of the movie. But I like how the characters meet in the last act, and I like the story progression between Finn and Rey, and between Kylo and Rey. Expecially, I really loved Kylo Ren, who is a great new entry. If Ep.8 will be as good as this one, I’ll be fine, but I still hope it will be better: now that this new trilogy has started, we need more explanations, more “story”, and of course more Luke! I give it 8/10, and in my personal rank, TFA is in the top three, right after ANH and TESB.
I completely agree. I loved the movie, but that doesn’t mean I felt like it was flawless. Most of my issues with it were pretty minor (Phasma deactivating the shields, Snoke’s CGI appearance), but the StarKiller Base as a 3rd (way bigger) Death Star really does bother me. I know JJ and LK were probably just trying to showcase the X-Wing Fleet, but there had to be a better idea in there somewhere. If you watch the series chronologically, that means 3 of the last 4 episodes all have Death Stars being destroyed.
But I don’t want to focus on that too much. The characters were terrific (especially Rey and Kylo), the pacing was perfect, the cinematography and special effects were nearly flawless and it had a better sense of humor than any other episode.
8/10.
I don’t agree about the characters. They were good, and Kylo is probably the best of the new entries.
For sure… it should have been a Pearl Harbor type of assault on the republic/senate. Everything that happened to Kylo, Rey a Han could have happened on his flagship in the middle of the battle.
don’t get me wrong, I like how they managed not to give Starkiller base the last scene. This is what I mean when I say TFA is not a remake of ANH. Starkiller was just a location, not the main spot of the story, and this is fine. In addition, it is very beautiful, and the scene of the Republic destruction is gorgeous. But, when you put such a huge element in the story, you constrict the story itself to go only in one direction. Which is probably what they wanted, but after two Death Stars, another similar super weapon is redundant. But I’m fine with it: when you see those fantastic dogfights, you just enjoy the show.
I agree with laberinto911 regarding the 3rd death star. It seems a lack of originality in pervasive in many hollywood remakes. But the other thing that bothers me is R2. It would have been better if he was stolen with the Falcon and was powered down in some back closet, or in pieces from blasters after having logically tried to defend the ship. Then, pieced back together, he reveals the rest of the skywalker map. The big reveal of his broken pieces after being found by an unknowing Rey and Finn, or even BB8 would have brought about a deep fan reaction. And then a pissed of R2 once he comes back on line, ready to fight would have made such a better movie. A depressed R2 sulking in some hallway just doesn’t line up with his character. I gave it a 7/10, down from an 8/10 because the high has worn off.
The reason I still give it an 8 when I feel the movie is more of a 7… is the impossible task it had ahead of itself. That movie needed to be so many things to so many different fans. It managed for the most part to achieve that. Which is incredible given the hype.
It absolutely has flaws… but it’s still a great introduction to the new cast who are actually likable. I have high hopes that the originality factor will kick in for episode 8 and 9.
IMO ideally it’s a 7.5. I rounded up. It had heart, it had spirit, great performances, great new characters–all things the prequels lacked.
On the other hand, it is unoriginal to a considerable degree. Starkiller Base was still a huge misfire (no pun intended). And I didn’t like how Jakku was too close of a Tatooine copy. Also not a big Snoke fan. Far too much of a Palpatine clone. I pray his backstory will flesh him out as a unique threat.
Long story short, it did its job (and then some). I just pray Lucasfilm realizes that rehashing the OT isn’t the way to go going forward.
All TFA had to be was the fourth best SW movie and it definitely was. There was certainly a little too much retread, I could have done without Starkiller altogether and the R2 coma, but the characters really became fast favorites. Our family loves Finn, Rey, Poe, and BB-8. Even Kylo did what he was supposed to in my mind. The humor and fun of the movie make up for any problems. The next movies have a solid direction to go and some great mysteries to explore. Bottom line, it felt like Star Wars and was a good (albeit safe) way to begin the new trilogy. I have nitpicks, but thats all they are. I do not feel let down. 7/10
As people is saying: it did very, very well having to be so many things for so many fans from 3 generations.
I gave it a 8: I’d give a 10 if Starkiller wasn’t there, and instead the focus for the third act would have been on Han and Ben relationship, which lacks a bit of development. For the rest, together with A New Hope and Empire, this movie is very well directed, and clearly cares about the characters as those movies did.
I can honestly say that I waited my entire life for this film, it was the thing I always dreamed of one day seeing but thought I never actually would. Then when it actually became real, and not just a reality but was everything I ever wanted it to be, the only word I could use for The Force Awakens was perfect.
That’s still what the film represents to me.
So no, my thoughts on it have not changed, if anything I love it more.
I’ve seen the film around 10 times and I love it.*
That said, the next film will have a huge impact on how TFA is remembered. TFA raises questions that not only have to be answered, but answered well. Rey’s sudden use of force abilities has to be explained somehow for it to fit in with the rest of the films. This doesn’t bother me when I watch it because I assume it will be explained.
This sounds crazy, but it’s probably my favorite Star Wars film. It was funny, it was serious, and it all worked.
I’d have given it a 10 but went for 8 because of Snoke. If Disney doesn’t fix that mess of a character it has no direction to go but down unfortunately.
Derailing the find-Luke storyline to destroy Death Star III in the third act was the movie’s biggest flaw, but the introduction of some great new characters overshadows that misstep. 8/10.
TFA was a great movie, and I gave it an 8.
As lots of other said, the main problem is Starkiller Base. But I have a different quibble: The main thing that brought me out of the movie was the group at Maz’s castle looking up in the sky and seeing in real time the destruction of planets that were located across the galaxy. The planets blowing up were large and spread apart as if they were moons being destroyed. I remember wondering what the heck was happening as I was watching the movie. It would take thousands of years to see something blowing up that far away, and it’s actually even doubtful you’d be able to see even the star that far away with a telescope — let alone seeing bright separate explosions in the daylight.
To anyone considering a reply that Star Wars is not intended to represent reality: don’t bother. OF COURSE there are lots of science “cheats” done in order to bring the fictional story to the screen. This was not a cheat — it was a fallacy so major that you have to literally suppress your brain functions to make it work.
Agree. And its not like this knowledge of light travel is something only scientist know…grade school kids know about the speed of light…It was a bit stupid. My ONLY justification is that maybe Maz’s base was in the same system as the “Republic”. Also, if its a “hyper space” laser weapon…how could Kylo watch it zoom by his ship?
Sadly supplemental material includes maps that show Takodana being a quarter way across the galaxy from Hosnian Prime. It would have made so much more sense if it was part of the Hosnian system.
And I always wondered why Han didn’t take them directly to D’Quar when it seemed close to Takodana in the first place!
I think simply because he didn’t want to face Leia.
Wait…but isn’t it a SECRET base? For the Resisties (“That’s right, THAT’S still our name!” – for you early 2000’s animation fans out there š )….that Han isn’t one of? Sooooo….how….does….Han know she’ll BE there?
It’s JJ doubling down on people who called him doing that SAME THING in ST ’09 completely stupid.
I just watched ST 09 again and thought exactly the same thing. (Destruction of Vulcan viewed from another planet.)
Yep, that was the one thing that took me out of the movie on first viewing and continues to do so.
Star Wars isn’t based in reality but at the same time it has to play by some kind of rules ā even if they’re not realistic ones ā in order to maintain our suspension of disbelief.
Well Starkiller base is explained in the TFA novelization. First of all it doesn’t suck in the suns mass but only “antimatter”. Teh rest of the mass dissolves out into space. Inside of Starkiller base the antimatter is used to produce what they call “quintessence”. This quintessence accelerates exponentially once it is released which is why it looks slow when it comes out of the planet and gets faster as it travels by kylos ship. At one point it switches from space into “sub-hyperspace” which means that it no longer flies across the galaxy but thorugh the galaxy. This su hyperstate space lasts for quite a while mich means that the destruction of the Hosnian system as seen on Takodana is actually some quientessence that is still in sub hyperspace even after the destruction of the planets which is why it can be seen in realtime on takodana (source TFA novelization, Pablo Hidalgo)
I don’t think the problem is with Starkiller’s “beam” traveling thru hyperspace. The problem is with Finn & Han seeing the explosions from the surface of Takodana which according to published maps appears to be about 30,000 light years away. The beam can travel through hyperspace but the light from the explosions can’t.
Even the made up science doesn’t make sense. The explosions of the planets are not in hyperspace (or sub-hyperspace), and the explosions are what we see in TFA from Takodana. Also, there seems to be no explanation for the planet explosions being separated in the sky from the vantage point of Takodana. It would be a single flash from that far away.
I hate to have an in-depth science debate about Star Wars, since I understand it is fiction that takes liberty with reality. But these are things that people instinctively “know” with today’s science knowledge, and the representation on the screen just takes you right out of the movie.
As far as i understood the quintessence ray destabilizes the planets core that then star to radiate quinetssence themselves which is see from takodana. The quintessence rays do not travel at the speed of light since they simply warp through space. I know it’s a stupid explanation but it’s the best that i could findwhen researching that issue.
I think it’s probably best just to accept that explanation, just like people readily accept the Force, instead of letting its likelihood or not ruin any enjoyment of the story. This isn’t Star Trek (thankfully).
This was one of my minor problems with TFA as well. Would have been better if they had it that it was seen on a view screen of some sort. Maybe had Leia talking to Korr Sella as it happened. Other than that loved the film.
The in-universe explanation is it’s a sub-hyperspace weapon that creates a rip in space-time that can be seen across the galaxy. It’s a silly explanation, but it’s a bit of exposition that should’ve been included in the movie (a recurring issue in TFA).
My bigger problem is that Starkiller’s a weapon that doesn’t just siphon energy from its sun (as is indicated in the novelization) — it actually completely drains its sun. So does this planet propel itself through the galaxy? What happens to its surface temperature? Why is it not in total darkness once it destroys its sun?
Ugh. I hate that super-weapon.
Agreed. Also no increase in gravity after ingesting a sun, no displacement upon firing in a vacuum, somehow splitting a beam of energy after it had some how traveled across the freaking galaxy and having it strike like three different targets? The supposed ability of the planet weapon to travel at hyperspeed itself in order to find a sun to recharge with? I had the same feeling like “WTF am I watching right now” at that scene. Unforgivably stoopid.
I think you’re confusing Star Wars for science fiction when it’s fantasy.
I’m not confusing anything.
By the way, you might want to know that Star Wars is not strictly defined as “fantasy”. In fact. it is defined specifically as “science fiction” by Wookiepedia: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars
I trust Wookiepedia more than a random comment on the Internet.
Eh, it IS fantasy though. SciFi is a very specific genre that uses science as a way to explore the human condition. You could easily take the technological trappings out of SW and it would play the same, so it’s not Sci-Fi by definition. Something like, say, Foundation, or even popular entertainment like Blade Runner, are more properly SciFi. It’s no shame or slight against SW to be something else.
I completely disagree. You take out the SciFi elements and it would be completely different. The whole reason it was successful in 1977 is because of the SciFi elements. There were plenty of fantasy movies, action movies, adventure movies, etc. Only one Star Wars with spaceships, light sabers, a massive space station that can (and did) destroy a planet, blasters, hyperspace travel, hologram communications, etc. You remove the SciFi elements and you’re left with the force and characters. The story would be impossible without the SciFi elements.
Sure, but it’s still more fantasy IMO.
I still disagree. You’re talking about the trappings that people loved, but in terms of what the story is, you can take all of that stuff away and set the film in the middle ages on Earth, or in feudal Japan, or really anywhere with almost no change to the story. Lightsabers are Excalibur, the magical sword, the Death Star just represents some monolithic force that can be used to wipe out villages (hell, just the first analogy that comes to mind is Kung Fu Panda 2 – gunpowder and artillery is the ultimate weapon there). Something like BR by contrast requires the science to underpin the story, which really is ‘what makes us human’? You can’t easily remove the technology and have the story still work.
People don’t love Star Wars because it is symbolically similar to another story. You said, “You could easily take the technological trappings out of SW and it would play the same.” I am saying that’s absolutely false. If you take out the SciFi elements, it’s just another ho-hum story.
And no, Blade Runner is not something different. You could remove the technology and just make another “slaves rebelling” story.
BOTH movies are SciFi. They DIDN’T remove the SciFi elements, so they are SciFi. If you want to call it a “SciFi Fantasy”, that’s fine with me.
“Slaves rebelling” is just the plot. What the movie is about is “what makes us human?”. That is entirely dependent on replicants being mass-produced products, treated like appliances, when, simply to make them better products, they’ve been given something more. It’s all artificial, and the product of technology, but to them, it’s no less real at the end of the day, so does it matter WHY they feel what they do? Also, Deckard’s job retiring these products from the market, over the course of the film, by contrast robs him of his own humanity by the end. That’s a story you can’t tell without the science.
And you’re still missing what I’m saying. You’re arguing the lasting appeal of SW with audiences, I’m talking about the structure of the story. Yes, people loved the imagery of spaceships and lasers, but you can still transplant the story to any era and have it function almost exactly the same. No, it might not have had the popular appeal that it does, but the story is the same with or with the technological trappings.
“Star Wars really isn’t a science-fiction film, it’s a fantasy film and a space opera.” – George Lucas
I trust George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars more than some random comment on the Internet.
I’ll happily go with fantasy/space opera. However, I think the term “SciFi” broadly encompasses that, so this is really just semantics.
The entire issue is raised due to the science-defying aspects of Starkiller Base in TFA. Some commenters here seem to think it’s OK because “it’s a fantasy movie”, so apparently there is no amount of nonsensical material in a fantasy movie that would take these people out of the movie. I simply disagree.
like the sound of space ships in space?
No, not like the sound of ships in space. That’s a “cheat” as I already mentioned earlier, but you’re just looking to score points (which you didn’t).
Must suck to be distracted by some non-science things and obvious to others.
I gave it a six. I’m a pretty harsh critic though. Characters were good. Story was bad.
You are percfectly right when you say “played to safe” but i give it a 7, Good characters, good story, but lack of visual creativity,
The more i think about it the worse I think it is – it was lazy, uninspiring and devoid of initiative. There was so many missed opportunities. I’m not saying this as a hater just to bash the film but as someone who loves Star Wars, I was 6 when I saw the first film at the cinema and I used to imagine the possibilities of what Episodes 7+ could be – The Force Awakens was a major disappointment.
Never mind the glaring inconsistencies such as R2 coma, Leia/Chewie non interaction, lack of First Order logic. In my opinion it’s killed the Franchise – I just wish they had gone with George Lucas’s idea instead
I’m feeling you. R2 self induced coma? LOL and that stupid super weapon DS 2.0. I’m all about suspending disbelief and the basic laws of physics a bit for a sci-fi movie (i.e. explosions in space) but come on, nothing about that weapon made any sense at all. It was gloriously stupid. No increased gravity after ingesting a sun, hyperspeed energy blast that slows just before hitting target, no displacement in a vacuum upon firing a blast strong enough to travel across the galaxy, the weapon itself would have to travel at lightspeed to find another sun to ingest? I enjoyed it as long as I didn’t think too hard about it. heh. No Jedi Order? No Leia trained as Jedi? Meh.
Exactly! To me it just reeked of unimaginative writing -the ideas they had were poorly thought out and most Star Wars fans I know do like to talk about and dissect the stories – but this one just put me off. I also enjoyed it when watching it at the time but the more I think about it the more disappointing it is. The biggest disappointment was they didn’t even give us an adventure with the original characters back together – Luke never saw Han or Chewie again and to me that was unforgivable – as we’d waited 30 years to see that again. I’d give it 4/10 for being looking like a Star Wars film but it lacked the soul of one.
I gave it a 7 or 8 before and gave it an 8. It was quite good, it would only be better had it been a little more original which it totally could have. They also could have bombed by recreating the same themes, however, they didn’t, it was done well.
Plot-wise it was derivative but I can understand the thinking that went on ā let’s get the franchise back on an even keel. It suffered from the JJ Abrams “let’s just rush through and no-one will notice that we’re not really explaining anything” syndrome and half-baked McGuffins āĀ R2 in a coma, “a map to Luke Skywalker”. Butā¦ it’s massively saved by the performances of everyone in the cast, the smaller moments and the scripting at an individual scene level. For me, the best thing was Kylo Ren and Adam Driver’s performance. The more I see the movie the more that stands out to me as the big interesting thing it’s doing.
A slightly wobbly 7/10 but I think long term so much is going to depend on how VIII and IX go.
It’s not even the derivative nature of the plot that bothers me so much with it. After all, most of the other films in this series can be taken to task for being derivitave or heavily referencing each other as well, so there’s a legitimate defense of TFA to be made on that score. It seems however that the conversation often gets so hung up on this one aspect that people never get around to delving into the more serious, fundamental problems it has with script, story, character, and ‘constant delight’. It’s this stuff that makes me think I won’t soften on it, no matter what 8 and 9 do; I mean, it’s not as if I love SW because it sets up characters and situation for the next film, it’s because it’s a naive, fun adventure. I don’t love ESB because of how those situations resolve themselves in RotJ, it’s because (just in part) it is superbly paced, opens up the galaxy in surprising ways, and is superbly told by all involved. As Hulk says in his terrific essay, “what about THIS film?”.
I think that’s a totally legit criticism. The lack of context is a problem. The movie’s strengths cover for it enough that I came away with a positive opinion but for sure it’s a failing. Then again I’m not sure it’s any worse than the hurried resolution of plot threads in RotJ.
Possibly, but Jedi at least had earned that by in fact being the third film with those characters. The groundwork was done, so it gets away with a bit of shorthand and a bit of a rush to wrap it all up. For my money, you can’t start a series by offering something that’s completely dependent on other stuff to make it work. Ironically, we seem to have scored it pretty much the same though.
I think you’re right. I’m just a little more forgiving of that aspect. If VIII is a disappointment I’ll change my tune I’m sure.
7…ish? 6.5? It’s technically competent, does most surface stuff right, and the performances by Boyega and Ridley are very strong given the material they have to work with. It still doesn’t really have any ambition or identity, the second half is a real let down, it leaves FAR too much of the heavy lifting story work to coincidence or for someone else to figure out later, it refuses to allow anything time to breath, and it kills Han Solo in a predictable, limp scene. It’s not a disaster by any means, but neither is it a triumph.
TFA is a good SW film. At times, very good. But it’s not a great one.
A lot of the Finn stuff is trying too hard. The dialogue feels forced in some places. (the “boyfriend” line is just one example)
Hux is an over the top nazi caricature….Tarkin was a real nazi. Piett was a nazi solider caught up trying to do his duty, etc…Hux is like a cartoon version.
“Hey Maz!” Lame.
“So…it’s big. We’ll blow it up. There’s always a way to do that.” Double Lame.
“That was the deathstar major…THIS is Starkiller base.” Triple lame.
“No…it was Snoke…he seduced our son to the darkside.” Major lame. That whole conversation with Han/Leia about Kylo was very stilted and forced. Actually, most of Carrie Fishers stuff was, to be honest. She was good in the Han goodbye scene and the Rey good bye scene but the rest of her dialogue just felt….off.
Not showing any of the New Republic stuff before destroying Hosnian Prime. Major plot error…
Not explaining Snoke or the first order, but apparently Han and Leia know all about him and talk about him to each other and to Kylo/Ben.
Super-powered Rey.
Having said that, it’s still a good SW movie. All of the Jakku stuff with Rey is money. It plays out nice and slow and her theme when first introduced is powerful. Han is good in most of his scenes. The moment from when he steps on the bridge to confront Kylo through the end of the film is all great. (because it’s where the rehash ends and we get new stuff) The snow forrest battle is great. The music, setting, scene of Rey going to Luke is awesome.
All in all, it’s got a lot going for it.
I rank it like this:
ESB
TFA/ANH
ROTJ
ROTS
TPM
.
.
.
.
AOTC
So it should be a 7, but I gave it an 8. (down from 10 when I first saw it)
I’d go so far to say that ALL of the Jaku stuff is money – the film is soaring while for that whole third.
Oh yes, everytime I rewatch TFA it just feels so good until they get to the Falcon and it suddenly turns into a different movie.
Interesting that you describe it that way, because it’s exactly how it feels to me, although I find It holds together a bit longer, up until Leia arrives (mostly I think because I enjoy seeing HF engaged with a film again and he gets some good moments in that stretch).
It still holds up well every time I see it. I feel the writing and performances really set it apart from many of the blockbuster films that followed it this year. I do see the points of those that noted familiar themes compared to EP 4 but that is such a small gripe compared to what it did right. It was no small feat by JJ and Co. to revive the franchise….bring in new characters, find the right blend with the old and new ones and go against the backlash of the last three films. I still love it.
I am STILL confused about it. One day I’m entertained and intrigued, the other I feel it’s sloppy and in need of some serious script-doctoring. I’m mostly frustrated by story elements and quite happy with the acting and “real” feel. So, wavering between a 5 and a 9, I offer a 7.
In a nutshell:
TFA had, on the negative side, too many references to the Original Trilogy, a rushed plan to destroy “Death Star 3,” no explanation how R2D2 woke up, no explanation how Poe got off Jaaku, confusion regarding Rey’s parentage, no reason to care about Hosnian Prime or the entire New Republic when it got blown up, too little Phasma, a lackluster John Williams soundtrack, and lack of imagination in visual design of Takodana.
On the good side, the casting was awesome, Adam Driver was the Anakin we could have had, FINALLY there’s a Star Wars with a female as the central protagonist, that Han Solo death scene, that Luke scene at the end, and Max Von Sydow.
Some of your points are fine, but some not, to me:
– Poe’s escape from Jakku: we have a brief explanation by Poe himself in the Resistance base. He’s not a main character, so this lack of information is not such a big deal. It doesn’t invalidate the story arc in any way;
– Rey’s parentage is not confused: simply, it isn’t explained. The Sypho-dias story from AOTC was “confused”, not this;
– I thought the same thing about the OST when I first saw the movie. Well, I changed my mind right after the second vision: the OST is beautiful, and full of themes worth mentioning.
And we’re all waiting breathlessly to see if that 6.8 makes it to a 7, Ghost.
I still give it a 9. I enjoy it just as much as every other Star Wars film, but just like all of the others, it’s not without it’s flaws. Mainly Starkiller Base.
I’m giving it a 7 now. I probably would have gave it a 9 or a 10 when it first came out, but after some time it just doesn’t do it for me like the other 6 SW movies. I still think its a very good movie though, but I do think it has the least amount of originality of all the SW movies. I think they played it a little too safe, trying to appease the fans that only like the OT, instead of trying to create something totally fresh.
It wasn’t a perfect movie, but it was a perfect jumping off point for Star Wars going forward. IMO the acting and investment into the new characters that seamlessly blended with the fan favorites is what really set it apart for me. Caring about Rey, Finn, Poe, BB8, hell even Ben Solo as much as I cared about Han Luke and Leia is no small feat. 9/10 still for me.
I gave it a 9, would probably have given it a 10 if it was not for the scene where Chewie runs by Leia without acknowledging Han’s death…
I was listening to the Resistance podcast earlier, and something was mentioned that really struck a chord with me… there’s a lot we don’t “get” and might come across as not thoroughly thought-out, but we don’t know if that’s the case until we see the next couple of movies. The LSG has a LOT planned out, and I’m sure have considered way more than we realize.
The first movie in a trilogy always has to set things up for future episodes. A lot of times, however, they don’t know for certain if they’ll be able to make future movies, such as with Episode IV, so it (relatively speaking) wrapped things up with a nice bow. Awards ceremony at the end… doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is good now and the Empire has been defeated, but if they never made any sequels, one could argue that it was enough to finish them off. With TFA, however, we KNOW future movies will be made. It was a sure thing, so that was considered with a lot of things that happened and were said. As such, I believe when we’ve seen the next few movies and look back, we’ll appreciate it even more.
Personally, the more I watch it, the more I catch and the more I appreciate. There are a number of small comments and things that happen here and there that could easily be missed or dismissed as unimportant, but when you really think about them, there are a lot of implications, and I LOVE that part of it.
So my rating for TFA probably started at maybe an 8, 8.5 when I first saw it, but is a solid 9 now, taking off for a few questionable science-y things (I’m still having a hard time with them seeing Starkiller Base’s weapon being fired through the galaxy, though I know their explanation for such) and being a bit too similar to ANH (intentional, I know, but they might’ve gone just a bit too overboard). Plus, JJ took Kasdan’s advice of trusting the audience and not spelling everything out for them maybe a little too seriously. Other than those things, though, it’s a great movie, a great Star Wars movie at that, and gives me lots of hope for all the new ones coming up.
I can’t go along with this line of reasoning. Look at SW – it is a self-contained story, yet sets up situations and characters that you want to spend more time with. It doesn’t NEED ESB to work as a film, it would have been satisfying if there never had been a sequel. By contrast, the most common response to people who have issues with TFA is either “just wait until you see 7 and 8” and/or “That answer is in the YA novel” – that to me speaks to a fundamental failure in the storytelling.
“That answer is in the YA novel” – that to me speaks to a fundamental failure in the storytelling.”
You don’t seem to get it. ANH HAD to wrap things up. Lucas really had no intention of making another one. It HAD to be a self contained story, despite the fact that it was still somewhat vague on many issues.
TFA is 1 part of 3 part story, that while it may not have been fully fleshed out before filming started, it was intended to only introduce & set up the future films. It was allowed to be vague and confusing, knowing that more of the story is coming to answer any questions or fill any plot holes.
That’s why ANH did not need ESB. ESB was not even an after thought in Lucas’s head at the time. In order to sell ANH to the studios, he had to write a self contained story. A beginning, a middle and an end in a single movie, rather then over a 3 part saga… which again, despite what is thought or said, Lucas had no intentions of making. It was only after the success of ANH did the idea of expanding and continuing the story take shape.
Nope, I get what they want. The problem is “What about THIS movie?”. I agree with you about Lucas and SW, but it proves my point – it didn’t NEED to leave a whole bunch of stuff dangling to still be the kickoff to that trilogy of films. In fact, by wrapping things up, it sets expectations about the characters that ESB and Jedi gleefully get to knock down in order to surprise the audience. You also skipped over my point about ESB – it sets up further installments, but functions as a complete and satisfying experience in itself at the same time. TFA is so reliant on ‘what comes next’ that it’s not entirely satisfying taken by itself.
You’re right in everything you said. The difference in opinion, then, lies in if they went too far in setting up future films that it made TFA less of a film. I think they didn’t, for the most part. I still loved it, though I will say that if I didn’t know there would be sequels, then sure, I’d have a very different opinion. I see it kind of like TV… my favorite shows are the ones that aren’t entirely self-contained episodes, but I love serial TV shows BECAUSE I know that the story will continue next week. I accept the incompleteness knowing it will pay off in the future.
For TFA, I think they gave us enough but really made us wanting more. You don’t want to wrap the story up TOO much too soon.
No, he’s wrong.
TFA mirrors ANH. ANH introduced just as many different concepts that we had no explanations for.
What was the Clone Wars? What was the Old Republic? What was the Imperial Senate? Who is the Emperor? How big is the Empire? What is Darth Vader? How big is the Rebellion?
You’re introduced to a brand new Universe, you see TWO planets, and a Death Star. Three planets if you count Alderaan before it was popped.
You’re introduced to the concept of a Force User and the Jedi Knights as an order of protectors for peace and justice. Yet the guy who’s supposed to teach the kid about this dies half way through the film and if there was never another you wouldn’t know how Luke’s story turned out.
Also, the ending. The Death Star blew up. Okay. What about..the rest of the Empire? Darth Vader, the villain, survives? The heroes get medals and?
The films are based off old black and white serials. I don’t even need to say that here because everyone knows it already. That film was supposed to be this one little story in a saga George never intended to actually create. It was the artistic aspect of Star Wars. Here’s this one chapter in an ongoing story you won’t see the beginning of or the end.
Good point. Maybe because it was the only movie we knew, we didn’t expect things to be explained as much and were okay with the Clone Wars being something that was just mentioned off-handedly.
Could also be due to the fact that we’ve known essentially everything there was to know about Star Wars for a long time now, especially those who read much of the EU. And then, suddenly… we didn’t know a lot. And we’re starving to find out, because, as we now know, we know what we now don’t know. Y’know? š
That’s an interesting difference actually, your comparison to television – no idea how old you are, but I’d be curious to know if you’ve grown up with long-format television arcs. I’m old enough NOT to have for example, and I find I can’t align myself with people who are fine with TFA being just a link in the chain which needs to be viewed as part of the whole. I do love long-format television (incidentally, holy shit, have you guys been watching PREACHER!? GODDAMN is that show good!), but I find I like my Star Wars to be a little more self-sufficient.
I’m old enough to have grown up when they weren’t common. Incidentally, I didn’t get into TV as much back then. A lot of people my age loved X-Files when that aired, for example, but even that was a bit too self-contained for me at the time. I can appreciate shows like that moreso now, as long-format story arcs make it tough to watch a show you haven’t been following, but I’ve found that when I can make the investment and really follow what’s been happening, it’s so much more rewarding.
When it comes to a movie trilogy, I really don’t think it’s asking too much to expect audience members to be willing to invest in more than one movie. Especially Star Wars fans. We’ve waited this long… we can wait a couple more years to get more answers. š
I still think its the third best in the franchise, though my enthusiasm about the movie decreased a bit (but after seeing it around 10 times its not really a big suprise).
Still a 6. Fun movie to watch, but as a Star Wars film very poor. Story makes no sense at all. Nothing is explained.We see nothing new. It felt way to rushed. Big disappointment.
“Nothing is explained”
So you just wanted the mystery of everything to be explained in the first movie, despite the fact the fact you know there are 2 more movies coming?
So what if Obi-Wan told Luke about Leia and Vader in ANH? What if Obi-Wan told us about Yoda? What if we saw Palpatine right of the bat in ANH, instead of slowing being introduced to him in the next 2?
While ANH did not have quite as many “loose ends” as TFA, it was still pretty vague about everything. ANH overall was a bit more clairvoyant, only because Lucas had no intention or idea if he’d ever make another one. ANH had to stand on it’s own.
TFA on the other hand, is but 1 part of 3 part Saga. The opening act, like the first 1/3 of a novel, is only to introduce and set up the overall story. IMO, it did that just fine. The fact that the story is a bit confusing, and you are full of questions, is the point. Kinda makes you want to watch another one to get the answers, doesn’t it. š
Yes. People underestimate the “serial logic” in this movies. ANH was “complete” because Lucas didn’t know if he would have written a sequel. Actually, you can see ANH as a stand-alone movie, and it works very well. BUT, when the success came, the “serial logic” appeared, and TESB was not “complete” anymore. They knew that a third movie would have come, so they ended with a cliffhanger and wrote ROTJ.
Now, they knew from the beginning that this would have been a trilogy, so they wrote an “uncomplete” movie. “Serial logic”, again. The prequels had bad writing decisions, in this way. I agree with Chris Stuckmann when he says that a “serial movie” have to tease you and make you want a sequel. The prequels were simply sterile. TPM didn’t make you want anything.
ANH made as much sense as a stand alone as 7 does. The film mirrors ANH.
Not very much. The only thing that make you think ANH has a sequel, is that Vader survived the Death Star. In TFA there were lots of things that make you believe this story is not complete: Snoke; the Knights of Ren; Rey’s parents; the First Jedi Temple; the destruction of the Republic; Kylo Ren surviving the Starkiller…
You need to watch ANH again.
To figure out what, precisely?
Exactly.
Please see my original comment.
I think, after the hype is gone, most of the fans, myself included, arrive at the same conclusion. It’s a superior package over the prequels, but ultimately plays it safe and doesn’t have the guts to push the franchise in the new direction. This is a perfect example of how Disney’s agenda to make maximum $$ and JJ’s genuine desire to please old fans (still not sure it’s a good thing) prevented the film from reaching it’s true potential. It had all the talent and money in the world to re-ignite the “hero’s journey” formula and capture the imagination of the new generation. Instead it focused too much on the trivial details and almost feels like a SW 2+ hour trivia. At times it’s a painful overstatement of obvious (oh look, I’m the traumatized trooper, this is not how the force works, etc.) and other times it truly shines through (Han’s death scene wasn’t overly dramatized yet heartfelt, light saber duels, etc.)
It has done two things for me: significantly lowered my expectation for the sequels, and made me excited to see more!
A solid 7/10.
3rd best Star Wars movie. Right behind Empire and A New Hope.
Agreed.
Let’s be realistic, though…. VIII really only has a chance at dethroning VII to 4th position. Nothing can really compete with IV and V lol. but yeah, i loved it.
I will say that i do need a break from VII for a while. I’ve seen it 9 times now (7 in theaters) and i just need a break lol. will probably watch it before Rogue One though, just cuz it’s star Wars.
I find it possible (though quite unlikely) that VIII could become the second-best Star Wars film. Rian Johnson seems to be doing some very exciting stuff.
Super Excited… and could be possible…. but it will be EXTREMELY hard to dethrone IV…. i mean, John Williams will have to pull out everything he has, and hopefully the pacing is just as good as TFA.
Love the movie but a few little things bug me every time i re-watch it :
The blow up the deathstar again plot is not brilliant could have been a lot more interesting.
I don’t like the way all the First order seem to be teenagers or very young at least.
Apart from that i love everything else about the movie :
A fun ,well written ,well acted start for the next set of films.
8/10
7 out of 10. That’s a pretty good rating for me. I enjoyed the movie and LOVED Rey. Looses three stars for the Death Star 2.0 (the concept and how the stupid thing fired and operated, pulling a sun into itself yet the gravity of the planet doesn’t increase? The energy it fires travels at light speed yet slows down just before it hits it’s target? WTF?), making Captain Phasma useless, having Luke fail at bringing back the Jedi order at the hands of a brat who can’t control his power enough to stop a total newbie. It should have been called “Return of the Soon to be Defeated Again Jedi”. Great characters, bad story that borrowed just a bit to much from the originals. And I guess Leia decided to not learn to be a Jedi after all? One of the only other viable candidates in the galaxy at the end of ROTJ who happens to be very strong w the Force sidelined and left to look at holograms in control rooms while “feeling” the death of her friends from afar. Lame.
“Looses three stars for the Death Star 2.0 (the concept and how the stupid thing fired and operated, pulling a sun into itself yet the gravity of the planet doesn’t increase? The energy it fires travels at light speed yet slows down just before it hits it’s target? WTF?)”
You’re questioning the science in a movie franchise that gives us swords made of light? Common man, enjoy it for what it is. Star Wars has NEVER been about being scientifically correct, or even plausible. Lol
I feel ya. I’ve got no problem with laser swords and explosions in space but that planet weapon was on a new level when it comes to me not being able to suspend disbelief. Just over-the-top in the nonsense department.
It was over the top for sure. But hey…. what’s the good of bad guys if they can’t make really, really, bug weapons! – Lol
I rated it zero on day one. I don’t need 7 months to realize that it was the laziest unimaginative and offensive cash grab ever made in Hollywood. Just compare the feeling you have watching A New Hope ending with TFA. There was a real sense that something was accomplish and the hope is there while TFA was a devastating experience, the movie last act is visually dark and gloomy and the end shot on Luke was sad. This movie should have been called Star Wars A New Hopeless
‘O’ isn’t a considered review, or a thought out opinion. It’s angry fanboy ranting and unsupportable hyperbole.
I like that you can at least be fair when critiquing the film. Platinum is definitely exaggerating his disdain for the film.
Hey, I like to analyze film and figure out WHY I responded to things the way I did. I don’t hate it…because that would be insane – it’s a commercial piece of entertainment, it would be like passionately hating, oh, I dunno, Wonder Bread or Twinkies. There’s also nothing to be gained by something like, say, the way PS just goes “I HATE IT BECAUSE I HATE IT BECAUSE I HATE IT SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!” – how is that an interesting conversation? It’s as bad as “WAS IT PERFECT, NO, BUT 20 OUT OF 10 BECAUSE IT’S STAR WARS!!! WOOOO!!!!! PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE ARE JUST STUPID!!!” I’d rather talk about what works and what doesn’t and why.
.
BTW, good to see you back, dude.
I agree, Twinkies are heavenly. And I’m glad to be back.
I don’t like Twinkies; they’re soft and moist, and they get everywhere….
Not like Oreos. they’re crunchy, and tasty.
So…why are you still here, again?
Because this isn’t http://www.tfanewsnet.com? He still obviously has a love for a lot of the franchise, just an overwhelming, irrational and disturbingly deeply PERSONAL hatred for the most recent film.
Well, he’s also got a hatred for Rogue One already, and Kennedy, and Spielberg. So….that ‘love’ is questionable right now.
Oh, I aint arguing that he’s not weirdly angry and obsessed (and yeah, is happy to summarily and comically authoritatively prejudge everything post-Disney acquisition) just that, as long as he is a fan of SW, it seems he has a right to be here even if he didn’t like TFA.
In clinical terms, masochistic. Just sayin’.
Surprised you haven’t accused him of being me.
Unrelated but since you’ll block commenting for older responses. Finn is Reys equal and the assumption that he is anything less is racist dismissive bs. You’re saying Rey did everything but that sounds more like was handed everything seeing as that she faced no difficulties in the movie. That’s not interesting its boring. Finn had more of an arc than her and you’re an idiot to say anything about a character who’s just starting out and in just one film went from being a soldier in a war fighting on the wrong side to the hero who faces his punisher head on and tells him to come get it. Finn was 1000 times more relatable than Rey who flew a ship for the first time with no problem and speaks every language and is conviently placed in situations for the sake of the plot. Had she not been the one to seek Luke in the end, her entire role in the film would have been pointless. This isn’t a competition about who shines more. Finn can hold his own and entertains the masses. He has more defining traits than Rey. Finn is strong, brave, vulnerable, empathetic, compassionate, loyal, warm, kind, gentle, real, logical, adept, and charming. He has skills as well as weaknesses. He’s a real Luke Skywalker. He was being groomed for an officer position in the FO and is a good strategist, he’s force sensitive, a good shot, the best of the best. He held his own with a lightsaber and presented himself as a challenge and a threat to Kylo who sensed his awakening in the film. Sensed his inner power. Sensed his perseverance and was outraged. Kylo is interested in Finn or else why remember him of all the troopers. Why glare at him and single him out and toss aside Rey. There’s something about Finn we don’t know. You can call him whatever you like for responding naturally to being out of his environment, (better than you would I suspect) but good luck trying to convince anyone intelligible that Finns strike to Kylos shoulder wasn’t far more impressive and damaging a blow than a cut to the face Rey gave Kylo with the full assistance of the force. Rey did nothing but run until she downloaded the force and its clear she’s had former training, Finn however had no assistance and stood his ground. Make fun of him losing if it makes you feel better but Luke lost that 2nd fight to Vader as well and was ridden immobile for the rest of the film. You need not worry for Finn though. He’s healing himself while in his coma through the power of the force. He’ll come back swinging next year.
I double down on my ‘wut’? What the hell are you talking about?
Unrelated since commenting locks but-Wow! You’re just disrespectfully dismissive of Finn that it’s suspect. Now you can not like him, its fine-stupid-but fine. But to insult a character and ignore all his good elements and the distinct possibility that he could be destined for greatness is just flat out discriminatory. You’re just one of those typical Finn haters who view him as nothing more than support for Rey who struggled not one iota in the film. Finn succeeded because he was wise. Rey succeeded because the plot called for it and because Kathleen wants “strong female leads” completely ignoring the fact that they have to have legitimate faults. What are Reys weaknesses? You’re likely one of those basic Rey Skywalker theorists because she’s white and the lightsaber talked to her in Obi-Wans voice. Excuse me for thinking outside that generic box. She is like Han Solo. I ain’t talking bout no damn mindset. I mean how she grew up, her skills, her loves and her wit all are in line with Han. Poe is not Han and anyone who thinks so is just as basic as those who believe Rey to be a Skywalker. Poe is Leia, he has her one liners, and her role in ANH copy and pasted. The character itself adores her and he’s the pretty boy, not the bad boy who doesn’t know how to be a gentlemen. He’s basically a plot device in TFA. Finn like Luke is atypically masculine. Heās gentle, warm, kind. He shows his fear openly, in fact he seems to have zero filters when it comes to showing how he feels. He admits to his emotions openly and unashamed, but his openness and honesty about it does in no way make him weak, incompetent or turns him into a comic relief. Both Finn and Luke grew up as outsiders because of their warmth, empathy, compassion and open display of emotions. He is also the person whose seemingly mundane experience (shooting womp rats/working āsanitationā on Starkiller Base) is what results in the destruction of the Death Star du jour. Rey has no involvement in that aspect of the plot at all. She is entirely absent from that entire scenario. Finn was taken from his family at a young age and never offered a choice in the matter, the same as Anakin was. He was then indoctrinated into an order who believe that affection, love and normal human relationships were dangerous, that the ideals of the order must reign supreme and at all times trump the needs of the individual members, and that its leadership must be obeyed without question. Just like Anakin was supposed to serve whatever whims his master had for him as a slave on Tatooine, so Finn was supposed to serve his masters in the First Order. Finn ends up rebelling against First Order the same way Anakin ended up rebelling against the inhumanity of the Old Republic Jedi Order, but where Anakinās rebellion took him into the Dark, Finnās takes him into the Light. Also theyāre both 23 at the time of their respective rebellions. Like Luke and Anakin, Finn is a savant, easily learning new things with little or no instruction and in stressful situations.
Ummm…wut?
Not because of JJ Abrams, SW exists since 1977, it wasn’t invented last year by a Disney comitee
You hated it long before the release… Its entirely pointless to post it every time on here btw, noone really cares. Go to some PT fanboy page where can be nostalgic about the great era when Hayden Christensen and his midichlorians ruled Star Wars under the great genious Geroge Lucas.
This is a TFA review page, not an echo chamber. Why don’t you go make a Daisy Ridley tumblr, I herad she closed her instagram, she needs your support and the support of millions of other lemmings.
Please. The force was turned into a farce when it became a matter of levels of microscopic life forms in blood. This movie brought Star Wars back from the abhorrent prequel disasters and gave us likable characters we could actually care about and was a fun and exciting film – the first Sw of its kind since 1983.
I originally really liked it when I first saw it in the theater opening day. Bought it on Blu-Ray and saw it a second time and my enthusiasm diminished greatly. The movie doesn’t really offer anything new to the saga. It doesn’t feel quite epic, either. In fact, it’s quite barren, visually, and overall lacks inspiration. It’s just a retread of what we’ve seen before. No new vehicles, at least nothing that leaves much of an impression. The ‘new’ planets are boring. The whole movie feels scaled back, to the detriment of the story. While I like the fact the movie has a lot of energy and Harrison Ford’s performance, the movie could’ve been a lot more. Hopefully Ep. 8 will be more fulfilling.
I gave it a 9 in December, and I still give it a 9 today! I love this movie! Is it perfect? No. Are there things I wish they had done differently? Of course. As others have said, I could have done with out Death Star #3, but I loved the new characters much more than I expected to. I also loved the action, pacing and the humor. I love the mystery of who Rey really is. I love the heartache of losing Han.
I think one reason a lot of people criticize this movie is that they wanted the emotional weight of ESB. But the first movie of a trilogy is not really supposed to have that. ANH did not have that. I expect 8 to have it. So I am not disappointed. In fact, I think TFA has more emotional weight with the loss of Han than ANH did with the loss of Obi Wan, but then we have had nearly 40 years to get attached to Han.
it’s really difficult to rate this film as of now- we don’t really know its context within the new sequel trilogy, let alone in the entire 9 film saga.. there are so many unanswered questions (which as of now i would consider plotholes..not necessarily a bad thing) saw the film 8 times in the theater but it’s hard to give a rating
That means it can’t stand on it’s own. Hence a bad movie. I know it hurts, but stay strong. I did you can to
not necessarily- i just like to look at these films as part of three part sets, as opposed to standing on their own. i find that it does a good job of standing on its own. in fact, i wish it would have felt more connected to the rest of the six films and not feel like such a stand alone. your opinion doesn’t have to equal my opinion.
I still just can’t like it…I get that the majority do. For me, it just seemed and still does seem too much of a rehash, it’s a very lazy story that kind of destroys the entire point of the 6 movies prior. They really killed it by not reuniting the original 3 for some great moments back together..
I more recently watched a video with Mark Hamill as he was reading the script and you could see and hear the disappointment in him. Especially when the fight in the woods took place and he stated how perfect it would have been if Luke would have been the one that called the lightsaber to his hand instead of Rey…but oh well. Here’s to hoping 8 is better from a story perspective.
A great many of TFA’s problems are in truth common to ALL of JJ’s films, so I’m willing to hope for the best.
“They really killed it by not reuniting the original 3 for some great moments back together..”
I disagree. Having the the 3 of them together through out the movie would have taken over the film and overshadowed our new main cast. JJ and Arndt admitted that they had a hard time trying to figure out when to bring in Luke, because each time the did, he took over the entire story and our new main characters took a back seat. Which is not good if thye plan to move the story beyond the original 3… which they have to of course.
Think about the first 45-60 minutes of the film. We are introduced to Poe, Kylo, Finn and Rey. We get a great opening battle scene, amazing intros of Finn and Rey (Rey’s intro was perhaps the best character into in any of the Star Wars films) and a fun and exciting scene of Rey and Finn fighting their way off Jakku in the Falcon.
It was perhaps the most fun hour of Star Wars I have ever watched. And guess what… There was no Han, Luke, or Leia, That ultimately, was one of the movies greatest strengths, the development of the new characters and their introductions. I remember sitting the in the Theatre and thinking…. Wow this is pretty great so far… very fun and adventurous… it really felt like Star Wars. Then it dawned on me that I hadn’t even thought of Han or Luke yet, nor did I need them in the story at that point. I was enjoying it just fine without them.
So for that alone… score one for JJ and Kasdan!
In your opinion….
That’s all your post was too, an opinion.
Yep
Totally agree, Rob.
In fact, the greatest thing about TFA is that when it ends, I care about Rey and Luke equally.
You saved me from writing that, as these are the exact reasons why I am disappointed with TFA. (I give it a 5/10.)
I tried and I tried. Eventually I gave up, and ranked it. 6 out of the existing seven movies. Beating only Attack of the Clones.
lol…you know everyone beats up AOTC…but there are many things that I actually like about it. More so than 7 for me.
It’s got some cringe-worthy bits (Dex…Threepio…The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of…tick-things), but it’s also got the Coruscant chase, the revelation of Palpatine’s plan, most of the droid factory, the Harryhausen tribute of the arena battle, and the battle of Geonosis. I can’t see how it’s worse than the other two prequels
You clearly didn’t listen to everything Mark Hamill said about that, because he said he thought it was cool that it was Rey and not Luke. He also wasn’t disappointed… Way to use partial quotes against him.
I didn’t use anything against him. I listened very well…he added that it was cool that it was Rey after sarcastically looking at the audience. The disappointment come from the lack of them using Luke in the story after all the working out that he did, and watch his expressions as he discusses the lack of use of Luke.
You need to watch more of Mark Hamill…. He’s very sarcastic and often jokes about stuff while looking serious… Hamill is a fan of sci-fi and comics and he understands this stuff. Him working out was needed for TFA as he was extremely overweight, go look up some pictures of him before he started working out and losing weight for the movie. Actually I’ll find one for you. ( https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2605834.main_image.jpg
)This is from pre starting to workout for TFA. Even when TFA was finished filming he still needed to get into shape even more for Episode 8 as he was still a little pudgy and considering Episode 8 started filming a year and a couple months after they finished filming TFA he has had plenty of more time to get into even better shape and he looks even better then he did in TFA now. (http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2016/news/160711/mark-hamill-435.jpg)
Ok. …
6 out of 10..liked it..but still isn’t my favorite Star Wars film. The sad thing is I don’t want to keep thinking about it because the more I do the more I begin to think of things that could have been done that would’ve made the movie 100xs better.
I give it a 7, a can resume my thoughts about the movie this way: Good characters, really entertaining story, one of the best lightsaber battles, but totally lacking of visual creativity, a very importat ingredient in star wars ( almost all was rehash ).
But I’m sure the next movies will compensate that.
(Sorry for my english n_n)
I give it 7. why?
Good Things
– Rey, Finn, Maz Kanata and Han Solo are great characters.
– The acting is better than the most of SW movies.
– ItĀ“s a fun movie in general.
Bad Things
– ItĀ“s mostly created for the original trilogy fans. You canĀ“t just abandon to thousands of the precuels fans. So extremist.
– The worlds are boring. No creativity. No fauna. No cities. Are just a normal desert, a normal lake, a normal forest. If you tell me this is the earth, I believe you. IĀ“ve been in a lot of more interesting places in my real life. Are just boring copies of Tatooine, Hoth and Endor.
-There have been always plot inconsistencies in every movie. But this movie has a lot, more than any other.
-Kylo Ren is a very interesting character, and the actor is great, and the concept of duality between light and dark is nice. But he is always losing, the droids escapes from him, finn escapes too, Rey counter his mind control, Hux ridicules him in front of Snoke, Chewie hits him, and he loose so quickly in his first lightsaber duel with a newbie (with a lot of potential, but a newbie in the force like Luke in TESB) who just have awakens the force. Yeah, he was injured in the leg, but I donĀ“t see Maul, Dooku or any other dark side badass defeated this way. I know the concept of Kylo ren as DarkSide User is evolving, but man, he is a Skywalker, trained by the most powerful jedi ever and granson of the Choosen One. You can just make him a looser without any respect.
-Starkiller base. Another Death Star. Really? If you wanted to make a similar idea, just be a little more creative like the World Devastators or the Star Forge, for example.
-Phasma, like Ren. They show her like a Badass in helmet, and in her first battle she got captured and thrown away to the garbage. Literaly.
-The OST is the worst of the SW movies, even Rebels is much better. The only amazing theme is ReyĀ“s Theme. The other are boring, and uninspired remixes of ANO themes.
-Han Solo dies. ThatĀ“s not a problem itself. But Leia and Chewie are going to be so boring. Those two characters only are great when they interacts with Han and their Reactions. Like C3PO, without R2D2 he is boring.
-The story in general is very, very, very similar to ANH. Only the part with the gangs is original. I know JJ wanted to make it to remember to the Original Trilogy. But, one thing is the feeling in general, the dialogues, the concept. And another is to copy the base.
-JJ just doesnĀ“t know to make movies. He used so often the mistery of not telling a lot of things, and makes the movie so confused. You can do it in a TV show like Lost, but this in a Star Wars movie is wrong. The movie has to make sense itself, some misteries, but not in that level.
I like the movie, but to me is the worst (with diference) of the Star Wars movies. The characters are good, the plot is bad.
Still an 8/10. Recently viewed it back-to-back with ROTJ (special edition, unfortunately) and I like it better. Gets a point off from being derivative – which didn’t really bother me until the trench run (although as I watch that sequence more, its really cool with the stormtroopers manning the guns outside) and a point off for some speedy editing and R2’s random awakening.
7 out of 10, great practical effects, great villain, boyega was great, 3rd death star was disappointing, I found Rey to be really bland, could have given snoke a practical costumer instead of cgi, did not like the lightsaber effects tbh, Could have benefited from more Oscar Isaac.
I do feel this film made up for a lot of the nonesense that was in the prequels and felt like the original trilogy however it could have benefited from a better lightsaber duel and special effects. I think this will be improved upon on the next film. I am also hoping the develop Rey a lot more and have her be an interesting character instead of a a loaf of bread.
6/10. Effects are great, I was happy with them, although they needed to spend more time on one scene instead of what the ADHD crowd wants. I’m ADHD btw.
The story? Awful if you stop and think about it. The arc is fine (although copied from ANH) and overall acting was pretty good for most characters. But the details! They could not shut down the mag when Finn and Poe escape? There are no cameras on ANY of the bases? They have all this tech but no thermal imaging to find Rey? Why was Phasma so quick to just give up and turn off the shields or let them throw her down a garbage chute? Needed more depth on Coruscant, who were those people on the balcony, I know they deleted a bit of the movie, bring it back! Speeder chase scene, no Xwing incockpit fight scenes. No capital ship fights. Bleh. So yeah, good graphics and practical effects, but the meat of the story was awful. If you don’t think about what you are watching, it’s great. My kid loves it beyond belief, and I do like it as well. I find myself picking it up more than any of the other 6 to be perfectly honest, I love looking in the background for things I had missed.
I think its the 6 or 7 I gave it last. I enjoy the movie more now for what it is, a jumping off point to reengage the fans. Most of the characters are great, one or two under used or not portrayed as good due to the story. Visually stunning and can still fondly recall the moment the Falcon appeared.
However, still feel that the story is a let down, with Luke missed greatly. I understand the reasons leaving him out, but felt he should of been more active in a better role. The Death Star on steroids in plain lazy, could of been a giant dockyard of a fleet of drone Star Destroyers built to lay waste to the Republic, or anything else new and fresh, but no. Also don’t like the concept of Episode VIII picking up from the finish of VII. Why even bother showing Luke if this was the case? Makes the ending a drawn out affair simply for that shot of Luke.
There is hope for the future…
My Pros:
I really loved the three new heroes: Rey, Finn, and Poe. I liked that they gave Han a lot of story line, and I’m actually glad he died for a useful cause rather than survive the new trilogy with no purpose. I loved Chewbacca in this one because he seemed very lovable, and I never really responded to the character like I did while watching it. I’d say Kylo Ren is probably my favorite character from the movie. He seems more impulsive, broken and reckless than Vader. Plus I love the villain in training because they’re still not sure which way they’ll go. I love that it feels like Star Wars and it feels like the movie after Return of the Jedi. The most thing I like about the film is the plot. Finding Luke Skywalker was a very creative plot and I take my hat off to JJ Abrams..
Cons:
I liked Rey but it just seems like they set her up as a “Mary Sue” at the end. I know Kylo Ren was shot by the bowcaster, but it seems lame that they would put that in the story just to have him lose. I don’t care if she was trained because casual fans still don’t get it. IMHO it was a very weak story line. I believe Luke Skywalker should have stepped in at the end, therefore I’ll take off points of my rating for that.
I felt I like Leia should have been in the story more. I didn’t like Starkiller Base. I felt as though the plot took a huge turn too quick and it didn’t really make much sense. Also, I didn’t like Snoke. I felt like it just wasn’t Star Wars and you can’t beat Palpatine. I wish they would’ve just had Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren as the main dark side users and have the leader of the First Order as someone like Grand Moff Tarkin or Grand Admiral Thrawn. The main thing I disliked was the lack of politics and the lack of telling what happened in between the last 30 years….
I give the film a overall plot of 7/10
I really liked TFA, but I am looking forward to Episode IIIV more. I want to see Master Jedi Luke Skywalker in action. Luke is my favorite Star Wars character of all time.
“Episode IIIV”
Hmmm… so that would be Episode “2”
I think you mean VIII. š
Man I’d just like to say good job on this site BTW. I remember when I was like the only one coming here. Now I’m not even the first to click on an article. 160 other people had voted before I got here earlier. Keep up the good work guys. You’re still my source for SW news!
Thanks for the kind words. š
9 out of 10. Every time I watch it, I like it more. I’s funny, the characters are appealing, the dialogue is sharp, and the pacing is quick. I find it hard to see many huge flaws, other than what i felt was a necessary lack of originality.
Still an 8/10 for me. I love the movie but I think it was hindered because of how much it had to set up and cover instead of just letting it be it’s own thing. This is why I’m so excited for Episode VIII. Now we’re set up and continuing right where we left off. Not sure what it was but nothing can beat my second viewing. Once I knew what was gonna happen it was much easier to sit down and watch and it was amazing. Since then I’ve yet to recapture that feeling. But I still love it.
There are faults but what Star Wars movie doesn’t have them. The faults become apart of what we love about them and the joy we can have in memes. TFA still sits in a very close 2nd place in my list right behind TESB!
I gave it a 9/10 then.. and I’m giving it a 9/10 now. Still #2 on the list.
8/10. Great fun.
8/10 Good overall but it seems to simply be a remake of A New Hope. I was hoping to see more of the New Republic and Coruscant. Another version of the Death Star was a let down.
This movie was so awesome it was made of awesome sauce and dripping with super special awesome sauce and then smothered in the sweetest awesome sauce sprinkles.
The Force Awakens IS much more than a simply remake of A New Hope. Who only can say this is linked in the very surface of the film. there a re much more elements in it, unknowed in A New Hope. Say to me that TFA is a simply reamake of ALL the Star Wars saga, and you will be much nearer of the truth. And, besides, part of this Star Wars are new, fresh, fucked dazzling elements.
I still stand by my 3/10. Overall TFA was a thorough disappointment. I, for one, am not a person going to the movies, to be blown by the visuals and just be entertained for 120 minutes, but to witness something that’s gonna be compelling in one way or another and will have me thinking about it long after I left the theatre. Usually movies achieve that for me with:
a) the story
b) the characters
c) the overall design of the operatus of the world where the events take place, the laws that govern that reality, if you will
d) the mood
TFA failed to deliver on all of these to the various extent.
a) the story – the laziest, I’ll repeat, the LAZIEST story ever written for a movie that turned out to be as success as TFA was. it was so painful to see the plot unfold on the premiere, how lazy, unimaginative and predictable this blob it was, doesn’t get much better if during re-watches. the worst kind of screenwriting you can get in Hollywood these days, I’d rather have an overly complicated BvS that at least strives to achieve something and epically fails, than a movie like TFA that’s so unambitious and lukewarm that it hurts
b) the characters – mostly 2 dimensional and very forceful. Rey – Mary Sue, who’s hard to identify with cuz of how goddamn perfect she is. Finn – was promised to be something we haven’t seen in SW before, badass character, with his ethnicity very much in your face to all those Hollywood and SW purists, who wields a Skywalker’s lightsaber despite not being part of lineage – in reality turns out to be comic relief who cops out on his friends at the most crucial moment on Takodana, to then sort of redeem himself by being helpless on Starkiller. Poe – soulless badass pilot that we don’t see enough of. Kylo – probably the best character of TFA with a good performance from Driver, however, with his overall heaviness on the emo side, I couldn’t see the guy who keeps ashes of his enemies in his room at Starkiller that Visual Guide tries to paint, over a conflicted young adult Vader fan boy ugh
c) the laws governing the universe – so 30 years after ROTJ there is still Empire (in everything but a name) making Rebels victory on Endor not a victory really, there are still Sith (in everything but a name) making Vader’s sacrifice pretty futile, there is still a Rebellion (in everything but a name) in the galaxy where officialy there’s no real war going on at the time, there’s another Death Star, there’s another planet destroyed, there’s another female Yoda; reintroducing all these concepts undermines their importance in Original Films. let me put it this way: when I was watching ROTJ as a kid it was so satisfying to see the ending when the good guys win and finally we have peace, now, when kids are gonna watch Ep.6 there’ll be like, its all cool, but in 30 years time there’s gonna be the same shit for them to deal with so it’s not really a victory after all
d) the mood – is there any in this film? it’s like there’s peace in galaxy, but not really. there is a sense of danger, but not really (we know Rebels will destroy Starkiller, not the other way round). there is a sense of longing for long lost child, but not really (they don’t even refer to him by name, show me loving parents post 1920 who refer to their kid as ‘our son/daughter’ in private conversations), there’s a sense of nostalgia but not really – it’s all the same but with rounder edges, different color palettes
I’ve seen the movie 5 times by now, desperately trying to like it more, but with every viewing these faults become more and more apparent. I just want to pretend it never happened (some of you who hate TPM might relate to that sentiment) and try to start off the ST experience with E 8 if it proves to be any better.
Let the shitstorm begin
Couldn’t agree with you more – i commented in the thread elsewhere and feel the same way. I really do wish we got to see George Lucas’s vision instead of this – although he gets knocked at least he has imagination which was lacking in TFA
Blah Blah. George shouldn’t be allowed near a film. He has decent ideas but poor execution. He shared some of his ideas in the storyboarding phase and I imagine they heard the word Jar and tuned out. He sold the brand, he doesn’t get to have ideas or a say anymore. He can stay bitter about it. That 4billion should be comfy.
You may not realize the impact he has had…This is his creation. The story of the prequels was much better than anything new. It was the lack of a good director that hurt those films. He should have been in there as a consultant.
Proof that the cynical critics are always the loudest. This movie was in no way shape or form a 3, neither was it a 10, but you’re welcome to your opinion. I respect your thought out reasoning, which is more than what some people put into their posts. š
I’d say it would depend alot on what generation of SW fan you are. This was a movie made for a new generation that new no history of SW and from there perspective probably a 9 or 10.
From an old fan who was there in line for the original and read every book since…I think a 3 is fair. At least for me personally. Whether it was JJ or Lucasfilm, they played it way to safe and rehashed way too much for it to be a memorable story line.IMO
3 is absolutely horrible out of 10. That’s like Troll 2 level and The Room level. B movies are in the 3s. The Force Awakens is no way near a 3.
I’m not knocking the people that love it at all. I understand why they do. I just don’t. And the more I’ve watched it the less I like it.
Yeah, for me it’s really bad. Yet, I’m still following it and hoping 8 will help me to enjoy 7 a little more.
I remember how they kept the 3rd Death star hidden from the public and I laughed so hard when Harloff on Collider first saw it on the poster…just too many items like the death star that are just horrible for me.
Since you’re looking for a fight. Everything you said about Finn was bs. You have to stick with a character for a trilogy to decide their arc. There has never before been a stormtrooper as the lead of a Star Wars film. He didn’t cop out on anyone. He left the First Order rightfully so and is much more well endowed when it comes to them than the film or he himself let on. There was nothing to cop out on unless you’re referring to a simple droid mission and Finn only displayed reason and logic. He knows how to fight with fists, he is an excellent shot and was the best trooper amongst his peers. Are you seriously gonna nitpick him not winning a fight with Kylo using a weapon he isn’t familiar with but then still call Rey a Mary Sue? What do you want. Neither could have won without the help of the force. He presented himself as a challenge and a threat to Kylo and got a much more damaging blow on him than a cut to the face. Finn showed signs of force sensitivity and Kylo sensed it when he didn’t kill those villigers that something was off about him. Please explain how being funny makes someone comedic relief? Kylos outburts are defined as comedic relief. Finn is funny sure, as well as empathetic, compassionate, vulnerable, realistic, brave, strong, heroic, humble, and honorable. The fate of the galaxy and his friend are more important to him than a droid with a flash drive and I can respect that. He puts others before himself in a act of selflisness. He goes from running from the FO to facing the very man who has controlled him this whole time and tells him “Come and get it”. Chills. This is the start of a hero v villain conflict. You see Kylo has a vested interest in Finn and remembered him among all the other troopers he considers cannon fodder because he was in his mind. The prospect of Finn having escaped leads him into a rage. After being shot by Chewies bowcaster, Kylo glares at Finn and the camera continues to zoom in on the two of them in a back in forth glance. Kylo proceeds to follow Finn outside and even toss Rey out of the way because he has no interest in fighting her. Why is that? We shall see. As a matter of fact, its Finns actions that are responsible for the outcomes of the film much to the extent of Luke Skywalker. The film is dependant on him. Had it not been for Finn, Poe would have died, Rey would still be alone and the resistance would have been faced with the high likelihood of defeat. Finn is the Luke of this new trilogy, just look at his characteristics, his abilities and his eerily similar defeat. He’s Luke reincarnate whereas Rey is Han with a lightsaber. Think about it.
You seem very passionate. Some of what you say I agree with, some I’m not sure about. In my opinion, Finn is not a character we have really ever seen before in Star Wars. As a “hero” in these films, he is pretty unique. Is he a hero? I would say yes. Is he a coward? At times, I would also say yes. Finn seems to fail through almost the whole movie, but he almost always tries to do the right thing (except for when he almost abandons Rey and BB-8 at Maz’s castle). For this, he is relatable. He’s not squeaky clean and perfect. He’s a conflicted man that’s been manipulated by a system since who knows how young. He’s the only one among his fellow Stormtroopers to take a stand and try to do what’s right. How many of us in the same situation would do much better? Yeah, he seems like Rey’s clumsy sidekick through most of the movie, but as “powerful” as the filmmakers portray her, Rey NEEDS Finn. She’s never had anyone in her life, and there is an obvious kindred spirit (non-romantic) relationship between her and Finn. Boyega is a likable actor – he can lay it on pretty thick but he’s got chops. I wouldn’t go so far as to compare Finn to Luke as you have, but I’m very curious as to where his character will go in the next couple of films. I have to admit, Finn wasn’t my favorite character from the new movie, but we’ll see what’s in store for him soon enough….
I absolutely love this movie for what it represents… Star Wars coming back to the cinema, Star Wars going back to its roots, people being united again. Concerning the movie, it has great characters, great humor, it’s very well done on a technical level. That’s a great achievement.
Now for the weak points… the plot. They played it too safe and the story isn’t very interesting at this point. A lot of elements are missing too, so it feels a bit like the movie is incomplete.
I stand by my very first impression when I left the cinema: 8.5/10
It’s not a sequel to VI. It’s a whole new story. They chose to start it by paying homage to the previous episodes. It’s not that bad of an idea. Now that we love the characters, let’s have an interesting story as well.
I am 100% optimistic for what’s to come. Rian will surprise us. I believe that.
I gave it a 10/10 and saw it over 15 times in the cinema and countless more times when it was released on Blu-ray. I thought it was the best Star Wars movie ever. I believe the euphoria of seeing a new Star Wars movie made me blind to the flaws. Now, I rate it a 7/10… re-hash of the original trilogy but I get that we needed to have a familiar springboard to jump back into the galaxy. Hopefully the subsequent films in the new trilogy branch out and won’t rely too much on what has already been done before.
The MF chase on Jakku is still a thrill to watch. I especially enjoy the physicality in Rey’s piloting. All those great shots of her at the controls, grunting and giving it her all, and the Falcon responding, and it works so well. It’s an incredibly cool scene.
One thing I’d have enjoyed would have been a little more mystery. Sure, we don’t know where Rey comes from, and there was the saber discovery (which for me was more odd and awkward than mysterious). But the trailers had some dialogue; e.g. “‘Who are you?’ ‘I’m no one,'” and “There were stories about what happened,” that seemed to crank up the mystery and epic grandeur, and there was not enough of that in the finished movie. Instead we just got “Who’s the girl?” Not knowing who somebody’s mom and dad are is is a little boring for me at this point.
The story was fine. The rest: great characters, nice, easy humor, and terrific performances (Domhnall Gleeson layed it on a bit thick, but apart from that).
This movie could have failed in a thousand different ways. The number of people pi***ng in the punchbowl saying insane things like “ROTS was better” is about as small as it could ever possibly have been. 8/10.
Went from 10/10 to 9/10. Despite some flaws in the movie, there are so many amazing scenes that maje it such a powerful movie. For me the scene where Rey is in the snowy forest over Finn who is injured and Rey looks hopeless, suddenly a light appears anf it’s Chewbacca who has come to save them in the Falcon. Wow, gets me in the feels everytime.
before seeing the film i was disapointed with the involvement of JJ abrams as i do not like his directing style at all. I thought most of his previous movies were all wishy washy rubbish made for an easily pleased audience. I dislike everything about his movies from casting, to terrible cocky characters, Logic defying unbelievable events, unbelievably lucky characters, crappy dialogue, choppy pacing. lack of wonder, suspense, jarring cinematography, .Seeing TFA in the cinema for the first time i was surprised to find the movie didnt turn out so bad, however 8 months on i can see his ‘style’ all over TFA and it isn’t as strong as i first thought. If only Denis Villneuve had been asked to make TFA i would have been over the moon, oh well at least he is making Blade Runner 2
I’ve watched it seven times. I’ve loved it every time. The stretch from the opening crawl to the abduction of Rey by Kylo Ren is riveting. John Williams’ score just gets better and better with each listen (Rey’s theme has been a constant and welcome earworm for the last 7 months) And the literal cliffhanger at the end is genius. General Hux is still a poor villain (I want a Grand Moff Tarkin type—older and more wily) and the death star rehash is flabby, but overall…tremendous movie. 9 out of 10.
I love episode 7 too this day! Kylo ren is awesome! episodes 8 and 9 will really draw back the curtain on this film though. I mean Is snoke a poor mans palpatine, or the most original Sw villain of all time? The force awakens can be judged on its own merit of course but it is much more clearly part of a greater story than a new hope was initially.
It comes in at number 6 for me. Only beating Attack of the Clones. so 6 out of 10 seems appropriate. At least the prequels had saberfights, space battles, and original plot. I saw this 3 times in the theater, and I OWN the collectors addition. I looked at it maybe twice. Everytime wanting to love this movie. Needing to love this movie. Never. What power is that Kylo is using on the blaster bolt? Never saw that before, I thought. He must be really powerful. Nevermind suspend reality continue to watch. Wait… Blasters make you bleed now? Wait StormTrooper for life, and knows how to use ZERO EQUIPMENT! What are those hentai tentacle monsters? A FREAKING DEATH STAR PLANET! It absorbs suns… but it has a fixed orbit… how can it reload? Can’t wait til they tell me how she found Anakin’s saber. Now is not the time. No!Now is the perfect time. I even paid to find out. Look ticket stub, and all. How does she even know the words for Jedi Mind trick? Really Phasma….Really? Bye Bye Han. I like Kylo he’s cool… wait. Who’s he in a force pull tug of war with?.. oh here comes LUKE…. No its Rey… ok. Well there’s no way…she can beat the dude who can freeze blaster bolts right? Right? If you bring up that crossbow, and how damaging it is I’ll freaking EXPLODE! There’s this thing see. It’s called Star Wars right. And in it there’s power levels. And untrained people with “potential” can NOT beat Someone at the level of a Knight. REGARDLESS OF INJURY! But I digress. Leia hugs someone other than Chewie. Ex Machina R2, awkward stare. Roll credits
Well, it’s much better than Clones, but it has its issues. I REALLY like your writing style, as unconventional as it is. Really made me laugh. It’s good, keep at it…
Yeah, I do not completely agree with you (and I rated the movie 9/10) but at least you got some points)
First time seeing the film, I wasn’t impressed, but the second and following viewings were much different. I’m pretty sure every Star Wars fan went into this with high expectations and some may have had too high of expectations and caused them to be extremely critical and not view the movie for what it was. This is honestly how you should go into any movie, to watch and enjoy it, not be critical. After my first viewing I probably would have rated it a 5, but after my second, and how I voted in the first poll I rated it a 7, which is where I rate it now still.
Overall rankings:
ESB:9 ANH: 8 ROTJ: 7 TFA:7 ROTS:6 TPM: 5 AOTC: 3 (No, I didn’t give ESB a 10, because every film has flaws)
I agree completely. I was not that impressed with TFA when I first watched it in theaters, but that being said, upon further viewings I’ve liked it more and more. Yeah, it’s not perfect, and it has a lot of flaws (like ALL the Star Wars movies), but it is definitely fun for the most part. One thing I really want to comment on, is how you’ve placed ROTJ ahead (or at least on par with) TFA in your rankings. As good (or as bad, depending on your point of view) as TFA is, in my opinion it still is not as good as any of the OT movies. I see a lot of posters on here that put Empire 1st, New Hope 2nd, and TFA 3rd. I know ROTJ has its flaws, but really? You guys hate Ewoks that much? (I was never a big fan of the little fury guys either, by the way) ROTJ isn’t my favorite (like most, Empire is) but I’d take an army of Ewoks any day over derivative and nonsensical Starkiller Base. I’m always surprised how much hate ROTJ seems to get.
Well, ROTJ also had a Death Star. And other than the speeder bike chase, there’s 40 minutes of ROTJ where nothing happens.
I don’t know, I guess I just don’t see it that way. I always really liked all the Jabba the Hutt stuff and the Han rescue – even with all the puppets (which I think was better done and more convincing than most of the creatures we saw at Maz’s castle). The sequence over the Sarlaac Pit I think is one of the most fun scenes in all the Star Wars movies – like an old swashbuckling pirate movie except with hover ships and laser swords. You already mentioned the speeder bike chase – all goodness. The space battle near the end of the movie I think is still the greatest space fighting sequence in all the Star Wars movies – all the capital ships fighting, fighters battling Star Destroyers, and then flying inside Death Star II to blow it up. Thought that all was really cool. And of course, the final showdown between Luke, Vader, and the Emperor was really well done. I assume the 40 minutes where nothing happens that you are referring to is when the heroes get to Endor, meet the Ewoks, and Luke goes off with Vader to match wits with the Emperor. I agree that was a slower part of the movie, but by no means did I find it boring. There were slower parts in New Hope (between when droids land on Tatooine and the Falcon blasts off for Alderaan) and Empire too (a lot of Luke’s training with Yoda and Han and Leia hiding out from the Empire). I see you’re point on Death Star II being derivative like Starkiller, and the whole “Leia is now Luke’s sister” seemed kinda shoehorned in, but overall the movie has a lot of strong points in my opinion – Ewoks not withstanding. But, art is subjective, and I understand not everyone sees everything the same way….
ROTJ is saved by Hamill & McDiarmid in the Throne Room. They’re great. Now, if the original Sarlaac remains, without the additions – then maybe ROTJ is better, because the Special Edition Sarlaac is awful.
Counterpoint – love it love it love it. It works in a way that virtually none of the other SE additions do.
Oh, and I totally forgot to mention one of the best parts about ROTJ – Leia’s infamous gold bikini. Am I right or am I right?
Opening was great. The chase scene through the crashed ships was great. Death Star Planet was stupid. Still using x-wings and tie fighters was lazy. The scene where Han Solo captured the Millennium Falcon was a Star Trek style scene and NOT a Star Wars scene. Hated that. Knights of Ren is interesting. Snoke was introduced far too early. He should have been introduced in 8. Rey was just too powerful for no training. We saw Luke train. We know how hard it is. 8 better clean that up. All in All the least favorite movie in the series to me.
I give it 7/10. Good film overall.
–What still bugs me is all the unanswered questions placed in the film. A great film has plants then payoffs at the end. Too many plants and not enough payoffs for this film. It’s as if Lucasfilm/Disney are forcing us to watch the next films to guarantee $$ for them.
But it is a trilogy. The story is supossed to start with a movie that plants plot questions. Even TPM did that and we alrady knew how it was all going to end anyway.
Unanswered questions are, by no means, plot holes. Plot holes are contradictions.
Rey’s quick ability to use the force with no explanation felt like a plot hole to me. Yes I understand that it will probably be answered in the next films and it may be this great force ability. Same with the reveal of her parental lineage. But not for the film to stand on its own.
It isn’t much different than Luke’s. He’s a farm boy that suddenly can lead an X-Wing attack. Or who learns with Yoda, in a couple of weeks what Jedi take years.
Or how a child Anakin takes out the enemy’s space station basically by accident.
The Force Awakens goes out of this way to explain why Rey can fight – she lives alone in a very dangerous environment and has to defend herself; how she is a good mechanic – her job is to scavenge parts parts fix themselves and sell them; how obsessed she is with piloting – owning a rebellion helmet and a doll and being very familiar with the Falcon, being able to explain to Han Solo every change that had been made to it.
She also didn’t really display that much power as people imply. It was established she was a good fighter already and Kylo Ren was severely injured, by a weapon the film demonstrated quite a few times was very weapon and having the extent of his wound being shown.
Anyway, even if you feel something was unaddressed, it is not a plot hole. A plot hole is a contradiction. Not knowing who her parents are contradicts nothing in the story and, quite frankly, at no point seemed any relevant to the plot. We also Only learned Luke and Lea were siblings three films in, that Vader was Luke’s father two films in, so, so much for your concern of a film standing on its own.
I loved the film overall. The new characters and their archs is the reason the film was a success.
I still believe there are too many unanswered questions for one film. If maybe a few more questions were answered, then I would give it a 9. Yes, withholding parental lineage info is obviously a star wars trademark and I do not consider a plot hole. It may have appeared to be in my last post but that wasn’t the example.
Youtube has many videos explaining plot holes and unanswered questions on TFA. I watched some of them and they made me cringe.
But I respect everyone’s own opinion of the film. And I’m still a fan. And I hope episode 8 is better.
Yeah, I hate Disney for not resolving a parental conflict in a movie. Reminds me of something that happened in 1980 with this other space opera film….oh…wait………
I still give it an 8/10. Only a few dislikes, mainly pacing. Just when you meet a character you don’t get much info or a lot of screrntime.. Snoke, Captain Phasma , Lor San Tekka, was a bit of a wasted oppurtunity to give us more background. hopefully more time in VIII they will be developed.
Other than that I still enjoy it. Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley stood out the most.
Oh and…More Luke!
I still stick with my original score of 9/10. Being able to come back into this universe after so long has just been a blast for me. I know there’s so many fan things that have popped up about it being too close to the orig trig, but I look of it as more of an homage than a bad take.
I gave the movie a 6.
It rehashed so many story elements from ANH. The film opens with an attack by a dark hooded figure, where a driod escapes with secret files, that he has to get back to the good guy base. The driod runs into a young person Luke/Rey on a desert planet. Kylo/Anakin killed all the Jedi and his master Luke/Obi-Wan went into hiding. The mentor speaks of the force and later is killed by the bad guy. There’s an alien cantina sequence. There’s a small mentor Yoda/Maz who has a connection with the force as in the ESB. There’s a giant weapon that is the size of a planet/moon that is our heroes must blow up, is on its way to blow up the good guys base with Leia on it. There’s a selfish character that turns around. There’s a trench run and a battle between x-wings and tie fighter, a tie fighter pilot blows up the super weapon and saves the day. There’s a sand planet, a forest/jungle planet, and a snow planet like in ESB. There isn’t much creative or original concepts or designs that we haven’t seen before.
I left the midnight showing feeling numb and unsure whether I’d enjoyed it or not. Seeing it again the next day, I actually loved it: Poe- great, villains – great, Maz – great. Gave it an 8.5 at the time, but I’m going with a 7 now. If I’m going t watch some Star Wars, I wouldn’t immediately reach for this – I’d always choose OT.
Problems: The whole Rathtar bit – no impact on the story… Just get on with it. Under-used characters – Phasma, cool looking guys at Resistance base, the guys from The Raid. Leia – just felt a bit unconvincing. ‘Easter Eggs’ – the bit that makes me cringe every time is Finn turning on the dejarik table and finding the training remote. I was just waiting for some one to pour a glass of blue milk and give a knowing wink to the camera.
Going forward, I want to see more new stuff that builds from, not borrows from, the OT. Most of all I don’t want Rey to be Obi Wan’s/Sheeve’s/Hondo’s granddaughter or second cousin – give us something new!
The move achieved it’s strategic purpose 1) To reintroduce the SW universe and 2) Create new loveable characters that will carry the crowds for decades to the cinemas. In that respect it is a glorious 10/10. However as a movie it is not perfect having some mistakes that are really nitpicking but still they make me go to 9/10. Phasma should have been more in there and Hux less for example. Maz was not the best thing to see, these are things that could have been done better. The main thing that bugged me (and this is still nitpickin btw) is that Luke Skywalker did not have one single line. I would have stuck with 9/10 but the fact that Luke didn’t say anything literary killed me in the last seconds. That is why i am going with a final 8/10. And it is solild guys, this was an awesome Star Wars movie all in all.
Loved it the first time I saw it though I wasn’t sure exactly how much because of all the anticipation and expectation. After my second viewing I loved it even more, and watched it several times since then. There were a few things that bugged me about it, and I think I probably gave it a 9 before, but I’m trying to be realistic (even though it’s hard to imagine a ‘perfect’ movie, Star Wars or otherwise). I gave it an 8 this time.
Sure the movie borrows elements from a “New Hope,” but the new (and old) characters are so enjoyable – and the movie brims with the kind of passionate filmmaking missing from the prequels – that I enjoyed it, warts and all.
Wow you’re just disrespectfully dismissive of Finn that it’s suspect. Now you can not like him, its fine-stupid-but fine. But to insult a character and ignore all his good elements and the distinct possibility that he could be destined for greatness is just flat out discriminatory. You’re just one of those typical Finn haters who view him as nothing more than support for Rey who struggled not one iota in the film. Finn succeeded because he was wise. Rey succeeded because the plot called for it and because Kathleen wants “strong female leads” completely ignoring the fact that they have to have legitimate faults. What are Reys weaknesses? You’re likely one of those basic Rey Skywalker theorists because she’s white and the lightsaber talked to her in Obi-Wans voice. Excuse me for thinking outside that generic box. She is like Han Solo. I ain’t talking bout no damn mindset. I mean how she grew up, her skills, her loves and her wit all are in line with Han. Poe is not Han and anyone who thinks so is just as basic as those who believe Rey to be a Skywalker. Poe is Leia, he has her one liners, and her role in ANH copy and pasted. The character itself adores her and he’s the pretty boy, not the bad boy who doesn’t know how to be a gentlemen. He’s basically a plot device in TFA. Finn like Luke is atypically masculine. Heās gentle, warm, kind. He shows his fear openly, in fact he seems to have zero filters when it comes to showing how he feels. He admits to his emotions openly and unashamed, but his openness and honesty about it does in no way make him weak, incompetent or turns him into a comic relief. Both Finn and Luke grew up as outsiders because of their warmth, empathy, compassion and open display of emotions. He is also the person whose seemingly mundane experience (shooting womp rats/working āsanitationā on Starkiller Base) is what results in the destruction of the Death Star du jour. Rey has no involvement in that aspect of the plot at all. She is entirely absent from that entire scenario. Finn was taken from his family at a young age and never offered a choice in the matter, the same as Anakin was. He was then indoctrinated into an order who believe that affection, love and normal human relationships were dangerous, that the ideals of the order must reign supreme and at all times trump the needs of the individual members, and that its leadership must be obeyed without question. Just like Anakin was supposed to serve whatever whims his master had for him as a slave on Tatooine, so Finn was supposed to serve his masters in the First Order. Finn ends up rebelling against First Order the same way Anakin ended up rebelling against the inhumanity of the Old Republic Jedi Order, but where Anakinās rebellion took him into the Dark, Finnās takes him into the Light. Also theyāre both 23 at the time of their respective rebellions. Like Luke and Anakin, Finn is a savant, easily learning new things with little or no instruction and in stressful situations.
The more I re-watch it, the more i’m bothered by how Finn is portrayed in the movie. I really wish he could have been exceptional in someway, like all the other characters were.
Agree that Finn is a problem when you examine the character – a whole bunch of goodwill papers over during the runtime because of just how engaging Boyega is, but if you strip that away, yeah, he’s not so good on the page. I’m not sure anyone other than Rey is exceptional though; Finn, absolutely not exceptional, Ben, well, he’s got exceptional powers that never matter (seriously, yes he can extract thoughts, but having got the information he wants, he still fails to retrieve the droid, repeatedly, then gets beaten by Rey in a Force-down – where he is supposed to be exceptional), Han is there to crack wise, and spout exposition, he doesn’t even really get any quality time with the Falcon apart from crashing it into a glacier. Phasma and Hux are non-entities, Snoke…who knows? The film certainly isn’t interested in telling us a anything about him. Leia really doesn’t need to be in the movie, which leaves…Poe I guess?
Rey’s exceptionality is crystal clear, she can do anything.
Poe is called “the best pilot in the resistance”.
Kylo Renn may not be the best dark side character, but he is pivotal to the plot and the heir to Darth Vader.
Han, Luke, Leia and Chewbacca are classic characters who’s worth goes without saying.
General Hux, Phasma and Snoke are powerful leaders, and they aren’t really “main characters”
But poor Finn is a nervous and bumbling “damsel in distress” who’s involvement in the plot makes little difference.
Doesn’t he rescue Poe in the beginning and leads the mission the disable the shields in the end?
He doesn’t actually “rescue” Poe, He is trying to run away and he needed a pilot. If he could fly a TIE Fighter he would have left Poe to die and left by himself.
He effectively rescues Poe, regardless of the reason why. Nothing in the film would have been set in motion if not by Finn’s actions in the beginning and in the end.
Well, yeah, but the rescue is entirely self-serving (there’s even that joke that lands quite well about it), and he SAYS he can disable the shield, but actually has no idea how to do it and ends up just tagging along with Han and Rey.
I didn’t have a problem with him. i liked that he was a stormtrooper, I think it made him more interesting.
I still think is brilliant. Performances, dialogue, set design, cinematography and score all come together beautifully and I think they created a marvellous set of new characters I want to follow in new adventures.
That bitch was disappointing as fuck
Well that’s succinct š
Just LOOK at the picture for this post. Really LOOK at the characters, and tell me you don’t see DISNEY characters for KIDS covered in a razor thin shroud of Star Wars design influence. Come on, where my Lucas bros at??? Where my real fans at???
Reading about Jaxxon the Rabbit and Jar-Jar Binks stepping in the icky icky goo.
hahahaha
No, the characters had depth for just a first movie. More than in ANH or TPM alone.
Yeah right…
After watching it multiple times on Bluray, the movie still holds up. I really enjoy it as it brought fun back to SW, something that was sorely missing in the PT. My rankings: #1 ESB, #2 ANH, #3 TFA, #4 ROTJ.
8/10 from me. I’ve enjoyed all 4 of the Star Wars movies.
Is any one else bothered by the absolute preposterous coincidences in TFA? Rey, with her hidden abilities as well as her own galactic significance that is still to be revealed, just happens to be in the same neighborhood as the key (BB-8) to the most famous hero in the galaxy, and then the Falcon is of course parked near by which she will of course use to leave the planet. Really?? And Finn and Poe crashing the TIE within the vicinity of BB-8 is also one of many other “minor” coincidences. Maybe the following chapters will brilliantly tie everything together so that this does not seem so contrived, or there will be at least a line stating that this is all “the will of the force”. At least the Phantom Menace did that. Other than that, the movie was enjoyable enough with plenty of nitpicks – like the blatant exposition dialogue between Han and Leia, the 5 minute brain storming session where the resistance determines exactly how to destroy the weapon, the light and joking banter between Han and Finn after millions (billions?) of people have just been obliterated by the Starkiller, Snokes unnecessary reveal and delivery of the line “Han Solo!”, and the missed opportunities for really emotional moments – Revenge of the Sith had more emotional punch. Like I’m sure many others feel, the film did not need to be so rushed! Extended version please…
the only thing i liked about this movie is the old wrecked ships on jakku & simon pegs character, too much over acting on the new kids part & shoulda killed of leia & solo. it may be called starwars but this isnt starwars. “the force sleeps” mark hammil should of had an oscar for his long worded scrip in this movie š
It’s the film before the film we wanted to watch. Far too much focus on finn and Poe. Really haven’t wanted to watch it a second time. Have found the comics and aftermath(life debt) far more interesting..