What was the last movie you've seen?

[Xeogred]

Finn was awesome and the most likeable character to me from start to finish. Just hated Rose though and he could have been doing cooler stuff for sure. Pretty stinky him and Rey get zero screen time together.

This is very dismissive and borderline insulting. What counters?

I post some questions.

Show me on this doll where the bad movie touched you.

That's insulting. Props to the others that put in the effort.

[marurun]

That's insulting. Props to the others that put in the effort.

I have a kiddo. Ain’t got time to address all those questions which probably won’t change your opinion of the movie, because your opinion of the movie was largely shaped by how you felt in the theater at the time. It isn’t my job, or anyone else’s, to redeem the film for you, just as it isn’t your job to generalize those of us who liked it. Yes, I had a glib response, because you were demanding the same kinds of “counterpoints” that you probably won’t accept, and that likely won’t change your feelings about the film. Especially since you indicated you already went around this issue with others earlier.

[Pulsar_t]

It's quite impossible to look at Bladerunner the same way again after its ambitious sequel. Not that it's a bad thing per se, I still adore the snot out of it, but the sequel just didn't live up to its legacy.

[marurun]

The kid FINALLY went down for a nap and I have a moment with a proper keyboard in front of me instead of a phone. I'm not going to go into too much detail, because I think most of the differences in how people feel about the characters or the different scenes stems from differing focuses or interpretations of the central themes of Star Wars as a series. But one complaint I do very much understand is one I've heard not so much on here but in different quarters out on the 'net or podcasts or whatnot. It is the issue of planning, or of central vision. The original trilogy definitely changed as it went along, but it feels like a single story, and most of the plot threads are borne out without getting dropped halfway. Lucas clearly had a broad vision of what episodes 4-6 would do, even if he really hadn't worked out most of the details in advance. The prequels were all pretty terrible examples of film-making, in my opinion, but they did at least have a core vision that ran tightly through all 3. There was a centrally managed and planned-out story in there, even if it was told badly (and very badly indeed).

This doesn't appear to be the case with TFA and TLJ. I think there are a couple key reasons for this. One is that J. J. Abrams was given pretty free reign with the first film. J. J. Abrams is a big fan of mystery and plot hooks, but if you look at his television works, he leaves lots of threads un-pursued. He gives you that 10% of the iceberg above the water and doesn't even bother to figure out the other 90% under it. As long as it LOOKS like there's depth, that's good enough. But Rian Johnson was also given a fairly free hand, and I don't think he was all that interested in pursuing a bunch of unresolved mysteries of the sort Abrams loves leaving out lying around. And while I'm sure Kathleen Kennedy, as current curator of the Star Wars main story line, has some idea of the tonal arc she wants these stories to follow, I really don't think she has a plan where the details and events are concerned. I suspect all she wants is an entertaining and relatively smooth transition away from the Skywalker arc to a new Star Wars universe with more freedom in terms of which doors Disney can open and turn into movies. So while the original trilogy wasn't actually that planned out in advance, it had a central vision, that being Lucas's. The prequels were definitely planned out in advance. And this new trilogy? Nope. Playing it by ear. So while I really enjoyed TLJ, and I think it's a great Star Wars film, and a very well-directed sci-fi movie in general, it isn't really that great an immediate sequel to TFA. But I don't think Johnson is solely to blame. I think Abrams is also to blame, because he is Abrams and does his little "Look how deep I am!" dance.

I do think TLJ picks up on some great themes from the series, though. Flawed heroes, failure as motivator, teacher, and opportunity, the battle against impulsiveness... In fact, I think one of the core themes of TLJ has to do with failure and impulsivity and their importance to maturation. A lot of folks complain that "nothing happens," which means that basically there are a log of things going on on-screen, but those plans constantly fail or are stymied, either by impulsivity or by dumb bad luck. There's clearly a lot happening, but real forward STORY momentum is slow. But TLJ seems to be a lot more about growing the characters and developing their relationships and motivations, helping them change from the impulsivity of youth to more thoughtful adults who understand sacrifice and greater causes, and the value of running away to live another day.

There's also one very important theme spelled out that I think may actually play a major role in the next film:

Burn down the old and replace it. I don't think simply defeating the New Order and rebuilding the Republic will be enough. No idea if Abrams will continue this idea, but I think there's value in seeing something truly new borne from the old. Rey may be the last Jedi, but it's clear there will be more, and maybe the new Jedi order won't look like the old one at all, and maybe that's not a bad thing. Maybe that's the most important thing for the future of Star Wars: to burn the old and let it die. The past is a shackle.

[Gunstar Green]

If the future of Star Wars is to let the past die (I don't know why you spoilered that it's in the trailer) maybe they should stop repeating the past only with lamer revelations. They just didn't sell that to me particularly well when they're trying to have their cake and eat it too both in the structure of the films themselves and their marketing that relies on being a recognizable brand.

It feels like a very hollow and corporate admonishment of fandom and sure I get Star Wars has been about marketing and money literally since the first movie became a surprise hit but recognizing problems with past films doesn't change how I or others are going to feel about this one ultimately.

[marurun]

No, but when people basically offer up their prime reasons for disliking the films as things that were present in all the previous ones, it makes it clear there’s something else going on.

[REPO Man]

Amazing! Words canNOT describe this transcendent take on The Little Mermaid.

Here, two mermaid sisters leave the sea and become performers in a nightclub, with one falling for a musician.



Found footage horror romp set in the twilight of the Second World War, following Russian soldiers and their encounter with unholy abominations made from the dead.

Fun.



Still one of my favorite films.

[Ack]

Just to generate discussion, here is a ranking of the Star Wars films:

The Empire Strikes Back
A New Hope
The Last Jedi
Rogue One
The Force Awakens
Revenge of the Sith
Return of the Jedi
The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones

But where are Caravan of Courage and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor?

[noiseredux]

I loved the Ewok movies when I was a kid, but I haven't seen them in 20-ish years. I'm guessing they are pretty terrible in reality. I've thought (many times) about finding a way to watch them again, but I think a part of me is too nervous to find out.

[REPO Man]

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Parts 1 & 2.

Amazing! Whatta way to start 2018!