Sure, but I don't see what that has to do with this argument. In these terms, I'm talking about finding something new. How that worked is another discussion, but my point is, Lucas was always trying to find the next new thing and pushed boundaries. He created a platform for filmmakers to see what not to do. There wouldn't be the success of any of these movies if Lucas didn't fail. He was in total uncharted territory back in the 90's with the creation of these ideas. The PT were a platform for him to try new crazy things. Same with the original trilogy. To varied results, but my point is overall, they were fearless. Disney is going forward sure, but constantly looking over their shoulder and asking, "Now you're sure this is right?" In doing so, it's coming up with results that's partly there, but not completely. My problem is criticizing what's not there because there's clearly part of a major component that's not being filled yet and not enough people are talking about it.
It works for TFA, because it was appropriate but you can still pass the baton but still go crazy with it (by going crazy includes having a great story first and foremost). My problem is TFA not only held back, it knew it wanted to be held back. I got the sense of that all over. Now I'm projecting but people can correct me: For what exactly? To ease us back into SW? There's no rule for it at all. What? The audience and fans can't suddenly handle a high quality and totally fresh SW film? Is it too much for them? All Disney needed to do was not be the prequels and it would automatically be better and restore faith. My problem is, that's all their doing and then a bit more. It comes off that getting SW on track and making it be accepted by everyone was their first priority. Not just to make a great film.
Well I never felt that GL went that crazy or was fearless, you could tell there were many times he stopped himself etc. But that's for another argument.
What this seems to come down to with you and most of your posts even outside of the SW area that is always angry at Disney seem to be you thinking we are I'll just be honest, idiots, and settling sheep that will just take what ever we can get as long as it's well made.
No that is not how I am and I'm sure the majority of the people are. There is a reason the film was critically acclaimed, sorry nostalgia can only hold so much and most critics are not fanboys like us.
It just feels like this is more of a "against the system" "I hate Hollywood!" an argument that has been around since it was created. Like somehow LFL is artistically bankrupt and just is looking at marketing etc.
To most TFA is great not because it's similar to ANH in some respects, just like how many love Terminator 2, even though it is really the original almost beat by beat on steroids. It's because it is a great film, it's characters are amazing which to most is one of the most crucial moments. It was not seeing the Falcon alone that got people excited it was all the small character moments, BB-8 giving thumbs up, Kylo Ren freaking out, Han Solo's death, Finn facing his fellow brothers, Rey accepting her destiny, Finn facing his fear and fighting Kylo, the little moments between Rey and Finn, Poe and Finn's absolutely magnetic friendship where you can't help but smile. Unkar Plutt's character in general "One quarter portion...." "Tell that to Kanja Klub" Rey walking up the Jedi steps. It's all these things that stuck with people, and that made it so great. Even to some that agreed it was similar in aspects to ANH it still was a superb film to them with lots of new moments.
It's where I think too many act like TFA did nothing new, I will be the first to agree it does similar things to ANH the plot points are similar while the story and quest of the characters is quite different, there is a lot of uniqueness and risk that was taken, while other areas it did play it safe, which is okay.
A lot undermine how much risk it was to have a female, a black and a Guatemalan. Not only that but new fresh characters that went against some of the most iconic of all time and held their own and then some. Downplaying that just seems disingenuous. I remember many saying they were going to be mad that Luke was only in the film for a little bit and should have been in the entire thing afterward most did not care because the new characters were intriguing and lovable.
We could play the "It could have it should have" all day, I have with certain films. But the problem is with films as good as these and it seems Rogue One is pretty darn good if not as good as TFA, but especially with TFA films like this it's harder to play the "It should of, it could have game" Not that one cannot question things about it by any means. But saying that "If it would have been more fresh as well people would have just liked it the same" That's hard to say. But what we got was embraced and loved.
If Disney is 6-7 films in and they are still just making ANH plot structured films I would say yeah, even if they are good they need to move on. But it was one film, after one that had come out 40 years ago introducing a whole new generation and reintroduction to many others. But the second film even though with it's flaws it seems to be a film that really departs from the Star Wars norm. And shows that Disney is planning to go into new realms as well as the classic, and continue to evolve this as it goes down the road.
Rogue One shows they are far from "afraid" of trying new things. But it does not take away what a great film TFA was, and the good film that Rogue One seems to be. If all these films were really decisive and mixed I would say there is more room for those kind of arguments but right now Disney is doing a superb job.
So I hope this is not a looking down on us for any of this. A lot of your posts subtext feel like it comes off of "you are all sheep and just drinking the kool-aid". You may not intend, or you might but a lot of it feels more or less like that.
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