The Force Awakens Star Wars: The Force Awakens RT thread: Prediction and Discussion.

[Gianakin_]

It's oddly simultaneously disappointing and relieving that the one major thing I was concerned about seems to be the one major across the board criticism. Dissappointing to not have the film blow past that expectation, but relieving that everything else seems so good that it's easily forgivable.

I'm kind of dreading my good friend's reaction though. He's one of the hardcore "it better not be a remake of IV!!" people.

At this point, I know 100% what Disney has been going for all this time. Heavy lifting in 2 parts: Re-igniting the fire (done, from the looks of it), and then covering new ground (which is why they got an auteur under the supervision of JJ).

Though, once again, JJ shoulda kept mum instead of going out of his way to tell people "it's not about nostalgia".

 

[Solidus]

It's like the theory I had: JJ was brought on to do a "bridge" film. One people wanted, but not necessarily needed. One the warmed people back into SW. And that's fine, in the end. Since it's well done, and the characters, tone, humor are done justice, it'll indeed go down like Creed (dare I say, Skyfall, too?)

I would actully say it was not only wanted but needed. We needed to start fresh and go back to the roots. From here it will be exctiing to see where it goes. I think Drew from Hitflix really did a great review talking about this.

 

[rogbngp]

It's oddly simultaneously disappointing and relieving that the one major thing I was concerned about seems to be the one major across the board criticism. Dissappointing to not have the film blow past that expectation, but relieving that everything else seems so good that it's easily forgivable.

I'm kind of dreading my good friend's reaction though. He's one of the hardcore "it better not be a remake of IV!!" people.

Too bad for him then! Does that bother you, though? I like ANH best of all for E1-6. So it's not a problem for me if it goes back to those roots to reboot the franchise. Well, just as long as its not too patently derivative of E4.

 

[Gianakin_]

I would actully say it was not only wanted but needed. We needed to start fresh and go back to the roots.

I will never agree with this. I'm lucky that I know it borrows heavily from ANH 'cause I'll enjoy it for what it is, but nobody will ever convince me they couldn't have gone back to the roots without literally going ALL the way back.

 

[Gianakin_]

Well, just as long as its not too patently derivative of E4.

How would you define that?

 

[Ms. Marvel]

Waking up and seeing the RT tomato score today was probably the best present I could get this Christmas.

 

[Solidus]

I will never agree with this. I'm lucky that I know it borrows heavily from ANH 'cause I'll enjoy it for what it is, but nobody will ever convince me they couldn't have gone back to the roots without literally going ALL the way back.

Well I guess I will never agree with that. Haha. From the reviews it seems to be a superb films though. Hope you get to see it on a nice IMAX.

 

[Solidus]

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captur...ew-life-into-star-wars-with-the-force-awakens

I love Drew and think his review is amazing.

 

[Gianakin_]

Well I guess I will never agree with that. Haha. From the reviews it seems to be a superb films though. Hope you get to see it on a nice IMAX.

I won't, 'cause Greece still lives in 1920. Thanks, though, I wish I could.

 

[Solidus]

I won't, 'cause Greece still lives in 1920. Thanks, though, I wish I could.

Sorry man well hopefully a good theater though.

 

[Gianakin_]

At this point I'm grateful the distributor caved in and gave us a screening 1 week ahead of schedule. I can't fathom the last 36 hours knowing I'd see it in 8 days.

PS: Drew's review is indeed one of the better ones.

 

[rogbngp]

Originally Posted by rogbngp
Well, just as long as its not too patently derivative of E4.

How would you define that?

Well, that's the big question, sure enough! I'll have to wait to see the film to really answer that. Each viewer will have their own individual take on that, of course.

I guess what I mean is it's okay with me if they use the hero-initiate formula as they did with Luke in ANH. I'm assuming that in TFA the hero-initiate will be Rey. With this type of formula she'll be given a quest through which she will 'find herself'. She'll form a kind of adventuring party and embark on the quest. Etc. That's derivative to begin with in the sense that its Mythology 101.

Obviously there have to be twists and differences, and a whole new fresh and original feeling given to the story. If characters and too many plot elements feel concretely interchangeable from ANH then that will be a fair criticism of the film.

But it looks like critical enthusiasm for the film is skyhigh overall if its at a staggering 98% fresh. So I'm guessing that it avoids being a concrete ripoff of ANH. Else I'm assuming it would have been bashed for that.

I'll find out in a few days!

 

[Drizzle]

Holy ****, I wasn't expecting to wake up to a 97% Certified Fresh RT score! Is this real life?!

 

[Gianakin_]

Well, that's the big question, sure enough! I'll have to wait to see the film to really answer that. Each viewer will have their own individual take on that, of course.

I guess what I mean is it's okay if they use the hero-initiate formula as they did with Luke in ANH. I'm assuming that in TFA the hero-initiate will be Rey. With this type of formula she'll be given a quest through which she will 'find herself'. She'll form a kind of adventuring party and embark on the quest. Etc. That's derivative to begin with in the sense that its Mythology 101.

Obviously there have to be twists and differences, and a whole new fresh and original feeling to the story. If characters feel concretely interchangeable from ANH then that will be a fair criticism of the film.

But it looks like critical enthusiasm for the film is high overall if its at a staggering 98% fresh. So I'm guessing that it avoids being a concrete ripoff of ANH. Else I'm assuming it would have been bashed for that.

I'll find out in a few days!

It looks like it's beat-for-beat ANH, but people love it DESPITE that because it works in spades and (admittedly) that's what matters. Ironically, the PT kinda helped TFA in that regard (though one might argue it caused this need for course correction in the first place).

 

[Eros]

one critic said "The new Star Wars movie is everything I hoped and feared it would be. With J.J. Abrams at the helm, “The Force Awakens” is a nostalgia-laden callback that recycles nearly every single Star Wars plot device and trope."

So im not sure how i feel about that......and the other stuff the review mentioned is essentially what star trek into darkness was...a really great acted movie with awesome characters and no originial ideas.

 

[JOE]

97% will probably drop to the low 90's or high 80's worst case scenario. I couldn't be happier right now!

 

[Gianakin_]

one critic said "The new Star Wars movie is everything I hoped and feared it would be. With J.J. Abrams at the helm, “The Force Awakens” is a nostalgia-laden callback that recycles nearly every single Star Wars plot device and trope."

So im not sure how i feel about that......

My 2 cents? What I'm doing right now is accepting that I can't do anything about the direction they chose for TFA and, having let it sink in, enjoy it for everything else it has to offer. But I really, REALLY get those who disliked it for that exact reason.

 

[rogbngp]

It looks like it's beat-for-beat ANH, but people love it DESPITE that because it works in spades and (admittedly) that's what matters. Ironically, the PT kinda helped TFA in that regard (though one might argue it caused this need for course correction in the first place).

Okay, cool! That doesn't really spoil me either, actually because it falls well within what I was expecting. I did not expect them to reinvent the wheel for this film.

I'm a D&D CRPG nerd, so I'm actually very comfortable replaying the same story (provided it's a great one)--I do it all the time (or used to, way too busy right now for gaming). I at least won't be crushed if it's not something truly and utterly original.

I think it's actually very smart business-wise to orient a whole new generation of fans to the SW reboot series via the type of story that ANH was.

 

[Eros]

Well, that's the big question, sure enough! I'll have to wait to see the film to really answer that. Each viewer will have their own individual take on that, of course.

I guess what I mean is it's okay with me if they use the hero-initiate formula as they did with Luke in ANH. I'm assuming that in TFA the hero-initiate will be Rey. With this type of formula she'll be given a quest through which she will 'find herself'. She'll form a kind of adventuring party and embark on the quest. Etc. That's derivative to begin with in the sense that its Mythology 101.

Obviously there have to be twists and differences, and a whole new fresh and original feeling given to the story. If characters and too many plot elements feel concretely interchangeable from ANH then that will be a fair criticism of the film.

But it looks like critical enthusiasm for the film is skyhigh overall if its at a staggering 98% fresh. So I'm guessing that it avoids being a concrete ripoff of ANH. Else I'm assuming it would have been bashed for that.

I'll find out in a few days!

I think people will love it because its essentially the old movies with a new flavor...like star trek into darkness or super 8.

 

[BatLobster]

My 2 cents? What I'm doing right now is accepting that I can't do anything about the direction they chose for TFA and, having let it sink in, enjoy it for everything else it has to offer. But I really, REALLY get those who disliked it for that exact reason.

I completely am with you there. I've accepted it, but that's why I brought up dreading my friend's reaction. Because I'll completely get where he's coming from, but will still have to argue with him.

 

[Boom]

Yeah. For a film of this size expect at least another 100 reviews. But at this pace it should finish in the 90's, unless the haters are holding out for the second wave of reviews.

This, Mad Max: Fury Road, Ex Machina. Hell of a year for sci-fi.

 

[rogbngp]

97% will probably drop to the low 90's or high 80's worst case scenario. I couldn't be happier right now!

Mmm, in my memory when the critical reaction is this overwhelmingly positive on the first day of the early screening reviews the score usually stays way up there. It might drop to 96 but that's the lowest I expect to see it drop. I'll bet it stays in the high 90s because it's now so strongly established as a film people "should go see."

I was actually shocked to see this happen for the Mad Max: Fury Road screening at 98% in the fist few day6s and it only dropped to 97%. I mean it's a good film and all, but damn! There is a kind of group-think that takes over, I think.

 

[Gianakin_]

I completely am with you there. I've accepted it, but that's why I brought up dreading my friend's reaction. Because I'll completely get where he's coming from, but will still have to argue with him.

If I get defensive, Ι'll just be a sneaky bastard and ask those who accuse TFA of being ANH 2.0 if they liked Creed and, if they did, I'll attack.

 

[Solidus]

If I get defensive, Ι'll just be a sneaky bastard and ask those who accuse TFA of being ANH 2.0 if they liked Creed and, if they did, I'll attack.

Have a good time will talk about it this weekend!

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I expect the score to drop a few points over the weekend but I'll be absolutely thrilled if the score stays over 90%.

That would be incredible considered how tough critics can be on genre films these days.

Even Winter Soldier couldn't stay in the 90's.