So I was finally able to go see The Last Jedi yesterday...
And it was.. Great!
I
finally started checking people’s comments online and critic’s reviews.
And to much surprise the film seems to be pretty... divisive among
vocal internet fans?
Of course there were little nitpicks and details I didn’t like, like most movies anyways, but overall I quite enjoyed it.
It's almost December, and Disney's been pretty silent regarding Episode 8, to the best wishes of the film director who said a Star Wars doesn't need marketing. But now they're finally showing us some new footage thanks to a brand new trailer and a new poster, below:
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper). And it will open on Thursday, December 14.
2016 just keeps getting more and more depressing...
Alright, I just came from a long day offline to learn Carrie Fisher just died...
RIP Carrie Fisher.
The legendary actress just died today, following complications with her heart.
Outside of Star Wars she appeared in countless other films. She stared in several cult movies including The Blues Brothers and Joe Dante's The 'Burbs.
Carrie Fisher died at age 60. She is survived by her daughter Billie Lourd, her mother Debbie Reynolds, her brother Todd Fisher and her half-sisters, actresses Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher.
Apparently she did film all of her scenes for next year's upcoming Star Wars Episode 8. I'm not sure how they will work around her death, either in that film or the next one, or simply phase her out of the plot in a discrete. One way or another they'll probably dedicate the film to her memory.
So I just came back from The Force Awakens. Finally!
I know what you're thinking, wherever you are - finally! Yeah, I know. But I just couldn't have caught the movie earlier, what with the end of the year, work, Christmas, etc.
Now was the only time I could watch this film.
I'll try to keep this review simple and straightforward. Since I managed to avoid spoilers as much as possible until now - spreading my own fake spoilers around based on my knowledge of the expanded universe :P - I will try to keep this spoiler-free for the others who, just like me, haven't been able to watch this yet.
Until the cut below, I won't have any spoilers. I will mark the spoiler section down below.
Let's me say this right away: Overall? I really liked the movie.
There! Review over.
But...
Yeah, I really liked the movie, but.. there's a few things I didn't like that much. Probably for controversial reasons of my own. I haven't checked that many reviews of the film yet, so I even have no idea what other people think about it. I just know my bro loved it a lot more than I did, even though I'm mostly positive about the film.
I liked enough the new heroes/cast, even though they were a bit too young-ysh. I liked the general new story. The film direction, the special effects, etc.
Now onto my main issues: my main problem with Hollywood these days when they're not making reboots... they just seem to be making nostalgic-sequels that are basically complete revamps or the originals. Predators did that to Predator 1. Jurassic World did the same with Jurassic Park and so did Terminator 5 too. And This Force Awakens is basically an "HD Remaster" of the original film, aka "A New Hope" for a new generation.
Yes, it follows the same general structure, plot, characters, etc. And even goes through the same motions in the same places (Jakku = Tatooine, Rey = Luke, etc.). I mean, bash the prequels as much as you want (I mean, I specially dislike Episode II) but at least each film had its own identity and was its own distinct adventure.
I liked the references to the other films, sure. I even liked how strangely the final confrontation seemed to parallel Anakin and Obi-Wan's in Episode 3 on the lava planet. Really, it strangely mirrored that scene!
George Lucas might have a questionable directional sense (even though I adore THX personally..), but he was a great worldbuilder. Somehow I feel that's J.J.Abrams problem, he's the opposite. He has a great sense of direction but his movies lack a distinct tone. That was apparent with his Super 8, Star Trek and Mission Impossible. They borrow a lot to previous classics and have a ton of great fan service and throwbacks but they're not really that unique.
Don't misread me, like I said, I loved the movie. There were some gorgeous scenery, action scenery, etc. But I felt a lot of things felt a bit generic. Like I said, Rey was just Luke or the young Anakin again. That Poe Resistance pilot guy was a bit bland too. Our villain was as whiny as "his ancestor". I loved Finn though, he was pretty fun!
All said and done, I can excuse the big nostalgic factor and vagueness of the character since this movie has to be the first in a new trilogy of films. This was just the introduction for this new Sequel Trilogy.
I'm glad to see Abrams replaced for the next films, since he can work wonders with the initial pitch but his overuse of a "mystery box" gimmick often detracts from the end of his movies/series. And if the later films turned out bad we would all be branding pitchforks to Abrams. Although the the following directors will have a lot to answer for... No easy task if you ask me.
Here is something fun! It's a young Mark Hamill explaining the original Star Wars on the BBC back in the 70s, before the world even knew what Star Wars would be like:
I love the way it clearly establishes how much closer to fantasy/fairy tales SW actually is instead of scifi:
“It’s the stuff that fairytales are made of. We have a fairy princess, we have an innocent farm boy who yearns for adventure. Alec Guinness is a wise old wizard who teaches me a mystical Force, somewhat like Merlin would teach a young King Arthur. Harrison Ford plays Han Solo, a cynical space pirate who we hire to transport us through the galaxy.”
Well said, Mark!
And here’s Mark and co back for the Empire Strikes Back, comparing the Droids to the Daleks:
Ever wonder what Star Wars without the epic John Williams score would sound like? Apparently the crew at Auralnauts did. And it's pretty darn terrifying.
Sorry for the delay... I originally intended to put up this review for MAY THE FOURTH (be with you!), "Star Wars day"!
Before the upcoming Disney films, before there was a Star Wars franchise, before the trilogy and even before there was "A New Hope" - there simply was "Star Wars"...
Don't miss out my previous Star Wars-related reviews!
