MJR80

I’m almost finished with TFA novel. It has much more dialogue and scenes than the film (as books usually do). Snoke, in a conversation with Ren and Hux, specifically states that one of the major reasons why the Starkiller Base was built was to get the Resistance out from hiding. I don’t have the quote on me, but it does shed light as to why the base was built, and why it had an obvious weak point.

Bingowings said:

So who is this Smoke then? Someone new or a mask concealing someone very old?

Not sure if anyone has said this, but:

If you play the Darth Plagues (spelling?) opera song (I cannot remember what is called) and Snoke’s music from TFA, it’s almost the same. Not sure if this is coincidence, but it’s interesting, to state the least.

The novel has a lot of these “deleted” scenes, and sheds light on much. Give it a read.

pablumatic said:

Had there actually been a new threat to the galaxy, rather than just the Empire with a public relations name change and a large bucket of black paint for their spaceships, it would have worked better for me.

As it is, somehow the Rebels didn’t really win and the Empire managed to sneak off and make an even bigger Death Star.

My hope for the final two movies of this sequel trilogy is that we do finally see an end to the Empire/First Order. No jumping off point to more sequels with Stormtroopers and black robed figures with red lightsabers. At least give me that.

I understand what you’re saying, but history does repeat itself. After Alexander the Great died, his empire fell to pieces, often waring over power. In recent history, the Soviet Union fell, only to become something as powerful some twenty years later (Russia), who is, in some ways, succeeding in becoming the power it once was. In many ways, this is like the Empire falling, only to rise out of the ashes the First Order.

I can see how some folks would be upset about re-using the Death Star plot point; however, again, this mimics history. For example, modern nukes are many times more powerful than the A-bombs used during WWII. But are they not essentially the same weapon, only far more powerful (much like the Starkiller Base is in TFA)? Why wouldn’t the First Order want a weapon as powerful as that? And who is to say building such a weapon wasn’t a ploy (and a plot device in the next two films) to lure Luke from hiding?

Last, I have read folks complaining about the Galaxy “forgetting” history in TFA. This again can have roots in reality. There are societies with totalitarian regimes who recreate history on a whim (North Korea, anyone?). Is it not plausible that the First Order, with its power and influence can and would attempt to rewrite history for some (Finn) and erase it altogether for others (Rey)?

Like I said in a previous post, I DID NOT leave TPM in '99 ecstatic. I remember feeling dread and thinking how bored I was. And, although I never bashed the film, I never found much to defend about it, unlike the way I feel about TFA.

Also, I suggest to anyone to read the TFA novel. There is a lot of nuggets to chew on which fill in major gaps the film left out.

Very well said. I was eighteen when TPM came out, and wanted to like it. I remember thinking throughout the film, “This isn’t very good”. I even remember being embarrassed. I never felt that way with TFA.

I had mixed feelings when I first learned of the Starkiller Base. I don’t know if this has been posted, but does anyone else think it was all a set-up by Snoke? Unless the New Order is completely stupid, it makes sense that this would be the thing to lure Luke out of hiding. In other words, Snoke isn’t above wasting resources, manpower, and Resistance systems and planets to track down one man. It seems like a Sith thing to do.

Off subject a bit, but does anyone think the following?

Finn is a Solo (read the new comics-Han was married before the '77 movie to a woman of color), thus making Finn and Ren half-brothers.

Rey is a Kenobi, not a Skywalker (maybe Obiwan’s granddaughter). I only say this because of the voices she hears during her flashback (but she also heard Yoda’s as well).

Snoke is Darth Plageus.

Discuss.

Is there anything, in your opinion, that is remotely positive or good about the SE and PT? Understand that I have done much Lucas, SE, and PT “bashing” in the past; however, I must admit that there are some okay-to-brilliant moments in the PT (such as the lightsaber duels and much of John Williams’ score), and some not-so-bad moments in the SE (some of the crisper special effects). Does anyone else have an opinion on this?