Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Discussion * SPOILER THREAD * — Page 107

I'm personally not too excited. There were some bits I liked and there were some I didn't. Some of the character moments were nice but in the last shot, it didn't click for me as seeing Han again, I just saw Harrison Ford, I don't know why and Chewie looks really weird too.

And the VFX shots reminded me of this video by MVerta about VFX shots grounded in reality, which was a hallmark of the original movies. The crazy camera moves, while cool, just don't read as reality. It looks sort of incogruent with not only the original movies but, from what we've seen so far, also with the live action in this new movie.

Harmy said:

Chewie looks really weird too.

 Really? I thought they got it right.

Harmy said:

And the VFX shots reminded me of this video by MVerta about VFX shots grounded in reality, which was a hallmark of the original movies. The crazy camera moves, while cool, just don't read as reality. It looks sort of incogruent with not only the original movies but, from what we've seen so far, also with the live action in this new movie.

What about http://youtu.be/xPZigWFyK2o?t=313 ?

I noticed the fast camera zoom on the falcon right away and while it definitely looks different that any shots in the OT I don't mind it as much as some might because it looks like JJ's style of directing. This movie will have cinematography (ie lens flares) that have JJ's stamp on it.  As long as the story, environments and characters keep the genuine feeling and charm that the OT had, I can overlook a few of those camera movements. 

Also

For the record I'm annoyed as well, but not "f*ck you" annoyed.  So much for seeing this at the theatre I've seen them all in... they'll definitely be doing 3D.

Conversions don't make as much money.  People seem to know the difference between native 3D and postproduction 3D.  
I really hope the Village Theatre in Westwood has 2D showings, too.

 I used to say the same thing until I saw Gravity in Imax 3D. Was shocked when I found out the 3D was done in post.  That being said, I will probably see this in 2d if possible.

Anchorhead said:

Regarding some of the state of The Empire thoughts;

I tend to err on the side of believing they didn't fall because an emperor and his counterpart were killed when one base was destroyed.  That sort of thing has happened in real life plenty and the regimes and countries are still alive & well, as well as remaining a threat. Not uncommon on a single planet, certainly possible in a galaxy.

Have there been any theories in the nerdosphere of there being a twist where we're seeing a restructured Empire?  Not so much a rebirth as a shift and restructuring to a more aggressive power?

What about the figure addressing the troopers being Leia?

 It's certainly possible. According to all the signs on the costumes at Celebration, it's not "The Empire", it's "The First Order", so take that to mean...whatever you want I guess.

Also the X-Wings are working for "The Resistance"

nightstalkerpoet said:

My personal problem with it being in 3d isn't a lack of 2D options in general, it is the potential for affecting premium showings. I want to see a 7 film marathon opening day. Sadly, chances are that those marathons only include what they feel is the best version- ultimately, probably giving us eps 1, 2, and maybe 3 in 3d, 4-6 in 2d, with 7 in 3d... 

 The best seven film Star Wars marathon I can conceive of is:

Star Wars

The Star Wars Holiday Special

The Empire Strikes Back

Return of the Jedi

Caravan of Courage

The Battle for Endor

The Force Awakens

Alderaan said:

Akton said:

If this attitude carries over into the ST (i.e. no references to anything PT-specific, midichlorians, gungans, clonetroopers, etc.) I will be even more (delightfully) stunned. And I will find myself holding on to hope for something I've hoped for since the Disney acquisition was first announced in 2012 - a remake of the Prequel trilogy.

 

 Why would you ever hope for that? There's no story to tell in the prequels. That's the major reason they were awful, it was all just backstory.

 Strongly disagree. Just because a competant story wasn't told does not mean one cannot be told. In fact, if Lucas stayed true to the what he implied about the characters of Anakin and Obi-Wan back in the OT, and if he put his mind (and the minds of a few talented screenwriters) to the task of crafting stories that respect the integrity of what are supposed to be plot twists in the future episodes (Vader being Luke's father, Leia being his sister, the Yoda reveal, etc), he might have been forced to find some genuinely creative plot turns that would have made for an intriguing set of films.

Plus, the major element of that mere "backstory" was the Clone Wars. I think an entire bloody war (or wars, if we take the name literally) is pretty damn fertile ground for a three film story arc... you know, just as long as you cover that war(s) in the span of those three films, instead of having the bulk of it take place offscreen between episodes 2 and 3.

rpvee said:

Link below has HQ pictures of the film's costumes from the Celebration exhibit.  BIG noteworthy thing, if not already posted:

The Empire is now The First Order

The Rebellion is now The Resistance

New names for the factions of the galaxy we've known for so long.

http://io9.com/star-wars-costumes-and-props-reveal-new-characters-for-1698341539

I'm giddy over the unabashed McQuarrie-ness of the new Snowtroopers... right down to the insignia on the chest!

The re-naming makes sense. ISIS has undergone 3 or 4 name changes in as many years. The name changes are a bit jarring, but the Mcquarrie stuff is brilliantly familiar. I think they're walking the line pretty gracefully in that regard.

TV's Frink said:

Ha, I thought the exact same thing.

Also...

Loath as I am to make use of teenybopper acronyms like "lol," this actually did make me laugh out loud...

Just wanted to add that I also love the unabashedly un-pc tack they've taken in eschewing the mealy mouthed vaguery currently in vogue by announcing the film will be released not "This Holiday Season," but rather "This Christmas," just how the first film would have been advertised if it had met its original release date in December 1976. But then, I love pretty much any show of defiance against 21st Century America's despicable repudiation of Christmas as a cultural touchstone.  

This teaser was ok, I guess... Being a teaser, it doesn't say much about the story, but still it does introduce some of the themes and characters (though, I wonder why that pilot keeps screaming. Dude. :D )

What I really dislike, though, was the color timing: just like in the other teaser, it has cyan and magenta completely boosted, yet high contrast, which means that shots that are monochrome-like (especially the chrome troopers' ones) feel very strange and almost make me puke.

Thankfully, yesterday they released those on-set photos. I don't know how much they can be of use but, using them as reference, I tried (I'm no pro lol) to regrade both the teasers to a more natural look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmjqs8jtn0E

Not perfect, but doesn't it seem better? I really don't understand why they keep boosting colors like that.

Akton said:

Just wanted to add that I also love the unabashedly un-pc tack they've taken in eschewing the mealy mouthed vaguery currently in vogue by announcing the film will be released not "This Holiday Season," but rather "This Christmas," just how the first film would have been advertised if it had met its original release date in December 1976. But then, I love pretty much any show of defiance against 21st Century America's despicable repudiation of Christmas as a cultural touchstone.  

 Great point. And I could not agree with you more. I'm surprised I didn't even think about this when seeing it the first time. Love it.

I hope they go one further and give Jesus a god damn cameo.

They did cast the whole Hollywood for cameos, but I KNEW we haven't seen the end!

John Doom said:

What I really dislike, though, was the color timing: just like in the other teaser, it has cyan and magenta completely boosted, yet high contrast, which means that shots that are monochrome-like (especially the chrome troopers' ones) feel very strange and almost makes me puke.

I said the same after the last teaser but... these days what a trailer's colours look like, bare little or no resemblance to the finished product (See the Hobbit and any Marvel film). So I wouldn't get too stressed until you are sitting in the theatre in December.

Anyway, I hadn't heard about the trailer, as my internet connection was down this morning. So I was just driving to work and they suddenly played the audio on the radio. At first I didn't know what it was, until I heard Mark's voice and was almost overcome by emotion.

I've only now got home and watched the visuals after a day of imagining what they might be LOL. Pretty damn awesome it turns out.

towne32 said:

I shot first said:

Akton said:

Just wanted to add that I also love the unabashedly un-pc tack they've taken in eschewing the mealy mouthed vaguery currently in vogue by announcing the film will be released not "This Holiday Season," but rather "This Christmas," just how the first film would have been advertised if it had met its original release date in December 1976. But then, I love pretty much any show of defiance against 21st Century America's despicable repudiation of Christmas as a cultural touchstone.  

 Great point. And I could not agree with you more. I'm surprised I didn't even think about this when seeing it the first time. Love it.

I hope they go one further and give Jesus a god damn cameo. They'll probably just try to be all PC and make it Life Day, again.

 Fact: The Star Wars Holiday Special first aired on November 17, 1978. It was, at best, a Thanksgiving event, although it aired the weekend *before* the holiday.

Anyway, you're wrong in thinking that no one says movies are coming out on Christmas because of PC culture or whatever.

2014: The Interview, Unbroken

ALSO, now that I'm spending so much time writing this post, where the heck did you see "Christmas"? The trailer says "December"

timdiggerm said:

ALSO, now that I'm spending so much time writing this post, where the heck did you see "Christmas"? The trailer says "December"

I'm sorry you were forced to watch the ACLU edit of the teaser. The one I saw said "This Christmas."