DominicCobb

My Neighbor Totoro (1988) - Beautifully made fantastical look into the life of two young girls. Cute creatures, heartwarming story. Quite good, but not exactly my bag. B

At Eternity’s Gate (2018) - A film that uncompromisingly puts you in the headspace of a brilliant, mentally ill man. Compelling filmmaker that’s at many times hard to watch, though intentionally so. Also, who cares if Dafoe is too old to play Van Gogh when he’s this good. B

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) - Huston’s less memorable yet more racist redux of Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Connery and Caine seem to be having a lot of fun, but the film never seems to match their energy. C+

The Favourite (2018) - Almost certainly the funniest film I’ve seen released this year. The kind of picture that makes you wonder if you can ever take a stuffy period piece seriously ever again. I loved every minute. A

ChainsawAsh said:

DominicCobb said:

pleasehello said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

In the end, I’m happier with Abrams at the helm, but it’s worth remembering his strength lies in setting up plots, not resolving them. I remember someone on this forum saying they’d get a “sadistic satisfaction” out of seeing Abrams resolve his own story.

Oh shit. If history is any indicator, J.J. is going to kill the entire cast of characters and have them meet up again in some weird non-denominational purgatory.

I’ll never understand why this myth persists.

What do you mean? That’s what happened at the end of Lost (though saying he “killed the characters” isn’t super accurate, as they all died when they died, even if it was decades after their time on the island of natural causes) - the flash sideways stuff in the final season is literally a non-denominational purgatory where all the characters eventually meet after their deaths before they all move on to heaven or whatever after the last of them dies on Earth.

Not saying that anything like that will happen in IX, but I’m not sure why you think that’s a myth about Lost. Unless you’re talking about the myth that the island was purgatory and they were all dead the whole time, but that’s not what Starkiller was saying.

That’s not the myth I was talking about (he described it more or less accurately, as you mention). The myth is that JJ Abrams had anything to do with it.

Anakin Starkiller said:

But for what it’s worth, Abrams is also great at imitating the style of others, so there shouldn’t be too much issue belnding with VIII.

I don’t think that’s true at all (and I’m an Abrams fan), but nevertheless I don’t think it’ll be an issue as Rian didn’t stray too far from TFA’s style to begin with.

pleasehello said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

In the end, I’m happier with Abrams at the helm, but it’s worth remembering his strength lies in setting up plots, not resolving them. I remember someone on this forum saying they’d get a “sadistic satisfaction” out of seeing Abrams resolve his own story.

Oh shit. If history is any indicator, J.J. is going to kill the entire cast of characters and have them meet up again in some weird non-denominational purgatory.

I’ll never understand why this myth persists.

RogueLeader said:

To me it just built up anticipation to see him in the flesh. I also wonder if the juxtaposition of him being cordial in the message and then threatening in person made work for a lot of people regardless of that.

I think you kind of know he is up to something when he offers the droids as a gift. So maybe it is less about what he looks like and more about what he is going to do. Good point though!

Doesn’t work for me unfortunately. Seeing him fully in the hologram (even if it’s a hologram) plus him being talkative in said hologram zaps the mystique for me, even if his plan is admittedly mysterious.

^This right here.

Someone had to say it. PT overall quality aside, it’s a cool addition. As an analogy, I fucking hate the Holiday Special, but if I were to see a similar kind of Easter egg in Revisited for that, it would surely still tickle me.

Just a fun little wink towards the larger universe.

Something that’s always bothered me about Luke’s “reveal” - we just saw him in a hologram. Even as a kid the hoopla over Luke entering the palace seemed silly to me since we’ve already seen and heard him speak in this new Jedi mode.

Tobar said:

DominicCobb said:

I don’t really see the need for a “narrative lead.”

The only reason the ST has a chance of feeling like its narratively cohesive is that Abrams is returning. Had Trevorrow headed IX as was originally intended, it would have ended in disaster.

Disaster because Trevorrow sucks, not because having another voice in the mix is inherently disastrous.

The canon is already a mess thanks to giving everyone free reign to take things wherever they want.

Well it depends on what kind of approach one prefers. Kennedy and the Story Group prefer letting creators have the freedom to tell their own stories in the best way they can without excessively worrying about and setting up other unwritten stories.

The GCW ends just a year after ROTJ thanks to Wendig, 30 years of potential were thrown out when Gray cemented that it was a solid period of peace and complacency. TFA is the very start of the new war and TLJ leaves no gap at all for anything in-between.

It would have been incredibly simple to work in room for expansion without affecting the narratives of either film but no one was there to guide it. It’s all a lopsided patchwork that will only get worse over time.

Your supposedly canon-ending complaints seem arbitrary to me and narrow-minded. You’re talking about one specific era amongst many, and an era in which we’ve already gotten a decent variety of content (Aftermath, Bloodline, Poe comic, Phasma stories, Battlefront II campaign, Resistance show, etc.), with much more surely on the way (including The Mandalorian).

pleasehello said:

DominicCobb said:

Well I guess then the difference in approach is that the output and structure of the two franchises are different and call for different things (lots and lots of movies for the MCU, some movies and many other things for SW).

I don’t really see the need for a “narrative lead.”

I don’t really see the need for Star Wars to have an intertwining cinematic universe, which often comes at the expense of making coherent movies.

Yeah pretty much.

Well I guess then the difference in approach is that the output and structure of the two franchises are different and call for different things (lots and lots of movies for the MCU, some movies and many other things for SW).

I don’t really see the need for a “narrative lead.”

RogueLeader said:

To me, Luke’s death was less of a physical one. Not just simply death, but the moment Luke achieved nirvana. But to reach “Force nirvana”, you literally become one with Force, meaning no physical body necessary.

Exactly. In that moment, he literally shed his mortal coil.

fmalover said:

Yeah but it’s made clear the FO took over the Galaxy in just one week or so. Couldn’t a galaxy spanning government come up with a decent military budget for defence and protection? Did all systems meekly surrender without a fight? Or the NR is completely devoid of any armed forces? IDK, just can’t wrap my head around that.

Expanded material suggests that many in the New Republic were helping to fund the FO to begin with. Also the NR seems to be demilitarized to some extent. Not to mention the FO didn’t take over the galaxy “in a week,” they were in the process of doing so… “The First Order will control all the major systems within weeks.”

SilverWook said:

In the context of making comparisons to how Lucasfilm is running things these days, it’s cool. And hey, it’s my job to nag! 😛

Have any of the Marvel films been a mess behind the scenes the way Solo was? Fox and Sony productions don’t count.

Ant-Man comes close (though filming never started on Edgar Wright’s version). Thor: The Dark World seemes to have had some issues too.

Tobar said:

DominicCobb said:

Not sure why people care so much about there being a plan, the vast majority of cinematic series never had a definite one either.

The difference is that even if its not planned out and something is being created as it goes along, there’s one person there guiding it along.

The OT while not all written strictly by George, was guided by George.

The MCU is being guided by Kevin Feige and they’ve had directors quit because they didn’t want to incorporate elements to setup and support future films.

The ST has no one, each director was left to do whatever they wanted with their entry. Kennedy is a brilliant producer but she doesn’t seem to have a vision for where to take the franchise.

Considering Feige has yet to produce a movie as good as either of the ST films, I’ll take the Kennedy approach.

That said, I still fail to see what the difference is, if one even exists. I don’t know how you could look at, say, the three Thor movies and say there’s one clear vision guiding them.

Feige has a vision for the Marvel franchise, sure, but so does Kennedy with SW. Having a vision for a franchise is more than just about micromanaging what happens in three of your movies.

SilverWook said:

Did not know that. The MCU seems like they had some sort of roadmap at the very least. Nobody has ever pulled off a decade’s worth of interconnected films before.

Roadmap is a good way to describe it. There’s a schedule for which movie comes when, but for the most part the filmmakers are allowed to do as they please with their films. Feige, like Kennedy, understands that that’s what makes the best movies (of course sometimes there’s clashes but that’s a different conversation).

SilverWook said:

Maybe because the myth of Lucas’ master plan persists, when he too was making it up as he went along?

Pretty much.

(Plus the myth of the MCU master plan, even though those filmmakers are transparent about it not existing.)

Rian’s saying he was free to do whatever he thought was best - in some cases it aligned with what GL and JJ had in mind but he didn’t have to follow any sort of outline. Not sure why people care so much about there being a plan, the vast majority of cinematic series never had a definite one either.

K

pleasehello said:

DominicCobb said:

Tobar said:

You guys put far too much weight into the Story Group. They’re mainly there as advisors. The two that do the most heavy lifting are Pablo and Leland and they just ensure that whatever a project’s director/writer is doing is consistent with the established lore. And there they’re fairly powerless. See: the Starkiller’s carnage being seen from Takodana and Holdo’s last stand. There is no grand road map, they’re just doing things project to project.

They’re development executives.

Fancy word for advisers 😉

No doubt for JJ and Rian and what not they’re more just like advisors, but otherwise not at all. Development is not “advising.”

Tobar said:

You guys put far too much weight into the Story Group. They’re mainly there as advisors. The two that do the most heavy lifting are Pablo and Leland and they just ensure that whatever a project’s director/writer is doing is consistent with the established lore. And there they’re fairly powerless. See: the Starkiller’s carnage being seen from Takodana and Holdo’s last stand. There is no grand road map, they’re just doing things project to project.

I believe the heavy lifting depends on what kind of content it is (movie vs tv vs book, etc.). Also they’re not just advisors, they’re development executives.

nl0428 said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

Regardless, the real reason people don’t see as one vision is because TLJ seems to go against everything TFA values.

It’s upsetting to me that Episode IX is already being hated on before it’s released. I loved both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, but there is no disconnect between them. The Last Jedi expanded so much on the Star Wars legacy and mythology, something that will help Star Wars still keep going on for another forty years without being worn out. There are many people out there who were disappointed with Episode VIII simply because the film didn’t play out as the movie they wrote in their head leading up to its release. The extreme reactions are ridiculous, unbearable, and disgusting for their behavior for not liking the movie.

Yeah… after spending quite a few years on this site, I only know one truth - Star Wars fans are absolute lunatics.

Robin and Marian (1976) - An elegantly executed tale of an elder Hood and Maid Marian. Connery and Hepburn bring it, but ultimately can’t say this is anything special. B-

Creed II (2018) - Manages to keep a consistent tone with it’s immediate predecessor while avoiding the disparate and ridiculous tone of its other predecessor (Rocky IV) even while the continuing Drago storyline. I very much appreciate that fact, and I’m a fan of what they were trying to here with Donnie’s character, and with Viktor Drago (and their parallels), even if their conflict never really congeals beyond the surface level. The climax is exciting as always, but I’m not entirely sure Donnie’s resolution is earned. Still, it’s great to have a blockbuster franchise that’s isn’t in the action/adventure/sci-fi genre and is really just small character drama. B

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) - Venturing into the interwebs is a clever idea for the series, though I must admit it does open a can of worms. The film essentially just uses it as a backdrop, which is good and bad - on the one hand the internet is an incredibly annoying place so it’s good that they don’t go too heavy with references, on the other hand setting a film in the internet almost seems to require some sort of commentary or insight on what it’s like to be online, and this film doesn’t seem to provide one other than “the internet sure is crazy and fun!” Yeah, I know, it’s a kid’s movie, and an enjoyable enough one at that. B-

Castle in the Sky (1986) - Another exciting adventure from Miyazaki, I really enjoy the depth he brings the worlds and cultures he creates. This one’s good bit of humor and whimsy but at the same time a surprisingly epic story at it’s center. B+

Being There (1979) - Don’t know what took me so long to watch this but glad I finally did. A premise that could easily turn into some cringeworthy dreck where we’re laughing at someone we shouldn’t be laughing at, but here Chance/Chauncey (Sellers) is treated very decently and empathetically. The joke is always on everyone else. Instant classic for me. A

Roma (2018) - An absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful film. Slice of life styles pieces are not often my favorite, but this one downright undeniable. From start to finish we are in Cleo’s world, and we feel everything she feels. Stellar work by all involved. A

Madeline’s Madeline (2018) - I always feel like the best films adopt a style that fits their protagonist’s personalities. That is certainly the case here, as we get Madeline’s frenetic, disconnected, and confused world through her eyes. The final third is invigorating, even if I feel the turn is a little sharp. B+

Private Life (2018) - A very solid dramedy that explores a potentially tricky subject with both humanity and wit. Quality performances abound. B

Alden Ehrenreich

OutboundFlight said:

DominicCobb said:

OutboundFlight said:

Tobar said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

And knowing JJ, there’s a very good chance that’s happening.

Are we talking about the same JJ?

I know he has a distaste for the PT BUT I can easily see him getting over it if he can use it to maximize the emotional manipulation of the audience. Which will be his primary goal for the end of the film/saga.

No way. JJ is an OT fanboy. He’s gonna use Lando as much as possible, as well as force ghost Yoda and Luke. But not Hayden (which would be a great way to at least create somewhat of a unification between George’s saga and the Disney saga).

JJ somehow manages to be everyone’s boogeyman.

The Fanboy-ness works for TFA, but I am worried he might descend into more nostalgia when crafting the conclusion to not just the Sequel Trilogy or the story Luke started in ANH… but also the rise and fall Anakin Skywalker. Rian Johnson did help mark some shifts, but it’s up to the filmmakers of 9 to either go all in with the new… or revert to nostalgia.

I had hopes JJ would listen to the feedback, but am very confused why Lando is in the new movie. Wasn’t the entire point of killing Han and Luke so we could have space for Rey and Kylo? This should be their story and yet I find after two films we still haven’t reached that point.

Why would you assume Lando would have a role as sizable as Han in TFA/Luke in TLJ? That’s almost certainly not the case. Is it a problem that Chewie, R2, and 3PO are in the movie too?

Chances are Lando simply fits into the story being told (and it’s easy to see how post-TLJ).

OutboundFlight said:

Tobar said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

And knowing JJ, there’s a very good chance that’s happening.

Are we talking about the same JJ?

I know he has a distaste for the PT BUT I can easily see him getting over it if he can use it to maximize the emotional manipulation of the audience. Which will be his primary goal for the end of the film/saga.

No way. JJ is an OT fanboy. He’s gonna use Lando as much as possible, as well as force ghost Yoda and Luke. But not Hayden (which would be a great way to at least create somewhat of a unification between George’s saga and the Disney saga).

JJ somehow manages to be everyone’s boogeyman.

This thread is consistently the worst so I don’t really want to muck it up more but I have to say RogueLeader is maybe the only reasonable person to have ever posted on this site.

snooker said:

Thank you!

I feel like the choking scene is the best part of the fight, though. It would be incredibly easy to cut around, but I feel like that’s the only part of the actual fight where there’s pure, raw emotion.

The choking bit is nice but the rest of that scene is just as silly as the rest, if not moreso (running and tripping on top of a table? Great stuff George). If one cares about continuity it’s the first thing to be cut (what are they even doing there anyway?).

In my mind the best part is when the force push each other. A lot of people give it shit but I’ve always appreciated that brief moment where they’re forcing but neither is budging. So often the duels in SW are mismatched and this really emphasizes how much that is not the case here (while at the same time there’s that feeling of “these guys shouldn’t be fighting in the first place, courtesy of Williams mostly), plus I’ll take as much as I can get when it comes to bits where they use the force and not their lightsabers. I’m also the only person who doesn’t hate when they twirl their lightsabers, as I rationalize it as something like the high energy version of the Rebels Kenobi/Maul duel, where they understand each other’s fight styles so much that their mind goes through the motions of the different possible attacks before actually making contact. Of course, the whole fight was choreographed wrong, but like I said, I find ways to rationalize it.