joefavs

There’s an exchange in the actual film after they escape that’s something like:

Finn: “How did you do that?!”
Rey: “I don’t know! I’ve flown a few ships in atmosphere before, but I’ve never left the planet!”

I’m sure that’s not close to verbatim but it’s definitely the gist. It’s a line I couldn’t make out until my second or third viewing because Rey and Finn are talking at the same time very fast. I took the “few ships” she refers to to mean other junkers Unkar Plutt owns, doing odd jobs for extra rations. She says the Falcon hasn’t flown in years, but I’m sure Plutt had other freighters of similar classes. I’m seeing it again on Saturday with my family, I’ll try to remember it word for word.

Bosk said:

Considering this forum is called original trilogy, I think a rebrand is needed as most folk in here consistently defend non-original trilogy films Tfa is just another bad spin off…my second viewing really brought this home… #originaltrilogyand anyoldshitewithstarwarsinthetitle.com

You’re assuming an awful lot of authority about the state of the forum for someone who registered less than a month ago.

Having seen it three times, I’m more comfortable integrating it into my ranking. I’m going to use letter grades, because I like those better.

The Phantom Menace: C-
Attack of the Clones: D
Revenge of the Sith: D/C-
A New Hope: A
The Empire Strikes Back: A+
Return of the Jedi: B
The Force Awakens: B/B+

Right now I think TFA has a slight edge of ROTJ by virtue of its enthusiasm. There’s just so much gee-whiz vitality across the board there, whereas I’ve always felt that in Jedi everyone except Mark Hamill and Ian McDiarmid is coasting. I’m really not going to be able to do this definitively until I’ve lived with TFA on home video for a year or so, though.

SilverWook said:

Unless it’s officially said Han was told who Vader really was, that’s in doubt as well.

Doesn’t he say something like “There’s too much of Vader in him” when Leia tells him to bring Kylo/Ben home?

I could see Chewie continuing through this trilogy and beyond for continuity’s sake simply because they aren’t beholden to one particular actor, especially because I get the feeling R2 and 3PO aren’t going to get the screentime they did in the prequels. 20 years from now when they want to do another trilogy and Mark’s in his eighties and Carrie’s close behind, they’re going to want a link to the originals that doesn’t come with the limitations of old age.

Of course, the hope that they’ll wait that long for X, XI and XII is probably foolish, but let a fool hope.

TavorX said:

This recently hit me, but I think what I fear most is how the old remaining cast is handled in the next two films. I guess technically Leia is the only ‘surviving’ OT character going forward, so what will she do? Will the next film fade her out where you either never hear of her or she’s only mentioned by name? Do they plan to kill her off?

I would mention Chewie here, but they have a new actor in the suit for most of the walking/action shots. I wouldn’t be surprised if Peter declined to get back in character. Chewie might possibly be in the next two films without dying, and I wouldn’t really mind.

Either you’re forgetting all about Luke or you know something awful that I haven’t heard yet.

Well, the envoy is credited by name (Korr Sella) on the TFA IMDB page and only appears in the final cut of the film for one shot during the destruction of Hosnian Prime. I remember that name showing up on the cast list very early but I didn’t connect it with anything until I read the novelization. I think you’re likely right, but her presence on the cast list since right around principle photography has me hopeful. I think you’re definitely right about the Unkar Plutt scene being included, though.

If it had to be one way or the other, I’m actually kind of relieved they’re not including the shifting aspect ratio on the 2D blu-ray. The 2D theatrical release with the locked aspect ratio is the one I’ve seen three times and will see at least once more when I go with my parents this weekend, so even if I do make it to an IMAX screening eventually, I expect the 2D to remain the “true” version in my own memory. Still, in a perfect world it would be included as an option on the 2D disc.

The quote’s from a Kasdan interview that may have already been posted in one of the TFA threads, but Larry says Episode VIII is going to be “weird”:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/star-wars-8-is-going-to-be-weird-promises-screenwriter-a6788031.html

Let’s hope.

ZkinandBonez said:

Well, seems like the TFA Blu-ray/DVD will be released April 5, 2016.
Abrams have also said that a good portion of the deleted scenes will be made available.

http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2015/12/star-wars-the-force-awakens-blu-ray-aiming-at-april-5-2016-release-date.html

I hope that bit from the novelization where Leia sends an envoy to the senate on Hosnian Prime is in there. I think that one scene would clear up a lot of the vagueness about the state of the galaxy that a lot of folks have problems with.

Bingowings said:

The only motifs that I recognised were from the OT.

Well wouldn’t they have to be?

LexX said:

Does anyone here own the 2015 BD Saga set? Does it still have Fox logos in TESB and ROTJ? Or is it 100% similar to the 2011 set, with no Disney connection anywhere?

The actual films are the same as far as I know, but I believe the Roman numeral episode numbers were removed from the physical discs themselves. Ultimately pretty meaningless, but people made an enormous deal about it in comment sections round the world.

moviefreakedmind said:

I know that this is not the intent of this project, but I would like to respectfully suggest a version of Star Wars that includes the Episode IV: A New Hope subtitle along with the more consistent colors from the earlier versions of Despecialized versions reminiscent of the home video colors. Again, I completely understand the fact that this is not the goal of this specific project, but I think it is also important to preserve the version of Star Wars that a great number of fans (and many of us in this forum) grew up with along with the all-important theatrical versions. I would gladly do this myself if I had the ability to do it but I would no-doubt screw it up and fail miserably because of my technical ineptitude. I know that Harmy released the Star Wars 90s SE awhile back and has mentioned a willingness to include the Episode IV subtitle. Again, I’d be interested in hearing if you are willing to do this the next time you revisit the Star Wars Despecialized Edition.

I would absolutely adore a version with the subtitle and colors based on a home video release (even after countless viewings, all the blue and green on the Death Star still kind of throws me off).

EDIT: Just saw Harmy’s response about actually potentially doing this. If this is a “I’ll do it if X people are interested in it” thing, consider me officially interested.

Re: picture, it’s not so much completely terrible as uneven. There are stretches that look fine to great, but others that aren’t much better than the DVD.

Looks like the second IMAX poster was finally released. There was so much time between them that I honestly forgot this was even going to be a thing.

I’ve got to say, changes aside, I’ve got a newfound respect for the official SW blu ray after seeing the disc for Dune last week. That is truly an abysmal transfer.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/12/22/why-j-j-abrams-now-regrets-deboarding-the-star-wars-chair-before-episode-viii/
I dare say this looks promising.

Anchorhead said:

Oh, and since it was an evening viewing I ordered from the special Star Wars menu. Had a Tatooine Sunset. A rum drink served on the rocks in a pint glass. Fantastic! Glad I lifted the menu. I can make them at home. I raised my glass during the crawl. To my new favorite Star Wars film. Feel like I’ve been waiting on this as long as Rey had been waiting for her family.

I would certainly be interested in seeing a scan and/or photo of that menu. I’m always excited to see Star Wars themed cocktails. When I was visiting friends in upstate New York this past summer we went to a bar that had the Wampa, the Kessel Run, and the Moff Tarkin on their drink list. Made my night.

Why are you still here? I thought you were back to only caring about the OOT.

Also, as far as I can tell, you’re the only person on the entire internet who reacted this negatively to that character.

I heard somewhere that getting people to consider that possibility was one of Oscar Isaac’s goals when he was figuring out how he wanted to play the character, but I didn’t see the interview he’s supposed to have said it in myself so I can’t say how accurate that is. I think it seems pretty obvious that at least Finn is hoping for Finn/Rey, though.

^I noticed it but couldn’t get a good look at it either time I saw it because the shot was so damn dark. I’m hoping the blu ray is a little clearer.

Rian Johnson was hanging around for a ton of production and post production on TFA and had a bunch of really in-depth conversations with JJ about the direction of the story. Hell, I seem to remember JJ even saying Johnson asked him to tweak a couple things so they would lead into his movie more smoothly, and JJ’s already read his Episode VIII script and presumably given feedback on it. This is not JJ and Kasdan turning around after their movie and saying “screw you guys, you’re on your own”, it’s simply someone else getting into the driver’s seat to keep it fresh. The LFL story group isn’t flying blind.

TavorX said:

joefavs said:

TavorX said:

I will admit, there are little things that take me out of the film. When for example, Finn asks Rey, “Do you have a boyfriend?” That right there, like what. Boyfriend? That’s never something ever in the vocabulary in any of the six films. Closest would be Han asking Luke, “Do you think a guy like me and a girl like–” “No” but I dunno, what Finn said felt like such a Earthy thing to say.

I think someone says “girlfriend” in the prequels.

My initial thought was that “I think that’s totally from a deleted scene of AotC”, and yep, around 5:00, “boyfriend” is mentioned instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM5Lu40PZJQ

Still, I don’t think I recall boyfriend/girlfriend mentioned in any true form of the films. I could be wrong, but I’m almost sure it’s the case.

It’s definitely in Clones. I think Owen introduces Beru as his girlfriend when they meet Anakin and Padme? I can’t find the clip on youtube.

TavorX said:

I will admit, there are little things that take me out of the film. When for example, Finn asks Rey, “Do you have a boyfriend?” That right there, like what. Boyfriend? That’s never something ever in the vocabulary in any of the six films. Closest would be Han asking Luke, “Do you think a guy like me and a girl like–” “No” but I dunno, what Finn said felt like such a Earthy thing to say.

I think someone says “girlfriend” in the prequels.

Warbler said:
ok let us take Luke from time he boarded cloud city. At that time he was partially train. Shoot him with bowcaster and then hand totally untrained Leia a lightsaber. Who are you going to bet on winning that fight?

She’s not Leia though. She’s Rey, who’s been fighting with a staff and jumping around derelict Star Destroyers and taking care of herself with no help in a brutally harsh environment since she was a small child. Melee combat is already part of her skill set regardless of the Force.

and if I thought that, my next thought would be why haven’t we seen this “force stuff going on here that we haven’t seen before” in any of the first six movies. The first six movies make quite clear that someone totally untrained would have no chance against someone as trained Kylo Ren is in this movie.

Before ESB, there were no Force ghosts or visions. TPM turned the whole thing on its head with midichlorians. ROTS introduced power over life and death into the mix. This is how a series works. If we were stuck with only what was explicitly referenced in ANH for nine films, we’d have a pretty boring franchise.

Jesus Christ, how the hell is everyone 200% positive she hasn’t had Jedi training? I could easily see a scenario down the line where we discover that Rey learned from Luke and/or her family (if Luke isn’t her family) and underwent some kind of Force-induced amnesia for one reason or another. In fact, I’ll be surprised if that isn’t the case. The mind trick is really the only thing that needs explaining anyway, and possibly pulling the lightsaber. As for winning the fight, consider the following:

-Kylo Ren is himself only partially trained. Yes, he has that nifty trick where he stops blaster bolts, and yes, he’s pretty damned effective when he’s the only guy in the room with a lightsaber, but he’s not Vader and the movie never gives the impression that he’s anywhere near that level of control.

-When he fights Rey, Kylo’s just taken a bowcaster bolt to the torso and a couple decent saber hits from Finn. He’s also just murdered his father and is kind of a confused angry mess. This is not Kylo Ren on his A game.

-The movie set up quite organically through the stuff that happens on Jakku that Rey is adept at hand to hand combat and is extremely agile. Couple that with her newly awakened Force sensitivity, and I have no trouble believing she could hold her own against a Kylo Ren in the state I’ve just described.

-If that isn’t enough for you, the Force works in mysterious ways. We’ve seen it set up innumerable coincidences to drive events and shape outcomes. Who’s to say the Force itself didn’t give Rey a boost because it needed to happen? I know there’s no direct precedent for this, but have Luke or Maz expound on it in a well-written monologue in the next movie and I’ll totally buy it.

I know I’m not likely to change anyone’s mind, but when I see people take issue with stuff like this I can’t shake the feeling that it’s because they’re just unwilling to think about it. That if something in a Star Wars movie doesn’t immediately gel with the finite list of things we’ve seen in the other movies, it’s bad writing and poorly done. When I look at Rey’s arc in this movie, I don’t think “pfffft, totally unbelievable, not at all like how it was for Luke”. I think “oh shit, there’s some Force stuff going on here that we haven’t seen before, I wonder where this is going”.