May The Fourth Be With You ~ Happy Star Wars Day 2014!!!

[lisa needs braces]

Favored parts of Star Trek includes the "engine" room looking like some kind of distillery because according to Abrams people would have found the old design with the light tube in the middle too confusing. Or when "bones" explains he got the nick name because when his wife divorced him he left him only with his "bones". I was eight years old when i first saw Star Trek and it took me less then a second to figure out bones was some kind of military slang for doctor, but i guess modern audiences are too dumb to do that. At least according to Abrams.

Also, this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHMnm9sFo1w

These guys are the bane of cinema: Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindeoff, and J.J Abrams. They're all pals too and work together often.

Heck, even Michael Bay made one legitimately kickass movie -- "The Rock" (1996). The guys above can't point to anything worthwhile they've done. Why is it negative to complain about that?

[Purusha]

I'm not a fan, or should say not interested in these YouTube videos of viewers reactions to other videos. So naturally there are tons of these videos surfacing now. But one came across my screen earlier while reading a few headlines at Yahoo. It was the reaction of actor John Boyega during his first viewing of the newest trailer for The Force Awakens.
Watch to the end, if you're familiar with the trailer you'll know why he reacts the way he does...

https://www.youtube.com/v/kkXKgwB6zCs

This was my reaction:

[Rinaldo]

The guys above can't point to anything worthwhile they've done.

Abrams' Super 8 was, until its weak final act, brilliant. He's a smart guy and he definitely knows how to direct action. With a good script (which his Trek movies lacked..), I'm pretty confident about his abilities to deliver a solid movie. With Kasdan aboard, I'm hopeful the Force Awakens script might be good.

[71 dB]

I don't participate much anymore in Star Wars related discussions. I used to be active back when the PT came out. I am done with the debating, it's beyond any rationality when it's comes to Star Wars. It's not about who gives the best arguments or respecting others. It's about which/whose opinions are allowed. I don't mind people disagreeing with me about Star Wars. What I don't accept is people telling me I can't have my opinions. I don't like people telling me how I should re-think my opinion. Yeah, but I have thought about many things quite a lot already!

Rational discussion about Star Wars online is impossible (actually I have seen exceptions to this rule but they are rare). My opinions are in the very small minority and I don't know why I should waste my time fighting for them online. I feel victimized for my Star Wars (and many other) opinions. We live in a mean world.

My recommendation to everyone is: Hate/ignore/love Star Wars the way you hate/ignore/love it and live your life accordingly. Ignore opinions of other people because whatever you think about Star Wars, someone will tell you your opinions are completely wrong and they will use hours of their time online to chance your opinions (what lunacy!).

That's why I won't even tell what I think about Ep. VII so far. That way nobody can tell me how wrong I am! I'm so tired hearing it time after time.

[TheGSMoeller]

I don't participate much anymore in Star Wars related discussions. I used to be active back when the PT came out. I am done with the debating, it's beyond any rationality when it's comes to Star Wars. It's not about who gives the best arguments or respecting others. It's about which/whose opinions are allowed. I don't mind people disagreeing with me about Star Wars. What I don't accept is people telling me I can't have my opinions. I don't like people telling me how I should re-think my opinion. Yeah, but I have thought about many things quite a lot already!

Rational discussion about Star Wars online is impossible (actually I have seen exceptions to this rule but they are rare). My opinions are in the very small minority and I don't know why I should waste my time fighting for them online. I feel victimized for my Star Wars (and many other) opinions. We live in a mean world.

My recommendation to everyone is: Hate/ignore/love Star Wars the way you hate/ignore/love it and live your life accordingly. Ignore opinions of other people because whatever you think about Star Wars, someone will tell you your opinions are completely wrong and they will use hours of their time online to chance your opinions (what lunacy!).

That's why I won't even tell what I think about Ep. VII so far. That way nobody can tell me how wrong I am! I'm so tired hearing it time after time.

But that's when the haters win! Obviously some of my comments and posts have been followed with negative reaction, but it wont stop me from continuing. And I also don't try and argue with anyone, especially when the comments are all subjective. Plus I haven't seen any of the back and forth between users become too personal, if it does that's when it should stop.
Please feel free to post your comments, 71db, that's what this forum is for.

[71 dB]

But that's when the haters win!

What actually do they win? There's nothing to win for anyone.

Please feel free to post your comments, 71db, that's what this forum is for.

We have not seen Ep. VII yet, only some trailers. At this point I feel that the movie is probably good, but playing on the safe ground, trying to give us what they think people want to see. That may be a problem for me. Now, please don't tell me how wrong my feelings are 2 months before the movie comes out. We all can be so wrong at this point.

[mc ukrneal]

But that's when the haters win! Obviously some of my comments and posts have been followed with negative reaction, but it wont stop me from continuing. And I also don't try and argue with anyone, especially when the comments are all subjective. Plus I haven't seen any of the back and forth between users become too personal, if it does that's when it should stop.
Please feel free to post your comments, 71db, that's what this forum is for.

I find it rather amusing when people post how bad the movie is when they obviously can't have seen it as it is only released in two months. I'm not sure why some posters post such hateful comments either (here and in other threads). It just comes off as being angry with the world and their lot in it.

Personally, I'm excited to see it. I just hope it doesn't disappoint like the fourth one (phantom menace) did.

[Purusha]

Anyone who likes the new movies isn't really a Star Wars fan to begin with. Poor writing and acting aside, people liked Star Wars because it expressed values a lot of people clicked with, such as honor, heroism, hope, redemption, a clear morality and so forth. Some of this stuff derived from Kurosawa, who was himself a traditionalist inhabiting the skin of a modern filmmaker. The writings of Joseph Campbell presumably played a role as well but not having read him myself i cannot say this is the case. Either way, it is moments like this that make Star Wars what it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RFYoZ7H67A

Now, what values do people like Abrams hold? Ho right, the deranged and psychotic values of modernity, which are now endemic in Hollywood as a whole. And this is why this movie will fail. Because it is made by people for whom those older values are utterly and completely alien. And lo, who are the ones who are anticipating this film the most? Ho right, the modernists. What a coincidence.

[mc ukrneal]

Anyone who likes the new movies isn't really a Star Wars fan to begin with. Poor writing and acting aside, people liked Star Wars because it expressed values a lot of people clicked with, such as honor, heroism, hope, redemption, a clear morality and so forth. Some of this stuff derived from Kurosawa, who was himself a traditionalist inhabiting the skin of a modern filmmaker. The writings of Joseph Campbell presumably played a role as well but not having read him myself i cannot say this is the case. Either way, it is moments like this that make Star Wars what it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RFYoZ7H67A

Now, what values does people like Abrams hold? Ho right, the deranged and psychotic values of modernity, which are now endemic in Hollywood as a whole. And this is why this movie will fail. Because it is made by people for whom those older values are utterly and completely alien. And lo, who are the ones who are anticipating this film the most? Ho right, the modernists. What a coincidence.

Well, you proved my point. I suggest you not try to read minds though - it doesn't seem to be your calling in life.

[Purusha]

You are right. I forgot to mention those who simply have no taste or are not intelligent enough to differentiate between good and bad entertainment. And make no mistake, almost all modern entertainment is bad. No exception. Which means we defacto live in the stupidest age in the entire history of mankind.

[mc ukrneal]

You are right. I forgot to mention those who simply have no taste or are not intelligent enough to differentiate between good and bad entertainment. And make no mistake, almost all modern entertainment is bad. No exception. Which means we defacto live in the stupidest age in the entire history of mankind.

Now that you have made clear your position, perhaps you'd let the enthusiasts be enthusiastic in peace? Thanks.

[71 dB]

Ho right, the modernists. What a coincidence.

I believe it was modernists who invented cinema 100+ years ago...

[TheGSMoeller]

 Such anger and hatred because of a movie, you have.

[Mr. Three Putt]

You are right. I forgot to mention those who simply have no taste or are not intelligent enough to differentiate between good and bad entertainment. And make no mistake, almost all modern entertainment is bad. No exception. Which means we defacto live in the stupidest age in the entire history of mankind.

I'll tell you the same thing I tell my son, as I believe you're around the same age. 1. Do not have strong and definitive opinions unless they're absolutely necessary and well informed (Here, they're not). 2. It's not always what you say, but how you say it. Even a well informed opinion can come across as crass depending how you state it.

Your last few posts have show anger, hostility, and frustration. The good news is you'll outgrow this phase of your life and find that most intelligence comes through experience. You're just not there yet but hang tough. Baiting a group of individuals with genuine interest in a topic doesn't start fresh and stale with time. It starts stale and rots with time.

[Todd]

And make no mistake, almost all modern entertainment is bad. No exception.

Either all modern entertainment is bad (ie, no exception), or almost all modern entertainment is bad (ie, there are exceptions).  Which is it?

You also might want to consider taking movies with laser swords less seriously.

[Mr. Three Putt]

Either all modern entertainment is bad (ie, no exception), or almost all modern entertainment is bad (ie, there are exceptions).  Which is it?

You also might want to consider taking movies with laser swords less seriously.

I noticed that too but took it as an Anchorman-esque "60% of the time it works every time." Then again, that's modern entertainment so disregard.

[TheGSMoeller]

BOOM!  


https://www.youtube.com/v/sGbxmsDFVnE

I may have mentioned this before, but I have a feeling that a heavy emphasis will be placed on the villains with the new episodes. I've always thought one of the weakest elements of Eps. I-III was the lack of, or threat, of a true villain. Darth Maul only had about 10 minutes of real screen time, and Palpatine, Dooku and Gen. Grevious were never very strong. But seeing that Vader is the face of the franchise, its become obvious that the Dark Side sells.

[Karl Henning]

No villain named "dooku" can be taken seriously 

[Mr. Three Putt]

I may have mentioned this before, but I have a feeling that a heavy emphasis will be placed on the villains with the new episodes. I've always thought one of the weakest elements of Eps. I-III was the lack of, or threat, of a true villain. Darth Maul only had about 10 minutes of real screen time, and Palpatine, Dooku and Gen. Grevious were never very strong. But seeing that Vader is the face of the franchise, its become obvious that the Dark Side sells.

It's interesting you mention this. I've been considering possible plot twists and I firmly believe episodes VII-IX will have a tough time pulling off unanticipated twists. The main twists of IV-VI numbered 2 and the 1st certainly trumped the 2nd in terms of shock value (Vader as father over Leia as sister). With episodes I-III, twists weren't very relevant, as "how" became more important than "if". Whether Luke turned/turns bad or a main character dies (It has to happen at least once. Hopefully in episode IX), plot twists will be a tough sale here. My prediction: Han, Leia, and Chewbacca will all die during these films, and I hope towards the end. Then again, sometimes even expected events can shock if handled correctly.

[Todd]

But seeing that Vader is the face of the franchise

That is indeed the case.  Last time I was in Seattle, the EMP Museum had a display of original Star Wars costumes from all the movies, and one had to wander through all the costumes before ending up at the Darth Vader costume, guarded, naturally, by a Storm Trooper.  It's a travelling exhibit (even Paul Allen money couldn't buy it), so who knows where they end up next. 

(The EMP museum also has on permanent display the hover police car from Blade Runner, Jack's axe from The Shining, Leeloo's costume fro The Fifth Element, among many other items.  It's chock full of many artifacts from modern entertainments, which, as we now know, are all bad, without exception.  Almost.  People who enjoy popular entertainments could do worse than visiting the museum if in the Emerald City.)