I realized something recently: I have come full circle, and can now unironically enjoy things.
In particular, TFA. I enjoy enjoying it.
The first time, I whelped and cheered along with the crowd. The second time, the crowd didn't -- and I was muted, but still did so.
Because I enjoy doing so. It brings me happiness.
This is my unironic Star Wars enjoyment thread.
Comments on how great Star Wars is are ideal ("Han was all "never tell me the odds" then hyperspace jumped ONTO A PLANET! wow!") informed criticism are OK ("how could they hyperspace jump right into a planet?"), shitting on is not ("Its so STUPID that they hyperspace jumped right onto a planet!").
I'll mod as necessary.
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TFA is so great! We see under the mask of a storm trooper! They are people, too.
ReplyDelete"Escape now. Hug later." is a great line.
ReplyDeleteJosh T Jordan I know, right! There's this perfect moment where Rey realizes that Finn really cares about her and thinks about her. And then, Solo points out "hey, there's still time pressure", and they MOVE. That's a fantastic line, the likes of which we'd never seen in original trilogy nor prequils.
ReplyDeleteI really love how much the characters like each other, and I loved spending time with them so much.
ReplyDeleteWhen they were running toward the cruiser on Jakku and Finn asks, "What about that ship?" and Rey says, "That's a piece of junk," I knew it was the motherfucking Falcon. Then they cut to show it and I let out a whoop of joy that I didn't even intentionally give. It was insane.
This movie makes me so happy, as does its good reception.
Robert Bohl you and me both! And i knew circumstances would put them onto the Falcon right then, so something was going to happen to the quad jumper. The use of air power in that scene was among the best we've seen in star wars, I think.
ReplyDelete"So, who talks first?"
ReplyDeleteRight off the bat, I knew it was going to be right. Starting with Max von Sydow was a great choice, I mean, who isn't going to want to listen to that guy? You know shit is serious when he's involved. Then, to the hot shot, wise ass, but he's a different kind of wise ass than we're used to. Then, to the guy that's unintentionally funny all the time, and willing to just wear his heart right on his sleeve, but yo, he's also a Stormtrooper (and yes, he's Black, fam).
My only beef was that I was looking forward to actually seeing Nyongo, and would have liked to see Fasma Phasma in action, like, that scene where Finn has to fight the guy with the eltroclub thingie. Why not have that be Fasma Phasma, and establish how dangerous she really is, instead of just letting it be assumed?
That's pretty much it though. I mean, there are some, "That wouldn't really work." type things that are kind of dumb to ask, IMO, because the setting is nearly as magical as LOTR, but I am not kidding when I say this is my favorite SW film, nor do I mean to put down the others in saying so, and nor do I mean that I don't like the others (though I am merely a student of the prequels, and like to think they are the result of an unreliable narrator... something like that happened, but perhaps the Gungan retelling the story got a lot of things wrong, and purposely inserted himself where he did not belong?).
Oh man, that moment where the Stormtroopers back off of Ren's temper tantrum? So fucking good.
ReplyDeleteI felt really good when watching this movie, and I see very few movies in theaters anymore.... When the audience applauded the opening scroll, Han and Leia's first appearances, and the winning of the space battle it made me so happy I'd gotten out for it!
ReplyDeleteGiving a Stormtrooper a face was wonderful. From the moment we started following him I hoped we'd get to see more of him, and I said, "Yessss!" when he revealed himself to Poe.
Rey was wonderful, too. If this had been my childhood Star Wars, I would have been a massive Star Wars fan, instead of the "Yeah, it's okay, but I can more see myself in Star Trek, Blake's Seven, or Doctor Who" that I actually felt. Child me who still lives in me was incredibly, unironically thrilled by this movie, and grownup me really loved it, too.
And oh, the chemistry and love in the cast! I really felt for Finn, working so hard on learning freedom, and lonely but kind Rey, and for Han and Leia, who loved each other but couldn't make the love be enough, and even for Ren. It's hard to get me to empathize with someone as wilfully disaffected as Ren, but this movie succeeded at it.
Structurally speaking I really liked the battle which kept shifting attention between an air battle and a running ground battle, outside of Maz's place. It showed how the two fights affected each other, and the chaos it would feel like to be in it.
ReplyDeleteGretchen S. - Yeah, that sky / land battle sequence was thrilling and unlike anything I can recall seeing.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Daniel Craig was awesome.
ReplyDelete"I'll tighten those restraints... "
T to the E to the O I would also have liked to see Phasma. She was hyped, and then she didn't do a lot. That made me sad, especially as the movie forgets about her after Han says he'll toss her into a garbage masher. But, that's ok -- she'll be in more in the next one! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteYeah apparently she'll be big in the future ones.
ReplyDeletePhasma wasn't hyped big. She appears in a silent shot in the trailers.
Robert Bohl I know, right? That moment also made stormtroopers into people -- not just out hero, but the rest of them! -- indicating that they have real lives and don't want to perish.
ReplyDeleteGretchen S. Yes, yes, yes! A Star Wars that is accessible to everyone? Which has more women in it than a Princess and a dancer? Where heroes can be dark skinned without being a 2nd fiddle? This is the Star Wars I want, too.
ReplyDeleteI think the hype was from fans wanting to know who the hell that was, and especially from those of us who knew who was in the suit, and love the hell out of her : )
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait to see her kick some ass, and if they have her flip sides, that would be so much better, but still, having her be a great villain would be wonderful as well.
She's got more to her than Boba Fett does in the films.
ReplyDeletePositive point being: We get to see more of her in the next movie! Woot!
ReplyDeleteI am listening, because Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssss!
ReplyDeleteDuring the planning scene:
ReplyDeleteHan: So its big. These things always have a mcguffin. Right?
Rebel: Yeah, the McGuffin is right here.
Solo: Finn could get us into the McGuffin, right?
Finn: Sure, but I've got to be there.
I loved every moment of that. The pov from Solo of "Oh, its another one. pffft, who cares?" is glorious, and echoes 30 years of constant warfare and building of bigger and worse super weapons.He doesn't even seem scared. I love that.
I really liked even the little Phasma we got, and how the other Stormtroopers took Finn's defection really personally.... Good human villainy!
ReplyDeleteAnd I had to wonder during the Hux speech/rant how many of the listening troopers were wishing they could defect too, how many felt they had no choice, how many had fully been indoctrinated.... A range of personal tragedy for a force made deliberately faceless.
Gretchen S. Right! If Finn questioned and would leave, and he was but one in a squad, is there a Finn in each squad? And what happened when Phasma decided he was OK? Was she lying?Trying to save him?
ReplyDeleteIs that why she put the shields down, because she's actually a mole?
Phasma said he was sent to deprogramming, but that he didn't report.
ReplyDeleteI think Phasma will stay a villain.
ReplyDeleteTime will tell. She was cool, and I expect she'll be cooler in the next one.
ReplyDeleteOverall I enjoyed the movie, but a few things bothered me. For instance, the difference between the republic, the rebellion, and the resistance felt clunky and ended being arbitrary since they just blew up the Republic on a whim. This kinda robbed the major governing body of the galaxy of its importance which also prevented me from feeling the tragedy.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall feeling much for the people of Alderaan. I was just like, "holy shit, they blew up a planet!"
ReplyDeleteThis time I was like, "holy shit, they blew up a star system!"
Works for me.
I felt blowing up Alderman was a very important western trope. It’s like having the villians burning the wagon train or shooting up the town. It wasn’t the people the empire was killing, it was Leah's home.
ReplyDeleteSomething else awesome:
ReplyDeleteFinn: I'm rescuing you.
Poe: Why?
Finn; Its the right thing to do.
Pie: You need a pilot.
Finn: I need a pilot.
Gorgeous; self motivation and morality converging beautifully.
I did one of these, William, inspired by you. So thank you. I'll add one from there: I love how Kylo keeps pounding on his side-wound. To keep himself conscious, alert, and also stoke the Dark Side.
ReplyDeleteI saw it, and it made me happy!
ReplyDelete