Star Wars Episode VII in one word: Terrible (SPOILERS!)

[FLOOB]

[Maverick]

Finally saw it yesterday. Kids are back in school so we didn't have t sit in a theater full of pre adolescents and other attention wasters. I enjoyed the film simply because I went there without any intention of analyzing it or comparing it. I just went to spend a bit of time in a film, period. Yes there were disappointments, yeah I see the Disney meddling and lack of inspired writing but again I went to see an entertainment flick and nothing else. Perhaps it's because I am older (more than 3 score years) and followed the franchise from the beginning but I no longer go to ANY movie (if I go to a theater at all) with the idea that I will be astounded. If the film was entertaining, then my money was well spent. If not, I will simply walk out before wasting all of my time. I had no problem staying until the credits played on this one. Will I pay to see it again? Nope, but that goes for almost all of the stuff released.

Quite frankly I think red box is great and see almost all of the hollywierd stuff in the comfort of my recliner at far less than theater pricing.

[mbailey]

Just saw it today, liked it very much. As much for the story and effects as the nostalgia (the original Star Wars was the only one I've seen in the theater...when I was 7. Me and my boy saw it today 

[Molsman]

I have seen al the movies and this was the first one  I saw in 3D Ent care who made it Disney r Lucas  I enjoyed every moment even When Harrison Ford got his wish finally. Ya know Skywalker was missing but the only gripe I have is wish he had more screen time with little hints. Now I have to wait til the next movie

[PJ_Godzilla]

Serenity is basically correct in his analysis, imj.

I'd add, though, that the lack of tension made it an undemanding watch, and one I enjoyed.

Additional thoughts:
Rey is, per geek speak, very clearly a "Mary Sue". What is it about the Essex girls that always makes them sound half Australian?  One of our Purchasing Managers that I've worked with in past similarly fooled me (usually I can pick out the accents reliably) and was also from Essex. Part of it was the obvious sun damage on Rey that put me to the Aus side of the fence - but she's actually from Essex, and I'd give her an 8. She obviously works out, so the lecherous Jabba scene should be good and I look forward to filing it to the mental microfiche (perv).

The gulled stormtrooper is none other than Daniel Craig, who did the role for laughs, apparently. You can verify yourself...

[Saxman]

Rey is, per geek speak, very clearly a "Mary Sue".

Flame war in 3...2...1... aaaaaand go.

[PJ_Godzilla]

Flame war in 3...2...1... aaaaaand go.

I must be a novice in the sci-fi world. Do you really think that assertion would trigger a flame war? Don't get me wrong, I like Rey.

[Saxman]

I must be a novice in the sci-fi world. Do you really think that assertion would trigger a flame war? Don't get me wrong, I like Rey. (Image removed from quote.)

To say the arguments that statement has triggered are "heated" would be an understatement.

[Volron]

Just saw it today, IMAX 3D.  I enjoyed it.  A little "watered down", but still solid.  It kind of feels like 4, 5 and 6 crammed into one movie.  I can say this without a doubt, they did FAR better than how Ep 1, 2 and 3 were done, combined.  This much is certain though, I'm very much waiting for 8 now.  I have an inkling that they will take more "risks" in Ep8.  Either way, we have to wait for 8 and 9 to know if Disney did well.

[DmonSlyr]

Just saw it today, IMAX 3D.  I enjoyed it.  A little "watered down", but still solid.  It kind of feels like 4, 5 and 6 crammed into one movie.  I can say this without a doubt, they did FAR better than how Ep 1, 2 and 3 were done, combined.  This much is certain though, I'm very much waiting for 8 now.  I have an inkling that they will take more "risks" in Ep8.  Either way, we have to wait for 8 and 9 to know if Disney did well.

Yeah I agree with you there. I saw it the other day and thought it really reminded me of the older versions. I was not expecting that. I did think there were some cheezy parts; like how they just found Phasma and took her hostage, or some of the escape scenes, her getting the force easily, the 1v1 fight scenes, the child like cliches. I didn't really think there was a lot of depth in the story line and I think it could have got much deeper. It seemed sorta stucked together for me.

My GF and I think 8 will be the back story and/or flashbacks of this plot. There were too many unanswered questions about the past. IMO, they skipped a whole generation and plot line. I am excited about 8 and they have the opportunity to really expand on the characters.

[BoilerDown]

I actually thought the story from 1, 2, and 3 far exceeded what we got from Episode 7.  There were parallels to 4 in Episode 1, sure, but it wasn't in the same order of magnitude of a ripoff that Episode 7 turned out to be.

The acting, directing and casting were obviously horrendous in 1, 2 and 3, and set a low bar easily exceeded in 7.  So grats on that.  But I don't give that a lot of credit.

It was still entertaining, but even while watching it, it had that nasty Episode 1 - type feeling creeping up on me, that they've continued to ruin Star Wars, and it may have been better for them to do nothing than to make this movie.  If anything they should have done it immediately after Episode 3 was done so that Harrison Ford might still be young enough to move like an action hero.

Expanding on that a bit... compare Harrison Ford's performance with William Shatners in Star Trek: Generations.  Shatner didn't look horrible in his fight scenes in that movie, far better than Harrison Ford in SW7.  They made ST:G before he was too old to do it.

[Muzzy]

I actually thought the story from 1, 2, and 3 far exceeded what we got from Episode 7.  There were parallels to 4 in Episode 1, sure, but it wasn't in the same order of magnitude of a ripoff that Episode 7 turned out to be.

The acting, directing and casting were obviously horrendous in 1, 2 and 3, and set a low bar easily exceeded in 7.  So grats on that.  But I don't give that a lot of credit.

It was still entertaining, but even while watching it, it had that nasty Episode 1 - type feeling creeping up on me, that they've continued to ruin Star Wars, and it may have been better for them to do nothing than to make this movie.  If anything they should have done it immediately after Episode 3 was done so that Harrison Ford might still be young enough to move like an action hero.

Expanding on that a bit... compare Harrison Ford's performance with William Shatners in Star Trek: Generations.  Shatner didn't look horrible in his fight scenes in that movie, far better than Harrison Ford in SW7.  They made ST:G before he was too old to do it.

Shatner was considerably younger than Ford when he did "Generations". Also, I'd say that Ford's performance was much more interesting and nuanced, but of course he had better material to work with. I particularly loved the moment when he says "it's all true...all of it", showing how much his character had changed over the years, and how much his life had been affected by the Force.  His scenes with Leia were also really good (although Fischer didn't hold up her end of the scenes quite as well).  Respectfully, there's more to acting than simply fight scenes.

[Serenity]

Shatner was considerably younger than Ford when he did "Generations". Also, I'd say that Ford's performance was much more interesting and nuanced, but of course he had better material to work with. I particularly loved the moment when he says "it's all true...all of it", showing how much his character had changed over the years, and how much his life had been affected by the Force.  His scenes with Leia were also really good (although Fischer didn't hold up her end of the scenes quite as well).  Respectfully, there's more to acting than simply fight scenes.

I couldn't agree more. The scenes with Han and Leia were... well, THOSE felt like Star Wars, and I really enjoyed them.

[FLOOB]

Star Wars.. Harry Potter.. Lord of The Rings.. What is it about children's movies that gets nerds all worked up? Jawing on about it until they break a retainer.
It's time for Red Foreman to put this nerdfest down.