I've watched it since then. At least once a year for my entire life.

And you'll be the first person to die of boredom with that movie.

I actually agree with the point about the political subtleties and storyline behind it being very interesting in episodes I-III. I just feel like Lucas was trying to be so cutting-edge technologically (as he was in the OT) that some of the heart got lost in all the action, which seems to happen in a lot of blockbusters for the past decade. You see flashes of emotion still in the current Disney umbrella (in GOTG, 1st Iron Man, even the rather goofy Ant-Man). But it's hard to hang on to that too much with all the dulling action enveloping it. It could partially be direction but I feel like producers behind the scenes are fucking up a lot of stories by dumbing stuff down too much. The Transformers franchise, I feel is the best/worst example of this. The first Transformers seemed like it was still fun and reaching for something more than the usual, but then the action got so over-the-top and dulling after each movie, I couldn't stay awake in their successive sequels (I used to never have this problem of staying awake during movies, must be sign of age? ). This is all IMO, of course.

I feel that J.J. Abrams is spectacular in developing characters, but I also feel like he was caged in by the people behind the scenes, and the fact of following so much history and expectations. I'm really not sure if another director can expand too much out of this box that Disney seems to be imposing and molding. I hope I'm wrong. I still enjoyed TFA immensely for accomplishing what it set out to do, IMO (pleasing a majority of the old fans' nostalgia and bringing in a new generation of them). I think the characters were different enough (especially Rey) that it more than makes up for being in a similar setting/rehashed storyline. I didn't feel the action was as dulling, though I agree that the newer buff Death Star was a bit of a letdown. The visuals felt a lot crisper and kept my interest, and they left enough time for some comedy/levity between the characters to have them bond and for us to identify with them. I also feel that Rey's moment grasping the lightsaber could be THE top moment of this long franchise

I really like Kylo Ren and Driver making the character his own (both with and without helmet), though I may be in the minority here. My wife thought Finn's character was a bit too derivative aside from the fact that it was played by a black dude. It was very strange how unsurprising and dull I felt with I can't wait to see how this new trilogy progresses, for better or for worse. I think it's the best movie we could've hoped for in the current circumstances. It definitely has me more excited than the prequel trilogy.

Saw it again. Liked it more a second time. Still not a classic (that moment with Rey grabbing the lightsaber is though), but it at least feels like it's in the same universe as the OT. And I think the film rewards rematches so it might become a classic for me with time. Here are some thoughts...

- I love Rey's theme. The score works much better with a second viewing.

- Kylo had a bigger impact for me. Still not quite enough for me to truly feel the impact of Solo's death (it works, but I should be in tears), but he works much better than say Anakin did in the third movie. He's temperamental, but it feels authentic. Anakin just came across as a squeaky bitch. He deserved a better actor and writer.

- The A New Hope parallels didn't bother (or I didn't care) me anywhere near as much this time around. The attack on Starkiller should've been balanced better like the original and Jedi did, but having her start off like Luke was smart. And of course if she's his daughter (though I'm think she's Solo's) that makes sense. The template works. It also helps...

- That these new characters really have a chance at being as iconic as the OT's three. And it's really important that Rey works as well as she does. All the credit in the world should go to Ridley and whoever found her. If she wants it, she'll be a star.

- The middle portion worked much better. I think I kind of zoned out the first time when they went to visit Maz. Not this time. And Lupita comes through much better a second time around.

Some of my gripes still stand, but bring on VIII!

A strong A-

Don't blame Disney, the original trilogy was always very Disney and family friendly (the Ewoks hello).

I have way more thoughts but I echo the sentiment that it's great fun and a return to the rollicking adventure of the OT, but it's basically a rehash and the whole plot seems to have weirdly stagnated re: the empire, Rebels, etc.

My main complaint is probably that they didn't establish a trio dynamic between Finn, Poe and Rey when they could have easily done it by not having having Isaacs (by far the most engaging of the new actors/characters) disappear for half the film. His character injects such life into the film at the start and then he's just gone. It's incredibly disappointing.

I liked it a lot. To me the thing I liked most and what has been missing in a lot of blockbusters is moments of real emotion. The big death scene and everything about unmasked emo Kylo Ren stands out in this area, Han and Leia meeting, Rey's dream sequence, that Finn and Rey (who I am definitely shipping) had the beginnings of an emotional connection and showed it with things like Finn shouting after Rey when she's in trouble or her reaction when he is injured. The light sabre fight at the end of the movie is one of the best scenes in the series because it is an emotionally driven fight.

The key to this movie was in the casting room. They hit a home run so far with all 3 of Rey, Finn and Poe, with John Boyega and Daisy Ridley oozing charisma and charm in the lead roles. The best thing I can say about those characters is I want to see the next chapter in their story tomorrow. I loved Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and they immediately gave him a human side, and I enjoyed him spazzing out with his lightsaber. Snoke was far too CGI and it felt like a Marvel universe villain in the wrong way. He didn't have a ton to do but I was impressed by how much Domhnall Gleeson turned himself into a Nazi, the guy in About Time or Ex Machina is totally unrecognizable in that part.

As for the criticism about ripping ANH. To me the one thing that bothered me is another Death Star but supersized, and with yet another coincidentally weak point in it. Lol. They good guys were obviously going to win so it just didn't feel that essential to me compared to what was happening inside. It reminded me of how my biggest problem with LOTR is that the whole trilogy isn't told from Frodo and Sam POV, and I have watch boring armies fight each other for the other half of TTT and ROTK that don't really hold Frodo and Sam succeeding in the balance.

The rest of the ANH parallels I am ok with as part tribute and part of the characters story. It's not just that Kylo Ren is modelled after Vader, but he knows he is, and is conscience of the ways he's not Vader. In light of his too conscience he's the Vader of this story parallel, for this reason it makes sense that his nemesis is a new age Luke in Rey, who herself will also decide whether that's what she wants to be. That it's probable they have the same grandparents in Anakin and Padme one way or the other, that there is both a Luke and Vader in this bloodline makes sense. Ren doesn't have to be the villain and Rey doesn't have to be the hero, that part is unwritten yet. Likewise Luke deciding he wants to be Yoda, is part of both his story and the SW universe of one generation passing to the next, but it also brings up the question is why didn't he want to be Rey's Obi Wan instead, as either father or uncle. Finn doesn't have as obvious a parallel to the OT because a Storm Trooper switching sides wasn't supposed to happen, and in light of the destiny of The Force he decided to follow Choice.

I agree with many of the criticisms about not expanding on the history of politics of the universe, some weak scenes like Han's monsters when they meet him, using a D2 Ex Machina to find Luke, and Carrie Fisher as Leia just not having it in this movie. But overall I give credit to Abrams for stepping up his game compared to Star Trek by making a film with emotional weight, thinking about cinematography, etc.

I was too hard on it. Having seen it 3 times and had time to cool off and reevaluate, my initial criticisms were too harsh. The action was pretty dang good all things considered. I still think it's valid to have expected a higher ratio of questions answered to questions asked though. I feel confident that at least those questions will be answered in the next episode.

A-

you rock

I think high expectations have certainly hurt the KJ collective grade here.

I personally loved this and though it has its faults (yes mirrors ANH far too much and maybe Kylo shouldnt have taken off his helmet) but it really hit the sweet spot for me.

Without the cartoonish CGI and sillyness of the prequels it certainly looks and feels like a SW film should. The new actors are fantastic - especially Ridley and Isaac. Kylo Ren is great anytime he has his mask on and the final light saber battle is perhaps the most powerful one in the series.

I wont rank it until i rewatch the other 6 films but its likely top 3 for me.

Grade: A

My dude.

Although I disagree with Kylo and his helmet.

I liked Kylo Ren bit more without his helmet on during the battle. Made it more emotional fight to me.

LOL SIMPSONS always ahead of the curve

SIMPSONS DID IT

Moviegeek/Rev - thinking about it the lightsaber fight was certainly better with his helmet off - also the encounter with his father. You can't have these with the helmet on. And the fact that he's still a conflicted kid really explains his attitude.

What is interesting though is Snoke's comment along the lines of "bring Kylo Ren to me so he can complete his final training" or something like this.

I take it we'll get a super Kylo 2.0 next film?

Oh and in regards to Phasma - I felt she was barely in it for a name that is mentioned often. Reminds me of the Witch King of Agmar who was built up in ROTK but was a let down. Though on this case - I suspect she'll have more screen time in the next one.

I'm itching to see this again. First I'll have to do a machete rematch (4,5,1,2,3,6) of the series so far with my wife (who hasn't seen any of the others bar Sith when it was in theatres). I don't think I've the watched any of them for over a decade do looking forward to it.

Lol love the Simpsons ESP

I have yet to see it in that order. Let us know what thought of it. Did it change your feelings of the prequels....

I'll let you know as soon as I'm done over the next week. I've never rewarchedthe prequels so keen to see how they stack up in this order.

When I did the Machete order a while back it didn't include TPM. It worked as 4,5,2,3,6 pretty well. We watched it with a friend who knew nothing about Star Wars and it made sense for them.

Yeah TPM is usually left out but we'll watch it as I haven't seen it since 99.

MadGez was also an early proponent of the Intestinal Malrotation Cycle, which is 2-3-holiday special-5-6-Spaceballs-1-4. George Lucas is strongly against this order, but J. J. Abrams says it is "difficult, but rewarding."

So I literally just got finished re-watching Empire for the first time since TFA and man, I had so many more emotions for some reason. Certain character interactions had me with all the feels like Luke petting Chewie and giving him a hug, the sadness Leia and Chewie had when Han is behind lowered into carbon freeze and Chewie flying in the Falcon with Lando and not Han. It's pretty much anything to do with Chewie and his emotions and the scene where Luke is calling to Leia and she feels his presence. I cannot wait to see them together again.

Empire is perfect.

Dont forget Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure... it slots in nicely between 1 and 4.

I also wouldn't call myself a huge fan of the series though I do enjoy the original trilogy. This was a brilliant blockbuster though, easily the best blockbuster of the year for me. I just had so much fun with it and the new cast is aces. Can't wait to see it again in real IMAX.