So Diva and I just came back from SW:tFA. (Massive Spoilers) -- (edited)
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Very satisfying. It channels the best intentions of Lucas. It's shlocky, rollicking, pulp, good fun when it intends to. I was initially annoyed by some of the character names, for example, when they were first announced. But having seen it, I know they intent to hearken back to the b/w serials. Notice the invasion of Jakku involves spaceships carrying the stormtroopers that look and act like landing craft of the Allies in WWII. There's several shots that look like news reel footage. It's remarkable.
It's as emotionally investing SW movie as we've seen. Easily on par with ESB in that regard, perhaps even more so with the big death. Speaking of...
We were both, I am not afraid to write - devastated. It was rumored early on to be, who it is but then the rumor mill had me convinced it was that person's companion. I was still expecting it to be possibly be who it was but when it happened - I say this honestly, a bit of my childhood went with that character.
I will admit that the movie plays it safe. It lifts much of the best of the original trilogy with the plot. Some see it as a homage, which I think is partially right but I think they had to do this. It's not a crime to give the audience what they want. It could also have been a calculated business decision. Disney has 10s of Billions riding on this...maybe more. There was no way they were going to stray too far from a formula. I think they've set themselves up for a great next two movies.
But it also lovingly embraces the best of the originals. It's funny, satisfying, interesting and emotionally attractive. It does great service to the characters who are the most fully dimensional of any SW movie before it. That, for example is how you write a character who is conflicted about his life, growing into his own self, grappling with the new depth of emotions and questions...a teenager...who also has great potential in the force. Kylo is what Anakin should have been in the last two prequels. It's the best thing Abrams did in the movie as far as I'm concerned.
Also to get back to something Spawn said, it's a minor point, something I think we'll debate but I don't think Kylo's use of the Force shows he's stronger than Vader but Abrams is simply a better writer than Lucas. The one thing I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with 5P David about is Lucas' lack of skill as a writer. You had all these powerful Jedi in the Prequels and all they could do was leap far and rip stuff off walls. The laser bolt freeze was great. The fact that he did it, then went about his business and was so powerful that only later did he seem to remember, "Oh yeah, I should probably do something with this laser bolt."
Abrams also is brilliant at filming action. The space fights are easily the best of the 7 movies. Whereas Lucas sort of just splatters action across the screen, Abrams gives it a flow. He uses 3 dimensions. For that, the 3D is worth it. The Stormtrooper deaths were at times inventive and real. No one just sort of fell over.
There's more I want to get into but I think I've typed long enough. The verdict is...that I'll see it again very soon. That's the grade right now.
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