Kxmode wrote on Dec 19, 2015, 01:38:

jdreyer wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 22:02:

Blue wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 08:47:

Ant wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 19:26:
How did you see it early? I probably won't see it until Christmas break.

MrsBlue works in children's publishing and has worked on adaptations of the movies, so she got invited to a screening though work. So it was not only extra early, it was actually free (yes, I am very lucky). I didn't see him myself, but I'm told Neil Patrick Harris was in the audience with us.

I guess you could relax better knowing there was a genius doctor in the theater.

Genius television doctor.

There's a difference?

jdreyer wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 22:02:

Blue wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 08:47:

Ant wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 19:26:
How did you see it early? I probably won't see it until Christmas break.

MrsBlue works in children's publishing and has worked on adaptations of the movies, so she got invited to a screening though work. So it was not only extra early, it was actually free (yes, I am very lucky). I didn't see him myself, but I'm told Neil Patrick Harris was in the audience with us.

I guess you could relax better knowing there was a genius doctor in the theater.

Genius television doctor.

Blue wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 08:47:

Ant wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 19:26:
How did you see it early? I probably won't see it until Christmas break.

MrsBlue works in children's publishing and has worked on adaptations of the movies, so she got invited to a screening though work. So it was not only extra early, it was actually free (yes, I am very lucky). I didn't see him myself, but I'm told Neil Patrick Harris was in the audience with us.

I guess you could relax better knowing there was a genius doctor in the theater.

Ant wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 19:26:
How did you see it early? I probably won't see it until Christmas break.

MrsBlue works in children's publishing and has worked on adaptations of the movies, so she got invited to a screening though work. So it was not only extra early, it was actually free (yes, I am very lucky). I didn't see him myself, but I'm told Neil Patrick Harris was in the audience with us.

Kxmode wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 03:27:

El Pit wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 02:24:
I've watched it yesterday evening. It's an alright movie, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Many questions of fans were not only not answered but remain totally untouched, the big emotional scene of the movie did not work for a lot in the audience, and the whole movie feels like only the first half of a Star Wars episode. New main characters are introduced and only some of them work. The big baddies unfortunately didn't, they are a far cry from Vader and Sidious. The casting is also great in some cases (Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are really, really good) whereas in other cases the choices have not been as good (Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac).
The story is flat, VERY flat, the philosphy behind the Force plays no role at all (it's just there), so that this "awakening of the force" somehow does not happen (I don't know what the title has to do with the movie, really).
Of course, it's just Daisy Ridley's force sensitive character that "awakens" to the force, but the force itself does not awaken in any way, it's still around with Kylo Ren and Snoke, and maybe even Luke. Great dialogue by Luke, by the way!
I've watched in 3d, and the conversion is definitely rushed. Very few good 3d effects, mostly it's just two planes (foreground, background) without real depth. I was looking forward to seeing the ships and battles in 3d, it would have added very much to the movie, but it didn't work either.
TL;DR - it's alright. Better than the prequels in my opinion, but definitely worse and more hollow than the original trilogy.

I'm sure you and I have been fans for a long time. Myself since the 80s. However, I have to COMPLETELY disagree with you on pretty much everything. For me the entire film was flawless. Story. Characters. Actors. Special effects. Music! I mean like I left the movie in tears and exhausted. This is pretty much the Star Wars experience I wanted that I never got from the Prequels.

And to me, this movie lacked in all departments. It wasn't bad, though. The music?! Really? This is the first score by Williams that left me totally cold. I couldn't spot a single new theme that caught me.

I've seen a lot of better and worse movies. After the screening, I just felt let down. I remember how I came out of Empire and Jedi as a kid/teenager and felt totally hyped and wanted more. In 1999, I watched Episode I at the age of 30 and came out hurt, like somebody kicked my balls for two hours. I thought it's my bad, that I had become too old and cynical. Two years later I watched Fellowship of the Ring and was moved, I laughed, I cried, it was just one emotional rollercoaster. And I thought to myself: Nope, it isn't me. It's not me having become cold, it was really that the prequels didn't touch me. And Episode VII left me pretty much cold, especially the big emotional scene was done really bad.

Whatever. You got your opinion, I got mine. Episode VII will still make a billion $$$ or even two.

El Pit wrote on Dec 18, 2015, 02:24:
I've watched it yesterday evening. It's an alright movie, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Many questions of fans were not only not answered but remain totally untouched, the big emotional scene of the movie did not work for a lot in the audience, and the whole movie feels like only the first half of a Star Wars episode. New main characters are introduced and only some of them work. The big baddies unfortunately didn't, they are a far cry from Vader and Sidious. The casting is also great in some cases (Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are really, really good) whereas in other cases the choices have not been as good (Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac).
The story is flat, VERY flat, the philosphy behind the Force plays no role at all (it's just there), so that this "awakening of the force" somehow does not happen (I don't know what the title has to do with the movie, really).
Of course, it's just Daisy Ridley's force sensitive character that "awakens" to the force, but the force itself does not awaken in any way, it's still around with Kylo Ren and Snoke, and maybe even Luke. Great dialogue by Luke, by the way!
I've watched in 3d, and the conversion is definitely rushed. Very few good 3d effects, mostly it's just two planes (foreground, background) without real depth. I was looking forward to seeing the ships and battles in 3d, it would have added very much to the movie, but it didn't work either.
TL;DR - it's alright. Better than the prequels in my opinion, but definitely worse and more hollow than the original trilogy.

I'm sure you and I have been fans for a long time. Myself since the 80s. However, I have to COMPLETELY disagree with you on pretty much everything. For me the entire film was flawless. Story. Characters. Actors. Special effects. Music! I mean like I left the movie in tears and exhausted. This is pretty much the Star Wars experience I wanted that I never got from the Prequels.

Wallshadows wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 16:28:
On an unrelated note, The Expanse is a great series! The fact that it's from SyFy is nothing short of a miracle after the abomination known as Helix.

Fortunately, there are four episodes out now (or will be?) and there's no sign of SyFy fuckery. The stories are interesting, the writing isn't bad, the scenes are well shot, and the set doesn't look cheap (the CGI is pretty dated though).

In a way, it almost feels like a combination of Firefly, Total Recall, and early Borg ST:TNG episodes.

There's a little BSG thrown in there too.

PHJF wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 14:53:

That makes sense in regards to the Oscars but even if they released it last week, it would have been contending with In the Heart of the Sea and could have soaked in six days of nearly zero competition which is where a large portion of money is earned.

I'm sure they've done everything they could to get it released AT ALL in 2015. And it isn't like this is isolated to Hateful, let's not forget Revenant is also releasing (limited) Dec 25.

And I'm sure the only reason that pharma guy was investigated/arrested is because of the enormous public outcry. He's a fall guy. Wall Street won't notice his absence.

Nah, this security violations investigation has been going on for two years already. Has nothing to do with the Daraprim price jacking.

DangerDog wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 13:50:

Retired wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 12:52:
I guess I am the only one in the world that doesn't really care about the new movie? I grew up on 4,5,6 - can't bring myself to make it through 1,2,3 - I get bored.

I will go see it when I can sit comfortably in an empty row and put my feet up without idiots in costumes and their cell phones.....

Nope, I consider myself a pretty big fan of Star Wars (4,5,6) and I'm feeling pretty non-pulsed about this reboot. Starting with the unnecessary re-imaging of the classic StormTrooper armor (they didn't improve on the original Ralph McQuarrie design at all) and with each "leak" of additional information makes it feel even more of an over managed Disney "product" to sell Star Wars merchandise instead of recapturing the lightning in a bottle feeling the original had.

I guess it's a winning formula for most people, more power to those who can accept the over commercialization of it all.

I just hope it's better than Jurassic World. That movie was an awful rehash of the original story, and lacked a single original bone (not to mention the awful casting of Bryce Howard). I really have no idea why that movie topped the summer box office. It was horrendous.

As long as JJ tells a new story, and doesn't retell any of the original ones, I think I'll be okay. Still the general public are trough-feeding sheeple, so I expect the movie to make bank. Any guesses on domestic opening weekend? Will it beat the $208M of Jurassic World? I think we're probably looking at a $250M opening weekend domestically.

The Half Elf wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 11:49:
SPOILER:

THE EWOKS KILLS EVERYONE!

With AK-47s. Not even a Jedi can stop a 7.62mm short.

Mr. Tact wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 12:43:
Maybe it is time to start believing in karma.

Reuters.

The guy is a fucking sociopath. From the article:

Shkreli was charged with securities fraud, securities fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. The maximum sentence for the top count is 20 years in prison.

Karma, indeed. Or, "punchable face gets punched."

Retired wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 12:56:

Mr. Tact wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 12:43:
Maybe it is time to start believing in karma.

Reuters.

The ONLY logical explanation is that someone high up somewhere in the Gubmint or a lobbyist has or has been affected by HIV and AIDS and is disgusted that he is so blatantly ripping people off with a smile on his face.

He is new money - that upsets a lot of people.

Nah, it's just that someone whose moral compass is so fucked up that he'd take a $13 drug for AIDS patients and charge $750 cuz shareholders, is bound to have other morally questionable decisions in his past. Just so happens that the Venn diagram for morally wrong and illegal has a rather large overlap.

No spoilers. New film is absolutely amazing in every way! I had very high expectations. Not only did the film meet them but it surpassed it. Star Wars proper is back everyone!

On a side note I've been leaving really nice tips lately. Left a $10 tip at lunch and a $15 tip at dinner. My way of saying "Thank you for the excellent service and here's something extra for you and your family to enjoy!"

DangerDog wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 13:50:
Nope, I consider myself a pretty big fan of Star Wars (4,5,6) and I'm feeling pretty non-pulsed about this reboot.

As a fan you know, of course, that this is not a reboot.

I've watched it yesterday evening. It's an alright movie, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Many questions of fans were not only not answered but remain totally untouched, the big emotional scene of the movie did not work for a lot in the audience, and the whole movie feels like only the first half of a Star Wars episode. New main characters are introduced and only some of them work. The big baddies unfortunately didn't, they are a far cry from Vader and Sidious. The casting is also great in some cases (Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are really, really good) whereas in other cases the choices have not been as good (Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac).
The story is flat, VERY flat, the philosphy behind the Force plays no role at all (it's just there), so that this "awakening of the force" somehow does not happen (I don't know what the title has to do with the movie, really).
Of course, it's just Daisy Ridley's force sensitive character that "awakens" to the force, but the force itself does not awaken in any way, it's still around with Kylo Ren and Snoke, and maybe even Luke. Great dialogue by Luke, by the way!
I've watched in 3d, and the conversion is definitely rushed. Very few good 3d effects, mostly it's just two planes (foreground, background) without real depth. I was looking forward to seeing the ships and battles in 3d, it would have added very much to the movie, but it didn't work either.
TL;DR - it's alright. Better than the prequels in my opinion, but definitely worse and more hollow than the original trilogy.

This comment was edited on Dec 18, 2015, 02:31.

Ecthelion wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 16:18:
I know I'm a nerd, but I hate it when people use the term "reboot" wrongly. This isn't a reboot, it's a sequel; hence the unofficial name "Episode 7", and the fact that Ford, Fisher, and Hamill are (heavily advertised as) returning.

To me it feels like they're pressing ctr+alt+delete on the franchise at this point to start it up again. This is Star Wars franchise 2.0, obviously not remaking the original - well maybe but certainly the main focus is to get people re-interested in Star Wars enough to go to Disneyland and experience an entire portion of the park dedicated to it, buy toys and video games based around it and generally pay off their 4.5 billion investment.

Just saw it myself. Just got home. Very sad about... but somethings are WIDE OPEN for the next film!

Honestly, I'd take everything Tarantino says with a grain of salt. The guy likes to blow his own horn so much, and make it seem like he's in the right on everything. I read the article yesterday that had the quotes from him on Stern...

First he said "Star Wars was supposed to play in the dome for 2 weeks, then my movie was coming out on Christmas." ... That would mean Star Wars was only playing there one week. So already he sounds like he's just exaggerating what actually happened.

Second, he claims he just found out the day before that it wasn't happening. We've known since August at least that Disney booked every IMAX screen in North America for 4 full weeks... and that's when the public heard about it. Considering advanced ticket sales and such, I can't possibly see that their release plan would include pulling the movie from a theater after one week.

Soooo...no anal bleaching or colonic then? Dammit I was SURE I had this!

Happy dance! I finally worked on a good movie. And it's Star Wars!

Ant wrote on Dec 17, 2015, 19:26:
How did you see it early? I probably won't see it until Christmas break.

Things just happen when you're "El Presidente for Life"