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Warning: There are lots and lots of spoilers, so proceed with care if you haven’t seen the movie yet
This week, Gini Koch, Tim Callender Noah Richman and Daren Gulsvig, all add their commentary and perspectives to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The opinions run strong with these fans, and in turn they give their perspectives on what worked and with what failed in The Force Awakens, and what those could mean for their expectations for Episodes 8 & 9.
Here’s how the team rated Star Wars: The Force Awakens:
Gini: 2.5 stars
Tim: 3 stars
Noah: 2.5 stars
Daren: 3 stars
How did The Force Awakens make you feel, about the new chapter in the final trilogy, and about how it affects the overall Star Wars saga? Were you disappointed, or angry, or bored, or entirely satisfied and excited?
Leave a message at 602-635-6976, or send Summer an email with a comment you’ve recorded!
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Blue Bogle says
Oh, thank god, I thought I was the only one who didn’t like this new movie. Pretty much on point with most of the people on here – the new actors were great, the new characters were fun, it all looked very cool and the effects were awesome.
The plot, endless recycling, pacing of the movie (endless action scene, none of the mysticism or philosophy) and the BS money grab were all terrible.
Gini Koch says
You’re not alone, babe. We’re here for you!
Jonnie says
Just for comparison, how would you guys rate the original trilogy and the prequels?
Gini Koch says
My ratings:
A New Hope – 5 stars (this remains one of my top 10 movies of all time, but I’m starting to pretend the other movies don’t exist anymore)
The Empire Strikes Back – 4.5 stars (I hated the cliffhanger ending and the Luke I Am Your Father stuff that, in retrospect, is the reason the overall series goes downhill; because of that I’m tempted to rate this lower, but it’s still a good movie and it still stands up)
Return of the Jedi – 4 stars (I don’t mind the teddy bears, I mind the ease with which they win and the recycling of the “terrible weapon” motif that will forever haunt this series as a great idea done to death)
Phantom Menace – 3 stars (taxation IS a reason for rebellion, it’s just boring)
Attack of the Clones – 3.5 stars (though I don’t buy the “romance” of Anakin and Padme for even a moment)
Revenge of the Sith – 2.5 stars (this movie makes Return of the Jedi’s ending nauseating. In Return we don’t know how many innocents Anakin has murdered. Now we do, and yet he’s forgiven? But they had to change it to Han shooting second because, and I quote, Lucas felt “that a murderer can’t be redeemed.” But a MASS MURDERER can be? Okay, gotcha. And the less said about the “homages” to Frankenstein and A Streetcar Named Desire the better.)
Original Trilogy – 4.5
Prequel Trilogy- 3
Summer Brooks says
For me, I’d rate the original trilogy as a whole as 4 stars, and the prequel trilogy as 2.5 or maybe 3 stars.
As for each individual movie, let’s see:
Ep 4 – A New Hope : 4 stars
Ep 5 – Empire Strikes Back : 4 stars
Ep 6 – Return of the Jedi : 3 stars
Ep 1 – Phantom Menace : 3 stars
Ep 2 – Attack of the Clones : 2.5 stars
Ep 3 – Revenge of the Sith : 3 stars
I also think the rewatchability factor plays a part in this. I would definitely rewatch any movie from the original trilogy without hesitation. I don’t think any of the prequel trilogy films would make it to my Top 100 “I’m bored and I feel like watching something again” list, and realizing that now after so many years makes me a little sad.
Tim says
My rating for the previous movies:
Star Wars (no “A New Hope”!): 4 stars
The Empire Strikes Back: 4 stars
The Return of the Jedi: 2.5 stars
The original Star Wars has become something of a curiosity to me: while it started the whole thing – and I remember how mind-blowing it was when released in 1977 – I find over the years that it lacks a deeper emotional core. Empire, however, is my favorite of the Star Wars series because of its emotional depth; the performances are more nuanced and the entire story feels much more character-driven. The cliffhanger ending doesn’t bother me at all. As far as Jedi, I liked Episode VI-a – The Rescue Of Han Solo – but the rest of the film leaves me cold.
The Phantom Menace – 2.5 stars
Attack of the Clones – 2 stars
The Revenge of the Sith – 2.5 stars
The prequels are much more problematical. There are great story elements struggling to breathe, but Lucas’ penchant for changing plot direction at whim prevents any of that from coming to life. I don’t think they are as horrible as general fandom thinks, but, like Summer, these movies don’t make the bored-rewatch list at all.
Suzanne Grant says
I called earlier, but I don’t think that my message came out as well as it should-I’m a better typist than a talker.
I had high hopes for The Force Awakens, I liked the new characters and that the film wasn’t CGI heavy. I didn’t like that it was a full-on remake of Episode IV, right down to blowing up the Death Star a third time. If a fourth Death Star shows up in the next entry, I’m going to boycott the film.
I wish that the film had given us more background as to what happened with the New Republic that allowed the Empire to make a comeback as it would have made the film more interesting and grounded it better.
Finally, you all were on point with Kylo Ren not being a credible villain-he’s not menacing enough. I get that he’s conflicted between being like his grandfather Darth Vader and being noble, but the struggle should have been fleshed out more. Abrams should have looked at Anakin Skywalker in Revenge Of The Sith for tips on villains-in-training. You could see the menace there.
In summary, Star Wars VII-The Force Awakens was a good film but it needed more originality.
Suzanne Grant