The Star Wars thread - "Chewie, we're home." - The Bear and Badger

g.man

Yeah, I presume it's not a coincidence they've cast that wee girl as ten year old Leia, when she looks much younger than ten. They're probably hoping to keep her in the part for some time to come. Mayber.

EvilRedEye

I thought Leia was alright tbh. You might have had to squint a bit to align it with the letter of previous canon but in spirit she was never a newbie to this stuff in the OT anyway. It was l'il Luke being chased by a Sith before A New Hope that I thought was a bit much.

Rev

I liked the character of Leia a lot, but I thought they stretched the Vader not knowing his kids exist very thin indeed

g.man

Aye, that's piss tier. A man with his powas would sense his own feckin' kids.

EvilRedEye

Doesn't Darth Vader Force torture Leia in ANH and not realise she's his daughter though.

Yossarian

Yep.

Some of the criticisms of Kenobi should have been levelled at the original trilogy, but we were all too young to notice then.

superflyninja

RedDave2 wrote:

It wasn’t a misstep if you were then willing to allow someone to subvert the expectations it created and follow through on that. Your argument is that they needed to revitalise the franchise with fresh characters, which is true, but they also needed to revitalise it with fresh stories, which TFA failed to do and which TLJ tried to do.

As for Johnson, I cant speak for the guy but it was clear he wanted to, as Kylo puts it, tear down the established star wars restrictions. No dark side/ light side. No Empire vs Rebels. At a guess, the arms dealers were being set up as the new big bad who were pitting small regions against each other and perpetuating galaxy wide war. I wouldnt have been surprised if Kylo and Rei had joined in a third movie against them, thus bringing a balance to the force. Another option I though he could take was an unhinged Kylo wrecking havoc across the galaxy with whats left of the first order. Not taking control, just burning the universe to the ground and Rei has to stop him. I might be putting words in mouths but one of the biggest gripes some people had was the decision to kill Snoke because he was built up as the big bad but thats the thing - who says you need a big bad guy like palpatine? Thats been done. Snoke getting killed so throwaway was great to me because instead of thinking that the movies were just going to build to Kylo trying to get Rei to go Darkside while Snoke plays puppeteer a-la the emperor, when Snoke dies I didn't know the direction the story would go. Thats a plus for me.

For me, I didn't care that he killed Snoke. At the time of first watching I too was shocked and wondered where the story was going after that. Turns out it didnt really go anywhere. Again the arms dealers...its not a great (or original) direction IMO. A huge galaxy wide nazi like empire vs some arms dealers drumming up conflicts to sell xwings. I know which I think would make for a more exciting movie.
The grey force users as well was something already well established, didn't think Johnson was doing anything novel there. I guess I have two basic issues with Johnson. First, ok he wanted to go in a new direction, but I have zero idea what that direction was. Secondly, seeing the story he delivered in TLJ and its woeful execution, Id be highly sceptical of him producing an interesting direction to be honest.

I want Star Wars going all new from here on out. New characters, new locations, no global super threat, maybe smaller stories, more on the Indiana Jones scale. Some rogue Jedi hunting for some magical McGuffin or something, we don't need threats of doom in all movies.

Im not having a go at those that do like TLJ, but I just don't think Johnson's idea of what Star Wars is tallys with me.

EvilRedEye

superflyninja wrote:

Im not having a go at those that do like TLJ, but I just don't think Johnson's idea of what Star Wars is tallys with me.

The deleted scenes of TLJ are a red flag in terms of Johnson getting the franchise IMO. Like I don't even dislike the film but it's truly bizarre that some of that stuff got as far as being filmed.

Minnesänger

Yossarian wrote:

Yep.

Some of the criticisms of Kenobi should have been levelled at the original trilogy, but YouTube video essays didn’t exist back then.

Yossarian

EvilRedEye wrote:

superflyninja wrote:

Im not having a go at those that do like TLJ, but I just don't think Johnson's idea of what Star Wars is tallys with me.

The deleted scenes of TLJ are a red flag in terms of Johnson getting the franchise IMO. Like I don't even dislike the film but it's truly bizarre that some of that stuff got as far as being filmed.

These scenes?

https://screenrant.com/star-wars-last-jedi-deleted-scenes-chronological/

They seem innocuous enough. Are there others that aren’t on that list?

Minnesänger wrote:

Yossarian wrote:

Yep.

Some of the criticisms of Kenobi should have been levelled at the original trilogy, but YouTube video essays didn’t exist back then.

Matt_82

I need to find a way to filter out the phrase, "subvert expectations".

Yossarian

g.man

Fucking Bacta Tanks everywhere,

Yossarian

It still can’t heal Thom’s eye.

RedDave2

@superflyninja - you bring up grey users as a thing that's been done before but it hasn't . Not in the wider cinema universe and I think this is something star wars will always have a problem with (marvel and dc stuff as well)

A movie generally needs to stand on its own or within its own series at least. I think in this case what johnson was trying to do was at least new in that scope. And while you can say the some bits don't appeal (which is fine), that's the problem with anything in a series. At some point it has to try new things or it will end up eating its own tail.

Maybe not the best analogy but it would be like a band releasing the same type of album each time. That appeals to some but I prefer when a band takes a chance. Doesn't mean it always works but it's more interesting.

Rev

My issue with the new trilogy is that they had the chance to do some brilliant things with how Ster wers worked and because it was disney they shat it instead. I really enjoyed the Force Awakens and The Last Jedi was ok in bits but there's so much pointless shit in there. Luke mourning Han was cut, but Luke sucking on sea cow milk wasn't. The Canto Bight reminded me of all of the CGI from the prequels and it just didn't make any sense. Rose falling in love with finn. Finn and Poe going nowhere. Rey was the only decent thing in there imo.
I'm starting to think that shit Star wars is the reality we live in, and things like mando are complete flukes based on the current content that is coming out. Kenobi was fun but teetered on the brink of shite so many times

superflyninja

EvilRedEye wrote:

superflyninja wrote:

Im not having a go at those that do like TLJ, but I just don't think Johnson's idea of what Star Wars is tallys with me.

The deleted scenes of TLJ are a red flag in terms of Johnson getting the franchise IMO. Like I don't even dislike the film but it's truly bizarre that some of that stuff got as far as being filmed.

Oh what were the deleted scenes?

LivDiv

Livdiv, we're home.

Been on a Star Wars binge recently.

Lego

Picked up the AT ST. Nice build, not much articulation in the legs so probably more a display thing than a playset. Decent mini figs and a nice little Probe Droid side build.

Also got the Tie Fighter that’s currently out which again is great for the price.

Decided I want more but got to have some limits so Im going for purely Imperial vehicle sets and all Microfighters from now on.

So also got the Razercrest Microfighter (not great) and the ATAT/Taun Taun double pack. Worth it for the chibi TaunTaun alone.

Games

Finished all the story mode stuff for Lego Star Wars Saga. Over all a nice refresh to a series that was getting a bit long in the tooth. Spreading the game over 9 movies means things move fast from action scene to action scene, for the most. While eps 5-9 offer more than enough for the devs to riff off ep 5 scrapes by. The prequels end up a bit of a chore at times. Lots of walking one place to the next with fuck all happening so true to the movies I guess.

The sequel movies have their issues for sure but one thing they do well is translate to Lego games.

Started Kotor again. It’s a total fucking prick for saves corrupting or auto saves being 30-40 minutes back. Other than that it holds up pretty well other than the caveats around it being an already somewhat clunky Western RPG that is now almost two decades old.

Movies

Rewatched the sequels. I have detatched myself from disappointment and the result is that they are generally fairly enjoyable if totally brainless. FA is good fun. TLJ outside of the casino planet is alright, RoS scene to scene is entertaining but despite this being the 4^th or 5^th watch Im still left confused what the fuck is supposed to be happening half the time. Red stormtroopers are cool.

TV Shows

Boba Fett first then. Mando eps were great, not much else to say on them so I wont include them in the rest of my opinions.

Book of Boba rarely peaks above okayish and often dips far below. Loved everything to do with the Rancor, especially it going full kaiju rampage. Danny Trejo was well cast and always nice to see him crop up, his grizzled face fits Star Wars perfectly, hopefully we might see more of it.

A stand out thing for me with Boba is that Temuera Morrison is a shit actor. You wouldn’t give him his own show if he wasn’t previously cast as Jango then voiced the clones in the animations. Literally the only non Star Wars thing I can think he has been in is Speed 2. Speed fucking 2, and it was a bit part.

Kenobi

By now my expectations are low, the result is I quite enjoyed Kenobi. Could it have been better? Absolutely. Was it watchable, sure. That last fight was the stand out, it was brilliant once it got down to the humanity of Kenobi and the lack of it in Vader. That whole back and forth once Vader’s helmet has been damaged was top tier.

There is a lot of discussion around d why they did this or how that works, but that’s kinda Star Wars. It has always been that way. There is a hell of a lot of dumb even in the original trilogy. Maybe not as frequently or as deep as what was in Kenobi but its there. I don’t want to justify it but Im not going to get worked up by it. The only bit of film/TV I think goes too far is Rise of Skywalker, that ends up being truly unfathomable.

I still really like Star Wars. I think I just like spending time in the universe, it’s the aesthetics and the music that carry it, always have. I’ll continue to consume a Star Wars here and there and learn to take the rough with the smooth.

g.man

No-one's ever really gone...

LivDiv

Unlimited mod power.

g.man

superflyninja

@Liv I was half tempted by that tie fighter. I got Luke's x wing instead. it was very cheap, about 35 euro I think. Bought the Mando speeder set too. The microfighters are awesome. Ive about 20 or so. My favs are The Ghost and the Snowspeeder.

Funkstain

You know that was my favourite thing about fat bob. It was an absolute pay day for someone who looked like he was having a blast. Fair play to TM

LivDiv

I kinda wish I got into the Microfighters before, they are nicely priced to just pick up while in Sainsburys.
I have a Millennium Falcon and the old ATAT as well.

I would recommend the Tie Fighter, it will sit nicely alongside the X Wing. If I wasn't limiting myself to Imperial sets I would pick up that X Wing for sure, both sets are solid mid range offerings.

LivDiv

Funkstain wrote:

You know that was my favourite thing about fat bob. It was an absolute pay day for someone who looked like he was having a blast. Fair play to TM

Thats a fair counter argument, he certainly had fun even if noone else did.
I look forward to the Speed 2 series, Disney own the rights.

ShabbyMcCrabby

g.man wrote:

Aye, the wee girl was fine. Good cast all round really. Massively let down by piss-tier writing.

Been trying to figure this out whilst I torture myself by watching all of it. I think it is just poor direction. The writing isn't top tier by any stretch but so much of what annoys me is the execution. Like the rooftop to alley bit or the laser fence that you can obviously go around or Obi jogging off away from Vader multiple times.

It's just lame and suggests a lack of clear vision in the execution and how the thing should play out to make for a cool scene

ShabbyMcCrabby

Liv needs to watch Once Were Warriors.

LivDiv

Is it better than Speed 2?

ShabbyMcCrabby

Is anything better than Speed 2?

LivDiv

The mad thing about the fence is they have the tech and bodies on hand at Disney to comp something in. Just some Megascans rocks or something chucked in and its problem solved.
There is a feeling with Kenobi and Boba that they are somewhat thrown together. Especially Boba.

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