I love Star Wars. It's one of my all time Fantasy/Sci-fi series. Yes, from a sci-fi perspective people can point out loopholes and cite technological inconsistencies, but what the hell, I enjoy the hell out of it. I'm going to state a ton of opinions here, so be very warned. To paraphrase, the nastiest,dirtiest war is the one fought among nerds in the trenches of Reddit and comment section of gossip blogs. And this will piss off a ton of those nerds.
I loved the star war prequels. I never said they were perfect, but I haven't come across a perfect movie, yet. The original Trilogy was just as flawed, but it is just as awesome. Yeah so it is different. Like Top Gun is different from The Matrix. But I still love both those movies. Yes, the drastic change in tone is not an issue for me. I was always intrigued by the concept of exploring different themes in the same universe. So yes, Breaking Bad may not co-exist with the screwball carefree world of Friends, but it's like music (I assume). You use notes and instruments that complement each other, even if different, not those that contradict and throw each other out of sync. So maybe not Spaceballs but maybe the next trilogy could have explored a different tone, maybe a little noir, maybe a new genre. Given how much the prequels expanded on the originals, bringing new worlds, concepts, creating a rich background and history to the mythos of Star Wars, here was a chance for the sequel trilogy films to dive even deeper, explore new worlds and new themes. After all, there was an entire galaxy at their disposal.
But they weren't making a new film. They were just making something "not-prequel". If only they had taken their time and energy and invested it into making a good movie. But they were pursuing a far more important aspect of the movie than something as stupid as a story. MARKETING. Yes, we now live in an era where movies are the new Coca-Colas and Pepsis. The manufacturing budget is just a fraction of the marketing budget.
From the beginning, The Force Awakens has banked on nostalgia and love for the Original Trilogy and purported itself as a return to glory for the franchise, going back to roots. No divergence in tone, theme, effects, feel, hell even the same actors. (speaking of diverging tones in the same universe, a fashion based mockumentary in C.S. Lewis' world? Fashion in Narnia: They Lying, The Bitching and The Wardrobe. Sorry, rambling again.) It masqueraded as a justice in Imax format, for those nothing better to do'ers who happened to be imprinted to their very soul with the Original Trilogy when they were young and had no space in their tiny minds for anything different. Setting things right for those who had their "lives" and "childhood" ruined by the Prequel Trilogy. Hell, even the first line of the movie is a giant middle finger at George Lucas (This will begin to make things right, says an old man). It convinced people, this is what they needed. Flashes of images, tone conveyed in brief trailers, the incessant harping on "practical effects" the original actors' return, all led people to believe this is what they had been waiting for.
People began to get pre-emptively positive and optimistic about the movie. It snowballed into a movement that penetrated mass consciousness, convincing everyone in its wake of its imminent greatness, taking no prisoners. And then they painted themselves into a corner. By the time the movie rolled around, not liking it, or voicing their opinions about not liking it was not an option. It was always going to be a box office phenomenon. But it ended up high on critics list. Critics who had already resolved to be in love with it. It didn't matter that it recreated the tone of the original, had nothing new of note, except superficial novelties and basically rehashed the plots of the Original Trilogy. It may take some time for the euphoria to wear off, and some people to realize that they've just been part of one of the greatest magic tricks ever witnessed. The magic, sadly wasn't in the movie. It was surrounding its release. Some of course, really did want just more of the same, and they will continue to like it.
So yes, the new Star Wars is perfect. It has taken movie and event marketing to perfection. It has elevated hype creation and buzz generation to an art form. Such sad use of such an incredible power. Like using the force to change channels on your TV.
I loved the star war prequels. I never said they were perfect, but I haven't come across a perfect movie, yet. The original Trilogy was just as flawed, but it is just as awesome. Yeah so it is different. Like Top Gun is different from The Matrix. But I still love both those movies. Yes, the drastic change in tone is not an issue for me. I was always intrigued by the concept of exploring different themes in the same universe. So yes, Breaking Bad may not co-exist with the screwball carefree world of Friends, but it's like music (I assume). You use notes and instruments that complement each other, even if different, not those that contradict and throw each other out of sync. So maybe not Spaceballs but maybe the next trilogy could have explored a different tone, maybe a little noir, maybe a new genre. Given how much the prequels expanded on the originals, bringing new worlds, concepts, creating a rich background and history to the mythos of Star Wars, here was a chance for the sequel trilogy films to dive even deeper, explore new worlds and new themes. After all, there was an entire galaxy at their disposal.
But they weren't making a new film. They were just making something "not-prequel". If only they had taken their time and energy and invested it into making a good movie. But they were pursuing a far more important aspect of the movie than something as stupid as a story. MARKETING. Yes, we now live in an era where movies are the new Coca-Colas and Pepsis. The manufacturing budget is just a fraction of the marketing budget.
From the beginning, The Force Awakens has banked on nostalgia and love for the Original Trilogy and purported itself as a return to glory for the franchise, going back to roots. No divergence in tone, theme, effects, feel, hell even the same actors. (speaking of diverging tones in the same universe, a fashion based mockumentary in C.S. Lewis' world? Fashion in Narnia: They Lying, The Bitching and The Wardrobe. Sorry, rambling again.) It masqueraded as a justice in Imax format, for those nothing better to do'ers who happened to be imprinted to their very soul with the Original Trilogy when they were young and had no space in their tiny minds for anything different. Setting things right for those who had their "lives" and "childhood" ruined by the Prequel Trilogy. Hell, even the first line of the movie is a giant middle finger at George Lucas (This will begin to make things right, says an old man). It convinced people, this is what they needed. Flashes of images, tone conveyed in brief trailers, the incessant harping on "practical effects" the original actors' return, all led people to believe this is what they had been waiting for.
People began to get pre-emptively positive and optimistic about the movie. It snowballed into a movement that penetrated mass consciousness, convincing everyone in its wake of its imminent greatness, taking no prisoners. And then they painted themselves into a corner. By the time the movie rolled around, not liking it, or voicing their opinions about not liking it was not an option. It was always going to be a box office phenomenon. But it ended up high on critics list. Critics who had already resolved to be in love with it. It didn't matter that it recreated the tone of the original, had nothing new of note, except superficial novelties and basically rehashed the plots of the Original Trilogy. It may take some time for the euphoria to wear off, and some people to realize that they've just been part of one of the greatest magic tricks ever witnessed. The magic, sadly wasn't in the movie. It was surrounding its release. Some of course, really did want just more of the same, and they will continue to like it.
So yes, the new Star Wars is perfect. It has taken movie and event marketing to perfection. It has elevated hype creation and buzz generation to an art form. Such sad use of such an incredible power. Like using the force to change channels on your TV.
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