A/V Episode VIII - THE LAST JEDI - Official Movie Discussion Thread

True.

He was freaked the hell on that too.

 

At the risk of armchair psychology, I should remind people also that deserters in militaries have been historically portrayed as people like Finn. When they desert, they aren't filled with an espirit de corps and hesitation to harm their brothers.

No, deserters, historically have been portrayed as incredibly DANGEROUS because they'll kill their fellow comrades to escape.

 

I don't think that's quite analogous, because I don't think Finn harbors any particular ill will for his former stormtrooper colleagues - it's just that he understand how fully they're brainwashed.

 

Gleeson is amazing. As much as TFA copied from the originals, we've never seen a villain like Hux yet onscreen. He's the first full-out screaming zealot and legitimately scary because you don't know what the **** he's going to do. All the other villains are usually in the game for themselves (even Maul now!), but this guy's a wacky brainwashed lunatic. I hope they don't kill him or tone him down in TLJ -- the over-the-top scene-eating is so much fun to watch.

 

I don't think he harbors any real sentiment for them either, except his one friend. I think the biggest flaw of the Force Awakens is (aside from rehashing the Death Star) is the same one Rogue One has.

No one is willing to sit down for a quiet scene or two.

The "You don't believe in the Force" or "chatting about the Academy."

Just a scene before the massacre where Finn and his buddy chat with their helmets off.

 

For those interested, my and the other's take on the Ep IX news:

http://eleven-thirtyeight.com/2017/09/here-today-gone-trevorrow-jj-abrams-returns-to-land-the-plane/

 

True. I think R1 was better at it (the scene between Eadu and Yavin IV, and a few other downtimes here and there), but they were still way too brief.

 

I don't know, I think that would rob the scene of its immediacy. I found it effective in that we're assuming this is a typical scene of stormtroopers coming in and wrecking shop, but suddenly the POV switches from Poe to Finn at the exact instant we see some humanity from a stormtrooper for the first time. A scene after the fact would have been nice, of Finn and the surviving FN Corps troopers lamenting the death of their comrade, and probably a good replacement for the relatively dull scene of Phasma sneaking up on him.

 

For those who are displeased there is a change.org petition to fire JJ Abrams from Episode IX. Almost 3300 signatures!

No way in hell I'm gonna sign but I'm sure someone out there will feel better if they did.

 

Don't click that link, you'll just end up on JJ's hit list.

And by hit list I mean he's going to produce a copy of the best thing you've ever done and reap a tremendous amount of credit for it.

 

Fun fact: the guy who started that petition also started one to get the POTUS to declassify documents about extraterrestrials.

 

...um, not that it isn't laughable, but I'm not really familiar with there being a large, well-known overlap between pretentious artistic elitists and alien conspiracy theorists.

 

Barely even skimmed it mself just thought "Well, this guy's nuts" but I'm sure some people will enjoy screaming into the virtual abyss by signing.

 

I think JJ Abrams would do a good job. I loved the Force Awakens.

 

I saw TFA in cinemas four or five times (same as Rogue One). I plan to see TLJ, Han Solo film, Ep9 and Kenobi film as much as I can. I love Star Wars and I don't have a problem with the distinction between the different universes. I like canon, I like Legends (Clone Wars is still a gray area without my headcanon retcon on Barriss Offee). It's the same as asking me if I like Star Trek or Star Wars (I like both), the 1978 Battlestar Galactica or the 2000s Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, 60s Thunderbirds or modern Thunderbirds Are Go. I have enough brain cells to tell the difference and what I enjoy and don't enjoy about both.

I don't really like Finn as I consider him a weak character in TFA (though if he's gotten a better role in TLJ I might change my mind). I don't really like Palpatine because he's the bad guy of the PT and OT and I don't like Hux because he's the bad guy of the ST. I loved Phasma despite her limited screen time, I like Jar Jar because he's funny even as an adult. I don't like the absence of Luke from canon material between ESB and TFA and I loved his inclusion in the Freemaker Adventures.

JJ Abrams is a Star Wars fan and is working well within the parameters given to him, and the Story Group is able to assist him, as will Rian Johnson and George Lucas. I gave him the benefit of the doubt on TFA and I will continue to do so now.

 

John Podesta?

 

New TLJ pics:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/g3225/star-wars-the-last-jedi-photos/

 

Managed to locate a "The Last Jedi" poster (which cost me $15.00 AU but totally worth it) and I have some interesting details I would like to share:

Spoiler

The A-wing interceptor is an RZ-2 built by Kuat Systems Engineering.
The All Terrain MegaCaliber Six heavy walker is built by Kuat Drive Yards.
The TIE Silencer is built by Sienar Jaemus Systems (no surprises there).
The Resistance Ski Speeder is a V-4X-D built by Roche Machines, thus the B-wing look.

As I said, totally worth it.

 

Huh? Can this poster be seen anywhere online?

 

Spoiler

Did we know Jaemus was canon yet? I just checked the Wook and it doesn't look like it, but there's been so much stuff coming out these past two years I might have missed it.

Anyway, really cool.

 

I think it got mentioned in a couple of the TFA tie in things.

 

Wow, I totally missed the Abrams news. Cautiously optimistic, I suppose. Competent enough filmmaker, and his film might have a little less fridge logic if his job is to wrap up the trilogy rather than soft-reboot Star Wars.