@RogerRoger Sorry to hear that, I hope you feel better soon. The Craig films don't have the "fun" of the classic ones and can be heavy viewing, especially in succession, so I can see why you'd put rewatching them on hold for now. I hope that with Craig's successor they find a place for some of the silliness and gadgets of the older ones.
What other film series do you like? I know you're a Star Wars and Star Trek fan.
@RogerRoger Hey, I did like Rogue One quite a lot!
I don't think I can pinpoint a specific reason why I didn't like it. I'm also not sure if I liked it more or less than The Last Jedi, because I think both aren't great, but for different reasons.
It's quite cheesy (in the bad way) and predictable, although there's a bit of flip-flopping near the end that makes you question it all, but that part doesn't last more than a few minutes. If they were trying to implement a plot twist, it didn't work for me unfortunately. There's a lot of new locations and new characters in this one, and it feels like they're in a new location every ten minutes. It's too much, it all feels a bit rushed. Characters come and go, there's hardly any sentimental value watching a character die that was only introduced a few minutes before. And, although I'm not too surprised since it's Disney, I felt they were pushing a political agenda a little too much. I bought a ticket to watch a film, not a lesson on cultural and political sociology. The rest is standard fare of what you would expect from a ''Han Solo film'', basically all the things we know about his past, but now on the big screen.
And there's the ending? Cliffhanger, I guess. Not sure what they were going with that, since I don't think a direct sequel has been confirmed, nor do I think it ties very well into the other films...
After seeing Rogue One, I expected more from the spin-offs, this one felt just unnecessary.
I don't look up reviews for films (and games) I'm going to see regardless, but it doesn't surprise me to see that Solo did pretty bad, even for prequel (and TJL) standards.
@Octane Uh oh, you didn't like Solo? I'm not sure what to expect from this one...of all the new Star Wars movies, this is the only one NOT to make me boil over in anticipation (trailers weren't that great).
How would you rank it compared to the other new Star Wars movies? So far I'd go like this:
Rogue One
Episode 8 (great movie, but very disappointing at the same time, LOL)
Episode 7 (wouldn't be so bad had the sequel delivered better on the plot setups started here)
EDIT : oops, you just kinda ranked the new movies in your last response, haha...
@smelly_jr I guess I could add that I think that The Force Awakens was fine, not my favourite, but I like it more than the prequels I think, and definitely more than TLJ and Solo.
I actually liked the first trailer more than the second one. I hoped they were stepping out of their comfort zone, and were doing a cyberpunk-ish Star Wars film, maybe even something neo-noir. I would have loved that I think. The second trailer was definitely more standard Hollywood fare than the first one, so I went in with low expectations.
Rogue One is definitely the best Disney Star Wars film so far. Great balance of nostalgia with a new 'feel' and execution (unlike certain others films COUGHTHEFORCEAWAKENSCOUGH), an uncompromising and satisfying ending, and a more interesting and likable cast of characters than in the new mainline films.
And, although I'm not too surprised since it's Disney, I felt they were pushing a political agenda a little too much. I bought a ticket to watch a film, not a lesson on cultural and political sociology.
Oh goody. That means that we'll get a whole 'nother slew of articles explaining how SW fans are "toxic" once the fan backlash inevitably happens. Again.
I'm not going to see this when it releases, and, judging from the fact that even critics are lukewarm on it, I think I made the right choice.
@RogerRoger I think you’ll find that the Indiana Jones films haven’t really held up too well, and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is awful. I love anything with Harrison Ford in it, and I give Lucas and Spielberg quite a bit of leeway due to their other ventures, but honestly IJ is pretty cheesy. Maybe I’m spoiled by Uncharted.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@Th3solution Well, yes, Indiana Jones films are cheesy. And racist. And sexist. etc. etc. Not only are they reasonably old films at this point, but they were a throwback to pulpy adventure serials from the '30's. It's a part of their charm. It helps to inform their particular character.
Here's an unpopular opinion: I don't think Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was all that bad. I think fans reacted poorly to certain plot elements that they would have downplayed the impact of if the film were older and viewed through a more nostalgic lens.
Oh, and to address the comment about Uncharted: even the aliens from KotCS weren't as bad as the zombie-vampire whatevers from Uncharted 1 or the random yeti from Uncharted 2 .
@RogerRoger I guess one reason I want Bond to be more light-hearted again (bearing in mind I still haven't seen Spectre and won't til it's back on Netflix) is precisely because the world is a pretty grim place. Films that reflect that have their place, of course, and I enjoy a variety of genres, but escapism is nice too. Spoof films are often good fun when you're a fan of the source material. I absolutely loved the Naked Gun films when I was a child, but haven't seen them in years so am not too sure how they hold up nowadays. Austin Powers always makes me chuckle, especially because of how much it rips into the James Bond films.
In terms of favourite series, I especially love Lord of the Rings. Not ashamed to admit my love for Harry Potter either. I'm with you on the Mummy (first two Brendan Fraser ones) and Indiana Jones! I got the Indiana Jones Blu Rays a few years ago and it's probably time to watch them again. Also a big fan of Jurassic Park (less so the third film) and have been since I was young. Me and my brother were obsessed with dinosaurs. Jurassic World is awesome and I'm really looking forward to its sequel. Batman and classic Ghostbusters are on the list of favourites too.
Star Trek was always on in my house growing up because my Dad is a huge fan, so I'm quite fond of that. Likewise with Star Wars. I've been working through the Clone Wars TV series over the past few months.
@RogerRoger People like you serve an important function, though. Gadflies who go against the grain of public opinion offer alternative viewpoints, allowing for something to contrast with the tyranny of public consensus and sometimes even temper the ferocity with which certain pieces of media are struck down, often unfairly, by the zeitgeist of a particular period of time. Films that were regarded as terrible in the past are beloved classics now, and so-called "masterpieces" have often revealed their inherent narrative or structural weaknesses over time.
The film's biggest issue is its over-reliance, at times, on CGI. Otherwise, it was a good time. And I liked Irina Spalko more than most villains in the series.
Raiders of the Lost Ark will always be my favorite, though.
@RogerRoger Fair enough on Lord of the Rings, that type of fantasy isn't for everyone. Oddly enough I'm usually not into high fantasy, and I couldn't get in to the books at all, but I loved the films.
Didn't see @Ralizah's comment on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull while I was writing my previous post. I was always bemused by the negative reaction to that because it's not like the story was more outlandish than the others.
The Clone Wars is excellent - I finished season four a few weeks ago. I actually prefer conventional hand drawn animation to CG, but that aside, it's a well-written, well-plotted and excellently choreographed series that really expands on the lore of the prequel films. I've particularly enjoyed the political intrigue plotlines. Also, Asajj Ventress is amazing!
You're not alone on Mass Effect 3 and Star Trek Voyager. Both of them are awesome.
@RogerRoger@Ralizah Yeah, the actual concept and basic idea of Indiana Jones is great. Making archaeology into a romantic adventure is a real feat. The issue I think is in the aging of the films. Compared with more modern films, they just don’t quite carry the impact or hold my attention quite. And there are plenty of eye-rolling moments that were probably cute and funny back in the 80’s, but fall flat. And the effects haven’t aged well either (the opening of the Ark with the melting faces, the Shaman dude pulling out the heart, etc). Ford’s exaggerated acting and charming swashbuckling attitude still delights though. However, just like when he showed up as Han Solo in The Force Awakens, when he shows up as the older Jones in Crystal Skull, he really comes across more like an actor trying to play the role of Harrison Ford playing the role of Indiana Jones. It just doesn’t seem natural as it was when he was young, and before so many other actors have tried to replicate the type of womanizing “aw-shucks I’m a lucky yet brilliant talented guy” characters he played. And LaBeouf ... I liked him in Holes. ...Then he grew up, and I just find him cringe-worthy now as an actor. I think I’m in the minority there though.
And the aliens ... well it wasn’t that bad. I don’t think that was what bothered me. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try watching it again as it’s been a few years.
@mookysam The Lord of the Rings is fantastic! It is the epitome of my favorite epic trope — the small and weak protagonist that can go against all odds and accomplish things even the strong, wealthy, talented, well-equipped people cannot. The true championing of the underdog, celebration of the common folk, and that the key to the fate of the world lies in the hands of us average, little guys who have just a bit of courage and commitment to do what’s right, even in the face of great adversity.
We have oodles of superheroes stories of saving the world ... but every now and then I love seeing a movie portrayal emphasizing that what lies within us is more important that all that magic, strength, and power.
By no means do I claim to be refined in my tastes and I often follow the public perception, but sometimes I just like stuff and I can’t quite explain why.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@RogerRoger Unfortunately, our technological evolution has arguably lapped our moral evolution as a species. I'm not sure that humans are really prepared to be as fully interconnected as they are right now, and that issue will likely only grow more prominent as tech continues to evolve, dragging a bunch of conflict-prone apes along for the ride.
I definitely agree it can be tiring to voice your genuine feelings when so many people online are prone to assuming the worst of you, or otherwise just behaving intolerantly. Joining the right community is definitely beneficial, though: on Push Square and Nintendo Life, there is a certain sense of community that keeps most of the more hostile actors at bay, allowing for productive, reasoned discussion. Compare these to a chaotic hellhole like GameFAQs or the controlling (and likely soon to be corrupt, as NeoGaf before it was) ResetEra.
As to Raiders: it definitely doesn't have a great plot. But, for me, it's filled with absolutely iconic scenes that linger in the memory. Far more than the other films, in my opinion. It's just incredibly fun and well-directed, which is all I could ask from an Indy film.
I think the only one I actively didn't enjoy was Temple of Doom. It's not bad, persay, but the setting did nothing for me, and I felt like certain aspects trended too dark, making it feel less like a family picture (a weird thing to say about a series where Nazis get their faces melted off in the first film, I know).
It has been years, though, so I should probably rewatch them. Some things sour unnecessarily in the memory. I'd like to view it again as its own film and see if my feelings improve.
@Th3solution I'm not under the impression that anybody actively likes LaBeouf. I tolerate his presence in films I'm otherwise enjoying. Although he hasn't had a particularly prolific career in Hollywood beyond Indy, Transformers, and a few small productions that most people haven't even heard of.
Currently Playing: Fields of Mistria (PC); Cookie Clicker (PC); Metaphor: ReFantazio (PC); Overboard! (PC)
I'm not sure that humans are really prepared to be as fully interconnected as they are right now...
I definitely agree it can be tiring to voice your genuine feelings when so many people online are prone to assuming the worst of you, or otherwise just behaving intolerantly. Joining the right community is definitely beneficial, though: on Push Square and Nintendo Life, there is a certain sense of community that keeps most of the more hostile actors at bay, allowing for productive, reasoned discussion. Compare these to a chaotic hellhole like GameFAQs or the controlling (and likely soon to be corrupt, as NeoGaf before it was) ResetEra.
Well said, sir! I agree.
As for LaBeouf, as a lad, his Disney channel show was fine, and his movie career seemed to be off and running with Holes, but as so many of those Disney channel actors go, he seemed to fall off the deep end. (Miley Cyrus, the Olsen twins, Demi Lavato, Amanda Bynes, etc, etc) It seems the young actors from that era were either cursed by the Disney curse or suffered from a Michael Jackson-esque inability to handle fame at a young age and end up with odd life events and tabloid trouble seems to follow them. And with their acting careers, they seem to perform their adult roles out of spite, becoming more edgy and losing what it was we liked about them in the first place.
In their defense, I’m not sure anyone could tolerate growing up on the screen in front of the public. We all do stupid things — just most of us don’t have to broadcast it to the world, fortunately. And I think sometimes these child actors grow up with inflated egos, being told by society how wonderful they are before they are emotionally mature enough to handle it. Then, adult reality slaps them in the face and society turns on them, because well, we love to watch a train wreck.
Lol, I’m not sure how I got off on that tangent, but what was I saying? Oh yeah, check out Holes if you haven’t seen it. I found it to be a rather charming family movie with a solid Shia performance.
I like Shia Labouf an an actor. He was great in Transformers (a lot of the complaints about him there seem to be from him fulfilling his role well..., like people just says he runs and screams, as opposed to be old Arnold with muscles, he’s different playing a physically weaker chararacter and I like that), Eagle Eye and Lawless (this one in particular). I’ve never seen the problem honestly. He brought something different to lead roles. Someone probably a little more like most people would be in those situations.
@Rudy_Manchego haha! That song is absolutely.. uh, what’s the word... unexpected. And the interpretive dance... so inspiring! I mean, how did they keep a straight face through that? 😂
Certainly, this is confirmation that Mr. LaBeouf has reached full meme status.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@Th3solution@RogerRoger I like it because it isn't really being mean as it is so out there and I love that he joined in at the end. My favourite bit is the line 'normal Tuesday night for Shia LaBeouf'
Now I may be an idiot, but there's one thing I am not sir, and that sir, is an idiot
Han Solo. Ah, Han. One of my favorite movie characters. How does his stand alone film hold up?
Disclaimer: If you’ve read my comments before you know I’m a bit of a Star Wars apologist. Other people would be able to give a more objective review than I. I look at the Star Wars movies through a bit of rose-tinted glasses. That said, I will try to be as impartial as I can muster. I will also avoid spoilers, of course.
First off, I was quite surprised at how empty the theater was on Friday night, opening weekend. School has let out for the summer, and you’d think the show would sell out. It was pretty sad attendance for a 9:00 PM show. Is Star Wars losing its luster? Has the magic dimmed after the mixed reception of the last movie? Time will tell, but I have a bad feeling about this. 😉 (I couldn’t help myself)
Now, onto my impressions of the actual movie — If I had to do a thumbs up or down, then I would give Solo a fairly solid thumbs up. The movie is quite different than any previous installments. It does give a slightly similar vibe as Rogue One, in that the time period is around the same in the SW universe, and there was a lot of nods to the early films, especially A New Hope and Empire. But the story and the way it is told is very different from the mainline films where the focus is on a larger narrative. Unsurprisingly, it’s not a spoiler to say here we spend the entire movie revolving around Han Solo. There are attempts to draw in the big picture of course, but one of the things that will be off putting is that there is definitely a reliance on just a few characters to carry the movie. And they make it or break it for you. Alden Ehrenreich has huge shoes to fill as Solo, and for the most part he grew on me. But I’d say he just falls short of really becoming the character that Harrison Ford made into an icon. Donald Glover, on the other hand, does a better Billy Dee Williams than even Mr Williams does himself and is spot on as Lando. Chewbacca is fantastic and as endearing as ever. The other lesser characters are serviceable and even Woody Harrelson did pretty well, and I don’t usually care for him. The main antagonist also was quite good. The acting, although a far cry from Hollywood’s finest, is light years ahead of the prequels.
The action was frantic as one might expect. Plenty of chase scenes and space battles. The special effects were solid, but I actually was disappointed in a couple of the renderings of certain characters. Also a few of the segments were shot too dark for my taste and I couldn’t tell what was going on in some of the frantic scenes. The stuff in space was very well done though. The Kessel Run felt a little shoved in, as did a few other nods to the original movies and felt at times forced in to try to please the long time fans. The Force Awakens was really full of those similar moments, and they occur periodically here too.
There was a certain sloppiness to the plot and characters react in unexpected ways, sometimes inconsistent with the feel of the narrative, and sometimes things happen or decisions are made that are not well explained. But these are the types of things that one comes to expect in the Star Wars series, and honestly in the Sci Fi epic genre as a whole. The ending is sure to be divisive, but without going into too much detail, personally I liked it. But I can also see why some people will be critical.
Overall, I would have liked a little more focus with the narrative with better believability of the plot motives. In the end, that’s being nit-picky because I really did enjoy it. I would rank it actually toward the middle of the SW movies. For reference my favorite is probably Empire and least favorite is probably Attack of the Clones.
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