tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post2388072440692998404..comments2024-03-28T02:25:27.817+00:00Comments on Red Parsley: Film Review #85RetroKingSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-56873131401783085202016-01-20T17:25:04.907+00:002016-01-20T17:25:04.907+00:00No, he's not doing Episodes 8 or 9 and (it see...No, he's not doing Episodes 8 or 9 and (it seems) has next to no involvement in Rogue One either. I know what you mean about him; I think he just wants to put his own stamp on his films, make sure people realise there's a new director in whichever particular series. Maybe it's arrogant but I think he decent enough, generally speaking - Mission Impossible III is great and so is Super 8, for example.<br /><br />Oh, and don't worry about the spoilers (I can't edit either, only delete completely). I guess near enough everyone who's going to watch the film has by now! :PRetroKingSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-47505346378262814922016-01-20T17:16:10.532+00:002016-01-20T17:16:10.532+00:00Sorry about the spoiler, feel free to delete if yo...Sorry about the spoiler, feel free to delete if you can (I can't edit). JJ definitely did see the originals but he didn't *feel* them! Seriously, whenever JJ remakes/reboots/sequelises a franchise it's like he didn't "get" the original. I just think he lacks the understanding and depth, he's really an action director. I don't actually think he is a good director at all, he doesn't make you feel or engage the way others can do, many scenes fall flat. Fortunately, I understand he is not directing Ep 8...?John Blackburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09557631968546412536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-2166991024374358412016-01-20T17:05:30.652+00:002016-01-20T17:05:30.652+00:00Hi again John. First of all, let me just say I was...Hi again John. First of all, let me just say I was trying to avoid giving away spoilers here, so good job on that ;)<br /><br />But yes, I agree with most of your points, particularly regarding Rey's near-instant ninja status. It's definitely not a perfect film and I did nearly give it 8/10, but the fact is, I still enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps that was down to nostalgia to one degree or another (and JJ may well have been banking on that) but the fact remains. It's still only my second favourite film of 2015 though, after Ex Machina.<br /><br />Oh, and to answer your 'has he even seen the originals' question - I think all the little nods and references to them in TFA answer that as well as I could ;)RetroKingSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-72703736731048875362016-01-20T16:22:40.241+00:002016-01-20T16:22:40.241+00:00Aha! I've been waiting for your review on this...Aha! I've been waiting for your review on this. My own opinion was more negative. The movie jumps the shark in two ways: firstly the "let's destroy yet ANOTHER Deathstar" plot and secondly the instantaneous transformation of Rey into a Jedi Knight without even trying! The second is more serious IMO since it shows Abrams does not "get" the nature of the Force. Luke had to fail and sacrifice to eventually be able to beat Vader. In many ways that was the point of the trilogy. He came of age while learning, but Rey is able to whup Kylo's ass without any training? Abrahms seems to think the Force is just a way to become an instant super hero. Did he actually watch the originals?<br /><br />And the whole idea of Ren being "conflicted" doesn't work well. After all Ren orders a group of unarmed villagers to be executed and also kills one of his soldiers simply for bringing bad news "shooting the messenger". Vader only killed those who opposed or failed him. Ren is in many ways worse than Vader.<br /><br />Finally both music and direction were lame (John Williams is "getting too old for this sort of thing"). When Han Solo was frozen in carbonite in Empire it's a moving moment. When he is actually killed in this movie, I personally wasn't moved at all. That tells you all you need to know.<br /><br />FWIW here is my own review ;-)<br /><br />https://sites.google.com/site/simpleinteractive1/news/reviewstarwarstheforceawakens<br />John Blackburnhttps://sites.google.com/site/simpleinteractive1/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-79292676748246760752016-01-15T20:33:11.801+00:002016-01-15T20:33:11.801+00:00I think Finn was the highlight for me, besides see...I think Finn was the highlight for me, besides seeing Solo and Chewie again, obviously. Ray and Poe are both promising characters as well though. I suspect Poe will have a larger role in the next film :)RetroKingSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-26837609726218028632016-01-15T19:29:51.726+00:002016-01-15T19:29:51.726+00:00I'm not even a big Star Wars fan and I enjoyed...I'm not even a big Star Wars fan and I enjoyed this quite a bit. A bit overly familiar (and making the third Death Star larger than the last two doesn't make the concept any fresher), but fun all the way through, with more organic dialog than in the prequels. I've got high hopes for Finn and Poe, who have fantastic chemistry and should be even more fun to watch in subsequent films.ArugulaZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02099674283071076123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-71855447143483058272016-01-12T08:48:23.105+00:002016-01-12T08:48:23.105+00:00Yeah, I think that's the thing for most people...Yeah, I think that's the thing for most people that have seen it - it's a good Star Wars film, but is it better-than-the-original-trilogy good? I'd have a tough time deciding that too.<br /><br />I know what you mean though, it was awesome seeing it in the cinema. All the little nods to the original films were great. I'm interested in how Rogue One will turn out though...RetroKingSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455082771543433548.post-6252225296534819932016-01-11T13:11:30.800+00:002016-01-11T13:11:30.800+00:00Watched it the other night and I did enjoy it but ...Watched it the other night and I did enjoy it but I still wouldn't place it above the original trilogy. I think the next parts in this new trilogy will be much better as Force Awakens obviously has to set the stage.<br /><br />I too was disappointed by Kylo Ren and especially Snoke who is certainly no Emperor Palpatine!<br /><br />Great to see a brand-new Star Wars in a cinema though. The main theme blasting out and the scrolling preface were enough to make me grin again and all the old ships have been sorely missed.<br /><br />For what it's worth, I re-watched all of the movies again in the run-up to seeing Force Awakens and I enjoyed the prequel trilogy a lot more this time around. Revenge of the Sith is a genuinely decent film.DS90Gamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483453203193593827noreply@blogger.com