Star Wars VII ****contains spoilers****

Kirwan

Rancid, Ren hasn't finished his training and was injured twice before his fight with Rey. 
The scene on the bridge was his big test to turn to the dark side. I expect we won't see both Rey and Ren at the peak of their powers until Episode 9. 
You are assuming he's a Sith as well, there are only two of those but we clearly see several knights of Ren. 
I think it all fits with the try hard nature of the First Order. They are desperate to be the Empire, but not quite. Same with Ren, desperate to be like Vader but not quite. 
And recycling the plot is very Star Wars, same criticisms were levelled at Return of the Jedi. 
This film had a lot of work to do, its main job was to make you forget about the shitty prequels and introduce the new characters. 
Succeeded widely at that. 
That final scene was wonderful, and certainly not a repeat of anything I've seen in Star Wars. 
The Starkiller base was a mcguffin, the whole movie was about finding Luke.

Kirwan

And good call whoever renamed the thread, no need for spoiler tags.

mariner4life

Saw it. Loved it. Clapped at the end. Nearly cried twice. Will go again Tuesday.

Crucial

I really enjoyed it, and not because it ticked off the geeky over analysed side of the Star wars universe but because it didn't. It was a re-boot, pure and obvious.
 
In order to breathe new life into the thing Lucas almost killed they have gone back to the start and recaptured the magic that was the original. Clear goodies and baddies, someone to cheer for, some humour, some tragedy, some cool action.
 
The only bit I thought wasn't necessary was the creatures on the freighter. Seemed to be a set piece for the sake of it. I would have rather seen Han just shoot the bad guys and make a run for it.
 
Thought the Falcon was awesome and the X-Wing scenes very cool.
 
I also got the impression that after putting aside the old extended universe and novels for a new canon they have taken nods to the good parts of those stories. In the novels it was Chewie the was killed off, causing Han to flip out and break up from Leia for a while. One of their kids (the boy) then goes darkside.

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="548330" data-time="1450559872">
Rancid, Ren hasn't finished his training and was injured twice before his fight with Rey. 
The scene on the bridge was his big test to turn to the dark side. I expect we won't see both Rey and Ren at the peak of their powers until Episode 9. 
You are assuming he's a Sith as well, there are only two of those but we clearly see several knights of Ren. 
I think it all fits with the try hard nature of the First Order. They are desperate to be the Empire, but not quite. Same with Ren, desperate to be like Vader but not quite. 
And recycling the plot is very Star Wars, same criticisms were levelled at Return of the Jedi. 
This film had a lot of work to do, its main job was to make you forget about the shitty prequels and introduce the new characters. 
Succeeded widely at that. 
That final scene was wonderful, and certainly not a repeat of anything I've seen in Star Wars. 
The Starkiller base was a mcguffin, the whole movie was about finding Luke.</blockquote>
 
Yes, but his second injury was inflicted by an ex stormtrooper who had recently been handed his arse by a former comrade brandishing a large curling iron. He may not be a Sith but he was trained by Luke and has gone over to the dark side. He should have been able to defeat Rey blind and with half his limbs cut off. He's just farking crap. 
Let's face it, the film was more a reboot than a continuation of the series. Massive potential there, but IMHO could and should have been much better.

Kirwan

Yes, the first injury was caused by a weapon they spent most of the movie showing how powerful it was. 
I really liked that the villain was overly arrogant about his abilities and then got his arse handed to him. Sets up a pretty cool dynamic for the rematch. 
And Ren did beat Finn fairly easily in the end, even being injured. 
If look hard at any movie you will find quibbles. I've seen it twice and wasn't bored at any stage, best aspect was they nailed the humour. Was surprised how funny it was.

MN5

Wow, how shit was captain Phasma? Even Boba Fett went out with more dignity and fight than she did. I was expecting some sort of awesome shoot out at the very least. 
as Virg said Ren lost all sense of menace the moment he took off the mask. His Emo tantrum of slicing the place up with his lightsabre was particularly bitch like. 
I also didn't like the scene of the two rival gangs, one of them sounding suspiciously glasgwegian, going after Han. The guy is a hero of the rebellion for fuck sake. 
The plot was such a rip off of ANH that is was ridiculous but the movie as a whole was still absolutely sensational. Some cool dog fights, cool lightsabre battles, great lines from Han, a couple of fresh new characters.....like others I have a feeling the new flick will be twice as good at least.....

Virgil

Biggest difference between this one and the prequels (apart from Jar Jar, midi clorins etc). It didnt feel 'fake'
Eps 1 - 3 had an over riding sense of been too digital, like the entire film was made in front of a green screen (probably bloody was!)
 
This one they returned to the roots, real locations, make up for as many of the creatures as they could. Reading behind the scenes they purposely tried to achieve making this one with as little CGI as they could.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Virgil" data-cid="548368" data-time="1450574283">Biggest difference between this one and the prequels (apart from Jar Jar, midi clorins etc). It didnt feel 'fake' 
Eps 1 - 3 had an over riding sense of been too digital, like the entire film was made in front of a green screen (probably bloody was!) 
 
This one they returned to the roots, real locations, make up for as many of the creatures as they could. Reading behind the scenes they purposely tried to achieve making this one with as little CGI as they could.</blockquote>
 
I've always said the prequels had better bad guys overall, I mean the original trilogy had the Emp, DV, Jabba and a bunch of stiffs in military uniforms with British accents. Episode 7s villains weren't great overall in my opinion but there is a lot of promise for the next couple. Agree re the locations, when Han and Chewie were shooting the Stormtroopers on the planet with the bar it felt very 'real' much like the Endor battle all those years earlier.

booboo

Re Han's death (haven't seen movie ... not fussed by spoilers ... ) given both Yoda and Anakin/Lord Baron von Vader Ham both appeared after their death any chance Han will make a reappearance? (Ok so the force was not so strong in that one ... but ... ????)

Virgil

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="548411" data-time="1450589910">
<div>
Re Han's death (haven't seen movie ... not fussed by spoilers ... ) given both Yoda and Anakin/Lord Baron von Vader Ham both appeared after their death any chance Han will make a reappearance? (Ok so the force was not so strong in that one ... but ... ????)
</div>
</blockquote>
Might be worth his while to 'come back'...
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11563967'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11563967</a>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford will rake in more than Â£23 million ($50 million) for his role in the new Star Wars blockbuster, the Mail on Sunday reports.
Insiders say Disney producers were so determined to get the 73-year-old to reprise his role as Han Solo for The Force Awakens that they agreed to a Â£16.7million ($37 million) fee.
Ford will also get a 0.5 per cent share of the film's gross earnings, which are expected to break records by hitting at least Â£1.3 billion ($2.8 billion). It means the actor's share could be worth Â£6.5 million ($14 million</blockquote>

taniwharugby

maybe thats where Leia will realise her use of the force, some late night visits from Han?

Kirwan

Phasma apparently has a bigger role in the next one. I suspect most of her role got left on the cutting room floor for time.

Virgil

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="548423" data-time="1450604208">Phasma apparently has a bigger role in the next one. I suspect most of her role got left on the cutting room floor for time.</blockquote>
 
That probably was the one negative and most disappointing aspect, how limited her role was. A couple of lines, jumped on by Chewy and forced to shut down the shields. 
You would certainly hope we get to see a lot more of Phasma, and what she can do in a battle situation

NTA

Saw it last night with the kids. The girl (8) spent some time with her hands over her eyes. The boy (11) loved it but was a little shaken by the Han Solo thing.
 
It was definitely a reset with a lot of nods to the original IV-VI (e.g. droid with a bond and personality, kid on a desert planet with powers, kickass female, trench run, etc) and I liked that aspect of it. I also enjoyed immensely the fact that it wasn't like any of the prequels with the cutesy Jar Jar bullshit or any of that rubbish.
 
Some of the bits where "The enemy is firing up his weapon and we've got 15 minutes to get there FUCKYEAHWEDIDIT!" was a bit slapdash but I was willing to suspend my scientific scruples for that It is a galaxy far, FAR away after all.
 
Agree with Scnhitzel that Ren was a gigantic whinosaurus and needed a slap upside the head. Take Kirwan's point that he's basically being broken down by the Supreme Mucketty-Muck in order to rebuild him stronger.
 
But yeah, he got whipped by a rookie girl.
 
Liked it a lot, overall.
 
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="548423" data-time="1450604208">
<div>
Phasma apparently has a bigger role in the next one. I suspect most of her role got left on the cutting room floor for time.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I actually missed what happened to her after the kids distracted me. Last I saw she was putting shields down with a gun to her head?

canefan

After lowering the shields Han made a crack about finding a trash compactor, then nothing. I'd expect she wasn't dead, unless there was one of those monsters in the trash like ep4...

NTA

Thanks - i saw that crack about the garbage compactor, so I missed nothing, in effect. ;)

MN5

Dead or not for the head Stormtroopers she went down to a couple of geriatrics and an underling. Bitch material right there.....

Crucial

I don't have a problem with them introducing characters but not having full conclusions around them. They are rebooting a series. Phasma has been introduced and will come back pissed off at Finn and Chewie. 
The old fella at the beginning (Max von Sydow) must have an interesting backstory which I assume will come out in one of the other series of movies or Rebels.

MN5

He's looked about that age since the 70s. I think he would have made an excellent baddie aka Count Dooku. Interesting he was a good guy. Still knowing Star Wars there'll be an in depth story on him on Wookiepdia before too long.....

The Silver Fern

Star Wars VII contains spoilers