J. J. Abrams, the Director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, surprised me by having Harrison Ford play a prominent role in his film. Good old Han Solo leaps into action again as an evil force led by his son threatens the galaxy. I liked the feisty Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) a lot. John Boyega as Finn the defector is okay. My quibble with this movie is that many of the plotlines are clearly set up for the sequels. The AMC theater was packed. There were a lot of kids, some dressed up in Jedi robes. A good time was had by all. The Force is getting stronger. GRADE: A-
George, I will be watching this film when it hits theatres in India on Christmas morning. It has been delayed here owing to the release of at least two blockbuster Bollywood films last and this week. No clash of cinematic titans!
Prashant, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is breaking box office records over here. Disney is making a lot of money!
My quibble is the amount of merchandising that they have indulged in. TOYS R US is practically a shrine. Still I will see it, of course.
Patti, you’re right about the merchandising being overdone. Yet people seem to be buying it…
So what did you go dressed as, George?
Dan, I was tempted to wear my George Lucas disguise but I opted to go as R2D2. With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS being a 135-minute movie, I was feeling a bit cramped at the end.
We’ll see it soon{ish} but are not running out this weekend. My brother took off early from work yesterday and went to see it in IMAX and 3-D with friends.
Jeff, the IMAX tickets here are sold out for weeks!
Apparently my brother and his Facebook friends somehow got 20-30 tickets weeks ago.
Jeff, I bought my STAR WARS; THE FORCE AWAKENS weeks ago, too. I may go see it in IMAX next month.
One of my daughters and her admittedly Star Wars fanboy boyfriend saw a 10:30 showing on Thursday night. Oddly, her comment was the exact opposite of yours: she didn’t see how sequels would be developed from existing plot lines. I told her not to worry: they’ll find a way.
As for merchandising: there’s a reason Disney paid George Lucas $1billion for the rights to Star Wars: they know they’ll earn it back.
Deb, Disney may earn back their investment by the end of the month!
As a disney stockholder, happy I am. (wish Qualcomm would pick up) I will have to wait to see it till after the holiday shopping frenzy dies down as there is no theater that is not in a shopping center, other than a very pricey upscale one in La Jolla where a large independent market used to be. we don’t have a “real” IMAX theater in San Diego, but I’ll spring for the 3D and go for whatever imax is on offer. Can’t wait
Maggie, QUALCOMM needs to stay out of court. The Koreans are suing them and the European Union is suing them. That’s why the stock price is down. Disney will make a ton of money with STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS and when that calms down, FROZEN 2 will be ready for more billions in profit!
I’ll see it eventually, I suppose, but the hype, over hype and way, way too much hype, plus the merchandising overkill will keep me away for now. This could even be the first SW film I don’t see in the theater.
After the so-called “Episode One” I vowed never to see another STAR WARS movie as long as George Lucas was doing them, and I haven’t. This is different, obviously.
Just checked, We saw the original three times in the theater. First was 1977, then a year later in Edinburgh we took our English friends who wanted to see it. We also saw the 20 year revival in 1997.
We saw THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in 1980, and RETURN OF THE JEDI in 1983 in London. In 1997 we saw the two together.
We saw THE PHANTOM MENACE (Episode 1) at the huge Ziegfeld in Manhattan in 1999. I could not have hated it more.
Jeff, THE PHANTOM MENACE generated a lot of hostility among STAR WARS fans.
I’m surprised at your vehemence, Jeff. No, Ep. I wasn’t as cool as Ep IV, but I have never been able to understand the level of dislike of the three “prequel” movies that so many have. I think they’re fun flicks. It’s the Ewok one I don’t care for.
Rick, STAR TREK: THE FORCE AWAKENS is one of those movies that look great on the Big Screen!
Oh, and now that you’ve seen the movie, maybe you can explain the relationships between the Empire, the First Order, the Rebel Alliance, the New Republic and the Resistance. From what I’ve read, I sure don’t know.
Rick, don’t over complicate things. The EMPIRE, FIRST ORDER, and the SITH are Bad Guys. The REBEL ALLIANCE, NEW REPUBLIC, and RESISTANCE are Good Guys.
It used to be that Qualcomm was worth about twice Pixar, then Disney, now it’s less than half sigh and disney increased their dividend
Maggie, Qualcomm’s lawsuits keep knocking the stock down. But their technology is fabulous. I may buy more shares. Disney has so many profitable franchises–STAR WARS, FROZEN, MARVEL–that they’re set for the next 20 years!
yet disney was way down today the stock market is a mystery to me. Only have those 2 stocks and next year am selling off Qualcomm (I bought it at a great time, right before the 4-way split, then sold enough that I have no $$ of my own in the stock market)
I have liked all the previous Star Wars movies. I even only mildly didn’t like Jar Jar Binks (if it had been a smaller role, wouldn’t have minded it at all)
Maggie, Jar Jar Banks is a sore point for most STAR WARS fans. I’m sure Qualcomm will be up by the time you decide to sell it. Disney was down yesterday because of rumors of terrorist attacks aimed at theme parks…like DISNEYLAND and DISNEYWORLD.
I have to confess that we’re really turned off Star Wars by all that merchandising even her in relatively poor Hungary. People will spend a lot of money they don’t have on stuff they don’t need.
All the shops and supermarkets (even Aldi) are full of “crap” with some logo on it …
I’m wondering when the half price sales will begin here.
Of course I watched the first films many years ago but was disappointed even then and the next trilogy I didn’t watch at all – the satire in MAD Magazine (to which I’ve subscribed for many years …) was enough!
Still, if everybody else here enjoys it – no problem!
PS:
It’s probably to early still to wish everybody a Merry Christmas – though we’ve already gotten several cards …
Wolf, thanks for your kind Christmas wishes! I’m with you: too much merchandising and marketing!
George, it’s always a pleasure to hav a look at your site and see what you’ve discovered – and the comments area also always interesting!
Re “REBEL ALLIANCE, NEW REPUBLIC, and RESISTANCE are Good Guys.” :
Is there a political message there?
“R” like in Revolution is good? The Empire is bad?
Then the conservatives in the USA should not tolerate it! (Just kidding … – or not?)
Wolf, there’s no doubt that a political theme lurks in the STAR WARS saga. The current Republican Presidential candidates have all gone to the Dark Side.
I wish I’d been more savvy about star wars. The filmed the desert scenes between san diego and Yuma AZ. I heard about people going to the desert and scavenging things, which became worth a fortune.
They filmed parts of Titanic near SD as well, and again people scavenged for left over “stuff”
Maggie, I can believe there was a lot of “stuff” left over from an extravaganza like STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS! You can see plenty of props on the screen.
I haven’t watched a full episode of a SW sequel/prequel since the original movie!
Bob, I hope you’re not leaning toward the Dark Side!