tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post5834151580308556535..comments2024-03-28T18:35:23.778-07:00Comments on Book Haven : Star Wars VII- What I Would Have Done Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-23654164022898785622016-07-20T00:06:56.025-07:002016-07-20T00:06:56.025-07:00D-Qar- interesting. See I didn't even know tha...D-Qar- interesting. See I didn't even know that name. I know Takodama came up (where Maz is) I think... as for the prequels, I think you're right. There must have been some directive or creative decision to minimize the prequels, but by eliminating Coruscant I think they hurt the chance to move forward. There has to be some positive come out of the original victory or does it mean anything? They could have then built a new story organically, rather than lazily go with Empire/ Order and Rebellion/ resistance. <br /><br />I can understand how you feel about Han. Frankly I like him but to me Luke was the focus of the orig trilogy, and the early novelizations and stuff said "from the adventures of Luke Skywalker", so that was clearly Lucas' focus. I did a post a while back arguing that Luke and Leia might have even made a better couple, which I think Lucas also intended before Empire. And you can certainly make an argument that a smuggler who works for Jabba the Hutt isn't gonna be a family man. :) <br /><br />I hated the R2 thing. Way to waste a character. I think your point about the prequels is a good one- the prequels expanded the universe, I don't always like how they did it, but they did and this movie just seemed to shrink it again. No name planets, no big things like asteroid belts or anything new really. Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-57827249635817296992016-07-19T23:56:25.930-07:002016-07-19T23:56:25.930-07:00I think you're right, they seemed to be wantin...I think you're right, they seemed to be wanting to bring people up to speed as part of the focus of the movie- which I thought was the wrong way to go . Although lots of people have enjoyed it so maybe I'm overthinking it lol. <br /><br />I had the same thought though- if the rebels won, why are we still sort of in the same place? The rebels are just the resistance now? It almost feels like everything they went through didn't matter because nothing changed? Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-16364607746461154872016-07-19T23:53:38.148-07:002016-07-19T23:53:38.148-07:00It was definitely too similar to the first movie. ...It was definitely too similar to the first movie. And Han as a smuggler, after all those years? Just didn't make a lot of sense to me. I mean, he's like 70. :) And with all the planets they come up with on the shows you mention, it makes you wonder why they can't do a better job with planets in the movie. <br /><br />I agre w/ you, there was a ton of missed potential. :) Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-47340010467431010322016-07-18T14:21:32.251-07:002016-07-18T14:21:32.251-07:00I'm not a big Star Wars aficionado, so I just ...I'm not a big Star Wars aficionado, so I just sit back and enjoy the movies (I actually haven't even seen this one yet). But I love that you've put this much thought into this. The books (or stories) that make me think the most are my absolute favorites.<br /><br />Nicole @ <a href="http://feedyourfictionaddiction.com" rel="nofollow">Feed Your Fiction Addiction</a>Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addictionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637114079800138680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-77790177694350711232016-07-18T07:52:20.463-07:002016-07-18T07:52:20.463-07:00We did something similar when the movie first came...We did something similar when the movie first came out, though I don't think we went into as much depth as you did. D-Qar is the planet the Resistance is on...I don't think I even noticed the name in the movie, but I'm playing Lego Force Awakens and it's the planet you are centered on. <br /><br />I would have loved to see more of the planets and the political/social turmoil that the galaxy undoubtedly went through after the fall of the Emperor. I think this movie ushered in the old style of Star Wars story telling. They put a ton of distance between it and the Prequels, which were world building heavy. If there was one thing the prequels got right it was the amount of world building they offered. The originals? Not so much. They were also character driven, and always focused on the main three without deviating for so much as a explanation on impact of their actions anywhere else. Force Awakens was highly enjoyable, but there were so many moments where the story could have been bolstered or flat out improved...and it has that in common with the originals. <br />The one thing I did like about Han and Leia, is that they were not together. I actually hate Han Solo, I always have...he was always the 'bad boy' of the three and instead of being suave like everyone else sees him I just saw him as sleazy. And I never saw it in his personality to stick around and be a part of a family unit, especially if things ever got hard for them and I actually liked that Kylo had a serious problem with him. <br />I do think the whole Death Star gambit is tired though, or atleast in the way they handled it. I would have loved Starkiller base to stick around for atleast two of the three films. I mean it's a planet sized planet killer, I don't care if you do have the two best pilots of the resistance going to take it down...it needs to be a 'big bad' for more than a movie to feel like anything other than a cheap story telling trick. They didn't spend decades hiding on the far reaches of charted space just to have their toy blown up by a half-baked plan devised in what a single conversation.<br /><br />And R2 being in low power mode drove me insane. As soon as I saw that I hated it. I don't like obvious plot devices and that was incredibly obvious. Anyone in that theater at that moment would have been able to tell you that R2 would only wake up at the end of the movie because that map probably isn't complete. Michelle @ In Libris Veritashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07491579673142118208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-47116557409303296312016-07-17T07:45:26.027-07:002016-07-17T07:45:26.027-07:00My husband and I watched The Force Awakens last ni...My husband and I watched The Force Awakens last night for the second time and though I enjoyed it I totally agree with you, Greg. To me it seemed like a rehash of the first movie so people who didn't watch the first three movies could get up to speed and for the people who love those movies to get their nostalgia fix...lol!<br /><br />I liked seeing Leia and Han, but would have liked them still together. I didn't understand why they still are the rebels. And that there's still a Death Star and storm troopers. <br /><br />I haven't read the Star Wars books (my husband has read most of them), but we re-watch the originals regularly. <br /><br />It will be interesting to see where the next movie goes though I'm disappointed with way it looks from the end of Star Wars VII. Like you I would like to see cities and planets and some triumph since the rebels won--didn't they??!Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772092087910675246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-66153667274214763992016-07-17T07:18:20.895-07:002016-07-17T07:18:20.895-07:00I do agree that breaking new ground while keeping ...I do agree that breaking new ground while keeping the star wars feel is difficult. And while I enjoyed the Force Awakens I also felt that it was too similar to the first movie and they could've at least shaken things up a bit.<br /><br />If they wouldn't have gone with the death star road again it would have been nice already, as that's just overdone at this point. Yes it would have made sense to keep the center of power on Curscant. And I didn't buy that han would go back to smuggling instead of staying with leia. I would've preferred to see them being together still.<br /><br />And you make some good points of how Luke could have a role in all this and maybe even tie things in with vader and give him something to discover or explore on coruscant.<br /><br />And in the series like Rebels and Clone Wars they do such a good job with coming up with new planets, why not use some of those planets or think up something new again.<br /><br />I like BB8, but I agree that it would've been nice to give artoo and 3CPO a bigger role, they are always in the movies and we even joke sometimes that Artoo is the real main character. But maybe in the next movie we see more of them.<br /><br />It's kinda sad to think about all the missed potential this movie had. And now I kinda want to see a movie based on these ideas. then again i did enjoy the Force Awakens, I just would've liked it if it had been less the same of the first movie.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14284689418552571180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-83175210181163405342016-07-13T08:49:22.543-07:002016-07-13T08:49:22.543-07:00Aww thanks! I hate to be negative about the movie ...Aww thanks! I hate to be negative about the movie but I remember sitting there going this is the best we can get?? So I had to write this lol. Thanks for reading! <br /><br />And yes the character development. I remember asking myself why exactly is Han like 70 and doing smuggling again?? Like 30 years later? Baffling. :) Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952534890282357396.post-20515382454548454362016-07-13T07:06:37.329-07:002016-07-13T07:06:37.329-07:00You know I shared much of your thoughts on the new...You know I shared much of your thoughts on the new Star Wars so this was really great to read! The new Star Wars had a lot of potential but it was wasted on a derivative plot and to me, they wasted a lot of character development with Han, Leia and Luke. Plus you kept Leia and Han together!!! The should have explored Leia as Vader's daughter, other planets, political aspects. ALL OF IT. The producers should hire you :DMichelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09220874121683955988noreply@blogger.com