DSL's Movie/TV Reviews and Discussion

[Dr. Strangelove]

I'm just not interested in having the same story retold with virtually the entire same cast returning 40 years after the fact. If that's what the average Star Wars fan wants, then I feel justified in saying they're indulging in nostalgia. I'm starting to feel like Rogue One was the best of this generation of films. Not that I deeply cared about any of those characters but at least it was giving us something fairly unique in the franchise within the broader context of known "lore". And the fact that Andor is IMO the best of the Disney+ Star Wars shows makes that movie look better in retrospect.

The Force Awakens is already pretty similar to Star Wars '77. Having Luke along to act damn near identical to Obi-Wan would've hammered that home even more.

On a different but related note, I've seen both Ghostbusters '16 and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. They're both shit but in different ways. The all-ladies Ghostbusters? Big failure. Not funny. Too different for the "real fans" to accept. So what'd they do next? Throw so many fucking member berries at you till you're fucking ready to puke. And thank god we can now bring actors back from the dead through CGI! Sequel's out in December! Answer the CALL!

[Dr. Strangelove]

And the “invincible Rey” is correct. Her as an untrained Jedi and neophyte to the force essentially kicking Kylo Ren’s ass was pretty bad. Almost like they wanted to extol the power of women and have her become some irresistible force (get it??). It was too much.

At least have her get zapped in the ass a few times by the lightsaber training drones.

image.jpg

My takeaway from all that was to show that Kylo Ren was NOT his grandfather, was never going to live up to his grandfather, and that he'd be an unstable "wild card". I don't at all think that was a bad decision. He's probably my favorite thing about the first two movies (again, never seen the 3rd). And yeah, after TLJ my sentiment was "I don't need to see the finale in the theater". And I've just never gotten around to it still. I probably need to go back and rewatch the first two for the first times in years.

[AlabamAlum]

Nostalgia isn’t necessarily a bad thing, DSL. Here’s the thing: be new, change things, but make sure it’s good; cohesive to the universe. You have to essay a compelling story with characters that the audience cares about. If you can’t, it’s better to go full turbo nostalgia with subtle changes building over time.

[crashcourse]

not a big fan of this last season of mandalorian

getting ready to take off 8 weeks off of work for a knee replacement

Plan on watching a lot of HBOMAX old tv series and other series from many moons ago. old movies too. Caught Blazing saddles uncut is on prime --surprised amazon offered it uncut

[foxhopper]

DSL, CGVT and the other loons here are impatiently waiting for the sequel to "Cuties".

[AlabamAlum]

My takeaway from all that was to show that Kylo Ren was NOT his grandfather, was never going to live up to his grandfather, and that he'd be an unstable "wild card". I don't at all think that was a bad decision. He's probably my favorite thing about the first two movies (again, never seen the 3rd). And yeah, after TLJ my sentiment was "I don't need to see the finale in the theater". And I've just never gotten around to it still. I probably need to go back and rewatch the first two for the first times in years.

Oh, we will never agree on that. He wasn’t Darth Vader, but he was an accomplished master of the force with a midochlorian count of 14,500, which is similar to Rey, who was untrained and raw - and she gave him the business when they fought. Even Luke, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, and every other Jedi had to train to channel and harness the Force.

It was a ridiculous plot error.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Nostalgia isn’t necessarily a bad thing, DSL. Here’s the thing: be new, change things, but make sure it’s good; cohesive to the universe. You have to essay a compelling story with characters that the audience cares about. If you can’t, it’s better to go full turbo nostalgia with subtle changes building over time.

You can't develop new characters if half the screen time is being handed over to a geriatric cast. Some of whom might not even want to be there.

Again, I'm starting to turn towards Rogue One because it's got all the nostalgia beats you're looking for. Empire vs. Rebels. Familiar storm troopers and weapons. DEATH STAR! Brief, I repeat, brief cameos by Leia & Vader. But it's also telling a heist movie plot and yeah, all the good guys die.

Maybe part of my reason for feeling the way I do is that I personally have never found Luke, Leia, and Han Solo terribly compelling characters to begin with. I don't mind seeing them replaced. Vader, Yoda, the droids, and the Emperor were always the more entertaining characters to me as a kid.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Oh, we will never agree on that. He wasn’t Darth Vader, but he was an accomplished master of the force with a midochlorian count of 14,500, which is similar to Rey, who was untrained and raw - and she gave him the business when they fought. Even Luke, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, and every other Jedi had to train to channel and harness the Force.

It was a ridiculous plot error.

midichlorian count...lol...I'm sorry, we are not allowed to speak of midochlorians but in Phantom Menace discussion. Another time, perhaps

[AlabamAlum]

midichlorian count...lol...I'm sorry, we are not allowed to speak of midochlorians but in Phantom Menace discussion. Another time, perhaps

Jesus.

The point being that Rey and Kylo had ballpark raw abilities.

Since the very first Star Wars, monk-like training and development (an homage to martial arts films) were a part of Jedi training to become skilled in the art of lightsaber combat and the Force. To have a raw recruit in Rey defeat Kylo was silly canonically. Might as well give her Freddy Krueger hands and a Harry Potter wand otherwise. Have her put on a dome helmet and scream, “I’M THE JUGGERNAUT, BITCH” as she bowls Kylo all the way back to the Fortress of Solitude.

[iam416]

And the “invincible Rey” is correct. Her as an untrained Jedi and neophyte to the force essentially kicking Kylo Ren’s ass was pretty bad. Almost like they wanted to extol the power of women and have her become some irresistible force (get it??). It was too much.

At least have her get zapped in the ass a few times by the lightsaber training drones.

image.jpg

I don't think there's much doubt that they willfullly Mary Sue'd the fuck out of Rey. And, for that matter, most of the other female characters in the last 3. And it honestly does a disservice to the characters. We aren't ever as invested in perfect characters as flawed ones that overcome their own personal failings along with massive external challenges.

[iam416]

Nostalgia isn’t necessarily a bad thing, DSL. Here’s the thing: be new, change things, but make sure it’s good; cohesive to the universe. You have to essay a compelling story with characters that the audience cares about. If you can’t, it’s better to go full turbo nostalgia with subtle changes building over time.

Nostalgia -- or, you know, love of the franchise -- is what sells tickets. It's what keeps franchises going. But, as DSL candidly admits, he didn't like the first trilogy that millions fell in love with and was well-pleased when Disney made the purposeful decision to trash that canon. Now, for people who don't like the franchise, this matters not. To people who love it, well, it matters a great deal.

I'm sure there are lots of people who find James Bond movies tedious, but that doesn't mean in the next movie he should become executive assistant to a strong female CEO in film about how you really can have it all. JFC.

Like I said -- repeatedly -- Tom Cruise respects the franchise. MI7 will, in all likelihood kill it this summer. Indiana Jones COULD have killed it. But Disney (along with DSL) have no love for franchises and have no comprehension as to why people who enjoy franchise films want to see more of the same.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Jesus.

The point being that Rey and Kylo had ballpark raw abilities.

Since the very first Star Wars, monk-like training and development (an homage to martial arts films) were a part of Jedi training to become skilled in the art of lightsaber combat and the Force. To have a raw recruit in Rey defeat Kylo was silly canonically. Might as well give her Freddy Krueger hands and a Harry Potter wand otherwise. Have her put on a dome helmet and scream, “I’M THE JUGGERNAUT, BITCH” as she bowls Kylo all the way back to the Fortress of Solitude.

Oh I completely agree that we saw training in the past. But The Force in the original trilogy clearly has a religious and spiritual aspect to it. Vader in the original film is mocked as someone who believes in magic over science and almost chokes out a bitch over it.

Then, George Lucas, 22 years later decided that the Force should actually have a completely scientific explanation and came up with the midichlorian thing. Everyone hated it and as far as I can remember it's never once mentioned again in any movie after Phantom Menace. So how anyone can assuredly state Kylo Ren's exact midichlorian count amuses me. Is that really mentioned in any movie and I just don't remember? Otherwise I'm fine with raw talent beating a trained talent, whose own strength is sort of disputable midway through the first flick.

Look, all I'm saying is there's simply not enough room in these things unless you want them to be 4 hours long to bring back everything you loved about the originals, keep the same basic story structure, hit the same beats, AND introduce a bunch of new well-developed, well-written characters. Not as easy as some here think! You think there are new Faulkners lying around every corner? There are not!

[AlabamAlum]

Yeesh. DSL. Just, Yeesh.

Moving along…

[Dr. Strangelove]

Nostalgia -- or, you know, love of the franchise -- is what sells tickets. It's what keeps franchises going. But, as DSL candidly admits, he didn't like the first trilogy that millions fell in love with and was well-pleased when Disney made the purposeful decision to trash that canon. Now, for people who don't like the franchise, this matters not. To people who love it, well, it matters a great deal.

I'm sure there are lots of people who find James Bond movies tedious, but that doesn't mean in the next movie he should become executive assistant to a strong female CEO in film about how you really can have it all. JFC.

Like I said -- repeatedly -- Tom Cruise respects the franchise. MI7 will, in all likelihood kill it this summer. Indiana Jones COULD have killed it. But Disney (along with DSL) have no love for franchises and have no comprehension as to why people who enjoy franchise films want to see more of the same.

The first four MI films are all fairly different and had unique directors with personal styles. (Brian fucking DePalma1) It's only 4 through 6 where I'd agree they're a lot more factory-made.

Also I bet you've forgotten the uproar in 1996 when DePalma had the stones to make Jim Phelps the villain and kill off virtually his entire crew. Ethan Hunt wasn't even a character on either the original show or the 80's reboot. I don't think that could happen today because studios would be terrified of the original fanbase's reaction. Of course, no one thought they were creating a "franchise" in that exact moment either.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Yeesh. DSL. Just, Yeesh.

Moving along…

The Force is best explained as spiritual strength, not midichlorian counts. Oh there's hard science behind it now? Even toddlers train to be Jedis? Kiss my ass.

Slink off in defeat. You've been bested by raw talent. All that training for nothing.