Sequel Trilogy and the Future of SW

[Treefrog]

To start, I enjoyed TFA tremendously. Loved Rogue One (especially once the Erso team made their assault on Scarif). I had high hopes for TLJ: even so far as being almost giddy at the possibilities of seeing my favorite character front and center.

And then reality meets expectations.

Then I saw TLJ twice in the theater. My first impressions of TLJ was favorable, although I had some serious issues with one specific segment of the film: Canto Bight (some fans have likened it to being similar to the Prequels - I disagree). I can't explain it properly, but the entire sequence felt pointless. No real resolution. Finn and Rose being sent to find a Master Slicer, get thrown in jail, find an inmate whom happens to be a Master Slicer himself, then getting caught on the Supremacy. Talk about a 20 minute waste of time. On the Phazma issue: I adored the fact that she's finally dead. However, as before, LFL will somehow bring her back in Episode IX -- they did it before with Maul, so I wouldn't be surprised if she'll be back at all. As for Luke's ultimate sacrifice, while doing justice to how I'd like to see Luke go out.... my expectations were different. I actually think that TLJ was a solid episodic film (minus Canto Bight).

Now, as for the seemingly controversial issue of the labeling of Rey as a "Mary Sue." I disagree with the term. Even Luke Skywalker's Jedi training was negligible. One reason I have is that in the leadup to TLJ, I was convinced that she was related somehow to Luke. In the film when Rey's lineage was seemingly resolved "permanently," it would have made it logical to have some connection to Luke Skywalker. I still think that her parentage is still in doubt, and wasn't resolved at all.

After my second viewing, my dislike for Canto Bight intensified. The green milk scene still didn't sit well. Rey's first Jedi lesson was still well done. I absolutely loved how Snoke was shown to be a completely useless character. As an aside, Snoke is the true "Mary Sue" here. Continuing my thoughts: the way Luke was changed by RJ from being the "optimistic center of the galaxy" to an embittered, cynical recluse is just troubling. I still think Luke's end was artistically well done. However, I noticed a significant plothole: Luke's mechanical hand didn't fall into his lap when he dissipated. In the months since its release, TLJ has been a divisive film. And its a shame. It was, overall, a well-done film -- just different than my expectations. Reflecting on how I regard TLJ is that I'm conflicted.

And then there's the latest from LFL: Solo. I won't go into detail about how Solo is the first SW film that I wasn't looking forward to. I'll just leave it as being unnecessary.

Now as to the future: I have serious reservations on Episode IX now. TFA was a joy to watch. TLJ took two steps back on the goodwill that TFA generated. The announced RJ trilogy may become the proverbial carbonite slab around LFL's neck. The Benioff/Weiss trilogy sounds potentially intriguing. The Favreau tv series sounds promising.

The rumored Obi-Wan film sounds to me like it could be boiled down as creepy: a middle-aged Jedi Master stalking a prepubescent Luke Skywalker? I don't need it, nor want it. The rumored Boba Fett film also would be unwanted to me. We already have a Boba Fett origin story: Episode II, and a few episodes from The Clone Wars series. The only way, and I mean only way that I would be interested in such a film, would be if the central plot was the partially done Star Wars 1313 project, with Boba Fett sharing screentime equally with several other bounty hunters. Maybe even including some plot points from the bounty hunter guild destruction. That seems to be a film that has promise.

[Falconer]

Here’s where I am. The Star Wars that is important to me is the stuff that was around during my childhood — basically the 80s and 90s. The good and bad from that time period is already sifted, and honestly even the bad is lovable, because, nostalgia. I embrace that.

This approach helps me to emotionally disengage from the present Canon. I can still give any given new story a shot, and I might like it. In fact I think I have a better chance of liking it, from this detached perspective.

For example, TFA was such a beautiful love letter to “my SW”, that I embrace it. I rewatch the movie and I listen to the score. But even it is somehow apart from “my SW” — which is nice, because then I don’t have to think too much about things like hyperspace jumps into planetary atmosphere, or have to try to go through the (admittedly minor) mental acrobatics necessary to reconcile it with the Zahn sequels. It’s just like a standalone alternate timeline sort of deal, in my head.

[Treefrog]

[Darklighter79]

Actually Han did not refer to jumping in atmosphere in ANH. He just mentioned that: "we could fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it"

1) In first example he means collision with a shadow of a star. In realspace – hitting its surface.
2) Second - coming out of a hyperspace too close of supernova’s blast wave.

For clarification – gravity, energy emissions, ect do not cast shadow in hyperspace, only solid objects do. So Falcon landing in FA does not contradict what was said in ANH – it was just dangerous as coming out of hyperspace would be close to the mass shadow (planet’s surface in this case), very, very close.
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Don’t Let the Rules Get in the Way of a Good Story.

[Treefrog]

[Falconer]

Shh.... I said don’t think too hard about it....

[Treefrog]

[Treefrog]

I'd be interested in a Revan film, and the events of Kotor I, cinematically. It'd be far more interesting, plus it would be new.

[Falconer]

[Whill]

[Falconer]

[CRMcNeill]

[Whill]

[Falconer]

TLJ was a hugely anticipated film based on:

1. It was the first “Adventure of Luke Skywalker” (on screen) in 34 years
2. TFA was a VERY well-liked film that brought back many fans who had written of SW
3. TFA created a LOT of setup/mystery and triggered a LOT of speculation

I really, really was looking forward to TLJ. I didn’t want to dislike it or anything like that. I bought a ticket, of course. And I disliked it. My wife and, I dunno, roughly half of everyone I’ve asked about it (all of whom watched it in theaters) dislikes it. I just don’t see any grounds for calling us a minority. Isn’t it sufficient to say audiences were divided?

I have posted in several threads several very different theories/speculations about Episode IX. I never said it had to go one way; I was just riffing off another poster and trying to see if I could imagine his theory working. You’re right, probably not. But I don’t see the harm in speculation. Anyway, movies should live up to or exceed expectations, not blame fans for having high expectations.

Also, you never know. As I said, the TLJ novelization played around with alternate timelines. Rebels played around with time travel. J.J. Abrams is famous for rebooting Star Trek in a way that acknowledges the original timeline and thus didn’t alienate fans. What if they somehow decide they want to make Legends the “Prime” universe and designate the “Abramsverse” the alternative story, like they did with Star Trek? What if that was the plan all along? That might cure a very large rift in the fandom. Now how would they do that in a movie? Or would it be better if TFA stands, and only TLJ is a dream?

[WillTasker]