Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (J.J. Abrams, December 20, 2019) Movie • Page 70

I mean the good thing is that Rian gave us something so new and refreshing that its not like JJ can just remake ROTJ or something. I personally think it wont be safe. TFA was safe, but it was also a love-letter to Star Wars and they were trying to bring back that familiarity. I think Rian went out of the box so much that JJ was inspired to impose his own creative will especially after all the "rehashing" complaints that Im sure hes aware of.

 

Sure, I know what you mean and I hope you're right, but just looking at his track record overall, I don't really see anything that's that much outside of the box. I'm sure his "worst" stuff is still like 2 out of 4 stars or whatever. I just don't know if anything is like "holy shit, 4/4 stars!!!" to me.

 

I know no one is talking about DJ anymore - but if he doesn’t show up in episode IX you can just assume he’s a casualty of the hyperspace kamikaze. Karma got him.

 

As long as he doesn't have any more of that SJW shit where Luke looks like a pacifist and isn't out there being a bad ass, and that "Rey" character is too competent, you know what, better make her dad someone awesome too or I won't watch.

 

My dad could definitely beat up her dad.

 

I think he gets his money and a ship iirc, so Rian did leave the door open, but this is good headcanon haha.

 

Yeah I mean TFA is one of my favs, I loved MI3, and enjoyed his two Trek films, but I do agree Im never wowed or inspired by his writing either from a story or thematic sense. I just love his direction.

 

Way to try to discredit my criticism. A very real one a lot of people seem to share except on this site where everyone knows best. It's not relevant how he got into contact with the First Order?

Still the only site I know where the community is still avidly going to bat for every little criticism this movie faces.

 

If it's not Snoke then your dad is trash.

 

I can't believe people are still nitpicking TLJ over every single little tiny thing, like the OGT was flawless. At some point, like, I'm sorry, but who cares?

 

Um, what

 

DJ is Rey's dad, he traded her for drinking money

There, are we happy now, it's someone we know

 

Is it a hot take for me to say that's the part I like the least about his movies? I think he's a good to great storyteller. But I don't really like the direction much itself.

 

Im confused lol He was captured by the First Order with Finn and Rey. Thats how he got into contact with them. Do you really need to see a scene of him telling the FO what he knows? Ive never even seen this complaint before in the 2 years of probably the most criticized movie of the last two years.

 

JJ is basically a jobber director. He's competent in every way you need from a director to make a good movie, but he's not an auteur or groundbreaking or unique in any way.

 

I wouldn't say it's a hot take. He's a good director (and has definitely gotten way, way better over the years), but he's nowhere near the top-tier in the business right now. I wouldn't necessarily consider him great. Although he does regularly have great moments.

 

JJ is a great director for Star Wars and sci-fi films in general. He’s great in this genre.

 

I'm still shocked at how much people tear apart TLJ

It still is probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite SW movie

 

holy shit Finn changes so much in TLJ, how can anyone possibly think otherwise unless they watched a different movie

 

Nah I dont think so. But its interesting we have totally opposite views. For me the performances he gets out of his actors is always superb. I love visually how everything looks and while some of that has to do with Dan Mindel (his usual cinematographer and another reason Im so excited for Ep. 9), I love how visceral and real everything feels and his dedication to production design and the least amount of CGI as possible. I really get that "lived in" quality even more than I did for TLJ.

I should say I do love his writing of characters, but for me the stories in any of his movies never really did much for me. I wouldnt say his writing is "bad" just never moved me.

Just curious what do you not like about his direction and love about his story telling?

 

I definitely appreciate how well JJ appears to work with his actors. And I love how focused he is on using practical effects whenever possible. I enjoy every movie of his that I've seen (there's even stuff to like about Star Trek Into Darkness). I just think he hasn't really done anything where the direction totally knocked me on my ass. TFA comes close to that but that was also because it was the first good Star Wars movie we'd gotten since Jedi. It's easily his best movie by far also, as much as I love Star Trek and M:I 3

 

nothing will be worse than this.

 

I'll take the droid factory over the scenes of Anakin and Padme rolling around in the grass and talking about sand any day. At least there's no dialogue in the droid factory lol

 

I feel like basically the whole directors commentary was just him saying what was practical effects during every scene lol

 

When he was first hired and he committed to shooting on film and using practical sets and effects wherever possible, I knew everything was going to be fine with the new trilogy.