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  1.  

    I saw Guardians on Thursday and it owned bones. It didn’t need to be longer. Gamora in general was a pretty fuzzy character a lot of the time but it had more to do with uncertain writing than it did was a lack of space for development.

    Obesity kills modern blockbusters, not anorexia.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2014
     

    Just imagine an entire prequel intro/build-up movie for each member of Ocean’s 11.

    shudder You have made your point extremely effectively.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2014
     
    bq. Obesity kills modern blockbusters, not anorexia.

    We don't see much anorexia, though.
    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeAug 5th 2014
     

    @sansa: My problem is more that the villains feel a bit under-developed. Hidden for spoilers:

  2.  

    My brother’s opinion was that Ronan would have been the greatest villain ever if Lee Pace had just played him as Thranduil. I haven’t seen the movie myself, but this seems Right to me.

  3.  

    I saw Guardians of the Galaxy and it was pretty fucking great.

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeAug 10th 2014
     

    I too rather enjoyed Guardians

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2014
     

    Okay, I have to get this off my chest. Every time I see a trailer for The Giver, all I can think is “This looks like a PG-13 version of Equilibrium. Which probably means it will be lame, because it won’t have gun kata or Christian Bale. And probably some horrible forced romance, too.”

  4.  

    And probably some horrible forced romance, too.

    God forbid.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2014 edited
     

    Romance? In my Giver?

    It’s more likely than you think.

  5.  

    The Giver was my favorite book for YEARS. Rarely do I decide to just not bother with an adaptation of a book I like, but I’m not seeing this one. I know it will just piss me off.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2014 edited
     

    I saw Guardians of the Galaxy today.

    it was a fun movie, but I really wasn’t invested in the characters or events. It just felt rushed in the wrong places and most of the characters were glossed over.

    Also, we have access to CGI technology that would have been unimaginable to the original designers of the first Star trek series, so why are all the sentient aliens, aside from Groot and Rocket, literally just ‘human with different coloured skin’? They couldn’t even be bothered with some plasticine facial ridges and such like the Star Trek aliens got? There’s Humans With Blue Skin, a Human With Green Skin, some Humans With Red Skin, and aside from the two main characters that’s the limit of alien morphology in this movie.

    edit: I am a bit excited about two of the previews, though, Things We Do In The Shadows (vampire mockumentary) and Big Hero 6 (animated sci-fi with an intellectually challenged balloon robot sidekick who becomes iron man). They both look like really cool movies. Especially the vampire mockumentary.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2014
     

    While I do see your point about the lack of diversity, I think at least some of that comes down to how a lot of aliens look in the Marvel-verse. And hey, at least it means a few more actors got to work.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2014
     

    They could have at least added some antennae or something to some of the alien races. Although I did like the many cybernetic implants, they were a cool touch.

  6.  

    I saw Guardians a few days ago. It was a pretty fantastic movie and right up my alley in terms of tone. The soundtrack felt a bit off to me, like it didn’t actually fit in with the scenes as well as the director was hoping it did. I know they were trying for the Tarantino style of music, but it just felt like someone was playing their favorite playlist instead of deliberately choosing the best song for the scene.

    I also agree with Taku that it’s a bit disappointing the creatures were all so human but I can be a bit more forgiving here. While we do have the tech to make truly alien things, it’s still easier to put people in make up and have them act. The Marvel universe also tends to have the same sort of design for their aliens, despite the fact there is nothing that actually stops you from making fantastic creatures in comics (except for the artist’s ability to draw them). I know there’s a certain design philosophy that says people can’t relate to something unless it has humanoid features, but I really disagree with that view.

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2014
     

    There Will Be Blood turned out to be very good and worth enduring some of the slower scenes in the middle. The ending twist toward the end is properly heartwrenching, and helps to make the main character feel more isolated and spiteful as intended. LOTS of tiny details to notice, like the way Eli clearly enjoyed slapping the shit out of him while he was baptized, and all the times when the bankers wearing nice silk suits (compared to Daniel’s worsted wools, tweeds, and rough cottons) make Daniel jealous in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

    Easily one of my favorite movies now.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2014
     

    I’ll agree on the details, but god that movie was not my cup of tea.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeAug 29th 2014
     

    Finally got around to watching Iron Man 3. For all the complaints about it, it was a plenty enjoyable movie. But then again, I thought Iron Man 2 was great fun too, despite the complaints.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeSep 6th 2014
     

    Making my way through The Hollow Crown movies. Just watched Henry IV: Part I. Gotta say, I kinda liked it more than Richard II – at least this one actually showed some of the fighting. Plus, it had Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston in it.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2014
     

    The Wolf of Wall Street

    It was alright… A whole lot of flashiness without much substance. I know it being a “biopic” partially dictated the structure, but in retrospect is felt unnecessarily long and filled with fluff. And fuck. Lots of fuck.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2014
     

    Finally got to watch Thor.

    ... am I the only one getting really annoyed with how many hero characters just HAVE to have a Jesus Symbolism moment, with the noble self-sacrifice, the “is he dead?” moment, and the “resurrection”. Especially with Marvel movie heroes, it’s just getting so repetitive.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2014
     

    am I the only one getting really annoyed with how many hero characters just HAVE to have a Jesus Symbolism moment, with the noble self-sacrifice, the “is he dead?” moment, and the “resurrection”. Especially with Marvel movie heroes, it’s just getting so repetitive.

    It’s getting to the point where it’s not much of a shock that he comes back either. And it was a huge bit of Jesus Symbolism as well, since he comes back as a god.

    Then again, if you read some of the comics, Odin is technically God, so by extension…

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2014
     

    While I see your point, Taku, I think it kinda fits in Thor. It’s the end of his character arc. He demonstrates that he knows what being a hero is really about – protecting innocent people, not just beating up the bad guys.

    And the only other example of that kind of thing I can think of in a Marvel movie is Iron Man in Avengers, and Iron Man 3 used that to give Tony Stark a case of PTSD.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2014
     
    _Guardians of the Galaxy_. Very much enjoyed it, especially since I've been craving a solid space adventure for a long while (neither of the recent Star Trek flicks quenched that particular thirst). Dave Bautista might be the standout for me, though that's not to say Chris Pratt wasn't fantastic. Rocket and Groot were great, but not as great as some critics had led me to believe. Zoe Saldana was tolerable (not a fan of her), and I felt the rest of the cast was strong, especially Karen Gillan. Didn't find Lee Pace's Ronan all that great; couldn't help but see Thranduil in blue makeup and an altered voice.

    I have two peeves, though. This has easily been the worst year for Marvel in terms of their music. While Henry Jackman's _The Winter Soldier_ was essentially nonexistent filler music, Tyler Bates (I don't understand how he keeps getting work) was tremendously boilerplate. No identity, no ambition - the songs from Quill's mix tape had more cohesion than Bates' score. I'm also getting more and more frustrated with all this swirling haphazard digital ADHD cinematography. *Everything* has to swoop inches from the camera. *Everything* has to send the camera trembling. *Everything* has to be shot with a frenetic, wildly swirling eye. Seriously. Twelve years on, and "this looks infinitely better":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WeLfUFkLFU.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     

    I disliked the “Heroic Sacrifice + Death + Surprise Resurrection” Jesus-ism in Guardians Of the Galaxy as well. Can no “good guy” rest in peace these days?

    @ Apep: It’s also in the above, and in Elysium, and in The Matrix, and in Frozen, and in The Dark Knight, and even in Captain America. There’s probably a bunch of older ones that I haven’t thought of.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     
    I agree with all of those except 'The Dark Knight'. That was a sacrifice that put him in an unexpected position. Sure, it was illogical and unnecessary when you stopped to think about it, but it gave us that awesome ending.
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     

    What made the Dark Knight ending work for me was that I genuinely believed for a minute that he had died. I figured they were going to do the whole “Robin takes up the mantle and becomes Batman” thing.

    Which, they did, but the point is that it actually made me believe it for a little while, so it worked as long as you didn’t think about it very hard.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     
    ....you two are talking about The Dark Knight _Rises_, the third film. I thought you were talking about the second one.
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     

    Lol yes, sorry, don’t know why I made that mistake.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     
    Well, frankly, "The Dark Knight Rises" isn't a very good title. It's certainly apropos, but I would've preferred something along the lines of "The Legend of the Dark Knight", or just something less identical to its immediate predecessor.
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     

    Also something less similar to The Dark Knight Returns.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2014
     

    I thought the similarity was the point. A kind of continuity marker to indicate that they are part of the same series.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 13th 2014 edited
     
    Saw _Ninja Turtles_ yesterday. I enjoyed it quite a bit more than I expected, probably because I've heard so much in the way of poor word-of-mouth. Good and bad impressions below, hidden for spoilers.



    Edit: Here's "Brian Tyler's theme":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD9Po27DjFk for the movie.
    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2014
     
    If anyone's ever been curious what _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ looks like in black and white, "Steven Soderbergh has something to show you":http://extension765.com/sdr/18-raiders. Even without color, this movie's gorgeous, though the music Soderbergh chose is quite off-putting, imo.
  7.  

    I saw If I Stay ‘cause a friend had free tickets. It was extremely mediocre.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeSep 25th 2014
     

    Show of hands – does that surprise anyone?

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 25th 2014
     

    In my typical fashion, I only now have watched Captain America 2, and really, I only have one question.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2014
     
    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2014
     

    @swenson

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2014
     
    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2014
     

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2014
     

    In Bruges is incredible.

    Sort of weird how Belgium doesn’t seem to have any cops, though.

    No one thinks to call the cops a single time in the film.

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2014
     

    Jin Roh the Wolf Brigade is fucking amazing.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2014 edited
     
    Been reading about _Dracula Untold_ and I'm disappointed. The consensus rolling in basically paints it as a superhero origin story with Vlad cast as a sympathetic character. Being an "untold" story, I would've loved to see him shown as more accurate to Stoker's vision, involving his time at the Scholomance and ending with his death. I didn't realize until seeing the still and trailers, but Luke Evans has a great look for Dracula.

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeOct 11th 2014
     

    It had potential, but it was poorly executed. Still, it was entertaining enough to be worth the money

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeOct 11th 2014
     

    I would have liked to see how Vlad Tepes went from a local lord protecting his territory by impaling his enemies as a warning, to a bloodsucking creature who cannot abide sunlight or crosses. Some sort of antiheroic Faustian story watching his decent into evil would have been grand.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeOct 11th 2014
     

    That would be fucking delightful.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeOct 11th 2014
     
    I should be clear: I haven't seen it. But I agree with Taku.

    According to Stoker, he studied the black arts and later used it to resurrect himself. There's simply nothing sympathetic or noble about the character of Dracula, and I've been wanting to see a portrayal that casts him as such. He's not a romantic character, either. That's such an insignificant element, as far as he's concerned.
  8.  

    Characters need to be sympathetic, they need to draw in audiences with their morally justified back stories and the ultimate knowledge that good will over come evil even if the rest of the world doesn’t think the main character is good. It may be a sacrifice in quality but it’s a necessity for sales and appeal to the lowest common denominator.

    ... Oh, wait, Gone Girl is top in the box office right now? Huh.

  9.  

    I just saw Dracula Untold. On one hand, it was pretty low quality all around. On the other hand, it has a depiction of vampires I like.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeOct 17th 2014 edited
     

    On the other hand, it has a depiction of vampires I like.

    but did they sparkle

    I’d also like it more if it wasn’t about Dracula and was about… I dunno, Drake Ula.

    How about Alucard?

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeOct 22nd 2014
     

    So how ‘bout that Avengers trailer?

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeOct 23rd 2014 edited
     
    Not bad, I must say. But my 2015 hype-train is reserved for Episode 7.

    EDIT: Something that piqued my curiosioty - "The Science of 'Interstellar'":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQye2XkvDpo.
    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2014 edited
     

    So, I saw Dracula Untold.

    edited to hide spoilers.

  10.  

    Finally saw Boxtrolls and thought it was adorable. Not mind blowingly awesome, but still worth seeing if you like claymation and fun movies. Also had one of my favorite after the credit scenes ever. Like, it’s one of the only ones that isn’t a teaser trailer for the next movie in the next few years.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2014
     
    @ organiclead

  11.  
  12.  

    @Rocky

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeOct 26th 2014
     
    @ organiclead

  13.  

    Saw Book of Life yesterday and loved it. The designs were so gorgeous and some of those crowd scenes probably took ages to render. My only real complaint would be the musical numbers. When I see a movie with musical numbers, I’m looking for new music and not pop songs sung in a cartoon voice.

    I heard some people complain it was a bit 2 dimensional, but I don’t see how. Each of the characters had their own motivations, their moments of weakness and their own redeeming qualities, barring a character later in the movie. Am I supposed to think it’s 2 dimensional because no one learned a brutal lesson about the cruelty of the world after the movie was over?

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeOct 28th 2014
     

    MARVEL PHASE 3 OH MY FUCKING GOD.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeOct 28th 2014
     

    I KNOW RIGHT

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeOct 28th 2014
     
    Blah-blah-Marvel-blah-blah.
  14.  

    Saw Big Hero 6 and loved it as well. My only complaint would be the textures, but it’s kind of understandable considering how many really good 3D movies have been a bust considering the cost of creation VS the returns. I’m not sure if this is just a really good year for animated moves or if it’s a sign that I’m getting more relaxed on my standards.

    • CommentAuthorDave
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2014
     

    Saw Fury, I rather liked it. I mean the whole “Savagery of War™ makes people Savage” kinda started to wear thin (I thought that got old when Oliver Stoned did it) but overall it wasn’t bad. If you’re looking for some kind of point or message you’ll be dissapointed. There really isn’t one, except maybe “stuff like this actually happened, come and see.”

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeNov 11th 2014
     

    I really want to see big hero 6. It looks like a really fun movie.

  15.  

    Is it Oscar-bait season yet? What are people watching?

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 14th 2014
     
    Hidden for possible spoilers. Concerns _The Desolation of Smaug_ extended edition.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2014
     
    _Dawn of the Planet of the Apes_ is pretty much the best blockbuster I've seen all year.
  16.  

    Snowpiercer was really good but damn, I did not anticipate how incredibly depressing it would be. And I’m in the house all alone for the whole weekend and it’s Thanksgiving and I have a mountain of work to do…

    I probably shouldn’t have watched Snowpiercer. :P

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2014
     

    Guardians of the Galaxy

    Most overrated movie of the year.

  17.  

    Most overrated movie of the year.

    fight me

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    fight me

    come at me bro

    •  
      CommentAuthorResistance
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014 edited
     

    Saw Catching Fire last night on Netflix. It was a good movie, as far as movies go, but the story is obviously limited to the books so it wasn’t bad but I don’t really love the plot.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    I am conflicted on the new Star Wars trailer.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     
    @ Puppet: I think I agree with you on that.

    @ Pyrota: Not to sound like a stick-in-the-mud fan, but if that's the only problem you have with it... I think I might actually pull some gifs from it and do an analysis on my site. I'm quite pumped for the movie now.
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    @sansa – I will help you fight him. And it looks like we might have to fight Rocky too. Hmm. I’ll see about getting us some backup.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    Did someone say backup?

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    The hilarious lightsaber design and the token black character would have put me off to the film, if I’d ever gotten excited for it at all.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     
    Your loss. Biggest movie of 2015.
    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    http://imgur.com/a/8dmVc

    TRIGGER WARNING: MS Paint penises.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    I thought it looked kind of cool, until tiny lightsaber blades came out of the sides. Just… why? Why would you do that?

    Also, I’m jumping in on the pro-_Guardians_ side.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    Yeah, those little blades were kind of weird. I know that they want to do new designs, but honestly, I can’t really take it seriously. It’s not a guard. It will take your hand off.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    Your loss. Biggest movie of 2015.

    I hope Avengers: Age of Ultron stomps this into the dirt.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014 edited
     
    bq. I thought it looked kind of cool, until tiny lightsaber blades came out of the sides. Just… why? Why would you do that?

    What's it like not being able to read the comic books and graphic novels before the movie comes out? 'Cause I figure it must suck having to deal with some actual creativity in storytelling.

    bq. It will take your hand off.

    Seriously? Did you think before posting that, or did I somehow miss the throngs of incompetent characters throughout the saga that wielded lightsabers and cut off their own hands? An entire lightsaber _by itself_ will take off your hand if you haven't been trained to wield it. We've seen characters effortlessly deflecting incoming laser fire from multiple aggressors attacking from multiple angles, and two tiny little crossguard blades are suddenly one character's complete downfall?

    bq. I hope Avengers: Age of Ultron stomps this into the dirt.

    It won't. The soon to be seven-year-old featherweight doesn't stand a chance. The internet is abuzz over the teaser for a sequel to some of the most fan-mauled movies of the new century. It'll be a good fight, and Ultron is guaranteed to be a solid movie at the very least. But, no.
    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014
     

    Seriously? Did you think before posting that, or did I somehow miss the throngs of incompetent characters throughout the saga that wielded lightsabers and cut off their own hands? An entire lightsaber by itself will take off your hand if you haven’t been trained to wield it. We’ve seen characters effortlessly deflecting incoming laser fire from multiple aggressors attacking from multiple angles, and two tiny little crossguard blades are suddenly one character’s complete downfall?

    No, I just happen to be aware that those blades are in the place of something that you’re supposed to be able to touch if you’re going to use that kind of style. Otherwise there’s no real point to them other than to look cool. It’s not creative. It’s stupid.

    I’m sure that the movie will somehow manage to ignore that, but the fact of the matter is that a crossguard has a purpose, and honestly the whole design of having them there does more to hurt the fighting style then to help it. At least the ones before, including the double bladed one, worked at some level, since no jedi was ever supposed to be able to accidentally touch it if they so much as twitched their hand wrong. It’s a bad design for a weapon like a lightsaber.

    Ultron is guaranteed to be a solid movie at the very least. But, no.

    I think you’re underestimating that movie. Personally, if I had to choose, I’d go with Ultron.

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 28th 2014 edited
     
    bq. I think you’re underestimating that movie.

    That's like saying Captain America's shield is a bigger pop culture icon than the lightsaber. There's no underestimation taking place. Ultron will be a solid movie and will do solid numbers--take that to the bank. But the MCU is an entity barely over five years old and not exactly blowing away audiences on the small screen. Next year it's going up against a franchise nearing its fortieth anniversary, a franchise that has a history filled with record-setting, industry-redefining films, critically-lauded music, an animated series launched _this year_, classic video game entries, a long-standing comic book legacy of its own, a library of highly-regarded fiction, and just the sheer volume of names, locations, vehicles, weapons, phrases, moments, and characters that have since been seared into the consciousness of at least two generations. And now, ten years after the close of the prequel trilogy, the franchise is set to explore uncharted territory.

    No. Ultron is not doing Star Wars numbers next year.
    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014
     

    “Your loss. Biggest movie of 2015.”

    I know. What a terrible year for film.

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014
     

    TRIGGER WARNING: MS Paint penises.”

    No trigger-warnings for the A. Wyatt Mann Jew caricatures, eh, tumblr?

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014 edited
     

    MS Paint penises is an art genre all on its own.

    I almost guarantee there will be a movie with that title, somewhere in the distant Idiocracy -style future.

    MS Paint Penises 2: More Paint, More Penises. Coming soon to a theater near you.

  18.  

    Honestly, nothing about the new trailer gives me any hope that we’re going for a new story instead of just drooling over the old one.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014
     

    That’s like saying Captain America’s shield is a bigger pop culture icon than the lightsaber. There’s no underestimation taking place. Ultron will be a solid movie and will do solid numbers—take that to the bank. But the MCU is an entity barely over five years old and not exactly blowing away audiences on the small screen. Next year it’s going up against a franchise nearing its fortieth anniversary, a franchise that has a history filled with record-setting, industry-redefining films, critically-lauded music, an animated series launched this year, classic video game entries, a long-standing comic book legacy of its own, a library of highly-regarded fiction, and just the sheer volume of names, locations, vehicles, weapons, phrases, moments, and characters that have since been seared into the consciousness of at least two generations. And now, ten years after the close of the prequel trilogy, the franchise is set to explore uncharted territory.

    It’s also dealing with a legacy of prequel films that nearly everyone only watched because they were Star Wars and hated, and an audience that is nervous about the fact that Disney is doing it rather than Lucas and thus likely to be hyper critical of everything that they think is wrong and isn’t in the books or the comics. Ultron isn’t going to have that kind of baggage. A large group of movie goers didn’t even know who Ultron was before the series was announced, and thus breaks will work and are already occurring.

    And you’re ignoring the fact that the MU actually has a pretty large group of animated series (not to the level of the DCU, but that’s to be expected) which are actually pretty good, quite a hyped up fanbase at the moment, and, honesty, a history of way better dialog that the Star Wars movies could ever boast of, or the fact that a lot of movie goers will only know about the cartoon series out of the EU. And, at the moment, the reactions to the trailer are either cautious interest like me, organiclead’s wariness about the story and a general snort at the design of the crossgaurd lightsaber.

    I’m sure that the new series is going to do extremely well, and several people will see it just because it’s Star Wars, but I can’t necessarily say that it will be the top seller in 2015.

    As long as it’s not FSoG.

  19.  

    Oh no, it’s going to sell no matter what and is probably going to be the biggest grossing movie of the year. Like Transformers, everyone’s going to keep going to see those movies juuuust in case they turn out good and can capture their childhood nostalgia even if it’s terrible, even if it goes against everything that was already set up, because that’s just what fans DO in our current consumer climate. I have had people tell me to my face that they knew a movie was going to be terrible but they some how felt an obligation to see it anyway because they were a fan of the thing ti was rebooting.

  20.  

    I’m sure that the movie will somehow manage to ignore that, but the fact of the matter is that a crossguard has a purpose, and honestly the whole design of having them there does more to hurt the fighting style then to help it. At least the ones before, including the double bladed one, worked at some level, since no jedi was ever supposed to be able to accidentally touch it if they so much as twitched their hand wrong. It’s a bad design for a weapon like a lightsaber.

    It’s a movie you dork, who cares if it makes sense in practical combat. The only pertinent function it has is the function the filmmakers included it for, which in this case is to look cool. Evaluate it based on that.

    (note that I think it looks dumb)

    (this whole Star Wars/Marvel argument is also dumb)

    •  
      CommentAuthorpugbutter
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014
     

    “It’s a movie you dork, who cares if it makes sense in practical combat.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief

    There’s a difference between choosing style over function, and going out of your way to make the damn thing as impractical and absurd as possible.

  21.  

    If adding a dopey little crossguard to an already incredibly impractical weapon is what takes you out of a story I don’t know how you have ever finished a Star Wars movie.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014 edited
     

    What I don’t get is why they changed it to a Western style crossguard from the original angled-fork design which looked much cooler and more practical in the EU.

    Why did they feel compelled to whitewash it (Brit-wash?) into yet another generic Medieval European Longsword, when the entire extended series is inspired by Japanese aesthetics and weapons?

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014 edited
     
    bq. It’s also dealing with a legacy of prequel films that nearly everyone only watched because they were Star Wars and hated....

    _Exactly_. Look at the reactions: largely positive. It's tracking everywhere. And I'm not talking about no-faces on Youtube, I'm talking about hard news and entertainment outlets from "Empire Online":http://www.empireonline.com/features/star-wars-the-force-awakens/ all the way to "The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw":http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/nov/28/star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-jj-abrams. This _despite_ the aftertaste of the prequels. This also doesn't support any of your arguments, because your biggest complaint--the crossguard blades--has no correlation to anything in the prequels.

    bq. ...hyper critical of everything that they think is wrong and isn’t in the books or the comics.

    Lucasfilm has publicly stripped the Expanded Universe canon. So, rather than nitpicking over adaptation inaccuracies, a sense of _mystery_ has been restored to the franchise. Apart from that, you're always going to have your small camp of nitpickers. Ultron will have its own.

    bq. Ultron isn’t going to have that kind of baggage.

    Except now you're picking and choosing baggage. Ultron isn't carrying the baggage of the poor villains from _Thor: The Dark World_ or _Iron Man 2_, nor is it carrying baggage from the generally lackluster _The Incredible Hulk_. Why? Because you have a largely different creative team being shepherded by a creative overseer.... which happens to be _exactly_ what you have with Episode 7.

    bq. A large group of movie goers didn’t even know who Ultron was before the series was announced, and thus breaks will work and are already occurring.

    This doesn't give Ultron any advantage over Episode 7. We've seen the trailer for Ultron, we essentially know who he is and what he's up to. The Sith in the Star Wars teaser? We're without a name, face, or motivation. We're still speculating which actor is playing him/her. Even speculation about the true meaning of the subtitle, nobody's sure if that character is even from the same _era_.

    bq. And you’re ignoring the fact that the MU actually has a pretty large group of animated series.

    My point was less about which animated series is of higher quality and/or popularity, and more to do with the sheer breadth of media Star Wars has not only touched, but left an indelible and longstanding mark. The sub-sub-genre of Star Wars video games is almost as old as the industry itself.

    bq. ...quite a hyped up fanbase at the moment....

    With two movies being released every year since 2011 and its announced lineup running all the way to 2020, you're going to be hard-pressed to _not_ find high levels of hype for Marvel's output. Just ask any diehard DC fan (which I'm not, FYI).

    bq. ...a history of way better dialog that the Star Wars movies could ever boast of....

    Hold your horses. You can derive instances of clear difference in quality, but you can also very, very easily devolve into arguing for stylistic choices (especially thinking of RDJ's Tony Stark). This is especially the case when you're dealing with different actors of different persuasions. But this also calls into question whether or not you're referring strictly to the films, because I'll argue against that, primarily because the MCU has been praised for how well it seems to have "leaped off the page". While obviously not 100% verbatim, it gets harder for me to accept the films have largely better dialogue when the screenwriters can't claim total responsibility for it. That's the problem I have with all comic book movies, even up to _The Dark Knight_. A good movie is a good movie, but as a creative outlet for motion pictures, there's a deficiency in the foundation.

    bq. (this whole Star Wars/Marvel argument is also dumb)

    Not least of which is due to the fact Disney's profiting from both. But Disney didn't spawn Star Wars, and I'll argue for it regardless.

    bq. There’s a difference between choosing style over function, and going out of your way to make the damn thing as impractical and absurd as possible.

    _You don't even know why it bears that design._ This entire vitriolic reaction to the crossguard is literally a case of denouncing it because no one's explained it for you. Accept the mystery of it and wait for the details to unfold. Or don't. Just find a legitimate criticism for it when you have information to back it up. And, as of right now, that's information none of you possess.

    bq. Why did they feel compelled to whitewash it (Brit-wash?) into yet another generic Medieval European Longsword, *when the entire extended series is inspired by Japanese aesthetics and weapons*?

    The Jedi are. The Sith, not so much; they're anomalous to what the Jedi have established.

    I don't care that the rest of you are not so invested in Star Wars as I; preferences are what they are, and for various reasons. But there are possible explanations for the design that none of you seem bothered to take into account. How do any of you know those are even lightsaber blades at all? A currently circulating theory is that those aren't blades, but a type of exhaust. Watch the trailer more closely: the primary blade crackles with a sort of electrical energy, while the smaller "blades" flicker like the end of a blow torch. It's possible those exhausts are venting energy from an overly powerful or unstable version of a lightsaber.
    •  
      CommentAuthorPryotra
    • CommentTimeNov 29th 2014
     

    ...different creative team being shepherded by a creative overseer…. which happens to be exactly what you have with Episode 7.

    The problem with that, is that even that has brought on criticism since it’s Disney. (Which is frankly stupid since Disney seems to be more or less just willing to pump its limitless funds into groups and make high quality stuff and thus make millions..)

    A good movie is a good movie, but as a creative outlet for motion pictures, there’s a deficiency in the foundation.

    I disagree. A movie isn’t just the work of the screenwriters, just like most genre fiction isn’t just the work of the writer alone. It’s not a deficiency, it’s a reality. They took dialog that worked in the comics and got to work in the movies, but I wouldn’t call it a creative deficiency, merely a way to bring the mediums together so that one doesn’t completely invalidate the others. Since Marvel still has its comic universes as well as cinematic universe.

    Watch the trailer more closely: the primary blade crackles with a sort of electrical energy, while the smaller “blades” flicker like the end of a blow torch. It’s possible those exhausts are venting energy from an overly powerful or unstable version of a lightsaber

    I don’t see how that helps the design even slightly. It’s still the same problem: in that view it’s a source of heat that close to the hand. The whole design, regardless of what it is, or what it’s doing there is a bad idea. You don’t want something that powerful close to your hands when a simple mistake can lead to losing something. At least the one from the actual books had a more practical design, the wielder’s hand didn’t have to necessarily be near it.

    And yes, something that petty can really bother me though a movie.

  22.  

    There is nothing remotely practical about a laser sword of any design.