Just saw it myself. I've heard it said that Star Wars is an biblical allegory a political satire, or just a fun S.F. movie. Call me shallow, but I enjoyed the film for its thrills and its adventure. Little bits of humor, and a few of the old crew back in the thick of things, added to the fun. A few unexpected twists and plenty of unanswered questions remaining for episode 8 to deal with. If this keeps up, John Williams' iconic music may become more popular than Jingle Bells. So, go see it, you'll like it. But relax, The Fountainhead it is not.

At the end of the essay, there are some additional readings and videos that will be helpful in understanding much of the plot in the series. I recommend them for a fuller understanding of them.

Bravo.

Jan

The issue I see is that there will NEVER be a "pure" Objectivism. Each of us has our own ideas of what is objectivism, and the only thing that will eventually show up in the real world as a movement is a compromise between these different views. The task is to make sure that that compromise is "pure" enough to be a viable, workable ideology, without any of the fatal flaws that seem to show up in any belief system thus far. That may mean dropping some things because they're not important to the establishment of a good system, with the understanding that, periodically, there will need to be upgrades as serious problems arise and are dealt with. That's probably the best we can come up with.

OK, thanks. You're right. I did like the originals. I stopped paying attention at the appearance of Jar Jar Binks (or whatever his name was).

swm –

Oh. I will have to read the novel, then.

One of the side effects of the existence of THIS Gulch is that the randist philosophy per se is getting some alpha testing in an environment that is semi-open. That is to say, the people who are here have a generally similar philosophical perspective, but different experiences and vastly different opinions on some of the parameters and details of implementation. I am constantly refining and revising my premises due to the input from people on this site.

If this philosophy someday/somewhere gets the opportunity to become a major player in the social and political arenas, some of the bugs may have been shaken out of it by this virtual gulch. It is crucial that what you have described in the TFA universe not happen – that we get the ball and then fumble it because we do not know ‘how to make it work’.

Jan

Good comments, blarman. I agree with your comments on the strategy and tactics of the battles; also the single-point-of-failure is convenient for the plot. (You'da think they would have learned.) They could have put a little bit more effort into making this more realistic - probably without spending more money or taking more screentime.

I think that DrEH's analysis is good in general; I really like the analogy with the French Revolution. I believe that a significant point that was missed, however: a major purpose of this episode was to 'pick back up the threads' of the universe and plot sequence and to introduce new characters who are strong enough to carry the action forward. I think that is why there were so many 'shout outs' for geeks and fans in the script.

Insofar as the lightsaber scenes are concerned, I have fought with both a staff and a greatsword (I won a greatsword lyst once, many years ago) and I can affirm that a lot of the moves do transfer over (more so than between broadsword fighting and greatsword fighting). I have also seen the bloody-damn 'naturals' who pick up a sword and start fighting as if they were born to it (the rest of us mortals have to struggle up the learning curve). These dratted people do exist. I will allow that Rey is one such, for the sake of the plot.

I am planning to go see it again on XMas day.

Jan

By all accounts: too mystical, nearly plotless, not true good and evil, pretty dumb.
I suppose that will get the ire of SW lovers.

Agreed. He blows things up and thinks that is all that audiences need. He ruined Star Trek and couldn't even complete a plot that holds together. Very disappointing. However, I have a nearly open mind on Star Wars. I bet its a lot better than Waterworld.

Even in the original canon books, the Republic fought for decades to try to resurrect the Galactic Senate, with Han and Leia leading the effort. They also had to fight with the military remnants of the Empire led by Admiral Thrawn (as per Timothy Zahn). Given that Episode Seven takes place only thirty years after the events in "Return of the Jedi" (a similar break between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope") the plot is completely reasonable both from time frame and realism.

The movie had too many bridges to cross (from the old movies) to get the politics involved in this installment. Remember, as opposed to Lucas and Spielberg teaming up on all of the six previous movies, this time each of Episodes VII, VIII, and IX will be directed by different visionaries, allowing each to focus on the aspects they are good at. Abrams is a master with action films and Star Wars: Episode VII was no different. There was very little CGI: the actual planetary battle scenes - though obviously choreographed - used actual explosives in most instances. I think it worthwhile to point out as well that in Lucas' original version called "Star_killer_" actually was a planetary super-weapon being used - exactly like that in Episode VII. The Death Star was monumental, yes, but small potatoes compared to Lucas' original military monstrosity as unveiled here.

If I had to quibble with the movie, I wouldn't quibble about the way the original actors (Hamill, Fisher, Ford) played their roles or the storyline being set up. I would ask Where the heck are the Y-wing and B-Wing bombers? You're attacking a planetary installation with fighters??? And where are the Republic Mon Calamari cruisers which formed the heart of the fleet in Return?

As a corollary, I would ask where the TIE Interceptors were. They gave a new look to the TIE Fighters by making them black instead of the utilitarian grey, but the curved-wing ships were the newest thing in the Empire's arsenal - built specifically to tangle with the highly maneuverable and more heavily armed AND armored X-wing (similar to the Japanese Zero and American Hellcat fighters of WWII). It also looked like the entire fleet of the New Order consisted of a single Star Destroyer. I'm sorry, but did they just place so many of their resources into the planetary hyperspace laser that they had nothing left for space defense - or is there actually another fleet out there somewhere guarding the new Sith Lord? (And PS - but Kylo Ren's ship is ridiculous - it functions like a shuttle but has the size of a destroyer or small cruiser.)

The last quibble was in the lightsaber battles. I can totally understand Rey and Finn being amateurs, but Kylo Ren should have been mowing people down right and left. The hallmark of a Sith was their prowess in battle. I don't buy the line that stormtroopers had some training or that Rey used a staff. Rey wasn't using a double-bladed, Darth Maul-style lightsaber, which one could argue would parallel with her staff. If Ren could stop a blaster bolt with the Force, he really should have been able to handle a not-even-padawan in a lightsaber duel with ease. He could choke someone, but couldn't use a more basic Force Push? Talk about needing significantly more training!

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and think it bodes well for the future of the Star Wars Universe. I'd happily go back and see it again in theatres.

We saw it yesterday in 3D. Having a very thin plot that made little sense, it was a jumble of scenes that I'm sure thrilled kids but eventually got very tiresome. I almost fell asleep about 3/4 in.
Presentation: A
Story/plot: D

My grown son saw this latest Star Wars with a friend and went back to see it again with mt ex-wife family members within 48 hours. He loves it.
Having tinnitus and 45% of my hearing along with defective hearing aids that I trashed, I was reluctant to see the flick at a theater.
But my son had learned of a theater that offers special closed caption glasses and/or ear phones for someone with issues like me.
A PC search located this theater is located in a satellite city on the north side of Birmingham.
My son wants to come with me to see it a third time!
I told him we we will do that after Christmas on a school day afternoon.
Old dino does not have masochistic tendencies.

J.J. Abrams is not interested in anything that is thought-provoking.

I'm reading the novel now, and it gives a little more clarity in the political aspects. Some very statist premises at work for sure. The back-story is that the "new republic" was not strong or efficient enough in the aftermath of the fall of the empire and people are clamoring for strong control giving rise to the "First Order".

There are some legitimate points to be drawn too, however. Often indvidualists or advocates of reduced government want to impose that change politically, and this shows how imposing a lack of control that outstrips societal understanding of correct philosophy will just open a power vaccuum.

Also, there are some VERY interesting speeches by the villians (supreme leader Snoke and others) in the book that didn't make the film, which decry individualism. The book has a much more overt pro-individualism theme than the film did (probably due to it's trimming down of the dialogue).

Very good review, thanks. I saw the movie the first weekend and loved it overall. But was disappointed in the same points of recycling from earlier movies and the vague, confusing politics. Still made me eager to see what happens next!

Seeing it is a better way to judge than hearsay. As I say, if you're a fan of the originals, you'll probably enjoy this one. If you're not a Star Wars fan, well, you're not going to enjoy a new Star Wars movie!

No spoilers. I quote the crawl at the beginning that sets up the film and discuss the characters that are introduced right at the start. But otherwise it's an analysis of other angles in the film. Enjoy the film and the review!

Nice review. You brought up a couple of points that I had not thought through.

I have heard that the movie sucks.

Before I go read the article....

Spoilers in your column??