Venting.

[Infinit01]

I have a friend who has FMLA dor migraines. She's allotted 8 days a month for migraines, which act like extra days off from work in addition to vacation, sick time, and floating holidays.

The wife has that for her job as well  but her job’s too cheap to allot her extra time. She has to burn her vacay days.

[Infinit01]

We decided to fill up gas early to "beat the holiday crazies"

[Darth Trivius]

The Last Jedi:

I don't hate it, I don't love it. To me, it was just okay. The graphics were absolutely GORGEOUS, but it was just okay as a story.

SO WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT?! I just don't get it. I mean, on one side, we have people saying it was the greatest Star Wars film since ESB, and others who saw it and decided to boycott Solo because they hated it so much. All my friends are divided on it and going at it like the Republic and the CIS. WTF?

I mean yeah, there are a lot of plot holes, and the movie has a lot of bad acting, but to an extent (in some films more than others), that could be said about ANY Star Wars movie. Now don't get me wrong - Star Wars is basically what raised me, and it will always be, to me, the greatest series ever written, but nothing is untouchable to me, and in terms of the aspects of plot, story, acting, and character development, Star Wars in general falters A LOT. So why is this movie getting so much crap for these things when every other Star Wars movie does it as well?

And yeah, you could say it was a great story, but that's only because for the most part, it is the EXACT SAME ONE AS ESB.

EVERYONE, CALM THE HELL DOWN.

[Prowl 1701]

The Last Jedi:

I don't hate it, I don't love it. To me, it was just okay. The graphics were absolutely GORGEOUS, but it was just okay as a story.

SO WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT?! I just don't get it. I mean, on one side, we have people saying it was the greatest Star Wars film since ESB, and others who saw it and decided to boycott Solo because they hated it so much. All my friends are divided on it and going at it like the Republic and the CIS. WTF?

I mean yeah, there are a lot of plot holes, and the movie has a lot of bad acting, but to an extent (in some films more than others), that could be said about ANY Star Wars movie. Now don't get me wrong - Star Wars is basically what raised me, and it will always be, to me, the greatest series ever written, but nothing is untouchable to me, and in terms of the aspects of plot, story, acting, and character development, Star Wars in general falters A LOT. So why is this movie getting so much crap for these things when every other Star Wars movie does it as well?

And yeah, you could say it was a great story, but that's only because for the most part, it is the EXACT SAME ONE AS ESB.

EVERYONE, CALM THE HELL DOWN.

I didn't see Solo, not because TLJ made me want to boycoot SW movies, but becuase TLJ left such a bad taste in my mouth that I simply had no interest in seeing Solo.  I'm burned out on SW right now honestly.

[Darth Tepes]

The Last Jedi:

I don't hate it, I don't love it. To me, it was just okay. The graphics were absolutely GORGEOUS, but it was just okay as a story.

SO WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT?! I just don't get it. I mean, on one side, we have people saying it was the greatest Star Wars film since ESB, and others who saw it and decided to boycott Solo because they hated it so much. All my friends are divided on it and going at it like the Republic and the CIS. WTF?

I mean yeah, there are a lot of plot holes, and the movie has a lot of bad acting, but to an extent (in some films more than others), that could be said about ANY Star Wars movie. Now don't get me wrong - Star Wars is basically what raised me, and it will always be, to me, the greatest series ever written, but nothing is untouchable to me, and in terms of the aspects of plot, story, acting, and character development, Star Wars in general falters A LOT. So why is this movie getting so much crap for these things when every other Star Wars movie does it as well?

And yeah, you could say it was a great story, but that's only because for the most part, it is the EXACT SAME ONE AS ESB.

EVERYONE, CALM THE HELL DOWN.

There are a lot of reasons.  Perception is everything, some care way more about star wars than others, even within the fandom.  The abandonment of plot elements set forth in TFA, the assassination of Luke's character etc...all the reasons have stated by many.  If you don't see these as problems, good for you.  You get to look foreword to new Star Wars content.  Others aren't so nonchalant about it.  Some people didn't go see Solo because they were boycotting, but, speaking for myself and many others I have spoken to, I just am not interested in a Han Solo film. 

[Infinit01]

The Last Jedi:

I don't hate it, I don't love it. To me, it was just okay. The graphics were absolutely GORGEOUS, but it was just okay as a story.

SO WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT?! I just don't get it. I mean, on one side, we have people saying it was the greatest Star Wars film since ESB, and others who saw it and decided to boycott Solo because they hated it so much. All my friends are divided on it and going at it like the Republic and the CIS. WTF?

I mean yeah, there are a lot of plot holes, and the movie has a lot of bad acting, but to an extent (in some films more than others), that could be said about ANY Star Wars movie. Now don't get me wrong - Star Wars is basically what raised me, and it will always be, to me, the greatest series ever written, but nothing is untouchable to me, and in terms of the aspects of plot, story, acting, and character development, Star Wars in general falters A LOT. So why is this movie getting so much crap for these things when every other Star Wars movie does it as well?

And yeah, you could say it was a great story, but that's only because for the most part, it is the EXACT SAME ONE AS ESB.

EVERYONE, CALM THE HELL DOWN.

I like it for what it is, it's another chapter into the SW universe.  It wasn't as bad as say Jar Jar Binks but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of action from legendary characters in TLJ and how they were just wiped away in an instant so to speak.  I understand the move towards introducing new characters to take the helm but they could of done better with it.

There are a lot of reasons.  Perception is everything, some care way more about star wars than others, even within the fandom.  The abandonment of plot elements set forth in TFA, the assassination of Luke's character etc...all the reasons have stated by many.  If you don't see these as problems, good for you.  You get to look foreword to new Star Wars content.  Others aren't so nonchalant about it.  Some people didn't go see Solo because they were boycotting, but, speaking for myself and many others I have spoken to, I just am not interested in a Han Solo film. 

I didn't feel like they did Han or Luke justice by killing them off in those ways.  I understand Han more so than Luke since Han's killing was Kylo's complete walk into the Dark side of the force but Luke's character arc was just demolished and I'm not complaining on the movie. I just think it was 30 years wasted in one singular event.  I was also disappointed that they didn't take in the characters from the books like the Solo twins or Ben Skywalker and Mara Jade but it was still enjoyable to me.

I didn't see Solo, not because TLJ made me want to boycoot SW movies, but becuase TLJ left such a bad taste in my mouth that I simply had no interest in seeing Solo.  I'm burned out on SW right now honestly.

I didn't think that they did Han justice in the movie much and didn't really portray him as the scoundrel we've all love.  He was more like a guy caught in certain situations and did the right thing. 

[Darth Logos]

I like it for what it is, it's another chapter into the SW universe.  It wasn't as bad as say Jar Jar Binks but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of action from legendary characters in TLJ and how they were just wiped away in an instant so to speak.  I understand the move towards introducing new characters to take the helm but they could of done better with it.

I'm going to refute you on this. I would happily edit more Jar Jar into the prequels, if the sequels could be purged. But that's me.

[Infinit01]

I'm going to refute you on this. I would happily edit more Jar Jar into the prequels, if the sequels could be purged. But that's me.

Touche

[Darth Tepes]

I didn't feel like they did Han or Luke justice by killing them off in those ways.

 

and for many, including myself, that was a major factor in the dislike.

[Karmack]

The Last Jedi:

I don't hate it, I don't love it. To me, it was just okay. The graphics were absolutely GORGEOUS, but it was just okay as a story.

SO WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT?! I just don't get it. I mean, on one side, we have people saying it was the greatest Star Wars film since ESB, and others who saw it and decided to boycott Solo because they hated it so much. All my friends are divided on it and going at it like the Republic and the CIS. WTF?

I mean yeah, there are a lot of plot holes, and the movie has a lot of bad acting, but to an extent (in some films more than others), that could be said about ANY Star Wars movie. Now don't get me wrong - Star Wars is basically what raised me, and it will always be, to me, the greatest series ever written, but nothing is untouchable to me, and in terms of the aspects of plot, story, acting, and character development, Star Wars in general falters A LOT. So why is this movie getting so much crap for these things when every other Star Wars movie does it as well?

And yeah, you could say it was a great story, but that's only because for the most part, it is the EXACT SAME ONE AS ESB.

EVERYONE, CALM THE HELL DOWN.

I am calm.  :-)

What I have calmly told people over and over in person is this: TLJ had three sub-plots - Luke/Rey, Finn/Rose, and Po/Leia and Holdo.   In all three you have a woman who is smarter, wiser, more articulate and has a clearer head providing guidance and direction to a man who is emotional, acting stupidly, and has no clear vision of what is going on.  My childhood hero, Luke Skywalker, rather than being a kick-butt Jedi Master, is a grumpy old man who has spent YEARS in an extended pity party.  Po, who has been presented previously as a dynamic military leader with SKILLZ, is suddenly a whiny  simpleton who is only concerned with blowing things up.  And Finn, rather than being portrayed as having a real concern for his friend Rey is shown as selfish and skulking, and his one attempt at a truly selfless, heroic act is foiled by the smarter, wiser woman who saves his life at great cost to herself to keep him from wasting it (in her view) on a pointless sacrifice.

There are no male role models.  There are no real female role models.   The "strong" women are hugely flawed, the men are emasculated, and Rey is transformed from an enigma into a full-on Mary Sue.

The movie itself wasn't bad at all.  I saw it twice.  I enjoyed it - at first.  But the story-telling was far worse than most people are willing to say and the results of that storytelling are utterly abominable.  After TLJ I'm not sure I really care to see Ep IX anymore.  Or any other Star Wars movie. 

That's not a lie or a joke.  I have become apathetic.  I'm far more interested in the Marvel movies and other SciFi offerings coming along.  I can write better Star Wars myself.

[Infinit01]

TLJ definitely descimated quite a bit of the characters that we’ve grown to love over the last several decades.  Watching Luke in the movie was like watching a new actor replacing the original while trying to mimic the former’s manurisms.   Recently, the writer won three awards and all fans weren’t too happy.  
https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-last-jedi-saturn-awards-reaction/


Now, I liked the movie overall and watched it several times. I like what they did with Leia showing that she didn’t completely abandoned her Force abilities.  

What I do like out of episode VII and VIII are that they introduced the Knights of Ren.  I sure they give more of a back story of how they came to be I’m on the big screen.  I would like to see a Kylo movie from childhood into his path to the dark side.  

I hope they do go forward with an Obi Wan movie though.

I’m disappointed and my main love are Marvel movies but I’ll still watch any movies coming out.  

[Karmack]

Actually the Knights of Ren are introduced in The Force Awakens ... and utterly abandoned in TLJ.  Like every other leading storyline set up in the first movie.  More of that horrible story telling.  They just abandoned everything to go do their own thing, and it was all OK as long as the right spin was given to what was said and done.

Sorry, hard not to get political with this, because so much of what was bad was rooted in a political agenda.  My opinion, anyway.

I hope that JJ Abrams can salvage something.  Honestly, I would be in full support of an Ep VIII remake right now....    Let Abrams re-do Ep VIII and then do Ep IX.   At least they'd have continuity.

[JEStucker]

Actually the Knights of Ren are introduced in The Force Awakens ... and utterly abandoned in TLJ.  Like every other leading storyline set up in the first movie.  More of that horrible story telling.  They just abandoned everything to go do their own thing, and it was all OK as long as the right spin was given to what was said and done.

Sorry, hard not to get political with this, because so much of what was bad was rooted in a political agenda.  My opinion, anyway.

I hope that JJ Abrams can salvage something.  Honestly, I would be in full support of an Ep VIII remake right now....    Let Abrams re-do Ep VIII and then do Ep IX.   At least they'd have continuity.

Episode IX -
Post Crawl-
Luke and Rey's hands are touching on the hilt of the lightsaber from the end of Episode VII.  Luke blinks, shakes his head.  "No..."
Turns out Episode VIII was just a bad Force Dream... probably brought on by soured green sea cow milk and bad fish...

[Saso Is-kor]

I can write better Star Wars myself.

THIS. SO MUCH THIS. There's nothing quite like watching something Star Wars and coming to the realization that you can do so much better yourself. It's a terrifying feeling isn't it? I've read some of your work Karmack and I don't doubt your statement for a second.

As for TLJ, when I start thinking "my fan fiction is more grounded and believable than this...!" then you know I think it's pretty bad.

The Last Jedi:

I don't hate it, I don't love it. To me, it was just okay. The graphics were absolutely GORGEOUS, but it was just okay as a story.

SO WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT?! I just don't get it. I mean, on one side, we have people saying it was the greatest Star Wars film since ESB, and others who saw it and decided to boycott Solo because they hated it so much. All my friends are divided on it and going at it like the Republic and the CIS. WTF?

I mean yeah, there are a lot of plot holes, and the movie has a lot of bad acting, but to an extent (in some films more than others), that could be said about ANY Star Wars movie. Now don't get me wrong - Star Wars is basically what raised me, and it will always be, to me, the greatest series ever written, but nothing is untouchable to me, and in terms of the aspects of plot, story, acting, and character development, Star Wars in general falters A LOT. So why is this movie getting so much crap for these things when every other Star Wars movie does it as well?

And yeah, you could say it was a great story, but that's only because for the most part, it is the EXACT SAME ONE AS ESB.

EVERYONE, CALM THE HELL DOWN.

***SPOILERS for TLJ***

I tend to approach TLJ more from a critic's point of view rather than a SW fan. There are endless arguments and reviews that can automatically whip up an echo chamber of opinions, so by looking at it from a "movie" perspective than a "Star Wars" perspective allows for some factual evidence to work its way in. Ultimately, a movie should have a plot, good characters, good motivations for said characters, character development, etc. (all baseline items for what makes a movie, obviously there are more.) What makes TLJ so out of left field is that it has very little plot, the characters are all over the place, motivations for characters make little sense (why did Rose decide to save Finn? So that they could both die together? Rose didn't know that Luke was going to show up...), character delopment... oh man, I could write an essay on that one. I actually read a few reviews praising the fact that Phasma, Hux, and Snoke have ZERO character development, that boggles my mind. Plot holes. the whole slo-mo starship chase with nobody figuring out how to end it is what's called a "super plot hole", one that is so big that it's no moon, and has the ability to sink a film. Unbelievable that something like that got past a room full of writers.

/end rant. I guess at the end of the day it's impossible for me to understand people saying "TLJ is the best Star Wars ever!!!" because the amount of points you have to turn a blind eye to in order to truthfully say that is, in my opinion, crazy.

Time to go swing my red saber around a bit, feeling Sithy

[Karmack]

Episode IX -
Post Crawl-
Luke and Rey's hands are touching on the hilt of the lightsaber from the end of Episode VII.  Luke blinks, shakes his head.  "No..."
Turns out Episode VIII was just a bad Force Dream... probably brought on by soured green sea cow milk and bad fish...

I would support this whole-heartedly!