Column: Please, stop trying to sell me on 'Star Wars'

Chicago Tribune ^ | 12/21/2015 | S. E. Cupp

[Responsibility2nd]

If you’re a human American over the age of 2, I’m betting I know what you’re doing this weekend: You’re going to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

The seventh film in the Star Wars series, it had a banner opening night, raking in as much as $60 million. Rentrak projects it will end up earning more than $3 billion.

Which is all to say, the empire surely will not miss my $20.

That’s right — I’m not seeing “Star Wars.” So, fans, you don’t have to worry — there won’t be any spoilers in this column. I’ve gone 36 years without seeing more than five collective minutes of the movies and I don’t plan to start now.

I have nothing against these movies I’ve never seen — although, to be honest, I’ve never been much of a fantasy fan. Giant glow sticks, Yoda the Hutt and talking R2-3POs aren’t my bag. But who knows? Maybe I’d love them. My political friends insist I’d dig their “overtly conservative” themes. Because that’s why I go to the movies: politics.

 

~snip~

 

I’ve got nothing against “Star Wars” or its fans. Part of me really wants to experience their world. But turning mine into one giant “Star Wars” strip mall is only ensuring I never will.

 

[discostu]

Really that’s a lot of whining about commercials. For a fraction of that energy he could have invested in a DVR and skipped the commercials.

[freepertoo]

Empire Strikes Back was better than the first. The third one was okay, but not great.

[Responsibility2nd]

This article - just posted - Nails It.

 

Star Wars isn't a movie franchise. It's a toy franchise.

Monday, December 21, 2015 11:12:59 AM      · by dennisw      · 4 replies

theweek.com ^ | September 4, 2015 | scott meslow

[upchuck]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3374518/posts

[cuban leaf]

I’ll probably see it when it comes out at Red box.

[cuban leaf]

I watched the first one 28 times in the theater. I got over it. I’m mildly interested in seeing this one when I can rent it on blue ray.

[fwdude]

When it devolved into the Muppets in Return of the Jedi, I threw up in my mouth a little.

[Magnum44]

Empire strikes back is still the best Star Wars installment. The Force Awakens was not bad, actually good I’d say. But the original cast has not aged well. Especially Carrie Fisher. When she appears, it was kind of like that 4th Indiana Jones movie when Karen Allen (Marion) walks out and you want to say “Wow, you really let yourself go”.

[chae]

For all the griping about Hollywood nowadays, this movie has no profanity at all in it, no sex, no nudity, and about the same level of violence of any of the other star wars films. There were some themes that were similar to “A New Hope” but I didn’t see it as a re-hash so much as staying true to the originals, thematically. There was a bit of a gender swap, where the girl was flying the ship and the guy was shooting, which is flipped from the original, but it was cute.
But at the end, I want to know who is Ray exactly, and who is Finn’s family. And more Poe Dameron!

[minnesota_bound]

Han Solo shot first then shot the alien again and again and again then kicked him then flipped a coin to the barkeep saying “sorry about the mess”

[freepertoo]

Something about Ford’s leading ladies obviously makes them age poorly! :-D

[HonkyTonkMan]

Great observation, marron. This behavior is akin to clickbait headlines...nothing more than grandstanding...

[Magnum44]

Seriously, you have to admit there was a time when she was "Hot".

[freepertoo]

She was a baby...everyone looks pretty good at that age.

[x]

With everything going on she feels the need to write about this.

Even the political chat shows took a break from politics to talk about the movie. Nobody's going to be all politics all the time.

Still, if she doesn't go for fantasy films, how is her not liking this one of any significance?

I'd rather hear somebody who loves the fantasy/SF genre badmouth the picture (or talk back to the bad-mouthers and defend the film).