Star Wars: The Force Awakens: A Letdown

I chose to judge TFA based on its merits as a standalone movie, not as the first portion of a sequence. I've also never read the novelization, so I cannot judge that as a tie-in. And based upon those judgments I found the storyline woefully lacking in originality, consistency, and development. Whatever excuses were made by Jeffrey Jacob Abrams are, woefully, wanting and no longer deserve patience.

In fact, to sum up my thoughts on TFA, let's start with him.

J.J. Apologist

Abrams doesn't deserve any more of our trust, period!

I'm not backing off what I said about this dude. He's disappointed me too often to let him off the hook. Once again, as he did in true apologist fashion with Star Trek: Into Darkness, J.J. Abrams has taken to the Net to try and explain his screw-up with The Force Awakens. And the fact that he's done this punk move of trying to justify himself demonstrates that his mind is stricken to the quick with personal knowledge that he messed up, again.

I know he will never admit to this or apologize directly but can we say: Guilty conscience much, Abrams?

The bollocks is strong with this man as he spews nonsense about how it was necessary to take a step back in order to go forward, and how George Lucas himself derived Star Wars from other primary sources older than his take on the classic hero tales. Confoundit, Abrams, we know that! And it is more than acceptable that you would want to use classic hero archetypes/ideals in TFA. These archetypes are as old as the human species and stories encompassing them have been thousands of years in the making. 

The critical difference is that, though these stories tell the same tale of the human experience - fundamentally because human nature has not changed - they do so with difference scenarios and different situations, different takes on the same origin themes. 

What you did, Abrams, was copy almost to an instance, the same storyline, the same plot points, the same characters from a tale that you saw as a kid!

YOU PLAGIARIZED!

YOU STOLE!

Do not try to feed us garbage about going back to go forward. And don't do it again with Episode VIII!

 

Last Thoughts on the Lead Characters

Finn the Renegade

Ya don't need a lightsaber to be a badass dude, just attitude

I've already delved into a long analysis of the fellow, so I won't repeat. But I am still hoping that Finn is Force sensitive. If he is, maybe he doesn't necessarily become a Jedi? Perhaps instead he pursues an awareness and connection to the Force in another way? There are after all other non-Jedi Force sensitives in the galaxy who develop a connection to its essence without the formalities of Jedi immersion or indoctrination. However, if he is Force sensitive, I think it essential that he become a Jedi for the prestige and merit it will bestow upon him in the fan community. If he does not become a new member of the Order, then it is of essence that he be a strong sensitive, profoundly developing his abilities in such a way that bestows upon him high honor, status, and position. He should not become some galactic witch doctor or ignorant mystic, but respected, powerful, perhaps even feared. Either way, as stated previously, this chap needs some serious redemption. And he's got the stuff to make it happen. He's good looking, charming, funny. And contrary to his display in TFA, Finn's got guts for real. I can only hope that some (more really) of what I suggested in my diatribe on him gets incorporated into the upcoming movie.

Killer Kylo 

Will Killer Kylo come back hard? We'll see.

Though I still believe Darth Maul would make Swiss cheese outta the guy and Darth Sidious would be embarrassed by him, one question does arise: Is Kylo Ren actually a Sith? You see my previous observation was based on the idea that the guy is a Sith, and as such, represented one of the sorriest of the bunch ever known to exist! Sith are intensely, even brutally trained, and as such generally are bereft of the kind of emotionalism and weakness which Ren showed. Because of that I called b.s. on his character development and didn't like how this man came off. However, Supreme Leader Snoke did intimate that he needed to complete Ren's training. So maybe there's room for a meritorious comeback, like Finn, if he's pulled off right next time. I'll leave his redemption as a villain of weight for VIII.

And for God's sake, elevate the man's level of dialogue. They don't have to get all Lord of the Rings on us here, but worthy villains deserve to be seen and heard. Some Shakespeareanism would do us all good.

Rey

Choose your path, young padawan.

This gal actually does have potential, and I don't dislike her; Rey's actually quite an interesting character and very easy to like. She's easy on the eyes too. I do, however, dislike how she was used to fit a gynocentric, feminist agenda. That said, this person can be a very entertaining and inspiring individual if developed properly in the next story. Hopefully we'll see a more complete personality instead of one crafted for feminist howlers to jump, shout, and scream, "Yahoo!" at. But, femitards, if Rey gets your panties wet, so be it. There's more than enough about her we don't know to satisfy everyone, I'm sure. That said, I'd really like to watch this individual struggle in the next film and earn the props she was simply given in number 7. Give her some Dark Side temptations to overcome, a better backstory than the easy out of being a Skywalker or a Solo orphan. Skip the Kenobi descendant stuff too. In fact, make her a PALPATINE if she has to be someone's descendant! Rey being Darth Sidious' granddaughter would be a very fine plot twist to cover ground with!
 

A More Mature Focus

As with Revenge of the Sith back in 2004 - which I'd hoped would deliver a more mature story with a darker theme that brought out the dangers of the fall of Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Order, and the Galactic Republic itself - so too did I wish to see a The Force Awakens that revealed to us the fact that it's a dangerous universe out there and not everything is going to be safe or pleasant. And when one is immersed in high drama - where the fate of entire star systems, planets, and a galaxy is on the line - people will die, blood will be spilled, planets will fall. Instead, in my opinion, while RotS reached for this goal, and it was without question George Lucas' aspiration, I got it, but I didn't quite feel it - which, again, is essential in high drama. Whether this was because of Lucas' direction or some other matter, I don't know. Nonetheless, I wished for an emotional satisfaction in the critical moments and was left quite literally wanting until the final lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the rocky crests of Mustafar. It was all on the line here, and you knew it! I only wish the rest of the story was as assertive in building up to this point.

Likewise, TFA left me with no critical moment to savor and no feeling of real danger. And by the way, what was up with John Williams' score? Did anyone else get a letdown here? I can't recall one theme or melody that stood out to me, aside from Rey's! As a thought: Was Williams' score so low-key and unmemorable because they are planning to replace him? After all, he is 83 years old and may not want to keep in this for the long haul too much longer. Are they easing the maestro out of our minds for a younger, fresher composer? Or perhaps, as we've already ventured to speak, the lion's share of this movie was just so unworthy that Maestro Williams was that uninspired.

No, Star Wars is not Shakespeare, but it is high space drama. In that sense, we, the audience, need to be swept along on emotional crests that demonstrate the tension and verity of the reach the characters struggle for. To that end, high dialogue and melodramatic acting, properly balanced, are essential. George Lucas understood this and strove for it, particularly in the prequels.

The perennial movies which have repeatedly demonstrated this in the modern cinema remain The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and have been unmatched by any cheap imitations thus far. The Clone Wars is a hefty Star Wars example to model, and Abrams can take some lessons from it.

Here Endeth the Critique

I realize my opinions are going to be in the minority, at least until the hype and excitement wears off and logic begins to prevail among some of you. Regardless, my thoughts stand. Star Wars 7 lacked passion, imagination, inspiration, and depth. Whatever one thinks of George Lucas and the original trilogy or the prequels, that is not what he gave us starting in 1977-2004. Lucas attempted something new, fresh, and more mature each time he went into Star Wars, especially during the prequel era; it was not Transformers amusement for teens made to blow 'em up, shoot 'em up, and sex 'em up. It was fun, certainly, but it addressed the great ideas of human existence, reaching for truth above idiocy. That Lucas fell down, or failed miserably in some estimations, is beside the point. But if he'd done with Episode VII what Abrams has the beatdown would have struck back hard, and rightly so.

What J.J. (Jar Jar) Abrams has given us is by far and away an inferior specimen. And the fact that he makes up excuses masquerading as reasons, the fact that he's trying to subtly walk it all back, should tell you something about the thought processes going on in his mind. Further, his track record to date should serve as a warning for future manifestations to come. If he has screwed up Star Trek, twice, and now screwed up Star Wars, what investment of trust should you reward him with SW8 and beyond? Seriously.

I truly wanted to like this movie, but alas I cannot give it the super positive ratings nor enthusiasm I'd originally invested it with. I will not even be interested in rushing out to buy a DVD copy unless it is at a supremely discounted price. SW7 has also made me far less enthusiastic to see the next movie. The fact that J.J. Abrams is only producing it is beside the point. Under his direction (and that of Kathleen Kennedy) a tone has been set. Is it absurd to think that such a tone will not continue in SW8? This suspicion can even be extended to the spin-off story, Star Wars: Rogue One set to premiere this December 2016. Whatever the future of this franchise is to bring, it will be up to fans to ensure that it is not de-evolved into a cesspool of political agendas, poor storytelling, and nostalgic rehashing of what has already gone before it. The story should push forward, breaking new ground just as George Lucas did with the first trilogy and at least attempted to do with the second. The story owes him and its fans that much. If it cannot or will not do so under Disney's stewardship then perhaps it is time for fans to do what they've been up to for some time now -- creating their own original (and quite frankly, superior) stories independent of the big film houses. We've shown them we can make stuff that appeals to us, written, produced, and directed by us... and with our own money. If Star Wars continues along its current course, we may have no choice but to go exactly that route.

Meanwhile we'll just have to see what happens in Episode VIII. I know this much however: I will not be rushing out to see number 8 after what I saw in TFA and will read spoilers, reviews, and YouTube videos by fans before spending one red cent to get in. I'm just that displeased.


Of course, the Subspace Meditator will continue his thoughtful meditations on speculative fiction and the upward reach of man with articles speaking to these high ideals at this blogspot. I'm currently working on a few new articles and will publish them once complete.

So, until next time...


To the upward reach of man,

and

May the Force be with you, always.

The Sith, the Jedi, the Ancient Force Religion, & the Two Great Struggles of Human History, Part 1, repost

This is a repost of a meditation originally published on the Epoc Enuma blogspot. I hope you enjoy!

-- Subspace Meditator 

I want to get back to a meditation I previously sought to think on before the events of 10/1/12 and their subsequent aftermath.

This blog is to be on the conflict between the Sith and the Jedi, and its greater backdrop as an allegory to the larger, real-world struggle between good and evil.

Specifically, I'd like to explore what is, in essence, an internecine conflict of religious extraction that eventually spills over into a wider galaxy and enraptures it in turmoil, chaos, war, destruction, devastation, and despair.

The Two Great Struggles of Human History

To make the real-world connection, however, we must first ask the question: What are the two great struggles of human history? 

Put simply, these two great conflicts are those between good and evil and those between liberty and tyranny.  In fact, it is my personal belief that the struggle between liberty and tyranny is but a subset of the broader conflagration between good and evil.

I'll not examine too many real-world examples of these conflicts, though - in aiding our understanding of the fictional age-old rivalry between the two great Force denominations of Sith and Jedi - some examples will in fact be useful to that purpose.

But first, a delve into the philosophies of the Force's two primary sects.

The Ancient Force Religion's Two Great Denominations

Although there are many other Force sensitive beings in the Star Wars universe expressing and codifying their understanding of the ethereal power, the two most renown divisions of the Force philosophy remain those of the Sith and Jedi. And it is to these two once unified, but now fiercely divided groups, we shall first turn our examination.

THE JEDI CODE

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

(There is no chaos, there is harmony.)(*)

There is no death, there is the Force.



Yoda, master exemplar of the Jedi Code in the modern era 

Undoubtedly there are many great masters, many great heroes, of the Jedi Order who uplifted the galaxy and fulfilled their destiny as mighty Force wielders. These devotees of the Light Side believed in the passionless, emotionless 

expression of their connection to the Force, not as manipulators of this power, but as instruments of it. In other words, they believed themselves to be the tools of the Force, the living, fleshly embodiment of its will. 



THE SITH CODE

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.

Darth Sidious, unequaled Dark Side master in modern times

By contrast, the Sith are the undaunted devotees of faith in themselves alone, and in the Force as an instrument of their will in the universe. The Sith do not accept the obtuse notion that peace, equality, and selflessness are the paths to enlightenment and self-improvement. On the contrary, seeking ones own betterment, ones own desires, is the way of the truly enlightened being - even if such path must come at the expense of others. The Sith believe that the Jedi devotion to others is a mask for fear of themselves, and the unwillingness to face the truth of their own concealed lust for personal power. And while the Sith accept the Jedi as fellow Force sensitives, they frown upon both the individual and collective Jedi's reticence to use their power to coerce "the right" upon lesser beings, and to exalt themselves as masters and shapers of the greater good above the petty squabbles of those incapable of recognizing that they indeed must be lead to this enlightenment.

Put more simply: the Sith acknowledge that there are those born to rule, and those born to be ruled. They accept that those who embrace the Dark Side of the Force have freed themselves to this truth, and are thus ready to take upon themselves the burden of this manifest destiny.

And This Mysterious Power Called "The Force" Which They Worship?

Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power.

It's an energy field created by all living things. It

surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy

together.

-- Obi-Wan Kenobi 

One could say that neither the Jedi nor Sith "worship" the Force, though some in both sects believe the energy a deity of sorts. It may, perhaps, better be said that the two sects revere the great mystical power and its presence in the material universe, yet for obviously divergent reasons and differing ends. 

Still, the Force, as Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi once said, is an energy field that permeates all living things. Indeed, it is both created by, and beyond all living matter, and can even encompass those things which have passed beyond the veil of death or non-material existence.

This knowledge - which both Jedi and Sith embrace - is at the core of being able to both understand and harness the Force's living power to its fullest aspects. And while the Jedi respect the principle that the Force is deep, abiding, and cannot be fully known, the Sith believe that the Force can and must be fully understood in order for an adept of its power to completely realize his or her utmost potential.



Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi in his later years

One could then intuit that it is this separation of belief that defines the idea that "faith is the...evidence of things not seen" vs. the notion that one must "prove" or "test all things." For those who are unaware, the two above quotes are both of biblical extraction, and challenge us to accept the paradoxical view that one must have faith in what is ultimately unknowable while simultaneously seeking to prove the validity and reality of that which, in the end, cannot be fully understood vis-a-vis the limited capacities of finite awareness.

Is there, then, a true separation in this notion of faith vs knowledge? Or are they actually two sides of the same idea, but in much more subtle and deeper forms than the finite mind can perceive?

And based on one's answer to this question, can we not also ask: Is there, truly, a separation of philosophy between the Sith and Jedi? Or is it merely a separation of practice and form?


Before proceeding to the next phase of our meditation, let us consider these questions and the host of further insights they challenge us to explore. And in our next discussion, we will dive into a few real struggles between good and evil, right and wrong, and their relation to the fictional battle between the Jedi and Sith, and some of their manifestations in the Star Wars universe.

We shall also attempt to see how the real world sets itself as a backdrop for these conflicts, and what we can learn about our own individual and collective roles in history.

As always, our desire is to promote the upward reach of mankind in the real universe, and to inspire each human being to see him or herself as a manifestation of those transcending truths which bind us together. Ultimately, we seek to inspire every man and woman to envision themselves as actors in the real world, and not simply as passive observers of history.

Until next time....




To the upward reach of man.