No More...Please...I am Done

Rating: 3/10 (5 January 2016)

I will always use the first, (or is it the fourth) Star Wars as a reference point. It was a long, long time ago, on a screen far, far away...(like them three dots over to the left?). Eh, not like that hasn't been done before...kind of like this movie's story (remake - yes). Anyways, I digress. Way back then, PC was just making itself known, embraced by studios as a much needed guide, and not yet adopted as lock-step enforcement-rules, backed by intimidation tactics. Without all those present-day crippling eggshells, freedom in filmmaking was still possible in Hollyweird. This movie earns PC kudos in its following of this convention and successfully re-launching the original - earning lots of money and 'feel-good' points. I do have a quandary though (Spoiler Alert - Spoiler Alert) - why weren't all the old characters eliminated and replaced with PC replacements? That would be the right thing to do...right? It doesn't matter anyways since today's special effects always crashes it's way to center-stage, easily overwhelming poor acting, weak story lines and horrible scripts. On that same line, normally I would relentlessly criticize CGI-saturation (because it squashes good acting as well) - but the way this movie was headed...it was in dire need of more special effects. Of course special effects departments back in the old days were heavily challenged, placing viewer interests back onto quality acting skills. Either the video trickery turned out looking fake or it was very expensive to create. That's probably one reason celluloid-products of the mid to late seventies were silly truck-driver adventures; irritating melodramas - which are really irritating now-a-days; Dirty Harry getting dirtier; forgettable Oscar winning dark (?) comedies (yes - some things never change) and, of course, porn. The very first Star Wars was the movie-entertainment's "Beatles"...groundbreaking and fresh. Sadly this episode misses the mark. This is a good stopping point. I have no interest in anything that happens after this. That earliest of movies had little Carrie Fisher yelling at everyone. Mark Hamill being the intended hero and cowboy, Harrison Ford, ending up being the saga hero. The first 'Star Wars', the one I can watch again and again...the others...nah. "The Force Awakens", is a mediocre remake, at best and is way too long. This movie's original plan seemed to muddle through a thicket of knee-jerk reactions. I guess I am too "Old School" and I really cannot appreciate choppy stories. In my opinion, cash the huge check and put this saga to rest. I wish Mr Lucas had pumped the sequels closer together, but, I can also understand his desire to maximize his bottom line. Anyways, it's an OK movie...I would rent it if you haven't seen it yet. I know with the next two, I will watch them from my house and not bother with the over-pricing of the theater.