This. (Off-Topic)

by Kermit , Raleigh, NC, Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 13:19 (2750 days ago) @ Cody Miller

I'm not usually the most cynical person in the room, but to me it all feels calculated to achieve an effect, I don't know what the purpose of Star Wars is anymore. It doesn't seem to be to crib from Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" and create something new out of these disparate influences. The faces have changed, but what is new about it? Nearly nothing as far as I can see.

I… am not sure how to respond because for me the purpose was so utterly clear I am somewhat shocked you can say that.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to".

This whole movie is about letting go of our idolization of the old heroes, and bringing up a new generation and fostering goodness. Making us get over the very idea of a hero. Maybe we looked up to Luke a little too much. Maybe the mythology was self indulgent. Maybe we fetishize the past instead of focusing on the future. It's like, the perfect message for a generation who said that Lucas killed their childhood.

It's not giving you what you want, but what you need.

Kylo Ren says let the past die but this is the guy who wants to be Darth Vader when he grows up. I'll grant that he destroys his cosplay helmet, but what does he propose to replace the past? Ruling from the dark side, apparently. (The politics of Star Wars has always been a little problematic, so I'm willing to concede that maybe he sees himself as a benevolent leader, but the movie doesn't explore that enough for it to be plausible to me. We assume he wants to be a bad dude.)

From my perspective a Star Wars universe that doesn't value heroism is no longer a Star Wars universe, so I really don't get your point about that. This movie doesn't reject heroism at all.

So if I say George Lucas killed my childhood this movie is endorsing that killing? Wow, I really don't like it then. What's ironic about what you're saying is that I'm the one calling for creativity and originality, whereas as I see it the new movies suffer from a profound anxiety of influence. They can't stop reflexively referencing the old stuff, mirroring the old stuff, and hitting the same beats.

When I say I don't know what the purpose of Star Wars is anymore I'm saying I don't know what the artistic purpose is. Great talent is lining up to be involved, but what's the objective other being involved in such a popular franchise?

Dogcow and Funk--I'm really closer to your view despite sounding so negative (excepting Funk's love for the prequels). I enjoyed the film, I'll probably watch it again, and I might enjoy it more the second time. I wanted to like it more than I did, though, and that in itself is disappointing.