@ShadowsDemon:

Totally agreed on being cool with not liking it, and how it is just ridiculous to outright despise it. Like, have they seen the drivel usually released for the mass audience? And a lot of the gripes are consistently focused on continuity and logistics, which is really quite humorous, seeing as it is a film designed for a young audience (or young at heart). Also, it seems OT has no sense of nostalgia. I know full well a big portion of the reason I love Star Wars is because it fills me with a sense of nostalgia, but it seems OT only ever likes things without any bias or subjectivity. As if that is some sort of possibility...

@Motokid6:

To feed off the dark side, put simply.

Really hard to say. As much as they are similar, I feel like TFA was better viewing at my age then ANH was when I watched it. I really love both so it is not even fair.

I think that's why I love the aforementioned films I posted in the initial post so much. They all tell a very competent story and take risks while still giving the general audience what they want. I think that's why I always defend high quality pop culture films. Isn't it better to support the big films that actually do what they can to stand out?

But likewise, at the end of the day, I love films of all shapes and budget sizes, and many of my favorites are indie.

For me, in truth this is quite a doozy, because my favorite films are ones I'd self-deem indie blockbusters: the original SW trilogy (and the new one, damn it OT!), the LOTR trilogy, and the Dark Knight trilogy. Though all of these made obscene amounts of money, I feel as if they were designed in such a meticulously well-structured and crafted way that I am continually blown away when I revisit them. From the sets, to the costumes, to the cinematography, I feel like all three mentioned above pushed the envelope forward for incoming blockbusters to not grow stale and repeat the same ole same ole traditional expensive films (with clearly mixed results).

Likewise though, I am never opposed to watching smaller films, and often find that they can delve into more material because of their niche audience. Whether it be a Donnie Darko, 28 Days Later, or 500 Days of Summer (which all probably fall in between blockbuster and indie truthfully), they are able to take more risks because so much less is expected. And with that very risk-taking approach, can become very successful to the mainstream audience who wish to experience something new.

Overall though, my gut says a massive blockbuster.

What about you guys?

@korvus:

He made the film Looper, which I thought was a really good sci-fi film. Also, he has more of an 'indie' eye because Looper was the only expensive film he's ever made. And that fits with the style of the new films. Obviously they are really expensive, but they are going the route of using practical and physical effects over CGI as much as they can. And the other film he made, Brick, was a very character driven film. 8 will be the film where they will take much larger risks which will probably end up paying off big time.

And no problem. Star Wars is my life. My username eludes to it, after all. ;)

@korvus: I've seen it... three times. lol

That expectation piece is so huge. In fact, no other movie ever, save maybe episode 1 itself, had this ginormous amount of hype. So the easiest way to hook people in was to give them familiar elements of what they've already seen and loved. Ryan Johnson directing 8 though pretty much confirms in my mind that it will be exceptionally better than 7.

@korvus: Fair enough. Also, it is the fanboy in me that wrote such inflammatory remarks, so there is that. :P

Also, there is no point in me claiming it is that much of a departure from A New Hope, but in the same vein, there were so many reasons to do that for the sake of the story AND to appease the audience. But what I saw was that same attention to mythology, and to the hero's journey, with some notable wrenches thrown in. The trench run in TFA was nowhere near the climax that it was in ANH, and that was another element I loved. Rather than sweeping visual effects being the most exciting and "tense" moment, it was Kylo and Han's conversation that gave the drama. Also, Rey's journey to accepting who she really is. Just like Luke did in ANH.

In fact, that would be my biggest gripe if anything; that Poe and company's trench run was juxtaposed alongside a much more compelling dramatic moment. And it just sent up the sequel so well. Better than ANH even. I'm sure my fanboy is showing, but still, you gotta defend your baby.

:P

It just felt like many people expected it to be not a Star Wars movie, which I address in my other points. Looking back, that was pretty late at night, and that comment was a bit much, but it just seems like people saw the movie with the wrong lens, and thereby seem to be critiquing something as if it was intended for their specific taste rather than the mass audience. Hell, I am not even saying it was a perfect movie. In fact, all of the original films have quite a bit of problems. But the main point I was making is that I didn't care at the time because I was 10. Rather then entering into the movie being the age you are, people should go in with their 10 year old cap on. If you still didn't like it, so be it. But writing such long continuity and logistics complaints seems sort of silly to me seeing as Star Wars has never give a damn about continuity and logistics. :P

@Master_Live: As I haven't the time or patience to address everyone's gripes, I'll summarize what it seems everyone is saying; rather then attempting something new and/or original to introduce to the series, they went the safe and predictable route, and thereby left many OT viewers wanting more.

But the inverse was the problem for the prequels. The general public complained, and rightfully so, that the films departed from what worked in the original films. So JJ and team figure, let's give the people what they want, while making fundamentally more interesting characters and a much stronger tension between light and dark. Death star run? Yep. Starting on desolate sand planet? Yes. Do even the stormtroopers look much the same? Yes. But that's what the people wanted.

The entire Star Wars saga has been a great set of blockbusters designed for but not bound to the general public. Compared to Jurassic World, Transformers, and the like which placate way too much to what the makers perceive the audience wants, Star Wars has and will continue to stand out because it's story arcs and setting are timeless, and the cultural mythology around it staggeringly huge. And yet, fundamentally, it is still a series designed for the general public, particularly young kids aged 7-11. The way it is being critiqued here it's as if people were expecting an Oscar winner. As a diehard fan, I know at the end of the day, with a Star Wars movie, all that matters is that I was entertained. And I was. As were the majority of critics.

It is honestly baffling to me (and presumptuous, elitist, and honestly hipster) that a lot of OT dislikes it. Not everything was made or should be made with the high brow sense of smugness it seems OT adores.