Post by alleinesein on Dec 23, 2017 1:26:11 GMT -5
Popped into my favorite cupcake shop today to see if they had anything yummy and ended up with 1/2 dozen cupcakes. Those evil cupcake pushers had 3 of my favorite flavors today and I had to buy 2 of each.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 23, 2017 0:59:36 GMT -5
Flash back Luke creeps me out. He has crazy eyes in them *shudders*
Checked out the 4DX theater today. HOLY CRAP! Definitely improved the movie experience. If anyone has been on Star Tours at Disney it is like Star Tours on crack x100 with a touch of Soarin' thrown in.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 22, 2017 3:43:47 GMT -5
VAN is hit or miss and we rarely used it for research. We were limited to only being able to access info on voters in our district so it wasn't as useful as other tools.
Local political clubs/orgs can be useful; they can do fundraising events and tap into their network.
Hopefully your campaign manager is well connected. Our campaign manager was in charge of Bernie's campaign for the state of MN. He tapped into the BS network out here and got a lot of support that way.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 20, 2017 19:15:00 GMT -5
The DVD I ordered from Amazon on Dec 6th is finally here after I had them send out a replacement. The replacement still took 5 days with prime shipping.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 20, 2017 18:15:17 GMT -5
Best line from the fish nun article "The Caretakers are not interested in her tortured backstory or her deeply middle-school emo telepathic AIM love-hate relationship with Kylo Ren."
meshaliuknits , can you give me a list of the books you'd rec? Do you think any of them would be appropriate for an 11yo who has seen all the movies? I'm always looking for new ideas for Jackson. Like his mother, he reads too damn fast.
The only YA SW novel I have read is Rebel Rising (A Rogue One novel). If you are near a Barnes and Noble you should pop in and check out their Star Wars section; they had a good mix of books in the section for all reading levels.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 20, 2017 3:26:08 GMT -5
Just got back from seeing the 3D IMAX version. Definitely way better in IMAX. They upgraded the seats in the IMAX theater so I will definitely be going back to that theater for future movies. They showed the Avengers trailer in 3D; I got to see my precious little Loki *swoon*
So the DJ selling them out to the First Order- DJ hears the entire conversation that Finn and Poe have about Holdo fueling up the transports. That is how he knew to tell the FO to scan for them.
The cave "mirror" scene. Anyone else notice that the shadowed outline is Kylo? In the concept art the scene was supposed to have Rey seeing herself with Kylo's mask but that didn't make it into the film.
Ok. I avoided this thread all weekend, so if anyone is still out there...
There were always more Jedi’s than just the Skywalker’s. I don’t believe Rey is a Skywalker.
Why does Kylo Ren have to have good in him? He murdered his father! There are plenty of people in history (and Star Wars space?) that are/were pure evil because of power and greed. I think the only reason Darth Vader was conflicted was because he realized he had been lied to that he killed Padme and the baby and that he was a father to Luke. He showed no conflict when he was killing Obi Wan - only when he met Luke Skywalker.
I loved that leia was the fearless when both Han and Luke left the cause.
Will Hux become the military brains to Kylo? The General Tarkin to Darth Vader?
And Kylo is a evil liar so why would he be telling the honest to goodness truth to Rey about her parents?
Benicio’s character seemed like a repeat of the same crazy he played in Guardians of the Galaxy. The Collector.
Can you be more specific as to what lies Kylo is guilty of telling? His version of the incident with Luke is more closely aligned with the actual truth that Rey forces out of Luke and it is told from his point of view. He also has nothing to gain by lying to Rey. Go back and watch Rey's interaction with Maz in TFA; it is pretty obvious that Rey is in denial about her parents and she has most likely repressed her memories.
Why cant Kylo have good in him? He still feels the call to the light side of the force so it is pretty obvious that even the force feels that there is something in him that is still good. If you cannot see why he is conflicted and how he ended up the way he is you really need to go back and look at his past. Leia, Han and Luke are all partially responsible for the "monster" that he became. Leia was too busy playing politician while Ben was growing up to give him the attention and love he needed. Han was running all over the damn galaxy in the Falcon instead of staying home with his family. When Ben shows signs of being force sensitive his parents ship him off to Luke to deal with the problem. Luke already has his hands full with the next generation of Jedi and isn't prepared to deal with Ben. All the while Snoke is whispering in Ben's ear and slowly luring him in and *gasp* OMFG he is paying attention to him. When Luke realizes that the dark side has its hooks in Ben he first reaction is to KILL BEN instead of help him. And people wonder why Kylo has some anger issues when it comes to his uncle Luke; I'd be pissed as hell too if the person who was supposed to help me decided that they wanted to kill me instead. Ben's parents failed him and Luke failed him and he turned to the only person who seemed to give a damn about him; unfortunately, that person happened to be a dark side force user who wanted to exploit his powers. You don't have to like Kylo but don't dismiss his past that helped shape him. Ben didn't just wake up one morning and decide to go full dark side and turn into Kylo Ren; events in his past slowly drove him to the dark side and his family had a hand in driving him there.
meshaliuknits , I'm guessing the book you referenced about Phasma was the one actually called "Phasma?" I've not read any of the SW novels, but I'm thinking that I need to start going through them. Any suggestions on where to start? Is there an equivalent "Machete Order" for the books?
If you liked Rogue One I highly suggest reading Catalyst and Rebel Rising for more backstory on Krennic, Galen and Jyn.
Bloodlines was a good read.
The TFA novelization has a few more details than the movie so you might want to give that a read.
The TLJ novelization wont be out until March and it is killing me to have to wait that long.
Start with whatever books you can get your hands on. The Aftermath trilogy is now in paperback so you can get all 3 books for the price of 1 hardback.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 19, 2017 14:33:05 GMT -5
jennistarr1 Sephora did that to me on my last order. All the samples I selected were facial cleansers and the samples I received were men's cologne. If the samples I select aren't in stock don't send me something that is the total opposite of what I selected. I cant even pawn off the men's stuff to my dad because he is picky as hell so I end up just throwing them out.
I am annoyed with Amazon. I ordered 2 DVD's on Dec 6 with prime shipping. One arrived on the 11th and the other is still nowhere to be found. I had to request a replacement and it was supposed to arrive yesterday and the tracking has gone nowhere. This is the second issue I have had with Amazon in the past few months; the other issue was with a 3rd party seller who was selling counterfeit items. I knew as soon as I opened the package that the item was not legit and then when I actually inspected it I found out that the item was damaged. The seller refused to do a refund and it took weeks for Amazon to make it right.
I just yelled at my postal carrier. She was delivering a package that required a signature and she kept ringing the door bell non-stop. She could see that people were home (front windows open and the cleaning people are running all over the house) but she felt the need to just keep pressing the damn door bell.
I do have a shipping rave instead of a vent. Deutsche Post has been great this month. I had a friend get me something when she was at a concert in Potsdam and I ordered a special release CD. The stuff my friend sent took 5 days to get to CA from Germany and the CD took 12 days. So far they have better shipping times than Amazon!!
Post by alleinesein on Dec 19, 2017 4:05:19 GMT -5
I have my last final of the semester in 13 hours and I've done absolutely no studying aside from reading my notes. The midterm was fairly easy so I am hoping that the final is the same.
Going to see SW: TLJ in IMAX after my final. I am dragging one of my friend with me and that poor girl is going to have to listen to me blather on and on about Kylo after the movie. I've been slowly trying to convert her to the dark side for years.
I did really like the callback to the beginning of Luke's journey with the 2 suns
I'm glad you mentioned this. It's so funny, I actually scanned this thread before I saw the movie this weekend, and I didn't see anyone say that Luke died, so I was very surprised (I gasped out loud). This whole bit was SO well done. They played the exact same theme music as they did in the scene above, just as Old Luke also watched the suns set as he died.
When Luke kissed Leia on the forehead in the cave, I flat out started crying.
That was intentional. John Williams talked about it in the mini documentary that they had about the score for the fan event. There are quite a few musical easter eggs in the soundtrack.
We saw it this morning and I really loved it. Every bit of it!!
It also didn't feel like 2.5 hours. Saying good bye to Leia and Carrie makes me so sad. And my understanding was episode 9 was meant for her the way Han had 7, and Luke had 8. So I'm disappointed we will see a different story.
And in the previews seeing avengers and Cap on the big fancy screen in 3D? I about lost my fucking mind at "get this man a shield."
You got the Avengers trailer? Im jealous. We have the most random assortment of trailers.
Yes! DH and I watched it Thursday night and I didn’t notice, but DH took DS to see it last night and DS caught it (and said it was one of his favorite parts).
I suspect there’s more to the story of Rey’s parents than what Kylo told her. The movies revolve around the Skywalker family and DH thinks they are trying to get away from that but I still think there is some sort of connection. Either is possible and the little boy leans towards the theory that there are lots of future jedi in the universe unrelated to the skywalkers and the stories they hear of the rebels are keeping their hope alive. So many rebels and Jedi have died throughout the movies but the storyline always hinges on the skywalker bloodline.
I don’t care what anyone says, I love Poe. I also appreciated the characters showing poor judgement and the consequences, with the women’s being the heroes. There’s more depth in the characters, some more than others, and there was still a lot of campy humor.
Kylo is a Skywalker. While his surname is Solo his grandfather is a Skywalker. He is part of the story. Why do people seem to forget that??? There is no need for Rey to be connected to them because we already have Kylo representing the Skywalker clan. (This topic makes me want to go all Kylo lightsaber tantrum on people because they totally dismiss Kylo's bloodline)
- Light speed obliteration of the fleet... that was EPIC. Beautiful.
- When you realize he was freakin' Force-projecting from across galaxies... OMG.
Rey's parentage: My GOD, the vindication at them both acknowledging she came from normal yet awful people. To know that not everyone of major import in the Jedi universe has to be related to Skywalkers or Solos is a gavel for me, TYVM.
Doubtful parts: - Snoke not realizing what Kylo/Ben was about to do. Really?
- I really like Finn, but I feel like his storyline was somewhat wasted. By the end, I was hoping he'd make it all the way into the gun.
- I also feel like I didn't get closure from Luke's statement to Rey, "You didn't even try to resist!" Like does this girl really have an inclination for the dark side?
1. The "silent cut" was freaking epic. I cannot wait to see it in IMAX next week. 2. Did people not realize that Luke was projecting himself? Didn't anyone catch the wink he gave C-3PO? Luke really had no way off the island since his x-wing was underwater. 3. I got into an argument about Rey's parents. Anakin's mom Shmi wasn't anyone special and Anakin was powerful. Why does Rey have to be connected to someone? The Skywalkers have been screwing up the galaxy long enough; maybe the force decided that it needed some new blood! 4. Yeah Snoke was a bit stupid not realizing what was about to happen. He straight up told Kylo that his compassion for Rey makes him weak. 5. I was pissed that Rose saved Finn. I was rooting for him to go out in a blaze of glory. 6. Have you read the TFA novelization? The dark side has reached out to Rey before so that was definitely not her first run in with it.
I saw it yesterday morning and am headed back with the family in a few hours, so my thoughts may change after a repeat viewing, but I'm really disappointed that we didn't learn anything substantial about Snoke. He's obviously extremely powerful, and went through some serious shit given his face, and I felt like that deserved at least some exploration. I mean, cut five minutes from the endless Canto Bight scenes to do a flashback or some exposition before you chop him in half. Darth Maul came back (in the cartoons) from a similar injury, but the amount of screentime that was devoted to his super dead-looking face made me think that Johnson really, REALLY wants Snoke to stay canonically dead.
Re: no other villain, though, there's always Hux to consider. He's whiny and awful, but he's totally devoted to the First Order, and hates Kylo Ren. Some kind of a power struggle between them for control over the First Order would be totally appropriate for Episode IX.
And what about the half dozen Jedi apprentices who disappeared with Kylo when he destroyed the Jedi training temple? I didn't imagine Luke saying that, right? What happened to them?
Luke said it. My theory is that they became the knights of ren.
I’m not sure why Kylo is keeping Hux around. Doesn’t really jive with me, especially since Kylo basically immediately took over the army stuff. I guess they need him to sneer for one more film.
I don’t hate Hux. I like a good imperial sneer.
Oh, although that does remind me of disliking that whole “we have them on a string” reveal. Why did they have to make that into a mystery? I thought it was going to be that they were secretly tracking a person, or there was a spy. It’s just ship stuff!! No need to be mysterious about that. It doesn’t make it more interesting, it’s still pretty boring.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hux does something in episode 9 to make Kylo turn against the First Order. I just want to watch Kylo force choke the life out of that weasel. I loathe Hux.
Post by alleinesein on Dec 15, 2017 6:53:41 GMT -5
My random thoughts and questions-
1. How in hell are they going to eliminate Leia from Episode 9? Something catastrophic is going to have to happen b/c right now she is alive and well at the end of Episode 8.
2. Leia finally using the force to save herself. YAY!
3. Is it wrong that I kinda wanna know what roasted Porg tastes like??
4. Kylo force choking Hux...I just want to watch this on replay. I hate Hux and that little shit deserved that. I really hope Kylo straight up kills him in Episode 9.
5. YODA!! Was not expecting that at all.
6. So is Poe going to be the new leader of the Resistance? Holdo is dead, Ackbar is dead, Leia is going to die and there really isn't anyone left.
7. Holdo's death scene- the entire theater was absolutely silent. We all just sat there in awe.
8. I need a pet Porg!
9. Anyone else notice the change in tone in Kylos voice (not counting the force bond moments)? It was there in TFA but was more apparent in TLJ. Its like when he is channeling Kylo he has the weird, slightly muffled voice and when he is channeling Ben he speaks in a normal voice.
10. Shirtless Kylo...I can die happy now. My disney prayers have been answered. I had a running joke with my friends that after being tortured with that frozen abomination that disney owed me and as payment I wanted a half naked Kylo in TLJ. I got my wish!
11. Did anyone say "I have a bad feeling about this"? I did not notice it in either showing that I saw and I was actively listening for it the second time.
12. The Rey scene in the cave was just odd. I get that it is more of a flashback because she is telling Ben about it but it is just strange and I am trying to figure out what it is supposed to mean.
Open questions Do we believe Kylo about Rey’s parents? I hope it’s true, but don’t we see her getting rescued from somewhere in force awakens? And he seems to know about her in that movie (“what girl?”). I think he lies. Is rey and Finns romance storyline dunzo? I think it is. They barely acknowledged each other and it seems like he’s moved on. Is kylo dooooomed now? I thought after force awakens that rey was going to become something entirely new. Not a Jedi, and not a sith, but something with true balance. After this one, I’m not so sure. Seems like she’s positioned as Jedi 2.0, and Kylo is now stuck in Sith mode as he can’t get over his past. I think he’s doomed but I’m still rooting for him. Kylo and Finn are still my faves. I liked Rey better in this movie, as I feel like her scenes with Kylo humanized her. I worry she may be dull again by the next movie, now that she’s firmly in camp light side.
Do we believe Kylo about Rey’s parents? Yes. He really has no reason to lie to her about them and Luke had no clue who she was. The flashback scenes in TFA do not show Rey actually being rescued. The Knights of Ren scene does not involve Rey; the majority of the scenes that she sees are someone else's memories/experiences. The Rey scene is her being handed off to Unkar Plott.
For the love of all things holy people have got to stop trying to make FinnRey happen. Finn and Rose can go off and make babies.
Kylo is not doomed. He is not a blood thirsty, pissant, tyrant like Hux. And he had the chance to kill Leia and he didn't. Ben is still in there and there is still hope for him. His anger/rage/hatred towards Luke is somewhat justified considering that Ben was still a child/teenager when everything went down at the temple and who wouldn't freak the eff out if they woke up and someone was standing over them wielding a lightsaber who had thoughts of killing them. Kylo does seem a bit hell bent on destroying the things that have hurt him- Han pretty much was an absent father, Luke had thoughts of killing him, and Snoke who had been manipulating him for most of his life.
There has been a disturbing lack of TLJ clothing merch. Even Disneyland has a pretty dismal selection. I was saving my $$ to blow it all on new merch and aside from some super cute Porg stuff the merch is so blah. I ended up with a 40th anniversary SW dress.
Can you link to the dress?
I thought the movie was good, but I rather think I enjoyed Thor Ragnarok more - and I've been a huge Star Wars nerd since childhood.
I was promised a spoilers thread!! I need to chat!!
Just got out of showing #1 and heading back into the theatre soon for round 2. Start a thread and I'll pop in to chat when I get home in about 4 hours.
We have tickets for Sunday so I will be ducking spoilers until then. Everyone has a ton of crap today, tomorrow and Saturday so it's for the best but man I am dying. I am not prepared to say goodbye to Leia.
Related why the fuck are there not last Jedi specific shirts everywhere? I've found a lot online but none in stores. I always get the kids costumes or shirts for the new movies. Scarlett is covered but Jackson wants a Poe shirt or a shirt with Poe and they are nowhere. Last year Target had a whole rogue 1 line of shirts!! And nothing.
There has been a disturbing lack of TLJ clothing merch. Even Disneyland has a pretty dismal selection. I was saving my $$ to blow it all on new merch and aside from some super cute Porg stuff the merch is so blah. I ended up with a 40th anniversary SW dress.
Is it bad that one of my initial thoughts was - does this mean the Simpsons land at Universal will become part of Disney world? lol.
(I'm waiting for Disney to buy the rights to Harry potter next. Or just buy universal outright.)
Universal probably owns theme park rights like they own Marvel theme park rights east of the Mississippi. Disney has Marvel stuff at Disney Land I think but nothing at WDW.
We have some stuff in California Adventure. Guardians of the Galaxy ride and character meet and greets. Right now they have Captain America, Spider Mar, Thor, and Loki in the park. Im hoping that Loki sticks around for awhile because he is so damn adorable and charming.