It's rare that you can get a group of Star Wars fans to all agree on something when it comes to the galaxy far, far away, and that includes reaction to a Star Wars film. The most recent film release, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, is no different. While some think it's the greatest installment in the saga, others claim the film is a betrayal of all that came before it. The film's writer/director Rian Johnson spoke with Business Insider recently about the reaction to film, specifically the negative ones. Johnson states that the negative responses hurt, but he understands where they come from and doesn't take it personally.
Johnson said,
"Having been a "Star Wars" fan my
whole life, and having spent most of my life on the other side of
the curb and in that fandom, it softens the blow a little bit.
I'm aware through my own experience that, first of all, the fans
are so passionate, they care so deeply — sometimes they care very
violently at me on Twitter. But it's because they care about
these things, and it hurts when you're expecting something
specific and you don't get it from something that you love. It
always hurts, so I don't take it personally if a fan reacts
negatively and lashes out on me on Twitter. That's fine. It's my
job to be there for that. Like you said, every fan has a list of
stuff they want a "Star Wars" movie to be and they don't want a
"Star Wars" movie to be. You're going to find very few fans out
there whose lists line up.
And I also know the same way the original movies were personal
for Lucas. Lucas never made a "Star Wars" movie by sitting down
and thinking, "What do the fans want to see?" And I knew if I
wrote wondering what the fans would want, as tempting as that is,
it wouldn't work, because people would still be shouting at me,
"F--- you, you ruined 'Star Wars,'" and I would make a bad movie.
And ultimately, that's the one thing nobody wants.
And let me just add that 80-90% of the reaction I've gotten from
Twitter has been really lovely. There's been a lot of joy and
love from fans. When I talk about the negative stuff, that's not
the full picture of the fans at all."
I really appreciate several aspects of Johnson's response to the criticism. I love that he took a page from George Lucas and focused more one what he thought was best for the story, rather than what was fans wanted (who can forget Lucas' subtle dig at The Force Awakens for being a movie "for the fans"). Star Wars needs to grow and evolve, rather than rest on its past accomplishments. While there are moments in The Last Jedi that lean a bit too heavily on the past, overall the film does a good job at moving the myth forward.
I'm also glad to hear that Johnson is taking the negative responses in stride, especially given that he's going to be writing and directing at least one more film and involved in at least three. It's good to see that Johnson "gets" fandom and understands the passion of fandom and knows how to take it in stride. That being said, I don't think fans should be sending vitriolic tweets to Johnson or any other creative even if they didn't like the movie (and I say this as someone who felt let down by the film on opening night, though my tone has shifted upon multiple viewings). Those sorts of tweets are more likely to chase creatives off social media than change anything in future films. Johnson's social media has been a lot of fun to follow during the film and I would hate to lose that source of entertainment because some fans want to take out their anger (ironically missing the point of Star Wars) on the director. (Obviously I'm not saying don't express your disappointment in the film if you were, just don't be rude about it).
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is in theaters now!
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Wholly agree with your thoughts Dominic, I also had reservations on my first viewing but it has gradually grown on me. Ad a big argument with a work colleague who claimed that his beloved childhood heroe 'Luke' had been 'raped' by his portrayal of the character in the movie, saying that he had shown no dignity towards the character. I vehermently disagreed on his over reaction. He's a staunch OT fan that cannot be reasoned with.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more the thing is there films are journeys and that the first film is about the new characters taking there masks of and finding out who they are and this film feels to me it's about the characters finding out there places in all of this. I think how luke was portrayed in this film was perfect it's about him been there done that and seen the consequences of what being good brings as there is no real balance as you are always looking for good but in this it's about seeing there is good in both and both can help each other in some sense. It expands the star wars mythology more then any film has done by showing us the force can be used in so many ways and that there is so much to it we don't know yeah our beloved characters are or will be gone but we need to start to realise that we need to make way for the new and carry on what greatness these characters have made.
DeleteI find it funny when people think that those who dislikes The Last Jedi is because “they can’t let go” Of course we can! No fan was ever thinking going into this new trilogy that Luke was going to live on an wield a lightsaber in a wheelchair. The whole problem is with it’s execution. Luke was a joke through most of the movie. Should I expand?
ReplyDeleteThe milking scene, tickling Rey scene, wanting to burn the tree then not wanting to burn the tree scene, getting laughed at by Yoda, tossing the lightsaber, dodging Kylo Ren’s blade ala Matrix... it just goes on and on! Rey barely got a glimpse of Luke’s wisdom. She learned close to nothing from him. And then, to top it, he dies from meditating!? If you want to close the chapter on the biggest hero in cinema history, you should do it in an epic way. So many options were there for Rian to explore and he has him die from some astral projection...it completely blew my mind how bad an idea that was.
And this is only a part of what I find bad about the story.
All in all, so many of those who say they like the movie are those who disliked it and went back to see it again and changed their opinion. To me, that’s not a sign of a great movie. Or a good one for that matter. A great movie is one you walk out of and you still feel the excitement inside and you can’t wait to see it again.
That is exactly how I felt about Rogue One.
Good that answered the fans, we realized that he didn’t understand nothing about fãns and Star Wars. He can kill all mainly heros and Vilans and change all story like he did but like a director he didn’t put emotional in nothing. E.g Solo death was spectacular ! Very emotional. Now tell me something Star wars emotional in this film? Leia died but not diet fo nothing ridículos , she not have power to rise of death. Snoke, superpower villain that was killed by your apprentice but his apprentice not can kill the guards without helps Ray, pathetic !! Luke confronted his father and emperor the same time in best scene and now he has fear about his nephew and thing kill Kylo by Back !!! This thinking is a outrage !!! After that he acted like a idiot all movie and died like yoda for nothing.
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry but this is a big big shit like other movies that Rian Johnson did. He said that 80 90% liked , he will see, He will see.