Rumor: Star Wars The Force Awakens Running Time to be 136 Minutes? UK Rating Revealed?
During this year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, J.J. Abrams revealed the running time for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to be roughly around 124 minutes by that time. Now new rumor suggests that the running time will be slightly longer…
The site followingthenerd.com is reporting that one of their sources (who was right before about the Batman V Superman trailer premiere) has revealed to them the UK details on Star Wars: The Force Awakens rating and running time.
I am not familiar with these guys, but obviously they are pretty confident with their info. Their source was right before, and it appears that he is connected with one of the major cinema chains in the UK.
As you can see the rating is market as “to be confirmed”, but they think that it’s a safe bet.
12A means that the movie is suitable for 12 years and over. Based on this rating it’s still not clear what the US rating will be – PG (parent guidance) or PG13 (parent guidance cautioned). You can see that it could go both ways from the graph below (via Wiki):
For a comparison, here’s the running time of the other Star Wars movies:
A New Hope – 121 minutes
The Empire Strikes Back – 124 minutes
Return of the Jedi – 131 minutes
The Phantom Menace – 133 minutes
Attack of the Clones – 142 minutes
Revenge of the Sith – 140 minutes
The Force Awakens – 136 minutes
So tell us what you think about the running time if it turns out to be legit?
Special thanks to Terence Mulvey for the heads up.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
I’m a fan of running times well over 2 hours for big blockbuster sci-fi or superhero films. If the film is going to cost over a $100 million to make, you might as well make it a bit longer than average. I think audiences today are willing to sit through a film that’s over 2 hours if it’s good. Also, as a fan of the long form storytelling of television, the more story detail and character development we can pack into a film, the better.
Why don’t you watch TV and Peter Jackson movies then?
I think the filmmakers should be absolutely ruthless when cutting the movie and kill anything that does not move the story along. I don’t like when directors fall in love with scenes that don’t move the story but they keep them anyway. Save it for the home release. I don’t need 25 extra endings and don’t need my bladder to explode while I’m sitting in the theater. If the pacing is good and the story moves make it as long as you want, but I don’t want some Peter Jackson mess when they take a 2 hour movie and stretch it into 9 hours.
A LOTR mess and a Hobbit mess are two separate things. If I can get anything as good as the Fellowship or Return of the King I’m down. You don’t want to be too ruthless when cutting, you miss important character points and the movie just moves, it’s plot based with little character. Not something I want to see. This isn’t Premium Rush, it’s Star Wars.
Then don’t buy the big soda. Buy a small one.
I agree. But I guess they don’t want to scare away any spontaneus movie goers. I would settle for a 3+ hours Extended Edition though.
It’s longer than any other SW film except AOTC and ROTS. That’s just fine by me.
136mins sounds a good running time. Not too long to overstay its welcome.
Yea. I doubt we will feel how long it is. Time flies when your having fun. Great post Viral.
I like this running time, if it is true. Not too long but not too short.
Both could be right. JJ could have been talking length of the actual movie, 136 might be with 12 minutes of credits
Even that wouldn’t be all that bad. But I wouldn’t be sticking around for the credits, though.
Sometimes they put in a small scene after the credits, like in Pirates of the Caribbean. I never have the guts to stick around for it though.
100% there will be a scene after the credits, probs around 2-3 mins long.
General Hux kicking out the door on an escape pod 🙂
Not a scene per se. Most likely a teaser trailer for Rogue One
well I thought it would be a teaser for Rogue One, but a scene like the what was shown at celebration
With a John Williams soundtrack, I always stick around for the credits, too. 🙂
I like this running time better.
We approve
The 12 rating was introduced for Batman (Tim Burton) many years ago; before that, we had U (Universal – everyone), PG (Parental Guidance – but kids can go unaccompanied), 15 (Have to be at least 15 to go in) and 18 (guess) – we still have all those but the 12 has changed to 12A – this means that kids under 12 can go if accompanied and over 12 unaccompanied. I beleive there is also a Uc, but I’ve never seen a film with it anywhere (Universal but particularly suitable for Children) and there’s an E (Exempt) for things like concerts (although these days, concerts tend to not get the E rating). Plus X – but that’s very rarely awarded.
I remember when 12A was introduced as a result of every parent in the country deciding to take their kids to Spiderman 2 (rated 12) regardless.
Sounds good to me. I hope it is true. I guess J.J. thought there was too much good stuff to cut.
I’d prefer it to be ten or fifteen minutes shorter, but 136 minutes doesn’t sound too bloated.
That’s actually a welcome surprise if it’s correct. I was just the tiniest bit bummed when JJ mentioned the 125ish time before, and I think that this seems a bit better.
It doesn’t sound mega-bloated, but I think exactly 2 hours is the sweet spot for entertainment movies. As the running time expands, the audience’s potential for boredom increases while the story telling standards decrease. It’s a toxic combo, and a 2-hour running time forces directors to bring their A game.
Maybe they should reintroduce intermissions.
had intermissions when I first saw eps 4-6. The lady walking up the aisle with with goodies is a good memory.
a goodie memory 🙂
That means the movie has a final cut 🙂 !!!! WE DID IT REDDIT!!!!
I’d welcome 3 hours.
I don’t think the rumor is legit. I’m still putting my money on 124 min.
The movie maybe 124 minutes, while the credits could round it out at 136 minutes. So from a certain POV, the movie is 124 minutes.
it wont have 12 minutes of credits. maybe 5 or so at the most.
isn’t the rumor that they will attach something like the trailer for the 1st standalone movie that comes out next year, so that adds in another few minutes?
This is such a dumb, unimportant piece of news… so why does it make me so damn excited??
its funny that empire is barely over 2 hours. it feels longer. it also goes to show you length doesnt matter. attack of the clones is the longest and its a dumpster fire of a movie.
Matter of opinion. AOTC is my favorite Star Wars movie.
how old are u?
Who cares! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether you like it or not. Also. Take this:
The term “Dumpster fire” is PERFECT! lol
It’s not how long you make a blockbuster movie, its all about the pacing and editing. ANH & ESB both move at a consistent pace and never let up yet still have time for the quiet moments. ROTJ & PT both have pacing issues as the movies just come to a complete halt at certain and it takes you right out of it. Still 136 minutes is fine by me, as I’m glad they didn’t go any longer then that.
Jedi might have the most pacing issues of the OT but unlike the PT at least there is a payoff in the end.
Irrational and delusional old Gen X’er geezer who has misguided feelings of nostalgia. You’re probably the same guy that wrote that article stating that you’re not going to watch TFA as you’d rather see Star Wars in a museum after 1983.
Why do even non-fans know who Ackbar, Geedo, and Palpatine are yet cannont name a single PT character who wasn’t in the OT. You are a bigger joke than lizard people conspiracy sayers. I bet you are pissed that you can’t set up multiple dummy accounts on here anymore though.
Blade runner and the prestige are both movies under two hours that are still great… on the other hand star trek into darkness is of that lengh, around 136 mins and doesn’t bore you…
I really like Blade Runner but gee that movie feels three hours long.
124 would have been better but what’s an extra 12 minutes…..
Sounds good to me. I just want a cohesive story with likable characters. If that’s how long it takes to happen… so be it!
Maybe once the advance tickets go on sale, the official running time will be revealed.
It better be PG. I haven’t let my little boy see Ep. III yet because I don’t think he’s ready for some parts. He’s about as excited as I am for Ep. VII and I am not going to be happy if I don’t feel comfortable taking him to see it without previewing it first. I want it to be a special time where we both get to see it together for the first time.
Absolutely agree. Will be very disappointed if this isn’t PG. My son’s 6 and looking forward to it. This should be his Star Wars…
So you think they should handicap the movie just to appeal the minority of the very young fans?
Not at all. I don’t think they should first conceive of a film that young children can’t see and then chop bits out. I think that Star Wars should be conceived from the start as accessible to all. They know that young kids will be encouraged to watch this film by their own marketing and it would be perverse not to have that in mind from the start. That doesn’t mean they need to bolt on irritating childish characters, it just means the violence should be edited to be more implied than seen (anakin lava burns being the only thing that’s crossed the line so far)…
You don’t get it. The only reason the original trilogy didn’t have that rating is because it didn’t exist then. To be fair, both the original Star Wars, Empire, and Return Of The Jedi all probably would have had the PG-13 rating had it existed then. I’m perfectly fine with the new movies getting that rating. There’s plenty of death, decapitation, bones, and destruction and scary moments to warrant a PG-13 rating in the original Star Wars films. Just sayin’. People shouldn’t be freaking out over a PG-13 rating.
I wasn’t. I’m in the UK. It’s the suggested 12A rating I’m freaking out about. It has a different vibe to PG-13 even if it means much the same…
My daughter is 6yo and watch all the episodes and she wasn’t scared or impressed by anything, although boys can get a bit more excited…she absolutely loves all the movies, and can tell you the story of the whole saga, even the more complicated stuff, she understands, amazing the mind of a child
It won’t be PG and they shouldn’t neuterer the movie just for the minority of the really young fans.
It is, in fact, possible to make good cinema without excessive violence, etc. The originals were all PG. Were they “neutered,” do you think? I doubt it, or you likely wouldn’t even be on this site.
even if it’s pg13 i dont think it’ll be as dark as rots. there wont be any children slaughtered in ep. 7. if u let him see avengers or those types of movies he’ll be fine.
That’s because that rating didn’t exist until after the original trilogy was made. Everything in them is about what is seen in your average PG-13 movie today. To be fair, both the original Star Wars, Empire, and Return Of The Jedi all probably would have had the PG-13 rating had it existed then. I’m perfectly fine with the new movies getting that rating. There’s plenty of death, decapitation, bones, and destruction and scary moments to warrant a PG-13 rating in the original Star Wars films. Just sayin’. People shouldn’t be freaking out over a PG-13 rating.
You really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Whel it depend how litle he is?
grow up and stop being a prude – _ –
Ugh. Gimme a break. To be fair, both the original Star Wars, Empire, and Return Of The Jedi all probably would have had the PG-13 rating had it existed then. I’m perfectly fine with the new movies getting that rating. There’s plenty of death, decapitation, bones, and destruction and scary moments to warrant a PG-13 rating in the original Star Wars films. Just sayin’. People shouldn’t be freaking out over a PG-13 rating.
No way have the BBFC given an age rating yet the film has not been screened, it makes no sense. I’ve had dealings with the BBFC and Pegi rating systems here in the UK due to a university project. Lucas Film may put out a guesstimate and ask for a specific age rating but as of this time I cannot see a decision been made. Try mid November before the age rating comes out.
136 minutes and we’ve seen all of about 1:30 of it. I AM EXCITE!!!
It’s not the run time, it’s the pacing. I’ve seen movies with 2 1/2 runtimes that move with a great pace (Terminator 2, for instance) and I’ve seen movies that are only 80-90 minutes that take forever (The Blair Witch Project).
Here’s to hoping it’s PG-13
Agreed, imho on watching eps 3-6 recently there was loads of gruesome and scary stuff at PG without the need for more.
There was no PG-13 rating during ep 4-6. That came a few years after ROTJ.
yeah yeah, eps 4-6 would probs have been PG-13 if the certificate was available at the time, not PG.
Not going to happen with Disney in charge.
Most of the Marvel movies are PG-13, same with the Pirates movies.
Simple reason for that. Adolescents are still a large part of the comic book audience even today, As for Pirates it’s pretty difficult to do a film with swords and guns somewhat realistically at a PG level. Yeah, Star Wars has blasters and lightsabers but they are fantasy weapons that don’t really exist and aside from the odd severed limb there is not a great deal of graphic violence in Star Wars. More importantly, Someone here posted a great article about how the toys drive the film and it would be financial suicide for Disney to alienate kids by not allowing them to see it meaning we are likely in for a lighter trilogy, Maybe not TPM light but more AOTC light but hopefully much better quality. Sith was PG-13 but that’s only because Lucas decided on it way back when and it would have been impossible not to do it storywise. I very much doubt Disney would let him do that had they been running things then.
PG-13 movies make the most money, this movie will be PG-13.
This trilogy was built to sell theme park rides where most of the films are PG based. But even if you are correct, A PG-13 VII will be vastly different than a PG-13 III.
The Marvel movies disagree
I mentioned on here that the comparison is apple to oranges. Star Wars is largely aimed at kids while the MCU targets adolescents. Why the Marvel films are slightly more violent, with more “sensuality”, and language. Even today a great deal of comic readers are teenagers wheras Star Wars main audience are families. III would never have been PG-13 had Iger been in charge. Lucas even seemed reluctant but there was no way to sanitize Vader’s injuries or Jedi genocide without looking comedic or pissing off the fanbase more than they were after Episode I. The spinoffs could be PG-13 because they are going for a different audience but I doubt we will get another episode with that rating.
never aim for a rating, just make the best film you can… and let the raters decide where it falls.
I assumed it’d be PG? Don’t know if it needs to be more violent or menacing than eps. 4-6
12A? Really? I’m not sure if I’m into that.
I feel like 4 and 5 would be PG-13 if they came out now.
So this movie will be PG-13 just based on the fact they have flame thrower troopers and i bet someone is gonna get extra crispy.
… I have to say, that is damn near the perfect runtime, not to long, not to short…
weirldy reassuring in a lot of ways… I had been worried for a while it would be too short.
Attack of the Clones is the longest? Damn, I wish it had been the shortest, considering how painful a lot of it was.
Disclaimer: I’m still a Star Wars fan, just that I can’t stand Episode II.
What bits of it? The romance?
Everything on Naboo in Episode 2 was unbearable.
The romance, whenever Anakin opens his mouth, the back of Obi-Wan’s mullet, the lightsaber duels, the C-3PO/battle droid scenes, the wooden acting in the Jedi Temple scenes and Anakin’s dive onto the bounty hunter’s vehicle.
There were some good elements I really enjoyed, just that there was a lot that detracted from the film.
Yeah, had the romance actually been believable, it may have saved the film. I saw a few things that were cut from the movie, they should have been kept in. If they had just had natural banter it would have helped *tremendously*.
I never understood why ppl dislike Ep II SOOO much. Okay, so there was a total of about 5 minutes of bad ‘love dialogue’ within a 140 min film. This makes it less than 10% of the movie. So, again, I don’t get it. I’m actually being literal. Legit question. I don’t get it. Jango vs. Obi, Yoda vs. Dooku (even the fact that dooku is in it, period), almost no Jar Jar screentime, the mystery/who-done-it plot line about Obi trying to track down the bounty hunter, the final clone battle…where exactly are the “bad” parts apart from “I don’t like sand”?? Anyone…? please?
The CG was worse than a lot of direct to DVD films I’ve seen. EVERYTHING in that film was done a billion times better in III. There are literally entire scenes of people walking around talking not doing anything. It dies after they leave Coruscant and doesn’t pick up again till the last 20 minutes. As bad as Indy 4.
You know, for the time it was released, it was praised for its visuals (whether you want to believe it or not). So yeah, I have no idea what yore talking about (though you’re probably just a Gen X’ers mad that it wasn’t made like it was in 1977, 1980, and 1983).
It’s basement dwelling virgin neckbeards like yourself who are the reason why we have this new commenting system in place. You do realize you are the laughingstock of this forum being the white knight of the PT and not just this one but all the other SW forums.
Praised? What dimension are you living in? PT = ZERO Academy Awards nominations and no AFI honors.
http://boards.theforce.net/threads/practical-effects-in-the-prequels-sets-pictures-models-etc.50017310/
I get the distinct impression that you are typing from a prison cell which is why you have sooo much free time and were probably one of the grown ass men who typed a love letter to Jake Lloyd with your bodily fluids. Have you seen him lately? Good job!
When you talk to fucking anybody and say Star Wars they think X-Wings, TIEs, and The Falcon all of which are prominently featured in this new one. Nobody ever brings up Naboo Starfighters, AT-TE’s, or the stupid looking wheel boke thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkv772KqFrg
F those wanna posers. That’s all you got? I’ve seen their crap and it wasn’t impressive nor mind-altering for me and for those that it did influence, basically most follow them like sheep. How do I know this? Because many just parrot them (like you) instead of having their own opinions.
Bottom line, RLM are a bunch of talentless hacks not worthy of being called filmmakers. Nothing good has come from them and for what they did regarding the PT, it just comes off as butthurt d-bags that have no lives who whine just because the films were not the films they made up in their mind. They also forget that there’s perspective in all of this being that the PT was meant for a new generation of fans, not for old geezer Gen X’ers who want Star Wars to stay in a museum preserved (they probably would like to it to be the 1977-1983 era too.
Calm your tits. You’re responding defensively to everything. Even Star Wars fans are allowed to not automatically love everything about the films.
And you calm your ways of being butthurt that something doesn’t turn out way you thought it would it but most of all, calm your ways of 1) speaking for everyone and 2) stop attempting to pass off your opinions as facts (that’s one thing I hate about haters as they are indeed just opinions).
I haven’t spoken for everyone; I stated my opinion, which is that I find Attack of the Clones to be the one film in the franchise that I dislike. I like the other two films in the Prequel Trilogy, but you still provided a blanket statement that you hate haters for “just opinions”… Does that mean you only have an issue with an opinion if it doesn’t agree with yours?
FIGHT THE POWWAAH!
Then please rebut them, then, because no one has convincingly been able to do so as of yet. And obviously they have struck a chord with people, or else they wouldn’t have several million views and praise from notable people in the entertainment industry.
Prequel apologists parrot the same lame excuses to explain away the stupidity of those movies. They are just as good at herding sheep to pretend that those movies did’t suck despite an overabundance of evidence to the contrary.
The prequels are criticized because they were terrible movies, they were badly written, nonsensical and lazily made films with unlikable characters who all act like complete idiots. Not because of the character or age of the people criticizing them.
The idea that a film can only be considered good based on what generation you belong to is complete bullshit. Good movies can be recognized as such by anyone who has a basic understanding of quality filmmaking and storytelling. Can we not appreciate a movie like Casablanca, even though it was made decades before we born? Can a person in their 80’s not enjoy The Empire Strikes Back? How old you are is totally irrelevant.
http://www.starwars.com/news/parallel-journeys-why-the-star-wars-films-are-more-connected-than-you-think
Yeah, good luck to those butthurt irrational & delusional posers trying to get something recognized officially by Lucasfilm (actually no, I’m not really wishing them good luck; they work isn’t worth crap as it was made by some talentless hacks that can’t even take themselves seriously).
Butthurt?
You sound pretty butthurt yourself there. And for god sakes, think of a new adjective. Most fucking ridiculously overused word in internet message boards.
This is no place for Plinkett, to a Realist like me, he makes some really good, borderline sympathetic points – once you get past the rape jokes and lines such as this movie is “F##king STUPID”. Though to someone who WANTS to disagree, this is at a glance entirely offensive to the PT – even though it’s unbiased enough to say “back off of Hayden Christensen, the kid’s a good actor just working with what he had”, which actually took me aback.
This is definitely not a video to show on a message board though, because a lot of people will mistake it for a 100% slap in the face, as opposed to what it is: an 80% slap in the face.
I don’t mind showing it here at all. This ain’t kindergarten, here. I also don’t mind something “offending” the prequel trilogy when the prequel trilogy was so fucking offensive itself to anyone who cared about Star Wars films being well-made movies that weren’t boring and completely stupid.
And I have no problem offending the prequel lovers who keep polishing these turds with one lame excuse after the other.
Excuse me, I mistook you for someone who is interested in what others think.
I really enjoyed Attack of the Clones, particularly the last 45 minutes or so. Some of the dialogue wasn’t fantastic, but since when do we go to a Star Wars movie for the dialogue? 🙂
I loved seeing so many jedi fighting with lightsabers at the end – I wonder if we’ll see something similar in the sequel trilogy?
If you really enjoyed the last 45 minutes of Attack of the Clones, you’re gonna hate the sequel trilogy.
I believe you that you’re being literal and that it’s a legit question. I already listed elements I disliked here:
http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2015/10/rumor-star-wars-the-force-awakens-running-time-to-be-136-minutes-uk-rating-revealed.html#comment-2300827112
About the things you mentioned; I hated the Yoda vs Dooku fight more than anything else in Star Wars, including Jar Jar. I found the other duels to be quick, uninspired and bland. The mystery plot isn’t quite a mystery when the opening crawl says Dooku is behind the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Kaminoans introduce the evil bounty hunter briskly. I am indifferent towards the Battle of Geonosis because while there are neat visuals… it’s also just two armies rushing towards each other in formations across a vacant terrain… You don’t really want me to list off every bad piece of dialogue, do you?
You know, I liked some parts, such as the rescue from the arena, Dooku meeting Sidious, the final scenes with the clone army and Jango’s beheading… just that there was a lot that made the film difficult to like, as well.
Its f*cking terrible dude. Seriously, go watch it now.
My personal reasons for not enjoying Ep II:
-The plot about the assassination feels (and ultimately is) pointless. It is just a random and unrelated clue to the actual plot, yet it takes up most of the movie.
-Anakin is already unlikeable and just unpleasant. Obi-Wan is better, but mostly unrelatable. We never get to know him any better as a person in that movie.
-As a kid it always felt like SOOOOO much boring dialogue that meant nothing to me. Now it just feels like poorly written dialogue that doesn’t connect with the audience. I ask “what am I watching and why do I care” and the movie rarely answers. It just blathers on about stuff I don’t care about.
-The action is bigger, but less compelling than the other movies. It just feels like a bunch of stuff on the screen, nothing to really get invested in either way, very little particularly engaging or memorable parts.
-One of the first cases when CGI actually stood out and bothered me. I’m fine with it as a tool and am typically willing to overlook it. It just used it too much and puts too much focus on effects that were simply too underdeveloped to warrant the spotlight. Need I point at CGI 3PO?
-It’s pointless. There is no reason to watch it. You can learn everything this movie provides by watching the first 20 minutes of ROTS. The character development is laughable, the plot is insignificant, and the setups for future movies are either so unnecessary that they can remain assumed backstory (Anakin being moody all the time), or they lead to nothing (Setting Dooku up as a big villain then immediately killing him off in the next movie). The main thing the movie does is say “Look! Clones exist! Also, Anakin is a big jerkface.” I didn’t need a whole movie to tell me that. I knew that in EP. IV.
I think a big part of it is that the acting in the movies is either bad or very inconsistent. McGregor steals every scene he’s in despite being largely unrelatable/milquetoast without even trying, mostly because everyone around him is either acting like a plank of wood or was a literal plank of wood on set (CGI stand-in).
This means that perfectly reasonable scenes like the ones you mentioned that actually have a lot of potential and are maybe the high points of the movie still rub people the wrong way because the acting in said scenes is so bad.
No apologies needed for disliking it. Contrary to what some may believe, Star Wars fans are not required to love everything with a SW logo on it. This is not a cult, it’s a series of movies. When something seems like crap to you, you can say that it seems like crap, or else the same crap will continue to be made. The alternative is to lie about thinking it was good and come up with a million excuses for its shortcomings. The are plenty of prequel apologists out there who do this on a regular basis.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions (which is what you stated, simply opinions). One of the things that I hate about PT haters is that they assume things like what you just posted when you couldn’t possibly be more more off-base. People who like the PT have a right to like them whether you think their reasons are valid or not. I’m tired of seeing PT haters like you who try to make others feel bad for liking something you don’t. If you don’t like something, fine, don’t (you have that right after all); but don’t put others down simply because they don’t share your opinion.
P.S. There are more out there that are simply fans of the entire saga than there are PT haters out there (PT haters are in the loud and vocal minority despite of what they like to think).
I enjoyed The Phantom Menace and Revenge of the Sith immensely… stop calling me a “PT hater”.
It goes without saying that Star Wars generates passionate options from every direction.
But prequel apologists are every bit as insulting, rude and indignant in their insistence that the films are good or even brilliant, and that a person cannot be a “true Star Wars fan” unless they love everything with a Star Wars logo slapped on it, regardless of how stupid an cringe-incuding at may seem to them – they have to pretend it’s good to stay faithful to the Star Wars religion. They have bend over backwards and dream up a million excuses to explain away the obvious stupidity and terrible decisions in making those movies.
People have just as much right to dislike them as they do to like them. Positive responses to the movies do not bear more weight than negative ones. Everyone is entitled to whatever opinion they wish. And if you think that prequel critics are some small group of bitter individuals, think again. The prequels have been mocked and torn apart six ways to Sunday relentlessly by our entire culture. You can’t even bring up the prequels without causing major arguments among fans who debate them passionately and the media nothing how much of a letdown they were to a huge segment of fans. That’s not insignificant in the least. And no story structure explanations from Lucas or crazy fan theories will make those films magically seem good when it was evident from the first viewing that they sucked. It’s just more attempts to explain crap.
AOTC attempted to be in-depth on an issue that required more than 90 min to properly explain, which ironically impeded the character development. Essentially, Lucas chose “complex plot” over “complex characters”, but then threw in action scenes that the movie just couldn’t fit.
There’s a reason that “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Godfather” were 3-hour movies. If you want a complex geopolitical story AND character development AND action, 3 hours is about as short as you can make the film without losing stuff.
I think the mis-step honestly was that George Lucas forgot he was making a Star Wars movie and tried to put EVERYTHING in.
Star Wars is all about editing stuff OUT – i’m pretty sure Lucas said so himself back when his beard was still black.
The reason OT worked so well was that it specifically tip-toed around the complexities of politics for the sake of the Characters and Action — it was focused, and that shows in the runtime.
^^ how’s that for an anti-PT argument that doesn’t mention Jar Jar?
Not a bad analysis, actually. 🙂
http://www.starwars.com/news/parallel-journeys-why-the-star-wars-films-are-more-connected-than-you-think
I’m aware that George Lucas used Ring Theory construction on the PT [Phantom Menace = Return of Jedi re-arranged, AOTC = TESB played backward], that’s not really what I’m talking about though.
The issue with AOTC was subject matter and scope. Not “how many fight scenes are replays of TESB”.
Honestly, if he wanted it to rhyme, he should have focused on A: The Way of the Force [Luke’s plotline beat], and B: The Nature of Tyranny and Evil [Leia/Han’s plot beat]. Instead, AOTC focused on NONE of the things that TESB focused on.
IMO, the best sequence of the entire PT was in AOTC when Anakin confronts a run-down Watto about what happened to his mother, and Watto points him to the Tusken Raiders, which Anakin then brutally murders. The reason I like this part of the film is that it actually SHOWS Anakin’s inner turmoil visually, as well as providing proof that Anakin leaving slavery was a good move. It’s also the most successful demonstration of The Dark Side of the Force, more so than Luke somehow being “tempted” by Palpatine (????). Unfortunately, this scene that actually, realistically demonstrates how Evil works [the “Rhyme” with TESB’s plot] is the only scene you get in the entire 3-film set. Everything else is peripherial to what the OT focused on — EXCEPT for the Tusken Raider sequence, the Tusken Raider sequence is actually VERY CLOSE to the subject matter of the OT, that actually feels like part of the Star Wars saga.
As far as the Trilogy? sure, VISUALLY it rhymes, but, as Lucas has clearly missed, there is a lot more to Star Wars than visuals.
The most important thing is Subject Focus – upon Action and Characters.
So I think hiding behind the “well it LOOKS the same!” defense is a complete cop-out on Lucas’ part.
Of course there’s probably plenty who aren’t as bothered by these things, for ME it’s important and it’s overbearing lack of Character Drama threw me out of the films.
Though that scene I described where Anakin actually ACTS like a Jedi turning evil was a great scene and The Hayden was [comparatively] pretty decent in those scenes — too bad the rest of the film/trilogy dropped that thread in favor of geopolitics and “what have i done?!” and “Kill some kids = Padme lives [it rhymes]”.
It’s funny, I actually felt the Tusken Revenge sequence from AOTC was one of the worst parts of the movie. I think the plot point had huge potential but the acting in those sequences is just so bad it makes those scenes almost unwatchable to me (Shmi’s death groan and Anakin’s confession to Padme are particularly cringe-worthy, IMO).
True, the writing was sub-par and the actors couldn’t do much with it, but in terms of scope and subject, I felt this part explored threads that really should have been the primary focus of the film – as they did with TESB; focusing on the nature of evil.
I still like the scene with old, stubbly Watto, I felt that was Hayden and Watto’s high-point, acting-wise.
100 percent of the population voted in Saddam Hussein and Hitler was legally elected Chancellor. This proves nothing, I know more people who said The Holocaust was a sham or the moon landing didn’t happen than those who feel II was a watchable film.
Some more
No more AOTC length episodes, Just painful. I’m more of a fan of less is more so long as they don’t cut out the important bits.
empire is barely over 2 hours and it feels like 2:30. shows u quality is always more important.
Are you seriously implying AOTC is better than TESB? Empire is the shortest after ANH but is widely considered the best. It’s also the best paced……
TPM – Dies on Tatooine before things pick up on Naboo
AOTC – Dies after Anakin and Obi-Wan leave Coruscant and it doesn’t get better till Geonosis
ROTS – Falls apart after Palpatine’s rescue and picks up pace with Order 66
ANH – Slows down on Tatooine (fuck that planet!) and starts back up again on the Death Star
ROTJ – Moves like molasses on Endor then kicks into high gear when the final battle starts.
TESB is not always the most action packed episode but it is always the most compelling one due to it’s acting and pace.
I think you misunderstood him Grant. He was saying that Empire’s quality makes it feel like a longer movie in a good way.
He never replied back but reading it again, I think you may be right. I don’t see how any adult can say II is better than V that isn’t mentally handicapped or last name isn’t Lucas.
All of the original trilogy is well paced. I love A New Hope and Return Of The Jedi just as much as I love Empire Strikes Back.
Compared with other films but when you watch them all together, There are some parts that drag. The PT especially.
Without putting words into Ditlous’ mouth, my interpretation was that they were saying The Empire Strikes Back is such a rich and quality film that it feels bigger than it really is… It was a compliment.
I really hope so because AOTC is up there in the top 10 list of worst studio sequels ever made. Just about everything is done poorly and even those who worked on it said it was rushed to avoid the strike.
Perfect,long enough to feel epic without bum numbing.
I think the run time doesn’t matter as much as the films ability grab your attention to the characters. If it NEEDS a longer run time to do that, I’m all for it. My hope is that they spend long sections of the movie just getting you to identify with Rey, Finn, Poe and other characters and less on action. We have two more episodes (at least) to focus on big action sequences, after we’re more invested in the characters.
I am curious if we’re going to get a flashback of the battle of Jakku, though.
I’m old enough to remember the first 2 movies to be rated PG13… Gremlins and Temple of Doom… Empire is especially dark and violent but PG… I just bought Age of Ultron and realize its PG13… why? Because Ultron ripped off Serkis’ arm? I dunno why it bothers me so much…. but I should probably start thinking about something else… like chicks… sigh
To be fair, both the original Star Wars, Empire, and Return Of The Jedi all probably would have had the PG-13 rating had it existed then. I’m perfectly fine with the new movies getting that rating. There’s plenty of death, decapitation, bones, and destruction and scary moments to warrant a PG-13 rating in the original Star Wars films. Just sayin’. People shouldn’t be freaking out over a PG-13 rating.
Yes! PG-13 is what I want to see!
You know, movies are getting way too long for their own good nowadays, though it seems that’s just the way of the times.
This trend considered, 136 minutes is actually reasonably short when compared to “Man of Steel” @ 148 min. and “Dark Knight” @ 152.
And when adjusted for average movie-length for our time period it’s about on par with ANH’s runtime for when it was released, about as long as ROTJ [which I believe at the time was considered bloated]. Overall, I think it’s a good, solid time-slot for the film to fall into.
Extra 12 minutes: Luke vs Snoke
Lol in my country nobody care is it pg or pg13 or something else,actualy nobody hear for them, and sory for bad english
As much as I want this movie to be super long so I can make this awesome experience last, 136 min does feel like the perfect runtime for a Star Wars movie. 100 min is to short and 150 min is a touch too long, so this is a pretty good sweet spot
I don’t mind a long runtime. Gives faneditors more to work with. They pretty much made the PT watchable at nice 95 minutes each.
Movie tickets nowadays are $10 – $15. I’m sorry, but if I’m going to pay a lot for a movie ticket, I damn better get my money’s worth and that includes both movie quality AND length.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to the 7PM AND Midnight premieres. $10 for 2D and $15 for 3D, and that’s IMAX.
Not in my country. In Australia it’s $15 for 2D and IMAX is almost 50 bucks
seriously, though.. who gives a f*ck what the run time is? if it’s as good as the hype train is assuming it will be, you’ll watch and enjoy it regardless. just like how if you’re as big a star wars enthusiast as most of you claim to be, you own copy’s of the PT regardless.
I agree. As for others on here, sounds like many here with they were back in the 1977-1983 era lol.
The more, the merrier…
The extra 16 minutes is Luke crying saying “Muah Babi Guuuuuurl” and sob weeping for a while as Rey booger cries and snorts…..
12A doesn’t mean that a movie is suitable for those aged 12 and over. It means that all children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
That’s an important distinction.Your definition suggestions that it’s not going to be suitable for most kids, which would be weird for a Star Wars film!
The run time means little to me as long as the story is up to the standard that we all believe Star Wars should be it could be 60 minutes or run for days, the content is the important factor.