Honestly I don't understand why fans are going crazy and literally crying over a bad deep fake with a terribly dubbed lip sync that sounds nothing like Hamill and saying it's "bad ass?" Mark had nothing to do with it other than having his face used. I had to get out of the Mando thread itself to avoid Joek3rr otherwise I would have brought this up in that thread. I just couldn't stand to get sucked into his vortex of "the ST is awesome and you're stupid for not loving it with undying devotion." I've been debating him endlessly on loop for the last 3 years ever since that movie came out and I just can't do it anymore. I really hope he doesn't pop into this thread because I'll have to abandon this one too or give him the privilege of being the first person to be put on ignore.
I honestly don't get it though. "Luke" was doing exactly what we watched
every Prequel Jedi do for 3 films, namely mess up droids with lightsabers and the Force. It was tired by the end of The Phantom Menace because they were weed whacking harmless stick robots. Sure I know the Dark Troopers were more of a threat but "bad ass?"
REALLY????
I just feel like no one remembers how insanely awesome Luke Skywalker is in Return of the Jedi. Think about all the crazy awesome skill he shows off in that movie, and before we get bogged down into a debate about Ewoks, Luke's story in that movie is the strongest thing in that film and what elevates it into being a classic. Even the detractors have to admit that the climax of that movie with him and Vader is easily the best of it and some of the best of the entire saga.
I'm not about to tell anyone how to love Star Wars so I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade.
I just don't understand what is so great about this finale? Is it cool to see that not everyone at Lucasfilm is a contrarian dick who loves trashing a beloved hero? Yes. Is it likely a gesture of trying to make up for the failures of the ST? Possibly. Are fans so desperate to have the character "redeemed" that they are willing to accept a terrible facsimile in order to wash out the bad taste Rian and JJ left in their mouths? I really think so. I mean I get not wanting to have your last perception of Luke being tainted by his ultimate failures as a hero, but it doesn't erase the coward he becomes, unless they find a way to decanonize the ST, which I doubt would ever happen. Even then, it still wouldn't prevent those films from existing, nor would it ever make up for the lost opportunity to see our heroes reunited one last time.
After years of hoping against all odds that Star Wars could be elevated the way the OT was by a team of capable writers and production, I've just given up. I read so many novels through the 1990's and enjoyed them for the most part though never considering them canon because they weren't the films, though upon revisiting them most never held up. I tried so hard to love the Prequels. I skipped Clone Wars and Rebels. I gave TFA a shot and waited hesitantly for episode 8, all the while sitting bored through Rogue One, and then 8 happened. I skipped the next two movies entirely as a result and though I was angry about the fate of my beloved heroes I figured I could just move on. Then the Mandalorian happened. I had friends bugging me literally multiple times a day for over a year and I had enough. I had access to Disney Plus for free and finally relented, only to have been brought to this inevitable end.
And I realized that no one, and I mean
no one has even come remotely close to the brilliance of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. I know some fans are just going to claim I'm one of those people that "will never be happy"
but if you've actually read the above paragraph as well as looked at my posts throughout the years you'll understand that all I ever wanted was the writing to be better and it's not some impossible task because it's been done before. Especially for my favorite series of all time. I'm fine with that. I've been trying to accept that fact for years now and move on with my life, but have caved to the pressure of my fellow fans to just give it
one more try. As well meaning a gesture I simply can't do it anymore and one more try has become one too many.
I'm fine with my three space adventure movies. After all these years I've come to realize I don't want or need any more than three. The story ended almost 40 years ago. Time for me to move on. I can't endure another several decades of debating anymore. I need to create my own fantasy world in my own story, by my own rules and not some fan fiction where I play in George Lucas's sandbox. I want to create my own sandbox. I want to fulfill the promise that Star Wars gave me, namely that it would inspire me to go on to do great things. In my case it means creating my own world to play in with my book. Star Wars was supposed to be the vehicle to inspire young people. I can't keep reliving the past. I need to look to the future.
If you read this far I appreciate you and your perspectives. Even the ones that bucked against my own because they forced me to become a better writer and to really think through my perceptions about story and character.
All the best to you fine people!
Psab
