[Before I reply to this, let me define what "Star Wars IQ" means to me. A person's Star Wars IQ, or SWIQ, is based on not just how much they know about Star Wars, but also their understanding of what it is that makes a good Star Wars movie. In other words, not just facts like, the Bothans stole the plans to the second Death Star, not the first. But also a person's Star Wars sensibilities, like knowing and understanding *why* Han shooting first radically alters his character for the worse. Han shooting first is an obvious example, that everyone agrees about, but there are more subtle ones--like how fast Vader walks, for instance. I'm talking about the myriad decisions, that go into every Star Wars movie, that many of us disagree about.
So, while virtually all of us score high on the first part, the factual part, of the SWIQ formula. Many fans' SWIQs are brought down in my estimation because they don't understand why something in a Star Wars movie detracts from it being an authentic Star Wars movie. Each of us, no doubt, thinks he possesses a SWIQ that's through the roof. And we're constantly judging the SWIQs we perceive others to have.
I like Bryancd. But even though I recognize he has an exceptionally high knowledge base of Star Wars facts (like most of us do), his SWIQ is brought down in my estimation, because he's demonstrated to me time and time again that he doesn't really understand what makes a great Star Wars film. Then there's a guy like Panthergem, who in addition to having a high knowledge base of Star Wars facts, he also possesses a keen understanding of all the less tangible elements which are needed to make an authentic Star Wars film. And so I consider him to have an exceptionally high SWIQ. Basically, what it boils down to, is ,we judge others to have a high SWIQ if they tend to agree with us, and to have a lower SWIQ if they tend to disagree with us. Nothing surprising--that's human nature.
Having said all of that, I possess an extraordinarily high SWIQ, and now that I've defined what it means to me for you, I will proceed to my reply to Bryan.]
I don't know anything about Alden's SWIQ. He may score decently on the factual part, but probably no where near as high as we RPFers score. But maybe he's a lifelong fanboy of the franchise, I dunno. As for the second part of his SWIQ--his sensibilities and judgments about what does and doesn't belong in a Star Wars film--I also have no idea how high he scores on this.
Alden didn't write the movie. He's just an actor, I get it. But regardless of who's idea it was, if he's doing or saying things in this movie that are antithetical to the character we know so well, I'll hate it.
And in regards to that snippet you posted above, I find it hard to believe that it was AE who pointed out to KK (via a producer) that this film was resembling the Keystone Cops. He may've had his concerns. If true, that could foretell that he possesses a high SWIQ. But the notion that KK wasn't aware of it, and only watched the dailies after AE raised the alarm in her, is just preposterous. If we know anything about KK, we know she is watching every aspect of this production like a hawk.
At any rate, Alden's got a lot to overcome--beginning with his diminutive stature and lack of facial resemblance. But if his SWIQ is lacking, too, this film will bomb in my mind and heart.
The Wook