It risked getting stuck in a rut and appealing only to an ever aging fan base. This movie broke the mold and let's it move forward with a new generation of fans in mind,and opens up the possibility of new storylines that don't require the Skywalker DNA to be front and center.
shareSo let me get this straight...you don't age...and you feel it was a good business decision to put out a product that dismisses the buying power of the wealthiest demographic your property possesses? Business 101 states clearly that it is ten times more difficult and therefore expensive to find a new client than to keep an old one....with this in mind and an understanding that there is a strong chance that a new generation woukd find appealing that which countless millions have enjoyed to date...I am failing to see logic in your theory. Also muddying the waters of your point is the obvious fan backlash that is being demonstrated from young...old...male...female...black...white...and on the 5th...Chinese.
Guess you and I differ on our approach to business and Star Wars. I would have preferred a film that found a way to unify my ever growing fan base...yours would be to embrace a movie that divides it...divide the audience...so do you the profit...Good for the Star Wars universe?
"My ever growing fan base". Freudian slip? or you are way overinvested emotionally in a film franchise or both.
shareThe movie is making money hand over fist,so they are doing something right. Also taught in business 101 is when it comes to spending money,it's well known that the 18-34 demographic is the biggest payday. Those are not the original fans anymore.It's also worth pointing out that the extremely hardcore fans are the hardest to please,so why would they bother trying if a more forgiving,younger audience is less discriminating. Even the prequels made a bunch of money,so the theory holds strong. Perhaps it is impossible to give the original fans a movie that captured their interest and nostalgia as much as the original trilogy,and the people at Disney recognize this and know to cut their losses. I'm a huge fan of the originals, but found TLJ to be a fresh look on the universe (even though it certainly has it's flaws) and try to see it on it's own merit,but like ANY movie (particularly Sci-fi),if you try to pick it apart scene by scene,it won't hold up as well.
shareNot going to argue against the film enjoying a large payday...but it would also be ill advised for you to argue it is fulfilling expectations set forth by Disney...it is not...
Economics would be the study you should be referencing...and the US department of labor states the demographic of 35-65 to be the group with the most disposable income per capita...I can provide a link that explains this. Oh...and before you try to shoe horn in some nonsense about having it does not necessitate spending it..we constitute 50% of the wealth but account for 63% of all national spending....18-34 posses roughly 30% and only account for approximately 20% of all spending...might think about edititing that colossal error from your original post.
By stating your age group to be "less discriminating" and "more forgiving" you really pigeon hole yourself into a grouping of mediocrity...which is odd as your original post was as to the bold new direction of the franchise...Star Wars The Last Jedi...bold new directions...for the less discriminating pallet...???
As far as my approach to enjoying Star Wars...you have me ALL WRONG! I am one of the most forgiving hardcore old school fans you could meet. Have no hate for the prequels...some obvious issues, but not childhood rape complaints LOL. Actually like the prequels more than ROTJ...but that's another story. Loved TFA...and site it for most of my complaints for TLJ. Even enjoyed the Holliday special...give me a break...I was like 7...and it was Star Wars ON TELEVISION!!! This was a fucking big deal back in the day😂 I was actually enjoying TLJ for its appearance during my viewing but had this nagging feeling that much of what was presented in TFA was not being addressed on the screen in front of me. I was also concerned that luke was not snapping out of his hatered of the force. I was hoping during the film that something was going to happen to start connecting plot points from TFA. Then I find out Luke was going to...kill Kylo???
And from a flashback??? Too much was changing by this point and still TFA narrative was going unaddressed? Then Snoke is gone! Done! What I thought was the most interesting plot device from TFA...is just...gone? At that point I noticed the Knights of Ren were yet to arrive and most likely not to appear at all and dismay started to set in. By the time Luke was killed I was divested from the film...and I do not believe the above reasons are worthy of disregard. A Star Wars film sans a lightsaber duel, no IHABFAT, flashbacks to push narrative...all seem worthy complaints. No Mary Sue...female agenda...emasculated fanboy...animal rights complaints...just Star Wars tradition....anyways...
shareKey spending demographics very considerably from expense to expense. Older folks definitely spend more on higher ticket items,such as homes and vehicles. When it comes to entertainment,the 18-34 year olds are always the big spenders,along with most other things viewed as more frivolous. I see your point in saying that there is a contrast between me saying it is a bold direction vs a profitable one for the masses. It is my HOPES that Star Wars finds it's footing and settles into it's groove and makes great movies that everyone likes. This is clearly not the case with TLJ,which I liked but didn't love. I feel it is a necessary step to appeal to the masses while trying not to alienate current fans. It doesn't seem to have succeeded in the latter, which obviously they wish it would have. I'm not sure it was possible to make everyone happy in this instance,but I think for the long run it was still a good idea to stray off course, mostly for a future payoff. They plan on making shitload of these, and I think the pre-existing universe may have been poised to paint itself in a corner. Also, I'm 41,so I don't consider myself to be the target audience of these movies anymore and was actually speaking on behalf of the newer fans. I understand where Disney might not care what I think,lol. For the record,spacewalk Leia was almost cringe worthy,as well as a couple other scenes, but I'd bet I'd feel the same about a LOT of scenes in the original trilogy if I watched them for the first time at this age. Ultimately, I'm glad they keep making new movies,and hopefully the direction they have chosen pans out to be a good choice.
shareI thought they were capable of getting new fans without pissing off half of the old ones.
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