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Darth Vader

3.7 Going ROGUE (ONE)

December 20, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

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http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rogue-One.mp3

This week, pastor and Jedi master Greg Banik and ScreenFish co-editor Jacob Sahms join forces with Steve to take on the evil Empire in ROGUE ONE! But does this movie know the difference between good and evil? They chat about the politics of war, changing views on religion and the nature of faith.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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Special thanks to Greg Banik and Jacob Sahms for chatting with us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast, Star Wars Tagged With: Dark Side, Darth Vader, Death Star, Felicity Jones, Force, Jedi, jyn erso, Krennic, Mads Mikkelson, Rogue One, Star Wars, Stormtrooper, war

Rogue One, A Star Wars Story: One With The Force

December 16, 2016 by Arnaldo Reyes 3 Comments

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“Rebellions are built on HOPE.”

Words don’t ring truer than what Jyn Erso said. (Don’t worry it’s not a spoiler, it was in the trailers.) If you are familiar with Star Wars and the first film, A New Hope, you understand that for many of us, it all started there. When I think of Star Wars, I can’t help but think that George Lucas had no inkling what it would become (so much so that he gave us the horrible prequels). It is more than a phenomenon or something only seen and spoken of at Comic-Con. There is nothing like Star Wars because there is no entertainment franchise that has garnered the following that Star Wars has. Now, with the financial resources of Disney, Lucasfilm is ushering new stories, not just in the present (Force Awakens), but touching on the hope that fans will enjoy some standalone films that bring us to the past.

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Enter Rogue One, the first standalone film in the Star Wars franchise that aims to break the mold and carving its own name in the vast universe. If you are familiar with Star Wars: A New Hope, then you know how this film will end, but it’s the journey of the film and the characters that will definitely leave you at the edge of your seat for 2+ hours. We know from New Hope that the Rebel Alliance stole the plans of the infamous Death Star, and with those plans they were able to find the weakness and destroy it. Though briefly mentioned, Rogue One is the story of the brave group of rebels who went behind enemy lines and against all odds to bring hope to a near broken alliance. This is their story “DUN DUN” (sorry, Law & Order reference felt appropriate).

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Rogue One is a little of what we have loved of the Star Wars franchise while also being completely different. It is grand in scale, but yet grounded and centralized, and I think that is what makes it such a great film. If you heard that it’s the best Star Wars film since Empire Strikes Back, that is very accurate. Empire still ranks as my all-time favorite, but Rogue One is now a very close second. Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is a remarkable and strong character. In a franchise that very well pioneered the strong female heroine (make no bones about it, Leia was more than just a love-struck princess), Erso follows in the footsteps of Leia, Amidala, Ahsoka, and Rey in ushering a new hero that doesn’t require a love interest or to be sexualized (we’ll forgive slave Leia for now) to be popular. I think, much like Rey, that Jyn will become quite the popular heroine, and rightfully so. Throughout the film, she shows strength, vulnerability, compassion, leadership, and a bravery that outshines all.

As the latest droid entry (who by the way was a great and hilarious addition) K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) says, “Jyn Erso, your behavior continues to defy expectations” (I don’t quite remember exactly, but it was in those lines). This is what makes Jyn stand out, and why she can have people willing to follow her, and even disobey orders. She personified what the rebellion was all about, hope. She wasn’t a Jedi (they weren’t back yet) but she made a greater impact in this moment. Around her was a great cast that inspired you all the while you saw them develop into true heroes.

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Rogue One is also very much filled with little (and some big) Easter eggs and cameos that will make any Star Wars fan excited to see. Whether you are a fan of just the movies, or a fan of some of the animated series (look out for a certain Rebels ship), you are sure to see something or someone that will put a smile on your face. Of course, there is no greater someone in the film than Lord Vader himself. Although brief, his appearance is nothing short of amazing. All of us in the theater in unison said, “WHOA!” at the same time and considering we’ve seen Vader before, that speaks volumes.

Star Wars has always been a great parallel to the gospel teachings of the Bible, light vs dark. Rogue One is no different, and what it shows is that even in the darkest of places, a little light can renew the spirit and hope. Once you see it, and you grasp it, and you cling to it, it will shine brighter. From how they were able to get the plans, to trusting in being “One with the Force”, Rogue One exemplifies that when we trust in “The Force” we can accomplish the unthinkable. But ultimately, it’s not just about that. It is about inspiring that hope in others and allowing it to spread where even the most harden of hearts filled with tragedy can see the light and embrace it.

Star Wars: Rogue One is a definite must watch. This is Star Wars for adults, and there is nothing wrong with that. A bold risk, but one that will pay off very well and open the doors for more standalone stories. I can think of one that I would love to see (and also be for adults), so Lucasfilm or Disney, need some ideas for another standalone risk, contact me because I have the film for you!

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Darth Vader, jyn erso, Rogue One, Star Wars, Star Wars: Rogue One

Rogue One, a Star Wars Story: What Would You Die For? (A Spoiler-Free Review)

December 16, 2016 by Jacob Sahms 4 Comments

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Rogue One 
is conspicuously “a Star Wars story,” not cut from the same mold as The Force Awakens. But from this lifetime Star Wars fan, that may in fact make it better than (some of) its predecessors. In fact, I found myself emotionally more connected to the story of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and her team of misfit castoffs than I did to any set of characters since… Return of the Jedi thirty-plus years ago.

[Editor’s note: this is about stealing the plans for the first Death Star. If that doesn’t make sense to you, you shouldn’t be reading this yet!]

Here, Jyn is the daughter of Galen Erso, research scientist for the Empire who designs the Death Star, and Lyra Erso (Valene Kane), whose one dying wish is that her daughter recognize the Force. While we have a typical Disney “orphaning” process in the first stanza, the next stage flips us forward fifteen years to the full-blown conflict between the Rebel Alliance in its fledgling, pre-New Hope success and the evil onslaught of “Lord” Vader and his evil Empire.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) Ph: Jonathan Olley �Lucasfilm LFL 2016.

In the present, Rebellian intelligence officer Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) makes Han Solo look like Snow White – Andor clearly shoots first, potentially having done worse work on behalf of freedom. Opposite Andor in capacity, but not necessarily in mentality, is Ben Mendelssohn’s Orson Krennic, whose Empire focus has him issue lines about how sometimes the presence of fear must predate freedom. [Who says this film doesn’t have a political feel? Oh, wait, the Alliance versus Empire saga has always had an eye to history. Check out the landing on Normandy played out in a galaxy far away by the end of the film… complete with WWII era helmets.]

rogueone2While Jyn struggles to figure out who she is, she’s joined by two former Jedi Temple guards, Chirrut Imwe (the great Donnie Chen), a blind Jedi follower, and his sidekick, Baze (Jiang Wen). The fact that their temple can no longer be guarded highlights that they have in fact failed – that some might see they have already lost. Thanks to their mentality and banter, they’ll provide the Force or no Force debate, with the blind man who can see better than the seeing serving up helpings of Yoda and Obi Won, while his mercenary friend believes (for much of the film) only in his blasters and brute strength. Rebellion or no, these two recognize the Empire as evil, and stand against it – but they recognize something different in Jyn. The human team is rounded out by The Night Before’s Riz Ahmed, who plays a defector from the Empire, Bodhi Rook, seeking his own set of redemption.

Jyn may be the one most likely catalyst to our story, thanks to a female protagonist with daddy issues, but she is hardly the last character in this film seeking redemption. To be clear, if you are a Star Wars fan, then watching the film is like watching Titanic – you know what is going to happen here, you know what the tragic future for many is, and yet, you’re gripped by the power of the Gareth Edwards-directed visuals and the story of true freedom fighters.

rogueone3This is only the second movie in 2016 to make me want to stand up and cheer at the end (the other, Hacksaw Ridge). This is the one that makes me want to highlight (again) for my children that in the end, the good guys always win … but that along the way, there are sacrifices made by brave men and women. Please don’t get me wrong: the movie made me laugh outloud (thank you, Alan Tudyk) and cry (here’s …looking… at you, Imwe) but it’s deeply provoking as it speaks to war, peace, justice, power, faith, and the practice of all of them. I’d say more – but I promised a spoiler-free review.

Just go see it. And then ask yourself, what do you believe in enough to die for? Are you willing to live for it, too?

Filed Under: Current Events, Editorial, Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Alliance, Darth Vader, Empire, jyn erso, Return of the Jedi, Rogue One, Star Wars, The Force

Why I Don’t Want To See The Force Awakens

December 17, 2015 by Jacob Sahms 1 Comment

forceawakens3I remember seeing The Return of the Jedi as a seven year old. Sure, I’d seen A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. I couldn’t wait for the good guys to bust in and reclaim Han (remember, we didn’t know for sure he could be rescued but we hoped), and for the evil Empire to be destroyed. In those days (the early 1980s), Darth Vader was definitively evil, Ewoks were cute and not too annoying, and Luke was on the rise. The film itself was remarkable, spellbinding, mind-blowing, and without comparison – those boring Star Trek movies with all of their witty banter weren’t even on my radar.

My friends and I ran around the playground battling unseen evil. I was Luke because I was blonde, and he was good; my darker haired friend Jeff was Han; our tall friend was Chewbacca. We had a friend named Leia on whom I had a crush (ironically destroyed by the acknowledgment that Luke and Leia were, gasp, related) but she would only periodically move into the sphere of our imagined Tattoine and Dagobah. We could swing from the monkey bars, careen down the slides, slashing our sticks like sabers and riding our imaginary speeders.

Life was good, and Star Wars was even grander in our collective imaginations, before the war of G.I. Joe and the hassles of the real world (in middle school) crashed in. We didn’t care if Han shot first (of course, he had then) or if Jabba walked (he was a slug, not a lizard); the complexities of life and the disappointments of Jar-Jar Binks had not yet invaded the sphere of our imaginations.

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In many ways, that’s the way I want to remember Star Wars. Before the awareness of how Anakin turned bad, and then was redeemed again. Before the world taught us that the rebellion in one galaxy is the ‘right’ in another. Before Jar-Jar and Disney crashed into the simpler model of what it meant to be part of the Force. [I’ll bet you that I hate BB-8.]

That’s why part of me doesn’t want to go to see The Force Awakens.

It’s the part of me that doesn’t want to see my heroes older and fatter. It’s the part of me that thinks Indiana Jones should forever end with Harrison Ford and Sean Connery riding off into the sunset (in Last Crusade, for the uninitiated, before Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and Mark Hamill should stick to voiceovers.

It’s the part of me that doubts that CGI and grander special effects can top the moments on the playground. It’s the part of me that has only rewatched the original trilogy a half-dozen times, and why I’ve avoided rewatching the terrible first three episodes. [Haters, bring it.] It’s the part of me that doesn’t want complicated politics or a sliding scale of morality to invade the grand, Lewisian-like (or is it Tolkien) epic that says that the good guys are on a redemptive arc and that ultimately, with great sacrifice, they will overcome.

It’s the part of me that has said, quite loudly, if Luke is Kylo Ren, that I’ll start a bonfire of Star Wars memorabilia that will be seen for miles. [No, I won’t raid Target; that’ll just be my own collection.] It’s the part of me that thinks, quite grumpily, that the genius of J.J. Abrams and his Alias, Lost, etc. back catalogue still can’t quite be ready to be canonical.

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But then I remember the spring of 1984, walking into that theater knowing that Luke will destroy, annihilate, kill his father who is pure evil. And how the grace-filled redemption of Vader unlocked something in my heart that reminded me that love and forgiveness could be for everyone.

And that spark, some might call it the Force, burns brighter again in my heart.

There’s nothing that could keep me from seeing The Force Awakens, is there?

Do or do not, there is no try.

Filed Under: #tbt, Current Events, DVD, Editorial, Featured, Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: Alias, C.S. Lewis, Darth Vader, Empire, Force Awakens, Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kylo Ren, Lost, Luke Skywalker, Rebellion, Star Wars

Star Wars Episode V: Luke Strikes Out On His Own As The Empire Strikes Back

December 15, 2015 by Mark Sommer Leave a Comment

empirestrikesbackThe Empire Strikes Back begins on a seemingly dead ice planet, Hoth. The bleakness of the planet is contrasted with the warm relationship which has evolved among the four main protagonists. Although Leia is furious that Han is planning to leave, their conflict only thinly veils the affection between them. And even though she continues to spurn his advances, there is something more than friendship there, although the screenwriter keeps us guessing until Leia admits her love for Han just before he is incased in carbonite.

The affection of Han and Leia for Luke is seen in their concern for him as he goes missing. Later, we even see Chewbacca give Luke a hug when they are about to part from each other. The heartfelt friendship of these characters will play a huge part in what happens later.

In the first movie, Luke Skywalker makes his “first step into a larger world,” and also uses the Force to help destroy the Death Star. But he still has much to learn. Luke still relies too much on technology, which does not detect the wampa before it attacks him. If he had been more tuned into the Force, certainly he would have known the monster was there. Somehow he needs to get more training in the ways of the Force.

Step in Ben Kenobi from the great beyond.

In a scene reminiscent of revelatory visions and dreams in the Old Testament, Obi-Wan tells Luke he must go to the Dagobah system to be trained by Yoda. Luke still needs to recover, and will help slow the advance of the Empire troops so rebel transports can get away. But after the battle, Luke leaves his friends, not telling them where he is going, and surprising his faithful droid, R2D2.

Sometimes friends must be abandoned for a while – for the greater good.

empiredagobahIn contrast to Hoth, the Dagobah planet is teaming with life. But, except for his electronic companion, Luke is very much alone. Even after meeting Yoda, he is still virtually alone, as he must face “the trials” completely by himself.

When Luke arrives at the planet, Yoda doesn’t reveal himself at first. He wants to test Luke’s patience, and Luke fails miserably. Luke also still has many misconceptions to overcome, and needs to learn to live in the now. Yoda tells Obi-Wan,

“All his life has he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things.”

Turning to Luke, he adds, “You are reckless.”

Obi-Wan reminds Yoda how reckless he was. (We will see some of that in the prequels.) He convinces Yoda to train Luke, even though both Jedi Masters have misgivings about him, fearful he will become “like his father.” Here George Lucas is giving us a hint, much as a good mystery novel provides hints as the story progresses. But the shocker is we have no reason to believe Luke is being lied to; the information is being withheld that Darth Vader is actually his father. But this information, provided by Darth Vader himself, will be vital to the outcome of the next film, Return of the Jedi. Even the wisest of the Jedis cannot see all.

On the Star Wars Wiki website, the debacle surrounding the Battle of Galidraan is described. Count Dooku had been ordered by the Council to lead the battle. In an article I wrote for Examiner.com, just after the death of Christopher Lee, I commented how Lee’s character, “Count Dooku became Darth Tyranus, in part because of some lees-than-blameless actions ordered by the Jedi Council.” In the Examiner article, I compared Dooku’s betrayal to Anakin Skywalkers’:

“This is reminiscent of Anakin Skywalker being drawn to the Dark Side after being recruited to spy on the Emperor. We learn in the prequel films the Jedi Order was run by people with feet of clay. The power of the Force causes temptations for even the Light-Siders. Being one of the “good guys” doesn’t exempt people from questionable acts and decisions.”

That is not to say that the “good guys” were not trying to do their best to do what is right. But the Jedi Council, with its (over)emphasis on not being controlled by emotion, sometimes missed the mark when it comes to compassion. Almost like the Levite and the Priest in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, they limited what they were willing to be involved in.

Yoda is right to be cautious when he warns Luke about negative emotions: “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Luke’s father was led to the dark side because his deep love and compassion for his wife led to fear of the future. Yoda and Obi-Wan are right to be concerned Luke will follow the same path. But…

Sometimes the greater good must be risked when your friends are in need.

Luke knows that he has much to learn. And he will continue to learn even as he faces Vader in order to help his friends. As Vader acknowledges, “You have controlled your fear.” Luke doesn’t give in to his anger. He doesn’t use his hatred to try to destroy Vader. Even after he learns he was lied to about his father, he refuses to give in.

empire strikes back, duelWe live in an age where the old guardians of Christianity are being criticized perhaps more than ever before. And much of the criticism is justified. Christian leaders have made mistakes, many of them unforgivable. But if we look honestly at the history, most of the time the leaders of the faith were doing the best they could with the knowledge and wisdom available at the time. They were honestly seeking to follow God the best they knew how.

What is desperately needed today is the wisdom to know when we need to follow the guidance of those who have gone before, and when that guidance needs to be changed out of compassion for others. Tradition has great value, and we can learn much from the great teachers and theologians of the past. But sometimes there is wisdom in the younger generation that those holding on to traditionalism have missed. Just remember that the next generation will sit in judgment on this one, too. And beware lest our judgment of the past leads us to the dark side of the present.

Filed Under: DVD, Editorial, Film, News, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: Dagobah, Darth Vader, Dooku, Empire Strikes Back, Hoth, Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Tradition, Yoda

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