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Finn

6.14 Family and Fans in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

December 27, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

In Star Wars: RISE OF SKYWALKER, Director JJ Abrams returns to attempt to wrap up a story 42 years in the making. As Resistance Heroes Poe Dameron and Finn attempt to wage ware agains the darkness of the First Order, young Jedi Rey ventures into the far reaches of space to face a deeper evil who has returned from the grave ready to expose secrets from her past. This week, Jedi Master Greg Banik and Mando Arnaldo Reyes return to the show to do battle about fan expectations, the nature of family and redemption from our past. 

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

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.

6.14 Star Wars: Rise of SkywalkerDownload

Filed Under: Podcast, Reviews Tagged With: Adam Driver, C3P-O, Daisy Ridley, Finn, JJ Abrams, John Boyega, Kylo Ren, Oscar Isaac, Poe Dameron, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The Last Jedi: Identifying the Enemy

January 2, 2018 by Heather Johnson 17 Comments

I know who Snoke is.

Ok, I admit that I originally had that as the title, but could foresee the flood of “clickbait” accusations with the overall discontent surrounding Snoke’s identity, so I moved it. But in all seriousness, I do know who he is. In a way.

I know there are hundreds of articles on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, so what could one more hurt? I enjoy discussing and reading countless theories and thoughts because there is always something new in the Star Wars universe that may have been overlooked the first time around. I mean, it’s a timeless story that spans generations and galaxies, and bridges the past with the experiences of the present and with a hope for the future. The conversations after the credits are part of what makes Star Wars Star Wars.

I want to be sensitive to everyone’s personal definitions of “spoiler,” so if you are still avoiding all of the press and discussion until you see it, here is where I say “it’s better to be safe than sorry,” and perhaps come back later. For everyone else, I want to talk about Snoke.

Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) has been an enigma since The Force Awakens gave us a holographic introduction of a seemingly larger-than-life villain with a mastery of the Dark Side of the Force. He not only controlled the First Order, but guided and influenced a young Ben Solo, a former Jedi-in-training under the tutelage of Luke Skywalker (Adam Driver and Mark Hamill respectively), and transformed him into Kylo Ren.

In The Last Jedi, Snoke is still in charge, and still pushing Kylo Ren to a deeper commitment to the Dark Side. Granted he isn’t as physically imposing up close and personal, but his power seems all but absolute, much like the villains that have come before him. In the prequels, Senator/Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) seduces Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) with a promise that he can prevent the death of Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). In epsidoes IV-VI, Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), uses the family connection between himself, Luke and Leia (Carrie Fisher) in multiple attempts to turn the young Jedi into following in his father’s footsteps.

Snoke uses those same external influencers and family connections but in a very pointed way, as he flips the relational dynamic between the “target” (in this case, Ben Solo) and the path of darkness. And this is what makes Snoke far more dangerous, and far more recognizable as a villain, than either Palpatine or Vader.

Instead of focusing on what the Dark Side can offer, Snoke uses the weaknesses he sees in Kylo, compares him to those he has admired (or hated), and twists a manipulating knife of self-loathing and doubt deeper into Kylo’s vulnerable soul. Snoke has taken hold of Kylo’s sense of self…who he is, his bloodline, his purpose, his talent…and poisoned it with talk of inadequacy and failure. It isn’t that the Resistance is too strong, or Rey too powerful for him to defeat, it’s that Kylo is too weak. His conflicting feelings keep him from doing what is necessary. Snoke feeds the doubt that is already inside of Kylo…that is inside of all of us…to maintain his control over him.

And this is why Snoke is such a dangerous enemy – not because of his skills with a lightsaber (apparently none), or because he has a connection to the villains before him (we actually get nothing of his backstory, which I think is what makes him even more dangerous) – but because of how he pulls the strings. His approach feels familiar because most of us have seen it or lived it in our own lives.

I mentioned that we get nothing on Snoke’s backstory. Maybe it will come later, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Snoke is more dangerous for the same reason Rey is more powerful – because they aren’t anyone “special.” Like the Force can choose anyone, so can the Dark Side. Snoke is a scarred, dangerous, hurtful person not because of who he may have been, but because of how he permits the Dark Side to work within him and in turn, helps him convince Kylo Ren that is an epic failure.

There are people in our lives that seem to have an unshakeable hold, and not because they are caring and supportive, but because they feed the small voice inside of us that whispers “you aren’t good enough, you aren’t smart enough, you aren’t pretty enough, you aren’t thin enough, you aren’t rich enough.” They poison our hearts with false declarations of our identities and leave no room for us to break free. Their power doesn’t come from a supernatural source or an inherently evil past (for most people anyway), it comes from the moment we accept their assessment of our weakness.

Snoke’s identity is clear: he is the abuser. He is the former boss, the ex-spouse, the controlling significant other, the overbearing parent, the toxic friend…Snoke is the manipulator in our lives that plants seeds of self-doubt and worthlessness, who cultivates a garden of thorns in our hearts, devoid of the warmth of the sun and relief of the rain. His sickening self-confidence that Kylo will strike down his “true enemy” solidifies his position as abuser. He is absolutely convinced that Kylo belongs to him. 

Our hardest battles aren’t fought with weapons and epic cinematic throw-downs (although the tag team of Rey and Kylo was majorly epic in my opinion), but in quiet determination, with a few key people pulling us through – both past and present.

I find it no accident that Kylo cuts the tie to his abuser with the Skywalker lightsaber when he strikes down Snoke. Kylo has been unsuccessful in the past at retrieving that lightsaber, yet in this scene he wields it effortlessly. You can’t convince me that Rey’s presence in Kylo’s life isn’t fueling his already conflicting soul, encouraging him to break free, making it possible for the lightsaber to respond to his command. And for me, having it seem such a simple act is what makes it so poignant and powerful.

Now Kylo did identify his true enemy and take him out, but the remnants of Snoke’s power still run deep. We see this play out for the remainder of the film. At first this really bugged me, as I was so ready for him to turn light. But it can’t be that way. It hardly ever is. When we take that first step away from a toxic presence, we are simultaneously at our strongest and weakest points. The journey is just beginning, which makes it vital to surround ourselves with people of light, like Rey and the fledgling remainder of rebels, as opposed to dwelling on our anger and sense of injustice and pouring our energy into violent revenge. Snoke’s role is far from removed because Kylo still reels and responds to his influence.

But there is hope! There is always hope, and in true Star Wars fashion, we are left with an image of resiliency, inspiration, and dare I say it…grace for the ones fighting a battle deeper than we may ever know.

 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: abuser, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Finn, Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill, Rey, Snoke, Star Wars, The Last Jedi

Scenes From A Thursday Night In A Galaxy Far Far Away

December 18, 2017 by Chris Utley 1 Comment

SPOILERS FROM STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI ALL OVER THIS ARTICLE.  DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE!!!!


  • Dear Disney: You’ve got money up the wazoo! How hard can it be for y’all to give Lucasfilm a proper movie studio logo with bells and whistles and such?  Marvel’s all spiffed out.  Pixar and the animation wings are spiffy.  Lucasfilm’s got that same placeholder madness from the 90’s.  Update that thing!   PLEASE!!!
  • So…Luke’s journey with the Force started with a binary sunset and ended with a binary sunset?  Coincidence?  Doubt it. Poetic?  MOST DEFINITELY!
  • How many of y’all besides me reduced the Force to moving rocks and other inanimate objects?  That mind-melding between Rey and Kylo to get in each other’s head/physical space? Mind. BLOWN!
  • And till now, we thought that Leia’s Force gift was just sensing thoughts and feelings.  Teleporting herself in a semi conscious state?   Mind. Blown. Again! Although my heart sank when it appeared that was how she was gonna die.
  • YODA!!!!
  • I’m not so sure Finn earned that “kiss from a Rose.”  There’s gotta be some cutting room floor material from that casino planet scene to justify her falling in love with him.
  • My SF colleague Arnaldo Reyes summed it up for us all in his review.  LET THE PAST DIE…but hold on to HOPE!  And that’s why fanboys are up in arms.  We will go into Episode 9 with a dead Vader, dead Han Solo, potentially Force ghosted Luke (and Yoda) and, ever so sadly, dead Leia.  The past has died.  All we have ever know about Star Wars is gone.  And that’s a good thing.  It’s what the last scene – along with the revelation of Rey’s parentage – leads us into: A TRUE NEW HOPE – the promise of something new.  Newness can be horrifying. So many times we cling to familiarity at our own expense.  We hold onto old memories, old lives, old sins that God clearly states that we are to put away.  Paul in Romans gives us one of the hallmark statements of faith when he declares that his mission in his journey with Christ is to forget those things which are behind and press forward toward that which is in front of him.  Rian Johnson has done that for us, the audience.  The past must die in order for us to move forward.  Just like our position in Christ:  Old things passed away.  Behold, ALL THINGS ARE NEW.
  • One final point about Luke. Addressing the fanboys again who were searching for their hero who they loved back in 77-83:  Heroism has a cost.  We see our heroes in real life and admire their greatness.  But we have no idea what that heroism cost them emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  Luke was supposed to be the manifested Jedi prophecy bringing balance to the Force and restoring the Jedi order.  But he failed in the process.  That failure cost him his nephew and the students he was training and also unleashed the power of the Dark Side to a new level.  Now mind you: THIS is on top of being a presumed orphan for the early part of your life, watching your aunt and uncle who were your caretakers die, finding out your sworn enemy is YOUR DADDY, losing your hand while confronting said enemy, the utter mind-blowing discovery that the most beautiful princess you’ve ever seen (and stole a couple of kisses from) is your friggin sister AND taking eleventy gazillion bolts of Force lightning from the Emperor as your enemy/Daddy saves your life and loses his in the process.  Talk about your burdens being carried!  But no one sees that.  They just see the blowing up of the Death Star, using the gift of the Force and Vader’s redemption. Heroism to the masses…failure behind the scenes.  Much like our own lives.  But as Yoda said, FAILURE is just as crucial to the journey as the successes. The American wing of the Christian Church is infected by this anti-failure mindset.  It has seeped into the fabric of the entire country. We celebrate success. We denigrate failure.  I have seen failure get people who genuinely love God removed from churches because of it. I have seen friends lost because of it.  I have seen the outright dismissal of people’s walks with Christ because of it. But, in my life, I have seen FAILURE be the launchpad into the revelation of the grace and mercy of God.  I never would know God’s genuine love if I hadn’t failed.  And I have failed epically. Just like Luke. But out of the ashes of my failures have come my greatest victories.  Just like Luke.  Luke’s final act in this film was paid for through the cost of his failures.  He became greater and more powerful than at any point in the Star Wars saga!  Can’t wait to see the lessons his Force ghosted self will teach Rey – and hopefully that little boy in the final scene.
  • JJ: Pressure’s on you, bruh.  You alienated a legion of Trekkers through your remake of The Wrath of Khan in which you made Khan an English dude and flip flopped Spock’s death into Kirk’s death.  We cannot have those shenanigans for Episode 9! No digging into your crates to find another movie to remix. The gauntlet has been thrown. Rian Johnson has set the table. It’s on you to bring the feast that will end this trilogy. DON’T SCREW THIS UP!!!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Finn, Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill, Poe Dameron, Star Wars, The Last Jedi

Seeing and Believing: SciFi Returns to the 80s

November 2, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

“There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?”   -Supreme Leader Snoke, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) Ph: Film Frame © 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Right Reserved..

There’s always been a tension between seeing and believing.

Especially over the last few decades, there has been an increasingly heavy emphasis that truth exists only when we can prove things scientifically or experience them for ourselves. Over that time, this debate has caused a real tension between the church and the scientific community, seemingly forcing people to ‘pick a side’.

Unsurprisingly, this has also shown up on the big screen.

For instance, let’s just look at some of the most popular science fiction stories in recent years. Films like Prometheus, Interstellar, and The Martian have all been hits at the box office and explored questions of our purpose in life. In each case, the films shoot for lofty ideas but land on the idea that life is really about us and what we can do. (For instance, often called a ‘love letter to science’, The Martian also explains that, “if you solve enough problems, you get to come home.”)

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In an interesting twist, even some of the most recent Biblical epics attempted to explain God’s interaction with creation in a more scientific manner. Films such as Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings and (arguably) Aronovsky’s Noah have both offered new depictions of the Biblical stories with a smaller focus on God and a greater emphasis on our human perspective and understandings as a source of hope.

Now, hear me out. I’m not, in anyway, taking a shot at science. Not at all. It’s our primary way of understanding our world. However, what I am noticing is that the pendulum of knowledge has swung so far in the ‘seeing to believe’ direction that our culture seems to have lost it’s ability to believe in anything other than itself.

But I think that the pendulum is about to swing back.

strangerthings4

All of a sudden, science fiction has opened the door a crack to admit that, sometimes, they don’t have all the answers. This year alone, there have been some substantial film releases that take a scientific approach that, although helpful and meaningful, isn’t always the final word on what’s real. Films like Jeff Nichol’s Midnight Special, Marvel’s Dr. Strange, this summer’s underrated Ghostbusters reboot or even Netflix’s massive hit, Stranger Things, have all fused a scientific worldview with an eye staring keenly into the spiritual.

Now, these films tell us that we have to believe to see.

Just look at Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

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When rebooting the franchise, one of the most important factors in the film’s success was bringing back an emphasis on the mystery of ‘the Force’. Whereas George Lucas wanted to explain away this amazing power in his infamous prequels—remember Midichlorians?—the fans and director J. J. Abrams wanted the Force to be seen as mysterious. By emphasizing the power of the Force, Abrams breathed new life into an idea that had lost its grandeur, without taking away any scientific explanations the Lucas had introduced.

Science and faith were friends again.

Interestingly, all of these examples are ‘throwback’ feel to them. Whether they take place in the 1980s themselves or are simply reboots of old franchises, each case seems to point to a ‘simpler time’. With this in mind, one has to ask if, maybe, our world is wondering if, for all our advancements, we’ve lost something along the way. Is it possible that, with all we’ve learned, we’re starting to realize that there’s still something powerful that we can’t explain? Does God really fit into our scientific worldview?

Maybe, our culture has finally realized that, to understand our world, we need both seeing and believing.

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Filed Under: Editorial, Film Tagged With: Benedict Cumberbatch, Darren Aronovsky, Dr. Strange, Exodus, Finn, J. J. Abrams, Jedi, lightsaber, Marvel, Matt Damon, Noah, Ridley Scott, Star Wars, stranger things, The Force Awakens, The Martian

Star Wars: The Force Awakens–Thoughts to Consider (SPOILERS)

December 23, 2015 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment

Kylo RenSince a large chunk of the population has donated a portion of their disposable income to a movie theater in order to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we’re getting to the point where spoiler-free reviews are going to be unnecessary. If you haven’t seen the film yet and want to be surprised when you get to the theater, I’d recommend taking a look at my earlier review first, since it contains no spoilers.   Otherwise, read on, as I go into some of my personal ponderings regarding the movie.

Scroll past the picture below to read on.  Otherwise, it’s okay to return later and read when you’ve had a chance to see the film for yourself.

Fighter battleAre we all here? Good.  Here are a few personal thoughts after seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens twice (Thursday PM and Friday PM):

I am not a Star Wars fanboy, but I have always had an interest in the series.  Perhaps it’s because George Lucas wanted to change some sequences in the preexisting films to make a plot point more noticeable (Greedo shooting first instead of Han Solo), more detailed (all the CGI with Jabba the Hutt in A New Hope) or look more unified (the horrific revised ending to Return of the Jedi that seems a bit ironic, seeing as it shows the folks on Corcuscant celebrating freedom, not knowing they’ll suffer the same fate as Alderann thirty years later). Maybe it’s because I wanted to leave a theater with a sense of awe and wonder—something I didn’t get when seeing The Phantom Menace back in 1999.  It could be due to the fact that I saw Peter Jackson succeed mightily in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (The Hobbit?  Not so much.). Regardless, I went in wanting something more, something dynamic, something post-worthy.

I got that—and much more.

The film’s first portion centers on the planet of Jakku, as BB-8 takes the map portion with him a few seconds before Kylo Ren’s Bat Cruiser (not trademarked, but it should be) shows up and annihilation occurs.  Rey, a scavenger in those parts, wants little to do with the droid when she encounters him and eventually has to make a decision about whether to sell him.  BB-8’s loyalty reminds me, in a non-speaking way, of the loyalty of Ruth to Naomi in the Old Testament (see Ruth 1:16-18).  Rey decides not to, and it’s a good choice on her part, as the droid introduces her to Finn, a Stormtrooper gone AWOL. The two make quite a formidable pair, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of this pair in future films.

As for Kylo Ren, it’s revealed that he’s the son of Han Solo and Leia.  He’s definitely a force (pun intended) to be reckoned with (notice the Force stop of Poe Dameron’s blaster shot in the opening sequence). In fact, the only folks who can fight him off are Snoke, General Hux, and (later on) Rey. But he’s got some serious issues. He has no control over his temper, slashing massive streaks into a computer wall when he finds out Rey was not captured. In another sequence, the Stormtroopers on duty just turn around and walk away. This probably explains why his lightsaber fizzles, pops, and looks so different than the ones we’ve come to know in the past. He wants to be good, but can’t seem to fight his way out of the Dark Side. We see this in play on numerous occasions, notably when taking to Han Solo on the bridge at the end of the film.  He knows what he needs to do, but can’t do it—does that sound eerily like the struggle Paul talks about in Romans 7:15-25?  As a result, he is a wretched man.  It looks like we’ll get to see more of this struggle in future episodes.

The last scene location of SW: TFAIn the end, Starkiller Base is destroyed, Han Solo is taken out by his son, Finn is on life support after a nasty lightsaber slash up the back from Kylo Ren, and Rey travels with Chewbacca to a planet full of islands.  Atop one of the islands, she meets up, for the first time, with Luke Skywalker.  Luke on the island reminded me of John on the island of Patmos in the book of Revelation. He had vanished (remember the opening screen crawl?) after seeing one of his Jedi trainees go rogue (in this case, Kylo Ren).  Perhaps he was waiting for a revelation of his own.  In John’s case, he came across Jesus himself, who told him to write some letters to a group of churches that needed a wake-up call badly (except for Philadelphia) and provided an amazing look at what will eventually come to pass. We’re not sure about Luke yet, but Rey holds his lightsaber out to him as the camera pans around them and the film ends (one of the best shots I’ve seen in a film in quite a while, I might add).  Perhaps it’s the wake-up call Luke needs to hear.  Sadly, we’ll have to wait a few more years until director Rian Johnson shares Episode VIII with us.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: A New Hope, Alderann, BB-8, Chewbacca, Corcuscant, Finn, General Hux, George Lucas, Greedo, Han Solo, Jabba the Hutt, Jakku, Kylo Ren, Leia, Lord of the Rings, Paul, Peter Jackson, Poe Dameron, Return of the Jedi, Rey, Rian Johnson, Snoke, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Starkiller Base, The Hobbit, The Phantom Menace

Star Wars The Force Awakens: A Spoiler Filled Look At The Newcomers to The Franchise

December 19, 2015 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

aforcereyStar Wars: The Force Awakens was everything a fan of the original films would hope to find. JJ Abrams captured the wonder and the magic of the original trilogy with a 2015 visual EFX that made the film just pop out of the screen. The scene transitions were seamless with great cinematography that carried the magic that made the first films ahead of their time.

And here is where I throw my warning as I highlight the new characters in the film: SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER.

In case you didn’t get the hint, spoiler warning. We are entering the spoiler region, so if you have not seen the film, stop reading now, go watch it, and then come back.

Ok, so last month I wrote on how Luke Skywalker had not turned to the Dark Side like many suspected. I also stated that he would train the new Jedi and that Kylo Ren was a Skywalker. I was correct on all three.

Kylo Ren

The mysterious “Darth Vader” fanboy isn’t really a fanboy as much as a grandson wanting to live up to what his grandfather stood for. Kylo Ren is the son of Han Solo and Leia [Organa nee Skywalker]. Sent away at a young age to train with Luke who was training the next generation of Jedi, Leia and Han hoped that the darkness and obsession that “Ben” had for Vader would be wiped away. They mention how Luke went into hiding because his apprentice turned on him. And although Kylo is hinted at it, I’m not so sure it was him (we’ll get to that later).

My disappointment in Kylo is that the mysterious bad boy was really just a child with daddy issues. But when he was confronted with his dad, this is where some of the visuals of the film really stood out.  You have Han and Kylo on a bridge. Han is trying to reach to that glimmer of light still left in his son. Behind Han you see this bright background of the sun still peeking through. Behind Kylo is red that points to a great metaphor of the characters inner struggle of light or dark. Then the sun is finally drained and darkness covers them all. At that moment, the inevitable that everyone saw coming came: the end of Han Solo at the hands of his son. Whatever light was left was buried even deeper. And even though he will soon get his tail whooped, the next time we see him on screen, we will see not the boy with daddy issues, but the true bad boy we all expected.

Rey

Here is the mysterious scavenger-turned-hero and the star of the show. We say that all things happen for a reason, and the fact that she is thrown into a fight she didn’t expect to be a part really points that out. Untrained, these series of events allow us to see the power of the force really come forward. She was able to withstand Ren, tap into the Force several times, and even make the trained Kylo Ren look like a rookie who was wielding his lightsaber for the first time.

What makes Rey so compelling is that her character was so innocent but also very strong. She is an independent character that stood her own, yet we are left with one burning question, who is she? She was abandoned on a planet when she was young and expecting her parents to return but they never did. But how powerful she is with the Force will bring all kinds of speculation. Did Han and Leia have another child? Are we playing the same “twins separated” of the original trilogy? Or, is she Luke’s daughter? I think it is safe to say that she is definitely a Skywalker and much more power than Ren at this stage (and that’s just raw power).  Rey is such a huge integral part to the film; that it is tragic that she just isn’t marketed as much as she should have been, but that is a different conversation on its own.  We can for now enjoy one of the best lightsaber fights in Star Wars. Rey vs Kylo Ren was so well done and set in a great backdrop that we can’t help but sit her impatiently for their next encounter. She alone makes the film worth watching several times again.

Finn

He is an interesting character because what he represents is such a huge metaphor that cannot be ignored.  Finn, from birth, was raised to be one thing, a Stormtrooper. But when confronted with the horrors of war and the reality of the First Order and Kylo Ren, he quickly realizes that evil is not something he wants to be a part of. It is a great example of nature versus nurture and shows us that we are determined by our surroundings or our upbringing. Rather, we have a moral center that God has given us that we have to decide for ourselves whether to follow or not. Finn first and foremost changed his life by deciding to follow that moral center and reject evil.

The other part of Finn’s story is a character that must decide whether fight or flight. For the most part, his decision is quickly flight. He wants to get as far away from the First Order as possible. But it is funny how love can change things. For the first time ever he knows what it is like to have a true friend, and when that friend needed him the most, his character changed. At that moment he was no longer choosing flight but rather fight. He did all he could to save Rey (who ironically ended up saving him instead). It is the power of love and friendship and the light that shines bright in these two characters.

Captain Phasma and Poe Dameron

In my opinion, they were just not in the film enough to make one truly care for them. Phasma leads the Stormtroopers but is barely seen and Poe is shown as a great pilot and leader, but again we aren’t given enough to really invest in them yet.

BB-8

BB-8 was a very adorable droid that at times made you laugh and others made you sad. He won’t take the special place that R2-D2 has, but he is a great addition to the film.

Supreme Leader Snoke

We finally come to the real bad guy. Snoke is the one pulling the strings. He is Kylo Ren’s master as far as the dark side is concerned. The figure we are introduced to is a hologram that is like a giant, and very deformed. Is this the real look of Snoke, or just an image he projects of himself? He is the real evil of the universe and when this trilogy comes to an end, it is him who will need to be defeated. The question is; who is he? We really don’t know, but I have a theory.

Kylo Ren was sent to Luke to be trained with the Jedi. At some point, Kylo’s obsession for Vader brought him to Snoke. Luke has disappeared because his apprentice turned on him, and we see Rey have a vision of Kylo and the Knights of Ren strike down all the Jedi in the same way that Anakin did. But, I believe that Snoke, whoever he is, was the apprentice that turned on Luke. He took Kylo under his wing and trained him in the Dark Side and then sent him to kill everything that Luke worked for. That pain drove Luke to solitude. His apprentice turned his nephew and he couldn’t stop him.

In the end, Star Wars The Force Awakens carries all the greatness of the original trilogy. It reminds us that the battle of light versus dark is an ever pressing matter, and that we all need to work to make sure that the light shines brighter and not allow the dark to take over.

If you read this review, you’ve seen the film. So what do you think? Are you going to see it again? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: BB-8, Captain Phasma, Finn, Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron, Rey, Star Wars, Star Wars Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Supreme Leader Snoke

Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens: Our History Matters *SPOILERS*

December 18, 2015 by Jacob Sahms 12 Comments

aforcereyI don’t want to disappoint anyone so please note that “SPOILER” is clearly in the title. I not-so-fondly remember the Friday morning when the first Avengers film came out. I was minding my own business – wearing a Captain America shirt – in Target, when I was approached… and BAM!

“Man, isn’t it crazy that they killed off Agent Coulson?”

I started in disbelief and silence at the man as he walked away, in ignorant bliss. I hadn’t seen the film yet, and the heart of the film had already been ripped out an exposed.

So, just to be clear, this Star Wars: The Force Awakens review contains major plot points.

Before we get there, let me just say that I found the film to be beautifully conveyed, with a narrative that matched the tone, style, and pace of the original trilogy. In fact, it was a simplified plot that allowed the character development to deepen the action rather than glorified political bickering and grandstanding that work fine in House of Cards or Scandal, but which turned the prequels into some heavy-handed clunkers. Capturing that lyrical storytelling style, J.J. Abrams’ and company also found a way to reel back in the ‘old school’ look of the various planets that the narrative took us to — the snowy final act was one of the best looking sets in a film I saw this year.

aforcewookieQuick non-spoiler hits to give you a chance to turn back now…

BB-8 wasn’t as annoying as I expected. Okay, I’ll admit it: he was no Jar-Jar, and was more huggable than most Ewoks.

The cast’s diversity was a strength, not an add-on. Whether it was a central black character or the depth of options for women, The Force Awakens proved that it wasn’t all about white male superiority.

You could probably enjoy this one without seeing any of the others. But it wouldn’t be as much fun, so why would you?

John Williams’ score is again simply fabulous.

Now, to the plot points…

aforcedarthAs a fan of the oldest trilogy, it was delightful to see the old crew back at it, and to recognize that there were several set pieces that were mimicked from previous films. While the film did finally deviate from being a straightforward copy of the Battle of Endor, it was at times off-putting to find that we were watching a mirrored image from somewhere else. I was thinking of Gandalf versus Balrog, but honestly, things went better for Harrison Ford the last time he stood on a bridge…

Ironically, it’s that scene that I saw telegraphed from the first third of the film. While the Internet has been buzzing with anger over the preposterous suggestion that someone might leak information about the film, it struck me as completely “unshocking” that Han would die at the hands of his son – who we knew early on was Kylo Ren. Ren’s temper tantrums mixed with the Force tied him to both Leia and Han, and reflect the failure of Luke as a teacher in his first attempt (setting up his redemption as teacher in the second film?) Ironically, or not…. Luke’s visual appearance reflects that of Obi Wan Kenobi in A New Hope: he’s isolated, bearded, reclusive, and dismissive of the Force and its application. But that, and the probable reveal that Daisy Ridley’s Rey is in fact his sister. [Editor’s note: We’ve seen this before and Timothy Zahn’s post-Jedi trilogy included that plot point.]

For all of its flash and sparkle, The Force Awakens plays out like Star Wars should, and certainly like a Disney film. There are dysfunctional kids, dysfunctional parents, and the quest to find the family who left you behind. It’s just ironic that rather than letting this meander around, Abrams actually went for it and pulled off his own Oedipal moment. The end result is one I expected, but it also sets us up to see the conflicted pain of Ren and the potential future clash with Rey. Thankfully, here, Abrams’ sequel proved to be more open minded to both women and minorities; by herself, Ridley’s portrayal would have provided the necessary ‘juice’ to make us care, but she was not alone.

aforcefinnThat said, Ridley wasn’t alone. On one side of the equation, she had Finn (John Boyega), who provided a depth to stormtroopers we hadn’t seen in the films before. His recognition that war was dangerous, and that the First Order was not just, leads him to first a Han Solo position (the good for the sake of self) to the Luke Skywalker position (the good for the sake of friends … and for all). Finn’s development was a testimony to the script but also to Abrams’ casting of this fine, young actor and his portrayal. Finn made us care because he had seen evil from the inside, and been prey to its bullying and manipulations. Recognizing that evil, Finn’s desire to do good is redemptive, but it’s also braver – he knows what is at stake. Interestingly enough, if he was stripped of his parents and raised to fight for the First Order, then it is ultimately his nature that dominates his nurture, right? That could lend itself to a completely new conversation about the nature of humanity, the fall, and grace, too.

Ren is of course the flip side to this. Ren’s conviction in the direction of the eerily absent Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) is creepy. (Snoke looks incredibly like a decomposing Voldemort, who has been kept alive by hate and bitterness. Is he the manifestation of evil?) He knows he’s being manipulated, but he specifically prays to the spirit of his dead grandfather to help him eradicate the light in his own heart. I know that Adam Driver has given interviews where he worked to create the idea that Ren wasn’t evil, but even before his final acts of violence, he’s literally aware that good/light is better and he’s turning toward the darkness. [For a Biblical comparison, the Pharaoh rejecting Moses’ pleas on behalf of God use the phrase “hardened his heart,” implying his desire was evil and God allowed him the resilience to stay that way. Ren seems like that.] This also shows that his grandfather’s final act of “good” – and his place in the dead Jedi pantheon – has not offset the way that Snoke uses Ren to think about the world, or how Ren remembers his own history.

What is clear is that the history of Star Wars includes peaks and valleys of times when the Force was prevalent, and times when it was left dormant. Is that because it wasn’t needed? Is that because people had forgotten the Force, their heritage, or their history? Is it because there really are a limited number of people who can wield it? Time will tell for sure, but the history of the Force is what bonds the stories, and our collective understanding of what is going on, together.

That history, and the backstories of Finn and Rey, will have to remain for another day. We don’t know exactly how they will play out yet, but we know that they will ultimately matter because they are still seeking. They are seeking opportunities to grow, people to mentor them, and family to surround them – those same things which we seek today. In the case of Finn, Rey, and Ren, others have stepped in where family did not or could not, and altered their worldview to reflect things that weren’t true. By seeking out the Force, each of them comes to a place of choosing what to believe and who to follow. They are faced with the same decisions we experience everyday.

And we must choose wisely.

Filed Under: Current Events, Editorial, Featured, Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: Andy Serkis, Chewbecca, Daisy Ridley, Finn, Han Solo, Kylo Ren, Leia, Luke Skywalker, Rey, Star Wars, Supreme Leader Snoke, The Force

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (NON-SPOILER): Visiting a Good Friend Once Again

December 18, 2015 by J. Alan Sharrer 3 Comments

Rey and Finn runThe internet is a fickle place. A good amount of the time, people are doing everything they can to get you to respond in a specific way to a picture, an article, or an attempt by someone else to troll. However, when it comes to the launch of a film that is beloved across many generations, a unique thing happens: the Internet goes on self-policed lockdown.  People don’t want to know what happens.  They prefer to remain in blissful ignorance until they see it for themselves and make their own evaluations. And woe be to the individual who chooses to violate that unwritten code!

(Don’t worry; I’m not going to be that person)

Han Solo and ChewbaccaSuffice it to say that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a grand return to the galaxy far, far away that we all have come to love over the last thirty-seven years. Director and co-writer JJ Abrams knew he had to accomplish three main things: 1) bridge the unseen gap between Return of the Jedi and his film; 2) instill a powerful story that beats true to the Star Wars ethos; and 3) not tick off legions of die-hard fans in doing so. Mission accomplished.

There’s a nice blend of old and new in the film, from the planet sequences to the familiar faces (Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Leia—all of whom need zero introduction) and an inevitable new cast of characters, led by John Boyega (Finn), Daisy Ridley (Rey), and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron). In fact, if I have a quibble about the movie, it’s that it plays a little too much to the nostalgia side at times. But that aside, this is an extremely fun ride, filled with a nice mix of action, humor, and things you just need to see for yourself.  One of the bonuses is that Star Wars: The Force Awakens feels more organic in nature than CGI-laden.  The film is filled with lush environments, sweltering deserts, and icy climes that feel out of place in the first three prequels (note: this is a good thing). It tends to draw the viewer into the film more.

Kylo RenWhen it comes to the faith aspects of the film, there’s a lot to talk about in regard to good and evil—as well as a number of other themes.  But I’ll mercifully save that for a more in-depth look at the film next week—when a good number of people have seen it and an online discussion can legitimately take place. Until then, it’s best to follow the crowds to the cinema, find a seat, grab a snack (if you so choose), and prepare to be entertained for a few hours.  With the state of the world right now, it’s a nice thing to look forward to.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: C-3PO, Chewbacca, Daisy Ridley, Finn, Han Solo, JJ Abrams, John Boyega, Leia, non-spoiler, Oscar Isaac, Poe Dameron, R2-D2, Return of the Jedi, Rey, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

7 Films You Should See For Father’s Day

June 17, 2015 by ScreenFish Staff Leave a Comment

Not everyone has the family experience they should have … or want. But the truth is, we can learn from the success (and failure) of those who have come before us, even our own parents. This Father’s Day, we hope that you’ll consider the lessons from your own life, and a few from these films, as you figure out how to be child, a parent, and a whole person, growing each day. 

Here are a few of our favorite films about fatherhood. 

Father of the Bride Father of the Bride 

As I grow older (and hopefully wiser), I begin to see more value in this film as a dad raising three daughters. It’s not easy, folks. Take it from George Banks (Steve Martin):

You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because then you lose her.

Thankfully, I haven’t quite gotten to the ‘drop her off a block before the movie theater’ line. But fathers have a special role in the development of their kids that should not be overlooked. They’re supposed to love, care for, protect, and build up their kids to make right decisions consistently. The Bible makes it clear that dad are not to “embitter your children [i.e. provoke or make resentful], or they will become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Father of the Bride showcases a dad letting go and trusting that all the lessons he taught his daughter along the way would help her have a fantastic and fruitful life.  Isn’t that what all fathers secretly want to have happen? — J. Alan Sharrer

 

fieldofdreamsField of Dreams

There aren’t many things out there that is more iconic (in the US that is) than a dad playing catch with his son. Baseball, no matter how far behind it has fallen to other sports today, is and always will be America’s past time. So when you think of a great Father’s day film that really speaks to the heart of it, Field of Dreams ranks right up there. “If you build it, he will come” is the theme heard throughout the film leads you on this journey.

A dad (Kevin Costner) has that pressure we all feel of providing for his family. Yet, with his son believing in him, and his wife (although she doubts a little) backing him, he builds a baseball field on his farm. The field brings the past to life in the present. It’s a magical feel that saves his farm, creates a special connection with his son, and in the end reunites him with the father he never got the chance to play catch with. Baseball, fathers, and sons…..a perfect combination. — Arnaldo Reyes

 

pet_semetary

Pet Sematary

Dr. Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) moves his family from the Chicago rat race to the idyllic countryside of Maine and all seems right…for about five minutes. Aside from the nearly non-stop slew of tractor trailers zooming past the front of his new place, the creepy pet cemetery at the rear, and the ghost of the college student who died in his treatment room on his first day in his new practice (who has now decided to haunt him), everything seems hunky dory. While his wife and daughter are away, the family cat, Church, falls victim to one of the endless trucks. Judd Crandall (Fred Gwynne, of The Munsters fame), a neighbor, helps bury Church, but not at the pet cemetery—at an old Indian burial ground just a little further up the hillside. A day later, the previously graveyard-dead Church shows back up at the house, now fully alive, and mean as a rattlesnake.

It isn’t long before another of the trucks claims the life of Louis’ toddler, Gage. Louis, non-plussed by Church’s hellish behavior, decides to bury Gage at the Indian site in the hopes that he too will return. And return he does, with a bloodthirsty vengeance.

Based upon Stephen King’s novel of the same name (King wrote the screenplay, as well), Pet Sematary is a most bizarre, macabre love letter from a father to a son. On the surface, it’s easily dismissed as a new twist on the classic zombie film. But sift through the layers and you’ll find a story of undying devotion (granted, an obsessive, borderline psychotic one). Louis will do anything he can to bring his son back, even if it means sacrificing his own life—and possibly, the lives of the rest of those he loves. In a warped sense, it dredges up the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15: 1-7), whose shepherd risks the lives of the ninety-nine others in his flock to rescue the one who has strayed. Jesus tells us God–our Heavenly Father–is just as relentless in his pursuit of us; in his attempt to bring us, Lazarus-like, out of the dark tombs we wander into.  And if we will just believe in him, he promises us that one day we too will rise again to eternal life. Creepy zombie cats (hopefully) not included.–Jason Norton

 

firstknight

First Knight

First Knight (1998)—not to be confused with the Dark Knight—takes us back in time to the court of King Arthur (Sean Connery). Engaged to be married to Lady Guinevere (Julia Ormond), Arthur lords over Camelot with strength, power, and grace. When he meets the brave Lancelot (Richard Gere), he is immediately taken by the young man, inviting him to become a member of the Knights of the Roundtable. However, Arthur’s leadership is soon put to the test as Camelot comes under the attack of the evil Malagant (Ben Cross) and they are drawn into combat. What’s more, as Lancelot catches Guinevere’s eye and the two consider giving into their passions, Arthur soon discovers that not all wars are on the field of battle.

While this film is definitely more obscure than titles like Finding Nemo and Field of Dreams, I have to admit that it’s one of the movies that has had a significant impact on me over the years. Hardly considered a classic due to its obvious flaws, there’s still something about Connery’s King Arthur that has always humbled me. Released during his ’90s ‘renaissance period’ (somewhere between The Untouchables and Entrapment – and well before The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ruined our lives forever), Connery carries the mantle of history’s most famous medieval king in a manner that reflects God-like qualities. Faced with the rebellion of Malagant and his army, he remains both calm and protective. As he hears of Guinevere’s betrayal, his heart breaks but his judgment never becomes vengeful. And, in the midst of it all, he constantly offers grace. In the end, we see a man who is both broken by prodigals, yet steadfast in his loving leadership.

To me, that’s the very definition of fatherhood.

 

The Lego Movie - Finn and DadThe Lego Movie

No; I’m not referring to the antics of Vitruvius, Wyldstyle, and Emmet, but to a deeper aspect to this film. When Emmet lets himself fall from the Octan Tower into the Magic Portal, he ends up . . . a part of real life.  It turns out that the whole film–up to that point–was from the imagination of Finn, a young boy playing with his dad’s Lego collection (a quite sizable one) and playing out what real life is like for him.

However, Finn’s dad (Will Ferrell) has taped all kinds of warnings on the tables to let people know that his Lego buildings are not to be messed with.  He wants order–just like President Business. And when he comes downstairs, he doesn’t like what he sees at all.  Finn tries to convince him that Lego creations are just toys, but Dad insists that they’re “a highly sophisticated, interlocking brick system” and sets out to restore things the way they were.

It’s through this discussion that Finn’s Dad comes to understand that, perhaps, it’s okay to keep the lines between kids and adults a little blurred. It’s important to spend time on occasion with your kids simply doing kid stuff.  It allows the relationship to grow and keeps resentment from creeping in. Their reconciliation scene is unexpected—and quite touching. The Lego Movie is also a fantastic reminder that, as the writer of Ecclesiastes noted, there is a time for everything (3:1)—like making memories with our children that will last a lifetime.— J. Alan Sharrer

 

instructions not included

Instructions Not Included

A film that many have probably not seen because of it is at least half Spanish with subtitles, Instructions Not Included will have you laughing throughout, only to make you cry at the end. The tears are not because the film is bad; it is because you finally understand the craziness of it! You will realize how one man, who had no idea what he was doing and for the most part appeared like he should not be raising a little girl on his own, turned out to be the best father in the world.

After he has a fling with an American girl, she drops off a little baby and runs off. Here is this man with no clue what to do and no idea how to raise a child. He goes to the United States looking for the mother and instead by wild occurrence becomes a stunt man. When the girl is a little older, she has free rein to do whatever she wants really. He buys her everything, he lets her have a vivid imagination, and he also lies about her mother. When the mother comes back, she attempts to take the girl back after seeing what appears to be an unfit dad raising a girl with no boundaries or discipline. The courts rules in his favor, but the mother pulls the DNA card and it turns out, he is not the father. All these years and now he has no choice but to give her up.

Instead, he runs off with her to Mexico, and when the mother threatens his friend, the truth is revealed. She has a terminal illness, so he lived everyday as if it was the last day he would see her. He gave her everything and allowed her to experience a full and happy life. In the end, in his father’s arms overlooking the ocean, she went just as happy and peacefully as she lived. A great example of how awesome fathers can be. –Arnaldo Reyes

 

bigfish

Big Fish

Tim Burton’s film didn’t immediately grab me the first time I saw it, but every time I’ve seen it since, it has opened up a little more for me. In this tall tale of a parable, Will (Billy Crudup) sits with his father, Edward (Albert Finney as an older man; Ewan McGregor as the younger one), as he dies. Will has been estranged from his father for as long as he can remember, and his father’s inability to “tell a story straight” continues to frustrate the son. But he sets out to find out once and for all whether these are true stories or figments of his father’s imagination.

To tell more would undo the magic of this story, but it does show, quite visually, that there is a deeper truth (to quote C.S. Lewis, “a deeper magic”) buried in the stories Edward tells. He is certainly not the father to Will that he hoped to be but he aimed to give his son everything he could, and to provide Will with the belief in himself that he could accomplish anything, no matter how insurmountable it might be. Big Fish is a parable you can’t see without getting a bit wet. — Jacob Sahms

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Film Tagged With: Big Fish, Emmet, Father of the Bride, Father's Day, Field of Dreams, Finn, Instructions Not Included, John Wayne Western Film Collection, Kevin Costner, Kids, President Business, Steve Martin, The Lego Movie, Tim Burton, Time, Will Ferrell, Wyldstyle

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