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Han Solo

GIVEAWAY: SOLO in 4K!

September 20, 2018 by Steve Norton 8 Comments

Young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins a gang of galactic smugglers, including a 196-year-old Wookie named Chewbacca. Indebted to the gangster Dryden Vos, the crew devises a daring plan to travel to the mining planet Kessel to steal a batch of valuable coaxium. In need of a fast ship, Solo meets Lando Calrissian, the suave owner of the perfect vessel for the dangerous mission — the Millennium Falcon.

The winner will receive a copy of the Solo: A Star Wars Story 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Steelbook Edition.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: Who do you think is the best pilot in the Star Wars series? Why?

For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Monday, September 24th, 2018.

 

SOLO: A Star Wars Story will be released on Blu-Ray on Tuesday, September 25th, 2018

Filed Under: Film, Giveaways Tagged With: Alden Ehrenreich, Chewbacca, Childish Gambino, Darth Maul, Disney, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Millenium Falcon, Paul Bettany, Solo, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars, Woody Harrelson

4.19 Saving SOLO

June 19, 2018 by Steve Norton 1 Comment

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/4.19-SOLO.mp3

With the release of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, Disney wants to take you back in time to meet a young Han Solo before he even thinks about joining the Rebellion. However, with struggling box office receipts, even they were left reeling by the film’s mixed response. (Could there actually be a Star Wars film that loses money?!) This week, Steve welcomes David Peck (Face2Face Live) and director Nathaniel Draper to talk about the reactions of Star Wars fans, the nature of freedom and what it means to be the ‘good guy’.

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.

4.19 Solo – A Star Wars Story

Thanks David and Nate for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Maul, Millenium Falcon, Solo, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars

Solo: A Star Wars Fan War Continues

June 11, 2018 by Mark Sommer Leave a Comment

Has the Star Wars franchise peaked? Is it running out of steam? If you listen to some of the voices in the fan base, or certain critics, you begin to get that impression.

I don’t think so.

On FilmRejects.com, Max Covill states the film “didn’t connect with audiences.” I’ll address that assertion in a moment. Covill goes on to say why he thinks the movie didn’t live up to box office projections (a bit different assertion):

A few explanations come to mind for what might’ve happened to this latest entry in the Star Wars canon. The biggest of which might be box-office fatigue. The Last Jedi launched in theaters around Christmas time and that meant only five months between the release of Star Wars features. Never in the history of the franchise have movies released that close to one another. Star Wars has always been positioned as an event film. When you make it a common occurrence, it becomes less exciting. Disney might have thought they could get away with it, given how their Marvel movies have been released, but it doesn’t work for Star Wars. The series’ next entry, Episode IX, won’t launch until Christmas 2019. By then, the fever for a new Star Wars feature will be higher than right now for sure.

Covill doesn’t believe the franchise is over, by any means, but that this particular film just doesn’t live up to Star Wars standards. I’ll let you decide for yourself if this is true. Just, please, watch the movie for yourself before you decide if you like it, and then consider what I have to say below.

Before I get into the movie itself, I want to clarify some things about the box office numbers, and the connection with the audience.

  • If you look at the box office records for every Star Wars film which opened on a Memorial Day weekend, Solo is number one. The only other Disney film which did a better box office on that holiday weekend is Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
  • Solo was the number one domestic movie from the day that it officially came out until Friday, June 8, when Ocean’s 8 (deservedly) took the top spot. Solo was number three, behind the newcomer Hereditary, and still ahead of Deadpool 2 and Avengers: Infinity War. May and June have been very competitive months, and the matchups certainly have hurt the numbers for Solo.
  • Solo is the number 5 box office movie of 2018, hitting that mark in only its second week in theaters.
  • The audience has connected with the movie. As of this writing, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 71% critics score, and a 65% audience score. These are not nearly as high as the scores for Rogue One, but the audience score for Solo is higher than for The Last Jedi. The audience seems to be more critical when it comes to Star Wars films that resurrect main characters, which is understandable. But, while The Last Jedi was much preferred by the critics, Solo is preferred over Last Jedi by the general audience.

So much has been said already about Solo that I have decided to go a little rogue with my review of the film. There will be spoilers ahead, so if you have yet to see the film, I would recommend you view it before continuing. I contend there are some great things in the movie, and I’d hate to spoil the fun. My concentration will be not so much on the plot, but how Solo fits into the Star Wars universe, and whether the harsh criticisms made about it are justified.

When we first meet Han Solo in the 1977 movie which started it all, we meet a jaded man who is all about himself. Leia tells him, “If money is all that you love, then that’s what you’ll receive.” Han has lived the greater portion of his life serving the underworld. He is about survival, and has learned to fear gangsters more than the Empire.

But, as we find out at the end of that movie, there is a “good guy” side to him, too. Han doubts along the way, but he always comes back, becoming an important part of the Rebellion. However, when the New Republic fails, it is no wonder that in The Force Awakens we find back to his old pirate ways. Even then, when he meets up with Rey and Finn, he tell them the stories about The Force are “all true.” There is still a small hope alive in him after all he’s been through.

Ironically, the Han we meet in Solo is hopeful in an era when hope had been lost. He dreams of leaving his taskmasters, with Qi’ra at his side. He is not the jaded man we saw in the original trilogy. He is only interested in money as a means to escape and give himself a chance. Even his experience of war doesn’t completely destroy the altruism which lies beneath the surface. He is happy to let Enfys Nest have the coaxium, even if he is unwilling to join her group, which apparently is a germ of the Rebellion.

Qi’ra, however, has her own agenda. She certainly still has feelings for Han, but not an unconditional, sacrificial love. Nor does she believe Han would love her back if he knew what she had done. She only knows how to use him for her own advantage. At first it looks like Qi’ra betrays Dryden Vos simply because of her love for Han, but she has a more insidious purpose. She wants power.

Qi’ra now takes Dryden Vos’ mantle, and the movie sets itself up for a sequel, or at least a potential television series. It is also revealed Crimson Dawn is under the control of Maul (formerly Darth Maul). Some have complained about Maul’s appearance in the film, but many who have watched the animated series and read the comics know how he fits. If you are interested, here is a good place to start: Star Wars Solo movie: How did Darth Maul survive? What is Crimson Dawn?

The movie ends with Han being betrayed by both Qi’ra and Beckett, whom he shoots first—an obvious reference to the controversy over who shot first in the bar scene in A New Hope. With all he has been through, Han still has a positive attitude. He goes back to beat Lando at his own game, and wins the Millennium Falcon. He then talks about going to Tatooine to work for the Hutts.

Some of you who have made it this far into my piece are asking, “Who cares?” And you have a right to ask. Some of you don’t care about the minutiae of Han Solo’s life; you’d like to just leave him as you knew him in the original trilogy. And that’s fine.

But some of us want to know. We want to know how Han got his last name and what making the Kessel run in 12 parsecs means. (I was delighted to know I was right in saying, all these years, that Han had to be talking about distance, not speed.) We want to know how Han met Chewbacca. We want to know the story about how Han got the Millennium Falcon.

I am one of those guys who actually plodded through The Silmarillion because he wanted to know the backstory. Admittedly, it was not as pleasurable as reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but I’m glad I did it. I’m glad I watched the Star Wars prequels, too. Not because they were top-notch movies; they weren’t. But they satisfied an itch that could not be satisfied any other way. I wanted to know. And there is a certain satisfaction in knowing.

And apparently millions of others wanted to know, too.

Filed Under: Editorial, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Han Solo, Ron Howard, Solo, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Woody Harrelson

Solo: Love Finds a Way

May 25, 2018 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away….

Lucasfilm/Disney are now 4 films in on their revitalized Star Wars plans. The plans so far have been clear: Honor the past while looking toward the future and a new generation. Star Wars purists have had mixed reaction to the new canon, but there is no denying that the franchise is bigger today than ever before. A few years ago, they took a risk for a standalone story that fell within the timeline but introduced us to a band of new characters. Rogue One proved to be a very good to great film (or neither, depending on your view) that both felt like Star Wars but also stood on its own merit. The film worked on many levels and gave us new characters to love. It’s success certainly opened the door for more risks and standalone films.

Bring on Solo: A Star Wars Story, the next standalone film set within the timeline. Solo brings us the beginning of everyone’s favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder that helped save the universe and married the princess. The film introduces us to how Han became a smuggler, his first encounter with Chewbacca and how he got his ship from the stylish cape-wearing Lando Calrissian (and, of course, finally shows us the Kessel Run). The film itself is fast-paced, action-filled and, at times, even inspirational. However, it’s also forgettable and didn’t really knock it out of the park. It has several plot issues and character development issues that never quite move the film’s overall quality from decent to good (or even great). Solo is a heist film, mixed with a little Mad Max, set in the Star Wars world. It’s fun, but that’s about it.

“Let the past die, if you must, kill it…” Kylo Ren, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Ren’s quote really resonates within this film. As a big Star Wars fan, I am in the camp that believes that, as much as I love nostalgia, Star Wars needs to move on from the status quo in order to last another 40 years of love, it . Rogue One got that right, understanding that we could stay in the time era as the originals and still feel new and fresh. Solo is a step backwards and mainly I believe that the issue in its execution. Outside of Donald Glover (who was amazing as Lando), the characters fell flat. It is hard to capture the essence of Harrison Ford, but Alden Ehrenreich tried and, unfortunately, fell kind of short. He just didn’t feel like Han Solo. I understand it’s hard to imitate someone else–and this is way before the scruffy nerf herder we meet in Episode IV–but everything seemed forced, trying to recapture his essence while trying to be different. There are moments where he shines, but the overall performance felt like a different character other than Han.

Going into the film, Q’ira (Emilia Clarke) was one of the characters I was most interested in seeing. To finally show Han Solo’s love interest before Leia, it seemed like there’s no better story to tell. Although their story is nothing out of the ordinary, it is the character’s development that is by far the most disappointing. From the moment we first meet her though, it seemed forced and really hard to believe. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that love is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. No matter what we’ve done or been forced to do, love finds a way. When used without conditions, love is patient, kind, forgives and gives itself up for others. Sin corrupts, and can make the heart go cold but love always penetrates deeper and burns hotter. Love even reminds us that, maybe, the “bad guy” is really good, and can change others as well. Q’ira’s arc defies this belief but, without proper development, it was hard to see how she could. (On a side note, her arc ends with a cameo appearance of a character that even canon wise, the films, books, animated shows, just doesn’t make sense in the timeline, especially if you are one who watched both The Clone Wars animated films and Star Wars: Rebels. I feel this character was nothing but fan service that did the writing a disservice.)

Still, the one character that offered a true representation of what it means not judge a person is Enfys Nest. This is the only character that I want to see more from (outside of maybe a Lando film). I want this character’s story to be told, either before or after Solo. This character was one of the most interesting parts of the film and the film leaves us wanting more of their story.

Overall, Solo: A Star Wars Story is an ok film that could have been better, but won’t rank at the top of the Star Wars franchise. In the end, it’s a fun ride with some good inspirational moments.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: Alden Ehrenreich, Chewbacca, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Enfys Nest, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, Lando Calrissian, Q'ira, Solo, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars

On Rey, Mystery and Spoiler-Driven Culture

April 18, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

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Poor Rey.

Whereas the entire world fell in love with her character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the film seems to have left her adrift amidst the (far from subtle) questions about the identity of her parents. Still, by leaving her on the Irish Isle of La Luke, the film’s finale leaves us with what seemed to be much more important questions. Will Luke train her in the ways of the Force? Is she more powerful than the young and reckless Kylo Ren?

Then, with the release of the trailer of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story last week, all of a sudden the issue of her mysterious origins was back in the spotlight once again. Taking place during the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Rogue One tells the story of a group of expendable crooks and smugglers who are enlisted to steal the Death Star plans. (Think of it as the Star Wars equivalent to David Ayer’s upcoming film, Suicide Squad.) Led by Jyn Erso, a young woman with a troubled past, they band together to do the impossible.

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But meanwhile…

While Rogue One doesn’t appear to address Rey’s journey at all, an interesting fan theory has taken the Internet by storm. Despite the unconnected storyline to Force Awakens, the web is abuzz with the rumour that Erso is, in fact, Rey’s mother. Recently, actress Daisy Ridley spoke out against this theory, claiming that “just because she’s white and has brown hair, it doesn’t mean she’s [Rey’s] mom.”

To be honest, I find it amazing that this mystery has lasted as long as it has. With the reveal of [Spoiler Alert… from 30 years ago!] Darth Vader as Luke’s father catching audiences completely by surprise (and believed by many as one of the greatest ‘twists’ of all time), the Star Wars universe carved out its place in storytelling history. Still, that era of filmmaking existed apart from the spoiler-driven internet culture in which we currently live. In this day and age, even if you have a great plot twist, it’s likely that someone somewhere has not only thought of it already, they’ve blogged about it online and sent the legions of inter-webbers into a frenzy. Gone are the days when a film’s surprises were special until it’s release.

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We want to know everything… now.

Living in the information age, we seem to have lost the joy and the impact of experiencing the elements of a story together for the first time. We want to burst the balloon of mystery before it ever gets a chance to lift off.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. In all seriousness, we are constantly being teased with tidbits to generate excitement and promotion for upcoming films and shows. Remember when the pic of the partial Millennium Falcon and X-Wing went viral during the filming of Force Awakens? There’s no doubt that that pic was released in order to send a message to the fans that their expectations were going to be met with the new film. New characters? Sure… but you’ll fall in love with them. What matters most is that we’re also going to resurrect the things you miss and love the most.

PAY-Star-Wars-Set

For the fans, it was intoxicating.

Still, while part of this is just plain fun to discuss, I also think that our spoiler-focused culture makes it far more difficult for a filmmaker to tell the story their way. Our desire to know the answer immediately—sometimes before the question is even asked—creates an environment that puts an emphasis on ourselves, rather than on the story itself.

We want to know everything because we feel like we own the story. It’s our story.

rey-daisy-ridley

But what if it isn’t?

What if the true power of story is admitting to ourselves that it’s bigger than we are? While we may like/dislike a film, there’s something to be said for admitting that we don’t need to know or understand every detail in advance. In doing so, we are most suited to become participants in a story, making it more powerful. As a Christian, I recognize that God is a better storyteller than I could ever be… and, if I trust that, I don’t need to know what’s coming.

So, Internet fans, by all means, feel free to have your fun. But remember that, whether or not Rey’s last name is Skywalker, Solo or even Snopes, it doesn’t matter in the end. Let’s let them tell us the story they want to, demanding it a certain way.

The story may even be more powerful that way.

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Filed Under: Editorial, Star Wars Tagged With: Force Awakens, Han Solo, jyn erso, Luke Skywalker, Rey, Rogue One, spoiler, Star Wars

Rey’s Identity Revealed! Or Not at all…

April 14, 2016 by Steve Norton 2 Comments

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Will Rey’s real parents please raise their hands?

The reveal of the trailer of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has everyone talking… but not just about that particular film.  All of a sudden, the internet is abuzz with the potential of the film’s lead character, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), being the mother of none other than Rey from The Force Awakens.  Though Daisy Ridley has shot down these rumours herself (apparently she knows her character’s story but isn’t saying), it hasn’t stopped fan boy culture from firing on all cylinders about it.

So, since everyone is talking about it, let’s enter into the conversation ourselves. With that in mind, here are five likely candidates who may have passed on their DNA to the young Jedi-to-be.

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  • Luke Skywalker – In many ways, he is the most obvious and likely of choices. Arguably the most powerful Jedi, for him to have conceived a child over the last three decades and run from the responsibility (like his father) seems like a logical progression for his character.

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  • Leia Organa & Han Solo – The most convenient of choices, to be honest. By making Han—or, as Ren calls him, ‘the father you never had—and Leia her parents, Rey’s battles with Kylo Ren have a brother/sister dynamic we’ve never seen before.

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  • Mara Jade – One of the most beloved characters of the (now) unofficial extended Star Wars universe, it would be a love letter to the fans to bring Mara Jade’s character to the big screen. She, the one-time love interest of Luke Skywalker, could be an excellent edition to the next generation of storytelling.

Supreme-Leader-Snoke-in-Force-Awakens

  • Supreme Leader Snoke – This theory that the epitome of evil would conceive a Jedi daughter isn’t far fetched either. (Again, see Vader, Darth.) He seems surprised by her abilities—but that’s easy enough to lie about publicly. If Snope is Rey’s father, it creates another opportunity for a character grappling with generational sin. (Although, let’s be serious, we’ve been down this road before…)

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  • You know, another Jedi… – Here’s a fun idea. Wouldn’t it be amazing if, somewhere in the galaxy, there was another Jedi who’s last name wasn’t Skywalker? While Han seems to indicate that he’s aware of the identity of her parents, that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s directly related to him or members of his family. While the Star Wars universe is used to having everyone connected, there is no definitive reason why she needs to be anything more than the offspring of another mysterious Jedi.

 

Filed Under: Current Events, Film, Star Wars Tagged With: Felicity Jones, force awakes, Han Solo, jyn erso, leia organa, Luke Skywalker, mara jade, Rey, Rogue One, Star Wars, Supreme Leader Snoke

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 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

Awakening the Force

December 7, 2015 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Star_Wars

Have you got your tickets?

That seems to have been one of the main questions amongst Star Wars fans over the last 6 weeks. Amazingly, as soon as Fandango opened their digital doors for advance tickets for The Force Awakens, the latest chapter in the Star Wars canon, they didn’t just get snapped up… they shattered box office records.

Don’t believe me? On the first day alone, The Force Awakens sold 8x more tickets than previous record holder, The Hunger Games. Then, by November 19th, they reported over $50 million in sales—a full month before the film’s release!

For a lot of movies, that’s more than what they get in their entire theatrical run.

And Luke, Han and Co. did it before anyone’s seen the movie.

Clearly, we’re all still clamouring for a visit to a galaxy far, far away. But why?

After all, it’s not like we haven’t had a slew of incredible sci-fi fantasy to capture our imagination in recent months and years. Mad Max: Fury Road was one of the best films of the year (not just sci-fi). The Martian is arguably favoured to win Best Picture at next year’s Oscars. Gravity, Interstellar, Ex Machina, and Edge of Tomorrow are just a few of the excellent entries into the genre in recent years as well. (We’ll just pretend that Jupiter Ascending and Tomorrowland didn’t happen…)

There has to be more to it.

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Recently, the folks at Reel World Theology made a comment that got me thinking. They suggested that Star Wars offers more than the casual sci-fi film, especially when compared to today’s entries into the genre that do everything they can to feel authentic. For example, films like The Martian, Gravity and the rest do an amazing job of grounding themselves in our world. In most cases, they go to great lengths to prove to people that they are scientifically sound. (Yes! We can plant potatoes on Mars!) In other words, they want to emphasize the ‘science’ in ‘science fiction’.

However, in the process, the focus of these films invariably becomes ourselves.

Our achievement.

Our importance.

The Star Wars franchise takes a different approach. Coming at a time when culture was reeling from tragedies like Watergate and Vietnam, Star Wars offered a new hope. With its focus on the Force, our efforts and choices remain important but it demonstrates a desire to connect with something beyond ourselves. It’s a cry for help and hope for those who are weak. A recognition of something beyond our limited understanding of the universe.

There’s a reason ‘May the Force be with you’ resonates with so many.

As its characters gradually discover the Force, they’re called to significance. Luke lives a humble life but doesn’t discover his purpose until he begins his training with Obi-Wan. In response to the arguments of the Imperial leadership, Vader himself claims, “The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” In fact, Ford’s beloved Han Solo is treated as misguided by his claims that “[he’s] never seen anything to believe in some all powerful force that controls everything.”

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In this story, the skeptic is the one who’s missing something.

The Star Wars films have always called us to realize that our significance doesn’t lie within ourselves but in the hand of something mysterious. There is a calling and a longing for us to have purpose. Having had many conversations with atheists, it is clear to me that their desire is to know what’s tangible. Like Han, they rely on their passion for quantifiable substance to judge what’s real. While I completely respect that, I have heard a quiet yearning within them at times that suggests they want to believe in more. As a Christian, I believe that this longing is part of the image of God that calls us back to Him. Isaiah 26:9 says “At night, my soul longs for you. Indeed, my spirit within me seeks you diligently.”

At our heart, we want to believe. It’s a piece of who we are.

Unlike a lot of sci-fi films, the Star Wars franchise points us beyond what we can see to a life of meaning found in something (or Someone) else. It connects with us because it’s part of us. When Lucas began this series, this spiritual imprint was embedded into its narrative framework—and it awakened something within us. I believe that our enthusiasm for the franchise goes far beyond lightsabers, Jedi or even Harrison Ford. At a time when terrorists seem to attack at will and violence has poured in our streets, we find ourselves in a world that echoes the heartache and tragedy of the 70s in many ways. Once again, we’re looking for a new hope. We want our eyes to be opened to the world of the spiritual when so many other stories attempt to close them.

When we allow ourselves to do that, in the words of Obi-Wan, we find ourselves “taking our first steps into a larger world.”

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Filed Under: Current Events, Editorial, Film Tagged With: Faith, film, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, Interstellar, Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Force, The Hunger Games, The Martian

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