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J. J. Abrams

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

December 18, 2019 by Darrel Manson 1 Comment

Daisy Ridley is Rey and Adam Driver is Kylo Ren in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

The first words in the scrolling text that opens Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker are “The dead speak!” It continues on with a few things to remind us where the story left off. But those first three words are all we really need, because as the film progresses, the dead will indeed speak over and over.

This is the final film of the Skywalker Saga that began in 1977 with what would become Episode IV: A New Hope and eventually restarted with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Because it is the final film in the series (the last film in the last trilogy), its main task is to bring the story that has taken over forty years to tell to a satisfying end. Star Wars is such a cultural touchstone that opinions on how well that has been accomplished will vary. My own opinion is that the series does not go out with a bang, but rather with a sigh.

This episode continues the stories of two characters with strong connections to the Force: Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), son of Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and grandson of Darth Vader, and Rey (Daisy Ridley) an orphan who has tried to become a Jedi by training with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Ren has chosen to follow the Dark Side and has been trying to bring Rey to join him and together rule the galaxy. They continue their dance of trying to convert each other through this film. Both are seeking a hidden planet where the real power is to be found and grasped or eliminated. While there are other characters involved in various subplots, these two are the real heart of the story.

Ren (aka Ben Solo) fashions his own version of Vader’s mask, and when wearing it has something of Vader’s ominous voice. He has taken the title Supreme Leader, and seeks to grab all power for himself, but would like Rey to join him. Together they would be a formidable power.

Rey, on the other hand, rejects the Dark Side. She trained with Luke, but still feels unworthy to carry his lightsaber. When she sets off on her mission, Leia tells her, “Never be afraid of who you are.” But who is she? That becomes a central question as the film plays out. What is it about her that has made her such a focus of the Force? (And since this is the final film, it will be revealed—but not in this review.) The knowledge of her background will be a challenge for her to accept.

There will be lightsaber duels, space fighter dogfights, explosions, and all the other accoutrements of Star Wars. There will be redemption, sacrifice, and even resurrection. Love will be declared. Loss will be devastating. And the story will be wrapped up with some tears and some celebrations. Then there will be a coda that takes us back to Tatooine, where the Saga began to bring the circle to a close. (Sigh)

But what about those first three words of the scroll? The dead speak! Initially it is because the dead Emperor Palpatine has been making a comeback. But then we get to see or hear others from the past episodes who have died as the story played out. Luke, is prominent, even though he died at the end of The Last Jedi. Now a glowing personage, he continues to teach Rey what she needs to know for her final battle. But in a decisive scene for Kylo Ren’s character, there is another visit from one who has died. Who are all these who speak from the grave? Well, they are essentially the saints of the Saga. Through their words they bring healing and they bring power. As Rey must face her final challenge, she gathers strength from many of these voices.

The scripture that comes to mind is Hebrews 12:1. After retracing the history of Israel’s heroes, the author says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that has been set before us.” [NRSV]

Star Wars has always attracted theological/spiritual reflection. The Rise of Skywalker gives us a chance to consider the idea of the fellowship of the saints. It is not just what we think of sitting drinking coffee in the fellowship hall after worship. It is not even just what it means to come around the Lord’s Table as God’s people. It is also an attachment to the whole history of God’s salvation. We are joined to those who have come before us. And we are joined to those who will come after us.

As we look at the end of the Skywalker Saga, we are able to see the whole arc of a story in which faith in action has been passed on from one to another. It has not always been an easy passing. There are those who have been corrupted, but also those who have found redemption and restoration. The past brings ist strength to a new day—a dawning of new life.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, fellowship of the saints, Harrison Ford, J. J. Abrams, Mark Hamill, science fiction, Skywalker Saga, Star Wars

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.”)

martian-gallery3-gallery-image

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.

finn2

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.

doctor-strange-poster-slice-600x200

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

11.22.63: Stephen King Takes on History

August 17, 2016 by Jacob Sahms Leave a Comment

11.22.63

11.22.63, Stephen King’s time-bending novel, has been adapted by Bridget Carpenter (Friday Night Lights, The Red Road) for Hulu. Now, available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD, 11.22.63 takes us on a twisty road from the present back to the 1960s in a darker Back to the Future.

James Franco’s Jake Epping suffers. His marriage has crumbled and his English career seems pointless. But when his friend Al Templeton (Chris Cooper) dies, Epping is thrust into the mission Templeton died trying to complete: he must go back in time and stop Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webster) from killing JFK. But if that’s not complicated enough…

The Yellow Card Man (Kevin J. O’Connor) keeps showing up telling him that he shouldn’t be ‘here’.

Epping tries to save one of his student’s from tragedy as a child.

Every move Epping makes changes something else thanks to the Butterfly Effect.

11.22.63.2

Traveling back in time is complicated!

While I loved the book – and cringed at what it might become as a miniseries – I found the overall vibe of the show to be aligned with King’s original. I found the ideas around responsibility and cause-and-effect to be thought-provoking. There are elements of horror and suspense (Josh Duhamel’s Frank Dunning is a particularly terrifying butcher), but the historical progression for Epping, Oswald, and the politics surrounding them are intriguing as well.

What options do we have to change the future? What difference can we make today? This just isn’t about JFK and the past – this is about owning our future, and taking responsibility, right now.

Special features include a look at adapting the story, filming on location, modeling the set for the 1960s, and Franco as director.

Filed Under: DVD, Featured, Reviews, SmallFish, Television Tagged With: 11.22.63, J. J. Abrams, James Franco, JFK, Lee Harvey Oswald, Stephen King

10 Cloverfield Lane: Does Your Fear Control You?

June 21, 2016 by Jacob Sahms Leave a Comment

10cloverfield2

In the universe where Cloverfield went down, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) flees the city and her fiancee. Distracted by a call, she suffers an accident and awakens inside the basement bunker of Howard (John Goodman). He claims that she has been brought underground for her protection because of an alien attack and toxic air, but her skepticism grows when she meets fellow survivor Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) and sees Howard in action.

First time director Dan Trachtenberg moved the pieces around in this clever chess game, co-written by Whiplash’s Damien Chazelle and produced by J.J. Abrams. It’s a reasonably intense thriller that hinges on us not knowing what is actually out “there” above the bunker – so I’m not going to tell you! But the truth is that the film challenges us to consider our beliefs about safety, security, and fear.

10cloverfield3

In a world where fear is mongered by politicians, the media, and other elements of society, 10 Cloverfield trades the fear of the aliens for the fear within the bunker. While Michelle might be in danger from aliens, toxic air, or violence outside, she is most certainly more threatened by Howard’s use of bullying and force. We can see that through her eyes – but we (and she) don’t know is the real threat of violence outside.

Because we live in a society where our news and information is filtered through politics, agendas, money, and more, we are often relying on someone else to tell us where the danger is. But are they reliable narrators? Should we be afraid? I John 4:18 says that perfect love casts out all fear. If we really believe that, we can’t be afraid – we must be inclined to act! Thankfully, Michelle isn’t afraid to act either.

Filed Under: Current Events, DVD, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Dan Trachtenberg, J. J. Abrams, John Gallagher Jr., John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Trailer: Star Trek Beyond

December 14, 2015 by Jason Stanley Leave a Comment

The first official look at the new Star Trek film, set to be released this summer, was like a Christmas miracle to Trekkie fans overwhelmed with Star Wars hoopla. A small gift to the fans of the other Star franchise. Here is the trailer for Star Trek: Beyond.

Go ahead, it’s okay, take another look.

Here’s a small attempt to unpack what’s happening in this minute and a half of footage.

What’s Happening to the Enterprise? 

As Kirk (Chris Pine) narrates, “We have no ship. No crew. How are we gonna get out of this one?” we see the Enterprise being attacked. Not only that, it begins to break apart. Something has gone wrong, terribly, terribly wrong. And it appears that the crew is stranded and separated from one another. Some appear to be injured, and other captured.

The crew appears to be just as broken as the Enterprise.

A look at the villain.

We finally get a glimpse at Idris Elba as the villain. He is unrecognizable.

Star Trek Beyond

In the voiceover he says, “This is where it begins, Captain. This is where the frontier pushes back.” We can assume that Elba’s villain is the one capturing the crew (and everyone else in that scene). But why?

A New Alien

Sofia Boutella plays a new alien whose name is not yet known. But based on the trailer, she plays an important role in the story.

Star Trek Beyond New Alien

Where’s Spock?

In one scene, Spock and Dr. McCoy are being surrounded. McCoy says, “Well, at least I won’t die alone.” As soon as he says this, Spock is beamed somewhere else. But where? McCoy’s response is typical McCoy: “Well, that’s just typical.”

Overall, it looks like a film in the same thread as the other two Star Trek films from J. J. Abrams, who is getting a lot of attention right now in light of Star Wars The Force Awakens.  Perhaps the biggest clue to what may be happening in this new film is the soundtrack for the trailer. The whole thing is set to the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.”

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Beastie Boys, Chris Pine, J. J. Abrams, star trek, Star Trek Beyond

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