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where faith and film are intertwined

Supreme Leader Snoke

Star Wars The Last Jedi: Latest Snoke Rumor and Where Disney May be Heading

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With the next Star Wars film nearly two months away now, and a new trailer set to come out tonight, the rumor mill is picking up steam again. The latest is one that claims to have good sources and possibly more legit than just theories (of course, we take this with a grain of salt). So be warned, if you don’t want to be spoiled, leave now. Otherwise, below the adorable Porg, we shall resume with the spoiling…

Still here? Don’t say I didn’t warn you…

The latest rumor/theory comes from the YouTube channel?Star Wars Theory. I will be honest, a lot of this is very far-fetched (in terms of I don’t think Disney/Lucasfilm will go that route), but I will focus on what I believe makes the most sense. My belief has always been that Snoke is ancient Sith, someone we may have not heard of but links old legends to new canon. Having Snoke serve as the bridge for Disney would bring the Old Republic together with the new canon. The theory is that Snoke was entombed or imprisoned a long time ago and has made his return. There is quite a few other things, that as I said, feel far-fetched so I’ll just focus on Snoke and the Old Republic.

Disney loves to plan ahead, so for them to already be thinking beyond Episode 9 and their anthologies. With the success of Rogue One, many fans want more new fresh stories with new characters never seen on film. Although the Old Republic will see old characters brought into canon, many aren’t well known unless you truly followed the series. Having Snoke bridge that gap and starting a new series that focuses on the Old Republic makes for the perfect break between Episode 9 and the eventual Episode 10. The question still surrounding this is if Snoke is ancient Sith, then how did Palpatine not know about him? In the canon Aftermath book Empires End, we know that Palpatine made some sort of contact with Snoke without actually knowing who he is. So is Snoke really ancient Sith, or is far worst than that? If he was imprisoned, at what point did he escape and how long has he been observing the galaxy from where he was. And if he feeds on the Force and Force-wielders, wouldn’t Order 66 have made that difficult for him to have the strength to turn Ben?

So as I said…the theory has holes but the most important part I think is we should take merit that Disney plans to do something with the Old Republic and that Snoke is that bridge. What say you? Do you want Disney and Lucasfilm to delve into the Old Republic? Do you prefer Snoke to be that bridge? Do you think Snoke is something or someone different? Let us know.

Rey’s Identity Revealed! Or Not at all…

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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.

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  • 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.

 

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.