Thanks to my brother-in-law, John, our recent tradition of seeing Star Wars movies with extended family continued again this year with a fantastic reserved-seat opening Thursday viewing of The Last Jedi. Now that a week has gone by, and I no longer feel as concerned with the chance of inadvertently spoiling the film, and also inspired by what seems to be a lot of nonsensical “fan” grousing about the film, I decided it was time to get some thoughts down here on the ol’ blog.

So here is your warning: after the jump there will be spoilers. Don’t read this until you’ve seen the film. A great deal of the fun I had at The Last Jedi was not knowing what direction the story would take and experiencing it unfold right there on the big screen.

What follows will not be a structured “review” of the film, but instead a loose collection of thoughts of what I liked about the movie. In an odd twist that makes me feel like I’m in the twilight zone, critics adored this film and the collective fan base are the ones who seem to be piling on with negativity. Let me be clear, it is perfectly okay to not like The Last Jedi and for your dislike to be filled with very valid reasons. In the reviews I have read, however, there doesn’t seem to be a lot backing up the criticism from those who purport to be fans of the series. Most of their complaints could easily be leveled at every single one of the Star Wars films, and that is why they don’t make much sense to me.

Again, I don’t fault people for having an opinion different from my own. I just would caution everyone to remember…these are Star Wars films. If ever a film series was meant to be entertaining, this is it. I was eight years old when Star Wars first hit theaters. I fell hard for the universe that existed in that film and the handful of Star Wars novels that came out during those early years of the first trilogy (the film novelizations, Brian Daley’s Han Solo novels, and the novel by Alan Dean Foster). I’ve loved some of the films, despised some, and have had middle-of-the-road feelings about others. I enjoyed The Last Jedi and look forward to seeing it again. Thus, other than a couple of “I wish they had…” comments, my thoughts will be centered around what I liked.

Enjoy, and please leave your thoughts, positive or negative (or both), in the comments. Everything hereafter, including comments, will include spoilers.

Continue reading The Last Jedi, my thoughts →

If one were to simply trust the opinions of those paid to critique films, then the new science fiction film Passengers is one to easily write off. Save your money. Don’t waste valuable time. It is slow, cliched, filled with convenient plot elements, doesn’t know what type of film it wants to be, unoriginal, flawed…these and more criticisms abound and taking a step back from the film I myself could cite examples to fit each complaint. I will let you in on a secret: many of the films that critics adore and the films that the public adores (which are not always the same films) can be justifiably labeled with the same criticisms.

I don’t say this to give a pass to those areas where the writers of Passengers could have tried a bit harder. What I am saying is that not every science fiction film can be or should be Arrival. And as much as I praise that film, I personally do not want every science fiction film, nor every film in general, to strive to be original or to have some deep, contemplative message.

Sometimes I want just what Passengers gave me, a love story, replete with the story beats one expects from celluloid romance with the added bonus of some of the cool science fictional bells and whistles that makes a guy like me want to lay aside what I doubt is possible and simply believe once again that humanity can launch itself successfully among the stars.

Continue reading Passengers →

“It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.

During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.

Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy….”

There it is…I have spoiled Rogue One for you.

Of course, if you have any Star Wars acumen, then you were aware that there already exists a sequel for this just released “Star Wars Story”, Rogue One. It is a little film originally known as Star Wars, aka Episode IV: A New Hope.

Those opening lines, from the film in 1977, are the basis for the latest film in the franchise, and to dispense with any aura of suspense I will let you know right now that I loved it.

What follows is a brief “review” of the movie, with NO SPOILERS beyond what is revealed in the trailers. Once you get to the jump–the “Continue Reading” link–it will be ALL SPOILER LADEN conversation. I will kindly give you another warning then.

In brief, Rogue One follows a young band of rebels assigned to steal the plans of the Death Star before its rumored destructive power is used to bring all worlds into subjection to the evil Empire.

Rogue One breaks from tradition is many ways, not the least of which is that most of the characters you will meet are wholly new to the Star Wars universe. Despite this film being a chapter in a much larger existing story, there is a lot that the film makers have to accomplish in the brief 134 minute run time, and while you won’t want it to be over when it ends, you are likely to be satisfied with the end product.

I enjoy going into a film where the actors are largely unknown to me and this is one of the reasons the characters in Rogue One make such an impact. They get to inhabit these characters and make them their own. And each one of them is interesting in their own right and in the way they interact with one another.

The special effects are nothing short of amazing, which is exactly what you would expect from Industrial Light and Magic, but even more amazing is the way in which the design fits so fluidly into the look of the original Star Wars, while also not feeling dated in any way. From special effects to sets to costume design to hair styles, this looked like a movie that takes place right before the events of Star Wars and yet it takes full advantage of how much film making has changed technically over the last nearly four decades.

Rogue One is admittedly darker than what we have seen in the other seven Star Wars films, although Revenge of the Sith got pretty dark there near the end. The “darkness” in this film has much to do with hope vs. despair and with giving Star Wars a more realistic feel without stealing it away from the children who were George Lucas’ initial audience.

I was hooked from the opening. The original trilogy will always be my favorite, with The Empire Strikes Back being my #1, but Rogue One, less than 24 hours after seeing it at any rate, is running a close second. I feel that my engagement in the story was enhanced in a major way due to reading Catalyst last weekend, but none of the others I was with had read it and they all enjoyed Rogue One every bit as much as I did.

When you don’t want to leave the lobby and want to keep standing around talking about a film, you know the film makers were successful in their movie magic.

From here on out THERE BE SPOILERS. As I’ve done with other Star Wars films, I want to write down some specific thoughts about the film. They will not be vague thoughts, they will be very specific. Please see the film before you “continue reading”.

You have been warned. Go see the film.

Continue reading Rogue One: A Star Wars Story →

I would be the first to admit that it would be a rare circumstance that would find me missing the opportunity to give the movie studios my hard-earned dollar(s) for the latest Star Trek or Star Wars film, or many other franchise films that in one way or another often rework and rehash old ideas in the hopes of pleasing old fans while gaining new. Though I have often conversed with friends both in person and online about the dearth of creativity in the science fiction film industry, especially given the many talented writers who keep the field fresh and interesting, I am loathe to back up that position by voting with my wallet.

The truth is, I am a fan boy at heart.

Thus it came as a great surprise during the end credits of the critically acclaimed film, Arrival, to find that it was based on the novella, Story of Your Life, for which author Ted Chiang won both the Hugo and Nebula awards.

I was already elated at the end of what was a truly affecting, beautiful film, and that elation mounted with the glimmer of hope that perhaps competing studios might look to Arrival as an example for how to tap into the rich science fiction literature market for interesting film ideas.

Despite Arrival having already surpassed its relatively modest production budget, and despite being critically lauded, I realize this is wishful thinking.

It is now officially the Christmas Season. Please give me a few more days before you crush my dreams.

Continue reading Arrival →