Mandalorian

It's hard to imagine a television show with more pressure on it to be brilliant than Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars television show and one of the first original shows to air on Disney's new streaming service. Wisely, they decided to stay away from established characters.

Set in the time after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens, this show follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter as he gets caught up in Imperial intrigue as remnants of the fallen Empire eye a mysterious prize. The show benefits from having a tight plot that runs throughout, rather than simply using a frame tale to showcase a bunch of loosely related stories. It also benefits from the fact that the main character is pretty badass. 

I admit that it was a few episodes before I really got caught up in this show, but I certainly did. I liked how they dealt with stories that departed from the central Star Wars tale. Definitely a great start to what I hope becomes the next best saga.

Star Wars...The Rise of Skywalker

I have a tradition where I go to the movies right before Christmas. This year was no different as I went to see the new Star Wars movie. I was more excited for this recent movie than I had been for any of the previous four movies (the two from the trilogy and Rouge One and Solo). Perhaps because I knew it would close out the story, and perhaps because I had re-watched The Last Jedi the day before and found that it was better than I remembered.

I knew the early reviews were not so great, but I didn't pay much attention to that. The critics have never really gotten Star Wars and as for the "die hard" fans, well oddly enough, they seem to hate all the movies except for the first two...which makes me wonder why they are even fans. 

Now, I admit that I grade Star Wars movies on a different scale. They're not going to be Best Picture kind of films. I try to look at them the way I would as a child, and by that, I mean, do they spark that same area of imagination that those movies from my childhood did. This one certainly did!

The exploration of the Sith was fascinating. Rey's story has been compelling from the beginning, even more compelling than Luke's in the first trilogy or Anakin's in the second. Of course, it follows a similar trajectory as the first trilogy. My problem with these movies has always been that they feel like an altered retelling of the first trilogy but with different characters. However with this movie, they managed to make everything bigger. There was more at stake. The Dark Side had never been so close to ultimate conquest of the galaxy. Hope was on the brink of blinking out.

This was a completely satisfying end to the Skywalker saga in my opinion.

Going Solo

Last week, I finally made it to see Solo: A Star Wars Story. I will admit that I was more than a little skeptical of this film from the very first news that it was being made. Rouge One was different because it was an expanded universe project and I'm all about the expanded universe. This film was an origin story for my favorite character in the universe and therefore, I was nervous about it. One of the biggest concerns I had was watching somebody else play Han Solo. 

Not surprising, my biggest problem with this movie was the first third as I tried believing this guy was Han. I was also not so into the story of the first third, but once Han was off on his own, flying solo, the movie picked up for me. Woody Harrelson was the highlight of this film, in my opinion. He made the perfect Star Wars character. And by half way, I was able accept the new, younger Han. 

I enjoyed this film, but it was more of a space caper movie that followed the blockbuster format rather than a Star Wars format. That was disappointing, but acceptable. I just wished it was more steeped in the rise of the Empire. There were flashes of that, especially with the Join the Empire propaganda that showed up, but I wanted more of it. A solid okay, but in the future, I hope they chose to do more movies like Rogue One instead. They could easily bring in some Clone Wars characters, which I was sort of hoping they would do here.

May the Forth Be With You...

Three years ago, I was very disappointed that my daughter had been born two days too soon. I'd been holding out hope that she would be born on the 4th, which is Star Wars day. She would be certain to grow up a jedi had she been. Or at least, the force would be strong with her. 

I spent most of my imaginary time living in the Star Wars universe as a child. It was the first imaginary world that consumed my thoughts. It dominated my play and the stories grew within my mind. I'm still very intrigued by the Star Wars world and still spend time thinking about it, but my love of Star Wars truly stems from the impact it made on my childhood imagination. 

Stories are more than stories. Stories are what guide our thoughts, take our thinking in new directions, and shape our hopes and aspirations. Though I will never be a jedi, and never travel at hyper-speed, thanks to a universe that exists in movies, television, books, and toys, I feel like I have already been and done those things. So on this day, may the force be with you...always.

The Ways of the Force

The newest installment of the Star Wars universe arrived a few weeks ago, and I finally went to see it on the 23rd as a small Christmas present to myself. I've heard the whole range of opinions on this film, from those who loved it and those who loathe it. I've been a fan of Star Wars since the first movie captivated my imagination at the age of 4, and I just have to say that some people take this franchise far, far too seriously. The people who hated the prequels forgot that the first three movies weren't exactly high-quality cinema. They were entertaining sci-fiction space movies with good action, interesting characters and storylines that weren't always expertly developed. They are modern myths of heroes and villains in a struggle between good and evil. And every installment since the first has stayed true to that notion. 

With all of that said, I think the new movie falls somewhere in the middle. It's not the best, but it's not the worst episode either. It's entertaining. It has some great battles, some great character moments, and unlike Episode 7, it reduces the number of allusions to the plot structure of it's corresponding original, in this case The Empire Strikes Back, which makes it feel more worthwhile.

I think Rey is one of the best characters in the Star Wars universe. She is much more dynamic as a questioning young jedi than either Luke or Anikan. Unfortunately, I can't say the same is true for Kylo. There's something missing in his character, as there was in the last film. I was hoping there would be more done in this one to resolve that, but instead they relegated him to a Anikan type Episode II role. The movie also would've been better served if it had delved deeper into the history or organization of the First Order. Where the prequels spent a lot of energy on the politics of the universe, this one has spent too little in my opinion.

By far, the most intriguing aspect of this movie for me was how it expanded on the nature of the Force. It expanded on the ways of the Force far more than any of the previous films. It also shows us the Luke was never really the Master Jedi we assumed he was. We discover there is still much about the force that he doesn't understand...and therefore, that we didn't understand. Now the next movie just needs to deliver on that notion and give us even more to feed our imagination.

Star Wars: Rogue One

With the extra day off, I was finally able to get to the movies to see Star Wars: Rogue One. I'd planned to see it just before Christmas, but other obligations prevented me from making it. So when an opportunity presented itself last night, I jumped on it. 

Going into the theater, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was fairly certain that I would enjoy it. I've been a huge Star Wars fan since childhood. I have a rather large figure collection to this day. I enjoyed the prequels. I loved Clone Wars. I'm even a fan of the Ewok Adventure movies, the Ewok cartoon, and Droids. so there was no way that I wasn't going to enjoy it. The question was, would I appreciate it beyond the simple fact that it was an addition to the Star Wars universe, which is kind of how I felt about The Force Awakens. 

I have to admit that I like the fact that Rogue One doesn't fit directly into the trilogies. I like that it fills in a gap. It's like how they made three-part episodes of the Clone Wars, telling a short story that applies to the entire galaxy. It doesn't necessarily add story, it enriches story. This did a fantastic job of that. And they did a fantastic job of weaving it in with A New Hope. There is certainly the chance to do the same for period between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi...maybe on Cloud City? 

It was also nice to get away from the traditional Star Wars narrative. The dialogue broke from the typical stiffness of some of the other films. The story was darker (and far more violent). This was a delight, and a movie that can be watched again without feeling the need to watch seven other parts before or after.

Star Wars on the Mind

So I woke up insanely early in the morning as I've grown accustomed to doing ever since my daughter joined the family. Only, when I woke this morning, she was sound asleep. So in the moments before I fell back asleep, my brain turned to thoughts of Star Wars as it often has since I was about six years old. There I was, laying awake in the dark, thinking about midi-chlorians and thinking, this is my life?

Midi-chlorians are perhaps the most hated aspect of Star Wars, with the exception of Jar Jar Binks. I admit to also being perplexed at the inclusion of these microscopic organisms in Episode I, thinking that Lucas was trying to jump on the current DNA obsession of the time. It seemed pointless to talk about these things and unnecessary to use them as a way of justifying Anakin's importance in the history of The Force. I never gave it much more thought beyond that...until this morning.

I had a revelation about it today and have come to the conclusion that it's just another wonderful aspect of the story of a galaxy far, far away. This is how I figure it...back in Episode I, the Galactic Senate was still operating, though barely. There was still peace and prosperity. It was operating under the protection of the Jedi Council and the government. It was a developed and central organization, and therefore it makes sense that science was important. 

It was only after the dark reign of the Empire and the breakdown of government that mysticism took over. And without the Jedi around, and the mention of them being shunned, their existence became something of legend and myth. The science was forgotten, but that doesn't mean the science doesn't exist. The midi-chlorians serve as a metaphor for the deterioration of science in the deterioration of democracy. 

So concludes my reflection of middle-of-the-night thoughts.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

A few weeks ago, I circled the night of the 23rd as the day I was planning on seeing the new Star Wars movie. This goes back to years of tradition where I'd take my younger siblings to the movies on Christmas Eve so that my mom and dad could wrap gifts. I wanted to honor that old tradition, even if plans called for it to happen one day earlier. And there was no better film to do that with than one that takes place in a story that I spent so much of my childhood living. When I say that, it's not just the movies that I'm talking about. My room was frequently set up in the midst of ongoing epic battles that would play out for days between the Rebels and the Empire, and I often credit those battles as my first experiences with story construction.

Back to the present, in a galaxy far, far away, watching a story that took place a long time ago. I'd managed to avoid any and all spoilers, so I went into the movie knowing nothing except what the previews had hinted at. And though I must admit that it took about ten minutes or so before the movie completely pulled me in, I will say that it certainly did pull me in. I thought the new characters were excellent, and far better formed on screen than the new characters in Episodes I-III. The appearance of old characters, especially Han Solo, brought the film to another level, one that is sure to please every fan of the old films. Though there was some cheesy dialogue, every line was still better than anything uttered by Hayden Christensen. 

It is not surprising that fans of the original movie see this as the best film since. That's because this film draws a LOT of parallels with the first. In many ways, this is a retelling of the first film but with a new generation of characters, with new agendas and new histories. The trajectory of the story is essentially identical, as is the pacing and unfolding of events. I keep going back and forth on whether I think this is very clever, or very lazy. If it is simply a set up for the next two movies which will expand the mythology and story, taking it in completely different directions, than it could be clever. After all, there were lots of hints at things that might happen next, or history that is yet to be revealed. However, if it was simply used as a method to trick viewers into watching a reboot without using that dreaded word, than I'm a going to be pissed.

All in all, I loved this movie! I loved the way it got rid of the CGI virus that has infected every movie for the last dozen years and gave things weight and substance again. I love that it had characters with heart and ones that were well-acted. I loved the combination of humor and action, which felt very much in the tradition of the franchise. I loved the concepts and the sets, the surprises and mysteries. I loved pretty much everything about it, and now I can't wait for the next one. 

In a Dream Far, Far Away...

While I have not yet seen The Force Awakens, I've recently spent some time in a galaxy far away. On the night the new film opened, I dreamt that I was in Star Wars: A New Hope. I was Luke, which is unusual seeing as how Luke was never my favorite character, it was always Han...but if I'm being honest, I've always been more Luke than Han. 

In the dream, I was with Obi Wan on the Death Star. We were face to face with Darth Vader and Obi Wan was attempting to bring Anakin back from the dark side. He was telling Darth how he'd accomplished everything he set out to do, and asked if things were really any better. Eventually he convinced Darth that his path on the dark side was finished, and the two of them went off to deal with the Emperor. Meanwhile, I was to wait in disguise as a maintenance man on the Death Star, accompanied with droids. The whole time, I was kept thinking to myself, this isn't how it happened before, and the idea of seeing how an alternative Star Wars would play out was the most exciting thing. 

Unfortunately I woke up before the saga ended. But it certainly awakened the excitement for the new film, which had already been in full bloom. It just goes to prove what I've always said, that the stories that are inside of us are more interesting that the stories of our lives most times. Long live fiction.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

With all the Star Wars chatter these days about new movies, it seems people have forgotten that there is currently a phenomenal Star Wars product on the market. Of course I'm referring to The Clone Wars animated series, which during it's several season run on Cartoon Network has continued to excel not only in its storytelling and character development, but also in offering fans the most in depth glimpse at the expanded universe. 

The season finale aired this past week and it answered one of the pressing questions raised by the series. Given that it takes place between Episode II and Episode III, there was always the question of what would happen to Asoka. She is Anakin's teenage padawan, and seeing as how she isn't in Episode III, there was going to need to be some sort of explanation. Over the past two seasons, this is the question that has kept plaguing me. What was going to happen to Asoka?

I finally got the answer in this season's wonderful three part concluding episode. Viewers learned the fate of Asoka, and not only was it masterfully handled, it also raised serious questions about the state of the Jedi Council in wartime. These episodes were really a turning point in the greater Star Wars story. There is a line spoken by a Jedi named Barriss where she accuses the Jedi of being a weapon for the Dark Side. I thought this was a brilliant speech, and an accurate one. With the Jedi Council caving to the demands of the Senate, led by the Emperor, they are essentially working for the Dark Side. I'd never thought about it that way, but now the truth is so obvious.

Another thing this episode achieved was to further set up Anakin's fall. I always knew that Asoka's fate would play into this arc, and was very pleased with the subtle, yet pivotal, role it will play in his growing rift with the Jedi Council. 

It's strange that there is all this speculation about the new Star Wars movies when most so-called fans are completely ignoring one of the franchise's best offerings. If you haven't watched The Clone Wars, do yourself a favor and start tuning in. 

May the force be with you...and with you Asoka Tano.

You Say You Want a Revolution...

Back in the summer when I first saw the previews for NBC's new series Revolution, I have to admit that it looked dead terrible. From the lighting, to the sword fights, everything about it felt wrong. In the end though, I decided J.J. Abrams had earned at least a shot, though my expectations were really, really low. Three episodes in however, I have to say I'm enjoying it. Mostly because of the obvious Star Wars connections.

The show has done a good job managing intrigue. There's a lot more going on than I'd expected, but that's more the fault of duds like Tera Nova and the painfully slow pacing that sometimes ruins Fallen Skies. So far on Revolution, things seem to be happening really quickly. I think they've been able to do that because the world they've created already feels vast and there's a lot they can explore. Sure, it suffers from a good amount of forced dialogue, most of it delivered poorly. And the narrative structure is lifted almost completely from Lost with its pairing off of characters and the use of flashback to set-up dramatic scenes. But there's also a lot to love about. The action scenes are done well and the world is appropriately brutal without being too depressing.

For me, the most entertaining part are the Star Wars allusions that run throughout the show. There's a Han Solo, a Princess Leia, a girl version of Luke, an Empire, a Rebellion, and there was even a Catina scene. The relationship dynamics mirror those of the Star Wars characters, as do their personality traits. On top of that universe, they've layered a dystopian "Fall of America" theme. Enter the The Hunger Games allusions. One could almost believe the younger cast members were auditioned for Hunger Games look-a-likes. There's also a lot of story elements borrowed from the late great Jericho show. The amazing thing is that it all kind of works and that's what makes the show fun.

There is clearly a ton of story potential that could keep this going and improving. If the characters and writers can get everything clicking, this could become as good as Firefly. More than likely it will end up another concept show that couldn't deliver like The Cape, or Terra Nova. But for now, I'm remaining hopeful...besides, it's nice to have Han Solo back fighting the Empire.

Star Wars: Episode 1

Last week I went to see Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D. Now, it should be noted up front that I'm one of the few Star Wars fans that doesn't hate this movie. Aside from it being slightly slow to begin with, I find it quite entertaining. Before entering the theater, I hadn't seen the complete movie in almost ten years. I've watched clips here and there when it's been on television, but it was nice seeing it in its entirety.

The strangest thing I noticed this time around was the competing soul of the movie. While it's easily the most kid-friendly of the films, especially with young Anakin stealing the show for most of the movie and the overall silliness of the Gungans, it's also the most weighty in terms of galactic politics. If it's geared towards kids, why dwell so much on the dysfunction of corrupt democratic institutions? Though, I have to say, I find that aspect of the movie to be the most compelling, and even more so today given the current nature of our government. Blending the two however makes the movie a bit confused as to what it wants to be.

As for the 3D, I like the fact they didn't go for gimmicks of making things jump out at you. The effect here was one to add dimension to the world. It was no frills, but that's okay. But 3D or not, it's just always nice to see Star Wars on the big screen. The lightsaber duels are still some of the best in any of the movies and Darth Maul is still the baddest character this side of Cade Bane. I didn't even mind the midiclorians this time around. It used to really annoy me, but as I was watching, I thought that an organized Republic, with centuries of peace, would probably have some kind of technology tied to the force. It made sense to me in a way it didn't before.

Still the weakest of the six films, but if this is worst, then really, there's nothing to complain about.