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Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1980 | Fantasy, Sci-Fi

"Absolutely blown away by the world of Star Wars, Empire and Jedis. [But] my favorite moment of the three is actually in The Return of the Jedi. And I argue this with people who are real Star Wars freaks. “Ewoks ruin the movie.” If you’re going to trifle over Ewoks, and you’re not going to talk about how great the speeder bike scenes through the redwood forests are, then f–k off. Those are some of the greatest action sequences… Okay, yeah, there’s some cute critters to sell merchandise. [But there’s] some [scenes] that I couldn’t even dream up with these unbelievable hovercrafts and modern-looking Stormtrooopers. And Jedi has the best moment. [It’s] at the very end when the Emperor is trying to pull Luke over and, of course, Luke is getting the s–t kicked out of him and getting electricity blown at him. And Luke finally takes his lightsaber and throws it aside and says, “No. I’ll never join you. I’m a Jedi like my father before me.” And the Emperor says, “So be it…Jedi.” And it was the fact that the f–king devil himself gave Luke props and called him by [who] he was. It empowered him. That always gets by people, but that’s my stand-out moment. But Empire, when that movie ended in a cliffhanger, my life was a cliffhanger. Until the next one came out, you couldn’t talk to me, you couldn’t talk to me, dude. I was hanging out with my Ungnaught action figures. Everything in my life went back to, “What do you think is going to happen next to Han Solo?” I promise you, you talk to my family and they will go, “Dane was bananas.”"

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Lee (2222 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies

Nov 6, 2017 (Updated Nov 9, 2017)  
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
2017 | Drama, Mystery
Kenneth Branagh (1 more)
Stunning cinematography
Wasted all-star cast (1 more)
Not very interesting
All style, no substance
This review is possibly a little unfair, as I actually managed to fall asleep watching Murder On The Orient Express. In a busy cinema, early evening on a Sunday. I've only ever managed to do this a couple of times previously - once, while watching a midnight screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (I'm an old man, it was way past my bedtime). Another occasion was during the last Alvin and the Chipmunks movie while watching with my daughter (and I quite rightly got a dig in the ribs from her when she caught me out).

Unfortunately for me though, Kenneth Branaghs lavish retelling of this classic murder mystery is all style and no substance. Branagh himself is actually very good, and hugely entertaining as the worlds greatest detective, Hercule Poirot. However, most of the remaining all star cast just seem wasted in their roles and I just felt like I was watching a big, glossy BBC detective drama on a Sunday evening rather than a thrilling cinematic experience.

I made it through the setup and the murder itself. I also made it through some of the questioning of the many suspects too. But I think that's where my body gave up. I don't think I missed much though, and I was awake again in time for the ridiculous reveal and the explanation as to why whodunit actually dunit, but overall this was just a pretty big disappointment for me.
  
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron (Alphabet Squadron #1)
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron (Alphabet Squadron #1)
Alexander Freed | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
During the mid-to-late 90s (prior to even the Prequels), there was an explosion of Star Wars Expanded Universe novels.

Most of those novels concentrated on Han, Luke, Leia and co.

Most, but not all.

Alongside those, there was also two separate series of books, initially taking Wedge Antilles as a key character, concentrating instead on the fighter pilots of (initially) Rogue Squadron and (later) Wraith Squadron, taking inspiration for the X-Wing and TIE fighter computer games of the time.

And those novels themselves - now considered 'Legends' i.e. no longer canon - could very well have provided inspiration for this, the first of a spin-off trilogy (I think) from a series of graphic novels.

Whereas Rogue and Wraith squadron both had their pilots flying the same type of fighter craft, and both were very cinematic in their presentation, this novel - definitely in the first half (which, I felt, dragged somewhat) - concentrates more on its members psychology, with the so-called Alphabet squadron headed up by an ex-Imperial keen to prove her loyalty to the New Republic. And why is it called Alphabet Squadron? Because the pilots fly a mix of starfighter, from an A-Wing (i.e. that which crashes into the Star Destroyer bridge in Return of the Jedi) to a B Wing (the cross-shaped bomber glimpsed in flight), to an X-Wing (the type Luke Skywalker flies) to a U-Wing (The personnel carrier introduced in Rogue One) to a Y-Wing (the initial bombing run on the Death Star).
  
The Good Immigrant
The Good Immigrant
Nikesh Shukla | 2016 | Essays
10
9.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
An important read for modern Britain
Nikesh Shukla has done a phenomenal job in compiling various essays to highlight the voices of marginalised Britain.

From bloggers to actors such as Riz Ahmed, the writings show the experiences of growing up with dual cultures and how society continues to be colour blind instead of embracing these differences.

In Ahmed's story for example, he describes going to America because he was constantly typecasted in the UK film industry. As he headed to play a role in the new Star Wars movie, he was detained at the airport for the umpteenth time to be questioned. It shows no matter how much he strived, the prejudices remain.

And that's just one anecdote of many voices. It is riveting and engaging, finally giving the opportunity to hear about second generation, children of immigrants in Britain.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Battlestar Galactica (1978) in Movies

Mar 17, 2019 (Updated Mar 17, 2019)  
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
1978 | Adventure, Sci-Fi
Theatrical version of the pilot episode of Glen A Larson's Mormons-in-space Star Wars knock-off (Lucas sued). Somewhere 'beyond the heavens' the Twelve Colonies of Man are betrayed to the evil Cylons; leader Adama (Lorne Greene) must get his Charlton Heston freak on and lead the survivors to the Promised Land (i.e., Earth).

Looks great for the first ten minutes, until it becomes apparent that they only have about three minutes of special effects which are going to be endlessly recycled. The actual story weaves between the tone of a cod-biblical epic and a fairly cheesy soap, but not unengagingly. The fact this is made up of about three different episodes stitched together is obvious, though. It's all kind of clumsy, but still oddly charismatic and enjoyable; more fun than the version with Bob Dylan.
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated Star Wars™: Galaxy of Heroes in Apps

May 11, 2019 (Updated May 11, 2019)  
Star Wars™: Galaxy of Heroes
Star Wars™: Galaxy of Heroes
Games
8
8.2 (9 Ratings)
App Rating
One of my friends had been trying to convince me for a year to start playing this mobile game. So, luckily, when I started playing, he gave me a ton of tips to level up faster.
There is a huge variety of characters, and I like that you get to choose, for the most part, which ones you want, rather than it being a random draw like some other mobile fighting games. The key is definitely trying to get Phoenix Squad AKA all of the characters from Star Wars: Rebels.

To be honest, it's a great game to play at work, since there is an option for auto-battles. It definitely fills the time.

Side note: I never, ever pay for any boosts/packs, etc with real money. I'm sure it's a hindrance, but I don't plan on being number 1.
  
The Black Hole (1979)
The Black Hole (1979)
1979 | Action, Family, Sci-Fi
Big-budget attempt by Disney to cash in on the success of Star Wars; this sort of thing doesn't happen any more, obviously. Science vessel from Earth discovers fabled lost vessel from a generation before, mysteriously hanging over a black hole; they choose to investigate, eventually there are ray gun battles.

Distinctly odd movie which can't seem to decide whether it's a cheery George Lucas-style family-friendly adventure extravaganza with cute robots and zap guns aplenty, or a post-Stanley Kubrick tale of existential contemplation and all-pervading gloom. In the end the dark tone is mostly triumphant - bemusing final sequence reveals black hole is actually a gateway to hell, which may explain why this has been acclaimed as the most scientifically inaccurate movie in history. Decent cast try hard; very good score from John Barry helps keep things moving along.
  
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
Ridin' Solo
Solo: A Star Wars Story- is better than Rogue Story by a lot. Its more fun, entertaining, action, adventure, thrilling, and more.

The plot: Young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins forces with a gang of galactic smugglers and a 190-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.

I like Aldren Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Woody Harrelson was good, Paul Bettany was excellent as the villian and Donald Glover was good as Lando.

Like i said this is 10x better than rogue one. Its a good movie.
  
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Villains
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Villains
Greg Pak | 2019 | Comics & Graphic Novels
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
While the Star Wars Extended Universe has been (unofficially) doing this for years now, Disney has finally come out and given each of the current 3 distinct eras in the films their own 'name's: 'Age of Republic' (The Prequel Trilogy), 'Age of Rebellion' (Original Trilogy) and 'Age of Resistance' (Sequel Trilogy)

This, therefore, is set during the middle - arguably best - of those three, and is really a collection of short stories, each focusing on a given villain from that era: Grand Moff Tarkin, Boba Fett, IG-88, Jabba the Hutt and Darth Vader himself. As such, the stories are a bit hit and miss, with some forgettable while others adding nuance and depth to the characters. I may pick up the 'Age of Rebellion: Heroes' companion when it comes out, but probably won't be rushing out to buy it.