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TJ (15 KP) rated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in Movies
Feb 10, 2019
Hans Solo
I'm a huge Han Solo Harrison Ford fan, so was interested to see how this would be made without spoiling my love of Hans Solo. Honestly pleasantly surprised, characters esprecially Chewy were loveable and full of action, an enjoyable film links nicely into the original star wars trilogy.
Jarom Solar Norris (177 KP) rated Star Wars: Battlefront: Twilight Company in Books
Sep 6, 2018
Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) in Movies
Nov 16, 2018
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) in Movies
Sep 29, 2021
Putting the “Wars” back into “Star Wars”.
Expectations have been sky-high for this first in the ‘add-in’ series of Star Wars films. But with director Gareth Edwards at the helm, whose past movie track-record includes just the low-budget “Monsters” and the less than memorable “Godzilla“, I was frankly concerned.
But the English guy (with the Welsh name) has seriously delivered!
“Rogue One” (I have omitted the inane and irritating suffix “: A Star Wars Story”) tells the story behind the story of the original Episode IV: “A New Hope”. Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything“) plays Jyn Erso, daughter to Imperial weapons expert Mads Mikkelsen (“Doctor Strange“, “Casino Royale”). An interrupted childhood leads the delinquent Jyn on a personal journey to become a leader in the fragmenting Rebel Alliance, as a small band of heroes battle to obtain the plans for the Empire’s planet-zapping Death Star. Will they succeed (this is hardly a question worth asking given the start of Episode IV!) and at what cost?
I’m throwing it out there…. this is the best Star Wars film since “The Empire Strikes Back”. The story (John Knoll and Gary Whitta) is almost Shakespearean in its scope, leading to a moving and memorable finale. As a standalone episode within the Star Wars canon – chronologically positioned as it between “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” – the film marvellously knits the two together bringing in cameos from Episode III as well as (very surprising) cameos from Episode IV, now nearly 40 years old. The screenplay (by Chris “About a Boy” Weitz and Tony Gilroy, writer of the “Bourne” films) is whip-smart with great lines.
For Star Wars fans the film is also chock full of ‘Easter Eggs’ from the original Star Wars. All of these are great fun but – frankly – some don’t make a lot of sense: for example, a chance encounter with a character in the streets of Jedha City doesn’t gel with what happens an hour or two later.
After Rey in last December’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” we again see another kick-ass heroine and a further cinematic nod towards girl-power in the movies. But this is a nuanced heroine with more than a hint of darkness about her. Felicity Jones plays her perfectly, reflecting her transition from teenage rebel to rebel-leading teen.
In general, the darkness continues throughout the supporting cast with some of the heroes – notably the impressive Diego Luna (“The Terminal”) as Cassian Andor – managing to do some very anti-heroic things at points in the story. The rest of the cast, and especially Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang as dynamic martial arts duo Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus, generate the warm fuzzies enough for you – as the audience – to really care for what happens to them. This even extends to the lump of metal in the frame – the droid K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) – who could be the film’s Jar Jar Binks but manages instead to steal the best comic lines in the film.
Elsewhere Forest Whitaker (“Arrival“) is underused as rebel guerilla Saw Gerrera; Mads Mikkelsen adds gravitas to a key strategic role; and Ben Mendelsohn makes for a memorable Imperial villain. The only slightly irritating character in an otherwise stellar ensemble cast is pilot Rodhi Rook (played by Riz Ahmed from “Jason Bourne“): more for the rather pointless way his character is written than for the Londoner’s portrayal per se.
An equal member of the cast is the sublime music of Michael Giacchino, having the unenviable task of following John Williams into the Star Wars franchise. But he does a great job. After the shock of the non-traditional opening (and an abrupt and rather out of place Title shot) the style settles down, with some of the swelling music in the closing reel adding tremendously to the emotion of the finale.
The film is not quite perfect though. The first half of the film could have moved on a bit quicker to get to the breathtaking finale. And even though CGI has moved on significantly from the stick men and women walking around on the deck in “Titanic” in 1997, the state of the art (no spoilers, but you’ll know what I mean if you’ve seen the film) still has room for some improvement. (Perhaps the first of these scenes could have been as subliminal as the last for better effect).
An outstanding effort, and one I definitely want to watch again. The Bluray version will also be a ‘must-buy’ when it emerges, since – with 4 to 5 weeks of re-shoots done in the summer, and many scenes in the trailer not appearing in the final cut – there must be an enormous number of deleted (original?) scenes that may tell a very different story from the one we saw this week.
Disney must be so, so pleased at their very expensive investment in Star Wars, and fears that the Mouse would trash the brand seem to be – thankfully – unfounded.
But the English guy (with the Welsh name) has seriously delivered!
“Rogue One” (I have omitted the inane and irritating suffix “: A Star Wars Story”) tells the story behind the story of the original Episode IV: “A New Hope”. Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything“) plays Jyn Erso, daughter to Imperial weapons expert Mads Mikkelsen (“Doctor Strange“, “Casino Royale”). An interrupted childhood leads the delinquent Jyn on a personal journey to become a leader in the fragmenting Rebel Alliance, as a small band of heroes battle to obtain the plans for the Empire’s planet-zapping Death Star. Will they succeed (this is hardly a question worth asking given the start of Episode IV!) and at what cost?
I’m throwing it out there…. this is the best Star Wars film since “The Empire Strikes Back”. The story (John Knoll and Gary Whitta) is almost Shakespearean in its scope, leading to a moving and memorable finale. As a standalone episode within the Star Wars canon – chronologically positioned as it between “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” – the film marvellously knits the two together bringing in cameos from Episode III as well as (very surprising) cameos from Episode IV, now nearly 40 years old. The screenplay (by Chris “About a Boy” Weitz and Tony Gilroy, writer of the “Bourne” films) is whip-smart with great lines.
For Star Wars fans the film is also chock full of ‘Easter Eggs’ from the original Star Wars. All of these are great fun but – frankly – some don’t make a lot of sense: for example, a chance encounter with a character in the streets of Jedha City doesn’t gel with what happens an hour or two later.
After Rey in last December’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” we again see another kick-ass heroine and a further cinematic nod towards girl-power in the movies. But this is a nuanced heroine with more than a hint of darkness about her. Felicity Jones plays her perfectly, reflecting her transition from teenage rebel to rebel-leading teen.
In general, the darkness continues throughout the supporting cast with some of the heroes – notably the impressive Diego Luna (“The Terminal”) as Cassian Andor – managing to do some very anti-heroic things at points in the story. The rest of the cast, and especially Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang as dynamic martial arts duo Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus, generate the warm fuzzies enough for you – as the audience – to really care for what happens to them. This even extends to the lump of metal in the frame – the droid K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) – who could be the film’s Jar Jar Binks but manages instead to steal the best comic lines in the film.
Elsewhere Forest Whitaker (“Arrival“) is underused as rebel guerilla Saw Gerrera; Mads Mikkelsen adds gravitas to a key strategic role; and Ben Mendelsohn makes for a memorable Imperial villain. The only slightly irritating character in an otherwise stellar ensemble cast is pilot Rodhi Rook (played by Riz Ahmed from “Jason Bourne“): more for the rather pointless way his character is written than for the Londoner’s portrayal per se.
An equal member of the cast is the sublime music of Michael Giacchino, having the unenviable task of following John Williams into the Star Wars franchise. But he does a great job. After the shock of the non-traditional opening (and an abrupt and rather out of place Title shot) the style settles down, with some of the swelling music in the closing reel adding tremendously to the emotion of the finale.
The film is not quite perfect though. The first half of the film could have moved on a bit quicker to get to the breathtaking finale. And even though CGI has moved on significantly from the stick men and women walking around on the deck in “Titanic” in 1997, the state of the art (no spoilers, but you’ll know what I mean if you’ve seen the film) still has room for some improvement. (Perhaps the first of these scenes could have been as subliminal as the last for better effect).
An outstanding effort, and one I definitely want to watch again. The Bluray version will also be a ‘must-buy’ when it emerges, since – with 4 to 5 weeks of re-shoots done in the summer, and many scenes in the trailer not appearing in the final cut – there must be an enormous number of deleted (original?) scenes that may tell a very different story from the one we saw this week.
Disney must be so, so pleased at their very expensive investment in Star Wars, and fears that the Mouse would trash the brand seem to be – thankfully – unfounded.
Sam (74 KP) rated Almost Midnight in Books
Mar 27, 2019
If you’re a nerd, this is for you! Kindred Spirits is a story about Star Wars fans, and even though Star Wars isn’t my thing, I found the story really cute and I was pulled in right from the start.
This book is worth getting just for the cover! It’s all glittery and gorgeous and you really have to see it in real life to really be able to appreciate it! Mine’s the hardback though – I’m not too sure on whether the paperback is actually glittery.
It is only a tiny book though – I did expect something a bit bigger for the price of it, but I suppose that it does only have two short stories in it.
This book is worth getting just for the cover! It’s all glittery and gorgeous and you really have to see it in real life to really be able to appreciate it! Mine’s the hardback though – I’m not too sure on whether the paperback is actually glittery.
It is only a tiny book though – I did expect something a bit bigger for the price of it, but I suppose that it does only have two short stories in it.
David McK (3576 KP) rated Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon (Star Wars #2) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Collecting issues 7-12 of Marvel's new run of Star Wars tales, like issues 1-6 this is set between the events of the original (later subtitled A New Hope) and The Empire Strikes Back, and again follows the exploits of Luke and Artoo (with a brief interlude back to Ben Kenobi's days hiding out on Tattoine) alongside those of Han Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia (plus another newly-introduced character with connections to Han's past).
Of the two main series that I have read - these, and Darth Vader - I have to say, I found these to be the more enjoyable, the more action-packed, the more to give me the 'feel' of a Star Wars film.
Of the two main series that I have read - these, and Darth Vader - I have to say, I found these to be the more enjoyable, the more action-packed, the more to give me the 'feel' of a Star Wars film.
365Flicks (235 KP) rated The Mandalorian in TV
Nov 18, 2019
Direction (3 more)
Epic feeling
It’s Star Wars dude
Mandalorian
Easily the best Star Wars Live action project since Return of the Jedi
I Am sooooo happy to be reporting back positive on this TV show. Since Disney bought Lucasfilm they have missed more often than hit. But so far the Mandalorian is a smash hit.
It feels grand, epic and it captures the very essence of A New Hope the darkness of Empire Strikes Back and everything we love about our favourite Space Western. The blend of CGI and practical is effortless the music of this show is as much a character as the titular Mandalorian.
I love this show, long may this continue and Disney don’t screw it up!!!
It feels grand, epic and it captures the very essence of A New Hope the darkness of Empire Strikes Back and everything we love about our favourite Space Western. The blend of CGI and practical is effortless the music of this show is as much a character as the titular Mandalorian.
I love this show, long may this continue and Disney don’t screw it up!!!
Sid Krofft recommended Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) in Movies (curated)
Liev Schreiber recommended Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) in Movies (curated)
Otway93 (580 KP) rated Dooku: Jedi Lost (Star Wars) in Books
Dec 8, 2019
Plot (1 more)
Characters
A brilliant, well written story!
Dooku: Jedi Lost, as you can probably guess details the life of Count Dooku from his Jedi training, right up until his turn to the dark side, but all is not as it seems.
When looking up the chronology of canon Star Wars media, it usually appears as the first thing to read, but book actually takes place directly before The Clone Wars, as Ventress has just become Dooku's apprentice.
The book is actually Ventress trying to learn more about her new master from records while on a mission for him, but the bulk of the book is set in the past (in the form of a record anyway). But the mission and the tales from the records come together in the end to form one single, glorious ending!
A worthy, engrossing entry in the Star Wars canon, and truly worth a read!
When looking up the chronology of canon Star Wars media, it usually appears as the first thing to read, but book actually takes place directly before The Clone Wars, as Ventress has just become Dooku's apprentice.
The book is actually Ventress trying to learn more about her new master from records while on a mission for him, but the bulk of the book is set in the past (in the form of a record anyway). But the mission and the tales from the records come together in the end to form one single, glorious ending!
A worthy, engrossing entry in the Star Wars canon, and truly worth a read!