Movie Review Madness - Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Ray and I joined the hordes at the movies this weekend to see the “final” episode in the Star Wars Saga – Rise of Skywalker.  It is very entertaining, well done, and lots of special effects. I’m not a fanatic and was late to the whole party. I don’t know that I’ve seen every episode. But, I enjoy the general theme – underdogs fighting the empire. Underdogs seeking truth, justice, freedom, and  caring for humanity. What’s not to like?

Acting is good and Daisy Ridley as Rey kicks butt. Always poignant to see ghostly Mark Hamill as Luke, ghostly Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia – still a leader, still the one all look to. Whatever footage they had of her, they blended well and it works.  Adam Driver is great as Kylo Ren/Ben  - evil force trying to get Rey to join him on the Dark Side. Will he win, will she crater? Po, Finn, et  al – can they fly and fight for victory. Creepy Emperor Paletine – how’s he still hooked to machines and pulling strings?

I won’t give away big reveals – who’s really related to whom? Say what?!!!  I think there are still questions that true fans must ponder. I need  to ask my guys at work for some clarification.  But I could roll with it all and be entertained. And frankly when the John Williams Star Wars theme music swells, I can feel the exhilaration – you just know something cool is going to happen on the big screen regarding a galaxy far, far away.  And that’s what movies should do – transform and send you to another realm for a few hours. We, in the full theater, were united and rooting for our scrappy resistance fighters.

Jedis  - light sabers ready…. And go!

Movie Review Madness - Star Wars Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi has more than myth going for it. This is a movie filled with character, emotional arcs, and a real story line.  It’s exciting and rich filmmaking. I still would have cut approximately thirty minutes (yes, I realize I am not the target audience, but some of the air battle scenes go on too long.  We get it – zoom zoom, swish, and shoot)  (And there is one too many trips up and down the mountain with Luke and Rey – we get it. He’s trying to break her down. And gee – she’s persistent).  Picky, picky, I know, but that’s me being a critic.

Otherwise, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is in fine form and showing more and more power. Her confidence grows and she’s learning. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is evil, yet we get more of some emotional undercurrents.  Po, Finn, Laura Dern as a military leader – steely enough, and new Resistance worker bee – Rose – all get to rise to the occasion and be a hero.  I’m not going to delve into more plot line. Suffice to say, the Resistance is battling the First Order and the Supreme Leader Snoke. Take sides and root for winners.

And there’s Leia – the late Carrie Fisher – still in the film, still important. The filmmaking they achieved when she was alive is fabulous. She’s grand, she’s funny, and she lends gravitas. As for Luke, is he the last Jedi? Mark Hamill’s blue eyes are more vulnerable, less piercing. Older, wiser, and weary – Luke is a key to the magic.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is one to see on the big screen. I know it came out before Christmas, but if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? A galaxy far, far away….

Movie Review: Star Wars - The Force Awakens

I had to go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens just because. This wasn’t just a movie. It was a life event.  I did not grow up enamored by Star Wars – I don’t think I’ve actually seen the original one from start to finish. It’s more of a cultural thing for me – I know the key players, and the whole “Luke, I am your father” thing. Just to participate in water cooler chat, I had to see this movie. And I did see it – I paid matinee price of $4.75 for regular digital cinema. I did not pre-buy. Instead my husband and I walked up fifteen minutes before show time on the opening Friday, and purchased seats. Theater ended up full enough but not packed. Folks stayed hushed, and I was entertained. Has my life changed? No. Will I need to see this again and again? No – once is enough. Could I participate in work conversation on that Monday? Yes, and I brought a different perspective for the young men who had such high expectations.

I understood the plot line without knowing the previous six movies. I enjoyed Harrison Ford as Han Solo – he seemed amused himself, like a kid who could lighten up and ultimately collect a large paycheck. General Leia (Carrie Fisher) has lived her nine lives and more. Our new heroine, Rey, played by Daisy Ridley is excellent. She has energy and chutzpah. Stormtrooper, hero Finn (John Boyega) is interesting as a conflicted warrior. Chewbacca growls. The new droid, BB-8, is very cute and a star. I won’t go into the story – it’s the old good vs. evil interplanetary style.

One problem, according to my guys at work – Adam Driver as Kylo Ren is a weenie. He’s in all black with a helmet and the breathing voice thing, but he’s NO Darth Vadar. Yes, there’s a light saber fight that’s shocking, but then what?

 Ultimately, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is not overpoweringly new film making. J.J. Abrams, the director, stayed true to the franchise and delivered a solid meal, but not a flight of fancy. It has potential with Rey and Finn, and maybe it can fly in some new directions. But for now, after all these years, it awoke, yawned, and stretched but did not soar. 

P.S. I realize I am not the target audience. The box office $$$$$$$$$$ are making Disney very, very happy. 

Movie Review: This is Where I Leave You

“This is Where I Leave You” is a typical throw a family together under funeral circumstances and hilarity will ensue film. This is an okay film, probably better for rental or streaming in a few months. I only paid matinee price and was amused. Jason Bateman’s Judd walks into his apartment with a birthday cake  for his  wife, only to find her in an inappropriate situation with his boss. Ooops. Now he’s getting divorced, needs a job, and gets a call from his sister (Tina Fey) that his father died. He arrives to sit shiva with his whole family. Mom (Jane Fonda), older brother Paul (Cory Stoller), sister, and baby brother (Adam Driver). Add in assorted wives, kids, neighbors, and former hometown loves (Rose Byrne, Timothy Olyphant).  

But the point of the film is family. No matter what -  you can battle, have some grudges, and your siblings will still love you. I was very happy that throughout the film, no bad secrets came out about the father. That’s often the twist for films these days. All in all, he was a glue for the family and they all missed him in their own way. Very nice.  

The siblings did fall into stereotypes but thanks to decent acting rose above the material. Tina Fey as the only girl was the heart and boss of the group. The older brother was looked up to and yet “disliked” for being the “good one who set the example”. Judd as the middle brother was popular, cool, and Bateman does bemused snarky well. Despite outward appearances, Judd is an insecure mess – sure that he’s always never quite made it. Peter, the youngest, is the beloved screw-up. He gets away with shenanigans, but really wants to be like his older siblings.  

“This is Where I Leave You” does have a lot of good moments and lines. It solves things a bit too easily with pregnancies and the whole “circle of life” cliché. And yet, that is life, and as we leave the film, we have to hope the characters have grown and will succeed in new paths, plus stay in touch.