Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

The Empire is no more. In its place, The First Order has risen from the ashes of Darth Vader's legacy and aims to consolidate its power across the galaxy. Thrown into the galactic conflict are scavenger Rey and renegade stormtrooper Finn. They enlist the help of legendary smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca to transport a droid carrying important information. It holds the whereabouts of long-lost Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, who is sought by General Leia Organa before it falls into the hands of Kylo Ren and the First Order. The Force Awakens was the first entry in the sequel trilogy that would explore time after the events of the originals. The amount of hype surrounding this film's announcement, trailers and build-up to release was something unseen since the prequel's release and it was an exciting time for fans. There was one interesting difference in this project, that being the absence of creator George Lucas, who sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012. He did write out a layout of his plans for the sequels, which Disney took and yet, for some reason, ignored them entirely, creating their own. This was for me and many the first production of Star Wars they saw from the Disney era. I went with my Dad back in 2015 to see it and was certainly captivated, being truly blown away. It was a unique cinema experience to behold. Set thirty years after the defeat of the Empire by the rebels in the original finale of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), we see the remnants of the long-thought-dead Empire return as the First Order. They are led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke and his apprentice Kylo Ren who wants to fill the boots of Darth Vader. He displays some interesting force abilities like force freeze, which immobilizes his enemies. The coolest thing about him aside from his attire is that he wields a crackling red crossguard saber, which had never been seen before. Taking on this seemingly unstoppable force is the unlikely group of fighters focusing on lone scavenger Rey who has lived on Jakku after her parents abandoned her and stormtrooper defector FN-2187 later renamed Finn who realises the truth about the First Order when forced to kill civillians. The pair make for an unlikely duo but their banter and bond they grow is so much fun to watch play out. Of the two my favourite was undoubtedly Finn whose introduction was incredible as he defects, aiding Poe, an ace pilot for the Resistance, in escaping by stealing a Tie Fighter. That whole sequence with them blowing up the hanger with the Tie was fantastic and the pair's energy and back-and-forth repartee was exceptionally entertaining. I was, however, quite disappointed with how they built him up to be a big role, like in the poster with the lightsaber, only to give it all to Rey. Along the way, we get many references to the original trilogy like stumbling on the Millennium Falcon, which has a a phenomenal chase sequence. We of course see many faces from that trilogy who naturally steal the show when delivering so many heartwarming and emotional performances. Now I still really enjoyed this movie but there are plenty of flaws to it with the major being some striking similarities to Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Not that it is a scene for scene retelling but many beats are the same from the planet killing weapon, droid carrying secret data, a protagonist from a desert planet, you see where I'm going with this. I just wished it took a couple of risks and gave us some fresh ideas but it naturally played it safe which did make it more crowd-pleasing all around. It does still feel like Star Wars though it is hard to ignore that it is at its core a corporate product more than one man's vision. Overall, The Force Awakens may not be the greatest Star Wars movie in the entirety of the franchise but it is still a magnificent movie. Holding some spectacular effects, envigorating score, beautiful cinematography and shots that culminate into a fun science fiction adventure. Plus the amount of set-up and questions planted were enough to hook fans with so much promise for the follow-up. Of course that was not meant to be with the release of the most controversial entry, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017).

Runtime: 2h 18m

Director: J. J. Abrams

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-fi

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Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

A young and ambitious Han Solo begins his journey on the industrial planet of Corellia, where he dreams of becoming a pilot, escaping his life of hardship with love interest, Qi'ra. After making a daring escape attempt, Han finds himself thrown into the middle of a heist alongside other criminals, where he meets Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian in an adventurous situation, exposing the criminal underworld. Solo is the second film as part of the 'Star Wars Story' stand-alone movies and was, for me, a surprisingly enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, the film was a flop at the box office due to many not seeing it, which I too was guilty of, having no time to see it, which seems to be the consensus with other fans. Despite its initial failure, the film has become widely loved among the fandom. Solo takes the time to flesh out Han's character and equally show how he became the notorious smuggler we all know and love. This adventure offers the chance for an exploration of unanswered questions, such as how Han met Chewie, Lando and got the Millennium Falcon. Whilst doing so, it delivers upon an original invigorating escapade. We even see some iconic moments that were throwaway lines in the original films, like the 'Kessel Run made in less than 12 parsecs' that plays out in a thrilling sequence. Whilst Ford didn't play Han in this adventure (being far too old for this young role), Alden Ehrenreich is a great compromise. He delivers a performance complimentary to Ford's portrayal although, it isn't quite there yet. I would say this is a good thing since it allows for some growth before he becomes the Han of the originals. On the other hand, it's a shame we didn't get a full movie with that version that is so popular. Joining the recast was Billy Dee Williams' Lando with Donald Glover, who equally steps up to the task, exceeding it and stealing the show. The supporting actors are awesome in their respective roles, delivering unique and memorable performances. From the gunslinging Beckett who teaches Han important lessons on this new way of life, Qi'ra the love interest who has become a skilled fighter under a crime syndicate, L3-37 the droid companion of Lando (who is very hit-and-miss with her jokes) who fights for droid rights and lastly Dryden Vos the villainous public figurehead of Crimson Dawn who sends out our crew on this dangerous mission. I was equally engaged with each one, alongside the many others featured in the adventure, with their intriguing characteristics and stories. There are some truly phenomenal sequences to be marvelled at on this mission, with plenty of fight scenes to delight us, like a rebellious breakout on Kessel, the Imperial attack on Mimban, a space battle in the Maelstrom that displays Han's skills as a pilot and a spectacular showdown in close quarters style in the finale. The Falcon has a different look with a nose-like feature that is an escape pod and a blue and white paint job. It looks so clean and new, which would fade in the later movies and I loved seeing a new side to her. Plus its introduction with that small musical cue was delightful. The setting for this film is a fascinating one as it follows the early years of the Empire's rise, where lawlessness takes root and crime syndicates thrive. It makes for a brilliant period to set the tale with it being dark and gritty, although I feel maybe too much of that carried over to the visuals. It feels too ill-lit with some brown tones and dull colours that don't make it less appealing. It's as if they took the cool idea of marrying the tone of the film with the look only to take it to the extreme. There are many notable attributes to this film, from the many easter eggs and references to the twists and turns with so many morally grey characters leaving us to wonder whose side everyone is on. Overall, Solo may not have been my all-time favourite Star Wars project, but it is an extremely entertaining one. I can understand that many thought it was a story we didn't necessarily need, but since it's here, I can have fun with it. It takes risks and the revolutionary ideas it pushes have become so important in recent Star Wars. It is certainly a fascinating experience and seriously underrated. It should be given a try by fans of the series.

Runtime: 2h 15m

Director: Ron Howard

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-fi

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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

All looks lost for the Rebellion against the Empire as they learn of the existence of a new super weapon. Once a possible weakness in its construction is uncovered, the Rebel Alliance must set out on a desperate mission to steal the plans for this planet killer. The future of the entire galaxy now rests upon its success. Rogue One is a film part of the main Skywalker saga, but it doesn't follow any of the leading figures. This is why it holds the title 'A Star Wars Story' and further hence, why it features no opening crawl like every other film. This choice was a great idea as it differentiates this from the other films in the series and, after all, this story is essentially a crawl if you have seen the original Star Wars. We follow a ragtag group of individuals, each member coming from a different background with their own stories, lives, troubles and difficulties to overcome. We mainly focus on Jyn Erso, a young woman who has had a hard life after her father was taken by the Empire, who needs him to complete unfinished work on this weapon. She is reluctantly recruited by the Rebellion, who wish to use her help in finding the information on this weapon and her father in exchange for her freedom. She is joined by rugged rebel Cassian Andor and reprogrammed sassy Imperial droid K-2SO, who are at first sceptical of Jyn. Their mission requires them to track down a defective Imperial cargo pilot, Bodhi. He holds a message about the Empire's new weapon, but he is being held by Rebel extremists led by Saw Gerrera, whom Jyn previously worked with. Along the way, they meet up with two men, the blind skilled fighter Chirrut and sharpshooter heavy Baze, who join the crew after the Empire destroys their home on Jedha. I really loved each member of this group and grew attached to them with their many unique personalities. Despite not being together for long, they work as an efficient team and bond as a squad. Opposing them, however, is the mighty Empire, with our main antagonist, Director Krennic, who oversees the construction of the aptly named weapon, The Death Star. He is an excellent villain to follow who crosses paths with our team on multiple occasions and has some brilliant scenes where he argues with Tarkin. He commands an elite group of Death Troopers who are phenomenal in all-black attire with green visors who tower over their peer Stormtroopers. Most of the notable aspects of this movie involve the battles and how gritty they are, feeling like a real war. With plenty of small fights scattered throughout, it all comes to a head in the climactic finale on the tropical Imperial base on Scarif as they make a last-ditch effort to secure the plans of the Death Star. From a battle on the ground to an unbelievable space battle, it was a jaw-dropping climax to behold. I remember fondly going to the cinema with my Dad to see it and how exciting it felt. Little did we know how it would blow us both away by its magnitude across the board. The sheer scope of this cinematic masterpiece was enough to be admired. So much beautiful imagery draws you in from wide, long sweeping shots that linger on such grand spectacles, a combination of on-site location and digital effects seamlessly blending and a variety of worlds holding vast arrays of bright colour or muted tones. Seeing so many planets, new and old, felt like a lived-in world with all kinds of real cultures and creatures. It is true eye candy for audiences, especially for eagle-eyed fans. There are equally plenty of cameos from in-your-face to subtle in-the-back or verbal mentions for fans to find too, especially many links to Star Wars: Rebels (TV Series 2014-2018). The score by Michael Giacchino is magnificent too, as it features many motifs we know from William's score whilst delivering spectacular entries of his own into the mix. Overall, I cannot state enough how much I adore Rogue One. It is one of the best aspects to come out of the Disney era of Star Wars and still blows fans away with its bold choices and exceptional storytelling. This is certainly up there as one of my all-time favourites and will likely remain there for years to come. It also ties beautifully into the first-ever film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

Runtime: 2h 13m

Director: Gareth Edwards

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-fi

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The film underwent multiple rewrites and reshoots, which is quite visible in these trailers featuring many sequences, shots and lines not present in the final product. The trailers are very interesting, however it is equally fascinating to imagine how different it could have been. But for a 'mostly' accurate trailer of the final result, see the last one above.

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Star Wars: Rebels (TV Series 2014-2018)

It is a dark time in the galaxy as the evil Galactic Empire tightens its grip of power from world to world, ruling with an iron fist. Equally, they resort their efforts to hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights that survived the purge. However, a clever, disparate crew aboard the starship Ghost takes a stand against the Empire. These rebels are leader Kanan, ace pilot Hera, feisty heroine Sabine, tough guy Zeb, mischievous droid C1-10P "Chopper" and 14-year-old con artist Ezra. Set fourteen years after the tragic events of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), we see the small beginning of the Rebellion during the Empire's height in power, five years before Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Like many others, I was kind of sceptical about Rebels. I am a huge Star Wars fan but despite my love for the franchise I didn't seem much interested in this program. I suppose, like many, I found the animation slightly off-putting, being too childish or nowhere near the quality of the then prematurely cancelled Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV Series 2008-2020). However, as time passed and Rebels came to its end, I finally picked it up, gave it a go and ... I loved it. Whilst not to the degree of Clone Wars, I came to adore this show in every way. The characters who had such complex stories that grew and flourished over seasons were fantastic, the world-building was fascinating, the cinematography breathtaking, the music phenomenal, the villains exceptional and the stories enthralling. Now the show isn't without its problems. There were a few filler episodes, or some early episodes being more child-oriented as a kid's show, but like every show, Star Wars or not, they can be overlooked or deemed inconsequential. People deemed Clone Wars a kid's show after all, which we all know is incorrect and this show, as it progressed, took a similar stance. Instead of following multiple stories featuring a vast array of characters like CW, we focus on one group of characters, the Ghost crew, in a linear narrative. This rebel group is made up of unique members who come from different backgrounds but despite all of this they become a family. Each member is extremely interesting from the Jedi survivor Kanan Jarrus, skilled Twi'lek pilot Hera Syndulla, Mandalorian warrior and artist Sabine Wren, Lasat Zeb one of few survivors of his race, psychopath droid Chopper to young force-sensitive Ezra Bridger. Every one of these individuals touches one another's stories, guiding their peers in their journey simultaneously with their own. My favourite would have to be Kanan as I found the idea of a Jedi who survived Order 66 as a padawan using his lesser training to become a Knight and take on a padawan, Ezra, who is equally gifted but lacks training. Zeb offers some superb quips and banter, Chopper is psychotic as he kills thousands throughout the show in a shockingly humorous manner, Sabine embraces her art by painting her armour or hair and Hera acts as the mother of this family who happens to be one of the most skilled pilots in the galaxy. However, their mission is frequently put in jeopardy by a roster of villains ranging from Agent Kallus, the Inquisitors (dark force users tasked with hunting remaining Jedi), Darth Vader, Governor Pryce and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Some spectacular moments derive from these antagonists as they face one another throughout the series. Along the way, we encounter many systems, planets and characters both new and old with many recognisable faces from the movies and, most especially the Clone Wars, which is a big highlight of this show. I also love how the show gets much darker with each season as things take a more sinister turn, especially leading up to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Overall, I adored Rebels and despite its minor issues, the show is practically on par with Clone Wars. It takes many leaps into some outstanding adventures that tie neatly with many other properties whilst becoming a unique and important product in its own right. I'd highly recommend this show to all fans, as you may be just as pleasantly surprised. For more of the Ghost crew check out Ahsoka (TV Series 2023-), set around 10 years after this show.

Seasons & Episodes: 4 Seasons - 77 Episodes

Creators: Simon Kinberg, Carrie Beck, Dave Filoni

Genre: Action / Adventure / Animation / Family / Fantasy / Sci-fi

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