Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Han Solo is my one of my favourite characters in the Star Wars universe. I mean, he is a charismatic space cowboy with balls, how can you not love him? Even Leia eventually falls for him. And yet I decided to pass Solo: A Star Wars Story. I just didn't have a very good feeling about it, and, eventually, reviews proved me right. Now that it's on DVD, I decided to give it a chance. 

The film opens with Han (Alden Ehrenreich) as he escapes the planet of Corellia but vows to return for Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke), the woman he loved and was forced to leave behind. After that, Han meets his future co-pilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), encounters Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), wins the Millenium Falcon and gets involved in a series of dangerous adventures.

In terms of plot, Solo: A Star Wars Story is absolutely terrible, lazy at its best. Basically, all the writers did was to take some of the elements of Solo's past, like how he met Chewbacca, how he won the Falcon, how he got his name --by the way, the scene where we learn about Solo's last name is almost identical to the one in The Godfather: Part II when Robert De Niro's Vito arrives in America-- and what happened with the Kessel run, and called it a day. Actually, they also added a heist plot that has so many twists and turns and double-crosses, you lose any interest in guessing who's gonna betray who next. It's not a big deal though as at that point you already have probably lost any interest in the story.

The characters also are the result of lazy writing. They are pretty shallow, the development is almost non-existent. The good guys, it's really hard if not impossible to care about any of them --I felt sorry for Han, Chewbacca and Lando, those from the original trilogy though as they ended up in this mess of a film. As for the villains, Dryden Vos feels utterly pointless, Enfys Nest is barely in the film, and Darth Maul, why on earth did the filmmakers feel like he needed to be in this? Also, the whole film is about smuggling and yet there is no mention of Boba Fett or Jabba the Hut. What the hell, people?!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

A combination of bad writing, bad direction and bad casting, the performances too are a disappointment. Alden Ehrenreich is no Harrison Ford. He lacks charisma and as a result, the character is annoying and quite unlikeable. Solo is arrogant and cocky, after all, and if you don't have charisma, the character could only work as someone we are supposed to despise. Donald Glover does a fine impression of Lando but he looks so bored throughout the film. Emilia Clarke is nothing short of terrible. Paul Bettany and Woody Harrelson, well, Ron Howard was able to make them look like amateurs.

Solo: A Star Wars Story also fails at being funny. Most of the comedy feels forced or inappropriate, and the jokes and puns are cheap and fall flat most of the time.

Yes, it does have some positive aspects too. The special effects aren't bad and the action sequences are pretty good --some are bland and repetitive though. But let's be honest, these few qualities alone aren't enough to make a great Star Wars movie.

Cool New Trailer And Posters For SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Hey guys, here's some cool new marketing material for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY - first up, some colorful posters to whet your appetite! I think Chewie is frozen in time :-) And nice that Emilia Clarke got to keep her accent - good call.

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Here's the movie's storyline:
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

SOLO stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Paul Bettany. Directed by Ron Howard.

SOLO is slated for release on May 25. Cannot wait!

MONDO COMMENTARY: Star Wars Holiday Special

Join the Horror Duo and special guest Jos, as they get together to celebrate the holiday season and the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, with yet another Mondo Commentary. Much beer was consumed as the gang discussed the train wreck that is The Star Wars Holiday Special - complete with special appearances by Jefferson Starship, Bea Arthur, Art Carney and Harvey Korman...for some reason.

CONTINUE READING

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

I remember when The Force Awakens came out two years ago. I was so excited about it that my heart was beating faster than usual as the movie started. The Last Jedi, well, it wasn't the same. First of all, I don't know why but I wasn't that excited about it. Now that I've seen it, I feel differently.

Picking up where The Force Awakens left, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is on the remote island hideaways of Luke (Mark Hamill) and hopes to persuade him to come back and join her and the Resistance. Meanwhile, the Resistance, led by General Leia (Carrie Fisher), attempts to survive and escape from the First Order led by General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) and the Supreme Leader (Andy Serkis).

The story has a very nice flow, it's filled with interesting turns and unexpected twists (and thank goodness didn't take a turn I, as I was watching it, feared it would take), and although one of the plots is a little hard to follow and basically doesn't make any sense (I'm talking about the Finn and Rose parallel plot), it's engaging and entertaining. It does, however, at times, feel like it's not clear, neither to us nor the filmmakers, in which direction this new trilogy is going (it resembles a lot the original trilogy though).

That didn't bother me that much anyway since the main focus of the film once again is its characters. The existing characters are given a proper development -- Luke has more than just a cameo this time around, depth is added to him and Mark Hamil's probably gives his best performances -- and the new ones make for a nice addition, especially Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), a young woman who joins Finn (John Boyega) on his mission.

The most interesting character? Easily the villain, Kylo Ren. In this film, he is a wounded man, both physically and especially psychologically. He is torn apart because of what he has done which is why it's so easy to feel empathy for him. And Adam Driver's performance is nothing short of spectacular.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Even more interesting is the relationship he has with Rey (by the way, Daisy Ridley gives a nice performance. She seems really committed to the role). That's the biggest strength of The Last Jedi in my opinion. Neither of them is portrayed as a one-sided character. While one still prevails on the other, there's light and darkness in both of them and that's essentially what allows the film to explore more than ever the conflict between the Dark and the Light side.

Although it's darker than its predecessor, The Last Jedi still has a good amount of humour. It feels forced, at times, but there are enough gags and jokes to make you laugh and smile, and along with some great action sequences, it makes for a fun watch. The score by John Williams really shines and so do the special effects. From the mindblowing scenery to the aliens, to the adorable porgs (yes, I find them adorable), the film looks quite beautiful.

Clip: Josh Gad's Interrogation Fail With Daisy Ridley For STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

LOL! Josh Gad is growing on me and this clip he posted to his Instagram account is another feather in his cap.

We are all looking for as much detail as possible for the upcoming STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI and sometimes a few of us might take it a bit too far. Enter Josh Gad.

No, Gad is not involved with the STAR WARS mega movie - he is filming Kenneth Branagh's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS with a certain Daisy Ridley though.

Gad invites Ridley into his trailer for some (I assume playful) interrogation to obtain some details for the movie. He wants to know (and rightly so) if the title is speaking of Rey's character being a Jedi, or if it is solely just Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, or both. A great question.

Ridley deals with the confrontation with suitable poise. Will she respond? Have a look:

I invited #daisyridley to my trailer under false pretenses. #NotARehearsal #IWantTheTruth #TheLastJedi

A video posted by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on Jan 25, 2017 at 1:46am PST

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is slated for release on December 15. Needless to say, it can't come soon enough!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Gareth Edwards

Country

USA

Cast

Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Jonathan Aris, Genevieve O'Reilly, Jimmy Smits, James Earl Jones

Storyline

After the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance recruits Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) to work with a team including Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to steal the design schematics of the Empire's new superweapon, the Death Star.

Opinion

While I still was very excited about it, I didn't have any expectations for this film. Maybe I was afraid it was going to be a disappointment, like pretty much the whole prequels trilogy, I don't know. But last night I returned home with a big smile on my face. Why? Because "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is simply a spectacular addition to the saga.

First of all, kudos to the writers. Basing an entire film on a single quote from "A New Hope" certainly wasn't an easy task, but they did a wonderful job. In fact, this story about how the Rebel Alliance acquired the plans for the Death Star is engaging, gripping and refreshing, which is surprising since we already know the outcome.

I'm sure many will not enjoy it because of the film they'll find themselves watching. This film is more of a war drama than a science fiction adventure. Basically something one would not expect from Star Wars, and definitely something people are going to complain about it.

However, that doesn't mean the film isn't exciting. It indeed has plenty of action, and it's also spectacular. Not to mention the final climatic fight, just wonderful.

But let's move onto the thing I was excited the most about, the characters, in particular Jyn Erso, and I was happy with the result. Even though there isn't enough time - literally - to properly develop each one of them and maybe the writers should have focused on just a few instead of doing so many all together, overall they are good. Still I really wish they developed Chirrut more. But I loved what they did with Jyn. She is such a tough and reckless woman, exactly what the film needed. And unlike the others, she has a great backstory that provides her motivations.

Felicity Jones gives an incredible performance as Jyn Erso, bringing to life another memorable hero. The rest of the cast also does a good job, from Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, to Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso - I would have loved to see more of his character though -, to Alan Tudyk - he pulls off the role with some good comedic relief -, to Donnie Yen who easily steals the show as Chirrut, one of the best characters created in the new films.

Must Watch: New Featurette For ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY!

Wow. This featurette (a must watch) really nails it home for me - ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is looking extremely good.

The visuals are amazing, the message that director Gareth Edwards is emphasizing is bang-on, and I am a sucker for behind the scenes shots. I'm looking forward to some original material being exploited in the STAR WARS universe.

"It’s a style that is unlike any other Star Wars movie," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said. She recounted seeing director Gareth Edwards, camera on his shoulder, testing shots guerilla-style as a sign that this movie would be different. "I think that’s what’s so amazing about his style," she said. "This is going to be an incredibly immersive experience when you see Rogue One."

Director Gareth Edwards recounted traveling to New York for the voiceover session with Skywalker Sound’s Matthew Wood. When Jones delivered the line, “POWER,” Edwards summed up their reactions succinctly. "We looked at each other and had nerdgasms."

Yes. James Earl Jones returns as the voice of Darth Vader. You can't get any better than that! One of cinema's greatest villains (if not the best) will be back in all his glory.

Enjoy the featurette!!



ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY opens on December 16!!

THE FORCE AWAKENS - And Yours Truly - Among Winners At This Weeks Advanced Imagining Society Creative Arts Awards!

Yes, this year's Advanced Imaging Society's Creative Arts Awards was an exciting event for many, many reasons including our own 40 BELOW AND FALLING which I had the pleasure of helping produce along with a truly exceptional team. We won the 3D Feature Jury Prize and are deeply honored with the Lumiere.

Here's the official press release:
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Advanced Imaging Society bestowed 20 honors for “distinguished achievement” at the Creative Arts Awards on Wednesday night, at Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (Disney/Lucasfilm) was honored with two Lumiere statuettes, for Best 3D Live Action Feature and Best 2D to 3D Conversion (StereoD). “The Martian” (20th Century Fox) was also honored with two awards, for Best Live Action Stereography and Best Use of Native 3D. “The Walk” (Sony/Legend3D) won 3D Scene of the Year for its Act 3 high wire walk by actor Joseph Gordon Levitt. Pixar was honored with 3 Lumieres, including: Best 3D Animated Feature and Best Animated Stereography for “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar) and Best 3D Short for “Lava” (Disney/Pixar).

“Conquest of the Skies” (Colossus Productions), hosted by Sir David Attenborough, won Best 3D Documentary. The Russian cinema commercial, “Schvabe” (StereoTec) won for Best 3D Advertising. The 3D short “Hard Reset” (Buk Films) won for Best Live Action Short. “Emma” (Pannon Entertainment) was awarded for Best use of High Dynamic Range. “Great Barrier Reef,” (Atlantic Productions) also hosted by Sir David Attenborough, won in the Best Ultra HD content category. The Best Virtual Reality Experience was awarded to “The Walk: Virtual Reality Experience” (Sony/Create Design LA).

Marvel’s Victoria Alonso, who heads the Studio’s Physical Production Unit and serves as Executive Producer on many of the Studio's blockbuster hits, was presented with the Harold Lloyd Award for filmmaking.

BBC and BBC Earth were awarded the annual Sir Charles Wheatstone Award for excellence in natural history documentaries.

“With movies like ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ ‘The Martian,’ and ‘Inside Out’ competing for our top honors, we had an extraordinary awards process this year. 3D has never had a better year at the box office, or a better year in terms of brilliant creative work,” said Society President Jim Chabin. “With the addition of Virtual Reality, High Dynamic Range, and Ultra HD entries, our members are clearly working at the very cutting edge of our industry’s future,” he added.

Several Jury Prizes were presented for special achievement. Director Raman Hui was awarded a Lumiere for 2015’s “Monster Hunt,” (Edko Films Limited) the biggest box office hit in Chinese history. The romantic comedy “40 Below And Falling” (Avatar Media), the 3D Short “Coda” (National Film Board of Canada), and the Japanese animated children’s film “Gamba” (Shirogumi) were also honored with jury prizes.

“Our honorees this year came from all over the globe, from China to the UK, to Europe, Canada, and of course Hollywood, 3D has truly come of age,” said Society Awards Chairman Buzz Hays. “Both the high level of quality and the quantity of 3D, HDR, and VR production is impressive,” he added.

Here are the night's winners in detail:

HAROLD LLOYD AWARD
VICTORIA ALONSO
MARVEL

SIR CHARLES WHEATSTONE
BBC EARTH

3D LIVE ACTION FEATURE
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
DISNEY/LUCASFILM

3D ANIMATED FEATURE
INSIDE OUT
PIXAR

STEREOGRAPHY LIVE ACTION
THE MARTIAN
20TH CENTURY FOX

STEREOGRAPHY ANIMATED
INSIDE OUT
PIXAR

3D SHORT ANIMATED
LAVA
PIXAR

3D SHORT LIVE ACTION
HARD RESET
BUK FILMS

3D DOCUMENTARY
CONQUEST OF THE SKIES
COLOSSUS PRODUCTIONS

UHD
GREAT BARRIER REEF
ATLANTIC PRODUCTIONS

BEST USE OF NATIVE 3D
THE MARTIAN
20TH CENTURY FOX

HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE
EMMA
PANNON ENTERTAINMENT

BEST USE OF 2D TO 3D CONVERSION
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
DISNEY/LUCASFILM

3D SCENE OF THE YEAR
THE WALK
(SCENE: TIGHT ROPE WALK BETWEEN WTC TWIN TOWERS)
SONY/LEGEND 3D

VR
THE WALK: VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE
SONY/CREATE DESIGN LA

3D ADVERTISEMENT
SCHVABE
STEREOTEC

3D FEATURE JURY PRIZE
40 BELOW AND FALLING
AVATAR MEDIA
CANADA

3D SHORT ANIMATED JURY PRIZE
CODA
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA
CANADA

3D FEATURE JURY PRIZE
MONSTER HUNT
EDKO FILMS LTD
CHINA

3D ANIMATED FEATURE JURY PRIZE
GAMBA
SHIROGUMI
JAPAN

On behalf of our director Dylan Pearce, producer Andy Scholotiuk and everyone else involved with 40 BELOW AND FALLING, I'd like to thank everyone involved with the Advanced Imaging Society for the honor, and the continuing passion for our industry. It was a tremendous year again for 3D highlighted with STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS dominating the box office and setting records and the top 4 movies of the year being in 3D.

2016 looks to be another amazing year!!

More Trade Coverage: Variety | THR

Movie Review - STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - 9.4 Stars! Spoiler Free!!

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OK it's time! I've only seen STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (SWTFA) once, but it was in IMAX 3D so it was a premium theater and the brightness of the projection was ample and the sound was magnificent.

First off, if you haven't seen the original three movies (Ep. IV, V and VI) I think you should do so before seeing VII. Secondly if you haven't already seen those movies - what are you thinking? :-) SWTFA can certainly stand on it's own, but much of the past 'soap opera' fill in the blanks are missing.

So let me tell you right from the get-go, JJ Abrams knocked this thing out of the park. I was truly worried he wouldn't capture the spirit of the original movies - the 'je ne c'est quoi' - that makes the original trilogy what it is to millions of fans. But he did it. There are elements in the movie that are certainly "Abrams'esque", and you'll know when you see them, but nothing pulled me out of the movie to think about it.

In many ways, it's the best Star Wars film to date. I don't take those words lightly. It's not a perfect movie by any means, but given what Abrams was able to deliver within the scope of this universe - BRAVO!

I won't talk about specifics because the movie just opened and many haven't been able to see it yet obviously, but I will say this: 

1. The 3D was great. Not perfect (it's a conversion) but I could tell effort was made to produce this movie for 3D from the beginning and that was refreshing. There was only one shot that was jarring and I'll bet it was a Disney executive's call to do it. I don't think a creative would have. Anyway, it was a brief shot and we can discuss in the comments (where spoilers can and do exist!).

2. The score and sound effects were absolutely stellar. Go see it for the audio alone!! Just breathtaking.

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3. JJ Abrams directing has seemingly jumped to the next level here. Truly, an awesome display of blockbuster showmanship and I didn't know he could rise to this level. He certainly has. We're talking close to the caliber of Spielberg, Cameron, Lucas here for SciFi. Yes, he's that good now. And I've had plenty of reservations about him before (STAR TREK in particular).

By the way, there was NO STAR TREK TRAILER pre-rolling last night. I was very disappointed. (Cineplex IMAX in Canada)

4. GO NOW. Go while the truest Star Wars fans are there watching. Nothing, NOTHING beats being the middle of fans like this. The impromptu clapping, laughter, gasps and pointing. It's experiences like this that will keep movie theaters alive in this era.

I'll talk about more in the comments. Again - THE COMMENTS WILL HAVE SPOILERS!! Don't read them unless you want to be clued in on aspects of the movie. You've been warned! Let me know your thoughts on the movie guys!!

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

J.J. Abrams

Country

USA

Cast

Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Max von Sydow, Kenny Baker, Tim Rose, Mike Quinn, Gwendoline Christie, Kiran Shah, Greg Grunberg

Storyline

Three decades after the second Death Star's destruction, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has vanished. The First Order is scouring the galaxy of Luke, as is the Resistance, a military force backed by the Republic and led by Luke's sister General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).

Opinion

I was not around yet when the Original Trilogy hit the theaters, but I've grown to love it, and along with the other fans of the franchise, I have been waiting for this film for a while. The excitement was high and so the expectations, and the waiting did pay off.

From the opening crawl to the ending credits, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a roller coaster of emotions, from tension to laughter, amusement to tears.

To talk about the film without spoiling anything won't be easy, but I'll try. The story is very flowing, mixes new and old moments almost flawlessly, and is enriched with witty dialogue, humour and drama. It does have the elements that characterized the Original Trilogy, and that every single fan loved, and, even though there are too many "I've seen this before" moments and the third act feels a lot familiar, the film is incredibly captivating and engaging.

There are still some parts, especially in the third act, that are a bit questionable - the final fight between Kylo Ren and Rey was great fun to watch, but it's strange that the girl knows how to use the Force so soon, and without training. 

The strength of the film lies in the fact that this time the dark side of the force is fought by a woman, Rey, that has no reason at all to envy the heroine of the Hunger Games.

The characters are another strong element. If on one hand the charismatic, likable rogue Han Solo is finally back - for the delight of the fans -, on the other hand I've been pleasingly surprised by the way the new characters have been introduced and developed. I thought that Ray, Finn - character the audience can relate with - and Poe would have been overshadowed by the original characters, but they are actually given most of the focus and they are helped by the familiar faces, which are not trying to steal the show at all. BB-8 is a little ball of cuteness, and it is more emotional that I thought. As for the bad guy, Kylo Ren - whose origins are completely unexpected - is a very complex character that does not feel like Darth Vader at all.

The action scenes are obviously spectacular, the sensational special effects do not overshadow the brilliant script, and the musical score, despite the absence of the Imperial March, is great.

The new character are very well portrayed with the right amount of depth by Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver - who finally pulls off a good performance. However the stand out, as always, is the sarcastic Harrison Ford. 

What Can You Expect Before And After STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS At The Theater?

Well you should arrive early as word has it the first trailer for STAR TREK BEYOND is attached to pre-roll in front of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS :-) I'm very happy to hear that and hopefully it includes some shots of the movie too and not just an I'm coming soon text laden visual.

As far as after SWTFA, I'm a firm believer in watching all the end credits of a movie I truly enjoy and I fully expect to do so with this movie - but there won't be any mid or end credit scenes to wait for according to director JJ Abrams himself.

But... do stay to honor all those that worked on the movie if you enjoyed it. You can be sometimes very surprised who you see up there to begin with and it's the ethical thing to do :-) Credit where credit is due.

So join me opening weekend for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS in 3D! Can't wait. I'll be seeing it in multiple formats and the first will be IMAX followed closely by REALD (UltraAVX). Stay tuned for my review!

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS opens on December 18. STAR TREK BEYOND is slated for release on July 22, 2016.
 

Amazing New 3D Covers For STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS From Empire

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Anticipation is still seeming to mount despite a near frenzied feeling already about the upcoming release of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS. Helping to drive home this point is six new covers from Empire Magazine featuring characters from the movie. They apparently have 3D lenticulars - so definitely collectible.

The first set of three show off Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) of course followed by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). I'm loving the rich colors but clearly Ford was photoshopped as a younger Solo - intentional for the movie? Or cosmetic for the cover? You decide.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his army of Stormtroopers.

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In the next set of three we have Rey and BB-8 (Daisy Ridley), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) and Finn (John Boyega). Christie seems to be perfect casting for this role. She's 6'3" and I'm sure will take on all challengers! Great hero poses from the cast.

Have you pre-purchased your large screen format, 3D tickets yet? You can bet I have. Can't wait. This thing is going to be massive. AVATAR massive? No way. SWTFA might break 2 billion, but it won't catch AVATAR. If you think differently - let me know!

Expiration Watch: Stan and George

Given all the breathless headlines these days about superhero franchises and upcoming Star Wars sequels, it's ironic that Netflix is letting go of a couple of very appealing documentaries focused on two of the founding fathers of modern geekdom: Stan Lee and George Lucas.

With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story (2010)

It's impossible to imagine what pop culture�or today's Hollywood�would be like without Stan Lee. As the co-creator of Marvel Comics' most recognizable superheroes, from the Fantastic Four to the Hulk to Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men, Daredevil, and even Ant-Man, Lee helped shape the path comic books�and now movies�have taken for over 50 years. And he's still going strong, as this thorough and (justifiably) worshipful documentary shows. At 92, the man (or, in this case, "The Man") continues to work rooms, comic conventions, the Internet, and movie studios as the most tireless, charming, and durable advocate of his art imaginable. In his mid-80s at the time of filming, Lee is irrepressibly fit and spry and still very much in love with life (along with his adoring wife of 60-plus years). He comes off as not only a wonderful spokesman for the comics industry, but as a peerless example of the human spirit. You can't help but admire his humor, his energy, and his ability to keep up with the times. And at film's end, you'll feel grateful�and mildly amazed�that he's managed to sustain this level of creativity (and salesmanship) for so long, while quietly dreading the grayer world we'll be left with when he's no longer a part of it. (Update: the doc is gone, but Stan Lee continues to impress in this latest short video, on the art of...cameo acting!]

Read more �

Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

George Lucas

Country

United States

Cast

Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Matthew Wood, Jimmy Smith, Silas Carson, Temuera Morrison, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Nick Gillard, Jeremy Bulloch

Plot

As the Clone Wars near an end, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) steps out of the shadows, at which time Anakin (Hayden Christensen) succumbs to his emotions and puts his relationships with Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Padmé (Natalie Portman) at risk.

Opinion

Once you hit the bottom, there is nowhere to go but up, and so did George Lucas. Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith is a surprisingly good, dark and emotional end to the prequel trilogy. This is the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back and unarguably the best film of the new trilogy.

While the dialogue is still horrible, especially in the romance parts, the story offers something the previous two couldn't give. The special effects are perfect. The lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan is good and thrilling, although we know how it ends.
The drama in the film helps the cast giving their best performances of the three films. 

Quotes

Obi-Wan: You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. You were to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness.

Rating

8.8/10

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

George Lucas

Country

United States

Cast

Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Temuera Morrison, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Silas Carson, Leeanna Walsman, Ahmed Best, Rose Byrne, Verónica Segura, Pernilla August, Jack Thompson, Oliver Ford Davies, Ayesha Dharker, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Jay Laga'aia

Plot

Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) shares a forbidden romance with Padmé (Natalie Portman), while Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) investigates an assassination attempt on the Senator and discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.

Opinion

Stop defending it, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is not a good film. George Lucas clearly does not know what to do anymore. The love story between Anakin and Padmé is boring and unconvincingly. Some action scenes are good, others go on too long and are tedious. The special effects are excellent, but they can't save the film. 

Hayden Christensen's performance as Anakin Skywalker is awful. While the script isn't strong, maybe another - and better - actor might have brought more life into the role. Natalie Portman's performance as Padmé is painful: while she had some chemistry with 10-year-old Jake Lloyd's Anakin, she has completely lost it with Christensen.

Quotes

Anakin: I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them. And not just the men, but the women and the children, too. They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals. I HATE THEM!

Rating

5.5/10

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

George Lucas

Country

United States

Cast

Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Jake Lloyd, Pernilla August, Ahmed Best, Ray Park, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Silas Carson, Hugh Quarshie, Frank Oz, Samuel L. Jackson, Terence Stamp, Oliver Ford Davies, Andy Secombe, Lewis MacLeod, Brian Blessed, Greg Proops, Sofia Coppola, Ralph Brown, Steven Speirs, Keira Knightley

Plot

When the Trade Federation cuts off all routes to the planet Naboo, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) are assigned to settle the matter, but when they arrive on Naboo they are brought to Amidala (Natalie Portman), the Naboo queen, by a friendly but opportunistic Gungan named Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best). Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan plan to escort Amidala to a meeting of Republic leaders in Coruscant, but trouble with their spacecraft strands them on the planet Tatooine, where Qui-Gon meets Anakin (Jake Lloyd), the slave of a scrap dealer. Qui-Gon is soon convinced that the boy could be the leader the Jedis have been searching for, and he begins bargaining for his freedom and teaching the boy the lessons of the Force.

Opinion

George Lucas doesn't really strike back. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is not as good as any other film of the original trilogy, but it is not even trash. Firstly the good points: the music is still great, the visual effects are stunning, the action sequences are good, and the pod race is engaging.

On the other hand, dialogs are not that brilliant, the acting is mostly cringe, Darth Maul is barely shown, all Obi-Wan Kenobi did was using his lightsaber, and the first 30 minutes or so, are useless because the film pretty much started on Tatooine.

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Quotes

Yoda: Everything! Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you.

Qui-Gon Jinn: There's always a bigger fish.

Rating

7.2/10

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Richard Marquand

Country

United States

Cast

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz, Sebastian Shaw, Ian McDiarmid, Alec Guinness, Denis Lawson, Kenneth Colley, Warwick Davis, Jeremy Bulloch, Caroline Blakiston, David Barclay, Michael Carter, Femi Taylor, Claire Davenport, Peter Burroughs, Debbie Lee Carrington, Mike Edmonds, Jack Purvis, Jane Busby, Kiran Shah, Felix Silla, Vivienne Chandler, Larry Ward

Plot

After being rescued from the palace of Jabba the Hutt (Larry Ward), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), attempt to destroy the new Death Star.
Meanwhile Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) struggles to make Darth Vader (David Prowse, Ian McDiarmid) shake off the dark side of the force.

Opinion

Return of the Jedi or Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a fantastic ending to a fantastic trilogy. This movie has a bad reputation because of Ewoks, and although they are not the best thing happened to Star Wars, they are cute.
This episode is the most emotional and always leaves me in tears. The end is great, and the lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader is epic.
Mark Hamill does an excellent job in developing his character; Carrie Fisher's Leia is amazing - I mean she killed Jabba!

Quotes

Luke: Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you, the conflict.
Darth Vader: There is no conflict.
Luke: You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before and I don't believe you'll destroy me now.
Darth Vader: You underestimate the power of the Dark Side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.

Luke: I'll not leave you here. I've got to save you.
Darth Vader: You already have, Luke.

Rating

8.7/10

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Irvin Kershner

Country

United States

Cast

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz, Kathryn Mullen, David Barclay, Wendy Froud, Deep Roy, Jeremy Bulloch, Alec Guinness, Denis Lawson, Clive Revill

Plot

Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebels abandon their new base in a assault with the Imperial AT-AT Walkers.

Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) escape in the Millennium Falcon. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) follow Obi-Wan Kenobi's (Alec Guinness) command, and Luke receives Jedi training from Master Yoda (Frank Oz, voice). 

Opinion

The Empire Strikes Back or Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a worthy sequel. It is sinister but even more involving than the first film of the trilogy, A New Hope: Luke finds out the truth about his father, and we hear the Imperial March for the first time. Fuelled by action, the film is capable of creating such a tension that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat.
The visual effects are really improved. The score is unforgettable. Darth Vader is amazingly played by David Prowse. 

Quotes

Luke: I can't. It's too big.
Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.

Rating

9.2/10

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

George Lucas

Country

United States

Cast

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Phil Brown, Shelagh Fraser, Jack Purvis, Eddie Byrne, Denis Lawson, Garrick Hagon

Plot

The galaxy is in a civil war, and spies for the Rebel Alliance have stolen plans to the Galactic Empire's Death Star, a heavily armed and armored space station capable of destroying an entire planet. Before being imprisoned by Darth Vader (David Prowse, body - James Earl Jones, voice), rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) hides the plans and sends a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) in the memory of an astromech droid R2-D2 (Kenny Baker). The droid, accompanied by fellow protocol droid C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), escape from the captured ship to planet Tatooine.
Young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) finds the message, and with the help of Obi-Wan, a cocky pilot, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), a wookiee, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and the two droids tries to save the universe and to rescue Princess Leia.

Opinion

Star Wars or Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is a masterpiece and one of the best Sci-Fi movies ever. It has everything that can be great in a film: great characters, captivating story, tension, great special effects - I'd never say this film is 38-year-old - and a spectacular fantasy background.
The music, by John Williams, is something spectacular. Alec Guinness and Harrison Ford wonderfully portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo.

Quotes

Han Solo: May the Force be with you!

Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.

Rating

9.0/10

World Exclusive: Han Solo And Chewbacca Final Concept Artwork For STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS !!

This is the real deal folks! I received these concept art images directly from my top STAR WARS source and so you know these are absolutely legit. This is the same source that gave us the exclusive information years ago that STAR WARS VII, VIII & IX are coming and that the original cast would be involved. I have complete and absolute trust in this source, so have a look and enjoy!

These are absolutely final iterations of concept art for Episode VII.

I am loving the artwork here. Looks like a gorgeous watercolor (by hand?) with Solo's name in grey at the bottom right and Chewbacca may be a pastel or digitally done. I'll leave you guys to zoom in and do further analysis which I'm sure you will be doing, but Han Solo in particular definitely looks the hero role! And that's an awesome full length coat he's got on! Definitely has a western brown leather feel to it as opposed to his black and white fashions of the original series.

He definitely still has it! There are few actors that can carry a role like Harrison Ford and I can't wait for him to revisit this iconic character. Back behind the wheel of the Millennium Falcon!

Speaking of iconic roles, how about Solo's good ol' buddy Chewbacca? Check him out! I don't see too much in the way of difference with Chewy except for perhaps some aging going on. Maybe some of you eagle eyed Star Wars fans can spot some differences that I'm not.

Chewy does look quite pensive in the artwork. What's on his mind? Looks a little worried about something.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the early look at these pieces of final concept art while you can. I suspect Lucasfilm will want to have these removed soon. Just a guess.

I will have more STAR WARS and AVATAR exclusives coming up soon. You KNOW I will :-) Have a happy holidays everyone! Nothing beats an early gift right?

STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS will open on December 18, 2015.