"It's so much bigger." My favorite moments from Star Wars Celebration

It has been nearly a week since the twin suns sat on Star Wars Celebration Orlando, and I'm already anxious for the next one. Despite being t busiest, most crowded Star Wars Celebration to date, it still left me with memories to last a lifetime! From the creative cosplay, the awesome people, the new trailers, and the moving tributes to Carrie Fisher, it really was a weekend long remembered. I realize there may be some of you reading this (most of you) who did not get a chance to go. If you are a Star Wars fan, are easily jealous, and suffer from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), I suggest you do not read any further. (Waves hand) "This is not the article your are looking for."

Without further ado, here are my favorite moments from Star Wars Celebration Orlando (2017)!

5. The Cosplay

The highlights of these conventions are always the cosplay. And this year did not disappoint! There were Darth Vaders, Han Solos, Chewbaccas, Reys, Kylo Rens, etc. And there were a lot of creative hybrids, including the Muppets! What always interests me about the cosplay is not what characters people dress up as, but that they designed their own costumes!

They spent hours gathering materials to make their costumes look like that came from a galaxy far, far away. I was so impressed by how realistic they looked.

And some of the costumes were just weird, but in a good way.  One person dressed up as an actual lightsaber hilt!  Even the droids had cool looking cosplay! There were R2 units dressed as a Minion, and even Batman! It was nice to see that even droids can have fun with cosplay.

And of course there was Leia. Lots and lots of Leia! Including my friend, Lisa, and my Mom!

Leia is one of the most iconic characters in film history. It's impossible to not find at least one cosplay of her at these conventions.  But this was not like most Star Wars conventions. This was the first Star Wars Celebration without Carrie Fisher, due to her tragic passing in December. It warmed my hear to see her legacy live on through little girls and women who dress up as her character, Leia. Seeing little girls dress up as her made it feel like she was still there.

The Force was strong with the cosplayers this year!

4. Rian Johnson

Star Wars Celebration always has surprises, and this was no different. One of the biggest surprises was when I waited in line for The Last Jedi panel. Rian Johnson, the director of The Last Jedi, Looper, as well as a few Breaking Bad episodes, came out to greet the fans waiting in line. He attempted to take pictures with everyone of them. He even signed their badges! Rian Johnson may be a big time director/producer. But he is also a huge Star Wars fan. He understands the passion we feel for this franchise. For him to take photos with the fans like that shows how humble and down-to-earth he really is! Star Wars Episode VIII is in good hands!

3. The new trailer!

Star Wars Celebration Orlando just would not be complete without new trailers. The trailers are what make it an event. There were a lot of new trailers for exciting new content; including Star Wars Forces of Destiny, Rebels Season 4, Battlefront II, etc. But the main event was, of course, The Last Jedi teaser.

The panel for The Last Jedi was nothing short of amazing. Josh Gad hosted, and made me wish he could host every convention panel from now on. He was that good! He was so funny, and managed to get things moving along. He was just as good as Warwick Davis. His hosting skills were most impressive!

 At the panel for The Last Jedi, we learned so much and yet learned so little. We got hints about what situation each character is in. And we may or may not have almost heard a spoiler from Mark Hamill that Rey is Luke's daughter. (Or a spoiler from the live-stream video she is a Kenobi).

The teaser for The Last Jedi lived up to all my expectations. It was so different from The Force Awakens in terms of tone. I have so many thoughts about the teaser, that I am planning a separate article on it. However, I will share my thoughts on the poster.

One of my friends, Lisa, told me an interesting theory she heard about the fashion choices made at The Last Jedi panel. She noticed that the cast all wore clothes with the same colors as the poster pictured above. Daisy Ridley was dressed in red, John Boyega was dressed in white, Kelly Marie Tran was dressed in blue, and Mark Hamill was dressed in black. Coincidence? Or is this a foreshadowing for what could happen to the characters in the movie? We will all find out in December!

2. 40th Anniversary Panel/Carrie Fisher tribute

Of all the panels I was lucky to attend, none of them filled my heart with more joy than the 40th Anniversary Panel. This was Star Wars Heaven! First we saw Lucasfilm President, Kathleen Kennedy. Then we saw the Maker himself, George Lucas! I had always dreamed of being in the same room as George Lucas, the man responsible for many of my childhood memories. I could barley contain myself. Then we saw Dave Filoni, the creator of Star Wars Rebels and The Clone Wars, come on stage. Followed by a minor Prequel reunion involving Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiarmid. The Star Wars prequels have always been controversial among Star Wars fans. So to see Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiarmid welcomed with a standing ovation was amazing. It shows how good time has been to those movies. 

We also saw the cast from the Original Trilogy. We saw Anthony Daniels, Warwick Davis, Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill, and of course Harrison Ford! George Lucas alone was too much for me to handle. But add Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill? I need to breathe!

The one cast-member whose presence was sorely missed was obviously Carrie Fisher. Her passing was tragic for Star Wars fans everywhere. Not only was she Princess (now General) Leia. She was also a script doctor, a novelist, an activist for women's rights and mental health awareness, a daughter, a mother, and a friend.

It's impossible for any tribute to do her justice. But they came pretty close with a funny, and moving tribute they posted online. When they played it at the panel, there was not a dry eye in the room!

And just when I thought the panel could not get anymore amazing, they do the ultimate mic-drop by having John Williams appear! If you do not know who John Williams is, I feel sorry for you. He is arguably the greatest conductor/composer in the world. Not only did he do the music for Star Wars. He also did the music for Jaws, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Superman, Harry Potter, etc. He is one of the few people in show-business who truly deserves the title "Genius". When he came out on stage, the audience gave him the loudest applause I had heard. And then he waved his hand, and everyone went silent. It was as if he did a Jedi Mind trick on all of us.

He then proceeded to play Princess Leia's theme, causing all of us to shed tears. He then played the Main Theme of Star Wars, and finished off with The Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme).

And this all happened on Day 1! After that, I was pretty much ready to go back to California. Because how can you top that? How can you top John Williams? Honestly?

1.) The awesome people there!

Pretty much everything about Star Wars Celebration was amazing! The panels, the cosplay, the trailers, etc. But what made it special was the people there. The fans. I made new friends, and I caught up with ones I already know.

My friend Lisa, who I met at Celebration Anaheim in 2015, had a Star Wars themed birthday banner out in line on the first day. People walked up asking "Whose birthday is it?" And she replied "It's Star Wars' birthday!" She also provided snacks, and offered to save my spot whenever I wanted to go back to the hotel room. She not only makes Star Wars Celebration easier, but she also makes it more fun!

I also met with the guys from Collider Jedi Council, including John Campea, Dennis Tzeng, Perri Nemiroff, Mark Ellis, Kristian Harloff, Ken Napzok, and Jeremy Jahns! They were even on the same flight as mine: United! (Relax. We had a safe flight). 

There is just something about the people at these conventions that make them feel special. It doesn't feel like an ordinary convention. It feels like a family. 

We look out for each other. We break bread together. We drink blue milk together. We share Snoke theories with each other. Mark Hamill put it best. We're more than just fans. We're family. 

When Carrie Fisher passed away, it did not feel like a celebrity we barely knew passed away. It felt like we lost a family member. At Celebration, we came together to grieve, to mourn, and to celebrate her. 

That may be why Star Wars has lasted for forty years, and will continue to endure for generations to come. Because it brings all of us together. It may be time for the Jedi to end, but our love for this Saga never will.

May the Force be with you. Always.

Carrie Fisher: Warrior. Princess. General. Fighter. Rebel.

Every day, 2016 gives us another reason to despise it. 2016 was a year where we lost so many of our icons. David Bowie, Prince, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Kenny Baker, Muhammad Ali, Leonard Cohen, and George Michael. And today, as I am writing this, 2016 finally went as far as it could go. This time, it took our own Princess. 

Carrie Fisher passed away at age 60. This celebrity death is especially crushing not just to her friends and family, but to millions of fans young and old around the world.

 

Carrie Fisher was born in 1956 to Hollywood royalty. Her parents were Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. She enrolled in London's Central School of Speech and Drama in 1973.

Her first starring role was in Shampoo in 1975.

 

But it was 1977's Star Wars where Carrie Fisher had her true big break into movie stardom.

 

Carrie Fisher played Leia Organa, Princess of Alderaan and leader of the Rebellion against the Empire. When she first appeared on screen, she was unlike any heroine before her. She was tough, feisty, and full of grit. Even though she had to be saved once, she was no damsel in distress. In fact, when Luke first rescues her, she's the one taking charge. She's the one who helps him, Han, and Chewie escape. Throughout the movies, she saves the boys more than they save her.

 

 

In the first movie, it seemed like she was going to end up with Luke Skywalker. And although they seemed cute together (at least before we found out they were siblings), it was with Han Solo who she had real chemistry with. At first they cannot stand each other. She keeps denying she has feelings for him. But Han's not one to quit easily. Throughout The Empire Strikes Back, Han is constantly putting the moves on Leia. It's when Han is being put to Carbon freeze where Leia truly admits her feelings to Han. It is one of the funniest, most heart-breaking love scenes in history. Carrie Fisher revealed she had an affair with Harrison Ford during the first Star Wars. Honestly, I was not that shocked by it. They had such chemistry on screen, it really felt like they did love each other. 

 

Carrie Fisher may be famous for playing Leia. But she is so much more than that. She has appeared in so many great movies over the years. She was in When Harry Met Sally, a film I watch every New Year's Eve, as Meg Ryan's best friend. She has some of the funniest lines. She also appeared in Hannah and Her Sisters, Austin Powers, and Blues Brothers as John Belushi's psychotic ex-girlfriend.

 

She may have been a talented actress. But her screenwriting talents were even more impressive. In the 90s, Carrie Fisher served as a script doctor on scripts that needed improvement. Films like Hook, The Wedding Singer, Lethal Weapon 3, and much more were all improved using Carrie Fisher's touch.

 

She not only helped with other people's' scripts. She even wrote her own. 1990's Postcards From The Edge, based on her memoir of the same name, which was a semi-biography of Fisher's relationship to her mother. Meryl Streep played Suzanne Vale, Carrie Fisher's role, and Shirley McLaine played Doris Mann, Debbie Reynold's role.

Carrie Fisher may have had a successful career in film and in writing. But her life was anything but a Hollywood fantasy. Throughout her life, she struggled with drug addiction, alcohol, bipolar disorder, and depression. She wrote all about it in her biography, Wishful Drinking. Honestly, it's the funniest book I ever read. It was funny, witty, and shocking. It was the type of humor Carrie Fisher was known for. She took her pain, her hardships, her struggles, and made great jokes about it all. She was able to laugh at herself, and let us laugh along. She never took herself seriously, and that was what was so appealing about her.

 

Her latest book, The Princess Diarist, was just released. It is about the diary she wrote during the filming of Star Wars where she reveals she had an affair with Harrison Ford. I just got the book for Christmas. I plan to read it for the remainder of my break. If it's anything like Wishful Drinking, I may not be able to put it down.

 

She may have played a heroine on screen. But she was an even bigger heroine off screen. She dedicated many of her remaining years fighting for women's rights, speaking out against sexism and double standards in Hollywood, and raising awareness for mental health issues.

She was not ashamed of who she was. She was proud of it. She was proud of the way she looked, and proud of the person she was. And she inspired millions with mental illness to be the same.

Whether you knew her in person or only on screen, she left an impact on all of us. She definitely did for me.

I could write all day about the impact Star Wars has had on my childhood and life. When I first saw Princess Leia, I developed a crush on her. One of my first crushes. She had everything I looked for in a woman. She was tough, fearless, sassy, selfless, determined, and had a big heart. No matter how tough things got, she never gave up. She was also brutally honest. 

One of my happiest memories is when I went to Star Wars Celebration VI with my Mom in Orlando, Florida in 2012. We met Mark Hamill, Ben Burtt, Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), and Carrie Fisher. We attended her show on the last night there. I was one of the lucky fans who got to ask her a question. It's in the video below. Skip to 1:20.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6rrKH9RFD9s

Only Carrie Fisher could answer a question like that with such wit and such humor.

I met her the next day, and asked her to sign a picture of her in the infamous gold bikini. She signed 

"To Lowell,

From one of the sexiest weirdos of all time, to another one.

Carrie Fisher"

 

I still have that picture in my room to this day.

Three years later, I met her again at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in April 2015. I had no idea it would be my last time. But it was wonderful.

I waited in line to see her Donny sister could get her autograph. I told her I met her before, and had a crush on Leia. And I asked her to sign a copy of her book, Wishful Drinking. The guards asked us to keep moving. So she told me "Give me your hand!" So I her out my hand. She took a blue marker and a pink marker, and drew two lines on my ring finger. She told me "This is our wedding ring." It was one of the best days of my life. I plan on turning it into a real ring soon.

 

I will always cherish the times I met Carrie Fisher. I will alway remember how funny, sweet, and genuine she was. There was nothing fake about her. She was always honest, always straight-forward. She put others needs before hers. She cared deeply about her fans, and wanted to make them happy. And she did. She made all of us happy.

Carrie. Thank you. Thank you for everything. You inspired a generation to rise up and fight for what's right. You taught us all to never give up. You taught us all to be proud of who we are. You taught us to not be ashamed of our differences, but to embrace them. 

Most of all, you taught us the importance of hope. Hope that no matter how bleak things are, no matter how dark things seem, light will always prevail. As long as there are good people who continue to fight, evil will never permanently prevail. In a year where the world feels scary, we need your message of hope more than ever.

You may be a General. But to us, you are royalty. Rest In Peace, Carrie Fisher. And may the Force be with you. Always.

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh1t2MJDbrs

 

Rogue One: A Blockbuster Built On Hope

When Star Wars was first released in 1977, the world was a scary place. The economy was doing poorly. We had just gotten our troops out of Vietnam, one of the longest, bloodiest, and most controversial wars in U.S. History. Our President, Richard Nixon, was forced to resign from the Presidency after tapes revealed his involvement in covering up Watergate. Americans had lost faith in their heroes and leaders. The country was divided and the future was uncertain. Patriotism was dead. 

The movies at the time reflected that. Movies like The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Chinatown, Taxi Driver, etc. included heroes who broke the rules, Dark and somber tones, and a bleak outlook on the world. The first Star Wars was the complete opposite of those films. Star Wars was a throwback to classic films and serials from the past such as Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, The Searchers, Thr Wizard of Oz, etc. Instead of a somber tone and a bleak outlook, Star Wars bright, flashy, and full of optimism. It was a story of good vs. evil. Right vs. wrong. Equality vs. oppression. It was a movie Studios had not faith in, and the public didn't know they needed. When it was released, Star Wars defied all the odds, surpassed expectations, and became a phenomenon. It connected with the public who grew tired of cynical heroes, and longed for escapism. Star Wars is an example of a movie that came out at the right time. Not when the world wanted it. But when it needed it.

Fast forward to the present. We have already had seven Star Wars films. And the first spin-off film, Rogue One, was just released. And just like 1977, the future seems uncertain to many people. We just got out of the ugliest election in history. Donald Trump, the most controversial, most divisive candidate in history, was just elected President. Aleppo is under siege from pro-government Syrian troops (Here is what you can do to help). Everyday, the future seems more uncertain.

We feel like we need Star Wars more than ever. And Rogue One delivers.

Rogue One is a direct prequel to the first Star Wars film. Now, the word "prequel" is infamous in the Star Wars fan community. Fans typically associate the word prequel with Jar Jar Binks, Midi-Chlorians, wooden acting, and Darth Vader shouting "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" But fans should relax. There are no Jar Jars or Midi-Chlorians in this prequel. Just TIE-fighters, AT-ATs, X-Wings, and characters we care about.

I won't give away too much of the plot. The less you know, the better it is. But the film is based on the opening crawl in A New Hope.  

 We all know that the Rebels steal the plans to the Death Star, find out its weakness, and destroy it. But what we don't know is HOW they do it. HOW do they steal the plans. Who were the rebel spies? And did they survive? These are questions we have had when watching the first Star Wars, and never had answered. Until now.

One of the biggest strengths of the Star Wars movies has always been with the characters. Even in the worst Star Wars movie, there's at least one memorable character. Rogue One has quite a few.

When I first saw her in the teaser, I just knew I would love Jyn Erso. Her spunky attitude, her determination, her devil-may-care attitude that made us all love Han Solo. I just knew she would leave an impression, and she did. Felicity Jones was the perfect actress to play her. I felt really engaged in her arc, and rooted for her to succeed in her mission. Star Wars has always been famous for having strong female characters. And lately, it has been on a role with strong female protagonists. It is so exciting to live in a time where little girls everywhere are having more heroes to look up to.

K-2SO steals every scene he is in. He provides the comic relief. Thankfully, he's closer to C-3PO and R2-D2 than Jar Jar Binks. He's a droid designed by the Empire, but is programmed by Andor to work for him. He's sarcastic, straight-forward, and good in a fight. He's another lovable Droid worthy of sitting alongside R2-D2.

My favorite character was actually Chirrut Îmwe played by Donnie Yen. He's a Jedi-like character with strong reflexes and impressive fighting skills. He is blind, but relies on his senses to defend himself. He is not Force sensitive, but has strong faith in it. "I am one with the Force, and he Force is with me." is a prayer he makes whenever he goes into battle. This movie takes place in a time where the Jedi are all but extinct. Chirrut Îmwe brings a lot of the religious and philosophical elements that make Star Wars so unique among science fiction franchises.

Captain Andor, played by Diego Luna, is like the opposite of Han Solo. He's a rogue, but feels more tormented by his past. He fights for the Rebels, but feels conflicted about his morals. 

Saw Gerrera, played by Forrest Whittaker, is a character from The Clone Wars. He definitely feels haunted by the scars left on him from that war. He is not the same cocky, adventurous warrior he was in The Clone Wars. He feels more broken, more cynical. Like how Andor is the anti-Han Solo, Saw is he anti-Obi-Wan. He's not a messenger of hope. He's a messenger of fear. 

Dr. Orson Krennic, the Director of Advanced Weapons Research for the Inprerial Military, is an effective villain. He's cunning and controlling, and full of aspirations. He believed in the power of the Death Star before anyone else. He longs to be respected in the Empire, and to be in command.

The most anticipated aspect of Rogue One is the return of Darth Vader. Vader has always been my favorite character in Star Wars. He is arguably the mkst iconic villain in movie history. And his appearance does not disappoint! I will not give ANYTHING away. But when he shows up, he instantly reminds us why he has the title, "Dark Lord of the Sith".
 

The film is very morally grey. It does not portray the Rebels as purely good guys. It portrays them as conflicted. They feel uncertain if they are doing the right thing, and if they could even succeed.

You really feel the tyranny of the Empire. The film has an incredibly bleak tone. It matches The Empire Strikes Back in terms of its atmosphere and dark tone. You may have been hearing that this film is not for kids. And you are correct. Not that it's R-rated or anything. But it is darker than usual for a Star Wars film. I would recommended this for older children. Like ages 10 and up. Anyone younger may be a bit traumatized.

The music is done by Michael Giacchino, making it the first (live action) Star Wars film to not have its score done by John Williams. Stepping in for John Williams is almost like stepping in for Magic Johnson. Michael Giacchino had to do just that, and in a matter of three days! And Michael Giacchino manages to rise tonthe occasion. While the music never reaches the greatness of John Williams (not that anyone expected it to), it still does well in providing the tone of the movie, and puts the audience on the edge of its seat. Michael Giacchnio is my 2nd favorite composer behind John Williams. I always wanted to hear him compose the score for a Star Wars movie. And I hope he does more Star Wars spin-off films in the future.

 

The action in this movie is INSTENSE. It felt so gritty and realistic. It feels like you're watching the Original Trilogy on the big screen again. If you can, see it in the biggest screen possible.

The film is full of so many surprises that will make any Star Wars fan squeal with delight. 

Overall, I had high hopes for Rogue One and it delivered. It was dark, gritty, action-packed, and loads of fun.

If you have time, please read Rogue One: Catalyst. It will make the first act of the film a lot easier to understand. I am only halfway done with the book as I am writing this. But I plan to finish reading it before I see the film again. 

Not only do I want to see this film again and again. I now want to watch the Orignal Trilogy as well. I have a feeling Rogue One will only enhance the Original Trilogy.

It's the kind of Star Wars movie I never knew I wanted. And it's the film I needed right now. One we all needed right now. Star Wars, at its core, has always been about hope. Hope that no matter how dark things seem, light will always prevail. No matter how much evil there is in the world (galaxy), good will always fight back. In a time where the world is feeling more bleak, and the future more uncertain, we need Star Wars more than ever. 

May the Force be with you! Always!

 

 
 
 
 

 

Gene Wilder - The Man Who Suddenly Got Everything He Wanted

Just when you thought this year couldn't get any worse.

Gene Wilder has passed away from Alzheimer's at age 83.

Of all the celebrity deaths that have happened lately, this one hurt really hard. It feels like I just lost my Grandpa. My friend. I never met Gene Wilder once in my life. But it really feels like I knew him. It's impossible to explain the impact he's had not just on me, but on film fans for a generation.

Gene Wilder was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 11, 1933. He studied Communication and Theater Arts at the University of Iowa. He performed in many plays from The Complaisant Lover to One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and so much more.

In 1963, he was cast in Mother Courage and Her Children. His co-star, Anne Bancroft, introduced him to her boyfriend Mel Brooks.

Brooks cast Wilder as Leo Bloom in his outrageous Broadway satire comedy, The Producers.

 

The Producers is about two Broadway producers, Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, who are both facing financial troubles. They learn that under the right circumstances, a producer can make more money with a flop than with a hit.

The two try to find the worst possible play they can find. They come across Springtime For Hitler, a play that glorifies Adolf Hitler and Nazis. They hire a Nazi to direct it. And they cast a "flower power" hippie to play Hitler. Surly it will flop, right? 

The plan backfires. The play is a smash hit! The opening night audience thinks the play is a satire that mocks Hitler and eats it up. 

On paper, the story sounds way too wacky, and way too unrealistic. And it totally is. The film finds the perfect balance of silly and tasteless. Mel Brooks won a well deserved Oscar for the Screenplay. And it's very rare that the Academy rewards a Comedy these days. But The Producers Definetely deserved it.

But it's not just the writing that makes The Producers work. It's the cast. Particularly Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel. They have such great chemistry and feed perfectly off each other.

The film was later adapted into a successful, long running Broadway musical starring Matthew Broderick as Leo Bloom and Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock.

 

After that, Wilder and Brooks would form a fruitful director-actor partnership. Up there with Scorsese and DeNiro, Spielberg and Hanks, and ironically Burton and Depp.

Their next film together was the western comedy Blazing Saddles. Not only is the film a love letter to the classic westerns of John Ford and John Wayne by playing to their strengths while also mocking their clichés. It also brings attention to the horrific racism that was common in those days. This is the kind of film that would NEVER be made today. It's a miracle it was even made in 1974! Not only do they say the N-word in practically every scene, but it involves scenes of black people being treated horribly.

The film sounds like a racist film. But it's not. The film is mocking racism and showing how idiotic it was. For a film with the first ever farting scene, it's really insightful and poetic.

But the film is also loaded with memorable characters. One of them is Jim "the Wacco Kid" by Gene Wilder. A drunk sheriff with the fastest hand in the West. 

Both The Producers and Blazinf Saddles are comedy masterpieces. But in my opinion, it's Young Frankenstein that is the crowning jewel in the Brooks/Wilder partnership.

 

Young Frankenstein takes place after the events of the original Frankenstein and focuses on Dr. Frankenstein's grandson, Dr. "Fronkensteen".

The plot is exactly like the original, except with a comedic tone. 

I remember watching this film as a little kid at my Grandparents' house. It was one of the hardest times I had ever laughed. And the main reason was Gene Wilder's performance. In my opinion,  Wilder gives the greatest comedic performance in film history in Young Frankenstein. He goes from calm and collected to insane and paranoid in the flash of one minute. He can be the most peaceful person on the room, and is screaming at the top of his lungs.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nalaY6pczpc 

Nobody perfected the art of screaming better than Gene.

Wilder went on to collaborate with Richard Pryor, arguably the greatest stand-up comedian that ever lived, in films such as Silver Streak and Stir Crazy.

He played so many great roles.

But to me, he will always be Willy Wonka.

Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory followed Charlie Bucket and four other lucky children as they toured in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory where he makes all his delicious candy.

The film is a classic in lines with The Wizard of Oz. Just like The Wizard of Oz, the film is somewhat corny, but that's what we all love about it. It has this timeless feel to it. You could watch it at age 5 or 95 and still be enchanted by it.

And it's Gene Wilder's performance that makes it such a classic. He's like our favorite school teacher. The one who's smarter than he appears. The one who makes everything sound so fascinating. The one who is mysterious, but you love being with because they are so entertaining. They can be strict when they need to. But what makes that teacher our favorite is how kind and understanding they are. 

One great example of Wilder's brilliant performance is his grand entrance (link below).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sz9jc5blzRM

The scene was not initially in the script. Wilder said he came up with the idea of Willy Wonka acting old and weak but then catching everyone off guard with a summarsault so they would not be able to tell if he was lying or telling the truth.

Little touches like that show how much effort and dedication Wilder put into his roles. He knew his own characters more than the people who created them.

The film is loaded with so many songs we are all familiar with. The Candy Man, I Got A Golden Ticket, all the Oompa Loompa songs, etc. But my personal favorite is Pure Imagination. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2pt2-F2j2g

It's so whimsical and touching. It's simple in words, and yet deep in meaning. It's the film's Over The Rainbow. And Gene Wilder sings it with such majesty and grace. 

I called this tribute "the man who got everything he ever wanted". Not only is it a reference to the ending scene of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It's how I like to picture Gene Wilder lived his.

Wilder had quite a few relationships. He had a few marriages. Quite common in Hollywood. But what is uncommon in Hollywood? Having a meaningful marriage that lasts until death. Wilder found his with SNL alumni Gilda Radner, whom he met in 1981. Radner was married to guitarist G. E. Smith. The two became great friends. But their friendship became something more. Radner divorced Smith in 1982. She moved in with Wilder for a few years, and they were married in 1984. 

Sadly, Radner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986. She passed away in 1989.

You can read Wilder's letter to his wife here: https://www.google.com/amp/www.thewrap.com/read-gene-wilders-heartbreaking-essay-about-wife-gilda-radners-death/amp/?client=safari

Wilder became an activist to raise awareness for cancer, and began the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angelos.

Wilder met his final wife, Karen Webb, on the set of See No Evil, Hear No Evil. The two married in 1991, and lived in the house Wilder shared with Radner.

He was mostly out of the spotlight in his final years. But spent a good deal of it writing books.

As we say goodbye to Gene Wilder, he leaves behind an incredible legacy in film and acting history. But more than that. He left an incredible impact on my life.

He fueled my love of acting, performing, and the magic of storytelling. He made me fascinated in quirky, fascinating characters. He helped me feel comfortable with being weird. He also helped me laugh when I needed it most. And most of all, he helped me to realize what is really important in life. The little joys in life. He taught me that in his films. But he also taught me that with how he lived his life. He may not have been working in movies in his last years. But he didn't seem to care. All he cares about was writing books.

The reason I call Gene Wilder "the man who suddenly got what he wanted" is because I am referring to the two times he met his wife Gilda Rander. The first time when he fell in love with her, and when he met her again today in Heaven. I have a feeling all Wildee ever really wanted was someone special to spend his life with, as we all do. And after he found her and lister her, all he ever wanted was to be with her again....

... And they lived happily ever after.

Thank you Gene Wilder. Thank you for taking us all to a world of Pure Imagination. 

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ysv5XtiZwaQ

Sausage Party Is The Movie This Summer Needed

The summer is winding down. The schools are opening, and the kids are shopping for binders and supplies.

Looking back, it was a very underwhelming summer for blockbusters. With the exception of Captain America: Civil War, there were hardly any blockbusters worth writing to home about. Mostly because a lot of them felt rushed, mechanical, and morose. There was nothing to compare to the exhilaration of last year's Mad Max: Fury Road. 

It was however a great year for the smaller films. There were some great horror films like Lights Out, hilarious comedies like The Nice Guys and Bad Moms. There were some great animated films like Finding Dory, Secret Life of Pets, and Kubo and the Two Strings.

Sausage Party, written by and starring Seth Rogen and his buddies, is a combination of all of the above.

It's an animated film. But it's not for kids. And I repeat. It is NOT FOR KIDS! It's a horror film about foods trying to escape being eaten by humans. And it's a comedy. And it is laugh out loud hilarious.

If you've seen the trailer, you know the premise. I won't go into too much detail. But I will say that it takes so many twists and turns. And about the ending, let me just say that you will never see it coming.

The voice cast could bot be more perfect. Seth Rogen as a hot dog is one of the best casting decisions in recent memory. The fact that he can breathe his outrageous wit and stoner-like personality to a hot dog is a testament to Seth Rogen's talent as a voice actor.

Kristen Wiig is also brilliant as Seth Rogen's girlfriend, a hot dog bun named Brenda, who feels torn between her religious beliefs and desires. Edward Norton shines as Sammy the Bagle, as does David Krumhultz as Lavash. The villain is a (literal) douche bag voiced by Nick Kroll. But it's Bill Hader as Fire-Water, a Native American bottle of liquor.

The film is a loving homage/satire to classic Pixar movies, but with its own spin on the formula. It pays respect to something, while poking fun at its flaws. I wish more "parody" movies were less like Scary Movie 5, and more like Saisage Party.

And it has interesting commentary on our culture as well. It talks about race, religion, and our own mortality. For a Seth Rogen comedy where foods say the F-word, it's surprisingly deep.

In conclusion, Sausage Party is disgusting, outrageous, and mean-spirited. And I ate it up. It's not a movie for everyone. If you are easily offended, and I mean EASILY offended, you should stay away. If you don't like Seth Rogen's humor, this is not for you. If you're tired of animated films being just for kids, and want something more adult, then this movie will be a real treat for you.

It's a great comedy with bad taste.

What's The Deal With DC Movies?

I'm sure that's what Jerry Seinfeld, the biggest Superman fan in the world, must be saying right now... As well as most people. Especially Warner Bros.

The DC Cinematic Universe has had three movies so far: Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad.

All three movies have received mixed to negative reviews from critics. And despite making more money than most movies, they have underperformed at the box office. (Well, Suicide Squad is still playing as I'm writing this. So there is still hope for it to make a profit).

Two of those had Superman, Batman, and (finally) Wonder Woman. The three most beloved, most iconic super heroes of all time. And the third one had the Joker, the most iconic comic book villain of all time, and fan favorite Harley Quinn in her big screen debut. All three of them should have been juggernaut successes. And yet they weren't.

Meanwhile Marvel makes movies with a talking tree and a raccoon, and a man who can shrink to the size of an ant, that became critical and financial successes.

How is that possible? When did Marvel become the top dog while DC is struggling to catch up?

Let's wind the clock back four decades. A young director named Richard Donner directed a big screen adaptation of Superman, which starred Julliard alumni Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. And not only was it a box office success and critically acclaimed. It began an entire genre. The superhero genre. It along with Star Wars and Jaws created the summer blockbuster that is still alive today.

Then a decade later, another young director named Tim Burton directed a big screen adaptation of Batman, starring his Beetlejuice star, Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight. And it was a huge hit. It became the highest grossing film of 1989. Where Superman created the superhero genre, Batman reinvented the genre, and proved it can be edgy and for adults as much as kids. 

And what films did Marvel make in that era?

(Wa Wa Wa Waaaaaaaaaaa)

In those days, DC ruled the big screens. Marvel was the one who had to play catch-up. I mean, how could Marvel compete with Superman and Batman?

In the 90s, Marvel was on the verge of bankruptcy They were forced to sell the movie rights to their most popular characters, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, to other studios like Sony and Fox.

In 2000, Fox released X-Men directed by Bryan Singer.  Lauren Shuler Donner, the wife of Superman director Richard Donner, hired this young USC alumni Kevin Feige to be an associate producer. It became a critical and financial success, a first for Marvel Studios.

But it can be argued that it was 2002's Spider-Man, directed by Sam Raimi, that truly ushered in this new era of comic book movies.

With the success of the X-Men and Spider-Man franchise, both overseen by Kevin Feige, Feige became president of Marvel Studios in 2007.

Around this time, Keven Feige had a crazy idea. To create a cinematic universe with whatever characters Marvel still had the movie rights to. Starting with Iron Man in 2008, about a B-list superhero character. A genius, billionaire playboy philanthropist who fights crime in a hi-tech suit. And no, I am not talking about Batman. Directed by Jon Favreau, who was known for directing comedies at the time, and starring Robert Downy Jr., a man whose fame was declining due to drug abuse and tabloid controversy. This film had so much going against it. There's no way it can succeed.

And yet it did.

Iron Man grossed over $500 Million worldwide and received critical acclaim. Its success led to two sequels, and Marvel's other characters such as Thor and Captain America to have their big screen adaptations.

In 2012, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk all joined forces in the mega-crossover event film, The Avengers. Directed by Firefly and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The film was probably the riskiest block buster since the Lord of the Rings trilogy. How can so many characters share the same amount of screen-time without making it feel convoluted?

With a witty script, tons of great character moments, and a shameless sense of humor, The Avengers got everything right. It received great reviews, grossed over $1 Billion, and ushered in a new era of Hollywood. The era of shared cinematic universes. For better or worse.

Since then, Marvel has been on a winning streak with hit after hit. They've established themselves as a brand name similar to Pixar. When you see their name on a poster, you can expect nothing less than high-quality entertainment.

Aw yes. And how was poor DC during this time?

Their resume in the 2000s and 2010s has been pretty mixed. On one hand, they had Christopher Nolan's highly successful and highly influential Dark Knight trilogy. On the other hand, they also released duds such as Superman Returns and Green Lantern. With The Avengers making over $1 Billion, and Man of Steel underperforming both critically and financially, Warner Bros. eyes went as green as the Hulk. They ditched their original plans for a Man of Steel 2 (which might actually be coming back) for a Batman/Superman crossover, starring Ben Affleck as the caped crusader.

The film was just as risky as The Avengers. Maybe even more so. Not only did it have Batman and Superman, the two most iconic superheroes of all time, finally meeting on the big screen and duking it out mano y mano. But it also featured the big screen debut of Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot.

It received backlash from fans even before its release with its controversial casting decisions, the inclusion of Doomsday, and rumored behind the scenes troubles. But even with so much going against it, can it still succeed?

...

No matter what your feelings of the film are, whether you loved it or hated it, we can all agree it didn't exactly live up to expectations. I mean, it's Batman vs Superman! Featuring Wonder Woman! How can we not have high expectations?!?!?

The film got panned by critics, with a majority of them praising Ben Affleck as Batman. And while the film made over $800 Million, which is more than most movies make, it fell short of the $1 Billion gross Warner Bros. was expecting.

But hey, maybe Suicide Squad, a film that has the Joker and Harley Quinn, can fix that, right? Right? RIGHT?!?!?

Ugh....

Just like Batman v Superman, the film was panned by critics, with many praising a few of the performances particularly Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. And although the film is making money so far, the film has to make at least $800 Million just to break even. And with the mixed word of mouth, and the fact that China will not allow the U.S. to release it there, it seems unlikely it will reach that goal.

And just to add salt to the wound, an ex-employee wrote a harsh open letter to Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara and Zack Snyder criticizing them for their slate, and how they have treated their employees. It even hinted that Wonder Woman, the next DC movie, is a mess!

So again I ask... What's the deal with DC movies?

Well, let's look at Marvel for a second. They've taken B-list, even C-list, characters and made them popular in our culture. Think about it. There's a whole generation of kids who know more about The Avengers than they do about the Justice League. How? How do movies like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy manage to make such a connection to audiences?

A lot of it has to do with the filmmakers they choose to helm these projects.

Joss Whedon, Jon Favreau, James Gunn, and the Russo Brothers. Marvel doesn't just pick filmmakers that are talented. They pick filmmakers that genuinely love the material. They choose filmmakers that love and adore these characters, and want to do them justice. And that love and affection shows on screen. We love these characters because the filmmakers do.

Take a look at DC's own Dark Knight trilogy. Christopher Nolan may not have read the comics growing up. But he is still a huge fan of the character and mythology. He put so much love and care into crafting his own tale of the Dark Knight, and it really shows.

Zack Snyder, as talented as he may be, may not have been the best choice for Superman in retrospect. He has gone on record to say that he never liked reading the comics when he was a kid, and was more into darker material. Which explains why his Superman is so dark and violent. And Superman is supposed to be the opposite of Batman. Snyder fits more with Watchmen or 300. Comic stories that fit his style. I actually think he's a better fit for Batman. After all, Batman was one of the things Snyder got right, and one of the highlights of Batman v Superman. I don't hate Zack Snyder. I believe he's a talented filmmaker with a unique style and vision. I just feel like he shines when he's adapting material that fits that style and vision.

But wait. David Ayer is clearly a fan of Suicide Squad and the Joker. So how come that film didn't work?

That brings me to another point. Studio interference.

Let us look at Marvel again. Sure, their films are clearly studio driven. But even the executives are fans of the material and want to bring out the best product possible. They know when to leave the filmmakers alone to their vision, and when it's time to interfere. And sure, it may not always work. But for every Iron man 2,  there's an Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc.

Let us look at The Dark Knight trilogy once again. Those films are the definition of filmmaker driven blockbusters. Warner Bros. gave Christopher Nolan time between films to decompress and make the films he wanted like Inception and The Prestige. And it led to a better product every time.

The DC Cinematic Universe feels more concerned with catching up to Marvel as opposed to making a good movie. We've all heard of the production troubles of Suicide Squad, and how it had to go through reshoots. And those problems really show on the screen. The film feels so inconsistent in tone, and has no clear idea of what it wants to be. It can't decide if it wants to be dark and edgy, or light-hearted and fluffy. It felt like a response to the mixed reception of Batman v Superman being too dark and heavy. And ironically enough, Batman v Superman was a response to Man of Steel's mixed response for its overly violent climax and controversial decision to have Superman kill Zod.

And this brings me to the final point... Vision.

No. Not that Vision!

THAT Vision! The vision of one man who is clearly steering the ship. A man who has a mapped out plan for what he wants his cinematic universe to be. He's like the George Lucas of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (And ironically, both went to USC).

Kevin Feige is a fan. A fan of superheroes and science fiction. He grew up obsessed with Marvel superheroes. But more than that, he has experience in the film business. He's produced hits and flops for Fox and Sony. But he clearly learned form those flops to be a successful film producer.

Kevin Feige and his team didn't just plan for the next five years. Or even the next ten years. But perhaps even the next twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred years! Feige is a man who knows what he's doing!

Again, look at The Dark Knight trilogy. Those films felt like the work of a true visionary who had a plan for where he wanted his story to go.

Look at the classic Superman and Batman films by Richard Donner and Tim Burton respectively. Richard Donner had a grand cinematic vision for the Man of Steel. He made a film that was light and fluffy, but also felt deep and human. It was full of charm and wit, but also had themes of loss and responsibility.

Even though Tim Burton may not have been a fan of the comics, he could relate to Batman's eccentric nature and the fact that he's an outsider. Tim Burton brought his own pain, his own imagination, his own vision to the character. He crafted a film that was goofy and campy, but also dark and serious. It felt cartoonish and childish, but also adult. It was a bizarre blockbuster with a lot of heart and a deeper meaning. It was unlike anything at the time.

And at the end of the day, those are the kinds of blockbusters that make an impact. The kind that push the envelope of what's possible. The kind that give us what we want, but also what we never knew we wanted. Something familiar, but different.

That's how the Marvel movies have managed to be such successes. They each give us something fresh and new. They are made from filmmakers who have something to share with us.

I don't think any of us knew that we wanted a movie with a talking tree and a raccoon. But man did we eat it up with a spoon!

We all wanted a movie with Batman and Superman. I mean, how can you not? But when it finally arrived, we couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by it. I mean, it had everything we knew we wanted. Batman and Superman on the big screen, including Wonder Woman. But it was missing something. It was missing the heart and soul that makes a blockbuster so winning. It felt more like it was made by a committee rather than a filmmaker. That's a huge problem with blockbusters lately. Especially in 2016.

So many films feel like they are made by studios trying desperately to connect with audiences. They look at statistics and charts to observe what people are into these days. If a dark, realistic superhero movie like The Dark Knight does insanely well, there are twenty dark superhero movies made. If an R-rated superhero comedy like Deadpool does really well, expect at least ten more R-rated superhero movies. They may break the fourth wall like Deadpool. They may be raunchy and edgy like Deadpool. But they will never capture the magic of Deadpool.

If only studios took more risks and trusted visionary directors to helm their tentpole films, maybe the box office wouldn't suffer as much. And maybe DC wouldn't be in the state that it's in right now.

The world may need Superman. But DC needs a Kevin Feige. More than anything...