It's the 40th Anniversary to the best Star Wars movie ever, and my personal favorite movie of all time, #TheEmpireStrikesBack!
Even though #TheEmpireStrikesBack came out 40 years ago, it’s themes feel more relevant than ever in 2020. (SPOILERS FOR EMPIRE)
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia had an unforgettable adventure in A New Hope and became lifelong friends.
In Empire, they are all separated due to a powerful threat.
Han and Leia are on the Millennium Falcon inside a giant space worm, and they are struggling with cabin fever. And the only time they can leave the ship is if they wear a mask.
Due to the fact that they are stuck together, they start off hating each other because they are both so different personality wise. If you tell Han the odds of a plan working, he shuts you down and says "Never tell me the odds!" Leia on the other hand is more detail oriented and prefers to plan things out. Han Solo is focused on his own goals, while Leia is dedicated to helping the greater good. And yet they both develop these strong feelings for each other. They both compliment each other so well, and even learn from each other. Leia learns to love herself and be more vulnerable, while Han Solo learns to be more considerate of others and to care for someone more than himself.
Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker is on Dagobah, a swamp planet, where he has to train with Yoda in the ways of the Force.
While training with Yoda, Luke is anxious the entire time. He’s anxious to finish his training. He’s anxious to get his X-Wing out of the water. He’s anxious to be with his friends again. He’s anxious to take on Vader, even though Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi warn him he is not ready. Luke learns the hard way he should have listened to them.
When he fights Vader, he suffers damage physically and psychologically. He gets his hand cut off, and discovers Darth Vader, his worst enemy, is his father.
Luke Skywalker survives the fight, but puts his other friends in danger, and has to go to the ICU.
"Luke, I told you you should have stayed inside! Or at least worn a mask!"
As for Leia and Han, Han Solo sacrifices himself for save the woman he loves. Han Solo is frozen in Carbonite and taken by Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt. Han survives, but is frozen. Neither Leia or Han know that when they will see each other again, if ever. So they both let their love for each other be known. Leia, who at first was hesitant to be open about her personal feelings, confesses "I love you" to Han. Han Solo, who made his feelings for her obvious the whole time, simply replies "I know." And the two have to be separated for the foreseeable future.
This act of selflessness inspires Han Solo's longtime friend, Lando Calrissian. Lando betrayed Han and his friends by selling them out to the Empire in the hopes that the Empire would help his facility on Cloud City. It is only after seeing what Darth Vader does to his friend, Han Solo, that Lando sees the errors of his ways. Lando learns the importance of integrity, and the difference between doing what you think is right, and doing what actually is right.
In the end, the heroes feel the same way we all feel right now. Defeated. Lost. Isolated. Uncertain about the future. But strangely hopeful that somehow, things will get better. Eventually.
Thanks to 1iota Tickets, I was able to score two free tickets for an advanced screening of Birds of Prey, the Suicide Squad spin-off starring everyone’s favorite psycho chick, Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie), at the Arclight Cinema in Hollywood.
Suicide Squad (2016) was a supervillain ensemble about a team of Gotham City’s worst superpowered criminals being forced by the government to work together to save the world from an evil villain with magic powers. It was basically “Avengers” and “Guardians of the Galaxy”, but with supervillains. Though the premise was intriguing and the set up seemed promising, the film suffered from studio interference and resulted in a sloppy script. Though a huge box office hit, it was panned by critics for its overcrowded plot and messy tone, and for Jared Leto’s cringe-inducing (not in a good way) performance as the iconic Joker.
Suicide Squad was not without it’s loyal fans and defenders, as it went on to gain a cult following. One aspect of the movie that everyone seemed to love was Harry Quinn, played by Margot Robbie.
Harley Quinn had her debut in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995), where she was voiced by Tara Strong as the neglected girlfriend to the Joker, played by Mark Hamill. While the Joker ignored her, and even abused her, Harley still loved the Joker dearly. He was “her puddin’.” Though fans have been split as to whether Joker and Harley’s relationship is romantic or toxic (long before Rey and Kylo Ren even existed), they have deep love for Harley. If you’ve been to at least one comic book convention, chances are you’ve seen at least two or three cosplays of Harley Quinn. And it’s no surprise. She’s funny, and yet heartbreaking. She acts of innocent and ditzy, yet is as quick as a whip. She’ll kiss you, and smack you with a bat. And not in that order. She’s every boy’s fantasy, and also a nightmare.
With Batman movies being pumped out in theaters over the years, fans have begged and pleaded for Warner Bros. To make a Harley Quinn movie. Or at least put her in a movie.
With her breakout role in Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn is arguable more popular than she’s ever been. As evidenced by the hype for “Birds of Prey”.
The film is about Harley Quinn coming to terms with her new life after splitting up with her boyfriend, the Joker. She feels as if she spent so much time in Joker’s shadow, that she didn’t know who she was. She teams up with Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Cannary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to save a young girl (Ella Jay Basco), from an evil crime-lord, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). It’s a story that feels so timely. Margot Robbie served as producer on this film, and fought hard for the film to have a female writer, a female cast, and be rated R. This is a female driven film with a female perspective. It’s like the best Girls Night Out ever.
“Birds of Prey” is honestly some of the most fun I’ve had in a while. The action is nonstop and exhilarating, the plot is fast-paced and exciting, and the characters are unforgettable. Harley Quinn is one of the most entertaining protagonists for a movie. She’s the kind of girl you want to invite to everything. She just makes everything more fun!
And the rest of the cast is just as entertaining. Mary, Jurnee, and Rosie kick all kinds of ass (figuratively and literally) as Harley Quinn’s enemies-to-teammates. Ewan McGregor steals every scene he’s in as Black Mask. Whenever he was on screen, he cracked me up, intimidated me, but also made me want to punch him. He plays a douchbag so well. It’s like if Obi-Wan turned to the Dark Side instead of Anakin.
Cathy Yan, an independent filmmaker, directed this. This is her first big blockbuster film. And what a promising start it is. The action is John Wick levels gripping, the comedy and the emotional moments both hit hard, and the plot never feels like it drags. It moves at light speed. Every scene felt important as well as entertaining. I never felt like a scene went on too long. The plot kept me guessing with every new twist and turn. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it surprised me. The movie was what I imagine a date with Harley Quinn would be like. Unpredictable, chaotic, and never leaves you bored, but does leave you wanting more.
If you are a fan of Harley Quinn, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. Even if you don’t know who Harley Quin is outside of Suicide Squad, this movie still has something for everybody. Action, comedy, badass women, explosions, and no Jared Leto. What’s not to love?
(Disclaimer - This review contains MASSIVE SPOILERS! If you haven't seen the movie and want to go in fresh, I will give you a quick spoiler-free review. As a Star Wars fan, I loved it. As a critic, I had several issues with it. If you haven't seen the movie but don't care about spoilers, keep reading. But please, don't spoil it for anyone else. And if you do, I hope Carrie Fisher haunts you in your sleep.)
It's finally arrived. The most anticipated movie event of the Holiday Season... CATS!!! The enchantingly bizarre, acid trip adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical brought to the big screen by Tom Hooper is finally here!
But because it was sold out, I decided to check out Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a small independent film from the director of Super 8.
In all seriousness though, it is honestly hard to believe that after 42 years, the Star Wars Saga is coming to an end. Because we all thought it would end in 2005. We also thought it would end in 1983.
Since he started writing the rough drafts in the early 70s, George Lucas always intended for his space saga to be nine films. It would be about the ongoing adventures of Luke Starkiller. Making the first movie was so exhausting and so stressful, that he decided it would be just one movie instead. Especially since he and everyone else thought it would be a flop. He even had Luke blow up the Death Star in the first movie instead of the final movie like he planned.
But then a funny thing happened. When the first movie was released, not only was it more successful than everyone anticipated. It became a cultural phenomenon. Audiences around the world went back to the theater to see this movie over and over again. To put this in context for younger readers, online streaming did not exist back then. You couldn't just wait for a movie to appear on Netflix or Amazon Prime to watch it again. You had to wait for the theaters to re-release it.
And audiences saw Star Wars so many times, that Lucas made two sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. After he was done with the third movie, Lucas decided to take a break from Star Wars for a couple decades. By 1999, he made three prequels, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. Years after that, Lucas swore he would never make another Star Wars film. He insisted that the story was just six movies. And that there was nothing more to the story after Darth Vader kicked the bucket.
In 2012, Lucas had a change of heart and sold his company, Lucasfilm, to the Walt Disney Co., and with it the rights to his space series. Disney immediately announced they would make the next three episodes, along with spin off films, starting with The Force Awakens in 2015 and continuing with The Last Jedi in 2017, and concluding with The Rise of Skywalker.
As I am writing this, the film just released in theaters. It seems to be receiving mixed reviews from critics and fans. But then again, what Star Wars movie since 1980 HASN'T?
By now, we are all familiar with how fans reacted to The Last Jedi. We all remember the fans reactions to the Prequels. We all remember how fans complained about the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi. Even The Empire Strikes Back, which is now regarded as the best of the Saga, actually received mixed reviews upon its release.
The only Star Wars movie to have universal acclaim was the first movie in 1977. And it makes sense. It was the first time anyone had seen Star Wars. There was no lore behind it, and no other movies to compare it to. Audiences could go in completely fresh with zero expectations.
But since then every Star Wars movie has had to live up to unreasonable expectations from fans. Even the creator of the Saga, George Lucas, could not live up to them.
As fun as it is to speculate and make theories, by now we should all have accepted that no movie could ever live up to our expectations. So it's better to go in with an open mind. Which is what I did last night.
Beforehand, I managed to watch all Star Wars movies in one day at the marathon even at AMC Theaters. I was able to freshen up on the story to prepare myself to see how it all ends.
So what did I think of it?
As a Star Wars fan? I loved it! I absolutely loved it! It had action, suspense, great character moments, nice callbacks to the films before, and a lot of emotional moments.
As a film critic? I still enjoyed it, but had a lot of issues with its creative choices.
First of all, Carrie Fisher is the heart of this film. In fact, doing her character justice was the ONLY thing I cared about the filmmakers living up to. Before Carrie Fisher's untimely death in 2016, she was supposed to have a huge role in this final film. She was supposed to be front and center. Just like Harrison Ford was front and center in The Force Awakens, and Mark Hamill was front and center in The Last Jedi. Sadly, she passed away before filming Episode IX even began. The filmmakers were in a no-win scenario with no easy answer. Should they recast the iconic role with another actress? Should they CGI her like they did with Peter Cushing in Rogue One? Or should they write her out entirely. But then JJ Abrams looked at unused footage of her from the last two. And decided to write scenes around them to make it seem like she was interacting with the actors. He did this, of course, with the blessing of Fisher's family, including her daughter Billie Lourd.
Fisher is only in this movie briefly. But every time she shows up, I was brought to tears. And it was so cool to not only finally see her have a Lightsaber and have it established that she trained with her brother Luke, but also that she trained Rey! This makes it the first time we have seen a woman train a Jedi in these movies. And I am so glad it was Leia.
Leia Organa is one of the most iconic characters of all time, played by one of the most iconic actresses of all time. I am so glad I got to see her one last time. To me, she is royalty.
C-3PO has been here since the very beginning. He was the one who uttered the first line in the first movie, "Did you hear that? They shut down the main reactor! We'll be destroyed for sure! This is madness!" Anthony Daniels, who plays the golden droid, is now the only actor to have appeared in every single Star Wars movie. This is most likely the last time he will be playing C-3PO. And he steals every scene he's in. This is honestly the funniest C-3PO has ever been in my opinion. Lord knows I'm gonna miss that uptight droid. And admit it. So will you.
It was also great seeing Lando Calrissian again. Let's be honest. Has there ever been an actor as cool as Billy Dee Williams? Every time he's on screen, he just oozes charisma and charm. Though it bothered me that he asked Rey to "send Leia my love". Very typical of Lando to wait until his best friend died to start hitting on his woman. Funny enough, Patton Oswalt kind of predicted that in his pitch for Episode VII.
It's also cool to see Rey, Poe, and Finn as a trio. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac have great chemistry together. You can just feel the love they have for each other on screen. It's similar to the chemistry of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. I just wish we could have seen more of them together in the last two movies.
Unfortunately, Kelly Marie Tran has a smaller role than she did in The Last Jedi. Rose was one of my favorite characters in the last one. She was so full of hope and optimism, and served as a moral compass for both Finn and the audience. Sadly, Kelly Marie Tran was bullied and harassed off social media by racist and misogynist fans who hated her character. If JJ Abrams shortened her role in order to please those fans, then that is extremely disappointing. Kelly Marie Tran is a great actress and so much fun to watch in interviews. I know she'll have a bright future, and look foreward to seeing what she does in the next decade.
The movie answers many of the questions fans have had since The Force Awakens. We find out that Snoke was nothing more than a creation of Palpatine. And we finally find out who Rey is related to.
And it is none other than....
JAR JAR BINKS!!!
After giving Palpatine emergency powers and dooming the galaxy, Jar Jar Binks retired from politics, got married and had a daughter named Rey. However, knowing that he was responsible for Palpatine taking over the galaxy caused Jar Jar have immense guilt, which he combatted by turning to alcohol. He ended up selling Rey for drinking money. I must say that this is a bold storytelling decision by JJ Abrams.
Ok Ok! I'm just kidding.
It was actually Chewbacca.
Ok, for real this time.
It's revealed that her parents did NOT sell her for drinking money as Kylo Ren said they did in the last movie. They gave her away to protect her. From her grandfather. Palpatine!
I just have to say that Palpatine has always been my favorite villain in the saga. And it's so awesome to see him again, played by the great Ian McDiarmid. This is honestly the scariest I've ever seen him in the movies!
But with that said, it is honestly disappointing that the filmmakers decided to make Rey related to someone in these movies, including Palpatine.
I should probably mention that I loved The Last Jedi. Not just as a Star Wars fan. But I honestly thought it was a legitimately great movie. And one of the things I loved about it was that it doesn't matter what your bloodline is or where you came from. All that matters is what you choose to be right now. That's a powerful message. And it was refreshing to finally have a protagonist in these movies who's not related to anyone significant, or part of this ancient prophecy.
But a lot of fans were not happy with that reveal. So JJ Abrams decided that she's related to the most evil man in the galaxy. That's why she's so powerful.
While some fans will be happy with this choice, I was not.
A lot of this film feels like a direct response to the choices made in The Last Jedi. That film took many risks and challenged fans in a way we haven't seen in a long time. Not just in Star Wars, but blockbusters in general. So many franchises these days seem like they try to give fans what they want. Which is why it was so refreshing to see Rian Johnson to not resort to fan service, but instead make the movie he wanted to make. George Lucas was also the same way. Despite what the fans said about the prequels, Lucas never backed down. He had his vision, and stuck with it.
JJ Abrams is very talented as a director. But he definitely loves fan service. The Force Awakens felt like "Star Wars Greatest Hits", as it was a callback to the original trilogy. While I enjoyed The Force Awakens, I feel like The Last Jedi was a stronger, deeper film.
Funny enough, this sequel trilogy feels like the Original Trilogy. The first movie was this fun adventure that introduced us to new characters and opened up the possibilities for new and exciting adventures. The second film took the characters to a dark place, expanded the universe, challenged audience's preconceptions, and asked deep questions. The third film is a callback to the light-hearted feel of the first movie repeating many of the same beats, and offers a satisfying conclusion.
And as it turns out, the Reylos were right!!!! For the most part.
Ben Solo does get redeemed. And he and Rey are indeed in love. And even share a kiss!
When Rey dies, Ben Solo saves her using a Force power where he literally gives her his life Force. Which is what his grandfather, Anakin, hoped to do for his wife Padme. Turns out Ben Solo did finish what his grandpa started!
There is also a scene where he speaks with his father, Han Solo, from beyond the grave. It reminded me of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice when Clark Kent spoke to his dad, Jonathan Kent, from beyond the grave. It should be noted that both films were written by Chris Terrio.
After the Emperor is defeated, there is much rejoicing across the galaxy, just like Return of the Jedi.
Rey, Finn, and Poe share one last hug together. And Rey goes on Tatooine to Luke's old moisture farm. Where it all started.
She places Luke and Leia's lightsabers in the sand. And gets her own. A yellow one!
A settler asks her what her name is. She sees the ghost of Luke and Leia. And says "I'm Rey. Rey Skywalker." And walks off into the sunset.
Funny enough, that is how Return of the Jedi was supposed to end. It was to end with Luke Skywalker walking off into the sunset like in a Sergio Leone Western. But George Lucas wanted a happy ending.
Rise of Skywalker's ending is both happy, and sad. It's bitter-sweet. On one hand, evil is defeated. On the other hand, Ben Solo is gone. And Rey is back where she started. On a desert planet with BB8.
Despite my frustrations with the ending, it honestly made me tear up. Not just because we went back to where it all started. Not just because we saw the ghost of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. But because of John Williams' sweeping score.
With the exception of George Lucas, there is no one more responsible for the success of Star Wars than John Williams. Williams has scored every single major film in the Saga since 1977. Like Anthony Daniels, he has been there since the beginning. It's hard to imagine watching any Star Wars movie without his iconic score.
John Williams has said this is the last time he will score for a Star Wars movie. As sad as it makes me knowing that this is the last time we will ever hear him compose music for this Saga, I could not have been happier to have him come back one last time.
No Star Wars movie, not even The Empire Strikes Back, is perfect. But no matter what complaints fans and critics have had about these movies, John Williams music has always been amazing. And such is the cast here. The score features many callbacks to the music from the previous movies, while also feeling fresh and new. Hearing that iconic main theme with the opening crawl, and knowing it would be the last time, gave me chills.
Take a bow, Maestro! You've earned it.
I apologize for this review being so long. But hey, this movie gave me a lot to think about. Star Wars holds a special place in my heart. More than any other franchise.
For as long as I can remember, I've been a fan of these movies. I remember going through a drive thru at Wendy's seeing a picture of Jar Jar Binks as part of The Phantom Menace promos. And I asked my Mom what it was. And she said "Oh. That's Star Wars." I thought it sounded weird. But I asked my Mom if we could watch the movies. So we rented them at Blockbuster. They were the first movies I watched where I honestly thought I could live in that world. They just looked and felt so real.
When Revenge of the Sith came out, I saw it three times dressed as Darth Vader. Every time.
In 2005, I thought the Saga was over. That there would be no more movies. And I was fine with it. I thought it was a great story as it was. It was a story I could revisit any time I wanted. One that gave me joy and comfort. I did not need to see any more.
When it was announced there would be more, I was nervous. But slowly came to accept it. And tried to keep an open mind.
And now that this new trilogy, as well as this Saga is completed (for real this time. Probably.), I could not have been happier to be wrong in my life.
I am so glad Star Wars came around one last time. I'm glad I got to see Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and of course Princess Leia, one last time.
I'm thankful for the new characters we got to meet. I'm thankful for Rey, Poe, Finn, Rose, and Kylo Ren.
I'm thankful John Williams came back to create more beautiful music for me to add to my iPhone and listen to.
I'm thankful to George Lucas for inspiring me to become a storyteller and filmmaker, for creating this rich universe, and for coming up with the greatest fantasy story ever told.
I'm thankful for Kathleen Kennedy, JJ Abrams, and Rian Johnson for continuing this story. And for giving us an exciting, and emotional conclusion.
And most of all, I'm thankful for the friends I made through a mutual love of this Saga. Whether it was at school at the playground where we argued whether Darth Vader or Darth Maul would win in a fight. (Darth Vader, obviously!), or in line for a panel at Star Wars Celebration. I am thankful for all these lifelong friendships. I am thankful for all these memories I will get to keep with me forever. To me, that's worth more than any Rotten Tomatoes score or box office result. And it's all thanks to these goofy space movies.
Even though the Saga is now complete (or is it?), I know this is not the last we've seen of Star Wars. If the success of the Baby Yoda show is any indication, there's clearly more to explore in this universe. And I look forward to making more memories, and more friendships, in the future.
Everyone has a thing that they grew up with. Be it a toy, a backyard swing set, or a franchise. "I grew up with Pokemon". Or "I grew up with Harry Potter".
I grew up with Toy Story.
Literally, I grew up with the Toy Story franchise. I was born the year the first movie came out, I started preschool when Toy Story 2 came out, I started High School when Toy Story 3 came out, and I recently finished College when Toy Story 4 came out. Each new Toy Story movie seems to come out at a pivotal year in my life. (Who knows? Maybe I'll be on my death bed surrounded by my loved ones by the time Toy Story 10 comes out, only I will watch in on Disney+ in the comfort of my hospital bed.)
The first Toy Story was a pivotal moment in the history of animation, as it was the first ever fully CGI animated movie. Disney thought it would be a flop because they believed there was no way audiences would be able to connect with such a bizarre, uncanny medium. They said the same thing about another Disney animated movie that pushed grounds for animation, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And just like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs did in 1937, Toy Story proved even its most stubborn critics wrong as it was a huge success critically and financially.
Just as the first Toy Story movie surprised everyone, so did every Toy Story sequel after it. Toy Story 2 was originally supposed to be a straight to DVD sequel, but surprised everyone by being one of the rare sequels that was just as beloved as the original. Toy Story 3 went even further and surprised everyone by being the rare third film in a trilogy that is as good, or better than, the previous two. All three movies made for a near perfect trilogy about a boy named Andy and his toys with an ending that made grown adults cry.
In fact, Toy Story 3 was such a perfect finale to the trilogy, that many people thought Pixar should just stop making more. Because where can you go from there? Andy gave his toys away to Bonnie and went off to college. It was the end of his childhood. What more can you do after that? What more is there to tell?
Well, that's the thing. If you view the Toy Story movies as the story of Andy, then yes Toy Story 3 is the perfect conclusion... to Andy's story.
But as the story of Andy’s toys, the ending to Toy Story 3 still left the door open for more adventures with them. As evidenced by the shorts and TV specials.
And because Toy Story 3 made $1 Billion for Disney, there was no way Disney was gonna look atall that money and go “Well. I guess that’s enough of Woody and Buzz.” As the years went on, I started to slowly accept that Toy Story 4 was not only possible, but inevitable. But I still thought that if they were going to make a follow up to an ending as perfect as Toy Story 3, they better havea REALLY good story in mind. One that feels important, poignant, and worthy of the Toy Story name.
After seeing it last night, I can safely say that ToyStory 4 totally justifies its existence. The Toy Story franchise is like a favorite toy of yours from your childhood that you keep locked up in the garage or in your closet. Every now and then it comes back, and you think you’ve outgrown it, but it still brings you joy and warm feelings.
What I love about Toy Story 4 is that it serves as so much more than a nostalgic cash grab. It feels like an important next chapter. It has something relevant to add to the story.
When you look at the first three Toy Story movies, they all tell a story about learning to accept what you cannot change in life. In the first movie, Buzz had to accept that he is a toy. And Woody had to accept that even if he’s Andy’s favorite toy, he won’t always be the only toy Andy loves, and that he needed to share Andy’s love with others. In the second movie, Woody had to accept that Andy will one day grow up and leave him, and he should just enjoy the time he has with him. In the third movie, Andy finally grows up and gives his toys away to Bonnie. Woody, Buzz, Jessie (Joan Cusack), and all the toys have to accept that Andy has moved on, and so should they.
Toy Story 4 feels like a response to the philosophy of the three movies that preceded it. Toy Story 4’s response is “Ok. There are things we cannot control and that sucks. But what are some things we CAN control? What are some things we CAN change?”
Even though the toys are sentient beings, they all have these rules for themselves that they follow: Humans can never know that they are alive. And making their kid happy is the most important thing in the world. And for alll three movies, the toys rarely questioned this. They explored this in Toy Story 2 when Woody considered leaving Andy to go to Japan and spend an eternity in a museaum. But it still ended with Woody going back to Andy and accepting his role as a toy. But Toy Story 4 goes further into this with the introduction of Forky, a sentient spork with pipe wire arms, popsicle stick feet, and google eyes voiced by Tony Hale andcreated by Bonnie.
Sporky is a special new character because it’s the first time in this series that we see a toy made completely from scratch. After Bonnie assembles him using arts and crafts in Kintergarden, Sporky comes to life and immediately questions everything around him. He used to be trash, and thinks that’s all he is. Woody tries to convince Sporky of his purpose to bring joy to Bonnie. Even though Woody is questioning his own purpose. In the last movie, Bonnie really loved playing with Woody. But in Toy Story 4, even though she still likes Woody, he’s not exactly her favorite. Woody won’t admit it, but it hurts him. It makes him feel as though he has no other purpose other than to make Bonnie happy. And if he can’t make her happy himself, he has to makes sure Forky stays with her to make her happy.
Along the way, Woody comes across his former love interest from the first two movies, Bo Peep (Annie Potts).
Bo Peep’s absense was immensely felt in Toy Story 3. Even though I missed her and was sad to see her gone, I also liked that the writers were brave enough to not bring her or all the other characters from the first two back. It added so much more weight to Toy Story 3, made the stakes feel higher, and emphasized how much everything was changing in the life of the toys. So when it was announced that Bo Peep was coming back,I was excited but also a little nervous. One, because many animated sequels have a habit of trying to cram in characters from the previous movies leaving them over-crowded. And two, I worriedit would cheapen Toy Story 3, by having characters come back.
But with Bo Peep in Toy Story 4, they were able to make her return feel important. She’s still her got her spunk and charm she had in the first two, but now she’s got even more confidence in herself and a lot more depth. She’s not just a love interest this time. She has her own arc and her own character moments.
But she still loves Woody. And as loyal as he feels to his duties to make Bonnie happy, he still loves Bo Peep too. At its core, Toy Story 4 is a love story. A love story between toys. Woody is left in a dilemma to either go back with Bonnie, or stay with Bo Peep.
Tom Hanks continues to bring so much emotion and warmth to the character of Woody. You can feel the love Hanks has for this role. As with Tim Allen as Buzz. Both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have always been eager to keep returning to these characters, and it shows in their performances.
We see the return of many favorite characters such as Jessie, Bullseye, Ham the pig (John Ratzenberger), Rex the Dinosaur (Wallace Shawn), Slinky the Dog, and Mr. Potato Head (voiced by the late Don Rickles using old footage).
We also see many great new characters such asDucky and Bunny (voice by the always hilarious Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele), and the scene stealing Duke Canon, voice by the latest internet boyfriend, Keanu Reeves!
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me when Isay that Keanu Reeves needs to be in evey movie form now on. (Are you listening Marvel?)
Just as was the case with Toy Story 3, Toy Story4 has an ending that will make even the most cynical cry. The climax does not reach the same heart stopping thrills as the incinerator scene in Toy Story 3. But it doesn’t have to. The conflict thistime feels internal rather than external. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen both said they could not get through the final scene without crying. And when you see the movie, neither will you.
Toy Story 4 was everything you could ask for in a Toy Story sequel. It’s a hilarious, heartbreaking, heartwarming; and poignant film about love, letting go, moving on, and valuing your own happiness. And spending time with the ones you love. As a whole, the Toy Story movies are about how no matter how much things change, it’s the connections, the relationships we have, the friends we make, the memories we hold, the love we share that stay with us.
Do you remember High School? What was your experience like? Do you have fond memories? Do you have painful memories? Did you spend most of your time studying or partying? Or did you do both? If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
We all have our own regrets when it comes to High School. Some of us wish we spent more time studying. And some of us wish we spent more time partying. The latter is how Molly (Beanie Feldstein) feels in “Booksmart”, the directorial debut of Olivia Wilde that just came out in theaters over the weekend.
Molly and her best friend since childhood Amy (Kaitlyn Denver) were both over-achievers in High School. They spent their free time in the library as opposed to parties. For years, they both believed that spending 100% of their free time studying would put them ahead of the rest of their fellow students, and into prestigious universities like Yale. That is, until the last day of High School when Molly finds out that even though she is going to a prestigious university, so is everyone else in High School apparently! Including the ones who partied! Molly realizes she and Amy could have been one of the “cool” kids and still been able to succeed in academia. They could have had their cake and eaten it too. But instead, they only had the cake and let it sit there for all the other high schoolers to eat.
Molly decides that she and Amy should spend their last night before Graduation going to the end-of-School-year party held by Nick (Mason Gooding), a boy she has a crush on.
I won’t tell you what happens next. Even though you may be thinking “it’s a teen comedy! Most of them are pretty formulaic and generally have the same ending!” And you’re not entirely wrong. But in the case of “Booksmart”, it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey. A wacky, crazy, insane, hilarious, and heartwarming journey.
“Booksmart” is the funniest movie I’ve seen all year so far. And possibly the funniest movie I’ve seen all decade next to “Bridesmaids”. The characters were all memorable, layered, and believable. The script by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman was sharp, witty, and authentic. That last word, “authentic”, is what I would use to describe this movie. “Authentic”. This is one off the most “authentic” movies about High School. Anyone who has gone to High School can relate to this movie. And if you spent time in High School studying instead of partying and wish you could have partied more, you can easily identify with Amy and Molly.
Amy and Molly have the best onscreen friendship I’ve seen in a long time. Both Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein have this natural chemistry. You believe they’ve been friends since childhood. This is the perfect movie to see with your best friend.
I mentioned how this movie is “authentic”. Not just in its portrayal of High School, but also LGBTQ lifestyle. Amy, played by Kaitlyn Dever, is a Lesbian who has a crush on Ryan (Victoria Ruesga), a tomboy. When Amy finds out Ryan will also be at Nick’s party, she decided to join her friend Molly in going there.
What I love about how the movie’s portrayal of Amy’s homosexuality is how normal it treats it. It’s not a huge part of her arc. Yes, she is trying to get together with a girl she has feelings for, and is hoping she too is a lesbian. But her homosexuality is not something she’s keeping to herself. She states right at the beginning of the movie she’s into women, and the movie just accepts it. Her parents, (played by the brilliant Lisa Kudrow and Will Forte who both need to be in more movies!) don’t even seem to mind! Amy’s feelings for another girl is treated with the same normalcy and genuine emotion as any heterosexual’s feelings in a movie. I wish more movies would portray LGBTQ relationships this way.
The cast in this movie could not be more perfect. The standout for me was Billie Lourd as the drug-crazed Gigi. She steals every scene she’s in! She’s eccentric, strange, and captivating. In my humble opinion, she needs an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Gigi gets Amy and Molly into these drugs that leads to this drug trip that is easily the funniest scene in the movie! I won’t dare spoil it for you!
Jason Sudeikis (Olivia Wilde’s husband) gets many of the funniest lines in the movie as the principal of Amy and Molly’s high school.
I could go on and on. I could gush about this movie all day long. And you will too once you see it. As someone who recently finished college, “Booksmart” resonated with me. Not just with my memories of High School, both the good ones and the painful ones. But also with its themes of friendship and the stress of what the future holds. “Booksmart” is a movie for everyone. No matter what your background is or what your high school was like. And it’s a movie made by women. It stars women, was written by women, directed by a woman, and it’s about women.
If you are tired of sequels, reboots, remakes, and want something more original, I cannot recommend “Booksmart” enough. If you want to see more movies made by women and about women, you should go and support “Booksmart”. See it as many times as you would see “Avengers: Endgame”, and bring your ride or die. Booksmart is not only a good choice in the cinemas. It’s the smart choice.
It’s hard to think of a time where gender equality and women’s issues were as heavily discussed in our culture as right now. The introduction of the “Time’s Up” Movement has caused a ripple of cultural introspection and soul-searching in regards to how society treats and values women. In November 2018, more than a hundred women were elected to Congress across America, making it the most women elected to Congress in the history of the United States. The past few years has seen much progress for women. But there is still much work to be done in many areas. Especially in sports.
In many parts of the world, particularly in 3rd world countries, women are still not allowed to participate in sports. Many of these countries still hold on to these archaic views of women in sports. But that hasn’t stopped these women. In 2017, 32 female soccer players (or “football” players as they are called in some countries) from 20 different countries climbed the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and played the highest altitude game of football in history. They then traveled to Jordan near the Dead Sea and played the lowest altitude game ever.
This historic moment is recalled in the new documentary “Equal Playing Field”, Producer and directed by Amirose Eisenbach. “Equal Playing Field” is a non-profit organization created to challenge gender inequality in sports and promote sports development for girls and women globally.
The documentary, “Equal Playing Field”, tells the stories of these strong, courageous women, the struggles they faced, and the obstacles they had to overcome. Not just in sports, but in their personal lives as well. Many of these women endured the worst life has to offer: poverty, discrimination, sexual assault, abuse, and so much more. But soccer is where they feel alive. Even though the countries they grew up in discouraged them from playing, they did not listen. They followed their passions and did the impossible.
The director and producer of this film, Amirose, has faced her own struggles. Her mother passed away in 2014 from cancer. Amirose decided to leave her job at AMC Movie Talk to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker. Even though Hollywood has not been a welcoming environment for women filmmakers for decades. But despite this, Amirose persisted and attempted the impossible. Just like the women in this documentary, Amirose listened to her heart instead of society. She traveled halfway across the world to tell these women’s stories.
The film is beautifully shot by Thomas Shawcroft, who fills every frame with beauty and authenticity. The score by Charles Goodan gives the film so much personality and soul. It would have been easy to just give the movie royalty free background music. But Charles Goodan’s music actually helps you to experience the film.
As I am writing this, the film has only been shown at the Ahrya Fine Arts Theater. It has not yet been announced where it will be screened next, or when it will be given a wide release. But if it ever plays near you, whether it’s in your local theater or it appears on Netflix, I highly encourage you to watch this. Whether you’re a fan of sports, a fan of traveling, care about gender equality, or just love films that inspire you, you will love “Equal Playing Field”. It takes you on this journey with these remarkable women and leaves you with a sense of hope and optimism. It inspires you, and makes you feel better about the world. There are many obstacles in the fight for equality. But “Equal Playing Field” gives us hope that we are closer than ever to reaching our goal towards making the world an Equal Playing Field.
Peter Mayhew, the man behind Chewbacca, has passed away. His family confirmed his passing on May 2nd in a statement they released on social media.
Since his passing, fans have been sharing tributes all around the world. It’s hard to put to words what this man mean to us. But it’s worth a try.
George Lucas created Star Wars as a fantasy set in space. However, most of the main characters were human beings. Lucas wanted to add an “alien” character to remind the audience that this takes place in another galaxy. That’s where Chewbacca originated. Chewbacca was a Wookiee who did not speak English. He communicated with roars and grunts. Despite this, Chewbacca had so much personality that made him easy to understand and sympathize with. He was like a giant dog. He was cuddly, furry, fierce, and loyal.
The reason Chewbacca is like a dog is perhaps because George Lucas based Chewbacca off of his own dog, Indiana (why does that name sound familiar?). Lucas said his dog Indiana would sit with him whenever he wrote a script or whenever he drove in the car. She was his co-pilot. Just like how Chewbacca was Han Solo’s co-pilot.
But he was so much more than a pet. He was the voice of reason for Han. He helped keep Han on the straight and narrow. If Chewy hadn’t convinced Han to turn the Millennium Falcon around and help the Rebels in their assault on the Death Star, it is doubtful the Rebels would have succeeded. And the Galaxy would still be under the Empire’s rule.
After Han Solo’s tragic passing in The Force Awakens, Rey became the new captain of the Millennium Falcon. And Chewbacca remains the co-pilot. He remains as loyal and supportive to Rey as he was to Han. He helps take her to find Luke Skywalker, and he takes her to Kylo Ren. He’s always there to protect her, but he trusts her to make her own decisions. Rey spends The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi looking for her parents. But Chewbacca is the father figure she needs in her life.
Chewbacca was an animal. But he had this humanity. This soul. This heart. This warmth. That made him feel real.
That was Peter Mayhew. Lucas was looking for a tall person to play the Wookiee. Mayhew was given the role due to his incredible height.
Mayhew played Chewbacca in all three films in the Original Trilogy, briefly in Revenge of the Sith, and one more time in The Force Awakens before finally retiring from the role and passing the bowcaster to Joonas Sutaumo.
Chewbacca has managed to stay popular for four decades and has managed to be endearing for three generations of Star Wars fans.
While Sutaumo has done an amazing job portraying Chewbacca, it will always be Peter Mayhew’s role. It will always be his creation.
I’ve been a Star Wars fan since I was 10 years old. Chewbacca has always been one of my favorite characters.
In the Expanded Universe novels, long before Disney changed the canon, Chewbacca died by being crushed by a moon. When I heard of this, I cried. I cried as if a family member died. Even though this was a fictional character, he was real to me. And it’s because of the heart Peter Mayhew brought to him.
I met Peter Mayhew when I was 12 years old at Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles. He could not have been kinder. Meeting him was a dream come true.
Years later, when The Force Awakens was filming, I sent him a friend request on Facebook. He accepted it.
During filming of The Force Awakens, Harrison Ford broke his leg on the Millennium Falcon.
When I started attending college, I auditioned for a couple of their plays. I sent Peter Mayhew asking him to wish me luck. And he replied “Good luck. I would say break a leg, but that’s what I told Harrison! LOL!”
Peter Mayhew loved his fans. He loved going to conventions to meet with fans and make their dreams come true. Right to the very end.
Chewbacca was cool. But Peter Mayhew was cooler.
Peter, thank you for everything. Thank you for showing your love and appreciation to your fans for so many years. Thank you for all the joy you’ve given us.
