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...

R2-D2 - The Droid We Were All Looking For. A Tribute To Kenny Baker

In a year where we've lost so many of our brightest stars, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, and Muhammad Ali, we have just lost another bright star. This star didn't just shine bright in our galaxy. But in another galaxy, far, far away.

Kenny Baker, the actor who played R2-D2 in all seven Star Wars movies, had passed away yesterday at 81 years old.

Baker was born Birmingham, England on August 24, 1934. He was educated at a boarding school in Kent.

He got his first glimpse of show business when he joined a theatrical troupe with dwarves and midgets. He joined a circus for a brief time and learned how to ice skate. He even became part of a successful comedy group called Minitones with Jack Purvis.

But it was in 1976 when he met American Graffiti director George Lucas  that Baker got his big break.

George Lucas was in the middle of writing and directing this strange science fiction-fantasy adventure called Star Wars. It was unlike anything up to that point. It had a huge cast of characters. A wide-eyed farm boy, a feisty princess, a reluctant space pirate and his gorilla side-kick, and two robots, one golden and human-like, and a small one shaped like a mail box.

Lucas was looking for a small actor to fit in the small robot. And Baker was the actor he was looking for.

The filming of Star Wars was a true nightmare for everyone involved. And especially for Kenny Baker. Whenever the cast and crew went out to lunch break, they would often forget Baker was still in the robot, but remember him eventually. And this was in the hot desert of Tunisia!

Almost everyone involved thought the film would flop. Even Kenny Baker thought the film looked very strange.

But when it was released on May 25, 1977, not even George Lucas expected the film to be as successful as it was. Not only was it the highest grossing film of all time at the time (and still the 2nd highest grossing film of all time behind Gone With The Wind when adjusted for inflation). Not only did it become a major lucrative franchise that is still pumping out sequels and spin-offs. But it became a cultural phenomenon that is still going strong today.

It doesn't matter if you've seen any of the movies or not. We all know Star Wars. It's one of those things we've all had a connection with at some point in our lives. We all know the dialogue, the images, and we all know the characters.

Fans love to argue who the real hero of Star Wars is. It's easy to say Luke Skywalker. After all, he blew up the Death Star, rescued Princess Leia, and redeemed his father. Others might argue Anakin Skywalker was the hero all along, because he was the one who brought balance to the Force. And others would point to Princess Leia, as she was the one who led the Rebellion against the Empire in the first place.

But I think we can all agree that the true hero of Star Wars is R2-D2.

Who was the one who Princess Leia trusted with the secret plans to the Death Star? R2-D2. Who showed Luke Skywalker Princess Leia's message, and led him to Obi-Wan Kenobi which started Luke on his life-changing journey to saving the galaxy? R2-D2. Who saved Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewie from being flattened like pancakes in the garbage compactor? R2-D2. Who aided Luke Skywalker in his fight against the Death Star? R2-D2. Who threw Luke Skywalker his lightsaber at Jabba's sail barge, allowing him to rescue his friends? R2-D2. And... Who completed the map to finding Luke Skywalker helping Rey and the Resistance to find him? It wasn't C-3PO. It wasn't Chewbacca.

It was Artoo-Detoo!

R2-D2, along with C-3PO, is the only character who can be seen in all seven (eventually nine) Star Wars movies. Some might think this is just a coincidence. But the reason might actually be more important than you think. George Lucas has stated that R2-D2 is the tape recorder of the whole story. He's the one capturing all the events in his data. And he's the one who eventually comes to our planet  and shares those memories. He's the "Journal of the Whills".

R2-D2 paved the way for many famous robots in film history, like Wall-E and even BB8. BB8 was the breakout star of The Force Awakens. He became the must-have toy of Christmas. And we all love that droid.

But it's R2-D2 who will always be our favorite droid.

Some might think that Kenny Baker wasn't really all that important to R2-D2. That basically any small actor could have been inside that robot starring it around. But what these people fail to realize is that it's not just about starring the robot. It's about giving the robot it its soul. Like any great actor should.

Kenny Baker wasn't just a small actor. He was an amazingly talented actor. But even more than that, he possessed this charm and good nature. Everyone who has worked with him has said ho kind and warm-hearted he was.

And that is exactly what R2-D2 is. Kind and warm-hearted. In some ways, R2-D2 is the heart and soul of Star Wars. He's simple, pure, and full of personality. He seems small and ordinary, but comes with many surprises. It's not easy for any actor to pull that off in any character. But to bring that to a robot? Nearly impossible.

If it wasn't for Baker, Artoo would have been just like any robot in science fiction prior to that point. It was Baker's warm heart that gave Artoo his appeal.

I never really got to meet Kenny Baker, but I was fortunate enough to see him in person at Star Wars Celebration in April 2015. It was the last day of the convention. My family and I were in line for Mark Hamill.

We saw them wheeling Kenny Baker in a wheel chair. I tried to contain my excitement of being in his presence. He looked so old and frail. Kenny Baker had been fighting an illness for a few years. He was told to not go to too many conventions because of his illness. And yet he still made an effort to be there to greet his fans.

Baker was thinking of all the kids who love R2-D2, and what it meant to meet the actor who brought their favorite character to life.

Even in his last years, Baker put his fans and others before himself. He was a man who cared deeply about making other people feel happy. And in a world where there seems to be hate and darkness all around, selfless acts like that shine so bright.

Kenny Baker WAS R2-D2. Not just in the movies. But in real life. Both looked small. But their personality and talents are what made them stand tall.

There will be a Star Wars movie every year until the end of time. And there will be many small actors inside Artoo-Detoo. But it's Kenny Baker who we will all remember as the original Astromech Droid.

Kenny Baker. Thank you for encouraging Luke Skywalker to get off that dusty farm and save the galaxy. Thank you for retrieving the Death Star plans to the Rebel Alliance. Thank you for all the times you saved Luke, Leia, Han, and everyone in the galaxy. But most of all, thank you for the joy you brought to all of us. You were the Droid we were all looking for. And you will never be forgotten.

May the Force be with you. Always.

Twitter, @simonpegg 13, August 2016. 

Return of the Sith - "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" Trailer Review

Guys... WE GOT A NEW ROGUE ONE TRAILER!!!

... Oh yeah. And the Olympics are on, and stuff. But still, WE GOT A NEW ROGUE ONE TRAILER!!!!!

It's been a disappointing year for summer movies. Which makes the fact that we're getting A NEW STAR WARS MOVIE THIS DECEMBER all the more sweeter and reassuring.

And this doesn't look like your typical Star Wars movie. It looks more like a Star WARS movie. Emphasis on "War".

The trailer opens with a shot of the planet Jedha, which has been described as a "holy land for followers of the Force". It can easily be compared to Jerusalem for the Jewish religion, or Mecca for the Muslim religion. One of my favorite things about Star Wars is how the idea of the Force can relate to every religion, whether it's Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, etc. It's one of the reasons Star Wars is so universally loved. Heck, even "Jedi" is considered an actual religion in some parts of the world. (It's true... All of it!)

The first line in the trailer is said by Saw Gerrera (played by Forrest Whittaker). "The world... Is coming undone." In a year full of tragedies, unrest, and the most chaotic presidential election in history, that line could not be more relevant. Another reason I love Star Wars is how its themes still remain relevant in our culture.

The theme of Rogue One appears to be hope. Hope amid a world (or galaxy) full of darkness and despair. This galaxy looks so dark and grim, as it should. This has been over twenty years of the Emperor's reign. And according to the opening crawl of A New Hope, this is the Rebellion's "first major victory against the evil Galactic Empire".

The action in this trailer looks amazing. The director is Gareth Edwards, who directed 2014's Godzilla. No matter what your opinion of that movie, we can all agree that the visuals were amazing. The Rogue One trailer has amazing visuals.

I guess Count Dracula is in charge of parking the Death Star.

Despite The Force Awakens being a giant success in reviving the franchise and attracting new fans, one of the biggest complaints some fans had over it was that it didn't really take risks or give us anything new. Which is understandable. Even though Rogue One doesn't show us anything new, it really feels different form the other films. It feels more like a war movie/espionage. And considering we don't see, let alone hear of, any of these characters in the Original Trilogy, don't expect the ending to be all lollipops and rainbows.

Of all the characters we saw in the trailer, the one that left the biggest impression on me was Chirrup Imwe (played by Donnie Yen). He appears blind, but is still able to hold his own against Stormtroopers. Remember what Obi-Wan Kenobi said to Luke Skywalker when he trained him with a helmet shielding his eyes? "Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them." This can't help but make many fans like myself wonder, is Chirrup a Jedi? He definitely believes in the Force. "I fear nothing. All is as the Force wills it." he says before he beats down Stormtroopers with his staff.

But it's Gyn Erso played by Felicity Jones who I am the most excited for. I can already see her being a breakout star like Daisy Ridley's Rey in The Force Awakens. I love her spunk, her reluctance, her grit, her determination, and her sense of humor. Where Rey felt more like Luke Skywalker (I wonder why that is...), Gyn is more like Han Solo.

My 2nd favorite part in the trailer, the one that gave me chills, was when the Rebels are on a U-Wing fighter. Gyn Erso asks her team "Are you with me?" To which Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) replies "All the way." 

I love how a woman is leading a daring mission, and the men are proud to follow her. There are no jokes of how she's a girl. Just like how in the Original Trilogy, when Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia led the Rebellion, they didn't take her less seriously because she's a girl. They followed her all the way because she was strong, brave, and trustworthy. And it's so exciting to see more female characters like that in the new Star Wars movies.

But the moment everyone is talking about is Darth Vader.

We don't see his face. Just the back of his helmet. We hear no dialogue. We only hear his breathing. And he already leaves a huge impact. That is not only a testament to how well the teaser introduces him, but also how iconic of a character he is. Even if you've never seen Star Wars, you know who Darth Vader is. We all know his theme song, we all recognize his voice, and we all know his lines. For many of us, he's the first thing we think about when we hear the words "Star Wars". Darth Vader is the #1 reason I am excited for Rogue One. I'm so excited to see my all time favorite villain in all his Rebel crushing glory! And James Earl Jones returning to voice him could not be more perfect!

If there is one problem I have with this teaser, it's that it made me realize how far away December is. Just like the trailers for The Force Awakens did. We used to have to wait three years for a new Star Wars movie. Now we only have to wait a year. But it still feels like three.

And in a year like 2016, where there is so much darkness and despair, I have never been more anxious to escape back to that galaxy far, far away. If there is one bright side to this divisive election, it's that no matter who wins (Trump or Hillary), we get a new Star Wars movie either way. And I think we can all agree that that's awesome!

May the Force be with you. Always.