The Rise of Skywalker Spoiler Filled Review - An Emotional, Exciting, and Messy Conclusion

(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.

May the Force be with you. Always.

Pixar Soars To Infinity and Beyond - Toy Story 4 Review (Spoilers)

(WARNING - SPOILERS)

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. 

For infinity, and beyond.... 

Booksmart Review -Olivia Wilde Gets An A+

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. 

Taking Football To New Heights - Equal Playing Field Review

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. 

Let The Wookie Win - A Tribute To Peter Mayhew, The Man Behind Chewbacca

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. 

May the Force be with you, Chewbacca.

Avengers: Endgame Spoiler Talk - My Love Letter To The Marvel Cinematic Universe

I'm sure by now most of us are aware that a small independent film, Avengers: Endgame, was just released in theaters worldwide on Friday, April 26th. And if you are a frequent movie goer, chances are you may have already seen it if the historic opening weekend box office is any indication. 

However, if you have not seen it yet, and want to go in spoiler-free, please do NOT read this blog!

The reason I decided to write a spoiler review is because, 1.) It has been out for three days now (four counting Thursday night previews). 2.) This film is just such an emotionally powerful and resonant film, that the only way to truly discuss it and fathom it is to discuss spoilers. And the only way to truly appreciate and experience this film is to go in completely clean.

If you have not seen the movie and don't care about spoilers, feel free to read on. But if you share ANY spoilers with anyone who has NOT seen it, then I will snap you out of existence with the Infinity Stones!

This is your final warning. SPOILERS BELOW!

Still here? Ok. Let's discuss this masterpiece. 

It feels like yesterday that we first saw Robert Downey Jr. bring Tony Stark to life in his first on screen adventure in Jon Favreau's Iron Man. But it was actually 11 years ago, more than a decade! That makes me feel as old as Steve Rogers.

I first saw Iron Man in 2008 when I was 13 years old. I was actually not that into superhero movies. Don't get me wrong, I liked superheroes. I watched Teen Titans and Batman The Animated Series. But I never really read comic books. I was more into Star Wars to be honest. Superhero movies, at least on the surface, appeared generic and formulaic to me. It just all kind of felt the same.

But then I saw Iron Man. I couldn't really describe it. There was just something about it that felt so fresh and brand new. It was funny, it was dark, it was intense, it was action-packed, it was smart, and exciting. It was the perfect summer movie. It had mind-blowing special effects, an engaging story from start to finish, and a cast of unforgettable characters, particularly Tony Stark/Iron Man.

Nobody had expected Iron Man (2008) to succeed. It was based on a comic book character that nobody outside the geek community heard about or cared much for.

But the second Robert Downey Jr. appeared on screen as the lovable genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist, all doubts were washed away. The film became a huge smash it gaining critical praise and making a killing at the box office.

At 13 years old, I had no idea who Iron Man or the Avengers were. To be honest, I didn't even know that there was a cinematic universe, let alone an Avengers movie, being made until about 2011. I didn't even know there was a post-credit scene after Iron Man where Nick Fury told Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative.

What can I say? At age 13, I didn't really follow movie news as closely as I do now.

When I did finally become aware of what this cinematic universe was leading up to, I went back and watched Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger to prepare me for The Avengers, the cinematic event of the early 2010s.

I first saw The Avengers (2012) with my friends and family for my birthday party. It was the best, most exciting experience I ever had at the movies. I don't think I've ever been in a movie theater where the audience was more electric. On its own, the movie works as a piece of solid blockbuster entertainment. But having seen the previous movies, it added to an unforgettable cinematic experience! I remember watching cartoon crossovers as a kid like "Jetsons Meet The Flintstones", "Jimmy Timmy Power Hour", "Kim Possible and Lilo and Stitch", etc. But this was the first time I saw a crossover like this on the big screen. I just couldn't believe what I was watching! At first, the idea of making an Avengers movie seemed impossible. Laughable even. But they not only pulled it off. They made it into a groundbreaking, record-breaking cinematic event that changed Hollywood forever.

It seemed as though the Marvel Cinematic Universe had finally reached its peak with Avengers (2012). I mean, how can you hope to top that?

And for whatever crazy reason, Kevin Feige and his team of geniuses at Marvel managed to top it more than once.

They added depth to the story with Captain America: Civil War, and expanded the universe with Guardians of the Galaxy (to this day, my favorite Marvel franchise). Every time we thought this cinematic universe had reached the point of diminishing returns, they managed to surprise us.

Last year, their 10 year cinematic universe experiment culminated in Avengers: Infinity War. It was a movie that involved EVERY SINGLE HERO in the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to that point!

If you thought making a superhero ensemble movie with six heroes seemed impossible, try making a superhero ensemble movie with more than twenty heroes!

Once again, they succeeded. They managed to make a superhero ensemble movie with more than 20 heroes work as an exciting, entertaining blockbuster on par with The Avengers (2012).... But then took it further. They managed to create an iconic villain in the vein of Thanos, played brilliantly by Josh Brolin. Prior to that point, the weakest part of these Marvel villains had usually been their villains being less interesting than the heroes. (Quick! Tell me the name of the villain of Thor: The Dark World without googling it!)

In the past couple of years, their villains had imporved significantly with the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, Killmonger in Black Panther, and of course Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.

Thanos is my favorite kind of villain. He's a villain who sees himself as a hero. He believes he is doing what is necessary to improve the universe. He believes the problem with the universe is it has too many life-forms and not enough resources. His solution is to gather all the Infinity Stones: the Soul Stone, the Mind Stone, the Power Stone, the Space Stone, the Reality Stone, and the Time Stone, and use their infinite power to wipe out half the universe.

Rather than give it a typical MCU ending with the heroes coming out on top, directors Joe and Anthony Russo decided to give it an "Empire Strikes Back" level cliffhanger where Thanos succeeds in his goal. Not only does he wipe out half of existence. He managed to kill of half the heroes we spent nearly a decade being invested in.

It's been a year since Avengers: Infinity War, and Endgame is finally being released. The year long wait for it has seemed like an eternity. But it's finally here. I saw it yesterday for my Birthday. And it's even better than we could have hoped!

Is it a perfect movie? No. None of the Marvel movies have been perfect. But even the worst Marvel movies were still entertaining thanks to their charming heroes.

But Endgame is a combination of all the MCU's best qualities (soul, wit, humor, heroes with humanity), and takes the series to new emotional heights. It's a celebration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what it meant to my generation.

The movie has been advertised as the "end of an era". It appears as though this is the final Marvel movie. I mean, all the characters from the previous movies are reunited to take down the big boss in a final showdown. And the title literally says "Endgame". But realistically speaking, it isn't. It's not even close to being the last one. As if Disney's gonna look at the record shattering opening weekend box office and think "Ok. That's enough Marvel. We have enough money."

But it is the end of a story. A story that started with Iron Man (2008). And it is the end of many major characters that we feel so invested in.

(Ok. Now we're getting to spoilers. For real this time. If you don't want to be spoiled, LEAVE THIS POST NOW!)

My favorite thing about this movie is how much closure it brings to all of its characters. If the movie has a unifying theme, it's reconciliation. Every character gets a chance to reconcile.

Tony Stark got to live out his final years with closure. He got married to Pepper Potts, and they had a daughter named Morgan Stark. The scenes with him and his daughter are some of the most genuine father-daughter moments I've seen in a movie.

When the Avengers have to go back in time to get the Stones before Thanos and set everything right, Tony Stark runs into his father Howard Stark back in the 70s. Howard Stark does not know it's his son, but yet he seems familiar to him.

Even though Tony Stark has to keep his identify a secret, he still manages to have a long, satisfying conversation with his father. His father tells him how his wife is expecting ( their son, Tony), and he asks Tony what it was like when his child was born. Tony tells him about his daughter, Howard Stark's granddaughter.

Even though it's brief, Tony Stark got to speak with his father one last time. He spent years angry at his father feeling as though his father never cared for him. And now he got the father-son bonding moment he always wanted.

Thor also manages to get some closure. Throughout the movie, Thor is not himself AT ALL. In Infinity War, Thor lost everything. He lost his home, he lost his parents, he lost his brother Loki, he lost his best friend, and he even lost his eye.

After getting a magic axe from Giant Tyrion Lannister, Thor confronts Thanos and stabs him in the chest. Unfortunately, he should have gone for the head. Thanos still snapped his finger and wiped out half the universe. Thor had ONE CHANCE to stop Thanos and stop his evil plan before it started. And he FAILED.

And his arc in this film feels like what everyone would go through in Thor's predicament. He becomes an alcoholic with a big belly and just sits around playing video games all day. Trying to avoid thinking about his problems.

Fans of Thor might be disappointed to see him reduced to such a low point in this film, especially after how much he shined in Infinity War. But Thor still manages to have an intriguing arc. And just like how Tony Stark gets one last moment with his father, Thor gets one last moment with his mother Frigga. Thor speaks to her after traveling back to the year 2013 before his mother died in Thor: The Dark World. He opens himself up to her about how disappointed he is in himself. His mother assures him in a way that any loving mother would. She gives him back the confidence he needed to help the Avengers save the universe.

The movie ends with the greatest fight scene in superhero movie history! It makes the airport fight in Civil War look like a game of dodgeball.

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was there! There is even one shot of all the female Avengers, including Pepper Potts in the Iron Man suit! It was a true "Girl Power" moment!... That is, except Black Widow was not there sadly.

Thanos, Black Widow, and Iron Man both bite the dust in this movie. It was no secret that a major character was gonna die. Many of the original Avengers have spoken publicly about how their contract is up after Endgame. And the trailers have them saying "Whatever it takes" to defeat Thanos and save the universe. Basically implying that someone is gonna sacrifice themselves.

In Infinity War, Thanos goes to the planet where the Soul Stone is (I can't remember the name of it. Sue me.) And the Red Skull tells him that the only way to retrieve the Soul Stone is to sacrifice someone you love. A Soul for a Soul. For Thanos, it was his stepdaughter Gamora. He threw her, this girl he treated as his favorite daughter, down the pit for the Soul Stone because he thought he had to do it to save the universe.

This time, Black Widow and Hawkeye go to that planet. They learn about what they must do to get the Stone. But unlike Thanos, both Black Widow and Hawkeye offer to sacrifice themselves. They both race to the pit to sacrifice themselves before the other. It's both heartbreaking and kind of hilarious. Ultimately, Black Widow is the one who dies. It hit me hard. Black Widow was one of my favorite characters. And when I first saw her in Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson became of my first celebrity crushes along with Natalie Portman, Zoe Saldana, and Carrie Fisher (RIP <3). Her character became more developed as the series went on. And her death seemed like a perfect ending to her arc. Earlier in the movie when mourning the loss of half of existence, she tells Steve Rogers how prior to joining the Avengers she had nothing. She spent most of her life as a Russian Spy in the Cold War. With the Avengers, she had a cause worthy of fighting for. But more than that, she had a family. To see her give up her life for her friends and the universe seemed fitting. Though to be honest, her death scene could have been handled more dramatically. For instance, the characters barely have time to mourn her for long. Meanwhile, Tony Stark got a whole funeral.

Oh yeah that reminds me.

Unfortunately, I had Tony Stark's death spoiled to me. Someone recorded a video of it on YouTube and it appeared on my suggestions. WHY WOULD YOUTUBE THINK I WOULD WANT TO SEE AN ENDGAME SPOILER?!?!?!!??!?!?

(deep breath)

Anyways, I had Tony Stark's death spoiled to me. And the whole movie, I was expecting it and hoping it was not true and it was just a fake spoiler.

But when it happened, it still hit me. Hard.

This is a character I spent ten years of my life with. He was my favorite character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though I was Team Cap for "Civil War", it was rally because I agreed with his stance on the issue. But Tony Stark had always been the closest to my heart. He was the one who introduced us to this universe. He was the one who had the most interesting story arc in the entire MCU in my opinion. He started off a narcissistic billionaire who really didn't care about anything or anyone other than himself. But through the course of the series, Tony Stark grew more selfless and got to the point where he was willing to do anything to protect his loved ones from harm. Even though I strongly disagreed with him in Civil War, his stance came from a place of wanting to do what he thought was best for the world. His death in Endgame was the perfect ending to his arc. After fighting with Thanos over the Infinity Stones, Thanos thinks he has the stones and snaps his fingers to wipe out the entire universe. He says "You cannot defeat me. I... Am... Inevitable." He snaps his fingers, and nothing happens this time. Because he doesn't have the stones. Tony does.

And as he snaps his fingers, he repeats his iconic line, "I Am... Iron Man.", and snaps his fingers and obliterates Thanos and his army. But the power of the stones was too much for Tony. It drained his life. He lay dying in the arms of Pepper Potts, his wife. His true love since Iron Man (2008).

His funeral involved every single character we've seen in the movies so far. Not just all the heroes, but also some regular characters from years ago. including the kid form Iron Man 3! (I'm not crying! You're crying!). Happy, Tony Stark's driver and bodyguard, comforts Tony's daughter and offers to go get her cheeseburgers. What her father loved.

And finally Steve Rogers. Now, Steve Rogers doesn't technically die. He just travels back in time to return the Stones where they were. But rather than return to the present, he decides to stay in the past, marry Peggy Carter, and live a long, happy life with her.

Sam Wilson finds the Captain in his true form, as an old man sitting on a bench with his shield by his side. He passes it on to Sam Wilson, making him the new Captain America.

The final shot in the movie is of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter dancing to "It's Been A Long, Long Time". Just like he promised her at the end of Captain America: The First Avenger before he crashed the carrier into the ocean and was frozen for seventy years.

This could not have been a more perfect ending to what is arguably the definitive blockbuster saga of my generation. It reminded me of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Return of the Jedi, Return of the King, and Toy Story 3 as a perfect, satisfying sendoff to characters we love dearly. Everything is just tied up in such a perfect bow!

As I mentioned, this will not be the final Marvel movie. Not even close. There will be a Guardians of the Galaxy 3 directed by James Gunn (as God intended), a Black Panther 2, a Captain Marvel 2, and countless new solo films with new heroes, as well as countless new streaming shows in the pipeline for Disney+, the new streaming service from Disney. And the exciting thing is that with Black Panther and Captain Marvel, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is entering an exciting new era of diversity and inclusion filled with heroes from different backgrounds and identities. Millions more fans will have heroes they can identify with and connect with in the same way I connected with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.

Even though the Marvel Cinematic Universe will go on, for me and my generation it will always be about the movies from Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). It will always be about these particular characters and this particular story.

In many ways, Phases I - III of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are to my generation what the Original Star Wars trilogy was to our parents. Though there will always be more Star Wars movies, for our parents it will always be about Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.

To think, this all started from a movie in 2008 that nobody expected to like, let alone make a sequel to. Nobody could have guessed ten years ago that the world we become invested in a movie franchise that included a man in a high-tech suit, a god of thunder, a 70 year old super soldier, a green giant, a talking tree and a raccoon with a gun, a wizard, a girl who punches spaceships, and a man who can shrink to the size of an ant. Yet here we are.

To Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Keven Feige, Jon Favreau, Joss Whedon, James Gunn, the Russo Brothers, Ryan Coogler, Scott Derickson, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chadwick Boseman, Brie Larson, and everyone who worked on these movies both in front of the camera and behind, I speak for all fans when I say, Thank You.

Thank You for welcoming us to a grand universe with characters who have become like family to us. Thank you for captivating our imaginations. And thank you for inspiring us all to be heroes.

I love you 3,000! <3

Excelsior