The Empire is making a thing called the Death Star that can blow up planets. Boom, I hit you with a spoiler there. If you don't want other spoilers, stop reading and go watch it.
So this is what I wanted last year. Here is a very distinct, original story. Of course, we know where it is going, but the way we get there isn't just one of the movies redone. This is a big deal, and hopefully it will continue this way with the majority of the future films in this franchise.
Starting off, I really like the entire cast. Big roles to small roles, all were very entertaining. The only downside in my book was seeing Mads Mikkelsen get too little screen time. I wish he had made it to the final battle to kill people. And eat them? Out of character, but I'd have been fine with it.
There were, however, two people in this that really made me happy. First, our new droid K-2SO is so entertaining. I don't always love comedy relief in movies like this, but he wasn't there just to be a joke. His character actually had an arc. I genuinely felt sad when he got gunned down in the end, more so than any other character who died (like, everyone).
Second, I love Tarkin. Not just in this, but in everything. He is such an awesome character; the general who can even chastise Vader. I like that he is a calm and level headed evil Hitler guy. Peter Cushing just stepped into that role and owned scenes in A New Hope. So, I'm very happy seeing him post death in this one. Enough to not care about the CGI face. Can I tell it isn't real? Obviously. Does it bother me? Not in the slightest. This is how we resurrect great actors. You hear me Peter O'Toole? I want a Lawrence of America spinoff.
Action scenes in this are a lot of fun. We are going back to cool ground and airfare fights at the same time. That opening ISIS fight is pretty cool, but the big deal is obviously the finale. They use each team character pretty well, and they kill them each in a fun way. The X-Wings also get us back in that classic "Red Something checking in" vibe. Yet, the way the fight has to go down is certainly different. Zooming into the blue shield thingy around the planet is a fun way to explode people.
Unfortunately, the film is not without flaws. I almost think the main things I have issues with are due to the studio reshoots though. They do way too many "call backs" to other films. Do C3PO and R2-D2 really need to make an appearance? Or, specifically, do they need a full shot of them? They could just walk past or something, and do the same job without looking so hokey. There are a few more of these, some more apparent than others, and I think it just keeps the movie from being more of a quality film.
Of all of those though, The one thing that stands out to me is Vader. I get it, they put him in to bring in the cash. As a business move, makes sense. But can you imagine not expecting him in it at all? Then right at the end of the film you see his saber pop out of that smoke while he boards the ship to flow into A New Hope? Instead we hear old man James Earl Jones voice him for a weird convo that doesn't need to happen at all in the middle of the movie.
Finally, I do need to point out that the soundtrack to this is pretty damn fantastic. Giacchinno matches the Star Wars style perfectly, but makes it a bit distinct at the same time. I've already listened through the soundtrack 3 times in the past 2 days, and I'm enjoying it more and more. This is clearly his test to take over the main films when John Williams stops. He's already filled the shoes on Jurassic Park, so I genuinely think he's the child of John Williams.
All in all, this is one of the best films in the franchise. Here is my ranking list below:
Current Star Wars Rankings: The Empire Strikes Back 5 Star Wars 5 Rogue One 4.5 Return of the Jedi 4 Revenge of the Sith 3 Force Awakens 3 Attack of the Clones 1.5 The Phantom Menace 1
Review by saundrewBlockedParentSpoilers2016-12-18T00:49:11Z
The Empire is making a thing called the Death Star that can blow up planets. Boom, I hit you with a spoiler there. If you don't want other spoilers, stop reading and go watch it.
So this is what I wanted last year. Here is a very distinct, original story. Of course, we know where it is going, but the way we get there isn't just one of the movies redone. This is a big deal, and hopefully it will continue this way with the majority of the future films in this franchise.
Starting off, I really like the entire cast. Big roles to small roles, all were very entertaining. The only downside in my book was seeing Mads Mikkelsen get too little screen time. I wish he had made it to the final battle to kill people. And eat them? Out of character, but I'd have been fine with it.
There were, however, two people in this that really made me happy. First, our new droid K-2SO is so entertaining. I don't always love comedy relief in movies like this, but he wasn't there just to be a joke. His character actually had an arc. I genuinely felt sad when he got gunned down in the end, more so than any other character who died (like, everyone).
Second, I love Tarkin. Not just in this, but in everything. He is such an awesome character; the general who can even chastise Vader. I like that he is a calm and level headed evil Hitler guy. Peter Cushing just stepped into that role and owned scenes in A New Hope. So, I'm very happy seeing him post death in this one. Enough to not care about the CGI face. Can I tell it isn't real? Obviously. Does it bother me? Not in the slightest. This is how we resurrect great actors. You hear me Peter O'Toole? I want a Lawrence of America spinoff.
Action scenes in this are a lot of fun. We are going back to cool ground and airfare fights at the same time. That opening ISIS fight is pretty cool, but the big deal is obviously the finale. They use each team character pretty well, and they kill them each in a fun way. The X-Wings also get us back in that classic "Red Something checking in" vibe. Yet, the way the fight has to go down is certainly different. Zooming into the blue shield thingy around the planet is a fun way to explode people.
Unfortunately, the film is not without flaws. I almost think the main things I have issues with are due to the studio reshoots though. They do way too many "call backs" to other films. Do C3PO and R2-D2 really need to make an appearance? Or, specifically, do they need a full shot of them? They could just walk past or something, and do the same job without looking so hokey. There are a few more of these, some more apparent than others, and I think it just keeps the movie from being more of a quality film.
Of all of those though, The one thing that stands out to me is Vader. I get it, they put him in to bring in the cash. As a business move, makes sense. But can you imagine not expecting him in it at all? Then right at the end of the film you see his saber pop out of that smoke while he boards the ship to flow into A New Hope? Instead we hear old man James Earl Jones voice him for a weird convo that doesn't need to happen at all in the middle of the movie.
Finally, I do need to point out that the soundtrack to this is pretty damn fantastic. Giacchinno matches the Star Wars style perfectly, but makes it a bit distinct at the same time. I've already listened through the soundtrack 3 times in the past 2 days, and I'm enjoying it more and more. This is clearly his test to take over the main films when John Williams stops. He's already filled the shoes on Jurassic Park, so I genuinely think he's the child of John Williams.
All in all, this is one of the best films in the franchise. Here is my ranking list below:
Current Star Wars Rankings:
The Empire Strikes Back 5
Star Wars 5
Rogue One 4.5
Return of the Jedi 4
Revenge of the Sith 3
Force Awakens 3
Attack of the Clones 1.5
The Phantom Menace 1