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Category: Sci-Fi

  • Back to the Future Part II (1989)

    Back to the Future Part II (1989)

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    Though having a cliffhanger ending, director Robert Zemeckis never thought a sequel to Back to the Future would happen. However, upon its July 3rd, 1985 release, the film grossed over $381 million worldwide and was the year’s highest-grossing film. Combined with the overwhelming praise from critics, Universal immediately wanted a sequel, so Zemeckis agreed, but only on one condition. He’d only do it if Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd would return, which thankfully they both agreed to return. However, making the sequel had its own problems, namely when it came to getting the rest of the original cast. While they got both Lea Thompson and Thomas F. Wilson came back, Crispin Glover and Claudia Wells wouldn’t return. After finishing 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Zemeckis and company set off to make a sequel worthy of the original. So, in 1989, Back to the Future Part II was finally released.

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    Synopsis

    Continuing from before, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and Jennifer Parker (Elisabeth Shue) travel to 2015. They arrive to straighten things out with Marty’s son when they unwittingly meet old man Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson). Unfortunately, Biff ends up stealing the Delorean and uses it to travel back in time to change his fate. Marty, Doc, and Jennifer return to 1985 only to find it in a chaotic state where Biff is in charge. Turns out old Biff gave young Biff a Sports Almanac Marty bought in 2015 so he could get rich. After leaving Jennifer back in 1985, Marty and Doc travel back to 1955 to retrieve and destroy the almanac. At the same time, they must make sure that what they did in the first film isn’t undone. It’s a race against time to make sure the timelines are restored.

     

    Review

    Making a worthwhile sequel to such a monumental film as Back to the Future was never going to be easy. Thankfully, while it’s not quite as good, Back to the Future Part II still succeeds at building on the original. Once again, Fox and Lloyd work well as a duo, trading back-and-forths and matching each other’s energy fairly well. Lea Thompson is given much more to do since we get both 1955 Lorraine and an alternate 1985 Lorraine. The latter is shown to be a sad wreck with plastic surgery who’s an alcoholic that’s been beaten into submission. However, Thomas F. Wilson steals the show playing 2015 Biff, alternate 1985 Biff, 1955 Biff, and even Biff’s grandson Griff. This film does an amazing job taking a stock bully character and making him a force to be reckoned with. Even George “Buck” Flower makes another appearance.

    Unfortunately, the recasting is pretty obvious right from the beginning when you see Elisabeth Shue instead of Claudia Wells. Shue isn’t terrible, but it’s distracting, though not as much as the lengths they went to barely show Crispin Glover. In addition to having actor Jeffrey Weissman standing in, they also use strategically-placed close-ups that show Thompson but not Glover. Also, there are story elements added that make no sense, namely how Marty is triggered when someone calls him “chicken”. This was never established or alluded to in the first film, so it feels forced and out-of-place here. On a more positive note, the technology they created to show multiple versions of one actor at once is impressive. Plus, the film asks questions about how time travel should be used and how one tiny thing can change everything. Overall, Back to the Future Part II is an enjoyable if flawed follow-up.

     

    Buy Back to the Future Part II on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AIVNMl.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

     

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    Where to watch Back to the Future Part II (1989)

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  • Back to the Future (1985)

    Back to the Future (1985)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/go8xI5LH9_I” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_video][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Following the release of Used Cars in 1980, writer Bob Gale thought of an idea for a time-travel movie. While visiting family in St. Louis, Gale thought if he would’ve been friends with his dad in high school. With that, he brought his idea to director Robert Zemeckis, who immediately loved it, and they took it to Columbia. Unfortunately, Columbia and various other studios turned the script down for being too light-hearted compared to other teen comedies. Around this time, Zemeckis went off to shoot Romancing the Stone, which ended up being a huge hit in 1984. Following its success, Zemeckis and Gale presented their concept to Steven Spielberg, who agreed to produce it through Amblin Entertainment. In the end, the film got picked up Universal and was given a $19 million budget despite its risky nature. Finally, on July 3rd, 1985, Back to the Future was released to theaters.

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    Synopsis

    Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is an average high schooler with a beautiful girlfriend in Jennifer Parker (Claudia Wells). However, Marty also likes to hang out with the eccentric Doctor Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) as his assistant. One night, Doc asks Marty to meet him at the mall to show him his latest invention: a time-traveling Delorean. Unfortunately, Doc gets shot by Libyan terrorists, and Marty escapes in the Delorean, unexpectedly traveling to the past. Marty arrives in 1955 and almost immediately meets his younger parents George (Crispin Glover) and Lorraine (Lea Thompson). He also runs into local bully Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson), who constantly picks on George and soon threatens Marty. Once he meets young Doc, Marty convinces him to help get back to his own time, but there’s a catch. Lorraine’s fallen in love with Marty, so he has to make sure his parents get together.

     

    Review

    Back to the Future is a film that defined the 1980s despite how much of a gamble it was. First off, the cast is wonderful, especially because they all play their roles completely straight, which adds to the comedy. Fox is instantly likable as Marty McFly, having great comedic timing and perfectly reacting to everything around him. Lloyd is wonderfully eccentric as Doc Brown, able to play it straight while managing to act over-the-top without being annoying. Glover is both off-putting and loveable, Thompson is overtly sweet and beautiful, and Wilson steals the show as the bully. There are also some fun appearances from character actors George “Buck” Flower, Will Hare, Courtney Gaines, and even Huey Lewis. Speaking of, his songs “Power of Love” and “Back in Time” are instantly catchy and will stick with you. Also, Alan Silvestri’s score adds to the scope and gives the film added weight.

    What also makes Back to the Future so special are the themes it touches on, specifically on family and time. The film reminds us that, while we may have disagreements with our parents, they’re still responsible for us being here. It also makes you realize how fleeting time can be and how we should be willing to take chances. Even though some have criticized the ending’s implications, it does show how one little change can make a huge difference. As phenomenal as the film is, there are a few shortcomings, namely that some of the humor is slightly on-the-nose. There are tons of jokes about how something old in 1985 is new in 1955, and they start running thin. Even then, this is still one of those films I would classify as being perfect, if not a masterpiece. Overall, Back to the Future is a classic that’s worth revisiting.

     

    Buy Back to the Future on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cIza86.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

     

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    Where to watch Back to the Future (1985)

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  • Robot Jox (1989)

    Robot Jox (1989)

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    After directing three back-to-back horror films, Stuart Gordon decided his next film would tackle a whole new genre: science-fiction. At the time, he was a fan of the Japanese Transformers toys as well as the Macross anime series. He noted that while giant robots were done in animation, no one at the time tried a live-action version. Following the release of Dolls, Gordon presented his concept to Charles Band, who was initially reluctant due to high costs. Eventually, Band reconsidered after Gordon presented him a demo reel featuring stop-motion animation from David Allen of robots in action. Gordon wrote the script alongside sci-fi writer Joel Haldeman, who clashed with him over their different visions of the film. With a budget of roughly $10 million, it would be the most expensive film Empire Pictures ever produced. After a delayed release due to Empire’s bankruptcy, Robot Jox was released in 1990.

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    Synopsis

    In the future, war has been abolished, and all global conflicts are settled through one-on-one combat using giant robots. These robots are piloted by robot jox aka robot jockeys, each representing either the Western Market or the Eastern Confederation. The Confederation champion Alexander (Paul Koslo) has killed his previous opponents, and next is the Market champion Achilles (Gary Graham). During their match, Alexander launches a projectile towards some nearby spectators, and Achilles blocks it only to fall, crushing them. Shaken up by this, Achilles announces his retirement, and he is subsequently labeled a traitor and a coward. Genetically-bred jox Athena (Anne-Marie Johnson) replaces him, but Achilles has second thoughts and decides to come out of retirement. It’s soon discovered that there might be a spy in the Market who’s giving secrets to the Confederation. Who is this spy, what will happen to Athena, and will Alexander be defeated?

     

    Review

    Considering Empire Pictures’ state of affairs at the time, it’s impressive Robot Jox got made at all. At the time, Empire was going through massive debt, so spending $10 million on an ambitious sci-fi film was risky. Thankfully, with a talented director, effects crew, and cast, this is quite a fun ride, even if disjointed at times. Like his previous films, Gordon’s direction is top-notch, really giving it a sense of scale and larger than it is. Performance-wise, everyone does a commendable job, even if their characters are more or less stock characters, though it is intentional. Gary Graham works as the hardheaded hero with a heart of gold, and Koslo is fun as the stereotypical villain. Johnson does well as the female lead trying to prove herself, though she becomes Graham’s love interest, which is odd. Also noteworthy are appearances from regulars Robert Sampson, Jeffrey Combs, and Carolyn Purdy-Gordon.

    The special effects from David Allen and his team are some of their best work, arguably their best work. The stop motion animation is fantastic, the robot fight sequences being a massive spectacle and easily the film’s highlight. Just the amount of detail put into the models and the range of movement is impressive given the budget. Admittedly, there’s probably only about 15 minutes of screentime devoted to the robot fights, but it’s still fun to watch. Probably my biggest issue with the film is the inconsistent tone, either being too silly or too dark. Admittedly, this can be chalked up to the disagreements between Haldeman and Gordon, each wanting a different tone. Even with its off-kilter tone and somewhat stock characters, this is still a fun movie to watch, especially with friends. Overall, Robot Jox is a solid if flawed attempt for a director to try different genres.

     

    Buy Robot Jox from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Nvcteg.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Robot Jox (1989)

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  • Bad Channels (1992)

    Bad Channels (1992)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]The early 1990s were a golden time for Full Moon Features, pumping tons of low budget direct-to-video classics. Of course, their biggest hit was the Puppet Master series, but they had plenty of other titles in the mix. Charles Band always had a steady stream of filmmakers to turn to, including David DeCoteau, Stuart Gordon, and Ted Nicolaou. I’ve covered the works of Ted Nicolaou in past Full Moon Fridays, namely TerrorVision, Subspecies, and Bloodstone: Subspecies II. While working on his vampire series, Nicolaou was working on a more out-there project, something outside Full Moon’s comfort zone. This film would incorporate Nicolaou’s three favorite things into one: UFOs, rock and roll music, and comedy. It would feature various rock groups of the time and seem to go after the MTV crowd. What we finally got was the 1992 oddball sci-fi comedy Bad Channels.

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    Synopsis

    Shock jock DJ “Danger” Dan O’Dare (Paul Hipp) has taken a job at radio station 666 KDUL in Pahoota, California. He’s scheduled for an interview with reporter Lisa Cummings (Martha Quinn), but she blows him off over a rigged contest. While continuing his radio broadcast, the station is invaded by an alien named Cosmo (Mike Deak) and their robot companion. Dan and the station’s engineer Corky (Michael Huddleston) find themselves trapped while trying to warn the outside world. Unfortunately, no one believes them and thinks it’s all an elaborate stunt despite their desperate pleas for help. Soon, Cosmo’s plan is revealed: he’s using the radio to capture women, shrink them, and put them in glass jars. Meanwhile, Sheriff Hickman (Victor Rogers) thinks Dan is up to something, and station manager Vernon Locknut (Aaron Lustig) gets nervous. Will the alien be stopped, or will the girls forever remain trapped and shrunk?

     

    Review

    While it’s not one of the more well-known Full Moon movies, Bad Channels is still something of a hidden gem. Like many of his other movies, Nicolaou’s direction is top-notch, using atmospheric shots that incorporate dynamic lighting and shadows. Paul Hipp makes for a decent lead, mixing a fun, smarmy attitude with some more serious moments later on. Martha Quinn’s intentionally exaggerated performance is pretty fun, and it adds to the film’s charm, though it can be grating. Aside from that, the rest of the acting is decent, but no one else stands out aside from the leads. However, Full Moon fans will be happy to see appearances from regulars Sonny Carl Davis and Charlie Spradling. The musical numbers by Fair Game, DMT, and Sykotik Sinfoney are easily the film’s highlights, each better than the last. Whether you like hair metal, grunge, or something slightly weird, there’s something for you.

    As enjoyable as the film is, Bad Channels is still not as good as Nicolaou’s TerrorVision despite having similar themes. For a film that’s under 90 minutes long, many scenes feel padded out to reach feature-length runtime. This isn’t helped by the musical numbers which, though fun, feel like they’re dragging out to cover the entire song. That being said, the film’s soundtrack is still worth a listen, especially with the score done by Blue Öyster Cult. Also, much of Dan O’Dare’s past antics are talked about, but we’re never really shown any of it. The same goes for the alien, who we know virtually nothing about other than he’s after women to take home. Even still, the film is still an enjoyable watch for those who want to dig deep into Full Moon’s library. Overall, Bad Channels is a flawed but fun sci-fi comedy with some rock music added.

     

    Buy Bad Channels from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth (1991)

    Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth (1991)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]While not a massive hit upon release, Trancers managed to gain a strong cult following over the years. Following its release, Charles Band started working on an anthology film called Pulse Pounders comprised of three 30-minute segments. These included The Evil Clergyman, an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation, a sequel to The Dungeonmaster, and a Trancers sequel. Unfortunately, Empire Pictures folded in the late 80s, and the film was shelved for several years until it was rediscovered. The Evil Clergyman was released in 2011, and Trancers 1.5: City of Lost Angels was released in 2013. After Full Moon was formed and found success with Puppet Master, many more franchises were established, including Subspecies. Following Tim Thomerson’s return in Dollman, Band decided to resurrect Trancers, with most of the original cast and crew returning. Released six years after the original, the result was 1991’s Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth.

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    Synopsis

    Six years after taking down Whistler, Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) and Lena (Helen Hunt) have been living the good life. They’ve been living with Hap Ashby (Biff Maynard), who’s cleaned himself up and gotten rich after becoming a commodities broker. Back in the future, Deth’s body has become calcified, so McNulty (Art LaFleur) goes down the line to help him. Now in the body of his 15-year-old ancestor (Alyson Croft), McNulty visits Jack, Lena, and Hap to deliver the news. Meanwhile, Deth’s wife Alice Stillwell (Megan Ward), thought to be dead, is in the present and is onto something big. Turns out Whistler’s brother E.D. Wardo (Richard Lynch) is creating new trancers using an environmental group as a front. Jack, Alice, Lena, Hap, and McNulty must team up to stop Wardo from creating his new trancer army. Will Jack be able to save the world while dealing with two wives?

     

    Review

    Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth is an enjoyably fun film and a decent sequel, even with its flaws. Like the first film, Tim Thomerson’s charisma is dripping all over the screen, delivering plenty of smartass quips effortlessly. He has great chemistry with both Helen Hunt and Megan Ward, who each have their moments to shine. Richard Lynch makes for a great villain, and Martine Beswick and Jeffrey Combs make for good accomplices. Alyson Croft, who also played McNulty’s ancestor in the original, has tons of fun mimicking an older tough-guy cop. There’s plenty of action to keep fans happy, and there are some great oneliners to go along with those scenes. The makeup effects for the trancers look pretty good, Band’s direction is solid, and the music compliments the fun action. Plus, there’s a cameo from Barbara Crampton, which makes everything better.

    As much fun as Trancers II is, there are some things both technical and story-related that hinder its enjoyment. Firstly, it feels significantly cheaper than the first, which was also low-budgeted but felt like it had higher production values. There are several close-up shots of characters talking directly at the camera like they couldn’t get all the actors together. Also, the few futuristic scenes look very slapdashed and thrown together compared to the stylish-looking future scenes of the original. Granted, you don’t need a huge budget to make a great film, but these drops in quality are very noticeable. Plus, this film has a greater emphasis on comedy, which mostly works, but some of the jokes don’t land. Despite these issues, this is still a fun sci-fi action film with some great characters and solid set pieces. Overall, Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth gets the job done well.

     

    Buy Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Laserblast (1978)

    Laserblast (1978)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Well before Full Moon Features and Empire Pictures, Charles Band was cutting his teeth during the 1970s as a producer. His first film was 1973’s Last Foxtrot in Burbank, which was a spoof of the controversial Last Tango in Paris. He produced 1975’s Mansion of the Doomed, which is most notable for featuring an early role for Lance Henriksen. Charles Band even dabbled in adult cinema with 1977’s Cinderella and 1978’s Fairy Tales, both erotic versions of classic stories. He directed 1977’s Crash!, starring José Ferrer and John Carradine, and also produced End of the World the same year. In 1978, Band founded MEDA Home Entertainment, one of the first home video distributors, which later became Media Home Entertainment. The same year, he produced a sci-fi film that would later go on to develop a small cult following. That film was 1978’s Laserblast, the sole directing credit of Michael Rae.

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    Synopsis

    Teenager Billy Duncan (Kim Milford) hates the small town he lives in, feels abandoned by his mother, and gets bullied. Even though he has a loving girlfriend Kathy (Cheryl Smith) that cares, Billy feels dejected by everyone around him. Things change when Billy finds a strange laser gun while wandering in the desert that requires a special pendant. After he starts firing the laser gun, two aliens are assigned to go to Earth and retrieve the laser gun. Meanwhile, Billy starts using the gun against those who bullied him, such as Chuck (Mike Bobenko) and Froggy (Eddie Deezen). As Billy continues his rampage, government agent Tony Craig (Gianni Russo) leads the investigation with help from the local sheriff. As he continues using the laser gun, Billy finds himself being corrupted further, getting green skin and white eyes. Will Billy be stopped, and will the aliens get their laser gun back?

     

    Review

    Laserblast is one of those movies where, after reading the synopsis, you’ll know whether or not this is for you. Most mainstream audiences will be put off by the weak story, mediocre acting, slow pacing, and general ridiculousness. However, if you’re the sort of B-movie connoisseur who enjoys watching these films on late-night channels, here you go. Like I said before, the story, though simple, is fairly weak, not helped by the incredibly dull pacing. With a few exceptions, the acting ranges between mediocre and terrible, with Kim Milford being arguably the weakest. Laserblast does feature classic actors Keenan Wynn, Roddy McDowall, and Ron Masak, all of whom do what they can. Also, the pacing is incredibly slow, with several scenes going on for what too long and not much exciting happening. Despite this, Laserblast is noteworthy for several reasons that make it worth a watch.

    For one, the film marks the first collaboration between Charles Band and stop-motion animator David Allen, which became a partnership. The sequences with the stop-motion aliens looking for the gun are among the film’s highlights, despite not understanding their dialogue. Also, this marked the first time Richard Band worked as a film composer, and he’d continue working with his brother. For being his only directing credit, Michael Rae’s direction isn’t terrible, and he could’ve even gone on to better things. Laserblast has a look that could only have come from the 70s, right down to the drab color scheme. Some audiences might be put off by this, but I look at it as a time capsule of the 1970s. This is often considered one of the worst movies ever made, but it’s nowhere near as bad as that. Overall, Laserblast is a good slice of 70s B-movie entertainment.

     

    Buy Laserblast from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

     

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  • Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

    Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]With The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi making over $1 billion, things seemed to be looking up. On top of that, all three received generally positive reviews from critics, but things weren’t so with fans and audiences. While fans and audiences were satisfied with the first two, The Last Jedi was especially divisive for what it changed. Between this and the poor box office returns of Solo, it seemed any goodwill Disney had been tainted. For the next installment, Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) was originally hired to direct but was let go in 2017. While Trevorrow and frequent collaborator Derek Connolly received story credits, J. J. Abrams would return to co-write and direct. Much of the original cast returned, while unused footage of Carrie Fisher was incorporated since she passed away in 2016. On December 20, 2019, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker was released.

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    Synopsis

    Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) has returned following his downfall in Return of the Jedi and has spread a galaxy-wide broadcast. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) seeks a Sith Wayfinder, a device that will reveal Palpatine’s location, the planet Exegol. Palpatine and his followers have built a new fleet of Star Destroyers with firepower similar to the Death Star. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is continuing her Jedi training with General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) acting as her mentor. Rey joins Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and BB-8 in stopping Kylo Ren. Along the way, they meet up with Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), who agrees to fight alongside the Resistance. During the adventure, Rey discovers her true origins, Ren confronts his past, and the Emperor’s plans are set in motion. Will Palpatine be stopped, or will the Final Order reign supreme?

     

    Review

    While I know tons of people hated The Last Jedi, I enjoyed it wanted to see where things went. Unfortunately, though it has some good qualities, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is a disappointment. To get into those good qualities, I’ll say first off that all of the acting here is great. Ridley, Boyega, Isaac, and Driver especially continue delivering great performances, while Williams and McDiarmid return to their characters enthusiastically. Also, given the unfortunate death of Carrie Fisher, the way they handled her scenes was done very respectfully. Also, as to be expected with any Star Wars film, the action set pieces and visuals are all done beautifully. Granted, there’s plenty of shots recreated from scenes in previous films, but this whole sequel trilogy has already done that. As a pure sci-fi spectacle, this film more than exceeds at providing blockbuster entertainment.

    However, great performances, action scenes, and visuals can’t make up for a poor story that ends on a resounding thud. Much of this can’t be discussed without spoilers, but suffice it to say the story is a complete mess. Not only does this fail as a finale to this new trilogy of films, but the entire nine-film saga. While Avengers: Endgame felt like a worthy conclusion to those films, this feels more like an average Star Wars film. The biggest problem is that in trying to appease those who disliked The Last Jedi, they ended up disappointing everyone. Even the added fan service doesn’t help, as it just feels like manipulation to try and win over audiences. That being said, if you’re just looking for a fun spectacle and exciting Star Wars action, you’ll have a good time. Overall, though, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is a letdown.

     

    Buy Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AszGdd.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. 

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    Where to watch Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

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  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

    Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

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    As I mentioned in my Rogue One review, a TV series, Star Wars: Underworld, was being developed before Disney’s acquisition. In 2012, the same year he sold Lucasfilm to Disney, George Lucas started work on a Han Solo origin film. He brought veteran screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) in to write the screenplay. After Disney’s acquisition, Kasdan was hired to finish the script for The Force Awakens, leaving his son Jonathan to continue. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The LEGO Movie) were originally hired to direct before being fired in 2017. Ron Howard, who ironically turned down directing The Phantom Menace, was hired to finish filming and work on reshoots. With an estimated budget of around $275 million, this would become one of the most expensive movies ever made. Finally, in May 2018, Solo: A Star Wars Story was released.

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    Synopsis

    On the planet Corellia, Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) bribe an Imperial officer to allow them passage. Unfortunately, Qi’ra gets separated from Han, and he decides to sign up for the Imperial academy to be a pilot. He ends up becoming an infantryman, and soon meets rogueish criminal Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) who is planning a heist. After meeting the Wookie Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), they go on a heist for coaxium (hyperspace fuel), but it goes south. Because of this, they meet with Beckett’s client, Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany), who Qi’ra happens to be working for. They work out a deal to steal some unrefined coaxium from Kessel, with Qi’ra accompanying them as a liaison. She takes them to rogue smuggler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), who agrees to help using his ship, the Millenium Falcon. With the crew in place, it’s time to make the Kessel Run.

     

    Review

    Admittedly, I am somewhat conflicted when it comes to my overall feelings towards Solo: A Star Wars Story. On the one hand, it’s got some decent performances, some fun action scenes, and some interesting visuals, for sure. On the other hand, part of me is thinking, “Is this a story that we needed to know about?” To get into the positives first, I give Ehrenreich tons of credit given the enormous weight on his shoulders. While nothing can ever top Harrison Ford’s iconic performance, Ehrenreich does a fairly decent job matching his charisma and wit. Clarke does have pretty good chemistry with him, Harrelson is fun as always, and Suotamo plays a good Wookie. Oddly enough, Glover completely steals the show, even if he is just doing a Billy Dee Williams impression. Sadly, Bettany and Thandie Newton are wasted here, but at least we have a Clint Howard cameo.

    While Ron Howard didn’t do a terrible job, one wonders what Lord and Miller’s original version would’ve been like. Regardless of who directed it though, this project was doomed from the getgo simply because of the premise. If you’ve seen the original trilogy, you already know where this film is going, which makes it extremely predictable. For instance, while it’s cool to see the Kessel Run, it doesn’t add anything new to these already established characters. If anything, this movie proves that sometimes we don’t need to see a character’s backstory to enjoy them. While I had my issues with Rogue One, that at least had more a reason to exist than this. Still, if all you want is a fun sci-fi adventure film with decent performances and action, this will satisfy you. Overall, Solo: A Star Wars Story isn’t terrible, but it feels unnecessary.

     

    Buy Solo: A Star Wars Story from Amazon: https://amzn.to/378eXHn.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Where to watch Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

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  • Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

    Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]By 2015, Star Wars had lost its relevancy with the general public, given the last film was 10 years ago. Between the disappointing prequels, the despised special editions, and skepticism about Disney’s acquisition, any hope of good films seemed lost. That all changed when The Force Awakens not only was a critical hit, but it practically dominated the box office. The film grossed over $2 billion worldwide, broke several records, and remains the all-time highest-grossing film in the US. Between the success of this and Rogue One, it was clear that audiences were reembracing and returning to Star Wars. For the next installment, Rian Johnson would be tasked with both writing and directing following the surprise success of Looper. Much of the original cast and crew would return, though there was some conflict going on behind the scenes. Finally in 2017, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi was released.

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    Synopsis

    As the Resistance is evacuating from their base, they’re intercepted by the First Order, who begin attacking their fleet. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) goes against orders and leads a bombing run against a dreadnought, which results in numerous casualties. The remaining Resistance escapes into hyperspace, only to be tracked by the First Order, who continue their attack. During the attack, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) is knocked unconscious, leaving Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) in command. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) asks Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to help, but he refuses, preferring to live in self-imposed exile. Thankfully, R2-D2 convinces Luke to train Rey, who suddenly starts communicating via the Force with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Elsewhere, Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) travel to the casino planet Canto Bight to find a codebreaker. Will the Resistance survive, will the First Order prevail, and what will become of our heroes?

     

    Review

    Of all the Star Wars movies I’ve done for this retrospective, this is one I was the most nervous about. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi is probably one of the most divisive films in recent memory. Many people love it, many people hate it, so where do I stand on this much-contested entry in the franchise? Well, let’s first get into the positives, starting with the excellent cast, all of whom continue to deliver solid performances. Ridley and Driver continue to bring tons of humanity to their characters, while Boyega and Isaac do what they can. While he may have had his disagreements with the characterization, Mark Hamill still shines and he’s committed to the material. Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benecio Del Toro are nice additions to the cast, though they are slightly underdeveloped. Lastly, Carrie Fisher further adds gravitas to the role.

    Regardless of your thoughts on the overall quality, Rian Johnson should be commended for going against the status quo. He took many of the elements introduced by Abrams and was able to expand upon them while adding his mark. Admittedly, I can understand some more hardcore fans being upset that elements introduced weren’t paid off the way they wanted. In my opinion, many of these subversions and misdirections help make this film more than just recycling old material. However, I don’t think all of it works, and the pacing could’ve been improved by excising the casino planet sequences. Also, while this isn’t necessarily a beat-for-beat redo of Empire Strikes Back, it does have many similar plot elements. All that being said, while I can understand why many people hated this, I still think it deserves more credit. Overall, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi is good if somewhat flawed.

     

    Buy Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hpw2S9.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. 

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Where to watch Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

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  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]In 2005, ten years before The Force Awakens, a live-action TV series bridging the prequel and original trilogies was announced. The series went into development around 2009, and its working title, Star Wars: Underworld, was revealed in 2012. Unfortunately, due to budgetary issues, the show never came to be, but the ideas were still being talked about. Around 2014, visual effects supervisor John Knoll pitched his idea to Disney, who greenlit the project to be a film. Both he and Gary Whitta would develop the story, and Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy would pen the script. Coming off the success of 2014’s Godzilla, Gareth Edwards was hired to direct what would essentially be a war film. Around mid-2016, months before its release, the film underwent several reshoots as executives felt it was tonally off. Finally, December 2016 saw the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

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    Synopsis

    As a child, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) watched her family be torn apart by the Empire and has been hiding. While being taken to an Imperial labor camp, she’s rescued by a Rebel squad led by Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). She’s brought to Rebel leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), who asks her to rescue her father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen). Turns out he’s been recruited by Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) to finish construction on a dangerous superweapon, the Death Star. Jyn agrees and goes with Cassian and former Imperial droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) to meet with Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker). Gerrera shows Jyn a hologram Galen left behind, which details an intentional weakness he designed in the Death Star. She recruits warrior Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen), mercenary Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), and former Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed). Together, they plan to steal the plans to the Death Star.

     

    Review

    Back when I saw this movie when it hit theaters, I remember enjoying it but also feeling somewhat indifferent. Having rewatched it again, my feelings towards Rogue One: A Star Wars Story remain the same, though more positive. Much like Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla, this film has plenty of fun action sequences but is lacking in terms of characterization. My biggest issue with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the side characters are more interesting than the leads. Alan Tudyk is hilarious as the dry-witted Imperial droid, and the dynamic between Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen is cool. While Felicity Jones and Diego Luna aren’t terrible, the material they’re given isn’t very compelling and is pretty uninteresting. Ben Mendelsohn makes for a good villain, though it’s a very archetypal villain that doesn’t have anything unique to offer. Also, Mads Mikkelsen and Forest Whitaker are kind of wasted in this.

    One thing I can give this movie credit for is its originality and some interesting ideas they introduce. Unlike the other films where the Rebels and Imperials were black and white, this shows there are some grey areas. This shows that good people are working for the Empire and that the Rebels have done some questionable things. When it gets into the action in the third act, it feels like something out of a war film. In terms of effects, there’s plenty more CGI than practical effects, but they aren’t terrible, though some are distracting. The biggest ones are the CGI recreations of Peter Cushing and young Carrie Fisher, both technically impressive but also unsettling. For all the issues I had with this film, this is easily the best Star Wars prequel to date. Overall, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has good ambitions but isn’t very compelling.

     

    Buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48zzV2L.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

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