Star Wars The Force Awakens

Spoiler Alert: This Review Discusses the movie. 

In the newest addition to the Star Wars universe, we start out with an action scene, and action scenes continue throughout the movie, never letting down. We have stormtroopers and blasters, and fights between ships, and lightsaber battles. The movie takes us from one gripping moment to the next. We have force sensitive characters from Han Solo to Raye to Kylo Ren, able to do the impossible with their minds. We have mind reading, and force chokes. Overall it was quite well done, and worth the wait. 

Throughout the movie the graphics were amazing. Things we could only dream of in the 70s and 80s were a reality. Once again, in keeping with the Star Wars universe, things were epically huge. In one scene, a battle cruiser eclipses a planet, and continues moving as though that were normal. When Han and Chewie find the Millenium Falcon, the ship they were in is so huge it just swallows it hole. Things are just big in Star Wars, and this followed the pattern. 

Fin seems to be following Han's role as the reluctant hero. He spends most of the movie trying to escape, but in the end comes through for his friend when she's in trouble. At least they made him about something other than money, but his story is still familiar. Although the movie largely focused on him, I think the focus for the series is going to be on Raye. This makes me happy because she's a strong central female character.

We're supposed to know that Vader is redeemed because he doesn't kill his son. In a play on that, Ren does kill his father, and seems not to care at all. So now we have a truly evil guy in the movies, but the evil isn't as finessed as it previously was. The lightsaber seems to burn like fire rather than a laser. However he does seem to have a skill no previous character has shown - the ability to read minds. 

Overall I'd give it an A. 

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

This movie started out with a lot more action than the previous one did. We start out rescuing Han from Jabba the Hut, in a plan that clearly relied more on luck than skill. After they all nearly die, we move into a plan to destroy the Death Star Part II. That's right, the Empire built another Death Star, and it didn't bankrupt the galaxy. Which begs willing suspension of disbelief. Apparently the Empire learned something last time, and the shields are external on a moon. This leads to the question of how they are ever going to move the thing if they need to use it, but, clearly the rebel forces needed to be divided in half, so, external power for the shields it is.

So, Darth Vader learns he has a son and 2 years later he saves his life from the emperor, thus somehow negating all the evil things he has done and turning him into a good guy, good enough that he becomes a light-side ghost with Obi-Wan and Yoda, and gets to return to his old body. I don't buy it at all. He's killed far too many people for one action to redeem the character.

This movie had more fun than the previous ones, bringing in Ewoks to hilariously take on the empire's finest with sticks and clubs. So it was a little lighter toned, and I enjoyed that take. It also featured Leia in a slave girl costume killing Jabba the Hut, which I appreciated because I'd kill anyone who made me dress like that, too.

Overall I give it an A+ and I think this was my favorite of the 6 Star Wars movies we've seen to date.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

This is the second installment of the Star Wars series. We start out on an ice planet, where Luke has managed to get captured by a yeti. He proves his faith in the force is strong by getting his lightsaber out of the snow to get himself down from the first of many times Luke is upside down in this episode. Then Han proves himself loyal once again by going to find Luke and saving his life. The show took a while to start going, in other words. 

There are fewer action scenes, but there are a few including one where Luke figures out he has to trip a robot that is shooting at his allies. Then Luke steals the rebellion's ship, and takes off to find Yoda. He finds Yoda, but is a complete jerk to him. Although, lets give R2D2 the real jerk points in this scene. He knows Yoda, but chooses not to say anything to Luke when they find him. So R2D2 lets Luke make a fool of himself, like a jerk. But Luke makes a fool of himself and Yoda tries to refuse to teach him. Ben comes back as a ghost, and convinces Yoda to train Luke, something which they both must regret when Luke takes off at the end of the movie to find his friends instead of finishing his training. 

In the Big Reveal, we learn that Darth Vader (which literally means Darth Father in German) is Luke's father. Luke screams, then loses his hand in a fight with Vader.  Vader has many opportunities where he could kill Luke, because Luke is still not good with a lightsaber. But instead he allows him to live and merely disarms him (literally). Vader just found out he is a father, and he wants to give his son the empire to control, but his son doesn't want it. Father of the year material here. 

Overall I give it an A.