Let's talk about the new Star Wars film.

As 2016 starts, my only resolution was to blog more. I have a lot to say about popular books, televisions shows, movies, music, sports, etc. and just maybe you might find it interesting. 

I'm going to start the year talking about one of my favorite films of 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Is it a perfect film? No, far from it, but it was everything I ever wanted out of Star Wars movie, something I sadly can't say about the prequels. 

Yes, I am squarely in the "I hate the prequels" camp. I found them to be soulless CGI filled crapfests that looked like they were designed to sell toys. The acting was wooden, the dialog stiff and much of the stories just unbelievable. I left the theater after seeing The Phantom Menace confused, telling myself it couldn't be as bad as I thought it was. I had to go see it again a few days later to confirm that yes, it was terrible. From Jar Jar Binks to whiny and magical (and I'm saying that sarcastically) Anakin Skywalker to Midichlorians, it just made me cringe.

I will admit there were a few good things in the film, such as the lightsaber dual at the end between the Jedi and Darth Maul and John Williams' "Duel of the Fates" is probably the best piece of Star Wars music outside of the original theme. 

Episodes II and III weren't much better. I will admit that I remember laughing giddily at Yoda's first lightsaber dual as he bounced around like a crazed monkey and the battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan was spectacular. Everything else, not so much. I really felt like George Lucas, whom I grew up idolizing, had lost his fastball. 

I was actually thrilled when Disney bought Lucasfilm and all its properties, because I knew they bring in fresh blood with new ideas, much like they've done with Marvel. I'm always stunned at the amount of people walking around who seem to think Disney is going to insert Mickey Mouse or Goofy into a Star Wars film and ruin the property. If they had any sense of the business model Disney has demonstrated with Marvel and Pixar, they'd understand it's normally a hands off approach. So far, we've seen nothing from any Marvel or Pixar film to provide any evidence that Disney is trying to "Disneyfy" (whatever that means) any of their acquired properties. If you've watched Marvel's Jessica Jones on Netflix you'd know they're not afraid of shying away from adult material either (insert boom chicka boom boom music).

So back to the new film. I've heard people complain that it's nothing more than a rehash of Episode IV. George Lucas went so far as to call it retro (and proceeded to complain that they didn't use his ideas...frankly after the prequels, I'm glad they didn't) and he's actually right. It is very retro...which is exactly what the series needed to get it back on track. JJ Abrams did a fantastic job making a homage to the original, using practical effects, giving us characters we care about and setting up the next two films in the series. I can't wait to see what happens to Rey as she continues to go through her hero's journey now that Luke Skywalker is back in the fold. Will Finn heal and return to her side? Will we learn who Snoke really is? 

I'm not going to go into too much spoiler territory here, but it was fantastic seeing old friends Han, Leia, Luke and Chewie. When the original Star Wars came out in 1977, it was a watershed moment for me, almost as important in my life as when I discovered girls (I said almost...). It's been there with me since that summer of 77' and I watch the original trilogy at least once a year.  When one of my favorite characters of all time met a bitter end in the new film, I'll admit my eyes got a little watery. It was a sad goodbye, but I understood why it was that character's time; much like it was Ben Kenobi's time to (sort of) say goodbye in Episode IV. 

The best news of all is we don't have to wait three years for the next film. The yet untitled Episode VIII comes out in May 2017. Between now and then, we'll get Star War: Rogue One, which is the story of many Bothans dying to get the Rebellion the Death Star plans.

Disney is doing exactly what I hoped with Star Wars and giving us exactly what we wanted from George Lucas all these years...more of it!

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Until next time.