Friday, July 29, 2016

Love Letter to the Women of Star Wars

(Originally Written for Jedi News)



Within the last few months, I finally watched The Force Awakens again for the first time since the theatrical run. What I had liked about it at first I loved even more the second time. What had bothered me about it the first time likewise bothered me exponentially in the repeat viewing. All in all, it makes for a very awkward filmgoing experience for me – I love parts of it too much to say I dislike it, but I hate other parts too much to say I like it. And even if Episodes VIII and IX tie the narrative together in a way that really makes Awakens shine in retrospect, the fact that those films have totally different teams behind them (as opposed to The Maker’s overarching, if fickle-with-details narrative) will always undercut whatever “hidden brilliance” we may or may not find in the film upon future analysis.

The above paragraph was originally supposed to be a lead-in to a whole column re-evaluating The Force Awakens upon a repeat viewing away from the hype and the fear, but frankly, that’s really all I have to say on the matter until the entire picture comes to light. Besides, the main point of my column is to keep Episodes I-III and their rightful place in the Saga as a whole in the public’s eye as a positive force (pun unintentional, but welcome), lest the bile levied at them by mainstream geekdom be history’s final word on them.

But it does serve as a nice introduction to a matter that I’ve been wanting to write about for nearly a year, but wasn’t confidant I could do it justice. Because there is one element of The Force Awakens that I have had a slight but noticeable shift on in the intervening months: Rey.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Reflections on 30

30 years old today.

I've been on this planet for three decades.

What.

I speak to adults who say they grew up with things that didn't exist until I was in my teens.

I'm the new adult generation.

I'm only a "young man" in the technical sense with lifespans ever expanding. Just a few centuries ago, I'd be middle-aged.

I'm already flabbergasted by "kids these days".

And the worst part?

It doesn't really feel any different from my late 20s.

I've learned so much in the last six years, that I am in many ways a different person than I was in college, but that's not tied to any specific number.

I thought I would have more insight, but frankly I don't know how I feel on this milestone of a day.

...

...I'm going to go play some WoW....


Sunday, July 24, 2016

My Name is Dory, and I Suffer From Short-Term Memory Loss

Hi, I saw Finding Dory.

Boy, I've seen more theatrical movies in the past three months than in the past three years.

Hi, I saw Finding Dory!

Minor Spoilers Ahead...I think?


Saturday, July 9, 2016

Dude, Bringing Back the Mohawk! Good for you!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Didn't even know they were making this until it came out.

Intermediate Spoilers Ahead



Monday, July 4, 2016