Darth Vader is on solo mission to intimidate the inhabitants of a new world. Kanan takes part in his first mission during the Clone Wars. And a little indie film known as “The Force Awakens” came out this week. Have you felt it?
This post will include my spoiler free recap of the Force Awakens. My first impression after seeing the movie. I was able to escape my viewing without any major spoilers, so I would hate to ruin it for someone else. For anyone out there who is still worried about Episode 7, you can relax. They have succeeded in making a Star Wars movie that stands up with the existing 6 movies.
There were other stories that came out this week, specifically in the comic universe. We were treated to the stand-alone Darth Vader Annual #1, in which we see Darth Vader put his intimidation into full steam. Like the Star Wars Annual, this is a stand alone story.
Kanan continues to be an interesting comic, telling the story of Kanan’s backstory through a series of flashbacks. Kanan has been accepted as a Padawan and is on his first mission during the Clone Wars. We meet the Clone Troopers that we know from the first Arc that will eventually turn on him.
Without further delay, here is my recap of the week that was in the Star Wars Universe.
!!! Spoiler Warning!!!
- Featuring: Darth Vader Annual #1 / Kanan #9 / Episode 7: The Force Awakens (spoiler free edition)
#1 Episode 7: The Force Awakens
Score: 9/10
!!!Spoiler Free!!!
This movie is instantly better than all three of the prequels and might even one day make it into the conversation with the original trilogy. This movie will take a few viewings to really see where it stacks up. The most important thing, was after watching it for the first time, I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next in the story. I will be seeing it for a second, third and probably fourth time in theatres.
I spent thursday watching the original trilogy, beginning just before 10:30am and finishing just before 5pm. So I was primed and ready for The Force Awakens. Our showing was at 7pm and we were at the theatre well in advance. The best part of this was the fact that we didn’t have to wait in line or stress out about our seats as they were pre-assigned.
When the Lucasfilm logo came onto the screen, everyone in the theatre cheered, knowing that it was finally here! As i mentioned before, i managed to make it into the theatre spoiler-free. The Music starts and the Star Wars Logo flies into view, and it had begun. I felt like a kid again, experiencing something I love for the first time.
Things I liked:
It felt like Star Wars! It looked like Star Wars! It was Star Wars!
It wasn’t boring. There were no senate committees, slow drawn out love stories or unnecessary forced comic relief. There were dark moments and funny moments, but for the most part it felt like the Universe that we know and love! Like I said, this was a Star Wars movie!
The world looked lived in. Back to the gritty.
Much like the Original Trilogy, it starts of right in the middle of the action. It leaves some of the story-telling to the imagination. This was the biggest problem of the prequels. This movie avoided that for sure. It did not start with the planning and discovery of some over-explained plot. It just shows the exciting parts; we jump right into the action.
They also did a good job of throwing the new cast members into the action. We learn about the world around the story through the eyes of these characters who are learning along with the audience. Especially Finn and Rey, the youngest of the new characters. It reminds me of the Luke Skywalker introduction in A New Hope. Someone who is new to the story that you get to learn along side.
Staying with the characters, I loved the way they worked together. Both as characters in the story, but more importantly, the chemistry between the actors. And the way they brought the old and the new together didn’t feel forced.
BB-8… But we all knew we were going to love him.
Things i disliked:
There were a few plot holes at times. Parts where you might need to suspend your disbelief as to why a few convenient things just happen to work out. This might be because the Force has drawn these people together, or just the writers needed to tie the story together.
It also felt rushed at times. Im guessing they had to cut parts of the movie to keep the runtime down, but i almost wanted more slow parts, or even some explanations. Some times things that happen or are mentioned only once; i could have used a little more at times. I would have gladly sat through another 20 minutes of movie.
Im still a little bit disappointed that they got rid of the Expanded Universe of the 90’s. Sure would have been fun to see them do stories from that time period, but I do understand the reasons and the need to eliminate it. The movie did have a little nod to that old world. So thats good.
Final thoughts:
Go see this movie. Again and again and again.The sooner you see this movie, the better – there are some major spoilers and plot points that WILL eventually get posted online and it will spoil some of the fun. Don’t let the internet ruin this for you!
The force is strong with Episode 7. I will hold of posting any spoilery reviews until probably January, just to give everyone a chance to go see it.
#1 Darth Vader Annual #1
Score: 8/10
Much like the Star Wars Annual that came out last week, we were treated to a new take on the Star Wars universe as told through the eyes of Darth Vader. This was a cool stand alone story that will help build up the legend that was Darth Vader.
This story takes place somewhere in the Mid-Rim, on a planet called Shu-torun. Darth Vader is confronting Princess Trios, who has been selected as the representative of the Kingdom to meet the Sith Lord. The king has arranged a ball in honour of this visit. Darth Vader is upset that they have not been meeting their quotas; he is here to intimidate them into submission. He has brought the king a “gift” and also brought along his two assassin droids; Beetee and Tripple-Zero.
During the celebration, Vader is not impressed. It is now that the “ore-barons” stage an terrorist attack to try and take out Darth Vader. He throws aside their attack and takes the princess, demanding to see the King. They travel along a corridor that soon begins to fill with a molten substance. Again, Vader is able to escape this second trap.
When the princess tries to pull a gun on him outside the kings chambers, he spins and ignites his lightsaber, and does the most Star Wars thing imaginable – and cuts off her hand. He breaks into the kings chamber to find out that his two droids have infiltrated and killed everyone inside.
The princess is devastated. Vader decides to give her the gift instead, telling her that as the new Queen she will do well to serve her people. The gift is a reminder to her what will happen if she crosses the Emperor again. Inside the box that Vader was carrying was a single rock. The princess asks what it is and Vader responds “This is what remains of Aldderan.” And with that, he leaves.
This was a fun issue to read, and once again helps to build up the legend that was Darth Vader which was in many ways weakened by the prequel trilogy. It was a nice break from Vader Down, which comes back again next Wednesday.
#1 Kanan #9 – “First Blood pt 3”
Score: 7/10
We are right back into the flashback of Kanan’s first mission during the Clone Wars. In the current timeline he is still unconcious inside of a Bacta tank and in immediate danger. The story remains in the past.
He has just recently been accepted as Master Bilaba’s padawan She has now overcome the physical and mental loss of her previous defeat and ready to once again lead her troops in battle. We meet the 4 remaining Clone Troopers from her ill fated attack; Commander Grey, Capitan Styles, Sergent Soot and Corporal Big Mouth. These are the same troopers who would later betray Kanan and his master.
The Jedi and troopers sit around a fire on the planet Kardoa discussing their plans, and the fact that most of their battalion are green troopers.
We flash to the antagonists, and see the red-skinned and horned character known as General Kleeve. He allows Corbun Sear to lead an attack, and urges that he does a better job than his brother – who last week was revealed to be the attacker on the Jedi Temple. General Kleeve is en route to Mygeeto to meet General Grevious.
The Jedi lead the troops on a scouting mission and are eventually attacked. Kanan – then known as Caleb Dune – gets to see his first action during the Clone Wars, and is seen in full attack, swinging his lightsaber through battle droids. The two Jedi must split up, and Kanan helps to hold off the attacking troops while his master flanks the enemy. He is shot, and his troops that he has just been bonding with comes to his rescue. He is saved by 1157, who protects Kanan by standing over top of him, earning the nickname “Stance”.
They eventually defeat the droid army, who retreat from the planet. He has survived his first battle action – even if just barely – and ends up in the Bacta Tank – which mirrors his current situation in “real time” where he is unconscious on Kaller. He will soon be out, and they already have their next mission: to attack Mygeeto. We are left to wonder what will happen….
I expect to see a pretty serious confrontation between known Jedi-killer General Grevious and Kanan (and/or Master Bilaba). It should be a fun read… we should hopefully learn the role of the mysterious terrorists led by General Kleeve.
I still wonder how long this story will be told in flashbacks, simply because I am infinitely more interested in the Rebels era than I am in the Clone Wars era, but i trust the writers of this comic to keep it interesting. So far, it has been.
Thats it for this week’s edition of Star Wars This Week. I will probably see the Force Awakens one more time this week before posting my spoiler review towards the end of December.
So, until next week,
May the Force be with you!
Star Wars This Week 