Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a Disappointing Ripoff

Day 79


The new Star Wars movie The Force Awakens has been out long enough and made record amounts of money, so I can reveal the truth. Ready?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is nothing but a REMAKE of the original Star Wars movie.

The first movie, later renamed Episode IV: A New Hope. All Disney did was rearrange the characters. Luke Skywalker is now a girl, Han Solo is a disenfranchised storm trooper. Mark Hamill plays Luke Skywalker and is set up to be the next Yoda (although not nearly as cute). Carrie Fisher as "General" Leia replaces Mon Mothma as the rebel leader.

R2D2 is a rolling ball with "the secret plans inside" put there by the new Princess who is a male fighter pilot for the NEW rebels. Harrison Ford plays the part of Old Ben Kenobi Telling the new characters that the force is real. And we have a new Emperor and new Darth Vader. And the Death Star is now a Death Planet. Mind boggling!

If you've seen both movies I'm sure you can see what I'm saying. Unless, of course, your in denial. True fans though would know they're being flim-flammed. And it is seriously disappointing.

With all of the excellent books and stories they could have chosen to make a new movie, they took the easy way out and did a transparent remake using the exact same story as the first movie.

News flash Disney! The first movie wasn't successful because of the story or the actors (most relatively unknown). It was epic because of the special effects. Those special effects are no longer special as they have been copied repeatedly over the years and today are almost common in scifi movies.

I can only hope the next movie is not a copy of The Empire Strikes Back. The fans both old and new deserve better. The proof is the record money the fans spent to watch this retread.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Star Wars to Ice Fishing to Prime Rib

Day 37

Wow. December 15 and the lake has no signs of freezing. It's also looking like a brown Christmas here as the temperatures are too warm for snow, although we have had plenty of rain.

Three days to the December 18th release of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie and it is scheduled for the local Pines Theater. Hurray! THe Pines has a showing scheduled for the 17th for more info Pines Theater info. I won't be fighting for a seat until after the first few days but I'm sure it will be a sell out every night of the three weeks it is scheduled to run (assuming it doesn't get extended).

On December 19th the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts will be doing a live radio broadcast of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" at 5pm on 100.3 FM.

Finally because I'm hungry and need to finish this entry so I can eat.

Matt's Lake Street Grill and Pizzeria will be open on December 25th with a Christmas Dinner Prime Rib buffet from 11am to 5pm. Including Ham, chicken and shrimp and many other holiday favorites. So if your not invited to Christmas dinner or you don't celebrate Christmas you can still have a fabulous dinner. Mom and I aren't doing anything this year so I'll see you there.

The new Little Caesars pizza is still under construction although I've heard there will be a grand opening on January 8, 2016. The new Little Caesars is situated between Arbys and Garretts restaurants. Should be a better location than the current one at the west end of the lake. The current one will be closed when the new one is opened.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Star Wars The Force Awakens: Where No Movie has Gone Before

Day 16

Let me clear this up first. I know “To boldly go where no man has gone before” is the opening for Star Trek not Star Wars.

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Now to the point, which is $50 million in pre-release tickets being sold for the next installment of the Star Wars franchise now produced by Disney. Already $50 million and still 3 weeks before the opening. Thus far only Daniel Fleetwood, the fan who had terminal cancer, has seen it. Disney granted his request for a private showing because doctors told him he wouldn't live until the December opening. Disney agreed, quite graciously, and allowed Mr. Fleetwood to see the unfinished product. He passed away not long after. May the force be with him.

Back in 1977 when the first installment came out I refused to see it. I thought, seriously, who wants to see a movie with a name like Star Wars. It's right up there with Plan 9 from Outer Space (an Ed Wood piece of B trash). When the movie had been selling out for six months at the largest indoor screen in the Detroit area, the Americana theater, I figured it was worth a look. As I stood in line for 24 hour advance tickets, something unheard of in 1977, I was praying this was not another cult following like Rocky Horror Picture Show (Rocky Horror generally only played at midnight to hardcore fans shouting at the movie screen and occasionally dancing along with actors).

So when the lights went down and the opening story lines reverse rolled up and away from the audience, a nice effect, I thought it might not be so bad. A few minutes later came the sound of massive engines booming over the theater sound system as the most detailed spaceship I had ever seen in a movie cruised down the screen as if flying overhead. George Lucas had created a miracle of special effects. I was blown away and became an instant lifetime Star Wars fan. I have seen all of the movies numerous times and have read many of the over 100 books. A must for any Star Wars fan as the books answer many questions, such as how is a lightsaber made. Hint: very carefully.

My only regret at this time is that with the early success of the most recent addition it could be six months before it even makes it to the Pines our small town movie theater. Until it does I'll wait with anticipation of the new marvels that await.

So I learned long ago that while we should not judge a book by it's cover, it is also true we should not judge a movie by it's title. Until tomorrow.

Ken