I would venture to say, that for the most part, we all lead fairly average lives. Which isn’t an insult by any means, in fact it is quite the good thing. Because it means the vast majority of us, keep our noses out of trouble and go about our daily lives with relative ease. And while the world throws a few curveballs our way and there’s plenty of good moments to celebrate, it isn’t long before we settle back into our routines and that part of our lives can have its own unintended side effects. Because sometimes we are just straight up bored with life, and we find ourselves in a brief rut that we desperately wish to escape and sometimes our brains turn to ideas and notions that help to break up the monotony and liven things up, such as conspiracy theories.

Which may seem a bit outlandish to say but think about it for a moment. Because from time to time, we find ourselves reading a headline so outlandish and out of place that we are compelled to click on it and see where it takes us and often times, we definitely go down a rabbit hole that involves forces that are working against everyday people to further their own twisted agenda. But logic and reasoning tend to pull us out of these strange tales and just like that, the more mundane parts of our day don’t look all that bad because hey, it could be worse, we could be obsessed with these strange lies. But what if some of those outlandish stories we read about were actually true and we came to discover that there is indeed a twisted scheme happening right underneath our noses? Would we be safe with this knowledge in our minds? Or would our lives change as the danger grows and oddly enough, these are questions and notions that are explored in the fascinating 1997 film, Conspiracy Theory.

Now in this particular film we are introduced to a man named Jerry Fletcher and well, he leads quite the unique life. Because Jerry tends to stick to the shadows and solitude, simply because he believes that the world is not quite what it seems. In fact, Jerry is convinced that there are nefarious forces working behind the scenes to control our world and our lives and he works to help others understand this dark truth by publishing a newsletter full of these ‘facts’ in his spare time between driving a cab and obsessing over a lawyer at the Justice Department named Alice Sutton, and that’s really how his life goes. But one day, during a routine investigation for his newsletter, Jerry is kidnapped and comes to learn that his theories are indeed fact, and that there are evil men working to do equally evil things, and they also expect him to join their cause and now it will be up to him and Alice to stop these men before they are successful in their twisted machinations. 

I suppose the best label to apply to this motion picture, is to call it a guilty pleasure. Because truly, everything that’s featured here is about as outlandish as it gets. I mean come on, dark forces working in the shadows, Manchurian Candidate brainwashing, it’s all out there but it all works in this film for several reasons. First and foremost, the movie treats the subject matter in the same manner as of the rest of us do early on, with skepticism. But once the evil Dr. Jonas arrives, things change just like that, and now you’re vested in everything that Jerry believes in and you want to see how this strange mystery is going to unfold and well, it definitely surprises in magnificent fashion by offering up some dangerous moments and twists and turns galore. But more importantly, you quickly find yourself rooting for Jerry since you’d like to see him vindicated since so many see him as well, crazy.
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In fact, Jerry is what truly makes this film special because his journey more or less becomes a powerful exploration of mental illness. Because Jerry’s time with Dr. Jonas damaged his mind badly and you see a myriad of issues take shape over the course of the motion picture since PTSD, OCD and paranoia and severe anxiety are put on display here and well, how this is presented is what makes this part of the film so powerful. Because at no point is Jerry ever presented as malicious or evil because of his affliction, he’s just a man trying desperately to get by in the world and find some peace from the issues that surround him, and I appreciate the fact that this movie doesn’t try to paint mental illness as anything negative and that it humanizes it by showing us the precarious balance that Jerry tries to find in his life. And that portrayal serves to remind us that perhaps the folks we encounter like Jerry deserve a little more kindness since they’re not ‘kooks’, they’re human beings in need of direction and help, and offering them that, might give them a reason to abandon stories of nonexistent evil doers.

But all of that aside, this really is an intriguing film, one that does a fine job of answering ‘what if?’ and one that works in large part thanks to its cast. Because Julia Roberts’ performance as Alice Sutton serves as the anchor for this film since her skeptic nature keeps the audience grounded and she is surrounded by some powerfully polarizing performances from Patrick Stewart and Mel Gibson. For their turns as Dr. Jonas and Jerry respectively, in many ways represent the ongoing battle of good versus evil and both men draw you in with their dynamic and powerful work on screen. Either way, this movie is a great way to kill a couple of hours and get lost within a fascinating tale and if by chance you haven’t seen this one, I highly recommend it. Because it really is a lot of fun and it genuinely sucks you in and feeds that part of your brain that needs a little stimulation now and again. 

Everyone thinks that they have the potential to be much more than they are, and you know what, they are right, they just have to fight for it. There is no way that you can prove yourself if you are not willing to take the steps. Of course, you may stumble and fall, but that is part of life and if you have never reached your highest potential, how do you know what it is. Keep your head up, even when you fall since there are other people watching you and waiting to see what greatness can be released.
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Mike Howell has the life that he is looking for, well maybe not the best life but with the love of his girlfriend Phoebe, he has no regrets. With a passion for getting stoned, his feelings for Phoebe are much stronger than that and the past five years that they have spent together have been the best years of his life. Wanting to do something special with her, Mike plans a trip to Hawaii and is ready to pop the question while they are away, but there is a problem with this plan as Mike has panic attacks whenever he is ready to leave town. Missing their flight due to this, Mike and Phoebe head home and even though she is upset about not being able to take the vacation, Mike is more upset with not knowing how to ask his love to marry him.

While at work, Mike works on his comic about a space ape and is having a good time making up the new storylines. With another great episode in his head, he pitches it to Phoebe, and she loves the idea and begs him to write it down. But Mike is not about remembering everything, he would rather talk about it to make sure that it all seems good.  With plans of things to do in their free time, the couple always finds a quiet place to get high, tell stories and watch the world spin around them. But Mike is getting more emotional than normal these days and when he ends up in tears when seeing a tree that was hit by a car, Phoebe knows that there is something wrong with him.

​The CIA has a sleeper agent program that has been mothballed for many years and the new acting station head believes that it is time to get rid of it. Calling in hit squads on all of the remaining active cells, Yates is looking to make a name for himself at the agency, but the agent in charge, Lasseter, is not ready to see her babies get killed for no reason. Going to Mike’s little shop, Lasseter tries to activate him using an unfamiliar phrase, but when he does not understand it, she knows that his death is on her hands. Thinking about the words, Mike spots a couple of guys messing with his car in the parking lot and tells them to leave, but when they come at him with guns drawn, Mike is able to take care of himself. With two dead bodies in the parking lot, Mike does the only thing that he knows is right and calls Phoebe to come and listen to his side of the story, but before he is able to get it all out, the police show up and bring him in. 
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Hearing the news that two of his agents have been killed by a tweaked out stoner, Yates knows that Mike has been activated and it is time to put the asset down before anyone else gets hurt. Calling in another strike team to take out Mike in the police station, he is about to find out the power of the sleeper as his team has been taken out once again. Knowing that the threat of national security is at stake, Yates orders a quarantine of the town so Mike will not be able to escape, but with Lasseter in town as well, he has no idea what fight is coming his way. With Mike being able to subdue the forces that are sent to seize him, he finds out a nasty little secret about Phoebe that he wishes that he could forget. As the numbers dwindle in Mike’s corner and Phoebe is taken hostage by the CIA, Mike only has one thing to fight for, the freedom of the woman that he loves.

The way this movie was pitched when it came out, I thought it would be all laughs all the time, but it has a much darker feel to it than expected. Even though there are some funny jokes, most of them are in an incredibly dark vein that do not get received by the crowds as easily. The action in the movie may not seem to be believable, a stoner being able to take out CIA agents, but that is the point, he is a sleeper agent that has no idea what his potential really is. With the love story trumping all, it was nice to see Mike sober up and be able to come to terms with what is really important to him, I think that is called character growth. I must admit that Yates stole the show for me as he is the ultimate baddy and you want to hate him with all of your heart, but he has his sights set on the mission and anyone that gets in his way will be dealt with swiftly and firmly. It’s a middle of the road action movie with plenty of scene stealers that will make you smile; I just wish they had some more of the comedic lines to make sure you know that this was a comedy as well.

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and that always applies to our favorite franchises, since at some point or another they will come to their logical conclusion. But why they end, is important to ponder upon. For a great many franchises end in unfortunate fashion, wherein the writing is sub-par, which leads to awful and over the top stories that pull the audience out of the experience and this is something we’ve seen time and time again. Where a once proud franchise is remembered for its shoddy and ridiculous sequels and just like that, it fades away from our radar, only to be remembered fondly on home video or a streaming service.
 
But believe it or not, from time to time, there are franchises that actually end on a high note. In a manner that features decent writing, which allows for the finale in question to bring everyone’s journey to a quality and respectful ending, one that leaves the audience happy. And sometimes they end, not because of fatigue or overexposure, but because it is the right time for everyone involved in the saga to say goodbye, allowing for the story in question to end on its own terms and truly, there is no greater ending than that. As it turns out, this is precisely how the Lethal Weapon franchise was able to come to a close and going out on top is what makes Lethal Weapon 4 a surprisingly satisfying finale, despite its minor flaws.
 
Now we will talk about those flaws a little later on, because first and foremost, I want to take a moment discuss how exactly this franchise ended in stylish and satisfying fashion. And it accomplished that particular feat by acknowledging something that few franchises or stories in general do, in that; life goes on and eventually we move into new phases of it, thanks to the work we’ve put in. Something that is embodied by the journey of our heroes. Take for example Roger Murtaugh’s arc here, since he watches his daughter’s voyage into adulthood reach its completion by way of her pregnancy and the reality that he is about to become a grandfather adds some genuine depth to Roger’s arc in this entire series. Since he is now the true patriarch of a massive family, one that includes people he never expected to be a part of said family, and he’s helped them grow along the way in fine fashion. 

​For proof of that, look no further than Martin Riggs’ journey in this tale. Because the Riggs we meet in this entry, is quite the functional and responsible adult. He’s cut his hair and he handles his business like a pro and he’s once again in a successful relationship with a baby on the way and this is just… powerful stuff to see. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Riggs was ready to end his life in violent fashion, and he was taking all kinds of risks to end the pain surging through his heart. But Roger’s care and friendship brought him back from the brink and we’ve slowly watched Martin become a better man for it and really, his arc here and his decision to let his wife go and move on in life with Lorna is beautiful when all is said and done. Because it shows us that things do get better over time, and people do heal with the right support system around them and when they do, they can find the happiness they’ve so desperately searched for.
 
But while that makes for some feel good entertainment for certain, I did make mention of some flaws in this motion picture and those are unfortunately related to the plot. Because this story provides us with our first one-dimensional baddie in this franchise since Wan Sing Ku only exists to wail on people and really has no plan outside of getting his hands on the Hongs and that’s a shame since every villain that preceded him offered so much more than angry looks toward the camera, and that also wastes Li’s skills as an actor. Plus, the case in and of itself feels like an afterthought at times and much of the investigation gives way to opportunities for the cast to ad-lib and offer up some chuckles. And while there are indeed some hard laughs to be found during these sequences, such as the scene involving nitrous oxide, it’s unfortunate that a series known for quality villains and engrossing cases saves its weakest one for last.
 
However, the strong performances in this story, and the proper wrap up of eleven years of storytelling allows for one to forgive any missteps in this tale. Because you really do get to say a proper goodbye to everyone that you’ve come to know and love in this story, since this genuinely was the grand finale of a series that took on us quite the wild ride, and it really is touching to see that great care went into giving these iconic characters a solid send off, by way of plenty of what the audience loves. Because the action is sublime, and the comedy feels as natural as ever. If anything, I’m just glad that this saga came to a close on its own terms and that we don’t have to reflect upon films that were just awful in nature, and while Lethal Weapon did return briefly as a television series, the strange moments surrounding that series and its sanitized quality don’t diminish what this film franchise accomplished in the slightest and its one that I revisit often. Simply because it was a police saga unlike any other and truly, I don’t think the wonder of this one will ever be replicated again. 

When it comes to film franchises as a whole, there appears to be some unspoken rules that need to apply to later entries in said franchise and often times, none of those rules are good for the audience in the slightest. Take for example the third film in a particular saga. For this is when everyone involved seems to believe that bigger plots and more characters are the best formula for wowing the audience after a quality Part 2, which is why we see some stunt casting with big names in these roles, and more explosions or wow moments than we can count. But sadly, while this notion seems to work on paper, it tends to drive audiences away and there’s solid reason for that.
 
Because people come to sequels expecting something far different. Sure, they’re good with a bigger and bolder story, but they want growth from their favorite characters, and they want the story to drive that. Plus, they’re fine with stunt casting and new characters, but they need to do more than just be part of the scenery or a gimmick. They too need to play into the story properly and potentially help our characters reach new heights. If anything, it is rare to find sequels that meet these particular criteria, but it does happen from time to time and the ones that do, are truly magical films in their in own right, and back in 1992, the Lethal Weapon franchise brought forth a quality third entry, one that didn’t ruin or damage the franchise in the slightest in Lethal Weapon 3.
 
Now one of the more impressive aspects of this particular sequel, is that while this movie does indeed follow some of the unspoken rules, we discussed a few moments ago, it does everything within its power to ensure that they don’t get out of hand or silly so that the audience enjoys an organic experience and for proof, well look no further than the action sequences. Because they are definitely bigger and bolder, I mean come on… they blow up an entire building at the start of the film. But at no point do the explosions seem out of place and every tense moment fits perfectly within the framework of the story and helps to advance the plot and that’s just delightful and that courtesy is extended to our new addition to the cast as well. For Rene Russo’s arrival as Internal Affairs Officer Lorna Cole could have gone off the rails quite easily, but her character is perfectly tailored to the story and she oddly enough is the perfect foil to Riggs and helps him grow as the story moves along. 

​But truly, there are two elements in this story that blow me away above anything else and one of them, is the subplot involving Roger’s son and the bad crowd he hangs out with. For this is every single parent’s nightmare and being forced to gun down one of son’s buddies when he’s in the middle of some nefarious affairs is a stunning twist to say the least, one that is handled in brilliant fashion when it comes to the aftermath of that tense shootout. Because Murtaugh is badly shaken by being forced to shoot a kid, and that kind of realism is something you just don’t see in action films in the slightest and I have to admit, it takes some guts to write a segment into the script where you see the true humanity of one of the hardened heroes. And it honestly makes for one of the most moving moments in the franchise for Roger Murtaugh, and this arc also features a wonderful performance from Danny Glover.
 
As for the other big element I made mention of, well that would be our villain; former LAPD Officer Jack Travis. Because this character is really what could have allowed for the story to go into silly territory had Travis turned out to be some one-dimensional psychopath with grand ideas for chaos and mayhem. But instead, this man is actually quite the fascinating villain. Because he’s not out for revenge or bloodshed. He just doesn’t believe in good anymore. For his time in the LAPD clearly jaded him and made him believe that trying to do good in the world is futile and foolish and that oddly enough, makes him one of the most dynamic and realistic baddies to ever grace this franchise. Because he’s no fallen solider looking for a taste of the good life, nor is he drunk with power, he’s just a regular dude that doesn’t give a crap about anyone or anything and that’s dangerous when all is said and done.
 
In the end however, I have to be honest in saying that this is my favorite entry in the franchise. Simply because it really is that perfect blend of bravado and brilliance and every single character is given quality growth, even Leo Getz, since he’s now gone from scum of the earth to real estate agent. Plus, the comedy is still top notch in this particular tale. For the fallout from the bomb squad incident is just downright hilarious since I didn’t think we’d ever see Riggs and Murtaugh back on the beat and truly, the hell these guys put Leo through when he gets shot is equally as funny and we also need to take a moment and talk about Martin Riggs’ journey in this tale as well. Because at long last, we see him in a wonderful place, and it is quite satisfying to see a character as lost as he is come back from the darkness and find happiness and oddly enough, his wonderful arc would serve as the framework for the grand finale of this wondrous series. 

I think we can all agree upon the fact that police stories tend to operate within a fairly obvious structure storytelling wise. For these tales often involve the introduction of our intrepid hero cop, a person who believes in good over all things and commits no wrong and they of course must face off against a force of great evil that wishes to commit crimes for various reasons, and these two eventually square off against one another in epic fashion and the story ends with our hero triumphant and justice being served. While that may make police stories sound boring in their own right, that formula works time and time again and people do eat it up on a regular basis because let’s be honest, it makes us feel good to see the light triumph over the dark.
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But it is formula, and it is something we see on a consistent basis and that’s why it is always refreshing to run into a cop story that finds a way to operate in the grayer areas of life. Because few things in this world are black and white and police officers are people too, complete with flaws and fears and they make mistakes and poor choices like the rest of us. But you also have to appreciate stories that take the time to present villains in different light as well. Because more often than not in stories, their quest for blood is the result of a mistake or some form or trauma, when in reality, bad guys and bad gals do bad things simply because they can sometimes and what’s incredible, is that all of these elements are present within the framework of the second film of a wildly popular franchise and they help to make Lethal Weapon 2 a powerful and memorable chapter in this magnificent saga.

Because this is the film that presents Riggs and Murtaugh in a far more human light, Riggs especially. For in this tale we see him taking the next steps in his recovery from the ugly place he resided within in the last film and watching him grow and seeing Murtaugh and his family help him to do so is uplifting and inspiring. If anything, it speaks to the wonder of what the right close friend can do for us since they prop us up and stand by us regardless of our mistakes or dark moments and that’s crucial later in the film when we see Riggs slip into darker territory after learning about how his wife really died. And that slight downward spiral for Riggs, and Murtaugh’s support of his friend, is what sets the stage for the grayer territory in question because the man wants and gets what any of us would desire in that moment; revenge.

In fact, seeing Martin let his fury take hold makes for some powerfully relatable moments for the audience, since Riggs’ blind fury is something, we’ve all experienced at those who have wronged us. Granted, I don’t think any of us have taken our pickup truck and ripped down a house that’s built into the side of a mountain, but we’ve definitely let that fury take hold and said things in the heat of the moment that we regret and really, it’s just stunning to find this exploration in an action film. Because these movies are supposed to be about the spectacle and the explosions and while there is still plenty of that to be found here, finding a relatable moment, one that you kind of feel the need to cheer for is magnificent to say the least.
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However, I also made mention of the fact that our villains aren’t immune from this different style of storytelling, and I truly appreciated that Arjen Rudd is a bad guy that simply relishes in being bad. He loves his status and his standing as a diplomat and since he is granted immunity, in his mind why wouldn’t he take full advantage of that and game the system and earn some coin and kill people if he so chooses? And his nonchalant attitude toward the law and morality is what makes him so lethal and disturbing and perhaps the toughest and most twisted villain that Riggs and Murtaugh ever face and his brand of evil is what allows for the audience to further root for Riggs’ revenge plot. Because you want justice when it comes to this guy, because nobody gets to do what they want without consequences

Yet while this script goes to some far darker places in this tale, since there is nothing pleasant about exploring the nature of revenge, there’s still a lot of fun to be found in this film. For the action is as thrilling as ever, and bigger in many ways, and for proof look no further than the beachside attack scene or the aforementioned house drop. Plus, the comedy is as sharp as ever thanks to the addition of Joe Pesci to the cast. For his manic portrayal of Leo Getz leads to some genuinely delightful moments and really in the end, this is one of those flawless sequels, the kind that exceeds the quality of the original and clearly, audiences felt the same way that I do. For this movie was a box office smash, one that established Riggs and Murtaugh as a genuine box office draw and one that prompted another quality sequel.  

The 1980s were truly a magical time for cinema. For not only did they bring about an outright revolution in special effects, since the blockbuster dominated the decade and took our breath away in the process, this is an era of cinema that also found ways to reinvent the old and bring about familiar concepts that were quickly embraced by audiences. After all, this is the decade where the old adventure serials were given new life by way of Indiana Jones, and seeing a concept from the 1940s find new footing in the late 20th Century, allowed for a bevy of screenwriters and directors to offer up unique new twists on older ideas, with mixed results of course.
 
Because some of these stories were nothing more than stone cold cash grabs that really went nowhere when all is said and done. But there were still some wonderful ideas to be explored as the decade began to wind down, courtesy of a previously unknown screenwriter named Shane Black. Because this young man wondered what would happen, if someone took some of the buddy comedies that enjoyed great success in the late 1970s and early 1980s and combined the best parts of those stories with concepts from gritty crime dramas and the Noir that permeated the landscape of Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s. And the end result of this experiment was nothing short of brilliant since Lethal Weapon quickly became a motion picture that was beloved by all.
 
Now if you’re reading this particular review, you’ve seen this movie, probably quite a few times. Which means there’s no need to talk about the plot in the slightest. Instead, it’s best we examine all of the wonderful elements that went into this script to make it so memorable because it really is one of the finest police stories ever assembled and the first real way it accomplishes that accolade is by way of its characters. For Riggs and Murtaugh really are the perfect odd couple, but rather than be as quirky as the same characters who shared an apartment on television, these two are as human and as relatable as they come. For we’ve all been like Murtaugh, where we are desperate to find balance between our personal life and the things we love, and we’ve all felt the unbridled rage at the world that Riggs felt, when we’ve suffered some serious hurt. 

​In fact, I would venture to say that this is one of the first times in modern cinema that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is portrayed in realistic fashion on the silver screen and Mel Gibson does a phenomenal job of giving us a Martin Riggs that is desperate to find meaning in what he does since everything that ever mattered to him, has been taken from him. Yet that level of depth realism and character wise is extended far beyond our two leads since this dynamic duo are forced to deal with quite the gritty case, one that unfolds in organic fashion and one that works well within the Christmas setting for the film. And oddly enough, that holiday backdrop also helps to add to the realism present in this film since it serves as a harsh reminder that crime never really takes any time off and bad things happen during the Yuletide season as well.
 
Yet I made mention of the fact that this motion picture resurrects a sense of Noir and that’s honestly something I didn’t notice was present in this story until recently. Because the perfect blend of humor and action (more on that in a moment) help to disguise the fact that gritter elements are present here. But when you examine the story closely, you see that this movie takes the time to show us a Los Angeles where two sides to the coin exists. Take for example, the opening sequence of the film. Wherein the beauty and grandeur of L.A. is put on full display, only to have that façade shattered when a young woman dives from her high-rise apartment, high on tainted drugs. Plus the mansion scene also backs this up since we are treated to an environment that should exude peace and tranquility, only to have it disturbed by violence in the extreme and it just fascinating to see a modern motion picture provide its audience with a dynamic such as this, one that shows us a seedy underbelly to the city of Angels.
 
However, while all of these elements are fascinating in their own right, the final ingredients that make this movie so successful, are its action and comedy elements. Because the action sequences are breathtaking and intense and the comedic moments are outright hilarious in their own right, something enhanced by the natural on-screen chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson and truly, this movie is just a delight. Because it’s intelligent and thoughtful and it features a quality and gritty story through and through, and most of all… it’s just plain fun. And this motion picture did such a good job with the example it set forth, that so many tried to replicate its magic after it arrived with little success and their failures can be attributed to one thing; you simply cannot recreate the magic of an instant classic. 

There are always two sides to every story, especially when it comes to the holiday shopping season. Because, every year we battle traffic, fight for parking and deal with rude people and massive crowds all in the hopes of picking up that perfect gift for the people we love.  

Yet while we deal with those horrible things, we often forget about the other side of the coin...the employees who help us out in this hectic season. They too deal with the good, the bad and the ugly and often do it with a smile on their faces. But what if one of those employees wanted to take advantage of this busy season and earn a little payback by way of free cash? It's a question that is posed and quickly answered in twisted fashion in the hilarious dark comedy...Bad Santa. 

Willie and Marcus make up one miserable but successful holiday team. Willie is a Mall Santa, and Marcus is his elf. Every year they move from town to town, flashing a grin in front of the kids as they bide their time to rob the store they work for blind, living off of their score until the Christmas season rolls around again. But this year may go differently, for with the new friend that Willie has made and the fact that their plot has been discovered by mall security, this year's score may be their last.  

​I'm not kidding when I said earlier that this comedy is dark, because this film delves into some depressing territory. Willie is a raging alcoholic and generally a bad human being. Marcus is a ruthless man hell-bent on the score and nothing more and with main characters this unsavory one would think that a film like this should be skipped. But that is simply not the case.  

Bad Santa is flat out hilarious through and through. Joke after joke will leave your sides hurting from all of the laughter and that's the first big thing that redeems this film from being a depressing holiday flick about a drunk who rips off malls for a living. But what truly manages to save this film from going too far off the deep end is that it is deceiving in many ways. Because despite it's dark nature, it is really a story of Christmas cheer as we watch Willie go from awful drunk to well...believe it or not a hero.
 
It's a classic story of holiday redemption that manages to sneak up on you thanks to the fine performances turned in by the cast since Billy Bob Thornton and the late Bernie Mac and the late John Ritter are just amazing to watch on screen. Either way, this is a holiday movie worth watching. With a great cast, solid laughs and a story that in its own warped way manages to hold up the idealism of so many Christmas classics, you'll be glad you sat down to watch it.  

I don’t know what it felt like May 25, 1983 when Return of the Jedi was released. I can’t remember disappointment, or elation, or apathy because I wasn’t there. I hadn’t been born yet. ROTJ was just part of the trilogy, it existed, without question. It belonged there because that’s all of Star Wars that existed. And it was the end of Star Wars. 
 
I do remember what it felt like coming out of Revenge of the Sith. I experienced that on the walk from the theater to the car with my family. I remember I was sad. Like a light had gone out in the world. Not because I thought the movie was bad, I remember enjoying it quite a lot. I enjoyed all the prequels as they came out. It was Star Wars. It was brand new Star Wars, and it was awesome. As I walked to the car, and on the ride home, right up until we put our VHS copy of A New Hope in the VCR, I felt like it was really over. That we’d never have Star Wars again. 
 
I can’t really pin down what it felt like coming out of The Rise of Skywalker. I know the first review I sent was a text to my friend: a GIF of a shrugging Tony Stark and the words, “It’s not bad but I rolled my eyes a lot.” And as I poured over the impressions of others on Twitter last night and skimmed a few review videos this morning, searching in that millennial way for validation of my feelings I said to my partner what I’ve said a thousand times before in relation to Star Wars, “I hate this thing I love.” 
 
I think we all do, and I think Star Wars is perhaps the most visual fandom where this is the case. I think we feel such extreme emotion, such acute dejection, because they’re stories that touched our soul. They showed a world that never was, in which magic and adventure, friendship and hope could win out, spur us on, and make the impossible attainable. And when that promise, that light falls short of what we’ve projected it to mean, to be about, what it’s supposed to do, we feel betrayed, misled, abandoned. I don’t know that I’m reviewing a movie, or diagnosing fandom disappointment, or doing both very poorly, but I hope that my reflections here ring true, or at the very least come across as earnest as they are intended. 
 
The Emperor is back, and he’s spent the years since his fall amassing a fleet of superlaser equipped Star Destroyers which he calls the “Final Order.” Supreme Leader Kylo Ren travels to the unknown regions of the galaxy to the lost planet of Exegol where Palpatine reveals that he was indeed behind Snoke and strikes a deal with Ren, exchanging the might of his fleet for the death of Rey. Finn, Poe, and Chewie retrieve a message from a spy embedded in the ranks of the First Order revealing the return of the Emperor and the fleet. Rey continuing her Jedi training under the tutelage of General Leia Organa recognizes the planet Exegol from a journal of the late Master Luke Skywalker who had tried to find the mysterious Sith world before shutting himself off from the force. Poe, Finn, Rey, Chewie, and C-3PO set out to the last planet Skywalker had visited in search of a clue which would lead him to a map to Exegol. 
 
The adventurers discover a Sith dagger inscribed with the clue, but in a rare moment of ineptitude, C-3PO is unable to translate it because of some outdated security software. Before leaving the planet, Chewbacca is captured by the Knights of Ren and Kylo and Rey fight a force pull tug of war over the troop carrier the Knights are departing in. Frustrated and incensed by Kylo’s presence, Rey inadvertently destroys the ship with the all too familiar blue lightning made famous by the Emperor himself. Shaken by the loss of Chewie, the crew head to an old haunt of Poe Dameron’s in search of a droid technician with the ability to bypass C-3PO’s security measures. 3PO (who shines throughout this whole movie) agrees to the dangerous procedure with the knowledge that doing so will wipe out his memories. While attempting to sneak past the First Order on the planet Kijimi, Poe is confronted by an old flame Zorii Bliss who decides to help the crew find the droid tech (rather than blow Dameron to smithereens). The dagger inscription is decoded revealing that the map to Exegol is in the Emperor’s chambers in the wreckage of the second Death Star on one of the moons of Endor. 
 
Once 3PO’s mind has been wiped, Rey senses Chewbacca’s presence on Kylo Ren’s command ship above the surface of Kijimi and they rocket toward the ship to rescue him. Rey separates from the group in search of the Sith dagger and speaks to Kylo through their connection in the force. Ren reveals that her parents were no one because they chose to be, but that her parentage is not so obscure as she believes. Poe and Finn manage to rescue Chewie only to be caught themselves and sentenced to death, but General Hux who happens to be the spy that sent them the warning about the Final Order fleet, saves them. Poe, Finn, and Chewie escape via the Millennium Falcon, and Kylo confronts Rey on the landing platform of his command ship. Rey demands to know her parents’ origins and Kylo tells her that she is the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine whose son and daughter in-law left Rey on Jakku to protect her from her grandfather’s machinations. Floored by this, but not destroyed Rey jumps from the landing platform to the lowered ramp of the Falcon and escapes. 
 
They then travel to the moon of Endor and Rey uses the outline of the dagger to pinpoint the exact location of Palpatine’s chambers. She enters them and finds the map to Exegol but is then confronted by a force vision of herself, turned to the Darkside, wielding a dual-bladed lightsaber. After crossing blades with this apparitional representation of her worst fear, Rey escapes only to be confronted again by Kylo Ren. As the two dual dodge the crashing waves of the second Death Star’s watery grave, General Organa has an epiphany and reaches out to her son through the Force for one last time trying to save his soul. Her call out to him gives him pause, long enough for Rey to plunge her saber through his chest. Leia passes from this last exertion, and Rey instead of allowing her enemy to die, heals Kylo’s wound with the force before leaving him stranded and taking his ship. 

Rey retreats to the planet of Luke Skywalker’s exile, Ahch-to, and destroys the ship she stole from Kylo, and as she moves to throw her lightsaber into the fiery wreckage of the fighter, the Force ghost of Luke appears to stay her hand. Rey explains her desire to follow from Luke’s example, to cut herself off from the force in order to prevent herself from living up to her family name. Luke imparts to her that the cause for which he and Leia fought, the cause that Rey is now fighting for is more powerful than blood and gives her Leia’s lightsaber, his old X-wing, and points out that Kylo had the map to Exegol in his ship. 
 
Poe and Finn return to the Resistance base of operations and are told that Leia has passed, and that Poe has been named as commander of the Resistance. As they are reeling from the weight of their new positions of command, they receive navigation instructions from Rey who is making her way to Exegol. They devise a plan to knock out the navigation tower on the planet’s surface to prevent the deployment of the Final Order fleet and send Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian to call for help from the major systems to make their final stand against the Emperor’s forces. As Rey enters the subterranean lair of the mechanically sustained Emperor, we cut back to Kylo Ren who, shaken by the mercy of his rival and the plea of his mother is then confronted by the memory of his father. Han Solo returns, not as a Force ghost but perhaps just within the mind of Kylo and gives his son the opportunity to replay their last encounter, and this time Ben Solo emerges and rejects the cruel weapon of the dark side. 

Rey confronts the Emperor at the center of his legion of Sith cult followers and it is revealed to her that it was never his intention to kill her. His plan was to have her kill him and absorb the power of all of the Sith that had come before so that she might sit upon his throne, the Empress Palpatine by birthright. Ben arrives, defeats the Knights of Ren and stands by Rey’s side as a huge number of ships arrive to render aid to the despairing Poe Dameron whose plan seems to be unraveling. The Emperor then saps the life from Rey and Ben, restoring himself to his former abilities and turns his awesome might skyward, ripping apart the ships of the Resistance with crackling tendrils of blue lightning. Rey calls out to the Jedi of the past, calling for them to “be with me” and hears the voices of Anakin, Luke, Leia, Mace Windu, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Qui-Gon Jinn who rally her to confront the Emperor, rebounding his lightning with the crossed lightsabers of Luke and Leia. The Emperor defeated and the fleet halted, Rey collapses, dead by all accounts until Ben heals her through the Force and takes her place dissolving into the Force, redeemed at last. 
 
Rey returns to the Lars moisture farm on Tatooine and lays the Skywalker lightsabers to rest, sporting her own yellow bladed weapon, and as she turns to leave a weather-beaten traveler asks her, her name, and she responds, “Rey Skywalker.”
 
Look, it’s far from the worst Star Wars Film, and if I’m honest there aren’t many things, I would prefer to watch over even a bad Star Wars film. As a staunch defender of The Last Jedi and its cavalier rejection of much of The Force Awakens’ mysteries, my gut reaction to the damage control J.J. Abrams does throughout this film is disgust. There are so many efforts to discount and reject the stance of Rian Johnson’s film and since I liked all those things, it frustrated me. But if I’m honest with myself it’s just Abrams doing the same thing to Johnson that Johnson did to him. I can’t really fault Abrams for giving the finger to Johnson just because I liked the philosophy behind the finger that Johnson gave to him. 
 
What was so disappointing in this film for me was how safe all of the choices were, but also how non-committal some of the pretty shocking and interesting choices were. Teasing Chewie’s death at the hand of Rey, which was such a gut-check moment and would have been such an interesting and conflicting character development is utterly pointless and frustrating when it’s revealed to not have happened. It feels like Abrams himself couldn’t decide which lane to choose. Also, General Hux turning out to be a spy really goes nowhere and was ultimately just an excuse to move the plot along. Finally, with Rey’s stabbing Kylo, seeming to kill him only to heal him seconds later just seemed to undermine the finality, the darkness that Rey had demonstrated in trying to cut him down as his mother called out to him. It seemed to put Rey in a position where her actions had no real consequences. 
 
I’m also frustrated with the “follow the journal to find the clue, to find the map, but translate the clue, and the outline of the dagger is also part of a map, to find the map” McGuffin inception nature of the plot, which I think stems mainly from Abrams attempting to cram two movies worth of quest and discovery into one film. There were just too many deviations and qualifications to the search for Exegol to engage with where no leg of that journey seemed useful or necessary to the extent that it should be a major plot point. I also need to just say briefly that Rey being a Palpatine (as confusing and unlikely as Palpatine having children would be) really adds nothing to her character and seems like a pretty ham-fisted attempt to explain away her strength in the force. I know this is one of the main theses of Last Jedi and Abrams is “correcting” it but it’s an example of those course corrections that I like least. 
 
On the positive side, this is the most I’ve liked C-3PO. I have to give that to Abrams and Anthony Daniels. I think the character dynamics in this film are really solid. I liked Poe, Finn, and Rey all together and quipping back and forth. I love the film visually. The lightsaber battles were solid, and Palpatine’s Sith lair was really creepy and ominous. I’m disappointed and deflated but its Star Wars. I’ll most likely see it again in theaters because why wouldn’t I? It was safe and I think it will likely be a crowd pleaser, but I just don’t think that it pushes any boundaries or works to surprise you. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or on Twitter @JoelT18. Until Next Time, Geek On!

The brilliance of Rian Johnson’s latest installment in the grandest of movie franchises is difficult to put into words. Is it a perfect film? Far from it. Is it a true Star Wars film? What the hell does that even mean? One thing is clear about this installment: It doesn’t care what you think Star Wars is, or should be. And that’s incredibly ambitious, and ultimately successful.

We spent 2 years agonizing about who Snoke is, who Rey’s parents are, and what Luke has been doing this whole time, and Rian’s response to the Star Wars fan tendency to speculate was to undermine every assumption we made. It doesn’t matter who Snoke was because he’s dead now, Rey is a nobody sired by nobodies, and Luke doesn’t live up to the legend we’d built him up to be even to himself. What we’re left with is the powerful theme of learning from failure, the more developed and nuanced conflict between Kylo Ren and Rey, and the desperation of a new Rebellion.

I’ve always speculated about how things played out in the Star Wars Universe. I’ve debated for hours over the origin of Blue Milk, what fuels the economy of Tatooine, and how Jar Jar (yes Jar Jar) knows what the currency Wuipiupi is in Episode 1, but it was never with the knowledge that at some point down the line I would get any answers. Sure there were the Expanded Universe books before the canon shake-up and the Prequels filled in some blanks that we never wanted filled in, but until the credits rolled on Force Awakens, whatever speculation we had about what happened after Return of the Jedi had been completely hypothetical. Where we are now with the Star Wars story is simply uncharted territory for us. Before we had all this time to speculate about a hypothetical future narrative that we never thought would come. Now that we have new primary sources we’ve been thrown all out of whack.

Ultimately the hotshot Star Wars sensibility we’ve come to expect from these films, of Luke destroying the Death Star, Wedge Antilles and Lando destroying the second Death Star, Poe Dameron and Company destroying Starkiller base (Death Star 3), Jyn Erso and Company infiltrating Scarif to steal the plans to the Death Star, and a dozen examples in the prequels of lone Jedi tearing through battle droids or fighters taking the fate of the galaxy into their hands, is shown to be the ridiculous, vainglorious folly that it has always been. Poe’s roguish defiance gets a lot of Resistance pilots killed in the very first action sequence of the movie, and his desperate last-ditch plan that sends newcomer Rose and Finn on a momentum killing, CGI heavy wild codebreaker chase, allows the First Order to nearly eradicate the dwindling Resistance forces. The Last Jedi is all about acknowledging and ultimately rejecting the hubris that we loved to see in Han Solo, Darth Vader, Luke, the Sith, and the Jedi. This is not to the detriment of the film or the franchise!

Last Jedi is a gut check to the hubris of the speculative fan as well. By undermining the importance of Rey’s parentage and Snoke’s identity in particular, Johnson boldly asserts that this story is about Rey and Kylo, about the First Order and a newborn Rebellion, and speculate as you might, this story will not be contained by expectation or speculation. Star Wars rolls on, fanboys be damned.

I’ve mostly discussed the spirit of the film, so to move on to the review proper, Episode VIII is ambitious, fun, and action-packed. With a meandering second act, a touch of choppy robotic acting (and I’m not referring to the droids here) in the first few scenes, and a few too many possible endings after the third act, Last Jedi is far from perfect but the best bits of the film are among the best in the whole of Star Wars canon. Luke, Rey, and Kylo’s storyline is beautifully executed showing how nuanced and interesting the relationship between Rey and Kylo has become, and how Luke’s failure with Ben Solo leads him to confront his apprentice one last time free of hubris. Watching Rey and Kylo dispatch a room of red-clad First Order Guards after the shocking murder of Snoke and seeing Luke and Kylo face off that final time were probably the most spectacular sequences I’ve ever seen in Star Wars (excepting the Vader scene at the end of Rogue One). Yoda’s back and better than ever, offering sage and cryptic advice once again to the disheartened Skywalker as a blue tinged force ghost. Poe has an interesting character arc as he withdraws from his hotshot pilot instincts to retreat and preserve the dramatically reduced Resistance forces.

But his arc is also a problematic one as a lot of people had to die for him to learn and grow. Newcomer Rose is a great addition though again her and Finn’s subplot drags quite a bit. Finn doesn’t have a whole lot to do in this film besides a quick bout with a still incompetent Phasma who appears to die in a raging fire. This was particularly disappointing as Phasma is a character who has been woefully underdeveloped in two films now. Vice Admiral Holdo is initially frustrating but ultimately the slap of reality we needed to shake us out of our hotshot complex, and her final hour sacrifice is perhaps the most spectacular thing I’ve ever seen on the silver screen. Mark Hamill is back with a vengeance, the late great Carrie Fisher is outstanding (though Leia pulls one of the silliest force tricks ever #MaryPoppinsYall), and besides the few early awkward line deliveries I mentioned earlier the cast really shined.

It’s a good movie, not without its issues, but it’s landed securely in my top three Star Wars Films list. The Star Wars universe continues to expand and grow, and I sincerely hope that Rian Johnson’s boldness in The Last Jedi ushers in a new era of films that will continue to inspire, awe, and frustrate us for many years to come. Until next time, Geek On!

Now if you were like me, the only thing I knew about this movie when it came out, is what I saw in the trailer and read on IMDB, so I had really no idea about what the actual storyline was and who the baddies really were. But I could not hold in my excitement to see the movie and with J.J. Abrams leading the way, I was sure I would not be disappointed and to tell you the truth, I was not at all. So, let’s jump into my first attempt at a 100% spoiler free review.

Ladies and gentlemen, John Williams is back and strikes a powerful score that has not captured my emotions in over thirty years. Openly, I have watched the prequels and none of them really seemed to capture my attention as much as this movie did. Hearing the strings play the Star Wars theme while the opening credits came on the screen brought me back to my youth and I could not help but to tear up when hearing it again. As the movie played on, the score stayed right on pace with the action and it appears that John Williams has not lost a beat when it comes to making you feel things without saying a word.

When your old favorites take to the screen, Han Solo and Chewbacca are just as magical as they were in Return of the Jedi. With the same type of humor that made us fall in love with these smugglers, you pretty much forget the fact that it's been forever since we have seen these two on screen together. I know we were all worried that Harrison Ford would not make it through the shoot with his plane crashes and earrings, but when you see Han back on the screen, you never want to see him leave again. Call them what you will, smugglers, nerf herders or scoundrels, they are the same as they will always be and never let their friends down. Leia is still working with the Rebellion, now known as the Resistance and one thing that I loved about seeing Carrie Fisher once again is that she still holds the hatred for anyone that is trying to hold people down and C-3P0 is just as badly timed as he ever was when it comes to giving his observations.  

The creatures and aliens in this movie are as epic as ever. Sure, there is some CGI here and there, but you can still see some of the classic makeup and masks that made this series great so long ago. You get to see several different species in a mixer and some you will recognize from your readings of the Star Wars universe which made it a bit more enjoyable. Knowing that the original Extended Universe has been taken out of the storyline, it is nice to see that Abrams did not kill it off completely. And the droids do not disappoint as well, you get to see some of the old along with some of the new like BB-8 who run freely over the planets.

​The family dynamic that is present in all of the Star Wars movies is still there and I think this is what makes the series so special. Wanting to do what is best for a son, daughter, wife, husband or friend, or you, this continues and with a different director in charge, and I was initially worried that this would be placed in the background. It was not and I know that is why I like this movie as much as I do. You get to see the emotions that the original trilogy made you cry over and while there may be some dysfunction around the universe, family always comes first.

And finally, the action sequences. One thing that J.J. Abrams is good at is action, if you have not noticed yet, and the scenes in this movie are nothing less than astounding. But there are two ships that I was been dying to see that brought tears to my eyes. The first, of course was the Millennium Falcon. Seeing this old bird in action once again made me very happy and I even squealed a little bit when it took its first flight. The second was seeing the X-Wing and when it engaged for combat. I know I am a little bit of a dork when it comes to this, but seeing the wings open up takes me back to the better days when there were pilots who actually knew how to fly these ships to take down the Empire. I must throw a shout out to the TIE Fighters, you saw them in battle in the trailers, but upon further review, they have been updated a little bit and are just a little bit cooler than you might remember them to be.

Well there you have it, and I hope that every time you watch this movie, you are brought back to the good old days of the series, I know I was sent back to my childhood with plenty of joy. My biggest takeaway from this movie is that change is not a bad thing and BB-8 proved that to me in so many ways.  Although I am still not sure how people are able to understand droids, it must be a planetary thing. The new comers are great and I cannot wait to see what they bring to the table in The Rise of Skywalker. Oh, and by the way...May the Force be with you (I always wanted to type that).