Battlefront: Twilight Company

I purchased this book recently and am enjoying it fully. I read books along with the audiobook to have full immersion while reading. This book is a delight to read as well. The characters are unique, their attitudes are relatable, and the settings are very "Star Wars." 

Star Wars Trailer #3 Breakdown

Ok ok ok, in the words of the almighty Matthew McConaughey, "Alright, alright, alright." Let's get to this trailer. I'm gonna just go through it scene by scene so just pretend you're watching, watch it, or go here and follow the screen grabs:

http://imgur.com/a/p1RDg

So I am happy that it starts out on Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. I wanna see her story more than Finn and his, yknow? I'm guessing she's one side of our Luke Skywalker-esque role and Finn is kinda the other half; the "dark side" if you will allow the pun. But she is a very interesting character, namely that I'm hoping she's a Jedi, and I'm hoping she isn't just a "nobody" like she says in the trailer. 

It shows her scavenging in the crashed Star Destroyer from the book "Lost Stars" (read it, it's good), and being sad cause she probably wants to leave Jakku cause it's all sand and we know how Anakin felt about sand from the PT. Love her face, love her accent. It's the accent of a Jedi, in my opinion. 

Next is Finn (John Boyega) and his intro. He was raised to do one thing, meaning he was probably raised in/by the First Order, not enlisted. That's interesting because he may have a past akin to Han Solo who, in the old Legends EU, was in the Empire but later left, much like what Finn here seems to do. So I'm thinking if they keep Han's backstory from the Legends it'll be cool cause he'll have something in common with Finn here.

Next is Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his intro, which is one of my favorite parts cause he's, well, he is awesome is what he is. He's looking out at a red...uh, lens flare (JJ Abrams everyone), I guess. I'm guessing this is the Starkiller Base we have heard so little about, firing at...something. He's going to "finish what Vader started," huh? What did Vader start, exactly? Hm, well I doubt Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) knows, as it looks like it hurts him to be mind probed with the Force. But we will see. Maybe he's on the toilet and Kylo comes in at the wrong moment, idk. Oh and here's some trees blowing up in a red...um, lens flare again (c'mon JJ), which I'm guessing that's what Kylo was watching. Maybe it's blowing up Endor or something, idk. Bye bye Ewoks, right?

Next is the Falcon flying through the wreckage on Jakku. ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE MUSIC CHOSEN HERE. Honestly the music makes this bit so good. And then we get Rey asking about "stories" from the past, to which Han says, "they're true, all of them. The dark side, the Jedi." Or something like that. This is interesting cause if you think about it, the Jedi were all but a myth by Return of the Jedi, and the Sith were destroyed after that. But the general populace didn't know anything about either, so of course Rey and Finn have no clue or little clue of what they are or were. And here Han was a firsthand witness to both, so he can confirm that yes they are real. Looks like the Falcon has a hologram of planets here, which is cool. 

Quick cuts here. Hyperspace, "This Christmas," and then, BOOM..........the best shot (for me at least): Kylo and six other cloaked and helmeted people in the rain. THE. KNIGHTS. OF. REN. Two guys have staffs (staves?) like Rey, two guys have guns I think, and one guy to the left of Kylo in the back has what looks like a buster sword, like Cloud in FFVII. Guh it's so awesome looking. Oh, and all those dead bodies all around?? What'd you DO, KYLO? WHATS WRONG WITH YOUR FACEEEE?

Some battles ensue, some things blowing up, and then Han, Rey, Finn, and BB-8 walking into a heavily bannered building. One banner in particular is the Mandolorian symbol Boba Fett has on his shoulder armor, so that's cool. I'm guessing this is the pirate bar. Very cool. Cause I'm thinking the chick taking to Rey in this trailer is Maz Kanata (Lupita N'yongo), who is on the poster I think too. Which is cool to finally SEE. 

Things go by in a flash here; Kylos ship, Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) walking, Rey crying (I hope it's over Finn getting a limb hacked off and NOT from anyone dying, but we will see), Han and Chewie and Finn caught and looking surprised at something off-screen (interesting), BB-8 and Poe fighting TIEs on the snow planet, Rey shooting angrily (I'm guessing at Kylo or troopers), Han and Leia hugging while seemingly upset. This shot gives me hope that they're still in love in this film, maybe not married but still in love. That's cloudy as of right now though. 

And finally Finn fighting Kylo, who has his mask off. I was hoping we'd see his face in this one, and I'm hoping he is scarred up a bit. I mean, not that Adam Driver isn't the best looking hunk out there, but I don't want a clean faced hipster dude under a super awesome helmet like his. I want him to have at least one scar. Anyway, Finn has made a huge mistake, and it shows on his face here. Priceless. Can't wait to see that duel. 

All said and done, this raises my hype level to an 11. I'm very happy with the look and feel of it; it feels like Star Wars, and it looks like it too. I'm happy with what I know of the story for sure, and a lot was confirmed in this trailer, as far as what I've been reading of spoilers. But it's gonna be great to actually SEE. Wish I woulda gotten to see Luke in this one, but it's ok. Seeing the Knights of Ren was very cool, so I'm good. I wanna know about EACH ONE of those guys! 

Goo job JJ Abrahams! Can't wait to give you my money!

See you all next time. 

Shameless Self Promotion

For months I have been dark, but I cannot keep my silence any longer. Too many things have come to pass that I feel I MUST comment on. The inner nerd (and the outer one) can keep this vigil no longer. Movies, conspiracies, books, and even television have all seen additions that have made me come out of hibernation to ask you this one, simple question:

There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?

Seriously though, it’s time to return. I decided to take a break from writing this blog, which turned into an extended vacation of sorts. This led to a hiatus, which turned into a pit of loathing and self-deprecation, and a spiraling meltdown of the brain with endless questions of existence. Yes, woe is me. But woe is you too, since you have been without my words and thoughts for a long time. So here we go.

Getting right down to business, the first thing I want to talk about is STAR WARS!

Yes, the long awaited sequel to the original Star Wars trilogy is finally within sight, starting with “The Force Awakens.” It was around three years ago that Disney acquired the popular franchise from the king neckbeard himself, George Lucas. 

Can you believe that the next chapter of the popular space opera is filmed and being readied for consumption as of right this minute? It is truly amazing to think that in my lifetime alone I have seen the dormant OT (Original Trilogy circa 1977-1983) get a revision in the mid-90’s with the Special Edition, then get a PT (Prequel Trilogy, also known as “Utter Crap”), to now having the one of the largest and most widely known companies produce a brand new and fresh addition to the saga coming in December.

I can only imagine how some of you older ones feel, having witnessed the destruction of the dinosaurs and all the other historical events that make you old now seeing your inevitable end creeping closer. Oh, and also there is a new Star Wars for you to scratch your head at and ask, “W-what’s an Ewok?” or “Jabba the What?”

There are now three trailers out for this movie (which are each equally hype inducing), several books and comics to lead us through this “Journey to the Force Awakens,” and a television show that his bridging the gap between the PT and the OT, called “Star Wars Rebels.” I believe I have commented on this show in the past, and let me tell you, I was wrong.

“Star Wars Rebels” is in fact a pretty good show. Freddie Prinz Jr. doesn’t ruin any part of the show, and that stupid Ezra kid, while still stupid, isn’t as Jar Jar Binks as he initially came off as being. I could not have been farther from the truth with my initial feelings about the show. I has all the story and heart as the original movies do, with some twists and action elements that keep the viewer wanting to find out what happens. It is worth a look at, if you were wondering.

Secondly, I would like to switch gears and talk about one of the projects I have been working on for a few years now. It is a comic book that a friend and I have developed and will be released in December. It is called “The Red Hand.” You may have heard me talk about it either here on the blog or some other medium, but I assure you it IS a real thing that IS going to come out very soon.

Without giving the entire plot away, the basics of the story are as follows:

There is a man.

That is pretty much it. Thanks for reading my blog and may the force be with you!

I’m just joshing you, guy. Pffsh. 

The story is about a man named Matt Walker, a divorced father of one who works for a company that develops new tech and armor for the military. After a tragic death in his family, he sets out to bring justice to the one who caused it, and along the way unravels a mystery that is too big for anyone to ignore. Using prototype armor from the company he works for, he goes on a vigilante mission to find the man responsible for the death that cut him to the core and forced him to become the Red Hand. But far from being a superhero with powers or special abilities, Matt must fight his way through gangsters and thugs, all while battling his inner turmoil at losing a beloved family member.

Obviously there is more to the story than that. There are other characters and things that happen, but that is essentially it. The first page will be released in December, followed by the next page later in the week, or possibly the week after. Depending on how it all comes together we may do a bi-weekly release, rather than a weekly one. But the first issue is going to be kind of a trial-and-error process that will help us not only gauge the interest in the story but also gather other info that will help us as we release more. But we are excited and eager to show you all.

Expect more from me very soon here on the blog. I already have my breakdown of the newest Star Wars trailer, so look forward to that. But that is all for this edition of Night Rider. Stay tuned to see me in a clown costume bring new meaning to the phrase, “jump the shark.” Just like the Fonz did. Ayyyyyyyy. 

So long, jerks!

 

Come and rock me Doctor Zaius!

So I was pretty pumped to see this movie and I feel like my expectations were matched pretty evenly. As a fan of the originals and the reboot from 2011 (not the Tim Burton one), I was hoping for a film that held my interest, not confused or angered me.

I'm looking at you, Tim Burton.

Nothing can top the original from the 60's, but as long as an 'Apes' film stays in the same vein as its origin, it has the potential to do well. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (released in 2011) achieved this by introducing how the apes became sentient. This was a good starting point, especially because it didn't focus on evolution, but instead adopted a more scientific approach. It also focused on the apes and not the humans, unlike other movies.

I'm looking at you, GODZILLA.

I liked this new movie for those very reasons, with only a few nuanced reasons I didn't like. Read on for my review, and get your stinking paws off me!

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes place ten years after 'Rise' from 2011. Apes have built a thriving community in the woods of Muir forest in the San Fransisco area, and it's obvious they are better off that way. This film takes the idea of apes becoming sentient and exacerbates it, or speeds it up, showing how things have changed since the first ape became self aware by coming in contact with the monolith.

Wait...no...that's a different movie.

What I like about this is that while they are still very primitive, they do have a kind of intelligent culture developing. It's not like what is shown in the 60's film, but you can see how things are heading in that direction.

For example, they use a mixture of sign language and grunts as you'd expect, but also some actual words to communicate, which makes sense because of how their leader, Caesar, was brought up by the humans. Their language shows how intelligent they have become, but having the apes talk isn't used as a gimmick or trick like in other versions.

Still looking at you, Tim.

Tensions rise after a human runs into a couple of apes, gets scared, and shoots one dead. This leads Caesar to let the humans know just how things will proceed by telling them to stay away from their territory. The only problem is that mankind isn't as self sustaining as the apes.

Unlike the apes, the humans need power, as their fuels are running dangerously low. Their only hope is a dam that lays within the apes territory. The whole situation is a powder keg, and as you can guess, things don't go well - for either party.

I won't say much more about the story than that, but I DO want to comment on the characters and their place in the story.

All good stories have similar characters. Think about it this way: Batman and Joker are essentially the same character, only with different motivations and goals. And it doesn't have to be heroes/villains either, like in the case of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. They are the exact same character story wise, just with different backgrounds, but with the same kind of "hero journey."

Caesar and the main human character, Malcolm, have the same goals in the movie. They both want to keep the peace between apes and humans, all while keeping their family and people safe. They both are leaders, but find it increasingly difficult to maintain control or influence. It's this familiarity that makes the two unlikely friends.

But JUST friends. There's no ape/human kissing like in the 60's movie.

Ugh.

There are a few really scary moments, and I don't mean scary as in like "BOO!" or jump moments. Just look at this picture and you'll see:

I mean, is that not unsettling? An ape with a gun, like, is really strange. I realize in the original the apes had guns, but I think because it was just a dude in a suit it wasn't scary, for me at least. Maybe it was back in the 60's. But that image is enough to add an element of fright to this movie that is both good and bad. Bad in the sense that my wife refuses to watch it with me, but good because thank the lord I get a moment to myself, y'know?

Basically, the movie is well done, and is left open for another sequel that I'm sure will blow the peals off bananas. Which, oddly enough is my only complaint, the lack of more banana jokes. Or bananas IN the movie for that matter. Oh well.

All-in-all, I give this movie five Charlton Heston's screaming on a beach out of five.

I hope you enjoyed this "review" and continue to visit this blog. It's just a hobby, but it's nice to have visitors. So feel free to comment or whatever here or on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr.

That's it for now. I'll go back to playing Ingress. What? You've never heard of Ingress? Hm. Well....

www.Ingress.com

Thanks again. Here's a glimpse at my next post:

Just kidding, that's a dang, dirty ape.

Rebels And Starry Wars And Stuff

So this post will be about Star Wars Rebels, the new show for kids (kinda) on Disney. This will be a review more for people who want to know what it's about, not necessarily those who care to watch it, and those who have a mild interest. But, if you have NO interest in Star Wars Rebels, just stare at this picture until you do:

Star Wars Rebels aired on Disney XD recently, and, if you're like me, initially you feel all "Yay! More Star Wars! And it's made by the same people who did The Clone Wars, so it will be a great for sure! And everyone's favorite actor Freddie Prinze Jr. is doing a voice for one of the main characters!" But then you say all that out loud and, for SOME obscure reason you can't pinpoint, it sounds strange. 

But we've been told it'll be a "really cool show that will explain the birth of the rebellion," and be an "action-packed adventure with memorable characters," and "watch it cause we have this shiny new toy but don't know how to use it and we are grasping at straws and we really need you to like Star Wars right now!" 

Uh-huh. Yeah I'm not buying it either. Let's walk together through the episode(s) that aired and see what works with them, and what's broken. 

So it starts with Ezra SomethingForgettable, an Aladdin-type character (probably orphaned, more than likely friends with only primates) brooding about living in a town where the Empire is oppressively...um...oppressive. He does the Robin Hood thing and helps out a fellow citizen while making the Imperials look like buffoons (y'know, like REAL kids do). But his life changes when he runs into a roguish green wearer who is obviously a Jedi. 

Turns out that Jedi is named Kanan (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr., I KNOW RIGHT) and is the leader of a small band of thieves who are Striking Back at the Empire (see what I did there?) by stealing provisions and giving them to the oppressively oppressed. Ezra WhoCares joins the crew, only to get captured by the dreaded Agent Callus (I swear that's his name).

While rescuing Ezra DoofusFace, the band learns that a group of Wookies has been sent to the famed spice mines of Kessel to be slaves for the Empire. Dun dun dun! So they all go to Kessel and rescue the walking carpets. Easy peasy. 

That's pretty much it. There's some interesting tidbits that are kinda thrown into the plot here and there. Like how Kanan reveals he's a Jedi to Agent Callus, making the him contact a Sith "Inquisitor" (which doesn't make sense because there's only supposed to be two Sith at any given time and Vader is, y'know, out there), and it's revealed that Ezra DeadBehindTheEyes is force-sensitive, leading Kanan to offer to train him. 

The characters are all well designed, but their personalities make them beige into stereotypes, like they needed characters for certain parts, but nothing more. Like there are Han Solo types, Luke Skywalker types, and so on. But they lack originality due to their being like other, more well known characters.

First we have Kanan, a Jedi (voiced by Freddie) who was advertised as a "cowboy Jedi," which I don't understand and hate. There's a Twi'lek pilot named Hera who has a...a THING...with Kanan, and they both fall into the Han Solo roles. There's a big and burly cockney alien named Zeb who is something akin to the original Ralph McQuarrie concept art for Chewbacca, only not cool and more in the vein of Jar Jar. And finally there's Sabine, a Mandalorian girl who is an artist/explosives expert and obviously the love interest for Ezra PleaseDie. Because when you think of the birth of the Rebellion against the Empire, you should think of 14 year olds figuring out where they stand with each other in love...and war. 

Star Wars, everybody.

I feel like this show is basically an advertisement for toys. All the characters look like plastic toys with "32 points of articulation!" like they say in toy magazines. As if Disney didn't already make enough money from all their merch. Honestly, tell me this doesn't look like its being marketed to children ages 10 and up:

I rest my case. It's like they made the toys first, played with them for a bit, then wrote a story based on their adventures on the carpet. 

With The Clone Wars, each character was reminiscent of the original cast from the movies, but had their own originality that endeared the audience to them. That's why characters like Ahsoka Tano was so hugely popular, among other reasons. But the show felt like it was telling a story, not trying to be flashy and brightly colored in your face. 

This show makes me miss The Clone Wars even more than I did, too. In Clone Wars, the heroes were fighting robots, so slicing them down or shooting their heads off wasn't really all that violent. But with Rebels, the heroes are shooting stormtroopers, who are humans. Pretty much just murdering people is what these new characters do, even the young ones too.

I'm sure the show will mature and find it's place as it goes, but you'd think the creators would figure out what it's gonna be early so there's no confusion or questions like, "Is this supposed to be Star Wars or Pokémon?" 

All in all I'd give this first episode three idiot Ezra JumpFromSomethingHigh's out of five. 

Thank you for reading, and sorry about how long it took to get another post out. Not that I think people are THAT interested in my blog, but I hope you enjoy my posts and want to keep you interested if you do. 

To anyone getting the email version of the blog, know that I'll be discontinuing that feature soon. It's redundant and id rather you just come to the actual website to view the posts. 

Once again, thank you, and as they say, "Live long, and may the Force be prosperous with you!"

Here's a clue to my next post: