squidlauncher64-blog

[squidlauncher64-blog]

I would go even further to say that athletes need to be conscious of who they are off the field and that what they do off the field is just as important as what they do on it. You are right in saying that these players are a lot of kids role models and the athletes should keep that in mind, you don’t know the effect you can have. unfortunately some players, either forget or don’t take it seriously, just look at the Kareem Hunt situation this week where he physically abused a woman. That is not someone our kids should look up to. But there are good examples as well, one of my favorite players is J.J. Watt because he is a beast on the field, and he cares about others off the field. He raised 37 million dollars to help Houston with hurricane Harvey. 

Superior Athletes

Gavin Spikes

English 1010

Dr. Robertson

13 Nov 2018

Superior Athletes

A superior athlete is one who has phenomenal physical traits (strength, agility, and endurance) and is thus more suited for physical competition. The amazing thing about sports is there is always a person that stands out to the entire crowd. There has always been that person who is just amazing at the sport he plays. The guy that every child aspires to be. There have been a few in history, but one that  just grapples with the public’s attention  is Todd Gurley.

It is August 3, 1994 the weather is surprisingly cool in Tarboro, North Carolina, and the forecast is calling for sun - in other words the weather is just right. The Gods blessed this miniscule town with a child that will rewrite history for the University of Georgia. The child’s name is Todd Gurley the 2nd. From  a young age everyone knew he would be damn good at football, but no one expected him to excel as much as he did. In high school he blew everyone out of the water leading his team to the state championship his sophomore year. Then with a quick turnaround, he came back and led his team to the state championship two years in a row, this time succeeding and bringing home the trophy. Rushing for 2,600 yards and 38 touchdowns his senior year the young Todd was blessing his school with talent. He committed to play for the University of Georgia his senior year, and quickly rose to fame as a bulldog

“Gurley headed down the sideline straight for the endzone!! TOUCHDOWN BULLDOGS!!!”. That immaculate phrase resonated in each fan’s ears every Saturday the Bulldogs played at home in the historic Sanford Stadium. Todd had perseverance and the drive necessary to carry the team. Both of those traits are found in superior athletes and leaders. He had the drive to press forward and pick up his team after a tough loss in 2012 to the eventual National Champions. The Bulldogs lost in the final seconds by 1 point. Two seasons later, in 2014, Todd Gurley gets suspended for signed and selling autographed items.  His suspension was lifted and during his first game back, he tore his ACL. Todd missed the rest of the season.

Following Gurley being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, he continually set milestones. One of his most exciting feats was being named Offensive Rookie of The Year. He was named All-Pro and selected for the Pro Bowl as well. During Gurley’s Collegiate career, he was the second freshman ever to rush for 1,000 yards, the first being Hershel Walker. Gurley led his team to SEC championships and was 3rd in the Heisman trophy voting. He has really progressed. This is where all his determination has come in handy. He knows what he wants, and all of his arduous work and perseverance has aided in his success . He knew the key to success, therefore he strived to accomplish his dreams.  He knew he had to make it in the NFL and perform every week to help his family progress. He finally fulfilled his dream to be a superstar in the NFL limelight. Now that he has done it he continues to progress and do well week in and week out. His performance statistics are untouchable. Although he is a superior athlete, he is an exceptional citizen.

He works very intricately with charity events.  Working closely with charities such as Shriners Hospital. Charity is a necessary attribute because it displays true love to your neighbor. It separates many people and allows people to see who a person really is. Todd has such an impact that a fantasy football player won 10 thousand dollars, and the person donated all of it to charity. Now that is a guy that is selfless, who encourages giving and love. It is amazing to see how much of an impact a person can have on the community. Some people have a negative impact, but it is always so awesome to see a person with a positive impact.

It takes a lot to be a successful person, but there are a few qualities like perseverance, hard work, determination, and charity that make you a leader and great person. There are very few athletes that possess these traits, and if they do, they seldom access them. Todd Gurley not only possess each of these traits; he utilizes them to elevate his game and also his community. One of the most important things about being a nationally recognized athlete is uplifting your community and bringing smiles to the people around you. Todd Gurley performs on the field and in the community. That is what makes him a superior athlete.

[squidlauncher64-blog]

Why the Rebels in Star Wars Truly are Rebel Scum

Star Wars is a typical “battle-between-good-and evil” storyline: the Rebels versus the Empire, “good” triumphs over “evil”. The creators of Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope try to convince us that the Rebels are the “good guys” by getting the audience to sympathize with Rebels by showing unnecessary suffering. One way we are deceived is by showing the Rebels having great moments of triumph, for example in Star Wars Episode IV the Rebels destroy the Death Star, a weapon with the ability to destroy planets.

Many fans, however, have challenged this simple black-and-white, light-and-dark formula. Many have suggested that the Empire isn't as evil as it is portrayed, and that the Rebels are not as good as they seem. The true heroes of the Star Wars saga are the Empire, not the Rebels. Star Wars manipulates viewers into believing that the Rebels are the heroes through biased storytelling, by disregarding the effects of the rebels’ actions on the rest of the galaxy, and by utilizing the craft of cinematography in order to convince us that the Rebels truly are the “good guys.”

In Episode IV, the Empire finds the hidden Rebel base on a moon called Yavin IV. The Empire is moving into position to destroy Yavin IV by the use of the Death Star, a weapon designed to help keep the galaxy in line and quell insurgency. The Rebels launch a desperate attack to defend their base by deploying X-Wing fighters to attack the Death Star, and the odds are greatly stacked against the insurgents. The Death Star is in orbit around the planet Yavin, waiting to complete its orbit to get in firing position to eliminate the base. The Rebels have little time to stop the Empire, however the Rebels have found a weakness in the Death Star, an exhaust port, where a torpedo could cause a chain reaction that would destroy the superweapon. Luke Skywalker (the main character), flies his X-Wing fighter down the trench and successfully launches a torpedo into the exhaust port, destroying the Death Star. After the battle of Yavin, the heroes responsible for blowing up the Death Star are rewarded with medals and cheering for their efforts in a great ceremony at the end of the film. There is more to the story, however, than we are shown.

The Fallout of the Death Star’s Destruction:

We, the audience, are not shown the fallout of the Death Star’s destruction, however; if we were, the Rebels might not seem so noble, and the Empire might not seem so evil. Imagine what the fallout of the Death Star’s destruction would have looked like: according to Bill Slavisek, author of Death Star Technical Companion, “The Death Star had 265,675 crew members, as well as 52,276 gunners, 607,360 troops, 30,984 stormtroopers, 42,782 ship support staff, and 180,216 pilots and support crew.” That means that the bodies of  approximately 1.2 million people were floating amongst the debris of the the Death Star in the wake of the destruction (assuming they weren’t vaporized by the explosion, in which case, the ashes of the Death Star would have included the ashes of those who lost their lives). How differently would the audience have thought about the Rebels if we had been shown this scene of carnage? I imagine it would not have been as easy to think of them simply “heroes.”

Not only did the Empire lose 1.2 million people, but who they lost was important: According to StarWarsExplained, “Many high ranking officers in the Imperial navy (another way of saying empire) were killed, causing a rushed rebuilding of the high command.” This devastating loss made the Empire more exposed because of their inexperienced leadership, and this tragedy would, of course, would not only end up escalating the conflict between the insurgents and the Empire. But the Empire’s loss of control would also increase social unrest: crime rates throughout the galaxy would increase because this decisive blow against the Death Star, a major symbol of the Empire’s power, would effectively show that the Empire is weak; this would also lead more people who are displeased with the Empire to join the Rebel ranks — or at least the Rebel cause, which would only lead to more violence.

However, the Imperial ranks would also increase because the many people who lost a loved one, a friend, or a brother in the destruction of the Death Star would want revenge against the Rebels and join the Imperial army. And the Empire would want to avenge their many losses, which would lead to more aggression, more conflict, more bloodshed, more war.  

The Economic Fallout of the Death Stars Destruction:

However, the Empire didn’t just suffer from the sheer loss of life when the Death Star was destroyed; there would also be huge economic repercussions to the Rebels’ act of terrorism. According to Zach Feinstein, a professor at Washington University: “The Death Star cost around 193 quintillion US dollars” to construct; if a project of that economic importance was destroyed, the fallout to the galactic economy would be enormous. Feinstein writes that “the drop in stocks following the destruction of the Death Star would be around twenty percent,”  which is the same amount as the market crash of 1929 which contributed to the onset of the Great Depression, an economic depression which affected the entire world. In a galactic economy, therefore, the effects of the destruction of the Death Star would have been devastating to the economy of numerous worlds: inflation would increase significantly; unemployment rates would rise throughout the galaxy; lower income communities would be devastated . While “It took the United States around ten years to fully recover from” the effects of the Great Depression [“The Great Depression (1929-1939)”] it would undoubtedly take much longer for the Empire to recover, even without its ongoing war with the Rebels, but because of the war with the Rebels, the recovery becomes even worse, especially because of the Rebels’ use of guerilla war tactics (hit and run, sabotage, etc.).

In sum, the destruction of the Death Star would have a lasting effect on the galactic economy for many years, but Star Wars (and by Star Wars, I mean George Lucas) doesn’t want us to think about that. Star Wars wants us to think of the Rebels as “good” guys, and the Empire as “bad” guys. The also do this by the use of cinematography.

The Deceptive use of Cinematography:

The makers of Star Wars trick us into adoring the Rebels and sympathizing with them through their use of music, lighting, and costuming. They dehumanize imperial figures, by covering the faces of the stormtroopers and imperial pilots so you can not see or relate to them. The troopers are not able to show emotion, and this depicts that they must be either cold-blooded killers or brainwashed soldiers. Inside the cockpits of the insurgents, the lighting is bright depicting that they are the heroes, in contrast, the inside of the cockpits of the Empire are red and black, alluding that they are villians. 

We get emotionally attached to key figures, such as Old Ben and Biggs Darklighter in episode IV; we see their deaths at the hands of the Empire. These deaths take an emotional toll on Luke Skywalker and strengthen his desire to settle the score. We sympathize with Luke and we want him to have closure. The directors trick us into seeing the Empire as the enemy by toying with our perspective. The rebels are displayed as underdogs and are outgunned and outmanned. As an audience we tend to support the underdog. They hold a celebration for their victory over the Empire, with triumphant music, and the “heroes” receive medals, compelling us to cheer for them.

The Destruction of Alderaan:

There will be critics that disagree stating that the destruction of Alderaan before the battle of Yavin is a sure sign that the empire is evil and that this action strengthened the Rebel cause. The critics would say approximately 2 billion people died in the destruction of Alderaan compared to the 1.2 million that died on the Death Star. While 2 billion lives lost is an enormous amount of death and I personally do not agree with the Empire’s decision to destroy Alderaan, “Grand Moff Tarkin (the commander of the Death Star) felt that the Rebels were getting more bold in their attacks and that only a very public demonstration of the battle stations destructive capabilities would give the Rebel’s pause” (Destruction of Alderaan). The destruction of Alderaan was a statement of power by the Empire to keep the galaxy in line and prevent people from joining the rebellion. But this act was more than that, this was done to end the war, just like the Americans did to end World War II with the use of the Atomic Bombs. The Empire’s use of this destructive force could also be a retaliation for Rebel activity. The leader of the Galactic Empire, Emperor Palpatine ultimately wanted peace throughout the galaxy and was willing to do what was necessary to achieve his goal. Right before the scene of the destruction of Alderaan, Princess Leia is being interrogated to find out where the hidden Rebel base is located. Up to this point Leia has lied multiple times to her interrogators, so why should we believe her statement that “Alderaan is peaceful, we have no weapons.” Alderaan was likely hiding members of the rebellion and other fugitives. The creators of Star Wars use the destruction of Alderaan to convince the audience that the Empire is evil, but that is not all that the creators do to deceive the audience.

So, I know you don’t want to believe this, but the truth is: the Rebels are the true antagonists of the Star Wars universe — or at least not all “Rebels” are good guys, and not all “Empires” are bad guys. The creators manipulate us into seeing them as heroes through lighting, costuming and music. The destruction of the Death Star would be felt by the galaxy economically, politically, and morally for many years and would ultimately make the conflict between the two sides more aggressive. The Rebels truly are Rebel Scum.

#star wars #star wars fans #rebelscum

[squidlauncher64-blog]

Star Wars: The great divide between fans and Disney

Since Disney purchased Star Wars in 2012, Star Wars movies and video games have not been meeting fan expectations. The displeasure of fans, particularly since Episode VIII, has been fueling a divide between the fans and Disney, a divide that has been getting worse because of misunderstandings of what fans want, and Disney releasing products that are falling well short of fan expectations. Disney has had problems with miscommunication, misleading information, and an overall misunderstanding of what fans want.

In what follows, I’m going to argue that, despite what the fans say, this is not all Disney’s fault (just like it wasn’t all Lucas’s fault when it was all Lucas’s fault) even though the majority of the blame lies with Disney. I’ll argue that the fans’ finicky nature makes them hard to please, and that, if we’re ever to love Star Wars again, the fans need to be realistic in their expectations and be patient with Disney. We need to give them multiple chances to get it right. And we need to trust that they can. But ultimately it is Disney’s job to solve this problem.

Star Wars Fans:

To fully understand this divide, we must understand the fanbase. The fans are very passionate; some fans even name their kids after heroes from this universe. They search for books, movies, and fan films to further explore the Star Wars Universe. The Fans bring Star Wars to life. They kept the franchise alive during the decade long hiatuses between trilogies. This intense passion makes high expectations for new film and video game releases. The fans believe that their concerns are not being heard and their expectations are not being met. On the contrary, Disney feels like meeting all of the fans expectations is unrealistic. But the responsibility to fix this problem lies mostly with Disney because they, as a company, are supposed to please customers. Disney will need to be creative in their storytelling but keep in the back of their minds what the fans really want, and if they don’t know, they need to do the research to find out what the fans want. Most of Disney’s Star Wars film and video game sales are sold to Star Wars fans and by listening to the fans, Disney will be more profitable and will repair this relationship. It is Disney’s job to earn the fan’s trust back.

Star Wars Movies:

Disney has felt the wrath of Star Wars fans, particularly with Star Wars episode VIII The Last Jedi (warning spoilers below, skip to the end of the paragraph if you do not want spoilers for episode VIII). Fans were excited with the announcement of a new Star Wars Trilogy starting in 2015. But Disney had the difficult task of meeting up to 30 years of fan expectations and theories of what happened to Luke, Leia, and Han. Luke was a broken, defeated man in episode VIII and fans were expecting him to be more invested in the galaxy and more powerful. They felt that Luke did not behave like he would have after episode VI. In episode VII, Snoke emerged as a mysterious villain without any backstory. The creators killed Snoke in episode VIII without offering any information about who he is. The fans felt let down that this mystery wasn’t solved and isn’t likely to be solved. The biggest mystery from episode VII was Rey’s parentage. Fans spent time pouring over footage trying to determine who her parents are. There were theories about her being a granddaughter of Obi-Wan, Palpatine being her father, Luke being her father, and there was even a theory about Rey being a reincarnation of Anakin. Episode VIII revealed that her parents were nobodies. The fans felt like her parents were going to be anyone from the list of fan theories and they were disappointed that her parents were not. Some fans were so angry that they started a petition to remake episode VIII. Rian Johnson, the director of The Last Jedi, said this about listening to the fans:

I feel like every Star Wars thing that ever gets made has a loud response, because Star Wars fans are passionate, and that’s awesome, I don’t think it’s possible if you're really telling a story you care about, it’s just not possible to be intellectually processing… what everyone else wants. Nor would it be a good thing, a healthy thing. I don’t think that’s a good way to tell a story.

Rian Johnson was basically saying that it is not a good idea to listen to the fans. The fans had so much lingering unhappiness from episode VIII that they started a movement to boycott Solo, the Star Wars movie that came out after episode VIII. Realistically the directors of Star Wars will not please everyone, but they should keep in mind what the fans want when creating Star Wars stories.

Star Wars Video Games:

While Disney works on the movie aspect of Star Wars, Electronic Arts works on the video game aspect. In 2017, Electronic Arts (otherwise known as EA) released a trailer for Star Wars Battlefront 2. The trailer showed new characters and different eras of Star Wars. This game seemed to be an improvement from the original Battlefront game EA released in 2015. Shortly before the release of the game, fans found out that main heroes such as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader were locked in the game and the time it would take to accumulate the in game currency to unlock one hero would be around forty hours . Fans and gamers expect when you buy a sixty dollar game that they would have access to all iconic characters. Electronic Arts countered with a statement on Reddit: “saying that the high unlock requirements were meant to give players a sense of accomplishment,” this comment became the most downvoted comment in Reddit history. EA then lowered the cost of heroes by 75 percent.

Not only did they lock heroes behind walls of time, they also had loot boxes,  (loot boxes is a reward system where you can spend real currency or fake in-game earned currency to get random rewards) which have a “chance” of unlocking these heroes. To make it worse, the progression system, where you can level up certain abilities for gameplay was based on the loot box system. This was frustrating for fans because they could not choose certain abilities which they preferred to be upgraded because it was randomized. EA is promoting a pay to win system where the more currency you spend the more likely you are to win in a shameless cash grab. The fans wanted a progression system where they can choose which abilities to upgrade. EA has since replaced the progression system about six months after the game came out.

Recently Electronic Arts announced that they would be releasing new Clone Wars content for Star Wars Battlefront 2, much to the fans delight. EA then posted gameplay pictures and the fans scrounged the pictures looking for clues. The fans found what looks to be a droideka. A droideka is a droid from the prequels, that folds into a ball to move around then opens up to walk and fight. Droidekas are formidable enough to even stop Jedi. The fans were ecstatic. 

Pcgamesn reported EA’s response:

Electronic Arts denied that it was a Droideka at all, suggesting that it was merely environmental clutter. Eventually in a post on reddit the developer admits that they loaded up the scene and discovered that it was indeed a Droideka – although it was an unused static asset that somehow made its way into the backdrop. It has zero integration into the game, with no active plans to put Droidekas into Battlefront 2.

The fans felt deceived, and to make matters worse the droideka was a character the fans had been wanting and asking for, for some time. EA needs to communicate better with the fans.

Battlefront 2 isn’t the only Star Wars game created by EA that has been met with controversy. Star Wars Battlefront, Battlefront 2’s predecessor, according to most fans’ opinions, is not a complete game. Star Wars Battlefront was considered incomplete because there wasn’t a lot of content upon release. When the game was released there was only four different locations, six heroes, and nine multiplayer game modes. There wasn’t a single player campaign or much offline single player content. EA then announced that they would be coming out with a season pass (a season pass is where a company comes out with a bundle of new content, usually separated into three or four releases at a few different times for a price). The season pass included eight new heroes, four different locations, along with four new game modes. The season pass fractured the gamers into 2 groups: people who have the season pass and those who do not. The people who have the season pass would play on the new maps and the people without wouldn’t have access to the new content. The separation of gamers would lead to longer wait times for matches and it would make the matches less full. Gamers and fans were disappointed because they felt that in order to get a full game you would have to pay 110 dollars. Fans would have wanted a complete game upon release, with more single player modes, and a fanbase that was not fractured into two groups.     

Since Star Wars was bought by Disney six years ago, there has only been two video games released and both have been controversial. Before this change in ownership, Star Wars video games came out almost every year. Not all video games released before the sale of Star Wars were received well, but the creators took risks in gameplay and storytelling. They looked to explore the Star Wars Universe. Fans want games that explore different parts of this Universe. They want games that have compelling heroes, interesting storylines and gameplay that allows fans to live out their fantasies. But fans have received games that aren’t creative and they miss the frequency of Star Wars video game releases. Disney and EA’s repeated failure to meet expectations has been increasing this divide.  

Star Wars fan’s passion have also increased the divide:

Some critics are stating that the fanbase is to blame for the divide between fans and Disney. They would say that Star Wars fans are toxic. They would point out the death threats sent by fans to Rian Johnson and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks). They’d show the many careers Star Wars has destroyed such as Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker in episodes II-III) and Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker in episode I). They’d display the harassment of people who are associated with Star Wars such as Daisy Ridley (Rey) and Kelly Marie Tran (Rose), both of whom decided to leave social media because of fans bashing them and their characters. George Lucas, the father of Star Wars eventually decided to leave the franchise by selling it to Disney. George did this because he felt that the world was against him, particularly after the backlash of the prequels. Let me be clear, it is never permissible to bully someone and that respect of opinions, respect of persons should be our priority. It is okay to dislike a character or an actor’s performance, but we should not attack the actor/actress. The critic’s argument appears to be incorrect because the people that are doing the bullying are the minority of Star Wars fans. Critics might also be ask, do the fans truly know what they want? Star Wars episode VII was criticized by fans for being too similar to episode IV and relying too heavily on nostalgia. Disney responded by making episode VIII radically different, and the fans replied saying that it was too different. Two explanations can be stated for this. First the fans might not know what they want but they need to figure that out, or fans might not be united enough for their desires to be heard, or maybe both.

Star Wars is big because of its fanbase. Not many franchises could survive three movies that terribly underperformed. But Star Wars fans need to be patient and realistic in their desires. We need to become more united so that Disney can easily hear us. Fans would like movies about Knights of the Old Republic with the Sith Triumverate, Darth Vader hunting jedi’s before episode IV, Kylo Ren’s backstory with Luke and the fall of the Jedi and subsequent turn of Kylo Ren. This is not supposed to be a bash on Disney and EA, if it wasn’t for you the fans wouldn’t be getting new movies, video games, or stories. But listen to fans and take into account their feedback and opinions. It is not realistic for Disney to appease all of the fans, and that is understandable. Listening is enough and would help Disney make more money and by doing this; Disney would close the divide.

#Star Wars #star wars fans

[squidlauncher64-blog]

I can see why the fans are upset, because their creative fan theories, or ideas were not met. But I think Rian Johnson could be doing more than  just getting rid of the Skywalkers, he could be doing this to show that you can be great no matter what your circumstances or your parentage. The skywalkers are in essence the “Kardashians” (Sorry, i’m going to get flack for this, but its the closest family resemblence to the skywalker that I can think of, that have such power and are just as dysfunctional) of the Star Wars universe. How sad would it be to think in order to make a difference in this universe you need to come from a specific family. I have read that 40 to 50 percent of families end in divorce or in other words are broken just like Rey’s parents are. While this is a terrible statement, I believe that Rain Johnson is trying to show in our time that it doesn’t matter who you are or what your parentage is or where you come fromor what your family/home life is like, you can have an impact on this world. You can be who you want to be. 

Why does family matter in Star Wars?

    The recent Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, or episode eight, sparked many controversies throughout the Star Wars fan community. The Washington Post describes a scene in the movie: “Johnson punctuates it with a surprisingly cheeky gesture that sets the tone for a movie whose easygoing jocularity fits right in with the original movies’ jaunty pastiche of eastern mysticism, cheesy B-movie adventure, messianic theology an rusty, dusty retro-futurism.” The reviews for this movie were mixed, but mostly all on the the same side as the Washington Post. The movie was not what people were expecting, in the worst way possible.

One of the things that Star Wars fans were expecting was the reveal of the main character Rey’s parents. Her parents were revealed, but it wasn’t quite what fans were expecting. Kylo Ren told Rey that they were nobodies, they were “junkers” who sold her off for drinking money. Fans were completely outraged by this news.They were furious for the decision to make Rey a nobody and not give her a special heritage like every other main character in all of the movies. There are mysteries still surrounding Rey’s heritage, but Star Wars fans are still not happy about the way the director of the film, Rian Johnson, portrayed Rey.

What is making Star Wars fans so upset about Rey’s heritage, being non important to the film’s universe? Families have been important in the Star Wars trilogy since the very first film that came out in 1977. Luke Skywalker does everything he can to tell his father Darth Vader that he can see that he still has good in him. Anakin Skywalker in the prequels turns to the dark side of the force to save his wife and his children, but in the process, kills his wife and gives his children away. Family and tradition is so important in Star Wars. Rey is no exception to family and traditions. Star Wars fans were expecting her to be related to the Skywalkers somehow, or related to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Family is important in Star Wars, and because of the role of family in the movies, fans don’t like the idea of having a major character that isn’t related to the Skywalkers somehow. 

In all of the other movies, including Rogue One, there is an element of family involved in the plot. Whether the main character is on an adventure to find out who they are meant to be by studying or finding their parents, or if they are trying to change their parent or sibling heart. This is seen mostly in the original movies. Families are important to the plot of all of the movies because without the role of family, there would not be a story. In the prequels, Anakin Skywalker leaves his mother to train to become a Jedi, but he later returns to find her dead, killed by sand people. He later murders all of the sand people in revenge for what they did to his mother. In the originals, Luke aspires to be like his father and become a Jedi. In episode 4, he finds out that his enemy is Darth Vader. One of the most famous lines in all of the Star Wars movies was: “No, I am your father.” After that, Luke’s goal is to not become like his father, but get him to turn back to the good side of the force. Even in Rogue One, Jyn Erso carries on her father’s goal of destroying the death star, and later dies in the process. Without the role of family in Star Wars, there would be no story, and the movies would not have been as popular as they were.

    Families are also important to the fan communities of Star Wars. The first episode came out in 1977, and the last Star Wars episode that came out was in 2017. There was 40 years in between these two movies, but there was lots of episodes that came out in between.  Parents would go see the original movies with their children, and the children would fall in love. Later these children would grow up, and watch the prequels come out. The children now have children, and their children are seeing the new episodes come out. The Star Wars movies are a legacy and a tradition in many families. They go back for a few generations, and are beloved by all in families. The presence of families in Star Wars is relatable to fans. Family becomes less and less important in these days, and it is good for families to see other families in their favorite movies. Families have a huge role in the movies, because they bring people in to see them time and time again. Generations go together to see their favorite movies, and because of the Skywalker family especially, people are drawn to go see them.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens was almost a spittin image of episode 4. The hero is found in a desert and is called to adventure by the Empire or First Order invading their lives. Eventually the hero makes an enemy throughout the movie, and finds friends to help them on the way. This is the basic plot of “the hero story” that the Star Wars movies represent. Rian Johnson, the director of The Last Jedi went in a completely new direction. Because The Force Awakens was almost the same movie as episode 4, the ideals were challenged in episode 8. It was completely different than any of the other Star Wars movies that have been made so far. It could be said that there were a few small parallels between episode 8 and episode 5, but for the most part, episode 8 was diverse in the Star Wars universe. The expectations with The Last Jedi were challenged, especially with the reveal of Rey’s parents. All Star Wars fans expected to find out who Rey’s parents are, and are they important to the universe. When Rey was revealed as a “nobody”, fans were outraged. Johnson challenged the norm of the Star Wars movies that fans did not expect. The desire to challenge the expectations of the movie stemmed from the Force Awakens being almost an exact replica of episode 4. Because of the similarities between these two movies, the Last Jedi was supposed to shake things up a bit. This idea backfired in a major way.

    A lot of people don’t like change. Change can be scary and different, but it can be for the better. Johnson probably thought that the change in episode 8 would be good for fans, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Star Wars fans like their comfort zones. They don’t leave their comfort zones often, and when they do, it might be to look at the Extended Universe, which involves the Skywalkers. Now that the Skywalkers are gone, fans wonder what is in the future for the next movies, and is it even going to be worth the money to go see a movie where there are no Skywalkers involved at all.

    The change in the Last Jedi was a bad call. Making Rey a nobody can also be considered a bad call. The Extended Universe is a series of tv shows, comics, and novels that demonstrate what it might have been like if the Skywalkers, mainly Anakin, had not been eliminated. The universe gets good reviews, and Johnson should have used that evidence as a model that fans like the Skywalkers, and they want the Skywalker legacy to continue throughout the newest movies. The Skywalkers are the central element of Star Wars. Getting rid of the cornerstone of the Star Wars arch is going to make it collapse. Rey not being part of the family has potential to make the trilogy come to a halt in an ugly way.

Some fans seem upset over Rey’s heritage, but other fans find Rey being a nobody comforting. They are glad that we are breaking away from the Skywalker story and beginning something completely new. The only thing that would make these fans happier is a background of Rey’s parents anyway to gain closure. This shows that family is still important in the films. Fans would go out of their way to try and find out more about Rey’s parents, even after Kylo Ren straight up told her that her parents were junkers that sold her for drinking money. Even though Kylo had already said this, fans still want to find out how Rey is so in tune with the force, and if it has anything to do with her parents. Family is still important to the fans, even if it is a different type of value for families.

    One important thing about Rey not having an important heritage is the new role of “nobodies” in the Star Wars movies. In most of the movies, the main character starts out as a nobody, and then they find out that they are in tune with the force, and they become the hero. In Luke’s case, he found out that his father was the one trying to rule the galaxy. Rey could be the first of many new characters that are actually nobodies. At the very end of episode 8, a little servant boy on the planet Canto Bight is seen making a broom come to him using the force. This boy is obviously no one important in the movies, but showing this scene hints to the new norm of Star Wars movies. That you are not defined by your past. You can do just as much good as a nobody then a person who has an important parentage. Rey does not have important parents, but she still is helping the rebellion as much as anyone else. Some fans think that this is a cool new idea. Fans may think that the Skywalker story is getting a little tired, and that it’s time to start a new chapter in the trilogy. 

On the other hand, Kylo Ren was more than capable to lie to Rey to get her to join him in his rebuilding a new empire. After all, Kylo Ren would have done anything to get her to join him in his crusade against the rest of the galaxy. If this were to be true, then Rey’s parents could still be out there. They still could be noteworthy or mentionable people. This could mean that all of the theories that were thrown out the window at the end of episode 8 can come back into play. Some of them still could have a chance at being the real thing. Also if this theory were to be true, then family value in Star Wars could have been saved, and people would be happy about still having the Skywalker family involved in the movies, or at least someone who we know could be involved with the movies. Since most of the Skywalkers are either dead in the movies, or unfortunately, dead in real life, the Skywalker brand needs to think about ending its reign.

Unfortunately, Kylo Ren tells Rey straight out the truth about her parents. This means that Ren lying is most likely not true. Fan’s desire for the continuation of the Skywalker family in the trilogy can’t be appeased. Families are still important to Star Wars, so even though there are some comforts about Rey being a nobody, the fan community will not change their opinions about the role of families in the movies.

    Family is important in Star Wars, and this is why fans are so outraged by Rey’s disappointing parentage. The next episode of Star Wars is a mystery. Because so many of the expectations of The Last Jedi were challenged, fans don’t know what to expect with the next film. All we know, is that Rey is a nobody, and it is a possibility that being a nobody is the new norm of Star Wars. Some fans are okay with this new piece of information, and some aren’t. Some fans like the twists in episode 8 and some like to stick to the playbook. Either way, the next Star Wars movie is a mystery, and hopefully it exceeds our expectations.

#star wars #star wars fans #skywalker

[squidlauncher64-blog]

Superman is one of my favorite superheros because of his character and how he makes the right decisions in difficult situations. I do feel like he is a little overpowered though. He has all those powers you listed and is considered the strongest of the justice league, I think that makes him unrelatable in some situations. One of my favorite youtube channels, Mr. Sunday Movies made, 2 videos about this “5 ways batman could beat superman” and “50 ways superman could beat batman” and these videos show me how powerful and overpowered superman is.

5 Reasons Why Superman is the Greatest Superhero of All Time.

It’s a bird!, it’s a plane!, no! It’s Superman! This iconic superhero has survived and conquered more than just comic-book villainy; Superman has withstood the test of time, not in reference to his apparent immortality, but America’s ever-fluid pop-culture landscape hasn’t hindered the importance of Superman.

Just like his comic books, Superman has circled the world appearing on the T.V. screens of children and adults alike, so taking a moment to appreciate him is time well spent. 

Here are 5 reasons explaining why Superman is the greatest superhero of all time.

He puts other Justice League and Marvel characters to shame when it comes to superpower capabilities

This is the point that every real Superman fan will definitely be sure to point out because it is true. Superman draws his power from the earth Sun, making him beyond powerful. Because of this; he is invulnerable to nearly every harmful substance and force, he has the power of flight, super strength, super breath and freeze breath, heat vision, super speed, superhuman vision (including X-ray, microscopic, telescopic, and infrared), and many more abilities that the comic book writers graciously bestowed upon our symbol of hope. Superman’s abilities are what always saves the day in the end. In every movie and comic book series Superman’s symbol of hope comes flying in to catch the bad guy and make sure everyone gets home safe and sound without a scratch. These abilities always make for a great story and allow thousands of stories to be made because superman is adaptable to any situation that any villain or fellow hero puts him in.  

He’s the Ultimate Good Guy

Superman has always been the good guy even Bruce Wayne admitted the fact when he was talking with Wonder Woman in the most recent Justice League movie by saying that Superman is more of a human than he is. What Bruce meant is that Superman’s ideals, morals, and patriotism are great definitions of what a good human should be. Not bad for a Kryptonian alien right? Because of Superman’s goodness, every battle resulted in victory after victory, His humility and selflessness helped him make sure that he always looked out for the underdog. Because of consistency it allowed the writers to use him as a beacon of hope for Americans using his comic books and T.V. shows to teach children the best way to do things. When WWII came around writers worked around the clock making comics showing Superman saving children from landmines, stopping scary Nazis, and missiles with his fist. All of Superman’s goodness helped put the American People at ease in times of trouble.

The Father of all Superheros

When a kid wants to be a superhero what does he do? He snags the living room curtains and turns it into a long cape billowing in the wind, puts his tighty whiteys on the outside of is pants and presto! You have a 8 year old superhero ready to jump of the couch (or roof, depending on how dedicated he is) to swoop in and save the day. Children aren’t the only ones who are inspired by Superman. Superman has become the icon of strength and power. To be called Superman one of the greatest compliments one can bestow upon a person. Thousand of songs, cartoons, and spin offs were inspired by him. Even the other greatest icons of all time like Mighty Mouse, Super Boy, Super Girl, Underdog, The actor Nicolas Cage even named his son Kal-El the given name of Clark Kent from his biological parent on the planet Krypton.

Because DC came before Marvel, Superman’s birth into society opened the doorway for many other heros and villians allowing them to come pouring into the world.

His Childhood

Jonathan and Martha or “Ma” and “Pa” Kent are the best parents a shipwrecked alien child could ask for. The Kents found scared little Kal-El and took him under their wing, They gave him the name Clark which was Martha’s maiden name. Clark was raised under some good old farm town principles. Ma and Pa did everything they could to teach Clark selfless ideals and to always watch out for the little guy. He was raised in humble circumstances and was taught to work hard which made things easier for him when things got rough.

He’s not invincible like people would think

Superman’s weaknesses make him that much more amazing. He’s powerful enough that the stories are always action packed and intense, but his weaknesses show the vulnerable side to superman which makes his fans sit on the edge of their seats wondering how he’s going to majestically figure his way out of another hairy situation. Superman’s weakness as we all know is Kryptonite but what some people may not realize is he is also susceptible to magical powers, sometimes giving supervillains the upper hand in past comic books. Because of his weakness he becomes more awesome by having the need for teammate giving him a chance to show his awesome leadership skills with the Justice League.

#dc comics #superman

[squidlauncher64-blog]

Who Will Replace James Gunn?

In the middle of July 2018, the media personality and conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich, among several other like-minded individuals, drew attention to a series of old tweets from director James Gunn’s Twitter account. The tweets in question, which were written between 2008 and 2012, joked about dark subjects such as child abuse, pedophilia, and rape. Subsequently, Disney, who Gunn worked with to direct the widely acclaimed 2014 MCU film Guardians of the Galaxy and its 2017 sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, fired him from directing the third film in the series, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, set to be released in 2020. Gunn has been cited as one of the largest reasons that both films turned out to be commercial and critical successes.

When news of this got out, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fandom got up in arms and was nigh-unanimously against Disney’s decision. Numerous news outlets, as well, criticized the company. Days later, several main members of the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, including Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, and Zoe Saldana, spoke in Gunn’s favor in a joint statement through social media. To the dismay of them all, however, Disney stuck to its guns, firmly denying any hopes of rehiring Gunn. As Disney has not yet released a statement about who will direct the movie, fans who have begrudgingly accepted the possibility of Gunn never being rehired have now moved on to discussing who exactly should replace him as the director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The same news outlets who covered the firing have followed suit.

Thus far, the most popular choice for director is Taika Waititi, famous for directing the widely-acclaimed Thor: Ragnarok, another MCU movie released in late 2017. By loading a silly sense of humor—something the previous two Thor movies severely lacked—into the film, he brought the character into the spotlight, making him more of a fan favorite than he ever had been. As such, many fans have been clamoring for him to replace Gunn, as comedy was a key element in the previous two Guardians of the Galaxy films. Additionally, Thor: Ragnarok features nice helpings of outer-space adventure and effective world building, something the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are known for as well. As seen with 2016’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which Waititi directed, he is also well-versed in creating effective drama, which Guardians of the Galaxy is more focused around than Thor: Ragnarok was. Waititi, however, often seems to be a more independent director, opting to take films into his own hands more often than not. Seeing as Gunn’s script for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is still going to be used for the film, Waititi would likely have difficulty trying to direct the film without adding enough of his own elements into it. The only other problem seems to be that Waititi’s humor is, in some ways, rather different from Gunn’s. A significant portion of Thor: Ragnarok’s humor was based around the wacky situations that the main characters got themselves into, and had more of a light-hearted tone. Guardians of the Galaxy movies have a more character-driven comedy with darker subjects and a more sarcastic tone. However, the less sarcastic tone may be a good thing for the third film, and may act as a breath of fresh air relative to the other two movies.

The second most popular choice has been the Russo brothers, who have already worked with Disney on the MCU films Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and an untitled 2019 Avengers film. Seeing as Avengers: Infinity War included most of the cast of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, the Russo brothers presumably have some experience working with the characters they portray and know them quite well. As seen in the same film with how they worked with Thor, who had recently been reinvented into an entirely new and undeniably unique character by Taika Waititi, they are somewhat competent in taking characters created by other people and improving upon them while still maintaining their recognizability and overall aesthetic. They aren’t shown to always stick with this, however. Fans have pointed out that Captain America when in a film directed by the Russo brothers, tends to be treated rather differently than when he is not. Whether the Russo brother version of Captain America is better or not is a different story, but it shows that they aren’t afraid to take another character and change them somewhat. So, it may be a bit of a gamble of whether or not they will change the Guardians of the Galaxy protagonists or not if they are set to direct the third film. Even if they were to decide to change them, of course, the changes made wouldn’t automatically be deemed bad. They could go either way.

Another popular choice is Edgar Wright, who was slated to direct 2015’s Ant-Man until he abandoned it and was replaced by Peyton Reed. As shown in 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Wright is competent in comedy, especially the zany kind that is seen in both Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Wright also directed the critically acclaimed 2017 action film Baby Driver. The film’s action scenes were fueled with, amplified by, and set to the rhythm of the music the music that the film’s protagonist listened to while driving. Guardians of the Galaxy, too, is well-known for its unique soundtrack, which is integrated not only into some of the action scenes but also into important character development scenes. The songs serve as a sentimental piece of the backstory of Peter Quill, one of the series’ protagonists, and provides more emotional backing than action-oriented. However, this doesn’t mean Wright can’t use his experience in integrating music into the action scenes of Baby Driver to learn how to effectively use music to enhance the emotionally resonant scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Although all of these are indeed excellent choices for replacements for Gunn, they all have one problem: stylistically, their movies are usually far from being like any Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Additionally, their ability to direct in the style that Gunn directed in the movies varies from director to director. Tonally, they all tend to stray away from the tone seen in Guardians of the Galaxy. This is not the case, however, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

The first thing that comes to one’s mind with they think of Lord and Miller is their goofy sense of humor, something which can be found in heaping amount in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Their humor can range from the silly, light-hearted yet witty kind seen in The Lego Movie to the lightspeed stream of wackiness which courses through Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and its sequel. They also have taken a liking to make their movies tongue-in-cheek and undercut with sporadic sarcasm, something which would likely spice up Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Another trait the two of them carry that would help them make an excellent addition to the series is their apparent ability to work with improv actors. While Lord and Miller were directing Solo: A Star Wars Story, Disney fired the two of them and replaced them with Ron howard. This was apparently due to the twos’ directing style, which was rather heavy on improvisation, being too close to Guardians of the Galaxy. This should serve as very sound proof that the two of them are, in fact, cut out to direct a competent third entry in the series.

Of course, this does not automatically mean that their time directing Solo: A Star Wars Story went down smoothly aside from the firing. Reportedly, the duo often did twenty to thirty takes for each scene, each time vaguely demanding that the actors simply deliver the scene “differently”. The tone and feel of a Star Wars movie, even the more western-like Solo, is quite different from that of a Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Star Wars movies are relatively more slower-paced, at least a bit more grounded, and much less goofy than both of the movies. As previously explained, Lord and Miller would thrive and soar with a more comedic tone rather than flounder like they did with Solo’s seriousness.

As such, with Disney highly likely to stay stuck to its word and refuse to rehire Gunn, fans should not support petitions demanding that he be somehow rehired. Instead, they should petition for Phil Lord and Chris Miller to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 the best they can with their aptitudes in improvisation and comedy, along with their apparent ability to make a similar movie.

https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/james-gunn-firing-alt-right/

https://www.vox.com/2018/7/30/17630988/guardians-of-the-galaxy-james-gunn-support

https://screenrant.com/disney-james-gunn-guardians-galaxy-3-fired-director/

https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/992307/James-Gunn-fired-Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-3-Marvel-James-Gunn-petition-James-Gunn-tweets

http://whatculture.com/film/why-marvel-need-to-hire-lord-miller-to-direct-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3

https://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/solo-actor-phil-lord-chris-miller-werent-prepared-star-wars-alden-ehrenreich-not-good-1201943599/

https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/07/24/guardians-of-the-galaxy-who-should-replace-james-gunn-as-director-of-volume-3

[squidlauncher64-blog]

I can see why you are confused about number 1: no background on the republic, and I agree that there should be more information whether there is a movie or books on that 30 year gap between episode VI and VII. But I can see why Disney avoided talking about the New Republic, because politics is one of the main things that made the prequels terrible, nobody cares about the trade federation. 

You ask the question why didn’t they snuff out the rest of the Imperials, and I have a couple of possible solutions as to why. Star Wars is a story of wars, maybe the republic leaders felt that there was enough wars and that the galaxy needed to rest, to rebuild. Just think of the American Civil War, some of the northerners wanted to punish the south, but President Lincoln wanted the country just to heal and rebuild, I can see this being the same reason why the imperials weren’t chased down and destroyed. 

6 Reasons that the new starwars movies poop on your childhood and 3 reasons they might save the universe

1-.No background on the republic

If you were confused about why there was a rebellion at all in the Force Awakens, you weren’t the only one. There is an organization that is based off the last remnants of the empire that is hostile towards the government you established and is harassing your citizens. What do you do? If you said, finish the job and establish a secure government, you were wrong.

Instead what is done, is they fund a terrorist organization to do the deed for them.  While we struggle to come to terms with the relationship between the First Order,New Republic and the rebellion, the movie gives you a solution to this problem! They just blow up The New Republic! So don’t worry about answering that question!

2- Politics over story

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having strong female leads in movies. Over the years we have been graced with such leads as Sarah Connor, Ripley  You know what’s cool about the movies they were in? They also had male actors who had good strong scenes in there own right.  Michael Bien in Aliens was quick thinking badass marine! Arnold Schwarzenegger was the killer robot that could beat up bad guys and be somewhat of a role model! We could go on and on.

Unfortunately, Star Wars decides that in order to have a strong female hero, all the male leads ( specifically in The Last Jedi) become foolish obstacles in the way of our heros. Finn is shown to be a coward who ( According to how he is treated by Rose) doesn’t understand that we win wars by not killing or that animals are just as important as people. Po becomes a foolish leader who gets people killed an causes inserection.

When in reality, if  Lauren Dern’s character had just told Po what the plan was he would have been a help rather than a hindrance! When Princess Leia tells him the plan, he says that that’s a good plan! When Finn conquers his cowardice and decides to drive his plane down the throat of the Death Star-esqe weapon, Who stops him? Rose, crashes his ship and tell him he is doing it wrong. That wars cannot be won by killing the enemy only by protecting what you love. To bad everything the rebels love was blown up by Starkiller base or just killed in what appears to be the last stand of the rebels

3-.Forget all you know about the Starwars universe

For all intents and purposes, these new movies do not seek to build off the old ones. It’s not about using the foundations of the original trilogy to propel the starwars towards a new future. It’s about destroying that foundation for something new.  There is something beautiful about destroying the old to bring in the new. If your going to do that you have to do it in a way that pays homage to the original, not erase the purpose of the movie or even going to the extent of making the story the original was telling.

4- Goodbye Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker is not just any hero. He is THE hero. The Farm Boy who becomes a legend. Regardless of his heritage, He shows that anyone is capable of greatness! Showing him as a broken down relic is tacky and lazy. We already saw what broken down relics looked like Obi-wan Kenobi, a retelling of the story does little to reinvigorate it. Luke was suppose to learn from all the mistakes Yoda, Obi Wan and the rest of the Jedi order made. With the death of Luke Skywalker, you can see the death of the Jedi order as an organization, and  end to something that made star wars beautiful

5- Random animals>Friends and Allies

There are many claims made about this movies attempts at realism. From the space ships using gas, to a losing rebellion, this new star wars franchise if brimming with realism. One of the big ugly splotches in this movies claim to realism is the infamous casino-rich-people-who-hate-animals-and-poor-people-planet. After getting captured on this planet, Finn and Rose escape with the help of a  Fifth Element  character. While there escaping they decide to free these precious space horses from prison.  The scene starts with Finn questioning how wise it was to come to this planet and lamenting on there friends being chased down and killed by the first order, but ends with Rose saying all of that is worth it in in because they saved the Animals.

In the movie Patton, there’s a scene where Patton’s convoy is stuck out in the open because a farmer’s donkey firmeley plants its bottom right in front of the convoy. This results in the convoy being strafed( Shot at) By a german plane, People die and patton runs to the front of the convoy to see what’s going on, when he sees the problem he yells at the men who let the donkey get in the way and promptly blows off the donkeys head to save his men.

6- Worst Han solo movie

The Han Solo movie was heart wrenchingly bad. The only time Han Solo every has happiness is in the OG trilogy. In the New Trilogy he gets stabbed by his son after being divorced from his wife. In the Han Solo movie, he almost gets eaten by his best friend, has to shoot his mentor and gets dumped by his girlfriend for Darth Maul. Also the movie was like six youtube shorts glued together.

7- We got the best Star Wars of the series ( Rogue  One)

Rogue one EPITOMIZES what makes a star wars movie good! A hero with a tragic beginning who is far from perfect but redeems herself throughout the movie. People who aren’t just good or evil but are in between. Good people who do evil things for good causes and VIce Versa.  The true meaning of sacrifice and legitimate organic change are also seen! Also, Darth Vader cutting down all those rebels was the scariest thing i’ve ever seen. I’m still having nightmares

8- Best lightsaber fight of the series

The Last Jedi can boast that it has the best Lightsaber fight of all time. Its one of the few that has no CGI People ( like Yoda in the fight between him and count dooku) or filled with older people who can’t move quick ( darth sidious and the three jedi masters). It was cool to see fluidity and style involved in the fighting, the red guard in action and some unique lightsaber weapons!!!

9- Coolest self sacrifice scene of the series

In rogue one, where the rebels are handling the death star plans and trying to  delay darth vader from getting the plans, darth vader kills 15 rebels. It’s crazy and scary to watch the rebels get wrecked shooting at darth vader, getting there weapons yanked away by the force, and in a dark room only illuminated by the blade that’s cutting them down, you see soldier after soldier get in the way to give there guys as much time as possible to get the plans out of there

#star wars star wars fans

[squidlauncher64-blog]

3 Reasons Star Wars will Never Live up to the Hype, and 3 Reasons Why That’s fine

Star Wars fans are very passionate and usually more intense than other fanbases. For many of the fans, Star Wars was an important part of their childhood. Star Wars showcased a universe with interesting creatures and worlds, along with characters and stories that are relatable; essentially teaching kids to use their imagination. This passion continued on into adulthood for most fans and is comparable only to fans of sports teams. This passion makes the fanbase very opinionated. Just ask any fan what they thought of episode VIII (be careful if you decide to do this, you could be in for a very long discussion). The fans are so opinionated that they have crafted long arguments all over the internet, for example, the who shot first debate between Han Solo and Greedo. Another popular argument is “ are ewoks cute creatures or vicious carnivores? just to name a few. The fanbase isn’t just opinionated about Star Wars they are obsessive about it. Not only do fans argue about Star Wars, they go beyond that to in-depth research that constitutes a fan theory: a much more complex type of fan argument. Fan theories are speculation about where a film or franchise is heading or an answer to a question posed by fans. All fan theories are based on evidence found in films and other sources. Some popular fan theories include why do Stormtroopers have bad aim and was Darth Vader not completely evil until after episode IV? But with this obsession comes high expectations from every fan. Here are 3 reasons why Star Wars can’t live up to the hype and 3 reasons why it’s acceptable that Star Wars doesn't meet expectations.

#1 The abundance of fan theories

As mentioned above, we all want Star Wars to live up to our expectations from our favorite fan theories. When Star Wars episode VII came out, the big mystery was, who are Rey’s parents. Many theories were formulated to answer that question. Some theorized that Rey was the daughter of Luke Skywalker; others believed she was a granddaughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi, or that she was Leia and Han Solo’s daughter; still others believed that she was a daughter of Palpatine. A significant amount of research was put into these theories, some even analyzing Rey’s fighting style to compare it to Palpatine’s. Other theories state that Han Solo and Leia don’t recognize Rey in their first encounter with her as evidence that she was not their child. Some fan theories delve even deeper, stating that Obi-Wan is the one who calls out to her in her force vision in episode VII. Rey could only have one parentage and some fans were disappointed when her parentage was revealed.

Another fan theory came from Star Wars Episode VIII The Last Jedi about Luke specifically (Spoilers in the paragraph below). These fan theories were formed to explain the cause Luke’s death at the end of the episode VIII. Some fans believe that he died from the effort of projecting himself across the galaxy to save the Resistance. Others believe he died because he willingly became one with the force, that he had accomplished what he had to do and had finally forgiven himself for the mistakes he made by helping create Kylo Ren by drawing out his dark side. The fans have spent a lot of time trying to create these fan theories that predict desirable outcomes for the characters. Realistically, not all of them will be true and some fans will feel let down.  

#2 The spectacle of Star Wars battles

One of the staples of Star Wars movies is the large scale battles. We have come to expect very intense battles characterized by incredible music, high stakes, creative camera work, and epic combat. In Star Wars Episode IV for example, we have the Death Star, a massive battle station capable of destroying planets. The Empire has found the Rebel base and the Rebels are racing to blow up the Death Star. They are outgunned, outmanned, and have to destroy the Death Star before the Empire can fire on the rebel base. In Star Wars episode V, we have the battle of Hoth, the Empire has found the new Rebel base and starts an epic ground assault to take over the base, and they attempt to prevent the Rebels from escaping. In Star Wars Rogue One, the Rebels are attempting to steal the Death Star plans from a data vault. They try to sneak in but they are discovered and an epic battle ensues on the planet and in space.         

Although some battles live up to the hype, others do not. This does not mean that they are terrible, just not up to fan expectations. Star Wars episode VIII has an epic final battle on Crait and the Resistance is pinned in a bunker without a way to escape. The only ships the Resistance can use are old clunkers; a major disadvantage for the heroes. Then Luke comes back and distracts the First Order, while the Resistance finds a way out. This fell short in the eyes of fans because the Resistance finds a way to escape, instead of a major conflict with the First Order like the fans were expecting.  In episode III,  the Chancellor has been captured by the Separatists and the Republic mounts an epic space assault to save him. Anakin and Obi-Wan board a huge ship and fight through many enemies to rescue Chancellor Palpatine. This battle fell short because the majority of the scenes are dedicated to saving the Chancellor; the fans would have wanted a drawn out space battle. While Star Wars has displayed many great battles, some have fallen short in the eyes of fans.  

#3 Star Wars means something different to different fans

       Star Wars is unique in that it appeals to different people for a variety of reasons. These different reasons, hopes, or dreams for Star Wars often divide the fanbase. I personally still enjoy Star Wars; I grew up watching the original trilogy and the prequels. These movies spoke to me as a kid. Star Wars is a story about a boy who came from humble circumstances as a farmer that later saved the galaxy. I felt if Luke could do that, I could be whoever I wanted to be. I cherished these stories, because I learned courage as a kid, if Luke could stand up to the Empire, I could stand up for what I knew was right and overcome adversity. That is why I am fond of Star Wars. I have met fans who like Star Wars because it takes you to far away places where you meet new creatures. I have met other fans who enjoy the space battles and even some fans who root for the Empire to win. There is only 2 hours in a film and in that limited time the directors cannot feasibly appeal to all of the fanbase.

#1 Unrealistic expectations of fans

The directors of Star Wars movies are under a tremendous amount of pressure, to both please the fanbase and make money for the studio that is creating Star Wars. As was previously stated, Rey could only have one parentage, the director made a choice about her parentage, and many fans were disappointed. Some fans want Kylo Ren and Rey to become a couple and that hasn’t happened yet. Many fans believe that Luke did not behave like they would have wanted or expected in episode VIII. Luke Skywalker, in episode VIII, was a man who was beaten, who didn’t want to save the galaxy. According to some fans and critics, Star Wars episode VII was too similar to episode IV. As a result of the reviews from Star Wars VII, the movie studio decided to make a radically different and new film in Star Wars episode VIII, but they drew mixed reviews from audience and critics alike. The directors are in a tough situation to please a passionate fanbase.

To add to this pressure that is put on them from the fans, the directors films are expected to be successful. Fans have specific expectations rising from the fan theories and fan arguments; almost every fan has someway they want these movies to play out. The directors have to make specific decisions about plot and character development; these specific decisions can alienate different factions of the fanbase. To even further stress out the directors, Disney bought Star Wars for four billion dollars and they expect to make a significant of money off of this investment.          

#2 The need to appeal to different audiences

    In order for Star Wars to be profitable, it needs to appeal to multiple audiences not just the fanatical fanbase. There is the occasional moviegoer, for whom the movie would have to be simple and easy to understand. No need to talk about parsecs and gundarks. Another audience is kids, they want to see the hero triumph, they want to be filled with hope that they can overcome their challenges, that good will triumph over evil. Finally there are fanboys or the fanbase, the polar opposite of the occasional movie viewer. The fanboys want to study the movie, find all the easter eggs, and have the movie play out how they would want or expect based off of extensive research.   

Disney is supposed to appeal to all these different audiences and that seems impossible. Just imagine what would happen if directors tried to appease everyone, the movie would be long, confusing, and the plot wouldn’t make sense. With all these things that make Star Wars likeable to different audiences, now the creators have to please everyone and that is not a realistic expectation for the creators to fulfill all of our hopes or desires.

#3 At least we still have Star Wars

    Many critics believed that the prequels would have stopped Star Wars because of their low quality and poor reception from audiences, but they were wrong. The fanbase, although divided, is very strong, they clamor for new releases, holding hope in the face of past disappointments for good movies. After a Star Wars trilogy is finished, there is often a break between films.  There was a sixteen year gap between episodes VI and I, and a ten year gap between episode III and VII. Episode I made 1.027 billion dollars, and episode VII made 2.066 billion dollars because the fans came out and got excited about Star Wars coming back. When a new trailer comes out, there is a lot of hype because of the passionate fanbase. I still get excited every time a new trailer comes out. We as fans should be optimistic that Star Wars will get better and at the very least Star Wars will continue on for a long time.  

Conclusion

Every fan has some way we would like the series to play out. We all want our version of Star Wars to be the one that comes out in theaters which is not realistic, but that’s ok. The Star Wars fanbase is very passionate and that passion makes us hard to please. Disney is trying to please the fanbase and they are creating exciting Star Wars content coming out soon; such as the mandalorian tv show, and the clone wars tv show reboot. We as fans, should be grateful that Star Wars is still going, and that it’s future is bright.

#star wars #star wars fans

[squidlauncher64-blog]

Star Wars the Force Awakens: A Solid Start to the New Trilogy

After nearly ten years since the release of Star Wars episode III Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars episode VII was released. Episode VII brought back Han, Luke, and Leia, the characters from the original trilogy. Fans agree that this trilogy has the best films of all Star Wars. To say that the fans were ecstatic is an understatement, but with that excitement comes 30 years of fan expectations. Episode VII is a fine addition to the Star Wars Universe, even though the film falls short in music and creativity.

Star Wars episode VII The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the events of Episode VI Return of the Jedi, and much has changed, most importantly Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has gone into hiding. The First Order has been formed from the remnants of the Galactic Empire and the Resistance rises to oppose the First Order. Both factions desperately try to find Luke Skywalker because he could be the deciding factor in the major conflict. Even though the movie is focused on trying to find Luke, it does well at introducing and making new characters important to the story.

The directors do a superb job of balancing nostalgia with the return of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), while letting the audience know that the fate of the universe rests on the shoulders of the new Heroes, Finn (John Boyega),  Rey (Daisy Ridley), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). The role of the “old guard” does not seem overbearing; giving adequate time to the character development of the new heroes. Han Solo for example, is not re-introduced until 40 minutes into the movie; meanwhile all of the new cast has already been showcased. This balance of new characters is also due to the writing.  

The writing is clear, with a followable plot, which hasn’t been a strong suit of the prequels. This movie does well at connecting you to the new characters especially Finn and Rey. The writing makes the characters relatable, and the different character’s motivations are clear. You feel the emotions they feel which is accomplished by clear writing and great cinematography.

The cinematography for the movie, especially the starfighter fights is incredible. The director, JJ Abrams, does a spectacular job of making you feel immersed in the dogfight. The way starship movements are followed by the camera creates a feeling of being there, in the thick of the action. There are plenty of the staple starfighter stunts which is a signature of the Star Wars Universe.

This movie has flaws though, the writers and directors do not take enough risks with the plot telling devices. They use a significant amount of plot devices that have already been used before. For instance, The Force Awakens has a lot in common with Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope. (Warning: spoilers ahead, if you do not want points of the movie spoiled, skip to the end of this paragraph). There is another Death Star and a ticking clock in which the Resistance has to destroy the “planet killer” or they will be destroyed. Rey (Daisy Ridley) stumbles onto a droid that is carrying vital information for the Resistance, just like Luke (Mark Hamill) did in episode IV.

This film also falls short with its musical score.  The music in The Force Awakens is compelling and fitting for a Star Wars movie, but there is not a piece of music that particularly sticks out. In the original trilogy you have the Imperial Death March and the standard Star Wars Theme. In the prequel trilogy you have the Battle of the Heroes and Duel of the Fates. The music for The Force Awakens does not live up to expectations because the music pieces individually are not memorable.

Overall The Force Awakens is enjoyable and fun. It has moments that make you feel like you are a part of the Star Wars universe. Although this film is a rehash of previous films; it is still a solid beginning to the new trilogy, with its own characters and a strong plot to keep fans excited for the galaxy, far, far away. Rating an 8.5 out of 10.

#star wars #star wars fans