Daisy Ridley

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

  • Title: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
  • IMDb: link

Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie reviewI love Star Wars. I’m a fan. Always have been. My love of film, science fiction, and movie merchandise can be traced back to the film that sprung from the mind of George Lucas. I mention this because, as a fan, it’s not always easy to look critically at what you love. However, I will do my best (while avoiding spoilers).

Star Wars: The Force Awakens gave me a taste during its final moments, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally delivers on the Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) film I have been waiting impatiently for since 1983. Adding to my interest in the latest installment of the Star Wars franchise was the fact that a grizzled Luke would get paired with my favorite of the new characters introduced in the previous film. Those expecting Luke to jump immediately into action on behalf of Rey‘s (Daisy Ridley) plea might be initially disappointed, but (despite small complaints I have with the film) I think you’ll agree that writer/director Rian Johnson succeeds in paying homage to what has come before while shading a bit more outside of the lines than J.J. Abrams was willing, or able, to do.

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Murder on the Orient Express

  • Title: Murder on the Orient Express
  • IMDb: link

Murder on the Orient Express movie review

2017’s Murder on the Orient Express isn’t the first adaptation of Agatha Christie’s work, nor is likely to be the last. Director Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as Christie’s famous detective Hercule Poirot, offers a stylish version of events featuring an all-star cast as mystery and murder unfold on the renown luxury passenger train which gets stuck in an avalanche with a murderer onboard. And, to make sure his performance won’t be forgotten, Branagh sports some of the most bizarre facial hair you’ll see on film (at least one not filed under Science Fiction).

The movie gets off to an interesting start by introducing us to Poirot solving an unrelated mystery which sufficiently showcases the detective’s considerable deductive ability to the audience. However, from this sequence up until the murder aboard the train, the film stalls a bit while getting Poirot aboard and introducing the variety of characters who will become his suspects over the remainder of the film. Once there’s a dead body and mystery to solve, the film picks up again, although the conclusion to Christie’s mystery doesn’t work quite as well on film as it may on the printed page.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens

  • Title: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • IMDb: link

Star Wars: The Force AwakensIt is a dark time for the Rebellion (even if they aren’t called the Rebellion anymore). The rise of a military force known as the First Order, built on the wreckage of the old Empire, is making the galaxy a very dangerous place for everyone’s favorite galactic heroes in a galaxy far, far away.

After waiting 32 years to see Luke Skywalker‘s (Mark Hamill) name appear in a Star Wars crawl the wait is finally over. Since 1983 we’ve gotten several different Star Wars cartoons, three (much maligned) prequels, an endless steam of merchandise, countless comic books and novels, and the sell of the franchise by George Lucas to Disney. The Force Awakens marks the first big project not overseen by Lucas with a storyline that diverges largely from the Star Wars Expanded Universe while playing on similar themes longtime fans are sure to recognize. Returning to what made the original trilogy so successful, director J.J. Abrams offers us a practical lived-in galaxy strewn with the wreckage of the Empire’s epic battles with the Rebellion.

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