movies – Page 2 – DaveGladow.com

WhoDatJedi Podcast: What was it like experiencing Star Wars for the first time (and why can’t Star Wars recapture that feeling)?

WhoDatJedi is back again! On this podcast, we started an MCU watch marathon with Aaron and had on Aaron’s brother, who spoke to what that magic was like, seeing Star Wars for the first time as a 10-year-old. Oddly enough, these topics merge when talking about “Iron Man,” a movie that has its own kind of magic.

WhoDatJedi Podcast: Women in STEM; Women in Star Wars

For this episode of the WhoDatJedi Podcast, we got to talk with a member of NASA, who happens to be a Louisiana ex-pat and a big Star Wars fan!

WhoDatJedi Podcast: What are the best Star Wars references in other movies/TV?

This episode of the WhoDatJedi Podcast focused on all of those (mostly hilarious) references to Star Wars in other movies and TV.

From “Spaceballs” to “Clerks” to “Friends,” we covered a ton of fun ones.

WhoDatJedi Podcast: ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ digital release review and going ‘Solo’

What do “The Rise of Skywalker” and the character of Han Solo have in common? Well, they fit into the theme of self-isolation, that’s what. Folks can now watch “Rise” at home thanks to the digital release (along with all of the behind-the-scenes bonus material), while Solo is synonymous with being … well, solo.

WhoDatJedi Podcast: A New Hope: Virtual disaster

The original “Star Wars” movie was terrible!

Okay, not really. But almost?

We dive down that rabbit hole this week, looking at how many issues the original film had in production and how it narrowly avoided becoming a complete disaster.

Is there something to be learned from this in regards to criticism of the newer movies in the saga?

WhoDatJedi Podcast: Fun with rumors

There’s always some fresh news to digest in the Star Wars universe.

On this episode of the WhoDatJedi podcast, I join my usual co-hosts to talk the Cassian Andor series, Taika Waititi, “The Mandalorian” spinoffs, and even George Lucas.

WhoDatJedi Podcast: The Rise of Skywalker and legacy (and looking ahead to The Mandalorian Season 2)

Fall. Redemption. Legacy.

These are the thematic pillars of each of the Star Wars trilogies, respectively. This week’s episode of the WhoDatJedi podcast examines this closer, making the case that “The Rise of Skywalker” connects to the other films most successfully within theme … much less so stylistically or in its plotting.

We also talked about the original Episode IX script leak and some juicy “The Mandalorian” rumors.

Solo retrospective: Crawling out of the sewer

“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.”
― Henry David Thoreau

Star Wars — since the very beginning — has been completely intertwined with the concept of rebellion. George Lucas, himself rebel-minded when it came to the existing shackles of the day in the Hollywood system, set out to not only tell HIS story in HIS way with the original “Star Wars” in 1977, he also burned the candle at both ends to ensure he would be able to continue to do so into the future. He then laid all of those threads of rebellion into his “space fantasy” film in as overt a fashion as possible.*

* Notably, his previous film, “American Graffiti” was overtly rebellious as well.

Indeed, strip out the magnificent world building and brilliant riffs on epic storytelling done in Star Wars, and what are you left with? What is the point?

Well, in a global sense, the conflict is the point, and said conflict arises from the yin and yang of oppression and rebellion.

As I’m fond of saying, it’s called Star WARS for a reason.

However, looking beyond the black and white conflict of the Rebellion and the Empire, you’ll still see this theme at play within the character of Han Solo, the handsome roguish smuggler who plays by his own rules and doesn’t adhere to societal conventions. Moreover, he actively seeks to avoid being trapped into situations that threaten his “freedom,” and in the process, he becomes one of the most iconic characters in modern film history.

If you decide, as a company, that THIS character’s back story is worthy of its own feature film (as Disney did), you also decide that themes of freedom, subjugation, slavery, conflict and rebellion are going to be a major part of said film.

The Last Jedi retrospective: Why we’re still here

Do you like “Star Wars” or do you not like it?

It seems like a simple question to me.

I mean, if you’re sitting here reading this, chances are, you like this stuff, right? At minimum, you like some of it. But then again, that doesn’t preclude you flaming the hell out of some of the rough bits … or at least fairly critiquing said rough bits (I certainly engage in the latter).

It just seems like a fair question to pose when some people have been so enormously hostile toward some of the films in the series (particularly lately). Because if you’re still on board with some of this material, it doesn’t make sense to me to try to ruin some of the rest of it for others.

Common ground = being a Star Wars fan.

Opinions about the entirety of that universe will differ widely from person to person, so it stands to reason some people will enjoy what you don’t. Some people like the prequels. Some don’t. Some find the teddy bears in “Return of the Jedi” revoltingly offensive. Some love them to pieces. Some people HATE the Disney era. Some of us love it. I don’t think we’re ever going to reach a consensus here on any of it. So, it just doesn’t make any sense to me to devote hours upon hours of dedication to an angry YouTube channel to tear down that which you claim to love.

Do you like “Star Wars” or do you not like it?

“The Last Jedi” — maybe more than any other film in the series — will put you on the spot and demand you answer that question one way or the other.

Continue reading The Last Jedi retrospective: Why we’re still here

Rogue One retrospective: Sacrifice and inspiration

Disney’s foray into the world of Star Wars with its first major motion picture under the banner, “The Force Awakens,” was an outstanding success, garnering near-universal positive critical reviews while becoming the greatest North American box office money-maker … ever.

If it had a failing, it was its tepid steps into the realm of being called a “rehash” or “retread.” Without a doubt, it was a joyous experience for many (and deemed a “return to form” by many more), but there is also no denying particular calculated decisions that were meant to call to mind the original trilogy — from style/design work to practical effects to actual plot elements to character development.

Hey, in this case, it was obviously proven wise. Nostalgia works.

Perhaps in an effort to combat the “rehash” criticism somewhat (but more likely just to keep Star Wars relevant in the inevitable production gaps between its main “saga” movies), Disney made the interesting choice to stagger its saga films with stand-alone stories meant to explore the universe in different ways.

The first and most successful of these attempts was “Rogue One,” which made no bones about its desire to also tap into our nostalgia as directly as it possibly could within its plot and setting, but simultaneously brought us several brand-new characters, a darker, grittier tone, and fleshed out the lore in ways that were often surprising.

The end result? Anyone craving a more “adult” Star Wars finally had something to hold onto — a film they could justifiably declare was meant for them.

Indeed, ask most any kid which Star Wars movie is their least favorite, and most will point to this one.

The folks who were kids back in the early 1980s had been demanding a film tailored to their more adult-like sensibilities for decades. Here, finally, they had it. “Rogue One” was simply a different film for a different audience.

(Tangentially, I wonder what reaction George Lucas might have received had he released THIS in 1999 instead of the much-maligned “The Phantom Menace” … hmmmmm.)