Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

8/10

Starring

Harrison Ford

Adam Driver

Daisy Ridley

John Boyega

Directed by J. J. Abrams

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Star Wars Episode VII) is more than awesome—it’s moresome. The movie takes its time to introduce us to the new heroes of the galaxy: Finn, the rebel stormtrooper, and Rey, the scavenger waiting for her parents to return.

The last addition to this cast is Kylo Ren, the grandson of Darth Vader and the new antagonist. Like Darth Vader, he has a mentor guiding him in the ways of the dark side.

The movie moves fast and slick, with no dull moments. My friend and I were completely drawn in by familiar scenes, like:

1. The destruction of Starkiller Base, which feels reminiscent of the Death Star’s destruction.
2. The emotional father-son reunion.

This 2015 space opera was directed, co-produced, and co-written by J.J. Abrams. It’s the seventh installment in the Star Wars film series and the first of a new trilogy. The movie is set about 30 years after Return of the Jedi (1983). Luke Skywalker had begun training a new generation of Jedi until one of his apprentices turned on him. After the incident, Luke, the last Jedi, disappears.

A new dark side order, called The First Order, has risen from the ashes of the Galactic Empire. They seek to eliminate Luke and the Republic.

Standing in their way is The Resistance, backed by the Republic and led by Luke’s twin sister, Leia. However, The Resistance isn’t strong enough to take down The First Order alone, so they search for Luke to gain his help in stopping this new dark force.

Disney wanted to cash in big on this movie to recoup their $4 billion purchase of the franchise and Lucasfilm. They brought back the original team: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca, and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2.

What I appreciated most about this movie is the plot. It’s accessible enough for new fans while still satisfying longtime Star Wars lovers. The movie opens with the classic Star Wars intro, complete with the scrolling text, bringing both new and old fans together on the same page.

Thanks to CGI, we get to see incredible and memorable flight scenes, packed with explosions, thrills, and drama.

Disney is sure to set records with this movie. It’s already received critical acclaim and continues to break box office records as the days go by. You have to see this, it is a wonderful addition to the Star Wars franchise.

Creed (2015)

Creed (2015)

7/10

Starring

Sylvester Stallone

Michael B. Jordan

Directed by Ryan Coogler

Like many, when we saw the last Rocky movie back in 2006, we thought this was the end of the franchise, but I guess the studios still think there is still some milk they can get from this cow.

Creed (or Rocky VII) is a movie I watched and thoroughly appreciated. It’s a spin-off from the Rocky Balboa series and the seventh installment in the Rocky franchise, with the last being Rocky Balboa (2006) nine years ago. The character Rocky is undeniably awesome, and when Stallone created him early in his career while struggling to make it big, I bet he never imagined the series would go this far.

Stallone has created a boxing character who will stand as one of the most memorable fictional fighters in history. Rocky Balboa, “The Italian Stallion,” has a complete rags-to-riches story with all the twists and turns to make it lovable. This movie does justice to the series, and in the end, we get to see Donnie and a frail Rocky climbing the iconic “Rocky Steps” at the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. These are the same steps we saw him run up way back when he was training to take on Apollo Creed, shadowboxing as the camera spun around him. Now, our hero walks up those famous steps, taking breaks along the way.

Creed focuses on Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son, Donnie. Adopted by Apollo’s wife, Mary, Donnie grows up and gives up his white-collar job to chase his dream of becoming a boxing champion. He approaches his father’s best friend, Rocky Balboa, who now runs a restaurant named after his late wife, Adrian. Rocky agrees to train Donnie, and after Donnie wins his first fight, he’s given a shot at the title—largely because of his famous last name. Now, Donnie has to train to win with the help of an old boxer who’s also fighting to stay alive.

Stallone reprises his role as the legendary Rocky Balboa, and Donnie Creed is played by Michael B. Jordan. If the name sounds familiar, it should—Jordan was in the disappointing Fantastic Four (2015), where he played the Human Torch. Honestly, if it weren’t for Sylvester Stallone, I might not have taken the time to see this movie, but I’m glad I did.

Both Stallone and Jordan steal the show, delivering some of the best acting in the series and making every scene they’re in memorable. This might be the last Rocky film the 70-year-old Stallone will do, and if so, I’d like to say, “Well done, sir.”

The Hateful Eight (2015)

The Hateful Eight (2015)

7/10

Starring

Samuel L. Jackson

Kurt Russell

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Walton Goggins

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

There’s nothing wrong with The Hateful Eight. In fact, the movie starts strong, introducing the characters one at a time. Quentin Tarantino has a style of developing each character before the real action kicks in, allowing the audience to better connect with the leads.

Here, each main character gets an introduction where they either tell their own story or someone else tells it for them, explaining to us—and the other characters—why they are the way they are. Add in the numerous backstories being thrown around, and you’ll quickly realize you’re in a movie packed with so much testosterone that things are bound to get ugly fast.

The Hateful Eight is Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film, set in the post-American Civil War era, with a bold (if divisive) musical score.

The movie’s plot begins with the introduction of John Ruth (Kurt Russell), a bounty hunter transporting his prisoner, Daisy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), to be hanged. Along the way, he meets another bounty hunter, Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), who’s also transporting dead prisoners for a bounty. The Major hitches a ride with Ruth after his horse dies, leaving him stranded in a blizzard.

As they continue their journey, they encounter Chris (Walton Goggins), the Sheriff of Red Rock, where both the Major and Ruth are headed to collect their bounties. The Sheriff’s horse has also met an unfortunate end, so he joins the group.

As the blizzard worsens, they take shelter in a cabin, where they meet four other men also hiding from the storm. Now, there are eight people in the cabin, each with dark stories that will make your hair stand on end. And to make things even more intense, seven of them are armed.

The movie initially masquerades as a bounty hunter’s journey with his prisoner, encountering a series of unfortunate events. But it soon lifts the mask to reveal straight-up violence, dark humor, and thrilling fun that will keep you glued to your seat, enjoying every bit of what Tarantino has to offer.

The movie wasn’t without controversy. Tarantino’s comments at a rally led some police officers to boycott it. He also accused Disney of bullying, claiming that the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) would hurt his movie’s sales, as cinemas prioritized Star Wars during the holiday season. Additionally, piracy has impacted the movie’s box office performance, with a DVD-rip version circulating online, racking up over 300,000 downloads by the time I’m writing this review.

Despite these challenges, The Hateful Eight has received critical acclaim, earning numerous nominations and awards. It’s a great movie to watch, and I highly recommend it. In fact, I consider it one of Tarantino’s best.