Admiral Thrawn To Appear In Rebels Season 3?

A new rumor has surfaced. According to MakingStarWars.net, Admiral Thrawn will appear in the next season of Star Wars Rebels. This would mean that the EU could come into play more than we think. After all, in the new trailer, Ahsoka did say, "There's always a bit of truth in legends." 

Now, if this rumor comes true, I think Benicio del Toro could in fact be Admiral Thrawn in the new trilogy. For now, this is all speculation and has no validity to it. But, Making Star Wars has a fantastic track record when it comes to breaking these stories, so it does have weight to it. Until then, we'll just have to wait and see. 

Here's the article: http://makingstarwars.net/2016/01/rumor-the-largest-cameo-in-star-wars-rebels-chistory/

Clan "Ren" Mentioned In Trailer For Upcoming Star Wars Rebels Episode

In the latest trailer for the upcoming Star Wars Rebels episode we see Sabine going up against fellow Madalorians. We learn that Sabine was a part of House Viszla, and her mother was a part of Death Watch, prominent in the Clone Wars. But, I thought the most interesting and most telling detail we learned was Sabine's clan name: Clan Wren. I know the spelling is different according to Wookiepedia, but it can always be changed by another party. 

After hearing this, I immediately thought of the one Knight of Ren that resembled a Mandalorian, and funny enough, Kylo Ren's mask. I never entertained the thought of his mask mirroring that of a Mandalorian helmet much, but now it seems possible. When you look at the horizontal visor, it resembles that of a Mandalorian helmet, as does the sloping down nature of the mouthpiece. 

I hope Rebels touches on the history of that clan a lot more throughout this season and the next because that could give us a lot more insight into the eventual Knights of Ren. Also, the Madalorians have always aligned themselves more with the Sith. So, we'll see how this all pans out. 

Rebels Trailer: http://youtu.be/ul00CkiNeew

Analyzing Buzzfeed's Theory About Rey Being A Kenobi

Buzzfeed has joined the conversation concerning Rey's parentage. They believe she is a Kenobi. Here's why I think they're wrong. 

1) Sounds like a Kenobi: Since Rey was left with Unkar Plutt on Jakku as a child, it is almost a given that she picked up his accent. Plus, in the Star Wars universe, accents don't really matter (Princess Leia in the beginning of A New Hope.) 

2: Force vision features young and old Obi-Wan: One could make the case that Obi-Wan was a part of Rey's training very early on. I believe she was training with her mother, more so than with Luke. Also, when you hear "Rey!" in the force vision, that could easily be in the future as well. And it really wasn't a big deal, it's just continuity. 

3) Rey's exile mirroring Kenobi as well as Luke: There are too many parallels to Luke's character, as well as Anakin. Rey is a gifted pilot and mechanic, building her own speeder from scratch and fashioning a flight simulator from old parts she found on Jakku. Star Wars is all about rhyming, and so far they are suggesting that Luke is in fact her father. 

4) Mind control: Luke used this technique in Return of the Jedi as well. The Force can obey ones commands. In Episode 4, while Luke is on the Falcon training, he allows the Force to control him and it indeed obeyed his commands. Plus, storm troopers are fairly weak minded, so it isn't too hard. 

5) Lightsaber switching loyalties: This will have to be explained because I don't recall lightsabers having wand-like qualities lol. As for the meaning, in the novel, once she gets the lightsaber, Kylo Ren says, "It is you..." So, right there, he knows who she is. 

6) Jedi vows: In the EU, Luke marries Mara Jade and has Ben Skywalker. Now, since the EU is no longer canon, they can discard that he had a wife and all of that. But, George Lucas always had in mind that the next trilogy would focus on the Skywalker offspring, whether it be of Han and Leia, or Luke. Plus, for Obi-Wan, I don't recall there being many women out beyond the Dune Sea. His only love interest dies in the Clone Wars.

7) Imbalance in the Force: The rule of 2 is what brings balance to the Force, as made true by Darth Bane. Also, if one wants to blame anyone for bringing the Force out of balance, blame Qui-Gon Jinn.  

8) Kanata saying Rey's family is never coming back: This quote is inaccurate. She says "Whoever you're waiting for on Jakku, they're never coming back." I am of the belief that she was either left on Jakku by the Knights of Ren, or by her mother. She resembles that character in a few ways. 

9) Star Wars has always been about Jedi fighting their fathers: Who's to say that Rey won't be fighting her father, Luke? Not physically, but questioning him as to why she was left on Jakku and never given an explanation. That could easily be a rocky relationship. Plus, as Kathleen Kennedy said, this story is about the Skywalker family and making a huge deal about having a female lead just brings more validity to the fact that she'll be a Skywalker. 

Cool theory, but it would take too much exposition and it would honestly feel pretty cheap after everything they've done in TFA, especially Luke's reveal at the end. She was also tempted by the dark side while fighting Kylo Ren in the novel of The Force Awakens. Snoke is in her mind and tells her "Kill him." The dark side has plagued the Skywalker family. (I apologize for completely nerding out right now.)

Here's the article: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexisnedd/the-force-is-strong-in-my-family

Did We Hear Snoke In The Rebels Mid-Season Trailer?

The latest Star Wars Rebels trailer was amazing. I think we can all agree on that. But, after about 50 viewings, I have a theory (that didn't take long, right?) about a certain character. At the 2:04 mark, a voice says, "The dark side..." I think that could be character on screen at the time, but who knows. Now, if you listen back to the first teaser trailer for The Force Awakens, at around 0:51 we hear Snoke also say, "The dark side..." When you play both clips at the same time, the voices sound very similar, and have the same kind of tone to them. Now, if the character on screen with Kanan is delivering that line, then I don't think its Snoke. The height wouldn't match up. However, if it's just a voice over and that character is not revealed to us, the possibility remains.

Here's the second part of my theory: What if those Jedi in the ceremonial robes (I believe they were in Clone Wars as well) were the original Knights of Ren? They have already introduced the Kylo Ren-style lightsaber, which is an ancient design, and those characters seem like they would have been around a long time ago as well. I'm probably 100% wrong, but that would be a fantastic way to tie them into the story. Did they create the Knights of Ren to fight the Inquisitors, only to be destroyed and have a more sinister group take their place? 

The new season premiers on January 20th at 9:30 pm EST. I'm sure many of these questions will be answered, but many left to keep the fans guessing.

Thank you, Dave Filoni and the rest of the Rebels cast and crew for making this show as fantastic as it is. May the Force be with you all.

Rebels trailer from Dash Star (check out his videos!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_NscQKb7jk

The Force Awakens teaser #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE

Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Mid-Season Trailer!

I honestly have no words after watching this trailer. This will be the shortest blog post I'll ever write, but for good reason. Let's all get ready for more Star Wars! 

Mid-Season trailer: http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/15/star-wars-rebels-video-lightsaber

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Action Figures: How Accurate Was The Dialogue?

Leading up to the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there was a lot of clever marketing done by Disney, in terms of the different mediums in which they would release information about the new film. Among those were some action figures, as well as masks, that contained dialogue. Now, a lot of the time, the dialogue that is presented in these action figures are not included in the movie at all. So, I decided to go back and see how much of that dialogue actually made it on screen.

Captain Phasma mask

"Report to my division at once."

After telling Finn to submit his blaster for inspection, Captain Phasma asks him if anyone had instructed him to take off the helmet. Seeing this as an act of insubordination, in my opinion, she tells him to report to her division, which he does. 1/1

"On my command."

In her first on-screen appearance, this is one of the first lines of dialogue that Captain Phasma has. Just after Kylo Ren kills Lor San Tekka, Ren orders her to kill the villagers on Jakku, and she proceeds to say, "On my command..." So far, 2/2

"Fire, FN-2187."

I think this was originally going to be in that same scene when Finn lowers his blaster while the villagers are being killed. Apparently, Phasma was supposed to notice that he wasn't following orders, or in a deleted scene, she specifically ordered him to begin the massacre. After further deliberations, I think they decided to simplify it and leave it as, "On my command....Fire!" One down. 2/3

"Submit your blaster for inspection."

As you all know, this piece of dialogue remained in the film. After the assault on the Jakku village, Finn kind of hangs back and takes off his helmet, only to find Captain Phasma behind him. Now, in the novelization, Finn tells a fellow trooper that his blaster must have jammed, so it adds further context to that piece of dialogue. 3/4

"Ah, to your ships now."

I do not recall this specific line in the film. Personally, I think it would fit at the end of the assault on the Jakku village after all of the carnage had ended. Basically rounding up the troopers. 3/5


Finn

"My name is Finn and I'm in charge now."

This specific line seems to be from the scene on Starkiller Base when Finn comes face-to-face with Captain Phasma again. When I first heard this, I thought this was would be when he runs into Rey for the first time. But, nonetheless, this was included in the film. 1/1

"We go back to Jakku, we die!"

Clearly, this is during Finn's escape with Poe from the Star Destroyer. Finn is reacting to Poe's decision to go back to Jakku in order to rescue BB-8. 2/2

"Stay low and put up the shields!"

I don't remember if this dialogue is word for word, during the chase scene with the Millennium Falcon, but certainly some variation of it. Finn tells Rey to stay low because it confuses the tracking abilities of the TIE-fighters, and asks her if the shields work. Again, maybe the dialogue from the action figure is 100% accurate in this scene, but I'm not positive. 3/3

"We need cover! Quick!"

Again, this is during the chase scene on Jakku, and while on the turret Finn calls out to Rey for cover. That leads her to perform some crazy maneuvers, one taking her through a Star Destroyer, until our heroes finally escape. 4/4

"FN-2187."

Here we have Finn introducing himself to Poe as they make their escape. The tone is the same, so this dialogue had to be pulled from the film. 5/5

"I don't know what to do!"

This was not in the film, but it did appear in the novelization after the TIE-fighter crashes on Jakku. Not knowing what to do or how to proceed, Finn simply yells it out. So, since it wasn't in the film, I'll say this is the first miss. 5/6

"Listen, I've had a pretty messed up day."

This was during Finn's first interaction with Rey after she knocks him down with her staff. She accuses him of being a thief, and is subsequently shocked by BB-8. Again, the action figure has the same tone as John Boyega does in the film, so I think it was pulled from the film and not a special recording. 6/7


Kylo Ren

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

Here we have the Kylo Ren confronting Han Solo in Starkiller Base. Obviously, when the action figure was released, we didn't know the context of any of these pieces of dialogue, or if they were even going to appear in the film. Now, knowing the exact moment that this takes place, it is pretty cool. 1/1

"Is it true? You're just a scavenger?"

Something similar to this is said during Kylo Ren's interrogation of Rey. After telling her about the map and BB-8, he says. "...and somehow you convinced the droid to show it to you. You...a scavenger." So, I believe this was a different take on what was supposed to be said in the scene, or maybe it was recorded specifically for the action figure. Who knows. However, I'll go ahead and say this is accurate enough. 2/2

'Don't be afraid, I feel it too."

Again, this is from the interrogation scene with Rey as he is probing her mind for information about the map. I noticed the tone from the action figure is much more menacing here. 3/3

"You know what I've come for."

Another word for word line from the film. This was from Kylo Ren's confrontation with Lor San Tekka on Jakku in the beginning of the film. 4/4

"Don't fight it. You know you can't."

I don't remember hearing Ren say this in either interrogation scene, and it seems as if that's where it would have been. 4/5

"I'm immune to the light."

I wish they would have kept this line in the film. It would have fit perfectly during the confrontation between Han Solo and Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base. This would have been a chilling response as Solo tried to appeal to the good in him. Unfortunately, this didn't make it on screen. 4/6

"That weapon is mine!"

A variation of, "That lightsaber...it belongs to me!" We all knew that Ren was referring to one of two weapons: Rey's staff or Anakin's lighstaber. Now, after seeing the film, it makes total sense why he would want that specific weapon. 5/7

"Together, we will destroy the Resistance and the last Jedi."

Another line that I wish would have been left in the film. It reminds me a lot of Darth Maul's, "At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge." I think this was going to be the final thing said between Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke in either meeting. However, I think they ended up changing the dialogue and assigned it to Snoke instead because he says, "We will crush the Resistance, once and for all." 5/8


 Now, for Episode VIII, should we expect the same? Personally, I don't think the film will be as under wraps as it was for The Force Awakens, but they still don't want major plot points to be leaked. I don't think the action figures did that at all, especially now after seeing the movie. What this tells me, at least for now, is that these action figures are pretty reliable if we want some exposure to the actual film. (These action figures had a 70% accuracy, including variations of on-screen dialogue).

Kylo Ren action figure - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4D0wnze6ZI

Finn action figure - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXW8NY1FZFQ

Captain Phasma helmet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCCEmBpKtpg

New "Star Wars Rebels" Trailer Premiers Next Week!

During his Twitch stream on Friday, January 8th, Freddie Prinze, Jr. announced that a new 3-minute long trailer will debut sometime next week, leading up to the second half of season 2 which begins later this month. The first half of season 2 gave us a lot of crucial details regarding our characters, brought back others that we have grown to love in Rex and Ahsoka, and set up the most anticipated confrontation in Star Wars in recent years: Ahsoka Tano and her former master, Darth Vader. There is also a rumor that Princess Leia will appear in the second half of this season, as reported by Making Star Wars.

Along with the trailer announcement, he also said that we would see some of the Ahsoka v. Vader confrontation in the trailer itself, even saying that we may be seeing more than we should. But, the biggest thing I took out of the few minutes that Freddie Prinze, Jr. was talking about Rebels was the fact that he says this season is so much better than the first. That is a great thing to hear because season 1 was absolutely fantastic. We were introduced new characters and a new story, but in a familiar setting and time period in the Star Wars universe. This season will probably be the Empire Strikes Back of Rebels just because of the things I think will happen during the second half of this season. We could be getting pretty dark by the end of the season and have these characters facing some pretty tough obstacles.

Star Wars Rebels returns on January 20th on  Disney XD.

Follow Freddie Prinze, Jr. on Twitch: jrtwitch1

Rey's Theme Apparently Hints At Her Identity

The most talked about theory concerning Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Rey's parentage. Since the film premiered, fans have been speculating online, citing specific moments in the film as well as general story points. Today, I think we may have some real proof as to who Rey really is, and it may not come as a surprise to many.

Tech Insider ran a story today that specifically targets "Rey's Theme" from the films soundtrack. The writer of the article, Sidney Fussell, goes on to examine certain clues that give us some meat to chew on when discussing Rey's identity.

The first thing Fussell points to is a specific point during "Rey's Theme" in which it resembles the Imperial March. During the 2:30-2:40 minute mark, one can make out some horns that resemble the classic theme. There are also audio clips in which fans have reversed the track, in turn making the parallels to Vader's iconic theme even more apparent. I think the most convincing clip that Fussell posted was from YouTube. In this video, the horn notes are played on piano normally, and then are reversed. Isolating that particular instrument gives the claim more validity since you are able to clearly hear the similarity.

Again, John Williams does not do these things by accident. If he makes certain pieces of music similar, there has to be a reason for it. That is why I believe Snoke will eventually be Darth Plagueis. The track from Revenge of the Sith is clearly very similar to Snoke's theme. Now, we have Rey's theme contain similarities to the Imperial March aka Vader's theme. This is no doubt pointing to the fact that she is a Skywalker. Binary Sunset is even brought up due to the fact that the flutes at the end of the track resemble Vader's theme, albeit "more optimistic."

This was a fantastic article that will raise a lot of questions. Personally, this has made it a strong 100% that Rey is Luke's daughter.

Tech Insider article: http://www.techinsider.io/star-wars-rey-theme-vader-connection-2016-1

Episode VII's Repeat Viewings

Since December 17th, fans from across the country have been rushing to theaters to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and has brought the franchise back with a fury. The acting was superb, action sequences were mind-blowing, and the story kept you locked in from start to finish. I remember my first words after the first IMAX 3D showing on December 17th were, "I'm seeing this again tomorrow," and it seems like many people shared my sentiment.

Watching this film has been my absolute favorite theater experience to date. From the feelings of nostalgia with the Lucasfilm logo, text and opening crawl, to the overall quality of the film. But, one thing I noticed is that this film gets better with each viewing. The first viewing required the audience to process so much information with the film moving at such a fast pace, but after you know what you're in for, its even more enjoyable. Personally, I went into this movie kind of like how I check my bank account. I'm hoping everything will be fine, but I'm not quite sure, and since this is Star Wars, it held much more weight. Thankfully, this film met my expectations and allowed me to watch it a second time without fearing its quality.

For me, the third viewing was my absolute favorite. I think all of the things that I mentioned before contributed to that. I was able to really concentrate and identify certain things that I didn't see the first couple of times. At first, I felt like a critic watching the film because I kept on thinking of a couple of scenes that I really didn't like and certain plot points that didn't make sense at the time. Then, after listening to the Far, Far Away Podcast and Jedi Council discuss the film, I realized that the things I had issues with were very minor and had almost no effect on the immediate story. Specifically, the music became a character for me the third time around. I stopped comparing trilogy's and allowed The Force Awakens to be its own film. Since then, The Force Awakens has produced some of my favorite scores.

Also, you are able to pick up on certain details after each viewing and, as we've seen I the past few weeks, give rise to many theories. The main seen I needed to watch a few times was the scene in Maz Kanata's castle in which Rey has the force vision. There are certain voices and scenery that would be missed if you aren't looking for them, particularly the corridor from Cloud City and Obi-Wan's voice. There are also certain pieces of dialogue and acting choices that can be interpreted differently after each viewing, especially after certain theories become popular. For example, Luke's expression when he sees Rey, Rey's fighting style with the lightsaber,  and Snoke's theme. Many hardcore fans have taken it upon themselves to watch this movie for analytical purposes in hopes of finding clues that may lead to Episode VIII story points.

Honestly, it hasn't become a surprise if someone says they've seen The Force Awakens more than a few times. This film has broken several box office and the repeat viewings could help it reach Avatar for #1 all-time. To all of the Star Wars fans around the world, lets make it happen!

Updated Theory On Rey's Backstory

So, I've been mulling over a few theories regarding Rey's story. Some details have remained in tact, but others have been completely thrown away. I guarantee this will happen until the day I see Episode VIII. But, for now, let me share my "updated" Rey theory. 

From what we know, Luke's apprentice (Ben Solo) turned against him and "destroyed everything" according to Han. Now, we know that Rey is 19 during the time of The Force Awakens, so I estimate that Kylo Ren would be in his late 20's, maybe 28 or 29. This would make it a 10 year difference and would make Rey about 5 or 6 at the time of the flashback sequence on Jakku, in turn making Kylo Ren 14 or 15. 

Here is where the fun begins. 

I believe that after Ren attacked the Luke's academy, where Rey had been training with her father (Luke), he took Rey and left her on Jakku. At this point, he wasnt fully engulfed in the dark side, making the killing of his family too much to handle. So, he takes his cousin and abandons her on Jakku, leaving her with Unkar Plutt, and wiped any memory she had of her training, him, her father or anyone strong in the force. I think that is why the "It is you," line in the novel is so important. Anyway, the reason I think he spared her, and why it's a possibility, is because even though Anakin had been killing the younglings, he still had no intention of killing Padmé, or Obi-Wan until their confrontation on Mustafar. I think the same thing was happening with Ben Solo. One thing that bugs me, though, is Rey yelling at the shuttle as it leaves. She either knows exactly who's in that shuttle, or just doesn't want to be left with Plutt. Honestly, who could blame her. 

Now, in regards to Rey's visions of an ocean and an island, it doesn't mean that she had to have been there before. I think that Rey was seeing Luke's location, reminiscent of Luke knowing exactly where Han and Leia were.  She's having these images in her head of this specific location, but doesn't know what it means. 

Finally, when she reaches Luke, we see him staring down at what appears to be a tombstone. It could also be a jagged rock, but if it's not, I think it could be the grave of her mother or even Han. This is just an idea, probably no validity whatsoever. 

Another interesting thought I had was about her fighting style. During the duel with Kylo Ren, the way she fought was reminiscent of Anakin, Luke, and...Palpatine. Rey does that stabbing motion many times during the fight, almost identical to Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith while engaging Windu. We know that Mara Jade was trained by Palpatine, so if they make that character from the EU canon, or some variation of her, it would lead me to believe that she trained with her mother as well. And, it would be freaking awesome. 

There are a lot of things to consider, but I think this is a very possible theory. With that being said, I'm probably 100% wrong. 

Final Scene of Episode VII Speculation

After the events on Starkiller Base, the final piece of the map is found and Rey, along with Chewie and R2, set out to find Luke Skywalker. This final scene has raised many questions about Rey's parentage, some believing it to be a subtle reveal that she is in fact the daughter of Luke Skywalker, among other things. So, lets talk about it.

Why doesn't Leia accompany Rey to the island? It seems pretty odd that Leia, who had been looking for her brother for so long and believes him to be the savior of the Republic, would entrust this task to a stranger, despite her fighting alongside Han. I understand the Hosnian System had just been destroyed and she is a very important figure, seemingly the only one that took the First Order seriously, but there has to be someone that can perform those duties for a short time while she is away (Ackbar?). This leads me to believe that she has a feeling that Rey is connected to Luke in some way. Whether Leia knows that Rey is her niece, a feeling I got during their long embrace after Han's death, remains to be seen. Then again, maybe Chewie's and R2's presence were enough for her.

Also, as they make their approach to the island, Rey seems to have a look of familiarity on her face, so much so that Chewie looks over at her with a curious look. I know I'm analyzing the facial expressions of a Wookie, but stay with me here. Earlier in the film, Kylo Ren is probing Rey's mind and discovers that she often thinks about an island and an ocean. Could Luke's location be that same island? Or was it just a fantasy since she had lived on a secluded, desert planet for as long as she could remember. Remember, she's amazed to see Tokadana as they arrive saying, "I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy." I strongly believe that she had been on that island before training with Luke and her mother for a short time. If that's not the case, then it could just be a look of wonder and nothing more. I'm sure this question will get answered in Episode VIII.

As Rey approaches Luke, we see him standing and looking down at something. On the Far, Far Away Podcast, hosted by Mark Reilly and John Rocha, a fan insisted that Luke was looking down at something that looked like a tombstone. After my last viewing, I believe this to be the case. The rock structure there seems pretty level except for that one jagged piece of rock. I've come to two possible conclusions. The first being that Luke is staring at the grave of his wife. The other being that he is looking at the grave of his daughter(Rey), who he believes is dead. This one, I think, is the most possible because I don't think Luke would've abandoned his daughter on Jakku with someone like Unkar Plutt, and I don't think he came into contact with Rey after the academy was destroyed. I'm starting to develop another theory which I'll leave for another post.

Finally, the one thing that everyone has been pointing to, the way Luke reacts to seeing Rey. At first, as he pulls his hood down, he seems to be struggling to recognize who it is. I mean, he probably hasn't seen another person since he left. But, after a couple of seconds, its like a tidal wave hits him and he recognizes Rey immediately. The way his expression changes so quickly  makes me think that he has just seen his daughter, who he believed to be dead. What else would cause Luke to completely walk away from everything if not the death of his daughter? Sure, Ben Solo turning to the dark side would have been hard enough, but he was able to turn his father back to the light, so why just walk away? I think feeling solely responsible for the fall of Ben Solo started his downward spiral, but thinking that his daughter had been killed was the deciding factor.

We are now officially a year and a half away from Episode VIII. It'll be fun to see how these theories evolve as we get more news about the upcoming film. Until then, lets speculate away!

Two Important Moments in The Force Awakens Novel That Weren't On Screen

I finished reading the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens today and came across two moments that caught my attention. Both occur during the fight between Kylo Ren and Rey. 

As we see in the film, Kylo Ren injures Finn and causes the lightsaber to fall into the snow, followed by Ren trying to seize it by using the Force. Then, instead of landing in the hands of Kylo Ren, it lands in Rey's outstretched hand. Now, in the film, this moment has no dialogue, but in the novel Kylo Ren says, "It is you." Does Kylo Ren realize that he is face to face with his cousin, or sister? However, I still firmly believe that she is Luke's daughter. There are too many hints for it not to be, and the way this particular part is written and delivered in the audiobook, I think it's true. 

Later, after Rey is able to beat Kylo Ren and has the ability to strike him down, she hears the voice of Snoke in her head. Only two words are spoken: "Kill him." Snoke realizes Rey is very strong with the Force and is tryin to corrupt her, just as Palpatine did to Anakin and Luke. Remember, in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin has Dooku on the ground with both lightsabers around his neck. Palpatine tells him the same thing. To kill Dooku. Rey even entertains the thought in the novel but quickly turns away from the impulse to do so. 

Specifically, these two moments in the most pivotal part of the film contain some very important pieces of information that could find their way into Episode VIII. I'm also curious to know why they weren't included in the film. 

Thoughts? 

"Before The Awakening" by Greg Rucka Review

Greg Rucka's Before The Awakening examines the lives of Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Each character has their own chapter in which we delve into how they became key players in the fight against the First Order. To be clear, the events that take place in this book are only weeks, or months, prior to the new film. 

Finn

Before he was Finn, FN-2187 was a storm trooper in the First Order. During the training simulations he would exemplify leadership, loyalty and intelligence while carrying out attacks against Republic Forces. Under the watchful eye of Captain Phasma, who had high hopes for FN-2187, he showed compassion for his fellow soldiers, especially FN-2003, nicknamed "Slip," who always seemed to be falling behind. Unfortunately, in the eyes of Captain Phasma, one should let the weakest link perish on their own and the only loyalty that should be shown is to the First Order, not a fellow soldier. FN-2187 tried to believe that, but he could not. He even  thought of losing intentionally to Slip in hand-to-hand combat exercises after the trooper had become injured. After speaking once again with FN-2187, Captain Phasma reassigned him to a different mission than his initial one: the attack on the Jakku village. 

Rey

Rey's chapter underscores her life as a scavenger on Jakku, but we also find out more about Rey herself. We learn that she is a mechanical wiz. She built the speeder we see in the film from scavenged parts, also constructed her own flight simulator and became an excellent pilot as we would soon learn. Rucka also includes one very important detail about Rey: her combat skills. Rey is feared by others due to her skills with her staff, but she prefers not to fight, although she will if she has to. This would explain why she can handle a lightsaber.  Now, the basis of this chapter revolves around a find that Rey makes while out scavenging. She comes across a small  light freighter that she insists on fixing and intends to sell to Unkar Plutt for rations. While tending to the freighter, two other scavengers, Devi and Strunk, offer their help in exchange for a share of the rations once the sale has been made. At first, Rey is reluctant to agree because she fears they would sell it as their own, but later decides that she can use their help. After they fix the freighter, the last thing to do is sell it to Unkar Plutt. As she is about to make the deal, Rey hears the engine and sees the freighter disappear into the sky. Almost indifferent to what has occurred, Rey travels back to her home, as usual, and awaits the return of her parents. 

Poe Dameron

For those who have read Shattered Empire, we know that Poe's parents were a part of the Rebellion and saw the defeat of the Empire and the destruction of the second Death Star. As a child, Poe's mother would take him up in her A-Wing and from then on, Poe developed a love for flying. When it came to discussing the war, she never said much. Unfortunately, she passed away when Poe was only eight years old. Poe would then become the best pilot in the Republic Navy after learning to fly his mothers A-Wing. His story begins with his team on patrol, basically policing Republic space. After saying that these patrols never lead to anything, his team gets a distress call from another ship and find themselves in the presence of the First Order. Upon their return, and after losing one of their own, Poe forcefully states that the First Order is a dangerous entity and must be taken seriously, but those in charge prefer to not engage and that infuriates Poe. But, that doesn't stop him for long. On his second patrol, Poe returns to the supposed location of the captured ship and runs into the First Order once again, but is able to escape.  As one would assume, those in charge soon found out what had transpired. Although he thought the worst, Poe was soon in the presence of General Leia Organa. She comments on Poe's most recent attempt to find out more about the captured ship and says that the Resistance could use more pilots like him. Leia doesn't believe that the Republic is taking the threat posed by the First Order seriously and decided that something should be done. Almost without hesitation, Poe agrees to join the Resistance. He is then sent on a mission along with his team. Leia believes that there is a senator who has been giving information to the First Order. It is their job to capture the vessel and obtain the information that is kept in its memory. The main challenge is that they have a small window to conduct this operation, and should they fail, the Resistance must deny all involvement. Thankfully, they succeeded. Now, upon gaining the information from that vessel, another piece of a puzzle that Leia has been trying to solve for some time has been found: the whereabouts of her brother, Luke Skywalker and the Resistance must find him first. Poe is then sent to Jakku to the home of Lor San Tekka who has vital information about the last Jedi. 

Greg Rucka does a fantastic job detailing the lives of our heroes in the short time leading up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. We know more about these characters and their motivations. This novel also makes the viewing of the new film that much more enjoyable with hear new bits of information. I would highly recommend this book for the fans who want to know as much as possible about the new characters and the state of the universe. 

Two Major Questions I Hope Get Answered in Episode VIII

It's that time again ladies and gentlemen. We have 519 days until Episode VIII hits theaters, which means we have free reign on theories and speculations for a year and a half. So, without further ado, here we go!

1. Who is Rey?

Rey's origins are, for the most part, unknown. We first see her scavenging on Jakku, living inside a downed AT-AT, and living in isolation. Then, upon meeting BB-8, she says that she's been waiting for her family to return, which would explain the marks Rey is making in the inside of the walker. Also, during the vision that Rey is having after touching the lightsaber, it's clear that she was left on Jakku as a child. An observation I made the second time I saw the movie was that Unkar Plutt, the junk dealer on Jakku, can be seen dragging a young Rey away while she is yelling "Come back!" Upon further analysis, we then find out Obi-Wan can be heard saying "Rey, " as well as "These are your first steps." Has she had a connection with Obi-Wan in the past? Now, aside from those details, there are a select few that lead me to believe that Rey is Luke's daughter. First off, reading Before The Awakening, Greg Rucka expertly describes Rey's mechanical abilities, very reminiscent of Anakin's. She built her speeder and a flight simulator from spare parts. Secondly, she is a great pilot, as was Luke and Anakin. Thirdly, the way Leia acknowledges her after exiting the Falcon, it seems like she knows exactly who Rey is but wants her to find out the truth for herself. Lastly, the look of recognition when Luke sees her. I strongly believe he had just seen his daughter for the first time in a very long time. Also, who else was left on a desert planet for their own protection and ended up going on a heroes journey? Luke.

2. How did Ben Solo, now Kylo Ren, turn to the dark side?

From what was divulged in The Force Awakens, Ben Solo was seduced to the dark side by Supreme Leader Snoke. While on the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo informs Finn and Rey that Luke was training a new generation of Jedi, until one "turned against him and destroyed everything." What was the catalyst that led Ben Solo down a dark path? As we can see from The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren has an obsession with his grandfather. One would assume that Luke made clear that Darth Vader ceased to exist once he was redeemed and thus became Anakin Skywalker once again. Now, I read on MakingStarWars.net that Anakin's force ghost was supposed to appear in Episode VII, but its the state of Anakin in the force that is interesting. The "Art of The Force Awakens" suggests that Anakin "flows" back and forth between Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. What if Ben Solo began to see the force ghost of Darth Vader and was slowly turned against the teachings of his uncle? In the film Kylo Ren does say "Show me again, the power of the darkness," all while sitting in front of Vader's mask. It suggests that it has happened before. There are also rumors that Hayden Christensen will appear in Episode VIII as a force ghost, but how will that play out? Will Luke and Rey be in the presence of Anakin Skywalker, while Kylo Ren and is in the presence of Darth Vader? It would be a fascinating thing to explore if the ability to flow between persona's is true.

We have 519 days to speculate, so why not throw some things out there to get the conversation going!

Here is the article: http://makingstarwars.net/2015/12/the-force-ghost-of-anakin-skywalker-was-proposed-to-be-in-the-force-awakens/

What Went Wrong With Star Wars: The Force Awakens Response

Today, an article was written on The Blaze, an internet news site that has become quite a popular destination for many. The article was titled "What Went Wrong With Star Wars: The Force Awakens." In the article, the author, William Avitt, essentially states that it is a rehash of the original trilogy, namely A New Hope. He goes on to make the comparisons of BB-8 to R2-D2 and their objective, how the droid falls into the hands of the new heroes, and there being another Death Star (apparently the author forgot about Return of the Jedi and the second Death Star). Despite having a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and destroying records at the box office, he says The Force Awakens wasn't a good movie. I couldn't disagree more.

Yes, there are similar beats to the original trilogy. But, one has to understand the task that J.J. Abrams had to undertake. Many Star Wars fans were extremely disappointed with the prequel trilogy and wanted the new trilogy to feel like Star Wars again. To make that happen, while bringing in new fans to the franchise, J.J. had to make this film feel familiar to the previous generation and he delivered on a grand scale.

Avitt then mentions the cast having superb performances, except for Adam Driver. He believed that the character of Kylo Ren was just a "spoiled brat" and wasn't an imposing villain. One particular statement left me absolutely astounded. Avitt says, "This was the result of bad casting more than bad scripting. In "Revenge of the Sith" when Anakin turns to the Dark Side, he radiates evil. You can see Darth Vader in the eyes, and the physical performance. You don't get this from Adam Driver's Kylo Ren when the mask comes off." So, in essence Avitt is saying that Hayden Christensen's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker is better than Adam Driver's Kylo Ren. Wow.

First off, Kylo Ren aka Ben Solo has already turned to the Dark Side. We don't see the progression, unless you want this to be a 10 hour movie. You also see the conflict within this character that makes him unhinged at times, and that alone makes him an imposing figure. Darth Vader had no conflict within him until Return of the Jedi. Finally, he killed his own father, which happened to be Han Solo. The amount of emotion, or lack thereof, from Adam Driver during that scene was incredible. In my opinion, at that moment, he surpassed Anakin slaughtering the youngling in the Jedi Temple, something Kylo Ren had already done.

As for Starkiller Base, history repeats itself. The easiest comparison I can make is that of Iran's nuclear program. Does anyone think they will stop trying to accomplish that goal just because they have tried it before and were unsuccessful? No. Same with the concept of Starkiller Base. It destroyed 5 planets and was much harder to penetrate! Could I have gone with something else instead? Sure. But, I understand why they did this. Again, familiarity. Plus, George Lucas always said the Star Wars saga was like a poem. It rhymed with each stanza.

While Star Wars: The Force Awakens has similar beats to A New Hope, it does a good job of standing alone as a new installment in the trilogy. We are introduced to a character we have never seen before in Finn. Never before have we seen who s underneath the armor of a storm trooper. We have never seen a character quite like Rey either. Her strong connection to the Force is unmatched in the original trilogy Luke when he begins his journey. He also isn't forced to duel with a lightsaber against anyone either. Kylo Ren is also a very different villain and the most intriguing one we've seen in these films, aside from Vader and the Emperor, but I think that can change. Finally, Supreme Leader Snoke could be a huge reveal for many hardcore fans and be a character that ties in the prequel trilogy with the current trilogy.

Above all, this movie wasn't trying to answer every question, nor did it have to have a definitive end. When the original Star Wars was released, George Lucas didn't know if he would be able to make a sequel, so that film felt like it had its own conclusion. This new trilogy knows where it's headed, and Disney is planning on releasing a new Star Wars film every year, so that fear is gone. Also, The Force Awakens, as Kristian Harloff put it, is playing the long game and are wise for doing so. If J.J. Abrams tried to cover all the bases and go through 30 years of history in one film, it would have been terrible.

I respect the author's opinion, but I disagree wholeheartedly with his assessment of this film. Star Wars: The Force Awakens succeeded in bringing in a new fan base while appealing to the old. The box office and fan reactions show it. The amount of repeat viewings this film has had says it all. 

Link to the article: http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/what-went-wrong-with-star-wars-the-force-awakens/

Force Awakens Flashback Scene and Rey Speculations

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there is a particular scene in Maz Kanata's castle in which Rey is called to Luke's lightsaber. Upon touching it, there is a flashback sequence that contains interesting details. 

First, we see what seems to be the same corridor from Cloud City where Vader and Luke face off for the first time. As we depart that scene, you can hear Luke yell "No!" Now, we are left with the Knights of Ren slaughtering, what I believe are Jedi that Luke has been training. Hence the shot of Luke and R2-D2 standing in front of what seems to be a funeral pire. During that sequence you can also hear dialogue from Yoda. Whether that is from the original trilogy or new dialogue from Yoda as a force ghost, I don't know. However, we can clearly hear the voice of Obi-Wan say "Rey," and at the end of the flashback say "these are your first steps." It has been confirmed that Obi-Wan and Yoda are in that scene. Frank Oz recorded the dialogue, and J.J. pulled dialogue from Alec Guiness saying the word "afraid" and edited it so it would say "Rey." It has also been confirmed that Ewan McGregor recorded the "these are your first steps" dialogue. 

That scene alone leads me to believe that Rey was being trained as a child because it sounds like Obi-Wan was communicating with her at a young age.  The references by Kylo Ren of a an "island" and "ocean" are very similar to Luke's current location. Either Rey senses where he is and doesn't know it, or she was trained on that island as a child. 

Now, we see that she was left on Jakku by someone. That someone, however, I don't believe is Luke. The person who has a hold of Rey is clearly the alien who is handing out the portions on Jakku. If Lor San Tekka is so close by, and is a friend of Leia and the Resistance, I have a hard time believing Luke would not leave her with him. 

My theory is that Rey was in the hands of her mother during the early stages of her training. The reason I say this is because of the way she handles a lightsaber. If the new trilogy follows the EU when it comes to Mara Jade, or a Mara Jade like character being Rey's mother, it shows in her fighting style. She often uses that stabbing motion in her fight with Kylo Ren. That detail is very important considering Mara Jade was trained by Palpatine. If she was in charge of training Rey, it shows. If you look at Palpatine's duel with Mace Windu, you see that style a few times. There are also shades of Anakin and Luke's styles of fighting. 

So, I believe Rey's memory was suppressed by Luke to keep her safe from the Knights of Ren, the First Order and Snoke. She was then left on Jakku by an unknown character, or tried to get a ride on that ship that dropped her off on Jakku in order to get to Luke on the island that he now resides, and was instead discovered, and left on the planet. Then, as she was in situations where her abilities had to be utilized, she began to recall some of her training but believes it to be something unexplainable. 

I could be totally wrong, but I think there's something to it. What do you guys think? 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (SPOILERS)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been in theaters for a few days now which means its time for a spoiler filled review. If you have not seen the film yet, DO NOT READ THIS. With that being said, lets get right into it.

Kylo Ren is the son of Han and Leia. Many have speculated that either Rey or Kylo Ren would be the offspring of Han and Leia, or Luke. Turns out we were right. We also learn that his name was Ben Solo and was later seduced to the Dark Side by Supreme Leader Snoke. I'm very interested to see how he was turned to the Dark Side and became such an unhinged character. We see his conflict during the film until his final confrontation with Han in Starkiller Base. He says he's being "torn apart," saying he knows what he has to do but doesn't know if he has the strength to do it. At that moment he asks Han if he can help him. Kylo Ren then extends the hilt of his lightsaber with both hands, Han gripping it with his, and proceeds to kill his father saying "thankl you." To me, Kylo Ren is showing no signs of redemption, being fully engulfed in darkness by killing his own father.

As for Rey, there are so many hints that she is Luke's daughter. First, her piloting skills mirror those of Anakin's, as well as her mechanical knowledge. She is also called to Luke's lightsaber in Maz Kanata's castle, triggering a flashback sequence (I will elaborate on this specific scene in a future post). Also, when Kylo Ren is trying to extract information from her mind using the Force, he describes her imagining an ocean and an island. That is the exact scenery of Luke's location. Whether she was there, or senses his presence in that island, remains to be seen. Finally, her ability to stand her ground against  Kylo Ren after Finn is injured, and using the Force to get Luke's lightsaber from the snow. It's no secret that Rey is very strong with the Force.

I strongly believe Luke recognizes Rey when she arrives on that island. The look on his face is that of realization that his daughter has found him. He has been in hiding since his plans to train a new generation of Jedi were thwarted by an apprentice that turned against him. I believe that apprentice is Kylo Ren, especially since Leia explicitly states that she sent him to train with Luke. After that happened, Han said he turned away from it all. I think Episode VIII will answer a lot of the questions posed by Episode VII and be the darkest film of the trilogy.

As for the film as a whole, there are similar beats to A New Hope but it is definitely not a rip-off. Yes, we have Starkiller base and it's very reminiscent of the Death Star, but history does repeat itself. I have no problem believing that the First Order would try to complete the objective of the Empire by building something even more devastating. After all, they did destroy 5 planets. This film does require multiple viewings, though. Not because it's difficult to understand, but because you pick up new things and enjoy it more each time you see it. I would rather not give a play-by-play review of the film because I want you guys to experience it for yourselves. Those were just the major plot points, in my opinion, that needed to be discussed.

The score for The Force Awakens is fantastic as well. Requires a few listens because it is different, but it definitely grows on you.

As for Episode VIII, I want to know a few things. What training does Kylo Ren need to complete according to Snoke? Where does this leave Chewie? Will Poe Dameron and Finn become the pilots of the Falcon along with Chewie? Is Rey Luke's daughter? I can't wait a year and a half.

My score for this movie is now a 9.5/10. I've seen this film 5 times and enjoy it more each time.

Snoke Is Plagueis Theory

After watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the identity of Snoke remained a mystery. I was not expecting any sort of reveal in Episode VII, but there is something that can give the Plagueis theory much more credibility. I don't consider this a spoiler as it deals with the soundtrack of the film and a piece of dialogue, but if anyone still has not seen it and wants to know absolutely nothing, stop reading now.

Supreme Leader Snoke has his own theme in The Force Awakens soundtrack. It is a choral theme, reminiscent of the Emperor's theme, but it is one that we've kind of heard before. In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine are attending some sort of opera or performance of some kind. It is in this scene where Palpatine begins to tell Anakin about the "tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise." The music during this scene is indeed a very dark, monotone choral theme. So, I decided to play this particular track from the Revenge of the Sith soundtrack and Snoke's theme at the same time. They matched up almost perfectly. Someone also pointed out the fact that "Palpatine's Teachings" tone changes at the 2:03 mark. Snoke's theme is 2:04. I don't think John Williams did that by accident. Now, this very well could be a simple coincidence, but to have a piece of music, almost identical to a pivotal scene in the prequel trilogy, without having some meaning behind it seems a bit far-fetched.

There is also a moment in which a character in the new film says "The Supreme Leader is Wise." That could be nothing at all, or it can be a hint for those that follow these films and the canon closely. Also, when you see who says that particular line, it gives more weight to Snoke being a powerful figure.

Personally, this film furthers the theory for me. Snoke's theme has to be related in some way to that track in Revenge of the Sith. Especially since the rest of The Force Awakens soundtrack does not use much of the scores from the original trilogy, except the Force theme and Han and Leia's theme. There has to be a reason why John William's mirrored that specific scene from Revenge of the Sith.

Thoughts?

Supreme Leader Snoke's theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCi1MzJXfGo

Palpatine's Teachings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRaiLY23gU8

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (No Spoilers)

Star Wars is back!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has brought us back to a galaxy far, far away once again and in a big way. As soon as the opening crawl began, I was hooked. It was extremely captivating and really succeeded in setting the tone for this new story.

The new characters were absolutely incredible and vastly exceeded my expectations. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) was everything that was promised. A Resistance pilot who will not be intimidated and is afraid of no one. That is made apparent as soon as you meet the character. He is the Han Solo of the new cast, but he's not Han Solo (if that makes any sense). Poe Dameron is the face of the Resistance and that is made apparent by his strong loyalty to the cause and to those involved in the fight against the First Order.

Finn (John Boyega) is an extraordinary character because his story is one no one has seen before. Storm troopers have always been these dispensable characters that were never thought of as anything else. Now, we get a chance to see who is underneath the armor and explore that character, making it a personal journey. Also, while watching John Boyega's performance, you can tell how much effort he put into this role. Every scene was acted beautifully and his chemistry between the old and new cast was off the charts. Definitely a character that many will love.

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is a different kind of villain. We remember Darth Vader as this powerful, intimidating, and ruthless character that has a strong handle on himself. Kylo Ren, while having some of those qualities, is a very different character. One can tell that there is a gray area in his mind that still has to be explored. There is definitely a story to be told here.

Rey was, hands down, my favorite character. Her story is mysterious but raises many questions during, and after the film. Daisy Ridley did an absolutely masterful job executing this role, especially since this was her first film. She is the star of this movie. I will leave it at that for now until my spoiler review on the 21st.

Now, the overall story was fantastic. There are similarities to A New Hope, but that didn't take away anything from the movie. History repeats itself. I think J.J. Abrams wanted this film to bring back the feel of the original trilogy and he accomplished that goal, while setting the tone for this trilogy in a great way. This film feels like its on a mission the whole way through. There are no boring moments or forced humor. The only thing I will say is that this movie will require multiple viewings. Being 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, there is a lot of information to digest. You will be left with a lot of questions and I think that was the intention. But, if you feared this movie will not "feel" like Star Wars, don't worry about that at all. The action, humor, adventure, and every other feeling that the original trilogy conveyed is in this movie and it works.

As I mentioned before, I don't want to accidentally say something that could spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it yet. I will give a very detailed review of the overall film, character stories, and Episode VIII speculations on Monday.

My rating for Star Wars: The Force Awakens: 4.6/5

Last Post Until December 18th

There has been an awakening.

Finally, the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens has arrived! The painfully long wait for some will end tonight, subjecting them to the greatest event in movie history. Yes, IN MOVIE HISTORY. An entire generation has been waiting to learn what happened after Return of the Jedi and 32 years later, they finally will.

This franchise means so much to so many people, myself included, that it doesn't seem real. I mean, Return of the Jedi ended the saga, right? I don't think reality will set in until I'm sitting in the theater on Thursday, waiting for the Lucasfilm logo, text, and opening crawl. Of course I'm going to cry. There's just no way that we aren't going to be emotional before, during and after this movie. We'll no longer be talking about what happened before, but what will happen next.

For many of us, Star Wars shaped our childhood, and has made us into the very people we are today. I know Kristian Harloff, Tiffany Smith, Mark Ellis and John Campea will be at the premiere today, and I couldn't be more happy for them. Due to their commentary on Jedi Council and Far, Far Away, I have become an even bigger Star Wars fan than I was before.

To avoid any spoilers, I will not be writing anything until the 18th. I will keep it spoiler free until Monday the 21st.

I hope you all have an amazing experience on the 17th, or 18th, as we take another step into an even larger world.

May the Force be with you. Always.