#I rewatched the phantom menace and attack of the clones last week

[stephantom]

The source material is too flimsy and inconsistent to bear this debate. Choose whatever interpretation you like. Choose multiple contradictory ones for different fanworks and different moods. Do not attempt to treat it like a logical and consistent reality, except for fun, and know that it’s an impossible task and that other people’s attempted explanations (for fun) do not necessarily reflect on their actual beliefs about reality.

I feel like the ‘the Jedi were too strict with Anakin and it was abusive and that’s why he fell!’ is telling of a certain … power fantasy some Star Wars fans have.

Because Anakin didn’t have to be a Jedi. We know he could’ve left the Order, because that’s what Dooku did. The man’s the most skilled fighter pilot of his era, a capable combatant, has experience with diplomacy, has worked as a bodyguard, etc, etc, he would not even remotely struggle to find work, even without taking into account that his wife is a wealthy senator who could easily support him. Hell, while he’d probably have to give up his lightsaber, it’s not like it’d be impossible for him to build another one – it isn’t illegal for a non-Jedi to own a lightsaber, and it’s clearly possible to acquire lightsaber crystals outside of the Order because, again, Dooku has a lightsaber. It’s not even like he’d have to give up his friendship with Obi-Wan – Obi-Wan has friends who aren’t Jedi, he has a whole bunch of them. So does Yoda.

(Hell, it’s not even like non-Jedi aren’t allowed to use the Force. As Palpatine points out in the Revenge of the Sith novelisation, it’s not even technically illegal to be a Sith Lord.)

The only reason Anakin can’t leave the Order is because he doesn’t want to. He wants everything: He wants the power, prestige, excitement, and community the Jedi offer, but he also wants to not have to follow their rules. 

And I think for quite a lot of people that’s a very relatable thing, right? We want to have it all. The fantasy of being a cool Jedi is, for a lot of people, ruined by the addendum that there are things you would have to forego to do that. That’s one reason why the idea of Grey Jedi, which fully is just that ‘you can have your cake and fuck it too’ is so appealing to so many fans.

But that’s not what life is like, in reality or in fiction. And Anakin’s fall brings that crashing in: He tries to have everything, and he ends up with nothing. Less than nothing, because at the end of it, not only does he not have any of the things he wanted in the first place, but he’s also lost his freedom (because let’s make no mistake, as much of a terrible, gleeful executor of cruelty and misery as he is as Vader, he is also Palpatine’s slave) and his body.

It’s easy and in a way quite appealing to shift the blame elsewhere and go “Well, he could’ve had it all, but people more powerful than him stopped him from doing so.”

[enigmaticexplorer]

Six Options for Star Wars Watching Order: For those who don't know where to start

Hi @violetasteracademic! I saw your comment asking about Star Wars and because Tumblr’s comments only allow so many words, I thought it best if I typed out a complete response :) 

I’m going to break this down into six watching orders depending on your preferences for engaging with Star Wars content. 

The first option is a general, easy way to get back into Star Wars that focuses only on the 11 movies.

The second option is for people who are NOT interested in watching animated shows; this focuses solely on the 11 movies + live action shows. 

The third option is intense and combines movies + live action shows + animated shows.

The fourth option is for those who've seen the movies and are only interested in live action shows.

The fifth option is for those who've seen the movies and are interested only in the animated shows.

The sixth option is for those who've seen the movies and are interested in watching both the live action and the animated shows. (This is my recommended viewing option for those who have already seen all 11 movies.)

Option One: The Simple Viewing Order of Star Wars

If you want to get back into Star Wars but aren’t 100% sure what content you want to engage with, I would start by rewatching all 11 movies. Recommended watching orders depend on each person. I recommend watching in chronological order, especially since you’ve already seen the movies before:

The Prequel Trilogy (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith)

Solo

Rogue One

The Original Trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)

The Sequel Trilogy (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker)

Rewatching the 11 movies will give you a big picture overview of the Star Wars universe as it currently exists, and then you can decide which eras you want more content about (the Clone War era, the Empire era, the post-Empire era), if any. 

Option Two: Star Wars Movies + Live Action Shows

If you want to immerse yourself into ALL live action content of Star Wars, then the Disney+ shows are a great way to start. There was a surge in the Star Wars fandom when The Mandalorian (a live action show) first premiered back in 2019, and since then, five more live action shows had been created.

I recommend watching the live action shows interspersed among the movies. The shows build off the movie era they take place within, and they provide additional information and world building to their respective eras.

The shows that take place in the post-Empire era (after Return of the Jedi) are all connected. Characters in one show can be seen in another. So, to avoid spoilers, it's important to watch these shows in chronological order.

It’s important to note, however, that watching only the live action materials means you’ll be missing relevant information revealed in the animated shows. The animated shows are not necessary to understanding the big picture, but you might want to do some reading before you start the live action shows to make sure you know who the main players are and the general plot of what’s going on. 

Your watching order will be:

The Phantom Menace (movie) 

Attack of the Clones (movie)

Revenge of the Sith (movie)

Solo (movie)

Obi Wan Kenobi (live action show) 

Andor (live action show)

Rogue One (movie)

A New Hope (movie)

The Empire Strikes Back (movie)

Return of the Jedi (movie)

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

The Force Awakens (movie)

The Last Jedi (movie)

The Rise of Skywalker (movie)

The Acolyte (live action show)*

* The Acolyte show just finished airing last week. It takes place hundreds of years before The Phantom Menace. No other Star Wars media deals with the content and era seen in The Acolyte. If you’re interested in this era, you will need to get into the books and comics which delve into it more. Since I have not watched this show, I can’t make a recommendation of whether or not it’s necessary to understanding current Star Wars media. However, if you want to give it a shot, I would watch it last.

Option Three: Movies + Live Action Shows + Animated Shows

If you want to engage with ALL the Star Wars media content out there, you’ll need to buckle up for an intense ride. You will be combining all of the movies with the live actions and the animated shows. The animated shows have multiple seasons with 12-24 episodes each season.

Before you start watching the animated shows, it’s important to remember that these shows are intended for children audiences. They are kiddish at times. They are unserious. There are some dreadfully dull episodes (looking at the Droid Arc in S5 of TCW). However, ALL of the animated shows mature with each passing season, and they provide SO MUCH information that’s relevant and, frankly, pertinent to understanding the depths of Star Wars as a whole. If you’re able to overlook poor animation at times and a handful of cringey kiddish storylines, then the animated shows will payoff. They contain some of Star Wars best moments ever—from lightsaber fights to emotional deaths to gut-wrenching relationships. I will always recommend watching the animated shows.

The animated shows are also great for not only understanding the Star Wars universe but also navigating the fandom. The clone fandom, especially, has a big presence on Tumblr. (This is the fandom I'm part of and it's such a wonderful place!) You'll see lots of fanart and fanfics from this community alongside The Bad Batch community whose show just recently concluded a few months ago. If you like soldiers who respect women and emphasize loyalty, then you will enjoy the hell out of this fandom.

Here is the chronological watching order with movies, live action shows, and animated shows*:

The Phantom Menace (movie)

Attack of the Clones (movie)

The Clone Wars Movie (animated movie)

The Clone Wars (2008) (animated show)

Revenge of the Sith (movie)

The Bad Batch (animated show)

Solo (movie)

Obi Wan Kenobi (live action show)

Rebels (animated show)

Andor (live action show)

Rogue One (movie)

A New Hope (movie)

The Empire Strikes Back (movie)

Return of the Jedi (movie)

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

The Force Awakens (movie)

The Last Jedi (movie)

The Rise of Skywalker (movie)

The Acolyte (live action show)

* Please note that this viewing order is biased. I have excluded the animated shows Resistance and Visions. I didn’t enjoy either so I don’t recommend when watching. And since neither has proved itself pertinent to the Star Wars timeline, at the moment, they are not necessary to understanding the universe.

Option Four: The Live Action Shows

You've seen all 11 movies and now you want to jump into the live action shows. The live action shows build off the information provided in the movies and deep dive into certain eras. These eras are split into two: the Empire era and the post-Empire era.

The Obi Wan Kenobi show and the Andor show take place during the Empire era. The former has one season (it may have a future season but this hasn't been confirmed and the first season ends on a conclusive note). The latter has a second and final season that will be premiering either this year or next.

The Kenobi show is perfect for Obi Wan lovers who want to know what happened to him after Order 66. This explores Obi Wan's grief, his relationship with the twins, and his own encounters with his old apprentice.

The Andor show is perfect (my favorite of all the live actions) for those who want to get into the "dark side" of the Rebellion. Building off the less-than-ethical means of fighting we were introduced to in Rogue One, Andor continues this exploration of rebellion and the means required to fight against a fascist government. This is slower paced and darker but it's one of those shows that you have to rewatch because the little hints scattered throughout make more sense on a rewatch (and, if you're like me, it makes it even more exciting).

Now, if you want to know what happened during the post-Empire era--the era when the New Republic existed and prior to its eventual collapse to the First Order--then The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka are the shows for you. These three shows are interconnected. Pay attention to the watching order below.

The Mandalorian relies on information and characters explored in both The Clone Wars (animated show) and Rebels (animated show). However, you can understand its storyline fairly well without these shows as background. You might have to do some research, though, especially when it comes to the third season. The third season lacks background information and expects you to know its major players from prior knowledge.

The Book of Boba Fett is to be watched immediately after The Mandalorian Season 2 and before Season 3. It's one season and most likely, due to the backlash it received, will not have a second season. Warning: If you're a big fan of cold-blooded, bounty hunter Boba Fett, this show will disappoint. Lower your expectations.

The Ahsoka show builds off the two previously stated shows but is also heavily influenced by Rebels (animated show). If you do not watch Rebels, you will need to do some extensive research on characters and plot lines in order to understand the main objective of the show.

Watching order:

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

Option Five: The Animated Shows

The animated shows are the spine to Star Wars. They provide so much information, character development, and plot explanation for the Clone War and Empire era.

The Clone Wars (2008 animated show) is one of the most popular pieces in Star Wars media. It has seven seasons and it follows the storylines of both Jedi and the clone troopers who fought alongside the Jedi. It's a devastating show but the characters introduced and explored are complex. If you want to watch this show, I would recommend watching the dreaded The Clone Wars movie before. It's not necessary to viewing but it does introduce the main characters of The Clone Wars. If you decide to skip it (totally understandable), I would read a summary on it. The later seasons (seasons 3 - 7) are much darker, more intense, and more heartbreaking. If you're struggling to enjoy the first two seasons, push through to the third (or skip to the third). That's where the story really starts and, if you don't like that season, then you can dip out knowing that it's not the show for you.

The Bad Batch just concluded a few months ago and it's well-lauded like The Clone Wars. It's set immediately after Order 66 and its follows a group of rogue clones as they find purpose and make their own life during a fraught time period when they're being hunted down. If you like the clones and want more clone-centric content, then this show is the perfect follow-up to TCW. (It also stars Omega--a young girl who grows into herself and steals your heart.)

Finally, Rebels takes place in the Empire era as well. Some of its characters are seen in TBB. Unlike TCW and TBB, Rebels gets a bad rep for its poor animation and its kiddish tendencies. The first two seasons, especially, are difficult to watch. However, the last two seasons are much more mature and the storyline becomes intense. The final season is one of the strongest single seasons Star Wars has produced. This show follows a found family of rebel fighters trying to make a small difference in the galaxy and whose Jedi members become responsible for more than they were expecting. It's emotional and it's affecting future Star Wars projects, especially upcoming live action storylines. If you choose to skip Rebels, I would watch the final season or read an extensive summary on it in order to understand what's coming.

Your watching order:

The Clone Wars Movie (animated movie)

The Clone Wars (2008) (animated show)

The Bad Batch (animated show)

Rebels (animated show)

Option Six: The Live Action + Animated Shows

You've watched all the movies and now you want to watch all the shows (excluding the three shows that I haven't seen/don't recommend). Watching the live action shows + the animated shows is the best way to immerse yourself in the Star Wars universe. And after you've watched the shows, then you can dive into the books (which provide even MORE information to the universe as a whole!).

Here is your watching order:

The Clone Wars Movie (animated movie)

The Clone Wars (2008) (animated show)

The Bad Batch (animated show)

Obi Wan Kenobi (live action show)

Rebels (animated show)

Andor (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

The Acolyte (live action show)

There’s A LOT of media content with Star Wars right now. It can be very overwhelming! Let me know if you ever decide to get back into the fandom! Obviously it has its toxic sides but the fandom on Tumblr is fairly welcoming and kind. And if you have any questions, let me know. I’d be happy to talk :) 

[cuntycassandra]

you’re going to want to knock me into next week when i say this but i’ve never actually seen star wars... mainly because i haven’t got the attention span. but i’ve heard there’s an order you’re meant to watch them in, and it’s not the order they were released in so i’m confused.

Hey bestie, I could never knock you into next week….next month perhaps tho- (I’m teasing, love youuuu /p)

Okay! So! You can watch them in release order! That’s how I grew up watching them! (A quick Google search will tell you this!) but over lockdown I decided to rewatch the entire saga (spoiler: I never finished, I quit after Mando), but this time I rewatched them in chronological order! Of course there are a few new additions that weren’t available when I did my rewatch, but otherwise here’s the order-! (I used a fuck-ton of exclamation points here…)

(Movies, spin-offs, tv shows)

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

The Clone Wars Movie

The Clone Wars Animated Series (S1-S7:E8)

Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

The Clone Wars Animated series (S7:E9-S7:E12)

The Bad Batch

Solo: a Star Wars story

Star Wars Rebels: animated series

Rogue one: A Star Wars story

Episode 4: A New Hope

Episode 5: Empire strikes back

Episode 6: Return of the Jedi

The Mandalorian

Star Wars resistance (S1)

Episode 7: The Force Awakens

Episode 8: The Last Jedi

Star Wars resistance (S2)

Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker

Of course, these include the shows and spin-offs, if you want to just watch the movies in chronological order it’s 1-9. But like- if you ever do skip bits and pieces, you’ve still gotta watch the clone wars, it’s a must, I’m afraid. No negotiations.

There’s also quite a few new shows coming out over the next few years (WHO ELSE IS HYPED FOR KENOBI BECAUSE I AM-) so this isn’t set in stone, but for what we have now, this is probably your best order!

(Honestly Hannah, thank you for the SW questions, I know it isn’t your biggest interest and yet you still ask, it makes me so happy to talk about it!)

[rapha-reads]

Star Wars brain rot is a complicated thing. Aka I'm having way too many feels about the Prequels and I need to vent them out.

Last week with my sisters and my mother, we found a diary I had when I was 12. In it, I was already talking about how I like imagining what happens after a story ends, or re-imagining how it happens, and notably I talked about how much I loved Star Wars. 16 years ago already the Galaxy Far Far Away had invaded my brain.

But the thing is, your Star Wars opinions at 12 are not the same as your SW opinions at 16, at 20, at 26. (the same is also true for Lord of The Rings, by the way)

I used to swear only by the Original Trilogy, though, hopeless (a)romantic that I am, I would rewatch Attack of the Clones fervently (for Anidala, in case that wasn't clear), and stay away from Revenge of the Sith because I couldn't handle Anakin's Fall. I just love Ani, okay, and seeing in excruciating details how we went from the adorable blond head of The Phantom Menace to Lord "Choke Me Daddy" Vader of A New Hope, that's a bit distressing. Even if you love the Originals. It's hard to reconcile the two - a bit like Anakin/Vader can't see his two sides as the same person too.

Then Rogue One came out, and man, oh, man, how I was obsessed with this one. It was my main fandom (because at that point, I had a virtual map of fandom space and a guide to fandom life, which I didn't have at 12) for many, many months.

I didn't... think... of anything else besides the good ol' "Skywalker Family Drama, now in technicolour in every theater of this universe and the next!". Silly me.

I'm finally catching up on The Clone Wars and oh gods the Prequels are actually, genuinely amazing (no I'm not taking any criticism) and TCW is making me feel too much ? And maybe the real tragedy all along wasn't Anakin and Obi-Wan, but every single person -kriffed- sorry fucked by the Force, starting with the Clones (the clones!!!!!) and the actual Jedi ???!!!! I'm having a lot of Mando'a, Tattooine slave and Naboo cultures feels.

Time to erase the Originals and let Anakin be happy. And Sithspit, DECHIP THE CLONES AND GIVE THEM RIGHTS NOW.

This rant was brought to you by "Rapha is experiencing emotional issues the size of a Star Destroyer, please stand by while ze works through them"

More Star Wars thoughts

[jbk405]

I have now rewatched the entirety of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy for the first time in years.  Close to two decades in some parts, since I can’t even recall the last time I saw Attack of the Clones after it left theaters.

All told, I’m still solidly in the “These movies clash with the Original Trilogy and do not do an adequate job of portraying Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the Dark Side” camp.  They don’t even work when viewed as an independent trilogy, separate from the rest of the franchise.  The overall writing is poor, the acting often sub-par, and the story is frequently disjointed and extremely poorly paced.  However, as I said when I rewatched just The Phantom Menace last week, they do not deserve the hate and vitriol that fandom at large throws at them.  Yes, they’re flawed movies, but they’re not nearly as bad as the reactions make out.  Legitimate criticisms have been exaggerated and blown out of proportion, and their strengths have been overlooked.

I’ve seen people make jokes about jokes about jokes, with so many chains of mockery that I’m sure at least some of the people in there haven’t even seen the films at all.

The Phantom Menace and Revenge of the Sith are “okay”.  Attack of the Clones is a mess, but there were worse films made in the same year alone (It’s not even the worst sci-fi picture of the year).

Yes, I absolutely wish they had been better, and yes, I feel Star Wars: The Clone Wars does a much better job exploring Anakin’s fall to the Dark Side and the corruption of the Republic into the Empire, but I am downright ashamed for the way I used to hammer these movies.  Too much hopping on the bandwagon and way too much “I have to show that I’m a real fan”.

[stillwinterair]

Here’s my ranking as it stands at this exact moment, because I’m insane apparently and none of you are going to agree with this

The Empire Strikes Back

Return of the Jedi

Solo

The Force Awakens

A New Hope

The Last Jedi

Rogue One, probably

Revenge of the Sith, maybe

The Rise of Skywalker

The Phantom Menace

Attack of the Clones

I need to rewatch Rogue One to really solidify my placement there. Also if I were to rewatch all of these movies over the course of the next week I’m sure these would all flip around a little bit; Solo and TFA flip a lot, as do ROTS and RO, and TROS... I dunno what to do about that one. I’m solidly in the “it doesn’t feel like it’s even about anything” category now.

ROTS goes up and down (there was a while I liked it more than ANH) and I can’t remember the last time I didn’t watch it just to have something on in the background, so actually... sitting down to pay attention to it may provide different results. I could see it beating out RO and TLJ for me, but so much of it is just so needlessly goofy.

Bonus points for Obi-Wan though... hm. I dunno.

[scriptscribbles]

I mentioned I can never rank anything consistently, right? Having rewatched a bunch of movies my Star Wars ranking has shifted from last week to

The Force Awakens

The Last Jedi

Return of the Jedi

The Empire Strikes Back

Rogue One

Attack of the Clones

A New Hope

Revenge of the Sith

The Phantom Menace

Yeah, that just got even less conventional. Oh well.

[gffa]

This week I decided to do something a little different–video recs instead of fic recs! Which will return next week, but today I wanted to cry over STAR WARS videos for awhile and, sure, there’s some absolutely hilarious vids or really exciting, awesome vids, too! But there’s also a bunch of them that totally put tears in my eyes because why are you like this, Star Wars? Long post under the cut!  (Categories:  Humor, The Sads, Shipper, Meta, Awesome, Serious Fanvids) (Last updated:  2017.06.28) STAR WARS - HUMOR VIDS:

✦ Fuck This Shit, sequel trilogy   I thought, okay, I’m going to rewatch this one to write a quick rec, I’m not going to laugh this time. I STILL BURST OUT LAUGHING, even knowing it was coming. ✦ Firework, sequel trilogy/cast    I laugh every single time I watch this video, this is it, this is me as a Star Wars fan. It’s one of those that takes a serious moment and puts a fun song over it and the result is magic. ✦ Turn Down For What, prequel trilogy    I will rewatch Satine’s epic speech with dramatic background music every time. ✦ Palpatine Shooting Stars + Shooting Star, prequel trilogy, original trilogy, sequel trilogy    I love this song more and more every time I see these videos, they’re hilarious. It’s kind of the epitome of meme culture but goddamn if it doesn’t make me genuinely laugh. ✦ BLOCKED, prequel trilogy    Never has this been so accurate. 

✦ Fireball, prequel trilgy    The only video to successfully make me not have the sads while watching the ROTS duel. It’s also amazingly well edited and just incredibly fun. ✦ Real Housewives of Vine, prequel trilogy    All three versions are beautiful. ✦ Imperial March Replacement: One and Two, original trilogy    The Imperial March replaced with various songs and it gets funnier with every one of these I see. “Hello Bitches” is a personal favorite, it works so much better than it possibly should. ✦ Rogue One Hallway Scene Replacement: One, Two, Three, Four, and Five,    Not mentioning which songs are on which vid because sometimes the surprise is half the fun. But they are ALL HILARIOUS. ✦ If Chewbacca Had a Human Voice, original trilogy    IT FITS SO WELL BUT ALSO I LAUGHED REALLY HARD. ✦ We’re Number One, prequel trilogy    Vader’s path to the side of evil! It’s hilarious every time I watch it, but also, MAN, THAT SONG IS CATCHY. ✦ I Gotta Go My Own Way, prequel trilogy    ….but that pretty much is exactly what happened. ✦ I have no idea what I’m doing- , prequel trilogy    A collection of short videos (5 to 20 seconds at most), some music vids, some lip synching, all hilarious. The Parks and Rec one at the beginning gets me every time, it’s too accurate. ✦ Star Wars/Parks and Rec, original trilogy    Luke and Leia replaced by Jean-Ralphio and Mona Lisa from Parks and Rec and it’s AMAZING. ✦ My Heart Will Go On, prequel trilogy    The music in the Mustafar duel ending replaced with My Heart Will Go On. I still want to cry, but at least I’m laughing while I’m crying. ✦ How It Should Have Ended: The Phantom Menace / Attack of the Clones / Revenge of the Sith, prequel trilogy    Sometimes HISHE videos have to ignore the plot reasons certain things happen, so you do have to roll with that instead of wanting to point out the logic of what happened in canon, but I shut that part of my brain off and found that I really enjoyed each of these, that by the halfway point they’d picked up steam and I laughed out loud at least once per video. They do have a great sense of humor and it’s not mean-spirited at all, I had a great time with these. (Qui-Gon’s funeral had me in stitches.) STAR WARS - THE SADS VIDS: ✦ Obi-Wan Remembers The Truth, prequel trilogy/original trilogy    [Also on YouTube] This is, bar none, my favorite video in this genre. Obi-Wan’s conversation with Luke in ANH, with that sad music, interspersed with clips from the prequels. It’s gorgeous and utterly wrecks me every time. ✦ Ain’t No Grave, prequel trilogy    Beautifully edited and sad and haunting. The use of clips interspersed with the heavy song really has a good impact. ✦ Control, prequel trilogy    Another beautifully edited fanvid that has heavy, sad themes about Anakin Skywalker. Like, it’s just pure pain in a really lovely way. ✦ Krwlng, prequel trilogy    And like I wasn’t sad enough about Anakin Skywalker, NOW HAVE SOME MORE SAD FEELINGS, with more really beautiful editing. ✦ Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith - Modern Trailer, prequel trilogy    This is a really excellent remixed trailer that looks fantastic and would hold up today even! It got across so much of the emotion of what happened, there was a real weight and impact to it, and it was beautifully edited. There’s also modern trailers for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, but my favorite is the ROTS one. ✦ Bad Blood, prequel trilogy    I really love the editing of this one, the colors and effects look really gorgeous and the clips are chosen well, but also OH SHIT SO MANY FEELINGS, it’s really, really well done. ✦ See You Again, obi-wan & anakin    I got a little teary-eyed by the end of this one, it did a wonderful job at showing the sheer scope of their relationship, it really made me feel the weight of just how long they waited to see each other again. By the time the OT stuff started showing up in the vid, I was just laying on my bed in a pool of feelings. ✦ The Chosen One, prequel trilogy, anakin    Combined with the sads from the previous video, this one had me actually wiping tears from the corner of my eyes because I love Anakin Skywalker as a character so much, he inspires so many feelings in me, and this beautifully edited video that shows the tragedy of his entire life, from young child to his death, really, really well. One of my favorites of my vid trawling. ✦ When the violence causes silence , prequel trilogy, anakin    Another sad Anakin vid with some very nicely chosen clips and editing, that combine to really make me feel the tragedy of his character, how unstable and angry he was, how sad I am for his character. /has feelings again ✦ 7 years, prequel trilogy, anakin    I’m on a roll with Sadakin vids apparently and this one made me feel so many feelings all over again, for the sheer scope of sadness that is Anakin’s life. There’s especially some great use of TPM Anakin, too. ;__; ✦ Fight Inside, prequel trilogy, anakin    I’m not usually a fan of songs in this vein, but I thought this video did really well with it, how much of a storm Anakin’s entire character was and the clips/song reflected that. ✦ You’re the Chosen One ; I’m a Jedi like my father before me,    Prequels footage plus original trilogy footage, to show the connections and parallels and story of Anakin and Luke, very nicely done and gave me a whole lot of feelings while it was at it. ✦ Before The Dark Times, prequel trilogy, original trilogy    Another video where prequels footage is interspersed with Obi-Wan’s conversations with Luke about the past and it gave me so many sad feelings exactly as it was supposed to. ✦ The animal he has become, prequel trilogy, original trilogy    This video is all about how out of control of himself Anakin is (and Vader as well, to a degree), that he’s helpless against the tide of his own fall, and he’s a raging storm of feelings as it all comes crashing down. ✦ Hurt, prequel trilogy, original trilogy    A Vader vid set to Johnny Cash’s Hurt is entirely appropriate, there are some really great clip choices that gave me feelings, and made me sad for Anakin Skywalker all over again. Everything I could have asked for from this vid! ✦ Shout, prequel trilogy, original trilogy, rogue one    Another Vader video that’s half montage and half music vid, yet all feelings, as it shows the journey of his life, the things that have come back around again, and how much tragedy there is for everyone here. The ending of the vid is especially well done as it reaches the climax and there’s just so much here to these characters. ✦ Brothers, prequel trilogy, original trilogy    A beautifully edited video summary of Obi-Wan and Anakin, starting with Old Ben’s conversation with Luke to flashing back to the past, to their fight on Mustafar and the sheer amount of tragedy between two people who loved each other. Ugh, feelings. STAR WARS - SHIPPER VIDS: ✦ I FOUND LOVE, obi-wan/anakin fantasy au    Plus bonus graphic! I would watch this movie and it would be beautiful. ✦ take your time, obi-wan/anakin, modern au    Modern AU vids for something like Star Wars can be tricky, but I really liked this one, it’s another movie I would totally watch. ✦ They’re a team. They’re the team. , obi-wan & anakin    Okay, maybe not precisely shippy, but definitely about the sheer weight of shit they’ve gone through together and it’s gorgeous, I had so many feelings over this. Perfect choice of song, it even works great as an action vid, and I’d have watched an hour of this, for real. ✦ t o x i c, obi-wan/anakin    The song is a slower version of the one you’re thinking of and this was a nice shipper vid set to it! ✦ beautiful crime, obi-wan/anakin    I’m a sucker for sad vids about these two and the way this one looks is really beautiful. ✦ Tessellate, obi-wan & anakin    Another really beautifully edited video with a collection of clips that will break your heart all over again. ✦ a thing that swallows you, sith!obi-wan/anakin    Holy hell, this video had some great moments and really captured the feeling of Sith!Obi-Wan seducing Anakin, like I could watch this and believe he was absolutely going to take that young man to bed and fuck him senseless. It was a really solidly good vid and appealed to my id like whoa. ✦ the devil within, dark!obi-wan&anakin    This one strides the line between Obi-Wan&Anakin vs Obikin, but it works either way, and it’s a nicely edited video about the sheer depth of how deeply they get under each others’ skin, how intertwined they are, and the heavy weight of that. ✦ bang bang, obi-wan/anakin    Okay, this one was just fun! “You need a good boy to blow your mind.” indeed. ✦ Brothers (Carry Me), obi-wan & anakin    Not precisely a shipper vid, but it’s all about their friendship and the tragic weight of it and it had some really solid editing and pacing to go along with it. STAR WARS - META VIDS: ✦ How the prequel trilogy mirrored and rhymed the original, original trilogy/prequel trilogy    This is an absolutely beautiful video that shows the mirroring themes and the sheer amount of thought and care that went into them. ✦ Star Wars Limbs Removed, original trilogy/prequel trilogy    Who’s removed the most limbs via lightsaber in the course of Star Wars? It’s exactly who you think it is. I laugh like a maniac every time the buzzer sounds, too. ✦ Everything Great About Star Wars, prequel trilogy/rogue one/sequel trilogy    [The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, The Force Awakens] I don’t 100% agree with everything here, but the sheer amount of enthusiasm for the movies is incredibly infectious, it’s so great to see something that’s just absolutely having fun and pointing out awesomethings. STAR WARS - AWESOME VIDS: ✦ Guardians of the Galaxy Style: Prequel Trilogy / Rogue One / Original Trilogy / The Clone Wars, prequel trilogy/rogue one    The Rogue One version is super fun and very well edited, and the Clone Wars one is amazing fun and reminds me of why I love it so much, it’s the perfect kind of trailer that showcases how great the show really can be. But, holy shit, the prequel one is the best, the comedic timing is fantastic, it has a great sense of humor, it picked great choices, the character intros are amazing, and I cackled right out loud at least twice! Super, super fun remixed trailers! ✦ star wars - timelines, prequel trilogy/original trilogy/sequel trilogy    A really beautiful editing job to show visual echoes and reflections in all three trilogies! ✦ “The Big Bang” animated scene, prequel trilogy    This is a brief fan animated clip (only seven seconds) but it’s pure joy as Obi-Wan is so annoyed and the conversation looks super neat animated! ✦ Rogue One spliced with A New Hope, rogue one & original trilogy    This is a really awesome look at smoothing the transition between the two movies, I loved it! ✦ Eye of the Tiger, prequels trilogy & original trilogy    This is an older video, so it’s not quite as polished or bright as some newer ones, but it was sheer fun and had a great selection of clips and a good pace to it, so I had a good time watching the entire thing! ✦ OBI-WAN, prequel trilogy, original trilogy    A very nicely edited Obi-Wan Kenobi fan trailer that, as always, gave me a lot of feelings about just how much Obi-Wan has been through, the sheer scope of his life. STAR WARS - SERIOUS VIDS: ✦ Straight to Hell,    I’m not usually into b&w vids, but this one has some really pretty splashes of color and the editing was really good, so I wound up enjoying it a lot! ✦ heaven, prequels trilogy, sequel trilogy    A short (less than a minute, sadly) but beautifully edited video paralleling Anakin and Kylo, with some really vibrant colors and excellently chosen clips. It’s a gorgeous watch. ✦ Star Wars: The Last Sith - Darth Vader Trailer (Fan Trailer), prequels trilogy, original trilogy    A fan-made trailer for a theoretical Darth Vader movie, using footage from various sources to show the scope and story of Vader, it’s a really cool video!

[themeatlife]

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - A Review

AND Reranking the Star Wars Movies

The Finale (Maybe)

2019 saw the end of several major pop culture series: The Avengers, Game of Thrones, and the Skywalker Saga of Star Wars (or at least it was proclaimed, we shall see a decade from now if it is resurrected). Having a major finale was en vogue.

So here is the spoiler-free review. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was enjoyable. It was imperfect, with a handful of glaring flaws, but nothing that would prevent die-hards or casual fans from enjoying the experience. You get the scale of things and at moments visually it is almost overwhelming. The action set pieces are fantastic. All-in-all, worth seeing in theaters.

Now for the spoiler-rific review below the line. If you haven’t seen it and don’t want to be spoiled (why are you reading this) then scroll until “The Star Wars Countdown” headline is at the very top of you window/phone screen.

——————————————————————

I’m probably going to skip a few things but this is the main storyline.

Palpatine has never really left. He’s been in the background in the Unknown Regions raising the Final Order, a super-ginormous fleet to rule over the galaxy once and for all.

We catch up with our new trilogy trio of Rey, Finn, and Poe and what is left of the Resistance, led by General Leia. Leia has also taken the lead in mentoring Rey in the ways of the Force. News of Palpatine gets to them and the trio find themselves planet hopping on a quest first to find a dagger which is the key to finding Palpatine and then a programmer to get C3PO to translate script on said dagger. Along the way they are being hunted by the First Order and Kylo Ren. This sequence is very Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, but better executed.

Once the dagger is decoded, it leads them to the remains of the second Death Star where they must retreive a device with the coordinates to where Palpatine is. There is first a showdown between Rey and Sith Rey a la Luke in the forest in Degoba. Then is the showdown between Rey and Kylo where Rey ends up stabbing Kylo with his own lightsaber (Kylo was distracted by a dying Leia, Force-calling out to her son with her last breathe) and then Force-healing him and leaving him on the planet using his Tie Fighter with the device. Kylo then sees a vision of his father Han Solo telling him Kylo Ren is dead and his son Ben lives. Ben then leaves to chase after Rey to attempt to help confront Palpatine.

So Rey arrives on Exegol where Palpatine and the Final Order are gathered and preparing to deploy, leaving a signal for her Resistance friends and Ben to find. While Rey confronts Palpatine, the short handed Resistance tries to take down a communication tower in an effort to prevent the fleet from deploying. Epic battle ensues. Lando Calrissian comes with reinforcements for the Resistance while Rey almost gives in to Palpatine in an effort to save her friends. Ben comes in and they both fight Palpatine. Ben goes down and Rey uses the lightsabers she and Ben were using (coincidentally Luke and Leia’s lightsabers) against Palpatine’s Force Lightning, eventually killing him and herself in the process. Ben revives Rey and then kisses her (WHAT?!?) and then dies. The Resistance takes down the Final Order. The Resistance returns to their base, the new trio hug it out. Then the film ends with Rey returning to Tatooine where the saga began, burying Luke and Leia’s lightsabers and with their Force ghosts looking on takes on the Skywalker last name.

So my issues...

So, Palpatine is back? Last we saw his body fell down a shaft in the short-lived rebuild Death Star, thrown over by Vader in an effort to save Luke. I’m not sure how that even works that he’s back. I know they touch on it in the movie but seemed like we were done with the Emperor three (or is it six?) movies ago. But as a villain, Palpatine is effective.

The quest for the dagger and map device thing was a bit much. That actually could have been a movie itself. Like could have essentially replaced The Last Jedi with that quest. As much as I liked the The Last Jedi, I think a lot of the internet fanatics didn’t. And that hurt the Star Wars powers that be. And much of The Rise of Skywalker felt like it was actually attempting to write a lot of The Last Jedi out of the Star Wars timeline.

And yeah the Ben-Rey kiss was sudden. They seemed to have a very non-romantic connection so that was kind of out of place. Maybe it was more a goodbye kiss from Ben than anything, but it felt out of place.

And then the new trilogy as a whole. Although there was a new trio of main characters, the storyline was really dependent on the trio from the original trilogy. If the Force Awakens was the Han Solo movie and the Last Jedi was the Luke Skywalker movie, the Rise of Skywalker would have been the Leia Organa movie. And in many ways it was, but then it wasn’t. There is only so much you can do with extra footage. Rest In Peace Carrie Fisher, this movie needed more of you in it.

But with all that, it was still an enjoyable experience. It was imperfect, but that’s okay. No Star Wars movie is perfect (except for Empire). If you want comparison, better than Game of Thrones, no where near as satisfying as Avengers: Endgame.

The Star Wars Countdown

I ranked these almost two years ago. It didn’t change that much but I did switch a few and added the newer ones after I rewatched all the movies in the lead up to the Rise of Skywalker release. I FINALLY got my wife to watch them all with me. Disney+ and Netflix came in handy. So here are the updated Star Wars standings. I’ll do my college football wrap up later this week.

11 – Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Surprise surprise, I know.  But yes, Episode I is by far the weakest and most disposable of the series (as evidenced by the omission of it in the Machete Order). Most of the major plot points are brought up again in Episode II, so not really that important to watch.  And the action in it, while okay for the most part, do not make up for the most annoying and boring parts of the film – Jar Jar Binks, child Anakin Skywalker, and the Pod Race.  If you must watch it, the main scene you need to watch is the battle on Naboo where Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn and the Ewan McGregor version of Obi-Wan Kenobi take on double-lightsaber wielding Darth Maul played by martial artist Ray Park.

10 – Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

While Attack of the Clones is a step up from Episode I, this episode is plagued by two things: awkward pacing and the unnatural evolution of the love story of Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker.  The way the movie was paced it felt like it was going by too slowly at times.  Obi-Wan’s story arc kept me interested as he investigates bounty hunter Jango Fett and discovers the clone army.  But man, that Padme-Anakin story is rough.  Anakin comes off with a stalker-like creep factor obsession for Padme, and somehow Padme is infatuated with that?  Yeah I’m not convinced, that dynamic always felt super awkward and forced. Not that Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen couldn’t have chemistry.  It’s just that in this movie, they didn’t…at least not convincingly. Cool stuff on the back end of this movie is the battle on Geonosis featuring a gladiator-style survival scene for Obi-Wan, Padme, and Anakin as well as the Jedi coming to their rescue. Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu and Frank Oz’s Yoda show off some lightsaber skills as well.

9 - Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

This ended up being not as bad as critics made it out to be. It was fun and action heavy. I slightly different take on the Han Solo character by Alden Ehrenreich. It was fresh and it was Han as a young man less jaded than his original trilogy self. It was cool to see Woody Harrelson (Beckett), Thandie Newton (Val), Emilia Clarke (Qi’ra), and Donald Glover (young Lando Calrissian) in the Star Wars universe. There were a few things wonky with the movie though. I don’t know if I liked the live story between Solo and Qi’ra. The whole Lando and a droid thing was weird. And resurrecting previously deceased Sith Darth Mal felt a little empty (I know he’s appeared in other Star Wars projects but the cliffhanger at the end of this was Darth Mal’s first film appearance since Phantom Menace).

8 – Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Out of the prequel trilogy, I like this one the best.  And while it was a longer movie (2 hours 20 minutes), it didn’t feel weighed down by some of the pacing issues of Clones.  The ever-present forced romance between Padme and Anakin is still there though, and it becomes the primary reason Anakin turns to the Dark Side.  While the premise seems feasible, the unnatural feel of the relationship hinders this reasoning.  Over the course of the prequel series, they did a good job of planting seeds to make it seem like the Jedi are plotting to take over the Republic. So as a secondary reason for Anakin turning to the Dark Side, this reasoning works.  Some people had a problem with the whole calling kids “younglings” but I didn’t really see that as a problem.  The Old Republic could have talked like that, so it wasn’t an issue for me. So minus the whole Padme-Anakin thing and an unintended hilarious “NOOOOOOOOO” moment when Anakin turns into Darth Vader, it was a solid movie.  It was sad to see several points where Anakin could have turned back but didn’t.

7 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Before going into this film, I have to say that doing away with having the episode number in the title was a welcomed change away from the George Lucas era awkward titling. When I first saw this movie, I was awestruck.  Filled with nostalgia.  Almost like seeing a Star Wars movie as a kid again.  But the second time around seeing it, I quickly realized that even though there were new characters that this was more or less a very borrowed plotline. It was basically the original Star Wars, only updated.  Rey (Daisy Ridley) was like Luke (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford, of course) like a less-Force oriented Obi-Wan.  The First Order is basically the Empire resurrected, the Resistance is the Rebel Alliance.  Starkiller Base is the Death Star.  And Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) killing Han like Vader defeating Obi-Wan.  But I was still thoroughly entertained, and the intro of Rey, Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), and BB-8 was a welcomed addition to the Star Wars universe and The Force Awakens put down a solid foundation for the franchise to build upon for its new trilogy.

6 - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

See above for the review. I will say for all it’s problems it was enjoyable for the most part and entertaining as hell.

5 – Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

While The Force Awakens feels borrowed, The Last Jedi felt more like its own things.  Some critical of The Last Jedi felt it similar to The Empire Strikes Back. While it did have some similarities, I think the major differences (particularly the Force Chat and dynamic between Kylo Ren and Rey, and some of the backstory behind Luke and Kylo Ren’s relationship) make it so much of its own story. It is the peak as far as quality of the newest trilogy. One of the coolest scenes in the entire Star Wars franchise was Kylo and Rey taking on Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and his Praetorian Guard.  And while clearly the main focus of the film is the Kylo-Rey-Luke dynamic, the side plot of Finn and Rose (Star Wars newcomer Kelly Marie Tran) to Canto Bight in search of a hacker to disable a tracking device while Leia (RIP Carrie Fisher) and Poe try to lead the Resistance away in escape of the First Order were welcome storylines. Don’t listen to the haters online, this one is the best of the new trilogy.

4 – Star Wars (1977)

Wow, trailers back then are nothing like they are now. Yes, I refrained from calling this film “A New Hope,” simply because that was not the original name of the movie.  I respect this movie.  It’s the origin story of Luke Skywalker.  It featured ruthless villain Darth Vader (before we knew he was Luke and Leia’s father), a love interest (Leia before we and Luke find out they are brother-sister), and the cool rebel too cool to be in the rebellion (at first) in Han Solo.  But as most movies of the time, the special effects feel dated (much more so in this film than the other two in the trilogy).  And while it is the origin story, it was merely the tip of the iceberg. A strong foundation to build the rest of the franchise, but not the most compelling plotlines of the series (that is to come later).

3 – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

I had this film actually up at 2 when I ranked this a year and a half ago. It isn’t an essential movie to the overall Skywalker storyline of the main Star Wars installments.  But you get the sense of urgency and the sacrifice it took to steal the Death Star plans.  Rogue One is one part chase movie, another part heist movie.  Two types of movies I always enjoy.  The characters fill out in a short period of time and feel so rich.  It is the only Star Wars movie where all the main protagonist characters you are focused on the entire movie dies, making it not feel like a Star Wars film.  But the death scene with Donnie Yen’s Chirrut Imwe and Jiang Wen’s Baze Malbus as well as Felicity Jones’s Jyn Erso and Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor are equally heartbreaking and powerful.  The feels!  While the film doesn’t add to the overlying plot of the entire series, it does add a bit of understanding of just how big the stakes were in getting those Death Star plans and how invested the Rebellion was outside of the core characters of the series in trying to topple the Empire.  And then, well, Darth Vader totally owning the Rebels while trying to board Leia’s ship is badass and leads right into the original Star Wars.  Loved this movie.

2 – Return of the Jedi (1983)

A great conclusion to the original trilogy. We see the movie open with Jedi Luke displaying his control of the Force as the team rescues Han from Jabba the Hut. The Rebellion wants to strike one last blow to the Empire by taking out the rebuilt Death Star. The fight culminates on the forest moon of Endor. Luke reveals to Leia what she probably felt but didn’t recognize, that they are brother and sister. One of the strongest scenes was that final confrontation between Luke and Vader that ends with Vader saving Luke’s life from electrocution from the Emperor. Some people had a problem with the cute, fluffy Ewoks but I was okay with it. This is the movie where the extras added by George Lucas in the 1998 theatrical rerelease (and updated again in 2004) hurt the movie experience though. The extended musical scene at Jabba’s place was unneeded. We don’t need extra celebration scenes on other planets when its mission accomplished. And we didn’t need Hayden Christensen’s ghost in place of original Anakin actor Sebastian Shaw standing there with ghost Yoda and old ghost Obi-Wan Alec Guinness.  But other than that, this was my second favorite Star Wars movie growing up.

1 – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Out of all the series, this is the masterpiece. If you ever want to make a successful sequel that continues the original story and add to the overall depth of a film series, here was the blueprint.  From the opening battle on Hoth, to the core team getting split up, to Luke’s journey finding Yoda and training, to Han and Leia being chased down by the Empire, all the way to the climax of the film on Cloud City, we find our heroes being tested and pushed as well as finding themselves.  The Han-Leia love story holds up and feels realistic.  Luke’s internal struggle to train and fight off the darkness in him while confronting his fear of Vader feels realistic as well. And of course, the mic drop of all mic drops in sci-fi and maybe movie history – “I am your father.”  I was eight or nine years old when I remember first watching and actually understanding some of what was going on.  I remember yelling “WHAT?!?” as I watched.  The most iconic moment of the series.  It made this more than just a space opera.  More than just a sequel to a sci-fi hit. Those words made Star Wars into an expandable series that they have since built upon twenty-fold.  It turned Star Wars from a battle of good vs evil into an internal family struggle – the Skywalker family saga that impacted not just that family, but the entire galaxy.  Luke’s fear was no longer about confronting some ominous unknown bad guy. It was Luke confronting his father, one he never knew.  And the 1980 special effects hold up pretty well in this one.  

The Force will be with you. Always.

[haleyfury]

January 2020 has been one of the busiest months of my life. I spent so much time with my friends this month, went abroad (for the first time ever) to Ireland, and jumped into my final undergraduate semester. Between friends, school, and abroad, I didn’t have too much time to dedicate to reading in January- and I’m content with that. I really enjoyed the books that I did pick up, as well as the TV and films I was able to also watch this month.

 The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper (ARC) | 3/5 Stars

The Gravity of Us delivered on its NASA and space-premise, but I just wasn’t a fan of the chemistry between the main characters and character development.

The Risk (Briar U #2) by Elle Kennedy | 5/5

The Risk is my favorite book in the Briar U series! I loved everything about this book, and I can’t wait to read the last book in the trilogy- even though I am putting it off for a bit longer because I don’t want to be done with the Off Campus world yet!

You’re Not You by Michelle Wildgen | 4/5

You’re Not You was a really enjoyable adult contemporary and I’m interested in watching its film adaptation.

Together We Caught Fire by Eva V. Gibson (ARC) | 3/5

Together We Caught Fire is definitely a unique YA contemporary romance and provides an in-depth look at a lot of issues. However, I was not the biggest fan of the character and plot development and relationships.

I’m not counting these towards by reading challenge since they are for school, but I read Art Spiegelman’s Maus and Maus II and Primo Levi’s If This Is a Man for my independent study.

 Grace and Frankie S6 (Netflix) – One of my most anticipated TV releases of 2020, I tried not to rush through the latest season of Grace and Frankie. I managed to watch all thirteen episodes in less than a week- to be honest, I could have really ignored homework and watched all 13 in a day, but I wanted to stretch it out. Anyways, Grace and Frankie S6 was such a strong season.  The last episode made me laugh out loud the most.

Spinning Out S1 (Netflix) – I’ve been loving so many of Netflix’s drama series lately, the most recent being Spinning Out. I watched 7 episodes on my flights to and from Ireland because this fictional show following young adult figure skaters is that addicting! I wouldn’t say it’s the world’s best acting, but I still enjoyed the plot and story.

Schitt’s Creek S6 (Pop TV) – I was home for one weekend in January, which meant that I had to get up-to-date with as many Schitt’s Creek episodes as possible. I’ve only watched the first two episodes so far, but it’s been a really strong start. Live love David and Patrick as always.

Sex Education S2 (Netflix) – One of my best friends and I made it our mission this month to watch the second season of Sex Education together. We watched all eight episodes over three nights, and we were finally screaming over the relationships and what could happen next at the end of each episode.

Say Yes to the Dress America (TLC) – One of my favorite guilty pleasure TV shows came back in 2020 with a new twist. Say Yes to the Dress America follows various brides involved in Say Yes to the Dress’ epic wedding in which brides from all over the U.S. get married on the same day at Central Park.

Big Hero 6 (Disney+) – I finally checked off another movie on my Disney+ must-watch list by watching Big Hero Six for the first time! My friends and I had a movie night this week and I’m so glad we went with this pick. Big Hero Six was so much more emotional than I could have expected, and I fell in love with Baymax even more than expected as well!

Star Wars Episodes 1 & 2: The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones (Disney+) – My mom and I continued our mission to watch/rewatch all the Star Wars movies by watching Episodes I and II. I really liked Episode I, but I was not a fan of Episode II. Attack of the Clones made me understand why a lot of fans find this trilogy very cheesy.

Started watching: Cheer (Netflix) & The Ranch (Netflix)

Reviews 

MAX WATSON LOVE: The Map from Here to There Review ft. The Start of Me & You Reread Thoughts

A Heart So Fierce & Broken and A Curse So Dark & Lonely Double Review

HEART-FILLED YA CONTEMPORARY: How to Build a Heart Review

CALLING ALL SPORTS FICTION FANS: Throw Like a Girl Review

YA DEBUT & MORE CONTEMPORARY READS: January Mini Reviews

Bookish & Fangirl Fun

Book & Fangirl Christmas Haul 2019

MEET THE BOOKS: 2020 Reading Goals

My Most Disappointing Reads & DNFs 2019

Recent Additions to My TBR: 2020 Releases and Backlist Edition

Most Anticipated 2020 TV & Movies

2020 5 Star Predictions: 2020 Releases Edition

I Should Have Read that Book Tag

ADVENTURES ABROAD: My Trip to Ireland 

Study abroad & back to school– The biggest life happening for me this month was going on a study abroad trip to Ireland. I have a post dedicated to my trip, but I loved this experience so much and I definitely even have more wanderlust now! As soon as I got back from the trip, I started my final semester of my senior year of college. This semester is definitely going to bittersweet, but I’m going to do my best to spend as much time with my friends and make memories while balancing some really exciting school projects.

 Miss Americana documentary- There always has to be some sort of fangirl-related content in my life happenings, right? I feel like so many moments in my life can connect back to Taylor Swift. While I was in Ireland, Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana documentary with Netflix was announced. There have been some mixed early reviews, but I’m still excited to check this one out to learn more about the gap between Reputation and Lover– and see her wok on “Me!” with Brendon Urie.

What did you read and watch in January? What are you looking forward to in February? Any recommendations for me? Share in the comments!

NEW YEAR, SAME FANGIRL: January 2020 Wrap Up January 2020 has been one of the busiest months of my life. I spent so much time with my friends this month, went abroad (for the first time ever) to Ireland, and jumped into my final undergraduate semester.

[blccdlined]

What is your ranking of all the Star Wars films right now?

I just did a rewatch recently again of all the films in order so this is how they rank right now, so frankly this list can change next week or next month depending on rewatch again and again and how even the books and comics affect me and how I feel lol

1. ROGUE ONE - this is likely a rank that will never change, this movie is all I’ve ever wanted to see in a Star Wars film so I can die happy now

2. THE PHANTOM MENACE - this movie is the reason I fell in love with Star Wars so I will love it forever, especially little Anakin

3. A NEW HOPE - this movie used to be much lower on the list, but Rogue One and the “From A Certain Point Of View” book really changed how I felt about this film

4. THE LAST JEDI - fact is the more I watch this movie the more I love it, this movie resonated with me in a way I never expected it to that I was crying in the theater, even Rogue One didn’t do that to me, and look, Porgs!!! And

5. THE FORCE AWAKENS - the fastest movie for me to fall in love with all the main characters and be excited about where the journey may go, such strong character introductions with this cast of talented actors

6. RETURN OF THE JEDI - yeah sue me, I love teddy bears and nothing beats watching them kick Imperial asses

7. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - putting it this low is probably blasphemy to many but then again I’ve never held this movie to be the holy grail of Star Wars, still I do love the emotional and spiritual focus which were important things Luke, Leia, and Han needed it a lot of

8. REVENGE OF THE SITH - Mustafar lightsaber duel was amazing and the Order 66 scene still kills me but I think this film and Ep 2 suffer both from my wish that they had been moved around to be structurally different

9. ATTACK OF THE CLONES - I find enjoyment in all Star Wars films but I still wish this film had actually been the Clone Wars instead

[witty-diagnosis]

Witty review #11: The Force a shakin’

well it’s been a fair few weeks, guess I’m not too good at sticking to a schedule, if you hadn’t realised, but I’m back, and I’m still as busy as ever so I decided to rewatch a film I’ve seen around 6 times. Yes to celebrate the last Jedi coming out I decided to review the force awakens, yes the rehash of a new hope with a death planet rather than just a moon.

So if you’ve been living under a rather large rock the force awakens is the 7th movie in the star wars franchise although canonically it is the eighth, and stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, with luckily 2 of those characters already established deeply within canon so as to make listing the stars as hard as possible. Now personally I am a massive fan of Star Wars, expanded universe, movies, comics, the lore videos on Youtube, anything I can get a hold of it’s my drug of choice is lightsabers, so when this movie was coming out, after watching the franchise run on ITV for the 12th time I was pretty excited, and did it deliver, well that’s what I’m gonna talk about.

Now the positives, the film is through and through Star Wars, which in itself is hard to describe but it’s kind of modern technology that looks from the 70′s with modern looking technology, it’s got a consistent theme, Star Destroyers look grey and menacing, Kylo Ren as a sith is imposing with an unstable lightsaber that could summarise his inner turmoil (until he takes off his helmet and looks like an angsty teen.) The soundtrack is classic John Williams again helping to keep it in line with the older movies. The acting is pretty good, Harrison Ford is always good as Han Solo, channeling his I don’t want to be there (something that was in fact all too real.) John Boyega as Finn is as likeable as his bromance with Oscar Isacc’s Po Dameron. Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, although not looking imposing wthout his helmet, does an excellent job of playing the turmoil stricken character who has lost his way. The only problem I do have is with Daisy Ridley as Rey. 

Now Rey as a character is meant to be this wide eyed almost childlike character finally seeing this galaxy for herself after years on Jakku, and Daisy does a good job at that, but her expressions and the way she suddenly switches from running away from her problems to ‘hey look I’ll just straight up master 3 force skills in a few days’ is pretty ridiculous, also the amount of times she mentions she has to go back to Jakku is kinda ridiculous but there is a canon explanation. Of course the plot is a fairly obvious ‘nod’ or more so almost complete act for act of a new hope, including the big bads being blown up and all the bows and ribbons at the end.

Overall however, being the star wars fan I am I’ve got to say that this is around Revenge of the Sith levels for me, which is above Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and in my opinion Return of the Jedi, but below Rogue One, despite it being unnecessary, A New Hope and the best film in the series, Empire Strikes back, because that film is the absolute fucking shit. Out of 10 it would get a 7.5 go watch it it’s star wars, watch all of them invite me and all your friends I’ll happily watch them all as long as we play Jedi Academy after. 

Anyway guys I hope you enjoyed the review, and if you want I’ll review The last Jedi when it comes out because I am no doubt going to see it and if it’s true Rey’s going to the Dark side it might offer some much needed development. For now though I’ll see you soon.