I know I'm so not Entertainment Weekly that I'm just now watching STAR WARS episode VIII? How did I resist so long? Well, it's been a long time since I was 13 years old, so it wasn't at the top of my priorities list.
I loved the original movies for what they were. Flash Gordon style movie serial soap. I was interested to watch George Lucas take a stab at I-III. I actually liked those movies for their flaws and world-class actors whom he was able to enlist.
The nostalgia of Episode VII drew me to the theater twice (just to make sure I wasn't wrong). My analysis: big budget fan fiction. It's only a diss from an artsy point of view. I know George L. was just into the checks from the toys but STAR WARS was his vision. As competent as JJ Abrams INC. It's still just fanboy stuff. Kylo Renn already ate ass on "Girls". The force doesn't get any darker than that! On to new ideas and themes my fellow aging dad types!! If Benicio hadn't done the Heineken Light commercial, I might have been on board with his Han Solo retread, but I can't get that image out of my head. If Sean Penn dresses in drag and plays of the ghost of Princess Leia, let me know and I'll plunk down my time and money.