Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (December 2015)

Official Australian release date: 17/12/15. Viewed: 18/12/15.

Director: J.J. Abrams

Actors: Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver

Genre: Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure

Rating: M       

{Disclaimer = no spoilers here! May update it with more plot details in 2016}

It’s finally here – something that some fans have been waiting 32 years for! (Although the last theatrically-released Star Wars film, ‘The Clone Wars’, only came out seven years ago). Since I wasn’t born until after ‘Return of the Jedi’ and grew up watching them on VHS and am a pretty big fan, the sequel trilogy (as opposed to the prequel trilogy) and 'The Force Awakens' has long been hoped for.

OK, let’s see if I can do a vague storyline with no spoilers… 30 years after the Battle of Endor, Han (Ford) is the first ‘original’ we’re reintroduced to – well, technically Stormtroopers are, followed by the Millennium Falcon. But first, we meet Poe (Issac), an X-Wing pilot for “the Resistance” (the new Rebel Alliance); BB8, a ball-like droid; Finn (Boyega), a former Stormtrooper; and Rey (Ridley), a scavenger, barely surviving on the desert world of Jakku (which plays a role in the ‘Lost Stars’ novel, well worth a read!). BB8 holds some important data and needs to get it to Leia (Fisher), before the “First Order” (the new Empire) and Kylo Ren (Driver) get it, so they can all find Luke (Hamill). The only ones missing are Lando & Wedge.

It feels like a lot has changed, but also not much at all – it truly feels like the original Star Wars universe, with plenty of new aliens, spaceships and droids, but also plenty of old ones. Abrams has definitely nailed the tone, with plenty of adventure and zest, and also some humour and drama. The pace rarely sags and it doesn’t feel like two & a bit hours, but nor does it try to cram too much in. It’s not exactly a carbon copy of ‘A New Hope’, but definitely borrows a lot of themes from it.

Some questions are answered, but are lot are left unanswered, so the anticipation remains for the next films. While the film is definitely a great movie – and far better than any of the prequels – I sometimes didn’t feel as if as much was at stake as it was in the originals and a few things didn’t sit 100% right, also probably a by-product of my high expectations. Still, Ridley & Boyega are both very good to watch and valuable additions, and Driver’s intriguing – I look forward to watching their characters grow in Episodes VIII and IX.

Overall: A soon-to-be-classic entry in the greatest film series of all time!

Gav's Rating: 4 stars.   

The Good Dinosaur (December 2015)

Official Australian release date: 26/12/15. Viewed: 13/12/15.

Director: Peter Sohn

Actors: Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand

Genre: Comedy/Adventure

Rating: PG       

‘The Good Dinosaur’ is a fun kid’s movie that has a few strenuous moments, but I saw it with a five-year-old and she was fine, so its PG rating for “some scenes may scare young children” is probably fair. Fairly simple plot – the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago just misses Earth, hence allowing mammals & dinosaurs to evolve and coexist.

The story follows Arlo (Ochoa), an Apatosaurus, and his anthropomorphised family, of which Arlo’s the runt of the siblings. Wright & McDormand are mum & dad, who spend their time farming. Arlo falls in the river and gets swept away and begins a quest to get back home and is aided by an unlikely partner – Spot (Bright) the human, who’s really more of a puppy! Plenty of similarities to ‘The Adventures of Milo and Otis’ and ‘The Lion King’, with Arlo having to find his own courage before he can find his family.

There’s actually not that many dinosaurs (a few T Rex, Pteranodons, Velociraptor and Triceratops) as the film really sticks with Arlo & Spot. The backdrop they’re set against, which looks like the mountains of Canada, is superb, with all the scenery seemingly vividly real – truly exceptional CGI, with the only things looking cartoony are the characters! Some sad bits, some funny bits and some lessons for good measure.

Overall: Well-made family film.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.   

The Night Before (December 2015)

Official Australian release date: 3/12/15. Viewed: 3/12/15.

Director: Jonathan Levine

Actors: Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Caplan

Genre: Comedy

Rating: MA       

“It was ‘The Night Before’ Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” – except for Isaac (Rogen) “tripping balls”! This is almost more of a drug film than a Christmas movie, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – or a good thing. Simple concept – Ethan (Gordon-Levitt)’s parents died when he was 18, so his two best friends, Isaac & Chris (Mackie) have a Christmas Eve tradition where they go drinking in New York.

From there, it’s easy – people grow up & grow apart, so this is their farewell to the tradition. Drugs are taken, ridiculous situations ensue. Rogen didn’t write this, but there’s still plenty of jokes for him and his drug-addled self, even if he is playing the “responsible Dad” from Neighbours’, just with the night off. Lizzy Caplan needed more screen time and backstory, but it’s good to see Michael Shannon, Tracy Morgan & James Franco pop up.

A few great laugh out loud moments, particularly in the Midnight Mass scene, and some other chuckles throughout, but there’s not enough sustained hilarity, or heartfelt moments, even if the film gets there at the end. Not the worst Christmas film, but nor is it ‘Bad Santa’.

Overall: Solid Christmas adult comedy.

Gav's Rating: 3 stars.