By: CHRISTINE GIVER
Columnist
While I realize this can be just as controversial a topic as the presidential election, depending on the audience, there is something I just have to say.
I did not like “Star Wars: Episode VII.” To put it more specifically, it disappointed me in several significant ways.
Anyone who is an original trilogy purist should have a difficult time ignoring the fact that there were a number of glaring similarities to characters and plot lines from previous films – a young Jedi who doesn’t realize her own powers hanging out on a desert planet with a droid, a Jedi master who used to be a teacher that isolated himself because one of his students turned to the dark side, a pilot who used to be involved with the Imperial Army but has ventured out on his own and struggles between thinking of himself and wanting to help people. I haven’t even mentioned emo Kylo Ren who is almost as easy to parody as Jar Jar Binks.
Sure, it was super cool to see Chewbacca and Han Solo, along with Luke and Leia. For me though, it felt more like a tribute than something completely original and interesting. I was pretty bummed out until the magnificent day that the trailer for “Rogue One” came out. I now have a new reason to be excited about “Star Wars.”
We are going to get almost all original characters and see some gaps in the timeline filled between prior films. It looks absolutely amazing in the trailer. I haven’t even mentioned the fact that it would appear that Darth Vader is going to be featured in this movie. Darth Vader. The extremely nerdy side of me is jumping up and down, screaming like a little girl at an ice cream factory.
It will be several months before “Rogue One” is released, but I can honestly say that I think this year I will have a very merry “Star Wars” holiday season.
