• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Staff
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Multimedia
  • Sports

The Crimson

The only student-run newspaper at Florida Tech.

You are here: Home / Archives for david

david

Nerd News: Star Wars ranking and Episode 9 preview

November 29, 2019 by David Thompson Leave a Comment

The widely anticipated “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” opens in theaters on Dec. 20. Disney and Lucasfilm have said this is the end of the “Skywalker Saga.”

The “Skywalker Saga” is all of the episodic Star Wars films produced up until this point. 

Beginning with the adventures of Luke, Han and Leia, then the prequel trilogy focusing on Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme, the sequel trilogy finally wraps up starring Rey, Kylo Ren, Finn and Poe. 

With such a monumental nerd chapter coming to a close, here are my full Star Wars movie rankings—including the anthology films—and a quick predictions section for “The Rise of Skywalker.”

10. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Bogged down by a force-fed love story between Anakin and Padme, “Attack of the Clones” is filled with poor acting and head-scratching story decisions. Obi-Wan’s arc is easily the best part. 

9. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Remove Jar Jar Binks and this would still probably rank ninth on my list. In one movie, George Lucas ruined everything we thought we knew about the Force and turned Darth Vader into a whiny little kid. We do, however, get one of the best lightsaber fights ever between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gonn Ginn and Darth Maul (shoutout to the music “Duel of the Fates” playing). 

8. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Finally, we get to see Anakin become Darth Vader. Oh wait, maybe we didn’t want to see little Ani mercilessly kill younglings. In all honesty, this is probably the only prequel that I enjoy watching out of the three, mainly because there is real emotion when they execute Order 66. Also, the final fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan does pull at a few of my heartstrings. 

7. Solo: A Star Wars Story

This may seem like I am ranking this movie low, but I actually enjoy “Solo.” The story, characters and action sequences are all enjoyable but it doesn’t provide any unforgettable moments in my opinion. While Alden Ehrenreich does the best he can playing Han Solo, my biggest problem with this movie is that he’s not Harrison Ford. Obviously, it would be impossible for Ford to play this aged character now but that just makes me question if we really needed this movie at all.

6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

This is exactly what a “Star Wars story” should be: a well-crafted story around likable characters that we grow to quickly love throughout the film. We only see one lightsaber (the one and only Darth Vader’s) and it is one of the best scenes in Star Wars history. Not only does this movie perfectly lead into “A New Hope,” but it provides us with the “wow” factor we all crave when journeying to a galaxy far, far away. 

5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

This was nearly placed at number six on my list, but despite all the movie does wrong, the super sweaty, gasping-for-air moments in this movie give it the nod over “Rogue One.” Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, is my favorite character of the new trilogy and I love everything he does in this movie. All of the moments between him and Rey are great (#TeamReylo), and their brief team-up against Snoke’s guards is pure Star Wars bliss. 

4. Star Wars: A New Hope

Back where it all began. The teaching between Obi-Wan and Luke learning what the Force is, our first appearance of Han and Chewbacca, Darth Vader force-choking his subordinates and the beginnings of an iconic friendship between Luke, Han and Leia. The original Star Wars film will always hold a special place in our little nerd hearts.

3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Some take points off for being very similar to “A New Hope” but I absolutely love “The Force Awakens,” even with the blatant copying. Star Killer Base was a misfire. However, seeing a Storm Trooper—Finn—go rogue, being introduced to the best pilot in the resistance—Poe—and meeting our midi-chlorian-filled scavenger Rey are all great character moments and sets the foundation for the next three movies. Also, Han (rest in peace), Chewy and Leia are heavily featured and it feels like a dream come true.

2. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

I do not mind the Ewoks. Inject the throne scene between the Emperor, Vader and Luke directly into my veins. Next. 

1. Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back

If this isn’t your favorite Star Wars movie are you really even a Star Wars fan? Some of the best elements are the battle of Hoth, Luke training with Yoda and Lando Calrissian and Cloud City. This movie also has some of the best moments of dialogue, including the moment between Han and Leia where she proclaims her love for him and he simply responds, “I know.”

There’s also this iconic exchange between Luke and Vader: 

Luke: I’ll never join you!
Vader: If only you knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.
Luke: He told me enough! He told me you killed him!
Vader: No, I am your father.

Image result for mic drop

The Rise of Skywalker questions/predictions:

  • How and why is the Emperor back?
  • Who was Snoke?
  • How do they handle Leia?
  • Kylo and Rey team up in the end to fight the Emperor.
  • Kylo dies in the end.
  • Rey, Finn and Poe all survive.
  • We see Hayden Christensen reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in the form of a Force ghost.

Filed Under: Arts, Entertainment, Opinion Tagged With: david, florida tech, list, movies, nerd news, opinion, ranking, star wars

Nerd News: Why it doesn’t matter whether Marvel is “cinema” or not

November 6, 2019 by David Thompson 2 Comments

Francis Ford Coppola rivaling the Marvel Cinematic Universe for classifying it as “not cinema”. Photo // INQUIRER.net USA

During a recent interview with Empire, beloved Director Martin Scorsese called comic book movies, specifically Marvel, “not cinema.”

He went on to say the best comparison for them is theme parks.

Instead of writing a thousand words on how these comments are ridiculous and Scorsese is just a grumpy old man (trust me, I almost went there), I have been able to take a step back and have come to a conclusion. Who cares?

I’m not backing down as a Marvel superfan, nor am I trying to discredit Scorsese’s opinion.

Cinema can be defined simply as movies or motion pictures, but a secondary definition according to Meriam-Webster Dictionary is, “the art or technique of making motion pictures.”

This seems to be the definition Scorsese meant when critiquing comic book movies.

Later during his interview with Empire, he explained his stance, saying, “It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”

Now while I do not agree, I understand.

Scorsese is basically trying to say Marvel movies rely too much on the big explosions, computer graphics and lighthearted comedy to be considered real cinema.

Scorsese also admitted to not watching Marvel movies despite trying.

While this is clearly an outsider’s point of view looking in, the nine-time Academy Award nominee’s opinions still hold great weight—enough so that the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr. and Natalie Portman defended Marvel movies as cinema.

Unfortunately, fellow iconic director Francis Ford Coppola went one step too far when adding onto Scorsese’s comments.

In an interview with Yahoo! Coppola said that Scorsese “was kind when he said it’s not cinema. He didn’t say it’s despicable, which I just say it is.”

Grumpy old man alert! He explained why he agreed that Marvel movies aren’t cinema.

“We expect to learn something from cinema,” Coppola said. “We expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration.”

Nerd alert incoming! Inspiration?

These movies inspire, especially children, to use their gifts for the greater good.

For example, Peter Parker (oh no, here he goes again) was just a nerdy teen trying to work his way through school.

He didn’t seek his great power, but once he had it, he took on the great responsibility.

He used his gifts to help and protect his community.

The point wasn’t that he could lift a car or climb walls—it was that he was given amazing abilities and how he used them was all that mattered.

We may not be able to swing through New York City or stop a speeding train, but we all have our own gifts and they only matter if we use them to the best of our abilities.

To be frank, Mr. Coppola, I was a pretty freaking inspired six-year-old watching Spider-Man 2 on repeat.

So the question is, why the sudden bashing of the incredibly successful Marvel movies that have recently been released?

Well, I think that is exactly it: Marvel movies are insanely successful. Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” is the highest-grossing film of all time, bringing in just under $2.8 billion.

They have also had an effect on the rest of the industry, especially genre films.

For example, Marvel Studios began adding post credit scenes to their films to get fans excited for the next film and keeping the excitement levels always to the max.

In August’s action film “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” there were four post-credit scenes teasing the next installment.

Even Scorsese’s much anticipated film, “The Irishman,” coming out in November of this year has been affected.

The movie is in partnership with Netflix and in an interview with Entertainment Weekly Scorsese said that the $159 million project “was very difficult to get made the past 10 years, and for many different reasons.”

Scorsese is even using de-aging technology in his new film. This part-incredible, part scary computer graphics effect has been previously used in Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” and “Captain America: Civil War.”

Times are certainly changing in the film industry and I think generational directors like Scorsese and Coppola, who have been creating major motion pictures for nearly 60 years, may feel threatened.

It was clearly not a cakewalk for Scorsese to get his latest project funded and Coppola still hasn’t begun official production of “Megalopolis.”

Deadline reported that Coppola described “Megalopolis” as “usual” and said, “It will be a production on a grand scale with a large cast.”

Interesting, grand scale and large cast … where have I seen that before?

Nevertheless, the film industry has changed rapidly over the past 10 Avengers filled years and there’s no sign of it stopping.

The great Robert Downey Jr. put it in the best way possible while on The Howard Stern Show.

“When you come in like a stomping beast and you eliminate the competition in such a demonstrative way, it’s phenomenal,” Downey said.

So who cares if Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola think that Marvel movies aren’t cinema?

They are more entitled to their own opinions than practically anyone else in the film industry, but actions speak louder than words and money speaks even louder than that.

This never needed to become a viral story, because it is what it is and none of this means that we as Marvel fans should enjoy The Avengers any less.

We also shouldn’t have to feel like traitors for watching “Shutter Island” or “The Godfather.”

At the end of the day, the movie industry is changing and evolving, just as it has over the past 100 years, and there’s nothing you, me or Martin Scorsese can do about it.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News, Opinion Tagged With: avengers, cinema, david, directors, fanatic, film, marvel, marvel studios, MCU, nerd news, opinion, rival, scorsese, universe, what is film, what is film to you

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Florida Tech confirms seven student cases of COVID-19, recommends students get vaccinated
  • Mindfulness Mondays in March
  • Conversations with a Holocaust survivor
  • Florida Tech introduces new esports director
  • Remembering Alan Rosiene

Categories

  • All-Stories
  • Arts
  • Business
  • Clubs
  • Colleges
    • College of Aeronautics
    • College of Business
    • College of Engineering and Science
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Funny
  • Health
  • Local
  • Music
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • World

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in