Artistic Integrity in the Dock: JESSICA CHASTAIN

Artistic Integrity is a study of one particular artist's contribution to the world of entertainment.
Are they worthy of the accolades or should they be sent down...

The Accused:
JESSICA CHASTAIN

Much like our last Artist in the Dock Oscar Isaac; Jessica Chastain has really come into her own over the last half a dozen years or so.  Similar to Isaac, she has started to become a headliner after hitting her thirties.  It is slightly against the grain for a female actor to gain more notice after this age as the focus for studio's these days tends towards a younger generation of actors.
Chastain got into the business through a few television roles before getting her first break starring alongside the great Helen Mirren in The Debt.  Of course they never shared any screen time together as Chastain was playing the younger version of Mirren's character Rachel Singer in this film.  It is fair to say that this is when people started to take notice.
Her next outing was in the underrated gem Take Shelter where she plays the wife of Michael Shannon.  The movie garnered a number of nominations in the Saturn Awards, including one for Chastain.  Incidentally the director Jeff Nichols is certainly one to watch, having made the equally enjoyable: Mud.
It would be fair to say that 2011 was a big year as Chastain appeared in no less than five big screen releases.  The Help would have to be classed as the biggest out of these movies; although fans of The Tree of Life from Terrence Malick might disagree.  I am not a fan of Mr Malick so I will nominate The Help instead.
Portraying Celia Rae Foote gives Chastain the first opportunity to really show her acting chops.  At first I didn't even recognise that it was her playing this person.  She is so good at embodying this introverted lady who befriends her maid.  This would also lead to her first Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
Roles would start to flow for her now and not just from one genre.  I think that her portrayal in The Help really showed people what she was capable of as an actor.  She definitely hasn't been typecast; which is the bane of many good actors who have a breakout role that starts to get them recognition.
In Lawless she plays Maggie Beauford, a waitress for the bootlegger Bondurant brothers.  Whilst I don't consider it a great movie, it is entertaining and Chastain is still eye catching in it.  Tackling a new genre altogether; Chastain played the surrogate mother to the two feral children in the horror/thriller: Mama.  She brings a lot of heart and soul to this successful film, which helps elevate it from your average run of the mill thriller.
The real life events taking place while Zero Dark Thirty was in production meant a few rewrites to the ending, allowing for what happened with the pursuit of Osama Bin Laden.  This in turn contributed to the success of the movie upon release.  Probably more than any of her other films, this one relies totally upon her powerhouse performance as Maya; the CIA analyst who's driving desire is to see Bin Laden pay for his crimes.
She was again nominated for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe for playing this character.  Needless to say she is excellent here; standing out in what could easily have become a boy's movie considering that she is one of only a few female cast members.  Hers is the central character and she handles it with much aplomb.
I have already covered Crimson Peak in detail; saying how much I enjoyed her scene chewing evil matriarch.  I also mentioned my thoughts about Chastain in A Most Violent Year when Isaac was in the Dock.  She has starred in two huge science fiction movies: Interstellar and The Martian.  Hands down The Martian is the better of the two films.
In Interstellar Chastain plays Murph, the daughter of Matthew McConaughey's Joseph Cooper.  She is very good as the abandoned daughter looking for answers.  It is just a pity that the film overall was a bit of a disappointment.  I love the visuals but the script has so many flaws, I just felt let down by it all.
On the other hand The Martian is a great adaptation and Chastain again proves worthwhile as mission commander Lewis.  You get a true sense of the turmoil her character is feeling at leaving a crew member behind.  She is able to do a lot with the limited screen time she gets, considering much of the films focus is on Matt Damon's Mark Watney.
Jessica Chastain is probably one of the most versatile female actors around.  Reading up on the depth of research she does in preparing for each role it does not surprise me.  She wants to inhabit each character and I think it comes across well on the screen.
At the moment you can see her in The Huntsman: Winter's War.  This is a film that was on a hiding to nothing as it really is an unwanted sequel by everyone except for the studio.  They are thinking of the dollars they can make from it.  She isn't the only A-List actor appearing so hopefully the cast make it entertaining enough so it doesn't end up on trial!  I haven't seen it as of yet, though I probably will so let's wait and see how it fares...
On the horizon she has Molly's Game with Aaron Sorkin directing and Idris Elba co-starring.  That pairing intrigues me.  There are also a few biographic films on her upcoming slate; along with a couple of drama's dealing with some heavy themes and topics.  She is definitely an actor in high demand.

 

Verdict:
Jessica Chastain should be allowed to continue to produce the stellar work she has so far, there is no need to abandon this lady on some lonely planet.

 

Splitting a portion of this persons back catalogue into what I would "go to" and what I would choose to "avoid"; given the choices I would categorise this entertainers output as thus...
The Scorcher's:

• The Martian
• The Help
• Crimson Peak
• Zero Dark Thirty

 The Torture's:

• The Tree of Life
• Interstellar
•  Lawless

Film: "Never Take Sweets From A Stranger"

The Witch Trial:
Is it a controversial flick or is it required viewing for all parents as a warning about 'stranger danger'?

Who:
Director: Cyril Frankel
Starring: Patrick Allen, Gwen Watford, Felix Aylmer
What:
Thriller
Why:
Adaptation of a play called The Pony Trap
When:
Released 1960
Where:
Set in Canada in a small rural town

The Case For:
I had been aware of this movie for some time and had heard only good reports about how it handled its subject matter and that it was a suspenseful thriller.  Having finally had the chance to watch it I can only concur with those views.
Tackling something as taboo as paedophilia is never an easy thing to do in movies.  Most recently Spotlight did a wonderful job of covering the exposure of Catholic priests in the Boston area who were guilty of sexual abuse of children.  It is an exceptional film and was well deserving of the best picture Oscar.
There is also Little Children starring Kate Winslet which tells the story of two unhappily married people who start an affair.  One of the subplots here involves Jackie Earle Haley's character who is a recently released paedophile.  Whilst it isn't the main theme, it does have a major impact on what happens throughout the film.
Those are both engaging movies but are from our modern age.  Little Children was not a success at the cinema whereas Spotlight (possibly boosted by its Oscar win) has been well received by the public.  What is interesting is that in Little Children we get to see the perpetrator as a person with emotions; unlike Spotlight which focuses on the exposure of the crime.
It is far more confronting for the viewer when you have to perceive someone as a human being when in actual fact you know they have committed monstrous acts.  When you are looking at evidence of a crime you are generally disturbed by what you see; but not so much as when you get to know the felon who carried out the crime.
Never Take Sweets From A Stranger (retitled Never Take Candy From A Stranger in America) does have its villain as the focus of the story.  Played by Felix Aylmer; the senior  Clarence Olderberry is accused of forcing two little girls to dance naked for his pleasure in exchange for sweets.  One of the children, rather innocently, relates this event to her parents when discussing what happened while she was out spending time with her friend.
Her parents are of course most disturbed to hear about this and question their daughter further as to exactly what occurred.  This scene is so well played; you have the daughter Jean Carter just casually relating events whilst her parents listen in horror not knowing whether to believe what they are being told or not.  The way they try and coax more information out of Jean without alerting her to the danger she was in is handled very realistically; for any parent who has tried to wean more information out of their child can attest too.
Gwen Watford in particular is very believable as the distraught mother.  You can tell that Gwen's character, Sally Carter, is trying to hold her emotions together and not upset Jean at all.  It is then left to Sally to relate the rest of the tale to her husband Peter and Jean's grandmother Martha.  It is only at this stage that Sally begins to break down and the full effects of what she has just found out sink in for all concerned.  It is powerful stuff and what would be among the worst nightmare's a parent could face.
We then follow the Carters as they decide to press charges against Olderberry and see how the town's residents begin to shun the family for bringing the reputation of someone who appears to be one of the town founders into question.  It isn't so much a case of them not believing them; more a case that they can't believe they would air the dirty secrets of someone whose family are so well respected.
The ways the townsfolk are depicted as basically turning a blind eye to the actions of Olderberry are quite shocking though not totally unbelievable.  There is a lot of indifference shown from the community and the attitude that seems to have been adopted is that Olderberry is a bit eccentric but is really a harmless old man.

We are then presented with a really uncomfortable scene where the police captain Hammond tries to coerce Sally Carter into changing Peter's testimony to avoid pressing charges.  You can really feel the stress that is casually being place on Sally by Hammond; while he isn't outright threatening her; his behaviour implies that their lifestyle would not be as carefree if they go ahead with criminal proceedings.  It is a great exchange and one where Sally comes out with a lot of credit by sticking to her guns.
There is so much pressure being applied to the Carter family from the police department, the community and also Clarence Olderberry Jr who pays a visit to the Carter household to confront them and straight out threaten them.  On top of this we see Martha overhear two ladies gossiping about the accusations at the local hairdressers.
The filmmakers do an excellent job of getting across this pervading sense of uneasiness about the whole affair.  You truly get the message that people consider this a taboo subject that is best left ignored and that the Carter's should just sweep it under the carpet and move on.
Once we get to the court case we are presented with what turns out to be the words of a child against the high esteem that Olderberry Snr. is held in.  I have to say I really appreciated the handling of these scenes; particularly the portrayal of the judge as he is correctly shown to be completely impartial.  The Judge is very understanding when it comes to dealing with Jean once she takes the witness stand.
I was surprised by the outcome of the trial and it provided a nice twist to proceedings.  What was worrying is that it would be all too real a scenario where a parent would not want to put their child through the trauma of a trial.  A lot of parents would therefore decide to follow the steps taken by Peter to protect their child.
From here the movie picks up the pace as we rush towards the conclusion.  This third act creates a very suspenseful atmosphere that really gets you on the edge of your seat.  The tension that has been felt throughout the film builds to a great crescendo.  There is a fantastically shot scene of Olderberry reeling the girls towards him which has you hoping the authorities can get there in time before something drastic happens.
Without wanting to give too much away the decision to go for the ending we have here is a brave one indeed.  It is a devastating finale and one that I did not expect from a film released in 1960.  This bleakness possibly was a contributing factor to the film's original poor reception.
It was a brave move from Felix Aylmer to take on the role of a person who preys on children.  He is excellent in the role which he performs without uttering a single word.  He lets his face and mannerisms do all the acting for him and he is superb in the process.
The other person whose performance stands out is Gwen Watford as the frantic mother.  She at times displays courage, fear, horror and may other emotions but does so with the upmost dignity.  You really get a sense from her of what she is going through during this ordeal.
Hammer is famous for their Gothic horror and this is one example of the many other genres they dabbled with.  It may not have been a huge success but it is still an important film from the Hammer canon and deserves to be recognised as such.  Sometimes movies get labelled as being ahead of their time and this is one film with that very tag.  In this case however I totally agree that it is worthy of this status.

The Case Against:
This would be a hard sell for any studio.  The fact that they made a film dealing with such a sensitive issue back in 1960 is to be commended.  It doesn't come as much of a surprise though to hear how little attention it received upon release.
Poor promotional material did not help as the poster and tagline had audiences confused by what type of movie they were paying to see.  It was also released the year after Hammer had big hits with The Mummy and The Hound of the Baskervilles as well as a couple of war pictures too; so this is a considerable change of pace.
The main problems I had with this production were to do with the performances and motives of some of the characters.  Now acting has improved as time has gone by and so we have to be forgiving to a certain extent when viewing older films.  However some of the acting here was a bit flat.
Patrick Allen I found to be particularly wooden at times.  His reaction when Jean is first relating her story was not one I would expect from a concerned father.  Sure he might make a threat against the antagonist but it doesn't come across with any conviction.
Allen does redeem himself somewhat during the trial but later on he is called upon to show some emotion and fails again.  When Jean's bike is discovered his reaction once more is a bit stiff.  I understand he was trying to stay composed and not want to alert his wife to the possibility something is wrong; but I felt he needed to be more frantic as any parent would be considering the previous circumstances.
When it comes to him discussing Lucille he shows very little compassion and comes across as rather cold.  I don't know if it is his delivery or his actions but in this scene I would have expected some sort of comfort being shown from him towards others.  All up I am afraid that Allen puts in a bit of a one note performance.
The other character I had a hard time reading was Martha the grandmother.  The way Martha reacts when first hearing the child's story and then how she tries to convince Sally not to pursue the matter further really did nothing to endear her to the viewer.
From creating a negative first impression though she does start to gain your sympathy as the film progresses.  Her whole character though was a bit up and down and it took me probably the whole picture before I started to fully understand her.  I think if they had started with a different take on her perspective of what Jean had experienced; it would have helped to soften her character and create a clearer opinion of her from the viewer.  As it was I had a hard time relating to her throughout the movie.
Olderberry Jr. is a despicable person.  I can fully appreciate his motives for feeling protective of his father but his whole attitude of feeling superior to everyone else and coming across as being above the law really made me hate him.  Now I know this is the intention of the film makers but did they have to do such a good job of it?  Right up until he comes face to face with exactly what his father is; he is manipulating everyone and everything to suit his own agenda.
The issue for me was that he gets to a stage where you are supposed to feel sorry for him.  You don't feel any empathy at all however because they have created such a vile character that it is hard to show any sorrow for the reality he now has to face up to.  I am not sure if this is intentional or not but I could not get on board with him at all.
Story wise there were a couple of small details which irked me.  I found it hard to believe that Sally wouldn't have found Peter's behaviour in the slightest bit suspicious when he runs out after receiving that phone call from Lucille's mother.  With everything that had been going on surely she would have known something was amiss.
I also felt that the manhunt was organised a little too easily considering the lack of support the Carter's have received up until this point; I can't understand why the townspeople would all of a sudden rally round them to hunt for the missing girls.  It all felt a little too convenient for me, although it did add to the suspense as it builds towards the films shocking climax.

Verdict:
Considering the film covers a most heinous crime; it does so in a manner as a warning to be careful of such evil predators.  We have to allow it to continue to perform this good deed and hopefully be seen by many other viewers.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Take_Sweets_from_a_Stranger
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054116/

Television: From Dusk Till Dawn

The Witch Trial:
Adapting a moderately successful film into a television series can be a tricky choice to make.  Let us see if From Dusk Till Dawn was worth the effort.

Who:
Director: Robert Rodriguez (as well as others)
Starring: D.J. Cotrona, Zane Holtz, Wilmer Valderrama, Robert Patrick, Eiza Gonzalez, Jesse Garcia, Don Johnson
What:
Series one
Why:
A televised version of the 1996 film of the same name
When:
Released 2014
Where:
Good old Texas, heading for the Mexican border

The Case For:
In 2013 Robert Rodriquez launched El Rey Network; a channel that targeted Latino Americans.  The programming for the station consists mainly of grindhouse type content.  Part of the deal though included releasing original shows.  From Dusk Till Dawn was the first original drama show for the network.
Having directed the movie version, Rodriguez felt there were still some unexplored themes that would enhance the narrative further and also wanted to delve into the backgrounds of the main characters.  With that in mind the series went into production.
El Rey is not on the same level as HBO or AMC so the budget for this series is of course on a much smaller scale.  When your content relies heavily on movies that generally appeal to certain target audiences; your income is only going to be of a comparative nature.
From Dusk Till Dawn the movie was Rodriguez's second Hollywood film after Desperado.  He had formed a close friendship with Quentin Tarantino after both discovered a mutual appreciation of all things grindhouse.  Tarantino wrote the script for the movie and Rodriguez directed, with Tarantino taking the acting role of Richie Gecko.
I think as time has gone by Rodriguez has thought of other ideas and learnt a bit more about Aztec history, with the intention of revisiting this story at a later date.  From his research he developed new plot points which inspired him to want to explore this environment and delve deeper into these characters in the television medium.
There is definitely potential to expand this premise into a full blown series and the groundwork was laid out from the film.  Rather than continuing the story from the climax of the first movie; they decided to hit reset and start the series from the beginning with a few changes to the original story.  There is actually a sequel and a prequel to the film (neither of which I have seen; both having been given rather average reviews) so starting things afresh probably felt like the right move.  This is a retelling as much as a reboot of the source material.
All the major characters from the film are present in the show, with the exception of Frost played by Fred Williamson whose character has been left out of the series.  The Gecko Brothers are again the focus of the story along with the Fuller family who get reluctantly caught up with the siblings as they make for the Mexican border.
In addition to the people we are already familiar with; the series introduces Carlos Madrigal a drug lord with ties to the Gecko Brothers.  It is on Madrigal's orders that they rob the bank that kicks off the whole scenario.  He is a welcome addition to this setting and is excellently portrayed by Wilmer Valderrama.  He is more famous for playing Fez on That '70s Show but this character is a million miles away from the lisping wannabe ladies' man from that comedy.
Valderrama plays Madrigal as a very cool and calculating criminal.  He is an associate of Santanico Pandemonium but you are unsure as to their exact relationship and who is in charge of whom until it becomes clearer as the show progresses.  Madrigal is also answerable to a cadre known as the Nine Lords but there are further machinations going on that blur his loyalty.  Either way you view him, he is definitely a breath of fresh air and adds a new dimension to the tale.

The backstory of the Gecko's is expanded upon.  We get to see the bank robbery that got the brothers to this stage of proceedings.  Richie is one messed up person, but why he is this way is also presented to us.  It helps to explain some of his psychotic behaviour, rather than him just coming across as a psycho.
I do like D.J. Cotrona as Seth Gecko.  He had some tough boots to fill, taking the role first portrayed by George Clooney (admittedly before Clooney became a global megastar).  He carries off the role with the same nonchalance and nothing seems to faze him.  Sure he might be attacked by vampires and demons but to him it seems it is all in a day's work!
Another tough act to follow is Harvey Keitel but again the casting of Robert Patrick in the role of Jacob Fuller is an inspired one.  Patrick is able to imbue Fuller with that tormented soul required for someone who has lost his faith.
Eiza Gonzalez as Santanico Pandemonium can be summed up in one word: Hot!  She definitely has all the, ahem, attributes required for the role.  She certainly nails the dance scene at the Titty Twister which is our official introduction to her; apart from all the visions of her that Richie has experienced until this point.
I will say that in general the makeup is good.  When compared to something of a similar nature in say Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it measures up quite well.  They have gone for a bit of a unique look to their vampires, possibly to suit the Mesoamerican nature of their beasts.  It is a smart decision as it gets away from the generic vampire look and still retains some of the qualities portrayed in the film version.
This segues nicely into the Mesoamerican influence that appears throughout the show.  Using a Mayan temple as the base of the Titty Twister bar was an innovative original idea for the film and there was no need to alter this for the series.  What the show does do well is expand on this concept and further examines the mythology of the Mayan and Aztec culture and the conquistadors who first invaded this territory.
Ritual sacrifice was common as part of their religious beliefs and forms a large part of the story here with Richie's knife being a prominent tool.  The serpent features strongly as well throughout Aztec culture and appears regularly to reiterate this theme.
I can't think of another film or show that uses Mesoamerican heritage as the basis for its evil denizens.  I feel they have only just started to scratch the surface in this first season.  They need to continue to dig further into this area as the show progresses as it gives it a unique take on what can quickly become a stagnant genre.

The Case Against:
It is obvious from the beginning that Rodriquez wanted to reset and say, this show is how this saga unfolds and this is going to be the blueprint for the duration of the shows run.  He has chosen a slightly different path for how this series unfolds as opposed to the original source.  The film starts off as a heist movie that gets switched at about the halfway mark into straight out horror.
The series however blurs those lines a lot earlier with having Richie experience visions of Santanico and other demonic creatures straight from the off.  I can understand wanting to get a few of the supernatural elements in early as spending a few episodes just on the heist and kidnapping would have quickly worn thin.
However if you want to reboot this as a series whilst still maintaining the basic premise of the film it would have been more appropriate to leave the vampires and demons out until they reach the Titty Twister.  They could have at least avoided having our two main protagonists experience the mythical nature until they arrived at this juncture.
It destroyed any element of surprise that might still exist in the viewer by the time they finally get to the cantina.  Once they reach this destination the undead are revealed to everyone as being real.  We get to see the vampires battle with the Gecko's and the Fuller family but by this stage we are already inured to their presence in this universe.
You also have a fairly good idea by this stage that Richie is going to side with Santanico as he has been enamoured with her haunting his dreams.  Once they come face to face you have no doubt that he will follow her like a lovesick puppy.  You also get the strong impression that Seth will go against Richie as he often appears freaked out by his brother's increasingly erratic behaviour.
Don Johnson makes a great Earl McGraw in place of Michael Parks.  Why am I mentioning this then as a bad point I hear you ask?  Considering Don Johnson was advertised as such a big drawcard for this show; he is killed off far too early.  We then only get the odd flashback of him with his protégé Freddie Gonzalez.
He could have still been given a heroic death at a later stage.  We would have got to see more of the camaraderie between Gonzalez and McGraw which in turn would have given us more of an insight into why Gonzalez is so intent on getting the Gecko's for McGraw's death.  It is such a missed opportunity.
McGraw would have made for a far more interesting adversary for the Gecko's if they had used him more.  Gonzalez is just not interesting enough on his own.  There is nothing to convince you that this ranger would decide to just go off the grid to get revenge on the Gecko's for McGraw's murder.  We have hardly seen anything of the relationship that they have shared until this point.
Jesse Garcia seems to think that by scowling a lot; that it conveys the pain he is suffering from losing his mentor.  Gonzalez is the hero character that you are supposed to cheer for.  We aren't presented with enough of a character arc for him though, to create some feeling of sympathy as to his loss; which in turn would make you want to support him.  He just doesn't get your pulse racing.
Sex Machine was a fun character in the original film played with relish by Tom Savini.  Considering they chose to axe Fred Williamson's Frost, I thought they would have done the same with Sex Machine; especially as this series isn't as tongue in cheek.  I guess they felt that this character was too iconic to drop.

What we end up with then is Jake Busey of all people playing Aidan Tanner aka Sex Machine.  Busey is nothing more than a very average bit part player and nothing he does onscreen here makes me change that opinion.  He is playing the same character he plays in nearly all his roles: the guy who tries to act normal but is really quite crazy.  His is probably the worst casting decision for the whole show.  When he finally gets to use the 'pistol' that is Sex Machine's weapon of choice, it just makes you cringe at the stupidity of such a gun existing here.
Zane Holtz is another one who seems a bit one note.  Admittedly he probably has the easiest job here of out acting Quentin Tarantino who appeared as Richie in the big screen version.  Holtz however is sometimes just as wooden.  For someone who is supposedly haunted by visions and a bit unstable, you never really get to see his manic nature explode.  It all just seems to be simmering on a low heat below the surface.
That is one of the main issues I have with the show.  It just appears that less gifted actors are mimicking superior ones in a lot of cases.  Sure there are some good performances but none of them are better than the ones from the cinema release.  Whereas the film was true popcorn entertainment and the actors made it look like fun; the series just takes itself far too seriously.  Ignoring Jake Busey's lack of talent for a minute; even having someone like him, who is known for appearing in quirkier roles, doesn't help bring the tone down.
Now I know this production isn't blessed with a massive budget and so I am prepared to make allowances for some things looking a bit cheap.  What I am amazed at though is the shoddy level of CGI used.  At times the effects look completely rubbish and cartoony, especially as the series draws to its conclusion and CGI is required for some of the demonic characters.
If you are going to tell a story based around horror then you know that you are going to need kick arse make up, which I would say they mostly got right.  You are also going to need some decent special effects but what we got appeared far too fake and cheap looking.  If this was intentional as part of the grindhouse aesthetic then they missed their mark by making the overall tone not light enough.  Dodgy CGI would not have looked so out of place if there was more emphasis on playing this for fun.
I have stated how the Mesoamerican heritage is a new and novel approach to take for this genre.  It is a good idea and is used well throughout but I did find other issues with the plot.  What was confusing about the story was all the double crossing going on.  I found it far too convoluted and it seemed that people would side with one person only to betray them the next for no discernible reason.
Overall I think the reason they made the plot have all these twists and turns is because they had to drag out what is essentially a 108 minute movie into a seven and a half hour, ten episode television show.  You often hear the mantra that if you tell a simple story well, then people will often enjoy it.  The film achieved that.  The series unfortunately wants to reboot that simple tale but throw in too many confusing sub plots that in the end turn it into more of a melodrama.
At times it was hard going getting through this series when I could have watched the film instead and got the same story in a fraction of the time.  Nice try Mr Rodriguez but I am afraid you fail with this first season.  I hope that over the following seasons the producers try to create their own legacy without the noose of the movie hanging over its neck.

Verdict:
The producers deserve to be staked out and left in the desert sun to cook for a while.
Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Dusk_till_Dawn:_The_Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3337194/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Rey_Network

Poster Pride & Prejudice: case study STAR WARS

Where we look at one Scorching piece of artwork that generates excitement for what it is advertising.

Then on the flipside we also have a Torturous piece that makes you wonder how it ever got approval to promote the product...

We are now seven movies into what will end up being a nine film series for Star Wars.

With so many entries already and international releases there are of course hundreds of variations and international releases as well as fan art of the movie posters used to promote each film.

I didn't want to scroll through loads of images so here we go with the winner and loser.

The Scorcher

The colour pallet chosen for The Empire Strikes Back fully reflects the mood of the film.  It is much darker material with sinister connotations and those themes are mimicked to perfection with the use of the purple and black colours here.
The composition is also spot on with our main three heroes clearly front and centre and Darth Vader menacing in the background.  The secondary trio are well placed too just to the left of Luke and drawing your eye to the film title.  Also the planet Hoth is clearly noticeable as well.
It is a close call between this and the poster from A New Hope which depicts Luke Skywalker holding his lightsaber aloft with Princess Leia looking all seductive next to him.  But with the later revelation that she is his sister, that just makes that depiction all sorts of wrong!

The Torture

The prequels quite rightly are much maligned.  Attack of the Clones whilst being held in slightly higher regard than its predecessor was lumped with possibly the worst poster of all seven films released to date.  This is just plain bland.
Too much use of beige washes out all the features on display.  The eyes are all too shiny and bright, especially when you consider Padme's sparkle with the sun beaming in the background!
Placing the clone in the middle is an attempt to draw in the Boba Fett fans.
Most criminally though is that Obi-Wan Kenobi has been made to look like a magazine model Jedi.

Film: "Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens"

The Witch Trial:
Episode VII is it the new hope for a beloved franchise tarnished by the prequels; or is it a rehash of A New Hope?

***THIS WITCH TRIAL WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS BELOW***

Who:
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill
What:
Science Fiction
Why:
Because Disney needs more money, I mean to continue the Star Wars legacy (and because the fans demand it!)
When:
Released 2015
Where:
The Star Wars Universe

The Case For:
When Disney negotiated a deal for Lucasfilm in 2012 it was a sure bet that they would be producing content set in the Star Wars universe.  Sure enough the world was quickly informed that a new trilogy was to go into production following on the story from Return of the Jedi.
This announcement basically caused internet meltdown as fans went through all the mixed emotions that the thought of three new films invoked.  There were articles both for and against continuing a saga that seemed to have told its tale and ended in a satisfactory way.
Of course the last time George Lucas produced Star Wars films the overwhelming majority of people lambasted the prequels that he made.  The negativity was not without merit as the prequels did not have the same heart as the original trilogy.  I don't want to go into what makes them bad movies but it is safe to say that the trepidation felt by many at the announcement of three further releases was probably warranted.
However as more news came out about what was taking place behind the scenes for these new entries the vibe suddenly started to become more positive.  Announcing that J.J. Abrams was to become the director in 2013 was seen as a step in the right direction.  The inclusion of Lawrence Kasdan also was viewed with much celebration, having been responsible for penning the script for possibly the most beloved of all the Star Wars films: The Empire Strikes Back.  Excluding George Lucas from any involvement was also felt by many to be a good move, though not all agreed.
Of course there were also the rumours that the trio of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher would be appearing too.  This was later confirmed and fans went crazy at the thought of seeing their heroes back on the big screen together again.
So everything seemed to be heading in a positive direction as far as casting and crew were concerned.  It is safe to say that every new announcement was scrutinised and picked apart by many Star Wars geeks and aficionado's who couldn't wait for that December 2015 release date.  The hype was only increased as the trailers and footage hit the airwaves in the build up.  Many fans were left drooling at the sight of Chewbacca and Han Solo; with Han uttering three simple words: "Chewie were home".
With anticipation at an all time high and ticket presales breaking records around the world how did the film measure up once it hit our screens?
Well I can say that it certainly feels a lot more like a Star Wars film than any of the prequels.  The film moves along at a cracking pace but not to the detriment of the story.  You are being told a coherent tale and importantly, are also given the time to get to know each character as you follow the action.
Abrams has got the emotional connection correct and given us people that you can truly care about.  Gone from this film are all the stilted conversations and relationships that felt forced rather than natural; that were a major problem for episodes I to III.
A lot of this emotion comes from the excellent casting.  We have Ford and Fisher returning of course, but it is the new breed of actors that are on board where most of the goodwill lies.  There is hardly an actor that has been chosen poorly for the role they have been assigned.
John Boyega was very enjoyable in Attack the Block.  Playing a character that could have been very easy to dislike due to his nature, Boyega injected some nice nuance to the role.  In The Force Awakens he is able to up his game some more and really display his talents as FN-2187 or as Poe christens him: Finn.
Boyega provides some of the lighter moments of the whole film but at no stage do you think he is just there to bring out the laughter.  His character has depth to him as he goes on a journey from dark to light.  You can see that he wants to do what is right and you get fully behind him as he does so.  His journey juxtaposes well with that of Kylo Ren who we will get to.

The interplay between Finn and Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron looks so natural; you get the impression that this friendship is one that would develop between the two men.  There is none of the angst that you had when Han and Luke Skywalker first met, instead Finn and Poe hit it off immediately.
Poe might seem to be the new Han, with his easy going, wise-cracking ways and laid back appearance.  His sense of doing good and sacrificing what is necessary to help the resistance shines through.  If he is the latest version of a cool space cowboy then I am happy for him to take that mantle.  Like with many of his films, Isaac is able to give his character more than surface material to work with.
Our main heroine Rey is portrayed by Daisy Ridley.  Rey is most definitely not a damsel in distress; she won't need rescuing a la Princess Leia any time soon.  For perhaps the first time Star Wars gets its first kick ass female lead.  Leia had her moments and certainly talked a good game, but she was left in the background as Luke & Han took centre stage.
In no time at all Rey establishes that she is one tough lady who knows how to take care of herself without anyone's help.  She might have been left alone on the planet Jakku but whoever left her there knew she would not end up in trouble.  Again we have an actor at the top of her game.  Ridley makes Rey instantly likeable and you are happy to spend time with this character that is central to the whole story.
While Rey has her strengths; there is also a vulnerability to her as well.  She is a person with many layers and has such an interesting story with so much mystery surrounding her that speculation about her is bound to grow before the next episode is released.  It is a clever ploy from the film makers in having her back-story to be revealed at a later date.  Because Ridley embodies the character with so much spirit you want to find out more about her history.
Now we come to the dark side of the Force.  General Hux is more your standard maniacal leader but is still serviceable as a villain.  Captain Phasma I will come to later along with Supreme Leader Snoke.
The main adversary and the one who everyone was talking about after the reveal in the trailer of that crackling lightsaber being turned on is Kylo Ren.  Ren is possibly the greatest addition to the roster of villains facing the resistance since Boba Fett strolled onto the screen.  Darth Maul has many admirers but in all honesty that is mainly down to him looking like a cool foe rather than his actual character and traits.
Ren is not Darth Vader, as much as he would like to be.  What he appears to be is a petulant teenager with anger management issues that he is struggling to deal with.  He is a person who has chosen the Dark Side but is wrestling with his decision.  It is an invigorating reversal on the previously screened formula where both Anakin and Luke were being lured to the Dark Side.
While in Return of the Jedi Luke was trying to redeem his father and bring him back to the Light Side; here we have a tortured soul in Ren fighting his own convictions and Snoke trying to keep him as an ally for the forces of evil.
Adam Driver is excellent in the part.  Abrams took the wise decision to allow Driver to remove his helmet which in turn allows him to fully express the conflict and emotions his character is experiencing while trying to keep his sanity together.  Ren is very menacing when masked and that voice alteration is quite intimidating; but even with the mask taken off he is just as effective in creating unease in the people facing him.
Whereas Vader wore his helmet to preserve his life and cover up his deformities; Ren is fully human looking.  Because of this, you get all the raw emotion he is portraying.  As a result you are left with a person that you can't fully hate because he has many attributes that are so relatable.  At this stage you are meant to feel empathy towards him as it is clear he isn't fully committed to the path he has chosen.

Ren also benefits from having the coolest lightsaber since Darth Maul's lightsaber was revealed to be double ended.  The fiery guard and jagged look of the blade is something completely different to any that we have seen before and it is a design that fits perfectly.  Not only does he have a terrific weapon but his overall costume is fantastic too.  His mask should become an iconic look; it might appear similar to some motor cross bike helmet but it fits seamlessly with the rest of the outfit.
Not all the best characters in The Force Awakens are human though; how can we not mention BB8?  Abrams and co. have possibly created the best droid this universe has ever had and that includes R2D2.  That might be a controversial opinion but it is one that I am sure many will feel.
BB8 is what I think George Lucas was hoping for with Jar Jar Binks but got it so wrong.  There are some great comic moments which BB8 has on screen and the laughs aren't drawn out to a length that would make them cringe worthy.  For an inanimate object, they really do get BB8 to emote extremely well.
The design team hit the ball out the park with this cute droid.  He isn't a computer generated creation either; this is a fully working robot that is actually interacting with the actors in the scenes he appears in.  This helps those scenes feel more realistic as opposed to an actor looking at a tennis ball surrounded by a green screen with the visuals of the droid to be filled in later.
I have mentioned a couple of times the humour in the movie.  The Original Star Wars had some great throwaway lines, particularly from Han.  Those little moments are what helped give the film the warmth as it made its characters more relatable.  Abrams pulls the same trick here by adding in some funny laugh out loud scenes whilst also including some far more subtle jokes too.
There is a great usage of a Jedi mind trick that brings out a few guffaws.  In contrast there are throw away lines that dedicated fans will pick up on that raise a smile - a reference to a garbage chute being one example.  There are plenty of nods to the original trilogy along similar lines.  When I say nods I don't mean the scenes that feel like re-runs as I will soon come to them.
What you do get is a positive sense of nostalgia and you come away from this feeling like you have watched a proper Star Wars film.  As a fan you can't help but get a tingle up your spine when the Millennium Falcon is first revealed.  Likewise when Han and Chewbacca make their entry you want to cheer.  Leia might not have an extensive role but she is a welcome return.  The way they handle Luke's appearance leaves you wanting to see him more as well.
This has been made with the fans in mind; the team behind it have obviously looked at what made the original trilogy work and chose to give the fans more of the same.  It is a great exercise in getting those old fans (and new ones) on board.  The Force Awakens has laid a good solid foundation for this three film series to now take us where it wants too.  It feels fantastic to be able to look forward to the next instalment.

The Case Against:
The fear was always going to be: will this film turn out to be as bad as the prequels.  Thankfully the answer is an emphatic no - but that is not to say that it doesn't have its issues.
Yes, this does go a long way to creating a good feeling towards the Star Wars universe again and that is something that I for one am certainly grateful for.  There are scenes and events that happen here that fit well with what you would expect from a Star Wars movie.
That though is the main problem: far too much of what you see has been done before in a Star Wars movie.  Not everything on offer has been ripped straight from what has gone before but there are so many repeated events that you have to wonder if what we are seeing is basically a reboot as opposed to a continuation of the story.
I am sure that a lot of the content has been designed to pamper to the fans.  A lot of the criticism aimed at the prequels was that the mythos set before in the original trilogy felt ignored or was ret conned to suit the whims of George Lucas.  As a result those films, whilst commercial successes, suffered critically and it is why a lot of diehard fans wish they never existed.
Abrams and co. have looked at what worked and decided to follow suit.  However what Abrams has done in reality is rehashed (with some minor tweaking) parts of the previous storylines, mainly from episode IV.  Instead of going into great detail of each one let us look at a bullet point list to see what has been reused from episodes IV to VI to create The Force Awakens:

• We start off with plans being hidden in a droid: BB8 as opposed to R2D2.
• Stormtroopers battle with Rebels before Kylo Ren enters once the Rebels have surrendered in much the same way as Darth Vader was originally introduced to audiences.
• Poe Dameron is brought before Kylo Ren as was Princess Leia to Darth Vader for them to have a brief exchange.
• The search is on to locate the droid with the plans much like the pursuit of C-3PO and R2D2.
• Poe is taken on board Starkiller base and tortured for the location of the plans by Kylo Ren again mimicking Leia's torture at the hands of Vader.
• BB8 comes under the protection of Rey who has no idea as to his nature which is similar to Luke taking ownership of R2D2 and C-3PO.
• It might not in this instance be someone disguised as a stormtrooper; but it is someone dressed as a stormtrooper who rescues the person captured at the start of the film.
• Finn has to quickly learn how to operate the weapons on a spaceship to help destroy pursuing Tie Fighter's which brings to mind the situation Luke found himself in when escaping from the Death Star.
• Rey and Finn flee the planet in the Millennium Falcon while not exactly saying "What a piece of Junk" like Luke did, Rey does make a comment about the Falcon's shoddy condition.
• It turns out Rey is an awesome pilot much like Luke and Vader before her.
• The Falcon is captured by a larger space vehicle.  It might not be the Death Star but it is dragged in none the less.  It is a nice reversal though having these captors being friendly although it was also a little predictable.
• Han relates a bit of history regarding the Jedi order as did Obi-Wan Kenobi.
• During the explanation he says the Jedi's were betrayed by one of their own identifying the Knights of Ren which mirrors Vader's betrayal during the Clone Wars.
• The true identity of Kylo Ren is kept secret from Rey and Finn; as was Vader's true identity from Luke, when both tales are told for the first time.
• Rey has latent Force abilities that only start to become apparent once she is told about the Force by Han as was Luke once he was informed about the Force from Obi-Wan.
• Kylo Ren, albeit reluctantly, seems to follow General Hux's orders in the same way Vader is answerable to Grand Moff Tarkin.
• A reversal of roles sees Kylo Ren fight the urges of the Light Side of the Force as opposed to battling against the Dark Side which is the situation Luke had to deal with throughout the original trilogy.
• Like Obi-Wan did with Luke; Han takes Rey and Finn to a cantina filled with all sorts of aliens although this place is nowhere near as exciting as Mos Eisley.
• Maz Kanata comes across as a poor version of Yoda.
• Starkiller base destroys multiple planets as opposed to the single system destruction of Alderaan.
• The plan to destroy Starkiller base involves a group on the ground like we have seen in Return of the Jedi; as well as an attack run similar in style to the X-Wing attack on the Death Star in A New Hope.
• The end result is that Starkiller base is destroyed by; you guessed it, an X-Wing.  Not only that but it is Poe who fires the destructive shot as did Luke, it couldn't be left to a minor character to have the glory.
• Poe also has to approach the weak point by taking a flight down a narrow channel much like the first Death Star.
• Instead of having Kylo Ren be an exact replica of Vader being the father of Luke; he is revealed as the son of Han and Leia, the similarities are still obvious.
• Han takes on the role of Obi-Wan, when facing off against Kylo Ren who substitutes for Vader for their conflict on the Death Star, in this case: Starkiller base.
• Rey and Finn, much like Luke did, watch on as the confrontation unfolds.  Rey and Chewbacca even yell out when the final blow comes in the same way Luke did before them.
• Rey has to go in search of the Jedi Master Luke, we assume so he can train her in the ways of the Force; thus completing the circle which began with his own training at the hands of Yoda.

I'm not going to go into the similarities in the topography of the planets because they have to set the action somewhere.  It makes sense to have Jakku be a desert planet when you consider the scavenger nature of its denizens.  Plus the last time they created a new world setting we got the Gungan City and didn't that place (and the inhabitants) go down a treat with fans!
You could go through the original trilogy and find a whole slew of repeated storylines too, such as destroying a second Death Star - a scenario mentioned with a throwaway line in this film when discussing the attack on Starkiller base.
When setting a film series in any universe with particular attributes, there are always going to be limitations as to how the stories you choose to tell can vary.  Added to this is the fact that fans want to see certain tropes so it shouldn't come as a major surprise that there are going to be parts of the tale that are repeated.
After pointing out all of these familiar scenes the question has to be asked: does all of this repetition make The Force Awakens a bad film?  The answer I have to stress again is no.
This is very much an enjoyable movie experience for the reasons and others I mentioned above.  It is just slightly frustrating that there isn't as much originality in the script as what we would like.  After the lambasting the prequels got for doing that very thing though, is it any wonder that the producers decided to take the safe option and give the fans more of what they like?
There are other points that do aggravate me which need to be brought up against The Force Awakens.
Whilst Kylo Ren is a superb addition to the universe, the same goodwill cannot be extended to his two offsiders: General Hux and Captain Phasma.
Firstly Captain Phasma, played by Gwendoline Christie, is criminally underused.  We have a terrific actress in the role but she gets very little to say or do.  Phasma has the cool shiny looking stormtrooper costume with a cape but it does nothing to expand on her rank or importance in the hierarchy of the First Order.  Basically her whole contribution boils down to a couple of conversations and rolling over as soon as her back is to the wall when confronted by Han, Chewbacca and Finn.  Hopefully she gets a larger role in the sequels considering how much marketing was done beforehand to promote this silver stormtrooper.  Providing she survived the destruction of Starkiller base that is.
Domhnall Gleeson takes on the role of General Hux.  I am a big fan of Gleeson and tend to enjoy him in every performance.  I didn't think his acting in this was too bad, he chewed a bit of scenery and was a little over the top in places but overall he is okay.  His character certainly appears to be a fanatical member of the First Order.  Again though the problem is he is underused.
Now I know that there is a massive emphasis story wise on Kylo Ren and if we were getting more screen time for the other evil characters it would detract from the overall narrative.  Would it have hurt though to give a bit more depth and character development to these other two?

I guess they have avoided what can be a common problem of having too many heroes and villains and getting bogged down in giving all the characters enough progression throughout the story.  If we get more Phasma and Hux in the follow ups then it probably will prove to be a good decision.
I have to say that as the Star Wars series has gone on, the more I get annoyed by C-3PO.  Having heard Anthony Daniels in interviews I can't make up my mind if I just don't like him as a person.  I don't think he has to stretch himself in the role I find he is just as annoying in reality.  He also has the worst dialogue of any of the characters in this film.  Some of his lines hark back to the cheesy lines of the original trilogy.  Also his scenes appear to be designed purely and simply to provide exposition for the audience.
From a film that took the brave step of using as many practical effects and costumes as they could; it is surprising that when it comes to the CGI used, they have some of the worst examples from a blockbuster in recent memory.  Abrams is no stranger to CGI; Bad Robot his production company are responsible for the effects on many movies.  Let us not forget though that this is Lucasfilm; pioneers in CGI development, this is their bread and butter and are back in the universe where it all started for them.
The Rathtar creatures that are let loose on the spaceship occupied by Han and Chewbacca look abysmal.  You can hardly tell what is happening with them, there are that many limbs and fast motion movements occurring when they are on screen that none of it looks remotely believable enough.  With everything else looking as realistic as possible their design flaws stick out like a sore thumb.
The other major CGI character is Supreme Leader Snoke who we see in hologram form.  The hologram image might not do him justice but going on the evidence put before us he is a really disappointing big boss bad guy.  He looks like a scarred version of Lord Voldemort with a nose!
Starkiller base might look pretty impressive but it seems a bit farfetched that the construction of such a base would have been permitted to happen from previous altercations involving Death Star's.  Surely the resistance would try and sabotage the production of this ultimate weapon?
Finally we have to mention the death of a beloved character.  My opinion is that it took a lot of convincing to get Harrison Ford to return to this universe in the first place.  He wanted to be killed off in the original trilogy but was so popular that it was never going to happen.  I personally don't have a problem with the way it happened on screen but I can totally understand the anger felt by fans across the globe that such an icon is no more.
What does irk me about Han's death is the callous way Leia does not comfort Chewbacca once the heroes return to base.  Instead she goes to Rey, a person she has never met until this point, and wraps her in a big warm embrace.  It would have been far more emotional and gut wrenching if it was Leia and Chewbacca comforting one another in their grief.  It's a missed opportunity that Abrams himself has admitted regret about and has said he would handle it differently in hindsight.

Verdict:
Yes this film is guilty of a lot of pilfering from earlier editions but it has laid a solid defence to build upon.  Let us put Disney and co. on probation.  If however the next instalment is set on a Hoth like planet and a hero loses a hand we won't be showing them any mercy!

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Force_Awakens
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/