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/

Artistic Integrity in the Dock: OSCAR ISAAC

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:
OSCAR ISAAC

Isaac is an actor whose 'star is on the rise' to use a Hollywood term.  He is what you would call a late bloomer considering he has only really started to hit the headlines in the last three or four years and is now into his late 30's.
I think it's pretty safe to say that it was his performance in Inside Llewyn Davis that thrust him into the mainstream.  This role saw him nominated for a Golden Globe.  Personally I blow hot and cold when it comes to the Coen brothers and this is one of the films that I consider a bit chilly.  In saying that I do think that Isaac's performance is near perfect for the role.
The first time I really started to take notice of him was after seeing him in Inside Llewyn Davis.  All of a sudden I would see a preview or watch a film and stop and think "That's the guy with the cat in that Coen movie!"
Looking at his back catalogue I then realised that he also appeared in both Sucker Punch and Drive as well.  He plays it rather menacing in Sucker Punch as Blue Jones the sadistic orderly.  I will admit that this is one of my guilty pleasures.  Having re-watched Sucker Punch just recently I can admire how Isaac plays this character after becoming more aware of whom he is now.
His role in Drive is not a huge one but he does grab your attention when on screen and the testosterone flows when he and Ryan Gosling share the screen.  He gives his character just enough depth for you to feel sorry for the position he has gotten into; but also enough for you to not fully trust his motives.
One of his most recent movies which proved to be a bit of a fizzer at the box office (although admittedly with only a small release) was The Two Faces of January alongside Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst.  This is one that deserves more attention as it is a solid crime thriller with a few twists and turns and again Isaac gives a very enjoyable performance.
Now we come to a bit of a controversial one next.  A Most Violent Year got rave reviews but I found it so slow and boring.  The film title comes from the fact that 1981 (the year the movie is set in) was the most violent on record in New York City.  This is another film loved by critics but ignored by the cinema goers.  I don't find it much of a surprise though because of two reasons: the film is not violent for one and secondly it does not take place over a twelve month period.  It might have a clever title that makes it sound hard core but it is too misleading.
Regardless of that Isaac is terrific as Abel Morales a struggling businessman who is trying his hardest to do the right thing and stay on the straight and narrow despite his wife trying to convince him otherwise.  She is played by the always excellent Jessica Chastain.  It doesn't help Morales' situation that she is a mob boss's daughter so committing violent acts to get what you want comes naturally to her.
My personal favourite performance of Isaac's has to be his appearance in Ex Machina; one of the best movies to come out in 2015.  He plays what is basically a mad scientist opposite Domhnall Gleeson's sceptical programmer who is there to judge if Isaac's robotic creation can pass the Turing test.  That robot is played by Alicia Vikander with some extremely impressive CGI.  All three actors are on form in this one.  Isaac has one of the best on screen dance scenes since John Travolta hit the floor with Uma Thurman.
The latest screen appearance was in a little film called The Force Awakens as star pilot Poe Dameron.  Isaac gives Poe a sense of swagger but I will cover this movie in more depth in my next article.
It might have taken Isaac a bit of time to start getting some seriously meaty roles but he is certainly making the most of each one.  The wonderful thing about him is that he seems equally comfortable in the big budget films as well as the smaller more independent roles.
He is able to adapt his appearance enough to suit each character too.  Not to Christian Bale lengths but enough to feel that it isn't just another person being played by Oscar Isaac.  There are a few actors that if I hear they are in a film then I will generally try and catch it.  Isaac has become one of those actors.  I might not always think that the movie he appears in is the next best thing; but I will generally agree that Isaac's performance is often one of the highlights.  Up to now I haven't hated anything he has appeared in which is a rare feat indeed.
Moving forward we have the next instalment of Star Wars to look forward to seeing him in; but the one that grabs my attention more will be Isaac's next collaboration with Alex Garland, who directed him in Ex Machina.  He will also appear later this year as Apocalypse in the latest X-Men entry which is one I feel could go either way.

Verdict:
Oscar Isaac is definitely an actor on the straight and narrow.  We will keep a close eye on this rising star to see if he begins to stray.

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 Force Awakens
• Ex Machina
• Drive

The Torture's:

• A Most Violent Year
• Inside Llewyn Davis

Music: "This Unruly Mess I've Made" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

The Witch Trial:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released their second album on the back of a very popular first single.
Does the rest of the album follow suit?

Who:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
What:
Hip Hop/Rap
Why:
Second album
When:
Released February 2016
Where:
American

For (and Against) The Record: This Unruly Mess I've Made
Length: 57:39
  "Light Tunnels"
This opening track is a commentary on the Grammy's and other musical award ceremonies.  It has a really addictive chorus and beat going for it.
  "Downtown"
The big hit single released before the album and it's easy to see why with the clever inclusion of the Downtown tune forming the chorus.  The subject matter proves to be entertaining too.
  "Brad Pitt's Cousin"
In the vein of Bloodhound Gang we get what is probably the most comical song here.  Again, this one is questioning the emphasis put on achieving fame and the price you pay for your privacy.
  "Buckshot"
This is as close to old school rap as we get on the record.  It has that classic hip hop feel.
  "Growing Up"
The album drops a notch in tempo to give us a little gem about taking on the responsibility of becoming a parent.  This song is another instance where the chorus has you singing along in no time thanks to the appearance of Ed Sheeran.
  "Kevin"
Continuing the slower tempo, this tune tackles the subject of pharmaceutical companies and addiction.  There is a hint of gospel when it comes to the hook that fits well with the theme.
  "St. Ides"
This is mainly a song of verses with a nice little guitar riff breaking up each verse.  It shows that they don't need catchy choruses in all their songs for them to be a highlight.
  "Dance Off"
This will get people bouncing around and doing all sorts of silly dances as the title suggests - Dance Off!  A guest appearance from Idris Elba of all people certainly adds to the intrigue.
  "Need to Know"
Need to Know is another song continuing the theme that is most common on the album: fame and fortune and how it can change you if you aren't careful.  It also tackles how fame affects your relationship with your loved one.
  "Let's Eat"
We have another song not taking itself too seriously with its funny spin on everyone's fascination with healthy living and asking what all the fuss is about.  The lyric about carbs is worth its weight in gold.
  "Bolo Tie"
After Buckshot this is the next song that comes closest to paying tribute to old school rapping.
  "The Train"
This has a haunting guest vocal appearance from Carla Morrison as we go into wind down mode as the album draws to a close.
  "White Privilege II"
The record closes out with a commentary on how America still doesn't acknowledge the contributions black people give to the country at large.  The spoken word content help the message hit home along with Jamila Woods verse at the end.  Although the track does waver in tempo quite a bit.

Overall this album continues where The Heist left off.  We have the quirky songs much like Thrift Shop before it; in the form of Downtown; Brad Pitt's Cousin and Dance Off.  Whilst I compare them to Bloodhound Gang, they aren't lyrically played just for laughs.  They do have amusing lyrics but not to the extent of becoming parody songs.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis tackle the trappings of fame and fortune in a number of tracks too.  They address how they have felt being thrust in the spotlight.  The result of this are more than a couple of tunes being very self referential.  They perform a fine balancing act on these songs where they are happy to talk about their experience but not come across as if it has gone to their head.
Fame has found them not just because of having some hit singles; the subjects they cover in their music have often garnered headlines.  They aren't afraid to rap about potentially controversial topics such as Black Lives Matter or drug addiction as a result of prescription medication.  These issues mix surprising well with their more light-hearted output.
At nearly an hour in length this album does go on a bit too long.  Generally I like a record to come in around the forty to forty five minute mark and if you took out the opening and closing tracks then this would go pretty close to that.
Still that isn't enough for me to condemn This Unruly Mess I've Made at all.  There is enough variety for most hip hop fans to enjoy as well as a couple of radio friendly hits.  The guest appearances are a definite highlight of the album.  There are also some neat instrumentation additions to some of the tracks, ranging from horn sections to what appears to be middle eastern elements.

Verdict:
A decent follow up keeps Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from going to the gallows.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Unruly_Mess_I%27ve_Made
http://macklemore.com/

Poster Pride & Prejudice: case study GOSSIP

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...

Following on from my review of Beth Ditto's biography I thought we would take a look at which album covers from Gossip get our seal of approval and which one needs to go in the fire

The Scorcher
 

The simple cover art of Music For Men I find is the strongest one from the five album catalogue of Gossip.  Instead of placing Beth Ditto front and centre we have a photo of newest band member Hannah Blilie.  The pinkish hue to the black and white picture creates a nice juxtaposition with the album title: also adorning the cover in pink writing.  It is such a straight forward design but one that works so well.

The Torture

On the other hand we have the home made style of art for Standing in the Way of Control.  It comes as no surprise that the artwork for Music For Men is much sleeker than their previous output; coming as it does on the major label Columbia.  Standing in the Way of Control though was their last record as a small indie group and the sleeve looks like an indie release.  I have to admit that I nearly didn't buy the album because of how much I disliked this cover, but the music was just too good not too.

Book: "Coal to Diamonds" by Beth Ditto

The Witch Trial:
Gossip achieved global success with the release of their third album.  Is the lead singer's life interesting enough to read about considering her still relative young age?

Who:
Beth Ditto with Michelle Tea
What:
Biography
Why:
The story of Beth Ditto from childhood to fame
When:
Published 2012
Where:
American singer/songwriter from Arkansas

The Case For:
Coal to Diamonds is a biography about Beth Ditto, front woman for the band Gossip.  She charts her early childhood growing up in Arkansas; through to the break out success of Gossip and closing her story some time just after the release of the album Music for Men.  Even though it was published in 2012 there is no mention of A Joyful Noise which was also released that year, which would suggest that this was written before, or sometime during, the recording of that record.
The writing style feels like you are sitting down listening to Ditto tell her story as she thinks of things to mention.  There are many stories she talks about but in a very anecdotal kind of way.
When she discusses her early childhood and upbringing in Arkansas as part of a large family; you really get a sense of what it was like for her growing up in what can only be described as squalid conditions.  She leaves you in no doubt that her whole family and the surrounding community were really nothing more than trailer trash.
It is a bit of a harrowing tale of a girl and her siblings being left to fend for themselves because their mother simply leaves them to it.  This is not your normal family unit as her mother goes from one partner to another leaving the kids to basically raise one another.  Ditto constantly moves from her home to stay with relatives; to try and get some sense of normality in a family that is anything but normal.  Although the message comes across that for her and many in the neighbourhood this is exactly what normal is to them.
You also get the feeling that this sort of lifestyle is a vicious circle that will just keep on repeating itself for generations to come as there is next to no prospects for breaking the cycle.  They are given very little support from the local authorities as she points out at times.  For example she discusses the sex education classes given at school where there are single mothers attending the classes; it seems a case of too little too late.
These insights into an upbringing that is completely foreign to a good many were for me the highlight of the book.  The fact that she had the courage to leave her hometown and try to make something of her life, even if her initial ambition at the time was not to become a rock star, was quite inspiring.  It would have been so easy to stick with what she knew and get pregnant and continue in the same vein as many others around her.
Ditto is very honest and forthright when discussing her family and the way she was raised.  Writing about the neglect that she and her siblings had from their mother must not have been an easy thing to do when you consider that her mother is still alive and would probably read this book.  It must have felt very therapeutic to be able to air her thoughts in this manner.
You would think that being a larger lady and one in the spotlight; Ditto would be very conscious of her size as most people who are overweight are.  However her positive outlook shines through and her "Take me as I am" attitude comes as a nice surprise when you consider some of the serious issues she has had to deal with throughout her life.
She is definitely a positive role model in some respects for having such strong feelings and opinion about her shape.  Ditto's message is be comfortable with the person you are and not what people expect you to be.  This is especially relevant to young girls who have so much pressure placed upon them by society to conform to a certain body image.  For people who tip the wrong end of the scales; they can look at her and know that they can achieve their goals if they want too and that is definitely a good thing.  There is a bit of a fault in the way she gets this message across but I will come to that in the case against.
Ditto talking about giving back to the community through rock workshops is also something that creates good feelings towards her.  This is a girl who realises how hard it is to break away from the hardships of life and is trying to help other girls coming from similar situations as her own.
What also comes across is how bemused and a little overawed Ditto feels from gaining fame and popularity across the world.  There is also a bit of anger coming through in the text; at the ignorance towards Gossip displayed from the American public.  As the band explodes in many countries the indifference shown at home definitely is something that irks her.
Considering she has really only turned thirty at the time this book was written you can't expect her to finish with an anecdote of life's lessons.  Instead she ends with a heartfelt appeal to people to go out in the world and do what they enjoy best, if that leaves a mark on the world then great, if not then you should be proud of whatever you achieve anyway because you have given it a shot.  It is another sign of showing her positive happy nature.

The Case Against:
Finding out about her youth and how the band members met and became really close friends is great and makes for interesting reading, but it isn't enough on its own to entertain you.  Where this book really falls down is in not actually telling you much about Gossip being a band.
You get bits and pieces here and there when she mentions that they made one album or another - but therein lies the problem: she just mentions these events.  There is no elaboration into the process or the actual recording; just anecdotes about these incidents taking place.
For any music fan when you read the biography of a musician you are expecting certain moments to appear.  You want stories about late night recording sessions and working out the chorus of a particular hit song and finding out how special the process was for them.  The only time Ditto ever gets near to doing this is when talking about the song that put them on the radar Standing in the Way of Control.  But again she doesn't go into any great detail which is a real shame.
The other things that you would expect from most biographies are photos from the artist; whether that is of their childhood; or performing on stage; or hanging around with famous friends.  It is something that is standard practice but we don't get one picture apart from the one gracing the cover.  At a little over 150 pages; it is something that is seriously lacking and could have helped boost the page count by another dozen pages or so.
For such a short book you also would think it would be crammed with different adventures from her life and the band's tours.  Instead there is an awful lot of repetition about hardships and going from one fast food service job to another as an example.
The way the book is written contributes greatly to Ditto covering the same ground.  Because she is basically narrating things as they occurred but then also mentioning things as she thinks of them; it causes the novel to jump about all over the place.  From one chapter to the next, and sometimes from paragraph to paragraph, you might be moving six months forward or backwards in her life or sometimes even a year or two.
It is really irritating trying to establish what the chronological order is for some of the things she is describing.  This is especially true when she is discussing their albums or recordings and the actual release of the records which are given short shrift.  It seems to me that the story of the band is really secondary to the story she wanted to tell; which is her early life and the friendships she forged with her band mates.
Speaking of the band; the narrative had me confused as to just exactly when in the timeline their drummer Kathy decided to leave the group.  One minute it appears like she is exiting after their third release and the next it seems it is just before they went into the studio to record that particular album.  It's another example of how frustrating the book can be when trying to establish some sort of chronological order of events.
I also think this was written to capitalise on the popularity of Gossip at that particular moment in time.  Their most successful album Music For Men had been and gone.  The fifth and final album, A Joyful Noise was released around the same time as this novel and I can't help thinking it was timed like that to help boost the sales of both.
That would be a cynical move but judging from the trajectory of their career and the way they were promoted by their label after the release of Standing in the Way of Control it would come as no surprise if they were both marketed that way.  There was a definite shift by the record label to create publicity for Ditto as the band's spokesperson and some sort of new age feminist for girls to look up too.
As I have said her attitude to her own weight and being comfortable in your own skin is to be applauded.  However it isn't as simple as that.  She makes no bones about being overweight but considering what she explains as her dietary intake it is hardly surprising that she is a person who is in reality obese.
In a time when obesity is one of the major issues of our society, having a person talking about eating chips and chocolate and consuming large amounts of soft drink as if it was just normal, really made me feel angry.  It is fair enough for Ditto to say she doesn't care what people think about her size but she should at least acknowledge her diet as a major contributing factor in reaching the weight that she is.  Instead Ditto portrays the time circumstances meant living off a bit of rice and losing massive amounts of weight as a bad thing!
I have other issues with her too mainly in the blasé attitude she takes when discussing some of the mental problems or situations she has experienced during her life.
There is a level of acknowledgement that she has suffered from bouts of depression which contributed to her causing self-harm by cutting and at times contemplating suicide.  What she doesn't do is elaborate on how she overcomes this depression and how she is able to move forward and stop the self-harm.
Admitting to being sexually abused as a teen cannot have been easy, but it isn't explored in great detail; merely spoken of as something that occurred.  She suffers at one stage from a life threating eye disease and blatantly ignores the doctor's advice in regards to treatment which nearly results in her death.  Ditto talks about how it was affecting her but doesn't explain what steps were taken to get her back to normal health.
All of these topics deserve longer chapters but are just mentioned in anecdotal form and brushed upon instead of going into the same level of depth she reserved for her early childhood memories.
It makes her life come across as one sob story to the next instead of celebrating the triumphs that she achieves from overcoming such obstacles.
I don't think this is deliberate but more a problem that comes back to her collaborator Michelle Tea and also the publisher.  If she was given better advice on how to structure the narration and to elaborate more in certain parts then we would have had a much more fleshed out book that would have felt far more complete than what is on offer in the end product.

Verdict:
Beth Ditto deserves a far better book than this one to tell her life story.  I am afraid she needs to serve twenty years and come back again in the future with a much better writer if anyone is still interested by then.
There aren't as many diamonds on offer as you would like; it is mainly filled with lumps of coal.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Ditto