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Why is Jar Jar Binks so reviled?

Quick Answer: Jar Jar Binks, the Gungan General of the planet Naboo, is often regarded as the worst thing to come out of the maligned Star Wars prequels. Jar Jar was created in an attempt to appeal to children and provide The Phantom Menace with…

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How does “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” represent women?

The Star Wars franchise has produced a timeless legacy filled with heroes, villains, creatures and droids of each gender. The majority of its star characters have been male - from Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Yoda in the originals to…

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How does “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” make Stormtroopers human?

[SPOILERS AHEAD] With Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), director J.J. Abrams goes back to Star Wars basics, giving the (relieved) people what they want. But the new incarnation is not without updates and innovation. The most revolutionary…

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How does “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” compare to the original trilogy?

[ALL SPOILERS AHEAD] J.J. Abrams’ crowd-pleasing Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) strikes the chords audiences have missed these long four decades, leaving behind the awkward memory of the prequels and evidently learning some lessons from the…

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In the original Star Wars trilogy (and “The Force Awakens”) is Han Solo Force-sensitive?

The Force is one of the central tools in the Star Wars franchise for distinguishing between heroes and villains. There is the Dark Side of the Force, and there is the “Light” side. The latter is not strictly a term used in the series, but it…

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Will “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” be a template or a launching pad for the next two films?

Growing up in the 90’s and 00’s, I saw Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (1999) before any other Star Wars films, yet today I am still a massive fan of Star Wars. Despite the tidal wave of criticism Phantom still receives, at the age…

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How Did “The Searchers” Influence Future Filmmakers?

When The Searchers (1956) was released, director John Ford probably knew he’d directed a pretty decent picture, but could he have known his movie would become one of the most respected films of all time? Further, could he have known his Western…