FILM

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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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Why was “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” originally released under another title?

George Lucas’ statements about the early development of Star Wars (1977) have not maintained continuity. Just as the films have been modified and altered in numerous ways over the decades, his anecdotes about Star Wars’ beginnings have…

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In “Star Wars: A New Hope” did Han or Greedo shoot first? Why is it such a hot subject?

Mos Eisley Cantina. It’s one of the most revered locations in all of science fiction and fantasy, first introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). Who wouldn’t want to take a trip to the pirate city’s famous bar to have some…

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Why is “Empire Strikes Back” considered the best of the original trilogy?

It’s always tricky calling something “the best.” Someone will always disagree. “The best” is never absolute—it’s a subjective and personal statement that, on its own, has no validity. Yet we all hotly believe certain things deserve…

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The Filmmaker’s Handbook: How are Matte Shots Created?

The Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz (1939) is about the size of an average piece of notebook paper. It, along with countless other fictional settings for films, are known as matte paintings—literal painted representations of a landscape or…

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What can the absence of Luke Skywalker tell us about the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy

<h5><strong>Quick Answer: </strong>Although Luke Skywalker is the central protagonist of the original <em>Star Wars </em>trilogy, his role is vastly reduced in <em>The Force Awakens</em>. For the majority…

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Are “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Jurassic World” actually remakes, not reboots?

Reboots and remakes seem interchangeable in this day and age. What, when it comes down to it, is the difference between the two? In practice, it’s getting harder to tell. A reboot acts as a relaunch of a previous series - it reinvigorates or…

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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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Why Do Many People Identify as a “Star Wars” or a “Star Trek” Fan? Does It Have to Be Either/Or?

People say it all the time: “I’m more of a Star Trek than Star Wars fan.” People ask it just as often: “Are you more into Star Trek or Star Wars?” ...Can it not be both? Personally, I have never understood the question’s assumption…

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How does “Rogue One” relate to the other “Star Wars” films?

Quick Answer: In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi must bring the plans to the Death Star (contained in R2-D2) to Princess Leia Organa. Set just before A New Hope begins, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tells 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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Screenosophy: Is there such a thing as “mere” or meaningless entertainment?

What we Tend to Say About Entertainment We live in an entertainment age, consuming ever-increasing quantities of divertissements. Going to a movie or hosting your own Netflix House of Cards (2013-) fest[1] might help you forget your troubles, but…

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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 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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The Filmmaker’s Handbook: How are low angle shots used?

Have you ever wondered what makes Darth Vader such an imposing and scary villain? His big, black costume and endless mechanical breath are certainly part of it, to say nothing of his penchant for telekinetically suffocating people from across the…

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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…

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Which Films Influenced “Alien” And How?

Without a doubt, Alien (1979) is one of the most influential sci-fi films of all time. It spawned a series of sequels and semi-sequels (think Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Prometheus (2012)), inspired quite a few knock-offs, and encouraged…