What It Was Like Watching Episode 7 for the First Time

It's been two months, if you haven't seen it, you probably don't care about spoilers.

Even though December 2015 is in the rear view mirror, I still thought it would be fun to recount what it was like to experience Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the first time. This isn't so much a review as it is a recap of emotion. Without further ado, let's go!

The Opening:
First, let me say that I really really enjoyed how the logos were handled for this film. The 20th Century Theme is a piece that I have always associated with Star Wars. Even though Fox's role in the films was largely just distribution, their logo has always been an essential part to the opening of every Star Wars film. I was expecting quite a void when the film started without Fox's logo. I was surprised with just how much I enjoyed the replacement. As the saying goes "Silence is golden." Without any fanfare to open the picture, I thought that the Star Wars theme itself was much stronger. The silence only built my anticipation for the beginning of the film. It flowed beautifully and I loved it. There will always be a place in my heart for the 20th Century Fox theme, but I really do love the new logo opening.

Seeing "EPISODE VII" on the big screen was also a special moment. A seventh Star Wars film has literally been a lifelong dream of mine. My friends and I created our own little fan films when we were younger to fill in after episode six. They were a defining part of my childhood and helped to shape my love for video editing. As a result, seeing the real episode seven was the fulfillment of a childhood dream for me.

"Luke Skywalker has vanished." These were the most powerful words in the crawl for me. It was in this moment that I realized that I was truly seeing the next Star Wars film. A burst of new info on a classic character. The first piece of a new trilogy. The an introduction to new world. No more secrets. Just Star Wars.

As the the crawl faded into space, I began to realize what was happening. I was being reintroduced to the world of Star Wars. After 30 years, what was a galaxy far far away like? It was the same world, but a completely new one at the same time. I was absolutely hooked.

Meeting the New World:
Seeing the Star Destroyer cross the screen at the beginning of the film was a powerful world moment. Not only was it a very cool shot to watch, but it also gave the First Order such a sinister presence. This was enhanced by the troop transports leaving the ship. The whole thing gave was reminiscent of the openings of both episodes four and five. Watching the transports arrive on Jakku was genuinely terrifying. It was like something out of a nightmare.

Meeting the New Characters:
I thought that the introduction of all of the film's new characters was handed extremly well. Kylo Ren's in particular really stood out to me. Watching him stop the blaster fire mid shot was incredible. You immediately got an idea of just how strong he was. I was worried going in that Kylo Ren wouldn't be able to compete with the already impressive line of Star Wars villains, but this moment eased my concern. I also enjoyed seeing Rey go about her day. It gave a good sense of who she was and what her life was like while demonstrating what the galaxy was like following the Empire. (Side note: Seeing the ruined Star Destroyer in the second teaser was an incredible reveal leading up to the film.)
It's also worth noting that I love BB-8. You get the same sense of personality that R2-D2 offers. Also I am really happy that BB-8 performed as a practical effect on set. There is never any doubt in my mind that he is really there, an it allows his personality to really shine.

Meeting the Old Characters: 
I was lucky enough to see this film with a really great audience. They were incredibly invested in the film and had real respect for the material. Whenever an old character would return they would applaud, but did not get obnoxious. (Luke's return at the end was met with no applause, keeping the moment intact.) The Millennium Falcon had the best reveal, with the perfect combination of humor and nostalgia. Seeing Han and Chewie together again was powerful. It's worth noting that the line "Chewie, we're home" had the potential to be used rather poorly, but made sense the way it was executed in the film.

The Falcon's Escape from Jakku:
This scene was filled to the brim with wonderful Star Wars action and effects. It was an absolute joy to watch. Seeing the Millennium Falcon in action again was breathtaking especially as this was my first time seeing it on the big screen. Speaking of big screen, I experienced the film in IMAX for my first screening. This scene was special as it was filmed with IMAX cameras. The results were a breathtaking, giving the film a massive scale that felt perfect of the action on screen. It was phenomenal.

Han and Chewie:
What a partnership. It was wonderful seeing these two back at it. Even after all these years, their friendship felt just as strong as it always had. Moments like Han firing Chewie's bowcaster and "Oh really? You're cold?" brought a smile to my face. It was classic and brand new all at once. (A bit of a theme with this film.) It will be interesting going forward to see how Chewie deals with the loss of Han. Although we saw a solo Chewbacca in episode three, we have yet to see a post-Han solo Chewbacca. (See what I did there?) I'm going to miss seeing them work together.

Han and Leia:
I thought that this relationship was handled perfectly. With who these character are and how we've seen them act, it makes sense that they had a far from perfect relationship. Their first moment of interaction in the film in particular was a truly perfect moment for me. Every line was perfectly true to character. There was a sense of both tragedy and affection. Leia reaction to Han's death was also well done. It was a moment that reminded us of her strength wit the force as well as her love of Han (even if he is a scoundrel).

New Characters:
I found Poe interesting and likable and I'm really excited to learn more about him in the upcoming films. Poe seems like the kind of guys you want to be friends with, talented and witty, but also kind and friendly. He and Finn fit together perfectly.

Speaking of Finn, I really enjoyed how awkward he was at the beginning. That's not something I usually say about characters. His background as a Stormtrooper adds a unique layer of depth to him that we've never really seen before in Star Wars.

Out of the new characters, Rey is my favorite. (OK, probably a tie with BB-8 in reality.) She's smart, strong, and spectacular. I was extremly excited when it was revealed that she was strong with the Force. She's a wonderful character before the reveal and having the Force only makes her better. I am thrilled to watch her become a Jedi as the series progresses.

Han Solo and Kylo Ren:
This relationship really added a lot of depth to both of these characters for me. First of all, it solidified Kylo Ren as a great Star Wars character. Second, it really showed the evolution of Han Solo. The Han Solo we see here is not the Han Solo we meet on Tatooine, yet everything felt right.

Watching Han's death scene, a million things were running through my head. I always knew what was going to happen. As soon as Han and Chewie went to place the bombs. "This is their last time together," I thought. I kept expecting something to go horribly wrong: a faulty bomb, a misfire, a bad step. The moment Han sees Kylo Ren walking across the bridge and makes an expression, I knew it was coming. Despite this, I spent the rest of the scene in denial. "No. They wouldn't. Would they? Will they kill Han? Could they kill Han? How could he escape? Maybe Kylo Ren will show mercy." Seeing Han die is both sad and yet fulfilling. On one hand, Han has come so far. He's more than just the smuggler we met in a cantina, he's a hero, he's a father. Responsibility is not something that is typically associated with Han, yet he takes responsibility as Ben's father. One the other hand, Han Solo is dead.

At the end of the day, I'm sad to see Han die, but I'm looking forward to how this will shape Kylo Ren. RIP.

The Final Battle:
What a fight! First, I adore the atmosphere for this battle. The snowy woods of Starkiller base were breathtaking and make me really want to go camping. My favorite part here is Rey. Seeing her pull the lightsaber out of the snow was a huge moment, one of my favorites in the film and makes me even happier that she is strong with the force. What a battle it was. I don't know if we've ever really seen two novices dueling it out in Star Wars, but it was a blast none the less. I'm sure we'll see a rematch in the future, but I don't know it we'll ever get such a thrilling backdrop again.

R2-D2:
R2 is my favorite Star Wars character. It was good to see him again but we need more R2. I'm glad he was important to the plot and came to save the day in the end (that's sort of his thing) but I want more R2 because I love R2. That being said, I loved seeing him, BB-8, and C-3PO together. I hope that we see more of this trio in the future.

Luke:
What an ending. I thought that this part really shined. First of all, the landscape was gorgeous. I really want to visit this island, mostly just to reenact this scene, but also because it looks brilliant. Even though I knew that Luke was waiting at the top of the island, it didn't make the reveal any less thrilling. Luke is a legend now, and it was cool to see him come alive again. I thought the scoring here was perfect. So much nostalgia and yet such a set piece for the future. I can not wait for episode eight.

Music:
John Williams. Need I say more? Excellent as always. Watching the film itself, the track that stuck out the most was "The Jedi Steps" but since then I've also taken a liking to "March of the Resistance" and "Rey's Theme". The new music is strong and the revisiting of old themes was always perfect. Excellent. Though all the Star Wars films, nothing has been as consistently good as John Williams.
Leaving the Theater:
Ask anyone who was with me, I was a giddy little boy. I haven't gotten this excited in a long time (ago in a galaxy far far away). I was off the hook and unleashed. I had just seen Star Wars episode seven. EPISODE SEVEN. Unreal. As a testament to the excitement, my friends and I spent the next few hours discussing what we had just seen at Steak 'n Shake.

Watching The Force Awakens was an experience, which isn't something I can say for most films. It was an absolute blast and easily the best time I have ever hand in a theater. December 2017 can not come soon enough.

Filler Content

It's been far too long since I've posted anything. I'll write something eventually, but until then, occupy yourself with this quiz.

My Trip to Disneyland

Over the summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the Disneyland Resort in California. As someone who has been a Disney fan my entire life, the opportunity to finally visit America's oldest and newest Disney Parks has been something I have been waiting for my entire life. Today I'm going to talk about my visit to "The Happiest Place on Earth" and my various thoughts on the experience. Brace yourselves, I like to talk.

Walt Disney has always been a man I've admired. From his stellar storytelling, world changing accomplishments, and commitment to technological improvement, he continues to be a source of inspiration and admiration. Disneyland has always had one thing that any other Disney Park will never have, Walt Disney's presence. Disneyland was the only park that Walt saw from conception to operation. As a fan of Walt Disney, I have seen plenty of pictures and videos of the man himself both discussing his park and visiting it. To actually stand where he stood and walked where he walked is something that is incredibly meaningful to me. To walk around the park and remember stories of Walt shaping the park is to step into history. It is as if Walt could just be around the corner, just walking about as he often did. Tributes to him can also be found in the park. The one that I love the most is the firehouse on Main Street. Above the firehouse is an apartment which Walt would use if he wanted a place to stay in his park. The apartment itself is inaccessible to guests as it is preserved exactly as it was when Walt last visited. However, in the window of the apartment, facing Main Street, a lamp is always kept lit, signifying Walt's presence in the park. This symbol really helps to signify to me the connection between the man and his park.

Not only is Disneyland the original Disney Park, but is also the original home of many legendary Disney attractions. Part of the thrill of Disneyland for me, is to experience these classic attractions in their original form. Take the Haunted Mansion for example. Many people have ridden this legendary and famous ride, often at Walt Disney World. For years, this was the only way that I had experienced it. Riding it in Disneyland however is something different. It isn't just the Haunted Mansion, its THE Haunted Mansion. There are Haunted Mansions around the world, but none of them have the historical significance that this one does. Even if the ride itself is largely the same, there's something magical about being at the original. A comparison would be the Mona Lisa. Everyone knows what it is like. Everyone has seen it. But seeing the original has a special sort of historical significance that draws people from all around. Disneyland is like that for me. 

Aside from the historical significance of seeing the original attractions firsthand, many have different variations from their counterparts. Going back to the Haunted Mansion for example, the ride recently added back the legendary Hatbox Ghost figure, which currently can only be seen there. Some attractions have larger differences, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, which is far superior to the Walt Disney World version, features a longer ride, bigger drops, and better scenes. Perhaps the biggest difference for me is Space Mountain itself. I have always enjoyed the ride on visits to Walt Disney World, but it has never been something that I've felt like I want to ride over and over again. Disneyland is different. I could ride Space Mountain all day there. I attribute this to two factors. First, better ride vehicles. I have always found WDW's version to have very cramped seating that was never very comfortable. DL is very different, the cars are bigger with lots of leg room and feel perfectly comfortable. They also have rows of two instead of the one person per row cars of WDW. The second and more important factor is the music. WDW's version just sort of plays some music in the background, no big deal. DL has special on ride audio and features a complete soundtrack that is synced up with the ride. The music is great and gives a very fun, energetic feel to the ride. I came off the ride impressed and wanting more. 

Another of Disneyland's strong points is its unique attractions. Rides that don't exist anywhere else. For me, the most prominent of these was Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. My favorite kind of film/television merchandise has always been the stuff that looks exactly like it did onscreen (Example: The Back to the Future: Part II USA Today Papers). Cars Land represents this concept taken to the ultimate level. It is Radiator Springs. Full size, photo accurate. It represents complete immersion into the world of Cars. Say what you like about the Cars films, this is impressive. The centerpiece of Cars Land is Radiator Springs Racers, a Test Track like ride in the world of Cars. As impressive as the land itself is, this ride really brings the characters to life. The first time that Mater rolls around to greet you is a stunning experience. This ride is incredible. Perhaps the more incredible thing is that this ride has plenty more than one truly amazing moments. Another spectacular ride found only at Disneyland is the Indiana Jones Adventure. Those who have ridden Walt Disney World's Dinosaur have an idea of what this ride is like, as Dinosaur uses the exact same ride system and layout as Indiana Jones. What Dinosaur doesn't have is the man himself. Indiana Jones Adventure feel like the movies: big, adventurous, and fun. There's a fantastic moment in the ride where you turn a corner into a massive temple room. As John Williams's score plays, you see another ride vehicle drive over a treacherous bridge as pillars of fire flare in the background. It is a sight to behold. All of this, only at Disneyland.

While it may be small compared to Disney Park standards these days, the Disneyland Resort is fantastic none the less. I had been anticipating my trip my entire life and I was not disappointed. Before my visit I was a bit worried that I would find myself underwhelmed compared to my many trips to Walt Disney World. Now I find myself slightly worried that I may find my next trip to Walt Disney World underwhelming. (Then again, Star Wars Land.) To any Disney fan, visit Disneyland. Walt's park is just as wonderful as intended it.