Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Groku review

 

The Star Wars Universe has expanded massively yet despite the undoubted quality of the offshoots (notably the superb Andor) they are a fairly long way from the tone of the 1977 original. Here though is a branch of the tale that indulges in exactly the same fast paced action orientated type of story that lit the fuse.  The Mandalorian and Groku hardly rests, pinwheeling from one place to another frantic to throw our unusual heroes into ever more perilous situations. What you gain from the action you do tend to lose in terms of character but this is a film that brings the fun back to big screen Star Wars.

 

Andor Season 2 Episodes 10 -12 review

 Some Star Wars aficionados may not care for the careful pace, contemporary allusions or darker elements of Andor; just looking at those who complained about the lengthy sequence of Mon Mothma dancing is enough to tell you that. Maybe the series is too subtle for those who like Star Wars to literally be about battles with only the basic character templates that the films had. Andor is a work of art, a crafted, thoughtful achievement whose appeal will surely last a long, long time. These final three episode shunt the story right up to just before Rogue One and show the variety and the class the series has. 

Spoilers after the break

Andor Season 2 Episodes 4 -9 review

 

Ghorman is the focus of these six episodes set a further year on from the opening trio. Episode four `Ever Heard of Ghorman?` is a well-constructed narrative presenting multiple sides of the situation. So, we have Syril ensconced in a bureaucratic job but he’s really here to help stir up rebellion thus justifying later use of force. Back on Coruscant, Andor and Bix are living in a very dingy looking apartment but he is destined to be sent to Ghorman by the episode’s end by Luthen whose found out about the focus on the planet courtesy of the undercover supervisor Yung. Mon Mothma’s efforts to stop a bill that will give larger powers to the ISB is hampered by paranoia over Ghorman.

Andor Season 2 Episodes 1 - 3 review

 

I only got to see the first season of Andor last year so its fresher in my mind than it will be for many, which is a help as this second season jumps right into things. Set a year on from the end of season one this first trio of episodes charts events that represent the differing fortunes of the Empire and the rebels. The scenes- sometimes intermeshed with the same incidental music- paint a vivid picture of life at the top and at the bottom while also humanising both sides with some rich characters that make even the slowest sequences shine. In other words it’s as good- and often even better - than season one.

 Spoilers after the break

Star Wars - The Rise of Skywalker review

Showing before this screening of the final Star Wars film is a `prologue` from the forthcoming Christopher Nolan movie Tenet. At nearly 10 minutes it certainly had some of the audience I was with confused the cinema might be showing the wrong film and despite such a lengthy look the content left us only vague clues as to what it might be about. Yet it was challenging and intriguing, qualities we look for in vain when it comes to the Star Wars universe which prefers to deal in certainties. Expectations around The Rise of Skywalker are far too heavy for it to possibly support. Can it wrap up a sprawling forty plus year saga that has spun many stories across different media? Can it satisfy Star Wars aficionados whose reaction to some actual character development (gasp!) in The Last Jedi suggested resistance to any change?  Well, considering the 1977 original was never intended to be more than a one off space adventure you could say they’ve been winging it for decades. This latest instalment is certainly more traditional than the last one which for me makes it not quite as satisfying but which I suspect fans will prefer. It is definitely worth seeing on the largest screen possible – there are moments when it feels it won’t even all fit on a massive IMAX screen- and as a thrilling cinema experience is hard to beat. Anyone looking for something deeper or more meaningful however may feel short changed.

Mega spoilers past this point!