Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the CGI COLORS! a review by JediTeen

I recently watched the remaining Star Wars movies that I hadn't seen: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I liked Attack of the Clones better than I expected, though! It is the second movie in the three film prequel trilogy of Star Wars, directed by George Lucas. 


Attack of the Clones is set ten years after The Phantom Menace. Someone is trying to kill Senator Amidala (Natalie Portman), and two Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan Mcgregor), and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) chase a shapeshifter through the galactic capital of Coruscant to investigate. Before she dies, the shapeshifter says the name of the bounty hunter she is working for: Jango Fett. Obi-Wan goes to investigate a remote star system where Jango Fett is, while Padme (Amidala) is left in anakin's care. Anakin and Padme fall in love, while Obi-Wan figures out that Jango is being cloned. The president of the planet tells Obi-wan that they have been comissoned to make a clone army for the republic. 


Meanwhile, Anakin is having nightmares about his mother being tortured, so he and Padme go back to his home, Tatooine, in order to save his mother, only to find that he is too late; his mother has been tortured by the Tuscan raiders, and is dying. After her death, he is enraged and murders the Tuscans. He then tells Padme that he wants to become all powerful and prevent death. 


Obi-Wan gets trapped by Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) on the planet of Geonosis, and Anakin and Padme come to rescue him, only to be thrown into an arena with vicious beasts. When they are surrounded by separatist droids, Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), and a troop of Jedi come to rescue them. Anakin and Obi-Wan fight Count Dooku with lightsabers and are rescued by Yoda. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) reveals himself to the audience as Darth Sidious, who is secretly behind the war. Yoda declares that the Clone War has begun, and Anakin and Padme are secretly married with the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 as witnesses. 


I thought that this movie had more action than The Phantom Menace which I appreciated. The only major inconsistency in the plot remains the fact that Obi-wan is too young. The soundtrack features a lovely new love theme from John Williams. The lightsaber battles are impressive. 


CGI and bright colors were excessively used in this film, as well as a wide variety of worlds from the bustling city of Coruscant to the remote desert of Tatooine. 


Christensen's delivery of the dialogue was wooden, while Portman's girlish voice didn't fit with her authoritative attitude. However, I was pleased with the performances of McGregor, Lee, and McDiarmid. I also appreciated that Jar Jar Binks hardly appears, and that instead, C-3PO is the comic relief. The worst scene in the film is a goofy scene with Anakin and Padme in a field, and well, you don't need to know the crazy love story.... 


I can't even imagine Darth Vader coming from the adolescent Anakin. 


Watch this for the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The film is rated PG, and I would recommend it for ages 11+. 

The Thing About Jellyfish: A Book That Sucks You In: by JediTeen 

 

I recently read a book called The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. I was feeling sick one day, and I was in my room with my library books. The Thing About Jellyfish sucked me in immediately. I loved the writing style. It is one of those books that is very hard to put down. It is full of gorgeous prose and interesting science, all told from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl who has lost her best friend. 


Suzy Swanson's best friend, Franny Jackson, has drowned. Suzy is trying to recover by proving that there was a reason for her death; that someone was responsible. She has stopped talking, so no one notices her when she slinks off to the jellyfish tank in the aquarium, and learns about the rare species of jellyfish, the Irukandji, which is barely visible and highly dangerous. She  begins investigating the species, and she even delivers an oral report to her class to try to communicate what she thinks happened to Franny. They don't seem to understand. But Suzy will go too far....


Franny has stopped being friends with Suzy before she dies. She has become one of those popular girls who thinks Suzy is weird. Suzy knows an amazing amount of science. She knows that there are 50 million jellyfish stings every year, and that jellyfish are multiplying because of the warmer water temperatures. She knows that Franny's heart only beat 412 million times. But no one appreciates her. She is lost in her own world of investigation. 


Don't get hung up about the science in this book; read for language. I like how we see flashbacks from Suzy's relationship with Franny; how it grew and changed, and how it ended. I think this is a book worth reading no matter what your age or circumstance. It is one of the best middle-grade novels written in years. 


 

The Phantom Menace: A Movie To Watch Twice With A Snack   

By JediTeen

 

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is full of visuals. It is also full of mistakes. It lacks action and comedy. George Lucas made The Phantom Menace in 1999, as the first film in a three film trilogy to tell the backstory to the original Star Wars trilogy. It has  many technological and visusal advances, but there are some inconsistent spots that I will discuss later. 

 

In the story, Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), Luke Skywalker's father, is not the center of attention, because he is only nine years old.  Instead, the story focuses on two Jedi knights named Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor). Obi-Wan is Qui-Gon's apprentice. Another central character is Queen Amidala of Naboo, who is trying to solve the trade crisis on her planet. Thew trade federation has formed a blockade around the planet. On Naboo, the two Jedi rescue a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks, and get Amidala past the blockade, but their ship is damaged. 

 

They arrive on the desert planet of Tatooine for repairs, and Amidala sends her handmaiden Padme (PAD-may) [Natalie Portman], and an astromech droid named R2-D2 with Qui-Gon and Jar Jar. They meet Anakin, a slave and an excellent podracer, and his mother. The Qui-Gon gets the ship repaired, and frees Anakin when he wins a bet with Anakin's master, Watoo. Anakin has created his own podracer as well as a protocol droid named C-3PO. Anakin wins the podrace, and goes with Qui-Gon to the republic's capital of Coruscant, where the Jedi master Yoda refuses to train him. Yoda thinks that Anakin will turn to the Dark Side of the Force, but Qui-Gon believes that he is the chosen one who will bring balance to it. 

 

Senator Palpatine becomes the new Supreme Chancellor, and Padme reveals herself as the true Queen to the Gungans, and persuades them to help her fight against the federation's droid army, while Padme and the Jedi search for the federation viceroy. The Jedi are cornered by the Sith apprentice Darth Maul, who kills Qui-Gon before Obi-Wan kills him. Upon his death, Qui-Gon asks Obi-Wan to train Anakin. Meanwhile, Anakin is left in the cockpit of a fighter,where he triggers the autopilot and deactivates the droid army. Obi-Wan is given permission to train Anakin, and Padme gives a gift to the Gungans. 

 

After the long explanation of a complicated plot, I present you with the pros and cons. I enjoyed the visual effects, the diversity of the planets, and Ewan McGregor's performance as Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon is a good character, and I admire Amidala's strength as a leader. The podrace and the lightsaber battles are well done. As always, John Williams delivers a good soundtrack. I like the use of familiar worlds and characters, such as Tatooine, Jabba the Hutt, Tuscan Raiders, the droids, and Obi-Wan and Anakin. I appreciate thew subtle use of females, such as the droid at the beginning, Amidala's handmaidens, and female pilots. 

 

Cons: I think that Anakin should have been older and already shown hits of the Dark Side, and Obi-Wan should have been ten years older than he was. I am also wondering why Qui-Gon didn't disappear when  he died. The aspect of balancing the Force doesn't work with the good-overpowers-evil element of Episode 6. Jar Jar Binks made me laugh three times, but that's all that he should have been used. Some scenes lack action, and with Qui-Gon and Darth Maul both dead, they seem to be rather unnecessary characters, especially because Yoda should have trained Obi-Wan directly. 

 

One last thought is that the first time I saw The Phantom Menace I was bored, and I had hardly any emotional reaction to it. This time, however, I understood the plot, and I liked it much better! So unless you hate this movie, it may be necessary to watch it twice within a few months, (and make sure you have a snack) then wait 30 years to show your kids.

 

 

 

Star Wars Re-awakens: by Jedi Teen

WARNING: SOME PLOT SPOILERS IN REVIEW

            Yesterday, I watched Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens for the second time in the theater. I found that I liked it even more the second time through than I initially did, and in my opinion, it is definitely the best Star Wars film since 1983. Writer/director J. J. Abrams took on the project after Star Wars was bought by Walt Disney studios. Many of the actors from episodes IV, V, and VI, returned to be in the movie, and composer John Williams returned to write the score.

            This movie centers on a new generation of characters. Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger from the planet Jakku who is waiting for her family, Finn (John Boyega), an ex-stormtrooper, Poe (Oscar Isaac), a resistance pilot, and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a Jedi apprentice turned evil, all have their own motives in The Force Awakens. Finn helps Poe escape the First Order, the evil government that has originated from the remnants of The Galactic Empire, and when their ship crashes on Jakku, Finn meets Rey, and they steal the Millennium Falcon, and encounter Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Chewbacca. A small droid, BB8, has a map that leads to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who has mysteriously disappeared. The team must fight the First Order numerous times in order to destroy their massive weapon, and keep BB8 safe. When the audience learns that Kylo Ren is Han Solo’s son, they will be alarmed. In the end, R2-D2 has the missing piece of the map, and Rey goes to find Luke. The movie leaves many hints that Rey is Luke’s daughter, because she is so strong with the Force. Leia (Carrie Fisher) has become the general in charge of the Resistance.

            I will say that this movie far exceeded my expectations. Although there is nonstop action in the film, Abrams succeeds in developing characters. Although Kylo Ren turns out evil, I am left with a desire for him to redeem himself in a future movie. At the end, I am left wondering what will happen to Rey and Luke. And I found myself truly worried about Finn’s survival. I even enjoyed BB8.

           

            The score was wonderful, as usual. I liked how Rey got a new theme, and how the music around the First Order sounded similar to the Imperial March from episode V. I liked how the CGI was minimal, the sets were real, and the transitions were old school, just like those of episodes IV, V, and VI. Episode I lost this feel, and Episode VII brought it back.

            I also liked the small throwbacks to the original trilogy, such as “I have a bad feeling about this,” and “Do you have a trash compactor?” I love how Rey uses a Jedi mind trick on a Stormtrooper, and especially how she uses a lightsaber. I love seeing a strong female character in Star Wars. I love Finn’s humor element, and Poe’s heroism and his appreciation for Finn.

            This film is rated PG-13 for action and shooting. Depending on your child’s maturity level, I would say that some 10-12 year-olds will be ready for this, but I would recommend it for ages 10+. You will see this movie.

Christmas: The Album for Holiday Spirit: by Jedi Teen

Francesca Battistelli’s album Christmas was produced by Ian Eskelin, published by Fervent/Curb Records, and consists of eleven tracks. While many are traditional, the album includes four original tracks written by Battistelli and her collaborators. While Francesca is the current leading singer on Christian record labels, I do not enjoy her albums because of her fame, but mainly because of her music. She has a strong voice, good range, and she brings fun to her songs, even when making a point. She is also good at writing slow ballads, as well as those bouncy, get-up-and-dance songs.

Track one on Christmas is “The Christmas Song”, which Francesca has added her own flair to, as well as keeping the traditional lightheartedness of the song. Let the “kids from one to ninety-two” enjoy.

The first original track on the album is “Heaven Everywhere” which incorporates bits of the famous carol “Angles we Have Heard on High”. The point of the song is that during the Christmas season, Heaven seems to be everywhere, and people feel closer to God.

“Christmas Is”, is a collaboration by Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, and Tony Wood. While there are many humorous lines in the song such as, “Christmas is Snoopy and Charlie Brown”, “It’s praying for some place to park at the mall,” “It’s Mom going crazy ‘cause the turkey got burned,” and “Saying thanks for some gift you’ll return”, the main point is that “Christmas is Jesus!” At this point, you’ll want to say, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Track four is a beautiful arrangement of “The First Noel”, and “What Child is This?”, which are two of my favorite carols.

Once again we move from profound to silly at Christmas with Francesca’s bouncy rendition of “Marshmallow World.” You are sure to get this one stuck in your head!

Perhaps my favorite Christmas carol is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” (You should check out Enya’s Latin version). Christmas is so much more than fluffy marshmallows!

My Mom was commenting that many female singers have trouble with the sentimental song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” She said that they either sing it flat, or get the pacing wrong. I think that Francesca is one singer who gets it right. She takes all of the sadness away from the song and turns it into a bouncy song about future Christmases together, the only lyrical change being that she changes “fates allow,” into “Lord allows”. She also has fun, and does not sound like she is trying to hard to get it right.

“You’re Here”, is a profoundly beautiful original song written from Mary’s perspective (much like Amy Grant’s “Breath of Heaven”).

On track nine, Francesca adds her own style to “Joy to the World”. The  good pacing, not too slow or too fast, and simple guitar work sell this traditional song.

“Christmas Dreams” is another hit from Francesca, Ian, and Tony. This is a song about how we are “never too old for Christmas dreams”, and one that future generations will enjoy.

The final track is “Go, Tell it on the Mountain”. Francesca puts a slow pace on this song, and makes it a great way to end an album.

You can buy this at Christian bookstores or online. Francesca’s other albums are My Paper Heart, Hundred More Years, and If We’re Honest. Enjoy!