Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Now, having watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens for a second time, I decided it was time to dive back into that world for the blog. Incredibly, I realized that I have overlooked the franchise for some time, and may have to break them all down over the next month or so. Who knows, but here is my spoiler free review of The Force Awakens.

Plot/ Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.

Let me start by saying this will be spoiler free. Although, I have seen the film twice now (both 2D and 3D), I imagine that there are still those out there who have not ventured out. Personally, I loved the film, as it brought the excitement of the originals back to life. For me, the homage paid to the original series will likely pay off in the future installments, as there are many questions that remain. If, like me, you remember the classics when they came out, it was not until The Empire Strikes Back, that questions were left unanswered, and ironically, that is the one that will stand as the best ever. The pacing was amazing, as there was always something happening, making the small pieces of mysterious dialog even better. Of course, some will not like the way this one plays out because of that, because there are moments left for the viewers’ imagination, but that is what makes this one tick. The action sequences work, the new characters interesting and mysterious, and the overall feel was much better than I expected. Sure, there could have been some more originality sprinkled in, but it is understandable on why this one was fueled by nostalgia, as the Star Wars audience must touch a younger generation, that may not truly appreciate the original’s in the same manner we do. In the end, this one may not reach the level as The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi, but it does move up the scale quite a bit. If you have not seen it, you definitely should check it out, especially if you have kids that are just learning about Star Wars. Trust me, there is nothing better than when your teenaged daughter comes out and says, “That was awesome! Rey Rocks!”

Could Supreme Leader Snoke actually be Luke Skywalker???

(Poster by Kode Logic)

While I am not one that usually speculates on movies I watch, especially about characters or plot lines, I have become obsessed by an idea that came to mind after watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Being a huge fan of the franchise, especially the different storylines and the way they interconnect, this theory came to mind, as soon as I first saw one of the characters, and his actions.

Before I move any further, there may be some spoilers, although that is in no way my intentions. So, if you have not seen this one yet, move along, there is nothing to see here.

Who is Supreme Leader Snoke? Yes, there are theories out there that he is Darth Plagueis (who survived the attack from young Darth Sidious), Emperor Palpatine (who survived in Return of the Jedi), and some other crazy thoughts and theories. While my idea may not be as crazy as say Jar Jar Binks, I also believe that it could be an interesting twist that could make for an amazing run of movies. What if Supreme Leader Snoke is actually Luke Skywalker himself? Yes, yes, I know that may sound insane, but think about it for a second and there are parts of the storyline that bring this into focus.

It was clear at the end of Return of the Jedi, Luke was torn and he could have gone either way, even attempting to strike down the Emperor. What if that turmoil became too much and he regretted not assuming the position with his father to rule the galaxy as father and son.

Now, fast forward to The Force Awakens. Snoke is a hologram, and at this point, no one has seen him except in that form. Plus, he does have a scar on his forehead (wampa attack?). OK, maybe that is a stretch, but, when you start looking at the entire puzzle, it may not be as crazy as some think.

What do we know about Luke? He failed in building a Jedi academy and had a pupil turn to against him, a student with Skywalker blood flowing through his veins. Couple that with the fact that no one has seen Luke since Kylo turned Vader and killed the young Jedi at the academy (until the end), and there is a strange mystery building.

Here is where it gets interesting to me, what if he did that as part of his training to help take over the galaxy with Luke? Many of Kylo’s actions and statements would fit. His grandfather wanted to rule the galaxy with Luke (finish what you started?), and Kylo could make that happen when and if the Rebellion, or Resistance falls to the First Order. Of course, there is still the problem of Rey, her bloodline, and powers that could cause a problem with this theory, but that too can be somewhat explained.

What if Kylo saved Rey, to potentially add a future ally? If Obi-Wan was able to hide Leia from Darth Vader and the Emperor, would it not be possible for Rey to be “dead” to the world, her hidden Jedi abilities tucked away on an outlying planet? It could be possible, if not plausible especially when you think about how she was received by Han, Leia, and even Luke at the end. There was almost a touch of shock in their reactions, almost to the point where they were speechless.

Knowing that Rey would want to search for Luke, especially not understanding her powers, Kylo has set up the perfect training scenario for the dark side, and potentially provided Snoke/Luke with two apprentices that can search out and destroy the Resistance in the name of the First Order.

Of course, this is just my theory, and I am nothing but a fan with an active imagination and a love of the dark side. Please let me know what you think? I would love to hear some feedback.