I will start this off by saying I am a Star Wars fan! I went to see Star Wars more than 20 times in the theater when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. It was the first movie that really brought the possibility of space travel, other worlds, to life for me. I couldn’t get enough of it. And now, after more than 30 years, we’re finally getting Star Wars movies again. It’s the best thing ever, and yet, people have to criticize every little detail, nuance, and storyline. I don’t care! It’s Star Wars!
I thought it was great when George Lucas decided to do the prequels. I even went to see Wing Commander IN THEATERS because after the movie, they were showing an extended trailer for The Phantom Menace. Despite what critics and some so-called “purists” say, I loved the prequels. They told the story just as I imagined it. Yes, I could have done with a little less Jar-Jar, not so emo Anakin Skywalker, but I still loved the movies.
You have to understand that these movies were my first “geek” crush, as it were. Like many of us who saw Star Wars for the first time in the theaters, it was something we had never seen before. The visual effects, the story, the characters, the lightsabers, were all something new to science fiction and we LOVED it.
There have been some hits and misses with the restart of Star Wars movies. Rogue One was OUTSTANDING, and I loved The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi had some issues I didn’t agree with but I still loved it. That’s my point. I can’t not like some things about the Star Wars movies, but as a whole, I can’t fault what’s being produced. It’s still visually stunning, great characters, great stories, and I love them.
You have to understand that there was a 16 year gap between Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace, and a 10 year gap between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens. During that time, my Star Wars fix was relegated to books and The Clone Wars and Rebels on the Disney Channel. We needed more Star Wars, and yes, we still need MORE!
As for Solo, there’s a mixed bag of review. RogerEbert.com says, “As unnecessary prequels go, ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ isn’t bad. It’s not great, either, though—and despite spirited performances, knockabout humor, and a few surprising or rousing bits, there’s something a bit too programmed about the whole thing. It has certain marks to hit, and it makes absolutely sure you know that it’s hitting them.”
RottenTomatoes.com also had an assortment of reviews for their 70% rating of the movie:
“The tropes and twists of shamelessly recycled clichés are presented throughout with an absurd earnestness.”
“Of all the Star Wars-themed movies, this one is the closest to a Saturday afternoon serial/western. Don’t expect more than that.”
It doesn’t feel like a cohesive piece, so while it’s at times charming, and does get off the ground in the last act, the getting there is extremely bumpy.
Well, first off , what do they expect after all the negative press leading up to a movies release. There was so much bad publicity for Solo that you knew it was going to have a bad opening weekend. Top it off with the fact that it was released in the same month right after Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2 didn’t help either. To the ultimate Star Wars fans, the reviews don’t matter. We’ll still go to see it.
Like I said, for the true fan it doesn’t matter. It’s Star Wars, and “if they make it, we will come” to see the movies, and the TV shows, read the books and comic books. It’s one of the biggest science fiction universes out there with a sandbox so big, the possibilities are endless. Give me more!
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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon.
Recently, another of my anime obsessions has led me to the “Fate” series (Fate/Zero. Fate/Stay Night, and Fate/Apocrphya). There are more than these three in the series, but that’s all I’ve watched so far. It’s not just the intricate storylines, the fast-paced fighting, or the beautiful animation that drew me in. As a fantasy writer, the heroic spirits are what truly facinated me.
One of my favorites of this series was the reimagined Frankenstein monster. She (yes, I said “she”) was a beautiful creature with immense power. When I first saw her, I did not even think Frankenstein, and yet there are incredible subtleties within this character that you don’t expect. She doesn’t speak, except in grunts and groans. She wields a lightning mace (that resembles the equipment from Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory) that can release an electrical strike that can wipe out a forest. There are unusual attachments on her head, incuding something resembling a unicorn horn, that’s almost “steampunk” in nature. Yet, through all this power and ferocity (she is a Bezerker class) there is a delicate child inside. In one scene, she sits in a field, looking at flowers, reminding me of the monster from the movie, and yet, I don’t see the monster. And neither did her master. She was, at times, breathtaking.
Every story has to have an interesting protagonist, but it also must have an equally villainous antagonist. Most people think being bad is easy, but its not. We’re taught at a very young age that being evil is stupid. I remember the days of Snidely Whiplash, Boris and Natasha, and Dick Dastardly. Their plans always failed because of their mistakes.
Speaking of the stories, that’s one of the things I truly love in anime. The plots made be similar across different genres, but the stories are incredible versatile and diverse. They combine fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and action/adventure in so many different ways. I also love the “underdog to hero” story in many of them. It’s the heart of most of these stories; specifically, good versus evil. That’s the basis for a lot of them and its the best story there is. Now matter how bad it can get, good wins in the end. They take the morale high ground, even if the main protagonist is a pervert (i.e., High School DxD) or a nobody (i.e., Is it Wrong to pick up Girls in a Dungeon).
As writers, we are constantly working on our craft. I try to write daily, even if its just adding a few sentences or a paragraph to my next novel. When researching different tips for writers, the one thing I always come across is READ, READ, READ! As writers, we need to read other stories to help us with style, plot development, and even a sense of direction. When you read someone else’s work, you have a feel for them , as a writer, and see into every technical aspect of the story. You see every part of it, like the bricks in a building, creating a structure that’s a beautiful sight to see.
“All good writings begin with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” — Anne Lamott
I spent more than 30 years in the Navy as a Navy Journalist and Public Affairs Officer. That training and work experience gave me the tools I needed but did not satisfy my needs for more creative writing. I fight my own self doubt every day, but it’s a battle I have to win. Being a writer, an accomplished writer and storyteller, is something I desire more than anything. It’s not for the fame, the glory, or the recognition. It’s just for the satisfaction of having someone read my stories in the hope that it gives them a good feeling or a chance to escape.
As I’ve said in previous blogs, Hayao Miyazaki is an inspiration and one of my favorite storytellers. He has a brilliance that I aspire too. The art and words of his many wonderful stories give his anime a life of their own. I want my own stories to have the same “magic” as his. In fact, I see that same look of wonder in 
James Cameron is a moron! I had to start out with that because, in my opinion, he is. Here is an Academy award winning filmmaker, who has created some of the most powerful women on screen and he says something stupid like this:
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Live in the sunshine. Swim the sea. Drink the wild air.” I like the sound of that, not only as a writer but as a human being. To me, it says “enjoy life” to the fullest possible sense. It also helps to keep one’s creative juices flowing.
Mark Piggott | Fantasy and Steampunk Author 