Thursday 31 December 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens film review


IMDB says: 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.



In this J. J. Abrams (Super 8, TVs Lost) directed, Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Silverado), J. J. Abrams (as before), Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) and George Lucas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) written film, newcomers Daisy Ridley (TVs Silent Witness, Mr Selfridge) and John Boyega (Attack the Block, Imperial Dreams) play Rey and Finn pulled into helping the Resistance by BB8 and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac: Drive, Ex Machina) in their search for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill: Star Wars, TVs The Flash).  Along the way they meet Han Solo (Harrison Ford: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Cowboys and Aliens) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew: Star Wars, Killer Ink), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher: Star Wars, TVs The Big Bang Theory), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, TVs Game of Thrones) and C3PO (Anthony Daniels: Star Wars, TVs Holby City), but they also come across the First Order Kylo Ren (Adam Driver: Frances Ha, This Is Where I Leave You) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & Part 2, About Time) who are led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis: The Prestige, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes).

Brooklyn Beckham and Romeo Beckham at event of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

My family are big fans of the franchise and my husband and son in particular had been counting the days until we saw it, they were not disappointed.  I do not want to put any spoilers into this review as there are probably still many who will have not been to see it yet, but there are plenty of nods to the original movies for the die-hard fans to pick up on and some tried and tested tropes that they follow. 

The film, for some, will transport you right back to your childhood and for others, will start the journey into a fantasy adventure.



Trivia: British actor Denis Lawson who portrayed X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy, has confirmed that he turned down an invite from Disney to reprise his role in the new installments. Lawson told British press that "I'm not going to do that. They asked me but it just would have bored me."  In a real-life parallel to the film Fanboys (2009), Mark Hamill and John Boyega successfully lobbied director J. J. Abrams to allow Star Wars fan Daniel Fleetwood to see the film before official release, as Fleetwood had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and was not expected to live to see the film's actual release date. Fleetwood was shown the film at a screening in his home, after Disney agreed. Fleetwood died 10 November, 2015. Mark Hamill claimed George Lucas nonchalantly told him over lunch a new Star Wars trilogy was going to be made by Disney, and if he did not want to be involved, Luke Skywalker would simply be written out of the script. However, Hamill immediately agreed to reprise the role. Hamill admitted, however, that he pretended to also be nonchalant about it so it didn't seem like he was excited for the role. The first J. J. Abrams film not to have a musical score by Michael Giacchino. Aptly enough, Giacchino stated in an interview that he would rather hear the music of John Williams in a new Star Wars film than his own. Giacchino's name shows up in episode VII's credits as a stormtrooper.

Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Tagline: Coming to your galaxy this winter.                                                        9/10

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

#StarWarsTheForceAwakens  #StarWars

Wednesday 30 December 2015

Writers Online newsletter

Here is the latest Writers Online newsletter, including details of the WM competition:


Get Involved
F
T
T
T

 

Home      How-to Guides     Reviews      Forum      Writing Events     Store      Writing Competitions      Writers' Groups

 



 

Hi Karen

How's your writing arm? Exhausted after all those Christmas cards? Why not relax by, erm, doing some more writing for some top comps closing over the Christmas break. We've got a bumper selection this month with some incredible prizes, so check out the links below to see if you can get 2016 off to a flying start. As always, let me know how you've got on on Facebook, Twitter or just email.

Don't forget, there's still time to enter our prize draw for a selection of creative writing guides and give us your feedback on Writing Magazine, by completing our reader survey. Let us know what you think, here.
Jonathan Telfer
Editor
image
Enjoy Writing Magazine as a digital edition

 

All the latest news and opportunities from Writers Online
image
PLUS: There's still time to enter WM's own competitions, all with deadlines soon after Christmas, to win a Matador self-publishing deal (closing 31 December), win your way, including flights, to Iceland Writers' Retreat (closing 3 January), win a pair of tickets to the Adventure Travel Show, 23-24 January, in an exclusive WM giveaway, or, for readers who started a subscription to WM during 2015, enter our annual New Subscribers competition by submitting a story (1,500-1,700 words) or poem (up to 40 lines) by email.

Meanwhile, catching our eye on the wider web, we've been distracted by:

 

February Writing Magazine, out on 7 January
imageSPECIAL BUMPER ISSUE - 128 packed pages!

Plan your writing calendar with our definitive listings of festivals, workshops, courses and retreats, throughout 2016.
Plus:
  • Why is it worth taking a retreat?
  • 10 tips to make the most of your writing retreat
  • How to organise an author event at your local library
Star interview with genre-straddling crime author Louise Welsh
50,000 words in a day? Yes, you read that right!
A submission letter under the microscope
Authentic dialogue for your crime novel

Ten top tips for Valentine's inspired writing
How to develop yourself as a children's author
How to approach editors and sell your work

Plus all our usual publication opportunities, paying markets, competitions to enter and publishing industry news,

Buy Writing Magazine in print, as a digital edition or ask a newsagent to reserve your copy.
Start 2016 the WRITE way
image
With the help of a Writing Magazine Creative Writing Course, 2016 could be the year your writing takes off.
Enrol on a course today and enjoy:
  • Discount prices - Book before 31 January and pay our 2015 prices. Courses start from as little as £150 and you can even spread your payments with three interest-free instalments
  • 9 courses to choose from, including Becoming a successful writer, Fiction, Short Story, Children's and article writing
  • Tailored one-to-one tuition with a professional writer
  • Flexible learning: study at your own pace
Want to know what our students think?
‘I did the Short Story creative writing course with Writing Magazine and found it to be invaluable. The tutor was very encouraging and I never had to wait too long for the feedback after each assignment. I have since won a short story competition with Writing Magazine and also been short listed for a second short story. The course has been very inspirational.’
Helen Chan, Leicester – Short Story course

BOOK TODAY BEFORE PRICES CHANGE
CLICK HERE
or CALL: 0113 200 2917 quoting ‘New Year 16’

 


 

Made for Mobile….Made for you
imageJust in time for Christmas, when a lot of you will hopefully be receiving fancy new smartphones, we have now launched our brand new Made for Mobile edition.

Our January issue has been custom made for ease of reading on a mobile device, so now you really can take Writing Magazine with you wherever you go. iPhone users can download the Writing Magazine app straight to their phone and enjoy this great new look for our January edition. Android users, simply download the Pocketmags app from the Play Store and then search for Writing Magazine.

WATCH our video to see just how great it looks!

 

Just Write with WM
imageWriting Magazine has teamed up with Hodder & Stoughton to offer a free six-month subscription to WM in their brand new Just Write gift set. (It's a voucher, so you can use it to add on at the end of your current subscription if you already have one!)

The set also includes their Complete Creative Writing Course as a book and its audio component, The Insider’s Guide to Publishing, and a deluxe notebook – perfect for writers at any stage, and just in time for Christmas! Treat yourself today, drop some heavy hints, or purchase for a loved one on Amazon – at a massive discount! – today.

 

Enjoy Writing Magazine as a digital edition

 


Email: webhelp@warnersgroup.co.uk / subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk (include your name & postcode) Tel: 01778 392482, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat and Bank Holidays 9am-5pm

Writers Online is brought to you by Warners Group Publications
The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH. Registered in England: 2572212