My Top Media Picks for 2015

Now that it is New Year's Eve, I'd like to take a look back on the media releases of 2015. This post is both a "Top 5" round-up as well as a series of recommendations if you were to have missed out on anything I mention. Some of them were hard to miss (I'm looking at you The Force Awakens), while others not so much.

Some categories don't contain five entries because I'm indecisive. One has four, while another would have more than ten if I weren't trying to curb my enthusiasm just a little bit. So, did I miss anything? Probably, but that's your opinion. Share it. Or don't. Just take a second to review my thoughts on the top picks as well as my list of honourable mentions. This list is simply a collection of content I enjoyed in 2015, not a critical analysis of what was the best.

Movies

Star Wars: The Force Awakens


   Come on. There was no way this wasn't going to take the top spot on my list of 2015 movies. Star Wars took over my life again, even more so than it did when I was younger because unlike the prequels, The Force Awakens is great! The Force Awakens reinvigorated a franchise that already had so many fans back on board purely based on the nostalgic hype of the last year. Some people have since complained that it's too much like a rehashing of the original as well as the greatest sequel release of all time, The Empire Strikes Back, but I don't see this as a negative. There are plenty of different paths broached and lots of new characters to explore that were not stolen straight from the original trilogy. In fact, I think more fans would have been disappointed had the film not stuck so closely with the themes and arcs of the originals. Everyone wanted a return to the originals and that is what J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy and many others have painstakingly developed and delivered for our enjoyment. Can't we allow things to be good and accept it? Of course not. Why would anyone be satisfied with anything. That said, TFA isn't perfect, but it sure is a great Star Wars film. It's exactly what we needed in 2015. Something old that is painfully familiar, and something new that seems comfortable but embraces the new direction.


Runner-Ups:
-Mad Max: Fury Road (Stunning visuals, great cast, simple but hard-hitting story, Imperator Furiosa)
-The Hateful Eight (Tarantino's return to form, equally stellar cast, everyone has a secret, well shot)
-Jurassic World (Top-two nostalgia flick this year, great return to the series, Pratt is great)
-The Martian (Faithful adaptation of a great book, Matt Damon, return to form for Ridley Scott)
-Ex Machina (Snuck up on me, thrilling plot, Oscar Isaac, Domnhall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander)


TV Shows

Fargo (Season 2)

   The Coen Brothers film used to be the best piece of Fargo media out there. This was quickly contested by the debut of the television series in 2014. Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks and the rest of the cast put in performances with help from a tight script that made me reconsider my own thoughts on True Detective as the best show of that year. The second season of the hit TV show took us back to a series of interrelated crimes in 1979 that tangles Fargo outlaws, Kansas City gangsters and Luverne, Minnesota residents. The witty banter dialogue and regional stereotypes are at their finest in this run of Fargo. You hang on every word that these fascinating characters spin, no matter how unbelievable the predicament or outrageous the crime. You question the good guys, you sympathize with villains. Everyone is human, not matter their extreme form. And they all get their chance to shine with a monologue or one-liner. The violence is fitting, sometimes shocking and always gripping. Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Jean Smart make up on a piece of the excellent cast that season two boasts in rivalry with the first. Fortunately, the show has been picked up for a third go around, so I'm looking forward to where Noah Hawley and the crew take us.


Runner-Ups:
-Daredevil (My favour MCU content, that hallway fight scene, tight contained story)
-Parks and Recreation (Satisfying finale, everyone has their moment, not overlong or overstayed)
-Better Call Saul (More Breaking Bad content without relying on Walter White, awesome story)
-Broadchurch (Took show places I didn't expect, twists and turns, David Tenant, Olivia Colman)

Video Games

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

   The open-world genre dominated the shelves this year, both to the pleasure and discontent of gamers. I looked forward to The Witcher 3 for a longer period of time than the duration between when people even knew that Fallout 4 existed in June to its release this November. I'm not a Fallout 4 fan, so The Witcher was the game I poured hours into this year. I only spent a month with this title, but I put in more time than I'd like to admit while I explored the world and went down the rabbit hole of side-quests. I really enjoy a good fantasy story, and the crew at CD Projekt Red along with their team of writers and designers know how to plunge you head first into both a dense plot and a vibrant environment. I am typically a science fiction fan, but the colourful landscapes, characters and enemies drew me in. The combat was a little rough at first, and I know many thought it could have been better, but once I figured out the systems and their quirks I managed to get into a rhythm. The game is absolutely massive and the task of dredging into every corner was daunting to say the least, but it was just a beautiful thing to look at and every interaction oozed with character and depth. I think if I were to direct a relatively new gamer towards the best example of a modern RPG, it would be The Witcher 3 because it looks gorgeous, it plays incredibly well and there is so much to experience. CD Projekt would also get Developer of the Year from me as well. What a bunch of beauties they are. They were the first to put a damn thank you note in a game this year for Christ's sake!

Runner-Ups:
-Rise of the Tomb Raider (Excellent sequel, improves on story and mechanics, fun and rewarding)
-Bloodeborne (So hard, incredibly satisfying, brutally violent yet beautiful, unforgiving, faster Souls)
-Halo 5: Guardians (Love the universe, I didn't hate Locke (wanted more Chief), mechanically great)
-Star Wars: Battlefront (So Star Wars, theatrically satisfying, arcade-like shooter, gorgeous, fun)
-Until Dawn (The slasher movie game I've always wanted, tailor your experience, replay value)


Comic Books

Star Wars: Darth Vader 
-written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Salvador Larroca

   One story element that Star Wars thrives on is its character relationships. Darth Vader and the Emperor appear to work towards the same goal, but they are very different people and do things their own way. As a result, they clash behind closed blast doors and within the Force. Their relationship is as rocky as Han and Leia's but it is much more volatile and destructive than it is comedic. Kieron Gillen has one of the strongest grasps on this development in any canonical publication to date. If you have read the canon novel Star Wars: Lords of the Sith and enjoyed the dynamic between Vader and Palpatine, this is just as intriguing, if not a little more interesting. Salvador Larroca's art is consistent and dark to match the overall theme of the book that includes other mischievous characters like a psychopathic protocol droid and a violent astromech who join a smuggler who assists Vader in his extra-cirriculars as they avoid the watchful eye of the Empire. The end of the year brought the beginning of the Vader Down storyline that runs across both the Darth Vader book and the main Star Wars title, and it is great to see the fallen Jedi battle it out with the Rebel Alliance single-handedly. And if it helps, being a Star Wars comic book about one of my favourite Star Wars characters, and villains in general, puts it up there pretty high this year.


Runner-Ups:
-Southern Bastards (Gritty storytelling and art, deep character arcs, Jason and Jason are great team)
-Saga (Continues to break barriers, stellar art from Staples, BKV is king, space-fantasy is cool)
-The Wicked and The Divine (Gillen and McKelvie have chemistry, different, fresh story, surprising)
-Batman (Snyder and Capullo are now carving a new path post-Zero Year, consistently thrilling)
-Paper Girls (BKV, Chiang, awesome female characters, mysteriously thrilling, 80s atmosphere)
-We Stand on Guard (BKV [trend?], Canadian content faithful, sci-fi fun, Skroce's art is great)
-Descender (Jeff Lemire doing sci-fi is a good fit, Dustin Nguyen art is gorgeous, interesting world)
-Nameless (Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham team, sci-fi/occult great mix, brutally violent)
-Star Wars (Canonical addition to new universe, furthering original trilogy story, new adventures)
-Wytches (Snyder doing horror is a known hit, Jock's art is creepy and disorienting, actually scary)

Books

"The End of All Things" by John Scalzi

   John Scalzi is the most approachable science fiction author working today. Seriously. Want to get someone into sci-fi? Hand them a Scalzi book, whether it be Old Man's War, Android's Dream or Lock In. They're bound to like it. I, for one, picked it up for the science fiction and stayed for the humour and masterful dialogue. Maybe you're bigger on character-driven stories rather than interesting world building? It's got both, so your bases are covered either way. The End of All Things is the sixth instalment in the Old Man's War series, giving it the advantage of having five excellent books to build upon. That doesn't mean it can't stand on its own because The End of All Things tells you what you need to know about the current state of the galaxy and the relevant players in the storyline, and then its off and running. Scalzi proves he can build a mystery, drive the intense action and continue his trademark sense of humour through both likeable and intentionally unlikeable characters alike. This dude is my favourite author for a reason.

Runner-Ups:
-"Number Two" by Jay Onrait (More stories from a funny guy, Sochi, pooping pants, broadcast ins)
-"Star Wars: Aftermath" by Chuck Wendig (Canon book post-Jedi, frantic Empire, unsure rebels)
-"Gumption" by Nick Offerman (American history through Offerman, anecdotes, humourous)


Albums

"Free" by Hundredth

   I really enjoy following artists through their careers as they progress as musicians and as people. Hundredth has developed into a cohesive group with a tighter sound with each record. Their tracks are hard hitting and aggressive. But what is most important to me is the lyrical content from vocalist Chadwick Johnson. To an unappreciative ear or untrained listener, Hundredth probably sounds like a lot of other hardcore bands out there today. To me, Hundredth shares the message about the struggle for positivity and freedom that isn't common enough in music right now. Yes, a lot of people look for an outlet for aggression and frustration in their hardcore music but Hundredth provides an uplifting message amidst the outpouring of discontent with society and individuals who mean harm. A number of tracks on "Free" share their word on becoming a better person, considering those around you, and the personal journey.
"I don't need validation to define me."

Runner-Ups:
-"No Closer to Heaven" by The Wonder Years (transcends pop punk, continues maturing sound, new)
-"Life's Not Out to Get You" by Neck Deep (Fun sound, positive messages, old pop punk tendencies)
-"The Story So Far" by The Story so Far (Overarching theme, feels more like Under Soil and Dirt)
-"Tragedy Will Find Us" by Counterparts (Best work yet, music is elaborate, melodic, hits hard)
-"Cherry Bomb" by Tyler the Creator (Breaks away from previous themes, great production, variety)


Things I'm Looking Out For in 2016


-Interceptor by Donny Cates and Dylan Burnett (vampires, mechs, and violence, so yeah, it's going to be good)
-Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (I don't need to tell you why)
-Captain America: Civil War (Again, self-explanatory)
-AD: After Death by Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire (Graphic novel from top-tier creators and Image)
-The Dispatcher by John Scalzi (audio-book first release)
-Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Directed by Gareth Edward [Godzilla], written by Gary Whitta!)
Star Wars Aftermath: Life Debt (Canon follow-up by Wendig, looking to build and improve on the first one)
-The Revenant (Maybe Leo's Oscar? Inarritu's follow-up to Birdman)
-Suicide Squad (First DCCU film to veer of beaten path, new interpretations, expanding the cinematic canon)
-Deadpool (Finally, maybe a suitable adaptation for him)
-The Nice Guys (Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in a Shane Black private eye crime thriller set in '70s LA, looks funny too)
-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Returning to the Wizarding World, and with Eddie Redmayne too!)
-The Walking Dead (Second half of Season 6 brings Negan to television)
-Daredevil (Season 2 of the show has a lot to live up to, but it will be great)

Is there anything you are looking forward to in 2016? Tweet at me or comment below to share your thoughts on the year to come in media!

The Hateful Eight Review

Quentin Tarantino films can be an acquired taste. The reality is you either like them or you don't. I'd like to think there are more people who have seen at least one of his eight films and liked it/them than those that didn't, but I haven't taken a survey and don't want to go to the trouble of doing so.

In any event, I'm going to break it to you...

The Hateful Eight is the most Tarantino-like film by Tarantino in the last decade. And that is such a great thing. So strap in. I'll say it up front. It's really great. But I'll also caution that it is just as graphic as you'd expect if you were at all versed in the ways of Tarantino. That being said, if you really are, you didn't need me to say anything. I digress.

The Hateful Eight is a western, which many agree died in the late 1970s with that era of the Cold War. The western was a common vehicle for political commentary and metaphor during the Cold War. In the earlier years of the Cold War, many that worked in Hollywood were accused of being communists. So, just think about the field that those films were being made in and the time in which they existed. Film was an excellent outlet for political and social frustration when speaking your mind was frowned upon or even incriminating.

With all of this in mind, The Hateful Eight isn't just a western because of its countryside setting or cast of characters. It is truly a modern realization of what the western film is in today's United States and the world at large. Tarantino has delivered a film about racism, bigotry, social justice and the shoot-first mentality that the United States still embodies to many of us. The Hateful Eight frames tense situations fuelled by social differences and depicts the modern American setting in post-Civil War Wyoming. It questions the different thought processes of justice, frontier justice and the morality of such justice in outlying circumstances that aren't as clear as black and white. And that's truly the theme of the film. Black and white. And a whole lot of grey.

That doesn't mean The Hateful Eight only represents the doom and gloom of America's tumbling trajectory of civil rights today. In fact, Tarantino has told a story of how even those that do not see eye to eye can come to together for a common good against a greater evil. Of course, he does it in his twisted and ultra-violent ways that we have come to expect, and accept. I feel that the story cannot be told without the graphic violence because it is just a film personifying modern American politics and society in extreme ways. The violence works in favour of these conditions, just like the colourful characters are more like caricatures of what they each represent as individuals and their own little groups. The violence is fitting, if not entirely necessary.

On the characters, they all hold a secret that slowly reveals the truth within the carefully assembled plot that plays together perfectly. Every moment is thrilling for some reason or another, even the most mundane. Behind the characters, the backdrop is gorgeous, the sets authentic and the cast just bursting with talent and expertise as they all play their parts with career-topping intensity. You'll love and hate them all in varying moments. They really are products of Tarantino.

The Hateful Eight is one of the best films of the year. It is best seen in the glorious 70mm Panavision, even though many will probably grab the leaked awards consideration copy that has found its way online. Instead, I highly recommend you pay the money to see it in the theatre. When you watch the film be mindful of the overarching themes, consider their relevance today as well as through history and try to see yourself and your surrounding society in even the most outrageous scenarios. There's something to learn from The Hateful Eight, just as there was from the westerns of a bygone era of film.

Star Wars Properties for the Future

Now that Star Wars: The Force Awakens has hit theatres and earned $1 billion world wide in twelve days, I think it's safe to say that the new sequel trilogy and era are a captivating initial success. We may have to wait until May 26, 2017 for Episode VIII, but there will be lots to keep fans occupied in the meantime. Aftermath: Life Debt and a one-shot comic about C-3PO and his red arm will release in the first half of 2016, but what about some other stories? There is no longer a vast Expanded Universe that once filled the fictional galaxy with characters, places and stories to explore, but there is an opportunity to return to this format in some way. Keeping a close eye and a controlling hand on new canon material will be an important job for the Lucasfilm story and continuity team, but that shouldn't (and surely won't) keep them from capitalizing on the world that The Force Awakens has revealed and taken fans by storm.

So what could Lucasfilm and Disney do in the time between now and Episode VIII? Here's a few things I think could make for good properties in the near future.

Books

• Journey to Rogue One! Much like the Journey to The Force Awakens event, a book about the events leading up to Gareth Edwards' spin-off film would help promote the instalment and depth of the story, possibly written by Alexander Freed author of Star Wars Battlefront: Twilight Company as he has proven to write Star Wars military and action well
• A fun romp featuring Han and Chewie's return to smuggling, maybe rounding up those Rathtars and any encounters with the Guavian Death Gang and the Kanjiklub
• Maz Kanata seems to have a rich history, and exploring her time as a pirate and a Force sensitive wise character who is neither a Jedi or Sith would add an interesting perspective for the canon universe and any preexisting events from her point of view
• Tales from Maz Kanata's Castle in the vein of Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina and Tales from Jabba's Palace

Video Games

• A third person action game with numerous vehicle elements where the player takes on the role of Poe Dameron as he and his loyal companion BB-8 go on a mission for General Leia Organa
• An action adventure title, possibly by Telltale Games, a mystery and crime thriller involving smugglers, pirates and criminals like those found in Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana

Comic Books

Captain Sidon Ithano, the Crimson Corsair

• An ongoing title about Captain Sidon Ithano, the Crimson Corsair, and First Mate Quiggold as they pirate around the galaxy and get into trouble
• A Kylo Ren and General Hux limited series that explores their past and relationship a little further, similar to Kieron Gillen's Darth Vader comic
• The origin of the Knights of Ren and Kylo Ren's fall from the light side of the force, of course core film permitting
• The return of writer Greg Rucka to tell us of the fates of Poe Dameron's parents Shara Bey and Kes Dameron who we last saw in Star Wars: Shattered Empire
• X-Wing Pilot ongoing featuring the lesser known pilots like Snap Wexley, Ello Asty, Nien Nunb and Jess Testor Pava as they take to the skies and space in the absence of Poe Dameron who is off on missions for General Organa, similar to how DC Comics operates the Green Lantern Corps title without Hal Jordan

These are only a limited number of possible directions for Lucasfilm and Disney to go while they produce the upcoming Star Wars films. Have any ideas? Share them! 

(MINOR SPOILERS) Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

"This will begin to make things right."

Have you ever received a love letter from someone you cared deeply about? Something that touches on the emotional connection you have with that other person, makes you laugh and cry and at the end of it all reminds you about why you share such a bond with them? Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a love letter to Star Wars fans. It's a love letter from one Star Wars fan to millions. From thousands of crew members to uncountable movie-goers. Star Wars: The Force Awakens captures the essence of what the franchise used to mean to those that loved it, and now the saga is sending that mutual feeling back.

Tread carefully. My perspective may be skewed with fandom, but I speak from that position with resolve. If you wish to avoid specific reactions, do not read further. I will comment on my general opinion of the film. I have yet to read or watch any reviews of the film, although I am aware that it has received raving responses and an overwhelming outpouring of positivity.

J.J. Abrams asked his production team what they wanted to feel in this new instalment. They wanted that same feeling they had from watching the original trilogy. A series of words come to my mind when I think about that feeling: adventure, wonder, humour, emotion, passion, good, evil, and pride. I believe every element of the original trilogy exists within The Force Awakens in these same ways. Fans have waited years to experience the Star Wars universe again, and decades in proper form. It is without question that this film has restored balance to the Force.

I do not want to comment on the details of the story or the crucial plot points, but it is still fair to note that some things are unavoidable. Of course, major spoilers will be avoided entirely, so fear not. Nevertheless, do not read further if you wish to remain as fresh as possible at this stage. So, shall we?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits every beat from the opening crawl to the triumphant credits. Everything is flying at light speed while remaining simple in the same fashion as the first film. Maybe the clever marketing has developed a certain level of understanding for each of the new main characters, but I felt like I knew them when they first appeared on screen. It was intentional, but it was exciting to identify Finn in his stormtrooper gear. It was thrilling to see Poe Dameron look into the blackness of Kylo Ren's mask and crack the film's first joke. It was nostalgic and mysterious to see Rey for the first time as she scavenged, sold and lived amidst junk and artifacts of a bygone era in the galaxy. I spotted an old TIE Pilot's helmet in the sand and I fell down the rabbit hole of depth within the world that didn't need explanation. And that wasn't the only thing that caught my eye.


The chemistry between Rey, Finn and even BB-8 played a major role in immersing the audience in this new tale. Their dialogue was colloquial and well-timed, but it never strayed from what would be deemed appropriate for the Star Wars universe. The film is full of humour for long-time fans with callbacks to famous scenes or lines of dialogue, but there is also enough to keep the newcomers included in the fun. Each interaction felt fresh and accessible because the characters resembled elements of ourselves rather than archetypical cutouts necessary for the plot. They all have stories that are worth telling; some that have been in this film, and others that will be in time. Kylo Ren remains the most intriguing character in my opinion as his history unfolds very closely with the core story. He is filled with a rage that even Darth Vader did not exhibit, and it makes him unstable as the primary villain. His motivations are not clear, and even to himself it seems. The fury displayed by his lightsaber is a clear reflection of his tormented soul and his actions portray it just as overtly.

The return of old characters is not overshadowed by the newcomers, but they are very much secondary to the new direction of this trilogy. To me, that is okay because the saga is moving forward with the new generation of characters and viewers alike. This is not to say that the fan-favourites of old are unimportant. General Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker are still crucial pieces of the puzzle that I am sure we will piece together over the next five years. It was nice to see other old faces return like Admiral Ackbar and Nien Nunb. C-3PO steals his scene and R2-D2 will continue to play his role as Skywalker's faithful astromech.

The film carried a pace that never stumbled, and a continuity that did not confuse the story. In terms of Abrams's direction, The Force Awakens is beautifully shot and crafted. I know some people were worried that it would look like JJ's efforts on Star Trek and of course the lens flare jokes were rampant for a while, but none of this is a concern. The film feels and looks so much like Star Wars that there is no discernible "JJ Stamp" on it, other than his name in the credits. Come to think of it, the fact that is was so true to the franchise is directly linked to JJ because he became a filmmaker having been inspired by Star Wars.

The Force Awakens also packs quite a punch in the action department. The ground battles are brutal and the aerial combat is hot and fast. In a world that looks so tangible, the action benefits from such believable set pieces and convincing visual effects that never seemed to falter. The cinematography work on the TIE Fighter, X-Wing and Millennium Falcon flight shots is just mind blowing. You feel like you're right there in the thick of it and it never loosens its grip. The destruction and mayhem remain true to the original trilogy with plenty of sparks and plumes of smoke that look more like 1977 pyrotechnics and model effects than realistic explosions, but that being said it never looks cheaply rendered. Of course it doesn't. This is Star Wars in 2015 and it's done with the intention of emulating the visual appearance of the original trilogy.

If there is one thing I am disappointed by, it is Captain Phasma. Gwendoline Christie as a Star Wars villain just screams "awesome" and Phasma's greatest moment comes early in the film and it eventually falls short. I jokingly predicted that she would be the Boba Fett of the sequel trilogy, appearing briefly and not living up to the wild expectations of fans such as myself. It is to my own dismay that she is very much like Boba Fett in this film and for all the wrong reason. Rather than putting on a display of leadership or aggressive combat skills, she is used in a third act development that involved a (rather good callback) joke to release some tension before boiling over in the scenes that followed. Alas, I don't think we have seen the last of Captain Phasma, so I will reserve my worries. The elusive Supreme Leader Snoke is one character I would like to see explored further, which is sure to come. General Hux actually defies the idea that no one is entirely evil, only differently moral, as he is a rather fiery evil man with purely evil intentions. But they didn't say that about Hitler when he rose to power.

I will not spoil the final battle, but I will say a few words on the way I felt about it. Something Star Wars has missed for over thirty years is emotion and the extension of such emotion in the aggressive actions of characters who are both good and bad. Better yet, it seems that other than Anakin's brief moment of convincing character development at the end of Revenge of the Sith, we have not had a bonafide antagonist who is fighting for what they believe is truly and undoubtably right and justified since Darth Vader. Sidious was evil, Dooku was played by Christopher Lee and how could Darth Maul look like that and be convincing with altruistic intentions? But Kylo Ren isn't exactly evil. He is conflicted, frustrated, confused and driven, even if he doesn't know by what exactly or to where. The pent up rage and eruption of emotion in physical confrontation is more natural than we have ever seen in Star Wars. Luke's final meeting with Vader in Return of the Jedi contains traces of this crucial element, but it does not compare to the level of passion and raw determination witnessed in the climactic scene of The Force Awakens.

In short, I loved The Force Awakens. It is a triumphant return to the big screen for one of the most beloved franchises in film history and it did not fall short of expectations. Instead, I would argue that it exceeded mine. I would place this instalment up on top with the likes of Star Wars and only just narrowly beneath The Empire Strikes Back because that film is perfection (and the product of an already great world created in the first much like TFA). The Force Awakens should not be passed over. It won't be. That's absurd. Haven't seen it? Go, you scoundrel! I saw it in IMAX 3D which is definitely worth a screening if you get the opportunity.

One Scene Can Make All the Difference: The "Cantina" is Crucial to Star Wars

There is one scene in each Star Wars original trilogy film that inspires wonder and intrigue within the mysterious galaxy far, far away. In Star Wars, it's the Cantina Scene. This encounter at Mos Eisley set the standard for what makes an immersive environment that is both familiar and alien to the viewer. To me, it's all about the variety of beings and unknown histories of the spacer buying a drink or the two conversing aliens in the corner booth. The Cantina experience we have as viewers is most akin to Luke's first time in this space port, which, as Ben Kenobi notes, is a wretched hive of scum and villainy. We sure aren't in the Jundland Waste anymore, Luke. We're a long way's away from Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru's homestead. This was Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina!

The jazzy music played by the Cantina band, also known as "Mad About Me" and consisting of a Bith quartet, sets the scene with peculiar sound and visuals surrounding our heroes, many not paying any attention to their entrance besides the bartender and the immediate patrons. Luke gets involved in a confrontation with Ponda Baba and Dr. Cornelius Evazan, but Kenobi steals the scene (and Ponda Baba's arm) with a swift swipe of his blue lightsaber. If the Cantina customers weren't paying attention before, they sure were at that moment. Of course, it's really nothing new to them, and so they turn back to their drinks. Think about that. Someone loses an arm and it's business as usual. Just another day in Mos Eisley. Forget about it. Mind you, the Imperial troops don't take too kindly to the violence.

With consideration to the now defunct Expanded Universe, there were many stories to be told in this one scene. Who were the Snaggletooth aliens (Zutton and Zutmore), or that pilot (BoShek) Ben was speaking with before meeting Chewie? Why did Cornelius have the death sentence on twelve systems? How about that pair of Duros in the back having a very active conversation in their native language? Not knowing every single story in the film or series of films is what makes this scene so excellent. There is a rich world beyond the Skywalker legacy that we follow, and it doesn't have to be explained. It is serving its purpose by throwing us into a lived-in world. You cannot know everything, but neither could Luke. If you weren't feeling immersed before arriving in Mos Eisley, surely the Cantina helped you dive in.

The Empire Strikes Back doesn't have the same Catina scene by formula, but there is one instance where the viewer is thrown into an encounter that leaves us wonder "who were they?" On the bridge of the Executor, Vader speaks with a series of bounty hunters who all look menacing and aggressive in their unique ways. Boba Fett gets the spotlight and the iconic dialogue, and he does remain my favourite of the mercenaries, but what about the others? What's up with that lizardheaded dude (Bossk the Trandoshan) or the protocol droid guy (4-LOM)? Of course, there is a lot of Expanded Universe content, but the scene holds an equally intriguing atmosphere surrounding the bounty hunters. Each character has a grimey history to them, with physical traits being the only glimpse into their deep worlds. I mean, who did Boba Fett disintegrate last? Crazy.

Return of the Jedi brings us back to a Cantina vibe in Jabba's Palace. The worst of the worst on Tatooine hang out with the gangster and his friends like Salacious B. Crumb and Bib Fortuna. This place is full of aliens new and old as well as shady humans and droids. What kind of life would lead some of these criminals and undesirables to spend time with Jabba the Hutt way out in the desert on an Outer Rim planet? How did Max Rebo and his fellow bandmates land a residency at the Palace? Does Beedo the Rodian hate Han for killing Greedo? How did that Jawa get separated from his scavenger friends? It's a pretty interesting place, especially when Lando Calrissian is able to enter in disguise and no one questions the continued presence of the bounty hunter Boushh who is in fact Leia. The music is similar in mood to the Cantina and the company is just as questionable.

So, why am I thinking about Cantinas and bounty hunters? Well, with the release of The Force Awakens less than a week away, it has me pondering the atmosphere and environment of the 2015 sequel. JJ Abrams has confirmed that a Cantina sequence does occur and there has been music written for the unique experience. I believe it will occur in Maz Kanata's (Lupita Nyong'o) palace where Finn, Rey, BB-8 and presumably Han and Chewie visit at some stage in the film. It's supposed to be a meeting place for many pirates and spacers like the Cantina, so hopefully it serves to immerse us in this world, not just for nostalgia purposes but for the depth of the Star Wars galaxy and the sake of a lived-in environment that made the original films great.