I contributed to that $1 billion mark for Star Wars: VII The Force Awakens during the holidays. Disney backed the film with an extensive marketing campaign;[5][6] it has broken many box office records, including the highest-grossing worldwide opening of all time and the fastest movie to reach $1 billion.[7][8] As of December 28, 2015[update], it has generated a global box office gross of over $1.16 billion, becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of 2015 and the tenth highest-grossing film of all time. Episode VIII is scheduled for release on May 26, 2017, followed by the remaining film in the trilogy, Episode IX, in 2019.
Some of my impressions:
1) Though I's warned that beloved character Han Solo (Harrison Ford, my favorite) got killed, I's still shocked by the scene, over the bridge, Han Solo was lightsaber-sword-through-heart by his-and-Princess-Leia's son, Kylo Ren. in particular in soul-warming atmosphere Dad Han Solo walked on the bridge showing love to his son and asking him to come back to Dad and Mom. So sad and shocked by dark force.
2) I couldn't match the handsome face Han solo on aged face Harrison Ford, although still in good shape at 85. Neither could I find any reassemblance of beautiful young face of Princess Leia, on whom many my boomer friends had crusch growing up, with current Carrie Fisher act.
3) As in the end, Rey follows with R2-D2 and Chewbacca to an island on a distant planet. She finds Luke and offers him his lightsaber, signalling next episode, Luke will train Rey to be a Jedi. More lightsaber fights to be seen.
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2015 ? Fantasy/Science fiction film ? 2h 16m
Everyone Is Falling in Love With This Photo of Shirtless, 28-Year-Old Harrison Ford
If we learned one thing from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it's that Harrison Ford is still as hot as ever, no matter when we visit the galaxy far, far away.
But we still can't get over this vintage picture of a 28-year-old Ford.
"The Force Awakens"! Before Han Solo, there was a great carpenter named Harrison Ford. And here he is, with his crew, ...
Posted by Sergio Mendes on Wednesday, December 23, 2015
"Before Han Solo, there was a great carpenter named Harrison Ford," Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes wrote on Facebook. "Here he is, with his crew, the day he finished building my recording studio back in 1970."
REVIEW: Here's What We Thought of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'
Ummm, yeah, we're going to need a close-up look at that picture ASAP:
The now 73-year-old actor previously recalled how his carpentry work actually led him to Star Wars: A New Hope. "I was approached with the offer of a job, which at that point, was all I wanted to hear," he recalled in a Reddit Ask Me Anything.
He continued:
"I had helped George Lucas audition other actors for the principle parts, and with no expectation or indication that I might be considered for the part of Han, I was quite surprised when I was offered the part. My principle job at the time was carpentry, I had been under contract as an actor at Columbia and Universal. I had a house at the time I wanted to remodel, a bit of the wreck of a house. I'd invest money in tools but wouldn't have money for materials, so I realized this was another way of putting food on the table. And allowing me to pick and choose from the acting jobs that were being offered at the time."
Sadly, Ford says he no longer has time to woodwork -- "It's a skill that you have to really practice" -- but at least he's still a mega babe.
Now, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens cast field your fan questions for ET:
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Cast
- A rogue and smuggler. Ford said Han "does not aspire to the position of Obi-Wan, nor do I aspire to be some New Age Alec Guinness. His development is consistent with the character, and there are emotional elements which have occasioned his growth ... There's a lot of the rogue still left in Solo. Some things don't change..."[9]
- One of the last remaining Jedi who has gone into hiding. Regarding Luke, Han and Leia, Abrams stated: "They'd be as old and as mythic as the tale of King Arthur. They would be characters who [the new characters] may have heard of, but maybe not. They'd be characters who they might believe existed, or just sounded like a fairy tale..."[10]
- The former princess of the destroyed planet Alderaan, turned General of the Resistance, and Luke's twin sister.[11] After the events of Return of the Jedi, she is described as "a little more battle weary, a little more broken hearted."[12] Fisher described Leia as "Solitary. Under a lot of pressure. Committed as ever to her cause, but I would imagine feeling somewhat defeated, tired, and pissed." Abrams said: "The stakes are pretty high in the story for her, so there's not much goofing around where Leia's concerned."[13]
- Adam Driver as Kylo Ren:
- A dark warrior strong with the Force, originally a member of the Knights of Ren, and commander of the First Order.[14][15] Driver said the team tried "not to think of him as being bad, or evil, or a villain. Something that was more three-dimensional. He’s more dangerous and unpredictable, and morally justified in doing what he thinks is right."[16]
- Daisy Ridley as Rey:
- A scavenger abandoned as a child on the desert planet Jakku, who is searching for her family.[17] Ridley said: "She's completely self-sufficient and does everything for herself, until she meets [Finn] and an adventure begins."[17]
- John Boyega as Finn:
- A reformed First Order stormtrooper.[17][18] Boyega said that he learned he obtained the part "over a nice breakfast in Mayfair" where Abrams told him: "John, you're the new star of Star Wars."[19] Boyega said: "When we find Finn, he's in incredible danger. And the way he reacts to this danger changes his life, and launches him into the Star Wars universe in a very unique way."[17] He said in another interview: "He's been taught about [Luke], he knows about his history. For him it's like joining the army and then learning about one of the great enemies of your country."[10]
- A Resistance X-wing fighter pilot.[17][20] Isaac said: "He's the best freaking pilot in the galaxy... He's been sent on a mission by a certain princess, and he ends up coming up across [Finn], and their fates are forever intertwined."[17]
- Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata:
- A wise and perceptive figure operating a somewhat shady cantina on the peaceful forest planet, Takodana.[20] J.J. Abrams said Kanata has "lived over a thousand years. She's had this watering hole … and it's like another bar that you'd find in a corner of the Star Wars universe."[21] According to Abrams, the character was based on his former high school English teacher, Rose Gilbert, who lectured at the Palisades Charter High School from 1961 till 2013. Abrams said the team "really wanted the story to feel authentic, despite being a wild fantasy. I mentioned Rose in an early story meeting as a sort of timeless, wise figure that I'd actually known in my life."[22]
- Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke:
- The political leader of the First Order. He is Kylo Ren's master and is very powerful in the dark side.[23] Serkis described Snoke as "quite an enigmatic character, and strangely vulnerable at the same time as being quite powerful... He is large. He appears tall. And also just the facial design—you couldn't have gotten there with prosthetics... Without giving too much away at this point, he has a very distinctive, idiosyncratic bone and facial structure."[24]
- Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux:
- The commander of the First Order's Starkiller Base.[25] Gleeson described him as "pretty ruthless. A strong disciplinarian would be a mild way of putting it... He's kind of opposite Kylo Ren. They have their own relationship, which is individual and unusual. One of them is strong in different ways than the other. They're both vying for power."[26]
- Anthony Daniels as C-3PO:
- A humanoid protocol droid. Daniels said the actors were allowed to experiment with their performances, and that Abrams "made a field, a playpen where you were allowed to take your time and suggest things."[27]
- A loyal Wookiee and Solo's longtime companion. Joonas Suotamo portrays the character in several action scenes, as the then 71-year-old Mayhew suffered from knee problems.[28]
- Max von Sydow as Lor San Tekka:
- A retired adventurer on Jakku, aiding the Resistance in locating Skywalker.[29]
Tim Rose and Mike Quinn reprise their respective roles as Admiral Ackbar and Nien Nunb, both from Return of the Jedi. Quinn previously performed Nunb with Richard Bonehill before his death;[30][31] Kipsang Rotich returns as the voice of Nien Nunb[32] and Erik Bauersfeld returns to voice Ackbar.[33][34] Kenny Baker, originally announced as part of the cast, was credited as "consultant" for R2-D2.[35][36] Ewan McGregor has an uncredited vocal cameo as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Rey's vision sequence, while archival audio of Frank Oz and Alec Guinness as Yoda and Kenobi, respectively, are also used in the same scene; Oz recorded new dialogue for the film, but it was replaced with pre-existing audio from The Empire Strikes Back.[37]
Gwendoline Christie plays Captain Phasma, an officer in the First Order.[38] Dave Chapman and Brian Herring served as puppeteers for BB-8,[39] with Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz credited as "Vocal Consultants".[40] Ken Leung appears as Statura, an admiral in the Resistance.[41] Simon Pegg appears as Unkar Plutt, the Junkyard dealer on Jakku.[25][42] Greg Grunberg plays Temmin "Snap" Wexley, an X-wing pilot.[43][44] Kiran Shah plays Teedo, a scavenger on Jakku who rides a semi-mechanical Luggabeast.[45] Jessica Henwick appears as Jess Testor, an X-wing pilot.[46][47] Yayan Ruhian, Iko Uwais and Cecep Arif Rahman appear as Tasu Leech, Razoo Qin-Fee, and Crokind Shand, members of the Kanjiklub Gang, a criminal organization.[48][49][50] Warwick Davis appears as Wollivan, a tavern-dweller in Maz Kanata's castle.[51][52] Anna Brewster appears as Bazine Netal, a First Order spy, also at Maz Kanata's castle.[53] Thomas Brodie-Sangster plays Thanisson, a First Order Petty Officer.[54] Billie Lourd, daughter of Carrie Fisher, appears as Connix, a lieutenant in the Resistance.[55][56] Emun Elliott appears as Brance, a member of the Resistance.[57] Harriet Walter appears as Kalonia, a doctor that tends to Chewbacca.[58][59] Mark Stanley appears as a Knight of Ren.[59]
Daniel Craig, Michael Giacchino and Nigel Godrich cameo as stormtroopers.[60][61] Freema Agyeman makes an uncredited appearance as a resident of Hosnian Prime, shortly before the entire Hosnian system's destruction.[62] Abrams' assistant, Morgan Dameron, appears as a Resistance officer,[63] while his father, Gerald W. Abrams, appears as Captain Cypress.[64] Additionally, Crystal Clarke, Pip Andersen,[65] Christina Chong,[66] Miltos Yerolemou,[67] Maisie Richardson-Sellers,[68] Amybeth Hargreaves,[69] Leanne Best,[70] Judah Friedlander,[71] and Kevin Smith[72] were cast in minor roles. Abrams has a vocal cameo,[73][74] while Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels cast members Dee Bradley Baker, Matt Lanter, Tom Kane, Catherine Taber, Matthew Wood, Sam Witwer, Meredith Salenger and show runner Dave Filoni are listed among the additional voices used in the film.[59][75]
