"The Force Awakens" is not the "Star Wars" film we want, but the one we need

We Star Wars fans have built up in our minds incredible expectations -- variations of what should be said and done in the new Disney-fied Star Wars universe, especially now that the canon of post-Return of the Jedi books won't be a source of material.

I know the new canon disappoints those who wanted to spoil The Force Awakens for many, out of spite for JJ Abrams, Disney and the new vision that we'll be seeing in the new films, TV series, books, etc.

The rest of us wanted to be connected once more to the original trilogy, because it was that special. The original films changed Hollywood and pop culture forever. A grand, epic, classic battle of good vs. evil seen through the eyes of a few memorable characters. A story told with a flourish and with special effects and sets that, at the time, seemed beyond their time.

The problem with the prequel Star Wars trilogy, is that George Lucas overthought things. He has been a good storyteller and had his heart in the right place. But given a tremendous budget and technology that he could have only dreamed of as a younger filmmaker, Lucas crafted a needlessly convoluted subplot, provided clunky dialogue, and at times offered awkward direction. It was hard to connect to a young Anakin Sykwalker, Padme Amidala, a younger Obi Wan Kenob, etc. At times, the prequel films looked gaudy and the story, the outcome of which we already knew, took a backseat.

With all of this, JJ Abrams and Disney had the work cut out for them in restoring in Star Wars fans their faith, and giving new, younger fans a reason to look forward to a universe that finally expands on the big screen.

Is Abrams an excellent filmmaker and storyteller? No. But like Lucas, he respects the cinematic material that inspired him. Abrams grew up on Star Wars and recognizes exactly what made the entire franchise special, with a special inspiration from the original movies. In planning Episode 7, Abrams did well in enlisting help from producer Kathleen Kennedy, infusing a touch of Spielberg, and from Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

I hear complaints that The Force Awakens is no different than Episode 4? Is that entirely a bad thing? Weren't we supposed to have all the feels upon seeing Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker for the first time in forever? Fans in the theater cheered and applauded with each reveal. When the Millennium Falcon takes flight once more, weren't we supposed to feel nostalgic for when the Falcon soared into our minds and hearts in the original films?

But at the same time, the new younger characters of Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren -- all based on Han, Leia, Luke and Darth Vader loosely in their own ways -- we're meant to connect to them. I found it much easier to connect with Rey, Finn and Poe, from the start, then the primary characters of the prequels. John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac played the roles of a lifetime, and are capitalizing on their opportunity to have their characters become memorable like Luke, Han and Leia.

Rey's strength and tenacity, Finn's reluctant hero, Poe's swagger and confidence, and Kylo's ambition to be more than a Vader wannabe, all seem more tangible, more relatable, than Padme, and younger Anakin and Obi Wan appeared in the prequels. The practical special effects and sets balance the CGI. The dialogue, while not the strongest and award-winning, is easy to grasp. The action is well paced.

But perhaps more importantly, The Force Awakens feels like a complete story while opening the door to that aforementioned wider Star Wars universe. We're invested in seeing who Rey really is. We're curious about how Poe and Finn evolve. We want to know more about this First Order, how exactly Kylo came to be who he is. I want to see more Captain Phasma and BB-8.

The Force Awakens is a joy to watch, not a chore like it is to view Episodes 1 and 2. That's all most of us really wanted. (And the racial and gender diversity only makes sense because, after all, it's a frigging big galaxy out there.) Plus, the Easter eggs embedded in Episode 7, guessing which cameo actors portray Stormtroopers, and all of the actors who supplied voices -- watch the end credits -- that's fun, too.

That's the fun. The fun is back. I look forward to not only the development of Finn, Rey, Poe and Ren's universe, but the spinoffs...the other Star Wars stories that are out there: Young Han Solo, young Boba Fett, how the Rebels stole the plans for the first Death Star, God knows what else is coming. Some folks will complain that under Disney, Star Wars stories really won't take much risks. With different directors and writers contributing, we don't know that for sure.

What I do feel is that finally, it's Star Wars for a wider audience and I for one can't be more excited. I do feel like a kid again.

And I still hope one of you gifts me lightsaber or BB-8 this Christmas/festivus.

Imagining a wider college football playoff is an X-mas tradition!

It’s that time of year when I reflect on the past year (very challenging on personal and professional levels), view all of the traditional and non-traditional holiday movies, and stock up on an ungodly amount of tamales and eggnog.

And it’s also time for imagining an ideal NCAA Division I football playoff. It’s fun and a nice break in between all of my writing work. As I have said time and again, just about every other major level of organized sport has some kind of tournament. 

Even the Bahrain goathead kickball league has a playoff system. Let the best teams fight it out for a championship. It was not so much an unfairness about previous ways that a Division I championship game was determined, by mere polls and then a computer.

If a not-so-renowned school ends up winning, so be it. Supporters of a playoff system have heard all the arguments. That the bowl tradition is over. That student-athletes would be distracted from studying for finals. That schools would lose money. Those arguments no longer work. A tournament hasn’t harmed FCS or Division II or III or NAIA schools.

So, how would a wider Division I playoff work? Begin with automatic champions from FBS (Football Championship Series) conferences -- regular-season champs and championship game victors.

If there are co-champions, leave it to that conference to determine who gets what would be an automatic FBS bid. With 10 conferences, we get 12 automatic bids. Then average the rankings of the existing computer rankings, and AP, ESPN and USA Today coaches polls, focusing on which schools get the most place votes, and arrive at a final aggregate Top 25 poll. Top-ranked FBS independents, also, would be considered as usual.

Here’s what a final 2015 FBS aggregate poll would look like, with current conference titleholder status and final regular season record:

1) Clemson (ACC champion)

2) Alabama (SEC champion)

3) Michigan State (Big 10 champion)

4) Oklahoma (Big 12 champion)

5) Stanford (Pac-12 champion)

6) Iowa

7) Ohio State

8) Notre Dame

9) North Carolina

10) Florida State

11) TCU

12) Ole Miss

13) Northwestern

14) Oklahoma State

15) Oregon

16) Michigan

17) Baylor

18) Houston (AAC champion)

19) Florida

20) Utah

21) LSU

22) Navy

23) Temple

24) USC

25) Wisconsin

Unranked conference champions

Western Kentucky (Conference USA champion)

Bowling Green (Mid-American champion)

San Diego State (Mountain West champion)

Arkansas State (Sun Belt champion)

Ultimately, FBS automatic bids would go to Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Houston, Western Kentucky, Bowling Green, San Diego State and Arkansas State,

 

You add any top independent team ranked high enough overall in polls for an FBS bid and/or four (or five) other highest-ranked schools, overall in polls. So this year these schools get an at-large bid: Iowa, Ohio State, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Florida State and TCU

The ultimate FBS tournament seedings in a 16 vs. 1, 15 vs. 2, 14, vs. 3, etc. format would be:

1. Clemson

2. Alabama

3. Michigan State

4. Oklahoma

5. Stanford

6. Iowa

7. Ohio State

8. Notre Dame

9. North Carolina

10. Florida State

11. TCU

12. Houston

13. Western Kentucky

14. San Diego State

15. Bowling Green

16. Arkansas State

Now let’s consider the oldest, popular, most lucrative, traditional bowls and mix in some regional flair, possible area rivalry matches and considerate schedules. 

(Let’s digress for a moment: In the process, let’s ditch most of the younger bowls. I mean, cmon, the Miami Beach Bowl? Marmot Boca Rataon Bowl? New Era Pinstripe Bowl, still? Popeyes Bahamas Bowl? Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl? Quick Lane Bowl, still in Detroit? In winter? Too many bowls dilute the prestige of even earning a shot at postseason play, and permits five-win and six-win teams to get in when they really shouldn't be there.)

OK, tangent over. All joking aside, use 15 of those prestigious, richest, most famous (i.e. powerful, established) bowls as the FBS bowl matches. All other bowls, may stick around for our comical entertainment, to be watched mainly on ESPN the Ocho.

Rotate the FBS bowls as quarterfinal, semifinal and final games, all of which very likely would raise the number of ticket-buyers, TV viewers and payouts. Why? There would be a greater incentive to play in such a lucrative bowl. A chance to advance and win a won-on-the-field title. All the conference champs and at-large bidders get a fair shot.

Looking at the 2015 calendar, the younger, Decemberish bowls host quarterfinals on various days: 1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 15, 3 vs. 14, 4 vs. 13, 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, and 8 vs. 9.

Tuesday, Dec. 15

TCU vs. Iowa– Motel 6 Catcus (formerly Copper, Insight, Buffalo Wild Wings); Tempe

Wednesday, Dec. 16

Arkansas State vs. Clemson -- Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus (formerly Tangerine, Capital One); Orlando

Houston vs. Stanford-- Holiday; San Diego

Thursday, Dec. 17

Bowling Green vs. Alabama -- Outback (formerly Hall of Fame); Tampa

San Diego State vs. Michigan State -- Valero Alamo;

Friday, Dec. 18

Florida State vs. Ohio State -- AutoZone Liberty; Memphis

Western Kentucky vs. Oklahoma – Camping World Independence; Shreveport

Saturday, Dec. 19

North Carolina vs. Notre Dame-- TaxSlayer (formerly Gator); Jacksonville

Probable winners?

Iowa, Clemson, Houston (upset special!), Alabama, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, North Carolina (upset special!)

I’m departing from previous years worth of scenarios and going for highest vs. lowest surviving seeds for match-ups in bowls in the following week's semifinals. Regional match-up is still a priority as best as it can be considered.

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Ohio State vs. Michigan State -- Allstate Sugar; New Orleans

Friday, Dec. 25

Houston vs. Clemson -- Goodyear Cotton; Dallas

Saturday, Dec. 26

North Carolina vs. Alabama -- Chick-fil-A Peach; Atlanta

Iowa vs. Oklahoma -- Hyundai Sun; El Paso

Probable winners?

Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, Iowa (screw the Sooners)

Final Four of sorts/Friday, Jan. 1 (featuring surviving seeds, low vs. high

Iowa vs. Alabama – BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl, Tempe

Ohio State vs. Clemson-- Orange Bowl, Miami

Probable winners?

Alabama, Clemson

Championship game, Monday, Jan. 11

Alabama vs. Clemson– Northwestern Mutual Rose Bowl, Pasadena

Sure, it may end up being this way anyway in the current four-team system. But the fun is letting all play out. Because if you don’t let them play it out on the field, you’re a damn Commie.

Celebrate OktoberFest in S.A.? Yes you can

Can't make it to OktoberFest in Munich? It's on my bucket list. I have friends who have gone. Some say it's a life-altering experience. 

Well, Bier Garten Riverwalk -from the folks who brought us Mad Dogs British Pub on the Riverwalk - will be providing a touch of OktoberFest here in town for two straight weekends. 

Bier Garten's OktoberFest takes begins 6 p.m. Friday and lasts through Sunday, and again Oct. 2-4. It will come complete, of course, with German entertainment: singalongs, stein-holding, all horn blowing contests and live music. 

There will be also a ceremonial keg tapping to start things off Friday night as well as dancing and lots more. 

Bier Garten is located on Riverwalk level near Hyatt Regency, 126 Losoya. I visited it for the first time for a pre-bloggers event Wednesday and came away with some goodies, including a pretzel necklace of sorts.

No, really, actual pretzels. Immediately fantastic. The beer list (and the size of Bier Garten's mugs) is nothing to sneeze at. I immediately came to like the vibe and scenery at Bier Garten. Plenty of seating inside and outside. 

According to some folks, Ursula Pari - aka My Favorite KSAT Anchor - helped with the keg-tapping in the Bier Garten's inaugural OktoberFest last year. I wish there were pics of this, though.

Confession: I'm in the middle of a house move. It's not exactly a stress-free time in my life but I enjoyed meeting old friends and making new ones at this year's OktoberFest preview on Wednesday. A nice break in the chaos.

This local edition of OktoberFest is worth careful consideration for a night's (or weekend's) worth of entertainment. It should be that fun.

Avengers: Age of Too Much of a Good Thing

It's rather counterproductive at this point to post a pure review of Avengers: Age of Ultron. You've either seen it once, twice or more. Or you will see it, armed with a certain set of expectations based upon (hopefully spoiler-free) thoughts from others who have seen the flick.

I'll spare you the details and spoiler exploration. Avengers: AoU is a great movie but definitely not an improvement upon the original. We're not in Empire Strikes Back or Godfather II territory here. Indeed, Avengers: AoU is more of a setup for the other Marvel cinematic universe films to come, leading up to Avengers: Infinity War.

No doubt, Avengers: AoU goes full throttle from the start and the action sequences, particularly - as expected the confrontation between Hulk and Tony Stark/Iron Man in Hulkbuster armor - are stupendous. Does some of the CGI of the action, when the crap really hits the fan, look more like a video game or a comic book? Yes.

Parts of the storyline (if you will) delve into darker questions and angles concerning the Avengers, who are really a fragile bunch to an extent. When they're fighting together, they're clicking on all cylinders. At the other times, their vulnerabilities can be so exposed to a dangerous degree.

Even if the movie Ultron doesn't seem as cold, calculating as some of the comic book Ultrons, James Spader's voice and mannerisms set a great, creepily fun tone to the proceedings. The introduction of The Vision, for as short a time he's on screen, is glorious. The introduction, also, of the Maximoff twins -- Avengers Quicksilver (as opposed to X-Men Quicksilver) and Scarlet Witch was fun and appropriate. Yes, I do have a thing for Elizabeth Olsen (aka the “good” Olsen sister).

There are the nice touches that reflect the state of the Avengers team members, how one believes his ingenuity and resources can bring about a global "peace in our time" when it really brings Earth to the brink of destruction; how two other people are drawn to each other when they know they can never truly be together; how a fourth desires simply to be back with his young growing family in their tiny peaceful corner of the world. Then there's the ever-present question about artificial intelligence, its potential for good or for bad.

It does feel overstuffed at times with so many characters appearing, crossing paths with each other often, but thanks to Joss Whedon's guidance and comedic timing, Avengers: AoU still entertains. He'll be missed in the director's seat from here on out. Indeed, the pace at which Marvel Studios are churning out films is amazing, perhaps hard to keep pace. By all appearances, the cast size and scope of Captain America: Civil War is approaching It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World/Ten Commandments level. And only Avengers: Infinity War, split into two parts, could only be bigger than that.

So many more movies to come between now and then. It all seems still like a dream, these Marvel properties coming to life before our eyes, in our lifetime. Even outside of Avengers: AoU, there's enough to talk about away from the storyline, namely Marvel, ahem, "forcing" Whedon to insert and maintain questionable scenes, such as Thor's dreamscape, for the sake of satisfying the meddling, naive suits back at the studio.

Then there's backlash that MAY HAVE compelled Whedon to abandon Twitter. The suggestion is that Whedon betrayed the feminist ideals and strong female characters he's instilled in practically all of his TV shows and movies by having Natasha Romanov/Black Widow reveal, in a moment of openness and understanding with Bruce Banner/Hulk, a man she "adores," that she was made sterile at a young age while undergoing training as an assassin.

Natasha is saddened by something that took place against her long ago, yet as she goes to work, romance and never being able to conceive a child are rare thoughts in her mind. She does have a tender, extended family side -- again, one of the fairer flourishes of Avengers: AoU.

It's a notion worsened as Jeremy Renner "jokes" (as he notes in the press) that Black Widow/ Natasha is a slut for perhaps having slept with several of her colleagues. Meanwhile, other critics call out Marvel for a seeming inability (or lack of desire) to make a standalone movie with Black Widow or other heroine in the Marvel universe. 

If that's not bad enough, Avengers: AoU toys somehow leave Black Widow out of her own key scenes. How does that happen? (Not that DC and Warner Bros. have been rushing over the years to give contemporary audiences a fitting on-screen interpretation of the likes of Wonder Woman or Supergirl, but that's another story.)

Anyways, so much has Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios given us, especially in the last 15 years or so, the comics and now TV shows and films are more than special effects-driven blockbusters. We help to create cultural icons that help to give us address, if not totally adequately, complex issues of the day. It's indeed a golden era we're living in.

Meanwhile...DC...I hope for the best when more of your properties hit the big screen. I also fear for the worst.

Manic March

Being let go by the Express-News ended a streak of being a full-time print journalist locally for 18 years. But being a freelance writer feels like a full-time job. Some of the more adventurous perks remain, such as the ability to cover a wide array of special events.

Many of these events most recently took place in March: The grand grand opening of Alamo Beer Company on the near East Side, the opening of San Antonio Beer Week, and the Freetail Brewing/Pinata Protest collaboration concert.

Then there was my annual coverage of South by Southwest interactive. The 2015 edition couldn't measure up to last year's session, in which I had all-platinum access. But that just means I had to cram a lot more into a lot less time.

I polished all that off with a short but fun-filled (i.e. booze and food intensive) trip to New Orleans (fifth time there) to see my friend/ex-colleague Natalie Chandler. Needless to say my March kept me on my toes.

The things I do for journalisting, education and that rare (for me) jaunt for rest and relaxation.