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My story is far from a new one in the realm of movie goers. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and a family member introduced me to the Star Wars trilogy I instantly feel in love with the franchise, from the action to the cheesy hat tips to serials of the 40's and more subtle nods to directors like Kurosawa I was stuck a fan. I often argued with friends which one was better, why the Ewoks aren't that bad, and what gave lead these characters to where they ended up. The story while simple was fulfilling a little epic about how a regular joe saved the galaxy.

Then of course the dark times came. 3 unnecessary movies that amounted to trying to get Darth Vader into his Darth Vader suit haunted my teens. Metacholrins? Why? Liam Neison playing the most boring role possible? Why? All these little plot holes and points that existed in the original trilogy but were easy to ignore to do immaculate story telling stuck out like the sorest of thumbs on the biggest of hands and I being a teenaged weed smoking to cool for school type of fella had all but given up on Star Wars.

Needless to say even though I am a tick away from 30 now I still love me some Star Wars and chalk it up to becoming soft in my old age but even the prequels now have their charms (not the second one though thats still awful) still when I heard Disney acquired Star Wars it did not inspire A New Hope, I figured another Empire was Striking Back, and I did not fawn for The Return of any Jedi (Notice how clever I am). The way I figured is George Lucas almost destroyed his own creation what damage would a soulless corporation like Disney do to it? Well Apparently they would bring back everything I loved about Star Wars and restore my faith in the story and brand as a whole.

Episode VII is a simple review. It's big on what we wanted out of the prequels. There are no galactic senates bartering treaties, no stale uninspired pseudo love story seemingly written by someone holding a paint a movie romance by numbers book. There is no Jar Jar Binks, there is no 110 minute build up to a Clone War that lasts 2 minutes, there aren't even any vaguely racist aliens based on stereotypes from the 70's. Nope Episode VII is just all out old fashion fun and excitement.

A small droid is sent off in the desert holding a map to the whereabouts to one Luke Skywalker who has been missing for some 30 odd years now. It is sought after by both the rebellion and the first order (empire or sith they are all the same embodiment of evil.) while slaughtering a village to get this map, a storm trooper quickly realizes the fault in his ways. With his help the help of his some familiar and new faces they set off to stop the first order and find Luke to save the galaxy. The black and white duality of the original series returns here things aren't murky conflict exists but at the end of the day it is Good must stop evil or evil wins. The action is brisk and enthralling and the script may be the wittiest of all the Star War films to date. Harrison Ford never losses a beat and continues to embody the Han Solo character as much as he did 30 something years ago. The new cast is beyond charming and reek of talent and exuberance and the Nostalgia alone will have any fan of Star Wars on the edge of their seat waiting for the next line or sequence just because it captures the soul of the original films so well. As far as new viewers well it's treat for them too. JJ Abrams is a fine director and anyone thats a fan of his Star Trek reboots will drool over the delicious set pieces and action sequence entrapt within this wonderful world he creates for the character. There is everything you need for a good film, concise action, love, betrayal, heartbreak, and most importantly old fashion star wars sensibilities.

8.5/10

Outside melancholia I don't see be using many 5 dollar words to describe The Comedy. Born from the depths of a generation sans responsibility The Comedy is a sad portrayal of those privileged yet initiated in the world today. Essentially the hollow existence of a rich man (by way of proxy) is exposed as a numbing unnerving process in which a sad person seeks to feel alive through a series of ironic and annoying events that can only be described as "real life trolling". The acting is subtle and upsetting as you watch the life of a 4 grown men whittled away seemingly at their own discretion and it becomes even more upsetting when you realize these men do these things on their spare time as well leaving you wondering if the main character, wonderfully played by Tim Heidecker is searching for a deeper meaning in all this non-sense or simply killing time in between breathing.

The most striking and obvious theme of the movie is hit dead on, as no matter how much "fun" the characters are portrayed as having a deep seeded loneliness constantly lingers on the screen. Even as Heidecker's character forms relationship or merely interacts with a stranger you can feel the unhappiness he extrudes.

One thing about The Comedy that is for sure, is that while it may make you chuckle and even get a gut laugh is far from a comedy. No, The Comedy is ironic portrait of how ironic it is that a life fueled by irony is without a doubt sincerely unfulfilled.

If you are looking for the laugh riot of the year I suggest you pass on The Comedy. If you are looking for a serious film on flippant lives it might be the best of 2012.