For years, fans have searched for something that captured that same lightning-in-a-bottle simplicity. Most alternatives either leaned too corporate, too cluttered, or too limited. Then along came Box Office Jedi.

Created as a modern homage to the classic Box Office Mojo experience, Box Office Jedi brings back that fast, clean, data-first design philosophy. The site strips away unnecessary clutter and puts the numbers front and center. Weekend charts load quickly, navigation feels intuitive, and browsing movie performance suddenly becomes fun again instead of feeling like you’re digging through a studio investor portal wrapped in molasses.

What immediately stands out is the speed. Pages snap open with almost nostalgic immediacy, like stepping back into a more lightweight era of the web. The layout also embraces readability. Instead of burying information under oversized graphics and endless modules, Box Office Jedi understands that movie fans usually came for one thing: the data.

And the data is there.

Domestic grosses, worldwide numbers, release breakdowns, historical charts, and performance tracking are all presented in a way that feels refreshingly straightforward. It scratches the same itch that made the original Box Office Mojo addictive for movie buffs who wanted to compare franchises, track opening weekends, or spiral into a two-hour rabbit hole about why a forgotten 1997 thriller somehow made $84 million domestically. ??

There’s also something charmingly rebellious about the project. In an internet landscape where so many websites drift toward bloated redesigns and algorithm-shaped sameness, Box Office Jedi feels handcrafted by someone who actually understands why people loved the original experience in the first place.

No, it’s not literally the old Box Office Mojo resurrected from carbonite. But it captures the spirit surprisingly well.

For longtime box office fans, statisticians, movie nerds, and curious browsers alike, Box Office Jedi is absolutely worth checking out. It may be the closest thing we have to the box office cantina many of us thought was lost to history.

As someone who knows multiple people with autism, myself, including direct family members, I have several thoughts. First, if you watched the show and felt that way, know that your feelings on it are valid. It’s how you feel or felt about it at the time, and emotional response is how you react to something based on your situation or relationship to it.

That said, one thing to keep in mind while watching the show is this: these girls are friends of his who had been his friend since they were very young. They are also, like him, very young themselves. Their response isn’t the response of an adult hearing about this. Their response is the response of a teenager or pre-teen hearing about their friend possibly being diagnosed with something that makes them different, and they don’t really know how to properly respond.

Even some adults respond similarly to those girls, but typically that kind of response comes from a place that isn’t meant to hurt. It’s because deep down, they love the person who is either getting diagnosed or has already been diagnosed, and want the best for the person. They just don’t know how to express it.

On top of that, there is a character on the show who turns out to have autism. And I don’t know if the young actress that played her actually has ASD, but she did a fantastic job of playing the role. And all of the same characters were very supportive of her, just like they would have been about their friend who was being tested for it.

What those girls were saying to their friend in the episode, when they were saying “you don’t,” was simply this: we’ve known you for years, and you have always been who you are, and right now you believe that you’re going to get this diagnosis, and we can tell that you might be hurting from this possibility, and we love you, so we are trying to be supportive the only way that we know how.

What they were saying wasn’t meant to be damaging. People don’t always have the perfect thing to say. I know I don’t. Girl Meets World was very careful with their stories about things like this. Even though the term Asperger’s was out of clinical use a couple of years before the episode aired, for instance, it is still used by those who were diagnosed before it went out of use, and not everyone immediately ceased using the term immediately. Things like that take time.

What they were saying was that this boy had a couple of friends who were trying to be supportive of their friend. It almost doesn’t matter what they actually said, because they were trying to tell their friend that everything was going to be okay. And they wouldn’t feel any different about him if he had been diagnosed with autism. They were going to support him no matter what.

The only experiences I’ve had with comic-cons have been at smaller conventions like the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, and the Grand Rapids Comic Con in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I don’t have any experience with the larger, multi-venue conventions like San Diego, which also runs for four days.

Let’s start with the size of the conventions.

San Diego Comic Con is the largest convention in the United States, with attendance of 167,000 in 2015, but the following two years seemed to drop to around 130-135,000.

By comparison, Motor City Comic Con had about 50,000 attend that same year, growing adding another 5,000 guests in the following two years.

Grand Rapids Comic Con had about 30,000 in attendance in 2016. This was an increase over the previous year of around 8,000 visitors. I am sure that 2017 was even larger, and 2018 could be larger still.

What happens at a Comic Con?

The Vendor Hall

We’ll start with the vendor hall. That’s where you may spend most of your time. The vendor hall has people selling all manner of pop-culture related things, from items that are home-made crafts to officially licensed products, toys both new and old, and comic books from every era. You’ll also find artists that are both independent and professional. You can get custom art commissions, as well as learn about projects that they work on when they’re not working with a major publisher. Some of them may have worked on a comic book series that you have read, which is always exciting to find out about. I’ve gotten a few comics signed by the artists that drew them.

You may also see replica cars from movies and tv shows, like the Ecto-1 and the Batmobile. There will also be booths featuring the 501st and the Rebel Legion and Mandalorian Mercs Star Wars fan groups, as well as Ghostbusters and other new and growing fan groups that do charity work, children’s hospital visits, parades, and more. You can inquire about what it takes to join, if you’re interested. I’ve found the people in these groups to be some of the nicest people I’ve met at conventions.

There is also the media guest area, where you can meet celebrities from the A-list to the C-list. Don’t be surprised if they’re charging for an autograph, photo or both. There are some that won’t talk unless you’re buying something, which is a bit frustrating. I get it, but it’s awful when you just want to say hello, and not spend $20-30 for the privilege. There are also some that will only sign something if you’re getting it personalized, so be prepared for that. In a few conventions, I’ve only gotten a few free signatures, but that’s not the norm. I’ve also had some really great experiences getting signatures, and some that I’ll never forget how bad they were. Also, be sure to keep an eye on the guest page on the website, to look for cancellations, scheduling, prices, etc. Make your own list to keep track of who you want to meet, costs associated, panels you want to attend and when and where they are.

Panels

With all of the guests that they convention brings in, they’ll also have a schedule of panels you can go to. Sometimes they’ll have multiple guests from the same film or show, so the panel will often be about that topic. You’ll hear great behind the scenes stories, and often get an opportunity to ask a question or two. These are often the best part of a convention. At the cons that I go to, I’ve never had any trouble getting a seat. I’ve heard that certain halls at San Diego comic con have people lining up many hours in advance, due to the limited number of seats. Don’t expect to see trailer premieres at smaller conventions. Instead, you can expect a more personal experience.

Gaming, Anime, etc.

I’ve not taken part in any of the other rooms that I’ve seen at conventions like this, but I can understand when people do.. being on your feet all day can be tiring and you might want a bit of a break. There are some cons that have a schedule of anime that is playing, but mileage may vary with these, as they may not be family friendly. There are also often table-top gaming rooms and card game rooms. You might be able to learn a new game or two.

Cosplay Competition

Depending on the size of the convention, the prizes will be different, and the categories for judgement as well. Some have monetary prizes, others give you free tickets to the next year’s convention. What is it, though? If you simply drive past the line to a convention, you’ll see it. People like to dress up for conventions. Often, they’ll make their own costume to dress like their favorite characters from their favorite movies. Sometimes they are original characters that they created. Just about anything goes, but if you’re going to do this, be sure to look up the convention’s rules for what you can and cannot do with your costume. If you’re planning to compete, look for the rules, registration, if there is pre-judging, etc. Competition usually happens toward the end of the day on Saturday. There is sometimes a kid competition on Sunday as well. Apart from the competitions, though, many more people will just take the opportunity to dress up each day of the convention.

Taking Pictures of Cosplayers

If you see someone dressed as a character you like, and you want to take a picture of them or with them, there’s one simple thing that you must do. Ask.

Ask to take their picture. Ask to take a picture with them. This is the etiquette that is expected of you, and will be greatly appreciated.

How do I prepare for Comic Con?

Read the rules

Every con has rules. Familiarize yourself with those and you’ll have a good time.

Make a List and a Budget

It’s easy to over-spend at a convention. Start by looking at the guest lists and figure out who you might want to meet. Make note of the costs of an autograph, photo, etc. If there is a photo-op opportunity, you can schedule that as well.

If there is anything in particular you’re looking for, such as an old collectible, comic books, etc., bring along some cash for that as well. Sunday, toward the end of the show, is often the best time to buy a lot of comic books and other things as you are more likely to get a better deal.

Bring some extra cash for discoveries. You might find something great that you didn’t expect.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

You’ll be on your feet a lot. Wear shoes that won’t destroy your feet.

Bring a Bag

I tend to keep a small cardboard box in a messenger bag. The box is large enough to fit the 8×10 pictures that people tend to sign. It can also fit a bunch of comics, and other things that I might want to pick up. If you buy something larger, it’s probably a good idea to take those items to your car or hotel room if you’re staying close by.

Costume

If you’re planning to wear a costume, you might find it easier to get to the convention before you put it all on. I’m not an expert in this, but I have some friends that are.

Be sure, once again, to look at the rules for your costumes.

Still need to watch “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Jason Reitman, son of  Ghostbusters and  Ghostbusters 2 director Ivan Reitman, is directing the film from a script that he co-wrote with Gil Kenan.

“I’ve always thought of myself as the first Ghostbusters fan, when I was a 6-year-old visiting the set. I wanted to make a movie for all the other fans,” Reitman says. “This is the next chapter in the original franchise. It is not a reboot. What happened in the ‘80s happened in the ‘80s, and this is set in the present day.”

Nothing has been revealed about the characters that are going to appear in the film, if the OG busters will be a part of it, etc.  Ghostbusters: Answer the Call will not be a part of it, as that movie was set in a different universe where the original guys didn’t exist as Ghostbusters.

“I love everything about it. The iconography. The music. The tone,” Reitman says. “I remember being on set and seeing them try out the card catalog gag for the first time when the library ghost makes them come flying out. I remember the day they killed Stay Puft and I brought home a hardened piece of foam that just sat on a shelf for years. I was scared there was a terror dog underneath my bed before people knew what a terror dog was.”

His father will produce the movie. “It will be a passing of the torch both inside and out,” says Ivan, adding that he’s touched his son wanted to join this part of the family business. “It was a decision he had to come to himself. He worked really hard to be independent and developed a wonderful career on his own. So I was quite surprised when he came to me with Gil and said, ‘I know I’ve been saying for 10 years I’m the last person who should make a Ghostbusters movie, but…I have this idea.’ Literally, I was crying by the end of it, it was so emotional and funny.”

I’ve gotta put this out there right now… I still hope for Bill Hader to be a part of this movie, if that’s possible. And if there’s someone that could do a great job on the score, I know there are lots of great composers out there, but I have a feeling that Michael Giacchino could write an excellent Ghostbusters score in the vein of the first two films, that captures the fun and fear that the music of those films evoked. He managed to very beautifully capture the spirit of 1980s films in his score for Super 8, and that is something we could see him capture here.

The new Ghostbusters film has been slated for summer 2020 by Sony Pictures.

And if you’re not playing Ghostbusters World yet, or even if you are, check out Ghostbusters World Hub for news and information about the AR game for Android and iOS.

1. Jetsons: The Movie – Loved this movie when I was a kid, and always wanted a sequel that required them to go back to the Orbiting Ore Asteroid. I could see them creating a series around the further adventures of the Jetsons that is set entirely there, giving us the chance to explore their neighborhood at Intergalactic Garden Estates, the shopping mall, the various aliens that live there, too. After multiple seasons set on the poluted planet earth, it would have been fun to see more adventures in a new environment.
2. Twister – I would have loved to see what happened with the data they collected in the first film. Perhaps the sequel could have been about the further testing of earlier emergency alert systems as tornado season picks up again. Not sure, but I really enjoyed the movie for some reason.
3. Flight of the Navigator – Bring on more science fiction adventures with the spaceship.
4. A Goofy Movie – I have seen enough of An Extremely Goofy Movie to wonder where Roxanne went. I liked the characters and wanted to see more of them. I was thinking more of a direct follow-up film than an entirely new and separate adventure.
5. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call / Ghostbusters II  – Closing third film in the original series, follow up to the reboot, perhaps a cross-over, which seemed to work well in the comics. Frankly, I just want more of this universe.
6. The Iron Giant – Probably not a great idea to create a follow-up to this one, but just throwing it out there.
7. Muppets from Space – Weird one because there have been follow-on movies, but I’m thinking of movies or stories that are direct follow-ups to the story told in the film. I don’t know what it would be like, but I used to want this one, until  The Muppets came about and sort of filled that role, and became my favorite Muppet movie.
8. City of Ember – The first ends with a hopeful note, and I’d like to see what is next.
9. Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation – Something that isn’t Care Bears Adventures in Wonderland, but actually captures the feel of this movie. Though perhaps, also, with less plot-holes.
10. Hook – Call it  The Lost Boys or  Neverland or something, but I wanted to learn what was next for the gang that Peter left behind at the end of the movie. It’ll probably never happen, though there have been some attempts to do this.
11. The Goonies – More adventures in the Goondocks please!
12. The NeverEnding Story – The second film was one that I wanted to like, but it’s just very dull. I’d love a sequel that recaptures the magic that the first one ended with.
13. Cinderella – One of the best live-action Disney adaptations, I would love to see more of the great characters introduced in the first one. Though I don’t know what it would be about… not in the slightest.
14. An American Tail – Sure,  Fievel Goes West was a fun sequel, and I really enjoyed it. But I missed the world and characters of the first film. I wanted to see the “more America” that was promised by the pigeon at the end of the first film, and to be able to experience all of that exploration of New York City, etc.
15. G-Force – Yep… the one with the Guinea Pig super spies. The origin story was alright, but there’s room for more of these.
16. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – Bring back John Williams, find a kid that is as compelling as Macaulay Culkin to watch, and villains as good as Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. Set it at Christmas-time again, and create a film that honors the original two while ignoring the other sequels.
17. Short Circuit 2 – Now that he’s a citizen, what was next for Johnny 5?
18. Man of Steel – My favorite Superman movie, period. I want more of this version of Superman
19. What About Bob? – Probably not a good idea, but I always wondered what happened next.
20. Muppets Most Wanted – After  The Muppets and  Muppets Most Wanted, I was really hoping for another Muppet caper.
21. The Princess Bride – Some editions of the book have the first chapter of  Buttercup’s Baby, which William Goldman will probably never complete.
22. Elf – Probably not a good idea to make a sequel, but I love this movie.
23. Inside Out – Probably impossible, based on the subject matter that would likely be involved, but could be fascinating.
24. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – Another film that isn’t a good idea unless the right story and circumstances presented themselves.
25. Super 8 – Had a great time with the movie, but the kids are probably all much too old for a direct sequel, like  The Goonies, so it would have to be a very different story. We’re kind of getting that with  Stranger Things though.
26. Fluppy Dogs – You probably have never heard of this one. It wasn’t actually a movie. It was actually a one hour pilot for an animated series that would have been part of the Disney Afternoon. It featured dogs from another dimension, and would still make a pretty fun adventure series. If it were ever picked up again, I would like to see them try to minimize redesigns of the characters.

Sequels that are coming/have been recently released:

1. Enchanted – Disenchanted has been written, as of 2018, it is likely that it will head into production.
2. The Karate Kid – They basically made a sequel in 2018’s series  Cobra Kai. A second season has also been announced.
3. Chicken Run – Aardman’s most successful feature film is getting a sequel. Crazy!
4. Unbreakable / Split – Glass is coming out in 2019.. a sequel to both films.

1. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are each one story told over multiple films. The distinction here is that it is a single story, spread across multiple films, rather than a different story told with the same characters on the same timeline. With  The Lord of the Rings, act one is  The Fellowship of the Ring,  act two is The Two Towers, and  The Return of the King is act three.
2. If we look at Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy,  The Dark Knight is the sequel to  Batman Begins.
3. I must have seen it. If I haven’t seen it, I can’t list it.
4. I will group some sequels together, when there are multiple in the same series, for the sake of clarity and ease of reading.

Here we go:

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens / The Last Jedi (hopefully also Episode IX) – Successfully following up from Return of the Jedi, it brings mystery, new characters, the feel of the post-Old Republic universe back, moving forward, while recalling what was great before.
2. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith – The best of the prequels, it still has some issues, but once it hits Order 66, it elevates the feel of the film to that which I wish the entire prequel trilogy felt.
3. Ghostbusters II – Takes the formula of the first film, repeats it in fun ways. Not nearly as good as the first one, but with a charm of its’ own. Self-aware, almost to the point of absurdity, but wonderfully joyful in being just what it is. I still wish there were just one more adventure with the film versions of these characters. The IDW comics do a great job of capturing the spirit of the characters, as does  Ghostbusters: The Video Game, but I’d like a film. I know a bit too much about film writing to even consider the Video Game to be  Ghostbusters III. But I would love to see the video game’s cut scenes and storyline edited into a film version. It’s possible.
4. The Karate Kid – Part II – Daniel heads to Okinawa, where the mythology around Miyagi was deepened. Even as a kid I didn’t like this one near as much as the first one, but it’s way better than the follow-up  Part III. And leagues ahead of  The Next Karate Kid. I skipped the Karate Kid remake, but did watch  Cobra Kai. That series, if cut into a more family friendly feature, is a great  Karate Kid – Part IV. (I’m planning to make my own cut of the show into a PG version without the swearing and some other content.)
5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – Takes the formula of the first film, turns it on its’ head by having Kevin actually make it to the airport this time, but instead traveling to the wrong place. I remember the first time I saw it, I thought he was going to, somehow, rig the hotel he was staying in with booby-traps. I didn’t know how he was going to do it, or why the Wet Bandits would rob the hotel, but that’s what I was thinking. The other thought I’d had was that he’d simply set traps in his hotel suite. I was still happy with the movie overall though. It had John Williams scoring it again, and was a treat. It’s too bad they didn’t get to finish  Home Alone 3 as originally planned… with the same cast coming back together for a final film of Christmastime hijinks. I still wish they’d make a proper third part, though, and ignore the sequels that have come since (it worked for Superman Returns).
6. Jurassic World – And Fallen Kingdom? Haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve heard it’s as good as Jurassic World. This is the movie that I would have loved to see back when  The Lost World was released, instead of that film. It wouldn’t have worked back then, but they did a great job bringing the thrill of the park back.
7. An American Tail: Fievel Goes West – It doesn’t really have the classic song in it, but it takes Fievel and his family to a new location and does so with Jimmy Stewart along for the ride.
8. Spider-Man 2 – WAY better than the first movie. Great villain, great hero, great story. Wish the third lived up to this (and it would have if the studio hadn’t gotten involved).
9. The Muppets – My favorite Muppet movie, along with  Muppets Most Wanted. I still wish there would be a  Muppets 3 of some sort. Recaptured the spirit of Jim Henson.
10. Toy Story 2 and 3 – And the third one is the best of the 3 films. Looking forward to the 4th!
11. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – And 3? Continued the journey started with the first film, telling another story in that world, and doing so with incredible heart. Bring on the third and final part. These films could easily be Pixar.
12. Many Marvel Sequels – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,  Iron Man 2 & 3, Captain America: Winter Solder & Civil War,  Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Infinity War,  etc. Not all are great, but I have liked many.
13. Men in Black 3 – Harkens back to the spirit of the first one.
14. Night at the Museum 2 and 3 – More of the same, but fun Ben Stiller films that are still funny.
15. The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises – Epic Batman films that bring an end to a trilogy that was fantastic. I only wish we had seen just 10 more minutes from the end of that last shot. Not fair, Christopher Nolan!
16. Back to the Future II and III – Successful follow-ups and a nice closing to the trilogy. Never lived up to the thrill of the original, but were fun movies all the same.
17. The Care Bears Movie II – A New Generation – Seemingly retcons everything about the first movie, to be another origin story for the Care Bears and the Care Bear Cousins. Better songs, still a story that makes very little sense (where are the adults?). If you’re wondering how this made my list, I have a great memory and a 2 year old daughter.
18. The Rescuers Down Under – Better than the original Rescuers movie, an adventure into the Australian outback is a much more fun and thrilling story.

Other sequels that I don’t have time to write about right now, but enjoyed:  Terminator 2: Judgement Day,  Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,  Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,  Bambi II,  Ghostbusters: Answer the Call,  X2: X-Men United,  X-Men: Days of Future Past,  Kung Fu Panda 2 & 3,  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 and 3, Split, Ocean’s 12 and 13.

Not sure what I’m forgetting.

Do you have any favorite sequels?

A rumor has appeared on the web that director J.J. Abrams and casting director Nina Gold are looking for a woman between age 40 and 50 to play the role of a character named “Mara.” It was interesting that this is the name that was chosen. It could be a false name, to be replaced later on, as production commences. It could be the current name for a character that is unrelated to the Mara Jade from the Legends timeline. It could be Mara Jade.

Here is why I think it should be Mara Jade.

There is a lot of time between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens that is still unclear. We know that Luke started a new Jedi order, that Kylo Ren took a bunch of these Jedi, made them Knights of Ren, and destroyed the entire Jedi order, making Luke, once again, the last Jedi. We also know that Rey is now the last Jedi (or the first of the new).

Things it could do (and there are many directions it could take, so finding the best version of the story would mean finding the most appropriate story arc and characters would be the best way to serve the story in a plausible way).

1. The introduction of Mara could bring some clarity to Luke’s story. What if they were married? What if they had a child… a daughter… and Luke didn’t know it? What if that child was a girl that grew up on Jakku, believing her parents to be dead?
2. Kylo Ren could know the truth about Rey’s parents this whole time. He believes that Luke is nothing… he told Rey that her parents were nothing special… she could feel that what he was saying was not a lie, because he believed that… but perhaps it isn’t true. This could make Rey into a Skywalker. Afterall, this is the Skywalker saga. Plus… this would hold true to the “monster” that Kylo believes himself to be… it would be true to his character to make up a story like that. Plus, in The Force Awakens, Kylo learns that BB-8 was in the hands of a girl, he asks “what girl?” in a way that seems to hint that he could know more about this particular girl than he lets on.
3. Mara could be a member of the Knights of Ren. We need to see who they are, where they’ve gone, what they are now… what if Mara became one of them in order to survive? It would put her into a unique position where she could have access to Kylo Ren, Rey, etc.
4. Mara could also have gone into hiding. She could have left the Jedi order upon having a child, she could have closed herself off from the Force, like Luke did. Kylo could also believe Mara was no longer a threat.
5. Mara’s existence doesn’t mean Luke was not the last Jedi… there are other force users that are not Jedi… Rey wasn’t a Jedi… Kylo isn’t a Jedi… the Knights of Ren were Jedi…
6. Mara could fill the role that Leia was supposed to have… and could do that better as family to Kylo Ren. With Carrie Fisher gone, Leia is not going to be appearing in the next film, but she was supposed to be the driving force of the movie. She was showing more and more of her Force powers in each movie, and I believe she was going to come face to face with Kylo Ren in a scene that mirrored the scene in The Force Awakens with Han and Kylo… but I believe that it would have ended differently this time. I think that same scene could now happen with Mara Jade… and that it would be more powerful if her name was Mara Jade Skywalker.
7. Mara has a past… if her past is similar to her time as the Emperor’s hand, she could be an example to Kylo of someone that has made decisions similar to his own, but has come back from that place. Ultimately, being an example that he needs to see.
8. Kylo could also be unaware of his relationship to her. The relationship between Mara and Luke could have been such that Kylo never new that Luke had been married, and Luke could also have believed Mara to be dead.
9. Mara could return to the Jedi order, joining Rey in building the new Jedi order, guiding her now that Luke is gone.
10. Rey could finally learn who her mother is, and thus, also her father. Having already learned that she didn’t need to define herself by who her parents are, she could now learn who her parents are, and have that revelation be something that strengthens what she already knows about herself.

There are many possibilities. I’ve not really thought it all through, but the story I like is this:

Mara Jade Skywalker fills the role that Leia was supposed to fill in Episode IX. She is the emotional catalyst for Kylo Ren’s journey, and the last hope to pull him back from the brink of becoming more like Darth Vader. She can serve that purpose because she’s related to him as his aunt. She also reveals that she and Luke are Rey’s mother and father, and that Kylo was only telling her what he knew she needed to hear to give him the best chance of winning her over to his side. Mara joins Rey in rebuilding the Jedi order.

But where has Mara been, and wouldn’t we have heard about her in  The Force Awakens or  The Last Jedi? Not sure where Mara has been, but I’m sure that could be figured out. As for mentioning her earlier, there was never a story-driven reason for her to come up casually, without leading to the telling of a side-story that didn’t keep the plot moving. Much the same that revealing Snoke’s origin would have slowed the movie to a crawl at a point where it was already getting more and more intense.

Every scene in a movie has to serve the story that you’re watching, or the greater story as a whole. It’s okay to include extra material that will pay off in another movie down the road. They do that in most comic book movies, and other  Star Wars movies.

Thus, Episode IX could finally be the key to who Rey is… she had to become whole herself before taking on the mantle of the name she rightfully owns.

1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi – This was my most anticipated movie of 2017, and it did not disappoint. With great character development, humor sprinkled throughout in the right places, and what are sure to be iconic moments in the  Star Wars saga,  The Last Jedi has taken us to a place that we’ve not been in the  Star Wars universe since  The Force Awakens. We have no idea what is going to happen next.  Going in to  The Force Awakens, we didn’t know the new characters, storyline, or direction. With  The Last Jedi, we knew it would pick up where the last film ended, but without much knowledge of where it would go. Now that we’ve seen it move forward from that, we don’t have any idea what’s next. Will  Episode IX pick up immediately? Will it pick up a few years later? How will they handle the loss of actress Carrie Fisher? We know they’ll start filming this summer for the December 2019 release of Episode IX. These questions and more make that my most anticipated film of 2019 already. As for  The Last Jedi, we FINALLY got to see Leia use the Force. I was so excited that she did, and that it was such a powerful way to use it. There were so many things about it that made be clap, laugh, and be very happy. I am totally invested in the new characters, and was gutted when Rey looked over and saw Finn comforting Rose. I was on the side of Rey and Finn getting together by the end of this trilogy. I guess nothing is completely in stone yet, but I did see a look from Poe to Rey that was subtle and perhaps telling of a direction that their story can go.If you haven’t seen it yet, get out and see it. It’s an excellent film.
2. Split – M. Night Shyamalan is back. Too bad this one got spoiled for me. I would have LOVED to have seen this movie without knowing the twist. Surprising, shattering, a performance from James McAvoy that  should have been nominated for an Academy Award.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – Of the major comic book movies that were released that I saw in 2017, this was my favorite one. It hit the right emotional beats, and I really liked one of the characters that I didn’t really like from the first film.
4. Justice League – Excited to finally see DC’s team movie hit the big screen. With all of the problems the movie had getting to the big screen, I was surprised I liked it more than  Thor: Ragnarok. But I did. I was a big fan of Man of Steel, and feel like this film should have been an end to the storyline begun there. The one downside was that it seemed they removed the music from that film. It’s a shame. The  Man of Steel score was superior to the John Williams score, to me. Plus, it had a particular leading lady that continues to rock.  Which leads me to…
5. Wonder Woman – About time they made a Wonder Woman movie that can be the essential film for her character. We’ve had great  Superman and  Batman films for many years, and now we finally have one for her. It’s really good, though a bit run of the mill in some spots. Plus, I couldn’t tell the difference between her mother and her trainer in Themyscira. That said, great job DC.
6. Thor: Ragnarok – Too much comedy for a Thor movie. Expected to see a Thor movie, not a  Guardians of the Galaxy sort of movie. It was funny, but I wanted more from this one.
7. My Little Pony: The Movie – This was a fun extension of the series. Might have been released a bit too far along in the life-span of the  Friendship is Magic series to do as well as it could have, but we had a good time with this one.
8. Coco – Finally watched this one, and it’s very heartfelt and another excellent film from Pixar. Didn’t like some of it, but overall it was another winner from their team.
9. Spider-Man: Homecoming – Some of this was weird, but it was at least a very unique new direction for Spider-Man. I still wish we could have finished the Andrew Garfield arc, but like the Toby Maguire version before, it was never meant to be finished. This time seems to be different.
10. Cars 3 – If this is the final Cars film, they went out with a smaller story that became more personal. Would have liked to see Radiator Springs hopping again by this one, thanks to McQueen making it his base of operations (and perhaps the Lightning McQueen museum being put there would have been better, but wouldn’t have likely worked like I would have wanted it to). Glad to see a return to the heart of the story, what made the first Cars work well.

Here’s what I haven’t watched yet or haven’t watched without my attention divided*:

1. Look to the Sky – Was in very limited release, now available on digital.
2. Dunkirk – Got this for free on digital thanks to Warner Bros.
3. Smurfs: The Lost Village* – Love the atmosphere and color scheme of this movie. Plus, it’s finally a Smurf movie that isn’t a mixed live-action/CG film.
4. A Dog’s Purpose – Looked interesting, and my wife loves dogs, so.
5. The Dark Tower – Not as interested as I was before now. May not watch this one.
6. Power Rangers* – Was relatively… boring… so it didn’t hold my attention, and even when it should have had moments that explained things, it seemed to skip those explanations.
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales* – Not the final Pirates movie, by any stretch of the imagination. And not the most fun one either.
8. The Lego Batman Movie* – Hilarious… not on the same level as The LEGO Movie, but very fun.
9. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle* – From what I’ve been able to see, it was really funny… surprisingly so.
10. Disneynature’s Born in China – Love these movies, mostly.
11. Transformers: The Last Knight* – Made me happy that both Bay and Hasbro seem to have moved on from this version of the Transformers. Bumblebee will likely be the final film in this universe, and the series will be rebooted.
12. Score* – Really great look at composers.

Here’s what hasn’t been released that were on my anticipated list:

1. A Voice that Carries – was pushed back
2. Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters – still in editing

Here’s what I did see but didn’t like or hated:

1. Beauty and the Beast – How could they mess this up that badly? I’m asking. The trailer looked perfect. The music sounded fantastic in the trailer. This was missing SO much of what made the animated one work, even with the plot-holes that you don’t even notice when watching it. Seriously though, what happened? They should have brought Kenneth Branaugh on to direct this, after he was able to made a live-action Cinderella that completely destroys the original animated version in every way. Beauty and the Beast felt too much like they wanted to modernize it, remove some of the stuff that made the original work so well, and were trying to hard to avoid certain criticisms that were leveled at the original over time. This ruined it. It’s too bad it did so well at the box office. Disney should re-do it with a real director, and a Belle that has a full voice like the original animated version.
2. Logan – Meh. I know what they were trying to do, but I want the PG-13 version. I’m not a fan of the R-rated superhero stuff that is being released now. I’ve skipped Deadpool, and will be skipping Deadpool 2. I didn’t like this movie at all. It was so lifeless and painful to watch.

1. Solo: A Star Wars Story – I’m looking forward to this one the most. Another Star Wars film (within just six months of  The Last Jedi) and based on the May release date, it should also be available to purchase on Blu-ray before the end of the year, making two new additions to my Star Wars film collection in 2018. With  Star Wars: Episode IX coming a year and a half later, in December of 2019, I hope that this film helps to tide me over. I did enjoy  Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but I know very little about this film. What I do know is that it features a young Han Solo, young Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca. I have several predictions for the film, including seeing Han win the Millennium Falcon from Lando with the dice that we’ve now seen in both  The Force Awakens and  The Last Jedi. I also believe we’ll see the infamous Kessel Run, and that it will finally put to rest what Han said about the distance traveled to complete it. My wild-card guess is that we’ll see Jabba the Hutt, and even Boba Fett in this film. I don’t have any reason to guess these two characters appearing, other than Han’s past with at least Jabba. Fett, however, only seemed to get involved in Han’s life after the Empire hired him, but then he was with Jabba in the Special Edition of  A New Hope, so he does, at least, know of Han. (Han also clearly knows Boba Fett, based on comments in Return of the Jedi. “Boba Fett! Where?”
2. Avengers: Infinity War – This feels like the culmination of everything from the past few years, and not just Phase 3. I just hope it’s better than  Avengers: Age of Ultron. I watched the first Avengers film more than the second, but this one looks like it’ll be the best of the bunch.
3. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – For me,  Jurassic World finally fulfilled what I’d wanted to see since the original  Jurassic Park was released: the park, open to the public, with people visiting and enjoying the dinosaurs. It was a wish-fulfilling movie and I enjoyed it a lot more than I would have simply because of that. I did enjoy the characters, mostly, and the story as well, so I’m curious to see where it goes from the end of that film. Based on the teaser for this one, it looks like the park was never re-opened, nor did anyone go in to try and fix everything that went wrong. I’m guessing that public perception would have been too much to overcome, at least in the short-term. Now it appears the island’s volcano is about to erupt, so our  Jurassic World protagonists are going on some kind of dinosaur rescue operation? I don’t know if I have that right or not, but it definitely feels like a new story for the Jurassic Park series that is unlike the others. And I’ve heard that there is already work being done on  Jurassic World 3, which I believe may have stemmed from ideas that were too good to throw away, but didn’t fit into the story of this film.
4. Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 – I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the first one. I still use some of the music from it as my ringtone on my phone. I loved the score for the first film and hope that the second one is similar. I don’t know how they can top the first one, but I hope they have a story with heart. If it makes me laugh and impacts my emotions in a good way, it will have succeeded.
5. Christopher Robin
6. Black Panther – Due to the lateness of this list, I’ve already seen Black Panther.
7. Paddington 2 – The first was a surprise and a delight. Can’t wait to watch this one.
8. Bumblebee – The first live action Transformers without Michael Bay at the helm. Could rejuvinate the franchise that I’ve loved and hated (simultaneously at times).
9. The Incredibles 2 – Wasn’t really a BIG fan of Incredibles. This looks fun, though.
10. Ant-Man and the Wasp – The first was quirky, if a bit formulaic in parts. Hope for more of the same.
11. The Grinch – Fan of the classic animated original special. Not so the Jim Carrey live action version. Hope this one makes up for that.
12. Aquaman – I don’t know if I’ll enjoy this or not. Can Jason Momoa open a superhero film? Will the movie turn Aquaman into more than a joke?
13. Ocean’s 8 – Big fan of 11, 12 and 13 (11 being the best, and 12 being pretty fun in parts, with 13 being the least, but still funny, of the three). I had wondered why they called it Ocean’s 8 apart from the cast, but it allows them to make a 9 and 10 without making an 11 again, and have a trilogy.
14. Ready Player One – It’s Spielberg, based on a modern (classic?) book of the same name, from the writer of Fanboys, if I recall correctly.

Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2018

1. A Voice that Carries — A Brett Culp (Legends of the Knight,  Look to the Sky) helmed documentary, this one about the relationship between fathers and their daughters.
2. Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters — A pair of feature length documentaries, one about  Ghostbusters and the other about  Ghostbusters II. I’ve been following the production of these documentaries for about 10 years now. They are getting closer to release. They didn’t make their 2017 release date, and may not make a 2018 release date, but they’re definitely on their way toward a release very soon. I’m definitely hoping for a release this year, as I have hoped for every year since I first learned about this project.
3. Power of Grayskull — The Definitive History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe… from the creative team behind “Turtle Power” and “Nintendo Quest.” This documentary has been in the works for some time and while I’m not the biggest fan of He-Man, it was one of my favorite cartoons when I was a kid.
4. Nobody Knows Anything (except William Goldman) — A documentary about the author of The Princess Bride. I don’t really expect it this year, but we’ll see.

Movies that I want to see, but am not super excited about.

1. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms – Want this to be really good, and surprising, in the way that Cinderella was a few years ago. It might edge closer to Mirror Mirror though.
2. Mission: Impossible – Fallout – I’m kind of weary of this series now.
3. Creed 2 – AKA Rocky 8, continues the reboot of the series focusing on the son of Apollo Creed.