Beyond a doubt, you were one of my all-time, favorite character actors: menacing, creepy and as cool as a cucumber whenever a scene called for such.
Your television outings made your face known to many, with two stand-out guest spots on "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" no less, and a slew of visitations that covered "Star Trek: The Next Generation"; Beauty and the Beast", "V"; "Holmes and Yoyo"; "Charlie's Angels"; "The A-Team"; "The Rookies"; and "Columbo".
On the big screen, your face was arguably even better known, featured in "Blue Thunder"; "Return to Witch Mountain"; "Mortuary Academy"; "Nightmares"; "Ravagers"; "Wacko"; "The Fifth Floor"; "World Gone Wild"; "...tick...tick...tick"; "Victory at Entebbe"; "The Teacher"; "Slow Burn"; "Naked Gun 2 1/2"; "Vanishing Point '71"; "In the Heat of the Night"; "Sam Whiskey"; "Culpepper Cattle Co"; "Hearts of the West"; "High Plains Drifter"; "Unforgiven": and "Burnt Offerings" where you played that pale, smiling chauffeur (the cold personification of death warmed over, for sure).
Your abilities exceeded your fame, and Lord knows, you deserved more acknowledgment than you received. However, to those who had the pleasure of engaging your stealthy presence, you'll always be one of the best.
Thanks to my parents' Christmas generosity, I've gained two more "Star Wars" 31" JAKKS' Big Figs: nifty follow-ups to my recent Death Trooper procurement (see "Collectible Time #75", Dec '16).
This representation of Anthony Daniel's iconic C3PO is a real attention grabber and an ideal companion piece to JAKKS 20" R2D2 (see "Collectible Time #47", Dec '15).
I must confess, for sentimental reasons, I prefer C3PO in his middle-trilogy look. In the latter mode, he stands more as a male counterpart to Fritz Lang's Maria Robotrix, even with the black/wired midsection. Nevertheless, the crimson-arm "Force Awakens" distinction does add a swell splash of color to the design, so why complain?
Next up (and straight outta this season's smash hit, "Rogue One")...K-2SO!!! With his imposing, lanky limbs, Alan Tudyk's great, gray droid comes to imposing life, at least, that is, for display purposes.
To me, K-2SO's look is a throwback to those automatons that adorned so many old, pulp covers. In this regard (to those not in the "Rogue One" loop), K-2SO could be perceived as either friend or foe, depending on one's imaginative disposition.
I fancy all JAKKS figures, but among the "Star Wars" additions, the 31" examples might be the most satisfying (well, at least next to the 48" ones). Also, for a measly $30 - $40, the Big Figs are the most cost-efficient way to bring high-quality, "Star Wars" collectibles into one's home. Do yourself a favor and invest in one or two today!!!
"Star Wars I-III" disappointed, not because it was a lousy saga. Au contraire, it's actually quite a sprawling epic (and a damn big moneymaker, at that). It's just that, well...somewhere in the hustle of things, it lost track of its roots.
"Star Wars", as the adventure was presented in 1977 by George Lucas, surfaced as a shameless homage to adventure tales gone by and the heroes who led them, namely John Carter, Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. (As we well know, Lucas would have returned Flash to the big screen if only he had procured the rights.) With this, a "New Hope" presented a basic tale of good vs evil, unconcerned with murky Trade Wars or the unnerving shades of gray that characterized a villain we all knew would be uncompromisingly dark in his heart. As such, Disney's assigned director, J.J. Abrams, has assured us a new movie-serial style "Star Wars" with its seventh chapter, "The Force Awakens".
Has Abrams fulfilled the promise? The answer is yes and no, but his slight deviations on the basic elements doesn’t mar the splendor. It simply makes this
chapter (written by Abrams; the legendary Lawrence Kasdan; and Michael "Toy Story 3" Arndt) its own cool thing, which simultaneously looks to the past and the future. In this regard, we again have good and evil at odds, three decades after the epic Battle of Endor and the destruction of Death Star II, with new heroes leading the charge and supporting characters taking their sides accordingly.
Of course, as we've anticipated, it's old favorites who set the cozy pace: Princess/General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher); Han Solo (Harrison Ford); Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew); and even Admiral Ackbar (Tim Rose). Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is also in there, but essentially in concealed form, his presence felt throughout "Force Awakens", just as Spock's was felt throughout "Star Trek III": a warm-up, in essence, for the saga's predestined shape of things to come.
The acknowledgment of our past heroes helps keep this installment in check; for if there exists any remnant of the basic formula that distinguished the middle chapters, it's through these stellar stars, and its the new folks who redirect the saga into its spirited, sequelized stretch.
The newbies include desert-dwelling Rey (Daisy
Ridley); ace X-wing fighter Poe Dameron (Oscar "Ex Machina" Isaac); wise Lor San Tekka (Max Von Sydow); helpful Maz Katana (Lupita Nyong'o); and in-search-of-redemption Finn (John Boyega). They each figure into the plot, to some extent or another, the way the characters did in "New Hope", with a transported message prompting their actions.
Finn, in my estimation, is this chapter's most identifiable protagonist, though some would argue that Rey is more so, if only for her Skywalker similarities. Still, Finn is the one through whom we experience the adventure: the misguided guy who gets thrust upon this gallant ride after befriending the dynamic Dameron, who in his own right becomes a significant Solo stand-in. (On a speculative note, the following chapters will probably do a better job of fleshing out Finn and Rey, thus strengthening their significance within this yet expanding universe and for better or worse, tease at a potential romance.)
So, what exactly does our dynamic duo face (or rather, should I say, fall into)? Well, again it's a division of sides, with the freedom-fighting Resistance vs the multiplying "Neo-Nazi" First Order/Empire loyalists. We also learn that matters weren't definitively resolved at "Return of the Jedi'"s end,
with (and this is solely implied and never succinctly stated) ineffective leadership having allowed pockets of sovereign seekers to cause disarray (much as any typical terrorist group would when not kept under thumb).
Finn is wise, having shed his Stormtrooper shackles in the name of galactic freedom and stumbles upon Rey, who immediately takes to him, and from there their alliance fortifies for a shared cause and against a common foe.
There are a number of baddies in "Episode VII", including memorable supporting characters, like Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis); the staunch General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson); and the gleaming Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie), who make a strong visual (and sometimes dramatic) mark, but never dominate the plot.
The villainous beacon, therefore, is the heavily publicized Kylo Ren (Adam Driver): an often masked zealot with a most distinct light saber, who desires supreme, cosmic control. He's this segment's Ming the Merciless or Killer Kane; a counterpart to reality's hated Hitler and for the here-and-now, our would-be Darth Vader. He's hellbent on rekindling the Sith Lord's influence, and his impetuous temperament confirms this. Oh, and in case you're unaware, he's the son of...well, never mind; most of you've already caught wind of the startling revelation and outcome. Anyway, Ren's wayward presence is why Finn and Rey fight the good fight, though they require guidance along the way.
For such, they (along with the bad guys) seek the elusive Luke Skywalker, and with Solo, Chewy and the Millennium Falcon's help, "Force Awakens" starts to take shape, becoming at least on the surface, what Abrams projected: a thrilling quest story.
Unfortunately, the film doesn’t always make the best use of its
cast, opting (as the weaker chapters have) to emphasize organic window dressing instead of
extended characterization. Tekka's presence, for example, could have been expanded, and Dameron, though engaging when given the chance, should
have received much wider focus.
Though it may totter in its character balance, "Force Awakens" indubitably delivers the goods in visual glitz and not of the cartoonish CGI sort, either. This chapter is laden with old-school, heavy hardware and fast action, which earned it a PG-13: a warning to parents that such sleek intensity may be unsuitable for their coddled kids (sad, but true). Nevertheless, for those who savor movie-serial zest, "Force Awakens" should more than please and have most fans clamoring for more.
Also to its benefit, this chapter downplays the cutsey stuff. Sure, the adorable, snowman-shaped BB-8 is there to pick up the torch from R2-D2 (Kenny Baker, who in this instance "consulted" on the droid's movements) and fidgety but amiable C3PO (Anthony Daniels), but it's all within the proper context. When given their various moments, the three give the film that Disney-esque charm: apt since the franchise is now officially Disney stationed. However, they are more of a cheerful additive than a mawkish, Jar Jar Binks distraction.
At the end of the day, whether one labels it a hit or miss, "Force Awakens" is but another part in a progressing mythology. How this chapter will figure into the grand scheme is yet to be seen. (Remember, "Empire Strikes Back" wasn't necessarily praised as the best of the best upon release.) For the time being, and for the sake of launching a new start, the film now stands as the franchise's "new hope": a chance to avoid the disfavor paved by the prequel trilogy. It may also become, in the long run, another magnificent moment in space-opera history. For now, with the box-office numbers blasting through the roof and fan praise mounting, things look most promising.
