Mark Berryman discusses the casting list for Star Wars Episode VII which was finally announced today.
Star Wars was my first love. I remember when I was 5 years old, I walked into the living room and my Dad was watching A New Hope. As Tantative IV flew across the screen, chased by a Star Destroyer I sat down next to him and for the next two and a bit hours my love affair with a galaxy far far away began.
Now, like A New Hope, I’m 36 years old and the excitement I felt that day has come back with a vengeance! Less than an hour ago of me writing this the cast for the new Star Wars movie had been announced. Now I’m going to put my cards on the table, I love all 6 movies and I love the Clone Wars TV show. Yes the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones have their faults (Jar Jar Binks, Jake Lloyd etc etc) BUT they have some epic moments that to be honest will stand the test of time. Obi Wan and Qui Gon facing off against Darth Maul, Yoda showing Count Dooku that he’s not as bad ass as he thought he was are just two off the top of my head. When asked which my favourite movie is I have a hard time splitting up The Empire Strikes Back and Revenge of the Sith. I’ll be honest I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m wrong for not completely hating the prequel trilogy, we’re all entitled to our own opinions after all.
So that brings me to the new cast. For those who haven’t heard yet, here it is:
John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker.
The first thing that hit me was I don’t recognize all of the names on the cast list. When I looked at their IMDB profiles I recognized a few of them. Having a mostly unheard of cast worked well for Lucas the first time and I’m sure our new overlord JJ will have done his homework and it will work again this time. Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow are the names that excite me the most and I’ll be counting down the days until we find out who they’re playing!
I remember the first time I saw Revenge of the Sith, I thought to myself that I had to make the most of it, this would be the last time I would see a new Star Wars movie at the cinema. I think this is yet another part of why I am so excited, a new movie, a new chance to feel the excitement of when STAR WARS crashes onto the screen and that score by John Williams blasts into my ears. The excitement of seeing another visit to my favourite sci-fi universe. As I write this I feel like I did on Christmas eve as a child, impatiently waiting those last few hours before Father Christmas would come and bring me loads of new toys. I know from past experience that this excitement is going to build and get bigger and bigger. I’ll read every scrap of information I can get my hands on, I’ll watch every trailer and scrutinise every photograph.
If you’re one of those people who used to be a Star Wars fan as a child but aren’t any more, remember how you felt way back when, remember how much you enjoyed it, and give the child in you a chance to enjoy it all over again. Yes it may be rubbish, but maybe, just maybe it could be one of the best things you’ve ever seen.
So on December 18th next year, the day before my birthday you know where I’ll be and no doubt as soon as I get home I’ll be writing a review for this page, gushing over how much I loved it. I hope that wherever you see it, you’ll be enjoying it at least half as much as I will.
Eurylade Reviews 