Hello welcome, new readers and old. My first for 2016 and I thought I would start off the year with a look at the entertainment media. Yesterday I went to watch the new Star Wars, viewing it rather late compared to most people, that was because I wasn’t in the slightest way bothered about seeing it. To be honest, I didn’t want them to make a new one as I didn’t see the point, with how the last of the original left the story, but I went and it was good, I did enjoy it. It was the same story as Jedi returns but it was pretty good.  John Boyega as Fin being the only character I enjoyed and he was one of the main reasons I thought it was good, without his character I think it would have been a bit dull, although the special effects were excellent, as you would expect, so overall Star Wars was ok, not terrible – OK but yet it is the biggest film ever and has grossed 3billion already. I can understand why Star Wars is huge,  the hype, the merchandise,  the amount of Star Wars games and ships that I have played on or with throughout my child hood, like most other people, stands as testimony to it being part of our lives. But who is this new Star Wars aimed at and is this the final death-knell for the drive to get any new epic adventure ever being produced – or are we locked in the world of remakes?

My thinking on this is simple. Film-making, in particular, only bets on a sure thing, due to the huge cost in making a film. J. J. Abrams has made a career out of ‘sure’ things. I think the next epic may be over looked because publishers on all fronts have retreated behind this – banking only on a sure thing so few take risks as they used to. So what does that mean for the creative arts?  Well, if you are like me and crave new and exciting things you might be a bit screwed, to put a finer point on it. As it looks like we are just going to have re-boot after re-boot thrown in our faces  for some time ahead. This is a problem going forward, especially for my generation, as we will not be able to shape the next set era with our ideas and dreams because we are just re-using the same stuff that our parents and grandparents watched, thirty-odd years ago.  I just wish the industry, on all levels, would be a bit more creative, and be willing to take risks. Luckily I wasn’t that fussed about Star Wars in the first place, so it wasn’t too upsetting driving home – it was OK, and I expected it to be just that. We have two more to swallow  down. I do hope John Boyega’s Fin gets a hell of a lot more lines in the next one as it is good to see a new character emerging. Anyway, this is just a pre amble to my weekly thoughts.  I am back in the swing of things now, took a little break as I have been working hard on a few projects after Christmas so that is why I have not been able to do this for a while. But back on track now so see you next week and, as always have a good week!