Learned my etiquette at High Tea With Gerry in downtown Long Grove

Learned my etiquette today on @WGNMorningNews at High Tea With Gerry in downtown Long Grove. Pinkies out.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review – $10/10

It didn’t take too long for “The Force Awakens” to hook me. I would guess it was about 10 minutes – and one line of dialogue.

Do I talk first?

Finally, “Star Wars” is human again.

After three episodes that were heavy on explanation and painfully lacking in the “normal human communication and emotion” department, here is a movie that recaptures the magic that made the original “Star Wars” trilogy so darn captivating. We have real people who genuinely care for each other, banding together to save the galaxy from an entity driven by those who have given themselves over to the dark side.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review - The First Order

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” takes place 30 years after the events in “Return Of The Jedi.” The party on Endor is over. The Empire may be no more, but there is something else just as nefarious trying to take control of the galaxy. They call themselves The First Order, and they are trying to locate one of the main characters from the first movie who has gone missing and the less you know about all of this the better so I will just stop this sentence from running on and on and on.

If you have spent any time on our planet over the last few years, you know that many of the original cast members reprise their roles in this new movie. Director J.J. Abrams and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan have come up with some clever ways to re-introduce many of the characters and elements fans hold dear. Some elements sneak up out of nowhere, packed right in the middle of a thrilling scene. Others are given more time to let the audience take in the moment. But Abrams thankfully avoids turning “The Force Awakens” into a two hour “HEY REMEMBER THIS WASN’T THAT AWESOME!” movie. It has a great flow to it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review - Harrison Ford as Han Solo

I can’t tell you how you will feel watching this movie. But I can tell you that I am a big fan of “Star Wars” – the movies, the mythology, and that battle inside of ourselves between the dark side and the light.

This movie made me feel great.

For the first time in a while, I was watching NEW STAR WARS(!). It’s NEW STAR WARS that felt like it was made by somebody who understood the “Star Wars” that I love.

And surprisingly, what I loved most didn’t come from the characters we already know (although in many spectacular ways, this is Han Solo’s movie). It’s the new additions like John Boyega who gives Finn his sincerity and eagerness. It’s Daisy Ridley who brings Rey her strength and charm.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review - John Boyega and Daisy Ridley

It’s Adam Driver and the desperation of his villain Kylo Ren. It’s the effects team and their design and execution of BB-8, a droid with all of the character that made R2-D2 a pop culture icon. Abrams and his team have put their focus on the actors, performers and technicians who bring these stories to life. The future of this franchise is in great hands.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review - BB-8

That said, there are things that don’t work – things I won’t get into here to avoid potential spoilers. I will just say that the movie raises a lot of questions that go unanswered. While the prequels were too heavy on exposition and explanation, we don’t get nearly enough of it here. A lot of things have happened to these characters over the past 30 years and the attempts to fill in the gaps are somewhat clunky. They often end up raising even more questions than they’re trying to answer.

That is the dark side of my “Star Wars” fandom coming out again. There are moments in this movie that will be debated. There are decisions Abrams & Co. have made that will be controversial. And there are plenty of little things that I can’t get past like where the Empire/First Order has the means and intelligence to build these gigantic weapons yet can’t remember to build a simple guardrail.

But this is a movie that overcomes all of those small gripes. “The Force Awakens” is all about pulling off that dusty canvas, popping the hood and jump-starting your “Star Wars” heart.

Welcome back and enjoy the ride.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review - Adam Driver as Kylo Ren

The “Leshock Value” movie reviews are based on a $10 box office ticket price. $10 is a lot of money to spend on a ticket, so Marcus will tell you what the movie is really worth. 

Watch Will Ferrell and Billy Eichner scream Christmas cheer on Billy On The Street

It’s a Christmas edition of “Billy On The Street,” as Will Ferrell and Billy Eichner hit the streets of New York to scream Christmas movie trivia at passersby.

What better way to get in the holiday mood than watching a bunch of people startled by Christmas spirit being screamed in their face? TruTV posted a preview of tonight’s “Billy On The Street” episode.

Enjoy…

Billy on the Street: Christmas with Will FerrellHERE IT IS! Watch Will Ferrell & I ambush New Yorkers with Christmas presents & holiday cheer! The spirit of Elf is alive! From tonight’s new Billy On The Street, 10:30/9:30c on truTV!

Posted by Billy Eichner on Thursday, December 10, 2015

Real life Roller Coaster Tycoon is as crazy as you’d imagine

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If you are a regular viewer of the WGN Morning News, you know I have an unhealthy obsession with roller coasters and theme parks. That means I spend way too much time online watching POV videos, but the obsession doesn’t stop there. You ever spend an hour watching people’s Roller Coaster Tycoon creations?

If you’ve ever played the game, you know there are all kinds of crazy things you can do. Coasters with disappearing tracks. Dropping customers in water. Creating vomit-inducing rides. You know, fun stuff.

AndrewMFilms took things to the next level and created a video that shows what it would be like to visit a real life Roller Coaster Tycoon amusement park. The result is hilarious and somewhat terrifying. And yes, I would visit this place…

DARTH TRUMP could be the best video ever made

Donald Trump meets Darth Vader – the Auralnauts took actual Trump soundbites and cut them over Darth Vader sequences in the Star Wars movies. This is the same team that removed the John Williams score from the Throne Room scene in Episode IV, with hilarious results.

But Darth Trump could be their best video yet. Maybe I’m just in the right mood, but I can’t remember laughing this hard in a while. Enjoy….

Watch The Noise FM’s stop-motion action figure music video

Talk about a lot of work – for a good cause.

Chicago band The Noise FM began shooting a music video for their cover of The Police’s “Next To You” last February. It’s a stop motion explosion featuring dozens of action figures, playing out a rescue scenario that climaxes with an epic dance battle.

It all ties in with the band’s annual Noise For Toys Benefit Concert that benefits Toys For Tots. The Noise FM will headline the show on December 19 at Lincoln Hall. Other bands include Model Stranger, Blane Fonda and Workout Music.

There is no doubt this took at ton of work, but it was well worth it. Well done, gentlemen…