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'Star Wars: Force Awakens' blasts off overseas Wednesday with $14.1 million

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star wars force awakens trailer

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" began its global assault on Wednesday, grossing $14.1 million from its first 12 international markets and eclipsing all previous "Star Wars" entries.

France led with $5.2 million, one of the best showings of all time and almost double the opening-day results of "Jurassic World." It's also the biggest launch for a Disney film, the biggest for a "Star Wars" title, and the biggest December opening day.

"Force Awakens" also landed in Italy, grossing $2 million. That's the best start for December and the biggest for a "Star Wars" film.

The Disney and Lucasfilm release — placing No. 1 everywhere — smashed records in Sweden and Norway, scoring the biggest single industry day of all time with $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively. And it nabbed the biggest opening day of all time in Belgium ($800,000), Finland ($600,000), the Netherlands ($800,000), and French-speaking Switzerland.

Directed by J.J. Abrams, "Force Awakens" opens across the world this weekend — it begins playing in North America on Thursday night — save for China, where it debuts January 9. In many countries, it has set records in terms of advance ticket sales.

This past summer, "Jurassic World" made history when opening to $524.9 million, including a record $208.8 million domestically and $316.4 million internationally. "Jurassic World," however, had the advantage of including China on opening day.

Other foreign markets where "Force Awakens" debuted Wednesday include Denmark, the Philippines, and Thailand.

On Thursday, the tentpole launches in the UK, Germany, Austria, Russia, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. On Friday, it lands everywhere in North America after Thursday-night previews, as well as in Japan, Spain, Venezuela.

SEE ALSO: Review: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" lives up to the hype and promises a thrilling future

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Quentin Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight' is the best, most thoughtful Western movie in ages

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the hateful 8 2

Early on in “The HatefulEight,” John Ruth (Kurt Russell) keeps repeating the line “slow like molasses.” Later on, another character informs his gang that their mission is going to take patience.

This describes “The HatefulEight” well, too: It deserves your patience. 

“The HatefulEight,” the latest film by Quentin Tarantino, shows the very odd path that one of the greatest living filmmakers has decided to take. While many directors start out conventional and then experiment once they have clout, Tarantino has abandoned much of the nonlinear storytelling on which he made his name (with "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction") for something more traditional.

But when Tarantino does traditional, he does it on his own terms.

“The HatefulEight” takes place in the Wild West not long after the Civil War. Union veteran Major Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) is picked up by a stagecoach carrying Kurt Russell's bounty hunter Ruth, who is transporting the wildly unpredictable Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to stand trial. During a harsh Wyoming blizzard, the three of them get stranded in a nearby cabin.

Hateful Eight

There's no doubt that “The HatefulEight” is epic — from the gorgeous 70 mm photography to the stunning mountain vistas, it demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. But it really only has one or two locations. It's one of the most intimate epics I've ever seen, which allows Tarantino to focus on the characters even more than the visuals. Seriously, this could have been a play and it would have been just as good. 

“The HatefulEight” boasts a perfect ensemble. From Bruce Dern to Tim Roth, the actors make Tarantino’s layered dialogue truly sing. Meanwhile, Leigh, who spends a majority of the movie covered in blood like some outlaw version of Carrie, sometimes feels like the villain and other times like the hero. You kind of want to root for everybody in the cast at certain times, even though they are all terrible people in their own unique ways.

The actors mitigate some flaws in the script. Yes, Tarantino likes to keep us waiting, but the first act feels more like stalling than buildup. Tarantino is exploring new territory, and sure, the Wyoming landscape looks stunning, but it isn’t until the characters are together that the film kicks off. 

Hateful Eight

Once it does, there's plenty of brilliance to go around.

Tarantino is a skilled manipulator who can fill the viewer with many contradictory emotions. There are a few spurts of violence here that caused me to burst into uncontrollable laughter, while others in the audience weren't sure how to feel. Tarantino doesn’t go for the big emotional gut punch; he goes for confusion and ambiguity instead. Thanks to a creepy piano in the background, as well as Ennio Morricone’s fantastic score, certain scenes are brimming with tension even without the bloodshed.

In a way, Tarantino has been making Westerns his whole life, so it's fitting that he's doubled down on the genre. “The HatefulEight” isn’t a comeback for Westerns (which didn’t exactly die), but it's the most thoughtful entry in ages. Tarantino contrasts the harshness of nature with the brutality of mankind. “The HatefulEight” is really about America trying to put together its pieces after the Civil War, and there are few better places to show that than in the wide-open frontier. In watching a group of people try to build civilization out of savagery, “The HatefulEight” is the most optimistic film the director has ever made. 

Hateful Eight

This could also be Tarantino’s safest film yet, despite the many insanely violent outbursts. The small scale makes it feel like he's returning to his roots. Some might accuse him of stealing from both himself and others, but Tarantino likes to use the familiar in order to lure you into something bold and different.

And sure, maybe the first half is a bit weaker than the second. But even after the first half ended, I knew that one viewing of “The HatefulEight” would not be enough.

"The Hateful Eight" will be out in theaters on December 25, 2015.

SEE ALSO: Quentin Tarantino reveals his two favorite scenes he's ever written

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What the 'Star Wars' logo looks like in 13 other countries

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The Force Awakens' villain, Kylo Ren

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opens today in theaters, and it won't just be a big hit in the US.

This is a huge, global phenomenon.

The film is expected to shatter box-office records with $100 million already earned in advance-ticket sales. Some analyst estimates have ranged from $1.2 billion to $1.75 billion globally, but that still may not be enough.

While US audiences know the film as "The Force Awakens," fans around the globe will know the next "Star Wars" by many different names.

Take a look at how fans around the world refer to "The Force Awakens."

First, here's what the logo for "The Force Awakens" looks like in English.



In France, it's called "Le Réveil de la Force."



This is what it goes by in Russia.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Why this Oscar voter thought 'Mad Max: Fury Road' was 'really stupid'

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mad max tom hardy

One of the big surprises of the awards season has been the momentum of "Mad Max: Fury Road."

A hit summer movie with over $375 million earned worldwide and a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seemed like another one of those beloved blockbusters that would be shut out come awards time.

But since its surprise best-movie win from the National Board of Review earlier this month, the latest entry in the "Max Max" series of action films has raked in honors from other critic guilds as well as two Golden Globes nominations (Best Picture and Best Director).

So is Oscar next?

“At this point I'd be shocked if ‘Mad Max’ didn't get a Best Picture nomination,” Yahoo Movies’ senior editor Kevin Polowy told Business Insider. “Recognition from the Golden Globes, National Board of Review, and AFI has really validated it as a serious Oscar contender.”

This is the kind of situation Hollywood wanted following the snubbing of 2008's "The Dark Knight," which many thought should have received a Best Picture Oscar nomination. That backlash led to the Academy expanding the Best Picture category's number of potential nominees to a maximum of 10 to give more than cerebral dramas a chance.

But the love for “Fury Road” is not universal among Academy voters — and the history of what gets awarded is stacked against it.

“When I saw it, I thought that it was really stupid,” one Oscar voter told BI. “I’m not going to vote for it.”

And it sounds like he’s not alone. “I had dinner with another voter the other night and that person felt the same way I do. That person isn’t voting for it,” the voter said. “It’s fun and interesting to look at, but it’s definitely not in my top five.” Which is the number of films each voter selects for the Best Picture category's nominating process.

Since the Best Picture expansion to 10 potential nominees in 2009, only four genre-oriented films have made it into the Best Picture category:  "Avatar" (2009), "District 9" (2009), "Inception" (2010), and "Gravity" (2013). And of those, none was a sequel from a longtime franchise, and none won.

We’ll see when Academy Awards nominations are announced on January 14 if "Fury Road" will be added to this short list.

SEE ALSO: The 10 highest-grossing movies of all time — there's one movie that beats "Star Wars"

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'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' beat Fandango's record for most tickets ever sold, even before it opened

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star wars force awakens trailer

J.J. Abrams' “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” doesn't begin rolling out in the U.S. until Thursday night, and already the movie boasts more ticket sales than any title in Fandango's 15-year history.

Put another way, “Force Awakens” has sold more tickets than “Jurassic World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” did during their entire runs. The former was Fandango's previous record-holder in terms of most tickets sold.

Fandango, an online ticket service which works with theater circuits across the country, does not disclose actual figures.

The hype surrounding “Force Awakens” has put Disney and Lucasfilm in the unusual position of having to assure there are still plenty of seats available to see the movie over opening weekend.

“It’s incredibly encouraging to have the kind of record presales that we’ve seen with this film, but theaters have been adding shows constantly to adjust for demand and it’s important to note that there is no shortage of available seats for people to see the film this weekend," said Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis.

Prerelease tracking suggests “Force Awakens” will open to $180 million-$220 million in North America. “Jurassic World” is the current record-holder for the biggest launch of all time with $208.8 million.

Abrams' movie is also opening around the globe this weekend, taking in $14.1 million Wednesday when launching in its first 12 markets.

SEE ALSO: What the "Star Wars" logo looks like in 13 other countries

Join the conversation about this story »

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2 Millennials watched the original ‘Star Wars’ for the first time

How one movie theater is preparing for the massive 'Star Wars' premiere

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WIlliamsburg Cinema Star Wars32.JPG

Today marks the global release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and all weekend long, moviegoers will make their way to their local theater for the big event.

Reports have rolled in about fans waiting in line days in advance, but what about the people inside the theaters? 

Prepping for a highly-anticipated release like "Star Wars" is no small feat.

We headed to a nearby theater in Brooklyn to learn what it takes to get ready. 

Scroll down for a look inside how this cinema prepared.

Williamsburg Cinemas is a family-owned theater in trendy North Brooklyn.



When we arrived on Wednesday, the day before "Star Wars" premiered, there were pallets of concession supplies being loaded into the theater.



A truck of popcorn salt and other goodies were being unloaded by 2 delivery men.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are the intense workouts and diets the actors in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went through to prepare for their roles

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star wars john boyega

It's not easy training to survive in a galaxy far, far away. 

The new, younger cast members of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" spent months with grueling work preparing to join the franchise. And for the returning veterans like Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, the process was very much the same. 

For some, preparing meant a pep talk with Harrison Ford, and for others, it involved intense training with stunt coordinators and physical trainers.

See how the main cast members prepared below and catch the film in theaters as it starts to roll out in theaters tonight: 

SEE ALSO: How new 'Star Wars' star Adam Driver went from a former Marine to the Hollywood A-list

To prepare for his audition, John Boyega watched Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill's original audition tapes on YouTube.

"I watched their audition, and there was this casual approach to danger and to being a hero that I drew some inspiration from," he told CNET.

(Source: CNET



On the other hand, Daisy Ridley avoided the original films for her preparation.

She told ABC News, "I'm really glad that I didn't know it that well, because I didn't feel like I was trying to fit into anything. I was just trying to do a good job." 

(Source: ABC News



Both Boyega and Ridley underwent rigorous training, which helped prepare them for filming in Abu Dhabi, which serves as the planet Jakku.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The easiest and quickest way to transfer any movie to your iPhone (AAPL)

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Apple event iPad Pro

You might find that almost any video you didn't buy from iTunes isn't compatible with your iPhone. 

To be more accurate, most videos aren't compatible with the video player app on iPhone and iPad.

That's why it's best to use a different video player, like VLC, which lets you watch almost any video in almost any format. You can download VLC here.

Check out the best, quickest, and easiest way to transfer any video from any computer onto any iOS device:

SEE ALSO: This brave movie shot entirely on an iPhone shows a raw side of LA

This is the screen you might get when you try to click and drag a movie onto your iPhone or iPad through iTunes. My videos are never compatible, like this video that's in the .MKV format.



To transfer that video onto your iPhone or iPad, download the "VLC" app from the App Store.



Then plug your iOS device into any computer with the video file you want to transfer, open iTunes, and click on the iPhone symbol.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' beat Fandango's record for most tickets ever sold, even before it opened

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0

star wars force awakens trailer

J.J. Abrams' “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” doesn't begin rolling out in the U.S. until Thursday night, and already the movie boasts more ticket sales than any title in Fandango's 15-year history.

Put another way, “Force Awakens” has sold more tickets than “Jurassic World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” did during their entire runs. The former was Fandango's previous record-holder in terms of most tickets sold.

Fandango, an online ticket service which works with theater circuits across the country, does not disclose actual figures.

The hype surrounding “Force Awakens” has put Disney and Lucasfilm in the unusual position of having to assure there are still plenty of seats available to see the movie over opening weekend.

“It’s incredibly encouraging to have the kind of record presales that we’ve seen with this film, but theaters have been adding shows constantly to adjust for demand and it’s important to note that there is no shortage of available seats for people to see the film this weekend," said Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis.

Prerelease tracking suggests “Force Awakens” will open to $180 million-$220 million in North America. “Jurassic World” is the current record-holder for the biggest launch of all time with $208.8 million.

Abrams' movie is also opening around the globe this weekend, taking in $14.1 million Wednesday when launching in its first 12 markets.

SEE ALSO: What the "Star Wars" logo looks like in 13 other countries

Join the conversation about this story »

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Neil deGrasse Tyson explains how 'Star Wars' lightsabers could actually work

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"Star Wars"
lightsabers are a novel idea. They're lightweight, portable, and their laser-like beams can cut through just about anything. Unfortunately, the reality isn't so simple. Astrophysicist and "StarTalk Radio" host Neil deGrasse Tyson explains how the fictional blade would work in real life.

Produced by Christine NguyenDarren Weaver and Kamelia Angelova. Additional production by Rob Ludacer.

Follow TI: On Facebook


StarTalk Radio is a podcast and radio program hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, where comic co-hosts, guest celebrities, and scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Follow StarTalk Radio on Twitter, and watch StarTalk Radio "Behind the Scenes" on YouTube.

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I saw 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' and I have one big complaint about the movie

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A First Order Stormtrooper in The Force Awakens

Warning: spoilers ahead.

If I’m going to nitpick about the otherwise thrilling “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” I'll say one thing: There isn’t enough Captain Phasma.

The flashy Stormtrooper with chrome armor and cape played by “Game of Thrones” star Gwendoline Christie has been all over the marketing of the film, but the captain of the First Order (what we're calling the Empire now) gets the least screen time out of the newest main cast members in the movie.

This could be for a lot of reasons, most likely the movie’s running time, which is already at two hours and 15 minutes. There are a lot of different storylines going on in “Awakens,” so perhaps Phasma’s arc had to get squeezed down to keep things relatively trim.

But it’s still a bummer that Phasma isn’t in the film more. (I sense a Twitter backlash coming because of it.) That's because you can instantly see the potential for her to be a great character in the saga.

Gwendoline Christie Frazer Harrison GettyIn the original trilogy, there was never anyone under Darth Vader with any authority (and I don't mean the captains of the Star Destroyers; I mean scary authority). So it’s fascinating to have this person of power below new villain Kylo Ren in the film. Are they allies in the destruction of the Resistance? Or is Phasma as conflicted as Ren seems in his place in the First Order?

The way things are left in “Awakens,” it’s tough to tell how or even if those questions will be answered going forward, in regards to Phasma.

[Major spoilers coming!]

In the scene where we see her onscreen the longest, toward the end of the movie, Phasma is captured by Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Finn after they sneak onto Starkiller Base and force her to lower its shields so the X-wing fighters can try to destroy it. They then put her in the base’s trash compactor (an homage to “A New Hope”).

Starkiller Base is later destroyed. Did Phasma make it out alive?

She did. And I know that not because I have any inside information.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told the LA Times before the movie opened that Phasma will be in the next sequel, “Episode VIII.”

star wars force awakens trailer"She's an important character," Kennedy told the paper, "a baddie in the best sense of the word."

So, thankfully, it looks like Captain Phasma will not be going the way of Darth Maul and Boba Fett — evil characters from the saga we wish could have stuck around longer.

It's just too bad we don’t get deeper into her storylines until 2017.

SEE ALSO: The real-world origins of the names and languages in "Star Wars"

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Scientists are backing up the most terrifying fan theory in the 'Star Wars' universe

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There's a disturbance in the force, but this time it's coming from scientists.

Disney's new "Star Wars" movie, "The Force Awakens," picks up years beyond where the last film in the series, "Return of the Jedi," left off: after the cataclysmic explosion of Death Star II, a moon-size weapon.

millennium falcon escape explosion

The colossal ship orbited the forest world Endor and, after it blows up, the Rebel Alliance and its hairy Ewok friends party in the trees. Everyone and everything is hunky-dory.

Until you ask a physicist — or a dozen, as Tech Insider did — what happens when you detonate a giant metal sphere above a lush green world. The answer is downright chilling.

"The Ewoks are dead. All of them," said one researcher and self-professed "Star Wars" fan, who wrote a white paper exclusively for Tech Insider.

Each scientist who responded to our emails quibbled over the exact details, yet a strong consensus emerged in support of a popular fan theory: The "Endor Holocaust" is inevitable, and a threat to the plausibility of any future movies (galactic bankruptcy be damned).

Here's why.

The "Endor Holocaust" fan theory dates back to 1997, when it first appeared on a website called TheForce.net.

Source: TheForce.net



Curtis Saxton, an astrophysicist and "Star Wars" super-fan, wrote it as part of a technical series that analyzes the movies frame-by-frame with scientific rigor.

Source: TheForce.net



Saxon's 10,000-word essay about the Endor holocaust claims that the doom of Endor and the Ewoks who live there "is an inevitable consequence of observable facts."

Source: TheForce.net



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

It turns out Daniel Craig has a cameo in the new 'Star Wars' — here's how to find him

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daniel craig casino royal

Over the summer, people freaked out when Simon Pegg told a reporter that James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, had a cameo in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Pegg also has a cameo in the film, playing one of the aliens. We saw the British actor featured in a video Disney released during San Diego Comic-Con.

force awaksn bts comic con peggWhile giving an interview, Pegg said“I wasn’t a Stormtrooper. Daniel Craig, he was a Stormtrooper... I shouldn’t have said that.”

But when Craig was asked about the cameo, he shot down the rumor in typical gruff Craig fashion:

“Why would I ever bother doing something like that?” the Bond actor told Entertainment Weekly. “F-----g hell! Pffft. Play an extra in another movie?”

But now it looks like he was doing a bit of acting. With "The Force Awakens" in theaters, EW reports that according to numerous sources close to the film, Craig plays a Stormtrooper in it.

Now, there are a lot of stormtroopers in "The Force Awakens," so Craig could be any of them and you wouldn't know it. 

star wars episode VII teaser trailer stormtroopersHowever, EW reports that Craig is a Stormtrooper that you will remember when you see the film.

[Spoiler coming!]

In a moment that is important to the evolution of the Rey (Daisy Riley) character and a nod to "Star Wars: A New Hope," while Rey is held captive in Starkiller Base, she uses the Jedi mind trick to get the Stormtrooper on guard to come over and remove her restraints and leave with the cell door open. After Rey tries the trick a few times, the Stormtrooper finally concedes.

The Stormtrooper who becomes overtaken by the Force is Craig, according to EW.

You can't tell from watching the movie. The voice of the Stormtrooper is not Craig's but the usual voice all the troopers have when wearing their masks. 

But a source with inside knowledge says that's 007 in the costume. 

“He did it for s---s and grins,” the source told EW.

It certainly is a fun moment, even if we didn't know who was in the helmet.

SEE ALSO: Here are the intense workouts and diets the actors in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went through to prepare for their roles

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The biggest problem with the new 'Star Wars' villain that needs to be addressed

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The Force Awakens' villain, Kylo RenWarning: There are some spoilers ahead if you haven't seen "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Ever since the first full trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" came out in October, I've had one big issue with Kylo Ren.

I was hoping after seeing the movie that this would be cleared up, but it wasn't. 

Kylo Ren's revenge plan makes no sense. 

In the October trailer, we seem him telling a melted Darth Vader helmet that he will finish what he started.

darth vader helmet star wars the force awakensThere's just one problem with that.

There is nothing to finish. When Vader died in 1983's "Return of the Jedi" he was at peace with himself and his son Luke.

kylo ren star wars force awakensSo what does Kylo think he's fighting for?

My best guess is that no one — outside of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader — really know how Vader and Emperor Palpatine died.

They don't know that, in his last moments, Vader turned against the Emperor and saved his son. 

Vader's last act was for the light side. He was no longer filled with vengeance. "What he started" was finished long ago. Vader died as Anakin Skywalker.

Darth Vader burning Star Wars

All the Sith know is that Vader and Palpatine are dead and Luke lived. The immediate conclusion to draw is that Luke killed both of them and the Dark Side is furious with Luke.

We have proof of that.

Throughout "The Force Awakens" we know Luke is being hunted down by the new Empire, now called The First Order.

So maybe Kylo is just unaware he's on a false crusade to avenge Vader.

Here's my problem with that after watching "The Force Awakens."

Warning: Huge spoiler ahead.

kylo ren

We learn that Kylo Ren is Han and Leia's son, Ben Solo and Luke was training him to be a Jedi before Ben decided to turn to the dark side. 

If Ben was drawn to the dark side to "finish" what his grandfather started then why wouldn't Luke tell his nephew about Vader's final moments?

It seems like that would solve a lot of problems.

Let's give Luke the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he did try and tell his nephew, but Ben didn't believe Uncle Luke's story. Maybe the new mysterious Sith Lord, Supreme Leader Snoke, convinced Ben his uncle's a liar.

If that's the case, why hasn't Darth Vader's force ghost, seen at the end of "Return of the Jedi," shown up to tell his grandson he's wrong? 

I hope "Episode VIII" will help shed some light on the situation because I seriously do not understand Kylo's motivation for being on the dark side at the moment.

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You can now stream the amazing score for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

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john williams

Now that you can go out and see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” you can also stream the score, created by the franchise’s maestro, John Williams, who has scored its every film.

The music is a lot like “The Force Awakens” itself — a jumble of familiar classics and new additions.

Particularly great is the “Rey Theme” that follows the film’s hero (played by Daisy Ridley) throughout the movie.

Williams, at 83 years young and a 5-time Oscar winner, hasn’t lost any zip on his fastball.

Listen to the complete “The Force Awakens” score via Spotify below:

 

SEE ALSO: I saw "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and I have one big complaint about the movie

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'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' demolishes 'Harry Potter' opening-night record with $57 million

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the force awakens box office

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has topped the Thursday night preview showing record for gross with an incredible $57 million take in the US.

The previous record holder was "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which earned $43.5 million in July 2011.

Though Disney has not released any internal projections of how "The Force Awakens" will do, rival studios project the film will make around $210 million in the US alone this weekend, according to Variety. That would break the existing opening weekend record currently held by the summer's hit "Jurassic World" with $208.4 million.

However, some projections have "Awakens" making upwards of $220 million by Sunday.

Whatever the end number is, it's highly likely we're looking at a record-breaking weekend.

And just showing that no other studio should have stood in its way. Variety reports that "The Force Awakens" grossed about 70 times the amount taken in Thursday night by Universal's release "Sisters," starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. It took in $769,000.

"The Force Awakens" is also opening in 32 foreign markets this weekend. It's already broken records overseas.

Expect "Star Wars" collecting more records over the weekend.

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We need to talk about that huge scene in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' (SPOILERS)

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Warning: There are HUGE spoilers ahead if you have not seen "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

finn rey star wars episode 7 the force awakens

The first showings for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" have let out and there is a lot to discuss.

However, the biggest moment fans will be talking about is the death of a huge character which comes near the end of the movie. 

Last chance to head back before spoilers.

kylo ren

Toward the end of "The Force Awakens," Han Solo confronts the menacing Kylo Ren.

We learn Kylo's his and Leia's son, Ben Solo, and has been swayed by the dark side of the force. Han, sensing there's still good in Ben, hopes to bring him back to the Resistance. 

For some reason, Han thinks it's a good idea to meet his son on a narrow bridge. From the moment he steps foot on the platform, you get the sense someone's not coming back from this.

And when Kylo tells his father, "I'm being torn apart. I want to be free of this pain," you think he may have a change of heart. 

Nope.

Kylo strikes down his father with his lightsaber, solidifying his place as one of the darkest villains in the series. Not even Darth Vader could kill a family member.

Did your mouth drop open as you watched the smuggler fall to his demise? 

Here's the biggest problem I've seen with Han's death after discussing with a few people I've seen it with: You see it coming a mile away so when Han actually steps onto the bridge to meet Kylo you're not completely surprised. The moment he said goodbye to Leia my brother, sitting next to me, whispered, "Oh Han's dead."

I'm also not really sure that Han's death was really earned. It seemed a little rushed to be honest. Were we really supposed to believe that Han was going to be able to sway his son back over to the light side with one talk in the first movie of a new trilogy? No way. We still have two movies to go.

Plus, any time you're on a narrow bridge with two characters someone has got to go.

While we're mourning the loss of Han, there may be something greater to get excited over.

Indiana Jones, Raiders

There's been a lot of talk about bringing Harrison Ford back for another "Indiana Jones" movie, another Lucasfilm property owned by Disney. Ford and director Steven Spielberg have said they're on board for a fifth movie and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told Vanity Fair it would happen "one day.

Maybe Ford agreed to do "The Force Awakens" under the condition he could do another Indy movie as well.

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What it's like seeing 'Star Wars' during the madness of opening night

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Going to see a "Star Wars" movie on opening night is a rite of passage for die-hard fans. 

But I am not the world's most die-hard "Star Wars" fan.

Sure, I've always enjoyed the franchise, but I was never somebody who went opening night, bought all the merchandise, and brainstormed fan theories all day.

But in the past year, "Star Wars" has basically taken over the world in anticipation of the release of "The Force Awakens." My appreciation for the franchise has grown exponentially over the past year.

Partially to avoid an onslaught of spoilers, I decided it was time to buy a ticket to see "The Force Awakens" on opening night here in New York City. Sure, it required a long wait, but two hours, instead of two weeks, in advance was good enough. It also helped to be around an intensely energetic crowd. Nights like this remind you why going to the theater is both fun and important.

"Star Wars" is, we all know, more than just a movie. Here was my experience going to my first ever "Star Wars" opening night.

SEE ALSO: I saw 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' and I have one big complaint about the movie

I arrived at the theater at 7:30 p.m. The movie wasn't until 10:15 p.m., but I was told to arrive early. There was already a massive line.



Surprisingly, there weren't many people in costume.



Luckily, I came prepared.



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The only way you should see 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

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Many people are heading out to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" this weekend. 

For anyone who hasn't seen the film yet or those planning to see it after what should be a very packed weekend, you're probably wondering what ticket you should buy.

I've now seen "The Force Awakens" in both 2D and 3D IMAX — the showings that will be most easily accessible to the public — and it's clear that one version is better than the other.

Unless you're seeing this on a true IMAX screen and in 70mm (one of these theaters), go with the 2D tickets. 

star wars the force awakens episode 7 millennium falconstar wars episode VII the force awakens millennium falcon

The film wasn't made in 3D

Other than a handful of scenes — there's one in particular where I wanted to reach my hand out to touch a ship flying overhead — there wasn't much reason to see this in 3D in my opinion. Plus, any time I turned my head too much to the left or the right you could tell you were watching 3D because the picture would get out of focus. You had to watch the movie straight on.

Yes, a sequence of the film was shot in IMAX (see the above photos), but, again, unless you're seeing it on a true 80-foot-tall screen, you're not getting the most out of the experience. 

Even the screening Disney showed press on Tuesday evening was in 2D. Typically, when I head to these screenings the studios will show it to you in the best possible format. Originally, I thought I was going to see "The Force Awakens" on the big IMAX screen inside New York City's AMC Lincoln Square (it's my favorite theater to see a movie on for the sheer enormity of the screen), but that wasn't the case. 

According to ScreenCrush, the AMC Lincoln Square, the theater with the biggest screen in NYC, is showing the film in digital until it installs "IMAX with laser," which won't be installed until mid-January. (Boo.)

If 2D's good enough for Disney's press screening, then it's probably good enough for everyone else.

Also, I recommend going to a theater with reserved seating if possible.

I've gone to many midnight fan premieres. If you're a fan this is the way you want to see these movies, with the people who enjoy them the most, because they're high energy and everyone is as equally excited to see the film. The downside is they can also be quite hectic as everyone scrambles to get the best seats in the house.

If you're seeing the film this weekend, chances are screenings will be filled with plenty of fanboys heading out in large groups arriving at theaters early to save seats. There may be some fighting and arguing over said seats.

Thursday evening I had reserved seats at a 3D IMAX screening and it made all the difference. I didn't have to worry about showing up at the theater hours early. People were rolling into the theater ten minutes before the movie began because they had peace of mind that no one was going to take their seats. It was the least stressful opening showing I've ever attended.

In contrast, my colleague Kim Renfro headed to a theater without reserved seating, and while she had no problem getting inside, she said it was chaotic outside her theater with people lined up and cutting waiting to enter the building.

No thanks. 

princess leia

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NOW WATCH: Everything that happened in the first six ‘Star Wars’ movies in 4 minutes

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