THE WEDDING BANQUET (2025) – Review

Well, here comes another film to reflect the season of love, Spring. We’re in a short “window” in which romance rules the multiplex just as the big noisy Summer blockbusters start to trickle in (hopefully the MINECRAFT chaos and calamity don’t spill into the other screens). Now last week we saw a “first date movie that was also a “thriller-diller” (DROP). And what follows the initial meeting, perhaps much later? The big nuptuals, natch’. As with the former flick, this one is a mix as it can be considered a comedy-drama, or “dramedy’, while also tossing in another element: it’s a remake. And you’re beginning to feel your age when you can recall going to that original film almost 32 years ago. Oh, and some more plot twists are tossed in to add more flavor and a bit of spice to THE WEDDING BANQUET.


Now, the story actually focuses on two couples involved in the title event. We first meet millennial Lesbian couple Lee (Lily Gladstone) and Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) at an awards function honoring PFLAG mother-of-the-year, the latter’s mum, May Chen (Joan Chen). But the evening’s not over after she receives her plaque. The duo hastily retreats to an art show for textile creator Min (Han Gi-Chan), who is the domestic partner of Angela’s old college pal, stockbroker-in-training Chris (Bowen Yang). At the end of the night, the quartet heads back to the home they share, actually, the ladies live in the main house (which Lee inherited) while the men have made the garage their “space”. Things start to change for all of them in the coming days. Min is called into the Seattle branch of his family’s international company for an online chat with his Korean grandmother Ja-Young (Youn Yuh-jung), who, along with her hubby, raised him after the death of his parents. She belives that it’s time for him to return to his homeland to run the family business since his schooling is finished and he has no wife (Min hasn’t “come out’ to his conservative family). Meanwhile the IVF process for Lee and Angela to start a family has suffered another setback. The latest treatment didn’t “take” so Lee has only a couple more chances for motherhood.. Meanwhile Chris rejects Min’s proposal for marriage as he doesn’t want a “green card” wedding and cause Min’s family to disown him. Later, back at the house, Lee and Chris are stunned when Angela and Min hatch a plan. They will get married so that Min can stay in the country while helping to fund Lee’s next IVF try. Min sends word of his engagement to Korea and all seems well…until Ja-Young tells him that she’s boarding the family jet and will be there to meet his fiancée in just a few hours. Can the quartet pull off this ruse in mere hours? And what happens when Grandma insists on staying to attend and plan the big ceremony and celebration?

The many dramatic and comedic moments somehow work seamlessly thanks to the talented quartet at the story’s center. After several heavy tragic roles, Gladstone flexes her humor “chops” as the partner who is set on enduring any medical procedure in order to bring a child into her and her partner’s life. Her Lee is warm and caring, even as she must deceive a few folks in order to see her dream through…up to a point. Sparks fly when she must make a stand and attempt to get Angela to “open up”. In that role, Tran often “shuts down” rather than deal with her disappointments and frustrations, particularly with her flighty mother. Tran is also very funny as she awkwardly dons the disguise of subservient “wifey”, until she gets a chance to cut loose with her ole’ college pal. As Chris, the comic gifts of Yang, so good on SNL, is tempered with the character’s longing to be with his love, while knowing that his passion could cost Min everything, and forcing Chris to push him aside to avoid being a “family crusher”. Yang continues to be the master of reaction shots, from disgust to complete panic, especially when he must hide all the “gay decor, running about as if he were in a zany 1950s sitcom. He’s a terrific counterpoint to Chan as the sweet, somewhat naive artist Min, who doesn’t understand why Chris doesn’t believe that he’ll give up everything for him. There’s also wonderful supporting work from two veteran screen actresses. Welcome back, Ms. Chen (can THE LAST EMPORER really be 37 years ago) as Angela’s brassy, often clueless martiarch who now relishes and exploits her role as the proud “media mom”. And Yuh-jung proves her MINARI Oscar was no fluke as the stern but sweet grandmother who can’t be easily conned. Also of note is the raunchy, funny work of Bobo Lee as Chris’ wild, free-spirited cousin.

Director/screen-adaptor Andrew Ahn takes many of the basic plot points of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic and puts a fresh modern spin on the family dynamics and the alternative lifestyles, though these characters today are much closer to the urban “mainstream”. Ahn makes excellent use of the Vancouver locales that stand in for Seattle, and gives us a superb inside “peek” into the tradition of Asian unions, melding the cultures of Korea and China (those post-event feasts will have you drooling). Most importantly, Ahn’s riff on Ang hits all the right romantic notes as lovers squabble and reunite, while trying to navigate around those still rigid in the “old ways”. The pace is fluid, buoyed by a vibrant soundtrack. And, as mentioned, this exceptional cast never hits a flat or false”note”. Much like the meal itself, THE WEDDING BANQUET is warm, tasty, and very satisfying.


3 out of 4

THE WEDDING BANQUET is now playing in select theatres

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON – Review

We’re still a few weeks away from the big Spring break (even with the past year’s at-home learning it’s still a big deal), but the major film studios aren’t holding back their big “family-friendly” flicks for virtual and in-theatres (welcome back NYC and LA) viewing. The last couple of them were live-action/animation hybrids with rendered (CGI and some classic hand-drawn) characters interacting with flesh-and-blood actors. First was the pixel-powered furball at the center of FLORA & ULYSSES, streaming on Disney+. And last weekend saw the big-screen return of the chaos-causing cat and mouse TOM AND JERRY careening through the canyons of the Big Apple, and filling up movie theatres while streaming for a few weeks on HBO Max. Speaking of mice, the “mouse house” strikes back today with a feature that harkens back to those iconic full-length fairy tales and fables from their golden age. Of course, this one uses the latest tech to give us its fully rounded heroes, villains, and magical critters. Now to be clear, this is from the Disney Animation division, a separate entity from the Pixar people, though they’re all “under the same tent” (and with the acquisition of Fox they’re joined by Blue Sky). While the Pixar products of last year were wowing critics and audiences (ONWARD and SOUL should both get Oscar noms, with the latter being the front runner for Animated Feature and Music Score), the Disney Animation artisans were crafting this fantasy fable from a far-off land all about RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON.

And just what is that far-off place? Why the Asia-inspired land known as Kumandra, or really formally “known as”. The story actually begins 500 years before, when some demonic creatures known as the Drunn (whirling magenta-colored storm clouds) attacked the villagers, absorbing souls and turning the people to stone. Luckily their dragon protectors came to the rescue by pooling their magic auras into a small round blue-glowing orb. Ultimately the Drunn turned all but one of the dragons to stone. Their lone survivor Sisu used the orb to banish them and return the statutes of the villagers to life. But there was not enough magic to save her dragon family and Sisu went into hiding. In tribute to their rescuers, the land was divided into five countries, each named after a part of the dragons: Tail, Talon, Spine, Fang, and Heart, where the orb is hidden and guarded. Its main guard and Heart’s leader is General Benja (voice of Daniel Dae Kim) who is training his young daughter Raya as a protector. But Benja has a dream to unite the five lands into Kumandra, once more, and so invites people from the other four lands for a discussion. Unfortunately many believe that the orb has gifted Heart with prosperity (rich crops, good soil, etc.) which inspires an act of deception that reveals the orb’s location. The resulting struggle shatters the orb into several pieces, each scooped up by different countries. It also brings back the Drunn who turn Benja into stone. Several years later, the now-teenage Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) roams the land on her pet Tuk Tuk (a weird armadillo, pill bug, bear mix), searching for the pieces and hoping to find Sisu. But even with the help of the last dragon, and a motley crew recruited from each land, can she defeat the Drunn and be reunited with her beloved papa?

Once again the formidable talents at the Disney Animation Division “step up their game” in a spirited competition with their sister studios in which the winner, or winners, are the lucky lovers of superb, superior cinematic storytelling. Viewers will be initially stunned by the eye-popping visual delights on display, from the cool blues of Benja’s palace (loved the water running up the stairs) to the warm deserts of Fang, each of the background designs is worthy of a gallery display (or a lush “coffee-table hardcover collection). Luckily these mesh seamlessly with the inventive character designs. Though at first, she may seem to be the simplest of characters, Raya may be the most complex in the visual representation of her emotional states. In a nod to a favorite cinema hero, her shape prior to engaging in battle, with her wide-brimmed hat and cape/robe, is a near match to “The Man with No Name”, Clint Eastwood’s Italian Western icon of the 1960s. My favorite human design of Raya’s crew would be the bulky Tong, a gentle one-eyed giant whose noggin resembles a battered football though is still capable of tenderness. And then there is the fantastical menagerie of creatures. We see the Tuk Tuk go from cuddly “kid critter” to an affectionate armored speedster. There’s the simian-inspired trio of ‘kleptos” called the Ongis. Then there are, of course, the dragons, well dragon. Sisu, with her blue and violet-tinted fur, moves with the grace of a swimming eel with a touch of a boa (the snake and the feathery costume accessory), while her feline face accents her wide quizzical eyes. These wonders were given animated life by a legion of skilled artists led by the inspired direction of the filmmaking foursome of Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Paul Briggs, and John Ripa.

In addition to those talents, a gifted acting ensemble gives voice to these colorful characters and creations. Tran conveys the heartache and determination of Raya, while Gemma Chan is her rival Namaari, who reveals a touch of empathy and becomes the rare villain with a chance at redemption. Kim is warm and nurturing as father Benja, and Benedict Wong is full of bluster and pathos as Tong. And what of that “last dragon”? Sisu is giving voice, and lots of sassy attitude, by Awkwafina. Her rapid-fire, “street-smart’ line delivery infuses the film with unexpected energy. Plus her magic and allow Sisu to take a human form that closely resembles…Awkwafina herself, though with an unruly mop of white hair (with that same blue/violet tinge). She adds lots of infectious humor, but also creates a jarring shift in the narrative. Up until her intro, the story is set on a fairly straight heroic saga, a classic fable or quest. The zany antics, and modern slang, and vernacular of Sisu don’t quite mesh with the drama of the previous sequences. Luckily the pacing gets back “on track” as Raya’s own version of the “magnificent seven” jells. Perhaps the writer wanted to evoke the antics of Robin Williams’ Genie or even Eddie Murphy’s tiny dragon Mushu, but the story’s flow is disrupted to the point of near derailment. However, everything does come together again, leading to a most exciting and emotional finale, full of heart and action (did I neglect to mention the nifty weaponry Raya wields). Thanks to all these terrific talents RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON is a most delightful allegory about reaching out to unite for the common good. Especially now, that’s a most welcome notion truly for “all ages”.


3 out of 4


RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON opens in select theatres and streams exclusively via Premier Access on Disney+.

THE CROODS: A NEW AGE – Review

In a time when many families are opting to forgo the big, big get-together and reunion, perhaps they may want to try instead a big cinematic reunion. It’s one that’s seven years in the making, though this particular family goes back several thousands of years. One of 2013’s surprise box office hits was THE CROODS from the hard-working folks at Dreamworks Animation which was indeed a worthy addition to their SHREK, DRAGON, and KUNG FU PANDA franchises. So is this adventure worth a return to the caves, let alone the theatres (no streaming-on-demand for this one…yet) ? Well, let’s dust off the old “loin-cloth” and visit that “family down the street” (oops, wrong animated ancestors) for THE CROODS: A NEW AGE.

It all starts with a fairly somber flashback as we witness young Guy’s last moments with his parents. Not to worry kids, we’re soon right in the thick of the action as the Croods, along with now teenage Guy (voice of Ryan Reynolds), cling tightly to the fur of their charging faithful “macawnivore” Chunky as they evade all manner of predators (those “kangadillos” are really pesky) as they seek out the new homeland they call “Tomorrow”. The main concern of papa Grug (Nicolas Cage) is finding food, but he’s distracted and extremely annoyed by the blossoming romance between Guy and his eldest daughter Eep (Emma Stone). Suddenly he’s stopped in his tracks by something Grug has never encountered: a wall, made of tied-together trees. Using his noggin (literally) he plows through to a wild, multi-colored utopia, a land-of-plenty with all manner of over-sized fruit and veggies. As they recover from their glutinous stupor, two odd shapes slowly come into focus as they get nearer. People! Humans! The duo is husband Phil (Peter Dinklage) and wife Hope (Leslie Mann) Betterman, who wear clothing that’s not fur (a softer thing called cloth), sandals, and tie their hair in buns and ponytails. Plus they know Guy, as they were friends of his folks. When the Croods are brought back to their tree-house domicile (!), they meet the third Betterman, teenage daughter Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran). While Phil and Hope seem welcoming, they’re secretly devising a plot to hook-up Guy with Dawn. But will Eep thwart their plans? And what is the dark secret that makes Phil forbid Grug and his clan from feasting on those luscious bananas that pile up everywhere? Can this really be “Tomorrow”?

The returning voice cast slips back into their roles like easing into a well-worn tiger-skin “one-piece”. Cage is affectionately dim-witted and surprisingly warm as the patriarch Grug, a great counterpoint to Catherine Keener as his calmer, understanding, and nurturing spouse Ugga. Reynolds eases up on his motor-mouth wiseacre screen persona as the energetic, often frustrated Guy, who is a delightful romantic comedy partner to Stone as the spunky, tough, and tender Eep. Cloris Leachman is a feisty force-of-nature as the gravelly-voiced Gran, while Clark Duke gives pre-teen Thunk an endearing distracted vibe. All of them contrast superbly with the talented trio introduced here. Tran makes Dawn a beacon of joyous delight as she encounters the delights of having an adventurous BFF in Eep (she’s okay with Guy, though). Mann is a devilish passive-aggressive diva as Hope, perhaps a prehistoric take on today’s social media “Karens”. But the biggest laughs are generated by the hysterical Dinklage who imbues Phil was so much smarmy snark making him a devious “hipster” prototype oozing with condescension. If he weren’t such a hoot, we’d be impatient for Grug to throttle him (although there is a nice comeuppance).

First-time feature director Joel Crawford brings a wonderful visual style to the story (credited to six writers…uh uh) filling every backdrop with dazzling eye-popping colors (you almost need shades at times) and imaginative animal-creature hybrids (I’d fancy a “wolfspider” stuffed toy, thank you). Its main strength may be in the characters, both familiar and new. Even when some scenes become “dialogue-heavy” we’re engaged due to the superior physical acting with each family member engaging in their specific “body language’ (essential with the feral, sound-effects spewing baby sister Sandy). The lil’ ones will be entranced by the “eye candy” and slapstick even as the plot enters the one-hour mark “lull” (a problem with live-action comedies too). A five or ten minute “trim” might have helped the now 95-minute flick. A few of the more “heavy-handed” gags come to mine. TV addiction is hammered home with Thunk’s obsession with the Betterman’s tree-house widow. He just wants to sit and stare (“Not now, Mom! The birds are on!”). Then there are the big female-empowerment sequences (the whole Eep/Dawn bonding is fun at first) leading to the huge battle/rescue finale as Gran gives her “sistas” tough code names (“You are ‘Bog-Water’!”) before leading the charge, complete with lots of MATRIX-inspired “bullet-time” bits). The score by Mark Mothersbaugh is quite rousing without being too bombastic. But, as with most Dreamworks films, the classic pop tunes are over-utilized, especially one nearing 50 made popular by a singing TV sitcom family. Despite its fumbles and flubs, the great vocal crew and them “purdy pitchers” make THE CROODS: A NEW AGE a worthy sequel sure to be a tasty cinematic dessert after you finish the big (well, not as usual) “boid”.

3 Out of 4

THE CROODS: A NEW AGE opens in selected theatres on November 25

The Croods Meet The Bettermans In THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE Poster And Trailer

In 2013, audiences met The Croods – a loveable pre-historic family in search of a new home. From the directing team of Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders, you can catch it on Netflix now – https://www.netflix.com/title/70143241?source=35

Read our review here: https://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2013/03/the-croods-the-review/

Now comes THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE, , heading into theaters this Thanksgiving.

The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters, from fanged prehistoric beasts to surviving the end of the world, but now they will face their biggest challenge of all: another family.

The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans.

The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”)—with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce—are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions escalate between the cave family and the modern family.

Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together.

Guy (Ryan Reynolds) and his pet sloth Belt in DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age, directed by Joel Crawford.

THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE features the voice talent of returning stars Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood, Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood, Emma Stone as their daughter, Eep; Ryan Reynolds as Eep’s boyfriend, Guy; Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Thunk and Cloris Leachman as Gran. They’re joined by new stars Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones) as Phil Betterman, Leslie Mann (Blockers) as Hope Betterman, and Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi) as their daughter, Dawn.

The film is directed by Joel Crawford, who has worked on multiple DreamWorks Animation films, including Trolls and the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and is produced by Mark Swift (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted).

THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE, WILL BE RELEASED IN CINEMAS IN THE UK AND IRELAND ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2021

(clockwise, from top left) Sandy Crood (Kailey Crawford), Grug Crood (Nicolas Cage), Thunk Crood (Clark Duke), Gran (Cloris Leachman), Eep Crood (Emma Stone) and Ugga Crood (Catherine Keener) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age, directed by Joel Crawford.

Kelly Marie Tran Is Raya In RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON; Awkwafina Will Be Voice Of The Dragon, Sisu

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON – As an evil force threatens the kingdom of Kumandra, it is up to warrior Raya, and her trusty steed Tuk Tuk, to leave their Heart Lands home and track down the last dragon to help stop the villainous Druun. © 2020 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Today, Walt Disney Animation Studios unveiled the first look at warrior Raya and her trusty steed Tuk Tuk, from the upcoming  “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

It was also revealed that Kelly Marie Tran will voice Raya, joining Awkwafina as the voice of the dragon, Sisu. 

Official synopsis:

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon in order to finally stop the Druun for good. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than dragon magic to save the world—it’s going to take trust as well. From directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa, producers Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho, and featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as Sisu.

Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada are directing, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa co-directing. Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are the producers, and Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim are writers on the project. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on March 12, 2021.

Watch The New STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Trailer Plus Catch The Latest Poster And Photos

Get ready Star Wars fans. The new trailer for STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI debuted Monday during ESPN’s Monday Night Football telecast.

As an extra bonus, Walt Disney also released a brand-new poster for director Rian Johnson’s next chapter in the iconic franchise set in a Galaxy Far Far Away.

In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.

Tickets are now on sale everywhere tickets are sold. See it in IMAX.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens in U.S. theaters on December 15, 2017.

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Luke Skywalker getting lightsaber from Rey
Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd.
© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
L to R: Chewbacca with a Porg
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© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
L to R: Finn (John Boyega) battling Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie)
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© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
AT-M6 Walkers, along with Kylo’s Shuttle
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Rey (Daisy Ridley)
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
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© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Rey (Daisy Ridley)
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
General Leia
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Millennium Falcon being chased by First Order TIE Fighters
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Poe’s Resistance X-Wing
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie)
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
BB-8
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
First Order hangar
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New STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Trailer To Debut During “Monday Night Football” Tomorrow October 9

Photo: John Wilson..©2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Proof that sports and movies can co-exist in the same galaxy, a brand new trailer for STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI will debut on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” on Monday, October 9, during halftime of the National Football League (NFL) game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears in Chicago. The game starts at 5:15 p.m. PDT/8:15 p.m. EDT.

Lucasfilm also announced today that following the trailer launch, tickets to the highly anticipated cinematic event will be on sale everywhere movie tickets are sold.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens in U.S. theaters on December 15.

©2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi..Finn (John Boyega) in a Ski Speeder on Crait..Photo: Industrial Light & Magic/Lucasfilm..©2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.