Discussion, Analysis, and Rhetoric
Official Pix has announced a signing opportunity with Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels — The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith — as well as a number of appearances in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
You can find all the information on this signing below:
Yes, that’s right, you heard me, I said that dirty little word “prequel.” Well, guess what? You best get used to hearing it, seeing it, and reading it more often, especially now. You see, there’s a new movie coming out in about three months, and this impending film is set to take place “before” Star Wars: A New Hope. Therefore, making it a prequel film and, yes, I’m talking about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Call it whatever you like, a pioneering film or a groundbreaker. Either way you say it, it is still a prequel. Like them or don’t like them. Regardless, they’re here to stay.
Star Wars is evolving and, as fans, we need to do the same. It’s a new generation of Star Wars and George Lucas is no longer at the helm. Ok, so that might be old news, but so is the timeless fact that we cannot change things that we have no control over. That said, I love Star Wars – all of it! Do I agree with every tiny detail of it? No, but that doesn’t change my love for that galaxy far, far away. Why? Well, for starters, it was meant to be what it is today. The first six were meant to follow a specific pattern – like a poem – they rhyme. There are parallelisms, there are mythology patterns, and yes, tantalizing visuals that are way ahead of their time and remarkably, are still impressive to this very day. Yes, in both the original and prequel films. Side note, there are more practical models in The Phantom Menace than in any of the original three films. Anyways, moving along …
STAR WARS™ – THE ULTIMATE EDITIONS OF THE ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS
SONY CLASSICAL REISSUES STAR WARS EPISODES I-VI
IN NEWLY RESTORED AUDIO COLLECTIONS
NOW AVAILABLE ON VINYL, CD AND HI-RESOLUTION DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
The most acclaimed and enduring film music in Hollywood history, the original soundtracks of Star Wars Episodes I-VI are being reissued by Sony Classical in three new, definitive editions – Star Wars: The Ultimate Vinyl Collection (11 LPs), Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Edition (10 CDs plus DVD) and Star Wars: The Ultimate Digital Collection (hi-resolution download). All composed by the legendary five-time Oscar®-winning composer, John Williams, these unique collector’s sets are being reissued after the latest chapter in the saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, opens in theaters. All three of Sony Classical’s new soundtrack editions are now available.
Missing the Point:
An Analysis of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Part II – A Star Wars Story
By Daniel Noa
In Part I, I discussed some structural filmmaking issues in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, much of which has to do with filmmaking intent, and while I believe they keep the film from measuring up to previous Star Wars installments, they may still be legitimate filmmaking choices. But I was more troubled that The Force Awakens does not adhere to the rules and mythology of the Star Wars universe as we saw depicted in the original trilogy in some very essential ways.
Have you ever had that friend or family member who constantly complains about something from the past? You know, that person who has told you hundreds of times how they feel about something that happened years and years ago.
Eventually it gets so old that you don’t even care anymore. It just causes you to sigh, roll your eyes and you tell them to LET IT GO (I apologize if that triggered a song from a certain animated movie). At one time, you might have even agreed with their position, but since you’ve heard so much complaining, not even you care anymore.
That’s what Star Wars Prequel Bashers have become.
On this special show, we have the winner of our first Patreon Coffee Chat, Dennis Keithly! Dennis leads the discussion; we look at the hype surrounding The Force Awakens, the impact social media has on hype, and reflect on the anticipation surrounding the Original Trilogy releases, the Special Editions, and the Prequels. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane, and it’s all due to the vision of Dennis. This is the podcast you’re looking for!
Young, impressionable Anakin Skywalker’s feelings are molded by Palpatine’s words, particularly those that speak of Anakin’s greatness and the Council’s foolishness. Anakin would be around his 20s in the time of The Clone Wars, and while he does have a vast amount of life experience, he also has seen a great amount of success, which can only stroke one’s natural youthful ego. Palpatine plays directly into this attitude.
The Force has awakened. The Star Wars era seems to have truly begun. Yet far from the machinations of the past, we must not stray. For where we come from leads to where we are going, and where we are going will bring more nuance to where we have been. Where then, have we been? We have been, through both the prequel and original trilogy, in the story that is the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker.
This has, I believe, too often been forgotten. Numerous reasons make this so, ranging from the disdain for the prequels, to the vastness of the Star Wars galaxy, the apparent need to separate the prequels from the original trilogy, and, as of late, the emphasis on the practical effects that are being so greatly promoted as a part of the sequel trilogy.
For all of George Lucas’ flip-floppery on whether there would ever be a sequel trilogy, the form of the story demands that a third installment be created. It asks for it, it begs for it, and it demands it. The Skywalker story is not complete. From one point of view, we have Anakin’s rise, fall and redemption. But we are missing the story of his legacy. Every one of us will leave a legacy – a story that can only be told after our death. So, from my point of view, we have Anakin’s life, his redemption and – and then, nothing. The Skywalker baton was passed on to his son, but what he did with that legacy is a story as yet untold. Life, redemption, legacy. A trilogy that can be reflective of every life. Read more
CWK co-host Dan Z has the next in his series “Studying Skywalkers” posted on the Official Star Wars Blog. In this installment, Dan continues his look at the significance of meals in the galaxy far, far away – This time focusing on the Prequel Trilogy.
