My goal was to read any and every Star Wars book I could get my hands on.
Like so many around the world, I’ve been a lifelong Star Wars fan since I was very young. But when it came to reading, I never had any interest.
Even if I was reading something that was of supreme interest to me I always found it difficult to follow through and read the entire book.
Well after 25 months of taking up Star Wars books, I’m up to 38.
So you might say to yourself, “Who cares? Why are these books important anyways?”
I’ll tell you…
For starters, so much of the information out there in the Star Wars universe, maybe about 60% of it all derives from the fantastic novels.
So if you care about Star Wars, this information is so very important.
Whether it’s the backstories to Revan and Malgus or the tales and adventures of Darth Maul and Darth Bane, these books are the vital lifelines to the characters we know and love.
Without the fantastic writings of James Luceno we would never know much about Darth Plagueis.
If it wasn’t for John Jackson Miller’s masterpiece of a novel in Kenobi we would forever wonder what occurred on Tatooine after Anakin and Obi-Wan’s fateful duel.
These authors deserve the credit and the accolades that books of their caliber render.
Over the next six months we will see some pretty epic titles be released.
In August to be exact, the second book in Chuck Wendig’s trilogy, Aftermath: Life Debt was released (should be arriving at my door this week.)
And later on in the year we will get a tantalizing novel on Ahsoka Tano as well as an intriguing novel of Rogue One.
As the days, weeks, months and years pass by it seems that we continue to receive more material that is getting deeper and bolder.
If I were to analyze the future of Star Wars novels I would imagine seeing intricate stories and attention grabbing themes continue to be produced.
With that being said, here’s to the future.
For the continued longevity of Star Wars and the stories that their fabulous army of writers continue to produce.
This past week, ABC President Channing Dungey made waves in the Galaxy as she responded to a question at the Television Critics Association on whether she’d want a Star Wars primetime show.
She responded with…
“Oh, as a fan, I would absolutely love to say yes, the conversations with Lucas, we have had conversations with them and will continue to have conversations with them. I think it would be wonderful if we could find a way to extend that brand into our programming.”
So what does this mean for Star Wars? Well two things come to mind.
The growth of Star Wars.
Too big too soon?
Star Wars has never been bigger. Whether you tribute it to the boost of life Disney gave the franchise after acquiring it in 2012 or just the “can’t get enough” appetite of millennials everywhere, (just kidding) Star Wars is MASSIVE.
It seems that no matter what is being thrown out there, fans are devouring it and demanding more.
The Force Awakens was easy proof of that. With the film being the fastest movie to ever gross $1 billion and the biggest worldwide opening weekend and single weekend ever, it’s clear the love for Star Wars is tremendous.
It’s interesting though…Star Wars first started in the 70’s and now more than four decades later it’s at its height of popularity.
The unique nature of Star Wars is that the layoff from episodes VI to I spanned 16 years. Instead of the fan base cooling and dissipating, it only grew in numbers and passion as the world needed more.
As new information is revealed on what the details of a new Star Wars show could entail, it’s only obvious that a live action type of deal will be the format.
With their already being Star Wars Rebels out and other smaller Star Wars shows, it’s time for a real program to be made.
That brings me to my next point…
With all this talk of a new primetime Star Wars show possibly becoming a reality, is there any truth to potential oversaturation?
If you think about it? There very well could be something to be said by all that.
With Star Wars releasing TFA in December 2015, Rogue One due to be released in four months and Episode VIII coming to the big screens in December 2017, is it a bit too much to add a primetime show?
I’m no expert in market vulnerability and entertainment supply and demand trends but I would normally think…yes! It sounds way too much!
With people getting this thrown at them this way, that coming in from over there and that thing blindsiding its way over…it sounds way too much!
BUT
This is Star Wars we’re talking about.
One of the biggest franchise’s the world has ever seen. Not only is the popularity obviously there but the minds behind the magic are the best in the business.
Disney knows what they’re doing and if they feel like they can take on a major role for Star Wars with a primetime audience? Go for it!
To be honest, I think this is a phenomenon that all major franchises will follow in the future.
Disney through Star Wars is setting the standard on how you deal with an established fan base and grow it tenfold.
Everything has been operated perfectly. Nothing is surprising to me anymore when it comes to Star Wars taking on new ventures. It’s obvious this is the time to cultivate the future foundation for the franchise and Disney is taking full advantage.
I think a primetime show would be a thing of pure visual beauty.
But until it’s offical, I’d rather not get my hopes up!
Certainly seems like we’re heading in the right direction though…
With the Star Wars Celebration taking place in London this week, we will get another look at Rogue One.
This Friday on ABC a one hour special titled “Secrets of the Force Awakens” will air and at some point in that broadcast we will get a look at the next Rogue One trailer.
But what will we see?
Besides the storyline of Resistance efforts to steal the Empire’s plans for the Death Star, there’s very little known on what exactly we can expect.
The first trailer gave us some epic shots of awesomeness and some new characters, but besides that we’re still very much in the dark.
Before I continue I want to first say that Disney is the absolute best at keeping movie details under wraps until the films are released.
For instance, with The Force Awakens we all had no clue what was going to happen.
I would expect the same with RO.
Before you start to think of what will be seen in the next trailer, it’s important to see the parallels with TFA.
The second TFA trailer was released last in April 2015 during the Star Wars celebration in California.
As you can see, the trailer had almost nothing of substance.
Normally I would suggest the same thing will occur with RO’s next trailer but you know what? I don’t think that’s the case.
With the TFA, things were different. We all knew the six Star Wars movies like the back of our hands.
We were searching and craving for any little snippet of picture time that showcased our favorite characters and vigorously searched far and wide for any plot twists.
That’s exactly why the trailers for the movie were so vanilla. They were released knowing that the public would eat up anything Star Wars related.
But as I said earlier with RO, there’s very little known information on what is to come.
That brings me to my next point. Because there’s a real lack of knowledge, I fully expect to see something mind blowing, something that we will be talking about for months to come.
What could that exactly be?Maybe more screen time for the man in the white cape? What about a demonstration of sheer might from the Empire? Or maybe an appearance of Darth Vader!?
All of these possibilities would be pretty epic but the last one is what I’m hoping for.
But on the realistic side of things I’m not sure exactly if that would really happen.
Would it make sense for RO to show their biggest and most popular character in only the second trailer?
Honestly I’m not sure.
With TFA, probably the biggest takeaway was the deformed helmet of Darth Vader and the hearing of Luke’s voice.
Looking back that was pretty major considering Kylo Ren is Luke’s nephew and the second trailer clearly foreshadowed that pretty big nugget with Luke’s line of “The Force is strong in my family.”
It’s almost a sure bet we will see something similar in this trailer with RO considering that Disney is very high on symmetry.
But think about it. What else do you want to see in RO that has not been mentioned before.
I know what I would want and that’s an appearance of the Emperor.
It would definitely make sense. With the amount of resources the Empire sunk into the Death Star and the amount of importance it holds for them, you would expect the top man to be around right?
I do believe Palpatine will be in RO but my one concern is I’m not sure if he will be in the second trailer or even the third.
It might be showing your cards too early and when it comes to Star Wars, rookie mistakes like that are never made.
You ever see a trailer for a movie like a Marvel Comics superhero flick where it feels like it’s 35 minutes long and by the time it’s over you’re almost under the impression that you just saw all the good parts??
Yea well Star Wars doesn’t have that ridiculousness…
Star Wars decision makers do it right and something they are absolutely famous for is not revealing anything too important.
I do believe RO is a different animal because it is so new but I wouldn’t be that surprised if we do see something pretty spectacular in the trailer since I’m sure they’re wanting to build up the buzz.
In the end, what will we see?
Main characters of other previous films? Possibly.
Parts of intense fighting scenes? Probably.
Could their be some hints leading to something major? I fully expect it.
All I know is I’m excited for Friday.
RO will be fantastic and I just can’t wait to learn more.
With exactly 173 days away from the next Star Wars feature, the world is preparing for its most unique and abstract storyline yet.
The first of its kind, Star Wars: Rogue One will take place immediately before A New Hope as the Rebellion scrambles to acquire plans for the Empire’s newest and most sinister weapon, the Death Star.
With a familiar feel of an original trilogy return, we are bound to see old friends and foes as they grace the screen with their fantastic presence.
Might we see a young Han Solo? Possibly.
A regal Princess Leia? Could be.
But that one character who we all can’t get enough of? Yes, he has officially been confirmed.
Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, fallen Jedi and the faceless visage of evil will be a mainstay in Rogue One.
I’m not one to keep up with the endless swirl of rumors surrounding Star Wars but when this broke and the news was out that Vader will return, I found myself fist pumping and jumping to the skies.
It’s no secret that the popularity of Darth Vader has him forever etched in the pantheon of all-time movie greats but what does this do for Rogue One?
Does this change things?
To be honest and to put it rather bluntly, I think a lot of us knew this was coming for quite some time.
Regardless when it would announced however, this most definitely catapults this movie into rarefied air.
Darth Vader is to Star Wars as fireworks are to the Fourth of July.
He is the most important quintessential piece to Star Wars in any capacity.
Hey, there is a reason why the next trilogy (Ep. VII, VIII, IX) is based on Vader’s legacy…
What he brings to the table that the minds behind all Star Wars material realized is pure, untapped entertainment that can revitalize a previously visited time period that needed an extra spark.
Don’t get me wrong, even without Vader in Rogue One I still think the film would have been extremely successful.
But with the man in the suit donning the screens again Star Wars recaptures some of that original flare that made this franchise so dynamic.
In the last couple of months there has been talk of a “darker” Star Wars movie.
Something where brutality and mutilation are rampant and shrill screams of agony stained with the stench of fear are everywhere.
So I’ll say it again…Why is it important that Vader is in Rogue One?
Simple. Vader is fear, Vader is death, Vader is the human representation of all these emotions bundled together in a wrecking ball of a cyborg-like human being.
He brings to the table what the movie needs. Without reinventing the wheel, Rogue One has their swashbuckling villain all warmed up and ready to go.
Movies like these, and when I say “movies like these” I mean movies that are part of a longstanding series that are all in a single direction and then a new one comes along marching on a different path.
A movie like Rogue One needs a galvanizing force.
It needs someone who moviegoers will continuously sit on the edges of their seats desperately waiting for the first appearance of this attention-grabbing character.
Vader owns this factor and so much more.
Not to mention the fact that he is the perfect hunter to go after these “plan stealing Rebels” but hey, he ties the whole story together!
Darth Vader’s presence will elevate everything related to Rogue One and then some…
He’s a man of torture and results. Someone who enjoys others pain.
Ever since he was birthed by the fiery brimstone and molten lava rivers of Mustafar Vader has craved the brutal destruction of others.
With the Dark Lord, everything just adds up.
If you start to analyze what the movie would look like without a Darth Vader and maybe someone that is similar to Darth Vader in the form of a punisher, things start to look a little strange.
For starters, the timeline of the movie would mean that Vader is in his absolute prime. He’s at the height of his killing and mangling.
It would be at the point in time when he is still unaware of his offspring’s survival which therefore wouldn’t take up his time, the wounds and the death of Anakin Skywalker would still be relatively fresh in his mind and his orders by the Emperor would still be to spread fear.
Is it just me or does that almost sum up the Empire’s approach to Rogue One perfectly!?
I know I’m supposed to make a case why he must be in this movie but it’s virtually impossible to omit Vader from the script.
I mean, during this time in the Galaxy Vader is the face of the Empire emanating vile hatred.
To many of the people around the universe he is public enemy number one.
With that being said, of course Darth Vader will be in it!
If by some terrible mistake Vader was not in Rogue One, in being a Star Wars superfan I would see the movie no matter what.
But when you tell me that it’s going to be a “darker” more visual movie and Darth Vader will be a mainstay, you can count me in every day of the week.
The 10th character for the Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings is…Darth Malgus!
Darth Malgus Overall = 95
Some villains are bad and some villains are evil.
Darth Malgus was one devilish man.
He was about as fierce and fiery of an individual as we’ve ever seen.
Standing at a whopping 7’2, Malgus was the absolute epitome of intimidating.
Known for his unrelenting thirst for power and greatness, Darth Malgus had all the makings of a legendary Force-user.
Besides the fact that he was an elite offensive fighter, he also is extraordinary in other ways as well.
Darth Malgus has perhaps the highest pain tolerance of almost any being on the Sith Pacify Power Rankings.
In a surprise attack on Alderaan, Malgus was grievously injured on multiple occasions.
At two different moments, the Sith Lord’s face was permanently scarred due to rockets and grenades that were unleashed upon him by Republic Special Forces.
But it wasn’t until he came face-to-face with his nemesis Satele Shan that he bore the brunt of his injuries.
Shan’s final attack that defeated Malgus seared the skin around his mouth and jaw bone as well as causing deep divots along the sides of his face.
The extent of his injuries ended up severely damaging his lungs as Malgus would have to wear a breathing apparatus for the rest of his life.
Malgus would ultimately get his revenge though as he would take down the Republic capital on Coruscant.
So how powerful is he?
Let’s find out.
Characteristics
Pain Threshold (Strength, 98/100)- Can you imagine your face being subjected to not one but two cataclysmic explosions at point-blank range? And on top of that, being injured so badly that your lungs could no longer operate on their own!? Well that’s exactly what happened to Darth Malgus. But the kicker? He didn’t feel a thing. That’s right, the Sith Lord was so preoccupied with the emotional pain of defeat that he felt no pain in regard to his physical injuries. Talk about a monster!
Power (Strength, 95/100)- Everything Darth Malgus did was intertwined with Dark Side power. From his stare to his slashes with a lightsaber, Malgus was filled with crackling pure electric energy. His strength was what set him apart from other Force-users. From a physical standpoint, you could make a legitimate argument that Darth Malgus was the strongest of all time.
Will (Strength, 94/100)- Malgus’ dedication in seeing things through combined with his mental intensity created a recipe for annihilation. Arguably his best characteristic, Malgus’ strong personality blocked him from pain, fear and other emotions that would have ordinarily held him back. His willpower was so intense that Malgus often carried through with his own ambitions even if they conflicted with direct orders.
Physicality (Strength, 95/100)- By now it’s easy to tell what kind of a warrior Malgus is. He’s a pure beast that would rather beat his enemy to a bloody pulp with anything available to him instead of taking prisoners. What makes him so powerful is his extremely overwhelming ability to crush anyone in his way. Malgus famously murdered his rival, Lord Adraas by choking the man. Only thing is, normally that would mean through the Force. Well, Malgus hated Adraas so deeply that he actually choked him with his bare hands…
Military Tactician (Strength, 97/100)-Malgus was absolutely imposing in a battle but he was also a military genius. From retaking Korriban to the sacking of Coruscant. There’s a reason why his superiors continuously tabbed Malgus as the leader in these high stakes campaigns! His provato on the battlefield provided his compatriots with all the incentive and drive they needed to be victorious.
Love (Weakness, 57/100)- Darth Malgus had a dark secret. For quite a long time, he actually had a lover in a Twi’lek slave girl named Eleena Daru whom he fought side by side with in multiple battles. Although he tried to keep his relationship with the girl secret, his rival Lord Adraas would eventually discover his bond with her and try to take advantage. In the end, Malgus kills Daru in an attempt to cut loose ends and to prevent anything from holding him back.
Intangibles
Steely-Eyed Stare (Strength, 92/100)- It is said that no one could ever hold Darth Malgus’ stare for a long period of time. The sheer power of this guy seemingly emanated through his glare as if they were incendiary lasers. Through his awesome power of the Dark Side, Malgus was able to create such an intimidating reputation that was accentuated that much more just by his eyes alone!
Final Word
Few are like Darth Malgus. In a time where the Sith Empire was playing the game of “political grandstanding” to add more to its already massive amount of territory, Malgus would have none of it. In despising politics, the Dark Lord was a true Sith warrior. He preferred to kill, he loved to kill. Heck, when he was just a young boy he killed a Twi’lek servant on his father’s estate for no apparent reason! The man was a human wrecking ball that craved blood. The ferocity in his actions were so prevalent that he made a name for himself wherever he went. The merciless and punishing nature of Darth Malgus is why he is a top 10 Force-user.
As I write this to you now I have chills running up and down.
Ever since I saw the first episode of Star Wars Rebels, I knew this show had immense potential.
But tonight, Rebels turns the corner.
There is so much excitement, so much build up leading into this season finale that the expectations are gigantic.
But with the star power and storylines leading into this one, it has the right amount of dynamite to deliver.
So what exactly are those storylines that you should be looking for?
Let’s take a look!
Will Ezra fall to the Dark Side?
As season two has progressed, there has been more indications of Ezra’s allure to the dark.
Whether it’s in his arrogance in his behavior regarding the others or his blatantly rotten attitude that seems to be spoiling as the season rages on, Ezra is changing.
We’ve seen him in the past go to another level such as when he was battling the Grand Inquisitor in the first season.
But just the way Yoda was warning him gives us an indication that dark clouds are on the horizon for young Ezra.
As a 14 year old boy, he has tremendous potential.
Quite frankly, up to this point I’m surprised that the Inquisitors haven’t tried to seduce him to bring him back to Vader.
It’s clear he’s a lightning rod that’s garnishing a heck of a lot of attention within the Force.
We know he will be meeting Darth Maul tonight but in what context?
In the trailer for the episode, Darth Maul seems to be portraying an old being that’s been crossed one to many times and has resigned to the fact that he now wants to do good.
Well that remains to be seen and if you really think that, you might be in for a rude awakening.
This is Darth Maul we’re talking about! He’s not some weak Force-user that just gets by.
No, he’s as intimidating as they come with a severe and voracious hunger to annihilate anything that resembles the Jedi with merciless hate.
Now could he have changed? I suppose so.
But will he? I doubt it very much so.
Which brings me to my next point.
I do apologize for the bad quality of this video but it was the only one I could find on YouTube.
This video was shown during a commercial break within the last couple weeks during a Rebels episode.
This is so significant to everything I’m saying.
From the video, it certainly looks like Ezra is being egged on by Maul to unleash the fury of the Dark Side on the Seventh Sister.
WOW.
What an amazing scene that would be.
So what do you think? Will Ezra be amongst the shadows of the Dark Side after the season finale or will his teachings by Kanan and his devotion to the light prevail?
We will find out soon.
What will Darth Maul represent?
Last time we saw Darth Maul, he was on the ground screaming in agony from Darth Sidious’ Force lightning strikes.
He just lost a duel to Sidious as well as everything else.
He lost his hold on Mandalore, his brother and most likely his freedom.
It was very interesting because Darth Sidious even said to Maul that he wasn’t going to kill him so I always figured that just meant he was going to torture him and that was that.
Well apparently either Maul escaped or was allowed to leave.
And I can’t see Sidious allowing Darth Maul to leave…
To see Darth Maul return to the screen tonight will be so surreal.
He is truly one of the most fantastic characters in all of Star Wars and his presence is just awesome!
But since his defeat to his former Master there’s been nothing on the former Sith Lord.
We have had no indication that he was even alive!
Fast forward 15 years later and Darth Maul is back.
But in what capacity?
We know he will be talking to Ezra and they will reach the subject of the Sith and the Dark Side…
Will Darth Maul speak highly of this entity or will he bash it and blame it for all his terrible misfortune?
I’m not sure but if I had to guess what Maul’s purpose with Ezra is, I would say this.
What if Darth Maul’s goal was to gain a pupil in the Dark Side, one who was very strong but young and foolish?
Someone who Darth Maul could somehow harness their power and take for his own in hopes of ultimately gaining revenge against Darth Sidious.
After all, the setting for tonight’s episode seems to be dealing with holocrons and unnatural means of the Force.
What will happen to Ahsoka?
The most anticipated storyline of the entire Star Wars Rebels existence thus far will play out tonight.
Will Ahsoka meet Darth Vader.
In the last couple episodes, Ahsoka has been trying to come to grips with the fact that this menacing, pure-evil being that is Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker.
It’s clear that Ahsoka has been crushed.
Her appearances over the last two episodes have been brief yet telling.
I feel as if she is broken. Like she has nothing left to live for and wants to see things through that Vader gets what he deserves.
Now I see this playing out another way too.
Maybe Ahsoka is playing all her cards in this moment.
What if she wants to encounter Darth Vader face-to-face to see if their unbreakable bond can alleviate his infection that is the Dark Side?
Now I don’t know how this will end but it’s pretty clear that things don’t look good for Ahsoka…
Personally, I love the character of Ahsoka Tano. I think she’s done so much for so many that even in 10 years we’ll still be marveling at her accomplishments.
With that being said, I fear for her tonight.
At this moment, the man she knew in Anakin Skywalker is truly no more.
We’ve seen and heard countless tales of butchery and devastating brutality come from Darth Vader and tonight will be quite the spectacle.
Anything regarding Vader’s past fuels an intense fire within his heart and gives him reason to unleash unspeakable horrors.
But how will he react when he sees his one and only Padawan?
Will there be even the slightest hint of happiness within Vader?
I doubt it but one can only hope.
You know, this is going to be an emotional episode.
It will tie so many loose ends and allow us to see things more clearly but man, if anything happens to Ahsoka…the sadness will be immense.
In the past couple years when it comes to video games, Star Wars fans have suffered tremendously.
When Disney purchased Star Wars on October 30, 2012, many people thought this would be a new era for video game titles as the shelves were sparse with Star Wars material at the time.
Well, it is now more than three years later and the shelves arepractically barren.
When Disney took over Lucasfilm, they were also the new owners of the video game making division of the company, LucasArts.
But on May 6, 2013 Disney dealt the final blow to LucasArts video game creating days as they announced Electronic Arts would now develop Star Wars based games.
So, where did it all go wrong?
Well honestly, there’s enough blame to go around.
In the years leading up to Disney’s major purchase, LucasArts had a number of titles that were in various stages of production.
One of these titles was Star Wars 1313.
Star Wars 1313 was a cancelled action-adventure-based project that was centered on a bounty hunter/mercenary based game.
The game was to be a new direction of Star Wars games as it had little to no emphasis on Jedi/Force action.
What sucks most about this game being cancelled is the actual gameplay.
If you just watch that trailer of the gameplay, you’d completely understand how much this hurts Star Wars fans.
I mean, this game looks epically awesome and the fact that we most likely will never see it is just…painful.
Another video game title that was cancelled before completion was an abstract game called Rebel Warrior.
This game is something very similar to what I’ve been desperately wanting from Star Wars for a very long time.
The game is based in the early days of the Empire where you play as a Wookie who bashes Imperial Stormtrooper’s heads in with all the fury a Wookie carries within.
As the creature’s homeworld of Kashyyyk is under a heavy assault and blockade, these hairy beasts wreak havoc in a much darker, intended for a more mature audience game.
Once again, sadly we’ll never see this game come to fruition.
The next game that was cancelled is by far the most crushing of the three…
The game focused around fan-favorite Darth Maul and how our favorite double-bladed lightsaber combatant traversed the Galaxy.
The game’s direction was meant to shine light on the previously unknown tales of Maul’s journeys up to the Battle of Geonosis.
Designed by RedFly Studios, this game was another unfortunate cancellation that we will never forget.
As time goes on, it seems eerily strange that a once prominent and bountiful Star Wars genre of video games is oddly missing from today’s world.
Of course there are games like Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Knights of the Fallen Empire and Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes but the old titles that boasted diversity, ingenuity and story mode-based adventures are gone.
They’re a thing of the past now.
It’s strangely reminiscent of Ben Kenobi telling Luke in A New Hope of the Jedi saying “For over a thousand generations the Jedi knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic…before the dark times. Before, the Empire.”
Tragically, those “dark times” are now.
Isn’t it ironic that in an age with immense and superior technology, we’re still waiting for a Star Wars game as good as those from the early 2000’s?
All we can do is hope and pray.
I wish I could influence EA somehow to just create a dozen unique and different Star Wars games.
Alas, I do not have that power.
But figuratively, I would say there has to be some optimism in this.
You have to figure that sooner than later, EA will get it together and realize the vast amount of money available in this recently untouched market and exploit it.
When Disney took control of Star Wars, many fans were reasonably troubled.
Some who didn’t like the Prequels and many of George Lucas’ ideas (these people annoy me) welcomed this new change of direction.
But for the most part, people were a bit wary.
For me, it was a frightening concept to relinquish the mindset of George Lucas no longer being in control.
What calmed this transition for many of us was the announcement of Episodes VII, VIII and IX.
Since before Disney, we weren’t sure if there would EVER be another Star Wars movie!
However, with this announcement many fans, myself included, were worried on how the movies would come out.
But as time went on and some concepts and ideas were leaked, which were extremely few, we all exhaled and were able to relax.
As of now, about a month and two weeks after the release of The Force Awakens, life with Disney at the helm of Star Wars seems pretty darn good.
No complaints right?
Well, I have one…
At some point last year the following statement from Disney was released.
It was announced relatively recent that as of As of April 25th, 2014, the only previously published materials that are considered canon are the six Star Wars films and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and film, while the Expanded Universe is no longer considered canon[1] and was re-termed as the “Legends” brand. Most Star Wars material released after April 25, 2014—with some exceptions—is composed in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, making it part of the “new canon.”
The good people of Wookiepedia documented that quote which allows us to discuss it.
Before I continue, I have to say this.
First off, I love what Disney has done to Star Wars.
The years leading up to George Lucas selling Star Wars to Disney were cold, lonely times for new material in many different facets of entertainment.
Since Disney took over, they have fully exploited many different revenue streams which in turn has provided maximum enjoyment for the fans.
Now back to this Canon stuff.
The fact that everything before April 2014 is no longer Canon is deeply troubling.
There are so many powerful novels that have been absolutely astounding and now that they’re basically gone is agitating to say the least.
One of the greatest books I have ever read, Star Wars or not was Jame Luceno’s “Darth Plagueis”.
Through his words we learn Palpatine’s rise to power, we discover who this shadowy figure in Darth Plagueis is and we see how their relationship ends.
So now that this is no longer Canon, where do we go from here?
Are we supposed to pretend that Plagueis and Palpatines’ idea of ruling the Galaxy together with Palpatine being the face and Plagueis being in the shadows never existed?
Are we supposed to ignore the fact that Palpatine gruesomely murdered his mother, father and siblings just because they didn’t get along?
How does that work Disney!?
What about all the fantastic tales told during Matthew Stover’s novelization of “Shatterpoint”.
Is all the emotional journeys experienced in that story no more?
If so, and it sure seems that way, what do we really know about Mace Windu?
What about Drew Karpyshyn’s “Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan”?
Is Revan just Star Wars mythology now!?
What about Malak and Malgus, Bane and the Sith Emperor Lord Vitiate?
Are they all no more??
It can’t be!
This is so uncharacteristic of Disney.
Well, maybe not.
I believe the thinking behind this essential wiping out of everything before Episode I is to be able to remake and thus profit from the “new” material.
And I get it.
That’s all fine and dandy except for one small detail…
The most dedicated and educated Star Wars fans have no clarity on what is what now.
You see, clarity is the key word there.
Why is that you might ask?
Only recently did we discover this…and this is important so pay attention.
Some of the material before April 2014 is real and thus considered Canon.
But what!?
How are we supposed to differentiate between Canon and Non-Canon?
I can understand the reasoning behind this as they must be trying to add to some parts that have been previously concluded.
For instance, Supreme Leader Snoke.
Many say that he could be Darth Plagueis.
Well if you’ve read the novel you know that that’s impossible since Plagueis died!
But since it’s no longer Canon, it now is possible.
Regardless of Snoke, in my opinion it is just a giant, sorrowful mistake to say all of this isn’t Canon.
THAT is what Disney got wrong.
Now it’s very immoral to basically tell all the wonderful writers that created such masterful work in Star Wars novelizations that their work is no longer real…
BUT, this is a business after all.
Still, one would think that these writers must feel spurned right?
I know I wouldn’t like to be told that my work is now being disregarded in the grand scheme of things.
You see this could hurt Star Wars in the long run.
Maybe some of these writers feel some type of way towards Disney and decide they no longer want to write about Star Wars.
In the end the fans would suffer.
Now I’m sure if Disney dangled a giant wad of cash to these artists they would reconsider.
But even so, how strong would the material be if their creator’s heart isn’t in it?
That’s what I would think at least.
Well in the end, Disney will do what it wants and that’s fine.
But I would just like some clarity and a defined list on the novels that determines what exactly is still Canon if any of it is.
That’s all.
I’m a huge fan of all the Star Wars novels. I read them every single day.
I would just like Disney to be a bit more responsible and consider the many artists and their work that they just uprooted and hung out to dry.
As we approach the final stretch until the much anticipated release of The Force Awakens, something comes to mind.
I find it incredibly impressive that the sheer volume of various trailers have not impeded on the plot.
I mean, think about it…there are literally dozens of individual trailers.
Yet we know so very little of what is going to happen on the big screen.
That’s impressive right?
I’ve always noted in past blockbuster releases that two trailers and sometimes three are too much, and here we are STILL receiving new footage on TFA.
So how is that possible?
It’s quite simple actually.
Disney has designed their marketing and advertising campaign on the exploitation of the fan’s imagination.
In other words, because The Force Awakens is so highly anticipated, instead of revealing what is to happen they simply need to show meaningless footage of characters.
And that’s absolutely fine with us!
What I mean by this is simple.
We don’t want to know what’s going to happen beforehand and although there might be rumors swirling around out there, nothing is set in stone.
Because Star Wars is so deeply predicated on the honorable heroes and the infamous villains, Disney is allowing the appearances of new and old characters lead the wave of excitement.
Think about this.
What was the major takeaway in the first trailer released?
Two things…the return of the Millennium Falcon and the enticing aesthetics of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber.
That’s all!
Now think about movies like Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla for example.
Leading up to film’s premiere, there were three trailers.
Not a dozen or so like Star Wars yet just from those three little trailers, we learned so much on what the plot was.
Stuff like that ruins enthusiasm for major movies.
Make that ANY movie.
That is exactly why Disney and Star Wars is a match made in heaven.
Disney is arguably the greatest marketing conglomerate that we have ever seen.
Say what you want about their insatiable desire of releasing animated movies based around singing animals or princesses, they rake in the dough.
Star Wars is one of the most popular franchises not only in the United States but the world.
Now when you combine the two, you have a perfect recipe of intrigue and commotion.
Just the sound of Kylo Ren’s voice heck just footage of Ren himself is enough to get fans excited!
That right there is what is so darn impressive.
It’s one thing to release a bunch of trailers that don’t reveal a lot yet give fans exactly what they’re looking for but when you realize this and push the envelope to the point of instituting this strategy in mass quantity, you hit a new level of greatness.
Quite frankly, this is exactly why I believe the campaign Disney has put together to market and advertise The Force Awakens is the clear-cut best performance of recent memory.
In a time where demand is so great and selfishness is often present, it’s nothing short of a miracle that nothing has been leaked regarding the film as well!
That JJ Abrams runs a tight ship!
We’re so close now that I have dreams of Star Wars-laden adventures every night…
From 1999 to approximately 2008, there were dozens and dozens of Star Wars video games out in circulation.
From Star Wars Battlefront to Star Wars Republic Commando, these games were filled with epic fun.
But as Lucasfilm began to slow down, so did Lucasarts.
For those who don’t know, after Disney’s purchase of Star Wars in 2012, things began to take a turn for the worst for Lucasarts.
Sadly, it was announced in May of 2013 that Electronic Arts would assume the mantle of developing and creating Star Wars video games.
This ended Lucasarts multi-decade run.
However, Lucasarts continued to develop mobile, social, tablet and online game categories.
But enough of the technical stuff, let’s get down to business.
So, why has Star Wars video games seen a major lack of production and business??
Well, I think there are multiple angles to this.
First off, I think a Star Wars game, before it’s even created has a pristine reputation of greatness and awesomeness.
In other words, people are going to buy this game and they are going to expect an excellent product.
Sadly, Star Wars video games have not done so well as of late.
The Force Unleashed games were crushed by critics, Battlefront II came out in 2005 (long 10 year gap to the Battlefront game released last month) and let’s face it, when was the last time a GOOD Star Wars game even came out!?
Look, I liked The Force Unleashed but I wasn’t crazy about it.
There was just something about it that felt un-Star Warsy…
You see my all-time favorite SW games ever are the following..
5. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
The graphics for this game were so poor that it was funny and you know what? I didn’t even care. I loved this game because it was wacky and wild. It was totally out there as in strange things would happen to you. I last played this game over 15 years ago so I’ll be honest with you and say I don’t remember a whole lot. With that being said, what I do remember is endless adventures of insane fun and laughter-filled action.
4. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Where do I even start? This game was filled to the brim with action. There were unfair dogfights that would always end in me being so upset when my X-wing was shot down. But that’s what makes the game so much fun. It wasn’t easy, in fact I remember I was incredibly terrible at the game! Nonetheless, I deeply enjoyed it. I remember trying to take down AT-AT’s on Hoth, trying to save General Reiken from Imperial bombers and dogfighting it out on Tatooine. Awesome game, I miss it dearly.
3. Star Wars: Republic Commando
Just the other day I was playing this one. Republic Commando is not just one of the greatest Star Wars games but in my opinion, it’s up there with one of the best games EVER. The reason being, I’ve never seen any glitching throughout the game. Another reason being, when you, as a squad leader issue commands to your team, they ALWAYS listen as they would in real life. Also, it’s so much fun seeing what the beginning of the Clone Wars on Geonosis were like. I still talk to my friends to this day on how awesome this game was and it was released all the way back in 2005!
2. Star Wars: Jedi Outcast
This game had the best multiplayer game of any Star Wars game…ever. No, I’m not talking about online action but against computers. You could even play splitscreen with a buddy as you take on 14 computer players. The lightsaber combat is one of a kind (even today), the force powers are awesomely accurate and that’s not even the best part of the game! Jedi Outcast has the greatest story mode out of any game I’ve ever played. From Kyle Katarn starting off as a non-force user to slowly but surely regaining his powerful abilities of the force, this game was awesome.
1. Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2
Hands down best Star Wars games ever. The combat was like nothing else, no other game to this day has been able to match the intense, thrilling way each battle was carried out. The maps in both of these games were insane. They were all so accurate that it’s mind boggling that they were released in 2004 and 2005. Not to mention the graphics. I feel as if this game had better graphics than many today! But the best part of these games was the game mode..yep, you guessed it, Galactic Conquest. I have never played any game in my life, back then and today where I had as much fun. You’re taking over the Galaxy as you fight from one world to the next! What could be better? For this reason alone, this is why the new Battlefront game will never come close to what these two achieved. Shame on you EA and DICE for taking out such a beloved game mode.
Now back to why Star Wars video games have seen a major lack of production and business…
I believe a major part of it today is the fact that people will buy any game out there.
There is such a strong demand for video games that companies just have to put them out there and people will throw money at them.
Think of Madden or Fifa for example…
These games are released every year with very little difference each time.
How does EA get away with this?
People don’t care, they just want the game.
It’s a shame really, I think that that is the central point to this whole Star Wars video game fiasco.
Video game developers don’t want to take on Star Wars games because they’re just too big and too intricate.
But, is there a bright side to all of this? You bet.
I think with The Force Awakens being released, we should finally start to see the dried up riverbed of Star Wars video games begin to replenish.
I’m hoping that Star Wars Battlefront will pave the way and start a long domino effect.
sithpacify 