When it comes to divisive characters in the Star Wars franchise, there are few more divisive than Jar Jar Binks. From his first appearance in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, the well-meaning Gungan was comic relief in the Star Wars universe but was also extremely polarizing for fans and the backlash was so extreme that it even negatively impacted Ahmed Best, who brought the character to life. And, of course, it didn’t help Jar Jar’s case when he ended up being instrumental in Chancellor Palpatine getting vast emergency powers in Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones because, well, we all knew where that was going.
But over the years the tide has been turning for Jar Jar Binks. People’s perspectives have shifted with time, especially as Star Wars fans who were kids when the prequel series debuted have grown up and now, Jar Jar is even being canonically redeemed thanks to the new Star Wars: Jar Jar #1 comic, revealing his key role in the origin of the Rebel Alliance…
Where did it all go wrong for Anakin? Some viewers point to his character flaws; they accept Yoda’s argument that there was always fear in Anakin’s heart, and that this fear would inevitably lead to anger, to hatred, and ultimately to suffering. Others argue those flaws could have been dealt with had the Jedi been more empathetic, had they offered a support network and taught Anakin how to manage his attachments. But, surprisingly, George Lucas had a very different idea.
Modern Star Wars tends to venerate Qui-Gon Jinn, arguing the maverick Jedi had a better perspective on the Force than his contemporaries; the general opinion is that he was right to want Anakin trained as a Jedi, because it was the will of the Force, and that he’d have done a better job than Obi-Wan. In contrast, Lucas believed Qui-Gon was a bit of a rebel Jedi who was completely wrong to want Anakin trained. As he explained in a 1999 interview…
Much of Princess Leia’s life has been chronicled in one way or another. Outside of her appearances in the Skywalker Saga films, the character has been featured in an assortment of novels, comics, and television shows. On screen, viewers have seen Leia be everything from a precocious child in need of being rescued (her memorable supporting role in Obi-Wan Kenobi) to an experienced, hardened general, but through it all, there’s still one thing about Leia fans have been waiting to see. And it’s something that was teased back in Star Wars: A New Hope…
Star Wars: Starfighter director Shawn Levy has confirmed an unexpected lightsaber scene with a difference. Star Wars is finally returning to the big screen this year with The Mandalorian & Grogu, but all eyes are already turning to 2027. The 50th anniversary of Star Wars, this will feature the original cut of A New Hope returning to theaters, as well as Shawn Levy’s Starfighter, the first movie set after the sequel trilogy. Featuring an all-star cast including Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Amy Adams, this is easily one of the most exciting Star Wars films in years.
Speaking to the New York Times, Levy has revealed Starfighter features an unexpected lightsaber duel – and that Tom Cruise was involved. According to Levy, he’d had a steady stream of Hollywood A-listers visiting during filming. “Last week Steven Spielberg was here,” he recalled, and now Cruise was on-set…
First impressions matter more in games and can be the determining factor in whether a game succeeds or not. Launch week narratives are full of early reviews, streamer opinions, and word of mouth. Unfortunately, for some games, such as Star Wars Outlaws, it can face undue and intense scrutiny. What started as curiosity upon the game’s reveal turned to criticism, and that is what stuck with fans. As a result, Ubisoft’s open-world Star Wars game stumbled out of the gate.
But time has been kind to Star Wars Outlaws. It has seen an increase in player count, and fans are realizing they were overly harsh to the game. Many who tried the game and dropped it are returning, while others are giving it a shot for the first time. There are several factors contributing to the revival of Star Wars Outlaws, but the signs now point toward a positive reception that may overcome the initial backlash…
In the opening minutes of 1977’s Star Wars, the stakes are made immediately clear, and one of the most iconic villains in film history was born as Darth Vader steps onto the screen. Played on screen by David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones, Vader would transcend the movie itself, not only becoming an iconic character aesthetically (he’s still a popular Halloween costume) but defining the potential for the popularity of antagonists in movies for the rest of time. Even three years later, with The Empire Strikes Back, Vader solidified his place as one of the best of all time after delivering one of the most unexpected movie lines ever.
Three years after Empire, though, Return of the Jedi would start to unravel the mystique of Darth Vader, not only unmasking the character for the first time but giving fans a taste of who he really was before he became the villain fans knew. Time has continued to tell more and more tales of Darth Vader, filling out the margins of the character’s persona and history, but also creating plot holes and inconsistencies. Darth Vader is still one of the greatest villains in fiction, but he’s also been made pretty confusing over the years…
