Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast

With every original script must come a novelization. Whereas movie properties like Harry Potter are adaptations of written source material, screen concepts like Star Wars are given the reverse treatment. An author must come in and adapt visual shorthand to the written word and find a way to do so compellingly. Often they do so by expanding scenes, inserting internal dialogue, and including moments...

Star Wars is a rich tapestry populated by interesting characters with deep back stories. At least, we think it might be. With a plethora of characters and concepts, and media to transmit their stories, one of the great mysteries of the new map Lucasfilm is building of Star Wars history is how many disappointing turns and dead ends you find on your journey. Whether Chewbacca, Vader, or Fett, these...

We pitched theoretical television shows, so let's look at what Lucasfilm has on the way in reality. Disney and Lucasfilm launched the animated show *Star Wars Rebels* with the hopes of luring in old fans and a new audience eager for adventures in a galaxy far, far away. After some fitful adjustments in tone and focus, Season 3 debuts soon, and with it another chance to capture the minds of *Star W...

In a short while, on a television very near you... Disney and Lucasfilm have fired up the imaginations of fans yet again with the promise of a live-action television show set in the Star Wars galaxy. Immediately we wonder, when it will be set and what characters we will see. Shortly after that, we wonder if we should get head shots and an agent. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Mas...

The Revenge of the Sith soundtrack. As the prequel trilogy came to a close, John Williams delivered a linchpin score to tie together six films, and a single story, stitched together over the span of three decades. Revenge of the Sith promised what fans had been demanding since the first announcement of the prequel trilogy in the mid 1990s: the key to understanding the entire journey.  The score, a...

But is it Canon? A question that consumes franchise fans, and especially *Star Wars* fans, is the authentic and official nature of non-film works. The religious term adopted for these works is “canon,” the concept of an essential text that is indispensable to the acolyte's complete understanding of the story. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing d...

Better Call Saw Saw Gerrera! Who is he, and why is it so important to fans that he's appearing in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story? In this episode, we lay out the origins of Saw, what themes his character supports, what his inclusion could mean for the Star Wars franchise as a whole, and what you should watch to prepare for his character. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matth...

Give Clone Peace a Chance. The conflict that is the pivot point for all of the Star Wars is the Clone War, the culminating battle between Good and Evil with heroes determined by a point of view. It is the point around which an entire galaxy spirals into chaos, and a battle that continues all the way into The Force Awakens. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Mat...

Issue 22: 8-Bit Jedi John and Matt revisit their pixelated polygon dreams in this issue, discussing the history and the present of Star Wars video games with an eye toward what could work for the future of the franchise. Learn a little bit more about your hosts when they discuss what tickles their midichlorians and what games appeal to them most! In this episode of *Aggressive Negotiations*, Jedi...

Issue 021: Directing Revenge Continuing their series examining the direction of the Prequel Trilogy, John and Matt ask each other who, if not George Lucas, would have been well-suited to directing Revenge of the Sith? What could a different director have brought, and how would it have shaped the story on the final chapter of George Lucas’ vision for the Skywalker Saga? In this episode of Aggressiv...

The many places of the Star Wars galaxy. The rich tapestry of Star Wars has always been woven between fantastical places and planets. So project yourself into that place, and ask yourself if there’s somewhere you’d like to live. What jumps to mind, and how do you see yourself there? In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills review the travel catalogue...

The Attack of the Clones soundtrack. As the prequel trilogy entered its second chapter, John Williams continued to build his sonic oeuvre from a galaxy far, far away. While The Phantom Menace told a tale of wonder, discovery, and heroism, Attack of the Clones was to be a tale of intrigue, mystery, and fateful love.  In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Ru...

The Case for Revenge of the Sith The prequel trilogy encountered a far chillier reception than the original Star Wars trilogy, or even The Force Awakens. However, there were fans who not only enjoyed the prequels, they’ve dared to find things to love about them. They’ve even chosen one of them as their favorite of the saga. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Master Matthew Rushing as...

Characters on Every Side. The Star Wars galaxy has always been a wonderful example of an expanded story universe. Colorful characters in each frame constructed a fantastic depth to root the stories within a cinematic reality that  compelled you to imagine limitless stories with amazing action. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills explore their fav...

Defending Your Star Wars. Two years before The Phantom Menace tore apart friendships, George Lucas tested the world with the Star Wars Special Editions. An opportunity to restore a deteriorating print became a project where Lucas made changes both small and large. What were the pressure points that caused the more extreme reactions, and were there choices that could have been made differently that...

The direction of the prequel films became a contentious point among Star Wars fans as The Phantom Menace hit theatres in 1999. This debate became more pointed when George Lucas stayed in the director's chair for Attack of the Clones, as many fans voiced the opinion he should have handedthe reigns to someone else. So what if Lucas, the victim of stinging criticisms, had decided to do just that? In...

The voice of the Star Wars films has always been more than dialogue. John Williams’ inescapable score set the emotional tone and resonance which transcended the words and direction, transporting modern audiences back to the feeling of the Silent Era when music was the only soundtrack provided. His work indelibly marked film culture in a way that grounded future works of fantasy.  In this episode o...

Bonus 001: The Commentary Awakens Happy May the 4th! Celebrated across fandom as “Star Wars Day,” we’re sharing an exclusive commentary to pair with “The Force Awakens.” It’s our way of saying “thank you” for your listenership and support. Joined by Jedi Council members from across the galaxy, or at least the globe, get what Lucasfilm failed to give you on the home release of Episode VII - an insi...

The Force Awakens. Our most contentious negotiations occur this week, as our examination of The Force Awakens Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Download continues, as we move from discussing the special features on the latest Star Wars home release to the film itself. We assess how home viewing alters estimation of the film, new reads on the material, and what flaws are highlighted and strengths magnified. Are...

The Extras Awaken. April 4, 2016 will be a day long remembered…at least for a while. It saw the release of the second most successful film in history in box office terms, *Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens*. Fans are now able to feel the rumblings of the dark side, the heat of Jakku’s sand dunes and the thrill of a Rathtar attack while on the comfort of their own couches. In this episode o...

So Civilized. “The weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, from a more…civilized age.” In 1977, the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi introduced the world to the lightsaber with those words. As the energy blade emitted from that gleaming metal hilt, it captured the imaginations of children and adults without exception. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations,...

The Expanded Universe. The Star Wars Expanded Universe has been a source of great joy, angst and debate for fans since the 1990s. While the comics of the 1980s and the West End Games source materials could coexist without conflict, the later EU found itself the source of continuity errors, conflicting writer interpretations, a perpetual second act, and vociferous arguments about how authoritative...

Breaking Anakin Part 2.  Anakin Skywalker’s fall is such a pivotal moment in Galactic History, there are multiple perspectives not just on its impact, but its causes. We conclude our duo logy on this linchpin of Star Wars lore by switching out the hot seat and seeing what different aspects can be teased out about the alleged Chosen One’s destiny and the parts played by the people in his life. And...

Breaking Anakin Part 1. “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.” These are the immortal words of Obi-Wan Kenobi as he explained to a young Luke the impact of Darth Vader and his choices on the galaxy. The Prequels would show fans just exactly how that happened and the way Anakin helped...

Representatives of the Jedi Order. Who represented the title of Jedi best? With a disparate Order from thousands of cultures, who managed to rise above and help define what it meant to be a Knight or a Master? After all, how we behave reflects on who we’re trying to be. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing turn their focus to the Jedi that helped...