Page Turners They Were Not

Did Anakin Skywalker or his grandson Ben Solo deserve salvation? Do any of us deserve salvation? Is anyone truly worthy of that? Join with me as we discuss the theology of the Force as it pertains to the souls of the fallen.

It is safe to say that my favorite element of the Star Wars franchise is the Force, particularly the lore it has generated. The original trilogy taught us much about the Force, but it was not until 1999's The Phantom Menace that the dam burst and we were flooded with incredible additions to the lore. Join with me as we discuss how the franchise has added more to the mix over the years.

It's no small secret that many fans think the Galactic Empire is pretty cool. There seems to be a strange allure to this fascist dictatorship, thanks in no small part to the awesome vehicles and vessels boasted by the servants of Palpatine. Join with me as we discuss why we are drawn to such an evil organization, as well as discuss my favorite Imperial vehicles seen in the Star Wars canon.

From his first appearance in 1999's The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul has become one of the most beloved and iconic characters in all of Star Wars. It is very interesting to consider that he took on a legendary status despite being "killed off" in the first installment of the Prequel Trilogy. Fortunately, the character returned in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, wherein he became one of my favorite Star W...

I absolutely love The Rise of Skywalker. I was so moved by so many moments in the film that seeing it was honestly one of the most amazing theatrical experiences I've had in my entire life. That being said, there are elements of the film that I feel are lacking. Many fans were concerned that TROS undid what The Last Jedi established regarding Rey being a "nobody". The novel establishes that Rey's...

There is no question we live in troubled times. When George Lucas created Star Wars in the 1970's, America was experiencing similar troubles to those we find ourselves facing today. Star Wars, in some ways, was an answer to those troubles; it provided us with an uplifting story about individuals choosing to be heroes. This is a story we need to hear today: each of us has the choice to do the right...

"An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age," are the words Obi-Wan Kenobi used when introducing the lightsaber to a young Luke Skywalker. Since that moment in 1977's Star Wars, the lightsaber has become one of the most iconic images of George Lucas' space opera. Join with me as I discuss the meaning of the lightsaber, as well as give you a description of the kind of lightsaber I would like to ow...

A "gray Jedi" is the hypothetical idea of a Force-user who either walks a fine line between the Light and the Dark, or the idea of a Force-user who embraces both Light side and Dark side powers. This concept was a part of the old Legends continuity, but has not been made Canon. There are some fans who believe Qui-Gon Jinn was a gray Jedi because he did not entirely follow the dogma of the Jedi Ord...

Throughout film history, many future classics endured difficult if not nightmarish conditions during their productions. In our modern age, its very easy to know if a film is facing difficulties, and it can be tempting to judge that film based on what's going on (or at least what we think is going on) behind the scenes. In my opinion, we should try to judge movies based on what makes it to the scre...

In 1996, during the build-up to the Prequel Trilogy, Lucasfilm released Shadows of the Empire, a multimedia project filling in the gaps between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Join with me as we cast our minds back to the days when there were only three Star Wars films, in the simpler times of that galaxy far, far away...

June 19th is the day we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. To me, the story of Finn as seen in the Sequel Trilogy is the story of an escaped slave returning to fight back against those who had oppressed him. Finn's act of defiance also inspired others to throw off their shackles and stand up for freedom and justice in the galaxy. Join with me for this special Star Wars Juneteenth...

Star Wars: The Last Jedi heavily suggested that Rey was of no important lineage. The Rise of Skywalker revealed that her grandfather was none other than Palpatine himself. Though some have interpreted this as a contradiction, I see it as fitting together quite nicely. How you may ask? Join me and you'll find out...

Diversity was lacking in 1977's Star Wars. Thankfully, that changed in The Empire Strikes Back with the introduction of Lando Calrissian, played by the charming Billy Dee Williams. As the years have gone on, more and more characters of color have been added to the mix to great success, particularly with John Boyega's Finn being the first person of color to play a lead character in that galaxy far,...

Every Star Wars film has told the story of brave heroes fighting against a corrupt system. To me, this message is absolutely imperative at this time. The death of George Floyd and others like him has sparked a rebellion bent on bringing equality to all people. This is what Star Wars has been about since the beginning. Join with me as we discuss why political debate is in the very DNA of that galax...

Eyebrow Cinema made an excellent video regarding Night of the Living Dead and its unintentional allegory for civil rights. This got me thinking of the metaphors for civil rights that one might draw from the Star Wars saga. Even though I do not believe it to be intentional, I believe Finn's story arc to be one that may be interpreted as the story of a young black man who finds the courage to stand...

I've been watching Star Wars for so long that I do not remember the first time I saw the films. That being said, I do have some very strong memories of my early days as a fan. I believe I was introduced to that galaxy far, far away by Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, as the references to George Lucas' space opera were quite common on that classic show. Join with me as I reminisce on my "first step into...

The Star Wars films are full of odd and interesting characters, many of whom are often lost in the shuffle. Today I would like to discuss with you three characters, one from each trilogy, who stand out to me. As minor characters are the seasoning of the saga, they are worth celebrating as much as our main heroes. Join with me!

In recent years, a common phrase uttered by Star Wars pundits like myself is: "They didn't have a plan." The debate as to whether creatives had a plan or no rages on, with no real knowledge as to the truth. I do not wish to indulge in any tin-foil-hat-wearing speculation as to the answer. Rather, I would like to discuss the fact that I believe Star Wars is in need of a planner. Join with me as I d...

In light of the murder of George Floyd, I thought I would take this opportunity to explain why I believe that diversity on film is so important to creating empathy for our fellow human beings. It is my hope that if we can find empathy for those on a movie screen, then maybe we can find similar empathy for those we encounter in real life. 

Stanley Kubrick's 1960 classic Spartacus is one of the last great Roman epics. It tells the story of a slave-turned-gladiator who challenges the might of the waning Roman Republic. Featuring an all-star cast, great visuals, and a great score, Spartacus is a film not to be missed. Join with me as we discuss this classic, as well as discuss the possible connections to that galaxy far, far away...

Star Wars is many things, not the least of which is a cornucopia of humans and aliens populating the background of the saga. Today, we'll be discussing the minor characters that have lines in the films, and those who do not, as well as discuss why we love these characters who often appear only briefly in that galaxy far, far away...

Since the first month of its release, Star Wars has been subjected to alterations both big and small. These changes have been met with a variety of reactions, most of them negative. The question I have posed to myself for years is: "Should George Lucas have modified the Trilogy?" Join with me as I tell you my feelings on the altered versions, as well as give you my answer to the aforementioned que...

By my count, there are four Force abilities introduced in The Empire Strikes Back: Telekinesis, Force ghosts, Force jump, and Force communication. These new powers have become staples of the Star Wars saga, having appeared in some fashion in every saga film since. Join with me as we discuss...

The day is upon us! Today, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Today on Page Turners They Were Not we examine the legacy of this film in both the long and the short term. Join with me as we discuss the influence this film continues to have on Hollywood to this very day.

Because the second entry in the Star Wars saga had a larger budget, George Lucas and team were able to explore the galaxy in a way they could not in the original film. As a result, we as the audience were introduced to an interesting menagerie of creatures both large and small. Join with me today as we discuss the bestiary of Episode V.