Page Turners They Were Not

A frequent refrain we've heard over the course of the Sequel Trilogy is "They should do what the fans want!". This is a problematic statement, as every fan has his or her own idea as to how these movies should proceed. Join with me as I discuss some of the dangers of the filmmakers making creative decisions based on voices on the internet.

The art of film editing should never be taken lightly, as it can make or break a film. Star Wars is no exception to this rule, as disaster was nearly averted by a brilliant second edit spearheaded by Marcia Lucas, Paul Hirsch, and Richard Chew. I've seen a few clips of what the original edit looked like, and I can tell you that Star Wars was literally saved by Marcia Lucas and team.

First seen in 1983's Return of the Jedi, Mind Probe gives a force-user the ability to read the minds of others. Darth Vader uses this ability on his son during their climactic lightsaber duel on the second Death Star. Later in the saga, we see Kylo Ren use this ability. Join with me as we analyze this Force power.

In the late 1980's, the Star Wars franchise was losing its foothold in the world of popular culture, a concept that seems strange to us today. All of that changed in 1991 with the beginnings of two new stories in that galaxy far, far away. One of them was Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, and the other was Dark Empire, a comic series published by Dark Horse. Join with me as I share my theory tha...

Near the end of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Queen Amidala returns to Naboo to challenge the might of the Trade Federation. After convincing the skeptical Gungans to join her cause, the queen proposes a risky four-pronged attack to liberate the capital city of Theed. Join with me as I break down each element of this battle, as well as provide my feelings on the matter.

One of the big mysteries in the minds of many a Star Wars fan after seeing The Rise of Skywalker was Palpatine's return. We saw him explode on the way down a shaft at the end of Return of the Jedi, and yet here he is in the flesh (albeit not in the best shape). Join with me as I discuss my feelings on the matter, as well as provide some commentary on the new revelations contained in the novelizati...

We have seen many great performances over the course of the Star Wars saga. Today, let me give you my feelings on who gave the best performance in each of the 11 films.

As we conclude our character catalog of the Sequel Trilogy, let us discuss three villains of the First Order who are often overshadowed by Kylo Ren. General Hux, Supreme Leader Snoke, and Allegiant General Pryde represent three aspects of the sinister First Order, and serve to put a face to an oppressive regime. Join me as we discuss...

Lucasfilm has just announced a new publishing initiative entitled The High Republic, which is a series of novels and comics set 200 years prior to the events of The Phantom Menace. To me, this is an excellent decision, as this allows the storytellers to explore an era in which nothing has been established in either Canon or Legends. Join with me as I share the details...  Here is the official...

Since The Last Jedi was released in December of 2017, many fans have been debating what level of humor is appropriate in the Star Wars films. Today I would like to tell you why it is extremely important to remember that Star Wars has always been silly and should always be...

Tomorrow on Disney+, season 7 of The Clone Wars will begin. Join with me as I tell you my journey with this show from annoyed fanboy to Clone Wars lover.

In The Rise of Skywalker, Rey heals an injured vexis snake beneath the Shifting Mires of Pasaana through the power of the Force. Join with me as we discuss how this new ability plays a part in the evolution of our understanding of the Star Wars saga.

A common talking point in the Star Wars fandom at the moment is the plan or lack thereof for the Sequel Trilogy. To some, the three films are too disconnected from each other, while others feel that they fit together just fine. Today I would like to discuss how the Original Star Wars Trilogy had no plan and yet made it work to our satisfaction.

First introduced to us in 2017's The Last Jedi, Rose Tico teams with Finn to go on a crazy mission to recruit a "master code-breaker". As you can imagine, things don't go according to plan. Played with gusto by Kelly Marie Tran, this character in my opinion is a great addition to the Star Wars saga. Join with me as we discuss...

The Star Wars Saga has given us a boatload of interesting planets and moons over the years. With so many to choose from, let me give you my list of the five planets or moons that I enjoy the most.

Both the Original and Prequel Trilogies in the Star Wars Saga have particular themes that connect the three films together. Even though the Sequel Trilogy is incomplete, what are the themes that have been presented so far? Join with me as we discuss...

First introduced to the world in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, the diminutive Master Yoda quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The influence of this beloved character is still felt to this day. Let us recap the history and portrayal of my second favorite Star Wars character.

When The Force Awakens was released in December of 2015, it sparked a wave of questions, some of which remain unanswered to this day. With the last film of this new trilogy on the horizon, some of those questions will undoubtedly be answered. Let me share with you three questions I do not need answers to in this final installment of the Sequel Trilogy.

With The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker on the horizon, there are so many reasons for the Star Wars fans to rejoice. Let's talk about the upcoming projects that will no doubt add much joy to the fandom of that galaxy far, far away...

With three Star Wars Disney+ streaming shows on the horizon, let's devote this Friday episode of Page Turners They Were Not to what we might or might not see in this future programming. Lucasfilm has an opportunity to expand the palette of their most successful franchise. Will they explore new territory, or will they fall back on the familiar?

For many a Star Wars fan, the court of Jabba the Hutt is a source of endless joy. The denizens of his palace are grotesque, the punishments are harsh, and the food is disgusting. Despite these drawbacks, what is it about this world that we find so compelling?

In our continuing catalog of the major Star Wars characters, let us discuss Han Solo. This individual is a favorite of many a fan, but what is it about this smuggler-turned-hero that causes people to gravitate toward him? Let's discuss.

The moment the character of Rey was revealed in December of 2014, the internet went ablaze with speculation as to the identity of this mysterious scavenger. I was one of those who began to theorize her origins. As the years have gone on, my theories have gone through an evolution that continues to this day. Let me share that with you...

Over the years, the Star Wars franchise has seen its fair share of marvelous lightsaber duels. But which ones are my favorites? Join with me as we discuss...

Over the weekend, Disney released a sneak peek of the ninth installment of the Star Wars saga. The footage revealed some interesting images that have the internet in a tizzy. What could this mean for the final chapter in the Skywalker saga. Join with me as we discuss...