It is one of the most iconic scenes of Return of the Jedi that seems to be there for comic relief only. But let’s take a closer look! Like so many other brief moments in Star Wars, the scene too deeply connects to the main themes of the Saga.
In many discussions amongst Star Wars fans you can hear the word “canon”. Yet many of those discussions provide evidence that little thought is spent on what “canon” actually means. So let us have a go at it …
Time for another Scene It? post in which we analyse some of Star Wars‘ most iconic and breath-taking scenes in the hope to dig up even more awesomeness. Today I want to look at a set of scenes which absolutely blew my … Continue reading Scene It? The Battle of Heroes
I have argued in several places that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is very much a Prequel-Sequel. This is reflected in the style of establishing shots we’ve seen in the trailers as well as in the thematics of characterizing characters. But also the political controversy is part of Rogue One’s Prequel heritage.
We live in troubled times where facts are increasingly irrelevant in societal and political discourse while the stories we tell about ourselves become ever more powerful. In a world polarised between authoritarianism and the defence of diversity, democracy and reason … where do our cinematic fantasies stand? I present my view, you judge for yourselves. Continue reading “Super-Hero Fascism and the Rebel’s taste for Hope and Freedom”
One of my favourite story arcs in The Clone Wars has been the two episodes centering around the Zillo Beast on Malastare. It is an absolutely heart-breaking story but also an incredibly serious one. The first episode, simply titled The Zillo … Continue reading ‘The Zillo Beast’ arc: Innocence in a Time of War
We’ve decided that it’s time for a new series of posts: Mystery Box! In a 2007 TED talk J.J. Abrams enthused about his Mystery Box, a magic box he never opened and symbolized, to him, the beauty of mystery. In these … Continue reading Mystery Box #1: Padmé and the Senate (Deleted Scene)
In today’s Scene It? post I’ll be looking at one of the most heart-breaking scenes in The Revenge of the Sith (2005), the third prequel film which depicts Anakin’s switch to the Dark Side of the Force. I am, of course, talking about the scene between Padme and Anakin on Mustafar, shortly before the battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Naturally, this post contains spoilers for The Revenge of the Sith. If you want a quick refresher on the scene, help yourself to the video below, the first half of which I will be discussing:
Some of the criticism directed towards RotS focused on the development of Padme Amidala’s character. In The Phantom Menace she is a young queen, exclusively focused on saving her planet from being taken over by the Trade Federation. In The Attack of the Clones she returns as a senator of Naboo and a key senator in trying to stop the outbreak of a war. We also see her trying to cope with her feelings for Anakin Skywalker and fighting for her life. In The Revenge of the Sith, Padme and Anakin are married, with the twins on the way, while she continues in her role as senator. As the Republic falls apart, so, it could be argued, does everything she has worked for. The difficulty with which Padme switches between her roles as senator and wife is, I believe, on purpose. As Anakin slowly loses himself it becomes harder for her to unite her principles with her emotions. The reason this scene is heart-breaking is because everything Padme believed in has either been corrupted or fallen apart. Below I will discuss why her choice of response to this is one which is probably singular in modern cinema and makes her stand out as one of the strongest women in sci-fi.
Clone Corridor 