When The Phantom Menace arrived in theatres, it was met first with fervour as the expectation of sixteen years unspooled. What we consider the backlash came later (I wasn’t even aware people had a problem with Jar Jar until after Revenge of the Sith). Perhaps the most prevalent […]
When Darth Maul fell from on high into a pit on Naboo, he cemented his status as the likes of Lucifer, fallen from power into agony and disgrace. But even though this intentional comparison was all part of George Lucas’ plan to make Maul the epitome of evil, […]
The only true means of uncovering a definitive answer to the age-old ‘nature versus nurture’ argument is through the use of human cloning. Setting aside the ethical dilemma for a moment, using clones would enable genetic copies of the same child to be raised in a variety of […]
At its simplest, the Star Wars saga is made up of three key themes – tragedy, redemption and hope. These come embodied by the saga’s central character, Anakin Skywalker, and his fall and ultimate redemption through the love of his son. But during his time as right hand […]
Upon first seeing Princess Leia’s desperate plea to Obi-Wan Kenobi to aid her father and the plight of the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker’s first thought is that she’s beautiful. Giving this teenage farm boy the benefit of the doubt, this was only part of the message, with a […]
Literature’s most famous balcony scene belongs, of course, to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Centuries of scholars and school students have pored over its meanings, readings and implications, loading the scene with a depth and power that still resonates today. Among these many interpretations, one that stands out for […]
The snowy winged gulls of Alderaan bring springtime to Aldera for a pleasant stroll amongst the grand archways of the planet’s royal heart. I followed their flight path to land in the spired shadows of the Mountain Palace, the peaks above in their glistening thaw crowning it in […]
There’s no two ways about it – toy collectors enjoy a precarious relationship with the environment. What amounts to little more than hunks of coloured plastic widens one’s carbon footprint exponentially. It’s something I’ve been grappling with these last few years, as my own collection of Star Wars […]
The relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin has always been caustic. The former was thrust into the role of master from a deathbed promise made to his own. With it came a sense of duty and purpose, tying together forever the fate of teacher and student. Despite Obi-Wan’s clear […]
Holding hands carries with it a significance in storytelling and real life. Science shows that joining hands can synchronise breathing and heartrate while, in fiction, an outstretched hand is an offer, a plea or invitation. The last few months brought hand holding and gestures to the forefront of […]
