Blocks100 wrote:

What happened to the prequel to the prequels?  A film that was supposed be set in the same time period as the forthcoming Quantic Dream game, you know, when the Jedi were supposed to be in their pomp and lauding it over everyone?

Star Wars: Jedi Wankers.

You’re thinking of The Acolyte. That’s a TV series, not a film.

Midichlorian origin story.
Get your lady shaves ready.

Noooooooooo!

Lol, I knew you would love it.

I ended up reading the comics, novel and short stories that make up the Dawn of the Jedi series, the Legends-era initiative that created an original Star Wars setting that is set 36,453 years before A New Hope and are the chronologically earliest Star Wars stories created so far.

In this early time period, the Jedi exist as the Je’daii Order, the descendants of Force-sensitive settlers who were brought to the Tython system by mysterious pyramidal spaceships ten thousand years previously. In a time before hyperdrives the residents of the Tython system are unable to leave and the Je’daii are yet to invent lightsabers, although the precursors to those famous laser swords may be on the horizon…

There is a ton of lore here, perhaps disproportionate to the amount of story that actually uses this setting (the Disney acquisition brought the series to a premature end). The planet of Tython is packed with mysteries, Je’daii temples and Je’daii characters, each with their own elaborate backstories. Non-Force users have migrated to the other planets of the Tython system with each, again, having its own lore. While it’s a lot to take in given the setting was never fully explored, it does provide evidence for the argument that Star Wars might be better off allowing creatives to explore their own corners of the Star Wars universe as what exists here is coherent and interesting, if dense.

In the Dawn of the Jedi comics, the Je’daii are threatened by the evil Rakatan empire and must deflect their invasion. In the prequel novel, Into the Void, the Je’daii ranger Lanoree must protect the Tython system from her brother, who has turned away from the Force and threatens to open a hypergate that could destroy the entire system. A couple of short stories written to promote Into the Void round off the era.

The stories are enjoyable action adventure fare and do a good job of introducing the reader to this new setting, although are nothing genuinely exceptional. The comics, in particular, are forced to rush to a conclusion during the last five issues due to the licence moving from Dark Horse to Marvel, although at least the story is complete. It’s unfortunate that the Disney acquisition prevented this setting from progressing further - if a couple of standout stories had been written in this era, it could have ended up as a fan-favourite. Still, it’s a competently produced, quirky corner of the Star Wars universe.

On to the Old Republic era…

Yeah, I think their appearance in Dawn of the Jedi is based on references to their history in the Old Republic stuff.

I rewatched the Force Awaken trailer after watching the new ghostbusters one and it brought back all of the excitement Ifelt when I first saw the film, then followed with the crushing disappointment of where the franchise went.. sigh

Rev wrote:

I rewatched the Force Awaken trailer after watching the new ghostbusters one and it brought back all of the excitement Ifelt when I first saw the film, then followed with the crushing disappointment of where the franchise went.. sigh

Still gives the tingles.

I watched the original trilogy last month.
It is 100% as bad as it ever was but oh my the general standards have gone down elsewhere so much that it doesn't seem as bad.

I'm not just talking the sequel trilogy but a lot of the other dirge blockbuster crap that gets released now.

Qui Gon's bet remains unfathomable.

LivDiv wrote:

I watched the original trilogy last month.
It is 100% as bad as it ever was but oh my the general standards have gone down elsewhere so much that it doesn't seem as bad.

I'm not just talking the sequel trilogy but a lot of the other dirge blockbuster crap that gets released now.

Qui Gon's bet remains unfathomable.

Do you mean the prequel trilogy?

@Ram

Sorry yes, 100% prequel trilogy.

And moves really fast but only once.

I feel like Phantom Menace took a lot of the brunt for people’s disappointment with the sequel trilogy in general but is arguably the closest to a cromulent film. Attack of the Clones is dreadful and the first half of Revenge of the Sith is also very bad but it seems Phantom Menace has ended up as the punching bag for all the rage. There are even a lot more practical effects in there than people think - IIRC it’s just the Gungans vs Droids battle that is all CGI and not mixed in with a lot of practical. Not that it’s a good film at all but it doesn’t deserve to be the nexus of prequel hate.

I like Force Awakens. It's very safe but that's ok.

I did like the costume and ship design of the sequels too. Kylo Ren was good as well, big ol' broad boy.