Star Wars
REVIEWS
The Bad Batch
The Bad Batch is an audiovisual treat of the best kind. And while the series hasn’t quite risen to the narrative or thematic heights of its predecessors, it’s off to a consistently entertaining start. It also seems to be playing things a little safe, trying too hard at times to recreate the magic of its predecessors. If it can break out of that rut (and knowing Filoni’s past work, I have every reason to suspect that it will), The Bad Batch has the potential to be something truly great. read more
THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT
Here’s what you need to know before dipping into The Book of Boba Fett. First off, go back and watch the first two seasons of The Mandalorian if you haven’t already. Narratively, this new series by Jon Favreau follows pretty much straight on from that show and represents something of a fork in its narrative. But don’t confuse this with The Mandalorian Season 2.5. Favreau and team seem to be hellbent on keeping things from getting too stale, from falling into traps of the sort that snared fan-servicing but thematically hollow Star Wars offshoots like Rogue One. read more
The Empire Strikes Back
I can’t say enough about this 4K HDR transfer of The Empire Strikes Back; it is truly reference quality in every way. And having purchased the Star Wars films in so many formats and versions over the years, I was seriously planning on sitting this round of Star Wars releases out. But after watching Empire, I’m starting to question that decision. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ve never seen the movies look like this, especially in a fine home theater. In many ways, it feels like seeing them for the very first time—and that is a priceless experience. read more
To call Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian a return to the glory days of behind-the-scenes documentaries that flourished during the DVD era would be to sell it short. Unlike far too many of those bonus features, this eight-episode exploration of the making of the first live-action Star Wars TV series doesn’t have a promotional or congratulatory bone in its body. Nor does it lean on all of the tropes that practically defined the making-of doc in decades past. read more
The Rise of Skywalker
Even if Rise of Skywalker isn’t your favorite film in the Star Wars saga, it’s worth purchasing just for the extras, including the feature-length documentary The Skywalker Legacy, along with five other featurettes. Included with the Kaleidescape release as a digital exclusive is “The Maestro’s Finale,” which has John Williams looking back on his 40-plus-year career working with Star Wars. read more
Second Thoughts: The Book of Boba Fett
Rarely have I seen a series launch with so much potential and squander it so spectacularly as did The Book of Boba Fett. Reflecting on the show now that it has run its course, I still stand by my review of the first episode. It was a great slow-burn setup for what promised to be a fascinating character study and a rumination on how cultural forces shape the individual. read more
Star Wars
You can bemoan that this isn’t the original theatrical cut we grew up with and that Lucas has tinkered yet again with the infamous “Who shot first?” Cantina scene. Or that the added CGI creatures outside Mos Eisley bring nothing to the film—rather, now appearing jarringly out of place—and that the added Jabba scene just steals the greatness of his reveal later in Return of the Jedi. But I’m still going all in with this: This 4K HDR version of A New Hope is hands-down the definitive, best the movie has ever looked and sounded, and if you don’t watch it you are punishing only yourself.read more
Stars Wars: Andor
I went into Andor feeling almost obliged to watch it, given how little interest I have in the film that inspired it and the character at its heart but how much devotion I have to this franchise nonetheless. Now I find myself eagerly awaiting the next episode in a way that exceeds my anticipation for the next season of The Mandalorian. But with this one, I’m not watching it because it’s Star Wars. I’m watching it because, at least so far, it’s simply damned good cinema in an episodic-TV package. read more
Star Wars: Visions
All in all, Star Wars: Visions isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of blue milk, but it’s nonetheless exciting to see Lucasfilm exploring, taking risks, and expanding the scope of what Star Wars can look like. It may not have been entirely successful for me, given that I really only enjoyed five of the nine shorts, but still—I want to see more of this sort of thing going forward. read more
Tales of the Jedi
Whether you’re seven or 77, whether you’ve seen every Star Wars cartoon ever made or you just barely know the difference between a lightsaber and landspeeder, there’s something here for you. And if this is what it takes to convince you to get off your butt and finally watch The Clone Wars, all the better. read more
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