Mirror/Zerkalo directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. It’s truly stunning and beautiful. By far one of the best films I’ve ever seen. I really hope Criterion releases it soon on Blu Ray but I’m very glad I found an original mono mixing DVD of it. Although the picture isn’t as pristine as Criterion it’s still a wonderful piece of art to own and have as part of collection.
This video explores so much of why I love the parallels between the PT and OT. Honestly it’s one of the aspects I enjoy about Star Wars the most. I don’t think these things are accidental. I truly do think it’s intentional. The parallels are in there I feel to show how history repeats itself and it’s about overcoming the sins of what came before us. I personally think also the PT did a great job at showing how society evolves and changes. That’s exactly what we got. We saw the corruption in the Senate in TPM, division and war begin in AOTC, and the rise in ROTS. It builds to the darkness and doesn’t happen all at once.
George said as much:
" If the first trilogy is social and political and talks about how society evolves, Star Wars is more about personal growth and self realization, and the third deals with moral and philosophical problems. The sequel is about Jedi Knighthood, justice, confrontation, and passing on what you have learned."
My only major criticism for the ST is how the story sometimes feels so tied to the OT and doesn’t fully acknowledge what occurred in the PT. I truly believe that if we had answers to why Sifo-Dyas ordered the Clone Army and Anakin’s origins it would go a long way towards bridging the gap between the trilogies of trilogies and interconnect them as a nine part saga. One unpopular opinion I have is I also wouldn’t have been opposed to George’s microworld he spoke to James Cameron about. I feel it would’ve at least brought clarity and understanding. There’s a quote from Steven Spielberg from the 90’s where he said part of George’s concept for the PT involved the ST. I think the PT was very much an introduction that was going to be told in his ST story but instead it appears as of TFA and TLJ we are getting familiar in terms of look, feel, and certain storybeats. I love everything to do with Rey and Kylo, Luke, and nearly every character but I wish the other subplots could’ve been developed more into something that doesn’t so closely resemble that of the OT. I would rather see the full Jedi Knighthood theme and rebuilding of the New Republic. This isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the subplots but the one thing the PT has going for it that the ST doesn’t is it tells a story that is new and fresh within the parallels. It doesn’t feel entirely like the same exact cycle again but an extension and expanding of. We shall see though as maybe TROS will bring clarity in the form of Palpatine and show some of these themes.
A bit unrelated but I think you’ll enjoy this science Star Wars documentary.
I’ve added Andrei Rublev and Solaris to my collection. Really looking forward to watching them. I greatly enjoyed The Steamroller and Violin which comes with Andrei Rublev. It’s so cute and really a contrast to Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker.
I thought Rose’s saving what we love quote was based on this bit from Irvin Kershner during the making of Empire?
I think Rian has said something to the effect of he wrote it before he read that book, but took Kersh’s words as some sort of validation he was on the right track. But I can’t find that tweet right now so maybe I’m making it up.
That does sound familiar. I’m sure you’re right. It’s interesting how things like that happen. Nothing happens by accident.
I thought Rose’s saving what we love quote was based on this bit from Irvin Kershner during the making of Empire?
This from Russian folk band Мельница or in English, Mill. They have lots of beautiful music.
The Phantom Menace - I honestly love everything about this film apart from the potty humour, so picking a moment is incredibly difficult for me. I would say off the top of my head though the whole sequence of when Anakin is preparing and leaving home. There’s so many layers to it from happiness, cynicism, hope, sadness, innocence, fear, child like wonder, and more. I especially love when Shimi tells Anakin “You can’t stop the change any more than you can stop the suns from setting.” Equally Qui-Gon’s gentle touch of Shimi’s shoulder is a subtle way to point out how flawed the Jedi became in the decades that followed. ‘Anakin is Free’ is equally an incredible piece of music.
Attack of the Clones - Easily Anakin’s search for his mother and the aftermath. The Slave I versus Jedi Starfighter is pretty cool too.
Revenge of the Sith - The opera house scene. I truly enjoy how it adds even more layers and depth to things like Anakin’s origins and tells a tale that may or may not ultimately have merit to The Rise of Skywalker. I am very much looking forward to hopefully knowing who Palpatine was speaking of when he told Anakin a bit later in the film “To cheat death is the power only one has achieved but if we work together I know we can discover the secret.”
A New Hope - Binary Sunset. It has so many layers and meaning. Are the twin suns to symbolize father and son? The Light Side and Dark Side? Our hope and longing? There’s so many ways to look at this scene.
The Empire Strikes Back - This is the hardest one. Either everything with Yoda or Cloud City. I do like when Luke falls down the pit and reaches out to Leia. The music and sorrow is so beautiful. So that.
Return of the Jedi - Could I just say any and all scenes with Luke and Vader? From the moment they confront to the very end. It’s some of the best in the whole saga.
The Force Awakens - When Rey pulls the lightsaber out of the snow. It still gives me all of the feels and something I’ve always wanted but didn’t know just how much I needed. A girl kicking butt with one in live action. Equally when she finds the Force is very moving. I love any and all scenes with Rey.
The Last Jedi - It’s pretty tough. I suppose I could say the Throne Room. It hurt like hell the first viewing as I wanted Snoke to be Plagueis and her to be a Skywalker or Solowalker so much but now I see a very layered scene that I think holds truth to The Rise of Skywalker. It’s going to be very much about learning from the sins of the past and how it doesn’t define us but is important to how we act now. This is very much reflected in the lightsaber and Kylo’s mask being repaired. Runner up is the hand touching in the hut.
Rogue One - The introduction of Chirrut and his character. So spiritual. I love all the Jedha scenes.
Solo - I really don’t know as I’ve only seen it once all the way through. I need to watch it again. Off the top of my head I suppose I’d say Qi’Ra and Han’s reunion as there’s lots of depth between the two of them in that moment.
But he looked more like his Force Phantom self in the TLJ flashbacks than he does here. Unless he’s interacting or guiding Rey through visions similar to what she had involuntarily in TFA? The possible wrinkle here is everyone percieves Luke as they last saw him?
That’s what Mike Zeroh said apparently. I don’t buy anything he says but hey!
I think it’s more just a mock up. Even The Last Jedi photography had Phasma without her helmet on. We only saw her eye in the final film. I don’t think these things are meant to be taken literally but do feed into story context in subtle ways. If that makes sense?
https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2015/05/gwendoline-christie-star-wars
Here’s their story for The Force Awakens about Captain Phasma. These pictures don’t typically tell much in ways of the story. They do tend to tell us subtle bits of the stories I’ve found though. Like an example this one of Phasma seems to be the rubble of Maz’s castle. There was another of Kylo without his mask and snowtrooppers. So I think there’s bits of truth within the pictures but it’s not absolute truth.
I think this new one shows Luke on location where the Jedi Temple burned. I think we’ll be getting more to the story.
At least this confirms that the Knights of Ren will play a part in Ep. IX (not that there was much doubt about that to begin with);
Vanity Fair released a few other set photos as well, but this one was the only one that really stood out. The rest is mostly stuff we’ve already seen in the trailer, plus some new alien designs.
The most curious part about the Knignts of Ren article is it confirms the person Kylo smashes in the red forest is one of the Knights of Ren. It really makes me wonder. I certainly think there’s more of them than we’ve seen as of yet.
I equally found the picture of Luke compelling. Could we get more knowledge of the Jedi Temple massacre?
I really think there’s more to the story as I remember during the mind reading in TFA we hear a womsn screaming before Kylo tells Rey that Han would’ve disappeared her. We hear this same scream when Rey is trying to resist the Dark Side cave and when Luke is reading Ben’s mind.
The things that make you go hmmm!
I have so much nostalgia playing The Phantom Menace video game. Such a fun game even though albeit challenging at times due to dodgy textures and never getting off of Naboo. I also loved Battlefront, Podracer, Revenge of the Sith, and some X-Wing and TIE Fighter aracade game I can’t remember the name of but would play at the mini golf course.
It reminds me of this gem of a review.
There isn’t any precedent as it’s brand new. But I would never assume something on there is slated for physical release.
Thank you for clarifying that for me. I suppose I could always sign up for the free trial and watch it. I really hope they release it in physical form soon too. It’s the one film I want to purchase the most.
Does anyone know if the Criterion Channel ever releases films online before releasing them in physical format soon after? As I just saw they’ve added The Mirror. I’ve been craving seeing it for a long time now but would prefer to wait on seeing it on the big screen.
I’m not sure if this has been posted but it’s one of my favourite Star Wars videos. It really puts a lot of things in perspective, especially Luke in The Last Jedi.
FILMS
- Alucarda (1977)
Andrei Rublev (1966)- Andy Colby’s Incredible Adventure (1988)
- The Believer (2001)
The Birth of a Nation (1915)- Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984)
- BrightBurn (2019)
- Broken Blossoms (1919)
- Camelot (1967)
- Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter (1974)
- Death and the Maiden (1994)
- Decasia (2002)
- Destiny (1921)
- Destiny to Order (1989)
Downfall (2004)- Eyes Beyond Seeing (1995)
- Faust (1926)
Galaxis (1995)- Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
- Glass (2019)
- The Green Fog (2017)
The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)- The Heretic (2018)
Hyperspace (1984)Incredibles 2 (2018)- Intolerance (1916)
- Italian Spiderman (2007)
- James Batman (1966)
- The Last Dragon (1985)
- The Lighthouse (2019)
- The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (2009)
- The Lost World (1925)
- Macbeth (1961)
Mandy (2018)- Miracle of Marcelino (1955)
- The Mirror (1975)
- Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924)
- Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache (1924)
- Nostalghia (1983)
- The Old Dark House (1932)
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)- The Sacrifice (1986)
- Secret Beyond the Door (1947)**
- Shame (1968)
- The Silence (1963)
Spellbound (1945)- Star Whackers (2011)
- The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
- To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Triumph of the Will (1935)- Up (2009)
- The War of the Worlds (1953)
SERIES
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (original series)
Earth 2- The Fugitive
- Intruders
- Just the Ten of Us
- The Kingdom
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker
- The Lone Gunmen
- Millennium
- Night Gallery
- The Outer Limits (original series)
- Round the Bend!
- Space Command (uncoming series)
- Thriller
- The Twilight Zone ('80s series)
Stalker is amazing. So much beauty and so much horror. I watched it months ago and it’s still with me to this day. Be sure to get the Criterion Collection version. I’m about to purchase Andrei Rublev from them today hopefully. Do you happen to know the best place to purchase The Mirror and if any offered on Amazon are good? I want to make sure I get the right sound mix and as best of picture as I can find until hopefully the collection releases it.
Films:
Mirror
Andrei Rublev
Solaris
Seven Samuari
Wild Strawberries
TV:
Game of Thrones
Skins
One Tree Hill
The Good Wife
Pretty Little Liars
Truly heartbreaking! He’s one with the Force and our dearest Princess and R2 unit now. He’s winning at Dejarik for sure. ❤
Skywalker Saga:
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
The Phantom Menace
Revenge of the Sith
Return of the Jedi
The Last Jedi
Attack of the Clones
The Force Awakens
Spinoffs:
Rogue One
Solo
I recently got my first Criterion Collection film in Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker. It’s such a powerful film in more ways than one. I felt so much beauty and terror. I am so glad I discovered Tarkovsky. I’m debating now between Andrei Rubvec and Solaris for my next film from the collection. I’m leaning strongly towards Andrei Rubvec but am not sure. I know eventually I will hopefully be getting Akira Kirosawa’s Seven Samuari but I want to continue onward with Tarkovsky as his filmmaking amazes me.
Interesting and thought provoking first post. 😃
Thank you. I’ve been saying these things until I’m as blue as Thrawn since roughly 2014. Thought I should share it here too. Haha ☺
Long live the Supreme Leader!
And why would J.J. ‘Mystery Box’ Abrams reveal now of all times that Palpatine is back? Wouldn’t he want to keep this a surprise and secret for as long as possible? Or could it all be a red herring to something greater?
Long time lurker, first time commenting.
I don’t think the Emperor is back per say. I think it’s one of two things though.
His Force essence is in someway hovering over or inside the submerged Death Star II and he will serve as a test for Rey and company to overcome as they seek a MacGuffin in the fight.
OR
Palpatine is back but it’s actually Snoke controlling the strings and puppeting something far more fearful. What if Snoke survived his percieved demise and is projecting a Force Illusion of himself as Palpatine in a game of riddles and clue to play with both sides? He’s actually the true mastermind. Maybe he’s actually Darth Plagueis as mentioned in the opera scene during Revenge of the Sith?
How could this work and be?
A) In the comic re-telling for The Last Jedi he tells Kylo that he sees everything and saw the conflict in him as he tried to kill Han.
B) in Aftermath a dark presence tries to effect baby Ben in Leia’s womb.
C) Snoke saw everything when he read Rey’s mind. This means he saw her conversation with Luke and the perception she now has that it was only Darth Sidious that was responsible for the rise and fall of the Jedi, etc. Except in the Tarkin novel we have Palpatine state he is grateful to the prophet and planner his master had been. To me this implies he didn’t work alone in planning the subsequent events of the PT and OT. He could use this to toy with her.
D) How could it be Plagueis and fit? He could be the one who manipulated Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas to order the Clone Army and be responsible for the ‘Force striking back’ at him to create Anakin as was the case in Legends. The ‘Force striking back’ is stated in the canon novel Tarkin, but has not clearly been defined to what it means. Yet. There’s also a canon comic that has a surving Jedi Padawan named Ferren Barr find a file about Darth Plagueis that he found for those he sees as involved in the ‘clone crisis’ and why the Jedi fell so quickly. The events that saw the downfall of the Republic and birth of Anakin could be manipulated by master and apprentice in collaboration. This would ensure the legacy of Palpatine as a central main villain in the saga still stays in tack while also introducing us to the supreme intellect in the final act.
E) What was he doing during the PT and OT? Training the Acolytes of the Beyond from Aftermath who later become the Knights of Ren, a new order of Dark Side users bidding their time and waiting to strike revenge on both sides. This leads to a team up of the Resistance and First Order. You know know like the Naboo and Gungans and Ewoks and Rebel Alliance. As well as he has been searching for the key to immorality. This is why he’s looking for the perfect embodiment of the Light and Dark and must have something pure and unbreakable of which to work as he states in The Force Awakens novel to Kylo. He feels this is where his apprentice comes from while reminiscing.
F) Kylo says “Show me. Show me again, Grandfather…” Could Snoke have used Force Illusions before in the form of Vader and this planted the false seeds to young Ben of who he was meant to be?
G) Snoke’s guards name comes from the Atrisian Emperor, in Legends they ruled Atrisia. The 54th Emperor was famous for this often referemced quote.
“There are three ways to defeat your enemy. The first, and most obvious, is to better him in a trial of force. The best way is to have him destroy himself…The middle way is to destroy your enemy from within. Judicious application of the middle way shall make your blows more effective if you later take the way of force. From the middle way it is also possible to push your enemy onto the path of self-destruction.”
What does Snoke say to Kylo about Hux?
“You wonder why I keep such a rabid cur in such a place of power. A curs weakness properly manipulated can be a sharp tool.”
He’s trying to divide the First Order from the middle way and at the same time having them destroy the Resistance and New Republic.
I think Snoke is Plagueis and masking himself as the Emperor to ultimately reveal himself as the true supreme intellect. It ties the whole saga together. Ensuring The Phantom Menace through The Rise of Skywalker is a complete cycle of three trilogies and nine films. As Richard Marquand put it post Return of the Jedi, "If you follow the direction, and project into the final trilogy [i.e. Episode VII-IX], you realise that you’re going to meet the supreme intellect, and you think how is it possible to create a man who has such profound cunning that he can not only control Darth Vader, but the fate of Luke Skywalker? Control the destiny of the whole galaxy? You’ll be amazed!”
Remember, the Dark Side is the pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural and only one has discovered the secret to cheat death. And as Luke says to Palpatine “Your overconfidence is your weakness.” We see this twice. In the Throne Room on the Death Star II and when he thinks he’s killed Yoda in the Senate Chamber.
And Snoke?
S - Sith
N - No
O - One
K - Knew
E - Existed
There’s even a Professor at University of Pittsburgh named David W. Snoke who wrote a paper on intellectual design. Who does this sound like in Star Wars context?
I don’t think these things are accidental.
I think this really ties the whole saga together beautifully and shows each generation is just as important as the one that came before it. Much like the fandom. We all love Star Wars. Some of us love all of it, while some of us only love a fraction of it. This ensures that every generation’s story has meaning, a legend and an interconnecting story that brings the Skywalker story to a meaningful close. It goes with what J.J. said too.
“You can’t assume anyone has sat and watched eight movies before this one, and yet I want a kid to be able to watch Episodes I through IX and see that one story.”
