Rogue One Trailer Review

Rogue One Trailer Released and we are very excited for this film!

Check out our video review on YouTube:

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tells the story of unlikely heroes who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.

Let's review the characters:

Jyn Erso - 

Jyn is a career criminal.  A true rebel and set to fight the Galactic Empire.  She resembles much of Mara Jade suited up in an Imperial Battle suit.  We see a few different looks as a girl living on the street, part of the Rebel Alliance, on the Death Star, and in her imperial Battle Suit.

What's interesting is some of the current theories on the internet. 

Is Jyn a young Captain Phasma? 

• Maybe / Possibly / Very doubtful.  Given the time difference between Episodes 4 and 7, I believe this character would have arisen greatly in the ranks of the imperial army or fallen victim to the Rebellion. But time will tell.

Is Jyn linked to the Death Star in some way?

• Seems like there is too much evidence to say otherwise.  We see her in multiple parts of this trailer in the Death Star.  One running / the other dressed as an Imperial. 

Is Jyn related to Rey (Daisy Ridley)? Is she her mother?!

• This is my favorite.  Star Wars is known for branding it's characters deep family lineage and I would not put this past them

Mon Mothma - 
We've seen her in Return of the Jedi trying to blow up the second Death Star.  We've seen her appearance in the Senate in the times of the Old Republic in the Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith.  We can only assume she is leading the Rebel Alliance against the sinister Galactic Empire. 

This Dark Sith Like Character - 

Could it be Vader.  Could it Darth Sidious?  Time will tell.  We've seen many rumors that Darth Vader will make an appearance and it will be the most evil and dark Vader we've seen on film.

Ben Mendelsohn / Grand Admiral - At first glance, this looked like a pale Admiral Thrawn.  Under his robe appears to be a very unique blaster.  Could he also be the dark hooded character we also saw in this trailer?

Diego Luna - 
We know he's a pilot.  Could it be Biggs?  Poes Father?

Jiang Wen / Rebel - 
Not much is know about this character.

Donnie Yen - 
Noble Mentor? Jedi? He sure shows the storm troopers he can handle them with his simple weapon.

Forest Whitaker -
Bounty Hunter?  Finn's Father?    

Mystery Droid - 
We see this mystery droid multiple times with Jyn in the trailer.  From her beginnings as a Rebel on the streets to running on the Death Star. 

Locations

Death Star - the Death star seems to be the foundation of this story. The beginning. The infultration. The capturing of the plans.  We can count on much of this film to take place on the Death Star.

Yavin 4 - this locations is at the roots of the Star Wars universe.  The secret rebel base on the 4th Moon of Yavin.  In the massassi temples, we see many similarities between episode 4 and these clips.

Unknown Beach / Desert Planet - We can presume that the battles scenes with the Rebels and Empire that the scenes are not taking place on Yavin.  Seeing as though Episode 4 refers to Yavin 4 as the secret rebel base, we can safely say there is a new planet we will be visiting.

Storm Troopers

There are many different storm troopers shown.  From Dark Troopers to the classic storm troopers, these scenes indicate we will see a great variety of the Galactic Empires favorite armed forces.

As we see more and analyze more, we will let you know.   

Rogue One Trailer - Official As seen on Good Morning America

As seen on Good Morning America!

It’s here. The official teaser trailer for ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. #RogueOnehttps://t.co/xRvI5eVapf

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 7, 2016

May The Force Be With You!

Darth Plagueis - The Novel

The prequels will never be the same. After reading this novel I know two things for sure: 1, this story line could replace episode 1, Phantom Menace, and do much more justice towards the eventual downfall of the republic and the Jedi, as well as the rebirth of the Sith. 2, if you don't appreciate the prequels now, after this novel, you will.

From The Author:  "The principal story arc in 'Darth Plagueis' spans several decades. The challenge was to create a 'history' of a kind without eclipsing the characters who are in effect making history. Fortunately, the Star Wars universe is so large that I was able to research the book almost in the same way I would have a more traditional historical novel. As it progressed, I was forced to hew more closely to established lore, but even then it proved possible to shed light on what was going on in the wings behind the scenes."

―James Luceno

Darth Plagueis. The apprentice, Sith Lord, investment capitalist, mad scientist, and manufacturer of the machinations that eventually destroyed the Republic. Darth Plagueis's transition thru this novel is full circle. From his beginning tutelage under the Bith Darth Tenebrous to the fatal ending at his apprentice's hand, this story leaves no undesired detail unturned. Although this is the story of Darth Plagueis, I found what captivated me most about the novel was how his actions molded the outcomes from episodes 1 to 6.

THE PREQUELS - how the past explains the future. The events in Darth Plagueis are pre-Phantom Menace by 100 years up to the Gungan and Naboo celebration in Theed. These are what redefined the prequels for me:

Why Palpatine? With a galaxy filled with force sensitive sentient beings, what makes one truly worthy of the Rule of Two? Whether it be his training under Plagueis or the will of the Dark Side, Palpatine had all the tools to live a fulfilling, lucrative life before the Sith. Much like Padme, Palpatine comes from one of the most noble, aristocratic families on Naboo. It is the will of the Force that Plagueis and Palpatine's path cross during the prospecting of plasma on Naboo. Plagueis entices Palpatine with the benefits of a greater calling and a more galactic influential role in galactic politics. Plagueis knew that for the Sith to come out of their 1000 year hibernation it would take a full reconstruction of the republic and a Sith Lord in full control of all the strings that connect the galaxy to do so, and Palpatine was the poster child of political greatness. His goal was a co-chancellorship with Palpatine. Palpatine's path from student to Sith Lord is complete after his brutal killings of his family after they try and wedge a gap between him and Plagueis. As Sidious and Senator Palpatine, his master’s influence as part of the International Banking Clan help create Palpatine's constituents as well as those backwards deals with the Trade Federation. It is Palpatine as the face of the Sith's swift, cunning, and secretive actions, it was Plagueis conducting the master plan from start to his finish.

Why Naboo? Does Naboo strike you as an odd place for a bunch of neimoidians to create a blockade? What are they taxing? Why does this matter? Prospectors on Naboo discovered a great galactic resource of plasma that was to be harvested from the planet and sold among the stars. Plagueis was the broker that was helping fund the deal that would put Naboo on the galactic commerce map. There was resistance from the elder family's on Naboo to sell and harvest the natural resources until the Sith helped get a new ruler on Naboo that would play this puzzle to their favor. After the approval to begin mining, Naboo had no method of dispersing the plasma. Introducing the Trade Federation. Naboo was part of a trade free zone thus not subjecting it to taxation. The Sith's plot was to plant the seed I the senate to create taxation in trade free zones, leading to the blockade of Naboo that would get deliberated in the senate until either the queen signed a peace treaty or the senate over through the current chancellor and elected a New Democratic leader. All parties necessary in the reimergence of the Sith.

Why Dooku? Both Sith sensed the discontent in Dooku with the Jedi and the current state of the republic. Plagueis knew with the events of corruption in the senate he influenced and the upcoming actions on Naboo, the he would have the would-be Count Dooku of Serenno, helping Palpatine with the rebuilding of the republic. Palpatine also had his own agenda, not revealing his true identity, while pulling the Count closer as an adversary and possible partner as the face of the seperatists and possible apprentice. He knew there was a darkness to Dooku, but need to learn more about the Count before creating an alliance.

Why Syfo-Dyas? For the pivotal character that Syfo-Dyas was, i do not think any of the movies gave his role the true justice of how important of a role he played in the Clone Wars. Everyone knows he order the Clone Army, but why? Plagueis met many Jedi in testing the hiding in plain view of the Sith. In his discussions with Syfo-Dyas , he saw the clairvoyant views of the Jedi Master and agreed that the Republic would eventually need an army that is much larger than what the Jedi could ever handle. With much persuasion, Plagueis's own funds would help assist in payment for the purchase of the clone army. Syfo-Dyas's fate was not revealed in this novel but we eventually know it is at the hands of Dooku as a test by Sidious, where the procurer of the clones meets his end.

Why Maul? Maul has an interesting beginning with the Sith. Much like Ventress from the Clone Wars, he was viewed by Plagueis as Sidious's assassin. Sidious learns of Maul on a political venture on Dathomir. A Nightsister senses the darkness and force sensitivity of Palpatine and gives up her child. Maul was born a twin and would have been sacrificed based on Nightsister traditions. Maul was unaware the Sidious had a master but Plagueis approved of Sidious's apprentice while he was still valuable. Sidious treated him like a true apprentice and intended on ruling with him after overtaking his master, but did not expect his failed against Obi-Wan on Naboo.

The Force - the give and take relationship with Plagueis. The Sith Lord was facinated and studied the nature of midiclorians and the force with in many different species in his private sanctuary on Muunilist. His experiments could be classified as the most extreme forms of torture; bringing beings as close to death and bringing them back to life to study the life forms that bind all life together. His cruel experiments and manipulations of the dark side were all at the principal of finding a method to preserve and prolong his life. Through his many experiments his theory on the balance of the force maintained the same; for each evil action there was a counter action to offset the prior. His most evil action, was undone by his own doings.

The Prophesy....The Chosen One....A Vergence of the Force....There was no Father.... Anakin Skywalker's tale has no truer beginning than as the counter action of all the vile, cruel, and perverse experiments of Darth Plagueis. Coinciding with Plagueis's belief that for all the sinister manipulation of midiclorians experiential he performed, that there was a counter action to balance his dark plans. After learning that a child was born, of the highest concentration of midiclorians, a true birth of the force, he knew that this was the retaliation of all the plans he had set in motion. In Plagueis's words, "this will be our undoing". Palpatine took another stance on this child, that he would let the Jedi train him, as he could not train him in his current political stature. He would be the kind, nurturing father figure and earn his trust, the same way Plagueis had lured him.

The apprentice becomes the master, the master falls to his apprentice. The final moment between the two Sith was more than just "being killed by his apprentice in his sleep". Plagueis vowed to not rest until all their work had seen the triumph as co chancellor Sith Lords. It was that venerable moment as Palpatine is elected chancellor that he reveals his plans that no longer include his master. I won't spoil that thrilling moment but I do want to mention that Palpatine was not the Sith Master during Phantom Menace. He was an apprentice, with his assassin/apprentice Maul acting for Plagueis and the greater good of the Sith.

My final thoughts: James Luceno does a brilliant job of linking the expanded universe novels, clone wars saga, and the movies in this novel. I guess you could say it would be easy to write stories based in other works of literature, but were this succeeds is with its gracefulness. Even though I knew the outcomes of the major events in the story, a different perspective made me feel like I was reliving some of those scenes for the first time. There are only a few Star Wars novels that would top Darth Plagueis, but none that make episodes I to III more than this.

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Back from the Jedi Praxeum - Return of the Jedi, my short Holomovie

Training has severely created a drought in my efforts to keep my journeys documented in my datapad but I continue my training.  In my training I created at Holomovie of the records of the destruction of the Emperor Palpatine and the resurrection of Darth Vader as told by the original maker and the documentation of the NPR Audio Drama......Enjoy.  

 

More to come soon...........

Star Wars Hitchhiker

The Approaching Storm - Old Republic Novel - Pre Attack of the Clones

"Master Kenobi and Skywalker have just returned from a border dispute on Ansion." - The Prequal to Attack of the Clones....

While the entire galaxy watches and waits, two Jedi and their apprentices battle impossible odds to protect the Republic….

The Republic is decaying, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was elected to save the galaxy from collapsing under the forces of discontent. On the tiny but strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful faction is on the verge of joining the growing secessionst movement. At the Chancellor's request, the Jedi Council sends two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, along with their Padawans Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, to stabilize the planet's population. To succeed, the Jedi will have to fulfill near impossible tasks, befriend wary strangers, and influence two great armies, stalked all the while by an enemy sworn to see the negotiations collapse and the mission fail….

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The Approaching Storm is a story in the Star Wars Expanded Universe that really sets the stage for Attack of the Clones and goes a little deeper into the back story between a Jedi and Padawn. It also goes deeper into the beginnings of the Separatists movement at masterminding the secession of worlds from the republic. Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Learner Barriss Offee are the main characters in our story with Skywalker and Kenobi taking a very predominant role, but second to the female pair in Approaching Storm.

Alan Dean Foster's second piece of work in the Star Wars EU, first being Splinter of Minds Eye, being a big success in my journeys. Foster has created a large elaborate story from such a minor plug in the film. After the attempted assassination of Padme on the Skyhook on Coruscant, Palpatine recommends to the attending Jedi Members to put Padme under their protection. Mace mentions the boarder dispute and our idea is born.

Ansion is a small world but is the center of a treaty within the Republic that will have ripple effects on 18 other systems. The secession of this world would cause so many others to leave or stay in the Republic that the security of keeping this world is of top priority. Luminara and Bariss start the investigation and the negotiation with the Ansionians and are later joined by Obi-Wan and Anakin. Their tale on Ansion takes them to many meetings with the different tribes of Ansion in trying to reach their goal of bringing peace between all the tribes and an agreement to stay in the Republic with the Unity Council. Many villans exist from the Commerce Guild / Separatists, Hutt Cartel on Ansion, and the hostile groups of locals.

Many large and small battles, many new species and characters in the journey on Ansion. The Jedi share their many hidden talents from Light Saber Gymnastics, singing, story telling, and complete mastery of the force as offering to many of the tribes to gain their trust. This is another Gem in the EU that is enjoyed by those who venture deeper than just the movies. Barriss and Luminara are two of my female Jedi, only second to Aayla, and it was very nice to learn more of them. I don't think the Clone Wars cartoon has properly keyed in Barriss's age, because in Approaching Storm Anakin and Barriss have the same equal position as Jedi Padawan. In the Clone Wars Barris is still a padawan and treats Anakin like a master or teacher, unlike the brother sister relationship they share in Approaching Storm.

A very minor inconsistency in the overall scheme of this book. The book created bonds between all four Jedi with the political objections they were burdened with and the physical obstacles, they maintained themselves and persevered against the odds. This book is not one to be missed if you enjoy this era.

~You must have faith that he will take the right path.

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Jedi Search - Jedi Academy Trilogy Book 1 - New Republic Novel

As the war between the Republic and the scattered remnants of the Empire continues, two children the - Jedi twins - will come into their powers in a universe on the brink of vast changes and challenges. In this time of turmoil and discovery, an extraordinary new Star Wars saga begins.


While Luke Skywalker takes the first step toward setting up an academy to train a new order of Jedi Knights, Han Solo and Chewbacca are taken prisoner on the planet Kessel and forced to work in the fathomless depths of a spice mine.

But when Han and Chewie break away, they flee desperately to a secret Imperial research laboratory surrounded by a cluster of black holes and go from one danger to a far greater one.

On Kessel, Luke picks up the trail of his two friends, only to come face-to-face with a weapon so awesome, it can wipe out an entire solar system. It is a death ship called the Sun Crusher, invented by a reclusive genius and piloted by none other than Han himself...

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Jedi Search lives right up to its name.  For the first time, Luke is actually starting his journey in rebuilding the Jedi.  After receiving permission from the New Republic to start his academy, he starts his search for potential Jedi students.  Luke's journey takes him to the volcanic world of Eol Sha, very similar to Mustafar, to investigate a potential new student, Gantoris.  Gantoris and the people of Eol Sha put Luke thru a series of trials to prove his intentions with Gantoris.  Luke and Leia also assist in the relocation of the Eol Sha people to save them from their currently unstable planet.

After going back to Coruscant after a failed business venture, Lando is dispatched by Leia to investigate another potential Jedi for the New Republic.

Han and Chewie's adventure as diplomatic adversaries to the Spice Mines of Kessel and find themselves in the hands of an old enemy during the days of the Empire.  The are taken hostage and are working in the Spice Mines, and meet up with a young man with extreme potential as a Jedi.

The adventures in this book takes us to many familiar and new places.  Han and his gang end up in the Maw, a cluster of black holes, in one of their escapes and find themselves cornered by Imperial Forces that have lost contact with the Empire since the creation of the first Death Star.  Another weapon of mass destruction is unveiled, while Han is taken captive by the Imperials that believe they are still under Governor Tarkin's orders.  There are many turns and new faces forming the New Republic in this novel; while we still never lose track of the victors over Endor. 

Luke is beginning to lead the way to creating the Jedi Knights of the New Republic and establishing his Jedi Praxium over none other that the forth moon over Yavin, Dxun.  Much darkness resides in the history of Dxun, such as the exile of Dark Lord of the Sith, Exar Kuun, from over 3,500 years before and is much alive in the Force.

"This is the beginning Leia, I feel it. Great things are coming. The Jedi Knights will rise again."

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Fatal Alliance - An Old Republic Novel -

Tassaa Bareesh, a matriarch in the Hutt crime cartel, is holding an auction that’s drawing attention from across the galaxy. Representatives of both the Republic and the Sith Empire are present, along with a Jedi Padawan sent to investigate, a disenfranchised trooper drummed out of the Republic’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian with a private agenda. But the Republic’s envoy is not what he seems. The Empire’s delegate is a ruthless Sith apprentice. The Jedi Padawan is determined to do the right thing and terrified that he can’t. The trooper hopes to redeem her reputation. And the Mandalorian is somehow managing to keep one step ahead of everyone.


None of these guests—invited or uninvited—have any intention of participating in the auction. Instead they plan to steal the prize, which is locked inside an impregnable vault, two burned chunks of an exploded star cruiser, one of which may hold the key to the wealth of an entire world.

But the truth about the treasure is dangerous and deadly. And in the end, Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire, must do something they’ve never done before, something that all the agents of good and evil could never make them do: join together to stop a powerful threat that could destroy the galaxy...

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After months of anticipation and watching numerous trailers leading up to the new era in Star Wars, Fatal Alliance delivered a story that is one apart from any story told in the EU. Since all the hype of the Star Wars, the Old Republic MMORPG that I have bought into, I wanted more on those characters we are being introduced to. Fatal Alliance let us peak into some, but created new story lines to follow and potentially new events to look forward to in their stories.

The events of Fatal Alliance take place approximately 3 years after the Sacking of Coruscant (a little of that can be seen in the Deceived Trailer), and reference important events leading to the beginning, like the Sacking of Coruscant, Cold War, and Annexation of Kiffu which, after reading this story, make me look forward to much more in this era.

Sean Williams created this book with an extreme depth of detail and a lot of story lines running at the same time. It was extremely easy to follow with all these intertwining story lines. My two favorites where what we would consider potentially the light and dark side of the story, Jedi and Sith, although this was full of smuggler / politician / Mandalorian / Hutt Drama, in addition to the battle of the two sides of the Force.

All parties are lured to Hutta for an auction of a glorious find by the Smuggler Jet Nebula that could lead to the discovery of a completely new planet and a world full of new resources. The Kiffar Jedi Padawan Shigar Konshi is mixed in the middle of this struggle for the jewel that has the interest of the Republic and Empire and is acting as an ambassador of the Republic. Apprentice to the Grand Master Satele Shan, long descendant of Bastilla Shan from Knights of the Old Republic, her Padawan is struggling to earn his Knighthood and this is also a story about his journey. Shigar meets up with another Kiffar female that assists in his journey.

The Eldon Ax, Sith apprentice to Darth Chratis, she too is in a struggle for her own identity as well as a power struggle with her master. She will be faced with decisions that question her loyalties and values when faced with ghosts from her past. The Sith story line is very dark and very good!

The piece of technology and planet Sebbadon that everyone is after is nothing like anything in Star Wars to date. The droid technology is self reproducing and defending it self, as well as changing with the threats presented and the preservation of their selves. Empire, Republic, and the Mandalorians unite to battle an enemy that is set to destroy the Republic. I was fascinated by the story from beginning to end and look forward to more of The Old Republic

Like Obi-Wan said in Dexters Dinner, “Well, if droids could think, there'd be none of us here would there?”

Star Wars Hitchhiker