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12/20/99:
The Forum has been updated with reader commentary.
Episode II Rumor and Fact
has also been updated.
Expect the next chapter in The Candle Which Burns
Twice As Bright before the end of the year... WJ
11/16/99:
The Forum has been updated so please check it out.
Overall, news has been pretty slow in the SW world, but that's to be
expected. I feel it is rather unnecessary to provide constant updates when there
is no new real information. If you need a daily dose of Star Wars news, I
recommend theprequels.net. This site has
absolute comprehensive coverage of all prequel-related events and is updated
nearly every day.
That in mind, I haven't been resting on my laurels too much...here are
some upcoming items:
- The sixth chapter in my fan fic, The Candle Which
Burns Twice As Bright, will be posted soon. Check it out if you haven't
yet -a lot of people have told me they like it. If you need a fix about the young
adventures of Darth Maul before the events of TPM, then this is for you
- Newly expanded Episodes II and III
Logic sections. This will be a culmination of all prequel-related text from all
four films and film novelizations, including notes from George Lucas from the
original screenplays
- My own Episode II story treatment and corresponding full-length
screenplay. I know many SW2 screenplays have been popping up on the web
recently, but I think this one is going to be special (in my own humble opinion,
of course...)
In the meantime, I'm still on the lookout for original, high-quality prequel
related Fan Fiction. If you feel you've written
something extraordinary, by all means send it to me for review, and if I think
it has that special something I will proudly post it on my site. Contact me at whilljournalist@hotmail.com
WJ
11/02/99:
I received a pretty interesting email that I thought I would post in it's
entirety here:
I am hoping you can add some credence to my theory that George
Lucas has based some of his storyline, at least, around the author Eric Von
Daniken's work especially the book Gold of the Gods.
In this book Von Daniken describes a hermit like character that used to live in
the hills and come down now and again to talk to a local tribe and show off his
mystical powers. The locals called him Bep Kororoti (sound familiar - Ben
Kenobi) and they  called
his house an Ng-Obi (ummm). Don't just take my word for it - I have
attached the relevant page from a book which describes it briefly [click
on thumbnail to the right to view this page].
Add to this the fact that Von Daniken believes when have been genetically
engineered by ETs (thus artificial insemination could have been behind the
Bible's statement that God (or Gods)/ETs created us in their own image - i.e.
cloning???) coupled with the fact that Anakin has no flesh and blood father?
Also, in books by such people as Zachariah Sitchen and Alan Alford they say this
race of beings that created man were the Annunuki - very similar sounding
to Anakin?? I also remember hearing that Qui-Gon is also named after a mystical
oriental figure?
Can you shed any light on these theories or give me examples of any other
influences you have heard of. I know Lucas had a car crash years ago before SW
and was laid up for a while. Von Daniken had his book published around 68 and 69
and I think Lucas, being the man with the interests he has, may have read these
books and used some of the ancient stories for his plot. What I really want to
know is how much he believes in them? Spencer
Anybody know anything about this intriguing possibility?
If you do, drop me a line. WJ
10/12/99:
Chapter 4 of Shiflet Patrick's Stormtrooper
Diary has been posted.
The Episode II section has been updated with all of
the recent Rumor and Fact
we know concerning SW2. Invaluable for a quick reference.
In light of the alleged quotation of Rick McCallum, I am placing all of my own Palpatine/Sidious
speculation in a separate section. If they turn out to be two different people
then I can be sure to whine "I told you so!" WJ
10/04/99:
The Forum has been updated, so make sure to take a
look.
The Australian Star Wars Prequels site
officially opened it's doors on October 4, 1999. Find the prequel news and rumors
from down under today and well until 2005. Free email username@theprequels.net
and username@thesiths.com
is available for visitors so get the username you want - already have 70 sign
ups since coming online.
Please read Chapter 3 of Shiflet Patrick's fan fiction, Stormtrooper
Diary.
In the next week or so, there will be major additions and revisions to the Episode
II section, so stay tuned...WJ
09/27/99:
The Forum has been updated with fan commentary.
The second chapter of Shiflet Patrick's Stormtrooper
Diary is online, check it out, I know you won't be disappointed! WJ
09/13/99:
Some fantastic new Fan Fiction has been posted.
Stormtrooper Diary, by Shiflet Patrick, is about
one faceless trooper surviving day to day in the vast military machine that is the
Galactic Empire. Slowly this trooper begins to discover that being a soldier is not his
only talent -he is gifted in the Force as well. Please go check it out, new chapters will
be posted weekly.
Also check out the button to the left for NextPlanetOver.com -- the
best place for comics.
They have created an online store for comics that does what other online stores have
done for books and music. Their web site is more than just a store. Comic-book readers can
come together and use their enthusiasm and creativity to create a comics community that
appeals to everyone, from die-hard fans to brand-new readers. Their site has everything:
news, reviews from both professional critics and readers, a huge inventory,
personalization for site members, bulletin boards, and chats.
It's a place not seen before on this planet. WJ
09/07/99:
The Forum has been updated with questions and comments from
numerous fans.
For those of you out there who have been wondering about the fate of NewsDroid, wonder no more:
NEWSDROID ARMED AND OPERATIONAL
After weeks of being down or crippled due to server malfunctions and nightmares, fan-based
news site NEWSDROID, which provides headline
summaries of the latest Star Wars news, is back online and fully functional. News
contributors and affiliates can begin submitting news right away, and the site seeks more
reporters and staff members to make up for lost time.
NewsDroid was created to offer a first-stop news page highlighting the
headlines of all topics of Star Wars news, so Star Wars fans could get
the latest information at a glance. Using a custom-programmed news submission and
management system, and gathering news from contributors and over 30 affiliate sites, NewsDroid
provides a network for the latest Star Wars facts and rumors.
Contributors submit Star Wars news that includes headline, summary, and link to
the Internet site that has the full story. Viewers of NewsDroid can use
the site to browse for their favorite topics of information without having to scour a
multitude of sites. The news headline is linked to the source page so the viewer can read
the entire story.
Episode II Rumor has been updated with the latest web
speculation. WJ
08/30/99:
Hi there! I suppose you've all been wondering where in the heck I've been! Well, news
in the Star Wars world has been very slow lately,  with some brief notable
exceptions. I've been busy in the real world, working on a lot of different things. But
don't worry your little heads, I'm back now and everything will be ok...
I'm pleased to announce that The Whill Journal: Special Edition has been
featured in the Incredible Internet Guide To Star Wars! Check
out their site by clicking on the image at the right.
The Forum had been updated with one letter! One! In three weeks!
Come on people, you gotta write me or else I can't pontificate from my soapbox!
Episode II Fact has been updated, and finally (drum roll
please...) chapter V of my fan fiction The Candle Which Burns Twice
As Bright has been posted!
Go check it out, and let me know what you think by mailing me at whilljournalist@hotmail.com. WJ
08/11/99:
The Forum has been updated with some intelligent questions.
Please check out Star Wars: Aeons by Dave
Mueller on my Fan Fiction page. He is in the process
of writing a compelling serial about a young girl in the middle of the world of the Rebel
Alliance shortly after the destruction of the Death Star.
As (almost) promised, chapter 5 of my own fan fiction,
The Candle Which Burns Twice As Bright, will be online within the
next two days, I promise!
If you have some SW fan fiction you would like to submit please do so at whilljournalist@hotmail.com.
Also, make sure to check out my Other Sites section, there are a
few surprises there that I think you all might like, as compared to the normal fare...WJ
08/08/99:
Just a quick update today, there will be a larger one Monday. Check out the Jedi Exchange at the bottom of this page. It's a
new Star Wars button exchange that is affiliated with the Prequel Oz Network.
08/03/99:
The Forum has been updated with a couple new items.
It would seem that NewsDroid has popped a bad motivator over the past
weeks. Known for its Star Wars Headline News, NewsDroid (http://www.newsdroid.com) has been up only sporadically at best during
the last three weeks, due to massive server difficulties and the server host skipping
town. The site, which is currently back up, will be switching to a new, permanent server
home this following week.
Episode II Fact has been updated. Sorry, Maul
fans...WJ
07/26/99:
The Forum has been updated with fan commentary, and several new
links have been added to the Other Sites section. Episode I Analysis has been updated with an
interesting observation. Check out the new Star Wars e-mail available on my E-Mail & Link section. It a free e-mail
service that was created for Star Wars fans. Make sure to check out the link at http://www.starwarsemail.com/. WJ
07/23/99:
I am pleased to announce the formation of two new Star Wars banner exchanges:
The Guide's Star Wars Banner Exchange
and
Prequel Oz Network - Star Wars Banner
Exchange
I'm sure that together we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually
beneficial...both are hardworking and will serve you well.
Please check them out at the bottom of the page. They have both
just started but will soon grow into a force to be reckoned with.
The Forum has been updated with some comments from the peanut
gallery, and the FAQ's section has been revised slightly for
better clarity.
Coming soon is the next installment of my Fan Fiction, The Candle
Which Burns Twice As Bright, featuring the history of the Sith and the young
adventures of Darth Maul.
Let me know your comments, gripes or suggestions at whilljournalist@hotmail.com. WJ
07/17/99:
The Forum has been updated with some fan commentary. I have
placed two new banners that you can use if you feel like linking to The Whill
Journal: Special Edition. Click here to view them. Episode II rumors have also been updated.
07/13/99:
The Forum has been updated with some topics that go a little
above and beyond the usual, "is Darth Sidious really Senator Palpatine" debate.
Go take a look as the discussion ventures into the mystical and metaphysical...(sorry for
the melodrama).
Actually, in keeping with my favorite Sidious/Palpatine topic, I have included a quote
from the Star Wars: A New Hope novelization. I am sure this particular quote has
been discussed before, but in light of all the recent debate over Palpatine and Sidious I
thought it was very significant and I have not heard anyone mention it recently. Go check
it out in Episode III Fact (the novelization is considered
'canon', after all, just after the Special Edition films and screenplay).
I am putting out a request for Fan Fiction, to add to my own
continuing projects. I have received several submissions and been promised some others,
and to date they all look very good. I will come forward now and say that I desire to only
put the highest quality stuff on my site, so if you think you have what it takes please
drop me a line and your work at whilljournalist@hotmail.com.
WJ
07/06/99:
Just a quick update this night. As you may have noticed on my Main
Page, I have added an Australian Prequels Top 50 icon at the bottom.
If you like my site, click on the icon and vote for me. I'd appreciate it, and it don't
cost nothin! WJ
07/04/99:
Happy Independence Day America!
The Forum has been updated with fan commentary.
I would like to give a brief review of the Star Wars: Episode I Insider's Guide.
The IG is basically the same deal as the Star Wars Behind the Magic CD
ROM. Two CD's in a nice little package. The navigation, if you are already familiar with
the first CD ROM guide, is quite similar, and the overall structure is similar as well.
The main reason to get this product is the scene by scene breakdown of the film, with
additional development notes. An Episode I glossary exists, but all of that
information can be found in various other locations, i.e. the Episode I Scrapbook
or the Episode I Visual Dictionary. There are a lot of good pictures and
audio/visual clips. I was disappointed however, in that many characters had no additional
back story. Darth Maul's entry for instance lists his species and homeworld as
"unknown", whereas internet fans have known for some time he is a Zabrak from
Iridonia. Qui-Gon had a small back story that has already been explored in one of the
newly released kid's novels.
I have selected a few choice items from this resource and updated several sections with
new information accordingly. One bit of info is especially intriguing for those who are
interested in the ongoing "is Darth Sidious Senator Palpatine" debate, which I
have posted in the Episode I Analysis section. Check out
the wording, it is very odd. Also updated have been the Episode
II Fact and the Episode III Fact sections. WJ
06/28/99:
The Forum has been updated with the latest fan mail.
As I did with Episode I, I am beginning my treatment of the Episode II Alleged Plotline. Go check it out. It is
the initial framework, and as such, is intended to be modified and built up into a
probable view of Episode II. Let me know your opinions on the storyline, what
should and should not be plot sticking points.
The next update will include a review and updated official Facts from the Episode I
Insider's Guide CD ROM. WJ
06/22/99: The Forum has been updated today
along with some rearranging and reorganizing of the Logic sections in Episode II and Episode III.
06/19/99: Hi, and welcome to The Whill Journal: Special
Edition!
This site still has some finishing touches left to put on it, but these will be taken
care of shortly. The main reason for this move was to provide enhanced navigation and a
more appealing and easier to read visual style.
Please let me know what you think! Address your thoughts to whilljournalist@hotmail.com on the new look
or about anything else you have a mind to speak on. Stay tuned for more, and make sure to
bookmark this page as it will always have the most current info for changes to the other
sections.
Thanks to all of you for helping me make this site what it is.
06/013/99: I am still alive!! Please allow me to apologize for the
large gap in updates since my last one. I have just finished moving into a new place
recently and have been extremely busy. I have a ton of email that I need to answer, and I
have cut into that load in the Forum
this evening, so go check it out. Keep on writing, I promise I will get back to you!
With my next update, barring any unforeseen calamities, I should be ready to unveil The
Whill Journal: Special Edition! It will look familiar yet different, and will have a
navigation process that should allow everyone to get to where they want to go in a
perfectly natural manner. After all, I want all of you people out there to be happy,
right? Anyway, I'm sure if I screwed up, you all will be sure to let me know... WJ
06/02/99: Forum has a
maxi-big update today (sorry for the Jar Jar slang).
Well, at this point I have seen TPM twice and will probably see it a third time when I
find a theater that has the sound system I have been waiting to blow me away. I figured
now would be a good time to get a little more in-depth about what I truly thought of the
film after some time has passed.
First, the racism issue. What a bunch of crap. I think George forgot that he was making
this movie in 1999, where people will read a civil rights issue into anything. I find it
much easier to believe that an alien attempting to speak English would speak it with an
accent than with none. Funny, nobody seemed to mind that all the Imperials spoke with
British accents...
That said, the "how wude" line spoken by Jar Jar was funny once, but was real
stupid three times. I am not sure about the "brain-dead" line spoken by the
Neimoidian, either. As a whole, I think all the fans see that with the 'midi-chlorians'
Lucas is setting up something about the Clone Wars, but that doesn't mean we have to like
it. I did not like the scene where little Anakin asked Qui-Gon about them, and he gave a
little pseudo-scientific explanation.
Maul, Maul, Maul... His face should not have been revealed until the end battle. When he
appeared as a hologram, it should have been like Sidious, with people left wondering at
some of the strange markings on the bottom part of his face. He needed to be shown to be a
more awesome force to be reckoned with. He certainly proved that in the saber duel, but
his mere presence alone should have provoked more fear and dread. The saber fight between
Qui-Gon and Maul on Tatooine should also have been longer (I wonder what happened to the
rumor that he made it onto the ramp but was kicked off -that would have been better!)
The Queen's ship should have been shown jumping into hyperspace. The final scene with
Anakin in space I feel would have played out better if he had been shown to be much more
frightened and concerned than he was. This would have left JarJar as the only comic
relief, which is the way it should have been. Dogfights are not the vehicle for comedy.
Well, enough ranting. With all the above in mind, not to many the too-many-to-list other
criticisms on the net, I am going to begin an ambitious project which I am tentatively
calling The Phantom Menace: Renegade Version. This will be a retelling of TPM in
screenplay format, but with the best of all the original net rumors, the best of the
actual film itself, and the best fan/critic ideas and criticisms. This is gonna take a
while folks, but I think I am up to the task. Just don't expect it by next week... WJ
05/27/99: The Forum has
been updated this evening.
05/25/99: First off, I want to apologize if I haven't answered your email yet. I have
gotten an awful lot, but I promise I will write you back! That said, go check out the Forum, with tons of fan mail.
Next is a fan review of The Phantom Menace that I thought was fantastic, so read on and
enjoy it:
Jason:
Greetings again (you may recall the e-mail I sent on May 9th - you posted it on your site
May 10th - SPS from San Antonio, TX). I had an opportunity to view "Star Wars: Episode
I - The Phantom Menace" at 1:00 p.m. on opening day. I'd like to comment on the
movie, but I wanted to wait until you posted your review. I think a brief preface is also
warranted. (By the way, you needn't feel compelled to publish this message in the
"Forum" section of "The Whill Journal," because it will be rather
lengthy. I was actually hoping to bounce some thoughts off of you.)
I am a 30-year old professional, hold a Master's Degree, drive a nice car, make good
money, blah, blah, blah, etc., etc., etc... That said, I would be taken aback if someone
referred to me as a "Star Wars geek." Still, I am among the generation of young
people (yourself included, perhaps) that literally grew up on Star Wars. Like many of my
peers, I couldn't help but become immersed in the entire franchise. My parents took me to
see the "original" when I was 9. I've read many of the books (the original
trilogy, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, both of Timothy Zahn's series, a couple of
the"X-Wing" novels...you get the idea), I play the LucasArts games affiliated
with the saga, and I have three different sets of the original trilogy on video cassette.
I do, in fact, have a life. I don't "eat, breathe, and sleep" Star Wars. I'm
simply a big fan, and Star Wars represents a nice place to retreat to from time to
time...nothing more. As a fan: 1.)
I think my perspective of TPM will be significantly different from that of critics or
members of the general public, who are less familiar with the story's underpinnings; and
2.) I am more likely to forgive the film's shortcomings. They're there, but they don't
really detract from the overall experience. Okay, enough of the preface...I'm rambling on.
Here's my "review" of the movie, for what it's worth:
OVERALL RATING: Three stars out of four (***) - Not everything I'd hopedfor, but certainly
NOT a disappointment.
1. Worth the wait? -YES, ABSOLUTELY.
2. Worth seeing? - YES, ABSOLUTELY.
3. Lived up to the hype? - No, but NO movie - past, present, or future- could live up to
that much hype!
4. Plot...What plot? - Many critics panned the movie for what they perceived as an absence
of plot and poor character development. THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. My chief complaint is
that the story itself moved too quickly, and didn't give the audience much time to digest
what they saw. If anything, the plot is a little under-developed and the scenes were a
little choppy. I think true Star Wars fans will forgive these flaws, given the enormity of
the task faced by Lucas in setting the stage for the series that follows. By definition,
"plot" is the set of general circumstances (settings, characters, and events)
from which a story evolves. This movie HAS a sound plot, albeit far too much for a single
episode and hence thepace with which the story unfolds. This lends itself to an inability
to adequately develop characters for which we, the audience, feel some emotional
connection. Darth Maul's lack of development is often cited, but do we really have to know
a lot about him to know that he's evil? Boba Fett had three lines of dialog in the entire
span of Episodes IV, V, and IV (if one includes his "ex post facto" inclusion in
1997's Special Edition release of ANH). Do we really need to know more about Boba Fett to
dislike his bounty hunter character? Similarly, do we really need to know if Darth Maul's
father beat him, or what his favorite color is, or if he likes ice cream, to know he's
evil. Sometimes less is more.
5. Portman's and Lloyd's performances were pretty bad, weren't they? -ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Critics complained that Natalie Portman's and Jake Lloyd's performances were
"wooden." I didn't see it that way. Natalie Portman portrayed Queen Amidala with
the regal stoicism appropriate of a ruler. In her ruse as Padme, the Queen's handmaiden,
she expressed a subtle tenderness and deep, but reserved, emotion. Jake Lloyd did just
fine as young Anakin. Some of the movie's pundits disliked his "Yippee, I'm gonna be
a Jedi" portrayal of Anakin Skywalker. I did sense some of that when Anakin was in
the Naboo N-1 fighter (at the end of the movie) and really let loose with the "kiddie
talk." In retrospect (i.e., through an 8-year old's eyes), I think Lloyd's
performance was appropriate. His high-spiritedness reflects how I probably would have
behaved in the presence of all those neat gadgets (and no "grown-ups" around to
stop me from blowing stuff up). Critics also complained that Lloyd's character didn't hint
at the evil he would become. So what? Vader was the product of greed, fear, and animosity.
Young children possess a rote understanding of these concepts, but they often lack the
emotional maturity and attention span to fully comprehend them or deal withthem
appropriately. Anakin is a reflection of innocence and youth, and his metamorphosis into
Darth Vader is reflective of the loss of innocence each of us endures as we grow into
adulthood.
6. Wasn't Jar-Jar Binks really annoying? - No, not really. A little too goofy for my
taste, but I did catch myself laughing at some of his antics (the scene in which he numbs
his tongue on the pod racer's field generator stream reminded me of Bill Cosby's
"novocaine at the dentist's office" routine...pretty funny). Lucas could have
lost the announcers at the podrace, though.
7. Didn't the CGI characters overwhelm you? - No, there were a lot of them, but they
blended in well with the rest of the movie - truly an "achievement in innovative
filmmaking," to quote Roger Ebert.
8. Wasn't this a special effects movie? - No. True Star Wars fans will appreciate the
political subterfuge. In the last 15-20 minutes of the movie, things become much clearer
and take on a sinister veneer, covered by a thin sheen of sugar-coating.* Senator
Palpatine shrewdly manipulates Queen Amidala into proposing the vote of "No
Confidence" for Chancellor Valorum in the Galactic Senate. Valorum is deposed, and
Palpatine steps in and is elected Chancellor. The seeds of the Empire are planted.*
Obi-Wan accepts Qui-Gon's dying wish to train young Anakin Skywalker (ROTJ: "I
thought I could train your father just as well as Yoda...I was wrong."). Anakin's
destiny is sealed. * Amidala's/Padme's affection for young Anakin, and his apparent
"crush" on her, are quite evident. A new hope will be born. * Chancellor
Palpatine tells young Anakin "We will watch your career with great interest." Of
course you will, Darth Sidious...er...I mean Chancellor Palpatine. You need a new
apprentice. (And this film needs plotdevelopment???)
9. Did this film live up to the "Star Wars standard"? - YES. It's not quite as
good as the others now, but should fit in quite nicely when the saga is complete.
10. In short, suspend disbelief, allow yourself to be a kid again, and enjoy two hours of
fanciful story-telling.
HIGHS:* The political subterfuge and seed-laying at the close of the movie.* CGI / special
effects.* Pod race.* Droid battle with Gungans.* Lightsaber dual with Darth Maul.* Liam
Neeson and Ewan McGregor's performances.* Nice cameos by Frank Oz (Yoda) and Samuel L.
Jackson (Mace Windu).
LOWS:* Plot a little underdeveloped because Lucas "bit off more than hecould
chew."* Pace of the movie / choppy scene transition / mediocre editing.* Pod race
announcers (They had a "Disney feel" and were clearly forthe kids).*
Midichlorians??? C'mon George, that's a little bit of s stretch.* S**t, now I've gotta
wait until Episode II comes out!
Well, I've been prattling on long enough. Your comments are welcome. Keep upthe good work,
and I'm glad you enjoyed the movie as much as I did!
Shawn P. Sande San Antonio, Texas
05/20/99: I have seen Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
And I liked it a lot.
Before I get into it, don't forget to check out the Forum for some fan commentary.
First I must relate how I came to see the film on opening night (briefly):
I had planned on seeing TPM this weekend since I figured it would be sold out everywhere
and I am not interested in camping out in line for tickets. A buddy and I were returning
from the pistol range (not P.C.) when I decided on a whim to swing by the theater to see
just how much of a zoo it would be. We pulled up, and I ran in to discover that the show
was sold out until 12:15am. On my way back to the car (to go home, hafta work you know) a
man approached me and asked me if I was looking for tickets. I thought, "hmmm, a
scalper, eh?" and asked how many he had.
"Three," the man responded. My pulse quickened.
"How much...?" I asked dubiously. His response was incredible:
"Oh I'm just looking to get rid of them. My wife waited in line for 3 hours for these
but our kid stood us up. Just gimmie what I paid," said the angel from heaven.
Needless to say, 45 minutes later I was watching the yellow scroll fade into the black sea
of stars. So what did I think? Here goes:
The Jedi are bad-asses. McGregor and Neeson looked mean as hell taking Battle Droids
apart, especially McGregor who had some extra Japanese-style moves. The Neimoidians were a
good 'dupe' enemy. They thought they were more powerful than they really were, but you
could feel their uncertainty. Naboo (as well as every other cityscape or vista) looked
fantastic. JarJar looked almost perfect. He was almost truly 'photo-realistic' throughout
the entire film (with some exceptions). The same can be said for Sebulba and Watto. Jake
Lloyd acted fine in my opinion, he was as convincing as any kid need be. Yoda was as cool
as he always is.
notable points:
- The saber-play was excellent, fast-paced and exciting. The end battle was fantastic, but
the first fight on Tatooine needed to be a bit longer
- The Gungans were pretty good, way better than Ewoks
- I cannot understand the reason for the Midi-chlorians unless Lucas is going to make them
an important part of the Clone Wars
- The Pod Race was perfect
- Palpatine is really cool and conniving, but it is seemingly clear that there is no room
for interpretation that Palpatine /Sidious are the same person
- Best line of the film: Palpatine (to Anakin): "and we will be watching your career
with great interest, young Skywalker..."
- Music needed to be employed more effectively. When it was there it was good, but there
were times when it just seemed to be lacking. 'Duel of the Fates' was excellent at the end
however
- Watto was a truly inspired character, he looked, acted, and felt perfect in the role
At the end of the film the crowd in the theater stood and cheered. Me included.
Mission accomplished.
Star Wars is back. WJ
05/18/99: Well ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment we've all been waiting for. It
is Phantom Menace Eve, and a galaxy of fans are stirring, in disbelief that the magic day
is finally here at long last.
For me, this little project of mine called The Whill Journal began on July 11 1998, with
my first official update. It has been an interesting ride, watching the online
developments of this film phenomenon.
In the end, it turns out that after a certain point, most of the 'leaked' bits of info
were true more or less.
It turns out Harry Knowles at AICN really did
see the script.
It turns out that the Midi-Chlorians are real.
It turns out the spelling of 'Neimoidian' can change at will anytime.
What does all this teach us? Not much, I imagine, when the lights come down and the
screen fills with those words:
The Forum has been updated
with commentary from fans from around the world. WJ
05/13/99: Ok, folks, here is the review as promised. I consider the source to be
reliable, intelligent, in possession of a good sense of humor, and is most importantly a
Star Wars fan. To paraphrase:
- the podrace was by far the best sequence in the entire film
- the lightsaber fights were easily the best out of any of the original trilogy
- Darth Maul had the potential to be an even better villain than Vader
- good story
- excellent special effects
- solid performances from all actors
- Jake Lloyd was quite good
now the bones of contention:
- the music -wasn't that great overall, and was not used enough
- some of the kiddie humor was truly stupid
- Maul needed more screen time
- the midi-chlorians were a real pisser (never cool to de-mystify anything)
- the film did not end leaving the audience 'wanting for more'
Overall my source gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars. The 'virgin birth' stuff concerning
Anakin was weird but ok, JarJar was better than an Ewok but still annoying. Overall, maybe
about the same or a little better than ROTJ.
There you have it, from a regular old fan....WJ
05/10/99: A short update tonight. First check out the Forum for a couple items.
Secondly, I have a source who will be attending a screening of The Phantom Menace on
Wednesday, May 12. I will have this source's review of the film, from a regular fan's
point of view. Come back this Thursday evening for the complete scoop.... WJ
05/05/99:
First off, the Forum has been
updated.
The first reviews of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace are hitting the web. It is
interesting, since everything I have seen on them I kind of anticipated.
There seems to be a common theme in these reviews: the effects were incredible, Liam and
Ewan were excellent, the sound and music was really good, and the pod race and lightsaber
fights were thrilling. But...
The movie is tailored to children, Lloyd and Portman had some 'wooden' performances, and
all the CG aliens got annoying. JarJar and the final battle sequence got mainly mixed
reviews. Qui-Gon and (esp.) Darth Maul did not get enough development.
These were common themes in the reviews I read. Usually they ended with, "overall, a
good summer movie, but at best on par with ROTJ".
I find this, well, interesting...
I find it interesting because none of these reviews were written by kids. They were all
written by adults who had seen the original trilogy in the theater when they themselves
were children. They all seem to think something was missing, something 'special' was not
there, that it was too childish.
Maybe these self-appointed critics should take a minute to think about the fact that Star
Wars is not meant for them. It is meant for the kids. It always was. All of the films have
been rated PG, they have all been family films, and now everyone seems to be expecting
some type of noir John Woo movie with lightsabers instead of 9mm Berettas...
I plan on giving a fully objective review when I see the film. There will be things I
like, and things I don't like, but I will keep in mind my 9 year old cousin who will see
it with me, and I will watch his face when the end credits roll....WJ Email Me With Your Thoughts
04/28/99:
I have stood unwavering in the face of my self-imposed moratorium on the internet
regarding Episode I. Since my last posting (oh so long ago) I have looked at nary a single
bit of information concerning the film. I fulfill my NewsDroid
obligations, of course, and I check out the Official
Star Wars site, who have been updating like mad recently I might point out. The result
of all this?
I am pleased. I know that probably damn near half the movie is out on the web now, all
100% confirmed stuff from the novel and script. I will not read the novel 'til after the
film comes out, but it is going to be hard to hold out. I expect to try to see The Phantom
Menace on Saturday or Sunday May 22 or 23 since I just started a new job and wont be able
to call off like a true sicko just to see a movie.
I must admit that I am surprised there has been no advertising on television yet, but
George Lucas and his staff are absolute geniuses. The 'free press' this film has gotten is
unbelievable, and I think the public is  truly
psyched for it.
That being said, Attila Baraczka and Michael Murtanovski from the Cottage sent me this little illustration. The Forum has been updated with some
good stuff, including the first announcement about my new mirror site for The Whill
Journal! In late May I will give the URL of my new mirror, which, in actuality, will
become my permanent new site. It will look familiar yet different, with a focus on the
next film Episode II and logical analysis and critical review of The Phantom Menace.
(P.S. I know, I know I didn't update Cast of Characters or my Fan Fiction, I am a lazy bastard.
Promise an update to those sections in the next couple of days though. Scout's honor!) WJ
04/12/99:
As May 19 inexorably approaches, I have finally decided that I do not want to see anymore
spoilers on the Internet. I know, I know, I am in the spoiler business, right? I am a big
huge hypocrite, right? Well, maybe. Let me explain:
The story is out. It's on the 'net. There are few spoilers left. I have seen about 8
minutes of the film, along with many still images. Cutaways of ships, descriptions of
scenes, etc. Do I regret my nosing into this stuff? No, not at all. I am just burnt out on
it. The only thing left to do in my opinion is to go to the theater and see the film.
Several times.
Therefore, the only sections which will truly be updated will be the Forum, and my Fan Fic Serial. After today, the Alleged Plotline will stand as
it is now until the screenplay is released, then that will be substituted. I will still
check out the official site and NewsDroid.com, but other than that I am swearing off.
My next big goal for this site is for review and analysis of The Phantom Menace after all
of us have seen it. Then we can begin intelligent speculation for Episode II.
The Forum has been updated,
and The Alleged Plotline is in
it's final incarnation before alleged becomes actual. Cast of Characters will be
updated to it's final state next time. WJ
03/31/99:
The Candle Which Burns Twice As
Bright, my fan fiction serial about the early adventures of young Darth Maul has been
updated with Chapter IV.
Check it out!
Someone sent me this letter, maybe as an April Fool's joke, but I decided I would post it
anyway. I am sure it is fake but it does lend an interesting perspective on all the
hoopla:
"I just got this 'review' of Episode 1 which is about to appear in a small
California newspaper. It's the first I've seen of any review so far, but I don't know if
its for real. I hope its just a hoax because the reviewer only gave TPM a C+. Anyway, I
thought you'd like to see this."
MOVIE REVIEW Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
By Anonymous
When my old high school buddy told me he'd obtained tickets to a very special sneak
preview of the most anticipated movie of the decade, I didn't believe him. Even though
he's an employee at 20th Century Fox, I knew that getting preview tickets to the rabidly
anticipated "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," was about as easy as
getting George Lucas to shave off his beard. Even when I was sitting in the small theater,
surrounded by studio executives and film distributors, I was still unconvinced. It wasn't
until I was forced to sign a "Confidentiality Agreement" that I realized my
friend had actually pulled off the impossible! Within minutes, The Phantom Menace filled
the screen with a jaw-dropping space battle that made me feel like I was a teenager
watching the very first Star Wars movie all over again.
For "security reasons" I didn't get the customary press kit which spells out all
of the actor's names, characters and plot points, so forgive me if I misspell the name of
a planet or creature here and there. The new space epic, the first of three prequels to
the original Star Wars trilogy, stars Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as a
young Obi-Wan Kenobi. These two Jedi Knights act as "the guardians of peace" for
the galaxy and they're summoned by Queen Amidala to help settle a growing political
turmoil between planets.
Like the previous Star Wars movies, The Force plays a pivotal role in the story, acting as
the unseen power that can be harnessed for either good or evil. In fact, The Phantom
Menace includes several characters that begin on the good side of the Force, but end up
turning bad. Chief among the future villains is an innocent looking 8-year old boy named
Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), who will one day be the father of Luke and Princess Leia
before turning to the dark side of the Force and becoming the dreaded Darth Vader.
Previous Star Wars characters that appear in The Phantom Menace include Yoda, R2-D2, C-3PO
and everyone's favorite oversized slug Jabba the Hutt. The best of the new creatures is
the goofy, floppy-eared Jar Jar Binks, who looks like a cross between Bugs Bunny and Joe
Camel.
The "menace" of the movie's title is Darth Sidious, the shadowy, black-caped
ruler of the dark side of the Force. Sidious commands yet another Darth, the red and
black-faced Darth Maul (played by martial-arts expert Ray Park). Darth Maul, working with
the evil Trade Federation, is intent on destroying Queen Amidala's peaceful Galactic
Republic. The story comes to a head when the Trade Federation begins to blockade shipping
to the Queen's home planet of Naboo. Full-scale war begins when Darth Sidious sends his
robotic army of "battle droids" to simultaneously invade several peaceful
planets.
The scope of The Phantom Menace is huge, spanning many unique worlds and hundreds of new
characters and creatures. The filmmakers have created some of the largest, most realistic
computer-generated special effects ever put on film. In fact, the version I saw wasn't
completely finished yet. Industrial Light & Magic still had to complete several of the
1,700 F/X shots, reportedly three times the number of "Titanic."
One of the more spectacular scenes is a land battle that takes place on the grassy hills
of the planet of Naboo. Thousands of the computer-generated, skeletal-looking battle
droids march towards a line of lizard-like Gungan soldiers. The scale of the scene is
simply amazing -- just imagine "Braveheart" with reptiles and lasers. Other
show-stoppers include a pod race trough the Tatiana desert and a submarine chase, dodging
the gaping jaws of gigantic sea monsters.
Now for the bad news: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is not a great movie. I'm
a fan of the first three films, but sadly, I don't think that The Phantom Menace measures
up. I'd rank it behind 1983's "Return of the Jedi," which was considered a
disappointment to most Star Wars aficionados. The Phantom Menace has all the visual style
and special effects you would expect from the Star Wars franchise, but the whole thing
just seems too cold and heartless. When the end credits finally rolled, the main emotion I
felt was emptiness.
The performances are mostly very good, especially from Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, but
much of the dialog is stiff and even silly. Samuel L. Jackson appears in a small role as
Jedi Mace Windu, but looks like he's about to bust- out laughing while talking with the
Yoda puppet. Natalie Portman's performance as young Queen Amidala is more robotic than
R2-D2 and it doesn't help that she's covered in heavy make-up and must recite lines like,
"Go wag your lightsabers elsewhere." Clunky surprise cameos by Mark Hamill, Kate
Capshaw and Whoopie Goldberg may get a chuckle out of the audience, but they disrupt the
flow of the story.
The big question is whether The Phantom Menace is worth the long lines and crowded
theaters once it opens on May 19. From an "event" standpoint, this movie will
make millions no matter how good it is. My advice is to stay away for a couple months
before you see it to avoid the costumed throngs. Also be sure to keep your expectations
low. And if you weren't a big fan of the first three Star Wars films, don't even bother.
Oh, and about that confidentiality agreement I was forced to sign… Good thing they
didn't read the signatures too closely because I never actually signed mine, unless you
count the one signed by a guy named "Luke S. Walker." Hey, it's only a movie!
RATING: C+
Blood boiling? Sorry, just posting the letter, real or fake. Forum has been updated with some
good stuff. WJ
03/28/99:
First off, here is a quote from the head guy over at NewsDroid:
"After another excruciating few days of downtime, NewsDroid is back 'on the air.'
Along with JediNetwork sites JediNet and StarWarz.com, as well as VirtualEdition.com,
NewsDroid had been suffering from serious server-itis. All sites have been restored
online, and word from the technical pit droids is that we are online to stay."
R. Lee Brown Editor, NewsDroid
Ok, I watched the 60 Minutes thing and it was the best. Usually, things like
Entertainment Tonight and stuff always are just old news, but this was really revealing.
For those of you who did not see it, there were new looks at the Pod Race, a floating
landing platform on Coruscant, Darth Maul somersaulting off his speeder to fight Qui-Gon
(really cool!), more of the battle at the end (I swear I saw Maul shorten one of his
blades then re-extend it), and we heard a little of the musical score! There was a choir
singing and they were showing the final battle on the screen. I got the impression that it
was kind of like the music at the end of ROTJ when Luke went berserk and was hammering
Vader.
The scene we saw in the first trailer with JarJar getting shocked continues, and his
tongue hangs limply out of his mouth. He started trying to talk around him numb tongue and
it was really funny. Watto looks so great, and Qui-Gon riding the beast (Eeopie?), looked
amazing, especially since they showed it before CG and after. It is clear that Ray Park is
truly an athletic and skilled martial artist. The fight scenes are going to be visually
stunning and very exciting. He has succeeded in convincing me that his character Darth
Maul is capable of fighting two Jedi simultaneously. Let me know your thoughts about
the footage.
The Forum has been updated,
as well as Fact and the Alleged Plotline. Naturally,
most current material is in teal font. WJ
03/23/99:
Hi folks, a very large update in the Forum today, with lots of good
input and speculation. If you would like to add to the conversation, or just drop me a
line, give me some Feedback.
The Official Star Wars website has updated their
weapons section with the Federation Battle Droid Blaster, Queen Amidala's pistol, and now
the Sith Double Lightsaber! Wild!
Check out http://www.starwarsnet.com/ for a cool new directory of great Star
Wars sites.
Here is the latest cartoon from Sev Wars, click on the comic strip to follow the link. Be prepared for chapter IV of my Fan Fiction serial, The Candle Which Burns Twice As Bright,
where we get to witness the first dark ass-whippings handed out by a young Darth
Maul....WJ
03/16/99:
First off, I want to put out some news about NewsDroid and JediNet:
Apparently a SNAFU during installation of a firewall has led to NewsDroid and JediNet
being down since Friday. I'm told that the situation should be resolved soon.
We are only down, not out, and will be back.You can imagine our frustration at being
offline during this news-heavy weekend.
R. Lee Brown
Editor, NewsDroid
Headline News for Star Wars Fans
http://www.newsdroid.com
NewsDroid and JediNet are still around, folks, so check back periodically to see when
they are up and running.
That said, Forum has a great
big update and the Alleged
Plotline has a huge update! Be warned, however, that looking at the Alleged Plotline
will tell you everything about The Phantom Menace -more than you may care to know! Thanks
to all the other sites out there, most especially T'Bone Fender's for commentary and
clarification on Trailer B.
One quick question from me, on the topic of the trailer: if it is so obvious that Sidious
and Palpatine are the same person in Trailer B, how do they both seem to appear nearly
simultaneously in hologram form to both the Federation and to Amidala and her advisors?
Hmmm....didn't think of that one, did you? Give me some Feedback....WJ
03/13/99:
I enjoy your Star Wars site a lot and I wanted to point something out to you from the new
trailer. The scene where Obi-Wan is lunging hard and fiercely on Maul... look at Maul's
saber handle... hence the theory that Maul's saber splits in 2 is correct because it is
small. No SW fan site has mentioned this. I'd hate to be the only one out there that has
noticed this. What do you think? Rictor PS: this is my site:
www.geocities.com/Area51/Portal/myidea.html
Excellent! You are totally right! Good eye! WJ
03/12/99:
Here are some thoughts on the newly released Trailer B:
- Tanks and transports, very nice. Naboo looks beautiful, ILM really knows how to do
cityscapes.
- I like Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator. Similarities between it and the TIE fighter.
Maul's voice pleasantly surprised me. I expected some type of electronically enhanced
growl, but the deep aristocratic whisper is much more menacing. It seems clear that Maul
and Sidious are conversing overlooking Coruscant. Very interesting...
- Okay, Palpatine and Sidious look and sound exactly the same. 'Nuff said.
- The Neimoudians look creepier than I originally thought, maybe it is just the lighting.
- Obi-Wan uses the Force. About time we see it active in combat. Pretty effective against
droids, apparently.
- Hard to get a true impression of the Galactic Senate. Maybe easier to make it out on the
big screen, but I think a different camera angle is necessary.
- Where does the Queen find time to change her clothes so many times? Snooty accent too,
but it is appropriate.
- Kenobi and Jinn making mincemeat out of the Battle Droids. Seems easy so far.
- Yoda's "master and apprentice line" is edited such as to give the impression
that this relationship exists between Jedi and Sith alike.
- Jabba, looking good (who's that hot babe to his left?)
- Ahh, what we've been waiting for, Maul and Kenobi. I really really dug that few seconds
of fighting. Fast-paced, both of them look like bad-asses.
- "Noooooooo!" I think we all can guess when that line comes.
- "Wipe them out. All of them." There you have it.
In general:
Overall, excellent. My impression of Darth Maul has changed considerably. From the first
trailer, I got the impression that Maul was just a grimacing maniac. This time around, he
seems to have a much more noble air -worthy of the title Dark Lord. We also see just how
much of a threat he is, fast moving and graceful with his double-edged saber.
Amidala is made out to be quite the little monarch, with her wild costumes and accent. It
is clear she is strong-willed, like her daughter.
Droids, Droids, everywhere! Battle Droids, Destroyer Droids, Droid Fighters, Protocol
Droids, Astromech Droids, Pit Droids. I especially liked the Destroyer Droids, but am
still unsure of the walking Droid Fighters.
It is clear that the Jedi are not to be trifled with. I was hoping that Lucas would make
that abundantly evident.
It seems that Palpatine and Sidious are the same person. This is not what I have come to
believe personally, but the trailer makes this seem obvious. Or is that what Lucas
intended....
The Alleged Plotline will
be updated tomorrow in accordance with the new trailer. Drop me a line at whilljournalist@hotmail.com and let me know
your thoughts on Trailer B and anything else you'd like to discuss....WJ
03/07/99:
Forum has been updated with a
couple things, including some more rantings about my theories on The Clone Wars.
I watched ROTJ:SE the other night, and a thought struck me: most people seem to be of the
opinion that TPM will kind of 'mirror' or at least be very similar to SW: ANH. I am of a
different opinion...
I feel TPM is intentionally designed so that when people see ROTJ, they will remember
Episode I. The image of Luke Skywalker garbed in black robes will remind us of Darth Maul.
We will see the end of Jabba the Hutt in all its glory. The image of Luke wielding his
green lightsaber against the backdrop of the Tatooine sands will evoke Qui-Gon Jinn's
desert duel.
We will witness the death of Yoda, so noble and full of life in Episode I. The speeder
bike sequence will remind us of a similar race through the desert sands. It will also make
us think of Maul's Sith speeder. Leia will stumble across a helpful Ewok, making us
reminisce about Qui-Gon's first meeting with JarJar. Palpatine's hooded visage will
hearken us back to Darth Sidious, and the Ewok tribe fighting the Imperials on Endor will
be associated with the Gungans against the Trade Federation. This will occur
simultaneously as the Rebels engage the Imperial Fleet above the Sanctuary Moon, just as
the Naboo Royal Air Forces fought high above their planet. Meanwhile, an epic lightsaber
battle will fought between the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy and a Dark Lord of the
Sith.
At the end, after the whole saga is told, the funeral pyre of Darth Vader will link the
entire audience to the pyre marking the end of The Phantom Menace, all while the spectral
forms of Anakin, Yoda, and Obi-Wan look on.
The Alleged Plotline has
also been updated, thanks to new revelations from Roderick
Vonhögen's Virtual Edition....WJ
03/03/99: A quick update in the Forum this evening....WJ
02/28/99: 81days until the opening of The Phantom Menace. Pretty wild...
Forum has been updated, and
the Alleged Plotline has
some new information (in teal font, of course).
Cast of Characters has
several new additions: Chancellor Valorum, C-3P0, Senator Palpatine, Padmé Naberrie and a
couple others....WJ
02/21/99: Part III of my fiction serial The Candle Which Burns Twice As
Bright... has been posted. In this installment, the reader becomes more familiar with
another cult of Force-practitioners, as well as witnessing the growth of the dark power of
the Sith Lord who will come to be known as Maul.
Let me know what you think by sigining my guestbook or emailing me here....WJ
02/19/99: Forum has been
updated with some talk of the trailer, among other things....WJ
02/16/99: The Official Site has confirmed that
the trailer for TPM will be two and a half minutes long. The Alleged Plotline has been
massively updated in accordance with recent info pouring in. I truly feel that this is the
most accurate, comprehensive and up to date plotline treatment available online at the
moment. Go check it out and let me know your opinion by siging my guestbook or emailing me.
Lately I have been in a slight quandary over those darn clumsy Jedi. Clumsy Jedi, you ask?
Let me explain...
- Luke falls into the carbon freeze chamber
- Vader falls backwards off of a platform
- The Emperor falls down the reactor shaft of the Death Star II
- Anakin supposedly falls into a molten pit when fighting with Kenobi
- Darth Maul supposedly falls off the ramp of the Queen's royal yacht
- Maul supposedly falls to his death in a molten pit
Beginning to see a trend here? If all these reports of falling Jedi come to be true,
ol' George might need to consider a creative consultant or at least get a lot more
stunt-Jedi....WJ
02/13/99: Hi there, sorry it's been a while, but I have been busy getting a new job. I
think that is a decent excuse, but oh well....
There has been a lot of news concerning the release of the soundtrack for TPM which should
definitely be pretty cool. I'm just waiting for the March of the Jedi or Darth Maul's
Theme to be remixed by Aphex Twin or the Chemical Brothers....
Way back when (in August, I think) I posted a really cool article from back in 1980 which
looked an awful lot like internet speculation except in magazine form. Yes, we have always
been here, just not always online. Anyway, I have posted a follow-up article from 1983
which concerns speculation for ROTJ. It is really cool, especially when you see what fans
knew 'for sure' what was going to happen. Apparently, everyone was pissed because they
'knew' Luke was going to die at the end! Go check it out here.
Forum has been updated with
fan questions and comments.
My next update (soon, I promise!) will be yet another revision of the Alleged Plotline with all new
info from T'Bone Fender's site and Roderick Vonhögen....WJ
02/08/99: I want to show appreciation to all of you who have been writing in lately.
Thank you for all your comments, questions and support. I am very pleased when people who
access The Whill Journal have something to say. If you have anything at all you want to
comment on, please e-mail me.
I received the latest issue of Star Wars Insider magazine, and it is really very
nice-looking. Fact has
naturally been updated (with latest info in teal font).
Please take a look at The Cast
of Characters, it has been updated and redone graphically. Click on any picture there
for additional info....WJ
02/06/99: Some fantastic pictures from the Star Wars Insider magazine have been posted
on various sites. They look great, so I would highly recommend picking up a copy. When I
get mine, I will naturally update the Fact section with all newly
confirmed items.
I have posted part II of my fan fiction serial,
The Candle Which Burns Twice As
Bright… The story shifts into gear as we meet for the first time a certain
youthful horned and fire-eyed Dark Lord. Take a look at it and tell me what you think....WJ
02/03/99: A couple of little things have been on my mind lately, just thought I would
wonder aloud...
Most that have addressed the subject of C-3PO in the Prequels usually have some type of
explanation that he eventually ends up as a protocol droid either for the Royal House of
Naboo or the Organa family of Alderaan. While that is all well and good, and makes a
reasonable amount of sense (a highly influential family in galactic government would
naturally require a protocol droid, and he does end up on Leia's ship at the beginning of
ANH), no one seems to have wondered anything about how he got from Tatooine to the Tantive
IV.
As the story goes, Anakin Skywalker constructs (or perhaps, more accurately, rebuilds)
C-3PO in his spare time from many parts as a gift to his mother Shmi, apparently to assist
her in her duties, whatever they may be (supposedly she is a slave of Watto). We see
Anakin leave Tatooine and his mother, and naturally, C-3PO to go off with Queen Amidala
and the two Jedi. That is about all we know.
What could have possibly happened in the interval between The Phantom Menace and A
New Hope which brought 3-PO into the Organa family? Why did he not stay with
Anakin's mother? More importantly, why does Shmi need a protocol droid and what becomes of
her? Let me know what you
think, as I try to come up with a good answer to this one myself.
Secondly, I have been pondering a bit about the nature of the Force. One of the reasons
why the Dark Jedi and especially the Dark Lords of the Sith are so powerful is that they
use the Force for attack. A Jedi only uses the Force for knowledge and defense, according
to Yoda. We see this several times in the original trilogy:
Darth Vader uses the Force to hurl machinery at young Luke.
Vader uses the Force to attack again, throwing his lightsaber at Luke like a
force-controlled boomerang.
Ultimately, The Emperor uses blue Force-lightning to attack Luke.
Some might argue that Luke attacked Darth Vader in their duel during ESB, in which Luke
makes the first move. This is inaccurate; Luke attacks using his saber, not the Force.
Yoda never said the Jedi do not attack. In fact, the following quote from the ROTJ
novelization lends an interesting perspective on Jedi combat philosophy:
"It was a Jedi rule-of-thumb, but it took the soldiers in the
second skiff by surprise: when outnumbered, attack. This drives the force of the enemy in
toward himself. Luke jumped directly into the center of the skiff and immediately began
decimating them in their midst with lightning sweeps of his lightsaber."
The Alleged Plotline has
once again been updated in light of more supposed pieces of dialogue (mostly from Roderick
and T'Bone, as usual). The newest bits are in teal font, naturally....WJ
1/29/99: I am curious about a supposed piece of dialogue between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan
that has surfaced, I think on T'Bone Fender's
site. It goes like this:
OBI-WAN:
It's not about the mission, Master, it's something... elsewhere... elusive...
QUI-GON:
Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here where it
belongs.
OBI-WAN:
Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future...
QUI-GON:
... but not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living force, my young
Padawan.
This sounds all well and good, but it is a bit odd. In ESB Yoda has a fit about Luke
being reckless, with his eyes always on the horizon. Yoda admonishes Luke to keep his mind
on where he was and what he was doing, to paraphrase. This seems 180 degrees from the
above statement.
Many have been wondering what Darth Maul is referring to when he says, "At last, we
will have our revenge." I seem to think that the answer lies in the history of the
Sith. If you take a quick look at some of the information on the SW: Behind The Magic CD
ROM (you can see most of the info here),
you will come to find that the Jedi vanquished the Dark Lords four millennia before the
events of Episode I. You will also find that there has been an unbroken string of Dark
Lords from that time, lying in the shadows. I believe the revenge that Maul refers to is
the ultimate annihilation of the hated Jedi 4,000 years after the humiliating defeat they
inflicted on the Sith.
In light of all the new dialogue that has been posted on T'Bone's and Roderick Vonhögen's sites, the Alleged Plotline has been
updated....WJ
1/21/99: Check out the Prequels
section of the Official Star Wars Website. Very nice. Accordingly, Fact has been updated....WJ
1/19/99: Well, it has been a week since my last update, and yes, I do apologize. There
have been many things going on in the prequel universe and I have had some stuff going on
in my personal life. Well, enough excuses...
First, I want you to look at The Alleged Plotline (formerly
known as Fiction) for The Phantom Menace, if you haven't already done so. Be warned
however, this is a mega-spoiler and if you don't want to know the plot and some of the
script then don't read it!
Next, If you have not yet checked out NewsDroid.com
please do so, you won't be disappointed. NewsDroid is up to the minute headline news for
Star Wars fans.
I have not been hearing from enough people! C'mon and e-mail me and let me know what you think
about whatever your dark hearts desire. I am very interested in what you have to say.
I have decided to debut the first part of my multi-chapter serial, concerning the Old
Republic and the early life of Darth Maul. This is a work of Fan Fiction by me, and is
solely intended to be just that. Read it here and let me know if you like
it.
Forum has been updated....WJ
01/12/99: I am proud to announce that I am the new Fan Site Producer for NewsDroid:
Star Wars Headline News (see logo to the left).
We will be accepting news stories about fan site additions, upgrades, redesigns and more -
basically a self-promotion tool for SW fan sites. Please limit submissions to news and not
speculation or critiques of a site's look, content or appeal.
Submit news about your site to me via the "Contribute" button on NewsDroid's
main page (contribute.html) The
goal is to eventually have so many Fan Site submissions that we have to put that section
on a separate page.
Submissions need to be made in news story format. Please note: All fan site news that
pertains to official Star Wars information - e.g. new screen captures of an upcoming Star
Wars computer game, etc. - needs to still be sent to the proper news section (Prequels,
games, comics, etc.). Only news relating specifically to the look, staffing, content, and
behavior of SW fan sites will be covered in the Fan Site News section.
We'll be starting up a brand new Electronic Magazine shortly which will let us do in depth
interviews, product previews and reviews, and other fun and games in addition to the news
coverage.
The plotline of Ep.I in the Fiction
section has been updated with the new scroll (still like mine better....)
Hope to hear from you! WJ
01/04/99: The impending release of Vanity Fair magazine featuring Ep. I and the rumor
of Access Hollywood airing the Ep.I opening scroll has apparently proven too much for
Harry Knowles at AICN,
and he has posted what he claims to be the genuine opening scroll to TPM. The intent of
this update is not necesarrily to make any criticisms of this, but is more interested in
doing a comparison/contrast between the AICN scroll and the one in the Fiction section of this site.
Check them out, it is pretty interesting how close both of them are....WJ
AICN:
Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic.
The Taxation of trade routes to outlying star
systems is in dispute.
Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade
of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade
Federation has stopped all shipping to and
from the small planet of Naboo.
While the Congress of the Republic endlessly
debates this alarming chain of events, the
Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched
two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace, to
settle the conflict...
Whill Journal:
01/03/99 (second update): The Cast of Characters has been
updated, with more work on that section to come. The real purpose of this update is to
announce the establishment of a fan fiction section on this site.
I myself am currently working on several projects, all prequel-related. I am looking for
serious, well-written and imaginative submissions which are specifically dealing with the
era and characters during the prequel timeframe (approx. -40 years ANH up to ANH). Please
submit your fiction through my Feedback
section, and I will get back to you on your individual submissions.
As a teaser, here is a section from one of my current pieces:
The Candle Which Burns Twice As Bright…
You are gone now, my sweet one, my dark death’s head. Ah, I knew the moment would
come. Inevitable, really. I knew your secrets, and you knew that I did. I could never hope
for a more pure, refined agent of my will. You might have once been the chosen one, but
instead you were the arrow that pointed to him. Singularly focused on your will to serve
the darkness, you never could become what I am…
You were too pure…
let me know what you think....WJ
01/03/99: Hi there! This is my first update in 1999, and it looks like
there is a topic of conversation to jump right into.
If you haven't already checked out AICN, go look, because
they have gotten an excellent scoop on the upcoming Vanity Fair magazine featuring Episode
I. So far, three great pictures have been revealed: Obi-Wan and Darth Maul, Queen Amidala,
and some droids and aliens on Tatooine (including R2 and 3PO). What is interesting is that
these are staged photos, nothing from the trailer or the actual film (most likely).
McGregor and Park are seen dueling in the desert which is highly unlikely, Portman is all
dressed up in the desert, and the droids and aliens are all gathered around for a school
picture.
Of greater interest are the quotes from a purported interview between George Lucas and
David Kamp. These quotes seem to confirm the existence of Lord Sidious and his status as
the true 'phantom menace' of the title. They also seem to support that Senator Palpatine
and Sidious are separate characters, and that Palpatine is basically a good guy. All this
follows my mainstream storyline
treatment and my Fact and Logic sections. Far from patting
myself on the back (though I do like to be proven correct, of course...) I just want to
re-emphasize the mission statement on my Home page:
"Many 'prequel' sites have sprung up on the Internet -some good, some not so
good. There are many common reports, pictures and themes to be seen on most of them. While
I am a fan of this speculation, and think some of it is correct, the purpose of this site
is to cover exactly what we do know. It is apparent to me that a large group of fans can
begin to believe in their own self-perpetuating rumors more than the actual facts as they
are presented."
My point being that a lot of ideas that fans state are very cool, but ultimately they are
just fantasies of the fan. For the real story, stick to what the SE Trilogy says, what the
official site says, and espec. what Mr. Lucas says. Apply a modicum of logic to this and
viola! A more-than-less correct interpretation of the facts.
Stay tuned for another update either later today or tomorrow, I have a lot of info in the Cast of Characters section
I've been working on, and a new Fan Fiction project I am jumpstarting....WJ
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