Most film or Pop-culture fans will know that the 4th of May has colloquially been termed ‘Star Wars Day’, where your typical online content will remind you to celebrate everything good about the Sci-fi epics that took place a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Yet what true George Lucas fans will actually celebrate is a two-day mock-holiday slowly becoming known to the nerd-savvy members of the general public as the ‘Revenge of the Sith’, a dark pair of alternate dates for revelry at the local cantina or to virtually force-choke your enemies from the opposite side of the room.
That’s right folks, just like the first rule of ‘Fight Club’, May the 5th and 6th should remain the lesser known of the cultural vacations, so that true fandom can enjoy what no self-respecting Jedi would dare to learn: the underground side of the Force that lets you enjoy the things a Disney + membership will not get you.
So to stay balanced between opposing sides of the Force, here is a Top Twelve list of videos to rent or watch during the three-day long geek-end that occurs every year on May 4th to the 6th.
May the 4th Be with You: Films and Shows from the Canonized Star Wars Universe
- Rogue One (2016, A Star Wars Story Film, 134 m., Dir: Gareth Edwards)
Arguably the BEST Star Wars film: While the nine films of the main trilogy of trilogies are written as epic space operas, Rogue One has a narrative that succeeds to be a true war-time tragedy. The gritty underside of the Rebellion is exposed to show the humanity inherent in belief and self-sacrifice. Spoiler Alert: Don’t become too attached to any of the main characters.
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980, Original Film Cut if possible, 124 m., Dir: Irvin Kershner)
Arguably the BEST Star Wars film to purists. From a narrative standpoint, Empire has the biggest reveal of the franchise, which is the keystone to all other films: a father-son relationship with major oedipal issues. Add in the first big screen appearance of the bounty hunter originally teased in the toy line that most Gen-Xers grew up with, and you have a winning combination that ends on a true cliffhanger moment.
- Star Wars: Andor (2022, Mini Series, 12 Episodes, Created: Tony Gilroy for Disney +)
Arguably the BEST Star Wars TV series to date. Building on the critical successes of Rogue One, this series is a prequel to the film that goes back 5 years to set-up the political underpinnings of the wartime conflict that is the Rebellion. Stellan Skarsgård gives a stellar performance as a double-agent Indiana Jones’ type antiques broker, that culminates in a speech to remember. True food for thought for the now grown-up aficionados.
- The Mandalorian (2019-20, Seasons 1-2, 8 Episodes each, Created: G. Lucas & J. Favreau, Disney +)
Arguably the BEST Star Wars TV series to fanboys. This being the first live action television series to be aired by Disney +, the stakes were high and creators went all-in with what fans were expecting from the franchise. It’s a spaghetti-western atmosphere introducing a new character of ‘Din Djarin’ as the loner bounty hunter in a suit of shiny armor trying to find the Way of the Mand’alor. The honor and compassion of the Jedi are combined with the throat-cutting tactics of the earlier ‘Boba Fett’ character, in defense of the mysterious child that looks unsurprisingly related to ‘Yoda’, the most powerful Jedi of the original trilogies. A TV series made by fanboys for fanboys… Pure eye candy.
- Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019, Last Film of the Main Franchise, 142 m., Dir: J J Abrams)
The release of the last trilogy of the franchise was somewhat controversial as fans were divided between the introduction of new, young characters, and writing/directorial differences that were highly publicized. But the final film in the run managed to make amends by exploring the lore of the Sith that had only made its way onto the written page of serialized novels and comic books. ‘Emperor Palpatine’ has a close-to-triumphant return through the use of cloning and thanks to a hidden Dark world only attainable through the use of even more secret tech. Plus, the main character of ‘Rey’ embodies the valor and inner turmoil of both ‘Luke’ and ‘Leia’ while introducing a new generation of fangirls to the legacy that is Star Wars.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2011-12, Season 4, 22 Animated Episodes, Created: Dave Filoni for the Cartoon Network)
Much of The Clone Wars television series is highly praised by cartoon fans and children alike, for its high-quality animation and storytelling. But old-school fans look to Season 4 for the reintroduction of ‘Darth Maul’, a powerful Sith character seemingly killed off during Episode I of the film franchise, which was a major let down for folks at the time. Newer generations of watchers will point to Season 5 as the high point of the series as that is when the character of ‘Ahsoka Tano’ leaves the Jedi due to failings within the order. Either of these seasons will leave you wanting to binge the entire run of seasons, so much so that a 7th final season was even produced in 2020 for Disney +, to tie up loose ends after Season 6 ended in 2014 once Disney took over the rights from Lucasfilm.
Revenge of the Fifth/Sixth: Non-Canonized Star Wars Media, Dank Farric!
- Turkish Star Wars (1982, Turkish Film, Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam (Eng.: The Man Who Saved the World), 91 m., Dir.: Çetin İnanç)
Sometimes considered ‘one of the worst films ever made’, Turkish Star Wars gained its popular title from the low-budget use of unauthorized footage, music and sound effects from the original Star Wars film as well as other action films such as Indiana Jones and even news footage of American and Soviet rocket launches for good measure. The storyline is a mash-up of martial arts, superhero and fantasy tropes that combine battle action zombies, skeletons on horseback, golden ninjas and a 1000-year-old wizard as the main antagonist, which arguably makes it the BEST of the worst under any circumstances.
- The Dark Crystal (1982, Film Featuring Animatronics and Puppetry, 93 m., Dir.: Jim Henson and Frank Oz)
Created in part by Frank Oz, puppeteer responsible for bringing ‘Yoda’ to life in the Star Wars franchise, and the man behind the magic of The Muppet Show, Jim Henson. Children at the time of its release were forever marked by the foreboding creepiness of the fantastical world they were brought into. Imagine a planet in the Star Wars universe that hadn’t yet been touched by the technology of the ‘Empire’. No space-ships or droids or laser-swords. Just the kindly ‘Gelfling’ couple on a quest to overthrow the evil, ruling bird-creatures called ‘Skeksis’, by healing the broken Crystal kept in their lair. An epic tale of fantasy that has endured the decades so much so that it received a prequel series of twelve episodes on Netflix in 2019 – The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
- THX 1138 (1971, Dystopian Sci-Fi Film, 88 m., Dir.: George Lucas in his directorial debut)
George Lucas’ first film was derived from his 1967 student film produced while attending the USC School of Cinematic Arts. When it came out, he was 25 years old at the time. It features a stark contrasting outlook to the family-friendly Star Wars universe, but the seeds of the ‘Dark Side’ are there. THX 1138 refers to the name of the main character living in an oppressive, technocratic society of black-clothed android police and emotion-suppressing drugs. Only through the romantic efforts of his female roommate LUH 3417 does he manage to break free of the underground society focused on factory production and spiritual reinforcement. While commercially unsuccessful, the appeal of the film is in the stylistic environments, the sound design and the minimalistic chase scenes and stunts that would foreshadow the grand ‘Empire’ to come in 1977.
- Space Balls (1987, Direct Parody Film, 96 m., Dir.: M. Brooks)
The most popular parody of the Star Wars franchise had its big screen release in the summer of 1987. It features comedian Rick Moranis as the evil ‘Dark Helmet’ who eventually crosses swords with hero ‘Lone Starr’ played by Bill Pullman in the climax of the film. Other big names include John Candy as furry sidekick ‘Barf’, a golden lady robo-servant voiced by Joan Rivers and Mel Brooks himself as both ‘President Skroob’ and the wise, green wielder of the ‘Schwartz’ called ‘Yogurt’. Though very sophomoric in nature, the film is now a cult classic in its own right thanks to the age-old dictum: “May the SCHWARTZ be with you!”
- Star Wars Holiday Special (1978, CBS Made for TV Movie, 98 m., Dir.: Steve Binder)
Being the first Star Wars media franchise spin-off doesn’t necessarily make you a winner. In fact, the ‘Life Day’ celebration was first aired on November 17, 1978, before the first official sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, was released in theaters two years later. It was a unanimous flop. Star Wars creator George Lucas and all franchise actors who participated in its making have regretted the moment ever since its release. Die-hard fans will enjoy it for the laughable spectacle it is, but there are a few honest-to-goodness memorable scenes to check out. The animated sequence therein features the first on-screen appearance of the bounty hunter ‘Boba Fett’, and the cantina scene includes a musical number by the bar keeper played by none other than Bea Arthur. Imagine one of the Golden Girls running the ‘Mos Isley’ bar like ‘Sam Malone’ on Cheers, while belting out a tune to keep the male creeps away. Like I said: memorable to say the least.
- Fanboys (2009, Comedy Film, 90 m., Dir.: Kyle Newman)
It’s hard not to include this uneven entry into the unofficial Star Wars universe. The cast of Fanboys are on a mission to break into the Skywalker Ranch to steal a copy of the film Episode I – The Phantom Menace before it is released in 1999. While capitalizing on the anxiety all fans were feeling at the time, the film has fallen short in the comedy department despite cameos by William Shatner as himself, providing the group with the secret plans to the Ranch. Other SW franchise actor cameos include Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher and even Ray Park who literally states: “Time for you to get mauled, boy!” It’s pretty heavy handed… and actor Seth Rogan plays three different characters while wearing each-more-awful-than-the-next prosthetic teeth. Cringe-worthy at best, but then again, so was Jar-Jar Binks.
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