Books and Movie Adaptations!

Books are better than movies, most times, reading is a one on one experience, you and the author, creating your own sets and actors. This is the case for most times. So here are some adaptations. The first is if the book that is superior to the movie. There many be countless books that resist adaptations. In this case, I will say The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. The first two books of The Chronicles of Prydain were adapted into the Disney animated film, The Black Cauldron (1985). Unfortunate. The movie directors, Ted Berman and Richard Rich, had directed The Fox and the Hound (1981). The trailer asked audiences to “escape in a world of darkness.” 

The Alexander story wasn’t about darkness, it was about unexpected hope with the Assistant Pig-Keeper, Taran (Grant Bardsley), a princess, Eilonwy (Susan Sheridan) who is a fun twist from the other Disney Princesses, an old singer, Fflewddur (Nigel Hawthorne) whose harp strings snap at every lie he tells, and a furry fellow named Gurgi (John Byner)! Disney did not continue with the last three books, it is the black cauldron of Disney’s film library, shame. I think it is the best entry for young people to get into high fantasy like Lord of the Rings. I think Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain should be adapted into a television series and get redemption from the 1985 film. 

Next, a movie that offers an almost matching experience as the novel. Silence of the Lambs (1988) by Thomas Harris. The book is as brilliant as the Jonathan Demme film with the same tension, characters, and the disturbing presence of Hannibal Lector. I felt it was almost 1 for 1, except some of the cinematography and the acting performances of Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling) and Anthony Hopkins (Lecter). Both characters have become iconic. I love the detective story of interrogating a prisoner to assemble a profile to a serial killer on the loose. What really stood out for me was the scene where F.B.I. trainee, Clarice, gets into the elevator with the police officers. They tower over her, all tough guys, a contrast, but Starling is far more powerful than them with her cleverness outmatching Dr. Lector. 

Another film simliar to the book is Princess Bride (1973) by William Goldman. He wrote the screenplay for the 1987 movie directed by Rob Reiner. Of course, Goldman was an incredible screenwriter and gave the film the grandfather reading to his grandson. The novel has a metafiction of an abridgement, the “Good Parts” version of S. Morgensten book. Both tell the story of former farm boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), and Buttercup (Robin Wright), the princess bride. Every part is so memorable as well as the dialogue. One of the best swordfights in cinematic history. It has everything as Grandpa says in the film, "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." The novel and film are both funny, clever, so they are wonderful experiences on their own, read the book and see the movie!   

I will also add a sub-category here with a film that adds a little to a book experience. This would be John Carter (2012) directed by Andrew Stanton. It is based on A Princess of Mars (1917) written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The novel creates a fantastic world, every detail of characters, setting, and creatures are vivid. There are parts of Thark, the tall, green Martians with four arms, culture that are left out, but enough slips into the film, Carter as “Dotar Sojat”! The movie bumps up Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) from damsel in distress to warrior princess who is also a scientist, discoverer of the Ninth Ray! Plus, a background for John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) giving the reason why he won’t fight in a war. They are both adventures, great characters, the audience I saw it with in the theaters loved it, I would say it's a must watch if you somehow passed it up. 

The last part is films that are superior to the novel that is the source material. The first that comes to mind is Forrest Gump. The 1994 Robert Zemeckis film has a screenplay by Eric Roth. It is charming, a twist of Being There (1979) with Peter Sellers. Forrest (Tom Hanks) stumbles through history and has a romance with Jenny (Robin Wright). This is not the original book. In fact, it is the most unfunny and offensive novel. For example, in the novel, Forrest meets Nixon who opens his coat to sell him one of his watches. Roth must have taken the character of Forrest with other characters, and was loosely adding his own human touches to the story. Stick with the film. In other stories, read the books, they offer a stronger experience than the cinema. 

#TheBookOfThree, #LloydAlexander, #TheBlackCauldron, #TedBerman, #RichardRich, #SilenceOfTheLambs, #ThomasHarrris, #JonathanDemme, #JodieFoster, #AnthonyHopkins, 

#APrincessOfMars, #EdgarRiceBurroughs, #JohnCarter, #AndrewStanton, #TaylorKitsch, #LynnCollins, #PrincessBride, #WilliamGoldman, #RobReiner, #CaryElwes, #RobinWright, #ForrestGump, #RobertZemeckis, #TomHanks  

The Acolyte, “Destiny” Part 2, Review!

Re:cap, “Destiny”, the first part; it is sixteen years ago on Brendok, the twins, Mae and Osha, are raised by the coven run by Mother Aniseya. Mother Koril is also responsible for watching over the twins. Osha spends time alone and joined by Mae who also heads somewhere. The witches use powers like the Force, but Mother Aniseya says it is through the Thread. Mae doubts becoming a witch, but the time of the Ascension has arrived. Mae-ho Aniseya is given a vow to protect the coven’s traditions. A circle mark is made on the left of her forehead by Mother Aniseya who has the marking in the center of her forehead. Osha would have it on her right forehead? 

Vosha Ansieya is about to take the vow when the scouts warn about that the Jedi "sliced the platform." A slicer is the SW term for hacker introduced in Heir to the Empire (1991); EC-TT1. Which Jedi may have sliced access to the Fortress? I think Kelnacca who seems to have technical expertise. The twins are hidden behind the coven. The scouts draw their bows, but Mother Aniseya orders them to lower them when the Jedi enter; Jedi Master Indara, her Padawan Torbin, Sol, and the Wookie Jedi Kelnacca. Torbin and Kelnacca scan the area. Indara introduces the Jedi. Mother Koril says they are trespassing, which the Jedi are, walking into their home. Indara says they thought the world was uninhabited. 

Mother Anisya says the Jedi are “all-knowing”, but didn’t know about the coven. A lie is not the best way to start negotiations. Osha with Mae behind her sneaks forward to take a look at the Jedi impressed at their robes and lightsabers. Indara says they are concerned about training of children against Republic law. Mother Aniseya tells her Brendok is not part of the Republic! Mother Koril says there are no childrern. Kelnacca sniffs and can detect the twins. Indara asks them to come out. Osha walks out. Sol makes introductions. Indara asks about her sister and then about their father. Mother Aniseya says they do not have a father! We are getting to Chosen One territory here. Sol notices the mark on Mae and says it wasn’t there in the morning. 

The witches remark that the Jedi are spying on them and want to take their children. Sol removes his lightsaber to hand to Osha. She takes hold of it and Sol asks her if she would want to be tested and become a Jedi. Torbin’s eyes suddenly turn black and he falls! This is an ability used by the Nightsisters of Dathomir. We saw this in the Star Wars: Rebels episode, “Visions and Voices” (2016), FC-SWR3/11. It may be connected, guilt?, to why Torbin later takes the poison! Sol readies his lightsaber. Mother Aniseya says she will free him if they leave. Osha says she wants to teach the Jedi what she learned and wants to be tested. Indara says that Mother Aniseya should allow testing of Padawans. 

Torbin is freed and staggers back. Mother Aniseya says that at midday, the scouts will bring Osha, Sol insists that Mae is also tested, she nods agreement. The Jedi withdraw and Mother Aniseya asks Mother Koril to bring her advisors. Mother Koril sends the twins to bed. At the council, Mother Koril says they should move with the moons in the sky. Mother Aniseya stands to say that the girls should be tested and that Osha has made her decision. Mother Koril counters saying, “I carried them.” Mother Aniseya responds back, “I created them.” Mother Koril warns her about if the Jedi learned how she created the twins. I wonder if this secret eventually found its way to Darth Sidious. This makes sense since it doesn’t seem to be a Sith secret. 

Koril seems to have the role of surrogate mother. The Elder Naasa (voiced by Shelby Young) then speaks, she has a great design, an alien-like face like an African shaman woman. She brings up the possible results of the test; a pass means the twins leave, so they must fail to stay with the coven. In their room, Mother Aniseya talks with her daughters, they are dressed in blue vests and green tunics. She says that what their hearts tell them to do the opposite. Mae tells Osha that a pass means they will leave and never see their mother. She says she will stop them if they take Osha. Their mother tells them it is about power and who can use it. The Jedi allowed the Nightsisters to continue on Dathomir, but the Sith wiped them out. 

The twins are taken to the field with the Jedi ship. Osha says she wants to tell the truth, but Mae has her promise to lie. Kelnacca is busy working on a speeder bike that sparks. Osha greets him while Mae takes the test. Then, Torbin says she is next to be tested. In the ship, Torbin injects a device to take Osha’s blood sample. Indara explains the test while Sol holds the Jedi Testing Screen that we saw in The Phantom Menace (1999); GC-PT1. Torbin stands to the side. The image is of a Loth-cat and Osha says it is a spaceship. Sol smiles and says, “Correct.” This makes me think of Bill Murray holding up the cards in Ghostbusters (1984), “You can’t see these can you?” The next one, Osha almost gives up her bluff, Sol asks if she was told to fail the test.  

Sol says he was four when he took the test and he was scared to leave his family. He found that there children like himself at the Jedi Temple. Osha admits, “I want to be a Jedi.” She leaves the starship, head down, Mae leaves angry. Sundown, at the council, Mae tells Mother Aniseya that Osha broke her promise. Osha says she wants her own life separate from Mae and to see the galaxy. This of course means leaving her family who may be lost without her. Mae grabs her sister’s arms and Mother Ansieya tells her to walk with Mother Koril. Osha tries to apologize to her mother who tells her that destiny is not determined by the Force, she has to make her decision. We saw in Return of the Jedi (1983), GC-OT3, with the Emperor saying to Luke, “It is unavoidable, it is your destiny, you like your father are now mine.” 

Mother Aniseya mentions destiny earlier, "pulling the Thread", but it seems she is in agreement with Neo in The Matrix (1999) and free will. Osha says she wants to be a Jedi and they hug. Very powerful for Mother Anisya to know that this may endanger her people and lose her daughter, but let’s go. She tells Osha that she has to discuss this with everyone and will consider her decision. Osha readies a pack in her room and picks up her black and white, triangular journal. Mae enters, says she will stop her sister by killing her, and then snatches away her journal. Osha is locked in the room and Mae opens the journal to see a gold embossed symbol of the High Republic. A journal given by Sol? Osha pleads to be let out. Mae takes out a cylinder with two tubes with flames to burn the journal! Osha runs to the window to ask for help from her mother. The lantern is heard to shatter, off screen, it could be someone else. 

A fire starts to burn at the door. Osha begins to unlock at panel to rewire it and open a crawlspace. The fire has spread through the village, Osha sees a grill overhead with an explosion and the witches screaming. Mae is on the opposite side as there is an explosion. The tense music by Michael Abels really kicks in! Sol runs in calling the names of both sisters. They are separated by a shattered bridge, a pyramid shape reveals the bodies outside. This looks like the confrontation with Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Osha asks about their mother and Mae says she is dead. They both scream at each other, “What have you done?”, then the bridge under Mae collapses! 

Osha’s part of the bridge falls, but Sol is able to catch her hand! I wonder why he doesn’t use the Force to save both sisters. In the council room, Osha sees the bodies of the witches, gathered to make decision on Osha?, Sol pulls her away and then takes her outside, Osha sees the body of her mother. Is it the secret? Mother Aniseya is very strong, someone stronger in say the Dark Side killed her? Maybe started the fire? Sol has to grab hold of her as the Fortress burns down in the night. Osha is unconscious with a breath mask on the ship. She wakes up calling her mother. Sol takes off the breath mask, trying to reassure her, Indara and Torbin are to the side. 

He explains that they are en route to Coruscant. Sol says Mae started the fire. She insists that they go back to Brendok. He says there is “nothing back there.” Sol tells Osha that she will be safe on Coruscant and she can decide if she will be his Padawan. She hugs him. He promises her, “You will never feel like this again.” At the end we return to the Bunta Tree, Mae, a little soot smeared on her, says, "Osha?" She somehow survived and found her sister's secret place, Mae still cares about her twin. I would caution everyone that this is told from Osha's point of view, what is said and done is filtered by her experience! The Acolyte’s “Destiny” episode offers Osha’s perspective on the tragedy sixteen years ago, but I suspect that we will find the truth from different perspectives, ultimately the master, like the Akira Kurosawa movie, Rashomon (1950)! 

#TheAcolyte, #Destiny, #Kogonada, #JasmyneFlournoy, #EileenShim, #LeahBrady, #LaurenBrady, #JodieTurnerSmith, #MargaritaLevieva, #LeeJungJae, #CarrieAnneMoss, #DeanCharlesChapman, #JoonasSuotamo, #SaskiaAllen, #ShelbyYoung  

 

Jedi, Ahsoka Tano, and The Acolyte!

How does one become a Jedi? This is important since we are learning about Osha learning to be a Jedi in The Acolyte. Force sensitive children are chosen. In Empire Strikes Back (1983), Yoda (Frank Oz) says to Obi-Wan’s Force Spirit, "He is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training." Luke was 22 at the time. 

We saw Anakin at 9 years old chosen by Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace (1999); GC-PT1. Obi-Wan (Ewan MacGregor) says to Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson), “The boy will not pass the coucil’s test, he’s too old.” Ahsoka Tano was found to be Force-sensitive by Plo Koon and taken to the Jedi Temple at age 3. This was in Clone Wars, ”The Gathering" (2012), GC-CW5/6. She calls him one of her “oldest friends”, interesting since Jedi should have no attachments. 

The younglings in the Bear Clan were four to eight years old in Attack of the Clones (2002), GC-PT2. This seemed to be the ages of the Younglings that Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) was teaching at the Jedi Temple. We saw this seen in The Acolyte’s first episode, “Lost/Found”, DC-TA1/1. Mae and Osha were eight years old when tested by the Jedi in "Destiny"; DC-TA1/3. Sol says he was 4 when tested by the Jedi. 

Sol asked Osha in “Destiny” if she would like to be tested and become a Jedi. The tension is Mother Aniseya’s agreement to allow Osha to be tested. We saw the testing of Anakin’s blood in TPM. Qui-Gon sends the sample via comlink for Obi-Wan to analyze at the Queen’s starship. 

This is his midi-chlorian count which Obi-Wan says is off the chart, “over 20,000”, higher than Yoda. Padawan Torbin (Dean Charles-Chapman) takes a blood sample from Osha (Lauren Brady). A pen-like device. Qui-Gon used a tiny device. At the Jedi Temple, Jedi Master Mace Windu holds a Jedi Testing Screen to show images that Anakin has to identify from a distance. 

This is similarr to the ESP test that we saw in Ghostbusters (1984). Then, we see Jedi Master Indara and Sol use the Jedi Testing Screen and ask Osha what she sees on the screen. The Younglings were put into ten clans of twenty students living and training togther. This was revealed in the Star wars.com databank. 

Sol told Osha that there thousands of Force-sensitive Younglings at the Jedi Temple. They are known as Jedi Initiates and eventually take the Initiate Trials to become Padawan Learners. This first appeared in the comic book, Kanan: The Last Padawan #7 (2015) by Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz, DC-KLP7. 

The Padawans are selected by a Jedi Knight in an annual tournament. This was seen in Dooku: Jedi Lost (2019) by Cavan Scott; DC-DJL. We saw in TPM that Qui-Gon says to the Jedi Council that he will train Anakin. He says, “I take Anakin as my Padawan Learner.” 

So in the films, it may be an informal process of training and taking a Padawan as apprentice. Still, Qui-Gon is unconventional for a Jedi. In the Clone Wars (2008) movie, GL-CWM, Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor) brings up to Anakin (Matt Lanter) that he should put in a request for a Padawan. 

Ahsoka was 14 in the film. Yoda assigned Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) to Anakin , she explained to him, “I’m assigned to Anakin Skywalker and he is to supervise my Jedi training.” This may also be specific to Anakin and also the circumstance with the Clone Wars. Still, the choosing of an apprentice may vary. 

Sol tells Osha, “And, if you wish, you will train as my Padawan.” She eventually does become Osha’s Padawan so this seems to be choice. Plo Koon found Ahsoka, but she did not become his Padawan. It is interesting to see the Jedi in the films, Ahsoka in the various seriers and film, plus Osha in The Acolyte! 

#TheAcolyte, #EmpireStrikesBack, #Yoda, #FrankOz, #ThePhantomMenace, #EwanMacGregor, #ObiWanKenobi, #LiamNeeson, #QuiGonJinn, #CloneWars, #TheGathering, #AhsokaTano, #PloKoon, #AttackOfTheClones, #JediMasterSol, #LeeJungJae, #LostFound, #Destiny, #LaurenBrady, #Osha, #Mae, #MotherAniseya, #Torbin, #DeanCharlesChapman, #KananTheLastPadawan, #DookuJediLost, #CavanScott, #JamesArnoldTaylor, #MattLanter, #AshleyEckstein  

Inside Out 2 Review!

Inside Out 2 now focuses on Riley as a teenager and new Emotions complicate her life and is funny all the way! Inside Out (2015) was brilliant, a complex expression of the emotions of Riley, age 11, moved with her family to San Francisco and this gives a peek into her Emotion Headquarters. The film was also sophisticated introducing different art styles like abstract art and deconstructionalism. Inside Out 2 does cover new, clever mental territory, but is more of an adventure. Riley is now a teenager with all of the riot of emotions of that age! 

Kelsey Mann is the new director and co-writer who worked on Onward (2020) as the story supervisor. The other writers are Meg LeFauvre, co-screenwriter of Inside Out, and Dave Holstein, the co-creator and writer of the series, Kidding. We hear some gentle piano keys which quickly turns to guitar rocking out! The music is by Andrea Datzman who was score coordinator for the first movie and composed the Pixar short, Carl’s Date (2023) and series, Dug Days (2021). At a hockey rink, Riley (Kinstington Tallman) is getting ready for the game, Tallman also stars in this year’s comedy film, Summer Camp. 

Inside motion Headquarters, we see Joy (Amy Poehler) excited for her cheering, “Let’s play some hockey!” Poehler returns to the part and was in the comedy film, First Time Female Director (2023). Joy introduces Riley, at age 13, playing for the Foghorns, she has Anger (Lewis Black) to score a goal. The comedian continues to be on The Daily Show and also returns to voice Anger. Then, Riley is put in the penalty box for tripping which brings Fear (Tony Hale). Previously, Hale voiced Fear in the Disney Speedstorm (2023) video game, but new for the films. Joy begins to brings up to date on Riley moving from Minnesota with her parents.  

She has braces. Riley brings a burnt dinner for her parents voiced by Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan. Both actors return to the parts. Lane plays Martha Croker in the drama, Man in Full. Hank MacLean was played by MacLachlan in the sci fi show, Fallout. Riley of course needs her mouth guard, but Disgust (Liza Lapira) notices that it is not her mouth guard! Lapira plays Mel Bayani in the action seies, The Equalizer. Then, we get the introduction of the exceptional Emotion, Sadness (Phyllis Smith). Delores in the comedy, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) was played by Smith. She returns as Sadness. The Emotions get to show new sides outside of the Headquarters. 

Bree (Sumayyah Nurddin-Green) is making a class presentation about charity, but accidentally spills coins all over the class floor. This is a first role for Nurddin-Green. Riley goes up to help he along with Grace (Grace Lu). Missy Dalisay in the supernatural animated show, Fright Krewe, is voiced by Lu. This helps form Riley’s Core Personality bringing up a pedestal at the Headquarters, sprouting from it is a crystal formation called the Sense of Self trophy! Bree and Grace are Riley’s teammates. She skates towards the goal with the puck, but passes it back to Bree who scores the game winning point.  

After the game, their performance gets the attention of Coach Roberts (Yvette Nicole Brown) from the Fire Hawks high school team. Brown voices Mayor Gilmore in the Pupstruction Disney Junior cartoon. She offers them the chanc to go to a three days skills camp. Riley’s parents encourage her though she still worries about the penalty. Joy takes the Memory Orbs to her Riley Protection System, a tube that sends the bad memories to the Back of the Mind. Later, Riley goes to sleep so Joy collects Memory Orbs and brings Sadness down to the Belief System. It is a small island surrounded by waters with shafts of light. 

Joy strums the lights like musical strings with a pulse that races up to headquarters. She places a Memory Orb into the water that sends up a string of light. A beautiful visual; it made me think of the end of Tron (1982) with the lights from the I/O Towers.  The Emotions are in their bean-shaped bunks when an alarm beeps. Joy gets all of the Emotions over to the control panel. Riley is up and when her mother enters surprisd that she hasn't packed for camp. She is overwhelmed with Disgust using her control saying that she smells! Her Emotion controls are overreacting, a riot of emotions!  

#InsideOut2, #KelseyMann, #MegLeFauvre, #DaveHolstein, #AmyPoehler, #MayaHawke, #KnstingtonTallman, #Lilimar, #PhyllisSmith, #LewisBlack, #AyoEdebiri, #Adelexachopoulos, #TonyHale, #LizaLapira, #GraceLu, #SumayyahNuiddinGreen, #DianeLane, #KyleMacLachlan, #YvetteNicoleBrown, #RonFunches, #YongYea, #StevePurcell, #PaulWaltrHauser, #FrankOz, #DaveGoelz, #JamesAustinJohnson,  #JohnRatzenberger, #Flea  

The Acolyte, “Destiny”, Part I Review!

“Destiny”, the third ep of The Acolyte is surprising since we see back at that pivotal moment, sixteen years ago on Brendok! Re:cap - “Revenge/Justice”; Jedi Master Sol with his team and Osha have traveled to Olega to find Mae. Sol goes to confront Mae alone. She tries to fight the Jedi Master, but he has taken her knives and drops them. At the Jedi Temple balcony, Jedi Knight Yord watches the fight with his electrobinoculars. Osha taps into the comlink with Pip and listens to Padawan Jecki ask about what is happening with Yord. He says Sol is trying to find the identity of her master. Jecki says she will turn on his comms for recording. Sol throws Mae and she falls, but doesn’t land held by the Force! He senses through the Force that her master has hidden his identity from her. Interesting, a hidden master. 

Mae tells him to get out of her head and then flips upright. A knife appears in her hand. Sol says she thinks about her sister and Mae screams that she is dead! Sol says she is alive and Mae throws the knife. It is taken by Yord who draws it to his hand with the Force. He says Sol is telling the truth. Yord drops down to block Mae’s path and Force Pushes her back. The ship is overhead, spotlighting Mae, and Jecki broadcasts her arrest by the authority of the Galactic Senate of the Republic. Mae looks down at the ground. Yord puts his hand to his lightsaber. Sol reaches out his hand. Mae screams projecting out a cloud of dust with the Force! If the Jedi are samurai, she is definetly ninja. Mae is gone. Osha hears that Yord says they should stop her at the city gates. Mae runs through the crowded streets and then is hit by a speeder! 

She knocks the alien driver down and gets into his speeder. Osha takes out the stun blaster and points it at her sister! Mae is stunned to see her sister is alive! Osha sends out the stun blast in anger, but it strikes to the side of Mae, there is anger, but not to the point of hurting her sister. Mae takes off in the speeder as Osha sends out another blast. Osha watches her leave, Sol, and Yord walk up to see her. On hologram, Jedi Master Vernestra says that she has a gathered a small council to find out the next step. Sol argues that they know Mae’s next target and must act quickly. Vernestra says that they will see him and cuts off the transmission. Day on Olega, Qimir sees the Jedi Padawan on lookout with electrobinoculars. 

Mae is about to strike him with her knife, but he counters and holds her to the wall. His foolishness is just an act, he is deadly, probably as trained as Mae. She says he betrayed her to the Jedi. Qimir tells her that he can find them passage to Khofar in the Outer Rim. He knows the location of Kelnacca, the Jedi! The Padawan realizes that he lost Qimir and they leave. On the forested planet, Khofar, we hear a Wookie roar. Two scavengers (Jumayn Hunter and Scroobius Pip) speak in Huttese about a crashed ship. A Wookie (Joonas Suotamo) with a peaked head appears behind them, one draws a blaster, but the Wookie pulls it away with the Force! Kelnacca growls sending them running away! He heads back to his home. 

The third ep is directed by Kogonada, director of the drama series, Pachinko. The episode is written by Jasmyne Flournoy and Eileen Shim. We see the rocky hills of Brendok and then its forests. In a forest clearing, there is a single tree with yellow flowers like a Weeping Willow. A bluish bird with red wings flies towards a little girl, Osha. She looks at one of the birds and it lands on her finger. It has an almost jellyfish body and butterfly wings. Mae seems to almost hold it with the Force and then lets it go. The bird is held, Osha turns to see Mae trapping it with the Force, her hands cupped together. Mae has found her sister at the Bunta Tree. Mae warns her it is dangerous, but Osha says only if they eat it.   

Mae suddenly reaches out to hold a bird mid-flight, Osha tells her to free it, angry at her action and that she goes off alone. To see a master? Mae says she doesn’t want to do the Ascenscion. Osha says it is a ceremony and starts walking though the forest. Mae says their saying as twins, “You’re with me, I’m with you” and holds out her hand. Osha joins her and they encircle each other. The hooded Mother Koril (Margarita Levieva), she is Zabrak with horns on her skull like Darth Maul, which must mean she may be from Dathomir. The sci fi movie, Future World (2018), starred Levieva as Lei. Mother Koril says there are consequences for breaking the rules. Osha says she’s old enough to leave the Fortress. Then, Mother Koril takes them away. Watching them is Jedi Sol! 

THE ACOLYTE -- “Destiny” -- JODIE TURNER-SMITH -- Christian Black/© Lucasfilm Ltd. 

The Fortress is towering up a mountainside, built on its caldera, a red and blue moon are seen in the sky. The twins enter a market, waving, they ask for spice creams from Mother Koril. They are allowed the spice creams by their mother, Mothe Aiseya (Jodie Turner-Smith), and they hug each other.Turner-Smith starrred in the sci fi movie, After Yang (2021) directed by Kogonada. I love the circular pattern on her forehead. She has them take the spice creams before going to their training session. Mother Aniseya walks with Mother Koril and asks her if the Jedi were around. Mother Koril says no and that their scouts say they moved their ship. Mother Aniseya says their coven is safe. I wonder if this somehow ties into the Great Mothers in Ahsoka. 

Mother Koril says she should be more strict with Osha and that “twins are not normal children.” I think she means Jedi twins strong in the Force. At the common room, Mother Aniseya addresses the room of young girls and her daughters about the Thread that runs through everything. A very Fates intrepretation of the Force, in Greek myth, they wove the thread of destiny for mortals. The Fates were reflected in the Great Mothers in Ahsoka. She draws a fruit to her hand and then sends it between the twins. Mae snatches it away and the twins start pushing each other for fun. Their mother walks out and then faces another woman both using Force Push, but she is knocked backed by Mother Aniseya. She says, “The power of one” and then calls over two women. The saying is also the title of a 1992 film, a favorite, based in Africa. 

They both push against Mother Aniseya, but they are forced back a step. The twins start to struggle. Their mother says their enemies will give no warning and throws them to the floor with a Force Push! She has them stand and then block her Force Push, Mae struggles, but holds her back, wow! This disappoints Mother Koril. Something gets her attention and Mother Aniseya sends her daughters to their room. Mother Koril sees a dark figure on the upper floor. At their room, Mother Aniseya asks what is troubling Osha. Mae says she is nervous about the Ascension. Sunlight pours through the window. Osha says she is uncertain about becoming a witch. We saw the Nightsisters and how they were corrupt, but here this is a positive society with a matriarchy. 

Mother Aniseya walks over and clasps their hands together. Osha drops her hand and her mother tells her to hold the hand of her sister. Then, she tells them to say “I love you” to each other. Osha drops her hand and her mother tells her to hold the hand of her sister. She explains that the Ascenscion is about sacrificing yourself for others. I think more than a few Star Warriors would prefer this way over the Jedi. Turner-Smith plays a great teacher. Mother Aniseya says that Osha wants something more, but doesn’t realize that the galaxy doesn’t have a place for witches. She says they are special and wants Osha to stay that way. It becomes dark, a group of witches have their arms out to a cave. 

Back at their room, the twins’ hair are being braided, Mae is happy about spice creams. When she asks what Osha is drawing, she quickly closes her book, and wants her own things. Osha says they are the only children which makes the hair dressers pause. The moons start to move in alignment. This reminds of the Great Conjunction in Dark Crystal (1982). Below, the Ascension begins with a gathering of the witches. Mother Koril is shaping the Force along with the others, pulling the Thread. They lower themselves at once before Mother Aniseya. She walks before them and says that they have not done the Ascension ceremony before their exile. This and the "only children" make me think of the Amazons who escape Man's World and Wonder Woman, formed from clay by Hippolyta.The Amazon queen also had a sisterr, Antiope like Aniseya and Koril. 

Mother Aniseya said they were almost hunted down, but there was a miracle. The “gift of life” and then the twins begin to walk towards her. They have gold lamé shoulder capes. Mae is smiling and Osha is uncertain as the rows of witches bow to them. Mother Foril shows the twins to their destiny and stands besides Mother Aniseya. Their hands are held together with their mother’s hand. The witches sing, “The power of one, the power of two, the power of many.” The moons are aligned, blue and red, with a corona of light through them. Mother Aniseya calls on Mae-ho Aniseya, her formal name to vow to continue the traditions of the coven. She holds her hands before Mae’s head with a bluish glow. The circle mark is on the left side of her forehead in blue. For Osha, it would be reddish? 

Mother Aniseya tells her, “Ascend.” Verosha Aniseya is asked to take the vow, but she is fearful. Osha reluctantly agrees and then the Scout Sarria (Saskia Allen) rushes in to warn about the Jedi. The scouts carry bows like Amazons, I wonder if they are energy bows like Omega used in Bad Batch? The witches gather and Mother Aniseya says, “Hide them”, the robed women hide the daughters with their numbers. Mother Aniseya tells the scouts to lower their bows. I like them dealing non-violently with the Jedi who just seem to walk in uninvited. I felt tension, heart racing, with the presence of the Jedi. Indara walks in followed by Torbin, Sol, and Kelnacca behind them. Torbin looks around them assessing the situation. She introduces herself and the group including her Padawan Torbin. All look youthful, Sol has short hair, Torbin without his beard. 

Five+ Lightsabers out of Five! 

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The Acolyte, “Revenge/Justice”, Review!

The second ep of The Acolyte brings in another target for the assassin Mae, a little more of the Sith, and her twin, Osha, is brought to find her by Jedi Master Sol!  Leslye Headland directs this episode. Jason Micallef and Charmaine DeGrate are the writers. Dramatic music as we get the city on Olega, another new world, with city lights in the night gloom as the city is set along the edge of a seacliff. Then, we get the “Local Jedi Temple”, interesting it looks like another business on the street. A husky alien pulls a load of fruits as a young girl (Archie Singh Swali) takes one. She tosses the fruit at a plate that has a gatekeeper droid simliar to the one in Return of the Jedi (1983), pop out. It appears the High Republic era relies too much on droids. 

She gets its attention as it tries to shoo her away so Mae can disable it with a disc-like restraining bolt. The gate opens and Mae gives some credits to the girl. She sneaks past Jedi, the temple has trapezoid-like corridors, and Mae walks up to a meditating Jedi (Dean-Charles Chapman). The man is bearded with a scarred face. Chapman was Castor in the action series, Into the Badlands. The Jedi Master has his eyes closed and floats in a pose strong in the Force. Mae takes off her hood to face Master Torbin. She repeats her introduction, “Attack me with all your strength.” Torbin doesn’t move. Mae tries to strike, but is held by the Force! She moves in a series of attacks, but Torbin’s use of the Force renders them ineffective. Mae takes out her knives and can’t stab into the field that Torbin is projecting. 

Then, she hears voice altered to her break-in. Mae leaps upwards as the Olega Jedi Master (Nick Court) walks in. He looks up to see the moon through the circular skylight. On the snowy surface of Carlac, on the Jedi ship Osha is resting and opens her eyes, while Jecki is working on a control panel.  Osha suggests “repowering the power couplings”, it works, and she explains she is a meknek. She says she is better company than a droid and Pip beeps at her side. Master Sol walks past them and Jedi Knight Yord argues against leaving off binders from Osha. Yord doesn’t believe Mae could defeat Indara and says Sol has his twin theory and that they might be working togther. Sol tells him not to let his fear affect his judgment! Funny and again we have Yord as a sounding board as the typical Jedi. 

At the cockpit, Sol speaks to Jedi Master Vernestra, still my prime suspect at this point. He tells her about the Jedi twin, Mae, someone hid Mae’s existence, like Dooku with Geonosis at the Jedi archives? Was it Sol who wanted to protect his Padawan? He says she was thought to be dead 16 years ago, Sol doesn’t mention that he was on Brendok with Indara at the time, and says Mae is the assassin. Vernestra agrees and mentions the break in at Olega. She notes that Osha can’t be in his custody and infiltrated the Jedi temple, Sol works this over, and asks to investigate. Vernestra says Osha could be an asset! He enters the room and asks for the course to Olega. Osha knows that Torbin is on the planet. 

Yord is about to dispute bringing along the prisoner, but Sol says the Jedi agree with is decision to bring her. Actually, Yord is defiant, he doesn’t defer to a Jedi Master’s orders. Day at the Olega city market, Mae walks into a shop, the theme (Mae’s?) has a brooding like Darth Maul’s eerie music when he lands on Tatooine, "The Sith Spacecraft", with a soft taiko drum. Nice score by Michael Abels. Mae calls for Qimir (Manny Jacinto) who is asleep in his bunk. Jacinto was recently in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). She smells the alcohol in his cup and throws it at him to wake Qimir up. He puts on a coat which he says was from the owner, killed by Qimir? A strange, almost comedic, assassin associate. Mae explains that she saw her target, but couldn’t touch him. Qimir tells her to find his weakness. 

She gives him a pouch of Bunta, a new item, to make a poison. The name is simliar to Boonta, a galactic location that the podrace event, Boonta Eve, is named. He mentions the next Jedi is tough, a Wookie! Mae she will kill a Jedi without a weapon which must be Dun Möch, a Sith technique to dominate the spirit. This is to “please the Master”, who is the master?, and Qimir is working for the master? He starts to make a drink and says that Jedi dominate for peace and Mae finishes off the line from the Sith code, “peace is a lie”! Qimir says that Torbin thinks he has peace, but he holds up the reddish Bunta and continues saying Mae can give him “absolution” with the green Bunta poison! The Jedi are complicit in the sin that led to Mae becoming an assassin, she doesn’t have anger talking about assassination. 

Osha is working on connecting Pip to sych with the ship and Sol points out the tatoo on her arm. She says she got it with her crew. He brings up Mae killing Indara and Mae replies that she somehow survived. Mae might have been hidden by her master until assassinating Indara. The same ability used to hide Palpatine from the Jedi? Mae says they both witnessed what must have been her death. Sol admits he wanted to save both of them. Osha doesn’t blame him. Sol says he has made peace with the incident, this must be unlike Indara. Osha says she wasn’t a good student and Sol admits that he may have not been a good teacher. Sol’s self-reflection makes him a good Jedi, probably not culpable with the Brendok event. 

The ship lands on Olega, Sol and his group are met by the Jedi Master, and he explains that this might be connected to another case. Torbin is still meditating when Mae drops down. The Jedi Master explains what happened and the girl is brought out by a Jedi Padawan (Ed Kear). He seems a little rough for a Padawan and deserves the girl struggling to shrug off his hold of her backpack. Mae asks Torbin if he remembers her. She says she knows why he took the Barash Vow, this must be one of seclusion like a monk, that he would find peace. Mae reaches out to touch the field. Jecki kneels before the girl, what a kind gesture, and asks her about the security droid. The girl points to Osha as the one who paid her. Sol asks to speak to Master Torbin. The Jedi Master says he hasn’t spoken in ten years, six years after Brendok, but Sol says he is an "old friend."  

Mae gives Master Torbin a choice; confessing his crime to the Jedi Council!, Brendok is a crime in the point of view of Mae and obviously something hidden from the Jedi Council! Then, she places the vial of Bunta in front of him, “forgiveness” from her. He suddenly opens his eyes! The group is walking towards them. Mae says he has to face the past. Torbin lowers down and says he was waiting for her. Osha pauses from walking with the group and hears young Mae calling her name in her mind. She sees Little Mae walk up steps. Yord sees her leave. Torbin says to Mae, “Forgive me” and that they thought they were doing the right thing. It is not the fire, but something else, involving her mother? He downs the vial. Sol stops and then runs to see Torbin. 

Osha walks down steps to see the body of Master Torbin. I still think Osha is being turned to the Dark Side and it could be Mae or her master. Like what happened with her mother? It almost seems like a peaceful death. Osha sniffs the vial and then looks at the sky light hearing birds.  The Jedi Master sees her over Torbin’s body and ignites his lightsaber. She tries to explain that Torbin was poisoned. Then, Yord walks from behind her saying he followed her, Osha thanks him. Sol walks over to Torbin and knows that Torbin took the poison “willingly.” Osha tells him that the poison is Bunta from Brendok! A murder connected to the past. I wonder if the knives have the same meaning, why Mae went back for them. 

Qimir casually walks the street as Osha explains that her sister and she used Bunta in hunting. It is a fast acting poison so the poison was made close by. They are the second floor of the temple and the Padawan who has used electrobinoculars says that the person entering the apothecary is not the owner. Apothecary is an old English word for what would be a pharmacy. They see the apothecary. Sol asks for suggestions. Yord offers a plan with securing the perimeter and he will take the imposter, bringing out a cylindrical stun blaster. Jecki offers an alternative, just have Osha talk to him, recording a confession. Funny. Yord needs to learn to listen, not act, Mae agrees to her plan. Sol seconds Jecki’s plan and takes the stun blaster to give to Osha. 

On the street, she buys a dark cloak, and then tests her comlink. Osha enters the apothecary, Qimir is casually sitting, an awkward exchange. The Jedi listen in on the comm in Jecki’s hand. He asks if the poison worked. Sol tells the others to wait. Qimir says that she killed Torbin without the poison and that “he will be pleased.” Sol sends out the Jedi. Qimir says that Osha looks exactly like Mae. Osha pulls out the stun blaster, Yord enters from the door, and he pulls out his lightsaber. Sol behind him asks about Mae. From the back of the shop, Jecki says they have his confession. Qimir tries to act innocent. He seems like the sleemo Alfrid, lackey of the mayor in Laketown, in the Hobbit films, but his Sith knowledge makes him more like Wormtongue. 

THE ACOLYTE -- “Revenge/Justice” -- AMANDLA STENBERG -- Christian Black/© Lucasfilm Ltd. 

 

Qimir says he doesn’t want a memory wipe, funny, but again Sith. Sol asks his relationship to Mae and Qimir says he is her supplier and that he was supplying weapons to the Hutts. Sol brings up the master Qimir mentioned, but again he tries to act like he doesn’t know. Qimir tries to deflect saying Mae wants revenge on four Jedi! She will return at night for some things he is holding for her. Sol orders Yord to secure the perimeter, Jecki back at the ship, and Osha stays with him. Saying plans in front of Qimir and who is watching him? Yord is watching at the Jedi Temple balcony when Jecki checks on him over the comms. He says the classic line, “I have a bad feeling about this.” This had cheers at the preview screening.  

Sol is waiting and Osha wants to confont her sister. He says he must do it alone, she says this would lead to Mae, and Sol says Osha is still angry. This anger must have happened six years ago when she left the Order and I still think it is the Jedi twin connection. Maybe this was during her Jedi Trials, the Trial of the Spirit like Luke at the Dagobah cave. We saw Ezra Bridger face the Jedi Trials in a vision at the Jedi Temple in Star Wars: Rebels, “Path of the Jedi” (2014); DC-SWR1/10. Osha says Mae killed her family, Sol tells her that she wants revenge, and revenge turned Mae into an assassin. He says he couldn’t save her as a child and wants to do so now. Osha names the four Jedi; Indara, Torbin, Kelnacca, and then Sol. This is a specific order that has to do with the past sin. He is on Mae’s hit list, but will be saved for last.

Sol says have faith and Mae and himself. Kudos to Lee Jung-jae! Tense music as Yord stands watch and he spots Mae with the electobinocular. He reports spotting Mae and Jecki starts the ship towards them. Sol calls out for Mae. He can’t believe she survived, killed Indara, and Torbin. Mae throws a knife at his boot, a warning. She leaps at him with a kick which he catches. We get more fight music like with Indara’s noodle shop battle, Sol moves away from her strikes, and he wonders why she fights without a weapon. He blocks one handed just like Indara, they are using the same fighting style, and her hand also almost swipes his lightsaber. Sol kicks her away and she finds he has taken all of her knives! He says she misunderstands the “Jedi arts”, her master failed her!, and asks who is her master. The Acolyte requires repeat watching to catch the subtleties of the characters. Did somone say Wookie? “Revenge/Justice” captures the driving forces of the twin sisters, the struggle of Sol, and more of the mystery! 

Five Lightsabers out of Five! 

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