Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains, not only in science fiction, but in all movies. One of the most compelling aspects of his character is that he was once a Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker, and thus is the father of Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original trilogy. This is revealed […]
The redemption of Darth Vader’s lost fatherhood Read More »
In the fall of 1984, there were approximately 20 channels on cable television in my home in south Louisiana. Many of those were repeats- ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates that broadcast the same shows at the same times. Others were cable channels- ESPN, MTV and Nickelodeon. These were the early days of cable, and their
How Optimus Prime was a surprising example of true fatherhood Read More »
One of the most frequently quoted phrases in the Star Wars saga is “May the Force be with you.” Obi-Wan Kenobi was the primary character who said this greeting, using it as a way to invoke the power of “the Force” to protect an individual or group of people. For many Christians, especially Catholics, this phrase sounds
The Christian origin of the Star Wars phrase “May the Force be with you” Read More »
The Star Wars franchise has always been chock full of symbolism. The saga’s creator, George Lucas, has said that one of the goals behind the initial writing of the story was a desire to provide a religious experience to the audience, something he saw people craving and searching for. Obviously, some very Christian elements have
Episode I: The Phantom Menace was the long awaited prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy. With its release, fans of the Skywalker saga would finally be able to see the events that led to the downfall of Anakin Skywalker and how he became Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. Many of those who
Was Shmi Skywalker in ‘Star Wars’ the virgin mother of a “Messiah”? Read More »
Today Lucasfilm released the highly anticipated teaser trailer for the final Star Wars film in the “Skywalker Saga.” Interestingly enough, it was also released that it will be named Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The film does not take place immediately after The Last Jedi and is set several years afterwards. The tagline for
Watch the stunning first trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ here! Read More »
When rebooting the Star Wars franchise, filmmakers decided to focus on a female lead character known simply as “Rey.” While her past is still mysterious, much of the story told about her thus far resembles pivotal episodes in the life of legendary heroine, Joan of Arc. Some of it may be coincidental, but it appears
The surprising similarities between Rey (Star Wars) and Joan of Arc Read More »
In the fall of 1994, the Internet was new, no one had cell phones, and we watched movies on VHS tapes at home. Blockbuster Video was the only rental store in town, and they only stocked the most popular movies. This created an underground market for genre films taped from television or copied from other,
What ‘Akira’ (1988) taught me about the dirty mess Jesus came to save Read More »
A few years back when I wrote my first article on Skellig Michael for Aleteia.org, a reader from Ireland sent me a video of a priest celebrating Mass on the historic island (Note: This is the same island that inspired my comic book series Finnian and the Seven Mountains and was the filming location for
Watch a Catholic priest celebrate Mass on Skellig Michael (Video) Read More »
Did you know that the Star Wars phrase (“May the Force be with you”) was directly inspired by the popular biblical (and Catholic) phrase used by priests today in the liturgy? The Christian phrase (“May the Lord be with you”) is first found in the Book of Ruth, “And behold, Bo′az came from Bethlehem; and
“May the Lord Be With You” T-Shirt and Sticker Giveaway! Read More »
