Tales From The Mos Eisley Cantina

Tales From The Mos Eisley Cantina

“You'll never find a more despicable hive of scum and villainy.” These words describe the Mos Eisley Cantina, the deadliest watering hole in the galaxy,

where the worst of the worst go to get a drink. Rick’s Cafe of the Star Wars universe. It's an iconic place and holds a special place in Star Wars lore and the eyes of fans who watched the background characters in the scene for years, and speculated on their back stories. These back stories and more were answered when Tales From The Mos Eisley Cantina was published in 1995. A period of relative calm in the fandom, when Han shot first, before the dark times, before the toxic fandom.

The book is a collection of vignettes about the background characters in the Cantina, as if The Canterbury Tales were set in a galaxy far, far away. One story, Be Still My Heart: The Bartender's Tale is about the Cantina’s bartender, Wuher, and his lifelong goal: to create the perfect drink for Jabba. It’s essentially Flaming Moe’s set in the Star Wars universe. The Desert Wind Turns: The Stormtrooper's Tale is about a stormtrooper driving an AT-TT. The protagonist sees the empire as a force for good and dreams about crushing the rebels. It provides a new perspective on the rebellion from the villain’s point of view. A Hunter’s Fate: Greedo’s Tale adds humanity to a character known for getting fried by Han Solo. It avoids the pitfalls of many prequels and delivers a meaningful and engaging story. Classic Star Wars characters make limited appearances in the stories. Each author uses them in a limited capacity effectively.

Each story is written by a different author, who were all up and coming names at the time of the book’s publication and went on to become established names in science fiction. The book’s editor, Kevin Anderson, went on to write the Dune series after the passing of the original author, Frank Herbert. Another notable contributor is Timothy Zhan who wrote one of the most influential books in the extended universe: Heir To The Empire, a New York Times bestseller that introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn was a character who appeared in Star Wars: Rebels and was recently referenced on The Mandalorian.

Tales the Mos Eisley Cantina is an important piece of Star Wars history and lore. Before its publication, most stories were centered around the main trio: Han, Luke, and Leia. This book broke new ground by featuring unknown characters as the protagonists. It showed that there could be meaningful and compelling stories told about minor characters. This laid the foundation for the expanded universe, which was a collection of comics, books, and video games that told Star Wars Stories outside of the films. It helped deliver on the promise of a galaxy far, far away and should the universe be something more. Without Tales From The Mos Eisley Cantina, we may not have The Mandalorian.

Sadly it's been lost to time and faded into obscurity. Disney relegated all the stories in the extended universe to legends (non-canon). While certain parts of Legends have been recanonized (like Thrawn), it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.

If Disney were to make it canon again there are some options. The book would make a great limited series on Disney+, which could be weekly installments featuring the individual stories. We are living in the age of anthology tv series. Shows like True Detective and Fargo have broken new ground in this medium. This collection of stories is tailor-made for this genre. It would allow Star Wars to explore new genres and be the cure for franchise fatigue. The future of Star Wars is on tv, as shown by The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, and The Mandalorian. A show set in the galaxy’s deadliest watering hole would be enticing and get people watching.

Regardless of the book’s future, it's a great read and a nice piece of escapism during the quarantine.

'Joker' Review

Review: 'Joker'

Send in the Clowns plays during the film’s credits, selections from a different Sondheim musical, Sweeny Todd is more appropriate for the film’s tone.  Joaquin Phoenix stars as Arthur fleck, struggling comedian. Phoenix steps into a role defined past performances from Ceaser Romero to the late Heath Ledger. Which comes with the weight of audience expectations, enough to define a film before it's release. Meeting and exceeding thirds preconceptions is a daunting task for most performers and filmmakers.

Phoenix is more than up to the task. Delivering a performance that provides a new depth of a character one assumes has no surprises left. His character study is one of the decade’s best and is destined to be iconic. Each quirk, physicality, and nuance progress Arthur’s tragic story. Including a terrifying laugh, evoking memories of Tom Hulce in Amadeus. While painting a portrait of a man at odds with society. Who serves as the film’s antagonist. His fate may be predetermined but it’s no less compelling.  Phoenix captivates our attention every moment he is on screen. He speaks volumes even when accompanied by silence. Those scenes offer some of the film’s most compelling moments. It’s time for another Joker to win an Academy Award.

The other metamorphosis is the film’s director Todd Phillips.  A transformation that began with 2016’s phenomenal and underrated War Dogs. Unlike Kafka’s protagonist, he emerges something greater: an acclaimed filmmaker and storyteller. He deserves to be recognized with a nomination for Best Director although he may fall victim to strong competition. Which would be a tragedy in of itself.

Phillips brings Gotham to life in a way that feels gritty and modern. Joker feels relevant despite its fictional settings. A difficult balance/ cha; the challenge for most films but one Joker achieve seamlessly. The film draws inspiration from pictures like Goodfellas and Mean Streets, honoring their spirit without being a direct remake. Another Scorsese tribute is the casting of Robert De Niro as Murray Franklin, a Gotham talk show host, an homage to his role in King of Comedy.  The film masters the art of suspense as it slowly builds the hype for Arthur and Murray’s inevitable confrontation.  There were countless moments I found my jaw on the floor, oblivious to how it ended up there.  The film keeps the audience on the edge until the concluding scene. The ending delivers an emotional impact akin to a gut punch.

Iconic DC characters appear throughout the film.  They are used in a limited measure, making them memorable despite limited screen time. They feel original despite appearing in past adaptations and interactions. Which can be attributed to them being presented in a new light. The film master’s the art of the origin story, a hurdle for most reboots.  The audience's appreciation of the film isn't determined by their familiarity with the source material.  It managed to be a solid standalone picture and shows all a film needs is a compelling story. It’s a breath of fresh air in an era of big-budget blockbusters.

The film’s R rating allows it greater flexibility in the content portrayed onscreen. The film is unflinching in its depiction of violence and has no pretenses, pushing the envelope for r rated films. This does not come at the expense of the film’s quality. 

The film is a masterpiece and is destined to be iconic. Joker shows it's possible to deliver a layered story with an emotional depth that resonates with audiences. It beaks bold new ground for storytelling in rated films. While giving a glimpse of the genre’s future. It should serve as a blueprint for filmmakers for delivering standalone stories and films. It’s a bold ambitious film that is haunting and memorable. It resonates long after you leave the theatre. We may not be laughing at Arthur but can't look away.