1037 characters - 331 planets - 252 starships - 206 stories - Setnin Select 137

Updated 3/8/04 -  Planets - A-V, Characters C,H,I,K,M,P,R,S,T, Timeline, Chronology - New Alliances

News page updated periodically

back in 1981 Paramount were preparing the sequel to Star Trek - The Motion Picture.  Then called Star Trek II - The Vengeance of Khan, it was due for release a year later.  Lucas, already deep in preparation on Episode VI, had a decision to make regarding the title of his own film, then called Revenge of the Jedi.  Firstly, in order not to clash with the Trek movies theme of vengeance he opted to alter his film to Return of the Jedi, and also cemented the fact that his films weren't about revenge of vengeance but about redemption - that of Anakin Skywalker, the true star of the movie and the titular Jedi returning.

But  really, what else could Lucas call Episode III?  Birth of the Empire?  Factually accurate, but dry.  The Creeping Fear?  Only the god-like Simon Pegg (Cock it!) and the British press fell for that one.  No, ROTS  (even the abbreviation is fitting) sums up the mood, intent and mission statement  of the film.  After all, we know that of the main characters only Yoda, Ben, the twins, Anakin/Vader and Palpatine get out alive - practically every one else meets their demise.  We see Palpatine the master manipulator, playing Anakin and the rest of the galaxy like John Williams conducts the LSO, and some of the most shocking and brilliant twists in the entire saga.

Ultimately judgment must be reserved until Thursday May 19th 2005, but right now Revenge of the Sith has a lot of people very excited, probably the most excited about Star Wars since the first Phantom Menace trailer back in 1998.  And for us diehards out here in Star Wars fandom, that can only be a good thing.

Mark Newbold - 3rd August 2004