The Acolyte Episode 1-4 Review

Three years ago Disney introduced us to a brand new era in Star Wars, The High Republic. This Era has seen a massive explosion in content spanning, books, comics and now the very first live action series, The Acolyte. The first High Republic book titled, Light of The Jedi takes place two-hundred years before Episode 1 and the goal is to bridge that gap with content up to The Acolyte which takes place 100 years before Episode 1 and marks the end of The High Republic Era.

The Acolyte begins in a time of peace within the galaxy, The Republic, and the Jedi Order. The Order is large, similar to the size in the prequel trilogy. It is an era of Jedi temples, academies and many Jedi. We are introduced to many Jedi as they begin investigating the death of one of their own. This investigation takes us across the galaxy and introduces us to many brand new elements in the Star Wars universe yet to be seen in live action.

One of my favorite elements about the Jedi in this series is their unique attire that helps create a bit of individuality compared to the Jedi attire in the prequel series. Jedi Master Sol is one of my favorite Jedi in the series so far. He is direct but compassionate at times and seems to be the most layered compared to many others. It is so great to see Carrie-Anne Moss as a Jedi Master and back in an action role. The fight choreography for her Jedi, Indara and many others is very well done. All of the fight screens are encounters are unique and display different force abilities as well.

A few plot devices are a bit obvious in the first few episodes but there are also many twists and turns that make up for it along the way and make for some really unique storylines. After the first four episodes, a few Jedi still need some time to shine but hopefully they get some spotlight in the last half of the season. The use of practical effects is perfect and the fight choreography is absolutely stellar and original with its combinations of hand-to-hand combat and force abilities. The season has set up a lot of pieces and thankfully it is a contained story so far. It will be exciting to see how the season ends and ties all of these prices together.

The first two episodes of The Acolyte air today on Disney +

3.5/5

Review by: Stefano Bove

Rating all V/H/S/Halloween Segments

Like sorting through your candy after a night of trick-or-treating, V/H/S/ Halloween is a mixed bag. The eighth instalment in this cult-favourite horror anthology series comes up short of previous entries, but there are still a couple of treats in here that should satisfy your twisted cravings. A chilling still from V/H/S/ Halloween . Diet Phantasma This wraparound segment follows an R&D team testing a new low-calorie soda made with “real ghosts.” It’s silly fun, but gets a bit repetitive with each new test subject. The commercial playing during the end credits was a nice touch. Rating: ★★½☆ Coochie Coochie Coo This short feels like walking through a haunted house — but not in a good way. The plot is like something torn from a creepypasta thread. Everything is constantly being spelled out in a painfully obvious way. The practical effects and makeup are decent, and this is probably the only segment that comes close to being scary...

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review

Listen, I love Star Wars. I will always love Star Wars. The original and prequel trilogies were a big part of my childhood, and helped shape my love of cinema. While The Mandalorian isn’t among my favourites in the franchise, I thought it had a promising first season and a significantly stronger season two. Season three had so much potential, but a frustrating lack of focus held it back from greatness. This show’s always had a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s never been as clear as it is here. Does it want to be a procedural-style adventure of the week, or tell an epic, multi-season spanning arc? Season one leaned toward the former, while Season two found a satisfying balance of both. Season three tries to find that balance, but the overarching story it wants to tell is bigger than the few episodes allotted to do so. There are only 8 chapters, some barely over 30 min. That’s a fair...

Andor Season 1 Review

I’m going to make a bold statement here, but one I honestly believe to be true. Andor is the best Star Wars has been since the Original Trilogy. Fans in search of epic space battles, lightsaber duels, or a direct connection to the Skywalker Saga may walk away disappointed. However, those in search of a deeper, more mature entry in this long-standing franchise will bask in everything the show has to offer. Star Wars has always been more focused on telling a big, sweeping story filled with exciting action sequences. The galaxy always felt huge, but it never really felt full. Andor changes all of that, with a grounded and personal story unlike anything Star Wars has given us before. This is a thoughtfully constructed, character-driven series that adds depth and life to the galaxy in ways none of the movies or shows have been able to. With twelve episodes, this is the longest Disney Plus series yet, giving the story ample room to breathe and develop at a natural pace. It smartly avoids the...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog