Star Wars Day 2022: (List) The Five Best Star Wars Villains (Who Aren’t Darth Vader)

May 4, 2022 by Keith Garlington

As you’ve probably figured out by now, I’m a huge Star Wars geek. I have been since I was a kid, and I proudly wear that badge today. I saw all the movies in theaters going back to the original trilogy. I had the action figures, vehicles, storybooks, blasters, etc. etc. etc. In other words, Star Wars has played a HUGE role in my life, and over the years my love for it hasn’t waned.

Needless to say, when something like Star Wars Day comes along it gets me pretty excited. And what better time to focus on Star Wars that May 4th? So I thought it would be fun to revisit something Star Wars is well known for – its villains. Today I’m sharing my five favorite Star Wars villains within the current canon but with one significant omission – Darth Vader. I mean naturally he would be #1. So in an effort to give everyone else a fighting chance, I’ve decided to let him sit this one out. Tell me what you think…

#5 – Kylo Ren

Ok, so you could make a good case that Ben Solo aka Kylo Ren isn’t actually a villain. But he more or less played one for most of of the sequel trilogy. And he actually killed Han Solo (I can’t think of anything that would make you more of a villain than that). Regardless, from the very start I have loved the Kylo Ren character. One of the complaints is that he borrows too much from Darth Vader, but that’s kind of the point. Kylo is being torn apart inside and everything about his character conveys that, from his impulsive aggression to his iconic lightsaber with its crossguard hilt and cracked Kyber crystal. I love the emotionally ravaged Kylo.

#4 – Boba Fett

I have always loved Boba Fett beginning with his brief faceless presences in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Return of the Jedi”. Admittedly, back then it was mostly the ‘cool factor’ that made him a favorite of mine. But over the years Star Wars has done a wonderful job fleshing out his story, starting with our introduction to young Boba in “Episode II: Attack of the Clones”. The brilliant animated series “The Clone Wars” provided even more insight into his journey to the world of bounty hunting. But it was his recent reintroduction to live-action in “The Book of Boba Fett” that really secured his spot on this list. With his Mandalorian background mixed and an intimidating mean streak, Boba Fett makes for a great baddie.

#3 – Cad Bane

Man I love Cad Bane. Hailing from the planet Duros, Bane is a ruthless bounty hunter and mercenary who can’t be trusted by anyone whether good or bad, Empire or Republic, Jedi or Sith. His notoriously cold businesslike manner makes him feared across the galaxy. He’s also extremely cool with a look and demeanor that feels yanked right out of a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. Cad Bane really came into his own during “The Clone Wars” and had a great appearance in “The Bad Batch”. And some may argue that he stole the series when he showed up in “The Book of Boba Fett”. Regardless of what he’s in, Cad Bane always brings with him a fascinating mix of menace and excitement.

#2 – Darth Maul

I wasn’t the only one blown away by Darth Maul in “Episode I: The Phantom Menace”. Everything from his terrifying appearance to his mind-blowing fighting style (kudos Ray Park) won him a legion of fans. Now if you only watch the movies it might surprise you to see him on this list, especially ranked this high. But as is often the case in Star Wars, Maul’s story is unpacked through other canonical series, mainly “The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels”. Maul has one of my favorite stories out of all Star Wars villains. It shows us someone burning with hate, not just for the Jedi (especially Obi-Wan Kenobi) but also for his one-time master Darth Sidious. I won’t spoil it, but the twisted layers of Darth Maul’s story is unlike anything else in the franchise.

#1 – Darth Sidious/The Emperor/Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

With his hideously scarred face, his snarling smile, and a voice that sounds like he’s gargling gravel, Darth Sidious is a truly chilling villain. He is the personification of evil and his impact can be felt throughout the entire Skywalker Saga. Sidious is not only frightening because of his horrifying appearance. He’s also cold and calculating, and it doesn’t matter who he has to go through to obtain and maintain power. Add to it the fact that he is the most powerful Sith and shows it throughout the franchise. And who doesn’t love Ian McDiarmid who has played the character since 1983. Sidious/Palpatine is not only a staple in the gallery of Star Wars villains. He’s the true mastermind behind most of the evils that shrouds the galaxy.

Star Wars Day 2022: New Trailer for “Obi-Wan Kenobi”

May 4, 2022 by Keith Garlington

Star Wars Day 2022 opened up with the exciting announcement that a fresh trailer would be dropping for the upcoming streaming series “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. To get us prepped, they first unveiled a brand-new poster for the highly anticipated show (check it out HERE). A short time later Disney dropped the trailer and lets just say that the Star Wars fan in me was left absolutely giddy.

The trailer gives us a few scenes from the previous teaser but also several new shots that really help give us a sense for where this series is going. Times are tense for Obi-Wan as he keeps a watchful eye over young Luke Skywalker. But Darth Vader (a returning Hayden Christensen) has sent his Inquisitors to hunt down the remaining Jedi, young and old. And tops on his hit-list is his old master, Obi-Wan. I can’t wait for this and it has all the potential to be a true classic. Check out the trailer and tell me what you think.

“Obi-Wan Kenobi” premieres May 27th exclusively on Disney+.

Star Wars Day 2022: New Poster for “Obi-Wan Kenobi”

May 4, 2022 by Keith Garlington

We’re only a few weeks away from the start of the highly anticipated Disney+ limited series “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. I’ve been a fan of Star Wars streaming series we’ve gotten so far (“The Mandalorian”, “The Book of Boba Fett”, “The Bad Batch”) and I’m really excited for the shows that are on the horizon (“Ahsoka”, “Andor”, “Lando”). But few have me more as pumped than “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. Ewan McGregor returns as one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

As part of their May 4th (aka Star Wars Day) celebration, Star Wars has released a new poster for the upcoming Obi-Wan series. And let’s just say it revs up my excitement even more. Everything is coming together for something pretty special for Star Wars Fans.

So what do you think of the new poster?

“Obi-Wan Kenobi” premieres May 27th exclusively on Disney +.

First Glance: “Don’t Worry Darling”

May 3, 2022 by Keith Garlington

The first trailer has finally dropped for the upcoming period thriller “Don’t Worry Darling”. The movie has people interested for a number of reasons. It’s the sophomore directing effort for Olivia Wilde whose first film “Booksmart” was a bland copy-and-paste teen comedy that somehow managed much acclaim. But what has me most excited is the compelling cast that features Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Gemma Chan, Chris Pine, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, and Wilde herself.

The story surrounds a 1950s housewife (Pugh) who discovers that the seemingly idyllic neighborhood and the husband she adores (Styles) are hiding a deep dark secret. The trailer offers plenty of cool images and a keen sense of style. At the same time it looks a bit scattered, as if it’s trying to be a lot of things all at once. How will it turn out? We’ll see in a few months.

“Don’t Worry Darling” hits theaters September 23rd. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

REVIEW: “Memory” (2022)

May 2, 2022 by Keith Garlington

(CLICK HERE to read my full review in today’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Liam Neeson has made quite a career out of these breezy modestly budgeted action thrillers. Even though they often hit many of the same beats and usually follow a very similar formula, Neeson makes them work mainly because he’s such a likable fit for those kinds of roles. And starting with 2008’s “Taken,” the charismatic gravelly-voiced Irishman has earned himself a legion of fans.

But there are signs that Neeson’s “action hero” brand could be running out of steam. Look no further than “Blacklight” from earlier this year. It was a case of Neeson and his formula showing their age. The movie was (to put it kindly) a slog and didn’t even make back half of its $43 million production budget. It’s sad to see because Neeson is a good dramatic actor (just check out 2019’s underseen “Ordinary Love” for a more recent reminder). But this leg of his onscreen journey may be winding down.

Yet here we are, only two months removed from “Blacklight,” with yet another Neeson action thriller. This one’s called “Memory” and despite everything I just said, it actually gave me reasons to be optimistic. First, it’s directed by Martin Campbell, the man behind one of my very favorite Bond movies, “Casino Royale” (yes, I know he also did “Green Lantern” but set that one aside for a moment). Second, it sports a compelling supporting cast that includes the often underrated Guy Pearce and Monica Bellucci, known by many for her role in the Matrix films but who has had an impressive career, mostly internationally.

And then there’s the story. Yes, “Memory” offers up several of the same tropes associated with most other Neeson flicks. But this one has an interesting twist. The script (written by Dario Scardapane) is based on a 1985 novel by Jef Geeraerts called “De zaak Alzheimer.” It also borrows from a 2003 Beligian big screen adaptation of Geeraerts’ book called “The Alzheimer Case.” The story centers on a seasoned contract killer and his early- stage dementia. That alone brings the level of humanity Neeson’s last film desperately needed.

As it turns out, “Memory” does play differently from most of Neeson’s catalog. Interestingly, while Neeson is the star, nearly as much time is spent with Pearce who plays an FBI agent trying to make sense of the dead bodies suddenly turning up across his city. His side of the story is mostly a crime procedural. And as you can probably guess, his investigation inevitably puts him on the trail of a cognitively impaired hitman who still possesses “a particular set of skills.”

Neeson plays Alex Lewis, an aging assassin who fulfills contracts for a number of high-paying criminal organizations. The opening scene set in Guadalajara, Mexico shows that he is still more than capable of doing his job. But he’s having memory lapses, which is the last thing you want in such a detail-oriented profession. For that reason he’s ready to get out of the game. But back in El Paso, Alex is quickly reminded by one of his employers that this isn’t a line of work you can just walk away from.

Later Alex is given another contract. But when the target turns out to be a 13-year-old girl named Beatriz Leon (Mia Sanchez), he refuses the job. “I don’t hurt children … ever,” he growls (you gotta love an assassin with principles). It turns out that Beatriz is a key witness in a drug trafficking case being put together by federal agent Vincent Serra (Pearce, brandishing one bad mustache and an even worse haircut).

As expected, Alex’s employers don’t take kindly to his insubordination, and Alex doesn’t take kindly to their attempts at killing him for it. Soon the corpses are stacking up as Alex offers payback to the baddies who put him on their hit list. And he quickly learns that there are some powerful people calling the shots, tops being a prominent real estate mogul named Davana Sealman (Bellucci). But Alex’s memory loss makes him sloppy, and soon both Sealman and Serra are hot on his trail.

As the story unfolds, Campbell is given several narrative threads to tie together. Along the way he tackles a number of themes with varying degrees of success. The movie hits on several things including America’s leaky justice system, our government’s inept handling of the southern border, child sex trafficking, and of course late- age dementia. That last one is the trickiest, but thankfully the movie treats it with the dignity and respect it needs. And Neeson’s portrayal is tempered and subdued, never exaggerating Alex’s deteriorating condition or overplaying it.

As far as the performances, Neeson and Pearce get the bulk of the work and both manage the sometimes shaky material well. Bellucci has a strong presence, but sadly she isn’t given much to do. After them, the performances take a pretty big dive which only accentuates the stock character feel of many of the supporting players. Some elements of the story play the same way — like beats we’ve seen in countless other movies and television shows. But give Campbell some credit. He brings some much-needed drama and grit to a pretty familiar formula. And who knows, maybe there’s still a little life left in these Neeson brand movies.

VERDICT – 3 STARS

REVIEW: “The Northman” (2022)

April 29, 2022 by Keith Garlington

(CLICK HERE for my full review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

“The Witch” (2015) and “The Lighthouse” are two movies that undeniably bear the same marks of their creator, Robert Eggers. Both are rooted in Eggers’ interests in folk horror. Both show off a near obsessive level of period detail. And both feel completely original and unlike anything else that may fall close to their ‘genres’. “The Northman” is what you get when those very distinct creative signatures are used to tell a bigger story with a bigger cast and with a much bigger studio budget (in this case nearly $90 million).

Penned by Eggers and Icelandic screenwriter, poet, and novelist Sjón, “The Northman” is a brutal and at times bonkers Viking revenge epic based on the same Scandinavian legend that inspired Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. Set in the North Atlantic at the turn of the 10th century, Eggers sits us down in a brawny and violent world, caked in mud and stained with blood. It’s a world where human savagery is more commonplace than anything resembling compassion. And where the supernatural and occult co-exist, allowing the director to veer down some dark and twisted paths.

It’s based on the legend of Amleth and opens up with a table-setting prologue that sets this revenge-soaked tale in motion. In it, 10-year-old Prince Amleth (played by Oscar Novak) enthusiastically greets his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) who is returning home from battle. Wounded and weary, Aurvandill decides it’s time to begin preparing his son to take his throne. With the help of the wild-eyed shaman Heimir (Willem Dafoe), Aurvandill leads his son through a gonzo ritualistic right of passage involving blood oaths, trippy visions and flatulence (it’s the first of several scenes sure to test mainstream audiences).

The next morning, after a night of unconventional bonding, the course of Amleth’s life is forever changed after he witnesses his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang) butcher his father and kidnap his now widowed mother, Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman). With Fjölnir’s bloodcurdling command “Bring me the boy’s head!” still echoing through the thick air, Amlith flees by boat repeating to himself a mantra that will burn into his soul and fuel his hate for the rest of the film, “I will avenge you father. I will save you mother. I will kill you Fjölnir”.

The screen fades to black and many years pass. When the image returns we see a much older Almith (played by a hulking Alexander Skarsgård), now a member of a barbaric Viking clan who ravage the Land of the Rus like a pack of ravenous wolves. Here we get one of the film’s more spectacular moments – an incredible single uninterrupted take of the berserkers raiding, pillaging and slaughtering a Slavic village. The intensely difficult and complex sequence sees Eggers and his go-to DP Jarin Blaschke weaving their camera through the chaos and carnage, sucking us into the sheer savagery of the scene. It’s gruesome and unflinching. It’s also incredible filmmaking.

Upon getting word that Fjölnir has now settled in Iceland with Gudrún as his captive wife, Almith stows away on a boat posing as a slave. There he meets a fellow captive who introduces herself as “Olga of the Birch Forest” (Anya Taylor-Joy) and the two form an immediate bond. They arrive at Fjölnir’s settlement and are immediately put to work. But rather than killing Fjölnir and his men like a rabid beast, Almith begins a methodical campaign of physical and psychological terror, brutally picking off his prey one-by-one in the dark of night and sending waves of fear throughout the commune.

While Eggers is clearly the architect and his fingerprints are everywhere, the movie succeeds thanks to a fine collective effort. Blaschke’s camera not only captures the ferocity of the action, but also the beautiful yet harsh textures of the Icelandic landscape. There’s also the amazing period richness of Craig Lathrop’s production design and Linda Muir’s costumes. Add to it the pulse-pounding propulsion of Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough’s score.

Of course you also have the cast ably led by Skarsgård. He’s an imposing mix of cold primal rage and quiet intensity. And though aptly (and somewhat comically) described as a “Beast cloaked in man-flesh”, Skarsgård also reveals Almith’s pain and vulnerability. Kidman is a blast, Hawke is as wily as ever, and Claes Bang is pure villain material. They all deliver in spades, but ultimately it’s the creative juices of Robert Eggers that gives “The Northman” its unique identity, from the impeccable detail and design to the wild flourishes and overindulgences. Now where will such a movie land with audiences? That’s the $90 million question. “The Northman” is out now in theaters.