Reign of the Fallen | |
---|---|
Director(s) |
David McLeavy |
Producer(s) |
Jonathan Wang |
Writer(s) |
David McLeavy |
Starring |
|
Distributor | |
Released |
2006 |
Runtime |
55 Minutes |
Budget |
Nill |
Timeline |
150-2000 ABY Aprox |
Reign of the Fallen is a fan film. It is one of the few that takes place in (or after) the New Republic era.
Plot[]
In the times since great wars laid waste to Prias, its people have learned to embrace a simple life, away from the perils of technology and war. As the mighty Sith army spreads across the galaxy, subjugating every planet in its path, all the people of Prias can do is wait, their world protected by an energy planetary shield held in place by ancient towers. While the people wait in fear, one Jedi trained by Master Oram Bren will be chosen to be the future leader of Prias, a title decided by a vote of the entire population of the planet. But little do they know that one Jedi's dark secret could spell their doom.
Story[]
On the planet of Prias, two Jedi Knights, Jaren and Erik, the apprentices of Jedi Master Oram Bren, were perfecting their skills in hopes that their master would choose one of them to lead their village after he had passed on. Erik felt confident that he would be chosen, acting in an arrogant manner.
The village was completely devoided of technology and the inhabitants chose to live a simple life. That night, a Sith Master sent two scouts to take out the Jedi. Erik prepared to see his master about his choice, but before he left, he quickly took a look inside a box and looked at its secret: a red Sith crystal he found.
Jaren woke from a nightmare and told it to Master Bren: he saw the village in flames, and in the center was a tree, dark of root and bark. He believed there might be weapon outside of village that might stop the Sith. Oram agreed and told Jaren to go, and not worry about Erik helping out, but he reminded Jaren of the first lesson he taught him: that destiny cannot change who he is. He then slammed his dagger on the table and revealed the leadership medallion. Erik, who was been standing outside the whole time, heard this and was devastated. Jaren left Oram's room, but found a guard murdered and was immediately attacked by one of the Sith scouts. The other was in Erik's home just as Erik returned. That time it was Erik who surprises the scout, but the scout reminded Erik of the Sith crystal, and sensed the rage in the young Jedi. Both Jedi defeated their foes with ease. Erik activated the planetary shield while Jaren decided he must find this weapon.
The next morning, Erik taunted that Jaren was only running, but Jaren responded that Erik should stop thinking of himself as superior to him, and then he would understand why he had to do this. Jaren told Alana, his wife, of the journey he was about to take. Alana only prayed that Jaren returned to her safely. Leaving her with the medallion, Jaren embraced her one last time and set off, unaware of the Sith Master sending another scout to follow him.
Erik questioned Oram's choice of leadership. Oram responded that as a true Jedi, Erik shouldn't care. Erik gave in to his rage and made a choice. Replacing his green lightsaber crystal with the Sith crystal, Erik set out and destroyed his old crystal along with the main power source to the shield.
Jaren eventually found the glade in his dream, and as he slept, the Sith scout sent a snake. Jaren wakes up and killed the snake. The scout then tried to attack Jaren but a Force Crush killed him.
Jaren's savior turned out to be a Sith spirit named Eidolon, who was betrayed and left for dead by his Sith bretheren during the ancient wars on Prias, but had discovered the secret to immoratlity. He told Jaren of a legend that whenever the Jedi seemed to fall, a powerful Jedi leader would rise up and to stop the Sith, and they all came from Prias. Erik had believed himself to be that leader after he took a crystal from a smashed Sith lightsaber he found, but he was not the one. When Jaren mentioned the weapon he visioned, Eidolon replied that Jaren is the weapon; he was the descendant. Eidolon told Jaren of a ship nearby to escape the planet; Jaren wanted to save his people, but Eidolon responded it is too late as the Sith were already penetrating the defenses. The destruction of the city, he said, was not an extermination, but a prevention of an order that wasn't ready, an order that Jaren would see through, that would walk and breathe in the light "of a Skywalker." Eidolon created three other copies of himself and attacked Jaren. Jaren made the spirit disappear, and then he fell into a coma.
Outside the city, Alana gazed at the medallion and sang a beautiful melody that seemed to reach Jaren's ears. He woke up and ran for the starfighter. Master Oram saw the Sith fighters coming in and went to inspect the shield. Before he could get to the power source, he was forced to fight several Dark Jedi. Though he succeeded in killing the initial party he met with great skill, a whole army of the black-cloaked Sith gathered in front of him. Knowing he would not escape death, Oram raised his lightsaber in a salute and plunged into the fight.
Jaren reached the city, but was too late: the city was destroyed and in flames. He saw a body and it turned out to be Alana; she had been murdered. Covering her body with his cloak, Jaren grieved, and a black cloaked Jedi appeared behind him. The Jedi removeed his hood and revealed himself: it is Erik. Erik wore the leadership medallion mockingly and, upon activating his red saber, challenged Jaren. A duel ensued, and Erik repeatedly used his lightsaber to disarm and hit Jaren. Finally, disarmed and beaten, Jaren asked Erik why he had done this. Erik responded he could not live on this planet knowing their people chose Jaren. As Erik was about to deliver the final blow, Jaren reached out with the Force and stopped Erik's blade inches from his hand. Calling his saber, Jaren made it pass through Erik's body before it came to his hand, and then he made one last strike at Erik, who fell down dead. Jaren took the medallion off his body.
The next morning, near the ruins of the city, Jaren buried Alana and placed the medallion on her grave. He then left and went to his starfighter, hoping to rebuild the Jedi Order.
Style[]
Unlike many Star Wars fan films, Reign of the Fallen has a peculiar dark and slow mood and relies mostly on close ups and emotions rather than action. It owes much to 'Samurai movies'.[source?]
Cast[]
- Jaren... David McLeavy
- Erik... Jason Updike
- Eidolon... Carlos Acuna
- Oram Bren... Kevin Walsh
- Alana... Maureen Isern