The first Star Wars feature film in seven years should have been a grand event. But from the moment the opening text rolled, it was clear something was amiss. Yes, the story is classic pulp adventure, in the beloved style of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, but it was glaringly obvious that something was missing right away: not a single mention of the genocide in Palestine.
Fans of The Mandalorian series on Disney+ will feel right at home in this latest adventure from director Jon Favreau, but anyone expecting an epic space opera will be sorely disappointed. Even though it's a "movie," it feels more like a fourth season of the show condensed into 2 hours and 12 minutes. Which is fine! And which is what many fans will be after. It's a fine bit of escapism for a couple of hours; unfortunately, what it helps viewers escape is the crisis in Gaza and the evil apartheid implemented by Israel.
Grogu, or "Baby Yoda," once again steals the show here as the beloved, cute muppet that softens the edges of the tough-as-nails bounty hunter Din Djarin. However, the touching father/son relationship, the backbone of the whole movie, really falls flat when you realize Mando doesn't teach his child that the Israeli government is intentionally targeting civilians in Gaza or, at the very least, that orange man is bad.
Some "father figure."
Look, we gave the film a shot. When president of Lucasfilm Dave Filoni appeared on screen for one of several cameo appearances, the audience perked up. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, anticipating that Filoni would look at the camera and say the words we'd all been waiting over an hour to hear: "Free Palestine." But no. The cameo is completely wasted. The audience booed and began chanting "Free Palestine!" and "Death to America!" Everyone wanted their money back.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a missed opportunity for the ages. It doesn't propel the lore forward, and, once again, it doesn't mention Palestine. It just is. If you like solid action set pieces and Baby Yoda, you'll probably enjoy TM&G, but if you're a normal human being who expects every piece of media to explicitly support your pet issue, you'll be left wanting. Just imagine how powerful it would have been if Grogu's first words were, "Israel is committing genocide." What could have been.
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