ISMA RANTS: Where's the Myth in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'?
The Mandalorian and Grogu — affectionately nicknamed "Mango & Gugu" or "The Baby Yoda Movie" in my household — is now in theaters. It is the first Star Wars film to hit the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. It stars Pedro Pascal, a green animatronic, and a cameo from a director who once said blockbuster films aren't cinema. The irony of Martin Scorsese delivering the best performance in a Disney Star Wars movie is the most mythically resonant thing in the entire film. More on that later. I'm writing this review through the Lucas Star Wars Mythic Continuity lens — my interpretive framework that asks not just "was it entertaining?" but "does it function as myth?" Because that's what George Lucas said Star Wars is. Not science fiction. Not fantasy. Not a sandbox. Myth. Conscious, intentional, Campbellian myth. Disney Star Wars is not the same as Lucas Star Wars. They have different visions, different compasses, and s...
