Reign of the Fallen

Reign of the Fallen is one of the latest addition to a collection of fan films.

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, are perfecting their skills in hopes that their master would choose one of them to lead their village after he had passed on. Erik feels confident that he will be chosen, acting in an arrogant manner.

The village is completely devoided of technology and the inhabitants chose to live a simple life. That night, a Sith Master sends two scouts to take out the Jedi. Erik was preparing to see his master about his choice, but before he leaves, he quickly takes a look inside a box and looked at its secret: a red Sith crystal he found.

Jaren wakes from a nightmare and tells it to Master Bren: he saw the village in flames, and in the center was a tree, dark of root and bark. He believes there might be weapon outside of village that might stop the Sith. Oram agrees and tells Jaren to go, and not worry about Erik helping out, but he reminds Jaren of the first lesson he taught him: that destiny cannot change who he is. He then slams his dagger on the table and reveals the leadership medallion. Erik, who has been standing outside the whole time, hears this and is devastated. Jaren leave Oram's room, but finds a guard murdered and is immediately attacked by one of the Sith scouts. The other is in Erik's home just as Erik returns. This time it is Erik who surprises the scout, but the scout reminds Erik of the Sith crystal, and senses the rage in the young Jedi. Both Jedi defeat their foes with ease. Erik activates the planetary shield while Jaren decides he must find this weapon.

The next morning, Erik taunts that Jaren was only running, but Jaren responds that Erik should stop thinking of himself as superior to him, and then he would understand why he must do this. Jaren tells Alana, his wife, of the journey he is about to take. Alana only prays that Jaren returned to her safely. Leaving her with the medallion, Jaren embraces her one last time and sets off, unaware of the Sith Master sending another scout to follow him.

Erik questions Oram's choice of leadership. Oram responds that as a true Jedi, Erik shouldn't care. Erik gives i nto his rage and makes a choice. Replacing his green lightsaber crystal with the Sith crystal, Erik sets out and destroys his old crystal along with the main power source to the shield.

Jaren, at last, finds the glade in his dream, and as he sleeps, the Sith scout sends a snake. Jaren wakes up and kills the snake. The scout then tries to attack Jaren but a Force Crush kills him.

Jaren's savior turned out to be a Sith spirit named Eidolon, who was left for dead by his Sith brethern, but had discovered the secret to immoratlity. He tells Jaren a legend, that whenever the Jedi Order seemed to fall, a powerful Jedi leader would rise up and to stop the Sith, and they all came from Prias. When Jaren mentioned the weapon he visioned, Eidolon replied that weapon was Jaren; he is the descendant. He also tells how Erik found a smashed Sith lightsaber, from which he took the crystal. He tells Jaren of a ship to escape the planet. Jaren wants to save his people, but Eidolon responds it is too late as the Sith were already penetrating the defenses. The descruction of the city, he says, is not the extermination, but the prevention of the order that isn't ready, an order that Jaren will see through, that will walk and breathe "of a Skywalker." Eidolon then duplicates himself and creates four copies of himself and attacked Jaren. Jaren made the spirit disappear, and then he falls into a coma.

Outside the city, Alana gazes at the medallion and sings a beautiful melody that seems to reach Jaren's ears. He wakes up and runs for the starfighter. Master Omar sees the Sith fighters coming in and goes to inspect the shield. Before he can get to the power source, he is forced to fight several Sith Jedi. Though he succeeded in killing the initial party he met with great skill, a whole army of the black-cloaked Sith gather in front of him. Raising his lightsaber in a salute, and knowing he will not escape death, Omar plunges into the fight.

Jaren reaches the city, but is too late: the city is destroyed and in flames. He sees a body and it turns out to be Alana; she has been murdered. Covering her body with his cloak, Jaren grieves, and a Jedi appears behind him. The Jedi removes his hood, and standing in front of Jaren is Erik. Erik wears the leadership medallion mockingly, and upon activating his red saber, challenges Jaren. A duel ensues, and Erik repeatedly used his lightsaber to disarm and hit Jaren. Finally, disarmed and beaten, Jaren asks Erik why he had done this. Erik responds he could not live on this planet knowing their people chose Jaren. As Erik was about to deliver the final blow, Jaren reaches out with the Force and stops Erik's blade inches from his hand. Calling his saber, Jaren made it pass through Erik's body before it comes to his hand, and then he makes one last strike at Erik, who falls down dead. Jaren takes the medallion off his body.

The next morning, near the ruins of the city, Jaren buries Alana and places the medallion on her grave. He then leaves and goes 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'.

Cast

 * Jaren... David McLeavy
 * Erik... Jason Updike
 * Eidolon... Carlos Acuna
 * Oram Bren... Kevin Walsh
 * Alana... Maureen Isern