Star Wars Forgotten Easter Egg Celebrates '90s' Most Controversial Drug Movie
By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Unless you count the spices that Han Solo smuggled, or perhaps the death sticks that Obi-Wan refused, Star Wars is not a franchise that many fans associate with drugs. However, one of the first games of this millennium set in a galaxy far, far away included an obvious homage to the most controversial drug movie ever made. This was in the form of an Easter egg involving Ewan McGregor, the highly regarded actor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the much maligned Prequel Trilogy.
The game in question Obi-Wanthe first Star Wars title for the original Xbox. To be honest, it's really a game, indeed bad, like the younger, more dumb brother of the beloved third-person titles Jedi Outcast. There's almost nothing surprising about this game other than the weird video that plays the first time you beat it. You see, anyone who gets to the end of this stinker is treated to a montage The Phantom Menace action scenes narrated by McGregor's eccentrically acting villain, a Star Wars version of the opening monologue from Trainspotting!
The Star Wars Game That Time Forgot
These days, almost no one talks about it Star Wars: Obi-Wan game for the original Xbox, and there's a good reason for that: it sucks! It was a third-person action game where you took control of a respected Padawan as he slashed and slashed his way through the events of The Phantom Menace. It's far inferior to all the other Star Wars games of this era, which is why (unlike titles like Knights of the Old Republic, Republic Commandoand even Star Wars Episode I: The Race) was not moved or re-released.
The only thing really remarkable about it Obi-Wan that after hitting it for the first time, you are treated to a strange song from voice actor Lewis MacLeod. At his best (which is still even worse) Ewan McGregor's vision, he starts talking about all the things you can choose (like the Dark Side, the Council, the future, and the power) before asking with the words, “Why would I want to do something like that? I chose not to choose the Dark Side. I chose something else. And reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got the light?”
Worse Than Death Sticks
Now, if that Obi-Wan the monologue sounded like pure gibberish, never mind. That doesn't mean you have a heart attack or anything. What it does it means, however, that you probably never saw TrainspottingEwan McGregor's 1996 film. The film begins with a similar speech in which his character talks about choices (like work, family, and fixed-interest loan payments) before reminding us that you don't have to make such choices if you have enough drugs. “Why do I want to do something like that?
This cheeky monologue sets its tone Trainspottinga film about a young heroin addict trying to clean himself up. Unfortunately, he wanders from one incident to the next, including everything from an overdose and an HIV scare to a long-term sexual relationship with a teenage girl. Because of its focus on all these heroin-related exploits, the movie gained a controversial reputation, and former one-time president Bob Dole said the film was morally corrupt and glorified drug use. Despite this, Trainspotting he became the director of Danny Boyle's best film (especially after being nominated for an Academy Award). It's also the breakout film for lead actor Ewan McGregor, who is set to star as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.
From Heroin to Hero
Even though the president-elect had been calling Trainspotting morally corrupt ten years ago, there was no national controversy when the Obi-Wan game honored the film. This was because the first debate was completely over. Instead of glorifying drugs, the film shows the horrors (and, admittedly, the humor) of heroin addiction. Between that and its Academy Award nomination, it's hard to think of this film as truly violent, just as it's hard to think of enough people acting in the film. Obi-Wan game forever to take care of about respect.
However, this video game Easter Egg is a perfectly preserved moment from a completely different era. It was a time when a regular Star Wars game could pay homage to one of the most controversial films of the '90s with an ironic quote that invited us to compare lightsabers to heroin. To this day, this ruffles the feathers of a few fans, but me? I chose not to be offended. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you have clicks?
