Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (film)

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a 2003 computer-animated science fiction film co-written and directed by, produced by and Lucasfilm Feature Animation in association with Smith's production company , Media Asia Animation and. Based on the by, the film is a sequel to 2002's Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and the fourth and final installment in the Star Wars: Jedi Knight series. Set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe two years after Jedi Outcast, the story follows Jaden Korr, a new student at 's Jedi Academy under the tutelage of the returning protagonist,. Jaden's been tasked with investigating a Dark Jedi cult called the Disciples of Ragnos, while slowly learning the ways of the Force and committing themselves to either the light side or the dark side.

Jedi Academy was released theatrically by on September 16, 2003. Upon release, the film received largely positive reviews from critics. It was praised for the freedom it offered to characters in terms of customization and sequences, allowing them to wield a lightsaber from the very beginning and to select the order in which they wish to complete missions, unlike its predecessors. One of the most praised elements was the lightsaber combat, which is still regarded by many as the best in any Star Wars film to date. However, the story and some technical issues received criticism.

Plot
Jedi Academy is set in 14 ABY, a decade after and two years after Jedi Outcast. Jaden Korr, a talented Jedi Padawan who, after building their own lightsaber, travels to the Jedi Academy on Yavin IV to learn the ways of the Force. En route to the Academy, Jaden befriends fellow student Rosh Penin, but the students' shuttle is suddenly shot down by an unknown enemy. Jaden and Rosh make their way to the Academy, where the former witnesses a woman using a staff to drain energy from the Temple; Jaden subsequently gets knocked out. Jaden is woken by Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn, who welcome them to the Academy. Jaden and Rosh are assigned to study under Kyle, but during their first training session, Rosh's over-competitiveness endangers Jaden. After the Jedi students complete their initial training, they are assigned various peace-keeping missions across the galaxy. During this time, Rosh becomes jealous of Jaden and begins to believe Kyle is trying to hold him back.

After several successful missions, Luke calls the students back to the Academy to tell them he has identified the Dark Jedi who attacked the Temple as members of a Sith cult called the Disciples of Ragnos. A member of the cult, the Twi'lek Alora, infiltrated the Academy during the attack and stole Luke's journal, containing the locations of numerous places strong with the Force. Believing the cult is looking to drain their Force energy, Luke sends the students to investigate each location. Jaden travels to Hoth, where they find Imperial presence at the Rebel Alliance's abandoned Echo Base and encounter Alora, who flees after a brief duel. Returning to the Academy, Jaden reports their findings, but is saddened to learn Rosh never returned from his mission to Byss.

After Jaden completes more missions and has several run-ins with the Disciples, they and Kyle travel to Darth Vader's abandoned fortress on Vjun—one of the few places strong with the Force supposedly unvisited by the Disciples—and find it crawling with stormtroopers and Dark Jedi. The pair fight them, but are eventually separated. Jaden encounters Rosh, who has fallen to the dark side and joined the Disciples to avoid being killed after they had captured him. Jaden defeats Rosh as Kyle arrives, but both are incapacitated by Tavion Axmis, the Disciples' leader and Rosh's new master. Tavion uses the Scepter of Ragnos, which can absorb and release Force energy, to trap Jaden and Kyle under debris, but the pair manage to escape, though the former's lightsaber is destroyed in the process. At the Academy, Jaden and Kyle inform Luke of their findings, and the former is honored for their actions by being promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight.

After building a new lightsaber, Jaden begins dismantling the Disciples' operations as they complete more missions, while Luke discovers that Tavion plans to use the stolen Force energy to resurrect the ancient Sith Lord Marka Ragnos, who is buried on Korriban. While the Jedi prepare to go there, Kyle convinces Jaden to accompany him to a mining facility on Taspir III, from where Rosh has sent a distress signal. The pair split up and Jaden eventually finds Rosh, who claims he wants to redeem himself, but Jaden's feelings of betrayal quickly manifest into anger. Alora tries to goad them into killing Rosh and joining the Disciples, while Kyle senses Jaden's anger and tries to telepathically dissuade them. Jaden forgives Rosh, but an enraged Alora attacks them and cuts off the latter's arm.

Jaden fights their way to Ragnos' tomb, where they confront Tavion and defeat her. However, they spare Tavion, who completes the resurrection process, causing Ragnos' spirit to possess her. Jaden destroys the Scepter and defeats Ragnos, who leaves Tavion's lifeless body and returns to his tomb. At the Academy, Jaden reunites with Rosh, who has been outfitted with a prosthetic arm, and is honored by Luke, Kyle and the other Jedi.

Voice cast

 * as Jaden Korr
 * as Rosh Penin
 * as
 * as
 * as Tavion Axmis
 * as Alora
 * as
 * as
 * as Dasariah and Vil Kothos
 * as Lannik Racto
 * as Rax Joris
 * as Marka Ragnos (Spirit)

Sound Effects
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (film)/Sound Effects