Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith (film)

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith is a 1998 computer-animated epic space opera film directed by and  (in their feature directorial debuts) from a screenplay by Stephen R. Shaw. A co-production of the United States, Hong Kong and Spain, it was based on an by, and served as a standalone spin-off for the previous film, Star Wars: Jedi Knight and the Dark Forces. The film features the voices of, , , , , , Crispin Valenzuela, , and.

Mysteries of the Sith is set in six years after the events of  and and five years after Jedi Knight and the Dark Forces, follows both returning protagonist Kyle Katarn, a Jedi Master and mercenary working for the New Republic, and Mara Jade, a character featured in numerous Star Wars expanded universe works, who is being trained by Katarn in the Jedi arts. After Katarn goes missing while investigating an ancient Sith temple, Jade continues her studies on her own while undertaking missions from the New Republic, eventually leaving to find Katarn.

Produced by by for  and Lucasfilm Feature Animation in association with Media Asia Animation and TVE Animación, the film premiered in Hong Kong and Spain between February 10 and 14, 1998, and was released in the United States by  on February 17, to generally positive reviews. Critics praised its story and AI improvements, but felt there was room for additional improvements and criticized its inconsistent difficulty and certain movie elements. It was followed by Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast in 2002, the next main installment in the Jedi Knight series.

Plot
"It has been over five years since Jerec was defeated at the Valley of the Jedi. Kyle Katarn, continuing his pursuit of the light side of the Force, has joined the fragile New Republic in the struggle against the Empire.

To aid in their cause Kyle has traveled to a remote base in the Altyr System, accompanied by Mara Jade, a young smuggler who sought out Kyle in the hope that he might further her Jedi Training.

Mara, once a powerful agent of the Emperor, was swayed from the Dark Path by Luke Skywalker. She now seeks knowledge of the role she will play in the continuing struggle for the galaxy...."

- The film's opening lines

The New Republic base on Altyr V is under attack from two artificial asteroids controlled by the Imperial Remnant. Kyle Katarn steals a Lambda-class Shuttle from the Imperial attackers and flies to one of the asteroids. There, he breaks into the control room and redirects the asteroid's fire to the other. With the other asteroid destroyed, he circumvents the weapon's cooling system, escaping just before the asteroid explodes. While on the artificial asteroid, he finds information on the planet Dromund Kaas, which has some importance to the Empire. He travels to the planet to investigate, leaving Mara Jade to carry out several missions for the New Republic.

Mara's first mission is to negotiate with Ka'Pa the Hutt concerning the New Republic's supplies. In order for Ka'Pa to comply, Mara is forced to steal the GCT, a device belonging to Ka'Pa's rival, Takara. While looking for one of Takara's lieutenants, Abron Mar, in the Katraasii Spaceport, Mara is trapped by Mar. She is thrown into a prison cell but manages to break out of her cell and retreat into a series of pipes. The pipes lead to the lair of a rancor kept by the pirate group. Retrieving her lightsaber from behind the cage door, she slays the rancor and escapes with the device.

Afterward, Mara is assigned to a New Republic Corvette guarding a Jedi Holocron. The ship is attacked by the Lumini Pirates, a group led by a smuggler named Kaerobani. Mara repels the attackers, but the Holocron is stolen. Mara stows away in a cargo container and infiltrates the pirates' ship. The ship carries her to Rathalay, where she reclaims the Holocron and escapes.

With Kyle having been absent for quite some time, Mara travels to Dromund Kaas to find him. The planet's dark side aura leaves Mara's weapons useless, except for her lightsaber. Fighting her way through a large swamp, she reaches the Dark Force Temple. There, she encounters Kyle, totally maddened by the dark side. Mara and Kyle duel several times, Mara as the victor. Kyle retreats deeper into the catacombs, finally reaching the temple's throne room. Mara pursues Kyle, finally confronting him inside the throne room. Mara then voluntarily turns off her lightsaber and leaves herself open to Kyle's attack. Kyle is unable to kill Mara and rejects the dark side.

Realizing his mistakes, Kyle let his Force powers atrophy. Turning his back on the Jedi way, he returned to his mercenary life on behalf of the New Republic with his long time partner, Jan Ors.

Voice cast

 * as /Dark Mara
 * as
 * as Mon Mothma
 * as Kaerobani
 * as Abron Marr
 * as Ka'Pa The Hutt
 * Crispin Valenzuela as Intercom
 * as Droid Eye
 * as Computer