Stormtroopers have long been viewed as the generic baddies of the "Star Wars" universe, and nothing more. Luckily (for the Empire), "Jakku: First Wave," a new fan film written and directed by Benjamin Eck, actively seeks to challenge that view.

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Set at the beginning of the Battle of Jakku -- a conflict that marked the final defeat of the Galactic Empire -- the film opens by informing the audience that none of Stormtroopers involved in the first wave of combat survived.

We are then introduced to three troopers with helmets in their hands. As they tensely await the call to combat, they discuss their reasons for putting on the Imperial uniform in their last moments before the battle.

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According to Eck's website, his film was "inspired by real-life stories from US soldiers," which makes for some uneasy parallels between The "Star Wars" universe and recent US combat deployments. However, that touch gives the short a greater depth and a much more powerful narrative resonance.

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(Via Nerdist)