Star Wars (Episode VI): Return of the Jedi.
1983 20th Century Fox & Lucasfilm Ltd.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Sebastian Shaw, Ian McDiarmid, David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice only), Alec Guinness, Frank Oz, Denis Lawson, Kenneth Colley, Warwick Davis, Jeremy Bulloch
Director: Richard Marquand
Executive Producer: George Lucas
Available from Amazon.
Chronologically, this is the last of the Star Wars movies. George Lucas originally wanted Steven Spielberg to direct, but after Lucas left the Directors Guild of America, this was no longer possible. David Lynch was also approached, but he turned down the chance in favor of directing the film version of Dune, which I'm sure he came to regret. Richard Marquand was tapped as the director here, with a lot of help from Lucas himself. Before Return of the Jedi, Marquand had only directed three movies, including a made-for-TV Beatles biopic.
Return of the Jedi revolves around several plots, like the rescue of Han Solo (Ford) from his carbonite prison in the possession of Jabba the Hutt, as well as the Rebels' battle at the Great Pit of Carkoon, where Leia (Fisher) executes Jabba, and a blinded Han accidentally sends Boba Fett (Bulloch) into the pit instead. Afterwards, Luke Skywalker (Hamill) returns to Dagobah to find Yoda (Oz), presumably to finish his training, but he instead discovers that the Jedi Master is dying. Before he passes on, Yoda confirms that Darth Vader (Prowse & Jones) is indeed his father, and Luke must confront him again to become a true Jedi Knight. It's also revealed that Leia is his twin sister.
Also, the Galactic Empire is constructing a new and improved Death Star, and Han is elected to lead a strike force that will destroy the Death Star's shield generator on the forest moon of Endor, home of a primitive but intelligent race called Ewoks. Luke returns from Dagobah to join the mission, but fears after sensing Darth Vader's presence that he's endangering the mission. Luke tells Leia about what he knows about his relationships to her and Vader, and departs to confront him one more time, believing there is still some good left in him.
Emperor Palpatine (McDiarmid) is aboard the Death Star, and he tells Luke that his allies have walked into a trap. He's right, as the Rebels are captured by Imperial forces, but turn the tide after the Ewoks launch a surprise assault on the Imperials, and Lando (Williams) leads the Rebel forces in the Millenium Falcon. Luke and Darth Vader have their final battle, where Palpatine tries to egg him on into embracing the dark side. Luke stays in control and declares himself a Jedi while sparing Vader from death. Palpatine tries to kill Luke with force lightning, but Vader saves his son from death by killing the emperor. Despite becoming Anakin Skywalker again, he is mortally wounded, and he asks Luke to remove his mask so he can see his son through his own eyes before dying. The Rebels then embark on their final assault on the Death Star, destroying it. The galaxy celebrates the fall of the Empire, complete with a celebration on Endor, where Luke burns his father's armor on a funeral pyre. Spiritual figures of Obi-Wan (Guinness), Yoda, and Anakin (Shaw) are seen, looking over them with pride.
This is a hell of a note to go out on. Highly, highly, highly recommended! Best of all, there was no sighting of Jar Jar Binks anywhere.
Yes, I watched the original theatrical release instead, before George Lucas went back and "improved" things.
Showing posts with label star wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label star wars. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars (Episode V): The Empire Strikes Back.
1980 20th Century Fox & Lucasfilm Ltd.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice only), Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch, Alec Guinness, John Ratzenberger, Treat Williams
Director: Irvin Kershner
Executive Producer: George Lucas
Available at Amazon.
After the massive success of the first Star Wars, George Lucas opted not to direct this one, handing the reins to director Irvin Kershner, who taught Lucas at the USC School of Cinema-Television. Kershner had to be talked into the job, while Lucas served as executive producer, in addition to serving as the head of Industrial Light & Magic, which also benefited greatly from the extraordinary success of the first movie.
The Rebel Alliance, despite handing the Galactic Empire a sound defeat by destroying the Death Star, have been driven out of their original base into a new camp on the ice planet Hoth. Darth Vader (Prowse & Jones) is now obsessed with finding Luke Skywalker (Hamill), who has risen to the ranks of commanding officer, and the man in black has sent out many probe droids, one of which coincidentally lands on Hoth. During a routine patrol one cold day, Luke is attacked by a Wampa, and is later found by Han Solo (Ford), who had initially stated that he was leaving the rebel cause to pay off his debt to Jabba the Hutt, but he sticks around long enough to find Luke. Skywalker, before nearly succumbing to the elements, has a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness) instructing him to travel to the planet Dagobah to train under the Jedi Master Yoda (Oz).
The Imperials locate the rebel base on Hoth and quickly attack. The base is captured, but Han, Leia (Fisher), C-3PO (Edwards) and Chewbacca (Mayhew) escape via the Millenium Falcon, which is unable to switch to hyperspace. Darth Vader hires several bounty hunters, including Boba Fett (Bulloch), whose first appearance in Star Wars continuity took place in a certain holiday special that still irritates George Lucas. Luke leaves Hoth with R2-D2 (Baker) in tow, and meets Yoda on Dagobah, but leaves following intense training after a vision comes to him that Han and Leia are in danger.
Han and company arrive in Cloud City, which is run by Han's ol' pal Lando Calrissian (Williams). Lando has been pressured by Vader and Fett to capture them, using them as bait to lure Luke into the clutches of the dark side. Before Han is frozen in carbonite, he and Leia profess their love for each other, and Han's frozen body is given to Fett, who is intending to deliver him to Jabba. Lando quickly repents and helps Leia and the others escape, insisting that there's still a chance to save Han, who is taken by Fett before their departure. Luke arrives in Cloud City, and engages in a light saber duel with Darth Vader, who, as everyone knows, takes the opportunity to reveal that he is Luke's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate, but they can still rule the galaxy together. Luke refuses, and is rescued by the Millennium Falcon. The movie ends with Lando and Chewbacca setting out to locate and find Han.
Again, I chose to watch the original theatrical cut of The Empire Strikes Back. The DVD transfer isn't pristine, but that's all right. Highly recommended. Return of the Jedi and its review come later tonight.
1980 20th Century Fox & Lucasfilm Ltd.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice only), Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch, Alec Guinness, John Ratzenberger, Treat Williams
Director: Irvin Kershner
Executive Producer: George Lucas
Available at Amazon.
After the massive success of the first Star Wars, George Lucas opted not to direct this one, handing the reins to director Irvin Kershner, who taught Lucas at the USC School of Cinema-Television. Kershner had to be talked into the job, while Lucas served as executive producer, in addition to serving as the head of Industrial Light & Magic, which also benefited greatly from the extraordinary success of the first movie.
The Rebel Alliance, despite handing the Galactic Empire a sound defeat by destroying the Death Star, have been driven out of their original base into a new camp on the ice planet Hoth. Darth Vader (Prowse & Jones) is now obsessed with finding Luke Skywalker (Hamill), who has risen to the ranks of commanding officer, and the man in black has sent out many probe droids, one of which coincidentally lands on Hoth. During a routine patrol one cold day, Luke is attacked by a Wampa, and is later found by Han Solo (Ford), who had initially stated that he was leaving the rebel cause to pay off his debt to Jabba the Hutt, but he sticks around long enough to find Luke. Skywalker, before nearly succumbing to the elements, has a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness) instructing him to travel to the planet Dagobah to train under the Jedi Master Yoda (Oz).
The Imperials locate the rebel base on Hoth and quickly attack. The base is captured, but Han, Leia (Fisher), C-3PO (Edwards) and Chewbacca (Mayhew) escape via the Millenium Falcon, which is unable to switch to hyperspace. Darth Vader hires several bounty hunters, including Boba Fett (Bulloch), whose first appearance in Star Wars continuity took place in a certain holiday special that still irritates George Lucas. Luke leaves Hoth with R2-D2 (Baker) in tow, and meets Yoda on Dagobah, but leaves following intense training after a vision comes to him that Han and Leia are in danger.
Han and company arrive in Cloud City, which is run by Han's ol' pal Lando Calrissian (Williams). Lando has been pressured by Vader and Fett to capture them, using them as bait to lure Luke into the clutches of the dark side. Before Han is frozen in carbonite, he and Leia profess their love for each other, and Han's frozen body is given to Fett, who is intending to deliver him to Jabba. Lando quickly repents and helps Leia and the others escape, insisting that there's still a chance to save Han, who is taken by Fett before their departure. Luke arrives in Cloud City, and engages in a light saber duel with Darth Vader, who, as everyone knows, takes the opportunity to reveal that he is Luke's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate, but they can still rule the galaxy together. Luke refuses, and is rescued by the Millennium Falcon. The movie ends with Lando and Chewbacca setting out to locate and find Han.
Again, I chose to watch the original theatrical cut of The Empire Strikes Back. The DVD transfer isn't pristine, but that's all right. Highly recommended. Return of the Jedi and its review come later tonight.
Blue Harvest
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest.
Original airdate: September 23, 2007.
Vocal Talent: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry, Lori Alan, Johnny Brennan, Phil LaMarr, Patrick Warburton, Adam West
Guest Vocal Talent: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Rush Limbaugh, Leslie Nielsen (archive footage), Judd Nelson, Helen Reddy, Mick Hucknall
Director: Dominic Polcino
Buy Blue Harvest from Amazon.
Most Family Guy fanatics are well aware of the numerous references to Star Wars made in many episodes over the years, so it was probably inevitable they would pay tribute to the franchise at some point.
One night at the Griffins' home, the power goes out, and the family is left with no options for entertainment. Peter takes it upon himself to tell the story of Star Wars, starting with episode four, with many of the Family Guy characters reimagined as Star Wars characters.
As you may have guessed, most of the story follows the plot to Star Wars pretty faithfully, with the usual trademark pop culture references and adult humor thrown in. The DVD release also includes Seth MacFarlane sitting down and chatting with George Lucas, as well as a montage of Star Wars references and cutaway gags from older episodes of Family Guy. Also, as an easter egg, the crew from the show are seen reading through bits from this DVD's inevitable sequel, Something, Something, Something, Dark Side, which is tentatively scheduled to come out during Family Guy's eighth season, starting later this year.
Highly recommended.
Original airdate: September 23, 2007.
Vocal Talent: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry, Lori Alan, Johnny Brennan, Phil LaMarr, Patrick Warburton, Adam West
Guest Vocal Talent: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Rush Limbaugh, Leslie Nielsen (archive footage), Judd Nelson, Helen Reddy, Mick Hucknall
Director: Dominic Polcino
Buy Blue Harvest from Amazon.
Most Family Guy fanatics are well aware of the numerous references to Star Wars made in many episodes over the years, so it was probably inevitable they would pay tribute to the franchise at some point.
One night at the Griffins' home, the power goes out, and the family is left with no options for entertainment. Peter takes it upon himself to tell the story of Star Wars, starting with episode four, with many of the Family Guy characters reimagined as Star Wars characters.
As you may have guessed, most of the story follows the plot to Star Wars pretty faithfully, with the usual trademark pop culture references and adult humor thrown in. The DVD release also includes Seth MacFarlane sitting down and chatting with George Lucas, as well as a montage of Star Wars references and cutaway gags from older episodes of Family Guy. Also, as an easter egg, the crew from the show are seen reading through bits from this DVD's inevitable sequel, Something, Something, Something, Dark Side, which is tentatively scheduled to come out during Family Guy's eighth season, starting later this year.
Highly recommended.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Star Wars
Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope).
1977 20th Century Fox & Lucasfilm Ltd.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, David Prowse, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Denis Lawson, James Earl Jones (voice only)
Director: George Lucas
Available from Amazon.
Note: I will be watching the original 1977 theatrical release, which was included as a bonus disc when the original trilogy was re-released to DVD in 2006. This was how everyone saw Star Wars back in the day, presumably as nature intended, before George Lucas decided he wasn't quite done with the finished film. In this cut, James Earl Jones did not receive screen credit, and the DVD transfer was taken from the 1993 laserdisc remix, so it isn't perfect, but hey, it's servicable.
You know the story by now: there's a civil war going on in the galaxy, and spies for the Rebel Alliance have stolen plans for something called the "Death Star", a space station capable of destroying a planet. Princess Leia (Fisher) has the plans, and when her ship is captured, she downloads them along with a holographic recording onto a droid known as R2-D2, and sends it and a fellow droid called C-3PO (Daniels) on an escape pod that lands on Tatooine (and its two suns in the sunset). After being found by Jawa traders, the droids are sold to a farmer named Owen Lars and his nephew Luke Skywalker (Hamill). Luke accidentally activates the recording while cleaning R2-D2, and finds that she's requesting help from Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness).
Before long, Luke and the droids encounter Obi-Wan, and he asks Luke to accompany him back to Alderaan. Luke agrees only after he finds that his aunt and uncle were killed by Imperial stormtroopers. Before Luke decides, Obi-Wan tells him about the "force", and his past days as a Jedi Knight as well as his association with Luke's father, who he says he was betrayed and murdered by Darth Vader (HA HA!) Pretty soon, Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids are enroute to Alderaan, with the help of Han Solo (Ford) and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca (Mayhew), aboard the Millenium Falcon.
It doesn't take too long for Luke to find himself in the middle of conflict between the Rebels and the Galactic Empire, having to rescue a captive Leia, and helping the Rebels discover a weak spot within the Death Star to blow it to kingdom come, which would only temporarily derail Darth Vader's (Prowse & Jones) plans. There's two more sequels to go, folks.
Highly, highly, highly recommended, of course, and you wouldn't have it any other way. Episodes V and VI will be watched and reviewed Tuesday evening.
1977 20th Century Fox & Lucasfilm Ltd.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, David Prowse, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Denis Lawson, James Earl Jones (voice only)
Director: George Lucas
Available from Amazon.
Note: I will be watching the original 1977 theatrical release, which was included as a bonus disc when the original trilogy was re-released to DVD in 2006. This was how everyone saw Star Wars back in the day, presumably as nature intended, before George Lucas decided he wasn't quite done with the finished film. In this cut, James Earl Jones did not receive screen credit, and the DVD transfer was taken from the 1993 laserdisc remix, so it isn't perfect, but hey, it's servicable.
You know the story by now: there's a civil war going on in the galaxy, and spies for the Rebel Alliance have stolen plans for something called the "Death Star", a space station capable of destroying a planet. Princess Leia (Fisher) has the plans, and when her ship is captured, she downloads them along with a holographic recording onto a droid known as R2-D2, and sends it and a fellow droid called C-3PO (Daniels) on an escape pod that lands on Tatooine (and its two suns in the sunset). After being found by Jawa traders, the droids are sold to a farmer named Owen Lars and his nephew Luke Skywalker (Hamill). Luke accidentally activates the recording while cleaning R2-D2, and finds that she's requesting help from Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness).
Before long, Luke and the droids encounter Obi-Wan, and he asks Luke to accompany him back to Alderaan. Luke agrees only after he finds that his aunt and uncle were killed by Imperial stormtroopers. Before Luke decides, Obi-Wan tells him about the "force", and his past days as a Jedi Knight as well as his association with Luke's father, who he says he was betrayed and murdered by Darth Vader (HA HA!) Pretty soon, Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids are enroute to Alderaan, with the help of Han Solo (Ford) and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca (Mayhew), aboard the Millenium Falcon.
It doesn't take too long for Luke to find himself in the middle of conflict between the Rebels and the Galactic Empire, having to rescue a captive Leia, and helping the Rebels discover a weak spot within the Death Star to blow it to kingdom come, which would only temporarily derail Darth Vader's (Prowse & Jones) plans. There's two more sequels to go, folks.
Highly, highly, highly recommended, of course, and you wouldn't have it any other way. Episodes V and VI will be watched and reviewed Tuesday evening.
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