Rogue One, a Star Wars Story

a Star Wars excellent story!

When people talk about movies, they seem to have lots of different reasons to define what makes a film either entertaining & well crafted or boring and terribly executed. Star Wars has been around since 1977, that is 39 years! and no other franchise has lasted this long, hence the necessity to treat Star Wars movies as a unique event in the filming arts. 

Last night we were the lucky bastards, as a friend called us when he found out we got tickets for an advanced screening of Rogue One: a Star Wars Story, so, I checked my lightsaber collection for battery replacement and found myself deciding which lightsabers were worthy enough as to accompany my wife & I to an experience we've been sharing since we were dating in the early 2000's. The decision was evident: Darth Vader's lightsaber & Luke (or Anakin's, or Rey's) Skywalker's blue Kyber crystal lightsaber. As usual there was a fairly decent line of fans waiting anxiously for the movie. Complete families in costumes, many people with Star Wars apparel (I was wearing my 2013 "What Would Vader Do?" T-Shirt) and of course, lightsabers. A lot of them. 

The Empire.

The rebels.

Once the Lucasfilm logo showed up the theater was silent and that is where director Gareth Edwards told us from the very beginning this wasn't Episode VIII or Episode III and half, no title crawl, just instant giant space ships featuring a flashback story on Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and then the Rogue One title with music written by Michael Giacchino but somehow based upon John Williams' legendary work. The story by John Knoll & Gary Whitta, plotwise, is nothing longtime fans wouldn't expect, I guess fans spent years of their lives imagining how those Death Star plans got in the hands of the rebellion, namely Princess Leia Organa. 

Rogue One is supposed to play as a "side story", a "companion book" to a larger story and yet, what media and the trailers have shown us is, way too little to decide whether this film is a prequel to Episode IV: A New Hope or an actual spin-off film cashing out on the massive popularity George Lucas creation has. The burden of making a movie that wouldn't feel like a parody of itself was clearly an obstacle Edwards & Co. knew how to deal with to the very last drop. Surprisingly enough, Darth Vader, whose voice is once again played by the great James Earl Jones, is not the only "classic character" you'll see playing an important role during the development of the film. In addition, a big yet clever selection of nods to other Star Wars films are everywhere! don't blink because you'll miss a few! Obviously, watching this film solves the above mentioned "side story" or "sequel" conundrum, specially when it reaches its climax. 

Fuck everybody! Long live the Empire!

Black troopers.

The new characters are all victims of the brutal clone wars that destroyed the Jedi knights & galactic democracy. However, not much time is spent explaining why they are here and why they do what they do which is a valiant move considering the episodic Star Wars films feature quite a selection of characters that have a lot to do with plots and subplots, hence the need for explaining and/or developing a bit further than "I'm a good guy/bad guy" BUT, we all know what these characters did even without watching the movie. They're not going to be a part of future sequels, what matters most in this film is the mission, and the mission is clear: Obtain the Death Star's plan from the Empire's archive and send them to the Rebel Alliance in order to give peace a chance.

So, the "new story" has it, the Rebel Alliance is against an extremist group of rebels led by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), a man who fought the empire long enough as to being turned into a half-machine half-man. it just so happens this man raised Jyn Erso while her father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen)  a genius engineer who was taken by the empire and forced to aid them in the development of their most brutal state of the art technology to date: the Death Star. So, Gerrera is not willing to work with the Alliance because he prefers a more direct approach. Unfortunately for the Alliance, Galen Erso chose a rogue pilot (Bhody Rook, played by Riz Ahmed) to carry an important message to Gerrera himself, a man Galen trusted him with her daughter. So there you have it! They need Jyn Erso in order to interact with Gerrera and gain the secret message that will allow them to find out more about this new imperial weapon. While all of this happens, Jyn meets other characters that are willing to help her find her father. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) a rebel alliance agent, Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) a blind martial artists fond of the force (he throws the best joke of the entire movie, and perhaps one of the best Star Wars jokes of all time), Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang) a brave laser machine gun man & K2SO (Alan Tudyk) an re programed imperial droid. 

So, who's in?

I'm contacting my old friend.

In a nutshell, they obtain the message Galen Erso sent Gerrera realizing their weapon is far too powerful to actually do something about it. Leading the resistance, another returning character, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) already seen in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith & Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, calls for a decision among all the alliance members and they all decide to cease the fighting in order to avoid a war that will put an end to rebel alliance. 

Now, for those thinking  the bad guy in the film is Darth Vader, and Vader only, they're extra wrong. Orson Krennic (Ben Mendehlson) is the director of operations from project Death Star, and he is actually the number one guy behind Galen Erso being forced to work for the Empire. Of course, a large collection of classic stormtroopers along with new troopers and lots of X-Wings, Tie Fighters, Imperial Destroyers & AT-AT Walkers are also there to add fun to a movie that feels like a warzone where there are no Jedi knights to bring balance to the force. 

Yes Director?

You don't know the power of...

Now for those fans craving for the dark lord of the Sith, Rogue One offers us a couple of interventions that are extra satisfying. The first even offers a glimpse on how... Well, you just watch it and see for yourself. The Second intervention is perhaps the most "Classic Star Wars" moment in the entire film. I mean, it's so fucking massive that you're like "Holy shit! Darth Vader! Go! Go! Go! " and it's this precise scene the one that reveals how this film is connected to Episode IV, so thank the producers of the trailers for not revealing any of the gorgeous surprises this film is packed with. Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) also appears briefly in the movie, and whether you like it or not he's the connection with the prequel trilogy. Darth Sidious, AKA The Emperor, the ultimate son of a bitch is only mentioned a few times. Another very important returning character has a lot to do with the Death Star and Episode IV but I won't reveal that here. 

So, yay or nay? Rogue One is clearly an excellent movie, the start of something bigger, the "Star Wars Anthology Films" premise has a long way to go yet but, if they follow the fine example set here, I'm sure all those spin-offs they're planning will not only satisfy fans but also film connoisseurs. With a story that is all too familiar, a selection of nods to the original trilogy and a few fantastic surprises, this clearly is the film of the year 2016. And speaking of spin-offs, Rogue One actually works, so we will finally forget about those two Ewok films and the Star Wars Holiday Special (the actual first, spin-off in the SW universe)

The Rogue One crew.

In disguise.

I have to admit I had my doubts whether the film would live up to the expectations and fortunately, after we left the theater those doubts were completely wiped out. Despite the fact, the story is about "how some rebels got the Death Star plans to reach the alliance hands" all that happens in between makes it a very good action movie, it feels like you're in the middle of a war where you know many good guys will die to deliver such important information. I mean, from Episode IV we all know that those plans were delivered but not how, so it's a pretty interesting approach that fortunately, for the viewer, was achieved to the summa cum laude degree. The only thing I didn't quite like was Michael Giacchino's score which was below my expectations. Whenever there was a SW moment, his music was about to sound like something classic and then nothing happened, not even the SW theme!!! that is something I cannot forgive. Music plays a major role in the SW movies.

Overall, a fantastic addition to the SW universe and the best last 10 minutes celluloid can deliver! I guarantee that! Also, everything is settled in a single movie! no need for sequels or prequels or anything like that, just sit back, munch your popcorn while sipping your favorite drink and wait for the multiple nerdgasms the last 10 minutes will deliver, oh by the way, did I tell you about the last 10 minutes?

Here's the movie trailer:

Star Wars, Episode III Revenge of the Sith

Dark side prevails.

So (finally) the time to close the Star Wars saga has come. All the unanswered questions from the previous episodes will at last let us understand the complex Anakin Skywalker's journey from the light to the dark, the dark side of the force. After all, has Lucas has stated many times, Star Wars is the tragedy of Darth Vader, he is the lead character, unlike many who could have been somehow mislead by the original trilogy focusing more on Luke Skywalker's story. Episode III, Revenge of the Sith is definitely what fans were looking for: the doomed journey into the dark side that would lead emperor Palpatine AKA Darth Sidious to control the universe through the power of his new  apprentice Darth Vader...

The film certainly has its clunky moments, but so did all the other "Star Wars" films. Just go back and listen to Mark Hamill whine to his uncle in A New Hope.

What gave me chills as I watched Revenge of the Sith were the numerous mythological and literary references. These were always highlights of the Star Wars films. It's what raised them above simple space adventures. There are references to Paradise Lost (Count Dooku to Anakin: "Twiced the Pride, double the fall), Prometheus, Frankenstein (Vader's birth) etc.

General Grievous.

Darth Sidious!

Anyone that enjoyed their first viewing of this film should see it again. There are so many details that are not explicitly stated but are meaningful none the less. These include plot details and various modes of symbolism employed by Lucas. Notice how, in their scenes together, Obi Wan is always more in the light and Anakin is more in the shadows. Additionally, there are hints at things that we are never told, but become more obvious with a repeated viewing. One such detail is that Anakin suspects Padame of having an affair with Obi Wan. He says accusingly to Padame, "Obi Wan was here," when they are in her apartment. Then, in one of his vision's of Padame's birth, Anakin sees Obi Wan helping her with the delivery, suggesting that he is perhaps the father of Padme's child. Finally, on Mustafar, when Anakin sees Obi Wan come off of Padme's ship, he feels betrayed, not just because he thinks she's siding with Obi Wan, but also because he feels there might be something between the two of them.

As for the criticism that Anakin's conversion to the Dark Side is unbelievable, I think that it is baseless. Lucas did a superb job of showing Anakin as someone who is too prideful and impatient. He will save Padame at any cost. Additionally, in the scene between Palpadine and Windu, the line between right and wrong has been blurred. By killing Palpadine, Windu would be violating the Jedi code. Palpadine also plays on Anakin's confusion by suggesting the Jedi are attempting to rule the Republic, something Windu already mentioned when he stated that the Jedi would have to take over temporary control of the Senate after Palpadine's arrest. Anakin draws his light saber, not to kill Windu, but to prevent him from committing a crime. He wants to stop Windu's light saber from killing Palpadine--the man who represents his only chance of saving Padame, but in his haste he accidentally cuts off Windu's hand. Once Anakin does this, he is lost. His life as a Jedi, the only life he's ever known, the only thing he's ever aspired to be, has been destroyed. When someone as prideful and immature as Anakin makes such a HUGE mistake it is often almost impossible for them to come to terms with what they have done. The result of this denial is often a defiant repetition of the bad act, a way of insisting to themselves and the world that they have done nothing wrong. These bad acts gain a momentum that eventually complete distorts their sense of morality.

"You're under arrest motherfucker"

Anakin's death scene.

We must also remember that Sidious, or his Sith master, has used the Force to impregnate Anakin's mother with the expectation of him one day becoming the galaxy's most powerful sith lord. Palpadine/Sidious has spent all of Anakin's life grooming him for the moment he changes his allegiance. Sidious has befriended Anakin, given him a taste of power and planted seeds of doubt regarding the Jedi's true intentions. He has been the closest thing to a father Anakin has ever had. With all this in mind, Anakin's conversion seems justified.

As for the acting and dialogue that are being relentlessly bashed, I submit that it's not as bad as some would suggest. Christensen's angry, confused brooding is mostly dead on while portraying a major shift in his character. MacGregor is at his best as Obi Wan. Even Portman's diminished role in this film is thoughtfully portrayed. Above all, the actors and Lucas seem to be having much more fun with this film. They have loosened up and it shows. There are humorous moments that cut through the political debate and relentless action. There are even a few quiet moments that subtly allude to strong emotions that Lucas fails to portray through his dialogue, such as the scene where Anakin is looking out of window of the Jedi council, across the city to where Padame is looking back across the city at him. This important scene illuminates Anakin's frame of mind before he hurries to the Senator's chamber to stop Windu from killing him.

the Dark side owns the movie, literally.

Darth Vader's early trainings.

Visually, this film is absolutely stunning, so much so that I had to see it a second time just to take in the tremendous amount of detail. The action, the score and the sound effects all work to enhance the main plot and theme of the film, rather than overwhelming them. Revenge of the Sith attempts so much more than most "popcorn" movies in terms of pure entertainment, and thematically, it trumps many of the more "serious" theatric releases. All of this combines to make Revenge of the Sith far and away the best film of 2005, and maybe of the last five years. It is certainly a galaxy far, far above Million Dollar Baby, though that is saying very little. Yes peeps, this is the movie we have all been waiting for.

Revenge of the Sith Secrets(finally?) revealed. 

Now let's rejoice with a collection of the most interesting behind the scenes/production secrets you probably would not want to miss from Episode III and if you did miss them on screen now it's the time to replay your Blu-Ray/DVD disc to find these weird moments. Remote control skills required.

Star Destroyer Kitchen set.

In the opening sequence when the second Separatist ship is destroyed, a piece of debris flies into the Clone Star destroyer that shot it. That piece of debris is a Kitchen Sink. It was it put in there by ILM as a joke from someone saying, "We're throwing everything in the sequence but the kitchen sink.

4 Hours of Episode III.

The original cut of the film ran nearly four hours. The opening battle/Palpatine rescue alone ran over an hour!

Wookie suit with Bat suit technology.

The Wookiee costumes from this film sport a new arterial system that pump ice cold water to help cool down the actor wearing the suit.   

Friend or...

...Foe?

Man of a thousand voices.

Apart from providing the voice of R2D2 and the heavy breathing of Darth Vader, which he has done since Episode IV, Ben Burtt provided the voices for every Battle Droid, Super Battle Droid and Buzz Droid in Revenge of the Sith. 

Millenium Falcon!

After the opening battle, as the transport lands at the senate building in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen the Millennium Falcon (or a ship of similar model, Corellian Engineering Corporation YT series YT-1300 Transport) can be seen landing. In the Expanded Universe Star Wars story outside the movies, the YT-1300 has been confirmed as the Millenium Falcon, then named Stellar Envoy, long before Han Solo owned it.

Qui-Gon Jinn Cameo.

Liam Neeson has said that he recorded a cameo as Qui-Gonn Jinn, which was to feature in a scene with Yoda, further explaining the concept of a Jedi communicating from beyond the grave. In the script, the dialog (in which Qui-Gonn is heard, not seen) appeared in the scene in which Yoda is meditating on the secret asteroid base, just before Bail Organa informs him of Obi-Wan's return with Padme. The scene does not appear in the deleted scenes section of the DVD, however an unfinished version was included in the Blu Ray Release Box Set.  

Forbidden love leads inevitably to...

...a Brutal intergalactic tragedy.

Yoda likes Hip-hop.

EASTER EGG: On the Options menu, press "11 Enter 3 Enter 8 Enter" (1138). Yoda will dance to hip-hop music. 

No Academy Awards for you Episode III.

This is the only Star Wars movie that did not receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. The film's only nomination was for its make-up, which it lost to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)  

Obi Wan's gift to Luke.

After their climactic duel, Obi-Wan can be seen picking up Anakin's lightsaber, which he later gives to Anakin's son Luke in Episode IV. 

Han Solo? nope!

Originally, a young Han Solo was going to make an appearance in the film, living among the Wookies on Kashyyyk.  

George Lucas trolled Hayden Christensen.

George Lucas deliberately made the Darth Vader suit top-heavy (for instance adding weight on the helmet) to make Hayden Christensen not appear "too accustomed" to it in the movie. 

Long time friendship?

Survivors of a massacre.

Commissioner Gordon almost made it.

 

Gary Oldman had agreed to be the voice of General Grievous, but pulled out of the film because it was being made using actors who are not part of the Screen Actor's Guild, of which Oldman is a member. The role was read by Duncan Young on set, and finally voiced by Matthew Wood, who, being a Lucasfilm employee, submitted his reading under the name of Alan Smithee.  

Ian McDiarmid the emperor of the saga.

During the production of this film, Lucas also filmed a scene for Episode V. Ian McDiarmid, who first played Emperor Palpatine in Episode VI, was filmed in prosthetic make-up for use in the character's first appearance as a hologram in Empire, replacing the unknown woman and the voice of Clive Revill. 

William Shakespeare's Presence. 

Ian McDiarmid has likened Palpatine in this film to Iago in William Shakespeare's play Othello, in the way he manipulates other characters to turn against each other, to their own destruction. McDiarmid has in fact played Iago on stage, as has Ewan McGregor. James Earl Jones has played Othello himself. 

Alien Subtitles.

One of only two Star Wars films without English subtitles to translate alien languages, the other being Episode V. 

Anakin, the silent watcher.

Anakin was originally supposed to just watch the entire fight between Palpatine and the other Jedi Masters, with Palpatine even having stolen Anakin's lightsaber to do so. The entire fight would have had Anakin debating on which side he was going to choose. They even filmed it, but they figured that Anakin simply watching the fight meant that he had already made his choice, so it was refilmed to the current one. Further, the final fight between Windu and Palpatine was supposed to be an all-over-the-place masterpiece, but due to Lucas wanting Ian McDiarmid to do as many of his own stunts as possible, it was reduced to, largely, Windu forcing Palpatine down the hallway and then a bit of a scrap in the office before Anakin showed up and both started talking to him.  

Nothing left in the inside.

No love, only pain & hatred.

Grand Moff Tarkin.

George Lucas originally intended have Peter Cushing reprise his role as Tarkin, years after his death, through the use of stock footage and digital technology. However, the idea was scrapped when the footage of Cushing was deemed unusable. 

Darth Vader's shiny mask.

The Darth Vader mask for this film was rebuilt from scratch, using a new digital design to computer-lathe the base master, from which molds were made to cast the on-screen costume masks. The resulting masks are, for the first time in Star Wars history, truly symmetrical.  

Wookie Battle. 

The battle with Wookiees dates back to the earliest screenplays of Episode IV. Originally, the Wookiees were supposed to help the Rebels conquer an Imperial bunker. This idea was the basis for the Battle of Endor in Episode VI, but instead of using Wookiees, George Lucas decided to use a smaller furry race and call them Ewoks. 

Two month Jedi Training.

Actors Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen trained for two months in fencing and fitness in preparation for their fight sequences.  

Hey Grievous, remember your old pal Mace Windu?

General Grievous's breathing problems in this film, as well as his exposed gut-sack (later exploited by Obi Wan) are caused by his brief encounter with Mace Windu in Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003). Mace Windu "force-gripped" Grievous as the General was making off with Palpatine, crushing the cyborg's chest panel. 

Grievous Midiclorians, what!?

Many viewers were surprised the Grievous could be trained in Jedi arts, much less wield a lightsaber. The answer is that when Grievous was constructed, he was given the blood of a Jedi Master, who had a high midi-chlorian count. With this connection to the Force, Grievous had no difficulty learning Jedi ways. 

Anakin suffered borderline personality disorder.

In 2007, Dr. Eric Bui, a psychiatrist in Toulouse, France, co-wrote a study that diagnosed Anakin Skywalker as having borderline personality disorder. When the authors reported their findings at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association they stated that Skywalker fit the diagnosis criteria: difficulty controlling anger, stress-related breaks with reality, impulsivity, obsession with abandonment and a "pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of ideation and devaluation".  

a new hope is born.

Future days...

Anakin, bastard son of Darth Plagueis.

The first draft of the script also explained the mystery surrounding Anakin's conception. In the confrontation scene between Anakin and Palpatine (where Palpatine confesses to Anakin he is Darth Sidious), he would also explain that his master, Darth Plagueis, used the power of the Force to will the midichlorians to start the cell divisions that created Anakin. This explanation was later deemed unnecessary by George Lucas and subsequently cut. 

"You wil go to the Dagobah system"

A short clip of Yoda arriving with his ship on the planet Dagobah for his self-chosen exile was filmed, but not included in the final scene. According to producer Rick McCallum, he liked the shot very much, and he practically begged George Lucas to include it. However, Lucas preferred to keep the focus of the epilogue on the members of the Skywalker family (in order: Padme, Anakin, Leia and Luke). Yoda's deleted scene is included as a bonus on the DVD release of the movie.  

Palpatine, a real politician.

Chancellor Palpatine's strategy for maintaining power is known to political scientists, and is called Perpetual War. He comes to power through conflict with the Trade Federation, gains greater privileges through the Clone War, and solidifies his position through war on the Jedi. 

 Episode III video section.

The first video is the legendary teaser trailer that kept fans hoping for the better:

The second video is a compilation with all the TV spots made for the film:

The third video is the official trailer:

The fourth video is a compilation of the deleted scenes of the film:

Wow! it's been quite a trip finding all this information not only for Episode III but for all of the previous Star Wars reviews I have made. As a fan I can say I'm satisfied now. I know there are plenty of sites with more quality info, but hey! this is a regular people movie blog! We're not pretentious, we just like films as much as you do. Until then, may the force be with you!

Star Wars, Episode VI Return of the Jedi

The battle to end all the battles.

I thought that Return of  the Jedi was clearly the best out of the three Star Wars movies from the original trilogy. I find it surprising that this film is considered the weakest installment in the Trilogy by many people. To me it seemed like this movie was the best because it had the most profound plot, the most suspense, surprises, most emotional,(especially the ending) and definitely the most episodic movie. I personally like the Empire Strikes Back a lot also but I think it is slightly less good than than ROTJ since it was slower-moving, was not as episodic, and I just did not feel as much suspense or emotion as I did with the third movie. Besides, this is the film that unveils the jedi mystery.

It also seems like to me that after reading these surprising reviews that the reasons people cited for ROTJ being an inferior film to the other two are just plain ludicrous and are insignificant reasons compared to the sheer excellence of the film as a whole. I have heard many strange reasons such as: a) Because Yoda died b) Because Bobba Fett died c) Because small Ewoks defeated a band of stormtroopers d) Because Darth Vader was revealed

Together again.

I would like to debunk each of these reasons because I believe that they miss the point completely. First off, WHO CARES if Bobba Fett died??? If George Lucas wanted him to die then he wanted him to die. Don't get me wrong I am fan of Bobba Fett but he made a few cameo appearances and it was not Lucas' intention to make him a central character in the films that Star Wars fans made him out to be. His name was not even mentioned anywhere in the movie... You had to go to the credits to find out Bobba Fett's name!!! Judging ROTJ because a minor character died is a bit much I think... Secondly, many fans did not like Yoda dying. Sure, it was a momentous period in the movie. I was not happy to see him die either but it makes the movie more realistic. All the good guys can't stay alive in a realistic movie, you know. Otherwise if ALL the good guys lived and ALL the bad guys died this movie would have been tantamount to a cheesy Saturday morning cartoon. Another aspect to this point about people not liking Yoda's death.. Well, nobody complained when Darth Vader struck down Obi Wan Kenobi in A New Hope. (Many consider A New Hope to be the best of the Trilogy) Why was Obi Wan's death okay but Yoda's not... hmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Another reason I just can not believe was even stated was because people found cute Ewoks overpowering stormtroopers to be impossible. That is utterly ridiculous!! I can not believe this one!! First off, the Ewoks are in their native planet Endor so they are cognizant of their home terrain since they live there. If you watch the movie carefully many of the tactics the Ewoks used in defeating the stormtroopers was through excellent use of their home field advantage. (Since you lived in the forest all your life I hope you would have learned to use it to your advantage) They had swinging vines, ropes, logs set up to trip those walkers, and other traps. The stormtroopers were highly disadvantaged because they were outnumbered and not aware of the advantages of the forest. The only thing they had was their blasters. To add, it was not like the Ewoks were battling the stormtroopers themselves, they were heavily assisted by the band of rebels in that conquest. I thought that if the stormtroopers were to have defeated a combination of the Star Wars heros, the band of rebels, as well as the huge clan of Ewoks with great familiarity of their home terrain, that would have been a great upset. Lastly, if this scene was still unbelievable to you.. How about in Empire Strikes Back or in A New Hope where there were SEVERAL scenes of a group consisting of just Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Princess, being shot at by like ten stormtroopers and all their blasters missed while the heros were in full view!! And not only that, the heroes , of course, always hit the Stormtroopers with their blasters. The troopers must have VERY, VERY bad aim then! At least in Empire Strikes Back, the Battle of Endor was much more believable since you had two armies pitted each other not 3 heroes against a legion of stormtroopers. Don't believe me? Check out the battle at Cloud City when our heroes were escaping Lando's base. Or when our heros were rescuing Princess Leia and being shot at (somehow they missed)as Han Solo and Luke were trying to exit the Death Star.

New troopers.

A race to die for.

The last reason that I care to discuss (others are just too plain ridiculous for me to spend my time here.) is that people did not like Darth Vader being revealed! Well, in many ways that was a major part of the plot in the movie. Luke was trying to find whether or not Darth Vader was his father, Annakin Skywalker. It would have been disappointing if the movie had ended without Luke getting to see his father's face because it made it complete. By Annakin's revelation it symbolized the transition Darth Vader underwent from being possessed by the dark side (in his helmet) and to the good person he was Annakin Skywalker (by removing the helmet). The point is that Annakin died converted to the light side again and that is what the meaning of the helmet removal scene was about. In fact, that's is what I would have done in that scene too if I were Luke's father...Isn't that what you would have done if you wanted to see your son with your own eyes before you died and not in a mechanized helmet?

On another note, I think a subconscious or conscious expectation among most people is that the sequel MUST be worse (even if it is better) that preceding movies is another reason that ROTJ does not get as many accolades as it deserves. I never go into a film with that deception in mind, I always try to go into a film with the attitude that "Well, it might be better or worse that the original .. But I can not know for sure.. Let's see." That way I go with an open mind and do not dupe myself into thinking that a clearly superior film is not as good as it really was.

I am a Jedi.

Jabba's place.

I am not sure who criticizes these movies but, I have asked many college students and adults about which is their favorite Star Wars movie and they all tell me (except for one person that said that A New Hope was their favorite) that it is ROTJ. I believe that the results on these polls are appalling and quite misleading.

Bottom line, the Return of the Jedi was the best of the Trilogy. This movie was the only one of the three that kept me riveted all throughout its 135 minutes. There was not a moment of boredom because each scene was either suspenseful, exciting, surprising, or all of the above. For example, the emotional light saber battle between Luke and his father in ROTJ was better than the one in the Empire Strikes Back any day!!!

There's a new death star.

It's a trap!

Return of the Jedi juicy mind tricks.

Just like I did in the previous reviews I watched hours of documentary footage, researched the most freaky Star Wars fan sites and of course, I took a look at respectful movie websites to gather the most interesting facts related to the production of the film as well as some key elements important to the development of the story. So now deactivate your force field and enjoy this fun facts about the Return of the Jedi.

Wookies gave way to the Ewoks.

The primitive warrior tribe at the end of this film was originally supposed to be a tribe of Wookiees. In pre-production, though, the decision was made to go to short creatures with short fur rather than very tall creatures with longer fur and, hence, the Ewoks were created (Ewok may very well have been created by rearranging the sounds in the word "Wookiee"). In addition, the word Ewok is never spoken in the movie, nor are the individuals (Wicket, Paploo, etc.) referred to by name. 

Enter the friendly Ewoks.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Han & Leia's marriage scene.

It is rumored that a different ending was shot, but discarded later on. It featured the (long awaited) marriage between Leia Organa and Han Solo. In the Star Wars "Expanded Universe" books, they go on to marry and raise a brood.

Ian McDiarmid the most evil Sith.

According to Ian McDiarmid, George Lucas originally casted him simply as the physical performance of the Emperor (similar to David Prowse as Darth Vader). This became evident to him when a producer told him that if he was able to get his voice close enough to Clive Revill's (who portrayed the Emperor's voice in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)) Lucas would let him use his on-camera vocals in the final cut of the film. However, McDiarmid felt he could conduct a stronger, more wicked and demonic voice for the Emperor as opposed to Revill's more aristocratic Emperor. Lucas, and even Steven Spielberg, were so impressed with his take that it ended up becoming a signature trait of the character. 

McDiarmid, based his character's unusual voice on the Japanese method of using your stomach to project yourself. The result was a strange, guttural croak that Lucas decided was perfect for the character of Palpatine.

Luke's new lightsaber was originally blue. 

Originally, the color of Luke's new lightsaber was blue, the same as the one he lost in ESB. Luke can even be seen wielding a blue lightsaber in early ROTJ trailers. However, when a scene of Luke assembling and activating his new saber was cut, Lucas thought the audience might not understand that Luke's ROTJ lightsaber was not the same one he lost on Cloud City. To avoid confusion, Lucas decided to change the color from blue to green, making it clear that Luke was using a new saber. As part of the Expanded Universe, Luke's original lightsaber, used by his father and given to him by Obi-Wan, was recovered (along with his severed hand) from Cloud City and was later wielded by a Luke clone. After the clone's death, Luke presented the saber to Mara Jade, his future wife. 

Jabba the pimp.

Boba Fett.

Anakin Skywalker? now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

Before the special editions, this was the only movie of the original trilogy that mentioned the name Anakin. There was a deleted scene in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) where Luke meets Biggs and Red Leader, where the latter mentions that he had once met Anakin. The scene was restored in the Special Edition, minus the line mentioning Anakin, though. 

Coruscant Imperial City's Cameo.

Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas initially wanted to include the "victory over the Empire" shots on the imperial city. However, they were unable to get a satisfactory name for the capital planet of the Empire. In May 1991, author Timothy Zahn wrote a Star Wars spin-off book, Heir to The Empire, and came out with the capital planet's name as Coruscant. Lucas was happy with the name and as the result, CG shots of victory celebration sequences of other cities, including Coruscant (where the statue collapsed) was included in the 1997 Special Edition.  

Spielberg's Betrayal.

According to the documentary "Empire of Dreams", Steven Spielberg was George Lucas's first choice to direct, but Spielberg had to decline because he is a member of the Directors' Guild (Lucas dropped his Guild membership over disagreements about Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). As a result, Lucas hired the relatively unknown (and at the time non-union) Welsh director Richard Marquand. 

Filipino Ewoks.

Several Ewok lines are in the Filipino (Tagalog) language. Most Ewok lines, however, were inspired by the Kalmuck language, spoken by nomadic tribes living in Central China.  

Like father, like son?

So be it, Jedi knight!

Darth Vader's Improvised Funeral.

Darth Vader's funeral pyre was added at the very last minute, long after principle photography and pick-ups had wrapped. The scene was thrown together and shot near the hills of Skywalker Ranch. 

Jabba's Dancer, the original.

When preparing to work on the special edition one of the ILM employees was talking to a friend and mentioned in passing that they were extending the musical number in Jabba's palace. The friend happened to be the brother of Femi Taylor, the dancer that played Oola (the slave girl/dancer who is fed to the Rancor) and suggested that they get in contact with her as she was in even better shape than she was when they originally shot the scene. They ended up using her, and the scene is a combination of footage that they already had and the new footage recorded 15 years later. Femi Taylor also has the distinction of being the only cast member from the original movies to reprise her role for the special edition. 

Dark Side Essence.

The blue energy seen after Palpatine's death is the essence of the Dark Side of the Force.  

Qui-Gon Jinn was right.

When Vader saves Skywalker by killing Palpatine, he fulfills the Jedi prophecy. He destroys the embodiment of the Dark Side and returns to the light. In doing so, he brings balance to the Force, just as the prophecy predicted.

Carrie Fisher, the fashionista.

Carrie Fisher complained about her costumes in the previous two movies. She said they were so long, you could not tell "she was a woman". Those complaints led to the skimpy outfit she wore as Jabba's prisoner. The costume became something of a running joke among the crew, because the metal framework that held the top together meant that the costume didn't move well with her. Since Fisher didn't like the industry standard solution of using double-sided tape, it became necessary before each take to have a wardrobe person check to ensure that her breasts were still snug inside the costume top (and several scenes had to be re-shot when "wardrobe malfunctions" occurred).  

Sexy princess Leia.

Leia's night outfit.

The Four Vaders.

David Prowse only portrayed Darth Vader completely for the first half of the movie. In the second half of the movie, the character was played by Bob Anderson (stuntman) during the fight sequence, and Sebastian Shaw after the character is unmasked. James Earl Jones voiced the character throughout, with the exception of the unmasking scene. 

Children believe in Yoda.

In the DVD 2004 release, George Lucas explained the reason behind why Yoda told Luke that Darth Vader was his father. Lucas had consulted with a child psychologist during the making of the film. The psychologist said that unless it was unequivocally stated that Vader was Luke's father, moviegoers age 12 and under would dismiss Vader's claim to be Luke's father as a lie.  

Return of the Jedi music.

Listen very carefully as Darth Vader picks up the Emperor and throws him down the Death Star shaft. This is the only time the Jedi theme music plays over a shot of Vader, reflecting his return to the light side of the Force. 

The battle we've all been waiting for.

Hey Annie, care for some bitches?

Special Edition upgrades.

A Special Edition was released on 14 March 1997 (USA). It contains a variety of new special effects shots including:

• A new dance number for Jabba's palace, with new band members and dancers/backup singers.
• New shots of Boba Fett flirting with one of the dancers at Jabba's palace.
• The Sarlacc Pit is now more a Sarlacc Beast, with more flailing tentacles and a protruding mouth.
• The lightsabers in all 3 movies are less beam-of-light-like and more sword-like.
• A brand new ending shows celebrations on Endor, Bespin, Tatooine, and Coruscant, the Imperial Homeworld.
• A new shot of a computer generated Bantha herd seen crossing the desert as Jabba's barge sails by in the distance.
• When Han Solo is trying to shoot the Sarlacc to help Lando, he says "I can see a lot better now" instead of "Its all right. Trust me."
• A new Death Star explosion (similar to the one in the Star Wars Special Edition)
• New music in several sections, most noticeable in the end celebration.
• One of the little known Special Edition additions was a digital re-mix of the Emperor's death scene. When Darth Vader / Anakin Skywalker betrays the Emperor, he now lets out a tortured scream as he picks up the Emperor. This was re-mixed with James Earl Jones's scream, Mark Hamill's screams and a sound of a screeching tire.
• A short moment at the end when Luke winks at the Jedi ghosts was removed.

• The audio track for the very last scene of the film, with all of the actors gathered, was corrected to have music continue to play. In the original release, the actors' voices and laughter could be heard in this scene.

• In the 2004 DVD release, an end shot of Naboo features added dialogue: "Wesa free!" And I'm sure you know who uttered such words.

So after all those juicy secrets do you still have a thirst for some more? Well, in that case, I guess it is time to stop the reading and move on to the trailers section.

Return of the Jedi trailers and more.

The first video you're about to enjoy is the teaser trailer. Pay close attention to the scene where Luke is using a blue lightsaber.

  

The second video is the official original trailer from 1983. Notice that Luke is already using his green ligthsaber this time.

The third video is the special edition trailer from 1997 that focuses in the retouched special effects and the added scenes.

 The fourth video is how the movie should have ended according to what we learned in the prequel trilogy hahaha

See you some time soon hopefully,  in a galaxy not so far far away.