1983
Directed by Richard Marquand
Between sifting through disgusting, bloody photos for my Videodrome post and then coming across some rather shocking Princess Leia Comic-Con photos, finding pictures for my blog has become hazardous to my eyes. We finally come to the last part of our trilogy and the last time this series was somewhat respectable.
Princess Leia and Luke attempt to save Han Solo from the evil crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Leia is captured, gold bikini clad adventures ensue. Luke and Leia's previous kiss becomes incredibly creepy and Ewoks delight millions.
This is the favorite installment of a lot of fans and it is easy to see why. The action never lets up for a minute and things are wrapped up rather beautifully. Still, I do feel like it became blatantly obvious in this movie that the filmmakers were becoming more and more money crazed. Maybe they always were but they used to cover it up better.
I will always love this trilogy, though. I saw the remastered version recently where Hayden Christensen was digitally added. It actually wasn't the worst.
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
Several "wardrobe malfunctions" occurred during the scene where Leia is a slave due to the skimpy nature of her costume.
Endor is the Elvish name for Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings. Nerdiest sentence ever.
Insert highly predictable Ray reaction here.
ReplyDeleteI thought you might like this one more than the previous ones.
DeleteOK, a small apology for the slightly overplayed cynicism above. I didn't see any of the three when they first came out, I was eventually taken to see them at the cinema by a girlfriend (now how many times in history has that statement -female persuades reluctant guy to see 'Star wars'- ever been made).. and I did enjoy them in that context. Time passed pleasurably, but I never had the slightest desire to have a Star Wars bed spread, have a model death star hang from my ceiling, and never, ever have I said to someone struggling with something to "use the force" I only bothered to see two of the second lot, and have no plans to see the latest cash cow. As for this one specific episode.. I had an anti reaction to the calculated manipulation to think Ewoks were 'cute'.
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking that too about the Ewoks! I was like "this so cheap!" and then four seconds later I was completely brainwashed and loving them.
DeleteFun movie! that's really all I can say. Great review, as always.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSome kind of galaxy environmental protection authority needs to get down to Endor, start laying some traps, poisoning the rivers and eradicating these aggravating little ewok vermin. Just think of all the germs and diseases they're probably carrying.
ReplyDeleteThere is good in this film. The opening sequence with Jabba (even though with the benefit of hindsight the Leia slave thing may have been misjudged) and Luke's final confrontation with The Emperor. The speed bikes were pretty new and amazing at the time.
But basically this is where it started to become a film by committee, of ideas and technology rather than an actual overall film. A process which reached its nadir with the three prequels which were technically great but no one rememebered that there needed to be a film underneath all the special effects and cityscapes.
The ewoks were bloody annoying. The joke about C-3PO being their god was funny for about five minutes but got dragged out to the point where it was practically the central plotline of the movie. The sequences where they attack the generator look like they were filmed and directed by a bunch of kids for a weekend bit of fun.
The concept of the original Death Star having a dodgy exhaust pipe was silly, but you overlook that when the film is so good and the sequence of trying to shoot at it was so well done. But here we have the same Death Star idea repeated, the same weak link idea repeated (only even sillier) and a poorly stage-managed set of scenes to attack it.
There are only two good Star Wars films (allowing for the fact that I haven't seen the recent addition to the family).
A film by committee, that is exactly what it felt like! All good points, especially about C3PO. I still don't know if I can bring myself to watch the latest one.
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