ReTurning Thirty...

Thirty years ago today we were introduced to Ewoks...

And although it's the most flawed of the bunch, "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" is still part of the Original Trilogy.  And it's far better than the Prequels.  There are moments of greatness in the film (The arrival of the Emperor, the duel with Vader.), but there are scenes of unnecessary repetitiveness (Another Death Star, really?  Ewok, instead of Wookies, really!? A final battle on the Moon of Endor instead of a full scale assault on Coruscant, really!!?).

But it also marked a closing.  There was no way of knowing if George Lucas would ever get around to making the original films he had told us about.  And sadly, when he did get around to them they never quite lived up to what we expected.  "Revenge of the Sith" almost rises to the quality of the original, but falls just short.  If they'd started out like that particular film and got better then most of of us wouldn't be complaining I'd like to think.

There have been a lot of changes to the film since then.  Most were done for the wrong reasons and we've been over those arguments before.  George could do with them what he wanted.  And now he's wanted to move beyond his creation, letting it live past him into a new future.

I'll still remember sitting in that darkened theater as a kid watching the opening scrawl come up and just felling giddy about the prospect of seeing another Star Wars film.  And then the sadness that it was all over when the credits starting rolling.  So even with all its bumps and warts Jedi still retains that innocence of the thosel films we watched as innocents.

You know, before the dark times...

Birth Of The Grid...

For the Users...




Thirty years ago today...

In one of the most memorable times in film history, the Summer of 1982, a movie was released that would be groundbreaking, innovative, frustrating and ultimately disappointing. But, it would go on to have cult status, and develop a following that would eventually lead to books, comics, artwork, maquettes, models, toys, video games, a sequel, a prequel television show and many, many other offsprings.

The original "Tron" was released on this day thirty years ago. It presented a world most people had never thought of, and many had no understanding of. But it helped create dreams, it helped expand dreams and it helped grow new ones.

With all the focus on the new television show (which is great, btw), it appears that the Mouse has a new found understanding and care for this property and its potential. And if all goes well, Alan Horn will give a green light to TR3N by the end of the year or the beginning of the next.

It's about time to go back to the Grid...

Thirty Years After The Greatest Adventure...

I hate snakes...





Thirty years ago today the world changed for me...

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg opened up a film that would define action for decades. It introduced one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema: Indiana Jones.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was a film that I had no idea what to expect, or what it was about. I actually saw it earlier than opening night. Paramount Studios actually had test screening of it all across small town America a couple of weeks before it came out. My small town was one of those places where an advance screening took place. And I went. Not really knowing what to expect, I when as a little kid that loved the movies these two guys made and went in on that blind faith alone.

I came out blown away.

I actually stayed through the entire credit run; something I had never done before, but do quite often now. I left feeling as though Spielberg and Lucas had taking something from my mind and pulled it out and thrown it upon the screen. I can remember watching all that fun, all that action and saying to myself: "Wow, this is intense." After each one of the films action set pieces went on, I'd think that this must be it, the last one, no more action, no more story. This must be the end. But the story and action continued. It was a delightful roller coaster ride. I loved it. I went home and looked up the Ark of the Covenant, because I thought it was such a marvelous device. And I was surprised to find that it was real. So as well as entertaining me, it taught my ignorant mind a little unknown history.

Growing up in the lazy little suburbs of my quaint little city, there was little to do. I was a book reader, a comic reader and a movie-goer. I watched an ample amount of television consisting of a lot of escapist testosterone driven episodes of late 70's/early 80's cheese. One Sunday afternoon, I also happened to stumble on to a little PBS show entitled: "Super Serial Showcase." I watched it and marveled at the delight of these continuing adventures. How everything was fun and filled with action, great heroes and really nasty villains. I wondered to myself why Hollywood didn't make a movie like this. And then one day as I entered adolescence they did. They DID. For all their faults, for all the ranting I do here on Lucas or Spielberg, I have to give them my deepest respect and gratitude on this day.

For they opened another world to me...

Building An Empire...

Who knew that after such a success like "Star Wars" that George Lucas would come up with a sequel that was better than the original...

On this day thirty years ago, "The Empire Strikes Back" was released in theaters. And it was beyond good, it was great. It was filled with the kind of pulp-serial love that pop culture geeks and the mass audiences could both find appealing. The film made box office records. It made a small boy in a small town dream big. It was a great time when George could do absolutely no wrong. This sequel pointed to an even greater ending to this saga (at least we hoped). He was the greatest film maker of all time, everything he touched turned to gold and at the time he was filming the Greatest Movie of All Time. But that's a story for next year.

Happy Birthday, Episode Five...

Creating An Empire...

Ok, here's something to look forward to...

Released next year (On March 23, 2010 to be exact) to coincide with the Thirtieth Anniversary of "The Empire Strikes Back" opening, this 372 page book by J.W. Rinzler with a forward by Ridley Scott himself is a very shelf worthy tome. Any good Star Wars fan will eat it up. My favorite of all six films and the closest to being perfect in every way. George didn't need to change a thing, sadly he did.

1980 seems like such a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Hat Tip to Star Wars.com.