Based on the characters from the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? by Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner 2049 is the sequel to the 1982 film Blade Runner by Ridley Scott as it involves a police officer who makes a chilling discovery that would lead to the end of humanity as he turns to a man who had disappeared thirty years ago who had his own experience with replicants. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green from a story by Fancher, the film is a futuristic sci-fi film set in Los Angeles where a cop tries to save humanity as he also cope with what is at stake as the role of Officer K is played by Ryan Gosling with Harrison Ford reprising his role as Rick Deckard. Also starring Jared Leto, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Mackenzie Davis, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Barkhad Abdi, Wood Harris, Carla Juri, and Robin Wright. Blade Runner 2049 is a sprawling yet intoxicating film from Denis Villeneuve.
Following a blackout just a few years after the events in 2019, an LAPD cop who hunts older replicants in order to rid of them for society where he makes a discovery that would change humanity. It’s a film that follows up what Rick Deckard had discovered years ago that eventually lead to his disappearance and what cop in Officer K is trying to find upon this discovery he made when he was trying to arrest an older replicant in Sapper Morton (Dave Bautista). In this discovery, K is dealing with what he’s found as he wonders if there is more to him than just being a cop who lives alone with a hologram AI named Joi (Ana de Armas) as his companion. The film’s screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green isn’t just about this sense of identity that K is dealing with but also in this discovery that everyone wants to know including a replicant manufacturer in Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) who sees it as the next big step into his creation.
The first act revolves around what K has discovered as he would meet with Wallace’s enforcer Luv (Sylvia Hoeks) who gives him some information about his discovery as it involves Deckard. Yet, K’s journey would lead him to try and find something as he would report to Lt. Joshi (Robin Wright) who believes that something is off as she wants K to find out what is going on but in secrecy as he’s later pursued by Luv. The second act isn’t just about what K is discovering but also more about his identity as he turns to Joi for help with that identity as it relates to a toy horse he believed he had when he was a child. Upon finding this toy horse and numbers on that horse that he also found on a tree when he was arresting Morton, it would eventually lead him to Deckard who has been in hiding. Upon meeting Deckard, K would realize what is at stake but also why Deckard had to leave as it relates to something bigger than himself as well as his own personal involvement.
Denis Villeneuve’s direction is definitely grand in terms of the scale of what he is creating as it is set in 2049 Los Angeles with futuristic versions of the state of California and Las Vegas as this mixture of farm country, cities, and wastelands. Shot mainly in Budapest, Hungary with some of it shot in Iceland, Spain, and other locations, the film definitely has a unique approach to the visual presentation as it begins in this kind of desolate yet beautiful land that is a place for synthetic farming as Villeneuve’s usage of the wide shots would showcase the scope of these locations. The scenes set in Los Angeles is cramped yet vast in terms of the holographic ads and other things that play into something that is futuristic as Villeneuve would create different look and feel for certain places and locations throughout the film.
The direction also utilizes some close-ups and medium shots for some unique compositions in the way characters interact with each other as well as some of the moments in the action. Villeneuve would include bits of humor in the film but much of the film is dramatic with some suspense and action as the drama relates to K’s loneliness and the revelations about what he discovered as it add to him questioning his own identity. By the time Deckard arrives in the film, it does recall elements of the past that includes this very eerie meeting between Deckard and Wallace into what the latter could do and why he needs this discovery that K made. All of which would have K play a big part into giving Deckard something he had lost and find peace over this loss as well as give K some meaning in his life. Overall, Villeneuve creates an exhilarating and rapturous film about a blade runner trying to save humanity by uncovering a discovery that could help those as well as stop a creator from playing God.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins does phenomenal work with the film’s cinematography as it is a major highlight of the film for the way he would give various locations a different look and feel from the grey exteriors of the farming land and garbage wasteland to the usage of sepia-drenched lighting for the exteriors of Las Vegas and the array of lighting and shades for many of the film’s interior scenes. Editor Joe Walker does excellent work with the editing as it has some jump-cuts for some of the action as well as some straightforward cutting for the drama and suspense. Production designer Dennis Gassner, with set decorator Alessandra Querzola and supervising art director Paul Inglis, does brilliant work with the look of K’s apartment as well as the LAPD building and the place where the Wallace Corporation is and other aspects to make Los Angeles look really futuristic. Costume designer Renee April does fantastic work with the costumes as it does provide the characters some personalities into some of the clothing that Joi wears as well as the clothing of other characters to play into the futuristic world.
Hair supervisor Lizzie Lawson and makeup supervisor Csilla Blake-Horvath do terrific work with the look of some of the characters including a few prostitutes as well as Joi in the different personalities she takes to please K. Visual effects supervisors Pierre Buffin, Richard Clegg, Paul Lambert, Petr Marek, Viktor Muller, and John Nelson do incredible work with the visual effects from the look of the city in some parts as well as the holograms and some of the action sequences as it is top-notch work. Sound editor Mark A. Mangini and sound designer Theo Green do amazing work with the sound in creating some sound effects as well as in the way guns and the flying cars sound. The film’s music by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch is great for its mixture of electronic bombast and ambient textures to create a score that is always engaging and help to play into the action and suspense while music supervisor Deva Anderson brings in some music that K listens to like Frank Sinatra as well as a couple of songs by Elvis Presley and variations of Tears in the Rain by Vangelis.
The casting by Zsolt Csutak, Francine Maisler, and Lucinda Syson is marvelous as it feature a couple of cameo appearances from two characters from the original film in Edward James Olmos as Deckard’s old colleague Gaff and Sean Young as the replicant Rachael with help from Loren Peta as Young’s double. Other notable small roles include Wood Harris as a cop named Harris, David Dastmalchian as a police scientist named Coco, Barkhad Abdi as a black markets analyzer in Doc Badger, Lennie James as a wasteland businessman in Mister Cotton, Hiam Abbass as a mysterious underground leader in Freysa, and Dave Bautista in a superb small role as the replicant Sapper Morton. Mackenzie Davis is terrific as a replicant prostitute named Mariette who is asked by Luv to follow K while being very discreet about her true motive while Carla Juri is wonderful in a small role as a mysterious memory designer in Dr. Ana Stelline who creates memories for replicants.
Jared Leto is fantastic as the replicants creator Niander Wallace as a man who is trying to create a new form of replicants as a way to get rid of humanity’s flaws as he believes this new discovery would be the key to what he wants. Robin Wright is excellent as Lt. Joshi as a LAPD official who orders K to find out about this discovery as well as question his own offbeat behavior as she is aware of what is at stake. Sylvia Hoeks is brilliant as Luv as Wallace’s replicant enforcer who is tasked with finding more about this discovery as she is this dangerous and powerful individual who is eager to get what she wants by any means necessary. Ana de Armas is amazing as Joi as an artificial-intelligence hologram who serves as K’s companion that tries to help him understand as well as wanting to feel alive to prove that there is more to her than just some program.
Harrison Ford’s performance as Rick Deckard is incredible as he provides this sense of a man who had seen and experienced so much in his life as he tries to cover his tracks while dealing with this newfound revelation over this discovery that he was involved in that also includes Rachael whom he mourns for. Finally, there’s Ryan Gosling in a sensational performance as K as a cop who copes with his identity upon this discovery he’s made as well as wanting to get answers as he is quite tough but also flawed as it is a very grounded and restraint performance from Gosling who brings a lot to a role of someone dealing with loneliness and himself.
Blade Runner 2049 is a magnificent film from Denis Villeneuve that features top-notch performances from Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. Along with its great ensemble cast, gorgeous visuals courtesy of cinematographer Roger Deakins, a hypnotic score, and a compelling premise that explores the idea of identity and humanity. It’s a film that manages to be not just some sprawling sci-fi adventure film with elements of film noir, suspense, and action but also a film that says a lot about people and who they are as well as what can happen when one wants to use that power for his own reasons. In the end, Blade Runner 2049 is an outstanding film from Denis Villeneuve.
Related: Blade Runner - The Auteurs #68: Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve Films: August 32nd on Earth – Maelstrom – Polytechnique – Incendies - Prisoners (2013 film) - Enemy (2013 film) – Sicario - Arrival (2016 film) - Dune-Part One (2021 film) - Dune-Part Two - (Dune: Messiah)
© thevoid99 2017
Directed and co-edited by Michelangelo Antonioni and screenplay by Antonioni, Franco Rossetti (as Fred Gardner), Tonino Guerra, Clare Peploe, and Sam Shepard from a story by Antonioni, Zabriskie Point is the story of a college dropout whose presence at a student protest has him go on the run to the Zabriskie Point desert where he meets a young woman on the way. Set against the American counterculture of the 1960s, the film is an exploration of identity and ideals as a young man and woman deal with their surroundings during a tumultuous period toward the end of the 1960s. Starring Mark Frechette, Daria Halprin, and Rod Taylor. Zabriskie Point is a ravishing yet eerie film from Michelangelo Antonioni.
The film is a stylish and poetic telling about two different people who both go on different journeys where they meet on their way to their respective destinations as they visit Zabriskie Point near Death Valley. It’s a film that doesn’t really have much of a plot yet it is more about two people who are part of two different environments as they become overwhelmed by those surroundings. The film’s screenplay is very loose as it play into not just the world of the American counterculture as it becomes more desperate to fight back and go into revolutionary tactics but also the corporate world as it becomes more prominent in its rise while the counterculture is in the decline. The two protagonists in a college dropout named Mark (Mark Frechette) and an anthropology student named Daria (Daria Halprin) are both people part of different kind of scenes but it’s the former that has become dissatisfied.
The opening scene is set in a meeting where Mark realizes all of this talking about what to do has made him bored as he tries to make sense of what is going on. Especially when people he know are going to jail in protests and such while he is aware of what is emerging outside of the counterculture. When he finds himself in part of a scuffle with police as it goes all wrong, he escapes by stealing a small plane and fly around California. The character of Daria is more complex as she’s just a student who works part-time as a secretary for a corporate businessman (Rod Taylor) who is planning to create housing in some remote land in the American Southwest. Daria would drive to Phoenix as she would encounter strange things in her journey until she is met by Mark on his plane as the two would meet as the film then takes a different turn once they venture into the mysterious valley known as Zabriskie Point.
Michelangelo Antonioni’s direction is definitely mesmerizing not just visually but also in the way he aims for something that is unconventional in its American setting. Shot largely on location in Los Angeles and around Carefree, Arizona with scenes shot on location in Zabriskie Point, the film play into not just this sense of chaos that is looming into the counterculture where non-violent protests have given way to violence on both sides. Antonioni’s direction for these meetings and protests are presented in a somewhat documentary-like fashion as it display Mark’s own sense of alienation as he is aware of desperate the counterculture has become but also know what is emerging. Antonioni’s visual approach to display this emergence of capitalism and materialism through ads including a commercial about a real estate venture in the desert is very eerie as it relates to what would happen in American culture. Antonioni would often have ads in the background whereas a character such as Mark would be in the foreground. For Mark, it is overwhelming as his attempt to take part in a protest after being arrested for trying to bail out a friend gets him into trouble where he would steal a plane and fly around the American Southwest. Antonioni’s usage of wide shots allow him to take a great depth of field to showcase the Zabriskie Point valley at its most vast as it is centerpiece of the film’s second half.
Especially as it play into elements of fantasy of what Mark and Daria want in their idea of free love where it’s all about not worrying about the realities of the world. It is a sequence that is quite surreal but also contain some gorgeous imagery where Antonioni’s usage of close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots add so much to something that feels lose and free. Antonioni would include also include moments that are strange as it relates to the reality of America that Daria from her encounter with children at a town to eventually arriving at her destination. The latter which serves as its climax is set in this very quaint and posh environment that is beautiful but it’s also very suffocating. It would lead to an ending that is about that disdain of the growing sense of materialism and capitalism that would dominate the ideas of America. Overall, Antonioni creates an intoxicating yet startling portrait of alienation and the emergence of a more controlled and consumerist society in the waning days of the counterculture.
Cinematographer Alfio Contini does brilliant work with the film‘s very vibrant and colorful cinematography to capture some of the locations in and around Los Angeles to the look of the desert with its naturalistic and beautiful imagery as it is a major highlight of the film. Editors Michelangelo Antonioni and Franco Arcalli do excellent work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts and some stylish montages for the free-love sequence while aiming for moments that go on for a few minutes without the need to cut immediately. Production designer Dean Tavoularis and set decorator George R. Nelson do amazing work with the look of the posh resort home at the film‘s climax as well as the design of the offices and the diner that Darla goes to.
Costume designer Ray Summers does nice work with the costumes as it mostly casual with bits of stylish clothing that play into the world of the counterculture and Corporate America. Sound recording supervisor Franklin Milton does superb work with the sound as it play into the way the plane sounds in the air as well as the chaos in the protests and in city life to the more quiet world of Zabriskie Point. The film’s music soundtrack is incredible as it feature some original score music from Pink Floyd with its usage of progressive and post-psychedelic rock to the Americana-based rock of the Grateful Dead with a piece by Jerry Garcia. The rest of the soundtrack includes pieces from John Fahey, Kaleidoscope, the Youngbloods, the Rolling Stones, Patti Page, and Roscoe Holcomb that is a mixture of rock and country while the American release version of the film features a song by Roy Orbison that is an odd placement for the film‘s final credits as it was something MGM put in against Antonioni‘s wishes though the song is great but doesn‘t fit in with the context of the film.
The casting by Sally Dennison is fantastic as it features appearances from Harrison Ford as a student in jail, Philip Baker Hall as a deli owner, Bill Hickman as a gun store owner, Bill Garaway as Mark’s friend Morty, Paul Fix as a diner owner, Kathleen Cleaver as a secretary, G.D. Spradlin as an executive, Sam Shepard as one of the people in the free-love sequence, and Rod Taylor as Daria’s boss/possible lover Lee Allen who is trying to put some housing in the desert as he thinks it is the future of American living. Finally, there’s the duo of Daria Halprin and Mark Frechette in their respective roles as Daria and Mark as two individuals lost in their world as both of them are excellent as they’re not given much to do but be natural and react to the chaos their surroundings.
Zabriskie Point is a phenomenal film from Michelangelo Antonioni. Featuring dazzling visuals, a sprawling soundtrack, and eerie themes on alienation and changing times. It’s a film that is definitely confrontational in some respects but also tell a lot of truth about what would emerge in the aftermath of the counterculture and the fallacies of revolutions that was so prevalent in the 1960s. In the end, Zabriskie Point is a tremendous film from Michelangelo Antonioni.
Michelangelo Antonioni Films: (Story of a Love Affair) - (I Vinti) - (The Lady Without Camelias) - Le Amiche - (Il Grido) - L'Avventura - La Notte - L'eclisse - Red Desert - Blow-Up - (Chung Kuo, Cina) - The Passenger - (The Mystery of Oberwald) - Identification of a Woman - (Beyond the Clouds) - Eros: The Dangerous Thread of Things
© thevoid99 2017
Directed by J.J. Abrams and screenplay by Abrams, Michael Arndt, and Lawrence Kasdan from characters written by George Lucas, The Force Awakens (Star Wars: Episode VII) is the story of a conflict between two factions that re-emerges to disrupt order in the galaxy as three people find themselves in the middle of this conflict. Set thirty years after the events in Return of the Jedi, the film focuses on new characters who encounter those from the past as they deal with this conflict in a new war. Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Max von Sydow, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford. The Force Awakens is a sensational and riveting film from J.J. Abrams.
Set 30 years after the events that saw the fall of the Galactic Empire and the resurrection of the Galactic Republic, the film revolves around a new conflict between a new order known as the First Order and a group opposing the First Order in the Resistance led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Realizing that the First Order is trying to find Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who had disappeared many years ago, General Organa asks Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) to find a map that could lead to Skywalker before the First Order finds and eliminates him. While it is a film that is derivative of plot elements that relates to Episode IV, it does however manage to find ways to create new storylines and characters to be engaging as it bears elements that made those first three films so special.
The film’s screenplay by J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt, and Lawrence Kasdan doesn’t just introduce these new characters into the story and how they would interact with characters from the past. It also has an air of innocence that was definitely missing from the prequels as it relates to a character named Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she is this young scavenger from a desert planet called Jakku as she steals and sells scraps from war remnants to survive. Yet, she is in the planets as she awaits for people to comeback until she meets this droid named BB-8 where her adventure begins that includes an encounter with a Stormtrooper named Finn (John Boyega) who defects from the First Order after seeing what they have done. Finn is an interesting character as he is someone that was born and raised to be part of the First Order but when he sees first-hand in what they do. He starts to question what they do where he would later help Poe escape from the clutches of the First Order as well as go into his own journey.
Rey, Poe, and Finn aren’t just this new trio of protagonists who all have something to offer as they’re allowed to be characters audiences can root for. While Poe may not have as much development as Rey or Finn, he is someone that is willing to do the right thing and stand up to the First Order no matter what they can do to him. Then there’s the antagonists in the members of the First Order such as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) as he is someone that is strong with the Force as well as someone that is kind of an emotional time bomb whenever things don’t go his way. While he would also have to contend with First Order leader General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) over what should be done, Ren is someone that is also very complex as it relates to his own background and why he’s obsessed with finding Skywalker. By the time Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) come into the story, they would not only help Finn and Rey but also reveal the many myths about the Jedi, the Sith, and the Force which would allow Solo to reunite with Leia and find Luke. It’s not just in the characterizations and storylines that help make the story successful but also the dialogue where it does reveal aspects to the story but also has some funny moments.
Abrams’ direction is definitely grand not just in the way the galaxy is presented but also in establishing a world of peace and prosperity is about to be undone by this new galactic world order. Just after the opening crawl, the film opens with this large Star Destroyer covering a planet as it plays into how much the galaxy has changed where things are about to become very chaotic. With the planet of Jakku shot in Abu Dhabi as well as some locations that are shot in Ireland and parts of Iceland, Abrams does give the film a more worldly feel while also harkening back to visual ideas and such that isn’t just a homage to the original trilogy. It’s also to play into moments that made that original trilogy so special where Abrams doesn’t just bring back that air of innocence but also keeping things simple in its story while not doing too much to make everything bigger than it already is. Abrams usage of the 2:35:1 aspect ratio allowed him to capture every moment with the wide shots with such beauty as well as in the medium shots that establishes some of the moments between the characters.
Abrams also create these moments in the action where it does have this energy and element of suspense that is needed such as Finn and Rey trying to run from the TIE Fighters. Even the battles in the air are thrilling where Abrams knows what is happening and what needs to be shown while he also finds a way to have the story break away from the action for drama and humor. Even in the way he uses close-ups and camera angles to help play into the drama and suspense. Abrams’ usage of practical visual and special effects doesn’t just add to a sense of realism to the look of the film but also add something that isn’t overwhelmed by computerized-digital effects that often takes some of the visual elements away from the story. The film’s climax may bear similarities to other climaxes from past films but the stakes are definitely high as it play into what is happening as well as the kind of weapon the Resistance has to take down in this mega-version of the Death Star that is called the Starbase Killer. Overall, Abrams creates an exhilarating and majestic film about a group of people trying to save the galaxy from a new world order.
Cinematographer Dan Mindel does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the sunny look of the planet of Jakku to the usage of green and naturalistic colors for the planet of Takodana as well as some of the interior lights for the scenes inside the Star Destroyer and the Starbase Killer. Editors Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon do amazing work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts and stylish transition wipes to not go overboard as well as allowing shots and scenes to play out longer rather than delve into conventional fast-cutting techniques. Production designers Rick Carter and Darren Gilford, with set decorator Lee Sandales and supervising art director Neil Lamont, do incredible work with the set designs from the look of the Resistance base as well as many of the interiors in the Star Destroyers and Starbase Killer as well as the junkyard at Jakku.
Costume designer Michael Kaplan does excellent work with the costumes from the newer look of the Stormtrooper outfits as well as the look of the Resistance and the jacket that Finn wears that belonged to Poe. Hair designer Lisa Tomblin and makeup artist Amy Byrne do fantastic work with the look of some of the characters including Leia‘s hair and some of the minor characters including some pirates that have issues with Solo. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould and creatures conceptual designer Neal Scanlan do phenomenal work with the practical effects from the look of the X-Wing and TIE Fighters as well as some of the starships and creatures in the planets that look and feel real which adds to how worldly the galaxy is. Visual effects supervisors Roger Guyett and Michael Mulholland do splendid work with the visual effects from the look of some of the characters as well as some of the exteriors in space as well as the look of the Starbase Killer in its exterior setting.
Sound designers David Acord and Ben Burtt, with sound editors Gary Rydstrom and Matthew Wood, do superb work with the sound from the sound effects of the droids including BB-8 and R2-D2 as well as the sound work of the some of the starships and other moments that play into the sound. The film’s music by John Williams is remarkable for its bombastic orchestral score that features themes from past films but also some newer themes from some very low-key yet somber pieces as well as some heavy moments as it is one of Williams’ finest work.
The casting by Nina Gold, April Webster, and Alyssa Weisberg is marvelous for the people that are assembled for the film as it features small appearances from Billie Lourd as Resistance officer Lt. Connix, Tim Rose and the voice of Erik Bauersfeld as Admiral Ackbar, Mike Quinn and the voice of Kipsang Roitch as Resistance fighter Nien Nunb, Ken Leung as Resistance Admiral Statura, Simon Pegg as Jakku junkyard dealer Unkar Plutt, Greg Gunberg and Jessica Henwick as a couple of X-wing pilots, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as First Order Petty Officer Thanisson, Dave Chapman and Brian Herring as the puppeteers for BB-8 with vocal work from Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, and Kenny Baker as the voice work of the droid R2-D2. Other notable small roles include Anthony Daniels as the protocol droid C-3P0, a trio of pirates played Yayan Ruhian, Iko Uwais, and Cecep Arif, Gwendoline Christie as the Stormtroopers leader/First Order officer Captain Phasma, and Max von Sydow in a brief yet superb performance as Lor San Tekka as a village elder who would give Poe a portion of a map that carries information into where Skywalker is.
Peter Mayhew is terrific as Chewbacca as Han Solo’s first-mate and friend who aids him in dealing with pirates and members of the First Order as additional credit goes to Joonas Suatamo who appears as Chewbacca for some of the film’s action scenes. Andy Serkis is excellent as the mysterious First Order leader Supreme Leader Snoke as this figure who is Ren’s master as he is hoping to end the Resistance and bring order to the galaxy. Domhnall Gleeson is fantastic as General Hux as a First Order leader who watches over the Starbase Killer as he often contends with Ren for power as well as provide a more ruthless idea of what the First Order should be. Lupita Nyong’o is brilliant as the pirate Maz Kanata as this offbeat yet wise alien who is an old friend of Solo and Chewbacca who can look through people as she provides some key moments for both Rey and Finn.
Mark Hamill is wonderful as Luke Skywalker where despite the fact that Hamill doesn’t appear in the film, he maintains a presence that is of great importance as the legendary Jedi knight that looms over the conflict in the galaxy. Carrie Fisher is amazing as General Leia Organa as the leader of the Resistance who is trying to deal with the First Order as she also copes with her brother’s disappearance and the hope to find good in the galaxy. Harrison Ford is great as Han Solo as the legendary smuggler who finds himself back in the conflict as he too carries a burden of what had been lost where he becomes this reluctant figure of wisdom for both Finn and Rey. Adam Driver is phenomenal as Kylo Ren as this commander of the First Order who displays the power of the Force as someone who is eager to fulfill the legacy of Darth Vader but is also unpredictable and dangerous as it plays into who he really is under the mask that he wears.
Oscar Isaac is incredible as Poe Dameron as Resistance fighter who is considered the best pilot in the galaxy as he is tasked to do a mission for General Organa in finding out where Luke Skywalker is as he also deals with the severity of the First Order. John Boyega is tremendous as Finn as a Stormtrooper who defects to the Resistance as he tries to find redemption and meaning to his life as he helps Rey and take down the First Order despite being targeted as a traitor. Finally, there’s Daisy Ridley in an astonishing performance as Rey as this young scavenger who finds herself in an adventure that has her doing so much from fixing starships to fighting Stormtroopers as she is also someone that is very vulnerable as it relates to being alone for much of her life as Ridley is the film’s real discovery.
The Force Awakens is a magnificent film from J.J. Abrams. Featuring a great cast of people from past films as well as a collection of newcomers along with great technical work and a thrilling score. The film isn’t just a great mixture of nostalgia and homage to the original trilogy but also a film that manages to bring in a lot of adventure and heart that the series that hadn’t been seen in years. Notably as it’s the kind of film that manages to be escapist cinema but also cinema that is very intelligent and full of warmth and innocence that is often lacking in today’s high-octane mainstream cinema. In the end, The Force Awakens is an outstanding film from J.J. Abrams.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: The Star Wars Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo: A Star Wars Story - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
J.J. Abrams Films: (Mission: Impossible III) - (Star Trek (2009 film)) - Super 8 - (Star Trek: Into Darkness)
© thevoid99 2015
Written and directed by Agnes Varda, L’univers de Jacques Demy (The World of Jacques Demy) is a documentary in which Varda pays tribute to her late husband through the films he made as well as his life. Featuring interviews with those that worked with him, the film is a look into one French cinema’s finest filmmakers. The result is a lively and touching portrait of one of the great filmmakers that ever lived.
Among the filmmakers who emerged during the era of the French New Wave, Jacques Demy was someone who didn’t fit in with that movement due to his love for American musicals and fantasy as he would cultivate a career that is considered one of the finest in cinema. Created in the span of two years, Agnes Varda creates not just a solemn tribute to her husband but would also interview some of his collaborators, fans of his work, and the actors that worked with him. Even as Varda goes into detail about his own life with the aid of their children, her sister-in-law, and old friends as well as the places he grew up in as the town would also pay tribute to the filmmaker.
Through various film clips and rare behind-the-scenes footage which would feature those anyone wouldn’t expect in a Demy film set like Jim Morrison at the set of Donkey Skin who would give Delphine Seyrig’s son his autograph. The actors such as Michel Piccoli, Jeanne Moreau, Catherine Deneuve, Dominique Sanda, Anouk Aimee, Jacques Perrin, Nino Castelnuovo talk about their experiences working with Demy and his films. Much of it show that they all have pleasant experiences with him where Deneuve recalled doing The Umbrellas of Cherbourg as the first time she felt she was working with a real filmmaker. Many of his films are covered including the ones that weren’t successful like Lady Oscar and Parking where clips of interviews by Demy talk about the way things are in the industry where not all of his films are successful.
The film also showcases Demy’s brief flirtation in Hollywood when he was making Model Shop as a sequel to Lola with Anouk Aimee where the original male lead was supposed to be an up-and-coming actor named Harrison Ford who is also interviewed where he talks about how much Demy and one of the film’s producer wanted him to be in the film. Instead, studios chose Gary Lockwood of 2001: A Space Odyssey for the role which Demy wasn’t happy with though the resulting film was something Demy thought was good but not great. With the aid of cinematographers Stephane Krausz, Peter Pilafian, and Georges Strouve, along with editor Marie-Josee Audiard and the sound work of Thierry Ferreux and Jean-Luc Rault-Cheynet, Varda chose a different approach to narrative where she goes for a more non-linear look into Demy’s life and work.
Adding to the film’s whimsical tone are the music pieces by Michel Colombier and Michel Legrand who are both featured in the film as they talk about Demy’s approach to music. Much of the music that appears in the film is from Demy’s films as it adds to his love for music and what it means to him. Even as some fans of his films including some ordinary people know some of the songs by heart as the actors in those films would sing bits of these songs. It adds to the power of Demy’s influence and the impact he made in the world of films.
L’univers de Jacques Demy is a phenomenal film from Agnes Varda. It’s not just one of Varda’s finest documentaries but also a touching and exhilarating tribute to her late husband in Jacques Demy. Notably as it’s a film that displays some unique surprises about Demy and his work and how much he means to audiences all over the world. In the end, L’univers de Jacques Demy is a sensational film from Agnes Varda.
Agnes Varda Films: Diary of a Pregnant Woman - Du cote de la cote - La Pointe Courte - Cleo from 5 to 7 - Le Bonheur - (Les Creatures) – (Far from Vietnam) – (Lions Love) – (Daguerreotypes) – One Sings, the Other Doesn’t – (Murals Murals) – (Documenteur) - Vagabond - (Jane B. by Agnes V.) – ((Le Petit Amour) – (Jacquot de Nantes) – (The Young Girls Turn 25) – (One Hundred and One Nights) – The Gleaners & I - (The Gleaners & I: Two Years Later) – (Cinevardaphoto) – (Some Windows of Noirmoutier) - (The Beaches of Agnes) – (Faces Places) – (Varda by Agnes)
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Steve Binder and David Acomba and written by Bruce Vilanch, Pat Proft, Leonard Ripps, Rod Warren, and Mitzie Welch, The Star Wars Holiday Special is 1978 variety show program in which Han Solo is trying to take Chewbacca to his home planet for the Christmas holidays while other things happened. Featuring people from the Star Wars film in Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, and the voice of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. The special also features appearances from Diahann Carroll, Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, Art Carney, and a performance from Jefferson Starship. The result is essentially one of the most horrific things to ever exist in the history of entertainment.
In the 1970s, variety shows were the thing as it had people do singing and dancing on television and do all sorts of things. Due to the popularity of George Lucas’ 1977 film Star Wars, a variety show was made where it’s main storyline involves Han Solo and Chewbacca trying to return to Chewbacca’s home planet to spend the holidays with Chewbacca’s family in this day known as Life Day. Along the way, there’s performances and all sorts of things that happen in the story where Harvey Korman plays three characters and a lot of things occur. It is clear that those involved in the creation of this abomination were probably under the influence of some nose candy and what they created is one of the worst things ever.
Through its writers, it is clear that they wanted to include everything that is indicative of the variety shows in the U.S. during those times but also include elements that made Star Wars interesting. Unfortunately, the story that involves Chewbacca’s family where they talk in a language that no one understands isn’t just boring but some of the things they do is pretty stupid. The stuff involving the characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo is a total waste as they are put into awfully comical situations where Leia would sing a song at the end of the special about Life Day.
The special under the direction of Steve Binder is typical of these programs yet it involves a lot of cheesy and very dated special effects involving acrobats, dancers, and some special performances from Diahann Carroll and the Jefferson Starship which are just a pain to watch. Notably as they’re in ridiculous costumes and surrounded by cheesy special effects that tries to make it weird but comes across as horrifying. The songs that are used that are written by its score composers Ian Fraser, Ken Welch, and Mitzie Welch that Carroll and Leia would sing are terrible. Even their electronic-based score that is based on John Williams’ score from the film is pretty bad.
Some of the comedy that involves Art Carney and Bea Arthur not only has the two feel like they don’t belong but it never works. The scenes with Harvey Korman as a cook, an Imperial officer, and a robot are not only unfunny but it has Korman look ridiculous to the point that it feels forced. Then there’s the animated sequence that would introduce a major character to the series in the bounty hunter Boba Fett. It has some interesting animation and it is actually sort of the highlight of the special but it doesn’t really much of an interesting story which only serves as a major plot-point for the main story. Then there’s the people in the special where Harrison Ford as Han Solo looks very uncomfortable while Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker looks like a fucking Ken doll with all of the makeup he is given. Then there’s Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia where it is clear she was on cocaine from the look of her face where she tries to look professional but is also high under the influence.
The Star Wars Holiday Special is a fucking travesty. If there’s any reason into why George Lucas and those involved with the franchise deny the existence of this special. This special is a big reason where it’s only for Star Wars completists to see this though it really should have no part with the main series. In the end, The Star Wars Holiday Special is a TV special that lives up to its infamy as one of the worst things ever presented in the history of television.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Richard Marquand and screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas from a story by Lucas, Return of the Jedi (Star Wars: Episode VI) is the third and final film of the original trilogy in which the Imperial Empire and the rebellion go out for one final battle in space as Luke Skywalker copes with the identity of the man who is Darth Vader. The film isn’t just another sci-fi adventure film where many of the characters of the previous film get ready for one final battle but also do whatever it takes to save the galaxy from this evil empire. Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse with the voice of James Earl Jones, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, Alec Guinness, the voice of Frank Oz, Sebastian Shaw, and Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine. Return of the Jedi is a thrilling and exhilarating film from Richard Marquand.
The film revolves the final showdown between the Galatic Empire led by Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader (David Prowse, with the voice of James Earl Jones), and the rebellion representing the former Galactic Republic as its heroes Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) get ready for the final battle. Yet, things become very tense as Palpatine arrives in a newly-constructed Death Star in which he personally oversees its completion while he and Vader both seek Skywalker. The film also plays into Skywalker’s own discovery of who Darth Vader is as he turns to a dying Yoda (the voice of Frank Oz) and the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) for the truth where another revelation is unveiled.
The film’s screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas does have a more traditional structure than the previous films as its first act involves Vader arriving to the Death Star telling his officers that the Emperor is coming while Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), and Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) go on a personal mission to retrieve Han from the clutches of the reputed gangster Jabba the Hutt (voice of Larry Ward) and the bounty hunter Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) at the planet of Tatooine. Its second act is set in Dagobah where Luke meets with Yoda while joining in the plan to destroy the Death Star’s shield in the nearby moon of Endor where the rebels are aided by a tribe of creatures known as Ewoks. The structure doesn’t just play into the development of the characters but also into Luke’s own understanding about Darth Vader’s identity and realize who the man used to be.
It’s not just Luke, Leia, and Han that become more realized in their development but also Darth Vader as it is clear that he is the good cop for the Imperial officers while it’s Palpatine that is far less forgiving. There is also tension that looms in the film between Palpatine and Vader where the latter does sense Luke’s presence while the former doesn’t where it plays into an internal conflict with Vader who has no choice but to follow his master. It would force Luke to find the good in Vader where the two would have another battle with light sabers as it is clear that they’re really pawns into the game that Palpatine wants. That conflict would parallel the battles that Han, Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3P0 would have against the Empire in Endor with the aid of the Ewoks while Lando Calrissian would lead the attack on the Death Star. It is there where the film’s third act and climax does come to ahead as something has to happen where it’s everything or nothing.
Richard Marquand’s direction doesn’t really do anything new in comparison to the previous films but he does manage to maintain some visuals and compositions that are very engaging. Shot partially on location in Tunisia as Tatooine and at the Redwood Forest in California as Endor, the film definitely goes for a mixture of not just a darker tone but also something that is light as it plays to the conflict over the two sides of the Force. The usage of wide and medium shots do play into the vastness of the story not just in the locations of its planets but also in space that includes some very entrancing shots of the Death Star in its final construction phase. Marquand’s close-ups do play into Luke Skywalker’s own realization about who Darth Vader is but also into the revelations that he would discover which added bigger stakes into what he has to fight for.
The scenes set in Endor are quite playful as it does bring in some humor as well as something that is more accessible to children in the form of the Ewoks. While it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, the Ewoks do serve a purpose as it plays into their own brand of fighting which is primitive yet effective. The mixture of playfulness and adventure does give the film a liveliness in its third act where Han, Leia, Chewbacca, C-3P0, and R2-D2 would square off against the Empire in Endor with their own soldiers and the Ewoks. It is in sharp contrast to the more thrilling sequence in space where Lando is leading the rebellion in an all-out assault on the Death Star while Luke and Vader would have their own battle. Yet, their battle would really play more into what Palpatine wants as it would force one of these two men to do something to save the galaxy. Overall, Marquand creates a phenomenal and exhilarating film about a group of rebels going into one final battle against an evil empire.
Cinematographer Alan Hume, with additional work by Alec Mills, does excellent work with the look of many of the exteriors from the naturalistic look in the scenes at Endor as well as some of the interior lighting for the scenes inside the Death Star and in the rebel ships. Editors Sean Barton, Duwayne Dunham, and Marcia Lucas, with additional work by George Lucas, do amazing work with the editing with its stylish approach to transition wipes and rhythmic cuts to play into the action and suspense. Production designer Norman Reynolds, with set designers Michael Ford and Harry Lange and art directors Fred Hole and James L. Schappe, does fantastic work with the look of Palpatine‘s main room in the Death Star as well as the room in the rebel ship where the plan of attack occurs as well as the home of Jabba the Hutt. Costume designers Aggie Guerard Rodgers and Nilo Rodis-Jamero do terrific work with the costumes from the slave bikini that Leia would wear at Jabba’s home but also the black suit that Luke would wear to express his sense of loss.
Makeup designers Stuart Freeborn and Phil Tippett do brilliant work with the look of some of the alien creatures including the Ewoks and some of that characters at Jabba the Hutt‘s palace including some puppetry for the Jabba character. Visual effects supervisors Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, and Phil Tippett do incredible work with the visual effects look for the scenes in space as well as the designs for scenes in Tatooine and in Endor such as the Imperial walkers with its usage of stop-motion animation. Sound designer Ben Burtt does superb work with the sound from the layering of sound effects for the battle scenes as well as in some of the sound that occurs for the droids. The film’s music by John Williams is wonderful for its thrilling and soaring orchestral score that plays into its sense of adventure and humor along with some of its brooding and melancholic moments.
The casting by Mary Selway is great as it features notable small performances from Denis Lawson as the rebel pilot Wedge, Jeremy Bulloch as the bounty hunter Boba Fett, Timothy M. Rose as the rebel military leader Admiral Akbar, Caroline Blakiston as the rebel alliance co-founder and leader Mon Mothma, Larry Ward as the voice of Jabba the Hutt, Michael Pennington as the Death Star commander who oversees the Death Star’s construction, Kenneth Colley as the Imperial Admiral Piett, Warwick Davis as the young Ewok Wicket that Leia befriends, and Sebastian Shaw as the unmasked Darth Vader. Frank Oz is superb as the voice of the great Jedi master Yoda who would tell Luke some startling news and some revelations while Alec Guinness is fantastic as the late Obi-Wan Kenobi who would also provide some revelations to Luke about Darth Vader.
Ian McDiarmid is great as Emperor Palpatine as the Galactic Empire’s leader who tries to steer Luke to join the dark side of the Force in the hopes he can gain another apprentice. David Prowse, with voice of James Earl Jones, is amazing as Darth Vader as the Empire’s great warrior who would also try to steer Luke into the dark side while displaying the sense of conflict from within him as it relates to whom he once was. Billy Dee Williams is brilliant as Lando Calrissian as an old friend of Han who would help free him from Jabba the Hutt while leading the attack on the Empire and the Death Star. Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels are excellent in their respective roles as the droids R2-D2 and C-3P0 as the former would provide some key moments in the film’s first act and its climax while the latter would be responsible for forging an alliance between the Ewoks and the rebels.
Peter Mayhew is marvelous as Chewbacca as the Wookie who helps rescue Han Solo as well as provide a key role in battling the Empire in Endor. Carrie Fisher is sensational as Princess Leia Organa as a rebel leader who gets more hands-on in the fighting while making a major discovery about who she is as well as a bigger role she has to play for the rebellion. Harrison Ford is remarkable as Han Solo as the former smuggler who was imprisoned by Jabba the Hutt as he later leads an attack on the Empire in Endor with the help of the Ewoks where Ford brings some humor to his role. Finally, there’s Mark Hamill in an incredible performance as Luke Skywalker where Hamill brings a more reserved performance to display Skywalker’s grief and maturity as he copes with Darth Vader’s identity while knowing what he has to do to save the galaxy as it’s a dark but engaging performance from Hamill.
***The Following is Based on the 1997 Special Edition and its Subsequent Revised Editions***
Of the versions that George Lucas would get involved in, it is in this film where there’s a lot of changes with the aid of editor T.M. Christopher, sound designer Ben Burtt, and various visual effects people that would change things from the original. Among them is the pit of Sarlacc scene where there’s more arms added via computer-based visual effects as well as additional scenes near the film’s ending. Most notably scenes where other planets celebrated that featured the voice of a much-maligned character from the prequels. There’s also some changes in the visual effects in the battle scenes that are distracting yet the biggest change from its 2004 DVD release is one of the most controversial. It relates to its ending where Sebastian Shaw’s appearance in the end would be replaced by Hayden Christensen who would play Anakin Skywalker in the prequels. It’s an ending that is very disrespectful to Shaw as well as the series itself. While Lucas claims he’s trying to make the film better, it just shows how out of touch he is with his audience.
***End of Special Edition Tidbits***
Return of the Jedi is a phenomenal film from Richard Marquand. Featuring a great cast, sprawling visual effects, and an offbeat yet effective tone. The film isn’t just a worthy end to the original trilogy but it’s also an adventurous and fun film that manages to do a lot and more. In the end, Return of the Jedi is a remarkable film from Richard Marquand.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Irvin Kershner and screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett from a story by George Lucas, The Empire Strikes Back (Star Wars: Episode V) is the story where the Empire tries to find the small band of rebels who had destroyed their most powerful weapon as the group of rebels each go into different journeys where one of them would seek his destiny to become a Jedi. The second part of a trilogy about a civil war between an evil empire and a resistance group, the film plays into characters trying to evade the Empire as its evil leader is trying to pursue the young man who could destroy that empire. Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, David Prowse with the voice of James Earl Jones, the voice of Frank Oz, Billy Dee Williams, and Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Empire Strikes Back is a riveting and intense film from Irvin Kershner.
Set three years after the events of the previous film, the film is a vengeance story of sorts from the point of view of its antagonists in the Imperial Empire led by Darth Vader (David Prowse with the voice of James Earl Jones) as he is trying to hunt down the group of rebels that had managed to defeat them in a big way. Most notably in Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who has become a top pilot for the rebellion while having the abilities to become a Jedi where his journey would lead him to be trained under one of the Jedi’s great masters in Yoda (voice of Frank Oz). Meanwhile, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) tries to leave the rebellion in order to pay some long-standing debts to a criminal as he is chased by the Empire along with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), his sidekick Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and the protocol droid C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels). It’s a film that has a lot that is happening as it shows exactly how angry the Empire is in their pursuit to crush the rebellion. At the same time, it also plays into the sense of hope that the former Republic longs for in the hands of a young man who needs to learn the ways of the Force.
The film’s screenplay not only explores the complexity of what the Empire is trying to do in the aftermath of their major defeat but also into who is really running things where Vader is revealed to be under the orders of its leader in Emperor Palpatine (Elaine Baker with the voice of Clive Revill). While Darth Vader is still a very dangerous and cunning antagonist, the script allows to reveal much more into who he is as he’s not a man that is totally evil as he’s willing to give those who work for him second chances. Even in the film’s climax where he and Luke Skywalker have a battle with lightsabers where Vader offers Luke the chance to join him where it reveals an ambiguity into Vader. The character of Luke Skywalker also becomes more layered in the film but as someone who is more unsure about the ways of being a Jedi as he travels to the swampy planet of Dagobah to meet Yoda with the astromech droid R2-D2 (Kenny Baker). Upon learning who Yoda is and Yoda’s reluctance to train him because of Luke’s lack of patience.
Luke would go through a rigorous training as he would also learn about the dark side of the force where a vision he would have would become the catalyst for the film’s climax. A climax that would involve Han and Leia where their storyline involves the two finally realizing their attraction for one another after years of tension where they seek shelter in a friend of Han in Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) who is an ambassador in a planetary city known as Cloud City. Calrissian is a unique character who is someone that is loyal to Han but is forced to reveal that his city had been taken by the Empire as he becomes consumed with guilt into what Vader is doing. The climax at Cloud City wouldn’t just be a moment where many of its protagonists would come together but also would create a resolution which would bring more motivation to destroy the Empire.
Irvin Kershner’s direction maintains the vast tone of its predecessor by not just setting it into different worlds but also create something that is very dark as it relates to Darth Vader’s pursuit of Luke Skywalker. Shot partially on location in Norway with much of it shot in studios in London, the film has a very broader look in terms of how diverse the galaxy is. The film would begin in a snowy and icy planet where the rebels are in hiding where Luke’s encounter with a monster would play into his evolving powers with the Force. Kershner’s usage of wide shots not only plays into the ground battle between the rebels and the Empire but also in some medium shots and close-ups that add to the sense of suspense and drama. Even in the action where many of the scenes set in space such as the chase between the Star Destroyers and the Millennium Falcon through asteroid fields and such do play into the vast tone of the story.
There’s also some humor in the film as one of the running jokes involves the Millennium Falcon’s attempt to jump into hyperdrive where it is this great attempt at dark humor. The scenes set in the planet of Dagobah where there’s all of these creatures and such play into Luke Skywalker not just being out of his comfort zone but also in a land that is quite damp and desolate which is the last place he would expect to find someone like Yoda. Some of the visual effects that are used aren’t just miniatures and puppets but also in stop-motion animation for the battle scenes in Hoth as it adds a realism to the film. The film’s climax as this sky-based city known as Cloud City isn’t just one of the most chilling moments in the film but it would also feature a moment that is very shocking. Overall, Kershner creates a gripping and exhilarating film that explores a group of rebels trying to escape and defy an evil empire.
Cinematographer Peter Suschitzky does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography with the damp look of the scenes set in Dagobah as well as the usage of orange lights for some of the exteriors in Cloud City as it creates something that is gorgeous as well as eerie. Editor Paul Hirsch, with additional work by George and Marcia Lucas, does amazing work with the editing with its usage of dissolves, transition wipes, and other stylish cuts to play into the action and suspense. Production designer Norman Reynolds, along with set decorator Michael Ford and art directors Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange, and Alan Tomkins, does fantastic work with the look of the rebel base at Hoth as well as the bridge inside the Star Destroyer Excelsior Class and the rooms inside Cloud City. Costume designer John Mollo does nice work with the clothes from the look of the Imperial uniforms as well as the clothes the main protagonists wear in their journey.
Makeup designer Stuart Freeborn does excellent work with the look of Emperor Palpatine as well as some of the alien creatures that appear in the film. Visual effects supervisors Richard Edlund, Brian Johnson, Dennis Muren, and Bruce Nicholson do phenomenal work with the visual effects from the look of the AT-AT Walkers with its usage of stop-motion animation to the design of the scenes in space. Sound designer Ben Burtt does superb work with the sound in not just the sound of the droids but also in the creatures and other aspects in the sound. The film’s music by John Williams is incredible for its bombastic orchestral score that includes some lush and soaring string arrangement pieces as well as some low-key orchestral moments to play into the drama.
The casting by Bob Edmiston, Irene Lamb, and Terry Liebling is marvelous as it features notable small roles from John Ratzenberger and Bruce Boa as a couple of rebel military leaders, Julian Glover as General Veers who leads the attack at Hoth, Michael Culver as Captain Needa who tries to capture the Millennium Falcon, John Morton as Luke’s gunner at Hoth, Michael Sheard as the Imperial Admiral Ozzel who would make a fatal mistake at Hoth that angers Vader, Kenneth Colley as Ozzel’s replacement Admiral Piett who would be the one to find the rebels at Hoth, Denis Lawson as rebel pilot Wedge, and Jeremy Bulloch, with the voice of Jason Wingreen, as the bounty hunter Boba Fett who is tasked to capture Han Solo for a major reward. Clive Revill is terrific as the voice of Emperor Palpatine with Elaine Baker as the character in physical form as it displays a figure that is truly evil.
Alec Guinness is superb as the late Obi-Wan Kenobi who appears as a spiritual guide of Luke through the Force while Frank Oz is fantastic as the voice of Yoda that is an alien figure who would teach Luke the ways of the Force and show him that nothing is impossible. Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker are excellent in their respective roles as C-3P0 and R2-D2 as the two droids who both endure separate adventures with Daniels being the comical protocol droid who complains about what is happening to him while Baker brings a more whimsical yet low-key approach to his role as he would play a crucial part for the film’s ending. David Prowse is great as Darth Vader as he maintains a dangerous presence with James Earl Jones providing the voice that would show glimpse of the humanity that makes Vader a very interesting antagonist. Peter Mayhew is amazing as Chewbacca as Han Solo’s Wookie sidekick who often brings some comical commentary to Han’s attempt to woo Leia while being the guy that everyone can count on.
Billy Dee Williams is brilliant as the smooth-talking Lando Calrissian as an ambassador of Cloud City who is an old friend of Han while being forced to work with the Empire over Han’s capture. Carrie Fisher is remarkable as Princess Leia Organa as a top rebel leader who copes with her feelings for Han while dealing with the chaos that is surrounding her as she tries to keep things calm. Harrison Ford is incredible as Han Solo where he brings in some charm and humility into his anti-hero character that is being chased by the Empire while dealing with his feelings for Leia. Finally, there’s Mark Hamill in a sensational performance as Luke Skywalker as he displays not just an immaturity and naiveté in his training as a Jedi but also a determination to prove himself to become a Jedi.
***The Following is Based on the 1997 Special Edition and its Subsequent Revised Editions***
The 1997 Special Edition and its subsequent revised versions of the film not only featured new visual effects and remastered sound design by Ben Burtt along with additional edits by T.M. Christopher. What George Lucas does in this edition aren’t a lot of new things as it’s only a few subtle changes with new effects for the scenes in Cloud City as well as a fully-realized look of the monster that would attack Luke early in the film. The one big change that is most evident in the film that would emerge in later editions is the Emperor Palpatine character as he would be played by Ian McDiarmid in a 2004 revised version as McDiarmid would play the character in Return of the Jedi and its prequels. Another change is in the character of Boba Fett as the 2004 revised version would feature a new voice by Temura Morrison who would play the role of Jango Fett in 2002’s Attack of the Clones and the many storm troopers in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith. While it is a different version than the original film, the revised versions is able to at least maintain some of the heart of the film’s original story and its dark tone.
***End of Special Edition/Revised Versions Tidbits***
The Empire Strikes Back is a magnificent film from Irvin Kershner. Armed with a great cast, sprawling visual effects, and a thrilling story that is dark as well as raising the stakes. It’s not just one of the best sci-fi adventure films ever made but also a standard into what blockbuster cinema is and more. Even as it’s revised editions don’t do much to deter some of the elements of the original films. In the end, The Empire Strikes Back is an incredible film from Irvin Kershner.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
© thevoid99 2015
Written and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) is the story of a young farmhand from a distant planet who finds two robotic droids that is carrying a secret plan as they seek the help of two smugglers and an old knight to save a princess from the evil empire and aid the rebellion to destroy its secret weapon. The film is a space opera that is set in planets far away in the galaxy where a young man learns about who he is and the powers he would have to help save the galaxy from the darkness. Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, David Prowse with the voice of James Earl Jones, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Alec Guinness. Star Wars is an enthralling yet rapturous film from George Lucas.
Set in a galaxy far away during a civil war between the Galactic Empire and a group of rebels representing the old Galactic Republic. The film revolves around a young farmhand who encounters two robotic droids as one of them carries a message as well as secret plans that would help the rebellion destroy the Empire’s newest weapon in a large space station known as the Death Star. With the aid of an old knight who was part of an elite group of peacekeepers known as Jedis, the two get the help of a smuggler and his alien first mate to not only save the princess but also give the plans to the rebel forces to stop the Empire. It’s a story that is very simple where it’s not just an entire galaxy at stake but also a world of good that has been covered by darkness for so many years.
While there are flaws in George Lucas’ screenplay as it relates to his dialogue, Lucas is able to create characters that are engaging such as the droids in the protocol droid C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and the astromech droid R2-D2 (Kenny Baker with sound effects by Ben Burtt) as the latter is carrying a message from Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) to an old Jedi Night in Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and secret plans that might help destroy the Death Star. Upon landing on this desert-planet called Tatooine where Kenobi was supposedly last seen, the droids are bought by a farmer named Owen Lars (Phil Brown) and his nephew Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The latter of which would discover Princess Leia’s message as he knows someone named Kenobi as he would eventually learn that a man named Ben is actually whom Princess Leia is asking for. At the same time, Luke would learn about his father who was a Jedi knight that was killed by one of Kenobi’s old pupils in Darth Vader (David Prowse with the voice of James Earl Jones).
The characterization of Luke is an interesting one as he is this young man that is eager to get out of Tatooine and become a fighter as he is an accomplished pilot. Yet, circumstances would finally realize that he does have a destiny to fulfill in not just wanting to help rebellion but also become a Jedi like his father. With Kenobi’s help, the two team up with a couple of smugglers named Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and a large dog-like creature named Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) who would take them to a planet for a price. Solo is an unusual character as he is modeled after many Western archetypes as he has no qualms killing people if it helps him such as a scene where he kills a smuggler who wants to collect a bounty on Solo’s head. Though Solo is reluctant to save Princess Leia, he only decides to help her once he realizes how much money he can get which shows an ambiguity to who he is. Princess Leia herself is anything but a damsel-in-distress as she is quite adept in shooting with a blaster while being very opinionated and knowing what to do in tense situations. Especially where is confronted by a member of the Imperial government in Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) to find the whereabouts of a secret base.
The character of Darth Vader is an interesting antagonist as someone who is seen wearing black with a helmet and breathes through a mask. He is someone that can pretty much get the job done and get some answers but he is also very intelligent in knowing that not everyone will be swayed easily. Like Kenobi, he is also a trained Jedi knight but leans towards the dark side and knows when to use the Force to do things. He and Kenobi would have a confrontation in the middle of the film as it would play into exactly what Kenobi would do in order for Luke to learn the ways of the Force for the film’s climax.
Lucas’ direction is quite vast for a sci-fi film in terms of not just the world that he creates but also in how he would introduce it starting with this chase between a small space cruiser and this large Imperial ship called the Star Destroyer as it comes in from above the frame. It sets the tone for what is to come though the film actually opens with some exposition about this civil war between the Empire and the rebellion. With some of the locations shot in Tunisia for the scenes in Tatooine and other locations in Guatemala, much of the film is set in space as it plays into a galaxy where it’s very diverse and very different. Tatooine is seen as this desert world where it’s sort of unruly and desolate but it is a place where things can happen. Even for someone like Luke Skywalker who feels like he doesn’t belong as he is among the small group of humans who wound interact with all sorts of aliens in the world.
The world of outer space is also quite big in terms of the way it is presented with Lucas using a lot of wide and medium shots as well as the look of the Death Star that looks like a large moon that can shoot a giant laser to destroy a planet. The way Darth Vader is first presented is among these rich compositions that Lucas creates to establish what kind of man he is. The light saber battle between Vader and Kenobi plays into the world of traditional sword fighting but involving and old man and a tall one where there aren’t a lot of big movements but rather on instinct. Many of the battles in space are presented with these very intense visual effects that mixes miniatures and optical effects to make it feel as realistic as it can. Especially for the film’s climatic battle against the Empire at the Death Star where it has a lot of thrills and moments that are just gripping. Overall, Lucas creates a spectacular yet engaging film about a group of people trying to save the galaxy from an evil empire.
Cinematographer Gilbert Taylor does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from capturing the sunny look of the scenes set in Tatooine as well as some of the interior lighting for some of the ships in space including Solo‘s spaceship the Millennium Falcon. Editors Richard Chew, Paul Hirsch, and Marcia Lucas, with additional work by George Lucas, do amazing work with the editing as it includes some unique rhythmic cuts for some of the film‘s action scenes along with a few dissolves and some stylish transition wipe that play into the film‘s mixture of adventure and action. Production designer John Barry, with set decorator Roger Christian and art directors Leslie Dilley and Norman Reynolds, does fantastic work with the design of the Death Star and some of its interiors along with the Millennium Falcon and its interiors plus some of the places in Tatooine such as the Mos Eisley Cantina.
Costume designer John Mollo does nice work with the look of Darth Vader as well as the Imperial officer uniforms and the look of the its soldiers in the Stormtroopers. Makeup designers Rick Baker and Stuart Freeborn do excellent work with the look and design of the creatures in Tatooine including the little Jawas and some of the aliens at the Mos Eisley Cantina. Special visual effects supervisors John Dykstra and John Stears do phenomenal work with the special effects in the way the lightsabers look and the way lasers are presented as well the battle scenes set in space.
Sound designer Ben Burtt and sound editor Sam F. Shaw do incredible work with the film‘s sound work from the way R2-D2 and other droids sound as well as some of the sound effects of how TIE Fighters sound in space as well as other aspects in the film‘s sound work. The film’s music by John Williams is great as it is one of the defining film scores with its orchestral bombast filled with lush string arrangements and vast brass section to play into its many themes along with a few playful pieces.
The casting by Diane Crittenden, Irene Lamb, and Victor Ramos do wonderful work with the film’s casting as it includes notable small roles from Phil Brown and Shelagh Fraser in their respective roles as Luke’s uncle Owen and aunt Beru, Denis Lawson as the rebel X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles, Garrick Hagon as Luke’s friend/rebel X-wing pilot Biggs Darklighter, and Jack Purvis as a chief Jawa. Peter Cushing is superb as the Death Star commander Grand Moff Tarkin as an Imperial governor who tries to get Princess Leia to reveal vital information into the rebel base as well as keep Vader in line.
Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker are fantastic in their respective roles as C-3P0 and R2-D2 with Daniels providing some unique movements and dialogue that makes the character a fun and sometimes annoying persona while Baker provides just movements that makes R2 such a loveable droid. Peter Mayhew is excellent as the Wookie named Chewbacca as Mayhew brings a unique physicality to the role as well as creating some of his own language that makes him sort of a moral compass for Han Solo. David Prowse is brilliant in bringing the sense of physicality and presence that is Darth Vader that is added by the phenomenal voice work of James Earl Jones who adds a lot of eerie textures to the role of Vader. Alec Guinness is amazing as Obi-Wan Kenobi as a former Jedi knight who helps Luke in saving Princess Leia and carry out the Death Star plans to the rebels as he would also teach Luke the ways of the Force.
Carrie Fisher is incredible as Princess Leia Organa as a princess who is captured by the Empire as she refuses to give information while being a badass with a blaster that makes her a far more compelling character. Harrison Ford is remarkable as Han Solo as this anti-hero who takes part in the journey for money to pay a debt while being someone that is reckless and funny. Finally, there’s Mark Hamill in a marvelous performance as Luke Skywalker as a young farmhand who dreams of flying and being part of the rebellion as he learns about his father and the destiny he is to take part in.
***The Following is Based on the 1997 Special Edition and its Subsequent Revised Editions of the Film***
The film’s 1997 special edition and its subsequent versions not only would feature some new scenes under Lucas’ direction with the contributions of editor T.M. Christopher and sound designer Ben Burtt, along with visual effects supervisors Dave Carson, John Knoll, Joe Letteri, Bruce Nicholson, Alex Seiden, and Stephen Williams,. The changes and added scenes aren’t just controversial but also play into the debate of film revisionism. One notable change that is controversial is a scene where Han shoots Gredo in cold blood as it plays into his anti-hero persona. In the special edition and later versions to follow, it would have Gredo shooting first and Han firing afterwards. It is a change that isn’t very good and certainly messes with Han’s development from anti-hero to hero.
While some of the visual effects do help polish the film as well as new sound effects and design by Ben Burtt to add more layers. There’s elements in the film that don’t work such as the Jabba the Hutt character who would be seen in Return of the Jedi as he appears in a computer-animated format in a scene with Han Solo that was originally deleted from the original film. In this special edition, the scene is restored but with Jabba the Hutt as this creature who is trying to get Solo to pay the debt that he owes him. There’s other scenes that are restored such as a brief conversation between Luke and Biggs before the climatic battle which is a good scene that was added. Then there’s the explosion of Alderaan in the scene where the Death Star displays its power as the original explosion was big but primitive in its 1977 release. In its revised and subsequent versions, it is much bigger with a force field that actually makes it look ridiculous.
***End of Special Editions Tidbits***
Stars Wars is a tremendous film from George Lucas. Armed with a great cast, amazing visual effects, a phenomenal score, and a thrilling story. It is a film that isn’t just one of the finest sci-fi adventure films ever made but it’s also cinema that manages to appeal to audiences of all ages. While the 1997 special edition and its following revised versions are a mixed bag, the original version is still a fascinating yet engrossing film that still holds up and proves to be just as fun to watch as it did back in 1977. In the end, Star Wars is a glorious and sensational film from George Lucas.
Star Wars Films: The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: The Hidden Fortress - Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
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