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Showing posts with the label frank oz

One thing remains. Vader. You must confront Vader. Then, only then, a Jedi will you be. And confront him you will.

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No 91 - Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi Director - Richard Marquand So, we come to the last of the original trilogy and whilst this film is a lot cuddlier and less bleak than the middle film, it holds a special place in my heart because of 3 freaking awesome monsters in three teeny tiny roles. And so.... ladies and gentleman... may I introduce: In fact, this film has a really impressive overall monster count. From the grandiose of Jabba's palace (and, in fact Jabba himself is a spectacular puppet) to the cute little Ewoks - this is the film where we begin to really see the extended alien life, in a way that hasn't been seen since the cantina in A New Hope. The film also revisits Yoda, who is awesome, and who gets to have a truly powerful emotional scene. It is testament to Frank Oz's fabulous skills that he can create such a wonderful performance from a tiny puppet. But there are some flaws in the film too, some pretty massive niggles that pestered me through...

Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try

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No 3 - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Director - Irvin Kersher What is it that makes this film so awesome? It is the film where George Lucas fully understands his vision and wisely puts it into the hands of a better director. Where the cast feel more comfortable with their roles and perform them fantastically. It is a film which is wonderfully wonderfully bleak. A New Hope is a great film and introduces ideas such as the Jedi and the lightsaber (the buzzing sound of lightsabers will always make me geekily excited) - however it isn't Empire that the full idea of the Jedi is realised. We first hear and see the Emperor (Grand Moff Tarkin having mysteriously vanished) and we begin to learn some of the other powers of the force. The audience, like Luke, is guided through this new world by Yoda. Possibly one of the greatest mentors ever put to film. So, not only is the world richer in theology, it also becomes far richer in location. A New Hope is mainly spent inside s...