David-Prowse Movie Reviews

A simply marvelous, visually stunning and heart warming and charming story; complete with excellent music scores. The young Kate Maberly shows an enormous amount of depth in her leading role as Mary Lennox. Andrew Knott was very good in his supporting role as Dickon.

All other actors were very good and believable. That being said it is a very dangerous film for a Christian, as it needlessly subtedly plants New Age philosophy which honors the creation (nature) and makes no mention of the Creator.

What I am referring to is the scene of the children dancing around the fire in the garden and calling out to some unknown pagan god, and the movies' overall theme of a magical garden - due entirely to nature.

I'd give it five stars except for these important misleading characteristics.

This is a movie about a girl named Mary. She was born in India and was raised not by her parents. Her parents never cared about her just about themselves. Maids raised her. When a fire broke out her parents died and she was sent to live with her aunt. She ends up meeting her cousin who she never met before. He is sick and can't walk. She finds a garden a secret garden. She meets her aunts son and they plant flowers in the garden to make it look beautiful. Then she and her cousin and her aunts son end up hanging out together and playing in the garden. Her aunt soon starts to get mad because she thinks the sick boy should be inside not outside. But soon Mary and Dicken show her cousin how to walk. Her cousin also becomes closer to his dad who in the beginning weren't close at all. They barely saw eachother. Mary says if you look at it closely it's as if the whole world were as a garden. This is suppose to be the VHS version.

In 1993, I first saw the film "The Secret Garden", and loved it. I have the video today and whenever I look at it or think about it, it still thrills me.

This film stars Kate Maberley as Mary Lennox, a girl about ten years old who lives in India. Sadly, Mary is neglected by her parents and spoiled by the servants who look after her. But things change when she loses her parents in an earthquake (not to cholera, as in the original book. I suspect they made the change because there's more drama in an earthquake than in a cholera epidemic).

As a result, she has to go to England, where her uncle, Lord Craven, lives. But he's miserable because he lost his wife due to premature childbirth (she fell off a swing in her garden and it triggered the birth of her son, Colin). He locked up the garden and neglected Colin in sheer grief. Mrs. Medlock, trying to maintain order in the household, urges Mary not to go poking about. But sure enough, Mary does, finding first the key to the secret garden, then the garden itself, then Colin. And as she does so, both she and Colin begin to come alive, aided by Dickon, the brother of the Yorkshire servant, Martha.

I especially loved two things about the movie: the music and the actors. The music was beautiful, especially the music associated with the garden. It made me appreciate the beauty of nature and of the garden, especially when the garden came alive.

As for the actors, they were all excellent, especially the children. Kate, Heydon Prowse (Colin), and Andrew Knotts (Dickon) all looked like real children in a real situation. And both Kate and Heydon portrayed their characters' unlovable traits very well without forfeiting my affection for them. Also, John Lynch was fine as Lord Craven, and Maggie Smith was excellent as Mrs. Medlock, who may have seemed bad, but who was simply acting out of good, if misguided, intentions. Still, I wanted to tell her that Colin's legs were swollen and red because he was getting better, not because he was getting worse!

The film doesn't have a whole lot of action, which is just fine for the film because the film probably would be hurt by a lot of action. But if you don't like films which take their time and create a great mood, don't see this film. If you do like films which take their time to create the appropriate mood, see The Secret Garden. You won't regret it!

Belle Book

A simply marvelous, visually stunning and heart warming and charming story; complete with excellent music scores. The young Kate Maberly shows an enormous amount of depth in her leading role as Mary Lennox. Andrew Knott was very good in his supporting role as Dickon.

All other actors were very good and believable. That being said it is a very dangerous film for a Christian, as it needlessly subtedly plants New Age philosophy which honors the creation (nature) and makes no mention of the Creator.

What I am referring to is the scene of the children dancing around the fire in the garden and calling out to some unknown pagan god, and the movies' overall theme of a magical garden - due entirely to nature.

I'd give it five stars except for these important misleading characteristics.

This is a movie about a girl named Mary. She was born in India and was raised not by her parents. Her parents never cared about her just about themselves. Maids raised her. When a fire broke out her parents died and she was sent to live with her aunt. She ends up meeting her cousin who she never met before. He is sick and can't walk. She finds a garden a secret garden. She meets her aunts son and they plant flowers in the garden to make it look beautiful. Then she and her cousin and her aunts son end up hanging out together and playing in the garden. Her aunt soon starts to get mad because she thinks the sick boy should be inside not outside. But soon Mary and Dicken show her cousin how to walk. Her cousin also becomes closer to his dad who in the beginning weren't close at all. They barely saw eachother. Mary says if you look at it closely it's as if the whole world were as a garden. This is suppose to be the VHS version.

In 1993, I first saw the film "The Secret Garden", and loved it. I have the video today and whenever I look at it or think about it, it still thrills me.

This film stars Kate Maberley as Mary Lennox, a girl about ten years old who lives in India. Sadly, Mary is neglected by her parents and spoiled by the servants who look after her. But things change when she loses her parents in an earthquake (not to cholera, as in the original book. I suspect they made the change because there's more drama in an earthquake than in a cholera epidemic).

As a result, she has to go to England, where her uncle, Lord Craven, lives. But he's miserable because he lost his wife due to premature childbirth (she fell off a swing in her garden and it triggered the birth of her son, Colin). He locked up the garden and neglected Colin in sheer grief. Mrs. Medlock, trying to maintain order in the household, urges Mary not to go poking about. But sure enough, Mary does, finding first the key to the secret garden, then the garden itself, then Colin. And as she does so, both she and Colin begin to come alive, aided by Dickon, the brother of the Yorkshire servant, Martha.

I especially loved two things about the movie: the music and the actors. The music was beautiful, especially the music associated with the garden. It made me appreciate the beauty of nature and of the garden, especially when the garden came alive.

As for the actors, they were all excellent, especially the children. Kate, Heydon Prowse (Colin), and Andrew Knotts (Dickon) all looked like real children in a real situation. And both Kate and Heydon portrayed their characters' unlovable traits very well without forfeiting my affection for them. Also, John Lynch was fine as Lord Craven, and Maggie Smith was excellent as Mrs. Medlock, who may have seemed bad, but who was simply acting out of good, if misguided, intentions. Still, I wanted to tell her that Colin's legs were swollen and red because he was getting better, not because he was getting worse!

The film doesn't have a whole lot of action, which is just fine for the film because the film probably would be hurt by a lot of action. But if you don't like films which take their time and create a great mood, don't see this film. If you do like films which take their time to create the appropriate mood, see The Secret Garden. You won't regret it!

Belle Book

The second entry in the Star Wars trilogy is my personalfavorite. Irvin Kershner and George Lucas accomplished something fewother filmakers have done: They made a sequel that is considered to be better than the original. This film, has a more dark, eerie edge to it comparing it to Return of the Jedi or the original. This is probably the most realistic film of the series. Mark Hamil is great as Luke but probably is better in Return of the Jedi. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are in top form in this one though. At the 198O Academy Awards Empire won Best Sound and a Special Achievement Award for its dazzling visual effects. I felt bad that it didn't win Best Art-Set Direction but felt it got cheated when it lost Best Original Score since the score in this was probably the best in the series. The fight on the ice planet Hoth where the Imperial AT-AT Walkers attack the Rebel base is very exciting and memorable, as are several other scenes such as the chase through the asteroid field and the part where Han is lowered into the carbon-freezing pit in Cloud City. The dialogue is funny such as "Shut him up or shut him down!". Yoda was very good and Frank Oz did a great job as the voiceof Yoda. The climax is a thrilling lightsaber fight in the bowels of the Cloud City . It is my favorite one in the series, edging out the one in Return of the Jedi aboard the half-completed Death Star before the Emperor. Pretty cool. I really liked how you got to see Vader's meditation chamber and the Imperial Fleet. I also liked how you got to see all the Imperial officers and the inside area of the Executor. seeing more of the Cloud City made this dark film a bit brighter. I heavily recommend this movie to anyone, especially HUGE Star Wars fans like myself.

"Star Wars" began a cinematic adventure which introduced us to characters born from myth and fairy tales. The first sequel; "The Empire Strikes Back" takes these same characters and makes them people. "Empire" begins three years after the events in "Star Wars". All the important characters are still here only now there's a maturity and nobility to their prescence.

Luke Skywalker and his friends; pilot Han Solo and Princess Liea, in an attempt to evade the Empire are hiding on a frozen ice world. Pursuing them is Darth Vader who even more evil than before is obsessed with not only destroying the rebellion but capturing Luke Skywalker.

In the first film, the heroic trio of Luke, Han and Leia worked together through their adventures. In this installment they are split up after a sudden attack by the Empire. Han and Leia with Chewbacca and C-3PO escape near death together while Luke leads a brief defense against the Imperial attackers before escaping with R2-D2 to a mysterious swamp planet to learn more about the mystical Force.

From here the film follows two separate storylines. While Luke is trained by Yoda, a Jedi Master on the swamp planet of Dagobah, Darth Vader relentlessly pursues Han and Leia hoping to lure Skywalker to him. The pacing of this film is less kinetic than the first film or even the next sequel; "Return of the Jedi". However, the story is not dependant any miltary action or secret missions to save the galaxy. It's focus is on character and the loss of innocence. While there are plentiful action set pieces in this film the real excitment comes from the characters themselves and none more evident than in Han Solo.

In this film he is more of the lead character than Luke. His brazen disregard of responsibility in the first film is replaced with introspection and humanity here. He isn't concerned with money this time but only the saftey of his friends and it his sacrifice in the film where the "Star Wars" Trilogy reveals it's heart.

Filled with more imagination than any other "Star Wars" film, "The Empire Strikes Back" explores fears of heroes we know as family and subtly reveals their vulnerabilities. It is the best "Star Wars".

As long as there had been motion pictures, there had been science fiction films. Unfortunately, very few of them ever managed to hit the spot. That was, until 1977 rolled around. It was in this year that George Lucas would change the way we look at science fiction. How would he do this? With the film he released that year - Star Wars. The film was so successful, that two sequels were released! And in 1997, special edition versions of the films were released! How does The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the classic trilogy measure up? Read on for my review.

BASIC PLOT:
The basic story of the movie goes something like this. Three years have past since the events of the first Star Wars film. The Rebel Alliance has gone into hiding in a base on the remote, icy world of Hoth. Unfortunately, the Galactic Empire discovers them. After an intense battle against imperial forces, Luke goes to a distant, swampy world to begin his training to become a Jedi knight, while Han and Leia get chased by the Empire, and a number of bounty hunters employed by them. The climax of the film comes in a lightsaber duel between Luke and Darth Vader, in which Vader makes a startling revelation...

FILM OPINIONS:
A great film - no questions asked. This is a rare example of a film nearly thirty years old that doesn't seem dated. Even by modern standards, this is still an excellent film. I was glad to see the movie get the remastering it so desperately needed. Oh, and to all you folks new to the series - steer clear of the prequels. Stick with the CLASSIC trilogy.

EXTRAS:
Even though this is a VHS tape and not a DVD (god only knows when this film will get a DVD release), Lucasfilm has included extra features. Before the actual film begins, you get a "making of" featurette, which is very informative and entertaining. But the best extra of all is the new footage - each film has had some new footage added. Of all the films, this one probably got the least new footage. A shame, since this is my favorite Star Wars film. Though these new scenes don't reveal anything important (many were originally thought of as outtakes), they're still a nice touch.

OVERALL:
The Star Wars films are science fiction masterpieces that don't fail to stand the test of time. Hell, these movies are better than most of the modern sci-fi films out there! If you're a fan of the genre, the Star Wars series is not to be missed.

As long as there had been motion pictures, there had been science fiction films. Unfortunately, very few of them ever managed to hit the spot. That was, until 1977 rolled around. It was in this year that George Lucas would change the way we look at science fiction. How would he do this? With the film he released that year - Star Wars. The film was so successful, that two sequels were released! And in 1997, special edition versions of the films were released! How does The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the classic trilogy measure up? Read on for my review.

BASIC PLOT:
The basic story of the movie goes something like this. Three years have past since the events of the first Star Wars film. The Rebel Alliance has gone into hiding in a base on the remote, icy world of Hoth. Unfortunately, the Galactic Empire discovers them. After an intense battle against imperial forces, Luke goes to a distant, swampy world to begin his training to become a Jedi knight, while Han and Leia get chased by the Empire, and a number of bounty hunters employed by them. The climax of the film comes in a lightsaber duel between Luke and Darth Vader, in which Vader makes a startling revelation...

FILM OPINIONS:
A great film - no questions asked. This is a rare example of a film nearly thirty years old that doesn't seem dated. Even by modern standards, this is still an excellent film. I was glad to see the movie get the remastering it so desperately needed. Oh, and to all you folks new to the series - steer clear of the prequels. Stick with the CLASSIC trilogy.

EXTRAS:
Even though this is a VHS tape and not a DVD (god only knows when this film will get a DVD release), Lucasfilm has included extra features. Before the actual film begins, you get a "making of" featurette, which is very informative and entertaining. But the best extra of all is the new footage - each film has had some new footage added. Of all the films, this one probably got the least new footage. A shame, since this is my favorite Star Wars film. Though these new scenes don't reveal anything important (many were originally thought of as outtakes), they're still a nice touch.

OVERALL:
The Star Wars films are science fiction masterpieces that don't fail to stand the test of time. Hell, these movies are better than most of the modern sci-fi films out there! If you're a fan of the genre, the Star Wars series is not to be missed.

With the phenomenal success of Star Wars in 1977, George Lucas realized he could continue the planned trilogy he had been outlining since the early 1970s. His original outline contained the raw material for Episodes IV, V and VI as well as the nebulous backstory that would become the foundation for the current prequels. So in 1978, with Star Wars (which would be rechristened Episode IV: A New Hope) earning hundreds of millions in box office receipts, Lucas, producer Gary Kurtz and the Lucasfilm production team began work on The Empire Strikes Back, the film most Star Wars fans believe is the best in the entire saga.

Lucas gave his story to Leigh Brackett, an acclaimed science fiction writer, and hired her to write the screenplay. She passed away soon after finishing the first draft, so Lucas (who would serve as executive producer) handed the project over to up-and-coming writer-director Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat, Continental Divide, and Raiders of the Lost Ark). Furthermore, he handed the directing reins to Irvin Kershner (The Eyes of Laura Mars); the Star Wars shoot had drained Lucas emotionally and physically, so the series creator focused on the behind-the-scenes aspects of Empire's production.

The Empire Strikes Back picks up the narrative some three years after the events of Episode IV: A New Hope. Despite their impressive victory at Yavin, the Rebels' destruction of the Empire's Death Star marked only the true start of the Galactic Civil War. Darth Vader (Dave Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones), last seen heading into deep space in his damaged TIE fighter, made his way to Imperial territory and was given the assignment of eradicating the main resistance cell of the Rebellion. Somewhere along the line (and the movies never explained this), Vader discovered the identity of the X-Wing pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Some time after the Battle of Yavin, the Empire forced the Rebels to flee from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy. Now, as the title crawl narrates, Vader, "obsessed with finding young Skywalker, dispatches thousands of remote probes into the deep reaches of space."

One of these probes crashes on Hoth, an icy world in the backwaters of the galaxy and so inhospitable that even smugglers avoid it. Its fiery descent is seen by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), now a commander of Rogue Squadron, as he rides on his trusty tauntaun. However, before he can check it out, he's attacked by a Wampa ice creature and dragged off to its cave for future consumption.

Meanwhile, unaware of his friend's plight, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) returns to the Rebel base and tells the commanding officer (Bruce Boa) that he's leaving the Alliance to pay the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt the money he still owes from an incident predating his involvement with the Rebellion. When Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) reacts angrily to his decision to leave, he tells her he knows she wants him to stay not because he's "a natural leader" for the Rebel pilots but "because of the way you feel about me." But their sparring is interrupted when Luke (now hanging by his ankles on an ice cave's ceiling) is reported overdue and Han recklessly rides out into the bitter cold of a Hoth night to find him.

Skywalker, aided by his untrained Jedi abilities, manages to escape from the Wampa before he becomes its dinner, and runs out into the teeth of a Hoth night storm. Before collapsing in exhaustion, the spirit of his slain mentor Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (Alec Guinness) appears before him and tells Luke he must "go to the Dagobah system. There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me." Ben disappears and Luke falls unconscious to the snow, but Han reaches him in the nick of time.

Although Han's tauntaun dies and the two friends must themselves be rescued by Alliance pilots, Luke survives and everyone is briefly reunited. But the Imperial probe that Luke failed to investigate discovers the Rebel base and reports to the Imperial fleet. Soon, Vader and his hordes of Imperial forces, supported by a fleet of Star Destroyers and lumbering armored transports, descend on Hoth, and the band of Star Warriors scatters. Luke and his astromech droid R2-D2 fly off to Dagobah to find Yoda, while Han, Leia, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) are pursued relentlessly by Imperial ships and the bounty hunter Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch).

The Empire Strikes Back took very big risks, such as surprising fans with its Episode V subtitle, having its big battle take place during the first half of the movie, giving the director's chair to Kershner, and making the ending a big cliffhanger with so many story threads left dangling. Would Luke complete his training with Yoda (Frank Oz)? Could Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) be trusted? Who did Leia really love, Luke or Han? Most importantly, was Vader really Luke's father, as he claims at the end of the de rigeur lightsaber duel on Cloud City? For three years, fans theorized and conjectured many different scenarios and grumbled about the unfinished feel of the ending, but Empire was a resounding critical and popular success. The script and directing gave Episode V depth and more personality shadings to the characters, the effects were even better than the first film's, and John Williams' brilliant score built on A New Hope's established musical themes and added new and more interesting leitmotivs that gave the Star Wars saga its operatic sweep. Empire is one of those rare sequels that in some ways surpasses its predecessor film, and almost 25 years after its release it still thrills and chills its many fans.

The best of the series where the GREAT SECRET is revealed. Once again, don't take it TOO seriously.

George Lucas' first instalment in the immensely popular STAR WARS franchise is generally regarded as the greatest movie ever made. Why? Well, what's not to like? From the opening shot of the Blockade Runner accompanied by that great theme tune by John Williams, you know you're in the unique world of the STAR WARS universe. Before George's prequels THE PHANTOM MENACE and ATTACK OF THE CLONES, A NEW HOPE was known only as STAR WARS. Audiences had never seen anything so original and amazing. Now, the series has entered into the fanboy culture all over the world. In comparison, Episode 4 seems somewhat tame compared to AOTC in terms of action, but it's still an astounding adventure filled with great characters and wonderful escapsim.
From Hero Luke Skywalker's symbolic journey from his home Tatooine to the moment of victory at the finale, we are greeted with a myriad of fantastic characters, especially Han Solo, played by a pre-Indy Harrison Ford and his buddy Chewbacca. And the ultimate incarnation of evil, Darth Vader. And that, more than anything, is what made TPM so hollow. While the action was good, the lack of good characters is disappointing. But AOTC has regained much of the sense of adventure that this film started off.
Lucas' grand vision illuminates the entire film, with inventive creatures and events. Several scenes that are my favorites are Obi Wan's conversation to Luke about the Clone Wars and Vader, Solo's disposal of Greedo, Obi Wan and Vader's last confrontation and the battle of Yavin. One of my all-time favorite films, STAR WARS is THE great adventure.
Directed by Irvin Kershner, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK moved away from the high-sprited antics of the first film and took a step towards the dark side. The Empire is preparing to seek revenge on the Rebel Alliance, C3P0 gets blasted to bits and Luke Skywalker finds out that Darth Vader is his dad! Even John William's score is much darker in tone than his previous efforts. But the film is an excellent adventure that many fans consider to be superior to the original. Mark Hamill returns as Luke, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as the sardonic Han Solo. And we are introduced to the wise Yoda, who trains Luke about the ways of a Jedi. The action ante is upped considerably, with fantastic chases through asteroid feilds, battles between snowspeeders and the AT-ATs and Luke's rescue mission. And the Bespin Duel, where the confrontational battle between Vader and Luke ends with one of the most shocking revelations in movie history (Even if it's somewhat un-surprising for future fans who watch all the completed films in sequence).

RETURN OF THE JEDI starts off with Luke and Leia rescuing Han Solo from the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. While the film is less exciting than it's counterparts, it does have some good action, including the rescue on the desert skiff, the speeder chase through the forest of Endor, the dark final battle between Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Luke and the destruction of the second Death Star. The lightsaber fights are some of the best in the Star Wars cannon and Princess Leia is hotter than ever! John William's score is even more exciting than ESB.
If I were to place the Star Wars films in order from best to not-as-good, they would go THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, A NEW HOPE, RETURN OF THE JEDI, ATTACK OF THE CLONES and THE PHANTOM MENACE.
This presentation is very impressive, with added scenes and improved SFX. We see more of Jabba the Hutt, there are some great additions including the amazing Bespin City and the added celebration scenes at the end of JEDI. A classic trilogy, and a must-buy when it gets on DVD (Hurry up George).

I would like to have reviewed this movie if it were on DVD, but since George Lucas will not do that untill Episode III is finished by 2005, I'll just go ahead. This is pretty much a ground stone in science fiction fantasy action movies. While Lucas updated the era of Flash Gordon for a new age, he created characters we love so well. Luke Skywalker(Mark Hamill) has always been my favorite hero, but yes I love the others as well(giggle). A wonderful story set around the time when the evil Empire led by Sith Lord Darth Vader plan to finish off the Rebellion forces with the ultimate weapon called the Death Star. After Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer)hides the stolen battle plans in lovable droid R2-D2, Luke Skywalker discovers them, and with the aid of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (the late Alec Guiness)and rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford), embarks on a thrilling quest not just to save the princess, but the hope of the entire galaxy. Great fun and entertainment in a true Saturday matinee fashion told by the great Jedi master Lucas himself. With wonderful special effects that were a milestone in movies it will always remain a classic of all movies.

It's been over a quarter century since George Lucas (THX 1138, American Grafitti) first shared Star Wars with millions of awestruck moviegoers in the late spring of 1977. Both the director and the studio executives at 20th Century Fox thought they'd have a modestly successful sci-fi/fantasy film with "just okay" box office receipts. Instead, bucking their logic and lowered expectations, Star Wars became not only the biggest hit of its time, but it also launched both a multi-movie series and a huge merchandising/multimedia "empire" that made millions for the shy, unassuming USC film school graduate from Modesto, California.

Star Wars (later renamed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) begins with one of the most stunning opening scenes in movie history: After the 20th Century Fox Fanfare and a moment of silence for the "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" card, the Star Wars logo appears with the opening chord of composer John Williams' now famous "Main Theme" -- which serves as accompaniment to a title crawl that sets the stage for a battle between good and evil. "It is a period of civil war," and Rebels have united to challenge the evil Galactic Empire. From a hidden base in the Outer Rim, the Rebel fleet has won its first victory against Imperial forces. In the heat of battle, Rebel agents have discovered the secret plans for the Death Star, a huge space station with a planet-killing superlaser. Now those plans are in the hands of Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and her starship carries her back to her home world of Alderaan with a huge Imperial Star Destroyer in hot pursuit.

It is the very climax of this pursuit that starts Star Wars: A New Hope with that indelible first scene of a small Rebel blockade runner being pursued by the huge wedge shaped Star Destroyer. The Blockade Runner is tractored into the Star Destroyer's ventral docking bay, and after a short and furious battle, Imperial troops led by Lord Darth Vader (David Prowse, voice by James Earl Jones) overrun the ship's defenses and capture Princess Leia.

But wait! Just as the battle is ending, C-3PO and R2-D2, a pair of droids who are a comedic pair along the lines of Laurel and Hardy, have evaded capture and left the captured Rebel ship aboard a small escape pod. Below them lies the desert planet Tatooine, with its twin suns, small farming settlements, and two persons whose destiny was inextricably linked decades before.

The first of these two that the droids will encounter is young moisture farmer Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a restless teenager who yearns for adventure and excitement beyond the confines of his Uncle Owen's (Phil Brown) struggling farm. With good mechanical skills (he modified his landspeeder on his own) and natural flying skills, Luke wants to follow his friend Biggs and enter the Imperial Space Academy. But Owen and his wife Beru (the late Sheelagh Fraser) fear that Luke's dreams are much too dangerous, and Owen does everything possible to stall his nephew's ambitions. At first glance, one might think Owen is just a stubborn man, but when Beru points out that "Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his father in him," his earnest gaze and simple reply ("That's what I'm afraid of.") hint at things yet to come.

The other person of great import to the struggle between Empire and Rebellion is Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), an old hermit who lives beyond the Western Dune Sea. Considered by the locals to be a "crazy old wizard," he keeps to himself in a spartan hut carved into the face of a cliff. But looks can be deceiving, for as Luke discovers when "Ben" rescues him from a band of Tusken Raiders, Kenobi was once the legendary Jedi Knight and General Obi-Wan Kenobi.

When Obi-Wan hands him an old lightsaber, Luke also discovers that his father had not really been a navigator on a space freighter, but had fought alongside Kenobi in the Clone Wars as a Jedi Knight. "A cunning warrior" and "the best starpilot in the galaxy," Skywalker the elder had been betrayed and murdered by a young former pupil of Obi-Wan's named Darth Vader.

After watching a holorecording of Princess Leia's plea for help, Kenobi then attempts to enlist Luke to take the droids to Alderaan with secret plans vital to the Rebellion, Luke hesitates. He wants to leave Tatooine, yes, but he feels an obligation to his aunt and uncle.

Alas, the long arm of the Empire has reached Owen and Beru first. Having tracked the robots to the jawas who had sold them to Luke's guardians, stormtroopers have slain the couple and orphaned Luke. Now, fate -- or the Force -- has taken a hand, and Luke Skywalker vows that he wants to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi.

Star Wars' second half, starting with the fateful meeting in the now famous Mos Eisley cantina with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and culminating with the climactic space battle over the Death Star, is a fast-paced chain of cliffhangers intended to be an homage to the cheesy-but-thrilling movie serials of the Thirties and Forties. Will the Rebels get past the detention cell? Will the droids stop the trash compactor in time? Will Darth Vader face off against his former Master? Will Han Solo and Chewbacca go off to pay Jabba the Hutt, or will they save Luke during the last attack run down the Death Star trench?

Lucas' clever mix of various movie genres (Westerns, gangster films, sword-and-sorcery, and war movies), his pioneering advances in special effects, and John Williams' Academy Award-winning score are just a few reasons why movie audiences embraced Star Wars in such a manner that it became a part of American culture. It's not perfect and it's hokey, yes, but it allowed many of us to forget (for two hours, anyway) all the troubles of the world.

George Lucas' first instalment in the immensely popular STAR WARS franchise is generally regarded as the greatest movie ever made. Why? Well, what's not to like? From the opening shot of the Blockade Runner accompanied by that great theme tune by John Williams, you know you're in the unique world of the STAR WARS universe. Before George's prequels THE PHANTOM MENACE and ATTACK OF THE CLONES, A NEW HOPE was known only as STAR WARS. Audiences had never seen anything so original and amazing. Now, the series has entered into the fanboy culture all over the world. In comparison, Episode 4 seems somewhat tame compared to AOTC in terms of action, but it's still an astounding adventure filled with great characters and wonderful escapsim.
From Hero Luke Skywalker's symbolic journey from his home Tatooine to the moment of victory at the finale, we are greeted with a myriad of fantastic characters, especially Han Solo, played by a pre-Indy Harrison Ford and his buddy Chewbacca. And the ultimate incarnation of evil, Darth Vader. And that, more than anything, is what made TPM so hollow. While the action was good, the lack of good characters is disappointing. But AOTC has regained much of the sense of adventure that this film started off.
Lucas' grand vision illuminates the entire film, with inventive creatures and events. Several scenes that are my favorites are Obi Wan's conversation to Luke about the Clone Wars and Vader, Solo's disposal of Greedo, Obi Wan and Vader's last confrontation and the battle of Yavin. One of my all-time favorite films, STAR WARS is THE great adventure.
Directed by Irvin Kershner, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK moved away from the high-sprited antics of the first film and took a step towards the dark side. The Empire is preparing to seek revenge on the Rebel Alliance, C3P0 gets blasted to bits and Luke Skywalker finds out that Darth Vader is his dad! Even John William's score is much darker in tone than his previous efforts. But the film is an excellent adventure that many fans consider to be superior to the original. Mark Hamill returns as Luke, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as the sardonic Han Solo. And we are introduced to the wise Yoda, who trains Luke about the ways of a Jedi. The action ante is upped considerably, with fantastic chases through asteroid feilds, battles between snowspeeders and the AT-ATs and Luke's rescue mission. And the Bespin Duel, where the confrontational battle between Vader and Luke ends with one of the most shocking revelations in movie history (Even if it's somewhat un-surprising for future fans who watch all the completed films in sequence).

RETURN OF THE JEDI starts off with Luke and Leia rescuing Han Solo from the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. While the film is less exciting than it's counterparts, it does have some good action, including the rescue on the desert skiff, the speeder chase through the forest of Endor, the dark final battle between Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Luke and the destruction of the second Death Star. The lightsaber fights are some of the best in the Star Wars cannon and Princess Leia is hotter than ever! John William's score is even more exciting than ESB.
If I were to place the Star Wars films in order from best to not-as-good, they would go THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, A NEW HOPE, RETURN OF THE JEDI, ATTACK OF THE CLONES and THE PHANTOM MENACE.
This presentation is very impressive, with added scenes and improved SFX. We see more of Jabba the Hutt, there are some great additions including the amazing Bespin City and the added celebration scenes at the end of JEDI. A classic trilogy, and a must-buy when it gets on DVD (Hurry up George).

I would like to have reviewed this movie if it were on DVD, but since George Lucas will not do that untill Episode III is finished by 2005, I'll just go ahead. This is pretty much a ground stone in science fiction fantasy action movies. While Lucas updated the era of Flash Gordon for a new age, he created characters we love so well. Luke Skywalker(Mark Hamill) has always been my favorite hero, but yes I love the others as well(giggle). A wonderful story set around the time when the evil Empire led by Sith Lord Darth Vader plan to finish off the Rebellion forces with the ultimate weapon called the Death Star. After Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer)hides the stolen battle plans in lovable droid R2-D2, Luke Skywalker discovers them, and with the aid of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (the late Alec Guiness)and rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford), embarks on a thrilling quest not just to save the princess, but the hope of the entire galaxy. Great fun and entertainment in a true Saturday matinee fashion told by the great Jedi master Lucas himself. With wonderful special effects that were a milestone in movies it will always remain a classic of all movies.

It's been over a quarter century since George Lucas (THX 1138, American Grafitti) first shared Star Wars with millions of awestruck moviegoers in the late spring of 1977. Both the director and the studio executives at 20th Century Fox thought they'd have a modestly successful sci-fi/fantasy film with "just okay" box office receipts. Instead, bucking their logic and lowered expectations, Star Wars became not only the biggest hit of its time, but it also launched both a multi-movie series and a huge merchandising/multimedia "empire" that made millions for the shy, unassuming USC film school graduate from Modesto, California.

Star Wars (later renamed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) begins with one of the most stunning opening scenes in movie history: After the 20th Century Fox Fanfare and a moment of silence for the "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" card, the Star Wars logo appears with the opening chord of composer John Williams' now famous "Main Theme" -- which serves as accompaniment to a title crawl that sets the stage for a battle between good and evil. "It is a period of civil war," and Rebels have united to challenge the evil Galactic Empire. From a hidden base in the Outer Rim, the Rebel fleet has won its first victory against Imperial forces. In the heat of battle, Rebel agents have discovered the secret plans for the Death Star, a huge space station with a planet-killing superlaser. Now those plans are in the hands of Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and her starship carries her back to her home world of Alderaan with a huge Imperial Star Destroyer in hot pursuit.

It is the very climax of this pursuit that starts Star Wars: A New Hope with that indelible first scene of a small Rebel blockade runner being pursued by the huge wedge shaped Star Destroyer. The Blockade Runner is tractored into the Star Destroyer's ventral docking bay, and after a short and furious battle, Imperial troops led by Lord Darth Vader (David Prowse, voice by James Earl Jones) overrun the ship's defenses and capture Princess Leia.

But wait! Just as the battle is ending, C-3PO and R2-D2, a pair of droids who are a comedic pair along the lines of Laurel and Hardy, have evaded capture and left the captured Rebel ship aboard a small escape pod. Below them lies the desert planet Tatooine, with its twin suns, small farming settlements, and two persons whose destiny was inextricably linked decades before.

The first of these two that the droids will encounter is young moisture farmer Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a restless teenager who yearns for adventure and excitement beyond the confines of his Uncle Owen's (Phil Brown) struggling farm. With good mechanical skills (he modified his landspeeder on his own) and natural flying skills, Luke wants to follow his friend Biggs and enter the Imperial Space Academy. But Owen and his wife Beru (the late Sheelagh Fraser) fear that Luke's dreams are much too dangerous, and Owen does everything possible to stall his nephew's ambitions. At first glance, one might think Owen is just a stubborn man, but when Beru points out that "Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his father in him," his earnest gaze and simple reply ("That's what I'm afraid of.") hint at things yet to come.

The other person of great import to the struggle between Empire and Rebellion is Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), an old hermit who lives beyond the Western Dune Sea. Considered by the locals to be a "crazy old wizard," he keeps to himself in a spartan hut carved into the face of a cliff. But looks can be deceiving, for as Luke discovers when "Ben" rescues him from a band of Tusken Raiders, Kenobi was once the legendary Jedi Knight and General Obi-Wan Kenobi.

When Obi-Wan hands him an old lightsaber, Luke also discovers that his father had not really been a navigator on a space freighter, but had fought alongside Kenobi in the Clone Wars as a Jedi Knight. "A cunning warrior" and "the best starpilot in the galaxy," Skywalker the elder had been betrayed and murdered by a young former pupil of Obi-Wan's named Darth Vader.

After watching a holorecording of Princess Leia's plea for help, Kenobi then attempts to enlist Luke to take the droids to Alderaan with secret plans vital to the Rebellion, Luke hesitates. He wants to leave Tatooine, yes, but he feels an obligation to his aunt and uncle.

Alas, the long arm of the Empire has reached Owen and Beru first. Having tracked the robots to the jawas who had sold them to Luke's guardians, stormtroopers have slain the couple and orphaned Luke. Now, fate -- or the Force -- has taken a hand, and Luke Skywalker vows that he wants to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi.

Star Wars' second half, starting with the fateful meeting in the now famous Mos Eisley cantina with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and culminating with the climactic space battle over the Death Star, is a fast-paced chain of cliffhangers intended to be an homage to the cheesy-but-thrilling movie serials of the Thirties and Forties. Will the Rebels get past the detention cell? Will the droids stop the trash compactor in time? Will Darth Vader face off against his former Master? Will Han Solo and Chewbacca go off to pay Jabba the Hutt, or will they save Luke during the last attack run down the Death Star trench?

Lucas' clever mix of various movie genres (Westerns, gangster films, sword-and-sorcery, and war movies), his pioneering advances in special effects, and John Williams' Academy Award-winning score are just a few reasons why movie audiences embraced Star Wars in such a manner that it became a part of American culture. It's not perfect and it's hokey, yes, but it allowed many of us to forget (for two hours, anyway) all the troubles of the world.

The worst of the series. This one has cute fuzzy animals. Fun, but once again, don't take it TOO seriously.

Any fans of Star Wars or Classical Music will love this CD. Not one, not two -- but three successful soundtracks for the Star Wars trilogy and later films were composed by John Williams. He is the master of telling a story through music. "Return of the Jedi" is no exception. Williams' unique abilities to compell a movie with his music is accentuated in this wonderfully orchestrated endeavor. A must have for sci-fi movie fans. A+++

As long as there had been motion pictures, there had been science fiction films. Unfortunately, very few of them ever managed to hit the spot. That was, until 1977 rolled around. It was in this year that George Lucas would change the way we look at science fiction. How would he do this? With the film he released that year - Star Wars. The film was so successful, that two sequels were released! And in 1997, special edition versions of the films were released! How does Return Of The Jedi, the third and final film in the classic trilogy measure up? Read on for my review.

BASIC PLOT:
A year has passed since the events that took place in The Empire Strikes Back. The Galactic Empire has begun work on a newer, more powerful version of the Death Star, the space station that caused so much trouble for the Rebellion in the first film. After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba's Palace, he, Luke, and Leia reunite with the rest of the Rebel Alliance, and discover that the plans for the new battle station have been taken into their custody, giving them a one-shot chance to destroy the station before it is completed. What they aren't aware of is that the Emperor has allowed the plans to fall into their hands, so that he can launch a surprise attack. While the rest of the Rebel Alliance falls right into the Emperor's trap, Luke goes aboard the new Death Star, so that he may face Darth Vader once again. On the Forest Moon of Endor, below the Death Star, Han, Leia, and the rest of a massive Rebel strike force plot to destroy the shield generator around the battle station. Before long, the Rebellion is involved in its most intense battle yet - a battle that will result in galactic peace if won - or eternal terror if lost.

FILM OPINIONS:
A great film - no questions asked. This is a rare example of a film nearly thirty years old that doesn't seem dated. Even by modern standards, this is still an excellent film. It's by all means worthy of a five-star rating in my book. Oh, and to all you folks new to the series - steer clear of the prequels. Stick with the CLASSIC trilogy.

EXTRAS:
Even though this is a VHS tape and not a DVD (god only knows when this film will get a DVD release), Lucasfilm has included extra features. Before the actual film begins, you get a "making of" featurette, which is very informative and entertaining. But the best extra of all is the new footage - each film has had some new footage added. Of all the films, this one probably got the most new footage. Though these new scenes don't reveal anything important (many were originally thought of as outtakes), they're still a nice touch.

OVERALL:
The Star Wars films are science fiction masterpieces that don't fail to stand the test of time. Hell, these movies are better than most of the modern sci-fi films out there! If you're a fan of the genre, the Star Wars series is not to be missed.

The third part to George Lucas' original trilogy isn't as good as the previous two, but still has it's moments of exciting action. Episode VI RETURN OF THE JEDI starts off where EMPIRE left off, with Luke and Leia rescuing Han Solo from the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. While the film is less exciting than it's counterparts, it does have some good action, including the rescue on the desert skiff, the speeder chase through the forest of Endor, the dark final battle between Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Luke and the destruction of the second Death Star. The lightsaber fights are some of the best in the Star Wars cannon and Princess Leia is hotter than ever! John William's score is even more exciting than ESB. The one thing that's somewhat grinding is the inclusion of the ewoks, but the rest is good-natured fun. If I were to place the Star Wars films in order from best to not-as-good, they would go THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, A NEW HOPE, ATTACK OF THE CLONES, RETURN OF THE JEDI and THE PHANTOM MENACE. I hope George decides to do parts VII, VIII and X, because they can bring back all the great characters that make these films so enjoyable. JEDI is another one that should be out on DVD...

Return Of The Jedi is the final installment in the amazing masterpiece trilogy: Star Wars, and is one of the best in the trilogy. It perfectly interweaves emotion, action, and romance in this epic masterpiece which finishes one of the greatest movie trilogies of all times.

The Galactic Empire has begun construction on a new Death Star which is even more powerful than the first Death Star, and meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, R2D2, and C3PO are attempting to rescue Han Solo from the evil clutches of Jabba The Hutt. After they rescue Han, they plan for the destruction of the new Death Star and find out that the Emperor is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of the new Death Star. Han, Luke, Leia, 3PO, R2, and a group of rebel commandos must disable the Shield Generator on the orbiting moon of Endor to allow rebel fighter pilots to fly into the Death Star and destroy the main reactor. While the battle rages on, Luke must face his own destiny and confront Darth Vader in a battle to the death which may spell certain doom for the Rebel Alliance and their cause to restore freedom to the galaxy.

The entire movie shines with an epic look whether its a space battle, a sail barge assault above the jaws of a hungry Sarlacc, a Speeder Bike chase through the redwood forests of Endor, or a lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The emotions involved between Luke Skywalker and the truth about his past grip the audience in the same way that Luke feels, and suspend them above the fate of the Rebel Alliance. Han and Leia's feelings for each other are more developed in this movie, and really tie up loose ends that were left from The Empire Strikes Back. The entire movie actually ties up loose ends and is kind of the resolution point for the Star Wars trilogy. This movie is definitely the best in the trilogy, and worth buying. It is not a disappointment, but one of the greatest movies of all times.

Any fans of Star Wars or Classical Music will love this CD. Not one, not two -- but three successful soundtracks for the Star Wars trilogy and later films were composed by John Williams. He is the master of telling a story through music. "Return of the Jedi" is no exception. Williams' unique abilities to compell a movie with his music is accentuated in this wonderfully orchestrated endeavor. A must have for sci-fi movie fans. A+++

This is a review of the DVD set itself, as I assuming most of you already know the story and have possibly seen the TV show. This is a digitally remastered DVD with a stereo soundtrack and clear crisp visuals.

It's actually a two DVD set. The TV series, which is on the first DVD, is as near to a flawless reproduction as is currently possible. Watch it with the lights off to enjoy all the visuals and matte painting special effects that were available in 1981 with a shoestring budget. Additionally, this is a "must buy" just for the second DVD alone. Outtakes and deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, The Making of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, BBC Omnibus Tribute to Douglas Adams, and much more.

BBC Video has stepped up and hit a homerun with this DVD set. Be sure to watch it with and recommend it to your friends. "Share and enjoy!"

The video is based on the TV series, which is based on the books and the radio play. The radio play is hilariously satirical and very creative. The TV series was on PBS years ago and pops up every so often. Great story. The characters in the TV series don't quite measure up to the radio play but are good anyway. The story does measure up and the cheesy special effects only add to the fun. It's a Monty Python-esque view of space and travel in general with great commentary on our society and its peculiarities. The Hitchhiker's Guide is all you need to travel the universe and is essential when your planet is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. The Guide is many things: a primer on Vogon poetry, a guide to using the Babel fish, and a calming influence with it's friendly "don't panic" on the cover. The best character in the show may be Marvin the paranoid robot but Arthur Dent, Ford, Trillian and Zaphod are just right for fans of the books and play. The restaurant at the end of the universe is the place to be seen. All this and mice make the world go 'round. Zany and original. A definite find! It really can't be fully explained within the limits of a short review. Now if someone will only put out the radio show on CD!

. . .over-the-top campiness!

For anyone who has read the "Hitchhiker" books, this DVD collection is a "must-have". Obviously done on a shoe-string budget, this lack of "high-tech" makes the show more appealing -- not less. I've read all the books many times over -- and the DVD literally had me laughing out loud.

A joy for all Douglas Adams fans, and for all fans of campy British Sci-Fi television.

Highly recommended.

This is a review of the DVD set itself, as I assuming most of you already know the story and have possibly seen the TV show. This is a digitally remastered DVD with a stereo soundtrack and clear crisp visuals.

It's actually a two DVD set. The TV series, which is on the first DVD, is as near to a flawless reproduction as is currently possible. Watch it with the lights off to enjoy all the visuals and matte painting special effects that were available in 1981 with a shoestring budget. Additionally, this is a "must buy" just for the second DVD alone. Outtakes and deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, The Making of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, BBC Omnibus Tribute to Douglas Adams, and much more.

BBC Video has stepped up and hit a homerun with this DVD set. Be sure to watch it with and recommend it to your friends. "Share and enjoy!"

The video is based on the TV series, which is based on the books and the radio play. The radio play is hilariously satirical and very creative. The TV series was on PBS years ago and pops up every so often. Great story. The characters in the TV series don't quite measure up to the radio play but are good anyway. The story does measure up and the cheesy special effects only add to the fun. It's a Monty Python-esque view of space and travel in general with great commentary on our society and its peculiarities. The Hitchhiker's Guide is all you need to travel the universe and is essential when your planet is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. The Guide is many things: a primer on Vogon poetry, a guide to using the Babel fish, and a calming influence with it's friendly "don't panic" on the cover. The best character in the show may be Marvin the paranoid robot but Arthur Dent, Ford, Trillian and Zaphod are just right for fans of the books and play. The restaurant at the end of the universe is the place to be seen. All this and mice make the world go 'round. Zany and original. A definite find! It really can't be fully explained within the limits of a short review. Now if someone will only put out the radio show on CD!

. . .over-the-top campiness!

For anyone who has read the "Hitchhiker" books, this DVD collection is a "must-have". Obviously done on a shoe-string budget, this lack of "high-tech" makes the show more appealing -- not less. I've read all the books many times over -- and the DVD literally had me laughing out loud.

A joy for all Douglas Adams fans, and for all fans of campy British Sci-Fi television.

Highly recommended.