As an observance of the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, Athena Studios has released a video featuring Marcia Lucas and Duwayne Dunham discussing their work as editors on the original trilogy. In addition, there are videos featuring other members of the creative team behind Star Wars, including Howard Kazanjian (producer), Ben Burtt (sound designer), Harrison Ellenshaw (matte artist), Joe Johnston (art director), and many more.
The video with Marcia Lucas and Duwayne Dunham can be seen below:
Star Wars is like a song you love. You hear the song and it takes you back to a special time in your life. It’s a soundtrack for your memories. You hear it and images unfold on the screen of your mind, accompanied by an array of sights, sounds, and sensations. For instance, within a few notes of “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles, I’m back celebrating the 4th of July in the neighborhood where I grew up. I smell hotdogs on the grill and gunpowder in the air. I hear the cheers of baseball games, the sizzle and pop of sparklers, firecrackers, and Coca-Cola. I see star-spangled streamers flapping from bicycles, and breeze-kissed American flags waving from porches, washed golden in the sun, and then in the warm dusk, exploding gemstones of fireworks illuminating and patterning the sky.
It’s hard to believe, but Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope turns forty this year. It seems like only yesterday that I was tromping around my backyard pretending to be Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. Actually, I was doing that yesterday, but I mean as an 8-year old kid back in 1977.
A New Hope is a period piece and other than Luke and Han’s hairstyles it’s easy to forget that this film was released in the late 1970’s. While it’s never a bad time to be a Star Wars fan nothing compares to how good it is today. Every time I hear someone complain about Legends versus canon, or points out some imperfection from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, I want to turn to that person and say you have no idea just how amazing the Star Wars landscape is right now.
Whether it’s the films, novels, television, costumes, or toys all of it is so much more incredible that what we had back in my day.
Yes, that’s right, you heard me, I said that dirty little word “prequel.” Well, guess what? You best get used to hearing it, seeing it, and reading it more often, especially now. You see, there’s a new movie coming out in about three months, and this impending film is set to take place “before” Star Wars: A New Hope. Therefore, making it a prequel film and, yes, I’m talking about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Call it whatever you like, a pioneering film or a groundbreaker. Either way you say it, it is still a prequel. Like them or don’t like them. Regardless, they’re here to stay.
The evolution of Star Wars films Photo Source: thewrap.com
Star Wars is evolving and, as fans, we need to do the same. It’s a new generation of Star Wars and George Lucas is no longer at the helm. Ok, so that might be old news, but so is the timeless fact that we cannot change things that we have no control over. That said, I love Star Wars – all of it! Do I agree with every tiny detail of it? No, but that doesn’t change my love for that galaxy far, far away. Why? Well, for starters, it was meant to be what it is today. The first six were meant to follow a specific pattern – like a poem – they rhyme. There are parallelisms, there are mythology patterns, and yes, tantalizing visuals that are way ahead of their time and remarkably, are still impressive to this very day. Yes, in both the original and prequel films. Side note, there are more practical models in The Phantom Menace than in any of the original three films. Anyways, moving along …
Imperial Star Destroyers in the Original Trilogy — A Guest Blog by Jay Stobie
Memorable Star Destroyer Scenes & Their Pivotal Roles In The Trilogy
The might of the Galactic Empire was spread across the galaxy in the original Star Wars trilogy, and a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers enforced the law of the Empire throughout the stars. With its dagger-like outline that could pierce the hopes of even the most courageous Rebel, these sixteen hundred meter-long behemoths embodied power and destruction. However, in Episodes IV through VI, the Imperial Star Destroyers also provided fans with a multitude of scenes that dropped jaws, pleased the eye, and served as pivotal moments within the overall storyline of the trilogy. Here we will examine some of these crucial scenes and provide the context for their place in Star Wars lore.
STAR WARS™ – THE ULTIMATE EDITIONS OF THE ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS SONY CLASSICAL REISSUES STAR WARS EPISODES I-VI IN NEWLY RESTORED AUDIO COLLECTIONS NOW AVAILABLE ON VINYL, CD AND HI-RESOLUTION DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
The most acclaimed and enduring film music in Hollywood history, the original soundtracks of Star Wars Episodes I-VI are being reissued by Sony Classical in three new, definitive editions – Star Wars: The Ultimate Vinyl Collection (11 LPs), Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Edition (10 CDs plus DVD) and Star Wars: The Ultimate Digital Collection (hi-resolution download). All composed by the legendary five-time Oscar®-winning composer, John Williams, these unique collector’s sets are being reissued after the latest chapter in the saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, opens in theaters. All three of Sony Classical’s new soundtrack editions are now available.
Have you ever had that friend or family member who constantly complains about something from the past? You know, that person who has told you hundreds of times how they feel about something that happened years and years ago.
Eventually it gets so old that you don’t even care anymore. It just causes you to sigh, roll your eyes and you tell them to LET IT GO (I apologize if that triggered a song from a certain animated movie). At one time, you might have even agreed with their position, but since you’ve heard so much complaining, not even you care anymore.
That’s what Star Wars Prequel Bashers have become.
On this special show, we have the winner of our first Patreon Coffee Chat, Dennis Keithly! Dennis leads the discussion; we look at the hype surrounding The Force Awakens, the impact social media has on hype, and reflect on the anticipation surrounding the Original Trilogy releases, the Special Editions, and the Prequels. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane, and it’s all due to the vision of Dennis. This is the podcast you’re looking for!
Mark Hamill recently lent his narrating talents to a documentary film called Go Far: The Christopher Rush Story. As part of an effort to get the word out about this amazing film (I know, because I’ve seen it!), producer/director Zack Arnold is giving away three original trilogy Star Wars posters, signed and personalized to the winner by Mark Hamill!
Here is the official synopsis of the film, followed by the trailer and information on how to enter this exciting giveaway:
For all of George Lucas’ flip-floppery on whether there would ever be a sequel trilogy, the form of the story demands that a third installment be created. It asks for it, it begs for it, and it demands it. The Skywalker story is not complete. From one point of view, we have Anakin’s rise, fall and redemption. But we are missing the story of his legacy. Every one of us will leave a legacy – a story that can only be told after our death. So, from my point of view, we have Anakin’s life, his redemption and – and then, nothing. The Skywalker baton was passed on to his son, but what he did with that legacy is a story as yet untold. Life, redemption, legacy. A trilogy that can be reflective of every life. Read more
