ROTJ at 30! 30 Reasons to love Jedi - #29: Wilhelmish.

Welcome back to our celebration of Return of the Jedi as it hits 30, this entry focuses on a cameo from a true Star Wars legend.

Sound designer Ben Burtt has not only worked on all the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films but a wide range of other classics from ET, Red Tails and J. J. Abrams' Star Trek and Super 8. From creating the hum of a lightsaber to the voice of WALL-E you'll definitely know his work.

In Jedi as Imperial officer Colonel Dyer after a short lived "Freeze" threat to our Rebel heroes the character is knocked to an electricy end and unleashes a rather familiar scream...

Now these days just about every cinephile and his mum are familiar with the Wilhelm Scream but what makes this appearance so special is that Burtt, the man who brought the scream to screen prominence by working it into each of his films, expertly recreates it as his character falls to his untimely death. And it's a pretty close impression too! Well I suppose he has spent enough time hearing it...

Till next time, keep those ears open.

Chris.

Updated: Kyle Newman & Co. return to Return of the Jedi!

Updated with the embeded Special Edition video!

Last week on this blog I started up a series of posts celebrating the 30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi (with the next instalment on the way!) and now director Kyle Newman of Fanboys, Smugglers Gambit and the sure to be fantastic Barely Lethal has assembled a geektastic team to discuss why they love the film so much in his short documentary Return of Return of the Jedi.

The 10 minute doc features fantastic and funny looks at Episode VI from a host of big names including Kevin Smith, Seth Green, Eli Roth, Jamie King, Topher Grace, Jason Mewes, Donald Faison, Fall Out Boy and Chris Hardwick. From Ewoks to Salacious Crumb, Lando's disguise and Ackbar's need to tell it just as it is this film is a really fine way to celebrate Jedi's big 3-0!

Now who brought the birthday cake?

Chris.

Update 2 - Well it looks like Paul Bateman brought the cake with this fantastic poster for the film, awesome work Paul!

Breaking news: New series 'Star Wars Rebels' coming 2014!

For a few weeks now we have had Clone Wars' Dave Filoni has been dropping hints about research and work for a new show...

Well, he doesn't disappoint!

In the Fall of 2014 we will be treated to Star Wars Rebels, a show set in the cinematic dark times between Episode III and IV. StarWars.com tells us:

"The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV — an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point."

Now this is the sort of news we've all been waiting for!

Alongside Dave we have Greg Weisman, Simon Kinberg and a slew of the creative talent that made The Clone Wars the finest show on television.

The passion for the time period and the love for the art of Ralph McQuarrie that comes across so much in this video that I think we have something very special to look forward to, I know my mind is racing at the possibilities.

Read the full story over at StarWars.com and keep checking back for more news as it breaks.

Chris.

(Can you tell that I'm a little bit excited?)

ROTJ at 30! 30 Reasons to love Jedi - #30: Par-tay!

I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell anyone reading this blog that 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi and there has already been a great deal of celebrating going on! From exclusive merchandise, various anniversary screenings, the upcoming Making of book from J.W. Rinzler and the soon to be released online documentary from Kyle Newman, this is one birthday that isn't going by quietly.

A few weeks ago in my first post on here I mentioned that my favourite film was Return of the Jedi and so I'm going to get in on the action too. To me Episode VI is looking better than ever and in this series of blogs I'll be returning to Jedi to look at some of the reasons why I think that it still takes the Star Wars crown.

So let's begin at the end... #30 on my list of reasons to love Jedi is the final celebration scene.

To me this particular scene is just purely joyous. A celebration for the characters as much as it is a celebration for the audience. And after what has came before; the ground and space battles, the confrontation with the Emperor and the fate of Darth Vader a bit of partying seems like just what the doctor ordered.

The '97 Special Edition, DVD and Blu-ray release have all added to the sequence and whilst some of these saga wide tweaks are controversial at the best of times I believe that these particular additions to the the films are amongst some of the best.

The galaxy wide celebrations that the special editions give us an even greater sense of victory and resolution to the saga, and after the cathartic experience of watching all 6 films (in the machete order, if possible!) it is so powerful to see how tyranny can be overthrown and freedoms restored to all.

Plus to me the new music of the revised version of the scene appropriately fits the conclusion of the saga, tying the imagery of jubilation and celebration to the sense of achievement, it isn't overly epic or as bombastic as some of the music we are use to in the series but it's hopeful, a theme for a time of peace and new beginnings. And sorry for slightly opening Yub Nub gate here and getting into the merits of the classics vs. the updated editions, now I'm sure that is a blog for another day...

Anyway, check back for the next entry in this series soon and till next time remember to party like its 1983!

Chris.

And just to keep those Ewok fans happy...

"Is that too much to ask?"

Just a little something from Ryan Adams & the Cardinals to pick up that mid-week slump (specifically a coursework marking slump for me! Who knew this teaching thing was actually like work?). 

Anyway, have a listen because well, it's what we all want really isn't it?

It's sort of topical this one too as last week on Twitter Adams wrote "Hey @starwars Lemme do some crap in the new Star Wars movie and Ill quit writing this depressing music. Thanksbye." Will it be Ryan Adams & the Modal Nodes? Hey, you never know what Disney is cooking up...

See you in the cantina,

Chris.

May the 4th be with you all!

I'm not exactly sure when people saying "May the 4th be with you!" turned from a joke into a sort of geeky holiday but I'm glad it did!

This year is sure to have exclusive and discounted swag across a great range of sites (and I'm sure I'll be more than tempted by just a few of them...) but the real excitement this year is hopefully going to come in the form of news on the future of Star Wars. Episode VII? Spin off films? The Clone Wars? Detours? Comics? Video games? Celebration Europe II? All of the above? Hell, maybe none of the above? Time will surely tell but I guess it's safe to say it's an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan. Enjoy the day, brace yourself for whatever may be released and more than likely prepare yourself for a barrage of bad Star Wars puns on Twitter...

Also top marks to anyone who can answer what I'm photographing at SWCV a few years back in the image above!

Have a great day and May the 4th be with you all!

Chris.