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Cannes 2013: Surprises & Notable Absence ...

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5 Things You May Not Know About 'Return Of The Jedi' & How It Could Have Been Much Cooler

By Drew Taylor
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May 24, 2013 1:57 PM
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19 Comments

Features

This week George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” turns 30. The conclusion to what was then imagined to be the end of the "Star Wars" saga concerned the Rebellion going up against the evil Galactic Empire, which has constructed a second, planet-destroying Death Star that is about to go online. It had a whole bunch of thrills, chills, and fussy robots, but, as we look back on ‘Return of the Jedi’ (and look forward to whatever J.J. Abrams’ "Star Wars: Episode 7" will be,) it’s interesting to note what the sequel might have contained under different conditions– and how it could have ended up being much, much cooler (This as the companion piece to that ran earlier today btw.)

By Drew Taylor
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May 24, 2013 12:00 PM
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31 Comments

Features

Imagine it: you've taken off from school and waited in line all day to see "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," the last installment (ever!) in the "Star Wars" saga. You're wearing your favorite "Star Wars" shirt, have your bucket of popcorn and jumbo-sized soda, and a primo seat in the auditorium, the best possible vantage point from which to watch the end of the trilogy unfold. No more than twenty minutes into the movie the lovable rogue Han Solo (Harrison Ford) dies fighting the evil Galactic Empire, sacrificing himself for the good of the Rebellion. The shockwaves from his death ripple through the audience and a very clear warning is issued from the filmmakers: no one is safe. Co-screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan fought for this to be a reality. So did Ford, who had grown weary of the character. But series overlord George Lucas said no. As Harrison Ford put it in 2010: "George didn't think there was any future in dead Han toys."

By Joe Cunningham
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May 9, 2013 2:39 PM
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1 Comment

News

Mark Hamill will be in J.J. Abrams' “Star Wars: Episode VII,” that much we do know. Quite how much, or what Luke Skywalker will be doing when we meet him next is another thing entirely, but Hamill certainly seems excited about the prospect of returning to a galaxy far, far away. The actor was at the CapeTown Film Fest recently and got talking all things "Star Wars" -- from the original trilogy, to the prequels, to the upcoming trilogy.

By The Playlist Staff
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May 2, 2013 3:04 PM
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35 Comments

Features

A lot's been written over the years about sequels -- when they go right and bring us a welcome return to characters and themes we'd flocked to see the first time out and, more often, when they do not, and instead deliver diminishing returns in everything except box office terms. But what of the second sequel, the so-called "threequel"? It's a franchise entry that presents its own specific challenges -- is it the conclusion to a trilogy (like "The Dark Knight Rises") or just the continuation of a franchise (such as "Die Hard With A Vengeance")? Does it have lost ground to make up after a disappointing second entry ("Mission: Impossible 3") or are expectations at an all-time high following a mark II triumph ("Return of the Jedi")? This weekend, we all get to see whether "Iron Man 3" rises to or sinks beneath its particular set of challenges -- you can read our judgement here -- but it's a situation with pitfalls Marvel head Kevin Feige, for one, was fully aware of.

By Ken Guidry
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May 2, 2013 11:50 AM
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5 Comments

News

Naturally, when a film as hotly anticipated as “Star Wars: Episode VII” is mired in secrecy, all we have is speculation. Will the original cast be back? Will there be more Ewoks? The questions are endless. But, Carrie Fisher and Ian McDiarmid are two people who are more than happy to take part in such gossip. They, of course, played Princess Leia and Emperor Palpatine in the series.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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April 8, 2013 10:25 AM
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1 Comment

News

So, you think you know every single thing there is to know about the original "Star Wars" trilogy? Well, certainly, given how well documented those movies have been in the decades since they changed the sci-fi landscape, we're not surprised by your confidence. But we're pretty sure you'll find something new to discover in this massive, seven-hour documentary trilogy covering "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return Of The Jedi."

By Kevin Jagernauth
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February 6, 2013 1:44 PM
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14 Comments

News

Will, this is timely. Given the general slow drip of news and secrecy at the mouse house surrounding their upcoming "Star Wars" we had no idea that very literally moments after we had finished writing What The Stand-Alone 'Star Wars' Movies Mean For The Franchise & 5 Possibilities Of What They Could Be, well, we would kind of know what they will be.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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January 28, 2013 5:41 PM
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5 Comments

News

So, a 2015 release date for "Star Wars: Episode VII" still isn't locked down, and the planned re-release of the prequels has been scrapped. So what's a "Star Wars" fan to do? Well, thanks to the internet, they can revel in past glory for the time being.