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Now Playing: “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi” (4/28/2023)

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We are fast approaching “Star Wars Day” for 2023 and what better way to lead into the celebration than with a theatrical re-release of the bonafide classic “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of The Jedi” which celebrates its own 40th Anniversary in the coming weeks. The film is being presented for a limited time in limited theaters so you’ll need to do some Googling about that to see if it will be playing near you. I’ve added the brand-new poster, and more down below.

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The Premise: After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.
Continue reading Now Playing: “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi” (4/28/2023)

“Star Wars”: A Galactic Saga Hits Four Decades (1977-2017)

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away….” – It’s amazing to realize that this amazing Space Opera was released forty years ago on this very day. I don’t need to cite how those introductory words brought us to the flourish of the orchestrated soundtrack while the opening crawl began and filled us in about what was going on in this particular galaxy. The ride began here and what a ride it’s been. The film and its subsequent sequels have become one of the biggest selling franchises in cinematic history.

I’m happy to report that I saw this film not long after it opened in the cinema, and it was at the now shuttered Ziegfeld Theater in NYC with my Grandmother. She had taken me as a birthday present as the film opened up a few days before I would be celebrating. I don’t remember how long after it opened that we went but it was not open long for sure. I don’t have the ticket from the show as one wasn’t keeping that sort of stuff way back then, or at least I wasn’t – Yet 🙂 I loved the film and am pretty sure that I convinced Nan to take me again or the parents. I wasn’t seeing movies with my friends yet back in 1977. When did you see this film? Are you old enough to have said you saw it during its original theatrical run like I was fortunate to do? Hopefully you aren’t one of those folks that have never seen the film because I have heard that a few of you are out there. I’ll run down the cast in a moment but first – Behold the Original “Star Wars” Theatrical Poster. Magnificent isn’t it?


Continue reading “Star Wars”: A Galactic Saga Hits Four Decades (1977-2017)

PiercingMetal Sees “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” @ Alpine Cinemas

Hey readers, so I wanted to offer up my quick thoughts about the just recently released “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” film which actually only opened up a few days ago. In the past I have waited a couple of weeks before doing this kind of summary but with the film getting a superb Box Office performance and having some truly amazing scenes I wanted to toss my hat into the ring about it. Though I had originally planned on seeing this in the city, I would end up in the Bay Ridge Alpine Cinemas instead. Movie time.

Now it’s important to to realize that this is a story that takes place post “Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith” and pre “Star Wars: A New Hope” (the latter of which was only called “Star Wars” way back in the original film release. Here is the brief premise from the films Wikipedia entry.

“After the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance recruits Jyn Erso to work with a team including Cassian Andor to steal the design schematics of the Empire’s new superweapon, the Death Star”.

I went to the second matinee showing in my theater and thanks to a very slow line of dishing out the tickets along with a customer who seemed to be purchasing bonds instead of a simple movie ticket, I missed a few minutes at the very beginning and came into the film where we see an adult Jyn Erso. Had I arrived earlier as planned I would have seen some scenes when she was younger. Oh well. The lack of any trailers before the film made this happen more than my train being a tad slow. Jyn is played by Felicity Jones and she will surely become a fan favorite after this one.

We meet The Rebellion who mostly go by The Resistance at this point who are seeking to be free of the Galactic Empire based on the overall tyranny that they are laying down on the galaxy and with this film we go to worlds one might have only read about in the Star Wars novels that while not direct tie-ins, do feature some connected plot lines. Jyn and pilot Cassian Andor played by Diego Luna, learn what the Empire is up to on a planet called Jedha and since this involved the ready to wreak havoc Death Star, the galaxy’s freedom will be short-lived.

As I don’t wish to spoil too much of the film I will say that this is loaded with new and very awesome characters and some truly exciting battle scenes. The villainy of the Galactic Empire seems dire as it should be and you know we are seeing Darth Vader in this one and believe me his scenes are excellent. The character is used just enough to send a chill down your spine and as a friend said to me after he had seen it, the film’s final five minutes are worthy of the price of admission. There are a few Easter eggs in the film so keep your eyes peeled for them and since this precedes the original trilogy there are moments where you will smile and say “oh yeah”. I greatly enjoyed this one and will likely go again and see how the 3D aspect of it is. I generally do NOT spend the extra money on the 3D as its usually not worth it to me. You might feel different and enjoy all of your films in this manner. To each their own. The talented cast is rounded out by Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic, Donnie Yen as Chirrut Îmwe, Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso, Alan Tudyk as K-2SO, Jiang Wen as Baze Malbus, Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera, Riz Ahmed plays Bodhi Rook. Outside of Jyn’s character my favorites in the film were the new droid K-2, Donnie Yen’s Chirrut Imwe and of course Lord Darth Vader.

Since this happens before the original Star Wars film, you know that The Rebels end up with the plans for the Death Star and what happened to it at the end. It’s learning what they went through to get these plans that makes “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” so awesome. My hope is that we see other films across the timeline of the canon going forward. Stuff that shows characters we know and love in different adventures that while of the same framework only connect so much “back then”. See this film and enjoy it with fellow Star Wars geeks. There are NO bonus scenes for you to wait for once it completes. Based on where we are in the year, this seems to be the last film that I will see in the theater and hence final movie review posting for the year as well. 2017 sure is going to have a lot of the films that our demographic is tuned into so I am looking forward to continuing the angle whenever possible.

Official Film Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_One

Opening: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (12/16/2016)

Logo - Rogue One A Star Wars Story

The day has finally arrived, we are going back in time with the history of the Star Wars galaxy and learning what happened after “Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith” and before “Episode IV: A New Hope” as “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” opens today. Check out the poster, premise and cast and then I will return briefly with some thoughts.

poster-rogue-one-a-star-wars-story-2016

The Premise:
After the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance recruits Jyn Erso to work with a team including Cassian Andor to steal the design schematics of the Empire’s new superweapon, the Death Star.

The Cast:
Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic
Donnie Yen as Chirrut ĂŽmwe
Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso
Alan Tudyk as K-2SO
Jiang Wen as Baze Malbus
Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera
Riz Ahmed plays Bodhi Rook
Jonathan Aris plays Senator Jebel
Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma
Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa
James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader
Valene Kane as Lyra Erso
Nick Kellington as Bistan, an alien creature
Alistair Petrie as General Draven.
Eunice Olumide, and Warwick Davis have been cast in unspecified roles
Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman, director and producer of Star Wars: Episode VIII cameo as two Death Star technicians

PiercingMetal Thoughts: So I liked but didn’t “love” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” because I felt it was trying to do too much. This film looks a lot more exciting to me as it showcases the badness of The Galactic Empire and the random forces of freedom that are hoping to escape its clutches. I’ve long felt that we should have seen stuff like this once “Revenge Of The Sith” had been released and now we are. I am not sure that I am going to get to it on the opening day since the holidays are imminent but it will not be long after if I do not. What about you Star Wars maniacs? Are you reading this post from the line at your neighboring theater where you stand ready for the first showing? Let me know in the comments section below and be sure to NOT look at the official Wiki once the film opens because spoiler stuff is always present there once a film is opened.

Official Film Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_One

Official Trailer #2: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (12/2016)

Logo - Rogue One A Star Wars Story

We’ve been waiting since August for another trailer for the upcoming film in the Star Wars universe when we got our first proper glimpse of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and only a short time ago the second official trailer was unveiled and its a good one. So sit back and sip that coffee or tea if its your preference and look away from Facebook for a couple of minutes to properly enjoy this on the screen of your computer. Remember that while this film follows “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in terms of release, its actually taking place in the time before that “A New Hope” film that I am sure quite a few of you have seen. This second trailer is even more substantial than the first was so enjoy.

The Premise:
Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters come together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor’s rule. Edwards stated that the style of the film will be similar to that of a war film, stating, “It’s the reality of war. Good guys are bad. Bad guys are good. It’s complicated, layered; a very rich scenario in which to set a movie.”
Continue reading Official Trailer #2: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (12/2016)