Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi review

No matter your viewing preference — whether its Revenge of the Sith or The Empire Strikes Back — that precedes it, Return of the Jedi is a bit of a letdown.

Han and Lando reunite at Star Wars Force Awakens premiere

Just finished wrapping up my Force Awakens review. Stay tuned. For now, enjoy these pics from the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” US premiere at the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre and El Capitan Theatre on Monday.

Among the highlights for me was Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams reconnecting and seeing the new cast members reveling in the excitement and the fanfare of their hard work.

Lando Calrissian may be appearing in new Star Wars films after all

For many Star Wars fans, the official announcement of the cast was a welcome homecoming with the reveals that Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C3-P0 were returning for ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.’

Yet there was one major character missing — Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian, the former scoundrel turned Rebel Alliance general.

So Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia are in London just in time for “Star Wars: Episode VII” filming

In a fairly interesting coincidence, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are all in London this weekend. And J.J. Abrams just so happens to be shooting the first chapter of the next Star Wars trilogy… “Star Wars: Episode VII” at Pinewood Studios.

Birthday Wishes – April 6, 2014 – “Star Wars” Billy Dee Williams, Diora Baird, Paul Rudd

Billy Dee Williams (77) The guy who helped bring in a certain aura of coolness to “Star Wars” in one of my all-time favorite movies, “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” I’m hoping the efforts are successful to get you into “Star Wars: Episode VII” because it won’t be the same without Lando.

John Ratzenberger (67) Speaking of “ESB” stars, can’t forget about Maj. Derlin and TV’s favorite mailman or one of the most endearing characters in “Toy Story 3.” Here’s to another year of continuing to find new ways to entertain new generations.

Diora Baird (31) – Because we really can never get enough of seeing you on our screens. Now that I know you’re in “Shameless” I may finally get around to watching it.

Paul Rudd (45) Enjoy these last few films before “Ant-Man” comes to theaters and you’re forever associated with one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. Looking forward to seeing what you’ll bring to the role of Scott Lang.

Eliza Coupe (33) I consider it one of the great TV travesties in the last 10 years that ABC canceled “Happy Endings,” one of the last great new sitcoms. Glad to hear you’ve got a regular gig on “House of Cards” now.

 

The Empire Strikes Back review – still the best Star Wars film

 

Star Wars … sigh, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, is the greatest standalone science-fiction movie of all time. It tells a complete story and you can enjoy it without watching another second of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Darth Vader, R2-D2 and company.

But in doing so, you’d deprive yourself of the greatest sci-fi film of all time — Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back — no qualifiers necessary. This is a generation-influencing masterpiece the likes of which we’ve rarely seen since.

Film Flashback: Batman (1989)

I’ve watched few movies more than “Batman” to the point that I can almost recite the script line by line so to say I kinda like it would be a serious understatement, but that’s for a pretty good reason.

From the directing, action, performances, music and dazzling set design, there simply isn’t much this film gets wrong with this timeless take on the Caped Crusader.