From Star Wars to Jedi - Making of a Saga

This video is 65 minutes in length, and it will be of interest to any fan of the original trilogy, and perhaps even fans of the new trilogy (Episodes I - III).

Andrew Parodi


They should have called this "From Jedi to Jedi"...   February 13, 2004
 1 out of 10 found this review helpful

...`cuz three-fourths of this presentation focused on the effects and concepts of Return of the Jedi. At most, about ten minutes are devoted to the first Star Wars flick (AKA "A New Hope" to all you Star Wars UberGeeks out there), the most notable segment being the breakdown of the Death Star trench battle, as well as the pre-enhanced "Han & Jabba in the Docking Bay" scene. And Empire, considered by most fans to be the best installment of the trifecta, ironically gets the short shrift. The only pieces covered from the middle flick in any sort of depth are the introductions of Yoda & Lando, and Lukes unfortunate lightsaber battle against Vader.

Included among the extensive ROTJ behind-the-scenes bits:
- an inside look at the LFL creature shop (with the usual clowning shots by the workers dressed in their creations),
- the creation and operation of Jabba the Hutt,
- the set-up of the Rancor pit and Sail Barge/ Sarlaac pit scenes,
- the "moving storyboards" of the speeder bike sequences, and...
- ...the conception and creation of the Ewoks (AIEEE!).

Strewn around between the "making of" segments is a couch-bound George Lucas pontificating on:
- how difficult each film was to make,
- the cultural and mythological significance of the Star Wars trilogy,
- its visual metaphors,
- some of the things that inspired his creation,
- scenes & sequences in the first movie that he wished he had done better (which he eventually did (allegedly) the 20th anniversary special edition re-releases), and...
- ...a boatload of other pompous and pretentious musings that made me realize the guy was taking his creation far too seriously.
On the upside, GL also made a few hilariously ironic statements about how a movie's story line "should be in the plot and not the setting", and that "a special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing". If only he had followed his own advice before he put out those retarded prequels...

Throughout this documentary, narrator Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill gives you the lowdown in a semi-disinterested and less-than-enthusiastic tone. Which is kinda weird when you think about how excitable his character would get at times. It's almost like he took a few downers before he agreed to tape the narration track for this presentation. `Course, after seeing his career take a headlong dive into a concrete pavement at a hundred miles an hour after ROTJ wrapped, I wouldn't blame him for using such illicit substances. Ya gotta ease the pain somehow-- just ask David Caruso before he returned to series TV...

`Late


Must have for Star Wars fans   December 3, 2002
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

This documentary takes you thru the process of making the "Star Wars: A New Hope" (the first Star wars that came out) to "return of the Jedi" with all of the special effects. It's mnarrated by Mark Hamil, which gives it a very nice touch indeed. There are deleted scenes, explanations of the Ewok language and just all around cool stuff.
It would be great to watch this and compare the effects with the more recent "Star Wars" movies, just to see how far Industrial Light and Magic has come in the intervening years.
So while you're waiting for the third "Star Wars" movie to come out, do some retro watching and watch this video - it's still amazing to see how things were done even tho it's probably judged as "primitive" now.


cool   August 16, 1999
 2 out of 7 found this review helpful

must get for any star wars fa