It’s no secret that Star Wars fandom is in crisis. Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, fans have observed a decline in storytelling quality. The issues began with the sequel trilogy and reached a peak with the recent release of ‘The Acolyte,’ the latest Star Wars installment.
The stories no longer resonate as they once did, and there could be various reasons for this. George Lucas recently remarked, in the context of the prequel trilogy, that fans’ expectations might have changed now that they are adults, while the movies are still essentially aimed at children.
Some attribute various instances of review-bombing to simple hatred of female and diverse representation in live-action projects, with the latest example being ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte,’ whose cast and crew faced unprecedented abuse on social media. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle, as the issues began long before ‘The Acolyte’ and stem from the quality of the stories.
The stories no longer resonate as they once did, and there could be various reasons for this. George Lucas recently remarked, in the context of the prequel trilogy, that fans’ expectations might have changed now that they are adults, while the movies are still essentially aimed at children.
Some attribute various instances of review-bombing to simple hatred of female and diverse representation in live-action projects, with the latest example being ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte,’ whose cast and crew faced unprecedented abuse on social media. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle, as the issues began long before ‘The Acolyte’ and stem from the quality of the stories.
- 7/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
The Star Wars franchise gained its iconic status in Hollywood thanks to the genius vision of pioneering filmmaker George Lucas who set the benchmark when it came to the sci-fi genre. Lucas was also fortunate to have a strong team of technical experts who brought his ambitious ideas to life on screen.
A scene from Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (image credit: LucasFilm)
Sound designers Ben Burtt and Randy Thom who created the entire soundscape for the franchise, were expectedly crucial to the narratives. Speaking about the extensive research that went into creating unique languages and sounds for the non-human characters, Burtt revealed the out-of-the-box process they used to arrived at the now recognizable language of Jabba The Hutt.
How Jabba The Hutt’s Iconic Speech Patterns Were Perceived And Created
Creating Star Wars is undoubtedly a task of Herculean proportions that only a visionary like George Lucas could have achieved.
A scene from Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (image credit: LucasFilm)
Sound designers Ben Burtt and Randy Thom who created the entire soundscape for the franchise, were expectedly crucial to the narratives. Speaking about the extensive research that went into creating unique languages and sounds for the non-human characters, Burtt revealed the out-of-the-box process they used to arrived at the now recognizable language of Jabba The Hutt.
How Jabba The Hutt’s Iconic Speech Patterns Were Perceived And Created
Creating Star Wars is undoubtedly a task of Herculean proportions that only a visionary like George Lucas could have achieved.
- 6/9/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
George Lucas’ Star Wars is a vast and complex universe filled with its own mythos and artifacts. The filmmaker had reportedly crafted most elements while making the first film, while some of them were tweaked during subsequent sequels and prequels. One such element that has been debated is the way the Force works.
While the Force is something that someone trains to obtain control over, the prequel The Phantom Menace established the idea of midi-chlorians, a microorganism that every life form is made of. The concept was not impressive to many fans who felt it was more of a mystical element in the sci-fi films rather than having an actual scientific explanation.
What Are Midi-Chlorians And How Do They Affect The Force In Star Wars? A still from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
The concept of the midi-chlorians is officially introduced in the prequel...
While the Force is something that someone trains to obtain control over, the prequel The Phantom Menace established the idea of midi-chlorians, a microorganism that every life form is made of. The concept was not impressive to many fans who felt it was more of a mystical element in the sci-fi films rather than having an actual scientific explanation.
What Are Midi-Chlorians And How Do They Affect The Force In Star Wars? A still from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
The concept of the midi-chlorians is officially introduced in the prequel...
- 5/28/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
George Lucas’ epic Star Wars franchise took the world by storm for its creator’s genius in visualizing an unforgettable sci-fi fantasy world. The prequels and sequels that covered decades of cinema saw stars like Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill go down in history as evergreen Hollywood actors.
A still from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (image credit: LucasFilm)
While it is common knowledge that the films required a high level of technical expertise and research to bring to life, certain scenes proved to be extremely challenging for members of the cast. Fisher in particular, recalled a seriously cringeworthy segment with the huge alien Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi, for which she got her revenge later.
Carrie Fisher Had the Last Laugh After This Challenging Star Wars Scene
Judging by the massive scale of George Lucas’ Star Wars saga, it goes without saying that...
A still from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (image credit: LucasFilm)
While it is common knowledge that the films required a high level of technical expertise and research to bring to life, certain scenes proved to be extremely challenging for members of the cast. Fisher in particular, recalled a seriously cringeworthy segment with the huge alien Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi, for which she got her revenge later.
Carrie Fisher Had the Last Laugh After This Challenging Star Wars Scene
Judging by the massive scale of George Lucas’ Star Wars saga, it goes without saying that...
- 5/26/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
Han Solo as a character looks like he was built to deliver one-liners. Harrison Ford brought the character to life with his signature charm, which didn’t miss a beat when he returned to play the character in The Force Awakens. The actor’s handling of the role, along with lines that he improvised, has not only become important for Star Wars history but have become important moments in cinema history too.
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford from Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
One of the most iconic scenes from Empire Strikes Back has Princess Leia Organa confessing her love for Han Solo, to which the character simply responds with ‘I know’. Held in pretty high regard by cinema enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike, this particular line of dialogue was improvised by Harrison Ford on the set of the film.
Suggested“That might be the...
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford from Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
One of the most iconic scenes from Empire Strikes Back has Princess Leia Organa confessing her love for Han Solo, to which the character simply responds with ‘I know’. Held in pretty high regard by cinema enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike, this particular line of dialogue was improvised by Harrison Ford on the set of the film.
Suggested“That might be the...
- 5/22/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
Episode I – The Phantom Menace marked George Lucas’s return to the director’s chair since A New Hope as he once again introduced new characters and stories in the space opera. While the film was a huge box office hit, it received mixed reviews with many criticizing its storyline, casting choices, performances, and awkward dialogues.
George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credit: Lucasfilm
And it seems that the filmmaker’s ex-wife Marcia Lucas also did not find the film very pleasing. She even admitted to crying after watching the movie as she echoed many of the same critiques while sharing her thoughts on the movie.
The Phantom Menace Made George Lucas’ Ex-Wife Cry
George Lucas has collaborated with his ex-wife, Marcia Lucas, on movies like American Graffiti and the Original Star Wars trilogy. The film editor also won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing...
George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credit: Lucasfilm
And it seems that the filmmaker’s ex-wife Marcia Lucas also did not find the film very pleasing. She even admitted to crying after watching the movie as she echoed many of the same critiques while sharing her thoughts on the movie.
The Phantom Menace Made George Lucas’ Ex-Wife Cry
George Lucas has collaborated with his ex-wife, Marcia Lucas, on movies like American Graffiti and the Original Star Wars trilogy. The film editor also won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing...
- 5/7/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
It’s that time of year again. While some directors annually share their favorite films of the year, Steven Soderbergh lists everything he consumed, media-wise. For 2023––another year in which he not only Magic Mike’s Last Dance Review: Steven Soderbergh and Channing Tatum Take a Familiar, Gentle Bow”>released a new film, but dropped two TV series (Full Circle and Command Z“>Command Z) and shot another film (the Sundance-bound Presence)––he still got plenty of watching in.
Along with catching up on 2023’s new releases, Ferrari, Anatomy of a Fall, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Air, Reality, Dead Reckoning, among others), he took in plenty of classics, including Eyes Wide Shut, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Casablanca, Out of the Past, The Shining, the epic War and Peace, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and, following Tom Wilkinson’s passing, Michael Clayton. He also got an early look at Pussy Island,...
Along with catching up on 2023’s new releases, Ferrari, Anatomy of a Fall, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Air, Reality, Dead Reckoning, among others), he took in plenty of classics, including Eyes Wide Shut, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Casablanca, Out of the Past, The Shining, the epic War and Peace, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and, following Tom Wilkinson’s passing, Michael Clayton. He also got an early look at Pussy Island,...
- 1/4/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Hoth scenes in "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" weren't easy to film. It was largely shot in Finse, Norway, as well as a nearby glacier. They dealt with avalanches and trains that stopped running because of the weather. They even had to shoot the tauntaun scene right outside their hotel (with people watching from the balconies), because they couldn't get to the original shooting location. However, it was human error involving some dynamite that caused one of the issues while filming on what is supposed to be depicted as a bitterly cold ice planet.
If you recall, at the beginning of the film, Imperial forces send down a probe to see if the Rebels are on the planet. (You may remember the probe because it's actually a surprisingly cute droid for something with evil intent ... or I'm just a sucker for anything that looks like it has a face.
If you recall, at the beginning of the film, Imperial forces send down a probe to see if the Rebels are on the planet. (You may remember the probe because it's actually a surprisingly cute droid for something with evil intent ... or I'm just a sucker for anything that looks like it has a face.
- 12/3/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Hoth seems like a terrible planet for a rebel station. Sure, it's far enough away from anything that the Empire would have a tough time finding it (not that it ultimately stopped them), but it's cold, dangerous, and brutal.
Those conditions weren't just fictional, however. The production for "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" shot the exterior scenes in Finse, Norway, with the battle scenes on nearby Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, and conditions weren't exactly favorable. Sure, it's got the right look, but Finse's average temperature in March when the Hoth scenes were filmed has highs around 25 degrees Fahrenheit and lows around 12 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just average, mind you, and not the only thing they were dealing with as they shot outside.
When "Empire" was filming, the weather was "awful," according to the book "The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced Edition)" by J.W. Rinzler. In fact,...
Those conditions weren't just fictional, however. The production for "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" shot the exterior scenes in Finse, Norway, with the battle scenes on nearby Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, and conditions weren't exactly favorable. Sure, it's got the right look, but Finse's average temperature in March when the Hoth scenes were filmed has highs around 25 degrees Fahrenheit and lows around 12 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just average, mind you, and not the only thing they were dealing with as they shot outside.
When "Empire" was filming, the weather was "awful," according to the book "The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced Edition)" by J.W. Rinzler. In fact,...
- 12/2/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life form. They're also misunderstood by many and the thing that made some "Star Wars" fans think the Force was strictly a matter of science rather than mysticism, turning them off the franchise altogether.
In 1999, when "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" was released, the concept of midi-chlorians was hotly debated, with fans wondering what was going on and why "Star Wars" creator George Lucas had "changed the Force." However, further investigation shows that midi-chlorians aren't the Force-killer some people believed they are. Nor, for that matter, were they some last minute addition to the mythology of "Star Wars" or the Force. In fact, if you go back to pre-production on what would become "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," you'll find they were already on Lucas' mind back when he was first imagining life in a galaxy far, far away.
Read...
In 1999, when "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" was released, the concept of midi-chlorians was hotly debated, with fans wondering what was going on and why "Star Wars" creator George Lucas had "changed the Force." However, further investigation shows that midi-chlorians aren't the Force-killer some people believed they are. Nor, for that matter, were they some last minute addition to the mythology of "Star Wars" or the Force. In fact, if you go back to pre-production on what would become "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," you'll find they were already on Lucas' mind back when he was first imagining life in a galaxy far, far away.
Read...
- 11/28/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Po-tay-toes. You can boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew, or even use them as props in the sequel to one of the most successful films of all time! There are some pretty fun stories about the creation of the special effects in the "Star Wars" franchise, and using everyday objects to become something otherworldly seems to be a big part of the SFX playbook. After all, the team in charge of the spaceships for "Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi" used chewing gum to create some of the ships at a distance, along with other items you might find in your refrigerator or closet.
In "The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced Edition)" by J. W. Rinzler, the crew members who helped bring one of the most heart-pounding scenes from "The Empire Strikes Back" to life revealed the secrets behind creating some celestial...
In "The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced Edition)" by J. W. Rinzler, the crew members who helped bring one of the most heart-pounding scenes from "The Empire Strikes Back" to life revealed the secrets behind creating some celestial...
- 11/26/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
When actor David Prowse was filming "Star Wars" back in 1976, he knew that his face would be obscured by a mask, but he hadn't yet any clue that his voice was going to be dubbed over by another actor. Famously, Prowse's vocal performance was replaced by award-winning actor James Earl Jones. Fans of "Star Wars" may have come to associate the character of Darth Vader with both Prowse and Jones, but there was a period when Prowse was miffed he wasn't able to provide his own vocals. Jones has said that Darth Vader belongs entirely to Prowse, as his voice wasn't so much a performance as an enhancing special effect.
By the time the 1980 sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back" was being made in 1979, Prowse knew the score, understanding that his voice was to be used as a place-holder until Jones could be brought in to dub it over. This allowed...
By the time the 1980 sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back" was being made in 1979, Prowse knew the score, understanding that his voice was to be used as a place-holder until Jones could be brought in to dub it over. This allowed...
- 11/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Despite numerous stuffies, toys, and webcomics making wampas seem cuddly and cute, when "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" first came out, the fluffy white monster was pretty scary. A denizen of the ice planet Hoth where the Rebels have a base, a wampa sneaks up on Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and captures him. He sticks Luke's feet to the ceiling of his cave with ice and saves him as a snack for later. As it turns out, the wampa costume itself was pretty difficult to deal with, according to a 2013 issue of "Star Wars Insider." It was also uncomfortable to wear and move in, leading to a scene that ended up being left out of the finished film, as was detailed in the book "The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced Edition)" by J.W. Rinzler.
Though the wampa scene we did see gave...
Though the wampa scene we did see gave...
- 11/25/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Most actors want to do their own stunts. Sometimes it's an ego thing, sometimes it's because they want moviegoers to see their face during a wild stunt to help with audience emersion, and sometimes it's a combination of the two. The younger the actor is, the more they're likely to push to do as much on camera as possible, and that was certainly the case for Mark Hamill when he was making what, at the time, was thought to be the final "Star Wars" movie to feature Luke Skywalker, "Return of the Jedi."
During an interview for John Phillip Peecher's "Star Wars -- The Making Of Return Of The Jedi" in 1983, director Richard Marquand revealed there were two notable moments during production when he forced a stunt double to take Hamill's place. One of them was during the shoot in the desert near Yuma, Arizona, for the scene where Luke...
During an interview for John Phillip Peecher's "Star Wars -- The Making Of Return Of The Jedi" in 1983, director Richard Marquand revealed there were two notable moments during production when he forced a stunt double to take Hamill's place. One of them was during the shoot in the desert near Yuma, Arizona, for the scene where Luke...
- 10/9/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Before "Star Wars" hit theaters in 1977, the world had no idea it would take over the popular consciousness, spawn sequels, prequels, TV series, comics, books, and video games. This story of a young man who leaves his home to become a hero was powerful -- and all the more so because of something the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by the late Sir Alec Guinness) does late in the film.
Guinness had decades of experience on the stage and had starred in films like "Great Expectations," "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "Doctor Zhivago," and Lawrence of Arabia" before taking on a role in this as-yet-unknown space opera. He wasn't always supportive of the first "Star Wars" film. Though he's also said positive things about it, the movie wasn't exactly his usual kind of work. Plus -- spoiler alert for an over four decades-old film -- his character dies and...
Guinness had decades of experience on the stage and had starred in films like "Great Expectations," "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "Doctor Zhivago," and Lawrence of Arabia" before taking on a role in this as-yet-unknown space opera. He wasn't always supportive of the first "Star Wars" film. Though he's also said positive things about it, the movie wasn't exactly his usual kind of work. Plus -- spoiler alert for an over four decades-old film -- his character dies and...
- 10/8/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
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Thanks to the release of "Star Wars" in 1977 — before it had any episode number or subtitle — Harrison Ford was transformed from being a mostly unknown character actor into cinema's ultimate cool guy. He was the roguish hero who could approach everything with a wink and a smirk, putting forth the veneer of someone whose loyalties you question but ultimately know will do the right thing. Not only did it change the trajectory of the actor's career, helping to make him one of the biggest movie stars in the world for the next nearly 50 years, but it redefined a new template for a character that every adventure movie tried to replicate thereafter.
The thing that is important to remember, though, is that Harrison Ford isn't Han Solo. Nor is he Indiana Jones or Richard Kimball. He is Harrison Ford, a regular...
Thanks to the release of "Star Wars" in 1977 — before it had any episode number or subtitle — Harrison Ford was transformed from being a mostly unknown character actor into cinema's ultimate cool guy. He was the roguish hero who could approach everything with a wink and a smirk, putting forth the veneer of someone whose loyalties you question but ultimately know will do the right thing. Not only did it change the trajectory of the actor's career, helping to make him one of the biggest movie stars in the world for the next nearly 50 years, but it redefined a new template for a character that every adventure movie tried to replicate thereafter.
The thing that is important to remember, though, is that Harrison Ford isn't Han Solo. Nor is he Indiana Jones or Richard Kimball. He is Harrison Ford, a regular...
- 10/8/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) will not hesitate to tell you when he's unhappy. From the first time we meet him in the original "Star Wars," through that entire trilogy, his appearances in the prequels and the sequels, and every other place he shows up, he complains. I mean, we love him very much, and being crotchety is kind of his thing, but he really does grumble a lot. Still, the golden droid does have a few pleasures in life. No matter how much he grouses at his little droid buddy R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), it's clear that he loves the walking garbage can. He also loves a really good oil bath. Hey, everyone loves a spa day, right? Especially when you have a bad case of dust contamination.
In "A New Hope," after Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his Uncle Owen (Phil Brown) pick up the two lost droids from a group of Jawas,...
In "A New Hope," after Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his Uncle Owen (Phil Brown) pick up the two lost droids from a group of Jawas,...
- 10/7/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Before the "Star Wars" prequels came out, people were really excited to get the backstory of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). I certainly was. While I'm not a huge prequel fan, there were some really fascinating story points in there, and between those three films and the animated series "The Clone Wars," many of us know more about Anakin's story than any other character in the history of the galaxy far, far away.
Though we also learned a lot about Padmé (Natalie Portman), Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), Jar-Jar (Ahmed Best), Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), and Yoda (Frank Oz), the real focus of the prequels -- particularly "Revenge of the Sith" -- was Anakin Skywalker and his transformation into Darth Vader. However, when it comes to the final chapter of the prequels, that wasn't always the case, according to the 2005 book "The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" by J.W. Rinzler.
Though we also learned a lot about Padmé (Natalie Portman), Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), Jar-Jar (Ahmed Best), Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), and Yoda (Frank Oz), the real focus of the prequels -- particularly "Revenge of the Sith" -- was Anakin Skywalker and his transformation into Darth Vader. However, when it comes to the final chapter of the prequels, that wasn't always the case, according to the 2005 book "The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" by J.W. Rinzler.
- 10/7/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
During the making of "Star Wars" back in 1976, writer/director George Lucas hadn't really yet defined what the Force was. In dialogue, Obi-Wan Kenobi eventually described it as "an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together." In J.W. Rinzler's invaluable book "The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film," it was indicated that early drafts of "Star Wars" originally called it the Force of Others, and possessed two parts called Ashla (what would become the light side) and Bogan (what would become the dark side). Lucas mixed in a bunch of Platonic notions as well, saying that "the pure soul is connected to a larger energy field that you would begin to understand if you went all the way back and saw yourself in your purest sense."
Additionally, in early drafts of Lucas' script,...
Additionally, in early drafts of Lucas' script,...
- 10/2/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
One might notice little odd camera tricks and visual continuity errors throughout all the "Star Wars" movies if one looks closely enough. For instance, there is a scene in George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" wherein Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is about to fight the evil robotic lizard General Grievous (Matthew Wood). Grievous first tries to send a few attack droids after Obi-Wan, but the Jedi uses his mental powers to pull a large object from the ceiling and send it crashing onto their heads. Grievous and Obi-Wan proceed to have a proper lightsaber fight. One might notice, though, that the crushed droids and the large chunk of ceiling are nowhere to be seen. Clearly, the filmmakers didn't bother to invent a reason why those things were gone.
In the same film, before Obi-Wan is about to face Anakin (Hayden Christensen) on the volcano planet Mustafar,...
In the same film, before Obi-Wan is about to face Anakin (Hayden Christensen) on the volcano planet Mustafar,...
- 9/25/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
George Lucas had a bold vision when he set out to make "Star Wars" in the mid-1970s. He did not, however, have the technology to pull it off. No one did, at least not at an affordable price.
Douglas Trumbull had recently vaulted visual effects forward with his optical innovations for Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," but his photorealistic presentation of space was based wholly in physical reality. The space stations and ships in Kubrick's masterpiece drifted gracefully in the cosmos. Trumbull replicated this galactic ballet to eerie effect in his directorial debut "Silent Running," on which he employed an upstart technophile named John Dykstra, who was eager to build on Trumbull's inventions with a more dynamic application that would jar sci-fi flicks out of their reality-bound lethargy.
When Lucas commenced work on "Star Wars" (via a go-with-god greenlight from 20th Century Fox's Alan Ladd Jr....
Douglas Trumbull had recently vaulted visual effects forward with his optical innovations for Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," but his photorealistic presentation of space was based wholly in physical reality. The space stations and ships in Kubrick's masterpiece drifted gracefully in the cosmos. Trumbull replicated this galactic ballet to eerie effect in his directorial debut "Silent Running," on which he employed an upstart technophile named John Dykstra, who was eager to build on Trumbull's inventions with a more dynamic application that would jar sci-fi flicks out of their reality-bound lethargy.
When Lucas commenced work on "Star Wars" (via a go-with-god greenlight from 20th Century Fox's Alan Ladd Jr....
- 9/24/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
For almost 50 years, John Williams' music has been virtually synonymous with the films of Steven Spielberg (and vice versa), and for nearly as long, Williams' compositions have formed the emotional backbone of the Skywalker Saga from "Star Wars." However, 20 years before the cinematic musical maestro become known for either of those things, Williams was merely a whipper-snapper fresh out of Julliard and eager to leave his mark on the worlds of concert and film music.
Williams' pre-Spielberg run would have made for an incredible career all by itself. It was an era that saw the composer collaborating with numerous giants among the old guard of Hollywood directors, including Robert Altman, Don Siegel, William Wyler, Irwin Allen, Frank Sinatra, and Norman Jewison. In 1974, Williams worked with Spielberg for the first time on the filmmaker's theatrical feature debut, "The Sugarland Express." Appearing with Williams at the American Cinematheque event "50 Years of...
Williams' pre-Spielberg run would have made for an incredible career all by itself. It was an era that saw the composer collaborating with numerous giants among the old guard of Hollywood directors, including Robert Altman, Don Siegel, William Wyler, Irwin Allen, Frank Sinatra, and Norman Jewison. In 1974, Williams worked with Spielberg for the first time on the filmmaker's theatrical feature debut, "The Sugarland Express." Appearing with Williams at the American Cinematheque event "50 Years of...
- 9/24/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
George Lucas' original "Star Wars" was, at the time, probably the most technologically complicated undertaking since Stanley Kubrick took a space-crazed populace for a tour of the galaxy in "2001: A Space Odyssey." The motion control camera pioneered by John Dykstra (which he dubbed the "Dykstraflex") allowed Lucas to pull off the Death Star trench run, which ended the film on a rousing note and changed the medium forever.
But before it became a global sensation, 20th Century Fox didn't get "Star Wars." According to Lucas, Alan Ladd Jr., who greenlit the movie, told the up-and-coming director, 'I don't understand this movie, I don't get it at all, but I think you're a talented guy and I want you to make it.'" His gut instinct was based on the box-office success of "American Graffiti," which was a grounded, night-in-the-life tale of teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. It was relatable.
But before it became a global sensation, 20th Century Fox didn't get "Star Wars." According to Lucas, Alan Ladd Jr., who greenlit the movie, told the up-and-coming director, 'I don't understand this movie, I don't get it at all, but I think you're a talented guy and I want you to make it.'" His gut instinct was based on the box-office success of "American Graffiti," which was a grounded, night-in-the-life tale of teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. It was relatable.
- 9/24/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
According to the Oxford Learner's Dictionary, the word "cast," merely as a verb, has 11 different definitions. The first verb is the one meaning "to look over," as in "cast a glance at." The second is the verb meaning to project light over something, i.e. "cast a shadow."
It's not until the fifth definition that one arrives at the word meaning "hire an actor for a part," as in "Anthony Daniels was cast as C-3Po in 'Star Wars.'" The eleventh definition is the verb meaning "pour liquid into a mold for the sake of duplicating a 3-D object," as in "casting in plaster."
Back in the mid-1970s, when Daniels was working his way through the audition process for "Star Wars," there was some unfortunate confusion between definition #5 and definition #11. The actor was one of the final actors being considered to play the droid C-3Po, the prissy,...
It's not until the fifth definition that one arrives at the word meaning "hire an actor for a part," as in "Anthony Daniels was cast as C-3Po in 'Star Wars.'" The eleventh definition is the verb meaning "pour liquid into a mold for the sake of duplicating a 3-D object," as in "casting in plaster."
Back in the mid-1970s, when Daniels was working his way through the audition process for "Star Wars," there was some unfortunate confusion between definition #5 and definition #11. The actor was one of the final actors being considered to play the droid C-3Po, the prissy,...
- 9/18/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
For "Star Wars" fans, Tunisia is a holy land of sorts. It's the closest they'll ever come to setting foot on Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's home planet and the place where our heroes were nearly consigned to the slow-digesting belly of the sarlaac. It's so quintessentially "Star Wars" that when George Lucas resumed the series in 1999 with "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," he had to return to the North African country to recapture the desert drudgery of Tatooine.
As with the original trilogy, Lucas left three years between each of his prequel films, just enough time to let fans miss the series without losing narrative momentum. This time out, Lucas knew exactly where the story was headed and where he'd have to shoot each movie. When it came to "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," Lucas knew there would only be one (crucial) scene on Tatooine,...
As with the original trilogy, Lucas left three years between each of his prequel films, just enough time to let fans miss the series without losing narrative momentum. This time out, Lucas knew exactly where the story was headed and where he'd have to shoot each movie. When it came to "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," Lucas knew there would only be one (crucial) scene on Tatooine,...
- 9/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
"Star Wars" lore has a history that spans over four decades. It's had its ups and its downs over the years, and the prequels released between 1999 and 2005 often end up in the latter category. They are a bit of a mess to some, though to others, they providedepth and context to the original trilogy.
No matter what side of the prequel debate you land on, one scene is hard to watch without being moved. It's the "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" scene where Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) battles Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Mustafar, losing limbs, burning to a crisp, leading to the final part of his transformation into Darth Vader.
There may be some pretty stilted acting in the prequels, but this scene always gets me, even when I'm rolling my eyes at other things. It's just heartbreaking when you know what's coming for Anakin...
No matter what side of the prequel debate you land on, one scene is hard to watch without being moved. It's the "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" scene where Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) battles Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Mustafar, losing limbs, burning to a crisp, leading to the final part of his transformation into Darth Vader.
There may be some pretty stilted acting in the prequels, but this scene always gets me, even when I'm rolling my eyes at other things. It's just heartbreaking when you know what's coming for Anakin...
- 9/12/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Even if you're just a casual "Star Wars" fan, you probably know that George Lucas drew significant inspiration for his sprawling space saga from the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa ("The Hidden Fortress" in particular) and the hero's journey monomyth as explicated by Joseph Campbell. The ideas and tropes contained in these works were combined to form the sturdiest of foundations, one that now supports an ever-expanding collection of TV shows, cartoons, video games, books, and so on.
What you might not know is that when Lucas was building this universe in the early 1970s, he also drew influence from one of the era's most notorious con men.
For as long as people have been into spiritualism and religion, there have always been opportunists seeking to exploit this genuine (if often naive) yearning for financial gain. Barnstorming revivalists and faith healers have made a fortune off the gullibility of the masses,...
What you might not know is that when Lucas was building this universe in the early 1970s, he also drew influence from one of the era's most notorious con men.
For as long as people have been into spiritualism and religion, there have always been opportunists seeking to exploit this genuine (if often naive) yearning for financial gain. Barnstorming revivalists and faith healers have made a fortune off the gullibility of the masses,...
- 9/11/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The three "Star Wars" prequel films made by George Lucas from 1999 to 2005 detail the story of Anakin Skywalker as he transforms from an idealistic young engineer (played by Jake Lloyd) into an impetuous and angry young man (played by Hayden Christiansen), and eventually into a corrupted and tyrannical killer. Anakin is infused by the Force (a psychic field accessed by microscopic creatures living inside his body called midi-chlorians), so he is in high demand by both the benevolent Jedi Order and the insidious Sith.
Partway through "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," the nearly-corrupted Anakin attends a bizarre zero-gravity water ballet show, sitting next to the clearly villainous Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Palpatine is secretly a Sith Lord who calls himself Darth Sidious, and he is clearly angling to become an evil emperor, but Anakin doesn't much care. He's so full of hate and paranoia (he's had...
Partway through "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," the nearly-corrupted Anakin attends a bizarre zero-gravity water ballet show, sitting next to the clearly villainous Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Palpatine is secretly a Sith Lord who calls himself Darth Sidious, and he is clearly angling to become an evil emperor, but Anakin doesn't much care. He's so full of hate and paranoia (he's had...
- 9/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Imagine being a young actor and getting a role in a feature film. It's a sci-fi adventure, and you're going to be the lead. You get all packed up and get on a plane to London to shoot, but when you get there, no one seems to care very much that you're around. That was the case for Mark Hamill, who was heading to the United Kingdom to play Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," which was simply "Star Wars" back then.
In the 2013 book "The Making of Star Wars: (Enhanced Edition)" by J.W. Rinzler (an upgraded version of the 2007 book of the same name), Hamill spoke about what it was like to head over there, all ready to go, and the odd situation he walked into that he didn't know anything about. That day was his first meeting with George Lucas and producer Gary Kurtz.
In the 2013 book "The Making of Star Wars: (Enhanced Edition)" by J.W. Rinzler (an upgraded version of the 2007 book of the same name), Hamill spoke about what it was like to head over there, all ready to go, and the odd situation he walked into that he didn't know anything about. That day was his first meeting with George Lucas and producer Gary Kurtz.
- 9/5/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
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No one can deny that Steven Spielberg is one of the most renowned and influential director's in cinema history. From game-changing blockbusters like "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park" to devastating prestige Oscar-winning films like "Schindler's List" and "Munich," Spielberg is a master storyteller who has been turning celluloid into gold for over 50 years (and his 21st century films aren't bad at all). But like every legendary filmmaker, Spielberg had to start somewhere, and a new book from author Laurent Bouzereau will dive into the first 10 years of Spielberg's quickly impressive career.
"Spielberg: The First Ten Years" is coming to shelves in October, and it promises to explore "how a young filmmaker reinvented American cinema within just ten years." The retrospective includes looks at his early made-for-tv film "Duel," his first theatrically released feature, "The Sugarland Express," and the troubled production of "Jaws,...
No one can deny that Steven Spielberg is one of the most renowned and influential director's in cinema history. From game-changing blockbusters like "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park" to devastating prestige Oscar-winning films like "Schindler's List" and "Munich," Spielberg is a master storyteller who has been turning celluloid into gold for over 50 years (and his 21st century films aren't bad at all). But like every legendary filmmaker, Spielberg had to start somewhere, and a new book from author Laurent Bouzereau will dive into the first 10 years of Spielberg's quickly impressive career.
"Spielberg: The First Ten Years" is coming to shelves in October, and it promises to explore "how a young filmmaker reinvented American cinema within just ten years." The retrospective includes looks at his early made-for-tv film "Duel," his first theatrically released feature, "The Sugarland Express," and the troubled production of "Jaws,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Alec Guinness's complicated relationship with "Star Wars" is well documented. Depending on his mood, he'd either call that first film "a marvelous, healthy innocence" or "fairy-tale rubbish." The intense fandom that was inspired by the 1977 original film played a role in alienating the classically trained actor who wished to be known for nuanced portrayal of Shakespearean characters instead of a space wizard, but once "Star Wars" released, his performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi became a career-defining part and Guinness had no say in the matter.
Reports differ on Kenobi's fate in that first film. What fans had heard for years was that Guinness forced that decision on Lucas because he thought the movie was a stinker and he wanted to be killed off, but in J.W. Rinzler's incredible "The Making of Star Wars," George Lucas says that was a decision he himself came to very late in the process.
Reports differ on Kenobi's fate in that first film. What fans had heard for years was that Guinness forced that decision on Lucas because he thought the movie was a stinker and he wanted to be killed off, but in J.W. Rinzler's incredible "The Making of Star Wars," George Lucas says that was a decision he himself came to very late in the process.
- 5/20/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
As the story goes, George Lucas at one point planned to make a Skywalker family epic consisting of 12 movies across four trilogies, with Episode Xii serving as the true grand finale of the saga where our heroes would finally face the dreaded Emperor. But then he cut that outline down to nine films, with Luke’s sister (not originally Leia) joining the fray around Episode VIII, just in time for the final battle in Episode IX, according to Gary Kurtz, who produced the first two Star Wars films.
Then, in the early ’80s, Lucas decided to cut down the story further. He pushed up the final battle with the Dark Lord of the Sith to Episode VI, the initially titled Revenge of the Jedi, which would also reveal that Leia had been Luke’s long-lost sister all along (despite their famous smooch in The Empire Strikes Back). Lucas is something...
Then, in the early ’80s, Lucas decided to cut down the story further. He pushed up the final battle with the Dark Lord of the Sith to Episode VI, the initially titled Revenge of the Jedi, which would also reveal that Leia had been Luke’s long-lost sister all along (despite their famous smooch in The Empire Strikes Back). Lucas is something...
- 5/19/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Jabba the Hutt defines "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." A massive alien creature puppet made by staff who cut their teeth on "The Dark Crystal," he took "four tons of clay" to produce (per J.W. Rinzler's "The Making of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi") and was barely finished in time for the film. Puppeteer Toby Philpott called him "probably the most expensive puppet that's ever been made" in the Jabba-centric documentary "Slimy Piece of Worm-Ridden Filth." His Tatooine palace set saw the "Star Wars" production staff aiming to outdo the famous Cantina scene in "A New Hope." So garish was his environs that the production staff paid to obtain rare frogs for the set, so that Jabba could pretend to eat plastic versions of them.
To some, Jabba was an inconvenience. To others, he was an inspiration. But perhaps nobody else on set had a relationship...
To some, Jabba was an inconvenience. To others, he was an inspiration. But perhaps nobody else on set had a relationship...
- 4/22/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
“The Shining” has obsessed Oscar-winning Pixar director Lee Unkrich since he saw it in theaters at the age of 12. After years of “The Shining” Easter eggs popping up in Pixar films, Unkrich’s fascination with Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror cult classic culminates in his monumental making-of book: “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining” (Taschen), currently available in a Collector’s Edition of 1,000 copies. (A smaller standard edition has not yet been announced.) The three-volume collection includes hundreds of never-before-seen production photographs from the Stanley Kubrick Archive in London, interviews with cast and crew, and a deluxe set of facsimile reproductions of ephemera from “the masterpiece of modern horror.”
The Kubrick film’s sense of the uncanny and bravura filmmaking (including the innovative use of Garrett Brown’s Steadicam) possessed Unkrich from his first viewing at an Ohio movie theater and ultimately led to decades of rewatching the story of the Torrance...
The Kubrick film’s sense of the uncanny and bravura filmmaking (including the innovative use of Garrett Brown’s Steadicam) possessed Unkrich from his first viewing at an Ohio movie theater and ultimately led to decades of rewatching the story of the Torrance...
- 3/21/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
When Lee Unkrich was 12, he saw “The Shining” for the first time. He remembers less from the screening than what happened shortly afterward, which set in motion a lifelong obsession with Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece of horror.
On his way to summer camp, Unkrich bought the movie tie-in edition of Stephen King’s novel. “There were photos of Wendy cooking breakfast in the kitchen,” he tells Variety. “I realized that wasn’t a scene that was in the movie. And that got a bug in my head — I wanted to know more about that world.”
For Unkrich, a 25-year Pixar veteran, that deleted scene would beget decades of collecting Kubrick ephemera, a stream of Easter eggs in his work from “Toy Story 2” to “Coco,” a website cataloguing his findings, and now, “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining,” a 12-years-in-the-making, 2,200-page account of the creation of Kubrick’s film that Taschen...
On his way to summer camp, Unkrich bought the movie tie-in edition of Stephen King’s novel. “There were photos of Wendy cooking breakfast in the kitchen,” he tells Variety. “I realized that wasn’t a scene that was in the movie. And that got a bug in my head — I wanted to know more about that world.”
For Unkrich, a 25-year Pixar veteran, that deleted scene would beget decades of collecting Kubrick ephemera, a stream of Easter eggs in his work from “Toy Story 2” to “Coco,” a website cataloguing his findings, and now, “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining,” a 12-years-in-the-making, 2,200-page account of the creation of Kubrick’s film that Taschen...
- 3/16/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
“Star Wars” could stand to come off its high horse a little bit. Other than the recent “Andor,” which actually did break new ground, the franchise has become stunningly obsessed with itself, regurgitating obscure lore, planting callbacks and cameos everywhere, and generally living in the past.
One of the bits of “Star Wars” arcana that especially pops up? The “Star Wars Holiday Special,” the 1978 CBS catastrophe that’s the ultimate example of exploiting franchise IP into oblivion. The definitive “so bad it’s good” fetish object, the two-hour special introduced Boba Fett as a character to the saga and continues to influence stories to this day — the prong-like rifle sometimes used by Mando on “The Mandalorian” came from the special — even as George Lucas and Lucasfilm famously suppressed it. Lucasfilm even produced its own “Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” in 2020.
The most shocking thing about Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak...
One of the bits of “Star Wars” arcana that especially pops up? The “Star Wars Holiday Special,” the 1978 CBS catastrophe that’s the ultimate example of exploiting franchise IP into oblivion. The definitive “so bad it’s good” fetish object, the two-hour special introduced Boba Fett as a character to the saga and continues to influence stories to this day — the prong-like rifle sometimes used by Mando on “The Mandalorian” came from the special — even as George Lucas and Lucasfilm famously suppressed it. Lucasfilm even produced its own “Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” in 2020.
The most shocking thing about Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak...
- 3/12/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
The "Star Wars" saga has always worked best as a form of political commentary. In recent years, the newer films have gotten a bit of flack for that, but it's not hard to see the parallels in most "Star Wars" projects. Even before George Lucas' prequels dove headfirst into the machinations of the Galactic Senate — and drew inadvertent parallels to the War on Terror — the franchise was basically one huge condemnation of fascism. The original films have drawn a lot of comparisons to Nazi Germany for this reason, and the saga's overarching Big Bad, Emperor Palpatine, has been compared to dictators like Adolf Hitler in turn. Lucas did borrow quite a bit from the Third Reich when building out his fictional Empire, but his main inspiration for Palpatine actually hits a lot closer to home.
In "The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," J.W. Rinzler recounts an anecdote about the Emperor's origins.
In "The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," J.W. Rinzler recounts an anecdote about the Emperor's origins.
- 3/10/2023
- by Lyvie Scott
- Slash Film
Cool Stuff: Lee Unkrich's Definitive Compendium For The Shining Is Up For Pre-Order, But It's Pricey
What is it about "The Shining" that induces such obsession? In the 43 years since its release, Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of the book by Stephen King has inspired conspiratorial documentaries, tribute songs, countless fan theories, countless books, sequels both failed and succesful, and more. You're looking at someone who's always stuck by King's side in thinking the movie is an inferior rendering of the deep, psychological morass contained inside his chilling novel. But even I can't deny that there's something irresistible about Kubrick's film, something that beckons in the brief flashes of bizarre art hanging on the walls, the labyrinthine pattern of the hotel carpet, and the actual labyrinth outside the Overlook -- the beguiling hedge maze.
It seems "The Shining" will never be fully plumbed of its mysteries, but lifelong Kubrick obsessive and noted animated film director Lee Unkrich has given it the best try in years. Luxury...
It seems "The Shining" will never be fully plumbed of its mysteries, but lifelong Kubrick obsessive and noted animated film director Lee Unkrich has given it the best try in years. Luxury...
- 2/11/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
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“Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining” is a 2,000-page collection claiming to be an “unprecedented look at the 1980 cult classic.” With only 1,000 copies available, this collector’s item details the laborious re-writes from director Kubrick, a breakdown of the inner workings of blood elevator, first-hand accounts of the fire at Elstree Studios and hundreds of never-before-seen production photographs curated from the Kubrick archive.
The “definitive compendium” to Stanley Kubrick’s film was authored by J. W. Rinzler (the creator of The Overlook Hotel website), edited by Oscar-winning director Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3” and “Coco”) and designed by M/M (Paris) agency (known for their collaborations with Björk and Vogue Paris).
Inspired by the 2005 book, “The Stanley Kubrick Archives,” Rinzler and editor Lee Unkrich embarked on a journey to uncover even...
“Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining” is a 2,000-page collection claiming to be an “unprecedented look at the 1980 cult classic.” With only 1,000 copies available, this collector’s item details the laborious re-writes from director Kubrick, a breakdown of the inner workings of blood elevator, first-hand accounts of the fire at Elstree Studios and hundreds of never-before-seen production photographs curated from the Kubrick archive.
The “definitive compendium” to Stanley Kubrick’s film was authored by J. W. Rinzler (the creator of The Overlook Hotel website), edited by Oscar-winning director Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3” and “Coco”) and designed by M/M (Paris) agency (known for their collaborations with Björk and Vogue Paris).
Inspired by the 2005 book, “The Stanley Kubrick Archives,” Rinzler and editor Lee Unkrich embarked on a journey to uncover even...
- 2/10/2023
- by Meredith Woerner
- Variety Film + TV
Got your Pym particles ready? Then prepare to journey into the Quantum Realm for Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania – the MCU threequel that takes Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne and pitches them into the biggest, wildest adventure yet. The new issue of Empire presents the ultimate look at Marvel’s cosmic jamboree, going subatomic with the cast and creators of a so-tiny-it’s-gigantic sequel.
You can find the issue on newsstands from Thursday 19 January – with online orders available here – but in the meantime here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania
Phase 5 of the MCU is about to go off with a bang – or, more accurately, a Kang, since Paul Rudd’s diminutive hero is about to face Jonathan Majors’ maniacal despot. In a major world-exclusive, Empire speaks to Rudd, Majors, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, director Peyton Reed, Marvel boss...
You can find the issue on newsstands from Thursday 19 January – with online orders available here – but in the meantime here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania
Phase 5 of the MCU is about to go off with a bang – or, more accurately, a Kang, since Paul Rudd’s diminutive hero is about to face Jonathan Majors’ maniacal despot. In a major world-exclusive, Empire speaks to Rudd, Majors, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, director Peyton Reed, Marvel boss...
- 1/18/2023
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Rick Baker is a legend. The special makeup effects master is responsible for creating work for "Videodrome," "Thriller," "Harry and the Hendersons," "Coming to America," "Men in Black," "The Nutty Professor," and so much more. His work is iconic (and I don't use that word lightly) and arguably unparalleled. Hell, he won the very first Oscar for Best Makeup for his groundbreaking work on "American Werewolf in London," and he would go on to win the award a record seven times. In short, Rick Baker is one of the best to ever do it.
Not only is Baker an artist, but he's also a fan of the classic makeup work of cinema, particularly the Universal Monsters, most of which were created by Jack Pierce. So it makes sense that when Universal decided to remake "The Wolfman," Baker would want to be on board to bring the lycanthrope to life. Baker...
Not only is Baker an artist, but he's also a fan of the classic makeup work of cinema, particularly the Universal Monsters, most of which were created by Jack Pierce. So it makes sense that when Universal decided to remake "The Wolfman," Baker would want to be on board to bring the lycanthrope to life. Baker...
- 10/12/2022
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The holiday season is here, and with it comes a whole lot of gift-worthy books, as well as — if you don’t have kids — plenty of time to do some reading. This final Film Stage books column of 2021 features a diverse mix of glossy making-ofs, some career retrospectives, and much more.
One sad note that I neglected to mention in my last two columns: J.W. Rinzler, author of the definitive making-of books about the original Star Wars trilogy, passed away on July 28. He set the standard for detailed, ever-readable studies of how some of our favorite films came to be; this column most recently featured his work in November 2020, when reviewing The Making of Aliens. As we move into a new year, it seems fitting to recognize the writing of a man whose behind-the-scenes accounts were often as memorable and noteworthy as the films themselves. (Read more about Rinzler on starwars.
One sad note that I neglected to mention in my last two columns: J.W. Rinzler, author of the definitive making-of books about the original Star Wars trilogy, passed away on July 28. He set the standard for detailed, ever-readable studies of how some of our favorite films came to be; this column most recently featured his work in November 2020, when reviewing The Making of Aliens. As we move into a new year, it seems fitting to recognize the writing of a man whose behind-the-scenes accounts were often as memorable and noteworthy as the films themselves. (Read more about Rinzler on starwars.
- 11/22/2021
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
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