Length: 72 minutes Distributor: Vanguard International Cinema DVD Release Date: 05/14/2002
Plot: One of the longest waits in cinema history was the fifteen year span between Return Of The Jedi and Star Wars Episode One - The Phantom Menace. This documentary follows the preparatory hype train for Phantom Menace as it rolls through a convention, nationwide tour, and a gala event that includes movie stars and anonymous actors cloaked in robot costumes. The fanaticism and geekdom is on display as well as an insight into a promotional juggernaut.
Length: 60 minutes Distributor: Tapeworm Video DVD Release Date: 04/30/2002 Director: Ernie Fosselius Cast: Frank Robertson, Scott Mathews, Jeff Hale, Cindy Furgatch, Bob Knickerbocker
Plot: The classic award-winning spoof of the space opera Star Wars gets a digital nip-and-tuck--just like its theatrical progenitor. Rebel forces led by Fluke Starbucker, Ham Salad, Princess Anne Droid, and the irrepressible blue Wookie Monster battle the evil Darph Nader and his squadrons of flying kitchen appliances.
Theater Release Date: 1987 Format: Widescreen and Standard Length: 96 minutes Distributor: MGM Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 08/14/2001 Director: Mel Brooks Cast: Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga, Joan Rivers
Plot: In this spoof of Star Wars and a handful of other sci-fi flicks from the 1970s and '80s, space-bum-for-hire Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his half-dog/half-man sidekick, Barf (John Candy), must rescue a spoiled Druish princess (Daphne Zuniga) from the evil Lord Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) in time to pay off Pizza the Hut. With Spaceballs, director Mel Brooks is at it again, this time with a science-fiction parody with all the blue-screen special effects and weird makeup (though in this film, things are always slightly off-kilter and unpolished). Here, maverick space travelers set out to save the planet Druidia, which is being harassed by the Spaceballs, a sinister group attempting to pilfer Druidia's air resources. Among the many gags and jokes is a hilarious parody of a classic scene from Alien. Mel Brooks himself makes one of his funniest acting appearances as Yogurt, a send-up of The Empire Strikes Back's Yoda.
Length: N/A minutes Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 11/23/2004
Plot: Before they discovered fame and adventure with the rebel alliance, C3P0 and R2D2 travelled the galaxy with many crews, fighting villainy and protecting their friends and masters against all sorts of nefarious characters. This animated adventure series, structured in story arcs consisting of 3 to 4 episodes, chronicles their exploits as they are sent on missions by the Intergalactic Droid Agency. In this collection, the robotic duo attempt to restore a prince to his rightful place on the throne of the planet Tammuz-An. To this end, they help him escape from a group of space pirates, as well as evil slave traders, and the perpetrators of an insidious conspiracy.
Length: N/A minutes Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 11/23/2004
Plot: A resurrection of the much-loved Saturday morning cartoon that chronicled the adventures of Wicket, Princess Kneesaa, and all the other lovable little Ewoks who populate the forest planet of Endor, this film consists of two episodes edited together into a feature. Wicket struggles and learns valuable lessons on his way to being a mature member of the community. His adventures are shared with Kneesaa, who will eventually become chieftain; Latara, an aspiring musician; and Teebo, who shares an empathic bond with animals. The group of youngsters also often come to the aid of their elders by protecting their treetop village from their enemies, Morag the Tulga witch, and the Duloks, a rival species. Here, as Morag plots to steal all the sunberry trees, which are the Ewoks's primary sustenance, the Ewok Logray develops a secret weapon: a bar of soap that can turn things invisible. Matters are complicated, however, when Dulaks get their hands on the soap, and its up to Wicket to save the day!
Theater Release Date: 2002 Format: Widescreen; Special Edition; 2-Disc Set Length: 142 minutes Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 11/12/2002 Director: George Lucas Cast: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Pernilla August, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Temuera Morrison, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, Kenny Baker, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Jimmy Smits
Plot: In the second installment of the Star Wars series, Episode Ii--Attack Of The Clones, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is now a teenage Jedi apprentice to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Together they must protect Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) from a militant group of political activists that is trying to assassinate her. This group is led by the evil Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). Among other troubles, Anakin faces some hard choices as he begins to fall for Padme, knowing this love is forbidden by the Jedi knights' creed. In addition, Anakin begins to show his rebellious attraction to the dark side--which will eventually conquer him, when he becomes the future Darth Vader. The story is set 10 years after Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and there are appearances by some of Phantom's characters, including Jar Jar Binks. Clones also brings back familiar faces from the original Star Wars: the lovable droids R2D2 and C3PO, and Yoda, who plays a key role in this film. Lucas creates an impressive array of beautifully rendered alien planets and beings, sleek spaceships, and dazzling effects; he remains at the head of the class in terms of technical ability and visual imagination. The film's climactic final sequences show the magic with which Clones' earns its place as part of the beloved Star Wars series.
Star Wars Ewok Adventures: Caravan of Courage/ The Battle for Endor
Length: 60 minutes Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 11/23/2004
Plot: When the Towani family crash their Starcruiser onto the planet Endor, the children, Cindel and Mace, are separated from their parents, who have been kidnapped by the evil monster Gorax. Now they must rescue their parents, but first they endeavor to befriend the shy, resourceful Ewoks, whose aid will prove integral to their operation. After the successful completion of their mission and the recovery of the Towani parents, the group must defend the Ewok community from the invasion of a foreign enemy. Cindel and the Ewok Wicket escape into the forest, where they meet a couple of people who, like them, have been stranded on the forest moon planet after an accident in their Starcruiser. Together the group does battle with the invaders, and tries to find a way off of Endor.
Theater Release Date: 1983 Length: 387 minutes Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 09/21/2004 Director: George Lucas Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, David Prowse, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Cushing, Billy Dee Williams, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, James Earl Jones
Plot: One of the most exhilarating and influential trilogies in the history of motion pictures, George Lucas's sci-fi spectacular continues to capture the hearts and minds of individuals throughout the world. This release contains the Star Wars trilogy (episodes Iv-Vi) in one glorious package.
First up is Star Wars; George Lucas's stunning sci-fi masterpiece, and arguably one of the most inventive and entertaining films ever made. As the adventure begins, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), an impulsive but goodhearted young man who lives on the dusty planet of Tatooine with his aunt and uncle, longs for the exciting life of a Rebel soldier. The Rebels, led by the headstrong Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), are fighting against the evil Empire, which has set about destroying planets inhabited by innocent citizens with the Death Star, a fearsome planetlike craft commanded by Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) and the eternally frightful Darth Vader (David Prowse, with the voice of James Earl Jones). When Luke's aunt and uncle are murdered by the Empires imperial stormtroopers and he mysteriously finds a distress message from Princess Leia in one of his androids, R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), he must set out to find Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), a mysterious old hermit with incredible powers. On his journey, Luke is aided by the roguish, sarcastic mercenary Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his towering furry sidekick Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) as they run into a host of perilous situations while trying to rescue the princess--and the entire galaxy. Considered the most morally and emotionally complex of the original Star Wars trilogy, The Empire Strike Back continues creator George Lucass epic saga where Star Wars left off. The Rebel Forces--which include young adventurer Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and the beautiful but seemingly humorless Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)--have been successful in destroying the Evil Empires Death Star. However, the Empires top commander, the terrifying Lord Darth Vader (played by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones), is scanning the galaxy for the Rebels' secret location. After a visually stunning showdown on the ice planet Hoth, the Rebels are forced to flee, and Luke separates from Han and Leia. Masterful storytelling weaves multiple, archetypal plotlines that pit Vader against Han and Leia as he desperately attempts to capture Luke for political--and, secretly, personal--reasons. Luke, meanwhile, finds himself under the tutelage of the tiny but powerful old Jedi Master Yoda, who teaches him the ways of the Force and warns the impatient but talented student against the threat of the Dark Side. Greek tragedy meets a philosophical heros journey in Empire, a remarkable sci-fi epic in which the performances are as powerful as the spectacular special effects. The third and final chapter in the wondrous Star Wars saga is Return Of The Jedi. Luke (Mark Hamill) must save Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from the clutches of the monstrous Jabba the Hut, and bring down the newly reconstructed--and even more powerful--Death Star. With Solo imprisoned, Luke accompanies his faithful droids R2D2 (Kenny Baker) and C3PO (Anthony Daniels) in a rescue bid, with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) also lending a hand. After they valiantly disentangle their friends from Jabba's clutches, Luke returns to his Jedi Knight training with Yoda. Meanwhile, the Rebel Troops amass in an attempt to see off the impending threat from Darth Vader (played by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones) and his new Death Star, with the operation being lead by Han Solo. But Luke must face Vader himself if he is to become a true Jedi Knight, and as he enters into a spirited battle with his light saber-wielding enemy, some surprising revelations await the young warrior.
Length: N/A minutes Distributor: Passport Entertainment DVD Release Date: 04/02/2002
Plot: This documentary showcases the ongoing rivalry between the very devoted fans of entertainment's two best sci-fi sagas. The program features an in-depth comparison of the two space stories created by George Lucas and Gene Roddenberry. From conception and development to worldwide merchandising, a chronological line of Star Wars and Star Trek is explored through the eyes of the creators and enthusiasts alike.
Length: 60 minutes Distributor: Passport Entertainment DVD Release Date: 04/02/2002 Cast: George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Sharon Stone, Fran Drescher, Hugh Hefner
Plot: Go behind the scenes with this documentary about the original "Star Wars" series and prequel The Phantom Menace. Includes interviews with stars and filmmakers, plus a look at the opening days of the movies in 1977, 1997, and 1999. Also includes clips from the spoof Spaceballs and interviews with famous stars and how the movies have affected their lives.
Length: 97 minutes Distributor: Image Entertainment, Inc. DVD Release Date: 09/21/2004 Cast: Mark Hamill
Plot: Explore a century's worth of science fiction with this 2 hour long documentary, hosted by Star Wars' Mark Hamill. Though not always equipped with the dizzying level of special effects that audiences today have come to expect, science fiction films have always been on the vanguard of what is visually possible in the cinema, holding up a mythological mirror to society's hopes and greatest fears. This informative and fascinating tour begins with the likes of Metropolis and The Day The Earth Stood Still, continuing through 2001: A Space Odyssey, and ending with such contemporary blockbusters as Independence Day and Men In Black. You'll find highlights of all the greatest science fiction films included here, plus the original trailers of over two dozen films.
