Let's all celebrate an underappreciated character in "Star Wars: Episode VI -- Return of the Jedi." That character is Oola (Femi Taylor), the enslaved Twi'lek dancer working for crime boss Jabba the Hutt. While my own headcanon says she could have escaped after being thrown into the rancor pit since we didn't actually see her die, she didn't have an easy time while living and entertaining under duress at Jabba's palace.
As it turns out, the dancing wasn't easy for Taylor either. She's a wonderful performer who was a dancer in the musical "Cats" in London and in the 1998 TV movie of the play. She was even asked back to film new scenes for the "Return of the Jedi" special edition, including some time in the rancor pit. (It's best not to think about how she had to deal with the CGI song performed in the special edition.) Taylor...
As it turns out, the dancing wasn't easy for Taylor either. She's a wonderful performer who was a dancer in the musical "Cats" in London and in the 1998 TV movie of the play. She was even asked back to film new scenes for the "Return of the Jedi" special edition, including some time in the rancor pit. (It's best not to think about how she had to deal with the CGI song performed in the special edition.) Taylor...
- 12/11/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
When the "Star Wars" special editions were released in theaters beginning in 1997, there were a lot of upset fans. While George Lucas was able to realize more of his vision for the original trilogy with new technology in the special effects realm, many people wished he'd left them the way they were. I mean, there was a reason they became so popular without the new additions. Things seemed shoved in there and overdone. Sure, there were great moments, like watching all the planets celebrate the fall of the Empire, but a lot of it was bantha poodoo.
One thing that was actually cool — and I remember thinking this the day I saw the "Return of the Jedi" special edition — was the fact that Jabba the Hutt's enslaved Twi'lek dancer Oola (Femi Taylor) got more to do. I do not like that stupid song in the scene where she dances,...
One thing that was actually cool — and I remember thinking this the day I saw the "Return of the Jedi" special edition — was the fact that Jabba the Hutt's enslaved Twi'lek dancer Oola (Femi Taylor) got more to do. I do not like that stupid song in the scene where she dances,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
In this edition of Star Wars Bits:
Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023."Star Wars: The Bad Batch" reviews and breakdowns."Star Wars Galaxy of Creatures" is back!Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023
Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 announced more guests attending the convention, which will be held April 7-10, 2023, at ExCeL London. Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), and Ming-Na Wen (Fennec Shand) will be in attendance. Joining them are Aidan Cook (Doctor Quadpaw), Silas Carson (Ki-Adi-Mundi and Nute Gunray), and Matthew Wood (General Grievous).
Also, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," you can expect many cast members from the film to be in attendance, including Michael Carter (Bib Fortuna), Sean Crawford (Yak Face), Tim Dry (J'Quille), Femi Taylor (Oola), Mike Edmonds (Logray), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), and Caroline Blakiston (Mon Mothma).
Previously...
Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023."Star Wars: The Bad Batch" reviews and breakdowns."Star Wars Galaxy of Creatures" is back!Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023
Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 announced more guests attending the convention, which will be held April 7-10, 2023, at ExCeL London. Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), and Ming-Na Wen (Fennec Shand) will be in attendance. Joining them are Aidan Cook (Doctor Quadpaw), Silas Carson (Ki-Adi-Mundi and Nute Gunray), and Matthew Wood (General Grievous).
Also, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," you can expect many cast members from the film to be in attendance, including Michael Carter (Bib Fortuna), Sean Crawford (Yak Face), Tim Dry (J'Quille), Femi Taylor (Oola), Mike Edmonds (Logray), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), and Caroline Blakiston (Mon Mothma).
Previously...
- 2/10/2023
- by Adam Frazier
- Slash Film
In "Return of the Jedi," "Star Wars" fans were introduced to a rancor, then known as "the" rancor, a jagged-toothed, hungry monster who eats poor Oola (Femi Taylor), the Twi'lek dancing girl under orders from Jabba the Hutt. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) ended up killing the beast in a moment that's intended to be heroic, but always sat wrong with me as a child. The rancor's handler, Malakili (Paul Brooke), openly weeps as he holds his dying pet, which led me to believe that maybe he wasn't just a mindless murdering machine, but something more like a giant guard dog.
One thing the "Star Wars" shows on...
The post The Book of Boba Fett Wants to Change the Conversation Around Rancors appeared first on /Film.
One thing the "Star Wars" shows on...
The post The Book of Boba Fett Wants to Change the Conversation Around Rancors appeared first on /Film.
- 1/12/2022
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
George Lucas hasn’t been able to resist making the odd nick and tuck to the original Star Wars trilogy over the years. Here’s James’ list of the worst alterations...
In 1983, George Lucas’s tripartite masterpiece was complete. The Star Wars trilogy had finished and secured a highly regarded place in the history of cinema. But Lucas had big plans for his greatest work. In the years following the release of the films, they were, I’d argue, mutilated. I know I'm not alone in this feeling.
A load of ill-fitting CGI was tacked on (though changing the Sarlacc was probably for the best. Anything to make it look less like genitalia in the desert), sound effects were changed, dialogue was dubbed over, and most appallingly of all, Greedo shot first. I may be a purist, but to me, this is the equivalent of taking a painting that you...
In 1983, George Lucas’s tripartite masterpiece was complete. The Star Wars trilogy had finished and secured a highly regarded place in the history of cinema. But Lucas had big plans for his greatest work. In the years following the release of the films, they were, I’d argue, mutilated. I know I'm not alone in this feeling.
A load of ill-fitting CGI was tacked on (though changing the Sarlacc was probably for the best. Anything to make it look less like genitalia in the desert), sound effects were changed, dialogue was dubbed over, and most appallingly of all, Greedo shot first. I may be a purist, but to me, this is the equivalent of taking a painting that you...
- 4/4/2011
- Den of Geek
Film review: 'Return of the Jedi'
When the film originally opened May 25, 1983, the newspaper ads for episode six of George Lucas' "Star Wars" saga had a boxed warning for moviegoers that read, "May be too intense for very young children."
Another appropriate warning might have read, "May be too infantile for mature fans of the first two films."
Fourteen years later, "Return of the Jedi" still rates as a huge disappointment, but it's a beloved classic for many and poised to seduce more young fans and harvest another boxoffice bounty as part of 20th Century Fox's phenomenal "Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition" rereleases.
In keeping with the retooled "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back", minor additions and improvements have been made to "Jedi", including expanded sequences in the lair of villain Jabba the Hutt.
Alas, it is this opening section of the film in both versions that departs from the darker tone of "Empire" and commences a safer plunge into nonhuman corniness.
Jabba is still an impressive lump of malevolence, but many of the new creatures and humorous elements are more silly than wondrous. Charismatic droids C-3PO and R2D2 are offered as gifts by full-blown Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to help earn the release of Han Solo (Harrison Ford).
In a scene reminiscent of the droids' capture by Jawas on Tatooine in the first film, the mechanical rebels are taken to a torture chamber, where other robots are seen suffering. Kids might giggle and squirm at the mock violence, but it's hard to forget that C-3PO was dismembered in the first two films and displayed no pain.
Recalling the first film's celebrated cantina scene, the "Jedi Rocks" musical number has been reworked to include more material with the green-skinned slave Oola (Femi Taylor), new character Yuzzum and new moves for the bizarre singer Sy Snootles. The new filmed and digitally created material is seamlessly interwoven, but the scene is still unbearably cute.
Unfortunately, there's much more to come, including the tiresome Ewoks, teddy bears with a "primitive" tribal culture and the belated ferocity of aroused villagers in a samurai movie. Once again, the younger the viewer, the more likely one is to respond uncritically to this gambit.
An overall problem with the series and this film in particular is perhaps a minor but impossible-to-avoid technicality. The eyes of most of the nonhuman creatures, including the co-pilot of Lando Calrissian Billy Dee Williams), are unconvincing.
Similarly, the grand themes of Luke's secret past and relationship to Darth Vader, Leia's emergence as another potential Jedi Knight, and the prescient emperor's manipulation of events are dealt with, but the storytelling so promisingly expanded in "Empire" actually devolves. We learn Vader's real name and find out what he looks like under that helmet, but the nature of the Force remains vague and simplistic.
There are still several exciting sequences, and the climactic space battle and assault on the new Death Star are visually splendid. Directed by Richard Marquand ("Jagged Edge") and filmed in widescreen by Alan Hume, "Return of the Jedi" features another rousing Oscar-nominated score by John Williams. But the film, like the music, seems more content with repeating successful elements of the first two "Star Wars" movies and not taking the risks that made its progenitors such major cinematic achievements.
RETURN OF THE JEDI: SPECIAL EDITION
20th Century Fox
A Lucasfilm Ltd. production
Director Richard Marquand
Producer Howard Kazanjian
Writers Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
Executive producer George Lucas
Director of photography Alan Hume
Production designer Norman Reynolds
Music John Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Luke Skywalker Mark Hamill
Han Solo Harrison Ford
Princess Leia Carrie Fisher
Lando Calrissian Billy Dee Williams
Obi-Wan Kenobi Alec Guinness
C-3PO Anthony Daniels
R2D2 Kenny Baker
Chewbacca Peter Mayhew
Darth Vader David Prowse
Emperor Ian McDiarmid
Running time -- 133 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Another appropriate warning might have read, "May be too infantile for mature fans of the first two films."
Fourteen years later, "Return of the Jedi" still rates as a huge disappointment, but it's a beloved classic for many and poised to seduce more young fans and harvest another boxoffice bounty as part of 20th Century Fox's phenomenal "Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition" rereleases.
In keeping with the retooled "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back", minor additions and improvements have been made to "Jedi", including expanded sequences in the lair of villain Jabba the Hutt.
Alas, it is this opening section of the film in both versions that departs from the darker tone of "Empire" and commences a safer plunge into nonhuman corniness.
Jabba is still an impressive lump of malevolence, but many of the new creatures and humorous elements are more silly than wondrous. Charismatic droids C-3PO and R2D2 are offered as gifts by full-blown Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to help earn the release of Han Solo (Harrison Ford).
In a scene reminiscent of the droids' capture by Jawas on Tatooine in the first film, the mechanical rebels are taken to a torture chamber, where other robots are seen suffering. Kids might giggle and squirm at the mock violence, but it's hard to forget that C-3PO was dismembered in the first two films and displayed no pain.
Recalling the first film's celebrated cantina scene, the "Jedi Rocks" musical number has been reworked to include more material with the green-skinned slave Oola (Femi Taylor), new character Yuzzum and new moves for the bizarre singer Sy Snootles. The new filmed and digitally created material is seamlessly interwoven, but the scene is still unbearably cute.
Unfortunately, there's much more to come, including the tiresome Ewoks, teddy bears with a "primitive" tribal culture and the belated ferocity of aroused villagers in a samurai movie. Once again, the younger the viewer, the more likely one is to respond uncritically to this gambit.
An overall problem with the series and this film in particular is perhaps a minor but impossible-to-avoid technicality. The eyes of most of the nonhuman creatures, including the co-pilot of Lando Calrissian Billy Dee Williams), are unconvincing.
Similarly, the grand themes of Luke's secret past and relationship to Darth Vader, Leia's emergence as another potential Jedi Knight, and the prescient emperor's manipulation of events are dealt with, but the storytelling so promisingly expanded in "Empire" actually devolves. We learn Vader's real name and find out what he looks like under that helmet, but the nature of the Force remains vague and simplistic.
There are still several exciting sequences, and the climactic space battle and assault on the new Death Star are visually splendid. Directed by Richard Marquand ("Jagged Edge") and filmed in widescreen by Alan Hume, "Return of the Jedi" features another rousing Oscar-nominated score by John Williams. But the film, like the music, seems more content with repeating successful elements of the first two "Star Wars" movies and not taking the risks that made its progenitors such major cinematic achievements.
RETURN OF THE JEDI: SPECIAL EDITION
20th Century Fox
A Lucasfilm Ltd. production
Director Richard Marquand
Producer Howard Kazanjian
Writers Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
Executive producer George Lucas
Director of photography Alan Hume
Production designer Norman Reynolds
Music John Williams
Color/stereo
Cast:
Luke Skywalker Mark Hamill
Han Solo Harrison Ford
Princess Leia Carrie Fisher
Lando Calrissian Billy Dee Williams
Obi-Wan Kenobi Alec Guinness
C-3PO Anthony Daniels
R2D2 Kenny Baker
Chewbacca Peter Mayhew
Darth Vader David Prowse
Emperor Ian McDiarmid
Running time -- 133 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 3/14/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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