Star Wars - Jeffrey Overstreet

Best Stormtrooper Ever.

Browser: Zbignew Priesner. Jeff Buckley. Bruce Cockburn's "Slice O Life." Bob Dylan. U2. Tauntaun. Tom Hanks.

1. Start your day with a quick dose of Zbignew Priesner, my favorite film music composer. Here's a track from A Short Film About Killing, from Kieslowski's Decalogue. 2. Another random musical surprise: M. Ward links to a recorded telephone conversation with Jeff Buckley, who sings

On Movies & Media

Star Wars Week: "Clone Wars" Trailer, Star Wars Muppets

As I mentioned Friday, it's the week of Star Wars' 30th birthday, so I'm trying to put aside my resentment over the prequels' failures and remember what made Star Wars great. You know, I might just get excited about Star Wars again if I&

On Movies & Media

It was 30 Years Ago Today Ben Kenobi Taught the Farmboy to Play

On May 25, 1977, Star Wars arrived. I could wax nostalgic and tell you what that did to my seven-year-old imagination, how it changed my life, how it encouraged me to envision "a larger world" ... but I've told that story in Through a Screen Darkly. I&

On Movies & Media

The Vader Sessions

This YouTube video is spreading like a wildfire, so you've probably already seen it. (I discovered it through Peter Chattaway's blog.) If not, here it is: the funniest YouTube link in, oh, at least a few weeks. It's sure to inspire a ton of

Looking Elsewhere

Specials: Amy Wellborn - Vigilant. Adam Walter - literate. Chewbacca - full of Christmas spirit. Teachout - thirsty for music.

Open Book, Amy Wellborn's blog, continues to be an essential stop on my daily tour, for her relentless vigilance. Here's one of the recent highlights, regarding mainstream media and faith. Other blog entries worth noting: Adam Walter discovers the new Mark Helprin Web site. I visited

Looking Elsewhere

Specials: We've lost Porkins. Foreign Oscar-hopefuls. Magdelena.

Today's specials: HE STAYED ON TARGET. Star Wars fans, it is a day to mourn. We've lost Porkins. He also had memorable roles in Raiders of the Lost Ark and A River Runs Through It. And he was the voice of an extraordinary audiobook version of

On Movies & Media

Brock Peters, 1927 - 2005

Brock Peters (front right) with Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird. Details here, at CNN. Peters was diagnosed with the disease in January and had been receiving chemotherapy treatment, according to Marilyn Darby, his longtime companion. His condition became worse in recent weeks. He died peacefully in bed, surrounded

On Movies & Media

Generation-Defining Films: Star Wars. What Else?

I keep running into younger people, students mostly, who don't seem to think the end of the Star Wars saga is any big deal. And of course they don't... they weren't born yet when Star Wars opened. It's causing me to wonder.

On Movies & Media

The Chicago Reader's political Star Wars

Surprise, surprise... The Chicago Reader's J.R. Jones, in the tradition of that paper's preoccupation with political readings of film, sees Revenge of the Sith as an attack on the White House. And so, of course, he really likes it.

On Movies & Media

Revenge of the Sith: Post-Viewing Questions

Okay, when you've finally seen Revenge of the Sith, I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of these questions, a few of which I alluded to in my review. CAUTION: A small degree of spoilage is involved, so read on at your own risk. * If

On Movies & Media

Star Wars, Episode Three - My Review

Here's my review. We've reached the Darth nadir.

On Movies & Media

Revenge of the Sith reviews!

My review of Star Wars, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith will be posted on Wednesday. There'll be a long version at CT Movies, and a MUCH more comprehensive version up at Looking Closer. Notice anything supercool about this shot? Today, CT Movies has posted my latest Reel

On Movies & Media

Star Wars 3: What Questions Do You Want Answered?

As you count down the days to Star Wars, Episode Three(if, indeed, you care at all)... * What are you most eager to see? * What questions do you most want to see answered? * What problems do you most want to see fixed? * What are your deepest fears about the film?

On Movies & Media

The Circle is Now Complete

For me, a journey that began in 1977 ends today. The circle is now complete. Here's the first Star Wars item I ever owned, and I read it even before I was able to see the movie. It's one of the most nostalgia-loaded things I possess.

On Movies & Media

Just a Few More Days of Waiting Before the Circle Becomes Complete

I have my pass to the sneak preview of Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith. I'm feeling a mix of excitement, dread, and at times a strange indifference. Somehow, I know it's not going to be all I want it to be. All I ask

On Movies & Media

Have you READ "Revenge of the Sith" yet?

Doesn't it take some of the fun out of OPENING DAY to know that the novelization of Star Wars, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith is already available at your local bookstore? By the way, for those keeping track, I've made it this far without hearing

On Books & Writing

Dick Staub's new book: "Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters"!

My friend Dick Staub recently impressed the heck out of me all over again with his eloquence on the subject of art and faith when we joined a panel discussion for Christians in the Theatre Arts. In fact, the conversation between us, writer/actor Jeff Berryman, and actor Grant Goodeve

On Movies & Media

Star Wars 3 - New Trailer, George Lucas on "60 Minutes"

The new trailer for Revenge of the Sith is out there. AOL Users can look at it, and others can too if you browse around a while. (Try Aint It Cool News.) Also: George Lucas will be talking about this, the "darkest" episode of the series, on 60

On Movies & Media

My Star Wars Oath

I have never seen a Star Wars movie without knowing the story first. Not once. I read the novelisation before I saw Star Wars on the big screen... at seven years old. I read the classic young-readers' Star Wars "storybooks" ... those large, thin books full of movie

On Movies & Media

New ending to Return of the Jedi

Star Wars fans, put all sharp objects out of reach. You don't want to hurt yourself or anybody else after you see this... the new ending for Return of the Jedi. Expect to see this on the upcoming Star Wars DVD release. Join the ranks of those who

On Movies & Media

Star Wars III gets a (boring) title

I'm back from a weekend of 103-degree heat in Portland, Oregon, where I did just what I said I was going to do (sans the beer-drinking) with friends and family... I lounged, I read, I sipped coffee, I ate UNBELIEVABLY SCRUMPTIOUS desserts at Papa Haydn's (something

Film Reviews

Star Wars, Episode Two — Attack of the Clones (2002)

2015 Update: Are you ready to go back... to Attack of the Clones? These were the first impressions I posted after an opening-night screening of Star Wars, Episode Two opened. It's been more than a decade since then — I write this while fans count down the last 16

Film Forum

Star Wars, Episode Two: a film forum

My coverage of reviews for Star Wars, Episode Two was originally published in the Film Forum column at Christianity Today in May 2002. • The previous Star Wars film, 1999's Episode One: The Phantom Menace, has become the most successful of the entire series. Ironically, it is also considered