Tallguy

Return of the Jedi - 17,21,22,31 January, 1,10 February & 5-6 March 1983, Abbey Road Studio 1, 3-4 February 1983, Olympic Studio, Barnes (engineer: Eric Tomlinson)

What score beat The Empire Strikes Back?

One of them. So far anyway. Not the same ballpark. Almost not the same sport.

See? Catholics.

Who was the other Catholic, now?

Look, it's not the 1950's anymore.

(Damn. Now I'm having fun listening to it!)

They're trying a thing. Good luck to them? It's going to have to look next level fantastic for me to board this particular train. I will say, as for music: What is the correct musical accompaniment for Narnia? Or even for a "Medieval-ish Epic Thing"? We can't be objecting to the rock and roll because it's not period appropriate. Because I can't think of too many scores that are. (And the ones that I think are probably still aren't so I'm not going to embarrass myself by naming any.) Time period: Was there anything about the books that suggested WWII? They were published after the war, right? It was a nice gimmick for the film. (Are the new Harry Potters going to be in the 1990's like the books say they are?)

I think it's supposed to be. That Dark Knight one is my favorite.

People are saying that when Roy leaves at the end, leaving his family behind, it's because he's dangerously obsessed, a state brought on by the aliens. This is a much darker interpretation than I think the film intends.

Oh. Well, yes. He's not a happy man when he's tearing apart his living room and trying to find out where his kids are living. But he also doesn't think that he's on a path to leaving the planet, either. I totally disagree with this. He's as interested in his kids as Martin Brody is in his. Both films are masterpieces in showing family chaos. Also: When he has this remarkable experience what is his very first reaction? To share it with his family. John Denver?

We did. There is nothing in the direction, the acting, the music that indicates that we are watching a tragic mistake. "When you wish upon a star..."

But that's not how the movie plays. He's not an obsessed man throwing everything because he's under some kind of influence. He's happy, upbeat. All is well and the audience is happy for him. We're not shaking our heads and saying "But Roy! What are you forgetting?" (OK, my mom did.) Also you can directly compare him to Jill who is just as obsessed as he is. And she's not abandoning Barry.

Well, they do convince the country that a chemical spill has to empty out all the land around Devil's Tower and as far as we know the Close Encounter is not made public. Just because a handful of people hear the Alien call and show up doesn't diminish this. It's very 70's.

Fascinating take. I saw this when I was eight. (First run.) Weighty stuff for such a tender age. Spielberg says he couldn't make the ending today. He made it as a child who's parents could leave. Now he's an adult who could not. I'm a parent who couldn't leave. But this movie is such a part of my DNA that Roy seems normal. Obviously this film has gained depth over my life. It's also lost some. (I'm not a big government conspiracy guy. Well, not SUCCESSFUL conspiracy.) Spielberg's only collaboration with Douglas Trumbull, yes? Maybe it's because this is what I was raised with, but Spielberg was only this deft again with Raiders. Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders. E.T.? The perfect films. I ADORE 1941 and The Last Crusade. And Empire of the Sun! But some of it feels like Spielberg trying to be the director he was on Those Three. (And even then there is nobody else like him!) I REALLY need to see this again. I haven't seen it since 1982! My kids are arguably too old. But I swear I'm going to sit them down and make them watch it. "No Godfather for you until we see E.T.!) I know the score SO much better than the film. I have come to see this as Steven's most successful 2000's film. More than Catch Me If You Can. As I've moved away from the time it was made in I find the film endlessly compelling. It's biggest stumble is at the very end when TOM CRUISE must tell the Army that they can now take down the Martians. Too far. Someone just did a video about Raiders where they think Indy is a bait and switch. He's an unbeatable genius until he switches the idol and then he's running for his life and kind of a screw up. No. In both cases I see it as Extremely Competent People with feet of clay. Cruise is established as a really smart and capable guy who is VERY happy staying in his chosen lane. Then fate picks a different lane for him. And goodness, in many areas he struggles. As the years go by it's one of Cruise's most relatable roles for me.