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Star Wars fans have been a cynical lot as of late, given the rather dubious changes to the films' Blu-ray release. But this video of YouTube user BashTheMonkey's four-year-old son reacting to Darth Vader's paternity reveal should brighten your Monday morning. Unless you're George Lucas, of course — you're already scheming to make Dengar Luke's poppa for the 3D re-release. More »
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With the advent of the Star Wars Blu-ray collection, we finally get to see those weird scenes George Lucas left at the editing bay. These nixed sequences featured Wampa attacks, Darth Vader using his brain as a telepathic CB radio, and blue milk. More »
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In this bizarre footage from the defunct wish-granting program Jim'll Fix It, a lucky eight-year-old named Daniel scores a picnic with Luke Skywalker on Dagobah. They then watch a clip from The Empire Strikes Back and Chewbacca admits he eats little girls. More »
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I have no idea what's to be gleaned from watching all three movies at once, but I definitely heard Bossk whisper "Paul is dead." More »
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"Dumb As A Blog" collects scathing reviews of the world's most beloved films. The New York Times calls Empire Strikes Back "a lot of hot air" and disses Bill Murray's Ghostbusters performance, while the New Yorker destroys Indiana Jones. More »
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Irvin Kershner, director of the best Star Wars film, has died at 87 in LA. Kershner also directed such genre hits as the Bond flick Never Say Never Again and Robocop 2, and the cult favorite TV series Seaquest DSV. More »
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In 1978, David Prowse, better known as Darth Vader's body, spoiled The Empire Strikes Back to a cheering crowd in Berkeley, California...two years before Empire came out. But did Prowse actually know the ending, or was this sheer coincidence? More »
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Before Yoda was a Muppet, the makers of Empire Strikes Back considered casting a monkey as the movie's spiritual center. Plus the lost Wampa raid on the rebel base, and the original portrayer of Palpatine finally revealed after thirty years! More »
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The book trailer for J.W. Rinzler's The Making of The Empire Strikes Back is a must-watch, full of juicy secrets. Glimpse the original script by Leigh Bracket, check out concept art, and find out how ESB almost fell through. More »
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Gary Kurtz was George Lucas' partner in making the first two Star Wars films, but they had a huge falling-out after Empire Strikes Back. Now, for the first time, he's explained what went wrong with Star Wars. More »
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To cap off this month's 30th anniversary of Empire, here are bunch of toys that are worth more than your house. Or at least they would be...if you didn't open them. Goddamn it, childhood pursuit of fun. [John Rozum] More »
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Now that you're old enough to pack your own lunch, don't you know that brown-bagging is déclassé? Save a tree and tote your vittles around in these vintage food cubes. When Lee Majors adorns your thermos, nothing can stop you. More »
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It seems like periodic tables are the genre charts de jour, but this one — breaking down the various and sundry building blocks of Episode V — is pretty neat, especially the "strangled by Vader" subset. [Scifi Wire] More »
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Everyone was at the Empire Strikes Back party for St. Jude Children's Hospital in LA, from Ewan McGregor to Peter Mayhew. AP's video recap of the event is all kinds of greatness, even if they got their space pirates switched. More »
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Thirty years ago, George Lucas sprung his Star Wars sequel upon a young moviegoing public that was simply unprepared for what they'd see: An unrelenting operatic downer, filled with pain, sacrifice, revelation, and loss. Good times. More »
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Word is the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back has been making the rounds on the web...without Lucasfilm's OK. What didn't make the final cut? A cloned Lando, Luke Skywalker's twin sister Nellith, and a war with the Wampas. More »
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Just as you finish up your t(of)urkey leftovers, we thought we should share some movie leftovers with you. Say, 40 deleted scenes from movies like Star Wars, The Dark Knight and Star Trek? Click through for excised joy. More »
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Few sacred cows of classic science fiction remain, largely because science-fiction fans love sacred hamburgers, but also because we are surly lot, possessed of a discerning critical eye and the highest of standards. More »
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More proof that today's generation of whippersnappers either have very bad memories or are easily confused by Keanu Reeves comes in the form of Rankopedia's democratically-created list of the Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time. I have no problem with The Empire Strikes Back trumping Star Wars, or the surprise placement of the awesome Children of Men. But as I write this, the Best Sci-Fi Movie of All Time, as voted for by the collective internet is, apparently The Matrix. Which is a travesty. More »
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