A Certain Point of View: Writing, Film and Stuff

Hasbro's #102 Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch-scale action figure features Wedge Antilles, veteran of the Battles of Yavin, Hoth, and Endor during the Galactic Civil War.  Photo Credit: Hasbro, Inc.© 2019 Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)  In 2019, in anticipation of the release of Star Wars - Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, Hasbro (originally known as Hassenfeld Brothers) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island released several "waves" of Star Wars themed collectibles and toys. Some, like the Star Wars Vintage Collection's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Poe Dameron's X-Wing Fighter, were aimed at adult collectors (such as me!) with their retro late-970s/early 1980s-styled packaging and use of the old "Kenner" brand's logo. I received this beauty as part of my birthday gift during a two-day visit to Disney Hollywood Studios' Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge attraction. Photo Credit: Hasbro, Inc. © 2019 Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) Hasbr...

(C) 2001, 2006 Sony Pictures/Sony Home Entertainment On February 10, 1999, the Atlantic Monthly Press published Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden, a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer .  Based on a 29-part series of articles Bowden wrote for the newspaper in the late '90s, Black Hawk Down was the first in-depth book about Operation Gothic Serpent, the mission that pitted 150 Army Rangers, Delta Force operators, and helicopter crews from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) against thousands of Somali gunmen in the infamous First Battle of Mogadishu (October 3-4, 1993), which the Somalis refer to as Maaliniti Rangers (Day of the Rangers). The original hardcover edition. (C) 1999 Atlantic Monthly Press Bowden's book earned critical acclaim for its vivid description of the most ferocious fighting American forces were involved with since Vietnam; 19 U.S. servicemen were killed, 73 were wounded, and Michael Durant, a helic...

Author’s Note: This is the original review of Star Wars – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith that I wrote on May 19, 2005…the day the film premiered on wide release. I wrote it for Epinions as soon as I got home. As a result, it captures the emotions I felt on that day and my initial impressions about what at the time was the final Star Wars movie. The “title crawl” I came up with, obviously, is not the one from the actual film. I could, of course, have looked up the text from the movie’s crawl and replicated it here, but I wanted to present my review as I wrote it on that day. Pros:  Stronger-than-usual Prequel narrative; exciting action sequences; great score Cons:  Padme and Anakin storyline weaker than expected. And you, young Skywalker, we will watch your career with great interest. -- Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Someday I'll be the most powerful Jedi ever! I promise you. I will even learn to ...

“Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” Written and directed by George Lucas Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Frank Oz, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee On Wednesday. May 19, 2005, 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm Limited released “Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.” Written and directed by George Lucas, the film is the third chapter of the Prequel Trilogy and the sixth of a projected 9-film saga set “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” The Tragedy of Darth Vader Set three years after “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack of the Clones” , “Revenge of the Sith” reveals how Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) falls under the influence of a Dark Lord of the Sith, turns to the dark side of the Force, and becomes the evil Darth Vader. Anakin’s transformation from the selfless former slave to fallen hero is tragic in many ways. His friendship with his Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Keno...