:: theLogBook.com DVD Reviews ::

I was fond of Revenge of the Sith when I saw it in theaters, and I feel no differently about it now that it’s on DVD. George Lucas apparently feels the same, as it’s the only one of the six movies to have no alterations made for the DVD release. While this 2-disc edition is not quite as loaded with features as the DVD for Attack of the Clones, it still provides a fairly extensive look at the filmmaking process. (more…)

Ask even the most casual fan how many Star Wars films there are, and the majority of them will tell you that there were six. More devoted fans, however, will probably begin naming some of the more obscure entries in the Star Wars universe. There’s the now-infamous Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978 (the one George Lucas would rather forget about), the multiple animated Droids and Ewoks movies which spawned from the animated television programs, and the most recent Clone Wars series. But only those strongest with the force will mention 1984’s Caravan of Courage and 1985’s The Battle For Endor, the two made-for-television Star Wars movies starring those lovable but feisty forest-dwelling teddy bears, the Ewoks. (more…)

Of all the spinoffs that make up the Star Wars Expanded Universe, I don’t think any project reflects the vision of a single creator who isn’t George Lucas more than Cartoon Network’s animated Clone Wars shorts. While executive producer Genndy Tartakovsky worked with Lucasfilm to incorporate the film series’ sound design, music, and certain familiar vehicles and characters, the look, pacing, and style are very reminiscent of Tartakovsky’s work on Samurai Jack. If you like that aesthetic style and want to see it explored in the Star Wars universe, this series is for you. If not, you’re probably going to want to pass on the DVD. (more…)

Just to lay my cards out on the table, there is almost no possible way for any DVD set of the original Star Wars trilogy to meet my greatest hopes. Lucasfilm could put out a series that dwarfs the upcoming 10 disc Matrix extravaganza, and I would still want more interviews, more documentaries, and more behind the scenes footage from the making of the films. And I am almost certain that at some point down the road, probably when high definition video is as commonplace as DVD is today, there will be an Even More Special Edition of these films with additional extras. (Digital Bits has already reported that such a thing is in the works, in fact.) That said, I really enjoyed this 4-disc set, and it delivers very good value for the $40-$45 most retailers are selling it for. (more…)

As a little piece of Star Wars history, this piece of produced-for-the-internet ephemera is a bit too recent to have the collectible cachet of, say, the Holiday Special, and yet I think its status as a Star Wars collectible obscures the real joy of R2-D2: Beneath The Dome: it’s a cuttingly accurate spoof of all of those deadly-earnest Biography-style shows seen on E!, A&E, VH-1, and other networks that can’t afford to slap enough consonants and vowels together to form a name with actual words. (more…)

This set has pretty much been living in my DVD player since I picked it up last week. Granted, my young daughter really likes the music videos, but even without her influence, these discs stand up to heavy re-viewing. (And heavy reviewing, as the length of this piece should indicate…) I’m assuming, of course, that you liked Attack of the Clones in the first place; otherwise, even the entertaining and informative behind-the-scenes features won’t do much for you. (more…)

As I said in my review of Episode I, I enjoyed the movie. By no means is it perfect, and it probably ranks as my least favorite Star Wars movie, but to me that’s a lot like talking about my least favorite chocolate chip cookie. There must be folks who agree with me, given the rush of people who bought Phantom Menace on VHS and now on DVD - I’d hate to think they’re spending 20-25 bucks a pop on a movie they hate. Although even if you’re merely lukewarm toward the movie, the DVD is money well spent, so long as you’re a fan of behind-the-scenes and making of material. In that regard, I think this DVD sets the bar. There are hours of documentary and behind the scenes footage here. (more…)