"Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" released 1983

George Lucas's third movie in the Star Wars saga, Return of the Jedi, was released in US theaters May 25, 1983. It opened to positive reviews and received numerous awards.  It won a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects.  It was nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Original Score for John Williams, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Sound. 

Of course, the nominations for the top Oscars were reserved for the dramas and biopics. Terms of Endearment is a good movie, and I've seen The Right Stuff, but were they better than Return of the Jedi for Best Picture?  I can tell you which one I've seen more than once. No plans to see any of the others.

John Williams's score lost to Bill Conti's score for The Right Stuff? Yeah, right. The Oscar committee stands by its "no horror, no science fiction" movies for any of the acting awards.  Good thing the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror films gives due credit.  Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher won Saturns for their acting prowess. 

Agatha Christie's "Appointment with Death" released 1988

The movie adaption of one of my least favorite Agatha Christie novels Appointment With Death premiered April 15, 1988.  It boasted a star-studded cast including Peter Ustinov, Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher, and David Soul.

One reason I didn't care for the novel is it seemed as if Agatha Christie had Hercule Poirot pull the solution out of thin air.  I know throwing red herrings in to confuse the reader is the hallmark of great whodunits, but when the solution comes out of nowhere, it detracts from the surprise ending.  

This movie adaption wasn't good, despite the stellar talent.  Editing and directing were lacking and made viewing clunky and confusing.  It didn't fare well at the box office either, and two years later the production company Cannon Films filed for bankruptcy.  

"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" wins 3 Saturn Awards 1990

Steven Spielberg's Who Framed Roger Rabbit was nominated for eight Saturn Awards and won three of them from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Film at the annual ceremony January 21, 1990.

It won Best Fantasy Film, Best Director for Robert Zemeckis, and Best Special Effects for George Gibbs, Ken Ralston, and Richard Williams at Industrial Light & Magic.

Roger Rabbit was nominated for Best Actor for Bob Hoskins, Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Lloyd, Best Supporting Actress for Joanna Cassidy, Best Writing, and Best Music.

Beetlejuice was also nominated for eight awards and won three.  Willow won for Best Costumes.

Star Trek: The Next Generation won Best Genre Television Series.

Carrie Fisher was given the President's Award.

Carrie Fisher, everyone's favorite princess, born 1956

I remember hearing the news that Carrie Fisher had passed away. So many of us Star Wars fans mourned the loss of our Princess Leia, whom we had loved since she appeared in Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977.  Born October 21, 1956 to Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, she played Leia in five Star Wars movies.  She passed after her work on The Last Jedi had been completed.

Carrie appeared in Soapdish, When Harry Met Sally, Sibling Rivalry (movies I enjoyed watching), and Agatha Christie's Appointment With Death, which is one of my least favorite mysteries and movies.

She was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards (no Oscars?).  I knew she wrote novels that were turned into movies, but I just learned she also did a lot of screenwriting and editing.  Wow!

She passed away December 27, 2016. 

"Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" released 1977

The blockbuster from George Lucas that started it all, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, was released in theaters May 25, 1977.  We were all asking what happened to episodes I-III.  The epic saga starred Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. 

Expected to be a bomb, it won six Academy Awards: Best Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects and of course Best Music, Original Score.  It also won a Special Achievement Award for Ben Burtt for his sound effects creations for alien and robot voices.

It was nominated for four more Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Alec Guinness, Best Director and Best Writing for George Lucas.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" released 2015

The long-awaited Star Wars sequel to Revenge of the Jedi, The Force Awakens was released December 18, 2015.  It was met with positive reviews and fans loved it.  The Force Awakens was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and won 8 Saturn Awards: Best Science Fiction Film, Best Writing, Best Actor for Harrison Ford, Best Supporting Actor, Best Music for John Williams, Best Editing, Best Make-up, and Best Special Effects.

It reunited Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, and Mark Hamill, as well as Ford.

My favorite movies - 1975-1978

1975 - The Hindenburg with George C. Scott and Anne Bancroft.  Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and awarded an Oscar for Special Achievements.



1976 - Murder by Death starring everybody.  I loved the snarky humor and the spoof of whodunits.



1977 - Star Wars. Duh.  It is ranked by IMDB.com as the 20th most popular movie of all time.  It won 6 Oscars: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects, Visual Effects and Best Music, Original Score (to John Williams).




1978 - Superman starring Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. John Williams was nominated again for Best Music, Original Score but lost to Giorgio Moroder for Midnight Express.

Remembering Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)

Beautiful Carrie Fisher, who, as Princess Leia, stole the plans to the Death Star and our hearts, has passed away.  She has been one of my favorite actresses since Star Wars: A New Hope, even when she played a bitchy sister-in-law in Sibling Rivalry.  It was so good to see her in the latest film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

She will always be remembered as the beautiful, feisty Leia.