The Last Jedi Target Exclusive Blu-Ray and DVD Set

This week saw the home video release of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. There were a battery of different purchase options available, but I eventually decided to go for the Target exclusive Blu-Ray and DVD set.

This pack includes The Last Jedi on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital as well as a Blu-Ray disc containing the standard assortment of special features and the Target Exclusive DVD disc with the "Meet the Porgs" featurette. The included special features give some wonderful insights into the film-making process, but the real standout is The Director and the Jedi - a heartfelt feature-length look behind-the-scenes of The Last Jedi. It's a wonderful tribute to the contributions of both Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill to the saga, and might just be my second favourite Star Wars documentary yet (after the wonderful Empire of Dreams that accompanied the 2004 DVD release of the original trilogy).

The deleted scenes are another great highlight. Whereas these scenes are usually dull and uninspired - making clear the director's reasons for their omission - the deleted scenes from The Last Jedi are, for the most part, truly excellent. More than once, my fiancee and I found ourselves saying "I wish they'd left that in". It's a real credit to director Rian Johnson that - even after assembling a two-and-a-half hour film (the longest Star Wars movie to date) - there was still a raft of great scenes left on the cutting-room floor.

Also included is a gorgeous 40-page 'Gallery Book' featuring factoids, concept art, and behind-the-scenes photographs. The packaging features stunning photographs of the cast - all suffused with the red palette that became the signature of this film. At only $27.99US ($38.71NZ) it is - in my estimations - the best way to go if you're looking to add this movie to your collection!

The Last Jedi Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

One thing I may have failed to mention during my effusive praise of The Last Jedi is its score. But maybe I didn't need to. With the return of John Williams as composer, it goes without saying that the music in this film is beyond reproach. That's why I didn't hesitate to pick up the Target exclusive soundtrack (featuring two collectible art cards) as soon as I spotted it in stores.

There's a real sense of what's come before in the Last Jedi soundtrack. In fact, it might very well feature more callbacks to the original trilogy than any prequel or sequel trilogy score that's come before. There are a number of samplings of classic character themes, as well as a few surprises - like the use of "TIE Fighter Attack" from A New Hope. There's also plenty of links to The Force Awakens, with "Rey's Theme" and the "March of the Resistance" featuring prominently throughout. At the same time, however, Williams also explores some intriguing new musical avenues.

Every new Star Wars film tends to add one particularly iconic piece to the orchestral oevre of the saga. The Phantom Menace had "Duel of the Fates", Revenge of the Sith had "Battle of the Heroes", and for The Last Jedi, it's "The Rebellion is Reborn" - a wonderful Disney-esque theme that adds some great levity to what is, at times, an incredibly dark film. There are some other great new tunes, too. "Canto Bight" features fantastic new in-universe orchestration reminiscent of the cantina from A New Hope, and in "The Spark", we finally get what might be considered Luke's theme - a powerful, triumphant variant of the Imperial March.

Regardless of where the saga has gone over the years - or how the films have been received by audiences - John Williams scores have never faltered. This soundtrack for The Last Jedi is simply further testament to this fact. It's my sincere hope that we see Williams contribute at least one more score for Episode IX before he decides to call it a day.

Rogue One Target Exclusive Blu-Ray and DVD Set

Yesterday saw the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Blu-Ray and DVD. As reported back in February, there were a multitude of options for purchasing the film. After some careful consideration, I opted to pre-order Target's exclusive 5-disc set. It arrived in the mail today, and I'm absolutely rapt with it!

The set contains the film on Blu-Ray, 3D Blu-Ray, and DVD, as well as an additional Blu-Ray disc featuring the full bevy of bonus features, and a DVD containing two documentaries exclusive to the Target release - "Inside the Creature Shop" and "Digital Storytelling". The best part, however, is the presentation. The set comes with five interchangeable images of different members of the Rogue One cast that allows you to personalise the front cover of the box. The inner case is also decorated with two gorgeous images from Scarif. and the whole things slips inside a clear protective cover etched with the Death Star schematics.

I'm currently without access to a Blu-Ray player - so haven't had a chance to review the special features yet - but my thoughts will be added here as soon as I do. It's worth noting, however, that the list of special features doesn't include any deleted scenes. As with the Force Awakens Blu-Ray, any trailers for the film are also conspicuously absent. 

At $29.99US ($43.24NZ), it's fantastic value - being the same price as Best Buy's exclusive which comes without the additional DVD of bonus content.

[UPDATE 09/04/2017: Unfortunately, the Target exclusive set is now out of stock.] 

Rogue One Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Rogue One is the first theatrical Star Wars film to feature a score by a composer other than John Williams. Music has always been fundamental to the saga, so this departure filled many fans (myself included) with a certain amount of trepidation. It also set an incredibly high bar for Rogue One composer Michael Giacchino to meet. Fortunately, we needn't have worried - and after seeing Rogue One and being blown away by the film's score, I immediately went out to pick up a copy of the soundtrack on CD.

Giacchino makes full use of his formidable scoring experience (his resume includes work on Lost, Fringe, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, Jurassic World, and a number of Disney Pixar movies including The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Up) and produces a soundtrack that is both distinctly Star Wars, and refreshingly original. Of particular note is the unique new opening theme found at the end of "A Long Ride Ahead". The real centrepiece, however, is the equal parts tragic and inspiring "Jyn Erso & Hope Suite" that is reprised throughout the score, and beautifully dovetails into Williams' original Force Theme in "Trust Goes Both Ways".

If you're a fan of the music of Star Wars, then you'll certainly want to add this soundtrack to your collection. Giacchino has done phenomenal work, and his score for Rogue One has earned a well-deserved place alongside Williams' scores.

Star Wars Rebels Complete Season 2 DVD

Back in November, the Complete Season 2 DVD of Star Wars Rebels hit stores here in New Zealand - and I was lucky enough to receive this set from my parents for my birthday.

At the end of Season 1, I wrote about how Star Wars Rebels is binding the galaxy together. Season 2 of this phenomenal show is no exception. With more appearances by prequel, original trilogy, and Clone Wars characters, introductions of elements from the Legends expanded universe, and even head-nods to The Force Awakens, this show is pulling from every aspect of the vast Star Wars mythos to fill each episode.

Like Season 1, this latest release also includes every episode of Andi Gutierrez's fantastic Rebels Recon series as well as a bonus featurette Connecting the Galaxy: Rebels Season 2. 

Lego Star Wars - Droid Tales DVD

I'm something of a completionist when it comes to Star Wars-related home entertainment, so I recently picked up the 2-disc DVD set of Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales from Mighty Ape for $19.99.

The set features all five episodes from the Droid Tales series. While something of an extended commercial for the latest Lego Star Wars sets, the show still proves to be mighty entertaining - and the addition of Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Tom Kane as Yoda only sweetens the deal!

Elstree 1976 DVD

After suffering some distribution delays, Elstree 1976 has finally started turning up in stores around New Zealand. My copy arrived today from Mighty Ape where it's currently available at the excellent price of only $14.99.

I'll be watching it soon - and adding my thoughts here as soon as I do - so stay tuned for updates!

The Force Awakens Blu-Ray Steelbook

Last week, The Force Awakens had it's home theatre release here in New Zealand. Four different options were available in stores: Digital HD, DVD, Blu-Ray, and a Blu-Ray steelbook version exclusive to JB Hi-Fi. My parents kindly bought me a pre-order of the steelbook for Easter, and by last Wednesday I finally had my very own copy of the movie to take home!

The case is absolutely gorgeous. It features an image of Kylo Ren on the front cover, and Captain Phasma on the rear - both of which are embellished with reflective highlights courtesy of the steel case. The lining is also adorned with that infamous image of the Falcon from the first teaser trailer.

JB Hi-Fi went all out to celebrate the home video release of The Force Awakens. 

The steelbook version of The Force Awakens comes both a Digital HD version of the film, as well as two Blu-Ray discs. The first disc contains the feature film, while the second holds a swathe of special features. Among these is a fantastic hour-long behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as seven short featurettes focussing on different aspects of the film-making process (you can see a full list of these here). Also included are a handful of deleted scenes. They're short, but provide a fascinating insight into a few extra plot points that might have been.

The Force Awakens Original Soundtrack

Whatever your thoughts on the relative values of the first six Star Wars films, one thing remained consistently phenomenal throughout - the music. For this reason, it was a huge relief when Lucasfilm announced that John Williams would be back in the saddle to compose the score for The Force Awakens. The soundtrack is now available on CD, and a short while ago I picked up my own copy from JB Hi-Fi for $19.99.

Williams's score works perfectly as part of the full cinematic package - but the first time I played this soundtrack through without the film to accompany it, I found myself a little disappointed. Star Wars has always been about memorable orchestral themes, and there just seemed to be a real lack of these in this latest soundtrack. Of course, the one notable exception to this is 'Rey's Theme'. It's a beautiful piece of music - light-hearted and adventurous, yet with some heavy (almost Potter-esque) heroic undertones.

Over time, however, the rest of the score has really grown on me. 'The Jedi Steps and Finale' is a clear favourite, and I've played this on repeat more times than I'd like to admit. There's also a distinct refrain that accompanies Kylo, and that may well develop into a fully-fledged "bad-guy" theme in the next film. Ren is, after all, still a villain in utero - so it makes sense that he's not yet deserving of his own theme. (It's also worth noting that the piece of music most commonly associated with Darth Vader - 'The Imperial March' - wasn't even heard until the second film of the original trilogy.)

This is a score that definitely rewards multiple listenings. If - like me - you were dubious about it at first, I definitely recommend giving it another shot.

Star Wars Rebels Complete Season 1 DVD

Yesterday, season one of Star Wars Rebels was released on DVD and Blu-Ray. Only the DVD version is currently available in New Zealand, but since all of my previous Star Wars television purchases have been in this same format, I wasn't overly bothered by this restriction.

I'll be completely honest. I think Star Wars Rebels is one hell of a show. In the space of just thirteen short episodes, Rebels has managed to develop an ensemble cast of characters that are both relatable, and utterly endearing. The visuals - while simpler than those of its predecessor, The Clone Wars - are nevertheless dynamic and stunning. Best of all, it manages to move flawlessly between moments of action, humour, and sober poignancy, while still capturing the sense of magic and adventure that made us first fall in love with Star Wars.

There are countless reviews online pointing all of this out. For me however, the real value of Rebels is something else entirely. It's the way in which this show is single-handedly binding the galaxy together.

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012, they inherited three connected - yet very different - pieces of Star Wars visual media: the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy, and The Clone Wars animated series. While all of these were elements of a much larger story, this was sometimes lost to fans. Indeed, exactly what kind of fan you were depended on what you counted as being "true" Star Wars. Was it just the original films? Or was it the whole six-film saga? Was The Clone Wars merely a fun diversion, or did it hold a place that was just as important as any of the feature films?

In creating Rebels, it seems that Disney was keenly aware of this division. The show has, from the very outset, spent its time artfully weaving together the disparate parts of the Star Wars universe into one seamless tapestry. We've seen old friends return from both trilogies of films - many of whom have been reprised by their original actors. Now, one of the main protagonists from The Clone Wars looks set to enter the fray and have a huge impact on the future of the Rebellion.

The marrying of different elements of the Star Wars universe doesn't stop there. It's in the musical cues and cinematography, It's in the sight of a Clone Wars-era Republic Police Gunship alongside an Original Trilogy-era TIE Fighter. It's in the Joe Johnston and Ralph Macquarrie-inspired aesthetics that permeate every scene of the show. Now there are rumblings that Rebels may very well have deeper links to the upcoming sequel trilogy. If these rumours are true, then Rebels is - even more so - quickly becoming the key to the entire Star Wars universe. If, by some chance, you haven't yet indulged in this incredible show, now is the time to start.

The Season One DVD set includes all thirteen episodes from the first season, as well as the TV-films "Spark of Rebellion" and "Fire Across the Galaxy". The bonus features include fourteen "Rebels Recon" behind-the-scenes featurettes, "Star Wars Rebels - The Ultimate Guide", and "Star Wars Rebels Season Two - A Look Ahead". The set is currently available from JB Hi-Fi for $44.00, or by mail order from Mighty Ape for $49.99.

The Clone Wars - The Lost Missions DVD

For some reason, the home video release of The Clone Wars - The Lost Missions is yet to hit stores here in New Zealand. In light of this, it seemed that my recent trip to the US was a great chance to pick up the DVD set of the final episodes in this fantastic series. After a little bit of hunting I managed to pick-up a copy at a Target store in Houston for $29.99US ($40.86NZ).

These episodes really do show how far The Clone Wars has come in the last six years. While it began as a series aimed primarily at children, it soon gained a loyal fanbase of many ages. At its peak, the show demonstrated a story-telling ability that had no place being confined to a Saturday-morning television slot. This, combined with it's gorgeous animation, made The Clone Wars some of the best television hitting our screens.

For the most part, The Lost Missions maintained this incredibly high standard. It was great to get answers to some of our lingering questions concerning the prequels, particularly those surrounding Force spirits, Order 66, and Sifo-Dyas's role in the events leading up to the war itself. The Order 66 arc episodes were among my favourite - not only of The Lost Missions, but of the series so far. I'd always wanted to know how aware the clones were of the part they would play in the extermination of the Jedi. As The Clone Wars progressed I'd come to hope that they were completely oblivious to their programming. It was nice to have this confirmed.

The Yoda arc provided us with even more exploration of the deeper mythos of the Star Wars universe. As a big fan of the Darth Bane novels, it was great to see his character (and his role in the formation of the Rule of Two) given official canon treatment. The visit to Dagobah - and the Dark Side Cave that plays an important role in the events of The Empire Strikes Back - was also a nice addition. The mention of "Moriband" as the homeworld of the Sith came as something of a curve-ball. We're yet to see whether this is a flat-out ret-con of earlier Expanded Universe material, or if there is a way of making this fit with the current history of the Sith. As a stickler for continuity, my hope is for the latter. A number of planets have already served as some kind of homeworld for the Sith (Korriban, Ziost, Dromund Kaas) so this is still a possibility.

The Clovis and Bardotta arcs were, admittedly, among the weaker episodes of this run. Spending two of the final thirteen episodes focussing on Jar-Jar's love story may have irked some fans, especially when the fates of other major characters like Ahsoka and Maul were left unresolved. However, this is most likely due to the abrupt fashion in which production of the show was brought to an end. These episodes were never intended to be a finale for the series. Given this, the final episode of season 5 remains the most poignant and fitting farewell to the series. The Lost Missions are best seen as a bonus - a brief taste of what the crew had planned for a future that would never be.

This release contains three discs, and is packaged in an embossed cardboard slipcase that matches perfectly with the previous seasons' boxsets. As well as featuring all thirteen episodes from the season, the DVD set also contains a sixteen-minute behind-the-scenes featurette entitled "The Clone Wars - Declassified". It's a surprisingly earnest documentary that does a fantastic job of showcasing the strong bonds that formed between the crew of the show. You'll be hard-pressed to watch the final few minutes without feeling a slight tug on your heart-strings.

The Clone Wars Season 5 DVD

For my birthday last weekend I received a DVD copy of the fifth - and final - season of The Clone Wars.

This has been on the shelves for a month or so now. If you missed this season when it aired, I definitely recommend hunting down a copy. Season 5 features some of the best story arcs and character development of the entire series.

Lego Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Out DVD

Keeping the RotF DVD library up-to-date, this morning I picked up Lego Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Out for $19.99 from The Warehouse.

The Clone Wars Season 4 DVD

I spent the weekend in Wellington, and while I was there I managed to pick up Season 4 of The Clone Wars from JB Hi-Fi for $49.99.

Shadows of the Empire Soundtrack

I've been using my my time in the US as a chance to fill several select holes in my collection. Up until now I thought I'd managed to secure all of the Star Wars soundtracks (Episodes I through VI and The Clone Wars). It turns out that I'd made a glaring omission however: the soundtrack for Shadows of the Empire. Today I was able to fill that gap.

I managed to pick this up from Amazon for only $12.06US ($14.74NZ). In my estimations Shadows of the Empire remains the crowning jewel of the Expanded Universe. While it was Timothy's Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy that reintroduced us to the Star Wars universe, SotE is what truly made us feel at home again. Even more incredible was the marketing attached to this multimedia release. The release of SotE included a novel, comic series, Nintendo 64 console game, action figures, Micro Machines, Action Fleet, and, yes, even a soundtrack. SotE really was everything but the movie.

SotE was released the very same year that I was first introduced to the original trilogy, and for that reason will always hold a special place in my heart. I couldn't be happier with this purchase!

Clone Wars Volume 2 DVD

Today my third and final Amazon purchase arrived: Volume 2 of the Clone Wars micro series on DVD.

This series was never released on DVD in New Zealand, though fortunately a friend picked up Volume 1 for me in Australia a few years ago. Volume 2 proved to be far more elusive however. When I found it on Amazon for $13.46US ($16.40NZ) I jumped at the chance to add it to my collection. With this acquisition, I've now completed my Star Wars DVD library.

As fond as I am of the the new The Clone Wars CGI series, I think I'll always prefer the micro series. There's something about the animated style that suits the narrative perfectly. In many ways, the Clone Wars series included a lot of elements missing from the prequels.

Fortunately the micro series still stands as canon. Volume 1 (Episodes 1-20) and the first episode of Volume 2 (Episode 21) serve as an important prequel to the events of the CGI series. Some of the most important highlights include the knighting of Anakin, and the reciprocal gifting of R2-D2 and C-3PO to Anakin and Padmé respectively.

We're yet to see whether the remainder of Volume 2 (Episodes 22-25) will bookend the conclusion of the CGI series. These episodes provide a riveting account of the invasion of Coruscant, the kidnapping of Chancellor Palpatine, and the events leading up to Anakin and Obi-Wan's arrival in the opening moments of Revenge of the Sith. I've got my fingers crossed that the CGI series finishes just short of - or at least runs parallel to - the telling of these events.

I really can't wait to sit down and watch these episodes again!