the classic trilogys
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Action/Adventure, Thriller, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Thriller 
2 hr. 15 min. STAR WARS, George Lucas's stunning sci-fi masterpiece, is arguably one of the most inventive and entertaining films ever made, garnering generations of loyal fans who are forever imprinted with the memory of its characters and dialogue. As the adventure begins, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), an impulsive but goodhearted young man who lives on the dusty planet of Tatooine with his aunt and uncle, longs for the exciting life of a Rebel soldier. The Rebels, led by the headstrong Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), are fighting against the evil Empire, which has set about destroying planets inhabited by innocent citizens with the Death Star, a fearsome planetlike craft commanded by Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) and the eternally frightful Darth Vader (David Prowse, with the voice of James Earl Jones). When Luke's aunt and uncle are murdered by the Empire’s imperial stormtroopers and he mysteriously finds a distress message from Princess Leia in one of his androids, R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), he must set out to find Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), a mysterious old hermit with incredible powers. On his journey, Luke is aided by the roguish, sarcastic mercenary Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his towering furry sidekick Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) as they run into a host of perilous situations while trying to rescue the princess--and the entire galaxy.

Magnificently referencing everything from Akira Kurosawa’s SEVEN SAMURAI and THE HIDDEN FORTRESS to THE WIZARD OF OZ to John Ford Westerns and Joseph Campbell philosophies, STAR WARS revolutionized the cinematic world with its epic storytelling and amazing special effects. In addition to film veterans Guinness and Cushing, the movie also features an unforgettable performance from the young Ford, who would, of course, go on to become one of the biggest stars of the silver screen. Even today, Lucas's astonishing film leaves viewers wanting to see it again and again.
Release Date:  May 25, 1977.
MPAA Rating:   PG for sci-fi violence and brief mild language.
Distributor:   Twentieth Century Fox


LORD OF THE RINGS Synopsis: Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel, this epic story tells of a young Hobbit named Frodo, who embarks on a mighty quest to destroy an ancient ring that could unleash a dark power on the Earth.


Review: Some of the most lyrical, transcendent images to ever appear on screen are married with balls-to-the-wall filmmaking in the intense and glorious first installment of Lord of the Rings. And it's important to note that this is just the first part, because after sharing three hours of the glorious quest of hobbit Frodo Baggins (Wood), it can be frustrating to have no climax or resolution to the plot threads. But J.R.R. Tolkien's fans wouldn't have it any other way. In this installment, Frodo discovers the terrible history of the One Ring, and joined by an elite group of different races, most notably wizard Gandalf (a majestic McKellen) and warrior Aragorn (Mortensen), he sets across Middle-earth to find the one location where the Ring can be destroyed. Tolkien basically created the fantasy genre, and here director Jackson creates a new standard for the fantasy film, the first of its kind to be so seamlessly immersed in its world (despite having special effects in just about every shot). The adventure is wondrous and often terrifying, a road trip with many sharply rendered villains both external and internal. Best of all, Jackson doesn't pander to any audience, hoping to bring the lowest common denominator up to his high level.


The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers


Review: While Fellowship played like a road movie, this ambitious sequel (shot at the same time) seamlessly follows several simultaneous story lines. Hobbits Frodo and Sam are sidetracked on their quest by the tortured Gollum, a beautifully fleshed-out CGI character that's voiced by Serkis (who also served as the model). Saruman (Lee) is raising his army, while Gandalf (McKellen) has been resurrected as a glorious white wizard. Pippin and Merry, on their way back to the shire, run into a race of slow, wizened treefolk -- it's daunting to make a believable walking and talking tree, yet the effects are tremendous, and the trees' plight even becomes, dare we say it, moving. And most incredible is the DeMille/Griffith-sized spectacle of the battle at Helm's Deep: a few hundred humans, including hero Aragorn (the terrifically charismatic Mortensen), taking on an army of ten thousand monstrous orcs. Such scale could lead to chaos, but Jackson makes sense of it all, expertly showing all the smaller clashes while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. For anyone who laments that movies just aren't the same as during the golden era, this second installment of Jackson's mindbending trilogy is how they used to make 'em. All of 'em, all at once. And it is breathtaking.

  Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them.
With the help of a courageous fellowship of friends and allies, Frodo embarks on a perilous mission to destroy the legendary One Ring. Hunting Frodo are servants of the Dark Lord, Sauron, the Ring's evil creators. If Sauron reclaims the Ring, Middle-earth is doomed. Winner of four Academy Awards, this epic tale of good versus evil, friendship and sacrifice will transport you to a world beyond imagination.

LORD OF THE RINGS
  Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers 2002 Description

Picking up where the first film left off, Peter Jackson's THE TWO TOWERS throws the remaining members of the Fellowship into the scattered chaos of Middle-earth, now fully under siege by the forces of Sauron. While Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) journey to the dreaded Mordor, Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) are held captive by orcs, and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) search for their abducted companions. Soon Frodo and Sam are joined by the sulking and duplicitous Gollum (portrayed by the voice and motion-captured acting of Andy Serkis), who becomes their guide through the barren lands leading to Mount Doom. Meanwhile Merry and Pippin encounter the looming Treebeard (voiced by Rhys-Davies) and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli find themselves in the land of Rohan, accompanied by an old friend. As the tale continues, each scenario becomes more perilous, and fierce battles erupt at both Isengard, home of the treacherous Saruman (Christopher Lee), and the massive Helm's Deep.

After masterfully setting up the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien in THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, Jackson continues the trilogy with the increasingly dark and battle-filled TWO TOWERS without skipping a beat. Although the director takes a few more liberties in adapting the second installment, he skillfully cuts from one scenario to the next, creating a tightly woven tapestry with the various storylines. Joining the impressive cast this time around are Miranda Otto as Iowyn; Bernard Hill as her father, King Thioden; Brad Dourif as the aptly named Grima Wormtongue; Karl Urban as Iomer; David Wenham as Faramir; and Serkis under the remarkable CGI facade of Gollum. An intense epic that features one jaw-dropping sequence after another, THE TWO TOWERS more than carries its weight as the crucial centerpiece of THE LORD OF THE RINGS.


The Two Towers
  The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The final battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum, continue their dangerous mission toward the fires of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn struggles to fulfill his legacy as he leads his outnumbered followers against the growing power of the Dark Lord Sauron, so that the Ring-bearer may complete his quest.