Monday 29 February 2016

EPISODE VII: THE SLEEPER AWAKENS


Suddenly understanding and appreciating the unique power of the Force, in ways that her attacker in Kylo Ren could never hope to achieve, young Rey channels her calm inner self and discovers a way to ultimately beat back the Dark Side, in this rousing scene from THE FORCE AWAKENS.

According to TFA co film editor Maryann Brandon, this moment was a scene shot and added later in production, giving Rey further character depth, replacing her at that point calling Kylo Ren "a monster" (dialogue shifted to earlier in the snow confrontation, via another re-shoot).

Sunday 28 February 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES: CARBON CONFLICT!


The classic duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader (played by Bob Anderson, wearing a special mask that gave more on-set visibility) intensifies within the Carbon Freezing chamber of Bespin, the Dark Lord of the Sith taunting the young Jedi-to-be to violence, testing his abilities and his potential to join the Dark Side. Some of the filmed one-handed duelling aspects of the scene, plus several extra lines of dialogue between the two combatants, never made the final cut.

On a rare trip to the UK, Lucas gives some lightsaber swordplay advice to Mark Hamill and Stunt Coordintaor Peter Diamond.

Mark Hamill ESB Documentary Talking Lightsaber Workout Duels - YouTube
RARE 1980 "The Empire Strikes Back" interviews and the future of Star Wars. - YouTube
An early interview with Mark Hamill - YouTube
Luke Skywalker’s blaster from The Empire Strikes Back goes on sale for $300,000 | GamesRadar

Saturday 27 February 2016

THE CLONE WARS: SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS!


In a relationship of trust and friendship beyond mere Master and Apprentice, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano arrive on Nal Hutta to investigate the seeming "death" of Obi-Wan Kenobi, during THE CLONE WARS Season Four episode Friends and Enemies.


Watch out for the flashback return of Anakin Skywalker, once more voiced by Matt Lanter, in an upcoming STAR WARS REBELS Season Two episode.

‘Star Wars Rebels’ executive producer talks Darth Maul - NY Daily News
Descriptions of last five Star Wars Rebels episodes! – Making Star Wars

Friday 26 February 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: "DAD! LOOK!"


At an outdoor docking ring on the rain-lashed world of Kamino, precocious and clearly potentially dangerous son to bounty hunter Jango Fett, Boba, warns his father of the arrival of Obi-Wan Kenobi, in a scene of soon conflict from EPISODE II.

Tuesday 23 February 2016

EPISODE VII: NEW HEROES, NEW VILLAINS...


On the run yet into battle: our new young heroes meet the Dark Side and the First Order. It may well be fan poster art and nothing official, but who cares?! I love it! And if anyone knows the artist, please get in touch.

UPDATE: 24/2/16. With thanks to "Anonymous": 

"The (very cool) poster is official merchandise from Mondo - given out at to attendees of the Alamo Drafthouse Marathon screening (of all SW movies I'm guessing). The artist is Matt Taylor.

Google 'Mondo', 'Matt Taylor' and 'The Force Awakens' etc. etc. for a bunch of links." 


Latest EPISODE VII news:

New behind the scenes video: The Sound of a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Soundtrack - YouTube

EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Announces "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Adaptation | Comic Book Resources

Star Wars: The Force Awakens home release will have 7 deleted scenes | GamesRadar
'Star Wars': Gwendoline Christie explains Captain Phasma keeping helmet on | EW.com
"It's like the band never broke up" - Luke Skywalker aka Mark Hamill talks to our Minnie - YouTube
Meet the Most Powerful Woman in Hollywood | Vanity Fair
The ASC -- American Cinematographer: Interview with Kathleen Kennedy
The ASC -- American Cinematographer: Interview with J.J. Abrams
American Cinematographer's New Star Wars Issue - Exclusive Preview! | StarWars.com
'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' producers charged over Harrison Ford on-set accident | EW.com
'Star Wars' Co-Producer Dishes on the Film's Final Shot and HDR - Hollywood Reporter
'Star Wars' Experience Photos: First Look at Disney Parks' New Themed Lands - Hollywood Reporter
How ILM Made the World Crumble in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ | Variety
A Point of View: Confessions of a repeat Star Wars viewer - BBC News

Coming this April from DK Books: THE STAR WARS CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA.

Rey, Kylo Ren, and More Await You in Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded - First Look | StarWars.com

Latest EPISODE VIII news:

Rian Johnson's Week 2 filming cryptic image: on the First Order set.

First Star Wars: Episode VIII Set Pieces from Dubrovnik! - Star Wars News Net | Star Wars News Net
Birgitte H Sørensen Joins Star Wars Episode 8. But who is she playing? - moviepilot.com
Hayden Christensen Returns To ‘Star Wars’ As Anakin; Episode 8 Vader From ‘The Force Awakens’? : TRENDING : Youth Health Magzine
Croatia: Construction work for Star Wars: Episode VIII set launches in Dubrovnik - YouTube
Star Wars: Episode VIII director Rian Johnson teases an incredible scene on Twitter | EW.com

Mark Hamill on set with daughter Chelsea's Jedi pooch!


CLASSIC IMAGE: BESPIN ESCORT PARTY


With a ready Bespin security squad close by, Lando Calrissian's unique aide, Lobot (John Hollis), keeps an eye on things between his boss and the newly arrived Han Solo and friends, during THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Monday 22 February 2016

DELETED SCENE: FIERY FATE!


Time is running out for Ric Olie's Naboo squadron as their bold efforts to knock out the Trade Federation droid control ship seemingly comes to naught, as one fighter after another fails to take out its shielding. An intriguing deleted moment shown in an early trailer for EPISODE I, with a Naboo fighter on fire spinning downwards.

Okay, so there's no fire in space, but it's still a great shot!


Sunday 21 February 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANTHONY DANIELS!

An early autograph, and potentially revealing quote (?), from Anthony Daniels, for the original STAR WARS.

For five months during the middle of 1976, Anthony Daniels had a (mostly) uncomfortable time making the original STAR WARS, wearing a cumbersome, sharp-edged, just out of the factory golden suit whilst bringing the plot-important protocol droid See-Threepio to life. He'd be neglected on and off by the filming crew after what had been a good first day on location, often faced bouts of isolation and humiliation (having to be lifted to and from soundstages on boards and mini-scaffolding could never have been fun!), and then, after filming had been eventually completed, discovering that the writer/director he'd liked and trusted in the quiet and unassuming George Lucas might not be using his charming butler-esque voice for the character after all, instead possibly replaced by a greasy used-salesman type vocal!

Anthony Daniels STAR WARS interview - YouTube

On UK location filming for EPISODE VII with J.J. Abrams.

Thankfully, there were much, much better days ahead for the actor and his character, starting off by being an influential figure on the cover of PEOPLE magazine with the film's stellar-beyond-words 1977 release (and, by definition, becoming the de facto "face" of STAR WARS, in many respects), better terms and working conditions from the first sequel onwards (including stronger recognition in the all-important press campaigns), followed by trips across the world seeing fascinating places and meeting diverse cultures, and becoming an important ambassador to the type of juggernaut success that a rare and privileged few get to enjoy- in the process becoming the only actor to feature in all seven of the epic STAR WARS adventures (so far), alongside a striking amount of pleasing and hopefully better-paid spin-offs and merchandise following in its mighty wake.

With friends old and new at CELEBRATION ANAHEIM in 2015. Image: GETTY IMAGES for DISNEY.

 C-3PO: His Moment to Shine - YouTube
Anthony Daniels - Star Wars: The Force Awakens Interview (HD) - YouTube
https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/anthony-daniels-c-3po-c-v-r.html

Today, STAR WARS fans across the globe send their warmest "Birthday Greetings" out to the one-of-a-kind Mister Anthony Daniels!

Saturday 20 February 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: JEDI vs CLONE!


Outside the battle damaged Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Yoda and Obi-Wan successfully defeat a squad of awaiting Clone Troopers in a brief but exciting, well-staged sequence for EPISODE III, definitely a crowd-pleasing moment after the shock events of Order 66! The above image is more than a worthy spotlight to the bigger universe of George Lucas's Prequels.

Friday 19 February 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: A HOSTILE AUDIENCE!


The diverse alien court of thieves, bounty hunters, enforcers, murderers and dangerous criminals gather ominously around the newly arrived Luke Skywalker, as a tense situation, soon confrontation, builds towards violent incident with Jabba the Hutt, in this atmospheric image from RETURN OF THE JEDI.


Thursday 18 February 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: SOON OUT OF RANGE!


Despite an earlier setback, Padme Amidala has managed to get hold of a squad of Clone Troopers and races to aid Anakin and Obi-Wan in their battle against Count Dooku. Sadly, their battle is lost, and Dooku escapes, but not before our Naboo heroine gets off some worthy blaster shots at his departing solar sail pod, during this scene, bearing echoes to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, from EPISODE II.

Wednesday 17 February 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES: DANGER AT THE FALLS...


At Pinewood Studios in 1997, long before the filming of the new sequels there, George Lucas and company would uses its mammoth outdoor water tank environment area to film the post production deleted Naboo Waterfall sequence from EPISODE I, which eventually materialised on the special features of the first ever DVD release of the movie.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - Deleted Scenes [1080p HD] - YouTube


Tuesday 16 February 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO SHOOT A WOOKIEE!


As Chewbacca the wookiee fiercely defends his best friend from Stormtroopers in the Bespin carbon freezing chamber, Boba Fett prepares to take aim and silence the beast, in this very cool and atmospheric image from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends best wishes and greetings out to Jeremy Bulloch on his Birthday today!

EPISODE VIII: WHERE'S LANDO?


Need we say more? C'mon, if any character (and his portrayer in the always cool Billy Dee Williams) deserves a return to the saga, its this one. We need that other "Scoundrel" back, now more than ever!

Monday 15 February 2016

EPISODE VIII: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH...


Carrying on from where THE FORCE AWAKENS left us insatiably wanting more, Rey, newly arrived on the mysterious ancient Jedi world of Ahch-to, finally meets the man who could save the universe and bring balance to the Force once more: Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, in this short but super sneak peak footage from LUCASFILM officially announcing that shooting has begun on EPISODE VIII, written and directed by Rian Johnson, coming December 2017.



Star Wars: Episode VIII Now Filming | StarWars.com
Star Wars: Episode VIII announces new cast! | EW.com
Star Wars Episode VIII: John Boyega, Rian Johnson, Daisy Ridley tweet about first day of filming | EW.com

EPISODE VII: JOHN BOYEGA - FROM PECKHAM TO HOLLYWOOD!

On to the next stage of his character growth- John Boyega as Finn in THE FORCE AWAKENS.

The casting process may have been long and arduous (literally seven months!), but Peckham boy made good John Boyega, already a rising star with strong roles in the UK sci-fi comedy movie ATTACK THE BLOCK, and the final Kiefer Sutherland starring TV series of 24, more than proved himself the right man for the right job playing the former First Order Stormtrooper on the run, FN-2187, now known as Finn, for THE FORCE AWAKENS, bringing the kind of energy, humour, vulnerability and, most importantly, sincerity and heart needed to totally win over fans old and new for the new Sequel saga films, and generating great all-important chemistry on and off set with Daisy Ridley and her equally fish out of water heroine in Rey. I'm sure the actress is very proud of her "Peanut"!

The striking banner art of Finn for THE FORCE AWAKENS.

With some familiar icons. Image: Getty Images for DISNEY.

With Daisy Ridley for a lively ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY photo shoot.

Congratulations from STAR WARS AFICIONADO and fans worldwide on yesterday's BAFTA/EE Rising Star award win, Mister Boyega. Now go save the universe as a (hopefully) fully-fledged member of the Resistance, for EPISODE VIII!

A well deserved award at the BAFTAs.

BAFTAs 2016 sees Star Wars' John Boyega win breakthrough award | Daily Mail Online
John Boyega wins EE Rising Star Award | BAFTA Film Awards 2016 - YouTube

Sunday 14 February 2016

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!


We haven't yet found out all there is to know about Luke Skywalker and what happened to him between RETURN OF THE JEDI and THE FORCE AWAKENS, but we're hoping he wasn't a monk for over thirty years, as Mark Hamill had always feared! At least with the Expanded Universe Luke had a sassy partner in red-headed beauty and fellow purveyor within the Force, Mara Jade!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends all its worldwide readers best wishes for a Happy Valentine's Day!


Saturday 13 February 2016

STAR WARS REBELS: A RENEWAL OF OLD CONFLICTS!


Having fought a tense showdown against Fenn Rau and his Mandalorians, whom are protecting a key area of space known as Concord Dawn for the Empire, lightsaber ready Kanan helps an injured Sabine escape the resultant chaos, during a critical moment from the recent STAR WARS REBELS episode, The Protector of Concord Dawn.

With thanks to DISNEY UK for the image.

Friday 12 February 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES: OF DESTINY AND INHERITANCE...

Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

As Luke Skywalker finishes repairs to C-3PO (and, in a deleted moment, decides not to put the restraining bolt back on the grateful droid), Ben Kenobi inspects the little R2-D2, whose bold actions have brought them all together, in a scene captured on Polaroid script/continuity reference by Ann Skinner, filmed on the small Stage 7 at Elstree Studios during April 1976.

On the set of Ben Kenobi's home at Elstree Stage 7.
Rehearsal for a classic scene. Note the partial costume on Threepio.
A studio technician prepares to patch-up Anthony Daniels costume with tape.
Luke at work repairing Threepio.
Getting ready for another take.
An interesting unused angle, showing the partial Threepio costume.

Two other Polaroids not seen in the BFI exhibition of Miss Skinner's work from 2014 reside in their Special Collection: a colour image of Artoo solo on the set (not too dissimilar to the one presented here) and a B/W taken behind Ben's large case (containing Luke's inherited lightsaber), showing the unseen back table and equipment (created from old aircraft part junk), alongside some kind of redressed Tupperware.

Outtake Guinness footage used in EPISODE III trailer of 2004: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) - Teaser Trailer [HD] - YouTube

The clapperboard to filming.
A selection of unused angles from the classic sequence.


As a side note, Miss Skinner's handwritten notes indicate that Scene 42- Leia's hologram speech- would be later re-filmed with her costume's hood up.

Seen here for the first time, Set Decorator Roger Christian created the iconic lightsaber handle quickly and inventively from an old Graflex flashgun camera bulb handle (with some additional pieces added on to it) during London pre-production, for as little as twelve dollars!

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'THE ELSTREE EMPIRE DAY' - 5TH MAY 2012

Wednesday 10 February 2016

EPISODE VIII: NOW SHOOTING...


Coming to cinemas worldwide 2017. One of its apparent code names: "Space Bear"!

May the Force be with all the cast and crew in their new and bold mission to make an even better film than, and a worthy continuance to, the spectacular and emotionally invested EPISODE VII.

Star Wars: Episode VIII has started filming, Disney CEO says | EW.com
Star Wars: J.J. Abrams Loves Rian Johnson’s Episode 8 Script
Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' Moves Away From 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' - Hollywood Reporter

Rian Johnson's previous tease image from TWITTER earlier this month.

‘Star Wars Episode VIII': Everything We Know So Far
Star Wars: Episode VIII to film in Croatia? – Making Star Wars
The ASC -- American Cinematographer: Interview with Kathleen Kennedy
Meet the Most Powerful Woman in Hollywood | Vanity Fair

The sand is back, as EP VIII filming begins, in this fun TWITTER image from Feb 13th, 2016.

First footage of EPISODE VIII featuring Luke and Rey: STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: EPISODE VIII: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH...

Star Wars Episode VIII: John Boyega, Rian Johnson, Daisy Ridley tweet about first day of filming | EW.com

EPISODE VII: THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCUM AND VILLAINY!


Money grabbing informants for the First Order are everywhere, especially within the diverse mix of aliens and humanoids at Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana. The arrival of our heroes, plus the not totally conspicuous BB-8, soon attract the unwelcome attention and scheming of the unscrupulous and bulky alien Grummgar, and his slinky aide, Bazine.


Bazine was recently the star of her own solo e-book, The Perfect Weapon. Get it here: Star Wars: The Perfect Weapon (Short Story) eBook: Delilah S. Dawson: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

The Sexiest Star Wars Star You Never Saw

CLASSIC IMAGE: INTO THE FRAY!


In their sleek Starfighters, Jedi heroes Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi navigate the perilous upper atmosphere close-quarters combat between Separatists and Republic vessels, during the memorable sequence of galactic chaos and carnage that would launch EPISODE III.