EPISODE VIII: MAINTAINING THE LIGHT!

Having only just escape the threat of the First Order fleet thanks to the brave but doomed Admiral Holdo, General Leia Organa recognises the potential leadership skills of her friend and Resistance comrade Poe Dameron, in this great posed image from The Last Jedi.

THE 'AFICIONADO' REVIEW: 'THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU' - NOW IN CINEMAS!

Together again for the big screen, in friendship and danger!

Today at 12.15p.m. I settled down in a lovely comfy seat at the Odeon Leicester Square and saw The Mandalorian & Grogu, the first Star Wars film of the Disney era since 2019, in a gorgeous Dolby Atmos sound and picture presentation (my preferred choice in seeing blockbuster films these days). I enjoyed a lot of the film, seeing it as a fun adventure within the confines of the George Lucas created vision of the saga, for families to especially enjoy (notably kids between the ages of 6 and 9). It was by no means one of the great Star Wars cinematic adventures, however, due to a thin story (which may, or may not, have been culled together from the scrapped fourth season of The Mandalorian TV series) full of unmined potential over 2 hours and 12 minutes (of which an appearance from the much-missed Gina Carano could have been a major boost), and despite the many lively action set pieces (notably the pre-title sequence, featuring twenty minutes of James Bond-esque knockdowns by our duo against an escaping Imperial remnant) and a cast of creatures that would keep fans of Return of the Jedi's and the Prequel era's weird and wonderful grotesques dizzyingly happy.

And The Mandalorian and Grogu has been made by top-tier talent, many of them returning veterans after seven years away from the big screen (including the likes of John Knoll and Phil Tippett), of which there's some fine motion control model work and lovely production design, though I felt that the CGI was of varying quality (notably with the Hutt villains and Rotta the cage fighter, the latter all grown up and rather a nice chap caught in a bad scenario). Adding a further plus, Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Goransson brings another innovative score. In front of the camera, selivering the drama and humour, the guest cast of the film are fine if a little under-used (special mention to Sigourney Weaver, who looks great piloting a New Republic fighter), and there are some fun cameos here and there (Martin Scorsese finally joins the Star Wars universe - now its Coppola's turn!) in a fun alien cameo that's perfect for the edgy, diminutive director! The primary focus of the film, however, is the delightful relationship between the Mandalorian (played once again by Pedro Pascal, as well as other stunt men who are deservedly credited) and cute Grogu (still expertly puppeteered). But this emotional quality between them that would make the early seasons of The Mandalorian such a success sadly remains the same from what's been previously established - there's no further growth between them when this film really needs more impact in their unique character arc. Perhaps their ongoing potential is being saved for future tales in film and/or TV. but the idea of a Mandalorian & Grogu film bringing its unique universe of characters together (like Avengers Assemble) now seems unlikely - a shame, really, as this was what we should have had in the first place, cinematically!

All-in-all, there's some great visual flourishes from Favreau, lovely cinematography, and some fun Easter Eggs (enjoy the Dejarik fight made real!), but the film ultimately can't shake away its TV roots, try as it might (there's at least three episodes pulled together). But don't let that TV translation problem  put you off from seeing it. Favreau and Dave Filoni are not hacks (as they've often unfairly been called by some critics during the run-up to this film's release) - they love the Star Wars legacy that they grew up with, and they are clearly having a great time bringing this film to audiences. There's a lot in this film that works well, despite not earning classic status... 

AFICIONADO RATING: It's not perfect, it has a bit of an eclectic mixing of elements at times, but if you get a chance to see the film on a big screen, take it. It's overall worth the trip, and better than the majority of episodes within the prior TV series' under-whelming third season. 3 out of 5

Art by Paul Shipper, but where were the TIE fighters in the film?

EPISODE II: THE ONGOING LEGACY...

Love, duty, honour, evil, war. Whether it's in artistic form here, or in its original live action, the icons and dramatic events of EPISODE II live on, winning new fans every year.

Great art, from 2022, by the talented Lyle Cruse.

BEHIND THE SCENES: BUILDING DAGOBAH!

Potential filming in either the Florida swamps or the Phillipines, so as to represent the 'Bog World' of Dagobah, proved too problematic and potentially dangerous for The Empire Strikes Back's production team, who instead elected to make the strange and atmospheric environment within the UK and Europe's largest all-new soundstage at Elstree - the aptly crowned Star Wars Stage, during July 1979.

The end results seen on the screen were more than spectacular and memorable.

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE RESISTANCE ATTACKS!

Takodana's take-down by First Order Forces, and their capture of key Resistance prisoners, is soon in explosive disarray, what with the arrival of skilled Resistance fighter pilots led by Poe Dameron, whose colleagues are no longer intimidated by the enemy and ready to fight, in this great behind the scenes image from The Force Awakens filmed on the Pinewood Studios UK backlot.  

'ROGUE ONE' AT 10: TOGETHER FOR SCARIF!

The time is now for the bold and heroic figures of Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor, as they and a small, dedicated force of Rebel soldiers initiate a covert mission to Scarif and retrieve, somehow, whatever the costs, the vitally needed plans of the Death Star super weapon. They all know that this is a mission so unique, so dangerous, so unpredictable in its against the odds reckoning, that, even if they do succeed, they might never make it back alive to the seemingly all-too-weak Alliance from which they have been scorned.

A dramatic and memorable moment from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE LUCAS! (2026)

The rising star of THX!

The man who gave us so many iconic gifts through his stories and movies celebrates another epic birthday today. I think it's time a public holiday was named after him!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO wishes George Lucas a very Happy Birthday!

Honoring Lucasfilm’s 55th Anniversary | ILM.com

'ANDOR': THE FACE OF FREEDOM!

On the eve of fully joining the Rebel Alliance as its leader against the Galactic Empire, the bold Mon Mothma delivers her greatest speech yet within the confines of the Senate, about the Emperor's tyrannic threat to the Galaxy and its people, and how he and his minions must be repulsed at all costs. She's shown courage and bravery in doing this, but, now vulnerable, will she survive long enough to escape Coruscant? 

A classic scene from Andor's second season, part of a massive improvement on the show's opening run, and one that fully utilises the talents of actress Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma.

Looking back on Mon Mothma.

OUT THIS MONTH - 'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU'

Latest official movie poster.

We're only a few weeks away until the latest Star Wars Disney movie arrives in cinemas, of which its stars have been eagerly travelling the world so as to promote it. 

Here's some of the latest images and footage...

Can our TV heroes lure viewers back to the cinema?

On the wild streets, and back in danger!

Jon Favreau talks Mandalorian!

Taking on the AT-AT convoy!

Sigourney Weaver jumps franchises!

Grogu meets the Anzellans.

A fractured Empire wants revenge!

Expanded art by Matt Ferguson.

BEHIND THE SCENES: SHOOTING JAWAS!

At the Salt Flats location in Tunisia, the original Star Wars lensman John Jay captures the main group of Jawas by their Sandcrawler in between takes for this great image, which was apparently one of Jay's favourites taken for the movie way back in Spring, 1976.

John Jay at the location.