EPISODE IX: AN IMPERFECT STORM!

Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and his legion of First Order troopers are certainly caught in the eye of some kind of repelling Force storm, presumably against Rey, during a key action scene, and another tantalizing piece of imagery, from The Rise of Skywalker.

https://collider.com/star-wars-9-kylo-ren-story-planned-from-beginning-adam-driver/

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: LUCAS WORLDWIDE!

George Lucas on the Episode I promotional circuit- this time in Japan- 1999. Photo: Getty Images.

Its post production completed, May 1999 onward saw Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace 'escaped' into the world to be loved and hated in equal measure by expectant fans. But one important factor remains- the Star Wars saga was back anew, and pretty much back for good in the public consciousness thanks to the worldwide box office success of the Prequel Trilogy, an event that would launch a new generation of devoted enthusiasts, primarily thanks to the imagination and skills of its writer/director, George Lucas.

"Well, I had mixed feelings about being George (Star Wars) Lucas. That was a hard thing, but I did finally accept that there was probably nothing I was going to do with the rest of my life that was going to change that, that I might as well live with it. It's not the worst thing in the world."

George Lucas- Time magazine - 2005

EPISODE IX: THE ORGANA LEGACY!

The time has come for General Leia Organa to partially step back from the fight against the First Order in some respects, but not before launching her friends, her comrades, her new family, on a critical search mission at the start to EPISODE IX.

Back in 2018, AFICIONADO made an online blog request asking for the Star Wars/Lucasfilm movie team to find some way of using deleted footage and CGI wizadry in somehow bringing Carrie Fisher and General Leia Organa into the epic conclusion that is EPISODE IX. They likely never saw a word of what was written regardless, but we're glad and say 'Thank you!' that J.J. Abrams and company, alongside the Fisher family/estate, were able to find that special and surely emotional on screen way of doing so.

https://screenrant.com/star-wars-9-princess-leia-last-jedi-carrie-fisher-death/

https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-leia-lightsaber-jedi/

BEHIND THE SCENES: IN THAT SUMMER OF '76!

'We're sort of like a family. Carrie is like my little sister, and I'm Harrison's little brother.'

Mark Hamill - Bantha Tracks newsletter interview to Craig Miller (April, 1978 issue)

It was Friday May 28th, 1976, and Stage 3 of London's Elstree Studios was having a busy day on its 'Death Star Forward Bay' set housing the mammoth half-built Millennium Falcon prop. Classic scenes and action would be shot, including the moment where Obi-Wan Kenobi surrenders himself to the Force whilst Darth Vader (Dave Prowse) cuts him down - a charged moment shot with both Sir Alec Guinness and a collapsing cloak effects prop that proved troublesome on the day (seen in far left background), and the start of Luke Skywalker's shocked retaliatory battle against five Imperial Stormtroopers (including stunt men Peter Diamond, Colin Skeaping (seen sitting down behind Mark Hamill in the pic) and Reg Harding).

It was also the day that a UK behind the scenes filming crew caught one of the defining classic moments 'backstage' from the original Star Wars, showing the relaxed and fun-loving American trio of Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher at their finest together- three pals embarking on a strange but fun film-making journey in a far away land, both in the film and on location in London. It would be a great and wild time that would never quite be recaptured for them again when reunited for future sequels. Nonetheless, the image remains the perfect time capsule moment to that original friendship.

Elstree reminiscences:

http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/16344311.the-paul-welsh-column-star-wars-and-the-long-hot-summer-of-1976/

NOW ON DISNEY+ US: 'THE MANDALORIAN' LOCKS ON TARGET!

Working in the same profession, the late Jango Fett said he was just 'a simple man' trying to make his way in the universe. Things look a little different, however, and a lot harder in the life-threatening stakes, for the formidable armoured figure of The Mandalorian, during the dark and dangerous days post Return of the Jedi. The exciting and innovative launch season from Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni debuts Stateside on the all-new Disney+ (a service additionally rolling out Europe-wide from Spring 2020 onwards).

Preview footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RVnrBLOBcI

Press conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNM-ouJdEgQ

The Star Wars Show preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE2YgHf7ZuA

Online preview:
https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/the-mandalorian-jon-favreau-pedro-pascal-western-1203399015/?fbclid=IwAR26ZN0bEIaTOmr98P27apNpFyIzjzxIhoUsGPAh4Z9WgFynv5m5J3rUoW8

Detailed preview:
https://kooltvblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/fighting-without-limits-mandalorian.html

THE CLONE WARS: IN HARM'S WAY...

The situation is grave for the Kaminoans, crew and recuperating Clone Trooper wounded located in on one of the space-distant Republic medical cruisers, as news comes through of a deadly Separatist weapon on the move against them. A crisis moment from The Clone Wars Season One episode, Shadow of Malevolence.

EPISODE IX: A LEGEND RETURNS...

Though now at one, and at peace, within the Force, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker will nonetheless make some kind of vital, final contribution to the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker, linked to the destiny of that girl from 'nowhere', Rey. Whether this contribution by our favourite saga hero, played with such mature and acclaimed distinction by Mark Hamill in The Last Jedi, will either be in vocal form (as heard in recent trailers), and/or in physical manifestation as shown via Annie Leibovitz's striking posed photography for Vanity Fair earlier this year, remains to be seen...

More on the original arc for Luke that was planned early-on for the sequels:
https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/lukes-star-wars-last-jedi-arc-planned-years-force-awakens/?

OUT NOW IN THE UK: 'RESISTANCE REBORN'!

The incredible cinematic journey that is the Star Wars saga is almost at an end with December's eagerly-awaited The Rise of Skywalker, as all the plot and character threads from nine iconic and incredible stories come together for a dramatic and highly emotional finale. But before all that, there is still much to reveal about what happened with the new Rebel Alliance in that near extinction time period between the apocalyptic finale events of The Last Jedi and what we'll be seeing with Episode IX. Enter: Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Resistance Reborn, out now in UK hardback and Kindle ebook from Century, as fan favourite Rebecca Roanhose delivers an action-packed story involving our favourite hero characters, led by General Leia Organa, all working at their best together during a time of desperate struggle, alongside one or two special surprises...

Here's the book's publicity info:

In this pivotal prequel to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the heroes of the Resistance―Poe Dameron, General Leia Organa, Rey, and Finn―must fight back from the edge of oblivion.

The Resistance is in ruins. In the wake of their harrowing escape from Crait, what was once an army has been reduced to a handful of wounded heroes. Finn, Poe, Rey, Rose, Chewbacca, Leia Organa―their names are famous among the oppressed worlds they fight to liberate. But names can only get you so far, and Leia’s last desperate call for aid has gone unanswered.

From the jungles of Ryloth to the shipyards of Corellia, the shadow of the First Order looms large, and those with the bravery to face the darkness are scattered and isolated. If hope is to survive, the Resistance must journey throughout the galaxy, seeking out more leaders―including those who, in days gone by, helped a nascent rebellion topple an empire. Battles will be fought, alliances will be forged, and the Resistance will be reborn.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Resistance-Rebecca-Roanhorse/dp/1780899920/ref=sr_1_1?crid=258UVZJZE3POD&keywords=star+wars+resistance+reborn&qid=1573222012&sprefix=STAR+WARS+RESISTANCE+REBORN%2Caps%2C446&sr=8-1

EPISODE IX: FRONT AND CENTRE!

The Millennium Falcon has led ships into battle before, most notably during the events at Endor, but this assemblage (featuring some other very familiar vessels), to which our favourite smuggling vessel is spearhead, must be the biggest seen yet in a Star Wars film, for what promises to be an epic space battle conflict...

HIGH FIDELITY! 'MAKING WAVES - THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND'

For many, the original Star Wars of 1977 wasn't just a breakthrough in re-imagined and revolutionary special effects creation. It also helped re-define and re-establish the incredible diversity, power and importance of sound design, as well as its evolution, creation and mixing/editing in the next wave of movies (of all genre types) post the adventures of Luke Skywalker.

The new documentary film from Midge Costin, Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, which has been in limited UK/US cinema release and has also been available to watch online, celebrates the incredible people past, present and future who make films sound so good and whose talents have become such an important part of the movie-making/movie-watching experience. Importantly, alongside great anecdotes and film showcases, it talks about the legacy these men and women leave for the future.

Featuring noteworthy contributions from George Lucas and accomplished veteran Sound Designer/collector Ben Burtt, check out the movie trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIE4x3xU0Y

More info here:
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/making-waves-art-cinematic-sound-midge-costin-film-soundtrack-documentary