Thursday 25 May 2017

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY, 'STAR WARS'!



The Tom Jung adaptation of the Hildebrandt Brothers concept/early teaser poster art appears in international form for this 1977/78 international release art for the original STAR WARS. The boy, the girl, and a universe captured in all-time classic artistic form.


HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY to STAR WARS on May 25th, 2017

The legend continues...

http://www.starwars.com/news/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-original-star-wars-poster

http://www.starwars.com/news/40-years-of-star-wars-anniversary-posters

http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-original-reviews-1977

Wednesday 17 May 2017

'INTO THE UNKNOWN' WITH DARTH VADER, AT THE UK'S BARBICAN CENTRE


One of the existing legendary masks of that infamous Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader himself, will be making an appearance next month at the London Barbican Ccentre, from 2nd June until 1st September, 2017, as part of an all-new exhibition celebrating the worlds of science fiction across all media: Into the Unknown.


More info on the exhibition here: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/29/sci-fi-loses-its-fringe-status-with-barbican-exhibition

THE CLONE WARS: COLOURFUL CLASHING!


The heroes and villains of the STAR WARS animated universe gather for conflict in another great promotional poster image of colour and conflict, concocted during the later point of THE CLONE WARS series run.

COMING IN JULY 2017: 'STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II: INFERNO SQUAD'





With her acclaimed success in novel adapting the never completed episodes linked to the destiny of THE CLONE WARS animated series fan favourite former Sith assassin Asajj Ventress, via the popular Dark Disciple, and with her talent for creating and developing strong female characters in both sci-fi and STAR WARS, Christie Golden has proven the latest popular choice in bringing to life in novel form the next chapter of the STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT gaming universe, charting the new shades of grey Imperial 'heroes' that are Inferno Squad, as their titular book comes to hardback from Century this 27th July 2017.


Here's the blurb:

Set in the aftermath of ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, this action-packed prequel to BATTLEFRONT II introduces the Empire's elite force: Inferno Squad.

The Rebellion may have heroes like Jyn Erso and Luke Skywalker. But the Empire has Inferno Squad.

After the humiliating theft of the Death Star plans and resulting destruction of the battle station, the Empire is on the defensive. In response to this stunning defeat, the Imperial Navy has authorized the formation of an elite team of soldiers, known as Inferno Squad. Their mission: infiltrate and eliminate the remnants of Saw Gerrera's Partisans. Following the death of their leader, the Partisans have carried on their extremist legacy, determined to thwart the Empire- no matter what the cost. Now, Inferno Squad must prove their status as the best of the best and take down the Partisans from within. Bus as the danger intensifies and the threat of discovery grows, how far with Inferno Squad go to ensure the safety of the Empire? In this thrilling prequel to Battlefront II, the Empire's handpicked team will be forged in fire.

Get Inferno Squad here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Inferno-Christie-Golden/dp/1780894821/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495018719&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=star+wars+in+ferno+squad

 

'BLADE RUNNER: 2049' - TRAILER 2





After the genuine disappointment of his second sequel/prequel outing into the ALIEN sci-fi/horror universe in Covenant, AFICIONADO is hoping that visual icon Ridley Scott has more success in his producing duties returning to that Dystopian future Earth of Replicants, cops and dark decadence, which he innovatively created in 1982, via the eagerly awaited BLADE RUNNER sequel, BLADE RUNNER: 2049. From this second trailer, featuring more footage of Harrison Ford back as the older, more world weary former cop/Replicant hunter Rick Deckard, things look very good indeed for this October 2017 release coming from Warner Brothers.


Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJtZYCv7AxA


ROGUE ONE: CAPTURED!

Nowhere to run for Cassian?

In the originally filmed conclusion to the street battle in Jedha, Cassian and Jyn were cornered by Stormtroopers, leading into the action debut of Chirrut Imwe. In 2016, the scene was re-jigged and had new scenes shot, including the pair with K-2SO trying his "prisoner and escort" trick later filmed in 2016. K-2 was present in part of the abandoned street scenes footage, too, when the human duo were posing as pilgrims.

Stunt Coordinator Rob Inch goes through the action scene with Diego Luna.

In a moment from one of the early trailers, Jyn and Cassian are handcuffed.

Jyn gets to wield her retracting baton on some Stormtroopers.

Wearing a back pack camouflage to blend in with the extras if accidently caught on camera, Gareth Edwards goes through a scene with the actors on the Pinewood set.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: HUMAN/DROID RELATIONS!

Wednesday 10 May 2017

ROGUE ONE: SLIPPED FROM HIS GRASP!


Mere moments too late to stop the Rebel Blockade Runner from escaping with the Death Star schematics transmitted from the now destroyed Imperial facility on Scarif, fearsome Lord Darth Vader,crimson lightsaber blade in hand after much ruthless slaughter of enemy soldiers, will not stop until he has traced the remaining Rebel spies to whatever secret part of the universe they are hiding at, in this great image from the finale to ROGUE ONE that was recently made available on TOPPS card format.



A worthy and exciting UK The Sunday Times bestseller chart entry, don't forget that Alexander Freed's expansive adaptation of ROGUE ONE is out now in meaty paperback form, with additional new scene content, from ARROW.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784752924/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494421298&sr=1-1&keywords=rogue+one+paperback

OUT NOW IN UK HARDBACK: THE ORIGINAL 'STAR WARS' NOVEL ADAPTATION - ANNIVERSARY EDITION


The beloved original returns...

Brought to life on the printed page via stylish command of the written word alongside evocative and exciting language/description, working from the original 1975/1976 filming scripts written by creator and innovator George Lucas, Alan Dean Foster's enthusiasm in adapting STAR WARS, now known as Star Wars: A New Hope, back in that wonderful time capsule of late 1976, would quickly launch an incredible franchise of cinematic entertainment and original fiction galore, and remains palpably and delightfully fresh and invigorating to read forty years on with its all-new hardback Anniversary UK release from CENTURY PUBLISHING, delivering us a universe of unforgettable characters effectively introduced and showcasing pure golden moments of romantic adventure and exhilarating space conflict that would capture our hearts and minds a year later, though also at the time of its original release (Christmas 1976) acting as a fine taster for a film which wasn't then ready for release and would be delayed until the following May. No surprise to anyone soon reading this book that STAR WARS would become such an important US Del Rey Books best seller to an anticipating science fiction community effectively being primed to see a high class space fantasy epic better than anything then attempted for cinema during the 1970's.

Multi-generational icons forever: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo.

Foster's book adaptation, looked at now, is surprisingly tough and adult to read at times- scenes like the bold and bolshy Princess Leia spitting at the evil and intimidating Darth Vader whom she has early on been captured and brought to, may seem out of character now but prove interesting nonetheless within a time when the film's story and heroes/villains were still being locked in, of which it's great to reexamine all the great deleted scenes and cut dialogue moments, many of whom we've now discovered, via online and in print, were actually filmed after all. And let's not forget the classic book introduction that effectively sets up what will later become the Prequel Trilogy and ROGUE ONE with such satisfying and simple ease, clearly showing us how the evil Emperor was clearly influenced by then US President Richard Nixon and the rapidly dwindling events of the tumultuous Vietnam War.

Yes, Foster's book, now bearing the striking early poster/publicity artwork by the Hildebrandt Brothers on its cover, towers over its successors like a giant, and remains the first and best adaptation of any STAR WARS film, and a great adventure novel. Period.

AFICIONADO RATING: 5 out of 5

Get it here :https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Official-Anniversary-Collectors/dp/1780898134/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494426442&sr=1-1&keywords=star+wars+george+lucas

THE 'STAR WARS TRILOGY' RETURNS FOR A UK ANNIVERSARY PRINTING





With the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS, its time for another worthy compilation of the original three novel adaptations of the Classic Trilogy, as originally adapted with verve and imagination by George Lucas (Alan Dean Foster), Donald F. Glut and James Kahn, out now in heavy-duty UK paperback from ARROW.


Here's the celebratory publicity blurb:

Read the story of the movies in one complete volume - and rediscover the wonder of the legend.

Forty years after the groundbreaking movie Star Wars: A New Hope first hit the silver screen, Star Wars remains one of the most beloved sagas ever told. Together, the three original Star Wars movies A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi told one epic: a heroic tale of innocence lost and wisdom gained, of downfall and redemption, of the never ending fight between the forces of good and evil. Read the story of the movies in one paperback volume and rediscover the wonder of the legend that begins: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Get it here:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Original-Trilogy-George-Lucas/dp/1784759384/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494420206&sr=1-1&keywords=star+wars+original+trilogy+book

OUT THIS MONTH IN UK PAPERBACK: 'CATALYST - A ROGUE ONE NOVEL'


Rebellions may be built on hope but they are also primarily instigated from the need for defiance, as the evil and tyranny of the Empire's despicable new technological terror, a space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet is revealed: the Death Star, its secret construction and plans for final dominance of the galaxy assured unless it can be stopped.

Discover the truth behind its original construction, and the devices and desires of the two men ultimately behind its terrifying inception: ruthless rising star of the Imperial Navy, Director Orson Krennic, and the man he called friend whom he will manipulate, cajole and betray into working for him, dedicated scientist Galen Erso, who with his loving wife Lyra and newly born daughter Jyn find themselves at the very epicenter of tragedy, deceit, danger and revelations that will shock a universe and see the fire rising to a soon united front of humans and aliens determined to fight against this shocking nightmare made reality...

Keeping the story tight and flowing, James Luceno's reader rewarding prequel novel to ROGUE ONE, Catalyst, is out this month (May 28th, 2017) in UK paperback, courtesy of ARROW. If you haven't read it, it's indeed a worthy tie-in to both of the George Lucas created trilogies, and if you already luckily possess it, then a second read in light of the movie's release makes it even more enjoyable.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Catalyst-Rogue-Novel/dp/1101967005/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494418928&sr=1-2&keywords=catalyst+rogue+one

COMING SOON: 'PHASMA'



A striking visual creation and an inspired behind the scenes idea making the character a female enemy- a first for the filmic universe of STAR WARS, the mysterious, enigmatic, ruthless and truly murderous First Order villainess that is the unique Captain Phasma, the ultimate cold visage badass Stormtrooper leader, will soon have at least some of her mysterious origins revealed- and have her path to evil and cruelty cemented - via the upcoming new novel Phasma, by Delilah S. Dawson, part of the new Journey to The Last Jedi book cycle being unleashed in the final quarter of the UK publishing year from CENTURY. This title will surely be much awaited by fans who love this character and cite her as the modern Boba Fett, whilst also enjoying the tremendous story and event linkages she brings with her chromed frame from both the earlier EPISODE VII and with the 2017 Xmas present that will be VIII.

The equally unique and one-of-a-kind portrayer of the character, I bet striking actress Gwendoline Christie's face must have radiated a tremendous smile when she found out this particular book was on its way...

Out from September 7th, 2017 in hardback, advance order it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Phasma-Journey-Last/dp/1780898215/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1494417795&sr=8-5&keywords=star+wars+novel+a+new+hope


BEHIND THE SCENES: A MULTITUDE OF THREEPIOS!


With so much wear and tear on set, its no surprise that there' would be back-ups of Anthony Daniels Threepio costume, especially his famous visage, as seen here in a behind the scenes shot that we assume comes from the UK 1982 filming of RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A QUEEN FIGHTS ON!


Cornered by the Droideka forces of the Trade Federation she and her loyal soldiers may be within the Theed hangar bay, but Queen Amidala nonetheless fights on against overwhelming odds, during the action-packed finale to EPISODE I.

Thursday 4 May 2017

HAPPY 'MAY THE FOURTH...' DAY!





The British movie poster art par excellence from 1978 for the original STAR WARS, by famed illustrator Chantrell, which ultimately set the highest bar standards of excitement and imagination for STAR WARS movie posters, as well as movie posters in general, that would follow in its wake.


HAPPY 'MAY THE FOURTH...' DAY! to all readers of STAR WARS AFICIONADO worldwide!

ROGUE ONE: REBELS VS WALKERS!


The classic and now infamous deleted scene from the superb teaser trailer for ROGUE ONE, the one which director Gareth Edwards was sad to let go with the films re-shoots, where Jyn and her band of unique Rebel soldiers race headlong into battle against AT-ACT Walkers on the shoreline of Scarif. Terrific art by Matt Ferguson.


Alexander Freed's acclaimed adaptation of the film that ultimately made it to our screens is out now in weighty and wonderful paperback form in the UK via ARROW BOOKS. And if you haven't already got it and absorbed its gritty atmosphere and bold heroics from cover to cover, then do so now!

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rogue+one+novel+paperback