CLASSIC INDY: THE 'CRUSADE' BEGINS...

When it comes to a magic combination of action, adventure and humour, X always marks the spot with the Indiana Jones franchise, as his 1989 quest for the Holy Grail and his missing father - as played by the inimitable Sean Connery - brings up a wealth of enduring cinematic moments. Terrific concept poster art for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade by Drew Struzan.

UK Anniversary: https://kooltvblog.blogspot.com/2019/06/dont-call-me-junior-indiana-jones-and.html

Release trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6JB2suJYHM

HAPPY UK THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY TO 'THE LAST CRUSADE'!

CLASSIC IMAGE: SUMMER FUN!

What better way to celebrate the Summer heatwave currently spreading its glory across Europe this weekend, plus the greatness of Carrie Fisher in her iconic 'Slave Leia' outfit, than with these charming outtake images that have surfaced online from the infamous Rolling Stone magazine shoot of 1983, taken by Aaron Rapoport. This beach party has well and truly begun!

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: 'KILL THEM IMMEDIATELY!'

An angry Darth Sidious orders the immediate death of the Jedi 'Ambassadors', and the subsequent destruction of the consular vessel Radiant VII containing the pilots (played by Silas Carson and Bronagh Gallagher) that brought them to Naboo. A murderous surprise attack launching EPISODE I, and another great model pyrotechnics shot from ILM.

The eight foot long 'hero' version of the craft, made at ILM.

Readied for filming in the hangar bay.

Three models of the cruiser would be be built for pyrotechnics.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: ACCELERATED PLANS!

With the arrival of the Jedi Ambassadors to their vessel, it seems that Nute Gunary's ambitions to advance his powerbase via the blockade has failed. But his new ally in Sith Lord Darth Sidious has other plans, especially after having the Neimoidian remove cowardly lackey Daultay Dofine from his sight.

Presumably Ian McDiarmid was donning his Sith robes acting on the Trade Federation bridge set at Leavesden Studios for this sequence (his hologram visage added later by ILM), acting alongside Silas Carson, Alan Ruscoe and Jerome Blake. They'd all be wearing complex masks created by a team headed up by Stuart Freeborn's talented former protege in makeup effects, Nick Dudman.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: THE MASTER PUPPETEER!

The shadowy but no less intimidating holo figure of the recently emergent Sith Lord, Darth Sidious relays his murderous and manipulative instructions to his Trade Federation allies, during the opening to EPISODE I. The ever-classy actor Ian McDiarmid reprises his villainous role onscreen sixteen years after Return of the Jedi.

"It only slowly dawned on me that if Darth Vader was really the worst creature, the most evil, the darkest, the blackest villain in movie history, I was worse than him. And I'm still slowly coming to terms with that, actually. I think my relationship with Satan is closer than I ever imagined it to be - as a character, I hasten to add."

Ian McDiarmid - US DVD press launch for EPISODE III - October 2005

Costume reference image of McDiarmid as Darth Sidious.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: NEW DROID ON THE BLOCK!

UK Assistant Creatures Designer John Fensom gets to discover what it was like for Anthony Daniels inside his Threepio costume when slipping inside the uncomfortable guise of Trade Federation Protocol Droid TC-14 (voiced with a polite American accent in post production by respected UK actress Lindsay Duncan). During the Leavesden Studios filming, Fensom would also provide various camera lighting stand-in duties for some of the EPISODE I cast.

TC-14 greets the Jedi 'Ambassadors' on their arrival in the Trade Federation battleship.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: DAWN OF THE BATTLE DROID!

Onscreen, the Jedi would soon cut them down like butter, but that exciting first sneak peek of a Battle Droid, seen on a special US subscriber's cover for Star Wars Insider magazine back in 1998, was nonetheless impressive, especially riding its flying Stap vehicle, seen all too briefly on Naboo during the film's opening.

A terrific photoshop composition created by ILM (supervised by Dennis Muren), with background by Russ Kaiser.

EPISODE VIII: LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP!

Tense times loom for fighter ace Poe Dameron and the leader of whom he has so much respect for- General Leia Organa, as the Resistance decimation by the First Order continues during the troubling dramatic events of The Last Jedi.

Behind the scenes:
ttp://people.com/movies/oscar-isaac-recalls-surreal-experience-of-being-repeatedly-slapped-by-carrie-fisher/

All dances, smiles and kisses off the set for Carrie Fisher and Oscar Isaac, watched by Marilou Hamill.

EPISODE VII: SNEAK ATTACK!

Gutsy as ever within the hostile realms of Jakku's Niima Outpost, Rey fends off an attack from Unkar Plutt's goons, who are determined to take BB-8 from her, in this great action shot taken on location in Dubai for The Force Awakens.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: TRADE POWER!

A forerunner to the immense and powerful Imperial Star Destroyers, a superbly detailed Trade Federation cruiser is prepped for EPISODE I filming by ILM technicians, in which it will be one of the first enemy space vessels seen in the Prequels.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: A LEGAL BLOCKADE?

'Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. 

Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo.

While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict...'

EPISODE I opening title crawl - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: A PADAWAN DEBUTS!

"It's funny, because there are so many good bits about it (playing Obi-Wan Kenobi). The idea of being in it in the first place. I met the casting director (Robin Gurland) about a year and a half before we started filming, then met her again a year later. Then it was becoming more realistic, that it actually might be made. The nearer we got, the further down the line I got in the casting process, the more tantalizing it became. But just to be in it, and having been that little six-year old kid watching it in Scotland in 1977... then to be on set with R2-D2 and stuff... Every day there was a Star Wars moment. "Bloody hell," you say to yourself. "I'm in a Star Wars movie!" It was mad. And choosing my lightsaber. I got to choose my lightsaber handle..."

Ewan McGregor talking to Entertainment Tonight Online - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: 'EYES FORWARD'

'Don't look back, before you go. 
Eyes forward, choices to make.

Dreams to realize.

Don't look back, before you go.
Know the truth, learn to let go. 

Don't look back before you go. 

Before you leave...me.'

Shmi Skywalker's Episode I Tone Poem TV commercial - 'One Love' (1999):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qncLmkZl1B0

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: TO BE A JEDI...

The nobility and strength of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, as played by Liam Neeson. Image: Matthew Rolston.

'It will be a hard life. One without reward, without remorse, without regret. A path will be placed before you. The choice is yours alone. Do what you think you cannot do. 

It will be a hard life, but you will find out who you are.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQQE2gn-nEM

Qui-Gon Jinn - Episode One Tone Poem commercial: 'One Destiny' - 1999

ROGUE ONE: ASSAULT ON THE HOLY LAND!

The once free planet of Jedha- a celebration of the Jedi Order and the nature of the Force- now enslaved by the Empire, the tendrils of one of its skies dominant Star Destroyer's reaching down deep into the holiest of its once cities and populace, in this great concept art of doom-laden oppression for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, by Andre Wallin.

EPISODE VII: WHAT PLAN?

Now arrived at Starkiller Base in the search for Rey, and to critically deactivate the facility's shielding, Han Solo soon realises that things aren't all what they seem with Finn's unique knowledge of the First Order, in this great little comedy moment from The Force Awakens.

CLASSIC INDY: ELSA'S QUEST!

Sean Connery's presence may have taken the second lead status away from the next female star of the original Indy saga, but relative screen newcomer actress/model Alison Doody's role as the beautiful but traitorous Elsa Schneider was nonetheless intriguing and different to what had been prior seen with heroines Marion Ravenwood and Willie Scott. 

Working with the Nazis to discover the Holy Grail, battle proves a messy, bloody business for Elsa, when her cause leads her to a second encounter with the leader of the Cruciform Sword sworn to protect the ancient relic, soon callously murdered in front of her eyes by Walter Donovan - an ultimately deleted moment from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

'STAR WARS REBELS': THE NEW PROTECTORS!

A former Jedi Padawan escaped from the bloodshed of Order 66 and a young and capable flying-ace Twi'Lek escaping the pain and tyranny caused to her world by the Empire, joining forces on the plains-world of the occupied Lothal. United in grief, but soon united in hope and deep friendship against a common enemy in this epic character art by TwoDots for the gorgeous Brazilian exclusive cover to John Jackson Miller's popular Star Wars Rebels book/series set-up: A New Dawn.

https://www.starwars.com/news/swcc-2019-8-highlights-from-rebels-remembered-panel

THE CLONE WARS: STRINGS PULLED!

With Darth Maul covertly ruling the troubled, feuding world of Mandalore, it is puppet 'leader' Almac who channels his commands to the people, as seen here during the closing scenes of the game-changing The Clone Wars Season Five episode, Shades of Reason. The fallout from the Mandalore legacy will continue with the new series episodes coming at the end of the year.

EPISODE IX: THAT LOOKS FAMILIAR?

As revealed in behind the scenes footage at the Celebration event of 2019.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS! Her original ship, the later named Tantive IV, may have been lost to pursuant Imperial forces during the now legendary start to the original Star Wars, but the upcoming EPISODE IX will see General Leia Organa gain another iconic blockade runner in its place, during an urgent mission parked on a jungle type world, and a craft incredibly built full size- presumably on the famous 007 Stage at London's Pinewood Studios. Can't wait to see it in all its proper glory (as well as other background ships to its right) at the cinema this December 2019.

OUT THIS MONTH: 'STAR WARS - ALPHABET SQUADRON'!

New heroes, new history, as Alphabet Squadron debuts.

We've had the history-making Red Squadron who went against the odds and the mighty Death Star during the Battle of Yavin, followed by courageous young Luke Skywalker's command of Rogue Flight during the heady Battle of Hoth. Now, from the gritty war-making imagination and penmanship of fan favourite Alexander Freed, who'd prior brought such detailed and intense life, conflict, honour and duty to his Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Battlefront II novels, comes the all-new Star Wars - Alphabet Squadron, available in UK paperback from Century this 13th June 2019. A new band of diverse flying aces, led by a spirited heroine championed by the Lucasfilm Story Group: Yrica Quell, must challenge the tyrannical Empire after the galaxy-changing events of Return of the Jedi.

An epic and explosive storytelling crossover of novel and MARVEL Comics (of which an eight page full-colour preview centre section is included) surely awaits...

Here's the book info:

On the verge of victory in a brutal war, five New Republic pilots transform from hunted to hunters in this epic STAR WARS adventure. 

The Emperor is dead. His final weapon has been destroyed. The imperial army is in disarray. In the aftermath, Yrica Quell is just one of thousands of defectors from her former cause living in a deserters' shantytown―until she is selected to join Alphabet Squadron.

Cobbled together from an eclectic assortment of pilots and starfighters, the five members of Alphabet are tasked by New Republic General Hera Syndulla herself. Like Yrica, each is a talented pilot struggling to find their place in a changing galaxy. Their mission: to track down and destroy the mysterious Shadow Wing, a lethal force of TIE fighters exacting bloody, reckless vengeance in the twilight of their reign.

The newly formed unit embodies the heart and soul of the Rebellion: ragtag, resourceful, scrappy, and emboldened by their most audacious victory in decades. But going from underdog rebels to celebrated heroes isn't as easy as it seems, and their inner demons threaten them as much as their enemies among the stars. The wayward warriors of Alphabet Squad will have to learn to fly together if they want to protect the new era of peace they’ve fought so hard to achieve.

Book excerpt:
https://www.starwars.com/news/alphabet-squadron-excerpt

Author interview:
https://www.starwars.com/news/alphabet-squadron-alexander-freed-interview

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alphabet-Squadron-Alexander-Freed/dp/152912400X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=STAR+WARS+ALPHABET+SQUADRON&qid=1559476119&s=gateway&sr=8-1

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: DARKNESS RISES!

The unforgettable Sith assassin: Darth Maul makes an impressive debut, personified by stuntman/martial artist Ray Park.

'Fear. Fear attracts the fearful. The strong. The weak. The innocent. The corrupt.

Fear. 

Fear is my ally.'

EPISODE I Tone Poem TV commercial - 'One Truth':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBhpylg1gjE&list=PLw8ep6cYzDhoQfQavCbfLMa-oyambJX_X&index=5