'ATTACK' AT 20: CHARGE OF THE LIGHT(SABER) BRIGADE!

The Jedi (including Seasee Tiin) charge into arena battle in an unseen angle.

The Jedi have arrived on Geonosis, and battle against the enemy's legion of droids begins within the death arena. But overwhelming forces soon take their fateful toll on the skilled lightsaber warriors...

A selection of notable images from the original Australian filming of the sequence at Fox Studios during 2000, featuring second unit photography of singular Jedi in various action poses directed by editor/sound designer Ben Burtt, working in tandem with dedicated Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard. To say that the final, sometimes jarring in flow cinematic sequence would be a combination of photography mixing deleted scenes (in and out of the arena), CGI enhancements and replacements, as well as further reshoots/additional action moments incorporated a year later, would be an epic understatement! 

“I heard of one group (of Kendo experts) that had been banned from the national competitions because they were way too aggressive. When I heard that, I knew they could be right for us.” 

Nick Gillard - Dreamwatch magazine - June 2002 

“I guess we did that one (the arena fight) for four to five days. We put everybody in there separately and then we put Ewan and me in there. And then we put me, Ewan and Hayden in. Then they bought in all the Jedi extras, which was kind of hazardous. They didn’t exactly go through all the training we did, so you had to watch your back, when they were in there and just kind of waling.” 

Samuel L. Jackson - DVD Review magazine - Issue 44 - 2002

Selected BTS information from Pablo Hidalgo's Twitter page.

Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, Shaak Ti and an unknown Jedi in arena battle. Image via Paul Duncan/Facebook.

One of the two hundred Jedi in action.

Exciting moves from the Byron Bay Kendo Club, well cast as trained Jedi.

A Jedi tends to fallen Padawan Tan Yuster in an unseen moment.

Sarrissa Jeng (Karen Wilson, an Australian Kendo student) in action for the deleted droid control ship raid sequence. She would be instead transplanted in the film's post production editorial into the Geonosis arena, where her character, whose hair was mostly later CGI shaved off, would be killed in a further deleted moment.

Jeng lies dead with other Jedi in an unseen moment.

Nick Gillard, ever the funster on set.

'ATTACK' AT 20: THE JEDI INTERVENTION!

The Jedi arrive in the arena to face the army of lethal Battle Droids, in this lovely art.

It's not just Mace Windu who has arrived in the nick of time to aid our captured trio of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme within the Geonosian death arena. So too are a force of between 100-200 fellow Jedi (including lots of soon fan favourites), bravely going into conflict against overwhelming numbers of newly created Separatist Battle Droids...

The Jedi assemble. Conceptual art by Ryan Church.

The Jedi arrive and decloak in unused footage from 2000.

More deleted Jedi footage likely linked to their arrival in the arena.

This impressive (if at times unevenly structured) action sequence was culled together from all kinds of blue screen shot footage at Fox Studios, Australia and ILM during 2000-2002. Known and background Jedi used in a deleted sequence linked to the failed deactivation of the battle droids would instead literally be transplanted into various arena battle sequence moments as the conflict between Jedi and droids evolved under George Lucas's supervision. Some human Jedi actors would be completely replaced with CGI alien creations instead, or have CGI additions/alterations made to their visages.

Another of Ryan Church's action-packed concept art pieces for the epic arena battle.

Shaak Ti (model Orli Shoshan) and Luminara Unduli (Mary Oyaya) activate their blades.

Barriss Offee (Nalini Krishan) and Agen Kolar (Tux Akindoyeni).

Pablo-Jill (named after ILM veterans Pablo Hidalgo and Jill Brooks) with Kit Fisto (Ben Cooke)

Plo Koon (Matt Sloan) and Ki-Adi Munday (Silas Carson). The characters were added to this shot from ultimately unused footage of a droid control ship raid.

Bultar Swan (Mimi Daraphet) and colleague.

The Super Battle Droids take on the Jedi.

A unique member of the Battle Droid fraction joins the fray!

"Die, Jedi dogs!" A confused Threepio is caught in battle!

Ever smiling fan favourite Kit Fisto (stunt man Ben Cooke) brings aid to Threepio's difficult position on the battlefront.

Posed publicity image of Jedi Aayla Secura (Amy Allen), the character already a fan favourite Dark Horse comic creation liked by Lucas, who would be added to the film in various Jedi-related places during post production by ILM.

One of the more alien-looking Jedi who will later challenge Count Dooku, but be sadly killed by the blaster skills of Jango Fett.

The majority of the unarmed insects fly away in their panicked droves.

The battle is fierce as the enemy grows stronger and surrounding...

Meanwhile, in the midst of chaos, Threepio is reunited with his bodily self thanks to Artoo.

The scene as captured in studio, likely in reshoots at Ealing Studios, London - 2002.

Doug Chiang's design for the next evolution of Battle Droid - the Super Battle Droid!

THE CLONE WARS: THE FEMALE FACTOR!

The strength of the Star Wars franchise is its fine array of diverse intergalactic heroes, and here's a great piece of fan art celebrating the vast array of memorable female protagonists bravely fighting to save the galaxy from darkness during the long-running The Clone Wars animated series.

If anyone knows the artist's name, please get in touch. 

CLASSIC ART: CAUGHT IN 'THE APPROACHING STORM'!

Image composition by Steven D. Anderson.

It was supposedly to be just a minor 'border dispute' sorted out by Obi-Wan Kenobi and his young Padawan learner Anakin Skywalker on the far away realm of Ansion, but it soon turned into something far more dangerous for our Jedi heroes, also accompanied in their journey of adventure by another Knight/Padawan team in fan favourites Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee, as the enjoyable original Expanded Universe lead-in to EPISODE II debuted in January 2002 - The Approaching Storm, written by the ever-talented stalwart Star Wars author, and the man who launched the printed universe into the continuing highly profitable success story it is today: Alan Dean Foster.

https://www.thewrap.com/star-wars-novelist-alan-dean-foster-disney-owes-royalties-open-letter/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/star-wars-novelists-seek-years-of-missing-royalty-payments-from-disney-11608393600?fbclid=IwAR1x5urak18N5EfsKBVQFa2qaKhQ70t7WvOvBiIWR-1Va9LzmQn27iz-qng

BEHIND THE SCENES: READY FOR THE JEDI!

Proud to house a STAR WARS movie in Australia, at their then all-new FOX Studios, technicians prepare the supporting cast of Jedi characters for the important scene-setting of a Republic now under political turmoil from the rising Separatist tide, during EPISODE II's shooting in 2000.

BEHIND THE SCENES: POSED FOR BATTLE

Within the Geonosis Death Arena, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli keeps her eye, and her accompnaying lightsaber blade, ready for action, in this blue screen filming moment from EPISODE II. Many Jedi action scenes in this environment were filmed for the sweeping finale, but didn't make the final cut.

CLASSIC REVIEW: 'THE CLONE WARS - LEGACY OF TERROR' CHILDREN'S BOOK

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

"LEGACY OF TERROR" - PHOTONOVEL and ACTIVITY BOOK

Published in the UK by SUNBIRD

Reviewed by Scott Weller

“That is one ugly bug!”  - Commander Cody

Having just about won their first prior decisive victory of the legendary Clone Wars against the planet Geonosis, and its disgusting insect creature race: greedy and power mad weapons makers that rule their worlds barren, hostile desert wilderness, the Jedi Knights-the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy- are now forced to return to that forsaken location, which previously cost them the lives of almost 200 slain in battle Jedi, with the secret news, obtained from Senator Padme Amidala, that the hideous race have now rearmed themselves with new, even greater technological firepower and droid battalions, moving them into a position that could prove a new threat if re-allianced with the also vast Separatist forces currently in existing conflict within the Republic. With their resources already stretched thin, and only a handful of battle groups to fight alongside them, never has there been a more dangerous time for our Jedi heroes to quash this new insurgence, as witnessed in the superb photostory events of the excellent new SUNBIRD activity book release of LEGACY OF TERROR, comprising the visual excitement of the two very popular CLONE WARS episodes from George Lucas’s worldwide animated hit series: Weapons Factory and Legacy of Terror. Now, fans young and old can relieve the classic action packed moments from the season two tales in this wonderful photo novel, getting totally immersed within it in an all new dimension, and where you can close in on the animation and see all the richness and depth of detail seen on screen, some of which can only be seen on TVs for a few seconds at a time, within the new STAR WARS visual universe, which, thanks to Animation Director Dave Filoni and his technology stretching teams, delightfully expands upon the films created by George Lucas.

And, as well as or returning favourites, like the all-time hero Anakin Skywalker (prior to donning the evil mask of Darth Vader), and his trusty young Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, we also get to see more new Jedi characters introduced into the animated format for readers to enjoy, including the tough but logical Luminara Unduli and her own Padawan learner, who possesses a unique gift for her mental and physical healing skills: Barriss Offee. As the four friends-the ultimate soldiers for peace- work together with their trusty, battle hardened Clone Troopers to initiate a dangerous plan to destroy the stronghold of the Geonosian leader, the slippery Poggle the Lesser, they then join with the legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi on a hunt for the insectoid when he evades captures and enters the dark, unexplored underground regions of its world, a convenient place in which to elude pursuit, of which rumours persist holds the dominion of a far greater threat to the Jedi and the Republic at large: the scary Geonosian Queen herself, allied with her unstoppable zombie servants. With Luminara now captured and ready to become one of the undead serving the Queen-her mind ready to be absorbed by the enemy host- can her Jedi friends rescue her in time?

Enjoy the camaraderie and bravura of our heroes, the wickedness of the diabolical villains, the horror of the alien catacombs, the excitement of the lightsaber battles, the Cloone Troopers skilled offensives, and the all round thrills and spills of the Jedi’s ultimate battle to re-take and control Geonosis and its inhabitants once and for all!

And then, beyond the visual excitement, immerse yourself into the fun of play with a whole host of games, puzzles, mazes, word searches and visual tests to hone in your abilities as the next great Jedi. You know you can do it! And when you’ve succeeded, go ahead and award/indulge yourself with the lovely four pages of terrific colourful characters, logo and episode scenes sticker illustrations-eighty in all- within in the books middle section.

Whatever you’re looking for in an activity book to keep you going up until Xmas and beyond, this is the one for you. And keep your lightsabers ready in watch for the Geonosians –they may fly down and try and take this exciting publication for themselves!

AFICIONADO RATING: Great fun for kids and kidults! 3.5 out of 5

CLASSIC IMAGE: BARRISS OFFEE- DESTINY'S CHILD

Before fan controversially losing her way as a Jedi in THE CLONE WARS animated series, healer and former Padawan, Barriss Offee, made a fine live-action partnership with Luminara Unduli during the tumultuous events of EPISODE II. As played by Mary Oyaya and Nalini Krishan, the actress duo would become hugely popular on the worldwide convention circuit.

Check out our exclusive interview from a few years back with the lovely Nalini, talking about life as Barriss Offee, here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRMjFyOUpFaEhkMDg/edit?usp=sharing

NOTE: To see this Google PDF in the best quality, it's best to download the file straight to your desktop.

THE CLONE WARS: FIERY CLASH

Within the fiery chaos of the Republic Cruiser's engine room, Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano and Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli take on the ruthless lightsaber wielding Sith influenced assassin Asajj Ventress, in this tense scene from the Season One THE CLONE WARS episode Cloak of Darkness.

OUT NOW: "LEGACY OF TERROR" PHOTONOVEL / ACTIVITY BOOK

Anakin Skywalker and Luminara Unduli, two Jedi of complete diversity yet both strong in the Force, are the cover stars for this lovely new release from the UK's SUNBIRD children's book release linked to the classic THE CLONE WARS Season Two episodes featuring the spectacular second Battle of Geonosis, full of colour art and imagery for newbie young fans of the animated STAR WARS universe, and plenty to keep them active during the holiday seasons- prepare to have character stickers all over the house!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Legacy of Terror Comic and Activity Book with Stickers: Amazon.co.uk: Sunbird: 9781409390220: Books

CLASSIC IMAGE: JEDI MASTER LUMINARA UNDULI

Here's an interesting shot of the distinctive alien Jedi Master, Luminara Unduli - regularly seen in action in the animated THE CLONE WARS series - but here as she appears in her brief, but memorable, live action reality for EPISODE II, played by Mary Oyaya. This image comes from one of the films opening scenes, where the Jedi confer with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine on the recent attack on Padme Amidala, and its a shot you rarely see-it may even be a very high quality LUCASFILM screen grab from a close-up of the actress and the character that never made the completed film.

Luminara, alongside her then Padawan, Barriss Offee (Nalini Krishan), would return for the films finale, one of several hundred Jedi who storm the Geonosian arena and kick a lot of Battle Droid and insectoid life-form butt!