THE CLONE WARS: POLITICAL ANIMALS!

Keeping the galaxy-shattered Clone Wars going through lies, treachery and false promises, whilst fellow corruptible Senators and the near powerless Jedi continue to be fools unaware of their murderous and power-grabbing dark side autonomy, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and his key assistant Mas Amedda enjoy the manipulation and chaos before their final plans come into effect.

Another great image from The Clone Wars animated series.

'ATTACK' AT 20: DISPATCHING THE CLONE TROOPERS!

The first battalions of Clone Troopers gather...

On an immense staging area on Coruscant, the legions of Clone Troopers begin boarding their massive Republic Cruisers bound for galactic conflict against the Separatists. Watching all this from afar, a core group of senators huddle around the pleased Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to watch the epic debarkation, including a clearly but silently frustrated Bail Organa, who knows that the violent troubles of the de-stabilized galaxy will only intensify...

“The Imperial March in this case is a powerful potent, suggesting a very dramatic future which is in store for all the characters in the next episode. It’s a piece of music that represents, in my mind at least, not only Darth Vader but the forces of the Empire. It was actually George’s suggestion to use it there, and I think it works extremely well.” 

John Williams on using The Imperial March theme towards the end of Episode II - Star Wars Insider - Issue 61 - 2002

Onto their cruiser transports. The Clone War has begun. 

On Coruscant, the Republic senate watches the Clones mobilization.

Palpatine and a troubled, helpless to act Bail Organa watch the proceedings.

'ATTACK' AT 20: TO SAVE THE REPUBLIC...

Bail Organa with Mas Amedda and Senator Ask Aak  in the Supreme Chancellor's Office, discussing the fate of the Republic. Art by Paolo Puggioni.

Sent prior to being captured by the enemy, Obi-Wan Kenobi's urgent warning message about the assembling Separatist army on Geonosis has been received by the Republic, whose key leaders and the Jedi Council watch with alarm and decide their next critical course of action, an action that will surely need the intervention of the mysteriously created Clone Army on Kamino...

Several sequences of dialogue were trimmed from the scene with the final editing- Yoda tells Palpatine that only two hundred Jedi out of a thousand are readily available to go to Geonosis, whilst Jar Jar Binks would lose several lines that would ultimately be held over to his important senate chamber scene.

The disturbing message from a now captured Obi-Wan Kenobi triggers the need for action against Count Dooku and his new army.

Master Yoda's concerns grow for both the Republic's dire situation and the building aura of the Dark Side of the Force. 

Jimmy Smits proves a well cast addition to the saga as Bail Organa.

Pondering the decisions alongside corruptible Twi'lek Senator Orn Free Taa (Matthew Rowan).

Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and Mas Amedda (David Bowers) wonder who can boldly represent the Senate's need for the newly discovered Clone Army during Senator Amidala's absence?

A behind the scenes publicity team capture Orn Free Taa and his lovely associates on set.

Matthew Rowan and Jay Laga'aia enjoy a break between filming.

The Clone Army usage idea is discussed in senate.

A duped Senator Jar Jar Binks coerces the Republic into accepting and using the Clone Army residing on Kamino. An important turning point for the doomed Republic in the Prequel saga.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS...

As Palpatine 'persuades' Queen Amidala to initiate a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Valorum, due to his seeming lack of power, influence and apathy in their continuing crisis, amidst the packed and angry stadium of senators, the visibly stunned leader, flanked by aides Mas Amedda (Jerome Blake) and Sei Taria (Kamay Lau), returns to his senate podium seat, soon realising (in an ultimately deleted moment) that his old friend Palpatine has betrayed him.

A decisive moment for evil as the political events of EPISODE I play out.

"George (Lucas) was looking for something visually interesting and dynamic for the senate chamber scene, so we pulled the unused idea of the flying platforms from Tatooine, put them on Coruscant, and refined the designs to make them look big, bowl-shaped enclosures."

Doug Chiang - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DEVIL HAS HORNS!

The intimidating and opulent-costumed presence of the Supreme Chancellor's shifty second-in-command, Mas Amedda, is enough to put anybody at ill-at-ease - be they senator or Jedi. For EPISODEs II and III, he would be played Australian actor David Bowers, in this posed publicity /costume reference image.

DELETED SCENE: SOWING THE SEEDS OF EVIL...

Summer 2003. On a pure green stage at FOX STUDIOS, Australia, long time friends in STAR WARS filmmaking George Lucas and Ian McDiarmid prepare to shoot an ultimately deleted scene featuring Palpatine's arrival at the senate building, flanked by the shady Mas Amedda (David Bowers) and a phalanx of crimson bodyguards. Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) would also be present in the sequence, in which Palpatine subtly sows OTHELLO-like seeds of jealousy in Anakin with regards to the continued friendship between Padme and Obi-Wan- a scene set prior to Obi-Wan's departure for Mustafar.

Any scene with Anakin and Palpatine together during EPISODE III was always memorable. Here's hoping this gets a release from the LUCASFILM vaults one day!

More on the Anakin/Palpatine scene here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 2: ANAKIN'S JEALOUSY

Jar Jar Binks was also present in this scene: 'Star Wars': 'Revenge of the Sith' deleted scene reveals Jar Jar's fate

CLASSIC IMAGE: DISCONCERTING NEWS

Flanked by his faithful aide in political skullduggery, Mas Amedda, the newly crowned Emperor receives disturbing news from his elite Clone Troopers that Master Yoda has indeed disappeared, during the continued turmoil of the last act to EPISODE III.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "ORDER! ORDER!"

Within the massed gathering of an atmosphere charged Senate on Coruscant, a shocked Chancellor Valorum slumps back in his seat after hearing Queen Amidala's declare her "No Confidence" vote against his leadership, in an all too brief appearance in EPISODE I from distinguished actor Terence Stamp.

LAUNCHING THE LEGEND. PIC FIVE: 'ATTACK OF THE CLONES' 2000

In the run up to commencement of EPISODE VII's PINEWOOD STUDIOS principal photography, apparently slated for May 14th, 2014, STAR WARS AFICIONADO presents a key image from the first day's shooting of the previous six films of the saga.

June 26th, 2000. Enduring a critical mauling from both the press and certain persistent fan quarters, EPISODE I's success at the box office in 1999 ultimately overrode its naysayers in re-launching the STAR WARS phenomenon all over again, making nearly a billion dollars worldwide and comfortably trouncing nearby new movie franchise competition in the shape of THE MATRIX and THE MUMMY. Buoyed by an impressive pre-launch advertising campaign, alongside an immense toy and book launch, young and old across the globe keenly welcomed back George Lucas's well-crafted universe of old and new characters, many amazed and intrigued by the CGI universe that would revolutionize film-making in the years ahead. Now, the STAR WARS production machine juggernaut was firmly up and running as work continued into 2000 with the start of principal photography on EPISODE II, though behind the scenes creative pressures were quietly noticeable as Lucas and co. tried their very best to craft the next two episodes in a darker, more dramatic fashion, as the story made its evolutionary reach towards the events of the original 1977 film.

This time out, there would be several firsts for the saga: the series would now be made on revolutionary digital cameras developed by SONY, whilst England's successful Leavesden Studios location would be deserted by Lucasfilm, primarily for financial reasons, as the warmer, cheaper climes of Australia beckoned with their large scale FOX STUDIOS facility: new and ready for the many worlds and alien creatures soon arriving within their soundstages. But starting the filming, so as to get the UK and Oz crews together in a "warming up" kind of way, was the return of the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing character of Ian McDiarmid's splendidly creepy Palpatine, now Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, and his plot-moving senate scenes within the galactic arena of Coruscant, aided and abetted by his mysterious and equally corrupted confidantes, Mas Amedda (David Bowers) and Sly Moore (Sandi Finlay).

Sure enough, the Attack of the Clones against their Separatist enemies would begin, and a universe would feel its destructive after-effects...

AOTC AT TEN: THE TWILIGHT STRUGGLE...

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and his aide Mas Amedda watch from a balcony as the first battalions of Clone Troops departs Coruscant, and the Clone Wars begin, from the classic finale scene of EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES.