CLASSIC INDY: 'TRUST HIM!'

UK quad poster art, possibly incorporating art by Tom Jung.

No matter how tight the spot, no matter how much danger he and Marion Ravenwood find themselves in whilst fighting the dreaded Nazis over the Lost Ark of the Covenant, you can always rely on the courageous and inspirational hero that is Indiana Jones to save the day. And if there's some fortune and glory to be had along the way, then so much the better!

Happy Forty-Fifth Anniversary this year to Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark!

THE 'AFICIONADO' REVIEW: 'THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU' - NOW IN CINEMAS!

Together again for the big screen, in friendship and danger!

Today at 12.15p.m. I settled down in a lovely comfy seat at the Odeon Leicester Square and saw The Mandalorian & Grogu, the first Star Wars film of the Disney era since 2019, in a gorgeous Dolby Atmos sound and picture presentation (my preferred choice in seeing blockbuster films these days). I enjoyed a lot of the film, seeing it as a fun adventure within the confines of the George Lucas created vision of the saga, for families to especially enjoy (notably kids between the ages of 6 and 9). It was by no means one of the great Star Wars cinematic adventures, however, due to a thin story (which may, or may not, have been culled together from the scrapped fourth season of The Mandalorian TV series) full of unmined potential over 2 hours and 12 minutes (of which an appearance from the much-missed Gina Carano could have been a major boost), and despite the many lively action set pieces (notably the pre-title sequence, featuring twenty minutes of James Bond-esque knockdowns by our duo against an escaping Imperial remnant) and a cast of creatures that would keep fans of Return of the Jedi's and the Prequel era's weird and wonderful grotesques dizzyingly happy.

And The Mandalorian and Grogu has been made by top-tier talent, many of them returning veterans after seven years away from the big screen (including the likes of John Knoll and Phil Tippett), of which there's some fine motion control model work and lovely production design, though I felt that the CGI was of varying quality (notably with the Hutt villains and Rotta the cage fighter, the latter all grown up and rather a nice chap caught in a bad scenario). Adding a further plus, Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Goransson brings another innovative score. In front of the camera, selivering the drama and humour, the guest cast of the film are fine if a little under-used (special mention to Sigourney Weaver, who looks great piloting a New Republic fighter), and there are some fun cameos here and there (Martin Scorsese finally joins the Star Wars universe - now its Coppola's turn!) in a fun alien cameo that's perfect for the edgy, diminutive director! The primary focus of the film, however, is the delightful relationship between the Mandalorian (played once again by Pedro Pascal, as well as other stunt men who are deservedly credited) and cute Grogu (still expertly puppeteered). But this emotional quality between them that would make the early seasons of The Mandalorian such a success sadly remains the same from what's been previously established - there's no further growth between them when this film really needs more impact in their unique character arc. Perhaps their ongoing potential is being saved for future tales in film and/or TV. but the idea of a Mandalorian & Grogu film bringing its unique universe of characters together (like Avengers Assemble) now seems unlikely - a shame, really, as this was what we should have had in the first place, cinematically!

All-in-all, there's some great visual flourishes from Favreau, lovely cinematography, and some fun Easter Eggs (enjoy the Dejarik fight made real!), but the film ultimately can't shake away its TV roots, try as it might (there's at least three episodes pulled together). But don't let that TV translation problem  put you off from seeing it. Favreau and Dave Filoni are not hacks (as they've often unfairly been called by some critics during the run-up to this film's release) - they love the Star Wars legacy that they grew up with, and they are clearly having a great time bringing this film to audiences. There's a lot in this film that works well, despite not earning classic status... 

AFICIONADO RATING: It's not perfect, it has a bit of an eclectic mixing of elements at times, but if you get a chance to see the film on a big screen, take it. It's overall worth the trip, and better than the majority of episodes within the prior TV series' under-whelming third season. 3 out of 5

Art by Paul Shipper, but where were the TIE fighters in the film?

OUT THIS MONTH - 'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU'

Latest official movie poster.

We're only a few weeks away until the latest Star Wars Disney movie arrives in cinemas, of which its stars have been eagerly travelling the world so as to promote it. 

Here's some of the latest images and footage...

Can our TV heroes lure viewers back to the cinema?

On the wild streets, and back in danger!

Jon Favreau talks Mandalorian!

Taking on the AT-AT convoy!

Sigourney Weaver jumps franchises!

Grogu meets the Anzellans.

A fractured Empire wants revenge!

Expanded art by Matt Ferguson.

'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU' - THE FINAL IMAX TRAILER DEBUTS...

More Sigourney Weaver, more Zeb, more villains, more X-wings, more Walkers! The final IMAX trailer for the TV series to film transfer, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is here, as the Jon Favreau directed adventure approaches its May 2026 release date at cruising speed. Fingers crossed that it all works for cinema audiences!

Art by Matt Ferguson.

'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU' - TRAILER 2 HAS ARRIVED!

Just what we needed to see after the prior and controversial Superbowl advert, this new trailer for the galaxy's most unusual pairing will hopefully catch the worldwide Star Wars fan families' support this coming May 21st, 2026...

CLASSIC ART: CLASHING 'SABERS!

The lightsabers used by the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic may have passed into history by the time of the original Star Wars' story showcasing Rebellion vs Empire, but the emergence of Jedi-to-be Luke Skywalker, and his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi's duel with his former pupil Darth Vader, soon make the weapons iconic and a perfect representation of good vs evil for this unused American poster concept art from 1976/77. 

If anyone knows the artist (I assume it's Tom Jung), please get on touch...  

CLASSIC ART: 'RETURN' OF THE HEROES!

It's amazing how much concept commissioned movie poster work for a Star Wars film is commissioned and rejected, and all by such great talents. This is a fun all-action reworking of the original Hildebrandt Star Wars poster of 1975 for Return of the Jedi, with the iconic John Alvin adding Han Solo to the original but more seasoned Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia pairing amidst a Death Star backdrop. And all three atop the gross Jabba the Hutt, no less!

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE POWER OF POSTER ART!

Amidst the terrifying visage of the returned Darth Vader, technological action is another standout part of this classic early movie poster conceptual piece by the famous illustrator Tom Jung, of which the might of the Imperial AT-AT's against our Rebel heroes proves formidable, and truly showcasing how an Empire will strikes back! 

'EPISODE III' AT TWENTY: THE VADER FACTOR!

One of Lucasfilm's most ambitious and effective marketing campaigns yet for the Star Wars Prequels, designed to bring in fans old and new to movie theatres, featuring the iconic Darth Vader, whose emergence in Episode III proves crucial in bridging the two George Lucas created trilogies together. Indeed, Vader is the key marketing image for movie posters and selected advertising/merchandise worldwide during May 2005, as well as subsequent later tie-ins...

CLASSIC ART: 'STAR WARS' BEGINS...

The classic Hildebrandt Brothers poster that debuted in the UK at the end of 1977/early 1978.

As a rare and pristine condition British release print of the original 1977 version of Star Wars makes for a special screening (originally housed by Rank back in 1979, and later donated), for the first time in decades in the UK, launching this year's BFI Film on Film festival in London (12th to 15th June, 2025), here's a look back to that time when George Lucas's (at first one-off) film launched across the world in 1977 and 1978, promoted via these gorgeous adventure-fuelled posters that soon captured our hearts, minds and imaginations like never before...

Early US teaser poster with the original SW logo before the 'W' was changed.

US teaser poster.

American release poster.

Tom Jung's early poster, at first primarily used for the US, then appearing in various merchandising.

Tom Jung's version of the Hildebrandt original.

Some international posters mixed the Tom Jung art with the Hildebrandts.

Three Japanese posters from 1977/78.

Photo montage mixed with the Hildebrandt art.

Other Japanese rarities.

Italian art my Michelangelo Papuzza.

The 'Dirty Dozen' poster art for the UK and US from 1978, by Tom Chantrell.

Australian 'Daybill' poster. 

Hong Kong release poster - 1978.

HAPPY 45TH BIRTHDAY TO 'THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK'!

Japanese release poster - 1980.

"Luke Skywalker and Han Solo rescued the Princess, destroyed the Death Star, but their story didn't end there..."

Early teaser trailer dialogue for The Empire Strikes Back - 1979.

And thank the Force it didn't end there, as Empire, the most expensive independent movie of its time, made its long awaited UK debut on May 20th, 1980, effectively and memorably delivering a dark and powerful new chapter in the now continuing Star Wars saga to thrilled audiences worldwide, and an adventure that cemented and built on the already special qualities of storytelling that George Lucas prior gave us three years earlier.

Enjoy this selection of great iconic character shots from the film...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 'TESB'!

Posing for publicity at Elstree.

Our trio on location in Norway.

Hamill and Prowse take an attacking stance!