'ATTACK' AT 20: DEFLECTING DARKNESS!

Count Dooku, on the attack!

Upon entering the secret Geonosis hangar bay area, Yoda must soon deflect an attack of force objects direction, then a further assault of physical Dark Side strength, as Count Dooku brings down a piece of ceiling onto the diminutive Jedi. Directed bolts of of terrifying Force lightning are then unleashed and held back, before Dooku finally realises that the only way to defeat this former master will be through his experienced skills with a lightsaber...

Yoda surveys the secret hangar.

And squares off against the deadly powers of Count Dooku.

“There was bluescreen in The Lord of the Rings, but nothing like there was on Star Wars. About 85% was shot on bluescreen for Star Wars. Walls, floor, the complete stage was blue. They need that for technical reasons, which I can not go into, for it’s something I do not understand. They need that to put in the background, what’s behind you, in front of you, besides you. Reading the script, I know what is taking place and where this is supposed to be, but I do not know what it is going to look like and I do not know if I’m going to be surrounded by other people, droids or that I’ll be alone. I have no idea. So when shooting, there is nothing there – and there certainly wasn’t when I had my fight with Yoda! They have to match what he does after what I’ve done first! I do the lightsaber moves, after I’m told where Yoda is going to be. So I do not know exactly what he is going to do in the fight. I’ve often been asked the question what it is like to work with bluescreen. Over the years I got quite used to that. The answer is of course that you have to have a very powerful imagination, experience, professional knowledge, powers of invention of your own and you have to have the right instincts. You either have them or you haven’t. If you have them, it’s a great help to everybody. What else do you need to be an actor? Dedication, devotion. All these elements are vital if you want to make a career as an actor.” 

Christopher Lee - Internet interview (source unknown) 

The Dark Side of the Force is unleashed!

Yoda prevents the ceiling from coming down on him.

Sending out Force lightning.

Yoda absorbs the dark energy...

and redirects it back at Dooku.

EPISODE IX: EMPRESS OF EVIL

A shocking vision of alternate destiny and evil, as the head of the Sith powerbase on Exegol, is briefly but memorably revealed to a dark Force powered Rey in a memorable but all too brief moment from The Rise of Skywalker. 

Star Wars: Rey Was Originally Obi-Wan's Daughter

Daisy Ridley enjoys some quality throne time.

CLASSIC IMAGE: PALPATINE POWER!

The enemy operating from within the heart of the Republic has now been revealed to the Jedi, but alas too late to save the venerable order from near extinction. Now Jedi Master Yoda engages Darth Sidious in combat deep in the senate chambers on Coruscant, but such dark force power soon proves hard to fight, in this great moment of savage fury from EPISODE III.

'VADER WEEK': DAY 6 - PT 2: KNIGHT vs MASTER!

Deep within the still lethally environs on the forbidden Sith world of Malachor, fugitive Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano is locked in tense battle - in a thrilling and brutal lightsaber duel - against her former master whom she once believed dead, Anakin Skywalker, now very much alive and well in his intimidating and shocking-to-see identity as the evil Darth Vader. 

Dave Filoni's superb Burbank Office board illustrations for the scene, which everyone on staff was reluctant to rub out, including Rian Johnson.

This was the sequence, he dramatic post Order 66 scene, the personal conflict between such gifted friends and Jedi, that all fans of The Clone Wars animated series had been waiting years for, and whose onscreen realisation, carefully planned for by producer Dave Filoni. they were not disappointed by, during the extended Star Wars Rebels Season Two finale: Twilight of the Apprentice.

EPISODE IX: BACK FROM THE (UN)DEAD!

From his secret lair deeply hidden on the hard-to-reach world of Exegol, the hideous and seemingly more powerful than ever Emperor Palpatine's resurrected, if bodily incapacitated, form presses on with his final plans for dominion or extermination of the galaxy, in The Rise of Skywalker.

https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2492873/star-wars-explained-exactly-how-palpatine-survived-hisreturn-of-the-jedi-fall

EPISODE IX: SOMETHING WICKED...

The Emperor- back from the dead!

His consciousness prior transferred to a temporarily weak clone body after the events of Return of the Jedi, Emperor Palpatine's designs on eternal control of the galaxy, decades in the making, are about to be unleashed across the galaxy, as Ian McDiarmid makes a welcome and deliciously evil (as ever) return to the Star Wars universe, witnessed in these great behind the scenes images from The Rise of Skywalker.

The facts on the Emperor's 'return'...

On set and rehearsal prior to make-up and filming, and always attracting attention! Note costume designer Michael Kaplan (far left).

In new/old make-up

And gaining a brand new blood red layered costume for his later fully resurrected scenes.

And looking as handsome as ever!

For more background info on the return of Palpatine and the new Sith, check out New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson's hugely enjoyable 'Expanded Edition' adaptation of the film, out now in UK hardback, from Century.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Skywalker-Expanded-Star-Wars-ebook/dp/B07YJZRNDG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rise+of+skywalker+novel&qid=1585075538&sr=8-1

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE CULT OF VADER!

No matter how long or short his on-screen appearance was to be, everybody was eagerly awaiting the return of Darth Vader to close out the Prequel Trilogy with EPISODE III, of which his death skull visage was a firm part of the film's advance publicity, as seen here with this very cool cover to the US Rollling Stone magazine back in 2005, featuring related articles that explored all aspects of the Dark Lord's return and enduring popularity.

EPISODE IX: IN THE PRESENCE OF PALPATINE!

The legacy of Emperor Palpatine - specifically his mastery of the Sith's unnatural dark arts - continues with his incredible and shocking 'return' from the dead, and the opportunity for one of the saga's finest actors - Ian McDiarmid - to relish every moment of his on-screen alter-ego's nefarious and twisted evil. The saga started with his pulling the strings as 'The Phantom Menace', now Sidious/Palaptine's final bid for power is unleashed with The Rise of Skywalker.

Ian McDiarmid talks IX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSTfN0UbX9Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R040c-CIVx0

Earlier cuts of The Rise of Skywalker gave more backstory to Palpatine

EPISODE IX: SEAT OF POWER, SEAT OF DESTINY

Rey faces her destiny, and what could also be her final battle, against the returned evil of Emperor Palpatine, preparing for the ultimate dominion of the Sith, in Dan Mumford's final poster art for worldwide IMAX/AMC screenings of The Rise of Skywalker.

https://movieweb.com/the-rise-of-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-backstory/

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: OVER THE EDGE!

In another sudden attack move, Darth Maul once more gains the advantage, Force propelling Obi-Wan over the edge and down into a nearby energy well pit. The young Jedi holds on for dear life powerless, his lightsaber now gone.

Soon enough, Maul uses his own weapon to swing energy debris shards down on his opponent in order to break his grip.

Filming the scenes- more sparks would be added to the shot digitally by ILM.

Hold on, Obi-Wan!

Enjoying a break from the perils with Nick Gillard.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: OBI-WAN'S 'TRIALS' BEGIN...

The energy gates open as lightsaber battle begins anew!

The energy gate opens and a ready Obi-Wan speeds in to attack Darth Maul in a superb sequence showcasing the skills of Ewan McGregor and Ray Park in their roles...

Here's a selection of images from that ultra-fast paced lightsaber duel, including a few moves not seen in the final movie, showing the lightsaber blades both untouched (see the physical battering visual evidence they take) and cell animated.

"We got that lightsaber fight so fast, so f++king quick, that in the end they had to overcrank the camera to slow it down so you could see what was going on. There's something incredible about getting a fight to such a fluid pace that you cannot be thinking about what's next - it's beautiful."

Ewan McGregor - Arena magazine - 2005

"My lightsaber flew out of my hands. No one tells you the sabers have about 10 "D" batteries in them. They burn your hands... I tossed the saber in the air and it ended up hitting a technician in the head."

Ewan McGregor - Twist magazine - 1999

"I was used to handling weapons in my martial arts, but it was still hard work because we were rehearsing all day every day for two months before shooting. Even holding the lightsaber and getting into the posture made a big difference."

Ray Park - Cinescape magazine - 1999

"We got through about 300 lightsabers. Eventually, Ewan had to have a thicker one than anybody else."

Nick Gillard - 1999

"(Flashes a big smile.) Let's just say he (McGregor) tried (to beat me in the fights), but that's all he could do was try. (The lightsaber duel) took about three weeks to shoot, from the point where we came through the door right up until the ends. We'd screw up sometimes, almost hit each other. We'd just laugh about it, and make lightsaber noises. We'd stand here, about to fight, and Liam and Ewan would each go, "Dzzh!' (Laughs.) And I'd cock my head and say, 'Oh yeah, Dzzh-dzzh!" I don't think George needed to add on any sound effects, because we did them all. (Smiles.) I still do them now."

Ray Park - Wizard magazine - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: DEATH OF A JEDI!

Darth Maul delivers a savage, unexpected move that delivers the final death blow to a surprised Qui-Gon Jinn, all of this watched by a powerless to help Obi-Wan Kenobi, cut off from the action by the energy shield gates.

The killing stroke.

A shocked scream of pain from Obi-Wan Kenobi, as first seen in the film's second trailer.

"A very small portion of the generator room was built in England, and from that we created a huge room measuring six hundred feet across, as well as a huge pit- all through CG. The electrical beams were also computer generated. We blended the virtual set with the set built on the soundstage."

Scott Squires - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

"When we shot the scene, we didn't know yet how big the beams would end up being, or what colour they would be. Eventually we came up with a purplish colour, which was reflected on the actors and on all the practical parts on the set."

David Tattersall - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

Darth Maul stands ready for his next opponent.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: QUI-GON'S LAST STAND!

Cut off from Qui-Gon Jinn by a series of energy gate screens, Obi-Wan can only watch as his Jedi Master and friend fights on with skill, precision and inner strength against Darth Maul. But even Qui-Gon's experience and agility in fighting can be defeated by the raw power and savagery of the Dark Side...

"We developed the look of the energy doors, going from some of the concept art. We then use the Sabre (digital scanning technology) to design the energy doors and work out how they should open and close, the noise pattern, how much they should glow and the kind of energy that should emanate from them."

Pablo Helman - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

A series of frames from the early part of Qui-Gon's solo duel with Darth Maul.

Suddenly, Darth Maul starts to gain the upper hand...