"STAR WARS IN CONCERT" WITH JOHN WILLIAMS!

The menace of Vader looms large at the Hollywood Bowl. Images: Curtis Reynolds.

Good friend to AFICIONADO Curtis Reynolds sent me these great pics from Saturday's STAR WARS IN CONCERT event at the world famous Hollywood Bowl. A great time was had by all but no one expected the much welcome appearance at the end of the concert by the saga's legendary composer John Williams (who was in the audience enjoying the show) who made an apparance on stage, introduced by Anthony Daniels, and conducted the orchestra with an encore performance of THE IMPERIAL MARCH. To say the in-departure audience rushed back to their seats to hear it would be an understatement!

What a magical evening!

UPDATE: 6/6/2010: THEFORCE.NET have footage of Williams at the concert here:TheForce.Net - Latest News - John Williams Conducts SW In Concert

Williams enjoys his special appearance.

And gets a terrific response from the fans.

Lightsabers proudly held high in the audience!

The light show continues...

CLASSIC IMAGE: DUEL AGAINST DARKNESS!

The Sith threat to the Galaxy now confirmed and out in the open, fearless and brave Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn, though cut off from his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, continues to take the fight to the savage creature, deep within the bowels of the power complex of the City of Theed. But Darth Maul will soon prove a force with the Dark Side too powerful for even this noble hero to contain, in this terrific action sequence from EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE which we can't wait to see in 3-D...

VIC ARMSTRONG TALKS TO SKY MOVIES

Legendary stuntman and film-maker Vic Armstrong. Image: SKY

Legendary INDY Stuntman/co-ordinator and Director Vic Armstrong talks to SKY MOVIES about his career, some of the movies he's worked on (including the upcoming SPIDER-MAN movie), the amazing directors he's been involved with, and, of course, his excellent new book: THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST STUNTMAN (available from TITAN BOOKS).

Check out the links here (note: some of these may not play outside the UK):

35mm: Vic Armstrong, stuntman extraordinaire - Sky Movies HD
Vic Armstrong on James Cameron - Sky Movies HD
Vic Armstrong on Martin Scorsese - Sky Movies HD

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: IMPERIAL MATTE!

One of ILM's distinguished Matte artists during 1982/83 post-production of RETURN OF THE JEDI makes some last minute work to the Death Star docking bay long shot showing the now parked Imperial Shuttle escorting Darth Vader.

SATURDAY NIGHT LEIA!

As part of their SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 70's weekend, SKY ARTS Channel One HD in the UK are showing tomorrow night (Sunday) at 9.10pm the famous 1978 Carrie Fisher edition (originally airing in the US, I believe, a week prior to another STAR WARS comedy event: THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL!), which saw her in character as Princess Leia for several classic sequences/sketches (including her opening audience monologue pictured above) with the likes of comedy greats like Bill Murray and the late Gilda Radner.

Though it's been commercially available on Region One DVD as part of an expensive series box set, it will finally be nice to see the programme in the best quality possible on regular TV, and, if anyone out there can correct me on this please get in touch, I don't recall that episode actually being shown by the UK's ITV channel when it had seventies repeats very late at night in the early eighties...

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 3: THE SANDSTORM

This has to be the most famous and most desired deleted sequence shot for RETURN OF THE JEDI that fans worldwide want to see-in fact, this scene was the first sequence captured on film for the movie in January 1982 and one of the most difficult to realise at ELSTREE studio, as the STAR WARS actors, braving unfriendly conditions, were re-united for the first time in three years for their final Classic Trilogy movie.

For more thoughts on the famous sequence, head here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: SANDSTORM

GOODBYE, KAZUHIKO SANO...

From last night up until mid-afternoon today my ISP was on the blink, so I've only just found out the sad news that 1983 RETURN OF THE JEDI poster illustrator/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC painter Kazuhiko Sano has passed away. His US poster work for JEDI (above) was a terrific composition and captured all the vital ingredients that would make this particular STAR WARS film -the spectacular conclusion of the saga-so popular both then and now...

He was also the talent behind one of the 1984 EWOK ADVENTURE posters, as well as numerous other STAR WARS related contribution pieces, like his work on the TOPPS CARDS MASTER VISIONS series from 1995.

In honour of Mister Sano's work, I think it would be great if LUCASFILM could perhaps put on their STARWARS.COM site some of his prior, and much liked in 1982/83 by Lucas, unseen art concepts for JEDI-at least five were done in all (B/W)- before the final poster was created, approved and released.

Our condolences to Mister Sano's friends and family. As a person and for his talents he will be greatly missed. The Force will be with him...always!

TRAILER: GEORGE LUCAS STRIKES BACK

Lucas shot first in the trailer for GEORGE LUCAS STRIKES BACK!

For all-round STAR WARS fans who like a good laugh (like me), and all those people who don't like the Prequels (especially those that think that some major league conspiracy was orchestrated during their making), enjoy this trailer from film-makers Bridge Stuart and Mike Litzenberg:

YouTube - George Lucas Strikes Back {HD Trailer}

CLASSIC RAIDERS: INDY'S CELEBRATION!

Time goes so fast when you're having fun! Hard to believe, but it's INDIANA JONES birthday this year-celebrating 30 years of the superb RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. In celebration, every week or so we'll be putting up a classic image from the pioneering action adventure film-its cast, characters and breathtaking stunts.... so enjoy!

First up is the classic poster art in the UK by famous film poster illustrator Amsel, who brilliantly captures Harrison Ford at his best as Indy! The image was also used on the cover of the original UK paperback adaptation, too.

American RAIDERS fans look out for the special screening of a new digitally restored print by OSCARS.ORG on Friday June 17th at 7.30pm with a guest talk from Frank Marshall, Ben Burtt and others...  Here's the link:"Raiders of the Lost Ark" 30th Anniversary Screening | Events Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

CLASSIC IMAGE: A SPIRITED TEACHER

On the jungle world of Dagobah, the in-exile Jedi Master Yoda begins his training of the boy with no patience, Luke Skywalker.

A triumph of effects, puppetry and acting by the talented Frank Oz, check out this link to a great behind the scenes feature, full of rare images, on the little green Jedi's practical on-set realisation, from the British puppeteer who assisted Oz on EMPIRE (as well as being an important part of Jabba the Hutt in JEDI), Dave Barclay: Dave Barclay