Monday, 15 August 2022

EPISODE VIII: THE ALLEGIANCE FACTOR!

Kylo Ren will kneel twice to his Master, before a new awakening dawns during The Last Jedi...

With the destruction of Starkiller Base under his watch, as well as the discovery and escape of the Jedi-to-be Rey, who'd also leave him near-critically injured in their lightsaber duelling, Kylo Ren is angrier than ever to destroy the Resistance. But worse degradation of the most personal and psychologically scathing kind is soon to come from Ren's inspiration in evil, Supreme Leader Snoke, in a tense, well written scene between the pair during The Last Jedi.

"Take off that ridiculous mask..."


Saturday, 13 August 2022

OUT THIS MONTH: 'THE PRINCESS AND THE SCOUNDREL'....

All seems (un)well in love and war for our beloved heroes in the new novel, The Princess and the Scoundrel.

Back to pen an all-new franchise adventure, Beth Revis delivers The Princess and the Scoundrel, out in UK hardback from Del Rey this August 16th, 2022. It's a competent enough tale for all fans of Han Solo and Princess Leia's ever complex relationship after the epic events of Return of the Jedi. But as for the controversially shameless and deliberate inclusion by Disney of an intergalactic 'love boat'-esque space liner into the story (during a busy-enough intergalactic war timeline), at a convenient time when the company is about to unveil its very own real-life Star Wars-themed cruise liner to the worldwide public...? Well, that's a heated fan debate best left for another time...

AFICIONADO RATING: Not one of the great Star Wars novels then, but certainly not one of the bad ones, either. The Han/Leia characterisations are spot on but the boring technobabble-induced finale should be firmly left instead to the storytelling realms of the modern Star Trek series. 3 out of 5.

Official release synopsis:

The Death Star is destroyed. Darth Vader is dead. The Empire is desolated. But on the forest moon of Endor, amongst the chaos of a changing galaxy, time stands still for a princess and her scoundrel.


After being frozen in carbonite, then risking everything for the Rebellion, Han is eager to stop living his life for other people. He and Leia have earned their future together, a thousand times over. And when he proposes to Leia, it's the first time in a long time he's had a good feeling about this. For Leia, a lifetime of fighting doesn't truly seem over. There is work still to do, penance to pay for the dark secret she now knows runs through her veins. Her brother, Luke, is offering her that chance -- one that comes with family and the promise of the Force. But when Han asks her to marry him, Leia finds her answer immediately on her lips . . . Yes.


But 
happily ever after doesn't come easily. As soon as Han and Leia depart their idyllic ceremony on Endor for their honeymoon, they find themselves on the grandest and most glamorous stage of all: the Halcyon, a luxury vessel on a very public journey to the most wondrous worlds in the galaxy. Their marriage, and the peace and prosperity it represents, is a lightning rod for everyone in the galaxy -- including Imperial remnants still clinging to power.

Facing their most desperate hour, the soldiers of the Empire have dispersed across the galaxy, retrenching on isolated worlds vulnerable to their influence. As the 
Halcyon travels from world to world, one thing becomes abundantly clear: The war is not over. But as danger draws closer, Han and Leia find that they fight their best battles not alone but as husband and wife.

The wedding of Han and Leia finally revealed in novel form!

Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel - Excerpt | StarWars.com

'Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel': Exclusive excerpt

https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-the-princess-and-the-scoundrel-excerpt-2

New Star Wars book reveals a pivotal moment in Han and Leia’s romance (Exclusive)

A detailed look at Leia's wedding gown:

Leia's Star Wars Wedding Dress Revealed in Book - Variety

Get The Princess and the Scoundrel here:

Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel: Amazon.co.uk: Revis, Beth: 9781529196085: Books

In related vein:

Exclusive look at Han and Leia's Star Wars wedding on Endor | EW.com

Wednesday, 10 August 2022

ROGUE ONE: AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS!


The legendary Battle of Scarif continues in deep space, of which our Rebel heroes in their small fleet are locked in do-or-die combat against the Empire's ever-expanding forces, in a fortitude of bravery and skill that will determine the fate of the galaxy. Another great effects shot from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Monday, 8 August 2022

CLASSIC STRUZAN: REVEALING 'THE FORCE AWAKENS'...


Any Star Wars art from the legendary Drew Struzan is a welcome visual treat, and even better when its a piece rarely seen, like this great 'B/W comprehensive' showcasing the heroes and villains of The Force Awakens, which recently appeared on the artist's FB page.

Saturday, 6 August 2022

CLASSIC INDY: GETTING THE BIGGER PICTURE!


At Elstree Studios, Steven Spielberg, ever the keen visualist, sprawls across the planned Tunisian location diorama for the Nazi desert base and prepares his future directorial shot. A now-classic image behind the scenes image from Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981.

Thursday, 4 August 2022

A(N UNCIVILIZED) DIRECT HIT!


Though on the precipice of death, the ever resourceful Obi-Wan Kenobi finally manages to kill the notoriously evil cyborg General Grievous with some well placed blaster bolts, in the memorable Utapau duel from EPISODE III.

Gary Oldman Says He Was Once Cast As General Grievous In 'Star Wars'

Tuesday, 2 August 2022

GENERATION REBELLION! THE LATEST 'STAR WARS - ANDOR' TRAILER IS HERE!


Its launch may now have been delayed until September 21st, but the striking and exciting new trailer for the galaxy-spanning spy/action thriller Andor, coming exclusively to Disney+ with a three episode release debut, makes it worth the wait, especially with the return of Forrest Whitaker as renegade Rebel leader Saw Gerrera, and more on the important role that Stellan Skaarsgard will be playing in the show's first season, mixing senatorial duties with fighting the Empire...


Fighting diplomatically from the Imperial Senate: Mon Mothma.


CLASSIC IMAGE: TWILIGHT OF A JEDI MASTER...


He's come back to fulfil his promise to Yoda in completing his training, but the old Jedi Master is sadly weak and dying, but not before he confirms the shocking revelation of Luke's parentage, in a classic and sad moment from Return of the Jedi.

Frank Oz interview:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/aug/30/frank-oz-on-life-as-fozzie-bear-miss-piggy-and-yoda-id-love-to-do-the-muppets-again-but-disney-doesnt-want-me?fbclid=IwAR232TURohcMvAImn9tgiDE8-F_NC3NjU49qnFCmpsPgzpL3rbCZuxQC07Q

Friday, 29 July 2022

'ATTACK' AT 20: THE LOVERS OF NABOO...

Two posed publicity images of the young lovers, especially shot to capture the interest of the Italian SW fan/audience market.

Their secret arrival on Naboo has started off in a tense fashion, but the love that Jedi bodyguard Anakin has for Padme, bordering on obsession, is soon declared to the young senator, whose response to him is at first wary, then enjoying, of the boy's company whilst she is under his keen protection. Soon enough, their building liaison will become dangerous...

George Lucas was thrilled by the on-screen pairing of Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman- two beautiful young people being filmed at an equally beautiful and romantic location in Sasson San Martin/Lake Como, Italy during September 2002, heightened further in EPISODE II's post production by some exotic effects work by ILM.




At the Varykino safe house.

Filming the early romance scenes.

Hayden takes a break in this continuity polaroid taken during filming at Lake Como.

Anakin and Padme share a kiss.




Thursday, 28 July 2022

NOW AIRING ON DISNEY+: 'LIGHT AND MAGIC'


Full of terrific interviews and superb HD remastered behind the scenes/deleted footage you truly won't want to miss, the Disney+ exclusive six-part documentary series charting the rise and rise of ILM, from Lawrence Kasdan and the Imagine team, is now here: Light and Magic.