Monday 27 March 2017

ROGUE ONE: DO, OR DIE TRYING...


Now firm allies and friends, Jyn and Cassian realise they and their small team of battle-hardened Rebel commandos have no choice but to go it alone in their mission to steal the Death Star plans, in this great build-up moment on Yavin IV, from ROGUE ONE, out now in the US on Digital Download, and Blu-ray from April 4th, 2017.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"


The Millennium Falcon has survived its battle with the TIE sentry ships, but there's damage to key points of its interior, and Threepio has been caught in the middle of it all, as usual. Also, as usual, he's blaming his poor droid compadre through thick and thin, Artoo, for any and all woeful predicaments!

This scene was originally planned as to being part of a sequence early on aboard the Rebel Blockade Runner after the corridor explosion they narrowly miss in the Rebel/Stormtrooper crossfire.

Anthony Daniels reflects on playing the role in the Classic Trilogy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUf6ZUJVYCk

Sunday 26 March 2017

ROGUE ONE: A BOND OF LOVE AND FREEDOM!


Brave and resilient to the end in the face of a years-long Imperial manhunt, Lyra Erso and daughter Jyn try to escape the clutches of Orson Krennic's newly arrived presence on Lah'mu, during the opening to ROGUE ONE.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends out a HAPPY UK MOTHER'S DAY!

'STAR WARS' AT 40: INTO THE TARGET SIGHTS!


The final sentry TIE fighter comes in for its attack run on the Falcon, and finally in Han Solo's dogged targeting sights, in the classic finale scene to the fast-paced space battle, topped by a spectacular final explosion courtesy of pyrotechnics whizz Joe Viskocil.

The lone TIE fighter being shot at ILM.
The separately filmed explosion added to the final cut.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: GOODBYE, JOE VISKOCIL...

Saturday 25 March 2017

ROGUE ONE: SCALING THE VAULT!


Leaping onto the vault pillar, from within the Imperial Communications Base on Scarif, Jyn and Cassian scale the heights to retrieve the Death Star data schematics, codenamed Stardust, in this tense scene from ROGUE ONE, out now on US digital download, and Blu-ray from April 4th, 2017.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Blu-Ray Trailer (2016) | Movieclips Trailers - YouTube

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "I GOT HIM!"


It was make-or-break for a while in the battle between TIE fighters and our Millennium Falcon gunport heroes, but luck is finally shifting to the latter, as Luke destroys the first of the four TIE fighters in this classic moment.

'STAR WARS REBELS': THE 'ZERO HOUR' HAS ARRIVED!

Image: DISNEY XD UK.

Grand Admiral Thrawn has slowly, confidently, set his plans in motion against the Rebel Alliance- the renowned master strategist. The sieged world of Atollon is his board, and the Rebels and their bold Phoenix Squadron, led by Hera Syndulla, are the opposing force to be played and removed. But will there be victory for the Empire, or some kind of unexpected counter-move? With so much at stake, the end game should be an explosive one.

The one-hour season finale to STAR WARS REBELS Season Three, Zero Hour, arrives today (Saturday 25th July, 2017) on DISNEY XD US, and is coming soon to the UK channel.

Trailer: Star Wars Rebels: Zero Hour Trailer - YouTube

"This Is the Ultimate Showdown": Vanessa Marshall Talks Hera and Star Wars Rebels Season Three | StarWars.com

Friday 24 March 2017

EPISODE VII: THE MISFIT KILLERS!


On a far off, unknown world, the fallen from grace Kylo Ren and his band of unique and deadly acolytes - surely the weirdest and most visually intriguing group since the debut of the Classic Trilogy Bounty Hunters - finish their slaughter of Luke Skywalker's new Jedi Order, in this important flashback seen in THE FORCE AWAKENS, one of the last shots completed for the film in principal photography at Pinewood, circa September 2014.

Production art for Ren's followers.

More of this group is promised to be seen in EPISODE VIII, including a rumoured battle against Luke and Rey on Ahch-To, filmed on location in Ireland.

Changes Coming to the Kylo Ren Episode 8 Costume

Star Wars: Adam Driver Says Episode 8 Will Explore Kylo Ren's 'Humanity' and Terrorism - IGN

Star Wars 8 LEAK: Kylo Ren duel in The Last Jedi reveals Rey's father | Films | Entertainment | Express.co.uk

Rumor: Star Wars 8 To Reveal Crucial Moment From Kylo Ren's Backstory | moviepilot.com

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Three iconic locations rumoured to appear | The Independent

'STAR WARS' AT 40: CONTINUED ATTACK!


"Hear me baby, hold together..."

Worried words from Han Solo to his beloved vessel, as the Millennium Falcon continues to take a pounding from the TIE fighters, in another great effects moment. Note the red blast from the underbelly gun bottom right corner. The sound effect of the gun port firing as the TIEs zoom past would be added to one of the later Special Edition versions of the film.

ROGUE ONE: ROGUE'S GALLERY!


Relive the action, drama, and tragedy of ROGUE ONE, out now (24th March, 2017) on US digital download, before its territory Blu-ray release on April 4th.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on iTunes

ROGUE ONE Blu-Ray Trailer (2017) - YouTube

Latest news:

Star Wars Director Reveals the Secrets Behind Rogue One's Final Vader Scene - YouTube

'Rogue One' director on CGI actor controversy - YouTube

Rogue One - Darth Vader | official featurette (2017) - YouTube

'Star Wars' Artists Created 'Rogue One' Before There Was a Script | Inverse

See how a 'Star Wars' droid came to life in exclusive 'Rogue One' videos

https://www.inverse.com/article/29435-rogue-one-star-wars-death-troopers-ralph-mcquarrie-doug-chiang

Rogue One almost had a bonus Vader scene

http://ew.com/movies/2017/03/20/rogue-one-alternate-ending-revealed/

John Knoll Describes More 'Rogue One' Alternate Endings | The Star Wars Underworld

Rogue One: Jyn Erso's mother was a slain Jedi in early version

Rogue One's Bodhi Rook was once a madman engineer named Bokan

Rogue One director explains why the original ending didn't work and says Darth Vader's big scene was a late addition | GamesRadar+

Star Wars: Rogue One Producer Has Another Spinoff Idea

Thursday 23 March 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: ATTACKING THE FALCON!


"They're coming in too fast!"

Even with its ever angled deflector shields, the Millennium Falcon gets a laser pounding from the TIE fighters, in the above pilot's eye view shot that's as stunning today, especially on the big screen, as it was back in 1977.

Filming the scene with the overhead Dykstraflex camera in 1976 over the large Falcon model.
Ralph McQuarrie production painting.
TIE fighter pilot in cockpit, shot at Elstree in July 1976.

ROGUE ONE: THE GREEN DEATH!


Jedha has been targeted and now the power of the Death Star's primary weapon, even at reduced power, is unleashed- Kyber crystal generated energy speeding out from the space station, supervised by a pair of Imperial officers, played specially in ROGUE ONE by two unique cameo stars: THE LAST JEDI's writer/director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman!


Look out for more cameos and special saga related Easter Eggs dotted throughout the film, many revealed in the upcoming Blu-ray release of ROGUE ONE, available in the UK from April 10th, 2017.


Get it here: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Blu-ray Limited Edition Artwork Sleeve 2017: Amazon.co.uk: DVD & Blu-ray


Wednesday 22 March 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "HERE THEY COME!"


From the Falcon cockpit, Leia and Chewbacca give the first warning to Han and Luke in the above and below gun ports of the arrival of the four TIE fighter sentry ships, as the enemy attack begins...

Note the use of the back projection starfield - one of the rare moments that the technique made it into the finished film.


ROGUE ONE: "HOPE..."

The courage and destiny of a Princess has begun...

Today (22nd March, 2017), STAR WARS AFICIONADO was kindly invited by DISNEY UK to a special event look at all the pleasing extras accompanying the Blu-ray (and digital download) release of ROGUE ONE in this territory from April 10th, 2017. Though there's no deleted scenes to relish (presumably saved for a later release- fingers crossed!), there are plenty of deleted scene filming snippets to catch from across the movie's in-flux conception, along with a ten featurettes look at the production's inception, its key characters, and design. A notable and fascinating standout, The Princess & The Governor, shows the miraculous recreation of a classic young heroine and equally iconic villain from the saga in key sequences, and the genuine care and affection undertaken by both the ILM CGI team and the actors portraying/recreating Tarkin and young Leia in doing so (Guy Henry, particularly knowing how important it was to capture the aura of Peter Cushing yet also give his own performance, and the charming and very-similar-looking-to-Carrie Fisher Ingvild Deila), and to such striking effect. We'd seen behind the scenes footage of Henry as Tarkin earlier this year, now the Blu-ray presents the work that went into the filming of the finale Leia scenes with Deila (in costume and buns, her face covered with silver balls) at Pinewood in December 2015, and via the striving-for-the best ILM.

The lovely Ingvild, and an image from her acting portfolio. 

Rogue One Princess Leia scene: Stand-in Leia actress Ingvild Deila on playing Carrie Fisher - and how she found out about the role

'Rogue One': Leia Actress Ingvild Deila on Re-Creating 'Star Wars' Character | Hollywood Reporter

Here's What Princess Leia Looked Like in 'Rogue One' Before CGI | Inverse


ROGUE ONE on UK Blu-ray and DVD. Get it here: 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Blu-ray Limited Edition Artwork Sleeve 2017: Amazon.co.uk: DVD & Blu-ray

Amazon.co.uk: star wars rogue one dvd - DVD: DVD & Blu-ray

Tuesday 21 March 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "STAY SHARP..."


Our heroes are not out of the enemy woods yet, as the Falcon's sensors detect Imperial sentry ships fast approaching, with Han and Luke soon manning the quad guns ready for response. Cue John Williams superb build-up music...

Falcon targeting device graphics produced by Jay Teitzell.

ROGUE ONE: A COLLISION OF IMPERIALS!


The classic ILM effects shot from ROGUE ONE: the forced collision engineered by the Rebels between the two Imperial Star Destroyers above Scarif.


Find out some of the secrets behind the realisation of that classic scene, and other parts of the Battle of Scarif, here:

Rogue One: Visual effects revealed - BBC Click - YouTube

Behind the Magic: Creating the space battle for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - YouTube

Monday 20 March 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE..."


Gently putting his poncho over him, Princess Leia does her best to quietly console her new friend Luke Skywalker over the death of the legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi, in this lovely B/W image taken in the Falcon hold during Summer 1976 filming at Elstree.

ROGUE ONE: UP CLOSE AND BRUTAL!


On the beaches of Scarif, Jyn and Cassian's squad takes a blasting from approaching Imperial AT-ACT Walkers in this spectacular Maldives action scene filmed but ultimately deleted for ROGUE ONE. Note the wired camera tracking along the gritty and explosive close-up action.

Rogue One alternate ending revealed: A lifesaving escape

Gareth Edwards Explains Why We'll Probably Never See Those 'Rogue One' Alternate Scenes | Fandango

Rogue One director explains why the original ending didn't work and says Darth Vader's big scene was a late addition | GamesRadar+

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: DECIPHERING THE ORIGINAL SCARIF LAND BATTLE...

ROGUE ONE: THE NEW FACE OF THE REBELLION!


The nervous excitement and adrenaline rush of the first day of shooting, and the first day of shooting on a STAR WARS film no less, must surely have been in the mindset of Felicity Jones playing Jyn Erso, here captured by the camera on location in Jordan, for ROGUE ONE.

Sunday 19 March 2017

ROGUE ONE: DARTH VADER'S LOST SCENES...

The original force of STAR WARS evildom: Darth Vader, as seen in ROGUE ONE. 

It was always planned that the STAR WARS saga's most iconic and popular villain would appear in ROGUE ONE, but originally it was only to have been on the strategic periphery of the story telling, a shadowy but imposing third party in the battle of wills and power for control of the Death Star between Tarkin and Krennic. As in the finished film, Krennic, recognising Vader's power and his influence with the Empire, was eager to win over the Dark Lord's support, in scenes originally set on the space station in orbit around Scarif (its sanctuary moon and construction site) before being rewritten and transferred to the fan friendly environment of Vader's new home castle on Mustafar- a further welcome bridging between the Prequel and Classic trilogies, and incorporating the lead-in scene of Vader/Anakin Skywalker in the bacta tank. This was an environment originally likely to have been either within the Death Star or an Imperial Star Destroyer, before being relocated. Wearing prosthetics as Anakin was stuntman/actor Daniel Naprous, of which this scene must have been shot before the Summer 2016 reshoots, as it made the first teaser trailer for ROGUE ONE that debuted in April that year...

As seen in an early trailer, the reflection of Vader (Spencer Wilding) at the Death Star overview bridge.

Looking at computer graphics, presumably of Scarif (the original secret construction homeworld to the Death Star) or Jedha prior to its destruction?

Krennic has an audience with Vader (Spencer Wilding) at the location.

TOPPS card Rebel Missions Briefing Comic Strip 1 art no doubt based on this deleted scene.

The idea of a castle home for Vader had been conceived early on for ROGUE ONE (as recently confirmed by Art Director Doug Chiang), with an archive visitation of Ralph McQuarrie's original ideas for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK plus other Mustafar designs from EPISODE III, before the concept was seemingly dropped then reappeared as a filming reality for the 2016 re-shoots, with Ben Mendelsohn back as Krennic and stuntman Daniel Naprous now inhabiting the costume for this and the later in the reshoot schedule epic Vader confrontation on the Blockade Runner- a genius idea from the film's co-editor Jabez Olssen to director Gareth Edwards, and quickly given the go order for three days filming by Kathleen Kennedy, recognising its potential to wow audiences- Vader was always to have given chase to the departing Death Star plan custodians at the end of the film but never in such a proactive and murderous way.

ROGUE ONE’s Final Darth Vader Scene Was a Reshoot | Nerdist
Darth Vader's Big Rogue One Scene Barely Made It Into the Film
Star Wars' Kiwi editor Jabez Olssen goes Rogue to secure memorable Darth moment | Stuff.co.nz

On a Star Destroyer, Krennic confers with Vader (Spencer Wilding).

This might be from filming originally linked to Mustafar but the costume looks different to the one seen on film. Perhaps an alternate scene version or camera test of some kind.

As to other areas of the film, Vader was originally present to watch the earlier destruction of Jedha, alongside Tarkin at one point - a classic image that we wish had made the final cut. A scene set between Krennic and Vader on both the Death Star and on a Star Destroyer bridge was clearly shot, as seen in another early trailer where the former talks about the immeasurable power of the Death Star, clearly using it to further acquire Vader's support. This could be where James Earl Jones unused ADR reply dialogue regarding "power", mentioned by Gareth Edwards at CELEBRATION EUROPE 2016, was to have been used. The idea and tone of this scene was presumably shifted over to the Mustafar location in re-shoots.

Vader on the Star Destroyer bridge, most likely played here by Spencer Wilding.

Gareth Edwards watches shooting of a deleted Vader scene on a Star Destroyer bridge, possibly linked to the film's original ending.

The Vader suit, first worn in the original filming period by actor/stuntman Spencer Wilding, and later in the re-shoots by Naprous, was not from the Lucasfilm Archives but fan built- camera tested by Gareth Edwards and his crew on one of the Starkiller Base sets during production of THE FORCE AWAKENS. Original sculptor Brian Muir returned to create the old/new helmet that would replicate Vader's facial appearance in A New Hope, whilst the overall final appearance of the character was checked over by his original costume designer, John Mollo. For reasons unknown, however, it was decided that Vader's appearance in ROGUE ONE in its final iteration would not fully adhere to the 1977 film's continuity- his inner cloak wrappings not being displayed outside the shoulder armour.

Star Wars Director Reveals the Secrets Behind Rogue One's Final Vader Scene - YouTube

Rogue One Director Admits Filming Darth Vader's Scenes Was Scary

Rogue One almost had a bonus Vader scene

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: KRENNIC'S LOST SCENES...

'STAR WARS' AT 40: DEATH STAR DEPARTURE!


With Obi-Wan Kenobi's mission to deactivate the tractor beam a success, the Millennium Falcon and its occupants make their swift getaway from the Death Star, in this lovely and detailed effects shot, showing what looks like the night side of the battle station.

It's hard to believe now, but, had Twentieth Century Fox execs had their way (having been so unhappy in funding the film in the first place), the rescue of the Princess at this stage in the storytelling would have been the end of the film, with no finale audience-satisfying space/trench battle!

EPISODE VIII: DEVELOPING HEROES...

Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.

They made a truly spectacular and special 2015 debut with THE FORCE AWAKENS, now its trio of stars in Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac are surely looking forward to revealing where their characters go next with THE LAST JEDI, of which the first teaser trailer will be tantalizingly revealed at the US CELEBRATION event next month.

Latest EPISODE VIII news:

'The Last Jedi' Footage Screened for Disney Shareholders | The Star Wars Underworld

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi: Mark Hamill speaks! We now know the three little words Luke Skywalker first says to Daisy Ridley's character Rey

Exclusive: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Footage Description

Frank Oz on the Legacy of Jim Henson’s Muppets | Variety

Star Wars 8: Han Solo’s funeral in leaked The Last Jedi set photo | Films | Entertainment | Express.co.uk

John Boyega teases 'frustrating' 'Star Wars 8' scenes - NME

‘Star Wars Episode 8’ Rumors: New Book Hints Snoke Is From The Unknown Regions

Star Wars: The Last Jedi teases new storyline and cameo details | The Independent

Rumor: The State of the Galaxy in 'The Last Jedi' | The Star Wars Underworld

Rumor: Captain Phasma's New Weapon in 'The Last Jedi' | The Star Wars Underworld

Saturday 18 March 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: DOCKING BAY BATTLE!


Hearing Luke's shocked cry, the five Stormtroopers guarding the hangar soon turn to face their escaping opponents, as a short but memorable battle ensues before our heroes- including Luke aided by the mysterious voice of Obi-Wan - depart the Death Star at full speed.


According to the daily filming report, the production's regular stuntman Reg Harding was the first Stormtrooper to be hit by Luke's blaster, falling down the shaft onto protective bags. Peter Diamond also played a Stormtrooper for filming on the 28th May, whilst Second Unit handled material on June 1st, 1976, which also included stuntman Colin Skeaping.

Dave Prowse played Darth Vader for this sequence, though the insert shot of his treading on Obi-Wan's cloak was captured via Second Unit with Moray Bush (later to become Dengar in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK) apparently in the Dark Lord's costume lower half. On screen in a distant shot, as Vader calls for reinforcements, his lightsaber was never red rotoscope animated in the original theatrical version, though this was later revised for the 2004 DVD release of the film's Special Edition.

Below are various outtake screen grabs captured from several angles, presumably from the Second Unit filming.

Alternate angle 1.








Alternate angle 2.