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March 31 DARTH Maul actor Ray Park is back from Thailand and set to appear at Memorabilia 2000, at Sandown Park, UK on April 1-2, his official site's latest newsletter said.
As a special offer to newsletter subscribers, there are also some limited edition signed Darth Maul items available for sale.
STAR Wars publisher Dorling Kindersley has been sold to Pearson for £311million, according to Yahoo. DK made too many Star Wars books last year and it fell into trouble.
SEVERAL new announcements from the official site. There's a sketch picture of a Rebel Cruiser, a memory about an author first going to see ILM and an interesting answer about what digital advances may benefit the next Star Wars film.
The site said: "Creating complex photo-realistic environments, like in the Podrace, require the creation of very detailed textured geometry and could still benefit from better techniques, from the interactive creation, layout, lighting and rendering of realistic virtual worlds, including the simulation of natural elements such as clouds, water, and plants, among other things."
"The research is also very hot in the field of character animation, where the ultimate goal is to be able to perfect the look and the performance of a wide range of CG characters, from furry animals, to aliens, to human beings."
March 30 IN a bizarre experiment, locusts have been forced to watch battle scenes from Star Wars to help scientists at Newcastle University, England, develop a new collision avoidance system for cars, reports PA.
The research was carried out so scientists could mimic part of the locusts' brains that stops them hitting things when they fly.
Normal collision avoidance systems rely on radar or infrared detectors and need heavy duty computer processing. However Locusts do the same job using a large neuron behind each of their compound eyes called the lobular giant movement detector, or LGMD.
RAY Park - Darth Maul - is starring in The X-Men soon. AICN has details of the latest trailer to be launched to promote the movie.
MOBSHOP seem to be offering The Phantom Menace on video for just $5.95. It's limited to 2,000 and you do have to sign up, but on the face of it it seems to be a good offer.
HALEY Joel Osment was once in line for the role of Anakin in The Phantom Menace, according to the Washington Post. TheForce.net reports that Haley, star of The Sixth Sense auditioned for the part but didn't get called back.
WITH days to go before the video release of The Phantom Menace, TV adverts have started being played in various countries. TheForce.Net has an interesting report on what the Making Of.. video will include, although if you're in Britain you won't find it on shop shelves.
It said: "The behind-the-scenes feature is roughly 15 minutes long, and it's before the movie. There are interviews with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Doug Chiang, John Knoll, Dennis Muren, and Rob Coleman. The only cast member interviewed is Liam Neeson, who talks about seeing the ILM crew on the set, having no idea what they were doing, not wanting to know what they were doing, but just knowing they were very important to the film."
THE battles over Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back may have looked impressive, but they were some of the hardest to create. The official site's classic moment today explains how traditional battles were filmed in the sky against black backgrounds, which were more forgiving, but these were against white backgrounds, that showed up every last wire.
March 29 JAMES Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vadar, has helped autistic 12-year-old Robert Jones, GoErie.com reports.
Robert's class in America was learning to write letters and was told to pick a celebrity to write to - and Robert picked James Earl Jones. The actor sent some photos back and Robert ran to the front of the class grabbed them and showed the others, totally out of character.
This shocked his teacher, who was
used to seeing him sit with his head in his hands and staring at a wall.
Robert's framed picture hangs in the living room at his house and he is making excellent
progress.
March 28 LOOKS like Boba Fett and Bossk may be less of a mystery very soon. In Chronicle Books' Masterpiece Edition, due out in November, more will also be known about several Aurra Sing, a bounty hunter seen briefly in Episode I.
An accompanying hardcover book, written by Ryder Windham and Josh Ling, will also tell more about Dengar, Bossk, Zuckuss, 4-LOM, IG-88 and Mr Fett himself.
THERE'S a large feature on the official site about the making of the creatures for The Phantom Menace. From Sebulba to Boss Nass, the site details everything from the wiry computer graphics that initially make the figure to the work behind making their clothes and skin look real.
THEFORCE.NET reports that stores are already selling The Phantom Menace on video. Although it is out next week, it seems some stores have already recieved their and, whether deliberately or not, are letting them go.
AS predicted, The Matrix outshone The Phantom Menace in the Oscars' ceremony. It picked up five golden gongs, whereas the Star Wars film got none.
The Phantom Menace did have more special effects than any other film ever made, but The Matrix's stylish and unique scenes convinced the judges.
What was surprising though was that composer John Williams did not get nominated for his work, and even more strangely that the film did not get a shot at the best costume section.
March 27 LOOKS like we'll be seeing Yoda prove why he's the Jedi Master in Episode II. The Daily Radar quotes from the latest SW Insider and says Lucas was quoted as saying: "I was just discussing this with [puppeteer] Frank Oz about four days ago, right before I came to France. And [Yoda] will definitely get a chance to move around and fight in one of the next two films. Yoda will show why he's called the Master."
However it added that Terence Stamp, who played Chancellor Valorum, will not be returning.
Other rumours floating around is that Jar Jar will have a ladyfriend called Mesa (as in "Mee-sa hungry") and to replace Maul there will be a new lord called Darth Legion and a Sith Witch.
The Radar added: "Sources over at Twentieth Century Fox have told your Radar Reporter that Lucas isn't ready to even think about going into production yet. Additionally, there are rumors floating around that the perfection-oriented Lucas wants to push the release date for Episode II back to 2003."
March 26 THE Daily Radar has chipped in with its vote for the best visual effects Oscar. Pitting The Phantom Menace against The Matrix, its bet is with Keanu Reeves' movie.
It said: "While junkyard alien Watto and drag race scum Sebulba convey vivid performances and a convincing sense of physicality, that is not always true for other CG critters.
"The Academy traditionally rewards films that leave a lasting mark on the industry, which makes The Matrix a sure bet. To quote The Matrix's Agent Smith, "This is our time."
AHEAD of the Oscars themselves, the Golden Raspberry Foundation has handed out its awards for the worst movies of last year. And it will come as no surprise to learn that Will Smith's Wild Wild West was voted Worst Picture.
The Phantom Menace received one raspberry for Jar Jar Binks in the worst supporting actor category. Other awards of note were worst actress - Heather Donahue for The Blair Witch Project, Sly Stallone as worst actor of the century and Madonna as worst actress of the century.
But it was Wild Wild West that scooped the honours, getting five in total.
EXCELLENT news for fans in the UK. A new official Star Wars fan club is to be launched - that will give members the Making Of... Video.
At the moment the only way UK fans could get the video is to buy it from America or Canada, as part of the collector's version of The Phantom Menace video.
But now you can join the new club and get it in October, plus a welcome pack that contains an exclusive magazine, a membership card that gives ten per cent off in certain Forbidden Planet stores, two full colour A3 art prints and a merchandise catalogue.
Cost is £20 a year, worth it just for the video alone. Call 01858 433 169 and quote SWFC2 as a reference. There was an official club a year or so back but it folded, so let's hope this one is more successful.
OTHER things of interest in the new official magazine in the UK are more details on Jedi Power Battles, to be released in the spring.
One or two players will be able to do battle
against the Sith and the Trade Federation in ten levels. "Jedi Power Battles is a
fast, action, arcade-style game inspired by classic LucasArts titles such as Super Star
Wars," said LucasArts Joel Dreskin.
ELSEWHERE there is a great preview of the Art of Star Wars exhibition to be held at the Barbican Centre in London next month. More than 200 props and items will be there, including Anakin's Podracer and the Millennium Falcon.
THE new magazine also has an interview with Peter Mayhew, alias Chewbacca, and features on Episode I creatures, Mara Jade and the guy behind Nien Nunb.
March 25 A TOWN in Suffolk is gearing up for its first sci-fi convention. Hadleigh is to host the event on April 23 at its town hall.
Guests booked are Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Anneke Wills (Polly, Dr Who), Zeinia Merton (Space 1999) and Michael Billington (UFO). Tickets are £5 in advance from various outlets including Keith Avis newsagents in Hadleigh and Suffolk Sci-fi in Ipswich. A Dalek, Tardis and Cyberman from Dr Who will also be present.
March 24 WORK is still continuing on the script for Episode II, according to the latest Homing Beacon from the official site. It seems the basic story and characters have been developed and many of the minor parts and dialogue is being worked on.
FOR anyone who's been on another planet recently, the Oscars ceremony hits Hollywood on Sunday, and The Phantom Menace is up for three of the golden awards, now they've been found.
It's in the best Sound, Sound Editing and Visual Effects categories, although curiously not best soundtrack or best costumes. All will be reveale soon.
INTERESTING thoughts about the demise of Qui-Gonn. The Daily Radar reports that Qui-Gonn may not have had the necessary training required to vanish after death, hence why Obi-Wan never heard from him in the original trilogy.
It adds: "Lucas explains that Obi-Wan was able to keep his identity after being killed because he was at one with the Force. The website further lists a note from Lucas' annotated screenplay, which says that besides looking out for Luke on Tatooine, Obi-Wan was also going through a learning process, so he could learn to keep his identity upon his demise."
The site also summises that Christopher Kennedy Masterson from Malcolm in the Middle, is going to be the next Anakin. It claims their legal team is getting ready for an onslaught of licensing offers. Look out for an announcement just after the video release.
March 23 WHILE the start of April sees the launch of The Phantom Menace on video, it also sees the launch of the new Jedi Power Battles game, in the week commencing April 4.
There's a special preview video at LucasArts or the official site. The general blurb goes: "Wield the power of the Force and a trusty Jedi lightsaber in the new PlayStation game - JEDI POWER BATTLES, coming from LucasArts the week of April 4.
"Ward off legions of battle droids, destroyer droids, assassins and other creatures from the Star Wars: Episode I worlds. But be wary - you never know which droid army or massive beast lurks around the next corner."
Pre-order from LucasArts and you receive a pewter figure.
March 22 FOR any Star Trek fans there's bad news, Voyager is to face its final frontier next year on the UPN network. But there is still hope as TV chiefs are already in talks to find another show to follow on, although they aren't saying what that will be yet.
LIAM Neeson has turned down an honour from his home town in Ireland. Neeson has previously hit out at the political divisions in the province and although he was offered the freedom of Ballymeena by the city council he has said it would be "inappropriate".
Neeson, 48, angered some residents by saying he felt a second class citizen as a Catholic growing up there and he stayed at home when Protestants took to the streets for a parade.
The Democratic Unionist Party accused Neeson, 48, of criticising the town and said their own Rev Ian Paisley should have got the honour instead.
THERE'S several official updates today. A whole range of ships and vehicles from Episode I are discussed here.
A NEW card set is to be released by Decipher, makers of the Young Jedi collection. The Battle of Naboo extension set will be hitting the shelves on April 5.
The site said: "The Battle of Naboo set not only features cards based on the final act of Episode I, but also unveils a new type of card - an "Effect" - which will make long-time players rethink some of their old tactics. Also, the set contains Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber, which allows the Sith Lord to be used for maximum impact."
TODAY'S classic moment from Star Wars features the reasoning behind Han's Endor costume. Harrison Ford suggested a duster, and they went along with it. Luke and Leia's helmets were modelled on old World Wat Two hats.
THEFORCE.NET has an interesting new poll, where would you most like to see in Episode II. You can choose from Alderaan, Kashyyk, home of the wookies, Corellia, home of Han, or others. My vote, and probably the most likely to come true, goes to the ill-fated Alderaan.
March 20 THERE'S one main addition to the official site, a reminder about the superb video clips on display. You can choose from Anatomy of a Dewback through to the new Jedi Power video.
FANS of sci-fi classic Dr Who had a treat at the weekend when the longest serving doctor, Tom Baker, appeared on This is Your Life on BBC1.
USA Today has revealed that Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm and Fox Home Video are giving away a vacation worthy of a Jedi Knight: a trip to the Episode II film set.
It said: "The next chapter of the Star Wars saga will be filmed in Australia, Tunisia and Paris for an anticipated spring 2002 release. Cartoon Network will air a toll-free number for a chance at winning the family trip to a galaxy far, far away."
Sounds like a dream trip, don't remember Paris being mentioned as a location before though...
March 19 NOT long to go before The Phantom Menace gets released on video, and it's worth mentioning that many video shops will be having a special midnight opening on the night of April 2 to mark the occasion. In England the place to be will be HMV at London's Trocadero, where there will be special effects and apparantly special guests.
SFX Magazine in the UK has some special shots taken during the filming of Star Wars in 1976. They were taken by a Robert Carlyle, not the Bond guy, and Counting Down has posted several of them here.
March 18 SIR Paul McCartney is to do battle with The Phantom Menace in the first ever Classical Brit Awards. Sir Paul's classical CD is up against The Phantom Menace Soundtrack in one of the main categories.
MOVIE-GOERS in Britain are being given the chance to see Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse in a different light. Before he donned his black cape to become the baddest man in the galaxy, he appeared in Stanley Kubrick's acclaimed film A Clockwork Orange.
Followng
Kubrick's death the film has been re-released so fans can see Dave in the film for the
first time in 25 years.
MORE news, and sounds, from the forthcoming Force Commander game. Several sites have reported that the Daily Radar has an interview with Peter McConnell, the man behind the game's music.
In an interesting interview he says: "The response so far has been really great, but I was a little nervous at first. I was afraid that some Star Wars fans might hear it and wonder, "What is this, the disco version of John Williams that came out in '77?" I think our stuff is a little less tasteless than that. At least, I hope (laughs)."
THE official site has shown a sense of humour with its Episode II link. Check it out here. There's a similar type of thing at the Episode III equivilant.
March 17 THERE'S now another reason to own the new games console Dreamcast - Star Wars Racer is available on it from today. The fast-moving podracer game should look stunning on the high-performance machine.
THE Daily Mirror in the UK had a mock Darth Vader in its paper today. It superimposed the face of a City boss onto a picture of Vader, with the headline The Empire Strikes Back. It was a reference to major companies responding to the threat of new and lucrative dot.com firms.
SEEMS The Phantom Menace may not get an Oscar this year - but it might not be alone after a batch of the golden gong were stolen. The Oscars were being taken from Chicago to Hollywood when they went missing. It's not known how many of the gongs are gone, but it is thought it may be up to all 54 of them.
Luckily none were inscribed so Ain't It Cool News won't be getting another exclusive.
THERE'S a good new snapshot on the official site of a group of lightsabers that were just hanging around in Leavesdon Studios, near London, during the making of TPM.
THE official site also has a new poll - should a major character have died at the end of Jedi? Personally I think enough dropped off, Yoda, Jabba, Vader, Palpatine, not sure who else they could've got rid of.
LUCASARTS is to partner with Verant Interactive and Sony Online Entertainment to create the first massively multiplayer Star Wars online role-playing game.
Expected to come out next year, the game will immerse thousands of game players into the classic Star Wars universe. Featuring a unique combination of combat, specialized missions, and daring quests, the Star Wars online game will be developed by Verant, distributed and sold at retail by LucasArts, and available for play exclusively online at The Station@sony.com
A WHOLE new range of toys were today unveiled to Japanese collectors at the Tokyo Toy Show. Many of these items are only available in Japan, making them a rare treat for North American collectors.
The Tokyo Toy Show runs until March 19 at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center.
STAR Wars author Steve Sansweet may seem to know everything there is to know about things Lucas, but even he had a question for the official site...
"Q: Is there a map of the Star Wars galaxy? A: There could never be one map that would encompass such a vast galaxy in its entirety. But the first true maps of the galaxy appeared in the LucasArts productions, Star Wars: Behind the Magic and the Episode I Insider’s Guide. These were the basis of a print map that is in the new R A Salvatore novel Vector Prime.
March 15 THE official site has an interesting update about Emperor Palpatine. Seems that he was originally destined to be in a Lava Cave underground, rather than on the oppulant Corruscant.
March 14 EMPIRE film magazine this month features the upcoming Art of Star Wars exhibtion in London, which starts next month. There's a good pic of Anakin's podracer and more info here. Call 020 7638 8891 to book tickets.
THE latest edition of Star Wars Insider is out. It features some new information about the hidden jokes, hidden shots and cameos in The Phantom Menace.
It also offers info on how to take a road journey to discover the sites of Star Wars, and says there is some 'surprising' information about Yoda. If anyone knows get in touch.
March 13 THE Internet Movie Database has some surprising stats about Star Wars fans. Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back are most popular with males aged 18-29. ROTJ is most popular with boys under 18, but TPM is apparantly most popular with girls under 18, according to them anyway.
Females actually rated it equal or higher than men in every age group except 45+. Of course, this is anything but official and the reason can be summed up in two words. Ewan McGregor.
March 12 SOUTH Park and Yoda? Not an obvious combination but in a recent episode of the animation series, Mr Hanky quoted a famous Yoda. Mr. Hanky the 'Christmas poo' was dying in the last episode and he was lying on the ground and Kyle was standing next to him when Mr. Hanky said: "K - yle, come closer, closer. Kyle...there is another...Sky - Wal -ker"
March 11 CHECK out an excellent new teaser on the official site for the new Jedi |Power Battles game coming out next month. It features Mace Windu and co kicking some serious butt in a superb trailer for the real thing. Click here to download it.
LOOKS like we may not know who's going to be the new Anakin for a couple more months, according to George Lucas. When asked by Entertainment Tonight in America: "Wen will the fans know who Anakin is?" he replied: "Probably in a couple months, I still have a lot of people to see."
But he's said that before, keep an eye out for news about the time of the video release in early April, that would seem a logical time to reveal the name.
March 10 WILL Smith as Han Solo? That was the surprising verdict from fans who took part in an official poll which asked who they would cast as Han if Star Wars was shot now. Will got 34 per cent, while George Clooney and Matt LeBlanc of Friends both got 33 per cent.
THE official site's latest homing beacon has been sent out. It doesn't provide much new, apart from plugging the chance to have your very own Star Wars web site.
ONE of the most recognisable features of The Phantom Menace was the poster which accompanied it. For probably the first time, this movie poster was unchanged in the 60 countries which screened the film. The official site has an excellent feature on how that poster came to be and what went into it.
THERE'S plenty of new comics coming out this June from Dark Horse Comics. Issue 19 continues with a four-issue story called Twilight. It introduces Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos, who has lost his memory.
The official site added: "Now collected in a trade paperback is Star Wars: Jedi Academy - Leviathan. The mining world of Corbos has lost contact with the New Republic, and Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy students are sent to investigate.
On the lighter side is Kilian Plunkett's story in Star Wars Tales #4, with Jabba's dimwitted swoop-riding thugs, Big Gizz and Spiker in a destructive run-in with a malfunctioning Dark Trooper. This issue also features a tale by Kevin Rubio, creator of the hilarious Star Wars parody, Troops, as well as an amusing Sergio Aragonés story starring Threepio and Artoo."
For more news go to Dark Horses' site
March 9 LIAM Neeson has been offered the freedom of his home town - but local feel he may not deserve it, Yahoo reports.
Neeson, 48, has been chosen to receive the honour from the city council of Ballymeena. But the Democratic Unionist Party accused him of criticising the town and said their own Rev Ian Paisley should get the honour instead.
Neeson has previously said he felt a second class citizen as a Catholic growing up there and he stayed at home when Protestants took to the streets for a parade.
Willie Wright of the United Unionists said he was as poor as the Neesons years ago but added: ``I don't go around with a big chip on my shoulder denigrating the community I was brought up in.'' He could be granted the freedom of Ballymeena, a largely ceremonial honor, in the next six months -- if he wants it.
March 8 BIT of a strange move, but the official site is offering fans the chance to own their own Star Wars site. You can add your own comments, link to your favourite sites and generally get a starwars/yourname. address.
Sounds like a good offer, just a little strange that after doing so much to protect its copyright Lucas is now in some ways opening things up. At least it's all free though, go here for details.
March 7 NEW details of the forthcoming strategy game Force Commander have been relesed by LucasArts. The game, which will be released in mid-March, offers the chance for players to walk through Tatooine, order around Stormtroopers - and best of all- drive an AT-AT!
Based around the time of A New Hope, players become Brenn Tantor, an Imperial officer who becomes disillusioned with his lot in life.
The official site said: "While Force Commander's story is a self-contained saga, it does intersect with the classic Star Wars films along the way... Brenn and Dellis' first mission is to Tatooine to retrieve two droids believed to be carrying plans for the Death Star. During this training mission, the player is able to learn the basic game mechanics including the use of a rotating camera which allows the game play to be viewed from every conceivable angle.
"You'll find out what really happened at that sandcrawler," Gaber hinted. For more details and screenshots click here.
WHICH Star Wars character are you most like? The official site's latest survey shows Han to be the top choice, with poor old Jabba just getting one per cent of the votes.
EVER fancied owning Queen Amidala's gown or Obi-Wan's lightsaber? Tough, you've got no chance, according to the official site.
Its latest question asks what happens to the hundreds of costumes and props made for The Phantom Menace. The answer is they are all stored in huge warehouse at chez Lucas, but some are currently on tour in the US and will be in UK from April 13 for The Art of Star Wars exhibition at The Barbican Theatre in London.
March 6 ANYONE who caught the re-runs of Blake's 7 on BBC2 in the UK on Saturday afternoon would have seen a rather slim version of Brian Blessed (Boss Nass) as a cult leader who'd captured Blake and the gang.
HARRISON Ford has added his considerable weight to the campaign to get John McCain into the White House for the Republicans.
THE official date has updated his hover buttons pictures again, with Ewan McGregor now replacing Sebulba as the Episode I icon.
March 5 IF you've ever wondered about when exactly Yoda was born and where the Sith order came about, then help is at hand. The official site has announced a new book, Star Wars: The Essential Chronology, by Steve Saffel and published by Del Ray, is out in April. With the New Jedi Order coming out, it could come in very handy in fitting the pieces together.
However it obviously doesn't fill in the gaps from Episode I to III completely, so I guess it'll have to be updated in a few years time, still, a great idea.
March 4 FORBES magazine has announced that George Lucas earned the most money last year in the world of entertainment. He is said to have earned $400million from The Phantom Menace, which made more than $430million in the US alone.
In second spot was chat show queen Oprah Winfrey with $150million.
THE Brits music awards were held last night and The Phantom Menace missed out on the best soundtrack award, which went to Notting Hill.
Marcg 3 LOOKS like Ray Park won't be in Episode II at all after a posting on the official site. It had been thought that Park may return in the form of a stunt co-ordinator but Rick McCallum said: "Ray Park did a fabulous job for us, but didn’t you see the dude get sliced in half at the end of the film? Would he come back as two halves? I’d love to work with Ray again, but at this stage there aren’t any plans to do so.
March 2 COMIC book fans will be looking out for the Episode I: Adventures trade paperback which was released yesterday.
It takes four characters and tells their story with scenes not shown in the film. For example Anakin dreams of becoming a Jedi the day before he meets his angel and Amidala and Jar Jar have to find a power cell before the Podrace.
Star Wars: Episode I: Adventures is published by Dark Horse Comics. It is written by Tim Truman, Ryder Windham, Mark Shultz, and Henry Gilroy. There is also a cool new photo montage cover by Sean Tierney.
FOR anyone who's not yet noticed the official site has replaced its hover button images that relate to the four movies. In the place of Sebulba, Stormtroopers, Chewie, C-3PO, there is now Obi-Wan, Grand Moff Tarkin, Boba Fett and Han, which look a lot better.
March 1 THERE'S a unusual pic of Ray Park on the official site, half in-costume half-out, which has been put up as one of the Episode I snapshots.
Also from the Ray Park stable, his site has sent out the latest of their newsletters, revealing that filming for The X-Men is now complete and that Ray made a special appearance at a Birmingham convention on Saturday.
It also warned autograph hunters to be wary of anything they may have brought on E-Bay. It said: "Sad to say that if you did buy your autograph from someone on Ebay it is very possible it is not the real deal! "With that in mind, we will be adding a new and improved "Fake Autograph" section to the site that alerts the fans to specific items being sold."
Although it's obviously in their own interests, the release also mentions a limited edition Darth Maul print. The site added that certificates of authentication are worthless and offered to check any signatures anyone has bought. Very helpful but of course if you do have a certificate that is fake you could claim to the folks who sent it out. In terms of financial value, they can be very handy.
THEFORCE.NET has said that Joshua Jackson has fallen out of the race to be Anakin. He told a radio station: "I talked to the casting director once, that is as far as I got. As much as I would love to play that role, there is no way I would get the part. They said that there is a certain type that they are looking for, and I guess I am not it."