MAY NEWS
May 27 1999
Pirate copies of The Phantom Menace are reported to be widely available in Hong Kong and Macau. However they are also said to be extremely poor quality and include the backs of people's heads and shouting and cheering from the audience.
Three men have been arrested in connection with a reel of The Phantom Menace that went missing from a Wisconsin cinema. The reel was later found in a nearby field. It is believed the three men handed themselve in to police. Detectives do not believe the men were looking to make profit, or even made a copy of the movie.
May 21 1999
Got to buy some of the Phantom Menace toys.
FAO Schwarz has an amazing display, nearly all the 4ins figures as well as the first ever Aunt Beru figure in a flashback version. There's blow-up chairs, candy bars, 12ins figures, toy banks and lightsabres plus lots more.
May 19 1999
Get to see it again and this time it all makes much more sense. Everything fits together and I get the feeling that this is something special I'm watching. The effects are awesome, Neeson shines and Darth Maul, well you just got to see Darth Maul. They're showing it on a Special Select Print, taken from the master copy of the film.
May 18 1999
Got queuing again. This time for a good seat, arrived at 8pm and around 40 people in front of me. By 11.15pm we're allowed in to the building, and by 11.35pm we're in the cinema itself.
Cheers erupt as the green of the Lucasfilm logo comes up and then Star Wars hits the screens.
Afterwards there's a mixed reaction, I felt it was ok but several thought it was terrible and far too comic in parts.
May 13 1999
Interview on NBC with George Lucas. Talked about Jar-Jar, how Obi-Wan grows in the next film and how his children had helped him decide on the name for the Gungans. Lucas admitted the first third of the film could be hard going for some.
May 12 1999
Get in line by 2.50am, about a dozen others already there. One TV is playing Return of the Jedi to keep us going. TV crew arrives at 6am to wake us all up as we go live to the nation, or the state anyway.
Rumours abound that it will be shown in IMAX, but they only officially sign for the film 1hr 15mins before tickets go on sale. Come 3pm the tension is amazing and a countdown signals the start of the sale.
By 3.06pm I've got mine.
May 11 1999
Arrived in Orlando and start looking for likely cinemas. Muvico at The Pointe on International Drive looks a good bet. The IMAX screen is seven storeys high by 90ft wide, has 12,000 watts and 44 speakers of power.
May 9 1999
I'm off to America tomorrow in an attempt to see Episode One, keep your fingers crossed for me!
As a result this page won't be updated for two weeks, but when I get back there'll be pics and details of my trip here, and hopefully they won't all be shots of Disney...
See you soon.
May 7 1999
Liam Neeson announces he's quitting acting and returning to the theatre. Much like Mr Hopkins did after Zorro. And then didn't.
Neeson could well be sincere but the cynic in me thinks he'll very soon be mega and the threat of him quitting could well increase his pulling power, and fee, for any future films. Yeah, I know, cynical old bugger eh?
And the critics get to have their go. The Phantom Menace has been screened before the families of US cinema executives. Seems Lucas sent one copy of the film to NY under armed guard for fear of piracy.
Ronald Epstein said on his website: "It looks like Star Wars. However are we going to walk away satisfied? Perhaps, but not everyone."
However Tom Sherak, of distributors Twentieth Century Fox, was talking more sense: "Guys, it's a movie! It's not the Bible! It's fun, it's enjoyable, it's escapism."
May 6 1999
Got hold of a copy of the Episode One soundtrack. But be warned, the playlist gives away some pretty heavy spoilers about what's in store. Which I found to my cost.
Sounds great though, traditional title track to start with and then goes into some new, but generally very Star Wars sounds. Second track Duel of the Fates, has some Omen-esque choirs in it, unlike other SW music.
Anakin's theme has a dream-like, innocent feel but cleverly woven into it is part of Vader's theme while Jar Jar's Introduction is reminiscent of Ewoks.
And you get some new posters, see below.
An Oscar's in the post Mr Williams...
May 4 1999
Episode One books are on the shelves now, one on the crafts, and others on the screenplay. Tempting, but will wait to see the real thing on film.
Got hold of very cool Applause figure, Luke in floatation tank. Lights up and Luke looks bloated by the water, incredibly realistic.
The Sun ran a story on people who'd been given a Star Wars name. There was one kid called Luke Sky Walker but the best had to be an elderly lady who'd gone through life known as Yoda.
May 3 1999
The Denver convention is over, and from it there was plenty of gossip.
From all accounts the main points were that a) Anthony Daniels will do Episode II b) there's a delay in the DVD version of the trilogy because they are "waiting for something special" and most interestingly c) Rick McCallum said he may be persuaded to take on Episodes 7-9 if enough fans want. Which is a bit like asking turkeys if they'd like to ban Christmas...
Other news includes the fact that Phantom Menace will have a running time of 2hours 6mins and its final budget was $105, less than expected.
Seems Episode II will be based 12 years after TPM and focus on Obi-Wan.
And on top of that the new Star Wars toys for Episode One went in the shops today. They're expected to hit UK shops mid-June and you can expect most toy stores to open at midnight to give fans first grab at them.
Oh, and on top of that I found an Episode One ice-cream while walking along the seafront. It's a green-ice version of a Battle Droid, with red ice-cream inside. Not bad for 45p.
May 2 1999
More details on the new soundtrack which will be shown on MTV. Lucasfilm has been working with Sony Music to make a music video which will be on the music station in early May.
The piece, entitled "The Duel of the Fates", was composed and conducted by John Williams just for this music video. Based on one of the more dramatic moments in the movie, Williams has created a four-minute segment especially for the video.
The video is currently being edited at the Skywalker Ranch facilities. The music video is scheduled to debut on MTV in early May, but you'll be able to hear the single on the radio any time now.
MAY 1 1999
Star Wars month has officially begun. The official site is taken over by the Denver convention, where Lucas et al are putting on one truly spectacular show, with Anthony Daniels compering it.
APRIL 30 1999
Finally get to book a holiday to the States for the opening. Got two weeks in Orlando for £350. Would have preferred NY but accommodation is so cheap for a last-minute trip, so DisneyWorld here I come! Just got to hope they put me somewhere near a cinema now.
APRIL 29 1999
Build up to release of UK Episode One Trailer starts, there's been a showing on The Big Breakfast with a lightsaber-wielding Johnny Vaughan and a Leia-like Kelly Brook. Also got mentions on most of the national radio and TV stations.
Trying to find out which movies it will be shown with, think Existence is a favourite.
New Official Star Wars magazine is out, with two different covers, one of Darth Maul and one of Qui-Gon Jinn.