Sept 29 MR Lucas has released another vision of Episode II today. This one looks like a sphere heading towards a planet, TFN has blown it up to show it a little clearer, although it doesn't add too many clues.
WHEN the first Phantom Menace soundtrack was released it was probably most famous for letting everyone know Qui-Gon would die before they saw the film, with the unsubtle Qui-Gon's Funeral track. Now though John Williams' score can be heard complete for the first time as The Ultimate Edition is released on November 14.
Containing over 120 minutes of music and 68 tracks on two CDs, the set will also have a "bonus track" - Duel of the Fates with sound effects and movie dialog as featured in the music video. There will also be for the first time a track called "Desert Winds," which was recorded but not used in the final cut of the film.
THERE'S a few new updates on the official Star Wars site today. Ahmed Best continues his animated look into Episode II, this time stopping off at the accounts department. There's also a classic moment from Mark Hamill on the effect the scrolling text had at the start of Star Wars, a snap shot about how model makers went about creating Jedi Council member Oppo Rancisis.
Sept 23 THE Star Wars homing beacon has landed again, giving details of what now lies in store for the makers of Episode II. It said sound editor Ben Burtt has just arrived back at Skywalker Ranch to being piecing Episode II together.
For George Lucas, the editing room is where the movie takes shape. He said: "The way I work is that I cut the movie together, I look at it and figure out what's missing," Lucas said. "At that point, it's more about how the movie flows together rather than how the script flows together. I'm acknowledging more and more that a script and a movie are two different things."
CHRISTOPHER Lee gives his first Star Wars interview in the latest edition of the official French Star Wars magazine. Lee, a charismatic separatist in the film, talks about his role in the movie, which he has just finished shooting in Australia. It also includes a complete cast list for the film.
A MAN is to go on trial for allegedly distributing part of The Phantom Menace on the Net. Jason Everett Spatafore is charged with copying and distributing parts of the film. He was charged Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco and faces up to four years in prison and a $400,000 fine if convicted.
Sept 21 EWAN McGregor could play ex-Beatle John Lennon in a new film, it is rumoured. Ewan news claims the film's makers believe the Scottish actor would be the ideal man to portray the singer in a film about his relationship with Yoko Ono.
The site thinks he'd be ideal, and said: "McGregor, who has just completed back-to-back filming in Sydney with Moulin Rouge and Stars Wars: Episode II, has already shown some mock-rock antics in Velvet Goldmine and A Life Less Ordinary, in which he sang a duet with Cameron Diaz in a rendition of Bobby Darin's classic tune Beyond the Sea."
LIAM Neeson has been talking about his recovery from a motorbike accident on TV show Access Hollywood. Neeson, whose bike was in collision with a deer several months ago, said "I'm lucky. I could have been dead. I could have been confined to a wheelchair, but I'm not. I'm gonna make a full recovery. The force is with me."
A NEW Star Wars trading card game is about to be launched. Decipher is releasing its new Jedi Knights Trading Card Game in the autumn. It promises to be a whole new multi-player game system featuring never-before-seen computer-generated art.
The official site said: "Not as complex as the Star Wars Customizable Card Game, but offering more depth than the Young Jedi Collectible Card Game, the Jedi Knights Trading Card Game is set in the classic era of the Star Wars saga. Decipher's award-winning team of over sixty artists have used state-of-the-art computer graphics and special effects to bring to life all-new visions of the Star Wars galaxy."
Sept 18 NO-ONE knows much about them, but they're still some of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe. Chronicle Boos has just released its latest Masterpiece Edition, Aurra Sing: Dawn of the Bounty Hunters by Ryder Windham and Josh Ling. The book explores the life of not only Aurra Sing - who is available exclusively in this boxed set as an authentically detailed 12" collector's figure - but also bounty hunters like Boba Fett, Dengar and Bossk.
Windham explained their appeal: "A lot of Star Wars characters are characterized by being good or evil, but the bounty hunters fall somewhere in between.They're not regarded as heroes or villains so much as antiheroes. Despite all their fantastic trappings, the bounty hunters are simply more accessible to fans because they're closer to reality. They're just self-employed professionals who happen to be in a very dangerous line of work."
DARTH Maul's background has been explained in a little more detail on the official site. In response to a question to the Jedi Council, Steve Sansweet said: "According to the upcoming Random House book Star Wars: Secrets of the Sith, Darth Maul was born on Iridonia. That's the same planet that Jedi Council member Eeth Koth's species - the Iridonian Zabrak - come from."
Sept 17 THE latest photo from Episode II to be released from the official site is about as obscure as the others. This one shows what seems to be Boba Fett dancing in the rain. The bounty hunter is on a green background holding a coloured umbrella. There have been rumuors that a large fight scene in the rain is a part of the film.
THE Force has troubled many film goers and even philosophers over the years, as they tried to come to terms with exactly what it all meant. Whether it's an illusive quality that is all things to all people or whether it's simply a case of how many midichlorions you happen to have floating around you is a matter of debate. And debate is exactly what Space.com has been doing. Its latest installment, which tried to unravel the mystery, can be found here.
NATALIE Portman and Hayden Christensen have finished shooting their scenes for Star Wars: Episode II, the official site has said. The Plaza de España in Seville, Spain was the backdrop for the pair's final scene. The site said: "Hundreds of enthusiastic fans stayed throughout the day, bringing with them cheers and banners. Director George Lucas, visual effects supervisor John Knoll and other members of the crew stayed and signed autographs for an hour after the shoot."
Sept 12 VETERAN British actress Shelagh Fraser, best known for playing Aunt Beru in Star Wars, has died. The official site today reported her death, although she passed away several weeks ago. Shelagh also appeared iniHope and Glory, Staircase, and A Touch of Love.
Sept 8 ANOTHER snapshot from Episode II has been released. This one appears to show a woman's body, with the profile of a face protruding from her stomach. To see the rather surreal image go here.
THE original Star Wars trilogy will be re-released in Great Britain on November 20. The official site said: "In the UK, on November 20, 2000, the trilogy will be available for a limited time in both widescreen and pan-and-scan versions. The boxed sets have suggested retail prices at £34.99 for pan-and-scan and £39.99 widescreen.
"These boxed sets will also include the exclusive ten-minute sneak peek at the making of Episode II."
Sept 7 CLASSIC sci-fi favourite ET is to be re-released in cinemas to mark its 20th anniversary. Steven Spielberg's movie will be released again in March 2002. This version will include previously unseen footage, computer-enhanced effects and a digitially remixed soundtrack.
Since coming out ET has become one of the top ten highest-grossing films of all time. It grossed more than $359 million domestically in its initial run and has earned $702 million worldwide.
RISE of the Empire should be the name of the next Star Wars filming, according to a poll over at Cinescape. With more than 2,500 votes it polled 48 per cent of the vote. Second favourite was Fall of the Jedi with 14 per cent, then Great Clone War at 7 per cent and Dark Romance getting five per cent. The rest didn't want any of the above.
Sept 6 SPAIN looks set to be the next location for the shooting of Episode II. TFN has received several reports that the crew will be heading for Seville next week for some filming. There's some photos of the place they are meant to be going too, which could feasibly be either Naboo or Alderaan.
Sept 5 LUCASFILM'S bandwagon has rolled into Italy. Shooting for Episode II begins soon and George Lucas himself has been holding court with a press conference before the real action begins. Associated Press reported Lucas as saying: "It's fun to be directing again," at a news conference in the court theater inside the palace, which will serve as a backdrop for the Naboo planet of Queen Amidala.
He also spoke of the advantages in digital filming."The advance of cinema into the digital world is just a normal transition that's taking place, an addition to the tools' we use to make movies. Oil painting freed the artists up to change his mind, go home ... and know that the colors they're using are going to stay there.'
The Royal Palace, nicknamed the ""Versailles of Naples'' for its splendor, was completed in 1774 from the plans of Italian architect Luigi Vanvitelli.
ONE to watch out for on Saturday will be the BBC's I Love 1977 show. Hosted by Carrie Fisher the BBC2 programme looks back at major events in the year, including the massive impact Star Wars had on film-goers and the public in general, TFN reports.
Sept 4 FOLLOWING on from Lucasfilm's purchase of several domain names, several sites have been speculating what it all means. TFN has a fairly comprehensive list and some fascinating spoilers and suggestions over what some of them may mean, one of the more interesting has a reference to Shakespeare. Won't go into detail here in case you hate spoilers but head over to TFN if you want to know what they think is going on.
CARRIE-Anne Moss has been speaking about the planned sequel to The Matrix. Sci-fi.com said the actress who played Trinity in last year's hit loved the script of The Matrix 2 She said: "I read the first sequel script a month ago, and I was blown away," said Moss, who will reprise her role of Trinity in the sequel.
"I picked my time. I didn't want to read it flying. I wanted to give the new movies my complete energy. So I waited until I was done with shooting. I curled up in my bed and read it."
Sept 3 LOOKS like Lucasfilm has been busy buying up domain names for Episode II. More than a dozen have been snapped up, most interesting of which is DarkJedi.com. The rest include a lot relating to the Lars family, who are thought to have a signficant role in the new movie. Owen and Beru Lars, who end up looking after Luke, are featured in the new film and BeruLars.com is one of the names to have been bought.
Sept 2 A NEW range of Star Wars figures is due out in the autumn, the official site has announced. Hasbro will be launching its Power of the Jedi line, which will feature characters from the new films and the original triology.
One difference from the old models is in the packaging. The red Episode I and green trilogy packing has been combined and a new icon of Obi-Wan and Darth Vader is to be used.
The release dates are: mid-August -
Darth Maul - Final Duel, R2-D2 - Naboo Escape, Anakin Skywalker - Mechanic
Mas Amedda, Security Battle Droid, Chewbacca - Dejarik Challenge, Tusken Raider - Desert
Sniper, Coruscant Guard. Early September - Obi-Wan Kenobi - Jedi. Late October
- Qui-Gon Jinn - Mos Espa Disguise, General Leia Organa
Boss Nass - Gungan Sacred Place, Jek Porkins, Gungan Warrior.
Mid-November - Darth Vader - Dagobah,
Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi - Jedi Knight, Sebulba - Boonta Eve Challenge
Fode & Beed - Podrace Announcers.
Fans have been voting for the figure they'd most like to see released and the winner was the Duro, Ellorrs Madak, from the Mos Eisley cantina. That will also now be released.
Sept 1 THE latest peek at Episode II is now out, with the official site releasing a new photo from the film. This one seems shows a girl sitting on a raised platform, with cream curtains in front of her. The girl's dress is white and a little Leia-like, prompting speculation it is Queen Amidala.
LOOKS like a spy has got their hands on what seems to be an authentic script for Star Wars: Episode II. Sci-fi.com says the script was offered to TheForce.net, which refused to buy it and declined to identify who it was from.
The report said TFN rightly feels it's too soon to be talking about the plot in any great detail and as for Lucasfilm, it said:"It is the policy of Lucasfilm to decline comment on any possible investigations associated with unauthorized or unlawful use or possession of our copyrighted property. Lucasfilm aggressively pursues anyone involved with the unauthorized sale or purchase of copyrighted materials and will do whatever it takes to insure that they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Lucasfilm is dedicated to its legions of Star Wars fans and will go to any lengths to protect them from the unauthorized or unlawful distribution or publication of proprietary materials that would spoil their Star Wars experience."
It would seem a shame for someone to want to give the whole game away, and while some spoilers are almost inevitable the idea of selling the whole plot is a lot more disturbing. It was bad enough picking up the soundtrack CD before and reading that Qui-Gonn would die...
NOVEMBER 7 is the date for the release of Sony Classical's two CD set which features the entire soundtrack to The Phantom Menace, TFN reports. The CD will be more than two hours long.