CLASSIC IMAGE: THE STH EMERGE...

Filmed against Blue screen at LEAVESDEN, Ray Park makes his first crowd pleasing appearance as the fearless assassin Darth Maul, albeit via hologram, for EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ROYAL PRISONER

Within her palace in the city of Theed, Queen Amidala watches in silent horror and personal grief as her world and her people are invaded by the Trade Federation. A classic moment from EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TATOOINE TOURISTS!

Awaiting news from their scout team entering the wild confines of Mos Espa, Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and Naboo Captain Panaka patrol the desert environs of Tatooine around their damaged, secretly landed Royal Cruiser in this scene from EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE.

BEHIND THE SCENES: IN THE SHADE!

The towering figure of Liam Neeson stands near STAR WARS film visionary George Lucas: the pair taking a break from the sun whilst on location in Tunisia for the exterior Tatooine filming of EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE HUNTRESS STRIKES!

She may have only had one brief scene in THE PHANTOM MENACE, watching the Boonta Eve pod race on Tatooine, but Bounty Hunter Aurra Sing, as portrayed by actress/model Michelle Bourriague, had that intriguing look about her that soon made a big enough impression on the STAR WARS universe and its fans to see her vitally incorporated as a major villainess within the CLONE WARS era, from comics to the second animated series (voiced by Jaime King). Now more the ever, red means dead!

CLASSIC IMAGE: DUEL AGAINST DARKNESS!

The Sith threat to the Galaxy now confirmed and out in the open, fearless and brave Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn, though cut off from his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, continues to take the fight to the savage creature, deep within the bowels of the power complex of the City of Theed. But Darth Maul will soon prove a force with the Dark Side too powerful for even this noble hero to contain, in this terrific action sequence from EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE which we can't wait to see in 3-D...

CLASSIC IMAGE: POD RACE PREPARATIONS!

At Mos Espa, one of the rarely seen Boonta Eve pod race pilots gets ready to fly in this fun image from EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE, returning to cinema screens where it belongs, and in 3-D, too, next year.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "THE BOY'S DANGEROUS"

On Coruscant, before their return to Naboo and partaking in its liberation, Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi has a frank and argumentative discussion with his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, about whether it is wise to look after and oversee the destiny of young Anakin Skywalker, a boy whose future is clouded with uncertainty and possible danger...

CLASSIC IMAGE: READY FOR RACING!

Artoo, Threepio (note here the exterior use of the puppet version) and Padme assist young Anakin Skywalker with the final checks and adjustments to his newly painted Pod Racer, just in time for the next day's all-important Boonta Eve Classic tournament...

CLASSIC IMAGE: TWO JEDI - ONE ARMY!

One of the very first images released by LUCASFILM in their then 1998/1999 press promotion of EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE, and its still one of my favourites. In this nicely framed shot showing lots of detail and very scene evocative of the Jedi action to come, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson have never looked better or formidably heroic in the film than as they are here as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, surviving a sneaky assassination attempt on their lives by the the once cowardly Neimoidians and now trying to break through to the bridge of their shield door protected Trade Federation cruiser, though their noble attempts, almost unstoppable, are ultimately interrupted by the notorious Droidekas, soon rolling onto the scene and unleashing their heavy laser artillery against them. Its all a great action packed start to the first chronological movie of the STAR WARS saga, and the invasion of the friendly and beautiful world of Naboo is just one portent of worse things yet to come...

I can't wait to see the epic adventure and grandeur of the Prequel Trilogy films, as well as their Classic counter-parts, back on the big screen again, starting next year, where they belong!

CLASSIC IMAGE: QUEEN TO A CAPTURED WORLD!

Queen Amidala of the Naboo (Natalie Portman) can only look on helplessly as the city of Theed is surrounded and then ruthlessly occupied by the Battle Droids of the unscrupulous Trade Federation, in this hauntingly beautiful frame shot on location at the Caserta Royal Palace in Italy for EPISODE ONE.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SUN, SAND AND 'SABERS!

Here's a shot I had never seen before, so I thought I'd put it up on the blog. A head shaved Ray Park (you just have to look at his fighting stance to see that its him!) and Obi-Wan double Andreas Petrides (who did the leap shots of the character for the duel) make the most of the good weather on an empty part of the outdoor Mos Espa set in Tunisia to practice their lightsaber skills and rehearse the next stage of the epic finale duel for EPISODE ONE action scenes, choreographed by Nick Gillard, filmed at LEAVESDEN STUDIOS in the UK.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.

CLASSIC IMAGE: JAR JAR'S BIG ADVENTURE!

In one of the first live action scenes shot for THE PHANTOM MENACE at the UK's LEAVESDEN STUDIOS, Ahmed Best settles into his role as Gungan representative Jar Jar Binks in a corridor waiting area within Senator Palpatine's office on Coruscant. A brief sequence where Anakin (Jake Lloyd) and Jar Jar try to eavesdrop on Queen Amidala's first conversation with Palpatine about the invasion of Naboo was filmed but cut for time reasons from the finished film.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TUSKEN TRIUMPH!

The dangerous and distinctive desert nomads of Tatooine, the Tusken Raiders, celebrate their enjoyment of the regular Boonta Eve Pod Race, having shot at its many contestant racers as they twist and turn through the various sand swept canyons of Mos Espa.

CLASSIC ART: A DIFFERENT KIND OF JEDI...

An intriguing image by Doug Chiang showing his idea for the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic (this is presumably Obi-Wan with the Battle Droids) rendered probably sometime between 1996 and 1997 (note the braids idea which would be tried on Ewan McGregor as seen in THE BEGINNING documentary, before only one was decided on, and at a shorter length), before the attired look was eventually pinned down to resemble Sir Alec Guinness's Obi costume from the first STAR WARS movie in 1977. During that period, Chiang's early design for the Jedi would also make its way into several of his pre-production conceptual paintings for EPISODE I.

"THE CLONE WARS": THE WELCOME RETURN OF QUI-GON JINN!

Qui-Gon returns to THE CLONE WARS in January/February 2011!

The most unexpected, and also quite wonderful!, news has come in that actor Liam Neeson has returned to voice the noble Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in spectral form for two upcoming episodes of THE CLONE WARS, in a tale linked to the destinies of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY broke the exclusive scoop.
Check out the link here: http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/20/liam-neeson-star-wars-clone-wars-exclusive/

Presuming the voice over work was done a year ago, we're wondering if the upcoming EPISODE III Blu-ray release might just possibly finally have a re-constituted scene involving the voice of Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn talking to Yoda, as was originally planned and scripted by Lucas but dropped in the 2005 post production phase? Let's hope so, as Neeson's non appearance at the end of the film was, I feel, a much missed opportunity which could have added even more completeness to the two trilogies.

Thank you for coming back to the Saga, Mister Neeson!

CLASSIC IMAGE: ANTENNA ADJUSTMENT!

"Can you get SKY MOVIES HD on this?"

Make-up artists Karen Bradley and Danny Waggoner attend to the delicate work on the head of actress Michelle Bourriague, about to make her blink and you miss it (but soon iconic) cameo appearance as the Bounty Hunter Aurra Sing in ILM inserts filmed for inclusion within the epic Pod Race of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE. Her character may not have made a once planned return in EPISODE II, but the character has certainly made her mark since both in DARK HORSE comic form, and, as voiced by Jaime King, in the hit THE CLONE WARS series showing on SKY and CARTOON NETWORK.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.

THE "MENACE" RETURNS...

"At last we will have revenge..."

"Always two there are. A master and an apprentice."

The premiere film of the Prequel Trilogy, released in 1999, which gave the world Darth Maul and his double lightsaber, Pod racing, the noble Qui-Gon Jinn, young Anakin Skywalker, the heroic Queen Amidala and, whether you like it or not, comedy star Jar Jar Binks, returns to the UK TV screens in HD on ITV 1 this today pm (hopefully seeing in one film each weekend, presumably being shown before their viewing rights expire with the upcoming Blu-rays). Sadly, TPM probably won't be presented by them in full widescreen, instead pan and scan (being a commercial channel ITV are afraid to lose their general audience with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen!), but what ratio we do eventually see will surely look pretty darned good!

How about a look back at this classic trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dWA9DwDQpM

STAR WARS 3-D. IT'S FINALLY COMING!

And now its official. The entire STAR WARS saga in 3-D theatrical release, safe in the supervisory hands of effects guru John Knoll working with the ILM team, and surely with "a few new surprises" begins from 2012 with EPISODE ONE (though lets hope that UK IMAX cinemas get to show 'em all, too-they completely ignored the IMAX version of EPISODE II back in 2002-the damned fools!). This is all further great news in what has already been an amazing year for STAR WARS, what with Celebration V, the continuing CLONE WARS animated series and next year's Blu-ray box set release. All I need now is a box of Ferrero Roche chocolates and I'll be feeling really spoiled!

Now, George, how about EPISODEs VII to IX??!!

JAR JAR BINKS: HESA BACK!!

Love him or hate him, that gangly Gungan is back for more comedy shenanigans in tonight's US episode of THE CLONE WARS, showing on CARTOON NETWORK, working with Bail Organa in an adventure titled SUPPLY LINES. I'm personally rather fond of Jar Jar- he reminds me of my late dog, with his big ears and eyes- and I'm intrigued to see what Filoni and co. will do next with the character. I thought in the Prequel films that Lucas bottled out from using Jar Jar more actively in EPISODEs II and III, after such a large involvement for the creature in EPISODE I, presumably due to his first appearance having caused great dismay and controversy from older fans who hated the Buster Keaton always getting into trouble inspired visual comedy character. In EPISODE II, Lucas did, to his credit, cleverly use Jar Jar to help instigate Palpatine's lifetime Supreme Chancellor-ship, which was very nicely done, and I was hoping he'd have a similarly and equally important sequence like that for EPISODE III-perhaps one act of supreme bravery on his part to help Padme and Obi-Wan, perhaps even sacrificing himself to save his friends, a move that might have been very interesting and added to the darkness of the final film of the Prequel Trilogy. Alas, it was not to be-and we still don't know what happened to him in that twenty year gap between sagas (despite the celebration visit to Naboo showing Gungans en masse in the revised version of RETURN OF THE JEDI on DVD in 2004).

Still, despite his on screen movie controversy, Jar Jar works very well in the animated series-BOMBAD JEDI in THE CLONE WARS first season (one of the earliest to be made in the run) was a fine example of slapstick comedy, and its nice to have Ahmed Best back behind the microphone to provide the characters unique voice. Somebody get Ahmed to be a convention guest at a future Celebration. The Jar Jar furore must have eased down by now, and I'm sure he has lots of great behind the scenes stories on the Prequels to tell that will delight fans of all ages!