Legendary stuntman and film-maker Vic Armstrong. Image: SKY
Legendary INDY Stuntman/co-ordinator and Director Vic Armstrong talks to SKY MOVIES about his career, some of the movies he's worked on (including the upcoming SPIDER-MAN movie), the amazing directors he's been involved with, and, of course, his excellent new book: THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST STUNTMAN (available from TITAN BOOKS).
Check out the links here (note: some of these may not play outside the UK):
Our synopsis/review guide to Season Three of THE CLONE WARS has been completed. Head over to the link below and enjoy some of our best opinion and notes on the current series.
In anticipation of next weeks exciting Season Finale of THE CLONE WARS: "Wookiee Hunt", featuring the return of Chewbacca, SKY MOVIES HD, showing the episode in a world exclusive this weekend, have kindly sent me a couple of great behind the scenes pics relating to it- one of the Chewbacca CGI animation maquette reference, and the other of original Wookiee costume encumbent Peter Mayhew with Series Supervising Director Dave Filoni, joining forces in bringing Chewie to life in the animated medium.
Savage Opress. He's not just your "average horny little devil." He wants to spill blood. Blood, in particular, that belongs to the Jedi Knights.
Trouble with a capital T!
When Ray Park's indomitable and terrifying destructive force, Darth Maul, met his final end - sliced in half by Ewan McGregor's Force intuitive Obi-Wan Kenobi in one of THE PHANTOM MENACE's greatest scenes (which we can't wait to see in 3D. Take that, Mister Simon Pegg!) - audiences around the world were thrilled yet disappointed to see that he had been killed off so quickly and would not return for more high octane action. So, Opress, one of Maul's equally highly trained brothers, is George Lucas, his daughter Kaite, and Dave Filoni's attempts, which will be very successful, to try to atone for the fall of the earlier Zabrakian, and we're sure all kinds of hell will be following within his large shadow when he, a chaos causing gift to Count Dooku by the Night Sisters of Dathomir, eventually takes on the Republic forces for numerous acts of Sith propelled slaughter. There are also rumours floating about on cyberpace - andplease take them with a pinch of salt - that Ahsoka may eventually (and we're talking at the end of the animated series entire run) fall victim to this new warrior, of which her death will propel Anakin further to his destiny with the Dark Side as he surely gets his revenge! Of these rumours, I can only quote Qui-Gon Jinn: "Be wary!"
Things are about to get a lot worse for the Jedi. All images: copyright LUCASFILM ANIMATION
Padme observes the Duchess Satine and her honour guard in the new CLONE WARS episode CORRUPTION. Image: SKY. Copyright: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.
SKY MOVIES HD have very kindly sent us their latest press release for this weeks UK premiere screening of THE CLONE WARS Season Three episode CORRUPTION, which sees the return of the Mandalorians and their Duchess Satine.
Here's the info:
Mandalore's Peace Is Threatened In All-New Episode Of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
On a diplomatic mission to Mandalore, Senator Padmé Amidala uncovers a sinister plot lurking beneath the pacifist planet’s serene façade. With the help of Duchess Satine, she investigates a mysterious illness spreading among Mandalore’s children, discovering corruption that extends into the highest levels of the Mandalorian government. An all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Corruption,” airs at Saturday 13th November on Sky Movies Premiere/HD.
“Corruption” explores a system divided. Deep in the midst of an identity crisis made even worse by the widespread turmoil of the Clone Wars, the people of Mandalore find themselves torn between their violent past and their leader’s promise of peace for the future.
“It’s a fascinating culture at a really interesting time,” says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “Mandalore has a long history of violence, and they’re trying to move away from that. But this is all taking place in the middle of a galaxy-wide civil war, so it’s difficult for Satine to make a case for peace when there’s so much violence all around. And that’s exactly why peace is so important to her.”
While Season Two’s visit to Mandalore saw the schism reflected in the explicit aggression of the Death Watch, the latest plot indicates a far more subversive threat – reaching into the highest echelons of the Mandalorian power hierarchy.
“There are bigger threats to peace than the Death Watch,” says Filoni. “We’ve seen their approach in Season Two; they used violence as their message. But political corruption can be far more damaging in the long run. The scale’s so much broader here, and the stakes are system-wide. Ultimately, Mandalore’s allegiances are key to the Clone Wars, so every little transgression can have ripple effects throughout the war. Corruption can spread, and it’s threatening to poison Satine’s best efforts.”
Without the explosive threats of the Death Watch, the story necessarily takes an altogether different tone. Teamed with Padmé for the investigation Satine sets out to uncover the threat to her power – and to Mandalore’s peaceful future. Though they come under fire as the investigation heats up, the two women facedangers with far-reaching consequences even greater than mere threats to their own personal well-being.
“Whenever we visit Satine, we’re going to see a war of ideals,” says Filoni. “She’s very steadfast in her beliefs, and that’s what makes her a good leader. She’s got a tough job, though. She is often undermined by her own people, and her core beliefs are even at odds with the beliefs of the other Clone Wars heroes – including the Jedi and the Senate. Ultimately, they all want the same thing – peace – but they have different thresholds. With an endgame that is so important to the entire galaxy, compromises can be difficult – even when it comes to the means by which peace is achieved.”
George Lucas becomes the star of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, this week on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE HD
SKY MOVIES have very kindly sent us the latest press release info for the new episode of THE CLONE WARS showing on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE and HD from this weekend, and its the one fans have been waiting for, as George Lucas takes the action hero spotlight in SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.
Here's the info:
Star Wars Creator George Lucas Sees Some Action in an All-New Episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars!
When Pantoran Chairman Papanoida's family is kidnapped and held for ransom, Ahsoka Tano must team up with Senator Riyo Chuchi to aid the new chairman in recovering his family. It’s a journey deep into the dark underbelly of the Coruscant crime scene, with an unlikely – and immediately recognizable – protagonist painted into a corner and forced into action in “Sphere of Influence,” an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – at Saturday 6th November on Sky Movies Premiere/HD.
Seen only briefly as a background character in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, Papanoida will nonetheless appear very familiar to Star Wars fans, film buffs and pop culture aficionados. He is, of course, modeled after Star Wars creator George Lucas – who also wore blue face paint for the character’s live-action cameo debut.
“My appearance in Episode III was just for fun. Mostly, I did it for my kids,” says Lucas. “I was wrapping the series, and I’d never been on-screen in a Star Wars film, even though I’d been making them for decades. With The Clone Wars, I get the best of both worlds, because I get a starring role but don’t have to do any acting or wear any blue make-up.”
Lucas’ children – Amanda, Katie and Jett – also appeared with the director in the live-action outing, and they, too, make their Clone Wars debut in “Sphere of Influence.” None of the Lucas family provides voice-acting for the series, however; Jett’s doppelganger is voiced by Robot Chicken’s Seth Green, while Amanda and Katie’s avatars are voiced by Meredith Salenger (who also voices Barriss Offee) and Nika Futerman (Asajj Ventress), respectively. Lucas himself is voiced by Clone Wars regular Corey Burton (Count Dooku, Cad Bane) – who based the character’s distinctive sound on Orson Welles’ Harry Lime from The Third Man.
While Papanoida is featured fairly passively in his live-action incarnation, the character has an opportunity for a considerably more active role in The Clone Wars. Taking him deep into the Coruscant underground, the Pantoran Chairman’s mission gives him the chance to demonstrate his chops in a few decidedly action-oriented sequences.
“We actually made Papanoida into kind of an action hero,” says Dave Filoni, supervising director of The Clone Wars. “The bad guys have his family, and he goes after them, blasters blazing. Shoot first, ask questions later. His character is very focused on finding and protecting his kids; it’s a desperate situation, and he steps up. It’s a fun episode with a lot of action – and it’s unique, in that our normal heroes give up thespotlight while Papanoida takes matters into his own hands. This was a surreal episode to produce, since the guy on screen was sitting right next to me while we were making it.”
Jedi Master Di - one of the major characters of THE CLONE WARS episode SUPPLY LINES.
SKY MOVIES have kindly sent us the latest press release for the next episode showing on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE and HD this weekend.
New Allies and Returning Heroes Provide Revelations and Insights into Key Conflicts in an All-New Episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars!
Joined by familiar faces – from the live-action Saga, previous seasons of The Clone Wars and even the expanded universe – the heroes of the Republic are leading the charge into extended storylines examining the backstory of the Star Wars galaxy. In the series’ third season, The Clone Wars expands and explores stories beyond the front lines – revealing new insights and fresh revelations about the characters, the conflict and even some of the stories we’ve seen so far. “Supply Lines” takes the narrative back before the series’ very first episode. It’s an all-new facet to a fan-favorite storyline - at Saturday 30th October on Sky Movies Premiere/HD.
Ryloth is under siege. Trapped on the surface, Jedi Master Di rallies the local forces with the help of rebel leader Cham Syndulla. Desperate to save them, Senator Bail Organa and Representative Jar Jar Binks are dispatched to the planet of Toydaria, where they must convince the King Katuunko to send aid to Ryloth – before it’s too late.
“This is one of the fun aspects of being this deep into the series,” says Dave Filoni, supervising director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “Now that we have two seasons already under our belt, we can go back and look at some different aspects of key moments from the Clone Wars; we can jump around in the timeline. We can explore different aspects and different stories. We have a neat opportunity to blow out stories that we’ve seen already, and look at them from a different perspective, a different point of view – and that’s been an important aspect of Star Wars since the original trilogy.”
Taking place before Yoda’s fateful meeting with King Katuunko on the moon of Rugosa – chronicled in the series premiere episode, “Ambush” – “Supply Lines” sheds light on some of the dramatic events that forged The Clone Wars. It also explores the origins of the Ryloth occupation and the subjugation of the Twi’lek people occupation, explored in the first season’s two-part season finale.
“This conflict is vast, to say the least,” says Filoni. “It’s a big galaxy, and there’s a lot going on at all times. Even two seasons in, we’re only seeing a fraction of the war – key moments that are really focused on the primary heroes from the films. But those moments are framed by heroism and villainy, too, just as there are important events happening concurrently with the key scenes we’ve explored. We’ve got 22 minutes per episode and 22 episodes per season, and we’re still only scratching the surface of the Clone Wars.”
Serving to support existing stories and to build on the overall mythology of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Supply Lines” nonetheless promises its own action and surprises. Featuring the return of some fan-favorite characters from the live-action films, the episode also introduces some brand new characters – such as Jedi Master Di.
“We’re going to meet Jedi Master Di,” says Filoni. “I like him a lot; he’s cool and I’d like to be able to do more with him. But you should remember that this is a prequel, and that it takes place before the episodes we’ve seen already. There may be a reason we haven’t seen him after the events of this episode. Here’s a hint: Star Wars characters have a history of suggestive names. Greedo was a greedy bounty hunter. Lobot’s a guy with a computer implanted in his brain, like a lobotomy. General Grievous and Darth Maul are both intent on causing pain and suffering. Han Solo’s a loner. So I’m just saying that maybe Jedi Master Di should watch his back.”
Clash of the Titans! Anakin Skywalker and Asajj Ventress lock sabers once again!
The clock is expectantly ticking for UK STAR WARS fans with the new season of THE CLONE WARS, and SKY MOVIES have very kindly sent us this great publicity info below in red, and some great photos linked to early episodes of the season:
The war wears on, and the Republic is pushed to its breaking point. Support for the Jedi Knights and their noble cause comes in the form of valiant clone troopers – steadfast defenders of peace and justice, even as the Jedi falter and the mighty Republic begins to crumble. Joined by familiar faces and confronted with deadly new threats, these everyman heroes lead the charge into a transformative new season of Clone Wars adventures – where alliances will be tested, truths will be questioned and galaxy-changing secrets will be uncovered to shake the very foundations of the Star Wars universe. The next chapter of Star Wars: The Clone Wars begins with a must-see two-part premiere at Saturday 23rd October on Sky Movies Premiere/HD.
Shaak Ti addresses the Clones, and makes her first appearance in the series
Can the Clone Domino Squad succeed in their training?
In “Clone Cadets,” five headstrong cadets – Hevy, Cutup, Droidbait, Fives and Echo – struggle to complete their training on the ocean planet of Kamino. Unable to work together as a team, they must learn to embrace their future as soldiers before they are drummed out of the academy.
“It’s a band-of-brothers story that takes you back before most of the episodes we’ve seen so far; it’s one of the earliest episodes – chronologically – in the series,” says Dee Bradley Baker, voice of the clones. “We’re going to see how the ‘shinies’ [new recruits featured in the first season episode, ‘Rookies’] learn to work together. Starting off, they’re not a team at all. They’re just everymen; they’re human. And now they’ve got to pull it together. There’s something really cool about how the show brings out the heroism from characters like that – not just the superpowered ones.”
A revealing look at clone development and training, the episode also introduces a unique new character. Clone Number 99 is a unique clone – and imperfect model relegated to menial, custodial duties at the Kamino production facility. Still, despite his physical flaws, he nonetheless identifies with his genetic brethren – and he aspires to make his own small contributions to their noble war efforts.
“He’s a great example of the show’s creative risks,” says Baker. “I was nervous going into this episode. Does he sound real? Is he believable? I agonized over it; he’s a very special character, and a very unique challenge. Kinda high stakes for me, because I wanted so badly to get it right. He’s a little bit slower…quieter…softer than your basic clone voice. I skewed his dialect toward cockney to give him a blue collar, salt-of-the-earth flavor. I’ve got a lot of favorites, but 99’s definitely one of them. His story is very affecting – really beautiful on a lot of different levels.”
The Clone Trooper valiantly defend their home world of Kamino in ARC TROOPERS
On the heels of “Clone Cadets” comes “ARC Troopers,” which revisits the clones after the notable events of “Rookies” – with the surviving squad members tasked with defending Kamino from a large-scale Separatist attack. After the Republic repulses the Separatists’ first assault, the real threat begins. Asajj Ventress, General Grievous and an army of droids rise out of the planet’s oceans, determined to destroy the clone production facilities – and the clones themselves are the last line of desperate defense.
“This episode raises the stakes in a really spectacular way. This is big space opera; this is why you want to own an HD TV. It’s basically the scale of a Star Wars movie – on TV,” says Baker. “It’s awesome. I’m so very proud of this show; it’s exciting to make this kind of episode work. And it’s such a team effort. There’s an army of artists working to make this compelling and moving. This is extraordinary storytelling.”
New character Jedi Master Di (left) makes his first appearance in SUPPLY LINES
And it’s just the beginning. In a galaxy far, far away…much to learn there still is.
I thought I'd launch a new occasional humorous spotlight on this blog that looks at classic mistakes in the press and other general media linked to STAR WARS over the years. And there are some absolute crackers that will eventually appear. It's all just a bit of fun and nothing to be taken too seriously.
This week, we launch with a brand new mistake from this weeks esteemed UK TV listings magazine RADIO TIMES (cover date 23rd October). Kudos to them for a great weekend highlights summary (above) for the third new season of THE CLONE WARS series, which starts in the UK on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE HD this Saturday, but its a shame they got the wrong animated series picture with it! Obviously, a group of people working there didn't see the unfortunate error or weren't aware that there were two types of animated adventure series.
Mace Windu deflects an attack in THE CLONE WARS episode CHILDREN OF THE FORCE
Its not long now until the third season of THE CLONE WARS explodes onto the UK's SKY MOVIES HD platform, but until then SKY MOVIES SCI-FI AND HORROR continue to well represent the series fans, offering us the chance to catch up with multiple episodes of Season Two across Saturday and Sunday mornings this weekend. Tune in for further brilliantly animated slices of epic adventure, lightsaber combat, clone battles and lots of fun.
Let's hope we see a lot more of Yoda in Season Three
Its not long now- mere weeks- until UK viewers get to see the brand new third series of THE CLONE WARS exclusively on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE and HD. In the meantime, SKY has very kindly sent AFICIONADO some great new LUCASFILM ANIMATION images from the new series as a little taster.
Cad Bane makes an appearance at Jabba's Court. Does this signal the start of the Hutt Clan war?
A Republic gunship heads towards Tipocca City with urgent news.
Keep checking the AFICIONADO blog for more THE CLONE WARS updates.
