SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 4: "THE LOST TWENTY"

We'd all seen the pictures before the release of EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, where, within the vast interior of the Jedi Temple Archives, Obi-Wan Kenobi looks on at a bust (one of many showing other historically important Jedi), bearing the visage of Count Dooku, leading to Librarian Jocastu Nu recounting to him (and the audience) how the ex-Jedi Master has become one of the few of a group, intriguingly known as "the Lost Twenty", to have deliberately departed the Jedi Order of their own free will due to differing viewpoints with the colleagues. Sadly, the fascinating scene, which revealed how Dooku's then recent departure had proved a bitter blow to the Council (soon further surprised by his becoming the leader of the ever-growing Separatist Forces against the Republic), disappointingly never making it into the final film.

Here's hoping for either a re-insertion of the footage into the film on Blu-ray or, at least, a welcome appearance in the Deleted Scenes section...

OLD FRIENDS, NEW ENEMIES. "THE CLONE WARS" SEASON FOUR

A young Admiral Ackbar, joined with Ahsoka, leads his underwater forces into battle. 

Anakin captured by Dooku!

Padme (in her EPISODE ONE Naboo battle outfit) to the rescue?

Dooku wants revenge on Naboo and the Senator.

The battle re-joined. Anakin versus Dooku part three.

The attack on Naboo continues as the Gungans and Captain Tarpals (?) takes on Grievous... 

And it looks like the General may get his butt kicked!

A mighty space battle above Naboo.

Another dangerous mission to come for our Clone Trooper heroes...

And Rex takes on a dangerous new opponent.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SPRINGING THE TRAP!

On the top level observation spire of General Grievous's command warship, The Invisible Hand, which is immersed in a huge orbital battle above the Republic homeworld of Coruscant, legendary Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker engage in their final (all too brief on screen) lightsaber duel with the evil Count Dooku, so as to rescue the captured Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.

It will be a conflict with tremendous consequences for young Anakin Skywalker...

CLASSIC IMAGE: SITH SWORDSMANSHIP!

An interesting EPISODE II image used online for a devoted STAR WARS fans desktop wallpaper, showing Christopher Lee as the evil Count Dooku flexing two lightsabers for part of a filmed but ultimately deleted duel sequence between the Sith Lord and Yoda in the Geonosian Hangar. Let's hope that one day the entire action sequence will appear on Blu-ray.

Outside of playing Count Dooku, our best wishes go out to Christopher Lee on his accepting his BAFTA fellowship award for his life and career in movies this weekend in London. It's well deserved and great to see him properly acknowledged.

"CLONE WARS" PREVIEW: "WITCHES OF THE MIST"

The very nice people at SKY MOVIES have sent us their latest press release for the new episode this week showing exclusively in the UK on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE and HD.

Here's the info:

The Must-See Conclusion to an Epic Three-Part Clone Wars Arc

Sent to track down the mysterious figure behind the deaths of several Jedi, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi find themselves on the trail of Count Dooku’s newest apprentice – the monstrous Savage Opress. However, Dooku and Asajj Ventress discover that their creation has a will of his own, and that he has grown more powerful than either of them had anticipated – perhaps even more powerful than the combined forces of the Jedi and the Sith. The end begins in “Witches of the Mist,” the final chapter of a thrilling, three-part Clone Wars arc – airing at 5.30pm Saturday 29th January on Sky Movies Premiere/HD.

Driven by the Machiavellian machinations of Count Dooku, the series’ various villains come face to face at last in a climactic clash of red sabers. Dooku, Opress and Ventress – all are manifestations of evil, yet each is so distinct. It’s not until these three titans are brought together in the heat of conflict, however, that their nuances and differences become truly clear.

“With Dooku, the series' direction is pushing his character more towards that of a masterful diplomat, concealing a sinister agenda beneath a veil of polite sophistication,” says Corey Burton, voice of Dooku – and countless other Clone Wars characters, both good and evil. “He's a subversive political overlord – a major marketing force and seducer for the dark side ‘brand.’ It's all about his personal enrichment, power and position within the hierarchy; there's nothing intentionally cruel or vengeful in his manner, or behind his dastardly actions – as a Sith Lord, it's just how things are done to most efficiently preside over the fate of the galaxy. Mustache-twirling displays are beneath his sense of dignity.”

While Dooku is as consumed by his quest for power as he is by his own sense of sophistication, Ventress is wholly unconcerned by the niceties of evil. Driven by a desire for revenge, her motivation is raw and real – a product and a reflection of her own difficult past.

“She’s been wronged by so many, and I believe her experiences will lead her in an even more powerful direction,” says Nika Futterman, voice of Ventress. “We are finally beginning to understand what makes Asajj tick; I think this is her quest for revenge and not power like the Sith. That’s what separates her. She does things that may seem like her quest for power, but, I think she aligned herself with the dark side as a means to an end. She doesn’t ever forget who has done right by her and, of course, who has done her wrong. All this time, I had hoped that I would be able to delve into what made her so fabulous and complex. It turns out my hopes are coming true!”

Serving as a foil for the final confrontation between the former master and his jilted apprentice is the massively powerful Opress. Ostensibly a blunt instrument of evil, the monstrous creation is nonetheless imbued with a perverse humanity of his own – brought to the surface by sharp writing and a soulful performance by screen legend Clancy Brown (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption).

“I'd been a fan of The Clone Wars since the first season; and then caught up with the second season with my son,” says Brown. “He was excited because it was Star Wars and I was excited about the role not just because it was in the Star Wars universe but because the writing is so sophisticated. There was never any question from me about Savage's motives and what was going on because I was familiar with the characters, and you can go another layer deeper.”

CLASSIC IMAGE: IN THE NICK OF TIME!

In one of the best cheer out loud moments of EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, Yoda and the fresh for battle Clone Armies arrive on Geonosis to assist their Jedi colleagues and stop Count Dooku and his new forces.

The Clone War has begun!

THE CLONE WARS: INTRODUCING SAVAGE OPRESS!

2011 will no doubt be the year of Savage Opress!

Note: This feature contains possible SPOILERS

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 - and please 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




http://tv.yahoo.com/star-wars-the-clone-wars/show/38472/videos/22903025#111010
http://www.starwars.com/video/view/001147.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBK7uaX5dOA

Time will tell on all things, but, in the meantime, the fireworks of battle will fly! Especially against Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi!

DUEL OF THE FATES. Part Two!

Coming from 7th January 2011 to CARTOON NETWORK in the US and SKY MOVIES PREMIERE and HD in the UK.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE TWO MASTERS OF DARKNESS!

From the EPISODE II DVD special features, here's some fun images showing legendary actor Christopher Lee- Count Dooku himself- at FOX STUDIOS AUSTRALIA in 2000, getting ready to film the next part of his lightsaber duel (with double Kyle Rowling) in the Geonosian hangar for EPISODE II, and this time up against his old Jedi Master, Yoda. Only, his opponent's looking a little bit different today!

The reference Yoda dummy used on that days filming would be given some vampire fangs by the behind the scenes crew in an amusing DRACULA joke/honorable homage. Despite Lee's seriousness on set to Lucas that he didn't find the improvised visual gag funny, we secretly hope that he eventually saw the lighter side of it all!

CELEBRATION V: "THE CLONE WARS" SEASON THREE NEWS...

With THE CLONE WARS then still under wraps, aside from some early art and a wow factor trailer, for the most part of the previous Celebration IV, the gloves were now off and the secrecy shackles removed from Dave Filoni for this years Celebration V, as he presented two spectacular digital screening panels to packed and eager audiences for the upcoming third season of THE CLONE WARS. Here's some of the great information I was able to glean from the event, on what looks set to be an absolutely fantastic new season of epic battles, grand heroics and truly evil deeds.


Please note, there are lots of spoilers below.

The opening episodes see a stunning attack on the clone facilities at Kamino by the Separatists, led by Asajj Ventress, in underwater attack ships (similar to the one that captured Rotta the Hutt's Tatooine Sail Barge from the Clone Wars movie) that literally latch themselves onto the Kaminoan cities and smash their way into the superstructures, unleashing destruction on a grand scale (including an incredible scene where the Clone vats are destroyed) and a new series of Super Battle Droids.


Several new Jedi faces will be added to the ranks, though one will be killed by a mysterious assassin or creature during the series run. Shaak Ti is also a new face to the series- the decision was taken to introduce her later in the run so that kids would not get her confused with the similar looking Ahsoka.


Its been hinted at by Filoni that the previously thought to be destroyed Slave One vessel of Boba Fett is in the hands of pirate Hondo Ohnaka, and is getting a refurbishment that will make the ship look a little closer in appearance to the way it will be in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.


There will be a link/character from the Classic Trilogy appearing in Season Three (our money is on a teenage Han Solo, whose planned appearance was cut from EPISODE III).


The series may go beyond its planned five year run (Lucas and co. are currently working on Year Five as you read this), and looks set to run for as long as its popular with fans and audiences.


In a question I asked Filoni at one of the talks he confirmed that, with the advances in series CGI realisation (including rain and sea waves for Kamino, fire and costume material for the characters), we will one day see Wookiees and Kashyyyk in the series.

The action sequences have been amped up with better lighting and angles and a greater sense of realism now that the CGI has been improved and refined even further. Expect to see a lot more believability of movement and more shadows and reflections.


Count Dooku, in very stylish pyjamas no less!, will have a stunning lightsaber duel with a group of mostly invisible assassins-an idea that was conceived by Lucas (though it's initial concept did put a smile on Filoni's face at the thought of invisible people!) and looked superb in the footage shown at the event. Overall, there will be more of Dooku in this season and we'll also find out what the title crawl to EPISODE III meant when it said "There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere."

Based on designs originally conceived by Ian McCaig for EPISODE ONE, the scarily drawn Sith Witches become reality, now known as the Witches of Dathomir, the home race of Asajj Ventress, revealed in Season Three. In the episode/s, Ventress is seemingly on the run from Dooku/Sidious and seeks refuge with her "family" on Dathomir, on a planet where the male and female races have evolved separately from one another. Its been hinted at that this season will be the last for Ventress's character-which is a bit of a shame.


From the new mega trailer (first shown exclusively at the CV event, and edited by one of Filoni's best friends, who now also works for LUCASFILM), the Duchess of Satine and the Mandalorians will return, as do the Toydarians, Aurra Sing, Clone Commander Wolf, Jabba and Ziro the Hutt (the latter, possibly along with Boba Fett (?), busted from prison on Coruscant and heralding the start of a Hutt clan war later in the season), Jar Jar Binks (once more voiced by Ahmed Best), plus General Grievous and Cad Bane (who gives Obi-Wan Kenobi an "electrifying" time in one lightsaber duel).


The big highlight for many though was the reveal of Darth Maul's brother, Savage Opres, who will become a regular enemy for the Jedi to fight this season- a gift from the Witches of Dathomir to Count Dooku.


The Clone Commandos also make a brief cameo in one episode, in a sequence shown at the convention that brought the house down with applause after years of waiting for a visual appearance somewhere in live action or animated Prequel-dom.

Katie Lucas has written quite a few episodes for this season, including the Ventress/Dathomir episodes and one coming up which will star the entire Lucas family as the blue skinned Papanoidia family, with George's Baron heavily involved in an action sequence in a cantina, though son Jett was unhappy that his animated character's gun wasn't as big as his dad's!

The Year Three mega trailer for THE CLONE WARS can be seen on the official STAR WARS site's main CELEBRATION V home page, and is coming to the US CARTOON NETWORK from September 17th 2010, and on SKY in the UK by at least the end of October this year. 

CHRISTOPHER LEE : THE TYRANNY AND DECEIT OF COUNT DOOKU

Christopher Lee has always been a fine actor, with his iconic role as Dracula, alongside his many other classic HAMMER horror/ sci-fi fantasy film credits, adding to a fine pedigree of projects that have been a continuing staple of my viewing habits in watching great film and TV. As the corrupted Jedi turned Sith, Count Dooku, in EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, he was terrific, and made what could have been a small role even larger and more satsifying to watch with his commanding presence-the role demanding, and getting, an actor possessing an eloquent voice and a demeanour of sophistication and evil that was to be a great addition to the STAR WARS saga. Sadly, Christopher's appearance in EPISODE III a few years later was all too brief-I was hoping he'd have a larger part in proceedings related to the death of the Jedi Order- but we can at least savour a strong opening to the film, where his character finally gets his just desserts from the now more skilled and dangerous force that is Anakin Skywalker, egged on in his actions by Dooku's duplicitous Master, Darth Sidious.

Even as he approaches his nineties, Lee's acting credentials continue to grow longer and more intriguing, and the film and TV world is a lot better place for it with his presence.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ANAKIN ATTACK!

In a classic sequence from EPISODE II (which got lots of cheers from UK and US audiences on its premiere screening nights), though heavily truncated down from what was originally choreographed and filmed in 2000, the brave Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) goes on the attack against the fiendish Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). Note the digital face of Lee superimposed by ILM onto his excellent double, Australian stuntman and swordsman, Kyle Rowling.