Cameras roll on final Star Wars movie

The Herald-Sun ^ | 30jun03 | MICHAEL OWEN-BROWN

[yankeedame]

Cameras roll on final Star Wars

By MICHAEL OWEN-BROWN
30jun03

THE republic is crumbling, the forces of evil are massing and a legion of science-fiction fans are quivering in anticipation.

The last chapter of Star Wars starts filming today at Sydney's Fox Studios.

Almost 1000 crew will work on the $173 million production, which stars about about 60 Australian actors. Fans can watch parts of the filming on webcam.

The film, due for release in 2005, will focus on young Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker being seduced by the dark side of the Force on his way to becoming Darth Vader.

Also, Senator Palpatine orders the destruction of the Jedi order on his way to becoming emperor.

Lucas said the film was darker than the others.

"Let's face it, all the bad guys win in the end, all the good guys are dead except for a couple, so it doesn't have a happy ending," he said.

The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen. Australians Joel Edgerton, Jay Laga'aia, Genevieve O'Reilly, Bruce Spence, Kristy Wright and Warren Owens also feature.

[Hodar]

You realize that this will be the greatest episode of them all. Me triumphant, and in control of the galaxy.

You wouldn't be having a need a mild-mannered engineer with delusions of wealth, would ya?

[montag813]

Oh please, please! let Jar Jar return for this one!

I think Jar Jar gets killed in Episode 3. This event will no doubt result in the loudest cheer ever heard at a Star Wars film.

[general_re]

Plus, I have some special Vivid Video style plans and music for the cute little Naboo chick and Princess Leia.....

Please add me to your mailing list. Thanks.

[LS]

Me too. I loved all of them, including the last two. The rest of you are old fogeys.

[montag813]

Episode 2 was good. Christiansen should deliver the goods in Ep. 3. Portman will hopefully take some time off from Harvard to take more acting lessons. Where Lucus screwed up is in having an Episode 1 at all. It was pointless, and could have taken up an extra half hour of Ep. 2. He would have been better off making an extra film between Ep. 2 and 3.

[xJones]

Oh please, the acting abilities of Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen could sedate the Gadarene Demoniac. That pair makes even Al & Tipper look like fun. The passion that goes into their love scenes should have the movie rated "N" for narcolepsy.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Absolutely. But if you waiver or fail, expect to be force strangled.

[RoughDobermann]

Oh please, the acting abilities of Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen could sedate the Gadarene Demoniac

Agreed. They are painful to watch, although Natalie's appearance does soften the blow a little... I personally think that the lack of use of contractions adds to the poor acting: "Do not get me wrong. I am truly grateful to have Obi One as my guide..." Ukkk. He sounds like Data from Star Trek

[Hodar]

But if you waiver or fail, expect to be force strangled

You mean lightning bolted, don't you ? I just have make sure that I
1) Am no where to be found should I screw up
2) Keep myself electrically isolated

[Chancellor Palpatine]

[scene: Chancellor Palpatine at desk, doing work. One of my guards brings in both Leia and the Naboo chick, in ripped clothes.]

Leia: Oh please, Palpatine, don't kill us. We'll do anything.

Naboo Chick: That's right sir, anything.

[Girls giggle and shiver as Palpatine does something with force, quivering fingers at them. Palpatine smiles and stands up from desk, starting to move toward them. Cue wocka wocka music.....]

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Vader does all my minion discipline. You'd have to seriously betray me to get lighting bolted, and I'd pry you out of a Faraday cage.

[discostu]

I haven't seen either of them outside of a Lucas film so I can't say. I do know that Lucas is pretty famous for not giving actors any kind of useful direction to help them find the tone and emotion of the character. He's a camera director not an acting director. The joke on the set of the first movie was that he only gave actors two instructions: faster, louder.

[VRWCmember]

How does the Empire go from being good to bad, and the Rebellion go from being bad to good?

Conspiracy of a few within the senate with the Trade Federation birthed the "Empire" from the Senate. The Emperor dissolved the Senate in Episode IV. The "Rebellion" in Eps IV thru VI did not exist in Eps I and II; perhaps we'll witness the birth of the Rebellion in Ep III.

Anakin does not have a physical father. He was conceived through "the Force" and was destined to be the fulfillment of the prophecy to bring balance to the Force (which could either be for good or for evil), but that balance ultimately came through his son rather than thru him directly (those prophecies can be tricky things - as Joss Whedon has shown us in BTVS and Angel).

[Sofa King]

Let me guess.... Lucas hasn't had the good sense to get someone else to direct the movie and to write the dialogue yet, has he?

[JOE6PAK]

OHHhhhhh, Lets all go get in line NOW!

[LexBaird]

[scene: Chancellor Palpatine at desk, doing work. One of my guards brings in both Leia and the Naboo chick, in ripped clothes.]

Wouldn't that Naboo chick be Leia's momma? Hey, Palpatine, I knew you were evil, but I didn't know you were kinky.

[Phsstpok]

I'd pry you out of a Faraday cage

That's it !!! The Emperor is really Nikolai Tesla. He doesn't really die at the end of Episode 6, Return of the Jedi. He begins the long journey into exile on a remote planet called e-arth something, where another exile named Stitch is hanging out... wait... I've crossed over into Disney...

That's it !!! There was a book about Walt Disney called "Dark Prince" .......

[Mike-o-Matic]

   Plus I don't have jedi powers to fight back. Just a 357.

A .357, eh? Well then, don't feel too bad. After all, to paraphrase Han Solo, "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side!!"

[sweetliberty]

" I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a final three be confirmed after Episode III."

I really hope so. I know Lucas said he wouldn't continue, but that could change, or perhaps he could pass the torch to someone else while remaining the final say. It always seemed at the end of "Return of the Jedi" that there was more to be told.

[CyberAnt]

If all the bad guys win in the end - then why should I bother going to see it - phooey on it!!