Beginning of Ep III revealed

[QMM 4]

June 11, 2004 - George Lucas and Industrial Light & Magic are working to make cinema's Battle to End All Battles. Episode III will open with the grandest space confrontation ever filmed, if details released by Lucasfilm are an accurate prediction of the final film.

Printed in the latest Homing Beacon newsletter (available for subscription at StarWars.com) is a description of the third prequel's opening sequence.

"The starfleets of the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems are locked in a jumbled brawl of lumbering capital ships and swift starfighters, exchanging fire high in the Coruscant atmosphere.

"Hundreds upon hundreds of ships are engaged in this high-stakes battle of the Clone Wars, but the audience will only really follow two small snubfighters into the thick of battle. As Obi-Wan and Anakin dive into the heart of the conflict to carry out a most important mission, they'll be the camera's guide through the chaos."

According to the report, the Animatics Department has a "recipe" of cool shots they hope to insert into the space battle. The to-do list of these film specialists includes all kinds of creative starship collisions, unusual formation tactics, and new weapons causing massive damage in a variety of ways. In addition to the beam weapons of the original trilogy and the shockwave bombs seen in Attack of the Clones, starships will using massive electromagnetic pulses to disable each other in combat, while Republican cruisers will launch special missiles that show off a new explosion effect ILM just invented (see the Jan. 9 Hyperspace article for details). Decimated capital ships will strew the battlefield with dense clouds of floating debris, creating perilous snub fighter chases not unlike the asteroid scene in ESB. Reinforcements will drop into the battle from hyperspace in real time to assist beleaguered allies. Fuel leaking from damaged vessels will ignite as other ships fly through it. Powerful ships will use tractor beams (hopefully the invisible kind like in A New Hope) to collect injured fighters and paralyze enemies.

Not all this cool mayhem may make the final cut of the movie, mind you. The newsletter mentions in-battle launches of droid tri-fighters, which we now know have been cut from the film.

We can expect to see new ships and new technology, much of it precursors to that seen in the original trilogy. A new Hyperspace article suggests that Jedi cruisers will feature the triangular shape that the Empire uses in the original three films. Some parts of the battle feature droids with attached booster rockets flying in swarms, and "vulture droids" that land on the hull of larger craft and attack inwards. The "donut-ships" of the Trade Federation also comprise a significant portion of the Separatist fleet.

Anakin and Obi-Wan are in the thick of things, not because they're actually engaged in battle, but because they're trying to pull off a rescue mission while the fighting rages.

Much of this sequence is being developed in close collaboration with Lucas himself. Rough 3D animations of the action are created and refined, providing visual references for editors, film crews, and the special effects teams.  

If this is just the introduction, it will be interesting to see what Lucas cooks up for the grand finale.

http://filmforce.ign.com/starwars/articles...2/522994p1.html

[Morlock 11]

Sounds.......crappy. Though it could possibly be good, I doubt it. I could forsee all the terrible jokes.

[King Mark 3,631]

If there's one thing Lucas does better than anyone else,it's epic space battles.They have been sorely missed in the first 2 films.Compare the choreography is SW space battles to any other sci-fi movies.Return of the Jedi can't even be touched 20+ years later in that respect.I'm sure it will be great.Maybe this movie will deserve to be called a Star Wars film.

K.M.

[Hlao-roo 389]

If there's one thing Lucas does more often in his movies than anyone else, it's epic space battles.

[Morlock 11]

Yes, but he's using today's effects, and if AoTC has taught me anything, it's that I can expect a whole lot more plastic, synthetic, and all in all bad SFX.

[Rogue_Leader 2]

Lucas' bad direction will certainly largely hurt this sequence. The man has had TERRIBLE action choreography and edsiting in the last two movies. I dont expect it to be improved here.

I mean look at the space battle at the end of TPM. It was horribly done. The action in AOTC's finale was not great either. Lucas has lost his touch and without it it doesn't matter how much CG they put on screen. They will never match ROTJ.

[Morlock 11]

I mean look at the space battle at the end of TPM. It was horribly done.

The action in AOTC's finale was not great either.

It's the other way around IMO. AoTC scuked in every sense. TPM's effects were better at least.

[A24 4,369]

Lucas' bad direction will certainly largely hurt this sequence. The man has had TERRIBLE action choreography and edsiting in the last two movies. I dont expect it to be improved here.  

I mean look at the space battle at the end of TPM. It was horribly done. The action in AOTC's finale was not great either. Lucas has lost his touch and without it it doesn't matter how much CG they put on screen. They will never match ROTJ.

True, Roque, very true. George Lucas not only lost his ability to tell a story but he also forgot how to choreograph a battle scene. Even in ROTJ, I couldn't care less about the Death Star II battle scene, even though the special effects looked great. Of course, that battle scene only served as a background for the splendid confrontation between Luke, Darth and the Emperor.

----------------

Alex Cremers

[Morn 8]

I thought AOTC's FX were great, the film looked beautiful. I'd tired of this problem people have with CGI, the traditional FX of ANH don't look any less fake, probably more fake. The problem with AOTC was of course the direction and script.....

[HPFAN_2 0]

I Stopped reading half way through the paragraph.

[Lurker 5]

I Stopped reading half way through the paragraph.

So did I (if you meant to say "first paragraph").

Neil

[A24 4,369]

I thought AOTC's FX were great, the film looked beautiful. I'd tired of this problem people have with CGI,  the traditional FX of ANH don't look any less fake, probably more fake. The problem with AOTC was of course the direction and script.....

And the excessive use of CGI. It's like you're watching an animation film for half the time.

----------------

Alex Cremers

[QMM 4]

Lucas' bad direction will certainly largely hurt this sequence. The man has had TERRIBLE action choreography and edsiting in the last two movies. I dont expect it to be improved here.  

I mean look at the space battle at the end of TPM. It was horribly done. The action in AOTC's finale was not great either. Lucas has lost his touch and without it it doesn't matter how much CG they put on screen. They will never match ROTJ.

True, Roque, very true. George Lucas not only lost his ability to tell a story but he also forgot how to choreograph a battle scene. Even in ROTJ, I couldn't care less about the Death Star II battle scene, even though the special effects looked great. Of course, that battle scene only served as a background for the splendid confrontation between Luke, Darth and the Emperor.

----------------

Alex Cremers

The problem I had with ROTJ is the very fact that there was a second Death Star, it just made feel that the first film main action piece at the end is for nothing.

[Morlock 11]

I thought AOTC's FX were great, the film looked beautiful.

The effects looked like very well done animation. Those effects are some of the most synthetic, plastic looking effects ever. Nothing could penetrate them to create any real...emotion or any real feeling towards it's targets. That is BAD effects, in terms of a movie.

[HPFAN_2 0]

I don't think the Effect in AOTC was bad it's just they were used so many times that you began to notice all the subtle things that gave it away. I thought ObiWan's friend at the diner was great however he looked too synthetic.

[QMM 4]

And this is what we have to look forward to in the future of special effects films

Example: The upcoming film Sin City, based off the grim graphic novel by Frank Millar

ET reports that "Bruce and Jessica star in the translation of That Yellow Bastard, which follows the story of a cop on the verge of retirement who takes on one final case to save a young girl who has been kidnapped by a lunatic."

The show adds that Sin City "is being shot entirely with green screens (a process requiring no sets, only actors on a stage with props)."

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/516/516843p1.html

[Henry B 50]

Um, it sounds great. What the hell is everyone upset about?

[Docteur Qui 1,544]

Republican cruisers will launch special missiles that show off a new explosion effect ILM just invented

How many different ways of blowing things up are there?

[Rogue_Leader 2]

You know folks I gotta be honest here.

Sometimes I cannot believe its come to this.

10 years ago I would've never thought Star Wars (which was the ULTIMATE at that time) could bring a bad taste to my mouth every time I heard the name.

I truly wish Lucas hasd just left SW COMPLETELY alone after ROTJ.

It should've ended there. No adjustments, no prequels, no sequels.

Just make Willow 5: Fury of the Midgets or something.

I mean can you imagine how much different this forum would be if Lucas had gotten hit by a car 10 years ago?

All of the insanity we now loathe Lucas for would not exist.

We would all probably be talking on trhis forum about what a great man we all think he is thanking him for giving us Star Wars. It is truly amazing how with his own hands this guy has gone from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader in roughly the same amount of time as the character in Lucas' movies.

OH well ...... I guess I just felt looking back that it should not have turned out this way. Sadly it did!

[King Mark 3,631]

I mean can you imagine how much different this forum would be if Lucas had gotten hit by a car 10 years ago?  

It would not exist,and neither the JWfan.net.

K.M.

[Rogue_Leader 2]

Why would it not exist?

[King Mark 3,631]

Because this site came into existance because of Episode 1.It was called Episode 1,the Music.It only became a general Williams site later.

K.M.

[Rogue_Leader 2]

Oh yeah thats right. Forgot about that. Been a while. Well I still believe this site would've existed even if Episode 1 had not.

[Morlock 11]

Well, not having grown up on SW like some people, I don't care too much that he's ruining his legacy. I care that he's made a totaly irredemably crappy movie, but what can ya do?

I think EPI was an EXTREMELY worthwhile venture, since, if nothing else, it gave me what is in my opinion one of the greatest scores ever.

[Hlao-roo 389]

The CG, although often beatifully rendered, has a way of looking shiny and artificial. It's not helped by Lucas's color choices, which give so many of the blue screen "sets" a professional and dignified look on par with that of children's playground equipment. The SW prequels demand a visual and dramatic makeover analagous to that delivered by Alfonso Cuaron for the third HP installment. Unfortunately for us, George Lucas apparently doesn't even have a fraction of Chris Columbus's humility.

[Morlock 11]

Yes, Lucas does suck.

[Elmo Lewis 6]

Well, not having grown up on SW like some people, I don't care too much that he's ruining his legacy. I care that he's made a totaly irredemably crappy movie, but what can ya do?

Finally, the voice of reason.

[QMM 4]

I mean can you imagine how much different this forum would be if Lucas had gotten hit by a car 10 years ago?

From a bio on Lucas

During his late teens he went to Downey High School and was very much interested in drag car racing. He planned to become a professional racecar driver. However a terrible car accident just after his high school graduation ended that dream permanently. The accident changed his views on life.

He also came up with his idea for "the Force" here

[Lurker 5]

Did you know that it was a defective seat belt that saved his life?

Neil

[QMM 4]

USA Today caught up with George Lucas who said the Star Wars: Episode III title won't be officially announced until November, when the first trailer hits threaters.

But he conceded that fans on websites already have guessed correctly. The newspaper threw a couple of rumored titles at him: Rise of the Empire? "No, that's not it," Lucas said. How about Revenge of the Sith?

With that, Lucas smiled knowingly, backed away and teased, "That's a possibility. Lots of titles out there."

http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=5161

[Henry B 50]

So it's Revenge of the Sith. RotS...not a bad set of initials.

[Lurker 5]

Star Wars: Episode III - ROTS.

Neil - who could make a North by Northwest joke

[Miz 139]

The SW prequels demand a visual and dramatic makeover analagous to that delivered by Alfonso Cuaron for the third HP installment.

Oooh, that's exactly the kind of overhaul it needs. Good thought! The darkness of Episode 3 would lend itself to that kind of change...sadly, I doubt it will happen.

So it's Revenge of the Sith. RotS...not a bad set of initials.

He didn't say that. Don't assume til it's confiremd.

I still challenge anyone (including Lucas, though he can't hear me) to bear Fall of the Jedi. It works on as many levels as 'Return of the Jedi' did, and works as a good parallel to it. Whatever we get will be worse than that, I bet.

[Henry B 50]

He didn't say that. Don't assume til it's confiremd.

Oh, it's all but confirmed already...

"Is it Rise of the Empire?"

"No."

"Is it Revenge of the Sith?"

"Maybe...wink, wink!"

[Hlao-roo 389]

Star Wars:  Episode III - ROTS.

Neil - who could make a North by Northwest joke

I don't think the Jedi use matches.

[Luke Skywalker 1,810]

I hope it is Revenge of the Sith.

Unfortunately with those initials, i doubt they will use it. Thank you bashers

Tough with my usual SW Acronyms policies, it would be ROS....so....

But then, Ender could sue them...

[Lurker 5]

Star Wars:  Episode III - ROTS.

Neil - who could make a North by Northwest joke

I don't think the Jedi use matches.

Precisely.

Neil

[Jay 37,522]

Why would the Sith need revenge? They haven't been attacked yet!

As far as the good guys are concerned, its them VS the trade federation... nobody knows yet that that palpatine is really a sith, or that he was the one that maul worked for. they dont even know yet that dooku works for palpatine!

[Luke Skywalker 1,810]

Ahem, your lack of SW knowlegde dissapoints me.

Sith were rulers of the Galaxy once, and were defeated and decimated by the Jedi. They had to rely on low numbers (2) to survive. If that is not something to avenge for....

Darth Maul foresaw it: 'at last we will take revenge' :sigh"

[Luke Skywalker 1,810]

Woops, i now understand you point.

Anyway, the tiles are not known by the characters. It happened only in Spaceballs.

How would have ben it if the Rebellion knew the empire was coming, or that a new menace was upon the galaxy...

[QMM 4]

hasn't anybody played Star Wars: KOTOR? Jeez

[Rogue_Leader 2]

Actually the reason for their being only 2 Sith Lords according to the official storyline is that it was made that way by the Sith. Simply because their way of life lead the countless Sith out there to basically keep trying to destroy each other in a bid for power.

So they basically decided on just 2 guys. Master and apprentice.

One is the guy who rules over all and commands with mercy over his vast forces. The other is a loyal servant who always unquestionably follows the master's will.

Kind of like George Lucas and Rick McCallum.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

One is the guy who rules over all and commands with mercy over his vast forces. The other is a loyal servant who always unquestionably follows the master's will.  

Kind of like George Lucas and Rick McCallum.

Ray Barnsbury

[Rogue_Leader 2]

I wonder what will become of McCallum after the prequels are all released?

What purpose will he serve then? How will he be able to kiss Lucas' ass without a project of Lucas' to shower with overwhelming acclaim and wax poetic over.

Seriously Lucas better get to work on Willow 2: Madmartagen vs. The Midgets soon otherwise McCallum's very being will crumble.

You cannot be a "YES" man wihout something to continually concur with.

[Chris ChrusherComix 46]

If Williams gets a FINALIZED cut to score to, I'll be happy.

If his music will be chopped to bit, I won't be.

The original Trilogy was the masterpiece where the scores and movies were really untouchable (and I love ROTJ too, it doesn't deserve all of the bashing, IMO).

The Prequels have been excuses for Williams to compose excellent scores, although they have been poorly utilized in the movies. I have 3 things to be thankful to the Prequels for: 1. Darth Maul & every lightsaber duel that included him, 2. Anakin sluagyering Tusken Raiders, and 3. The scores. Yes, AOTC wasn't as good as TPM, but I loved both quite a bit.

I am predicting that E3 will be the best of the prequels and have a tremendous score. I'll be happy if we get an excellent movie, but I'll be happy with something a little better than E1 and E2.

[A24 4,369]

I wonder what will become of McCallum after the prequels are all released? What purpose will he serve then? How will he be able to kiss Lucas' ass without a project of Lucas' to shower with overwhelming acclaim and wax poetic over. You cannot be a "YES" man wihout something to continually concur with.

LOL

Don't underestimate Rick McCallum! The feeling of self-preservation is strong with him! After the Prequels Lucas will fall into emptiness. He'll feel alone and useless. McCallum will see this and that's the moment he'll start whispering things into George's ear. McCallum will be the one who makes Lucas believe he cannot retire before he really completes the saga: enter Episodes VII, VIII, IX.

----------------

Alex Cremers

[Lurker 5]

I am predicting that E3 will be the best of the prequels and have a tremendous score.

Again, what signs has Lucas shown that these movies are getting better?

McCallum will be the one who makes Lucas believe he cannot retire before he really completes the saga: enter Episodes VII, VIII, IX.

That would show signs of independent thought.

Neil

[A24 4,369]

That would show signs of independent thought.

Thoughts from whom?

Oh yeah McCallum! I get it! Of course, he can't think creatively, but self-preservation is an instinct, Neil!

----------------

Alex Cremers

[Lurker 5]

That would show signs of independent thought.

Thoughts from whom?

McCallum.

Neil

[A24 4,369]

For the sake of continuation I'll post my EDIT in my previous post separately.

Oh yeah McCallum! I get it! Of course, he can't think creatively, but self-preservation is an instinct, Neil!

----------------

Alex Cremers