** MOVIE NEWS **
STAR WARS - ORIGINAL TRILOGY (ULTIMATE EDITIONS)
Yes, that's right; George Lucas has been digitally tinkering with Star
Wars again - this time as a way to link the original trilogy with his
prequel trilogy.
In fact, Lucas is even hoping to get co-director credits on The Empire
Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi.
So what can fans expect to see restored, re-shot or replaced? Here's an
unconfirmed list of changes from 'Aint-It-Cool-News':
Episode IV: A New Hope
- 1. The Imperial March has been added to Darth Vader's first appearance
on Princess Leia's ship.
- 2. When Obi-Wan is talking to Luke about his father Anakin's Theme plays
in the background and then it turns into the Imperial March as he talks
about Vader.
- 3. The lightsabre effects have been redone and the frame jumps of
lightsabre being turned on have been removed.
- 4. There's a new scene which has been shot during the filming of Episode
III in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate.
- 5. In the Cantina, the Duros (green alien guys) have been replaced with
Neimoidians and some aliens from the prequels have been added.
- 6. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with a
non-bleeding arm because it's now canon that lightsabre cauterize
wounds.
- 7. The original shooting scene between Han and Greedo has been restored.
- 8. Jabba the Hutt has been given a makeover and Han no longer steps on
his tale.
- 9. In place of R2 wobbling down the stairs to the Falcon's hangar, a CG
R2 navigating the stairs like he does in Attack of the Clones was added.
- 10. The white boxes around space ships have been removed and new CG
shots have been added.
- 11. The scene of the Falcon being chased by the two Star Destroyers was
modified. The Falcon now does spinning moves, avoiding the Star
Destroyers' fire.
- 12. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there's a new scene of Yoda's
reaction to the disturbance in the Force that is created by all those
deaths and then it cuts to Obi-Wan reacting to it as well.
- 13. The Dianoga has gotten a CG makeover and we're now able to see more
of the creature.
- 14. The Death Star's panelling and computers have been slightly altered
to show similar displays to those in the prequels.
- 15. The words "Tractor Beam" with Aurebesh lettering.
- 16. More Stormtroopers have been added to the Death Star.
- 17. Some Storm Troopers will wear clone like armour
- 18. The Obi-Wan/Vader duel has been spruced up. It is much more epic and
there is much more movement. A modified version of Duel of the Fates is
being considered for the scene.
- 19. The Death Star plans that are taken from R2 have been updated. When
the Rebels are reviewing the Death Star plans they look similar to the
plans we see in Attack of the Clones.
- 20. The Death Star battle is much more epic with more Tie Fighters and
more Rebels being blown to bits. We get to see old Naboo Starfighters
being used by the Rebels.
- 21. There's a new scene (shot during Episode III) where Darth Vader goes
to Coruscant and lands his ship in the same building Count Dooku does at
the end of Attack of the Clones. Except now the building is all fixed up
and it is now Palpatine's palace. He meets with Palpatine to ask for
forgiveness for his failure and inform him of a new potential who is
strong in the Force.
- 22. Chewbacca now gets a medal.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- 1. The taun-tauns are now CG.
- 2. The battle of Hoth is much more epic. We see the Imperial ships land
on Hoth and release AT-ATs. The AT-ATs have been sped up a bit. There's
a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and Stormtroopers featuring
new ships and vehicles.
- 3. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for the older
Stormtroopers.
- 4. The white boxes around space ships have been removed.
- 5. The slug monster is CG.
- 6. Ian McDiarmid has re-filmed scenes as the Emperor. The conversations
between Vader and Palpatine are now longer and feature a few connections
to the prequels.
- 7. Yoda's face is now animated in CG allowing more expression of
emotions yet his movements remain the same. Also two deleted scenes
featuring Yoda instructing Luke have been restored.
- 8. A new scene was shot in which the Stormtroopers, after they capture
Han, Leia and Chewie, bring Vader the box containing C-3PO in pieces.
Vader orders the Stormtroopers to bring the broken droid to Chewbacca's
cell so that he can fix him.
- 9. The lightsabre effects have been redone in certain parts.
- 10. Luke's fall from Cloud City has been re-shot against blue-screen
using a stuntman.
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- 1. Jabba the Hutt is now a combination of the puppet and CG.
- 2. The Rancor is CG and looks disgusting as ever.
- 3. Yoda is CG. Yoda disappears leaving his clothes behind like Obi-Wan now.
- 4. Saber effects were spruced up.
- 5. The plan is to insert the love theme Across the Stars when Luke is
talking with Leia about their mother.
- 6. Temuera Morrison's like before is now the voice for some
Stormtroopers.
- 7. In the battle of Endor there more Ewoks and they are more vicious.
- 8. White boxes around ships removed.
- 9. The black blotches around Palpatine's face are gone.
- 10. Some of the lightsabre effects have been redone. The shadows that
the lightsabre made on the floor are gone.
- 11. During Anakin's death scene it starts with a sad rendition of the
Imperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin's Theme.
- 12. Anakin's spirit is now played by Hayden Christenson with make-up to
make him look his age. He looks on proudly at his son Luke with the
spirit of Padme by his side.
CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
'The Calgary Sun' talked to director Tim Burton who commented on his
involvement with a new Charlie & The Chocolate Factory movie, saying: "I
have no idea when we'll begin on Willy. It will all depend on the
script. I won't be tied down to a release date ever again."
Burton says he chose Johnny Depp for the role of Willy Wonka because
"he's always surprising and funny and right now he's a big star."
The movie is currently being written by John August, who also wrote the
screenplay for Burton's upcoming Big Fish.
Burton also confirmed that he won't be involved in a sequel to his
critically derided Planet Of The Apes remake, saying: "No, no, no,
never. After having made Batman Returns, I realized it's not a good idea
for me to do sequels."
AMERICAN GOTHIC - THE MOVIE
'Little Magic Films', a company known for their film distribution across
Japan, are going to be the financial partners with 'Fathom Pictures' on
a film version of cancelled cult TV series American Gothic - if they get
final approval from 'Universal'.
Kiki Miyake is the President and US representative for the 'LMF' and
hopes the deal will be done by Christmas - but because of 'NBC''s
purchase of 'Universal', it could take longer.
Director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) is set to executive produce the movie,
after being involved with the original show. Stars Brenda Bakke, Lucas
Black (both right) and Jake Weber are also attached to reprise their roles, but no
word on Gary Cole's return as the devilish Sheriff Buck.
THE GOONIES II
Goonies Never Say Die is the working title of the Goonies II screenplay,
not The Groonies, as mentioned in the previous DMD. The Groonies/Goonies
mistake is actually a one-line gag in the movie, where the kids of the
original gang mistakenly resurrect the group under the wrong name.
KILL BILL: VOLUME II
Writer-director Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon A Time In Mexico) is set to
compose some music for friend Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Volume II,
due for release in the States on 20 February 2004.
BATMAN
'Cinescape' reports director Christopher Nolan (Memento) is trying to
cast an actor to play The Scarecrow for the opening segment of his new
Batman movie, currently working-titled Batman: Intimidation Game.
The Scarecrow will only feature in the beginning of the film, where
Batman (Christian Bale) defeats him, but as a result decides to leave
Gotham City for London.
While in London, the film's main adversary, Egyptian mystic Ra Al-Ghul,
will be revealed. British actor Christopher Eccleston (right, 28 Days Later) is
the rumoured favourite to play The Scarecrow for the movie's opening,
and could return for the next movie, while John Malkovich's name has
been mentioned to play Al-Ghul.
Michael Caine has already agreed to play Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred,
assuming the role previously played by Michael Gough in the movies.
KING KONG
After recent rumours that Andy Serkis (Gollum) may bring King Kong to
CGI-life, another Lord Of The Rings actor has been attached to Peter
Jackson's remake - Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalph).
McKellen himself has stated that: "[Peter Jackson] did say he might have
something for me to do in King Kong and I hope that's true. It would be
lovely."
** IN THE PIPELINE **