News Form Celebration V

WildWallace wrote:

I never actually did watch any of The Clone Wars TV series. Is it any good?

The first series is pretty average up until the last Cad Bane episodes but the second series was awesome.

Sureshot wrote:

The first series is pretty average up until the last Cad Bane episodes but the second series was awesome.

I'll head onto iTunes and download season one now.

I haven't seen the second season. As for the first one, there are some good things and some bad things, nothing transcendent.

IGN wrote:

Clone Wars Introduces Darth Maul's Brother and... George Lucas?


There had been several panels devoted to The Clone Wars since Star Wars Celebration V began a couple of days ago – including one in which we learned the Republic Commandos will make their debut on the series -- but today was the big day as far as a ton of info about Season 3

Some of these reveals were made by George Lucas himself, during his panel with Jon Stewart. It turns out that Baron Papanoida, a character played in a cameo by Lucas in Revenge of the Sith, will appear in an episode of Season 3, with Lucas' children as the visual influence for the Baron's kids. A scene of the Baron's episode was shown, in which a huge gun battle breaks out in a cantina – and, quite humorously, Baron Papanoida turns out to be a bit of a bad @%&#, whipping out two guns he skillfully uses.

The second reveal made by Lucas involved fan-favorite Darth Maul, as it turned out his impact will be found on The Clone Wars this year in a big way – as we meet his brother. Lucas spoke about Asajj Ventress, noting she came form a planet where a powerful class of women ruled, while the men live in an enclave. Darth Sidious turned one of these men into his apprentice, Darth Maul (yes, this is a scenario that will nullify some previous expanded universe stories). We saw a clip where Count Dooku meets with an alien woman who introduces him to Maul's brother, named Savaage (hopefully I have that spelling right!).

Carrying an ax like weapon, he is much larger and more physically imposing than Maul, with yellow skin and long horns, along with the same black face tattoos as his brother. Says Dooku, "He certainly is a sight to behold." The woman replies, "And the fiercest of his kind. He shall serve you well." Dooku simply states, "Yes, he shall," as Savaage kneels before him.


Later in the day, Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni had much more footage to show us during the full Clone Wars panel – beginning with a very compelling sequence in which Battle Droids stage a full assault on Kamino. We saw a couple of different new Battle Droids here, including the Aqua Droids, who rise out of the ocean onto the Kamino platforms using large tentacles, resembling a metallic octopus. Both Grievous and Ventress lead the attack, with Grievous ordering his men to kill all the Clones. There was some jaw-dropping destruction in this clip, as the clone children run in terror while the cloning tanks are destroyed and buildings collapse under heavy firepower from the droids.

Filoni said Ventress is, "back in Season 3 in a big way," remarking, "It hasn't gone well for her. She's fighting for respectability," as he noted that "Dooku keeps stringing her along," while Sideous barely recognizes her, except as a cog in his war machine. He then added, "But if she ever became powerful enough to make her seem like a threat to Sideous, it cold go badly for her."

This led into the next clip, in which we see Ventress land on the planet Dathomir. She's clearly badly hurt, holding her side and weakly walking forward. Suddenly a group of women, all wearing red, ninja-like outfits and wielding energy-formed bows, leap down and surround her. When one of them calls her a stranger, she replies, "I'm not a stranger." The women are going to attack her, when suddenly they are ordered to stop by the same woman from the Dooku/Savaage clip. She orders Ventress to be taken to the village, as Ventress collapses in her arms, calling her "mother."


fter the clip, Filoni confirmed we just saw Ventress encounter the Night Sisters of Dathomir, from the expanded universe – also noting that the leader we saw was not Ventress' biological mother, but "a collective mother" to these women. Filoni recalled the day Lucas, during a meeting, "started to get extensively into these witches." Filoni smiled, saying, "That's always a very good day. 'Oh, not Jar-Jar today? Oh, very good!' Filoni revealed that, "According to George, they're not necessarily force users – they're something else. They have different powers than Sith or Jedi."

The next clip was prefaced by Filoni with the question, "Just how good a swordsman do you think Count Dooku is?" In the clip, we see Dooku is sleeping, as nearly invisible figures quietly drop down into his quarters (they have a slight shimmer to them – think of a variation on when the Predator is cloaked). One of them shoots a needle like dart into Dooku's neck. He pulls it out and leaps up, but is clearly shaky and begins to have his eyesight fade. Straitening up, he declares, "I do not need my eyes to see!" He uses the Force to bring his lightsaber to him, and the attackers ignite green and blue lightsabers of their own – beginning a very cool, impressive fight that seems influenced by the Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon/Darth Maul battle, as Dooku holds at bay what look to be three attackers in total, using both his saber and strong Force blasts to keep them at bay.

Other information Filoni shared during the panel included:

In Season 3, "We really get into this whole Balance of the Force issue." Filoni said they will also get into more specifics on what it means to call Anakin the Chosen One.

Don't look for any use of Aurra Sing's history from the Expanded Universe as a failed Jedi apprentice, with serious parental issue. Bringing up Asajj Ventress, he said they didn't want to, "take any pasty, white, bald girl and give her a really bad childhood. We'd be kind of repeating ourselves." He noted that Lucas specifically told him, "Aurra Sing doesn't use the force on our show and she doesn't use lightsabers," and said he preferred it that way, since, "it allows Ventress to stand on her own in a much better light," while showing Aurra's different deadly skills.


Filoni said he felt especially bad giving evasive answers to kids about what's to come – so it's worth noting he told one kid Boba Fett "is around," in Season 3. When another kid asked Filoni if any characters from the original trilogy "like young Han Solo or young Chewbacca" might show up, Filoni replied, "There will be some connections to the classic trilogy in Season 3."

Finally, we were shown what Filoni called the "mega-trailer" for Season 3 – and what a trailer it was. It certainly made the season look epic in scope, as we see more of the attack on Kamino and Commander Cody angrily declaring, "This is personal for us clones." We see Cad Bane meeting with Jabba the Hutt and then fighting Obi-Wan, seemingly getting the better of him as he grabs Kenobi by the arm and uses a weapon to send a shock through him, as Obi-Wan cries out. And in one big moment, the hologram of Darth Sidious is speaking to Dooku and Ventress and Sidious declares, "Eliminate her!", with Dooku quickly turning and shooting force lightening at his would be apprentice – It seems likely this is the incident that leaves Ventress hurt and Dooku targeted, though why these women then offer Dooku Savaage as a new apprentice is still uncertain. We also see the leader of the Night Sisters ask Dooku if he's heard of the Sith named Darth Maul. When he replies yes, she say, "What if I could offer another of his kind

IGN

IGN wrote:

Lucas Announces Star Wars Blu-ray
We're there as Lucas talks about the upcoming release of all six films and debuts a very cool deleted scene.
August 14, 2010
by IGN Staff
The Star Wars Blu-ray release is now as official as it can be, as none other than George Lucas announced the films were coming to the format. "I wish I could say it's coming out this year, but it's coming out next year," Lucas said to the packed audience at the "Main Event" at Star Wars Celebration V today, which was moderated by Jon Stewart.

Speaking about what will be included, Lucas said, "They'll be different kinds of additional material," adding, "I think you've seen enough behind the scenes [material] for a lifetime. There's some really good material that will be included in there, [including] more deleted scenes that you haven't seen yet." Lucas said these newly released scenes would be kept separate from the film itself.

In a surprise appearance, Mark Hamill then joined Lucas and Stewart on stage, to introduce one of the new deleted scenes, which he said was his "original entrance" in Return of the Jedi. Hamill noted the scene was short, but that it was for the UPFs in the audience – the "ultra passionate fans."

We were then shown the scene, which would have taken place after Darth Vader arrives on the second Death Star at the beginning of Return of the Jedi. We see Vader walking down a corridor and into an elevator on the Death Star. We then cut to Vader inside his medication chamber, a la Empire Strikes Back. As Vader sits there, the camera moves into a close-up and we hear him reaching out with the Force. "Luke. Luke. Join me in the dark side of the Force. My son. It is the only way."

As Vader continues to repeat Luke's name, we cut to a tight close-up of Luke, insinuating he is hearing his father's voice. it's a very ominous shot of Luke, who is wearing his cloak and hood, with the shadows from the hood blocking out his eyes completely - in line with how Darth Sideous' face is mostly hidden. As Vader's voice fades away, the camera pans down to Luke's hands, and we see that he is using a tool to complete work on his new lightsaber. Satisfied, he puts the tool down and holds the lightsaber hilt up, igniting it – in what would have been the first reveal of the green blade.

We cut to a shot from the side and see Luke is sitting inside a cave on Tatooine, with C-3P0 standing outside, waiting for him – no doubt to receive his orders to head to Jabba the Hutt.


That was it for the scene, but the crowd erupted in cheers at what was indeed a very cool new moment, from films we are all quite familiar with.

The panel ended with one more surprise guest – Carrie Fisher. Alas, there were no other deleted scenes shown to us today, but Fisher cracked to Lucas, "Did you put the nude scenes back in?" She then turned to the audience and deadpanned, "There was a huge me and Jabba porn scene. That's what got me into drugs."

No further details were given on the Blu-rays as yet, which leave plenty to speculate about. It's safe to say from the Return of the Jedi scene being shown that this release will include all of the original trilogy, but while it seems likely the answer is yes, there was nothing definitive stated about the prequels being released simultaneously. And no, we didn't get any info on whether the original, pre-Special Edition versions of the films will be part of this set as well.

Suffice to say though, there will be more news to come in the months ahead, so keep checking IGN for more on the Star Wars Blu-ray release!

Update: About five minutes after I published this story, I was handed Lucasfilm's official press release for the Blu-rays. It confirms that all six movies are being released on Blu-ray and that the set is coming out Fall 2011 - so don't line up just yet! We're also told it will include, "documentaries, vintage behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, retrospectives and never-before-seen footage from the Lucasfilm archives."

Star Wars fans should also check out my article about the new Empire Strikes Back documentary that debuted at Celebration [Click Here!] , that I theorize could possibly be part of the Blu-ray release.

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IGN

lol @ Carrie fisher hahaha

Darth Maul brother?

This sounds so... daft...

Soude wrote:

Darth Maul brother?

This sounds so... daft...

I do have to agree with you

Some real interesting stuff...

Can't wait for the blu-rays, better start saving up.

Don't you just love it when they nulify existing cannon just to shoe horn in some pathetic characeter who will bring nothing to the story and is just there as a link to an older dead character?

Cad Bane is a good example of a great new character that people enjoy, why not make more instead of having brothers of old dead characters which requires the deletion of cannon?!?

IGN wrote:

Star Wars Meets SpongeBob?
We think we've figured out the deal with the pre-school aged Star Wars show.
August 15, 2010

by Eric Goldman
Back in March, there was a report that a new Star Wars animated series was in the works that was aimed at pre-school to kindergarten age kids, with the working title of Squishies. This was followed just a few days later by the news that Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich were producing a comedic new Star Wars animated series. It was never clear if these two projects were one and the same though, or if Green and Senreich were working on something all together different – until this weekend at Star Wars Celebration V, where George Lucas made some comments that we believe explain the situation.

Discussing the upcoming series he's doing with Green, Lucas said, "I thought Robot Chicken was so funny that I convinced him we would do a little cartoon show for four and five year olds, like SpongeBob SquarePants." Lucas added, "[Green] still believes it's for 21 year olds."

Lucas then remarked, "It's for 21 year olds. It's going to just look like it's for four and five year olds."

So yes, we believe the Squishies mystery has been solved and this is indeed also Green and Senreich's project, whatever the final title may be. And reading between the lines, it sounds like it will likely visually appear to be something like The Super Hero Squad Show, appealing to a very young audience - but with even more jokes and references meant for adult audiences to appreciate as well.

Earlier in the weekend at Star Wars Celebration V, Green himself briefly spoke about the show and said, "This won't be like any Star Wars you've seen before," adding, "We are hardcore fans. We love this stuff like you do. We do not want to make a bad show. We are working tirelessly to make it awesome for you, I promise."

link

I have a bad feeling about this...

lol ditto

Woot! Nightsisters

Just read in HoD forum that Lucas announced at Celebration V that a boxset of all six movies on blue-ray support will be released Fall 2011.

So if like me you don't care about blue-ray, stop reading this post

Wowzers! Clone Wars season 3 looks epic.