Opening Night Nerves - Star Wars for FUN and for LUCK
EDITOR'S NOTE: AND NOW, AS A FINAL FUN HURRAH ON THIS WEEK'S DWEEB'BLOGGING, LET'S JUST GO FOR UNIVERSE-IMMERSION AND PICS. (THE HECK WITH ACTUAL NEWS, EH???)!
THE WORLDS OF EPISODE 3
Revenge of the Sith showcases more planets than any Star Wars film that has come previously, more planets than all the previous Star Wars films combined.
The scale of the Star Wars finale is so enormous that it stretches from the heart of the Republic to the wispiest stretches of the Outer Rim. To better orient yourself in galaxy far, far away, here's a brief introduction to some of the planets to be found in Episode III.
Alderaan. EDITOR'S NOTE: OUR VERY OWN ODDBOB'S HOME PLANET. (OR AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT WHEN POOR, WHIMPERING, EXPLODED ODDBOB ISN'T AROUND, 'BOOMTOWN').
A center of art and beauty in the galaxy, Alderaan is an unspoiled world that exemplifies pacifist ideals. Representing Alderaan in the Senate is Bail Organa, played by Jimmy Smits, the eventual adoptive father to Princess Leia.
Alderaan is seen briefly in the film, with stunning photography gathered in the Swiss Alps, augmented by a gleaming palace added digitally.
The Episode III Art Department developed the look of Alderaanian culture as extremely advanced and sleek, with tight jumpsuits and streamlined headsets being the norm aboard Alderaanian starships. EDITOR'S NOTE: I, FOR ONE, AM GLAD IT EXPLODED BEFORE WE HAD TO SEE ODDBOB IN A TIGHT JUMPSUIT. (ALTHOUGH THE IMAGINED SIGHT WILL NOW HAUNT ME FOR DAYS).
Present in the film are several prominent natives of Alderaan, including Captain Antilles of the Tantive IV played by Rohan Nichol and Queen Breha Organa, played by Rebecca Jackson Mendoza.
Cato Neimoidia
A key "purseworld" of the Trade Federation, Cato Neimoidia is home to many treasure troves belonging to the greedy Neimoidians.
In the early development of Episode III, Cato Neimoidia was to be a gas giant ringed by a flat, disc-like space station - reminiscent of the donut-like shape of the Trade Federation battleships seen in Episode I. The opulent interiors of Cato Neimoidia were to be stocked with riches, gleaming precious metals, and other gaudy examples of excess.
In the finished film, Cato Neimoidia is marked with skyscraper-filled cities lining bowed bridges that span enormous gaps - its two-word definition during development was "bridge world."
Episode III dialogue referring obliquely to a sticky situation involving Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Commander Cody on Cato Neimoidia was expanded to become the opening chapters of the novel Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno.
Coruscant EDITOR'S NOTE: MY HOME PLANET. YEP. I'M A BIG-CITY GAL. (AND WHEN WE SAY 'BIG' CITY, WE MEAN PLANET-WIDE, BABY!)
The capital of the Republic, and eventual birthplace of the Galactic Empire, the city planet of Coruscant figures prominently in Episode III as it has the entire prequel trilogy.
Returning locales include Padmé's apartment, which has been expanded to include a spacious verandah; the Jedi Temple, which includes such new chambers as a high tech computer room, military briefing room, and gunship hangar; and the Senate building, which includes the Chancellor's holding office from which extends his commanding podium.
A prominent new location is the Galaxies Opera House, where Supreme Chancellor Palpatine maintains a private viewing box. In the film, he is witness to a zero-gravity Mon Calamari aquatic ballet.
Felucia
A stronghold belonging to the Commerce Guild, Felucia is the site of a Republic mission led by the Twi'lek Jedi, Aayla Secura.
Early in the development of Episode III, George Lucas planned on depicting the fall of the Separatist home-worlds in the Clone Wars, and each Separatist faction and species was given a distinct planet of their own. Felucia was to be home of Shu Mai and her Gossam people. The early artwork described it as a "kelp planet" and a "fungus planet."
For the film, the look of Felucia was locked through a detailed concept model built at Industrial Light & Magic. The planet is a dense mixture of yellow, blue and green hues, expressed through exotic vegetation and fungi, including enormous bottle-like pitcher plants that color the sunlight like a stained-glass window. Native creatures include large grub-like beetles used as mounts and translucent life forms, like gossamer-winged birds with flesh like gummy candy.
See Felucia in action in "Reversal of Fortune," a daily online webstrip by Paul Ens and Thomas Hodges, available only to members of Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club.
Kashyyyk
The homeworld of the Wookiee species, Kashyyyk serves as a major navigation point for the entire southwestern quadrant of the galaxy. For this reason, it becomes the site of ongoing battles between the Republic and the Separatists.
During the events of Episode III, a major droid incursion brings Yoda to Kashyyyk, where he serves as a Jedi General for the clone forces, fighting alongside such Wookiee heroes as Tarfful and Chewbacca.
Star Wars lore has described Kashyyyk as a world of enormous jungles and a forest floor that rarely sees daylight. While this is true of vast portions of Kashyyyk, the action in Episode III takes place in an enormous tree village near a freshwater lagoon. Confederacy and clone forces tangle in a chaotic beachfront battle orchestrated from the massive tree city above.
To capture Kashyyyk on the screen, a huge practical tree model was constructed by ILM and populated with digital characters and placed into background plates of exotic Asian jungles and riversides.
Mustafar
A tiny, fiery world of unstable geology, Mustafar is filled with mineral-rich volcanic eruptions and rivers of molten lava. It is the cinematic equivalent of Hell for Anakin Skywalker's journey to the dark side.
Though elements of actual volcanic eruptions in Italy were gathered to serve as background plates, much of the imagery of Mustafar consists of miniature photography and digital matte paintings.
For years, Star Wars fans have known that lava is an important ingredient in the final transformation of Anakin Skywalker into the scarred and crippled Darth Vader. How it all happens will finally be revealed in Episode III. Beyond its role in the story of Anakin, Mustafar is an out-of-the-way locale perfect for the leaders of the Separatists to relocate and rally following recent setbacks in the Clone Wars.
Mygeeto
Mygeeto is one of several Separatist-held planets showcased in Episode III as an example of the galaxy-wide engagements of the Clone Wars.
Early creative explorations of the world had it be a Banking Clan headquarters, with space-age architecture in a cold, crystalline landscape.
While some of the crystalline elements remain, the planet's environment is dominated by a cityscape, which will be seen in crumbling ruins in the film. As a result of the prolonged fighting, ash is everywhere, intermixing with the ice crystals to create a grayish, sleet-filled environ. Ki-Adi-Mundi will be seen leading clone troops on Mygeeto.
Naboo EDITOR'S NOTE: I BELIEVE BOTH DWEEBPALS BETHANY AND ANDREW HALE FROM NABOO. ALTHOUGH BETHANY IS FROM THE CITY AND ANDREW FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE? (DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT?)
Naboo has appeared in all three Episodes of the prequel trilogy. It is an important world, not only serving as the home of Padmé Amidala and Chancellor Palpatine, but also as a symbol of the times left behind with the ascendancy of the Empire.
The classical architecture and hand-crafted beauty of Naboo is a throwback to a simpler era. It's little wonder that in Episode III, Padmé wistfully longs to be with Anakin at her placid lake retreat to raise a family far away from the deceit and destruction of the war.
The world of Naboo in Episode III is realized through digital matte paintings that incorporate the same designs and structures seen in the previous two prequels.
The brief visit to Naboo will include an appearance by Keisha Castle-Hughes as the new teenage monarch of the planet, Queen Apailana.
EDITOR'S NOTE: AND HOW ABOUT THOSE PICS I PROMISED?!
THE WORLDS OF EPISODE 3
Revenge of the Sith showcases more planets than any Star Wars film that has come previously, more planets than all the previous Star Wars films combined.
The scale of the Star Wars finale is so enormous that it stretches from the heart of the Republic to the wispiest stretches of the Outer Rim. To better orient yourself in galaxy far, far away, here's a brief introduction to some of the planets to be found in Episode III.
Alderaan. EDITOR'S NOTE: OUR VERY OWN ODDBOB'S HOME PLANET. (OR AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT WHEN POOR, WHIMPERING, EXPLODED ODDBOB ISN'T AROUND, 'BOOMTOWN').
A center of art and beauty in the galaxy, Alderaan is an unspoiled world that exemplifies pacifist ideals. Representing Alderaan in the Senate is Bail Organa, played by Jimmy Smits, the eventual adoptive father to Princess Leia.
Alderaan is seen briefly in the film, with stunning photography gathered in the Swiss Alps, augmented by a gleaming palace added digitally.
The Episode III Art Department developed the look of Alderaanian culture as extremely advanced and sleek, with tight jumpsuits and streamlined headsets being the norm aboard Alderaanian starships. EDITOR'S NOTE: I, FOR ONE, AM GLAD IT EXPLODED BEFORE WE HAD TO SEE ODDBOB IN A TIGHT JUMPSUIT. (ALTHOUGH THE IMAGINED SIGHT WILL NOW HAUNT ME FOR DAYS).
Present in the film are several prominent natives of Alderaan, including Captain Antilles of the Tantive IV played by Rohan Nichol and Queen Breha Organa, played by Rebecca Jackson Mendoza.
Cato Neimoidia
A key "purseworld" of the Trade Federation, Cato Neimoidia is home to many treasure troves belonging to the greedy Neimoidians.
In the early development of Episode III, Cato Neimoidia was to be a gas giant ringed by a flat, disc-like space station - reminiscent of the donut-like shape of the Trade Federation battleships seen in Episode I. The opulent interiors of Cato Neimoidia were to be stocked with riches, gleaming precious metals, and other gaudy examples of excess.
In the finished film, Cato Neimoidia is marked with skyscraper-filled cities lining bowed bridges that span enormous gaps - its two-word definition during development was "bridge world."
Episode III dialogue referring obliquely to a sticky situation involving Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Commander Cody on Cato Neimoidia was expanded to become the opening chapters of the novel Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno.
Coruscant EDITOR'S NOTE: MY HOME PLANET. YEP. I'M A BIG-CITY GAL. (AND WHEN WE SAY 'BIG' CITY, WE MEAN PLANET-WIDE, BABY!)
The capital of the Republic, and eventual birthplace of the Galactic Empire, the city planet of Coruscant figures prominently in Episode III as it has the entire prequel trilogy.
Returning locales include Padmé's apartment, which has been expanded to include a spacious verandah; the Jedi Temple, which includes such new chambers as a high tech computer room, military briefing room, and gunship hangar; and the Senate building, which includes the Chancellor's holding office from which extends his commanding podium.
A prominent new location is the Galaxies Opera House, where Supreme Chancellor Palpatine maintains a private viewing box. In the film, he is witness to a zero-gravity Mon Calamari aquatic ballet.
Felucia
A stronghold belonging to the Commerce Guild, Felucia is the site of a Republic mission led by the Twi'lek Jedi, Aayla Secura.
Early in the development of Episode III, George Lucas planned on depicting the fall of the Separatist home-worlds in the Clone Wars, and each Separatist faction and species was given a distinct planet of their own. Felucia was to be home of Shu Mai and her Gossam people. The early artwork described it as a "kelp planet" and a "fungus planet."
For the film, the look of Felucia was locked through a detailed concept model built at Industrial Light & Magic. The planet is a dense mixture of yellow, blue and green hues, expressed through exotic vegetation and fungi, including enormous bottle-like pitcher plants that color the sunlight like a stained-glass window. Native creatures include large grub-like beetles used as mounts and translucent life forms, like gossamer-winged birds with flesh like gummy candy.
See Felucia in action in "Reversal of Fortune," a daily online webstrip by Paul Ens and Thomas Hodges, available only to members of Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club.
Kashyyyk
The homeworld of the Wookiee species, Kashyyyk serves as a major navigation point for the entire southwestern quadrant of the galaxy. For this reason, it becomes the site of ongoing battles between the Republic and the Separatists.
During the events of Episode III, a major droid incursion brings Yoda to Kashyyyk, where he serves as a Jedi General for the clone forces, fighting alongside such Wookiee heroes as Tarfful and Chewbacca.
Star Wars lore has described Kashyyyk as a world of enormous jungles and a forest floor that rarely sees daylight. While this is true of vast portions of Kashyyyk, the action in Episode III takes place in an enormous tree village near a freshwater lagoon. Confederacy and clone forces tangle in a chaotic beachfront battle orchestrated from the massive tree city above.
To capture Kashyyyk on the screen, a huge practical tree model was constructed by ILM and populated with digital characters and placed into background plates of exotic Asian jungles and riversides.
Mustafar
A tiny, fiery world of unstable geology, Mustafar is filled with mineral-rich volcanic eruptions and rivers of molten lava. It is the cinematic equivalent of Hell for Anakin Skywalker's journey to the dark side.
Though elements of actual volcanic eruptions in Italy were gathered to serve as background plates, much of the imagery of Mustafar consists of miniature photography and digital matte paintings.
For years, Star Wars fans have known that lava is an important ingredient in the final transformation of Anakin Skywalker into the scarred and crippled Darth Vader. How it all happens will finally be revealed in Episode III. Beyond its role in the story of Anakin, Mustafar is an out-of-the-way locale perfect for the leaders of the Separatists to relocate and rally following recent setbacks in the Clone Wars.
Mygeeto
Mygeeto is one of several Separatist-held planets showcased in Episode III as an example of the galaxy-wide engagements of the Clone Wars.
Early creative explorations of the world had it be a Banking Clan headquarters, with space-age architecture in a cold, crystalline landscape.
While some of the crystalline elements remain, the planet's environment is dominated by a cityscape, which will be seen in crumbling ruins in the film. As a result of the prolonged fighting, ash is everywhere, intermixing with the ice crystals to create a grayish, sleet-filled environ. Ki-Adi-Mundi will be seen leading clone troops on Mygeeto.
Naboo EDITOR'S NOTE: I BELIEVE BOTH DWEEBPALS BETHANY AND ANDREW HALE FROM NABOO. ALTHOUGH BETHANY IS FROM THE CITY AND ANDREW FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE? (DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT?)
Naboo has appeared in all three Episodes of the prequel trilogy. It is an important world, not only serving as the home of Padmé Amidala and Chancellor Palpatine, but also as a symbol of the times left behind with the ascendancy of the Empire.
The classical architecture and hand-crafted beauty of Naboo is a throwback to a simpler era. It's little wonder that in Episode III, Padmé wistfully longs to be with Anakin at her placid lake retreat to raise a family far away from the deceit and destruction of the war.
The world of Naboo in Episode III is realized through digital matte paintings that incorporate the same designs and structures seen in the previous two prequels.
The brief visit to Naboo will include an appearance by Keisha Castle-Hughes as the new teenage monarch of the planet, Queen Apailana.
EDITOR'S NOTE: AND HOW ABOUT THOSE PICS I PROMISED?!
posted by QOTD (the Queen of the Dweebs) at 2:28 PM
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