The Bearded Trio

“How do you like that, Mister Hitler?” iTunes Trailers has debuted a third trailer for Anthony Hemingway’s  Red Tails , the forthcoming WWII action-drama from George Lucas’ production company LucasFilm. You may know them from such films as  Star Wars ,  Indiana Jones  and  Howard the Duck . There’s also a brand new poster for the film below. Synopsis: 1944. As the war in Europe continues to take its toll on Allied forces, the Pentagon brass has no recourse but to consider unorthodox options -- including the untried and untested African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program. Just as the young Tuskegee men are on the brink of being shut down and shipped back home, they are given the ultimate chance to show their courage. Against all the odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, these intrepid young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country -- and the fate of the free world. Red Tails  is re...

He's got you there Yoda (but I suppose that's the advantage of regeneration.)

It was 1983. Way before the Internet and cable TV, the only way you could get a glimpse of an upcoming blockbuster was the good old fashioned cinema trailer. I remember seeing the trailer for Return Of The Jedi for the first time back in 1982/1983. I wasn't expecting it as there was no word of a release date or when it was coming to the UK but here was the trailer in all its glory. I was more excited about this trailer than the movie that I was at the cinema to watch, probably The Secret Of Nimh.) It was at the height of my Star Wars obsession (of which has never come down) which is why for me Return Of The Jedi will always have a special place in my heart, Ewoks and all!

Lucasfilm have released the first poster for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D , which opens in theaters across the country on February 10, 2012.  I must be honest I love this., especially how the lightsaber pops out of the border.

The Imperial March is an epic piece by John Williams. But hearing it play on a bunch of floppy drives is something else. Very clever. I am in retro heaven.  I wonder if they are double density or high density disks?  It is your density to find out.  What?

For the 30th anniversary of " Raiders of the Lost Ark ," the film was screened in LA where Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford made an appearance and answered some questions. According to Spielberg, he originally wanted Tom Selleck to play Indiana Jones and it was "Empire Strikes Back" that made Harrison the frontrunner. Ford replied that Spielberg now only hires him for Indy films. To which the director replied: " You know who I offered 'Jurassic Park' to? This guy (pointing at Ford). Alan Grant, 'Jurassic Park,' right here. " Spielberg went on to explain that he was struggling and ended up taking on "Raiders" for the paycheck. " Before 'Raiders' I needed a job, because I’d just made '1941' and no one would hire me, except George Lucas, my friend. [laughs] So, yeah, I needed the eggs, you know? ” And when the topic switched to "Indiana Jones the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," Spielberg...

This is such a good 8-bit remix of the classic theme tune to Monkey Island.  Where's disk thirteen?

Here are some rare Star Wars photos you may not have seen. Incidentally did anyone spot the George Lucas look-a-like in Super 8? He was in the crowd and looked very much like the classic Lucas just like the one below. It was the scene when they were having a police conference. If I find a photo I will post here for you.

Its the weekend so what better way to celebrate the days off but with some more classic photos of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher.)  Okay its a poor excuse but hey she was my first crush.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away … a host of rebels, bounty hunters and Imperial guards were overshadowed by the more glamorous antics of Luke and Leia. That's the cheeky premise of Elliott Quince's new book, which fleshes out the lives of lesser-known Star Wars characters in modelling clay • Plasticine Tatooine: Stories from the Star Wars Second String.

To celebrate the imminent release of Star Wars on Blu-ray I have come up with a way to enhance the experience.  Best played with two or more players.  Drink responsibly (don't spill any.) You open up the box set and lay all the discs out and read all the leaflets and pamphlets before even playing one.  Down a drink You think “Wow!  How amazing does that look in high def” take a swig. You think “Wow!  That sounds amazing in 6.1” take a swig. You go straight for the deleted scenes.  Down a drink. You go straight for one of the documentaries (Star Warriors, Anatomy Of A Dewback etc.) Down a drink. You watch the concept art gallery.  Take a sip. You decide to do this properly and start with the first disc. Take a sip. You’ve got mates around and decide to have a geek night.  You better take a sip and take it slowly.  You’re probably going to be drunk by the end of disc one. George Lucas is wearing a cap.  Take a swig...

Super 8 was everything I wanted it to be. I was a kid all over again watching the Spielberg greats of the seventies and eighties. Here’s a list of why the movie Super 8 worked so well for me. No glamour. It makes a refreshing change to watch a movie where the main characters of a movie not aimed at kids are kids. No models, no teenagers running around semi naked moaning that X hasn’t broken up with Y because Z said they shouldn’t etc. A Proper script with three dimensional characters and played by relatively unknowns. No big name actors. It Was Made With A Low Budget. Super 8 cost fifty million dollars to make. In comparison to other movies this is extremely low. Michael Bay has reportedly added thirty million dollars to the Transformers 3 budget alone just to get the 3D right. By having a low budget a good story and script had to be the biggest priority. Back in the seventies and eighties the BBC had very low production budgets in comparison to other TV com...

An advert aimed at retailers from Kenner selling their up and coming new range of Star Wars toys. It also mentions George Lucas plans twelve movies in the Star Wars universe .  (who remembers that rumour?) (2020 Update - 12 movies you say?)

From the video producer - Some rare insights into the private area of the "Skywalker Ranch" which I visited in 2007. This video shows the huge library, where filmmakers and producers do their research.

Peter Falk, the American actor most famous for his role as TV's scruffy detective, Columbo, has died at the age of 83. The actor died peacefully at home in Beverly Hills on Thursday night, his family said in a statement. He had been suffering from dementia for a number of years. Peter Falk won four Emmys for his cigar-chomping role as the deceptively bumbling Columbo, and was nominated for Oscars in 1960 and 1961.  Steven Spielberg directed an episode called Murder By The Book in 1971. In the 1987 cult classic The Princess Bride, he played a kindly old man regaling his sick grandson with a fairytale combination of swordplay, giants, a beautiful princess and fearsome rodents of unusual size. But for most fans, even his best-supporting actor nominations in Murder Inc and Pocketful of Miracles were eclipsed by his incarnation as the sleuth in the shabby mac with no known first name and the killer catch-phrase: "One more thing......

Steven Spielberg has revealed that it feels surreal that Raiders of the Lost Ark is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The Jurassic Park director spoke to the Los Angeles Times about the first instalment in the Indiana Jones franchise, stating that he cannot believe that the film was made 30 years ago. "It's really startling," Spielberg said. "Number one, it seems like it was only five years ago, it does not seem like 30 years ago. And the other great thing is I'm still close to everybody that made the movie." Spielberg continued: "I love how that Raiders family has stayed together for 30 years. We're all still the closest of friends." Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first of four Indiana Jones movies starring Harrison Ford as Jones. It was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull . The 64-year-old is executive producing J.J. ...

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (Disney) When Oscar-nominated director Rob Marshall came aboard as the new captain of the “ Pirates of the Caribbean ” franchise, he was immediately possessed by the siren call of one particular element in the script — beautiful mermaids. No one needs to explain cinematic possibilities of dangerous lust and predatory women to the director of “ Chicago ” and “ Memoirs of a Geisha ,” and when he took over the Disney buccaneer franchise he zeroed in on the script’s presentation of the magical aquatic creatures as a place to make his mark. “They are beautiful, seductive women but they use that beauty to lure men to their deaths,” Marshall said with an approving grin. “They are women but they are also animal. These are creatures and carnivores and they want to feed.” And when they feed, sailors in salt water are the main course. Marshall made the mermaids a paramount priority for Ben Snow ...

Thirty-seven years ago today, Director Steven Spielberg began filming “Jaws” in Martha’s Vineyard. The film went more than twice over its budget, but more than made up for it at the box office – and scared a generation of moviegoers.

The Lucasfilm Animation building in Singapore looks rather like a sandcrawler , don’t you think? This is just an artist’s conception, as groundbreaking occurred only this week. link http://www.neatorama.com/2011/04/18/the-new-headquarters-of-lucasfilm-looks-like-a-sandcrawler/