Star Wars is a franchise that has defined the sci-fi genre for generations to come, with every aspect of the galaxy far, far away being quite unique and visually appealing for fans old and new. George Lucas took the visual aspect of the franchise one step further with the breathtaking character designs, art, set decor, and costumes for the prequel trilogy.
Trisha Biggar worked as a costume designer on all three Star Wars prequels (Credit: StarWars.com)
During an interview, costume designer Trisha Biggar broke down her experience of working in the Star Wars universe. At the time, Biggar also revealed how the chaotic schedule of Attack of the Clones resulted in costume supervisor Ivo Coveney having to cut his skin to free himself from Natalie Portman’s costume, among other challenges faced by the costume department.
Star Wars Costume Supervisor Ivo Coveney Had to Cut Himself While Working On...
Trisha Biggar worked as a costume designer on all three Star Wars prequels (Credit: StarWars.com)
During an interview, costume designer Trisha Biggar broke down her experience of working in the Star Wars universe. At the time, Biggar also revealed how the chaotic schedule of Attack of the Clones resulted in costume supervisor Ivo Coveney having to cut his skin to free himself from Natalie Portman’s costume, among other challenges faced by the costume department.
Star Wars Costume Supervisor Ivo Coveney Had to Cut Himself While Working On...
- 5/29/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
by Cláudio Alves
You never forget your first, or so they say. In this case, it's one's first costume obsession. Mine, to be precise. It came to be in 1999 when I was five years old, and my dad took me to see Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Like many men of his generation, he was a fan of George Lucas's space fantasy, eager to share that love with his kid. It started with the original trilogy on VHS tapes and then came the movie event of the season. Though many hated the prequel, we two didn't share that feeling. Indeed, little Cláudio was besotted.
Sure, the lightsaber duels were memorable and the score was stirring, the CGI was out of this world and Ewan McGregor left such an impression I went as Obi-wan Kenobi to the following year's Carnival. But what most shook me was Queen Amidala,...
You never forget your first, or so they say. In this case, it's one's first costume obsession. Mine, to be precise. It came to be in 1999 when I was five years old, and my dad took me to see Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Like many men of his generation, he was a fan of George Lucas's space fantasy, eager to share that love with his kid. It started with the original trilogy on VHS tapes and then came the movie event of the season. Though many hated the prequel, we two didn't share that feeling. Indeed, little Cláudio was besotted.
Sure, the lightsaber duels were memorable and the score was stirring, the CGI was out of this world and Ewan McGregor left such an impression I went as Obi-wan Kenobi to the following year's Carnival. But what most shook me was Queen Amidala,...
- 5/5/2024
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expanding its membership.
According to a press release, the organization that hands out Oscars each year at the Academy Awards has extended invitations to join the Academy to 398 artists and executives who have made notable contributions to the motion picture industry.
“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement.
Read More: The Academy Announces 2024 Oscars Date As Well As Submission Deadline
There are some big names and familiar faces among the invitees, including musicians Taylor Swift and David Byrne, and numerous actors, ranging from Selma Blair to Keke Palmer to “Elvis” Oscar nominee Austin Butler.
According to a press release, the organization that hands out Oscars each year at the Academy Awards has extended invitations to join the Academy to 398 artists and executives who have made notable contributions to the motion picture industry.
“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement.
Read More: The Academy Announces 2024 Oscars Date As Well As Submission Deadline
There are some big names and familiar faces among the invitees, including musicians Taylor Swift and David Byrne, and numerous actors, ranging from Selma Blair to Keke Palmer to “Elvis” Oscar nominee Austin Butler.
- 6/28/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, Daniel Kwan, and Daniel Scheinert, recent acting nominees Austin Butler, Paul Mescal, and Stephanie Hsu, and bold-face names for the extremely online like Taylor Swift, Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd), and Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav were among the 398 people announced as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday.
“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.
This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...
“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.
This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
It’s that time of year again — the break between Cannes and the fall festivals, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences makes its membership invitations. The Oscars group said today that it has extended offers to 398 artists and execs — one more than last year — who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures.
The list includes actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, executives, artist reps, publicists and below-the-liners such as casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, production designers and sound pros.
“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”
As usual, the invitees include newly minted Oscar winners,...
The list includes actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, executives, artist reps, publicists and below-the-liners such as casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, production designers and sound pros.
“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”
As usual, the invitees include newly minted Oscar winners,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
If there's one thing the Naboo Queen-Senator Padmé Amidala has taught us in the "Star Wars" galaxy, you're not a true politician unless you're worthy of the fashion runway. Her iconic prequel trilogy wardrobe blazed a fashion trail for her fellow galactic politicians — and cosplayers at Star Wars Celebration.
"The Mandalorian" season 3 continues Padmé's fashionista legacy by introducing a regentess played by singer Lizzo (who herself graces the concert stage as a dancing and flute-playing fashion icon). In season 3, episode 6 "Guns for Hire," Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), his adorable foundling Grogu, and Lady Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) venture to Plazir-15 where they are greeted by its lavish regents, the Duchess and Captain Bombardier (Jack Black). The Mandalorians — save for the enchanted Grogu — find themselves weirded out by the upper-crust atmosphere and out of place in their beskar armor.
If you were shocked by the "Star Wars" casting of Lizzo...
"The Mandalorian" season 3 continues Padmé's fashionista legacy by introducing a regentess played by singer Lizzo (who herself graces the concert stage as a dancing and flute-playing fashion icon). In season 3, episode 6 "Guns for Hire," Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), his adorable foundling Grogu, and Lady Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) venture to Plazir-15 where they are greeted by its lavish regents, the Duchess and Captain Bombardier (Jack Black). The Mandalorians — save for the enchanted Grogu — find themselves weirded out by the upper-crust atmosphere and out of place in their beskar armor.
If you were shocked by the "Star Wars" casting of Lizzo...
- 4/6/2023
- by Caroline Cao
- Slash Film
“I had to dig deep with Claire in a way that I hadn’t before,” admits Caitriona Balfe about the particularly challenging sixth season of the Starz drama “Outlander,” which explores a shattered Claire’s attempts at coping with the trauma of being abducted and brutally assaulted. “Last season we really got to explore a different side of Claire that I was kind of shocked that we were doing. When they first came to me with this storyline about the ether,” the actress reveals.
“I was quite intrigued but I was also a little bit like, ‘really, is that her? I don’t know.’ But actually, it was a really interesting way of showing with severe trauma how that can absolutely just blow someone’s psyche apart and when that happens, how does that person heal from that and come back from that? It was a really big challenge,” she says for our recent webchat,...
“I was quite intrigued but I was also a little bit like, ‘really, is that her? I don’t know.’ But actually, it was a really interesting way of showing with severe trauma how that can absolutely just blow someone’s psyche apart and when that happens, how does that person heal from that and come back from that? It was a really big challenge,” she says for our recent webchat,...
- 6/16/2022
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
This Outlander article includes Major spoilers for the Season 5 finale.
The Outlander Season 5 finale was much more self-referential than most episodes of this TV show, as we delve into Claire’s subconscious as she dissociates to avoid the reality of her abduction and abuse at the hands of Lionel Brown. Instead of staying in the present, her mind brings her to a 20th century home filled with her 18th century family celebrating American Thanksgiving. The modern house is populated with references to things we have seen Claire experience in previous seasons of this show.
It’s a clever, visually-specific way of telling us about Claire: what matters to her, what she’s afraid of, and what she’s desperately trying to avoid. It is also the kind of episodic writing and direction that wouldn’t work for a less fervid viewership. The creators obviously had faith that fans will have been paying close attention,...
The Outlander Season 5 finale was much more self-referential than most episodes of this TV show, as we delve into Claire’s subconscious as she dissociates to avoid the reality of her abduction and abuse at the hands of Lionel Brown. Instead of staying in the present, her mind brings her to a 20th century home filled with her 18th century family celebrating American Thanksgiving. The modern house is populated with references to things we have seen Claire experience in previous seasons of this show.
It’s a clever, visually-specific way of telling us about Claire: what matters to her, what she’s afraid of, and what she’s desperately trying to avoid. It is also the kind of episodic writing and direction that wouldn’t work for a less fervid viewership. The creators obviously had faith that fans will have been paying close attention,...
- 5/11/2020
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
Warning: This article contains Major spoilers for the Outlander Season 5 finale but does not contain any book spoilers beyond Season 5.
Outlander Season 5, Episode 12
Outlander brings Season 5 to a close with Claire’s abduction and the Mackenzies’ discovery of the finer points of time travel. While the very end of the episode gives the viewer hope that things for their favorite characters are on the way up, the journey there is filled with triggers and turmoil.
Fans who have not read the books have every right to question why the show would choose to air an episode where Claire, the matriarch of the story, is gang-raped on Mother’s Day. The decision to skip a week between Episodes 7 and 8 clearly caused this easily-avoidable extreme juxtaposition. It is also clear that the show’s writers’ room is willing to change so much about the book timeline but it refuses to change the...
Outlander Season 5, Episode 12
Outlander brings Season 5 to a close with Claire’s abduction and the Mackenzies’ discovery of the finer points of time travel. While the very end of the episode gives the viewer hope that things for their favorite characters are on the way up, the journey there is filled with triggers and turmoil.
Fans who have not read the books have every right to question why the show would choose to air an episode where Claire, the matriarch of the story, is gang-raped on Mother’s Day. The decision to skip a week between Episodes 7 and 8 clearly caused this easily-avoidable extreme juxtaposition. It is also clear that the show’s writers’ room is willing to change so much about the book timeline but it refuses to change the...
- 5/11/2020
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
Among new members are Maren Ade, Hugh Grant and Hayley Squires.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has revealed its 2018 intake of new members drawn from the film, TV and games industry.
Among the 386 new members are actors Hugh Grant, Willem Dafoe and Hayley Squires, directors Maren Ade (Toni Erdmann), Daniel Kokotajlo (Apostasy) and Michael Pearce (Beast), film execs Shana Eddy-Grouf (Studiocanal) and Katie Goodson-Thomas (Fox Searchlight), and La La Land producers Jordan Horowitz and Fred Berger.
Former UK and Ireland Screen Stars of Tomorrow in the new intake include producer Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly and actor Jessie Barden.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has revealed its 2018 intake of new members drawn from the film, TV and games industry.
Among the 386 new members are actors Hugh Grant, Willem Dafoe and Hayley Squires, directors Maren Ade (Toni Erdmann), Daniel Kokotajlo (Apostasy) and Michael Pearce (Beast), film execs Shana Eddy-Grouf (Studiocanal) and Katie Goodson-Thomas (Fox Searchlight), and La La Land producers Jordan Horowitz and Fred Berger.
Former UK and Ireland Screen Stars of Tomorrow in the new intake include producer Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly and actor Jessie Barden.
- 12/12/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Hugh Grant, Jodie Whittaker and Letitia Wright are among 386 new BAFTA members. The 2018 intake span the film, games and TV industries across eleven countries. Scroll down for the full list of new members.
Among new members are BAFTA-winner Grant, Doctor Who star Whittaker, BAFTA-nominee Willem Dafoe, Black Panther star Letitia Wright, La La Land producers Jordan Horowitz and Fred Berger, Mad Max: Fury Road costume designer Jenny Beavan, Toni Erdmann director Maren Ade, and UK broadcasters Sandi Toksvig and Simon Mayo.
BAFTA comprises around 8,000 members worldwide. The UK org tweaked its membership requirements in 2016 in a bid to improve diversity of intake.
Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said, “We’re delighted to welcome our new members to BAFTA. Our members represent the breadth of the ever-evolving film, games and television industries. They sit at the heart of everything BAFTA does, from mentoring emerging talent, voting in the Awards, sharing...
Among new members are BAFTA-winner Grant, Doctor Who star Whittaker, BAFTA-nominee Willem Dafoe, Black Panther star Letitia Wright, La La Land producers Jordan Horowitz and Fred Berger, Mad Max: Fury Road costume designer Jenny Beavan, Toni Erdmann director Maren Ade, and UK broadcasters Sandi Toksvig and Simon Mayo.
BAFTA comprises around 8,000 members worldwide. The UK org tweaked its membership requirements in 2016 in a bid to improve diversity of intake.
Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said, “We’re delighted to welcome our new members to BAFTA. Our members represent the breadth of the ever-evolving film, games and television industries. They sit at the heart of everything BAFTA does, from mentoring emerging talent, voting in the Awards, sharing...
- 12/12/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Kayti Burt Feb 8, 2017
The best parts of Emerald City are also the least iconic in this NBC TV drama based on The Wizard of Oz, now airing in the UK...
This review contains minor spoilers and slight references to later episodes.
See related Netflix's Stranger Things: Shawn Levy interview Netflix's Stranger Things: spotting the movie references
L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz and its sequels have been adapted for the screen for nearly as long as there has been cinema. There's something about the tale of farmgirl Dorothy Gale being swept into the strange, magical, and sometimes scary land of Oz that has stuck in American popular consciousness and never let go.
Emerald City is the latest addition to the long on-screen Oz tradition, but, for all of the ways it draws from its obvious source material, it's strengths and weakness are defined by other pop...
The best parts of Emerald City are also the least iconic in this NBC TV drama based on The Wizard of Oz, now airing in the UK...
This review contains minor spoilers and slight references to later episodes.
See related Netflix's Stranger Things: Shawn Levy interview Netflix's Stranger Things: spotting the movie references
L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz and its sequels have been adapted for the screen for nearly as long as there has been cinema. There's something about the tale of farmgirl Dorothy Gale being swept into the strange, magical, and sometimes scary land of Oz that has stuck in American popular consciousness and never let go.
Emerald City is the latest addition to the long on-screen Oz tradition, but, for all of the ways it draws from its obvious source material, it's strengths and weakness are defined by other pop...
- 1/6/2017
- Den of Geek
Gallery of Padme’s Costumes
“Sometimes creating an entire galaxy begins with a single stitch.” So begins the narration at a spectacular new exhibit in New York City about Star Wars costumes and artifacts. Coinciding with the release of the new movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the show Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume: The Exhibition, is on display now at Discovery Times Square through September 5, 2016.
The exhibition is the result of a partnership between Discovery Times Square, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Lucasfilm. It features 15 galleries with over 70 pieces taken from the collection of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The show includes costumes, props and other items from the three original movies, the prequels, and even several ensembles from The Force Awakens.
As a lifelong Star Wars fan (old enough to have seen A New Hope when it was first...
“Sometimes creating an entire galaxy begins with a single stitch.” So begins the narration at a spectacular new exhibit in New York City about Star Wars costumes and artifacts. Coinciding with the release of the new movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the show Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume: The Exhibition, is on display now at Discovery Times Square through September 5, 2016.
The exhibition is the result of a partnership between Discovery Times Square, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Lucasfilm. It features 15 galleries with over 70 pieces taken from the collection of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The show includes costumes, props and other items from the three original movies, the prequels, and even several ensembles from The Force Awakens.
As a lifelong Star Wars fan (old enough to have seen A New Hope when it was first...
- 2/28/2016
- by Kim Kindya
- Comicmix.com
"May the Fourth be with you," my friends. Since everyone is required to talk about Star Wars every May 4th, even if they don't want to, here you go.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
01. "I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board..." Carrie Fisher in all her royally bitchy double-bunned glory
02. "These aren't the droids you're looking for." Sir Alec Guiness (in general) and those delicious British intonations
03. The opening scrawl and in media res Storm Troopers / Vader attack. This is how you start a movie/trilogy. Death to backstory - just throw us in!
04. The trash compactor sequence. As a child I was obsessed for some reason so it's merely a nostalgic choice.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
01. Love Yoda and the existential mysteries of the Dagobah swamps, you must.
02. That it inspired this cartoon (above) about my youth. "Luke, I...
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
01. "I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board..." Carrie Fisher in all her royally bitchy double-bunned glory
02. "These aren't the droids you're looking for." Sir Alec Guiness (in general) and those delicious British intonations
03. The opening scrawl and in media res Storm Troopers / Vader attack. This is how you start a movie/trilogy. Death to backstory - just throw us in!
04. The trash compactor sequence. As a child I was obsessed for some reason so it's merely a nostalgic choice.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
01. Love Yoda and the existential mysteries of the Dagobah swamps, you must.
02. That it inspired this cartoon (above) about my youth. "Luke, I...
- 5/4/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Costume designers shop for characters where they imagine the characters would buy clothes. That line of thinking has savvy designers going through the racks at Target for suburban moms and walking through the boutiques at Saks for executives.
Logical, but what's a costume designer to do when the show happens to be set during the Renaissance, and the main character happens to be a pivotal man in history?
For Starz's "Da Vinci's Demons," returning for its second season Saturday, March 22, it means creating. Da Vinci (Tom Riley) has a new jacket, since his last one was destroyed in the carnage of last season's cliffhanger.
"He has an effortless style; no great thought goes into what he wears, but because of his remarkable talent and genius, everything he picks has a uniqueness," costume designer Trisha Biggar tells Zap2it.
Da Vinci keeps a slim silhouette. The new jacket is dark brown...
Logical, but what's a costume designer to do when the show happens to be set during the Renaissance, and the main character happens to be a pivotal man in history?
For Starz's "Da Vinci's Demons," returning for its second season Saturday, March 22, it means creating. Da Vinci (Tom Riley) has a new jacket, since his last one was destroyed in the carnage of last season's cliffhanger.
"He has an effortless style; no great thought goes into what he wears, but because of his remarkable talent and genius, everything he picks has a uniqueness," costume designer Trisha Biggar tells Zap2it.
Da Vinci keeps a slim silhouette. The new jacket is dark brown...
- 3/22/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Last night, Edith Bowman played host to the British Academy Scotland Awards 2012, celebrating the year’s best and most promising talent in Scotland.
Previously known as the BAFTA Scotland Awards, the nominations were announced last month, with Ken Loach’s The Angel’s Share leading the pack, having taken home the Jury Prize at Cannes back in the spring.
The results have officially been announced, and Loach’s film didn’t disappoint, taking home the Best Writer award for Paul Laverty and Best Actor/Actress in the Film category for Paul Brannigan.
Zam Salim came away with the Best Director and Best Feature Film awards for his feature directorial debut, Up There, which was released in UK cinemas on Friday – if it’s playing in a theatre near you, this should definitely be encouragement enough to go and seek it out, if you haven’t done so already.
The great...
Previously known as the BAFTA Scotland Awards, the nominations were announced last month, with Ken Loach’s The Angel’s Share leading the pack, having taken home the Jury Prize at Cannes back in the spring.
The results have officially been announced, and Loach’s film didn’t disappoint, taking home the Best Writer award for Paul Laverty and Best Actor/Actress in the Film category for Paul Brannigan.
Zam Salim came away with the Best Director and Best Feature Film awards for his feature directorial debut, Up There, which was released in UK cinemas on Friday – if it’s playing in a theatre near you, this should definitely be encouragement enough to go and seek it out, if you haven’t done so already.
The great...
- 11/19/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
David Mackenzie‘s made a career out of telling small, intense stories on small, economical budgets. With Perfect Sense he goes somewhere only a few filmmakers have dared to traverse: low-budget science fiction. For every Duncan Jones (Moon) success story are 10 Danny Boyle (Sunshine) way over budget cautionary tales.
Mackenzie talked with Tfs about the ambitiously optimistic tone of his dire scientific fable, the benefit of working with familiar faces and two new projects he’s excited about, one of them another foray into science fiction.
Tfs: What was it that interested you in this particular script?
Mackenzie: Well, I had just been in America making a movie and I went back home and I was working at my production company, Sigma Films, again and then it was pretty much like a week after I’d arrived back from L.A. and the script came to me from the Danish film company,...
Mackenzie talked with Tfs about the ambitiously optimistic tone of his dire scientific fable, the benefit of working with familiar faces and two new projects he’s excited about, one of them another foray into science fiction.
Tfs: What was it that interested you in this particular script?
Mackenzie: Well, I had just been in America making a movie and I went back home and I was working at my production company, Sigma Films, again and then it was pretty much like a week after I’d arrived back from L.A. and the script came to me from the Danish film company,...
- 1/31/2011
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Edinburgh International Film Festival
EDINBURGH, Scotland -- The "Stone of Destiny" in Charles Martin Smith's pedestrian new film is the macguffin that a group of Scottish nationalists plan to repatriate from the heart of England in order to encourage the movement for Scotland's independence.
Shrouded in myth and also known as the Coronation Stone, it's a slab of rock taken from Scotland by an English king 1000 years ago and kept for ages at Westminster Abbey. The film is based on a true incident in 1950 when some students from Glasgow broke into the Abbey and stole it.
Intended as a rousing feel-good tale of rebellion, the film suffers from slack direction and bland performances with very little tension and no surprises. Box office prospects are slim beyond what can be drummed up from the worldwide Scottish community but it's not going to cause many to spill their whisky.
Based on a book by central character Ian Hamilton (Charles Cox), "Stone of Destiny" relates in some awe what is obviously meant to be the daredevil escapade of an idealistic young man who relishes the opportunity of making a name for himself.
Although his best mate (Billy Boyd) decides not to put his education and future employment at risk, Ian recruits two other young men (Stephen McCole and Ciaron Kelly) and a pretty young woman named Kay (Kate Mara) with no arm-twisting at all.
With financial backing from a prominent educator and politician (Robert Carlyle), they set off to London to scout the layout of Westminster Abbey and plan their raid. Curiously, the presence of four young Scottish people in London arouses a great deal of suspicion as if everyone knows what they're up to. It stretches credibility and so do the foursome's contrived antics during the raid, which involve missed signals, dropped keys and lots of running about in the rain.
Veterans Carlyle, Mullan and Flicker have cameos but the film rests on the youngsters, especially Cox and Mara, who do their best but cannot enliven the dull script. By sticking reasonably close to the actual events, the film has to reach for its heroes' small victories but they're not enough to make the picture memorable.
Production: Infinity Features Entertainment and the Mob Film Company. Cast: Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Stephen McCole, Ciaron Kelly, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Peter Mullan, Brenda Flicker. Director: Charles Martin Smith. Screenwriter: Charles Martin Smith. Producers: Andrew Boswell, Rob Merilees. Executive producers: Terrence Yason, Michael S. Murphy, Charles Martin Smith, William Vince, Carole Sheridan, Victor Loewy. Director of photography: Glen Winter. Production designer: Tom Sayer. Music: Mychael Danna. Costume designer: Trisha Biggar.
EDINBURGH, Scotland -- The "Stone of Destiny" in Charles Martin Smith's pedestrian new film is the macguffin that a group of Scottish nationalists plan to repatriate from the heart of England in order to encourage the movement for Scotland's independence.
Shrouded in myth and also known as the Coronation Stone, it's a slab of rock taken from Scotland by an English king 1000 years ago and kept for ages at Westminster Abbey. The film is based on a true incident in 1950 when some students from Glasgow broke into the Abbey and stole it.
Intended as a rousing feel-good tale of rebellion, the film suffers from slack direction and bland performances with very little tension and no surprises. Box office prospects are slim beyond what can be drummed up from the worldwide Scottish community but it's not going to cause many to spill their whisky.
Based on a book by central character Ian Hamilton (Charles Cox), "Stone of Destiny" relates in some awe what is obviously meant to be the daredevil escapade of an idealistic young man who relishes the opportunity of making a name for himself.
Although his best mate (Billy Boyd) decides not to put his education and future employment at risk, Ian recruits two other young men (Stephen McCole and Ciaron Kelly) and a pretty young woman named Kay (Kate Mara) with no arm-twisting at all.
With financial backing from a prominent educator and politician (Robert Carlyle), they set off to London to scout the layout of Westminster Abbey and plan their raid. Curiously, the presence of four young Scottish people in London arouses a great deal of suspicion as if everyone knows what they're up to. It stretches credibility and so do the foursome's contrived antics during the raid, which involve missed signals, dropped keys and lots of running about in the rain.
Veterans Carlyle, Mullan and Flicker have cameos but the film rests on the youngsters, especially Cox and Mara, who do their best but cannot enliven the dull script. By sticking reasonably close to the actual events, the film has to reach for its heroes' small victories but they're not enough to make the picture memorable.
Production: Infinity Features Entertainment and the Mob Film Company. Cast: Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Stephen McCole, Ciaron Kelly, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Peter Mullan, Brenda Flicker. Director: Charles Martin Smith. Screenwriter: Charles Martin Smith. Producers: Andrew Boswell, Rob Merilees. Executive producers: Terrence Yason, Michael S. Murphy, Charles Martin Smith, William Vince, Carole Sheridan, Victor Loewy. Director of photography: Glen Winter. Production designer: Tom Sayer. Music: Mychael Danna. Costume designer: Trisha Biggar.
- 6/22/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The final episode of George Lucas' cinematic epic Star Wars ends the six-movie series on such a high note that one feels like yelling out, "Rewind!" Yes, rewind through more than 13 hours of bravery, treachery, new worlds, odd creatures and human frailty. The first two episodes of Lucas' second trilogy -- The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002) -- caused more than a few fans of the original trilogy to wonder whether this prequel was worth it. The answer is a qualified yes. It did take a lot of weighty exposition, stiffly played scenes and less-than-magical creatures to get to "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith." But what a ride Lucas and Company have in store!
Needless to say, international boxoffice will register in the hundreds of millions. The real question is how much money the entire series, now ready for packaging and repackaging for all sorts of formats and media, will eventually take in. Let's just say a lot.
What seems like the biggest drawback to Episode III turns out to be its strongest element. Even casual moviegoers know what is in store for the characters, who will wind up at the point where the original Star Wars -- now dubbed Episode IV -- A New Hope -- began the whole saga nearly 30 years ago. We know how Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker will turn to the dark side of the Force, how his twin children will be separated at birth and how his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi and the tiny Jedi Master Yoda will turn into his mortal enemies. Yet watching these fates unfold with such tragic inevitability, watching each piece fall into place, is genuinely thrilling. In fact, knowing that these strong characters cannot and will not escape their fate is what moves us.
The movie opens with a bang. Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), swashbuckling Knights in jet planes, swoop into a Sith space armada, batting off various attack forces with seasoned aplomb. In the main battleship, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and his coyote-faced, metal-skeletoned droid ally General Grievous -- one of many computerized characters -- hold the Republic's Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) prisoner.
Action goes nonstop for more than 20 minutes as the two Jedi Knights supply the jaunty, gravity-defying heroics, while the robot R2D2 (Kenny Baker) delivers brilliant comic action. This holds true throughout the new film as writer-director Lucas does a much better job of interweaving comedy with the dramatic and even tragic.
The seduction of the troubled Anakin to the dark side and the turn of the cool, cerebral Palpatine into the dictator of the Galactic Empire occur in an intelligent and persuasive way. The movie opens with the now traditional receding title crawl, which informs us that in the galactic warfare that has broken out, there are "heroes on both sides" and "evil is everywhere." Understandably, Anakin doesn't know whom to trust.
As it is, he leads a double life, having secretly married beauteous Sen. Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Her pregnancy will now force that secret into the open and cause him to lose his knighthood. Even more pressing, the rescued Palpatine brings Anakin into his confidence and plants doubts in his mind about the Jedi council. Sure enough, Council head Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) signals that he has lost his trust in Anakin.
Palpatine gets Anakin appointed to the council, but Anakin is not allowed to assume to title of master. Even more troubling, each side -- Palpatine and Obi-Wan -- comes to Anakin to ask him to spy on the other side. Soon dreams suggest to Anakin that Padme will die in childbirth. Palpatine hints to the distraught husband that only by exploring the Force more fully can he save his wife.
Poor dialogue and wooden acting still inflict the second trilogy. The tragic dimension of Anakin's dilemma can only barely withstand lines like this from Padme: "You're a good person. Don't do this." Many dialogue scenes, brief as they are, feel awkward and unnatural. Such scenes start cold -- we can almost sense the clapboard moving out of camera frame -- and end with long, lingering shots of actors' blank faces. Yet in face of the epic grandeur of the film's design and action, these are mere quibbles.
Now completely at home with digital filmmaking, Lucas can blaze a pioneering path as no one else. Shooting on soundstages in Australia and Britain with additional photography in China, Thailand, Switzerland, Italy and Tunisia, Lucas thrusts viewers into pitched battles in looming caverns and giant space ships or a lightsaber duel on a river of Molten Lava. Combining choreographic action aesthetics that are American, Chinese and other worldly, Lucas has redefined fantasy filmmaking with Star Wars, while teaching a generation of filmmakers to accept no limitations.
Cinematographer David Tattersall makes everything match beautifully, while editors Roger Barton and Ben Burtt (the latter also credited with the ingenious sound design) propel the story ever forward. John Williams, Lucas' music collaborator through all six films, is content to rumble melodically in the background with only brief emotional swells at key moments. Trisha Biggar's costumes and all the props and makeup are delicious fun, genuinely integral parts of the storytelling. And the CG creatures are more lifelike than ever. A particular standout is a giant lizard McGregor gets to ride.
Yes, by all means, rewind!
STAR WARS: EPISODE III -- REVENGE OF THE SITH
20th Century Fox
A Lucasfilm Ltd. production
Credits:
Writer-director: George Lucas
Producer: Rick McCallum
Executive producer: George Lucas
Director of photography: David Tattersall
Production designer: Gavin Bocquet
Music: John Williams
Costumes: Trisha Biggar
Editors: Roger Barton, Ben Burtt
Cast:
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor
Padme: Natalie Portman
Anakin Skywalker: Hayden Christensen
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid
Mace Windu: Samuel L. Jackson
Sen. Organa: Jimmy Smits
Yoda (voice): Frank Oz
C-3PO: Anthony Daniels
R2D2: Kenny Baker
Count Dooku: Christopher Lee
Queen of Naboo: Keisha Castle-Hughes
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time -- 140 minutes...
Needless to say, international boxoffice will register in the hundreds of millions. The real question is how much money the entire series, now ready for packaging and repackaging for all sorts of formats and media, will eventually take in. Let's just say a lot.
What seems like the biggest drawback to Episode III turns out to be its strongest element. Even casual moviegoers know what is in store for the characters, who will wind up at the point where the original Star Wars -- now dubbed Episode IV -- A New Hope -- began the whole saga nearly 30 years ago. We know how Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker will turn to the dark side of the Force, how his twin children will be separated at birth and how his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi and the tiny Jedi Master Yoda will turn into his mortal enemies. Yet watching these fates unfold with such tragic inevitability, watching each piece fall into place, is genuinely thrilling. In fact, knowing that these strong characters cannot and will not escape their fate is what moves us.
The movie opens with a bang. Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), swashbuckling Knights in jet planes, swoop into a Sith space armada, batting off various attack forces with seasoned aplomb. In the main battleship, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and his coyote-faced, metal-skeletoned droid ally General Grievous -- one of many computerized characters -- hold the Republic's Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) prisoner.
Action goes nonstop for more than 20 minutes as the two Jedi Knights supply the jaunty, gravity-defying heroics, while the robot R2D2 (Kenny Baker) delivers brilliant comic action. This holds true throughout the new film as writer-director Lucas does a much better job of interweaving comedy with the dramatic and even tragic.
The seduction of the troubled Anakin to the dark side and the turn of the cool, cerebral Palpatine into the dictator of the Galactic Empire occur in an intelligent and persuasive way. The movie opens with the now traditional receding title crawl, which informs us that in the galactic warfare that has broken out, there are "heroes on both sides" and "evil is everywhere." Understandably, Anakin doesn't know whom to trust.
As it is, he leads a double life, having secretly married beauteous Sen. Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Her pregnancy will now force that secret into the open and cause him to lose his knighthood. Even more pressing, the rescued Palpatine brings Anakin into his confidence and plants doubts in his mind about the Jedi council. Sure enough, Council head Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) signals that he has lost his trust in Anakin.
Palpatine gets Anakin appointed to the council, but Anakin is not allowed to assume to title of master. Even more troubling, each side -- Palpatine and Obi-Wan -- comes to Anakin to ask him to spy on the other side. Soon dreams suggest to Anakin that Padme will die in childbirth. Palpatine hints to the distraught husband that only by exploring the Force more fully can he save his wife.
Poor dialogue and wooden acting still inflict the second trilogy. The tragic dimension of Anakin's dilemma can only barely withstand lines like this from Padme: "You're a good person. Don't do this." Many dialogue scenes, brief as they are, feel awkward and unnatural. Such scenes start cold -- we can almost sense the clapboard moving out of camera frame -- and end with long, lingering shots of actors' blank faces. Yet in face of the epic grandeur of the film's design and action, these are mere quibbles.
Now completely at home with digital filmmaking, Lucas can blaze a pioneering path as no one else. Shooting on soundstages in Australia and Britain with additional photography in China, Thailand, Switzerland, Italy and Tunisia, Lucas thrusts viewers into pitched battles in looming caverns and giant space ships or a lightsaber duel on a river of Molten Lava. Combining choreographic action aesthetics that are American, Chinese and other worldly, Lucas has redefined fantasy filmmaking with Star Wars, while teaching a generation of filmmakers to accept no limitations.
Cinematographer David Tattersall makes everything match beautifully, while editors Roger Barton and Ben Burtt (the latter also credited with the ingenious sound design) propel the story ever forward. John Williams, Lucas' music collaborator through all six films, is content to rumble melodically in the background with only brief emotional swells at key moments. Trisha Biggar's costumes and all the props and makeup are delicious fun, genuinely integral parts of the storytelling. And the CG creatures are more lifelike than ever. A particular standout is a giant lizard McGregor gets to ride.
Yes, by all means, rewind!
STAR WARS: EPISODE III -- REVENGE OF THE SITH
20th Century Fox
A Lucasfilm Ltd. production
Credits:
Writer-director: George Lucas
Producer: Rick McCallum
Executive producer: George Lucas
Director of photography: David Tattersall
Production designer: Gavin Bocquet
Music: John Williams
Costumes: Trisha Biggar
Editors: Roger Barton, Ben Burtt
Cast:
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor
Padme: Natalie Portman
Anakin Skywalker: Hayden Christensen
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid
Mace Windu: Samuel L. Jackson
Sen. Organa: Jimmy Smits
Yoda (voice): Frank Oz
C-3PO: Anthony Daniels
R2D2: Kenny Baker
Count Dooku: Christopher Lee
Queen of Naboo: Keisha Castle-Hughes
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time -- 140 minutes...
- 6/16/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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