DAN’S MOVIE DIGEST 70

STAR WARS – ORIGINAL TRILOGY (ULTIMATE EDITIONS)Yes, that’s right; George Lucas has been digitally tinkering with StarWars again – this time as a way to link the original trilogy with hisprequel trilogy.

In fact, Lucas is even hoping to get co-director credits on The EmpireStrikes Back and Return Of The Jedi.

So what can fans expect to see restored, re-shot or replaced? Here’s anunconfirmed 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 appearanceon Princess Leia’s ship.
• 2. When Obi-Wan is talking to Luke about his father Anakin’s Theme playsin the background and then it turns into the Imperial March as he talksabout Vader.
• 3. The lightsabre effects have been redone and the frame jumps oflightsabre being turned on have been removed.
• 4. There’s a new scene which has been shot during the filming of EpisodeIII in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate.
• 5. In the Cantina, the Duros (green alien guys) have been replaced withNeimoidians and some aliens from the prequels have been added.
• 6. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with anon-bleeding arm because it’s now canon that lightsabre cauterizewounds.
• 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 onhis tale.
• 9. In place of R2 wobbling down the stairs to the Falcon’s hangar, a CGR2 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 CGshots have been added.
• 11. The scene of the Falcon being chased by the two Star Destroyers wasmodified. The Falcon now does spinning moves, avoiding the StarDestroyers’ fire.
• 12. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there’s a new scene of Yoda’sreaction to the disturbance in the Force that is created by all thosedeaths 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 moreof the creature.
• 14. The Death Star’s panelling and computers have been slightly alteredto 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 andthere is much more movement. A modified version of Duel of the Fates isbeing considered for the scene.
• 19. The Death Star plans that are taken from R2 have been updated. Whenthe Rebels are reviewing the Death Star plans they look similar to theplans we see in Attack of the Clones.
• 20. The Death Star battle is much more epic with more Tie Fighters andmore Rebels being blown to bits. We get to see old Naboo Starfightersbeing used by the Rebels.
• 21. There’s a new scene (shot during Episode III) where Darth Vader goesto Coruscant and lands his ship in the same building Count Dooku does atthe end of Attack of the Clones. Except now the building is all fixed upand it is now Palpatine’s palace. He meets with Palpatine to ask forforgiveness for his failure and inform him of a new potential who isstrong 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 landon Hoth and release AT-ATs. The AT-ATs have been sped up a bit. There’sa ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and Stormtroopers featuringnew ships and vehicles.
• 3. Temuera Morrison’s voice is being recorded for the olderStormtroopers.
• 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 conversationsbetween Vader and Palpatine are now longer and feature a few connectionsto the prequels.
• 7. Yoda’s face is now animated in CG allowing more expression ofemotions yet his movements remain the same. Also two deleted scenesfeaturing Yoda instructing Luke have been restored.
• 8. A new scene was shot in which the Stormtroopers, after they captureHan, Leia and Chewie, bring Vader the box containing C-3PO in pieces.Vader orders the Stormtroopers to bring the broken droid to Chewbacca’scell 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-screenusing 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 istalking with Leia about their mother.
• 6. Temuera Morrison’s like before is now the voice for someStormtroopers.
• 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 thatthe lightsabre made on the floor are gone.
• 11. During Anakin’s death scene it starts with a sad rendition of theImperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin’s Theme.
• 12. Anakin’s spirit is now played by Hayden Christenson with make-up tomake him look his age. He looks on proudly at his son Luke with thespirit of Padme by his side.

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’The Calgary Sun’ talked to director Tim Burton who commented on hisinvolvement with a new Charlie & The Chocolate Factory movie, saying: “Ihave no idea when we’ll begin on Willy. It will all depend on thescript. 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 thescreenplay for Burton’s upcoming Big Fish.

Burton also confirmed that he won’t be involved in a sequel to hiscritically derided Planet Of The Apes remake, saying: “No, no, no,never. After having made Batman Returns, I realized it’s not a good ideafor me to do sequels.”

AMERICAN GOTHIC – THE MOVIE’Little Magic Films’, a company known for their film distribution acrossJapan, are going to be the financial partners with ‘Fathom Pictures’ ona film version of cancelled cult TV series American Gothic – if they getfinal approval from ‘Universal’.

Kiki Miyake is the President and US representative for the ‘LMF’ andhopes the deal will be done by Christmas – but because of ‘NBC”spurchase 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, LucasBlack (both right) and Jake Weber are also attached to reprise their roles, but noword on Gary Cole’s return as the devilish Sheriff Buck.

THE GOONIES IIGoonies Never Say Die is the working title of the Goonies II screenplay,not The Groonies, as mentioned in the previous DMD. The Groonies/Gooniesmistake is actually a one-line gag in the movie, where the kids of theoriginal gang mistakenly resurrect the group under the wrong name. KILL BILL: VOLUME IIWriter-director Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon A Time In Mexico) is set tocompose 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 tocast an actor to play The Scarecrow for the opening segment of his newBatman movie, currently working-titled Batman: Intimidation Game.

The Scarecrow will only feature in the beginning of the film, whereBatman (Christian Bale) defeats him, but as a result decides to leaveGotham 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) isthe rumoured favourite to play The Scarecrow for the movie’s opening,and could return for the next movie, while John Malkovich’s name hasbeen 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 KONGAfter recent rumours that Andy Serkis (Gollum) may bring King Kong toCGI-life, another Lord Of The Rings actor has been attached to PeterJackson’s remake – Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalph).

McKellen himself has stated that: “[Peter Jackson] did say he might havesomething for me to do in King Kong and I hope that’s true. It would belovely.”

All figures are weekend box-office gross.

• 1. The Cat in the Hat ($38.3m)
• 2. Gothika ($19.2m)
• 3. Elf ($18.7m)
• 4. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World ($15.2m)
• 5. Love Actually ($8.6m)
• 6. The Matrix Revolutions ($7.0m)
• 7. Brother Bear ($5.3m)
• 8. Looney Tunes: Back in Action ($4.2m)
• 9. Scary Movie 3 ($3.1m)
• 10. Radio ($2.6m)

UK TOP 10 (CINEMA)

• 1. Love Actually (£6.65m)
• 2. The Matrix Revolutions (£1.15m)
• 3. Finding Nemo (£0.80m)
• 4. Seabiscuit (£0.33m)
• 5. Kill Bill: Vol.1 (£0.25m)
• 6. Intolerable Cruelty (£0.24m)
• 7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) (£0.18m)
• 8. The League of Extraodinary Gentlemen (£0.158m)
• 9. In America (£0.156m)
• 10. Calendar Girls (£0.11m)

Note that these are UK release dates.