The Sith just hit the fans!
One of the most popular films of this year and the final installment in filmmaker George Lucas’ iconic saga some 28 years in the making, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is at last available on DVD, giving fans the opportunity to really argue over the long-running quandary: when watching all six films at once, is it better start with the originals and move on to the prequels, as they were historically released? Or do you follow the new numbering and watch Episodes I-VI in order? Either way, with the six Star Wars features as last available on home video, fans are going to be as giddy as a Wookie winning at chess.
Hollywood.com headed all the way to Lucas’ amazing Skywalker Ranch compound in California’s Marin County to get an advance look at the Episode III two-disc DVD set, which like all of the Star Wars discs are as overstuffed as Jabba the Hut when it comes to extras: there are six never-before-seen deleted scenes, including Anakin Skywalker and Ob-Wan Kenobi’s nearly-complete escapee from General Grievous into a dangerously volatile fuel compartment; the amazingly complex documentary “Within a Minute,” which meticulously explores all the myriad aspects and personnel involved in crafting just one 60-second sequence in the film; inside looks at such diverse elements as suiting Hayden Christensen up at last as Darth Vader, choreographing the Jedi battles and creating John Williams’ powerful score; a multipart collection of web documentaries chronicling the making of the movie; sneak peeks and two levels of the new video game “Star Wars: Battlefront II”; commentaries tracks from Lucas and his production team; exotic “Easter Eggs” with such surprises as a certain Jedi Master’s hip-hop skills; and much, much more.
And in the spirit of Episode III’s extras-overload, Hollywood.com’s taking you even further into the film with our interviews straight from Skywalker Ranch: Hayden Christensen pops in to show off his impressive gaming skills putting his digital doppelganger Anakin through the paces on “Battlefront 2” before recalling some of his favorite moments of filming the trilogy; the Emperor himself, Ian McDiarmid, unmasks to meditate on playing Palpatine in both trilogies; there’s a tale of two Yodas when the Jedi Master’s voice and original puppeteer Frank Oz sits down to chat with Rob Coleman, the digital wizard behind the prequels’ CGI Yoda; producer Rick McCallum, dishes the scoop on upcoming Lucasfilm projects; and we chat exclusively with George Lucas about his professional life after Star Wars.
Into Action With Indy for George Lucas
On his next project: “Yeah. I’m working on the new Indiana Jones right now, and that’s a lot of fun. It’s great to be on with something else.” Get the full story.
Producer Rick McCallum, Lucasfilm’s Right-Hand Man
“[Lucas has] gone completely nuts. He’s mad now. He’s doing Indiana Jones–the script, which he should finish by Sunday, and then he’s meeting with Steven [Spielberg] to try and figure out where they’re going to go and what changes that they want to make on it…” Get the full story.
Hayden Christensen Out of the Mask
About playing Darth Vader: “It was more about who he was at that time in his life and Episode III was about changing him and making evolve into Darth Vader, which I was very excited to do. That was something that I had built up in my head for so long…” Get the full story
The Two Faces of Yoda–Frank Oz and Digital F/X Wizard Rob Coleman
Oz, on playing a CGI Yoda: “Well, the main thing is that I really didn’t have to do the work. When I did the others it was a lot of sweat and a lot of stuff like that, but now I tell everyone this too: I do a half day and these guys work for a year, and it’s bizarre because I get the credit…” Get the full story.
Out of the Dark With Ian McDiarmid
On returning to play the evil Emperor: “I embraced it wholeheartedly, and I’ve been embracing it wholeheartedly ever since. But did I imagine that I’d be sitting here talking to some 25-odd years later? No. Certainly not. But it has been a great journey…” Get the full story
