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NEWEST INFORMATION
| Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - Submit |
| Saturday, November 24, 2001 - Submit |
| Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Submit |
Episode I DVD sets record - Author
"According to Variety, in its first week, the DVD sold an estimated 2.2 million units pulling in a gross in sales of just over $45M. Previously, THE MUMMY RETURNS first week of sales was for just north of 2M, though the film's release did pull $90M in sales and rentals combined."
Source: cinescape.com
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| Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - Submit |
Who is Darth Sidious? - Author
Theforce.net has a screenshot from the Episode I DVD documentary that shows Ian McDiarmid, the actor who played Palpatine, as the actor behind Sidious. No ig surprise, but final confirmation for those who did not think so.Source: theforce.net
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| Monday, September 10, 2001 - Submit |
| Tuesday, September 04, 2001 - Submit |
Episode I DVD - Author
As you might know, the Episode I DVD will be released on October 16, 2001. It features 2 discs that include exclusive deleted footage, an hour-long documentary, teh 12 part web documentary about the production (which is available on starwars.com to download) and much more. And yes, it will be in glorious wide screen.theforce.net has the Episode I DVD trailer on its site here. You can pre-order the DVD at amazon here. The amazon site also has the trailer, but in Real media form.
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| Thursday, June 28, 2001 - Submit |
Episode I DVD Promo Images - Author
The linked site has images from the DVD release of Episode I Promo trailer. It includes some deleted scenes, such as additional footage of the underwater boat the Jedi and Jar Jar used on Naboo reaching the mainland afte visiting Boss Nass and heading to Naboo's main city.Source: CES
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| Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - Submit |
| Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - Submit |
| Tuesday, May 09, 2000 - Submit |
| Thursday, April 27, 2000 - Submit |
| Friday, April 21, 2000 - Submit |
| Wednesday, April 19, 2000 - Submit |
More about TPM DVD - Author
scifi.ign.com has some clarification on the Episode I DVD issue. A Lucasfilm spokemen said that it will come out "definitely not this year ... and not in the foreseeable future.". There isno release date set yet. However, it seems that it will come out ealier than thought before (after Episode III comes out).Source: scifi.ign.com
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| Monday, April 17, 2000 - Submit |
TPM DVD soon?! - Author
On the Los Angeles Radio Station KROQ received a surprise call on Friday from George Lucas.he said that ILM is working on a DVD version of Episode I, complete with extra footage. No release date was known at that point.However, this could mean that the DVD will come out soon and not after Episode III comes out.
Source: Theforce.net
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| Monday, April 03, 2000 - Submit |
| Sunday, April 02, 2000 - Submit |
| Wednesday, March 01, 2000 - Submit |
| Friday, January 28, 2000 - Submit |
| Thursday, January 13, 2000 - Submit |
Oscar Nomination for best effects - Author
The Matrix, The Mummy (ILM), Sleepy Hollow (ILM), Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (ILM), Stuart Little, Wild Wild West (ILM) and The World Is Not Enough are all in the first round for the Best Visual Effects in a Motion Picture Award for the Oscars 2000.It is a good guess that TPM will win, as it did really break all CG records and achievements. Source: Variety.com
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| Saturday, January 08, 2000 - Submit |
Preorder TPM on the 28th - Author
According to TheForce.net, you will be able to preorder the TPM videos starting on the 28th of January.Once again, we remind that there will be no DVD release of TPM in the near future. Probably the entire Star Wars Movies will be released on DVD at the same time, aka when Episode III is finished. Source: TheForce.net
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| Wednesday, January 05, 2000 - Submit |
TPM video release - Author
Episode I will be release worldwide (this is a first) over one week (April 3-8, 2000). The link has the box images as well as more info.Note: This is a VHS release, and there is no plan to do a DVD release in the near future. Source: starwars.com
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| Thursday, December 23, 1999 - Submit |
TPM video release - Author
Cinescape Online reports that the Video Store Magazine (via the Hollywood Reporter), reports that the video will hit your local video store on April 4th, 2000.Natrually, there is still no news about whether it will be widescreen or if 2 version (like the Special Editions - Gold (normal version) and Silver (Widescreen). It seems that a DVD release will not be then. Source: Cinescape
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| Tuesday, December 07, 1999 - Submit |
Rerelease Earnings - Author
SwFans.net reports that TPM was in the top 8 highest earning movies on Sunday in the USA with $437,000. This gives The Phantom Menace a total of $1,292,968 for the entire weekend. This brings TPM just $5 million behind Jurassic Park (in the Worldwide standings, where TPM has $914.9 milllion total).Great news for those charites... Source: SwFans.net
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| Saturday, December 04, 1999 - Submit |
| Thursday, December 02, 1999 - Submit |
Rerelease starts tomorrow - Author
We remind everyone that the charity rerelease of TPM will start tomorrow and continue for one week. So, go see TPM again...for the probably last time on the big silver screen!
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| Tuesday, November 30, 1999 - Submit |
TPM Video to come 2nd April 2000? - Author
TheForce.net reports that it recieved some info on the tape's release date: It has to do with the Star Wars: Jedi Battles game for the Playstation being released at the same time and that if you buy one, you get a $5 discount on the other. Source: TheForce.net
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| Thursday, November 25, 1999 - Submit |
| Tuesday, November 23, 1999 - Submit |
| Monday, November 22, 1999 - Submit |
Rerelease official - Author
StarWars.com confirms the previous rumours about a charity rerelease of TPM in the USA and Canada for one week starting December 3, 1999. 100% percent of the box office will go to local charities.So, go and see it again..for the probably last time in theatres....
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| Sunday, November 21, 1999 - Submit |
| Thursday, November 18, 1999 - Submit |
TPM rerelease during Christmas? - Author
There are various rumours regarding a christmas release of TPM in the USA. Well, there seems to be no real sign for this, but maybe the toy companies will request this, as this would boost sales during christmas if the kids see the movie again...but wait, Star Wars is not about money!As we introduce our new Headline News style, we added the option to comment our stories. Use the link at the bottom to do so!
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November 05 -- TPM openend today
in China, its last major international opening. The question is, will the red army consider droids for the future?
October 14 -- With TPM
opening in Holland, Turkey, Portugal and soon France, and still in the top 3 in the German-speaking
market, it is no wonder that it became the fifth movie to surpass the $400 million mark outside of the
USA. TPM merchandise sales are also pretty hefty, even though offical numbers are not given (but we can assume that
they are higher that Titanic's).
October 04 -- The Box Office Guru
has the newest TPM income info (it opened in some new markets):
$425 million in America (In contrast - A New Hope made $322.7 in 1977 and $138.3 extra
with the rerelease, totalling with 461.0).
$387.6 million outside America - about the same as the Mummy has made worldwide
The proud totals of $825 million world-wide - Jurassic Park stands at $912.8 million
September 25 -- Some sites report
that a re-release of Episode I is in the making. This is rumoured because TPM is being taken of theaters
even though it is still doing very good. The rumoured date is a week or so before Christmas. This
naturally applies to the US only
September 01 -- News from the German--speaking market:
Episode I hit with a storm, and no sign of it dying out! It's second weekend gross was only a little under that of it's first
weekend opening (180,000 vs. 170,000 tickets in Austria). In fact, this means that in Austria,
338,148 have seen the movie and giving it about $3.2 million dollars. In Germany, numbers will
come out over the next days.
In currently all European countries it seems that Episode I will break Titanic's overall record,
but with schools starting, it will be a hard journey...
August 25 -- The german CNN clone N-TV
interviewed Rick McCallum (more here):
Regarding Star Wars on DVD: He said that "No one has any time for this", probably referring to the preparations
for Episode II. However, after Episode 3 is done, and the quality and marke of DVD has grown, "we will
create the most spectacular product, where the quality of the presentation not only pays tribute to the
movies, but which will also use the potential of DVD to the fullest.". This would mean that
each movie would get an elaborate making of section, which would cover all aspects of the movies. Both
he an Lucas are therefore waiting for the next jump in DVD hardware, namely the blue laser technology, which
will increase the capacity of DVD's by 10-15 fold.
August 23 -- We have gotten info on the Austrian opening of Episode I.
It sold nearly 180,000 tickets over the weekend (18.5 million Austrian Shillings, about $ 1.8 million),
beating Titanic. Titanic sold 1.4 million tickets total in Austria, and it is possible that this record will be beat.
Variety also has info on other countires (weekend opening):
Germany: $13.7 million beating Men in Black ($12.5 million) this friday. No wonder they did not hold with the
rumoured blockade against FOX's request for a big percent share (around 54%)
Spain: $4.2 million in three days (beating ID4)
Denmark: $942,000 in four days (beating ID4)
Sweden: $482,000 beating Lethal Weapon 4.
Oslo: $166,000
These results ($265 million total outside the US)places TPM at #16 worldwide (tied with Die Hard with a Vengeance).
On a total world level, with $685 million ($420 million in the USA) it outruns Forrest and lies in place 7. This weeks
schools in Europe start teaching, so many should go and see the movie before school starts, so we expect
this week to do pretty good, and drop as schools start.
August 21 -- This weekend, TPM opened in the
German-speaking markets. This monday we should have the results, but it seems that many theatres are virtually sold out,
and that people have been wearing costumes. Long lines were not present, as in Europe, you choose your seat when you buy your ticket.
On another note, Variety reports that The Phantom Menace picked up 29.43 million rubles ($1.2 million) between July 29 and Aug.
18, more than James Cameron's box-office hit Titanic.
August 04 -- Wanted to post this
much earlier, but forgot to do so:
You can see the Arc de Triumph during the celebration scenes - when the Gun Guns are riding those
horse-like animals (named kaadu) down the road to where the Queen is waiting for Boss Nass. I think this is
the first time this been mentioned on the internet. Interestingly enough, Hitler
marched under it when he captured France (Palpatine has to yet do so), and Napolean did the same
whenever he returned victorious. Must be one of ILM's rare tie in jokes which have historical similarities.
August 02 -- TheForce.net
has info from the UK film magazine Empire (which should be available outside the UK later this week).
George Lucas responds to some plot questions people have been asking:
Regarding Darth Maul's fate: "At one point, when Obi-Wan kills Darth Maul, he just fell into the pit. I looked at
it and thought this isn't going to work because, if people like
him enough, they are going to want him to come back and
they're going to assume somehow he gets out of it. So I had
to cut him in half to say this guy's gone, he's history, he ain't
coming back. I'll come up with another apprentice. The
whole issue of having apprentices, poor Darth Sidious trying
to replenish his apprentice supply, is one of the main plot
points."
Lucas has said that the reason why the droids have no idea about Tatooine in ANH will be addressed in the rest
of the movies (memory-wipe, one assumes)
The same applies to why Qui-Gon does not disappear when he dies (If you strike me down, I will become more powerful
than you can possibly imagine)
July 28 -- Once again,
due to tecnical difficulties and the main webmaster being in vacation, no updates were possible for
the post month. Anyways, we will try to catch up on news that came out (not much, mind you).
Variety reported yesterday that Epsiode I made $154.3 million in the non-US markets, with the US total
being $403 million. In Japan (said to be the strongest oversea market), Episode I has taken in $39.1 million (after 3 weeks).
Analysts prognose the Japan intake at around $100 million. In the UK, after 11 days the total is
$32.7 million (it set the UK all-time record opening). TPM has not yet opened in the other 2 major Euopean markets, France and
German-speaking countries.
June 24 -- 20th Century Fox
is fighting with european theatres about their percentile of the gross - Fox wants 54.7% of it.
Natrually, the theatres have complained that they would have to increase the ticket prices, as
the number of theatres are increasing rapidly. The possible consequence: TPM will be boycotted.
(reported by German TV)
June 23 -- Better late than never -
yesterday TPM surpassed Forrest Gump and now ranks as the fifth highest grossing movie. The next
movie to be mauled: Jurassic Park (notice that all top movies have effects by ILM?)
June 21 -- The Star Wars Fan Day
brought TPM $7.38 million, a 52.77% increase over the day before (Friday). This brings TPM's total
gross to $321.40 million. It seems that Fan Day was quite popular. It seems that in one month, another
one will be called out.
Old News
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THE TRAILER
The online version of trailer b is out. The fastest link is still at starwars.com.
THE STORY
Episode I will be set about 30-40 years before "A New Hope"
The basic premise: With his apprentise Kenobi, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn is sent to settle
a conflict between the planet Naboo and the Trade Federation. Little does he know that
the Sith are behind the Federation. Due to Darth Sidious's manipulations, the Federation
invades Naboo rather than find a peacefull solution. Jinn is forced to help the Queen of
Naboo (Amidala) escape the clutches of Sidious.
They are forced to land on Tatooine, where they find a young slave boy called Anakin who is strong
in the force. He shows his strengths in a pod race organised by Jabba the Hut. Gon takes him
to the Jedi Council, where he presents the child. He believes that Anakin is the choosen one, who
is destinied to bring balance to the force. Little does he know what balance he will bring forth . . .
According to Star Wars Insider, about 1/3 of Episode I takes place on Tatooine. The story
Episode I revolves around Neeson's character. Liam Neeson plays a Jedi Knight who sets
much of the story in motion. His character is very noble, also Obi-Wan in
A New Hope. Another main theme will be Anakin's introduction (by Obi-Wan Kenobi) to the
Force (somewhat like Luke's) and supposedly his relation to his mother. Also, Anakin will
meet his future wife (Luke and Leia's mother), who is called "the princess" or "the queen"
(Portman).
Anakin will be shown as a heroic figure, in order to make his fall even more tragic. His
departure form his mother at the young age of 10 will be a sour point in his life for the jedi to be.
Dates:
Principal Photography began in September 8, 1997
The tentative release date is May 1999. According to Entertainment Tonight, Episode
I will be released on Memorial Day, 1999. Phase I of filming is complete. Now,
post-production work on those scenes are being done. Some actors will return for Phase II, as
well for new actors.
June 26 marked the beginning of Preliminary Filming.
Potpourri:
The first episode will have 1,500 visual effects in it, more than any movie till now (ROJ had about 500)
Prequel Book Information:
Famous fantasy writer Terry Brooks penned the novelisation of TPM.
Bantam Books published it (they have a $60 million deal on the exclusive rights to Star Wars novels through the year 2010
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