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Shooting in Australia is a great deal cheaper than shooting in either the U.S. or England. Lucas has set the budget for Episode II at $90 million which translates to about $160 million if he'd shot it anywhere else, so expect the new movie to be huge in scale. While most of the movie will be shot in Australia, the crew will be returning to Tunisia and Italy. There is a great deal more character interest in Episode II in regards to Obi-Wan, Anakin and Amidala. There will also be more emotion in the new film. TPM served it's purpose by setting everything up for Episodes II and III to have a better flow. Obi-Wan is the main character and he'll be even more kickass in Episode II than he was in TPM. The main focus of the movie is the "idealistic crusade" that Obi-Wan, Anakin, Amidala and some others embark on. Anakin and Amidala's love story will unfold during the course of their "crusade". Apparently Lucas thought that the romance as originally written slowed down the plot too much in his previous drafts so he decided to have them fall in love during their great adventure (much like Han and Leia did in ESB). While the focus of the movie won't be the love story, it will still serve as the movie's backbone. The new Sith Lord will be totally CG and a lot cooler than Darth Maul was. Darth Sidious will also have a bigger role than he did in TPM. There's a female villian in the movie (Aurra Sing). The Jedi Council will have a greater role in the film and we'll see LOTS of Jedi in combat during the film. Expect to see some dark Jedi in Episode II. Episode II is much larger in scope than any of the previous SW movies. It also is the most action oriented of the entire film cycle. Basically a cross between "Return of the Jedi" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark". In terms of tone Episode II is darker than ESB, but not as dark as Episode III is going to be. Boba Fett's identity is revealed (apparently it will knock us all on our asses). Jar Jar has far less screen time in the new movie while R2-D2 and C-3PO will have much bigger roles than they did in TPM. The droids will be the comic reliefs this time out instead of Jar Jar. There will be hints of Anakin's sinister side during the course of Episode II. Shmi Skywalker's fate will be revealed. Jabba the Hutt won't appear in Episode II but will play a role in the Jedi purge during Episode III. Mon Mothma and Bail Organa will have small roles in Episode II. Tarkin will also be seen in the new movie. The Clone Wars are at the heart of the plot and there will be several battles scenes. There will be a chase scene during the movie that will be unlike anything we've ever seen before in any of the other movies. There will be two key lightsaber battle sequences. One involving a large group and the other involving just two combatants. The space battle in the climax will be the biggest and the best of the entire SW film series. Hundreds and hundreds of ships will be involved. The battle itself will be "...as massive as the five army battle that is seen in Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'." Anakin and Amidala do marry in the final third of the movie but it's not the last scene. The climax of the movie will be a cliffhanger that will leave us all breathless with anticipation for Episode III. The plot will be a bit more serious that than of 'The Phantom Menace'. It's tone will likely match that of the original "Star Wars" movie. The movie takes place 10 years after TPM. Obi-Wan will be 35, Queen Amidala will be 24 and Anakin will be 20. As the official site has reported Jar Jar will return. Look for him to still be comic relief but he'll also be toned down from what he was in TPM. This film will feature more settings than any of the other SW movies. Tattoine, Coruscant, Naboo, Alderaan and a fifth planet (likely Concord Dawn) will be the key settings of Episode II. This film will also boast the most action of the prequel trilogy. Episode II is being called the "grand epic" of this trilogy. The man who eventually becomes Boba Fett is around the same age as Anakin in Episode II, likely a tad bit younger. Bounty Hunter Aurra Sing will figure heavily into the plot. Lucas has major plans for the character of Mace Windu in Episode II. Yoda WILL be seen using his lightsaber in the new film. A full explanation into the Force and the powers of a Jedi will be givin in Episode II. Darth Sidious is the one who actually sets the Clone Wars in motion. We'll finally see what the clones really are. The new Sith Lord will likely be a woman. Qui-Gon will return in "ghostly" form. He'll be visible only to Yoda and Obi-Wan. Why? From what I understand a Jedi is visible in death only to his/her former master and/or Padawan learner. This will also be explained fully in Epsiode II. Anakin and Amidalda's love story will take place mostly on Naboo. Anakin's piloting skills will be on display during a key "escape" sequence. Anakin and Obi-Wan are said to only be in scenes together at the beginning and ending of the movie. Obi-Wan will become the legendary Jedi Knight we've all heard so much about by the end of the film. He appears in most of the key action sequences. The battle between the Mandelores and the Jedi Knights is already said to be one of the most ambitious physical sequences Lucas has ever attempted for one of these movies. Expect the Jedi to take endure losses during the final battle with the Mandelores, even though they'll ultimately win the war. Chancellor Palpatine's true intentions are revealed. Mon Mothma will be one the more vocal opponents of Chancellor Palpatine's "call to arms" in Episode II. As will Bail Antilles. The Empire will be created in Episode II and we'll get our first glimpse at what will eventually become the Empire's deadly stormtroopers. We'll also see the construction of Star Destroyers. There will be a Sith Temple. The seeds of Anakin's fall, as well as the eventual purge of the Jedi, will be planted in Episode II. Expect to see both Obi-Wan and Anakin involved in a pair of killer lightsaber duels with the Sith. A nakin and Amidala will marry in the film's finale. Darth Sidious will "reveal" himself to someone in Epsiode II. Expect to see action sequences take place on Coruscant, Tatooine and Concord Dawn. Lucas is shooting for no more than a 2 hour and 20 minute running time. The final running time will be between 135 and 140 minutes, which includes the credits. Episode II won't boast as much CGI as TPM. In fact Lucas is working backwards a bit. With the original trilogy there were more FX as the films went along with the first film having the least amount of FX. With the prequel trilogy TPM will be the film that features the most FX while Episode III will have the least amount. Expect Episode II to have between 1,500 and 2,000 FX compared to the 2,500 FX shots used for TPM. Episode III will likely have between 1,000 and 1,500 FX shots. The movie will still be very much of a family oriented movie, so you fans waiting for a "hardcore" type of SW movie in the same vain as 'Empire' will have to wait for Epsiode III. |
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