If you’ve seen Episode II, you’ve no doubt noticed the many female Jedi who have no problems keeping up with the male guardians of peace and justice. One of the first female Jedi ever to grace the screen was Barriss Offee, a Jedi played by Nalini Krishan. Complete with ornate robes and diamond tattoos, she stands out on screen in her far too few scenes. I had the pleasure or working with Nalini for a time and even hosted her website for a while. I was her assistant at the Star Wars Celebration II in Indianapolis in 2002 and we had a great time. We had many a conversation about all kinds of things, but I felt it only necessary to post a more formal interview so the fans could experience Nalini’s enthusiasm and get to know her a little better, as I have. (Original posting: April 8, 2003)
Tag: Episode II
Interview with Joe Corroney
(Original posting: May 11, 2004)
Joe Corroney has been illustrating Star Wars artwork for Disney and Lucasfilm and Star Trek artwork for CBS Studios since 1997. Other licenses, studios and professional publishers he has illustrated for include Stranger Things for Netflix, Marvel Comics’ Avengers, Spider-Man, X-Men, DC Comics, Green Lantern, Superman, The Jim Henson Company, Dolby Cinema, Indiana Jones, The Walking Dead, X-Files, Doctor Who, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, True Blood, GI Joe, Farscape, Firefly, Heroes, The Phantom, Hasbro, Xbox, Sony Pictures, MTV, Random House Publishing/Del Rey Books, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, Becker & Mayer! Books, Topps, Titan Publishing, Boom! Studios, Wizards of the Coast, IDG Entertainment, Upper Deck, Rittenhouse Archives, Paizo Publishing, and White Wolf Publishing. Currently, he’s developing his creator owned comic book series, Death Avenger and continues to create new Star Wars artwork for Disney and Lucasfilm. He was also the instructor for the Comic Book Illustration and Digital Illustration courses at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio for ten years and has taught the Ohio State University’s Summer Comic Book Workshop. Joe runs a full-time illustration studio and can be commissioned or contracted for work. You can contact him at joe@joecorroney.com . — Bio courtesy JoeCorroney.com (Original posting: May 11, 2004)
Return To Tatooine
The Star Wars films frequently bring us back to the first major planet we encountered a long time ago: Tatooine. In Episode II, Anakin travels to Tatooine after being haunted by disturbing nightmares of his mother. While he’s there, Anakin will not only find his mother, but learn some more about his family, leaving him a changed man. The anger, fear, and aggression that lead to his eventual downfall will take root here, setting the scene for the tragic events of Episode III.
Anakin and Padmé to the Rescue
After a distressing message from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin and Padmé decide to depart Tatooine and aid their friend. Unfortunately, this results in the two of them getting captured, put on trial, found guilty, and tied to execution posts, right along with Obi-Wan.
Aggressive Negotiations
In Episode II, Anakin mentions “aggressive negotiations” while telling a story to Padmé. When she inquires as to what that means, he replies, “Negotiations…with a lightsaber.” Many such negotiations took place in the film, and many shots ended up trimmed or deleted from the final cut.
The Battle of Geonosis
The Battle of Geonosis was technically the first big battle of what would become the Clone Wars. This was the first big test of the clone army, created specifically to fight wars and serve as the Grand Army of the Republic. If the clones failed their first test, the war might have ended right then and there. There were many changes from script to screen, so let’s just take a look at some of the major things that were deleted or altered during the battle.
Jedi Detective Work – Coruscant
One of the finer aspects of Episode II was that it (in part) resembled an old fashioned mystery. Obi-Wan is like an old 1940s gumshoe detective in a black and white film noir movie, hitting the streets hard and piecing clues together. Meanwhile, Mace Windu and Yoda are holding down the fort, trying to process the information passed on to them.
Jedi Detective Work – Kamino
Obi-Wan’s detective work on Coruscant leads him to believe that something is amiss on a planet called Kamino, which seems to be missing from the galaxy maps and Jedi Archives. Sounds like a challenge worthy of a Jedi.
Jedi Detective Work – Geonosis
All of Obi-Wan’s detective work pointed him to the rocky, bug-infested Geonosis. He was having a bad enough day as it was, but add in all these deleted and altered shots and his day just gets worse and worse.
To Kill a Senator – Part One
Five minutes into Attack of the Clones, one thing is perfectly clear. Someone is trying to kill Senator Amidala. Two major attempts to assassinate her are made early in the film. The first takes place on a Coruscant landing platform.
To Kill a Senator – Part Two
Five minutes into Attack of the Clones, one thing is perfectly clear. Someone is trying to kill Senator Amidala. Two major attempts to assassinate her are made early in the film. The second takes place in her Coruscant bedroom. The ensuing chase leads the Senator’s Jedi protectors through various areas of Coruscant, eventually ending up in an alley outside of a nightclub.
Representative Binks
Senator Amidala seems like a very smart woman. Therefore, I can only attribute her appointing a buffoon like Jar Jar Binks as her representative in the Senate to the stress of dual assassination attempts. That, and the fact that George Lucas is a twisted individual who, when faced with the knowledge that people above the age of 13 really despise Jar Jar Binks, gives him a more important role.
IMAX Cuts & The Original Ending Sequence
In November of 2002, Episode II made its way to the large screen format known as IMAX. At the time, IMAX film differed from regular film in a number of ways. Read More
The Naboo Lake Country
When her life is threatened, Senator Amidala feels it’s wrong to turn around and hide, but reluctantly agrees to do it at the urging of the Queen of Naboo and others. Anakin Skywalker, her Jedi bodyguard, accompanies her to the Lake Country Retreat, a place of the Senator’s choosing. It is there that a dangerous and forbidden love will take root.
The Arrival on Naboo and Meeting the Family
The senator (and former Queen) from Naboo is in mortal danger. After an assassination attempt on Coruscant, it’s clear that someone wants her dead. Her Jedi protectors order her into seclusion against her wishes. Young Anakin Skywalker, no longer a boy but not yet a full Jedi Knight, is to escort her to Naboo and keep her safe.