Death Valley Tatooine

Artwork Notes

Good old green felt-tip. No blacks or greys left. Do you like the skeleton skull of the Space-Cow? Ah yes, the ubiquitous cow. Notice that Ben never said to Luke "A cow can moo!" No Tatooine farm-boy could be be impressed by that. Even George included a big grazing animal in those romantic but irritating Episode II scenes. Anakin horrifies Padme when, let's face it CGI fans, he unconvincingly lurches across the plain astride a giant tick and falls off. Thankfully he didn't break his neck.

Otherwise there'd be no Darth Vader.

Oh, and it'd be a tragedy.    Of course.

A touch of Alec Guinness there. The "Of course" line. I see Ben has his hand up on the top of the windscreen here, just like that production still you'll all be familiar with.

Above: My exciting Mos Eisley checkpoint jigsaw puzzle!

Do you like the little step that's recessed into the speeder? And how about that interior: one speedometer.

Surely (Shirley?) there should be a brain-blistering array of gizmos? A la the film Airplane! Which links neatly into a little mention of the late Leslie Nielsen whose passing has been announced this morning. Someone suggested on the radio this morning that his Epitaph should end with the line "And don't call me Shirley."

Not only did he star in Airplane! a film which debuted a totally new style of comedy, but he also starred in one of the most worshipped of all Sci-Fi movies: The Forbidden Planet. So whatever about the somewhat up and down quality of his output, he's had much to be proud of. I think he probably did whatever he worked on with genuine honesty and brought smiles wherever he went. He once said that "When I run I look like a food mixer." (reminds me of Harrison Ford!) He also used to keep a rude noise making device on him which he'd sometimes activate when interviews became too serious. So many entertainers that I've enjoyed have come from Canada - it's fascinating. William Shatner doesn't count...

The shadow underneath was pretty economically scrawled in. I'm telling you, when you're only 9, it's not easy to match the great job those matte painters did on the film. And no, for once I'm not being sarcastic. Read yesterday's page , you'll see.

Narrative Notes

Once again, we're cutting to the chase at 9 years old. No mucking about. They don't even get out of the speeder to kick over dead Jawas! (the only fun available to teenagers on this dust-ball).

(See the two scars on Luke's face here again?)

Add comment