Fans keep the faith with Last Jedi’s five best special features
It’s seems the Force is strong with this one. Despite the movie itself polarising fans when it was released last December, Wednesday’s Blu-Ray debut of Rian Johnson’s eighth instalment of the Star Wars saga comes laden with hotly anticipated extra goodies. Stuff trawled through the two-disc Blu-Ray and found our five favourite bonus features.
Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only)
Kiwis are already very familiar with the English actor’s mastery of motion-capture through his Lord of the Rings and Planet of the Apes franchise work with Weta on our shores.
Here’s a rare chance to see him in action as the evil Supreme Leader Snoke before getting his digital makeover, outsize head and all.
The Director and the Jedi
More a bonus movie than a bonus feature, this 135-minute behindthe-scenes look at the making of the movie actually debuted at the South by Southwest Film Festival earlier this month.
Among the revelations, are that Johnson always knew where he wanted his story to begin and that there are actually a lot more creatures created via practical effects than you may have initially thought.
Plus, there’s the precious sight of the late Carrie Fisher talking about her beloved character General Leia.
Showdown on Crait
A breakdown of the climatic scene where Luke Skywalker faces off against everything Kylo Ren and the First Order can throw against him.
As well as discussing the interplay between the real-world location and visual effects, it also reveals how it was inspired by classic concept art by the famed Ralph McQuarrie.
Lighting the Spark: Creating The Space Battle
This scene breakdown dissects one of the movie’s key moments, from the sounds through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it to life. Oscar Isaac’s recollections of facing off against Carrie Fisher’s Leia are the most poignant.
Captain Phasma’s Alternative Death Scene
Among the 14 alternative or deleted scenes, this one provides perhaps the most interest. Gwendoline Christie’s character ‘‘buys the farm’’ in a slightly different and – in some opinions – better, way.