Latest news with #EpisodeII:AttackoftheClones
RNZ News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Lights out at CNMI's only theatre amid economic struggles
Hollywood Theaters Photo: Mark Rabago Movie goers in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands are lamenting the closure of the territoy's only cinema. Regal Cinemas in Saipan is set to roll its final credits at the end of this month. Local residents, who spoke to RNZ Pacific, expressed their disappointment at the prospect of no longer being able to watch movies on the big screen at the at Hollywood Theaters, the official of the multi-screen cinema complex. "As a filmmaker and a cinephile, this is a sad day," Galvin Deleon Guerrero, who himself is guilty of not frequenting the cinemas, said. "There is something truly unifying about the collective experience of enjoying a good story on the big screen with an audience. "I fear we lose that, and a bit of our humanity and empathy, when we resort to the isolated and atomised entertainment on our digital devices." Deleon Guerrero said his most memorable time at the movies would be about his favorite franchise: Star Wars . "I have watched every Star Wars film since Episode II: Attack of the Clones first screened at Hollywood Theaters and have screened many films of my own there. "It will be missed dearly and I hope that all is not lost and that perhaps a new owner will emerge, a 'New Hope', if you will." Another Star Wars fan, Edward Dela Cruz Jr, said, "My fondest memory was the duel between myself and grand master, Dr Deleon Guerrero who will be the first in line prime time for Star Wars movies starting with Force Awakens in 2015. "I defeated him the first year. After that never again. He proved he was the undisputed Star Wars faithful in the CNMI. "If we resume this duel looks like we must take it to Guam. It will be sad because movie theaters are one of the fondest memories when people grow up," he said. Meanwhile, another local resident Kerri Bauer said she and her family have seen lots of movies at the Regal Cinemas. "Two of our kids had their 'first ever' movie experience at that theatre," she said. "Our favorite memories were in the summer when it is too hot to do anything else and the theater had summer $1 kids' movies. "We got to wear sweatshirts, buy a big tub of buttery popcorn, and escape the heat for a few hours. We will definitely miss it." Simon Necesito said the closing of Regal Cinemas means less entertainment options for local residents. "I think it's a shame that the theatre is closing down. It really provided people here an alternative for recreation. And it is bad enough as it is because we lack options for that here on Saipan." Adam Walsh said Regal Cinemas is closing now after surviving all the calamities the CNMI went through. "It is terrible to see such a great business that has weathered super typhoons, a pandemic to then close its doors due to an economic downturn is so unfortunate. "My fondest memories are taking my kids and their friends to see new Disney or Pixar flicks, like Moana and Inside Out . I also enjoyed have a night out to see the John Wick series with my brother-in-lawand friend." Another local Tish Ferrer said it the closure was a big loss to her moviegoing family. "I feel so sad because me and my family have a lot of fun memories especially when my kids were growing up. "That is one of the places we go bonding as a family and enjoy popcorn and slushies. "My kids are sad because every time their friends have birthdays, they usually celebrate it at the movies. It will never be the same without Regal theaters." Regal Cinemas general manager Maybeline Cabrera confirmed on 21 April that Regal Cinemas Saipan will shuttering its doors. "We can only confirm that the last day of operations is Wednesday, 30 April," she via a social media message to RNZ Pacific. The CNMI economy has also suffered since the pandemic. According to the islands' Department of Labour, the Commonwealth lost 71 businesses between 2020 and 2024 - seven closures in 2020, five closures in 2021, 11 closures in 2022, 24 closures in 2023, and 24 closures so far in 2024, including legacy companies like Saipan Tribune and Hyatt Regency Saipan (eventually bought by MB Corp. and soon to become a Sheraton). Asiana Airlines also flew the coop last year. Labour secretary Leila Fleming said in a recent CNMI Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management general membership meeting that not all businesses wrapping up report their demise to the agency. Joining Regal Cinemas Saipan on the sidelines at month's end is DFS Saipan after almost 50 years doing business in the territory.
The Independent
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Star Wars actor says his career was ‘ruined' after George Lucas changed a huge detail
Star Wars actor Daniel Logan has revealed that George Lucas changed a huge detail in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith after Samuel L Jackson fought against it. Logan played a young Boba Fett in Episode II: Attack of the Clones in 2002, when his father and bounty hunter Jango Fett (Tamuera Morrison) is killed by Samuel L Jackson's Jedi character, Mace Windu. In Revenge of the Sith, released in 2005, Windu is killed at the hands of the Emperor of the Galactic Empire, Sheev Palpatine, after Anakin Skywalker slices off his hand with his lightsaber. It leaves Palpatine clear to strike the Jedi Master with a fatal Force blast of lightning. But Logan says it could (and should) have been very different, according to creator Lucas' original plans. 'He should've been taken care of, and it should've been by me, because the Emperor, I don't think did that good of a job,' said Logan during a spotlight panel at GalaxyCon Richmond, according to PopVerse. 'Darth Maul has come back to life so many times and he was chopped in half like four times.' The actor revealed that he was due to return in the 2005 film, but was dropped at the last minute. 'George Lucas held me for Revenge of the Sith, and we had 'Revenge of,' but they hadn't finished the title,' he continued. 'I believe it was probably going to be Revenge of the Fett, because the storyline, which you can go and see online, there was a storyboard that was already created that Boba Fett was meant to have another arena scene with Mace Windu.' The storyboard referred to was featured in Star Wars Insider #85 and in the book Making of the Revenge of the Sith. The storyline would have seen Fett kill Windu. But Lucas later changed his mind, and Logan says its because Jackson intervened. He explained, that at this point, Jackson interjected. 'Samuel Jackson went into George Lucas's office and he says, 'You know, I don't think that this young kid should have the power to be able to kill someone who sits on the Jedi Council. And plus, I don't want to be killed by no punk kid.' I happen to be that punk kid,' he said. Logan hinted that Jackson's decision had a knock-on effect on the rest of his career. 'If you're going to ruin my career on that part, you could've at least given me an opportunity in the Marvel series. Like, 'Hey kid, sorry you didn't kill me in that, but you could be my friend and, you know, Iron Man, or something.'' He explained: 'Mace was going to come at Boba like he did with Jango, but because Boba had already experienced beforehand what had happened, I hit the jetpacks, I fly upside down, or on my back.' Logan continued: 'As I'm flying on my back with the jetpacks along the ground, I pull out Jango's blasters and I shoot him right between the stomach, and that's how Mace Windu was meant to die. I was sitting there at Lucasfilm, and they're like, 'Okay, we're holding you for a year.' And I was like, 'Okay.' I kept calling, 'Is it my turn yet? Is it my turn?'' However,
