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Posted

Jazz legend Sonny Rollins, aged 95.

Absolutely stellar back catalogue to choose from, but I'd ask that anyone listen to him playing on this live performance of Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire" from the fantastic old TV show Night Music;

 

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Posted (edited)

The only Lucas to win an Oscar for their work on Star Wars Marcia Lucas died at 80.

George Lucas's ex wife who was an instrumental editor on A New Hope, she was sometimes credited as 'saving' the film in the edit. It wasn't quite like that but she was able to interpret George's endless rolling of documentary style coverage and was instrumental in finding the beats of the trench run. 

Edited by Onyx2
  • Paid Members
Posted

I always used to say that Star Wars was largely good in spite of George Lucas more than because of him; Empire was the film that he had the least direct involvement with of the original trilogy and by far the best, while the prequels are largely unfiltered Lucas and unbearable for it. So many of the things that made Star Wars great were the result of other people's input shaping Lucas' ideas into something that actually worked, and Marcia Lucas was one of the best at that.

But when I see modern Star Wars, I realise that actually it was in surrounding himself with the people who could make that input and shape the direction of the film that George Lucas demonstrated his genius as a director, and the problem of the prequels was that he was too successful a legendary a name, and nobody dared tell him he couldn't or shouldn't do anything in case that was the magic bit that made Star Wars work, and the problem of the more recent films and TV is that they are too beholden to the aesthetics of the original trilogy to ever really be creative in their own right.

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Posted (edited)

George Lucas is a brilliant creative visionary, storyteller and probably one of the best producers of all time. He's an absolute master at ideas and finding and developing fresh talent in all departments of film making. The number of people who Lucas first hired and pushed to become absolute leaders in their field is absolutely ridiculous. He's spearheaded so many things in visuals, audio and production that changed movie making forever that his impact is truly incredible.

He's a lousy screenwriter and director though, unfortunately.

Edited by LaGoosh
Posted (edited)

Might not be a massive name to many on here but certainly a big name to Rugby League fans, John Kear passed away suddenly yesterday at the age of 71 whilst returning home from the Challenge Cup Final over the weekend, where he’d been doing commentary for the BBC.

John played at Castleford for 10 years before moving into coaching with stints at Paris St Germain (a short lived Rugby League namesake to the Football club), Sheffield Eagles where in 1998 the team won the Challenge Cup in a huge upset over Wigan, Hull FC where he again won the trophy in 2005, as well as Wakefield Trinity, two stints at Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Widnes Vikings and the Wales national team

Edited by WyattSheepMask
  • Paid Members
Posted

Was very sad to read about John's passing this morning. He's a thoroughly decent man who I really loved as a coach and a commentator. FC's Challenge Cup win at Cardiff in 2005 was an incredible acheivement and he was part of several years when the club was as great as it's been, other than the back to back Challenge Cups, this century. 

Always enjoyed hearing him talk about Rugby League. He was such a fantastic advocate and a wonderful, positive man. 

Posted

It's mad isn't it that those who watched the cup final on Saturday had no idea it was to be the last time we got to hear JK's dulcet tones.

It doesn't seem long since I posted on here about Ray French passing away.

Whilst JK was very much the supporting voice in the commentary booth, his voice and knowledge are every bit the equal of French's lead commentary.

That twinkle in his voice at bit of skill or spot of wisdom to explain the whys and wherefores of our game.

I doubt we'll see his like for many years.

Posted

John Blanche, legendary Warhammer artist, has died aged 78. So many of his paintings are etched in to my childhood memories, his atmospheric artwork inside the rule books always brought the game to life and made it so much more than toy soldiers.

There's nothing more iconic than this though, the 2nd edition Warhammer 40,000 start set box art. Even 30 something years later, having seen this image thousands of times, I'm still spotting new details.

 

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  • Paid Members
Posted

Just heard about this.  Used to love looking g t his art work in White Dwarf when I started gaming in the 80’s, and his vision basically created what we see now in gaming.  He just finished the artwork for a new game to be released soon called En guard that I’m looking forward to.  Very sad news indeed.

Posted

Damn, huge loss from the hobby scene, he just had a second wave of paints released a few months ago which brought his name back to the forefront for a new generation of painters.

Posted

Just seen the news about John Blanche.

Like others have said, when I think back to my memories of my teen years playing the whole Enemy Within campaign for WHFRP it is his art that springs to mind.

Such a brilliant artist who defined the look of two fantasy worlds.

Still contributing to Trench Crusade and his new game En Garde right up to the end.

I'm really sad about this.

  • Paid Members
Posted

Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis, has passed away at 56 years old. That's far too young. 

In Le Monde:

"The French-Iranian artist and film director 'died of sadness a little over a year after the death of Mattias Ripa, her husband and the love of her life,' people close to her said."

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/obituaries/article/2026/06/04/marjane-satrapi-author-of-persepolis-dies-at-56_6754122_15.html

That's truly sad, poor woman. After such a difficult earlier life, it seems unfair she didn't get to enjoy more of it.

 

  • Paid Members
Posted

Persepolis is a superb film too, truly unique in the animation field.

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