Posts Tagged ‘ Star Wars ’

There’s Lego and then there’s Lego imitators; wannabes, rip-offs. I never had much time for them when I was a kid, and as I’ve been pretty much Lego-adverse – at least until recently – for my adult life, I never gave them much thought.

Then I saw the Doctor Who not-Legos while I was back in the UK several months ago by UK-based company Character Building.

I couldn’t help it; I picked up the TARDIS set with the 11th Doctor and Amy, a Dalek army-builder pack consisting of 5 red Daleks, a couple of the blind character packs – ending up with a Silurian, a Weeping Angel and another red Dalek – and the really-rather-awesome 11 Doctor set in TARDIS packaging.

Since then, through the wonders of eBay, I’ve managed to get hold of all the series 1 and 2 blind figures and a limited Cybermen army-builder pack (limited in the sense it was available from a single UK retailer and features different Cybermen to the regular army pack).

And they’re good. Very good. Granted, the figures aren’t quite Lego compatible (although you can switch heads with regular Lego minifigs) but they’re well designed and can be switched around with each other if you so desire to make a Cyberman-Amy.

The blocks are completely compatible with Lego, and perfectly sized so you can finally have Darth Vader execute his raid on the TARDIS that you always dreamed of.

There are a number of additional playsets available at varying prices; a Dalek Progenitor Room set, a Dalek Factory, a Cyberman Conversion Chamber, a pretty crappy Weeping Angels one (although some of the rock pieces may come in handy for regular Lego dioramas) but the big Kahuna of them all is the TARDIS Console Room set…

The main drawback of these for US buyers is that they’re pretty damn pricey. Entertainment Earth has a bunch coming into stock soon but depending on shipping costs you may be better off buying direct from the manufacturer in the UK.

So far, with the exception of the 11 Doctor set, the series has focused on the adventures and characters of the 11th Doctor but I imagine that as it moves forward we’ll get more characters from earlier incarnations of the Doctor. While I think I’d rather have had the characters more in line with regular Lego minifigs, I understand why they’re not and they are quite cute. I also understand why Lego passed on the license (if they were ever even interested) since Doctor Who isn’t quite the worldwide brand that Star Wars or even Pirates of the Caribbean are.

Regardless, I’d recommend these to any Doctor Who fan, or parent of one. As for Jack, well, he’s a little too young for these right now so I’ll just have to keep them.

Until he’s old enough. Of course.

Edit: Well, bugger. It appears the Force is with Lucasfilm’s lawyers as the trailer has disappeared for now. But trust me: there’s no Jar Jar in it.

Second Edit: Found a Youtube version – at least for now.

Apparently, the following trailer for Star Wars Episode I‘s upcoming 3D re-release played in front of Three Musketeers this past weekend. However, as nobody went to see that unnecessary remake, I figure very few people saw the trailer. I assume it played in 3D in front of the movie, but the embed below is in good old fashioned 2D.

I note the complete absence of the much-maligned Jar Jar Binks in the trailer (although the Gungan captain – who I believe is named Tarpals and I didn’t even look that up – does sneak in there) but I suspect that he will still be in the movie because, let’s face it, who else is going to get to flick his tongue around in glorious 3D?

In spite of this being by far the worst of the Star Wars movies, I’m actually looking forward to this. Why? Because – assuming I can get him to wear the 3D glasses – it’s the first Star Wars movie I’ll be watching with Jack. I know that I said that the correct order to show them to him is IV, V, VI and then I, II and III but I’m pretty sure that he won’t have too much of a clue what’s going on here story-wise anyway.

Obviously 3D won’t redeem the vast swathes of the movie which are pretty much unwatchable, but I do think that some of it should look pretty good in 3D – especially the pod race. Yes, I’m a sucker for Star Wars and I’m more than willing to use Jack to justify seeing it in the movies again. Even if it is Episode I…

There are four kinds of people in the world.

There are those who have no idea what you mean when you say ‘Klaatu Barada Nikto’.

There are those that think you’re referring to obscure Return of the Jedi aliens.

There are those that are glad you’ve remembered all three words.

And finally, there are those that know the real meaning of them – that they are the words you use to stop your overly protective robot sidekick from kicking the puny humans from here to eternity.

I feel it’s my duty as a parent to make sure that Jack belongs to three of the above four groups.

Wait. There’s a fifth group. The ones who saw the remake. But we don’t talk about them.

Last weekend I came across an excellent video full of good advice on Star Wars for parents (well, for dads but it applies to anyone raising a child) which I wanted to post.

The Better Half and I have discussed this at length, actually, and way before she got pregnant. Between us we have (I think) maybe four or five copies of the original trilogy and one of the new – and that’s without the brand-spanking new Star Wars blu ray set which I’m coveting but waiting until the price drops at Thanksgiving or Christmas or something.

We both agree that we’ll be showing Jack the original trilogy first, then the prequels. I’m not as big a hater of the prequels as many I know – and even once defended Jar Jar Binks by pointing out the potential that he had. I also think that the prequels play well to young kids – and that alone makes them worth showing.

What I don’t want to do, however, is deprive Jack of this moment:

Because that right there is pretty much exactly what I did about 30 years ago…

While I was on vacation I saw much wailing and gnashing of teeth on twitter (I wasn’t tweeting that much myself, just reading my stream occasionally) over adjustments to the upcoming Star Wars releases on Blu Ray.

There didn’t seem to be that many people complaining over the replacement of puppet Yoda in The Phantom Menace with a CGI Yoda – presumably on account of nobody liking that film anyway. I think it makes sense, actually, and at least should keep it consistent with CGI Yoda in the second two prequel movies. I’d be even happier if Yoda turned into a Muppet after being blasted by Palpatine’s Force lightning at the end of Revenge of the Sith, though.

Ah well, not to be.

Apparently there will be a bunch more changes, but one confirmed one is what people do seem to be getting in a tizz over – being the addition of Vader shouting his now unfortunately trademarked “Noooooo!” as he saves Luke by picking up the Emperor (one-handed, mind) and chucking him down a conveniently placed shaft at the end of Return of the Jedi. Well, conveniently placed if you’re Vader, less so if you’re the Emperor.

Now, I’d say I’m a pretty big fan of Star Wars. I know most of the movies backwards. I have toys that I bought as recently as earlier this year. There’s a better than average chance that I’ll buy some more before the year is out. I read the EU books. I’m one of those guys that should get upset by this.

And I don’t care.

I’ll buy the Blu Rays, and if the originals are ever released, I’ll buy them too. Star Wars has given me a lot of pleasure over the years and I can cope with changes being made here and there. Do I think they’re necessary? No. Do I understand why George Lucas keeps on making them? No. I’d assume he has better things to do, like roll around in wads of cash and light cigars with $100 bills.

But if he wants to keep making pointless changes, I’d say it’s up to him. Star Wars belongs to him, as far as I’m concerned, not us, not the fans.

I relayed all this in a conversation to my wife while we were driving between Glasgow and Manchester on vacation.

“It’s stupid,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“Him making changes to them. Completely unnecessary.”

“Well, yes, but it’s up to him if he wants to. I mean, they’re his to do that to if he wants.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s like touching up the make up on the Mona Lisa.”

I had nothing to say to that.

Except that that’s why I married her.

I’ve got a post coming on the Star Wars blu ray changes later (you’re waiting with bated breath, aren’t you?) but in the meantime for your viewing pleasure…

Remember those amazing Olly Moss posters for the original Star Wars trilogy? Of course you do. But I’ll run them anyway since it’s Star Wars Day – but I’m going to preface them with Ollie Boyd’s prequel trilogy posters in Moss’s style because they’re awesome.

You can see more of Olly Moss’ work here and Ollie Boyd’s here.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s promotional push for Paul is in swing and as part of it they’ve put out a little video of them re-enacting Star Wars on College Humor. Well, kind of…

I read the script for Paul a while ago and loved it, although it did seem full of in-jokes to the extent that it may be impenetrable to non-geeks. Luckily, I don’t fall into that category, and as I love Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (and the last of those is probably the best of these, the most approachable and the most underrated) I’m going to try to go and see this at some point.

As it happens I’m also reading Pegg’s autobiography, Nerd Do Well that the better half bought for me in the UK at Christmas (it’s not out here till the summer, apparently).

It’s lightweight but entertaining – although if I’m perfectly honest, part of me could have probably done without the tale of how 14 year old Pegg got his first gobble.

Hee. ‘Gobble’.

As you’ve probably heard, the Star Wars movies are finally getting their blu-ray releases in September 2011.

Each trilogy is available separately with a rrp of $69.99 and a current pre order price at Amazon of $44.99 each, meaning you can choose to watch only the original trilogy(although these would seem to be the revamped Special Edition cuts) if you so choose.

If you’re braver you could always pick up the prequel trilogy on its own instead -

- but why would you do that? Why? I mean, I can defend Jar Jar all I like but these are flawed films that only work to the extent that they do work because you know what they lead to. To but the prequels and not the originals is…well, it’s lunacy.

No, the sensible money will be on the complete saga rrp’ing at a whopping $139.99 and currently available for pre order at $89.99.

I mean, not only is it the same price as both sets put together but you get an additional 3 discs worth of material clocking in at 30 hours. I’m pretty sure most of this will have been in various places before, but it’s all worth it to me. Sadly absent, I suspect, will be the Star Wars Holiday Special…

This Dr Who/Star Wars mash-up doing the rounds is pretty good – but honestly, it’s worth watching for the bits in the credits alone.

Via

It seems to be a weekend for it; Irving Kershner has died.

Kershner had an extensive resume in film and TV, but was best known for directing The Empire Strikes Back, and is widely credited, along with screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, for making it inarguably the best of the Star Wars movies.

Kershner was 87.

You get reboots all the time. I mean, beyond characters like Tarzan and James Bond, who have had more screen incarnations than you can shake a stick at, we’re getting a Spider-Man reboot a scant four or five years after the last trilogy concluded.

So why not Star Wars? It’s been 30 years since the Empire struck back, and 28 since the Jedi returned. Revisiting the original trilogy now would give the opportunity to blend them more effectively with the prequels – or to separate them from them if you like.

But who to cast, who to cast?

Luke Skywalker – let’s face it, Luke’s a bit of a dick. Sure, he heads off on the great adventure and all, but its only after his aunt and uncle die because he’s too chicken shit to tell them he lost some droids. He doesn’t mourn them very long, either, just long enough to go away with this old guy he just met. And hey, when the old guy dies later, he’s much more upset about that than he was about the death of the people who raised him. Looks like Family Guy got that one right. So you need someone who can play douche pretty well.

Han Solo – Solo’s the coolest guy in the room. I was originally going to suggest Josh Holloway but I worry he might be too old for the role in spite of his inherent ‘don’t give a shit’-tedness so I went for the next best thing – and given that Supernatural was basically conceived as Luke and Han Do Truck Stop America, it basically gets real easy…

Princess Leia Organa- Someone feisty who can hold her own with the boys. Looks like somebody read my mind….

C-3PO – Look, we all know that C-3PO is going to be all CGI this time round anyway, so why worry about what poor bastard’s going to be in the suit. Just go with someone who can do a stuck-up English accent. And if England’s too expensive, employ a Canadian…

R2-D2 – If Kenny Baker wants the job, it’s his – but I think R2′s probably better off being remote controlled. Or CGI, of course.

Obi Wan ‘Ben’ Kenobi – Look, these guys are all in their twenties. You don’t need someone in their sixties to play Obi Wan and be older; you just need someone with some gravitas who can act – and preferably someone English. A proper actor, if you will…

Darth Vader – None of that ‘two people playing one person’ crap here. What you need is a big guy in the suit with a voice that can scare the crap out of any living being in twenty yards. There’s only one answer my friends…

So there you go – your Star Wars reboot cast: Shia LaBeouf, Jensen Ackles, Summer Glau, Alexis Denisof, Colin Firth and Tony Todd. That’s the casting done, now onto the script…

I have to say, this is close to genius – especially the singing to himself during the meeting.

Not to mention this – “Who’s your Daddy?”

Okay, this is pretty good – and at least the commuters are having fun with it, unlike that slightly awkward Never Gonna Give You Up performance…

Via

In case you didn’t know, Adidas are launching a Star Wars collection – and as the World Cup’s kicking off shortly, they’ve launched a new ad campaign…

I don’t think I’m going to get that scene of Snoop Dogg with a lightsaber out of my head for a while…and at least they didn’t give Beckham too many lines.

Part of me wouldn’t have minded seeing Liam Gallagher get nutted by an alien at the bar, but I guess Noel and Ian Brown chucking a beer mat will have to do…

Learned

CJ can be bad some times. Not to mention crazy.

The color of a baby’s swaddle decides their destiny.

People have always come to the island through shipwrecks and airline crashes because – presumably – the island needs people (oh, let’s just call them candidates) to be the next guardian of the island.

There’s a glowy thing at the heart of the island which is always protected by that guardian even if you don’t really know what it is, much like the glowy thing in Marsellus Wallace’s briefcase is protected by Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield.

All men have some part of the glowy thing inside them, and it makes them want more of it, and if they ever get their hands on it it will go out for ever. Under no circumstances is this to happen.

Going into the glowy thing is worse than death.

Jacob? Not that smart after all. Sticks with mom after she reveals his matricide, even though she loves not-Jacob best, throws not-Jacob into the glowy thing because goddammit, he had it coming even though (a) worse than death, and (b) goes out forever. And, oh yes, turns him into a smoke monster.

Just because someone calls your skeletal remains ‘Adam and Eve’ doesn’t mean that you’re a couple.

Smokey’s beef with Jacob and the island is actually kind of understandable. I mean, not justifying-death-of-Sun-and-Jin understandable, but still.

The guardian of the island can’t apparently kill themselves – but they can be killed by others (just not other candidates perhaps), hence crazy CJ’s ‘Thank you’ as she dies.

The island might have it’s guardian, but that doesn’t mean that the island isn’t above screwing with you. The island appears to young Smokey as his dead mother – which throws into question how many of the previous appearances of dead characters on (and off) the island were Smokey as I’ve been assuming. In fact, I’m now thinking that the island may not necessarily want to be protected after all.

Not learned

Why Jacob got to basically pick and choose his candidates from a list, get off the island to influence their lives, watch them from a lighthouse, and generally be all Yoda-like whilst mommy dearest settled for smacking someone over the head with a stone and taking the first baby that came along.

How said mommy dearest managed to make it so that Jacob and poor, nameless not-Jacob couldn’t kill each other – although that apparently didn’t extend to not being able to batter each other senseless and toss them in a river towards a fate worse than death.

How Jacob – in spite of an apparent policy of pretty much non-interference – managed to get a bunch of failed candidates (a) to stay on the island, (b) to build a massive temple, lighthouse and statue, and (c) to operate in the outside world as well. I mean, other than his winning personality.

As I was watching the episode I was feeling vaguely disappointed – the big mythology episode didn’t seem to answer all the questions that I had, or at least it explained what the answers were without actually answering them.

Afterwards though, I liked it more. The more I thought about it the more I wondered – what did I really expect? The episode was well written, very well acted (especially by Titus Welliver and Mark Pellegrino playing less assured, less experienced versions of their familiar characters) and had a suitable mythic tone to it. There’s enough information there to satisfy most answers even if it isn’t spelled out word for word.

I mean, you know what you get when you do spell out things word for word?

Midi-chlorians.

And nobody wants midi-chlorians.

It’s come to my attention lately that I must have very low standards.

The reason that’s come up is that I seem to spend a fair bit of time defending a lot of bad films and TV shows.

I don’t think it’s because I think that in every bad film there’s at least the seeds of a good one, or because the further I get into writing screenplays the more respect I have for anyone who actually managed to complete and sell one, or even that I just feel sorry for them.

I think its because I’m simply very easy to entertain – and that if something entertains me for even five or ten minutes, then I can forgive almost any flaws. And it’s not just movies, either – I’m the same with books, TV shows and comics too. There’s really no other explanation for me continuing to watch Smallville year after year.

Granted, it’s a Superman show and as such I’m genetically predisposed to like it, but still – to get to the good moments, we had to sit through years of mystical cave paintings and witch tattoos.

Take, for example, the almost indefensible Star Wars Episode I, a movie almost universally reviled for being, well, kind of crap. And yet…I can see the good in it.

Don’t get me wrong. I know that there’s some terrible writing in there – for example, no child actor should be forced to shout ‘Yippee!’ in a movie. Ever. But I can see past it because I know that underneath, there’s a pretty good story.

Hell, I can even see the potential in Jar Jar Binks. Here’s a character that, in his very first scene, reveals the prejudice and self-righteousness of the Jedi, heretofore seen only through the eyes of the original trilogy’s kindly, older Ben Kenobi and, later, Luke Skywalker.
But just look at that first scene with Jar Jar, where Qui-Gon Jinn inadvertently rescues him from an oncoming tank:

QUI-GON
Are you brainless? You almost got us killed!

JAR JAR
I spake.

QUI-GON
The ability to speak does not make
you intelligent. Now get out of here!

Hardly the words of an enlightened Jedi that we were expecting, are they? Then, when the young Obi Wan arrives, they both talk over him as though he isn’t there:

OBI-WAN
What's this?

QUI-GON
A local. Let's go, before more of
those droids show up.

Jar Jar could have been used to highlight the judgmental nature inherent in the Jedi, and perhaps even some kind of institutional racism towards what is deemed to be a lower form of life – and from there you could draw the audience in with the possibility that maybe the eventual destruction of the Jedi is actually deserved.

Instead he sticks his tongue in a power supply.

Such is life.

I wish that Lucas had gone with what his alleged original vision for Jar Jar was – sacrificing himself so that Padme could escape and have her children. Having Anakin strike down his childhood friend would have made an excellent story point – except for the fact that everyone would have cheered since he was so fucking annoying.

As it is, I’m actually a fan of Jar Jar being instrumental in the Emperor’s rise to power – but due to the fan reaction to Jar Jar in Episode I, this was relegated to a few throwaway lines in Episode II. I honestly can’t recall if he shows up in Episode III at all. Still, because Jar Jar is easily manipulated, he succumbs to Chancellor Palpatine’s suggestion to increase his powers and build a clone army – honestly, that’s what you get for leaving an idiot in a position of power.

Think about it: the entire Clone Wars are down to Jar Jar Binks putting a motion before the senate.

It’s the potential of Jar Jar, the what-could-have-been, that always makes me defend him when he’s on screen. Or at least keeps me distracted.

Found this over at AICN – Gerard and Gray better known as Buck and Wilma –

- are playing Buck Rogers’ parents in a new web series (in a scene that’s a little reminiscent of Luke telling Owen and Beru he wants to join the Rebellion):

That’s some pretty cool casting, even if they do look a little like they’re wearing ‘old age makeup’ from Star Trek TNG…

I don’t play online role-playing games, not even Star Wars ones – just don’t have the time – but if I did, I’d be playing this one because this is one amazing trailer: