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Showing posts with label star wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label star wars. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Should There Be a Third Star Wars Trilogy?


IGN ponders the possibility of George Lucas making a third Star Wars trilogy:

"So let's say that Lucas decided to finally make these three films. How cool would it be to see Luke not only finally back in action, but also in true Jedi form, albeit as an aged, Ben Kenobi type? Certainly Mark Hamill would be up for the role, and since Lucas controls his own destiny, so to speak, when making his films, he wouldn't be required by any studio to jettison Hamill for a more box-office ready star. Of course, if Lucas could draw Harrison Ford back -- and judging by the state of Ford's career lately, he just might be able to -- that problem would be solved anyway (as long as Ford lost the grump factor for a spell). Carrie Fisher, though… well, she just doesn't fit the Princess Leia role anymore, does she? More Penny Marshall now than Leia, she's become sort of twisted if not evil."


While the Leia being Penny Marshall thing threw me, the article brings up some interesting points.

Would you be up for another go at the franchise?

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Ebert Called On Carpet For "Anti-Fanboy" Comments


Recently, Chicago Sun-Times movie reviewer Roger Ebert reviewed the movie "Fanboys," and sparked controversy with the following statement:

"Extreme fandom may serve as a security blanket for the socially inept, who use its extreme structure as a substitute for social skills. If you are Luke Skywalker and she is Princess Leia, you already know what to say to each other, which is so much safer than having to ad-lib it. Your fannish obsession is your beard. If you know absolutely all the trivia about your cubbyhole of pop culture, it saves you from having to know anything about anything else. That's why it's excruciatingly boring to talk to such people: They're always asking you questions they know the answer to."


Response, as you can imagine on teh Internets, was swift. From one letter-writer, "Jimmy Mac":

"Now… when I read the words "Idiotic Lifestyle," my heart sunk. I actually felt personally offended. I've never felt such emotion before while reading a review. I felt like you were calling out my lifestyle as Idiotic. Why the hate??? Where does THAT come from. It was an ignorant and close-minded put-down that needs to be addressed. Remember when Chuck Woolery said the 501st (Star Wars costuming group) were guys who need to get a life at the Rose Bowl parade??? He realized afterwards that it was a ridiculous remark and he apologized. I think this situation is just as bad times 10!

An idiotic lifestyle? Tell that to the members of the 501st and the Rebel Legion who sacrifice their spare time to visit children hospitals all over the world just to bring a little joy into a sick kid's heart. Doing it for no money…Only the payment of a child's smile. Receiving hugs while dressed as Star Wars characters – tears streaming down their checks underneath their stormtrooper helmets."


In response to Jimmy Mac's letter, "Ed" had this to say:

"It may be true that 501st and the Rebel Legion sacrifice their time to bring joy to sick children. God bless 'em. It may also be true, however, that such selfless compassion on their part does not accurately reflect the majority of "fanboys." My sister was a volunteer nurse at a hospital and I gotta say, she never came home and told me the one about a group of Stormtroopers visiting the leukemia ward. You bring up a few stories to cynically tug on the heartstrings, as if THOSE were the reasons you like to play dress-up. The fact that you have to bring up a few exceptions to the rule just reveals how deep you have to dig to find respectability in what amounts to grown men who, when asked to state their religion on a government form, fill out "Jedi" on the "other" line"


Of course, the movie "Fanboys" has been stirring up controversy in the fan community for some time now...Flying Monkeys Comics summarizes the whole thing for you quite nicely (in webcomic form, natch!) EDIT: this site seems to be down. So check out this Wikipedia entry for the backstory on the movie & its troubled history.

Has anybody seen this movie? Is it any good?

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Batman Vs. Darth Vader



Actually, this is exactly the sort of high-concept stuff the entertainment industry is looking for these days.

"You gotta gimme something sure-fire, that can I sell! I'm up to my ass in whiny autobiographies and morally-conflicted bounty hunters."

"Uh...Batman versus Darth Vader?"

"OH MY GOD!"

"Cloverfield Monster versus Godzilla?"

"OH MY GOD!"

"Lost: The Movie?"

"JUMPING JESUS ON A CRACKER!"

"Twilight 2?"

"YES! YES!"

"Legally Blond 3 direct to DVD starring that chick from Gossip Girl?"

"YES! DON'T STOP! DON'T STOP!"

"Vampire versus Mummy?"

"..."

"In 3-D?"

"WHARRRRRRGBBBBLLLLL!!!"

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Kirk and Leia Sing: Who Was More Baked?


Kirk:




Leia:



Carrie Fisher reportedly said that she was high on drugs while singing this. I don't know what Shatner's excuse was.

Bonus: Play both clips at the same time!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

A Very Osmond Star Wars

Cast:
Luke Skywalker: Donny Osmond
Princess Leia: Marie Osmond
Han Solo: Kris Kristofferson
Obi Wan Kenobi: Redd Foxx
Grand Moff Tarkin: Paul Lynde

Plus: dancing Stormtroopers

It's like God created this show. I mean, directly, from whole cloth.






via Journalista

Friday, October 03, 2008

"Bring More Star Wars Into Star Trek," Sez Movie Writers



The writers of the upcoming Star Trek movie have suggested that what might benefit the franchise at this point is to make it a little bit more like Star Wars -- specifically...

"Original Star Wars. I want to feel the space, I want to feel speed and I want to feel all the things that can become a little bit lost when Star Trek becomes very stately -- which I love about it , but...."

Also, apparently the new movie's director/producer, J.J. Abrams, is more of a Star Wars fan than a Star Trek fan.

I think trying to "bring more Star Wars into Star Trek" sort of misses the point of Star Trek.

Yeah, Star Trek and its spinoffs have all tended to be more "stately" and talky -- dare I say, maybe even a little bit more intellectual? But that's what makes Star Trek, Star Trek.

Personally, I hear this supposed "need" to make Star Trek more like Star Wars, and all I can think of is the merchandising. More cool aliens, cute captain, beanie babies.

Meanwhile, I'll be keeping my eyes on this guy:

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Mark Hamill Turns 57 Today

Not sure if I posted this already, but heck, here it is again:



I know, hard to believe he played wide-eyed young Luke Skywalker huh? That's what Hollywood does to you, baby!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Does George Lucas Owe Anybody Anything?


I realize there has been a lot of angst out there over first the "new trilogy" and now this Clone Wars movie. For example, Joe Neumaier at the Daily News writes:

"Just keep in mind that when some of us saw the Death Star explode that first time, it already was in 3-D, It blasted off the screen, into our heads and lodged in our movie memories like a permanent scene in an Oscar night movie montage. We don't need 3-D AT-ATs and forest cruisers that jump off the screen. We just want you to stop. Create something new."

Moriarty at Aint It Cool News is a bit more emphatic:

"I am sorry that I ever spend the time and energy I did on STAR WARS, Mr. Lucas. I am sorry that I poured my money and, before that, my parents’ money into your pockets. I’m sorry that after decades of being a fan, even when there was no new STAR WARS to satisfy that craving, I somehow made your life so unbearable simply by sharing my enthusiasm for that world with our readership."

That last quote was in regards to an enforced embargo on Clone Wars reviews that got an early(and quite negative) review of the film pulled from the website.

But does George Lucas owe anybody -- fans or otherwise -- the Star Wars film they want to see?

If Lucas wants to turn this franchise into fodder for Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel, isn't that his right?

Or between Creator and passionate fans of the Creation, is there some unstated interdependence, a bond?

Does George Lucas owe anybody anything?

Monday, August 11, 2008

Lucasfilm Makes Aint It Cool News Take Down "Clone Wars" Review


In theory it's because of a press release embargo, but I'm sure the fact that AICN said the movie sucked didn't help. The review was almost as harsh as the one they did for "The Love Guru."

As for me -- I have some problems with the computer animation style in this movie. It looks like a videogame. I liked that Dexter's Lab guy's simple classic animation on the Cartoon Network "Clone Wars" a lot more.

One quote from the pulled review, reposted on Fark, got my attention:

"Then they introduced Baby Jabba aka Rotta the Huttlet aka Stinky."

No, dear God no. They didn't.

Getting flashbacks:

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Nirvana Has Been Reached --


Everything I have worked toward has been achieved. My head asplodes.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Princess Leia Spills All On Star Wars, Harrison Ford, and Metal Bikinis


Former "Princess Leia" Carrie Fisher had a lot to say on a British TV program about...THE HIDDEN STAR WARS! Among other things, The Star reports she said that:

  • Her and Harrison Ford got a little "up-close and personal" during the shooting of Star Wars.
  • Apparently her breasts had to be taped down with gaffer's tape during filming.
  • There is "no contest" between Ford and other co-star Mark Hamill.
  • That Hamill felt bitter over not breaking out as a star outside of the trilogy.
  • The metal bikini that she wore in Return of the Jedi "didn't move" -- and that George Lucas apparently owns it now.
(Still trying to figure out what the headline that accompanied this article -- "I gave Ford Obi-Wan" -- means)

Monday, April 28, 2008

"Deal Or No Deal" Models To Appear In Slave Leia Bikinis

A special 2-hour Star Wars themed episode of the game show "Deal or No Deal" will air tonight on NBC. The show will feature, among other things, 26 models dressed in Slave Leia metal bikinis.

No word if they will have to wear red or green buttons to indicate if they would like their boobs touched.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Any Star Wars Haters In The Audience?


As I was looking at these "Star Wars Zombies" pics at /Film, the following question popped into my mind: does anybody here "hate" Star Wars? Or merely dislike the franchise?

I cool with Star Wars but I wouldn't consider myself a "fangirl" about it. Apparently, "Return of the Jedi" was not the Citizen Kane-like masterpiece I remembered it being when I was 8

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Occasional Links: The Kool Penguin Edition


Did the advertising mascot for Kool cigarettes inspire Bob Kane to create The Penguin? Bat-Blog has the answer.


Speaking of which, a group of angry clowns protest Harvey Dent's run for district attorney -- was it a viral marketing campaign? Or real angry clowns?


It's a couple of days after the holiday, but here's a Buffy the Vampire Slayer themed marshmallow bunny diorama
Your new Star Wars toys are available in Muppet or Disney versions (what was that thing about George Lucas being protective of his original creative vision again? did that include Gonzo as Darth Vader? did I miss something?)


Read Jeff Lemire's 5-page western The Horseless Rider for free on his blog


The new Friday The 13th remake will star Jared Padalecki from the TV show Supernatural...and the new Tintin will be this fellow:


In other news, they are actually remaking Friday the 13th. And that kid's a little creepy.


Destructoid gives suggestions on how to revitalize the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise:


"Sonic's over the hill. He's clapped out, worn out and ready to be thrown out. As someone who adored the speedy woodland creature as a child, it's horrible to have to say that, but it's true. He was introduced as the cool and sassy alternative to a reserved and "boring" Mario, but looking at the two characters today, it's easy to see which is going strong and which has aged very, very badly."

If Sonic the Hedgehog is over the hill, I must be ancient. I played games on the original Atari system. I remember taking that original Atari system out of the box and smelling its just-out-of-the-box fresh smell.



Apparently if you stare at the center of this picture for 30 seconds, you will shit bricks. Let me know how that goes.



Somebody actually edited together all the creepy scenes from the infamous child molestation episode of Diff'rent Strokes. I'm sure the producers had good intentions with this episode, but it was one of those television watching experiences as a child that freaked me the hell out, introducing me to concepts like middle-aged men doing photo shoots of little boys on safari with their shirts off. Biggest creepiness of all -- the way the laugh track or studio audience chuckles during inappropriate moments. Oh, Arnold is about to get involved in a child porn ring -- that's freakin' hilarious.

Now, if I remember correctly, there was a separate episode where this photographer tried to rape the sister after tying Arnold up with duct tape. Wow. You can see how by the time The Cosby Show and Family Ties came on, we were fairly starving for something a little less...dramatic.

Though there was always that episode where Tom Hanks played Alex's alcoholic uncle. Alright, enough reminiscing!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Occasional Links: The Carbonite Affair Edition

Caption This







John Byrne opines on the raging "late artists" debate that many so-called professional comics today are "no more than fanzines":

"Do these guys have to break every five minutes so their nannies can massage their aching hands?"
You know, if this was a episode of "Gunsmoke," there would be a barroom brawl afterwards. Bryan Hitch would be throwing someone through a pre-broken bannister. It'd be awesome.



Marvel Editor Tom Breevort puts the question to the fans:
"So what could we be doing better? What frustrates you about Marvel Comics right now?"
My favorite of the responses:

"Better give Penance his own ongoing series after issue 5. Hugely under developed character as Speedball. Make up for it with his new persona. Lets face it... not many people can hand Wolvie his own a** and simply walk away."
Or handing Doctor Doom his own a**.

At any rate, Breevort is using on his blog (consciously or unconsciously) the recommended PR technique called Proactive Transparency (trademark 2007 Valerie D'Orazio), in which you ask for and address any gripes from the public right off the bat rather than pretending everything is always fine and the fans are just stupid. By using Proactive Transparency you ultimately get to control the flow of your PR before other pundits get their grubby hands on it, and promote good will by demonstrating that you are 1) Reasonable, 2) Personable, 3) A Regular Person Just Like Them, and 4) Caring Of What The Others (who purchase your products) Think.

Kudos to Mr. Breevort.




Things To Use Your Han Solo In Carbonite For






Epiphany


Hey, call me crazy, but...

I know the "Slave Leia" has been the butt (pun) of constant criticism for its depiction of a strong female character in what is essentially a bondage outfit. But the Han Solo in Carbonite image has been used almost as much as Slave Leia in popular culture...and is essentially the image of a male in a bondage-type situation with a pained expression on his face. As such, are both examples simply evidence of George Lucas's love of the heroes-in-perilous-situations gimmick from the movie serials and comics of his youth, regardless of gender?

(ducks)


VIDEO: Three-Year-Old Girl Explains The Plot To Star Wars: Episode IV

Monday, September 24, 2007

Has "Family Guy" Jumped The Shark?


I'm putting this out there to you because I'm a bit undecided.

Watched the much-hyped "Family Guy Star Wars Special" last night.

It was okay...but not great. The jokes were more hit-or-miss than in your usual Family Guy episode.

My favorite jokes were:

1) Moving the couch
2) Meg
3) R2D2 with the handgun
4) The "Robot Chicken" tirade at the end (bearing in mind that Chris is voiced by "RC" creator Seth Green)

Conversely, there were a bunch of jokes that just fell flat or I just didn't get. Also, it was a pretty paltry use of the enormous comedic talents of Stewie as Darth Vader. Rick Moranis did a much better job as Dark Helmet, in my opinion

I'm wondering how much is my disappointment stems from the fact that this seemed to be an episode written for hard-core "Star Wars" fans (me being a "soft core" fan). There were a lot of references to the sort of nitpicky flubs and details that such fans have always griped about -- which must have been as funny as hell to them, but which I just blink-blinked on.

It all brought me back to the general idea that even a funny show like "Family Guy" tends to jump the shark after a point, and I'm wonder if the Star Wars thing was it, or maybe it came before (like that Stewie DVD movie).

Friday, August 17, 2007

These Pictures Made My Day...



...it's the "antidote" to the Slave Leia phenomenon!

(via Comic Book Resources)

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Oh, My Stars & Garters

A customized Slave Leia action figure made to look like a "Marvel Zombie"

The text from Toyfare:

"Hideous? Yes. Still sexy? Ashamedly, yes. Do you want to know how it’s done? You bet your midi-chlorians you do!"

via Journalista

See, this is why Comics Journal acts so snotty about the whole Wizard thing.

She's enslaved -- and she's dead! Dead sexy, that is!