Wild Turkeys
Dice what failed today…
The group. My character is the koala.
Whoops, ran into some automatons
Michellesheen and BB-8
Resist
Today I saw a few items during my Target run that I’d usually pick up right away.
But the fact that I have more than a few figures still in their packaging has made me curb my figure purchases.
I simply don’t have room for a lot of this stuff anymore.
Of course, this all goes out the window when Force Friday rolls around.
Ideas
The other Star Wars films I’d like to see:
- Jawas: The Movie – like Minions, but with Jawas
- Boba Fett: heist film, possibly a buddy film with Han Solo or Lando Calrissian
- Ezra/Kanan: show us their fate after Rebels goes off the air
- Cheers-like movie at either Anchorhead or Mos Eisley cantina
- Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes: A Hard Day’s Night or Help!, Star Wars style
- The Battle of Taanab: Google it
- Ord Mantel: what bounty hunter was that, Han?
The Star Wars films I don’t want to see:
- Kenobi
- Yoda
- Lando
- Chewbacca/Wookies
- Sand People
Solo Film
40
May 25th, 1977:
The day it all changed.
10 years ago I told the story of how it changed me, by making me a smarter kid. How I didn’t want to see it because it wasn’t Star Trek. How it became a cornerstone, if not THE cornerstone of all that was to happen to me over the next thirty years.
Things… changed in the ten years since then, and all for the better.
The biggest change was the acquisition of LucasFilm by the Walt Disney Company, and their subsequent announcement of a new trilogy of films.
Everyone I knew, including myself, took in this news with trepidation; the prequels sucked (IMHO) and these new films couldn’t be any worse, right?
Depending on who you talk to, the answer is yes or no.
The Force Awakens is both loved and hated by Star Wars fans, including myself. I love it for the return of on-screen stories in a universe that continues to shape and form my imagination, and I hate it for taking away Han Solo, one of my heroes from childhood, second only to Superman.
Okay, maybe third, after Spock.
Fourth, after Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man?
But I digress.
—
The popularity of Star Wars grew to a level that I would never imagine that it could, even in my wildest dreams.
Sports teams were having ‘Star Wars Day’ promotions during their regular season games. More and more merchandise appeared, in places I never thought it would appear. And a film came out that almost edges out the original from 1977 as my favorite of the franchise.
Who knew that this paragraph from the first film’s opening crawl could become a full length film? A film that would actually give the original more meaning, as it became a sequel to this new film?
Rogue One became just that. It was the ultimate fan film, made by a lifelong fan, for lifelong fans. Director Gareth Edwards described this experience as similar to playing with Star Wars figures as a kid, but on a much larger scale.
—
Another change in 10 years was the introduction of the Star Wars animated series on TV, which in one case changed the way fans would view the prequels.
The Clone Wars (2008) took place between Episodes II and III, mapping out the story of the main characters from the prequels, and their adventures between the films. It also focused on the Clone Troopers, and the War itself against the Separatists. They introduced Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex and others, who would become new favorite characters for fans.
But for me, the biggest thing that this series brought to the table was showing Anakin Skywalker as a hero of the Republic, and his friendship with Obi-Wan Kenobi, which made his fall in Revenge of the Sith that much more tragic.
—
Following that series was Star Wars Rebels, which is about to start it’s fourth and final season. It bridges the gap between Episodes III and IV, introducing us to yet more characters who become fan favorites, including Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren. We see the beginning and the formation of the Rebel Alliance, meet characters who become more important in the Original Trilogy, and reunite with characters from previous series and novels.
I’m really gonna miss this series when it goes off the air. But hopefully there’s something else coming down the pipe from Dave Filoni and the Animation Group.
—
That brings us to now. While we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the premiere of Star Wars, we also look forward to December of this year, with the release of Episode VIII The Last Jedi.
Vanity Fair has a special issue out today (5.25.2017) with a cover story on the new movie, and photos by Annie Leibowitz. The one I shared here is the one that resonates the most with me.
It’s going to be VERY hard to keep it together while watching this movie later this year.
—
All of this is due to today’s filmmakers being inspired by an indie film from the mind of George Lucas.
Happy 40th Anniversary/Birthday/Life Day, Star Wars, and thank you for everything.
Star Trek Attack Wing
After an enjoyable evening of playing 4 games of X-Wing Miniatures at Nelson’s house, I decide to bite the bullet and order a copy of Star Trek Attack Wing.
The starter set comes withe the three starship miniatures shown, from Star Trek: The Next Generation. I myself am a bigger fan of the Original Series, so of course I went and ordered a few TOS ships.
My one beef with this game is the size of the original Enterprise miniature, and the price they charge for it ($14.99 retail). After looking at the number of other items (cards, tokens, etc.) that come with it, and after using reward points that game me a $10 coupon at an online store, I figured that it was worth getting for $1.97 (originally $11.97). Heh.
Edit: behold!
I browsed the available Klingon ships and came across this one, the ship that attacked V’Ger in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
And then there’s this ship, the Romulan vessel that attacked the outposts along the Neutral Zone, until it was stopped by the Enterprise in “Balance of Terror”.
The Klingon and Romulan ship miniatures are much bigger than the Enterprise miniature, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but whatever, I’m getting my TOS fix with those three.
Randomness 5.16.2017
Thoughts after last night’s Supergirl episode:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
—
Watched 10 minutes of Logan Noir, it looks great.
—
Mind control? Disguised Daxamite? #supergirlthoughts
—
Is the current popularity of Star Wars sapping away my interest in Star Trek? Or is it the debacle that is Star Trek Discovery?
—
How do you like your eggs?
Jacket Part Deux
At the beginning of the month I ordered a jacket from Hot Topic.
Yeah. That Hot Topic.
Anywho, I had it shipped to a local store, in a mall, and waited for the email telling me that I could pick up the order.
That email never came.
Three weeks later (Tuesday) I emailed Hot Topic and asked for a status update on the jacket order.
Their reply:
Hey Chris,
Thanks for emailing us at Hottopic.com!
We apologize if you did not receive the notification that your order is ready for pickup. Please feel free to pick up your order at your earliest convenience.
What?
I have a feeling it was sitting at the store for a good two weeks. Which is sad because I had gone to that mall at least 2-3 times in those two weeks.
As for the jacket itself, which I picked up after work today, it looks like a cross between two of Cassian Andor’s jackets from Rogue One.
Basically took the styling of the brown one, and added detail and color of the blue one. Behold:
Jacket
D6 Star Wars
Introducing Gaba Gabahey, Space Marshall!
Male Sullustan
Dexterity 3D
Blaster 4D
Knowledge 2D+2
Bureaucracy 3D+2
Law Enforcement 3D+2
Streetwise 3D+2
Mechanical 4D
Space Transports 5D
Starfighter Piloting 5D
Perception 3D
Strength 2D+1
Brawling 3D+1
Technical 3D
Special Abilities:
Enhanced Senses: +2 bonus to Perception/Search under low light (vision) or hearing
Location sense: Never gets lost once he visits an area; +1D to Astrogation if previously visited system
Move: 10
Force Sensitive? No
Credits: 1,000
- Equipment:
- DL-18 blaster pistol (4D)
- uniform
- medpac
- vacuum suit
Languages: Basic, Sullustese