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Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 4, 2013 in Star Wars 
People will do crazy things for Guinness World Records, even when you can make up a record for almost anything these days. Case in point: Jonathan Rice decided to run in Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth, dressed up as Darth Vader. He’s the creator of the Darth Valley Challenge, which requires participants to run a mile through Death Valley dressed as their favorite Star Wars character. Rice has been running the past three years, with his fourth run occurring a few days ago on June 30. This year, Rice was joined by supporters dressed up as other Star Wars characters, as well as a support driver dressed as Chewbacca.
So how did Rice do? Not only did he manage to finish his mile in 6 minutes and 36 seconds, he did it at 4PM, during which the National Weather Service recorded a temperature of 129 degrees, the hottest day ever recorded in June. Even for that short time, that’s a pretty incredible feat, considering how fast you need to run for a time like that. (For reference, as a member of my high school track team, my fastest time was a rather average 5 minutes and 15 seconds, on a regulation flat track, wearing extremely light clothing in very temperate weather.) Here’s hoping he didn’t have to spend time in a bacta tank afterwards!
Source: CNET
Tags: Darth Vader
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 30, 2013 in Star Wars 
We know a lot about the development of The Empire Strikes Back, especially given the wealth of documentaries out there that cover all of the Star Wars films, and the original costume for Boba Fett was always something neat to see. Anything new that adds to the collection of media out there about the making of these movies is a wonderful thing, so I’m very glad that this full video was released on YouTube. It’s a screentest for Boba Fett’s costume, showing off the details and design of the suit so that it could be approved later. In the video they explain all of Fett’s features and even mention that they want to change the color scheme to “blue and green” which is a nice little note. Check out this piece of Star Wars history below! Read more…
Tags: Boba Fett, Star Wars
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 15, 2013 in Star Wars 
While this is listed as a rumor, I think we can all agree that this is more just a matter of time. Rumors are flying around that Disney is planning a major expansion for Disney World in Orlando, Florida, in the near future of 2018. This would include a Cars Land (based off the Pixar series), and of course, a Star Wars Land. While this has been rumored for just about every Disney park worldwide, I’m certain that this is a huge priority for Disney and will happen at one of them eventually. They’ve probably been talking about this for a while and sooner or later we’ll hear something legit. The real question is: what kind of rides or attractions would you want at this supposed Star Wars Land? Read more…
Tags: Disney World, Disneyland
Posted by Bob Muir on May 28, 2013 in Cinema, Star Trek, Star Wars 
With the recent release of Star Trek Into Darkness and the constant buzz surrounding 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII, the franchises continue to be big in the public eye. But if these two franchises were stars, how bright would they be? The New Yorker has charted the two franchises, as well as several other prominent franchises throughout the past few decades, to see which franchise has raked in the most money. Unsurprisingly, James Bond wins that, due to there being 24 films in the franchise. But when ranked by what a franchise’s average film earned, Star Wars was the clear winner, as well as in franchise profitability. (Even the prequels couldn’t ruin that!) Since we can’t embed it, you can see the full chart here and find where your favorite franchise wound up. Read more…
Tags: Alien, Batman, harry potter, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, Men in Black, Pirates, Spider-man, Star Trek, Star Wars, Terminator, The Avengers, The Matrix, Transformers, X-Men
Posted by Ben Huber on May 25, 2013 in Hobbies and Collections, Star Wars 
Yes, the biggest LEGO model ever made. LEGO really went all-out here, and put together an absolutely massive, 44 foot wingspan, 11 foot height, 5 million brick model. It took 32 LEGO Master Builders over 17,000 hours to complete. And it’s now in Times Square for everyone to see (and even sit in!). LEGO hasn’t said how long the model will be in Times Square (only that “this summer” it will be moved to LEGOLAND California), but I assume it will at least be there till May 29th for the premier of The Yoda Chronicles. I imagine this is the coolest thing ever for many kids, so I hope this stays around for a while. Check out more images below and also read The Brothers Brick write-up of the effort that went into building it! Read more…
Tags: Lego, x-wing
Posted by Bob Muir on May 7, 2013 in Star Wars, Videogames 
It was a semi-sad day when Disney closed Lucasarts recently — the studio was no longer the home of strong adventure games and other creative experiences, but it still seemed unfortunate. But we all knew that it couldn’t mean the end of Star Wars games; the official statement even said that Lucasarts would adopt a licensing model. Now we know where that license is ending up: in Electronic Art’s hands. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Electronic Arts, LucasArts
Posted by Ben Huber on May 5, 2013 in Star Wars 
As part of the May the Fourth Star Wars day yesterday, SlashFilm got something very cool to show the internet: scans of the original script of The Empire Strikes Back script by Lawrence Kasdan. The original was donated by Kasdan to the Writers Guild Foundation Archive, and they were convinced to scan a few pages online for fans to see. It’s a really amazing piece of movie history to finally see, and if you look closely you can see Kasdan trying to figure out Yoda’s speech pattern, as well as the original scene between Leia and Han before he’s frozen in carbonite (followed by the classic story in which it was changed on-set by Ford). Check it out after the break. Read more…
Tags: The Empire Strikes Back
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 20, 2013 in Fandom, Star Wars 
Patton Oswalt is a wonderful, fantastic dude. He’s able to be both funny and articulate, and he made a guest appearance on Parks and Recreation, filibustering the City Council… By reciting his entire plan for the next Star Wars movie, as well as the trilogy as a whole. It starts off pretty solid, and then it gets amazing. I won’t spoil it too much, but lets just say Tony Stark is involved. It’s good stuff. Check out all 8 minutes of his plot below in the video. Read more…
Tags: parks and recreation
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 13, 2013 in Star Wars 
Trust me guys, just don’t.
Harrison Ford went on David Letterman a few days ago and quite frankly brushed off every question about Star Wars Episode VII that Letterman tossed at him. I think he’s both sick of talking about it, and probably can’t talk about it. However, someone else does want to talk about Episode VII, and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) dropped a few bits such as “I don’t want to wear anybody out by speculating or letting you waste your energy” and said that he’s “not sitting by the phone, but it’s always nice when it rings.” Sounds like he either hasn’t been asked to come back yet, or can’t say anything due to NDAs as well. So, you hear that internet? Don’t speculate! Daniels says so! Read more…
Tags: anthony daniels, Episode VII, Harrison Ford, Star Wars
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 30, 2013 in Star Wars 
With Star Wars Weekends 2013 coming up starting May 17th, you can be sure that this year is going to be way more involved that previous years, just due to Disney now owning Lucasfilm. I would imagine lots of messy rights negotiations fade away with that new factor. So here comes all the new merchandise! Combining Star Wars and Disney characters, or Muppets too! Some of it is very hokey, but they are other cleverer items too. Uncle Deadly as Emperor Palpatine? Mickey Mouse in a Jedi Starfighter? The Muppets chickens with Stormtrooper helmets? Yes, it’s all here. Even a thermal detonator hot potato game. Even that. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Disneyland
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 27, 2013 in Star Wars 
Check out this McGuyver-ed Boba Fett Lamp! Major League Mods cobbled together this cool light from a Boba Fett helmet, an everyday table lamp, a LED light bulb, and a drill bit. If you want to make one of these snazzy lamps for your room, read the simple instructions here and decorate away! Just to be safe though, I’d keep it away from sarlacc pits. Read more…
Tags: Boba Fett
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 6, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Despite Mark Hamill being a downer about rumors that he, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher would return as Luke, Han, and Leia in Disney’s Star Wars Episode VII, the rumors continued to circulate. They may have been in talks, but I guess at least one of them has wrapped up, as Carrie Fisher has quite definitively confirmed that she will return as Leia.
Read more…
Tags: Episode VII, Princess Leia
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 4, 2013 in Fandom, Star Wars 
People have been getting pretty creative with these GoPro cameras, strapping them to every shoulder, animal, helmet, or other appendage they can find. The Stunt People on YouTube have used a GoPro camera to make their latest video, and drop you inside a lightsaber battle between a Jedi and Darth Vader. It’s pretty cool to watch as is, but I think you might have even better results if you push your face up real close to the screen. Just kidding, please don’t actually do that. Click through for the video. Read more…
Tags: Darth Vader, lightsaber
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 21, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Surely you’ve heard all the rumors lately about which classic Star Wars actors are or aren’t returning to Disney’s new trilogy (or spin-off films). Well, don’t get your hopes up, because Mark Hamill is ready to be a complete buzzkill about them. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 17, 2013 in Hobbies and Collections, Star Wars 
Check out this bad boy: a brand new ultimate LEGO model of the Red Five X-wing! At first some images of it leaked online, at which point it spread all over the place. LEGO then promptly requested these images to be taken down… and then uploaded their video announcing the new set. Anyway, regardless of the announcement, this new set looks great, and if you’re a LEGO or Star Wars fan, this will definitely make a great display piece. It’ll arrive in May and will retail for $199.99, with 1,559 pieces. And yes, it includes R2-D2. It wouldn’t be complete without him! Watch the video below to see all the details. Read more…
Tags: Lego, x-wing
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 16, 2013 in Star Wars 
While I’m labeling this as a rumor, currently, let’s just say that this is the most probably rumor ever. The Latino Review is reporting that according to their sources, Harrison Ford is returning for the Star Wars universe for Episode VII. This is no surprise, as Ford said earlier that’d he love to come back to the series, so in my mind this was an inevitability. Hopefully we’ll get confirmation from Lucasfilm and Disney soon. My opinion has always been that J.J. Abrams will have the returning characters like Han be in more of a “mentor” position, to pass the torch to new, younger characters. Will I be right? Read more…
Tags: Han Solo, Harrison Ford
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 7, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
It seems like Disney is definitely set on making some Star Wars spin-off films to be released between official episodes of the sequel trilogy. Yesterday we heard about a Yoda movie, but Entertainment Weekly is claiming that Han Solo and Boba Fett will be getting their own stand-alone films. Han Solo’s will explore the smuggler’s origins, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, perhaps with an older Harrison Ford as a framing device for a new actor younger than Han Solo’s original portrayal. Meanwhile Boba Fett’s will be a bounty hunter adventure, set either between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back or between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Star Wars
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 6, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Here’s a juicy rumor about the fate of Star Wars in Disney’s hands. We all know about the sequel trilogy, and everyone is pumped about J.J. Abrams directing Episode VII. But while these sequels will be released every two-to-three years, not as much attention has been paid to Disney’s plans for additional stand-alone films. Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are writing two stand-alone films, so what’s the deal with them? At least for one of them, there’s one word: Yoda. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Yoda
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 29, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Were you one of the few people excited about the entirety of the Star Wars series — well, as of now — being converted into 3D and returned to theaters? Then prepare to be disappointed, as Lucasfilm has officially dropped plans to continue with the remaining five films. Apparently, the 3D version of The Phantom Menace last year did poorly, only pulling in $23 million domestically. In addition, all the hardcore fans it was being marketed to treated it like a blatant cash grab. Attack of the Clones would have followed this September, with Revenge of the Sith in October. Read more…
Tags: 3D, Disney
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 26, 2013 in Star Trek, Star Wars 
So by now, unless you’re living under the largest and most impenetrable rock, you’ve heard that J.J. Abrams will be directing Disney’s upcoming Star Wars Episode VII. And with one fell swoop, both Star Trek and Star Wars are now ruled by one man. The entirety of nerd culture (well, ok, maybe not) is subject to the whims of Abrams now! Some people are disappointed by this development, others are thrilled, but the overall perception seems to cautious optimism. Let’s face it, Abrams has done an excellent job with Star Trek, and the biggest bullet point you need he lives out every day: he’s a nerd just like us. Read more…
Tags: Disney, J.J. Abrams
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 16, 2013 in Star Wars 
Internet denizens can sometimes be silly, yet awesome. Almost 35,000 people signed a petition on the White House’s website asking the Obama Administration to secure funding to build a Death Star by 2016. They argued that it would bolster national security and also create much-needed jobs. Hitting 25,000 signatures requires an official response, but it was unlikely that the response would be much more than a humorless “No, stop fooling around.” Imagine my surprise when the White House — one of the most important bureaucratic offices in the world — gave this statement. Read more…
Tags: Death Star, Star Wars
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 15, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
With Star Wars becoming such a phenomenon over the years and possessing such a rabid fanbase, it’s really fun to see how things might have turned out if, say, the casting had gone differently. At one point, Lucas had offered the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi to Toshiro Mifune, well-known for his roles in Akira Kurosawa’s films like Seven Samurai and Yojimbo. Star Wars itself was heavily influenced by Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress (among other films), so it’s not surprising. But apparently, Lucas may have offered Mifune an additional role: Darth Vader. Read more…
Tags: Akira Kurosawa, Darth Vader
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 8, 2013 in Star Wars 
It’s easily assumed that Darth Vader’s helmet has some sort of hearing aid to help him hear inside that claustrophobic helmet. But what if he didn’t? What if he had no idea what anyone around him was saying? That’s the premise of this edited video.
Read more…
Tags: Darth Vader, Star Wars
Posted by Bob Muir on Dec 11, 2012 in Star Trek, Star Wars 
Do computer parts and spaceships not have enough geek cred for you? Why not combine them? Etsy user Shankalonian makes a variety of objects, mostly bugs, out of old computer parts. But what’s coolest are his recycled versions of famous spaceships, such as the USS Enterprise, a Klingon Bird of Prey, and an X-Wing Fighter. He seems to have sold the Bird of Prey, but the Enterprise, X-Wing, and a whole lot of bugs are still up for grabs if you’re looking for a distinctive holiday gift. The models are both environmentally responsible and incredibly nerdy! Read more…
Tags: Klingons, USS Enterprise
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