The Nilbog's Big Move

So, the radio silence aside from answering comments (that can all be done via phone), was because my wife and I got a momentous bit of news:

Doublesaber is the New Jetpack

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

"Heeeeeeeere's Maul-y!"

When The Phantom Menace premiered, and for many years hence, the one constant that everyone, even the haters, seemed to like was the new villain, Darth Maul. His face was in more of the merchandise than even the main characters. He was cool-looking, he was mysterious, he had…

Wait a minute…

Cool-looking, mysterious, has a unique weapon, had very little screentime in the film before being killed off, was resurrected in EU material, fans and merchandising seem to miss the point of his character elevating it to be more important than it actually was…

Now THIS sounds familiar. Where have I heard this before?

"What's that? I can't hear you over all these beautiful women."

How Qui-Gon Jinn Could Have Saved the Galaxy

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

Ahh, Qui-Gon. Many people have many different opinions of him, based largely around their own points of view (go figure) regarding his actions throughout The Phantom Menace. Yet, I truly believe that Qui-Gon Jinn could have saved the Galaxy Far, Far Away. He could have prevented war, he could have prevented the culling of the Jedi, and he could have prevented the Empire.

All he had to do was one little thing differently. All he needed to do to save the galaxy was one simple act.

Qui-Gon Jinn needed to stay alive.

"What was that? I suddenly came down with a bad case of heartburn..."

Prestedigitoleum!

One of my favorite Disney films had an Anniversary this past December. The Sword in the Stone turned 50. Even though it's one of my favorites, and it deserved its own post separate from the rabble, I'm finding it difficult to think of much to say on it.

It was certainly fun, and it had many memorable parts, though if I had to be honest the episodic nature of it felt more like a TV special to me than a feature film. And for all of the film's awesomeness, when it gets to the ending (logical a point as it may be), it kind of fizzles for me.

Ah, no matter. We still get the underwater bit, the Squirrel episode, Archimedes' fantastic laugh, and the incredible wizard duel with Madame Mim ("Did I say no purple dragons? DID I?!")

This will be the last separate December Anniversary, and the generic one will be lumped with the January '14 ones. My router at home is still on the fritz (I'm using someone else's internet right now), so I'm not sure when those will come. But I have my phone which will allow me to check e-mail and comments.

And my new Jedi News article is up on that site, and I've scheduled it to appear here tomorrow.

The Thing About Stories Is...

...that anything can be the truth depending on the point of view of the person telling it.

Big Fish is Ten Years Old

New Blogroll Site

M. Marshall is a frequent reader here and at the Prequel Appreciation Society. She graciously provided me art for my Jar Jar Frozen Peas project last June, and started helping me with the project I mentioned in the RotK review, but sadly had to back out for time reasons.

So, in return for everything, I have put her tumblr site on my blogroll. The Lady from Planet X has pictures and musings from a different side of geekdom, and don't we need a lot more of it.

The End of All Things

Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me!

A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship,

But it is not this day!

An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down,

But it is not this day!!

This day we fight!!!

By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand!

Men of the WEST!

(Translation: Return of the King is Ten Years Old)