If Any of My Circuits or Gears will Help, I'll Gladly Donate Them

I had to pop on through my phone to pay respects to the actor who brought the true hero of the Star Wars Saga to life.

Kenny Baker was a true renaissance man, a veteran of film and vaudeville and by all accounts a professional and pleasant man to work with.

George Lucas wrote R2-D2. Ben Burtt and his sound team gave him a voice. Artists, fabrication teams, puppeteers, and animators too numerous to mention by name gave him physical form. But it was Kenny Baker, and Kenny alone, that gave R2-D2 his soul. The most important droid in the galaxy. Mechanic of royalty, partner to Jedi, agent and savior of rebellion.

Kenny, you will be missed. The Force will be with you, always.

Love Letter to the Women of Star Wars

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

Within the last few months, I finally watched The Force Awakens again for the first time since the theatrical run. What I had liked about it at first I loved even more the second time. What had bothered me about it the first time likewise bothered me exponentially in the repeat viewing. All in all, it makes for a very awkward filmgoing experience for me – I love parts of it too much to say I dislike it, but I hate other parts too much to say I like it. And even if Episodes VIII and IX tie the narrative together in a way that really makes Awakens shine in retrospect, the fact that those films have totally different teams behind them (as opposed to The Maker’s overarching, if fickle-with-details narrative) will always undercut whatever “hidden brilliance” we may or may not find in the film upon future analysis.

The above paragraph was originally supposed to be a lead-in to a whole column re-evaluating The Force Awakens upon a repeat viewing away from the hype and the fear, but frankly, that’s really all I have to say on the matter until the entire picture comes to light. Besides, the main point of my column is to keep Episodes I-III and their rightful place in the Saga as a whole in the public’s eye as a positive force (pun unintentional, but welcome), lest the bile levied at them by mainstream geekdom be history’s final word on them.

But it does serve as a nice introduction to a matter that I’ve been wanting to write about for nearly a year, but wasn’t confidant I could do it justice. Because there is one element of The Force Awakens that I have had a slight but noticeable shift on in the intervening months: Rey.

Top Ten Things I Love About Episodes I-III

Now, at this point, I’ve more or less eschewed the notion of May the 4^th, or Revenge of the 5^th/6^th (whichever pun is better), and decided that May is Star Wars Month. George Lucas was born in May, and all of his Star Wars films (including Empire and Jedi) came out in May. That being said, when the Star Wars Prequel AppreciationSociety dubbed this Friday “Prequel Appreciation Day” (traditionally May 19^th, the release date of Phantom and Sith, but moved a day over so people can celebrate on a Friday) and called out to friendly bloggers to share the love by posting their Top Ten favorite things about the films, well I felt inspired to write about Star Wars for the first time in many months. Now it goes without saying, I will be repeating myself here, and these are going to be mostly subjective to my experience. But as I said in my previous post those many weeks back, we need positivity now more than ever.

Speak Up, Speak Out!

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

So it’s been a while since I typed anything out. I will admit that everything about Force Awakens kind of burnt me out on Star Wars for a while, for the second time. Not to mention a couple of major personal upheavals that I won’t bother you with.

I will say that in general, it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to retread old ground when I talk about Star Wars. I’ve mentioned many times, in fact, that sometimes I feel like I’ve said what I had to say. Unfortunately, while there is still hate against George Lucas and his vision from those who claim to be fans of Star Wars, and even within his own former company, I can’t just stay quiet.

Well, I should just say “WE” can’t stay quiet. Because it’s really not about me, is it?

Star Wars: Simultaneously!

Hey, have you ever wanted to see all six Star Wars films at the exact same time in order to compare them, but lacked the equipment necessary?

...No?...

Well tough. Here it is anyway!

The Tao of Jinn

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

Any Star Wars fan worth their salt knows that the Force is split into the Light and Dark Sides. However, slightly less well-known is that there is variation along another axis. In the galaxy far, far away, there are two levels of the Force (for now at least – we may or may not see more when it Awakens): The Unifying Force and The Living Force.

Why I Almost Left the Star Wars Fandom – And Why I Came Back

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

Hey, remember me?

Down for the Count

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

This article is dedicated to the memory of Christopher Lee, a true legend of our era.

"We salute you"

Jar Jar Lives!

(Originally Written for Jedi News, and thanks to my editor Mark Newbold for choosing 90% of the pictures when I didn't have to time)

I tried. I really did. I’ve tried talking about other things. Giving the Saga as a whole and equal share of the time. I figured “Hey, everyone already knows who my favorite character is. Let’s leave that be for a while.” I even managed to get through an article about the Gungans while barely mentioning him.

Then J.J. Abrams has to go and “joke” with Vanity Fair last month about how tempted he is to put Jar Jar Binks’ bleached skeleton in the desert in “The Force Awakens.”

Ha. Very funny. Wait, no it’s not. 

"THIS is funny. That...not so much."

You Underestimate My Power

2005 was a whirlwind year for me. The end of High School and the beginning of college.

And, after years of waiting, Revenge of the Sith.

2005 was the Year of Star Wars. Burger King had their saga collection toys (of which I still have quite a bit, including the much sought after Vader with Anakin inside). I started collecting the action figures again after the disappointingly posed AotC lines. I got Racer Revenge and the game of the film with the lightsaber fight minigame.

As for the film itself? I saw it three times in the theatres.

The first was with my father and grandfather. We were all blown away, and they both came out of the theatre feeling like they were back in 1977 they said.

The second was with my mother, though I have no specific memory of that.

The third was on my senior trip to the Poconos. I remember vividly spending most of my time unlocking racers in Racer Revenge because I had forgotten my memory card and wanted everyone to have full options - unaware that nobody else cared. Everyone saw movies the next day, and I had to see Sith again. I was the last one out and so psyched I bought a General Grievous figure at the next Wal-Mart we stopped for supplies in.

It wasn't until the year ended that my Dark Period began, when I finally saw the full extent of the hatred and couldn't really argue much against it. But the summer of 2005 was the closest repeat to the summer of 1999 for me.

Oh, and the germ for my current love of Hayden Christensen's performance as a whole may have started with being pleasantly surprised by his character turns during Sith.

Check out the SWPAS for more memories of 2005

Hey, Anakin Won Kind Of?

Like, technically? Right? I'm not deluding myself?

Continuing Call

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

After my previous “Call to Arms”, you can imagine my surprise and elation when Jar Jar actually seemed to have a substantial lead when his turn came up. And yet, for nearly a week after the match’s conclusion, the final results had yet to be posted on the official website in spite of the competition’s continuation. Only on April Fool’s day was Jar Jar declared the winner, and only when there needed to be a contestant to go against Captain Rex (as of this writing, they’re switching off leads, though by the time this sees print a winner will have been decided)

Something is rotten on the site of Star Wars.

"It sure is stinkowiff..."

Call to Arms

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

I’m not sure if this is anyone's first time visiting my very small, not quite professional, and extremely self-indulgent blog, but as you can see I am in the midst of a fictional character March Madness parody known as “Geekdom Madness”. Because even though I hate sports with a passion, I love brackets.

Really, the whole thing started last year with Starwars.com’s annual “This is Madness!” character tournament, and me realizing that my favorite Star Wars character would never even be put on such a tournament much less win one.

"And it's someone at this table."

The Power of Pixels

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

Computer-Generated Imagery. CGI. For most people who make no secret of their disappointment for Episodes I-III, this is one of the biggest berserk buttons. The prevailing theory is that I-III lacked “soul” and “energy,” because they eschewed practical elbow-grease for flashy computers for all their visual effects.

"You mean they didn't get a few hundred extras with dinosaurs?"

Repeat Repeat

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

Human memory is a funny thing. It often plays tricks on us. In US legal systems, eyewitness accounts are considered some of the flimsiest pieces of evidence because someone’s perceptions can cloud their recollections. What you’re doing and how you’re feeling can potentially warp your memory of events. Everyone has a different point of view.

What I Want for Life Day

(Originally Written for Jedi News)

"Meanwhile, on Druidia..."

Life Day is almost upon us! But before you grab your red ceremonial robes and enter the…umm…weird vortex thingee (seriously, what WAS that?), I have my wish list of the Eight things I want most this Life Day and for the year to follow:

In lieu of my own articles...

...here's one that's better than I could ever be. I didn't think it possible anymore, but it blew even MY mind.

*drops mike, walks away*

Geekdom Madness 2014 Victor

We are ready to announce the Victor for Geekdom Madness 2014. Unlike the other Victor postings which are right on the front page, I'm going to add a page break because A) There's a lot more information, and B) to drive you all bonkers with suspense.

Geekdom Madness: The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny

Only one will survive. I wonder who it will be?

Geekdom Madness: Semi-Final Left Victor

I was not able to get on the computer last night, so sorry the poll was up longer than it should have been.

The Victor for the first Semi-Final, and the first competitor going to the final is....

Jar Jar Binks

"Mesa accept dis with muy muy humility!"

It was a 10 vote match that Jar Jar won 60%/40%. He licked Luigi. He has what it takes.

Here's the breakdown. Check Back Tomorrow!

Left Side Full!