Star Wars Bedding? Am I still 8?

As a kid back in England I had this set of Return of the Jedi bedding and curtains.

At some point (were they threadbare or was it just time to grow up) the sheets were eventually sewn by my mum into a slipcover for this oversized pillow I had. But when I moved to the States, sadly that pillow was left back on my old bed back home.

Cut to 2008, the release of the Clone Wars movies in theatres and the re-release of Star Wars bedding.





Still to come the missing decorative pillow.

What a Feeling!

Happy belated birthday America!!!

Only 52 days to my citizenship test!!! Now how many Amendments are there again?

Not George's Wars

But we might wish they were!

Countdown to Celebration: It's Almost Here!!!!

Is Tales of The New Republic a second official animated offering that has been kept on the (very) down-low or just another very cleverly done fan film?

Which Drew Struzan designed stamp will get it's very own stamp sheet, as voted on by the American public?

What further delights will Hasbro astound us with in their unveiling of the remainder of the 30th Anniversary Collection action figure line?

How will The Vader Project impact our lives and just what insightful and amusing anecdotes will Princess Leia herself enthrall us with during A Conversation with Carrie Fisher, Saturday evening at the LA Convention Center.

All will be revealed this weekend!!

Countdown to Celebration: The Little Menace!

South Park Park Wars

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Countdown to Celebration: Body Art

I'm somewhat jonsing for tattoo #2.

Although I initially planned to wait until I reached that magical 200 lbs to celebrate with some more body art, with the impending Celebration IV I think it's time to re-evaluate and re-ink.

I was considering getting another of the galactic era symbols to join the Rise of the Empire logo on my left shoulder, or just a simple copy of the famed Mandalorian "Mythosaur Skull" insignia on my right.

But a new coffee table book, The Force in the Flesh, written and compiled by Shane Turgeon, creator of http://www.tattoosandtoys.com/, puts my simple tats to shame. From single images and basic symbols like mine, to complex full torse or whole sleeve works of art, the book showcases the elegant and intricate work of 45 artist and tattoo enthusiasts from the world over. Maybe I should reconsider just what my future insignia should be?

The book will be released during the convention and will also be available on their site.

Countdown to Celebration: Another One?

Yes, Hasbro has revealed a third exclusive figure to be sold alongside R2 and 3PO at the upcoming Celebration IV here in LA and Celebration Europe in London.

Though already rumoured to be one of the McQuarrie Signature Series figures accompanying Hasbro's regular waves of figures, Luke Skywalker, formerly known as Luke Starkiller, joins the growing ranks of characters from Ralph McQuarrie's concept illustrations to be immortalized in plastic.

Over at Sideshow the've just released images of one of their convention exclusives, the 12" version of Luke Skywalker dressed in his I've-just-blown-up-the-Death Star finery. Priority pre-ordering for these beauties begin Thursday, April 12th at 10AM (Pacific Time). Unfortunately I think I'll be passing on this one.

Countdown to Celebration: Exclusive Figures

As expected, Hasbro's action figure exclusive(s) for Celebration IV here in LA (and July's Celebration Europe at the ExCeL exhibition center in London) are 3¾" versions of concept artist Ralph McQuarrie's original illustrations of those iconic bickering droids C-3PO and R2-D2.

McQuarrie concept figures accompany each wave of the new 30th Anniversary figures (with versions of the Stormtrooper, Boba Fett and Chewbacca already previewed). This signature series will continue throughout the year with Darth, Luke and Han amongst others already rumoured. R2 and 3PO's conspicuous absence from the rumour list made them highly likely candidates for this year's convention exclusive.

Limited to one set per convention day pass purchased (which means if you've purchased a 4-day pass you’re lucky enough to be able to buy 4 sets – one to keep MIB, one to open, and 2 to ebay - sadly I only have a day pass) these figures will quickly become hot commodities!!!

May the Force be with you!

Countdown to Celebration: USPS

For only the second time in history, the US Postal Service is giving the public the opportunity to vote for a stamp that will become it's very own stamp sheet.

Acclaimed artist Drew Struzan designed a sheet of 15 stamps that we can choose from, stamps which commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Star Wars saga, incorporating images from all six movies (including such icons as Yoda, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul and Boba Fett) against a space battle background.

On Friday, May 25, the these stamps will be released at a first-day-of-issue ceremony during the Star Wars Celebration IV at the LA Convention Center. The most popular single stamp, voted for by the public, will also be announced at this event.

You have until May 23rd to place your vote.

May the Force be with you!

WTF TFAW?

Saturday night Joe and I ventured over the hill to Universal City Walk to experience the true awesomeness of 300 on an IMAX. While I thoroughly loved the movie, marvelling at the seamless CGI and bluescreen work, and gazing in awe at the wonderfully chiseled warriors, it never really felt like there were 300 Spartans (but rather maybe 30 at best), while the accompanying score (and editing) just couldn't match the dramatic intensity of the original stunning trailer. 300 however truly is a movie that should be seen on the big BIG screen.


City Walk itself was an entirely different matter. My first and only other excursion to the Walk was back in 2004 during an exploratory trip to LA! At that time I hadn't noticed the gaudiness of the place, purchasing my board shorts, souvenirs and paying way too much for way average food like a good little consumer.

One of the fond memories I had from that visit was of Things From Another World (the TFAW in the title). This time around, though still impressed by the wide range of geeky collectibles, I was horrified at the extortionate prices being charged, particularly for Star Wars figures, Wal-Mart exclusive figures to be precise. You know some jackass is plundering the Wal-Mart shelves on shipment day, buying them cheap ($5.99), then jacking up the price ($24.99). This figure scalping is just plain criminal!

So other than the overpriced stores and restaurants, Saturday evening at Citywalk was overrun with tourists from the park; littered with parents who had entirely too many kids; and we were bombarded on all sides by people who had little sense of direction and no spacial awareness.

I don't think we'll be heading back on a Saturday night anytime soon, even for the IMAX (I should note however that exiting the parking structure was a much quicker and easier experience than I've ever had leaving The Grove or the hell that is Arclight).

The Force Unleashed at Toy Fair

The most important event in February, more important than the Grammys, the Ironman Pro, and the Oscars combined, is the American International Toy Fair, held last week in New York City.

Geeks around the world look to Toy Fair for news (and pictures) from their favourite toy lines. Avid fans clamor for sneak peaks of upcoming action figures from such lines as Hasbro's Marvel Legends, McFarlane's Spawn, JAKKS' WWE series, even My Little Pony. It's the anticipation of new Star Wars toys that really makes me moist however, and with this being the 30th anniversary of Episode IV: A New Hope, 2007's product is going to be one bumper crop!

A couple of the upcoming Gentle Giant animated maquettes will look great on my shelves (hint hint Joe), and those 12" Sideshow Collectibles, Galactic Heroes and Nerf Blasters all have their place (and fans) I suppose, but it's Hasbro's classic line of 3¾" figures that I most look forward to adding to my collection.

This year's line will consist of at least 60 basic figures, in brand-spanking-new specially designed 30th anniversary packaging, complete with a collectible coin (a homage to Kenner's 1985 Power of the Force line).

Future goodies include the likes of M'iiyoom Onith, Hermi Odle and Umpass-Stay, and a series of figures based on Ralph McQuarrie's original concept art, all mixed in with new renditions of the core characters (like Luke, Leia and R2). The most exciting news however is that Hasbro will finally embrace the Expanded Universe with characters from the Lucas Arts' upcoming The Force Unleashed (a video game for the "next generation" platforms, where you play Vader's secret Sith apprentice) along with versions of Darth Revan, Darth Malak and Roron Corobb.

And so with the prospect of all these wonderful new toys on the horizon, I passed up the one remaining Betrayal of Felucia battle pack I found at Target this morning. It could end up being one expensive year with many storage challenges!

Darth Who?

N0, I'm not getting myself confused with the good Doctor, Who's new season just began last week on Sci-Fridays (with newcomer David Tennant suffering from regeneration sickness during the phenomenal The Christmas Invasion episode).

Following in the footsteps of Sidious, Maul, Tyranus, and most notoriously Vader, along with the countless other Sith Lords who've littered the novels, comics and computer games of the Expanded Universe, comes the newest Dark Lord.

And this time we get to name him!

During the 9-book Legacy of the Force series, the latest in the line of Random House's Expanded Universe novels, Jacen Solo (Han and Leia's eldest son) succumbs to the dark side of the force after an extended tutelage with Vergere (who?) during his captivity by the Yuuzhan Vong (what?).

Click on over to DarthWho.com, register and submit your entry. The winning name will be revealed in Karen Traviss' novel Sacrifice when it's published in 2007. Stay tuned!

The Original Original Trilogy

After years of professing that the original theatrical versions of the first Star Wars trilogy would never be released on DVD, today Lucasfilm has finally succumb to fan pressure.

Back in 1992 we all thought we had purchased "the original, one last time." Today, packaged along with the 2004 digitally remastered "Special Editions," are the films I grew up with.

There's no reference to "A New Hope"; Han shoots first; both Mos Eisley and Cloud City are barely bustling; the Wampa's not scary; Sy Snootles sings "Lapti Nek" and the Ewoks "Yub Nub"; and good ol' Sebastian Shaw stands there at the end with Ben and Yoda.

Presented in non-anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 2.0, devotees are still not happy however. In a recent press release, Lynne Hale of Lucasfilm publicity, announced that "since [the theatrical editions] do not represent George's artistic vision, we could not put the extraordinary time and resources into this project as we did with the Special Editions," and "that we have no plans – now or in the future – to restore the earlier versions."

George is constantly tinkering with his universe, and it's speculated that definitive editions of the movies will be released on the new hi-def optical format, Blu-ray, in the near future. So do we really think this will be the last time the original versions are released, and are they really worth buying now?

With the 30th anniversary next year, the 4th Star Wars Celebration here in LA, the extension of Hasbro's contract through 2018, and two TV series on the horizon, the Star Wars universe is ever expanding!

CELEBFLASH: Tar-Jey!

Chunky Chips Ahoy!, for those early morning coffee breaks: $1.66

Ultra Clear Intense Sport Degree, for that extra protection when you need it the most: $2.39

Monster Trail Mix, over 2 lbs of chocolatey-nutty goodness: $5.99

Hem Dazon and other hard to find plastic Mos Eisley denizens: $19.92

Hunting for that matching Sterilite lid and container combination next to the "when did he get so tubby?" Boston Public alumn Michael Rapaport at the Target on La Brea: Priceless!

[ Ok, so maybe not as priceless as meeting say Sue Ellen Ewing, but still cool nonetheless]

Sad Geek Alert!

This TiVo/Vonage issue is still a great concern! Although Mitch was quite definite in his response the other day that the two were not compatible, when I got home that night I tried one last time, and somehow, for some reason, they decided to connect and download.

Or so I thought.

I get up this morning... And I've completely run out of program info! For some reason TiVo decided to play with my emotions. The download the other day was never truly completed. The big black depression cloud that had been looming is now directly overhead! One possible solution - internet purchasing!

First up, with the premiere of Survivor: Exile Island last Thursday, it's time for the latest edition of the Survivor campfire mug. I'd like to say that with this purchase I had all 12 mugs, but CBS never did make one for the original series.

Second, it's time to pre-order the Lucas Family action figure set, a StarWarsShop.com exclusive. Collectible 3 3/4 inch versions of George's family as they appeared in Revenge of the Sith, the highest grossing movie of 2005.

And lastly, my waitlist reservation for Sideshow Collectibles', one of only 2,000, Vampire Drusilla, has just been converted to a firm order. Sadly, it's not the Sideshow Exclusive version, one of only 500, with special "dead bird" accessory, but it'll do, it'll do!!!

Failing all that, maybe I'll go get lucky at the gym! That'll be the day!