The Rise of Skywalker
Dec. 27th, 2019 12:20 pmI finally bought a ticket to see "The Rise of Skywalker." I am a first generation Star Wars fan who embraced it with all the passion of my twelve year old heart. Especially -- *because of* -- Princess Leia. Once upon a time I felt a thrill at going to see a new Star Wars movie, now I feel only resignation. Maybe if Carrie Fisher had lived and this truly had been allowed to be "Leia's Movie" I'd be feeling a bit more anticipation. But now all I'm looking for is closure.
It's called "The Men Who Stare at Goats."
The Men Who Stare At Goats is about warrior-monks with psychic powers, who call themselves Jedis over and over again. But the movie's structure also echoes the original Star Wars trilogy, and it's full of fun Lucas riffs. .
I was looking forward to seeing this movie anyway, but this article means that I must go!
The Men Who Stare At Goats is about warrior-monks with psychic powers, who call themselves Jedis over and over again. But the movie's structure also echoes the original Star Wars trilogy, and it's full of fun Lucas riffs. .
I was looking forward to seeing this movie anyway, but this article means that I must go!
Star Wars Geekery
Apr. 6th, 2009 09:48 am(Because it's been far too long since I've had any Star Wars posts. . .)
The webcomic Darths and Droids is doing a frame-by-frame re-telling of the Star Wars prequels as a gaming session. The players aren't aware of Star Wars as a cultural phenomenon; they're just running around in their GM's made-up world. As both a gamer and a Star Wars geek, I find the juxtaposition consistently amusing.
Equally amusing, if not more so, is the commentary at the bottom of each installment, in which the writer reflects on the events of that day's episode from a meta context. I particularly enjoyed today's observations.
Zam Wessel is a shapeshifter. She's shown quite explicitly to be a shapeshifter in the movie. Anakin even warns Obi-Wan to be careful when going into the bar in the scenes preceding this one because they are following a shapeshifter.
You'd expect some cool plot-related points to revolve around the undeniably interesting fact that Zam is a shapeshifter.
Except when Zam sneaks up behind Obi-Wan in the bar, she's in the exact same human-like shape she was in when they were chasing her, and that Anakin saw. She completely fails to use her shapeshifting ability in any sort of attempt to disguise herself.
And then she dies in this scene, and quite clearly reveals her shapeshifting capability. Wow, there are shapeshifters in the Star Wars universe! We've been shown that fact quite explicitly. Surely this will become important later in the plot.
Only it never does. It's never mentioned again anywhere else in any of the movies. I think Anton Chekhov just committed suicide with his gun.
If you're not familiar with "Chekhov's Gun", The TV Tropes and Idioms site has a full explanation. If you've never visited this site you should click the link even if you do know the reference. It's an amazing compilation.
The webcomic Darths and Droids is doing a frame-by-frame re-telling of the Star Wars prequels as a gaming session. The players aren't aware of Star Wars as a cultural phenomenon; they're just running around in their GM's made-up world. As both a gamer and a Star Wars geek, I find the juxtaposition consistently amusing.
Equally amusing, if not more so, is the commentary at the bottom of each installment, in which the writer reflects on the events of that day's episode from a meta context. I particularly enjoyed today's observations.
Zam Wessel is a shapeshifter. She's shown quite explicitly to be a shapeshifter in the movie. Anakin even warns Obi-Wan to be careful when going into the bar in the scenes preceding this one because they are following a shapeshifter.
You'd expect some cool plot-related points to revolve around the undeniably interesting fact that Zam is a shapeshifter.
Except when Zam sneaks up behind Obi-Wan in the bar, she's in the exact same human-like shape she was in when they were chasing her, and that Anakin saw. She completely fails to use her shapeshifting ability in any sort of attempt to disguise herself.
And then she dies in this scene, and quite clearly reveals her shapeshifting capability. Wow, there are shapeshifters in the Star Wars universe! We've been shown that fact quite explicitly. Surely this will become important later in the plot.
Only it never does. It's never mentioned again anywhere else in any of the movies. I think Anton Chekhov just committed suicide with his gun.
If you're not familiar with "Chekhov's Gun", The TV Tropes and Idioms site has a full explanation. If you've never visited this site you should click the link even if you do know the reference. It's an amazing compilation.
Sometimes Art Imitates Life. . .
Jan. 19th, 2009 08:55 am. . and sometimes ( Art imitates art -- check userpic before clicking )
Things Are Looking Up
Dec. 26th, 2008 08:39 amI had originally intended to take today off, but I ended up not working at all on Christmas Eve, so I really need to spend several hours listening to calls today. I am way below my quota and my quarterly summary is due soon.
On the other hand, yesterday turned out to be a huge improvement on the week I'd had: I corrected a big mistake in one of my hermetic/spiritual practices, had that really good chat with
_storyteller_, got some pleasant creative work done, the snow is starting to melt -- and it's Wookiee Life Day! (Thanks
alfrecht!)
On the other hand, yesterday turned out to be a huge improvement on the week I'd had: I corrected a big mistake in one of my hermetic/spiritual practices, had that really good chat with
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Link swiped from
blessed_harlot:
Sarah Palin is Star Wars, Hilary Clinton is Star Trek.
I loved it -- even though the top graphic of Palin as Princess Leia makes me want to wash my eyes out.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Sarah Palin is Star Wars, Hilary Clinton is Star Trek.
I loved it -- even though the top graphic of Palin as Princess Leia makes me want to wash my eyes out.
25 Best & Worst Star Wars Moments
Oct. 6th, 2008 12:07 pmBecause it's been ages since this Star Wars geek posted anything about Star Wars:
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20230807,00.html
My only quibbles with the list:
1. Not including the actual explosion of the first Death Star as one of the "best moments."
2. They cited Princess Leia's brass bikini as a "best moment" rather than a worst.
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20230807,00.html
My only quibbles with the list:
1. Not including the actual explosion of the first Death Star as one of the "best moments."
2. They cited Princess Leia's brass bikini as a "best moment" rather than a worst.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Character Quiz
Nov. 4th, 2007 08:40 pmI'll take this one. . . .
:-)
Yoda
A venerated sage with vast power and knowledge, you gently guide forces around you while serving as a champion of the light.
Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not - for my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Luminescent beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the Force around you, everywhere.
:-)
Yoda
A venerated sage with vast power and knowledge, you gently guide forces around you while serving as a champion of the light.
Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not - for my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Luminescent beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the Force around you, everywhere.
Saturday Morning
Oct. 27th, 2007 09:17 amSaturday mornings are better than Friday nights, but last night's plunge into the grieving abyss has left me feeling empty and a bit fragile. I want to curl up in a fuzzy blanket on my comfy couch with some soup and my book and just be gentle with myself.
Unfortunately, there are couple of things I need to get at the grocery store, and nothing I actually have on hand appeals for breakfast, so I'm going to need to get myself together and go out, at least briefly.
jillwheezul's Hob is coming over mid-day to run a solo Star Wars one shot for me. I'm looking forward to it, but also worrying that I won't have the energy to fully engage. But I shouldn't worry. Either his presence will be sufficient to lift my mood (he's one of my dearest friends) and we'll play -- or we'll do something else and he won't be upset about not playing. Actually, what's likely to happen is that I'll do a bit more grief processing with him, and then we'll play.
Star Wars was the longest ongoing campaign that our old gaming group had (10 years, off and on), and I loved my character. Today I'll be playing someone entirely new -- which is probably a good thing -- but it will feel strange to go into that universe and not be D. For a complete change of pace, I'm playing an Imperial Intelligence agent. I've never played a spook before, much less an Imperial.
You know: I could use some fun.
I don't have much authentic fun these days.
Unfortunately, there are couple of things I need to get at the grocery store, and nothing I actually have on hand appeals for breakfast, so I'm going to need to get myself together and go out, at least briefly.
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Star Wars was the longest ongoing campaign that our old gaming group had (10 years, off and on), and I loved my character. Today I'll be playing someone entirely new -- which is probably a good thing -- but it will feel strange to go into that universe and not be D. For a complete change of pace, I'm playing an Imperial Intelligence agent. I've never played a spook before, much less an Imperial.
You know: I could use some fun.
I don't have much authentic fun these days.
Given the mood I'm in today (and have been for several days, truth to tell) I'm very amused at this hypothesis about what those exchanges of looks really signify at the end of Episode IV.
http://noahbrand.blogspot.com/2007/01/unutterable-geekery-new-hope.html
(Yes, it's about sex.)
http://noahbrand.blogspot.com/2007/01/unutterable-geekery-new-hope.html
(Yes, it's about sex.)
Anniversaries
Jun. 15th, 2006 08:38 pmToday, June 15, is my parents' 49th wedding anniversary.
They have loved and respected and supported and laughed with each other in a way that some people think exists only in stories, and I love and admire them deeply.
Today also marks the 29th anniversary of my first viewing of Star Wars.
Because on June 15, 1977, when I was 12 years old, they could not find a babysitter to watch me while they drove to the city to have dinner and see this popular new film that we didn't really know anything about.
But my aunt and uncle had said that I should see it, because I would really like the princess in it -- so they finally decided to take me with them.
We went to a Chinese restaurant and I had a cheeseburger.
Then we stood in a very, very long line for more than an hour.
And then the lights went out, and there was this huge crash of music, and an old-fashioned roll-out prologue. . . and my life has never quite been the same since.
They have loved and respected and supported and laughed with each other in a way that some people think exists only in stories, and I love and admire them deeply.
Today also marks the 29th anniversary of my first viewing of Star Wars.
Because on June 15, 1977, when I was 12 years old, they could not find a babysitter to watch me while they drove to the city to have dinner and see this popular new film that we didn't really know anything about.
But my aunt and uncle had said that I should see it, because I would really like the princess in it -- so they finally decided to take me with them.
We went to a Chinese restaurant and I had a cheeseburger.
Then we stood in a very, very long line for more than an hour.
And then the lights went out, and there was this huge crash of music, and an old-fashioned roll-out prologue. . . and my life has never quite been the same since.