Category Archives: Star Wars

Confirmed: Knights of the Old Republic gets an iPad port

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There were some rumblings last week that popular Star Wars RPG Knights of the Old Republic would be making its way to the iPad. This week, it became official and IGN sat down to review the port. Long story short? It’s a must-buy. Here’s their bottom-line verdict:

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic still holds up, and remains a must-play for younger players who didn’t catch it the first time around. Though the iPad version’s touch controls make movement clumsy, most of its changes are for the better. If you haven’t played it before, or want to experience it again, this is a great way to do it.

For those who haven’t had a chance to play this game, I can’t recommend it highly enough. For those who have, maybe it’s time to revisit it on a new platform. No release date has been announced yet, but once it’s available, I know I’ll be picking it up.

Edit: Hey look it went live a little after we posted this!

Her Universe Comes To Celebration Europe

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European fangirls can rejoice because Ashley Eckstein and Her Universe will be at Celebration Europe in July!  This is the very first time that Her Universe will have a presence in Europe and the Celebration store will have a selection of the products.

Celebration Europe will also have their very own Her Universe exclusives that are likely to sell fast.

…Eckstein is bringing 200 of her exclusive Return of the Jedi 30th anniversary necklaces to Germany. Each necklace comes with an autograph certificate by Eckstein. They will be first come, first serve. […] Highlights include an exclusive design by Clone Wars Supervising Director Dave Filoni featuring Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker, limited to only 200, as well as a Celebration Europe exclusive Darth Vader dress using art Eckstein has loved from Japanese tea towels.

Check out pictures of some of the new Her Universe products that will be available at Celebration Europe beneath the cut!

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Storyboards reveal an older Prequel Trilogy era Anakin

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Over at io9 is a look inside Star Wars Storyboards: The Prequel Trilogy by J.W. Rinzler. For the most part, what’s presented in the storyboards are the films we ultimately saw. But there were a few interesting differences. Take, for example, young Anakin:

Other altered characters include young Anakin. Instead of a little kid who runs around bleating “yippeeeee” the storyboard version was a bit more charismatic. Here he is sneaking a kiss from Padme. Iain McCaig explained that he modeled young Anakin after James Robinson, the little William Wallace in Braveheart. Alas, they couldn’t cast him as he was too tall by production, and who knows if George Lucas would even want him. Either way, it’s kind of nice to get a glimpse of an older Anakin.

There’s a whole bunch of interested images over at the link above, so be sure to check it out. If the storyboards strike you, also consider picking up a copy of the book.

(Via Jedi News)

Attack of the Clones 3D to screen at Celebration Europe

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Well here’s something interesting. After being put on the backburner, Attack of the Clones will have its 3D treatment screened at Celebration Europe.

With a new focus on the production of Star Wars: Episode VII, Lucasfilm had postponed a wide release of its 3D edition. Now, for an extremely limited engagement, July 26-28, Star Wars fans from around the world attending the Celebration event in Essen, Germany can see Attack of the Clones in 3D. Fans will experience iconic moments from the film like never before, including the thrilling chase scenes on the city-covered planet of Coruscant, the intense ground battles on the rocky terrain of Geonosis, and the first-ever lightsaber duel featuring Jedi Master Yoda.

Interesting, to be sure. There are no doubt a number of reasons Lucasfilm decided topostpone a widespread re-release of the film ranging from wanting to shift the franchise focus further down the timeline to potentially licensing and distribution issues with Fox.

Williams wants to score Episode VII

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John WilliamsAbrams wants Williams to score Episode VII. Giacchino thinks Williams should score Episode VII. John Williams wants to score Episode VII. Seems like a pretty safe bet at this point, no? Zap2It sat down with John Williams to discuss the prospects of returning to the franchise.

“We’ve certainly talked about that, and I’m happy and willing to do it,” he confirms. “J.J. Abrams, who will be the director, seems excited about the idea. I have to say that J.J. is a much younger man than I, but I will try to keep up with him as much as I can!”

It seems like at least preliminary discussions have been had with one or both of Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy. Here’s hoping Williams can score at least one more Star Wars film.

(Via Club Jade)

Cosplay Monday: Aayla Secura

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Welcome back to Cosplay Monday where we make the start of your work week better by providing you with some excellent cosplay.  This week, we’re highlighting the kickbutt Twi’lek Jedi, Aayla Secura!  Check out the fabulous job that Clare, aka thenewmsmarvel on tumblr, did with this costume!  Not only does her costume look amazing but she absolutely sells the character she’s portraying.  Job well done!

aayla1

Survey Takers at Star Wars Weekends

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For four weeks in May and June, the denizens of the galaxy far, far away invade Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekends. Special events include autograph sessions with celebrity guests, photo ops with Star Wars characters, shows in the Premiere Theatre, the Jedi Training Academy, and the Hyperspace Hoopla. One of the highlights is the Legends of the Force motorcade, aka the parade, featuring Star Wars/Disney characters, members from the 501st and Rebel Legions, and celebrity guests.

Yesterday while waiting for the parade, a cast member approached me, asking if I’d mind answering a few questions about Star Wars and Disney. I don’t think this lady realized how big of a jackpot she’d hit with me, or maybe my Her Universe Rogue Squadron hoodie gave it away. I said, “OF COURSE I WOULD.”

Questions included:

1. Was I aware that it was currently Star Wars Weekends? Considering I was waiting for the parade and wearing a Star Wars shirt, the answer was obvious. Yes.

2. Did I attend Hollywood Studios specifically for Star Wars Weekends? Uh, duh, why else would I be there ? (Here’s a helpful hint: if you don’t want to attend Star Wars Weekends, don’t bother going to Hollywood Studios those days, because it’s mobbed and you will have a terrible time.)

3. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being lowest and 10 being highest, rate your knowledge of the Star Wars universe, including films, TV shows, books, and video games. I said 10.

4. On a scale of 1 to 10, how big a Star Wars fan would you rate yourself? Again, I said 10.

5. A short (very easy) quiz to gauge my knowledge of Star Wars. I got 4 out of 4.

6. If I could visit any place in the Star Wars universe, where would I go? After thinking for a bit, I answered Corellia. Why? “Because it’s Han Solo’s home planet and it’s awesome.” The survey taker seemed satisfied with my answer.

After the survey, she said that nothing is in the works yet, but Disney will be putting together other research events in the future, and would I be interested? Heck yes! I gave her my name and e-mail address and am ready to tell them “I want more Star Wars at Disney!” Hell, I told her exactly that before she walked off.

I’ve been to Star Wars Weekends nearly every weekend during the past three years, and I don’t ever remember it being as busy as it’s been this year. Star Tours, which normally has 10 or 20 minute lines, had a 90 minute line at one point today. It seems that Disney is paying attention, and wants to please Star Wars fans when it comes to the inevitable expansion in Hollywood Studios. As a shameless theme park enthusiast and Star Wars fan, I can’t wait.

 

Celebrate Return of the Jedi’s 30th anniversary with Leia’s Endor braid

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Did you know Return of the Jedi is soon to turn 30?

Did you know our staff writer Bria runs a geek fashion blog?

Did you know the above two abstract and seemingly random questions are actually related? Well they are.

To celebrate Return of the Jedi’s 30th anniversary, our own Bria put together a tutorial on how to make your own Endor!Leia braids. Provided you’ve got enough hair to pull it off. Head over to White Hot Room to see for yourself!

Review: Star Wars: Legacy #3

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Ania Solo’s accidental adventure continues as things just keep getting worse.  Legacy: Prisoner of the Floating World #3 was released on Wednesday and Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman continue to deliver a solidly good book.

This review contains mild spoilers for the issue.

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The Waru Express: In Conclusion

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Well friends, at last we have come to the end of our journey and what a long strange trip it’s been.  A weird thing happened this morning.  I woke up and for the first time in a very long time, there wasn’t a Star Wars book on my nightstand waiting for me.  I love the Expanded Universe but I am so incredibly relieved.  Over the past seven months, I’ve read 130 different books.  If my math is correct, that averages out to about a book and a half a day.  That’s a lot of Star Wars.  Guess how happy I am to be done.  Just guess.

So what have I learned from this experience?  First, that if your editor ever challenges you to do a project like this?  Run very far away.  There is not enough alcohol in the galaxy.  Second, you commenters and readers seem to respond more when I snark closely followed by when I gush.  More importantly though, I learned and confirmed for myself that there are far more good books than there are horrifically bad ones.  My sanity was hanging on by a thread and my liver was desperate for a reprieve at some points but I sincerely enjoyed reading so many of these books, even some of the cracktastic ones like Courtship of Princess Leia.

I’ve also learned that no matter how much everyone tries to peer pressure you, livestreaming yourself reading The Crystal Star with a six-pack of hard cider at the ready only leads to bad things.  We will never again discuss my Han Solo voice.

I’ve reaffirmed for myself that Aaron Allston and Matthew Stover are my favorite Star Wars authors followed closely by Mike Stackpole and Timothy Zahn and I’ve gained an appreciation for James Luceno that I didn’t realize that I had before.  I will also be sitting here impatiently awaiting the day that we get more X-Wing novels from both Allston and Stackpole, the story about how Mara and Mirax got arrested, a political Padme novel from Luceno, a short story about Mace Windu and Nick Rostu set after Shatterpoint, the We, Jedi book about the Horn siblings, some sort of closure about the Skiarta clan, and a new Revan book.  Yeah, I know.  Those last two are never going to happen.  No but really, Del Rey: More X-Wing novels.  Pleeeeeeeease?

Honestly though, I just want to reiterate that there are a ton of good and enjoyable books out there.  The next time you’re wondering what to read, branch out and try a book out of your Star Wars comfort zone.  You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.  I might’ve snarked a lot along the way but I love Star Wars and I can honestly say that there are probably only a dozen or so books that I have an active dislike for and that’s a pretty good ratio!

As promised, I’m going to answer some of the questions that you asked me on Twitter!

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