Book Review “Star Wars Art: Concept”

Author: LucasFilm Ltd
Series: Star Wars Art Series
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: October 15, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Star Wars” is such a phenomenon and packs a presence like no other franchise. The “Star Wars Art” series has been quite amazing over the last few years, courtesy of Abrams. When it comes to concept art, you know that “Star Wars” is not going to disappoint. I couldn’t wait to open this book and I was literally blown away by hundreds of images of conceptual artwork from this franchise. I would call this book nothing short of spectacular. I read a lot of art of books for various films and this one is easily the best I have seen all year, no question. The detail is so in depth for these films and the images are absolutely gorgeous and delivered in very high quality. All six films are well represented here and you are literally transported to the amazing world that “Star Wars” has created and get an inside alternate look into that world.

Official Premise: From Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston to Doug Chiang, Ryan Church, Iain McCaig, Erik Tiemens, and the next generation of animation and video-game artists, Star Wars Art: Concept collects, for the first time ever, the very best Star Wars conceptual artwork. As curated by George Lucas, the artwork that helped bring the Star Wars Saga to life is revealed in all its glory, featuring pre-production drawings and paintings from the Original Trilogy, the Prequel Trilogy, the TV shows, and the video games, including an exclusive preview of artwork from the highly anticipated 1313. Spanning the years from 1975 to the present, Star Wars Art: Concept is a fascinating look at the process of conceptual design. From pen and paint and paper to the digital realm, the result is the creation of breathtaking iconic worlds, vehicles, and characters that successive generations have embraced and made their own.

I think that any “Star Wars” fan big or small, young or old is going to eat up every page and every inch of this book. Who wouldn’t want to see early designs for various characters, creatures, and droids. I spent hours looking over different variations of our favorite characters including R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Padme, Tusken Raiders and of course everyone’s favorite Jar Jar Binks. Besides, characters there is also tons more including various locations and vehicles. There are even some that never made it into the films at all, which is a real treat for any fan of the series. So besides all six films we also get an inside look into the animated TV shows ”Droids” and “Ewoks” and also various video games including “Force Unleashed” and many more.

There is a great preface from Ryan Church, who is the Concept Design Supervisor for both “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” and “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”. There is a solid introduction from Doug Chiang, who was the design director for Lucasfilm on “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” and “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”. Erik Tiemens gives a very interesting afterword, who made the original art used to sculpt the Massassi frieze for “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”. He also wrote and drew the comic “The Artist of Naboo” for “Star Wars: Visionaries”. Lastly, Joe Johnston, who is the director of such films like ”Jurassic Park III”, “Jumanji”, and “Captain America: The First Avenger”. Joe gives a endearing foreward about his love for “Star Wars” and his work on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, where he was responsible for the design of Boba Fett’s armor and equipment. Overall, a must have for any “Star Wars” fan!

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Meet the Inquisitor, the New Face of Evil in “Star Wars Rebels”!


The next great villain from a galaxy far, far away is here. Fans attending Lucasfilm’s Star Wars Rebels panel today at New York Comic Con got the world’s first look at the Inquisitor, a black-clad, intimidating figure who will play a prominent role in the upcoming animated series.

In a new video screened at the end of the panel, Star Wars Rebels executive producer Dave Filoni officially revealed the character, showing design sketches, a sculpted maquette, and disclosing that the Inquisitor is “tasked by Darth Vader to hunt down the remaining Jedi Knights.”

The panel, hosted by Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo, focused on the Empire and how it is central to the story of Star Wars Rebels. Hidalgo revealed that the series takes place about 14 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, a time in which the Emperor’s rule is secure and the Empire is seeking to expand its power to Outer Rim territories. Further details about the panel can be found on www.starwars.com.

If anything was made clear at today’s panel, it’s that the Empire is back — thanks to Star Wars Rebels.

Star Wars Rebels is scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, it will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.

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“William Shakespeare’s Star Wars” Book Giveaway [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!


Who doesn’t love “Star Wars”? One of the best ideas of the year was to blend the world of “Star Wars” with the words of William Shakespeare. Thanks to author Ian Doescher. Media Mikes would like to giveaway a copy of the book. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite character from the franchise. Check some of the great one-liners below or be creative or choose others since there are tons. This giveaway will remain open until October 4th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all fans of Media Mikes in US and Canada only! One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this sublime retelling of George Lucas’s epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. ’Tis a tale told by fretful droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearstome Stormtroopers, signifying…pretty much everything. Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter—and complete with twenty gorgeous Elizabethan illustrations–William Shakespeare’s Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the book you’re looking for.

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Book Review “Star Wars: Jedi Academy”

Author: Jeffrey Brown
Age Range: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I first heard about author/illustrator Jeffrey Brown when he released his bestselling book “Darth Vader and Son”. At the time, my wife was a few months away from having our daughter and I wondered where the female version of that book was. Well a few months later, “Vader’s Little Princess” was released. Read our interview with Jeffrey, here. When I spoke with him, he gave us a sneak peak at “Star Wars: Jedi Academy” and I know I just had to have it. Sure the age range is 8 and up but key word being up. I finished this book in literally one sitting and loved every minute of it. If you are a “Star Wars” fan young or old, this is a must have in your collection!.

The story is really cute and fun. It follows a young boy Roan and his journeys through middle school as he attempt to complete his dream of leaving home and becoming a Pilot Academy like his older brother, father, and grandfather. When he is denied entry into Pilot School, he fears that he will end up having to go to farming school instead.  But instead he receives an invitation out of the blue to attend Jedi Academy from Master Yoda and decides to give it a try. He find that he possesses more strength and potential than he could have ever dreamed and that his destiny leads him to a new path.

The illustrations in the book are extremely fun and each page is a new journey into this world. They are black and white and have a real fun comic book feel. There is tons of great humor all mixed within the common issues and stresses of attending middle school. Since we either you are going through it or have been through it, the story and its situations are very relatable no matter what age you are. It is told through various formats including Ronan’s comics, journal entries, letters, doodles, and newspaper clippings. So at first you will be reading his report card and then a letter from his brother.  It moves the story along so well and makes it very entertaining and fresh. I do not think that I have ever sat down just to check out a book and ended up reading the entire book within a few hours.

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Book Review “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles”

Age Range: 8 and up
Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: July 29, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

DK Books is literally the best when it comes to fun and in-depth book for “Star Wars” fans.  They endless keep coming up with new and exciting books for this franchise.  The latest is “Complete Vehicles”, which sets out to explore the inner workings of the spaceships and vehicles of all six “Star Wars” movies. From the moment I opened this book till my wife dragged it out of my hands, I was completely zoned out.  What “Star Wars” fan wouldn’t do a back flip for a book like this!? If you think that book look familiar that is because it is in fact an expanded edition of the fan favorite book, “Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections”.  This new amped up edition is jam-packed with new cross-section artworks and a ton of amazing new photos. A must for any true “Star Wars” fan.

Official Premise: “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” is packed with visual explorations of more than fifty essential Star Wars spacecraft and landcraft, including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, B-wing, and more. Full-color cross-section artwork presents in-depth examinations of each craft’s weapon systems, engines, hyperdrives, cockpits, and construction secrets, providing a never-before-seen glimpse at the vehicles that drive the Star Wars universe. “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” now features new and never-before-seen cross-sections!

DK really gets deep into detail with this book and even though this new edition is more kid-friendly than the original, I still found learning new things.  The images are extremely in-depth and very crisp.  There is a great foreword by John Knoll, the Visual Effects Supervisor at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. He really knows these vehicles inside out and gives a nice insight. Now if you own “Complete Cross-Sections”, the question is do you really need to buy “Complete Vehicles”? Well, I should probably still say yes since it does have the four new cross-sections but again I am a die-hard “Star Wars” fan. Can’t wait to see what they have planned next for this never-ending franchise but whatever it is I will be first in line!

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Star Wars’ Jar Jar Binks Limited Edition MIMOBOT Giveaway [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

Media Mikes would like to giveaway the following a LIMITED EDITION Jar Jar Binks Designer USB Flash Drives from Mimco’s “Star Wars” series. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email indicating your what “Star Wars” character would you like to see Mimoco make into a MIMOBOT. This giveaway will remain open until August 23rd at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all fans of Media Mikes, worldwide!! One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Yes, Mimoco turned the character with the worst memory in the Star Wars universe into a memory storage device! It’s in Jar Jar’s nature to blaze trails, just as he was the first of his kind to sit and serve on the Galactic senate, Binks, a member of the Gungan race – those amphibious humanoid-frog creatures, now joins esteemed Star Wars characters like Darth Vader, R2-D2, C-3PO, and a Stormtrooper in MIMOBOT form and function.

Jar Jar finally takes his place in the MIMOBOT collection as an ultra limited edition (only 500 pieces!) one year after Mimoco announced him as an April Fool’s joke.



.

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Ian Doescher talks about his book “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars”

Ian Doescher has loved Shakespeare since eighth grade and was born 45 days after “Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope” was released. “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars” is Ian’s first book and it is such a blast blend the two very different worlds together. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ian about the book and his love for “Star Wars”.

Mike Gencarelli: So why did you choose “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars” as your first book?
Ian Doescher: That’s funny, I feel like I didn’t really choose it — it chose me! The idea came to me after three things converged: I watched the Star Wars trilogy with some good friends from high school, I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and I attended the Oregon Shakespeare Festival with my family. That was all within about two months. So I had Star Wars, Shakespeare and mash-ups on my mind, and the idea was formed out of that combination. Happily, this book mixes two of my passions, so it was really a joy to write.

MG: What was the biggest challenge to blend the Shakespearean aspect into the world of “Star Wars”?
ID:  The biggest challenge is how to make it somewhat believable that the action and futuristic technology of Star Wars could somehow exist on an Elizabethan stage. I handled the action by using a Chorus to explain what’s going on, as Shakespeare does in Henry V, but we still have this Shakespearean language mixed with things like blasters, lightsabers and the Death Star. You probably have to set aside any realistic expectations of a Shakespearean play when you read the book.

MG: How did the whole process take you from inception to release?
ID:  I was extremely lucky in this process, and I don’t take that for granted. After I had the idea, I looked up Quirk Books online (knowing they had published Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and other mash-ups) and found the email address for my editor. I emailed him out of the blue with my idea, and he said he would take a look at the manuscript if I actually wrote something. That was enough to prompt me to write the first act, which I sent to him, he enjoyed, and off we went. Quirk handled the contract with Lucasfilm, and the book was published just under a year after I had the initial idea. This is not the way publishing is supposed to happen — normally it takes much longer for a book to go from inception to release, formal proposals and agents are involved, and so on. Again, I recognize how lucky I am!

MG:  What is your favorite piece from the “Star Wars” universe that you were able to put into the book?
ID:  Han Solo has always been my favorite character, so probably putting his dialogue into iambic pentameter and writing some soliloquies for him was the most fun part of the book. He’s just such a stud — hopefully I made him a Shakespearean stud.

MG: Why is Han Solo your favorite “Star Wars” character?
ID: He was so full of swagger, and for a kind of dorky kid like me it was inspiring to watch someone that cool on the screen. It’s no wonder that Han Solo was the role that made Harrison Ford’s career.

MG:  Do you know if this has yet to make it into the hands of George Lucas?
ID: No, I haven’t heard. I’d like to believe he has read it!

MG:  Since the book is called “Verily, A New Hope”, can we expect a few sequels in cards?
ID:  It would be really fun to see the sequels happen, but at this point nothing is certain. There’s still so much richness to be explored in the trilogy — I have fun imagining what it would be like when Luke finds out Darth Vader is his father, or what Lando might soliloquize about. Maybe the biggest question: how would Yoda speak in a Shakespearean context? It would be fun to play around with (and ultimately answer) those questions.

MG:  What else do you have planned next?
ID:  I’m developing a children’s book with a friend of mine who is an illustrator, and I think there’s another Shakespearean adaptation in me (whether it’s the Star Wars sequels or something else).

 

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Book Review “Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Episode Guide”

Author: Jason Fry
Reading Level: 8 up
Book Length: 232 pages
Release Date: June 3, 2013
Publisher: DK CHILDREN

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

While I am excited to see this book it also reminds me that this series is over and that makes me sad. This book is really the ultimate episode guide since it covers everything important from the show from episode one to the very last episode. DK Children has released another fantastic high quality release here. The images looks great and there is tons of fantastic information about each major event from the show. Even though it is aimed at kids, this should easily satisfy fans of all ages. If you are a fan of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, this is the book that you’ve been looking for.

Official Premise: A comprehensive guide, Star Wars®: The Clone Wars™ Episode Guide details every episode from the highly popular animated series, The Clone Wars, featuring plot points, key characters, and the spaceships, weapons, and gadgets. Each of the 108 episodes is showcased with a stunning visual spread. For the first time, all of the episodes will be presented in story order, making this the definitive chronology of the beloved television show, The Clone Wars!

Jason Fry is the author of this book and he has done tons of great “Star Wars” books including “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Expanded Visual Dictionary”, “Star Wars: The Secret Life of Droids”. He has also worked with “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” with the books “Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Visual Guide” and “Star Wars: Clone Wars – Character Encyclopedia”. So I think it is safe to say that this book is coming from one of the best sources available for the franchise. I look forward to future releases from DK and definitely from Jason as well. Just because the “Clone Wars” series is done doesn’t mean it needs to disappear all together!  Keep ’em coming guys!

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Exclusive “Star Wars” Plush Toy Giveaway [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

To celebrate the arrival of San Diego Comic Con this month, Media Mikes is teaming up with Comic Images for an awesome “Star Wars” plush toy giveaway. Check out them out below and if you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email indicating your favorite Star Wars character? This giveaway will remain open until July 26th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all fans of Media Mikes, worldwide!! One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

 

 

Also if you like these items above, then you need to check out the three new lines and one new line extension that Comic Images will debuting at Comic-Con this year:

STAR WARS Creatures, a line of 10” plush featuring four of the iconic characters, including the beast-of-burden Bantha, carnivorous Rancor, snow lizard Tauntaun and icey Wampa. Each is made from soft, huggable materials, lending comfort (but watch your fingers and toes!) to each owner and can be purchased as a collection or as gifts.

STAR WARS Rag Dolls, a unique interpretation of traditional rag dolls featuring famous STAR WARS characters. The 7” plushes are made of safe, all-new materials and feature tremendous attention to detail. The line includes Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Yoda and Stormtrooper and are attractive to children ages 2 to 200 (as lifespans are longer in the Star Wars universe.)

STAR WARS Back Pals, an extension of the highly successful Back Buddy line, featuring Darth Vader and Yoda. For those who wish to strap on their STAR WARS passion for the world to see, these are plush, squared and fully padded to protect tablets, phones and other electronics as well as books, wallets and more. Crafted to show fully formed features, and with adjustable straps making them suitable for all ages, the Back Pals are sure to stop people in their tracks to ask, “Where did you get that backpack?!” And, continuing the tradition of introducing Star Wars characters as Back Buddies is the new 24” long Wampa Back Buddy, the newest member of that line.

Comic-Con attendees can see and hold all the new products at the Comic Images display at Comic-Con, Booth 2913B in the LUCAS PAVILION.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013, Comic Images manufactures and markets licensed brand image plush and collectible toys, footwear, bags and more, featuring characters from STAR WARS, Marvel, Universal, Moshi Monsters and more. For more information visit www.ComicImages.com.

 

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Book Review “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars”

Author: Ian Doescher
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: July 2, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“In a time so long ago begins our play, in a star-crossed galaxy far, far.” – William Shakespeare

Where it is “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” or “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters”, the mash-up titles have become very popular in recent years. Well Quirk Books has been behind these releases and I have been a fan of them since day one. After working with the literature of Jane Austen, what next then William Shakespeare. And of course what better to blend the unique language of Shakespeare with than the world of “Star Wars”. When I heard about this book, I honestly couldn’t have been more excited. Now I have to admit that I am not the biggest Shakespeare fan to be honest.  But what I am is a huge “Star Wars” geek and I had a feeling this was going to be epic…and guess what…it is! What I loved most about it is that it has that certain Shakespeare feel but you didn’t have to major in classic literature in order to dig it! Since this book is subtitled “Verily, A New Hope”, we can only hope that this will be the first in a series.

Official Premise: Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this sublime retelling of George Lucas’s epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. ’Tis a tale told by fretful droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearstome Stormtroopers, signifying…pretty much everything. Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter—and complete with twenty gorgeous Elizabethan illustrations–William Shakespeare’s Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the book you’re looking for.

I have to point out how much I love the author’s intro on the back cover flap “Ian Doescher has loved Shakespeare since eighth grade and was born 45 days after Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope was released”. That cracked me up. This is his first book and he really does solid job of blending these two very different worlds. They are so different but yet this blend works so well together. I originally thought that this was going to be a laugh riot, parody book but let me tell you I was quite wrong.  The book is quite humorous but it is in no way a joke.  This is some serious literature here with an ever so subtle smile smirked behind the words. It may not be for everyone, since we all know that Shakespeare style of writing is not the easiest to digest but it is definitely different, unique and very entertaining.  I have a feeling that this is going to satisfy both “Star Wars” fans and also fans of Shakespeare’s work as well.  Hell it might even convert a few classic literature fans to the world of “Star Wars”.

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Ashley Eckstein Debuts New Star Wars™ by Her Universe Apparel at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2013

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13th, 2013 – The Force is back at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park as Star Wars Weekends returns May 17th through June 9th. Fans from all over the world come to share their love of all things Star Wars and Disney during this special event. Returning for the fifth year in a row is actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and founder of the popular sci-fi merchandise line for fangirls, Her Universe™. As with previous years, Eckstein will be bringing an all-new, unique range of Star Wars by Her Universe designs to the month-long event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including fashion tops, tunics, tanks and dresses located in Darth’s Mall. Eckstein will be meeting fans and signing autographs every day during the event and she will also be returning as host for Behind the Force: Star Wars Voices each weekend.

“As a lifelong Disney fan, it’s a dream come true for me to return to Disney’s Star Wars Weekends and debut my new Her Universe merchandise,” said Eckstein. “It’s been an honor to work with Disney to create designs for this event. We have an assortment of new items for female fans of all ages, including our new exclusive Return of the Jedi necklace in honor of the 30th Anniversary!”

Her Universe has only made 1,250 necklaces to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this beloved movie. This extremely limited edition piece will come with an autographed certificate by Eckstein and will only be sold at select Her Universe events debuting at Star Wars Weekends. Only 500 necklaces will be available for sale at Disney starting on May 17th. They are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Also debuting at the event will be will the highly anticipated Rogue Squadron dress and X-Wing Pilot tank top. Other items premiering will be matching youth and adult R2-D2 tunic tops, an adorable youth Princess Leia tunic top, retro women’s fashion tops and a limited edition Asajj Ventress costume top.

Photo credit: – Kelsey Edwards Photography- http://www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com/

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Disney’s Star Wars Weekends
Running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17th through June 9th, Disney’s Star Wars Weekends is an annual event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park celebrating all things Star Wars. In addition to offering fans a unique opportunity to join Jedi Masters, Sith Lords and Star Wars celebrities for special shows, presentations, memorabilia and the all-new Star Tours attraction: Star Tours –The Adventures Continue. For more information on Star Wars Weekends, visit: disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends or disneyparks.com/blog.

STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review “Star Wars Storyboards: The Prequel Trilogy”

Author: J. W. Rinzler
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: May 14, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I don’t know any other way to start this review but noting that it has J. W. Rinzler behind it. Right away that is an instant score for me. He is the executive editor at Lucasfilm Ltd. and the the author of many of my favorite “Star Wars” books including “The Making of Star Wars & “The Empire Strikes Back” and the recent “Star Wars: Blue Prints”. I know that the “Star Wars” universe will be well-represented if it is in his hands. That is definitely the case with “Star Wars Storyboards: The Prequel Trilogy”. I am not a super big fan of the prequel trilogy but I am huge fan of conceptual storyboards and artwork for films.

This book marks the first time that Lucasfilm has opened up the doors to its archives in order to present this collection of storyboards from Episodes I, II and III. The book itself includes the best-of storyboards from the three films complied into one volume and is accompanied with the scripts excerpts from the scenes shown. If you are a fan of “Star Wars”, this is a great way to really get a new perspective on these three films.  You will also really get a chance to see how these storyboards assisted in the creation of the Prequel Trilogy. Did I also mention that there were 1200 illustrations in the book spread out over the 350+ pages. Also I just want to through it out there since this book focuses on the Prequel Trilogy, I hope that there is a second volume in the works for Episode IV through VI.  Just sayin’ 😉

So if you are a hardcore “Star Wars” fan like myself, you are going to jump at the chance, fan of this trilogy or not, to see early takes on favorite scenes, alternate looks, unused approaches to character designs and environments and completely different approaches to key moments. When I first flipped through this book, I was “Alright cool, it is the prequels presented in storyboards”.  But upon a closer look there is so much more that will have you literally examining this book very closely to be sure not to miss a detail. Like I mentioned I am a fan of J. W. Rinzler’s works, so I will be awaiting the upcoming release of “The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”, this October very highly! Keep me coming J. W. and Lucasfilm!

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Jeffrey Brown talks about new book “Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess”

Jeffrey Brown the author of last years hit children’s book “Star Wars: Darth Vader and Son”. When this book was realized was a month before my daughter was born and I couldn’t help but ask where is the female version. Well my request was answered with the newly released sequel “Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jeffrey about his books and what we can expect next. If you want to ask him your own questions be sure to check out the upcoming Virtual Chat between Jeffrey, Daniel Wallace and Jonathan Rinzler on May 1st, click here to submit questions.

Mike Gencarelli: Are you surprised by the success of “Star Wars: Darth Vader and Son”?
Jeffrey Brown: I am. I thought it would do well, on the basis of it being a Star Wars book if nothing else, but I didn’t anticipate the incredible response it got. I’m most surprised by how much kids love the book. I wrote it from and for the parents’ perspective, but kids really get a kick out of it.

MG: What has been your son’s reaction to the book?
He likes it, although I suspect spending a year watching me write and draw the book too some of the shine off it.  He doesn’t like it as much as my nephew who’s just about the same age.

MG: Where did get your inspiration for “Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess”?
There wasn’t really enough space for Leia in the first book, so I knew I wanted to do more with her. At the same time, I felt like I’d used up most of the four-year-old jokes and situations, so making Leia a teenager seemed obvious, and provided a lot more potential material – especially being able to show her dating Han Solo.

MG: Did you find this follow-up more challenging?
I did – first, because I’d used up some key bits of dialogue and scenes from the movies, and second, I don’t have a teenage daughter. Fortunately, I have a few friends with teenage daughters, and was able to get some ideas from them as well as my editor at Lucasfilm, J.W. Rizler. who has daughters.

How much research did you do within the “Star Wars” universe to complete these books?
Even though I’ve seen the films countless times, I re-watched them repeatedly the whole time I was working on the book. I also used numerous books, issues of Star Wars Insider, looked at toys, and finally had a good reason to spend some time intensely studying my collection of Topps Star Wars cards.

MG: Have you ever heard a reaction from George Lucas on these books?
I heard that he asked for more copies of Darth Vader and son, which is extremely flattering. As much as I was having fun with the Star Wars universe, I wanted to be true to it, and so I feel like I did it right.

MG: Can you give us a sneak preview for “Star Wars: Jedi Academy”
Jedi Academy is the story of Roan Novachez, a young boy from Tatooine expecting to spend middle school at the Pilot Academy, but ends up at Jedi Academy instead. The story is told through Roan’s journal, comics, letters from family, notes from class, and even pages from the school newspaper. It’s very different from anything I’ve done before in many ways, and I hope kids have as much fun reading it as I had making it.

MG: You co-wrote last years’s “Save The Date”; do you expect to do more feature films?
I do, although it might be a while. I have a handful of ideas I’d like to work on, but I also have a ton of books I’d like to draw, and have more Star Wars books that I’m already working on. So for now I’m just letting the film ideas percolate in the back of my mind until it’s time to really get to work on them.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming book “A Matter of Life”?
I’ve had the idea of writing some stories about my experiences with religion for a while, and A Matter Of Life started out as that book. My dad is a minister, and I’m a father now myself, so at some point the book became about fatherhood as much as anything else. It’s more meditative and thoughtful than the other work I’ve been doing lately, and is probably my most personal autobiographical book yet.

 

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DVD Review "LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out"

Directed by: Guy Vasilovich
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 22 minutes

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I love the idea of “LEGO Star Wars”. I have various pieces built together all over my home office. When they made the feature, “LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace”, I was head over heals. It was released in a beautiful Blu-ray/Combo pack with a limited edition Han Solo character. That brings be to wonder for this release, Why no Blu-ray? That is one thing that I am caught up for this release (would have been a 5/5 rating). Why release one in high def and not the other. If you can get over that than this is absolutely hysterical and a must own for any “Star Wars fan”. There is so much crammed in the short 22-minute feature that you are left wanting more but at the same time absolutely satisfied.

Official Premise: Your favorite characters are back to save the galaxy in LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. The heroes of the Rebel Alliance including heroic Luke Skywalker, swaggering Han Solo and steadfast Princess Leia have no time to celebrate their victory over the Empire as a new Imperial threat arises. But as Jedi-in-training Luke embarks on this next mission, he discovers that his celebrity status as a “Death-Star-Blower-Upper” can be a double-edged lightsaber when he’s constantly mobbed by crazed fans. So much for secret missions! Meanwhile, Darth Vader and Darth Maul are locked in a hilarious “Sith-ling” rivalry as they compete for the Emperor’s approval. It’s an action-packed comic adventure that’s out of this world!

To be honest, I am shocked that they even got to release this film now that Disney owns Lucasfilm. They already canceled “The Clone Wars” and shelved “Detours”, so I am just happy that they didn’t shelf this as well. I do hope that Disney smartens up and that they are planning more of these “LEGO Star Wars” features because they are so much fun. “The Empire Strikes Out” packs some very funny yet witty slapstick humor. Fans can also expect your favorite LEGO Star Wars characters. Just because this title is related to “Empire Strikes Back”, we still get our favorites like Darth Maul, Ahsoka Tano and many more who pop in for a laugh or two.

Written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price (“The Simpsons”), the feature includes voices from series regulars including Anthony Daniels, Ahmed Best, Tom Kane and  Sam Witwer appear as the voices of C-3PO, Jar Jar Binks, Yoda and Darth Maul. Also a bunch of other veterans return including Kenneth Colley, Brian Blessed, Andrew Secombe and Julian Glover, whom reprise their roles of Admiral Piett, Boss Nass, Watto and General Veers, respectively. “The Empire Strikes Out” was dedicated in memory of Ralph McQuarrie, the designer of the original trilogy, who recently passed away. Lastly I haven’t forgotten  the DVD will include an exclusive collectible Darth Vader w/Metal LEGO minifigure. So that is easily worth the $10 price point alone.

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Exhibit Review "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" Orlando Science Center

Orlando Science Center
777 E. Princeton Street
Orlando, Florida 32803
Saturday, October 13, 2012 – Sunday, April 7, 2013

I first received a flyer for this exhibit while attending 2012’s Star Wars Celebration VI at the Orlando Convention Center. Being a life-long “Star Wars” fan, I was immediately interested.  Science mixed with fantasy? Where do I sign up.  This exhibit was developed by the Museum of Science in Boston along with the collaboration of Lucasfilm Ltd, which makes me more excited. “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” is not just a couple of props, it is a 10,000 square-foot exhibit that transports you into the world of “Star Wars”.

This wonderful exhibit not display costumes and props from all six Star Wars films but it blends them with current technologies. Besides just viewing the exhibit you can also go one step further and get the inside world with many kiosks setup throughout with extensive video interviews with the filmmakers and even scientists and engineers. Even being such a big fan myself, I actually learned a lot of things that I never knew because of this.  To be honest it is a bit overwhelming when you realize that you are literally standing right next to these props that really have been used on screen for these films.  Of course, who doesn’t want to see the real Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder, Yoda puppet and Han Solo costume, just to name a few of the amazing sites included.

One aspect, I would like to focus on with this exhibit is the presentation from the Orlando Science Center.  They really gave this exhibit a lot of respect and care.  When you walk into the doors, you are put into a room with black sheets hanging from the ceiling.  Then like the black sea, the curtain part like a theater and you are revealed to see the original and breath-taking Millennium Falcon.  It was very well presented and a great way to start this tour.  I also loved the complete atmosphere in the exhibit.  The lights were dim but the props where perfectly lit.  You are not allowed to use flash photography in the exhibit but you honestly do not even need it in order to get that perfect shot.  It is setup so well that each item on display is surrounded by a wonderful halo of light.

As much as I love “Star Wars”, I love the science behind. I mean who doesn’t spaceships and mechanical robots, just to start with? But like I said the exhibit doesn’t stop at displaying some amazing props from the “Star Wars” saga, it delivers much more.  There are a lot of “real-life” aspects with that gives its visitors some real hands-on action. There are two Engineering Design Labs, where you can actually build and and play with your own speeders and robots.  Does it get cooler than that? This is also not just for kids, there plenty of fun to have for us big kids as well! There is also a simulated ride where you can see what it is like to actually drive your own speeder, this was very cool!

The price of admission to the Orlando Science Center will run you a little steep $27 dollars per person, but it will also include entry into “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination”.  I have to say as much as I liked it, I feel like it is a little pricey especially for a large groups of families. If you are a hardcore fan though, you will leave this exhibit very satisfied and believing you still got your money’s worth for sure. So with all that being said…Orlando, you still have two months left to experience this great exhibit before it continues its museum tour.  It’s next stop will be at the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN from Saturday, May 25th – Monday, September 2nd.  I would highly recommend catching this.

For more information on the exhibit, please visit: www.mos.org/star-wars.

All photos are courtesy of the Orlando Science Center:

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