Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 I was not sure if I was going to be able to see the newest installment of the Star Wars installment in theaters.I am beyond your typical Star Wars nerd. I can probably resite word for word the Original Trilogy without hesitation. Big fan of the Original Trilogy, but the prequels were okay. I thought that Lucas had a great opportunity but failed to deliver in the story in that trilogy.

Man...oh... man life sure has been crazy.

This weekend was kind of slow I could not believe it either. :)  First, we about going after work on Saturday. But we could not find anybody to watch the minions. Take 2....on Sunday the plan was go to the early show at the theaters . I would go by myself and my wife would watch the kids and walk around the mall. On the way down there my eldest was wondering if she could see it as well. I was good with that considering that I really didn't want to see the movie by myself anyhow.

At first, she was kind of scared but then she got use to the action of the movie. I thought that she did great. I am happy that my eldest liked the movie as much as I did. This was her 1st real unanimated movie.

Overall, I thought that Abrams did a pretty good with the revival of Star Wars. I will be going for #2 in 2017. It is going to be interesting to see where he goes with this story. Yes, some of the story sounds familiar but it was an interesting approach in the future in the Star Wars Universe.

Best Valentines gift my wife could have given me this year. She was even willing to see the movie with me if she had to. She is not a fan really of Star Wars. It is lost on her. It all worked out in the end.

May the Force Be With You.

 

Not Even Cool

I saw this “story” on Wampa News the other day. I know it is FAKE, but the thought of it even being legit has kind of scarred me. Talk about a downfall of the Star Wars Franchise if Disney would even think about doing this.
 

BREAKING | STEPHENIE MEYER AND E.L. JAMES RE-WRITING EPISODE VII SCRIPT!!!
Sources inside Lucasfilm have informed us that Stephenie Meyer, author of the wildly popular “Twilight” series of novels, and E.L. James, author of the “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy, have been brought in to re-write the script for Star Wars Episode VII. The duo was reportedly brought in at the request of director Disney executives who felt that the script director JJ Abrams and "The Empire Strikes Back" writer Lawrence Kasdan had written was lacking when it came to the romance.
Our sources say that, upon reading Abrams and Kasdan's draft of the script, Disney execs wanted the love story, which was a sub-plot in the Abrams/Kasdan script, to be brought to the forefront to appeal to a broader audience. There are reportedly four romantic subplots in the Meyer/James script, compared to the just one in the Kasdan/Abrams script.
According to our source, the relationships are: Han and Leia's daughter Jaina (reportedly played by Taylor Swift) having a fling with an imperial officer (reportedly played by Justin Beiber), Han and Leia's marital difficulties caused by Jaina's fling, Luke's struggles learning to love again following the death of his wife Mara Jade (portrayed in flashbacks by Kristen Stewart), and Luke's son (reportedly played by Zac Efron) and his struggles with coming out of the closet to his father about his relationship with another Jedi (reportedly played by Michael Cera).
Fans can expect lots of drama and lots of heat as the love stories play out over the film and set the stage for the relationships in Episode VIII, which will introduce new players into the relationships and cause love triangles for characters you might not expect (think Han and Leia).
Star Wars Episode VII hits theaters December 18, 2015 and stars Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Zac Efron, Justin Beiber, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Swift, and Michael Cera.
What are your thoughts??

Star Wars Episode 7?

When I heard that Disney bought the rights to LucasFilm. Then the news all over Nerdville brought that there will be a release of another Star Wars movie. It is going to be a sequel to the original trilogy. So it going to be interesting to see what they do for casting option in the feet of Han, Luke and Leia.

I have been hearing rumors that it will not based off the books or graphic novels. I just wonder where the Disney Company is going to take u in the Star Wars Universe. 

I will say that I am kind of excited to see that there will be a new motion picture  in the series. I just hope that do not make a bomb. It is going to be a while until its 2015 projected release.

What are your thoughts of this news??

Z is For...

I cannot believe that month of April has come to a close. We are now to the letter Z and that stands for Zett Jukassa.

Zett was a Padawan serving the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic in the final days of both institutions. Apprenticed to Jedi Master Mierme Unill at the start of the Clone Wars, he was reassigned to Temple battlemaster Cin Drallig following Unill's death. Jukassa was stationed at the Coruscant Jedi Temple with Drallig when the ancient edifice was invaded by the Grand Army of the Republic under the orders of the Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Fleeing the Temple, Jukassa was shot and killed by clone troopers in front of Senator Bail Organa.

He was  possessed a strong connection to the Force and was gifted in the rare ability of farsight. One of the Jedi Temple's most promising students, Jukassa put up a valiant defense during the raid on the Jedi Temple.

Some information about the actor who played Zett was  Jett Lucas, son of George Lucas.

Do you have any memories of Zett or is this new information?

Y is For...

We are to the letter Y for the A to Z Challenge. I bet you know whom I selected that is correct Y is for Yoda.

 "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."

Yoda was one of the most renowned and powerful Jedi Masters in galactic history. He was known for his legendary wisdom, mastery of the Force and skills in lightsaber combat. Yoda served as a member of the Jedi High Council in the last centuries of the Galactic Republic and reigned as Grand Master of the Jedi Order before, during and after the devastating Clone Wars. Following the Battle of Geonosis, Yoda held the title of Master of the Order in addition to that of Grand Master. In his centuries of service to the galaxy and the Force, Grand Master Yoda had a hand in the training of nearly all the Jedi in the Order.

Though arguably the Order's greatest master of the Force and most skilled warrior, Yoda believed most firmly in the importance of instructing younger generations and never missed an opportunity to ensure his students learn from their experiences.

The Grand Master was among the few Jedi to survive the Emperor's  Great Jedi Purge, after the beginning of which, he went into exile on the swamp planet of Dagobah. The exiled Jedi Master was responsible for the instruction of Luke Skywalker who would use Yoda's training as a basis for the creation of a New Jedi Order.

Can you even imagine living for 900 years? Do you have any thoughts of Yoda?

X is For...

For the A to Z Challenge, we are up to the letter X and that stands for....X-Wing Starfighter.

Who did not want an X-Wing Fighter growing up? Please raise your hands.That is good so did I.

The X-wing was the primary all-purpose starfighter of the Rebel Alliance and its successor governments. Known for its versatility and exceptional combat performance, it was a favorite with Rebel and New Republic pilots. Possessing deflector shields, a hyperdrive, an R2 astromech for repairs and navigation, and a complement of proton torpedoes, the X-wing allowed the Rebellion to launch raids in Imperial space with improved odds of a successful mission.
The X-wing played a major role in the Galactic Civil War following its capture on Fresia and the defection of its designers to the Alliance. It was most heralded as the fighter that destroyed the Death Star at the hands of Luke Skywalker. Later in the war, it would form the backbone of the Alliance Starfighter Corps, defending Alliance ships and leading attacks on Imperial vessels and installations. Most importantly, it could perform on near equal terms with the Empire's high-performance TIE fighters when handled by an experienced pilot.

 After seeing this clip from A New Hope, what are your thoughts of the X-wing fighter?

W is For...

With the letter at W now I cannot believe that April is almost over..WOAH. In my section for the letter W is going to be Watto. 

junk dealer/human trafficker, who owned a shop in Mos Espa, Tatooine. In his youth, he served as a soldier in the Ossiki Confederacy Army on his homeworld of Toydaria, but later left after sustaining permanently damaging injuries. Making his way to Tatooine, he fell in with the Jawa natives of the planet, and learned how to trade from them. Once he felt he had learned all he could, he abandoned the Jawas, and set up Watto's Shop in Mos Espa. He became one of Tatooine's many slave owners, and made a lucrative business for himself.

Eventually, he came into possession of a young slave, Anakin Skywalker, who proved to be a gifted mechanic, and an invaluable asset to the running of the store. Soon enough, Watto discovered that the boy had an affinity for podracing. Watto would often bet on the podraces, and was an avid fan, so he had Anakin race for him in several tournaments. Although the boy never won, he was clearly gifted. During one particular race, Anakin destroyed Watto's own podracer, which incurred the Toydarian's wrath. Shortly thereafter, a stranger to Mos Espa, Qui-Gon Jinn, claimed that he had his own podracer, and that he wanted Anakin to fly it in the Boonta Eve Classic. Watto conceded to the deal, but decided to bet against Anakin, instead investing in the Dug Sebulba. Jinn took the bet, wagering the pod against Anakin's freedom. Ultimately, Anakin won the race, and Watto was left with very little. His business declined, and he eventually had to sell Anakin's mother, Shmi Skywalker. Watto stayed in business until the Galactic Civil War, when he handed over ownership of his shop to his assistant, W. Wald. 

Did you dislike him in the movies or see him as a businessman?

V is For..

We are now at the letter V for the A to Z Challenge. I thought about doing Darth Vader for this post, but I decided to so something else. V is for Vader's Fist. 

You maybe asking what the heck does this mean. It was the nickname given to the 501st Legion of clone troopers commissioned by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars that later became a stormtrooper unit. Made up of units like Torrent Company, the 501st fought in many battles, such as the Battle of Teth and the Battle of Coruscant, becoming one of the most well-known legions. The 501st became Darth Vader's personal unit as he led them during Operation: Knightfall, in which the clones helped take down the Jedi, whom they believed to be traitors to the Republic.

This group was like the Navy Seals of the Empires Army. 

Would you join Vader's Fist, if he wanted you??

U is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter U and that stands for Luminara Unduli. 

There are not that many characters in the Star Wars Universe that start with the letter U. So therefore, I had to do some digging around. She was uncredited the Revenge of the Sith, so not a big role in the movie. 

Luminara Unduli was a female who served as a Jedi Master and Senior Jedi General in the fading years of the Galactic Republic. She was a valued adviser to the Jedi High Council, the Supreme Chancellor, and the Galactic Senate. During the Clone Wars, she fought with her last Padawan, Barriss Offee, and she was a common and formidable presence at points of crisis, on worlds such as Ilum, Nadiem, and Geonosis. She was killed during the Battle of Kashyyyk when Contingency Order 66 was enacted.


She was also said to be amazing at lightsaber combat, but she had also trained herself to become so incredibly flexible that she could easily twist to evade almost any attack that she did not block with her green lightsaber.

I am just wondering, do you know anything else about her?

T is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter T and that stands for Tusken Raiders.

were a culture of nomadic, primitive sentients indigenous to Tatooine, where they were often hostile to local settlers. The term Sand People was given to them due to their existence in the desert,  but the more formal name of Tusken Raiders was acquired much later, due to a period of concerted attacks on the settlement at Fort Tusken. This later became the definitive name for the species
.
Specialists studying the past of the Tusken Raiders also used the term Ghorfa to denote an earlier sedentary phase of their culture, and lastly Kumumgah, for the earliest stratum of sentient civilization on the planet, believed by some to represent a common ancestry shared by the Ghorfa and the Jawas. In the culture of the Tuskens, to expose any part of the flesh was forbidden and seen as a disgrace.

I hope that you guy enjoyed this little snippet about Sand People. I actually have one that stands on a dresser in the bedroom;) Am I SW geek or what. I dunno, but I have been fasinated with these people.

Does the fact that they cannot expose flesh should familiar? 

S is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter S and that stands for Shmi Skywalker Lars.

 Shmi was sold into slavery at an early age. She gave birth to a son she named Anakin, who also served as a slave. She cared for her son greatly, and was willing to do anything to help him. After Anakin left to become a Jedi, and everyone knows that FAILED. She was sold to Cliegg Lars, who freed her and married her. Just before the Clone Wars, Shmi died in her son's arms after being brutally tortured by a band of Tusken Raiders
. 
Shmi was kind and gentle, despite her years of slavery. She was selfless, willing to sacrifice anything for her son. She loved and cared for Anakin more than anything, and desperately wanted him to have a better life, knowing that there was something special about him. It was because of her love and sense that he had a special destiny that she allowed him to go to Coruscant to become a Jedi, knowing she would likely never see him again. She was befuddled by his birth however, as it seemed Anakin had "no father" She cared for Cliegg Lars, her husband, following Anakin's departure and his son, Owen Lars, despite the fact that he was not her true son.


She earned a small income cleaning computer memory devices. Like her son, Shmi could fix almost anything. She must have been a geek underneath it all.

What are your thoughts of Shmi and the force?

R is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter R and that is for R2D2.

I am not that sure how I could not use R2D2. He has been a fan favorite from the beginning scene of A New Hope. R2D2 was a resourceful and spunky, the droid developed an adventurous personality during his many decades of operation. Inside of his cylindrical frame were many arms, sensors, and other tools that could be extended to fulfill various needs, such as slicing computers, extinguishing fires, projecting holograms, repairing starships, and flying. He was the Swiss army knife of the Rebellion.

When forced into combat R2 held his own by using his wide variety of mechanical features to serve as weapons, such as using oil to blind his opponents or make them slip, shocking them with his shock prod, tying them up in a cable or simply bashing into them.

R2D2 and his counterpart C3P0 were always in the thick of the rebellion. I thought that R2 had more use and saved the Rebels more times that C3P0 had. I sometimes wondered what R2 was really saying with all his beeping. I guess only his partner would have known.

You share your favorite memories of R2D2  memories or just thoughts of him.
. .

Q is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter Q and that stands for Qui-Gon Jinn. 

He was a revered, yet maverick and unconventional Jedi Master. He was the Padawan to Count Dooku, and the mentor to Obi-Wan Kenobi and briefly Anakin Skywalker. Jinn often placed himself in conflict with the Jedi High Council. You have to like a guy you speaks his mind.He was deeply attuned to the Living Force, which contributed to him frequently taking side trips to help seemingly weak and useless life-forms. Despite his opposition to the council, he was regarded by many Jedi as sharp-witted and possessing great wisdom.
Jinn served the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order his entire life, participating in actions against the Nebula Front, most famously during the Invasion of Naboo. It was Jinn who discovered the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, on Tatooine during this crisis and was largely responsible for championing his training. Even after his death at the hands of Darth Maul, he played a vital role in the legacy of the Jedi Order.

Imagine if he could trained Anakin the entire time instead of Obi-Wan Kenobi. It would have been interesting to see how things would have turned out.

I wish that we as an audience would have had more than one movie with Jinn. I hope you enjoyed the clip.

Do you this that Jinn would have kept Anakin from turning to the dark side of the force?

P is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter P and that is for Padmé Amidala.  

Amidala became the secret wife of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and the mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo, two of the most important figures in Galactic history.  Amidala was the democratically elected Queen of Naboo before representing the Chommell sector as a Senator in the Galactic Senate. As Queen of Naboo, Amidala fought bravely to liberate her people during the Trade Federation's invasion.

She and Anakin Skywalker feel in love after he was assigned to protect her following the  Battle of Geonosis. The two married in a secret ceremony on Naboo. Padme participated in many events of the Clone Wars, both political and military, while also becoming pregnant.

After Anakin slaughtered many Jedi, including younglings, Obi-Wan Kenobi came to tell Padmé about Anakin's transformation to the Sith Lord Darth Vader. She refused to believe him, and went to Mustafar to find her husband. Unknown to her, Kenobi had hidden aboard her ship in order to find his former apprentice. When Kenobi revealed himself, the newly christened Sith Lord assumed she had betrayed him, and he strangled his wife using the dark side, knocking her unconscious. 

With these event taking place, Padme was taken to a medical facility where she game birth. In that she also lost the will to live with her heart being scattered and strain of giving birth resulted in her death.

Do you any thought about having a Queen at age 14? Do you any overall thought of her life and/of her fashion?

O is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter O and that stands for Owen Lars. I know many of you will wonder who?? He is known as Uncle Owen in a New Hope

He was a son of moisture farmer Cliegg Lars and the stepbrother of Anakin Skywalker. He married Beru Whitesun, and after his father's death, he inherited his job as a moisture farmer. In 19 BBY, Beru convinced Owen to adopt Anakin's son, Luke Skywalker, as Anakin had turned to the dark side and become the infamous Darth Vader.
Owen and Beru raised their nephew as well as they could, and Owen instilled into Luke the values of his own childhood. Fearful of Luke's potential, and distrustful of the outside galaxy, Owen attempted to keep Luke isolated and ignorant of his true parentage.

He is the first person in my theme that has not affiliation with the Republic nor the  Empire. Just imagine that your stepbrother turned out to be one of the most ruthless villains in all the galaxy. It is like being Stalin's immediate family.

Owen reminded me quite a bit about my upbringing. I was always at my grandpa's farmer, because my parents were always at work. On a farm there is always something to do or just tinker with as well.

Just imagine how different everything would have been if Own would not have adopted Luke?

N is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter N and it stands for Naboo.

Naboo  was a planet that was the sector capital of the Chommell sector near the Outer Rim territories. It was a largely unspoiled world with large plains, swamps and seas. It was mostly known as the homeworld of notable historical figures who played major roles in the downfall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire, namely Padmé Amidala, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Jar Jar Binks.

Once in power, Queen Amidala opened negotiations with the Trade Federation. However the Federation was scandalized by Naboo's resistance to its authority, which coincided with a Galactic Republic Senate tax on interstellar trade. Both actions were perceived by Federation leadership as a threat to their commercial interests and power. The Federation answered with a military blockade of Naboo, with the aim of forcing Naboo into subservience and to hopefully intimidate the Senate into repealing the taxation measure. The Federation leadership was secretly advised, and manipulated, by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious.

Do you have any thoughts of the world of Naboo?

M is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter M and that stand for Mace Windu.

 

He was Jedi Master of legendary status who was the Master of the Order in the days leading up to the Battle of Geonosis, after which he gave the title to Grand Master Yoda.Hailing from the world of Haruun Kal, Mace Windu served as one of the last members of the Jedi High Council before the Great Jedi Purge. Serving on the Council, Windu was often regarded as second only to the Grand Master Yoda, though Windu was eight centuries Yoda's junior. Windu's wisdom and power were considered legendary by many, as were the weight of his words. 

Widely considered one of the best swordsmen in the Jedi Order, Windu created Vaapad, the modern seventh form of lightsaber combat which he mastered. He was the only practitioner of the form who did not fall to the dark side. Windu served the Jedi Order his entire life.

It was Master Windu who led two hundred and twelve Jedi into combat at the Battle of Geonosis and slew the infamous bounty hunter Jango Fett. He continued to serve the Republic throughout the Clone Wars, often on the frontlines of fierce fighting, where he led Republic forces as a High Jedi General. In the final days of the war, Windu confronted and defeated Darth Sidious in a difficult duel. He was ultimately betrayed by Anakin Skywalker and subsequently killed by Sidious, falling to his death from the window of Sidious's office.

If you saw the movies, what were your thoughts when Skywalker betrayed Mace?

L is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter L and that stands for  Luke Skywalker.

 

Luke Skywalker

This was an obvious choice for L well for me at least. Where do I start..hmmm. the son of the fallen Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and the Queen and Senator of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, Luke was raised on Tatooine and hidden from Emperor Palpatine and his father, who had become Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. Skywalker's life changed forever. A chance purchase of two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, led to him to receive training in the ways of the Force from Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and to meet Han Solo, and Princess Leia Organa, who was, unbeknownst to him, his twin sister. Skywalker then destroyed the first Death Star and joined the Rebel Alliance. 

Over the next few years, he fought in many of the most important battles of the Galactic Civil War, helping to found Rogue Squadron and fighting Imperial forces across the galaxy.  Skywalker received Jedi training from Yoda, and learned from Vader that the Sith Lord was his father. One year later, he fought in the Battle of Endor, and succeeded in turning his father back to the light. Thanks to Skywalker, Palpatine was killed, and the Empire was dealt a crippling blow. One year later, the New Republic was formed.

Meanwhile, after a long series of failed relationships, Luke married fellow Jedi and former Emperor's Hand Mara Jade.They also had a son he named Ben Skywalker, after Luke Skywalker's Jedi Master, Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi.

The Republic was lucky that the Empire was never to locate Luke or his sister. The empire would have killed them whatever it took. They knew that the offspring of Vader had a good chance in being another chance to take over the Empire.

If you were in Luke's predicament would you of went with Obi-Wan and the other rebels? 

K is For...

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter K and it stands for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!"

I am not that sure why, but Obi-Wan was always one of my favorite character in the Star Wars galaxy. He was a legendary Jedi Master who played a significant role in the fate of the galaxy during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. He was the mentor of Anakin, later know as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, training both in the ways of the Force. He had a long and tumultuous career that helped shape the fate of the entire galaxy.  

During the duel he and Vader had at the First Death Star. He sacrificed himself for Luke and the Falcon's crew to escape. Kenobi let down his guard and concentrated for a moment, vanishing to the spiritual plane; his body disappearing entirely just as Vader's lightsaber (instead of severing his body) passed through his empty robe. Kenobi became a Force ghost, and was more powerful than ever.

Everyone knows that after becoming a Force Ghost, Kenobi guided and counseled Luke in his Jedi journey. 

Do you wish that you had a Force Ghost of somebody to guide and counsel? If yes who, would it be?

J is For..

In the continuation of the A to Z Challenge in my post today. We are to the letter J and that is for Jar Jar Binks.

Jar Jar Binks was the first Gungan to represent his people in the Galactic Senate, first serving as a Junior Representative along with Senator Padmé Amidala, and then, after her death, serving as full Senator himself. He was also Jar Jar was also one of Qui-Gon Jinn's(Kenobi's master) companions during the Invasion of Naboo.

He was clumsier than most of his fellow Gungans, which was the reason why he was banished from Otoh Gunga. He would often explain his dislike, lashing out with his long tongue.With his clumsiness, I am surprised they allowed him to shoot a gun alone be a general. Maybe that is why he was a general for a short time.

During his career as Junior Representative, he acted as Amidala's proxy and proposed giving Supreme Chancellor Palpatine emergency powers in order to deal with the Separatist Crisis.

Seeing the movies, would you take Jar Jar seriously?