Category Everything Else

Sep 16 2011

Star Wars At Citi Field

Not so long time ago in city not so far away, there was a legendary place called Shea Stadium in New York. Rumor has it that the evil Empire destroyed it. The Rebel Alliance helped to rebuild it and called it Citi Field. On September 13th, 2011 the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance called a truce and joined forces to Stand Up to Cancer as they raised funds for cancer research. They also celebrated the September 16 North American release of the nine-disc Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray, which contains deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries, interviews and more.

The New York Mets announced they were teaming up with Lucasfilm to host the first Star Wars Night at Citi Field when the Mets hosted the Washington Nationals. The evening started off with a costume contest for the young Padawans and creatures from throughout the galaxy. Celebrity judges included Darth Vader and his stormtroopers, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, a Tusken Raider and two Rebel pilots. Afterwards they all hung around for photo ops with eager fans.

As the characters left, we felt a disturbance in the Force, it guided us up to the second level where the characters reappeared for more photos with the fans. Between innings of the Mets-Nationals game, stormtroopers and Boba Fett appeared with three beautiful Earth women on the Kiss-cam. Many fans made a donation to Stand Up to Cancer and received a Use the Force for Good T-Shirt. Boba Fett captured a fan with a bounty on his head and then left with the other Star Wars characters to go onto the playing field and assist in the T-Shirt toss.

The Force then led us to the first base side of Citi Field where the Star Wars characters helped a Mets fan answer a Boba Fett-related trivia question. Darth Vader appeared on the Diamond Vision and threatened a Mets player, he then filled the screen with scenes from all six Star Wars movies.

The night was a success for both baseball and Star Wars fans, and helped raise money for a good cause.

 Article and Images by Jim McLernon with special thanks to Jennifer Drucker

Visit Jim McLernon’s website: http://www.leopardmanstudios.com/

Sep 13 2011

Meet The Alternate Star Wars Saga Cast, Part I

While many are complaining about yet more changes to the Star Wars films with the new blu rays, everyone should consider that the saga has always been in a state of flux. This thought leads to a nagging question. What if George Lucas had filmed the saga chronologically? That is Episode I was the first Star Wars movie to be filmed back in the mid ’70s while Episode VI would’ve been released in 2005. Aside from the f/x and the storyline being different, so would the casting. This rings especially true in the last three films because it’s hard to imagine Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher portraying their iconic roles in middle age.

So with that thought let’s imagine who Lucas would’ve cast in the Prequel Trilogy, which would’ve spanned from the releases dates of 1977, 1980 and 1983. Note that there isn’t any way to predict with absolute certainty who Lucas would’ve cast or if his picks would’ve even accepted the roles. It’s easy to imagine that Lucas might’ve gone for an unknown actor or someone out of left field to play any of these roles. This isn’t a criticism of Lucas or the actors just pure speculation based on who auditioned for roles and was available at the time.

The Prequel Trilogy: Star Wars Episodes I-III

Qui-Gon Jinn: As the seasoned, wise and worldly Jedi Master, Nicol Williamson would’ve filled that role quite well. Just look at his performance as Merlin in Excalibur, the actor would’ve been perfect for Qui-Gon. One reason for this pick is that Lucas wanted to use primarily unknown performers but he did use seasoned, established actors in his films like Alec Guiness and Peter Cushing. If he decided to cast a star then an excellent choice for Qui-Gon would be Sean Connery. Despite his advancing years, Connery was still a tough, rugged leading man with many of the qualities needed for Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: One of the main contenders for Han Solo was Perry King. In fact, he played Han in the Star Wars radio plays. So with his handsome good looks and acting chops, King would be a solid choice to play the heroic, noble Jedi who’s forced to fight his apprentice by Episode III. Plus he probably would’ve reprised Obi-Wan years later in Episode IV.

Padme Amidala: A difficult part to cast along with Anakin. The reason being that Lucas might’ve decided to have Anakin in the first film be an older character, which would throw off the entire casting process. If that happened then Carrie Fisher could perform her as she did with Princess Leia and that in turn means the actor to play Anakin in Episode I would have to be older . But if Lucas decided to have Padme younger then he would need to pick someone else like Terri Nunn, now known as the lead singer of Berlin. She was 16 at the time of casting and originally read for the role of Leia. Alternatives would include Rosanna Arquette, Melanie Griffith and even Eve Plumb. Seriously.

Anakin Skywalker: Kurt Russell was in the running for the role of Han Solo. He could’ve easily played a rash Anakin in Episodes II and III with his boyish good looks and hint of menace in his eyes. Just look at his portrayal of Snake Plissken. In Episode I, a young Anakin might’ve gone to some unknown child actor. Or Lucas could’ve picked Noah Hathaway who was about the same age as Jake Lloyd was when he was cast as Anakin. Or the filmmaker might’ve decided to introduce Anakin as a slightly older child, maybe even a teenager. This of course would probably mean that the actor chosen would continue to play the role in the sequels and thus no Kurt Russell. Choices include Ike Eisenmann, or Lance Kerwin.

Jar Jar Binks: Robin Williams would’ve been perfect for the role. Imagine a young, spirited Williams in his comedic prime running away with this role under heavy makeup. His performance might’ve been the one to catapult him into stardom rather than Mork from Ork. The character might’ve really caught on back then and had a larger roles in the sequels.

Mace Windu: Billy Dee Williams was considered for the role of Han Solo and as Mace, Williams would’ve added a heavy dose of charisma. This would’ve complemented the overall character of the Jedis and added to their regal nature. Heck, if you see him wearing his cape as Lando Calrissian, the guy looks like a Jedi of sorts.

Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid hopefully would’ve been cast back in ’76 and played the scheming politician and Sith Lord. The makeup might’ve been different in the final films given his age but nothing else would be different.

Nute Gunray: This was a largely forgettable villain but Peter Cushing would’ve added a chilling demeanor and turned him into a true menace. Albeit he would’ve played a human without makeup. However given his ill health by the early 80s his involvement in the next two films might’ve been limited.

Count Dooku: To portray this dashing, elegant and calculating fallen Jedi an actor needed to have all those qualities. Christopher Lee had it and so would Ricardo Montalban. Although would he then reprise his iconic role of Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan a couple of years later? If not him, then Maximilian Schell would’ve been a viable alternative.

Jango Fett: Scott Glenn has that mean, ornery look of a mercenary and the character might’ve had more of a Western motif. Clues of this can be found in the original Attack of the Clones when Jango dispatches a hapless Jedi with a quick draw during the climatic arena battle. Plus, Glenn’s casting would mean that Boba’s role in the future films would’ve been more substantial.

Darth Maul: The role was limited requiring only someone with tremendous physical prowess. A young Jackie Chan , Chuck Norris or some other martial artist could’ve portrayed this acrobatic Sith apprentice.

General Grievous: Due to the limited CG technology in the early ’80s, the character would be presented as a more humanoid being, perhaps the actor’s face would’ve being visible. In any regard, Christopher Lloyd has shown in the past with Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Star Trek III: The Search For Spock, that he can make a convincing villain and would have done the same in Episode III.

Boss Nass: Brian Blessed would have played this role and be in makeup rather than some CG rendering as with Episode I.

José Soto

Coming Soon: Part II with the Original Trilogy Re-Cast!

Sep 8 2011

Marty McFly’s Future Shoes Are Here? Great Scott!

Nike is about to announce tonight a new line of shoes that many believe will be a take of Marty McFly’s self-lacing high tops from Back to the Future, Part II. Called the Air Mag, these shoes will utilize a Nike patented technology that will reportedly allow the shoes to lace themselves. A press conference at 8:30 pm Pacific Time by Nike will unveil more details. There’s already a viral video commercial online promoting these line of shoes that resemble McFly’s muy cool shoes from that film.

This is the best news I’ve heard all day, and was actually wondering about this recently when I went shoe shopping. The next thing you know a company will announce the sale of that nifty self-size adjusting jacket he wore complete with drying mode! Better yet where are the flying DeLoreans?

José Soto

UPDATE: According to Nike, the shoes, while a replica of Marty’s shoes, don’t self-lace but they do light up as shown in the film. Too bad. They still look snazzy. 1,500 pairs will be auctioned off on eBay until September 18th, with net proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Regardless of the selling price, it’s for a good cause and who knows? It could take off and there are only four years left to develop the self-lacing feature. 😀

Aug 31 2011

More Star Wars Changes? “NOOOO!”

Star Wars fans already griping about the upcoming Star Wars blu-rays have another reason to despise George Lucas. News has been released that in the climatic confrontation in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (ROTJ), Darth Vader now yells out “Nooo” twice during the scene where he turns against the Emperor.  Observant fans will note that in this Youtube clip the audio is probably lifted from Vader’s dialogue in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (the infamous “Noo” that the dark lord shouts when he learns he supposedly killed his wife).

Further tweaks done to the trilogies are basic minor clean ups. For instance a puppeteer’s arm is removed very briefly seen at the end of a furry wampa’s arm from Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, another example is that the lightsaber graphics have touch ups. Another more major change is that the Yoda puppet in Episode I: The Phantom Menace has been replaced by a CG model. There are also numerous audio changes throughout the films, one includes a different sounding krayt dragon call made by Ben Kenobi to ward off the Sandpeople in Episode IV: A New Hope. And it doesn’t stop there, all we know for now is to expect more “surprises” according to spokespeople from Lucasfilm. However, so far these changes aren’t as drastic as previous changes were, plus fans will be entreated to new deleted footage for the blu-rays.

But at this point, one has to wonder when will Lucas be satisfied with his finished product? Apparently never. As new technologies arrive the temptation to go back and fix the two trilogies could result in new reasons to triple or quadruple dip and buy new editions. Frankly, it’s doubtful that next month’s releases will be the final word. With the upcoming 3D re-releases of the Star Wars films, it’s likely that once 3D TV and blu-rays become more common that 3D versions of the films will be up for sale. And what better way to sweeten the pie than to offer more “surprises?” Which in the end makes one wonder if all this is just for financial gain.

The only recourse for purists is to either not buy anymore releases and just be content with their old VHS, DVDs and bootlegs or suck it up and buy the new editions. If the former is done in enough numbers then perhaps Lucas will heed the right kind of “Noooo” and the cycle of buying multiple copies of the films will stop. Honestly, if Lucas wants to make changes, how about re-doing the whole Ewok thing? Or phasing out Hayden Christensen with a better actor? Hey Lucas replaced a spectral older version of Anakin in ROTJ with Christensen.

Lewis T. Grove

Aug 25 2011

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

About an hour east of Orlando in Merritt Island, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex cannot be called a theme park or a museum but it has elements of both. Like any healthy attraction, it’s constantly evolving and offering something new for visitors. And coming soon, the Complex will be the home for the just-retired Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Even though the shuttle isn’t ready for viewing yet that shouldn’t stop anyone whether they’re a space buff or not from visiting the Complex. There are plenty of displays, exhibits and fantastic presentations. It’s hard to see everything the Complex offers in a single day visit. This was not so in its past and it’s a testament to how the place has grown as a viable attraction.

The basic admission includes the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Tour, IMAX presentations (many of which are in 3D), the nearby U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Complex’s grounds.

A popular attraction is the Shuttle Launch Experience, which simulates a shuttle launch for visitors. It’s a lot like the Mission: Space ride at Epcot only without the nausea, but it’s still a rough ride and according to many astronauts an authentic recreation of a shuttle liftoff. Next to the facility that houses the Shuttle Launch Experience is a well-detailed mock up of a shuttle called the Explorer. Visitors ascend a winding staircase to get into the craft’s hangar and further up for the cockpit.  And next to the Explorer are mock ups of the space shuttle’s external fuel tank and boosters, those and the shuttle make for memorable photo ops.

Other places to get photos include the Rocket Garden, an outdoor showcase of the rockets and capsules used during the ’60s. These include the Titan and Atlas rockets (plus a huge Saturn IB) and the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules. In fact, visitors are allowed to climb into the claustrophobic. Nearby is the Early Space Exploration facility that features the actual capsules, artifacts and mission control consoles from the ’60s.

But the highlight of any visit is the KSC Tour. Although in-depth guided tours are available for additional fees, anyone can get a thorough visit with the KSC Tour. Buses at a terminal located off to the right of the Complex’s entrance plaza leave for the tour every fifteen minutes. A short ride will take visitors to the shuttles’ launch pads at the LC-39 Observation Gantry and even glimpse off in the distance the air force’s rocket launch pads. The next and final stop of the tour is a grand finale indeed. The Apollo/Saturn V Center boasts an overhead, mammoth 363-foot-long Saturn V rocket which rivals any giant dinosaur fossil display in a museum. There are also space suits, tools, a moon buggy and even a piece of moon rock that can be touched. Visitors can stay as long as they like in the Center before taking a bus back.

But the Complex isn’t just a place that looks at NASA’s past glories, there are many exhibits and attractions devoted to today’s space exploration. At the Astronaut Encounter Theater, visitors can meet and question guest astronauts. The Theater is also playing through December Star Trek Live, an engaging stage show featuring science facts and a time-travel themed storyline. Elsewhere, visitors can see up-close images from the Hubble Space Telescope or be part of Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted. An interactive, multimedia presentation on the possible future of space travel. There are even play areas in the Complex for children, a nature exhibit, an Astronaut Memorial, an art gallery and of course, souvenir shops.

To see everything at the Complex in one day is very difficult and not practical. So consider returning for a second visit. In fact, visitors who get their tickets validated when leaving can return for a second visit within a week. The admission prices are very favorable when compared to Orlando’s theme parks and the experience is much more educational and inspiring especially for future generations.

Article and Images by José Soto