Club Jade

So the CJ Tumblr is coming along. It was born from last-minute disappointment, but I’ve actually found it fairly useful for stuff that I just don’t have the time to really blog. (It’s the new fandom minute!) This week we’ve featured so far, among other things…

• I am probably never going to go to Star Wars Weekends, but there are exactly two things about it that I like: The Hyperspace Hoopla and the hilarious posters. (I also collected most of the new Her Universe stuff, so you can plan out your weekend shopping.)
• Before Dave Filoni ran The Clone Wars, he worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender. See the crossover image he created when he left.
• This adorable comic: Star Wars vs. The Avengers, as well as some comparisons.
• Yet more adorable comics! These two, by Chris Gugliotti, feature Boba Fett and the Rancor.
• Jedi and Sith cocktails. Of course the Jedi would think coconut rum was a good idea. Of course.
• The greatest YOLO post of all time. Well, one of them, maybe.
• And, of course, filk.

Disney and More theorizes that Disneyland Paris may be getting far more than a Star Tours upgrade: There may be an entire section of Discoveryland devoted to Star Wars. It won’t be like the image above – a previously published concept by Tim Delaney that imagines a reskinned Space Mountain – but may involve a Jedi Academy like the U.S. parks have and a Mos Eisley Cantina-inspired restaurant. (via)

In less questionable news, StarWars.com had two items this week regarding Disney World – new Star Wars art at Downtown Disney and a look at the merchandise for Star Wars Weekends.

Disney seems stuck on how to market John Carter, so even fandom is stepping up. The above trailer is fanmade from released footage (though I still say the first trailer is pretty good.) Moviefone’s Mike Ryan has a few tips.

Ringing in with a better-than-expected $19.1 million, Red Tails is second only to the fourth Underworld film in this weekend’s box office numbers. It’s a strong debut, bolstered by support from the African-American community and good word-of-mouth. (CinemaScore audiences have rated the movie a solid “A-.”) Viewers increased 40% from Friday to Saturday as well – a good sign for next weekend’s numbers, according to Entertainment Weekly. Box Office Mojo notes that this is 20th Century Fox’s best opening for “a non-franchise title” since last year’s Rio.

Also of note to Star Wars fans, given the February 10 release of The Phantom Menace 3D, is the performance of Disney’s recent release of Beauty and the Beast in 3D. It’s not doing near as well as the 3D version of The Lion King did last year, plummeting 52% this weekend. (It was #2 last week.) Lion King 3D spent a surprising two weeks at #1 in September. On the other hand, there’s little doubt that the 3D revenues from Underworld: Awakening helped bolster the film to #1. Who can say what it all really means for TPM?

Some Sunday video fun, complete with great lip synching. If only Simba had a Mr. Fox working for him…

Reddish arena, giant snarling alien monsters, forced combat… There’s a very Geonosis vibe to the new John Carter of Mars trailer, selling the Avataresque motion-capture and narrative. It’s deeply action-packed, but I don’t find it nearly as intriguing as the first trailer. (Kashmir? Really?) Still, I suppose it’ll work to sell the movie to the masses. Or not.

Why you can’t make your own Star Wars movie until 2072. (via)

…So, uh, congratulations, Anaheim?

Let’s face it – for some of us (or maybe just me) – the appeal of Star Wars Weekends and Star Tours II is rather limited. However, this is one thing I look forward to every year from Disney World, and that is the Hyperspace Hoopla Dance-Off. Here’s the latest: Enjoy!

I’ll be picking selected tweets and images from the scene down in Orlando throughout the day below the cut.

George Lucas is indeed there… And Disney is offering a live webcast.

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