Month: November 2009

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The fandom minute: The internet loves costume contests, slave Leia, and the concept of a Jabba sitcom

pondaRebelscum contest winners. The fansite announced the winners of their annual Halloween costume contest yesterday – this (Robot Chicken-inspired?) Ponda Baba by Michael took first place in the adult contest.

Sing it. Are you sick of seeing that old pic of Carrie Fisher and her ROTJ stunt double being treated as some sort of rare, leaked revelation? Yeah, me too.

According to Jabba? The King of Tatooine? io9’s Annalee Newitz mines Bonnie’s interview with the The Box director Richard Kelly for his idea of a Jabba the Hutt tv show. Scary thought: It’s not really out of the realm of possibility.

Blotter. A New Zealand fan had his stormtrooper armor stolen off his back porch before he had a chance to wear it. At least the perpetrators were caught on camera?

Craft corner: Stormtrooper outfits and playworthy lightsabers out of easy-to-find materials. Or… an AT-AT dog costume, because tiny little dogs just have too much innate dignity.

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The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition gets rated

Slipping out last week was The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition video game, a re-release of 2008’s The Force Unleashed game, with additional content (the exclusive Hoth level, and 2 levels previously only available as downloadable content), and also finally, a PC version. Here’s what gaming reviewers are saying about it:

  • TheForce.Net gives the XBox 360 version a 4 out of 5, while cautioning those who already own the original game (and downloadable content) to consider renting instead of buying.
  • IGN gives it 7.5 out of 10, liking the new content, but again pointing out that this version really is for people who didn’t get the game the first time around.
  • Gamespot gives the PC version a 5 out of 10, calling it a mediocre port of the game, with frustrating graphic frame rate issues, and bland level design on Hoth, which is the only actual new content.
  • About.com gives the PC version 3 of 5 stars, and still enjoys the storyline and new levels, but finds the controls fidgety.

But don’t worry, I’m sure all of these issues on the PC version were fixed in the v1.1 patch. Judging from these reviews, stick to the PS3 or XBox360 version, but if only you don’t already have the original game.

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Cancellation demon finally catches up to Dollhouse

"Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again"The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and Entertainment Weekly confirmed… Dollhouse has been cancelled by Fox. The network will air the remaining episodes in December. Here’s Joss Whedon’s statement on Whedonesque:

I don’t have a lot to say. I’m extremely proud of the people I’ve worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you’ll agree in the coming months. I’m grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again.

I’m off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I’ve read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you’ll know what my next project is. But for now there’s a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear.

Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again. -j.

Whedonesque is arranging a thank you to the cast and crew.

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‘Landing at Point Rain’ lands positive reviews!

Always with the smirking.

Last week’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode ‘Landing at Point Rain’ has been garnering the praise from the usual reviewers. (Don’t forget our review!)

  • Eric at TheForce.net calls it “Best. TCW. Ever.” with words like “cinematic”, and says the “episode shines because of the visuals”.
  • IGN gives it 8.8 out of 10, while noting that it is light on content and heavy on gritty and intense action, and pushing the envelope on content and POV.
  • BigShinyRobot calls it an all out half-hour battle straight out of WWII movies, and praises the camera work, but calls out Cartoon Network on their special airtime – on a school night.
  • Joseph Lewis points out that only real risk-your-life-on-behalf-of-your-fellow-soldiers is done by the clones, twice saving Jedi, while the some of the Jedi seem to be more interested in their kill scores.

And as a general caution to the parental types, TV Squad points out that while the new episodes of The Clone Wars are stunning, they are veering away from its kid-friendliness with greater intensity of violence. Joseph Lewis ponders whether that line for carnage has been crossed for what he feels is a franchise meant for children.

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EUbits: February comics, Backlash datage, Karpyshyn, Bohnhoff, and Schreiber

Has Zayne always been wearing TCW Anakin's clothes?Comics of an upcoming nature. StarWars.com has Dark Horse’s February 2010 solicitations, including the final issue of Knights of the Old Republic. People also seen to be awfully excited about seeing The Old Republic webcomic in print, but let’s not forget Legacy #45, the Dark Times: Blue Harvest TPB, and a Boba Fett omnibus. Okay, feel free to forget that last one. (I kid. Maybe.) Want a taste of something coming out a little sooner? Darkhorse.com has previews for Knights of the Old Republic #47 and Legacy #42.

Street date shuffle. SWBooks.co.uk spotted that April 13, 2010 is the new date for Fate of the Jedi: Backlash. That’s just a little under a month from the last date of March 9th.

The blogside. Drew Karpyshyn blogs to remind us that Dynasty of Evil is out next month… And tease The Old Republic. Meanwhile, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff has what goes on in a writer’s head, the casting call, and when characters fall in love.

Interviews. NJOE went round robin with Death Troopers author Joe Schreiber.