Meet GraphJam, your new internet timewaster. (See also: Tarkin battle plan, Population of Alderaan, “Use the _____, Luke,” This day, and The Likelihood of Imperial Stormtroopers Hitting Any Given Target.)
In the news: Family Guy, Amanda Lucas, 501st
Dear media: Over the last few weeks I have seen about a million references to the Sex and the City movie as ‘Star Wars for women.’ I’ve rolled my eyes pretty much every time. Please stop, or I’ll be forced to commit further crimes of photoshoppery.
- SWTV: Family Guy trying for two Emmy noms this year with the help of Blue Harvest.
- People: Amanda Lucas made her martial arts debut Saturday. She lost her match but did get a medal for being the night’s gutsiest fighter.
- Events: Modesto celebrated the 35th anniversary of American Graffiti this weekend.
- Fandom: The Arizona Republic profiles their local 501st, the Dune Sea Garrison.
- Film: Martin Hynes has a film opening Friday (The Go-Getter) but you probably know him as the guy who played George in George Lucas in Love.
Video: Vader in Soul Calibur IV
Kotaku isn’t particularly impressed, and neither am I, thanks in part to the fairly disturbing fight sounds from Vader’s opponent. Gamers, your thoughts?
(Fair warning: The high res isn’t that high res.)
In the news: Harvey Korman, blu-ray, Star Tours
- People: Emmy-winning comedic actor Harvey Korman, who died on Thursday, is probably best known for his work on The Carol Burnett Show… But he also had a role in The Star Wars Holiday Special as the four-armed chef Gormaanda. Over at StarWars.com, Bonnie Burton pays tribute.
- Technology: Yahoo’s Ben Patterson ponders when Star Wars and Indiana Jones will make it to Blu-ray. He’s way more optimistic than I am, not that I even own a Blu-ray player.
- Disney: An article on ILMer Hayden Landis’ work on Indy IV confirms that a Star Tours makeover is underway. (via)
- Jediism: Time interviews Jedi Church co-founder Daniel Jones.
- Music: Nerdcore in The Guardian.
New Bantha Tracks is ready for download
Bantha Tracks #85 went up last night, so Hyperspace members can head over to StarWars.com for an 8-page PDF featuring Germany’s Jedi-Con, WonderCon, and ‘Bantha babies’ (not to be confused with baby banthas. Next time?)
Video: Artoo loves the little children
Artoo gets down with the kids at Maker Faire 2008. See another clip on the StarWars.com blog, or learn more about this particular (ribbon-earning!) model at Gizmodo.
31 years of Star Wars
Thirty-one years ago today, Star Wars was unleashed upon the masses… And it also happens to be the 25th birthday of Return of the Jedi. (Which is airing on Spike tonight!)
To celebrate the occasion, there’s a huuuuge poll over at the Livejournal Star Wars community.
Friday morning lulz: “Just like in debate club. You always go for the lightsaber.”
The humor wiki Darthipedia, is, for the most part… Well, they try. But this extended version of the pre-duel conversation between Anakin and Obi-Wan is pretty funny.
(Hattip to their current Quote of the Week as well.)
In the news: George, Chad, Minnesota, Filoni
- Time’s Rebecca Winters Keegan considers advice to George Lucas.
- The ‘Where Science Meets Imagination’ exhibit has reached it’s final destination (so far?) in Minnesota, and it looks like tickets are going fast.
- Blame Society at work on yet more Chad Vader.
- The Clone War’s Dave Filoni talks to Tim Lammers of New Hampshire’s WMUR 9.
- Whatever happened to 5/25/77, aka the other Star Wars movie we expected to be in theaters by now? Well, it’s secured funding for a Toronto debut, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Today’s Star Wars history lesson
Plenty of fans are pretty hip to this already, but Greg Davies’s post on the cinematic influences behind Star Wars is a nice overview – and comes complete with Youtube clips for comparison.