Back around the release of The Phantom Menace, California’s Benjamin Cale Feit changed his name to Obiwan Kenobi… And almost a decade later, he’s still going by it.
The Phantom Menace teaser and Holiday Special both celebrate anniversaries today
Yes, there’s the Star Wars Holiday Special‘s 30th, but more importantly, it was November 17th, 1998 that The Phantom Menace trailer debuted, ushering us into a new era for the movies and fandom. The Stooge shares his story of seeing it… What’s yours?
I think I just loaded it up on my computer (Dialup plus an overloaded early StarWars.com… Took forever) because even then I couldn’t muster enough interest in the prequels to see Meet Joe Black or that Adam Sandler flick. The more things change…
Star Wars (and everyone else) makes it on Empire’s 500 greatest movies
Lists are all well and good, but Empire’s list of the 500 greatest movies of all time is ridiculous. Luckily for you, I skimmed it so you can have that half-hour of your life to do with as you will.
The original trilogy makes a nice showing, with Empire Strikes Back at #3, A New Hope at #22 and Return of the Jedi at #91. (Plus, Raiders of the Lost Ark is #2.) The prequel trilogy clocks in with The Phantom Menace at #449 and Revenge of the Sith at #330.
As for other movies of interest: Serenity (#383,) Clerks (#361,) Shaun of the Dead (#231,) The Princess Bride (#122,) Batman Begins (#81,) Evil Dead (#49,) The Matrix (#39,) Terminator 2 (#35,) Aliens (#30,) Blade Runner (#20,) 2001 (#16,) and The Dark Knight (#15.) I think all of LOTR was in the top 100 too, but I lost track because 500 MOVIES IS RIDICULOUS.
How offensive is Jar Jar, anyway?
Entertainment Weekly has placed the prequel’s least beloved digital effect in their list of sixteen characters that offended moviegoers. But fear not, Jar Jar fans – you can vote on his exact level of offensiveness.
The Phantom Editor strikes back
Remember The Phantom Edit, the controversial recut of Episode I? Well, back in 2005, Mike Nichols took on Attack of the Clones, and blogger Darth Mojo has nothing but raves for his efforts. I’m not convinced, as the edited clip makes Anakin seem like even more of a creepy stalker-type than the original. Nor, honestly, am I really curious enough to download the whole thing. (via)
Clearly both recuts have been around a while – anyone actually made the effort? What did you think?
Eye Candy: Annie Leibovitz’s Star Wars
This has clearly been around for a while, and we probably already linked it back in 2005, but what the hell: Vanity Fair’s Star Wars photo album, containing almost all the fantastic Annie Leibovitz prequel set photos.
Eye Candy Friday: Keith Short, Sculptor
Explore the site of sculptor Keith Short, the man responsible for Palpatine’s throne and the Ark of the Covenant. He also worked on The Phantom Menace and Temple of Doom, among others.
The fandom minute
- Projects: Back in September, Finkbuilt tinkered up some two-minute dueling sabers. Then, in October, the real thing. Then came the costume boot tops, a Flashsaber, and why am I only finding all this now? It’s good stuff!
- Lists and such: i09 gives The Phantom Menace a hat-tip in their list of Greatest Car Chases In Science Fiction (Part 2), while THX-1138 gets face time in The Scariest Settings Ever Created in Scifi Movies. They also found an inappropriate t-shirt that brings, if nothing else, a cheap, shameful laugh.
- Expanded Universe: Drew Karpyshyn will join EUCantina.net for the EUCast on February 2nd.
The fandom minute
- Oh, YTMD. One day you’ll get be a real boy.
- Interview with Jonathan L. Bowen, who wrote Anticipation: The Real Life Story of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Revenge: The Real Life Story of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, two self-published books for the prickly prequel fans.
- Another Star Wars guide to the presidential candidates. This is officially getting kinda tired, but I still laugh, though only a little.
- Video: There’s no Skywalker duds in sight, but there are Star Wars action figures (among other familiar faces) in Bill Gates’ Last Day at Microsoft.
From the set of Indy 4
Video of Spielberg and Lucas on the set of the movie.
In other news, TFN notes that tomorrow marks exactly ten years since shooting began on The Phantom Menace.