The 10 Best Things About TPM

This article on Popcorn Monster was posted while I was away last week, on May 19 to be exact, so I’m highlighting it today.

New Details About The Second CW DVD Set

This second set of CW Season One DVDs is similar to the set released in March, a few episodes collected at a low, low price. Due out in September, this features the Ryloth arc and “Rookies.” TFN has more info here.

Yet another fan who gets it

From “Topeka” at the MillenniumFalcon.com forum:

The build-up to this film was an epic adventure in and of itself: Lynne’s Diaries on the website, the fast food tie-ins, Duel of the Fates, the soda cans, the toys. The teaser trailer that is absolutely perfect, opening slowly with that clouded swamp, then exploding with Johnny Williams’ theme set over the podrace. I don’t think the excitement and anticipation before this film can ever be repeated.

I saw it in ’99 just once. I liked it, but after Episode II was released I sort of dismissed it as the necessary ‘introduction film.’ Looking at it now without critical opinion, I can only admire Lucas’ fight to be entirely independent. He’s not a sellout as some will say. He hasn’t ‘lost touch’ with Star Wars. He has simply made a movie exactly as he wanted it. In his first Star Wars outline, the story is narrated by the padawaan to the revered Jedi-Bendu, Mace Windy. This is the story that Lucas has always wanted to tell. It’s not about flat dialogue and Jar Jar’s antics; it’s about themes, and to appreciate those themes you have to look at Kurosawa’s films, Joseph Campbell’s analysis of mythology, the Republic serials of the 40s and 50s, and Lucas’ mentality after the Vietnam War and dealing with the Hollywood system.

I love Episode I. I think it’s a fantastic story. It’s George Lucas’ story, and it has been a blast to go along for the ride.

My SW Weekends Report!

Reposted from my LiveJournal.

Catching up with stuff

Here’s some prequel-themed stuff that went on while I was gone:

*The third Clone Wars novel, No Prisoners by Karen Traviss, was released on May 19. I had a hard time finding it until today!

*This essay discusses how TPM and the PT looks today vis a vis The Matrix flicks.

*Space Center Houston is sponsoring an exhibit based on the works of George Lucas. SW stuff on galore will be on display along with artifacts from other flicks like American Graffiti and of course, the Indiana Jones movies.

See the Clone Wars movie for free!

Sure, you already have the DVD, but it’s always more fun on the big screen. Regal Entertainment Group will have a Free Family Film Festival this summer. At select Regal theaters, there will be free showings of various family fare, including CW, on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.. Check out the schedule at here.

AMC will also show CW for a dollar on August 5 as part of its Summer Movie Camp series. Proceeds benefit Variety: The Children’s Charity and The Will Rogers Institute.

I’m back!

I returned from FL yesterday. I’ll have a report on SW Weekends soon, but I will say it was AWESOME! You owe it to yourself to make the trip.

There were five comments, great comments, that were waiting for approval. I’ve cleared those so if you were the original posters, thanks for your patience.

Offline until May 28

I will be off to the F-state May 18-May 27, and when I go on vacation, I’m not online very much if at all. I will be at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends a week from today and maybe I’ll have a few Twitter updates then. Maybe ;). A full report will be posted after I return!

Almost Ten Years Ago Today

Since I will be offline May 19, I will post today my retrospective on TPM 10 years later:

Top 10 TPM Memories

Popcornmonster has posted a list of its Top 10 greatest memories of anticipating TPM. Go back in time and experience the fun and mania of 1999.