The Star Wars Thread

[cal_el]

Seeing as this year is a big year for all things Star Wars I figured why not start a thread about it so we can argue about which version of the films is better, why everyone seems to hate George Lucas for creating a beloved entertainment property and yell at each other as we pay hand over fist for the latest re-release of the films!

Personally I let all the hate and the bile wash over me a long time ago (like a true Jedi  ) and found that I can enjoy it for what it is, a great piece of family adventure entertainment. This year is going to be a special one for me because not only do I have a new Star Wars film to look forward to but I am also taking the resetting of the wider canon that Episode VII's impending release has caused as an excuse to jump back into consuming all things Star Wars. 

So before I sit down to watch The Force Awakens in December I will be feverishly consuming as much of the new official canon as possible using this overly complex wiki to help me narrow it down. 

So my mission is to consume and enjoy the following:

Movies

• Watching all six films again (for the hundredth time!)
  
• Go to Secret Cinema Presents Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  

TV Shows

• Watch all of The Clone Wars series (I watched the first season and really enjoyed it when it first came out, can't remember why I stopped watching it...)
  
• Watch Star Wars: Rebels (which looks quite good despite the dodgy looking animation)
  

Comic Books

• I'm currently buying and loving the books Marvel are publishing as they come out. If you are a fan of Star Wars I urge you to check them out. All (Star Wars, Darth Vader and Princess Leia) apart from Kanan: The Last Padawan are set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back and are doing a good job of filling in that gap in the story.
  
• Go back and reading the Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir comic that is part of the official canon
  

Novels

• A lot of novels are coming out between now and The Force Awakens' release so I have some serious reading to do!
  
• I'm going to get started with the Tarkin book and see how I like it then pick and choose one or two of the others
  
• I will be getting Aftermath as soon as that comes out as it is part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens line of media 
  

Video Games

• So far it looks like the new Battlefront is the only one I really need to check out.
  
• Apparently the two mobile games are canon which I find hard to believe.
  

[megablast16]

The original trilogy are wonderful, even Jedi , but the prequel trilogy suck. Completely soulless and devoid of the charm and sense of adventure of the originals, and the scripts are dire. 

I do have the Blu-ray boxset of all six though, and I have high hopes for Episode VII. Mainly because George Lucas is being kept well away and I have faith that J.J Abrams will restore the series to it's former glory.

[Wolvieware]

As a child I loved Star Wars and that love will always be there. There's just a sense of wonder and excitement to the series - even the prequels just to a lesser degree. That said, I got them on bluray and rewatched them and actually found myself a little disappointed with the bluray edition. Perhaps the love of Star Wars is waning a little now I'm older and this film will hopefully being that back fully. 

Funnily enough we played Star Wars Trivial Pursuit last night and I won!

[MarkySharky]

The films are what they are. I don't love them but I certainly don't hate them. Simple entertainment but an interesting world if you want to get wrapped up in it.

[dste01]

I don't hate Star Wars, I'm now indifferent to it.

Used to really love the films and bought the gold DVD boxset on day of release. Took it home and was watching the first trilogy when Hayden Christensen appeared at the end of Jedi. That was it for me and I promptly sold the boxset a couple of days later to somebody at work.

I would like to like the new film but sadly all I see is kerching in the way it is all being done. I mean isn't there twenty books being released to bridge Jedi and the new one?

I have nothing against people enjoying the stuff and buying it, it's just not for me anymore.

[cal_el]

I don't hate Star Wars, I'm now indifferent to it.

Used to really love the films and bought the gold DVD boxset on day of release. Took it home and was watching the first trilogy when Hayden Christensen appeared at the end of Jedi. That was it for me and I promptly sold the boxset a couple of days later to somebody at work.

I would like to like the new film but sadly all I see is kerching in the way it is all being done. I mean isn't there twenty books being released to bridge Jedi and the new one?

I have nothing against people enjoying the stuff and buying it, it's just not for me anymore.

Yeah there are going to be a few tie-in things in the lead up to the new film. But they are there for those who want them like me. To fill in the gaps that won't be covered by the text crawl at the start of Force Awakens and to add texture to status quo of the new trilogy.

[kerr9000]

I have the 1985 Anakin Skywalker figure boxed.. the one based of the old man who Hayden Christensen was CGI'd over lol  ... If I ever show that to a kid there going to be like ''thats not Anakin''  

All the old books have been deemed not cannon and alternative universe which sort of sucks.

I love the original 3   the prequels I find the 1st ok but cringy at parts, the second very boring by the standards of the rest, and I love the third one

[Wolvieware]

As a teen I read Star Wars books and have probably read nearly all of them so it is a shame they have dumped them but it does make sense too. Come release we won't be able to avoid SW and tie ins will be everywhere - not just 20 books! 

I would be interested in the soundtrack myself although the Aftermath book Cal mentions sounds interesting. I'd it worth dipping back in?

[cal_el]

They're positioning Aftermath as the go to tie-in book along with the Journey to The Force Unleashed comics they'll be doing later this year so it looks like it will be worth reading.

[Wolvieware]

Eeeeeeeeee!

[megablast16]

It's Han & Chewie!! 

It gave me goosebumps.

[sorenlorensen]

Another great trailer. *Very* pleased when Han and Chewie popped up :D

[cal_el]

I must have watched the second trailer about 20 times by now

[megablast16]

I like the fact they seem to be going old school, with a more physical hands on approach as opposed to the over-reliance on CGI in the prequel trilogy. New robot BB-8 is a real, fully functioning model for example and not computer generated.

[sorenlorensen]

I like the fact they seem to be going old school, with a more physical hands on approach as opposed to the over-reliance on CGI in the prequel trilogy. New robot BB-8 is a real, fully functioning model for example and not computer generated.

Completely agree

[dste01]

Not going to lie, the trailer did make me feel all giddy on the inside.

[kerr9000]

The whole hearing Mark Hamil speak got me.... that guy has a great voice, he seriously should be used even more than he is... Then Han and Chewie at the end was just the cherry on top

[CPC6128]

....when Hayden Christensen appeared at the end of Jedi.

That was a totally pathetic move by Lucas. When a Jedi dies his spirit takes the form as he was when he died. Yoda and Obi Wan weren't shown as teenagers so why was Anakin? I hated that.


However, I am a Star Wars apologist for pretty much everything else. I dislike Jar Jar Binks but I do like the prequel films on the whole. I absolutely loved the Heir to the Empire trilogy of books (are these still canon?) and I've read several others ranging from poor to OK. The "Tales from..." books were great as well.


As for Force Awakens, my 9 year old son and I talk about it most days, speculating on what's going to happen. Star Wars is force that surrounds us and binds us together.

[kerr9000]

I think pretty much all the old books are now considered not cannon..  shame some of them are so awesome.

[cal_el]

I think pretty much all the old books are now considered not cannon..  shame some of them are so awesome.

Yep they are all part of the Legacy Timeline now along with pretty much all the video games and comics.

BUT! You can look at the rapidly growing new timeline of canon media here: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline_of_canon_media

[Wolvieware]

Yes I loved those Tales books as well, expecially Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, which gives a background story to pretty much every alien you can see in the Mos Eisley Cantina from A New Hope. Fantastically well done, tying all the stories to that one point from the movie. I think it was this book, along with the amazing Shadows of the Empire, that made me fall in love with the expanded Star Wars lore, and made me realise there was so much more to this series than what we see in the films.

However, I decided to preorder that new Aftermath novel Cal mentioned, and dip my toe back into SW EU. It might also be a nice build up to the movie, and get the excitement building.

[Wolvieware]

May the Fourth be with you

[sorenlorensen]

GAME is doing a Star Wars Day tie-in - 4 for 2 on pre-owned, instead of 3 for 2, today only.

[cal_el]

I'll be playing my first session of Star Wars Imperial Assault today!

This is the messy results of me prepping last night,

Seeing as I am the owner of the game and have had to read all the rules, etc. I'll be playing the Imperials and will be doing my best to kick the butts of the Rebel Scum I'll be playing against!

For those interested, Imperial Assault is 2-in-1 expandable tactical RPG game for 2-5 players.

The main game is a long form campaign which sees one player taking on the role of the Imperial forces and trying to beat back a crack team of heroes of the Rebellion controlled by the other players. The game changes dynamically as you play, characters get stronger and both sides unlock Allies to use in missions which are the famous characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Depending on who wins a mission effects what the next mission is and players can decide which side missions to play. Think of it as a tabletop version of Knights of the Old Republic and you're part way there!

The secondary game is a 1v1 Skirmish game using teams of miniatures in a tactical fight for dominance!

I'm really looking forward to playing it

[aaroncupboard]

That looks brilliant! 

I have somehow convinced my wife to play the X-wing Miniature Game with me this afternoon.  It will certainly be interesting...

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