It’s time to watch every Star Wars trailer in a row, to prepare for Rogue One awesomeness

It’s time to watch every Star Wars trailer in a row, to prepare for Rogue One awesomeness

Posted inFilms, Geek Stuff, Videos
I'm surprised I haven't posted about Star Wars more often, considering it's been part of my like for about as long as I've been been walking and talking. Saw the original in the theater when I was a wee lad, had the comics, had the toys, listened to the audio version on vinyl records with my little kid's turntable. The whole damn Star Wars experience. Later, I read the books, played the games, and had the bitter Internet debates. Maybe that last part is why. Is there anything left to be said about Star Wars other than "it's awesome" or…
REVIEW: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

REVIEW: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Posted inFilms
Technically, I wrote this review 10 years ago for a site called DVDinmyPants.com. That site is long gone, though (you can only find it on the Wayback Machine), and since this is the greatest review in the history of film reviews (and also because of Star Wars mania right now), I'm reposting it here. It's purposely over the top, but also completely  sincere: The Empire Strikes Back Let’s cut right to the chase: I fall into the camp that declares The Empire Strikes Back the best of the Star Wars films. Which means I also fall into the camp of people…
George Lucas is the Internet’s most undeserving punching bag

George Lucas is the Internet’s most undeserving punching bag

Posted inFilms, Rants, Uncategorized
A movie comes out today, a small little thing that may have slipped past your notice. A few people might go and see it. The release of the first new Star Wars movie in many years makes today something of a geek holiday, but amid all the glee and celebrating the movie is going to be something else. Something far less positive: incessant bitching about what an awful person George Lucas is. Because on the Internet, no mention of Star Wars is complete without also mentioning how George Lucas, the man who created Star Wars, ruined everything you hold dear…
TWITTER HASHTAGS ARE NOT NEWS, DAMMIT!

TWITTER HASHTAGS ARE NOT NEWS, DAMMIT!

Posted inRants
Unless you've been unplugged for the last 24 hours or make it a policy to ignore anything related to geek stuff (in which case why would you be reading this blog?), you've probably heard about the #BoycottStarWarsVII hashtag making the rounds on Twitter. Stories about it are blowing up social media right now, and understandably so, given how shockingly offensive and ridiculous the movement behind "Boycott Star Wars VII" seems. The story goes like this: there is a growing movement to boycott Star Wars: The Force Awakens because, those behind the movement say, it's an anti-white movie that glorifies minorities…
Spielberg Knows What He’s Doing. You Don’t.

Spielberg Knows What He’s Doing. You Don’t.

Posted inFilms, Geek Stuff
Okay, first off, that headline is needless antagonistic. I acknowledge it. Forgive me. I'm listening to punk as I write this. It just seems to fit my mood. Anyway, prompted by Steven Soderbergh's interesting recasting of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the other day I was daydreaming and my mind wandered to action scenes in films, specifically why some sprawling action set pieces work and some don't. The Star Wars prequels were at the forefront of my mind at the time, but it led to a train of thought that is relevant to action movies in general. Now keep in…