Force Awakens……And why I was not very impressed with it

I finally went to see Star Wars Episode VII on boxing day with the family. This was going to be my highlight of the year. Over the last year I`ve been scanning all the movie pages to try to get an idea about what’s been happening in the last 30 years since Return of the Jedi and what’s been happening to Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie. So when the opening crawl for episode VII came on the big screen I watched with growing excitement to find out but nope nothing.  The opening crawl did not give us any proper information about what’s been happening in the star wars universe since we last saw our hero’s at the end of Return of the Jedi. And my disappointment did not end there!!!!! The whole film felt to me as just a reboot of New Hope. We had the same types of characters.

Rey who was our Luke Skywalker character.  Like Luke she was stuck on a desert planet scratching a living out of the sand. Who then finds a droid that is on an important mission.

BB8 is the new droid that’s on the same old mission.  BB8 is carrying vital information for the resistance and is being hunted down by the First Order.

Poe Dameron is the new Han Solo. He is a bit older then Finn and Rey and is the top pilot for the resistance. BB8 is his Chewbacca.

Kylo Ren is the new Darth Vader. He can stop laser beams with the darkside of the force and force chokes those who dont see things his way.

Han Solo is back with his best mate Chewie. But this is a much older and wiser Han who helps the youngsters on their quest to get the droid and its information back to the resistance.

Don’t get me wrong, the film was not all that bad. The special effects were excellent and what with JJ Abrams going back to using models and latex suits it gives you warm fuzzy feelings of the original trilogy. I do wish they had been more original with the film or at least borrow something from the 360 odd books and comics that are out there. I`m hoping Episode VIII will be much better and not just a rehash of Empire Strikes back but with Luke Skywalker as the Yoda figure.

And what’s with Supreme leader Snoke??????

Our next venture into the Star Wars universe will be the first standalone film Rogue one. As its a original story I hoping next Christmas will be a better one!!!!

May The Force Be With You

P.S. I got the book today, so I`m  hoping it will be a bit better then the film and have some extra bits in it that was not in the film, as was Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones which was a much better book then the film!

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard Nimoy, 26th March 1931 – 27th Feburary 2015: Live Long and Prosper.

It was sad news for all sci-fi fans out there when we learnt of the death of Leonard Nimoy. Best know for his part in the Star Trek franchise as Mr Spock. As Mr Spock, the half human half Vulcan he was the logic behind Captain Kirk’s no-nonsense shot first ask questions later attitude. He was also the only Star Trek character to appear in every episode of the original series.

Leonard Simon Nimoy was born on the 26th March 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts.  His parents Max and Dora were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who ran a barbershop.  Leonard has an interest in acting since the age of 8 and got his first film part at the age of 20 with a bit part in the 1951 film Queen for a day. In 1953 Leonard enlisted in the United States Army Reserve at Fort McPherson where he served for 18 months making the rank of Sargent. During his time in the army he spent time with the Army Special Services where he wrote and put on shows to entertain the troops. After leaving the army Leonard appeared in many films and TV shows such as Perry Mason, Dragnet; The Brain Eaters; The Silent Service; Wagon Train; Bonanza; Rawhide; and the Untouchables to just name a few but his big break came in 1966 as the science officer aboard the USS Enterprise in the hit series Star Trek. Mr Spock is considered to be one of the most popular alien characters ever on the big screen. After Star Trek finished Nimoy went on to appear in two seasons of Mission: impossible as well as numerous films. in 1979 we saw Mr Spock on the big screen in the first of many Star Trek films, two of which he directed.  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was the most successful Star Trek film both critically and financially!  Mr Spock also made an appearance in Star Trek: The next Generation.  Nimoy also lent his voice to such greats such as Transformers: The Movie, The Simpsons; Futurama and Transformers: Dark of the moon to name just a few.  Recently Nimoy has played Spock prime in the JJ Abrams Star Trek reboot playing Spock from an alternative time line opposite Zachary Quinto’s young Spock.  Leonard Nimoy died on the 27th February in his Bel Air home due to complications of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  He is survived by his wife, two children; six grandchildren and one great grand child.

Five Nimoy facts

1. One of the most popular haircuts in his father’s barbershop was the “Spock cut”

2. Got to 121 in the billboard singles chart in 1967 with his single “Visit to a sad planet”

3. The V sign Vulcans make with their left hand is half of what is commonly done by a Jewish priest when they bless the congregation.

4. Only actor to appear in both Star Trek pilots.

5. Spocks full name is S`chn – T’Gaii Spock.

I have only touched upon a few elements of Leonard Nimoys life as well as an actor his was a director, singer, poet and author. To the legions of Star Trek and sci-fi fans out there he will be greatly missed.  So I say to you Leonard Nimoy as both a star trek fan and sci-fi geek “Live Long and Prosper and May the Force be with you always!”

 

 

“Never tell me the odds!”

This week has seen rumours that if we are to belive them that our beloved scruffy looking nerf herder wont be making it to Star Wars Episodes VIII and IX.  In some ways this will be a shame but like a friend of mine said maybe this was the only way to get Harrison Ford back to play Han Solo.  Harrison Ford originally wanted his character to die in Return of the Jedi so maybe his wishes have been granted.  I know these are rumours and we know nearly nothing official about Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens but it does make me feel quite sad that they might kill him off.

My reasons are mainly to with the Star Wars Universe.  In Return of the Jedi we see a change in Han.  When we first met him he was only in it for him self, he was a very selfish person

“Look, I ain’t in this for your revolution, and I’m not in it for you, princess. I expect to be well paid. I’m in it for the money”

but as the trilogy goes on we see a change come across him no longer selfish and uncaring but willing to put his life on the line for whats right for the galaxy and his friends.  In the books we get to see more changes in him as he courts Leia and finally marries her and then his journey into parenthood.  It’s at this point I would like Han Solo to survive and continue a long and fulfilling life.  It was a very difficult decision for Leia to have kids.  At first she was really worried that one of her children would end up taking after their grandfather Anakin Skywalker but after reading her real mothers journals she gets to see Anakin Skywalker in another light and that persuades her to make the journey into motherhood.  In the end they have three children, the twins Jaina and Jacen and then later Anakin.  But things don’t go as planned. Anakin is killed during the Yuuzhan Vong war and Jacen turns to the dark side becoming Darth Caedus who is then later defeated and killed by his twin sister Jaina “The sword of the Jedi”  We get to see Han Solo in a completely different light as these events go on even him coming to logger heads with Luke about his kids (and Luke’s son) going on dangerous Jedi missions.  Its  sad times for the Solo family but there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a granddaughter called Allana.  Near the end of the 2nd galactic civil war the Solo’s think their granddaughter (at this point they have only known she was Jacen’s daughter for a very short time) had been killed by a nano killer sent by the moff council.  Later we learn this was just a rouse much to Han and Leia’s delight and disguised as a war orphan Han and Leia get to adopt her so she is safe from all the politics of her home world plus learning a hell lot more about life and the galaxy from the Solo’s, also not forgetting a normal childhood (well I say normal but there’s never a dull moment when you are with Han and Leia).

So in my view yes it would be nice to see Han’s character through his journey of parenthood and all the ups and downs that come with it which we may see a glimpse of as other rumours say Daisy Ridley’s character could well be Han and Leia’s daughter but if the only way we are gonna get back Harrison Ford back is to kill his character off then so be it.

I will just leave you with this quote from one of my favourite Han Solo moments.

“Had a slight weapons malfunction, but everything’s perfectly alright now. We’re fine, we’re all fine, here, now, thank you. How are you?”

May the Force be with you…… Library Jedi signing out…….

 

At last the wait is over!!!!!!

  Just in case you have been encased in carbonite since Friday you will be glad to know that the first teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens came out Friday afternoon.  I was glued to my Facebook page all friday keeping an eye out for it.  After two fan made trailers the real deal finally popped up and it was AMAZING!!!!!  The scene opens on a desert land scape with a voice saying ““There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?” then up pops John Boyega in stormtrooper armour, in the back ground in can hear an emperial probot.  We then jump to another scene with a new type of droid.  This one has the head of an R2 unit but a round body (a bit like a weeble)  We then see a squad of storm troopers in their new design armour preparing to disembark a shuttle.  We the go to a new scene showing Daisy Ridleys character looking frantic as she prepares to zoom off on an over sized speeder bike with what looks like a force pike strapped to the side (some pages have said this looks like a tusken weapon but I reckon what with the hilt looking very much like a lightsaber its a Force pike that was primary used by the Imperial guard but was also used by some Jedi) The next scene is probably my favourite when we see Oscar Issacs character flying the new design X-wing with a squad of X-Wings over a lake.  It’s an amazing scene and so life-like!  We then cut to a hooded character running through a dark forest.  This could be the inquisitor we have been hearing a lot of rumours about.  Suddenly he stops and lights up what probably is the coolest looking lightsaber ever. And then the final scene is the Millennium Falcon pulling some amazing moves while being chased by a couple of TIE fighters.

Thats it all 80 odd seconds but it was worth the wait.  There was no footage of the original characters but I think JJ Abrams wanted to introduce to us the new characters who in the next two films will be the main characters.  I`m hoping we will be soon seeing another trailer with an extra 20 odd seconds showing us the original characters.  Something like Marvel did with the first Avengers 2 trailer, brining out the 2nd trailer with just that extra little bit of footage.  In case you havent seen it yet or if you are like me and just wanna watch it again click on the following link to take you to the official trailer.

Enjoy……  And May the force be with you……

Library Jedi

Its a wrap!!!!!

  Its official, the filming for Star Wars episode VII has finally finished!  An article was published showing a letter that was given to everyone who worked on the film as well as a cleanly shaven Mark Hamill!  Hopefully it wont be long till we get our first trailer and some information on what the plot is.  So what have we learned so far….. Not a lot really, rather a lot of rumour and hardly no actual hard facts.  So hears what we have learnt so far……

In a galaxy far far away……..

It has been 30 years since the destruction of the 2nd Death Star and the Empire has been beaten back to a couple of loyal galaxies.  The Galactic Republic has now taken its rightful place and Princess Leia Organa Solo is now in charge.  Han Solo and Chewbacca have both retired from service with the Alliance.  The Sith have risen from the ashes and have sent out their inquisitors to search and destroy Luke Skywalker.  For the last ten years Luke has gone into hiding on the Sith home world to try to find a way to destroy the Sith once and for all.  Mean while on a desert planet the daughter of Leia and Han comes upon a downed TIE fighter and it pilot.  She rescues the pilot who is having second thoughts about serving the Empire.  On their travels they discover a lightsaber that once belonged to Luke Skywalker.  With the help of Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Lando and some friends along the way they go looking for Luke Skywalker so they can defeat the Empire and their new weapon of mass destruction forever……..

I’m looking forward to this film for several reasons.  One I`m a massive Star Wars geek and Two most of the filming has been done on location.  Its going to be good to see all the old characters back together again and the introduction of the next lot of star wars heroes and villains. Thou I was a little disappointed that Lucas and Disney have changed what’s Star Wars cannon and what’s Star Wars legends I don’t think we will be disappointed.  Other great news that nearly had me wetting my self is the talk of a trilogy of my favourite Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi with Ewan McGregor once again reprising the role!

So with nearly a year to go till we get to see Star Wars Episode VII here’s the Library Jedi signing off for now and May the Force be with you….Always.

Welcome to the Library, I`m your Library Jedi

A massive welcome to all our new and returning students!  I hope you have all had a most excellent summer!  As the Rolling Stones once said “Please allow me to introduce my self”.  My name is Tim Harris and have been working at Brunel University Library now for well over 14 years.  I work in the library as an Information Assistant, as well as the university Mace Bearer, musician, Singer song writer and Jedi.  That’s right you eyes did not deceive you I am Brunel’s very own Jedi Knight or as most people know me “The Library Jedi”  That’s me in the picture above fending off a vicious Viking from the Norwegian Society during Human Book Day.  I write blogs for the library as well as on my own star wars site where you can follow-up the latest of rumours about the up and coming Star Wars Episode VII as well as anything else of interest from the Star Wars universe.

There has been this week some interesting news about the new film.  There has been some new pictures leaked from the location filming at Greenham common and there has been new plot information.  The Greenham common pictures show what looks like a new base for the republic showing several of the new design X-Wings plus a snazzy looking black and bronze X-wing as well as the Millennium Falcon.  We also had an update on what Luke Skywalker has been up to and his role in the film.  Looks like he is even more powerful than his father and that he has been hounded my the inquisitors.  The first lot of rumours about the new film made me a bit nervous as they were quite far-fetched even for the Star Wars universe but the rumours that are now appearing are making me feel much better.  If JJ Abrams does mess it up he better watch his back as Boba Fett will be hunting him down!!!!!  Also news has just come out that one of the stand alone films will be about my favourite Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi will be getting his own stand alone film!!!!!

If you want to be kept updated on the latest Star Wars news just book mark my link https://lbsrtch.wordpress.com.  Finishing on a non Star Wars note click on the following link for the Library Song video.  Written and performed by yours truly and featuring many of the staff from the library.  Have a good first week at Brunel University and May the Force Be With You!!!!!

From the Forest of Dean too County Kerry……

An article on the BBC news site reported that filming for Star Wars Episode VII has started on the island of Skellig Michael in County Kerry.  A couple of weeks ago there was also reports that filming for the new film was being shot at Puzzle Wood in the forest of Dean.  Its good to see that JJ Abrams has gone back to the old school way of filming in real locations instead of just filming on green screen.   While special effects nowadays look real you cant beat actual real locations.  I have been to puzzle wood when I was a teenager and its an amazing place and you can see why JRR Tolkien got his inspiration for the forests of Middle Earth.

Puzzle wood is found in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, UK.  There is a mile of track that takes you through amazing forest and rock formations and natural caves.  Puzzle wood was created by erosion of the natural underground cave system which was then uplifted and exposed to the surface.  It was mined by Iron Age settlers and then the Romans.  In the early 1800’s the land owner open a mile of track opening the forest to his friends and family and it was not till the 1900’s that the forest was open up to the public.  In 1848 a group of workmen removed a block of stone and they found a small cavity and hidden there was three earthenware pots containing 3,000 Roman coins.  The forest is home to a number of tree’s , plants and wild life.  You will find Oak, Beech, Ash, Lime and Yew trees there as well as Soft shield fern, Harts tongue fern, Bluebells (late spring) and wild garlic.  If you are lucky you might catch site of badgers and foxes and there are plenty of different wild birds.  Also Puzzle wood is home to the endangered Greater Horse shoe bat.

Skellig Michael in the larger of two islands off County Kerry in Ireland.  The island was probably first inhabited around the 6th century and the monastery was supposed to be founded by Saint Fionan. There are six beehive cells, two oratories, a medieval church and a number of stone cross’s and slabs.  The monks that lived  there (around 12 plus the Abbot) lived on a diet of local caught fish, meat and eggs from the local birds and they grew their own vegetables.  They also created a very clever system for collecting and purifying rain water which was then collected in cisterns.  The monastery was occupied all the way until the 12th/13th century.  In 1826 two light houses were built on the island and the island gained world heritage listing in 1996.  Tour operators run 13 boats to the island each day, weather permitting!

Like i said you cant beat the real thing!  Also filming at real locations brings money and jobs to these places which means these places can carry on for year and years too come!!!!!

If you ever get the chance visit these wonderful places.  May the Force Be With You!

 

 

 

Am I the only one getting put off the new film by all these plot details?

Sitting out in the back garden yesterday having a coffee and a cigarette I come across the new plot details for episode VII and a near animal growl animates from my mouth!!!!!  If you haven’t heard the news the latest plot is as follows

After the opening crawl updating us on what’s been happening since Return of the Jedi the camera pans down not to a space ship but a severed hand holding a lightsaber.  This hand and lightsaber some how survives re entry to a desert planet and are found by Daisy Ridleys and John Boyega charcters.  They know the lightsaber is a relic of the past and decide to try and find the owner.  In their travels they come across Han Solo and Chewbacca who are no longer piloting the Falcon????  Han recognises the lightsaber as the one Obi Wan Kenobi gave to Luke Skywalker.  Han has not seen Luke since the battle of Endor so they all go on a hunt to find Luke.  Meanwhile what’s left of the Empire are building a new secret super weapon on some ice planet.

 

Ive got one or two problems with this!!!!  How does a hand survive re entry through a planets atmosphere???  If the lightsaber Han recognises is the one originally built by Anakin Skywalker then how did it survive the fall through the planet Bespins core????  and then reach outer space.  Also a Jedi’s lightsaber is not indestructible and again that begs the differ on how it survived re entry in a planets atmosphere?  Also what’s been happening since Endor?  At the end of Return of the Jedi everyone from Bespin to Coruscant to Naboo were celebrating the fall of the Empire! so its sounds like everything did not go quite to plan for the Rebellion.  Then there the new superweapon that’s being built.  Its much smaller then the Death Star but it can destroy whole solar systems not just planets.  This smacks of the Sun Crusher which was not a very large ship but could take out whole solar systems just by making the systems sun go super nova.  The story also smells like a revamp of episode VI with very similar characters on a very similar quest.

But again all these rumours could be false just a red herring to taste the waters of all us Star Wars fans out there.  I`m gonna keep reading the rumours as they come up even if they make me mad and want to send Boba Fett after JJ Abrams.  We will just have to sit tight and wait for when the movie hits the cinema and probably all these worries will be for nothing.

On other news yesterday we got to see the new design for the X-Wing which many of us (even my good self) mistook for a Z-95 Head Hunter!

Till next time. May The Force Be With You!!!!!

 

 

New rumours about Star Wars Episode VII

Have you read the latest rumours to come out about the new movie?  I don’t know about you but every time I read the new rumours on the supposed story line I do get quite worried!  I know I’ve gone on before about what’s cannon and what Star Wars legend but my view is they shouldn’t really stray to far from the Star Wars legends.  I know JJ Abrams has to make a film that’s new to all us Star Wars fans but the latest news completely distances its self from the books.  Lets look at what we have….

the main bad guys of the film will be a group called “Jedi Hunters”  Again as we don’t know anything about the plot of the new film here’s what my research brought up on the subject of Jedi hunters.  During the second Jedi purge instigated by Palpatine some Jedi knights and padawans joined the Emperors secret intelligence unit becoming Inquisitors.  After the battle of Endor those that new of the Emperors soon return ( as a clone) joined a splinter group called the Pantastar Alignment.  In the new Star Wars animated series “Rebels” that’s coming out in autumn focuses alot on the inquisitors so until this comes out we still wont really know anything about these Jedi hunters.

Luke Skywalker has been busy with the last three decades of his life, spending all of his time fighting back the Jedi Hunters and impeding their missions. By the time we catch up with him, however, he is “outnumbered, tired, and in need of help.   This part I really find hard to believe.  Its like the last rumour that said there’s no New Republic.  I cant really believe that Luke Skywalker has been fighting off all these Dark Jedi for the last 30 years all on his todd when he should have been getting on and starting up the new Jedi order.   Again I go on about what’s cannon and what’s Star Wars Legends but  again I say don’t stray to far from the books Mr JJ Abrams or you will find me hunting you down Inquisition style!!!!

 

I`m still waiting for my call from my informer so You are gonna have to wait to see what’s sweets they have had on set this week and who knows I might get something that give us a bit of insight on the new movie!!!!!!  Here hoping!!!!  May the Force Be With You!!!!!

News from the Star Wars Episode VII set

  I have an insider on set at Pinewood studios working on the new Star Wars film, but just my luck they haven’t got a clue about anything Star Wars.  So here’s the tiny little snippets that I was given….

1. Last Wednesday the on set sweets were M & M’s!!!!!

2. Last Thursday the on set sweets were Cadbury mini eggs (JJ Abrams favorite)

3.  They were shooting a scene with soldiers last week.  (All the actors who were playing soldiers had to wear big cloaks to cover their armor every time they went out for a smoke)

That’s it for now until I give my informer a crash course on the Star Wars Universe and hopefully my insider news will give us some hints on what we should expect from the new film…..  May The Force Be With You!!!!!!!