Did you see the new tralier for Star Wars Episode VII?

Did you see it last night? The latest trailer for Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens came out last night and it was brilliant! We got to see some stunning scenery as well as some of the new characters and of course right at the end there was Chewbacca and a very gray-haired Han Solo.  The trailer opens on the scrap yard desert planet of Jakku.  The scenery is stunning as we track a speeder passing by a downed X-Wing fighter and then a half buried star destroyer.  We then get a glimpse of Darth Vaders melted mask and helmet which looks more like a skull, we then fade a again to see a robed figure stretch out his robotic arm to stroke R2-D2’s dome while they sit beside a fire, we then see Luke’s first lightsaber (Anakins lightsaber)  being given to someone, possibly Princess Leia, then we see an extended clip of the X-wings flying over a lake that we first saw in the first trailer.  It then switches to shots of the baddies and things blowing up.  The new Sith looks cool with a hint of Darth Raven about him plus that awesome lightsaber that he uses.  Also plenty of shots of the new stormtrooper and a new insignia for the Empire.  We then end with the millennium Falcon being chased by TIE fighters through a derelict spaceship, a scene that looks very similar to Return of the Jedi when the Falcon is flying through the super structure of the Death Star, we then end with Chewbacca and a very old-looking Han Solo who seem to be on the Millennium Falcon.  All the way through the clip we hear Luke talking, giving the same line he used in Return of the Jedi when he tells Leia that they are brother and sister. So far it looks like J.J. Abrams is doing a fine job and if rumours are true we might be seeing another trailer attached to Avengers : Age of Altron.  I don’t usually say this but HURRY UP DECEMBER!!!!!

May the force be with you…….. The Library Jedi

World book day 5th March. In a galaxy not that far away…… ” The Jedi path: A manual for students of the Force.”

There is no emotion, there is peace.There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.There is no passion, there is serenity.There is no death, there is the Force.

Above is the Jedi code,  Four simple lines.  I have chosen to write about the book “The Jedi Path” by Daniel Wallace as it is one of the many books that has changed my life for the better.  I have always been a big fan of Star Wars and as I’ve got older my interest in the Star Wars universe has got bigger.  I now have a bigger collection of Star Wars figures and ships then I did as a kid, and I now have nearly every Star Wars book published, which is quite a lot!  I now consider my self a follower of the Jedi faith and its all down to the above mentioned book.  Several years ago I was suffering from depression.  I had tried everything and nothing seemed to be working.  I was seeing a counsellor which did help a lot but I felt there was something missing from my life, something spiritual.  I have always had an interest in religion but could never get along with all the standard mainstream regions.  My interest in Star Wars grew and I started reading into the back ground of the Jedi universe and that’s when I came across “The Jedi Path”  The “Jedi Path” is a manual for students of the force going into every aspect of the being and becoming a Jedi. and it was the Jedi code that helped get over my depression.  I found my self meditating and saying the Jedi Code over and over again for a short time everyday, this helped me clear my mind and to focus on what was causing my depression and how to deal with it.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

This principle guides all meditations and interactions with all others. It reaffirms the Jedi ideal to act without recklessness, and to view the action of others through the pure lens of the Unifying Force.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

Those who don’t understand this basic precept are quick to fear – and fear is the path to the dark side.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

A subtle extrapolation of the first precept, this reminder to act dispassionately in every deliberation extends to personal obsessions and is a reminder not to elevate the self above the mission.

There is no death, there is the Force.

All things die, but the Force lives on. As beings who exist as shades of the Force, the end of our existence in this form is not to be overly mourned. We are part of an energy larger than ourselves, and we play roles in a cosmic fabric that outstrip our incarnate understanding.

The other part of being a Jedi is the cosplay side of it.  There are plenty of clubs you can join and plenty of conventions such as Comic con that you can attend in full costume!  These clubs do lots for charity.  You can either buy the full outfit which can be pricey or make your own.  I brought the main Jedi  costume but made all the accessories my self (this saves you a lot of money as the accessories go for silly money!!!!!)  Also let us not forget the Jedi’s weapon of choice…The lightsaber.  Again these are not cheap if you want to go for something real looking  like the lightsaber I have with attachable blade cost me around £160.  There are some shops that will build you your lightsaber but again this can be costly.  I also find that the lightsaber helps me when I meditate.  Staring into the blade while I sit crossed legged chanting the Jedi code really helps me meditate.

After reading this or if you are in the library this Thursday and see me in full costume you may think I`m rather crazy (my better half and my two sons would probably agree with you). Who knows maybe I am but like my counsellor said if it helps you beat depression then don’t stop! If you have an interest in Star Wars or even the Jedi faith I will be in the library dressed in full Jedi Robes and will be happy to chat with you or you can just follow my blog.  I wont be able to show you how to lift objects with your mind or change the will of the weak-minded (I’m still working on that) but I will be carrying a training lightsaber with me and a spare robe.  So like I said drop me a line if you wanna chat about anything Star Wars or cosplay I be happy to help.

May the Force be with you………..

The Library Jedi

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.

The Jedi code

  As may of you know I`m a follower of the Force.  I try to use the lessons and quotes from the Star Wars universe to help me in everyday life.  Jedism has many roots in Buddhism and if you read into a lot of the Jedi mysticism you can usually find something that will solve any problems that you come up against.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

There is no death, there is the Force.

There is no emotion, there is peace

Emotions are a part of us.  Even powerful Jedi were not immune to showing their feelings.  Young Jedi leaners are taught to explore their feelings and understand them.  If a Jedi cannot confront their feelings that Jedi will never know peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge

A Jedi should try to understand the world around them.  ignorance is a part of life but should never be feared.  The Jedi archives contains one of the biggest collections of knowledge in the Star Wars universe.  A Jedi must use not only their rational mind but also their intuitive mind to ascertain the truth of a situation.

There is no passion, there is serenity

Be for a Jedi acts he must be one with the Force.  A Jedi must only draw their weapon in defence only.  A Jedi must be calm and clear-headed in all situations.  Passionate use of power will lead to that Jedi to head down the path to the dark side.

There is no death, there is the Force

The sense of loss is often greater for a Jedi.  However death in not a tragedy but a part of life.  The Force in us continues even in death.

 

Jedi quotes

“Do or do not… there is no try.” — Yoda

“Luminous beings are we. Not this crude matter.” — Yoda

“Your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi

“You will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi

“Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don’t think. Trust your instincts.” — Qui Gon Jinn

“Be mindful of your feelings.” — Mace Windu

” His heart was in the right place, but he tried to answer Grievouses power with his own.” — Kit Fisto

“The crystal is the heart of the blade. The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the force. The force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined.” — Luminara Unduli

 

My top five favourite Star Wars characters…. Whats yours? Number 1 is………

At last we have reached number one in my list of the top five of my favourite Star Wars characters.  Coming in a number one is the Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi.  The first time we officially meet Obi-Wan is when he rescues Luke Skywalker from the Tuskens.  We then learn some of his past history as a Jedi and as a  general during the clone wars when he talks to Luke about Luke’s father Anakin Skywalker.  Obi Wan was a skilled Jedi and very powerful in the force.  He was an excellent fighter pilot (even thou he hated flying) and a master of the Soresu style of lightsaber combat.  Even thou he was a master with the lightsaber Obi Wan preferred to talk and work things out then fight thus earning him the nickname of “The Negotiator”

Obi-Wan nearly didn’t make it as a Jedi as he was not selected to be a padawan learner and ended up being transferred to the Jedi Service Corps.  It was with the corps that he helped Qui-Gon Jinn who was on planet with a mission.  After that Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan as his padawan learner.  Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were to completely different personalities but made a very effective team completing many missions together.

Kenobi: “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Jinn: “I don’t sense anything.”

Kenobi: “It’s not about the mission, Master. It’s something elsewhere…elusive.”

It was on a mission to try to end the blockade of Naboo and the later adventures that would follow, Obi-Wan first met his future Padawan Anakin Skywalker while on Tatooine.  In later events that followed he promised his dying master that he would take on the young boy and teach him the ways of the force.  Obi-Wan was a patient teacher to Anakin who was not the easiest of pupils and they had many adventures together.  It was Obi-Wan that discovered the clone army on Kamino.  During the clone wars Obi-Wan like nearly all of the Jedi masters acted as general to his clone soldiers.  Obi-Wan took part in many of the battles during the clone wars.  It was during the clone wars that his padwan Anakin became a Jedi Knight and it was also when Obi-Wan came face to face with the murder of his former master Darth Maul.  It was Obi-Wan you killed General Grievous while on Utapau.  It was on Utapau that Obi-Wans clone troopers turned on him after the issue of order 66.  Obi-Wan was able to survive his attack and was able to meet up with Jedi Grand Master Yoda where they discovered that most of the Jedi had been killed and that they had been betrayed my the Supreme Chancellor and Obi-Wans old padawan learner Anakin who now was a Sith lord under the name of Darth Vader.  Obi-Wan meet his former padawan on Mustafar where they battled with Obi-Wan coming out the victor.

“You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!“―Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan left what was left of Darth Vader on the bank of a larva river leaving the Force to decide his fate.  He took Vaders lightsaber and with the unconscious Padme met up with Yoda And Senator Bail Organa.  To their surprise Padame gave birth to twins Luke and Leia.  Leia was adopted by Organa and Obi-Wan took Luke to Tatooine to live with his step uncle and aunt Owen and Beru on their moisture farm.  Obi-Wan stayed on Tatooine to watch over Luke from afar and wait till he was old enough to learn the ways of the force.  Obi-Wan went into exile and changed his name to Ben.  Many years later while Luke was looking for R2-D2 who had escaped from the farm Luke ran into a group of Tuskens who attacked him.  Obi-Wan using the force to make him self sound like a Krayt Dragon scared the Tuskens away and took Luke back to his home.  There he gave Luke his father’s lightsaber and told him a half truth about his father being a Jedi and being killed by Darth Vader.  Obi-Wan watched the message from Leia asking for his help and then asked Luke to join him and learn the ways of the force.  At first Luke said he could not help but after the death of his aunt and uncle he decided to help and learn to be a Jedi.  Soon we are aboard the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo and Chewbacca on their way to Alderaan.  When they arrive at their destination they find the planet has been destroyed and end up running into the Death Star.  While the others are helping Leia to escape Obi-Wan goes to deactivate the tractor beam.  On his way back to the Millennium Falcon he feels the presence of Darth Vader.

Darth Vader: “I’ve been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the Master.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi: “Only a master of evil, Darth.“

To distract Darth Vader and the stormtroopers from Luke, Leia, Han and Chewbacca, Obi-Wan battles Darth Vader.

Darth Vader: Your powers are weak, old man.
Obi-Wan: You can’t win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.

With those final words Obi-Wan holds his lightsaber straight in front of him and as Darth Vader takes the killing stroke Obi-Wan vanishes and Darth Vaders lightsaber strikes just empty robes!  This was not the end for Obi-Wan.  Just before his self exile on Tattoine Yoda gives him a new lesson to learn, How to become a Force Ghost.  Obi-Wan speaks to Luke during the battle of Yavin helping Luke use the force to destroy the Death Star.  Obi-Wan helps Luke a number of times even taking over Luke’s body so he could survive a dual with Darth Vader.  Obi-Wan appears to Luke after he had escaped the Wampa telling Luke to go to Dagobah so he can start his Jedi training from Yoda

Obi-Wan: “You will go to the Dagobah system”
Luke: “Dagobah system?”
Obi-Wan: “There, you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me.“

Ob-Wan appears to Luke again just after the death of Yoda to tell Luke the reason why he didn’t tell him the truth about his father and then again after the battle of Endor Obi_wan appears to Luke with the force ghosts of Yoda and Anakin Skywalker.   It was about  five years after the battle of Endor that Obi-Wan appears to Luke for the very last time.  Obi-Wan legacy lives on in Luke and Mara‘s son Ben Skywalker and Obi-Wans skill as a tactician.

Obi-Wan: “And now, farewell. I loved you as a son, and as a student, and as a friend. Until we meet again, may the Force be with you.“

It was not really till the three pre equal films and the clone wars series that we really got to know Obi-Wan.  Through all his serious nature there was a more human side to him, making jokes and even falling in Love and nearly leaving the order!

Satine: “I’ve loved you from the moment you came to my aid all those years ago.” […]
Obi-Wan: “Had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order.“

Obi-Wan tries his very best when he takes on Anakin to be just as good a master as Qui-Gon was to him and you could see the hurt in him when he finds out that Anakin has gone over to the dark side and ends up believing that maybe he had let down Anakin in someway not knowing that it was Darth Sidious plotting and arranging matters that finally drove Anakin to the dark side.  Obi-Wan will always be my favourite character and Jedi in the star wars universe!.

 

Some Obi-Wan quotes

Obi-Wan: I have a bad feeling about this.
Qui-Gon Jinn: I don’t sense anything.
Obi-Wan: It’s not about the mission, Master. It’s something… elsewhere. Elusive.

Elan Sleazebaggano: You wanna buy some death-sticks?
[Obi-Wan executes the Jedi Mind Trick]
Obi-Wan Kenobi: You don’t want to sell me death sticks.
Elan Sleazebaggano: Ah, I don’t want to sell you death sticks.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: You want to go home and rethink your life.
Elan Sleazebaggano: I want to go home and rethink my life.

General Grievous: Anakin Skywalker. I expected someone with your reputation to be a little… older.
Anakin Skywalker: General Grievous… you’re shorter than I expected.
General Grievous: Jedi scum!
Obi-Wan Kenobi: We have a job to do, Anakin. Try not to upset him.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Hello there!
General Grievous: General Kenobi, you are a bold one!

Obi-Wan Kenobi: You have allowed this dark lord to twist your mind, until now, until now you’ve become the very thing you swore to destroy.
Anakin Skywalker: Don’t lecture me, Obi-Wan! I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Your new Empire?
Anakin Skywalker: Don’t make me kill you.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy.
Anakin Skywalker: If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: [realizing that Anakin is consumed by evil and there’s no reasoning with him anymore] Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
[draws his lightsaber]
Obi-Wan Kenobi: I will do what I must.
Anakin Skywalker: You will try.
[draws his lightsaber and confronts Obi-Wan]

Obi-Wan: I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn’t allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damn fool idealistic crusade like your father did.
Luke: What is it?
Obi-Wan: Your father’s light saber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times… before the Empire.

Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don’t need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don’t need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren’t the droids we’re looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along… move along.
Obi-Wan: That’s no moon. It’s a space station.

Obi-Wan: Use the Force, Luke.
Obi-Wan: [after hiding from the stormtroopers on the Millennium Falcon] Who’s the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?

 

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!!!!!