Author Archives: Travis

Week In Review!

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What’s up everyone? I find myself saying “It’s been awhile” again – life in the new normal just doesn’t allow enough time to get everything done. I do have a new WEEK IN REVIEW for your reading pleasure. Please ignore the fact that it is late and in the middle of the week. Concessions must be made. I have also allowed myself to interject some personal opinions and commentary with this week’s bounty. I just had a birthday this month and decided that I am too old to keep my thoughts bottled up like a snifter of Corellian brandy kept behind the bar at Chalmun’s. So with that said, love it, hate it, or have the emotional indifference of Lobot – Here is your Week in Review

• It seems like LANDO CALRISSIAN’s sexuality has been confirmed and cemented in Star Wars canon. From Starwars.com – “This Pride Month, gay and transgender artists will pay homage to some of the LGBTQ+ characters inhabiting a galaxy far, far away in a special line of variant comic book covers”. Among those characters featured is Lando Calrissian – seemingly confirming what SOLO writer, Jonathan Kasdan claimed earlier – that Lando was pansexual. Predictably, some folks have a problem with this. It is odd how some people have no problem believing in walking carpets, planet destroying space stations, a little green wizard that sounds like Grover from Sesame Street, or the fact that teddy bears beat up the Empire – but they draw the line when a character’s sexuality isn’t what they assumed it was. Amazing how that works.

• JAXXON! Yes, everyone’s favorite space bunny is now an action figure! Hasbro announced that the character is making his way to their 6 inch Black Series line in the not too distant future. Introduced way back in the beginnings of Marvel’s Star Wars comic book series in 1977, Jaxxon was one of the first forays into the blossoming Expanded Universe, published 4 months before SPLINTER OF THE MIND’S EYE. This big green rabbit was my first glance as to what existed in this world outside of the movies and it is about time that he was immortalized in posable plastic. I must admit – I was taken aback by the number of “He looks like Bucky O’Hare” comments I have read online. Listen you neophytes, Jaxxon doesn’t look like Bucky O’Hare…Bucky O’Hare looks like Jaxxon. Get it right.

• *Whew* Sorry about that. I get worked up over the silliest things. Kinda like Sebastian Stan as Luke Skywalker? WHAT?!? Stan told Good Morning America that “If Mark Hamil called me, personally, to tell me he feels inclined to share this role with me, then I will believe it,” when asked what it would take for him to accept the role of Tatooine’s favorite waterfarmer. The concept of Stan playing Luke, largely spearheaded by fandom’s newfound push to make creators pay attention to their voices, has gained much traction as of late. Hey, stranger things have happened….

On a personal note, I just want to take a second and throw this into the court of public opinion. This probably isn’t going to be a popular statement – concerning where we are collectively as fans of STAR WARS We are currently living in the second golden age of Star Wars. At the end of the first golden age, right around the mid 1980s, there wasn’t much to keep fans excited. Sure, we had the ewok movies and some Saturday morning cartoons to keep the brand alive, but that only provided minimal staying power to a dying franchise. Fast forward 35 years and the world we live in has Star Wars content being churned out on a yearly basis. Movies, books, live action and animated shows and comic books are widely available and seemingly never ending.
The Star Wars franchise is now in a place that I never thought it would be in – a relevant movie franchise that is existing and prospering 44 years after it’s debut. However, passions do run deep. So, if something is subpar, people should get upset. However, if one’s fan theory does not come to fruition in the latest movie or show, or if people are lashing out at someone involved with the franchise because of a perceived slight against this thing we all hold so sacred, do me a solid favor – hold it together and stop making the rest of us look bad. I have enough reasons to have the public at large look at me with disdain – I don’t need folks thinking I am a part of the whiny, but vocal, Star Wars fanbase as well.

That’s it. I have said what I wanted to say. Questions? Comments? Want to call me a Disney stooge? You can do all of this and more at Traviscrafts@gmail.com. I would like to say that I will talk to you next week, but my batting average hasn’t been too good as of late. So I guess I will say – Until Next Time.

Week In Review!

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Woo Hoo! I’m on vacation! Ah, February break – a time to rest up from my other gig of an educator in a school in Maine and relax! Before I crawl into the belly of a Tauntaun and try to make my way through a very frigid Maine winter, let’s talk some Star Wars, shall we? Lock those S-Foils in attack position – here is your Week in Review.

  • The big news of the week has to be that Lucasfilm has severed ties with Gina Carano, who has played Cara Dune for 2 seasons of THE MANDALORIAN on Disney+. The 38 year old Carano’s status with Lucasfilm was finalized Wednesday night after Lucasfilm released a statement clarifying the situation. “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable”. Much like every other Star Wars fan out there, I too have an opinion about this situation. However, seemingly unlike the rest of the internet, I won’t share those thoughts here. I will say that I did enjoy her take on the character of Dune and what she brought to the table. I will miss that from future Star Wars tales.
  •  According to CNBC, Hasbro saw a 70% increase in sales last year, due in large part to it’s STAR WARS license, Aw, let’s just say it….THANKS TO GROGU!

  • And, rounding out this week’s WIR, I give you the ABOMINABLE SNOWGROGU… 

    As always, drop me a line at ​traviscrafts@gmail.com​. Hey, did you hear that YODASNEWS.COM is celebrating their 17th year in slinging Star Wars info? There is a good chance that some of you don’t remember a time WITHOUT Yodasnews.com. Wow. That makes me feel old. Be sure to keep checking throughout the month to see what giveaways we are doing! And with that, I’m on vacation. See you all in 7 days! Take care and be nice to each other, huh?

Week In Review!

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And just like that we are in the first week of February. Welcome to the world famous YODASNEWS.COM – where Padawans go to learn the things that Yoda refuses to teach them. My name is Travis Crafts and we are about to hit the refresh button on the week and see what new Star Wars information pops up. Belly on up to the bar folks, but don’t worry about that little one – He’s not worth the effort. Here is your Week In Review…

• Ewan McGregor recently confirmed when and where KENOBI will start filming. Interviewing celebrities while on his treadmill (in order to accomplish 31 marathons in 31 days…for some reason) comedian Eddie Izzard was given the scoop from McGregor himself. McGregor stated that filming starts this spring and the series will be filmed in Los Angeles. The series, another Disney Plus exclusive, will be set to air either late 2021 or early 2022.

• Speaking of Disney Plus, THE MANDALORIAN received a Golden Globe nomination for Best TV Drama. The series will go up against Netflix’s The Crown, Ozark, and Ratched, as well as HBO’s Lovecraft Country, with the winner announced live on NBC, February 28th. After having every major awards show snub all of the made for TV Ewok movies, as well as the ZERO recognition given by the Academy for the Star Wars Holiday Special, this tip of the hat from the Golden Globes is a very nice gesture. However, I feel that it is too little, too late in terms of making up for the lack of rewarding the outstanding legacy of wonderful STAR WARS television content over the years. But I could be wrong.

• Are you a ridiculous Star Wars fan? Do you own a hunting cabin that is nestled snugly in the middle of the woods? Do you have a bare spot on the wall between your mounted bear head and your singing Big Mouth Billy Bass? Well, stop what you are doing and listen up – Regal Robot has a solution for your decoration dilemma. Yes, for a nominal price, you can own your very own, mounted Tauntaun head. Made from fiberglass, resin and rigid foam, each head is hand painted and is on a 1:1 scale. The basic version will set you back about 7 grand, but for only a thousand dollars more, you can get the reins and a dusting of “snow” thrown in to sweeten the package. I kid a lot – about a great many things. However, if there was ever an item I never knew I needed…it is this.

That is it for this week. As always, if you have any questions, concerns or news, please drop me a line at traviscrafts@gmail.com. Until then, may the mynocks never chew on your power cables…

Week In Review

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Happy belated New Year! Travis here. It has been a while since the last time I said “it has been a while”. 2020 is over and the uphill climb towards the way things used to be is in full effect!. I am slowly getting back into the swing of things – easing my big toe into the waters of all things Star Wars – and trying to bring some fun stuff YODASNEWS.COM. So, while I work on other ideas for your Star Wars reading pleasure, it is time to talk about the last seven days. Get those units in the South Ridge repaired by midday and then come back here. It’s time for the Week in Review…

  • – A first look was given to the guest rooms in Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser, the Star Wars  themed hotel that is currently being constructed near Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. Boasting a 2 night “all-immersive adventure” the hotel is seemingly bringing the cruise ship experience to a luxury hotel…one that sends guests to a galaxy far, far away. Want to be waited on by an Ithorian at the ship’s bar? Ever wanted your hotel concierge to use his Lobot-esque, cyborg implants to book you dinner reservations? My lifelong dream of calling housekeeping and asking them to restock my mini-fridge’s supply of blue milk is almost a reality. The Star Wars Galactic Starcrusier 2 – night adventure is scheduled to open later this year.
  • – For almost 8 years Electronic Arts has had exclusive rights to create games in the Star Wars universe. That reign is now over. Rival video game maker Ubisoft has been tasked to create an open world game that takes place in the Star Wars universe. Although it is in the very early stages of creation, Ubisoft is sure to bring a fresh take to the franchise and offer an unique experience to video gamers everywhere
  • – It seems that K-2SO will not appear in the first season of ANDOR, airing on Disney+ in 2022. Recently, Alan Tudyk told Collider “They’re shooting it right now, I’m not in it. But, if it stays on the air, stories keep getting told, I’ll end up in there”. Of course, with the endless supply of magic and technological wizardry from Disney, anything is possible.
  • That is all I have this week. To be honest, it feels good to start writing again. 2020 was a festering pile of bantha poodoo and having the privilege to write for YODASNEWS.COM is one of the ways I am hoping to bring normalcy back into my life. I hope it brings a wee bit of sunshine into your as well. End of sappiness.
  • See you next time…

Eight Reasons Why I Love The Star Wars Holiday Special

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Ok. I get it. Everyone thinks that the Star Wars Holiday Special is a putrid pile of bantha-poodoo. A quick Google search shows a myriad of articles – many of which are written by people who are desperate to prove how cool and edgy they are for slagging the 1978 special.  You won’t be getting that here. Now, before I get into expressing my love for this misunderstood part of Star Wars history, I will make some concessions. Is it campy? Yes. Is it dated? Yes. Does it make you cringe? Yes. Can you see examples of unhappy actors, embarrassed actors and actors who were contractually obligated to be there for the filming? Oh yeah. However, once you get past all of that, you realize that you are watching…well…a really cheesy variety show from 1978.

            Variety shows were a staple of 1970s television. The only thing I can compare it to today, in terms of being such an integral  part of modern television viewing is reality TV. Every channel has some kind of reality programming on at any given time. This was the case with the variety show. Having been around since the dawn of TV, the variety show morphed into a unique animal in the 70’s, as almost anyone with an ounce of fame or recognition had their own show. The Brady Bunch, Sha-Na-Na, Tony Orlando and Dawn and The Muppets all had their own shows with guest stars, musical numbers, comedy and other bits of entertainment that kept folks busy during those prime time hours on any given night. Just to show how crazed the variety show was in the 70s, CBS gave a couple of mimes a prime time spot. MIMES! Go ahead and check out Sheilds and Yarnell on Youtube.  I will be waiting here for you.

            With the variety show being such a huge part of 70s TV, and Star Wars becoming, not only a monstrous, money making hit, but also a world wide phenomenon, the decision was made to bring the franchise to TV to keep it fresh and at the forefront of the public’s mind, while the sequel, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, was being filmed. The end result is the entity we know as THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

            Now that we have discussed the how, let us talk about the “why”. That is, “Why I love the Star Wars Holiday Special”. I still remember when I saw it back in 1978. I was 5 ½ years old and devoured any and all things that had to do with Star Wars. I missed the first hour or so of the special. I think I forgot it was on. I remember switching channels to CBS and watching. Some 42 years later, the only part I vividly remember was the scene where Han Solo feints a Stormtrooper into going through a railing and falling off of the walkway of Chewbacca’s palatial estate on Kashyyyk.

            At the time, TSWHS  was the only outlet for Star Wars besides catching the movie at the cinema or drive-in for the umpteenth time. This was a new Star Wars story that we could watch AT HOME. This concept might be lost to you younger folks, where streaming any Star Wars movie or TV show at the drop of a hat is commonplace, but in a world where that didn’t exist, this was huge. 

            So, why do I love the Star Wars Holiday Special? This can only be expressed as a list, because, quite frankly, writing that introduction took a lot out of me.  So, I guess, these are my top eight reasons why I love the Star Wars Holiday Special.

 

  1. Well, first of all – It is Star Wars. Plain and simple. It is a part of the mythos and deserves the recognition. If you like the made for TV Ewok movies and the cartoons of the 80s, then this should be ranked right along with them. Collectively, they are all some of the earliest examples of Star Wars existing beyond the movies.

           

  1. Diahann Carroll as Itchy’s Holographic Wow. Even by 1970s standards, this is over the top. Borderline pornographic, Diahann Carroll’s portrayal of Itchy’s holographic fantasy who “feels her creation” is one of the more cringe worthy moments of the special. In a show marketed for children, this, without a doubt, made the parents of us 70s kids do a double take when she twirled her way into Chewy’s father’s mind.
  2. Jefferson Starship. What is a good variety show without a musical number? Several years removed from their appearance at Woodstock as Jefferson Airplane, and several years before their hit single “We Built This City” as Starship, Jefferson Starship provided both a musical interlude and some well deserved Imperial R and R for a lucky Death Star Trooper who was checking in on the Chewbacca household.

 

  1. Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman and Art Carney all have a role in the tapestry that is the Star Wars universe! Archie Bunker’s sister in law, ¼ of The Honeymooner’s comedic cast, and the greatest, worst straight man ever, have their places in the pantheon of Star Wars actors.

  1. The Boba Fett cartoon. It is what everyone refers to as the best part of the show. Sporting animation from Canada’s Nelvana animation studio, the Boba Fett Cartoon breaks up the camp just long enough to remind everyone that a new threat was going to make his way into theaters with the 1980 release of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

 

  1. Mark Hamil’s makeup. Mark Hamill Is wearing more makeup than the members of Kiss, as he and R2-D2 try to repair some part of some ship. Granted, he was in a horrible automobile accident prior to the filming. However, the lengths gone to cover the damage are pretty hideous. He looks like he fell asleep in a tanning booth while someone dyed his hair. A snapshot in time of an iconic character and the actor who played him.

  1. Carrie Fisher. I don’t know if she didn’t want to be at the filming of the special or if she was dealing with her personal demons during the production. It seems that she is very disconnected from her surroundings throughout the show. Regardless, this is the only time, outside of A NEW HOPE that we get to see Carrie Fisher, in full Princess Leia getup, sing. For such a normal activity, it is the most surreal moment of the entire special.

 

  1. The commercials! My copy, given to me on VHS by a friend of mine back in the early 90’s, is from the legendary WCBS broadcast out of New York. In between the special there are commercials for Star Wars toys, Hungry Jack biscuits, panty hose, make up, cars, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and the infamous 11 o’clock news teaser with Rolland Smith, who informed the viewers that we all would be “Fighting the frizzies at eleven”. Not only are these commercials reflective of American culture at the time, but they are also a part of the complete experience of the Star Wars Holiday Special.

   Happy Life Day!

 

Travis’ Week In Review

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Welcome to the start of November where the days get colder and nights get longer. As long as you make the time for STAR WARS, who cares? Welcome to YODASNEWS.COM and your one stop shop for the Star Wars news of the week. Unfortunately, I have to make this a very abbreviated update due to the fact that I am tearing down the Halloween decorations and starting the laborious process of putting up the Christmas decorations today. Yes, my miniature Christmas village will have an AT-AT marching through the town square, in case any of you were wondering. So, don’t blink or you will miss it…here is your Week In Review.

 

  • THE MANDALORIAN! The first episode of season 2 dropped this Friday. No spoilers at all, but keep a running checklist of all of the Easter eggs that are scattered throughout it. Wherever Disney had previously dropped the ball with Star Wars, they got it right here. Jon Faverau and crew are doing a stellar job in telling the story of the 2nd most famous Mandalorian in the galaxy – referencing the movies, books, video games and other media to create a truly unique storytelling experience. You have seen parts of this galaxy before and if you pay close enough attention while watching, you will see them again.
  • HASLABs Razor Crest project has over 14,000 backers at the time of this writing. Two new unlocks were announced – 15,000 backers gets us a display stand and 17,000 gets us a carded Jawa elder. Added to the previous unlocks of the escape pod, the carded Child with hover pram and the 5 carbonite blocks containing captured bounties…this deal just keeps getting better all of the time.
  • I found this great bit about an artist who adds his touch to already completed paintings to make them more Lucas-friendly. The link is below. To quote the Joker “I don’t know if it’s art, but I like it”. https://mymodernmet.com/altered–thrift–store–paintings/

 

            That is it for me this week. Please hit me up with any questions, concerns or just plain Star Wars talk at Traviscrafts@gmail.com. Take care, mask up and I will see you at the pod races…

Hello…

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Hey everyone! It has been far too long. Like for many of you, 2020 has kicked me square in the mouth. The pain, anxiety and heartbreak just didn’t want to end. At least for me, things are starting to get back to normal. I don’t know. We still have a few months to go before we welcome in 2021, who knows what can happen in that time. Maybe we will awaken undersea monsters with reckless atomic bomb testing or perhaps everything will go all Walking Dead as the virus mutates to decimates our numbers. I am hoping that we have all seen the end of what 2020 has to offer.

So, with that little rant out of the way…Let’s talk some Star Wars. Before I get back to my normal writing gig here at YODASNEWS.COM, I have several months of Star Wars related backlog to plow through.  So…I guess this is my PAST 6 MONTHS IN REVIEW (Feel free to email me with a better title).

● HASLAB – You are killing me. How can I justify three hundred and fifty bucks for a toy? No, really…please tell me. I need to know how to make this nagging guilt go the way of the Death Star. Following in the footsteps of Jabba’s Sail Barge, Haslab is slated to produce the RAZOR CREST ship from THE MANDALORIAN. We have seen the mock ups and the unlocked bonus features that just fatten this deal. As much as I grumble about the price, we all know that I will pull the trigger and this will be a part of the collection come 2021. The more I examine this from a business standpoint, maybe this is the future of toys and collectables – Production on demand. You pay to play and they ship it out based on the numbers. No more Zannahs clogging up the racks at Target under this model. Maybe not…but I would never have thought that HASLAB’s success would have been possible 20 years ago. The hobby is evolving.
● I love the fact that THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is still playing at my local theater. I mean, how cool is that? A film that came out 40 years ago is still making money on the big screen. For those of you who have never seen it at your favorite movie house, I strongly recommend checking it out before it goes away. For someone who missed it the first time, trust me – Never pass on seeing STAR WARS on the big screen.
● A second trailer for THE MANDALORIAN? I don’t know if my heart can take the already excruciating long wait until October 30th. I am glad to see that Disney is getting this right after what I thought was a disappointing end to the Skywalker saga.
● At least we have new merch from Hasbro hitting the shelves (supposedly).  Thanks to the success of The Vintage Collection as well as the increasing popularity of THE MANDALORIAN, the promise of new merchandise is floating through the air like the stink of a gutted Tauntaun on the snowy fields of Hoth. Now, as always, the big question is will the general public actually see the merchandise on the shelves or will distribution issues just be another nightmare that 2020 can take credit for?

I know I had more to say, but to be honest, my brain is fried at this point. It is hard to get back into the swing of things.  I hope to be back with more Star Wars blurbs – mainly the Week in Review and my love letter to the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special – in the weeks to come. It is time to get back to normal. Star Wars has always put a smile on my face and I hope it always had for you as well. With that said, let us start grinning again…

TWO BROTHERS AND AN EWOK

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When THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK was released in 1980, I was ready to go. I absorbed STAR WARS 3 years earlier and I spent the following 3 years obsessing over the action figures, comic books, cast appearances on The Mike Douglass Show (Google it) and the only real bit of the Expanded Universe available to a 5 ½ year old at the time – The Star Wars Holiday Special. When I heard from a friend of the family that Star Wars Part 2 was on the way, My little 7 year old head almost came unscrewed. I remember asking him if there were going to be lightsabers in part 2. He said “yes”. I then asked if the trash monster from the Death Star garbage masher would be in it. I think I stumped him with that question, but it was a burning issue in my little mind. Now, remember, this was before the internet – where spoilers are easy to come by for the next blockbuster. He told me what he knew, which wasn’t much. All he knew for certain  was that it was being released in May.

I was charged up! My parents took me to see the original STAR WARS several times up to that point. They were the ones that got me hooked. They enabled me and helped to feed my Lucas branded addiction. Of course they would be there for me when the next part of this grandiose epic was released, right?

The events of the summer of 1980 infuriated the younger me and evolved into half hearted anger and good natured ribbing as the years went on for my brother and I.   My baby brother, Brandon Crafts was waiting to make his debut to the world the same time that THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK was being released – My brother was born on June 29th 1980 and TESB came out on May 21st, 1980.  Having a brother was going to be cool, but all I wanted was to see THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Unfortunately, my folks weren’t having it. They had to be ready for Brandon’s arrival and able to move at the drop of a hat if my mother was to go into labor.  So, thanks to Brandon, I never got to see THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK on its first theatrical run in the United States. My parents, and by proxy, my brother, Sith-blocked me and forced me to wait until the mid 80s, when I saw it via a rented VHS tape. Was there guilt on my parents part for not taking me to see it because of Brandon’s birth? Oh, you bet. I remember seeing my brother for the first time in the hospital nursery – he was covered up in a blanket with a cartoonish football player on it. Shortly after that, my father took me down to a local department store so I could get my hands on Topps’ THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Trading cards. That turned into the new Kenner toys for Christmas and Marvel’s comic book adaptation later on, but never EMPIRE on the big screen. 

 As Brandon grew up, I force fed him my love of STAR WARS. When RETURN OF THE JEDI came out and the traveling JEDI ADVENTURE CENTER came to our local mall, I had to go. My mother brought my brother and I to see it.  We had our photo taken with a cardboard ewok and had a wonderful time. Later on in life, my brother inherited my Star Wars toys. I outgrew them and, foolishly, gave them to him to play with and destroy. As we both grew older, he tolerated my obsession, even going so far to pose with my collection as a goof. He understood my passion for Star Wars, even if he didn’t really share it. Brandon got me the crown jewel of my collection several years ago at Christmas – a production drawing of R2-D2 that was turned into an animation cel for the Star Wars Holiday Special cartoon that introduced Boba Fett. My brother was born into STAR WARS. Although it was always in the forefront of my life, it provided him with a background that was nearly synonymous with his older brother.

My brother, Brandon Crafts, died last month at the age of 39 of a heart attack.  One of the last conversations we had was about THE RISE OF SKYWALKER and how he thought it was pandering to a rabid fan base. “This is fan fiction,” he told me as we were discussing the last entry in the STAR WARS SAGA. It was never his cup of tea, but he was a willing participant in my fandom.  He would have been 40 today.

Before his death, whenever I watched THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK I was reminded of how Brandon’s impending arrival into the world absolutely stonewalled my chances to see it the first time. Now, it will forever remind me of, not only his birth, but also how quickly he left this life.

It’s not just our hobbies or pastimes – it’s who we share those things with. Thanks for putting up with my Star Wars craziness for almost 40 years brother. I will see you on the other side.

Week in Review

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Hello, hello, hello! Welcome to the home of good droids with bad motivators, YODASNEWS.COM! Another week down in the battle against the coronavirus and another couple of pounds I have gained while quarantining with the magic of curbside pick up.  Not a ton of news this week. I have just three items to go over and then you can get back to watching Tiger King. Here comes your week in review.

  • Just a reminder that YODASNEWS.COM is a part of Hasbro’s Official Fan Vote! In one swift moment, you can take part in TWO things that make America great – exercising your right to vote and STAR WARS! To quote what Mark said in an earlier post – “You are placing a vote for your favorite Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series figure to be refreshed with photoreal deco (if applicable) and join The Black Series Archive line as one of the top Star Wars: The Black Series figures! Once voting closes we will send our top 10 picks to Hasbro, they will then use that list and input from the other fan sites that were asked to participate to host a final fan vote on Hasbro Pulse on Friday, 5/15! To vote, you need to e-mail us at Yodasnews@gmail.com with the subject line 2020 HASBRO FAN VOTE – Please make sure that you use that specific subject so we are sure to make every vote count!”
  • May 4th is today STARWARS.COM has compiled a list of some of the crazy deals that are going on now, or will be live on the 4th (https://www.starwars.com/news/star–wars–day–deals). This could be the financial rebound the economy needs right now – Rabid Star Wars fans are stuck at home, maybe not thinking too clearly after weeks of frozen pizzas and Dr. Pepper. Stimulus checks are sitting in their bank accounts, waiting for the right moment to do their duty. A bunch of really cool Star Wars goodies will be available and on sale. I tell ya, tomorrow could be the day where the country turns the financial corner…and Star Wars fans will be reason. I know I will be there!
  • In addition to the May 4th madness, Disney has decided to release THE RISE OF SKYWALKER on Disney +. That’s right – starting on May the fourth, all nine STAR WARS films will be available to stream on Disney +. C’mon…show the world what TRUE binge watching is…

Well, that’s it this week. Just a quick plug that part 2 of the Prequels vs. Sequels discussion will be on YODASNEWS.com this week. Lightsaber battles will be the topic. Where does the best blade action reside? Hmmm…I should probably find out and let you know. As always, email me at Traviscrafts@gmail.com . See you in a few days!

Sequels vs Prequels

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Here we go! Let’s start the knock-down, drag-out duel of the fates! In one corner, the movie event that almost eclipsed coming of the original trilogy! In the other, the Disney sanctioned sequels that promised to continue the tale of that galaxy far, far away!

Will it be THE PHANTOM MENACE, ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and REVENGE OF THE SITH or will THE FORCE AWAKENS, THE LAST JEDI, and THE RISE OF SKYWALKER take the title?

Ladies and Gentlemen –           

            Which trilogy was better? Episodes 1 – 3 or episodes 7 – 9? I will be breaking it down over the next few weeks – examining different parts of the movies until we have an answer. How about we begin with…

DROIDS

            Let’s start off with the cornerstone of any good Star Wars film – The droids. Artoo-Deetoo and See-Threepio set the bar awfully high in the original trilogy. How do the prequels and sequels stack up? Both have our lovable Laurel and Hardy of outer space in them, so we won’t be counting R2 and C-3PO in this study as they cancel each other out. For the sequels, the addition of BB-8 was both a fresh addition and a callback to the original films. BB-8 was expressive, funny and wasn’t afraid to follow the crew into danger. Much like the gutsy R2-D2, BB-8 was the perfect droid vehicle to help move the story forward.

            Looking at the prequels, it’s obvious that the battle droids lead the charge in this category. Outside of the perceived threat of IG-88 in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, droids had never been seen as killing machines on the big screen. Between the battle, destroyer and vulture droids, the prequels gave the world the proof that droids can be deadly, even while sounding like a 1950’s, B-movie robot.

As much as I love BB-8, I have to give this one to the prequels. Lucas brought droids into the fray with the 3 prequel films and it was a game changer. From the movies to The Clone Wars, the new threat droids now presented was enough to solidify their importance in the Star Wars universe.

Side Note – Attack of the Clones introduced us to FLO, the WA-7 waitress droid that worked at Dexter’s Diner. That alone is almost enough for me to give the win to the prequels.

Prequels – 1

Sequels – 0

Next Category? How about lightsaber action?  See you in a few days…

Week In Review!

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Happy Monday everyone! Glad to have you back! Have you all been washing your hands and doing your best to help flatten the curve? If you haven’t – start now. It would be a shame if you did something that might make you miss out on the future of this franchise we all know and love. Speaking of the future of Star Wars, let us jump right into the week in review…

  • On April 24th, Lucasfilm announced the addition of four new actors to the upcoming CASSIAN ANDOR series on Disney +. Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgard, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller will be joining Diego Luna on the series. Can Disney catch lightning in a bottle again and duplicate the success of THE MANDALORIAN?
  • According to Forbes, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER was the most watched movie at home last week. The data is based on cable, satellite and internet video on demand viewings. Rounding out the top five are Bad Boys for Life, Sonic the Hedgehog, Dolittle, and Jumanji: The Next Level. Not too bad considering your local Mega-plex is shut down. TROS is still in the public eye 4  months after it’s release.
  • From the “What else are you going to do during quarantine” Dept. Some magical soul decided to edit all 9 Star Wars movies together so one could see them all during one viewing. On paper, it is a very cool idea. However, finding a practical application of such an endeavor is maddening. By all means, give it a shot.

 Not the biggest news week, but some is better than none. Until next time, don’t bullseye the womp rats – they never did anything to you, did they?

Week In Review!

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Greetings and welcome to the home of all things Star Wars – YODASNEWS.COM. I am going to try to get back into the swing of things here and bring you all of this week’s Star Wars News. Please stay 6 feet apart and practice social distancing while we go through your week in review.

  • ROGUE ONE screenwriters Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz revealed some tasty tidbits while on the latest installment of IGN’s Watch From Home Theater. It seems that some titles that were contemplated before settling on ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY were DARK TIMES, REBELLION and SHADOW OF THE EMPIRE. Thank goodness they stuck with ROGUE ONE. 

  • On May 12th, a revamped, refurbished and rehashed version of STAR WARS EPISODE 1: RACER will be released on the Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch video game systems. Boasting new graphics and controls true to the original, the racing classic will be sure to attract fans who weren’t around 20 years ago for the original release, as well as bring back the casual gamer who played this on the N64 at the end of the millennium. I, for one, can’t wait to buy some Hot Pockets, put some Smashmouth on in the background, and play this until the wee hours of the morning. Who would have thought I would be anxious to relive my mid-twenties?

  • Is that stimulus check burning a hole in your bank account? Have no fear, Lego is here. Just in time for May 4th, the toy that has caused permanent injury to millions of unsuspecting feet around the world has announced their latest entry into their Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series – the A-Wing. Clocking in at 1,672 pieces, with a price tag of $199.99, the A-wing comes with a display stand, information plaque and A-Wing pilot. I have several of the Ultimate Collector Series ships and I think they are amazing. Just be careful when you move them around. One of the worst feelings in the world is losing your balance and dropping a 1500 piece Lego B-Wing fighter.

  • Finally, if you are one of those folks who are finding themselves in Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting with no end in sight, STARWARS.COM has come through for you! Offering over 30 backgrounds for your side of the camera, STARWARS.COM is bringing you to the galaxy far, far away while you are being far, far away from work. Want to talk to your boss while you are on Hoth? No problem. Need to focus your employees’ attention while you talk about the mission statement? When your background is Starkiller Base, that isn’t a problem. Chatting with Grandma? Do it from Tatooine. If you are going to zoom, at least have fun with it. 

Well, that’s it boys and girls. I am going to try to get new content up here as soon as possible. In fact, barring some unforeseen circumstances, I hope to settle a question that has been around for a whopping 4 months now – which trilogy was better? Episodes 1-3 or Episodes 7-9? Stay tuned to YODASNEWS.COM for the answer.

Oh, if you don’t hear anything from me in a week, please email me at TRAVISCRAFTS@GMAIL.COM and tell me to get off my Hutt like backside and start writing, huh? Thanks. Stay safe everyone!

The Little Things

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Hey everyone…

I haven’t written anything for YODASNEWS.COM for sometime now. Between work, my mother’s health and, now of all things, a pandemic, I haven’t had the time or motivation to put pen to paper or finger to keyboard.

I work at a public school in Maine. The plan was to stay closed until the beginning of May and then re-evaluate the situation. The word just came down today that we are to be closed until the new school year starts in September.

This was always a possibility. I guess a month ago we were all hoping that things would settle down quickly and life would get back to normal as soon as possible.

Sadly, that is not the case.

The Senior class of the high school where I work are being robbed. No prom. No Graduation ceremony. No wacky senior hijinks that will live on as whispered legends, passed on by underclassmen. They will be missing the last 4 months of what they have been working towards their entire lives.

It sucks. No two ways around it.

The last month has not been full of high points. In fact, the low points have been many and, at times, almost too much to deal with.

Then I found the little things.

Whoopie pie ice cream. That got me through a night. Going through my CD collection and putting it all on my hard drive to play through my new Bluetooth receiver. That process is still bringing me back to my college days and younger years when I thought I was bulletproof. Putting my Christmas lights (which I have not taken off of my house yet) on at night just because.

Now, my first big bit of escapism came in the form of watching STAR WARS – The Despecialized edition. Yes. This is  the fan edit that has seamlessly restored Episode IV to its original form – No Greedo shooting first, no Jabba and no CGI X-Wings attacking the Death Star. It was the film as I saw it almost 43 years ago at the age of 4.

When I watched it for the first time, I completely melted. For the next 2 hours, I was back at that tender age of 4 and everything seemed huge and full of wonder once again. I forgot about everything that was wrong with the world and, even for just the briefest of moments, I relaxed and enjoyed a time of zero worry and total bliss.

The point of this isn’t to hype up the Despecialized edition (but if I was doing that, I would be calling it an amazing restoration and claiming that we have all forgotten what the original film looked and felt like with all of the changes that have been made to it over the years….off the soapbox now), but more so to remind us to take a breath and find those little things in these strange times. Enjoy that cookie. Laugh with the family. And, if you are in a situation to, watch a really good movie from 1977 about robots, wizards, scoundrels and blue milk.

Well, I’ve got some time off from work now.  Let’s talk some Star Wars.

As always, buzz me at Traviscrafts@gmail.com . I will see you soon.

Hang in there.

IT IS TIME FOR A REBOOT

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It came to me in my waking hours.  That time where my gray matter is usually running the morning diagnosis – making sure all systems are go after a poor night’s sleep, flushing out one random earworm that somehow surfaced from my subconscious (this morning it was Gordon Lightfoot’s “Carefree Highway”) and stumbling to the bathroom to take care of those things that never used to wake me up before I turned 40. It was during this time that I discovered I had a new routine that was shoehorned into my morning cognitive schedule. The new routine was just a word, but what that word meant and represented was as clear as a Naboo stream. The word was REBOOT.

Let us face the hard facts – Hollywood is creatively bankrupt. The lack of new and fresh ideas has given way to rehashed franchises, movies based on toys and board games and the reboot. Ah, the reboot. Taking a movie or TV show that once held an important place in the hearts and minds of people and trying to recreate the same emotions with a younger cast, fresh take on the story, or just more glitz, CGI and special effects. Hollywood has produced 7 Spider-Man movies with 3 different actors and 3 different “universes”. J.J. Abrams used his voodoo juju to reboot the Star Trek franchise to mixed results while raking in the box office gold. Kevin Smith even confessed to the act by naming his latest movie JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT, without a hint of shame.

Reboots are now a part of the entertainment world. You can’t avoid them. They are everywhere and everyone is getting in on the act.

So, where am I going with this? I assure you I am not talking about rebooting our precious Star Wars movies. No. That would be insane.

I am talking about the toys.

Thanks to THE MANDALORIAN, we now have the first, live action screen time for the Imperial Troop Transport. The 1979 Kenner vehicle that never saw a lick of screen time in the original trilogy is now on full display on the Disney + series. That version is a soon to be released Hasbro vehicle for our beloved 3 ¾ action figures. Lovingly based on the original Imperial Troop Transport, this version is a sleeker, more refined vehicle that captures the essence of the original but has a more modern take on the concept.

In essence – a REBOOT.

So, before Star Wars fandom, my friends and family, and my force infused maker, I proudly and boldly state –

HASBRO…REBOOT MY TOYS!

Please take my childhood LAND OF THE JAWAS with its cardboard backdrop and exclusive escape pod and bring it into the roaring 20’s. Reestablish the CREATURE CANTINA as the only place a spacer action figure can go to find a job in Mos Eisley. Take my beloved DEATH STAR SPACE STATION playset and give it that sweet reboot action that Hollywood bestowed upon TOMB RAIDER, HELLBOY and GHOSTBUSTERS – take what was once sacred and make it different, yet familiar.

Hasbro, please reboot the toys from my youth. Take what was old and treasured and weave your magic to make something relevant to this day and age with the proper nostalgic appeal for us old nerds. Heck, Super 7 did it with the Masters of the Universe SNAKE MOUNTAIN. Make it crowd funded if you have to. I long for the day when I can go to my local Target and pick up the rebooted DROID FACTORY playset. I’m sure something like that would have to be rebooted with a hint of modern technology thrown in the mix…maybe an app that would help one plan what droids to create or some scanning feature that would show how your creations would move.  I don’t care. I want a plastic, 3 ¾ scale reboot. And I want it now.

In the shrinking, if not dying, modern Star Wars collectors market, something needs to be done to reignite the passion collectors once had.  Golden action figures didn’t do it. I’m guessing the lack of product for RISE OF SKYWALKER didn’t help matters either. I’m not saying rebooting Kenner’s line of toys from the 70’s and 80’s is the answer, but it might be a step in the right direction. The Vintage Collection seems to fly off the shelves as soon as they are put out and vintage packaging seems to be all the rage. Nolgastia sells. Hasbro, take it to the next level and give me a Rebooted childhood.

#rebootmystarwarstoys

TOP TEN STAR WARS MOMENTS FROM THE PAST DECADE

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We are close to the end of another year and you know what that means, right? Those obnoxious and pretentious top 10 lists that everyone and his pet dewback seem to crank out. We’ve all seen them. Some jerk offers up their yearly top 10 of some aspect of humanity and folks either agree or disagree, ignore or have a meltdown, or just nod their heads in acceptance and move on to the next list which is always right around the corner.

Well. Today, I am that jerk. However, I will not be doing some boring “Top 10 of 2019”. How can I do that when we are not only saying goodbye to 2019, but also bidding a fond adieu to the last decade! That’s right boys and girls. This here is the unofficial…

TOP TEN STAR WARS MOMENTS FROM THE PAST DECADE

Now, before we get started, remember – this is one person’s opinion on what the most significant Star Wars stories of the last 10 years are. If you disagree or think I am wrong, feel free to drop me a line at Traviscrafts@gmail.com and make your case. With that disclaimer out of the way, let us get on to number 10 on our countdown…

10) THE UGLY SIDE OF STAR WARS FANDOM (2018).

I didn’t even want to include this in my list. However, acknowledging their disgusting actions is different from tolerating them. Yes, these are the folks who made Kelly Marie Tran leave social media. These are the folks who can’t seem to stand a female character with pink hair calling the shots. These are the dolts who force me to explain to my co-workers what I think is “wrong with you Star Wars nerds?” There is nothing like hearing how Star Wars fans are “racist” and “sexist”. I remember a time when being a Star Wars fan earned you titles like “pathetic” and “loser”. My, how times have changed.

9) THE DEATH OF THE EXPANDED UNIVERSE (April 25, 2014)

After Disney bought Lucasfilm, the decision was made to eliminate the Expanded Universe from Star Wars canon. What was once the main source for new stories and continuing adventures for our brave heroes from that galaxy far, far away, was now regulated to the “Legends” banner.  With the wave of a Disney magic wand, gone were 36 years of stories. The old timeline was no more. However, great characters are hard to come by. As such, some have found their way from “Legends” to the new canon.

8) THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAR WARS (May 25, 2017)

 The one item on this list that makes me feel old. Here is to the next 40 years!

7) THE RELEASE OF ROGUE ONE (December 16, 2016)

In many ways, ROGUE ONE was the make or break point for the vision of Star Wars that Disney was producing.  ROGUE ONE was the first major film release to deal with the Star Wars universe that didn’t have the already established characters in it. If Disney was going to make new material for the Star Wars universe, this was its first step. Luckily, the movie was a financial success and widely accepted my most fans.

6) THE FORCE AWAKENS TEASER TRAILER DEBUTS (November 28, 2014)

Heads were melting, fingers were sore from left clicking the play button over and over again, and imaginations were rekindled as the teaser trailer for THE FORCE AWAKENS was unleashed upon the world. The trailer, which offered the rabid fanbase a whopping one minute and eight seconds of new Star Wars goodness, racked up more than 40 million views on Youtube in less than three days. Much like the teaser for THE PHANTOM MENACE, some fifteen years earlier, fans were left with questions, concerns and just a hint of excitement as the clock started its countdown to the release date of the actual movie.

5) THE FORCE AWAKENS RELEASED (December 18, 2015)

Waiting for that year to pass was torturous for many. Once THE FORCE AWAKENS was released, however, fans were eager to watch the continuation of the Skywalker story. Bringing in over two billion dollars worldwide, Disney hit the home run they were hoping for – ensuring a future for the franchise that was once thought of as a finished story.

4) THE MANDALORIAN DEBUTS (November 12, 2019)

The first, episodic Star Wars television show was finally made into a reality with the release of THE MANDALORIAN on the newly minted DISNEY +.  Not only had Star Wars invaded the world of T.V., but, with Jon Faverau at the helm, did it in a most convincing manner. With the last two episodes earning a rare 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and season 2 set to debut in the fall of 2020, THE MANDALORIAN is arguably the best Star Wars story to come out of Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. 

3) THE DEATHS OF RALPH MCQUARRIE, KENNY BAKER AND PETER MAYHEW (tie) (March 3, 2012/August 13, 2016/April 30, 2019)

Together, Ralph McQuarrie, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew maintained a certain level of anonymity. Not recognizable by the general public, these three men brought their unique personalities and skills to the table and helped to shape the Star Wars universe – with Mayhew and Baker bringing R2-D2 and Chewbacca to life on screen, and with McQuarrie providing design paintings and concept illustrations that helped create many of the characters and unforgettable moments from the Star Wars films.

2) DISNEY’S ACQUISITION OF LUCASFILM (October 30, 2012)

As if millions of voices suddenly cried out with a collective “uh…what?” It was a day full of double takes from members of the Star Wars fandom when it was announced that Disney was shelling out $4 billion to purchase Lucasfilm. The implications were immediate. Disney announced that the unnamed Episode VII would be released in 2015 and fans started the immediate speculation as to what else would follow. For a franchise that had all but told its story, the prospect of new movies, cartoons, books and television shows being released on a consistent basis was a wonderful concept. Love what Disney is doing with Star Wars or hate it, we now live in a world where new Star Wars content will be readily available on a continual basis.

1) DEATH OF CARRIE FISHER (December 27, 2016)

The passing of Carrie Fisher was a gut punch to Star Wars community. She was THE princess in the world of pop culture and in many hearts. I knew right off the bat that there was no way I could do justice to the memory of Carrie Fisher for this article. What I could do is share the thoughts that my friend The Reverend composed shortly after her death.  His thoughts about what she meant to him and to the fandom community at large are expressed better than I ever could do and better than most have done.

“Why am I upset by Carrie Fisher’s passing? “She’s just another celebrity gone. She lived a hard life.” True…very true. However, 1.) She championed mental illness. My Princess was as flawed as me. 2.) I loved Princess Leia since I was 5. She was always both my hero and ideal. 3.) Carrie Fisher was smart as f**k. 4.) I almost got a chance to meet her and get a photo op. She pulled out due to illness. I was actually heartbroken… Now I’ll never get that chance. 5.) A large piece of my childhood, which I hold dear, because I find the adult world disgusting, dichotomous and ridiculous in many aspects, died today. And we should all hold on to those things that make us remember the magic of being a kiddo.

I will NEVER grow up. I will ALWAYS love Star Wars…

And Carrie Fisher’s portrayal of Princess Leia will always be My Princess.”

There it is folks! My top 10 Star Wars events of the last 10 years. Let’s do it again in 2029! Hopefully we will be talking about the last 9 seasons of THE MANDALORIAN and a slew of new Star Wars movies. Here’s hoping it is a wild ride! Take care and we will see you in 2020, right here at YODASNEWS.COM!