Anchorhead

Gregatron said:

So much so that it did incalculable damage to the public perception of Batman and comics in general.

However it was perceived by adults at the time, it certainly didn't damage Batman for me. Very much the opposite.  I was 5 years old at the time and never missed an episode.  At the same Bat Time every week, on the same Bat Channel, I was sitting in front of the TV with my cape on (towel held on with a big safety pin) waiting to see my masked hero fight crime.

The camp and double entendre were lost on me, but the idea of a crime fighter with a secret identity struck a cord.  That show made me the Batman nerd I still am to this day.  I can watch the original TV show these days and take it for what it is (was); a product of its time. For me personally (now), Nolan gave me the Batman I wanted.  Burton did too on his first film only.  The Schumacher stuff is shit.

Star Trek is the same way. I loved the original series, I can stomach the first film series, I like the first two Next Generation films, and I'm very happy with Abrams' work so far.

If anything;  Nolan and Abrams brought me back to franchises that I'd abandoned many years earlier, out of dislike for the directions they'd taken.  Zahn did the same for me with Star Wars, as did Barbara Broccoli with the James Bond franchise.

All four franchises had become sealed capsules of what I wanted from them.  Distilled down to select entries, never to be expanded on. I was happy with what I had as a fan, but I was finished with them expanding.  Or so I thought.  New isn't always bad and in my case it's been a wonderful surprise.

Really nice.  There go my lunch hours  ;-)

The younger fans on the board can get a feel for how we kept up with our favorite franchises all those years ago. 

Heilemann said:

So it took me three years to begin publishing it, but I've finally started putting me 'the inspirations of Star Wars' project online. Figured someone around here might be interested.

Kitbashed.

In a word;  Outstanding.  Also, love the minimalist design with the focus being on the substance.  Some of my non-nerd friends will be getting links.  ;-)

xhonzi said:

 You were in Colorado and didn't stop by?  I had potatoes that needed peeling.  :(

Clearly there's a reference that went over my head. If you live anywhere near Dove Creek, I'll look you up next time I'm out there.

SilverWook said:

If one goes by the stats at the bottom of the main page, the first message posted to the board was in December 2003.

I smell a loophole.

Regarding my way overdue Scoundrels review (and lack of forum activity lately); 

We've started the process of moving, e g. looking at land, house plans, existing homes, specific locations in a general area, etc.  We're moving four hours away, so the majority of my time off the past few months has been spent on the road from Friday mornings to Sunday evenings.

Plus, I was recently in Colorado on business for a while and wasn't really able to get back into it like I thought I would be able to.

My point (finally);  I'm having a hard time staying focused on the book.  I've had to backtrack a few times, so I've lost the story.  We're nearly settled on the core of the move, with only some particulars to iron out.  Once things settle, I'm just going to start over.

I'm digging the story so far, but it's getting too layered for the amount of distraction at the moment.  I don't want to force it and come away feeling stressed over it.  Review when I get back to it.

Star Wars:

                Teaser Trailer (Somewhere in space, this may all be happening right now)

Man,  a trailer has never put the hook in me the way that one did. A great look into how truly far far away that galaxy felt when I was a kid. All these years later, that trailer still holds the same magic.  

I'd be shocked if it were anyone other than Williams or Giacchino.  I'd be fine with either, with a nod toward Giacchino.  I love his work on Super 8 and thought he did a very nice job on Star Trek.  I think it helps (or can, at least) to have new ideas for an established franchise.

Regarding the comment that Williams was at his best from 1975 to 1985; That may have been his most prolific, but I think his work on Memoirs Of A Geisha may be his finest hour.

John Williams writing with Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma performing = When Worlds Collide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPOq4HiCeTw

Yeah.  It's interesting because it actually has him playing himself.  Beyond that, it's a very sterilized version of what went on.  Typical 1950s Hollywood.

Really looking forward to this.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9RHqdZDCF0

Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey looks very promising.  Plus it's a fascinating piece of history.  

I've needed a baseball fix lately for this long off-season.  My team has had their true identity restored, so  I've replaced my daily hat and t-shirts.  It's gotten so bad that I've been watching old games from the 80s.  I have several in their entirety. 

When people are discussing, collecting, watching, and dressing up as characters you created 35 years ago - that's talent.

RIP, sir.  The films wouldn't have been the same without you.

Not that Kripke.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Mqnc22tMaKQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMqnc22tMaKQ

Kripke said:

I'm sowwy. :(

 I'd really like to see them move away from Vader.

I agree.  Vader's depth and strength were cheapened as soon as the mask was removed in Return.  The prequels came along and completely did away with his weight.  Time to move on.

He's mentioned a few times since 2009 how he overdid the flares. They're present in Super 8, but they're much less - occurrence as well as intensity.

Tobar said:

But my number one must read suggestion would be Dark Times.... The writing by Randy Stradley and the art by Doug Wheatley is top notch. I honestly regard them as this generation's Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson.

Wow.  That is high praise indeed, coming from you.  May have to give that a look.

You guys know I don't have a horse in the race where Star Wars films are concerned. When the sale happened, followed by the announcement of sequels, I gave it a look and went about my day. No doubt I'd follow the developments, but from a distance. 

That said: As a huge fan of what Abrams has done with Star Trek, I can't help but think his involvement is a significant plus. I'm a long time fan of Trek who had finally said goodbye to it because it had become C-SPAN in space. Abrams returned it to science fiction adventure and  gave the characters depth again.

Likewise, his expert handling of Super 8 - making a 1980s-inspired film that actually looks and feels like the 1980s - is proof to me that he understands why that period in film connected with so many of us (myself included). If Lucas is truly uninvolved and Disney stays out of the way, Star Wars is in very good hands.

I'm now officially on the verge of weighing the pros & cons of considering whether or not I'm cautiously optimistic.

;-)

I agree.  This was on the Dark Horse site in a preview area. (at least I think that's where I found it).  ;-)

Digging the cover.  Sort of channeling Charlie White with the heavy sculpting and warm cast.  I may have to look into this.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-17-2013/moment-of-zen---death-star-petition

Clever response.  I like the news anchor's reluctance at either having to address it or the thought of explaining it.

I'm a Gmail user and no messages about passwords.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking

Oh well.

I'm not finished with it, so no review just yet.  However, I thought I'd jump in on two of your points. Unless I'm thinking of the wrong one, the Prequel reference could also be a reference to a single line from the 1977 film.

I thought the SE reference was a clever wink to fans who have struggled with that particular change. I've never seen the SEs, but I knew immediately what Zahn was doing.

I started reading it yesterday.  Review in a week or so.

Review.  No spoilers

A short story to introduce us to a few of the characters in the upcoming novel Scoundrels.  I'm a big fan of Zahn's Lando.  On that note, Lando is really all there is to tie this to anything Star Wars, or anything space-related for that matter.

The story begins and ends at a card tournament, taking place over a couple of days.  There are four main characters; Lando, twin sisters who are just casual acquaintances of his, and a friend of theirs who Lando doesn't know.

Without giving anything away, they collaborate on a theft that escalates after the first day.  This is a dialogue-driven, cerebral story as opposed to any sort of space flight, battles, good vs evil, etc.  That's what I enjoy most about Zahn's more recent EU.  He goes outside of established Star Wars and gives us new people in new places.

The story ends with a nod to how their paths may cross again someday, which is obviously Scoundrels.  Anyway, that's it.  A light read, which I enjoyed.

zombie84 said:

Hey guys! Want to see me talk about Episode VII news and rumours with some other Star Wars nerds? Well, you basically get that at this place. But I'm also co-hosting a new Youtube series! Click here for our announcement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85QkzUVCspE&feature=plcp

Nicely done, sir!  Bookmarked and following.  Also, a tip of the cap to the set.  Fitting, but not an overdone distraction.