Tobar

Don Verdean (2015)

From the husband and wife team that brought you Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre, and Gentlemen Broncos. I’ve been a fan of this team since Napoleon and have enjoyed all of their films to date. However, sadly I think Don Verdean was a bit of a misfire. I love a bit of dry humor but this film has taken it to an entirely new level that I didn’t know was possible. The humor was so dry I’d go so far as to call it brittle.

That’s not to say the film is without any laughs. It has its moments but sadly not quite enough of them. Having some familiarity with the communities and types of figures this film gently pokes fun at, I appreciated the care that was taken. Almost all of the characters are sincere in their beliefs and intentions if not a bit dim and gullible.

A decent effort that somewhat misses the mark.

SilverWook said:

It’s a conversation starter to be sure. Is that the real deal or someone’s recreation?

A faithful recreation based on stills.

If I still have the official HTD 1987 calendar stashed away, there are some nice stills in that I could frame and hang on the wall. 😉

SilverWook said:

And it’s a pity the fan club never made the Duckworld version of the Raiders poster available. 😉

I’d probably have nightmares if I had this hanging up somewhere:

And that’s speaking as someone who’s a fan!

Zinda, his face black, his eyes red.

Kiteo, his eyes closed.

The Beast at Tanagra.

Glowing praise. I’ll definitely have to bump that up in my queue.

Here’s our first look at Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange:

From a recent interview with Charlie Rose.

Y’all gon’ make me lose my mind up in here, up in here.

As well as the newspaper strip that can be accessed through my signature. Sadly, most of the good early material was abandoned in favor of the EU. Which is why I didn’t bat an eye when it died. All of my favorite stories had been thrown out long before.

They’re literally the backbone of the EU. They’re the skeletal frame that the rest was built on top of.

I’ve always been fascinated by the WEG books. I’ve read a few of them but have never found a group to play a game with.

DuracellEnergizer said:

*plays sad trumpet*

I’ve gotten distracted by the surprisingly excellent Doctor Who comics that Titan have been putting out. I still plan on trying to get back into the new Marvel Star Wars. But it hasn’t been very promising thus far…

theDecline said:

So how come when Yoda and Obi Wan die there bodys disappear but when Vader and Qui-Gon die there bodys need to be burned?

Lucas actually addresses this in ROTS. At the end of the film Yoda informs a shocked Obi-Wan that he’s been in communion with Qui-Gon and that he has new training for him. This deleted scene from the script sheds some light on it:

YODA: Failed to stop the Sith Lord, I have. Still much to learn, there is …
QUI-GON: (V.O.) Patience. You will have time. I did not. When I became one with the Force I made a great discovery. With my training, you will be able to merge with the Force at will. Your physical self will fade away, but you will still retain your consciousness. You will become more powerful than any Sith.
YODA: Eternal consciousness.
QUI-GON: (V.O.) The ability to defy oblivion can be achieved, but only for oneself. It was accomplished by a Shaman of the Whills. It is a state acquired through compassion, not greed.
YODA: . . . to become one with the Force, and influence still have . . . A power greater than all, it is.
QUI-GON: (V.O.) You will learn to let go of everything. No attachment, no thought of self. No physical self.
YODA: A great Jedi Master, you have become, Qui-Gon Jinn. Your apprentice I gratefully become.

Yoda and Obi-Wan spent years training and when they were ready to die let go of their physical forms. Qui-Gon didn’t discover this until after he passed on. Anakin never knew of this power and was likely helped to come back by Yoda and Obi-Wan.

Alrighty. It’s been a while since I last checked in but I’m now well into the revival series. I have to say, overall, I’m glad RTD’s reign wasn’t that long. He gets points for continuing the series and not remaking it. But, he doesn’t seem to have that great of a grasp on the Doctor. A LOT of the stuff going on in the series during his tenure is ripped off from the audio dramas, books and comics. He also never seemed to get a good grasp on the character of the Doctor. Tennant was great for the part but was failed by bad writing a lot of the time. Eccelston was brilliant in the part. It’s a shame that RTD and others in the production drove him to leave.

Moffat has his own problems of course. What he did to the Silurians was awful. As well as introducing idiotic concepts like the TARDIS exterior needing maintenance and River’s origins. However, he does get a lot right. The Sontarans and Ice Warriors are fantastic. The writing in general is pretty solid with the occasional gaff. I’m still pretty early in. Clara was just introduced for me a couple episodes back. So we’ll see how he continues on with the show…

Interesting, Blu-ray.com gave it 4/5 for picture. Sidenote: I never really paid this film much attention, but it has Max Von Sydow, Patrick Stewart, Kyle Machlachlan and Brad Dourif?!? I need to see this!

I just checked it out. It’s fantastic! Mark Hamill’s makeup somehow looks better as well.

Red Letter reporting in!

A trailer has emerged!

This is hilarious.

Can’t wait to find out what’s up SKot!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Jordan Schlansky was among us. =P

COMING SOON