There is a great disturbance in “the Force.”
The familiar mechanical raspy breathing I am hearing isn’t coming from me every time I do the exercise bike for 30 minutes. It’s the sound of a fallen Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker now turned Darth Vader.
What is this madness and sudden familiarity coming over me?
Every day, I read of people across the country camping out in front of various theaters. Do they know something I don’t? Is this the Second Coming of Christ?
Yes, I am a Star Wars fan, but my interest only goes as far as the original trilogy. I grew up on those movies and the toys. I saw all three Star Wars films when they were re-released in 1997 in celebration of the original’s 20th anniversary. I thought I was in Heaven when I learned in 1995 that Lucasfilm had once again awarded Kenner, now named Hasbro, the license to produce Star Wars figures and toys from not just the original trilogy but from the new set of films as well. I saw it as a chance for me relive my days as a kid.
I, like most everyone else, was excited as the days grew closer for the big screen debut of “Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom Menace” in May 1999. I was one of those people who stood in line three years ago at the United Artists Galaxy 9 theater in Garland to get advance tickets for myself and a group of coworkers opening day. If I remember correctly, I waited in line for close to three hours.
There was a reason I was excited about the wait. The reason was because this marked the first time in over twenty years a new Star Wars movie was being released. It was also the first time in over 20 years that director/screenwriter/creator George Lucas was back behind the camera.
I have seen all four trailers for Episode II on either the big screen or the Internet. I was also one among hundreds who clogged up various Star Wars related websites back in February this year to see exclusive photos of new “Clones” toys that Hasbro and LEGO unveiled at the New York Toy Fair. All of which will be fully stocked on toy shelves come midnight April 23, the day before this issue goes to press.
The excitement, however, this time is just not there. Truth be told, Episode II is not the first movie of 2002 I am most interested in seeing. It’s number three on my list. “Spider-man” is the first followed by “Road to Perdition” starring Tom Hanks as a gangster and Paul Newman in what will supposedly be the screen legend’s final appearance.
How many variations of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader can Hasbro make? I know, I know. As the saying went in the original Star Trek movies, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Hasbro must appeal to the young masses and not finicky toy collectors like me.
I don’t need another Darth Vader. (You listening Hasbro???) I want them to make more obscure characters they never did before with the original toy line from the ‘70s and ‘80s like Admiral Ozzel or a Major Derlin. Yes, I know most of you readers have no idea about whom I am talking about. Just ask those fans standing in line at the theaters who those characters are and they will be more than happy to tell you.
I’d like to see more 12-inch figures from what Hasbro now calls “the classic line” from the original movies than those from the new ones. You folks at Hasbro reading this????
While we’re on the subject, you folks at LEGO could also make some improvements as well. Stop catering to the ages 7-12 crowd!!! All right, that’s being selfish. Ok. You can cater to the little ones but give older builders like me some enjoyment as well and by that, I don’t mean coming out with ultimate collector sets of head busts of Darth Maul and a 14-inch Yoda with 1,000 plus bricks!!!
I want to see more “UCS” sets, as they are called, of an Imperial Walker or a shuttle that directly resemble the Hasbro toys you can put the smaller figures in. Listen to me when I say “Yes, I’m willing to pay the $100 dollar plus price tags!!!”
Come on guys, you got the toy licenses until 2007. Stop giving me reasons why I shouldn’t continue buying your products.
Don’t get me wrong. I am going to see Episode II but it’s not going to be opening day/night. It will be a week later. I hate crowds and I like having enough room to use both armrests. Unless I am on a date with a woman, I hate it when people sit next to me on both sides of my chair.
At this point, the only way I’ll see the film opening day is if I succumb to some foreign invisible substance. Jedi Knights from that “galaxy far, far away” call it “the Dark Side of the Force.”
Here on earth in the year 2002, that “Dark Side of the Force” is called mass marketing, merchandising and a lot of good and bad press.
©4/10/02
The familiar mechanical raspy breathing I am hearing isn’t coming from me every time I do the exercise bike for 30 minutes. It’s the sound of a fallen Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker now turned Darth Vader.
What is this madness and sudden familiarity coming over me?
Every day, I read of people across the country camping out in front of various theaters. Do they know something I don’t? Is this the Second Coming of Christ?
Ask any die-hard Star Wars fan what they are doing. Chances are they’ll tell you that camping out in front of a theater waiting to buy advance tickets for “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002) is a lot like waiting for Jesus Christ to make his grand entrance.On May 16, thousands, no, millions of people across the country will come flocking to see one of the most anticipated sequels of the summer. The difference is it will be millions minus one. I won’t be one of those people waiting in line.
Yes, I am a Star Wars fan, but my interest only goes as far as the original trilogy. I grew up on those movies and the toys. I saw all three Star Wars films when they were re-released in 1997 in celebration of the original’s 20th anniversary. I thought I was in Heaven when I learned in 1995 that Lucasfilm had once again awarded Kenner, now named Hasbro, the license to produce Star Wars figures and toys from not just the original trilogy but from the new set of films as well. I saw it as a chance for me relive my days as a kid.
I, like most everyone else, was excited as the days grew closer for the big screen debut of “Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom Menace” in May 1999. I was one of those people who stood in line three years ago at the United Artists Galaxy 9 theater in Garland to get advance tickets for myself and a group of coworkers opening day. If I remember correctly, I waited in line for close to three hours.
There was a reason I was excited about the wait. The reason was because this marked the first time in over twenty years a new Star Wars movie was being released. It was also the first time in over 20 years that director/screenwriter/creator George Lucas was back behind the camera.
I have seen all four trailers for Episode II on either the big screen or the Internet. I was also one among hundreds who clogged up various Star Wars related websites back in February this year to see exclusive photos of new “Clones” toys that Hasbro and LEGO unveiled at the New York Toy Fair. All of which will be fully stocked on toy shelves come midnight April 23, the day before this issue goes to press.
The excitement, however, this time is just not there. Truth be told, Episode II is not the first movie of 2002 I am most interested in seeing. It’s number three on my list. “Spider-man” is the first followed by “Road to Perdition” starring Tom Hanks as a gangster and Paul Newman in what will supposedly be the screen legend’s final appearance.
I can’t really peg down the reason I am not so pumped up this time around. Perhaps it is because the people I got tickets for back in ’99 when we went as a group are no longer around. Perhaps it’s the news that Episode II is already being prepared to come out on video/DVD near the end of October or November this year. Maybe it’s the fact come April 23-24, you can buy not just the hardcover books of the script and novelization almost a month before the film comes out but the comic book adaptation as well.Or maybe it’s because I have become rather disenfranchised with the Star Wars toy line. The folks at Hasbro have milked everything they could when it comes to new toy products from the original trilogy that there’s extraordinarily little left to release.
How many variations of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader can Hasbro make? I know, I know. As the saying went in the original Star Trek movies, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Hasbro must appeal to the young masses and not finicky toy collectors like me.
I don’t need another Darth Vader. (You listening Hasbro???) I want them to make more obscure characters they never did before with the original toy line from the ‘70s and ‘80s like Admiral Ozzel or a Major Derlin. Yes, I know most of you readers have no idea about whom I am talking about. Just ask those fans standing in line at the theaters who those characters are and they will be more than happy to tell you.
I’d like to see more 12-inch figures from what Hasbro now calls “the classic line” from the original movies than those from the new ones. You folks at Hasbro reading this????
While we’re on the subject, you folks at LEGO could also make some improvements as well. Stop catering to the ages 7-12 crowd!!! All right, that’s being selfish. Ok. You can cater to the little ones but give older builders like me some enjoyment as well and by that, I don’t mean coming out with ultimate collector sets of head busts of Darth Maul and a 14-inch Yoda with 1,000 plus bricks!!!
I want to see more “UCS” sets, as they are called, of an Imperial Walker or a shuttle that directly resemble the Hasbro toys you can put the smaller figures in. Listen to me when I say “Yes, I’m willing to pay the $100 dollar plus price tags!!!”
Come on guys, you got the toy licenses until 2007. Stop giving me reasons why I shouldn’t continue buying your products.
Don’t get me wrong. I am going to see Episode II but it’s not going to be opening day/night. It will be a week later. I hate crowds and I like having enough room to use both armrests. Unless I am on a date with a woman, I hate it when people sit next to me on both sides of my chair.
At this point, the only way I’ll see the film opening day is if I succumb to some foreign invisible substance. Jedi Knights from that “galaxy far, far away” call it “the Dark Side of the Force.”
Here on earth in the year 2002, that “Dark Side of the Force” is called mass marketing, merchandising and a lot of good and bad press.
©4/10/02
