...make it this one. This is GENIUS. Wish I'd have thought of it :-D
Showing posts with label the Mandalorian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Mandalorian. Show all posts
Friday, January 15, 2021
Saturday, December 12, 2020
"Star Wars, nothing but Star Wars..."
Look, I love Star Wars as much as anyone (maybe far too much more than anyone. But what came out of the Disney Investor Event a few days ago worries me:
Ten... count 'em TEN... new Star Wars projects going on for the next few years. Those are in addition to The Mandalorian. Most of these are likewise going to be streaming series on the Disney+ service. Ahsoka and Rangers of the New Republic are said to be spinoffs of The Mandalorian. We knew that Obi-Wan Kenobi was coming (it begins filming next month) as well as the series about Andor from the movie Rogue One. Ditto the animated series about the Bad Batch (introduced in the final season of The Clone Wars).
Do we really need... or were we at all asking for... a series about young Lando Calrissian though? No offense to Donald Glover, I thought he nailed it in Solo: A Star Wars Story. But seriously, it's going to have to be something special to keep me tuned in every week. The Rogue Squadron movie to be directed by Patty Jenkins piques my curiosity. Done right, it could be a real homage to the fighter pilots of World War II (which George Lucas based the space fights in the original trilogy off of).
But to be honest, the only ones from this list of Star Wars projects - along with The Mandalorian - are the Star Wars: Visions animated anthology series (I have long argued that Star Wars needs an anthology series of fresh stories and new perspectives) and The Acolyte. The latter said to be set some two hundred years before the time of the Empire, and focusing on the Dark Side.
THAT is what I want most from Star Wars right now. Some new eras to open up and explore. Instead it's as if Disney is to afraid to move away from the well of the Clone Wars-Empire times.
How much more are they going to milk that? When there is some twenty thousand years of potential Star Wars lore to draw from and expand out into?
I want more Star Wars, no doubt about it. But of greater import I want good Star Wars. I want a saga that is fresh and full of surprises. And what came out of the investors event fell short of fueling anticipation for anything like that.
The good thing about Star Wars though, is that you don't have to imbibe of all of it. There's a lot of freedom to pick and choose which parts of the saga you will follow along with and which don't really satisfy your appetite. So I can maybe skip some and still thrill to The Mandalorian. Just like I have come to disavow The Rise of Skywalker almost completely.
(Hey Disney, give us that rumored "Lucas cut" of that movie instead!)
Saturday, December 05, 2020
Couple of hilarious music videos I came across
Awright, we could all use some laughter right now, no matter who you are. And in the past few days I've come across some really good videos worth sharing.
First there's this parody of "Sweet Child O' Mine", performed by Guns N Helmets featuring Axl Rose Grogu aka "Baby Yoda":
And then there is this fine piece of work: heavy metal guitar accompanying televangelist Kenneth Copeland (who has always been pretty creepy to me):
Tuesday, January 07, 2020
This is the way: "New Beskar Steel" wrapping for your iPhone!
Disclaimer: Adam Smith is a friend of mine. He's not paying to advertise his product on The Knight Shift and I didn't ask for any compensation whatsoever either. I'm only sharing this because... well, because it's kewl! And sharing cool stuff is just how I roll on this blog.
Inspired by the hit Disney+ series Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Adam has forged the "New Beskar Steel" iPhone Case and Cover. Imitating the much-coveted metal sought by the tribe and just about everybody else, the New Beskar Steel case looks like a real ingot of Mandalorian alloy. And it will probably do just as well in protecting your iPhone from anything shy of an E-Web blaster cannon. Complete with rich lustrous sheen and stamp indicating its previous imperialish possessor. Admittedly it won't make for much of a full-metal pauldron but if you need a real pauldron anyway, you've got bigger problems.
The case is available for every model from the iPhone 4S on up through the latest iPhone 11. Click here to visit the product page. I have spoken.
The case is available for every model from the iPhone 4S on up through the latest iPhone 11. Click here to visit the product page. I have spoken.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Thoughts on the premiere of STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN...
My friends, I know of no more proper way to put this: The Mandalorian is the best thing to happen to the Star Wars saga since the original trilogy. For the first time in a way, waaaaaay long time there was that same sense of broad-brushed wonder that we were assaulted with in Episode IV: A New Hope. And I started getting that vibe just within the first five minutes or so of the first episode, dubbed simply "Chapter One".
It only got better from there. And that's beside the point of getting a canon in-universe name for the toilet (and getting to see one, something I think only Babylon 5 has shown us in the entire annals of science-fiction). And of at last seeing what an IG droid looks like in action. And carbon freezing up close and personal. And that uberly cute ehhhh... "asset" in the final scene that will make Disney zillions of Mickey Bucks(tm) in moichandizing...
This is the Star Wars we needed and deserved. If The Rise Of Skywalker next month is even half as good as The Mandalorian series after only one episode, then I will call on everyone to forgive the cinematic mis-steps of The Last Jedi (word is that George Lucas was brought in to help with the final chapter's story, so maybe the original nine episode plan will keep to The Plaid One's plan all along). The entire heapin' franchise might at last have found its proper footing since its acquisition by Disney. It certainly does seem that way with the gritty setting, intriguing characters, and Sergio Leone-ish tone of The Mandalorian.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian is on the new Disney+ streaming service, which pretty much busts the fabled Disney Vault wide open (though sadly Song Of The South is still lingering in a safe deposit box). Speaking of Disney+, if you wanna have some real fun then tell your friends with the service to tell their small children that an even better movie than Frozen is something called The Black Hole. Then sit back and enjoy the kiddies' anguished screaming!
(I suggested that on Facebook last night. One friend privately messaged me about it: "Chris you are a sick sick monster and don't ever change"...)
This is the Star Wars we needed and deserved. If The Rise Of Skywalker next month is even half as good as The Mandalorian series after only one episode, then I will call on everyone to forgive the cinematic mis-steps of The Last Jedi (word is that George Lucas was brought in to help with the final chapter's story, so maybe the original nine episode plan will keep to The Plaid One's plan all along). The entire heapin' franchise might at last have found its proper footing since its acquisition by Disney. It certainly does seem that way with the gritty setting, intriguing characters, and Sergio Leone-ish tone of The Mandalorian.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian is on the new Disney+ streaming service, which pretty much busts the fabled Disney Vault wide open (though sadly Song Of The South is still lingering in a safe deposit box). Speaking of Disney+, if you wanna have some real fun then tell your friends with the service to tell their small children that an even better movie than Frozen is something called The Black Hole. Then sit back and enjoy the kiddies' anguished screaming!
(I suggested that on Facebook last night. One friend privately messaged me about it: "Chris you are a sick sick monster and don't ever change"...)
Tuesday, June 04, 2019
So... I've been busy...
Look, it's NOT like this blog has become a red-headed stepchild to me. Naw naw naw, far from it! Hey, this site has now transpired across fully one-third of my entire lifespan (and hoping it will keep going on for many more thirds, or halfs, or 99.44% and that's without using cryonics). And Lord knows, there's been plenty to muse about in the past few months.
So, what's gone on that kept all two of my faithful readers on tenterhooks waiting for their friend and humble narrator to return? In a word: "life".
See, I was involved in one very hectic task for six months. One that I'm going to be thankful for having for a very long time to come. And right on the heels of that came something that has already become the most fulfilling and rewarding career that I have ever had and one that I could not possibly have imagined might be out there. So for the past few months I've been throwing myself into that full-bore. That it gets to utilize my trademark wackiness and creative engines makes it that much more fun.
Then there was the matter of my own house. Yes, my own house!! For the first time in my life. Unfortunately being "here" and all my furniture etc. being "there" in another state, the living situation has been a fairly Spartan one. Fortunately that is now drawing to a close. I just have lots of stuff to go through, disseminating between useful and precious items and redundant crap that is best jettisoned.
But, it was always in mind to return to the blog and sooner than later. To chronicle more of my personal growth but also the usual commentary on pop culture, politics, pets (Tammy the Pup is crazy as ever but she's still attracting ladies better than I drive the car), a recipe every so often, the usual nonsense. I'm especially kicking myself in the butt that a review of Avengers: Endgame wasn't possible at the time. So far I've seen that sucker twice and haven't yet busted my bladder.
Then there's the Star Wars scene. What can be said about The Rise of Skywalker right now? Ehhhh… not much. I'm praying it will be at least half as epic and satisfying as Endgame. It's a funny thing: for every time I've watched The Last Jedi and thoroughly liked that movie, the following viewing frustrates the hell out of me. It's a very good movie and also not a very good movie. It's a Schroedinger's sci-fi film. Simultaneously excellent and lousy at the same time, depending on when and even where you see it. So I'm hoping that The Rise of Skywalker will conclude the saga in grand fashion. And then... I don't know what I'll be doing with Star Wars. The Skywalker family tale will have been concluded at long last. What else will there be? Yes, I know: The Mandalorian is coming to Disney + and there are the two new film trilogies coming from Rian Johnson and also the Game of Thrones creative team. But those are going to have to be really fresh and arresting before I invest my valuable time toward keeping up with.
(Then again, only in the past week have I finally begun watching Breaking Bad. I'm now early into that show's second season. THAT is arresting a television series as there's ever been produced. Breaking Bad is art. Could Star Wars hit that kind of tone? Ehhhh… doubtful. But I'll give The Mandalorian a chance.)
Anyhoo, there it is. And next week there is a post scheduled for this blog that is going to illuminate more on what's been going on over at this side of the screen. Maybe it will surprise and encourage others just as much as it has surprised and encouraged me. If so, then the frustrations and griefs over the bigger part of the past decade or so will have been worth it. I want to believe so anyway.
Okay, 'nuff of the pathetic excuses. Time for more blogging!
So, what's gone on that kept all two of my faithful readers on tenterhooks waiting for their friend and humble narrator to return? In a word: "life".
Then there was the matter of my own house. Yes, my own house!! For the first time in my life. Unfortunately being "here" and all my furniture etc. being "there" in another state, the living situation has been a fairly Spartan one. Fortunately that is now drawing to a close. I just have lots of stuff to go through, disseminating between useful and precious items and redundant crap that is best jettisoned.
But, it was always in mind to return to the blog and sooner than later. To chronicle more of my personal growth but also the usual commentary on pop culture, politics, pets (Tammy the Pup is crazy as ever but she's still attracting ladies better than I drive the car), a recipe every so often, the usual nonsense. I'm especially kicking myself in the butt that a review of Avengers: Endgame wasn't possible at the time. So far I've seen that sucker twice and haven't yet busted my bladder.
Then there's the Star Wars scene. What can be said about The Rise of Skywalker right now? Ehhhh… not much. I'm praying it will be at least half as epic and satisfying as Endgame. It's a funny thing: for every time I've watched The Last Jedi and thoroughly liked that movie, the following viewing frustrates the hell out of me. It's a very good movie and also not a very good movie. It's a Schroedinger's sci-fi film. Simultaneously excellent and lousy at the same time, depending on when and even where you see it. So I'm hoping that The Rise of Skywalker will conclude the saga in grand fashion. And then... I don't know what I'll be doing with Star Wars. The Skywalker family tale will have been concluded at long last. What else will there be? Yes, I know: The Mandalorian is coming to Disney + and there are the two new film trilogies coming from Rian Johnson and also the Game of Thrones creative team. But those are going to have to be really fresh and arresting before I invest my valuable time toward keeping up with.
(Then again, only in the past week have I finally begun watching Breaking Bad. I'm now early into that show's second season. THAT is arresting a television series as there's ever been produced. Breaking Bad is art. Could Star Wars hit that kind of tone? Ehhhh… doubtful. But I'll give The Mandalorian a chance.)
Anyhoo, there it is. And next week there is a post scheduled for this blog that is going to illuminate more on what's been going on over at this side of the screen. Maybe it will surprise and encourage others just as much as it has surprised and encouraged me. If so, then the frustrations and griefs over the bigger part of the past decade or so will have been worth it. I want to believe so anyway.
Okay, 'nuff of the pathetic excuses. Time for more blogging!
