We haven’t yet made a clone army, but we’re getting there. From the Future Force Warrior, FFW-Army, to the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton, BLEEX, we are equipping our fighters with clone trooper-like gear. Laser blasters being tested by the U.S. military are directed-energy weapons that use a laser beam to send an electric charge to the object of our disaffections. If that doesn’t do the job, the Close Quarters Shock Rifle projects ionized gas or plasma at the subject, neutralizing a whole group of mobile attackers and killing their electronic ignition getaway systems at the same time. Hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2.
Rarities
Science of Star Wars: Man and Machine
Droids, bots, and artificial intelligence — coming soon to rule the world. Right now, robots can clean the house, walk the dog, and identify lifesigns in the rubble of an earthquake. Soon, droids will replace astronauts on dangerous spacewalks and may even act as flying astromech droids to people living in space. How soon will it be before your mother has an unmanned drone to figure out what you’re doing all day? Forget about Big Brother — can the school principal use probe droids to patrol the hallways? Hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2.
Star Wars Rarities: Star Tours
In an effort to update their image, the Disney Theme Parks, with permission from George Lucas, produced the world’s first motion simulator ride, Star Tours, which has been often copied, but never topped. As opposed to a ride that goes somewhere or follows a track, Star Tours is a small theater that is bounced and jostled around in synch with a P.O.V. special effects film made by ILM where the craft flies through maintenance bays, meteors, and the famous death star trench. The effect is far more believable than it sounds. The story is that guests are a commercial spaceport, boarding a flight to the moons of Endor, the que goes past several robots, including R2-D2 and C3-P0, repairing one of the shuttles. The Shuttle is piloted by a first-time pilot robot, Rex who is physically there in front of the screen/window. The ship takes off to a rocky start,…
May the schwartz be with you: C3PO RAP
While going through some old VHS tapes I found at my parents house, I came across this little gem. It’s an old compilation of behind-the-scens, media info, and hype about the Star Tours attraction. The video is from around 1987 and as that, it isn’t perfect. It has some Tracking issues at times, and the audio has some static too it. But, its still very watchable. Haha, some of the content was a little painful to watch. C3PO rapping is hilarious, and really shows the era of the footage, and the fact that Anthony Daniels will do anything in that golden costume. I think if Lucas told him “OK Tony, in this scene C3PO needs to pleasure the other droids….” … he would do it. Also, each time I see Lucas in an interview ( this time without his beard!! ) its so transparent the little Star Wars cloud he is on
Star Wars Rarities: From Star Wars to Jedi – Making of a Saga
FROM STAR WARS TO JEDI: THE MAKING OF A SAGA is exactly what the title implies, a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that brought us the original trilogy of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Many fascinating facts are revealed. Did you know that Jaba the Hut cost over $100,000 to make and most likely is the biggest puppet in movie history? Two men were required to be inside the puppet to operate Jaba. Did you know that the Ewoks were modelled after Chewbaca, but Lucas went to the opposite extremes in their appearances? Instead of very tall, he made them very short. Instead of long fur, he gave them short hair. Further insight into the story of the saga is revealed, and never-before-seen out-takes of actors are shown. Mark Hamill (“Luke”) narrates. This video is 65 minutes in length, and it will be of…
Star Wars Rarities: The Making of Star Wars as told by C-3PO and R2-D2 (1977)
Originally released to the home video market in 1979 by the then-fledgling Magnetic Video corporation, this is the rarest of Star Wars material on video. I spent the better part of a year and a half looking for this original video at a reasonable price and I finally recently found it! This is the original version as it was aired on ABC-TV in 1978 with Robert Conrad as narrator and not the 1995 version that was re-dubbed with a different narrator’s voice and broadcasted on the Sci-Fi channel. It’s also the first piece of Star Wars material, predating even the VHS release of Episode IV: A New Hope, by two years. (Lucasfilm and Fox would not officially Originally aired on ABC in 1977, this special features behind-the-scenes footage from the sets, the visual effects, interviews with the cast and creators of the legendary film. Interviews with Mark Hamill, Carrie…
Star Wars Rarities: 30 Years of Star Wars
Since 1977, Todd Stanton has always been a fan of Star Wars. From his youthful days of trading cards to his adult years of DVDs, the 6 films has always been a part of his life. 30 Years of Star Wars is his documentary of a lifelong franchise some have called “this generation’s Beatles””. Come join Todd Stanton, along with many of his friends, to a galaxy far, far away and re-experience his journey of the last three decades through an amazing collection of multimedia history.
Star Wars Rarities: John Williams Conducts for ‘Star Wars’ Ballet
When it comes to things that don’t seem to go together, Star Wars and ballet would be pretty high up on my list. Sure, Lightsaber duels have a certain choreography to them, but full on ballet? That’s what viewers are treated to in this old clip featuring performers Galina and Valeri Panov dancing an elaborate tribute to Star Wars accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra — conducted by none other than John Williams. I’m not sure when this event happened, exactly, but you know it was in the distant past because once the segment ends they toss it to George Burns. I’m no expert on ballet, but this was impressive. And while I still don’t really see the connection between the adventures of Luke Skywalker and this performance (they’re not even dressed like Star Wars characters), you do have to admire the athleticism on display.
While we wait for The Old Republic: Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure is a 1984 made-for-TV film set in the Star Wars galaxy. The film focuses on the struggles of the Towani family, who have been stranded on the forest moon of Endor after crashing their starcruiser. Specifically, it deals with the quest of Mace and Cindel Towani—who are brother and sister—in locating their parents, who have been kidnapped by a monster known as the Gorax. The film is set sometime between the fifth and sixth episodes of the Star Wars saga. It is the first of two spin-off films of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The film’s success led to a sequel, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and a spin-off animated series which also focuses on the Ewoks. The film debuted with the title The Ewok Adventure as a holiday television special, airing on ABC on November 25, 1984. For its TV…
Star Wars Rarities: The Star Wars Holiday Special
The Star Wars Holiday Special is a two-hour television special (including commercials) set in the Star Wars galaxy. It was the first official Star Wars spinoff produced. It was directed by Steve Binder. It was broadcast in its entirety in the United States only once, on Friday, November 17, 1978 on CBS-TV from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST). In the story, Chewbacca and Han Solo visit Kashyyyk, Chewbacca’s home world, to celebrate Life Day. Along the way, they are pursued by agents of the Galactic Empire who are searching for rebels on the planet. The special introduces three members of Chewbacca’s family: his father Attichitcuk, his wife Mallatobuck, and his son Lumpawarrump. The main storyline of the film, which occurs two years after the Battle of Yavin (2 ABY), takes place on Kashyyyk. During the film, scenes also take place in outer space and in spacecraft…