It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Gary Friedkin, best known for his role as the Ewok Paploo in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Friedkin, who was 70 years old, passed away after a battle with COVID-19. Friedkin was born in Los Angeles in 1950 and began his acting career in the early 1970s with appearances on popular TV shows such as Happy Days and The Six Million Dollar Man. He also had small roles in films such as The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000. However, it was his role as Paploo in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi that solidified his place in pop culture history. Paploo was a member of the Ewok tribe on the forest moon of Endor and played a crucial role in the Rebel Alliance’s victory over the Galactic Empire. In an interview with StarWars.com in 2018, Friedkin…
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Why Star Wars Is Still The Most Successful Film Franchise Ever
It’s been almost 40 years since the first Star Wars movie was released, and the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it seems to be only gaining momentum, with new movies, TV shows, video games, and merchandise being released on a regular basis. The fabric of the Star Wars universe is so rich and detailed – even the characters’ names in Star Wars are uniquely creative. If you’re curious, you can even take this quiz to find out what your Star Wars persona would be! But what is it about Star Wars that keeps fans coming back for more? There are a number of factors that have contributed to the enduring popularity of Star Wars. First and foremost, it is a well-crafted story with complex characters and an engaging plot. The original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) was particularly well-received, with critics praising its high production values and clever…
Why Luke Skywalker is One of the Greatest Characters in Star Wars
Luke Skywalker is more than just a name in the Star Wars universe—he is an icon, a symbol of hope, and a character that has resonated with audiences for decades. From his humble beginnings as a farm boy on Tatooine to becoming one of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, Luke’s journey is a classic tale of adventure, growth, and redemption. But what exactly makes Luke Skywalker such a great character? Let’s explore the many facets of Luke that have made him an enduring favorite among Star Wars fans. The Relatable Underdog One of the primary reasons Luke Skywalker is such a beloved character is his relatability. When we first meet Luke in A New Hope, he’s just a young man living on a moisture farm, dreaming of a life beyond the desert planet of Tatooine. He’s stuck doing chores, dealing with family obligations, and longing for excitement—much like…
Kenobi, for all its flaws, did a great job connecting the prequels to the original trilogy
The original trilogy (OT) felt majorly disconnected from the prequels plot-wise for a long time, ESPECIALLY Vader. I feel like Kenobi, for all its flaws, has connected the OT and the prequels pretty well. Re-watching Vader in the OT in light of Kenobi, OT Vader feels like he is a continuation of his prequel character in a way he didn’t before. Kenobi has done what the prequels, by themselves, failed to do adequately: show Anakin become Darth Vader and make the OT Vader make MORE sense, not less. It just didn’t make sense that Vader would be so calm on the Death Star in A New Hope if it was his first meeting with Kenobi since Mustafar. But re-watching the A New Hope Vader/Kenobi duel in light of their duel in Kenobi, it just felt right. Vader has had years to prepare for his reunion with his master and has already had ample opportunity to vent in…
Obi Wan kenobi is Not Weak
The arc in the Kenobi series so far has clearly been leading up to a traditional weak to strong power building type of story, or in other words, how Kenobi gets his mojo back after ten years of little to no practice with the force, or his lightsaber, and far too much PTSD. There have been some arguments so far that state that the show has portrayed a far weakened version of Kenobi, thus diminishing his character and heroisim. Sure, this Kenobi is not in his prime, as he was in the clone wars, but again, this is Kenobi at not just a different point in his life and character arc, but arguably the lowest point in his life. He’s survived order 66, yes, but he has lost everything. Aside from being torn away from his family at a young age to become a child solider in what is essentially…
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 1&2 Review
The two episodes were amazing….this show definitely has potential. Ewan definitely still has it. I didn’t truly understand his struggle on Tatooine until I saw it… Resisting the better part of his nature to help people because it would bring too much attention upon him and his personal mission. That they showed just how much of a broken man he is was unnerving. For 10 years this man didn’t Force and it clearly weakend him to the point that he was visibly struggling try to save Little Leia when she fell. That was a nice touch to support the idea that using the Force after not using it or after cutting yourself off from can take a major toll on you body. Viven Lyra Blair was a good choice to play Little Leia…she definitely has the sass and stubbornness down. I love that they paired Obi-Wan and her together to…
Boba Fett looks to have a season 2 coming
The recent series which is available on Disney plus has been a hit with Star war fans and other film fans across the globe due to how big the series has recently become. Some Star Wars fan bases have been laying bets on if the series will do a second season or not with non gamstop UK casinos at bestnongamstopcasinos.net being visited often by the fan base. More details will be stated below on how the series has been a hit amongst Star Wars fans and how a season 2 will be better than the first one. More details will be stated below on how the series has been a hit amongst Star Wars fans and how a season 2 will be better than the first one. The first season The first season of Boba Fett was action-packed and followed on by other Star Wars series that is available on Disney plus…
Relax. Boba will survive, and he will almost certainly get another season
I’ll be fair, I’ve had my criticisms of this show (see my profile for an earlier post of what I wanted). Not everything was going to be executed properly, just because, unlike the Mandalorian, Boba has a history with the fanbase – and so creative liberty is stifled a bit. But I’ve seen some crazy theories about how Disney’s ruining the character and such. That’s just not true. They’re setting Boba up to transition from being a lone wolf into a leader. Something like how the Mandalorian had to go from a lone wolf to a father figure. So a couple points: Boba isn’t going to die. His visions obviously mean something that’s been unanswered so far in the show. The show writers have them in there for a reason. I feel like once we know that, we’ll know a lot more about where this is going. But if legends…
Discussion: Boba Fett’s Memory in EP 4
There’s been a lot of complaining that our hero believed his armor was still in the sarlacc’s belly when we, the audience, saw very clearly in flashback that Boba escaped wearing his armor and was semi-conscious when the Jawas came to rob him. How can Boba not remember? He was awake! There’s no way to sugarcoat this: if you believe this is a matter of bad writing, you’re startlingly ignorant of reality and thus, the implied insult against the many victims of this kind of traumatic memory loss might be forgiven. Even if we haven’t experienced it directly, I suspect virtually all of us who live in countries where drinking is normal are familiar with people we’ve known blacking out memories from drinking too much. Boba endured a hell of a lot more than a few drinks too many. Car accidents and similar types of incidents that involve physical trauma…
Discussion: The Book of Boba Fett’s theme would be better with Mandalorian lyrics
Let me say first that I absolutely LOVE Ludwig Göransson’s work on the Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. He perfectly captures the tribal and dark undertones of the Mandalorian culture and knocks it out of the park with Boba Fett’s theme in the Mandalorian, his theme being a harsher and more ominous version of Mando’s more noble, heroic theme. It’s SO good and I wouldn’t change a thing about either theme. However…I feel like there was a missed opportunity with the Book of Boba Fett’s theme. Don’t get me wrong, the one we have now that plays over the title card and end credits is REALLY good. I love how it starts out really ominous before becoming more heroic before falling back into that initial ominousness to show how even though Boba isn’t a ruthless bounty hunter anymore and that he’s softer now, there’s still a reason why…
The Most Expensive Stars Wars Memorabilia Ever Sold
When George Lucas agreed to write and direct Star Wars in the 1970s at a smaller fee in exchange for 100% rights to merchandising. He took the gamble, and it paid off because Star Wars became a global phenomenon. The income from toys inspired by a galaxy that exists so far away turned Lucas into a multi-billionaire. In 2012, he sold his company to Disney, and the company now controls Star Wars toys, spinoffs, video games, and sequels. Specific top-rated Star Wars action figures fetch unbelievable amounts in the resale market. For many fans, collecting Star Wars memorabilia is a popular activity like playing video games or participating in the Michigan lottery for fun. Nevertheless, some of the memorabilia items have become extremely sought after and their worth has skyrocketed. So, what are the most expensive pieces of Star Wars memorabilia? Here are the top six: 6. Jawa figure with a vinyl cape Cost:…
4 Star Wars Life Lessons For Students
Star Wars is one of the most popular and biggest movie franchises in the world. Just 12 Star Wars films have sold tickets worth more than $10.2 billion, making the franchise one of the top box office earners. Star Wars has many great elements that make the movies entertaining, popular, and memorable. However, there are also many life lessons that a student can learn from the films. With this in mind, we have compiled a list containing the most valuable life teachings that students can learn from Star Wars. Use Failure as a Teacher Education often leaves students with a busy schedule that can be overwhelming and even lead to stress. There is homework with deadlines approaching, studying for upcoming exams, and more importantly, attending classes to gain knowledge to get employed or start a business like utländskacasino.biz. The pandemic has further increased depression and anxiety levels for students. Research…
5 Valuable Life Lessons Kids Can Learn from Star Wars
Star Wars was designed for the entertainment theater but it still has incredible lessons for children. Consider the fact that children will grow with this series and encounter trilogies somewhere in their lives. As they watch the series and scoop the lessons, allow experts homework assistants to provide online test help so that their academic performance is safeguarded. Pexels Star Wars packs some of the most incredible life lessons for adults and children alike. Even when the setting is ‘in a galaxy far, far away…’ and the plot is fictitious, children watching the series have a lot of lessons to enjoy. Here are some of the lessons children will get from this incredible series. Commit to the Quality and Type of Life You Desire The point is to ‘Do or Do Not.’ There is no room for trying to see whether it works. It is about developing a strategy, gathering…
Gina Carano Let Go from Star Wars The Mandalorian
The internet has spoken and Lucasfilm has answered. Gina Carano, who plays Cara Dune on The Mandalorian will no longer be a part of the show. She has been dropped by Lucasfilm and from the franchise completely after a series of horrible anti-Semitic tweets. However, this is not the first time Carano has taken to social media to spread her hate speech. She has previously stirred up controversy with her anti-mask posts as well as by making fun of people who post their preferred pronouns on their social profiles, and again with posts about alleged “voter fraud”. But it would seem this time, she finally took it too far and the internet demanded justice. In a statement obtained by io9, a Lucasfilm spokesperson said the following: “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating…
The Best Star Wars Merchandise Ever Made
It has been written countless times over the years that George Lucas cut a deal with 20th Century Fox, ahead of the release of the first Star Wars movie, that saw him forego a $500,000 fee in exchange for receiving all of the merchandise rights for the film. The movie studio couldn’t see the potential of Star Wars and felt that the film was likely going to be a massive flop. So to them, they were giving up practically nothing and keeping half a million dollars in cash. Lucas saw things differently; he believed that Star Wars was going to be a massive hit and that fans would love it so much they would be interested in buying figurines, mugs, T-shirts, and much more. So he was happy to give up his $500,000 upfront in exchange for exclusive rights to millions of dollars in merchandise sales. This led to the…
The Mandalorian Pulls Latest Baddies from Star Wars Video Games
Disney has captured the attention and the hearts of people globally with The Mandalorian. If you’re one of the millions who have been following the show, you may have also noticed that they turned to Star Wars video games for their latest set of bad guys. WARNING: Spoilers Ahead If you are not current on the show, you may want to go do that before you read any further. I really don’t want to ruin anything for you. If you’re up to date, then let’s continue. In Chapter 14, the Evil Empire chief Moff Gideon sends Dark Troopers to planet Tython to kidnap “Baby Yoda”. These Dark Troopers are menacing dark droids with red eyes and they succeed in nabbing The Child. But some of you may find these droids to be familiar. See what they look like here: These Dark Troopers actually originated from the game Star Wars: Dark…
4 most popular betting activities in Star Wars
There are many betting and gambling references in movies, and Star Wars makes no exception. We’ve all enjoyed the large Star Wars universe over the decades, with its movies and comics, and one thing we noticed is a lot of gambling. The franchise has a strong relationship with this industry, be it casino games, card games, racing, or all other sorts of games and gambling. For example, the scene when Han Solo beats Lando Calrissian to win the Millennium Falcon is one of the most famous gambling references in the movies. And there even are actual planets with gambling activities on them. Also, during the Clone Wars, gambling was widely legalized across the universe due to a law passed by senator Simon Greyshade. Here are the four most popular betting activities in the Star Wars universe: Sabacc and card games Speaking of that moment when Han Solo won the Millennium…
A ‘Mandalorian’ Movie? Pedro Pascal and Jon Favreau Talk the Future of the Newest ‘Star Wars’ Franchise
People love The Mandalorian. Well, they love “Baby Yoda”- that’s for sure. While The Child may have made it to mainstream audiences, Star Wars fans are really into the entire package. The Mandalorian gives us the story, the acting, the grittiness, and the Star Wars feel that many wish had been captured better in the recent latest films. Season 2 of the popular show wrapped up filming right before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, and soon filming will resume for Season 3. But could there be a Mandalorian movie? See this post on Variety.com for more from Pedro Pascal and Jon Favreau on the future of The Mandalorian and the potential for a movie: “The line is blurring now,” said Favreau. “Things that you would have only seen in the movie theater, you’re seeing on streaming, and I think it could go the other way as well.” Whether that…
YouTuber creates real-life ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber that slices steel
What Star Wars fan doesn’t love lightsabers? They are iconic with the franchise and in my years as a fan and a writer, I’ve seen so many lightsabers – at conventions, guild meetups, costume parties and even for Halloween – but none hold a candle to this one. It’s one-of-a-kind, at least for now. A real working plasma lightsaber. It’s expensive, it’s intricate, and this engineer did it! He and his team have been creating lightsabers for over four years now, but this is their first working plasma-based lightsaber that actually slices through steel. It’s over 3,000 degrees! And the best part? He made a video to tell and show you exactly how they did it. Be warned: you probably can’t do this at home. But it’s super cool to see how they do it! The video of him making this, which is part of his “Make it Real” series,…
This is the way: Star Wars fans raise over $10,000 in support of trans rights
Here’s a happy news story for a change: Star Wars fans raise over $5,000 in support of trans rights! It all began when over the past week or so, Mandalorian actor Gina Carano’s social media posts stirred up controversy. She seemed to have a lot to say about a lot of things, and not all of it was kind or flattering. But Star Wars fans are a special breed, and definitely passionate, and decided to do something to counter the hurtful language she was using. A group of Star Wars fans decided to come together and create a GoFundMe to support trans rights. Within the first two hours of creation, they had already blown past their initial goal. At the time I am writing this, they’re over $10,000 which will go to support the Transgender Law Center, an organization that “changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and…
Why Darth Vader HATED Grand Admiral Thrawn – Star Wars Explained
Just why did Darth Vader hate Grand Admiral Thrawn so much? It’s time for another Star Wars Explained video from The Stupendous Wave. In this video, they read an excerpt from the Thrawn novel and explain to us why there was so much beef between Vader and Thrawn. It’s right at 9 minutes long and gives a lot of understanding of the relationship between Darth Vader and the Grand Admiral and will help you understand just why Vader hated him so much. If you’ve got a few minutes, I definitely recommend it. This video covers it all: Did you learn something new in this video? What was your favorite part? Would you add anything? Also, let us know if you’ve read the Thrawn novel mentioned in the video.
The Relationship Between Han Solo and Chewbacca
Whether it’s R2-D2 and C3PO, Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, or stormtroopers with their poor accuracy, there are so many perfect pairings in the Star Wars universe. None of these partnerships can hold a candle (or, in this case, a lightsaber) to that of Han Solo and Chewbacca, though. From the first appearance in the original movie to the latest trilogy, the wisecracking smuggler and the hairy Wookie remain the best duo in the franchise. In a series that’s full of memorable characters, that’s quite an accomplishment. What has made the relationship between Han Solo and Chewie so endearing over the decades? While the stories of swashbuckling partners are a common sight in films, the friendship between Han Solo and Chewie is a bit more special because of the following dynamics: The friends understand each other (when no one else could) One of the most iconic things about Han and…
War of the Stars Documentary
What does Star Wars mean to you? For many of us, it reminds us of our childhoods. It brings happiness, it brings nostalgia, it’s a story of hope, and a story of good triumphing over evil. For many people, it was and still is a way to escape for the real world. It’s a way to get lost in the fantasy, the drama, the lightsaber fights, and it’s an epic tale of hope and forgiveness. In the Polish fandom, it means all of that and more. Imagine if it meant all of that to you, but… it was illegal to have access to it. What if it was illegal to watch the movies, or to collect the merch? The Iron Curtain was the political, military, and ideological barrier erected by the Soviet Union after World War II to seal off itself and its dependent eastern and central European allies from…
The Rarest, Most Valuable Star Wars™ Collectibles
In the 40+ years since the Star Wars™ universe was born, a lot of film-related merchandise has been released. Their value today is related directly to how commonly they’re found, so if you spot any of the ones itemised here be sure and snap it up. The Camera Used to Film Star Wars™ How we all entered into the magic of this franchise is quite rightly the rarest and most valuable. The Panavision PR 33mm movie camera used by George Lucas when filming A New Hope in 1977 got auctioned off in 2011 for US$625 000. A Miniature TIE Fighter From A New Hope This is not the toy but the actual movie prop, one of the miniatures used to film the Battle of Yavin, or Death Star Battle, that ended A New Hope. It sold for US$350 000 at auction, plus a buyer’s premium worth 15%, bringing the total…