Posted by Michael Sacco on Mar 11, 2011 in Star Wars
If there’s one truism of good hardware modders, it’s that they never stop with just one awesome mod. To prove it, Mark of Major League Mods followed up his far-out Millenium Falcon Xbox mod with this: an almost life-size R2-D2 that’s also an Xbox 360 and projector. Artoo projects the 360’s video output from the lens on his forehead on surfaces up to fifty inches diagonal. But that’s not all — he also has auxiliary ports for all the other game consoles as well. Even the controllers received the droid’s paint job. That’s one cool robot. You might say he’s the droid you’re looking for. Read more…
Han Solo has already shown us the results of crossing bounty hunters and galactic crime lords, but now we finally know what happens to those who cross Shawna, the manager at Jo-Ann Fabrics. Xanadoodle created this 16-inch throw pillow, which is a fairly faithful (as yarn goes) recreation of Han Solo’s famous carbonite imprisonment. At least this Han looks comfortable. Well, comfortable to lounge on, anyway. His face tells a slightly different story. Read more…
Got anywhere to be eleven-and-a-half months from now? I hope so, because that’s when Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is returning to theaters in 3D. Specifically, it’s scheduled for theatrical release on February 10th, 2012. The good news is that you can avoid the whole thing by just holing yourself up in a secluded cabin that weekend and throwing your cell phone and laptop into the ocean so none of your friends can get a hold of you and convince you to go see it out of some misguided notion that it was “still an okay movie, just not a good Star Wars movie.” On the other hand, Lucasfilm does say that the 3D conversion is “meticulous”… Read more…
I’m not sure why it bothers me so much to see those vans with those family decals stuck on their rear-view windows. Something about having to advertise the fact that your family shares a mini-van just seems a little much. If, on the other hand, your family owns the Millennium Falcon, I think I’d be okay with it. That’s why I love this design by artist Steve Thomas. I don’t think you’ll be able to find the sticker, but you can head over to TeeFury and pick up this nifty design on a custom tee of your own. Like every other design that gets featured on the site, it’ll only be available for 24 hours, or until it sells out — whichever comes first. Read more…
I don’t know why I thought Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga would be the last in the series of Star Wars and Lego crossovers. Maybe I just thought Lego was planning on sticking with film franchises they knew they’d be able to cash in on — Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter for example. Turns out I was wrong. Today marked the release of the official demo for the latest title in the series, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. As you’ve probably guessed, the plot of the game will follow the Cartoon Network animated series with a number of cameos from both the show and original films.
Visitors from all around flocked to San Francisco’s Union Square Park yesterday to catch a glimpse of Lawrence Noble’s giant fiber glass Yoda heart. The attraction is part of San Francisco’s Heroes and Hearts fundraiser to benefit San Francisco General’s Hospital Foundation — an independent NPO that supports patient care at the city’s largest hospital. I’m glad they finished it just in time for Valentine’s Day, but I really wish they had gotten to word out sooner. As you can see from the video above, people have been posing for pictures with it all day. No word on how long this temporary attraction will be on display, but if you do visit, don’t be that guy who has to throw up the Vulcan salute. It’s just not cool.
I’m not big on collecting bobble heads, but these are really adorable. Funko’s releasing a line of Star Wars-themed bobble heads with our favorite characters from a galaxy far far away. In addition to Lord Vader, pictured above, the series will also feature Leia, Han Solo, Chewie, Yoda, Greedo and an Imperial trooper. Interestingly enough, I don’t believe they have plans for either a Luke or Obi-wan bobble head. Personally, I’m not too sad about that. If I’m going to buy one, it may as well be the badest sith in the galaxy, right?
Posted by Michael Sacco on Feb 5, 2011 in Star Wars
He may come from a wretched hive of scum and villainy, but this crocheted Greedo figure is adorable! Just look at him. He wouldn’t shoot Han first. He wouldn’t shoot anybody. He probably just wants a piece of chocolate or a saltine. Loofah Your Life has him and other Star Wars characters, like Yoda and an ewok, in crochet doll form available on their website, and reasonably-priced, at that. Make sure you get your order in before everyone else does! Read more…
These have to be the most confusing Japanese ads I’ve ever seen. In fact, had I not researched it further, I doubt I would have realized they’re for a pachinko machine — Sanyo’s Star Wars Fever. The machine hit the market a few years back and while I’m not sure you’d still find them littered through out Japanese pachinko parlors, you’ll probably find one if you look hard enough. I’d rather just sit back and enjoy these terrifying, yet hilarious commercials. I just love the Empire’s fleet of Darth Vader themed 747s — or are those suppose to be B-52s. It’s hard to tell. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Jan 8, 2011 in Star Wars
Well, can’t really chalk this one up as a surprise — after all, the movies have been released on pretty much every type of film media ever made — but both Star Wars trilogies are officially on their way to Blu-Ray this September. On top of their presentation in the current-best audio and video formats, the six films will also be packaged with over thirty hours of special features, deleted scenes, and alternate endings, some of which we’ve apparently never seen before. Each trilogy retails for $64.99, or you can get the complete collection for $139.99. If that’s a little rich for your blood, then there’s good news: Amazon has special pre-order pricing, and you can get the whole shebang for $89.99. Search your feelings. You know you want it. Read more…
Oh sure anybody can protect their laptop by getting one of those ugly locks — but of you want to do it the Yoda way that just won’t do! This Star Wars LightSaber USB Desk Lamp is perfect for wannabe Jedi knights in training who want a bit of light by their laptop. The lamp comes with its own stand — or you can practice your moves freehand (as shown above). Read more…
Back in November, Kotobukiya decided to take a few photos of their Star Wars ArtFX statues while attempting to recreate some memorable scenes from the holy trilogy. Given that they only had Darth Vader, some Stormtroopers, and Boba Fett to work with at the time, I’d say they did pretty well for themselves. The statues are incredibly detailed, and thankfully lack the need for finer details like facial features, etc. No doubt that would have made their job a little more difficult.
I always assumed the Empire owned stock in Starbucks, but I guess I was wrong about that. Instead, they apparently grow their own blend. ThinkGeek claims these unique beans as being hand-roasted by Stormtroopers, but let’s be honest, when has the Empire ever employed stormtroopers for manual labor? All kidding aside, I’m not sure what’s worse, the fact that this coffee has been branded so shamelessly, or the fact that I really want to try some. These beans actually come from Africa and Indonesia and are an officially licensed Star Wars product, for what that’s worth. Take a risk and dabble in the dark side for only $15 a bag.
I spend so much of my time online these days that it’s no wonder I’ve forgotten how much fun it can be to take a camping trip. While I have to admit the notion of being away from my precious array of electronic devices scares the hell out of me, it wouldn’t hurt to unplug every once in awhile. Though I wouldn’t be able to bring along my copy of Family Guy: It’s a Trap, or my new LED TV, I can keep the Star Wars spirit alive with this awesome Tauntaun sleeping bag. As you’ll note from the picture above, the bag itself features a Tauntaun-head for a pillow. It also comes with a lightsaber shaped zipper so you can attempt your best Han Solo impression. Don’t worry, it probably won’t smell as bad — that is, unless you refuse to bathe or you’re camping on Dagobah. They usually retail for $99, but you can snag one for 20% if you order yours from ThinkGeek today.
This is a beautifully done series of art posters created for the collectible art house Mondo. Shown above is Star Wars by the artist Olly Moss — here are some other nice gems that are part of the series: Read more…
I still don’t get why people take the time to make these Star Wars poster parodies, but it would seem they’re becoming more popular. Back in October, I shared several examples of these alt-art posters and they proved to be somewhat entertaining, so here we are again with another set — this time, by artist Matt Ranzetta. While I personally can’t say I love the posters themselves, I can’t really knock Matt’s taste in cinema. They also fit the subject matter quite well, all things considered. I’ll admit that Cool Hand Luke made me giggle a little, though.
Who watches the Empire? Aside from making for an incredible t-shirt, this design by artist Jonah Block draws a rather apt comparison between the Watchmen and the Galactic Empire. At first I didn’t really see how you could compare the Empire who, though acting at the behest of an evil sith lord, ruled through fear and the gritty and morally-questionable superheroes of Alan Moore’s world. However, the more I think about it, the more I get it. People who trust or fear the empire do so at the expense of personal responsibility and freedom, ignoring or living with their plight out of a false sense of security — much like the every day citizens of Moore’s reality. It’s a neat statement, and one I’m not really sure the artist may have intended, but it works for me. If you’re a fan of Star Wars or Watchmen and love the design too, you’ll be happy to know that TeeFury currently has a t-shirt available for the next 24 hours, so hurry up and order one while you still have the chance.
Ever imagine what Star Wars would look like through the eyes of Dr. Seuss? Me neither, but cartoonist Adam Watson has. Recently, he posted a few pieces of this brilliant mash-up on his blog and frankly, they’re nothing short of amazing. While he claims that these pieces started as doodles for the most the part, he apparently has a few more planned. I’d love to see him strike a deal with Lucas Arts to publish a book, but I imagine there’d be all kind of legal hurdles involved. Either way, I think I’ll just cross my fingers and hope for more. Also, wouldn’t some of these make for a nifty t-shirt? Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Nov 27, 2010 in Star Wars
House of Mouse on Etsy created these incredibly adorable Star Wars mice, in varieties including the above Chewbacca, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Vader, and even C3PO! They even manage to make Jabba disarmingly cute. Of course, Chewbacca wins out a little here, having been huggable in the first place. Look at that fuzzy mug and tell me that you wouldn’t let the wookiee win. Read more…
Given the amount of time that passed between the previous installments of the Famliy Guy/Star Wars trilogy, I expected to be waiting until next season for the third and final episode. Family Guy: It’s a Trap, a reference to Admiral Ackbar’s most memorable quote. I’m impressed with the short turn-around, but I hope the episode doesn’t suffer as a result. I really enjoyed the previous two, Blue Harvest moreso, but I get the impression that someone was either holding an Imperial blaster rifle to the writing staff’s heads — either that or using thermal detonators. No word on when the episode will see a DVD or Blu-Ray release, but you can download the episode from iTunes on December 21st.
Posted by Michael Sacco on Nov 19, 2010 in Cinema, Star Wars
Helvetica: it’s a font, not an alien planet, though apparently it’s right at home in the Star Wars universe. Ad firm H-57 created these great Star Wars images composed entirely of typography elements, and they’re pretty elegant in their simplicity. Makes you wonder who did the Empire’s design work. Imagine the repercussions if the kerning wasn’t right on Vader’s business cards. Read more…
Back in August, Michael showed us some rather expensive Star Wars Episode IV wall art — a massive 9 x 15 foot replica of the original Star Wars Episode IV movie poster. As awesome as it is, the $255 price tag seemed a bit much. Thankfully, the guys over at ThinkGeek seem to have a solution, and while you give up some footage — their wall art is only 10.5 by 6 feet — the $149 price tag is a much more reasonable. The art is supposed to be easy to apply and shouldn’t be very hard to remove should your signifigant other decide to complain. Now if only they’d make one for Empire Strikes Back. Read more…
When he’s not busy lording over the Imperial fleet, or choking incompetent admirals who fail him for the last time, Darth Vader apparently spends his time hanging out in the Land of the Rising Sun. What’s he do exactly? Market cell-phones, what else. It would seem that he’s at the center of NTT Docomo’s latest ad campaign for Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphone. In case you’re wondering, it’s comparable to the Samsung Fascinate and Captivate in the US, featuring the Android operating system. Even though it’s obvious that he’s just hanging out, I’m still wondering what Darth Vader is up to — maybe someone told him that these were the droids he was looking for. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Oct 30, 2010 in Cinema, Star Wars
Brock Davis, graphic artist for Wired and several other publications, broke form recently and released this great 70s-style invoice addressed from Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt, requesting payment for services rendered. Even bounty hunters need to keep their paperwork straight, especially when a cool quarter-million credits are on the line. Makes you wonder what the invoices all those independent contractors sent Vader for Death Star construction (and repairs) looked like. Read more…
