Author Archives: Travis

Week In Review!

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Happy Monday everyone! Glad to have you back! Have you all been washing your hands and doing your best to help flatten the curve? If you haven’t – start now. It would be a shame if you did something that might make you miss out on the future of this franchise we all know and love. Speaking of the future of Star Wars, let us jump right into the week in review…

  • On April 24th, Lucasfilm announced the addition of four new actors to the upcoming CASSIAN ANDOR series on Disney +. Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgard, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller will be joining Diego Luna on the series. Can Disney catch lightning in a bottle again and duplicate the success of THE MANDALORIAN?
  • According to Forbes, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER was the most watched movie at home last week. The data is based on cable, satellite and internet video on demand viewings. Rounding out the top five are Bad Boys for Life, Sonic the Hedgehog, Dolittle, and Jumanji: The Next Level. Not too bad considering your local Mega-plex is shut down. TROS is still in the public eye 4  months after it’s release.
  • From the “What else are you going to do during quarantine” Dept. Some magical soul decided to edit all 9 Star Wars movies together so one could see them all during one viewing. On paper, it is a very cool idea. However, finding a practical application of such an endeavor is maddening. By all means, give it a shot.

 Not the biggest news week, but some is better than none. Until next time, don’t bullseye the womp rats – they never did anything to you, did they?

Week In Review!

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Greetings and welcome to the home of all things Star Wars – YODASNEWS.COM. I am going to try to get back into the swing of things here and bring you all of this week’s Star Wars News. Please stay 6 feet apart and practice social distancing while we go through your week in review.

  • ROGUE ONE screenwriters Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz revealed some tasty tidbits while on the latest installment of IGN’s Watch From Home Theater. It seems that some titles that were contemplated before settling on ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY were DARK TIMES, REBELLION and SHADOW OF THE EMPIRE. Thank goodness they stuck with ROGUE ONE. 

  • On May 12th, a revamped, refurbished and rehashed version of STAR WARS EPISODE 1: RACER will be released on the Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch video game systems. Boasting new graphics and controls true to the original, the racing classic will be sure to attract fans who weren’t around 20 years ago for the original release, as well as bring back the casual gamer who played this on the N64 at the end of the millennium. I, for one, can’t wait to buy some Hot Pockets, put some Smashmouth on in the background, and play this until the wee hours of the morning. Who would have thought I would be anxious to relive my mid-twenties?

  • Is that stimulus check burning a hole in your bank account? Have no fear, Lego is here. Just in time for May 4th, the toy that has caused permanent injury to millions of unsuspecting feet around the world has announced their latest entry into their Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series – the A-Wing. Clocking in at 1,672 pieces, with a price tag of $199.99, the A-wing comes with a display stand, information plaque and A-Wing pilot. I have several of the Ultimate Collector Series ships and I think they are amazing. Just be careful when you move them around. One of the worst feelings in the world is losing your balance and dropping a 1500 piece Lego B-Wing fighter.

  • Finally, if you are one of those folks who are finding themselves in Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting with no end in sight, STARWARS.COM has come through for you! Offering over 30 backgrounds for your side of the camera, STARWARS.COM is bringing you to the galaxy far, far away while you are being far, far away from work. Want to talk to your boss while you are on Hoth? No problem. Need to focus your employees’ attention while you talk about the mission statement? When your background is Starkiller Base, that isn’t a problem. Chatting with Grandma? Do it from Tatooine. If you are going to zoom, at least have fun with it. 

Well, that’s it boys and girls. I am going to try to get new content up here as soon as possible. In fact, barring some unforeseen circumstances, I hope to settle a question that has been around for a whopping 4 months now – which trilogy was better? Episodes 1-3 or Episodes 7-9? Stay tuned to YODASNEWS.COM for the answer.

Oh, if you don’t hear anything from me in a week, please email me at TRAVISCRAFTS@GMAIL.COM and tell me to get off my Hutt like backside and start writing, huh? Thanks. Stay safe everyone!

The Little Things

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Hey everyone…

I haven’t written anything for YODASNEWS.COM for sometime now. Between work, my mother’s health and, now of all things, a pandemic, I haven’t had the time or motivation to put pen to paper or finger to keyboard.

I work at a public school in Maine. The plan was to stay closed until the beginning of May and then re-evaluate the situation. The word just came down today that we are to be closed until the new school year starts in September.

This was always a possibility. I guess a month ago we were all hoping that things would settle down quickly and life would get back to normal as soon as possible.

Sadly, that is not the case.

The Senior class of the high school where I work are being robbed. No prom. No Graduation ceremony. No wacky senior hijinks that will live on as whispered legends, passed on by underclassmen. They will be missing the last 4 months of what they have been working towards their entire lives.

It sucks. No two ways around it.

The last month has not been full of high points. In fact, the low points have been many and, at times, almost too much to deal with.

Then I found the little things.

Whoopie pie ice cream. That got me through a night. Going through my CD collection and putting it all on my hard drive to play through my new Bluetooth receiver. That process is still bringing me back to my college days and younger years when I thought I was bulletproof. Putting my Christmas lights (which I have not taken off of my house yet) on at night just because.

Now, my first big bit of escapism came in the form of watching STAR WARS – The Despecialized edition. Yes. This is  the fan edit that has seamlessly restored Episode IV to its original form – No Greedo shooting first, no Jabba and no CGI X-Wings attacking the Death Star. It was the film as I saw it almost 43 years ago at the age of 4.

When I watched it for the first time, I completely melted. For the next 2 hours, I was back at that tender age of 4 and everything seemed huge and full of wonder once again. I forgot about everything that was wrong with the world and, even for just the briefest of moments, I relaxed and enjoyed a time of zero worry and total bliss.

The point of this isn’t to hype up the Despecialized edition (but if I was doing that, I would be calling it an amazing restoration and claiming that we have all forgotten what the original film looked and felt like with all of the changes that have been made to it over the years….off the soapbox now), but more so to remind us to take a breath and find those little things in these strange times. Enjoy that cookie. Laugh with the family. And, if you are in a situation to, watch a really good movie from 1977 about robots, wizards, scoundrels and blue milk.

Well, I’ve got some time off from work now.  Let’s talk some Star Wars.

As always, buzz me at Traviscrafts@gmail.com . I will see you soon.

Hang in there.

IT IS TIME FOR A REBOOT

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It came to me in my waking hours.  That time where my gray matter is usually running the morning diagnosis – making sure all systems are go after a poor night’s sleep, flushing out one random earworm that somehow surfaced from my subconscious (this morning it was Gordon Lightfoot’s “Carefree Highway”) and stumbling to the bathroom to take care of those things that never used to wake me up before I turned 40. It was during this time that I discovered I had a new routine that was shoehorned into my morning cognitive schedule. The new routine was just a word, but what that word meant and represented was as clear as a Naboo stream. The word was REBOOT.

Let us face the hard facts – Hollywood is creatively bankrupt. The lack of new and fresh ideas has given way to rehashed franchises, movies based on toys and board games and the reboot. Ah, the reboot. Taking a movie or TV show that once held an important place in the hearts and minds of people and trying to recreate the same emotions with a younger cast, fresh take on the story, or just more glitz, CGI and special effects. Hollywood has produced 7 Spider-Man movies with 3 different actors and 3 different “universes”. J.J. Abrams used his voodoo juju to reboot the Star Trek franchise to mixed results while raking in the box office gold. Kevin Smith even confessed to the act by naming his latest movie JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT, without a hint of shame.

Reboots are now a part of the entertainment world. You can’t avoid them. They are everywhere and everyone is getting in on the act.

So, where am I going with this? I assure you I am not talking about rebooting our precious Star Wars movies. No. That would be insane.

I am talking about the toys.

Thanks to THE MANDALORIAN, we now have the first, live action screen time for the Imperial Troop Transport. The 1979 Kenner vehicle that never saw a lick of screen time in the original trilogy is now on full display on the Disney + series. That version is a soon to be released Hasbro vehicle for our beloved 3 ¾ action figures. Lovingly based on the original Imperial Troop Transport, this version is a sleeker, more refined vehicle that captures the essence of the original but has a more modern take on the concept.

In essence – a REBOOT.

So, before Star Wars fandom, my friends and family, and my force infused maker, I proudly and boldly state –

HASBRO…REBOOT MY TOYS!

Please take my childhood LAND OF THE JAWAS with its cardboard backdrop and exclusive escape pod and bring it into the roaring 20’s. Reestablish the CREATURE CANTINA as the only place a spacer action figure can go to find a job in Mos Eisley. Take my beloved DEATH STAR SPACE STATION playset and give it that sweet reboot action that Hollywood bestowed upon TOMB RAIDER, HELLBOY and GHOSTBUSTERS – take what was once sacred and make it different, yet familiar.

Hasbro, please reboot the toys from my youth. Take what was old and treasured and weave your magic to make something relevant to this day and age with the proper nostalgic appeal for us old nerds. Heck, Super 7 did it with the Masters of the Universe SNAKE MOUNTAIN. Make it crowd funded if you have to. I long for the day when I can go to my local Target and pick up the rebooted DROID FACTORY playset. I’m sure something like that would have to be rebooted with a hint of modern technology thrown in the mix…maybe an app that would help one plan what droids to create or some scanning feature that would show how your creations would move.  I don’t care. I want a plastic, 3 ¾ scale reboot. And I want it now.

In the shrinking, if not dying, modern Star Wars collectors market, something needs to be done to reignite the passion collectors once had.  Golden action figures didn’t do it. I’m guessing the lack of product for RISE OF SKYWALKER didn’t help matters either. I’m not saying rebooting Kenner’s line of toys from the 70’s and 80’s is the answer, but it might be a step in the right direction. The Vintage Collection seems to fly off the shelves as soon as they are put out and vintage packaging seems to be all the rage. Nolgastia sells. Hasbro, take it to the next level and give me a Rebooted childhood.

#rebootmystarwarstoys

TOP TEN STAR WARS MOMENTS FROM THE PAST DECADE

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We are close to the end of another year and you know what that means, right? Those obnoxious and pretentious top 10 lists that everyone and his pet dewback seem to crank out. We’ve all seen them. Some jerk offers up their yearly top 10 of some aspect of humanity and folks either agree or disagree, ignore or have a meltdown, or just nod their heads in acceptance and move on to the next list which is always right around the corner.

Well. Today, I am that jerk. However, I will not be doing some boring “Top 10 of 2019”. How can I do that when we are not only saying goodbye to 2019, but also bidding a fond adieu to the last decade! That’s right boys and girls. This here is the unofficial…

TOP TEN STAR WARS MOMENTS FROM THE PAST DECADE

Now, before we get started, remember – this is one person’s opinion on what the most significant Star Wars stories of the last 10 years are. If you disagree or think I am wrong, feel free to drop me a line at Traviscrafts@gmail.com and make your case. With that disclaimer out of the way, let us get on to number 10 on our countdown…

10) THE UGLY SIDE OF STAR WARS FANDOM (2018).

I didn’t even want to include this in my list. However, acknowledging their disgusting actions is different from tolerating them. Yes, these are the folks who made Kelly Marie Tran leave social media. These are the folks who can’t seem to stand a female character with pink hair calling the shots. These are the dolts who force me to explain to my co-workers what I think is “wrong with you Star Wars nerds?” There is nothing like hearing how Star Wars fans are “racist” and “sexist”. I remember a time when being a Star Wars fan earned you titles like “pathetic” and “loser”. My, how times have changed.

9) THE DEATH OF THE EXPANDED UNIVERSE (April 25, 2014)

After Disney bought Lucasfilm, the decision was made to eliminate the Expanded Universe from Star Wars canon. What was once the main source for new stories and continuing adventures for our brave heroes from that galaxy far, far away, was now regulated to the “Legends” banner.  With the wave of a Disney magic wand, gone were 36 years of stories. The old timeline was no more. However, great characters are hard to come by. As such, some have found their way from “Legends” to the new canon.

8) THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAR WARS (May 25, 2017)

 The one item on this list that makes me feel old. Here is to the next 40 years!

7) THE RELEASE OF ROGUE ONE (December 16, 2016)

In many ways, ROGUE ONE was the make or break point for the vision of Star Wars that Disney was producing.  ROGUE ONE was the first major film release to deal with the Star Wars universe that didn’t have the already established characters in it. If Disney was going to make new material for the Star Wars universe, this was its first step. Luckily, the movie was a financial success and widely accepted my most fans.

6) THE FORCE AWAKENS TEASER TRAILER DEBUTS (November 28, 2014)

Heads were melting, fingers were sore from left clicking the play button over and over again, and imaginations were rekindled as the teaser trailer for THE FORCE AWAKENS was unleashed upon the world. The trailer, which offered the rabid fanbase a whopping one minute and eight seconds of new Star Wars goodness, racked up more than 40 million views on Youtube in less than three days. Much like the teaser for THE PHANTOM MENACE, some fifteen years earlier, fans were left with questions, concerns and just a hint of excitement as the clock started its countdown to the release date of the actual movie.

5) THE FORCE AWAKENS RELEASED (December 18, 2015)

Waiting for that year to pass was torturous for many. Once THE FORCE AWAKENS was released, however, fans were eager to watch the continuation of the Skywalker story. Bringing in over two billion dollars worldwide, Disney hit the home run they were hoping for – ensuring a future for the franchise that was once thought of as a finished story.

4) THE MANDALORIAN DEBUTS (November 12, 2019)

The first, episodic Star Wars television show was finally made into a reality with the release of THE MANDALORIAN on the newly minted DISNEY +.  Not only had Star Wars invaded the world of T.V., but, with Jon Faverau at the helm, did it in a most convincing manner. With the last two episodes earning a rare 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and season 2 set to debut in the fall of 2020, THE MANDALORIAN is arguably the best Star Wars story to come out of Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. 

3) THE DEATHS OF RALPH MCQUARRIE, KENNY BAKER AND PETER MAYHEW (tie) (March 3, 2012/August 13, 2016/April 30, 2019)

Together, Ralph McQuarrie, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew maintained a certain level of anonymity. Not recognizable by the general public, these three men brought their unique personalities and skills to the table and helped to shape the Star Wars universe – with Mayhew and Baker bringing R2-D2 and Chewbacca to life on screen, and with McQuarrie providing design paintings and concept illustrations that helped create many of the characters and unforgettable moments from the Star Wars films.

2) DISNEY’S ACQUISITION OF LUCASFILM (October 30, 2012)

As if millions of voices suddenly cried out with a collective “uh…what?” It was a day full of double takes from members of the Star Wars fandom when it was announced that Disney was shelling out $4 billion to purchase Lucasfilm. The implications were immediate. Disney announced that the unnamed Episode VII would be released in 2015 and fans started the immediate speculation as to what else would follow. For a franchise that had all but told its story, the prospect of new movies, cartoons, books and television shows being released on a consistent basis was a wonderful concept. Love what Disney is doing with Star Wars or hate it, we now live in a world where new Star Wars content will be readily available on a continual basis.

1) DEATH OF CARRIE FISHER (December 27, 2016)

The passing of Carrie Fisher was a gut punch to Star Wars community. She was THE princess in the world of pop culture and in many hearts. I knew right off the bat that there was no way I could do justice to the memory of Carrie Fisher for this article. What I could do is share the thoughts that my friend The Reverend composed shortly after her death.  His thoughts about what she meant to him and to the fandom community at large are expressed better than I ever could do and better than most have done.

“Why am I upset by Carrie Fisher’s passing? “She’s just another celebrity gone. She lived a hard life.” True…very true. However, 1.) She championed mental illness. My Princess was as flawed as me. 2.) I loved Princess Leia since I was 5. She was always both my hero and ideal. 3.) Carrie Fisher was smart as f**k. 4.) I almost got a chance to meet her and get a photo op. She pulled out due to illness. I was actually heartbroken… Now I’ll never get that chance. 5.) A large piece of my childhood, which I hold dear, because I find the adult world disgusting, dichotomous and ridiculous in many aspects, died today. And we should all hold on to those things that make us remember the magic of being a kiddo.

I will NEVER grow up. I will ALWAYS love Star Wars…

And Carrie Fisher’s portrayal of Princess Leia will always be My Princess.”

There it is folks! My top 10 Star Wars events of the last 10 years. Let’s do it again in 2029! Hopefully we will be talking about the last 9 seasons of THE MANDALORIAN and a slew of new Star Wars movies. Here’s hoping it is a wild ride! Take care and we will see you in 2020, right here at YODASNEWS.COM!

Week In Review!

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Ho, ho, ho and Happy Holidays everyone! The rumors of my carbon freezing has been wildly exaggerated. The Star Wars Week In Review makes a grand return to the interwebs just under the wire as we get ready to say goodbye to 2019 and greet 2020 with much anticipation. I couldn’t have picked a better time to come back. I guess there was a movie that came out recently? Some kind of fan favorite that had weird, hairy creatures doing all kinds of crazy things? Yes, we will talk about CATS later on, but right now, here at YODASNEWS.COM, let us get into the holiday bounty that is STAR WARS – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. Here is your week in review.

  • What else is there, right? THE RISE OF SKYWALKER made its debut this week. VARIETY reports that it is on track to earn just shy of 200 million this weekend. Earning 40 million on Thursday preview alone, TROS sits behind THE LAST JEDI and THE FORCE AWAKENS in Thursday previews for the new trilogy (making 45 million and 57 million respectively). Reactions been split on Episode 9, with it earning 58 percent on Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer but holding 86 percent on its audience score as of this writing. Whatever you think of it, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is the ending to the story that started over 42 years ago. Now, the next big question – What will DISNEY do next?

  • I mean, What will DISNEY do next AFTER they give us episode 8 of THE MANDALORIAN? For all intents and purposes, Jon Favreau has been crushing it with this series. By providing a great story, well developed characters and the look and feel of the seedier corners of the Star Wars universe, Favreau just might be the “go to” guy in the future of Star Wars storytelling. And, of course, “Baby Yoda” doesn’t hurt matters either. In my other life, I work at a high school. In the last month, at least once or twice a day, I have heard students talking about “Baby Yoda”. Some have seen the show and some have no clue what Star Wars is. However, “Baby Yoda” is common knowledge. Is “Baby Yoda” a marketing tool? Absolutely. And you know what? It is working.

  • That is all I have for this week. I hope you all have a great Life Day and enjoy the season. If I may get just a wee bit preachy here – if you are able to help out…Toys for Tots or your local giving tree…please do so this holiday season. I remember opening up many a toy (mostly Star Wars) on the 25 of December, both as a child and as an adult, and it is a joyous feeling that no child should miss out on. If you can – do so.

            Thanks for having me back!

Week In Review!

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Hey everybody! How was your Triple Force Friday? As good as mine? Man, I hope not. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Welcome to Yodasnews.com – Where the Bothans should have gone to get their information in the first place. Here is your week in review.

  • Well, another Force Friday is in the books. The day that showcases the newest and latest Star Wars merchandise was met with desperate searching for said merchandise by collectors who were more than willing to drop some of their hard earned income to acquire it. More than one report claims that stores all over the country either had little to no new Star Wars product out on the shelves, or that the items they did have for sale were not the “Hot” Items (i.e. The Mandalorian figures and The Vintage Collection) – with some claiming that employees snagged those figs before the doors were unlocked. There is no finger pointing here. There were people who did score and some reports claim certain stores had an abundance of product. Personally, I visited two Wal-Marts and a Target only to find one Black Series 6 inch Cal Kestis figure and several Skiffs, of which I grabbed one. So, if you are lucky enough to count yourself as one who hit the jackpot on Triple Force Friday – Congratulations! Hopefully Hasbro keeps the pipeline full of Star Wars goodness so those of us who missed out can catch up with those who scored.

  • According to USA Today, Porsche has teamed up with Lucasfilm to promote THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. On Porsche’s Instagram account, a photo is shown with the caption “Something exciting is coming from a galaxy far, far away”. C’mon Porsche…I just dropped 40 bucks on the toy skiff. I’m not made of money.

  • Speaking of spending crazy money on Star Wars stuff because..well..what else are you going to do with it, cookware giant Le Creuset is introducing a line of Star Wars inspired, kitchenwares. From a Han Solo in carbonite roaster ($450) to a Death Star Trivet ($20), Le Creuset has got your Lucas branded, kitchen needs covered. I will now write four words I know I have never written in the same sentence before – Darth Vader Dutch Oven.

  • Diahann Carroll passed away on October 4th. Best known for her work on Broadway and her TV show JULIA, Carroll was a multi-talented performer who was involved in the entertainment field for over 60 years. Of course, she will always be MERMEIA the HOLOGRAPHIC WOW from THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL in my book.

 That’s all from me this week. Be sure to check out all of our coverage from New York Comic Con on Instagram, Facebook and on Yodasnews.com. It seems like there is some really cool stuff out there this year. I’m off to find a recipe for Rootleaf Stew so I can eat like Yoda when I get my BB-8 pot. If you have any questions, concerns or Star Wars recipes, hit me up at Traviscrafts@gmail.com. Until next time – Don’t bullseye the womp rats. What did they ever do to you?

 

Week In Review!

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Hey everyone! There is a ton of stuff in the rear-view mirror this week so I’m just going to jump right in. Welcome to where fandom comes to play – YODASNEWS.COM. Stop picking on that Ugnaught because of his dreams to play in the NBA one day and pay attention. Here is your week in review –

  • We now have a very good idea of what will be on the shelves for Triple Force Friday. I have to say that it looks pretty good. Of course, there are exceptions. Golden figures? Our crack research squad conducted an informal poll on Instagram (What? You don’t follow YODASNEWS on Instagram? You know what to do…) and discovered that a staggering 94% of people asked did not care for the idea of them. I’m sure there is a market for them somewhere but I am hard pressed to see it. Added to that is the lack of the standard 3.75 figures that have become a mainstay of ALL Star Wars movies. Yes, there are a handful of RISE OF SKYWALKER – The Vintage Collection figures, but that’s it. There have been reports of product hitting the shelves early. My good friend The Reverend (I’m sure we will be hearing more about him later) discovered the coveted Jabba’s Skiff at a big box store that starts with “W” and ends with “al-mart” and thought he made the score of the month. Of course, it wasn’t in the system and they refused to sell it to him.  He is doing well with his therapeutic counseling sessions and he should be back on his feet by Friday.

  • Deborah Chow has been tapped to direct the new OBI-WAN series for Disney+. Her body of work includes directing episodes of the TV shows REIGN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and MR. ROBOT and a film she wrote and directed called THE HIGH COST OF LIVING. The general consensus is that she is the right person for the job.

  • The Hollywood Reporter is claiming that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is developing a new Star Wars movie. Let that sink in. The man who is the backbone of the cinematic Marvel Universe is going to wet his beak in the Star Wars Universe. This just makes me giddy with anticipation. Maybe this is what I need to make my suggestion of placing the character of Crimson Jack from the Marvel Star Wars comic books into the new EU a reality. Hey Kevin…make it happen.

  • I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the passing of Sid Haig this week. Sid is known to the younger generation as the freakish, murdering clown Captain Spaulding from the Rob Zombie movies HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, and the recently released 3 FROM HELL. However, Sid does have ties to the Star Wars world as well. Sid appeared in George Lucas’ THX 1138 as a prisoner. He also appeared every Saturday morning as the evil Dragos on JASON OF STAR COMMAND, which was lovingly inspired by the success of Star Wars. Much like the original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, JASON OF STAR COMMAND provided us kids of the 70’s a way to enjoy the action and adventure that we craved after seeing Star Wars, but had no way to access unless we saw the movie again in the theater. Haig’s Dragos was the Darth Vader of my childhood Saturday mornings. Thanks for my childhood, Sid.

Well, that is about it. We are getting closer and closer to both THE RISE OF SKYWALKER and the launch of Disney+ and their Star Wars content. It is a great time to be a Star Wars nerd. Enjoy it. Until next time, here’s hoping that you are never too short to be a Stormtrooper.

 

Week In Review!

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Greetings to all of you scruffy-looking nerf herders out there! I must apologize for not having a WEEK IN REVIEW last week. I was really bored and decided to have my wisdom teeth removed to break up the monotony of work, Star Wars, and Cheetos. Big mistake.  Well, lesson learned. Now that I am able to chew again without wincing, it’s time to hit the keyboard and see what comes out. Welcome to YODASNEWS.COM – home of the best floating sabbac game this side of Nal Hutta! Here is your week in review…

  • One can’t swing a dead mynock without hitting a rumor, spoiler or leak regarding the upcoming RISE OF SKYWALKER. Of course, these bits of information are nothing but rumors, and will remain rumors until the movie is viewed. Whether to read or not to totally up to the individual, but the constant question is are any of these leaks legit?

  • Triple Force Friday is now less than two weeks away. Much like the ROS leaks, there are plenty of ideas and, more recently, visual proof of what is now expected to hit the shelves in the toy department of your favorite store. Focusing on THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, THE MANDALORIAN, and STAR WARS JEDI: FALLEN ORDER by Electronic Arts, Triple Force Friday has the potential to fan the fires of even the most cynical collector. Hasbro really has a chance to shine here. I hope they take full advantage of the opportunity.

  • I remember when Star Wars hit it big in the 1970’s, I was obsessed with the action figures and the ships. However, the toy that I really wanted and never got? The white SSP van with the image of the heroes on the side. The Super Sonic Power racers were toy vehicles that had a ripcord that was inserted and then pulled out quickly. This made the wheels move. The car, van or motorcycle would then race across the kitchen floor and crash into your sister’s Holly Hobbie tea party. I give you all of this background information because it was the first thing I thought of when I saw this…

Look at that sweet ride! Only $9,800.00 and you can drive that thing right down the main drag of Mos Eisley. Granted, vans like that have lost a little of their appeal as the years rolled on. Nowadays, they might be viewed as a bit more creepy than they were back then. Fair enough. All I know is that I can’t fit that graphic of a X-Wing on the side of my car and the floor of my Nissan is covered with fast food wrappers and not the Millennium Falcon.

Well, that’s all I have for you this week. If you have anything you would like to share with me or if you just want to tell me that you just purchased that van, drop me a line at Traviscrafts@gmail.com. Until next week- be sure to take care of your teeth and don’t blow your motivator.

 

Week In Review!

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Now that we are all basking in the afterglow of D23 and the official release of THE RISE OF SKYWALKER’s sizzle reel, it seems that news about everyone’s favorite franchise has slowed down like a Tauntaun’s heartbeat on Hoth. We have a few nuggets of goodness to go over that you might have missed. So get cozy here at YODASNEWS.COM, grab yourself a glass of blue milk and a handful of ronto jerky – This is your week in review.

  • LEGO unveiled their newest Star Wars creation. For a mere $699, you can be the proud owner of the Ultimate Collectors Series Imperial Star Destroyer (#75252). This beast of a build comes with 2 minifigs, 4,784 pieces, and a crazy amount of detail for the Empire’s defining war machine. Clocking in at over 17 inches high, 43 inches long and 26 inches wide, Lego has created another monster of a release that will have collectors scrambling for shelf space. I tell ya, my acquisition of the Haslab Sail Barge, coupled with my Lego UCS sets, has made real estate in my office a rare commodity. I might have to give the UCS Star Destroyer my side of the bed and I will sleep out in the garage. At least it won’t snore and wake up my wife like I have been accused of doing….from time to time.

  • It was announced this week that Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast and Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy would be available on both the Playstation 4 and the Nintendo Switch. I love it when the older games become available on the newer consoles. A few weeks ago I downloaded Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Just to take a break from riding around the world of RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 on my trusty steed, Oscar. Nothing breaks up the monotony of picking herbs and shooting turkeys like gunning down mafia types in a game that is two generations removed from my PS4.  However, a good game is a good game – regardless of how many years it has under its belt. The classic Star Wars games, going from the old Star Wars vector graphics arcade game, to the original Battlefront that came out 15 years ago, still have tons to offer and, for the most part, offer fantastic gameplay. With any luck, more and more classic games, both Star Wars related and otherwise, will find a rebirth with the gaming public. If you are a gamer, you have to know your roots.

  • Since it is a slow news week, I have a quick question for all of you Star Wars collectors out there – What is the one item you have in your collection that still gives you goosebumps when you look at it? The one thing that still creates awe whenever you are in its presence. Figures? Autographs? Screen used props that nobody knows how much you paid for and you will take that information with you to the grave? If you are a collector and have such an item, shoot an email to me at Traviscrafts@gmail.com . Send a picture if you want, but a description of this magical thing will do just fine. I am really curious as what we treasure as a collecting community.

Like I said, it was a slow news week. Keep your eyes and ears open though. As we get closer to the release of THE RISE OF SKYWALKER there is sure to be more bits of goodness and geekery that make their way to the public. Until then, remember – Holding your breath until you pass out is not a good method of acquiring blue skin like Grand Admiral Thrawn.