'Twas the night before the new Star Wars movie...

So, I just can't let this historic event go by without proper commentary...

I remember, well over a year ago, when we got a two-fold surprise: not only had Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars, but now a new sequel trilogy was in the works.

People started having their doubts at first, but as time went on, things looked more and more promising.  And now, with the critics' reviews coming out, it looks like they just might have pulled it off.

...I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm glad Disney and all those involved managed to do it right and make something great.  Soon enough, everyone (including yours truly) will be able to find out for themselves.  (One of my mottoes in life: "If you're going to do something, then do it right.")

And yes, I did make this blog post with its title playing on the classic poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," because why the heck not?  It's not like I made the decision to release the new film so close to Christmas...  But since I did that anyway, I might as well write a like ditty for the occasion...

"'Twas the Night Before the New Star Wars Movie"
by Seth Shirer

'Twas the night before the new Star Wars movie, and all 'round the world,
everyone got ready as the theaters' red carpets unfurled.

For countless many, Real Life concerns were forsaken,
As they all wanted to see when the Force would "awaken."

It's finally here, ready to go, this brand-new "Episode Seven,"
And for the die-hard fans, this ought to be like Heaven.

It's the usual fare, with plenty of humans, aliens and droids,
and some space battles too, maybe even a few asteroids!

A franchise forty years old but still going strong,
No one wanted to see this new movie go wrong.

Never before had one of these films been released in December,
And this was a big event which they all wanted to remember.

Undoubtedly many parents will take the kids to see this flick,
To keep them busy as their young wait for gifts from St. Nick.

...Now the author wants to stop this poem before it gets lousy,
Especially before it wears on and he gets too drowsy.

Still, a final message for the fans who stay good and true:
Enjoy the movie, and may the Force be with you!

Happy Star Wars Day, 2015 - May the Fourth Be With You

Well, it's Star Wars Day for 2015, and here's what I've been working on... a song parody!

This particular piece is a parody of the song "Goodbye Black Ops" by Miracle of Sound, so maybe it would be best to listen to that first.  But otherwise, here we go...!

"Goodbye Star Wars Legends" (by Seth Shirer)

(Much gratitude to Gavin Dunne (“Miracle of Sound”), whose song “Goodbye Black Ops” helped inspire parody for the novels of the Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline now known as the “Legends” Timeline.)

It’s been a year or so since Star Wars got bought out by “The Mouse”
And I’m looking through all the novels lying around the house
We got to enjoy the galaxy far, far away beyond the actual movies
And now it seems we’re at their mercy as they do whatever they please

Now it’s time to say
Goodbye lovely Mara Jade, goodbye smart Grand Admiral Thrawn
Goodbye heroic Dash Rendar, goodbye fan fave Kyle Katarn
Sure I can still crack open these books and there you’ll always be
But according to Disney it’s goodbye, farewell to thee
Goodbye
Goodbye

I wanted to rant and rave and hurl a hydrospanner
When I saw the brand-new golden “LEGENDS” banner
Then again, maybe that alternate timeline did go somewhere wrong
In the later years, starting with those fearsome Yuuzhan Vong

Now it’s time to say
Goodbye lovely Mara Jade, goodbye smart Grand Admiral Thrawn
Goodbye heroic Dash Rendar, goodbye fan fave Kyle Katarn
Sure I can still crack open these books and there you’ll always be
But according to Disney it’s goodbye, farewell to thee
Goodbye
Goodbye

So in us fans’ tender care, all these older books will survive
But then again, on the plus side, this means Chewbacca is still alive!

Goodbye lovely Mara Jade, goodbye smart Grand Admiral Thrawn
Goodbye heroic Dash Rendar, goodbye fan fave Kyle Katarn

Now it’s time to say
Goodbye lovely Mara Jade, goodbye smart Grand Admiral Thrawn
Goodbye heroic Dash Rendar, goodbye fan fave Kyle Katarn
Sure I can still crack open these books and there you’ll always be
But according to Disney it’s goodbye, farewell to thee
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - thoughts, feedback, and a fan theory

So, like just about everyone else around, I've seen that teaser trailer for the upcoming movie The Force Awakens.

Cute little trailer, very interesting (although I do wonder about that droid design with the head on top of a ball).  And who wouldn't like the bad guy's new lightsaber with the laser crossguards?

I just have one message for Disney, from a who is obviously very serious about continuing the Star Wars universe: Please don't mess this up.  Thank you.  (Seriously, if they could still handle the Marvel universe very well, when why not that of Star Wars or anything else by LucasFilm?)

However, I also have a fan theory of my own, regarding the very title "The Force Awakens"...

What if the Force "awakens" in countless new people across the galaxy?

Consider; Only very few people who are part of the galaxy's population can use the Force, and I imagine that even fewer still would ever become Jedi (because they could also join other groups like the Sith, or maybe just keep to themselves and never get involved at all).  So very few people can use the Force, let alone feel it.  But what if the Force "awakened" in countless new people, and they discovered whatever wonderful (or terrible) things they could do with it?

That's all I have to say for now...