Christmas Troopers: A Little Naughty, Mostly Nice

Albin Johnson | December 20, 2012
Santa Trooper of the Redback Garrison

Santa Trooper of the Redback Garrison

There’s something about this time of year that brings out the kid in all of us (which is great, because a guy in Stormtrooper armor isn’t fooling anyone the other eleven months of the year). The holidays are a silly time — one for crazy sweaters, sing-songy music, and wishlists of toys (figurative or literal). But it’s also a time of child-like wonder: seeing the world through new eyes, allowing ourselves to ponder the innocence that mankind is capable of, and being moved by the traditions that came before us. The trick is remembering we can learn a lot from kids. Judge them by their size, do not!

Fifteen years ago, the Ghost of Christmas Past paid me a visit. It told me the Star Wars trilogy was returning to the big screen and just like that my childhood flashed before my eyes. Suddenly I was back to being that eight-year-old waking up Christmas morning to find a Millennium Falcon playset. And as fast as you can say Tiny Tim I was buying my first set of armor with the crazy idea of being a kid again.

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Star Wars Art: Why I Love It

James Monosmith | December 20, 2012

Steve Thomas Preview Image R2D2 Star Wars

If I press really hard into the corners of my brain, the earliest memory I have of Star Wars is a set of Return of the Jedi bed sheets and a Kenner Darth Vader figure, that I would imagine my mother bought for me. I was two years old when Jedi came out, so I’m not entirely sure at what age my parents decided to plop me down to watch the holy trilogy, but I do know that it put a significant stamp on my childhood and has stayed with me these past 30 years.

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DIY Winter Star Wars Sun Jars

Tessa Braun | December 19, 2012

DIY SW Sun Jars Glowing

Still on the hunt for the perfect holiday gift? If you’re on a budget and like getting crafty, look no further! A wintry Star Wars sun jar is a festive and fun project that makes a wonderful gift for loved ones. The jar stores sunlight during the day and then glows in the dark, adding some brightness to these long winter nights. (Kids, please get your parents to help you with this!)

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A Special Message for Star Wars Fans from Conan O’Brien

Conan O'Brien | December 19, 2012

Editor’s note: Rumors abound over who will direct the next Star Wars film. Thanks to the comedic genius of Conan O’Brien we now have a glimpse at what some of the biggest names in Hollywood may submit as entries. Check out the videos below:

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Things To Do On Hoth

Katie Cook | December 18, 2012

Things to do on Hoth

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The Cinema Behind Star Wars: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Bryan Young | December 17, 2012

cbsw

Western films have long served as inspiration in the course of film history. Orson Welles reportedly watched John Ford’s film Stagecoach repeatedly while preparing and editing Citizen Kane. Akira Kurosawa was said to have worshiped the work of John Ford and applied the Japanese sensibilities of samurai to a uniquely western genre of storytelling. Kurosawa made epic western-like films like Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Sanjuro.

One of his films in particular, Yojimbo, inspired one of the most influential directors of westerns, Sergio Leone. Leone turned Yojimbo, a samurai film inspired by westerns, into an Italian-made “spaghetti western” called A Fistful of Dollars. Seriously, it’s a direct remake with many of the same shots and lines directly paying homage.

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StarWars.com Weekly Roundup: December 14, 2012

StarWars.com Team | December 14, 2012

Wampa-Sitting-In-the-Corner

Wondering what’s been happening at StarWars.com? Here’s a quick roundup of what you might have missed this week!

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Loving The Hobbit, Building The Clone Wars

Dave Filoni | December 14, 2012

YodaGandalf

I will never forget the bookshelf my parents kept in our living room when I was growing up. My parents are avid readers, so they collected books on world cultures, art, architecture, opera, natural history, and world history. From this vast selection of topics, there was a series of three books packaged together in a special box that always drew my attention. When I pulled one out I found a strange red eye looking at me, surrounded by a field of black with bizarre red writing around the edge of the circle. At the top was what appeared to be four flames licking upward towards an inverted ring. The binding read, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien.

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The Saga Continues…

Albin Johnson | December 13, 2012

Untitled-3

Someone pinch me. I need a confirmation that I’m awake, because recently I read that new Star Wars films are in the works. I don’t remember finding an old lamp and rubbing it, and I don’t think my prayers from when I was 12 years old count, so I’m not sure how exactly my wish got granted for an extension on the single greatest saga ever. But here it is!

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Wear Star Wars Share Star Wars Day

Carrie Goldman | December 12, 2012

katie_501st

On Friday, December 14, 2012, we invite you to celebrate the third annual Wear Star Wars Share Star Wars Day, an affirmation of geek pride and a stance against bullying. Getting involved is easy. Here’s what you can do:

  • Wear something Star Wars or science fiction-related.
  • Donate a Star Wars or science fiction toy to a child in need (but please put a post-it note on the new, unwrapped toy specifying that it can go to a girl or a boy; otherwise, these traditional “boy toys” will be given only to boys). You can bring the toy to a hospital, a shelter, or drop it off with any charitable organization collecting toys.

Join Wear Star Wars Share Star Wars on Facebook

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