MONDAY MUSING

By @hmsbeefnuts

It happened a few weeks ago now, and which seems like ages. Millions of words have been written and spoken about it. Bitching, cheering, fear, hope, all seems to be in the mix when discussing the biggest news to hit the Geek community for, well, maybe ever. I am of course referring to Disney’s acquisition of George Lucas’ company, Lucasarts. It was about time that someone here at All Geek To Me wrote some thoughts on this huge story, so I elected myself to write it.

I don’t have a problem with Disney, in fact, I kind of love it, I think they do a great job with the franchises they control, from ones they created themselves, to the ones they have bought, such as The Muppets and of course Marvel Comics. They seem to show a great deal of respect for all of their individual fans and one just needs to look at The Avengers to see how Disney can treat a massive franchise, beloved of fans world wide, with a hands off attitude. Disney are obviously in the business of making loads of cash, and they don’t want to fuck up huge franchises like Star Wars, and Indiana Jones, in fact, a trip around Disneyland will reassure you that Disney is the exact place for these specific franchises. Star Tours and the Indiana Jones rides are some of my favourite attractions in Disney, you can tell they care about and realise the importance of these films and characters.

I’m sure that we can look forward to a Star Wars Land, or even a whole Star Wars Theme Park in the future, and I for one can’t wait. As for the movies, I look forward to Episodes VII, VIII, IX and all the future movies have the potential to be excellent. Of course, they ould be awful, but then without the direction of Lucas, Star Wars gets a chance to breathe. I don’t happen to hate the prequels, I think that Revenge of the Sith is the best Star Wars movie, but I don’t think you can deny that Lucas can not direct actors. He is however a great ideas man. Give new Star Wars movies to the likes of Brad Bird, Del Toro, Spielberg or Peter Jackson, and I can’t wait to see the results.

All in all this is a very exciting time for fans of Star Wars, and I’m sure we can look forward to more and more epic announcements from Disney in the coming months and years, I have but one request, no fucking Jar-Jar.

My Geeky Trivia

By Geeky Gem

I found that when I was young I only ever wanted to watch movies made by two guys. The first I told you about some week ago and the other is the subject matter of today. Mr George Lucas, along with Mr Steven Spielberg I thought they made some of the best movies ever. I am not saying I don’t still like there work because i do but I have since grown to find other directors that make my mind race. Here are some bits of trivia about the man who bought us Star Wars.

He has created the image of always being on the cutting edge of technology. However, when he writes, he does it in longhand in a loose leaf binder rather than on a word processor.

Shortly before graduating high school, he was involved in a high speed car accident that left him hospitalized and near death

His name backwards is Egroeg Sacul. This name is also used in the Disney theme park ride Star Tours.

Sold Lucasfilm’s Computer Graphics Division to Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs, and it later became Pixar Animation Studio.

He was so impressed with relatively unknown stage actor James Wheaton that he cast him over studio objections in the voiceover role of “OMM” in THX 1138 (1971). The studio wanted Orson Welles to play the role.

Rewrote the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) to tighten it up due to the fact that the scene would have been too busy. It originally ended with the mine-car chase that was later added to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).

Conceived Indiana Jones while on vacation with his friend Steven Spielberg in Hawaii. Lucas decided to produce while Spielberg would direct.

Refuses to put “critics quotes” on his movie posters. Something that infuriates many critic societies.

Disowned Howard: A New Breed of Hero (1986) after the film’s release.

Had a dog named ‘Indiana’ which not only inspired the Indiana Jones character, but Chewbacca from Star Wars was also modelled around the way the dog looked.

We have yet again come to the end of another week of trvia, but what will i have for you next week is the big question. So why not pop back and see.

My Top 30 Favourite Movies: Part 3

By Geeky Gem

When last we meet I was just finishing a list of 20 movies I love. The problem there was I couldn’t stop and I came up another 10 but after this list that it I will add no more. Again these are just an add-on to the 20 you have already seen and are in no real order.

Harry Potter

While working on my top 20 before I made it 30, I came to notice I left off a series of movies that had me going to cinema once a year for a good number of years. Harry Potter, I will not say much as I have not much else to say about them other than brilliant.

 

Shaun of the Dead

The first part of the Cornetto trilogy never fails to bring a smile to my face. I can watch this movie over and over again plus it has zombies, this way I feel I can say no more on this movie. If you haven’t seen it go watch it now.

 

Gladiator

In a quest for epicness it would be rude to leave this movie off of any list. Brilliant and it has some of the best dialogue ever. On my signal unleash hell, stunning set and fights mixed with a simple story makes for a good watch.

 

Star Wars

The trilogy that made people go, Oooo lookie space battles. With a theme tune you can’t help but hum along too even if sometimes it ends up sounding like Superman and vice a versa. A fantastic story, amazing characters and stuff blows up what’s not to like.

Labyrinth

This is another of m all time favourite, movies, so much so a few years ago I bought the soundtrack on CD. Something I do for lots of movies I like. I often wanted the Goblin King to take my brother away just so I could go to the Labyrinth. Sadly this never happened, no matter how many times I stood in my brother’s room and said the words. Sorry Dan.

 

The Princess Bride

If haven’t seen the Princess Bride then I feel bad for you and you must now hand in your geek card and go watch it. Then and only then may you have your geek card back. It’s a brilliant movie, fun for all the family and the fight between Westley and Inigo is awesome. Don’t believe me go back to Sumer Knights and look for my Sword Fights article.

 

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

This was Square’s first full length future and it fitted perfectly into the world of Final Fantasy. It was beautiful to look at and amazing to watch. The story is simple and cast is rich. If you haven’t seen it but like Final Fantasy then go check it out.

 

Spirited Away

As many of you know I love Studio Ghibli movies and this one is frankly my favourite. Another simple story line of a girl trying to find her parents in a mythical land is brought to life in this animation in a way that only Ghibli can do.

 

The Dark Crystal

The first time I saw this movie, I didn’t like it. I was young and the Skeksis vulture-like tyrants scared me. As I got older I watched it again as I love Jim Henson and found that I loved it almost as much as Labyrinth. A brilliantly dark movie, with lots of action for Gelfling Jen, as he tries to save his planet.

 Iron Man

Now The Avengers was on my first list but my favourite member of The Avengers is Iron Man, This is an awesome movie and it put not only The Avengers on the map but brought Robert Downey Jr back to us. He is brilliant as Tony Stark; he just brings something to him that I can’t picture anyone else playing him.

That’s it we have come to end of my journey to pick 30 movies I love. I so could have gone on and on but then that would be too much. Like 30 wasn’t? Ha ha.

Top 5 Aliens

Visitors’ from another planet.

By Geeky Gem

A little while ago I told you about my top 5 zombies, not long after this I was sat around trying to think of something else I could bring you lovely people. Then it came to me, other than zombies I have a thing for Aliens and creatures from other planets. This lead to a quick brain storm with Beefnuts, yes I got help on this one OK, now can we move on good. Anyway he gave me some ideas and along with what I had, I came up with a list of top 5 Aliens, and here it is.

 

 

 

Tars Tarkas from John Carter

 

 

Tars Tarkas is a character in Edgar Rice Burrough’s Barsoom series of novels. A great warrior and leader among his people, the brutal and mirthless Tharks, he possesses a sense of compassion and empathy uncharacteristic of his race. He becomes firm friends with John Carter.

 

The Xenomorph from Alien

 

 

Did you really think I would leave this one out? I love this alien, it’s scary looking, deadly and gets better with each new version. Most of you will know that the Xenomorph is the Alien, Unlike many other recurring enemy extraterrestrial races in science fiction, the Aliens are not an intelligent civilization, but predatory creatures with no higher goals than the propagation of their species and the destruction of life that could pose a threat. This includes the human race and the next alien on the list.

 

 

Predator from Predator

 

 

Another of my favorite aliens, these hunters from deep space are just fantastic. I know I should spend the movie cheering on the human, but for some reason I like the Predator better. They are characterized by its trophy hunting of other dangerous species for sport. The Predators are depicted as large, sapient and sentient humanoid creatures that possess advanced technology, such as active camouflage and energy weapons, and are capable of interstellar travel.

 

The Ymir from 20 Million Miles to Earth

 

 

As we here at All Geek have mentioned many a time we love Ray Harryhausen, so it would be a crime not to included his fantastic alien on this list.  Now as always this alien was bought to Earth in the form of an egg, after scientists bring it back from Venus. Now as you can imagine the egg hatches and from it comes the Ymir a reptilian like creature. And he is not happy; the Ymir begins to grow at a prodigious rate due to the abundance of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere. The Ymir eats sulfur so passes up anything else. The Ymir only attacks when provoked, and is perhaps the most sympathetic creature on this list. This leads to our last alien.

 

Chewbacca from Star Wars

 

 

 

Oh Chewie, were do we start with good old faithful Chewie. Chewie is the best friend of Han Solo and has been with him for a number of years when we first meet him in Star Wars. Chewbacca’s creation as a “gentle, hairy, non-English-speaking co-pilot” was inspired by George Lucas seeing his own dog sitting up on the passenger seat of Lucas’ car. Chewbacca is a Wookie and he became Han Solos’ first mate and companion after Solo, then an Imperial Captain, refused an order to kill him while Chewbacca was a slave of the Empire. Solo was dismissed from the Imperial Navy for disobedience and became a smuggler. Chewbacca owed a life debt to Han and would serve Han Solo for the rest of his life. There is no better friend than this wonderful Wookie.

 

 

Again we have come to the end of another interesting list, I hope you have enjoyed this trip to outer space and back again in this look at aliens.