Star Wars Then & Now: The Original Trilogy

"Han Shot First! No, Greedo Shot First! No, Han was the ONLY one who shot!"

Sound familiar? This is the quintessential argument that spawns on Facebook posts day in and day out. Why? Simple...George Lucas has screwed around with the original versions of the trilogy so many times, that it's now become a perpetual argument. Younger fans who have never seen the original theatrical release think the older fans are crazy, and vice versa.

My opinion? I hold the theatrical releases as the true films, but I do enjoy watching the remastered scenes simply for the improved graphics and effects, plus I like the extended Jabba cut from  A New Hope...well, at least the original scene that was cut from the theatrical release entirely and the 2011 version. I'm not so keen on the cartoony 1997 edit.

Courtesy of YouTube user Marcello Zuniga, We have for you 4 comparison videos (ranging from 12 to 15 min. each) that show all the changes made over the years to the original trilogy. You will notice that Episode IV was the one that was most heavily altered.

There are many obvious changes and a few subtle ones. Makes you think that Lucas must have been really bored at some point.

Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show. Be sure to stop by our Facebook page & give us a like. We also have a 24k member strong Facebook group as well. Join up for more fun!

By the way, Han was the only one who shot. Greedo never even got the chance to pull the trigger. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

EP. IV: A NEW HOPE (2 PARTS)

EP. V: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

EP. VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI

Source: YouTube

Star Wars Battlefront Poised To End Destiny's Popularity

Destiny was the most highly anticipated title to hit the market back in 2014. It's production budget was a record $500 million. The game claimed it would run for 10 years based purely on DLC content.

The game came out, and despite it's ups, downs, and even some disappointments it remains a highly popular game among it's players. New DLC is released on a steady basis, and players continue to grind away at the missions, strikes, and instances. There hasn't been a direct competitor with Destiny that we know of. Halo 5 & Call of Duty can't truly be compared to Destiny, since both have story based game play with online multiplayer modes.

Destiny was designed as an online only game. The game is dependent upon co-op play between you and 2 other players, except for when you run the few missions in between each boss battle. In most cases though, you have to spend some time in co-op strikes so you can rank up and be able to survive running the aforementioned missions solo. The core of Destiny is promoting community interaction, which plays a massive role in the game.

Star Wars Battlefront is also primarily an online multiplayer game. What's more is that Star Wars is bringing with it countless franchise fans as well as Battlefront starved players....many of who are playing Destiny as we speak. DICE is tapping into the nostalgia of the fan base by featuring locations from the classic trilogy. That, couple with all the hype of the upcoming new trilogy makes Battlefront a force to be reckoned with.

EA Games is no stranger to DLC either, and you can bet they will be dropping them on a regular basis just as Destiny will, but Destiny is at risk of seeing a massive shift in it's popularity as Battlefront goes live. It wouldn't be shocking to see a huge chunk of Destiny players jump ship and head over to Star Wars Battlefront.

While in no way is Battlefront the final nail in Destiny's coffin, it is going to be the deciding factor in how long Bungie will hold out before folding and releasing a Destiny sequel. With the release of Battlefront, the 10 year promise of Destiny may not be fulfilled and gamers may see it's sequel hit the market sooner than expected.

As always, be sure to visit our Facebook page and join our Facebook group for regular Star Wars updates!

Source: BidnessNews

Darth Vader To Appear In "Rogue One" But Not As The Main Villain

We all know Darth Vader has to appear in Rogue One simply because A New Hopes begins with him boarding the Tantive IV after it's capture.

However it appears he will not be the main villain in this film. While the identification of the main antagonist still remains a mystery, it has been said that Darth Vader will make a small number of appearances throughout the film. Much like the Emperor did in Empire Strikes Back & the beginning and middle of Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader is going to appear as a puppet master of sorts.....at least he will according to BirthMoviesDeath.com.

What does this mean for our heroes? Will they come face to face with Darth Vader at any point, or will they just have to deal with their main adversary while Lord Vader watches from the shadows? More importantly, who is the main villain? I'm afraid we'll all have to wait for the answer to that last question.....and what of the "puppet master" reference? Does this mean Darth Vader allowed the Rebels to steal the plans in the hopes of following them back to the Rebel HQ?

That would make sense, although it would be a bit redundant since he later tries that same tactic on the Falcon but with better success.

One thing is for sure. The ending of Rogue One will definitely be a climactic one since the opening scene of A New Hope shows Vader's Star Destroyer in hot pursuit of the Rebel Blockade Runner holding those plans.

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Another New Face Introduced For Episode VII

Seeing non-human races within the ranks of the Rebel Alliance is nothing new. We had a Mon Calamari Admiral, a Sullustian First Mate, and Chewbacca just to name a few, but Episode VII will introduce us to the first ever non-human X-Wing pilot!

Courtesy of StarWars7news & FlickeringMyth, we have the photo you see above. He is known simply as "Bullhead" for now. I guess we'll find out his name in December.

As you can see in the photo, there is no CGI or MOCAP gear here, just good old fashioned practical effects and animatronic features!

With every bit of news revealed about Episode VII and the anothology films, I can't help but get even more excited. Call me crazy, but the fact that they are using 35mm film as well as a ton of practical effects, sets, and models and pairing it all up with the use of some CGI is making me feel like a kid again because it feels like Star Wars has returned to it's roots!

Do you like the new character? Do you agree or disagree with my sentiment? Let your voice be heard on our Facebook group and be sure to like and check out our Facebook page!

Carrie Fisher Responds to Slave Leia "Outrage"

Princess Leia has responded to all this hubbub about parents "outraged" over the depiction of herself as a slave....and she has done so in true Carrie Fisher fashion via her twitter account!

She fired off a couple of tweets (full of errors, but understandable none the less!) basically saying if it didn't bother her 40 years ago, why should it now, and also pointed out that she used that slave chain to overpower and kill her captor. See the tweets below.

Consider this as well. The Slave Leia figure has been around for a long time. In the 90's there was the Power of the Force 2 Slave Leia. Then there was the Vintage Collection ROTJ Slave Leia, and not to mention a slew of statues and/or busts, yet the "Outrage" didn't occur at any time for those items. 

POTF2 Slave Leia

Vintage Collection ROTJ Slave Leia

Gentle Giant Slave Leia

The only conclusion is that as time goes on, we are slowly being overrun by douche bags who get offended by every little thing and feel the need to bring media attention to their personal "outrage". If I could, I would take all of them and ship them off to a distant planet....and then use said planet as target practice for the Death Star's main weapon.

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Source: FlickeringMyth

Forcestrong Fan Cast Benicio Del Toro For Ep. VIII Villain

No rest for the wicked ;) We are getting Episode VIII, yes 8, information through the pipes...  I was just discussing this with fans of the Forcestrong group today.  Some people think the constant beat of info to be overwhelming.

Reports are coming in that Benicio Del Toro is in talks to be a villain in Ep. VIII.  I put together this little meme for your amusement and contemplation.

Here's a few sources for you:  Variety and IGN.

Sound off on our group with your opinion.  You can also comment below!

Japanese Kickstarter Attempting To Bring Star Wars Full Circle

It's pretty well known in the Forcestrong Network that Star Wars creator George Lucas was greatly influenced by Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, with Kurosawa's 1958 period adventure The Hidden Fortress often cited as a direct inspiration for Lucas' first space epic. With this in mind, it's nice to see Star Wars returned to its roots with this Japanese crowdfunding project for traditional woodblock prints of Lucas' characters.

The technique being used is known as ukiyo-e, a style of printing that was popular through the 17th to 19th centuries in Japan, with famous examples including Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Ukiyo-e prints typically begin life as paintings which are then carved into blocks of wood. Ink is applied to the surface of the woodblock and paper is pressed against the ink, with a different block of wood used to build up each layer of color and create the final image.

So far, the Star Wars ukiyo-e project on Japanese Kickstarter Makuake has raised nearly 12 million yen ($96,000) — just under 800 percent of its original goal. You can choose from three officially licensed prints depicting Darth Vader, the Battle of Hoth, and Queen Amidala (with R2-D2 and an adult Anakin Skywalker also in the frame). These handmade techniques of ukiyo-e don't come cheap though: a single print costs 54,000 yen ($434), with a set of three going for 162,000 yen ($1,303).

See the entire story and a creation video here.  Share with your friends and discuss on our FB group.

Source:  The Verge

Disney Wants No Part Of Schumer's "Raunchy" GQ Photo Shoot

I've let this bubble up for a few days.  Now it's time to take it before the Forcestrong Community!

There was a little too much force inside Amy Schumer's August issue of GQ -- that's what Disney/LucasFilm thinks, at least.  They let it be known yesterday that they did not approve of Schumer's racy Star Wars-themed photoshoot in GQ's special comedy issue.

Check out this Twitter thread when a fan asked @StarWars directly. 

Here's a few more for your consideration...

This is the cover of the August GQ

And some inappropriate lightsaber play...

Sound off on our Forcestrong group with your thoughts or comment on the article.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Is Now The Chuck Norris Of Star Wars

I came across this gem a couple of days ago on Tumblr and I had a good laugh reading it. Seems like Chuck Norris has some competition in Obi-Wan.  Fun Feats of a Jedi...

Have you got some of your own? Post them under the comments for this article on our Facebook Group. Let's see how many more you can create.

Marvel's First Vader/Star Wars Comics Crossover Is Coming!

With all the Star Wars excitement at SDCC this past weekend, Marvel Comics decided to get in on the action. Star Wars: Darth Vader co-writer Kieron Gillen sat in on the Cup O' Joe panel to announce Star Wars: Vader Down.

Gillen said this was a crossover between the core Star Wars comic and Vader. The crossover will cover a period where Darth Vader is marooned behind enemy lines and must make his was back to the Empire by fighting through an entire Rebel army that stands in his way.

No word yet on when the crossover will begin, so stay tuned!

As always, be sure to visit our Facebook Page and give us a like, and join our Facebook Group for all kinds of fun!

Source: Newsarama

Boba Fett Arrested In Brawl Between Chewbacca & Darth Vader

When we usually hear about Star Wars, we think of a galactic struggle in a galaxy far, far away.....not in the heart of Hollywood, CA.

On July 6th, 2015, LAPD responded to calls of an altercation between Darth Vader and Chewbacca on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near Hollywood Blvd. & Highland.

Somehow Boba Fett got into the mix and was arrested. No one really knows what was the cause, although disputes over tips are not uncommon. Hell, maybe they were fighting over Comic Con passes. Who knows....

As to why Chewie & Vader were not arrested? My guess would be Darth Vader used the mind trick to weasel his way out of an arrest, and Chewie.....well, I'm sure it had something to do with not wanting their arms ripped out from their sockets.

For more out of this world stories like this, be sure to visit our Facebook Page and Facebook Group.

Source: KTLA

Aussie Star Wars Fan Wouldn't Let A Tumor Slow Him Down: Launched "My Saga"

Adam Harris of Australia is just like any ordinary Star Wars fan, except one day he found himself faced with extraordinary circumstances. Around the same time as the birth of his second son in 2005, Adam was hospitalized after suffering severe headaches. Doctors found that he suffered a brain bleed due to an inoperable tumor. Adam now has to regularly go in for scans to monitor the tumors progress. 10 years have passed and he's still alive and kicking.

While he laid in his hospital bed on one of his hospital visits in 2014, he began re-evaluating his life. He realized that he'd never had the chance to visit America, home of Star Wars, or share that experience with his children.

Being an aspiring film maker, he decided he would find a way to fulfill that wish.

With the help of a Kickstarter campaign, he was able to secure the funds to take his son Jack Anakin Harris, to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim as well as LucasFilm. The campaign also funded the documentary that would chronicle their journey. The documentary is called "My Saga" and will release sometime in 2016.

UPDATE: My Saga website is live! Click HERE to check it out!

Below are some images of Adam, his son Jack , as well as the trailer for "My Saga" and a video interview with "The Feed".

The Force is definitely strong with this family!

Adam Harris

Jack Anakin Harris (L) and his dad Adam (R)

Adam & Jack with Mark Hamill at Celebration Anaheim

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Sources: Mashable

Han Solo Movie Coming! The Directors Of 'The LEGO Movie' Pegged.

StarWars.com just broke some big news!   

A Han Solo movie is coming and will be directed by CHRISTOPHER MILLER AND PHIL LORD! You may have seen their work in, The LEGO Movie and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Kathleen Kennedy, who will be producing, says she can’t wait to discover what’s in store from these two extraordinary teams of directors and writers.

“It’s not just any filmmaker who can tell the story of such a beloved icon like Han Solo, and I’m excited to say we’ve found the perfect team to handle the task. Larry and Jon know all there is to know about the character, and Chris and Phil will bring their wit, style, energy and heart to tell Han’s story.”

Slated for a May 25, 2018 release, the film will be executive produced by Lawrence Kasdan and Jason McGatlin and co-produced by Will Allegra.

Martial Arts Superstar Donnie Yen Confirmed As A Jedi Master In Ep. VIII

Hong Kong martial arts superstar Donnie Yen, has secured a spot on Star Wars Ep.VIII as a Jedi Master. Yen is famous for his roles as Ip Man in Ip Man I and II. These movies were based on the true life events of the real Ip Man, who was a Master of kung fu's Wing Chun style, but most notably as Bruce Lee's martial arts teacher. If you haven't seen the movies, they are definitely worthy of your time. Both films are available on BluRay/Streaming.

Yen's definitely got the background to pull off a Master Jedi. Just check out this fight scene from IP Man, where an imprisoned Ip (Donnie Yen) fights (as entertainment for the Japanese commanding officer) against Japanese black belts after witnessing his friend get executed for fighting to win scraps of food .

WARNING: Episode VIII Spoiler below the video clip!

SPOILER ALERT!

Yen's Jedi character is said to meet up with Han Solo in Episode VIII and become his ally. I guess we can finally toss out the rumors of Han's death in Episode VII.

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Sources: StraightsTimes, IGN, Twitch Film