Magnificent Star Wars Ice Sculptures In Belgium

Have you seen these ice sculptures from Belgium? They have a festival there and using over 500 tons of ice made these incredible pieces of art. Over 30 artists worked on the figurines.

Alex Girard, Artistic Director, Star Wars Ice Sculpture Festival: "All of the carvers here are not necessarily fanatics of Star Wars, but when you're, we had a fan view sight, because we say hey, there will be fans. So is this at the good side, does the sword, is it that way? What is the garment that they are wearing? We have to be really precise. The form, the design of the helmets of the troopers and all of those elements had to be studied in detail."

Let us know which one you like the best. 

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Google Has Hidden Easter Eggs In It's Programming For Episode VII

Go type "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" into a google search bar. Go ahead - I'll wait...

For those of you that didn't, it triggers a 'Star Wars Crawl' for the results! Pretty cool, huh? That's just one of the hidden Easter Eggs for the Episode VII buildup.

In a blog post they revealed that google.com/starwars will allow you to choose either the light or dark side to change your Google theme on lots of different apps.

This decision will alter the Google experience. Everyday apps such as Gmail, Google Maps, and others will reflect the moral decision that users made – giving off a Jedi or Sith theme. Google Maps Street View will also put users into the cockpit of an X-Wing if they opt to choose the light side of the force.

Let us know what other Easter Eggs you can find. 

Stop by our group (over 28,000 members) and like our page  (nearly 100,000 fans). 

Artist Spotlight: Michael Duncan

Artist Biography:

Michael Duncan is a fine art and illustration artist working out of Louisville, Ky.

He picked up the pencil at a young age, and has been developing his love for art ever since, he studied at the Academy of Art University only for a semester before having to withdraw because of financial woes, he then turned freelance artist and has been making a living ever since. 

Statement from the artist, "Art is the only pure form of expression in the world to me there is just something right about it, no matter what I have in my hand it's me creating and breaking the chains of everyday life and struggles, when times are hard I grab a pencil and just sketch. I'm the most determined and hardest working artist you will ever meet!"

Contact him today about commission work and check out his time lapse video below, more on YouTube. 

Get your own Artist Spotlight on The Forcestrong Network. Contact me here.

BRAND NEW Teaser With Poe, Chewie, and Finn In Action!

BRAND NEW FRESH TEASER THIS MORNING!

Poe gives orders and new action from Kylo Ren, Chewie, Han, and Finn. 

Check it out below:

Forcestrong Editorial Breakdown Of Rogue One

Written By Wesley Younger

There isn't a more formidable force in cinematic fandom that that of Star Wars. It's been growing for almost 40 years with each generation adding millions of new fans.

One of the favorite pastimes of Star Wars fans is the endless debates and speculation that the Star Wars Universe offers. The Galaxy far far away is so rich in character and story that the most minute morsel of detail can bring forth hours of passionate deliberation. A 3:00 am breakfast at Denny's between Star Wars geeks can look like a parliamentary filibuster on C-Span. Sometimes entire hypothetical plots have been concocted by the most obscure characters or settings.

It is in that spirit Rogue One: A Star Wars story was brought to life.

LucasFilm chief creative officer John Knoll was a visual effects coordinator for the Star Wars prequels as well as countless other blockbusters, and one of the originators of Photoshop. In 2012 he pitched the idea of Rogue One to Kathleen Kennedy based on a line from the opening crawl of the very first Star Wars film A New Hope.

"During the battle, rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR."

To me this is a genius idea and I believe I can speak for most Star Wars fans when I say it's an idea we have all speculated on. It's the very action that sets everything we love about Star Wars into motion. The catalyst that prompts Darth Vader and Imperial Forces to attack Princess Leia's ship. It's the desperation of Princess Leia that causes her to hide the stolen plans in her Astromech Droid R2-D2 and send him to Tatooine with his bumbling companion C-3PO to deliver the plans to Obi Wan Kenobi, her only hope. It's those series of events that ultimately enters Luke Skywalker into the fold. 

The question is how did the Rebel spies do it? And who are these rebel spies? Are they the Bothans Mon Mothma mentioned? What battle did the Rebels win and how did that effect the acquisition of these plans? So many nuggets of curiosity packed in that one line written almost 40 years ago.

So now with the help of Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy and Director Gareth Edwards Disney prepares to make the very first Star Wars film not directly centered around the Skywalker saga (unless you include that God awful 80's Ewok movie).

Here are some things I'd like to see in Rogue One:

1.) An Identity for the Anthology films.

In an interview with the Costco Connection of all places Kathleen Kennedy said this in regards to future Star Wars projects:

"The Saga films focus on the Skywalker family saga. The stories follow a linear narrative that connects to the previous six films. The Force Awakens follows Return of the Jedi and continues that generational story. The Anthology films offer opportunities to explore fresh characters, new storylines and a variety of genres inside the Star Wars universe."

One of the major challenges Disney will have with creating Rogue One is identity. Disney will have to establish that this is still the Star Wars universe we've all grown to love without using all the tropes that identify with the saga films. Certain traditions such as saying "I have a bad feeling about this" and Wilhelm Screams can stick around as well as the universal facts like the roar of a Tie-Fighter and the horrible aim of Stormtroopers.

However certain Star Wars guarantees such as Lightsaber battles and even the use of the force may have to take a backseat in order expand the universe and explore different types of heroes and villains.

One major change already guaranteed is the score. It's almost blasphemous to think of a Star Wars film not being scored by the legendary John Williams but Disney has hired Alexandre Desplat (The King's Speech) to score Rogue One. A familiar sounding Star Wars score without some of the signature themes would be one way to put you in the Star Wars universe while letting you know this isn't same old same old.

Personally I think it would be great if the film started with the iconic blue text

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....

But hit you with a completely different piece of music than the Star Wars theme. We could still get an opening crawl preceded by the Star Wars logo but make a subtle but dramatic change by making the text red. All of these things could go a long way in establishing identity.

2.) Dirty, Gritty, War

Director Gareth Edwards hasn't been shy about the fact that Rogue One will be a War Film. "It's called Star WARS" he said at Star Wars celebration. "The absence of the Jedi is omnipresent in the film. It hangs over the whole movie.” Edwards went on to explain. 

Its almost unfathomable to watch a Star Wars film without the presence of Jedi but that's what will happen with Rogue One. A rebellion in despair, backs against the wall facing almost certain destruction. In need for A New Hope. “It’s about the fact that god’s not coming to save us, and we’re on our own" said Edwards.

We know before Episode IV the rebellion scores their first victory vs the Empire in some sort of battle. I expect this battle to be the focal point of this film. When on screen the movie will be more similar to the Battlefront video game with a story more similar to Battlefront:Twilight Company. 

3.) Darth Vader being a Sith Lord While the omission of Jedi seems to be one of the central themes in Rogue One according to Gareth Edwards, the Sith's role wasn't mentioned.

With the plot taking place just before a New Hope it's hard to believe we won't see Darth Vader and maybe even the Emperor himself making an appearance or even having a central role.

If Vader does appear I believe it will be in more of a supporting role or maybe even a final act appearance. The problem with this is that it's one more battle we know Vader loses. It's obvious the Rebel Alliance steals the Death Star plans because we've seen A New Hope. Disney will have to find a way for the rebels to win that still allows Vader to maintain his badassery.

Maybe Vader kills all the Bothans himself. Or even better the Rogue One heroes are on Alderaan when Tarkin and Vader blow it up with the Death Star.

Either way the writers of Rogue One need to maintain the the threat of Darth Vader for the integrity of the character and the original trilogy. With Brian Muir the original sculptor of Vader's helmet being signed for Rogue One it seems likely we will see Vader on screen again.

As somebody who's not a huge fan of the prequels I believe Rogue One is not only a chance to expand the Universe but to give us the prequels we never got. While we may not get the retelling of the fall of Anakin Skywalker a story with Vader showcasing his strength such as in the book "Lords of the Sith" could make for a memorable cinematic experience.

Rogue One is due for release on December 16th 2016

Anyone Watch SNL Last Night? TFA Audition Skit Was Hilarious!

Bobby Moynihan was dead-on with his Lucas impression!

Actually watched a little of SNL last night, and I'm glad I did.

In honor of Star Wars: The Force Awakens' impending release date, director JJ Abrams stopped by SNL Saturday night to share some "never-before-seen screen tests" of famous celebrities reading for various roles.

Actual cast members Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were there to provide support to the SNL cast's best celebrity impressions, with a few surprise appearances mixed in.

And the result was one of SNL's strongest sketches all season:

Forcestrong Editorial: Mind Control and You 101

Forcestrong Editorial:

One of the coolest aspects of Force users is mind control. I mean think about it, a whole army of weak minded beings at your control as a Sith Lord or perhaps a persuasive nudge to help further along your mission for the greater good as a Jedi. As far as mind control goes, we all know it only works on the weak minded. Here in lies the basis of this article. While watching Episode 1, (yes, I know) Qui Gon and Obi Wan illicit the help of our favorite Gungan, Jar Jar Binks, to guide them to Otoh Gunga in a attempt to recruit the Gungans in the war for Naboo. In their meeting with Rugor Nass, aka. Boss Nass, Qui Gon realizes his efforts are not working to convince Nass to join in the fight and ask Nass to speed them on their way.

Here is the actual dialog in the scene: 

QUI-GON: (waves his hand) Then speed us on our way. 

BOSS NASS: Wesa gonna speed yousaway. 

QUI-GON: We could use a transport. 

BOSS NASS: Wesa give yousa una bongo. Da speedest way tooda Naboo tis goen through da core. Now go. 

QUI-GON: Thank you for your help. We leave in peace. 

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN turn to leave. 

OBI-WAN: Master, what's a bongo? 

QUI-GON: A transport, I hope. 

The JEDI notice JAR JAR in chains to one side, waiting to hear his verdict. 

QUI-GON stops. JAR JAR gives him a forlorn look. 

JAR JAR: Daza setten yousa up. Goen through da planet core is bad bombin!! Ahhh... any hep hair would be hot. JAR JAR's soulful look is counter-pointed by a sheepish grin. 

OBI-WAN: Master, we're short of time. 

QUI-GON: We'll need a navigator to get us through the planet's core. This Gungan may be of help. QUI-GON walks back to BOSS NASS. 

QUI-GON: (cont'd) What is to become of Jar Jar Binks here? 

BOSS NASS: Hisen to be pune-ished. JAR JAR hangs his head and wines. 

QUI-GON: I have saved his life. He owes me what you call a "life.debt." 

QUI-GON waves his hand. QUI-GON: Your gods demand that his life belongs to me now. 

BOSS NASS: Binks. Yousa haveda liveplay with thisen hisen? 

JAR JAR: Ah-huh. BOSS NASS: Begone wit him.

This whole exchange puts Nass under the control of Jinn through the Force. Put aside your prejudices against Gungans and hear me out. Boss Nass was well respected by his peers and was a great leader whether or not you like it or not. Now I wont get into all the details of his biography for the sake of saving time here, but if your interested in learning every detail of just how NOT WEAK MINDED Nass is, here is a link to his Wiki: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rugor_Nass 

Is Boss Nass Force-Sensitive?

However, here are some key points from his Bio that will validate my opinion: Nass took on many varied careers—from army sergeant, to engineer, to energy miner, and, eventually, the head of several small businesses. Exceedingly proud of his city, Nass made unprecedented steps towards civic improvement, including the development of the Municipal Zoo and a new Rep Council Chamber. The most notable of Nass' developments was the construction of a new public concourse he dubbed City Bigspace. Following the Naboo war, Nass moved the Gungans from the depths of the planet onto the moon, Ohma-D'un. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of leadership and organizational skills it would take to move an entire species to an entirely different body in space. I don’t think that Boss Nass was a weak minded individual whatsoever. 

Well maybe Qui Gon is just a bad ass when it comes to mind control you say? I’d say you’re forgetting Watto and Jinn’s failed attempts there. Surely the leader of the entire Gungan race, engineer and businessman has a stronger willed mind than a greedy little Toydarian junker on Tatooine. I think this entire exchange during the movie is pointless and unnecessary. Take the Force aspect out of the scene is way better and it still works, while lending greater respect and character depth to Boss Nass. As it is though, its cheap.

Written By:  Gary Dickerson

What Does The New Disneyland Launch Bay Reveal?

Who is the hero?

Disneyland has relaunched the 'Launch Bay' with new exhibits! They try not to reveal too much but is that a clue in itself? Take a look at a few of the ones we found, and you decide.

From Collider:

As just one element of the new Season of the Force experience at Disneyland, which Collider was invited to tour as part of the recent media preview, Star Wars Launch Bay is located in the heart of Tomorrowland and it’s the central locale for guests to celebrate the past, present and future of the hugely popular film franchise. Located on the lower level of the Tomorrowland Expo Center (formerly known as Innoventions), fans will be greeted by a welcoming text scroll, inspired by the iconic opening crawl in every Star Wars film, as they enter the experience.

Once inside, guests are encouraged to join either the Dark Side or the Light Side to take part in one of two character greeting experiences. If you choose Chewbacca, you will get a fully immersive 360-degree meeting in a space inspired by a Rebel base. But if you choose Darth Vader, it will be a space inspired by the Star Destroyer. The experiences are fun and kids are especially assured to find them delightful, as both Chewbacca and Darth Vader maintain character throughout.

One of the coolest areas of the Expo Center are the galleries full of treasured memorabilia and authentic replicas of artifacts, props and costumes from both the Light and Dark sides. The Preview Gallery even includes a collection from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with everything from a Flametrooper and weapons (including Daisy Ridley‘s Rey’s blaster) to ship models and helmets. It’s easy to get lost for hours, just looking at all of the details.

See all the photos and full article here

Quillons? Those are the crossguard blades.

Upsilon-class? That's Kylo's shuttle.

Do these give you any clues to his origin? Sound off on our FB group. Like our page!

You Can Play Battlefront Right Now On EA Access!

 

Anyone playing Battlefront yet?

If you have an Xbox One and have decided to drop some money every month into the EA Access, then you may now fire up one of the hottest video games of the year, Star Wars Battlefront!
The game can now be found on the EA Access menu. Selecting it should take you to the game where it will be available to download.

Once you download it, the full game is yours, assuming you bought it. Just be careful for the amount of time you sink into it because you only get it for 10 hours until it becomes available to everyone next week.

If you’ve got EA Access, give it a download and let us know what you think.

Updates To BB-8 App Yesterday! Including Capt. Phasma and First Order Stormtrooper.

Click pic to get your own BB-8

There's just something about BB-8: With no more than movie-trailer glimpses, its roly-poly form with perilously perched head has the power to mesmerize and delight. It looks like nothing else, and yet seems somehow singularly "Star Wars," with just as much innate personality as its cousin R2-D2. 

Yesterday BB-8 owners gained access to exclusive content through their apps, including dialogue provided by Disney unit Lucasfilm, from “The Force Awakens.” Villainous Captain Phasma (played by “Game of Thrones” star Gwendoline Christie) and a stormtrooper for the evil First Order will be the first new characters given the BB-8 treatment. The release comes on the heels of a content release last week which included R2-D2 and fellow legacy character C-3PO.

Click pic to get your own BB-8

Owners won’t need to worry about shelling out more money for the app updates, either, as they’re included in the original $149.99 price, Blakely said. He added that there are no plans to raise the price on BB-8, even as the company works to satisfy the hot market for the toy during the holiday-shopping season.

Sphero significantly ramped up BB-8 production after legions of fans snapped up the toy during the Force Friday event early in September.

Checkout the epic video below:

Probably going to be the hottest toy for the holidays. Get one here!

If you have a BB-8 and got the update then let us know on our FB group. You can also like our page to stay up-to-date on all things Star Wars. 

Source:  Space.com and Wall Street Journal

Asian Star Wars Trailer Reveals Some Great New Scenes

Check out the video above for a few new scenes from The Force Awakens!

We now know that Rey encounters Kylo at one point. Will she be the new Jedi? Will we have more than one on the light side? I CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT MONTH! Comment your thoughts or join our FB group and like our page.

I am not going to do a blow-by-blow of the new footage (you can simply watch it above). We get dialogue from Princess Leia, we get actual character intros for Rey (Daisy Ridley and Finn (John Boyega), actual dialogue from Rey, a brief appearance from Chewbacca, and slight variations on the action beats we’ve already seen. The general structure is the same as last month’s big trailer, and for the record even this new footage doesn’t give much away.

Can you stay away from the footage? You are so close to the opening! Or, are you one of the fans who wants to analyze every frame made available between now and opening day. That’s fine, too. If you are, we have you covered. Here’s that official U.S. trailer, in glorious HD. See how it differs from the Asian clip that just landed.

New Star Trek Series For CBS In 2017

Today we show some love for our fellow geeks, STAR TREK FANS :)

Trekkies clamoring for a new TV series rejoice. CBS has just confirmed that a new Trek series is being developed and will debut in January 2017 on CBS before the rest of the series airs exclusively on CBS All-Access. The promised show will also be the first new series since the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005.

The premiere episode and all subsequent first-run episodes will then be available exclusively in the U.S. on CBS’ All Access digital subscription service. This would be the first original series to launch on a broadcast network but air primarily on an SVOD service.

Alex Kurtzman is exec producing via a deal with CBS Television Studios. The series will be produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout banner. Kurtzman and Heather Kadin will serve as executive producers under a deal that is separate from the overall deal that Kurtzman has with partner Roberto Orci’s K/O Paper Products.

“This new series will premiere to the national CBS audience, then boldly go where no first-run ‘Star Trek’ series has gone before – directly to its millions of fans through CBS All Access,” said Marc DeBevoise, exec VP and g.m. of CBS Digital Media. “We’ve experienced terrific growth for CBS All Access, expanding the service across affiliates and devices in a very short time. We now have an incredible opportunity to accelerate this growth with the iconic ‘Star Trek,’ and its devoted and passionate fan base, as our first original series.”

Are you excited for this new series? What is your favorite Star Trek series to date? Sound off in comments!

Source:  Variety 

Do You Like The Spoilers And Speculation? Why?

Anyone see the original in the theater?

Why speculate? Why is there a need to know what you cannot know? Why assume?
Over the past year and several months I have purposely stayed far and away from the rumors, leaks and potential spoilers for Star Wars VII. 
Here is why:
For myself, the unknown is what makes Star Wars so great. A pure experience is the essence of why Star Wars was created. In 1977, no one knew what to expect. People obviously didn’t have the computers and the cell phones or the internet like we are privileged to have. They had the newspaper and the occasional movie trailer. And you know what? That’s all it took. 
The simplicity and the sheer intrigue of Star Wars IV is what propelled it into history as one of the greatest movies of all time. It was rejected by both Universal Studios and United Artist, a mistake later realized shortly after the film’s release. The newness of what its creators were doing was a complete gamble and even 20th Century Fox was getting prepared for the fall out to what they were already considering to be a flop, but by the summer of 1977 the Star Wars phenomenon was inescapable.
This is where the three questions come in at the beginning of this article.
For those of you, whom have read the leaks and searched for the spoilers and the rumors, let me say this….. I don’t feel sorry for you, but I do. 

Before you want to crucify me, hear me out. 
This could have been your 1977.

In a time where the unknown is so very accessible at the finger tips, we see the world unfold in real time or find out about it within minutes or a few hours later, this could have been your chance at going into the unknown with one of the things you love the most, possibly like your father before you.
Now, I completely understand some care and some don’t. Some want the upper hand or the edge on others and want to have an idea of what will or could happen and some want complete and utter ignorance. I’ve seen questions in the form of meme’s asking the identity of this character or that, what if this guy is this guy and what if that girl is really this. Arguments abound that have gotten completely vulgar and disrespectful towards fellow SW fandom……why?
I guess, what this entire article I am writing here now boils down to is that, at one point we all wished we could have seen it in the flesh opening night back then. The sights, sounds and smells of a theater full of people not knowing what to expect from this modern day fairy tale about a princess, a scoundrel and a farm boy. Some of you had the privilege then and will possibly experience that same nostalgia once again with the opening of VII now. Some of you will see this and love it and some will hate it. It is an inevitability.
With only a month and a hand full of days, it’s hard to say what is fact or fiction and what was true that was rumored or leaked. I will tell you this though, just enjoy it. Let it flow through you and don’t give into hate.

Remember, this is your time. This is your 1977. 
Experience it through the story tellers point of view, not someone else’s speculation or assumption.
It’s not too late.

Give us your opinion in the comments. Join our FB group and like our page!

Written by Guest Writer - Gary Dickerson