Tag Archives: Star Wars

Catching Up or: 2020 to 2000

22 Wednesday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

I haven’t caught you up on my Disney+ watching. I told you I had been watching all the True Life Adventures stuff and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian. And, I said I was watching all the animated features from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Frozen II (which may be expanded to Spies In Disguise, but I’m not sure of that yet). I think the last one I mentioned was when I was watching The Aristocats.

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©Disney

I’m writing this as I’m watching Fantasia 2000, which is the “sequel” to the 1940’s animated classic. So, since I mentioned it last, I have watched Robin Hood, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron (which I didn’t watch in order because I had seen it a few weeks back before I started the sequence), The Great Mouse Detective, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, A Goofy Movie, Pocahontas, Toy Story, James and the Giant Peach, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (same as Black Cauldron), Hercules (ditto), Mulan, A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. 

That’s a lot! I have enjoyed them so very much. I love that they are available. Speaking of which, Tarzan isn’t going to be available until around June, so I had to skip that. I also skipped Doug’s 1st Movie because, nah, that’s just throwing off on a Disney Channel original. I should have skipped the DuckTales movie, too.

What is your favorite Disney animated feature? That can include Pixar or the Tim Burton films, too. I’d like to hear about it and why.

Until tomorrow, back to my “Rhapsody in Blue…”
Scorp out!

—
“One minute you’re defending the whole galaxy, and, suddenly, you find yourself sucking down Darjeeling with Marie Antoinette… and her little sister.” – Buzz Lightyear

The Magical Stream or: Animated Heaven

10 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Video

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Salutations™!!

If it weren’t for football and rasslin’ I’d totally do away with any television at all. I mean television programming. Networks, cable channels and all that have no meaning for me anymore. The BCPF watches one channel 90% of the time and when she isn’t she may watch one other but mostly it’s Netflix and Amazon Prime.

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©Disney

We both watch Hulu together and I watch USA and football.

After that, I am totally an app person on my Amazon Fire TV. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Vimeo, DC Universe which I have talked about several times in the last few months and now… Disney+. Oh, Disney+. I have mentioned several times on this blog and if you know me in person, you know that I love everything Disney.

On top of that, now that Disney owns Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic, they are darned near perfect for me. I got Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ (which who knows when I’d watch much of that?) in one package so it’s really cool to have. I’ve gotten into the Mandalorian, the Behind the Imagineering series, a few NatGeo series and of course the animated features.

Because I’m a glutton for lists, programming and streaks, I have decided to watch all the animated films in order from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Frozen II (I’ll have to wait on the last few, I think). There are a few that I can’t see because they’re not available on Disney+. So far, I’ve missed Make Mine Music and Song of the South, one because it’s not available and the other because there’s a shload of controversy over it (and I’m not sure it’s all warranted). I have them both on DVD so I can see them, but I am trying to watch them all on this awesome new service. I have watched Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad and Cinderella. That’s since yesterday. Being sick hasn’t been all bad.

I will watch all the Star Wars films from the start on, as well as the MCU in order.

Until tomorrow, and more Disney films later…
Scorp out!

—
“Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime. For example, you’re walking along, minding your own business. You’re looking neither to the left nor to the right, when all of a sudden, you run smack into a pretty face. Woo-woo! You begin to get weak in the knees. Your head’s in a whirl. And then you feel light as a feather; and before you know it, you’re walking on air. And then you know what? You’re knocked for a loop, and you completely lose your head!” – Friend Owl (Bambi)

You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly or: Superman Where Are You Now?

08 Wednesday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

As last week, I watched a movie whilst doing my social media posting and such after The Less Desirables show. This wasn’t a clunker like Starcrash. In fact, it’s totally the opposite. This was a fantastic viewing. It was Superman: The Movie (1978).

_Superman_II

©Warner Bros.

I first saw this film in a drive-in theater with my parents in 1978. It was, actually, followed by some adult movie that I apparently slept through. Incidentally, when Supergirl (1984) came out, I saw that at a drive-in, too, but with a friend and his family. I just made that drive-in connection.

Anywhat! I’ve always been into superhero stuff. Movies, comics, stories, magazines, action figures, etc. Superheroes and fantasy things (Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.), really. I have to admit, though, in the comics world, I can’t stand Superman. I think he’s cheesy and too goody-goody and is quite boring. I mean, come on, he’s basically invulnerable except for kryptonite and Doomsday and in the last few decades, magic. He really is an overgrown boy scout.

In all honesty, he is in the movies, too, but it was so entertaining. The special effects were remarkable for their time. This was after Star Wars so everyone stepped up their FX game. Christopher Reeve played the part so well. From clumsy, goofy, awkward as Clark Kent to “manly” Man of Steel as Supes.

Gene Hackman as a comical Lex Luthor was good although I always picture him more as a serious character.

I liked Margot Kidder as Lois Lane but the older I get, the more annoying all her screaming and caterwauling gets. Reminds me of Kim Basinger’s Vicki Vale in Batman (1989). Screaming all the time. Jeez. I also didn’t like the whole “can you read my mind” crap she started “thinking” during the flying scene.

And, former “Little Rascal” and “Our Gang” star, Jackie Cooper as Perry White was cool.

But, add in Marlon Brando as Jor-El and John Williams’ fantastic score and this was a very entertaining film. I loved Superman II (1980), too, although it had a slightly different feel. I think I could write an entire blog post on the drama that went down between many of the principal parties on the filming of Supes II. It’s too much to get into here, though.

I really dug the film and loved revisiting it again. Now I’m going to watch II.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Your name is Kal-El. You are the only survivor of the planet Krypton. Even though you’ve been raised as a human, you are not one of them. You have great powers, only some of which you have as yet discovered.” – Jor-El

Retro Thinkin’ or: Wayback Machine Again

13 Friday Apr 2018

Posted by in Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

Tonight, I used a reference to an advert from my teen years. The reason I used the reference is irrelevant but the reference was to Polaner’s All Fruit and it’s “please pass the jelly” ads.

So that got me to thinking of other ads from the 80s and 90s, heck even the 70s since I was watching a good bit of television at that point, too.

Of course, there were plenty of cereal commercials, toy commercials, and especially the Star Wars action figures and playsets. There were also commercials for Bubble Tape, beer (which I wasn’t necessarily old enough to imbibe with for most) like the “Less Filling/Tastes Great” and Bob Uecker Lite Beer from Miller commercials. Not Miller Lite which has pretty much taken over the beer but the original name of “Lite Beer from Miller.”

There were a lot of beer commercials, even before the wave of Spuds McKenzie, frogs,  and “The World’s Most Interesting Man” ads. I think the Clydesdales have been around in commercials for a while. Miller High Life has brought back their cool jingle: “If you’ve got the time we’ve got the beer, Miller beer.” But, let’s not forget, “Head for the mountains with Busch… beer.” Or, “Old Milwaukee tastes as good as its name.”

Ads were cooler back then. Not that I think badly of the adverts or marketing companies today, at least mostly, but that they’re lazy or just running out of ideas compared to the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s.

So, I ask you, Dear Reader, what are some of the best commercials, ads, jingles from your childhood or younger days (no need to go all the way back there). How about today? Are there ads these days that you’re particularly fond of?

I think my favorite advert currently is the “Ginger Man” character from Canada Dry Ginger Ale with Lemonade. It could help that I know the actor who plays him (or should I say that The BCPF is school chums with him) and he still comes and participates in their get-togethers. He’s a cool dude all around.

I look forward to your responses.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Are you ready to taste, Nirvana?” – Ginger Man

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 8/26/17

27 Sunday Aug 2017

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Salutations™!!

After a week off from records to absorb deliciously fermented grape juice, we made up for it at Underdog Records on Saturday. I’m sure Jonathan wasn’t complaining. Let’s just do it!

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©Casablanca/Island Def Jam/UMe

 

That’s quite the haul. It’s hard to tell what I missed yesterday because we were a little late getting there and I know Clay had already been through. We were quite excited with this haul and it’s already been good listening. If you’re thinking of getting into vinyl, getting back into vinyl or just want to expand your vinyl collection, then you need to get by Underdog Records. They have turntables, receivers, speakers, cleaning accessories and more. Listen to The Less Desirables each week to hear what the Underdog/TLD special is for that week. And use Discogs to archive and log your vinyl collection so you always know what you have.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The road is long with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows where. Who knows where? But I’m strong. Strong enough to carry him. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.” – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” (Russell, Scott)

Bond, James Bond or: Moore for the Money

23 Tuesday May 2017

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Salutations™!!

Today we lost our first Bond. At the ripe age of 89, Sir Roger Moore has passed away. He was the cleverest Bond, the snarkiest Bond and the gadgets were cooler and more over-the-top. Everything in the early 1970s and up to the mid-1980s was about excess and bombast. roger-moore

I enjoyed all the other Bond films, as well, even On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. I thought Lazenby did a fine job, and the storyline was pretty good on that film. But, there’s something about the time and feel of the Roger Moore Bond films that stayed with me the most. It started with Live and Let Die in 1973, then The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), a brief departure from the planned track with Moonraker (1979) to capitalize on the Star Wars craze, For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and finishing with A View to a Kill (1985). Like Sean Connery in Diamonds are Forever (1971), you can tell Sir Roger is peaking in the Bond “age parameter” category by the time he got to A View to a Kill. He was starting to push it in For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy, but he ran the course and it was time to go, but he did it with dignity.

I think it funny, too, that Eon Productions thought Connery looked too old and then they hired Moore, who is actually two to three years older than Connery. He just aged better, I guess.

My son, 3B, and I have been watching all the Bond films starting at Doctor No and we have gotten up to finishing For Your Eyes Only. I sent him a message that Sir Roger had died and he was like… “who?” I rolled my eyes. When I explained who it was, he said, “oh…” I think he’s enjoying the films, just at 15, isn’t paying too much attention. I get it, but he always asks if we’re watching one today. So, I guess he’s paying more attention than I give credit, just not to who is in the picture.

I have seen all of the films, at least up to The Living Daylights (1987) probably around 30 times each. Daylights on to Die Another Day (2002) around 10-15. I have seen the Daniel Craig films at least twice each. I usually watch them in order so I have been watching the older ones more times, obviously.

I rate my love of James Bond up there with KISS, Disney and Star Wars. Even against Star Wars, I’d say James Bond is my favorite film franchise. And, Sir Roger is definitely part of the reason for that. Were his films the best? Nope, but they’re good enough for me. Rest well, Sir Roger Moore, you were fantastic.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“There’s no sense going out half-cocked.” – James Bond (Live and Let Die)

The Force is Strong with This One or: First Timer

09 Monday Jan 2017

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Salutations™!!

Well, it took until he was 14 years old, but, I introduced 3B to the fantastic world of Star Wars this evening. Football was over for the day and there’s no school for the knucklehead tomorrow, so, no worries about time. You’re asking, um, just now? You know that’s been out since 1977, right? He’s 14, he should have already seen it. Yeah, you’re right, he should have. But, he didn’t want to. He actually told me, several years back, that he didn’t like it and didn’t want to watch it.

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©20th Century Fox

Something happened in the last several months, though. He and I have very little time together that we have started using our time together to watch things. We can’t really afford to go out and do much and with football season, Sundays have been quite full. That being the case, watching, catching up or getting to stuff have been the order of things. He was anti-Harry Potter and one day he decided he wanted to start those and we ended up going through the whole series in about 4 days (our days together, that is). He loved it.

We watched The Force Awakens when it came out on Blu Ray and he was into it. I thought perhaps that he had seen the older ones but afterward he told me he hadn’t. I wish I had known, I would have waited for it. But, that was already done by then.

I contemplated with myself about the direction with the Star Wars canon I was going to take. Let’s clarify that for a second. I am one of the few people that I know that actually enjoyed the prequel trilogy, Episodes I-III. I have no problem with Jar Jar Binks or Hayden Christensen. I, by no means, feel that the films are flawless, that they’re better than the original trilogy or even that they’re great. I just feel a fair job was done with the storytelling aspect. There are plenty of plot holes and all that, yes, but I feel the point is I wasn’t bored and I was entertained. So, back to the contemplation: do we start at the very beginning and watch them chronologically, or do we watch them in release order?

With the aspect of the “big reveal” that happens in Episode V being a big, big factor, and watching from Episode I would erase the surprise (I don’t know if he knows about it or not) and give a lot away, I decided to start at Episode IV: A New Hope or as we called it as kids, Star Wars. I tried not to guide him as we were watching and with the exception of a few personal thoughts about things, I let him fend for himself. When I asked 3B his opinion, he said that he thought it was very good. He was wanting to watch “the next one” and we would have watched it, had it not been late and The BCPF has to work tomorrow. As I said, though, 3B is off school tomorrow and if The BCPF goes to work (she may work from home), we’ll watch The Empire Strikes Back. I can’t wait to see him watch “the reveal.” I’ll let you know how it goes.

Until tomorrow, may the Force be with you…
Scorp out!

—
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” – Title Card of Star Wars (1977)