I was floored when WonderWife™ presented me with tickets to Star Wars in Concert. It was one of the things that under normal circumstances she would mock relentlessly (and often does). But there we were on our first date night in months sitting under the sky at the Hollywood Bowl, waiting for an orchestra to play sections from the movies accompanied by clips on a giant screen. Geek paradise for me, but not so much for her. Yet she was happy to give me a night like this, which is why I love her so much.
As the sun was setting and the show about to commence, sounds began to play through the loudspeakers. They were the iconic sound effects from the films—lightsabers, tie fighters, Chewbacca…
“What was that sound?” WonderWife™ asked me. “Was it a Wookie? An Ewalker? Are those the guys with the long green ears?
My wife knows nothing about Star Wars. Early on in our relationship I screened it for her and we still debate if she made it through the whole thing (she claims she did not). Maybe it was the pre-show cocktails, but I found her utter cluelessness about Star Wars adorable. She was truly adrift in a pop culture sea without any sense of direction. At one point she pointed out, “all of the kids and their light swords.”
So naturally I started to quiz her about Star Wars. “What ship does Han Solo fly?” I asked.
“Um, I don’t know...the Star Wars Express?”
I couldn’t contain my laughter.
_____________________________________________________________
“Your son has been asking to see Star Wars,” WonderWife™ told me.
Normally this is a phrase that geeky parents like myself anxiously wait to hear. But knowing the Bean like I do, I strongly question if he’s ready for Star Wars. He’s got a bit of anxiety when it comes to the movies. I thought back to a fateful ride on Star Tours at Disneyland two years ago where he less than enjoyed the experience—to put it mildly. I was afraid that one ride alone might have put him off Star Wars for a few extra years.
Knowing that I only have once chance to have Star Wars make a good impression, I decided to press him for details as to his sudden interest.
“Mom has told me you’ve been asking about Star Wars,” I said to the Bean one night while tucking him in.
“Yeah, I want to see it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have your friends seen it?”
He paused for a moment. “Well…one day at school when Tony’s mom picked him up, she told him when he got home he could watch Star Wars. And that’s when I wanted to see it.”
So there it is.
I really want to show the Bean Star Wars (I bought the original versions of the trilogy on DVD when he was in utero to get ready). But I don’t think that peer pressure is the right reason. I’m afraid I’m going to have to wait a little bit longer.
Showing posts with label star wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label star wars. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Band Aid Spoilers
Out of all of the band-aids available, Sprout picked Star Wars. Upon seeing the bandage, the Bean too became excited and before we knew it the kids both kids suddenly had a host of mysterious owies that needed to be covered.
My kids have not yet seen Star Wars, though they know that such a thing exists. As the kids were in the other room fetching the box of bandages, I said to WonderWife™, “I wonder if the big surprise of Star Wars will still be a secret by the time the Bean is ready to watch them.”
WonderWife™ cocked her head, gently reminding me of her non-geek nature and therefore her ignorance of what I was referring to.
“You know,” I said, “who Luke’s father really is.”
A few years ago I had a conversation with some colleagues at work who were a decade younger than me, who told me that they grew up always knowing who Darth Vader was in relation to Luke. This is sad, because that moment in Empire is one of the best twists in movie history.
Just then, the Bean noticed that Anikin adorned one of the band-aids.
“Hey it’s Anikin!” he shouted. “He grows up to be Darth Vader!”
WonderWife™ looked at me. “Well, there goes that.”
My kids have not yet seen Star Wars, though they know that such a thing exists. As the kids were in the other room fetching the box of bandages, I said to WonderWife™, “I wonder if the big surprise of Star Wars will still be a secret by the time the Bean is ready to watch them.”
WonderWife™ cocked her head, gently reminding me of her non-geek nature and therefore her ignorance of what I was referring to.
“You know,” I said, “who Luke’s father really is.”
A few years ago I had a conversation with some colleagues at work who were a decade younger than me, who told me that they grew up always knowing who Darth Vader was in relation to Luke. This is sad, because that moment in Empire is one of the best twists in movie history.
Just then, the Bean noticed that Anikin adorned one of the band-aids.
“Hey it’s Anikin!” he shouted. “He grows up to be Darth Vader!”
WonderWife™ looked at me. “Well, there goes that.”
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Force May Be Strong With This One
WonderWife™ pulled an unexpectedly cool move today.
As I walked in the door this evening, the kids came running over to me and reached up their hands to show me what was inside. Sprout beamed as she showed off a pair of bunny figurines. In the hand of the Bean, I spotted a R2D2 figure.
“The Candy Fairy came!” he screamed. The Candy Fairy is WW™’s ingenious plan to get rid of the pounds of extra Halloween candy. The CF comes, takes your candy and leaves you a small (read: inexpensive) gift. The Bean had been diligently waiting for the Candy Fairy to arrive all week. He was actually aching to give up his sugary loot for a toy. “Look what she left me, Daddy! Star Wars!”
I looked up quizzically at my wife. She was wearing a sly smile—rather proud of herself.
The Bean immediately started asking questions about R2D2. Where did he live? Could we meet him? He told me that R2 fixes ships. When I asked him how he could have possibly known that, he said he remembered it from our ill fated Star Tours ride last Spring (a move that I feared would turn my kid off Star Wars for a few extra years).
Later on during a quiet moment, I turned to WonderWife™ and asked, “So why’d you do it?”
“I saw it,” she said. “And we didn’t need another car. So I bought this.”
She smiled at me and I smiled back, wondering if she knew that she had purchased the key that would allow me to open the door to Star Wars for my son.
As I walked in the door this evening, the kids came running over to me and reached up their hands to show me what was inside. Sprout beamed as she showed off a pair of bunny figurines. In the hand of the Bean, I spotted a R2D2 figure.
“The Candy Fairy came!” he screamed. The Candy Fairy is WW™’s ingenious plan to get rid of the pounds of extra Halloween candy. The CF comes, takes your candy and leaves you a small (read: inexpensive) gift. The Bean had been diligently waiting for the Candy Fairy to arrive all week. He was actually aching to give up his sugary loot for a toy. “Look what she left me, Daddy! Star Wars!”
I looked up quizzically at my wife. She was wearing a sly smile—rather proud of herself.
The Bean immediately started asking questions about R2D2. Where did he live? Could we meet him? He told me that R2 fixes ships. When I asked him how he could have possibly known that, he said he remembered it from our ill fated Star Tours ride last Spring (a move that I feared would turn my kid off Star Wars for a few extra years).
Later on during a quiet moment, I turned to WonderWife™ and asked, “So why’d you do it?”
“I saw it,” she said. “And we didn’t need another car. So I bought this.”
She smiled at me and I smiled back, wondering if she knew that she had purchased the key that would allow me to open the door to Star Wars for my son.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Favorite Movie Characters
Super Mega Dad tagged me in his most recent post, asking me to list my top 10 favorite movie characters. This is kind of like asking me to choose a favorite out of peanut butter, steak or bacon. A lot of really strong choices have been included in some of the other blogger's lists, so rather than repeat, I'll give you some fresh choices.
Han Solo - Star Wars Trilogy
Growing up it was all about Luke Skywalker, until we got older and realized that Han Solo was bad-ass. He flew the Millenium Falcon, he had a totally sweet blaster and he definitely shot first.
Lloyd Dobbler - Say Anything
One of the ultimate cinematic geeks in one of the greatest teen flicks of the 80s.
Ash - Evil Dead Trilogy
Bruce Campbell didn't invent cool, but he totally defines it.
Beetlejuice – Beetlejuice
I've seen this movie about 167 times, and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it. Beetlejuice is one of the strangest, most inventive movies ever. How can you go wrong with a thin, hunky Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, a 17 year old Winona Ryder, Batman, Mr. Rooney, Harry Belafonte and stop motion animation?
General Zod – Superman II
I don't think I need to justify this pick to anyone. Kneel before him.
John McClane – Die Hard
In the summer of '88, Die Hard blew me out of the back of the theater. Over two decades and four movies later, John McClane is still one of the best action heroes out there.
Napoleon Dynamite - Napoleon Dynamite
He's weird. He's a horrible dresser. He's mean. He's ugly. You shouldn't root for him, yet you totally do.
Martin Riggs - Lethal Weapon / Lethal Weapon 2
Bat shit crazy. But totally freakin' cool. Martin Riggs is one of the most complex action heroes in the movies. That is until the crappy second and third sequels that took away his suicidal tendencies, gave him a steady girlfriend and neutered everything that was cool about him. Let's try to forget that Lethal Weapons 3 & 4 ever existed and bask in the glow of Martin Riggs when he was at his psychotic best, shall we?
Brick Tamland - Anchorman
I love lamp.
Marty McFly – Back to the Future Trilogy
He invented rock and roll. He rode a hover board. He made wearing a vest cool. Without a doubt, Marty McFly is the ultimate movie nerd. The original Back to the Future is a perfect movie and one of my all time favorites.
So...what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Who did I leave off? Let's talk movies.
Thanks to Super Mega Dad for including me in this. Be sure to check out his blog. Now it's up to me to tag a few others so here goes:
Your Escalator Operator @ Sorry for the Convenience
Tent Camper @ I Pee in the Wind
Cameron @ Get the Stink Off
Vancetastic @ The Audient
You're up fellas. See you at the movies.
Han Solo - Star Wars Trilogy
Growing up it was all about Luke Skywalker, until we got older and realized that Han Solo was bad-ass. He flew the Millenium Falcon, he had a totally sweet blaster and he definitely shot first.
Lloyd Dobbler - Say Anything
One of the ultimate cinematic geeks in one of the greatest teen flicks of the 80s.
Ash - Evil Dead Trilogy
Bruce Campbell didn't invent cool, but he totally defines it.
Beetlejuice – Beetlejuice
I've seen this movie about 167 times, and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it. Beetlejuice is one of the strangest, most inventive movies ever. How can you go wrong with a thin, hunky Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, a 17 year old Winona Ryder, Batman, Mr. Rooney, Harry Belafonte and stop motion animation?
General Zod – Superman II
I don't think I need to justify this pick to anyone. Kneel before him.
John McClane – Die Hard
In the summer of '88, Die Hard blew me out of the back of the theater. Over two decades and four movies later, John McClane is still one of the best action heroes out there.
Napoleon Dynamite - Napoleon Dynamite
He's weird. He's a horrible dresser. He's mean. He's ugly. You shouldn't root for him, yet you totally do.
Martin Riggs - Lethal Weapon / Lethal Weapon 2
Bat shit crazy. But totally freakin' cool. Martin Riggs is one of the most complex action heroes in the movies. That is until the crappy second and third sequels that took away his suicidal tendencies, gave him a steady girlfriend and neutered everything that was cool about him. Let's try to forget that Lethal Weapons 3 & 4 ever existed and bask in the glow of Martin Riggs when he was at his psychotic best, shall we?
Brick Tamland - Anchorman
I love lamp.
Marty McFly – Back to the Future Trilogy
He invented rock and roll. He rode a hover board. He made wearing a vest cool. Without a doubt, Marty McFly is the ultimate movie nerd. The original Back to the Future is a perfect movie and one of my all time favorites.
So...what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Who did I leave off? Let's talk movies.
Thanks to Super Mega Dad for including me in this. Be sure to check out his blog. Now it's up to me to tag a few others so here goes:
Your Escalator Operator @ Sorry for the Convenience
Tent Camper @ I Pee in the Wind
Cameron @ Get the Stink Off
Vancetastic @ The Audient
You're up fellas. See you at the movies.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Oh George Lucas, You've Done It Again
I haven’t written much here about how my love affair with George Lucas dried up. Feelings turned sour somewhere between Episode II and III. Yeah, yeah yeah, I know that as a self-proclaimed geek, I should have reverence for the guy who created “Star Wars.” But when it comes to things George Lucas, there hasn’t been much to celebrate in a while.
In an article from USA Today, Lucas spoke about the new Indy movie.
"When you do a movie like this, a sequel that's very, very anticipated, people anticipate ultimately that it's going to be the Second Coming," Lucas says. "And it's not. It's just a movie. Just like the other movies. You probably have fond memories of the other movies. But if you went back and looked at them, they might not hold up the same way your memory holds up."
Um, George? I’ve watched the Indy movies a lot. They hold up. They’re freakin’ awesome. I’m pretty sure that when my kid is old enough to watch them, he’ll think they’re awesome too.
This statement comes from a guy who felt that the original “Star Wars” movies didn’t hold up to today’s demanding audiences. So what did he do? He “fixed” them. He made Greedo shoot first. He added truly horrible musical numbers. He inserted computer effects that felt out of place mixed into the original. In short, he did the truly unthinkable—he f’d up the original “Star Wars” movies.
The story continues…
Lucas says he learned his lesson about unrealistic expectations when he revived the Star Wars franchise in 1999. "When people approach the new (Indiana Jones), much like they did with Phantom Menace, they have a tendency to be a little harder on it," he says. "You're not going to get a lot of accolades doing a movie like this. All you can do is lose."
Again George, you need to take a long hard look in the mirror. People were hard on “Phantom Menace” because it sucked. The new movies sucked. Your controlling nature and ego got in the way and you made three crappy movies. The only reason why some people are soft on them is because they are called “Star Wars.”
I know I sound bitter, but really my anger stems from disappointment. George Lucas was a hero to us and now he's become more like Grandpa whose forgotten to take his medication. George Lucas is no longer one of us. He lives in a crystal palace with hundreds of millions of dollars and little connection to the real world. In all of his success, Lucas has let go of the childlike excitement that went into his movies in the first place.
I’m still way excited for Indy 4 this summer and the real reason is Spielberg. While not every movie he’s made has been great, Spielberg can still be an exciting filmmaker. If there’s any chance that Indy 4 is going to work it’s because of him.
The countdown to May 22nd continues.
In an article from USA Today, Lucas spoke about the new Indy movie.
"When you do a movie like this, a sequel that's very, very anticipated, people anticipate ultimately that it's going to be the Second Coming," Lucas says. "And it's not. It's just a movie. Just like the other movies. You probably have fond memories of the other movies. But if you went back and looked at them, they might not hold up the same way your memory holds up."
Um, George? I’ve watched the Indy movies a lot. They hold up. They’re freakin’ awesome. I’m pretty sure that when my kid is old enough to watch them, he’ll think they’re awesome too.
This statement comes from a guy who felt that the original “Star Wars” movies didn’t hold up to today’s demanding audiences. So what did he do? He “fixed” them. He made Greedo shoot first. He added truly horrible musical numbers. He inserted computer effects that felt out of place mixed into the original. In short, he did the truly unthinkable—he f’d up the original “Star Wars” movies.
The story continues…
Lucas says he learned his lesson about unrealistic expectations when he revived the Star Wars franchise in 1999. "When people approach the new (Indiana Jones), much like they did with Phantom Menace, they have a tendency to be a little harder on it," he says. "You're not going to get a lot of accolades doing a movie like this. All you can do is lose."
Again George, you need to take a long hard look in the mirror. People were hard on “Phantom Menace” because it sucked. The new movies sucked. Your controlling nature and ego got in the way and you made three crappy movies. The only reason why some people are soft on them is because they are called “Star Wars.”
I know I sound bitter, but really my anger stems from disappointment. George Lucas was a hero to us and now he's become more like Grandpa whose forgotten to take his medication. George Lucas is no longer one of us. He lives in a crystal palace with hundreds of millions of dollars and little connection to the real world. In all of his success, Lucas has let go of the childlike excitement that went into his movies in the first place.
I’m still way excited for Indy 4 this summer and the real reason is Spielberg. While not every movie he’s made has been great, Spielberg can still be an exciting filmmaker. If there’s any chance that Indy 4 is going to work it’s because of him.
The countdown to May 22nd continues.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Wonder Con
Observed while at Wonder Con comic convention in San Fran, Saturday, February23rd:
2 Jack Sparrows
Willy Wonka (Tim Burton version)
The Big Bad Wolf
Naurto
Darth Vader
Bob’s Big Boy
A mildly attractive Slave Girl Leia
3 overweight goth girls in fishnets
Many many Storm Troopers
A toddler dressed as Yoda
A Sim
A handful of generic kung fu fighters
2 Street Fighters
The entire Star Wars Imperial Army posing for a picture on a staircase
An Oompa Loompa (original version)
Lou Farigno
and the guy who played Chewbacca
2 Jack Sparrows
Willy Wonka (Tim Burton version)
The Big Bad Wolf
Naurto
Darth Vader
Bob’s Big Boy
A mildly attractive Slave Girl Leia
3 overweight goth girls in fishnets
Many many Storm Troopers
A toddler dressed as Yoda
A Sim
A handful of generic kung fu fighters
2 Street Fighters
The entire Star Wars Imperial Army posing for a picture on a staircase
An Oompa Loompa (original version)
Lou Farigno
and the guy who played Chewbacca
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)