Princess Leia Uncuffed – Three Decades Later

June 18, 2015 – If you have ever been to a high school reunion, you will recognize this truth: Some of our classmates will seem to have aged gracefully while others, let’s just say, not so much. There is even a handful who seem to have barely aged at all. But for the most part, our minds spin and adjust as we attempt to reconcile our earlier memories of someone with the present reality.

The release of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens on December 18, 2015, will feel, in part, like a long-delayed high school reunion. For some fans, cognitive dissonance will be a gut punch.

The psychological term “cognitive dissonance” refers to “the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values.” [source]

It is human nature to strive for internal consistency and to avoid inconsistency (dissonance), which makes us psychologically uncomfortable.

So what does this preamble have to do with Princess Leia/Carrie Fisher? For longtime fans who have been following the careers and lives of the original Star Wars cast over the decades and watched them mature, there will not be any significant psychological discomfort. They have had time to resolve any dissonance in their minds.

But for the great number of viewers who will be seeing Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and their co-stars on the big screen for the first time in decades, cognitive dissonance may detract from their enjoyment of The Force Awakens. There will be so much going on in Episode VII which they might overlook, while their minds are trying to process the older, more mature actors – how they look, how they move, how they sound.

Princess Leia is no longer 25. She is 58 years old and, some speculate, now Queen Leia. You may have even caught a glimpse of her in the second teaser:

SPOILER ALERT

If you do not wish to see what Leia/Carrie Fisher looks like in The Force Awakens or see any potential SPOILERS, stop reading now.

Do not read anything further below.

J.J. Abrams and company appear to have chosen a more basic approach to outfitting and costuming the Episode VII characters. Gone are the more elaborate and showy costumes of the prequels. Instead, we are returning to the basic, battle-ready garb and the look and feel of The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi.

According to Jason Ward at makingstarwars.net, he glimpsed Princess Leia’s costume and drew the sketch pictured here. He also wrote:

“Princess Leia is wearing a solid jumpsuit. It is grayish blue. She wears a black vest which hangs below her waist. The vest is more in the style of the Tantive IV trooper than Han Solo’s classic vest. The jumpsuit has an open button-down collar and the cuffs are rolled up about two inches at her wrists. She has a thick black belt with a silver belt-buckle (very 1980). Her hair is braided and pulled over to the side so it hangs over her left shoulder in a ponytail. Her hair is grey with dark blonde tones to it. She has dark black boots on with a darker black band around the top of them.

“Leia’s costume really evokes the look and feel of the Tantive IV troopers sans the dopey space helmet. The blue with the black vest and the black boots almost works in a way as to state she is or was of those people. Its an early Spring attire that says ‘Remember Alderaan.’ The under-jumpsuit really has an Empire Strikes Back vibe to it. But overall, she looks like the queen of the Tantive IV troopers.”

Jason Ward’s description, written in January, 2015, is now somewhat corroborated by the following June leak from the folks at The Hashtag Show:

These do not appear to be pre-publicity shots as Carrie Fisher is not smiling or posing for the camera and the photo quality is weak. If anything, these images may be screen-captures from a videotaped costume fitting.

These images of Carrie Fisher (born October 21, 1956) provide a nice glimpse into how she may be outfitted for The Force Awakens: her hair is tied back, as if in a ponytail; her vest and jumpsuit uniform carry echoes of what she wore in Episodes V and VI, albeit in darker colors; and her sleeves are cuffed and rolled up a bit.

Now compare her gray-cuffed sleeves with the Teaser No. 2 video above (cue to 00:53). See the lightsaber? See the cuffed sleeves? See the connection?

We hope any cognitive dissonance you might have had, however slight, is now melting away. Now, go and enjoy the movie in all its glory.

Ubrikkian Shipyard Report: Jabba’s Sail Barge Undergoing Final Tests

September 26, 2014 – Since our last photo-report HERE from the Ubrikkian Shipyards on the construction of a new Jabba’s Sail Barge, we are pleased to report that final test runs are being conducted on the mammoth sail barge.

The photos below (click to enlarge) reveal many incredible details, including an exclusive peek* at a framed painting of Jabba himself below decks; an enlarged suite for Jabba along with a redesigned bed and handrails; new staircases leading to the upper deck; and more movie-accurate craftsmanship, including redesigned handrails and a longer sloping front profile.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

● Dimensions: 42″L x 15″W x 20″H (106.7cm L x 38.1cm W x 50.8cm H); under 10 lbs (4.5 kg)

● Figures Included: Princess Leia with Sail Barge Cannon (from the Power of the Jedi series, 2001); small Rancor (a Micro Machine figure) attached to a mobile base which now serves as a Rancor statue.

● Materials: The hull is constructed primarily of cardboard and foam core. Silver poster board and multi-layering of spray paint give the exterior that weathered armor look. The two sails are made of double-layered poster board with bass wood supports and masts. The windows are a basswood frame and the slats are cut from bronze/copper posterboard. Most of the large windows are hinged so they can open.

● Playability and Display Features: Deck hatch doors open with access to the cantina; multiple windows can be propped open; detailed deck planks and twin orange sails; easily accessible compartments to insert your action figures (including the almighty Jabba the Hutt) and for your viewing enjoyment.

● Changes from Previous Versions: This updated Sail Barge has been slightly modified by placing the rear sail farther back to allow more room for the barge cannon and your own action figures. Jabba’s suite is redesigned with a larger bed and hand rail, a Rancor statue (moveable), and stair cases to upper decks (in addition to the ladders). Railings are redesigned to more closely depict the movie version. And finally, the front of the ship has been elongated to give it a more sloped profile.

● Custom model-builder David Styles has listed this exact Sail Barge model for sale on Ebay beginning Sunday, 28 September 2014. Bidding remains open for seven (7) days. Click the E-Jabbay icon to view the listing, which ends 05 October 2014 at 18:30:23 PDT._______________________________________________________________
*peek: (n.) a quick and typically furtive look; (v.) to look quickly
*peak: (n.) the top, such as of a mountain; (v.) to reach a highest point
*pique: (n.) a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight; (v.1) to stimulate (interest or curiousity); (v.2) to feel irritated or resentful

EXAMPLE: “In late 1977, at the peak of Star Wars’ popularity, consumers peeked at the new Kenner catalogue, but were piqued to discover no Star Wars action figures or vehicles would be available for the Christmas/Winter holidays.”

Economics of Star Wars – Part One: A Widening Wealth-Gap

January 25, 2014 – A disturbing graphic from Oxfam illustrates how grossly unbalanced the world’s distribution of wealth has become. In short, 85 of the world’s richest people (less than one percent or, more accurately, 0.0000000118%) have amassed a combined fortune which equals about half the world’s population (over 7.2 billion humans).

So this got me to thinking about economic inequality and the obvious wealth gap in the Star Wars universe: Who are the über-wealthy 1% in the Empire and the Rebel Alliance who control the vast bulk of riches and resources? And who are the other 99% – the toilers, serfs and servants?

The picture above is the closing scene from that somewhat banal prequel, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Conveniently clustered together – after all, the rich and powerful do like to hang out together – are (from left to right, with the pointed arrows): Queen Padmé Amidala (Queen of the Naboo); Boss Nass (Boss of the Gungan and Boss of the Gungan High Council); and Senator Palpatine (Senior Galactic Senator from Naboo, and later the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, his secret identity is later revealed to be Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith; ultimately becomes the Galactic Emperor.)

A generation later, two more icons join the One Percent Star Wars Club: Princess Leia Organa and Jabba the Hutt (a powerful Hutt crime lord in the galaxy).

HOW DO WE KNOW THEY ARE SUPER-WEALTHY:

► Queen Amidala: The way she talks, moves, acts and dresses is a big hint. Our regal queen has a ton of Christian Dior and Vera Wang dresses (or whoever outfits her) in multiple scenes. Some of her minions serve as body doubles and even die for her. And who ever heard of a poor “Queen”?

► Boss Nass: Even though George Lucas dumbed-down his speech and accent (“Wesa no like the Naboo. *tic tic tic.* Da Naboo tink day so smarty, day tink day brains so big!“), we cannot deny that he is the “Boss” or leader of an entire species, the Gungan, and their large army. He commands multiple floppy-eared underlings in his underworld kingdom. And he gives away cool vehicles, like the bongo submarine, to two Jedi he had just met (Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Jar Jar Binks, allowing them safe passage to Theed.

► Senator Palpatine: Through ruthless ambition and, with a little help from the Dark Side, Senator Palpatine becomes Supreme Chancellor… and, eventually, the Galactic Emperor. When’s the last time you met the ruler of a galaxy? Or someone with the means to build TWO Death Stars? Not only is he morally filthy, evil and corrupt; he is also filthy rich.

► Princess Leia: She is the (secret) daughter of Queen Amidala, who passed away shortly after child-birth. Princess Leia inherited much of her wealth from her mother’s bloodline.

► Jabba the Hutt: Pure greed, racketeering, space piracy and theft underlie Jabba’s vast fortune. Jabba’s palace on Tatooine may not look particularly impressive; but it is still a palace, complete with a throne room, a dungeon, slave performers, Gamorrean guards and numerous sycophants.

TOMORROW’S POST:
The other 99%, and why the powerful Jedi are poor as dirt.

Princess Leia’s Daughter

August 29, 2013 – J.J. Abrams and Disney are keeping a tight lid on any announcements as to their plans for “Star Wars Episode VII”, the first of three films to be released for the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Bits and pieces of evidence have been filtering out, however, and they point to Princess Leia’s daughter playing a large role in Episode VII. So the casting search is well underway for a young actress who has the resemblance and physical beauty of Leia Organa (including her feistiness) and, perhaps, echoes of the swashbuckling independence of her father, Han Solo.

Reports are circulating that Rachel Hurd-Wood (b. 17 AUG 1990, London, England) has auditioned for the role of Princess Leia’s daughter. Hurd-Wood previously played a young girl kidnapped by a sorcerer and his murderous cult in Solomon Kane (2009, Director: Michael J. Bassett). She also played the part of Wendy in the 2003 version of Peter Pan (Director: P.J. Hogan). This is not to say that this major role has been offered to Hurd-Wood just yet. But we will certainly know by January, 2014, when filming is scheduled to begin.

Parallels between MERLIN and STAR WARS

July 5, 2013

Last night, I finally got around to viewing the two-part series finale of “MERLIN”, the five-year series produced by the BBC (Sept. 2008 to 24 Dec. 2012). The brilliant story-writing, acting and cinematic execution of this emotional and tear-jerking finale led me to think of some remarkable parallels between the STAR WARS arc and MERLIN. Might these classical ingredients help ensure the future success of STAR WARS?

There are, of course, obvious similarities: the theme of good vs. evil or numerous battles involving the Knights of the Round Table with pre-medieval swords (now think: Jedis with light sabers). But other parallels quickly spring to mind:

● TIME SETTING: “Merlin” is a loose adaptation of the Arthurian legend (“Tales of King Arthur” and “Morte d’Arthur”), which scholars set around the late 5th and early 6th centuries A.D. “STAR WARS” likewise takes place in the distant past, which the opening title scroll says occurred “A long time ago….”

● YOUNG PROTAGONIST SENT AWAY: In season 1, Ep. 1, a young Merlin is sent away by his mother to Camelot for his protection to live under the guidance of the court physician, Gaius. In STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, Ep. IV, a young farmboy named Luke Skywalker leaves behind his slain uncle and aunt’s moisture vaporator farm on Tatooine to learn the ways of the Force under the guidance of an old Jedi knight, Obi-wan Kenobi.

● MYSTICAL HIDDEN POWERS: Under penalty of death by the hard-hearted Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot, the young Merlin must hide his magical abilities. In STAR WARS Ep. IV, Obi-wan is one of the few surviving Jedi from “that ancient dying religion” and he is first observed in self-imposed exile in the desserts of Tatooine. The Force is all but forgotten and suppressed until Obi-wan teaches Luke the ways of the Force.

● INNATE NATURAL ABILITY: Watch the very first episode of MERLIN, and you’ll see an astonished Gaius ask Merlin where he learned to practice magic. Merlin responds that he’s “always” known magic and that it comes to him naturally. Nevertheless, Gaius gives him his hidden book of magic, so that Merlin will improve his knowledge. Similarly, in STAR WARS, Luke Skywalker already has an innate ability (Darth Vader: “The Force is strong with this one.”) which runs in his family. Obi-wan introduces Luke to the Force, but Luke quickly taps into his innate ability.

● THEY BECOME SAVIORS OF THE KINGDOM/REPUBLIC: In the final episode of MERLIN, our young wizard regains his lost powers in the Crystal Cave (see another Star Wars parallel here?) and becomes Emrys, “the greatest wizard to ever walk the earth”. He destroys the evil Morgana and helps to save Camelot. In STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI, Ep. VI, Luke Skywalker battles the Emperor, redeems and saves his father (Darth Vader), and helps to restore peace to the Republic.

● GREAT MENTORS: What is an apprentice (Merlin, Luke) without a great mentor (Gaius, Obi-wan)?

● FAMILY BETRAYAL: The greatest stories have conflict run amuck. Arthur’s half-sister, Lady Morgana Pendragon — initially a sympathetic character who disapproves of King Uther Pendragon’s harsh banishment of magic — rebels and breaks Uther’s heart (he goes mad). Morgana becomes the power-obsessed sorceress intent on claiming the throne and destroying her half-brother, the eventual King Arthur of Camelot, in the ultimate sibling rivalry. Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away, son must battle father (Luke vs. Darth) before eventually saving him.

● THE CONFLICTED TURN EVIL: The beautiful Morgana is torn between her wish to see magic allowed in the kingdom and Uther Pendragon’s decree which abolishes its practice under penalty of death. She chooses magic over family and descends into an evil-obsessed drive to claim the throne. Anakin, too, is another tortured soul (STAR WARS, Episodes II and III), whose own drive for power (“I can restore peace and justice….”) leads him inexorably down the path of the Dark Side of the Force.

● SPIRIT GUIDES FROM THE OTHER SIDE: We first meet Merlin’s deceased father in the series finale as a ghostly vision in the Crystal Cave of the Valley of the Fallen Kings. He encourages his son, trapped in the cave, to not give up and to continue the struggle. You can’t help but compare this scene to either Obi-wan’s voice (“Use the Force, Luke”) or to the spiritual apparitions of Yoda, Obi-wan, and the redeemed older Anakin (STAR WARS Eps. II and III).

● TRANSFORMATION & DESTINY: The themes of growth, transformation and “fulfilling your destiny” weave their way throughout MERLIN and STAR WARS. For the young wizard, we witness his physical, mental and magical growth over five seasons until he transforms into Emrys, “the greatest wizard to ever walk the earth.” For Master Luke, his growth and transformation are predictable, too. But Luke doesn’t “fufill your destiny and join the Dark Side”, as Darth Vader commands. Luke’s destiny lies elsewhere.

● QUEEN ASCENDS TO HER RIGHTFUL PLACE: Watching the duty-bound Queen Guinevere in the MERLIN finale ascend to the throne and sit next to the empty seat of her recently-deceased husband, King Arthur, is bittersweet. Across the galaxy, other royalty have concluded the STAR WARS films, whether it’s Queen Amidala of the Naboo (STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE, Ep. I) or Princess Leia Organa (hmmmm…”Organa” / “Morgana”… am I imagining too much here?) in STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, Ep. IV. The striking difference, however, is that the STAR WARS endings are largely celebratory, while MERLIN ends on a somewhat somber note.

● IT’S REALLY NOT OVER: Just when you thought all the loose ends had been tied up and the 6-part story arc is completed in STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH, Ep. III (2005), what does George Lucas do? Seven years later (2012), he sells STAR WARS to Disney, which announces the continuation of the saga (Yay, right?).

As for MERLIN, I have no doubt that this incarnation of the BBC television series really is done and over. But notice that the final scene shows Emrys walking on a road in present day England when a modern-day truck rushes by. The camera then focuses on the island of Avalon and its broken obelisk, where Arthur’s body was sent. Says the legend: “In the present day, an immortal Merlin still waits for Arthur to rise again, as the Once and Future King is destined to.” So rejoice, fans. It’s really not over.

CONCLUSION: There are many more parallels you can write all day long on cocktail napkins at your favorite alien cantina bar. But at some point, it’s “last call” and you have to flee the bar. Have I missed anything important?