J.J. Abrams Set to Direct New Star Wars Film

The news articles started popping up yesterday announcing J.J. Abrams as director for the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII. Today, Disney made it official. Abrams, of course, is the current director for the Star Trek reboot, with the second film, Star Trek into Darkness, set to release soon.

A good choice? Well, personally, I did enjoy Star Trek and if Abrams can bring some of that same style to Star Wars then perhaps he can breathe some new life into this sagging franchise:

                       
         I hope Abrams can also make Star Wars a "fun and watchable action-packed thrill ride."

           
       J.J. Abrams directing both Star Trek and Star Wars? Mr. Plinkett predicted it. Well, sorta...

The Wonderful World of Star Wars

I'm a little late to the news about Disney buying Lucasfilm and planning to make more Star Wars sequels (HT: Jeffrey Overstreet). Many thoughts flood my mind, some good, some bad, and others downright horrifying. Questions pop out at me. I wonder where exactly the screenwriters will draw their stories for Episodes 7, 8, and 9. Will Luke, Leia, and Han return with new actors? Will the new movies supersede the expanded universe stuff (Leia and Han marrying and having kids, Luke opening a Jedi academy, the Thrawn Trilogy)? As the B-Movie Cathechist mentions, movie canon always takes precedence. But hey, maybe Chewie won't have to meet such a lame end (a moon crushes him in the comics). I wouldn’t mind that bit of jossing.

Of course, I'd preferred a reboot of the prequels with better writers, but what can you do?

May the Fourth be with you!

Fr.Z and Mark Shea remind us that today is Star Wars Day. Well, being something of a Star Wars geek, I'd consider this a good opportunity to revisit the entire Saga (yes, even the prequels) along with other Star Wars-related stuff, like the classic John Williams soundtrack. However, under no circumstances shall I ever rewatch the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, for that path leads to the Dark Side.

In honor of this day, I present you my favorite Star Wars parody video, "Vader Sessions."

Next, for those with the stomach for it, I give you the Star Wars Holiday Special:

After watching this, you'll beg for The Phantom Menace 

Lastly, for those with a taste for weird, nonsensical, and laugh-out-loud funny B-movies, I commend to you Turkish Star Wars: