Your Morning Linc: Pacific Rim, Lucas Awarded National Medal of Arts, Power Rangers 20th, EW Interviews Moffat, Saving Mr. Banks

Hoo boy, it's hot out there! If you're looking to beat the heat, I suggest heading to a nice cold theater and seeing  Pacific Rim. My friends and I went to the "old man opening night" screening at 8:00 last Thursday (yeah, they do that now) and I really enjoyed it. The monsters, known as kaiju, were particularly impressive and creative. All credit goes to visual effects supervisor John Knoll, a visionary of our time.

Yep, my childhood just squealed a little bit.

The human element of the story was a little cliche, but an overall good job done by the cast, including potential Twelfth Doctor Idris Elba and a manic Charlie Day as a scientist. Pacific Rim also had a very mech anime vibe (like the Gundam series or Voltron) which I enjoyed. At the end of the day, it was a movie about giant robots fighting monsters, and you can't ask for anything better than that.

And now, on to today's Lincs!

1. George Lucas Honored With National Medal For the Arts

For those of you keeping score at home. That's humans: 3 medals, Chewbacca: 0

On July 10, George Lucas was honored by President Barack Obama with the National Medal for the Arts. The citation for the award reads:

"George Lucas for his contributions to American cinema. By combining the art of storytelling with boundless imagination and cutting-edge techniques, Mr. Lucas has transported us to new worlds and created some of the most beloved and iconic films of all time."

I sincerely congratulate The Maker on this incredible honor and thank him for all the moments that Star Wars, and his other films, have transported me to places beyond my imagination. Thanks, George. And May the Force Be With You.

2. Morphenomenal! Power Rangers Celebrates 20th With Morphing Sequence

The show about teenagers with attitude (and a giant floating head) turns 20 this year. Saban is celebrating with a huge anniversary episode and has also recently released a cool video of all the red rangers (and Tommy's White Ranger) from each season morphing into one another.



How many can you name? Which is your favorite season of Power Rangers?

3. EW Interviews Moffat On Doctor Who's 50th And The Search For Twelve

Soon.

Entertainment Weekly recently sat down with the Moff himself to discuss all things Who. They dished on everything from the Matt Smith's departure, the search for the Twelfth Doctor, the 50th anniversary special, Tennant and Smith's Doctors, and whether or not Matt Smith will wear a wig on his last outing as the Time Lord. Here are a few snippets, but click the link above for the full article:

EW: So how goes the search for the next Doctor?
SM: Well, it’s always just terrifying...If you’re a Doctor Who fan, as I have been all my life, you’ve been doing fantasy casting for this part for as long as you can remember. But when you’re suddenly faced with the reality that you are going to sit there and you are going to make that decision it does feel absolutely chilling. There’s a very big range of people who could play it and different ways you could go with it. We must get this right. One false move and the show’s over.”

EW: Is Matt going to have to wear a wig when he films the Christmas special? He seems to have had a very severe haircut for his role in Ryan Gosling’s How to Catch a Monster.
SM: We’re sprinkling fertilizer on his head as we speak. I don’t know. If you care to take a look at “The Angels Take Manhattan” there are a couple of scenes that Karen Gillan came back to do in the graveyard after she’d had her radical haircut and she is wearing what seems like a strategically draped otter on her head. [Laughs]
However, we effect it, the Doctor will turn up in his trademark coif. We can’t have Matt’s last stand in the TARDIS without his proper look. So, thank you, Ryan Gosling…

EW: What was it like having Matt and David together?
SM: They really loved each other and had a huge laugh together. And of course they’ve been through this experience that only the two of them can talk about, really, in the modern world. They are the two people that have played that part at a time when the series is this big. They spent the entire time just sitting together talking animatedly.

EW: Could you talk about how their Doctors relate to each other? Traditionally, there’s been a bit of edge when Doctors have met each other onscreen?
SM: Well, when you’re talking to yourself, there’s no filter! You don’t spare yourself! They’re quite a fun pairing, I would say. There’s a bit of the normal joshing of each other but they’re both such enthusiastic Doctors. While they might be sort of competing slightly, they’re both standing there saying, “Oh god, it’s so cool, there’s two of me!” So, it’s very different. I think the other one that worked brilliantly was Jon Pertwee and Patrick Troughton. They were incredibly funny together. This is very different from that but it’s a sublime double act.

EW: Are you aware that David Bradley (who plays William Hartnell in the movie An Adventure in Space and Time) is now a thousand times more famous in America than he was a couple of months ago thanks to his pivotal role on the recent season of Game of Thrones?
SM: Oh, brilliant. That’s excellent. I love David. He’s such a clever actor. And we’ve had him in the proper show as well. He’s in “Dinosaurs On a Spaceship.”

Only a few more months to go before we get all the answers we're looking for! And that, of course, means the fall of the Eleventh. I really can't wait to see all of this amazing Who history unfold!

4. Saving Mr. Banks Will Be Supercalifra....Ahh You Know The Rest

Not many people think about the work and effort it took to create one of the most iconic Disney films of all time. Indeed, it wasn't easy for old Walt to convince Mary Poppins writer P.L. Travers to even give up the rights to her creation. Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of how Disney convinced Mrs. Travers to do just that, and what he learned about the mysterious nanny in the process.


Saving Mr. Banks is out December 20th, 2013 and stars Emma Thompson as Mrs. Travers, Tom Hanks as the Man Behind the Mouse himself, as well as other notable celebs such as Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Bradley Whitford, Annie Rose Buckley, Ruth Wilson, B.J. Novak, Rachel Griffiths, Kathy Baker, and others.

Of course, I hope they finally explain how Mary Poppins got here from Gallifrey:

How else do you think she learned about the cartoon world?

'Til Next Time!

- Joe

Your Morning Linc: Clone Wars: Resolutions, Star Wars Park A Go?, Muppets on Broadway, and Lost Doctor Who Episodes Found

Good morning everyone! The Missing Linc returns to its original format with yours truly at the helm, but I have to sincerely thank Joe Hogan for his incredible E3 coverage last week. If you haven't already, check out his really insightful and funny posts below this one. But, the Hogatron has one more surprise left for us, and it kicks off today's Morning Linc!

1. Clone Wars: Resolutions

When it was announced, just a few months ago, that The Clone Wars was going to be canceled, I think we were all a little shocked (there is a distinct dent in the floor where I fell off my chair). It seemed that we would never know the ultimate destinies of Ahsoka, Rex, Hondo, and many others. But, luckily for us, Joe was recently commissioned to resolve the fates of many of our beloved Clone Wars characters. Culling together some of the best unknown artists and writers (including a certain blogger), Clone Wars: Resolutions promises to answer many of your important questions, so stay tuned! You can check out more about this and other projects on his DeviantArt page.

It's also worth noting that, in its final season, The Clone Wars managed to garner two Daytime Emmy Awards. One, accepted by George Lucas, Dave Filoni,and Carey Silver, was for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program. The other, much to my Star-Whovian delight, was the Oustanding Performer in an Animated Program and went to David Tennant for his guest appearance as the lightsaber-constructing droid Huyang in the episodes "A Test of Strength" and "A Necessary Bond".

"Molto bene!"

And if that isn't enough Star Wars news to get your hyperdrives up and running, here's something you're not going to want to miss:

2. Star Wars Land at Disney World Coming Soon!

Jedi Gonna Hate

According to reports from the Theme Park Insider, we might be just that much closer to an official Star Wars Land at Disney Hollywood Studios (which I will still forever call "MGM"). 

"This appears to be a five-year project, putting completion in 2018, though Disney could choose to throw money at it and accelerate it by a year."

The park will reportedly either extend from Star Tours to the Indiana Jones stunt show or take over the space now occupied by Honey! I Shrunk the Kids and The Muppet 3-D theater. TheForce.Net is also reporting that Star Tours will be receiving yet another upgrade as well when the park expands, and we might even get to dine a Chalmun's famous cantina!. Although I really hope we don't see the end of the Muppets (even though the show has been running for almost 20 years), I cannot wait to finally see what I've only imagined since I was a kid. And that, I believe, is the magic of both Disney and Star Wars

And speaking of Muppets (and my love of being able to string together posts)...

3. The Muppets Might Take Manhattan Once More!

According to Playbill.com, it looks like we might be seeing Green on the Great White Way. Disney Theatrical Production, after a reportedly productive concept meeting (which included over 85 Muppets and a performance of Kermit's "Rainbow Connection), might be sending Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang to Broadway! 

The show would be directed by award-winning director Alex Timbers, who co-directed the phenomenal (and hilarious) Peter and the Starcatcher and also directed the insanely awesome Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway a few years ago. 

Of course, not everyone is excited about Muppets taking the stage....

Bring out the bear!

4. Lost Doctor Who Episodes Might Have Been Uncovered

When a show reaches its fiftieth year, you can expect there to be certain mythologies built around it. One in particular surrounds the fate of several early episodes, including the one that contains the very first regeneration. You see, back in the day, TV execs didn't feel the need to archive episodes, instead reusing the tape for other shows or just throwing it out entirely. Whole adventures of the First and Second Doctors have been lost to time, thrown into the vortex and cast away in the Medusa Cascade. Or so we thought...

Lost forever, the famous "Espresso Machine of the Daleks" serial

According to Bleeding Cool News, the BBC has secured a large number of tapes from...and I quote..."an eccentric engineer who worked for broadcasters across Africa with a taste for science fiction and a habit of taking things for 'safe keeping'". One of the full serials recovered is reportedly 1967's Evil of the Daleks. 

Now, I'm a little dubious, but then again this wouldn't be the first time that things were saved by an eccentric madman....

Ahhhh that felt good. Been too long since I was able to tap at the keys and make Blog magic! And, of course, I missed all of you wonderful people. Keep your eyes posted to The Missing Linc for more on each of these stories!

'Til next time,

- Joe

Your Evening Linc: McDiarmid on Palpatine Movie, Doctor Who Clips, Duck Tales Reboot, and More!

Hello everyone! It's a fine evening for geekery don't you think? Let's take a look at what the internet gods have bestowed upon us:

1. Ian McDiarmid Would Like To See A Palpatine Spinoff Movie....As Would We All

Me and my bestie, the master of all evil.

Because when the Emperor speaks you listen. SciFi Now has posted a great interview with my favorite actor from the Star Wars galaxy, the incomparable Ian McDiarmid. In it he discusses his upcoming appearance at Celebration Europe II, George Lucas, and what he thinks has kept Star Wars so appealing to so many for so long. He also talks about the future of the saga under Disney. And While Ian admits that there's no place for a dead Palpatine in the new trilogy, there might be hope for a standalone feature.:

“On the other hand they’ve got lots of exciting ideas for spin-offs about separate characters and so on, and then there is the television series which George has talked about and decided to make into being for a number of years, and that takes place between Episodes III and IV when the Emperor is very much alive. So I think he probably does have a future."

The mind swirls with ideas! The movie could be based on the immensely popular Darth Plagueis novel by James Luceno, or perhaps delve into the Emperor concentrating his power during the Dark Times. However you imagine it, a Sidious-based movie is definitely not something to chuck down a reactor shaft! Hopefully everything proceeds as he has foreseen.

2. New Bells of St. John Clip and An Interview From the 20th Anniversary of Doctor Who

I really can sympathize with the Doctor when he bemoans waiting out time like a normal person in the Series 7 episode "The Power of Three". The excruciating wait for the season to resume this Saturday is made just bearable (or perhaps more unbearable) by another cool clip from the people over at the BBC. We've seen the Doctor's wardrobe room before (most recently in  David Tennant's first outing in "The Christmas Invasion", but the Eleventh Doctor is keeping his costumes a little more within reach in this new incarnation of the TARDIS. Check out the clip below and see the Doctor don his new duds </alliteration>.

 

Because bowties are cool!

Now, while I was fumbling about YouTube, I happened to come across this great clip of a British news show from 1983 that features Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, and then-current Doctor Peter Davison reflecting on what makes Doctor Who so special. The three Who's are affable and having a ball as the host tries in vain to reign them in. It's funny to watch this and see them all marvel at the show's 20th anniversary knowing that the 50th is just around the corner. Pay special attention to the end when the moderator theorizes that, since the Doctor can only has 13 lives (according to the idea established in the Tom Baker era episode "The Deadly Assassin"), that the show would be on at least another 45 years, which brings us pretty close to the current era.

 

3. A-Woo-OO! Duck Tales NES Game To Get a High-Def Reboot!

In what I hope is a long line of rebooted classics to come, this summer will see the release of the original NES Duck Tales game. The brilliant minds at CAPCOM bring Scrooge McDuck back with stunning new graphics but with the same classic game play that brings you back to those days in Duckburg. Sing along to one of the best cartoon themes ever and feast your eyes on "Duck Tales - Remastered", out for all platforms Summer 2013.

 


4. Greyhound Sings the Halo Theme...and I Almost Choke on The Pretzel I'm Eating

Nothing more to say about this video. Just try not to laugh as this dog performs his rendition of the classic Halo theme:

 


I'm just waiting for this to be released on a remastered OST.



That's all for tonight, folks! Until next time,

-Joe

Farewell to the Clone Wars....For Now

Today, Lucasfilm and Disney announced the end of The Clone Wars TV series. Naturally, we all responded appropriately...

As if a million pixels cried out....

I'll never forget seeing Revenge of the Sith for the first time. More specifically, watching the final moments of the film and knowing, deep down, that this was it. I'd never experience a new Star Wars movie again. I went through college pretty comfortable in the fact that the Saga had ended, and that we might not get any new stories past the novels of the EU.

And then, one day, sometime in late 2007/early 2008, I saw this:

And made noises so high pitched dog called from neighboring states to tell me to pipe down.

We were really getting a new Star Wars movie and an animated TV series! It was exciting to go back into the theaters ready to see the fabled Clone Wars in action. We had only seen the beginning and the end in the movies, but this was going to be the main event!

And then this thing slithered on screen....

Behold the face of doom.

The Clone Wars film was certainly...underwhelming. Stiff dialogue, a convoluted plot, and all around cringe-inducing nicknames ("Skyguy", "Snips", and, perhaps worst of all, "Artooey") made the movie a bit of a disappointment. 

But it most certainly got better. And better. And better. We were treated to stories of clones in action, political intrigue, Jedi at their pique, witches and Sith, even hints at the very nature of the Force itself! The Clone Wars knocked it out of the park with story arcs like The Citadel, Krell/Umbara, Mortis, and even the Wrong Jedi arc which just wrapped up last week. The character development, the effects, the action, and scenery, and the overall quality of the show kept exceeding expectations. They pushed the limits of CG animation and also made us question everything we knew about Star Wars.

Oh yeah...and they brought back Darth Maul.

Ladies.

What seemed like an impossible, irresponsible, lazy stunt turned into one of the best arcs in the show's history. We were treated to the Maul we had always wanted to see more of after Episode I, and we learned that doing so came with a price. We had to watch the once promising Sith apprentice bring himself back from the darkest depths of his own mind and turn his lust for revenge into a plot to seize ultimate power. It all culminated in "Lawless", quite possibly the best episode of the entire series.

And we got to see a lot of characters rise, fall, and grow. Asajj Ventress, Savage Oppress, Captain Rex and his clone brothers all became much more than what we had assumed they'd be at the onset of the show. New favorites, like Hondo, and old ones, like Plo Koon, were also given their time to shine. 

Most of all, we got to watch Ahsoka grow up. 

Nothing says badass like a shoto.

I'll admit Ahsoka was never my favorite. She seemed to appeal more to the teen girl demographic that I found very hard to break into in high school. This last arc really tested her, and her refusal to return to the Jedi Order was so packed with emotion and symbolism that it could rightfully serve as the last episode of the series. Ahsoka walking into the sunset signaled not only the end of her time as Jedi, but of our time as viewers.

It took a while for The Clone Wars to catch on with older fans, but once it did it never let go. And, more importantly, it introduced a whole new generation to Star Wars. There are some kids now who still haven't seen the movies, but love it just as much as the kid who first saw A New Hope in 1977. And that's what Star Wars is all about, each generation finding their way to the Saga we all love. And, without any knowledge of the Sequel Trilogy, for a while The Clone Wars was the last bastion in keeping alive that singularly true fan motto: "Star Wars is Forever". And it did the job admirably.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the brilliant cast and crew, led by the incomparable Dave Filoni. He took George's vision and, under his guidance, wove the Clone Wars so expertly into the Star Wars mythos. His eye for storytelling and his passion for the Saga made him the ideal choice to helm the series. And then there was the cast, an assembly of some of the most brilliant voice actors of our time. I think we take for granted how original, and yet classic, Tom Kane's opening announcements were. And his Yoda had the wisdom and whimsy we first saw way back in The Empire Strikes Back. Matt Lanter's Anakin showed his slow progression to the dark side. Catherine Taber was sublime as Padme. Ashley Eckstein was always enthusiastic as Ahsoka, but also somehow was able to make her more mature as each season progressed. Dee Bradley Baker deserves an Emmy for his portrayal as Captain Rex and all of the clones, particularly during the Umbara/Krell arc. And, of course, there's the incomparable, fantastic, and incredibly awesome James Arnold Taylor who, to many, is Obi-Wan Kenobi (and Plo Koon!). All the supporting cast, who brought to life characters like Asajj, Dooku, Savage, Mother Talzin, Hondo, Grievous, Satine, Bo Katan, Palpatine (RIP Ian Abercrombie), and many others are worthy of our recognition and thanks.

The Dream Team

As The Man With the Hat says himself, there's more to come for The Clone Wars, and we were even treated to a clip of what that might be (see the link at the beginning of this post). But, sadly, for now, it's time for The Clone Wars to end. It is the way of things. The Way of the Force.

Oh...oh right in the feels.

I'm just glad we got to experience the thrill one last time.

May The Force Be With You

-Joe

Star Wars Episode VII News: Lucas Confirms Hamill, FIsher, and Ford. Iger Talks Disney Plans

Big news from the source himself! (Although, here, take this grain of salt...) George Lucas, in an extensive article on Star Wars in BusinessWeek has unofficially confirmed that we will see Luke, Han, and Leia back on the big screen. According to Lucas, contracts for Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford have all but been finalized. I can't wait to see how they will feature in the Sequel Trilogy!

Chewie is still holding out for his medal.

Quote The Maker:

"We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison - or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation." He then quickly added: "Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them."

Also, Disney chief Bob Iger talks about his plans for the future of Star Wars attractions, merchandise, and movies:

"Iger is busy readying the machinery that will crank out Star Wars-related toys and theme park attractions and whatever Disney deems as appropriate franchise exploitation. He says he's looking to expand sales of Star Wars merchandise overseas and that ABC and Lucasfilm are discussing a live-action TV series. At the same time, Iger says he doesn't want to do anything that might detract from the upcoming movies. 'I don't want to overcommercialize or overhype this,' he says, 'It's my job to prevent that.' "

I'd watch this.

I am more confident than ever that Star Wars is in good hands with Disney. What do you think? What are you looking forward to seeing in the coming years? One thing's for sure...there's never been a more exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!

MTFBWY,

-Joe

George Lucas Interview: The Maker Speaks on Imagination, Retirement, and His New Museum

George Lucas was interviewed by CBS news this morning and spoke about his latest project, a museum in San Francisco dedicated to art and imagination. The Maker says that he wants to continue to inspire kids to dream big. He has an incredible collection, not just of Star Wars paraphernalia, but of American artists from Normal Rockwell to the designers of Monsters Inc.!

Star Wars: Episode VII - Han and Leia's Kid and Grandkid Introduced

I'll never forget where I was when I heard the news. I was sitting in my dark kitchen listening to the radio after Hurricane Sandy when I first learned about Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm and the plans for Episode VII and beyond. I was so excited that, unable to post about it, I drove directly to my friend Joe's house to tell him.

Well now, thankfully, I can share all the hints and rumors with you! According to inside sources for Nerdvana, there are a few new interesting tidbits about the first installment of the Sequel Trilogy. I of course caution everyone to take these with a big heaping grain of salt (or its galactic equivalent) until we hear anything from Lucasfilm/Disney:

Rumor I: They're Getting the Band Back Together

Replace blasters with walkers

It looks like Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford are all on board to reprise their roles as Luke, Leia, and Han! Many believe this will be in an advisory capacity similar to Ben Kenobi in A New Hope.

Rumor II: We Will Meet Han and Leia's Kid and Grandkid

Fanboy Revolt in 3...2...1

According to this source, we will be introduced to the child and grandchild of the Solos. Any even casual reader of the Expanded Universe will know about the Solo's three kids: The twins Jacen and Jaina and the youngest, Anakin. They've become some of the most popular characters in the franchise, so what will this announcement mean for them?

Rumor III: No Go on Yoda Movie

He was just as shocked as you

Good ol' George has apparently squashed the rumor that one of the spinoff movies will be about our "little green friend". He claims that Yoda was always meant to be a supporting character. I agree with this. Yoda is amazing and seeing him in action in Episodes II and III were a fanboys dream, but his origins have always been shrouded in mystery. I think keeping him out of the spotlight will help to sustain Yoda's appeal for generations to come.

Rumor IV: JJ's In It For the Long Haul

This is why I love the fans

The source reports that JJ Abrams has been contracted to direct all three movies. If you listen closely, you can hear the steam come out of a Trekkie's ears.

Rumor V: Timothy Zahn Will Pen Sequel Trilogy Novels

The original Sequel Trilogy

While the source doesn't say exactly what the novels will be about, when coupled with the rest of the rumors I can speculate that they will be novelizations of the films. This will go over extremely well with fans of the EU (no sarcasm, I promise) who credit Zahn with relaunching the Star Wars franchise in the wilderness years of the early 1990's. Zahn is an incredible author and I cannot wait to read anything he puts out!

Well, there you have it, gentlebeings! Sound off in the comments below and add your own thoughts to the swirling mix of Episode VII rumors. Just remember: "Always in motion is the future."

MTFBWY

-Joe