Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with starwars

You should have bargained, Lucas

chrchr — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:38:48 -0800

I watched a film called "Return Of The Jedi" recently. Perhaps some of you have seen it. In the first act, a motley band of heroes executes an ingenious plan to rescue a comrade from an obese crime lord. Wait, what exactly was their ingenious plan? Because it seems like the plan was that they would all get captured and then Luke would save them. There's this whole thing that Luke is going to trade the droids for Han Solo, but I can't imagine that that was a good faith offer. Leia unfreezes Han Solo, seemingly intending to sneak out of the palace, but that fails, and even if it had worked, you've traded one captured ally for three -- the droids for Solo and Chewbacca. Luke takes a blaster from a guard and tries to shoot Jabba, so maybe the plan was for Luke to take the palace by force, but why endanger the others?

I'm aware that there's probably not an answer to this other than "it's a dumb movie," but I'm often amazed at the ability of Star Wars fans and critics to make sense of the senseless pieces of these movies, and I've never read a satisfying explanation for this. Anybody have any ideas or know of any sources that shed light?

The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of a Fun Size Kit-Kat.

bondcliff — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:28:58 -0800

My son wants to be the Death Star for Halloween. Awesome. I can do this. But I’m stuck as to how to make a sphere. Help! I can make the trench, the laser, the emperor’s throne room, the Y-Wing smearing itself against the surface and all the other crap. I can rig up some lights and glow sticks. That much I can do. But how do I make the basic frame and sphere? It has to be light enough for a seven year old to wear; it should be durable and not catch fire if he should stray too close to a candle. His head will come out the top and his arms will need to stick out the sides. I figure maybe two-feet around, though that might be a bit big for his arms.

So far all I can think to do is to get a large beach ball (probably difficult this time of year) and stiffen it with paper mache, or fasten a bunch of hula-hoops together and cover it with fabric. Both ideas sound really lame to me and I can see them turning out badly. Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but I take pride in my costumes. There must be a better way. You guys are smart, you’ll figure it out.

If you do a Google image search for “Death Star Costume” you’ll see exactly what I don’t want.

Help me, Metafilter. You’re my only hope.

Need to find book sales stats

arniec — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:04:11 -0800

How can I find sales stats and chart statistics for books released over the past 30 years? I am working on a research project regarding Star Wars novels. I know that many tout "New York Times Bestseller" on the covers; I am interested in finding out which ones were indeed NYTimes Bestsellers, when, for how long, etc.

Is there any way to look up bestseller status by book, rather than just looking at every Times Bestseller list from 1977 to now?

(Bonus points if there's any way to find out how many copies of the books sold, or a breakdown to hardcover and paperback release).

PS: I realize that often there are services that require a fee for such information. I'm willing to pay perhaps 3 figures for this information if I MUST but any association over $1,000 is outside of feasibility for me.

PPS: Yes, I've contacted the publishers. They don't have this information in a ready-to-share format.

CreativeRoboticsNicknameFilter

WilliamWallace — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:43:18 -0800

I need a creative robotics/mechanical/electrical (engineering) themed nickname for a shirt I'm making. Constraints and criteria below. Disclaimer: I realize this is particularly difficult question to answer, but I feel it's the exact thing AskMe is for, people collaborating towards a common solution.

It must be no more than 13 characters.

I'm very big into Star Wars (who isn't?) so huge bonus points to something Star Wars related.

Something with a rank or title is also encouraged.

I'm looking for something clever, but also something acceptably professional-sounding. I'll accept all suggestions, and judge for myself. It's just something to keep in mind.

Hand Me My Lightsaber. Don't Ask Why. Just Hand It to Me, OK?

Cool Papa Bell — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:20:49 -0800

Beware: Extreme nerd-itry dead ahead. In any of the various media permutations of the Star Wars universe, was it ever explained why there is such an emphasis on melee weapons? I get that in a universe with Force powers, there are denizens that can block blaster fire with lightsabers or even their bare hands. But the Jedi / Sith, or the superskills of a character like General Grevious, are few and far between compared to the enormous size of the story's universe.

So why is it that there are so many other characters depicted using swords, spears and other handheld hoo-hah, like the gaderffii of the Sand People.

You know, here on Earth, once the rifle was invented, it wasn't long before it dominated the battlefield...

Speak this way, I do. This way do others speak, hmm?

nikkorizz — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:50:03 -0800

In the English version of Star Wars, Yoda speaks using some interesting word-order. In other language translations, is this technique carried? I understand not all languages use the subject-verb-object order like in English, but I'm curious to know if other Star Wars language translations try to mix up Yoda's syntax too. Examples would be great.

When did I find out Anakin Skywalker fell in a volcano?

marxchivist — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:46:05 -0800

When did I find out Anakin Skywalker fell in a volcano? This would have been sometime between 1977 and 1983. I was 14 when the first Star Wars movie (Episode IV) came out. Sometime between 1977 and 1983 (Return of the Jedi) my friends and I somehow knew Darth Vader got the way he was from "falling into a volcano." How in the heck did we know that? While I really liked the Star Wars movies, I never got into the spin-off books or comics. We read things like Famous Monsters of Filmland and Cinefantastique.

Does anyone know how and when this information first got out? It's been bugging me.

Is it time to sell my vintage Star Wars figures?

friarjohn — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:08:05 -0800

Is it time to sell my vintage Star Wars figures? I saw this post on Uncrate about a complete set of vintage SW figures for $2,700-$3,500. I don't have a complete collection - far from it. But I have a couple dozen loose figures and three Empire edition figures in their original packaging (Darth Vader, C3PO and a rebel soldier). I didn't keep them as an investment, but they don't take up a lot of space in a box so I kept them around. I don't have (and won't have) any kids to pass them down to.

Is ebay the best place to sell/research the value on these? More importantly, is this a good time? I think I read somewhere that there is a Star Wars live action TV show in the works, but I tend to doubt that will be relevant. I'm thinking values may have leveled off.

Help me, internet, you're my only hope

Jon_Evil — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:09:24 -0800

Can I buy a copyrighted product (i.e., a toy), modify it for other uses, and then re-sell it? I have some household items I've made out of Star Wars toys, and I'd like to make more of them and sell them on the internet. I'm afraid George Lucas and an entire legion of his best lawyers await me.

My sense of justice says that since I paid for the toy the first time, I should be able to do what I want with it. Somehow, I get the feeling it's not that simple. What are the laws pertaining to this?

Help me compile a mix of songs about Star Wars!

alpha_betty — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:39:51 -0800

Help me compile a mix of songs about Star Wars! I'm looking for songs about any of the Star Wars movies or characters for a mix cd. About, not from, so nothing from the soundtracks, please. Examples include Fett's Vette by MC Chris and A New Hope by Blink 182. Any genre accepted.

Additionally, an appropriately awesome title for the mix is needed. Suggestions for songs and title would be greatly appreciated!

Who Ruined Star Wars?

Shadowkeeper — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:41:25 -0800

This is about as long a shot as possible, but here goes. On the opening day of Return of the Jedi (or shortly thereafter), a morning talk show was asking kids for their reaction to the film, and one of the little twerps blurted out the ending. Anyone else remember this? Note: just like that kid, this post is going to ruin the end of Return of the Jedi.

As this was 1983, the show must have been on one of the major networks. presumably it was Good Morning America or one of it's ilk.

The interviewer asked one of the children about how bad Darth Vader was, and the kids said something like, "Well, but he turned out to be good because he saved Luke in the end." And after an awkward pause the interviewer chuckled and said, "oh, uhh hahaha, I don't think you were supposed to say that."

Anyone? I am writing an article about spoilers and would love to identify what show this was and the date it aired. 47,000 bonus points if you can scare up a clip or finger the kid who did this.

Han shot first. That is what I want to buy!

slavlin — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:01:53 -0800

Which Star Wars set will give me what I want? I love extra special editions, but I want to buy a copy of Star Wars where Han Shoots first. I am looking for any advice on which versions I should or should not get.

How local were the "R2D2 Circle" and the "C3PO Walk?"

breezeway — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:44:52 -0800

Were the "R2D2 Circle" and the "C3PO Walk" widespread children's exercises in the late Seventies, or were they just something my Phys Ed teacher made up? Sometime around 1979, my Central Maryland elementary school PE teacher had us do a series of calisthenic-type exercises with a record of the disco version of the Star Wars theme playing in the background. As I remember, there was a voice on the record that would periodically say, "R2D2 Circle!" or "C3PO Walk!" and we would march around in a tight circle with our hands on our heads or do a tinmanesque goosestep with our arms straight out, respectively.

Was this something my PE teacher invented, or was it more widespread, possibly part of a PE curriculum for the state, or even a disco instruction record intended for adults? Was the voice actually on the record, and if so, how can I get a hold of it?

Use the Hivemind, Luke

Parasite Unseen — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:09:56 -0800

Help me create a new score for Star Wars. In the very near future, I'm going to be running the Star Wars: Saga Edition roleplaying game for a group of my friends (I'm willing to endure a moderate amount of snark about this, so long as the snark-producer also makes a legitimate attempt to assist me with my question). To prepare myself, I sat down and made a list of the elements that stand out as distinctly Star Wars, in order to bring my players more fully into the gaming experience. One of the things that was near the top of the list was that, love it or hate it, the Star Wars score is iconic and creates immediate recognition.

Alas, it might be a little bit too iconic; players here a particular track and immediately associate it with a specific scene or character. I still plan on using the score, but to avoid this problem I want to create a set of tracks that sound like they belong in the score to Star Wars, but aren't. I've already grabbed Mars, the Bringer of War, but I'm not really sure where to go from here.

Help me, Metafilter! You're my only hope!

Animated Star Wars homages and rip-offs

TheSecretDecoderRing — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:01:56 -0800

Are there any good (or at least decent) animated features that have that Star Wars-esque space opera adventure feel to it? I always wondered why there are countless live-action movies that were heavily inspired by the original Star Wars series (and by the stuff that inspired Star Wars, including Buck Rogers and Star Trek), yet I can't really think of any examples off-hand that were of the animated variety. "Titan AE" is really the only American one that seems to best fit what I'm thinking of, and that was a disappointment. The original Transformers movie (which I still love) is often said to have obvious parallels, but I'm not sure that'd count. I enjoyed "Sky Captain" but I'd consider it live-action.

While I'd prefer something I can see in one day, TV series would work, too. I'm starting on the original Japanese version of Robotech, which is somewhat close to what I'm looking for.

I've seen the first couple episodes of Star Blazers (which was pre-SW), but it didn't really capture my imagination. Does it get better?

Also, I've never read Heinlein, but from what I know of his young adult novels, those seem to be deserving of an animated adaptation or two. Has anything been made along those lines?

I'd hoping for something serious but still fun (ie, not like Battlestar). And something accessible... For all the unanimous praise I hear of Miyazaki's work, I often have a hell of a time trying to make sense of it.

Star Trek/Star Wars t-shirt - Where can I get this??

angryjellybean — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:42:36 -0800

Star Trek/Star Wars t-shirt - Where can I get this?? My boyfriend saw a t-shirt worn on (British) tv last week - I believe it was the Peter Serafinowicz show... anyway, Peter was wearing a t-shirt that read "Star Trek" but - this is the important bit - it was in the STAR WARS font.

I am very sorry for all you non-geeks out there now rolling your eyes.

However, I'd be very grateful if anyone knows where one could get hold of this t-shirt.

If you travel through space at lightspeed, will the stars in the background appear to move relatively slow?

paulinsanjuan — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:50:31 -0800

If you travel through space at lightspeed, will the stars in the background appear to move relatively slow? I am watching The Fountain (after the FPP about it the other day) and I noticed while traveling through space, the background of stars "moves" fairly slow. Wouldn't Hugh Jackman and his tree have to be traveling at lightspeed to get to his destination within a lifetime?

Or is it more like Star Trek / Star Wars where everything becomes a streak? (I think in Star Trek warp speeds are faster than light.)

So, let's say we're traveling at lightspeed from Earth to Vega (like in Contact), a total of 24.3 light years away, will the stars in the background appear to move relatively slow?

Also, will going any slower change the "speed" of the passing stars?

How did the shuttle Tydirium get its name?

djacobs — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:21:46 -0800

How did the shuttle Tydirium get its name?

Are there Baby Ruths on Dagobah?

activitystory — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:39:58 -0800

Are there Baby Ruths on Dagobah? Does anybody know what the prop guys used for Luke Skywalker's rations during his first dinner with Yoda? I remember it being this brown cylindrical chewy/crunchy thing. And if there is a star wars term for the Rebellion rations, that would be nice to know as well.

Star Wars Rocks with the danish eared woman.

jmhodges — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 00:05:32 -0800

Dumbish-Internet-Picture Filter: Got a copy of "Star Wars Rocks" with Leia in it? A friend of mine is in "need" of the full version of Star Wars Rocks with Leia singing vocals. See that whitish spot over in the bottom left corner? That's her crouching over the microphone.

Recurring in-jokes/motifs in film and tv?

Robot Johnny — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:59:47 -0800

Examples of recurring in-jokes or motifs in film and television? Examples I can think of are the appearances of "1138" in George Lucas's movies (referring, of course, to THX-1138), and the numbers 1013 and 1121 (and, subsequently, the times 10:13 and 11:21) in The X-Files, being the birthdates of Chris Carter and his wife.

Star Wars Comparison Site?

frecklefaerie — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:01:35 -0800

Where is that website with the side by side screenshots comparing the original release to the digitally enhanced re-release of Star Wars?

What 80s music video featured Darth Vader?

quibx — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:47:33 -0800

I vaguely remember a music video in the 80's with Darth Vader on a subway car. The musicians played on a stage, and had alien heads that I remember being disc-like. Can you help me identify the video? I remember the music was very rock-ish, maybe some synths. Basically, the story followed a kid, running from Darth Vader, alternating between cuts of the band playing. Please tell me I am not crazy.

Is it 5 o'clock yet?

anonpeon — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:01:35 -0800

Can a B-Wing fly? There's a spaceship thats part of the Star Wars Universe called the B-wing. Its got a funky shape that I love, but am curious about: Could it actually fly in an atmosphere?

Pictures here:
(note the sleek profile, "resting" profile)

resting 1

resting 2

Here's the "History" of the craft ala Star Wars

However the wings can fold "out" and the body can rotate around the crew cabin for an attack position, see here:

Going to attack position

attack 1

attack 2

attack

More complete series of pictures here.

Could it work? If so it wouldn't be too maneuverable, right? Would the swinging body cause a lot of drag? Would this design even be feasible?

Star Trek or Star Wars: Which one is bigger?

notcostello — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:22:56 -0800

Star Trek or Star Wars; Which universe is bigger? This is a good start. It seems to pretty much answer the question of the dollar value of each. Although it lacks a few elements, such as the monetary value for the ST TV shows, it seems that Star wars would seem to have the edge by a few billion dollars.

But what about in terms of the intricacies of the universes in terms of the canonical elements.

When you reach out to the end of the tentacles of all that falls with the respective canons of both universes, which are the fullest, the most complex, the most original in its myth development and and what rate are they each growing?

Without though being a discussion of who sucks more Lucas or Berman/Bragga.