My 'The Force Awakens' Prep Guide Part VI: Fandom

Well my friends, the time has come to end this saga at it's sixth chapter.  However I will not be back 30 years later to do another; maybe.  I hope I've given you some good products to entertain and prepare you for The Force Awakens.  I myself am about to do my prep by reading lots of Stars Wars comics, watching some of my favorite Clone Wars episodes, and watching the film saga a few days before Episode VII arrives in theaters.  

But asides from stories involving Luke, Vader, and Obi-Wan there have been some great stuff about the love and phenomenon that is Star Wars.  This last part highlights some very entertaining Star Wars related material that I recommend you check out.  It's just people taking their love of Star Wars to the next level.  Just like a guy who re-edited the prequel films so he could make a dark part in Star Wars history just a little more bearable to get through.

Tag and Bink Were Here

A two-part comic that turned into four after it's huge success.  This mini series chronicles the adventures of two rebel volunteers during the events of the original Star Wars trilogy.  To stay away from trouble, Tag and Bink find themselves constantly in the middle of it.  The two TIE fighter pilots who went down the Death Star trench with Vader; that was Tag and Bink.  The two storm troopers who Chewie knocked out right before Han was frozen in carbonite; that was Tag and Bink.  And the Emperor's guards dressed in red on the 2nd Death Star; that was Tag and Bink.  

Going back and watching the trilogy makes me laugh any time one of their scenes comes on.  Now, the 4th chapter is a prequel.  Tag and Bink are younglings during the prequel trilogy, who accidentally erase Kamino from the Jedi archives and then follow Anakin and Padme to Naboo, where they try  to help Anakin woo the senator.  Go out and get this one immediately!

Fanboys

A film that not many people knew about when it was released, yet is now known as a cult classic in the Star Wars fan community.  It stars a lot of actors you know from other projects, but not enough to remember their names.  It also has quite a few Star Wars alumni cameos. Kyle Newman directs this film about a group of life-long Star Wars friends in the Fall of 1998.  The group is anxiously awaiting the release of The Phantom Menace, and are devastated when one of them receives a life threatening illness. The group decides to trek across the country to Skywalker Ranch in hopes of stealing a copy of the film they can all watch together.

When released, this film was only playing in a few theaters in the country, and I was so excited to see it I dragged my wife along with me.  She had never heard it, and now she gets mad when I watch it without her.  It's hilarious, heart-warming, and a must-see for anyone who likes Star Wars.

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed

Many years ago the History Channel did a special about Star Wars.  It talked about the cultural influence on society, and also it's influences.  Scholars and celebrities weigh in on where George Lucas got his inspiration for his saga.  We see not only Joseph Campbell's classic heroes journey, but also influences of biblical, greek, and japanese mythology.  The Empire is compared to Nazi's, and George W. Bush is compared to Anakin Skywalker.  You can find this on YouTube and it's a great in-depth look at the Star Wars mythology.

 How Star Wars Conquered the Universe

Last year, Chris Taylor wrote a book that has now become the Star Wars bible.  Taylor spends hundreds of pages chronicling the Star Wars story.  It starts out talking about George Lucas's family and childhood. And how a car accident sent Lucas on a path from being race car driver to film maker.  It shows the struggle Lucas went through to get the first Star Wars film made, the rise of his Lucasfilm empire, and the effects it had on his personal life and marriage.  We read about the conception and reception to the Star Wars prequel films, and the thought process that led to Lucas selling Lucasfilm, and Star Wars, to Disney in 2012.

Throughout my life I've read and seen quite a bit about the making of the original Star Wars trilogy, but this book went beyond that.  We see what the franchise went through between the trilogies, what  went on behind the scenes during the prequel films(and how you can't blame Hayden Christensen), and when Lucas decided it was time for him to bow out.  It really is a great read for anyone who loves Star Wars. 

How Chris Taylor "Conquered" the Star Wars Story

       No more than ten minutes ago did I finish reading a book I've been working on for about a week and a half.  Now, even though I'm a big comic book/graphic novel reader my wife will testify that I rarely pick up an actual book these days.  So what rare gem got me to spend hours reading without fabulous art accompanying it?  A Star Wars book of course.
       Several people I follow on Twitter reommended a book by Chris Taylor titled, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe. I have seen and read dozens of Star Wars documentaries over the years and thought it would not include anything I didn't already know.  But then I realized this book went all the way up to the selling of Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, as well as details about the making of the Star Wars prequel films.
       It starts off talking about George Lucas's early life, including his struggle to get the first Star Wars film made; which all were things I knew about.  But included in these highlights were minuet details about Lucas.  He was in a car accident in his early life that sidetracked him from a race car career to film.  This led to a declaration to his father that he'd be a millionaire by the time he was 30.
       The main message I took away from this book was the inner struggle and public perception of George Lucas.  He was a visionary who created an empire, but struggled to control it; at least in his mind.  I am honestly now craving to see a biographic film done on George Lucas.  It would work great in the same tone as The Aviator or Jobs.  The final part could be him securing Lucasfilm and the Star Wars legacy before selling to Disney.
       Also included in the book are the various fandoms of Star Wars throughout the world.  From the formation of the 501st, to the R2 Builders, and even Australia making "Jedi" the second most popular religion in the country.  The book highlights the craze that is Star Wars.
       The most interesting chapter to me was #25, How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Prequels.  In this chapter, Taylor went around to various Star Wars fans who either like or hate Episodes I-III. Taylor spoke with one father who doesn't allow any Star Wars in his house unless it's the original trilogy. He even gets mad when his kid's friends talk about The Clone Wars TV series. Taylor interviewed another man who goes so far in defending the prequel films he discusses The Phantom Menace with actor Jake Lloyd, who quit acting after playing Anakin in the film.  Lloyd de-friended the man on Facebook when he realized he had named his son Anakin.
       The chapter also mentions the various order to watch the six films in.  Each order having a different effect/tone, which I have personally done and vouch for.  The most famous order being the "Machete Order."  Also talked about are the many prequel-cuts that fans have made, including actor Topher Grace.  I myself have even edited the three films so that I may try and enjoy them more.  Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith I believe are an improvement, but no matter how much I cut Jar Jar and little Ani out of Episode I there may be no saving it.
       The beginning of the book began with what I thought was a great comparison by writer Andrew Summers and the love/hate relationship the fans have with the franchise.  "Every true Star Wars fan is a Luke Skywalker, looking at his twisted evil father, and somehow seeing good." While every fan boy agrees Star Wars is awesome, we may not all agree on what part of Star Wars we like.
       How Star Wars Conquered the Universe not only tells the tale of George Lucas's journey (I don't have time to cite the comparisons to Anakin Skywalker's journey) but the journey of a multi-billion dollar phenomenon that will last till all life on this world is dead........we'll probably be killed by our own Death Star.