Darth Maul Me

And while I'm burning those Star Wars bridges ...

Lucasfilm has a new feature on their website that allows you to add Darth Maul's tattoo designs to personal photos. I haven't tried it yet and have no idea how well it works, but it's also available as a Droid App (which seems appropriate.)

Who wants to go see The Phantom Menace with me?

No offense, but some Star Wars fans are crazy assholes who have gone so far down the rabbit hole of narco-fantasy that they've lost all touch with reality. Don't like the Star Wars prequels? Fine. Move on with your life. That's what healthy, well-adjusted people do.

What healthy, well-adjusted people don't do is spend a decade of their lives on message boards as part of some Punisher-esque quest for moral vengeance and/or superiority. I found the Green Lantern movie to be a serious disappointment, but I don't feel the need to convince people who enjoyed it that they're misguided fools, "apologists" or whatever else the latest meme involves. When you deal with Star Wars fans you often get a quick reminder that "fan" is short for "fanatic" and I've got no patience for Jedi Fundamentalists.
And I understand that blogging about your love of the Star Wars Prequels is the equivalent of walking into a Pentecostal church in rural Mississippi while wearing a "God is Dead" shirt, but so be it.

Which brings me to my point: The Phantom Menace is returning to theaters next month in 3-D, and I can't wait. And Lucasfilm is offering up some interesting paraphernalia to go along with some of these screenings: 3-D glasses that look like Anakin's podracing goggles. Here's the press release:

 The first chapter of the Star Wars Saga arrives in theatres for the first time ever in 3D starting February 10, and AMC theatres across the country are celebrating the occasion with plans to make opening weekend one for fans and families to remember!

To mark the return of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace to theatres, now in immersive 3D, kids, collectors and Star Wars fans of all ages will receive an all-new Hasbro Star Wars Fighter Pod with the purchase of each RealD 3D ticket for Episode I, all weekend long, February 10-12 only at AMC theatres (limit one per ticket, while supplies last).

Additionally, 10 AMC theatres in the United States will host exclusive event screenings in RealD 3D to bring the fun of Star Wars in 3D to life for families and fans. Starting Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. local time, select theatres will offer activities, giveaways, and interactive experiences. Fans can expect (while supplies last):

* Exclusive Anakin Skywalker Podracer 3D glasses with ticket purchase, to truly get into the speed and spectacle of 3D Star Wars on the big screen.

* A Hasbro Star Wars FIGHTER PODS collectible toy with RealD 3D ticket purchase

* A LEGO(r) feature area

* Darth Maul face-painting; a chance to reveal your inner Sith Lord at long last!

* Special character appearances for photo opportunities

* Demonstrations of the upcoming Xbox Kinect Star Wars

The 10 participating Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace exclusive event screening theatres are:

• Atlanta: AMC Southlake 24
•  Boston: AMC Loews Liberty Tree Mall 20
• Chicago: AMC South Barrington 30
• Denver: AMC Highlands Ranch 24
• Los Angeles: AMC Tustin 14 at The District
• AMC Ontario Mills 30
• New York: AMC Empire 25
• AMC Garden State 16
• Phoenix: AMC Mesa Grand 24
• San Francisco: AMC Emeryville Bay Street 16

T-shirt of the Day: Star Wars "Family"

We Are Family, today's custom tee from Tee Fury. It's $10 and is available only until midnight tonight!

(Even More) Fun with Imperial Walkers!

Herbie the Love Bug AT-AT Walker is among the Star Wars-themed AT-AT redesigns over at Bite.ca. Among the designs are AT-ATs "painted" to resemble the A-Team van, the Scooby Doo "Mystery Machine" and the General Lee (though I think they missed an opportunity to fit in a General Grievous reference with that one.)

Steampunk Star Wars

Just when you think the whole "Steampunk Star Wars" concept has run out of ... well, steam, along comes another artist to give it a kick in the pants. Bjorn Hurri has a fun gallery of steampunk concepts in his CGHUB gallery, including a stoner Yoda, a slightly dandy Han Solo, Jabba the Hut and more. Check it out!

(More) Fun with Imperial Walkers!

TotalFilm has a feature posted called 14 Cool Vintage Star Wars Images which puts the famous Imperial All-Terrain Armored Transport (I use the full name in hopes of receiving manna from the Gods of Geekdom) into various historic scenes. Via Nigel Leitch and, of course, TotalFilm. There's a sample from this feature above. The images below are just some I've stumbled on at other sites.

T-shirt of the Day

Darth Vader works on  his parenting skills in Who's Your Daddy, from splitreason.com.

Tatooine's Most Wanted

Ever read the online Troops of Doom comic strip? If not, hit the link and give it a try. The strip is updated several times a week and features hundreds of back issues in the archive.

Anyway, this post actually has a point. (Don't worry ... I won't make it a habit.) ToD's creator is giving readers the chance to appear in a "wanted" poster within the strip. Here are the details:

Donate $10 or more and you can have your own personalized "Wanted" poster appear in the comic. Or surprise a friend and put their face on the poster. Even better, surprise an enemy! Posters will be put on the wall of a set and become a permanent part of TOD. After making a donation, email a good head-shot photo and one name to use on the poster. (First, last or nickname accepted. Shorter is better.)

Fun with Imperial Walkers

Giant vintage Luke Skywalker!

Entertainment Earth has this little huge item on pre-order: a 12" replica of the Luke Skywalker 3 3/4" action figure from 1977. It won't be available until July (which probably mean it won't be available until September) and runs $76.

My first reaction to seeing this toy: "I bet you could totally bludgeon someone to death with that!" 

Awwww. I hate you both.

Hmmmm ... Yoda cake

Via.

Star Wars Fight Posters

I like to imagine there's a Star Wars equivalent of Don King involved with these fights.

Build-A-Bear continues its conquest of the universe

Via StarWars.com

Star Wars fans - and friends of Star Wars fans - can now create their own Anakin Skywalker, Clone Captain Rex, Darth Vader, and Jedi Knight teddy bears, courtesy of Build-A-Bear Workshop!

Star Wars bear costumes are available with a bear or without, in case you'd like to try and suit up that old Ewok plush you've had stuffed up in the closet (a Jedi-robed Ewok? Hmmm....).

There's also the Slumber Style Scruffy Puppy decked out in Star Wars peejays if you prefer your cuddlables more down to earth!

See what Build-A-Bear has available.

The Droid You're Looking For (but probably can't afford)

Motorola has unveiled its limited edition R2-D2 Droid 2 phone, and it's killer.
You can find the full details here. Here are the abbreviated specs.

* BLUETOOTH v2.1+ EDR
* 5.0MP camera with auto focus, touch–to–focus, and face detection, panoramic modes, and more.* DVD–D1 Video capture with easy upload to YouTube, slow–motion capture, fast motion capture and more.
* DLNA Wireless sharing of photos, video, and music with other DLNA compatible devices (Server, Controller, Player, Upload and Download)
* Blockbuster Mobile Application for downloading full–length movies the same day they are available on DVD.
* Dedicated Camera Key
* 3G Mobile Hotspot with support for up to 5 Devices
 * Custom, authentic Lucas Films R2–D2 designed Droid 2
* Exclusive "The Best of R2–D2" movie with Original Cantina Music
* Exclusive Empire Strikes Back Binoculars App
* Star Wars Live Wallpapers: Millennium Falcon and Space Slug
* Star Wars Interactive Wallpapers
* TI OMAP 1GHz processor with Dedicated GPU
* 8GB Internal memory for emails, texts, and apps
* 8GB pre–installed microSDcard for music, videos, and pictures (expandable to 32GB)
* Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS with Motorola Application Platform
* Integrated Google , Exchange, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter Contacts
* Usage Time: Up to 575 minutes OR
* Standby Time: Up to 315 hours
* SAR: Head: 1.49 W/kg; Body: 1.50 W/Kg
* Battery: 1400 mAH Li–Ion

Sadly, in order to qualify for the $249 "online price" you have to sign a two-year contract. I've got more than a year left on my contract so old R2 here will be obsolete by the I have to re-up. You'd think these contract issues would be structured in a way that would, you know, encourage people to buy new products instead of creating unnecessary obstacles.

Star Wars ZIPPO lighters

From the Hypno Pimp (via Cracked, of course.)

Toyetic: Star Wars

More from last week's Toyetic photoshoot.

How to gaurantee your kid will HATE Star Wars

Via.

Lil' Darth Maul

Via Imaginism Studios.

Toyetic: Star Wars

More from my Toyetic photo shoot. And special thanks to The Aquaman Shrine for yesterday's shoutout!