Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2104
April 17, 2017
Fantastic Finds from the STAR WARS Celebration Floor
Star Wars Celebration is a convention that uses the Force to bring together Star Wars fans from across the galaxy. In between panels, the show floor is the place to find some of the best products, fan art, and cosplay that you can’t see anywhere else. At any given moment you might run into a Sith Elsa cosplayer or find yourself waiting for an exclusive Zutton Snaggletooth plush. In other words, Star Wars fans were in heaven this past weekend.
At Celebration, fans of all ages can make friends for life while picking up a gadget or two, or ten. There was such an abundance of Star Wars enthusiasm, it was hard to narrow it down to just a few favorites. But we did our very best to find some amazing expressions of fandom that were on display at Star Wars Celebration!
TIE Fighter Portable Gas Grill by Broilchef
If you’ve been wanting to try out our recipe for Death Star Burgers but weren’t sure how to cook them up, this is the grill you’re looking for. Made of cast aluminum, the stainless steel burner is capable of up to 10,000 BTUs of heat, which is like a cool day on Mustafar. My favorite part of this little grill are the removable and adjustable side shelves. Not only are they functional for cooking horizontally, if you turn them sideways the grill is transformed into the ultimate backyard starfighter.
Star Wars Ramen Candle by Yuko Umehara
Rather than suffer through the usual con food staple of hot dogs and pretzels, I was beyond excited to find a bowl of ramen on the convention floor—all with perfectly cut Star Wars ingredients. Only it wasn’t food at all, it was a handcrafted candle made to look like a delicious bowl of ramen topped with a flawless Jabba tofu aburaage. The only problem is, now we need Celebration to actually sell Star Wars noodles on the show floor. Make it happen, Disney!
Star Wars Heroines Cosplay
Having just previewed the Forces of Destiny adventure figures at the Hasbro booth, imagine my surprise when real life versions appeared right in front of me. I asked for parent permission (I always do when photographing kids cosplay) and little Leia turned to her companions and said, “Let’s do our pose, girls!” These gals had it down to a science. Madison Murray dressed as Rey, and her cousins Mia Ellis and Lili Strickland made the perfect Leia and Jyn. While these costumes were store bought, Star Wars fans were so supportive and had such a positive effect on the girls that they’re already planning to hand-make cosplay for the next Celebration!
Star Wars Toasters by Pangea Brands
If you’re eating plain toast for breakfast, you’re doing it wrong. Consider this infomercial: wake up, place a slice of bread into a stormtrooper helmet, and in a matter of minutes you have dark side toast. But wait, there’s more—that’s no moon, it’s toast! It turns out a Death Star was just a machine to create a toasty treat. Pangea Brands had all their best trooper bucket toasters on display for fans of both Star Wars and breakfast. (A.K.A. everyone.)
Jabba the Hutt Tiki and Salacious Crumb Shotglass by ThinkGeek
Jabba makes everything better. Sure he’s a horrible crime lord but a Jabba the Hutt tiki is too precious to deny. Unveiled for Star Wars Celebration, this Geeki Tiki from ThinkGeek holds a massive 40-ounces and comes with a 4-ounce Salacious Crumb to place by his side. Fill it up with Hutt’s Delight to get you through the summer. If that’s too much Jabba juice for your taste, ThinkGeek also released their second series of Tiki featuring a jawa, Tusken Raider, C-3P0, ewok, tauntaun, and my favorite, the wampa tiki. Those who didn’t make it to Celebration can pre-order the Jabba tiki right now on ThinkGeek. Trust me, these will be gone faster than a Gamorrean guard in a rancor pit.
Skywalker X-Wing Sneakers by Musterbrand
Musterbrand wowed convention-goers with their stylish Star Wars outerwear, but it was their latest shoe collection that caught my eye. This stunning Skywalker sneaker stands out in Rebel Alliance orange and is loaded with tons of X-Wing pilot design details. If the dark side is more your style, a collection of ladies Vader and stormtrooper flats are also ideal for showing off some Empire flair. Currently the shoes are only available within the EU and online.
Home Geekonomics is a series that features the best in geeky home decor, food and DIY. Each week will focus on a specific fandom and highlight the best of geek for your home and everyday life.
Images: Jenn Fujikawa
The Rock Chased His Daughter Around in a Giant Pikachu Costume
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the strongest and toughest dudes in Hollywood, but that hasn’t stopped him from also being one of the biggest teddy bears in show business. Or rather, I suppose we ought to say one of the biggest Pikachus in show biz… wait, hear us out. Johnson posted a video on Instagram over the weekend of himself, standing at 6’5″ and weighing 260 pounds, wearing a costume of the Pokémon mascot and chasing his daughter around the house (via Kotaku).
A post shared by therock (@therock) on Apr 16, 2017 at 1:22pm PDT
This could be the start of an adorable new Easter tradition in the Johnson household. He wrote in the video’s caption that his daughter Jasmine’s favorite character is Pikachu, and he last pulled out the suit back before she was even walking. He thought that putting the costume on again would be a good idea, but times have changed:
“Well, Pikachu didn’t account for the fact that now Jazzy RUNS and for 2hrs straight she wants to play her new favorite game, ‘I run away and you chase me Pikachu. And you’re not allowed to take a break until I go night night.’ At the end of the vid you can hear her yell, ‘Peekyu’ because she can’t say, Pikachu. I’m tired, today’s my only day off, it’s 118 degrees in this costume and Hobbs keep trying to p*ss on my leg. And I luv every minute of it. Bring it on. It’s what daddy’s do. Happy Easter to you guys and enjoy your families.”
Johnson seems like a great father, but it also seems like he’d make a great Pikachu. Assuming this Johnson/Pikachu hybrid was playable in the games, it would be a beast against Flying-type Pokémon with a combination of Electric- and Rock-type moves. That said, it could also be Electric/Fighting combo, given his wrestling past, which would wipe out the advantage since Flying is strong against Fighting.
Also this is fake and would never happen, but we can dream. The point is, Johnson is an adorable dad and seems like a role model for people in all walks of life.
Featured image: @therock/Instagram
Speaking of beloved characters…Invader Zim is coming back!
Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan: Who Actually Had The High Ground?
Although Yoda never discussed his beliefs regarding the importance of elevation in military combat, Sun Tzu — a real-life Yoda, he may be? — did say that “All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark.” This decree is overtly (so, very overtly) apparent in Episode III during the duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. But who really held the high ground for the most amount of time during that fight? According to one Redditor, it was hands down, legs off, Obi-Wan.
In the above clip, Reddit user kimilil breaks down who had the high ground during the famous (infamous?) duel that forever ended an apprenticeship and also probably killed like, a thousand lava-refining robots. Kimilil says that he defines high ground as: when one fighter is on the ground while the other is in the air, when one fighter “dominates the other (e.g. pushes, kicks and chokes),” and when one fighter is literally on a higher level than the other when both are on the ground.
Image: YouTube / Adult Swim
The fight is analyzed second by second in the labeled graph in the image gallery below, and it’s clear that for much of the fight, Obi-Wan was able to maintain and rain down Mors Ab Alto. Kimilil notes that, until Obi-Wan lands his decisive slice on diet Darth Vader, he has about 93.48 seconds of high ground time vs. Anakin’s 28.62. After the blow heard ’round the galaxy, Obi-Wan’s time extends to about 184 seconds.
Kimilil also notes that “Determining ‘advantage’ is subjective imo,” and says that his measurements of who had the high ground were “from [his] point of view.” But from another point of view, Vader eventually kills Obi, so there’s that. But from another point of view the two end up as Force Ghosts who just like to chill… So many points of view! Let us know yours in the comments below.
Images: Lucasfilm / Walt Disney Studios
A Balloon Popping Underwater Looks Like A Real-Life Stargate
There’s something about water that can be breathtakingly beautiful. Maybe it’s the wetness. Whatever it is, it’s like a crackling campfire in that it’s hard to look away from. Combine the wonders of aquatic thrills with high-speed video and you’re in business. That’s what Warped Perception did in their video that answers a simple question: What does it look like when a balloon filled with air pops underwater?
The answer that most immediately comes to mind is that it looks a lot like a water balloon popping in the air. It’s kind of the opposite, and yet, the same thing happens: Once the balloon is popped, the rubber peels away from the bulb of air/water inside. It seems to take a second for the balloon innards to realize that it’s not confined anymore before it breaks out and falls flat. While water makes its way down, though, air pushes itself up through the water and forms a sort of aquatic Stargate, a tube that pulls the middle of its mass through itself… if that makes sense.
When paired with the serene music that scores this video, it’s a real majestic scene that looks like a jellyfish fleeing an attacker, or perhaps how a sound wave would appear if we could see them. That’s our take, but tell us: What does this video remind you of? We’re always open to seeing more stuff looking awesome in slow motion, so feel free to hit us up on Twitter and share some prime high-speed clips.
Featured image: Warped Perception/YouTube
What Does Luke’s ‘End’ Really Mean for THE LAST JEDI?
Last week, fans finally got to see the first trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and it ended on an ominous note regarding the future of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker said that “the Jedi must end;” which is clearly something that plays into the title of Episode VIII. But why would the keeper of the Jedi flame want to see his legacy extinguished? Today’s Nerdist News is one with the Force and the Force is with us as we look at some intriguing possibilities for the future of Star Wars.
There are potential spoilers ahead for The Last Jedi! Stop reading now if you wish to remain completely unspoiled!
Join host, and rumored Grey Jedi, Jessica Chobot, as she offers an explanation for Luke’s change of heart and predicts what’s gonna happen next. If you’ve seen the trailer, then you already know that Luke is offering Rey some instruction on how to use the Force. If Luke felt that the Force itself was the problem, then why would he assist Rey?
Perhaps we need to take Luke literally at his word: the Jedi must end, but only to make way for something greater. Let’s face it, the Jedi Order wasn’t enough to stop the Empire from rising and Luke’s attempt to rebuild the Jedi ended disastrously. Maybe the real issue is the way that the Jedi approach the Force. Star Wars Rebels and other ancillary material in the new canon have suggested that there are ways to tap into the Force without being a Jedi. What if Luke is planning to introduce a more balanced approach to the Force that incorporates both the light side and the dark. That could explain why The Last Jedi poster seems to show Rey’s lightsaber switching colors as it expands upwards.
What do you think about Luke’s declaration about the Jedi? Ignite your lightsabers and let’s discuss in the comment section below!
Hans Zimmer’s INCEPTION Medley at Coachella Was Breathtaking
In case you’ve forgotten just how popular Hans Zimmer is, consider this: his music is so iconic that he, a film composer, performed at Coachella, one of the biggest music festivals in the world, this weekend, and that didn’t seem like a weird thing (via Vulture). His compositions are recognizable and epic, so why not put him on stage and see how it goes? It turns out that a medley of the score for Inception makes for a pretty engaging show, and frankly, it’s a concert experience that’s unlike many we’ve ever seen.
Zimmer’s music is orchestral, but it’s also much more than that. Movies are filled with a variety of tones, meaning that movies are also filled with a variety of music. So there’s classical instrumentation, but it’s also mixed in with guitars and synthesizers and drums… we suppose you could think of it as a modern version of progressive rock. What ’70s groups like Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree told stories through the music, Zimmer’s compositions are already connected to epic moments in our mind, so they don’t have the burden of narrative. Instead, it’s pure emotion, and as fans at Coachella saw this weekend, it’s very powerful.
The good news is that this isn’t just a one-off experience. In fact, Zimmer just started his first ever world tour, so find the tour dates here and check if he’ll be popping up in your area over the next few months. As for this performance, what did you think of it? Was it as epic as we made it out to be? (Yes, it was.) Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know what you think!
Featured Image: Moog
The Pros and Cons of Mark Hamill’s Luke-Han Reunion Idea
After waiting more than 30 years after Return of the Jedi to learn what had happened to our favorite Star Wars characters, The Force Awakens forever denied us an onscreen reunion between Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. That decision didn’t just disappoint lots of fans, it saddened at least one member of the galaxy far, far away: Mark Hamill. In an interview with Fandango (that we came across at The Wrap), Hamill said he was “absolutely” bummed that Luke and Han didn’t see one another in the film, especially that he wasn’t there when Han died.
“It would carry so much emotional resonance into the next film,” he said, “For us–his wife, his best friend–to witness, instead of two characters that know him, what? 20 minutes?”
(Don’t worry, he remembered Chewie was there.)
Here’s @HamillHimself on the Luke Skywalker/Han Solo reunion he wanted to see in #TheForceAwakens #SWCO pic.twitter.com/W3H4qiFpf8
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) April 14, 2017
The idea of Luke and Leia rushing to his rescue, only to make it in time to see Han killed at the hands of his own son, would have undoubtedly been quite a moment. But would it have been better than what we got?
As we still don’t know what the main story of these three films truly is, nor Luke’s reasons for going into seclusion, we can’t really evaluate the question in the context of the larger narrative. Instead, let’s looking at what we do know of The Force Awakens, both on a macro and emotional scale, to determine if Hamill’s idea would or wouldn’t have been the right choice.
WHY IT WOULD HAVE WORKED
It would have created a parallel to Obi-Wan’s death
Han’s death was one of The Force Awakens‘ best executed callbacks to A New Hope, with the Dark Side “son” striking down his “father” to strengthen his powers. No moment was more transformative to Luke’s original story than seeing Obi-Wan killed… even with Luke only having known Obi-Wan for like “20 minutes”! But reliving that experience with his best friend and nephew, in a situation he feels responsible for, would have at the very least come pretty close.
Luke would have literally faced the consequences of his failures
The little we do know of Luke’s recent years is that he failed at playing a mentor for Ben Solo, and then ran off into seclusion. Having him arrive in time to see the very tangible consequences of his actions could have been one of the most significant moments in his arc. His new story would be one of redemption or guilt, instead of heroism and bravery.
He would have seen his greatest fear from the original trilogy come true
Luke’s love of his friends drives him to leave Yoda and his training on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back, a decision that almost ended in total disaster for all of them. It’s that same love for his friends that the Emperor used against him in Return of the Jedi. But considering this new trilogy has forever altered the seemingly happy ending of the original movies, having his greatest fear come true (because he abdicated his responsibilities, no less) would have had the potential to be the single darkest moment in Luke’s life.
It could have been the most emotional moment of the entire franchise
Hamill is right. Rey and Finn hardly knew Han Solo, so the emotionality of the scene falls on those of us in the audience who’ve spent years of our lives with the scruffy-looking nerf herder. So imagine if Luke and Leia there too, with their deep and lasting connections to Han. With how much we care about the Skywalker siblings, watching them watch him die would have dwarfed the emotional resonance of any death or scene in any Star Wars film.
WHY IT WOULDN’T HAVE WORKED
It might have felt emotionally cheap
Think about everything that took place to logically get Han, Chewie, Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren into that one fateful scene. What kind of narrative gymnastics would have been required to also add Luke and Leia there? Even beyond the machinations of the plot, having so many characters witness Han’s death would have made it felt more like a spectacle rather than an honest moment. And once something starts to feel more like fan service–both as a story and as an emotional stunt–it undercuts all the resonance of the scene.
This is Rey and Finn’s story, not Luke and Leia’s
In the same way the original trilogy was really his story and not Anakin’s, these new movies belong foremost to Rey and Finn. We’ve seen Luke experience this kind of loss before with Obi-Wan, and with Han’s death, we experience the same in Rey. If Luke and Leia were on hand for the scene, their reactions would have easily stolen our attention… but this isn’t all about them anymore.
It’s also Kylo Ren’s story
On a related note, there’s only so much empathy, understanding, sadness, and anger that the moment can handle before it begins to wear thin. Some of that had to go to Kylo Ren, whom we’re just beginning to understand.
A similar situation made Luke the hero he became
Luke’s absence from Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru’s murders added another layer to his grief and guilt over the experience—it was also this moment that convinced him to set off on his adventures. But whereas he may not have been responsible for Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru’s murders, he may find it tougher to absolve himself this time around, given his relationship with Kylo Ren and his decision to jump ship. His absence here could lead to even greater–or darker–things for him, making for an even more dynamic character and journey.
It’s even sadder (and more honest) for Luke to have been absent
On a strictly emotional level, Luke not being there feels honest, relatable, and realistic. How many of us have wished we could have had a chance to say goodbye to a loved one? Life doesn’t always cooperate with those wishes, and the people we love often leave us before we get to see them one more time. You don’t always get to script a final farewell.
Still, Mark Hamill isn’t wrong to have wanted Han and Luke to have had one final moment together. We’re just not sure he’s right, either. What do you think? Would The Force Awakens have been better with this Han and Luke reunion? Let us know!
Images: Lucasfilm
GREEN ARROW #21 Features Oliver Queen Vs. The Ninth Circle (Exclusive Preview)
One of the titles benefiting the most from the entire DC Rebirth initiative has been Green Arrow, from writer Benjamin Percy and artist Juan Ferreyra. Together they’ve restored a lot of the things fans loved about Oliver Queen from the pre-Flashpoint universe–his relationship with Black Canary, Roy “Arsenal” Harper–and made them relevant once again. They’ve also restored Ollie’s reputation as the original “social justice warrior,” only with emphasis on “warrior” in the literal sense. Oliver Queen should always be perpetually fighting “the man.”
In the start of this latest storyline from DC Comics, Green Arrow has to face the forces of the Ninth Circle, who vow to bring down the Emerald Archer and everything and everyone he loves. Since the beginning of Green Arrow’s Rebirth, this international criminal and banking organisation has been a constant thorn in Oliver’s side. Now they are finally going to bring their vast power to bear, and it promises to be one bloody showdown.
You can check out our exclusive preview of the first five pages from Green Arrow #21, together with a variant cover from DC legend Mike Grell, in our gallery down below!
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Cover Artists: Juan Ferreyra, Mike Grell (Variant)
Here’s the official synopsis:
““THE RISE OF STAR CITY” part one! They killed Oliver Queen. They made an outlaw of Green Arrow. Now the Ninth Circle will gather its forces to destroy the hero’s very soul. Buildings will topple. Innocents will starve. Disease will spread. And Seattle will die. The biggest Green Arrow story ever begins here! ”
Green Arrow #21 is due to hit stores on Wednesday, April 19.
Are you looking forward to the latest chapter in the adventures of Oliver Queen? Let us know what you think down below in the comments.
Images: DC Comics
April 16, 2017
STAR TREK “Red Shirts” Weren’t Statistically the Most Likely to Die After All
Thanks to the original Star Trek series, over the past several decades the word “red shirt” has become synonymous with “expendable, soon-to-be-dead extra” This is because on the classic series, security officers wore red, while command wore gold, and science and medicine wore blue. And of course, those poor security dudes seemed to always get killed offed by some random alien on an away mission, while Kirk and Spock got away unscathed. And usually they got killed without even getting any speaking lines! Oh, the indignity.
But what if this notion that “red always equals death” has been wrong these past 50 years? Thanks to the folks at Space.com, we’ve learned that at the recent Star Trek: The Math of Khan talk, which happened on April 6 at the Museum of Mathematics, it was revealed that wearing a red shirt might not have given you the greatest odds to an untimely demise after all. The talk was introduced by Connor Trinneer, who played Commander Trip Tucker on Star Trek: Enterprise, but the star of the talk was mathematician and lecturer James Grime, who dropped the hard statistics on the Trekkers in the audience.
Thanks to Grime and his statistics, we learned that, yes, it is true that more red shirts died on-screen than any other kind of member of the crew (10 gold-shirted, which are command personnel; eight blue-shirted, who are scientists; and 25 red-shirted). However, those calculations do not take into account that there are apparently way more red shirts on the Enterprise to start with than any other crew type. This skews things a bit. (There were a couple of red shirts who always came away unscathed…what were their names again??)
According to Grimes, who referred to the handy old Star Trek Technical Manual, over the course of three seasons, out of 239 red shirts, 25 died, which is 10 percent. Out of 55 goldshirts, 10 died, which is 18 percent. So you are more likely to die as a gold-shirted command officer, it seems. Oh, and only a mere 6 percent of the blue-shirted scientists died over the course of the show. So if you’re going to join Starfleet, kids, remember, science is where it’s at. If you want to make it back from that five-year mission in one piece, that is.
What do you think of this mathematical reveal? Are you changing your Star Trek cosplay from “dead red shirt” to “dead gold shirt” at the next convention? Let us know down below in the comments.
Images: CBS Television
From math to science…
Dining with Doug and Karen #67: Sean Jordan and Beth Singleton
Sean Jordan joins Doug and Karen to enjoy some food from returning chef Beth Singleton!
Follow @DougBenson and @KarenAndersonHi on Twitter!
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