By the way, we caught "Dawn of the Dead" last night. No complaints here whatsoever. The main gripes I'm reading deal with the lack of "social commentary" seen in the original, as if that's the real reason people have championed the first flick for all these years. Yeah, it's nice that the movie was clever and all, but come on. It was all about the characters, and while prototypical at times, the new flick delivers with a cast you'll actually feel something for. The zombies are cool, but the film is more about "waiting to die" and scrambling for hope in a hopeless situation rather than an all-out zombie action fest. And yet, when it's time for the monsters to shine, we aren't let down. The film has the requisite gross-out shots and loads of gore, and I'm impressed that they pulled the trigger on some extremely un-PC bits here and there. I'd expand on what I mean, but you know...spoilers and all that. I've been waiting to see a horror movie that's satisfied enough in being just that without trying to be "something better than a horror movie," a poorly structured way of saying it I know, but that's what I wanted and that's what I got. Recommended, and don't wait for the DVD -- it's definitely the kind of movie that's worth seeing in a crowd.
REPLIES: 93 comments
first comment,holla!!!!!!!!
Chestnuts roasted by meef @ 03/21/2004 08:52 PM EST
SECOND!!! I AM SOOOOO COOL NOW!!!
Chestnuts roasted by Kristal @ 03/21/2004 08:53 PM EST
Third??? Wow!
Chestnuts roasted by Darth Monkey @ 03/21/2004 09:02 PM EST
4th! yes! I'm better than everyone! go banana!
Chestnuts roasted by Josh @ 03/21/2004 09:04 PM EST
I saw DotD last night, too. Really great movie if you ask me. Much better than the Texas Chainsaw remake.
Chestnuts roasted by Fifth @ 03/21/2004 09:05 PM EST
funny funny stuff!
Chestnuts roasted by nelson @ 03/21/2004 09:07 PM EST
Okay, now I'll actually COMMENT on this figure. First of all, as a Star Wars collector, I kind of hoarded these. I ordered four of 'em, and yes, today, they ain't worth much. Actually, there is a version of this figure that is worth something. It's a foreign piece, I believe it was out in the UK. When the Special Edition was out over there, instead of having to send away for the figure, you got one at the Virgin Megastore. And it came it a neat box with graphics and it was specially numbered, too. Here's a picture:
http://www.neal73.co.uk/figure_review_spirtben.htm
Scroll down to see it, it's the second picture.
By the way, I really wish they'd make more easy-to-get-but-still-cool mail-away exclusives nowadays.
Chestnuts roasted by Darth Monkey @ 03/21/2004 09:13 PM EST
I was going to order this when the promotion started, but for some reason I never got around to actually doing it. I've regretted it for years. Oh, I know I could get my hands on one really easily, but it just wouldn't be the same as ordering it from Frito-Lay, y'know? Oh, and I liked pizza chips. Oh, and one more thing; the prequels are bashed way too much, in my opinion. I love Star Wars as much now as I ever did. That is all.
Chestnuts roasted by Frostor @ 03/21/2004 09:40 PM EST
I've been begging for months Matt. Please. I beg of you, give us the rest of the Photog art. I've never asked for anything else.
Why am I so obsessed with the Photog art? I wish I could say. There's just something about the magic of a walking camera. I'd really like to see the pics. I promise, I'll stop harassing you every other blog if you post them. PleasE!
Chestnuts roasted by Photog's Love Child @ 03/21/2004 09:51 PM EST
I'm glad you mentioned that this figure is "worthless" now because when the promo was going on, I was 16 and in the end of my "must have every promo" phase that lasted for about 8 years. For some reason I never got around to holding on to the coupon and proofs, so I never got the fig. Up until now I was pissed at myself for this because I kept thinking it was worth big moolah. I can finally rest after all these years.
I would like to disagree with your praise for Dawn of the Dead though. To each his own, I know, but the two things that made this movie not as good as the original (without spoilers): 1. Mehki Pfifer's (sp?) "family" 2. The end was totally different. Guess I'm just a big fan of the original...
Chestnuts roasted by Myke @ 03/21/2004 09:57 PM EST
I agree with you on Point 2 -- I wish they didn't keep it going through the credits; it would've been better to leave things off ambigously.
I liked the family thing because it led to one of those un-PC things I'd mentioned.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/21/2004 10:01 PM EST
I love the figure, loved him the first time I saw him..
to bad the remakes and the new trilogys weren't even close to *as* cool.
Glad to hear the DotD was good tho, for some reason I trust the opinion of a fellow Cheesy-80's-movie loving toy freak more than that of the critics.
Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/21/2004 10:39 PM EST
The Spirit of Obi-Wan figure has sentimental associations for me - it was the first mail-away toy my mom ordered for my little brother (who couldn't have been more than five or six at the time, too young to order it himself). He still has it. He was actually pretty good about the wait, as far as I can remember.
Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 03/21/2004 10:40 PM EST
A few years ago my brother got another Star Wars figure through mail-order. It was probably around the same time this Spirit of Obi Wan was being offered. This guy wasn't as interesting though, in fact I don't even remember who he was. All I remember is his grey and black uniform, and he might have been wearing a grey helmet. Probably just some anonymous Imperial bad-guy. Eventually my brother got tired of him, and threw him in the cage with his hampsters, who proceeded to chew his arms and legs off.
Chestnuts roasted by MG @ 03/21/2004 10:53 PM EST
Woo a Star Wars article finally a chance for me to pimp Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic which kicks all flavors of booty. I'm a Gamecube man myself but if you don't already have one you need to buy an XBOX for this game it's that awesome. Not a minute goes by where I'm not thinking about this game which Probably explains why i'm writing about it on the X Entertainment blog. It's taken over my life. I need help HEEELP MEEEE.
Chestnuts roasted by Meatwad @ 03/21/2004 10:57 PM EST
What kind of stamp is that on the package addressed to Matt? It almost looks like Bowser...
Chestnuts roasted by G'Tron @ 03/21/2004 11:24 PM EST
OMG Matt lives in a Crackhouse! :o
Chestnuts roasted by Meatwad @ 03/22/2004 12:22 AM EST
speaking of pizza flaovred chips, weren't there TMNT themed pizza flavored crackers, or tortilla chips, or some sort of snack food being sold for awhile?
Chestnuts roasted by sizone @ 03/22/2004 12:35 AM EST
As Nate mentioned a few bloggies back, yes -- "Crunchabungas."
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/22/2004 12:36 AM EST
BTW, What's your take on the Clone Wars cartoon Matt?
Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/22/2004 12:44 AM EST
Hmmm... methinks that wasn't a picture of the envelope from so many years ago. Considering the stamp wasn't cancelled out, and it was hand addressed. Can't pull the wool over my eyes! I'm on to your tricks. I do like that you took the time to tell us that you live in a crackhouse. And that there was a dead Jedi inside. Very thoughtful.
Chestnuts roasted by allicat @ 03/22/2004 12:53 AM EST
Didn't the Han Solo in Stormtrooper disguise come out before this one? That one's my favorite.
Chestnuts roasted by Corwin Gibson @ 03/22/2004 01:01 AM EST
Teehee. Humble Bumble.
Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 03/22/2004 01:15 AM EST
I have nothing constructive to sayu about Dawn of the Dead. I didn't see a lot of the scary bits, because I close my eyes and cower during the scary bits in movies. I liked that there were parts I could actually watch, where for most horror movies I just sit there quivering. It's not like I have to pay to see them, thanks to my job at the movie theatre.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 03/22/2004 02:17 AM EST
I recently got rid of my spirit of obi wan figure. For several years I would see it in stores and online for massive amounts of money. Some were selling it for like 60 bucks! They still are. Then other places have it for 3 or 4 bucks. I gave up on figures and comics and started concentrating on CD's and DVD's. Great article.
Chestnuts roasted by Jay Amabile @ 03/22/2004 02:19 AM EST
Hey Texas Chainsaw remake was awesome! Don't knock it. Oh yeah - wasn't mumra from thundercats a mail away? the version before he hulked up? Also - I agree about the han stormtrooper mail away - i got it from fruit loops...it was great.
Chestnuts roasted by Jay Amabile @ 03/22/2004 02:22 AM EST
First my sister gets the random desire to watch all three original Star Wars on the big screen tv all day today, then the Simpson's is all about The Phantom Menace, now this. My life is full of coincidences.
Spongebob Squarepants, HBO programming and agressive self-promotion: Like I mentioned a few days back, I got to go to L.A. to meet a bunch of the cast members of Carnivale, including the gigantic Clancy Brown. I wrote all about it and posted pics here if anyone is interested in seeing pictures of me dwarfed next to the guy who does the voice of Mr. Krabs.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/22/2004 03:44 AM EST
Whoa, more coinkydinkies. I just realized the entry in my LiveJournal that is right before the one I just linked is totally about X-E. Spooooooooooooky.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/22/2004 03:59 AM EST
That? Spooky? I'll give you spooky!
Just a few days ago I was at a used bookstore that doubled as a "junk pile full of toys" store, and in quite the ironic fashion (well, ironic NOW...) I stumbled upon THEE mesmerizngly blue Ben Kenobi figure! Honestly, I thought it was worth more than the two dollar price tag, but still, for whatever reason I didn't pick it up. I think it's because they had a plush Ewok doll for an even seven bucks, and I wanted to save the extra two on cleaning the various stains the previous owner kindly left behind on the oversized gerbil.
I now wish I bought that figure. Something about owning an Obi Won toy that could actually be describe as the color "mouthwash."
Damn!
Chestnuts roasted by Bobby... @ 03/22/2004 06:48 AM EST
I was so happy the day possessed all of the dead Jedi. Anakin was my final purchase and he joined Obi and Yoda to do my bidding.
Chestnuts roasted by Stilewalker @ 03/22/2004 07:31 AM EST
I know I'm probably alone in my thoughts, but I thought Empire Strikes Back was the worst movie in the series (except for the Cloud City and the battle at Hoth) there was just not enough in the middle. Darth Vadar getting his head chopped off while a 3 foot lizard groped Luke's back just wasn't enough for me. The sexual tension between Princess Leah and Han Solo was unbearable. i just wanted to shout to them to just get laid so you can stop arguing every freakin second of the day. i'm not sure why the 3rd won't be remembered as the best of all time...prolly cause of the stupid Ewoks. 4 foot hamsters that carry guns just don't cut it anymore.
let's take a poll! if episodes 1&2 and soon to be 3 had come out in the 70's, (w/ the special effects they had back then) do you think Star Wars would be as poplular as it is today?
Chestnuts roasted by ANdrew @ 03/22/2004 08:41 AM EST
Hey Matt, how'd you make all that Dagoban snow? It looks like you spent ages crunching ice with a Snoopy Snow Cone maker...?
Chestnuts roasted by Photoboy @ 03/22/2004 08:44 AM EST
Okay, my first Blog...here goes.....
Regarding the figure: Had it, loved it, got rid of it, still kicking myself.
Regarding the prequels: They sucked.
Come to think of it, so did the TCM remake. In fact, barring LOTR, I haven't been impressed with a new movie since.....uuhhhh....hang on....
Chestnuts roasted by Darc_humor @ 03/22/2004 10:05 AM EST
Ahah! I loved Big Fish!
yeah, that was it.
Please don't hurt me.
Chestnuts roasted by Darc_humor @ 03/22/2004 10:06 AM EST
squee, you lucky dog! I read about that Carnivale screening and I was dying to go. Unfortunately, I live on the wrong coast, so there was no way. Wow, Nick Stahl actually looks pretty good w/ no mud caked onto his face. I didn't even recognize Clea. So, no news on Jonesy returning? I'll be so sad if he doesn't make it. He's my Carnivale eye candy. So, if Sofie makes it out, will she be pregnant? I can't wait until next January. Do you read the recaps at Televisionwithoutpity.com?
Uh, topic. Obi-wan. Pizza. Uh, Scope. Crackhouse. Yeah.
Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 03/22/2004 10:07 AM EST
I was going to retire from XE, but it's just too difficult.
This Star Wars article popped up at the right time. Two days ago I bought a 1977 stuffed Chewbacca. I wuv Chewy so. Along with a Jar Jar, Amidala, and some other foo' figure.
That envelope is addressed to a crackhouse, which ties in to Matt's own joke that he has a druggies hair cut (it was in that haunted house article I think). Maybe Matt's next adventure should be to get a hair cut, or grow hair, or get a house, or get a house with a trendy hair style. I dunno...regret is setting in for breaking my "No mo' XE pact". Moo.
Chestnuts roasted by Kennef @ 03/22/2004 10:13 AM EST
I remember being interested enough in this offer to wish I had the figure without, you know, sending away for it. I'm not sure why. It think it has something to do with me being lazy as hell.
But my interest was definitely piqued. I mean, maybe it's just me, but I doubt it: when I was a kid (as opposed to the terribly mature 21 I am now... anyway), I was a sucker for toys that lit up, could glow in the dark, had alternate color schemes, or were transparent. I actually don't think that's changed much.
Case in point: I sometimes stare in fascination at my neato clear Gameboy games.
I am become pathetic.
Chestnuts roasted by Night_Trekker @ 03/22/2004 11:01 AM EST
trajeal- I'm all about those recaps at TWOP. Carnivale is what first brought me there. Now its a staple of my internet life.
Chestnuts roasted by allicat @ 03/22/2004 11:03 AM EST
Mouthwash, mmmmmmmmmmmmmminty.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/22/2004 11:36 AM EST
I remember my friend and I tried to collect all of those new action figures when the movies were coming out again. We must have been 15 or 16. The problem was that he wanted to collect all the rare versions of figures so we would end up spending up to 50 dollars on Darth Maul with a long lightsaber or Luke with a different hat.
But we did get the spirit of obi-wan. Oh yes.
Chestnuts roasted by Brett_weir @ 03/22/2004 12:05 PM EST
Thumbs up for Dawn of The Dead and Obi Wan.
Good zombie movies are hard to come by these days in the mainstream, and let's face it, finding a big budget movie featuring relevant social commentary now-a-days is like finding a needle in a hay stack.
Chestnuts roasted by BaronVonHotPants @ 03/22/2004 12:15 PM EST
I do read the recaps on TWOP. I wonder how many people found them because of Carnivale? Actually, when I met Diane S. who plays Apollonia, I totally blanked on both her real and character names, and all I could remember was 'Mommatose'. Re: the pregnancy, Dan K. said that he can't believe that people would think Sofie is so unlucky as to get laid one time and end up pregnant. So not a yes, but not a no either.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/22/2004 01:44 PM EST
What's Star Wars?
Chestnuts roasted by Jarek Thimblebee @ 03/22/2004 02:06 PM EST
great review! laughed out loud at that coo ca racha part. :)
is it just me? or did anyone else hate non posable figures
Chestnuts roasted by Freud Savage @ 03/22/2004 02:08 PM EST
For the person who asked:
That's real snow. The Spirit of Obi-Wan took advantage of what had better be the last snowstorm I see this season, or else.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/22/2004 02:10 PM EST
Obi looks like he's wearing glasses...
Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben .....
hilarious!
Chestnuts roasted by mwqofh @ 03/22/2004 02:21 PM EST
Is the Spirit of Obi-Wan anything like the Spirit of Christmas? No worries Kennef, the pact was evil anyways, so breaking it was the right thing to do. Now, if I could just quit going to FARK just to find articles that skeeve me out, then go back again and again.... But, like the old movie poster says, If your skin doesn't crawl, then it's on too tight.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/22/2004 02:39 PM EST
Oh yes, I still have mine. But I thumbed my nose at the hoarding boom, and opened Mr. Kenobi. That gesture means nothing now, since he's readily available. The craze over this figure was caused by an exclusive Han Solo in Stormtooper gear figure being offered by Corn Pops a year before. Many people passed on Han, and kicked themselves in the ass when he turned out to be worth some cash. So the Spirit of Obi-Wan must've looked like a second chance to John Q. Pimplyscalper
Chestnuts roasted by Dude McGuy @ 03/22/2004 02:51 PM EST
My favorite exclusive from this era? "SE Luke." The one given away at the RotJ re-release. I managed to snag two -- somebody traded me for one of 'em, and I'm not kidding on the return bounty: well over a hundred packaged figures from various line shoved in three gigantic boxes, plus 60 bucks. People were insane.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/22/2004 02:53 PM EST
You were luck to get him Matt. I think every theater got 100 of those. I think atleast half of each theater's supply, was "lost". Either the manager, or some disgruntled snack jockey decided to swipe almost all of them from our local Edward's.
Chestnuts roasted by Dude McGuy @ 03/22/2004 03:07 PM EST
Oh yes. Most theaters didn't "promote the promotion," while others simply never told people which showing had the free figures. By the time you add all the kids who simply opened up their Lukes, these were pretty rare beasts.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/22/2004 03:11 PM EST
im that guy who likes pizza chips....
Chestnuts roasted by Scourge @ 03/22/2004 04:06 PM EST
I see dead people, in the movies. And it's not just the folk waiting in long lines either. One of the oddest things I saw in a theater was when "Grease" was having it's revival, and I was with Little Brother and his wife. We stepped into the main lobby and lo and behold, on a giant banner stretching across the width of the wall, was the word GREASE, hanging above the concession stand. Made my day.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/22/2004 04:33 PM EST
Did anyone win anything from the other star wars promotion for episode 1? It was a game of sorts and since i was young and stupid and didn't realize the full craptacularness of episode one I sent away for what i won. I got two episode one backpacks and two queen Amidala Hand held phones. The phones were a piece of crap obviously and the back pack broke in like a day. There probably sitting in a landfill in cleveland by now.
Chestnuts roasted by Ally @ 03/22/2004 05:02 PM EST
I remember when Grease was re-released in theaters. It was at the same time the movie "My Giant" was also in theaters. One of the local theaters had a fairly small marquee, yet they always tried to fit as many movie titles on there as possible. This meant the titles often appeared as one or two long titles. So when these two movies were showing at this theater, the marquee read "GREASE MY GIANT".
Chestnuts roasted by MG @ 03/22/2004 05:47 PM EST
I've actually been reading at TWOP since they were MBTV. Sigh... Back when ER was actually a decent show, and Freaks and Geeks had yet to debut and break my heart.
Mommatose, hee! I wonder if Dan K reads the recaps.
Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 03/22/2004 07:57 PM EST
wow im glad i read this after i sold that figure to my friend for 20 bucks...Thanks XE
Chestnuts roasted by not second @ 03/22/2004 08:10 PM EST
Ewok adventure was a helluva lot better than the Empire Strikes Back... yea, thats right.
Chestnuts roasted by BettieBoo @ 03/22/2004 08:28 PM EST
Am i the only one really amused at the "Dead Jedi Inside" on the envelope? hyuk hyuk
Chestnuts roasted by gurge @ 03/22/2004 08:31 PM EST
Yo Matt, I have a friend who claimed he had 2 of those clear Predator figures, and the funny thing is.... he was gonna bring it in for English class ((we had to bring in achildrens toy cuz were doing all sorts of crazy kids crap right now)) and he said "I couldnt find it" and I asked "Because it's invisible?" and we both laughed. Yeah, I remember my friend when it first came out got one, I was so jealous not because I thought it was rare but because anything thats clear is cool as shit to me. Anyway great article keep that good times a comin, btw whens the Cobra Chia Plot gettin updated?
Chestnuts roasted by JigajigaJames @ 03/22/2004 09:24 PM EST
Oh yeah, about the Obi-Wan figure, you could display that on top of one of those lantern flashlights or some kinda lighted display, wouldnt that look a-a-awe-some? Get 4 or 5 like that and you could have a pretty nifty display that looks great at night, unlike Snake Eyes who just kinda disapaears and blends into the background.
Chestnuts roasted by James again @ 03/22/2004 09:26 PM EST
This reminds me...
I was in 6th grade when the movies were rereleased, and my teacher was obsessed with spelling bees. We had at least two a week. So anyway, we were nearing the end of one, and the word was "empire". I swear, at least six people got out on that one, which left it to me to win. Seriously, how could you not know how to spell "empire" when The Empire Strikes Back is out in theaters? Morons.
Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 03/22/2004 11:47 PM EST
as for the pizza potato chips... they're still pretty raging here in Japan. I can't really tell you why, as they don't taste much like Pizza or Potatoes... PO-TA-TOES. Taters, Mash em up, stick em in a pot.
anyway, my only guess is that the Japanese have a fondness for weird pizza toppings (tuna fish and corn anyone?), which also includes various types of potato toppings.
actually, i have to admit i had a sweet potato pizza at Pizza Hut in Korea, and it was really fucking sweet... potatoes.
Chestnuts roasted by Chopstick Sensei @ 03/23/2004 04:57 AM EST
I personally liked the Star Wars Episode I cans of Pepsi. For some reason, Queen Amidala only showed up on Diet Pepsi cans...
I cannot count how many SW Pepsi bottles and cans I drank in the summer of 1999 and I didn't even see the movie until it arrived on VHS along with Pokemon: The First Movie and Tarzan in the spring of 2000 (THAT brings back some memories during 8th Grade. A week after that I rented George of the Jungle -that I had never seen- because Thomas Haden Church was in it).
Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 03/23/2004 06:09 AM EST
The Prequels sucked. Every True SW fan know's this the original is King reguarding SW. But LOTR trilogy tops them both. As for the figure I see only one use for it and that's to stick a small lightbulb into it and make the figure into a cool night light.
Are we going to see the G.I. Joe Part Five sometime Matt?
Chestnuts roasted by Rowan Steele @ 03/23/2004 09:07 AM EST
Soon, very soon. I'll make it extra special for the wait.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/23/2004 09:08 AM EST
I too am a huge star wars fan. I like the prequels, but not as much as the originals. The characters are just too unemotional. I think the biggest problem is that GL is directing. Look back to the original movies, GL directed the first one and it has the same problem, while the second and third are much better.
GL is a great visionary and writer, but just needs to get out of the directors seat.
On another note, Matt with you bieng a big SW fan have you ever read any of the novels?
Chestnuts roasted by Beerstalker @ 03/23/2004 10:57 AM EST
I've read Shadows of the Empire, which I'm assuming is a good choice for SW fans who aren't really into the novels. It's basic, but it sticks with what most people would know and nicely fills in the time between ESB and ROTJ.
Other than that, not too much. Can't remember the name of it, but I read one novel focusing around Fett, Dengar and some woman Dengar was involved with, plus all of the "Tales" books. (Jabba's Palace, Mos Eisley, etc)
Unfortunately, the problem with the prequels goes way beyond misdirection. It's really got nothing to do with the acting, either. It's the writing. It's just terribly written. Seriously -- look up the script online, and count the number of lines you'd change. It's pretty obvious that Lucas should've shared responsibility with more than just directing and whatnot -- he simply wasn't up to the task of creating these movies. It's a playground for special effects with the story as a side thing.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/23/2004 11:03 AM EST
Yeah, Shadows of the Empire is a decent book, there are a lot better ones out there though.
I think the other novel your talking about is one out of the bounty hunter trilogy, it was a decent storyline but not all that great of writing from what I remember.
For a good starting point if your interested pick up The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn - Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. Really good reading I think.
Back to the movies I definitely agree about the lines too. I haven't gotten around to reading the Attack of the Clones novel yet, but I know the Phantom Menace novel is actually a lot better than the movie in this regard.
I also agree that he seems to focus too much on the special effects instead of the story in the prequels. Thats why I felt bringing in another director would have helped. GL could have concentrated on his Special effects while someone else concentrated on making a story that flowed more easily, and getting the actors to put more feeling into their performance.
All this bieng said I still can't wait for next May.
Chestnuts roasted by Beerstalker @ 03/23/2004 11:29 AM EST
No offense to all the female contingent, but the best thing about Episode II: Even More Whining was *ahem* Amidala's nipples. Tight white shirt and chained up as well. Nice to know her daughter will follow in the whole bondage thing. Sad to think that before he was all thunder-wicked Cool and Evil, Vader was just as pissy as Luke. All Skywalker men need to be slapped around for a good 15-20 minutes.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/23/2004 11:43 AM EST
XE is a wonderful place. I’ve loved everything here since I first received the link from my friend years ago.
But, any praise more than faint for DAWN OF THE DEAD is going too far.
The original had pace, some depth, and characters that the audience got to know very well.
DAWN 04 is just noise and rapid cuts covering the Vivid Video approach to the story: all cum shots, no foreplay.
The characters are a joke – most closing in on STAR TREK ensign territory, just hanging around to be zombie food.
Who is the blonde chick?
When did the two younger characters become a couple?
Why didn’t anyone raise a voice when the African-American character walled himself off in the clothing store with his expecting… wife?
And much more…
All the praise I hear for the film is about the speed of the filmmaking and the gore. Well, it shouldn’t have called itself DAWN OF THE DEAD if it wanted to shit all over the original’s artistic sensibilities.
I’m sorry, but the new DAWN is a stinker.
Chestnuts roasted by Todd Leroy Cummings @ 03/23/2004 03:01 PM EST
They said it couldn't happen here, they said it was a fool's errand, they said close cover before striking. But they never figured that there was nothing better on TV. CheapJack Productions, a division of WTF Entertainment, presents a Oddsen N film.....
X-E Men: The Search For Killer Duck.
THRILL as Heeloyd asks directions from a giraffe! GASP as KingKlash takes a long walk off a short cake! CRINGE as Matt explains that his last name isn't Capybara or Chupucabra! GLAZE as Gabbylicious uses her power of kawaii to get free popsicles for the group! SING ALONG as Starwenn and RainbowFeet lead one and all in a rousing chorus of Barnicle Bill The Sailor!
With a cast of a few people and their pets. Free Spirit of Photog figure to the first 1000000 people who can prove they've seen Mac and Me. X-E Men: The Search For Killer Duck, coming to a hallucination or drive-in synapse near you. (Not responsible for any socks stolen during the climactic Trajeal frozen fish tapdance scene.)
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/23/2004 04:14 PM EST
Outside of Shadow and the "Tales" books the only books that are worth reading for the casual fan, IMHO, are The Courtship of Princess Leia and the Han Solo trilogy. Most of the others are too far removed from the movies, or get pissed all over by the prequels. Whatever happened to Ben and Owen being brothers?!? I agree that the major problem w/ the new movies was the writing, both the plot and ESPECIALLY the dialog. The acting was top-notch (in most cases), tho I do agree that LOTR surpassed it in terms of both performances and effects. I realized how bad Episode II was when I went and watched an edited version on an IMAX screen, and it was still boring and crappy, and I noticed that the makeup artists only covered up Anakin's mole for half of the movie. Perhaps the appearance of the dark mole is meant to symbolize his metamorphosis from innocent child to cranky future Sith. Or maybe somebody just needs to get fired.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/23/2004 09:46 PM EST
Dawn of the dead. Best movie ever. since the orginal. and since goodfellas.
Chestnuts roasted by naturekid @ 03/23/2004 11:20 PM EST
kingklash Hee! "He's dancin' w/ the fish sticks."
I feel as if I have nothing else to add here, since I haven't seen the first two SW episodes (gasp! Do I have my X-E privelidges revoked now?), and the "three kids under five" thing makes it hard to find a babysitter to get out and watch a movie while still in theatres. It's not like I could bring them - three little girls and a screen full of zombies. Although, DOTD is my kind of movie. I love a good scare. Even some of the cheesy ones can get me to keep my lights on at night, if the idea is good enough. Funnily enough, Mr. Trajeal isn't much of a horror movie watcher. He's actually been playing Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided. Anyone else?
Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 03/24/2004 06:07 AM EST
I got one of those Ben's, but it was part of a cinema scene that had all three dead Jedi - Anakin, Yoda and Ben. I wasn't back into SW figures until well after the Frito Lay promotion.
Regarding literature, I am a big fan of some of the Jedi comics - The Tales of the Jedi is a great series. I have a bunch of them in tradback form.
Chestnuts roasted by beSharp @ 03/24/2004 12:00 PM EST
Star Wars Galaxies is an awesome game. I played it a lot for the first couple months it was out, but I've been way too busy lately. Actually Beerstalker is my character name there. I haven't logged in for the last couple months though. I should really start playing again or drop my subscription I guess.
As far as the comics go I haven't read any of them yet. I've read all but 5 of the novels though. I suppose if I ever get through those, and the Shadow trilogy that follows up the movie Willow I will get into those.
By the way the book Willow was better than the movie too, except it wasn't as funny.
Chestnuts roasted by Beerstalker @ 03/24/2004 02:14 PM EST
I think that if I watched the original series obsessively, I could probibly come up with better prequel scripts, actually.
Anybody with good writing skills could.
Now, if I'd just remember to use the spellchecker...
Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 03/24/2004 05:36 PM EST
I have the Obi-Wan figure. Very nice one, methinks. Pretty colour and good detail.
Chestnuts roasted by GJ @ 03/24/2004 09:51 PM EST
Haven't read the responses, but I had one of these. Waited AGES for it!
Chestnuts roasted by Cameron @ 03/24/2004 11:26 PM EST
i got the Spirit of Obi Wan Figure.. gobbled down those mini-bags of chips with the greasy UPC symbols and mailed it off.. an i was surprised when it actually arrived, because i'd never done a mail-away offer before. i think my figure's slightly different, though i don't have it where i live now (it's at my parents, and they live across an ocean), so i can't describe it, but i thought it had a lightsaber, and no glasses. time makes the memory fade, however. i need to search about to see if i can find the alternative pics.
i LOVE that figurine comic at the end of the article. i almost crapped myself.
squee4242 has some good points on the plotline that i wondered about, too (though i thought the whole "brothers" thing might be referring to "brothers in combat" or somesuch since Ben and Owen have different last names). Beerstalker, thank you SO much for mentioning the Timothy Zahn novels, they're what dragged me into a full-time Star Wars obsession back in the day.
anyway, excellent page! i got a good laugh out of it.
Chestnuts roasted by Sara @ 03/27/2004 11:16 PM EST
Hey Matt. Long-time reader, first time poster.
I have that Obi-wan, too! I got it for 2 bucks from a friend who is an action figure nut, but periodically cleans off his shelves by selling everything. This was in Australia, so I'm not sure which batch it was from, but I agree, he's damn cool and minty-gel-y! He sits on my husband's Linux.
Chestnuts roasted by Mimi @ 03/29/2004 10:13 AM EST
Hahahaha Matt you always know how to make someone laugh so hard they fall out of their computor chair...Love the little story at the end...is this the beginning of a series? ;)
Chestnuts roasted by Allie @ 03/30/2004 01:19 PM EST
Matt, your envelope didn't have postage markings-- you LIAR! You just threw that in a mailbox and took a picture. I'm on to you!
Chestnuts roasted by me @ 04/01/2004 12:36 PM EST
Ahoy Hoy Matt,
Looks like your ZIP says 10031, Hamilton Heights-Sugar Hill HOLLA!
See ya on the A-Train!
Yet that vinyl siding and mounted mailbox reeks of L-Train...
Chill, I aint stalkin you!...yet.
:-
Chestnuts roasted by ForrestIan @ 04/12/2004 12:10 PM EST
Absolutely Classic!
Brought back some fond memories of waiting impatiently by the mailbox for "exclusive" Star Wars figures.
I never got the Spirit of Obi Wan figure... But back in the day I did send off UPC symbols for both Nien Numb (Lando Calrissian's co-pilot in Jedi) as well as the Emperor figure... which oddly enough looked exactly like Roddy McDowall.
Thanks for the memories.
Chestnuts roasted by Matthew @ 05/07/2004 07:41 PM EST
Right on Jay Amabile!
Screw that Hip Hop Garbage! We gotta try to keep our rock ALIVE! Screw Billboard top 100! Screw Motown! Who the hell did those guys (The Bomb) think they were with their hot chicks and their BIGGY Smalls, Jay Z and R. Kelly junk? LNOE (Last Night On Earth) are the guys who really are keeping it real with the long hair and the ripped jeans. The Cowboy Hat was Awesome! North Jersey RULES! Long live the South! The Akkkuarian, X-Entertainment, AmericasBest, WKNJ & Jay Amabile is all we need! White people are only 72% of the united States but with Jay Amabile on our side I feel like we are 90%. The BOMB and all those chicks can pack up and get out of North Jersey! We don't need em. Hip Hop, Reggae and R&B should be illegal. We need to use the Aquarian to put all that Jungle Music down and Stomp it out!
Later, Straight Edge Daniel (S.E.D)
Chestnuts roasted by S.E.D @ 05/31/2004 05:18 PM EST
This site is the BEST! You guys ROCK!
Any hope you guys might have a blurb on the series "V" (the show about the lizard aliens that come to earth to do battle with Marc Singer and Michael Ironside while sucking down rats and other creepy-crawlies)?
Your site goes to the top of my bookmarked list!
Chestnuts roasted by Russlander @ 07/17/2004 04:09 AM EST
ALTHOUGH IT AIN'T WORTH MUCH,THIS FIGURE WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE AS COLLECTOR, AND MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING IN A FEW YEARS.
Chestnuts roasted by Austin @ 10/31/2004 04:59 PM EST
ALTHOUGH IT AIN'T WORTH MUCH,THIS FIGURE WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE AS COLLECTOR, AND MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING IN A FEW YEARS.
Chestnuts roasted by Austin @ 10/31/2004 04:59 PM EST
ALTHOUGH IT AIN'T WORTH MUCH,THIS FIGURE WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE AS COLLECTOR, AND MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING IN A FEW YEARS.
Chestnuts roasted by Austin @ 10/31/2004 04:59 PM EST
ALTHOUGH IT AIN'T WORTH MUCH,THIS FIGURE WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE AS COLLECTOR, AND MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING IN A FEW YEARS.
Chestnuts roasted by Austin @ 10/31/2004 05:00 PM EST
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Chestnuts roasted by financing home mobile @ 11/06/2004 10:46 PM EST
Here's a pretty quick one about 
