DadCentric

These Aren't The Droids You're Looking For

A couple of weeks ago, the boy and got the Geek Trip of a lifetime: the good people at 20th Century Fox invited us to spend the weekend in San Francisco on their dime, there to get a behind-the-scenes look at Skywalker Ranch and Lucasfilm Headquarters, topped off with an advance screening of Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace 3D (which opens in theaters today - my review of the flick can be found over at MamaPop).

Some of us were never bitten by the Star Wars bug, and some of us have outgrown it over the years. My enthusiasm for the prequels is lukewarm at best; they have their moments, but ultimately fell a bit short of everyone's expectations. My enthusiasm for the folks at Lucasfilm, however, remains steadfast. These guys are perhaps the biggest Star Wars fans of any of us, and when sound editing supervisor Matthew Wood (also the voice of General Grievous) let Lucas add his voice to a key scene in Episode I, well, it was pretty geektastic. 

 

Jaws Was Never My Scene, and I Don't Like Star Wars

"Dude."

It was Simmons.

"What's goin' on, man?"

"I've got some Donald Duck, dude.  Wanna go see Star Wars for a buck at Leohman's ?"

"Go see...wait...Donald Duck?" I said.

"It's blotter, dude.  I got some..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know what it is," I said.  I had never done acid before, but I knew the lexicon.  Just needed some context.  "Umm...Star Wars?  I thought they were showing 2001: A Space Oddysey." 

"No, dude, Star fuckin' Wars! Huh huh huh. C'mon, let's go!  My mom'll drive."  Star Wars had come out three years prior.

"Nah, dude," I demurred, "I gotta wash the fuckin' van today.  I can't get out of it."

"All right, loser.  Have fun," he said.  Later."

"Later." 

I walked the yellow receiver back to the kitchen, untangling fifteen feet of boinging spiral cord from the basement stairs, and clacked it onto the wall, averting my eyes from Mom's scrutiny.

Step Into The Wampa Cave

My youngest son made up a game and taught it to me. The instructions are below. This game is called Wampa Cave.

To play Wampa Cave, you need the following:

• 1 lightsaber
• 1 floor, or if a floor is not available, a ground will work

Wampa Cave is a 2-player game, one child and one adult.

Step 1: Clip the lightsaber to the child’s belt.

Step 2: Mount the child on your back. Assume a tauntaun-like posture and run around in a tauntaun-like manner making tauntaunish noises. Let out a worried tauntaun grumble.

Friday Funny: Tron Holiday Special

I can't believe I missed this in 1982. It was probably on after my bedtime. Merry Cyber Christmas!

 

The 1982 Tron Holiday Special from Rip Taylor

Friday Fun: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Tauntaun

This makes perfect, glorious sense.

(via the also glorious fuckyeahlucasfilm)

Wordless Wednesday: Twilight Moms

Bears, Cars, Dinosaurs And Punks: Four Movies For Your Consideration

FULL DISCLOSURE: I'm totally lagging on reviewing the following four flicks that were sent to me for such purposes by powerful people who expect that they'll receive timely coverage in return. However, since three of the four movies were already in theaters, I don't feel too bad.

Hey! Tomorrow's Friday! Weekend! Whoop! And since many of you will apparently be housebound with your kids, here are three recent Blu-ray releases and one new theatrical release that may or may not be worth your or your kids' precious time.

Two of this summer's big kiddie flicks, Cars 2 and Winnie The Pooh, are now out on glorious Blu-ray. I managed to miss both when they were in the theaters, and for my sins I'm sure the kids will force me to watch them until my eyes burn out. Both are surprising, in opposite ways. Winnie The Pooh is simply lovely, a true movie for children: coming in at about 60 minutes, it's the perfect length, the hand-drawn animation is warm and comforting, and the way the A.A. Milne story literally comes to life on the screen, with words serving as part of the background, is clever and endearing. Disney proves that there is still a place for traditional animation, and Winnie The Pooh is a classic that can stand proudly next to the studio's most famous offerings.

Lego And Star Wars Are To Blame

I know we haven't even gotten to Halloween yet, but I'm already thinking about December. And here's why:

Last year's Lego Advent Calendar was a blast, complete with kegs of hearty ale and cleavage. I've got this one hidden up on a shelf, out of sight and mind of the weefolk what live around here. I can't wait to bust it open. 

Yes, These Kids' Parents Dressed Them As The Jersey Shore Gang For Halloween

This has been going on for weeks: "Dad, can I go as Killer Croc?" "No." "Why?" "Because no one knows who Killer Croc is." "Oh. Then can I go as Cad Bane?" "No." "Why?" "Because no one knows who Cad Bane is." "Oh. How about Nick Fury?" "Do you want to shave your head?" "No, I mean THE ORIGINAL Nick Fury." 

Sigh. At least he's considering costumes that a few of his second grade classmates might get. And regardless of what he ends up wearing, we draw the line at letting him dress up like The Situation. Unlike these kids' parents.

(Photo via this Flavorwire post: "Kids' Halloween Costumes That They're Too Young To Understand". Bob Ross? Really?)

New Avengers Trailer

The Avengers movie doesn't come out until 2012, but much like the political process the hype is starting early. Unlike the political process, this looks promising:

Are you geeked?

Fun fact: When I was covering the D23 Expo (think Comic-Con, but all Disney) the majority of the cast joined a few thousand fans (myself included) for their very first look at the film (about 4 minutes of action, none of which, as far as I can tell, is included here). Then Robert Downey, Jr. yelled something into the microphone, and like Kanye before him, he was out. Still, I was in the room with the Avengers, people. Be jealous.