‘Star Wars’ Celebration Europe 2023 #Throwback – 5 Things I Love As A First-Timer

A throwback to my first ever Star Wars Celebration in London last April
The world’s biggest Star Wars event has much to see and enjoy for any Star Wars fan

It was exactly a year ago this month that I attended my very first Star Wars Celebration held in London, England from April 7-10, 2023.

It was an absolute thrill as me and the BFF had been trying to get tickets for previous Star Wars Celebrations (held mainly in the USA and once in Europe) for almost six years to no avail.

In June 2022 however, we managed to nab 4-Day passes and it was all systems go in booking flights, accommodation, and many other things to ensure we got the most out of the world’s biggest Star Wars fan event.

These include entering the lottery for panels, reserving a ticket for the Celebration store and Funko Pop booth, booking a photo op with a Star Wars star, etc.

Tickets for the next Star Wars Celebration—which will be held in Asia for just the second time in Makuhari Messe, Japan from April 18-20, 2025—will go on sale in 2024 on Thu May 2 at 7pm EST (US Time) and Fri May 3 at 7am (JST, Japan time).

And trust me, they will sell out faster than 12 parsecs!

If you are a first-timer as I was last year, check out the things you should know about before embarking on your Star Wars Celebration journey via my article below:

* ‘Star Wars’ Celebration: 5 Things To Know If You Are A First-Timer.

Meanwhile, here are 5 things I love most about Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023:

**5 Things I Love Most About Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023**

1. Awesome Cosplayers

One of the best things of being at a Star Wars convention is seeing hundreds of amazing cosplayers!

There was Rey Skywalker by her Jakku speeder, while Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze stood proudly next to an elongated billboard for The Mandalorian.

There was this super cute mini Ahsoka complete with twin lightsabers and sassy specs, and an uncanny Qui-Gon Jinn lookalike complete with an off-camera Liam Neeson doppelganger!

Kudos too go to this couple who came as Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the adorable Frog Lady from The Mandalorian!

There were stormtroopers aplenty but this trooper looked mighty fine being framed by an on-site cafe’s flowery logo.

2. The Andor Panel

We didn’t win a single seat via lottery for any of the 12+ panels at SWCE2023 and it’s arguably the only thing I’m still miffed about!

So, able to get into the Andor panel after queuing for over two hours for “unclaimed” seats was truly memorable because (1) Andor is truly a great Star Wars series, (2) the Season 2 trailer was exclusively shown here, and (3) not only did we get to be in the same room as Andor star Diego Luna and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, we also got to see a fabulous flash mob display by cosplayers as Narkina 5 prisoners shouting “One way out!” in the auditorium!

3. Celebrity Photo-op with Ming-Na Wen

Celebrity photo and autograph ops are a big thing at Star Wars Celebration. Wanting the experience, we decided on the lovely American actress Ming-Na Wen who not only plays Master Assassin Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Star Wars: The Bad Batch, but also someone whom we have admired since The Joy Luck Club (1993), Mulan (1998) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020).

Friendly and super sweet, the moment Ming-Na saw my Hot Toy Cosbi Fennec Shand figure, she immediately took and posed with it as we flanked her on both sides. We were warned that you only get 10 seconds max in a photo op but there was enough time to tell Ms Wen that we were fans since The Joy Luck Club to which she replied, “Aw, thank you!”

4. ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Mural

There were many exhibitions held in the massive venue that is ExCel Centre London – life-size props and sets, fan-made droids, fan art booths, etc. One exhibit I really love though was this life-size replica of the mural honoring the heroic Ghost crew of Star Wars Rebels.

Seen in the Rebels (2014-2018) final episode, it appeared again in the first two episodes of the live-action Ahsoka (2023), which continued the story of the Rebels. As a big fan of the animated series, it was a thrill to see the gorgeous mural in real-life!

5. Star Wars Swap

Prior to attending Star Wars Celebration Europe, we learnt the word “swap” as in trading Star Wars memorabilia such as stickers, photo cards, badges and so forth with other Star Wars fans.

For the first two days, we didn’t meet anyone swapping bar a sweet cosplaying family of four. Then on the third day, we by chance entered an exhibitor’s room where a Collectors Trading event was taking place! Woo-hoo!

It was so fun, meeting fans from all over just happily greeting each other and exchanging stuff. Arguably one of our most fun moments during the 4-day convention!

PLUS! Meeting Longtime Fellow Star Wars Collector & Fan Artist!

Regarded as one of the top 10 Star Wars collectors in the USA and co-author of a few books on Star Wars collectibles, Duncan Jenkins (above left) and I have been friends for over 25 years, helping each other collect Star Wars stuff between Asia and the Americas. It was truly a joy to finally meet the American—and his lovely wife—in person in London where he was also an exhibitor and speaker.

Over at the Japan booth, I was also thrilled to meet Yuki Shibaura (above right) whom I follow on Instagram and X (@shibaura_sw). A fan artist and cosplayer—she usually dressed up as Obi-Wan Kenobi—Yuki does fabulous paper art illustrations. She was amazed that I knew her work and proceeded to show me all her new works and give me a few as souvenirs too. Sweet!

So if you are planning to go to Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, do look out for Yuki and a whole lot of amazing Star Wars stuff all in one place. There will be pros and cons but it will definitely be a once-in-a lifetime experience.

May the Force be with you on your Star Wars Celebration journey!

Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 will be held in Makuhari Messe, Chiba prefecture from April 18-20. Tickets go on sale in 2024 on Thu May 2 at 7pm EST (US Time) and Fri May 3 at 7am (JST, Japan Time).

All text and photos by Marguerita Tan.
Not to be used without permission from the blog author.

May the 4th Be With You – ‘Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition’ In SG

May4

It’s May the 4th, so to all Star Wars fans out there – May the Force be with You!

To commemorate Star Wars Day 2021, here are some of my favorite things on display at Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition, currently held at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands till June 13.

It’s really cool that despite strict Covid-19 measures, travelling exhibitions such as Star Wars Identities are still able to make their way safely to Singapore.

Opened since January, me and my BFF—both Star Wars fans since the beginning of time (1977 to be exact)— decided to go the week after Easter ‘cos we reckoned the exhibition will be super crowded on and around May the 4th. (This year’s celebrations actually started from May 1 with loads of events and activities at said venue.)

We were also eager to use our Singapore Rediscover Vouchers (SRV)—provided by the Singapore government for citizens to support local tourism businesses during the pandemic—ss soon as possible before they expire* and April was the earliest we could find time to go. (*Note: SRV expiry has since been extended to Dec 31, 2021.)

Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition, which I first learnt about whilst on holiday in Belfast and then Tokyo a few years back, is an interactive exhibition featuring some 200 original artefacts from the classic Star Wars films. These include original costumes, concept art, storyboarding, life-sized puppets of various space creatures, as well as production models of star ships such as the Millennium Falcon and Imperial Star Destroyer.

A key feature of the exhibition is an interactive program in which you can configure your very own Star Wars character by deciding on a number of choices ranging from the planet you prefer to live in, to the lifeform you like to hang out with in a galaxy far, far away.

In no order of merit (or maybe a little bit), here are the things I’m most impressed with from the exhibition:

Baby Yoda’s Forefather

The life-sized model of Master Yoda, whom we first met in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and last seen in The Last Jedi (2017), was simply majestic.

Star Wars‘ Abbott and Costello

These are the droids we’re looking for: C-3PO and R2-D2. Pictured are the actual costumes wore by droid performers, Anthony Daniels and the late Kenny Baker respectively, in the very first Star Wars aka A New Hope. The gold-plated protocol droid and his astromech best bud are the only characters to appear in every Star Wars film bar Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).

Sharpshooters – Not!

Next to the Jedi and the Sith, nothing screams Star Wars as much as the instantly recognizable Stormtroopers in their white helmets and armor. Star Wars: The Bad Batch, an animated TV series by Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) featuring a bunch of elite clone troopers in the aftermath of the Clone Wars, debuts today on DisneyPlus, just one of 10 new original Star Wars series due out from the streaming channel in the next two years.

The Original Bounty Hunter

Yes, he has limited screen time in both 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return of the Jedi but that didn’t stop Boba Fett (played by the late Jeremy Bulloch) from becoming the coolest bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe since way back then. Reappearing as a young boy (played by Daniel Logan) in 2002’s Attack of the Clones—an unaltered clone of his Mandalorian bounty hunter father, Jango Fett (played by Temuera Morrison)—it was great to see Boba Fett returning as an older dude but just as bad-ass as ever in Season 2 of The Mandalorian (2019-present) with Morrison playing Jango’s son this time round.

Read also:
‘The Mandalorian’: 20 Best Quotes From Season 2
‘The Mandalorian’: 15 Best Quotes From Season 1

The Princess and The Scruffy Nerf Herder

Would have preferred to see Princess Leia in her classic white dress robe from A New Hope but I guess her metal “bikini” as seen in Return of the Jedi is equally iconic. Seeing the wonderful Han Solo in carbonite as seen in The Empire Strikes Back is however, sadistically, always a thrill. I actually kinda want that special fridge that has this as its door!

Read also:
Princess Leia’s 10 Most Iconic Quotes from ‘Star Wars‘
Han Solo’s 15 Most Iconic Quotes from ‘Star Wars’
The 15 Coolest Easter Eggs in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

Hyperspace Lovelies

Upon seeing some of the most famous ships in the Star Wars galaxy on display, all I can think of is “Man, how fun is it to build it with Lego bricks!?!” And right after, “How big a hole will it burn in my pockets, sob…” FYI, the Imperial Star Destroyer Lego set (4000+ pieces) costs a mere SGD1,732++, while the Millennium Falcon ranges from SGD19.90 (for a uber-mini model) to $500++ for various editions (Love the “untarnished” Lando’s version from Solo: A Star Wars Story!)

The Queen’s Wardrobe

Natalie Portman as Queen-then-Senator Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequels (1999-2005) had dozens of great costumes especially in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. Sadly, in Star Wars Identities SG, we only got to see these three. Better than none but all her ab-fab costumes could easily fill a whole hall really.

Outer Rim Creatures

Like Yoda, many of the models of the Star Wars creatures are truly intricate like this head bust of Selbulba the pod-racer from The Phantom Menace, as well as a mini version of the one and only Jabba the Hutt whom we meet in the original trilogy and who also appears as his younger self at the spectacular pod-racing sequence.

Heroes of The Resistance

These two pix feature three of my fave Star Wars characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Chewbacca and Han Solo. In case you are wondering, that’s Luke Skywalker far left. Meanwhile, can’t wait for Ewan McGregor to reprise his prequel role as the Jedi Master—played by the late Sir Alec Guinness in the original trilogy—in the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series due out in 2022 on Disney+.

Read also:
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s 15 Most Iconic Quotes from ‘Star Wars’

Darth The One

Talking about identities, no one is more torn between the Light and Dark sides than Darth Vader aka Anakin Skywalker himself. It was quite smart of the organizers to place him in a well-lit open (albeit guarded) space so that everyone can take wefies with the Sith Lord before we end our journey by deciding whether to accept or reject Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious’ offer to join the Dark side.

“I’m one with the Force and the Force is with me…”

Have to say the outcome of the interactive part of creating your own Star Wars character was quite fun. Choosing to be a Force-sensitive Dathomirian Zabrak (a la Darth Maul) bounty hunter who lives on Naboo, enjoys watching opera and concerts in Theed, and who agrees with the wisdom of R2-D2 in that “If you want something done right, do it yourself” resulted in that smashing character above named after my Star Wars moniker which I adopted since The Phantom Menace. As black is my color, was hoping to have Maul’s cool black Sith outfit but it was not available as an “occupation”, so ended up with a Boba Fett outfit instead. Oh well, fun is fun, as was seeing the cool characters other visitors came up with – from Ewok Jedi to Twi’lek fighter pilots!

Read also:
Darth Maul’s 15 Most Memorable Quotes From ‘Star Wars’

All in all, Star Wars Identities was enjoyable although I would prefer the “oh-so-much” space occupied by the identity counters be used to show more production models, costumes, props and perhaps behind-the-scenes photos. As a friend suggested, seeing the hologram chess table from the Falcon would have been nice, or maybe city models of the likes of Theed or Coruscant.

Still, it’s always cool to see real Star Wars stuff from the classic films and having something to see is better than none. Here’s to many more!

Read also:
4 ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Easter Eggs in ‘Rogue One’
Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra – What We Know of the Enigmatic Character in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

Star Wars Identities runs at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands till June 13, 2021. Singapore Rediscover Vouchers can be used. For more info, visit marinabaysands.com.

All photos by Marguerita Tan. Not to be used without permission from the blog author.

May The Fourth Be With You – Star Wars Day 2020

May4

It’s a sign o’ the times when Star Wars “May the Fourth” greetings need to include safety messages.

As our planet continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, a local government agency posted the ingenious e-card above on Star Wars Day (May 4th), reminding one and all to wear a mask when one goes out and to practise social distancing, at least a good lightsaber length apart from a fellow human being.

During times like this, truly appreciate the sprinkling of humor every now and then, so kudos to Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) for the nice touch!

Stay Home, Stay Safe

*Popular Star Wars T-shirt design seen online*.

Another cute Star Wars pandemic graphic seen online recently is this T-shirt design, showing popular characters with masks on and encouraging everyone to “Stay Home and Watch Star Wars“. Which is a cool idea especially if you have Disney+ or Fox Movies (or other cable/streaming channels, depending on your country) as all 11 Star Wars movies including the two standalone Star Wars Stories, Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018), will be available for streaming/telecast from May 4th.

Also on Disney+, you can also catch up on the other great Star Wars offerings such as The Mandalorian and its 8-part documentary series, Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, as well as the acclaimed Star Wars animated series including Star Wars: The Clone Wars (all seven seasons), Star Wars Rebels (four seasons), and Star Wars Resistance (two seasons).

So Stay Home (as much as possible), Stay Safe and May the Fourth Be With You.

*Star Wars: The Skywalker* *Saga* (1977-2019) [Credit: DisneyPlus]

Bless the Kasdans! 20 Memorable Quotes From ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

Nov10

Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca in Solo: A Star Wars Story [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

Solo: A Star Wars Story will become a cult classic. Despite the haters, naysayers and boycotters, majority who saw the young Han Solo standalone film unanimously declared it being the best Star Wars film since George Lucas’ Original Trilogy (1977-1983).

And since end September when Solo was available in various in-house formats, people who skipped it at the theaters for one reason or another have been giving the film the thumbs-up as well and regretting not catching it on the big screen.

Most agreed that the film is pure fun with exhilarating action, and which gets better with each repeated viewing. With Alden Ehrenreich impressive as the titular character, Solo embodies the spirit and feel of a classic Star Wars film even though it does not feature the Force or a single Jedi.

A silhouette of a young Han in Solo: A Star Wars Story [Disney/Lucasfilm]

The Ron Howard-directed film also boasts a stirring original and adapted soundtrack by John Powell (the best since The Phantom Menace), stunning cinematography by Bradford Young, and exquisite overall design from costumes to sets to space creatures. Not forgetting a great supporting cast comprising Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca (in his most physical performance as the beloved Wookiee).

Lastly, as with all the best Star Wars films, Solo is filled with great quotes. Penned by Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens) and his self-confessed Star Wars geek son Jonathan, Solo is filled with loads of Star Wars nuances and lore.

Memorable Quotes from Solo: A Star Wars Story
(Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watch the movie.)

So without further ado, here’s but 20 of the most memorable quotes:

1. “I have no people. I’m alone.”
– Han, informing the Imperial recruiting officer on Corellia who eventually gives him “Solo” as a last name.

2. “I’m telling you. You’ll never have a deeper sleep than when you’re curled up in a Wookiee’s lap.”
– Rio Durant, telling Tobias Beckett why he should let Han and Chewbacca join their crew at Mimbun.

Ardennian pilot Rio Durant is voiced by Jon Favreau in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

3. “We couldn’t have done this like maybe one at a time?”
– Han to Chewbacca when the Wookiee joins him in the shower on board Beckett and crew’s stolen AT-hauler.

4. “It’s no good to die alone, kid.”
– Rio’s last words to Han which made the latter more determined than ever to return to Corellia and rescue his childhood love, Qi’ra.

Thandie Newton as no-nonsense Val in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

5. “It’s been a ride, babe. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
– Val’s last words to Beckett before sacrificing herself during the conveyex train heist in Vandor.

6. “You look good. A bit rough around the edges, but good.”
– Qi’ra, upon reuniting with Han on board Dryden Vos’ yacht, three years after they were cruelly separated on Corellia.

Emilia Clarke is the enigmatic Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

7. “Everything you’ve heard about me is true.”
– Lando Calrissian, telling Han to believe every story about the self-made smuggler-gambler.

8. “I don’t like it. I don’t agree with it. But I accept it.”
– Lando to Beckett after the latter cut his share to 20 per cent in exchange for lifting the restraining bolts off the Millennium Falcon.

Donald Glover is the suave Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

9. “Oh, why? Because you’re my organic overlord?”
– Self-made droid L3-37 to Lando when her co-pilot insists that she follows his orders.

10. “You might want to buckle up, baby.”
– Lando to Han, as they prepare to jump into hyperspace on the Falcon.

Woody Harrelson as world-weary Tobias Beckett in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

11. “Trust no one. Assume everyone will betray you and you’ll never be disappointed.”
– Beckett warning Han that Qi’ra doesn’t fit into their plans.

12. “That brand says you’re committed, but that human male’s heart palpitations indicate that he’s in love with you.”
– L3 to Qi’ra when the latter, who has a Crimson Dawn logo branded on her wrist, denies she has a “little problem” with Han.

Feisty L3-37 is played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

13. “I found my true purpose, Lando! So glad we took this job!”
– L3 to Lando, after she triggered a mass droid breakout in the Kessel mines.

14. “I’ve got a really good feeling about this!”
– Han, as he’s about to steer the Millennium Falcon through the Kessel Run.

Qi’ra to Han: “You’re the good guy.” [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

15. “I might be the only person who knows what you really are… You’re the good guy.”
– Qi’ra to Han after he claims he’s officially an outlaw who is neither afraid of Dryden Vos nor Crimson Dawn.

16. “Not if you round down, buddy!”
– Han to Chewbacca after the Wookiee disagrees that they completed the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs.

Paul Bettany plays the ice-cold gangster Dryden Vos to perfection in Solo: A Star Wars Story. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

17. “I never ask for anything twice, Han.”
– Dryden Vos to Han when the latter tells the Crimson Dawn boss that it is wise of him to handle a rack of volatile coaxium vials.

18. “You and I will be working much more closely from now on.”
– Maul, the real boss of Crimson Dawn, to Qi’ra after the top lieutenant is handed the late Dryden Vos’ position and instructed to fly to Dathomir to meet with him.

19. “Smart move, kid. For once. I would’ve killed you.”
– Beckett to Han after the latter shoots the old-timer first to prevent him from walking away with the refined coaxium.

20. “It’s the blood that brings life to something new… A rebellion.”
– Enfys Nest, informing Han what 60 million credits’ worth of refined coaxium will be funding – the start of the resistance against the Empire.

Read also:
* The 15 Coolest Easter Eggs in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
* Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra – What We Know of the Enigmatic Character in Solo: A Star Wars Story
* Han Solo’s 15 Most Iconic Quotes from ‘Star Wars’

Solo: A Star Wars Story is now available on digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand.

Deleted Scene From ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Features Alden Ehrenreich And Emilia Clarke In A Fishy Pickle

Sep8

Solo_Star Wars_deleted scene_Han Solo_Qira_on the run

Emilia Clarke and Alden Ehrenreich as young lovers Qi’ra and Han Solo in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

The moment we were introduced to young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and fellow scrumrat Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) at the start of Solo: A Star Wars Story, the industrious pair were already planning to leave wretched lives on their home planet of Corellia by running away from their nasty White Worm gang masters.

Thanks to USA Today, fans of the second Star Wars Anthology film have the chance to see an exclusive deleted scene which not only shows an extended version of the young lovers on the run in Corellia, but also how they manage to steal a moment of respite by getting wet in a tank of eel-like creatures.

Entitled “Corellian Foot Chase”, the sequence sees Han and Qi’ra running for dear life from White Worms Molock and Rebolt with their ferocious Corellian hounds. At one point, Qi’ra insists that they hide in the vat of slithering space eels. The ruse works and despite the fishy pickle they are in, a rather relieved Han attempts to shower his affection on Qi’ra only to discover that a frisky eel has the same idea for him and the future smuggler has to frantically leap out of the tank to fish the slimy critter out of his pants.

Check out the amusing deleted scene below:

EXCLUSIVE: A young Han Solo and Qi'ra are on the run (and getting wet) in this deleted scene from #SoloAStarWarsStory. https://t.co/47U74isy3Y pic.twitter.com/bvsRJwqtoZ

— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) September 6, 2018

The clip is but one of eight deleted scenes that come with the home release out this month in the U.S.A. According to starwars.com, the bonus content includes behind the scenes footage, animated discussions with the cast and screenwriters Jonathan and Lawrence Kasdan, a revealing feature on Chewbacca and his enduring friendship with Han, as well as extended scenes. (Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer).

solo-star wars-gallery-han-qira-lady-proxima

Qi’ra and Han facing the wrath of Molock (left) and Lady Proxima in the White Worms lair. [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

Am seriously looking forward to seeing Solo: A Star Wars Story again (and again) in the comfort of my home, although if truth be told, the film-which has great cinematography- is best seen on a mega screen. Despite not having a Jedi in sight, the Ron Howard-directed production has all the heart and feels of a classic Star Wars movie, not to mention the best soundtrack since 1999’s The Phantom Menace.

Besides Alden Ehrenreich, who delivers a strong performance as the beloved scoundrel and Emilia Clarke as the enigmatic Qi’ra, Solo: A Star Wars Story also stars Donald Glover as suave gambler Lando Calrissian, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca (arguably the Wookiee’s best showing in a Star Wars film), Woody Harrelson as Tobias Beckett, Thandie Newton as Val, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the self-made droid L3-37.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is available on digital on Sept 14 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Sept 25.

Check out another deleted scene at the end of the trailer below!

5 Highlights From The Han Solo ‘Star Wars’ Movie Trailers

Feb18

Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

Truth be told, I wasn’t exactly excited when I heard that the second Star Wars Anthology film will be about a young Han Solo. After Rogue One, I wanted the next standalone movie to be either about Obi-wan Kenobi or Boba Fett.

Now that the first trailers for Solo: A Star Wars Story are out however, I’ve to admit that the film doesn’t look half bad. In fact, it actually looked quite good. Admittedly though, it did take a while to get used to the square-jawed Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) as the young Han Solo, especially when one has long embraced Harrison Ford as the Star Wars galaxy’s most famous rogue smuggler for over 40 years.

Still, there are many things to get excited about the latest Star Wars offering due out this May. Here are five highlights from the Solo: A Star Wars Story trailers.

1. A Squeaky Clean Millennium Falcon

The Millennium Falcon in its heyday in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ [Credit: Disney/Lucasfiilm]

You could hear a collective gasp across planet Earth when the Super Bowl teaser trailer shows a pan shot of the Millennium Falcon with super clean interiors. What happened to the iconic ship that would be described by naysayers as “that piece of junk” and “garbage” in its later years starting from 1977’s A New Hope, but which we still love to bits anyway? Here’s hoping that Solo will let us know, after we get to see how Han wins the Falcon from Lando Calrissian of course.

2. Lando Suave

Solo Star Wars Story Donald Glover as Lando

Donald Glover is Lando Calrissian in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

Speaking of whom: To say that Donald Glover is perfectly cast as the suave, smooth-talking Lando Calrissian – the role made famous by Billy Dee Williams in the original trilogy – is an understatement. Just the cool, smug image of him above in the Super Bowl teaser clip was enough to have Twittersphere declaring him as the best thing / reason to watch Solo. We won’t go that far, but do agree that the Han Solo movie looks cooler with the Atlanta star in it.

3. Emilia Clarke as the mysterious Qi’ra

Emilia Clarke as Qi’ra in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

As a fan of both Star Wars and Game of Thrones, it is great to see Emilia “Daenerys Targaryen” Clarke stepping from the world’s biggest TV show into the planet’s biggest movie franchise. And from what we saw of her character in the trailers – most often than not, in Han Solo’s company – Qi’ra is intriguing to say the least. Is she Han’s childhood buddy who became a bane in his life considering the mildly veiled threat she threw at him that she “might be the only person who knows… what you really are”? For more information about Emilia Clarke’s enigmatic character, check out my story on Qi’ra here.

4. Cool New Main Villain

Sand-dwelling villains in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

Many believed this new character is a villain ‘cos he/she has a mask on. He/She also has a very cool armour outfit that would not be out of place in a space samurai flick. Early word from some fans is that this nifty looking character is either a bounty hunter tracking down Han Solo, or possibly a Knight of Ren as his/her visor helmet is similar to that of Kylo Ren a.k.a Ben Solo, Han’s future son with Princess Leia. Whoever he may be, Han is going to have a High Noon showdown with the staff-toting warrior and his entourage on a very sandy location (and possibly atop a speeding bullet train as well).

5. Glimpses Of The Han Solo We Know And Love

The grin has it: Alden Ehrenreich’s Solo tries to pull one over Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra [Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm]

Have to confess that hearing Alden Ehrenreich narrating as Han Solo in the main trailer threw me off at first. Then I have to remember that he is not supposed to be a Harrison Ford clone. Truthfully, the 28-year-old didn’t turn out too badly. He may be underplayed in the Super Bowl trailer but in the main teaser, we get to see from the actor glimpses of the cocky yet adorable nerf herder that we know and love. One is in the funny scene where Han is steering the Millennium Falcon through a treacherous route with a terrified Lando and company in tow. Another is during the private chat he has with Qi’ra where he tries to act tough but lets a touch of vulnerability slips through. Here’s hoping Ehrenreich will be able to carry the entire film from start to finish.

Solo: A Star Wars Story hyper-speeds into theaters worldwide on May 25, 2018 – the 41st anniversary of the day when George Lucas first sent us to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).

The Force is Upon Us…

Dec14

@Changi

@VivoCity

On my PC…

May the Force be with You, Come Thursday (Asia Time)…

May the 4th be Awaken in You…

May4

During the past weekend, the Force was extremely strong at the eastern end of Suntec City Mall… Yup, it’s the Celebrate The Force event to commemorate Star Wars Day, May the 4th, which falls on a Monday this year (read: working day for most Singaporeans)…

Organised by the same legion of Star Wars fans who did the Maythe4thSG event at Jurong Library last year, the 2015 showcase seem more happening probably because everything that mattered were grouped in one area and not spread over a couple of floors. It sure attracted a good crowd over the two days.

There were cool SW artwork…

Cool SW photography using Lego figures (forgot to jot down the name of the photographer who took this, my bad…)

And toys…

…and toys…

…and more toys!

And of course, no SW event can do without the geeks with their fabulous home-made SW costumes…

…and who never ever break sweat to pose with anyone who wants a photo with them. Bless!

There were some of the awesome custom-made lightsabers on display. The toy ones from Toys R Us were sold out within hours, both on site as well as at the actual store upstairs!

For the kids, learning how to “force push” and “vruwwwooom vruwwwooom” their lightsaber from a Jedi Master was simply awesome!

All in all, a real fun time was had by all.

May the 4th be with You… till The Force Awakens this Christmas… 🙂

All Photos by Marguerita Tan Photography 2015. No text or images are to be used without permission from the blog author.

The Force Awakens the Old, Ignites the New

Apr18

“Chewie, we’re home…”

That Han Solo. Add this line to his catalog of great one-liners from the Star Wars saga. Just like millions of Star Wars fans around the world, for me, the appearance of Han (in the form of a silver-haired but still macho Harrison Ford) along with his ever reliable sidekick Chewie (still Peter Mayhew in the “bear” suit) is arguably the best part of the official teaser trailer #2 of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Launched at the Star Wars Celebration event at Anaheim, California early yesterday morning (Singapore time), the latest teaser certainly awaken the Force in every SW fan worth his or her lightsaber (red or blue) more than the first one ever could because it merges the spirit of the SW movies past with exciting glimpses of the new SW galaxy.

Here are 10 shots that impressed me most…

1. A New Planet

Old: We see sand, lots of sand, just like on Tatooine…
New: It’s a new planet named Jakku. With a crashed X-wing Starfighter and Star Destroyer to boot. A new SW Monopoly set, we need…

2. Darth Becomes Him
Old: “The Force runs strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. And… my sister has it.” So said Luke to Leia in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
New: Assuming the narrator is Luke Skywalker since this shot shows Darth Vader’s badly destroyed helmet, but why did he say, “My father has it…”? Maybe Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) will return as a ghost a la Obi-wan Kenobi or as a voice in the head like Qui-Gon Jinn. Nice.

3. R2-D2 will be back

Old: And so will C-3PO…
New: They will have new droids (BB8 to name but one) to contend with…

4. The Jedi legacy continues
Old: The Force – it runs in the Skywalker family – Anakin, Luke, Leia…
New: … But who gets to inherit Luke’s lightsaber that fell from Cloud City (pictured)? Is Rey (Daisy Redley), the girl on the speeder bike in the last trailer, a next generation Skywalker? Or is she a Solo? Find out in December…

5. The New X-Wing Hero
Old: There was Wedge (played by Denis Lawson, uncle of Ewan McGregor who plays Obi-wan Kenobi in Episodes I-III. For those of you who love trivia…)
New: Now there’s Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac of Inside Llewyn Davis and A Most Violent Year fame). His scenes are brief in the trailer but man, check out his swagger when he strutted out on stage during the Star Wars Celebration panel discussion. As he said, his Poe is “the best freaking pilot in the galaxy”. Could the Force be with him then, and not Rey?

6. The Girl, The Droid and The Other Guy

Old: Action sequences with a female heroine, a cute droid and a character that helps out at the right time
New: From its appearance in the first teaser and at the Star Wars Celebration panel discussion, BB8 is definitely to be the new must-have SW toy. As the new female heroine, scavenger Rey is still shrouded in mystery although she definitely looks like one cool feisty freedom fighter. As for Finn (John Boyega) – every time he’s in a stormtrooper suit, he’s always looking stressed, breathless and sweaty. In plain clothes (as above), he still appear stressed, breathless and sweaty. Still out on this one, jury is… But at least he’s easier on the eye than JJB…

7. New Sith Lord

Old: Where there’s Jedi, there must be Sith
New: Seems this is the new villain Kylo Ren. Whether he is the owner of the cross-guard lightsaber remains to be seen. I’m still trying to get the hang around the circular-handle of Star Wars Rebels’ the Inquisitor’s double blade saber…

8. New Look Stormtroopers

Old: Stormtroopers, have them we must…
New: Critics feel they look more cartoonish now but hey, in today’s Cyber Age, they need to fit in on various platforms such as games, cartoons and toys. Stormtrooper cosplayers have eight months to remodel their costumes…

9. Caped Fear
Old: There was Boba Fett….
New: This caped chrome stormtrooper is believed to be the one that is making Finn shake and sweat in the white stormtrooper suit. One thing for sure, this will be arguably the most sought-after action figure after BB-8. And oh, the very first female Star Wars villain at that! (Played by someone from the popular Game of Thrones too, no less…)

10. “Chewie, we’re home”

Old: *Insert Chewbecca’s roar*
New: Han and Chewie, need we say more? Can’t wait to see what “home” looks like. And Leia (the lovable Carrie Fisher) and the kids (maybe)… Wonder when the new Millennium Falcon Lego set will arrive?….

For those who were hibernating under a 3rd rock from the sun in the past few days, here’s a link to the SW: TFA teaser trailer #2…

Till December 2015 then, May the Force be with You…

Photos and Video credit: Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

The Art of Star Wars: Posters

Oct6

As yours truly is still filled with The Force with the recent launch of Star Wars Rebels, the latest Star Wars TV animated series that will start running in November on the Disney Channel, I was thrilled to find two free Star Wars art cards in the November issue of Total Film, the cool UK movie mag.

The two bigger-than-a-postcard sized cards are excerpts from an upcoming book, Star Wars Art: Posters. The tome comprises 40 years of poster art mainly of the original trilogy. The one above is of the original Star Wars (1977) before ‘A New Hope’ was added and it is a cool throwback to the vintage movie posters of the ’40s and ’50s. Entitled ‘Circus’ by Charles White III/Drew Struzan (1978), the original is said to be kept by George Lucas in his Skywalker Ranch. Definitely classier than some of the tacky cartoonish versions that you find on Uniqlo tees!
The other free card was this daunting impression of Darth Vader. Entitled ‘King’s Lead Hat’ (2010), it looks like a Metropolis take on his metal helmet, with little cowboys(?) at the bottom engineering the part man-part machine into the chilling killer that the Star Wars Galaxy know and fear. And nothing is more evident than that than the small Chinese characters engraved around his eyes – Si for ‘death’ in the space above the eye sockets and within on each side at the bottom of that drill-like thing, the characters for ‘left evil eye’ and ‘right evil eye’… Brrrrr! Can’t wait to read the book to see how illustrator Rob Jones got his inspiration from!