Enloe on Star Wars:

“As my faithful readers know, I am a big fan of Star Wars. I love the movies and have put thousands of dollars into the toys for over twenty years. As many have seen, half of my basement is loaded with items from that galaxy far, far away. However, it should be stressed that I have other interests. Every essence of my being does not hinge on Star Wars. Evidentally, others view things differently. While I will not throw the expected insult of ‘Get a life’ to this individual, one has to wonder. How does this fellow support himself? Isn’t hygiene a concern? What about the dating rhealm? So many questions with so few answers. It is my hope that the final movie will be worth his wait. Credit goes to Komo 1000 News.”

Tim Enloe, January 2005, The Force Arena

I’m Having The Time Of My Life Out Here

By Corwin Haeck

A local Star Wars fan does it again, gets in line months ahead of time for the next episode to hit theaters.

SEATTLE - Are you ready for Star Wars: Episode Three? Don’t get excited just yet, the new movie doesn’t open until May. But for one Seattle fan, it’s never too early, or too cold, to start the wait.

Jeff Twieden doesn’t care that it’s freezing outside. He’s camping out in front of the Cinerama Theater in downtown Seattle, waiting for Episode Three to open. It's only 22 weeks away.

“I’ve got another sleeping bag coming, so that’s sleeping bag number three," he says. “It's better to be too hot than too cold.”

In 1999, Twieden made international headlines when he and another fan camped out for months in this same spot to see the first of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy.

“A lot of people say ‘Get a life,’ stuff like that. But I’m having the time of my life out here.” Twieden thinks prequel episodes one and two were a mixed bag, but he can sum up the potential of Episode Three in one word. “Vader, baby. Vader.”

In the film, the villainous Darth Vader makes his first onscreen appearance in over 20 years. “We all want to see Vader kick some ass,” he says.

There’s a potential problem in the long wait. Twieden isn’t even sure Episode Three will play the Cinerama. “That's the assumption I’m going on,” he says. “If it isn’t, I’ll be more than happy to move to a different theater. It’s really about the wait.”

Rain or shine, through sleet or snow, the wait will last another 134 days. “Star Wars is about independence and freedom,” Twieden says. “And that’s really what this wait is about. That complete and utter independence.”

“It is amazing to me how many procreating people in our society today expect others to take care of their kids. As we all know, these individuals made the CHOICE to have little ones, but they throw a lot of the responsibility off on others. If it is not my tax dollars going to educate their sex by-products, it is parent groups trying to stop companies from selling their items. Check out the following. One has to wonder when people of this country are going to stand up once and for all and practice self responsibility and be responsible for their actions. I have no doubt that I won’t see this in my life time. Credit goes to www.drudgereport.com.”

Tim Enloe, May 2005, The Force Arena

Critics take aim at ‘Star Wars’ meals

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - An entertainment watchdog group is asking Burger King to pull its “Star Wars”-themed children’s meals because the latest movie is rated PG-13, according to a published report.

USA Today reported Tuesday that the Dove Foundation is urging Burger King to pull the “Star Wars”-themed Kids Meals from its restaurants because the film is not appropriate for the meals’ target market of children ages 4 to 9.

“Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith” is the first of the six “Star Wars” movie to be rated PG-13, meaning it has been judged more appropriate for older children, although younger children are allowed to attend. The film, which opened May 19, pulled in a record $158 million in its first four days in theaters.

The newspaper reports that 13 years ago the same group got Burger King competitor McDonald’s to apologize for “confusion” from its promotion of the movie “Batman Returns,” which was also rated PG-13, with its Happy Meals.

The Dove Foundation describes itself as a non-profit organization established to encourage and promote wholesome family entertainment. Its Web site gave its Dove Family-Approved seal to the latest “Star Wars” movie, although it warned that more graphic violence made it appropriate for children ages 12 and older.

The chairman of the group told USA Today that it is not appropriate for Burger King to help market the film to younger children.

“When Burger King puts that in a Kids Meal, there’s an implicit endorsement of the movie,” said Dick Rolfe, chairman of the Dove Foundation.

While terms of the promotion deal between Burger King and the filmmakers are not disclosed, the Kids Meals promotion, dubbed “Choose Your Destiny,” is the 50-year-old fast-food chain’s first global promotion, according to the newspaper.

A Burger King spokeswoman said the promotion is not specific to the latest “Star Wars” movie, only to the whole series of films, with just four of the 31 Kids Meal toys specific to “Episode III.”

The toys “clearly celebrate not just one film but the entire ‘Star Wars’ saga,” said Edna Johnson, a Burger King spokeswoman. “The reception at our restaurants and from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive.”

But Rolfe said a survey his group conducted of 889 adults and says 83% felt the promotion was not appropriate for kids.

Another critic told the newspaper that filmmaker George Lucas is as much to blame as Burger King for the inappropriate promotion effort.

“It’s irresponsible of George Lucas to OK the marketing around this PG-13 movie to young children,” says Susan Linn, a Harvard psychologist and author of “Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood.”

A spokeswoman for Lucas defended the film’s marketing efforts.

“‘Star Wars’ is broader than a single movie,” says Lynn Fox, a LucasFilm spokeswoman. “Parents know that ‘Star Wars’ has been a positive influence.”

“STAR WARS DVD - Yes, I was one of those who purchased the Star Wars DVD set in the wee hours of the morning the day it was released. A Nosferatu looking geek with Dumbo ears came up to me and said ‘Are you here for the Star Wars DVD?’ I confirmed I was and then walked, er, actually trotted away in a rather quick fashion. I brief thought came to mind ‘Aren’t I pathetic to be here now with Nosferatu at midnight for the Star Wars DVD?’ After a moment of reason, I balanced myself ‘Nah,the dark side was just tempting me... ’”

Tim Enloe, September 2004, The Force Arena