Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is upon us, with less than 2 months away,
anticipation is growing across the world and it doesn't look like it's
going to calm down anytime soon. If you're someone who's grown up from
early childhood playing with Star Wars toys, watching Star Wars countless
times and for the past 16 years have constantly reminded yourself
and others that George Lucas said he would make prequels from the very
beginning, then you probably get heart palpitations at the sight of the
latest trailer released by LucasFilms. As with millions of fans across
the world, The opening of the long awaited Star Wars: Episode I will be
a very emotional time as a movie that's been anticipated our WHOLE LIVES.
But the actual movie aside... let's talk marketing! Who can't tell that
George Lucas hasn't been rebuilding momentum for Star Wars over the last few years. During
the late 80's and early 90's, we were hardly seeing Star Wars memorabilia anymore, ( at
least not in the amounts we do now ). But now, with a flurry of new
toys, comics, books, models, collectibles, it's started all over again,
and with the coming of SWEP1, it looks like it's going to overflow!
Lucasfilms is planning the single biggest marketing campaign ever made
for a single movie. Complete restaurants will be remodeled to look like
planets from the movie, comics are already in the full process of being
made, books are already in the works, posters, t-shirts, hats,
reproductions of movie costumes and, not to mention, TOYS!!!!
And although my usual instinct in any other situation for any other
movie would be, "Sheesh!! talk about trying to make cash!!" but all I can
say is "COOL!!! STAR WARS STUFF!!!!" ... well what? What are you looking
at? After all this is Collector Times isn't it? Aren't we all a little
bit obsessed with something?
Lucasfilms has been helping the millions of sufferingly waiting fans by
showing little tidbit clips months in advance of the movie coming out
making you think "If I have a coronary and die before this movie comes
out, you're going to have one pretty pissed off ghost on your hands."
Just think, we finally get to see the young Obiwan Kenobi in action!
finally get to see Young Anakin Skywalker, Senator Palpatine before he
takes control on the galactic senate and become the rawest source of
evil in the galaxy, Yoda with more hair! what more could you want!?!?!?
Well okay, I guess you COULD ask for Boba Fett ( isn't he everyone's
favorite? Hey! He's got a cool rocket on his back! ) But actually rumors
are Boba Fett WILL be appearing in the Episode II movie; until then,
"Fetties" will just have to wait.
And as the collectibles start to trickle out of the great Episode I
machine, I can't help but wonder if I'll make it all the way to May 19th
without my head exploding... ( Oh yeah, that's another thing, Lucas is
taunting everyone by moving the date up 2 days earlier... 2 days?!?!?!
). All I can say is my son is already looking forward to getting his
hands on an Anakin Skywalker figure... and I'm VERY proud :) ... As for
myself, my comic shop has already been informed of my episode I order...
too much EpI stuff! too little cash!
Hey At least I'm not part of the gang that will be waiting a month in
advance in front of the box office to guarantee access to the first
showing...