Good day, The Rise Of Skywalker and The Philosopher's Stone

Today was also a good day. Despite going to bed really late due to a critical issue popping up I woke in good spirits. I got up, had some breakfast and a coffee and watched an episode of Louis Theroux. Work is now at a level manageable state and I am slowly killing off as many outstanding tasks as I can so I can go into my holiday break with nothing to worry about.

We finished our Star Wars marathon with The Rise Of Skywalker bring the saga to an end. 

I had a brief interruption with a minor work issue. A variant of last nights critical but much quicker to resolve so not much if my evening was lost.

We rounded things out starting our Harry Potter marathon which is also a Christmas custom now. Starting at the very beginning it was Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone.

I won't be drawn into the J.K. Rowling debate, I enjoy this films very much and will continue to watch them. If you don't like that then you know where the door is!

Force Collector

The latest Star Wars novel that I am working my way through is Force Collector, part of the Journey To Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker material.

I absolutely loved this story. Set just before The Force Awakens, a restless teenager sets out to discover what connection his mysterious Force powers have to the fabled Jedi and what the Force has in store for him. We have some new characters and some lovely colour added around more familiar characters. This might be a young adult novel but it is a compelling read and I struggled to put it down. Big thumps up to Keven Shinick for this one! 

Final The Rise Of Skywalker TV spots and The Mandalorian

The dust has finally settled and I've just realised that I missed off point the last set of TV spots for The Rise Of Skywalker. Here we have the final five, 35-39.

I am planning on seeing it at least one more time before I post an actual review. That should give you all plenty of time to make sure you've seen it LOL.

In other Star Wars news, we've just complete watching the TV series The Mandalorian. The last three episodes finally started moving the story arcs in a good direction leaving plenty of scope for things to get very interesting in Season 2. The downside is that Season 2 isn't due for realise until Autumn 2020 so it's a long wait. Still, we'll have Season 7 of The Clone Wars to tide us over.....

The Rise Of Skywalker initial reaction ***NO SPOILERS***

The Rise Of Skywalker initial reaction ***NO SPOILERS***
It's so embarrassing when you all turn up wearing the same outfit LOL

***NO SPOILERS****

So that's it then. The Rise Of Skywalker has arrived........ here is my initial reaction

***NO SPOILERS****

Well that was an emotional rollercoaster, the saga is finally at an end

I laughed, I shed a tear, I cheered and part way through the end credits my emotions burst out and I was crying. I couldn’t actually leave the theatre for a couple of minutes after the end credits had rolled. The Rise Of Skywalker is not the best Star Wars film but it sure as hell delivers and wraps things up nicely. It’s not perfect but then NO Star Wars film is.

I’ve been invested on this journey since I first saw Star Wars back in 1978 and it’s been a major part of my life for the last 41 years and suddenly it had all come to a spectacular resolution. Yes there will be more Star Wars but this was a significant milestone today

I was there from the start with the original trilogy, I proudly brought my kids into the prequel trilogy and the grand kids are now emerging into the sequel trilogy. It's a saga for the generations.

I loved it, loved it, LOVED it!

Here's the Star Wars cast in an interview talking stealing from the set and gifts from J.J. Abrams

One day to go and The Last Jedi

The final day before The Rise Of Skywalker is with us! Although says one day it's actually midnight today that this happens so the hours part is where we are at LOL!

The final film in the countdown was Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. We really enjoyed this film but it certainly caused some major controversy and angst with the Star Wars fan base!

***WARNING*** Disney+ have just run a Special Look Trailer that contains new footage, you'd be as well to avoid this before watching the film!!!!!!!!!!


Just in case you are behind on what this Star Wars stuff is all about please check out this hilarious overview of all the films and TV shows


....and with that dear reader we head into the night to watch The Rise Of Skywalker. A spoiler free reaction will be posted once we are out.

Two days to go and The Force Awakens

Two days to go. Almost there, almost there.....

Tonight we watched Episode VII: The Force Awakens. This was the film that finally brought the franchise back to the world following the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney. The hype was real, I might have gone a little bit Star Wars crazy at the time but this was certainly time to a Star Wars fan! Looking back it had some major issues but at the time it was just amazing!

Last night was The Rise Of Walker world premiere in the US in Los Angeles. It's classed as a Red Carpet event but it was actually a Blue Carpet LOL. Here's the coverage:


Here we have some interviews from the World Premiere:

Three days to go and Return Of The Jedi

Three days to go now, we are into the home straight!

Three days to go and today we watched the third film to be released in the franchise, Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi

Here's the latest episode of The Star Wars Show featuring the cast of The Rise Of Skywalker


We've also had this lush poster released for The Rise Of Skywalker

It's a wonderful nostalgic take on the classic Revenge/Return Of The Jedi poster:

Four days to go and The Empire Strikes Back

Four days left now!

The Empire Strikes was pivotal in taking the Star Wars franchise to the next level and also kick started unexpected plot twists in films. I'll never forget that moment when I was in line with mum to see it for the first time in 1980 (I was 10) and a kid came out of the previous screening saying to his parent, "I didn't realise Darth Vader was Luke's father." There was innocent young me thinking, "He isn't". Oh that feeling of surprise when the truth became apparent. Such a brilliant film that at this moment in time site in my top spot. Yes, we watched Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back tonight!

Yesterday evening the Fortnite game ran a special event for The Rise Of Skywalker which gave us another clip. As usual, don't watch if you don't want......


Here it is without the fortnight overlay:


Here.s the next raft of TV spots....
31-34


If you fancy something Star Warsy that is a little bit different then here's a pretty cool fan film called Remnants Of The Order......

Five days to go and A New Hope

Five days to go until The Rise Of Skywalker. It's getting closer!

Today we went back to where it all began but watching Star Wars, or Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as it is now known. We watch the original cinematic release and the special edition for good measure.

In honour of A New Hope here is the trench run done with animals!

The TV spots are still coming for The Rise Of Skywalker fast erthan I can post.

Here's 27-30 (one of which has been posted on my blog already)

Six days to go, Star Wars Families and Rogue One

Six days to go......

StarWars.com has published this nice little video in association with eBay titled Families.


Our viewing tonight was Rogue One. This has to be one of my all time favourite Star Wars films.

Seven days to go, a new TV spot and Solo

Seven days to go. That's one week, ONE WEEK! Oh my gosh!

I missed this one when it came out although this countdown refers to the US release rather than the UK one, we get it a day earlier! Good to see it anyway! Here we have TV spot 27.


Tonight we watched Solo: A Star Wars Story. This film was really underrated and it's a shame it was received so poorly as we thought it was actually really good. Worth it alone for the Darth Maul reveal at the end.

Here's an exclusive scene from The Rise Of Skywalker. Don't watch this if you don't want spoilers!

Eight days to go and Revenge Of The Sith

Well here we are with EIGHT days to go until the release of The Rise Of Skywalker. I might be a little bit excited!

Tonight we watched one of my favourites, Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. Ignoring the 'Nooooo' sequence this film brilliantly portrays Anakin's final fall to the dark side and his emergence as Darth Vader. I'm still conflicted about Order 66 to this day!

The Rise Of Skywalker One Final Journey

Here is another short promo for The Rise Of Skywalker called One Final Journey


9 days to go!!!!!

Tonight we did Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. This is probably my least favourite of all of the films although it does have some shining moments. It's a Star Wars film every night now until we get to the release of The Rise Of Skywalker.

The Rise Of Skywalker interviews with Xilla Valentine

Tonight we started out official countdown to The Rise Of Skywalker by watching Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It's not to everybody's taste but I love this film!

Here are some interviews that Xilla Valentine did with the cast of The Rise Of Skywalker. Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, JJ Abrams, Anthony Daniel and Joonas Suotamo.

Video linked from the NOTHING BETTER TO YOUTUBE channel

The Rise Of Skywalker Full Press Conference

A few days ago there was a press conference held for The Rise Of Skywalker. The cast of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" sits down to discuss the upcoming movie and end of the Skywalker Saga. Director J.J. Abrams, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and more share their thoughts during the global press conference. It's taken me a while to track down a vide for this but here it is....


The days are closing in.......

Tomorrow night we start watching a Star Wars movie every day to count down the days until we get to see The Rise Of Skywalker!

The Rise Of Skywalker Friendship featurette

The countdown to The Rise Of Skywalker continues and we are still getting given more good promotional material. Today StarWars.com released this Friendship featurette.

12 days to go!!!!!!!

More The Rise Of Skywalker TV spots

Sorry, not sorry. Perhaps you were reading my blog hoping to hear more about me and how my day went? It went well. Now, on to more pressing business.... Just when you thought they couldn't possibly have any more TV spots for The Rise Of Skywalker we get another SIX. Yes you heard that right, SIX more bringing the total now to 26!

So here we go, 21, 22, 23 and 24


25 and 26

13 days to go!!!!!!!!!!

More The Rise Of Skywalker TV spots, a new posters and new Disney+ TV show

No fibs today, yes we have FOUR more The Rise Of Skywalker TV spots keeping that hype nicely moving along.

TV spots 17-20


Here's two cracking new posters that has just been revealed as well

This one is channeling the iconic Return Of The Jedi look and feel...

Disney have also announced a new Star Wars TV show for their Disney+ channel coming in 2020. Jedi Temple Challenge will be a game show aimed at younger viewers and will feature Ahmed Best (better know as Jar Jar Binks). Set in a galaxy far, far away, Jedi Temple Challenge will test young contestants’ abilities in the core Jedi principles of strength, knowledge, and bravery as they face thrilling and fun obstacles in an attempt to achieve the rank of Jedi Knight! From lightsabers to hyperspace, the Force, and the dark side, Jedi Temple Challenge transports viewers and contestants into the Star Wars galaxy like never before.

Source: StarWars.com

The Rise Of Skywalker live Q&A

Some of the cast of The Rise Of Skywalker took part in a live-streamed Q&A session today. I do enjoy sessions like these as part of promotional material.

I was also pleased to see this wonderful new poster that has been released.

Clearly they've taken inspiration from the original Star Wars poster

A new TV spot for The Rise Of Skywalker and a lazy day

The hype is real as we enter December and we have less than three weeks to go!

Another TV spot has been released for The Rise Of Skywalker bring the total to 16 now.

After all the fun and excitement of the gig last night it was a lazy day today. Bratwurst for breakfast/brunch with Nailed It Season 2 Christmas and then a whole load of ice hockey catch up. My only real activity was adding some draught excluder tape to the front door which was quite enough for one day LOL.