Celebrate Empire Strikes Back today!

If he was still doing cons I'd have made sure Jeremy Bulloch was a guest as he played both Boba Fett and Lieutenant Shekil (seen with Leia in Cloud City. It's the part where she yells 'It's a trap' at Luke). Unfortunately he has retired from cons due to health issues.

 

I would have offered a lot of somebody else's money to make sure Harrison came.

 

I can't remember the first time I saw Empire. My first star wars memory was the Ewok movies, which I loved, then Return of the Jedi. I don't think I saw Empire until 1988 when I was in first grade. I always loved ROTJ the most because it was the first one I'd seen. When they were re-released in the 90's I had to buy the VHS set and I watched them all until the tapes fell apart. It wasn't until I was older and was able to understand the depth of the story that Empire stuck with me. When people ask which one is my favorite I have a very hard time defining it. All of the OT share an equal part to me. They all have something that stands out.

 

I've always thought the best way to introduce someone to the saga is by starting with the ewok films.

 

I can live with the fact that they had to cancel Celebration this year and that we’ll have to wait till 2022 for the next one but I’m beyond disappointed that the delay means no ESB 40th panel. ESB is my favourite movie and I was so looking forward to a ESB 40th panel which my Jedi VIP pass would have got me into! I couldn’t get in the main room for the 40th panel at Orlando and was hoping for a ESB 40th panel guest list to rival Orlando or at the very least one which Harrison attended. I kind of feel now like the chance to ever see Harrison at Celebration was lost when 2020 was cancelled.

I have managed to get some 40th merchandise from Shop Disney which I got on May 4th including my ESB 40th mug!

 

I know that if your only options are the ewok films or the holiday special as a starting point then yes, the ewok films will win. I loved them as a kid and I re-watched them about 10 years ago and they do not hold up well. I still enjoyed them but it didn't feel like star wars.

 

I first saw ESB when I finished Basic training and AIT in El Paso Texas, it was the first thing I did before I went home then on to Korea. the theater was packed!

 

If I was in charge of planning, there would definitely be a 40th anniversary panel! I still think they should do a 42nd anniversary panel. I couldn't get into the 40th panel in Orlando and I was hoping to win the lottery for this one.

As for ESB themed merch... I am really tired and I can't think much, but I know I have the 30th anniversary T-shirts of all the OT. And I *will* get the 40th as well (in my pre-order).

Not watching ESB tonight - sorry I need to sleep!
But I watched ESB in the movie theater on July 11th -- does that count?

Choosing a favorite SW movie is like choosing your favorite kid!! I like them all! Although I clearly have a preference for the OT, not sure which of SW or ESB is my favorite. I really like both!

I can't remember when I first saw ESB, but it was playing around my aunt's place when I would go on Saturdays. I remember watching all the OT in French (!). French OT tidbit: C-3PO is Z-6PO.
I have to say, though, that as a kid, I was really obsessed with Short Circuit (in case you didn't notice my screen name and avatar)! I worn out three VHS tapes of it! I was careful with the VHS tapes for Star Wars, since they were hard to find. I only watched it a bit more obsessively on DVD. The "original" CBS Fox tapes I had to buy on eBay (I suppose they are not the true originals), but I still have the 1995 and 1997 versions that I bought new. Well, DVDs (and Blu-ray discs) are much better anyways! I never understood who came up with the idea of modifying the screen (and the movies!) to a square screen. That's a tragedy! I still keep the VHS tapes of all of the OT (I mean all the versions) but no French versions. The tapes are part of my "collection". And I still own a working VCR!

 

I first saw ESB back before I can even remember. My mum had recorded it on VHS off TV. I can barely recall watching it, it would be a few more years before I saw the Special Edition trilogy and got hooked.

Panel wise I have to imagine they'd have tried to get Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels are a given. Maybe even George Lucas and Frank Oz, which would have been amazing!

I probably won't watch it tonight as we just saw it in cinemas the other week.

As for merchandise I've got a few of the Black Series figures. Not much has caught my eye in the official Celebration Store. If they add other things I want I'll probably add and ESB 40th shirt to match the ANH 40th one I got from Disneyland. Really hoping they reveal the official art show stuff soon. I imagine that might tempt me more.

 

I am not sure the items currently in the Celebration Shop will be available later.

This makes me think, that after the 7th they will put the orders in production and it will no longer be possible to order these things.
Just saying this in case you were looking at one of the current available shirts for your order.
Of course this is just a hypophysis

 

Nice catch! Guessing they'll reopen at various times throughout the year for a week or two at a time if that's accurate. Hopefully this means ticket holders will get the 3 day early access each time they reopen with new merchandise.

Much as I like the ESB shirt I'll pass on it this time as it's the only item I'd be interested in. If it's available later, great, if not then no worries. But appreciate the heads up!