Star Wars Prequels...The LEGO Version

As a big "Star Wars" fan, like many other people, I was disappointed with the prequel films, but I never totally dismissed them. The first one was awful, (I partially blame the casting of that kid from "Jingle All the Way", talk about a whiny fucking kid), but the second one was a bit better, and I actually think the third one is a dope ass movie, although still could have been way better. But at the very least, the sequels spawned this super-entertaining two minute video of all three in LEGO form. Can't say I'm not impressed.

'Empire Strikes Back' Among 25 Movies Named to National Film Registry

Every year the National Film Registry names up to 25 "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films" to preserve at the Library of Congress, showcasing the full range of American film and its impact on our culture.

The films, which include Hollywood classics, documentaries and genres from every era of American filmmaking, have so far spanned the period of 1891-1996, for a total of 550 films. In the past some truly great films have been named for preservation, including "Fargo", "Goodfellas", "Raging Bull", and "Do the Right Thing", and this year's list is no different.

Of the 25 films named to the registry, some names that stick out include "Airplane!", "The Empire Strikes Back", "All the President's Men", "Malcolm X", "Saturday Night Fever", "The Pink Panther", "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and "The Exorcist".

Over 2,500 films were nominated, and the ones that were selected will have a copy of the original film preserved by the registry at the Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Virginia, for future generations.

Whether it's by chance or by design, the list honors some filmmakers and actors who have passed away this year, including director's Irvin Kershner and Blake Edwards, along with actor Leslie Nielsen. Kershner was the director of "The Empire Strikes Back" which is considered by many to be the best sequel of all time, while Edwards was the director of the famed comedy "The Pink Panther". Nielsen of course starred in the spoof film "Airplane!", making famous his deadpan comedic delivery.

Spike Lee already had a film in the registry ("Do the Right Thing") and now adds another with "Malcolm X". Denzel Washington was phenomenal in the film, which was a no holds barred look at the life and death of Malcolm X.

I'm thrilled to see "All the President's Men" added to the registry. Randomly enough I am actually watching the film as I write this, and I can emphatically say it deserves a spot in the vault. The acting by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman is nothing short of phenomenal, and the film itself is a perfectly paced thriller.

I literally could go on all day about the films added to the registry, but I'll say that this year was one of the strongest lists in recent memory, and I'm impressed with the range of genres they chose from this time around, including horror ("The Exorcist") and comedy ("Airplane!", "The Pink Panther").

The full list:

Airplane! (1980), All the President's Men (1976), The Bargain (1914), Cry of Jazz (1959), Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), The Exorcist (1973), The Front Page (1931), Grey Gardens (1976), I Am Joaquin (1969), It's a Gift (1934), Let There Be Light (1946), Lonesome (1928), Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), Malcolm X (1992), McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), Newark Athlete (1891), Our Lady of the Sphere (1969), The Pink Panther (1964), Preservation of the Sign Language (1913), Saturday Night Fever (1977), Study of a River (1996), Tarantella (1940), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), A Trip Down Market Street (1906)

George Lucas Is Off With The Fairies

"Star Wars" helmer George Lucas is set to produce an untitled top-secret CGI-animated musical currently in preproduction, reports Heat Vision.

According to Heat Vision: George Lucas is tackling his first musical. The untitled, top-secret CGI-animated film is in preproduction at Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in Marin County.

The project marks a rare foray outside the “Star Wars” universe for Lucas who, while not directing a movie since “Revenge of the Sith” in 2005, is putting the finishing touches on “Red Tails,” the adventure movie that tells the World War II story of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black pilots. Lucas wrote the screenplay for “Tails” and is exec producing.

"TMNT" and "Dead of Night" director Kevin Munroe helms the film, which is expected to feature music from a variety of sources. David Berenbaum, who wrote the Will Ferrell comedy “Elf” and children’s fantasy “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” penned the screenplay.

Details on the story are being kept tightly under wraps, but it is known that the film will involve fairies. A Lucasfilm spokesperson said it was too early to comment on the details of the project.

Wait, what? Yes, George Lucas is making a film about fairies.

But I say we give the man the benefit of the doubt. Sure he hasn’t had the best success (critically, I mean) with “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull” the most recent Star Wars films, but it’s still George freakin’ Lucas. For the record, I thought “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” was awesome, easily the best of the “new” Star Wars films.

Either way, Lucas knows his way around the block when it comes to special effects, and it should be interesting to see how this project takes shape.