Star Wars: A cinematic experience

The Spokesman-Review's celebration of the year's biggest cinema event

A&E > Movies

Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy says women in ‘Star Wars’ ‘struggle’ due to ‘male dominated’ fandom

UPDATED: Fri., May 31, 2024

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy says there’s a gender disparity in the “Star Wars” universe. In an interview with the New York Times on Wednesday about the latest installment in the franchise, showrunner Leslye Headland’s Disney+ series “The Acolyte,” Kennedy said women tend to “struggle” due to the space saga’s male-dominated fandom.

News > Nation/World

New Star Wars plan: Pentagon rushes to counter threats in orbit

UPDATED: Sat., May 18, 2024

The Pentagon is rushing to expand its capacity to wage war in space, convinced that rapid advances by China and Russia in space-based operations pose a growing threat to U.S. troops and other military assets on the ground and U.S. satellites in orbit.

A&E > Music

Conductor strikes back: After accident, James Lowe steps in to conduct ‘Star Wars’ performance with mid-concert handoff to injured conductor

UPDATED: Sun., May 5, 2024

As stormtroopers, Chewbacca and Darth Vader entertained the crowd in the lobby of the Fox Theater half an hour past starting time for the Spokane Symphony’s “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” show Saturday evening, Music Director James Lowe was backstage opening the score of the movie for the first time.

News > Nation/World

Disney’s ‘Mandalorian & Grogu’ to shoot in California thanks to huge tax credit

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 27, 2024

This is the way to persuade Disney to shoot the next “Star Wars” movie in your state. “The Mandalorian & Grogu” is slated to be the first “Star Wars” feature ever filmed in California thanks to the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, the California Film Commission announced Monday.

News > Features

‘Bad guys doing good’: How a group of Spokane professionals transforms from day jobs to charitable Star Wars villains

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 16, 2023

Dressed in clunky, barely breathable armor often limiting their vision, Stormtroopers may be seen walking through the halls of local hospitals on any given day.

A&E > Books

The force was not with the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special but the vibes with the book about the disaster are immaculate

Sun., Dec. 10, 2023

Author Steve Kozak will break down the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special during the Northwest Passages Event. Kozak will discuss his book, "A Disturbance in the Force: How and Why the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened" and his documentary, "A Disturbance in the Force."

A&E > Movies

Maximum fun at Star Wars miniature game night at Uncle’s Games

Sun., Dec. 10, 2023

Star Wars miniature game night is held every Tuesday at Uncle's Games.

News > Nation/World

Long-lost X-wing model from original ‘Star Wars’ rakes in $3.1 million in Dallas auction

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 20, 2023

A model of an X-wing fighter — used to film the final battle scene in the original "Star Wars" film — sold for more than $3.1 million in a weekend auction in Dallas.

News > Nation/World

John Williams makes Oscars history as oldest nominee

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 24, 2023

Decorated composer John Williams made Academy Awards history yet again Tuesday when he received a nomination for the score of Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans."

News > Nation/World

Han Solo, once encased in carbonite, gets trapped in bread

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 17, 2022

Catherine and Hannalee Pervan have used their baking powers for years to unleash bread-related madness upon the world.

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Blog Posts

News > Idaho

Curley: Baseball, Star Wars go glove in hand

Mon., June 19, 2017

Which do you like more, Star Wars or baseball? CH As a longtime leader in the Spokane Indians baseball team’s front office, the senior vice president has a pretty good idea when something is as American as apple pie. Or Father’s Day. Sunday was “Luke, I Am Your Father’s Day” at Avista Stadium.

News > Idaho

Star Wars at 40

Thu., May 25, 2017

It doesn’t seem capitalistically feasible to imagine a world without “Star Wars” in it, selling us stuff like the now-faded “Star Wars” pillowcase in one of the upstairs bedrooms, or the long-broken lightsabers littering the nether regions of the basement closet. Favorite Star Wars movie?

News > Idaho

RIP Carrie Fisher

Tue., Dec. 27, 2016

Actress and writer Carrie Fisher, who rose to global fame as the trail-blazing intergalactic heroine Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” franchise and later went on to establish herself as an author and screenwriter with an acerbic comic flair, has died. My sons are sooo sad this morning. All of them had a Princess Leia crush.

News > Features

Podcast, Wednesday story profile owners of new Spokane arcade/church

Tue., Feb. 16, 2016

Tim and Tyler Arnold opened "Jedi Alliance" two weeks ago, offering toys, comics and - yes - a fully realized video arcade featuring more than 40 cabinets and 12 pinball machines.

News > Features

The force is semi-strong with ‘Star Wars: Battlefront’

Thu., Jan. 14, 2016

A dearth of features and maps doesn't stop EA Dice's Star Wars-themed shooter from being one of the most fun ways to pretend you're a foot soldier - or a hero - in that most intergalactic of conflicts.

News > Idaho

‘Force Awakens’ becomes fastest movie to $1 billion

Mon., Dec. 28, 2015

My youngest bought he and his brothers tix to this movie for Christmas and they saw it on opening night. We're all going on New Year's Eve, so NO SPOILERS but... have you seen "The Force Awakens" yet?

Humor

Writing an Epic Campaign – Part 2

Mon., June 8, 2015

Just because you have a game that runs for awhile does not necessarily mean it’s a campaign. It needs some glue. In this post I’ll talk about some of my past campaigns as well as some examples from movies and books.