Ranking The Star Wars Films

justburkhardt

May the 14th be with you! (Yeah….that definitely doesn’t sound as catchy) I originally wanted to write this post on Star Wars Day on May 4th, but I was too busy preparing my first anniversary dinner!

(Our rehearsal dinner cake)

As someone who got married on May 4th in small part because “it’s a date that I’ll never be able to forget”, it’s pretty clear that the Star Wars movies mean a lot to me. However, something that I’ve never done before is sat down and actually ranked all the live action movies and I wanted to change that.

I think it’s important to note that these are just my personal opinions with a little explanation why, and I know that they’re likely not the same as yours. There has been a lot of toxicity surrounding Star Wars movies, but there is no place for that here. We are each entitled to our own opinions when it comes to the Star Wars movies, so without further ado here are my rankings of all 11 live action movies starting with my least favorite.

11. Attack of the Clones: So why do I feel that Attack of the Clones is the worst Star Wars movie? It’s a disjointed, soulless movie with awful visual graphics and literally no redeeming qualities. Hayden Christensen is a pretty awful actor, but the bloated screenplay and dialogue also did him no favors on this one. They tried to do way too much here, but completely failed and wound up creating a boring movie that I usually skip through when re-watching Star Wars. (Note: The Clone Wars TV show did a much better job than this movie, and most of the prequels, because it takes about all seven seasons to explain what’s going on and to really build up some of these characters. I suggest watching it ASAP especially with some of the characters rumored to be returning in the Mandalorian season 2)

10. The Last Jedi: While Clones has no redeeming qualities, Last Jedi has only one. The Last Jedi is a bunch of bad stories that don’t fit into the Star Wars universe that came before it. There are many who feel it “destroyed the saga” and their feelings are valid. Besides the stupid and pointless stories (the casino world being the worst of these), it all comes down to the fact that the Luke Skywalker in Last Jedi is not the Luke Skywalker of all the previous star wars films. And no, it’s not part of his “character arc”, it destroyed and contradicted the entire Luke Skywalker character that came before this movie. Rian Johnson has made some good non Star Wars films, but he was in way over his head here. They should have just let J.J Abrams handle the entire new trilogy so we wouldn’t have gotten this mess…. The throne room fight scene was still pretty cool though, even if the end result of the fight was disappointing.

9. Phantom Menace: A lot of people like to put this film down as the worst Star Wars film of all-time, but I think those people are wrong. The battle between Maul & Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan is better than anything in the two previous mentioned movies, so that alone makes it the better film. Their lightsaber duel is one of the best in Star Wars history. Also, while the Phantom Menace still has a lot of flaws (Sorry Jar-Jar), it also sets up a pretty clever backstory regarding the slow turn of the democratic Old Republic into the Empire. Another reason why it’s better than the two above is because it’s also a very accessible entry for children into the Star Wars universe. It’s a great way to ease younger children into Star Wars, and many of a younger generation hold this movie in higher regard because it was their first Star Wars movie theater experience.

8. Revenge of the Sith: It’s the best of the prequel trilogy, but I’m not sure there’s ever been a lower bar. I really feel like this movie would have been higher on my list if they cast literally anyone else as Anakin Skywalker because Hayden’s acting continues to be a problem in this film as well. The second half of the movie with Mace Windu confronting Palpatine and the execution of Order 66, is much better than the first half of the film. I still enjoy the battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan, even if I don’t love the over-the-top CGI look of Mustafar. However, Darth Vader’s “NOOOO!” yelp at the end of the movie is a bad homage to Boris Karloff in Frankenstein and it has always hit my ears the wrong way.

7. The Rise of Skywalker: A lot happens in this movie, maybe too much, but in the end I feel like the Skywalker Saga ended pretty much how it had to. It reminds me a lot of the Game of Thrones final season, I don’t mind a majority of what actually happened, but boy does a lot of it feel rushed. This movie solidified my opinion that Kylo Ren is the most complete/best character in the history of the Star Wars universe, so hats off to Adam Driver for his performance. I also really enjoyed Babu Frik’s screen time and the jedi voices scene. However, I do wish that they would have chosen to keep Rey a “nobody”, and that story line change is a big reason this movie is ranked 7th. It’ll be interesting to see if (or rather when) Star Wars starts a new saga with some of these characters. I’m really OK waiting 15-20 years to revisit these characters be honest, since there’s so much other Star Wars universe to explore (both past and present).

6. Solo: The biggest issue with Solo, besides losing its directors during filming, was that this film was released after The Last Jedi and most people were suffering from Star Wars fatigue. Which is a real shame because I really do enjoy this movie. Props to Ron Howard for succeeding in a very difficult job as replacement director so late in the movie process. Empire Strikes Back writer Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan wrote the movie, and they do a great job of explaining some little bits of Star Wars mythology along the way such as how Han and Chewbacca met. Donald Glover is fantastic, as always, as a young Lando and I’d still love to see a standalone Lando film at some point. The story is a fun, uncomplicated heist adventure with a great “wow” reveal ending that deserves more love than it’s gotten thus far.

5. Return of the Jedi: Return of the Jedi has one major flaw, but is still a great ending to the original trilogy. Jabba’s Palace and Endor are two of the coolest scenery in the history of Star Wars. I especially love the speeder scenes through the Endor forest. We also see Luke Skywalker finally transformed into the Jedi master that he was destined to be, and this film is Mark Hamill’s absolute best acting job as Luke. The redemption of Darth Vader saving his long lost son is about as good of an ending as you could have asked for. However, about that flaw: I don’t hate the Ewoks like some do, it’s just the Empire doesn’t look so scary when they’re defeated in part by a bunch of unsophisticated teddy bears. That flaw aside, Return of the Jedi is still a very fun and rewatchable ending to the original trilogy.

4: The Force Awakens: I don’t think anyone really knew what to expect from Episode 7, but I think it was a perfect start to the new trilogy. Yes, Director J.J Abrams pulled ideas from George Lucas and A New Hope, but that feeling of familiarity was sorely needed after the disastrous prequel trilogy. George Lucas took a lot of inspiration from old western and samurai movies (Shout out Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, one of the best movies ever made) in creating the original trilogy, so it only felt right that J.J. took from George Lucas, the creator of this wonderful universe, for his reboot. I absolutely loved seeing and hearing Han say, “Chewie we’re home” upon boarding the Falcon. My heart sunk when Kylo Ren killed his father. This movie hit all of my emotions and just the right nostalgia buttons. J.J. did a great job of introducing us to a lot of great new characters while weaving their stories into classic ones. The Force Awakens really makes me wish that J.J. could directed the entire new trilogy.

3. Rogue One: This may be a bit of a controversial pick because some people really dislike Rogue One, but not me. Yes Rogue One is a bleak, dark movie, but it is a fantastic story that is the perfect bridge between the old and new trilogies in both look and feel. If you’re familiar with Star Wars, then you knew going into this movie that in the end that evil was going to “win”. What also makes this movie so great is that even knowing the outcome before you head into it, it’s still a damn good movie to watch again and again. Darth Vader’s appearance at the end of the movie truly shows off the character’s strengths and darkness in ways sometimes better than the original trilogy. It’s a beautiful looking film as well, sans CGI Grand Moff Tarkin. This was the first non “episode” movie and it was really a nod to all the hardcore fans out there.

2. A New Hope: Listen, if you want to put A New Hope at number one, I’m fine with that because there’s no Empire without Hope. This is a great movie for many reasons, number one being it introduced all of us nerds to this universe that we love so much. Also, for a movie that’s over 40 years old and was made on a small budget, it still holds up really well. My favorite part? Mos Eisley Cantina, hands down! In 1995 they released a book titled “Tales fro Mos Eisley Cantina” which tells 16 stories of the random characters you spot in the Cantina and I read that book about 50 times because I loved the wild and weird Cantina that much! A lot also happens in this movie, but it never feels that way, which is a tip of the hat to the great dialogue and story being told. There are so many beautiful and iconic shots as well, like Luke staring at the two moons of Tatooine. A New Hope is as perfect as a first movie in a trilogy as it gets, I just like it’s sequel a little bit better.

1. The Empire Strikes Back: Many fans list Empire as the best Star Wars movie, and I obviously agree. It’s also one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, period. A New Hope set the table, but Empire takes the story to a much darker, more evil, and even more imaginative place. The stakes are higher, the characters are fleshed out more, and this is one of the rare cases in cinema history where a sequel does everything the first movie did just a little bit better. Plus, we get two of the most iconic pieces of dialogue in this movie, the first being “I love you” “I know”, and the second of course being “No, I am your father”. The good guys screw up again and again, so much so that at the end you’re left wondering how are they going to get themselves out of this mess, but that’s what makes the movie work so well. At the end of Empire, we’re not left celebrating another hero victory, but instead left wondering how exactly are all of these characters that we’ve grown to love so much going to get out of the messes they are in – if they’re even able to at all.

Sometimes It Snows In April

justburkhardt

“Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish life was never ending
And all good things, they say, never last” – Prince

Eight years ago at the end of April I lost my biggest cheerleader, my mom Cindy. This April was never going to be easy, they haven’t been since she passed away, but this month was made especially tough losing a dream job for a national cookie brand that I once loved. This is the toughest April that I’ve faced since she passed in 2012, but I still remain positive. I’d like to take the time here to just talk about what it’s like losing your biggest fan.

(Mom’s High School Fashion Show)

Who was my mother? Well that’s a bit of a complicated question. My mom was a nurse, a flower child, a skier, a gardener, a beach bum, a partier, a stubborn woman, a caring woman, and my biggest fan. My mom was 62 years old when she passed away, and one of my biggest regrets in life will always be not asking her more questions about her life while she was actually around. One of my greatest joys now is when one of her friends reaches out to me and tells me something that I never knew about my mom because there is a lot more in regards to who she was that I will never know.

I do know that I’m almost a perfect 50/50 mix of personality traits between my mom and my father. If you were on my mom’s good side, there was no one more loving and loyal to have in your corner. But, if you crossed her or did her wrong, watch out. Also, while I wouldn’t say my mom was reckless with money, she instead prioritized seeing the world and experiencing all that life has to offer over the amount in her savings account. This is something that in the end I’m happy for her because she was able to live A LOT of life in 62 years. In both of those two traits, I do see a lot of myself. One of my mom’s good friends called me on April 15th, my mom’s birthday, and told me a story of how she joined a vacation club because of my mom’s theory that it’s better to travel and see the world because you never know just how long you’ll be able to do so.

(My mom’s baby shower for me)

My parents each had a child from a previous marriage before they met each other, but I was their only child together which meant I would always be her baby boy. My parents divorced at the end of seventh grade, and this help put in motion a rebellious streak on my part that lasted until I graduated from high school.

There were some really rough times in high school in terms of my behavior, but that’s possibly a story for another day. However, through it all, my mother remained my biggest cheerleader and knew that I would emerge from that phase and do great something great with my life.

(Mom & I in front of the Tower of Terror)

While my mom was my biggest fan, that doesn’t mean other people in my life were/are not supportive. Far from it. My father has always been the realist in our family, which helped keep me grounded when I needed it. My father has also done an absolutely perfect job of providing the love of two parents since my mom passed away. My wife is the rock of our household and without her this month would be almost unbearable. My brother Morgan has always been there for me as my best friend, and my sister in law Katie became the defacto Burkhardt den mother since she joined our family. Throw in some really good friends to call upon whenever needed, and I’ve been truly blessed to have a great support system.

However, it’s just a different type of love that a mother has for her baby boy and when you lose that, things are never quite the same. While I think it’s important to have a parental figure that helps keep you grounded, I think it’s equally important to have one who helps you dream those impossible dreams.

I’m glad that my mother saw me graduate from college. I’m also very happy that my mom saw me fulfill one of my childhood dream jobs by touring the country with the indie-pop band Chester French when they were the opening act for Blink 182’s reunion tour in 2009. My mom was so proud of me that she embarrassingly e-mailed our lead singer D.A Wallach (sorry D.A!) to tell her how awesome they were. I will forever be in debt to D.A. for allowing me to live out this dream while my mother was still alive. Living in a tour bus with a rock band is everything you could ever imagine and more, but knowing what it meant for my mom, a Woodstock flower child, makes it indescribably special.

(My mother and I upon my return from the Chester French tour)

However, my mom did not see me live out my other dream of becoming a sports writer at the Morning Call. I can only imagine how many newspapers she would have bought every single time I had an article printed, especially one on the front page. My mom also did not live to see me get married, though I know she would have absolutely loved my wife and especially her commitment to public health since that was important to my mom as well. I can also only imagine the heartbreak my mom would have had recently seeing me become communications manager at a national brand that I truly loved, only to see it ripped away four months later due to COVID-19.

Losing your biggest cheerleader is both a blessing and a curse. I’m sure you’re now thinking “Wait, did you actually say a blessing?” and in terms of motivation I would say yes, absolutely. Since she passed away, I continue to reach for the stars in terms of what I want from my professional life. I continue to set and try to accomplish new dream goals, each time asking myself, “would my mom be proud of AND happy for me for doing this?”. I am motivated every day in my professional life to make sure the answer is 100% yes. While working for this national cookie brand for example, I know that my mom would have ordered hundreds of cookies for herself and others, just like friends and family actually did while I was there.

Here’s a little story that not many people know about….A few days before my mom passed away, she needed emergency heart surgery which she never came out of sedation from. At this time, I was scheduled to host an interactive webcast with Dr. James Peterson at Lehigh University. This webcast was called “The Real Swing Vote” and was a discussion of the ways that non-mainstream voters can user their influence as swing voters to shape the American political system ahead of the 2012 election.

While I was parking on Lehigh’s campus I got a call from the hospital saying that my mom had the surgery and they were concerned about her ever regaining consciousness. Now, I could have gotten in my car and rushed over to the hospital, but I know that’s not what she would have wanted. My mother was a very liberal woman who took pride in the fact that I was working for a non-profit focused on getting more people engaged in the political process. I know that she knew that there would be thousands of people watching this live stream and that I had to go through with it, and that’s exactly what I did. I hope she was proud of me doing so, and I hope she continues to be proud of me for all that I do in my professional life.

My mom spent a large period of her life working at Lehigh Valley Hospital as a nurse. After that, she bounced around at a lot of different companies. My mom was the type to never settle in terms of what she felt that she and especially her patients deserved. She did not compromise on what she knew was right, even if it meant having to move on from a position. This is something that I always admired about her and working in public relations I’ve found it’s something that I’ve brought into my life as well.

The Romans gave this month the name Aprills, which means “to open”. April will remain a time of sadness for me, but also a time of beautiful new things. My nephew Charlie was born in April 5 years ago, and he’s the most awesome, smartest, little star wars loving kid that you’ll ever meet. Also four days after the month of April ends, I get to celebrate my wedding anniversary with the most caring, patient, loving wife that a guy could ever ask for.

So while sometimes it does indeed snow in April, there is also a lot of of great weather too 🙂

Why Computer Purple?

justburkhardt

Today, April 21st 2020 marks the four year anniversary of the death of the greatest musician to ever walk the face of this earth, Prince Rogers Nelson.

For those who don’t know, he is also the inspiration for the name of this website. His song “Computer Blue” off the Purple Rain soundtrack is one of my favorite Prince songs. If you’ve never listened to it, do so today in his honor because it features one of his best guitar solos & ahead of its time drum programming. Purple also was Prince’s color, and it’s also my favorite as well (It doesn’t hurt that I’m also a Lakers fan!). So that’s how the name Computer Purple came to be!

Prince’s music has always been a shining light through any sort of darkness that life has brought me. When my mom passed away, Prince was there. If I needed to cry, I put on “Sometimes It Snows in April”. If I wanted to laugh I’d put on “Batdance”. Prince’s music has always been there to help with any sort of emotion that I was feeling or needed. From sad, gut-wrenching lyrics to happy pop records, his genre-less discography truly has something for everyone and every mood.

About a year before Prince passed away, he announced he was holding a Rally 4 Peace in Baltimore, Maryland to benefit Baltimore-based youth charities in the wake of the controversial death of Freddie Gray. I knew that I had to get down there to see this show, so I got a ticket and spent the day alone in Baltimore preparing for what would wind up being the best concert that I’ve ever been to.

Prince played for what seemed like forever (he had four encores) and brought out special guests including Miguel, Estelle, and Doug E. Fresh. If you’ve ever attended a Prince show, you know that going to one was like attending spiritual service with strangers who would quickly become friends. I spoke with easily 50-100 people that night that just wanted to share their stories about what Prince and his music meant to them, how many times they’ve seen him, and more.

I never would have guessed that was the last time I would be able to see him live. Prince had a very strict “No Camera” policy which was being enforced throughout the show, but I did manage to get one very quick/blurry photo (see below). While I selfishly would have loved to have more photos/videos of the show, I do understand the experience that Prince was hoping everyone would get to enjoy without their phones. I remember it like it was yesterday, and I’m sad that he’s not around to experience it again.

“We have lost our greatest living musician. But his music will never die” – Justin Timberlake

“When I saw Prince do the Super Bowl, and how he conducted not just the people but the rain. I thought to myself that’s God’s child” – Cindy Lauper

“Prince is king to me” – Robyn

“He was and is our #1 idol. Without him we would have never picked up instruments, started writing songs, or become a band. He is and will always be the most inspiring musician in our lives.” – Haim

“He was singular in his music. He was his own genre ” – Questlove

“I was watching the greatest living performer known to man sing my song to 100 million people as if it were his own (and, it goes without saying, much better than I ever could)….. It is my life’s greatest compliment.” – Dave Grohl

Nothing Compares to Prince and tonight CBS is honoring him with a tribute concert that I highly suggest checking out. The Foo Fighters, Beck, John Legend, Gary Clark Jr, Chris Martin & more will all be paying tribute to the most talented musician that we’ve ever seen.

Rest in Peace Prince – U R Missed!

What To Watch: Quarantine Edition

justburkhardt

We’ve reached the point of our COVID-19 quarantines where many of us are searching for new shows to discover. I’m here to suggest that four of the best shows that you can watch right now revolve around either soccer or professional wrestling….. And now I’m sure many people have now stopped reading due to the shows featuring two divisive sports, but I promise that you don’t have to be a fan of either to enjoy these four shows (including one the whole family can enjoy). So just hear me out!

Sunderland ‘Til I Die – The second season of this Netflix documentary series premiered a few weeks ago and it follows Sunderland Association Football Club as they try to rise back to the top of English professional football. Sunderland is an historic championship club that has fallen on tough times and the less you know about what has happened, the better.

Why should you watch it? Well quite frankly because it is the best documentary series that Netflix has ever produced. Sorry Americans, but English football fans are the most passionate in the world and this show actually gives you a look into that world. You truly understand just how much this team means to its city and the people who reside there. Also, you really can’t even make up the drama that happens during these two seasons. It features the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and this show is a masterpiece of sports documentary storytelling.

Any sports fan who needs a sports fix right now, this show is absolutely for you. Anyone who also “never really understood” or “doesn’t like soccer”, this show is also for you. It is edge of your seat, real life drama from the front office to the pitch (soccer field). You’ll leave not only wanting more, but also caring about this town & it’s club. You’ll also appreciate the beautiful game a little bit more as well. Maybe you’ll never be a “soccer fan”, but I promise after watching this you’ll understand the love fans have for their teams.

The English Game: From the creator of Downton Abbey comes Netflix’s miniseries The English Game, which takes a look at the early days of soccer in England. It’s a quick 6-episode series, so it’s an easy one to tackle.

Why should you watch it? First, it’s a beautifully produced show that rivals Netflix’s other great show The Crown in terms of the look and feel of its era. Soccer used to be a sport just for just the wealthy in England, but this shows gives you a glimpse into how the working-class began to change the game on and off the pitch.

Let me first say that there are quite a few historical inaccuracies in this story (which is actually quite common for many dramatizations), but ultimately those inaccuracies do not take away from the bigger picture. Sport has always had the power to unite us all, especially during hard times, and this miniseries shows that. Fans of Downton Abbey will enjoy familiar-feeling dramatic side plots that will keep even non-football fans engaged in the story.

Dark Side Of The Ring: ViceTV’s documentary series is in the middle of it’s second season and it explores all of professional wrestling’s most controversial stories. For those who don’t have ViceTV as a channel, you can find most of these episodes elsewhere on the internet for free (shhhhh!)

Why should you watch it? If this show were on Netflix, more people would be talking about it than the Tiger King, because it’s that good (100% score on Rotten tomatoes). You don’t have to like professional wrestling to love a good mystery and these stories have it all: drugs, murder, mysterious deaths, Shakespearean family tragedies, corruption, and more!

Take it from my brother Morgan who hasn’t watched professional wrestling since we were kids, “I love/hate you for introducing me to this show.” The show really does suck you in and winds up touching on every single emotion. Each episode tells a different story, and all of them are engaging in their own right. VICE has created something very special with this show and it deserves way more recognition than its currently getting (I blame that on anti-pro wrestling bias to be completely honest).

Growing up in Allentown, PA (a hot bed for professional wrestling for those who don’t know) there’s also a local connection as its most recent episode explored the death of Jimmy Snuka’s girlfriend in a Whitehall, PA motel. As someone who used to work in the Morning Call’s Sports Department, I loved all the local shout-outs. This is a show worth seeking out, even if you dislike professional wrestling, like I know many people do.

The Big Show Show: And finally, this 8-episode sitcom premiered on Netflix on April 6th and is something the entire family can watch and enjoy together. It follows a fictionalized version of Paul Wight aka pro wrestler The Big Show as he retires and settles in at home with his wife and three daughters.

Why you should watch it? When I first saw a tweet about this show a few months back, I thought it was a joke. I also thought this show would be an unwatchable disaster, but wow was I wrong!

This show really is a throwback to the old TGIF programming on ABC and it would have fit in perfectly there back in the 1990’s. It’s the rare type of show that the entire family can truly sit down and binge together. I watched all eight episodes in one setting, which is not something I ever thought I would have done.

The Big Show is better in front of a camera than I thought he would be. The show also has a nice TGIF nod by casting Jaleel White (Urkel) as Show’s best friend. The breakout star of the series is Juliet Donenfeld, who stars as Show’s youngest daughter J.J. She plays a character that is one part evil genius and one part Sophia from the Golden Girls. Upon release, the Big Show Show became a huge hit which found itself in Netflix’s top 10 in countries all across the globe.

So there you have it folks…. Yes all four shows involve either soccer or pro-wrestling in some form, but I promise you that if you give them a chance you’ll wind up thanking me for it later!

A Trip To The Edge Of The Galaxy & Back!

justburkhardt 2 Comments

Before the country came to a screeching halt due to COVID-19, I was lucky enough to take a trip to Disney World with the main purpose being a visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at MGM/Hollywood Studios. (It will always be MGM studios to me!)

Star Wars has always been a big part of my life. As a very young child, I was lucky to have all of the original toys passed down to me from my older brother. While I’m too young to have experienced the original release in theaters, I had the movies on VHS and vividly remember being dropped off at Lehigh Valley Mall movie theater at 11 years old to watch the 1997 re-releases.

As an adult, I still love the Star Wars movies, TV series, and comic books. I was also married on May 4th 2019 and to my surprise, had some Star Wars themes in my ceremony. (My mother-in-law and our priest had some very special Star Wars surprises for me that day!) So when Galaxy’s Edge was announced, I knew that once it was fully completed I had to take a trip to Disney World for it.

When the world returns to “normal”, is it worth visiting Galaxy’s Edge? The answer is a emphatic YES!

Galaxy’s Edge is located just beyond where Muppets 3D is found. Upon approach, you find a tunnel that transports you to from that part of the park to Batuu, the planet setting of Galaxy’s Edge. Disney spared no expense when it came to creating a totally different world. From the shops, to the food it is truly the complete Star Wars experience.

First Order and Resistance characters are a constant presence throughout the park and you never know who you might come across. While waiting to make a lightsaber (more on that later), Kylo Ren and his First Order guards approached and confronted me. I was surrounded by Kylo and his guards as they “interrogated” me in front of about 30/40 people. They were concerned about the transmitter (cell phone) I was holding and thought I may be a Resistance sympathizer. Now I know that not everyone is likely to experience this type of interaction first hand like I did, but it’s these kind of personal touches that make this the most immersive Star Wars experience in the world.

I would say that there are four “main” experiences on Batuu, with loads of other smaller things. The big four are: Smugglers Run, Rise of the Resistance, Savi’s Lightsaber Workshop, and Droid Depot. I participated in three of these: Smugglers, Resistance, and Savi’s (I chose building a lightsaber over a droid).

Savi’s Workshop is by appointment only, and they do book up weeks/months in advance. You show up to a secret location about 15 minutes before your appointment and you’re then shown the possible options in terms of building your saber. The groups are small and the workshop is a little tight (you can bring in one guest to watch you build), but the experience of constructing your own saber is pretty damn awesome. Seeing your saber light up for the first time and then holding it to the sky with the rest of your group will bring chills to any Star Wars fan.

The cost is $199, but it is well worth it for the experience alone. The lightsaber itself is a hefty, movie replica which looks incredible and makes a great addition to any Star Wars household. I personally chose a purple, Sith lightsaber. I also bought a red Kyber crystal from Dok-Ondar’s antiques (gift shop located next to Savi’s) which will allow me to change my saber to red whenever I choose to do so.

Smugglers Run is up next and it’s one of the two rides in Batuu. If you’ve ever wanted fly in the Millennium Falcon, then this ride is for you! Before you enter the cockpit (which seats six) you enter a larger waiting are that has the iconic holochess table (remember to always let the wookie win!). Also before you enter the ride, you’re given a role of either pilot, engineer, and gunner. While each of them are “equally important to the success of the mission”, pilot is clearly the job you want. We were gunners, but I was jealous of the pilots who were able to actually jump into hyperspace and steer the Falcon.

Regardless of your role, Smugglers Run will put a smile on any Star Wars fan’s face.

The second ride in Batuu is Rise of the Resistance, but to simply call it a “ride” is doing great injustice to the experience that Disney has created. This is the type of experience that Star Wars fans have dreamed of their entire lives, and unless you’re an extra in a movie, you will never feel more a part of the universe than you do here.

I don’t want to give away too much of this experience because I really do think that the less you know, the better. However, I will say that the whole experience happens in a few parts, each one larger in scale and more awe-inspiring than the next. This ride is the literal definition of jaw-dropping. (I also think it’s now my dream retirement job to work on this ride/in Galaxy’s Edge)

Disney deserves all the credit in the world for creating this experience which is unlike anything that we’ve ever seen before. Rise of the Resistance made me feel like I was experiencing Star Wars for the first time again and this ride will create tears of joy for fans of all ages.

We ended our experience in Batuu with an ice cold blue milk in front of the Falcon. As I write this, I’m reliving my experience all over again in my mind and it’s brought a much needed smile to my face. I know things are tough for most of us right now, but the thought of returning to Galaxy’s Edge in the future to experience it again with my nephew and brother for their first time keeps me going.

I do hope that all of the Star Wars fans out there who haven’t been lucky enough to take a trip to Batuu yet are able to use the thought of a future visit to help get them through this pandemic. It should be on the bucket list of all Star Wars fans for when things are safe again….. And trust me, it is even better than what I’ve described here.

Until then….. The Force will be with you. Always!

Love (and Loss) in the Time of Corona

justburkhardt 1 Comment

“Tell him yes. Even if you are dying of fear, even if you are sorry later, because whatever you do, you will be sorry all the rest of your life if you say no.” – Gabriel Garcia Marquez , Love In The Time of Cholera

Four months ago, I was offered what seemed like an incredible job at a growing company that I had personally loved for a long time. This was a new position that didn’t exist before, so I was truly excited to say yes and put my stamp on a brand that was near and dear to my heart. Four months later I now find myself without that job wondering what the future holds for me.

As of this writing, roughly 16.8 million people have applied for unemployment in the last three weeks largely related to COVID-19 (corona virus), so I am far from alone. It can always be worse, and I am still much more fortunate than most people in my situation. I am also fortunate that so far (fingers crossed), I have not lost anyone personally to this nasty virus. Others close to me have not been as lucky.

On the day I lost my job, I also found out that my Facebook friend Eva-Marie Schulze lost her father Heinz-Dieter. I met them both during my time studying abroad in Germany/Austria in the summer of 2007. The photo above is of their village, Telfes Im Stubai, which is where we stayed while studying in Austria. Their family owned a hotel called Landhaus Birgit and we befriended them during our time there. Her father still remains one of the friendliest people that I’ve ever met in my entire life. He showered us with gifts like we were some sort of famous visiting dignitaries. I still have the hat, beer glasses, and engraved knife that he gave me. It was on my bucket list to return there someday and return the gratitude that he showed me. I will forever be disappointed that I did not get to do so. So while I may have only lost my job, the world and families are losing some truly great people.

So what’s next for me? Well, I’m not quite sure, and to be honest that’s the exciting part. I’m now an unrestricted free agent who can explore any great opportunities that come his way. In high school, my dream was to either work in the music industry or become a sports writer at the Morning Call. Through hard work, persistence, and a lot more luck than most people would admit, I was able to accomplish both of those dreams before I turned 30. After that however, I never felt at home at any of my other jobs. These past four months, I actually enjoyed being at work again and I now know whatever I do from here on out, it has to match or excede that feeling.

So yes, in the end I’m still glad I said yes four months ago. And hey, if you know any awesome brands/companies/causes who need an experienced public relations/communications guy, send them my way. In the meantime however, you can find me here sporadically writing articles about whatever I feel like including and not limited to: sports, music, movies, tv, travel, and stories about life.

And with that, I leave you with this message from Rocky to his son in the movie Rocky Balboa which I believe is perfect for a lot of us right now, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits.”