Star Wars became a mommy-son thing for us two years ago when we saw the Star Wars Special Edition trilogy together. As each movie was released, we would make plans to get away to see it. Now we are both looking forward to seeing Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But I did get a little worried when my son asked me how long I would wait in line to see it. My answer: probably about forty-five minutes. Until the line is that short, here's what's happening online. MTFBWY*
Darin Smith writes "My aim for TheForce.Net: to provide a fun, clean, entertaining site for Star Warriors to play in. Star Wars has always meant a lot to me, and it deserves a fan page that brings out the best in it for everyone, from little kids to our �closet fan' parents and grandparents." This fab fan site ("Your Daily Dose of Star Wars") spans lots of territory: Star Wars news, discussion forums, interviews, fan art and fan fiction are just a handful of topics covered.
The Jedi Council message forums (organized around a dozen subjects) are a popular feature of this "for the fans, by the fans" site. Other highlights are Evan's Star Wars Cinema (original short films created with action figures and distributed exclusively online) and the South Park/Star Wars parody titled Star Park. Some families, however, might find either or both of these offensive for their language and slightly-off-center themes.
Star Wars became part of American aerospace history when The Magic of Myth exhibit opened at the National Air and Space Museum last year. "This exhibition examines the mythology beneath the Star Wars story, a hero's journey that takes place �a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away.' Underneath the flash and dazzle of special effects is the magic of myth, a shape-shifting realm where heroes, monsters, wizards, and magic talismans dwell in labyrinths of discovery." Choose Virtual Gallery if you have a high-speed connection and are willing to download the Live Picture Viewer plug-in. If not, then go with the low bandwidth Web Feature.
This huge (and official) site features clips of Episode I music, trailers, and television ads. One of my favorite clicks is the Shockwave gallery in the Smithsonian exhibit. Also, follow your mouse to Technology for an explanation of engineering achievements such as the repulsorlift engine ("antigravity devices which make it possible for any machine equipped with them to float above the ground") and hyperdrive ("an engine - powered by fusion generators - which allows a spacecraft to enter hyperspace, an alternate dimension where travel at many times the speed of light ceases to be an impossibility.")
*May The Force Be With You
The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
Star Wars: The 3D Modeling Alliance |
Or try our newsletter feed.  Get educational website recommendations in your mailbox every week: Or try our full-content newsletter feed.Our Privacy Pledge: your email address is never shared with anyone. |
Surfnetkids Headline Feed | Newsletter Feed | List of All Surfnetkids Feeds