Star Wars Episode VII

Photo Credit - GeekyTyrant.com

In case you didn't already know, there's a new Star Wars movie in the works. The prequel trilogy wasn't as well received as George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, would hope. He created one of the most hated characters in Star Wars history, Jar Jar Binks, and simultaneously took away the magic and mystery of the concept of The Force by introducing midichlorians. If you don't know what those are, trust me, you're better off.

Now, JJ Abrams, of both Star Trek and LOST fame, is working on the yet to be titled Star Wars Episode VII . The film was supposed to be released next Christmas, while the other movies traditionally had May release dates, but on-set injuries and scheduling issues have delayed filming. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the next installment in the Star Wars franchise. Movie news sites are clamoring for information about the film, as breaking any legitimate news would be important for the site’s numbers and reputation. However, to keep you from being totally lost, we’re going to go ahead and get you up to date with the low down on Star Wars: Episode VII.

What We Know

Photo Credit - HollywoodReporter.com

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher will all return. That means you will once again see Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia on the big screen, albeit much older. Fan favorite sidekicks like R2-D2, C-3PO and Chewbacca will be back as well, with the original actors Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, and Peter Mayhew, all donning the respective costumes. As for the setting, the movie will take place 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The movie is currently being filmed in Abu Dhabi and Pinewood Studios in England. Harrison Ford was reluctant to agree to play Han Solo again, but he finally signed on only to injure his ankle. As of now, his scenes are being put on hold until he heals, which might delay the release of the film.

What We Don’t Know

There are important questions that have yet to be answered regarding Episode VII. For example, what is the story line? Big one, right? While we know the film is set 30 years after Episode VI (Return of the Jedi) and we know the key players in the original cast are coming back, will the movie focus on the characters or their offspring? The Star Wars Universe goes beyond the silver screen. The Expanded Universe (EU) is a series of video games, novels, and comic books that further explore that galaxy far, far away. In the EU, Han, Leia, and Luke all have their own families. These children grow up to become major players, Jedi and Sith, in the Star Wars world. Is that what Episode VII will focus on? We still don’t know, but we can’t wait to find out.

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World Cup Party 2014

It's almost time for the World Cup finals, and while your team may or may not have a chance at glory, you can still plan an awesome party to watch the game with all of your friends. First, make sure you have an official headcount of your guests. You wouldn't want to leave someone to sit on the floor with a living room full of awesome recliners and sofas. While you might spend most of your time on your feet cheering your chosen team, you definitely want a spot to relax during half-time, so make sure the living room is set up and ready to go. Once you have your room ready and you've got your headcount, it's time to cook and decorate—or order food. We won't judge you.

Custom Drinks

They don't have to be alcoholic, just keep colors in mind. Look for recipes for punch in different colors to match the flags of the final teams. If you don't mind serving alcoholic beverages, you can follow the same color idea but with an alcoholic recipe, or explore the culture of Brazil, the hosts of the 2014, by whipping up some caipirinhas. All you need is ice, some limes, white sugar, and some cachaça . There is no substitute for this Brazilian liquor, so you might have to do some online shopping. Of course, we're all hoping for the USA to make it to the finals, so don't forget to keep the Coca-Cola and Pepsi nearby.

Music

Who doesn't love sports anthems? Just remember, you want to keep the experience global. The World Cup, much like the Olympics, is a rare event that brings the entire world together, so why not explore some different music? Sure, you can go with samba, the genre of music most associated with Brazil, but you could look up some pop music popular in the final countries and add those tunes to your playlist. Don't forget the official song of the 2014 World Cup “We Are One (Ole, Ola)” featuring Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Claudia Leitte. Other songs you might have heard, especially during commercials, include “La La La (Brasil 2014)” by Shakira featuring Carlinhos Brown and “Balada” by Gustavo Lima.

Decorations

You might have to get a little creative when it comes to decorations. Your local party supply shop might only have decorations for kids' birthdays, but you can still incorporate smaller items like napkins  and plates with soccer motifs. Check out online bulk supply stores for other items to decorate your home like flags and whistles. If you're into collecting items, you could also display some of your favorite FIFA 2014 collectible items around your home. Coca-Cola released collectible mini-bottles of their famous soft drink displaying the flags of the various countries involved in the tournament. Panini has released collectible stickers, and stores like Wal-Mart are carrying World Cup merchandise, especially Team USA merchandise, which is more difficult to obtain than you might realize.

Food

Arguably the best part of any gathering is the food, right? If you whip up a batch of guacamole for your chips, place it in a rectangular dish, set up pretzels as goal posts, add a few precisely placed lines of sour cream and voila! You have a mini soccer field. There are cake pans available in the shape of soccer balls as well, and a quick Pinterest search will help you find other ways to incorporate the game into your party. However, don't forget this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about different cultures. Look up a recipe for “pan de queijo”, a Brazilian cheese bread that would be a great addition to any party. Or try to prep some appetizers from a variety of countries to keep things interesting. Either way, your guests are sure to have a good time and a full stomach.

May the best team win!