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Luke, I Think I’m Your Father

I first read about this on a political website, so I’ll paraphrase what was written and spare you the politics. You’re very welcome.

It seems British director Ken Annakin died recently. The name has a familiar ring to it, eh? But the LA Times drops this disappointing tidbit: “Contrary to previous reports that George Lucas named the Star Wars character Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) after Annakin, Lucas said via his publicist Thursday that he did not.”

But wait just one nanosecond, my dear Padawans… Perhaps Lucas’ memory is failing him. TheForce.net draws our attention to Venice Magazine’s June 2006 interview where Mr. Annakin revealed this gem:

Venice: Speaking of George Lucas, how did you feel when he named the character of Anakin Skywalker after you?

KA: [laughs] Well, I asked him about that, but I’ll tell you: he never asked me. He never invited me to the first showing (of Episode One). Apparently it happened through Alec Guinness [ed. actor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi], who was working at Pinewood Studios on the first Star Wars, and every day would pass by my office door, which had my name on it. So it was Alec who suggested it to George. They dropped one ’n’ from the spelling, and there it is. I didn’t mind it so much when Anakin was a good character, but now that he’s a bad character, I’m not so keen on it! [laughs]

Forgotten Anakin’s namesake, could he have, hmm? [24 April 2009]

Ahoy, mateys!

I Dreamed a Dream

There aren’t many times when you get to feel really, really good about human triumph. Oh, sure. Nasty pirates get taken out by sharpshooting Navy SEALs. People are saved when the right man for the job just happens to be at the controls when disaster strikes. Not once, but twice. Yet, every once in a while we get to witness a feel-good story that makes us weep and leap for joy.

That was the case this week when a dowdy 47-year-old UK spinster named Susan Boyle wowed the judges (including the crusty Simon Cowell) and audience at auditions for Britain’s Got Talent. Her rendition of the Les Miserables tune “I Dreamed a Dream” was one for the ages. If you happen to be one of the few people remaining on the planet who hasn’t seen Susan’s performance, get out your hanky and treat yourself to this YouTube video. A record 14.7 million views in just six days (about 6,000 of those are mine). Gobsmacked, indeed!

True, the piece was masterfully edited for dramatic effect. But putting that aside, BGT judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden seemed genuinely verklempt. And I’ve never seen Simon Cowell so enraptured by a performer. Who knew he had such a beautiful smile? He was clearly smitten. Best of all was Ms. Boyle’s reaction. Despite the initial (and, sadly, typical) catcalls and laughter of the audience—they undoubtedly expected a disastrous, tone-deaf warbler—she smiled sweetly and blew them kisses upon exiting the stage. This from a woman who battled depression and was teased as a child. Gracious through and through. I have a new heroine!

The song she chose was perfect; for her and for our currently downtrodden world. Here’s a sample:

I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
When hope was high and life worth living.
I dreamed that love would never die,
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was young and unafraid,
And dreams were made and used and wasted.
There was no ransom to be paid,
No song unsung, no wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night,
With their voices soft as thunder,
As they tear your hopes apart,
And they turn your dreams to shame.

We love to root (or is that w00t?) for an underdog like Susan Boyle because we all experience that feeling throughout our lives. No one escapes those moments of inferiority and doubt. The tigers are always there, hiding in the dark, ready to pounce. Susan’s incredible moment makes us smile because the tigers have been pacified. Taking courage in hand, she ventured out and showed us what hope and dreams really look like.

It was inevitable that the next stanza reminded me of myself… and Hayden, natch.

And still I dream he’ll come to me,
That we will live the years together,
But there are dreams that cannot be,
And there are storms we cannot weather.

Sigh. Yeah, unfortunately some dreams cannot be. Bummer. So… until the amazing Susan Boyle’s new CD is released, I’ll have to satisfy myself with this recording by another Susan, Broadway talent Susan Egan.

Happy Birthday (Sunday) to Mr. Christensen, who continues to inspire me in countless ways.[16 April 2009]

Censored

No Card For You!

I was feeling anxious because I had not sent my birthday card for Hayden yet. Although I spent some time on it last week, I had to put it aside to work on my income taxes. Finally, this morning I had a physical card but still no message to put inside and, as we all know, the message is what really matters. Before proceeding further, however, I decided to verify the address I used last year. No sense in repeating past mistakes. Thus, I moseyed on over to DH.net and found this warning:

Hayden has switched agencies and right now, there is no fanmail [sic] address available. If I receive information regarding a new address, I will add it to the website.

Eek! My address is useless. Obsolete. He’s shopping for a new agency, eh? Let me guess. He’s joining the agency that represents Blanche now. Or they’re moving in tandem to a new one. They are joined at the hip, after all. Can’t do anything solo now.

It seems kinda obvious… Hayden is forsaking his fan base. Doesn’t want to hear from us. He only has eyes and ears for Blanche. He’s just not that into us anymore. Painful. Crushing. Demoralizing. You may recall last year, when Jen announced his promise to answer fan questions, that I was simultaneously excited and skeptical (hence the reference to arm twisting). Did he ever fulfill that promise? I may have missed it (if so, I apologize) but I don’t think he did. As the great Master Yoda would say, “Been snubbed, we have. Yes, hmmm.”

I feel like the infamous Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. Therefore, it is with regret that I must say, “No card for you, Mr. Christensen!” Actions have consequences, my dear boy. From now on, just call me The Birthday Card Nazi. Oh, and about those three hours I spent working on your card… I want them back! [09 April 2009]