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What Is The 501st? You’ll Learn All About Them In The STAR WARS-Themed Documentary HEART OF AN EMPIRE!

FIST!!!! by Mistahtibbs	Apr 17th, 2007 06:04:49 AM
Dammit!
FIST OF THE NORTHSTAR!!!! by Riley Martin	Apr 17th, 2007 06:26:17 AM
That's all we need - more info on Star Wars.
A friend of mine made 20 stomtrooper suits! by Giant Fish	Apr 17th, 2007 06:32:41 AM
Check them out here: http://www.monopoint.net/ Molded in plastic for a role-playing event.
501st in video game by Ikaruga	Apr 17th, 2007 06:37:36 AM
Ohhh so that's where the 501st came from. They're the Clone Trooper squad you play as in the Battlefront 2 game.
how to get it abroad? by Beltorak_69	Apr 17th, 2007 07:39:43 AM
hello hello, any chance or any way to see or to get this documentary abroad?? i am from switzerland and those things are hard to get. I experienced the 501st at the StarWars Convention III in Indianapolis and since then i am a fan!!!! so? help? anyone??
Oh, come off it...we're all the same. by uss cygnus	Apr 17th, 2007 07:45:07 AM
I laugh at people who say wearing Stormtrooper Armor makes you cooler or more normal than someone who wears a Starfleet Uniform or dresses in full Borg makeup and costume. Come off it. We're all in the same boat here. Why we gotta hate? You going to talk about nappy headed vulcan ho's next?
I've seen this one...it's good by The Pusher	Apr 17th, 2007 07:49:08 AM
I caught a screening of this at a convention in March. It's good stuff. A little ham-handed, but it's well made. Really spins the 501st and Star Wars fans at large as less of a pack of nerds than everyone thinks.
how.. by PotSmokinAlien	Apr 17th, 2007 07:58:47 AM
has 'trekkies' become this measuring stick to which all other docs about fans are compared? that movie is un illuminating from both a documentary-making POV and a subject matter oriented POV, fuckin snooooze. if you want to see an amazing fan doc track down DARKON. LARPG enthusiasts as you have never seen them before. won at sxsw a couple years back. worth the effort to find.
NO no no no no.... by vanfan	Apr 17th, 2007 08:39:44 AM
the 501st tie interceptor squadron, theyre the best of the best. Or so it says in rogue squadron.
Fuck Lucas... by Jabba the Slut	Apr 17th, 2007 08:56:34 AM
Fuck him up his ass 501 times..
George ripped off JACK KIRBY for 1/2 the ideas by CarmillaVonDoom	Apr 17th, 2007 09:14:14 AM
No one ever gives the KING props for the HUGE influence he cast over SW!!!
You had me at "Light Saber wielding Elvis" by Dr Gregory House	Apr 17th, 2007 09:33:29 AM
I'm just a hunka hunka metachlorians.
Thanks Moriarty by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 09:53:10 AM
Wow! I really appreciate you posting this Drew. The Wisconsin Film Festival has been getting some really good films lately and I think this was one of them. This is the first project this guy has worked on and I think he did a damn fine job. Thanks again Drew. I've got a review of "Diggers" w/ Paul Rudd,Maura Tierney,and Ron Eldard. That I'll send you. If you think it's worth the Talkbackers time, I'd be equally as proud if you post it.
Beltorak_69 by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 09:57:52 AM
I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little while. Jay mentioned in the Q&A that the film had to go through the Film Fest circuit before it was going over-seas. He said they are working on distribution, which I assume means that they have to get some sort of OK from the Lucas camp.
Dr Gregory House by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 09:59:15 AM
The Elvis scene is hillarious. Hopefully you get to see it.
The 501st = Vader's Fist by ZeroCorpse	Apr 17th, 2007 10:02:35 AM
During the Clone Wars, Vader was given a squadron of stormtroopers- The best and brightests of them. All clones, all very good at their job, all unquestionably loyal to Vader. They were the Five-oh-First, also known as "Vader's Fist", and they were with Vader throughout his entire career as Dark Lord of the Sith. When clones started dying off, the best Stormtroopers were selected to join the 501st to take their places. The 501st escaped destruction at the Death Star because they were assigned to another task (which they felt was a punishment). The 501st were the troopers who- along with Lord Vader- destroyed all the Jedi in the Jedi Temple, and then proceeded to hunt down Jedi across the galaxy. --- The real-world 501st is a squadron of Star Wars geeks who adopted that name because it sounded cool.
Ugh by JediWuddayaknow	Apr 17th, 2007 10:04:39 AM
I hate the 501st. I'm very big into the costuming world and these guys walk around like they own the place. Yes, there are exceptions, but the vast, VAST majority that I have seen have shown "Vader's Fist" to be full of arrogance and a misplaced sense of entitlement. And George Lucas' support has only inflated their egos. While there ARE people out there who do it for love of the films, the children they help, and just the pure joy of doing it, they are in the minority. Fuck the 501st.
Fuck the 501st by tompiltoff	Apr 17th, 2007 10:46:02 AM
Who the hell do they think they are? You're a bunch of middle class assholes who wear armor. You're not 'the 501st', you're 'Jimmy's fucking gay ass dad'. Stop ruining your childrens lives.
Bless the 501st by Rikrik the White	Apr 17th, 2007 10:49:36 AM
Who knew that Stormtroopers could make the world a better place?
Can I get that with next day delivery, commander? by ArcadianDS	Apr 17th, 2007 11:09:05 AM
Reminds me of the Trekkies doc about the lady at the mailboxes etc store who changed her name to commander data and wears a trekkie uniform to work (and to court duty in the OJ trial). One word: nutjob
5-0-1! by brotherhalo	Apr 17th, 2007 11:27:15 AM
ZeroCorpse: Nice backstory to the 501st. Yes, it's true. But we didn't adopt the name from the backstory, as someone might infer from your post. So in case anyone thinks differently, the 501st was around before the story was filled in. And we thank Lucas and the rest of LFL for providing a backstory to our group. Ugh: You must not have been around many 501st, then. Don't forget we have over 3000 members. If you've experienced the lack of personality and load of 'tude from a handful of 501st members, then don't generalize. It's like I'm saying your a total douchebag just from reading your post. But I don't know you, so I won't generalize. I'll admit there are jerks in the Legion. I know a few. But don't generalize. Tompiltiff: Same goes for you buddy. How many Legion members do you know? How many do you call friend? Do you realize that if you have children, chances are they enjoy the same activities you do? We don't "ruin" our children's lives. We help enrich them. Not just with playing dress-up, but plenty of other things. Again, don't generalize.
My cousin's husband is a member of the 501st by Doc_Strange	Apr 17th, 2007 11:35:31 AM
Seems like a cool guy to me plus we have lots to talk about, me being a Star Wars geek and all, but looking at me you wouldn't know I'm a geek. Ahh to have balance........
brotherhalo by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 11:36:37 AM
I think when people see this movie, there will be a whole lot of love for the 501st. Before anyone assumes that I am a member, I'm not. I'm just a schmuck that went to some films at the local film fest in my town.
BTW by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 11:44:07 AM
Sorry for the spelling and grammer errors in my humble review. I was kind of rushed and was a little hung over. Honestly.
Turd Furgusen by brotherhalo	Apr 17th, 2007 11:49:06 AM
I'm very eager to see Heart of an Empire. The 501st is very eager to see it come out and really show the public what we're about. Yeah, we're a bunch of Star Wars geeks who play dress up. Most of us don't take ourselves too seriously. But we do want to show people that you can be a geek and do good at the same time. So thank you for your review, TF. I hope that any naysayer will change their mind about their GENERAL feelings about Legion members after they see the docu and realize that we are people too that have experienced extreme highs and lows.
Jesus I thought it was a pretend doc set in the Empire. by Smashing	Apr 17th, 2007 12:18:30 PM
How pissed off do you think I am right now?, its about people who dress up as Stormtroopers and go to bake sales to make up for something missing in there lives?, wow sounds a hoot.
Stereotypes Are Fun... by TK-8675309	Apr 17th, 2007 12:33:54 PM
...but they don't actually make your life any better. As for me, I'm a 501st member. And I have a wife and kids. And I'm a marketing officer for a $4-billion financial company. And I own a house worth $800,000 (no basement, sorry), and I play guitar (use to be in a punk band and run a club), and I scuba dive and enjoy other hobbies. So no, I don't dress up in plastic because "something" is "missing" from my life. It's simply fun, like my other hobbies. And as someone else said, the 501st club came first (in 1997). LFL added it to the games, books and movie later as a thanks. I know, reality isn't as much fun as relying on sterotypes to fill the void in YOUR life, but I prefer truth to fiction. Ironic, isn't it?
501st GOTTA EAT!! by ATARI	Apr 17th, 2007 12:59:00 PM

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog = best Star Wars doc. by 2for2true	Apr 17th, 2007 02:02:43 PM
Everything else is for me to poop on.
TK-8675309 by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 02:12:58 PM
That's exactly what this movie deals with. Sterotypes and the fact that many members of your group are as "normal" as you want to call it. I really think it does a good job showing what a group of people, no matter what the hobby, can do to help out others. I assure you that if Smashing saw this film he'd get the picture. Pun intended.
brotherhalo by Turd Furgusen	Apr 17th, 2007 02:17:43 PM
I was glad to do it. Thank Moriarty for be kind enough to post it. This is why I love local film festivals. I never would have know about the 501st in this capacity and would have wrongly assumed you all were just a bunch of nerds. This movie showed how far from the truth that idea is.
TK7217 here by MetiphisLabs	Apr 17th, 2007 03:06:45 PM
Makaze squad, Central Florida chapter. I just want to say that most of our members jump at the opportunity to visit a children's hospital and just about once a month there are succesful toy drives and charity donations. So for all those saying "fuck the 501st". What have you done lately for another human being? Because I'll tell you when I put on my armor, what drives me is the effect on other people. People tell me all the time that they were having a bad day until they saw a Stormtrooper patrolling around. Hell yeah it's personally gratifying, but to say we do it just for ourselves so we can be arrogant is just plain ignorant.
metiphislabs by LordTwinkie	Apr 17th, 2007 03:20:26 PM
the reason they jump to visit childrens hospital is to well "visit" with the children.
LordTwinkie by MetiphisLabs	Apr 17th, 2007 03:23:06 PM
What are you driving at?
TOO SOON!! by Pageiv	Apr 17th, 2007 03:43:27 PM
Star Wars is a fad.
Metiphislabs by LordTwinkie	Apr 17th, 2007 03:47:31 PM
do i need to spell it out! its all over the news 501 are children touchers!
Unfunny and slanderous... GJ, Twinkie! by IAmJack'sUserID	Apr 17th, 2007 04:01:21 PM
sigh
im not a member - i just admire these guys a lot by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 17th, 2007 04:28:05 PM
why are these guys (or any sw fans) always considered and called losers and dorks? - is what they do any "dorkier" than football or baseball fans wearing silly wigs, painting their faces and bodies and acting crazy in public? - no its not - but society has deemed "sports fan" rituals and behavior acceptable and cool - i never heard of a mob of sw fans looting and rioting after an event - sports fans do this (even if their teams win) - im a big sw fan - and im not ashamed to admit it - and when its found out (by people i meet through work etc.)- i get the usual "loser" jokes - which i dont mind - i can laugh at myself - its just interesting to me what society deems "loser"ish as opposed to "cool" - i really enjoy playing with my master replicas force fx lightsabers - and im 42
IAmJack'sUserID by LordTwinkie	Apr 17th, 2007 04:34:22 PM
unfunny perhaps, in fact probably, slanderous? not so much.
religions have the silliest fan costumes by Some Dude	Apr 17th, 2007 05:33:09 PM
Come on. Tall hats and dresses? Please.
501st aren't real fans by johnnykool	Apr 17th, 2007 06:08:34 PM
Real fans are geeks. Geeks are fat. Fat people cannot fit in a Stormtrooper outfit. Therefore, the 501st aren't real fans.
Classicgamernerd by brotherhalo	Apr 17th, 2007 06:25:21 PM
Ummm, if you had the choice of playing a nancy goody-two-shoes or a kick ass bad guy, what would you pick?
Haters die. by Logan_1973	Apr 17th, 2007 06:40:37 PM
And don't be jealous of George. Got to meet the 501st at Celebration II and III. Great people.
You self loathing geeks need to drop the stereotype by I Dunno	Apr 17th, 2007 07:37:28 PM
shit. You might be a fat fuck sitting in their mom's basement but that's not everyone here and sure isn't every film geek. It's a tired and outdated cliche.
Vader's Fist!!!! by hadez	Apr 17th, 2007 08:24:15 PM
Since it doesn't have Kirsten Dunst, it will suck.
I was there... by kahootz	Apr 17th, 2007 09:01:21 PM
My daughter Moira was diagnosed with leukemia in August of '05. This past summer, those guys came around to her hospital to visit. Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Chewbacca and Yoda. She was so mad that Vader visited her room and NOT Yoda. Chewbacca and Yoda were visiting the burn unit. I told her they saved the good guys for the REALLY sick kids. She was cool with it after that.
Oh yeah... by kahootz	Apr 17th, 2007 09:03:55 PM
Leukemia kids get ports surgically implanted to make injecting medicine easier. The nurses encourage the kids to name their ports. Moira named hers Luke. Her IV machine was name C3P0. I kid you not.
RE: brotherhalo by tompiltoff	Apr 17th, 2007 09:13:33 PM
I'm not commenting on what you do as a group, I couldn't give less of a shit. You're still a bunch of idiots. You dress up like Stormtroopers. It's bad enough when people do that for comicons.
puppy shit... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 17th, 2007 10:20:52 PM
bullies are the real losers - i was sort of a jock when i was young (and i was bullied before that) - but i never bullied anyone - tompiltoff, you ARE commenting on what they do - and you care enough (more than "less of a shit") to post your opinion in here - youre the idiot -
Right by tompiltoff	Apr 17th, 2007 10:36:48 PM
I'm an idiot for bitching about the 501st. You're right. Let me find something more productive to do at 11:36 on Tuesday night. And did you call me a jock!? Hahahaha, moron.
tompiltoff by MetiphisLabs	Apr 17th, 2007 10:48:39 PM
yawn The rest of us will be enjoying our lives over here.
tompiltoff by EdRyder	Apr 17th, 2007 10:49:22 PM
501st members are active participants in several charity events.Like March of Dimes,The Make a Wish Foundation,Toys for Tots,Shriners Hospital for Children ,etc, etc, etc. How do YOU define "Productive" with your own time.
tompiltoff III by closeencounter	Apr 17th, 2007 11:30:42 PM
If these folks are helping others deal with serious situations, where's the harm? THERE IS NONE!!! If they're putting smiles on the kids faces, it's worth every penny they spend on "armor", costumes, time, whatever they need, yes? And you call them idiots....sheesh. You are entitled to your opinion, no matter how worthless it may be.
tompiltoff III update by closeencounter	Apr 18th, 2007 12:04:01 AM
Clarification: You didn't call them "idiots", you called them "assholes" for trying to put a smile on some poor kids' faces. Jerk.
Personally... by Dominic-Vobiscum	Apr 18th, 2007 12:32:30 AM
...I'd rather hang out with some nerds who dress up as Stormtroopers and actually do something positive in this world than with some grouchy emo-fag like tompiltoff who's figured out that the only way to be cool is to declare everything sucks.
This talkback is hilarious by Allfather Starr	Apr 18th, 2007 12:40:22 AM
"You're a dick." "No, you're a dick." Ha ha ha!! When I was teenager I really wanted a stormtrooper outfit. Then the prequels came out and ruined everything. But anyway, I remember seeing Darth Vader at Hamleys as a kid, and it was awesome. I reckon if I was a sick kid who was visited by stormtroopers I would think it was cool. So keep up the good work. You fucking nerds.
CT-4961 here... by ShatirLavan	Apr 18th, 2007 12:47:47 AM
...from Badlands Garrison. I actually just finished writing an essay about stereotypes of Star Wars fans, so it's interesting to hear the kind of bashing we take from AICN talkbackers. The essay was for my qualitative research methods class in my third year of university. As for stereotypes of the 501st, I'm 20, reasonably attractive, I have a job, I even have friends who don't like Star Wars. I have a black belt in TaeKwon-Do, I live on my own, and I had sex 3 times today. Do I sound like some 40 year old guy who lives in my parents basement? I don't think so. I love wearing my clonetrooper armour. It's like making a movie come to life. It's awesome. Cheers to the 501st and all its fans!
CT-4961 by Allfather Starr	Apr 18th, 2007 12:52:24 AM
Did your wear you armour the three times you had sex today?
SW by Cobbio	Apr 18th, 2007 12:56:14 AM
I personally could give a shit about Star Warsies. Or Trekkies. Or unreasonably rabid fans of any franchise. They bore the shit out of me with their lack of creativity and scarily dogmatic attention to detail. I often wonder if they've ever had an original thought, or if their favorite director thought it for them. They're probably nice people, I acknowledge, but they scare me with their Pavlovian imprinting. Also, I'm sick to death of Star Wars. My young cousins play with some of the ships and figures, so I must occasionally endure, but I'd prefer to never hear a word about Lucas, Luke, Leia, or Han Solo ever again. Seriously, I was a huge fan of the first three films growing up, but like the vast majority of my generation, Lucas raped my childhood. I hate the asshole now. Y'all can call me hater, because in this case it's warranted. I proudly acknowledge the title as it relates to Star Wars. I wear it as a badge of honor. So I'm definitely not in the demographic that wants to watch a film about Star Warsies. Have fun if you are, but I'll pass.
tompiltoff... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 18th, 2007 01:26:05 AM
i didnt call "you" a jock - i mentioned that i was one when i was young - in response to "puppy shit"s joke directed toward me - about atomic wedgies - which are usually done to nerds (by jocks) - am i confusing you even more you virtual tough guy?
cobbio... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 18th, 2007 01:37:44 AM
if all of what you say is true - why waste your time in this particular talkback - are you doing someone a favor? - also - im in my 40s and live with my parents - but not in the basement - sticks and stones...
A few comments, COBBIO by deathbird	Apr 18th, 2007 02:30:09 AM
1. You obviously do care about this franchise if you took 10 minutes out of your life--you only have one, buddy--to (presumably) read the article and compose a response. 2. Rather than professing hatred for an entertainer, you might want to keep some on reserve for politicians and corporate executives, who are in fact raping you and yours as you read this. (You know, I thought KING KING was overwrought...maybe I should hate Peter Jackson instead of Dick Cheney.) 3. I'm not so sure you speak for the "vast majority" in disparaging the prequels. A good number of people I've spoken to have warmed up to TPM; and anyone who actually prefers Marquand's wretched ROTJ over ROTS should not be taken seriously.
CT-4961 by DocPazuzu	Apr 18th, 2007 02:55:16 AM
Rule Nr. 1 of talkback, cubby: If your first post ever is to state that you had sex three times in one day, then you've in fact never seen a vagina before.
Seriously, deathbird by Lost Prophet	Apr 18th, 2007 05:02:50 AM
ROTj shits all over the rotten, soulless piss poor prequels. Although the Ewoks are awful, they are nowhere near as bad as Haydn Neverworkagainifthereisanyjust icessen. Let alone Jar jar. Who has "warmed" to TPM. People I know that have subjected themselves to rewatching it now hate it more.
Cobbio didn't learn anything from SW by bender7	Apr 18th, 2007 05:37:11 AM
Hate leads to the dark side. And makes you penis small
Lucas didn't rape Cobbio's childhood... by NightArrows	Apr 18th, 2007 05:54:16 AM
...instead it was Mayor McCheese that raped Cobbio himself. He squealed with delight as that burger shaped penis penetrated him over and over. All the while Cobbio was drinking out of a Burger King Star Wars collector glass while Lost Prophet fluffed him in between the Mayor's savage penile attacks as the Fry Guys threw milkshakes at him. Anyone douche who still uses the term "Lucas raped my childhood" should be fucking dragged behind a train. Good for the 501st for doing some good in a world populated by the likes of the assholes in the AICN Talkbacks like tompiltoff (I'm an ass, but so far in this thread he's the king big dirty starfish)
eh NightArrows? by Lost Prophet	Apr 18th, 2007 07:22:28 AM
Funny post, but when did I bitch about a raped childhood? At least you admit to being an ass.
Raped by NightArrows	Apr 18th, 2007 07:43:39 AM
Cobbio mentioned the rape of his childhood. You were above me in the post so I grabbed whomever I could for the fluffer. Don't bitch I hear the Mayor pays well!
yes, but not enough for the work involved by Lost Prophet	Apr 18th, 2007 07:48:38 AM
I hear you get more for mopping up the pools of spilt jism and shed tears.
TK I don't get the basement or stereotype cracks. by Smashing	Apr 18th, 2007 08:56:22 AM
How is thinking that grown men who are married and with kids that dress like Imperial Stormtroopers are weird playing to a stereotype? Is the value of your house something you think makes you?, you're points fly past me like the Land Speeder, that you no doubt have in you're multi vehicle garage. I guess your claim to irony comes from the fact that your post contains non, also if my opinion is so wrong why did you get so prickly over it?, we only get angry at the truth man. I also never mentioned getting dressed up in plastic, that's where your mind took us, interesting, Well done on working for such a big company but again I think you are measuring life success in a way that I do not.
At least they aren't dressing as Gunguns. by ZeroCorpse	Apr 18th, 2007 09:11:31 AM
Weesa make you feelo okie-day? Yousa cancer issa bombad!!! (child dies instantly)
doc pazuzu by Grendy	Apr 18th, 2007 09:27:44 AM
Doc...don't be hater on some 20 year old kid who bragged he had some the other day. That's low. Also, my friend Amy was in the 501st. She died of Leukemia last august and had only joined about a year before. Seeing a hot 6'1 blonde in 'trooper armor drove the boys wild at Dragon Con when she walked around w/ helmet off. The 501st does a lot of good things in the hospitals they go to. During Hurricane Katrina, that weekend (when it was just a bad storm, and the full damage hadn't been known yet)... the 501st went helmet-in-hand all over the downtown area asking for money for the Red Cross. They raised thousands of dollars at pretty much a moment's notice and gave it all to the Atlanta branch to help those in need. I think everyone who's slamming someone for a hobby better never comment here or read sites like this again. After all... it seems that shit-talking as a hobby isn't very 'cool', you know. This group of people deserve no more slander then the football players who have foundations to give to various kids' charities. They're the same thing. Football guys dress up in spandex and giant shoulder pads and the 501st dresses up in armor and makes people smile when they're sick. How can that be a bad thing? Peace Out~
doc pazuzu by Grendy	Apr 18th, 2007 09:27:46 AM
Doc...don't be hater on some 20 year old kid who bragged he had some the other day. That's low. Also, my friend Amy was in the 501st. She died of Leukemia last august and had only joined about a year before. Seeing a hot 6'1 blonde in 'trooper armor drove the boys wild at Dragon Con when she walked around w/ helmet off. The 501st does a lot of good things in the hospitals they go to. During Hurricane Katrina, that weekend (when it was just a bad storm, and the full damage hadn't been known yet)... the 501st went helmet-in-hand all over the downtown area asking for money for the Red Cross. They raised thousands of dollars at pretty much a moment's notice and gave it all to the Atlanta branch to help those in need. I think everyone who's slamming someone for a hobby better never comment here or read sites like this again. After all... it seems that shit-talking as a hobby isn't very 'cool', you know. This group of people deserve no more slander then the football players who have foundations to give to various kids' charities. They're the same thing. Football guys dress up in spandex and giant shoulder pads and the 501st dresses up in armor and makes people smile when they're sick. How can that be a bad thing? Peace Out~
hob·by1 (hŏb'ē) by Turd Furgusen	Apr 18th, 2007 12:24:57 PM
"An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure." The point of this movie is to show that a casual hobby that evolves into a community can go even futher. It shows that a group of people with common interests can support a cause that makes the planet a little bit better for some people to live or die with dignity. You can hate or berate the 501st and others if you want. This movie changed my view on people that "play dress up" at these conventions. Give it a chance and it might do the same for you.
ROTJ sucked. Period. by deathbird	Apr 18th, 2007 12:49:05 PM
If you prefer your SW flicks to be equal parts The Muppet Show (Act I) and The Care Bears Adventure (Act II), it's understandable why you're content with that lousy bookend; I myself prefer something that has at least a pretense of depth. And personally, I'll take the Christensen/Portman/McGregor/M cDiarmid ensemble of ROTS over the sad bunch we got in ROTJ (Hamill, utterly unconvincing as a Jedi; Ford, giving the worst performance of his career; Fisher, drugged out of her mind; McDiarmid, twirling his mustache and spewing "Give in to your hate" ad infinitum). "Holy Trilogy", my ass.
"You can hate or berate the by tompiltoff	Apr 18th, 2007 01:05:48 PM
"You can hate or berate the 501st and others if you want. This movie changed my view on people that "play dress up" at these conventions." Nobody is saying the 501st doesn't do good stuff. Just that they're a bunch of self important dorks. Football players dress in spandex and shoulder pads because it's their job.
Grendy by DocPazuzu	Apr 18th, 2007 01:10:45 PM
Did I say anything to betray my thoughts on people who cosplay or LARP in particular?
tompiltoff by Turd Furgusen	Apr 18th, 2007 01:19:26 PM
Since I don't know all 3400 plus members of the 501st like you obviously do, I can't make the statement that they are "a bunch of self important dorks." The handful that I meet all seemed like pretty decent people. The movie seemed to project the group in the same light. Since football players dress in spandex and shoulder pads for the job. Then doing drugs, DUI, and beating up their girlfriends/wives must be there hobbies. If you can generalize and sterotype, so can I.
Wow by tompiltoff	Apr 18th, 2007 03:21:09 PM
Way to miss my point. I don't know any 501st members on a personal basis. But I see how they dress up like twits, so that's what I comment on. And did you think I was defending football players? I don't even watch football, but some douche compared their wearing uniforms vs. the 501st dressing up in costume.
Haters by ToughGuyRizzo	Apr 18th, 2007 04:17:14 PM
501st and original trilogy fan. I think the prequels were very below standards. So, I invest and put time into cosutmes I like, Boba Fett and Stormtrooper. I'm not fat, I'm in great shape. I love SW. Now of course, you always have dudes who are into it too much. We do alot of good shit for people for free. We can get paid for it, cause we are using Lucasfilm characters image. I think most negativity is from people in awe of the costumes and can't get one or can't afford it. I fuckin love mine tho.
fuck by ToughGuyRizzo	Apr 18th, 2007 04:20:51 PM
can't get paid for it. However, we clean up on big time SW events and meet lots of SW actors and shit like that.
So which one of these buttons. . . . by Neil McCauleys Crew	Apr 18th, 2007 04:38:41 PM
is used to call your mother to pick you up? I love that Triumph spot with VADER and the Col. Sanders stormtrooper! Also short, fat guys in that plastic stormtrooper make me giggle. I saw one thems in G4 sketch once.
tompiltoff... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 18th, 2007 05:40:30 PM
i think im the douche youre referring to - except i didnt compare the 501st to football players - i compared sw fans (that wear costumes) to sports fans (that dress up like clowns and act retarded in public)
also... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 18th, 2007 05:47:43 PM
i like the prequels a lot - i think with time they will be better appreciated (by sw fans anyway) - i like tpm more now than when it was released - also - to any 501st members reading this... are there any jedi in your ranks - fans that dress like jedi i mean - i can see where that would be pretty cool for some little kids to see (besides just the imperials)
Oh if you can make squid loads of cash then have at it. by Smashing	Apr 18th, 2007 08:02:29 PM
Saying "I like the prequels" is akin to saying "I am mental".
(the finger) by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 18th, 2007 09:51:59 PM
(fart noise)
Long time lurker... by JKWhiner	Apr 18th, 2007 09:57:12 PM
..first time poster. I first heard of the 501st when I stumbled across a story about Katie, whose dad is a member of the 501st. As a new dad of a little girl, it ripped my heart right out of my chest. We sent money, we sent words of support. Life got busy, and a while later I checked back only to learn that little Katie had died. I stood in my classroom and cried for two fucking hours, then cried some more on the way home and some more later at home. There's nothing I can say to the people hating on the 501st other than you need to look back at your life and see if you can figure out where and when, exactly, you ceased being a human being.
. by tompiltoff	Apr 18th, 2007 11:34:15 PM
"I think most negativity is from people in awe of the costumes and can't get one or can't afford it." How far up your ass is your head? I mean, can you see your lungs? "There's nothing I can say to the people hating on the 501st other than you need to look back at your life and see if you can figure out where and when, exactly, you ceased being a human being." Oh shut up. Nobody makes fun of them for doing good things, we make fun of them for looking like assholes in the process. "i think im the douche youre referring to - except i didnt compare the 501st to football players - i compared sw fans (that wear costumes) to sports fans (that dress up like clowns and act retarded in public)" No, I was referring to "Football guys dress up in spandex and giant shoulder pads and the 501st dresses up in armor and makes people smile when they're sick."
yeah - i know - i just like baiting you... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Apr 19th, 2007 01:14:47 AM
you wont leave - even though your stay here is not swaying any opinions to your side - these guys (501st) dont "look like assholes" (you are a mean little prick) - we get it, youre not into this stuff - great - so leave - if you dont like the responses youre getting, shut up - but you cant - the attention out ways your supposed dislike for this stuff - there are a lot of people that enjoy what the 501st do (costumed appearances) - especially sw fans - preface your opinions with "i think" or "in my opinion" or "to me" - it bugs you that not everyone agrees with you - if it didnt youd be done and gone - if you think this stuff is so stupid, go ahead and express that then be done with it - quit asserting your opinion repeatedly as if everyone that disagrees with it is nuts - we get it - you dont like what these guys do - im done, your turn
Jedi in 501st? by tk0158	Apr 21st, 2007 11:05:22 AM
"...to any 501st members reading this... are there any jedi in your ranks - fans that dress like jedi i mean..." No, although the line between "good guys" and "bad guys" blurs a bit (clones, Anakin). There is another costuming group that dresses up like the "good guys", and that's the Rebel Legion. A number of 501st members are also RL. An on another note, someone mentioned earlier here that we are not "the 501st". Well, yeah we are. The name was created by Albin Johnson (the George Washington of the 501st) back around '97. Books and action figures have used our name to honor the hard work we proudly do.
Katie by tk0158	Apr 21st, 2007 11:15:19 AM
"I first heard of the 501st when I stumbled across a story about Katie, whose dad is a member of the 501st....I checked back only to learn that little Katie had died." Not only is he Katie's dad, but that's also Albin Johnson. This tragedy was felt the world over, through every garrison, and extended beyond to fans and even Lucasfilm. Kind words by people like you, mean a lot and go a long way. Thanks! I'm really looking forward to the film.

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