Julius

These commentators really have Madrid blinders on, jeez. They've beat a lot of great teams to get here through the knockout phases, don't get me wrong, but saying it's almost inarguably the greatest run when they've clearly completely forgot about Barça's 14/15 UCL where they beat City, PSG, Bayern and Juve (in that order), all the reigning champions of their respective leagues at the time?

TAA just turned off there, caught watching the ball and not paying attention to where Vinicius was. There's still time, but against this Madrid side I imagine it feels like they've got Everest to climb rather than any old mountain.

Well, Peter Walton did an atrocious job of explaining that offside. As usual. Get what he's trying to say, and though it did deflect off Konate before bouncing off Fabinho's knee, look at Fabinho's angle of entry and momentum -- his intention is to get the ball out of there, which inevitably (with his angle and momentum) means it's going towards Benzema and Fabinho's own byline. If nothing else, for me, the fact it took so long to check it through VAR is what I think should mean it wasn't a goal, it simply wasn't clear and obvious. I think they should have a timer for how long they have to check it, to be honest. Anyways, I think someone really needs to proofread the laws of the game, in its entirety. From where I'm standing I don't understand how you can have a handball rule which doesn't consider intent (much less reaction times; still think the only reasonable solution is to start lopping arms off) and then have another rule regarding what is and isn't offside depending on a player's intent.

Feel like Liverpool should really have put one of their chances away, unfortunately the lanky traitorous douche bag that is Courtois pulled off some great saves. Got off lucky with that offside call. It was the right call, but it's just a reminder of how quickly Real can turn it on and put it in the back of the net. Far from over, but it has been cagey. Hopefully it opens up in the second half!

Yeah, we don't know 100% what's gone on behind the scenes, but I think there's a good chance it was a Disney call rather than LFL's. Think it will be very telling if we see in September that movie news has been held back for D23. Honestly, I can stretch my thoughts a bit and understand not showing Ahsoka stuff (it's been filming, what, three weeks?) after how the early Mando clip was received at SWC 2019 (hadn't gone through post- and people thought it looked rough), Mando a bit less so (am I reading right that today it was essentially an extended trailer?), but it's not showing the panels themselves which is leaving me so stumped. The recaps are what they are, but as someone who loves the interviews and hearing about the creative process, it's just not long enough to give us that insight Is it the same as the opening panel where even those at the show aren't able to see it unless they're at the other stages where it's being streamed to? That's another bonkers thing to me. The lottery is better than waiting all the time, but this is Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Disney -- they can absolutely get a bigger and better venue. Yeah, imagine we'll see that stuff announced in due course (again, my mind goes to D23, but could be a bit further afield I suppose). I was expecting Sabine and Ahsoka, but not others from the Ghost crew, so it sounds more and more like it's a true and proper Rebels sequel! You don't need to apologise for having a good time, like I said before, I'm so happy to see the love in the room for Rebels and for the prequels this Celebration, just a bit of a shame those of us not there don't get to see a bit more of it! It's such an ass backwards thing, isn't it? There's the fact that it will leak (it's not like some events Disney have hosted in the past where they've taken phones away), so potato quality is ensured -- at that point, seriously, there's no reason to not put it out there. Then there's the fact that we're "post"-COVID (emphasis on the quotation marks), and so some won't have entertained the idea of going due to the stress that might bring. I didn't. And I didn't entertain it because, well, what reason did we have to expect going in that it wouldn't all be livestreamed? The crazy thing to me is that they're not utilising Disney+ in all of this, if Disney made the call to not have these things on the livestream, then you'd think they'd be leveraging it in some other way through Disney+ (i.e. a paid-for Disney+ pass to access these SWC panels?). I feel like when it comes to SWC there are those who know about it and those who simply don't, and the barrier probably seems high for those Star Wars fans not in the know, so breaking down that barrier and getting to them through Disney+ seems the smart thing to do.

Oh man, of all of the panels shown this is the one that I think is going to really piss fans off for not being livestreamed, what with how far back so many fans first started to experience Ahsoka and Rebels -- there's a through line which stretches back to 2008 (!) which is harder to stomach missing out on compared with something newer like Mando. They've dropped the ball so phenomenally hard this Celebration for those not attending, but still, it's nice to see the love in that room! Somehow Huyang returned is the funniest thing going through my head right now, wonder if David Tennant will return to voice him? Also, did they say who was playing Hera? I feel like they would've confirmed it if it was Vanessa Marshall, but I know Ewan let it slip a few weeks ago in an interview that his wife (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) was working on Ahsoka, so it makes me wonder!

Just seen a photo of the thing Patiently waiting for someone to go rogue and put up the footage Natasha Lio Bordizzo definitely looks the part for Sabine, could be some good casting there!

Good luck to you Liverpool fans I'm not too sure how this one goes. I think on paper this Liverpool comfortably beats this Real team more often than not, but then, I think what we've seen Real manage over the last few rounds, pulling out insane results in the closing minutes, just makes them an absolute wildcard and could easily unnerve Liverpool (as it might any team) in the closing 5 - 10 minutes. And while I think Liverpool's starting XI are, in my opinion, stronger than Real's across the pitch, Madrid's bench is filled with players who can instantly take the game in another direction. I just can't logically bet against Real to pull it out of the hat like they've managed to several times this season, they have an undeniable underdog energy around them in the UCL for some reason the last few rounds - despite being recently crowned La Liga champions, and despite having the most European Cups/UCL's in their trophy cabinet by some margin - so if I had to give my verdict on who I think will win, it would be them. But like I said, Liverpool could just as easily win comfortably on the night; I love having no idea where it's going to go! As a neutral, I honestly just hope it's a fun match. This season's Champions League has probably been the one I've enjoyed the most since we won it in 2012, so many crazy results and goals, so I hope it doesn't fizzle out with a clean sheet and that both teams really deliver

Another remastered Star Wars game is on its way to the Switch: KOTOR II comes on 8th June.

Well we get a recap of the Lucasfilm Studio Showcase omitting the best bits, so...woo?

Just officially announced at Celebration Interview with Stig Asmussen from StarWars.com. It has also been mentioned elsewhere that the game takes place 5 years after Fallen Order (14 BBY), meaning it took place in 9 BBY, which means it takes place in the same year as Kenobi.

It leaked yesterday, but now it's official: they're coming out with a LEGO BD-1 (from Jedi Fallen Order)!!! Well, guess now I know how I'm returning to LEGO

Oh man, that's a good shout think Astro's Playroom is honestly still my favourite PS5 exclusive experience, and while I do really want a fully fledged console title, I'd be down for more Astro in any form! Speaking of which, hopefully they confirm backwards compatibility for PS VR titles -- unless I've missed something, don't think we've got that confirmation yet? I don't really doubt it'll happen, but the sooner I know I can play VR Rescue Mission, the sooner I'm onboard to get a VR2 There was also that news recently that there were some 20+ PS VR2 first- and third-party titles slated for launch... ...which makes me wonder what else could be in the works. Resident Evil VIII VR that I'll never touch? Final Fantasy XVI fishing game? Half-Life Alyx, dare we dream? Final Fantasy XVI fishing game?!

Yeah, it's totally possible, and I could see them doing that, having his new theme be specifically for lost Obi-Wan before reverting him back to the Force theme by the end of the show in preparation for A New Hope. There are definitely enough recognisable melodies within his new theme that it could work. But if that then feels consistent with the rest of the show if that's the route they go, though, is a whole other question, and I do still think it especially feels like it's missing the Force theme in that one particular scene I mentioned. If there's one moment in the show so far (albeit only two episodes in) where I'm like "here, this is exactly where you should put a recognisable theme" it's there, because that is him getting back into his mojo as a Jedi and... To clarify my last post, as reading it again I sound a bit down on it: I'm not disappointed with the show, as I always thought it should be a slow burn anyways, so I'm very open to it slowly coming to a boil before it all spills over. Just felt a bit lacking at points, but hey, they've got four episodes left in which they could blow me away

Alright, I'm back from my rewatch of Parts I and II of Obi-Wan Kenobi – am I the only one who hates that it's not just called Kenobi, by the way? Anyways, here are my more comprehensive thoughts and notes from my rewatch: Overall, I thought it was a solid start to the show, definitely taking their time to warm up to it (which is fine but means as a premiere it felt a bit lacking?), and we'll see where it goes from here. I wasn't too keen on the music if I'm being honest, as while there are plenty of hints of things throughout (outside of Kenobi's theme there are definitely numerous hints at the Imperial March), and while I understand the decision for Boba and Mando to really dial it back and go with original music...this show is screaming for the themes we know and love. Hopefully they're holding them back, but the music was a bit of a letdown outside of the new Kenobi theme if I'm being honest. Still have some big concerns, but a lot of those predate me watching the show (potential of Qui-Gon coming back as an actual ghost, what I've said before about Reva, etc.), so I'll just wait and see. Hopefully it's only up from here!

Obligatory: • Let's goooooooooo PS VR2 • XVI or we riot • Ragnarök is coming (EDIT after the description: or is it..?)

Some really interesting details came out of the Ask the Developer interview for this game:

Watched the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and thought they were solid. I'll post more in-depth thoughts after a rewatch, because I need to organise my thoughts a bit more I think. Absolutely. The silly thing is, I've since seen all of the stuff people captured there on their phones...so, yay for the potato quality Mando S3 trailer I guess? It's barmy that companies still do this when it's obvious these things will leak through the cracks. In all earnest it looks great, but there was absolutely (yeah, yeah, I know: only a Sith deals in absolutes) nothing shown that I feel warranted not having a livestream, and pushing that further was that the Kenobi premiere wasn't even following or at the panel as we'd previously speculated it might be. I'd want to say because of the live performances, but we've seen John Williams conduct live through the stream before, and it was greatly received by fans. Much as I've enjoyed some of the trailers under Disney - the Saga ones and the first Kenobi one in particular - man, I really just got a feeling of being totally tone deaf from them and Lucasfilm yesterday. I get wanting to have exclusive things at the show for attendees, and by all means I'm for it to an extent - premiere full episodes there, clips of things far off, etc. - but your opening panel (and seemingly the other big panels) at the first Celebration back, again, "post"-COVID (special emphasis on the quotation marks) not being livestreamed...to what end? Like I said before, if this is supposed to promote more people to come to a sold out event -- well, it's sold out, there's literally no way more people could attend? I don't want to lay it on too thick, but it's taking the piss a bit, and just feels like it's trying to drive a wedge between the fanbase (as if we need more of that). It's a disastrous misfire in my eyes, because they're entirely missing the point of the event, which is to celebrate this thing we all love as a community. Limiting the biggest parts to the fortunate few who can attend (and how many reasons are there to not attend, by the way? It's an expensive trip, COVID is still a risk, you need to book a fair bit of time off, etc.) is one of the most hilariously anti-Lucas things Lucasfilm/Disney have managed to do since LFL was sold. Thankfully some in the crowd rebelled (heh) and got the footage out to us anyways, which I'm very grateful for. Another saving grace is that, like I said, there wasn't anything not shared with us at home that I thought was too crazy? It wasn't the blowout I'd have expected from a general 90 minute SWC opener that isn't homing in on one product. Like you say, the focus on Willow (while a really good trailer I thought, pretty stunning to look at) and Indy (which, being a year off, was a whole lot of nothing) just seemed a bit misplaced (yeah I know it's Lucasfilm still, but come on, that isn't why anyone is there this weekend!). Overall I'm still just confused, and on the other side of the Showcase I'm less annoyed than I thought I might be. I'm happy for those attending and it seems on the stream that everyone's having a great time, but by the Force, what a dumbass corporate decision I don't even catch wind until a good 5 or 10 minutes into the livestream that it wasn't even being streamed at Celebration, as it was super weird just how crazy the crowd were going for the Andor trailer (as I thought they'd already seen it). Honestly, beyond meeting other fans and just being surrounded by Star Wars, the mess of how they handled all of their fans worldwide yesterday left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth which, if anything, puts me off the idea of Celebration. It just splits the fanbase and almost invites this sense of elitism...which then falls flat on its face, because it's so clear from yourself and many others I've seen tweeting from SWC that they're gutted for those not in attendance (hell, I was reading about one guy who had to cancel attending last second because his wife went into labour a week early!). The abhorrent lack of news on films does have me wondering: are they saving that for D23? And if so...man, I would not want to be at LFL for the blowback. You're too kind! Thanks Ronnie Don't want to comment on everything you've written about your first day at Celebration (would be here a while!), but it sounds like you're having a great time and those are some lovely pics! Look forward to reading/seeing more from your time there, hope the weather's treating you well too Oh, and also, yeah, the rest of the livestream was pretty neat! We got all the interviews from the live stage (like I said above: I'm always here for Ewan and Hayden getting a rapturous applause), Ian McDiarmid is always fun to watch and we got to see his panel, and they showed off the High Republic: Into the Light panel (yes, I was absolutely lost, but the authors seem like cool people!). No idea how it shakes out today (I think we'll be getting the AOTC 20th anniversary stream seeing as it's not in that 11:00 - 12:00 slot, and I'll happily tune in for that!), but I'll just take it as it comes

Today, Congo's Caper and Rival Turf have been added to SNES Online, and Pinball has been added to NES Online:

Man, watching Ashley Eckstein be interviewed and hearing that she hasn't even had a chance to speak with Rosario Dawson yet (?! You'd think that would be priority #1 when a different actor is adapting an animated character to live-action), and trying to throw it out there that she'd love to meet her and potentially cameo in Ahsoka if given the chance...is weirdly rough? I increasingly get the sense that she was completely glossed over for the live-action role after Dawson's campaign for it. I know Ahsoka is filming at the moment, so hopefully Filoni is around and grabs Ashley for at least a cameo on the show. Don't get me wrong, I think Rosario was pretty good as Ahsoka with what we've got so far of her, but Ashley's always been a great part of the community, played the character for nearly 15 years, and hearing that she's so open to hearing from fans who are facing struggles, and learning what her character means to them, is heavy stuff that goes well beyond her role. That she wasn't cast for the live-action role is one thing, but to not have Rosario get in contact with her for at least a chat to discuss the character a bit just seems like a big missed opportunity. After KK's interview: the highlight so far is Anthony Carboni's joke about needing KK's room number so everyone can catch Obi-Wan with her...boy, did she not like that joke walking away to the Imperial March was the cherry on top! High Republic: damn it, go to the wide! Ewan and Hayden's interview nearly had me in tears. Man, like before, I'm so glad they're back and my generation and those that enjoyed the prequels get to let their voice be heard, and let them know their work is deeply loved. Hayden sharing that he's watched Rebels and The Clone Wars, and then finishing the interview with "This is where the fun begins", just...

I don't think I've seen it since I was a kid, so I can't remember all that much about it, but this has me in the mood to revisit it. And the film is on Disney+, so I guess there's no excuse

Indy 5 still on track for 30th June 2023:

The third season of The Mandalorian is coming in February 2023:

Willow is coming to Disney+ on 30th November: It will take place around 20 years after the film. Looks lovely!

Teaser trailer for Andor, two episode premiere August 31st: Teaser poster: