It seems doubtful we will live "in a galaxy far, far away" in this lifetime, but we can at least build incredible homages to the "Star Wars" saga in the meantime.

One could say that Brad Lewis -- a BioWare senior visual-effects artist who works on the Star Wars: The Old Republic role-playing game -- wields a certain affinity for "Star Wars." After all, his personal blog Slothfurnace features systematic build guides for half a dozen previously created lightsabers that completely outshine those frail plastic toys that occupy countless toy shelves. … Read more

Back in college I might spend all day and night debating deep questions like: "Hey bro, how much do you think Bruce Wayne spends on all that Batman bling?"

Sadly, I no longer have the time for such deliberations, but fortunately there are still people in college right now who do.

Centives, which is made up of a team of economics students at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., dug into the digits of what it actually costs to be Batman and came up with a real-world tally for all that fictional crime-fighting schwag -- $2.8 million. However, more than two-thirds of that bill comes from over-zealous orders of 10,000 graphite helmets (with the parts sent to different locations and aliases to avoid being discovered), which means that simply finding a trusted supplier for that iconic cowl could save nearly $2 million.… Read more

Avengers fans will soon be able to grab the popular movie on Blu-ray and DVD at Target stores, with a little bonus added to the action.

Starting September 25, the retail outlet will be selling the blockbuster film for $32.99. For that you get both the Blu-ray and DVD edition in one single package.

But Target is throwing in a bonus disc called "Building a Dream: Assembling the Avengers." The extra 90-minutes of footage will show how the original Iron Man, Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America films were developed, forging the array of mighty … Read more

SAN DIEGO--The first night of the 42nd annual Comic-Con brought in the hordes, giving attendees far more than a mere preview last night.

Originally a chance for exhibitors and professionals to enjoy the Con, fans who buy four-day passes can opt to get a Preview Night ticket, too. In turn, this gives vendors a chance to sell convention exclusives to an even wider audience, but it does cut down on the opportunities for those working the show to enjoy what's on display. Preview Night passes sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale earlier this year.

So what … Read more

For some people, the real-world locales featured in "Star Wars" stand as historical sites that deserve preservation and restoration. One of the most inspirational tales in the "Star Wars" universe exists outside of the official canon: a group of superfans tapped a fanbase to fund the restoration of the original Lars homestead shooting location in Chott el Gharsa, Tunisia.

This tale doesn't have a simple beginning. According to the official project Web site, the idea materialized in May of 2010 after a group of "Star Wars" fans led by Mark Dermul visited Luke's home and observed its disappointing condition -- blasphemy for any sci-fi fan. … Read more

The biggest silver screen in England has a new screen. The British Film Institute in London has given CNET UK a revealing glimpse behind the scenes as about 1,763 pounds of perforated vinyl measuring 85 feet wide and 65 feet high replaces the old screen, bringing "The Amazing Spider-Man" swinging into action this week.

Read more about the new screen's arrival, and check out more fascinating photos, over at CNET UK. … Read more

Fans may never forget the numerous sandy scenes of the "Star Wars" saga, which George Lucas and crew mostly filmed in the North African country of Tunisia.

A recent glance by RocketNews24 at famous "Star Wars" locations such as Mos Espa (where Anakin grew up) and the Lars Homestead (where Luke grew up) paints a much different picture of the movie sets beloved by countless geeks around the world. … Read more

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Deep inside a series of very cold vaults, surrounded by thick concrete and protected from fire and water damage, more than 76,000 movies sit on shelves, preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Welcome to the Academy Film Archive, the storage arm of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. On your right is a stack of cans containing several reels of the 1962 classic "Lawrence of Arabia." On your left are several cans comprising a copy of "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Since opening its doors in 1927, the Academy -- the folks … Read more

BURBANK, Calif.--Back in the dark ages of modern 3D filmmaking -- meaning more than a year or two ago -- the process of aligning imagery coming from the two cameras required to shoot in 3D could be slow, methodical, and frustrating work. But one company thinks it has done away with those days forever.

At 3ality, an outfit here that is among the leaders in the nascent new era of 3D filmmaking -- as opposed to the horrible 3D films dating back a few decades -- there's no reason to labor over the optimization of such imagery after … Read more