Star Wars VII Begins Filming

The Official Bad Robot Twitter snuck a photo out last night to signify that filming on the still untitled Star Wars Episode VII is underway at the Pinewood Studios in London. I'm curious though as to why filming began on a Friday, wondering if it's wardrobe and make-up tests rather than actual principal photography? That's just my speculation but still interesting that their production week would start Friday.

Anxiously awaiting more gems to keep the buzz going, can't wait for more to start and trickle out from filming! 

CORRECTION: Looks like the excitement got the better of me. The Star Wars VII main unit is actually underway in Abu Dahbi (Nermal has yet to be spotted), while Pinewood Studios London either awaits the unit to travel there or is currently filming with a second unit.

Zack Snyder Reveals First Look at Affleck's Batman

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Ben Affleck dons the Batsuit for the first time in the upcoming untitled Batman/Superman film. (Courtesy Zack Snyder)

Filmmaker Zack Snyder has taken to his personal Twitter account to reveal the new look of Batman as he'll be seen in the still untitled Batman/Superman film. Yesterday, the director Tweeted an image of the Batmobile underneath a tarp to tease his fans that a first look was on the way. Today, the image above was posted to his Twitter showing a brooding Ben Affleck in the Batsuit next to the cockpit of a fully redesigned Batmobile.

The new Batmobile looks like a cross between the Christopher Nolan Tumbler with some of the stylelines seen in previous incarnations of the iconic vehicle. Perhaps the hybrid imagery is to help draw some lines between the previous Dark Knight Trilogy and this new film, or perhaps it's just a coincidence that the looks are similar?

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A tease posted to Zack Snyder's Twitter account showing the Batmobile's posterior. (Courtesy Zack Snyder)

In terms of Affleck's Batsuit, the biggest element of note are the smaller ears at the top of the cowl, a cool nod to the suit's earlier incarnations. I'm also a fan of the giant-sized Dark Knight Returns logo that spans the entirety of his chest. Are we about to see the Goddamn Batman represented on screen? 

The Galaxy Would Have Been Much Safer with a Mom

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Anakin Skywalker bids his mother farewell on Tatooine, and will never be the same. (Courtesy Lucasfilm)

Say what you will about the Star Wars prequels, there's one thing that's abundantly clear from those three stories: if Anakin Skywalker's mom would have survived there might not have been a Darth Vader and the events in the classic trilogy may have never happened. Everything would have been shiny, happy, Ewoks dancing around and playing -- well, there wouldn't have been Stormtroopers so I don't know what they'd be using as drums. Does Endor have coconuts? 

One of the most emotional moments in The Phantom Menace (besides the tears we all shed that it was the film we had all been waiting for and it was about diplomacy and trade embargoes, fun!) was a tender moment when Anakin's mother entrusts his care to a complete stranger that they had only met earlier that day. Despite the rough acting, there's an amazing John Williams cue that really builds the emotionality of the moment and stresses the importance of what the audience is viewing. This is the moment that Darth Vader is born. It's not when he kills a bunch of Tusken Raiders, it's not when he (I guess?) kills Padme(?), it's this moment when he has to say goodbye to his mom.

If you follow the sequence of events from that point forward, if he wouldn't have left his mother, she presumably would have been with him when she was sold and found love. Anakin would have been a teenaged kid (or he's like 30 in the movie but… whatever) so he might have been able to fend off the Tusken Raiders when they attacked. Oh, and that small detail that Anakin wouldn't have gone to learn how to use his Force abilities so that he could choke out some Admirals later down the line. If Anakin doesn't say goodbye to Shmi Skywalker in that emotional moment, they all might have lived happily ever after.

Moms are pretty darn important, no matter if you're on the verge of being one of the biggest Force-weilding strong-arms in the galaxy or if your mom is just a few states away. Think of where you might be without the guidance of your mom… you might just have become Darth Vader too.

Mothers, The Real MVPs

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Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (Courtesy Bleacher Report)

Athletes can be huge jerks sometimes. Not Kevin Durant. In case you missed it, Kevin Durant won the NBA MVP award last week. He then made an MVP acceptance speech for the ages. He showed what a class individual he is. It was a fine display of humility for a guy that could take the same road as many athletes do once they reach the top of the sports food chain, which is become me-first jerkwads that forget they are just humans like the rest of us.

During his speech he told a few stories from his childhood and pointed out and thanked his personal MVP… his mother. The moment was emotional. Watching the video might make you shed a tear or two. My eyes even started to sweat a little, not gonna lie.

While I was watching I kept thinking about the sacrifice it takes to be a mother. I thought about my own mom raising me and my brother as a single parent for the first 10 years of my life. I thought about how crazy of a Bears fan she was in the 80s and 90s. There's no doubt where my love for sports came from. She would yell at the TV when the Bears were on. I always knew it was serious and now I carry on that tradition. Only I've expanded my yelling to include the Cubs, Blackhawks and Bulls. Thanks mom.

I also think of my wife and how great she is with my son. Without her there's no way my son could enjoy sports the way he does. Mom's pave the way to allow kids to be involved in sports. People say soccer mom like its a bad thing. It's badass. It's a badge of honor if you ask me. Their support in just being at games is monumental.

And don't get me started on the subject of me watching games. I'm a frickin' ball of nerves watching one of my teams play. I'm also a huge pain in the ass when they lose. I know this. But I'm still a pain in the ass. I'll sit there with my arms folded and not say a word. You could fry an egg on my head after a tough Bears or Blackhawks loss.

But Lindsay knows when the going gets tough, I just need my space to calm down for like an hour. She's not only supportive for my son Jack's sporting adventures, she comes to watch me play and support me in my games as well.

So guys and gals, don't forget to return the favor and show your mom's some love today on her special day. It doesn't matter if you're Kevin Durant or just an old guy playing in a men's league, your mom's helped all of you and encouraged you to participate in sports which in some way has shaped you into the person you are today.

Happy Mother's Day, mom. Happy Mother's Day, Lindsay.  You are the best moms that one son and husband can ask for. I thank you and love you guys with all of my heart.