Malaysia Fans Unite in the Force for Star Wars Day 40th Anniversary Celebration

There is a disturbance in The Force. Do you feel it? An army of voices rising from near and far... the Light and Dark will unite to celebrate 40 years of Star Wars!

This week renown Malaysian shopping mall Sunway Pyramid is hosting a unique Star Wars adventure by fans for fans. The Star Wars Day 40th Anniversary Celebration from 15th to 21st May takes place in two concourse on level LG2 of the mall. In the Orange Concourse, brand partners like Hasbro, LEGO , Royal Selangor, etc. showcase and retail their official Star Wars merchandise throughout the week. Over at the Blue Concourse, fan groups will come together on the weekend to share their passion for Star Wars over numerous thematic activities.

For the uninformed, Star Wars Day is celebrated annually on 4 May by fans worldwide, although the date itself was not officially declared by Lucasfilm. Along with the date comes the catchphrase "May the fourth be with you" and Star Wars fans have made it so since 2011. The actual day on 4 May itself may not always present the best day of the week to revel in fandom fever, therefore events to celebrate Star Wars Day may stray a few days away.

The most epic Star Wars fan event 40 years in the making, is coming to you soon!
Posted by The Force is 40 on Thursday, 4 May 2017

This Star Wars Day event was vision of 4 local fan boys: Julian, Ng, Daniel and James. Their idea was to connect as many local Star Wars fan communities as possible for a meaningful event celebration 40 years of Star Wars. After volunteering their time planning months ahead with some volume of sweat along the way, it all comes together this week in the Star Wars Day 40th Anniversary Celebration. Here's what to expect:

Orange concourse of franchise brand partners showcasing official merchandise.
Photo source: Sunway Pyramid

The Orange Concourse is populated by brands associated with the franchise, offering licensed merchandise like toys and apparel served to Star Wars fans. These brands include Hasbro, LEGO, Mattel (Hot Wheels), Sheldonet (Funko POP!), Royal Selangor (pewter), TGV Chill-X, Uniqlo (apparel), Toys R Us, GLD, UrbanTee and Gamer's Hideout. Get your wallets ready as Hasbro is offering selected toys on major discount whilst LEGO has brought out the latest building sets screaming to be brought home.

Royal Selangor's premium Star Wars figurines from pewter.

Main activities at the Orange Concourse over the weekend open to all shoppers:

• LEGO Darth Vader & Stormtrooper appearance at 11am, 1.30pm, 4.30pm, 8pm
• Star Wars Mini-Race on Track and Custom Diorama contest by Hot Wheels Collectors Malaysia at 11.30am & 3pm.
• Rebel activities (?) by Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club at 2pm & 6pm.

Now over at the Blue Concourse, fan-centric activities take centre-stage (literally) through contributions from the numerous fan groups in attendance: LightsaberLeague Malaysia (LLM), Force Arts Stunt Team (FAST), Sabertrio, ACLightsabers, Fightsaber Malaysia, 501st Legion Malaysia Garrison, Rebel Legion Malaysia Outpost, Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club (SWMFC), LEGO Fans of Malaysia (LOM), Hot Wheels Collectors Malaysia, FusionWayang Kulit, Costurera Haberdashery, Star Wars Modellers Malaysia(SWMM), Pop Vinyl Malaysia, and ourselves Outpost Productions. Also present are local artists Bone Alfie, Dave Liew, Michael Chuah, JonTham and Tintoy Chou, plus Vintage Star Wars Collector Chancellor Peter.

Here's a teaser of the fan-led activities courtesy of Streething.com.

Here are activity highlights at the Blue Concourse:

• Introduction of Fan Groups on Saturday 10am
• Lightsaber Flash Mob on Saturday 1pm.
• Prop Making Session & Trivia Quiz by SWMFC on Saturday 3pm.
• Talk on "How to choose a lightsaber" by AC Lightsabers on Saturday 5pm.
• Star Wars Inspired Fashion Runway Show on Sunday 1.30pm.
• Music lecture and Comedy skit on Sunday 2.30pm
• Star Wars Kids Costume Contest on Sunday, 5pm
• Live Auction of Artist paintings on Sunday, 7pm
• History of Star Wars Vintage Toys by Chancellor Peter on Saturday 12pm, then Sunday 1pm.
• Lightsaber performances by FAST on Saturday 1.15pm & 4.15pm, then Sunday 1.45pm & 4.15pm
• Saber Academy for younglings by FAST on Saturday 4.30pm, the Sunday 7pm.
• Jedi Academy by FightsaberMY on Saturday 2.30pm, then Sunday 4.30pm.
• Model Kit building tutorials by SWMM on Saturday & Sunday 11.30am & 6pm.
• LEGO Speed Build & My Own Creation contests by LOM on Sunday 11am, 1pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm.

Note: Schedule shown is at time of posting and may subject to change without prior notice. Please do not throw Force Lightning at us if actual activity timing differ!

Wow, a Star Wars inspired "Fashion Show" this time by fan for fans!

Our Outpost commander Richard Chua will be moderating a series of fan panel discussions as follows:

• Lightsabers on Saturday, 10.30am with AC Lightsabers, Sabertrio, Lightsaber League Malaysia, & Saber Dad.
• Collectors on Sunday, 10am with Vintage Star Wars Collector Chancellor Peter, Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club, Star Wars Modellers Malaysia, & Pop Vinyl Malaysia.
• Artists on Sunday, 11am with Michael Chuah, Bone Alfie, Dave Liew, Jon Tam and Tintoy Chuo of Fusion Wayang Kulit
• 40 years of Star Wars on Sunday, 12pm with fans.

Listen from the Saber Masters themselves during their Panel moderated by Outpost's Richard Chua.


The fanboys of Star Wars Modellers Malaysia will be conducting tutorials to educated aspiring modellers how to create these highly characters and vehicles.

Charity has often been a core engagement with many Star Wars fans. At this event, donations collected by fan groups will be channeled to The Spastic Children's Association of Selangor & Federal Territory (SCASFT). The association offers life-long FREE support to children with cerebral palsy through various services and programmes. The Association manages a Spastic Centre which comprises a Special Education School, Vocational Training, a Sheltered Workshop and a Rehabilitation Centre.

4 local artists will be live drawing fan art at the event to be auctioned off on Sunday 7pm for charity with proceeds to SCASFT.

In previous years at Star Wars events Outpost Productions have contributed toys for charity auction with proceeds going to either the organiser's nominated charity, or the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Our modest collection of RM900 in 2014 from C2Age grew to RM1,510 in 2015 and RM2,000 last year at SWMFC events. While we do not quite have the same opportunity this time around, we will be offering this Hasbro 3.75in series AT-ST Walker on Charity Raffle at RM5 per ticket sold this weekend from our table in the Blue Concourse. 

Make a donation and stand a chance to win this Hasbro 3.75in AT-ST Walker.

A live draw will take place on Sunday 21 May, 7pm to determine the lucky winner. If you really want this HTF (hard to find) toy, please feel welcome to purchase more raffle tickets to increase your chances to win! Plus Outpost will match the donated sum 1-for-1 and may even throw in a few other surprise Star Wars items.

Representatives of the fan groups and organisers look forward to see you this weekend!

So don a Jedi robe and plot course to Sunway Pyramid this weekend to Celebrate 40 years of Star Wars fandom. Oh and if you do not want to stress over parking, use this Uber code for a discounted ride:

May the Force be with You!

#THEFORCEIS40

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Disclaimer: Star Wars and other trademarks are copyright to Lucasfilm and/or Disney, referenced here for fan service announcements without intent to infringe.

The LEGO Batman Movie: Living in Bruce Wayne's Basement

The LEGO Movie (2014)

After successfully saving their kind from the evil President Business in The LEGO Movie 3 years ago, the producers thought it would be a good idea to make another movie to tell the hero's tale, of how he's not just an ordinary guy but an orphaned minifig, growing up alone with no mentor. Enter the LEGO Batman Movie.

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Some say Batman's a vain and selfish vigilante who longs nothing more than his vanity. And the fact that Bruce Wayne lives in his attic gives him extra flare and bragging rights and ego. Check out the trailer below: 

However, with the addition of his adopted son (while drunk at a gala), Dick Grayson, Batman has to deal not only with crime & the Joker, but an overly enthusiastic, excited and loud sidekick who looks up to Batman as his dad and care giver. Talk about saving the world AND yourself from going BAT-$#!+ crazy!

Meet the "cast" of this new LEGO movie:

And Batman's arch-nemesis... NOT! (see trailer)

To understand more about the upcoming movie blasting into local cinemas this Thursday 9 February, watch the Behind-The-Bricks featurette narrated by Batman himself:

The Outpost Movie Recon Team (M.R.T) has found many goodies worth checking out if you're a fan of both LEGO & Batman (Duh!). First check out the official LEGO toys:

LEGO seems to have gone all-out releasing at least 13 building sets for this movie! Batman himself gets a playset of the Batcave (70909, RRP RM529.90) and a new Batmobile (70905, RRP RM299.90) plus what looks like a new flying machine called the Bat-Scuttler which looks like a mecha bat (70908, RRP 399.90).

Will this Batmobile be the next fan favourite?

Each of his villains like Joker, Penguin, Clayface, etc. receive their own building sets, usually based on a vehicle. They also come together in a massive playset of the Arkham Asylum (70912, RM799.90) available exclusively from Toys R Us in Malaysia.

Special launch event at Toys R Us for this exclusive LEGO Batman set.

Arkham Asylum (70912) contains lots of cute mini-figs.

Huge LEGO display of the Batman sets during the Toys R Us launch event.

The Bat-Scuttler (70908) looks pretty mean!

Penguin's ride is pretty classy: the Artic Roller (70911, RM179.90)

LEGO Batman also offers a series of blind-pack mini-figs with 20 variants of the cute characters to collect. However they are priced quite significantly higher at RM19.90 per pack compared to RM12.90 for the regular series. Happy "tikam"!

LEGO Batman 

"Tikam" away! Gotta catch 'em all!

Check online for more details and prices at the official LEGO Stores or Toys R Us Malaysia.

Whilst the Outpost M.R.T. does not endorse any particular retailer, if you are going to buy these toys anyway then consider doing so at the official LEGO Batman Movie Event now on at Mid Valley Megamall, East Atrium.

Buying directly at this event will entitle to a number of LEGO freebies depending on the amount spent. Firstly any purchase of of a LEGO Batman set will receive a sorta black flying vehicle inspired by the Dark Knight. We kinda think it looks like a MyVi with wings! However an assembly guide is not included with the bricks as purchasers seem to be encouraged to build them on-the-spot referring to laminated instructions (not to be removed).

This mini-build LEGO some free with any LEGO Batman set purchase.

Purchases over RM150 then receive an exclusive polybag (30523) of The Joker Battle Training. In addition, purchases over RM200 of any LEGO product receives a Limited Edition Year of the Rooster building set (40234). Considering the price of LEGO nowadays, it doesn't take more than 1 or 2 sets to exceed the threshold to receive all 3 of these goodies FREE! Toys R Us members will also collect points for their purchases.

Rooster, a potential new "bird" sidekick for Batman?

For those serious LEGO collectors, different giveaways seem to be offered by other retailers, such as this Phantom Zone polybag (30522) from Box of Bricks:

Anyway if LEGO is too pricey for the wallet, try winning some instead from these online contests by our local cinemas. Firstly GSC Cinemas has a fairly straightforward contest for their online members offering polybagged mini-figs, kids tshirts and more:

There will also be a "pop-up" store at GSC Pavilion KL this weekend from 9 February near the cinema.

Both MMcineplexes and Premium-X Cinema is offering similar merchandise up for grabs on their respective social media channels:

Over at MBO Cinemas, they are offering a LEGO Batman edition card for their All-Star membership (free). They are also encouraging cosplay of LEGO Batman movie characters and giving away building sets for submissions posted to Instagram. Good luck with that since we have hardly seen any LEGO cosplay locally!

Coming back to that official LEGO Batman Movie Event at Mid Valley Megamall, our on-ground recon has identified more activities for fans and families. Catch LEGO Batman & Robin live at any of the 5 schedule appearance sessions daily.

Dab! #CloseEnough

LEGO Batman & Robin with excited fans

Here's what else to see at the event located at the East Atrium just outside Aeon and Uniqlo and below Toys R Us.

Mid Valley Megamall, East Atrium, ground floor from 6-12 February 2017.

Special play area for kids (and adults?)

This Batman is up for selfies.

Bat's alternative attire.

Mini-stage screening movie trailer and clips.

The movie building sets are displayed to woo kids to empty their parents' wallets, or "poison" adults fans of LEGO. Courtesy of LOM LEGO User Group Malaysia, these sets have been setup as a fantastic action diorama with the respective movie vehicles and mini-figs arranged in action.

The Master Builders has even stretched their creativity to assembling 25 custom-build mini-dioramas depicting all forms of LEGO Batman inspired setups. Here's a only a sampling of the LEGO builds and do go see for yourselves the rest. Some are really LOL scenes!

25 LEGO Batman inspired mini-dioramas by members of LOM LUG Malaysia.

Robin, Batman and Joker playing arcade machine games.

The Penguin has Batman on ice.

Joker Coffee anyone?

For the photogenic, a free photo booth is available for instant pics with the LEGO Batman movie backdrop. But if you're more of a closet fan, like Batman with leaving his home, here's something for you too!

Free pics here.

Actual loot from the event including free photos.
#LEGOBatmanMovieMY #BuildSomethingBatmanMY

Find out more on what's happening here from the official event listing on Facebook.

Remember, you can always be yourself... unless you can be Batman!

LEGO Batman Movie in cinemas nationwide 9 February 2017.

Disclaimer: LEGO, Batman and other trademarks are copyright to The LEGO Group, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros., and their respective owners, referenced here for fan service announcements without intent to infringe.