I finished it last month and for the most part, I liked it.  I agree that the best parts were Shmi's diary and I also thought the same thing  "Did everyone on Tatooine know that Anakin was Darth Vader?"  And if not, why did no one ever say to Luke, "Gee you have the same last name as that kid that won the Boonta Eve race and then went off to be a Jedi".  I mean only later does Ben tell Luke that Vader murdered his "father".
I guess, Luke really WAS stuck on the farm

But all in all, I thought it was OK, I've read worse (Crystal Star anyone??) so I'd give it three stars out of five; the action sequence was predictable, wasn't really thrilled with the character build up of the three "partners" but Shmi's diary entries were nice tie-in's and the explanation about the ghost of the Tuskan Raiders was a nice touch.

Well, looks like slightly better news on the Silver Fett's availability now, since it'll be at four U.S. conventions, as well as the Mexican convention now.  Plus the Fan Club will be taking orders too!  So hopefully the production numbers on this guy will be decent enough to satisfy all the collectors out there.  $10 bucks a pop.

Yes, it's nice to see that for those of us not making these particular con's that there will be a chance to buy one on-line.  

Oohh.. memory lane...I love this topic!

MM - 1999:  Just got off the plane in Green Bay after leaving Dagobah (aka: Denver) from the first SW Celebration and decided to see if TRU was really going to be open at midnight.  We pulled in at 11:00 and had about 25 people in front of us with news camera's and radio stations galore.  When the doors opened at midnight the crowd was probably around 200 and it was a frickin' ZOO!!  Luckily (?) my husband was at his wits end with all things associated with Star Wars (not a fan) so he pretty muched plowed over everyone to get me the 12" dolls and then at the checkout I told the manager how I wished I had gotten the Amidala dolls and he said he never put them out as he was afraid they might get crushed (good call) so he went to the back and snuck two up front and I went away very happy.  After the two hour ride home, I was still so wound up about everything I was at our local Walmart at 7:30am sharp  to fill my basket with all the rest of the action figures, ships, bandaids and whatever else they had in complete solitude.

MM 2002:  Didn't go back to Green Bay and had to wait for our Wal-mart to open at 7:30am, but did have the whole store (well the toy isle anyways) to myself and proceeded to buy one of everything all over again   .

Sad thing is...it's May of 2003 and the same AOTC figures are still hanging on the @%&* pegs!!!!!

I wish I could answer this one also but from someone who collects Kelly dolls (Barbie's little sister), Mattel seems to be doing the same thing.  It takes months to see the new dolls finally showing up in MI, WI and IL.  I know they are out as I watch Ebay, almost all of the sales the last two months are from southern and west-coast states.  
Another line I collect is LOTR, and I swear Toybiz is copying Hasbro!  I have yet to see 3 of the waves at my local Walmart and many others across all areas of the U.S. seem to play the "hit  'n miss" game too.

I'd attribute a lot of it to movie tie-in's but when I look at the toys that seem to be on the main isle displays, they are usually Barbie or Hot Wheels and the Hulk stuff has been out for months now, WAY BEFORE the movie (I sure hope it moves once the movie hits or the toy isle will be green until Christmas) so I can't really point to that theory as the culprit.

I was hoping that last  week when the Star Wars stuff all disappeared from the pegs that they sent it back and new stuff was coming, but all they replaced it with was those cantina packs.

All in all, I can only assume that retailers are NOT ordering and I am also considering on-line ordering.  It's too bad because I always looked forward to the fun of finding the new stuff.

Wow, that is a fantastic graduation gift!  Congrats!!

Bob,

 I like your custom stormtrooper and x-wing pilot.  Pretty soon you'll be adding the Gamorrean Guard to your impressive collection!!  

It's a decent figure, but when the hell did he even hold a lightsaber in AOTC?  NEVER!

Uhm...when he battled Dooku...and he had two at one point.

I actually am looking forward to this particular figure and hope that I can find it.  It's good to know that it has all that articulation but I guess when I actually have it in my hands, I'll see if my high hopes for this figure are grounded.

So I assume no signature edition, that was recently rumored will be offered also??  I would have liked to have SJ's autograph (but I'll still buy the saber without it).
Man, I wish I would have gotten my Insider today, I'd like to see the photo.  Heck, I'm still waiting for my gold member prop....I wish this little black cloud would quit following me around!!