"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" released 1999

George Lucas' first prequel to his blockbuster Star Wars trilogy The Phantom Menace was released May 19, 1999.  It starred Liam Neeson as Qui-gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan.  It follows the two Jedi as they discover Anakin Skywalker who might bring balance to the Force.

Anthony Daniels appears as C3PO, with Kenny Baker as R2D2 and Frank Oz as Yoda.

Despite poor reviews, it was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Sound, Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing; and, Best Effects, Video Effects.  John Williams was nominated for a Grammy for his original score.

It won four Guiness World Record Awards for its high box-office success.

Remembering Apollo 15 astronaut Alfred Worden (1932-2020)

Alfred Worden, Apollo 15 astronaut, passed away March 17, 2020.  He was one of 19 astronauts selected by NASA in 1966. He served as Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar mission.  the Guiness Book of World Records named him the Most Isolated human being for his 3 days alone in the command module.  When he was on the opposite side of the moon from David Scott and James Irwin, he was at least 2,235 miles away from any other human being.

Worden made seven guest appearances on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood between 1972 and 1975.

His memoir Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon rose to #12 on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List.

He passed away from a stroke March 17 in Sugar Land, Texas.