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| Image Credit: www.starwars.com |
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| Image credit: amazon.com |
The first time I saw A New Hope was in December, 1997.** My mom (not really into SW herself), had purchased the gold boxed special edition trilogy*** for my dad's birthday. My dad, of course, had seen all the original (the real ones!) three in theaters as a kid. However, my siblings and I hadn't really heard about it. We knew who Darth Vader and Luke were, but that was from cousins.
We bought it at Sam's Club in late summer, and I remember being fascinated by Vader's skull-like helmet on the side. My brother Will and I begged to watch it. My mom just said to wait until Dad's birthday and ask him then. I was eight years old, and December seemed AGES away.
Of course, December rolled around, and my dad made a big to-do out of watching Star Wars for the first time. We dimmed the lights, made snacks, and cuddled up on the couch, and waited with breathless anticipation. Maybe it's just me, but the 20th Century Fox fanfare is forever linked with Star Wars.
Needless to say, for me, Will, and our younger sister Grace, we were hooked. A princess in danger, a young hero in a dead end town, a wise old man, a menacing villain, and a daring rogue with a furry, tall sidekick, was the recipe for a movie unlike anything our little minds had experienced before.
When Dad wouldn't let us watch The Empire Strikes Back right away, we were crushed. He pulled that one out on us about a month later, and then Jedi a little later, turning each one into a special occasion. He didn't let us watch the heck out of them afterwards, either, which probably helped Star Wars keep its newness and appeal.
Regardless, after that first viewing, Star Wars was our thing. Christmas? Star Wars toys. Birthday? Star Wars! My mom even made me an epic Millennium Falcon cake one year. When the "prequels" started coming out a few years later, we were giddy and excited. We saw every one, and we *actually*liked them (we were kids!).**** Dad was always there to enthuse with us, and Mom sort of came around in the end. (Seriously, Harrison Ford can charm anyone).
So, our obsession faded, but we never "got over"Star Wars. The sound of that magnificent John Williams score still gets me. I maintain that Tie Fighter, Rebel Assault, and Knights of the Old Republic are some of the best video games ever, and I confess that I read numerous Star Wars novels. But this year, it's different:
Star Wars is back, and I've got mixed emotions on this one. I'm excited, sure, but after Jar-Jar Binks and Star Trek: Into Darkness, I'm not sure how I feel about J. J. Abrams and Star Wars coming back. The trailer looks promising, with fresh, unknown stars and moody shots of Tatooine. The best part, of course, was a silver-headed Han with Chewbacca at the end.
In the meantime, I will sit down and watch A New Hope tonight, enjoying it just as much, but in a different way, as I first did eighteen (seriously, 18!) years ago.*****
Are you a Star Wars fan, or have you escaped this cultural phenomenon? How do you feel about a new movie with J. J. Abrams on board? Have you read any of the SW novels or played the games? Do you despise Star Wars and wish we'd all be quiet? Sound off in the comments, and May the 4th be with you!
Footnotes:*Stole this from my SW Pinterest board: Scruffy Looking Nerfherders Unite
**20th anniversary edition
***On VHS, the first one just bit the dust last year :(
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| 38 years and still going strong-Image |
I am a serious Star Wars fan. Original trilogy is the best, but I don't mind the newer films either. I grew up with Star Wars. Except I saw it 20 years before you. (Am I really that old?!) When I was two years old (1977) I saw the commercials for a new movie Star Wars (back then it did not yet have "A New Hope" attached to it) playing at "a theater near you" and I kept asking my parents to see it. Star Wars was my first film. It's been a love affair ever since. When my boys were both born, the first thing we did when I brought them home from the hospital was watch that first Star Wars. I wanted to make sure it was their first film too. :) (Not that they remember, but we've seen it enough times since then.)
ReplyDeleteAs for the new films - not sure on them yet. I do love JJ Abrams. And I love that they are bringing back the original cast. But I fear that the originals will not be in the film enough, and I won't like the newbies brought in to replace them. But Harrison Ford? He's got it where it counts, kid.
I just wish I got to see SW in 1977 (if I ever find the Doctor, I know one of the things we'll do!). Han Solo has always been my favorite character, and I can't wait to see him again. Thanks for the visit!
DeleteI love hearing Will talk about how much you all loved Star Wars as kids - he still gets really excited and his eyes light up when he talks about it. ;) I love the old trilogy and I really enjoyed watching the new trilogy with my brother as the movies came out (and playing the video games, reading the visual encyclopedias, playing with the legos, etc).
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar enough with JJ Abrams and whoever else is working on the newest Star Wars movie to know what to expect. I think I really don't have any expectations at all, so I'm excited to wait and see how they turn out. I think there's been enough time and space between the original movies that even if they're quite different I won't be too disappointed and will be able to enjoy them for whatever they turn out to be. And of course, I'm so excited that Harrison Ford is back! :D
I feel similiar. All my knowledge of JJ Abrams is "Star Trek" and lense flares, so I don't have bad feelings about this , just a bit aprehensive. EIther way, I'll be happily in line for another Star Wars outing. We should come down there and see it together!
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