Thirty Years Ago In A City Not Too Far Away...
It's been thirty years since George Lucas introduced us to his epic tale called Star Wars. Few films before or since have had the impact of this once unheralded work.
In the modern film-making era (post-1965) there have been many great works, some are better films than any in the Star Wars library. Movies like Chinatown and Goodfellas may have been better from a cinematic point-of-view. Others, like The Godfather, Rocky and Jaws also had great impact on our culture. I still hear that terrifying music each time I step into the salt water.
None of them, though, did what Star Wars did.
Think about this for a moment: previous generations of kids played cowboys and Indians or soldiers. That probably went back a hundred years. It changed in 1977. Boys didn't want to be Sheriff anymore. They wanted to be Han Solo or Luke Skywalker.
And while The Godfather Part II was the perfect prequel/sequel to the original movie, Star Wars became Episode IV: A New Hope and we were given five new episodes, two of which matched the wonder of the first.
The saga continued to a new generation. I, as a boy, wanted to be like Luke Skywalker. I grew up with the original trilogy. My son grew up on the prequels. He worships Anakin. I played with the Star Wars dolls and vehicles. He has lightsaber fights with his friends.
The themes resonate strongly today. Good versus evil. Father-son relationship. Friendship. Philosophy and religion. Democracy versus tyranny. Honor versus treachery. And throughout the saga, the tale of the tragic hero who only at his death is redeemed.
Star Wars is our Iliad and Odyssey. It is our King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It is our Robin Hood. When future generations study us, these six films and their impact will be discussed at length.
Thanks to The History Channel for making its program, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed.
May the force be with you.
In the modern film-making era (post-1965) there have been many great works, some are better films than any in the Star Wars library. Movies like Chinatown and Goodfellas may have been better from a cinematic point-of-view. Others, like The Godfather, Rocky and Jaws also had great impact on our culture. I still hear that terrifying music each time I step into the salt water.
None of them, though, did what Star Wars did.
Think about this for a moment: previous generations of kids played cowboys and Indians or soldiers. That probably went back a hundred years. It changed in 1977. Boys didn't want to be Sheriff anymore. They wanted to be Han Solo or Luke Skywalker.
And while The Godfather Part II was the perfect prequel/sequel to the original movie, Star Wars became Episode IV: A New Hope and we were given five new episodes, two of which matched the wonder of the first.
The saga continued to a new generation. I, as a boy, wanted to be like Luke Skywalker. I grew up with the original trilogy. My son grew up on the prequels. He worships Anakin. I played with the Star Wars dolls and vehicles. He has lightsaber fights with his friends.
The themes resonate strongly today. Good versus evil. Father-son relationship. Friendship. Philosophy and religion. Democracy versus tyranny. Honor versus treachery. And throughout the saga, the tale of the tragic hero who only at his death is redeemed.
Star Wars is our Iliad and Odyssey. It is our King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It is our Robin Hood. When future generations study us, these six films and their impact will be discussed at length.
Thanks to The History Channel for making its program, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed.
May the force be with you.
posted by E-Luv at 2:46 PM
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