At sixteen I was stunned because we were leaving the 1970’s when Disney was moribund (we are looking at you That Darn Cat) and serious films with Jane Fonda were made. Seriously.
And then I sat with my brother, Doug, Rob, and Uncle Roddy and saw Star Wars.
I had grooves in my palms from gripping the seat so hard.
The good news is that with only a few exceptions, such as Ronald Reagan, no politician in my time will have had a bigger impact on the twenty-first century than this wonderful little film about a farm boy turned rebel against an oppressive state. Nobody now running for President of the United States will have the cultural impact of these films. Culture matters and one of the myths of our time, with Lord of the Rings, is Star Wars.
Of course, for those not infected with the geek gene, which I have, there must be a reminder that stories and imagination matter. I don’t have to think that that Luke Skywalker is as important to the West as Odysseus to see the similarities. Jar Jar is no more mock-able than Thersites. I was always more a Star Trek than a Star Wars guy . . . preferring the deeper story lines possible in television to the excitement of a (at the time) movie only franchise . . . but I was never one who was “religious” about it.
Like my taste in literature . . . my fandoms are inclusive.
What did I learn from Star Wars?
An homage to past films combined with present technology can make something special. We are now as far removed from the original Star Wars films as Lucas was from the golden age science fiction films that inspired him. JJ Abrams has a chance to do to Lucas what Lucas did to Buck Rodgers and the result can be magical.
A “blockbuster” can be profound. The films are sheer excitement to a kid on the first viewing, but the mythology allows repeat viewing. Lucas meant to do this . . .taking his “canon” seriously even if I do not always agree with his later choices.
Finally, watching a film in a theater is different than watching it at home. You cannot watch a Star Wars film without being with fans. Film viewing is a communal experience and the Star Wars films were made to be watched together. There is a truth about church there someplace.
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