Star Wars

The most amazing thing about Star Wars is the lasting effect it had on everyone, especially the people who saw the films as a child or young teen. Sure, it gets the same distinction as Star Trek for having a very obsessive fanboy following, compulsive toy collectors, and general hysterics. You know, people with entire wings of their house devoted to the Star Wars universe. But there's a huge difference in Star Wars and Star Trek. Not to impune Star Trek, because those shows were significant in their own right (especially TNG), but Star Wars was always for more than just fanboys. I know perfectly normal, anti-nerdy GIRLS who love Star Wars. My grandmother went to see Star Wars. My parents enjoy the films. In fact, I don't know anyone who didn't love those films. The prequels, well, they're a different story. But I'm not here to talk about the prequels. That'll have to be for another time.

In a way it's a shame I was too young to understand what was happening, since I am such a film buff. But this is WHY I'm a film buff: In 1977, the entire film industry was revolutionized. The first True Blockbuster had come out two years before, a nice little horror movie called 'Jaws.' The second True Blockbuster came out that year, in 1977, a nice little space fantasy called 'Star Wars.' I'm sure fans all know the ironies: Everyone, especially the studio, thought this film would flop horrendously, when in fact it saved 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy. The film did so well, it was re-released in 1978. It went on to become the #1 money-maker in film in the United States, and is second only to 'Titanic' on the charts today. Industrial Light and Magic, the special effects team behind the film, set the industry standard and revolutionized (read: invented, in my mind) special effects in film. Sci-fi/fantasy gained a worldwide audience, and became mainstream.

And Lucas did something brilliant, and unheard of: He took a cut in upfront pay for 40% of the merchandising profits. No one understood, and everyone thought he was nuts. Merchandising profits? There was no merchandising for films, and thus, no profits in that 'market.' When Kenner expressed an interest in making 'space toys,' they had very little in the way of a template to follow. Hasbro had invented the term 'action figure' in 1964 with GI Joe 12 inch 'dolls.' The term 'dolls' was not appropriate for boys (the target demographic); hence the new term. Mego came up with a line of 6 inch Super Heroes (I recently got a Superman from that line that made it into my EW photo) in 1972, and Kenner (under Lucas' influence) came up with the most brilliant idea yet: Make them 3 3/4 inches, and make ships and playsets to go with them. They weren't the first to use this size (that was Fisher Price, and Mego), but their product's popularity changed the industry. Hasbro continues to change it today with incredibly articulated and realistic figurines. This was so successful, it became the industry standard to market films in a new way, with toys, clothing, posters, and any other thing that can be bought with the film's characters plastered on it. And oh yeah, the fast food chains got in on the market. I wish I still had my Star Wars Burger King glass. Somehow it was lost or given away. I remember thinking it was incredibly cool to have a glass with Star Wars on it. And the action figures, well, I think they're just cool beyond words. As we know. :)

All of that historical background to say: Things changed when 'Star Wars' came out, and the changes are still evident today. This was why 'Episode I: The Phantom Menace' was considered a letdown: Lucas had to compete with himself. He had already made the most incredible and influential films ever, so anything he did was going to be a letdown. It didn't help that he included silly, ridiculous characters in that first prequel, as well as a PCA (Pitiful Child Actor; Bean's term). But I digress.

I have these films now, on DVD, in their Original Theatrical Version. Why is this important? Lucas made some updates to the films in 1997, and for the last ten years that's all we've seen, unless we dig out that old VHS copy we had packed away when DVD was invented. DVD being the best quality for films in the home viewing arena, I'm positively ecstatic about having the Original (sans updates and changes) version of these films to watch.

The special effects, blockbuster mentality, and marketing ideas weren't the only legacy the Star Wars films gave us. The most important legacy, for me, was the Power of Myth that I understood and came to love from watching these films. I love the fact that Lucas paid tribute to Japanese culture, classic myth, and other films with the Star Wars trilogy. I've been a compulsive reader and studier of myth thanks to the influence of these films. There are only about twenty original story ideas, my professor once told us, and every new story is another take on one of those original ideas. So as I review the first in this trilogy, I'd like to draw attention to the myth that created it.

The 20th Century Fox fanfare. "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.." The blasting John Williams score, with the bold Star Wars logo which seems to be flying away from the viewer. The opening crawl. This now-classic Star Wars image was first used in the TV series 'The Phantom Creeps' in 1939. I'm not sure I even knew all of the words yet (I was four!), but immediately, you knew something important was happening. If that crawl didn't grab your interest, the seemingly never-ending pan of a huge starship passing over the camera had to.

Even though these came out of order, C-3PO got the first lines of the Original Trilogy, and he got the last lines of the Prequel Trilogy. I love stuff like that, coming full circle. And interesting continuity: Because Lucas feels it's ironic for characters to say, "I have a bad feeling about this," it's been said in every film (Obi Wan (Episode I), Anakin (Episode II), Obi Wan (Episode III), Luke (Episode IV), Han (Episode IV), Leia (Episode V), C3-PO (Episode VI)).

Anyone not living in the remote jungles in South America knows the plot of this film, but I'll include some background, also.

Luke Skywalker: The young man on The Hero's Journey. He sets out from his humble beginnings (much like Perseus, son of the God Zeus), meets Threshold Guardians, obstacles to his attaining his goal (Tusken Raiders, in his case), and the Fates put him right there with his wise and helpful Guide, Obi Wan Kenobi.

Obi Wan: The wise sage who teaches and influences his young charge. Obi Wan gives Luke his magic talisman, his father's lightsaber. It's significant that it was his father's weapon (sword). The magic sword is, in myth, a sign of heritage and inheritance when passed from father to son. The son is expected to become like his father. More on that in later films. When Obi Wan has completed his role as a Guide for Luke (guidling him past the first threshold, giving him his magic talisman, introducing him to his hero partners, introducing him to The Force, and seeing him through the labrynth that is the Death Star) he willingly allows Darth Vader to kill him, with Luke looking on. Losing his guide was a part of Luke's journey, and a necessary one. The prophetic words were true: Obi Wan did become more powerful in death than in life.

Darth Vader: The entire Star Wars saga is really about Vader, aka Anakin Skywalker, the good man who fell from grace and became evil. He is the dark force Luke must eventually challenge. But to most of us, he was a scary guy in a black suit. :) Vader was a dark presence in this film, showing us his torture methods (on Admiral Motti, whose 'sorceror's ways' comment makes me laugh, and on Princess Leia, whose ability to withstand mind probes was....unnatural, hmm) and just generally showing us that he was In Control. He stands by calmly while an entire planet is destroyed. And he seems as robotic as his breathing when he kills Obi Wan. No fear. A great obstacle for Luke. AND a great pilot.

C-3PO and R2-D2: The harbingers for Luke, since they were the messengers who inadvertantly set Luke on his fateful path. R2 is Luke's continual savior and companion, and good luck charm. C-3PO is more of an interpreter than he realizes. They're also the classic bantering buddies we all came to love.

Han Solo: The Hero Partner. Luke needs Han to get to Alderaan, to help the Rebel Alliance against the Empire. Han is the classic old west cowboy (based on his costume and his cavalier attitude), and he's also a pirate (as Lando calls him later), a smuggler, and a general man-for-hire. But he's one of the good guys, as we see when he comes back to help Luke at that crucial moment in the Death Star trenches.

Princess Leia: Our favorite princess who needs knights (including a wise JEDI knight) to rescue her from the dragon, and slay the dragon (The Death Star, which Luke and Han both 'slay' (destroy) in the end). Luke's first words to Leia? "I'm Luke Skywalker; I'm here to rescue you." Indeed! But Leia would prove to be more than the typical damsel in distress.

And with all of that, this film was just a great adventure/thrill ride/action movie. It was the classic good vs. evil plot. It was the start of a journey for ALL of the characters. It was about a revolution ("I ain't in this for your revolution," Han says). It was about The Force, the spiritual guide for this far away galaxy. It was about finding yourself, and finding your spirituality. It was about confronting the things that you most hated (The Empire). The friendship and comraderie between the characters, the great archetypes, and the classic dialogue was just inspired. And oh yeah, those Death Star trenches get me every time. I don't guess I'll ever forget seeing that sequence for the first time. It still blows me away.

In this Original version, thankfully, there was no Jabba to be seen. There were some different Cantina aliens (all cool!), and there was no CGI. I'm a fan of the original puppets anyway; they took more creativity to put together. There were only a few scenes, which involved a white sky or a white background (like the opening scene on the Star Destroyer) where the transfer looked a little grainy and not crystal clear. But otherwise, this laserdisc transfer looked and sounded great. And as a purist and a completist, I had to have both versions of the film. The Special Edition is beautiful and clear, and clean, and I liked most of the added touches. But for great memories, you can't beat the Original. Han Shot First!

Grade? This is the best film ever made. Period. (But Empire and Jedi are almost tied, smiles.)

I'll end with my favorite line:

(No, it's not, "Will someone get this walking carpet out of my way?")

The Force Will Be With You, Always.

:)