It always amazes me when people tell me they've never seen a single "Star Wars" movie, and I'm talking about people in their 20s who have been exposed to at least some kind of "Star Wars" advertising.
When "Episode II: Attach of the Clones" came out in theaters last spring, I went to see it opening night (I had bought and read the book first so I knew what to expect when I saw the movie). Although I was disappointed that most of the movie was digitally filmed, the tradition of the earlier films of the saga kept me interested. When it came out on video, I bought it right away and watched it maybe three times in a span of two days.
There are now five films, including the original trilogy and Episodes I and II, yet there are still people out there who have never seen any of them. Seems strange something so referenced in our culture in the way of movies and songs is something some people don't recognize. Americans have been exposed to this story for 25 years, yet some people know nothing about it. "Star Wars" for Americans is what the Iliad and the Odyssey were to the ancient Greeks. Think about it. How many times have you heard the famous line used as jokes in other movies?
"Luke, I am your father."
This all makes me wonder why this saga is so intriguing to begin with. The storyline is great. There's that mix of action, adventure and romance caught up in the stories of the Jedi. We see people influenced by destiny to become key players in the future of the galaxy far, far away. What's not entertaining about that?
What's kept this story going is anticipation of the events to come. We all know what happens to Anakin Skywalker and what he becomes, but there's something about seeing it with our own eyes that's been able to push the success of the latest two films. Though villainous, Darth Vader is a cinema icon. He's a bad guy, but there's something about him that makes viewers feel sorry for the path he has chosen (or at least I do).
This new set of films does something else for the original trilogy - it explains and answers so many questions not covered in the original films. We know the events leading to Anakin's demise. We know Obi-wan's relationship with Anakin besides what we're told earlier about him being "a good friend." We actually get to see that instead of being told. There's also the question of how the Emperor came to power, who he was and how he was able to gain control of the senate.
This also brings me a feeling of nostalgia, remembering the times when Hollywood actually made good movies and not trash like "Wild Things." At least the "Star Wars" saga has some good lessons weaved into its story, such as not giving in to hatred.
For those who have never seen "Star Wars," watch it. It's not as sci-fi as you might think, or at least it doesn't fit in with the stereotypes of the genre. Give it a chance. There's nothing wrong with disliking a movie, so long as you've seen it and know what you don't like about it.
That's the problem with critics sometimes. They can't explain what it is about someone's work they don't like. If you're going to criticize something, whether it be "Star Wars" or some other movie, make sure you know what you're talking about.
Write to Laura at rutherford_1980@yahoo.com
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